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Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1717 - July 19 2010
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1717 with a release date of Friday, July 9, 2010 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a Q-S-T. New Zealand's telecommunications regulator questions the legality of Internet connected ham radio. The 2010 World Radiosports Competition takes place in Russia. The FCC to host a big meeting regarding wireless medical electronics. Delaware exempts ham radio from its new cellphone law and a new Cube-Sat will investigate interference to High Frequency communications. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1717 coming your way right now. (Billboard Cart Here) ** RADIO LAW: NEW ZEALAND REGULATOR VOICES CONCERNS OVER INTERNET CONNECT HAMRADIO New Zealand is the latest nation to look at Internet linked ham radio operation and question its legality. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, is in Auckland with mo -- New Zealand's Ministry of Economic Development -- the MED -- which acts as the nations telecommunications regulator has raised some concerns with the New Zealand Amateur Radio Transmitters or NZART. This, over Internet connected ham radio operations such as IRLP, D-Star, Echolink, APRS and all similar unattended transmitter supervision. This is because they do not appear to fit within the nations current ham radio license conditions. Among the concerns raised by the MED, is the use of unattended transmitters and unlicensed digipeaters for APRS. They are also concerned over the possibility of overseas radio amateurs operating a New Zealand based amateur station without specific MED sanction to do so. The NZART Administration Liaison Officer is Don Wallace, ZL2TLL. He is currently putting together a paper on this topic and would appreciate input from all interested New Zealand amateurs. And from down-under in Auckland, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, reporting for the Amateur Radio Newsline. -- The concern voiced by New Zealand's Ministry of Economic Development comes closely on the heels of France banning ham radio use of D-Star and possibly other digital voice modes because they use codecs based on proprietary software and algorithms. As reported here on Amateur Radio Newsline last week, Frances telecommunications regulator ARCEP says that this is a violation of that nations open standard policy. The ARCEP also cites alleged concerns regarding cryptography and national security. (ARNewsline(tm), Southgate)) ** RESTRUCTURING: NEW ZEALAND RESTRUCTURES THE 806 TO 960 MHz BAND Still down-under, word that Minister for Communications and Information Technology Steven Joyce has just announced details of the changes planned for the 806 to 960 MHz radio spectrum band. The parts of the decision that affect New Zealand amateurs are adding 915 to 920 MHz and giving hams access to all of 915 to 928 MHz over 5 year lead-time. On the down side, hams will loose access to 928 to 929 MHz. They will also have to accept a shared sub-band 920 to 926 MHz with RFID tags capable of running up to 4 watts power out. These changes were to be published in the July 15th New Zealand government NZ Gazette. Most will be effective immediately, except for the removal of the 928 to 929 MHz frequencies from the Amateur service which will not come into force until August 12th. (NZART News) ** RADIOSPORTS: WRTC 2010 HELD IN RUSSIA The Ham Radio Olympics are on. This as the World Radiosport Team Championship for 2010 is getting under way as we go to air. This year the games are being hosted by the Russian national amateur radio society and taking place near Moscow. 50 teams from all over the world are competing. The contest was scheduled to begin at 1200 U-T-C on July 10th and end at 1200 U-T-C on July 11th. More is on-line at www.wrtc2010.ru (WRTC) ** WORLDBEAT: INCREASED CONTEST POWER IN IRELAND UPDATE The Irish Radio Transmitters Society which is Irelands national ham radio society is continuing to pursue with Ireland's regulator ComReg. This, regarding its request to secure increased power for Irish hams during a list of international HF and VHF contests still to be finalized. At this point ComReg says that it wants to get a list of licensed amateurs in Ireland who would be interested in getting permission to operate with increased power for the contests. Hams in Ireland who wish to have their name included should e mail the Irish Radio Transmitters Society contest manager Thos Caffrey`, EI2JD to contestmanager (at) irts (dot) ie. (IRTS) ** HAM RADIO IN SPACE: NEW SA CUBESAT TO INVESTIGATE HF INTERFERENCE The world of amateur radio may soon have greater insight into sources of interference on the High Frequency bands. This with word that an important mission of the upcoming South Africa AMSAT CubeSat will be to measure the High Frequency noise levels over South Africa and report this information back to Earth for analysis and action to reduce these unwanted signals. S-A Amsat's Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, will be giving a presentation on South Africa's first CubeSat at the AMSAT-UK Colloquium in Guildford, England, that runs from July 31st through August 1st. According to ZS6AKV the information from the tiny satellite will identify the areas where the H-F frequency polluters are situated and will help in reducing or eliminating the source. It is also hoped to include a 30 kHz linear transponder and an Automatic Packet Reporting System in the CubeSat. More on this interference detection experiment from space is on-line at www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium We will have more ham radio space related news later on ion this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report. (ANS, AMSAT-SA) ** RESCUE RADIO: FCC AND FDA TO HOST JOINT MEETING ON WIRELESS MEDICAL ELECTRONICS An important meeting dealing with wireless broadband and medical electronics is skated for Washington DC later this month. Fred Vobbe, W8HDU, has the details: -- The Federal Communications Commission and Food and Drug Administration will be seeking comment on converged communications and health care devices impact on regulation. This, at a public meeting to discuss topics related to this issue is scheduled for July 26 and 27th. According to a joint news release there have been significant developments in recent years in medical and health care devices using radio technology to monitor various body functions and conditions. These include including critical care elements as well as those used to deliver treatment and therapy. Examples of the latest implant or body-worn monitoring, therapeutic, and treatment technologies include blood glucose monitors and automated insulin pumps, heart monitors, pacemakers, defibrillators, and neural pathway replacements that stimulate muscle movement. There has also been an increasing proliferation of devices using established commercial communications networks, including those providing Internet connectivity to communicate with care providers. The FCC and FDA say that they both recognize the need to work with all providers and users of these devices to identify pathways and strive to improve processes that will help continue to spur innovation in these areas while maintaining safety and effectiveness and promoting public health. Therefore the objective of this meeting is to gather information and to better understand issues and perspectives so the agencies can identify potential areas where each agency's jurisdiction can be identified and clarified for affected parties. Also to gauge how the collection and assessment of each agency's respectively appropriate information can be improved, expertise can be shared, and regulatory approval can be coordinated and simplified. Im Fred Vobbe, W8HDU. -- The public meeting will be held July 26 and 27th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m Eastern Daylight time at the FCC Commission Meeting Room, 445 12th St., SW, Washington, DC. Those interested in attending or participating in the meeting must register by 5 p.m. on July 19th . (FCC) ** BREAK 1 From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the K9UXP repeater serving Eau Clare Wisconsin. (5 sec pause here) ** RADIO LAW: DELAWARE EXEMPTS HAMS FRON MOBILE CELLPHONE BAN A big win for mobile ham radio operations in Delaware. This with word that in a unanimous vote, both houses of that states legislature passed an amendment to a Delaware house bill that outlaws mobile use of "two-way communication" devices, but now specifically allows amateur radio use. As reported last week, the original wording of the states cellphone law would have also banned all sorts of two-way radio operations as well. But State Representatives Ruth Briggs King and Dave Wilson recognized the deficiencies in the wording and introduced an amendment to correct them. It then became the work of the Delaware ham community to assure its passage. According to a public posting by Dennis Karol, KB3MJ, on the QRZed.com website, some 15 Delaware amateurs not only wrote, called and emailed to their state Representatives and Senators, but actually spent endless hours at Legislative Hall in Dover on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. They spent that time educating legislators about radio communications in general and amateur radio in particular. In the end, the amendment passed with yes votes from 100% of the Representatives and Senators who were present in both Houses. (KB3MJ via QRZ.com) ** ENFORCEMENT: FCC ISSUES WARNING NOTICE FOR SAN FRAN UNLICENSED STATION The FCC's San Francisco office has issued Notice of Unlicensed Operation the FCC has Phillip N. Reiker of Watsonville, California. This, regarding an unlicensed broadcast station operating from property that he owns in the city of Santa Cruz. According to the June 3rd notice, the San Francisco FCC Office had received information that an unlicensed broadcast radio station on 101.1 MHz was allegedly operating in Santa Cruz. This past March 19th agents from this office confirmed that radio signal was coming from property that public records show Reiker as owning. Reiker was told that he must immediately cease operation of the unlicensed transmitter. He was also given ten days to explain his activities to the FCC. That date has now past. (FCC) ** ENFORCEMENT: YOU CANT CLOSE THOSE SHUTTERS WITH A NON CERTIFIED TRANSMITTER The FCC has issued an official Citation to the USA Shutter Company, LLC, doing business as MaestroShield of Naples, Florida for allegedly marketing unauthorized radio frequency devices in the United States. This, in violation of Section 302(b) of the Communications Act and Sections 2.803 and 15.201 of the Commission's Rules. According to the FCC, back in 2009 it received a complaint alleging that USA Shutter was selling unauthorized wireless remote control transmitters used to control window shutters. On December 3, 2009 a Letter of Inquiry to USA Shutter regarding this matter. In its response on December 18th, USA Shutter replied stating that it do not manufacture remote control transmitters but did admit to importing and marketing four models of these devices beginning in January of 2007 and another model later on. It also admitted that these wireless remote control transmitter models are not FCC certified. In the Citation the FCC told USA Shutter that intentional radiators such as the wireless remote control transmitters are required by Section 15.201 of the Rules to be approved through the certification procedures prior to marketing within the United States. Since these devices have not received FCC certification, USA Shutter was warned to cease selling them. If the company continues to do so it can be fined up to $16,000 for each such violation or each day of a continuing violation. USA Shutter was given the customary 30 days from the June 21st issuance date of the Citation to respond and to specify the actions that it has taken to ensure that it does do not violate the Commission's rules governing the marketing of radio frequency equipment in the future. (FCC) ** RESCUE RADIO: HAMS PRIOVIDE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AT NORTH CAROLINA BARBACUE Hams in North Carolina were ready when the heat of the day took its toll on a woman attending the regions Hog Day barbecue. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has the rest of the story: -- On June 19th, members of the Orange County Radio Amateurs and Orange County ARES had been on duty at the annual street fair in Hillsborough , North Carolina, known as "Hog Day," since about 8:00AM. The hams were providing backup communications for the event when at about 12:40 in the afternoon when a woman came into an exhibitor's booth and collapsed. She was able to tell onlookers that she was feeling weak from the 90 degree heat. At just about the same time two ham radio operators happened to be at the same booth. One of them, Lad Carrington, W4ORD, immediately radioed the situation to net control Ken Kauffmann, KR4FM. Kaufmann in turn dispatched paramedics from Orange County Emergency Services. The call over the repeater was also heard by Woody Woodward, K3VSA, whose assignment was to shadow David Hunt, the chief judge for the event's barbecue cookoff. Hunt is also a volunteer fireman immediately made for the location with a bottle of chilled water. When Woodard and Hunt arrived on the scene woman was slumped down in a camp chair. Hunt used some of the cold water to apply a compress to the back of her neck. And the bottom line: Another time when emergency trained ham radio operators were in the right place at the right time. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the Newsroom in Los Angeles. -- The paramedics arrived just moments later to provide emergency care and transport the victim further inside an air conditioned space. (K3VSA) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: VK7TBM HONORED FOR CREATING COAST RADIO NETWORK Tasmanian radio engineer Barry McCann, VK7TBM, has received international recognition in the Queens Birthday honors. This, for his contribution to maritime communications. VK7TBM was the co-founder of what has become Australia's largest marine radio network known as Coast Radio. This is radio communications system manned by volunteers that provides radio services to commercial fishers and recreational boaters. The Coast Radio Network covers a large stretch of water from the South Australian Victorian border, to 300 nautical miles south of Tasmania, and up to the New South Wales Victorian border. The idea for the marine radio network came about after Barry spent an unplanned night at sea in the mid 1970's, after the engine in his boat failed. (WIA) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: VE2KHC APPOINTED RAC DIRECTOR FOR QUEBEC Congratulations to James Keep, VE2KHC who was recently appointed as the Radio Amateurs of Canada Director for the Quebec. This, for the remainder of a two year term which started June 24, 2010 ending December 31, 2012. VE2KHC is a Certified Emergency Coordinator, has trained with the Sécurité Civil Quebec and is also a registered Radio Amateurs of Quebec member. (RAC) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: MARSHALL RADIO CLUB REACTIVATED And a radio club that assisted in the 1980's video Amateur Radio's Newest Frontier has recently been reactivated. This with word that the George C. Marshall Radio Club in Huntsville, Alabama has come bact to active status after being dormant for many years. On July 1st, one of the first meetings of the club was held with eight in attendance. Leaders say that there are many items that need to address as a club, but they have high hopes of bringing this club back to its formal glory. Back in the early 1980's it was members of this radio club that made possible the taping of segments of Amateur Radio's Newest Frontier dealing with the European Space Agency's Spacelab that was carried to orbit by the United States Space Shuttle. (Via e-mail) ** 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: NEW PC FOR THE ELDERLY A new desktop P-C aimed at people aged over 60 who are unfamiliar with Personal Computers and the internet has been unveiled in the United Kingdom. Called Simplicity, the simplified desktop has only six buttons directing users to basic tasks such as e-mail and chat. The Simplicity computer has no log-in screen when it starts up, contains no drop-down menus and comes pre-loaded with 17 video tutorials. The operating system is a version of Linux that can be customized by users. So far the SimplicITy computer system is only available in the Europe. According to the BBC story introducing it, more than 6 million people in the UK over the age of 65 have never used the internet, according to British government figures. (Science OnLine) ** EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: NEW TERAHERTZ RECEIVER DEVELOPED Sandia National Laboratories researchers in Albuquerque, New Mexico have taken the first steps toward reducing the size and enhancing the functionality of devices in the terahertz frequency spectrum. This, by combining a detector and laser on the same chip to make a compact receiver. Researchers say that this development has rendered unnecessary the precision alignment of optical components formerly needed to couple the laser to the detector. The new solid-state system puts to use the so-called "neglected middle child" frequency range between the microwave and infrared parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. Terahertz radiation is of interest because some frequencies can be used to "see through" certain materials. Potentially they could be used in dental or skin cancer imaging to distinguish different tissue types. They also permit improved nondestructive testing of materials during production monitoring. Other frequencies could be used to penetrate clothing, and possibly identify chemical or biological weapons and narcotics. More is on line at tinyurl.com/33o2n2j (Sandia National Labs Press Release) ** HAM RADIO IN SPACE: EASA COLUMBUS AIS SYSYEM ANTENNA BUILT BY HAM SpaceDaily.com reports that the European Space Agency's Columbus module maritime Automatic Identification System or AIS aboard the International Space Station was switched on. The A-I-S antenna, mounted externally on the Columbus module, was fabricated by AMSAT and ARISS member Lou McFadin, W5DID and the United States ARISS team. The group has also constructed a nearly identical amateur band antenna for ARISS operations that will be used when the Ericsson amateur radio gear is activated in early 2011. And how well does the new antenna work? The European Space Agency reports receiving more than 90,000 Class A AIS messages during a 14 hour test between 1900 GMT on June 2nd and 0900 GMT on June 3rd. This generated a global view of maritime traffic as the ISS orbit crosses all major shipping lanes. (ANS) ** RADIO IN SPACE: A POSSIBLE BONUS SHUTTLE MISSION The July 2 UniverseToday.com newsletter reports that NASA announced new target dates for the final two or maybe three shuttle missions. STS-133 is now aiming for November 1 at approximately 4:33 p.m. EDT for the final flight of shuttle Discovery,. STS-134 will happen on February 26, 2011 at around 4:19 p.m. EST for shuttle Endeavour's last launch. However there's now word for the potential of a bonus mission titled STS-135. If approved by Congress, it would launch sometime in August 2011. The latest word on that was that NASA officials hope the decision on whether or not to fly STS-135 would be made sometime this month. (ANS, Universe Today) ** HAM RADIO NEAR SPACE: STUDENTS TO BUILD PAYLOAD FOR SUTH AFRICAN HABEX BALLOON Students assisted by area hams will be building the payload for the South African High Altitude Balloon Experiment or HABEX project. This for the ZS6SCI SciBono Discovery Center in association with the Gauteng Department of Education. The objective is to involve schools in Gauteng in the entire process of developing and building a payload that will be launched using an unmanned meteorological balloon. SciBono approved a budget for the building of HABEX. A team of radio amateurs who are engineers and designers are assisting the schools in developing the payload. Approval has been obtained from authorities for the launch of HABEX which is currently slated now for July 24th from nearby Klerksdorp Airfield. At airtime its not known what type of ham radio gear will be on board at liftoff. HABEX was inspired by the United States BACAR or Balloon Carrying Amateur Radio project. (SARL) ** HAM RADIO IN SPACE: INDIA HAMSAT MAY LAUNCH IN SEPTEMBER An Amateur Radio satellite being built by students at S-R-M University may be launched by the Indian Space Research Organization in September. An S-R-M University press release describes the new bird called S-R-M-SAT as a 15 watt satellite weighing between 10 and 15 kg and measuring one meter, S-R-M-SAT may use the bands 145.8MHz for the uplink and 434.5MHz for the downlink. It will launch along with the primary payload known as load Cartosat and two other amateur radio satellites called STUDSAT and TISat-1. (NDTV-India) ** ON THE AIR: THE 5K200, COLOMBIA SPECIAL EVENT On the air, keep an ear open for what are being called duly authorized members of the Colombian Radio Amateur Association to be active as 5K200LR throughout 2010. This is a special event call to celebrate the bicentennial and independence of Colombia. QSL electronically via Logbook of the World or direct to HK3LR. (Southgate) ** ON THE AIR: KP4 TO CELEBRATE THE XXI CENTRAL AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN GAMES Members of the Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League should be on thre air using the special event call sign K4C. This operation is to Activity is to celebrate the XXI Central American and Caribbean Games that will take place in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. K4C will conclude operations on August 1st. QSL direct to KP4ES. (Various) ** PROPAGATION: POLANDS FIRST 10 METER BEACON ON THE AIR Poland first ever amateur radio 10 meter beacon in on the air. SR4TEN is located in the office of the Polish amateurs' radio journal QTC Magazine in Grid Square JO94RG. It operates on 28.203 MHz with 3 watts power output. If you receive SR4TEN, please send your Q-S-N reports by e-mail your qtc (at) post (dot) pl. (SP2FAP) ** DX In DX, word that F5IRO is headed to Djibouti and will be active as J28RO beginning July 6th and is expected to stay for 2 years. Activity will be on the HF bands using CW, SSB and the Digital modes mainly on the weekends and during the afternoons and evenings starting between 1200 to 1300 UTC. His QSL Manager is F8DFP. The KL7RRC 2010 Alaska tour will take to the air from Kodiak Island from July 19th to the 21st . This will b e followed by an operation from uninhabited Chirikof Island beginning July 22nd and running through August 1st or 2nd with a final swing back to Kodiak Island on August 3rd and 4th. QSL via UA9OBA or N7RO. JF1OKX, will be active as 9J2KK from Lusaka, Zambia beginning through the end of September 2011. Operation will be on 80 through 6 meters concentrating on the Digital modes such as PSK, WSJT and RTTY, but there may be time for some SSB and CW as well. QSL via JK1NSR. YL2PN operating portable ES0 will be on from Ruhnu Island, Estonia, during the RSGB Islands on the Air Contest on July 24th and 25th. He will be a Single-Operator/Low-Power/All-Band/Mixed entry. If you work him QSL via his home callsign. Lastly, JI1LET, will be on the air stroke JD1 from Chichijima Island between July 24th through the 30th. His activity will be on 40 through 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL to JI1LET direct or via the JARL Bureau. (Above from various DX News Sources) ** THAT FINAL ITEM: MILITARY SURPLUS AND THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM And finally this week, we all know that after World War 2 a lot of United States military surplus began showing up in the marketplace. This was especially true of two way radio equipment such as the famed ARC 5 receivers and transmitters. These units cost the government thousands of dollars but hams in the 1950's and 1960's could by as many as they wanted for under ten bucks. But not every country disposed of its military surplus on the open market. The United Kingdom was one of those that took a different approach that did not always work as we hear from Jim Linton, VK3PC. -- At the end of World War II, with peace declared, huge quantities of equipment were simply dumped. A story published in Signal, the magazine of the Vintage Military & Amateur Radio Society, concerns reports of Royal Air Force radio gear being tipped down dis-used coal mine shafts in Staffordshire. A local farmer Thomas Weston retrieved thousands of these units and through an associate George Eyre sold them on the open market to make a tidy profit. Everything was going well until the farmer's local member raised a question in the British Parliament about this disgraceful waste of resources occurring at a time the nation was undergoing tough post-war financial restraint. That caused a political storm and the farmer was threatened with legal action by the Coal Commission on the grounds that he was trespassing when entering the mines. But in the following year 1947 the farmer got under their guard by buying land containing two old mine shafts and without restriction restarted his enterprise. It seems that other things were dumped after the war too. Rumors include items ranging from old mess hall cutlery through to boxed unassembled aircraft. I'm Jim Linton VK3PC. -- More proof that in the end the free enterprise system works best, even if its takes going through the proverbial back door to make it happen. (WIA) ** 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), 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350 For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, saying 73 and we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. |
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