Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1544 - March 16, 2007

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1544 with a
release date of Friday, March 16th, 2007 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. Iraq closes down
Amateur Radio, U-S hams respond after tornadoes
hit the south and New Zealand T-Hunts a jamming
E-L-T. You wont believe where it was
found. Find out the details on Amateur Radio
Newsline(tm) report number 1544 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**

WORLDBEAT: YI1DZ CLAIMS IRAQ HAS BANNED HAM RADIO

Amateur Radio operation has been banned in
Iraq That is a claim made in a letter to the
world-wide ham radio community from Diya
Sayah,YI1DZ and distributed by Ian Abel,
G3ZHI Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, reports:

--

In his note dated March 13th, Iraq Amateur Radio
Society President Diya Sayah, YI1DZ, says that he
received confirmation from the office of Prime
Minister Al Maliki that all Amateur Radio
activity in that nation is to be closed down
immediately. This includes operation by Iraqi
nationals, foreign visitors and even members of
the coalition forces safeguarding that nation.

Thinking the note may have been a mistake, YI1DZ
made contact with Iraq's Ministry of Higher
Education and Scientific Research. Its reply was
to confirm that all ham radio in Iraq was to
cease operation and that hams would not be
permitted to return to the airwaves until that
nations security has been stabilized. As to how
casual Amateur Radio contacts made for
recreational purposes could be a danger to the
stability of Iraq's government -- this was not revealed.

Interestingly, Sayah's letter seems to blame the
United States and Great Britain for Iraq's new
ban on ham radio rather than the administration
that imposed it. It says and we quote as closely
as we can: "Congratulations to Mr. Bush and
Blair for this freedom and democracy brought to a
new Iraq and the new strategy to impose the
law. If you think you can support Amateur Radio
in Iraq , you need to talk to the creators of democracy and freedom."

The writers words, not ours.

More on this as we get it. For now, I'm Bill
Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the studio in Los Angeles, Fred.

--

No word on how long ham radio operation will
remain banned in Iraq. YI1DZ note does allow for
a possible misunderstanding on the part of
government officials as to the nature and purpose
of Amateur Radio. You can read the complete text
of the YI1DZ letter to the ham community on the
home page at www.qrz.com (G3ZHI, QRZ.com, others)

**

RESCUE RADIO: SEVERE WEATHER PUTS AMATEUR RADIO
VOLUNTEERS TO THE TEST IN 3 STATES

Back in the United States, tornadoes and other
severe weather on March 1st prompted activation
by Amateur Radio Emergency Service and SKYWARN
volunteers in Alabama, Georgia and
Missouri. This, according to the ARRL Letter
which says that twenty people died in the three
states, including seven in Alabama.

ARRL Alabama Section Manager Greg Sarratt, W4OZK.
said that tornadoes wreaked extensive property
damage in the affected communities. Sarratt said
that Amateur Radio operators all across the state
were busy tending to the massive severe weather
outbreak. At week's end, Sarratt had informed
the ARRL that Enterprise and Coffee County
Emergency Coordinator Jim Garrison, KL0LN, and
local amateurs were still at the Enterprise E-O-C
assisting the local emergency management agency
and the city with recovery efforts.

In Georgia, ARRL Section Traffic Manager Charles
Pennington, K4GK, said the Georgia ARES Net
activated during the afternoon of March 1st and
continued into the wee hours of March 2nd. This,
as a series of severe weather watches and
warnings were posted there. Several tornadoes
were reported, scattered mostly through central
and southern Georgia. Georgia ARES stood down
March 2nd but remained on standby if needed during recovery operations..

In Missouri, Section Traffic Manager Dale
Huffington, AEZ0S, cited many reports of
activation March 1st on the 75-meter phone
net. Amateurs in over half of Missouri's ARES
districts reported activation due to the storm.

In Howell County, in south-central Missouri, , a
tornado was blamed for the death of a
seven-year-old girl. An ARES net activated in that area.

In Boone County, in central Missouri, ARES teams
activated at the request of the Joint
Communications Information Center. Ten weather
spotters including Missouri Section Emergency
Coordinator Don Moore, KM0R provided real-time,
ground-level weather observations to supplement
the National Weather Service radar in Kansas City and St Louis. (ARRL)

**

RESCUE RADIO: ELT DOWN IN THE DUMPS

New Zealand's Radio Spectrum Management Hamilton
Office was recently called out to locate
interfering signals affecting emergency
frequencies. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has mo

--

From the outset, New Zealand's Radio Spectrum
Management searchers kind of figured that they
were hunting for a wayward Emergency Locator
Transmitter. A helicopter had already traced the
signals, which were coming from a landfill
outside Paeroa. Now it was time for the dirty work to begin.

Using the latest global positioning technology
together with a negative gain antenna, an area of
interest on the far side of the landfill was
selected. After each grab by a back hoe digger,
the area was checked to ensure the transmitter
was still operational. On the fourth grab, the beacon was unearthed.

Markings on the outside indicated that it could
have been 20 years old. The on/off and test
control had been lost in the landfill. The Radio
Spectrum Management inspectors removed the
batteries to stop it from transmitting. All
agreed that it was another job well done by New
Zealand's Radio Spectrum Management in action.

In Auckland, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF

--

New Zealand's Radio Spectrum Management group
regularly deals with similar scenarios involving
distress beacons. They and other
administrations urge all users of these devices
to ensure that batteries have been properly
removed prior to disposal. (WIA, NZART, others)


**

Break 1

From the United States of America, We are the
Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world

(5 sec pause here)


**

ENFORCEMENT: SALE OF MODIFYABLE CB SETS BRINGS $7000 FINE

Call this one the case of the C-B Radio retailer
who did not know to quit while he was
ahead. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the details:

--

The FCC says that Ben Metzger owns 1 Stop
Communications also known as the 1 Stop CB Shop
in Titusville, Florida. The regulatory agency
also says that on March 21st, 2006, the
Commission's Tampa Office issued Metzger and his
store a Citation for marketing non-certified CB
transceivers. This included Connex models 3300,
CX 3300HP, CX 4400HP as well as Galaxy models
DX44 and DX88HL. This says the FCC is a
violation of Section 302(b) of the Act and
Section 2.803(a)(1) of the Commissions Rules.

In a response dated March 31st, 2006, Metzger
stated that the models listed in the Citation
were Amateur Radio Service radios. He claimed
that they not require type acceptance. On May
11th of 2006, the Tampa Office responded that
the models were intended for use on CB as well as
Amateur Service frequencies because they have
built-in design features which facilitate their
operation on CB by the exercise of simple,
end-user accessible modifications. Accordingly,
the letter advised, such devices are considered
CB transmitters irrespective of any labeling
purporting the devices to be "Amateur Radio Transceivers."

In his response dated May 16, 2006, Metzger
stated he removed the Connex and Galaxy radios
mentioned in the Citation from his store. On
June 6, 2006, the Tampa Office received a letter
from his attorney, which requested that the
Citation be withdrawn, again insisting that the
radios were marketed and sold as ham gear, not CB
radios. The FCC refused to withdraw the Citation.

But it was not over yet. A few days later on
June 22nd of 2006, agents from the Tampa Office
revisited the 1 Stop CB Shop. There they
observed a "40 Channel" Connex CX 3300HP
transceiver along with other uncertified radios
in the display case. The Commission's Office of
Engineering and Technology had previously tested
Connex models very similar to the CX 3300HP and
determined them to be non-certified CB transceivers.

The agents inquired whether this particular
Connex could operate on both CB channels and
amateur bands. Metzger reportedly stated that
there were easy directions on the Internet which
show how to modify the radio to operate on
CB. He also stated that he could easily modify
the radio to operate on the CB channels for a small "tune-up" charge.

The agents paid him for the radio and the
"tune-up." Mr. Metzger handed them the modified
Connex CX 3300HP transceiver about 20 minutes
later and then demonstrated how to use the
different toggle switches on the radio to switch
from the amateur band to the different CB
channels. The agents later determined that the
modified Connex radio was capable of operating on
frequencies from 25.615 MHz to 28.305 MHz with an
output power that varied from 2.4 watts to 15 watts.

On December 12, 2006, the Tampa Office issued a
Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture to
Metzger in the amount of $7,000. This, for the
apparent willful and repeated violation of
Section 302(b) of the Act and Section 2.803(a) of the Rules.

Metzger responded with a letter requesting
cancellation of the proposed forfeiture. In it
Metzger states that he sold the agents a Connex
CX 3300HP ARS radio, which he still maintained
does not require FCC certification.. He claimed
that if he modified the radio to operate on CB
frequencies after selling it, a point which he
does not concede, such action does not violate
the Rules. Metzger also claimed that being fined
for selling an easily modifiable piece of gear
that he says is for ham radio use violates due process.

But the FCC sees things differently. In its
February 28th order, the agency says that it has
examined Metzger's response to the N-A-L pursuant
to the statutory factors and in conjunction with
the Forfeiture Policy Statement. . It found that
based on the evidence before it, Metzger
apparently willfully and repeatedly violated
Section 302(b) of the Act and Section 2.803(a) of
the FCC Rules by offering for sale non-certified
CB transmitters on March 21, and June 22,
2006. And as a result of this review it no
basis for cancellation of the proposed forfeiture and the $7,000 fine
stands.

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

--

Metzger was given the customary 30 days to
pay. If he fails to do so, the FCC says it can
turn the matter over to the Department of Justice
for collection and follow-up. (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT: BROOKLYN UNLICENSED BROADCASTER FINED $10000

An unlicensed broadcaster in New York has been
hit with a rather stiff fine by the FCC. Jim
Davis, W2JKD, tells us who and how much:

--

The FCC has fined Elroy Simpson of Brooklyn, New
York $10000. This for willfully and repeatedly
violating Section 301 of the Communications Act
by operating an unlicensed radio transmitter on the frequency 102.3 MHz.

On November 8, 2006, the Commission's New York
Field Office issued a Notice of Apparent
Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $10,000
to Simpson. This, after tracing the unlicensed broadcast transmitter to
him.

To date, Simpson has not filed a response to the
N-A-L. Based on the information before it, the
FCC has now affirmed the forfeiture and given
Simpson 30 days to pay. . If the forfeiture is
not paid within the period specified, FCC says
that the case may be referred to the Department of Justice for collection.

--

This is just another in a long series of fines
recently handed down against unlicensed broadcast
operations all across the United States. (FCC)


**

RADIO RULES: REQUEST FOR STUDY OF BIRD TO TOWER CRASHES

Broadcast and tower groups are joining with
wildlife advocates. This, in calling on the FAA
to look into whether the use of steady red
obstruction sidelights can be safely
eliminated. The move is a development in recent
discussions over the long-debated migratory bird
question and whether these lights are a major
contributing factor in the deaths of thousands of
migratory birds each year as conservationists claim. (CGC)

**

TELECOMMUNICATIONS LAW: MICROSOFT VS. CYBERSQUATTERS

Microsoft has decided to get tough with those
illegally using its name and logo. Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, reports:

--

Microsoft has filed two lawsuits against
so-called cybersquatters who use the company's
product names to profit illegally from online
advertising. The world's largest software maker
said the explosion in online advertising in
recent years had given rise to the illegal
registration of Web site domains containing
trademark Microsoft phrases or common brand name
misspellings. With billing for the ads
determined by number of clicks, such sites can
drive up traffic and, ultimately, ad revenue.

--

No word as to who will be first to get dinged by
a Microsoft powered lawsuit. (Published reports)

**


HAM RADIO ON THE NET: REC.RADIO.AMATEUR.MODERATED IS CREATED

A new, moderated discussion newsgroup for Amateur Radio has been
Created on Usenet. It's title is
rec.radio.amateur.moderated and as its name
suggests, safeguards are in place to preclude
junk posting, feuds and personal attacks.

As the group is brand new some Internet Service
Providers may not have it listed as of yet. If
your I-S-P does not provide access to it or to
the Usenet newsgroups, you can also read and post
to this new ham radio moderated newsgroup at the
Google Groups Web Site. Just go to
www.google.com and then click on the word more
then on the word groups. The type
rec.radio.amateur.moderated in the find group dialogue box. (K3FU)

**

HAM RADIO ON THE WEB: 60M WEB PAGE FOR DXERS.

Ton Colyard, K4MM, has created an interesting Web
page for 60 meters operators looking for DX. The
site lists stations that have been active on this
new band and also lists upcoming operations. Its
in cyberspace at http://60meters.info (Via e-mail)

**

DAYTON HAMVENTION RTTY FORUM.

Shelby Summerville, K4WW, in Louisville says that
the 2007 Dayton RTTY forum will take place on
Sunday, May 20th, from 10:15 to noon. The venue
is the Hara Arena, in Meeeting Room 2.

This years speakers will include Ken Wolff, K1EA,
and Ed Muns, W0YK. Wolff will discuss log
checking, and distinguish between myth and
reality. Muns will give ideas of efficiently
improving RTTY contesting. Time permitting, there
will be a question and answer session following
the presentations. (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: CHANGE A BULB AND SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT

A new coalition is urging everyone to throw away
incandescent light bulbs and go modern to help
save the environment. Burt Hicks, WB6MQV, has mo

--


A coalition of private companies and government
agencies is launching a grass-roots marketing
campaign to persuade more Americans to help
combat global warming by using Energy efficient
light bulbs. Backers of the 18 Seconds movement
include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
the Department of Energy, U.S. mayors, retailers,
religious organizations and conservation groups.

The campaign's goal is to increase awareness of
energy-efficient light bulbs as a way to slow
global climate change. Organizers say that If
every American swapped just one bulb, the country
could save $8 billion in energy costs and
eliminate 2 million cars worth of greenhouse gas
emissions. The campaigns name is based upon
thre average time it takes to remove an
incandescent lamp and replace it with one that's more energy efficient.

--

More is on-line at www.18seconds.org (Press release)

**

RESCUE RADIO: COMMUNICATIONS ACADEMY 2007

Communications Academy 2007 will be held from
March 31st to April 1st in Seattle,
Washington. This event offers 40 hours of
instruction along with a static display of
Emergency Communications vehicles and the like.

Communications Academy is not a hamfest but will
have several prominent ham radio speakers
including John Cline W5USN and the ARRL's Harold
Kramer, WJ1B. More is on line at www.commacadeny.org (N7NVP)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: NAB HONORS LOUIS KING, PE

The National Association of Broadcasters has
named Louis King, chairman of Kintronic
Laboratories, as the recipient of its Radio
Engineering Achievement Award, to be presented
during the upcoming NAB2007 convention. The NAB
says that from the time that he built his first
crystal radio to the receipt of his amateur radio
license, Louis King was destined to make his mark
on the broadcast world. And says the NAB, he did.

It was here in the early 1950's that King started
manufacturing AM broadcast antenna systems and
components. That lead to his establishing
Kintronic Laboratories which today is an RF
equipment manufacturer with customers in all 50
states and in over 100 countries,. King still
serves as its Chairman of the Board. King is a
life member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. (NAB)

**

WORLDBEAT - BELGIUM: AMATEUR RADIO EXHIBITED AT EUROPEAN PARLIMENT

"Amateur Radio, a European Resource" was the
title of a short term exhibit set up for a week
at the European Parliament, Brussels Belgium. It
was inaugurated at a special ceremony on Monday
March 5th with about 100 guests in attendance.

The display consisted of five self supporting
panels each of which represents a specific aspect
of amateur radio. Among the items shown were
emergency activities, space communications, the
training of the youth, careers directly
influenced by amateur radio and even an area
dealing with personalities who are radio
amateurs. Several additional posters told
onlookers whom hams are, why the service exists and what we do.

The Exhibition was installed Friday March 2nd and
removed March 9th. The president of IARU Region
1 along with several presidents and
vice-presidents of national societies were on
hand for the exhibits grand opening.

**

WORLDBEAT - AUSTRALIA: FREQUENCIES RESERVED FOR DRM

Meantime, down-under, Australia's radio regulator
is preparing for the introduction of Digital
Radio Mondiale transmissions. Again, from Auckland, heres Jim Meachen,
ZL2BHF:

--

The Australian Communications and Media Authority
has placed an embargo on frequencies and bands
potentially suitable for use by digital
broadcasting services using Digital Radio
Mondiale. These bands are outside the spectrum
used by traditional broadcasting services.

The frequencies involved are 5.950 to 6200, 7.100
to 73.00, 9.500 to 9900, 11.650 to 12.050, 13.600
to 13.800, 15.100 to 15.600, 17.550 to 17.900,
21.450 to 21.850 and 25.670 to 2.6100
MHz. The ACMA will consider applications for
the licensing of trials to investigate the use of
these bands for Digital Radio Mondiale operations.
--

No word as to when the spectrum study will be completed. (WIA News)


**

WORLDBEAT - CUBA: CONGRESS TO SCRUTINIZE RADIO MARTI

The Miami Herald reports that a congressional
committee now led by Democrat Representative
William Delahunt of Massachusetts plans oversight
hearings into Radio and TV Marti. This, amid
allegations of mismanagement of taxpayer money.

According to the news account the Oversight and
Investigations Subcommittee of the House
International Relations Committee will hold the
hearings. Radio and Television Marti are United
States propaganda stations that beam news and
other information to communist dominated Cuba. (RW)

**

DX

In D-X, the W2RZS Amateur Radio Club will be returning to Dominica
for the 2007 CQ WW WPX SSB Contest (March
24-25th) and they will be using their J75RZ
callsign. They expect to arrive on March 21st and
stay for 6 days. All QSLs for J75RZ should be
sent to W2RZS via direct or by the bureau.

And UA4WHX, continues to be active from
Madagascar as 5R8VB, but there are no details on
when he is leaving. He was heard this past
several weeks on 80 through 18 meters using CW or
SSB. QSL via UA4WHX, after he returns from his trip. (OPDX)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: GOING BACK TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS

And finally this week, a special celebration for
a California ham. Gordon West, WB6NOA, has the story:

--

Audio report only. Hear it I the audio version at www.arnewsline.org

--

And we add our congratulations to Dr. Overbeck on
this very special moment in his ham radio career. (WB6NOA)

**

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 Amateur Radio Newsline is
currently seeking nominees for our Young Ham of
the Year Award. Candidates must be 18 years of
age or younger. An on-line nominating form is in cyberspace at
www.yhoty.org

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the
editors desk, I'm Fred Vobbe, W8HDU, saying 73
and we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio
Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.