Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1783 - October 14 2011   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1783 with a release date of Friday,   
   October 14th, 2011 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a QST. The FCC takes on the on-line peddlers of cellphone   
   and other radio jamming devices, Thailand's telecommunications committee   
   donates a repeater to hams helping in flood relief efforts, more on Greece's   
   national society get use of 60 meters and a tribute to a historic radio   
   station in Nashville, Tennessee. All this and more on Amateur Radio   
   Newsline(tm) report number 1783 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: TWENTY ONLINE RETAILERS OF ILLEGAL JAMMING DEVICES TARGETED IN   
   OMNIBUS ENFORCEMENT ACTION   
      
   If you sell things that jam the airwaves, watch out. The FCC is out to get   
   you. We have more in this report.   
      
   --   
      
   The FCC's Enforcement Bureau has issued 20 enforcement actions against online   
   retailers in 12 states. This for illegally marketing more than 200   
   uniquely-described models of cell phone, GPS, Wi-Fi and similar signal   
   jamming devices.   
      
   According to the FCC, these devices have the capacity to prevent, block, or   
   otherwise interfere with authorized radio communications in violation of   
   section 302(b) of the Communications Act and sections 2.803 and 15.201(b) of   
   the Commission's rules. The Enforcement Bureau's actions are intended to   
   warn retailers and potential purchasers that marketing, selling, or using   
   signal jamming devices in the U.S. is illegal and that the FCC will   
   vigorously prosecute these violations.   
      
   In the Omnibus Citation and Order, the Bureau directed each online retailer   
   to take immediate steps to cease marketing signal jamming devices to   
   consumers in the United States and its territories. Such steps include   
   removing the illegal signal jamming devices from online display, expressly   
   excluding consumers in the United States as potential customers, and   
   declining to sell signal jamming devices or complete any sales transaction   
   to consumers in the United States.   
      
   The FCC also ordered the online retailers to provide information about their   
   signal jammer suppliers, distribution channels, and sales including the   
   manufacturer of each illegal signal jamming device, the websites that the   
   online retailer has used to market the devices in the United States or its   
   territories, and the corrective actions the online retailer has taken or   
   will take to comply with federal law prohibiting the marketing and sale of   
   jamming devices.   
      
   Because these enforcement actions were taken against retailers who are not   
   otherwise regulated by the Commission, the Communications Act requires the   
   Commission to first issue a "citation" describing the violation and warning   
   against future misconduct. The Omnibus Citation and Order emphasized that a   
   second violation could lead to monetary penalties of $16,000 to $112,500 per   
   sale per day of unauthorized radio jamming gear.   
      
   For the amateur radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the newsroom,   
   in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   It will be interesting to see how many of those on-line sellers dinged by the   
   FCC actually stop selling these types of jamming devices. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: THAILAND'S NBTC DONATES HAM REPEATER TO ASSIST IN FLOOD RELIEF   
   COMMUNICATIONS   
      
   The Bangkok Post reports that Thailand's newly formed National Broadcasting   
   and Telecommunications Commission, better known by its initials NBTC has   
   donated an amateur radio repeater for use in flood relief communications.   
      
   The NBTC met on Monday, October 10th and first on the agenda was how to help   
   with the flood crisis relief. Speaking at the meeting, its chairman said it   
   was urgent that telecommunications be improved in flood hit areas. For that   
   reason the commission was donating a repeater to the Amateur Radio Operators   
   Group of Ayutthaya to help reinforce its members radio signals to cover a   
   wider area.   
      
   The NBTC's Deputy Chairman added that the commission would continue to help   
   fortify amateur radio networks. Also that it would assign community radio   
   stations to keep the people informed of the flood situation. He closed his   
   remarks by stating that amateur radio operators can be of much help when the   
   country is in crisis.   
      
   You can read more about this story on-line at   
   tinyurl.com/flood-crisis-repeater (Southgate, Bangkok Post)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING: GREECE'S NATIONAL SOCIETY GETS 5 MHZ FOLLOW-UP   
      
   And a follow up to our story last week concerning Greece's national amateur   
   radio society receiving permission to use a single frequency in the 5 MHz   
   band. R-S-G-B News Reader Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has the latest on this still   
   emerging story:   
      
   --   
      
   After three years of negotiation the Radio Amateur Association of Greece has   
   been given permission for its headquarters club station, SZ1SV, to use the   
   channel centered on 5400kHz. SZ1SV is permitted to use 5398.5 to 5401.5kHz   
   for SSB, CW and digital modes, with a maximum power of 100W.   
      
   Since the permission is based upon propagation studies, the Greek association   
   is planning to operate a beacon, somewhat similar to our own 5MHz chain,   
   when the station is not being used for contacts.   
      
   The RSGB has been working closely with Manos, SV1IW, President of the Radio   
   Amateur Association of Greece, on their planned usage of this channel for   
   beaconing, so that this can exist alongside others usage of the channel for   
   QSOs. Plans for the beacon have yet to be finalised, but it will likely   
   operate every 15 minutes, with an alternating CW and PSK31/PSK63 identifier.   
      
      
   I'm Jeramy Boot, and you are listening to the amateur Radio Newsline.   
      
   --   
      
   There's also late word that the proposed beacon may be capable of being   
   remotely switched on and off. This as a further measure to minimize   
   interference to other users of that valuable 60 meter channel. (GB2RS)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING: WORLDS YOUNGEST NATION ACCEPTED INTO THE ITU   
      
   The International Telecommunication Union has announced that the world's   
   newest country, the South Sudan, has joined that world telecommunications   
   governing body. It became the I-T-U's 193rd member state, effective from   
   this past October 3rd. (IRTS)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO POLITICS: WORLD ECONOMIC RECESSION TAKES PORTUGUESE REPEATERS OFF THE   
   AIR   
      
   Several of Portugal's amateur radio repeaters appear to be the latest   
   casualties of the current world economic crisis. In a message to Southgate   
   News, Miguel Andrade, CT1ETL says that all the repeaters and Echolink nodes   
   located near of Spanish border are off line.   
      
   Andrade says that the reason for the blackout is related to the lack of   
   financial support in order to keep these devices working. In other words,   
   the funds are not there at the moment to maintain these systems for their   
   user base.   
      
   CT1ETL notes that Jaime Pinheiro, CT2GPZ, is the technical manager for some   
   of these systems. He is reportedly trying to develop partnerships and   
   sponsors to bring the systems back on the air.   
      
   So far it is still not possible to predict the date if or when some or all   
   might return to normal operation. As we go to air, art least five of   
   Portugal's amateur radio repeater systems on 2 meters and 70 centimeters are   
   down for the count. (CT1ETL, Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard   
   on bulletin stations around the world including the N4MWA repeater serving   
   Phelps, Kentuckey.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: AUSTRALIA'S ACMA GOES AFTER ALLEGED VK REPEATER JAMMER   
      
   A yet to be identified man down-under has found himself the subject of   
   allegations of rules violations and seizure of equipment by the Australian   
   Communications and Media Authority or ACMA. This, following a recent visit   
   to his home.   
      
   The raid, in Melbourne's west, follows a prolonged investigation into   
   interference being experienced by hams on two repeater systems. The   
   regulatory authority successfully applied under for a search warrant issued   
   through the Melbourne Magistrates Court.   
      
   The ACMA has gone quiet since the raid on September 14, while its   
   investigation in ongoing. A court hearing is yet to be set. What is to be   
   alleged are breaches of the Australian Radiocommunications Act 1992.   
      
   In recent months the ACMA has stepped up its enforcement activities against   
   personal communications rules violators. Last June the agency reported how   
   it invoked search warrants and prosecuted two people in Melbourne who used   
   encrypted communications for their own communications. At that time the   
   ACMA found seven radios programmed on the channel suffering interference   
   worth $5000. These were surrendered to it during the court hearing. One   
   offender with an amateur radio entry level Foundation License had it   
   suspended for three months. (VK3PC)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: LAPD INTERNET UNIT HOPES TO CURB FLASH ROBS   
      
   The Los Angeles Police Department's newly created Internet Unit wants to head   
   off any potential instant robberies or so called "flash robs." These are   
   similar to law abiding "flash mobs" that are organized via social networking   
   sites to perform acts of entertainment, dancing or other artistic   
   expression. Only the "flash robs" bring together groups of people who will   
   gather at a department store or other place of business and grab what they   
   can carry away.   
      
   By using public domain search engines like Google and other sites along with   
   tips from the general public the Internet Unit hopes to determine if there   
   is a risk of criminal activity. According to the LAPD, social media is   
   evolving and this department is trying to evolve with the technology.   
   (Published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO RULES: THE LIGHTSQUARED VS. GPS SAGA - ROUND 5 OR 6   
      
   It's the Washington saga that never seems to end. Of coarse we are talking   
   about LightSquared vs. the Global Positioning Industry over concerns over   
   interference between Lightsquared's proposed national system and users of   
   the Global Positioning System in spectrum adjacent to it. And now there's   
   word that Lightsquared may take legal action if it is denied permission by   
   the FCC to build out its planned network.   
      
   Jeffrey Carlisle is LightSquared's Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and   
   Public Policy. In a teleconference with reporters on Monday, October 3rd   
   Carlisle said that if it is impossible to get a decision on this that allows   
   his company to move forward that LightSquared will then have to insist on   
   our legal rights.   
      
   The FCC has said it that it will not permit LightSquared to operate the   
   proposed network unless it can prove the interference problems to GPS users   
   have been solved. Many vendors and users of Global Positioning System   
   equipment have lobbied the FCC to keep LightSquared from running its network   
   in assigned spectrum adjacent to that used by GPS devices. Global   
   Positioning System users claim that the LightSquared network would degrade   
   service to them because signal levels would be far greater than the   
   satellite transmissions used for GPS.   
      
   For its part, LightSquared claims that any problem would be the result of the   
   GPS product suppliers that knew as far back as 2001 that there would be a   
   terrestrial mobile network operating in frequencies adjacent to their   
   devices. The company believes that the problem exists only because of the   
   lack of adjacent channel filtering in current GPS reception equipment and   
   that it's the GPS industry's responsibility to find a cure.   
      
   LightSquared's Carlisle did not elaborate on what action the company might   
   take, however he believes that the FCC's basic rules on interference cannot   
   be used to protect the GPS receivers in this particular instance. He also   
   noted that his company is trying to work with the GPS industry to solve the   
   problem by allowing the FCC to approve the network.   
      
   Meantime some legal analysts are wondering whom it is that LightSquared might   
   file its litigation against. No matter if it's the GPS industry, the FCC or   
   both, any law suit could wind up going on for years with appeals and counter   
   appeals being filed. By then, it's possible that newer technology could   
   have come along making any current day proposal obsolete. (Technology   
   Today, BroadbandReports, various other published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   NET ACCESS: COMCAST OFFERS $9.95 A MONTH BROADBAND TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES   
      
   Comcast, the nation's largest cable operator, is trying to bring broadband   
   Internet to the less fortunate. This with a new program that the company   
   says is aimed at reducing the digital divide between high and low income   
   communities in Internet accessibility and digital literacy.   
      
   Called "Internet Essentials," the company says low income families will now   
   be able to obtain a fast Internet connection for $9.95 per month. To be   
   eligible, families must have an income of less than $25,000 and a child who   
   qualifies for the free school lunch program. Because Internet access   
   doesn't do much good without a computer, Comcast is also offering coupons   
   that will allow these families to buy a basic personal computer for about   
   $150.   
      
   According to Comcaast, this is not a short term promotional deal. According   
   to a company spokesperson, it is a permanent price as long as the child   
   remains in the free lunch program. It also says that those who qualify will   
   not have to purchase any other Comcast service.   
      
   The big question now is whether low income families will avail themselves of   
   this budged priced Internet access program. John Horrigan worked with the   
   FCC on its National Broadband Plan. He says that in surveys, non Internet   
   users say that while price is a big barrier, they also cited other reasons.   
   These include digital skills and lack of awareness of relevant content   
   online as other reasons that the Internet is not of interest.   
      
   Horrigan, who currently serves with the Internet awareness group TechNet says   
   Comcast will have to do more than drop the price. It will also have to   
   offer additional support services, so that these families become sustainable   
   broadband adopters. More on this story is on-line at   
   www.internetessentials.com. (Comcast, PC World, EdWeek, others)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: SA AMSAT ISSUE FIRST CALL FOR SPACE SYMPOSIUM PAPERS   
      
   South Africa AMSAT has issued the first call for papers for the 2012 Space   
   Symposium to be held in Durban next May 12th at the University of   
   KwaZulu-Natal. If you would like to present a paper,   
   please send a brief synopsis to reach SA AMSAT by no later than January 31st   
   2012. The theme will be 50 years of OSCAR which celebrates the launch of   
   the first amateur radio satellite on December 12th, 1961. (SARL)   
      
   **   
      
   HISTORIC NOTES: PHOTOGRAPHY IN SPACE - THE HASSELBLAD ON-ORBIT   
      
   Although the astronauts now use digital cameras the Hasselblad camera was the   
   film camera standard for much of the space program's history. And because   
   of this an astronaut's photography manual developed by Hasselblad for NASA   
   astronauts to learn to get the most out of the camera.   
      
   This 40-page color booklet is considered to be a really solid photography   
   guide, with great information on lenses, exposure settings, and camera   
   technique. Any photographer could get some use out of it, but if you   
   happen to be up in space, you'll have everything you need to get that   
   perfect shot. Anyone in space or on the ground can access it in .pdf format   
   at tinyurl.com/4dupx8s. (ANS, UniverseToday)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: LEW MCFADIN W5DID INTERVIEWED BY DX COFFEE   
      
   Some names in the news. First up this week is Lou McFadin, W5DID, who is   
   best known in ham radio as the engineer behind designing and flight   
   qualifying the ham radio gear on the space shuttle flights and then aboard   
   the ISS. Well Lou's life and career is the feature article in the current   
   issue of DX Coffee. There you will find an interview Lou that which traces   
   his 30 years of involvement in space with projects at NASA and AMSAT.   
      
   W5DID worked for NASA from 1967 to 1995 on projects ranging from Apollo moon   
   landings to   
   Lunar Orbit Experiments, the Apollo Soyuz program, the Shuttle, and the ISS.   
   His work literally helped man conquer the final frontier of space. For the   
   entire story of Lou's Amazing three decades with NASA, simply take your web   
   browser to tinyurl.com/W5DID-in-space. (ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: FRANK GREENE NAMED NEW RAC OFFIUCE ADMINISTRATOR   
      
   Radio Amateurs of Canada says that it has recruited Frank Greene as its new   
   Office Administrator. Green comes to the Canadian national amateur radio   
   society with an extensive management and business background. This includes   
   such specialized areas as sales and marketing, accounting and   
   administration, human resources, staff coordination, facilities management,   
   and project management. He has also participated in several consulting   
   assignments from capacity planning to disaster contingency preparation.   
   (RAC)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: WALT MAYFIELD KE5SOO APPOINTED AS NORTH TESAS SM   
      
   And as of Wednesday, October 5th, the ARRL North Texas Section has a new   
   Section Manager in the person of Walt Mayfield, KE5SOO.   
      
   According to an ARRL press release, Membership and Volunteer Programs Manager   
   Dave Patton, NN1N, made the appointment in consultation with West Gulf   
   Division Director David Woolweaver, K5RAV.   
      
   The release noted that Mayfield has served as the North Texas Section   
   Emergency Coordinator and is the president of the Denton County Amateur   
   Radio Association. He replaces Jay Urish, W5GM, who has stepped down as   
   Section Manager for personal reasons. Mayfield's appointment continues   
   through March 31, 2013. (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: QSLS SOLICITED FOR 90 YEAR OLD HAM   
      
   And a note from Tad Cook, K7RA, says that his fathers cousin Bill Kingsley,   
   W7UVU, is 90 years old and in hospice care. Cook says that Kingsley had a   
   career in the US Navy and was also licensed as F0GKL and F7ER in years past.   
      
   K7RA says that W7UVU was active on the High Frequency bands until recently,   
   and has been a licensed ham for nearly 3/4 of a century.   
      
   Cook says that he would really appreciate it if amateur radio operators would   
   send him their QSL card with a short greeting. You can send your cards to   
   Bill Kingsley, W7UVU, 65 W. 30th. Ave., Apartment 524, Eugene, Oregon   
   97405-3373.   
      
   K7RA adds a big thank you in advance to anyone who responds. (K7RA)   
      
   **   
      
   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)   
      
   **   
      
   EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: ULTRASONIC BATTERY CHARGING   
      
   The day when we don't have to plug in our consumer electronics is getting   
   close. This according to a claim a from new startup firm named uBeam that   
   has developed what it terms as a safe way of beaming power to charge your   
   batter operated devices.   
      
   Rather than using inductive charging, which has a very short effective range   
   and usually requires that the charger and device be in close proximity to   
   each other, uBeam uses an ultrasonic transducer to convert power from your   
   wall socket into inaudible sound energy. On the device side, there's a   
   battery adapter that converts the sound energy back into power to charge   
   your batteries.   
      
   The ultrasonic frequency used is well above the range that can be heard by   
   humans or dogs. More is on-line at www.ubeam.com (VK7WI news)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: RADIO/TV MARTI VS. CUBA ON AUTO TEXTING   
      
   Cuba alleges that the United States operated Radio and Television Marti is   
   violating that nations laws. This is because the broadcaster may disrupt   
   Cuba's cellular text-messaging structure with a computerized system that can   
   send up to 24,000 text messages a week to cell phones on the island.   
      
   Developed for mass marketing campaigns, the system makes it almost impossible   
   to block the texts because the computer makes them look as though each   
   individual message was sent from a different telephone number.   
      
   The stations director is Carlos Garc=EDa-Perez. He says that Radio and   
   Television Marti is using the text messages to deliver the same kind of news   
   and information that the US government-run stations already broadcast to the   
   island. (Media Network)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: BBC TO CUTBACK MEDIUM WAVE AND LOOSE LONG WAVE OPERATIONS   
      
   The British Broadcasting Corporation says that its that Medium Wave   
   broadcasts will be cut back and the Radio 4 Long Wave transmissions will   
   eventually cease. According to the BBC, there will be reductions in   
   medium-wave transmissions for local radio in England where coverage   
   replicates FM. There will also be no reinvestment in long wave, which will   
   lead to the end of Radio 4 operations eventually going away.   
      
   The changes are in part the result of a restructuring of the BBC which is   
   also planning to cut 2,000 jobs and radically change programming in order to   
   cut 20% from its budget over the next five years. More on this is on-line   
   at tinyurl.com/BBC-Longwave-cutbacks. (BBC)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: HELP SOUGHT IN TRACKING UPCOMING LAUNCH OF AUBIESAT-1   
      
   Help in tracking the upcoming launch of the AubieSat-1 ham radio satellite is   
   being sought by Professor Jean-Marie P Wersinger, KI4YAU, who is Professor   
   Emeritus and Director of Auburn University Student Space Program in Alabama.   
      
   AubieSat is scheduled for launch at 9:52 UTC on October 25th from Vandenberg   
   Air Force Base in California. AS-1 is designed to transmit with a power of   
   about 800 milliwatts on a frequency of 437.475 MHz, plus or minus Doppler   
   correction. The beacon signal, along with telemetry, will be sent using   
   continuous wave Morse code at 20 words per minute. Additional telemetry   
   from the on board science experiment will use CW transmissions up to 60 WPM.   
      
      
   Professor Wersinger says that based on the pre-launch orbital data provided   
   by NASA, AubieSat-1 will activate after deployment at 12:21 UTC. At that   
   time the sub-satellite point will be at 34.52 degrees South latitude and   
   1.52 degrees West longitude over the South Atlantic Ocean. An Echolink   
   conference group is planned to begin one-half hour prior to launch and   
   continue until about 30 minutes after confirmation of the first receipt of   
   signals from the satellite.   
      
   AubieSat-1 is an undergraduate built CubeSat satellite developed by Auburn   
   University. Reception reports go by e-mail to wersijp (at) auburn (dot)   
   edu and tam0013 (at) auburn (dot) edu. (KI4YAU, ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR: VK100RAV CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF HAM RADIO IN AUSTRALIA'S   
   VICTORIA STATE   
      
   On the air, listen out for the special Australian VK100ARV during the month   
   of November. This will likely be a well sought after call and qualifies   
   toward the Australian Amateur Radio Centenary Award.   
      
   By way of background, 2011 is the 100th anniversary of the Amateur Wireless   
   Society of Victoria, that was formed in 1911. It quickly changed its name   
   to the Wireless Institute of Victoria, and today is known as Amateur Radio   
   Victoria. VK100ARV will be operational to commemorate that founding event.   
   (VK3PC)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR: LM9L40Y CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF THE LA9L RADIO CLUB   
      
   A reminder for the prefix hunters that the special event albeit somewhat   
   complicated call LM9L-40Y will be on the air until the end of December.   
   This station is being operated by members of the LA9L Radio Club in Norway   
   and is to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of that   
   organization. (WIA News)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR: ROCKALL OPERATION DEEMED A SUCCESS   
      
   And the recent MM0RAI/P Rockall DXpedition is being considered as being a   
   major success. The team managed to land on the rock and set up the station.   
   Operation started on October 1st at 15:45 UTC and ended on October 2nd at   
   06: 52 UTC. Online logs will be available shortly. For more information,   
   including photographs, check out www.rockall.be. (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, HB9IQB has been granted a license by the Palestinian Ministry of   
   Telecommunications and Technology in Ramallah. He plans to be active as   
   E-44-P-M starting at 0001 U-T-C on December 16th, or possibly a few hours   
   earlier. The log for his operation will be uploaded onto the Logbook of The   
   World soon after he goes QRT. For more details, QSL details and updates,   
   please visit tinyurl.com/4yc9st8 on the World-Wide-Web.   
      
   N6HD will be active portable 4-Xray from Israel between October 23rd and   
   November 3rd. His operation will be on 160 through 10 meters using CW and   
   SSB. QSL via his home callsign or electronically using Logbook of the   
   World.   
      
   JK1KSB will take to the airwaves as 8Q7SO from Mirihi Island Resort in the   
   Maldives between October 28th and November 3rd. Activity will be holiday   
   style on 80 through 10 meters using CW, RTTY, SSB and PSK31. QSL via   
   JK1KSB, either via the bureau or to the address on QRZ.com.   
      
   AJ9C will be operational from Nicaragua as YN2CC starting on November 24th   
   and continuing to December 5th. He will be active on 160-10 m CW , SSB and   
   RTTY. He plans to take part in the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest November   
   26th and 27th as well. QSL electronically using Logbook of the World.   
      
   G3RWF will be active as 5X1NH from Uganda starting November 23rd for three   
   weeks. His on the air time will have an emphasis on low bands using a new   
   amplifier. QSL via his home callsign.   
      
   Lastly, An international team of operators will be active from Hatiheu, Nuku   
   Hiva in the Marquesas Islands between October 19th and November 1st.   
   Activity will be on all bands and modes including an entry in the CQWW DX   
   SSB Contest from October 29th to the 30th. Operations will be on 160   
   through 10 meters including the 30, 17 and12 meter bands on CW, SSB and   
   RTTY. QSL and other information is on-line at www.tx7m.com.   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: THE HISTORIC RED AND WHITE DIAMOND TOWER IN NASHVILLE   
   TENNESSEE   
      
   And finally this week, a big happy birthday to radio station the that's   
   likely best known in technical circles as the home of one of the last of the   
   famed Blaw-Knox diamond shaped towers in the world, and to county music   
   aficionados as the radio birthplace of that genre of music. Of coarse we   
   are talking about radio station WSM in Nashville, Tennessee and Amateur   
   Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI6UP, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   At 8 o'clock in the evening of October 5, 1925, some 300 people gathered at   
   the corner of 7th and Union Street in Nashville, Tennessee to hear the first   
   broadcast of WSM-AM. Since then, the station has literally putting   
   Nashville on the map as the home of country music.   
      
   In a press interview, WSM operations manager Joe Limardi said that the early   
   stages of broadcast country was on that day when the Grand Ole Opry was born   
   on the station back in 1925. Also. that the phrase "Music City U.S.A." was   
   first used by WSM announcer David Cobb in 1950. Today it is Nashville's   
   world-wide nickname.   
      
   Limbardi says that the station has evolved over the past 8 and a half decades   
   that it has been on the air. Todays Internet technology brings WSM to   
   listeners around the globe. According to one report, more people listen to   
   the station on-line, than do over the air in Nashville proper. Limbardi   
   says that's the reason why the station put the effort behind being heard on   
   line, and being heard on your apps on smartphones.   
      
   There is so much history associated with WSM-AM. Each person who works at the   
   station is well aware of the people who was there before them. But they   
   also know to be a viable, profitable radio station WSM needs more than   
   history on its side. That is why technology is so important to mission of   
   the station.   
      
   Limardi says that those new web listeners will allow WSM-AM to be around for   
   another 86 years, adding that the digital age has made it possible for WSM   
   to reach a much larger audience than in years past.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale,   
   Arizona.   
      
   --   
      
   According to Wikipedia dot com, WSM's red and white diamond-shaped Blaw-Knox   
   antenna tower has a story unto its own and is one of the area's landmarks.   
   When it was built in 1932, the then 878-foot tower was the tallest antenna   
   structure in North America. Its height was reduced to 808 feet in 1939. It   
   is now one of the oldest operating broadcast towers in the United States and   
   is listed as a National Engineering Landmark and this past March 15th it was   
   added to the National Register of Historic Places. As an aside to this   
   story, the Mississippi amateur radio operator's license plate features a   
   diamond Blaw-Knox tower with lightning bolts shooting from the top. A   
   classy ham plate indeed. (RW, Wikipedia, other sources)   
      
   **   
      
   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 Don Wilbanks,   
   AE5DW, saying 73 from sunny Mississippi 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   
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   hamfdn -at- wpusa.dynip.com.   
      
   Thank you and good day!   
      
   -73-   
      
      
    * Origin: (1:3634/12)