Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1817 - June 8 2012   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1817 with a release date of June 8, 2012   
   to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T. A famed German DXer is arrested in Greece but   
   nobody seems to know why, including Greece. Also, medical wireless network   
   to operate adjacent to ham radio satellites on 13 centimeters; Malaysia says   
   emergency agencies should embrace amateur radio and a primer on   
   International lighthouse and lightship weekend. Find out the details are on   
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1817 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: FAMED GERMAN DX'ER DJ6SI ARRESTED IN GREECE   
      
      
   In what has to be one of the strangest international legal issues involving a   
   ham radio operator, famed German DXpedition leader Baldur Drobnica, DJ6SI,   
   has been arrested in Greece. But in a strange turn of events he was   
   permitted to return to Germany if he promised that he would come back to   
   Greece for trial. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in   
   the newsroom trying to sort it all out:   
      
   --   
      
   Let me start by saying that it is very hard to know what has really taken   
   place because most of the news sources are foreign language ham radio blogs   
   and other news reports that have been electronically translated into   
   English. Also, as we go to air there comes a purported statement in German   
   from the person in the center of the controversy, DXer Baldur Drobnika,   
   DJ6SI. It was posted to QRZ.com by YO4PX after being translated by DK5KF.   
   As that is the latest information, lets start there and then take a look at   
   the rest of the story as it seemed to unfold.   
      
   The statement credited to DJ6SI reads as follows:   
      
   "June 3rd, 2012, 20:46 (UTC 2)   
      
   Dear Michael,   
      
   I wasn't charged with espionage. As a reason of my arrest it was stated that:   
      
   1. I performed radio traffic without the approval of the Greek authorities;   
      
   2. I owned transmitting equipment which enabled the reception of other   
   frequencies;   
      
   To the accusation was later added an other point:   
      
   I hindered the visualization of the content of my notebook.   
      
   I would like to ask you to eliminate the information that I was arrested for   
   espionage, or to replace it with my statement.   
      
   Vy 73 Baldur DJ6SI"   
      
   Now, the back story:   
      
   According to news reports, 75 year old Baldur Drobnica, DJ6SI was on holiday   
   on the Greek island of Kos. That's where he was reportedly taken into   
   custody for the crime of espionage which was quickly reduced to operating   
   amateur radio equipment. This, even though both Greece and Drobnika's home   
   country of Germany are both signatories to the CEPT pan-European Amateur   
   Radio licensing agreement.   
      
   Even so, Greek news reports appear to indicate DJ6SI was actually arrested   
   under a 1929 Greek law covering illegal operation of radio telegraph   
   equipment even though the CEPT agreement would likely superscede the older   
   law.   
      
   According to Greek ham radio blogs the accusation of espionage was based on a   
   complaint that he was "producing strange noises" with his computer. Those   
   strange noises turned out to be CW and RTTY. This was corroborated by many   
   who notice reports of his operation on Internet-based DX spotting clusters.   
      
      
   Quite quickly the espionage charge appeared to disappear and the reduced   
   charge under the 1929 law implemented. And in a strange turn of events,   
   DJ6SI was permitted to return to Germany but he was told that he must return   
   to Greece to stand trial on June 7th. That hearing is likely taking place   
   as this newscast goes to air. But as several Greek hams have pointed out,   
   DJ6SI would have not been permitted to leave the country if there were any   
   real case or even a suspicion that he was engaged in spying activities.   
      
   And one Greek ham radio blog took the matter a lot further. The Radio   
   Amateur Association of Greece issued an angry statement defending DJ6SI. It   
   claims that the responsibility for the entire matter should be placed on the   
   to the shoulders of the officer that ignored laws and regulations, arrested   
   DJ6SI and led him to court. They also place blame on the prosecutor who   
   they say was quick to suggest his conviction based on a law passed in 1927,   
   in the year 2012.   
      
   The hams also point out that radio amateurs have been complaining for years   
   to the responsible Ministry that public services and institutions and   
   particularly police have not been informed properly about ham radio. The   
   association says that it's the governments duty to inform all relevant   
   authorities about amateur radio and its operations.   
      
   Obviously. This story is far from over.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the Newsroom   
   in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   You can read the Aegea News report in Google English at   
   tinyurl.com/DJ6SI-Aegea-News. An article by Greek amateurs protesting   
   Drobnika's arrest is at www.radiofono.gr/node/3251 (SV5YR, DK5KF, YO4PX,   
   RadioInfo.gr, QRZ.com, others)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: MALAYSIA SAYS EMERGENCY AGENCIES SHOULD WORK WITH HAMS   
      
   Emergency Agencies in Malaysia should work with Radio Amateurs. So says that   
   nations Information Department director-general Ibrahim Abd Rahman.   
      
   Director-general Rahman has been quoted in the Straits Times newspaper as   
   saying that integration between the two should be encouraged as it helped   
   the agencies to build good rapport and teamwork spirit.   
      
   Rahman said that agencies like the Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defense,   
   police, the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, hospitals, the Royal Malaysian   
   Air Force and the Department of Civil Aviation should work together with   
   amateur radio operators. He notes that hams could be the key to communicate   
   with people in distress and, therefore, a collaboration between government   
   agencies and amateur radio users should be intensified.   
      
   You can read the entire story of Malaysia's new emergency response proposal   
   to include ham radio in its emergency communications system on-line at   
   tinyurl.com/malaysian-emcomm. (Straits Times)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING: NEW BANDS MADE AVAILABLE IN POLAND   
      
   Some new spectrum for hams in Poland. Paweł Zakrzewski, SP7TEV, reports   
   via the I-A-R-U Region One website that the Regulation of the Council of   
   Ministers from April 3rd and published in the Journal of Laws of the   
   Republic of Poland on May 17th has made available several new bands. These   
   include 70.1 to 70.3 MHz on a secondary basis with a power limit of 20   
   watts.   
      
   Also available to radio amateurs will be 2.400 to 2.450 Gigahertz without   
   causing interference to the other services in line with the article number 5   
   of the ITU Radio Regulations. Lastly is 3.400 to 3.410 Gigahertz on a   
   secondary basis, with no more than 20 watts effective radiated power.   
      
   The changes to Poland's National Table of Allocation of the Radio Frequency   
   Spectrum will come into effect on June 1st. (IARU R-1)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING: BAND COVERAGE CHANGES IN DENMARK   
      
   The Danish regulator the ERST has announced the availability for of 5250 to   
   5450 kHz and 472 to 479 kHz and an expansion to 70 MHz to that nation's   
   amateur radio service.   
      
   Effective this past June 1st, the pilot program at 5 MHz ceased. It was   
   replaced by the new permanent allocation of 5250 to 5450 kHz. This spectrum   
   can be used by that nation's A certificate holders at a power level of up to   
   1000 watts and B certificate holders at up to 100 watts out using all   
   modulation types. Previously issued trial licenses are valid until their   
   expiration date.   
      
   Additionally ERST announced an expansion of 70 MHz which will become 69.9375   
   to 70.0625 MHz, 70.0875 to 70.1125 MHz and 70.1625 to 70.5125 MHz. No   
   changes were implemented to the current modes and power levels for this   
   band.   
      
   Lastly, Denmark will also open a new amateur radio band at from 472 to 479   
   kHz as of January 1, 2013. (ERST)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING: NEW LOW FREQUENCY BAND IN MONACO   
      
   The telecommunications regulator of the Principality of Monaco has allocated   
   the band segment of 472 to 479 kHz to its amateur service. This is on a   
   secondary status basis and limited to a maximum power of one watt effective   
   radiated power. (GB2RS)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING: SA AGREEMENT FOR HAM RADIO AT YOUTH DAY EVENT   
      
   The South African Radio League has signed an agreement with   
   telecommunications regulator the Independent Communications Authority of   
   South Africa that will allow unlicensed persons to operate an amateur radio   
   station under the supervision of a licensed radio amateur. This without the   
   need to register as an educational station.   
      
   The agreement comes in time for implementation for the June 16th South Africa   
   Youth Day event. Both SARL and ICASA look at this agreement as a further   
   incentive to set up a demonstration station, involve more young people in   
   the youth day sprint and show the average man in the street how great   
   amateur radio is. (SARL)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard   
   on bulletin stations around the world including the W4GR repeater serving   
   Sumter, South Carolina.   
      
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING: MED ELECTRONICS TO OPERATE ADJACENT TO HAMSATS 13 CM   
      
   Medical electronics will soon be operational adjacent to ham radio in the 13   
   centimeter band. Amateur Radio Newsline's Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, has more:   
      
   --   
      
   The ARRL and AMSAT are reporting on a First Report and Order and a Further   
   Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released by the FCC on May 24. In it the   
   regulatory agency decided to expand the Part 95 Personal Radio Service rules   
   to allow medical devices to operate on a secondary basis in the spectrum   
   from 2360 to 2400 MHz.   
      
   The new allocation came in a Report and Order on ET docket 08-59 and is   
   specific for Medical Body Area Networks. These provide a way for health   
   care facilities to monitor their patients without confining them to wired   
   hookups.   
      
   The use of these frequencies will be on a secondary basis. This means that   
   Medical Body Area Networks stations will not be allowed to cause   
   interference to, and must accept interference from, any primary services   
   using the spectrum. This includes amateur radio which operate on a   
   terrestrial primary basis in the 2390 to 2395 and 2395 to 2400 MHz bands.   
   International amateur satellite operations are allocated between 2400 to   
   2450 MHz, which is adjacent to the new medical devices shared spectrum.   
      
   For the amateur Radio newsline, I'm Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, in Zion, Illinois.   
      
   --   
      
   The assignment of this new medical service to the to the shared 13 centimeter   
   band was not much of a surprise to those who have been following the   
   communications politics taking pace in Washington of late. (ARRL, ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO PLANNING: ARRL BOD APPROVES NEW 9CM BANDPLAN   
      
   The ARRL Board of Directors has unanimously voted to approve a news 9   
   centimeter band plan. This, as presented to it by the League's UHF and   
   Microwave Band Plan Committee.   
      
   In its findings, the committee recognized that local conditions or needs may   
   necessitate deviations from a band plan. Also that regional frequency   
   coordinating bodies may recommend alternatives for use in their respective   
   regions.   
      
   Several interesting notes about the new bandplan include an advisory that   
   weak signal terrestrial legacy users should be encouraged to move to 3400.3   
   to 3401.0 MHz, as time and resources permit. Also that broadband segments   
   may be used for any combination of high-speed data, amateur television and   
   other high-bandwidth activities. Division into channels and or separation of   
   uses within these segments may be done regionally, based on need and usage.   
      
      
   The new plan also notes that per I-T-U Radio Regulation 5.149 that in some   
   regions these band segments are also used for Radio Astronomy. As such,   
   amateur radio use of these frequencies should be first coordinated with the   
   National Science Foundation.   
      
   Earlier this year, the committee asked radio amateurs for comments on a   
   proposed 9 cm band plan. At that time it explained that the purpose of   
   these band plans is to share information about how the amateur spectrum is   
   being used and to suggest compatible frequency ranges for various types of   
   application. (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: FCC DENIES CALL IDENTIFICATION CHANGE REQUEST   
      
   The FCC has again denied a rule making petition from Glen Zook, K9STH, of   
   Richardson, Texas. One that requested that Section 97.119(a) of the   
   Commission's Rules be amended to include an exception to the station   
   identification rule.   
      
   Accorsding to the FCC, Section 97.119(a) provides that an amateur station   
   must transmit its assigned call sign on its transmitting channel at the end   
   of each communication, and at least every 10 minutes during a communication.   
      
   In his petition Zook asserted that the requirement that a station transmit   
   its assigned call sign at the end of each communication is routinely   
   violated by amateur operators.   
      
   The FCC says that Zook proposed to address this by adding to Section   
   97.119(a) which was an exception formerly contained in the Commission's   
   regulations pertaining to the Amateur Radio Service. Specifically, K9STH   
   requested that the rule be amended to provide that if an amateur station   
   transmits its call sign during its first transmission, the call sign need   
   not be transmitted at the end of the communications if the total   
   communication is less than three minutes. Zook referred to this as the   
   "3-minute rule."   
      
   In denying Zook's request the FCC noted that his proposal to reinstate the   
   "3-minute rule" was dismissed twice in the last five years. It says that   
   his latest petition sets forth no new facts or changed circumstances   
   warranting further consideration of the proposal. As such, the FCC   
   concludes that the current petition is repetitive and as such it is being   
   dismissed. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
      
   FCC NEWS: SEAN LEV NAMED NEW FCC GENERAL COUNSEL   
      
   Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski has announced   
   that Sean Lev, currently Deputy General Counsel and Special Advisor to the   
   Chairman, will become FCC General Counsel. This after Austin Schlick   
   announced his decision to step down as the agency's General Counsel,   
   effective mid-June.   
      
   According to his bio, Lev came to the FCC from the Department of Energy,   
   where he served as the Acting General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel for   
   Environment and Nuclear Programs. Before joining the D-O-E in June 2009,   
   Lev was a partner at Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel, where his   
   practice focused on telecommunications, administrative law, and appellate   
   and general litigation. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: HAM RADIO AT THE 2012 MENSA ANNUAL CONVENTION   
      
   The 2012 Mensa Annual Gathering and National Convention will be held July 4th   
   through the 8th in Reno, Nevada. During the gathering, the on-line Mensa   
   amateur radio special interest group will be sponsoring the Special Events   
   Station N-7-M. According to Bil Munsil, K1ATV, of Mesa, Arizona, there will   
   be field day-type operation from the parking structure on top of the Silver   
   Legacy resort. There also may be a 2 meter station and possibly an amateur   
   fast scan ATV station in the lobby of the Reno Ballroom. More about the   
   Mensa convention is on-line at www.ag.us.mensa.org. (K1ATV)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: FOX CITIES ARC TO COMMEMORATE AIRVENTURE 2012   
      
   Jon Oldenburg. AB9AH, tells Newsline that the Fox Cities Amateur Radio club   
   will once again be hosting a special event amateur radio station at the EAA   
   Airvenute 2012. This from July 25th to the 29th.   
      
   Station W9ZL will operate each day from 1500 to 0000 UTC from the Airventure   
   venue in Oshkosh Wisconsin. Stations will be active on 7.250 and 14.250   
   MHz SSB. Also on 52.550 MHz FM.   
      
   For a commemorative please QSL with a large self addressed stamped envelope   
   to FCARC AirVenture 2011, PO Box 2346, Appleton Wisconsin, 54912.   
      
   According to AB9AH this will be the 19th year that the Fox Cities club will   
   be hosting this commemorative Airventure station event. (AB9AH)   
      
   **   
      
   HAMVENTION 2012: OFFICIAL FIGURE SAYS OVER 24000 ATTENDED THIS YEAR   
      
   The numbers are out and they show conclusively that attendance at the Dayton   
   Hamvention is on the rise. Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW,   
   has more:   
      
   --   
      
   The official attendance of Hamvention 2012 reached 24,483. This good news   
   was announced by 2012 Hamvention General Chairman Mike Kalter, W8CI, at the   
   Dayton Amateur Radio Association meeting Friday night, June 1st.   
      
   According to Kalter, this was an increase over last year. He attributed it   
   in part to the excellent weather during Hamvention weekend.   
      
   W8CI also noted that many vendors reported excellent sales during the three   
   days of Hamvention. Also that many restaurants, hotels and motels also   
   reported increased sales. This contributing to an estimated $10 million   
   economic impact for the region.   
      
   For the first time this year, a $3 Dayton Attractions Tour Shuttle ran from   
   Hara's main entrance Friday and Saturday. Stops included the National Museum   
   of the U.S. Air Force, Wright Dunbar Interpretive Center, the Dayton   
   Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and Carillon Park.   
      
   In his address to the club, Kalter said that Hamvention would not be possible   
   without the 500 plus volunteers who manage every aspect of the event. For   
   those not aware, the Dayton Hamvention is the largest amateur radio   
   gathering in the world and one of the largest events of its type operated   
   entirely by volunteers.   
      
   Planning is already beginning for the 62nd Hamvention which will be held at   
   Hara Arena May 17, 18 and 19, 2013. We plan to be there and hope that you   
   will be too.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks AE5DW, in southern   
   Mississippi.   
      
   --   
      
   And one side note. Not to be forgotten was a high altitude balloon launch   
   that was again part of Hamvention activities. The two-hour flight reached an   
   altitude over 87,000 feet and landed in a pasture approximately eight miles   
   southwest of the Hara Arena launch point. Ironically, the pasture was owned   
   by a ham, Donald Fourman, AB8OS. (DARA)   
      
   **   
      
      
   BREAK 2   
      
   This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. From the United States of   
   America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from our   
   only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the   
   volunteer services of the following radio amateur:   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
   **   
      
   THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD: VHF/UHF EXPERT EUGENE ZIMMERMANN, W3ZZ - SK   
      
   We seem to say it more and more of late, but the changing of the guard in   
   amateur radio continues with word of the passing of VHF and UHF expert   
   Eugene Zimmerman, W3ZZ.   
      
   Zimmermann, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, passed away on Sunday, June 3rd, was   
   likely best known in ham radio circles as the author of the popular QST   
   column "The World Above 50 MHz" that he wrote from 2002 to 2011. He also   
   served on the ARRL Contest Advisory Committee, edited the VHF contesting   
   column for CQ Contest magazine during its five-year lifespan and was   
   director of the CQ VHF Contest from 2000 through 2002.   
      
   First licensed in 1956, Zimmerman earned the coveted VUCC award on 50, 144,   
   222, 432, 903 and 1296 MHz, as well as DXCC, Worked All States and Worked   
   All Continents on 6 meters. He also logged several national Top-10 finishes   
   in the ARRL November Sweepstakes as well as a second-place North American   
   finish in the CQ World Wide CW Contest operating from VP2MDD. W3ZZ also   
   placed in the Top 10 several times in the ARRL VHF QSO Parties and in the   
   ARRL VHF Sweepstakes.   
      
   Zimmerman was an ARRL Life member. He earned a PhD in Microbiology from the   
   University of Maryland in 1968. He began his professional career at the   
   National Institutes of Health where he spent a year as a technician studying   
   respiratory viruses. This experience sparked an interest in virology and   
   conquering the common cold. After this, he conducted early research at   
   National Institutes of Health, studying the relationship between   
   retroviruses and cancer, the use of the simian model for studying leukemia   
   and the use of interferon as an immune system modulator.   
      
   In 1976, he joined the National Institutes of Health Grants Associate   
   Program, which groomed promising scientists for careers in managing N-I-H   
   research programs. Zimmerman was then recruited to be the Scientific Review   
   Administrator of the Allergy and Immunology Study Section of the   
   Immunological Sciences Integrated Review Group, where he evaluated research   
   proposals to provide funds for research in immunology.   
      
   Eugene Zimmerman, W3ZZ, was a member of the Delmarva VHF and Microwave   
   Society, the Grid Pirates Contest Group, a Past President of the Potomac   
   Valley Radio Club and an honorary member of the Connecticut Wireless   
   Association.   
      
   As we go to air memorial services had not yet been announced. At the time of   
   his passing Gene Zimmermann, W3ZZ, was age 71. (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: 2012 OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY TRACKED ON APRS   
      
   The 2012 Olympic Torch Relay route is being tracked on the APRS.fi web site.   
   To see it go to http://aprs.fi/ and enter Torch2012 in the Track Callsign   
   field. Also information on the Worked All Britain Follow the Torch Award is   
   on-line at www.worked-all-britain.co.uk. (GB2RS)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: SPECIAL CENTENIARY CALL FOR WIA   
      
   2012 is the Centenary of the Wireless Institute of Australia being   
   established in the State of Queensland. The special Centenary callsign,   
   VK-100-WIQ, was activated on June 1st and will be active through July 31st   
   by way of the W-I-A affiliated radio clubs in Queensland. There is also a   
   Centenary QSL card and a Centenary award available. Details can be found at   
   www.wia.org.au. (WIA)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: LISTEN TO HORYU-2 ON THE WWW   
      
   YO8SSQ and YO8TLC have made available a web based receiver to enable   
   listeners to hear the new HORYU-2 amateur radio satellite. This when the   
   new bird is within range of Romania.   
      
   The WebSDR receiver is located at the Astronomical Observatory Department of   
   the University in Suceava. That in grid locator KN 37 at a height of 350   
   meters above sea level.   
      
   The hardware consists of two SDR receivers which are fed into 48 kHz sound   
   cards on an AMD Sempron 2600+ computer running Vector Linux. The web page   
   displays a track showing the current position of HORYU-2. It also provides   
   coverage of the 3.65 to 3.710 MHz portion of the 80 band.   
      
   You can listen to the HORYU-2 and 80 meter WebSDR receivers at   
   tinyurl.com/sdr-sat-receiver   
      
   (HORYU-2 TEAM)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX Word from the ARRL that 2012 XX9E operation from Macao has been   
   approved for DXCC credit. If you worked that operation you can submit it   
   for DXCC.   
   On the air, ON8ZZ, ON3JA and ON3NT will be active as MU stroke OT9Z from   
   Guernsey between July 16th to the 20th. During their stay on Guernsey, they   
   plan to activate Herm Island on the 17th, Sark Island on the 18th and   
   Alderny Island on the 19th. The group will then head south to be active   
   from Chausey Island between July 27th and the 29th using the call F/OT9Z   
   from . QSL all operations via OT9Z.   
      
   OE4JHW reports that he will do a suitcase DXpedition to Kuredu Island between   
   September 2nd and the 4th. More details including the QSL route will be   
   forthcoming in the near future.   
      
   AC8G who was planning a 6 night stay in Grenada for the CQ WW SSB Contest,   
   October 27th and 28th, has announced that the airline that was to transport   
   him has cancelled his flight. Other dates offered were not acceptable, so   
   he has terminated his plans the operation.   
      
   DL9WVM, will once again be active portable A6 from Dubai through June 30th.   
   . His activity will be on 80 through 10 meters. QSL via Logbook of the World   
   or via his home callsign, direct or by the bureau.   
      
   DL2RMC is also on the air slash A6 from Abu Dhabi which started around May   
   29th. He will be there for 3 weeks depending on his job in United Arab   
   Emerites. QSL as directed on the air.   
      
   Lastly N0TG has announced a 2013 operation to Sint Maarten between   
   March 15th to the 23rd. He states that he has the facility arranged, as well   
   as tickets, and all other aspects required so you can look for N0TG, AA4VK   
   and N1SNB to sign slant PJ during that operation. Activity will probably be   
   on all bands and modes. QSL's all three callsigns will go via N0TG.   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: A PRIMER ON ILLW   
      
   And finally a bit of ham radio history on International Lighthouse and   
   Lightship Weekend. From down-under here's Felix Scerri, VK4FUQ:   
      
   --   
      
   The 15th annual International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend in August has   
   inspired many to register early with 32 countries and nearly 250 registered   
   already.   
      
   Although this is just over half of the countries normally attracted by the   
   event it is slightly ahead of expectations with ten weeks to go.   
      
   The weekend increases the public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and   
   their need for them to be preserved, promotes amateur radio and fosters   
   international goodwill.   
      
   The event was started mainly by late Mike Dalrymple GM4SUC and the Ayr   
   Amateur Radio Group in 1995 as the Northern Lighthouse Activity Weekend with   
   stations at Scottish lighthouses. It quickly went international.   
      
   The third weekend in August coincides with the worldwide lighthouse open day   
   organized by the Association of Lighthouse Keepers that sees public access   
   to many of the featured lighthouses.   
      
   During the weekend a group or individual sets up an amateur station at or   
   adjacent to a lighthouse, lightship or marine beacon that is listed.   
      
   To register, complete a short online form, read the event rules and have lots   
   of fun. You will see complete statistics on past events, reports from   
   previous years and ILLW are on Facebook too.   
      
   --   
      
   This year's International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is slated for   
   August 18th and 19th and runs 48 hours. If you have access to a lighthouse   
   or lightship you want to activate, you can register for the event on-line at   
   www.illw.org. (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,   
   TWIT.TV, 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   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Skeeter Nash,   
   N5ASH, 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)