Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1622 - September 12, 2008

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1622 with a release date of Friday,
September 12th, 2008 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. The sun stays silent and so does High Frequency
DX, ham radio prepares to face Hurricane Ike, South Africa may give its
hams some new operating privileges, Russia considers joining the
pan-European CEPT licensing scheme, and a report on this years World
Radiosport championship games. All this and more coming your way on
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1622 as we begin right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**

RADIO SCIENCE: SOLAR OBSERVERS REPORT NO SUNSPOTS IN AUGUST

A new record has been set by the sun, but its not one that will make hams
who need long range propagation very happy. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeff
Reinhardt, AA6JR, reports:

--

Daily Tech dot com says that the sun has reached a milestone not seen for
nearly 100 years. That being an entire month has passing without a single
visible sunspot being recorded.

Sunspot data has been collected since 1749. According to statistics from
Mount Wilson Observatory here in Los Angeles, the entire month of August
passed without a spot being seen on the face of the sun. The last time
such an event occurred was June of 1913.

When the sun is active, it's not uncommon to see sunspot numbers of 100 or
more in a single month. Every 11 years, activity slows, and numbers
briefly drop to near-zero. Normally sunspots return very quickly, as a
new cycle begins. However, this year which corresponds to the predicted
start of Solar Cycle 24 has been extraordinarily quiet, with the first
seven months averaging a sunspot number of only 3. August followed with
none at all.

The researchers say that the astonishing rapid drop of the past year has
defied predictions, and caught nearly all astronomers by surprise. The
event is significant since many since scientists who follow climate changes
now believe solar magnetic activity or lack of it is an influencing factor
for climate on earth.

For ham radio operators who depend on high solar activity to produce long
communications paths, the silence on the High Frequency bands due to a lack
of sunspot activity is all but deafening. As we go to air, no sunspots are
reported as visible and the number of distant signals the average ham
station can hear and work on most of the High Frequency bands remains at
what is likely an all time low.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, in Los Angeles.

--

The complete article on the lack of solar activity and its effect on
climactic change is on line at
http://www.dailytech.com/Sun+Makes+H...ntur y/articl
e12823.htm)
(Dailytech.com, others)

**

RESTRUCTURING: NEW RSA BANDPLAN FAVORS ZS HAMS

Proposed changes in South Africa's allocation table for radio spectrum use
could mean more operating privileges for Zed-S hams. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF,
has the details:

--

On July 22nd, South Africa's telecommunications regulator published the
revised table of frequency allocations, a process that is mandated by that
nations Electronic Communication Act. The proposed South African table
includes the expansion of the 40 meter band to 7 200 kHz as well as a new
low frequency allocation from 135 point 7 to 137.8 kHz in the long wave
spectrum. Also the limitation that currently exists for Zed R prefix hams
in the 14 MHz band has been removed. The South African table of frequency
allocations also include an interesting grant for use by radio amateurs in
the 40 MHz band. The frequencies 40 point 675 to 40 point 685 MHz may be
used for propagation studies with a maximum power limit of 10 Watt EIRP,
but limited to Zed S prefix licensees.

The South Africa Radio League has reviewed the proposal and has made a
formal suggestion to the nations telecommunications regulator concerning
160 Meters. SARL would like to have the 160 meter band expanded to 2 point
zero MHz. It also would like to see a new allocation in the 5 MHz spectrum.

SARL has also addressed spectrum needs in the 2 300 to 2 450 MHz microwave
ham band and also an allocation in the 3300 to 3 500 MHz band. It says
that this would align South Africa with other parts of the world where this
band is being considered for amateur satellite use. This allocation is not
generally allocated in ITU region one except in some individual CEPT
countries who have an allocation for amateur satellites in the 3400 to 3410
MHz band.

Reporting from down under in Auckland, New Zealand, I'm Jim Meachen,
ZL2BHF, for the Amateur Radio Newsline.

--

The next step is for the South African governments telecommunications
agency to review all the comments received and to hold public hearings if
it feels that they are required. Once the final table has been agreed, it
will be published in the Government Gazette together with the date of when
the new table will replace the old one. In the meantime. South Africa hams
are advised that this is all still a proposal. All current South African
ham radio regulations and allocations remain in force. (SARL)

**

WORLDBEAT - RUSSIA: CEPT LICENSING MAY BE ON ITS WAY

Russia may be on the verge of signing on to the pan-European CEPT ham radio
licensing scheme. According to information supplied by Mitch Wolfson,
DJ0QN, a working committee in that nation recently held a workshop to
prepare a draft recommendation to the State Commission on radio
frequencies. In it, the committee recommends joining the T/T 61-01
agreement for reciprocal licensing in 2009.

The only objection came from those concerned with issues of national
security, but the proposal worked out seems to satisfy Russia's Federal
Security Service and its expected that the proposal will move forward into
the Russian rulers making process. More information in the Russian
language is at hwww.srr.ru. (DJ0QN)

**

RESCUE RADIO: MARS OFFERS COMMUNICATIONS TO STORM FAMILES

A message of support for military families from MARS. Captain Jeff Hammer,
N9NIC, who represents the Army Military Affiliate Radio System in Iraq, has
appealed to the families of troops deployed overseas that have been
affected by the recent tropical storms and hurricanes to let their loved
ones know all is well at home.

According to Hammer, there are a lot of soldiers from the Gulf States here
in Iraq and their families may be impacted by the hurricanes and not have a
way to communicate with their soldier to let them know their status in the
coming weeks. He says that if you are unable to deliver hurricane-related
Health and Welfare messages from a family member to a service member in
Iraq due to lack of communication assets or insufficient address
information, send them directly through an Amateur Radio operator or
Military Affiliate Radio System operator. He says that MARS operators
currently deployed in Iraq will do their best to get all messages delivered
immediately.

Hammer adds that Army MARS also can handle messages to service members in
Afghanistan, but delivery may be delayed. A direct entry MARSgram form is
available at www.mymars.org. The site provides full instructions and a
message form that will be transmitted automatically via the Army MARS
system. (MARS)

**

BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the N2OBS Echolink
node in Summerville, South Carolina

(5 sec pause here)


**

RESCUE RADIO: HAMS MAKE READY FOR HURRICANE IKE

Ham radio operators along Texas eastern shore are preparing for the
onslaught of hurricane Ike. The storm that spent two days ravaging Cuba is
now in the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has
mo

--

As this newscast is prepared on Thursday, September 11th, Ike is a Category
3 hurricane packing winds in excess of 130 miles per hour. It is moving
West-North West at between 8 and 10 miles per hour with landfall predicted
early on Saturday the 13th somewhere along the south-Texas coastline
between Brownsville and Houston.

In anticipation of Ike, the ARRL and its South Texas Section have made
large scale preparations to provide any needed communications. And
according to Allen Pitts, W1AGP, who is the ARRL headquarters Media and
Public Relations Director in Newington, the League has already sent
emergency radio equipment into the area to pre-position gear for
deployment. Also, plans are in place for bringing in radio amateurs from
their states and regions if needed. Pitts adds that coordination is also
in place with the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Baptist Men's kitchens, many
Emergency Operations Centers and other relief agencies.

The ARRL has also established a pair of e-mail addresses for hams to use to
pose questions or relay non-emergency information to the headquarters staff
relating to hurricanes or named tropical storm events. If you need to
communicate with headquarters regarding storms like Ike, please use
or . While these e-mail addresses are
not monitored on a 24/7 basis, they are checked during each storm's descent
on the US, as well as throughout the hurricane season.

Also on alert a numerous severe weather related networks. The Hurricane
Watch Net will be operational primarily on 14.325 Mhz. Also playing a major
role will be the Voice over Internet Protocol Weather Net that links
together repeaters and individual stations using VoIP technology.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the studio
in Los Angeles.

--

Hurricane Ike is a developing story. We will have more on it and the role
of ham radio in next weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report. (ARNewsline(tm),
ARRL, others)

**


RESCUE RADIO: HAM RADIO WAS READY FOR HURRICANE HANNA

Packing winds gusts over 70 miles per hour, Hurricane Hanna, hit the United
States on Saturday, September 6th at the border of North Carolina and
South Carolina. But Amateur radio operators involved in emergency
communications were ready for whatever the storm might pack, including the
possibility that Hanna might spawn some tornadoes:

--
Net Audio
--

That was Jim Sellars, N0UAM, in control of the Voice over Internet Protocol
Weather Net. He was putting out a warning from the National Weather
Service that tornadic activity accompanying hurricane Hanna was possible.

Thankfully, Hanna caused minimal damage to coastal areas of the Carolinas
as it moved North-North East at 28 miles per hour. According to the U.S.
National Hurricane Center the storm did dump as much as 10 inches of rain
as it meandered up the Eastern U-S. coast.

Before making landfall on U-S soil, hurricane Hanna devastated Haiti, which
also was hit by Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Fay in the past
month. Hanna reportedly killed about 495 people in Haiti. United Nations
humanitarian affairs chief John Holmes says that as many as 600,000 people
may need assistance in that nation. (ARNewsline(tm))

**


ENFORCEMENT: FCC ORDERS FORM TO STOP SELLING GPS JAMMERS

A merchandiser of GPS jamming devices has been issued an official Citation
by the FCC. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the details:

--

In its September 8th notice to MicroVideoX, LLC of Grand Junction,
Colorado, and owner Greg Marston, the regulatory agency alleges that
a letter of inquiry dated last June 3rd the FCC initiated an investigation
into whether MicroVideoX, LLC is marketing in the United States
unauthorized radio frequency devices. Specifically, the GPS Counter Track,
and the GPS Counter Track Portable.

The Commission says it found evidence that MicroVideoX, LLC was selling
these devices through several sources including eBay. Also that it was
running demonstration videos of them on YouTube dot com.

In its response to the June inquiry, MicroVideoX stated that it had
imported a total of 53 GPS Counter Track units and 24 GPS Counter Track
Portable units. Of these it had sold approximately 48 units. Also that it
had marketed the devices on eBay and YouTube.com only until about March
13th.

But the FCC says that it observed the promotional video still active at
another website as late as July 11th. This one called www.revver.com.

The bottom line. The FCC has ordered MicroVideoX to immediately cease the
advertising and sale of these devices. It says that if after receipt of
the citation, MicroVideoX violates the Communications Act or the
Commission's Rules in any manner, that the Commission may impose monetary
forfeitures not to exceed $11,000 for each such violation or each day of a
continuing such a violation.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.

--

MicroVideoX, LLC appears to be complying with the FCC edict. A check of
eBay for a GPS jammer shows that currently no United States based company
is advertising such a device there. However there are others outside the
U-S with ads on eBay for similar devices and these companies claim that
they ship, worldwide. (FCC)

**

RADIO THEFT: RADIO TOWER STOLEN IN PA

Scrap metal thieves have gotten more brazen this time trucking away a
complete 120 foot high radio tower near Windbar, Pennsylvania.

According to news reports, police believe the thieves threw cables over the
tower guy wires and yanked it down with a truck. They say that they also
found cut bolts and torch marks on nearby grass.

Authorities believe the thieves then cut into smaller pieces in order to
get it out of the wooded area, but they can't figure out how they did it
without anybody noticing.

The tower hasn't been used for years, but the family who owns it was in
talks with a company to use it to bring wireless Internet service to the
Windber area. The thieves also got away with a 300 pound transformer full
of copper. (Published reports)

**

EMI ENFORCEMENT: TEXAS POLICE RADIO INTERFERES WITH WATER SPRINKLERS

A new emergency radio system serving a couple of Texas towns is causing a
rather watery problem for its neighbors. John Williams, VK5BUI, tries to
dry it all out.

--

All was going well with the testing of a new police communication system in
the Texas cities of Cedar Hill, DeSoto and Duncanville, until it was found
to be producing an unwanted side-effect in the city of Plano some 30 miles
away.

The police transmissions have been setting off an expensive network of
radio-controlled sprinklers used for parks and road median strips. Worse
still, the issue took on a life of its own through radio talk-back
programs and other media outlets trying to point blame for the technical
hitch.

Then came news that the new emergency system also interfered with radio
equipment that monitored the levels of three water towers. Attempts to
find a mutually agreed solution appear to have failed so it is
off to the Federal Communications Commission for a determination.
'm John, VK5BUI.

--

With matters such as the switchover to digital broadcasting and other
important items on its immediate agenda, it will be interesting to see how
the FCC the FCC reacts to this wet request. (WIA News)

**

RADIO EDUCATION: LCWO TEACHES MORSE ONB THE WEB

LCWO.net is a new website to learn and practice Morse telegraphy. Called
Learn CW Online all you need for using LCWO is a web browser. This gives
the user the opportunity to practice CW wherever an internet connection is
available. It also lets users retain their personal settings, scores and
statistics. Check it out at LCWO.net on the World Wide Web. (WebNews)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE: PEORIA SUPERFEST TURNS 50

A word of congratulations to the Peoria Superfest which celebrates its 50th
year as it holds forth September 20th to the 21st at the Exposition Gardens
in Peoria, Illinois. The Peoria Superfest is a combined ARRL sanctioned
hamfest, computer show and flea market that began back in 1958. More abut
this years 50th anniversary event is on-line at
www.peoriasuperfest.com. (WA9VRH)

**

SPECIAL EVENT: COMMEMORATING KATRINA AND RITA

The SouthEast Louisiana Amateur Radio Club will conduct a special event
station to commemorate the third anniversaries of Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita.. The operation will take place on Saturday , September 13th from
1400 to 2000 UTC with stations on 7.250. and 14.250 Mhz. QSL to Scott
Hernandez, K5R 957 Nancy St. Mandeville, Louisiana 70448. (SELARC)

**

SPECIAL EVENTS: POW-MIA RECOGNITION DAY

California's Anaheim Police Amateur Radio Club will operate special event
station K6P from September 18th to the 21st. This, in remembrance of
POW-MIA Recognition Day

POW and MIA are acronyms for "Prisoner of War" and "Missing in Action" and
refer to members of the military who have served the nation and have served
our nation. Operation will be on SSB on 40 throuh 15 meters along with
PSK-31 and RTTY on their appropriate frequencies.

QSL with a self addressed stamoed envelope to KM6HB: Mark McMullen, P.O.Box
27271, Santa Ana, California, 92799 (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: WILMINGTON NC GOES ALL DIGITAL TV

Residents of Wilmington, North Carolina became the first in the nation to
experience the transition to digital television. This, as the city's full
service television stations shut off their analog transmitters and went all
digital all the time. Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Carlson, KQ6FM, reports:

--

The change took place at noon, Eastern Standard time on Monday, September
the 8th. That's when FCC Chairman Kevin Martin flanked by local
broadcasters flipped a symbolic eight-foot high switch during a ceremony in
downtown Wilmington as a way to signify the new era of TV was about to
begin.

Wilmington broadcasters had volunteered to make the switch to digital
operation five months ahead of the February 17th 2009 deadline Congress set
for the rest of the nation. This, as a way to test the new ATSC digital
system before it goes national. The test is intended to give the FCC as
well as broadcasters and consumers in other markets a better idea of how to
ensure the 2009 switch to digital goes smoothly.

In general it did go pretty well. FCC officials on scene did say they
received several hundred calls from local residents, some of whom were not
aware that the switch had taken place even though it had been widely
advertised for months. Others were simply having trouble hooking up
digital television converters to their analog sets.

FCC staff members planned to remain in the area for several days. This, to
help resolve any further problems residents might have with setting up
converter boxes and finding the right antennas.

Wilmington, North Carolina is the 135th largest television market in the
United States, with about 180,000 television households across five
counties. However, only about 7 percent of those households rely on over
the air analog broadcasts, compared with a national average of about 13
percent. This made it the ideal test bed for a full scale trial of the new
all A-T-S-C all-digital broadcast television system.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Carlson, KQ6FM in Reno.

--

As previously reported, Congress mandated the switch to digital to free up
spectrum for new wireless services. Off-air viewers will need to get a
converter box or upgrade to a digital TV set. Cable and satellite TV
subscribers should not notice a difference as any digital conversion is
handled by the delivery provider. (Adapted from various published reports)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AO-16 ON FOR NOW IN BENT PIPE MODE

The temperature on board the AMSAT Oscar 16 ham satellite has come up
enough so that the watchdog timing problem has gone away. On September
1st, Amsat North America Vice President for Operations, Drew Glassbrenner,
KO4MA, turned the satellite on. He then and commanded it into bent pipe
mode. As a result, AO-16 now operates as a cross mode, cross band voice
repeater, with an uplink on 145.920 FM. The downlink is reduced carrier AM,
similar to double sideband, on 437.026. Most stations find receiving the
downlink on USB works best.

Work is continuing to predict how long this latest period of operation may
last, but initial estimates are around 2-3 months total. There may not be
another opportunity to use AO-16 after this one. This is because the
satellite will generally head towards longer eclipses and lower
temperatures for several years. (ANS)

**

WORLDBEAT - EUROPE: NI-CAD BATTERIES TO BE BANNED IN EUROPE

Ni-Cad batteries will soon be a thing of the past in Europe. On September
26th a new Europen Union directive comes into force preventing the
importation of Ni-Cad and certain other batteries into Europe.

In April of 2004 the European parliament voted to ban Nickel-Cadmium
batteries based on them being an ecological hazard. At that time the
parliament also adopted restrictions on the use of lead in batteries. It
says the lead content can be fully replaced by environmentally preferable
Alkaline Manganese batteries.

And what about the impact of this ban on ham radio gear? According to
information from Icom U-K, Ni-Cd batteries for their equipment will only be
available until its stocks are exhausted. Icom says that alternative types
of battery for current equipment have been available for some time, so
there should be no problem in finding an substitute.

But Icom U-K says that for older equipment where Ni-Cd was the only type of
battery available, replacements may not be available. (Southgate, European
Public Health Alliance)

**


CONTEST CALANDER: CQ WW DX CONTESTS IN OCTOBER

Turning to news from the world of radio sporting, word that the 2008 CQ
World Wide DX Contests take place the last two weekends next month.. The
phone portion of the contest is October 25th to the 26th while the C-W
event is October 29th to the 30th. Both contests run from 0000 U-T-C on
Saturday to 2400 U-T-C on Sunday. More information and complete contest
rules can be found beginning on page 94 of the September issue of CQ
Magazine or on the web at www.cq-amateur-radio.com. (DXNL)

**

CONTEST CALANDER: 2007 SEPT VHF CONTEST CERTIFICATES MAILED OUT

Also, ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X Certificates for the
2007 September VHF QSO Party have been mailed out. Certificate winners
should receive them just in time to use as motivation to do well in the
2008 running of the same event. (VHF Reflector)

**

DX

In DX, word that the DX Magazine's 2008 Most Wanted Survey is now up and
ready to collect data on the publications website. The publishers
are encouraging those interested to submit their needed countries lists to
because this is the primary survey that DXpedition planners use to decide
where to go. To cast your votes go to www.dxpub.com and click on 2008
survey. The results will be published in the January/February 2009 issue
of The DX Magazine.

On the air, listen out for EA7ATX and EA7AY operating as HK1AT
from Columbia for the next several weeks. An activation of San Bernardo
Island is planned for September 14th through 19th. QSL direct only via
EA7ATX.

The SV-DX-Group will be active from Limnos Island in Northern Aaegaein
through mid-September as SY8L. Listen out for them on 160 through 8 meters
using all modes. QSL via SV2DGH.

A team of 8 Korean operators will be active from Tok Island in the Sea of
Japan between September 13th to the 18th. They will be using the special
call D9D. QSL as directed on the air,

Lastly, DL7UFN and DL7VEE will operate from Paraguay portable Zed-P-6
through the 14th of January 2009. The pair will hit the airwaves in the
capital Asuncion on 160 through 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK at
the station facilities of ZP5AZL. QSLs via their home calls, either direct
or via the bureau.

(Above from various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: THE 2008 WORLD ARDF CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

And finally this week, the 2008 summer Olympics are over and so is this
year's world championships of radio direction finding games. And in the
latter team USA brought home a medal. Newsline's Joe Moell K0OV has the
details:

--

Members of ARDF Team USA are returning from the 14th World Championships of
Amateur Radio Direction Finding, held in a resort community near Seoul,
Korea. Ten competitors from 7 states, plus two officials and a visitor,
traveled to Korea to take on about 330 competitors from two dozen other
countries. As always, the eastern European and former Soviet bloc countries
took most of the awards, but this year, for the first time, a North
American team member medaled in one of the five age divisions for males. It
was George Neal KF6YKN, who won a bronze medal in the category for men ages
50-59 during the two meter competition on September 4. He found all four of
his required transmitters in 1:23:42, about five minutes longer than the
gold medal winner took. The route he chose was a little over six kilometers
long.

USA has been represented at the biennial ARDF World Championships since
1998 and our performance continues to improve, thanks to an increasing
number of training sessions around the country. This is the second
consecutive World Championships in which the USA has brought home a medal.
At the World Championships in the forests of Bulgaria in 2006, Nadia
Scharlau of North Carolina won bronze in the 80-meter contest.

As the team members return home, more photos and results are becoming
available. See the latest at the "Homing In" Web site, www.homingin.com,
where you will also learn how you and your family can begin enjoying the
fun of on-foot hidden transmitter hunting. That's homingin, as one word,
homingin.com.

From southern California, where we will welcome the team members back with
a special ARDF event for beginners and experts on September 20, this is Joe
Moell, K-zero-O-V for Amateur Radio Newsline.

--

Our congratulations to all who took part in this years Amateur Radio
Direction Finding world championship games. (K0OV)

**

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.

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jeff Clark,
K8JAC, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.