Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1802 - February 24 2012   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1802 with a release date of February   
   24th, 2012 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a QST. Ham radio could have another new band a few years   
   from now; The Republic of South Sudan gets its callsign block; the FCC asks   
   Congress for more funds in fiscal year 2013 and the National Highway Traffic   
   Safety Administration asks for voluntary rather than mandatory compliance by   
   car makers in combating distracted driving from automotive electronics.   
   Find out more on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1802 coming your   
   way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: A PERMANENT 5 MHZ HAM ALLOCATION TO BE DISCUSSED AT WRC-15   
      
   Some more good news out of Geneva, Switzerland. Somewhat overshadowed by   
   last weeks announcement of the approval of a new ham radio band from 472 to   
   479 kHz at the now concluded WRC-12 comes word that yet another possible new   
   ham radio allocation near 5 MHz. One that could become a reality at the   
   next World Radio Communications Conference to be held in 2015. Amateur   
   Radio Newsline's Heather Butera-Howell, KB3TZD, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   The band being proposed is from 5.250 to 5.450 MHz. According to ARRL Chief   
   Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, who attended WRC-12, the original   
   proposal came from Cuba.   
      
   In the ARRL Letter Sumner is quoted as saying that the International Amateur   
   Radio Union team worked hard to line up support for this item. He said that   
   the factor that worked most in their favor was that at W-R-C 07, a proposal   
   for a 5 MHz agenda item for WRC-12 failed to gain enough support. As such,   
   there was a feeling that the Amateur Service deserved better treatment this   
   time around.   
      
   Sumner noted that there was active support from a number of administrations   
   in Latin America which helped a lot, but a lot of others also had to agree   
   to get it on the agenda. The coordinators of future Agenda Items on behalf   
   of the regional telecommunications organizations, such as CITEL and CEPT,   
   eventually agreed on a package of Agenda Items that included this item.   
      
   Tim Ellam, VE6SH, is the President of the International Amateur Radio Union.   
   He noted that it always a challenge to have things placed on the agenda for   
   future World Radiocommunication Conferences. As such Ellam says that that   
   he is pleased that we were successful in having an Agenda Item for a   
   potential allocation at 5 MHz on a secondary basis on the agenda.   
      
   Ellam does however caution that there will be a lot of work to do over the   
   next International Telecommunications Union study group cycle. He adds that   
   there is much appreciation is owed to the International Amateur Radio Union   
   and the national delegation teams in Geneva for their hard work on this   
   issue.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Butera-Howell, KB3TZD, near   
   Pittsburg Pennsylvania.   
      
   --   
      
   The permanent 5 MHz amateur band proposal will be Agenda Item 1.4 at WRC-15.   
   More about it and the rest of what took place at the 2012 conference is on   
   line at the ARRL website. A direct link to the story is at   
   tinyurl.com/wrc-2012-wrapup. (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: REPUBLIC OF THE SOUTH SUDAN AWARDED Z8A TO Z8Z CALL SIGN BLOCK   
      
   The International Telecommunication Union has announced the official callsign   
   allocation prefix block for the newly crated nation of the Republic of South   
   Sudan will be Z8A through Z8Z. The Republic of South Sudan joined the   
   United Nations on July 14, 2011 at which time it became the 193rd member of   
   that august world body. (Facebook DX Forum)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO FUNDING: FCC ASKS $346,000,000 BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013   
      
   The Federal Communications Commission is asking Congress for more money to   
   ramp up its operations including enforcement. Its also talking new license   
   fees. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   The FCC has asked Congress to approve a 2013 fiscal year budget of $346   
   million. That compares to an approximate $6 million increase over the   
   approximate $340 million the agency received for fiscal year 2012.   
      
   If approved as is by Congress, there would be 141 new FCC staff members,   
   bringing the total to 1,917 over the current 1,776. The number of full-time   
   staffers at the Media Bureau would increase from 197 to 213. The Enforcement   
   Bureau would go from 276 to 299 and the Office of Engineering & Technology   
   would increase from the current 81 to 87 staffers.   
      
   Part of the money would also be used for eight new vehicles and to replace   
   obsolete signal analysis equipment with new direction-finding and wireless   
   monitoring gear in existing vehicles. These are the mobile units that field   
   agents use to detect unauthorized transmissions and resolve interference   
   issues.   
      
   The commission would also have new authority to set user fees on un-auctioned   
   spectrum licenses as a spectrum management tool. Fees would be phased in   
   over time to determine the appropriate application and the monetary amount.   
      
   The FCC tentatively plans to begin levying such fees sometime this year, and   
   estimate those could total $4.8 billion through 2022. Its unknown if such   
   licensing fees would or even could be applied to Amateur Service, FRS or 11   
   meter Citizens Band operations. The latter two would be highly unlikely due   
   to the non-licensed nature of operations on those bands. Amateur Radio is   
   already bringing in a profit through the Vanity Callsign program.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   The agency's budget request is part of President Obama's total budget   
   submission of $3.8 trillion for fiscal year 2013, which begins October 1st.   
   (RW)   
      
   **   
      
      
   RADIO FUNDING: BROADCAST BOARD OF GOVERNORS SUBMITS REDUCED BUDGET   
      
   The United States Broadcasting Board of Governors which oversees government   
   supported broadcasts to other parts of the world has sent its 2013 fiscal   
   year budget request to congress. The $720 million request is lower than its   
   2012 budget and includes program, transmission and staffing reductions at   
   the Voice of America, Office of Cuba Broadcasting, Radio Free Europe, Radio   
   Liberty, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Network. Four   
   broadcast language services are proposed for elimination including both   
   Greek and Chechen. The 2013 request also calls for another $21 million in   
   cuts in administrative and technical support services costs across the   
   agency and of the board itself.   
      
   But what's not going into on the air operations has another destination.   
   Referring to the so called new media, the 2013 budget request contains $9   
   million in increases for elevated social media and building out the agency's   
   digital infrastructure. It also asks for $11.6 million in fighting Internet   
   censorship.   
      
   The Broadcasting Board of Governors estimates the five government funded   
   civilian broadcast networks it oversees currently reach 187 million people   
   each week. Its 2013 budget request contains an overall 4 point 2% decrease   
   over current spending levels that the Board hopes will be enough to meet the   
   approval on Capitol Hill in this era of extreme economic austerity. (B&C)   
      
   **   
      
   COMMUNICATIONS LAW: NHTSA PROPOSES VOLUNTARY ANTI DISTRACTED DRIVING   
   GUIDELINES   
      
   Ham radio operators and other two-way radio users can breathe a proverbial   
   sigh of relief. At least for now. This with word that the National Highway   
   Traffic Safety Administration will not seek mandatory regulations regarding   
   what types of technology controls will be placed on auto makers to help   
   thwart distracted drivers. Instead they are issuing voluntary guidelines to   
   the auto makers as we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Cheryl Lasek,   
   K9BIK.   
      
   --   
      
   The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed voluntary   
   safety guidelines for auto manufacturers, including a recommendation that   
   they design dashboards so that distracting devices are automatically   
   disabled unless the vehicle is stopped and the transmission is in park.   
      
   The guidelines, which are directed at passenger cars and sport utility   
   vehicles, would exempt safety devices such as electronic warning systems   
   that alert drivers to potential collisions or lane changes. GPS and other   
   navigation devices that provide directions also would be permitted while   
   driving, but the safety administration is asking that the systems be   
   designed so drivers can't manually enter a destination unless the car is in   
   park.   
      
   Other dashboard technologies recommended for automatic disabling include   
   text-messaging, Internet browsing, social media browsing, phone dialing and   
   computer screen messages of 30 characters or more that are unrelated to   
   driving.   
      
   The guidelines would make exceptions for these devices if they are designed   
   only for use by passengers and can't be accessed or seen by the driver.   
   Also there is no mention of any cutoff to external power receptacles such as   
   cigarette lighters which are used by many hams, CB'ers and G-M-R-S operators   
   to power low-power two way transceivers.   
      
   David Strickland is the groups Administrator. He told the press that while   
   his agency recognizes that manufacturers want to build vehicles that include   
   the tools and conveniences expected by today's American drivers, that the   
   guidelines they are proposing would offer real-world guidance to automakers.   
   Also that it would help them develop electronic devices that provide   
   features consumers want without disrupting a driver's attention or   
   sacrificing safety.   
      
   Manufacturers also are urged to take steps to improve the safety of   
   technologies that drivers are allowed to use while driving. That includes   
   reducing to two seconds or less the amount of time drivers must divert their   
   eyes from the road to use a device. Devices should be designed so drivers   
   don't have to use more than one hand or glance through extraneous   
   information.   
      
   According to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, one reason National Highway   
   Traffic Safety Administration decided to pursue voluntary guidelines instead   
   of mandatory rules is that officials wanted to do something quickly. He   
   noted that the process for writing federal rules often takes years to   
   complete.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, near Zion Illinois.   
      
   --   
      
   The final impact these new guidelines on the ability of hams to permanently   
   install after-market two way radio gear in their vehicles will not be known   
   until the new designs appear in car showrooms. And that's likely several   
   years away. (NHSTA release, other published reports)   
      
   **   
      
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard   
   on bulletin stations around the world including the WD0FFV repeater serving   
   Colorado Springs Colorado.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   YHOTY: NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR 2012 AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE YOUNG HAM OF THE   
   YEAR   
      
   The nominating season for the 2012 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the   
   Year Award is now open.   
      
   Created in 1986, this award is offered to recognize the accomplishments of a   
   radio amateur age 18 or younger for his or her accomplishments in service to   
   the nation, his or her community or to the advancement of the state of the   
   art through amateur radio.   
      
   Nominees must reside in the United States 50 states or its possessions or in   
   any of the 10 Canadian provinces.   
      
   As in years past, Yaesu USA will transport the winner to the Huntsville   
   Hamfest in Huntsville , Alabama, where the award will be formally presented.   
   Yaesu will also provide Hotel accommodations as well as convention tickets   
   and a prize of amateur radio equipment to the winner. CQ Magazine will   
   again treat this year's recipient to a week at Spacecamp-Huntsville. Heil   
   Sound Ltd. will be presenting this year's winner with an additional prize.   
   Amateur Radio Newsline will present the winner with the official Young Ham   
   of the Year Award plaque which again this year is underwritten by Dave Bell,   
   W6AQ, of DBA Entertainment in Hollywood, California.   
      
   If for some reason the person selected is unable to travel to the Huntsville   
   Hamfest, Amateur Radio Newsline will attempt to arrange a special award   
   ceremony where the recipient resides, such as at his or her school or   
   amateur radio club.   
      
   Please note that the prizes given to the recipient are second in nature to   
   the actual Young Ham of the Year Award. All nominations and materials   
   required by the official rules must be received by ARNewsline before May 30,   
   2012.   
      
   Complete details, rules and a required nominating form in Adobe .pdf format   
   are available on our website at www.arnewsline.org/yhoty. Nominating forms   
   can also be obtained by sending a self addressed stamped envelope to Amateur   
   Radio Newsline Inc., Young Ham of the Year Award, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa   
   Clarita California, 91350.   
      
   Please note tat all nominating forms and support materials become the   
   property of the Amateur Radio Newsline and cannot be returned.   
      
   Again the cutoff date for nominations is May 30, 2012. Nominating forms are   
   on-line at www.arnewsline.org/yhoty. (ARNewsline(tm))   
      
   **   
   ENFORCEMENT: FCC WANTS ANSWERS ABOUT WISCONSIN FM TRANSLATOR   
      
   The commission's Media Bureau wants answers from Radio Power Inc. about   
   W250BN, a translator on 97.9 MHz in Wisconsin. The translator started out   
   in the city of Beloit is now living on the air in West Allis. This after a   
   series of moves in the last two years. Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Carlson,   
   KQ6FM, is in Reno, Nevada, where Power Radio has its headquarters:   
      
   --   
      
   Last November the Milwaukee Free Radio Group wrote to the FCC, calling Radio   
   Power's actions in relocating its translator from site to site a   
   preconceived scheme to move a translator a distance of 69 miles from Beloit   
   to Milwaukee. It insinuated that Radio Power was trying to accomplish this   
   by using minor changes so as to circumvent the requirement to wait for a   
   window for filing a major change.   
      
   Now the FCC is acting. Peter Doyle is the chief of the FCC's Audio Division   
   of the Media Bureau. He has sent what is described as a strongly worded,   
   certified letter to Radio Power in Reno, Nevada. In part the letter states   
   that the Media Bureau is investigating potential statutory and rule   
   violations and related instances of potential misrepresentation and/or lack   
   of candor on the part of Radio Power Inc. Specifically, it is alleged that   
   the licensee abused commission processes by effectuating a major change in   
   the facilities of Station W250BN, now licensed to West Allis, Wisconsin by a   
   succession of serial minor change applications.   
      
   The FCC told Radio Power to answer its questions within 30 days. It wants to   
   know if Radio Power had a reasonable assurance that the specified sites   
   would be available for the intended use. It demanded a copy of all   
   documents relating to the securing of reasonable assurance of site   
   availability; and it wants to know the precise length of time during which   
   the licensee broadcast from each of the facilities.   
      
   The FCC also wants a copy of any documents relating to the station's   
   operation for each of the locations The FCC also wants to know the precise   
   length of time during which the station was silent for more than 30 days,   
   and why.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Don Carlson, KQ6FM, in Reno.   
      
   --   
      
   The FCC also wants to know what community the licensee of W250BN ultimately   
   intends to serve, the primary station it intends to rebroadcast along with   
   copies of all documents relating to the relocation of the station away from   
   the city of Beloit. (FCC, RW)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: CONGRESS TO INVESTIGATE FCC OVER LIGHTSQUARED FAST TRACK   
      
   The FCC appears to be on the hot seat with congress over the way its been   
   handling the entire matter of the licensing of LightSquared's proposal to   
   create its high speed Internet service in spectrum adjacent to that used by   
   the Global Positioning System or GPS.   
      
   In an e-mailed press statement, Iowa Senator Charles Grassley who has been   
   investigating the FCC's interactions with LightSquared, said that the agency   
   put this project on a fast track for approval with what appears to have been   
   completely inadequate technical research. As a result, Grassley is blocking   
   two Obama administration Commission nominees until he gets more documents   
   about the matter from the FCC.   
      
   Now the House of Representatives is also about to look at the LightSquared   
   matter. Oregon Representative Greg Walden, W7EQI, chairs the House   
   Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. He has said that he plans a   
   hearing on how the agency's handling of the LightSquared application for its   
   broadband network led to a year of dispute. (Published reports)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: SOME PEOPLE DO NOT LEARN THE FIRST TIME   
      
   From the some people never learn file comes a story you may find hard to   
   believe. It's about a person to who after being accused of running an   
   unlicensed station and then paying a reduced fine apparently went right back   
   on the air again. Jim Damron, N8TMW, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: FCC ISSUES A FLURRY OF FLORIDA FINES   
      
   There's been a lot of unlicensed radio station fines issued by the FCC's   
   Enforcement Bureau to Florida residents in recent weeks.   
      
   The Commission has issued a new $25,000 Notice of Apparent Liability against   
   Whistler Fleurinor of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This for allegedly operating   
   an unlicensed transmitter on 99.5 MHz in 2011.   
      
   The agency says that it raised the fine by $15,000 over the base amount   
   because Fleurinor continued operating an illegal station on the same   
   frequency from the same commercial property after he was issued an earlier   
   fine of $20,000. In that instance, the FCC lowered the penalty to $500   
   based on Fleurinor's proof of inability to pay the higher assessment.   
      
   In issuing the new forfeiture order the FCC noted that the fact that   
   Fleurinor had again committed the same violation, and did so multiple times   
   after he had already been found to be in serious violation in the first   
   N-A-L. It said that this action by Fleurinor demonstrated not only the   
   egregiousness nature of the violations, but also his deliberate disregard   
   for the Communications Act and for the FCC's rules.   
      
   For the amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW, reporting.   
      
   --   
      
   Fleurinor was given the customary 30 days to pay the fine or to file an   
   appeal. If he does the latter and basses his appeal on his inability to   
   pay, it will be very interesting to see the FCC's response this time around.   
   (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: W7W CELEBRATES ARIZONA STATEHOOD CENTENNIAL FEB 25   
      
   Arizona's Superstition Amateur Radio Club will be operating a special event   
   station W7W on February 25th as in the city of Mesa. This is the annual   
   celebration of The Lost Dutchman Mine story at the museum in Apache   
   Junction. It is also in observance of the Arizona Statehood Centennial .   
   More information can be found on line at WB7TJD.org. (K2DFE)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: SEVHFS CONFERENCE REGISTRATION OPEN   
      
   Registration is now open for the 2012 Southeastern VHF Society Conference   
   slated for Charlotte, North Carolina, from April 20th to the 21st. The   
   meeting will feature technical programs, noise figure and antenna gain   
   testing, banquet prizes, vendor displays, and an equipment auction. ARRL   
   President Kay Cragie, N3KN, will be the banquet speaker. A downloadable   
   registration form in Adobe .pdf format is on-line at   
   tinyurl.com/southeastern-vhf (WA2ODO, VHF Reflector)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: IOTA DINNER AT THE INTERNATIONAL DX CONVENTION   
      
   The 17th annual Islands on the Air or IOTA Dinner will be held in conjunction   
   with the 63rd annual Visalia International DX Convention on Friday evening   
   April 20th. The venue will be the Plaza Room of the Holiday Inn Hotel on   
   Airport Drive in Visalia, California   
      
   This dinner is open to all who are active in the Islands on the Air program   
   or who just want to see beautiful pictures of far away islands.   
   Also, as at previous IOTA dinners, admission is free for those wishing to   
   watch the programs without dining but paid attendees will receive priority   
   seating.   
      
   At this time, buffet service is set for 50 attendees. The cost is $33 per   
   person. Reservations must be prepaid by April 10th and go to Ray Benny,   
   N6VR, 462 South Reed Road, Chino Valley, Arizona, 86323.   
      
   More about this years International DX Convention is on-line at   
   dxconvention.org. (IOTA)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: ZL1TGC ASCENDS TO NZART PRESIDENCY   
      
   Some names in the news: First up is Vaughan Henderson, ZL1TGC, who has   
   assumed the presidency of New Zealand's national society, the NZART. This   
   following the resignation of Roy Symon ZL2KH on Monday, February 20th.   
      
   According to a press release, Symon had served as NZART President for the   
   last three years and was completing his last term. He was due to finish at   
   the 2013 Annual General Meeting where he had planned to hand over to his   
   successor. Instead he tendered his resignation to the NZART citing personal   
   reasons.   
      
   In accordance with the organization's constitution, ZL1TGC who was serving as   
   Vice-President became the new President. The NZART Executive Council will   
   now have to elect a new Vice-President. (NZART)   
      
   **   
      
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: WA6ILE AND KG6YPI TO SPEAKER MONTEREY RADIOFEST   
      
   Back in the United States, Scott Avery, WA6LIE and Brandon Hansen, KG6YPI   
   will be guest speakers at the New Ham Forum at his years Radiofest being   
   held in Monterey, California, on March 3rd. The two will be discussing   
   remote radio operations and its applications. More information is on-line   
   at www.raiofest.org. (WA6LIE)   
      
   **   
      
   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)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: D-STAR COMES TO NAMIBIA   
      
   D-Star is truly going places where it has never been before. This with word   
   that radio amateurs in Windhoek, Namibia now have their own D-Star repeater   
   operational and on the air.   
      
   Reportedly, the biggest challenge to getting the system operational was   
   obtaining a stable data connection to the internet. This was solved with a   
   3G connection and the help of the biggest cellular telephone service   
   provider in Namibia.   
      
   Right now the system is at a temporary low level location. According to   
   V51JP, the Repeater will be moved to its final site as soon as everyone is   
   satisfied that it is performing correctly. V51JP also says that he thanks   
   DL1YBL and DL5DI for their assistance in getting the new D-Star repeater up   
   and running.   
      
   More about this new D-Star system in Namibia is on-line www.qsl.net/narl.   
   (V51JP)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: QF RADIO TO SWITCH FORMATS ON FM   
      
   QF Radio will launch an all-English broadcast on 91.7 FM in Quatar. The   
   station is an operation of the Qatar Foundation, a social and educational   
   foundation based in Qatar. It delivers its programs across all segments of   
   society by means of on-air broadcasts, the Internet, smart-phones and other   
   developing technologies. In addition to music and news, the station airs   
   programs for students, featuring cultural and scientific issues. The   
   station will also switch to an all Arabic format on 93.7 FM, where it   
   currently airs a mix of Arabic and English-language programming. (MN)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: ITU ENACTS NEW RULE TO STOP SATELLITE JAMMING   
      
   The International Telecommunication Union has called upon the world's nations   
   to take all 'necessary actions to stop intentional interference with   
   satellite transmissions. The change in regulations, which was approved at   
   the just concluded World Radiocommunication Conference came after numerous   
   complaints that international satellite TV programs in the Persian and   
   Arabic languages were suffering from deliberate interference.   
      
   The new rule says that administrations shall ascertain the facts and take the   
   necessary actions when they encounter jamming. What actions these might be   
   were not spelled out in the document.   
      
   The two satellite operators that have been targeted are Eutelsat and Arabsat.   
   They claim that the jamming signals originate from Iran and Syria. The   
   interference, which has increased since September, 2011, has affected   
   numerous broadcasters including programming from the British Broadcasting   
   Corporation, Germany's Deutsche Welle, and RFE's Radio Farda.   
      
   Joining in backing the revised ITU anti-jamming rule to fight this willful   
   and malicious interference to satellite transmissions were Radio Netherlands   
   Worldwide and the European Broadcasting Union. (MN)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: PHILIPPINE ARC CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY   
      
   The Philippine Amateur Radio League is celebrating its Golden Anniversary in   
   2012. To commemorate this milestone the organization is sponsoring an   
   on-the-air operation that will award a special commemorative certificate to   
   hams world-wide who make contact with its members.   
      
   Also throughout 2012 the club will be operating with the special event call   
   sign of 4G0LD. QSL information along with the rules to qualify for the   
   Golden Anniversary award can be found at www.dx1l.dxhams.net/Awards.htm   
   (DU1XX, NZART)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIOSPORTS: SARL DIGITAL CONTEST FEBRUARY 26   
      
   From the Radiosports file comes word that the first in the series of South   
   African Radio League sponsored digital contests will be held on Sunday,   
   February 26 from 13:00 to 16:00 UTC with PSK and RTTY activity on 80, 40 and   
   20 meters. The exchange is a simple R-S-T report and a serial number   
   starting at 001. Stations maybe contacted twice per band, once on PSK and   
   once on RTTY. Other contests date will be announced in the future. More is   
   on-line at www.sarl.za. (SARL)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM TECHNOLOGY: COLORADO 6 METER BEACON BACK ON FREQUENCY   
      
   Dave Clingerman, W6OAL, reports that the Colorado 6 meter beacon is back up   
   and running on its published frequency of 50.065 MHz. The beacon had gone   
   into wander mode for a few days after a suspected crystal oven failure had   
   it sliding around its normal operating frequency.   
      
   According to W6OAL, a spare local oscillator unit can sometimes come in   
   handy. Installing it apparently was the fix. Dave adds that beacon reports   
   are appreciated whenever the band is open. (VHF Reflector)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
      
   In DX, word that W5JON will once again be active as V47JA from his vacation   
   home at Calypso Bay, St. Kitts from February 28th through March 28th. His   
   activity will be on 80 through 6 meters using SSB. While on the island he   
   plans to operate during the ARRL International DX Contest on March 3rd and   
   4th and the CQ WPX SSB Contest March 24th through the 25th. ALL QSL's to   
   W5JON either direct   
      
   ON4AVT will be on the air as C5AVT from Gambia from February 28th to March   
   20th. He will be active mostly on 15 meters using the digital PSK mode.   
   QSL via home call.   
      
   G3SWH and G3OLU will be operational from western Swaziland as 3DA0PW through   
   February 29th. Their main objective is to work as many European and North   
   American stations on as many different bands as possible and hope to make at   
   least 15,000 QSOs. QSL via G3SWH, either direct, via the bureau or using the   
   facility on www.g3swh.org.uk.   
      
   Members of the Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitter Society and the 9M4SDX   
   Team will be active as 9M0L from Pulau Layang Island from April 10th to the   
   24th. If you work them QSL direct to 9M2TO either direct or via the bureau   
   to Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitter's Society. More details will be   
   forthcoming shortly.   
      
   DF7ZS, will be on the air from Aruba stroke P4 from P40V's QTH between March   
   21st to the 27th. Activity will be casual but he will operate during the CQ   
   WPX SSB Contest using the callsign P41P. QSL P4/DF7ZS via DF7ZS. QSL P41P   
   via W3HNK.   
      
   Nine members of the 'A DX Group' will be active from Coloane Island between   
   May 17th and the 23rd. Operations will be on 160 through 6 meters,   
   including the 30, 17 and 12 meter bands. Modes used will be CW, SSB and   
   RTTY. There will be at least three stations on the air at the same time on   
   different bands and modes. The group's callsign will not be announced until   
   the beginning of their operations. QSL via EB7DX, direct or by the Spanish   
   Bureau. All QSO's will be confirmed electronically via Logbook of the   
   World.   
      
   Lastly, DL1NL will be operational portable OA4 from Lima, Peru, until early   
   March. His activity is only in his spare time on 160-10 meters CW, with   
   some SSB, from the Radio Club Peruano station. QSL via DL1NL, either direct   
   or via the bureau. No electronic QSL's are accepted by this station.   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: THE AMPLION SPEAKER FROM 1926 VIDEO   
      
   And finally this week, the history of the early 20th century Amplion   
   loudspeaker is a story told in a recently released video by Trilith Films in   
   the United Kingdom. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the newsroom with more:   
      
   --   
      
   Titled "A Tale Retold" the video tells the story of UK radio amateur Frank   
   Marshall who in 1998 told Trilith pictures about a collection of old motion   
   picture films that had been stored under his workbench for decades. He   
   thought that among them might be one film he had particularly enjoyed as a   
   boy. It was an advertisement for an early loudspeaker called the Amplion.   
   One that had been used in local cinemas in the 1920's and by his father's   
   pioneering radio business on the Isle of Portland.   
      
   When rescued from the pile of rotting nitrate film it was discovered that the   
   film entitled "The Tale of the Amplion" was a here to fore unknown work by   
   the famous illustrator William Heath Robinson. It is almost certainly the   
   only animated cartoon that Robinson ever made.   
      
   The tale is retold by Frank Marshall who preserved the film, Gerry Wells of   
   the Vintage Wireless Museum in London and Geoffrey Beare of the William   
   Heath Robinson Trust. Included is the film as it originally appeared but   
   with a especially composed musical sound track created by composer Stephen   
   Deutsch.   
      
   A very interesting 20 minutes indeed.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the Newsroom   
   in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   This video was shot and edited by John Holman for Trilith and now appears on   
   Transition Vision's Heritage Channel. Its available for world-wide viewing   
   on-line at YouTube. It can be found at tinyurl.com/amplion. (Southgate,   
   ARNewsline(tm), others)   
      
   **   
      
   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   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Don Wilbanks,   
   AE5DE, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2012. 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)