Amateur Radio NewslineT Report 1819 - June 22 2012 Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1819 with a release date of June 22, 2012 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a Q-S-T. U-K hams learn that they will have to share two meters with the 2012 Olympics; the I-A-R-U High Frequency Championship to take place in July; German hams get spectrum at 472 KHz and Radio Netherlands to cease English language broadcasts. Find out the details are on Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1819 coming your way right now. (Billboard Cart Here) ** RADIO LAW: UK HAMS TO SHARE 2 METERS WITH OLYMPICS Ham radio operators in London will be temporarily giving up a part of the 2 meter band to accommodate the 2012 Olympic Games. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, reports from Nottingham in the UK: -- British telecommunications regulator Ofcom has announced that a small block of the amateur radio 144 MHz band is to be used for the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games. The RSGB have issued the following announcement: Following negotiations to minimize the impact on amateurs, Ofcom has now announced that it will temporarily authorize a small block of 12.5kHz channels, ranging from 144.0125MHz to 144.1375MHz, for the period 27 July to 28 August 2012 only. The frequencies to be used specifically exclude 144.0500MHz the CW Calling frequency and 144.1000MHz which is the Perseids Meteor Scatter CW Calling channel. Ofcom are aware of the various amateur contests scheduled for 4 and 7 August and will work with Game users to keep operations to a minimum on these dates. Usage of this spectrum by Games users will be in the vicinity of London Olympic venues and will be limited to handheld equipment operating on a maximum of 5W output. I'm Jeramy Boot, G4NJH. -- Ofcom emphasizes that use of primary amateur spectrum is only for the specified time period and does not constitute a change of usage. More is on line on the RSGB 2012 Olympic Pages at www.rsgb.org/olympics. (RSGB) ** RADIOSPORTS: IARU HF CHAMPIONSHIP ON JULY 14 - 15 The International Amateur Radio Union sponsored High Frequency World Championship 2012 will take place beginning 1200 UTC on Saturday July 14th and ending 1200 UTC on Sunday July 15th. The objective of this contest is to contact as many other amateurs, especially IARU member society Headquarters stations, around the world as possible. This, using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands. The rules for this year are available on line at tinyurl.com/iaru-hf- championship. (XE1R, IARU-R2) ** RESTRUCTURING: GERMAN CLASS A HAMS GET 472 KHZ PRIVILEGES German amateurs with a Class A license are now allowed to operate in the new 472 to 479 kHz band. The power limit is 1 watt effective radiated with a maximum signal bandwidth of 800Hz. (GB2RS) ** RADIO POLITICS: UAE GOVERNMENT REGULATOR MEETS WITH NATIONAL HAM RADIO SOCIERT The Emirates Amateur Radio Society has met with the United Arab Emirates Telecommunications Regulatory Authority or T-R- A. This to discuss amateur radio issues. According to news reports, the meeting shed light on Emirates Amateur Radio Society perspectives related to regulations for radio communications amateurs issued by the T-R-A. This included amateur radio authorizations, frequencies used by U-A-E hams, the mechanism of authorizing visitors and residents to operate in that nation, and cooperation and coordination between the two groups during various activities. The two sides also discussed ways to utilize ham radio to support governmental entities while performing public service activities and at international competitions throughout the year. At that gathering, the T-R-A stated that the United Arab Emirates is a country concerned with providing various types of communications to users including radio communications. It said that meeting with a specialized entity such as the society is highly important in order to promote radio communications in the country. It added that this meeting garners further significance especially when it takes into consideration that the United Arab Eemirates is a country that hosts numerous desert sports activities and competitions. This it says makes radio communications a key issue particularly with regard to cases of accidents, disasters, or being lost in the desert. The meeting took place at the TRA headquarters in Abu Dhabi and brought to light a number of issues related to radio communications. The full report of the meeting in English can be read at tinyurl.com/uae-hams. (Southgate News) ** PROPAGATION: DOUBLE CME HITS EARTH CAUSING AURORAS SpaceWeather reports that a geomagnetic storm occured in the wake of the Suns double Coronal Mass Ejection or C-M-E impact on June 16. The hit, which strongly compressed Earth's magnetic field, lit up both poles with bright auroras. Here in the United States and Canada, the Northern Lights descended as far south as Oregon, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Washington state and the Dakotas. And as ham radio operators know, this C-M-E also made for some rather interesting conditions on the air, especially on 50 Mhz and above. (SpaceWeather.com) ** TECHNOLOGY: PHASE MODULATION TESTS ON WWVB The National Institute of Standards and Technology or N-I-S- T is currently testing phase modulation in addition to the existing amplitude modulation on time standard station WWVB. The AM signal continues while the phase modulation is tested, so there should not be any interruption in service to existing AM devices. However, the NIST warns that phase- locked loop devices AM devices may lose signal lock at times during the tests. The experiment will end prior to the June 30th leap second correction. Questions or comments can be forwarded to WWVB Broadcast Manager John Lowe by e-mail at john (dot) lowe (at) nist (dot) gov. (WB5ITT) ** BANDPLANNING: COMMENTS SOUGHT ON PROPOSED 23 CM BANDPLAN Rick Roderick K5UR, who chairs the ARRL UHF and Microwave Band Plan Committee is asking for input on the new proposed amateur 23 cm bandplan. K5UR requests that the ham radio community look over the draft band plan and let him know if you have any major concerns, You can see and download the proposed plan at tinyurl.com/23-cm-plan. Comments go by e- mail to microwave-band-plan (at) arrl (dot) org. (ARRL, Southgate) ** RADIO LAW: COMMUNICATIONS TOWER LIGHTS NOW FOR THE BIRDS Federal Aviation Administration officials have decided that operators of tall towers may turn off one type of warning light that may be a cause of bird collisions, and do so without endangering those flying aircraft. According to news reports federal wildlife researchers found migratory birds get disoriented by steady red warning lights. As a result the FAA has determined it may be okay to turn those off because they claim that pilots can still see towers at night using flashing red warning lights. Federal wildlife researchers and some conservationists claim that close to 7 million migrating birds die each year when they hit communications towers in the United States and Canada. Broadcasters and other tower owners doubt the number is that high. They point to counter research collated by the FCC that says more birds die from cats and flying into structures such as high rise building windows. The FCC hasn't made the new light scheme mandatory but officials said recently they would honor the change. You may recall that back last December, the commission began requiring formal public notice and requiring for new towers taller than 450 feet. Also required is an environmental assessment of the potential impact of a new tower on migratory birds. (RW) ** BREAK 1 From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the W8HVG repeater serving all of southern Michigan. (5 sec pause here) ** RADIO LAW: FCC CORRECTS LICENSE CLASS PAPERWORK ERROR The FCC has modified the Amateur Radio Service license of Todd Wilson, WH6DWF, of Honolulu, Hawaii. This by replacing his General Class operator privileges with Technician Class operator privileges. No, Wilson did nothing wrong. Rather he was the innocent victim of a clerical error by the ARRL VEC. Heres the back story. By correspondence dated January 13, 2012, the ARRL VEC notified the Commission that it had made an error in the November 29, 2011 data file and that Wilson was qualified for a Technician Class operator license but not a General Class. Therefore, ARRL VEC requested that the FCC modify Wilson's license to correct the operator privileges authorized. The Order of Modification was released on March 15, 2012. Wilson did not protest the proposed modification of his license within the requisite thirty-day time frame. Accordingly, he is deemed to have consented to the proposed modification. Based on the record before it, on June 19th the FCC concluded that it is in the pubic interest to modify the license for Amateur Radio Service Station WH6DWF by changing the authorized operating privileges from General Class to Technician Class. (FCC) ** ENFORCEMENT: ANOTHER UNLICENSED FLORIDA ISSUED $15000 NAL The Tampa FCC Office has issued a $15,000 Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture to Albert R. Knighten, Jr.. This for apparently willfully and repeatedly violating Section 301 of the Communications by operating an unlicensed radio transmitter on the frequency 107.5 MHz from his residence in Fort Myers, Florida. Amateur Radio Newsline's Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, has the details: -- On December 1st and 9th, 2011, agents from the Enforcement Bureau's Tampa Office T-hunted a signal on 107.5 MHz to an FM transmitting antenna mounted on a tower at Knighten's residence. Agents also determined that the signals on 107.5 MHz exceeded the limits for operation under Part 15 of the Commission's rules and therefore required a license. On December 9, 2011, local law enforcement executed a search warrant for the premises. At that time agents from the FCC Tampa Office interviewed Knighten who was present in his residence when the station was on the air. During the interview Knighten admitted to purchasing and installing the radio equipment. He also claimed to be the sole person operating the unlicensed station and had been doing so for over a month. The FCC agents also inspected the unlicensed radio station before the equipment was seized by local law enforcement. Now in issuing the Notice of Apparent Liability, the FCC says that because Knighten consciously operated the station and on more than one day, the apparent violation of the Communications Act was both willful and repeated. As such, and based on the evidence before it, that a $15,000 penalty is warranted. -- Knighten was given the customary 30 days to pay the $15,000 N-A-L or to file an appeal. (FCC) ** ENFORCEMENT: INCOMPLETE PAPERWORK LEADS TO $10000 FINE FOR NYC COLLEGE STATION Columbia University in New York City has been issued a $10,000 Monetary Forfeiture based on documents missing from the public inspection file of its non-commercial station WKCR- FM. Amateur Radio Newsline's Fred Vobbe, W8HDU, is here with the details": -- The case is unusual because WKCR stated on its renewal application that since its transmission facilities on the World Trade Center had been destroyed on 9/11, the station has faced operating difficulties. As such, it has been transmitting from various temporary locations and with a reduced coverage area. According to several media reports, Columbia University was totally truthful on its license renewal application. It admitted that WKCR's public file was incomplete. It said the quarterly issues and program lists were not missing deliberately but inadvertently. However in rendering its decision, the FCC said the missing files occurred over the entire eight-year period of the license grant. This, included a four-year period before its transmitting facilities were destroyed. As such, the regulatory agency stated that WKCR's violations we both serious and displayed a pattern of abuse of the FCC's rules. Because of this, the station came close to having its license renewal granted for a short term period. However the Media Bureau decided not to take that route because WKCR is due to file its next renewal application February 1, 2014. In the end. the Commission decided that overall WKCR has served the public interest during its license term. That's why it will grant the renewal separately once the forfeiture proceeding is concluded. For the amateur radio Newsline, Im Fred Vobbe, W8HDU, in Lima, Ohio. -- Columbia University was given the customary 30 days from the date the FCC decision was rendered to pay the penalty or to file an appeal. (RW, FCC) ** RADIO LAW: SCRAP METAL THEFT BECOME A FELONY IN FLORIDA It's about to get a lot more difficult harder to sell a stolen piece of transmission line or any form of purloined metal in Florida. This as the state severely tightens regulations on how scrap metal dealers operate their businesses in that state. Amateur Radio Newsline's Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, reports: -- The new rules that go into effect on July 1st make stealing copper from a utility or communications services provider a Florida state first-degree felony. This translates into the possibility of a thief being sentenced to a 30-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine. The law also makes knowingly purchasing stolen metals a third-degree felony, which could mean five years in prison and a $5,000 fine for the purchaser. But the change likely to have the greatest influence on copper theft is the banning of cash payments for scrap metal. Under the new law all payments must be made by check or an electronic payment system, and payment may be delayed by up to three days. All scrap-metal dealers will have to be registered with the state, and dealers will be required to keep better records of all purchases, including photographs of the material bought. If they purchase an item with a serial number on it, the dealer will have to check a state database to make sure the item has not been reported stolen. As to the perpetrators of such thefts, the new law waives civil liability for property owners if someone is injured or killed while trying to steal copper or other regulated materials. In other words a thief or a surviving relative of the thief will not be permitted to file a law suit trying to hold those who own the stolen metals responsible for the perpetrators injuries or death. Florida Governor Rick Scott signed the bill into law at the end of April. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, in Zion, Illinois. -- Copper theft has been an increasing problem for broadcasters, power companies and other industries that use these metals. This is particularly true for those located at remote and unattended sites. Even ham radio operators have in the past years reported theft of antenna transmission lines. (CGC, RW) ** HAM RADIO BUSINESS: SUPERANTENNA RETURNS TO THE HAM RADIO MARKETPLACE SuperAntenna Corporation, maker of the legendary MP1 Portable Antenna and YP3 Portable Yagi, is back in business. Super Antenna was begun in 2000 by Vern Wright, W6MMA. As some of you may know, the company ceased operations a few years ago to sort out what it termed as legal issues. On June 18th Super Antenna issued a press release stating that the new company has already begun shipping the MP1 portable antenna and the YP3 portable yagi. Both it claims have been re-engineered to a higher standard of performance. Super Antenna has also announced a new web site where hams radio operators can get information on Super Antenna products. Its in cyberspace at www.newsuperantenna.com. (Via e-mail) ** HAM HAPPENINGS: HAMS IN BROADCASTING VOIP GROUP Hams in Broadcasting is a new on-line V-O-I-P group that connects those in the broadcasting industry with one another world-wide. The system interconnects IRLP conference bridge 9615, Echolink conference 96150 and Allstar Node 27405 for 24 hour a day communication and chatting between hams who are in the broadcast field. For more information on the "Hams in Broadcast" conference bridge, take a look at tinyurl.com/ar-conference-bridge Also of note are two nets that meet on the bridge. Every Sunday night at 8:00 PM Eastern there is a general "Hams in Broadcast Net." It is usually hosted by Bruce Schiller, WA2ZST, who works for the CBS network in New York City. There also is a twice a month "SBE Hams on the Air" net. More information on that gathering is at tinyurl.com/broadcasters-voip (Hams in Broadcasting) ** HAM HAPPENINGS: AMSAT 2012 SYMPOSIUM INFORMATION UPDATE The 2012 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium will be held in Orlando, Florida on the weekend of October 26th to the 28th. This at the Holiday Inn Orlando Airport Hotel. The Symposium weekend will feature sessions on various ham radio satellites, operating techniques, news and plans from the amateur satellite world. Also taking place will be the annual Board of Directors Meeting, the annual General Membership Meeting and banquet. For the latest updates please bookmark tinyurl.com/amsat- symposium-2012 (2012 Symposium Committee) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: W0ADZ APPOINTED NEW SOUTH DAKOTA SM Some names in the news. Chris Stallkamp, W0ADZ, has been appointed as ARRL South Dakota Section Manager, effective June 15. ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Manager Dave Patton, NN1N, made the appointment in consultation with Dakota Division Director Greg Widin, K0GW, and with the recommendation of outgoing South Dakota Section Manager Scott Rausch, WA0VKC. Rausch had served as South Dakota Section Manager since April 2009. He decided not to run for another term of office that was scheduled to begin on April 1st. After a re- solicitation for nominations this spring did not result in any potential candidates, Stallkamp was then appointed to take the Section Manager reins from Rausch. Stallkamp's appointment extends until March 31, 2014. (ARRL) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: VA7MPG ELECTED RAC SM OF BC AND YUKON SECTION And congratulations to Paul Giffin, VA7MPG who was recently elected Section Manager for Radio Amateurs of Canada's British Columbia and Yukon Section Manager. This, for the balance of his appointed term that ends October 30, 2013. VA7MPG ran unopposed eliminating the need for a balloted election. (RAC) ** 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) ** WORLDBEAT: RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE TO CEASE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BROADCASTS ON JUNE 29TH Radio Netherlands English service will closes down at the end of June. According to the International broadcaster, the decision to curtail English language transmissions on June 29th is the result of steep budget cuts imposed by the Dutch government and a concomitant change in focus of the station. As such, providing the world with what it terms as a realistic image of the Netherlands, as it has done since 1947, will no longer be one of its statutory duties. According to the stations website, as of July 1st there will no longer be a daily review of the Dutch papers and coverage of Dutch news stories will also cease. And, since the English webstream will also end on June 29th, there will be a Listening Guide posted or mailed out. For its final English language transmission on June 29th, Radio Netherlands plans to broadcast a show looking back at the past decades of its service. Its asking listeners who may have a memory to share to sent that by e-mail to letters (at) rnw (dot) nl. The shut down of the long popular Radio Netherlands English language transmissions follow the closure of the Dutch service in May. More is on-line at www.rnw.nl/english/article/were-changing (RNW) ** MAKING WAVES: HAM RADIO TEST CRUISE OF OH10X/MM ON BALTIC SEA. Radio Arcala, the massive ham radio contest station that operates as OH8X near the Arctic Circle in association with Kristina Cruises Ltd. are in the process of testing to see if a permanent amateur radio station will suit the maritime environment and serve DX'ers in their leisure time. The ship used for the first evaluation held June 20th to the 24th was the M/S Kristina Katarina which is owned by a private Finnish company. The onboard ham radio station consisted of an Icom IC-7600 on the top deck. The antenna was a 20 meter long wire fed by a remote antenna tuner. The first run that was to ascertain any potential interference issues from the amateur radio station to the ship's navigation system. Also to see the impact from the ship's advanced P-C networks to the reception of amateur radio transmissions. During the test cruise, the station was to be active at the peak propagation hours to various continents on 14.267 MHz. The test cruise took the ship to Estonia, Gotland, Sweden, the Aland Islands, and back to Finland. In addition to the technical evaluation, famed DXer Martti Laine, OH2BH, was on-board with a target to contact all continents. This to celebrate the signing a possible permanent agreement for the station to be available for guests who hold an amateur radio license. The M/S Kristina Katarina is a 138 meter long vessel. It has a cruising speed of 15 knots and can hold a maximum of 450 guests. Two Finnair jetliners were available backing the operations for change of passengers at a variety of ports along the way. For more details on this interesring ham radio cruise evaluation, please take your web browser to www.qrz.com/db/OH10X. Information on the cruise line is at tinyurl.com/ham-cruise. (Radio Arcala) ** WORLDBEAT: SARL AND ICASA WORKING TOWARD CEPT LIKE VISITORS LICENSE The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, better known as the ICASA and the South African Radio League are in negotiations to create a CEPT like ham radio license that is universally accepted. In the meantime, the telecommunications regulator says that visitors to South Africa who hold a valid amateur radio license in a Southern African Development Community recognized country may apply for temporary authorization to operate in South Africa. A copy of his or her license and the period to be spent in South Africa, must be presented. All requests go by e-mail to KMashile (at) icasa (dot) org (dot) za as well as admin (at) sarl (at) org (dot) za. The turn around time for applications will be approximately 48 hours. According to Wikipedia, The Southern African Development Community is an inter-governmental organization headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana. Its goal is to further socio-economic cooperation and integration as well as political and security cooperation among 15 southern African states. It complements the role of the African Union. (SARL) ** ON THE AIR: CYPRUS AND THE EUROPEAN UNION PRESIDENCY To commemorate the first time that Cyprus will hold the European Union presidency, a the Cyprus Amateur Radio Society have been granted the use of the callsign P-3-E-U for a six month period that expires on December 31st. Using that call sign, club members will host a 24 hour special event operation on July 1st on the High Frequency bands using SSB and CW for the 24 hour event. For the duration of the 6 months of Cyprus holding the presidency club members will be active using the P-3-E-U call on all modes on the High Frequency and VHF bands. A special QSL card will be available. (OPDX) ** ON THE AIR: K4O CELEBRATES PUERTO RICO FLAG BEARING IN THE LONDON OLYMPICS On Sunday July 1st 2012, the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee will be celebrating the Flag Bearing of the Puerto Rico Delegation to the Summer Olympic Games in London. To commemorate the event, the Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League will be operating special event station K-4-Oh from the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee headquarters. Actual hours of operation will be 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. on June 30th and 9 a.m to 2 p.m. on July 1st. Both are local Puerto Rico time. More information on this operation is on-line at www.prarl.org. (PRARL) ** DX In DX, K6ZRH will be on the air portable DU1 from Palawan Island through June 30th. His operation will be on 40, 20 and 15 meters using SSB. QSL this one also direct only to his home call. K9EL was on the air as FS/K9EL from St. Martin until June 24th. His operation was holiday style on 80 through 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. If you worked him, QSL to his call book address. PE1GU will be active as PA6FUN from Ameland Island between July 30th and August 15th. His operation will be on 6 meters only. Modes have not been announced. QSL via PE1GUR, either direct or via the bureau. ON4QX, will be operational portable P4 from Aruba through July 2nd. Activity will probably be on all High Frequency bands mostly using RTTY. QSL via ON4QX. An international team of operators plan to visit five islands belonging to Papua New Guinea between October 19th and November 4th. Some of the islands to host their operations include Emirau, Simberi, and Lihir. As we go to air no bands, frequencies or a QSL Manager has been announced. Lastly, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the first operation from the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a group of hams will take to the air using the call sign 1A0C from Santa Maria del Priorato. Their operation will be from July 1st to the 4th on all of the High Frequency bands plus 6 meters. QSLs for contacts with 1A0C can be requested via 1A0Z. ** THAT FINAL ITEM: THE 12TH USA ARDF CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS And finally this week, a hidden transmitter hunt in California has drawn radio direction finding fans from around the country. Newsline's Joe Moell (MELL) K-zero-O-V, who is also the ARRL's ARDF Coordinator, tells us all about it. -- Fans of on-foot transmitter hunting gathered in the little village of Mt. Laguna, California early this month for the twelfth annual USA championships of Amateur Radio Direction Finding, or ARDF. They came from nine states plus British Columbia, Canada to see who would win the medals and who would be selected to go to the World Championships in Serbia this September. One quarter of them had never been to a national championship foxhunt before. The big event was sponsored by the Los Angeles Orienteering Club and was organized and hosted by Marvin Johnston KE6HTS. With lots of volunteer help, Marvin set out two challenging championship courses in the forested mountains at 6000 feet elevation, one on two meters and the other on 80 meters, on the weekend of June 1 and 2. In accordance with standard rules of the International Amateur Radio Union, the participants were divided into eleven age and gender categories, so the ones in their 70's didn't have to compete against prime-agers for the gold. The championship courses were over six kilometers from start to each of the five transmitters and then to the finish. In addition, there was a sprint event to see who could find ten lower-powered transmitters fastest. There was also a foxoring event. That's a new sport that combines orienteering and direction-finding. Competitors were given a map marked with ten circles. When they got inside the area represented by each circle, they could hear a QRP 80-meter transmitter and track it down with RDF. The first to get all ten would win. Before these events, there was a two-day training camp on Wednesday and Thursday, with full-size courses on two meters and 80-meters. When it was all over, 13 OMs and 6 YLs had received medals to take home with them. For the complete results and photos of these championships, point your Web browser to homingin.com. That's homingin -- as one word -- homingin.com. That's also a good place to learn more about bringing on-foot foxhunting to your locality. For Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Joe Moell K0OV. -- If you have never been out on a hidden transmitter hunt you are missing one of the most fun aspects of the hobby. If a local club or other group you know of holds these fun events, you might consider joining in and giving it a try. (K0OV) ** 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 W-I-A 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 Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, saying 73 and we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.