Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1840 - November 16 2012

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1840 with a release date of
November 16, 2012 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. China to revise its amateur radio service
rules, French radar signals heard on several ham radio bands, Norway
affirms new spectrum for its ham radio community, a rescue radio group
receives a large grant to get more gear, the Dayton Hamvention
announces the theme of Hamvention 2013 and a new ham radio cubesat will
blink a holiday message from space on Christmas Eve. Find out the
details are on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1840 coming
your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


**

RESTRUCTURING: CHINA TO REVISE ITS AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE

Big amateur radio changes ahead for ham radio in China. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, reports from down-under:

--

According to word from Jim Linton, VK3PC, mandatory membership of the
Chinese Radio Sports Association will likely soon be a thing of the
past. This as China moves forward under soon to be announced new
amateur service regulations.

For the past 30 years, only a sports organization could transmit on the
amateur Radio bands. That began on the 29th of March, 1982 with the
station BY1PK, at first on CW and with limited spectrum made available
for ham radio operations. But this is 2012 and the old system of
someone first being a member of a sport-related body before entering
amateur radio no longer works and will end. Now clubs and individuals
will have their own callsigns throughout the world's most populated
country.

Also being considered for emergency communications is a new
error-correcting low power data mode for HF radio using Chinese
characters, a Software Defined Radio receiver network for noisy
locations, an alarm system, VHF and UHF repeaters and overall training.

Along with the revised regulations will be a new entity called the
Chinese Radio Amateur Club, that will be solely focused on amateur
radio. The new group will deal with the regulations including visitor
licenses, conduct exams and licensing, create band plans, allow
nation-wide mobile operation, develop emergency communications
infrastructure, amateur satellites, and work with the International
Amateur Radio Union.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, in Nelson, New
Zealand

--

When enacted, these revised regulations promise to bring China more in
line with the rest of amateur radio service regulations world wide. As
such don't be too surprised to hear many more mainland China stations
on the hambands once the new rules do take effect. (VK3PC)

**

INTRUDER WATCH: HAM RADIO OPPOSED EUROPEAN PLT STANDARD APPROVED

Europe has a new Power Line Communication or PLT standard and hams on
the other side of the Atlantic are not very happy. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW reports:

--

Despite opposition from the Radio Society of Great Britain and several
other European national ham radio societies, the European Committee for
Electrotechnical Standardization or CENELEC Working Group 11 has voted
in favor of a draft standard for what ham radio operators are calling
polluting Power Line Communication or PLT apparatus. According to the
Radio Society of Great Britain this means the chance of radio
interference from P-L-T devices could be 10,000 times higher than the
previous standard and holding the potential of ruining people's
enjoyment of radio.

A statement on the RSGB website says that one of the reasons why the
combined voice of the amateur radio fraternity was not heeded was the
absence of complaints reported to and by the national enforcement
agencies. As a consequence it is imperative that interference cases
are diagnosed and reported to, and pursued with, U-K telecommunications
regulator Ofcom if and when they occur.

The statement goes on to note that the RSGB EMC Committee is working
with other parties to enable radio amateurs to do this and to build up
statistics on the status of complaints. If a significant number of
people are affected the organization can then lobby for further
revision to the standard. If the devices do not cause publicized
problems then the protection provided by this new standard will be
deemed adequate.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los
Angeles.

--

You can read the full RSGB statement at
tinyurl.com/european-PLT-approved. (Southgate)

**

INTRUDER WATCH: FRENCH RADAR ON THE HF HAM BANDS

The IARU Region 1 Monitoring Service reports that French radar is again
active near and in the High Frequency ham bands. Recent reports have
heard it near 7, 14, 14,259, and 21 MHz transmitting a 20 kHz wide
burst system.

But that's not all. Region 1 monitors also report that taxi operators
in the Russia Federation, Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan are now using
FM in the 28 MHz, 10 meter amateur radio band more than ever. You can
read more about both these intruders on-line
tinyurl.com/10-meter-intruders (IARU-R1)

**

RESTRUCTURING: NORWAY AFFIRMS NEW SPECTRUM FOR AMATEUR RADIO
OPERATIONS

Its now official. Norway has affirmed news bands for ham radio in that
nation. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, of the RSGB News reports:

--

The Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority has made changes to
the Norwegian amateur license regulations.

The major change is that permission has been given to use 472 to 479
kHz with a maximum 1 Watt EIRP, with the former permission to use 493
to 510 kHz removed.

Permission has been given to use 70.1875 to 70.2625MHz, except in the
three Norwegian southwest counties of Hordaland, Rogaland and
West-Agder, where there still is commercial traffic within this
frequency segment.

Other segments allowing 100W transmitter power and maximum 16kHz
bandwidth include 70.0625 to 70.0875MHz, 70.3625 to 70.3875MHz and
70.4125 to 70.4625MHz.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, in Nottingham in
the U.K.

--

The new rules in Norway are reportedly effective now. (GB2RS)

**

RESCUE RADIO: SOUTH AFRICA HAMNET AIDS IN SEARCH FOR MISSING AIRCRADT

South Africa's HAMNET, the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
Organization has concluded it's involvement in a cross-border search
and rescue operation for a missing aircraft. This after a light
aircraft, on an October 28th flight from Malawi to an airport in South
Africa failed to make regular radio contact over Mozambique.

Soon after the plane was reported as missing, the South African Air
Rescue Control Centre was advised and requested to assist. HAMNET was
called out on Monday, October 29th by the Air Rescue Control Centre to
form a team to travel to the region and provide a High Frequency
communications link between the two countries. Operations took place
on the internationally agreed Emergency Centre of Activity frequencies
using the 30 and 20 meter bands.

Unfortunately the search for the missing plane and its occupants was
unsuccessful and was scaled back on Saturday November 3rd. At that
point the HAMNET team stood down and has now returned home. (IARU
Region 1)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: FITSAT-1 SCHEDULES CHRISTMAS EVE OPTICAL
TRANSMISSION

And there will be a Christmas present of sorts from ham radio in space.
On December 24th which is Christmas Eve the students in Japan who built
the FITSAT-1 satellite are planning to active the birds LED optical
array and flash a message in Morse Code to those of us here on mother
Earth.

According to JA6AVG, the students plan to start testing the optical
system at the end of November. As such its Morse message beacon may
well be visible from Earth with the unaided eye well before the
scheduled transmission date.

FITSAT-1 is a CubeSat that was developed by students at the Fukuoka
Institute of Technology in Japan. In addition to the optical
transmission system the bird carries a CW beacon on 437.250 MHz and a
data link on 437.445 MHz. There is also a 5.8 GHz data downlink.

Further information about the FITSAT-1 cubesat is on-line at
tinyurl.com/fitsat-christmas-signal. And we will have more ham radio
space related news later on in this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline
report. (FITSAT-1 Team)

**

BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the WL7CVG
repeater serving Alaska's Kenai Peninsula.

(5 sec pause here)


**

RESCUE RADIO: NIAGRA COUNTY NY RACES GETS $7000 GRANT

Some good news for a dedicated rescue radio group. Buffalo dot com
reports that the Niagara County New York Radio Amateur Civil Emergency
Service has received a $7,000 donation from Waste Management, parent
company of the CWM Chemical Services.

Jim Callahan of Waste Management made the presentation of the check
that will provide the group with equipment for expanding and enhancing
its services to Niagara County in the event of a disaster. In doing so
Callahan called the RACES hams as being the unsung heroes who are
prepared to help communicate through any emergency situation, when
other means of communication may be down. (Buffalo.com)

**

ENFORCEMENT: PAGER COMPANY FINE REDUCED TO $7000

The Federal Communications Commission has affirmed a $7000 monetary
forfeiture order to Leetek America, Inc. a subsidiary of Lee Technology
Korea. This for marketing of an unauthorized pager transmitter system.
Jim Davis, W2JKD, has the details:

--

On August 25, 2008, the Enforcement Bureau's Spectrum Enforcement
Division issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture or NAL to
Leetek in the amount of $14,000. This for its apparent willful and
repeated violations of Section 302(b) of the Act and Section 2.803(a)
of the Rules in connection with its marketing of two models of
unauthorized pager transmitter systems.

The Division's investigation into this matter was initiated by a
complaint that Leetek was marketing a pager transmitter system that did
not comply with the Rules and was causing interference to primary
licensed operators.

Leetek responded to the NAL on September 2, 2008. In its reply, the
company repeated the argument that it imported only three units of the
LTK-1700CT solely for the purpose of design review and performance
testing. Leetek's response also clarified information Leetek submitted
to the Division in its response with respect to the LTK-1400S pager
transmitter system. It asserted that it never marketed a pager
transmitter system with the model number LTK-1400S. Rather that its
third party website provider mistyped LTK-1400S as the model number for
Leetek's authorized LTK-1400A pager transmitter system. Leetek also
said that it never marketed or sold a pager transmitter system with a
LTK-1400S model number. According to Leetek, the company was marketing
an authorized pager transmitter system called he LTK-1400A, but its
third-party website provider misprinted the model number as LTK-1400.

In rendering its final decision, the FCC says that based on the
company's statements, which were made under penalty of perjury, it
appears that the device mistakenly marketed on Leetek's website under
model number LTK-1400S was properly authorized. Therefore the agency
finds that a reduction of the proposed forfeiture is warranted as to
that model. However having considered Leetek's response to the proposed
fine in light of the applicable statutory factors the FCC concludes
that Leetek did willfully and repeatedly violate Section 2.803(a) of
the Rules in connection with its marketing of the uncertified
LTK-1700CT pager transmitter system, and is therefore liable for a
forfeiture in the amount of $7,000.

Im Jim Davis, W2JKD.

--

Because this was an affirmed fine, Leetek Payment was given only
fifteen calendar days after the release date of this Forfeiture Order
to pay the amount in full. That period is now past. If the forfeiture
was not paid within the period specified, the FCC said that the case
may be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice for enforcement.
(FCC)

**

RADIO LAW: EXTENSION OF HEART MONITORING DEVICE GRANTED

The FCC has granted a request by Boston Scientific Corporation to
extend the existing waiver of Section 15.205 of its rules to continue
tests of the company's Cognis cardiac device.

The FCC says that granting Boston Scientifics' request will permit this
device to continue to use the 90 to 110 kHz frequency band while Boston
Scientific completes its ongoing MultiSENSE clinical trial, begun in
2010, in which it is using the Cognis device to collect physiologic
data related to patients' worsening heart failure.

The present waiver is scheduled to expire on November 17, 2012, and the
extension will permit the continued manufacture and marketing of the
subject devices until December 31, 2013, when the referenced clinical
trial is expected to complete its enrollment. (FCC)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS: EPISODE 4 OF YOUTH IN AMATEUR RADIO PODCAST AVAILABLE

Episode 4 of the Youth in Amateur Radio Podcast is now available for
download. This month's topics include getting on the air and how
repeaters work. The report can be downloaded on yarphams.com or on
itunes, or the producers RSS feed. As always please feel free to
contact the production team with comments and suggestions. They can be
reached by e-mail to Joe Andrews in care of kd0los (at) yahoo (dot)
com. (KD0LOS)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: MICHAEL J. OWEN AWARD CREATED BY IARU

Some names in the news. A new Michael J. Owen, VK3KI, Award has been
created and announced at the recently concluded IARU Region 3
Conference held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The purpose of the award
is to recognize an individual or individuals that best exemplify the
dedication and hard work of International Amateur Radio Union
volunteers.

At the same conference the Wireless Institute of Australia proposed
that an annual award or trophy be introduced in Michael Owen's name for
the highest Region 3 individual operator score in the IARU High
Frequency Contest. It reported that the proposal was well received and
the details are to be announced at a later date. (RSGB)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: G4SWX NAMED NEW RSGB VHF MANAGER

The RSGB has announced the appointment of John Regnault, G4SWX as the
societies new VHF Manager. Regnault is described as an active amateur
on the VHF and UHF bands, a long standing designer and home builder of
VHF equipment and a contributor to the RSGB publication RadCom. He
replaces David Butler, G4ASR, who took on the job temporarily following
the death of Terry Stevens, G8DKS, earlier in the year. (RSGB)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: GREG WALDEN, W7EQI, RE-ELECTED TO CONGRESS

Congressman Greg Walden, W7EQI, who is the chairman of the House Energy
and Commerce Committee's Communications Subcommittee has been
re-elected by a wide margin in Oregon's second district. Walden pulled
almost 70% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Oregon
Secretary of State. (Published News Reports)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: NEWSLINE'S WA6ITF TO APPEAR ON ECHOLINK NET NOV. 17

Amateur Radio Newsline producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, will be the
featured guest on the Saturday night, November 17th edition of the
Echolink Newsline Net. The net meets every Saturday at 9 p.m. Eastern
on the Dodropin conference server which is Echolink Node number 355800.
According to Steve Sercrest, W8WFO, this is not the original name for
the gathering. Rather, because it's been running our weekly report for
such a long time that those signing in began calling it the Amateur
Radio Newsline or Newsline network. Again, you are welcome to join in
the net conference at Echolink node 355800 on Saturday night, November
17th at 9 p.m. Eastern to hear Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, talk
about numerous things in ham radio and do is best to answer your
questions. Bill says he hopes to meet many of you there. (W8WFO)

**

BREAK 2

This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. From the United
States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the
world from our only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being
relayed by the volunteer services of the following radio amateur:

(5 sec pause here)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: BOEING UNVEILS EMP DRONE

From our technology page, it appears as if science fiction has become a
military fact. This after a successful missile test has ushered in a
new era of warfare in which the military can take out electronic
targets without destroying a single building or harming human beings.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is here with the
story:

--

According to news reports, back on October 16th an experimental missile
called CHAMP fired bursts of high power microwave energy at an
unoccupied site to damage computers and other electronic systems during
a test at the Utah Test and Training Range. The Counter Electronics
High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project flew over the Utah test
site and brought down the compound's entire spectrum of electronic
systems, apparently without producing any other damage at all. Even
cameras recording the test was shut down.

Keith Coleman is the CHAMP program manager for Boeing Phantom Works. He
says that in the near future this technology may be used to render an
enemy's electronic and data systems useless even before the first
troops or aircraft arrive.

The idea of using microwaves or electromagnetic pulses to knock out
electronic systems without having to reduce cities or military bases to
rubble first arose during Cold War nuclear tests. There scientists
found that explosions created electromagnetic pulses that damaged some
civilian power grids and other facilities.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the
newsroom in Los Angeles.

--

It will be interesting to see where the development of this new
electronic warfare device goes in years to come. (Science OnLine,
Business Insider, Discovery News, others)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: WORK PROCEEDING ON RECOVERY OF AO-27

Amsat Oscar 27 is down but not out. This according to controllers who
are working to return of the satellites FM repeater back to service
after it stopped responding on October 5th. Heres the back story.

In early October AO-27 was restored to running on its primary
bootloader program. Control operators were able to turn on the
Transmitter for a short time on several occasions. Also required were
multiple recoveries the stuck AFSK modem.

During recovery efforts AO-27 crashed once again on October 16. The
command team again recovered the satellite to the bootloader state. It
was also recovered from another occurrence of the AFSK modem problem
and they again performed another software upload.

On October 18 the transmitter was left on in an attempt to discharge
the batteries with the hope that faults could be cleared. Once the
battery was recharged the high-level software aboard AO-27 ran for a
few seconds before locking up. The team was able to reset it back to
the bootloader once again. Telemetry indicate AO-27 is locking up
while fetching telemetry from the hardware. As such, controllers say
that it does not look like there will be a quick resolution to this
crash.

In the meantime the AO-27 controllers are asking the ham radio public
not to attempt to use the AO-27 if you hear it in Amalog mode. This to
prevent interfering with the command team's recovery efforts. (AMSAT)

**

RADIO IN SPACE: JAPAN SCHEDULES FIRST LAUNCH OF NEW EPSILON ROCKET

Japan is scheduled to launch its first Epsilon solid-fueled rocket next
August or September. The flight will deploy a planetary telescope
while on-orbit while demonstrating new low-cost rocket assembly and
control techniques, the Japanese space agency announced last week.

The Epsilon program is designed to cut in half the cost of Japanese
small satellite launches. Japan's M5 rocket, which launched seven
times before retiring in 2006, cost $94 million per flight. Engineers
designed the Epsilon rocket with a simplified control system, and the
vehicle's own computers will autonomously monitor the status of its
systems during countdown.

Only a handful of engineers with laptop computers are required on the
launch control team. The Epsilon is also designed to launch after only
seven days of assembly on the launch pad, reducing labor and overhead
costs. (ANS)

**

CONTEST CORNER: RESULTS OF 2012 ARRL JUNE VHF CONTEST ON LINE

Sean Kutzko, KX9X, who is the Leagues Contest Branch Manager, says that
the results for the 2012 ARRL June VHF Contest are now available
online. If you took part and want to know where you placed, you can
find out by taking your web browser to
www.arrl.org/contest-results-articles. (KX9X)

**

SWL NEWS: L.A. INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT'S TIS STATION GOES DARK

If you are an A-M broadcast band DX'er and have not been able to hear
the Travelers Information Station on 530 kHz at Los Angeles
International Airport theres a good reason. It has reportedly been off
the air for a month or so. No word as to why, but it does open up that
frequency in the Southwest United States for DX'ing a 50 Kilowatt
religious station in Turks and Caicos islands that operates on the same
frequency. (CGC)

**

SWL NEWS: UK REGULATOR OFCOM CANCELS 648 KHZ BBC NOV

British telecommunications regulator Ofcom has issued a notice of
variation the Wireless Telegraphy Act to Babcock Communications Ltd.
This to remove Babcock's authorization to the frequency of 648 kHz
previously used to broadcast the BBC World Service.

Subject to international co-ordination, this frequency will now be
available for use by community radio licensing in various parts of the
UK, in addition to FM and other AM frequencies that are already
potentially available for this purpose.

However, some note that the characteristics of 648 kHz is at the lower
end of the AM broadcast spectrum and therefore requiring relatively
large towers and transmitter sites. This they say may make it less
suitable for community radio than other AM frequencies higher up in the
Medium Wave band.

A Notice of Variation in the UK is very much like a Special Temporary
Authorization or STA issued here in the United States by our FCC.

You can read the Ofcom announcement on line at
tinyurl.com/uk-nov-cancel (GB2RS)

**

DX

In DX, word that F8FQX will be active from Cameroon as TJ3SN next 3 to
4 years. He will be operational on High Frequency bands plus 6 meters
using various modes. QSL via IZ1BZV direct or electronically using
Logbook of the World.

Members of F6KOP team and others will be on the air from Uganda next
February 6th to the 18th as 5X8C. They will be active on 160 through
10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK. QSL via the bureau or
electronically using Logbook of the World.

AA9A will be active from Antigua Island February 10th to the 20th as
V24A. His operation will include the 2013 ARRL DX CW Contest. No
bands or modes mentioned. QSL via home call

HB9TUZ will be active as 8Q7MS from Gangehi Island Resort on the North
Ari Atoll Male in the Republic of the Maldives from December 26th to
January 3rd. His operation will be on 80 through 10 meters using SSB
only. QSL electronically only using eQSL.

Lastly the 2012 operation 5X1EME operation from Uganda has been
approved for DXCC credit. If you have a card for this operation you
can submit it to checkers to be added to your DXCC total.

(Above courtesy of various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: DAYTON 2013 IS A DX HAMVENTION

The Dayton Hamvention has announced its theme for 2013. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Cheryl, Lasek, K9BIK, has the details:

--

When the 2013 Dayton Hamvention opens its doors next May 17th the theme
will be that of it being the DX Hamvention. This according to General
Chairman Charles Kaiser who says that this name will reflect the
distant contact which is an important part of ham radio.

Kaiser says that the Dayton Hamvention is often an important DX
destination for amateurs from around the globe to visit. Also, working
DX is often a mix of band conditions, the diligent application of radio
theory and of coarse a little bit of magic.

Kaiser noted that many attendees return to Dayton each year to meet
other hams that they have talked to on the radio. He says that the
quest for that distant contact advances amateur radio on many levels so
the Hamvention team is honoring DX in all of its forms this year.

In the same press release, Kaiser announced that Jim Tiderman, N8IDS,
will serve as his assistant General Chairman for 2013. Kaiser says
that Tiderman has been active in Hamvention for many years and brings a
natural leadership style to the Hamvention Team.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, not far from
Dayton in Zion Illinois.

--

Hamvention 2013 will take place next May 17th to the 19th at its
traditional home at the Hara Arena in suburban Trotwood, Ohio For more
information please visit www.hamvention.org on the World-Wide-Web or
e-mail . And as always, we will se you there.
(Dayton Hamvention)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ
Magazine, World Disaster Report, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin,
Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB, the Southgate News, TWiT-TV 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, I'm Don
Wilbanks, AE5DW, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.

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