Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1816 - June 1 2012   
      
   Note: This week is an extended Amateur Radio Newsline report running 35   
   minutes, 37 seconds and contains three breaks at 9:56, 19:12 and 25:46   
   respectively. Actual newscast begins now:   
      
   --   
   Cue tone   
   --   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1816 with a release date of June 1, 2012   
   to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T. Italian hams called out as earthquakes hit near   
   the city of Bologna; South African hams ready to respond after mine   
   disaster, more on Icom's support of the Boy Scouts of America and a new   
   plateau in solar energy is reached down-under. Find out the details are on   
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1816 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: HAMS RESPOND AFTER QUAKE HITS ITALY   
      
   It has been called the region's worst quake since the 1300's. Amateur   
   radio was one of the services requested to help in the quake's aftermath.   
   Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Butera-Howell, KB3TZD, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   Striking on Sunday, May 20th at 4.04 am local time the quake's epicenter was   
   located about 35 kilometers north of the Italian city of Bologna at a   
   relatively shallow depth of 5 kilometers. Its intensity measured a 6.0 on   
   the Richter scale as it shook the nation's densely populated northeast   
   region. Homes, factories and some historic church steeples were all felled   
   by the force of the temblor.   
      
   There was a 5.8 magnitude aftershock on Tuesday, May 29th at 9 am local time   
   in the province of Modena, about 22 miles north-west of Bologna. This   
   aftershock caused more buildings to collapse across the region, leaving at   
   least 17 people dead, more than 350 injured, and 12 people reported missing.   
      
   Jim Linton, VK3PC, is the Chairman of the IARU Region 3 Disaster   
   Communications Committee. He relays an IARU Region 1 report that Italian   
   radio amateurs were called on to responded in the wake of the disaster.   
   According to VK3PC, the voluntary group RNRE was requested to make several   
   mobile units available to respond as needed, due to the continuing seismic   
   activity. No H-F frequencies were in use during the initial quake with all   
   communications apparently taking place on the VHF and UHF bands.   
      
   IARU Region 1 now reports that 7060 KHz is in use by IQ1HQ which is the RNRE   
   and IQ0TK which is the Rome Civil Protection Department. There are also VHF   
   links in the area at this time. Following a request from the Italian Civil   
   Protection department, the RNRE have sent one mobile unit with five radio   
   amateurs to the affected area and two more units are ready to go if   
   requested.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Butera-Howell, KB3TZD, near   
   Berwick, Pennsylvania.   
      
   --   
      
   As if this quake was not enough, another 4.3-magnitude earthquake was   
   registered on May 28th in Southern Italy. The European Mediterranean   
   Seismological Centre reports the epicenter was located 9 kilometers west of   
   the town of Castrovillari. At airtime, There is no information about any   
   injuries or damages caused by the latest earthquake. (VK3PC, G0DUB,   
   KB3TZD)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: HAMNET NORTHERN CAPE RESPONDS TO MINE DISASTER   
      
   Hams from South Africa's Hamnet are being asked to prepare for activation in   
   the wake of a mining disaster in that region.   
      
   Carel Oberholzer, ZS3OBE, of Hamnet Northern Cape says they are potentially   
   in need of assistance to provide communication support for the operation to   
   rescue the trapped miners or remove their remains from a diamond mine near   
   Kleinzee.   
      
   According to ZS3OBE, communications to Springbok which is the nearest urban   
   hub is problematic and Hamnet has been requested to assist.   
      
   Oberholzer says that operators are needed to assist in providing   
   communications between Springbok and the Kleinzee mine location. This is a   
   distance of about 80 kilometers.   
      
   If activation occurs, the operation is expected to last for two to three   
   weeks. Hamnet will likely two person teams on a rotational basis to man a   
   relay point on a high point somewhere in between the mine and the city.   
      
   Oberholzer describes the situation as fluid at this stage. As such the   
   Hamnet response is only in the preparation phase.   
      
   We will have a follow-up on this story in a future Amateur Radio Newsline   
   report.   
      
   (Hamnet)   
      
   **   
      
      
   HAMVENTION 2012: TRULY A MIND BLOWING EVENT   
      
   The numbers are in and this years Dayton Hamvention was once again a mind   
   blowing event with some 25,000 hams attending to see new product launches   
   from most of the major amateur radio suppliers. Amateur Radio Newsline's   
   Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, was on scene and has more:   
      
   --   
      
   When Hara Arena opened its doors at 9 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Friday,   
   May 18th thousands of hams swarmed in. All were eager to see the latest   
   and greatest gear that manufacturers and vendors had to offer. And they   
   were not disappointed.   
      
   Last week we covered a couple of the new radios from Kenwood and Heiberling.   
   This week we will take a look at what Yaesu had to offer. In their case it   
   was both a new HF transceiver and a new method of digital audio for use on   
   VHF and UHF bands. Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, is Yaesu's spokesman:   
      
   --   
      
   K7BV: "The surprise that no one knew about including me was the FTDX-3000   
   which is an HF and 50 MHz 200 watt radio that uses the fantastic receiver   
   that we developed for the FTDX-5000. So now for $3000 someone can have the   
   receiver performance of a $5000 FTDX-5000. Of coarse you don't get the   
   second receiver and you don't get 200 watts; you only get 100; but there's   
   that rig that so many people have been waiting for."   
      
   --   
      
   But that was not all. For the world at 2 meters and above Yaesu introduced   
   its long awaited digital audio hand-held that uses a different modulation   
   scheme from either Icom's D-Star or Alinco's ITU-TV.32 protocols. Again,   
   Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV:   
      
   --   
      
   K7BV" "We have a new digital handheld that uses C4FM FFDMA protocol and its   
   going to be a whole new venture of digital into amateur radio with many,   
   many of the capabilities that some of the other existing services can't   
   offer. We introduced the hand held for that today and the repeater and the   
   mobile will be coming later on in the year."   
      
   --   
      
   In simpler terms, the introduction of the new Yaesu digital radio is kind of   
   the ham radio equivalent of the 1970's Betamax versus VHS clash, but this   
   time it will be at least 3-way affair. Four ways if you count the   
   proponents of the P-25 protocol with recycled police and fire radios that   
   has an ever growing following among the technical experimenters in the   
   hobby.   
      
   Turning to the social aspect of Hamvention, the theme of the 2012 Hamvention   
   was Internationally Connected with Germany's Deutscher Amateur Radio Club   
   having been selected as the 2012 Hamvention Club of the Year. Mitch   
   Wolfson, DJ0QN, a former California ham who moved to Germany more than three   
   decades ago was one of several DARC representatives who came to Dayton:   
      
   --   
      
   DJ0QN: "Well that was quite a surprise. We were really pleased to hear that   
   DARA selected us as the Club of the Year. We haven't done anything   
   different the past couple of years that we have done the last 40 years. We   
   have continued to represent Germany and also help amateur radio in all of   
   Europe and all of IARU Region 1. We did a lot of work into making sure that   
   we supported amateur radio in Germany by supporting it against issues like   
   RFI problems that have been caused by new devices such as PLC and have done   
   a lot of work in that area."   
      
   --   
      
   Also on hand for this year's international event were representatives of the   
   Japan Amateur Radio League, the Qatar Amateur Radio Society and the Radio   
   Society of Great Britain. In addition, some of the leaders of the   
   International Amateur Radio Union were on hand. This included IARU   
   President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, Vice President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, and   
   Secretary Rod Stafford, W6ROD. They were there to meet and greet visitors.   
   All of the international societies were located in the ARRL EXPO in the   
   Ballarena Hall that also housed more than 20 exhibits staffed by ARRL   
   representatives. Among the new ARRL booths for 2012 was an exhibit   
   introducing the digital edition of QST magazine.   
      
   We wish we had more time to tell you about Hamvention 2012,. But there are   
   other stories we have to cover. So for now, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, in   
   Southern Mississippi, for the Amateur Radio Newsline.   
      
   --   
      
   For a visual highlight tour of Hamvention 2012 we suggest that you visit   
   twit.tv/hn and watch Episode 49 of Bob Heil's show Ham Nation called the   
   Dayton Experience. Also there are two new Hamvention 2012 music videos on   
   You Tube produced by kit building expert Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB. One is   
   called Hamvention 2012 "Band On The Run" and the other is titled Hamvention   
   2012 "Gimme Dat Ding." To find them just put the word joehusker into the   
   search YouTube search line. We think you will enjoy them both.   
   (ARNewsline, RSGB, others)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard   
   on bulletin stations around the world including the WM7K repeater serving   
   Grants Pass, Oregon.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO FOR YOUTH: MORE ON THE BSA AND ICOM ALLIANCE   
      
   As we mentioned briefly last week, one of the biggest surprises to come out   
   of Hamvention 2012 was an announcement that Icom and the Boy Scouts of   
   America are joining forces to give scouts a new and exciting access point to   
   ham radio. Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramovich, NT3V, is here with   
   some more information on this new alliance:   
      
   --   
      
   While some might say the new partnership between Icom and the BSA is   
   historic, the key players who hammered out the deal simply say it was a   
   natural progression that will expose tens of thousands of Scouts and their   
   leaders to the fun, the excitement and the challenges found in amateur   
   radio.   
      
   Jim Wilson, K5ND, who coordinates the annual Jamboree on the Air for the Boy   
   Scouts of America each October, was introduced to Ray Novak, N9JA, division   
   manager for amateur and receiver products at Icom America in Seattle, by a   
   past staff member at the K2BSA operations at the national Boy Scouts   
   Jamboree.   
      
   Wilson, who is coordinating the K2BSA operations for the 2013 BSA jamboree at   
   The Summit in West Virginia, says he was initially looking for a commitment   
   on equipment which Icom has been loaning the jamboree operations over the   
   years. But Wilson had a different idea this time...   
      
   "Donate the equipment, don't loan it to us, but donate it to the jamboree and   
   after the jamboree, we'll move it to local councils so they can put it to   
   use and it'll be in use year-round," Wilson says.   
   Wilson says his dialogue with Novak explored other areas where the BSA and   
   amateur radio are in sync - such as Radio merit badge and Jamboree on the   
   Air.   
      
   From that came the proposal from Icom's Novak to put HF radios, microphones   
   and an antenna, in the hands of the BSA in the form of "loaner kits" to send   
   out to Scout councils across the country.   
      
   "One is a long-range loan of up to 12 months that a Scout council can put in   
   place while they're developing donations to support a longer term station,"   
   Wilson says. "But, give them a station that they can show how it works, they   
   can get the Scouts excited, they can get local donors excited.   
      
   "And, then another type of loan station - which we're calling an event loan   
   station. So, if you've got a Radio Merit Badge workshop where you'd like to   
   put in place one of these stations, you can apply and we'll get it in the   
   queue, see if it works out and get a station out there for a week or two   
   weeks or what have you."   
      
   Novak, who has been helping set up equipment needs for the past few national   
   jamboree operations at Fort AP Hill in Virginia, says he didn't want to wait   
   a year for the next jamboree to get gear into the hands of Scouts and   
   leaders for special events like JOTA or camporee demos or Radio merit badge   
   workshops.   
      
   "I'm not as concerned about the Boy Scouts getting licensed as I am with them   
   seeing that amateur radio is actually a fun thing and they take home with   
   them and share with their parents and others what fun they had talking into   
   a microphone and transmitting thousands of miles away to talk to another Boy   
   Scout or another youth the same age instead of sitting there and texting,"   
   Novak says.   
      
   The BSA's Wilson says he confided in Novak his vision for the new Scout   
   jamboree location in West Virginia and the idea of eventually establishing a   
   permanent footprint for amateur radio there. That turned into something   
   Wilson described as unexpected - an offer of repeaters for the site.   
      
   "A 2-meter repeater and 2, 70 centimeter repeaters," Wilson says of the Icom   
   offer. "The 2-meter and 70 centimeter will be analog and we'll have a D-Star   
   repeater also at 70 centimeters."   
   And, Novak says there is more, much more being worked out for HF, VHF,   
   EchoLink, Foxhunting, and antennas for the K2BSA operations and Radio merit   
   badge for the 2013 jamboree.   
      
   "Right now we're at just the very beginning of working out all the details   
   and luckily we've got about a full year before we really need to have   
   everything in place for the Summit and the jamboree," Novak says. "But that   
   one year will go fast."   
      
   Wilson, who is excited to see this vision unfolding for the BSA and amateur   
   radio, says it wouldn't have been possible without the people at the local   
   Scout councils who have contributed to a seven-fold increase in the number   
   of Radio merit badges earned by Scouts in recent years.   
      
   And, some of those Scouts, he says, are going on to the next level - thanks   
   to the interest spurred by the merit badge...   
      
   "There are some committed Scouters and amateur radio operators putting in   
   place merit badge workshops, offering Jamboree on the Air experiences,   
   getting youth engaged in amateur radio and then they're going on and earning   
   their Radio merit badge," Wilson says. "And,   
   I'll bet a fair percent of those are going on and earning their Technician   
   licenses."   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, in Philadelphia.   
      
   --   
      
   All things considered, the agreement between the Boy Scouts of America and   
   Icom could easily lead to a lot of new young voices on the air and that   
   would be very good news for all of amateur radio. Also it begs the obvious   
   question of whether or not it will lead to similar agreements between other   
   equipment suppliers and youth groups here in the United States or possibly   
   elsewhere in the world. On this one only time will tell. (ARNewsline,   
   NT3V)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: OHIO ENACTS PRB-1 LIKE LAW TO PROTECT HAMS   
      
   Good news for Ohio hams. They now have P R B One-like antenna protection.   
   Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the Newsroom with more:   
      
   --   
      
   Ohio hams now have antenna and support structure assurance. On May 15, Ohio   
   Governor John Kasich signed a bill, granting comprehensive protections and   
   rights to amateur radio operators in that state.   
      
   HB 158 codifies the federal restrictions on the local zoning of amateur   
   station antenna structures, thereby preserving Amateur Radio Service   
   communications as a Homeland Security resource. It also places the burden   
   of proof for compliance on the zoning authority.   
      
   The new law states that: "Any legislative authority that denies an   
   application for approval of an amateur station antenna structure shall state   
   the reasons for the denial and shall, on appeal, bear the burden of proving   
   that the authority's actions are consistent with this section."   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the newsroom   
   in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   This language of the new Ohio law removes the burden of proof from the   
   amateur radio operator and places it on the legislative authority. And   
   that's very good news for hams living in the Buckeye State. (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: NEW FCC COMMISSIONERS SET TO WORK   
      
   New FCC Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Ajit Pai have been sworn-in and   
   have officially begun their work.   
      
   Rosenworcel, a Democrat, takes the seat held by former Commissioner Michael   
   Copps. Pai, a former Senate staffer as well who most recently worked at   
   Jenner & Block, is a Republican who takes the seat vacated last spring by   
   former Commissioner Meredith Baker.   
      
   Pai has already announced his personnel with Matthew Berry as his chief of   
   staff. In the past Berry has been the FCC's general counsel. He was most   
   recently at the law firm of Patton Boggs.   
      
   Gene Fullano has been named acting legal advisor for Commissioner Pai. He was   
   most recently associate chief of the FCC's Public Safety & Homeland Security   
   Bureau. (RW)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: KAPLAN TO LEAVE FCC WTB CHIEF POSITION   
      
   The Genachowski lead FCC is losing another bureau chief. This with word that   
   Rick Kaplan is stepping down as chief of the regulatory agency's Wireless   
   Telecommunications Bureau.   
      
   Kaplan has been at the FCC since 2009, working in several posts. This   
   included a stint as Chief of Staff to Commissioner Mignon Clyburn.   
      
   According to a report from Radio World, Ruth Milkman, who preceded Kaplan as   
   chief, will return to the bureau in that role after a year as special   
   counsel to the chairman for Innovation in Government.   
      
   The changes are effective in mid-June. (RW)   
      
   **   
      
   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)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: TOO MANY CB SETS CAUSES HOUSE FIRE   
      
   Tampa Bay Online reports that having too many CB radios connected to one   
   power source likely sparked a fire. One that caused tens of thousands of   
   dollars of damage at a St. Petersburg, Florida home.   
      
   Fire investigators think the blaze was started by too many citizens band   
   radios connected to an overloaded extension cord. Damage is estimated at   
   $35,000 to $50,000.   
      
   The owner of the home told the newspaper that he and his family were watching   
   television when the fire started. They evacuated and no one was injured.   
   The Red Cross helped the family find temporary lodging.   
      
   And less we forget, investigators say that the home where the fire occurred   
   reportedly had no working smoke detectors. More is on-line at   
   tinyurl.com/cb-house-fire. (KB5TJI)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: CB RADIO BOMB SCARE IN THE UK   
      
   The BBC reports that a suspicious electronic device triggered a bomb alert in   
   the city of Surrey. According to the news agency, the device was found   
   after reports of suspicious activity near the Maultway, Camberley at about   
   10:00 British Standard Time on Monday, the 21st.   
      
   Following examination by army bomb disposal experts Surrey police issued a   
   statement saying that the unit turned out to be a pirate radio F.M broadcast   
   transmitter or repeater for a citizen or pirate band radio station. You can   
   read the entire story on-line at tinyurl.com/cb-bomb-scare. (BBC)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO READING: NEW E-BOOK FOR NEWCOMERS OR RETURNING HAMS   
      
   21 Things to Do After You Get Your Amateur Radio License is a new book by   
   Daniel M Romanchik, KB6NU, that is now available for electronic reading on   
   the Kindle and Nook. Written for the new ham or those amateurs who have not   
   really been all that active late, its 21 chapters cover just about every   
   aspect of the hobby as it is today. Included are such topics as how to   
   locate an Elmer, how to buy a radio, set up a shack and much more. Also   
   covered are the social aspects of the hobby including participation in   
   clubs, hamfests and the like. The Kindle edition priced under three dollars   
   is available from amazon.com. (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: K6VVA IOTA NORTHERN LATITUDE OPERATION POSTPONED   
      
   Some names in the news. Rick Hilding, K6VVA, has announced that his Northern   
   Latitudes Islands on the Air DXpedition has been rescheduled for July of   
   2013. This in the hope of gaining better propagation during that time   
   period.   
      
   As explained in his announcement, the far Northern Latitude has additional   
   propagation factor complications. So in evaluating the total picture, a   
   pause was deemed necessary to maximize possibilities for all Islands on the   
   Air chasers to make contacts. You can follow planning progress on-line at   
   www.k6vva.com/iota/na172 (K6VVA)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: GW8TGS CARRIES OLYMPIC TOURCH   
      
   A big treat for a United Kingdom ham as William Williams, GW8TGS , had the   
   honor of being the Olympic Torchbearer as part of the team carrying the   
   flame through the city of Aberystwyth.   
      
   Williams turn came on May 27th starting at around 18.14 GMT and arriving at   
   Vicarage Fields half an hour later.   
      
   Having taken part in several charity runs and raising over 15,000 Pounds for   
   charities, GW8TGS was nominated by the Rotary Club of Aberystwyth for his   
   fund raising and his other voluntary work.   
      
   Williams says he feels honored have taken part in this once-in-a-lifetime   
   event. (GB2RS, Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: RESULTS OF ARRL SPRING 2012 SM ELECTION ANNOUNCED   
      
   Of the nine Section Manager elections this spring, two were decided by member   
   voting. Ballots were counted on May 22nd at ARRL Headquarters.   
   The incumbent Indiana Section Manager, John Poindexter, W3ML decided not to   
   run for a new term of office. Two radio amateurs vied for the open   
   position, with Lou Everett Sr, WA5LOU, being declared the winner with 596   
   votes. His opponent Brian Jenks, W9BGJ, received 429 votes.   
      
   In Northern Florida, incumbent Section Manager Paul Eakin, KJ4G, was   
   re-elected with 627 votes. His opponent Gary Alberstadt, KA3FZO, received   
   434 votes. Eakin has served as Section Manager since 2008.   
      
   California's Santa Clara Valley will also have a new Section Manager with   
   Brandon Bianchi, NI6C, taking over from Phil Steffora, K6TT, who decided not   
   to run for a new term of office. Bianchi is currently serving as an   
   Assistant Section Manager and did not face an opponent for the Section   
   Manager position.   
      
   All other incumbent ARRL Section Managers running for re-election did not   
   face opposition and were declared elected for their next terms of office   
   beginning this July 1st. (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 3   
      
   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: CUBAN HAMS AWARDED NEW DIGIMODES   
      
   Pavel Costa, CO7WT, says that following both a national debate followed by   
   legal avenues that the government of Cuba has approved the use of new   
   digital modes for all Cuban radio amateurs. With this regulatory change   
   Cuban hams are now permitted use of Domino, Contestia, Olivia, M-F-S-K,   
   J-T-65, and almost all variants of PSK. More important says CO7WT, this   
   approval has set up a mechanism to apply for other new digital modes by any   
   Cuban hams. Previous legislation restricted Cuban radio amateurs early   
   digital modes such as to PSK31, QPSK31, AMTOR, PACKET and RTTY. (CO7WT)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: RSGB BACKS OFCOM IN PROPOSED ANTI INTERFERENCE LAW   
      
   The Radio Society of Great Britain has offered a formal response in support   
   telecommunication regulator Ofcom's inquiry on proposed new   
   anti-interference regulations. Laws to provide the telecommunications   
   regulator with powers to take action in cases of interference from   
   non-wireless telecommunications apparatus.   
      
   The RSGB says that while the immediate proposal is to implement the new   
   regulations in time for the upcoming Olympic Games. It adds that this   
   action by Ofcom highlights the point that the RSGB has advocated on many   
   occasions. That being the need for Ofcom to have statutory powers in cases   
   of serious interference to the spectrum from non-wireless apparatus.   
      
   Ofcom has indicated that it intends to prepare these regulations for ongoing   
   use after the Olympic Games. Part of the RSGB response emphasizes the need   
   for such regulatory enforcement powers. (RSGB)   
      
   **   
      
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: HAMS WORLWIDE ASKED TO MONITOR FOR THE HORYU-2 SATELLITE   
      
   Hams world-wide are being asked to monitor for Japan's HORYU-2 satellites   
   Morse code beacon and 1200-baud AX.25 packet telemetry at 437.375 MHz.   
      
   Japan's HORYU-2 is a research satellite was launched May 17th as part of a   
   mission that also included the JAXA climate observation satellite Shizuku.   
      
   HORYU-2 was built by students at the Kyushu Institute of Technology and   
   identifies using the call sign JG6YBW. Telemetry decoding software is   
   available for download at tinyurl.com/horyu-software. This is an executable   
   program so you might want to be certain that it will run on your computer   
   before installing it.   
      
   More about the Horyu satellite itself is on-line at tinyurl.com/horyu-sat.   
   (ARRL, AMSAT)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AMSAT SATELLITE PROPOSALS SUBMITTED TO NASA   
      
   The AMSAT North America Board of Directors has announced that the   
   organization was a partner in a pair of Phase-2 NASA Edison Program   
   proposals that were successfully submitted on Tuesday May 22nd. Due to the   
   highly competitive nature of this program, no additional information can be   
   released at this time. However, if selected, these proposals would provide   
   AMSAT and its partners with the funds to construct and launch new amateur   
   radio satellites. NASA intends to announce the winning proposals in the   
   Fall of 2012. (ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   PROPAGATION: NEW UK TO NORTH AMERICA 2 METER BEACON GB3WGI COMING SOON   
      
   A new United-Kingdom based trans-Atlantic beacon is coming to the 2 meter   
   band. Located at Lough Navar Forest in Northern Ireland at a height of 1145   
   feet above average terrain, the GB3WGI beacon will have a clear take off   
   over the sea toward North America. The system will radiate on 144.487MHz   
   initially with an Effective Radiated Power 100 Watts relative to a dipole,   
   with plans to increase this if licensing allows.   
      
   This new propagation beacon is being made possible thanks to the generous   
   donation of a transmitter by Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, the man behind the US   
   70MHz beacon, and United Kingdom Notice of Variation holder, Gordon Curry   
   GI6ATZ who is providing the site and site services. No date has been   
   announced for the installation of the beacon, but plans are well under way.   
      
      
   The Notice of Variation is the U-K equivalent to a United States Special   
   Temporary Authority. It was issued by telecommunications regulator Ofcom on   
   May 18th. (G4BAO)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, UA4WHX, who just went QRT as JY8VB has been spotted with the   
   Palestinian call E40VB on 12 meters. Details of the stay are not known.   
   QSL via home call.   
      
   OH2PM will be operating as TC2X from Istanbul at TA2KN which is the Turkish   
   Scouting and Guiding Federation Club station in Umraniye. QSL this operation   
   via OH2BH.   
      
   ZL3CW is working as TX5CW from Noumea, French Caledonia. QSL via his home   
   call as well.   
      
   The special event station 8N1TDU is active from Japan's Tokyo Denki   
   University Campus until December 31. QSL this one as directed on the air.   
      
   Lastly, HA1ZH is active in all modes and on all bands until December 31st.   
   This on the occasion of his 50th jubilee as a ham QSL information is at   
   www.ha1zh.hu   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: SOLAR POWER BREAKTHROUGH   
      
   And finally this week, word of a major efficiency breakthrough in the field   
   of renewable energy from the sun. Heres WIA Newsman Graham Kemp, VK4BB,   
   with the details:   
      
   --   
      
   The world's most successful solar cell breaks the 20% barrier   
      
   Aussie researchers teamed with Sun-tech Power to create Pluto Technology.   
   The solar cells reached a production capacity last year of 0.5 gigawatts,   
   worth more than 1 billion US dollars a year. This is enough to power 300,000   
   average homes that typically have eight solar panels on them for at least 25   
   years.   
      
   The Pluto Technology won a 2012 Collaborative Innovation Award Wednesday   
   night at the Cooperative Research Centers Association conference in   
   Adelaide.   
      
   For the Amateur radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB, of the WIA News in   
   Australia.   
      
   --   
      
   Don't get your hopes up yet to replace your mains powered ham gear with these   
   new solar cells. Further research and marketing is needed to make them a   
   world-wide everyday home power source. (WIA News)   
      
   **   
      
   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   
      
   Before we go a quick note that the nominating period for the 2012 Amateur   
   Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award closed at midnight on May 30th.   
   Over the coming days the submissions will be sent to the judging committee   
   and a winner will be announced in a few weeks.   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Fred Vobbe,   
   W9HDU, in Lima, Ohio, 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)