Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1740 - December 17 2010

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1740 with a release date of
Friday, December 17th 2010 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. Hams in Hawaii are ready as a Pacific storm
hits the island state, a New Brunswick cellphone law could ban amateur
radio mobile operations, the long awaited Jarvis Island DXpedition is
put on hold until November of 2011 and Ohio hams provide the technology
to improve a sheriff's radio system. All this and more on Amateur
Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1740 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**

RESCUE RADIO: HAWAII HAMS READY AS PACIFIC STORM HITS

Hams in Hawaii were ready as a major Pacific storm raked itself over
the Island state. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the newsroom with
mo

--

(Sound of ham rtadio emcomm operations)

That's the sound of ham radio RACES and SKYWARN operations as a strong
Pacific storm system moved over Hawaii on December 9th and 10th
bringing with it heavy rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
According to News reports, worst hit was Oahu and Kauai with gusty
winds taking down trees in several areas.

Ron Hashiro, AH6RH, is the Hawaii State Civil Defense RACES Coordinator
and an accredited SKYWARN member. He explains the system that caused
the severe storm:

--

AH6RH: "What we had was a cold front move through the system and
butting up against some warm air to the South-East. As that storm
front came through it produced a collection of thunder storms and those
were sweeping through Kauai then hiting Oahu and moving toward the
South-East :

--

Hashiro told Newsline that the National Weather Service needed severe
weather spotters all across the Island state and the hams were ready to
respond:

--

AH6RH: "Ray Tanabe, who is WH7IH, is one of our contacts at state
Civil Defense asked us to activate SKYWARN so Clem Jung, KH7HO,
contacted a number of hams on Oahu and put together a response team and
had people scheduled from 6 p.m. on Thursday all the way through Friday
evening.
--

According to Hashiro, the ham radio volunteers were both communicators
and severe weather spotters:

--

AH6RH: "We (hams) provided radio communications at the National
Weathewr Service in Honolulu and a number of hams at their homes or on
the road called in weather reports on the tremendous amount of rain,
lightning, thunder and the wind conditions. (That's) something that
the National Weather Service can't quite pick up on is what is the wind
speed on the ground and what is the total amount of lightning that is
present in a given area. Therefore weather spotting is a very
important part of the collection of information on weather conditions."

--

As hams did their job, Honolulu Fire crews worked to clear what was
left of the roof of a plumbing supply company that had been sheared off
by the storm. Officials said that the overnight, gusty winds blew open
a large warehouse door, and then lifted the roof off. Some 3,000 feet
of the roofing material was taken off, with some parts landing several
blocks away on the famed Nimitz Highway.

With thanks to former Newsline Production Coordinator Bill Orenstein,
KH6QX, for the on the scene audio, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the
newsroom in the City of Angels reporting for the Amateur Radio
Newsline.

--

Thanks to the ongoing training that many hams in Hawaii devote
themselves to, everyone was ready to handle this latest challenge that
Mother Nature brought their way. (ARNewsline(tm) with some audio
supplied by KH6QX)

**

RESTRUCTURING: UK GOVERNMENT LOOKING FOR 500 MHZ FOR BROADBAND

The United Kingdom's government is looking 500MHz spectrum and this
could spell problems ahead for hams in that nation.

The British newspaper the Register recently carried a story on
government plans to reallocate as much as 500 MHz of spectrum for
broadband Internet. The article points out that if large chunks of
Ministry of Defense spectrum are sold off, the new owners are unlikely
to be willing to share it with others.

The problem for UK hams comes from the fact that all Amateur Radio UHF
and Microwave bands are shared with either the Ministry of Defense or
the U-K Civil Aviation Authority. If some of the spectrum that gets
reallocated happens be shared with radio amateurs, its quite likely
that the hams will be forced off those bands.

Those interested can read the entire Register article at
tinyurl.com/28ayvzl (Southgate)

**

RESTRUCTURING: NEW MICROWAVE BAND ALLOCATIONS IN SPAIN

Thanks to the efforts of the Spanish amateur radio society the U-R-E,
hams in that nation now have access to three new microwave bands. These
are 2320 to 2322, 5760 to 5762 and 10368 to 10370 MHz Amateur use of
this spectrum has been authorized for a year, however, those intending
to use 2320 to 2322 must first inform the nations telecommunications
regulator. More on this regulatory change in Spain in Google
translated English is on line at tinyurl.com/SpainURE. (URE)

**

RADIO LAW: NEW BRUNSWICK CANADA CELL LAW COULD BAN MONBILE HAM
OPEATIONS

The Canadian province of New Brunswick has introduced legislation
banning cellular telephone and two way radio use while mobile. Amateur
radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, has the details:

--

The measure was introduced in the New Brunswick Legislature on November
24th. Its aim is to control cell phone and any other hand-operated
electronic device use while driving. As worded it would prevent radio
amateurs from using their mobile radios while in motion.

Now in a letter to Brunswick Minister of Public Safety, Robert Trevors,
the national society Radio Amateurs of Canada has taken strong
opposition to the proposed law. In its communiqu‚ to Trevors, RAC
notes that most provinces such as Nova Scotia, Manitoba, British
Columbia, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador have chosen not to restrict
the operation of mobile amateur radio equipment while driving. RAC
notes that these governments have recognized the value of amateur radio
to their citizens during such emergencies such as floods, dangerous
weather and ice storms. Also noted is the support by Canadian hams in
support of public events such as Marathons and of emergency relief
groups such as the Red Cross and a variety of provincial and municipal
agencies across Canada. RAC adds that this support provided by amateur
radio is frequent, freely given and in the highest standard of public
service.

The letter goes on to state that hams in New Brunswick regularly and
without fail respond to the provinces citizen's needs. This includes
helping municipalities fighting flooding along the St. John River. The
note ends by warning New Brunswick legislators that eliminating the use
of Federally Certified Canadian radio amateurs to use mobile radio
equipment will not increase public safety but will decrease it.

The third reading on the bill is expected during the week of at about
the time this newscast goes to air. After that the Bill permits the New
Brunswick government to proclaim the legislation at a time of its
choosing anytime thereafter.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, watching the
events up North from Scottsdale, Arizona.

--

Radio Amateurs of Canada says that it is preferable that any exclusion
for Amateur Radio operators occurs in the legislation itself as it has
requested. However it notes that there are provisions for a regulated
exclusion for radio amateurs under Canadian law. This states that the
Lieutenant-Governor in Council may make regulations exempting, with or
without conditions, certain classes or types of devices or motor
vehicles, or certain classes of persons. Read the latter as referring
to Canadian hams. (RAC, VE4BAW)

**

BREAK 1

This week coming to you from down-under, we are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the
W7CSK repeater serving Everett, Washington.

(5 sec pause here)


**

BREAKING DX NEWS: JARVIS ISLAND OPERATION DELAYED TO NOV 2011

The DXpedition to Jarvis Island organized by Radio Expeditions Inc has
been postponed until November 2011. The reasons are complex but boil
down to it taking authorities to long to come up with a plan acceptable
to all parties and then getting it approved though all the bureaucratic
red tape. Once it was in place several groups qualified under it. So
more time was spent in holding a lottery to decide which group would be
permitted to go.

While Radio Expeditions Inc was fortunate to be the group selected in
late August, it soon became apparent that due to all these factors plus
scheduling transportation to Jarvis, that it was best for all involved
that the expedition be postponed one year.

November remains the best month to visit Jarvis Island from a
propagation standpoint, with the largest combination of openings
predicted to Europe on the H-F band. This being the case the new plan
is for the operation to take place in November of 2011 with exact dates
to be announced. (Radio Expeditions Inc.)

**

RESCUE RADIO: OHIO HAMS PROVIDE TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT TO IMPROVE COUNTY
RADIO SYSTEM

Ham radio operators have volunteered their time and technical expertise
to improve communications for the Wood County Sheriff's Office just
south of Toledo, Ohio. Amateur Radio Newsline's Fred Vobbe, W8HDU, has
the rest of the story:

--

After years of incomplete police radio coverage, the Wood County
Sheriff's Office has made some significant communications upgrades.

In many remote areas of the county, deputies' police radios wouldn't
work once they got out of their car. That caused them t0 loose contact
with dispatchers and other officers. But with a little ingenuity, and
some help from ham radio operators, the problem is solved.

"It was scary for me to know that there were times when my deputies
went there on a call we had no communication with them, said Wood
County Sheriff Mark "That caused a lot of sleepless nights."

Estimates for communications upgrades ran in to the millions. Wood
County did not have that kind of money. So the Sheriff turned to
amateur radio operators from around the county.

"They looked at our system and came up with a relatively inexpensive
fix which was to move antenna situation around the county to much high
locations," said Wasylyshyn.

Wood County was able to update the system for just $160,000. Tower
space at eight locations around Wood County was donated, from radio
towers to water towers. And to make sure deputies could stay in contact
anywhere outside, as well as inside buildings, they are putting mobile
repeaters in the trunks of cruisers.

I'm Fred Vobbe, W8HDU, reporting from Lima, Ohio.

--

To even further strengthen Wood County's communication system, it has
now installed two new propane powered generators for the radio system.
That means the county can maintain radio contact with its officers in
the field in case of a power outage that could last several days. Up
until the generators the battery back-up system would only keep the
county's communication's network going four hours. (W8HDU from
published news reports)

**

ENFORCEMENT: CALIFORNIA CB'ER ISSUED NOTICE OF UNLICENSED OPERATION

The FCC's Sam Francisco Field Office has issued a Notice of Unlicensed
Operation to Victor M. Coucelos of Anderson, California. This for what
the regulatory agency says were violations of its Part 95 Rules
governing the Citizens Radio Service.

According to the FCC, it received a complaint of Citizens Band Radio
interference in the city of Anderson, California. This past August 24th
agents from the San Francisco office confirmed by direction finding
techniques that radio signals on 27.085 MHz were emanating from
Coucelos residence. Agents also heard Coucelos station transmitting
sound effects, language that might be classified as profane, indecent
or obscene, and music.

During an inspection on August 25th of Coucelos CB station he was
identified as the person responsible for its operation. The inspection
revealed that a Galaxy, model DX 2517, transceiver was in use at
Coucelos base station, and a model Magnum S-9 Nitro transceiver
installed in Coucelos vehicle. These transmitters are not certificated
for CB use and Coucelos operation of these transmitters voided his
authority to operate his CB station.

During the inspection, the San Francisco agents issued Coucelos a
verbal warning that any further operation with these transmitters might
subject him to more serious sanctions for engaging in violations of the
Part 95 rules.

Coucelos was told that he must cease such violations immediately. If
he fails to abide by the FCC edict, he could be re-investigated during
FCC enforcement efforts. If such an investigation were to indicate
that Coucelos had violated any FCC Rules he could face severe
penalties, including a substantial monetary forfeiture, seizure of his
radio equipment and criminal sanctions including imprisonment. He was
given 15 days from the date of the letter to respond advising what
corrective actions hr has taken to eliminate the observed violations of
the Commission's Rules. (FCC)

**

RADIO LAW: FCC GRANTS WAIVER FOR TRAIN BREAK RADIO SYSTEM The FCC has
granted eight railroads temporary waivers of the power limit for
telemetry operations in the 450 to 470 MHz band. Specifically, the
waivers to permit the operation of end-of-train ot E-O-T devices with
eight watts transmitter output power, pending the resolution of a
related rulemaking proceeding. Also granted in the December 3rd
decision was a waiver to permit the equipment authorization of E-O-T
devices with a transmitter output power of up to eight watts.

For those not aware, end-of-train devices operate on frequency pair 452
and 457.9375 MHz. They transmit information regarding the brake pipe
pressure on the rear car to the lead locomotive for display to the
locomotive engineer. This in turn allows the engineer to apply the
rear train brakes in an emergency. (FCC)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS: PAPERS SOUGHT FOR 2011 SOUTHESTERN VHF SOCIETY
CONFERENCE

A call has gone out for papers to be presented at the 15th annual
Southeastern VHF Society Conference to be held in Huntsville, Alabama
on April 29th and 30th, 2011. Papers and other presentations can be on
both the technical or operational aspects of VHF, UHF and Microwave
weak signal amateur radio. Contact Steve Kostro by e-mail tp SVHFS2011
(at) downeastmicrowave (dot) com by January 8th if you wish to make a
presentation or submit a paper. Deadline for the submission of papers
is next March 11th. For further information about the conference
please take your web browser to www.svhfs.org. (Southeastern VHF
Society)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: TWO UK HAMS SERVING ON ETSIC

Some names in the news. First up is Peter Chadwick, G3RZP. He has been
reappointed as Chairman of European Telecommunications Standards
Institute Committee on Wireless Medical Applications. In the same
announcement it was learned that Nigel Wilson, G4VVZ, has been
appointed Chairman of the committee on Digital Mobile Radio.
(Southgate, GB2RS)

**

BREAK 2

This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. This week from the
beneath the Southern Cross, 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)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: SANASA TO SUPPORT HAM RADIO SPACE PROGRAM

The newly formed South African National Space Agency has announced its
intention to champion the amateur radio in space. In response to a
question at the agency's launch ceremony press briefing from the South
African Radio League, the new space agency's representative stated that
the organization will support the amateur radio satellite program and
that radio amateurs are part of the plans.

Naledi Pandor is the South African Minister of Science and Technology.
She officially launched the South African National Space Agency at a
gala event on Thursday December 9th. At that time she said that the
new agency will be that nations primary but not its only leader to
direct Government's investment in space sciences and technology. Just
how the South African National Space Agency will support amateur radio
space efforts was not spelled out at the briefing. (SARL)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: MULTIPLEXED AMATEUR RADIO DTV DOWN UNDER

A group of New Zealand hams have successfully multiplex four digital
video and audio streams. On Saturday, December 4th, a group of
Wellington and Hutt Valley Radio Amateurs simultaneously multiplexed
the four video and audio streams into a single digital television
transmission and did so using low cost equipment.

The transmission was centred on 1282 MHz, in accordance with the NZART
bandplan. It occupied 1274 to 1290 MHz, the same bandwidth as one
analogue FM television transmission. DVB-S modulation format was used
and was receivable on an unmodified satellite TV set-top box.

Further development and testing is planned with the aim of transmitting
the four video and audio streams within an 8 MHz bandwidth. Thats half
the bandwidth used by the initial tests.

The next transmissions will use the DVB-T modulation format. That wil
make them receivable on an ordinary Digital terrestrial television
receiver of the type sold down-under. (NZART)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: 100 MW SIGNAL ON 8.970 KHZ HEAR OVER 2873 KM

The low frequency transmissions by DK7FC on 8.970 kHz have been
received at a distance of 2873 km by 4X1RF in Haifa, Israel. Reception
at these super low frequencies within the human audio hearing range
requires ground rod antennas, low noise preamps and sophisticated
decoding software. None the less, the fact that DK7FC's 100 milliwatts
of effective radiated power was copied and recorded by 4X1RF at this
great a distance indicates that transatlantic amateur VLF reception may
indeed be possible in the very near future. (VHF Reflector)

**

WORLDBEAT: REPEATER LOCATION GUIDE FOR GREECE NOW IPHONE APP

A directory of amateur repeaters in Greece is now available for iPhone,
iPod and IPad users developed by SW1NJX is now available from the
iTunes on-line store. This is a free app designed to assist hams
living in or traveling through Greece to find the closest VHF or UHF to
their current location. You can find it tinyurl.com/grkrpt (SW1NJX)

**

CONTEST CORNER: THE ARRL JANUARY VHF SWEEPSTAKES JANUARY 22 To 24

Turning to radiosporting news, the ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes is set
for 1900 UTC on January 22nd to 03:49 UTC on January 24th. This is
primarily a weak signal contest aimed mainly at operators who use SSB
and CW. Some FM is allowed as long as it's not on a United States
national calling frequency or through a repeater.

The required exchange is simply your callsign and the Maidenhead grid
square locator you are operating from.

Logs are due no later than 0400 UTC on Wednesday, February 23rd. Paper
submissions go to the ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes, 225 Main Street,
Newington, Connecticut 06111. Electronic logs must be in Cabrillo
format and e-mailed to Januaryvhf (at) arrl (dot) org. (ARRL)

**

DX

In DX, getr ready for Tonga as W6ZL, informs OPDX that he is planning
to be active as A35KL rom Foa Island between December 16th to the 20th.
His operation will be primarily CW with the possibility of some RTTY
and SSB. His gear is an Elecraft K3 radio and verticals on the beach
for 80 through 10 meters. He will not have InterNet access there. QSL
Logbook of the World or direct to W6ZL, with a SASE or new style IRC.

JE1RXJ, will be on the air as T88RX from Palau between January 21st and
the 26th. Activity will be holiday style on 160 to 6 meters using CW
and SSB. His emphasis will be on the lower band and CW. QSL via
JE1RXJ, direct or by the JA Bureau.

For those of you still needing Bangladesh for your DXCC listen out for
S-21-FGC during the period December 16th to the 21st. Several foreign
operators will be using this call. QSL is via JH1AJT.

Lastly, JA2EZD will be active from Laos as XWPA from the Vientiane DX
Club for another year. His operation will be on the HF bands only. QSL
to Hiroo Yonezuka, Box DD153, Huang Sathai, Vientiane, Laos. And that
callsign is not a mistake. It is XWPA.

(Above from various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: TV RECEIVING ANTENNAS REGAIN POPULARITY

And finally this week, word that over-the-air television antenna sales
in the United States are growing dramatically. This as people
disconnect from cable and satellite as they rediscover free, over the
air TV. Much of it now in true High Definition.

Asked if the popularity will continue, one antenna manufacturer and
distributor said yes because 80% of the population doesn't even know
you can get over-the-air High Definition TV, but they are finding out.

The same manufacturer added that when you tell people that the same
programming is available over the air they look at you like you're
crazy. They then say: "You're saying I can actually get free HDTV from
an antenna? It's shocking to a lot of people."

As it turns out, the ability of over the air stations to multicast
several channels on what used to be one has opened up a a new and
growing market for those wanting High Definition Television reception
without having to pay a monthly fee. More about the comeback of
antennas to tele-viewing in the United States is on line at
tinyurl.com/39fhj39. (TV News Check, CGC)

**

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 WIA News, that's all from
the Amateur Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is Newsline (at)
arnewsline (dot) org. 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 in the USA,
I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, saying 73 from Auckland, New Zealand, a very
happy holiday from down-under and we thank you for listening.

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