Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1777 - September 2 2011   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1777 with a release date of Friday,   
   September 2, 2011 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T. Amsat Oscar 51 appers to be failing as its   
   batteries die. Also, the ARRL says that it opposes a rules waiver request   
   filed by the Anchorage V-E-C, ham radio responds to Hurricane Irene,   
   international cooperation removes CODAR from the 24 MHz band and a Dancing   
   With The Stars judge teams with the BBC to produce a new documentary on the   
   sinking of the Titanic with an emphasis on Morse code. All that and more on   
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1777 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AO-51 MAY SOON BE LOST   
      
   The ageing Amsat Oscar AO-51 may appears to be a dying bird. This, according   
   to Control Station, Mark Hammond, N8MH reporting via the Amsat News Service   
   weekly newsletter. Amateur radio Newsline's Don Carlson, KQ6FM, has the   
   details:   
      
   --   
      
   In an update on AO-51's health, Mark Hammond, N8MH, noted that since the   
   failure of the first cell on the six-cell battery, ground controllers have   
   been limited to simple commands for basic configurations. Hammond said that   
   ground control stations have evolved basic control and management techniques   
   for AO-51. These allow them to set power levels manually, change uplinks   
   and downlinks and the like. However, features such as telemetry collection   
   and the Bulletin Board are not functional at this time. If the satellite   
   resets during eclipse these basic functions must be restored manually by a   
   ground station.   
      
   And now ground stations have discovered there is a second cell in the battery   
   showing problems. Hammond says that the control team thinks that battery   
   will be the next cell to go. If that happens the probable result that their   
   limited manual mode of operation probably will no longer be an option, and   
   the mission might be considered over.   
      
   By way of historic background, AO-51 is the on-orbit name designation of a   
   Low Earth Orbiting microsat previously known as Echo. It was launched on   
   June 29, 2004 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, in Kazakhstan into a sun synchronous   
   low Earth orbit.   
      
   The AO-51 bird contains an FM repeater with both a 144 MHz and 1.2 GHz   
   uplinks along with 435 MHz and 2.4 GHz downlinks. It also carries a digital   
   subsystem that transmits telemetry on 70 cm and provides a complete PACSAT   
   Bulliten Board System. It also features a 10 meter P-S-K uplink.   
      
   As an FM satellite, AO-51 has always been easily workable with gear as simple   
   as an VHF/UHF dual band hand-held radio, as long as a station knows when   
   the satellites footprint is within reach. Transatlantic contacts have been   
   made without much effort, as long as the satellite is approximately   
   mid-Atlantic so that the edge of the satellites footprint is within reach on   
   either continent.   
      
   But since this past May, AO-51 has been experiencing problems with its   
   batteries whiuch in turn as made the onboard repeater unavailable at times.   
   While controllers are now back in basic control of the ageing bird, if one   
   more of its batteries fail, Hammond seems to be saying that AO-51 could go   
   perminantly Q-R-T   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Carlson, KQ6FM, in Reno, Nevada.   
      
   --   
      
   AO-51 is currently operating FM with an uplink at 145.88 MHz on 2 meters and   
   a 70 centimeter downlink at 435.15 MHz that uses left-hand circular   
   polarization. Output power of the 70 centimeter transmitter is just under   
   one watt. How long it will stay operational depends on how much longer its   
   on-boards batteries continue to function in orbital space. (ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO RULES: ARRL OPPOSES ANCHORAGE LICENSE CREDIT INTERIM WAIVER REQUEST.   
      
   The American Radio Relay League has said no to a waiver request filed by the   
   Anchorage Alaska VEC. One that asks that the FCC to grant a blanket waiver   
   of Section 97.505 of the Commission's Rules and to grant exam credit for   
   test elements previously passed to those radio amateurs whose licenses have   
   expired and are beyond the two-year grace period for renewal.   
      
   The story really goes back to this past April when the Anchorage group filed   
   a Petition for Rule Making designated RM-11629. As previously reported,   
   that request asks the FCC to give permanent credit to radio amateurs for   
   examination elements they have successfully passed. This would in effect   
   create a license exam credit that would be valid throughout an amateurs'   
   lifetime and in essence create a United States lifetime amateur license.   
      
   Then on July 6th, the Anchorage VEC followed up with its waiver request even   
   though RM-11629 is still pending. After consideration, on August 11, the   
   ARRL filed comments on the waiver request with the FCC, urging the   
   Commission to dismiss or deny it. The League says that its decision to   
   oppose is based on the fact that if the FCC grants such a waiver request, it   
   would quite obviously prejudge the outcome of RM-11629. And if for any   
   reason RM-11629 is denied or dismissed, those who re-obtained licenses   
   during the term of any temporary waiver would either have been given a   
   privilege not afforded others or else they would have their reinstated or   
   renewed licenses revoked at some later date. In other words, the ARRL   
   filing says that should the Commission grant the temporary waiver, it is   
   equivalent to granting of the underlying petition.   
      
   At this time, the ARRL says that it is not taking a position with respect to   
   the merits of the original Anchorage VEC request in RM-11629. Rather, the   
   League only opposes the waiver request because the Anchorage VEC has failed   
   to justify the need for the interim relief that the waiver request seeks.   
   (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: HAM RADIO AND HURRICANE IRENE   
      
   Hurricane Irene is now a storm of the past and provided a good training and   
   response exercise for hams from North Carolina through Canada. Bill   
   Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the newsroom with what we know so far:   
      
   --   
      
   Ham radio is always ready to respond in time of disaster. Its star really   
   shines when all other means of communications fail. There were any hams   
   involved in emergency communications who were well trained and fully   
   equipped to respond when it was announced that hurricane Irene was headed to   
   the United States eastern shores.   
      
   Initial forecasts said that Irene could make landfall as a Category 2 or even   
   3 storm with the potential of raving a good part of Florida and other   
   South-East coastal states before working her way northbound. Already the   
   narrow Cat Island in the southeastern Bahamas taken the full force of Irene,   
   and by this time, ARES and other groups from Florida's northward through the   
   Canadian Maritime Provinces were on stand-by alert for the devastation that   
   many news outlets were predicting.   
      
   But with the exception of some localized problems, most of what   
   weathercasters were predicting never happened. This was mainly because   
   Irene did not follow initial storm track predictions. Instead of heading   
   directly toward Florida the massive hurricane veered a few degrees to the   
   East, sparing Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Instead it made landfall   
   in the outer barrier islands of North Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane   
   having lost a lot of energy in the cooler mid-northern latitude waters of   
   the Atlantic.   
      
   That said, the work of the Amateur Radio operators began many days before   
   Hurricane Irene hit U.S. shores. That's when several support networks were   
   activated that relayed storm information to the National Hurricane Center in   
   Miami.   
      
   --   
      
   "...W6LMJ for the Hurricane Watch Net listening for stations in the path of   
   hurricane Irene; specifically interested in stations at this time who can   
   report on wind conditions above 70 mph. Any station experiencing wind   
   conditions above 70 mph please call now..."   
      
   --   
      
   As Irene's winds began hitting the East Coast, more hams came on the air to   
   provide weather spotting information to the National Weather Service's   
   Skywarn Program. The real-time, ground level reporting allowed the weather   
   forecasters to make more accurate predictions and issue warnings. This is   
   because the Weather Service's Doppler radar cannot see what is actually   
   happening at ground level and the reports from the ham radio observers were   
   especially essential when tornadoes are possibly mixed into a hurricane's   
   winds.   
      
   Several states including New Jersey and Vermont suffered significant damage,   
   most from flooding. According to the ARRL, ham radio volunteers from   
   surrounding regions were brought in at the request of Greene County, New   
   York authorities. Greene County was one of the areas devastated by flooding   
   following Irene. And as we go to air, radio amateurs are still aiding the   
   American Red Cross relief efforts by providing technical expertise and   
   working with the organizations communications staff.   
      
   One area where Irene did not impact in way hurricanes usually do was to   
   emergency and personal communications. A report in the New York Times said   
   that wireless phone networks held up well despite widespread losses of   
   power. Many people who lost electric mains power and wired telephone   
   service were able to continue to communicate using e-mail and social   
   networks using battery-powered mobile devices.   
      
   Also, according to the FCC which activated its Disaster Information Reporting   
   System, no 911 Emergency Response Center was out of service and that it had   
   received no reports of public safety communications disruptions.   
      
   In this case one could say that most dodged the bullet, but only because   
   Mother Nurture chose to downgrade Irene before she made landfall. If she   
   had hit as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds between 111 to 130   
   mph, much of the communications infrastructure that survived Irene would   
   more than likely have been blown away. That would have been the proverbial   
   "when all else fails" scenario and ham radio communications personnel would   
   be out there right now helping in relief operations and damage assessment as   
   has been the case almost since the day that the service first began.   
      
   From the newsroom in Los Angeles, I'm Bill Pasternak , WA6ITF, reporting for   
   the Amateur Radio Newsline.   
      
   --   
      
   More on ham radio and hurricane Irene as details are made available.   
   (ARNewsline(tm) from various sources. Thanks to K3VR for providing off-air   
   audio.)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard   
   on bulletin stations around the world including the KD1RJ repeater serving   
   Fairfield, Connecticut   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
   **   
      
   COMMEMORATING 911: TWO MORE CLUBS ANNOUNCE COMMEMORATIVE OPERATIONS   
      
   Two more amateur radio groups have announced 911 commemorative operations.   
   The Pentagon Amateur Radio Club whose call is K4AF says that it will be   
   operational on Saturday, September 10th and Sunday September 11th to honor   
   all those lost on September 11, 200. This, with a special remembrance of   
   the 184 people who lost their lives at the Pentagon and on board American   
   Airlines Flight 77. Further information including QSL routing will be   
   posted at www.k4af.org during the event.   
      
   And the Northeast Wireless Radio Club will take to the airwaves on Sunday,   
   September 1700 to 2300 UTC using the call N2WC. This commemorative   
   operation will be in the High Frequency General class bands on CW, SSB phone   
   and several digital modes. No specific list of operating times or precise   
   frequencies is known as we go to air.   
      
   Already announced are groups in Pennsylvania, Nebraska and New York City that   
   are planning on-the-air commemorative operations. These are listed on our   
   website at www.arnewsline.org. (Via e-mail)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: HAMS AND TWO NATIONS PTT SUCCESSFUL IN REMOVING CODAR FROM 24   
   MHz BAND   
      
   The Codar High Frequency Radar operating on on 24920 to 25080 kHz from   
   Northern Italy has gone off the air. This, thanks to a concerted effort by   
   individual hams and members of various European Intruder Watch operations.   
      
   A release by IARU Region 1 Intruder Watch Coordinator DK2OM specifically   
   singles out DJ9KR, G4BOH and 9A5W for their assistance. It also thanks the   
   British telecommunications regulator Ofcom and the German P-T-T for their   
   direction finding assistance and other help.   
      
   DK2OM says that he and his group will keep an ear on this spectrum in the   
   hope that the CODAR signal will not return. He calls the entire operation   
   to rid the band of CODAR to be a further example for an effective   
   cooperation. (IARU R-1)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: SOCAL UNLICENSED BROADCASTER ISSUED NOTICE OF UNLICENSED   
   OPERATION IN THE AM BROADCAST BAND   
      
   The Los Angeles FCC Office has issued a Notice of Unlicensed Operation to   
   Willie Walton, of Santa Clarita, California. This for his alleged operation   
   of an unlicensed transmitter in the A.M. broadcast band. Amateur Radio   
   Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   According to a release from the FCC, it received information that an   
   unlicensed broadcast radio station on 1610 kHz was allegedly operating in   
   the Los Angeles suburban community of Santa Clarita, California. On August   
   11th, agents from the Los Angeles office confirmed by direction finding   
   techniques that radio signals were emanating from one Willie Walton's   
   residence.   
      
   The Notice of Unlicensed Operation stated that Commission's records show that   
   no license was issued for operation of a broadcast station on 1610 kHz at   
   Willie Walton's location. The notice then went on to warn Walton that   
   operation of radio transmitting equipment without a valid radio station   
   authorization constitutes a violation of the Federal laws and could subject   
   the   
   operator to severe penalties. This includes confiscation of the transmission   
   equipment, substantial monetary forfeitures, and even criminal sanctions   
   including imprisonment.   
      
   Walton was told that he must cease the alleged unlicensed operations   
   immediately. He was also given ten days from the release of the Notice of   
   Unlicensed Operation to respond to it and instructed that he must also   
   supplement his response to the on-scene notice issued to him on August 11th   
   with any evidence that that shows he has the authority to operate granted by   
   the FCC. Lastly the Notice of Unlicensed Operation stated that the   
   Commission's staff will use all relevant material information before it,   
   including that provided by Walton to determine what, if any, enforcement   
   action is required to ensure his compliance with FCC's rules.   
      
   You can read the full FCC action in this matter on-line at   
   tinyurl.com/scv-unlicensed.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I', Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   And before you ask: Yes, Santa Clarita is the home of Amateur Radio Newsline   
   but until now we never knew an unlicensed broadcast station was operating   
   less than 5 miles from our studio location. Obviously, one never knows   
   where these unlicensed broadcasters will show up. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
      
   RADIO LAW: 700 MHZ "4G" USE IN THE U.S./MEXICAN BORDER ZONE   
      
   The U.S. Department of State has posted a news item entitled, "Amendment to   
   the U.S-Mexico Bilateral Agreement for the 700 MHz Band to Allow for the   
   Timely Deployment of Fourth Generation Wireless Broadband Service."   
      
   The news release says that on July 28th, 2011, the FCC and the Mexican   
   Ministry of Communications and Transportation concluded an exchange of   
   letters to amend the 2006 Protocol for the 698 to 806 MHz band This, to   
   increase the power limitations and facilitate increases in parameters when   
   counterpart operators across the border from each other do not exist.   
      
   The release says that the changes were necessary to accommodate the advanced   
   technologies employed for 4th Generation wireless broadband service. The   
   amendment became effective this past July 28th. It applies to both sides   
   of the entire common border area with more on the agreement posted in the at   
   www.state.gov/e/eeb/cip/ (CGC)   
      
   **   
      
   PUBLIC SERVICE: HAMS NEEDED AT BOSTON'S JIMMY FUND WALK   
      
   Steve Schwarm, W3EVE, in Boston says that hams are needed for the Sunday,   
   September 18th for that city's Jimmy Fund Walk. Amateur radio operators who   
   volunteer will be assigned duties on transport busses and at first aid   
   stations. Deployment times run from 5 AM to 7 PM Eastern time and Steve   
   notes that there are still some half day assignments for the morning.   
      
   All communications will take place 2 meter FM. An HT with a good antenna and   
   extra batteries is what is needed for those assigned to the First Aid   
   Stations. A mobile antenna is needed for the buses.   
      
   Drop an e-mail to w3eve at arrl dot net if you can help. Please be sure to   
   put the words Jimmy Fund in the subject. (W3EVE)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: TAPR CALLS FOR NOMINATIONS TO ITS BOD   
      
   Three director positions on the Tucson Amateur Packet Radio board of   
   directors are now open for nomination. The three positions that are up for   
   election are currently held by Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, Steve Bible, N7HPR, and   
   Darryl Smith, VK2TDS. Nominations close with the call for nominations from   
   the floor the Tucson Amateur Packet Radio Membership Meeting to be held on   
   September 17th in Baltimore, Maryland. An online vote will then be held   
   from September 24th to October 7th. To submit a nomination please takes   
   your web browser to tinyurl.com/tapr-elect (TAPR)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: ARRL & TAPR DCC SEPTEMBER 16 - 18 IN BALTIMORE   
      
   And final preparations are in progress for the 30th Annual ARRL and Tucson   
   Amateur Packet Radio Digital Communications Conference slated for September   
   16th to the 18th. This year's venue is the Four Points by Sheraton at B-W-I   
   Airport in Baltimore, Maryland. More information on ths happening is on   
   line at www.tapr.org/dcc. (TAPR)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: MR. AUDIO TO SPEAK AT THE UK NATIONAL HAMFEST   
      
   Some names in the news. The Radio Society of Great Britain says that ham   
   radio's legendary Mr. Audio, Bob Heil, K9EID, will be attending the U-K's   
   National Hamfest. There, he will be demonstrating his new Genesis and Elite   
   microphones and providing one of his always well received lecture   
   presentations.   
      
   The press release says that not only does K9EID make communications headsets   
   but he was the person who brought proper sound reinforcement to many rock   
   bands for stadium concerts as far back as the 1960's. It notes that K9EID   
   is also the inventor of the famed 'Heil Talk Box' used by performer Peter   
   Frampton on the song "Show Me The Way." (National Hamfest PRO)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: ZL3TY RECEIVES 2 METER DXCC NUMBER 69   
      
   Bob McQuarrie, ZL3TY, of Greymouth, New Zealand reports over the Zed-L VHF   
   Contest Reflector that he is now the proud recipient of 2 meter DXCC   
   certificate number 69.   
      
   ZL3TY notes that all but one of the QSOs was made by moonbounce. The lone   
   exception was a meteor scatter QSO with VK0MT. Also that all but a few were   
   made using WSJT digital mode. He says that WSJT has revolutionized VHF   
   DXing and made EME possible for small stations such as his.   
      
   The certificate Bob received from the ARRL was dated June 22nd. What makes   
   this rather special is that it's believed to be a first for New Zealand, for   
   Oceania and possibly the entire Southern Hemisphere. (NZART)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: 2011 YHOTY WINNER KS3P ON THIS WEEKS RAIN REPORT   
      
   And Hap Holly, KC9RP, tells us that this week's Rain Report features a rather   
   in-depth interview with 2011 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year,   
   Kaitlyn Cole, KS3P. You can hear it right now on-line by taking your web   
   browser to www.therainreport.com. (KC9RP)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 2   
      
   This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. From the United States of   
   America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from our   
   only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the   
   volunteer services of the following radio amateur:   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
   **   
      
   THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD: NOTED BROADCAST ENGINEER EARL ARBUCKLE, K6EFA -   
   S.K.   
      
   We have said this before and sadly we must say it once again. The changing of   
   the guard in ham radio continues with word of the sudden passing of noted   
   broadcast engineer Earl F. Arbuckle III, K6EFA, of Secaucus, New Jersey.   
   According to a note from Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, in the early morning hours   
   of Monday, August 29th, K6EFA was taking the trash out but failed to return.   
   Shortly thereafter his wife found him face down on their driveway. While   
   there is no medical confirmation yet, a heart attack is believed to be a   
   possibility.   
      
   At the time of his passing, Earl Arbuckle was the Vice-President of   
   Engineering for Fox Television Stations group. This is the   
   owned-and-operated stations division of Fox Entertainment Group, which is a   
   part of the News Corporation. His responsibilities included strategic   
   planning and execution of new technologies for the stations in the group.   
   Under his direction, all Fox owned stations were converted to digital   
   transmission and most also upgraded to high-definition studio news   
   production. Just prior to his passing, Earl Arbuckle had worked through the   
   weekend of August 27th and 28th on hurricane Irene contingencies for the Fox   
   owned stations in New York City, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania   
   and Boston, Massachusetts.   
      
   Prior to 1996, K6EFA had been employed for 18 years by Tribune Broadcasting.   
   16 of these were spent at New York City's WPIX and 2 years as corporate   
   engineering manager. He joined News Corporation in 1996 as Vice President   
   of Engineering for American Sky Broadcasting where he was part of the core   
   team that designed and built the huge Arizona digital broadcast center,   
   later sold to EchoStar. In late 1997 he moved to the Fox Television Station   
   Group where he began the digital transition. There he launched the first   
   three Fox Television digital stations in 1998, and completed the remaining   
   stations ahead of FCC deadlines.   
      
   Earl Arbuckle was a veteran of the US Navy, reaching the rank of Lieutenant.   
   He was a registered Professional Engineer in the State of New Jersey, an   
   adjunct professor at Ramapo College of New Jersey as well as Chairman of the   
   Mahwah Township Planning Board. He was also a Senior Member of the   
   Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and a member of the   
   Society of Broadcast Engineers.   
      
   A native of southern California, Earl Arbuckle, K6EFA, held a Bachelor of   
   Science degree in Engineering from the University of California at Irvine.   
   He is survived by his wife Pat, his daughter Jennifer and his parents. At   
   airtime memorial services were pending. (KC0DGY, others)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO NEAR SPACE: EOSS TO LAUNCH 3 BALLOON CLUSTER ON SEPTEMBER 10   
      
   Edge of Space Sciences will be flying a rare three balloon cluster for NOAA   
   on Saturday September 10th. The launch will take place at 6:50 a.m.   
   Mountain Time from Windsor Colorado. These will be heavyweight payloads of   
   up to twenty pounds flying NOAA Aircore gear. More information including   
   technical data and frequencies is on-line at tinyurl.com/colorado-balloon   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: 2ND CALL FOR PAPERS FOR AMSAT SPACE SYMPOSIUM   
      
   A second call for papers for papers to be presented at the 2011 AMSAT Space   
   Symposium has been issued by the events planners. Proposals for formal   
   papers, symposium presentations and poster presentations are invited on any   
   topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. A final copy must be   
   submitted by October 1st for inclusion in the printed proceedings. The   
   symposium is slated for Friday, November 4th through Sunday, November 6th at   
   the Wyndham San Jose Hotel, in San Jose, California. Abstracts and   
   completed papers should be sent by e-mail to n8fgv (at) amsat (dot) org.   
   (N8FGV)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: NEXT CREW LAUNCH TO ISS MAY BE DELAYED   
      
   News reports on Friday, August 26th say that Russia may delay the next manned   
   launch for the International Space Station. This, after an unmanned space   
   vessel crashed into Siberia instead of reaching orbit to rendezvous with the   
   ISS.   
      
   Interfax-AVN, the specialist military arm of the Interfax news agency, quoted   
   a source in the rocket and space industry as saying that the planned   
   September 22nd launch could be delayed. Hiis, to give engineering teams   
   time to work out the precise cause of the crash of the Progress cargo   
   vehicle. The Soyuz-FG booster that is due to take the astronauts into space   
   uses the same third stage motor in the Soyuz-U rocket which failed to put   
   the Progress spacecraft into orbit.   
      
   The planned return to Earth from the ISS of two Russians and an American   
   astronaut on September 8th may also be delayed. One possibility is to delay   
   the landing from September 8th to September 22nd and the blast-off the   
   Soyuz-FG from September 22nd to October 6th.   
      
   Current ISS residents Russians Andrei Borisenko, RW7LFG, Alexander   
   Samokutyaev and American Ron Garan, KF5GPO had been due to return to Earth   
   on a Soyuz TMA-21 capsule on September 8. Russians Anton Shkaplerov and   
   Anatoly Ivanishin and American Dan Burbank were then due to fly to the ISS   
   on a Soyuz TMA-22 capsule on September 22. (Published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR: COLORADO 6 METER BEACON BACK ON THE AIR   
      
   Dave Clingerman, W6OAL, reports over the VHF reflector that the KA0CDN slash   
   B   
   Colorado 6 Meter Beacon was brought back on the air on Monday, August 29th.   
   The new beacon hardware runs 50 watts output on 50.065 MHz to an older model   
   HyGain 6 Meter omni antenna. The physical location of the beacon is just   
   east of Denver near the intersection of Interstate 70 and I-225 in   
   Maidenhead grid square DM-79OS. More information on the history of the   
   Colorado Beacon can be found at www.rmvhf.org (VHF Reflector)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, IC8ATA, will be active as 9H3AT from Malta through September 5th. His   
   operation will be holiday style on the High Frequency bands, SSB only and a   
   focus on 17 and 12 meters. QSL via his home callsign, direct or via the   
   bureau. For more details is at www.mdxc.org/9h3at   
      
   JF2QNM will be active portable 9M6 from East Malaysia during the CQWW DX CW   
   Contest November 26th and 27th. QSL via JF2QNM.   
      
   SQ8X has announced that the JX5O DXpedition to Jan Mayen Island has been   
   successfully validated at the ARRL DXCC Desk and has received a DXCC credit.   
   He also says that the JX5O log has been uploaded to Logbook of the World.   
      
   Germany's special event station D-R-16-B-E-N-E has been on the air since July   
   1st, and will continue through October 31st. This to celebrate the visit of   
   Pope Benedict XVI to Freiburg at the end of September. Operations are from   
   the club station D-K-Zero-F-R on 80 through 10 meters using SSB and PSK31.   
   QSL via DL7BC.   
      
   Lastly, SP5DRH will once again try to activate Pigeon Island between October   
   8th to the 21st. His main target will be Europe on 160 meters plus 80, 15   
   and 17 meters. QSL via SP7DQR only. For   
   more details and updates, watch www.sp5drh.com/h40   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: DANCING WITH THE STARS JUDGE VISITS HAM RADIO CLUB IN   
   IRELAND TO LEARN ABOUT THE MORSE CODE   
      
   Dancing With the Stars judge Len Goodman has paid a visit to Lisburn in   
   Northern Ireland to learn about Morse Code. This for a new BBC documentary   
   to be released in the spring of 2012. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley,   
   KI7UP, is here with the details:   
      
   --   
      
   Len Goodman is well known for his appearances on the hit United States   
   television competition series Dancing With the Stars and it's British   
   counterpart known as Strictly Come Dancing. Now comes word that Goodman is   
   in the midst of filming the three part video documentary for the British   
   Broadcasting Corporation titled "Titanic and Me." The purpose of the new   
   serirs is to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the then   
   newly minted luxury ocean liner.   
      
   For the sake of accuracy, Goodman wanted to learn about the Morse Code and   
   how the radio operators on the Titanic may have use of it to summon help.   
   So he turned to the Lagan Valley Amateur Radio Society, which is based just   
   outside the town of Lisburn, Ireland and club member Jim Henry, GI0DVU.   
   This, to teach him about the Morse code and how the radio operators on board   
   the Titanic might have used it as the disaster unfolded.   
      
   At the time it went down, the Titanic was the worlds largest passenger liner.   
   It sank on April 15th, 1912 while on its maiden voyage from Southampton,   
   England, to New York City, after hitting an iceberg in the North Sea. 1,517   
   of its passengers and crew were lost.   
      
   The documentary that Goodman is a part of is expected to reach television   
   screens in the United Kingdom in April of 2012. After that there's a likely   
   chance for it to show up on an educational or adventure television network   
   here in the United States.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, in hot and dry Scottsdale,   
   Arizona.   
      
   --   
      
   The complete story on ham radios involvement in the three part BBC   
   documentary series is on-line at tinyurl.com/titanic-tv. (Ulster Star, KL2A   
   via Facebook)   
      
   **   
      
   NEWSCAST CLOSE   
      
   With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ Magazine,   
   the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB, the   
   Southgate News and Australia's W-I-A News, that's all from the Amateur Radio   
   Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is Newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) org.   
   More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's(tm) only official   
   website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support   
   us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita   
   California, 91350   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jeff Clark,   
   K8JAC, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.   
      
      
   ***   
      
   As a Service to the HAM Radio Community and Ham Operators all around the   
   world, this Amateur Radio Newline(tm) message has been gated from the internet   
   and posted to you by Waldo's Place USA, 1:3634/12. We hope you enjoyed it!   
      
   Please address all comments and questions to the ARNewsletter editor as   
   described in this posting. If you have any specific questions concerning   
   the actual posting of this message service, you may address them to   
   hamfdn -at- wpusa.dynip.com.   
      
   Thank you and good day!   
      
   -73-   
      
      
    * Origin: (1:3634/12)