Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1716 - July 2 2010

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1716 with a release date of
Friday, July 2, 2010 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. French telecommunications regulator says
D-Star is illegal in that nation and French hams vow to fight. Also, a
change in U.S, technology export rules could help the ham radio space
program, Delaware legislators sponsor bill to exempt two way radio
users from restrictive cellphone law and the sounds of a very pleasant
Field Day. Hear it all on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number
1716 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**

RADIO LAW: FRENCH TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATOR RULES D-STAR ILLEGAL

D-Star and possibly other digital voice protocols are not legal for
hams to use in France. At least not as far as that nations
telecommunications regulator is concerned. Amateur Radio Newsline's
Bill Pasternak, is here with the details:

--

A report on France's digital ham radio website DR@F says that the nations
telecommunications agency, the ARCEP, has said the D-STAR digital audio
protocol specifications could allow ham radio operators to connect their
stations to Internet. As far as that regulatory agency is concerned, that
is a prohibited practice.

The ARCEP also cites alleged concerns regarding cryptography and national
security. It also says that digital voice modes that use proprietary
codecs such as the AMBE vocoder in D-Star, uses patents, licenses and
proprietary undisclosed specifications that are against France's open
standard policy.

It should be noted that France has always exercised strong control on use
of cryptographic methods in all electronic communications. In this case,
it seems to be that the ARCEP views a codec using proprietary standards
such as AMBE as a way of encrypting or disguising the content of ham radio
communication.

But the French ham community counters by saying that the ARCEP is not
respecting the terms the agency's Directive 2009/140/CE art. 1 - paragraph
b. French hams claim this to be about the fundamental right to access to
the Internet by and from final users regardless of the way that access is
made.

As a result the website is calling on all European amateur radio societies
to help them in what they call a battle to allow all digital voice
modes,. Also to permit Internet access, no restrictions on
experimentation, and their first step is a big one. They have begun a
region wide petition drive to the European Parliament of the European
Union. One that asks that august body to direct the French government and
its telecommunications regulator to respect the fundamental rights of that
nations ham community to communicate using digital technology and Internet
linking.

Where this all might lead is anyone's guess. We will keep you posted as we
learn more.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline I'm bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the newsroom
in the City of Angels.

--

More on this situation in electronically translated English can be found at
draf.asso.fr (Southgate, DR@F)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: CHANGE IN US TECHNOLOGY EXPORT RESTRICTIONSS COULD
HELP THE HAM RADIO SPACE PTROGRAM

A small change in United States technology export restrictions could pave
the way for closer cooperation among ham radio space related projects
world-wide. The change comes to the area called Effective Export Policies
in the latest US National Space Policy released June 28th.

The 2006 Space Policy statement said -- and we quote: "Exports of
sensitive or advanced technical data, systems, technologies and components,
shall be approved only rarely, on a case-by-case basis." This greatly
impeded international collaboration between radio amateurs on ham radio
satellites.

But the 2010 version appears slightly less restrictive. It says in part --
and again we quote: "The United States Government will consider the
issuance of licenses for space-related exports on a case-by-case basis,
pursuant to, and in accordance with, the International Traffic in Arms
Regulations, the Export Administration Regulations, and other applicable
laws, treaties, and regulations. Consistent with the foregoing
space-related items that are determined to be generally available in the
global marketplace shall be considered favorably with a view that such
exports are usually in the national interests of the United States."

Translated into every day English, this policy change seems to say that
technology that is essentially available from sources other than the United
States will no longer be treated as secretive and secure. Most if not all
ham radio related space hardware and software would likely fall into this
category. However, sensitive or advanced spacecraft-related exports may
require a government-to-government agreement or other acceptable
arrangement. You can read the full text of the 2010 National Space Policy
of the United States of America on line at tinyurl.com/25v9wuv or
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/defa...policy_6-28-10.
pdf
(Southgate)

**

RADIO POLITICS: PRESIDENT OBAMA GIVES NOD TO NATIONAL BROADBAND PLAN

President Barrack Obama has proposed almost doubling the spectrum available
for current and new wireless devices to connect to the Internet. It's a
plan that could eventually impact on all spectrum users., Amateur Radio
Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the details:

--

On Monday, June 28th, President Obama signed a memorandum that commits the
U.S. to free up 500 megahertz of government and commercial spectrum over
the next 10 years. This, to meet demands for mobile access to broadband
services.

The president's plan, which requires congressional legislation, would draw
on government and commercial airwaves the administration considers to be
underutilized. The White house says that revenue from auctioning the
freed-up spectrum would help build a nationwide mobile broadband system for
public-safety agencies as well.

The Presidents proposals which is based on the FCC's proposed National
Broadband Plan calls for deploying the fastest and most extensive wireless
networks of any nation by the year 2020, to ensure wider service and spur
competition with cable and telephone companies. It also seeks 12 billion
to 16 billion dollars in funding to build and operate a totally
interoperable telecommunications network for emergency workers.

While wireless carriers and broadband suppliers are pleased with both the
FCC and presidential plans, fierce resistance is expected from television
station owners. They say that they already gave up significant spectrum in
2009 as part of their switch to digital. Broadcasters claim said they need
all of their current band space to offer viewers multiple, simultaneous
programs, and to expand into services such as mobile TV. They also back a
proposal for congress to authorize a search for all unused or under
utilized spectrum.

And here is where ham radio could at least theoretically be
impacted. While only speculation at the moment, a full fledged spectrum
review could eventually include most if not all ham radio allocations at
222 MHz and above. More realistically its frequencies at 902 MHz and
higher that might be most at risk. This is because the shorter wavelengths
and smaller physical size of antennas makes them a better choice for
wireless broadband and mobile broadcast operations. But moving the current
users of spectrum above 900 MHz would also entail changes in service
allocations in the various VHF and UHF bands below 900 MHz as well to give
those displaced for broadband a new home.

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

--

Hams are not the only ones who might feel the impact of an across the board
spectrum survey. If the government uses the amount the number of spectrum
users of day to day activity as a basis for which services should retain
spectrum and which should not, a lot of low utilization services could find
themselves in a fight for survival. (Adapted from various published news
stories)

**


BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the N9MCS repeater
serving Rockford, Illinois.

(5 sec pause here)


**

RADIO LAW: DELAWARE REPRESENTATIVE SPONSORS LAW TO EXCLUDE TWO WAY RADIOI
FROM STATES CELLPHONE BAN

A bill being filed in the Delaware State House of Representatives aims to
allow the continued use of amateur, CB and other two-way radios by
motorists. Amateur Radio Newsline's Frank Haas, KB4T, reports:

--

Introduced by State Representatives Ruth Briggs King who is the prime
sponsor and Representative Dave Wilson, the bill is a reaction to a pending
law that will have the unintended consequence of outlawing the use of two
way radios along with cellular phone and texting devices by Delaware
drivers in early 2011.

Having cleared the General Assembly, but not yet been signed into law by
the governor, House Substitute 1 for House Bill 229 would prohibit Delaware
motorists from using hand-held cell phones to hold conversations or send
text messages. The pending statute would also bar the use of hand-held
devices to access e-mail or browse the Internet while operating a motor
vehicle.

Representative King says that the issue that was never fully explored
during the debate on this measure. As such it will also inadvertently make
it illegal to use two-way radios that are used to coordinate the operation
of hundreds, if not thousands, of service and delivery trucks throughout
the state.

Representative King, who also tried to amend the original bill to exempt
amateur radio operators, said the new bill will also accomplish that
goal. This by carving out an exemption for two-way radios with a fixed
placement in the vehicle. She and Representative Wilson are hoping to
garner full bi-partisan support for the corrective measure.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Frank Haas, KB4T, reporting.

--

Governor Markell has said he plans to sign into law the bill banning the
use of hand-held cell phones by motorists. King says that she is hoping
that her bill will be signed into law at the same signing
ceremony. (eHam, other published reports)

**

RADIO AID: L.A. REPEATER GROUP GIVES HOMELESS USERS FOOD AND SHELTER

Ham radio has come to the aid of two men who recently lost their home.
According to Chris Baldwin, KF6AJM of Southern California's Desert
Communications Network, Robert Martin, KE6YDO and Richard Martin, KE6RJI
are brothers that lived in the City of Maywood until just recently. That'
s
when their deceased mother's home was sold at probate and leaving them
without a roof over their heads.

Baldwin says that both brothers are unemployed and have only one running
vehicle between the two of them. They also had nowhere to go, with one of
the few things in their lives being their friends on the Los Angeles area
435 repeater.

Hearing that the brothers were in dire straits, system owner Gary Elmer,
K6GE, let the system users know that the Martin brothers were in need of
help. Using PayPal, donations were submitted to the 435 Repeater Fund on
the repeaters web page. In a matter of three hours $1014 was raised. Not
only did donations come from those in the repeaters coverage area but also
from across the region and the nation from those listening via a live audio
feed on the internet.

The monies collected were to be given to the brothers in the form of gift
cards for food. A motel room for them will be paid for directly by the
repeater group.

According to Chris Baldwin, KF6AJM: "The powers that be on the repeater
supervising this are in regular communications with them. Things are being
taken care of and we can definitely tell that they were grateful for the
help, and like we say: 'they would do it for us." So we are glad to help
where we can."

Hopefully, KE6YDO and KE6RJI will soon have their share of the proceeds
from the sale of the property in Maywood. Latest word is that it should be
out of probate in about 5 weeks. In the meantime, hams who know them, and
many who do not, are making certain that they have a roof over their head
and food to eat.

And for those who are wondering: Yes this is the same 435 repeater that
long ago gained world wide notoriety for its rather liberal form of
operation. What many are not aware of is that since its earliest days the
repeater and its user base have dedicated themselves to many charitable and
community activities. This includes the first time ham radio went into
hospitals at Christmas time to bring kids stuck there for the holidays a
bit of season cheer. That was the original Operation Santa Claus that
dates back in the early 1970's. (KF6AJM)

**

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)

**

RADIO RULES: 700 MHz BAND NOW OFF LIMITS TO WIRELESS MICS

The FCC has issued an Enforcement Advisory stating that as of June 12th
that wireless microphones and similar devices are now prohibited from
operation between 698 to 806 MHz. These devices include wireless
intercoms, wireless in-ear monitors, wireless audio instrument links, and
wireless cueing equipment.

By way of background, when some models of wireless microphones were
originally designed, the frequencies they used were located between the
frequencies utilized by television stations to broadcast programs. With
the completion of the Digital TV transition on June 12, 2009, television
stations no longer use the frequencies in the band in and adjacent to 700
MHz. These frequencies are now being used by commercial providers of
wireless broadband and by public safety entities such as police, fire, and
emergency response services. More is on line at tinyurl.com/2ez4rxb (FCC)

**

RADIO LAW: UK REGULATOR TURNS TVI INVESTIGATIONS TO THE BBC

United Kingdom Telecommunications regulator Ofcom is transferring
responsibility for investigating radio and television interference
complaints to the British Broadcasting Company.

As of June 30th all outstanding cases with Ofcom will be passed to the BBC
for action from that date. On and after July 1st all UK residents will be
required to file complaints to the BBC.

If, following the investigation by the BBC, there is evidence of
interference caused by something outside the publics control and which is
unlawful, the BBC may refer your case back to Ofcom for possible
enforcement action. More on this is on-line at
tinyurl.com/2adwckj. (Southgate)

**

HAM RADIO ON THE WEB: NCDXF INTRODUCES REDESIGNED WEBSITE

A newly re-designed website has been introduced by the Northern California
DX Foundation. The redesigned cyberspace home of the NCDXF is intended to
enable those interested to follow past and future DXpeditions that NCDXF
has sponsored. There are resources on the worldwide Beacon system, an
online store for NCDXF supplies, information about the foundations
scholarship program, a video library and other information means. You can
see the new offering on line at www.ncdxf.org (WØGJ)

**

RADIO ON THE WEB: NEW RADIO ASTRONOMY GROUP WEBSITE OPENED

The British Astronomical Association Radio Astronomy Group new website is
now live. The aim of these web-pages is to show that there are aspects of
radio astronomy that can be observed using relatively simple
equipment. Also, that observations of scientific merit can be achieved by
modest observatories that can be accommodated in an average-sized back
garden. The website carries a short URL and is in cyberspace at
www.britastro.org/radio, (BAA Radio Astronomy Group)

**

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)

**

WITH NEWSLINE: WHAT IS TINY URL

Have you noticed a slight change here on Newsline? In case you have not
noticed, about a month ago we began giving web addresses using a shorthand
called Tiny URL. But what is Tiny URL you ask? Well it's a method of
taking a very large and complex web address and making it really -- well --
tiny.

Tiny URL is a free web based service located in cyberspace at www dot
tinyurl dot com. All you need do is cut and past in a long URL, click the
box marked "Make Tiny URL" and the program that runs the website will
created the shorthand version and display it on a new page.

By way of example. I was just reading a story about the FCC's ban on 700
MHz wireless mics and other devices. Its actually found in cyberspace at
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...-10-1053A1.pdf. Talk
about a mouth full. But by plugging that in at TinyURL.com the result is
http://tinyurl.com/2ez4rxb. Since all modern web browsers automatically
insert the http:// all we need to give you is tinyurl.com/2ez4rxb to get to
the website.

Anyhow, if your clubs website suffers from one of those longer than long
Internet addresses because you are the guest on someone else's server, you
might want to try shortening it using TinyURL.com. After all, it's the
shortest URL's like ARRL.org, ARNewsline.org or even tinyurl.com that are
the easiest to remember.

And less we forget: Our thanks to Bob Gonsett, W6VR, over at the C-G-C
Communicator newsletter for putting us onto TinyURL.com. Its made things a
lot easier for those of us who anchor these reports to give you a web
address that short and easy to jot down. (ARNewsline, CGC)

**

WORLDBEAT: IARU REGION 1 NEWSLETTER 63 AVAILABLE

IARU-R1 High Frequency Committee Newsletter Number 63 is now available for
free download. Among the subjects covered are Internet Gateways & remote
Linking for H-F Operation, vandalism on our High Frequency Bands, the 40
meter band situation, the and of coarse WRC-12.

IARU Region 1 is the federation of national ham radio associations from
Europe, Africa, Middle East and Northern Asia. The newsletter can be
downloaded in PDF format at tinyurl.com/285wryy

(IARU Region 1)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: GENERAL CONTACTS FROM THE ISS IS AN ON-ORBIT DECISION

Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, says that its up to the ham radio operators on board
the International Space Station to decide if they do or do not want to make
general ham radio contacts or just chat with kids in schools.

In a posting to the SAREX remailer, Sufana, who is one of the ARISS
Mentors, notes that lately there have been some comments on the various
Internet bulletin boards about having general contacts or leaving the
packet or crossband repeater on. In response to those hams critical of the
lack of time that the licensed astronauts and cosmonauts are devoting to
contacts with the general ham public, Sufana says that as with anything in
society, the International Space Station crew have many different interests
and a very heavy work load. He notes that some have been ham radio
operators for many years before going on-orbit and may want to make a
random contacts. Others have had next to no experience with the hobby and
get on only sporadically. And notes Sufana, there have been quite a few
who have gotten their license shortly before going up to the I-S-S and
often times they only get on for the scheduled school contacts. And notes
AJ9N, if they had not gotten their licenses then even the school contact
list would have suffered because on some expeditions there would be no hams
scheduled to fly.

Sufana says that after every school contact, the crew is told how to
configure the radio. If the crew does not set up the radios for general
usage, then there is not much ARISS can do about it other than to remind
them. He also advises all of us that that ARISS is a guest onboard the
International Space Station and if the crew elects to not turn something on
or to operate, then that is their decision. AJ9N says that ARISS can only
suggest; it can never demand. (ARNewsline(tm) from SAREX Remailer)

**

DX

In DX, RV3ACA will be active from Jersey Island as GJ2A during the RSGB
Islands on the Air Contest on July 24th and 25th. as a Single-Operator SSB
or Mixed Mode entry. She will be active outside of the contest between July
21st and the 26th. QSL via RV3ACA.

YU1YV is active portable 4 Zero from Montenegro, possibly as 4O3A. He likes
75 and 80, but will be active mostly on 6, 10, 15 and 20 meters. He will
also be in the IARU HF Contest July 10th and 11th as a
Single-Op/All-Band entry. QSL as directed on the air

I1FQH will be operational as 5V7DX from Kpalime Village in central Togo
between July 15th and the 30th. His activity will be on 20 through 10
meters using a Spiderbeam and on 40 and 30 meters using a homebrew
vertical. QSL via Logbook of the World, via his home callsign direct with a
self addressed stamped envelope or by the bureau. He plans to put pictures
and video of his operation on YouTube once he arrives home.

Lastly down the log a bit plan for S79K to be active from Mahe in the
Seychelles during the CQ World Wide DX SSB Contest on October 30th and
31st. QSL via G3NKC.

(Above from various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: A VERY PLEASANT FIELD DAY 2010

If there's one word we had to choose to describe Field Day 2010, that word
might be pleasant. And while the underlying spirit of contesting was still
there, it seemed like everyone taking part was enjoying the moment:

--

Actual Field Day Audio from Chicago

--

That's how Field Day sounded in the hamshack and studio of Hap Holly,
KC9RP
in the Chicago suburb of Des Planes, Illinois. 1900 miles to the West, the
fun of Field Day was just as prevalent:

--

Actual Field Day Audio from Los Angeles

--

And for those who were smart enough to include a 6 meter station, we can
only say that the propagation gods seemed to be shining on that
band. That's because one of the truly rarest states on that band is
Wyoming and the operators at WY7U seemed to have a Field Day pipeline to
the west coast:

--

Actual Audio of WY7U working N6RW

--

In all, Field Day 2010 sounded like everyone taking part was enjoying the
moment and the contacts on the pleasant moments that they spent on the
air. And we can't think of a nicer way to end this weeks newscast.

(ARNewsline(tm) with some audio supplied by KC9RP)

**

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 Fred Vobbe,
W8HDU, saying 73 from Lima, Ohio, and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.