Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1800 - February 10 2012

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1800 with a release date of
February 10th, 2012 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. Ham radio activates after a killer
earthquake hits the Philippines; some good news out of WRC 12; new
rules about United States ham radio operation on 60 meters take effect
on March 5th and CQ Magazine's Editor says that ham radio use of the
Morse Code is still alive and well in an era of no-code licensing. Find
out the details are on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) anniversary report
number 1800 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


**

RESCUE RADIO: HAM RADIO RESPONDS TO PHILIPPINE QUAKE

Rescuers assisted by armed forces are hard at work searching for
survivors in the quake hit central Philippines. The 6.8 temblor shook
the country on Monday, February 6th. At least 56 are confirmed dead
and thousands are homeless. And soon after the shaking ended ham radio
operators were asked to provide what appears to be a first response
effort. We have more in this report:

--

Most of the information to date comes from Jim Linton, VK3PC, who is
the Chairman of the IARU Region 3 Disaster Communication Committee. Jim
reports that the after effects continue across the central Philippines
after the magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck triggering numerous
landslides and other devastation.

Linton notes that Eddie Valdez, DU1EV, is the Chief Operating Officer
for IARU society PARA. Valdez says that ham radio operators are now
active in communications assistance, especially those near the quakes
epicenter in the DU7 and DU6 call areas. They have chosen to mainly use
the VHF and UHF bands for in-country communications. With phone
communications cut, the services they are providing include message
handling, reporting on widespread power outages as well as other
infrastructure damage.

Meantime Radio Amateurs of Canada reports getting a message from a
shortwave listener in Taiwan. He notes that 7 point 095 MHz on 40
meter Lower Sideband is also in use for emergency communications into
and out of the Philippines.

This latest disaster come on the heels of a series of typhoons that
swept the Southern Philippines last December. Those storms brought with
them a heavy loss of lives and severe property damage. In that
scenario, radio amateurs were called on to become that nations
communications front line.

For the Amateur radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the
Newsroom in Los Angeles. Jim.

--

As we go to air aftershocks are continuing and the Philippine ham radio
community remains on the job as an important first line of search,
rescue and quake relief communications. (VK3PC, DU1EV, RAC)

**

RADIO LAW: A HAM RADIO ALLOCATION AT 500 KHZ COMES A STEP CLOSER

A ham radio allocation neat 500 KHz has taken another step closer to
becoming a reality. According to several reports out of WRC 12 being
held in Geneva, Switzerland, Working Group 4 has approved an agenda
item that calls for a worldwide secondary allocation to the Amateur
Service from 472 to 479 kHz and has sent it on to the full assembly
called the Plenary for its consideration.

There are some restrictions which come with this action. Power output
is limited to an effective one watt but would permit nations that are
more than 800 Kilometers from an Aeronautical Service non-directional
beacon to permit hams up to five watts effective radiated. Either way,
ham radio operators must not interfere with any other spectrum user
holding a primary status in that band.

Hat said, this is far from a done deal. Next up is two separate
presentations or readings of this proposal before the Plenary session
of all nations taking part in the world wide communications law making
process. There, footnotes to the proposal can be added by any
administration that has a representative at the conference.

While there is still a lot of work to take place before WRC 12 ends, at
least near 500 KHz, there appears to be some light at the end of the
proverbial tunnel in the matter of a new super low frequency ham radio
band. We should know for certain by this time next week. (Various WRC
2012 Reports)

**

RADIO LAW: NEW 5 MHZ RULES GO INTO EFFECT ON MARCH 5

In the United States, word that the new rules governing ham radio
operations in the 5 MHz or 60 meter spectrum take effect on March 5th.
This after a notice to that affect appeared in the February 3rd edition
of the United States Federal Register.

As previously reported, last November the FCC released a Report and
Order detailing new rules for the 5 MHz Amateur Radio band.

The announcement brought with it a number of changes for 60 meter
operators. This included substituting a channel at 5 point 358 point 5
MHz for 5 point 368 MHz previously authorized. The effective radiated
limit in the 60 meter band will be raised by 3 dB to 100 Watts Peak
Envelope Power relative to a half-wave dipole. Also, three additional
emission types are authorized. These are Data, RTTY and CW.

Currently, amateur radio in the United States holds a secondary
allocation for 5 MHz and ham radio operations must not cause any
interference to the primary users of that band. These include fixed
service, as well as mobile stations authorized by the
telecommunications regulators of other sovereign nations. Access in
the United States to the channelized 60 meter spectrum is limited to
holders of General class or high FCC license grants. You can read the
entire Federal Register item explaining the 5 MHz changes at
tinyurl.com/6wzsfjm (FCC)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: SUMBANDILASAT MAY LIVE AGAIN

From South Africa comes word that the SumbandilaSat amateur radio
payload may resume operation in the near future. This according to the
South African Radio League which says that a combination of ingenuity
and innovation by the satellite payloads ground control team has
resulted in bringing the ham radio functions back to life. Amateur
Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, has the latest:

--

A statement issued by South Africa AMSAT and released by the South
African Radio League says that there is a real possibility that
communication through SumbandilaSat may resume next month while the
satellite is in sunlight. Here's the back story:

According to Johann Lochner, ZR1CBC, last June the primary controller
on the power distribution unit for the On-Board Computer stopped
responding to commands from the ground. While the exact cause has never
been determined it appears likely that this failure was related to a
major solar radiation event on June 7th.

It later appeared that the battery had also failed and nothing was
heard from the satellite for some time. In the meantime the ground
station operation to monitor for SumbandilaSat on passes over South
Africa and to begin any recovery procedure was automated.

After a month of trying contact was made with SumbandilaSat. That was
last November and the control team set in place a planned recovery
procedure. It took about 4 days to discover that the main battery had
indeed failed with SumbandilaSat responding only when it's solar panels
were in full sunlight.

The ground stations at the South Africa National Space Agency's
operations center at and the Electronic Systems Laboratory at
Stellenbosch University are now receiving telemetry when the
satellite's solar panels are illuminated by the sun. As a result,
Lochner is confident that some operations will be restored even to the
point where it may be possible to have the amateur radio transponder
back in operation within a reasonable time frame.

The bottom line is that while the overall space-frame has been written
off by South Africa's SunSpace, the SumbandilaSat ham radio payload may
be usable whenever the bird is illuminated by the Sun. In the world of
ham radio space operations having that kind of service is far better
than having nothing at all.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdle,
Arizona.

--

More on SumbandilaSat recovery efforts are on line at
www.amsatsa.org.za. (SARL)

**

BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including radio station
CHNW on 88.7 FM serving the city of Westminister, near Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada.

(5 sec pause here)


**

RADIO LAW: PROPOSED MOBILE CELLPHONE LAW COULD END HAM RADIO MOBILE
OPERATIONS IN ILLINOIS

Proposed laws introduced into both houses of the Illinois legislature
could severely impact on mobile operation by hams, C-B operators and
even long-haul truckers passing through that state. Matthew Chambers,
NR0QQ, has the details:

--

New legislation has been introduced into the Illinois House that will
have a significant impact on the mobile use of amateur radio
transceivers within the state.

House Bill 3970 introduced by Democrat Representative Karen May would
ban use of all electronic communication devices with the limited
exceptions of those in a hands-free or voice-activated mode and for
law-enforcement and operators of emergency vehicles or parked vehicles.

Not included in that bill is any exceptions for two way radios or
amateur radios. That would in effect ban all amateur and CB / GMRS /
FRS activity in vehicles in Illinois.

Also introduced into the Illinois House is House Bill 3972 by Democrat
Representative John D'Amico that is identical to HB 3970.

As the legislative sessions are getting into full swing across the
nation, here at the Amateur Radio Newsline we will be watching closely
as more cell phone bills are being introduced that may effect the
mobile use of amateur transceivers.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Matthew Chambers NR0Q.

--

As we go to air, efforts are being made from within the amateur radio
community to obtain exclusion for mobile ham radio operations, but the
wording of the two measures may make that very hard to accomplish.
(NR0Q)

**

ENFORCEMENT: COLLEGE STATION GIVES UP LICENSE FOR NET ONLY OPERATION

Yet another college radio station has gone QRT. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Stephen Kinford, N8WB, reports:

--

Paul Smiths College in Adirondack Park, New York, has relinquished its
Class D FM broadcast license for its campus radio station WPSA FM. The
school had been facing problems keeping it on the air that came from a
series of FCC Monetary Forfeiture Orders over the late renewal of the
station license in 2006 as well as lack of interest from the student
body in the stations operation.

WPSA reportedly operated at around 10 watts with a service radius of
two miles that covered little more than the campus. Its problems began
when its license was cancelled by the FCC and the call sign deleted.
Two years later, the college filed a Petition for Reconsideration and
had it reinstated. Following the late renewal in 2006, the FCC issued
a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $7,000
fine for unauthorized operation of a radio station after the license
had expired.

Adding to the situation was a seeming loss of interest by its potential
audience. According to the schools coordinator for student activities,
students were part of the decision to give up the broadcast license.
She said that no one wanted to participate in it and that it had very
few listeners.

The spokesperson added that it appears the trend these days is that the
students are on-line rather than listening on the airways.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB, reporting.

--

WPSA will live on but without a transmitter or antenna. Current plans
are to bring it back to life, but as a strictly online entity. (RW)

**

COMMUNICATIONS LAW: FCC CHAIRMAN EMBRACES DIGITAL TEXTBOOKS

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has joined Secretary of Education Arne
Duncan to discuss the state of digital learning in American schools.

At the first-ever Digital Learning Day Town Hall held recently in
Washington, D.C., the Digital Textbook Collaborative presented them
with the "Digital Textbook Playbook." This is a plan to help
Kindergarten through 12th grade schools transition to digital
textbooks. The Collaborative also helped the FCC and the Department of
Education update the School 2.0 bandwidth planner to help schools plan
for their connectivity needs.

At the meeting, Chairman Genachowski challenged state leaders and the
digital textbook industry ecosystem to make national adoption of
digital textbook a reality. He also announced a meeting for March with
CEOs of companies in the digital learning space to drive national
adoption of digital textbooks in the next five years.

The complete FCC press release that details the agency's plans to help
facilitate the conversion to digital textbooks is available on-line at
tinyurl.com/fcc-digital-textbooks. (FCC)

**

LIGHT SQUARED VS GPS: GOVERNMENT REPORT SAYS THERES NO WAY FOR THE TWO
TO CO-EXIST

More problems for LightSquared in its bid to construct a 4 G network in
spectrum adjacent to that used by the GPS navigation system. Amateur
Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reports:

--

A joint panel of representatives from nine federal agencies says that
it has determined that there are no practical solutions that would
allow LightSquared's proposed broadband service to operate without
significantly interfering with the Global Positioning System or GPS
that operates in adjacent spectrum.

The report was made in a January 13th letter from the National
Executive Committee for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. It
said that over the past year it has closely worked with LightSquared to
evaluate its original deployment plan, and subsequent modifications, to
address interference concerns. It said that substantial federal
resources were expended and diverted from other programs in testing and
analyzing LightSquared's proposals. The report added that no further
tests are warranted, as LightSquared has not demonstrated any means
that would prevent such interference from occurring.

As previously reported, numerous tests over the past year have shown
that signals from LightSquared's proposed 4G network held the
potential to interfere with the weaker signals from space used by
global positioning system receivers. As a result, In December 2011, the
company offered to limit its signal to lower frequency spectrum
farthest away from the bandwidth used by GPS in exchange for immediate
access to that spectrum. Then as reported last week LightSquared
lashed out at the GPS industry in a Federal Communications Commission
filing, claiming poor design of GPS units is solely to blame for the
problem.

Not surprisingly, LightSquared immediately issued its own press release
calling for the FCC and NTIA to retake the lead on conducting tests of
its network, claiming the committee report demonstrated bias and
inappropriate collusion with the private sector. LightSquared noted a
director for Trimble GPS, whom is called an outspoken LightSquared
opponent, served as Director of the Advisory Board. It also claims
that government testing has become unfair and shrouded from the public
eye.

With the latest on this seemingly never ending story, Im Bruce Tennant,
K6PZW, in Los Angeles.

--

With the committee decision now on the books, a final ruling from the
FCC on whether LightSquared will be allowed to go ahead with its plans
to turn on its 4 G could come at any time. (Various News Reports)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: W9GKA WANTS JANUARY VHF CONTEST E-SKIP INFO

Some names in the news. First up is Kevin Kaufhold, W9GKA, of
Belleville, Illinois. He says over the VHF Reflector that he is
looking for log data on the E-skip conditions in this year's January
VHF Sweepstakes. W9GKA says that he is writing an article on the
e-skip QSO's in the contest, and would like to include as much
information as possible. If you can assist, please send the log
information on your e-skip contacts to him at kaufhold (at) yahoo (dot)
com. (W9GKA)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: G0SFJ RELEASES NEW NOVEL INVOLVING MORSE CODE

A new novel featuring Morse code and radio is now available for
purchase on the internet. Of Martian Lines was written by Andy Thomas,
G0SFJ. It's plot is set on the Mars and in modern Russia and the
Ukraine of two generations in the future. The book is described as a
blend of cosmology, radio, space technology and Russian literature.

This is the second novel in the "Dmitri" series that explores the first
Russian colony on Mars, and the lies and tensions the first Cosmonaut
colonists from Earth bring with them. Of Martian Lines is available for
sale on-line at www.createspace.com/3739192 (Southgate)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS: SARL NATIONAL CONVENTION

The 2012 South Africa Radio League's National Convention will be held
in Pinetown from April 20th to the 22 at the Premier Hotel in Pinetown.
The event kicks off with a buffet type supper at the Highway Clubhouse
on Friday evening featuring a presentation highlighting how South
Africa's electronic industry found it's origin in Pinetown and the
local development off SSB.

The South Africa Radio League's Annual General Meeting will be held on
Saturday morning at the hotel venue followed by two presentations
covering VHF antennas and Logbook of the World. An awards banquet will
also be held at the Premier Hotel. The full program and booking
details are available on-line at www.sarl.org.za. (SARL)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS: HAMVENTION 2012 QCWA DINNER MAY 18

The 2012 QCWA Banquet will take place on Friday May 18th at the Dayton
Ohio Airport Holiday Inn simultaneously with the Dayton Hamvention. The
gathering will begin at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time with nature photography
expert John Lemker as the featured after dinner speaker. For more
information or to make reservations please contact Jerry Ragland,
WA8BOB, at his Callbook or QRZ.com address.

**

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: WORLDRADIO FOUNDER ARMOND NOBLE, N6WR - SK

The changing of the guard in amateur radio continues with the sad news
that Armond Noble, N6WR, founder and publisher of WorldRadio Magazine
for 37 years has become a silent key. According to Les Cobb, W6TEE,
Noble died February 1st in Sacramento, California after a short
illness.

The print version of WorldRadio was published monthly from July 1971
until the end of 2008, when N6WR sold the magazine to Hicksville, New
York-based CQ Communications, Inc.

Armond Noble had a long and distinguished career in communications and
the media. From 1953 to 1955 he served in the U.S. Army with a VHF
radio relay unit. He went on to positions at commercial radio and TV
stations around the United States. These included KTWO-TV and KATI in
Casper, Wyoming; KOOK-TV, Billings, Montana; KTVB, Boise, Idaho;
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, California, WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and
KCRA Radio in Sacramento.

During the Vietnam War, Noble was a reporter and photographer for TIME
magazine and the Milwaukee Journal. He also served in the TIME-LIFE
bureau in Sacramento, California.

Armond Noble, N6WR, was reportedly hospitalized about two months ago.
As we go to air memorial services have not been announced. (W6TEE,
W6FJ, CQ Publishing)

**

WORLDBEAT: RSGB WANS HAMS ABOUT UNAUTHORIZED USE OF OLYMPIC LOGOS

The Radio Society of Great Britain is warning that although
telecommunications regulator Ofcom has granted permission for that
nations radio amateurs to use special prefixes over this summer, this
permission does not extend to use of the various logos associated with
the London Olympic games on QSL cards or elsewhere.

The RSGB notes that these logos, or Games Marks as they are called in
the UK, are strictly controlled by the London Organizing Committee of
the Olympic and Paralympic Games. As such they are not free for
individuals and organizations to use without express permission..

There is so far only one exception. Project ECHO which is concerned
with the two main special event stations has been granted permission to
use the games Inspire logo, but only in a limited way.

More information about the use of the Olympic logos and their use can
be found in the at the Frequently Asked Questions on the
www.london2012.com website. (RSGB)

**

DX

In DX, HA0NAR and HA0SR will be active as FW0NAR from Uvea Island
through February 20th. The plans were to have two stations active on
160 through 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY, with a focus on the lower
bands. However, this may change since they lost the third operator who
was to make the trip. QSL FW0NAR via HA0NAR.

SP5APW is expected to visit Phu Quoc Island between March 7th and the
12th. He has applied for the callsign 3W4JK. Operations will likely be
holiday style on 40 through 10 meters using SSB, PSK31 and RTTY, with
possible operations on 6 meters. QSL as directred on the air.

Lastly, well placed reports indicate that an international group of 10
operators will activate St. Paul Island during the middle part of 2012.
More details should be forthcoming in future Amateur Radio Newsline
reports.

(Abve from various DX News Sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: CQ SAYS MORSE IS ALIVE AND WELL

Finally this we we take a trip back to February of 2007. Thsats when
the Federal Communications Commission took action to eliminate Morse
Code testing as a requisite requirement to obtain any class of Amateur
Service license in the United States. Now, five years later, CQ
Magazine Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, has published a very pointed
editorial where-in he notes that both ham radio and use of the Morse
code are alive, well and growing. This despite the ney-sayers who
predicted the abandoning of Morse testing would bring a sudden end to
the hobby.

In his editorial titled "No-Code Plus Five Years: An Assessment", W2VU,
states that ham radio is still here. CW is still here and despite the
fears of many CW supporters the universe did not implode on February
23, 2007.

Rather his article was prepared based on research that checked on signs
of the state use of Morse by today's ham radio community. It did this
by asking manufacturer of keys and paddles about sales, talking to the
FISTS Morse preservation group, looking at CW contest results and
overall United States licensing statistics. And says W2VU, the article
has already brought some interesting response:

--

W2VU: "We've gotten a lot of good feedback from readers on this already
and any ofb them are agreeing with the comment that we had at the end
that the only real hiccup that we see and that was pointed out by Nancy
Kott, WZ8C, is a difference in the conversion of CW learners to
comfortable CW operators. That a lot of the newer hams that are
learning the code do not yet feel comfortable on the air with it."

--

Moseson adds that ham radio has a long tradition of lending a helping
hand to newcomers in need of assistance:

--

W2VU: "The best way to deal with this of coarse is the way that hams
have dealt with learning experiences for decades which is to hook up
experienced people with newcomers and helping them one-on-one, either
on the air or off to be more comfortable as code operators and they
will find a lot more enjoyment in it."

--

Without giving away all the findings in the article, W2VU does note
that Morse has a bright future in amateur radio, despite or perhaps
because of the elimination of the code test requirement. You can judge
for yourself by reading Rich Moserson's complete article. You will
find it on-line in Adobe PDF format at tinyurl.com/6rreyxy
(ARNewsline(tm), VK3PC)

**

A VER SPECIAL 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

Before we go, I just want to say a word of thank you to all of you who
listen in each week to these Amateur Radio Newsline bulletins. As we
end this 1800th consecutive week of bringing these newscasts to you, we
want to pause for a moment and look back to 1977 when Jim Hendershot,
WA6VQP, and Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, produced and issued the first
Westlink Radio Network bulletin. It was devoted entirely to repeater
deregulation and only heard by those in the Los Angeles area with a
transceiver set to 223.5 MHz simplex. Likely no more than two dozen
people or so. Now just a few months shy of 35 years later, Amateur
Radio Newsline, which is the successor name to Westlink Radio, is heard
on thousands of repeaters world wide and by tens of thousands over the
Internet. And as it was back in 1977, so it remains a free listener
supported service to the ham radio by your fellow radio amateurs.

Yes, there are many people to thank, but we will limit it to three who
were part of the original 1970's core group and who sadly have become
Silent Keys. So as we end Newscast 1800 we lift up our imaginary glass
to toast the lasting memory of our original Production Coordinator Bill
Orenstein KH6QX. We also salute the master wordsmith and anchor Alan
Kaul, W6RCL. Last but by no means lest, we remember our guiding light
of many years and the man who made it possible for Astronauts to take
ham radio into space. Of coarse we are referring to one of the world's
greatest news reporters, producers and anchors, the late Roy Neal,
K6DUE, of NBC Network News. All three may no longer be with us in the
flesh, but they will never be forgotten here in the Amateur Radio
Newsline studios. What they helped to pioneer in the 1970's 1980's and
1990's is the reason you are hearing this 1800th newscast right now.

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, and for all
of the Amateur Radio Newsline volunteers the world over, I'm Jim Davis,
W2JKD, saying 73 and we thank you for listening all of these years. You
are an important part of the Amateur Radio Newsline family and we would
not be here if not for you.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.