Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1803 - March 2 2012   
      
   CLOSED CIRCUIT ADVISORY:   
      
   The following closed circuit advisory is not necessarily for air. With some   
   words about our new website presence and the latest from the Newsline   
   Support Fund here's our producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF:   
      
   --   
      
   By now you have probably noticed that amateur Radio Newsline has a new look   
   on the World Wide Web. Candidly, this was not planned but came about   
   because our old web host notified us that they were leaving the shared   
   server web hosting business by the end of February. We had to act fast and   
   thanks to three people: Robert Sudock, WB6FDF, Dale Cary, WD0AKO and Kevin   
   Trotman, N5PRE, the move was accomplished in less than two weeks. For this   
   I thank them very much.   
      
   But the move was not without financial cost to Amateur Radio Newsline. We   
   had thought we would be OK through the end of May but that's no longer the   
   case. So we are coming to you a bit earlier to ask your assistance in   
   keeping these newscasts on the air. You can make a donation on-line by   
   clicking on the Pay Pal button on our website home page or by sending a   
   donation to the address you will here at the end of this weeks newscast.   
   Either way, we at the Amateur Radio Newsline thank you for your ongoing   
   support.   
      
   I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF. Now this weeks newscast.   
      
   --   
      
   Thank you Bill. Now, amateur Radio Newsline report number 1803 with a   
   release date of Friday, March 2nd, 2012 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a QST. Bad batteries may have lead to the loss of   
   communications of a ham radio balloon from Texas to China. Also, Australia   
   begins an evaluation program to see if its hams should be granted a power   
   increase to a full kilowatt; Hams in Senegal to get access to 6 meters; M V   
   Island is deleted from the DXCC and the role of social media in times of   
   emergency reporting. All this and more on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report   
   number 1803 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RADIO NEAR SPACE: BAD BATTERIES MAY HAVE CAUSED BLT-28 FAILURE   
      
   Failure of the batteries that powered the ham radio payload of a high   
   altitude balloon that was designed to float from Texas to China seems the   
   likely cause of a total communications failure with the near space project.   
   Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Butera-Howell, K-B-3-T-Zed-D, is here with   
   the rest of the story:   
      
   --   
      
   The South Texas Balloon Launch Team lofted the high altitude scientific   
   balloon experiment known as BLT-28 on February 11th from near Katy, Texas.   
   The balloon was supposed to rise to over 100,000 feet and float for several   
   days and hopefully reach its target of Nanjing, China. But as reported here   
   on Newsline, contact was lost with the balloons APRS tracker just south of   
   the Louisiana coast at an altitude of 45,763 feet.   
      
   Andrew MacAllister, W5ACM, is part of the group that launched BLT-28. In a   
   note to Lloyd Colston, KC5FM that was forwarded to Newsline, McAllister says   
   that right now the highest probable failure mode was the batteries that   
   powered the electronics payload on BLT-28.   
      
   W5ACM notes that the power supply was made up of commercial 1.5 volt lithium   
   cells. According to post flight experiments, MacAllister says that several   
   of the same type of batteries were put directly on some dry ice where they   
   went from 1.5 volts down to two tenths of a volt. And when warmed up, they   
   did not return to normal output.   
      
   MacAllister speculates that it could have been that cold just after reception   
   of the last packet message from BLT-28. He notes that the temp sensor   
   system was not guaranteed below minus 40 degrees Celsius.   
      
   MacAllister confirms that there will be a second attempt to float a balloon   
   from Texas to China, but first up will be a test flight of the thermal   
   insulating system for the batteries and payload. W5ACM speculates that   
   should happen sometime in May.   
      
   For the amateur Radio Newsline, Im Heather Butera-Howell, KB3TZD,near   
   Pittsburg, PA.   
      
   --   
      
   W5ACM indicates that if all goes well in May, that another attempt to fly a   
   balloon from the United States to China could happen before years end.   
   (South Texas Balloon Launch Team, KC5FM)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO RULES: AUSTRALIA'S ACMA AND WIA IN STUDY TO SEE IF VK HAMS SHOULD HER   
   1KW POWER LIMIT   
      
   Advanced class ham radio operators in Australia are being invited to take   
   part in a study to see if it is possible to raise the power limit down-under   
   to a full kilowatt. This as the Australian Communications and Media   
   Authority, better known as the ACMA publishes details of the trial of higher   
   power transmitter output on its website. Michael Owen, VK3KI, is the   
   President of the Wireless Institute of Australia:   
      
   --   
      
   The ACMA has published on its website details of the trial of higher power   
   transmitter output for Advanced amateur radio licensees.   
      
   The trial will commence on 1 March 2012 and will continue until 31 August   
   2013.   
      
   The ACMA has advised the WIA that the 18 month authorization is intended to   
   provide the ACMA with time to evaluate the success of the   
   trial after a 12 month period and to consider permanent regulatory   
   arrangements, if warranted, while avoiding dead air between the   
   evaluation time and the implementation of permanent arrangements, if   
   appropriate The paper is in the part of the ACMA site dealing with amateur   
   matters and is an information paper.   
      
   A brief article also appears on the Engage part of the ACMA website, where   
   anyone can record their comments.   
      
   --   
      
   The Wireless Institute of Australia Board of Directors has cautioned those   
   hams considering obtaining a higher power permit that this is only a trial.   
   As such, if problems do emerge, it could affect whether amateurs down-under   
   will permanently continue to be able to use the higher power. In   
   particular, if interference is caused to others, the WIA advises that the VK   
   radio amateur involved must immediately do whatever it takes to stop the   
   interference, and must resolve the problem. (WIA News)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING: HAMS IN SENEGAL TO GET 6 METERS   
      
   Six meters is coming to Senegal. This with word from its national ham radio   
   society that following its application to the Regulatory Agency for   
   Telecommunications and Posts, the band 50 to 51 MHz has been officially   
   allocated to that nations amateur service on a primary basis. This   
   allocation becomes effective when the new ITU Radio Regulations come into   
   force. Therefore any contacts made on 6 meters before that date have to be   
   considered as unauthorized. (6W7RT)   
      
   **   
      
   DXCC NEWS: MV ISLAND DELETED FROM THE DXCC ENTITY LIST   
      
   As of February 17th, Malyj Vysotskij Island, better known as MV Island in ham   
   radio circles has been deleted from the D-X-C-C. This after an announcement   
   by the Finnish Ministry of Transportation and Communication that the Saimaa   
   Canal Treaty between Finland and Russia has been finalized and that MV   
   Island is no longer included in it.   
      
   For amateur radio this means that M V Island was deleted from the DXCC and   
   added to the Deleted Entities List. Also that the entry level for DXCC   
   Honor Roll number has dropped to 331.   
      
   We will have more DX news later on in this weeks newscast. (N1CL)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO RULES: ARRL PUBLISHES NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 60 METERS   
      
   With new privileges on the 60 meter band beginning March 5th, the ARRL   
   announced some new "Recommended Practices" for operating on that band.   
      
   These new suggestions are based on survey results and subsequent research.   
   The committee evaluating the new 60 meter rules declined to propose a   
   specific band plan at this time, but instead created a "Recommended   
   Practices" document now available in .PDF format at   
   tinyurl.com/arrl-sixty-meters   
      
   Also, look for the April issue of QST magazine to include an article by ARRL   
   Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. It will offer a   
   detailed discussion of the new 60 meter privileges and recommended operating   
   practices for that band. (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: ARISS CELEBRATES 700th ISS TO SCHOOLROOM CONTACTS   
      
   A milestone for manned ham radio operations from Earth orbit. ARISS   
   Operation Team Mentor Charlie Sufana, AJ9N reports that the total number of   
   Amateur Radio on the International Space Station or ARISS sponsored   
   ISS-to-Earth school events has passed the 700 mark.   
      
   The 700th school contact was with the Academy at Shawnee City in Louisville,   
   Kentucky. It took place via telebridge with ON4ISS on February 14. The   
   special John Glenn event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Perth   
   Australia's, City of Lights on February 20th marked event number 701.   
      
   For those hams not aware. ARISS offers an opportunity for students in   
   schoolrooms to experience the excitement of amateur radio by talking   
   directly with crewmembers on-board the International Space Station. Further   
   information on the ARISS program is available at www.ariss.org. (ARISS)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard   
   on bulletin stations around the world including the N5YYU repeater serving   
   Clinton, Arkansas.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN REPORTING EMERGENCIES TO THE   
   PUBLIC   
      
   "Emergency Management Without Social Media...Fail" is the title of a very   
   interesting op-ed article by author Tim Burrows posted across several social   
   media websites. In it, Burrows looks at both the positive and negative   
   effects on the public that social media can have in accurately disseminating   
   and updating information of a disaster, accident or other event that the   
   public needs to know. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, has   
   more:   
      
   --   
      
   The scenario Tim Burrows writes about involves a railroad accident that took   
   place on February 26th. That's when a VIA Rail Canada train en route from   
   Niagara Falls to Toronto was involved in a derailment that occurred in the   
   Burlington, Ontario area. Official news reports say that the three   
   engineers riding in the cab of the locomotive were killed. There were no   
   fatalities among the 75 passengers but 45 were injured.   
      
   Burrows article details the role of the mass media along with the self   
   involvement of individuals in putting out news bulletins regarding the   
   accident, many of which were not properly vetted before being released into   
   cyberspace. He notes that while there was an incredible amount of   
   information flying around there was no "voice of authority" speaking. He   
   also takes note that official media sources were also quoting   
   unsubstantiated sources such as one outlet that quoted an emergency agency   
   from another jurisdiction.   
      
   On the other hand, Burrows praised several VIA Rail employees who used   
   Twitter to keep accurate information flow of the accident even though they   
   were being chided at on Twitter because the system suffered delays. Burrows   
   said that even though they had just lost three members of their working   
   family they answered everyone professionally and systematically.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale,   
   Arizona.   
      
   --   
      
   Whether you agree or disagree with Burrows assessment of the role of social   
   media in regard to the accuracy of the information being made public, his   
   article is a very interesting evaluation for anyone involved in the world of   
   emergency communications. This being especially true during events where no   
   official JIC or Joint Information Center is available. You can read the   
   entire story on-line at tinyurl.com/emergency-social-media. (Wordpress.com,   
   Facebook)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: MA TOWN SEEKS STANDBY RESCUE RADIO ASSISTANCE FROM LOCAL HAMS   
      
   Yet another city has discovered the value of having trained ham radio   
   operators as a part of its emergency communications plan. This as community   
   leaders in Arlington, Massachusetts, announce that they are seeking radio   
   amateurs willing to help the town with its emergency response network.   
      
   In a statement issued to the press, officials say that they're looking for   
   ham radio operators to become volunteers and help out in case the town's   
   communications systems was to stop working during an emergency. Arlington   
   used a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to buy a ham   
   radio gear for emergencies. Any Massachusetts ham living in the area who is   
   interested in volunteering should contact Fire Chief Robert Jefferson by   
   e-mail to rjefferson(at)town(dot)arlington(dot)ma(dot)us. (Arlington   
   Partch, eHam.net)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE FROM RADIO TOWER: NAKED CLIMBER REMOVED FROM ATOP LOS ANGELES RADIO   
   TOWER   
      
   From the believe it or not file comes the story of a naked man atop a   
   downtown Los Angeles radio tower who was wrapped in a blanket and lowered to   
   safety by a makeshift pulley system on Wednesday night February 8th.   
      
   The unidentified tower climber was believed to be in his 30s or 40s and   
   possibly an Arizona resident. It was unclear why he climbed the 220 foot   
   high structure, which is part of a city personnel building just west of   
   downtown L.A..   
      
   Witnesses say that he removed items of clothing after he began scaling the   
   tower about 4 p.m. Pacific time just prior to sundown. His rescue went   
   without incident after he asked to be given some MacDonalds hamburgers.   
      
   The mission which involved a heavy presence of Los Angeles Fire Department   
   personnel was completed at about 9:45 Pacific Standard Time. Police said   
   that the man will not be charged with a crime and his name will not be   
   released. (LA Times, LA Weekly, others)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: FCC ISSUES A PAIR OF UNLICENSED OPERATION FINES IN FLORIDA   
      
   The FCC has issued a $20,000 Notice of Apparent Liability for Monetary   
   Forfeiture to Florida resident Robens Cheriza. This, for operating an   
   unlicensed radio transmitter on the frequency 107.3 MHz from his residence   
   in West Palm Beach.   
      
   In this case the FCC says that it received an interference complaint from the   
   Federal Aviation Administration about illegal transmissions reported by its   
   control tower at the Palm Beach International Airport. The FCC traced the   
   transmissions on 107.3 MHz to Cheriza's residence and said they saw an FM   
   transmitter connected by coax to the transmitting antenna.   
      
   Cheriza admitted operating the station for about a month and said he knew   
   that was illegal. On the night when the airport experienced interference,   
   Cheriza told agents he had broadcast a party from his home.   
      
   Also, Mercius Dorvilus received the base fine of $10,000 for operating a   
   station illegally on 92.7 MHz in Pompano Beach, Florida. He told a detective   
   from the Broward County Sheriff's Office that he bought and installed the   
   gear in his rented room and that he was responsible for operating the   
   transmitter. The FCC, citing Florida business records, said Dorvilus is   
   doing business as "Radio Vision FM 927, Inc." and has registered the domain   
   name, www.visionfm.org.   
      
   Both Cheriza and Dorvilus were given the customary 30 days from the date of   
   the issuance of the fines to either pay or to file an appeal. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   COMMUNICATIONS LAW: FCC ADOPTS RULES TO STRENGTHEN CONSUMER PROTECTIONS   
   AGAINST UNWANTED TELEMARKETING ROBOCALLS   
      
   The FCC has again slapped the hand of telemarketers to further protect   
   consumers from unwanted autodialed or prerecorded calls, often referred to   
   as robocalls.   
      
   On February 15th the Federal Communications Commission on approved changes to   
   its telemarketing rules to combat unwanted telemarketing calls and texts   
   which were consistently in the top three consumer complaint categories at   
   the FCC in 2011.   
      
   The FCC says that robocalls invade consumers' privacy, and can, in the case   
   of calls to wireless numbers, use up their minutes. The new rules reduce   
   regulatory uncertainty with minimal burden on industry and maximize   
   consistency with those of the Federal Trade Commission.   
      
   Specifically, the rules protect consumers by requiring telemarketers to   
   obtain prior express written consent from them, including by electronic   
   means such as a website form, before placing a robocall to a consumer. The   
   new rules also require that telemarketers provide an automated, interactive   
   "opt-out" mechanism during each robocall so that consumers can immediately   
   tell the telemarketer to stop calling. They also strictly limit the number   
   of abandoned or "dead air" calls that telemarketers can make within each   
   calling campaign.   
      
   On the other side, the revised rules also ensure that informational calls,   
   such as those related to school closings and flight changes, continue to be   
   available to consumers who wish to receive them. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO POLITICS: COMMITTEE FOR US BROADCASTING OPPOSES BBG FY 2013 BUDGET PLAN   
      
   The Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting has blasted the recent   
   Broadcasting Board of Governors budget proposals for Fiscal Year 2013 that   
   we reported on last week.   
      
   The Committee says that it is outraged by the proposal to cut and reduce   
   Voice of America English and foreign language programs and positions. It   
   also takes issue with reductions to programs and positions at Radio Free   
   Asia and at other U.S. government-funded international broadcasting entities   
   managed by the Broadcasting Board of Governors.   
      
   The Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting is a private nonprofit   
   interest group focusing on broadcast and news distribution. Its website is   
   located in cyberspace at www.cusib.org. (RW)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: HAMRADIONOW - THE ORLANDO INTERVIEWS   
      
   Some names in the news this week. Gary Pearce KN4AQ is releasing a series a   
   videos shot at the Orlando HamCation in mid-February. This, as a part of   
   his Ham Radio Now series that features interviews with the true movers and   
   shakers of the hobby in the 21st century.   
      
   His latest release includes a very in depth interview with CQ Magazine editor   
   Rich Moseson W2VU. In it Pearce talks to him for almost an hour about how   
   CW is faring now that it's no longer required; about the CQ family of   
   magazine's new digital option, and a little about ham radio video   
   production.   
      
   This video is titled Ham Radio Now Episode 2: The Orlando Interviews. More   
   about this new series is on-line at arvideonews.com. (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: THE ERIC JAMIESON INDIAN OCEAN AWARD CREATED IN VK   
      
   And the Wireless Institute of Australia Board has accepted the offer of Eric   
   Jamieson, VK5LP, to sponsor awards for first amateur radio contacts on the   
   two meter band spanning the Indian Ocean between Australia and Africa.   
   There will be three honor give. One each for voice, for CW and for the   
   digital modes. As one might expect this program will be known as the Eric   
   Jamieson Indian Ocean Awards. More on this is on line at www.wia.org.au.   
   (WIA News)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: LIGHTSQUARED ANNOUNCES LAYOFFS FOLLOWING FCC DECISION   
   AGAINST ITS NETWORK   
      
   LightSquared Inc. the wireless company whose controversial plan to operate in   
   spectrum adjacent to that used by the space-based G-P-S navigation system   
   says that it plans to lay off nearly half of its employees to save money.   
   In a press release, the company said it will cut 45 percent of its 330   
   employee workforce and called the move a necessary cost savings measure to   
   ensure the long-term success of the company.   
      
   As previously reported, the Federal Communications Commission dealt the   
   company a severe blow when it said it would revoke permission for   
   LightSquared to move ahead with its wireless network. This, after tests   
   found that it would interfere with Global Positioning Systems used by the   
   military, the airlines and the general public. (Published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   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: PASNASONIC TO RELEASE TEXT TO SPEECH TV   
      
   Panasonic plans to release a new line of televisions in March with   
   text-to-speech capabilities. This according to a podcast from the UK-based   
   show Early Edition.   
      
   On the netcast, Panasonic's Nigel Prankard is quoted as saying that users   
   will be able to obtain channel information, browse the user guide, and use   
   the built-in electronic program guide among other features.   
      
   He went on to explain that the company felt it was the right time to include   
   accessibility features and that Panasonic planned to include it in all   
   models. This based on the company stating that a user shouldn't be limited   
   in the choice of a television by which ones included accessibility features.   
      
      
   Apple is credited in part for proving the technology could be added without   
   much additional cost. This initial release of these new televisions sets   
   appears to be targeted toward the UK market. No word when these sets will   
   be released world wide. More information is on-line at   
   tinyurl.com/first-accessible-tv. (KC9RP via Insight Radio)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AMATEUR RADIO CELEBRATES JOHN GLENN OVER PERTH AUSTRALIA   
      
   50 Years of anticipation all worked out on the day that Australia and the   
   world celebrated John Glenn's orbit in Friendship 7 over the city of Perth   
   on Monday, February 20th. And ham radio was an important part of the event.   
   Onno Benschop, VK6FLAB, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   We had John Glenn, the Premier of WA, the Lord Mayor of Perth, Lyn Beazley   
   the WA Chief Scientist and many other dignitaries on hand to celebrate. We   
   even managed to squeeze in some David Bowie and a video on how to become an   
   astronaut.   
      
   The crowds filled the Northbridge Piazza and much anticipation culminated at   
   10:24 UTC. Orbital calculations all worked out and the International Space   
   Station made it across the horizon. There were some chilling seconds when   
   Mike was calling from Honolulu, but in the end, the contact was a great   
   success.   
      
   Of course, an event like this could not have been possible without a   
   little help from some friends, Captain Dan Burbank on the International   
   Space Station, the WA State Records Office, the WA Museum, the City of Perth,   
   ARISS, NASA and the Hills Amateur Radio Group.   
      
   A full credit list is being prepared on the Hills Amateur Radio Group   
   website, but two people require a special mention, Tony VK5ZAI the   
   Australian ARISS mentor and Meg VK6LUX who energetically kept the   
   multitude of interested parties moving along making it all possible.   
      
   We managed to get Amateur Radio into the news on ABC Online, ABC radio and   
   local television, who knows we might pick up some more amateurs along the   
   way.   
      
   Alex VK6FLOL and Donald VK6PDS scored a place in history as prize winners for   
   the contact.   
      
   I'm Onno Benschop, VK6FLAB   
      
   --   
      
   By way of background, on February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the first   
   American to orbit the Earth in the Friendship 7 spacecraft. On this   
   mission, Glenn flew over Perth and the people of Perth turned on their   
   lights to acknowledge his mission. Glenn observed that the city was visible   
   from space and Perth become known worldwide as the City of Light. (WIA   
   News)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: RSGB ATTEMPTS TO HARMONIZE 5 MHZ ALLOCATION   
      
   The RSGB report that it has received an offer from the primary United Kingdom   
   user of 5 MHz, which is the Ministry of Defense aimed at working with the   
   British ham radio community on band access issues.   
      
   As has been reported earlier the Ministry of Defense was unable to meet an   
   RSGB request for access over a continuous range but has offered a number of   
   small frequency blocks. These include all of the present 3 kHz wide   
   channels.   
      
   The new offer is quite complex and the RSGB's view is that it need to seek   
   input from members and non-members of the UK amateur community as to how it   
   responds. As such the RSGB announced that it would be launching what it   
   calls a second "Litmus Test" discussion entitled "New 5 MHz NoV proposals".   
      
      
   The details of the offer and a draft response from the RSGB should have been   
   uploaded to www.rsgb.org/consultations by March 1st. (GB2RS)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR: TARC REMEMBERS THE APRIL 2011 TUSCALOOSA TORNADO VICTIMS   
      
   On the air, the Tuscaloosa Amateur Radio Club will be operating special event   
   station W4XI on April 28th from 11:00AM to 5:00PM local time. This in   
   remembrance of the 44 people that died when an F-4 tornado struck that city   
   on April 27, 2011.   
      
   Operation will be from the top of the western parking deck at Druid City   
   Hospital Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa. The operating frequencies   
   will be 7.270 and 14.270MHz, +/- any QRM. The club will also have a RTTY   
   station in the data portion of both the 40 and 20 meter bands. QSL   
   information is on the club website at www.w4kcq.org. (N4EDT)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR: THE IRTS CELEBRATES ITS 80th ANNIVERSARY   
      
   The Irish Radio Transmitters Society is now celebrating its 80th anniversary   
   and is on the air with the special callsign EI80IRTS. An attractive   
   certificate sponsored by Dundalk Amateur Radio Society will be available to   
   all who make contact with the station. More details are on-line at   
   www.ei7dar.com/ei80irts.html. (IRTS)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, JI3DST, will be on the air signing portable 9M2 from West Malaysia   
   between 0000 UTC on March 10th and 0900 UTC on March 11th. His activity   
   will be on 80 through 6 meters including most of the WARC bands. Modes to   
   be used will include CW, SSB and FM. QSL via JI3DST.   
      
   DJ0IF and SP7VC will be on the air from Madeira Island through the 7th of   
   March signing portable CT9. QSL via their home callsigns.   
      
   F6ITD will operate SSB and digital modes on the HF bands from Guadeloupe   
   until 13th of March. QSL via his home callsign, either direct or via the   
   bureau.   
      
   Lastly, K5LBU, VE7MID, VE7DS and N5JR will be active from the Lotsane Safari   
   Lodge in Botswana between March 18th and the 27th. The group plans to be   
   active in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB Contest from March 24th to the 25th as   
   A25HQ. They will have three radios and both a log periodic and wire antenna   
   covering 160 meters and up. More details in future Amateur Radio Newsline   
   reports.   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: NASA SHUTS DOWN LAST MAINFRAME   
      
   There was a time when IBM's mainframe computers were the cutting-edge   
   machines for scientific and engineering calculations. Now, for NASA that's   
   all come to an end. Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   The day of the giant mainframe computer began in the 1960s, when IBM's System   
   360 rewrote the rules of computing and before humans walked on the moon.   
   When NASA acquired two of the then super-speed System 360 Model 95   
   mainframes in 1968, IBM touted the machines' mathematical abilities.   
      
   But February marked the end of the era in NASA computing. This as the space   
   agency powered down its last IBM Z9 mainframe that was located at Marshall   
   Space Flight Center.   
      
   Linda Cureton is a Chief Information Officer who once programmed a System 360   
   mainframe in assembly language at the Goddard Space Flight Center in   
   Greenbelt, Maryland. She is quoted as saying that mainframes are really   
   not so bad and they have their place. She notes that things like virtual   
   machines, hypervisors, thin clients, and swapping are all old hat to the   
   mainframe generation though they are new to the current generation of what   
   she termed as cyber youth.   
      
   But for many in the industry, mainframes had become so burdened with a   
   reputation for a bygone era of computing that they became synonymous with   
   dinosaurs. To counter this IBM fought back, boosting performance, adding   
   new technology. The company succeeded in that these newer mainframe systems   
   remain a fixture in some corners of the computing industry.   
      
   In the old days, mainframes were the size of several large rooms. Today   
   these units are only the size of a refrigerator. And even though NASA has   
   shut down its last one, there is still a requirement for mainframe   
   capability in many other organizations.   
      
   For the amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, in Zion, Illinois.   
      
   --   
      
   By comparison with days gone bye, today's fastest mainframe supercomputers   
   can perform 10.5 quadrillion calculations per second.   
   (NASA, Science OnLine)   
      
   **   
      
   NEWSCAST CLOSE   
      
   With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ Magazine,   
   the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB, the   
   Southgate News and Australia's W-I-A News, that's all from the Amateur Radio   
   Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is newsline(at) arnewsline (dot) org. More   
   information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's(tm) only official   
   website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support   
   us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita   
   California, 91350   
      
   A reminder that the nominating period for the 2012 Amateur Radio Newsline   
   Young Ham of the Year Award is now open. Full details and a downloadable   
   nominating form are on our website at arnewsline.org/yhoty.   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim Davis,   
   W2JKD saying 73 from Vero Beach Florida 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)