Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1594 - February 29, 2008

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1594 with a release date of Friday,
February 29th, 2008 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. An Australian digital ham radio group is
shutting down, the March Clipperton Island DXpedition is going live to the

web and Japan launches its own emergency communications satellite. Find
out more about it on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1594 coming
your
way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**

RESCUE RADIO TECHNOLOGY: VK PACKET GROUP SHUTTING DOWN

The cost of keeping a radio program going has become to much for one
Australian crew. After many years of service, Australia's Queensland
Digital Group is closing down and transferring its ham radio networks to
that nations Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Service better known by the

acronym WICEN. With the story behind the story here's W-I-A newsman Graham

Kemp, VK4BB:

--

Brisbane Area WICEN is set to take over the Queensland Digital Group packet

and Voice networks as the QDG Inc. can no longer maintain the networks and

will run out of funds within twelve months.

In order to keep the radio sites for Amateur use QDG reluctantly decided to

close down, this way they are able to pass on the networks as a going
concern, complete with some funds for maintenance and on going technical
support. A number of QDG Inc. members have joined WICEN to help maintain
the equipment.

This decision has taken over three years while they have tried other means

to keep the networks going but this is the only logical choice left. The
QDG's VK4DGQ packet mail-server will also close, due to the decline in
packet usage.

The Queensland Digital Group has started the slow process of shutting down

feeds to Queensland and interstate packet BBS. Invisible to users, VK4DGQ
has none the less been an integral part of the world wide packet radio
network for twenty years and will be missed by many hams.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB of the WIA News in
Brisbane, Australia.

--

VK4BB also reports that as the era comes to a close, so to does the VK4TX
packet radio Bulletin Board Server run by Neville Mills and bearing his
callsign. First on line in 1982 the well known Australian B-B-S was soon
attracting packet users in the Brisbane region and was very popular in the

1980's and 1990's. Over the last few years it has as a packet forwarding

gateway. (WIA News)

**

RESCUE RADIO TECHNOLOGY: JAPAN LAUNCHES EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS DATA
SATELLITE

Japan has successfully orbited an experimental satellite aimed at
providing high-speed emergency Internet access across Asia. This, even if

the terrestrial infrastructure were to be destroyed.

The Kizuna satellite was launched at 08:55 GMT on February 23rd from the
Japan Space Center on Tanegashima island using a Japan developed H-2A
rocket. The 342 million dollar bird will allow super-high speed data
communications of up to 1.2 Gbps. That rate translates to 150 times that
of the average high-speed ADSL connection rate of 8 Mbps, or 12 times the
speed of a fiber-optic communication delivery to an Internet subscribers
premises.

Japan is looking to use the satellite to allow communication when a
ground-based network is severed by a disaster in any Asian country. It
would be used to transmit data to crisis management offices by satellite
transceiver equipped first response teams in the field. The space agency
is also hoping to use the satellite as an educational or medical
communications tool to reach people in remote or mountainous areas.

The word Kizuna means "bond" in Japanese. The satellite is expected to be

commissioned to full service with terrestrial infrastructures this coming

July. (Space)

**

ON THE AIR: CLIPPERTON 08 GOING LIVE TO THE WEB

It's a DXpedition that you will be able to take part in, at least
vicariously. This with news that the upcoming TX5C DXpedition expects to
be active from Clipperton Island March 7th to March 17th has arranged to
bring much of its operation into your shack over the World Wide Web.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of satellite phone dealer Outfitter
Satellite Inc, the TX5C operation will be able to provide DX'ers with rich

high bandwidth content from the DXpedition including more online log
updates, webcams and live video from Clipperton Atoll.

Bob Grimmick, N6OX, will lead the international team to Clipperton. The
major sponsors include Icom America, SteppIR antennas, Alpha Radio
Products, the Northern California DX Foundation, and the International DX
Association. Operation will be on all the high frequency bands using C-W,

SSB and RTTY plus 6 meter CW and SSB.

This happens to be the 30th anniversary of the 1978 FO0XA-XH operation from

the atoll and the goal in 2008 is to hold 100,000 or QSO's worldwide.

More is on-line at http://clipperton2008.org. We will have more DX news
later on in this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report. (Clipperton 2008)

**

DX DISASTER: BAD WEATHER FORCES XR7W EARLY SHUTDON

Being at the center of a DX pile up not only involves a lot of hard work,
but it can also be dangerous and expensive. That's the story of the now

concluded Wager Island operation. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennent,

K6PZW, has mo

--

On February 9th, the XR7W Wager Island team experienced some truly horrible

weather conditions. They were forced to leave the island after some 24
hours of gale force winds and pouring rain.

Abandoning their DXpedition was bad enough, but once on the mainland the
team suffered a rather serious accident.

They were on their way back to Coyhaique, Chile when their van slipped of a

gravel road. It hit a rock and flipped upside-down. Four operators were
hospitalized. RV1CC was diagnosed with a broken left upper arm. CE6TBN
received cuts, bruises and a broken rib. RA0FU had a number of cuts while

HA1AG suffered a broken finger, a broken rib and compression on the thorax

bone. Thankfully none of the operators lost their life.

Despite all the problems, the XR7W operators managed some 2,400 QSO's from

the rare Wager Island location. The damage in van, to their equipment and

additional costs are estimated in excess of 11,000 Euros.

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

--

Wager Island is off the coast of Chile. You can read an in depth first
hand account of the accident written by HA1AG on line at
http://dx-is.com/news/?p7 (Southgate, HA1AG, others)

**

DX NOW: KOSOVO AND DXCC

The DXCC status of the newly independent nation of Kosovo remains in
question. In a lengthy press release last week, the ARRL's DXCC Manager
Bill Moore, NC1L, said he understands that there are many questions about
the DXCC status of Kosovo, but indicated that a decision on adding it to
the approved countries list could be sometime off .

Moore said the DXCC rules, modified in 2000 to better handle inclusion to
DXCC, are clear on how additions can be made. He says that for inclusion
in the DXCC List, certain conditions must be met. He says that gaining
entry on the DXCC List is not contingent upon whether operation has
occurred or will occur, but only upon the qualifications of the Entity"

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on February 17th. This set
off new speculation on what this means to Amateur Radio and specifically,
to the DXCC program. According to Moore, adding Kosovo to the DXCC List
would be considered under the "Political Entity" DXCC guidelines. These
DXCC rules state that Political Entities are those areas which are
separated by reason of government or political division. When Kosovo might

be put up for such consideration, Moore did not say. We will have more DX

news near the end of this weeks newscast. (ARRL)

**

BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the KD1RJ repeater
serving the city of Fairfield, Connecticut.

(5 sec pause here)


**


RESCUE RADIO: HAMS TRAIN FOR SKYWARN IN TERRE HAUTE INDIANA

Back in the USA, amateur radio operators and others in Terre Haute, Indiana

took time out on Monday night, February 25th to learn how to identify
dangerous storms. This, at a class where trainee storm spotters got a
lesson in spotting potentially severe weather formations.

Dave Tucek, KC9CNF, is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in

Indianapolis. He spoke to more than 60 amateur radio operators and other
weather spotters gathered for the 2008 Weather Spotter Class sponsored by
Illiana Indiana Skywarn. He says that storm spotters are vital in
identifying dangerous storms at the ground level. He said that weather
radar often only tells the National Weather Service what is happening
several thousand feet above the ground but not what's going on down here
at
ground level. Weather spotters, such as those in Illiana Skywarn, are vital

for issuing correct severe weather warnings, watches and advisories, Tucek

said.

Skywarn, a national organization that works with the National Weather
Service to help identify severe weather at the ground level. (Terre Haute

Star)

**

ENFORCEMENT: DEATH CANCELS PIRATE STATION FINE

The FCC has canceled a $10,000 fine against the late Henry Gaye for
operating an unlicensed radio transmitter. This, because Gaye has passed
on.

The text from the FCC was short and to the point. Dennis Carlton, regional

director of the South Central Region of the Enforcement Bureau, wrote: "Th
e
Tampa Office has since learned that Mr. Gaye passed away. Because Mr. Gaye

is no longer living, we cancel the NAL." (RW)

**

ENFORCEMENT: U.K. RAID NETS 20 PIRATES OFF THE AIR

Ofcom, the United Kingdoms telecommunications regulator has announced that

it recently carried out enforcement action against over 20 illegal
broadcasters in various parts of London. The operation was carried out
between February 6th and 16th in cooperation with the Boroughs of Hackney,

Haringey, Tower Hamlets and Islington, and the Metropolitan Police.. This

enforcement action resulted in three arrests, one studio raid, and the
removal of 22 transmitters from the airwaves. Ofcom estimates that there
are still over 150 illegal stations operating in the UK, with half of those

broadcasting across London and the South East. (GB2RS)

**

RADIO LAW: FOR THE BIRDS

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps says that he is pleased with a decision by a

federal appeals court to vacate the commission's denial and dismissal of

the Gulf Coast migratory bird petition. Instead, the court ordered the
commission to conduct a study of the effect of communications towers on
migratory birds.

The commission has an open proceeding on the issue of whether
communications towers, such as radio, TV, cell and two-way towers, cause or

contribute to migratory bird deaths. Environmentalists say they do;
broadcasters say they do not or that the problem is overstated.

The FCC has not decided whether to appeal the decision but Copps called the

decision a wake-up cal. He ays that it is time to stop acting as if a
problem will go away if we just keep kicking it down the road. (RW)

**


REPEATER PROBLEMS: UK D-STAR REPEATER GOES OFF DUE TO INTERFERENCE FROM
UNLICENSED DEVICES

A newly operational D-Star repeater in the United Kingdom has been forced
off the air due to interference on its input from unlicensed devices. The

Radio Society of Great Britain's Emerging Technology Co-ordination
Committee website reports that the GB7YD dash C, 70cm D-Star system has
been removed from service until an alternative frequency can be found.

According to the coordinating committee, problems have been experienced at

other United Kingdom 70 cm D-Star repeaters with an input on 433.9125
MHz. Unfortunately this part of the Amateur Band in the U-K was made
license exempt and is used by a large number of micro power consumer
electronic devices for remote control and telemetry applications. This
includes automobile key keyless entry systems, wireless door bells and data

links for in-home weather stations. (Southgate)

**

HAM TECHNOLOGY: D-STAR GROWING IN THE UK

But its not all bad news from our neighbors across the Atlantic pond. 2
meter D-Star repeaters have been springing up like weeds across the United

Kingdom in recent days. First was GB7DG in Glasgow on February 15th. It
was soon followed on the air by GB7YD in Yorkshire, GM7MI in Manchester and

GB7DE in Fife.

United Kingdom D-Star repeaters have already become well established in the

70 cm band. The new 2 meter repeaters make D-Star accessible to many more
U-K Radio Amateurs. The offer by Icom UK of 2 meter or 70 cm D-STAR
repeaters for £1000 which is equivalent to about 1900 U-S dollars has
undoubtedly been a factor in the rapid growth of the United Kingdom's
D-Star repeater network. So even with the interference from unlicensed
devices, D-Star in the United Kingdom is still quickly gaining in
popularity. (Southgate)

**

HAM HELP WANTED: PSR LOOKING FOR WRITERS AND ARTICLES

The Tucson Amateur Packet Radio publication Packet Status Register is
looking for a few good writers. Of particular interest are ham radio
operators working on the digital side of our hobby who would like to
publicize their activities.

Since 1982 Tucson Amateur Packet Radio publishes the Packet Status Register

quarterly as a membership journal featuring both technical and
non-technical articles. Its editorial staff can handle just about any
text and graphic format. The deadline for the next issue to be released at

the 2008 Dayton Hamvention is March 31st. Submissions go to WA1LOU at tapr

dot org. (TAPR)


**

HAM RADIO BUSINESS: HARBACH PURCHASES RIGHTS TO PETER W DAHL TRANSFORMERS

The name Peter W. Dahl and the transformers and chokes he designed will
live on. This with word that Jeff Weinberg, W8CQ of Harbach Electronics,
has purchased the rights to the name, along with the original transformer
and choke specifications and designs, and the design equipment.

Weinberg e-mailed at least one ham to confirm that the deal had been
made. In his note he indicated that the next generation of Dahl designed

transformers will be built by MagCap Engineering using the original
specifications, and sold through Harbach Electronics under the Peter Dahl
name. The transformer and chokes will be shipped FOB Canton, Massachusetts

and shipped directly to the customer from the MagCap Engineering
factory. (QRZ.com)

**


THE SOCIAL SCENE UPDATE: MT BEACON HAMFEST IN NY IN APRIL

Turning to the ham radio social scene, word that the 2008 Mt. Beacon
Amateur Radio Club Hamfest takes place on Sunday April 13th not April 1st

as reported last week. The venue is still the same. It's Tymor Park in
LaGrangeville, New York. More is on-line at www.wr2abb.org. (WA2BSS)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE: KENNEHOOCHEE HAMFEST MARCH 15TH

The 55th Annual Kennehoochee Hamfest, takes place Saturday, March 15th in
Jim R Miller Park, on Marietta, Georgia. Gates open at 8 a.m. and close at

3 in the afternoon local time with talk-in on the 146.880 MHz repeater that

requires a 100 hertz access tone. More about this event is on-line at
www.w4bi.org (E-mail)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE: DX PROGRAMS FOR YOUR CLUB MEETINGS

And if you are looking for a program for your next club meeting word that
movie maker Jim Brooks, 9V1YC has two new DXpedition videos out. One deals

with the 2006 Kermedec Island Zed-L-8-R operation. The other chronicles
the 2007 B-S-7-H Scarborough Reef operation. Both are professionally
produced, broadcast-quality documentaries on DVD. More about these and
Jim's other 8 DXpedition films are on line at www.dxvideos.com. (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)

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD: BOB BEASLEY, K6BJH - S.K.

Some more sad news to report . This, with the passing of famed ham radio
cartoonist Bob Beasley, K6BJH, of Homeland, California.

Bob Beasley was born and raised in southern California and became a radio
amateur in 1953. He once said that he had been interested in comic art
ever since he could remember, and decided at an early age that he wanted to

be a cartoonist.

For many years K6BJH was the resident cartoonist for Worldradio
Magazine. After he retired much of his work was released in the book The
Best of Beasley.

Bob Beasley, K6BJH, died on Saturday, February 16th. He was 83.
(Worldradio)

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD: SWL LEADER DON RICHARD SCHMIDT - SK

And the world of shortwave listening has lost one of its prominent
leaders. This with the passing of Southern California Area DX'ers club
Vice President Don Richard Schmidt.

According to Stewart MacKenzie, Schmidt died of an apparent heart Attack on

Monday, February 18th. McKenzie says that the group will greatly miss
Schmidt's services to the hobby of radio listening and to the two club's
that he has put his full energy into all these years.

MacKenzie says that per Schmidt's wishes there are no plans for a memorial

gathering. (SCADS)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: BOEING MUST PROVE WIRELESS BROADBAND SECURITY OF 787

Boeing Aircraft Company still has something to prove when it comes
to offering safe Internet access on its new 787 jetliner. This, before the

new jet will be permitted to carry passengers with their wireless devices

turned on.

Boeing has designed the 787 Dreamliner to allow airlines to offer
passengers more in-flight Internet options than previous planes have
allowed. Those new features and other aspects of 787's computer network go

beyond the scope of existing regulations. So the Federal Aviation
Administration is requiring Boeing to show the new technology isn't a
safety threat.

According to news reports, Boeing will have to show that Internet access in

the cabin will not leave the flight controls vulnerable to hackers and
hijackers. The company claims it has engineered safeguards to shut out
unauthorized users, but some security analysts worry navigation and
communications systems could still be vulnerable.

As to you bringing along your H-T and operating from on-high. Well don't
hold your breath. Its doubtful that any major airline will ever permit
hams to talk on the air with their own gear as some might
please. (Science OnLine)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AO-11 COPIED BUT INTERMITTANT

AMSAT reports that its aging OSCAR-11 ham radio satellite was heard from
January 22nd to February 1st and again from February 11th to the
15th. Signal levels have been very variable in strength sometimes very
strong, and at other time undetectable, even at high elevations. Low
signal strength was particularly noticeable towards the end of the
transmission periods.

OSCAR-11 is expected to switch back on under control of its on-board timer

around March 7th. There should be a short period of transmissions before
permanent eclipses start in mid March. After that time it is unlikely that

the satellite will support any sustained period of operation, and will only

transmit for a short time, possibly less than a single orbit, every 21 days.

OSCAR-11 has a beacon frequency of 145.826 MHz where it transmits
telemetry. More information is at
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ (ANS)

**

WORLDBEAT - ANTARCTICA: LOGS FINALLY ARRIVE

Some good news for those of you waiting a long time for a confirmation from

Antarctica. Adam Brown, K2ARB, reports that he has received the logs for
the operation from KC4USV at McMurdo Station for the period October 2004
through February 2007. Among the operators during that period were Mike
Poole, KE6ZYK, and Charles Dowdell, N2TYQ. All stations wishing to confirm

a QSO or submit an SWL signal report are invited to do so via K1IED
at his address as found on QRZ.com. All QSO's will soon be uploaded to
Logbook to the World as well. (Modern DX News)

**

WORLDBEAT - AUSTRALIA: A NEW HAM ON-LINE WIKI

A new amateur radio wiki has been started by Tim Roberts, VK4YEH. Roberts

says that he intends for this new wiki to become an online encyclopaedia
for hams, rather than just pages of links. Articles of all sorts are
welcome, but be aware that the philosophy of a wiki is that articles can
be, and probably will be, edited by others. The URL is
www.amateur-radio-wiki.net (WIA)

**

WORLDBEAT - WORLDWIDE: INTERNATIONAL MUSEUMS WEEKEND

This years International Museums Weekend special event will take place on
the weekend of June 14th and 15th. Hams world-wide are encouraged to
participate in this event by setting up stations in their local museums.

The event organizer is Harry Bloomfield, M1BYT. He asks that all those
intending to join in should register their museum on the International
Museums Weekend website at www.ukradioamateur.co.uk/imw Harry himself can

be contacted by email to harry dot m1byt at tiscali do co dot uk. (GB2RS)

**

DX

In DX, word that F8CHM will be active as FR5EZ from Reunion Island until
the 21st of March. He expects to be active on the HF bands and 6 meters
using CW and SSB. QSL as directed on the air

And weather permitting, the United Kingdom's Luton VHF Group plan to
activate the Welsh island of Caldey, on 1st and 2nd March. This, during
the 2 meter and 70cm RSGB contest. The callsign will be GW3SVJ. The
expedition is a precursor to a much longer and larger expedition planned
for the first week of September. Further information is available at www
dot vhfcomm dot co dot uk slash LVG.

Also the 1st and 2nd of March sees the ARRL DX SSB Contest on all HF bands.

It starts at 00.01 on the Saturday and ends at 23.59 on the Sunday. The
exchange is RST and serial number. As this is a contest contacts must be
kept brief so please do not ask QSL routing. Most major operations will

either post this information on the Internet or supply it to DX and contest

newsletter.

The VP6DX operation was slated to leave the island on February 28th. As
this was being written, the VP6DX Web site was reporting around 121,968
QSO's. The U-R-L is www.vp6dx.com

Lastly, word that the New Zealand's NZART QSL Bureau ZL1 prefix sub-bureau

is closed until further notice. Jack Small, ZL1KQ, has retired from the
position he has held since 1980. The national society is now looking for

a replacement for Small willing to take on this unpaid volunteer position.

(Above from various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: UK MAN STEALS TO BUY RADIOS

And finally this week, talk about being addicted to radio. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Jim Damron, N8TMW, reports:

--

The Halifax Evening Courier reports that a 56-year-old man in the United
Kingdom admitted to stealing the equivalent of almost $30,000 from his 71
year old partner and spending it all on receivers.

The newspaper says that the Copley, Halifax man was accused of forging his

partners signature on checks made out to himself while she was a resident
in a nursing home. He reportedly used the money to purchase radios with
which he surrounded himself often had them all on at once.

Police found about 50 wireless sets in his house. The defense said he had
suffered from an obsessive compulsive disorder for 30 years.

--

The next time your XYL gives you a bad time over your transceiver and
antenna tuner, just tell her about this guy and how lucky she really
is. (Halifax EC)

**

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
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Arcadia, California 91066.

Before we go we want to remind you that the nominating period for the 2008

Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year is now open. Any licensed
radio amateur age 18 or younger residing in the United States or Canada is

eligible for the award. Full details and both downloadable and on-line
nominating forms are in cyberspace at www.YHOTY.org.

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm David
Black,
KB4KCH, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.

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