Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1827 - August 17 2012   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1827 with a release date of August 17   
   2012 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a QST. Hams respond as flooding hits the Philippines;   
   e-mail from a net saves a sailors life; a new source of interference to the   
   H-F bands is discovered, WWVB to begin Phase Modulation test broadcasts on   
   August 21st and Morse code is now on Mars. Find out the details are on   
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1827 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: HAMS RESPOND AS FLOODING HITS THE PHILIPPINES   
      
   The Philippine Amateur Radio Association known as PARA activated its Ham   
   Emergency Radio Operations on two meters and 40 meters passing essential   
   traffic during the widespread flooding that recently hit the capital city of   
   Manila and surrounding areas. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP,   
   has more:   
      
   --   
      
   Nearly two weeks of monsoon rains across the Philippines main island of Luzon   
   peaked with a 48 hour deluge that battered Manila and surrounding regions on   
   August 6th and 7th. This was the worst rain to hit Manila since Tropical   
   Storm Ketsana killed 464 people in 2009. .   
      
   Eddie Valdez DU1EV, is the Chief Operating Officer of the Philippines Amateur   
   Radio Association. He said that members of the Ham Emergency Radio   
   Operations group were on air from Monday the 6th through Thursday the 9th as   
   the flood waters rose and then receded.   
      
   Through the organizations website DU1EV had warned the ham radio community of   
   the pending rains. He asked those radio amateurs involved in emergency   
   communications to be prepared by monitoring the emergency frequencies of   
   7.095 MHz and 144.740 MHz.   
      
   DU1EV said the sun finally, but only partially, showed up on the Thursday,   
   August 9th with the flood waters receding in most areas. He said tones of   
   garbage litter roads, parks and drains in Manila and surrounding provinces.   
      
   A big clean-up is under way. In the worst affected areas like Marikina City,   
   the Metro Manila Development Authority said it would take about a month to   
   clean and clear the drainage canals.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale,   
   Arizona.   
      
   --   
      
   According to news media reports 66 people died in the torrential rain and   
   officials estimated 300,000 fled their homes in the capital city of Manila.   
   According to DU1EV, during the storm one of the volunteer radio operators   
   had to leave his home after two days because of the intense flooding.   
   (VK3PC, DU1EV)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: E-MAIL FROM NET SAVES SAILOR IN DISTRESS   
      
   The Coast Guard with the aid of amateur radio coordinated the rescue of a   
   mariner in distress approximately 287 miles northeast of Hilo, Hawaii on   
   Friday, August 10th.   
      
   Duty officers at Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu received an   
   e-mail report from a member of the Amigo Net. It said that a mariner aboard   
   the Australian flagged sailing vessel the Q-Wave was disabled and requesting   
   assistance.   
      
   According to news reports, the sailor reportedly had less than one liter of   
   water and no food. The vessel's motor was disabled, it had lost its dingy,   
   its communications equipment was unreliable and it had sustained a tear in   
   its mainsail.   
      
   A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers   
   Point was launched and located the disabled vessel. The crew dropped   
   emergency supplies, including food, water and a VHF radio to the disabled   
   sailboat. The Good Samaritan vessel Fifth Wife was in the area, overheard   
   communications with the disabled vessel and responded to escort it back to   
   Hilo. (Published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   PRO-ACTIVE ENFORCEMENT: CALGARY CANADA FORMS COPPER THEFT UNIT   
      
   Anyone thinking of being a copper thief in Calgary Canada may want to think   
   again. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Davis, W2JKD, has the reason why:   
      
   --   
      
   Calgary Canada police have created a special unit to target copper wire   
   thieves. This, as the number of thefts in that nation and world-wide   
   continue to rise.   
      
   With the price of this metal on the upswing so are the number of crooks   
   hoping to cash in. Offenders see the crime as extremely high reward as they   
   can easily steal copper and turn it around for cash. In other words there   
   seems very low risk of getting caught.   
      
   But that changed in June after the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was hit   
   when $50,000 worth of copper wire was stolen from its transmitter site in   
   southwest Calgary. Now police are watching very carefully for any signs   
   that metal thieves may be about to strike.   
      
   I'm Jim Davis, W2JKD.   
      
   --   
      
   Calgary police hope that this new initiative will help deter copper thefts in   
   that area. (WIA)   
      
   **   
      
   EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: EARLY WARNING QUAKE DETECTION DEMONSTRATED AT CAL TECH   
      
   Earthquake prediction may be on the verge of becoming a reality. This,   
   following media reports that a pair of temblors centered near Yorba Linda,   
   California were detected by a new earthquake warning system that's being   
   developed at the California Institute of Technology.   
      
   A 4.5-magnitude quake struck one mile northeast from Yorba Linda at 11:23   
   p.m. Tuesday, August 7th. About ten hours later another a 4.4 magnitude   
   shaker struck two miles from the same location.   
      
   News reports quote Douglas Given from the U.S. Geological Survey as saying   
   that in the case of the first event Cal Tech received about nine to ten   
   seconds warning before the strongest shaking was felt at the facility. In   
   regard to the second quake the warning time was in the area of four seconds.   
   Cal Tech is located in Pasadena California which is about 60 air miles from   
   the two quakes epicenter.   
      
   Seismologists say that once the technology advances, they should be able to   
   quickly determine a quake's magnitude and send that information out to the   
   public before the strongest shaking waves reaches a given location. In its   
   current incarnation, the early warning system sounds an audible alert,   
   shows a countdown timer and estimates the intensity of an earthquake.   
      
   Experiments in quake detection have been going on for well over five decades   
   but experts say that this new prototype system is the first to ever pick up   
   quakes before the ground started shaking at its location. (Published news   
   reports)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO INTERFERENCE: NEW RADIO BURST HEARD ON THE HF BANDS   
      
   The IARU Monitoring System Region 1 newsletter reports on a new burst radio   
   system that is affecting the amateur radio operations in the 80, 40, 20 and   
   15 meter bands.   
      
   Writing in the newsletter Wolfgang Hadel, DK2OM, says that he discovered a   
   new burst system operating on 3.5, 7, 14 and 21 MHz, daily.   
      
   Hadel who is the IARU Region 1 Monitoring System Coordinator says that the   
   system is active every full hour at plus 1, plus 2 and plus 3 minutes with   
   10.4 sec. bursts of 20 kHz width. Also, the signals appear to come from   
   France.   
      
   DK2OM adds that audio frequency analysis seems to pin this as being similar   
   to CODAR signals. Their real purpose is unknown but DK2OM says that perhaps   
   this is a new kind of over the horizon radar or Ionosonde. As we go to air,   
   Germany's Department of Post and Telecommunications has filed a complaint   
   with its French counterpart. (IARU-R1)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: NROL-36 CUBSAT LAUNCH DELAYED AGIN   
      
   The launch of the NROL-36 mission carrying several new amateur radio   
   micro-satellites has once again been postponed. According to Spaceflight   
   Now, the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, its classified payload and   
   the ham radio cubesats remain poised for liftoff at Vandenberg Air Force   
   Base in California. Now, officials say that the twice delayed launch will   
   likely take place on September 6th.   
      
   The flight was scrubbed during the initial countdown on August 2nd due to   
   Range Instrumentation problems at the Vandenberg launch complex.   
   Spaceflight Now says that engineers are on a path to resolution and hope to   
   have corrective actions implemented, tested and certified by late August.   
   The latest developments on this pending launch can be followed at   
   www.spaceflightnow.com.   
      
   We will have more ham radio space related news later on in this weeks Amateur   
   Radio Newsline report. (Spaceflightnow.com)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard   
   on bulletin stations around the world including the KC3MM repeater serving   
   Ransom, Pennsylvania.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: HAM IN WALES USES UNUSUAL APPROACH TO WIN TOWER FIGHT   
      
   A ham in Wales has won a tower dispute with the town he lives in by taking a   
   very different approach. He accused the town's community council of   
   bordering on racism and won an appeal to erect a fourth tower in his garden.   
   We have more in this report:   
      
   --   
      
   Michael Butler, GW0MNP, had his planning application for a 21 foot antenna   
   mast rejected three times in under a year but he did not give up. In what   
   may best be called an unprecedented three-pronged attack, Butler not only   
   accused the city council of racism but also wrote letters accusing the   
   Gazette newspaper of being "biased and sarcastic" and calling borough Mayor   
   councilor Marlene Thomas "an idiot".   
      
   According to Wales dot com, Butler, of Green Meadow, sent a stinging letter   
   to Cefn Cribwr Community Council last month. In it he claimed that their   
   "prejudice" against his antenna mast installation ideas "bordered on   
   racism".   
      
   In March, Bridgend County Borough Council planners denied Butler's request to   
   erect the mast in his garden to further his amateur radio hobby. Those   
   opposed to his installation compared the proposed antennae to "a flying   
   bedstead". A bedstead is a British term for the metal framework that holds   
   a mattress, pillows and the rest of the bedding.   
      
   But in the end, Butler's interesting approach succeeded. This when Welsh   
   planning inspector Rebecca Phillips upheld his appeal against the council   
   planners initial decision. Her decision means he can now keep the three   
   towers already has and erect a fourth. The only proviso is the new tower is   
   only at its full height for three hours a day.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, mulling this one   
   over here in the newsroom in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   You can read the entire story of this fascinating tower appeal, including   
   commentary by some of Butler's neighbors on-line at   
   tinyurl.com/wales-antenna-win. (Wales.com, QRZ.com)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: VANITY FEE GOES TO $15 ON SEPTEMBER 4   
      
   Mark September 4th as the day that getting a vanity call sign will go to $15   
   for a full 10 year term. On August 3, the previously approved increase of   
   80 cents was printed in the Federal Register. The new charge take effect 30   
   days after publication making September 4th the first day it is in effect.   
   (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: FCC TELLS SPY SHOP TO STOP SELLING JAMMING DEVICES   
      
   A California electronics retailer has been ordered to stop selling products   
   designed to jam radio communications equipment. Amateur Radio Newsline's   
   Jeff Clark, K8JAC, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   The FCC has issued an official Citation and Order to Spy Shop of Sherman   
   Oaks, California that also does business as IQ Tronics, Inc.,   
   SpyShopOne.com, and SpyGadgetsShop.com. This, for marketing cell phone, and   
   Global Positioning System and other signal jamming devices in violation of   
   Section 302(b) of the Communications Act, and Sections 2.803 and 15.201(b)   
   of the Commission's rules.   
      
   In its July 18th Citation the FCC ordered that the Spy Shop should take   
   immediate steps to come into compliance and to avoid any recurrence of this   
   misconduct, including actions such as removing illegal signal jamming   
   devices from displays and declining to sell signal jamming devices in the   
   United States. The FCC said that if after receipt of the Citation, Spy Shop   
   violates the Communications Act or the FCC Rules by marketing unauthorized   
   radio frequency devices within the United States or its territories the   
   Commission may impose monetary forfeitures of up to $16,000 for each such   
   violation. In the case of a continuing violation, the Commission may impose   
   monetary forfeitures of up to $16,000 for each day of such continuing   
   violation up to a maximum forfeiture of $112,500 for any single act or   
   failure to act. In addition, violations could also can result in seizure of   
   equipment as well as criminal sanctions, including imprisonment.   
      
   Im Jeff Clark, K8JAC.   
      
   --   
      
   As we go to air, a check of the company website shows that all of the gear   
   that the FCC says is illegal to sell has been removed from the company   
   website. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   PUBLIC SERVICE: JIMMY FUND WALK VOLUNTEERS NEEDED   
      
   Ham radio volunteers are needed in support of the Sunday, September 9th Jimmy   
   Fund Walk in the greater Boston Massachusetts area. This event is on the   
   Boston Marathon course but most of its activity is on the last half. All   
   communications will be on 2 meter FM with volunteer communicators assigned   
   to buses and first aid Stations along the route from 5 AM to 7 PM. Some   
   half day assignments will also be available. If you wish to volunteer   
   please contact Steve Schwarm by e-mail to w3eve (at) arrl (dot) net and be   
   sure to put Jimmy Fund in the subject line, (W3EVE)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO BUSINESS: HAM RADIO DELUXE UPDATED   
      
   HRD Software announces an updated release of Ham Radio Deluxe version   
   5.24.36. This update includes fixes for cross band contacts in Logbook and   
   some PTT issues hams have run into with DM780.   
      
   Meanwhile the Ham Radio Deluxe development team continues work on HRD Version   
   6.0. The specific date release date will be announced in a future press   
   release.   
      
   For those who are unfamiliar wit it, Ham Radio Deluxe or HRD is an integrated   
   suite of software products for amateur radio. The five modules provide rig   
   control, logging, digital communications, satellite tracking, and rotator   
   control. More about it is on-line at www.ham-radio-deluxe.com (HRD)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: AUTHENTIC RADIO AUDIO NEEDED FOR DOCUMENTARY FILM   
      
   Some names in the news. Steve Wystrach who is working on the production of a   
   documentary film about Robert Manry and his 1965 single-handed Atlantic   
   crossing says that he is in seed of two pieces of audio to help complete the   
   project. First he needs an authentic recording of a WWV time signal from   
   that era. It needs to be legible, but it can have a bit of static or hash,   
   just as long as it's clear enough to understand.   
      
   Steve also needs a recording of the sound of a Gibson Girl distress   
   transmitter. Manry demonstrates this unit at one point in the film but the   
   actual signal it produced was not receded with a local receiver.   
      
   For those not aware, the Gibson Girl was the predecessor of the modern E-L-T   
   or Electronic Location Transmitter but sent out an S-O-S signal on the old   
   International Distress Frequency of 500 KHz. Many of these hit the surplus   
   market in the 1950's and 1960's and were a popular as a parts supply for   
   hams and other radio experimenters of that era.   
      
   If you have either of these audio tracks please e-mail Steve Wystrach to info   
   (at) robertmanryproject (dot) com. More information about the documentary   
   film is on line at www.robertmanryproject.com/about-us/. (Steve Wystrach)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: NEW RAC ONTARIO SECTION MANAGERS NAMED   
      
   With the break-up of Radio Amateurs of Canada's Ontario Section, there are   
   now four newly named Section Managers. Allan Boyd, VE3AJB, has been named   
   as Section Manager Ontario North. Michael Hickey, VE3IPC, takes the reins   
   for Section Manager of Ontario East. The Section Manager for the Greater   
   Toronto Area is George Duffield, VE3WKJ, with Ian Snow, VA3QT, as Section   
   Manager Ontario South. These appointments are effective immediately, and   
   will be merged into the normal election process at the end of a two year   
   term. (RAC)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: W9DXCC DX CONVENTION SEPT 14 - 25 IN ELK GROVE IL.   
      
   On the social scene, a reminder that the 60th annual W9DXCC DX Convention   
   will be held September 14th to the 15th at the Holiday Inn in the Chicago   
   suburb of Elk Grove, Illinois. W9DXCC is very much a fun gathering with   
   presentations focused on DXing. Also available will be on site QSL card   
   checking for CQ and ARRL awards. An optional Friday afternoon class will   
   help get aspiring DX'ers up to speed. For more information and on-line   
   registration for this gathering please take your web browser to   
   www.w9dxcc.com. (N7US, W9DXCC)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: WESTERN STATES VHF - UHF WEAK SIGNAL 75M NET   
      
   The Western States VHF/UHF Weak Signal 75 meter net meets every Sunday night   
   from 5:30 to 6:30 pm Pacific time. This net is an informal opportunity to   
   discuss recent operating activity, future plans for contests, rovers, and a   
   wide variety of topics for the non repeater folks who inhabit the world   
   above 50 MHz. The frequencies used are 3.920 MHz Lower Sideband region wide   
   and 144.200 MHz Upper Sideband in Southern California. Anyone with an   
   interest in weak signal communications is invited to take part. (VHF   
   Reflector)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 2   
      
   This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. From the United States of   
   America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from our   
   only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the   
   volunteer services of the following radio amateur:   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
   **   
      
   EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: WWVB PHASE MOD TEST STARTS AUGUST 21   
      
   The National Institute of Stands and Technology radio Station WWVB will be   
   conducting a test of a phase-modulated broadcast format beginning at 1800   
   UTC on Tuesday, August 21st and ending at 1800 UTC on Friday, August 24th.   
   During the test period the broadcast will be randomly switching between the   
   normal WWVB broadcast and the new phase-modulated broadcast format.   
      
   According to WWVB Radio-controlled clocks and watches will not be affected by   
   the test. However phase-locking 60 kHz timing and frequency standard   
   receivers may lose lock during this period. However, they will restore   
   during the normal broadcast period.   
      
   For more information, e-mail WWVB broadcast manager John Lowe at john.lowe   
   (at) nist (dot) gov (CGC, John Lowe)   
      
   **   
      
   EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: PRINTABLE HF TRANSMITTER DEVELOPED   
      
   The British Broadcasting Corporation reports that a new science has been   
   developed to permit high frequency radio transmitters for 13.560 MHz to be   
   printed using electronic inks at a cost of that cost just a penny each.   
      
   The transmitters use Near Field Communication technology and are seen as a   
   replacement for Quick Response Codes. The latter consists of black square   
   dots arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The story of this   
   new technology is on-line at   
   tinyurl.com/printed-transmitter. (BBC, Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: CHRISTIAN VISION LEAVING SOUTH AMERICA TARGETED SHORTWAVE   
      
   Yet another shortwave broadcaster is cutting back on over the air operations.   
   This time it's the UK based Christian Vision that has announced that it   
   will cease its shortwave service to Latin America, likely by the time this   
   newscast has gone to air.   
      
   According to its announcement, the main reason for abandoning this targeted   
   shortwave operation is the shifting emphasis to media that reach younger   
   listeners. It says it has about 413 affiliates in 23 countries and is using   
   Internet, mobile and social platforms to increase consumption by those in   
   the important 18 to 35 year-old demographic many of whom are not shortwave   
   listeners.   
      
   In 2010 the Christian Vision closed two other shortwave sites. One was in   
   Darwin, Australia, and had served audiences in Asia. The other was sited in   
   Juelich, Germany, that aired Russian, Arabic and English programs.   
      
   Christian Vision is not completely abandoning the shortwave bands. It says   
   that it will continue to use shortwave in India and parts of Africa, where   
   audiences continue to be significant. (RW)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: TWO RADIO STATIONS LOOSE TRANSMITTERS DOWN UNDER   
      
   North Queensland, Australia radio stations Hot FM and 4RFM have both had   
   their transmitters stolen. Southern Cross Austereo had its 91.3 MHz HOT FM   
   transmitter stolen from its site at the Carborough Range. The 91.3 MHz   
   transmitter taken consisted of a Crown Broadcast FM30 Exciter, PA1000 Power   
   Amplifier, and PS1000 Power Supply.   
      
   The local community station 4RFM also had its transmitter stolen at the same   
   time from a nearby site. Its gear was not described.   
      
   The thieves used a crow bar to get through the door of the 91.3 MHz site and   
   an angle grinder through the door of the community radio location. Both   
   thefts seem targeted as none of the two-way radio equipment was taken from   
   either location   
      
   Matt Paton is a Southern Cross Austereo Engineer. He has asked that those   
   involved in radio to keep a look out for the stolen equipment. Paton notes   
   that the market for broadcast transmitters isn't massive in Australia. As   
   such, if anybody gets offered a black market deal for such equipment could   
   they please call the Moranbah, Australia, Police at 07 4941 6200. (WIA   
   News)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: LONDON OLYMPIC OVER BUT COMMEMORATIVE STATION SETTING RECORDS   
      
   The summer 2012 Olympics may be over but operations at 2o12L, the flagship   
   station celebrating the Olympic and Paralympic Games continues. Further   
   information about the station can be found on the website at www.2o12L.com.   
   (RSGB)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: 2012 OLYMPICS ON THE HAM-SATS   
      
   Meantime, another Olympic Special Event Station, 2o12W has been active on the   
   amateur radio satellites working stations in the USA and across Europe. The   
   2o12W satellite station is being operated by Ken Eaton, GW1FKY, using a   
   Kenwood TS-2000 feeding a 5-element dual-band Elk antenna mounted on a   
   rotator on the portable cabin. For details of his operation please check   
   out www.rsgb.org/operating/ and click on London Olympics 2012. (RSGB)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO IN SPACE: RUSSIA LAUNCHES NON-HAM RS-40   
      
   A Russian research satellite called RS-40 carrying experiments built by   
   students and research staff of the Siberian State Aerospace University was   
   launched on July 28. Signals from the new bird have been heard on 435.365   
   MHz and were first reported by Maik Hermenau on the AMSAT-DL mailing list.   
      
   While the new satellite uses amateur 70 cm band downlinks it does not appear   
   to include an amateur radio mission. In fact, as we go to air details of   
   the downlink signaling protocol have not been made available. About the   
   only thing certain is that systems aboard this 65 kilogram satellite   
   includes testing advanced technological solutions to be incorporated into   
   future missions. More about RS-40 is on-line at tinyurl.com/99ryrw8   
   (PE0SAT, ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, preparations for the ZL9HR DXpedition to Campbell Island are on   
   schedule for activation from November 28th to December 9th. The containers   
   to carry all required equipment are currently being prepared and loaded,   
   ready to be shipped out of Sydney around September 15th. More information   
   is on-line at ZL9HR dot com.   
      
   IZ2WMW will be on the air stroke 9Afrom Krk Island between August 18th to the   
   25th. Activity will be holiday style on the HF bands. QSL via hs home   
   callsign, direct or by the bureau.   
      
   W9XY will be active from the Bahamas as C6AXY between November 4th to the   
   9th. His operation will be holiday style on 40 through 10 meters using   
   mostly CW and SSB,with maybe some RTTY or PSK31. QSL via W9XY.   
      
   AA5UK will be operating stroke EA6 from the Balearic Islands between October   
   20th and the 31st. Activity will be holiday style on 80 though 6 meters   
   using SSB, RTTY and PSK31. QSL direct via his home callsign, by the bureau   
   or electronically using Logbook of the World or eQSL.   
      
   4F2KWT will be active as DX0N from the rare Bongao Island located in the   
   province of Tawi-Tawi, Philippines, sometime in September. Look for more   
   details to be forthcoming at www.qrz.com/db/DX0N   
      
   Lastly, a group of Polish radio amateurs will be operational as from   
   Mauritania as 5T0SP between November 24th and December 10th, from   
   Mauritania. Activity will be on all HF bands, 160-10 meters using CW, SSB an   
   RTTY. There will be a focus on Japan and the Far East.   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: MORSE CODE ON MARS   
      
   And finally this week, the story of Morse code on Mars. When the Mars rover   
   Curiosity moves around the red planet it leaves a series on dots and dashes   
   on the surface. These dots and dashes are a part of Curiosity's wheels and   
   are made by square and rectangular imprints on the rovers treads.   
      
   According to Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Mars Rover Mechanical Engineering   
   Team, these holes or imprints actually have a purpose as odometer markers.   
   JPL Engineers are looking at the tread marks to verify that Curiosity has   
   traversed the distance it expects.   
      
   So what pattern did JPL choose to put on Curiosity's wheels? The holes are   
   in a pattern of short squares and longer rectangles as in the ancient and   
   honorable Morse code. And what does it spell out in C-W? Simply the three   
   letters JPL.   
      
   The full story of this Morse code on Mars is on-line at   
   tinyurl.com/cw-on-mars. And less we forget, you can follow Curiosity on   
   Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarsCuriosity. (Various sources)   
      
   **   
      
   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 WIA News, that's all from the   
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is   
   newsline(at)arnewsline(dot)org. More information is available at Amateur   
   Radio Newsline's(tm) only official website located at www.arnewsline.org.   
   You can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), 28197   
   Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm 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)