Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1605 - May 16, 2008

CLOSED CIRCUIT FINANCIAL REPORT

The following is a closed circuit announcement. Ladies and gentlemen,
a few words from the Amateur Radio Newsline support fund administrator
Andy Jarema, N6TCQ:

--

Yep, its me. A.J. And if I'm here you likely suspect that once again
the Amateur Radio Newsline is in desperate need of your financial
support. And you would be right.


We know you prefer to hear the news rather than having to listen to
these announcements and we agree. But over the past few months almost
all donations have ceased so here we our with our annual spring pitch.

As we have said so many times before, it takes money to gather the
news. It takes money to assemble a newscast and it takes money to
bring it to you. And as the price of goods and services continue to
increase so do our operating costs. The cost of telephone service.
The cost of web access. The costs related to hosting our website and
providing you with download F-T-P of the newscast. The coat of
equipment repair and upgrade. In essence, all of the costs involved in
bringing you 52 newscasts a year as we have done for almost 31 years.

We do our very best to keep operating expenses to a minimum. Everyone
involved in the Amateur Radio Newsline is a volunteer. There is no
paid staff.

More important, all of the monies you donate go only toward operating
expenses and in supporting the Young Ham of the Year Award. And for
you, your donation is tax deductible.

We even make it very easy to donate. If you have web access all you
need to do is take your web browser to www.arnewsline.org. Then click
on the words "Make A donation" and use your Pay-Pal account or credit
card to transfer into ours.

Or you can use the good old method of writing a check and sending it to
Amateur Radio Newsline Support Fund, Post Office Box 660937, Arcadia
California, 91066.

Either way, we thank you for your kindness. For your support and for
your trust.

For the support fund, I'm Andy Jarema, N6TCQ.

--

Thank you Andy.

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1605 with a release date of
Friday, May 16th, 2008 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. The Seeds ham radio cubesat sends its first
SSTV back to Earth, a big rescue radio conference is planned for
Canada and Hamvention 2008 opens in Dayton. Find out what's happening
this year on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1605 coming your way
right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: FIRST SSTV FROM NEW SEEDS HAM RADIO CUBESAT

The first Slow Scan Television pictures have been received from the
Seeds cubesat satellite which was one of 7 successfully launched
launched on April 28th. JN1GKZ reports that he was one of the first to
successfully copy and record an SSTV image from Seeds and has put it on
his website. PA3GUO adds that he too has received a Seeds SSTV
transmission along with that of the satellites digi-talker. Heres what
it sounded like at his QTH:

--

Actual Sound here

--

The Seeds cubesat transmits on a frequency of 437.485 MHz using either
CW running 110 milliwatts or FM at 450 milliwatts output. It sends
only one stored SSTV picture about every two minutes when the satellite
is in digi-talker mode.

More about Seeds is on-line http://cubesat.aero.cst.nihon-
u.ac.jp/english/blog.html (ANS)

**

RADIO LAW: FCC TURNS AWAY PETITION TO LIMIT HF DIGITAL MESSAGING

The FCC has turned away a rule making request from Mark Miller, N5RFX,
of Arlington, Texas. In his petition Miller has asked the Commission
to delete the 2006 addition as to how it defines data. He also wanted
to amend the rules to prohibit automatically controlled stations from
transmitting in band segments other than those specified in Section
97.221(b), and replace the symbol rate limits in Section 97.307(f) with
bandwidth limitations.

In denying all three aspects of the N5RFX request, the FCC said that
Miller had not set forth sufficient reasons for the agency to approve
his petition. It did however note that if future actual on the air
operational experience substantiate his concerns, that he may file a
new, factually supported petition for rulemaking.

Miller's petition was endorsed mainly by hams who oppose unattended
wider bandwidth digital messaging systems on the High Frequency bands.
It was opposed by the proponents of unattended automated digital
messaging who saw its adoption as an impediment to establishing
emerging modes.

The opposition mounted a rigorous campaign that included using a
website with sign and send opposition letters. In its finding the FCC
took note of the cookie cutter responses that come from websites where
people can go to submit canned responses and indicated that it
discounts their importance in the overall decision making process.

Even so, it appears that Miller did not provide the FCC with enough
factual material to make his case and the rules as now written will
remain. (FCC)

**

PUBLIC SERVICE: PA CLUB PRAISED FOR IS MARATHON COMMS

Radio communication was not behind the scenes at Pennsylvania's Run for
the Red Marathon on May 5th. According to the Poccono Record, it was
right in the middle of the event as a primary communications conduit.

According to the newspaper, members of the Eastern Pennsylvania Amateur
Radio Association are every two miles along the marathon route. From
running out of cups at stop No. 7 to reporting twisted ankles and
pulled muscles, the 30 member ham radio group is totally focused on
communicating the needs of the event.

Jerry Truax, N3SEI, of Bartonsville is the county emergency coordinator
for amateur radio. He says the group volunteers during emergencies as
well as at special events. The Eastern Pennsylvania Amateur Radio
Association's next public service event is communications for the Black
Bear triathlon June 1st.
(Poccono Record)

**.

RESCUE RADIO: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING CONFERENCE IN TORONTO IN
JUNE

The Emergency E-Mail and Wireless Network will partner in the
sponsorship of the 18th World Conference on Disaster Management that
slated for June 15th to the 18th in Toronto, Canada. This conference is
considered to be one of the most intense information exchange
gatherings you can attend with over 85 workshops, plenary and breakout
sessions. Some 120 organizations will be there showcasing products to
help mitigate prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies and
disasters. Its also an opportunity to network with Disaster Management
professionals worldwide. More about the gathering is on-line at
www.emergencyemail.org (emergencyemail.org)

**

RADIO ADVENTU DESPITE STORM VA7MLW WILL CONTINUE VOYAGE AROUND THE
WORLD

A Canadian Radio Amateur aboard a damaged sailboat is nursing
concussion after being rolled over in the turbulent South Atlantic
Ocean. But Glenn Wakefield VA7MLW of Victoria British Columbia says
he has no intention of giving up an unusual solo voyage around the
world.

Wakefield reported via ham radio from his 12-metre sailboat off the
Falkland Islands that the May storm he was inn was expected to subside
within 3 days after which he would head toward Port Stanley in the
Falkland Islands. That was back on May 6th U-T-C time. Wakefield added
that until the weather cleared he would just have to endure whatever
Mother Nature sent his way.

A carpenter with two grown daughters, Wakefield sailed from Victoria on
September 23rd of 2007. His intention was to become the first North
American to circumnavigate the world westbound into prevailing winds
that whirl around the bottom of the planet, rather than with the wind
as is conventionally done.

VA7MLW is sailing a Phil Rhodes designed Offshore 40 foot sloop called
the Kim Chow. It was built by Cheoy Lee in Hong Kong in 1969. For
more than 4 years, Wakefield has been making extensive modifications to
Kim Chow, preparing the vessel for the rigors of sailing offshore for
approximately 10 months. More about Wakefield's journey is on-line at
www.kimchowaroundtheworld.com (BC News OnLine)

**

HAMVENTION 2008: THE DOORS OPEN

As we go to air, the doors are opening at the HARA arena in Dayton,
Ohio for the 2008 Hamvention. And according to the events Assistant
General Chairman Michael Kalter, W8CI, this years Hamvention has a very
simple theme:

--

Kalter: "This year the theme is amateur Radio plus people equals
fellowship"

--

Kalter goes on to explain that Hamvention has always been dedicated to
bringing people together, so why not make this the years centerpiece:

--

Kalter: "Most all of us involved in Amateur Radio have made friends in
Amateur Radio. We enjoy the hobby together and we enjoy doing things
together. It may be a special event or a critical situation and we
have learned how to work together. That's fellowship.

Hamvention is a place where we see people. Sometimes it's the only
time for a whole year. And we have clubs come. We have people from
all over the world. People that you might keep skeds with in other
parts of the world or other parts of the country. Here you get to see
them face to face, eyeball to eyeball. And that's what Amateur Radio
is and its what the amateur community does. It's a service and by doing
that kind of a service it takes people and that's what creates the
fellowship. That's how we see it."

--

**

HAMVENTION 2008: THE ARRL AND ARRL EXPO

So what can a visitor expect this year? Lets start with the American
Radio Relay League. As it previously announced, the ARRL is at
Hamvention along with its annual ARRL EXPO. That's over in the
Ballarena Hall area.

The Leagues Membership Manager and ARRL EXPO Coordinator is Katie
Breen, W1KRB. She days that the League will have many new publications
and apparel items that it is proud to introduce.

And no ARRL booth at Hamvention would be complete without the annual
release of the ARRL Repeater Directory. New for the 2008/2009 edition
are the handy indexing tabs on the cover so you can quickly find the
listings you're looking for. The Directory has new easier-to-read
listings because the pocket-sized edition is actually one-half inch
bigger."


**

BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the Hamvention
repeater, W8BI, serving Dayton Ohio

(5 sec pause here)


**


HAMVENTION 2008: THE DOCTOR IS IN

A new area within the ARRL EXPO this year is the interactive "Doctor Is
IN" booth. Its based on the QST column of the same name and everyone
always wants to know who is behind the costume. This year attendees
with have a chance to stop by the booth, ask question and have some
one-on-one time with ARRL's Technical Experts. You might even be able
to submit a stumper and get it published in QST.

This year's Docs On Call will be QST Contributing Editor Ward Silver,
N0AX; QEX Editor Larry Wolfgang, WR1B; ARRL Senior Technical Editor
Joel Hallas, W1ZR; QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, and ARRL RF Engineer
Mike Gruber, W1MG.

**

HAMVENTION 2008: SOMETHING OR THE YOUNG

Hams in their early years are not being left out. Again, Hamvention
Assistant General Chairman Michael Kalter, W8CI:

--

Kalter: "The Dayton Amateur Radio Association along with the ARRL is
sponsoring a dinner for youth that will be held at the Dayton Amateur
Radio Association clubhouse which is a very nice place to come and
visit. That will be occurring on Saturday evening.

"On Friday evening we will be holding a general 'open house' to the
general public from 6 to 9 PM. Its not to far from the Hara Arena and
will be another exciting thing occurring this year."

--

Kalter says that he hopes as many folks as possible attend these two
events. (ARNewsline(tm))

**

HAMVENTION 2008: THE ARRL MOVIE ROOM

Back at the Hara Arena, the ARRL will also sponsor a new Movie Room.
This, as a new feature of this year's ARRL EXPO. Planned so far is a
presentation on "60 Years of the Worked All Europe Contest." It will be
presented by DJ3HW, and DL7RBI, of the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club.
That's the German equivalent of ARRL.

The movie room will also screen a variety of DXpedition videos. The
highlight will be with Bob Allphin, K4UEE. He will host an interactive
session along with the showing of the video of the Peter One DXpedition
to the Antarctic. (ARRL)

**

HAMVENTION 2008: ICOM PRESENTS D-STAR THE MOVIE

And speaking about video presentations, word of a new A new D-STAR
promotional video is available on the ICOM Global website just in time
for Hamvention 2008. There are two versions of the video are available
to download. One is targeted at Europe, with the the other aimed at
North America and the rest of the world. The video provides an
introduction to D-STAR and explains the features available. Look for
it at the Icom booth. If you cant make it to this years Hamvention you
can download one or both at from
http://www.icom.co.jp/world/products/video/d-starmovie/ (Icom)

**

HAMVENTION 2008: HEIL SOUND INTRODUCES TWO NEW MICS

Bob Heil, K9EID and Chip Margelli, K7JA, of Heil Sound, Ltd. are here.
They and the bunch at the Heil Sound booth will be introducing the new
microphones at this years Dayton Hamvention. First up is the PR 35
which features a large 1.5" diameter diaphragm in a dynamic microphone
that outperforms condenser microphones.

The PR 35 was actually a product that songstress Joan Baez asked Bob
Heil to build for her. This, after hearing the large diaphragm PR 30.
It has a two stage bass roll off switch that allows you to tailor the
low end response right at the microphone. The large element is in a
very special internal shock mount and comes in an aluminum travel case.

Also being released at Dayton is the PR 781. Its based on the PR 780
that was designed for the Icom 7800 introduction project, the PR 781 is
not rig specific. With the right accessories, it works well into any
transmitter from a 1956 Harvey Wells to a brand new transceiver like
the Yaesu FT 9000, Kenwood TS-2000 or what have you.

The new PR 35 and PR 781, along with the rest of the Heil microphone
line will be on display in Audio Alley. To find it consult the
Hamvention Program guide or simply follow the Hamvention crowds. More
on what's new in ham radio products at Dayton in next weeks Amateur
Radio Newsline report. (Heil Sound)

**

HAMVENTION 2008: SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO FORUM

Turning to this years forums, one we think will receive a lot of
attention is on the phenomenal paradigm shift toward Software Defined
Radio. One that continues with a significant number of "off the shelf'
as well as amateur radio designed hardware offerings.

What's interesting is that its computer programmers are fueling this
fire and at the Software Defined Radio Forum attendees will get to hear
some of the leaders in this movement describe the vast potential of
this rapidly advancing technology.

This forum will also give an overview of some Software Defined Radio
projects and show those attending how to get started. Topics will
include Basic Software Defined Radio architecture, S-D-R Software and
Software Defined Radio computer hardware requirements

Moderated by Eric Ellison, AA4SW, the Software Defined Radio Forum is
on Saturday May 17th at 9 a.m. in Meeting Room 1 (Hamvention)

**

HAMVENTION 2008: NFCC WILL UPDATE FREQUENCY MANAGEMENT

If you are a repeater owner or even a concerned user, you won't want to
miss the he National Frequency Coordinators' Council open meeting
slated for Friday at 9:15 in meeting room 5. The NFCC as its better
known was founded a decade ago as the outcome of a meeting between
repeater coordinators, the FCC and the ARRL. It has as its members the
majority of frequency coordination bodies in the United States.
Moderated by NFCC Chairman Jay Maynard, K5ZC, this forum will update
those interested in frequency coordination on the current status of the
organization and spectrum management activities in the Amateur Radio
service. (NFCC)


**

HAMVENTION 2008 - NEWSLINE BRINGS A TRIP BACK IN TIME

Amateur Radio Newsline will once again host this years Hamvention Town
Meeting on Saturday, the 17th. This year with a look back in time.

As ham radio flings itself headlong into the so-called "digital
revolution of the 21st century we will pause for a moment to take a look
at the hobby over the past half-century to see where it was in the
latter 1950's through the mid 1990's.

Our keynote speaker will be Dave Bell, W6AQ, who will host a screening
of his 1969 award-winning 28 minute film "The Hams Wide World." This
will be the first public showing of the movie in over a quarter of a
century and something nobody will want to miss.

As to the rest of the session, its based on the generally accepted fact
that most of the change that lead ham radio to the hobby we know today
began in the 1960's and continued through to the end of the 20th
century. The speakers you will hear all were "kid hams" or "teen hams"
in the 1950's. Most got licensed in that era and lived though tubes
giving way to solid state; SSB coming into its own H-F; F-M and
repeaters on 2 meters replacing point to point A-M on 6 meters and
early home-built computers replacing mechanical RTTY systems.

They and many of you were also observers as the long traditional
equipment names like Hallicrafters, Hammerlund, Heathkit, and even
Collins Radio peaked and then gave ground to newcomers from across the
Pacific. Those bearing company names Inoue Communications, Trio and
Yaesu. Companies now known a Icom, Kenwood and Yaesu.

In this session you will find out what it was like to study for and
take your exam when it was still given at a local FCC field office.
What it was like to assemble your first station and in some cases
building some or all of it. And you will get a trip down memory lane
to when kits were king and find out how being a kid ham back then
affected our panel's lives and careers.

We sincerely hope that you will enjoy this trip back through time
brought to you by the 2008 Dayton Hamvention and the Amateur Radio
Newsline in Meeting Room 3 beginning at 11:30 a,m. We hope to see many
of you here.

A full report on Hamvention 2008, in next weeks Amateur Radio Newsline
report. (ARNewsline(tm))

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: HAMSPHERE - THE VIRTUAL TRANSCEIVER

Something new on the World Wide Web of interest to ham radio is
HamSphere. If you haven't of HamSphere it is best described as an
artificial shortwave radio based on the natural laws of radio
propagation. One that lets members talk around the world with both ham
operators and unlicensed users using a virtual transceiver. You can
find about this project on line at www.hamsphere.com. (Southgate)

**

BREAK 2

This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. From the United
States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the
world from our only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being
relayed by the volunteer services of the following radio amateur:

(5 sec pause here)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: ORGANIC BASED CARBON MOLECULES

University of Pittsburgh scientists have discovered that certain
organic molecules exhibit the properties of atoms under certain
circumstances and, in turn, conduct electricity as well as metal.

The research group found that the hollow, soccer-ball-shaped carbon
molecules known as fullerenes can hold and transfer an electrical
charge much like the most highly conductive atoms. When an electron was
introduced into a fullerene molecule, the shape of the electron
distribution mimicked that of a hydrogen atom or an atom from the
alkali metal group, which includes lithium, sodium, and potassium.
Moreover, when two fullerenes were placed next to each other on a
copper surface, they showed the electron distribution of their chemical
bond and appeared as H2, a hydrogen molecule. The assembly exhibited
metal-like conductivity when the team extended it to a wire 1-molecule-
wide.

Detailed in the April 18th edition of the magazine Science, the finding
is a breakthrough in developing nano-technology. One that provides a
new method for designing electronic materials, including inexpensive
and multifunctional organic conductors that have long been considered
the key to smaller, cheaper, and faster technologies. (Science OnLine)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: UPDATE ON HD RADIO ROLLOUT

The number of big-market stations turning on High Definition Radio in
the past year fell off, while the number of stations in markets 51 to
100 held more steady.

According to an analysis from BIA Financial Network prepared for the
Radio World HD Radio Scoreboard, 26 stations in the top 10 markets
added HD Radio through mid-December 2007. This, compared to 76 the
year before and 117 the year before that.

By contrast, there were 118 stations in markets 51 to 100 turning on HD
Radio last year. That, compared to 124 the prior year and 111 in 2006.

One likely reason for the disparity is that proponents of HD Radio
started with the bigger markets when they launched their rollout,
though by no means are all big-market stations now converted. (RW)

**

ON THE AIR: THE PORTUGAL LIGHTHOUSE ACTIVITY

Members of the Portugal's Algarve DX Group will activate 7 lighthouses
simultaneously between May 31st and June 1st. Operations will take place
on 40, 30, 20 and 17 meters. There may be some operations on 80 and 15
meters and plans seem definite to include at least one 6 meter
operational from the lighthouse at Santa Maria. The modes used will be
CW, SSB and RTTY. A free award will be issued to any who contacts all 7
special lighthouse callsigns during activity operations. QSL via
CT1GFK, by the Bureau or direct. (Southgate)

**

ON THE AIR: HONG KONG CLUB GETS OLYMPIC CALL

Members of the Hong Kong Amateur Radio DX Association have received
official permission from the Office Of The Telecommunications Authority
authorizing them to use the special event callsign VR2008O for the
period between July 15th and August 31st. This, to celebrate the 2008
Beijing Olympics.

Operations will be primarily on 40 through 10 meters and VHF on 6
meters. The modes used will mainly be SSB, RTTY and P-S-K 31. QSL
direct only to VR2XMT: Charlie Ho, PO Box 900, Fanling Post Office,
Hong Kong.

There will be no e-QSL or Logbook to the Word electronic cards
accepted. Preliminary information and QSL card design have been put on
line at www.qrz.com/vr2008o (HKARDXA)

**

ON THE AIR: JARL YOSAKOI KOCHI EVENT

The Japan Amateur Radio League, Inc. will be holding their 50th annual
Yosakoi Kochi meeting on May 25th. Look for special event station 8-J-
50-J-A-R-L to be active now through May 25th to celebrate this
gathering . Activity will be on all bands from 160 meters through 1200
MHz, using CW, SSB, FM and AM. QSL via the JARL QSL Bureau. (OPDX)

**

DX

In Dayton Related D-X news, word that the ARRL's DXCC staff and some
additional volunteers will be checking cards at the 2008 Dayton
Hamvention during all hours of operation on Friday, Saturday and
Sunday. ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, said, "Many hams travel
from all over the world to attend Hamvention, so card checkers are
especially busy." Card checkers will be checking cards for DXCC, Worked
All States, the VHF/UHF Century Club and Worked All Continents awards.

In other DX news, word that K9ZO and his XYL will be on holiday from
Bermuda during July. He expects to be active as K9ZO portable VP9 and
also plans to operate the IARU Contest. He will also monitor 30, 17,
12 and 6 meters. QSL as directed on the air.

Further up in frequency the W3HZU Beacons located in Grid FM-19 on
2.4GHZ and 1.2GHZ have been temporarily taken off the air. This, in
preparation to add a third beacon on 5.76GHZ. A message on the amsat-
bb will advise when the beacons are back in operation.

Last but by no means least, 5Z4DX, will be active from Shanzu Beach
through June 11th. Activity will be on all bands and modes. He also
plans to possibly activate Wasini Island from May 25th to the 26th and
Lamu Island folowing that. QSL direct to Frank Steffen Gast,
Eskifirdi, 735 Eskifjoedur, Iceland.

Above from various DX News Sources


**

HAMVENTION 2008: W5KUB TO PROVIDE LIVE STREAMING VIDEO MAY 14 - 18

And finally this week, if you can't make it to this years Dayton
Hamvention, Tom Medlin, W5KUB, has the next best thing. From May 15th
to the 18th Tom will being many of this years Hamvention highlights
right to your home computer screen via broadband video streaming.

Web transmissions from the Hamvention were slated to begin on Thursday
May 15th at Fleamarket spaces 3350 and 3351. Once the show opens on
Friday, Tom plans nonstop coverage until closing on Sunday afternoon.
Then he invites you to vicariously drive back to his home in Memphis
with him. This, as he passes through some of the prettiest countryside
that this nation has to offer.

So if you can't be there in person, take your web browser to
http://w5kub.com and let Tom Medlin bring the magic of Hamvention 2008
directly to your home computer screen

Again, the U-R-L is http://W5KUB.com. There is also a direct link to
Tom's streaming video site from the Dayton Hamvention website at
www.hamvention.org. (W5KUB)

**

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 address is
. 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.

A reminder that the nominating period for the 2008 Amateur Radio
Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award ends at midnight on May 30th.
Nominations postmarked after that time or received electronically after
that time will not be considered. A nominating form as a dot p-d-f
file is available at our special Young Ham of the Year website at www
dot yhoty dot org. Download it, fill it out and send it to us by U-S
mail or electronically.

With special thanks to Hap Holly, KC9RP, for the audio with Michael
Kaltee, W8CI and 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 2008. All rights reserved.