Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1367 – October 24 2003

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1367 with a release date of Friday,
October 24th 2003 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a Q-S-T. The FCC
begins preparing for the 2007 World Radiocommunications Conference, a new all
ham crew arrives at the I-S-S and a ham a is charged with violating airport
security. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1367
coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**


RADIO LAW: FCC COMMITTEE TO GET READY FOR WRC-07

The ink has yet to complely dry on the agreements reached ar WRC-03 as the FCC
begins getting ready for the next World Radiocommunication Conference in 2007.
As part of the preparations FCC Chairman Michael Powell has announced the
appointment of Nancy Victory as Chair, and Peter Hadinger as Vice-Chair of the
agency’s WRC-07 Advisory Committee. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Bruce
Tennant, K6PZW, is here with has some background on each of the appointees:

--

Nancy Victory is the former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications
and Information and the former Administrator of the National Telecommunications
and Information Administration. Prior to her appointment to the Department of
Commerce, Ms. Victory was a partner in the Washington law firm of Wiley, Rein
and Fielding, where she focused on legal and regulatory issues faced by
communications companies.

Peter Hadinger is Director of Communications Initiatives for Northrop
Grumman’s Space Technology Sector. Mr. Hadinger has taken industry leadership
roles on global satellite issues, including privatization, protection and
spectrum allocation. He is past Chairman of the Satellite Industry Association
and current vice- chair of the Satellite Task Force in the President’s
National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee.

Also getting an appointment is Alex Roytblat who is Assistant Chief of the
Strategic Analysis and Negotiations Division of the FCC’s International
Bureau. He will direct the Commission's WRC- 07 preparatory activities and
serve as the Designated Federal Official to the Advisory Committee. Roytblat
directed the Commission’s preparatory activities for last June’s 2003 World
Radiocommunication Conference held in Geneva.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting.

--

The Advisory Committee will be tasked with providing advice and technical
analyses of the nations telecommunications needs. It will also make specific
recommendations on matters relating to that conference. (FCC Release)

**

TALKING ON THE AIR: BIG SUNSPOT ACTIVITY MAY HAMPER YOUR QSO’S

If you are wondering why you may not be able to make contact on your favorite
band, the answer is right out there in space. According to propagation reports
from the Space Environment Center, a solar storm, centered around Sunspot
number 484, has grown into the biggest in recorded history. And a solar storm
with a sunspot that size can easily impact on radio propagation here on Earth.

Sunspot 484 is reportedly about the size of the planet Jupiter, and forecasters
say that another big sunspot could soon appear near the sun's southeastern
limb. The active region is not yet directly visible, but the Solar and
Heliospheric Observatory satellite has seen material being blasted over the
sun's limb from the approaching spot. Major eruptions are possible from these
active regions as they rotate across the face of the sun over the next two
weeks.

Also this word of caution. Never, never look directly at the sun. While these
sunspots are easy to see its also very dangerous to try. Unprotected eyes can
suffer severe and perminant damage from looking directly at the sun. Instead,
as we have said before, visit www.spaceweather.com for safe solar observing
tips. (ASWLC)

**

RADIO POLITICS: NOAA SPACE WEATHER SERVICE THREATENED

Solar propagation reports like this one could soon disappear. CQ Magazine’s
news service reports that the service on which many amateurs depend for reports
on ionospheric conditions may have its funding sharply cut or eliminated under
two versions of a Congressional spending plan for Fiscal Year 2004.

The Space Environment Center, part of the Commerce Department's National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, provides space weather reports on solar
and geomagnetic activity that affect the ionosphere, which in turn affects
radio propagation. In addition, the bureau monitors solar flares and similar
events that can damage satellites. This gives advance knowledge that can help
protect them. And for radio amateurs, the propagation predictions in C-Q and
other publications depend on these space weather observations.

The Space Environment Center is actually operated jointly by NOAA and the Air
Force, but its funding is in the NOAA budget. It suffered a 40% budget cut in
the current fiscal year. The House budget proposal for 2004 calls for an
additional 40% cut. But the nail that could close the coffin lid is in the
Senate. That version of the bill cuts funding for the Space Environment Center
altogether. The Senate says that such activities are rightly the domain of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Air Force.

According to an e-mail from C-Q, the House Science Committee's Environment,
Technology and Standards Subcommittee will be holding a hearing October 30th on
this funding bill. C-Q says that any letters and comments from the public will
be entered into the record. If you are concerned about the possible loss of
information gathered and disseminated by the Space Environment Center, you may
write to the House Committee on Science, Environment, Technology and Standards
Subcommittee, 2320 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515. (CQ
News Release, W2VU)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: NEW ALL-HAM CREW ARRIVES AT ISS

A new three man all ham crew has reached the International Space Station, but
only two of the new arrivals will remain on-orbit the next several months.

Called the Expedition 8 crew, the commander is NASA Astronaut Mike Foale,
KB5UAC. He is accompanied on the I-S-S by Russian Cosmonaut Alexander Kaleri,
U8MIR, and the Europen Space Agency’s Pedro Duque, KC5RGG. All three arrived
at the ISS on October 20th on board a Russian Soyuz transport vehicle.

Foale and Kaleri will repace Expedition 7 crew members Commander Yuri
Malenchenko, RK3DUP and NASA Science Officer Ed Lu, KC5WKJ. Duque, who's
flying under a contract between the Russian and Europen space agencies and will
spend the week in space before returning to Earth with the Expedition 7 crew.

KB5UAC and U8MIR hope to be active on the ISS ham radio station as time
permits during their stint in space. We will have other ham radio in spaced
news later on in this weeks report. (AMSAT, published news reports)

**

Break 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on
bulletin stations around the world W4GSO Greensboro Amateur Radio Club repeater
serving Greensboro North Carolina.

(5 sec pause here)


**

ENFORCEMENT: HAM CHARGED IN AIRLINER CASE

A 20 year old ham radio operator and college junior has been charged with
breaching airport security. The FBI says that Nathaniel Heatwole, WZ3AR, has
admitted to planting box cutters, bleach and matches on two airliners. Amateur
Radio Newsline’s Paul Courson, WA3VJB, gives us a profile of Heatwole and his
involvement in the hobby:

--

If you're a contester, you may have worked WZ3AR, licensed to Damascus
Maryland, a suburb of Washington DC. In research for Newsline, a profile of a
fairly ordinary young ham radio operator has emerged.

His listing on QRZ.com shows a willingness to QSL both to short-wave listeners
and the amateur community alike. The Advanced Class licensee appears to have
been primarily active on HF, in the specialty of contesting.

In August of this year he won a thousand dollar scholarship from the Foundation
for Amateur Radio, a coalition of radio clubs in the area around Maryland, DC
and Virginia. In a club newsletter, he was shown as headed into his 4th year
at Guilford College in North Carolina, pursuing a double major of Physics and
Political Science.

His former call is KB3CBW, and an internet search has found a snapshot of a
young man closely resembling who now is a 20 year old seen in television
footage and accused of trying to breach airline security. As KB3CBW, he is
listed several times with photos a Dayton Hamvention, 1999 gallery.

His call sign also turns up on a contest log dupesheet for Field Day 1999 on 40
meters phone, and in other contests including a Maryland-DC QSO party. On a
contest e-mail reflector, someone signing that name and call sign is asking
questions about the beverage antenna, and how he plans to buy a better
contesting radio than his Kenwood TS-140S, that the person was using as of the
posting dated 1999.

By Feburary 2000, the former KB3CBW was turning up as WZ3AR on the webpage
minutes of the Potomac Valley Amateur Radio club, which serves the same area as
his licensed station location in Maryland.

This call sign also shows up in various contest logs, including an Islands on
the Airwaves event and Field Day. WZ3AR was shown in 2001 as operating from
Virginia's Chincoteague Island on 15 meters sideband. One message thread refers
to a June 2001 issue of CQ magazine, and an article on keeping a footswitch
from sliding around.

There was other advice.

In a contest discussion board, someone signing those call letters rejected the
practice among certain hams of tape recording contest activity to later enter
the information in a competitive logbook. The posted message said such a
practice raises ethical questions, and that he advised against doing so.

The New York Times has quoted friends as saying he has offered strong pacifist
views and is highly principled.

For now, he is charged with carrying a concealed dangerous weapon aboard
jetliners, reportedly as a test of airline security and to demonstrate his
alleged protest to perceived flaws in that security.

In Weashington, Paul Courson, WA3VJB, for Newsline.

--

After a court appearance Monday, October 20th, Heatwole, a junior at Guilford
College in Greensboro, N.C., was released without bail for a preliminary
hearing slated for November 10th. If tried and convicted, he faces a hefty
fine and up to 10 years in a Federal prison. (ARNewsline(tm), published news
reports)

**

ENFORCEMENT: FCC TAKES MORE ACTION AGAINST EX-KG6IRO

A follow-up to last weeks story regarding Jack Gerritsen, the ex-KG6IRO. The
FCC has now taken action against another one of his licenses and again warned
him to stay off the air. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has mo

--

FCC Special Councel Riley Hollingsworth has written to tell Jack Gerritsen of
Bell California that the Commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau has
acted to set aside Gerritsen’s General Mobile Radio Service or G-M-R-S
license. This, pursuant to Section 1.113 of the Commission’s rules.

The action by to set aside Gerritsen’s G-M-R-S license took place on October
14th. Hollingsworth’s letter says the action is based on Gerritsen’s
alleged continued unlicensed operations and complaints of deliberate
interference from transmitters the FCC says that he operates.

Hollingsworth letter tells Gerritsen that his G-M-R-S application has reverted
to pending status. Also, that it will be made a part of a forthcoming hearing
to determine if the former radio amateur is qualified to hold any Commission
licenses. This is the same type of hearing that Gerritsen’s ham radio ticket
currently faces.

Hollingsworth letter again warns Gerritsen that he has no authority to operate
radio transmitting equipment. If he continues, Gerritsen could face both to
monetary penalties and imprisonment. Hollingsworth also suggested that
Gerritsen consult an attorney in this matter.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in Los Angeles.

--

Meantime, the number of Los Angeles ares repeater owner operators that claim
Gerritsen is interfereing with their systems continues to grow. For the
moment, they and their control operators continue to turn repeaters off
whenever the station claiming to be KG6IRO attempts to make a transmission over
one. (FCC, ARNewsline(tm))


**

ENFORCEMENT: UNAUTHORIZED OPERATION LEADS TO LICENSE TURN-IN

Meantime, a ham has surrendered his license to the FCC after it was found that
he caused problems for police radio operations. The FCC’s Daryl Duckworth,
NN0W, has the rest of the story:

--

Duckworth: “In March, the Enforcement Bureau notified Justin Whaley, KC9DCP,
Columbia City, Indiana, that close-in proximity direction finding indicated
that on numerous occasions between January 2nd and March 13th he interfered
with the operation of the Columbia City Police Department radio system. In
order to resolve this matter, he has agreed to relinquish his license until
March 28th of 2005 and agreed not to maintain or operate an Amateur station.

--

Whaley was requested to return his Amateur Service license to the FCC. (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT: FCC: STAY OF THE W6RHC REPEATER

A ham who refused to stay off a repeater after being told to vacate by the
licensee has now received a notice to comply from the FCC. Again, the FCC’s
Daryl Duckworth, NN0W:

--

Duckworth: “A warning notice has been sent to Scott Rogers, K6EVP, of
Paradise, California, for failing to refrain from using the W6RHC repeater ass
requsted both verbally and in writing by the trustee of the Golden Empire
Amateur Radio Society. The letter was isssued as a result of his failure,
verified by the Office of Emergency Services of Butte County California, to
follow operational rules set forth by the licensee and control operators of the
repeater system for its users.�

--

The letter went on to say that the FCC expects Rogers to abide by the request
to stay off the W6RHC system and any other such request by a repeater licensee,
control operator or trustee. If he uses the repeater again after receipt of
the FCC warning letter, the agency says that it will initiate enforcement
action against Rogers license. (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT NEEDED: PHONY TEXT MESSAGE TO CA CELL PHONE USERS

Bakersfield California area cellular telephone would probably welcome some FCC
enforcement action. This, after they were awakened early Tuesday morning,
October 21st to a phony text message.

According to news reports, someone managed to hack the areas wireless
communications' system. The hacker then posted a message urging cell phone
users to support a strike by many of the states grocery workers now in its
second week.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union denies responsibility for the
message. A spokeswoman for the wireless service providers says that she does
not know how it happened. She says that that wireless providers have no
position on the strike. The sender of the message remains unknown. (Published
news report)

**

RESCUE RADIO: MONTANNA HAMS GET BIG THANK-YOU

Amateur Radio's role in last summers Montana's forest fires haave received
official recognition. This, when the US Forest Service and Helena area
organizations hosted an appreciation picnic for all the voluntees who put
themselves on the line to assist fighting the blaze.

According to the ARRL Letter, the event honored the firefighters, law
enforcement officers and community volunteers who assisted with firefighting
efforts in Lewis and Clark, Powell, Jefferson, and Broadwater counties. This
included a number of radio amateurs who volunteered their time and gear.

Among those recognized were Jim Haslip, W7CK, and Rollie Fisher, KC7WBP. Haslip
has been an aerial fire spotter for 40 summers. Fisher set up at Lincoln's
Hooper Park every day during the fires, providing current information to
residents and visitors. He and his wife were among the many families forced to
evacuate their homes because of the fire danger.

Amateur Radio's support of Red Cross and other relief agencies during the fire
emergency also received recognition. Lewis and Clark County Emergency
Coordinator Bob Solomon, K7HLN, accepted a plaque on behalf of the Amateur
Radio Emergency Service and the Capital City Amateur Radio Club.

An estimated 300 people turned out for the event at the Lewis and Clark
Fairgrounds in Helena. (ARRL)

**

PROMOTING THE HOBBY: JOTA VIDEO NEEDED

If you took part in last weekends scouting Jamboree on the Air, and have some
good quality videotape of the event, the people who produce most of the ham
radio documentaries want to hear from you. As reported two weeks ago, Dave
Bell, W6AQ, Alan Kaul, W6RCL and Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, are always looking for
good video of ham radio happenings that they might be able to incorporate into
a presentation about the hobby. As scouting and ham radio enjoy a very unique
relationship, this is an event that is sure to make it into one of their shows,
but only if they have the pictures and sound. If you have video that you want
to share, please e-mail the production team to and let them
know what you have. They will get back to you with information on where to
send it. Again that e-mail address is (The Producers)

**


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)


**

HAM GATHERINGS: RSGB INTERNATIONAL HF AT MONTHS END

Turning to the ham radio social scene, if you plan to be in the United Kingdom
from October 31st to November 2nd. listen up. Thats the weekend of the Radio
Society of Great Britain’s International High Frequency and Islands on the
Air Convention.

This years venue is the Britannia Country House Hotel at Didsbury in Manchester
England. Planned events include presentations on DXpeditions, technical
lectures, presentation of trophies and awards, a contesting forum, and
specialist areas for 5 MHz, 136 kHz, 6 meters and Q-R-P. More information is
on-line at the RSGB website Its in cybespace at www.rsgb.org (RSGB)

**

HAM GATHERINGS: HANDIHAMS IN CALIFORNIA IN MARCH 2004

Back on this side of the Atlantic, word that the HandiHams will hold their 2004
California Radio Camp in Malibu California begining on Monday, March 1st, and
continuing to Sunday, March 7th. Tuition breaks will be provided for beginners
from Western states working on a first license or on a General, and for early
bird registrations. An Operating Skills course will also be offered along with
opportunities for learning about blind computing with JAWS, public service
communications, and lots of getting on the air!. Also, an open ham radio test
session will take place on Saturday March 6.

The camp is open to HandiHam members with disabilities. Organizers provide
all food, lodging, ham radio classes, and fun activities for the week long
outing. To request an application or more information call the HandiHams toll
free at 866-426-3442 toll-free or e-mail the group to
(HandiHams)

**

NEWSLINE: NO MORE FAX

If you have been trying to send Amateur Radio Newsline a fax the past week then
you notice that our machine is not picking up. The reason -- its been taken
off line due to our inability to get unsolicted fax spammers to stop sending us
unwanted advertising.

Even though it is a violation of federal law to send an unsolicited fax
advertisement, that has not stopped the fax spammers. They make their living
by sending out this unwanted electronic junk mail. And while much the same as
the junk e-mail we all get, the big difference is that unsolicited faxes waste
print cartreges and paper. And that costs Amateur Radio Newsline money that we
just cannot afford to waste.

After spending the past year trying to get these nuisances to stop -- including
an official complaint to the FCC, we have given up. If you need to send us a
fax, you will first have to call us or e-mail us to arrange for us to turn the
machine on. Otherwise, the fax is gone until the federal government acts to
put the spam fax mailing companies out of business. (ARNewsline(tm))

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: BALLOON DELIVERED RADIO

Turning to the emerging technology page, it now looks as if balloon delivered
radios could bring new sound to North Korean residents. This, if a preacher
gets his way.

Revrend Douglas Shin wants to help liberate North Korea by delivering radio
recievers by balloon. Shin’s idea is to have helium filled balloons would
carry radios acrosss the Demiliterized Zone into North Korea. An automatic
valve would let the gas out slowly so the balloons touch down softly without
damage to the payload. Once retrieved by the people in North Korea, they
would only have to turn them on and listen.

Shin says that he plans to launch his balloons from South Korea or ships off
shore. Included aliong with each radio will be prayer material and a North
Korean bank note. The latter is worth about one U-S Dollar. (Published news
report)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: THE AMSAT VOLUNTEER SURVEY

AMSAT North America says that it has developed an on-line volunteer survey
designed to identify the interests and skills of those who may be available to
directly help in efforts to develop the amateur satellite program. The survey
is designed to be completed and returned on-line, and takes only a few minutes
to fill out. To request the survey, simply send an e-mail request to
. (ANS)

**

SPECIAL EVENTS: REMEMBERING THE EDMUND FITZGERALD

Turning to operating news, members of the Stu Rockers group will be on the air
from Whitefish Point and Paradise, Michigan on November 7th , 8th, and 9th
about 10. This, for an event called `Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald.'

2003 marks the 7th year that the Stu Rockafellow Amateur Society has sponsored
a special event in remembrance of the famed ship and her crew. Look for the
call N8F on 40 through 10 meters and QSL to Richard Barker, W8VS, 264 N. East
St., Brighton, Mi. 48116 (W9RIF)

**

SPECIAL EVENTS: REMEMBERING VETERANS DAY ON THE AIR

Also, in recognition of both Veterans Day and the birth of the late General
Curtis LeMay, W6EZV, the Strategic Air Command Memorial Amateur Radio Club will
be operating stations K0AIR and K0GRL. This, on Tuesday, November 11th from
1200 hours to 2400 hours Zulu.

According to Darwin Piatt, W9HZC, the stations will take top the air in the
general phone bands on or near frequencies ending in the numerals 47. Piatt
says that his is in recognition of the year 1947 when the Air Force became a
single entity. He says to QSL K0AIR and K0HRL to the Strategic Air Command
Memorial Amateur Radio Club, P.O. Box 1292 Bellevue, Nebraska, 68005. (Via
e-mail)

**

ON THE AIR: THE SOUTHEASTERN 6 METER NET

And Jim Worsham, W4KXY would like to remind everyone of the Southeastern 6
Meter Net which meets on Sunday nights at 9 PM eastern time on 50.145 Mhz SSB.
The net control is usually Jim who lives in grid square EM84ab. If anyone has
any questions about the net they can contact Jim directly. His e-mail is
(VHF Reflector)

**

PROPAGATION AIDS: TRANSATLANTIC BEACON IN PLANNING

The Marconi Radio Club of St. Johns, Newfoundland and the Caccalieu Amateur
Radio Club of Carbonear are currently working to put a new 2 meter
transatlantic beacon on the air. According to information from the Irish Radio
Transmitting Society, the proposed beacon will operate on 144.4 MHz with power
output of 250 Watts into an 11 element Yagi. It will be sited at about 90
meters above sea level.

**

DX

In D-X, At least five special event stations are on the air from Poland through
the end of October to celebrate Pope John Paul the Second's Silver Jubilee.
Keep an ear open for HF8JP; SN25JP, SR25JP, SO25JP and HF25JP. If you make
contact QSL as directed on the air. (Via e-mail)

And ten German operators and their guests from other countries will be
operating from Liechtenstein through the 31st of October. Keep an ear open for
the call HB0/HB9AON using SSB, CW, PSK and RTTY on all of the HF bands. (RSGB)


**

THAT FINAL ITEM: MEASURING THE SPEED OF GRAVITY

And finally this week, it appears as if Albert Einstein was right. Amateur
Radio Newsline’s Mert Garlick, N6AWE, tells us about what:

--
The great Albert Einstein was correct when he said that the speed of gravity
matches the speed of light. This, according to astronomers who took advantage
of a rare planetary alignment to survey the relationship of these two
fundamental forces of nature.

Edward B. Fomalout of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, and, Sergei
Kopeikin of the University of Missouri, measured the amount that light from a
distant star that was deflected by the gravity of Jupiter as the planet passed
in front of it. The researchers used 10 radio telescopes scattered around the
world to precisely gauge how light from a distant quasar was bowed or warped as
it passed by Jupiter on its way to the Earth.

To make the measurement, the instruments had to detect a minute deflection of
the light. Dr. Fomalout compared the required precision to being able to
measure the width of a human hair from 250 miles away.

Jupiter is in the precise position for such a measurement only once a decade.
The locations of the telescopes ranged from from Hawaii to Germany.
Researchers are very happy with the experiments seeming total success.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Mert Garlick, N6AWE, near the Queen Mary
in Long Beach California.

--

Knowing the precise speed of gravity is important to physicists looking for
technologic break-throughs. It also affects some of the basic theories of the
relationship of space and time. (Science Today)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

And speaking about time, we are out of it for this week. So 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 and Australia's
Q-News, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is
newsline @arnewsline.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), P.O. Box 660937,
Arcadia, California 91066.

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 2003. All rights reserved.