Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1736 - November 19 2010   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1736 with a release date of Friday,   
   November 19th 2010 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T.   
      
   The National Telecommunications and Information Agency proposes a fast track   
   for spectrum reallocation that has little impact on ham radio, the Czech   
   Republic issues its first 500 kilohertz ham radio permit, FM simplex in the   
   satellite subbands is reeking   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING: NTIA PROPOSES FAST TRACK PLAN FOR REALLOCATING SPECTRUM   
      
   The National Telecommunications and Information Agency, which is the White   
   House version of the FCC is proposing a fast track approach to the   
   reallocation of 115 MHz of radio spectrum for wireless broadband now,   
   increasing to a total of 500 MHz within ten   
      
   --   
      
   If one looks at the National Telecommunications and Information    
   dministration's proposed Fast Track the reallocation of 115 MHz of radio   
   spectrum for wireless broadband now and a total of 500 MHz within ten years   
   from a ham radio point of view, the hobby   
      
   But this is not the only plan that will be put forth.  The FCC is still in the   
   process of finalizing its reallocation recommendations and various industry   
   groups will likely be lobbying for theirs.  In the end, whatever the   
   Washington bureaucrats dream up   
      
   Perhaps more important for ham radio to consider is the fact that no matter   
   what plan is chosen, there will be various services displaced for the spectrum   
   that they now inhabit.  This means they will be searching for new bands to go   
   to.  And it is this se   
      
   Those of you who enjoy wadeing through government documents can find yhis one   
   in PDF format at tinyurl.com/2bq3694   
      
   And I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, watching this one from the newsroom in nthe   
   City of Angels.  Jim.   
      
      
   --   
      
   More on this plan in future Amateur Radio Newsline reports.  (NTIA Release)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING: CZECH REPUBLIC ISSUES 500 KHZ PERMIT   
      
   A new 500 kHz operating permit has been issued in the Czech Republic.  The   
   recipient is OK2BVG who has been given permission to operate between 501 and   
   504 kHz with a maximum of 20 watts Effective Radiated Power until September   
   1st of 2011.   
      
   As we go to air, 11 countries in IARU Region 1 have now authorized amateur or   
   experimental operations in this part of the 500kHz band.  More information can   
   be found on the IARU Region 1 website.  Its in cyberspace at www dot iaru-R1   
   dot org.  (IARU)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  FM SIMPLEX DAMAGING SPACE COMMUNICATIONS   
      
   FM operators are once again being asked to not use 145.8 to 146.0 MHz for   
   terrestrial, point to point casual communications.  This is because such   
   operations are devastating to weal signal ground to space and space to ground   
   satellite operations.  Take a    
      
   --   
      
   Actual QSO audio.   
      
   --   
      
   Thats from the FM interference on HO-68 uplink as recorded by OZ9AEC on   
   November 9th.  Two FM stations can be heard speaking in Russian.  The one   
   speaker is barely audible in the noise but the stronger one holds the   
   potential of capturing the HO-68 receiv   
      
   OZ9AEC has posted the full QSO between these stations operating on the HO-68   
   uplink to the YouTube dot com.  It very graphically illustrates the problem   
   that operating FM simplex operation on 145.8 to 146 and 435 to 438 MHz can   
   cause for ham radio satelli   
      
   **   
      
   BREAKING DX NEWS: SPRATLEY DXPEDITION EXTENDED FOR 160 METER DX CONTEST   
      
   Some good news in the world of DX.  With less than 60 days to go until the   
   Spratley Island, DX0DX operation hits the amateur bands the DXpedition Team   
   Leader, Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY, has announced it will be extended to allow   
   participation in the CQ Wor   
      
   --   
      
   While DX0DX was to go QRT on the 24th January, a couple of individual  and   
   keen members have asked if they could stay on air for that contest when ends   
   at 2200 UTC Sunday the 30th of January. This will now extend DX0DX activation   
   to 1st of February, 2011.   
      
   This limited extension was agreed in light of strong interest from Top Band   
   contesters and the 160 meter band being the highest sought after in the DX0DX   
   website online survey.   
      
   In another development, the pre-assembly, erection and tuning of eight HF yagi   
   antennas in Fontana California went extremely well with the eight antennas   
   tuned as per instructions to their allotted bands.  Each was then partly   
   disassembled breaking down i   
      
   Chris VK3FY and DU8/VK3FY says, well done to the Station & Planning   
   Co-ordinator David Collingham K3LP for organising and attending the   
   Pre-Assembly Gathering, and also DXpedition logistics coordinator Charles   
   Spetnagel, W6KK, for his understanding in hav   
      
   Im Felix, VK4FUQ.   
      
   --   
      
   DX0DX will be on air from the 6th of January and now through to the 1st of   
   February, 2011.  We will have more DX news later on in this weeks Amateur   
   Radio Newsline report.  (WIA News)   
      
   **   
      
   ROLE REVERSAL: OPPONENT OF HAM TOWERS SEEKS HELP FROM THE ARRL   
      
   In a total role reversal, a group of not-so-nearby neighbors trying to stop a   
   Tivoli, Illinois ham from erecting eleven towers on his property say that they   
   will appeal to the ARRL for help.  This after being denied a chance to   
   officially offer arguments    
      
   The Peoria County Planning and Zoning Commission approved the permit request   
   by Craig Thompson, K9CT, in July for 11 towers that range in height from 30   
   feet to 195 feet on property he owns.  Opponents of the towers are now   
   searching for ways to slow or s   
      
   John Martin is the nearest neighbor of the property that's situated among the   
   rolling farm fields and woodlands south of Tivoli.  He tells the local   
   newspaper that there is likely little that people in the area can do to stop   
   construction.  He then goes o   
      
   But Martin has also taken his opposition to the towers to the local   
   community.  He has posted flyers and bought space in the local weekly shopper   
   newsletter that includes a photograph of a cluster of towers and the caption   
   "Stop this from happening in you   
      
   Thompson's attorney is Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, of Massachusetts.  He is an   
   expert in telecommunications law and helped convince the state's attorney   
   office that the county zoning law was trumped by Federal Communications   
   Commission mandate that allowed fo   
      
   So far there has been no word from the ARRL if it has received a request from   
   Martin to assist in stopping construction of Thompson's tower farm in rural   
   Tivoli, Illinois.  More on this story as it develops.  (pjstar.com)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on   
   bulletin stations around the world including the W6ASH repeater serving   
   Mountain View California.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   SOLAR ACTIVITY:  CLIMATE CHANGES AND SUNSPOTS   
      
   Hams are not the only ones concerned about the lack of solar activity.  Now,   
   WNDU television in South Bend, Indiana, has reported on the way in which   
   lowered solar activity could drastically affect the worlds climate.  Amateur   
   Radio Newsline's Jack Parker   
      
   --   
      
   If you actively pursue DX it may come as no surprise that sunspot activity   
   over the past few years has been at an all time low.  According to a special   
   report broadcast by WNDU Meteorologist Mike Hoffman ,  we have had over 800   
   days with no sunspots and t   
      
   The last time old sol was this quiet was between 1645 and 1715.   A period in   
   time called the Maunder Minimum.  Paintings from that era show wintry weather   
   in areas where it's not typical, like carnivals held on frozen rivers and   
   people playing on the ice   
      
   Hoffman's information comes from a recently published paper on sunspots in the   
   Journal of Climate.   Purdue University's Doctor Ernest Agee, authored this   
   report.  He says civilizations almost perished due to the harshness of winter   
   and things like that.    
   So...could that happen in the modern world?  The Purdue professor says the Sun   
   is what powers the Earth, so even the smallest changes on the Sun can have an   
   impact on our lives and our climate.   
      
   Sunspot data only goes back to the year 1610.  Many scientists correlate low   
   sunspots with low temperatures in many parts of the world and the best data   
   shows that.   
      
   Doctor Agee's paper delivers more bad news for Amateur Radio DXer's and modern   
   day society as well.  In his Journal of Climate report, the Purdue researcher   
   says the length of the solar cycle, the definition of a quiet period, the   
   length of a quiet period   
      
   For the immediate future scientists will continue to chart the solar activity   
   and try to forecast a rosy outcome with hopes of increased sunspot activity   
   leading to a brighter future for the world and for those who live by the sun   
   spot cycles in amateur r   
      
   Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Jack Parker, W8ISH.   
      
   --   
      
   The entire WNDU story can be both seen and read at tinyurl.com/28r7ce7  (W8ISH)   
      
   **   
      
      
   RADIO LAW:  FCC DENIES APPEAL FOR W5ER VANITY CALL   
      
   The FCC has denied a request for reconsideration from Mark S. Wintersole,   
   WB5NMZ, of Montgomery, Alabama, who had sought to change his call to W5ER   
   under the Vanity Callsign System.   
      
   The story is one you have heard before.  Wintersole was among those who wanted   
   the a call when it became available in trhe Vanity Call Sign system.  In this   
   case the call was W5ER and Wintersole filed for it under the Vanity program   
   only to have his appli   
      
   Now, in its November 9th letter affirming the dismissal of Wintersole's   
   initial application for the W5ER call, the FCC says that a canceled call sign   
   does not become available for reassignment until after the two year waiting   
   period ends.  Because the W5E   
      
   The current listed holder of the W5ER call sign is Edward J. Reynolds of   
   Boston, Pennsylvania.  (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW:  AUSTRALIA TO CONTINUE BAN ON RADIO JAMMERS   
      
   The Australian Communications and Media Authority is proposing to continue to   
   prohibit the supply, possession and operation of jamming devices designed  to    
   deliberately interfere with public mobile telecommunication services  or   
   P-M-T-S.  This includes 3   
      
   According to the regulatory agency, since the original prohibition was made in   
   March 1999, technological, economic and social developments have resulted in a   
   proliferation of devices that consumers use for the purposes of wireless   
   communications.  A-C-M-A   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT:  ANOTHER COMMERCIAL WITH FALSE EAS TONES   
      
   Another ad using what sounds like an Emergency Activation System tones has   
   been reported.  This time it's a television commercial for the recently   
   released motion picture Skyline.   
      
   According to a report in the trade publication Radio World, broadcast   
   engineers have notified the magazine that the promotional sport for the film   
   contains what sounded like EAS tones throughout.  In an e-mail reported by the   
   trade publication Radio World   
      
   Tom Ray who is also chairman of SBE Chapter 15 in New York City, says the ad   
   was illegal, according to Part 11 of FCC regulations.  That section prohibits   
   deceptive E-A-S transmissions and reads as follows:   
      
   "No person may transmit or cause to transmit the EAS codes or Attention   
   Signal, or a recording or simulation thereof, in any circumstance other than   
   in an actual National, State or Local Area emergency or authorized test of the   
   EAS. Broadcast station lice   
      
   This is the second reported use of EAS tones as a commercial marketing tool.    
   You may recall a few months ago when an ARCO ad used what sounded like   
   simulated EAS tones. (RW)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO ON THE WEB: CONTESTRANK.COM   
      
   Contestrank is a new website from EA4ZK that contains volumes of information   
   about contesting including results, winners call signs, scores and much more.    
   The site translates itself in five languages.  These are English, German,   
   Polish, Russian and Spani   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  G5HF - WW2 UK COUNTERSPY   
      
   Some names in the news.  First up is Harry Heap G5HF whose story as a World   
   War 2 Voluntary Radio Interceptor has now been told by the The Essex Chronicle   
   newspaper.   
      
   Heap was first licensed in 1932 as 2BZZ.  He was issued the callsign G5HF in   
   1933.   Following the outbreak of war he moved to Chelmsford where during the   
   day he worked at Crompton on devices to neutralize magnetic mines and during   
   the evenings worked as    
      
   Heap later became President of the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society and   
   retired from that role only a few weeks ago at the tender young age of 93.    
   You can read more about this ham radio World War 2 hero at tinyurl.com/23s86xe   
   (Essex Chronicle)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  CHIP MARGELLI, K7JA JOIND CQ PUBLISHING   
      
   And congratulations to our longtime friend and supporter Chip Margelli, K7JA.    
   This, on his being appointed as the new Director of Advertising Sales and   
   Marketing for CQ Communications, Inc..   
      
   Margelli will join the CQ staff on December 1st and will be responsible for   
   advertising sales for CQ Amateur Radio, CQ VHF and Popular Communications   
   magazines/.  He will also take on marketing efforts for all CQ Communications   
   products.   
      
   Chip Margelli brings to CQ more than three decades of experience in the   
   amateur radio industry.  He spent nearly thirty years with Yaesu and the past   
   four years with Heil Sound.  In addition to English, he is fluent in the   
   Japanese, German and Spanish lan   
      
   An active ham for more than 45 years, K7JA is known worldwide as a champion   
   contester, DXer and DXpeditioner.  He is currently active on all amateur bands   
   from 160 meters through 1300 MHz, and is a 2008 inductee into the CQ Amateur   
   Radio Hall of Fame.   
      
   Chip and his wife, Janet, KL7MF, live in Garden Grove, California, just south   
   of Los Angeles.  In addition to amateur radio, K7JA enjoys photography and   
   astronomy, and is a marathon runner.   
      
   Chip Margelli succeeds Don Allen, W9CW, CQ and CQ VHF Advertising Manager; and   
   Arnie Sposato, N2IQO, Popular Communications Advertising Manager, both of whom   
   are retiring at the end of 2010.  Advertising sales for WorldRadio Online will   
   continue to be coo   
      
   **   
      
   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 followi   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
   **   
      
   CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  MILTON SULLIVAN JR. _ DESIGNER OF DRAKE HAM GEAR - SK.   
      
   As we have said far to many times of late, the changing of the guard continues   
   with word of the passing of Milton Sullivan Jr, the former K8YDO, of   
   Washington, DC.  Sullivan who was the former Chief Engineer at the R. L. Drake   
   Company passed away from a s   
      
   During his tenure at Drake, Sullivan oversaw the designs of all the most of   
   Drake's ham radio gear including the famed models 1A and 2B receivers as well   
   as all of the companys transceivers from the 4 lines through the beginning of   
   the 7 line.  He retired   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT:  RSGB DECLAES BOD ELECTION INVALID   
      
   The Radio Society of Great Britain has declared its 2010 Board Election as   
   being invalid.  This, because two candidates shared the same two nominators.   
      
   This is not in accordance with the society's election rules and therefore the   
   candidates were not properly nominated.  As a result the Board has considered   
   its options and has determined that the only course of action open to it is to   
   declare the election   
      
   Given other requirements the Board will now co-opt both candidates as Board   
   members for a twelve month period until the next election late in 2011, when   
   the candidates may stand for election again.  The regional election for Region   
   4 is unaffected and clo   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT:  NEW UK 6 METER REPEATER   
      
   A new 6 meter repeater has taken to the airwaves in the United Kingdom.  This   
   with word that the Five Towns Repeater Group put its 6 meter machine on the   
   air from the organizations site just west of Wakefield.   
      
   The system uses the call sign GB3WY. It operates on the Europen R50-channel   
   pair which equates to 50.800 and 51.300MHz, and requires a continuous CTCSS   
   tone of 82.5Hz to access.  Keeping an ear open for the signal from GB3WY could   
   be a good beacon to let    
      
   **   
      
   RADIOSPORTS:  THE INTERNATIONAL NAVAL CONTES   
      
   The International Naval Contest will be held the second weekend of December.    
   The contest runs from December 11th at 16:00 UTC to December 12th at 15:59   
   UTC.  Bands used are 160 through 10 meters except for the WARC bands.  Modes   
   are SSB and CW only.  Ele   
      
   **   
      
   RADIOSPORTS:  AUGUST ARRL UHF CONTEST RESULTS NOW ON LINE   
      
   And the results for the 2010 ARRL August UHF Contest are now online. You can   
   find them on line at www dot arrl dot org slash contest dash results dash   
   articles.   (KX9X)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIOSPORTS:  PSK63 QSO PARTY ON NOVEMBER 21   
      
   The European PSK Club invites amateur radio operators from all over the world   
   to participate in the 5th annual PSK63 QSO Party.  The objective of the   
   competition is to establish as many contacts as possible between radio   
   amateurs around the world by using   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR:  CELEBRTING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY   
      
   On the air, listen out for members of the Bethlehem Georgia based Barrow   
   Amateur Radio Club who will activate special event station WR4BC.  This from   
   1700 UTC on December 4th through 1700 UTC on December 5th in celebration of   
   the upcoming Christmas holida   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, OL5Y, will be active portable I-M-Zero from La Maddalena Island in   
   Sardinia on 15 meters during the CQWW DX CW Contest on November 27th and   
   28th.  This, as a Single-Operator, Single-Band entry. QSL as directed on the   
   air.   
      
   IN3KIZ is expected to be active as 5H3OC from Tanzania in the near future. His   
   operation will be on the HF bands. QSL via IN3DEI.   
      
   PA1OKZ will be on the air from Jamaica as 6Y5NS through November 26th.   His   
   operations will be on the HF bands using SSB and the Digital modes. QSL to   
   PA1OKZ via eQSL or his Callbook address.   
      
   DL7VOG is active as HK0GU/1 from Isla del Pirata Columbia through November   
   21st. Operations are on the HF bands using CW and RTTY. QSL via DL7VOG, direct   
   or by the Bureau.   
      
   Lastly, KC0VKN, will be operational portable PJ7 from Sint Maarten Island   
   between December 18th and the 23rd.  His activity will be holiday style on 40   
   through 10 meters using CW depending on operating times and openings. QSL via   
   his home callsign.   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM:  CITIZEN BUYS POLICE INTERNET DOMAIN TO FIGHT RED LIGHT   
   CAMERAS   
      
   And finally this week the story of how one citizen has taken communications   
   with public officials to a new height.  This, by purchasing the Internet   
   domain name of the police department whose red light camera issued him a   
   ticket.  We have more in this rep   
      
   --   
      
   Most of the time, if you or I get a speeding ticket we just grumble about it   
   and pay the fine.  Oh we can fight it in court but for most people those are   
   the only two options.   
      
   However, after receiving a $90 speeding ticket in Bluff City, Tennessee, Brian   
   McCrary discovered a third.  It seems that the Bluff City Police Department   
   had forgotten to renew its Internet domain name of BluffCityPD dot com.  It   
   had expired so McCrary b   
      
   The police department had no idea their domain name had expired and that   
   McCrary owned it.  That was until October 8th when reporters started calling   
   them to ask about it.   
      
   Bluff City Police Chief David Nelson said the city may approach McCrary about   
   buying the domain back from him, but admits Chief Nelson, the city is not very   
   optimistic that a deal can be made.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennent, K6PZW, and trying to avoid   
   the Red Light Cameras in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   McCrary says that his goal is to get enough attention to put pressure on the   
   local government to remove the traffic enforcement cameras in Bluff City.    
   (Published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   NEWSCAST CLOSE   
      
   With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ Magazine,   
   the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB, the   
   Southgate News and Australia's W-I-A News, that's all from the Amateur Radio   
   Newsline(tm).  Our e-mail   
      
   Please do not forget that in association with the Newark Amateur Radio Society   
   that we are currently conducting a survey to determine where these weekly   
   Amateur Radio Newsline reports are replayed on the air.  If you are a bulletin   
   station that transmits    
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim Davis,   
   W2JKD, wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving, 73 and we thank you for listening.   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.   
      
      
   ***   
      
   As a service to the HAM Radio Community and HAM Radio Operators all around   
   the world, this Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) message has been gated and posted   
   to the Fidonet LS_ARRL echo by Waldo's Place USA, 1:3634/12. We hope you   
   enjoyed it!   
      
   Please address all comments and questions to the ARNewsline 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.   
      
   -73-   
      
      
    * Origin: (1:3634/12)