Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1353 – July 18, 2003

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1353 with a release date of Friday, July
18th 2003 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T.

WRC 2003 says no more Morse but it may be years before codefree operation comes
to the USA. Find out why on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1353 coming
your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**

INTRODUCTION

G’day and welcome to the first Amateur Radio Newsline report ever recorded in
Australia. I’m this weeks host Graham Kemp, VK4BB, at the Q News studios in
the city of Brisbane. And our first story as you might expect has to do with
WRC 2003.

**

WRC FALLOUT: S.25 AND A CODEFREE USA

The now concluded World Radiocommunications Conference may have rule that Morse
Code is no longer a world standard for getting a high frequency ham license,
but don’t expect it to disappear very quickly in the USA. That’s because
there’s lots to be done by Congress and the FCC before any action can or will
be taken. Our team coverage starts he

--

I’m Bruce Tennant, K6PZW in Los Angeles.

The International Telecommunication Union has dropped the international
requirement that amateurs operating below 30 MHz must first pass a Morse code
exam. According to the CQ website, this was among several actions related to
amateur radio taken by the World Radiocommunication Conference and reported by
the International Amateur Radio Union. The change took effect on July 5.

According to the IARU, the new language of International Radio Regulation
Article 25.5 now reads: "Administrations shall determine whether or not a
person seeking a license to operate an amateur station shall demonstrate the
ability to send and receive texts in Morse code signals."

This leaves the question of requiring a code test optional for each government
licensing authority. According to an IARU explanation, several countries still
feel the code is important as a license requirement and wanted to be sure that
any country dropping it did so via what it called a positive decision not to
require Morse.

In the United States, FCC rules continue to require passage of a 5
word-per-minute code test for access to the amateur bands below 30 MHz,
although it is widely expected that opponents of the code requirement will
quickly file petitions with the FCC to drop it.

How long will it take? Amateur Radio Newsline’s David Black, KB4KCH, has
that part of the story from our South East bureau in Birmingham Alabama.

--

Nobody can be quite certain when or even if the Morse requirement will
disappear in the United States, but here’s the way it has to play out thanks
to the way our government works.

Since the agreements reached at WRC ‘03 are essentially an international
treaty, the document has to be ratified by the United States Senate. Depending
on their workload, that could happen before years end or it could be put off
into the 2004 session or even beyond.

Senate approval has to take place can the FCC begin the process under the
Administrative Proceedures Act and issue a Notice of Inquiry. A Notice of
Inquirey or N-O-I is the first step in the rule making process to make any
change and gives the general public a chance to voice its opinion. And by
public we mean every American. Not just ham radio operators.

If there is enough interest shown in going ahead then a Notice of Proposed Rule
making will be issued that again invites public comment. This will be followed
by another time period for reply comments by those who might have arguments to
counter what some initial commenters have to say. Then matter goes to the
staff to prepare a Report and Order or Memorandum, Order and Opinion that is
circulated to the five Commissioners who run the agency. If they approve, then
the change become law on a date specified in the document.

So once again the rhetoric question of how long? Here’s our guess. About
two years minimum from the time the Senate ratifies the accords, but only if
the FCC decides to proceed immediately there after.

Why two years? Well as Fred Maia W5YI of the NCVEC pointed out to us, since
Novice Enhancement some two decades ago, just about every major change in the
structure of ham radio has taken about two years. Fred is a pretty good
Washington watcher and his guess is 2005 at the earliest. But for now, we will
all have to just wait and see.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline,. I’m David Black, KB4KCH, reporting.
Graham..

--

As we go to air, the ARRL Board of Directors is meeting to discuss the WRC
‘03 agreement and its impact on the U-S Amateur Service. Next week the
people who give ham radio tests -- the VEC’s will be meeting with the FCC to
do the same. (IARU, ARRL, CQ, FCC, ARNewsline(tm))

**

WRC FALLOUT: SWITZERLAND GOES 100% NO-CODE

Meantime, Switzerland may be the first country in the world to take advantage
of the revised Radio Regulations. According to the website of the Swiss
national amateur radio society, the licensing authority there will be writing
to all Swiss CEPT Class 2 amateurs to give them "provisional authorization" to
immediately start using the High Frequency bands.

Meantime the Radio Society of Great Britain says that nations
Radiocommunications Agency has already stated that it will bring in code-free
High Frequency licences as soon as it is practical to do so. An announcement
will be made as soon as permission is given for United Kingdom Full and
Intermediate Class B amateurs to start using the H-F bands. (RSGB)

**

WRC 2003 FALLOUT: IMPROVED EMERGENCY COMMS - WORLDWIDE

Ham radio emergency communications also got a boost at WRC ‘03. Jeramy Boot,
G4NJH, is in Nottingham England with mo

--

Paul Gaskell, G4MWO, the RSGB Radio Communications Voluntary Services National
Co-ordinator, has pointed out the enhancements to amateur radio emergency
communications that have come about due to the revision of Article 25 of the
ITU Radio Regulations.

Article 25.3 now reads: "Amateur stations may be used for transmitting
international communications on behalf of third parties only in the case of an
emergency or disaster relief. An administration may determine the applicability
of this provision to amateur stations under its jurisdiction."

This is a notable change from the old wording, which was: "It is absolutely
forbidden for amateur stations to be used for transmitting international
communications on behalf of third parties."

Paul says, "A completely new regulation, Article 25.9A, has been approved, a
provision which needs no explanation: It reads: 'Administrations are encouraged
to take the necessary steps to allow amateur stations to prepare for and meet
communication needs in support of disaster relief.'"

It is hoped that administrations will make regulations that facilitate amateurs
preparing for emergency situations and providing communications in emergencies
and for disaster relief. This was an important IARU objective.

Jeramy Boot, G4NJH

--

Reports from the 2003 World Radio Communications Conference and its impact on
Amateur Radio can be found on the IARU website. Its in cyberspace at
www.iaru.org. (RSGB)

**

Break 1

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)


**

THE WAR ON TERROR: FCC ESTABLISHES OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY

The FCC has taken another important step in helping to fight the war on
terrorism. This as the agency names James Dailey as Director of the its newly
established Office of Homeland Security.

Operating under the Enforcement Bureau umbrella the FCC Office of Homeland
Security will deal with many emergency related issues including those involving
Amateur Radio. It will also oversee the establishment of an Emergency
Relocation Board or E-R-B. The E-R-B will deal with the evacuation of FCC
headquarters with little or no advance notice as well as overseeing the
relocation of selected FCC staff members. More is on the web at:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...C-03-167A1.doc and
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...C-236436A1.doc (CGC
Communicator)

**

RADIO LAW: AB-1228 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR


California hams now have their own PRB-1 “like� protection. This as
Governor Gray Davis signs Assembly Bill 1228 on Monday, April 14 th.

Assemblyman Bob Dutton and his staff shepherded the measure through the Local
Government Committees and the floors of both houses of the legislature. It
eventually passed without a single dissenting vote. The new law officially
recognizes the doctrine of Federal preemption as outlined in PRB-1 over
Amateur Radio antennas and their support structures as now being California
state law.

In his cover letter to the California Legislature, Governor Davis took time to
acknowledge the numerous Californians who are licensed amateur radio operators.
He said that each year these volunteers give thousands of hours of service to
the state and local governments. He added that since the September 11, 2001
attack on America, the state has also have come to rely on them and appreciate
their commitment to the security and well being of all those living in the
state.

California is the 20th state in the nation to adopt PRB-1 like ham radio anenna
legislation. (ARRL SW Div. Bulletin)

**
RESCUE RADIO: RACES VS. FIRES ON THE 4TH
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service volunteers acted as dispatchers for the
Huntington Beach, California, Fire Operating Center over the July 4th holiday
weekend. Operating from the city’s Central Net Training Center, eleven
members of the towns own Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service took incoming
fireworks related calls from the public, verified addresses, and dispatched the
appropriate fire patrol arson investigator teams.
But thats not all. Two communications volunteers were also assigned as
spotters on the roof of City Hall. Two other hams got the experience of a
lifetime when they lucked out and were attached to the Huntington Beach Police
Department eye-in-the-sky helicopter.
Equipped with digital cameras interfaced to two-way ham radio gear, the field
team transmitted live slow-scan television images from their lookout locations
to the Fire Operating Center and the Huntington Beach Police Department
sub-station command post. Glorria Morrison, who is the city’s Emergency
Services Coordinator said that everyone is proud to have such an extensive
network of dedicated and skilled communications volunteers in Huntington Beach.
(KH6WZ)
**

RESCUE RADIO: VARACES PULLS OUT OF VA STATE EOC

Meantime, a big change in emergency communications support has taken place in
the state of Virginia. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, has the
rest of the story:

--
The tug of war between the independent VARACES Incorporated and the ARRL
affiliated Virgina state ARES and RACES group has tipped in favor of the ARRL
group. This, according to the latest Repeater Journal that reports VARACES
State Emergency Officer Tony Amato, KR4UQ, annouced in March that he and other
officers were withdrawing support of operations at the state Emergency
Operations Center in the city of Richmond.

VARACES had been providing staffing for the E-O-C since 2001. This following
its split from the ARRL after the League’s Executive Committee removed Lynn
Gahagan, AF4CD, from his post as Virginia Section Manager. Amato, who had been
Gahagan’s S-E-C cited difficulty in working with the states Department of
Emergency Management Operations Director Fred Vincent. Amato claimed that
Vincent would not make a clear choice between his group and the ARRL. For his
part, Vincent had stated a desire to work with volunteers from both ham radio
groups.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, reporting.

--

Those leaving have been replaced by a ham radio group organized by the local
Richmond Amateur Radio Club. (Repeater Journal)

**

OMARC 2003 TECH CLASSES IN SEPTEMBER

Steve Hajducek, N2CKH, says that the The Ocean-Monmouth Amateur Radio Club of
New Jersey will again sponsor Amateur Radio Technician theory classes this
fall. Classses beginTuesday, September 16th at 6:00pm and will continue
through November. All training and testing will be held at the InfoAge Center
in Monmouth County, New Jersey. For more information and directions go to
www.qsl.net/n2mo on the World Wide Web. (OMARC)

**

NEW FOR HAMS: GLOBAL OVERLAY MAPPER

Tim Makins, EI8IC, in County Roscommon Ireland says that what is perhaps the
most comprehensive set of world prefix maps ever assembeled is now freely
available. This, in the demonstration version in his new Global Overlay Mapper
software.

Makins says that Global Overlay Mapper represents a new concept in the field of
maps for radio amateurs. That the software is packed full of features for all
Amateur Radio enthusiasts, including seven Continental maps, 27 Sub
Continental Maps, country outlines, 2204 maps of major cities C-Q zones, ITU
zones, time zones and much more.

The on-line demo-version comes with with two fully featured maps to view.
Online purchasing of the whole package is availasble in four major currencies.
Download for use on your own computer and try it at www.mapability.com or
www.qsl.net/ei8ic (EI8IC)

**

YOUTH RECRUITMENT: SPECIAL OFFER FROM HAMTESTONLINE.COM

The HamTestOnline website has announced its new Youth in Amateur Radio program,
which gives eligible school, scouting and youth amateur radio clubs a 50%
discount on website subscriptions for students 18 and under.

HamTestOnline says that its offering this discount to support activities aimed
at bringing kids into amateur radio such as the ARRL's The Big Project. For
more information on the HamTestOnlineT website's Youth in Amateur Radio
program, visit www.hamtestonline.com or send an email to
(Press release)

**

FOR YOUR READING PLEASU UNDERSTANDING, BUILDING AND USING BALUNS AND UNUNS
FROM CQ

If you're interested in how antennas work but don't know an unun from an onion,
Understanding, Building & Using Baluns & Ununs from CQ Magazine should be part
of your ham radio library.

The new book by Jerry Sevick, W2FMI, is the successor to his earlier work,
Building & Using Baluns & Ununs. The new edition includes new tutorial
material, designs and explanations of how and why they work. And like its
predecessor, this book provides a unique opportunity to learn about the
application of these devices to dipoles, Yagis, log periodics, Beverages,
antenna tuners and countless others.

Interested? You can find out more and place your advance order on line at
www.cq-amateur-radio.com. Orders may also be placed by phone -- Monday through
Friday -- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time at 1-800-853-9797. (CQ)

**

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)


**

5 MHZ FOLLOW-UP: OPERATING TRENDS DEVELOP

A follow-up now on what’s taking place on the new domestic United States 5
MHz allocation. As reported last week, opening night on July 3rd saw many
stations making rapid contacts and cooperating together for an enjoyable
operating experience. Now, according to noted High Frequency back-pack
operator Bonnie Crystal, KQ6XA, the novelty of the 5 MHz channels has settled
down to a usable level for calling and QSO’s.

Writing to the q-r-zed dot com website Crystal notes that 5 MHz daytime
propagation out to 250 miles is good, although summer noise limits the comfort
level when working the 50 Watt domestic stations. Nights bring good D-X and
regional propagation, but lightning storms tend to make it harsh in some areas.

But her most important observation is that of a very positive trend. KQ6XA
says that hams still are acting like they are on their first date, treating the
new channels appropriately and showing off their best operating habits. She
says that they are observing the kind of brevity in operating procedures
commonly used on a high-level VHF repeater or regional linked F-M system.

Crystal adds her hope that in the future 5 MHz will continue to be an example
of the best ham radio good operating techniques and behavior. From listening
on the air, many others appear to agree. (qrz.com, ARNewsline (tm ))

**


INTERNATIONAL - AUSTRALIA: 5TH ANNUAL IARU REGION 3 ARDF GAMES ANNOUNCED

The IARU Region 3 Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championships will be held
Friday, November 28th to Wednesday, December 3rd in Ballarat Australia.

Ballarat is a large provincial city in the state of Victoria. The Victorian
ARDF Group, which is organizing the event says that it is expecting up to 100
participants from member societies in IARU Region 3 including Japan, Korea,
China, New Zealand, and Australia. Guest competitors from other IARU Regions
are also invited to attend in the world-wide Friendship categories.

This years championships are hosted by the Wireless Institute of Australia,
with the WIA Victorian Division sponsoring this important event. Full details
including competitor and volunteer registration forms can be found in
cyberspace at www.ardf.org.au (WIA)

**

AWARDS: WORK A COLORADO MOUNTAIN

Two new awards are now available for ham radio contacts to and from the
14,000-foot mountains of Colorado. The Summit Award is earned by making
contact with 10 or more stations operating from the peaks. The companion
Pinnacle Award recognizes operation from 14,000 foot summits, requiring radio
operation from 5
or more of the peaks.

Award recipients will receive an attractive, colorful certificate with name,
call sign and the number of peaks worked or activated on it. A $5 fee is
required to cover the cost of the certificate and any associated expenses.

To get yours, first hold the QSO’s and then take your web browser to
www.Colorado14erEvent.org. Questions should be directed to Paul Ermisch KB0LUR
by e-mail to . And colorado14erevent is all one
word. (K0NR)

**

DX

In DX, keep an ear open for GM3PPG stroke P to be active on 160 to 10 meter
S-S-B from South Uist through August 8th, including the RSGB IOTA Contest on
the 26th and 27th of July. The island counts as EU-010 for the RSGB Istands on
the Air awards program. (GB2RS)

And R1PQ will be on the air from the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago through the 25th
of July. Activity will be on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters using CW, SSB, PSK and
RTTY. The operation commemorates the British, Russian and American polar
convoys between 1941 and 1944 and will have two stations active 24 hours a day.
(GB2RS)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: 73 TO THE W5YI REPORT

And finally this week we pause to bid farewell to a competitor and a friend.
This, with word that the W5YI Report ham radio newsletter has ceased
publication with it’s July 15th issue. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF spoke with
Fred Maia whose call sign appeared on the famed publication and they reminisced
about the past:

--

The W5YI Report was the last of the paper ham radio newsletters delivered by
the postal system. At one time there were three. The very first was H-R
Report from Ham Radio magazine in 1974. It was eventually taken over by Burt
Hicks, WB6MQV and renamed the Westlink Report. Hicks ran it for 13 years
before closing down in January of 1995.

The ARRL Letter came into being in 1981 as a public version of the previously
private ARRL Directors Letter. It initially dealt only with matters of
interest to League members, but over the years has developed into a high
quality publication covering every aspect of the hobby with items of interest
to members and non-members alike.

W5YI Report was started by Fred Maia, W5YI in the late 1970’s. This, as an
information provider to the Richardson Wireless Klub near Dallas Texas. Other
hams who saw it asked Fred to make it available to them:

--
Audio only at www.arnewsline.org
--

Initially Fred did not charge for those who supplied him with self addressed
stamped envelopes. Eventually his subscription list grew to a point where Fred
had thousands of envelopes in his home and the numbers were getting out of
hand. So he decided to simplify matters by converting to a paid subscription
operation.

--
Audio only at www.arnewsline.org
--

And as soon as word got out that Fred was accepting subscriptions, they came
pouring in. And the rest -- as they say -- is history.

In 2000, Fred sold his company that included the newsletter, but agreed to stay
on for three more years with the W5YI Report. He set this summer for his
departure. July 15th was the publication date he selected and that’s now
past:

--
Audio only at www.arnewsline.org
--

If you are a paid subscriber to the W5YI Report, fear not. Fred has you
covered. He has arranged for the remainder of your subscription to be covered
by C-Q Magazine based on the value of the remaining portion of your
subscription. And if you already get C-Q, your subscription will be extended
by the appropriate number of issues.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, with my longtime
ham radio friend Fred Maia, W5YI.

--

And what about Fred? He is not going away by a long shot. To find out what he
has planned for his own future and his thoughts on the future of ham radio, be
sure to tune into this weeks RAIN Report. Its on-line in streaming audio right
now at www.rainreport.com and on the phone at 847-827-7246

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, Amateur News Weekly, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC
Communicator, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio
Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB and Australia's Q-News, that's all from the Amateur
Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is newsline @arnewsline.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), P.O. Box 660937, Arcadia, California 91066.

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I’m Graham Kemp,
VK4BB, down-under in Australia saying 73 and we thank you for listening."
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.

(Radionews) wrote in message ...
Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1353 – July 18, 2003

Senate approval has to take place can the FCC begin the process under the
Administrative Proceedures Act and issue a Notice of Inquiry. A Notice of
Inquirey or N-O-I is the first step in the rule making process to make any
change and gives the general public a chance to voice its opinion.

I can recall the FCC starting with an NPRM.

And by
public we mean every American. Not just ham radio operators.

Hi Len.

Hi PCTA.