Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1791 - December 9 2011   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1791 with a release date of Friday,   
   December 9th, 2011 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T. Utah hams are called up as winds cause emergency   
   dispatch communications delays; the FCC grants secondary use status to   
   micro-power medical networks at 70 centimeters; an Afghanistan broadcaster   
   becomes an intruder on 40 meters and an old holiday poem is revisited from a   
   ham radio point of view. Find out the details are on Amateur Radio Newsline   
   (tm) report number 1791 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: UTAH HAMS ASKED TO ASSIST AFTER SHERIFF DISPATCH CENTER   
   OVERLOAD   
      
   Ham radio operators were called out to assist authorities after the Davis   
   County Utah Sheriff's dispatch service suffered a communications overload.   
   We have more in this report:   
      
   --   
      
   As a wind storm swept across the city of Bountiful, Utah, on Thursday,   
   December 1st, the local sheriff's office soon found its emergency response   
   dispatch system overloaded. At times precious minutes were being wasted as   
   operators tried to contact units in the field only to find their messages   
   delayed. That's when Davis County Sheriff's Lieutenant Brad Wilcox decided   
   to call in some assistance from the local ham radio community. Contacted   
   was Gary Johnson, N7DND, of the Davis County Amateur Radio Club who picks up   
   the story from here:   
      
   --   
      
   N7DND: "When he said that the telephone system and the UCAN system were   
   becoming saturated with phone calls and emergencies, he wanted a backup. So   
   he asked us to activate..."   
   --   
      
   It took Johnson only a short time to get an information net established on   
   the club repeater with a total of 18 hams responding. The next step was to   
   find out where they were needed and the jobs they might be required to do:   
      
   --   
      
   N7DND: "I asked the Sheriff what were his first needs and his first needs   
   were for two people to come to the Sheriff's Office and go to the ecomm room   
   and act as people who would work with him and the Sheriff's Office to pass   
   health and welfare traffic. So that was about 10 in the morning and it   
   evolved from there."   
      
   --   
      
   And evolve it did. Again Gary Johnson, N7DND:   
      
   --   
      
   N7DND: "There were 18 operators that took part. I continued to be Net   
   Control and worked through that as we needed to. About 1 p.m. I turned Net   
   Control over to another amateur at our local hospital and then I went down   
   and assumed the responsibility with Bountiful city and activated the people   
   that I needed to in order to take care of their health and welfare needs.   
      
   "The net went on until about 16:00 Utah time. At that point the Sheriff   
   released us to go back to work for our own served agencies. The next   
   morning we started at around 8 a.m. and we were working again until about 5   
   p.m. that night. 17:00 hours that at night."   
      
   --   
      
   The hams were activated a third time on Sunday, December 4th to provide   
   communications assistance for volunteers from the local L-D-S church took on   
   the arduous task of cleaning away numerous fallen tress. Johnson says that   
   the ham radio communications team assisted in the dispatch of people to the   
   locations where they were needed and directed the trucks loaded with storm   
   debris to the dump areas. Johnson says that by early evening the clean-up   
   was complete and the ham radio volunteers were able to stand down.   
      
   With a hearty congratulations to the hams of Davis County Utah on a job well   
   done I'm Don Carlson, KQ6FM in Reno.   
      
   --   
      
   The work performed by the volunteer ham radio operators was featured in a   
   news report on K-S-L television in Salt Lake City. The story titled Ham   
   Radio Come to the Rescue During Utah Wind Storm. You can see it on line at   
   tinyurl.com/utah-windstorm-hams. (ARNewsline(tm))   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: NO HAMS FOR MUMNBAI INDIA DISASTER SERVICE   
      
   DNA India reports on the lack of amateur radio operators for a ham radio   
   emergency communications system set up in Mumbai. Amateur Radio Newsline's   
   Heather Butera-Howell, KB3TZD, has more:   
      
   --   
      
   The DNA India news report says that in order to enhance its emergency   
   communication system the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation or B-M-C has   
   established ham radio stations at its headquarters and several other sites   
   that it oversees. The only problem is that so far the B-M-C has not been   
   able to find anyone to operate them.   
      
   To remedy this situation the B-M-C decided to send 40 of its disaster control   
   operators for free amateur radio training. Now the six-month course has   
   come to an abrupt end with no new operators produced by the effort.   
      
   An official speaking on condition of anonymity told the newspaper that the   
   course to obtain an Indian ham radio license is very technical. It's   
   actually part of a radio engineering program that normally takes two years   
   to be completed. But the same training was being imparted in span of six   
   months and making it all but impossible to grasp. The article infers that   
   as a result of the complexity of the training that there were few who   
   actually completed it.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Heather Butera-Howell, KB3TZD near   
   Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.   
      
   --   
      
   According to the DNA India article, even those who are able to pass India's   
   ham radio exam still face other hurdles. It notes that the Indian amateur   
   radio licensing system seems to be plagued with bureaucracy. After passing   
   the licensing test it can take 12 to18 months for government officials to   
   process the license application. More is on-line at   
   tinyurl.com/India-emcomm-hams. (Southgate, DNA India)   
      
   **   
      
   FCC NEWS: FCC GRANTS SECONDARY SERVICE ALLOCATION TO WIRELESS   
   BROADBAND MEDICAL MICROPOWER NETWORKS   
      
   Ham radio will soon be sharing the 70 centimeter band with micro-power   
   medical devices.   
      
   At its regular meeting on Wednesday, November 30, the four-member FCC   
   Commission unanimously agreed to allocate spectrum and adopt service and   
   technical rules for the utilization of new implanted medical devices that   
   operate on 413 to 457 MHz spectrum. These devices will be used on a   
   secondary basis as part of the Medical Data Radiocommunication Service in   
   Part 95 of the FCC rules.   
      
   According to the FCC, these devices would greatly expand the use of   
   functional electric stimulation to restore sensation, mobility and function   
   to those persons with paralyzed limbs and organs; they would be implanted in   
   a patient and function as wireless broadband medical micropower networks or   
   MMN's.   
      
   These new rules are the result of a Notice of Proposed Rule Making that the   
   FCC released in March 2009. A Report & Order that will define these new   
   rules is expected soon.   
      
   As hams already know, the Amateur Radio Service in the United States also has   
   a secondary allocation on the 70 cm band from 430 to 450 MHz. While it's   
   unlikely that these flea power devices will bother very many radio amateurs,   
   its unknown what affect ham radio will have on the ability of these devices   
   to share spectrum with hams or any other users of the entire 413 to 457 MHz   
   70 centimeter allocation. (FCC, ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   INTRUDER WATCH: NATIONAL RADIO AFGHANISTAN ON 40 METERS   
      
   Uli Bihlmayer, DJ9KR, reports that National Radio Afghanistan is operating on   
   7 point 2 MHz in the amateur Radio 40 meter band. DJ9KR says via the   
   IARU-Region 1 website that he monitored the station on November 28th as   
   being centered on 7200 kHz and covering 7195 through 7205 kHz with its audio   
   sidebands.   
      
   DJ9KR says that the best way to handle this situation is to inform your   
   nation's telecommunications agency if you are suffering interference from   
   National Radio of Afghanistan and ask them to file an international   
   complaint. Another recommended procedure is to file a report with the   
   Intruder Watch coordinator in your nation. (IARU-R1 Website)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: ISS SHADOW BEACON EXPERIMENT POSTPONED   
      
   The recently announced Plasma Thrust space "Shadow-beacon" experiment using   
   amateur radio has been postponed until after the delivery of a new rig next   
   April. This, because of a problem with the current gear on-board the   
   orbiting outpost.   
      
   Sergey Samburov RV3DR, of the Russian space corporation "Energia" is among   
   those responsible for amateur radio operations from the ISS. He says that   
   the onboard radio was self switched onto the standard simplex frequency   
   of145.825 MHz instead of the required duplex 144.360 / 145.825 MHz   
   digipeater mode because of the old age of the gear. It has been in use more   
   than 10 years.   
      
   Samburov says that a new radio is planned to be delivered to the ISS by cargo   
   vehicle in April. Because of this, Mission Control Center plans to hold the   
   "Shadow-beacon" sessions in May or June of 2012. Look for more space   
   related ham radio news items later on in this weeks report. (ARISS)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard   
   on bulletin stations around the world including the KC4HAZ repeater network   
   serving all of Central Florida.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: NEW EAS RULES BEFORE THE END OF 2011   
      
   According to Radio World Consultant Gary Timm's AWARE Forum Blog reports that   
   the new EAS rules may be out by the end of this month. Amateur Radio   
   Newsline's Jim Damron, N8TMW, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   In his postings Timm writes that based on two recent informal conversations   
   with FCC staffers it was stated that the FCC intends to release its revised   
   Emergency Alert System rules covering the use of the Common Alerting   
   Protocol in EAS alerts by the end of 2011.   
      
   The FCC had released its proposed EAS Common Alerting Protocol rules last May   
   26th and has been considering the public comments it received on those   
   proposed rules since that comment period closed on August 4th. The   
   regulations will likely be the final EAS Common Alerting Protocol rules   
   stated in an FCC Report and Order, and no further comment will be accepted   
   on those implemented rules.   
      
   From Charleston, West Virginia, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW, reporting.   
      
   --   
      
   Timm writes that despite the follow-up investigation of problems involving   
   last months national EAS test, the commission still feels it can meet its   
   year-end target for release of the new rules. (CGC, B&C, others)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: FCC AFFIRMS TWO FINES FOR UNLICENSED OPERATION   
      
   The FCC fined two people for unauthorized operations of a radio station. In   
   the first case the regulatory agency affirmed an earlier proposed $15,000   
   monetary forfeiture issued to John E. Criteser, Jr.. This, for operating   
   an unlicensed transmitter on 95.1 MHz in Lake Park, Florida. The agency said   
   in its decision that Criteser did not respond to an October notification.   
      
   In the second matter, the commission reaffirmed an earlier $10,000 fine   
   against Neil Davis for operating an unlicensed transmitter on 96.1 MHz in   
   Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Davis too, did not respond to the initial Notice   
   of Apparent Liability and that's why the FCC escalated the penalty to the   
   level of forfeiture.   
      
   Both Criteser and Davis were given the customary 30 days to pay or to file an   
   appeal. If they fail to respond this time their cases may be turned over to   
   the Justice Department for collection. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: FLORIDA CABLE COMPANY FINED FOR MULTIPLE INFRACTIONS   
      
   Still in Florida, the FCC has affirmed a $25,000 monetary forfeiture issued   
   to St. George Cable, Inc which is the operator of the cable television   
   system in St. George Island, Florida, for willful and repeated violation of   
   sections 11.35(a), 76.605(a)(12), 76.611(a), and 76.1801 of the Commission's   
   rules. The alleged violations involved St. George's failure to install   
   Emergency Alert System equipment; operation of its cable system with   
   excessive signal leakage; and failure to register its cable system with the   
   Commission.   
      
   This past September 30th the Enforcement Bureau's Tampa Office issued a   
   Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $25,000 to St.   
   George based on the then alleged violations. To date St. George has not   
   filed a response. Based on the information before it, the FCC now says that   
   it has affirmed the forfeiture and given the company the customary 30 days   
   to pay the fine or to file an appeal. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   TELECOMMUNICATIONS NEWS: THREE CABLECASTERS GIVE UP CREATING THEIR OWN   
   WIRELESS NETWORKS   
      
   Cable companies Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks are   
   giving up on their idea of creating their own wireless network. On Friday,   
   December 2nd the three cable giants announced that that they have agreed to   
   sell their wireless licenses to Verizon Wireless and will instead become   
   resellers of the Verizon Wireless service.   
      
   Cable companies have long held the ambitions to open a second service to   
   challenge frontrunners AT&T and Verizon by setting up their own wireless   
   networks. In the meantime, some of them have partnered with Sprint Nextel   
   and Clearwire to offer wireless service. The deal between Comcast, Time   
   Warner Bright House Networks with Verizon will net the three cable delivery   
   service providers some $3.6 billion dollars. The complete story is on-line   
   at tinyurl.com/wireless-cable-deal. (Published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: SPECTRUM AUCTION BILL APPROVED BY HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS   
   SUBCOMMITTEE   
      
   A follow-up to last weeks story on a House Communications Subcommittee   
   Spectrum Auction bill. In a 17 to 6 vote the Republican version of the   
   spectrum incentive auction measure that would give the FCC the authority to   
   pay broadcasters for voluntarily giving up spectrum to be auctioned for   
   broadband use has been approved. The measure, backed by Subcommittee   
   Chairman Greg Walden, W7EQI, of Oregon also contains a funding clause to   
   help broadcasters left behind for moving or sharing channels and the   
   establishment of a nationwide interoperable emergency communications   
   network.   
      
   That $3 billion measure is three times as much as Democrats were proposing in   
   their version. The bill will now go to full committee for markup, where   
   Democrats said they hoped they could negotiate compromises, though they got   
   no promises from the Republican majority.   
      
   A separate Senate bill has passed the Commerce Committee and is awaiting a   
   floor vote. If both are approved and signed into law by President Obama, the   
   ensuing auction is projected to return at least $15 billion to the treasury   
   for deficit reduction after paying out all the expenses for the projects and   
   reimbursements contained in the bill. (B&C)   
      
   **   
      
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: COPPS TO STEP DOWN AS FCC COMMISSIONER   
      
   FCC Commissioner Michael Coops has notified President Barack Obama that he   
   plans to resign as an FCC Commissioner effective January 1, 2012. Amateur   
   Radio Newsline's Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   Michael Copps is one of the longest seated FCC Commissioners. He has served   
   in that position since May 2001 and in January 2009, he took on the   
   additional role of acting FCC Chairman. That, following the resignation of   
   then-FCC Chairman Kevin Martin. Copps voluntarily relinquished the   
   chairmanship to Julius Genachowski after the latter was sworn into office in   
   June 2009.   
      
   His public letter of resignation gave no reason for his departure from the   
   FCC, however Copps indicated that he plans to speak about broadband   
   expansion and other issues as a private citizen. Copps has long been a   
   vocal critic of media consolidation. In 2010 he was the only commissioner   
   to vote against Comcast's takeover of NBC Universal.   
      
   If the Senate does not confirm a successor prior to Copps' departure, the FCC   
   will be meeting with only three commissioners. At present, Chairman Julius   
   Genachowski, Commissioner Mignon Clyburn and the departing Copps are   
   Democrats. By law, only three of the five Commissioners may be members of   
   the same political party.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, watching the   
   politics in D.C. from Zion, Illinois.   
      
   --   
      
   Since June 2010 when Meredith Attwell Baker left the Commission, Robert   
   McDowell has been the lone Republican commission member. (Published news   
   reports)   
      
   **   
      
   HAMVENTION NEWS: NO INCREASE IN FLEA MARKET SPACE COST IN 2012   
      
   The Dayton Hamvention has announced that Flea Market vendor space cost will   
   not be changing in 2012. All in-aisle Flea Market vendor spaces will still   
   be $70.00 each with end of aisle spaces remaining at $100.   
      
   Also, ham radio clubs can rent 4 spaces in a row or front to back, excluding   
   end spaces, for $100. This after providing they supply proof that the club   
   exists at time of payment.   
      
   Also those making club purchases are advised to do so directly with the Flea   
   Market Sales Office and not on-line. This is because the Flea Market   
   Committee will have to adjust the prices before your payment is made.   
      
   For more information please contact the committee by e-mail to fleamarket   
   (at) Hamvention (dot) org (Hamvention)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: 2012 QCWA NATIONAL CONVENTION TO TAKE PLACE IN RENO NEVADA   
      
   The first Western states Q-C-W-A National Convention in been over a decade   
   will take place September 24th through the 27th in Reno, Nevada. The venue   
   selected is the Harrah Hotel and Convention Center which is located in   
   downtown Reno which is less than a block from the underground Amtrak train   
   station. It also provides free shuttle service to and from the Reno   
   International airport.   
      
   The convention is being hosted primarily by the Northern California Chapter   
   11 which is at this time soliciting assistance from other Western states   
   QCWA groups. To volunteer your service or for more information on this   
   upcoming event please contact the conventions chair by e-mail to WB6IMX (at)   
   ATT (dot) net. (QCWA)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS SATELLITE ARC CELEBRATES ITS 50th ANNIVERSARY   
      
   While this is short notice, the Satellite Amateur Radio Club at Vandenberg   
   Air Force Base in California, will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of   
   the club and OSCAR-1 which it was formed to support in 1961. Operation will   
   be on Saturday December 12th from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM Pacific time. The call   
   to listen out for is W6AB using SSB on 80 through 10 meters. QSL   
   information can be found on QRZ.com page for W6AB. (KA6BFB)   
      
   **   
      
   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: NEW VERSION OF ROS RELEASED   
      
   A new version of ROS data software has released by author Jos=E9 Alberto   
   Nieto Ros, EA5HVK. The updates include improved performance for High   
   Frequency N-V-I-S communications.   
      
   Also, as of December 1st the code structure of ROS HF was changed in order to   
   support mid to low band NVIS propagation. Versions prior to 6.8.4 will be   
   incompatible with the latest version. There is no change to the Medium   
   Frequency and E-M-E modes. You can download the new version of ROS from   
   rosmodem.wordpress.com/2011/01/10/ros-2. (ROS)   
      
   **   
      
   TECH TIP: A FREE ACCESSORY FOR YOUR iPHONE 4S   
      
   According to photographer and news photo-journalist Tony Buittitta, KD6AJG,   
   your Apple ear buds can also be used as a cable release for the new iPhone   
   4S while using it as a camera. Tony says that you simply plug the supplied   
   ear buds into the iPhone, launch the camera app, steady the shot using your   
   favorite stand then squeeze the + button on the ear buds. Your iPhone 4S   
   will take shot that is as steady as a rock. Tony adds that the best part is,   
   the cable release comes included in the box. He says that this tip is   
   especially great for long exposures. (KD6AJG)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: NASA TO COVER ALL ASPECTS OF NEXT CREW TO ISS LIVE   
      
   NASA Television will cover Expedition 31 pre-launch activities, launch and   
   docking to the International Space Station orbital laboratory during the   
   next several weeks.   
      
   Expedition 30 NASA astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT, Russian Soyuz Commander Oleg   
   Kononenko, RN3DX and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Andre Kuipers,   
   PI9ISS are scheduled to launch on Dec. 21st at 7:16 a.m. Central Standard   
   Time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Their trip to the I-S-S   
   will take two days. They are set to dock to the station at approximately   
   9:20 a.m. on Friday, December 23rd.   
      
   Pettit, Kononenko and Kuipers will join Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank,   
   KC5ZSX, Russian Flight Engineers Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin,   
   who have been on the station since November 16th. The three will remain on   
   the station until May as members of the Expedition 31 crew.   
      
   For a complete schedule of streaming netcast times please visit   
   www.nasa.gov/ntv. (NASA)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: FASTRAC 1 NEEDS YOUR HELP   
      
   The FASTRAC satellites have been in operation for more than a year and the   
   team has been able to get a lot of data from them. But over the last month   
   the team noticed that one of FASTRAC-1's on board microcontrollers which   
   controls one of the experiments has not been booting up correctly. The team   
   has done everything possible to correct this issue apart from turning it off   
   which can only happen if the batteries fall below a specific charge level.   
      
   Since the satellites have been power positive throughout this whole year the   
   only way this can happen is if the satellites transmit more often. Given   
   that one of FASTRAC goals has always been to eventually provide a platform   
   for amateur radio enthusiasts to use after the primary mission was over, the   
   team has decided to open up FASTRAC-1 to the amateur radio community with   
   the hope as more people use it to digipeat through the satellite, the   
   battery levels will diminish and cause a hard reset of the microcontrollers   
   on board.   
      
   The satellite is configured so that hams were able to begin using it to   
   digipeat on December 2nd. To increase the chances of causing a hard reset,   
   it was requested that as many amateur radio enthusiasts as possible try to   
   digipeat through the satellite on the weekend of December 10th.   
      
   If you are successful at digipeating through the satellites or have any   
   problems doing so please let us the team know by e-mail to fastracsats (at)   
   gmail (dot) com or via the Facebook page www.facebook.com/fastracsats.   
   (FASTRAC)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO IN SPACE: NEW WEATHER SAT TO COVER WEST COAST   
      
   The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a new weather   
   satellite covering the west coast. GOES-15, which was launched last May has   
   completed its certification process and is replacing the old GOES-11 in a   
   fixed orbit over the Pacific Ocean located in a geostationary orbit midway   
   between the U.S mainland and Hawaii.   
      
   GOES is an acronym that stands for Geostationary Operational Environmental   
   Satellite. Originally slated for a five-year mission, GOES-11 has been   
   serving meteorologists since 2000. Animation of the new GOES-15′s   
   water vapor imagery is available at tinyurl.com/goes-15   
      
   (NOAA)   
      
   **   
      
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, an operation from Clipperton Island is being planned by the Cordell   
   Expeditions for next year. Operations using the call TX5Q are expected to   
   take place between March 10th and 15th of 2012. QSL's will be via N7CQQ.   
      
   SM6CPY will be active as 9X0PY from Rwanda between December 24th and January   
   7th, 2012. His operation will be holiday style on all bands but with a   
   focus on 20 through 10 meters QSL to his home callsign, direct or via the   
   bureau.   
      
   Seven Spanish amateur radio operators will be on the air active as AO1POL   
   during the 9th Antarctic Activity Week between February 20th and the 26th,   
   2012. Their operation will be on 160 through 10 meters, including the 30,   
   17 and 12 meter bands. Modes to be use include CW, SSB and the Digital   
   modes. QSL via EA1GHT.   
      
   KH0UY and KH0K will be operational from Saipan in the Northern Mariana   
   Islands between January 7th to the 10th. Their activity will be on 80   
   through 6 meters, plus the satellites. QSL via their home callsigns of   
   JO3FRH and JE4SMQ, either direct or by the bureau.   
      
   Lastly, WA0ROI will be active as stroke WP2 from St. Croix through December   
   13th. QSL to WA0ROI, direct, via the bureau or electronically using Logbook   
   of the World.   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: A HAMS NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS FROM KN4AQ   
      
   Just in time for the Christmas season, Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, of Amateur Radio   
   Video News has created a video version of Clement Clark Moore's poem The   
   Night Before Christmas. But Gary's version has a decidedly Amateur Radio   
   twist. With a guitar accompaniment by Don Mercz, WA3AYR, "A Ham's Night   
   Before Christmas" features QST magazine covers and Christmas-themed   
   advertisements from days gone by. We asked Gary how it all came about:   
      
   --   
      
   KN4AQ: "Years ago; back in the early 1990's the first two lines of the poem   
   "...twas the night before Christmas and through 2 meters, not a signal was   
   keying up any repeaters' just ram over and over and over through my head. I   
   didn't any of the rest of the poem written at that time. And for several   
   years I thought `...I've go to do this..."   
      
   "And then I was talking to a friend of mine about this and she volunteered to   
   get me the rest of the poem. And I transcribed the lines from the original   
   Clement Clark Moore poem into the ham radio version.   
      
   "I think my version goes on longer than the original. I have not looked at   
   them side by side. I performed it at a local radio club for several years   
   just live in front of the club. Finally I recorded it at an audio studio I   
   work at."   
      
   --   
      
   So how did it go from a poem to a video? Again, Gary Pearce KN4AQ:   
      
   --   
      
   KN4AQ: "Last year I got a Christmas present from another friend; a ham who   
   did the guitar accompaniment and I thought that would make a perfect   
   accompaniment. And I thought that would make a perfect background to the   
   poem. So I put them together.   
      
   "Then I thought `...well I do video for a living and I really need to make a   
   video out of this one. So what can I use for pictures? I really cannot   
   afford to go out and shoot pictures. I can't get actors. Animation would   
   be cool but that's expensive and time consuming. And then I thought that   
   QST often does a Christmas oriented cover for their December issue. And I   
   know people at QST and Ill ask permission, and they did. But there were not   
   enough of them, so I thought that I will go for the ads as well. The ads   
   are often Christmas themed. So I pulled those out.   
      
   "I edited it together and I found a surprising number of images that fit the   
   poem pretty well."   
      
   --   
      
   So KN4AQ used his skill as a video editor and produced a video that we think   
   could easily go viral and become a true ham radio holiday classic. If you   
   want to enjoy a few minutes of seasonal joy, you can watch Gary's video is   
   on-line at tinyurl.com/KN4AQ-Night-Before-Christmas. (KN4AQ)   
      
   **   
      
      
   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 WIA 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   
      
   Please don't forget that Tuesday morning, December 27th, is the kick-off of   
   the ARRL's new Do It Yourself public relations campaign and the release of   
   the video "The DIY Magic of Amateur Radio." More on this will be on-line at   
   www dot arrl dot org as the date approaches.   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editor's desk, I'm Jim Davis,   
   W2JKD, in Vero Beach, Florida, 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)