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|    15 Nov 12 22:02:34    |
      Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1840 - November 16 2012              Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1840 with a release date of November 16,       2012 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.              The following is a Q-S-T. China to revise its amateur radio service rules,       French radar signals heard on several ham radio bands, Norway affirms new       spectrum for its ham radio community, a rescue radio group receives a large       grant to get more gear, the Dayton Hamvention announces the theme of       Hamvention 2013 and a new ham radio cubesat will blink a holiday message       from space on Christmas Eve. Find out the details are on Amateur Radio       Newsline(tm) report number 1840 coming your way right now.                     (Billboard Cart Here)                     **              RESTRUCTURING: CHINA TO REVISE ITS AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE              Big amateur radio changes ahead for ham radio in China. Amateur Radio       Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, reports from down-under:              --              According to word from Jim Linton, VK3PC, mandatory membership of the Chinese       Radio Sports Association will likely soon be a thing of the past. This as       China moves forward under soon to be announced new amateur service       regulations.              For the past 30 years, only a sports organization could transmit on the       amateur Radio bands. That began on the 29th of March, 1982 with the station       BY1PK, at first on CW and with limited spectrum made available for ham radio       operations. But this is 2012 and the old system of someone first being a       member of a sport-related body before entering amateur radio no longer works       and will end. Now clubs and individuals will have their own callsigns       throughout the world's most populated country.              Also being considered for emergency communications is a new error-correcting       low power data mode for HF radio using Chinese characters, a Software       Defined Radio receiver network for noisy locations, an alarm system, VHF and       UHF repeaters and overall training.              Along with the revised regulations will be a new entity called the Chinese       Radio Amateur Club, that will be solely focused on amateur radio. The new       group will deal with the regulations including visitor licenses, conduct       exams and licensing, create band plans, allow nation-wide mobile operation,       develop emergency communications infrastructure, amateur satellites, and       work with the International Amateur Radio Union.              For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, in Nelson, New       Zealand              --              When enacted, these revised regulations promise to bring China more in line       with the rest of amateur radio service regulations world wide. As such       don't be too surprised to hear many more mainland China stations on the       hambands once the new rules do take effect. (VK3PC)              **              INTRUDER WATCH: HAM RADIO OPPOSED EUROPEAN PLT STANDARD APPROVED              Europe has a new Power Line Communication or PLT standard and hams on the       other side of the Atlantic are not very happy. Amateur Radio Newsline's       Bruce Tennant, K6PZW reports:              --              Despite opposition from the Radio Society of Great Britain and several other       European national ham radio societies, the European Committee for       Electrotechnical Standardization or CENELEC Working Group 11 has voted in       favor of a draft standard for what ham radio operators are calling polluting       Power Line Communication or PLT apparatus. According to the Radio Society       of Great Britain this means the chance of radio interference from P-L-T       devices could be 10,000 times higher than the previous standard and holding       the potential of ruining people's enjoyment of radio.              A statement on the RSGB website says that one of the reasons why the combined       voice of the amateur radio fraternity was not heeded was the absence of       complaints reported to and by the national enforcement agencies. As a       consequence it is imperative that interference cases are diagnosed and       reported to, and pursued with, U-K telecommunications regulator Ofcom if       and when they occur.              The statement goes on to note that the RSGB EMC Committee is working with       other parties to enable radio amateurs to do this and to build up statistics       on the status of complaints. If a significant number of people are affected       the organization can then lobby for further revision to the standard. If       the devices do not cause publicized problems then the protection provided by       this new standard will be deemed adequate.              For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.              --              You can read the full RSGB statement at tinyurl.com/european-PLT-approved.       (Southgate)              **              INTRUDER WATCH: FRENCH RADAR ON THE HF HAM BANDS              The IARU Region 1 Monitoring Service reports that French radar is again       active near and in the High Frequency ham bands. Recent reports have heard       it near 7, 14, 14,259, and 21 MHz transmitting a 20 kHz wide burst system.              But that's not all. Region 1 monitors also report that taxi operators in the       Russia Federation, Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan are now using FM in the       28 MHz, 10 meter amateur radio band more than ever. You can read more about       both these intruders on-line tinyurl.com/10-meter-intruders (IARU-R1)              **              RESTRUCTURING: NORWAY AFFIRMS NEW SPECTRUM FOR AMATEUR RADIO OPERATIONS              Its now official. Norway has affirmed news bands for ham radio in that       nation. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, of the RSGB News reports:              --              The Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority has made changes to the       Norwegian amateur license regulations.              The major change is that permission has been given to use 472 to 479 kHz with       a maximum 1 Watt EIRP, with the former permission to use 493 to 510 kHz       removed.              Permission has been given to use 70.1875 to 70.2625MHz, except in the three       Norwegian southwest counties of Hordaland, Rogaland and West-Agder, where       there still is commercial traffic within this frequency segment.              Other segments allowing 100W transmitter power and maximum 16kHz bandwidth       include 70.0625 to 70.0875MHz, 70.3625 to 70.3875MHz and 70.4125 to       70.4625MHz.              For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, in Nottingham in the       U.K.              --              The new rules in Norway are reportedly effective now. (GB2RS)              **              RESCUE RADIO: SOUTH AFRICA HAMNET AIDS IN SEARCH FOR MISSING AIRCRADT              South Africa's HAMNET, the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications       Organization has concluded it's involvement in a cross-border search and       rescue operation for a missing aircraft. This after a light aircraft, on an       October 28th flight from Malawi to an airport in South Africa failed to       make regular radio contact over Mozambique.              Soon after the plane was reported as missing, the South African Air Rescue       Control Centre was advised and requested to assist. HAMNET was called out       on Monday, October 29th by the Air Rescue Control Centre to form a team to       travel to the region and provide a High Frequency communications link       between the two countries. Operations took place on the internationally       agreed Emergency Centre of Activity frequencies using the 30 and 20 meter       bands.              Unfortunately the search for the missing plane and its occupants was       unsuccessful and was scaled back on Saturday November 3rd. At that point       the HAMNET team stood down and has now returned home. (IARU Region 1)              **              HAM RADIO IN SPACE: FITSAT-1 SCHEDULES CHRISTMAS EVE OPTICAL TRANSMISSION              And there will be a Christmas present of sorts from ham radio in space. On       December 24th which is Christmas Eve the students in Japan who built the       FITSAT-1 satellite are planning to active the birds LED optical array and       flash a message in Morse Code to those of us here on mother Earth.              According to JA6AVG, the students plan to start testing the optical system at       the end of November. As such its Morse message beacon may well be visible       from Earth with the unaided eye well before the scheduled transmission date.              FITSAT-1 is a CubeSat that was developed by students at the Fukuoka Institute       of Technology in Japan. In addition to the optical transmission system the       bird carries a CW beacon on 437.250 MHz and a data link on 437.445 MHz.       There is also a 5.8 GHz data downlink.              Further information about the FITSAT-1 cubesat is on-line at       tinyurl.com/fitsat-christmas-signal. And we will have more ham radio space       related news later on in this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report.       (FITSAT-1 Team)              **              BREAK 1              From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard       on bulletin stations around the world including the WL7CVG repeater serving       Alaska's Kenai Peninsula.              (5 sec pause here)                     **              RESCUE RADIO: NIAGRA COUNTY NY RACES GETS $7000 GRANT              Some good news for a dedicated rescue radio group. Buffalo dot com reports       that the Niagara County New York Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service has       received a $7,000 donation from Waste Management, parent company of the CWM       Chemical Services.              Jim Callahan of Waste Management made the presentation of the check that will       provide the group with equipment for expanding and enhancing its services to       Niagara County in the event of a disaster. In doing so Callahan called the       RACES hams as being the unsung heroes who are prepared to help communicate       through any emergency situation, when other means of communication may be       down. (Buffalo.com)              **              ENFORCEMENT: PAGER COMPANY FINE REDUCED TO $7000              The Federal Communications Commission has affirmed a $7000 monetary       forfeiture order to Leetek America, Inc. a subsidiary of Lee Technology       Korea. This for marketing of an unauthorized pager transmitter system. Jim       Davis, W2JKD, has the details:              --              On August 25, 2008, the Enforcement Bureau's Spectrum Enforcement Division       issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture or NAL to Leetek in the       amount of $14,000. This for its apparent willful and repeated violations of       Section 302(b) of the Act and Section 2.803(a) of the Rules in connection       with its marketing of two models of unauthorized pager transmitter systems.                     The Division's investigation into this matter was initiated by a complaint       that Leetek was marketing a pager transmitter system that did not comply       with the Rules and was causing interference to primary licensed operators.              Leetek responded to the NAL on September 2, 2008. In its reply, the company       repeated the argument that it imported only three units of the LTK-1700CT       solely for the purpose of design review and performance testing. Leetek's       response also clarified information Leetek submitted to the Division in its       response with respect to the LTK-1400S pager transmitter system. It       asserted that it never marketed a pager transmitter system with the model       number LTK-1400S. Rather that its third party website provider mistyped       LTK-1400S as the model number for Leetek's authorized LTK-1400A pager       transmitter system. Leetek also said that it never marketed or sold a pager       transmitter system with a LTK-1400S model number. According to Leetek, the       company was marketing an authorized pager transmitter system called he       LTK-1400A, but its third-party website provider misprinted the model number       as LTK-1400.              In rendering its final decision, the FCC says that based on the company's       statements, which were made under penalty of perjury, it appears that the       device mistakenly marketed on Leetek's website under model number LTK-1400S       was properly authorized. Therefore the agency finds that a reduction of the       proposed forfeiture is warranted as to that model. However having       considered Leetek's response to the proposed fine in light of the applicable       statutory factors the FCC concludes that Leetek did willfully and repeatedly       violate Section 2.803(a) of the Rules in connection with its marketing of       the uncertified LTK-1700CT pager transmitter system, and is therefore liable       for a forfeiture in the amount of $7,000.              Im Jim Davis, W2JKD.              --              Because this was an affirmed fine, Leetek Payment was given only fifteen       calendar days after the release date of this Forfeiture Order to pay the       amount in full. That period is now past. If the forfeiture was not paid       within the period specified, the FCC said that the case may be referred to       the U.S. Department of Justice for enforcement.       (FCC)              **              RADIO LAW: EXTENSION OF HEART MONITORING DEVICE GRANTED              The FCC has granted a request by Boston Scientific Corporation to extend the       existing waiver of Section 15.205 of its rules to continue tests of the       company's Cognis cardiac device.              The FCC says that granting Boston Scientifics' request will permit this       device to continue to use the 90 to 110 kHz frequency band while Boston       Scientific completes its ongoing MultiSENSE clinical trial, begun in 2010,       in which it is using the Cognis device to collect physiologic data related       to patients' worsening heart failure.              The present waiver is scheduled to expire on November 17, 2012, and the       extension will permit the continued manufacture and marketing of the subject       devices until December 31, 2013, when the referenced clinical trial is       expected to complete its enrollment. (FCC)              **              HAM HAPPENINGS: EPISODE 4 OF YOUTH IN AMATEUR RADIO PODCAST AVAILABLE              Episode 4 of the Youth in Amateur Radio Podcast is now available for       download. This month's topics include getting on the air and how repeaters       work. The report can be downloaded on yarphams.com or on itunes, or the       producers RSS feed. As always please feel free to contact the production       team with comments and suggestions. They can be reached by e-mail to Joe       Andrews in care of kd0los (at) yahoo (dot) com. (KD0LOS)              **              NAMES IN THE NEWS: MICHAEL J. OWEN AWARD CREATED BY IARU              Some names in the news. A new Michael J. Owen, VK3KI, Award has been created       and announced at the recently concluded IARU Region 3 Conference held in Ho       Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The purpose of the award is to recognize an       individual or individuals that best exemplify the dedication and hard work       of International Amateur Radio Union volunteers.              At the same conference the Wireless Institute of Australia proposed that an       annual award or trophy be introduced in Michael Owen's name for the highest       Region 3 individual operator score in the IARU High Frequency Contest. It       reported that the proposal was well received and the details are to be       announced at a later date. (RSGB)              **              NAMES IN THE NEWS: G4SWX NAMED NEW RSGB VHF MANAGER              The RSGB has announced the appointment of John Regnault, G4SWX as the       societies new VHF Manager. Regnault is described as an active amateur on       the VHF and UHF bands, a long standing designer and home builder of VHF       equipment and a contributor to the RSGB publication RadCom. He replaces       David Butler, G4ASR, who took on the job temporarily following the death of       Terry Stevens, G8DKS, earlier in the year. (RSGB)              **              NAMES IN THE NEWS: GREG WALDEN, W7EQI, RE-ELECTED TO CONGRESS              Congressman Greg Walden, W7EQI, who is the chairman of the House Energy and       Commerce Committee's Communications Subcommittee has been re-elected by a       wide margin in Oregon's second district. Walden pulled almost 70% of the       vote, according to unofficial results from the Oregon Secretary of State.       (Published News Reports)              **              NAMES IN THE NEWS: NEWSLINE'S WA6ITF TO APPEAR ON ECHOLINK NET NOV. 17              Amateur Radio Newsline producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, will be the featured       guest on the Saturday night, November 17th edition of the Echolink Newsline       Net. The net meets every Saturday at 9 p.m. Eastern on the Dodropin       conference server which is Echolink Node number 355800. According to Steve       Sercrest, W8WFO, this is not the original name for the gathering. Rather,       because it's been running our weekly report for such a long time that those       signing in began calling it the Amateur Radio Newsline or Newsline network.       Again, you are welcome to join in the net conference at Echolink node 355800       on Saturday night, November 17th at 9 p.m. Eastern to hear Newsline's Bill       Pasternak, WA6ITF, talk about numerous things in ham radio and do is best to       answer your questions. Bill says he hopes to meet many of you there.       (W8WFO)              **              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: BOEING UNVEILS EMP DRONE              From our technology page, it appears as if science fiction has become a       military fact. This after a successful missile test has ushered in a new       era of warfare in which the military can take out electronic targets without       destroying a single building or harming human beings. Amateur Radio       Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is here with the story:              --              According to news reports, back on October 16th an experimental missile       called CHAMP fired bursts of high power microwave energy at an unoccupied       site to damage computers and other electronic systems during a test at the       Utah Test and Training Range. The Counter Electronics High Power Microwave       Advanced Missile Project flew over the Utah test site and brought down the       compound's entire spectrum of electronic systems, apparently without       producing any other damage at all. Even cameras recording the test was shut       down.              Keith Coleman is the CHAMP program manager for Boeing Phantom Works. He says       that in the near future this technology may be used to render an enemy's       electronic and data systems useless even before the first troops or aircraft       arrive.              The idea of using microwaves or electromagnetic pulses to knock out       electronic systems without having to reduce cities or military bases to       rubble first arose during Cold War nuclear tests. There scientists found       that explosions created electromagnetic pulses that damaged some civilian       power grids and other facilities.              For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the newsroom       in Los Angeles.              --              It will be interesting to see where the development of this new electronic       warfare device goes in years to come. (Science OnLine, Business Insider,       Discovery News, others)              **              HAM RADIO IN SPACE: WORK PROCEEDING ON RECOVERY OF AO-27              Amsat Oscar 27 is down but not out. This according to controllers who are       working to return of the satellites FM repeater back to service after it       stopped responding on October 5th. Heres the back story.              In early October AO-27 was restored to running on its primary bootloader       program. Control operators were able to turn on the Transmitter for a short       time on several occasions. Also required were multiple recoveries the stuck       AFSK modem.              During recovery efforts AO-27 crashed once again on October 16. The command       team again recovered the satellite to the bootloader state. It was also       recovered from another occurrence of the AFSK modem problem and they again       performed another software upload.              On October 18 the transmitter was left on in an attempt to discharge the       batteries with the hope that faults could be cleared. Once the battery was       recharged the high-level software aboard AO-27 ran for a few seconds before       locking up. The team was able to reset it back to the bootloader once       again. Telemetry indicate AO-27 is locking up while fetching telemetry from       the hardware. As such, controllers say that it does not look like there       will be a quick resolution to this crash.              In the meantime the AO-27 controllers are asking the ham radio public not to       attempt to use the AO-27 if you hear it in Amalog mode. This to prevent       interfering with the command team's recovery efforts. (AMSAT)              **              RADIO IN SPACE: JAPAN SCHEDULES FIRST LAUNCH OF NEW EPSILON ROCKET              Japan is scheduled to launch its first Epsilon solid-fueled rocket next       August or September. The flight will deploy a planetary telescope while       on-orbit while demonstrating new low-cost rocket assembly and control       techniques, the Japanese space agency announced last week.              The Epsilon program is designed to cut in half the cost of Japanese small       satellite launches. Japan's M5 rocket, which launched seven times before       retiring in 2006, cost $94 million per flight. Engineers designed the       Epsilon rocket with a simplified control system, and the vehicle's own       computers will autonomously monitor the status of its systems during       countdown.              Only a handful of engineers with laptop computers are required on the launch       control team. The Epsilon is also designed to launch after only seven days       of assembly on the launch pad, reducing labor and overhead costs. (ANS)              **              CONTEST CORNER: RESULTS OF 2012 ARRL JUNE VHF CONTEST ON LINE              Sean Kutzko, KX9X, who is the Leagues Contest Branch Manager, says that the       results for the 2012 ARRL June VHF Contest are now available online. If you       took part and want to know where you placed, you can find out by taking your       web browser to www.arrl.org/contest-results-articles. (KX9X)              **              SWL NEWS: L.A. INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT'S TIS STATION GOES DARK              If you are an A-M broadcast band DX'er and have not been able to hear the       Travelers Information Station on 530 kHz at Los Angeles International       Airport theres a good reason. It has reportedly been off the air for a       month or so. No word as to why, but it does open up that frequency in the       Southwest United States for DX'ing a 50 Kilowatt religious station in Turks       and Caicos islands that operates on the same frequency. (CGC)              **              SWL NEWS: UK REGULATOR OFCOM CANCELS 648 KHZ BBC NOV              British telecommunications regulator Ofcom has issued a notice of variation       the Wireless Telegraphy Act to Babcock Communications Ltd. This to remove       Babcock's authorization to the frequency of 648 kHz previously used to       broadcast the BBC World Service.              Subject to international co-ordination, this frequency will now be available       for use by community radio licensing in various parts of the UK, in addition       to FM and other AM frequencies that are already potentially available for       this purpose.              However, some note that the characteristics of 648 kHz is at the lower end of       the AM broadcast spectrum and therefore requiring relatively large towers       and transmitter sites. This they say may make it less suitable for       community radio than other AM frequencies higher up in the Medium Wave band.              A Notice of Variation in the UK is very much like a Special Temporary       Authorization or STA issued here in the United States by our FCC.              You can read the Ofcom announcement on line at tinyurl.com/uk-nov-cancel       (GB2RS)              **              DX              In DX, word that F8FQX will be active from Cameroon as TJ3SN next 3 to 4       years. He will be operational on High Frequency bands plus 6 meters using       various modes. QSL via IZ1BZV direct or electronically using Logbook of       the World.              Members of F6KOP team and others will be on the air from Uganda next February       6th to the 18th as 5X8C. They will be active on 160 through 10 meters using       CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK. QSL via the bureau or electronically using Logbook       of the World.              AA9A will be active from Antigua Island February 10th to the 20th as V24A.       His operation will include the 2013 ARRL DX CW Contest. No bands or modes       mentioned. QSL via home call              HB9TUZ will be active as 8Q7MS from Gangehi Island Resort on the North Ari       Atoll Male in the Republic of the Maldives from December 26th to January       3rd. His operation will be on 80 through 10 meters using SSB only. QSL       electronically only using eQSL.              Lastly the 2012 operation 5X1EME operation from Uganda has been approved for       DXCC credit. If you have a card for this operation you can submit it to       checkers to be added to your DXCC total.              (Above courtesy of various DX news sources)              **              THAT FINAL ITEM: DAYTON 2013 IS A DX HAMVENTION              The Dayton Hamvention has announced its theme for 2013. Amateur Radio       Newsline's Cheryl, Lasek, K9BIK, has the details:              --              When the 2013 Dayton Hamvention opens its doors next May 17th the theme will       be that of it being the DX Hamvention. This according to General Chairman       Charles Kaiser who says that this name will reflect the distant contact       which is an important part of ham radio.              Kaiser says that the Dayton Hamvention is often an important DX destination       for amateurs from around the globe to visit. Also, working DX is often a       mix of band conditions, the diligent application of radio theory and of       coarse a little bit of magic.              Kaiser noted that many attendees return to Dayton each year to meet other       hams that they have talked to on the radio. He says that the quest for that       distant contact advances amateur radio on many levels so the Hamvention team       is honoring DX in all of its forms this year.              In the same press release, Kaiser announced that Jim Tiderman, N8IDS, will       serve as his assistant General Chairman for 2013. Kaiser says that Tiderman       has been active in Hamvention for many years and brings a natural leadership       style to the Hamvention Team.              For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, not far from Dayton       in Zion Illinois.              --              Hamvention 2013 will take place next May 17th to the 19th at its traditional       home at the Hara Arena in suburban Trotwood, Ohio For more information       please visit www.hamvention.org on the World-Wide-Web or e-mail       media@hamvention.org. And as always, we will se you there.       (Dayton Hamvention)              **              NEWSCAST CLOSE              With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ Magazine,       World Disaster Report, 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 Don Wilbanks,       AE5DW, 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)    |
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