Amateur Radio NewslineT Report 1825 - August 3 2012 Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1825 with a release date of August 3rd 2012 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a QST. The United States prepares for W-R- C 2015, The FCC denies a request to create an emergency calling channel on 2 meters; South Africa's hams wonder if a change in the nations regulatory structure will affect them; the European Union provides protection for hams in interference cases and a new 2 meter radio will soon be on its way to the International Space Station. Find out the details are on Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1825 coming your way right now. (Billboard Cart Here) ** RESTRUCTURING: A LOOK AT THE UPCOMING WRC 2015 A proposed permanent secondary allocation to the amateur service at or near 5 MHz is among agenda items for the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2015. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, has the details: -- There are numerous items on the 2015 World Radiocommunications meeting agenda, as spelled out at the end of the recently concluded 2012 conference. One is the proposal for a possible new allocation to the amateur service on a secondary basis within the band 5.250 to 5.450 MHz. The International Amateur Radio Union has described such an allocation as being among the best for hams to use to provide around the clock emergency communications. So far, little in the way of objections has been heard in public. According to the publication Radio World, it is the National Telecommunications and Information Administration that coordinates United States participation in the WRC conferences, doing so though a number of government departments and agencies are involved. According to N-T-I- A's website, the next conference will consider spectrum requirements for uses ranging from mobile service allocations for broadband to controlling unmanned aircraft from space. These conferences are held by the International Telecommunication Union every few years to talk about international radio regulations. An FCC advisory group will start to meet this month in preparation for the next one. The commission also has set up a website with information about WRC-15. While WRC-15 may seem far away, the planning for it is already getting underway. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale, Arizona. -- Another item of interest on the WRC 15 agenda is the feasibility of achieving a continuous reference time-scale. This either by the modification of coordinated universal time or some other method. (RW) ** RADIO RULES: FCC DENIES PETITION ASKING FOR EMERGENCY CALLING FREQUENCY ON 2 METERS Don't hold your breath waiting for the FCC to create a nationwide emergency calling frequency on 2 meters or any other Amateur Service band. That's because in denying a petition filed by Bryan Boyle, WB0YLE, of Morrisville, Pennsylvania, and Jim Dixon, WB6NIL, of Alhambra, California, the regulatory agency basically said that it's not necessary to have such a frequency cast in stone in the Part 97 rules. Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Butera- Howell, KB3TZD, has the details: -- Bryan Boyle, WB0YLE, and Jim Dixon, WB6NIL had jointly filed a rule making request that asked the FCC to designate 146.55 MHz in the 2 meter band as a non-exclusive nationwide Amateur Radio Service emergency communications FM channel. In their petition the pair noted that other services, such as Citizens Band Radio, the Aviation Service and the Maritime Service have specific channels set aside for emergency communications. They argued that a similar designated channel in the Amateur Service could serve the same purpose. But in its denial order dated July 31st the FCC claimed that Dixon and Boyle had not shown that a problem existed that would be addressed by designating a nationwide Amateur Service emergency calling frequency. To the contrary, the regulatory agency noted that the rules as they now stand provide the Amateur Service with what it calls the flexibility to provide emergency communications in a way that takes into account frequency availability and other local conditions. The FCC observed that under the current Amateur Service rules that licensed operators can use multiple channels on the same or different amateur bands if needed for an event. They can also use multiple channels in the same band when multiple, but different events occur. Translated into plain English, what the Commission is saying is that plenty of spectrum exists on 2 meters and other ham radio bands for radio amateurs to provide emergency communications services. This, without the regulatory agency stating that a given frequency is designated for that purpose. The agency also noted that the Boyle and Dixon proposal for the channel to be a non-exclusive nationwide is essentially no different from the way things are right now. This is because all Amateur Service frequencies are already shared and as such they may be used for providing emergency communications as the need arises. If hams in a given region or even nationwide want to create such designated channels on a voluntary basis that the Amateur Radio community already has the authority to do so. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Butera-Howell, KB3TZD, near Berwick, Pennsylvania. -- The bottom line. The FCC seems to be saying that if such a non-exclusive nationwide emergency calling frequency is needed, nothing in the Part 97 rules prevents the amateur community from voluntarily establishing such channels, be it on 2 meters or for that matter, any other Amateur Service band. (FCC) ** RESTRUCTURING: WILL SOUTH AFRICAS NEW ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AMENDMENT BILL AFFECT AMATEUR RADIO The South African Department of Communications is planning to create another body parallel to its Independent Communications Authority of South Africa or ICASA. This, to take over the singular duty of spectrum management. This move comes as one of the many changes proposed in the Electronic Communications Amendment Bill of 2012. That is a measure that among other things calls for the establishment of a new Spectrum Management Agency within the portfolio of the Minister of Communications with the overall responsibility for the country's electromagnetic spectrum. Along with the proposed law comes an explanatory document. It states that the Minister of Communications will act as the custodian of the spectrum on behalf of the people of South Africa as well as representing that nation before the International Telecommunications Union. This includes the allocation of the radio frequency spectrum to various radio communication services including amateur radio. The minister will also be responsible for all international spectrum matters pertaining to South Africa, including Regional and sub-Regional spectrum planning, all cases concerning international harmful interference and international frequency coordination. The South Africa Radio League Council says that it is currently studying the draft bill to see what impact it might have on that nations amateur radio service. South African radio amateurs are invited to send comments to the South Africa Radio League by August 15th. Please address them to secretary (at) sarl (dot) org (dot) za. (SARL) ** RADIO LAW: EUROPEAN UNION ACCEPTS EMC DIRECTIVE THAT PROTECTS HAMS It appears as if ham radio operators in the European Union are safe from being treated as sources of massive radio frequency interference. On July 10th the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee of the European Parliament voted on a the new version of the an Electromagnetic Compatibility directive containing an amendment fostered by Germany's Deutscher Amateur Radio Club and the Political Relations Committee of the International Amateur Radio Union to protect the rights of radio amateurs. The original draft amendment to the definition of an "electromagnetic disturbance" could in the worst case have led to the signal of an amateur station being treated as an annoyance or intrusion. (Southgate) ** HAM RADIO IN SPACE: NEW 2 METER RADIO TO LAUNCH TO THE ISS A new VHF ham radio system will soon be headed to the International Space Station. At the July 17 ARISS meeting Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, reported that his group is in the final stages of preparing the flight certification for of the replacement hardware for the degraded Ericsson 2 meter radio. That rig is part of the 2nd ISS amateur radio station that is located in the Columbus module. According to Ransom, they had been hoping to launch of the equipment on flight 33-S on December 5th. Now however comes word that the new radio could be carried aloft ob flight 49- P that's slated to launch on November 1st. As such, Ransom's group is trying to finish the certification process in time for this earlier flight option. The degraded Ericsson VHF radio may be returned on flight 32- S in October. The team is very interested in trying to determine what the problem has been with this particular piece of gear. And we will have more space related ham radio news later on in this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report. (ARISS) ** BREAK 1 From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the WA3PBD repeater serving Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (5 sec pause here) ** ENFORCEMENT: UNLICENSED OREGON OPERATOR FINED $15000 The FCC has issued a Notice of Apparent Liability in the amout of $15,000 to Joshua McMurchie of Prineville, Oregon. This for his alleged operation of a an unauthorized station on 97.9 MHz. Back in 2011 agents from the FCC's Portland Office of its Enforcement Bureau responded to a complaint and traced the signal to McMurchie's home. Local law enforcement officers accompanied the FCC agents and left a Notice of Unlicensed Operation with another resident of the house and also mailed a notice as a backup. According to the FCC McMurchie signed for the latter notice in October 2011, This past May, the FCC's Portland Enforcement Bureau received another complaint about an illegal station on 97.9 MHz. Both the FCC and Prineville Police officers went to his home, were granted admittance and found a transmitter broadcasting at that location. The FCC says that McMurchie admitted he operated the station and offered to surrender his equipment to the agents. Now the FCC has issued a proposed penalty. In reaching its decision, the agency boted that the base fine for operating an illegal station is $10,000. However the commission fined McMurchie $15,000 because of his repeated violations. He too has the customary 30 days from receipt of the notice to pay the proposed fine or to file an appeal. (FCC) ** ENFORCEMENT: FCC FINES CALIFORNIA CB OPERATOR $7000 FOR REFUSAL TO PERMIT STATION INSPECTION The FCC has affirmed a $7000 fine issued to a California Citizens Radio operator. This after he refused to let the FCC inspect his station on several occasions. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, is here with the details: -- This case dates back to March 19, 2010. That's when agents from the San Francisco FCC Office responded to a complaint of interference to the radio communication system equipment of the Merced County Fire Department. The agents then monitored the radio transmissions on frequency 27.165 MHz and used radio direction finding techniques to locate the source of the signal associated with the interference to a CB radio station operating from an Ira Jones' residence in Merced. The agents approached Jones, identified themselves and told him about the interference. He denied being the source of the interference. They then asked to inspect Jones CB radio station but he refused. The scenario was basically repeated on August 27th, 2010 when FCC agents, this time accompanied by officers of the Merced Police Department again visited Jones residence. Once again they were refused admittance. On both occasions the FCC issue Jones written warning notices that he refused to accept. On March 10, 2011, the San Francisco Office issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Monetary Forfeiture in the amount of $7,000 to Jones for failing to allow authorized FCC personnel to inspect his CB radio station. Jones responded to the N-A-L on March 30th. At that time he argued that he has not seen the complaints of the alleged the interference, that he did not receive the described warnings from the San Francisco agents, and that the agents did not produce valid identification cards. But the FCC was not persuaded by any of Jones claims. On July 27th it affirmed the Forfeiture Order that gives Jones the customary 30 days to pay the $7000 fine or to file a further appeal. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles. -- This is the second time in recent weeks that an 11 meter C-B operator has been fined in relation to radio gear that in some way was found to interfere with some form of public service communications. In this case the fine is based not on the interference caused by the C-B operators station but rather because he refused an order from the FCC to inspect it. (FCC) ** ENFORCEMENT: UNLICENSED OPERATOR CAUGHT ON VK REPEATER An unlicensed operator who haunted an Australian repeater has been caught. About three weeks ago several members of a radio club were contacted by what appeared to be a person operating with a phony call over the Redcliffe repeater. The operator was using the call sign VK4NFL. It did not take very long for that unidentified operator to get caught after authorities became involved. Australia's Communications and Media Authority or A-C-M-A located the station and the matter is now in the hands of the Commonwealth legal authorities. It appears as though they do not waste very much time with unlicensed violators like this one, down-under. (WIA) ** RADIO BUSINESS: HEATHKIT FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY The Herald-Palladium newspaper says that the remnants of the famed Heathkit Company that once employed up to 1,800 people in St. Joseph Township, Michigan, is now on the auction block. Owner Don Desrochers told the paper that the company, which was down to half a dozen employees at the end, defaulted on its lease and has filed for bankruptcy. The organization was last known as Heathkit Educational Systems. Desrochers told the Herald-Palladium that this business was primarily dependant on federal and state funding for schools. Unfortunately, spending in education continued to drop and as such it was economically unfeasible to continue operating. Founded in 1926 as an aircraft company, Heathkit shifted its focus to electronics after World War II when it bought surplus electronic parts to build kits. Heathkit left the kit business in 1992, focusing on educational materials, then announced it was getting back into the kit business in 2011. According to Desrochers it was losing the educational business faster than it could grow the electronics business, which was not sustainable. (Published news reports) ** RADIO TECHNOLOGY: AN FDMDV OPEN SOURCE 1400 BPS HF MODEM David Rowe, VK5DGR, has made available open source software for a 1400 bps High Frequency FDMRV modem. FDMDV stands for Frequency Division Multiplexed Digital Voice and is described as basically being a grouping of slow modems running in parallel. For example FDMDV has 14 carriers spaced 75 Hz apart, each running at 50 symbols a second. Due to multipath problems on the High Frequency bands this approach is claimed to work better than one carrier running at 700 symbols per second. One of the applications of this modem technology will be Digital Voice since it offers fast sync, no multi-second training sequences, the ability to recover quickly after a fade, and no automatic re-transmit of "bad" packets. Those interested in experimenting with HF digital voice using this technology can find further information and source code at tinyurl.com/hf-digital-voice-modem (Southgate) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: W1HEO RESEARCHING DXPEDITION COSTS Dee Logan, W1HEO, is researching an article for the DX Magazine on the rising costs of DXpeditons and would like to hear from DXpeditioners for their comments on how to these ever increasing costs. Specific areas of interest include examples of specific costs and reasons for their larger amounts and suggestions for new sources or approaches to donations. If you can help please contact W1HEO by e-mail as soon as possible at deverelogan (at) gmail (dot) com (W1HEO) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: KA3HDO RETURNS TO AMSAT AS VP OF HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, has returned to AMSAT North America as Vice President for Human Spaceflight programs. Bauer stepped down from this position in May 2009 due to increasing work responsibilities at NASA. At the time he was the Chief Engineer for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. Bauer retired from NASA in September 2011. but has been unable to fully support ARISS or other human spaceflight pursuits. This is due to a post-retirement one year "cooling off" period with NASA and with the International Space Agencies. That period ends in about a month. The Vice President for Human Spaceflight is a position that is appointed by the AMSAT President. It provides leadership and guidance to the AMSAT President, BoD and executives on AMSAT's Human Spaceflight Operations and Development. (AMSAT) ** HAM HAPPENINGS: RADIO AMATEURS OF CANADA CANCELS 2012 NATIONAL CONVENTION The 2012 Radio Amateurs of Canada National Convention slated for the weekend of August 10th to the 12th has been cancelled. According to a press release, planners cite a low number of per-registrants as one of the reasons that the Canadian national Amateur Radio society has taken this action. The organizers will be immediately refunding any registrations received prior to cancellation and say they are already working on plans for their 2013 show. They also apologized to anyone who had arranged other vacation or travel plans around this convention. What little else is known about the cancellation can be found on-line at convention 2012 dot rac dot ca. (VA7AEJ, RAC) ** HAM HAPPENINGS: WEST VIRGINIA'S TARA CLUB TO CELEBRATE 50th HAMFEST And a word of congratulations to West Virginia's Tri-State Amateur Radio Association which will host its 50th annual hamfest from 8:30 a.m. to1 p.m. on August 11th. For ithis golden anniversary the event will be at the Life and Health Center of Christ Temple Church complex in the city of Huntington. This is a new location will offer unlimited free parking and a new, modern facility for the event. More about the group is on-line at www (dot) orgsites (dot) com/wv/taraclub. (TARA) ** 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) ** LISTENER NOTICE: PODCAST LINKS UPDATED - PLEASE RE- SUBSCRIBE This note to listeners who tune into Amateur Radio Newsline using the podcast audio feature. We have updated the links to the iTunes and R-S-S feed for our weekly report and you will need to re-subscribe in your podcast listening device using the new links available at www.arnewsline.org in the right column. Simply click on the link that affects you and perform the re-subscription process as required by each service. And thank you for being an important part of the Amateur Radio Newsline family. (ARNewsline) ** HAM RADIO IN SPACE: EME CONFERENCE IN THE UK AUGUST 15 - 19 The 15th international EME conference hosted by the U-K Microwave Group is being held at Churchill College Cambridge between August 15th and 19th. It will also feature a star studded scientific cast. RSGB news reader Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has the details: -- This is the first time that this conference has been held in the UK, and it provides an opportunity to learn about this most technically challenging aspect of our great science based hobby. Earth-Moon-Earth communications has much in common with radio astronomy and deep space communications and, in addition to EME specific lectures, there will be presentations on both these subjects. Two Nobel Physics Laureates from the world of Radio Astronomy will be present at the conference. Joe Taylor, K1JT is a keen EME enthusiast and will be presenting a paper on MAP65, while Professor Antony Hewish, FRS, is the speaker at the conference gala dinner on Saturday 18th. With over 150 delegates and 60 partners from five continents already registered, this promises to be a great event. I'm Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, and you are listening to the Amateur Radio Newsline. -- More information on this event can be found on-line at www.eme2012.com. (GB2RS) ** BEACON NEWS: THE KH6HME BEACONS ARE WELCOME TO STAY ON MONA LOA The late Paul Lieb, KH6HME's beacon system located at the 8200 foot of Hawaii's Mona Loa Volcano in Hawaii is welcome by the site manager to continue to operate from that location. According to Don Mussell, the KH6HME beacons are located in the building that was formerly under the control of KGMB-TV. Over the past few years that site was taken over by Hawaii Public Radio, and put under Mussell's supervision. Mussell says that Hawaii Public Radio is happy to have the beacons located at the site and will leave the operation and maintenance to a ham radio club that also operates equipment inside the building. It will be up to them to decide if the beacon operation will continue. (Don Mussell, CGC) ** EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: NANO COAX CABLES AND THEIR USES Nano technology is in the news once again. This time as a way to store energy. Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, has more: -- With all the research on nano-technology, perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that one of the latest involves coaxial cables on a nano-scale. The main interest in the nano-coaxial cable is as an energy storage device due to the very high capacitance between the inner and outer conductor. A study conduced at Rice University found that the capacitance of the nano-cable is at least 10 times greater than would be predicted with classical electrostatics. The capacitance of the new nano- cable is up to 143 microfarads per centimeter-squared. Study co-author Jun Lou notes that for energy storage, he can envision a large scale energy storage device consisting of millions of tiny nano-cables side by side in large areas. Lou also says that this cable might also be used as a transmission line for radio frequency signals at the nano scale. This could be useful as a fundamental building block in micro and nano sized electromechanical systems like lab- on-a-chip devices. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW. -- It appears as if nano technology has come a long way since we began reporting on it only a few short years ago. (TV Technology) ** HAM HAPPENINGS: ILLW REGISTRATION STILL OPEN FOR AUGUST 18 - 19 EVENT With 315 registrations so far, the 15th annual International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is headed for what right now appears to be yet another record year for participation. So far, Australia has the most registrations followed by the United States and Germany. With many other nations represented. Among the new ones are Austria, Chile, China, Curacao, Gibraltar, Honduras, Island of Man, Italy, Northern Ireland, Romania, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and the Ukraine. With only a few weeks to go, there is still time to register a lighthouse or lightship for the 48 hour fun event slated for August 18th and 19th. To do this, simply visit illw.net for online registration and guidelines of the popular unique event. (VK3PC) ** RADIOSPORTS: CQ TO REVAMP PUBLICATION SCHEDULE FOR CONTEST RESULTS In contesting news, CQ magazine says that it will embark on a major reorganization of its editorial content in order to publish contest results significantly sooner. According to Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, on average, contest results will appear four months sooner than at present. This change has been made possible by the fact that the majority of contest entrants submit their logs online along with advancements in technology for log-checking. Also assisting are the earlier log submission deadlines announced last month and advances in publishing technology. The new schedule will be phased in over the course of 2013 and will be fully in place by 2014. A complete calendar of contest results issues for 2013 and 2014 will be posted on the CQ website at www dot cq-amateur-radio dot com. (CQ) ** DX In DX, Bill Moore NC1L, the ARRL Awards Branch Manager has announced that the 2012 H44UD operation from the Solomon Islands has been approved for DXCC credit. Cards for that operation may now be submitted. On the air, listen out for HA9MDN who will be active stroke 9A from Vir Island. Operations will be on SSB, RTTY and SSTV. QSL to HA9MDN via the Bureau or using eQSL. JH1DVG will be active as V63JX from Pohnpei Island between November 23-26th. His operations will be on 40 through 10 meters using various modes. QSL to his home callsign, direct or via the bureau. Three operators will be on the air from Praslin Island between October 21st and November 4th. Their activity will be holiday style on 80 through 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL S79LC via I5IHE direct only. QSL S79YY via I5OYY direct with an SASE or electronically using Logbook of the World. QSL's for S79XX go via IK5RUN, also direct with an SASE or using Logbook of the World. Lastly, JA1XGI will be active as V63XG from Yap Island between December 5th to the 12th. His activity will probably be on 20 through 6 meters using mainly CW, with some SSB and Digital modes. QSO's will be uploaded to Logbook of the World as soon as possible. QSL via JA1XGI, direct or by the bureau. Above from various DX sources ** THAT FINAL ITEM: THE CASE OF THE VANISHED VENTURA CALIFORNIA UNLICENSED BRIADCAST STATION And finally this week the story of the vanishing unlicensed broadcaster in the city of Ventura, California. Did he get scared off the air or did he simply get tired of playing a want-to-be broadcaster, Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has what we know about this interesting here and gone station: -- Actually, what we know comes by way of Bob Gonsett, W6VR, and his CGC Communicator broadcast industry electronic newsletter. According to Bob, this past July 11th a complaint was filed with the FCC field office in Los Angeles concerning a n unlicensed station on 89.7 MHz reportedly operating from Channel Drive in the coastal city of Ventura, California. The station referred to itself as "KSSR... The People's Radio." It even had its own business card and Website. But on July 25th the CGC Communicator received word that the station had vanished from the airwaves and has shut down their Website. In fact the last Web update was reported on July 24th and said - quote -- "It was nice while it lasted." According to the CGC Communicator, one of the people involved with the complaint isn't sure if the FCC paid the station a visit, or if the broadcaster saw his vehicle pass by in front of the alleged station location with an antenna in the middle of the vehicle roof and decided to shut it down before the FCC showed up. Either way, the unlicensed broadcaster is gone, at least for now. So where does this all lead? According to the CGC Newsletter, for many the temptation to find such an unlicensed station is almost overwhelming. It is something most can do with simple direction finding equipment. That's fine if it can be done secretly. The problem with obvious and overt DFing is that the unlicensed station may shut down prematurely only to surface again elsewhere. The CGC Communicator says that in dealing with unlicensed broadcasters that there is a definite advantage in letting the FCC handle these cases from start to finish. The CGC Communicator notes that once a federal case is opened, the unlicensed station is more likely to stay off the air and that means a lot less work for everyone involved. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, not all that far from Ventura in the Newsroom in Los Angeles. -- By the way, according to Bob Gonsett, W6VR, the real KSSR-FM is located in the city of Santa Rosa, California and operates on 95.9 MHz. (CGC Communicator) ** 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 NewslineT. Our e-mail address is newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) org. More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline'sT only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio NewslineT, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350 For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim Davis, W2JKD, saying 73 and we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.