Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1730 - October 8 2010   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1730 with a release date of Friday,   
   October 8 2010 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T.  The IARU Administrative Council meets in El   
   Salvador to prepare for W-R-C 12; a true world-wide ham license could be   
   on its way; license restructuring comes to South Africa and Indonesia to   
   launch a pair of ham-sats in 2011. Find out the details on Amateur Radio   
   Newsline(tm) report number 1730 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
   **   
   RADIO POLITICS:  IARU ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL UPDATES WRC-12 PLANNING   
      
   The Administrative Council of the International Amateur Radio Union or   
   IARU held its annual meeting on October 1st and 2nd in El Salvador.   
   Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, takes a look at what   
   was accomplished:   
   --   
   The Administrative Council is responsible for the policy and management   
   of the IARU.  It is made up of the three IARU international officers and   
   two representatives from each of the three regional organizations.  And   
   this group covered a lot of ground in the two days that they were   
   allotted to them.   
      
   Perhaps most important issue faced was the IARU positions on relevant   
   agenda items for the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference also known   
   as WRC-12.  These items were reviewed and updated in light of   
   developments since the 2009 Administrative Council meeting.  Desired   
   agenda items for future World Radiocommunication Conference were also   
   considered while progress on the action plan for developing support for   
   amateur radio frequency allocations were reviewed and the plan updated   
   for the period through the WRC-12 meeting.   
      
   With electromagnetic compatibility issues becoming more and more of a   
   problem for radio amateurs world-wide, a need was identified for an IARU   
   coordinator to handle this issue.  A sub-committee of the Administrative   
   Council will develop suitable terms of reference for this.   
   Future involvement by the IARU in the Global Amateur Radio Emergency   
   Communications or GAREC Conference was discussed.  The decision was to   
   request additional information from the conference organizers.   
      
   The theme "Amateur Radio: The first technology-based social   
   network" was adopted for the next World Amateur Radio Day.   
   That's slated for April 18, 2011.   
      
   Lastly, a report was received from the IARU 2025 Committee, which is   
   developing a concept for a new organizational structure for the IARU.   
   The committee was asked to refine its report into a form that can be   
   presented to member-societies for their consideration.   
      
   This is only a quick overview of what was discussed at the conference.   
   For a more detailed report, please take your web browser to   
   tinyurl.com/2ayetpw   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seely, KI7UP, watching the   
   ham radio political scene from Scottsdale, Arizona.   
   --   
   The next scheduled in-person meeting of the IARU Administrative Council   
   will be held in the vicinity of Sun City, South Africa, on August 19th   
   and 20th of 2011.  This, in conjunction with the IARU Region 1   
   Conference that will take place August 13th to the 18th at or near the   
   same location.   (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO POLITICS:  WORLD HAM RADIO LICENSE MAY BE ON ITS WAY   
      
   In other news out of the conference, Radio Amateurs of Canada reports   
   that a true world wide ham radio license could be in the hobby's   
   future.   
      
   Daniel Lamoureux, VE2KA, is the Vice President International Affairs for   
   Radio Amateurs of Canada.  He says that El Salvador's Superintendent   
   of Communications surprised everyone at the end of his speech by   
   announcing that his nation had decided to sign the International Amateur   
   Radio Permit or IARP Agreement.   
      
   For those of you not aware, the IARP Agreement is designed to allow ham   
   radio operation in certain countries of the Americas without seeking a   
   special license or permit to enter and operate from that country.   
   According to Lamoureux, this move by El Salvador is a very significant   
   and means that in a short time the IARPand the pan-European Conference   
   of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations or CEPT International   
   Amateur licenses might be harmonized and become one.  (RAC, VE2KA)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIOS FUTURE:  MAJOR SURVEY OF UK HAMS LAUNCHED BY RSGB   
      
   At the recent Radio Society of Great Britain National Hamfest the U-K   
   national society announced the launch a major survey of all United   
   Kingdom radio amateurs.  The objective of the survey is to gather as   
   much information as possible on 21st century amateur radio operation in   
   that nation.   
      
   According to the announcement, the survey, which is internet based, will   
   run for three months.   The data collected will be used to determine the   
   direction that amateur radio takes over the next 10 to 20 years.   
      
   Full details of the survey will shortly appear in the amateur radio   
   press while notices of invitation will be placed on all amateur radio   
   reflectors and will appear shortly on the RSGB website.   (RSGB)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING:  SOUTH AFRICA FACES MAJOR LICENSE STRUCTURE CHANGES   
      
   A new round of amateur radio license restructuring appears to be taking   
   pace in South Africa.  This, with word that ICASA, the Independent   
   Communications Authority of South Africa has published the draft of   
   proposed changes to that nations radio regulations in the September 26th   
   Government Gazette.   We have more in this report from Bruce Tennant,   
   K6PZW:   
      
   --   
      
   According to the South African Radio League, there are some significant   
   changes to regulations pertaining to telecommunications in general and   
   amateur radio in particular contained in the Independent Communications   
   Authority of South Africa draft rules revision proposal.  These include   
   the disappearance of the Zed R license prefix and, with that, the   
   requirements for one of the five upgrade criteria.   
      
   Those having passed the Class A examination will be allocated a Zed-S   
   callsign. The South African Radio League says that it plans to discuss   
   with ICASA the procedure by which Zed-R license holders will be able to   
   upgrade to Zed-S at the next liaison meeting.   
      
   But this is not where the restructuring will end.  If placed into   
   communications law, there will be a new age restriction placed on the   
   South African class B license.  The Class B license will be available   
   only to those under the age of 20.  Holders of this license will be   
   expected to take and pass the nations class A examination before they   
   reach age 25.  After that, the Class B license along with its Zed U   
   prefix will be cancelled.   
      
   As to reaction from the South African ham radio community?  The South   
   African Radio League says that these are significant changes to   
   regulations affecting to amateur radio in that nation.  It says that the   
   organization will study the draft regulations and will hold a discussion   
   during the President's Net.  That's slated to be held on Sunday,   
   October 17th.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los   
   Angeles   
      
   --   
      
   The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa says that it   
   will be holding a public hearing on the new rules on December 1st and   
   2nd.  Soon after that date the final regulations are expected to be   
   enacted into law.   (SARL)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,   
   heard on bulletin stations around the world including the N3EVW repeater   
   serving Scranton, Pennsylvania.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO:  NEW NEVADA RADIO STATION TO INCLUDE HAM STATION   
      
   A tower is in place for a new broadcast radio station that will have a   
   ham radio connection.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Carlson, KQ6FM,   
   has the details:   
   --   
   The station is KQLN on 91.3 MHz FM and will serve Alamo, Nevada, in the   
   Pahranagat Valley.  This, from a site that sits on Nevada Highway 93   
   with coverage expected to be 50 miles in all directions.   
      
   The owner of KQLN is Harvey Caplan, KD7FJJ.  Jerry Fuge, KC6ILH the   
   Emergency Coordinator in Nevada's Northern Nye County says that   
   Caplan is a member of the regions ARES/RACES organization that already   
   has a repeater located at another of Caplan's radio stations.  That   
   one is located in the town of Pahrump.  Thats a city made famous by   
   overnight talk show host Art Bell, W6OBB.   
      
   In a recent interview, Caplan told the Lincoln County Record that the   
   stations transmitter site will house both KQLN along with an amateur   
   radio station that will have coverage over most of the populated area of   
   the valley.  The ham station will be battery-powered and charged by a   
   solar power panel.   
      
   Caplan told the newspaper that almost everyone associated with the   
   station called Alamo Radio is not only a licensed amateur radio   
   operator, but also a member of Amateur Radio Emergency Service.  He   
   describes ARES as a national organization trained to respond to   
   community emergencies by setting up two-way radio stations in hospitals,   
   public safety areas, or even on mountain tops.   
      
   Kaplan notes that amateur radio can get messages through when   
   conventional public safety radio systems fail, or to help when such   
   systems may become overloaded.  He says that some messages can be   
   urgent, to fire or police, or simply relay health and welfare   
   information to relatives of those in a disaster zone.  Either way says   
   Caplan, they could be life saving.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Carlson, KQ6FM, in Reno.   
      
   --   
      
   In the newspaper article Caplan added that he hopes that others will   
   want to serve the community and the valley by becoming licensed radio   
   amateurs.  He also looks forward to having KQLN-FM operating by the time   
   of the November elections if at all possible.  (Lincoln County Record,   
   Nevada ARES)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT:  TWO BOSTON UNLICENSED BROADCASTERS FINED $15000 EACH   
      
   The FCC fined two Boston area men for operating an unlicensed station on   
   99.7 MHz.   
      
   The story goes back to the fall of 2009.  That's when the local FCC   
   office received a complaint from one of the city's licensed stations   
   about the unlicensed stations operation.  Field agents traced the signal   
   to an apartment building in the Mattapan neighborhood of the city.  The   
   agents saw a roof mounted antenna with its coaxial feed line leading to   
   a basement window. The agents took field strength measurements and   
   determined that the signals exceeded the limits for unlicensed Part 15   
   operation.   
      
   Some time later, two men identified as Lloyd Morris and Robert Brown,   
   met with the FCC agents.  According to the agency, it was at that   
   meeting that the pair admitted they owned and operated the station. The   
   agents explained the potential penalties for such a violation and Morris   
   and Brown agreed to shut off the transmitter and did.   
      
   On October 15th of 2009, the Boston Office issued Notices of Unlicensed   
   Operation to Morris and Brown by mail.  According to the FCC it never   
   received a response from either man.  And that's where the matter   
   stood until this past February when the FCC again receiving complaints   
   that the same unlicensed station was back on the air. Agents located the   
   source as the same building and again documented the antenna on the   
   roof, he coaxial downlead and the stations signal strength as again   
   exceeding what is permitted by   
   Part 15 of its rules.   
      
   Now, acting on the evidence before it the FCC has issued Morris and   
   Brown each a Notice of Apparent Liability to Monetary Forfeiture in the   
   amount of $15,000 each.  The two were given the customary 30 days to pay   
   or to file an appeal.  (FCC)   
      
   **   
   ENFORCEMENT:  HELP NEEDED IN FINDING CHURCHES ON 10 METER FM   
      
   Illegal broadcast transmitters in churches are again being heard across   
   the great Atlantic pond, and your help is needed to find them.   
      
   Ger McNamara, EI4GXB, is the Irish Radio Transmitters Society's IARU   
   Intruder Watch  coordinator.  He is asking hams and SWL's to again   
   keep an ear on 28.265 FM.  This, based on incursions by churches on this   
   frequency heard throughout Europe with signals equaling 59 +20db.   
      
   In addition, McNamara days that there have also been reports of a Church   
   in the Dublin area transmitting on 28.030 Mhz.  This is in the CW   
   portion of the 10 meter band.   
   No matter where in the world you are, if you hear either of these   
   illegal operations, please send a detailed report to EI4GXB.  His e-mail   
   is ei4gxb (at) gmail (dot) com.  If you live in Ireland please also copy   
   your report to telecommunications regulator ComReg as well.  (IRTS)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW:  SENATE BACKS HOUSE ON TV VOLUME LAW   
      
   The United States Senate unanimously passed a bill late Wednesday,   
   September 27th to require television stations and cable companies to   
   keep commercials at the same volume as the programs they interrupt.  The   
   legislation, sponsored by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island   
   requires the FCC to adopt its recommendations as regulations within a   
   year and begin enforcing them a year later.   
      
   The House of Representatives had already passed similar legislation.   
   Before it can become law, minor differences between the two versions   
   have to be worked out when Congress returns to Washington after the   
   November 2nd election.   
      
   Oh yes, the title of this law is the Commercial Advertisement Loudness   
   Mitigation Act, better known by the acronym CALM.  (Published reports)   
      
      
   **   
      
   EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  CCTV IMAGE PROCESSING TO COUNTER TERRORISM   
      
   The VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is developing image   
   processing technology that will improve surveillance of abandoned   
   luggage in public places.   
      
   Its well known that across Europe there are numerous Closed Circuit TV   
   systems in use in public places.  These installations have the ability   
   to gather large amounts of image material.  But at this time there are   
   no effective ways to analyze the mass of video data automatically and   
   recognize potential risk situations.   
      
   Now comes VTT which is involved in a European Union research project   
   called SUBITO.  SUBITO is aimed at developing Information Technology or   
   I-T solutions.   
   An example might be luggage left in a public place which may contain   
   explosives or other dangerous substances. Terror attacks based on this   
   tactic have already claimed taken place.  Now, with the help of an   
   application developed as part of the project, cameras recognize   
   abandoned luggage automatically and rapidly identify, locate and track   
   the person who left it there.   
      
   VTT says that SUBITO enhances security in a cost-efficient manner, since   
   the new technology can be built on the foundations of existing Closed   
   Circuit TV systems.  Individual privacy issues are thus easier to take   
   into account, because the end users must already take note of them in   
   operating the system.  (Science OnLine)   
      
   **   
      
   RETRO RADIO:  6 METER AM IN THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY   
      
   If you operate 6 meter AM on the Pacific Coast, then you might want to   
   point your beam toward the central part of the state of California.   
   Larry Hogue, W6OMF, reports over the VHF Reflector that Mondays at 7 PM   
   Pacific time there is a gathering of the AM enthusiasts on 50.4 Mhz.   
   Most stations are in the Sacramento valley area with net control in the   
   town of Camino.  And if 6 meters magically opens up as it does from time   
   to time, this is a chance to snag what's quickly becoming a historic   
   mode of VHF's past.  (VHF Reflector)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  TALK RADIO HOST ART BELL W6OBB REPORTED ACTIVE FROM   
   MANILA   
      
   Some names in the news.  First up this week is famed overnight talk   
   radio host Art Bell, W6OBB.  The Ohio Penn DX Newsletter reports that   
   Bell has recently been heard as 4F1AB from Manila, in the Philippines   
   where he now lives.  His activity seems to be on 20 and 15 meters SSB   
   after 1200 UTC. Information on QRZ.com states that he is active on 40   
   through 10 meters, and he often listens on 14.315 MHz.  QSL's go to   
   W6OBB via his Nevada address.  (OPDX)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  VA6KM APPOINTED AS RAC ALBERTA SECTION TRAINING   
   COORDINATOR   
      
   And Ken McPherson VA6KM has been appointed as Radio Amateurs of   
   Canada's Training Coordinator for the organizations Alberta Section.   
   McPherson has been a radio amateur since 1993.  He served as a Naval   
   Combat Information Operator as well as in the Armored Reserves in   
   Ottawa.   His background in training includes time as a Cadet   
   Instructor, First Aid Instructor and Scuba Instructor.  (RAC)   
      
   **   
      
   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:  FORMER TRI-EX TOWER OWNER FRANK CLEMENT,   
   W6KPC, S.K.   
      
   The changing of the guard continues with the sad news that High   
   Frequency antenna pioneer Frank Clement, W6KPC, of Bakersfield,   
   California, has become a Silent Key.  Clement, age 93, died on September   
   23rd as a result of a highway accident.   
      
   Frank Clement, W6KPC, was best known in ham radio circles as the former   
   owner of Tri-Ex Towers.  He also designed and built a number of high   
   performance High Frequency antenna arrays over the course of several   
   decades.   
      
   In 2006, The Radio Club of America honored W6KPC with its Barry M.   
   Goldwater Amateur Radio Award.  The award recognized his accomplishments   
   in designing and manufacturing towers and designing and constructing his   
   famed Yagi Sextet.  The Sextet was once described as North America's   
   largest amateur radio phased HF Yagi system.   
      
   Frank Clement is survived by his wife, Chong Ye.  A graveside service   
   was held on October 4 in, Delano, California.  Memorial contributions   
   can be made to The A. J. F. Clement  Memorial  Fund, Kern Schools   
   Federal Credit Union, PO Box 9506,  Bakersfield, CA  93389.  (QCWA, RCA,   
   ARRL, others)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  INDONESIA TO LAUNCH TWO HAMSATS   
      
   A news report out of Jakarta says that the Indonesian National Institute   
   of Aeronautic and Space will launch two satellites carrying amateur   
   radio transponders in the second quarter of 2011.  Known as LAPAN-A2 and   
   LAPAN-ORARI,, the report appears to indicate that the satellites   
   will be carried to orbit on board a domestic Indonesian manufactured   
   rocket.   
      
   An earlier report in February indicated that LAPAN-ORARI would be   
   launched from India.  But the article comments on the effect of import   
   restrictions which has led the National Institute to develop local   
   production to enable the country to have an independent rocket launch   
   facility. The entire report is on-line at tinyurl.com/lapan  (Southgate,   
   others)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  AO-51 BACK ON LINE   
      
   The AMSAT OSCAR 51 ham satellite is back on the air following a software   
   crash on September 26th.  According to control station Mark Hammond,   
   N8MH, reloading software was completed and as of September 29th, and the   
   bird is in good operating condition.   
      
   According to AMSAT, the AO-51 Command Team has configured the satellite   
   for simultaneous operation of both the S-band and U-band transmitters.   
   The tradeoff is that U-band will be low in power at around 250   
   milliwatts.   
      
   Also, please notice that 145.880 MHz is being used as the uplink.   
   However, the satellites operational configuration could be updated or   
   changed without much advance notice.   
   (AMSAT)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In D-X, word that members of the Algarve STAR DX Team will be active as   
   CR6A from South  Lourenzo Fortress located inside Ria Formosa Natural   
   Park between Armona Island and Culatra Island.  Activity will be on all   
   bands as possible on CW and SSB. This Fortress is totally submerged   
   except in the lower tide.  QSL via CT1GFK.   
      
   NE8Z will be operational as C6AEZ from New Providence Island between   
   October 11th and the 16th.  Activity will be on 80 through 10 meters   
   using CW and SSB.  QSL via NE8Z.   
      
   Members of the Isle of Man Amateur Radio Society will be active as   
   GT1IOM from the town of Douglas between October 16-17th.  This operation   
   is taking place during the 53rd Scouting Jamboree on the Air.  QSL via   
   GD1MIP.   
      
   Lastly, the South Korea's Cheonan Asan Ham Club and possibly other   
   guest operators will be active as D7G20 between October 29th and   
   November 28th.  This, to celebrate the upcoming G20 Summit Meering in   
   Seoul.  Operations by D7G20 are expected to be on 80 through 6 meters   
   using CW, SSB and RTTY.  QSL to the G20 Seoul Summit 2010 Special   
   Callsign, P.O. Box 90, Cheonan, 330-600, South Korea.   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM:  ELECTRONIC ARCHIVING:  YOUR ARCHIVE MIGHT BE FADING   
      
   If you store important documents, sounds and photos on optical   
   disc's, your history may be fading away with no way to restore it.   
   In fact, some of the worlds most precious artifacts have already been   
   lost as we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Fred Vobbe, W8HDU:   
      
   --   
      
   W8HDU report here:  Audio only.  Please download the MP3 version of this   
   newscast at www.arnewsline.org to hear it   
      
   --   
      
   Fred will be back next week to detail what needs to be done to keep all   
   of these audio files alive for future generations to enjoy.  Meantime,   
   for more information on this story, please visit www.loc.ggov.  (W8HDU)   
      
   **   
      
   NEWSCAST CLOSE   
      
   With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ   
   Magazine, the FCC, the Library of Congress, 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@arnewsline.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 do not forget that in association with the Newark Amateur Radio   
   Society that we are currently conducting a survey to determine where   
   these weekly Amateur Radio Newsline reports are replayed on the air.  If   
   you are a bulletin station that transmits these weekly newscasts or a   
   listener who has the following information, we need you to supply to us   
   the call sign of the repeater or bulletin station making the   
   transmission, the frequency where it can be heard, the time and day and   
   days of the week it is broadcast, the time zone and the estimated   
   audience you think it has.  Please e-mail that information along with   
   your name and callsign to arnschedule (at) gmail (dot) com.  Once again   
   thats arnschedule (at) gmail (dot) com.  As always we thank you for your   
   assistance in this survey.   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm David   
   Black, KB4KCH, at the South-East bureau in Birmingham, Alabama, saying   
   73 and we thank you for listening.   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.   
      
      
   ***   
      
   As a service to the HAM Radio Community and HAM Radio Operators all around   
   the world, this Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) message has been gated and posted   
   to the Fidonet LS_ARRL echo by Waldo's Place USA, 1:3634/12. We hope you   
   enjoyed it!   
      
   Please address all comments and questions to the ARNewsline 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.   
      
   -73-   
      
      
    * Origin: (1:3634/12)