Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1823 - July 20 2012   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1823 with a release date of July 20 2012   
   to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a QST. The FCC turns down a request to extend PRB-1 to   
   overturn deed restrictions, the ARRL says a White House Executive Order on   
   telecommunications should not impact ham radio, proposed changes in British   
   laws governing spacecraft could make microsat launches by UK hams possible   
   and the FCC continues its crackdown on unlicensed broadcasters. Find out   
   the details are on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1823 coming your   
   way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: FCC DENIES PETITION TO EXPAND PRB-1 TO COVER CC&R   
      
   Deed restrictions and other land use covenants that limit the antenna rights   
   of many hams will remain in place for the time being. So says the FCC in   
   its July 16th denial of a rule making request filed by Leonard Umina, W7CCE,   
   of Gilbert, Arizona. One that sought to expand the policy of limited   
   Federal preemption of state and local regulations governing amateur towers   
   and antennas. Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Carlson, KQ6FM, has the latest:   
      
   --   
      
   In its denial, the FCC told Leonard Umina, W7CCE, that when it codified PRB-1   
   as Section 97.15(b) of the Amateur Service Rules back in 1985, the mandate   
   to state and local municipalities were that they reasonably accommodate the   
   antenna needs of ham radio operators. But at the same time the FCC purposely   
   avoided extending this preemption to cover CC&Rs and other land use   
   restrictions in deeds and bylaws that curb the installation of antennas and   
   associated support structures.   
      
   When the matter was brought before it again in 2001 the Commission noted that   
   its decision within the framework of PRB-1 to exclude CC&Rs from its   
   preemption policy was based on the fundamental difference between state and   
   local regulations as opposed to land use restrictions. The latter are   
   considered as private contractual terms to which the purchaser of a property   
   voluntarily agrees to. The FCC also concluded in its PRB-1 decision that   
   there had not to date been a sufficient showing that CC&Rs prevent Amateur   
   Radio operators from pursuing the basis and purpose of the Amateur Service.   
      
   Lastly, and perhaps most important, the FCC pointed out to W7CCE that should   
   Congress see fit to enact a law mandating the expansion of its limited   
   preemption policy to include more than state and local regulations, it would   
   do all it could to expeditiously act to fulfill such an order. It noted that   
   shortly after Umina filed his request that Congress enacted a directive   
   regarding an investigation into the uses and capabilities of Amateur Radio   
   Service communications in emergencies and disaster relief. This report will   
   identify impediments to enhanced Amateur Radio Service communications and   
   provide recommendations regarding the removal of such impediments. This   
   could conceivably include unreasonable or unnecessary private land use   
   restrictions on residential antenna installations.   
      
   In closing, the FCC noted its belief that it would be inappropriate and   
   premature for the regulatory agency to consider modifying its policy until   
   after Congress has an opportunity to review the report and decide whether to   
   enact laws mandating the expansion of PRB-1 to include more than state and   
   local regulations.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Carlson, KQ6FM, in Reno.   
      
   --   
      
   The order denying Umina's Rule Making request was signed by Scot Stone   
   who is the Deputy Chief of the Mobility Division of the FCC's Wireless   
   Telecommunications Bureau. As we go to air, its unknown if W7CCE plans to   
   appeal the FCC pronouncement on his rule making request, or await the   
   outcome of the current Congressional inquiry. You can read the complete   
   text of the FCC decision on-line at tinyurl.com/no-ccr-overide. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: ARRL SAYS NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER POSES NO THREAT TO HAM RADIO   
      
   According to the ARRL, an executive order dealing with telecommunications   
   poses no threat to the amateur radio service. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm   
   Seeley, KI7UP, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   On Friday, July 6th the White House released an Executive Order signed by   
   President Obama that addresses the National Security and Emergency   
   Preparedness communications functions of the federal government. Contrary   
   to some concerns raised in a few amateur radio circles, the order does not   
   appear to contain any threat to the Amateur service or its ability to   
   continue support communications during times of emergency or disaster. It   
   also poses no threat to hams for continued access to their spectrum.   
      
   Dan Henderson, N1ND, is the League's Regulatory Information Manager. He   
   explained that the purpose of the new entity, which would be created within   
   the Executive Branch by this Order, appears to be to plan for future   
   National Security and Emergency Preparedness communications and to insure   
   survivability, hardness and interoperability. It will also develop a   
   long-term strategic plan for National Security and Emergency Preparedness   
   communications.   
      
   Henderson noted that based on the Amateur service's ongoing, positive working   
   relationship with officials at the Department of Homeland Security's Office   
   of Emergency Communications, it is hard to envision that any new management   
   plan would not include Amateur Radio. N1ND says that nothing in this Order   
   directly affects amateur radio's daily operations.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale,   
   Arizona.   
      
   --   
      
   N1ND says that a good summary of the content of the Order can be found online   
   at tinyurl.com/new-communications-order. (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: PROPOSED LAW CHANGES COULD MAKE SPACE MORE FRIENDLY FOR   
   UK HAM RADIO   
      
   Some good news for ham radio space enthusiasts in the UK. Proposed changes   
   in laws governing satellites launched any United Kingdom entity could soon   
   become friendlier. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF,   
   reports:   
      
   --   
      
   A posting on the United Kingdom's Space Agency Web Site has announced what is   
   called the "Reform of the Outer Space Act 1986 Consultation". These are a   
   pair of proposals that, if enacted as written, could make United Kingdom   
   CubeSat launches more ham radio friendly.   
      
   The key aspects of the changes are the proposals to waive the capped   
   liability and insurance requirement for in-orbit operation of any satellite   
   that meets the criteria of a CubeSat. Also, to remove the requirement for   
   unlimited indemnity from satellite operators.   
      
   The existing United Kingdom Outer Space Act imposes heavy additional costs up   
   to =A350,000 Pounds or $78,300 US dollars a year on those wishing to launch   
   small educational CubeSats. That additional cost has acted as a major   
   deterrent and to date no such UK CubeSat has been launched.   
      
   The United Kingdom Outer Space Act covers all UK satellites irrespective of   
   size. This, from tiny low cost educational CubeSats up to large commercial   
   satellites that cost 10's of millions of dollars to manufacture and launch.   
      
      
   The UK Space Agency says that responses to the Consultations are due by   
   August 31st.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, watching the   
   skies from outside the Newsroom in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   By the way, a Consultation in the United Kingdom is very similar to a Notice   
   of Proposed Rule Making here in the United States. (G3VZV, AMSAT-UK)   
      
   **   
      
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: NEW ASTRO-HAMS ARRIVE AT THE ISS AS PART OF THE   
   EXPEDITION 32 CREW   
      
   Three ham radio space fliers arrived safely at the International Space   
   Station early Tuesday, July 17th. This, for a four-month stay while also   
   bringing the orbiting outpost back to its full crew complement of six.   
   Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennantt, K6PZW, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   The Soyuz space capsule carrying NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB;   
   Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, RK3DUP and Japanese space explorer Aki   
   Hoshide, KE5DNI, docked with the station at 12:51 a.m. Eastern Daulight   
   Time on Tuesday, July 17th . This following a two-day flight from Baikonur   
   Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.   
      
   At docking time, the Soyuz spacecraft and space station were at an altitude   
   of 251 miles over North-Eastern Kazakhstan. The Soyuz parked itself at an   
   Earth facing docking port on the station's Russian built Rassvet module.   
   After the hatches were opened between the Soyuz and ISS, Williams,   
   Malenchenko and Hoshide moved to the ISS and joined their fellow Expedition   
   32 crew members Sergei Revin; Gennady Padalka, RN3DT and Joseph Acaba,   
   KE5DAR.   
      
   Padalka, Revin and Acaba have had the space station to themselves since July   
   1st. That's when three previous crew members returned to Earth and brought   
   the station's previous Expedition 31 to a close.   
      
   Padalka, Revin and Acaba return to Earth in mid-September. When that   
   happens, Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, become the commander of the I-S-S team.   
   She, Malenchenko and Hoshide are scheduled to depart the station on November   
   12th.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'n Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   As an aside, this latest group crew members arrived at the International   
   Space Station exactly 37 years to the day after the world's first truly   
   international spacecraft meeting took place on-orbit. That was the famed   
   docking between a NASA Apollo spacecraft and a Russian Soviet Soyuz 19   
   capsule during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Many believe that's   
   what laid the groundwork that led to the International Space Station that is   
   on-orbit today. (Published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard   
   on bulletin stations around the world including the W5TXR repeater serving   
   Schertz, Texas.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: ANOTHER ALLEGED UNLICENSED BROADCASTER BUSTED   
      
   The FCC has issued a Notice of Apparent Liability in the amount of $10,000 to   
   Florida resident Michael Gregory. This for his alleged operating an   
   unlicensed radio station calling itself "Down South Radio 305" on 92.7 MHz   
   in the city of Miami.   
      
   This saga began to unfold last March, That's when the FCC received a   
   complaint that lead agents from the Miami office of the Enforcement Bureau   
   to monitor for the station. They soon heard a person identify himself as   
   "DJ Miami of 92.7 Heavy FM" and advertise the website www.whvy927.com.   
   Agents tied Gregory to the site by finding his domain name registration as   
   well as his photo online.   
      
   The agents then went out on a transmitter hunt and traced the source of the   
   transmission to an antenna on the roof of a commercial building in Miami.   
   Records showed no one was authorized to operation a station on 92.7 MHz, nor   
   at that location.   
      
   While waiting in the lobby for the building owner, the agents actually met   
   Gregory. He took them to his leased suite, admitted he ran the station, and   
   turned off the transmitter. Now Gregory has 30 days to pay the proposed   
   fine or to file an appeal. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO CRIME: MONTREAL STATION TORCHED AFTER CRITICIZING FORMER HAITIAN   
   DICTATOR   
      
   A Haitian radio station in Montreal, Canada, has been hit by arsonists.   
   This, after hosts criticized the country's former dictator.   
      
   CPAM 1610 AM was set ablaze following calls by show hosts for a criminal   
   trial for Jean-Claude Duvalier, who returned to that nation last year.   
      
   CPAM's north-end administrative offices were partially destroyed and the   
   studio suffered water damage, rendering it useless. A spokesperson for the   
   Montreal fire department said the front window of CPAM 1610's studio was   
   smashed and a fire lit near the broken glass at about 4 a.m. Monday July   
   2nd. Another fire was started at the back of the second floor where the   
   station's office is located, he said.   
      
   Engineers had the station back on the air about 10 hours after the attack   
   from an alternate studio location. According to its management, CPAM is a   
   beacon for the more than 100,000 Haitian expatriates in Montreal who form   
   the largest such community in Canada. (Montr=E9al Gazette, B&C)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO HAPPENINGS: ITALY CLOSING NATIONAL SOUND ARCHIVES   
      
   Italy is shutting down its famed National Sound Archives. This as a likely   
   result of the continuing economic downturn that has hit many European   
   nations.   
      
   On July 6th, a simple 12 line document was signed by the government to shut   
   down the archive of priceless audio history dating back to the dawn of the   
   machine recording. According to one source there are close to half a   
   million recordings housed in the Italian archive.   
      
   The big concern now among preservationists is that unless another such museum   
   such as the United States Library of Congress takes over the Italian   
   archive, that it could wind up being sold off on the streets or on an   
   on-line auction site, piece by piece. More is on-line at   
   www.artsjournal.com (Arts Journal, Critical Distance Weblog)   
      
      
   **   
      
   HAM STUFF: NEW FREQUENCY CHART AVAILABLE FROM US GOVERNMENT BOOKSTORE   
      
   If you have ever had the yearning to own one of those nifty United States   
   radio spectrum posters to hang on your wall, now is your chance to get one.   
   Properly titled the United States Frequency Allocations: The Radio Spectrum   
   Chart, the very latest edition is now available from U.S. Government   
   Printing Office Book Store at a cost of $12. To order yours, take your web   
   browser to tinyurl.com/big-frequency-map and follow the directions you will   
   find there. (RW, E-News, others)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: UK SPECIAL EVENTS STATIONS FOR THE 2012 OLYMPICS   
      
   As part of the celebration of the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics, two   
   flagship amateur radio stations will be active during the games.   
      
   The Cray Valley Radio Society will host England's Olympic celebration from   
   the Royal Borough of Greenwich. This is home to many of London's events   
   outside the main Olympic arena. The call-sign used at that location will be   
   Two Oscar One Two Lima. A similar amateur radio celebration is happening in   
   Barry, South Wales, where the call-sign will be Two Oscar One Two Whisky.   
      
   Both groups are looking to make as many contacts as possible worldwide during   
   the Olympics. They will be on the air 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from   
   Wednesday July 25th through Sunday September 9th. The London station will   
   be open to the public from 10am to 4pm and the Welsh station from 10am to   
   5pm daily. Both are local times.   
      
   Commemorative QSLs will be available for both operations. QSL information is   
   on-line at at www dot Two Oscar one two Lima dot com and www dot Two Oscar   
   One Two Whisky.com. Both stations hope to contact you on the air.   
   (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: K4C TO CELEBRATE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF   
   PUERTO RICO   
      
   Special Event station K4C will be on the air on July 25th to commemorate the   
   60th anniversary of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.   
   According to the Movimiento Radioaficionados which is sponsoring the   
   operation, the purpose of the activity is to commemorate this important date   
   for citizens of Puerto Rico.   
      
   Operations will take place on the campus of the National Park Julio Enrique   
   Monagas of the Municipality of Bayamon beginning at 1400 UTC. Activities   
   will be on the 40 through 10 meter bands, and locally on the chain of   
   repeaters operated by the club. QSL via WP4NPC. (KP3CB)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: RESULTS OF 2012 ARDF YOUTH COMPETITION ANNOUNCED   
      
   The results are in from the 2912 Youth ARDF Championship event that was held   
   this year near the town of Siauliai, Lithuania. In all there were 104   
   contestants representing 9 countries. Medals went to Russia, the Ukraine,   
   the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Lithuania. The competition was   
   organized by LY2CD and a company of volunteer assistants. The full results   
   are on-line at www.qrz.LT/eyac. (IARU-R1)   
      
   **   
      
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: MICULESCU NEW GM OF ROMANIAN BROADCASTING   
      
   Some names in the news. The Romanian parliament recently confirmed Ovidiu   
   Miculescu as the new general manager of the Romanian radio broadcasting   
   corporation. With more than 20 years experience in media, Miculescu has   
   held executive positions at the public broadcaster as well as at private   
   radio and television stations. Miculescu said that modernization of public   
   radio and the resolution of issues regarding coverage throughout Romania   
   were among priorities. (RW)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: VA4AJG APPOINTED RAC MIDWEST REGION DEPUTY DIRECTOR   
      
   Allan Grant, VA4AJG, has been appointed as Deputy Director for Radio Amateurs   
   of Canada Midwest Region. The Midwest region includes all the VE4 and VE5   
   call sign area.   
      
   Each Director of RAC is authorized to appoint one Deputy Director from among   
   RAC members residing in their region to serve at the pleasure of the   
   Director. Grant was appointed by Canada Midwest Region Director, Derek Hay,   
   VE4HAY. (RAC)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: AO-7 DISTANCE RECORD BROKEN AGAIN BY AC0RA AND OM3BD   
      
   July 4th saw AC0RA and OM3BD set yet another world distance record using   
   ageing AMSAT-OSCAR-7 ham radio bird. This by breaking their own record set   
   just 48 hours earlier.   
      
   The new distance record is 7903.55km comfortably exceeding the previous   
   contact over a path of 7849km by 54.55 kilometers.   
      
   OM3BD was in Grid Square JN88mf. He says that AC0RA once again woke up early   
   and this time drove 150 miles to grid EN41ad. They had a 30 second contact   
   at 09:49 UTC to set their latest distance record.   
      
   Recordings, pictures, and further information are on-line at   
   tinyurl.com/ao7-dx-record. (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   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: WRITER H. WALTER MAXWELL - S.K.   
      
   Famed writer M. Walter Maxwell, W2DU, passed away on July 3rd at his home in   
   DeLand, Florida.   
      
   Known Better as Walt Maxwell. W2DU was best known in the amateur radio   
   circles for his ground-breaking articles, "Another Look at Reflections."   
   These were published in QST Magazine in a seven part series from 1973 to   
   1976,and explained in plain English concepts such as line loss, SWR, baluns   
   and antenna tuners.   
      
   The articles were later compiled into a book, titled Reflections:   
   Transmission Lines and Antennas, that included additional material on   
   matching networks, antennas and the Smith Chart. It was first published by   
   the ARRL in 1990 and went through several editions. Later editions were   
   published by CQ Communications.   
      
   W2DU is survived by his spouse, Jean Binkley Mayhew, three sons, William W.   
   Maxwell of DeLand, Florida, Richard A. Maxwell of Marietta, Georgia, and   
   John R. Maxwell of Gainesville, Florida, and one daughter, Susan M. Glasnapp   
   of Delray Beach, Florida.   
      
   More details of his life and work are available on his website at   
   www.w2du.com. At the time of his passing, Walt Maxwell, W2DU, was age 93.   
   (ARRL, others)   
      
   **   
      
   CHANGING OF THE GUARD: FAMED HAWAII BEACON KEEPER PAUL LIEB, KH6HME-SK   
      
   Hawaii's weak signal legend, Paul Lieb , KH6HME, has also become a Silent   
   Key. According to Gordon West, WN6NOA, who spoke to the family, Lieb was   
   visiting his sister and other relatives on the U.S. mainland. Leib's sister   
   told WB6NOA that on Sunday night July 15th, KH6HME had dinner with them,   
   went to bed, and died peacefully in his sleep.   
      
   Paul Lieb, KH6HME, maintained four VHF and UHF propagations beacons atop the   
   Mauna Loa volcano which were regularly received along the U-S west coast.   
   This usually took place in July when troposphere conditions permitted. And   
   it was not unusual for KH6HME to make the 3 hour drive to the 8200 foot site   
   of the beacons to maintain them and get on the air himself to be a bit of   
   rare VHF and UHF DX. West says that while they are currently on the air   
   that the long term fate of beacons is unknown.   
      
   As we go to air, funeral arrangements for Paul Lieb, KH6HME, were pending.   
   (N6CL, WB6NOA)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: FITSAT-1 - A VISUAL MORSE CODE BIRD   
      
   Call this one visual Morse code from space. This with word that the FITSAT-1   
   ham radio cubesat will carry an optical communications experiment that aims   
   to write in C-W across the night sky using super high intensity LED's as a   
   lighting source.   
      
   FITSAT-1 will be carried to the International Space Station on July 21st from   
   where it will be deployed sometime in September. For more information see   
   www.uk.amsat.org/2037. (AMSAT UK)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: FRANCE WILL NOT PREEMPT DIGITAL RADIO FOR RFE   
      
   Digital radio may not come into being in France. According to the daily   
   newspaper Les Echos, the French government has decided not to preempt   
   digital radio frequencies for Radio France exclusive use.   
      
   In May, telecommunications regulator CSA received more than 178 applications   
   for the cities of Paris, Marseille and Nice. It also announced plans to open   
   a call for digital terrestrial licenses for France's next 20 biggest cities.   
      
   It appears as if the public service broadcaster, which has first right of   
   refusal on frequencies, will thus not go digital, in line with certain   
   private groups including RTL, NRJ and NextradioTV.   
      
   The French government is expected officially to announce its final decision   
   on this matter in the coming days. However, if reports are true, observers   
   say that they doubt the digital system will be able to move forward in   
   France. (RW)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: RF EXPERIENCED WITH CONTROL SYSTEM IN WESTERN SOUTH AFRICA   
      
   Interference problems are being experienced by radio amateurs in the Paarl   
   and Stellenbosch Municipal areas of South Africa. That's where a load   
   control system is currently being installed to switch a geyser off during   
   peak hours.   
      
   According to the South African Radio League, this unit causes disturbances   
   right through the High Frequency spectrum. Word is that South African   
   telecommunications regulator ICASA has investigated the complaints and is   
   currently having discussions with the Municipal officials and the South   
   African Bureau of Standards regarding a fix. (SARL)   
      
   **   
      
   DXCC NEWS: RWANDA AND BANGLADESH APPROVED FOR DXCC CREDIT   
      
   Several more operations have been approved for DXCC credit. According to   
   Bill Moore, NC1L, who is the ARRL Awards Branch Manager, these are the 9X0PY   
   DXpedition to Rwanda that ran from December 24, 2011 through January 7,   
   2012. Also approved are the S21YD Bangladesh operations for 1994, 1995,   
   1998, and 1999. If you have had cards for any of these rejected in the past   
   please contact Bill via e-mail to bmoore (at) arrl (dot) org to be put on   
   the list for an update. (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   In DX, word that UA1OEJ will be active stroke P from Solovetsky Islands from   
   July 22nd to the 31st. Operations will be on the HF bands using SSB and the   
   Digital modes. QSL via his home callsign.   
      
   JA8COE will once again be active stroke 8 from Yagishiri Island between July   
   27th and the 29th. No word on what bands or modes will be used. QSL via   
   his home callsign, direct or by the bureau.   
      
   A team of Saudi operators will activate Al-Dhahrah Island as 7Z7AB possibly   
   between October 1st and the 15th. More details and a Web page will be   
   forthcoming. Meantime keep an eye on their page on QRZ.com.   
      
   K9HZ will once again be active as J68HZ from his villa at Labrelotte Bay, St.   
   Lucia. Listen out for him between August 1st and the 18th on 80, 40 and 20   
   meters using CW and SSB. QSL to KH9Z.   
      
   OH1VR and OH3JR will be operational stroke VK9 from Lord Howe Island between   
   November 17th and the 27th. Activity will be on 160 through 6 meters using   
   CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL only direct via their home callsigns with a self   
   addressed envelope and an International Reply Coupon to cover return   
   postage.   
      
   5B4AIF will be active as E51E from a villa in Tautu Village on Aitutaki   
   Island between December 10th, 2012 and January 5th, 2013. QSL only via   
   EB7DX.   
      
   Lastly, members of Russia's Armed Forces Amateur Radio Union will be on the   
   air as R100WWS from many areas of that nation between August 10th and the   
   18th. This operation is to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Military   
   Air Forces of Russia which were formed on August 12, 1912. Activities will   
   be on all bands and using all modes. QSL via RV3YR.   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: STOPPING COPPER THEFT IN ITS TRACKS   
      
   British Telecom is taking on copper cable thieves. Amateur Radio Newsline's   
   Jim Damron, N8TMW, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   A new tool has been unveiled in the United Kingdom to literally locate copper   
   wire thefts as they are taking place.   
      
   Called the Rapid Assessment British Telecom Incident Tracker or RABIT, this   
   computer based program has the ability to monitor all 120 million kilometers   
   of cable on British Telecom's phone network.   
      
   RABIT is a real-time system based on a neural network that has been trained   
   to sense the difference between a telecommunications cable being severed and   
   a cable that has gradually failed. It does this by undertaking line tests   
   and bandwidth measurements to home in on a telltale signature of a cable   
   cut. This event data is then immediately plugged into an incident   
   monitoring system which gives British Telecom's security staff a national   
   view of trouble spots on its networks, including cyber attacks.   
      
   I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW, in Chareston, West Virginia, reporting.   
      
   --   
      
   The industrial scale theft of copper telecommunications cables is a massive   
   world-wide problem. In the UK alone, cable worth =A3770 million pounds was   
   stolen from overhead and buried telephone lines and railway signaling   
   systems in 2011. (New Scientist)   
      
   **   
      
   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, TWiT-TV, 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)   
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   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, at our new QTH in El Campo, Texas, saying 73 and we thank you for   
   listening.   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.   
      
      
   ***   
      
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   Thank you and good day!   
      
   -73-   
      
      
    * Origin: (1:3634/12)