AA7BQ
01-12-2007, 01:18 PM
Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1535 - January 12th , 2007
Now, Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1535 with a release date of Friday, January 12th , 2007 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a Q-S-T.
A California ham becomes an international hero for assisting in the rescue of a stranded sailor off the coast of Chile. Also, a power provider works with hams in Massachusetts to avoid interference and more about Reginald Fessenden and the worlds first radio broadcast. Did he really make it? You decide for yourself after hearing Amateur Radio Newsline™ report number 1535 coming your way right now.
RESCUE RADIO: SOCAL HAM ASSISTS IN RESCUE AT SEA
A Riverside California ham has been dubbed a hero by his fellow radio amateurs. This after he helped to coordinate the rescue of a sailor off the coast of Chile. We have more in this report from Burt Hicks, WB6MQV:
--
We have all heard the story before. Someone, somewhere in need of communications during an emergency and out from the sidelines comes a ham that can provide it. An in reality, that’s the story of the rescue of around-the-wold sailor Ken Barnes off the coast of Chile on January 5th . A rescue made possible with more than a little help from a ham radio operator back home.
That ham is Migual Morales, KC6CYK, of Riverside California.
--
Morales: "I got involved because I learned last Monday evening that an American was stranded and adrift somewhere in the South Pacific where two oceans collide at the tip of the continent down there. No cellphone. The satellite cellphone that he had was cutting off and on every 30 seconds and that was the most (time) he could talk."
--
Mike, as he is known locally, heard about Barnse's predicament on local newscasts and offered to help. He did this by contacting the sailor's fiancee, Cathy Chambers, and suggesting he might be able to get in touch by radio with hams in Chile who also might be able to assist.
--
Morales : "And so I called the family. I found their number in the directory and I introduced myself to Cathy Chambers and I told her that I had lived in Chile when I was a kid. And speaking the language and having a ham radio license here in the states and being affilated with the Radio Club of Chile I was able to talk to my colleagues down there, and I offered my services voluntarily of coarse. And she said that she was very happy and said to please do what you can."
--
In an interview with the ARRL, Morales, who also peaks fluent Spanish, said he felt it was important for Barnes family to know the mariners situation and how the rescue plans were progressing. He did this by making contact with on 10 meters with stations in Chile. From them he obtained what he termed as credible reports as to what was actually happening.
--
Morales: "I was lucky enough really: I have a Novice license but I was able to go to 20 meters and 5 meters abd monitor and listen and talk on 10 meters with ham rafio operators in CE7 in the southern part of Chile.
--
One of the things he learned that the Chillian Navy was putting off any rescue attempt.
--
The Chilean Navy had no intention in rescuing Ken Barnes. To them, it was someone else stranded there and they were expecting him not to survive. That’s a reality of that part of the world.
To them, to send a war ship into international waters some 300 miles over the 200 nautical miles that they had to extend their trip. It was not worth it.
They are now claiming credit and they are now saying that yhey were coordinators and they instructed. Baloney -- they didn't do that."
--
The Navy did dispatch one of the CP3 Orion aircraft Chile uses to patrol its 200-mile-offshore territorial claim. The plane spotted Barnes foundering vessel, photographed it and even attempted to drop a life raft that missed its mark. Morales later learned that the Chilean Navy recruited the trawler the Polar Pesca 1 to undertake the actual rescue while it coordinated the effort.
--
Morales: "The private company Ploa Pesca is the one (that rescued Barnes). It is a private factory fleet of fishing vessels. They are the ones that deserve the credit."
--
Morales said he was able to gather information from Punta Arenas, on the extreme southern tip of South America, and, via his Chilean ham radio contacts, from the rescue ship.
--
Morales: "I was relaying information as far as the location of the privateer. I woud get the latitude and longitude from the Punta Arenas radio operators -- and not from the Chilean Navy -- and I relayed it to the U.S. Coast Guard as well as the family. So, for the first time they knew first hand the true information and the true location and what was being done to rescue him."
--
The 47 year old Barnes, left Long Beach, California, late last October, hoping to be the first person to sail around the world from the United States West Coast. A severe storm badly damaged his boat and soaked his supplies.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Burt Hicks, WB6MQV, in Los Angeles
--
The City of Riverside has announced plans to honor Morales for rendering assistance to Barnes. For his part, Morales says he's "a very low-key type of person who isn't all that fond of being in the media spotlight. That said, we hams can her more with Mile Morales, KC6CYK on this weeks Rain Report. Its available right now as an MP3 file at our website at www.arnewsline.org and streaming audio at www.therainreport.com. Its also available by telephone at 641-985-5999. (ARNewsline™, ARRL, Riverside County Amateur Radio Assn., W6TRTW, others)
**
RESCUE RADIO: GAREC 07 TO BE HELD IN THE USA
The International Amateur Radio Union has announced that the Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference 2007 will take place in August. This, in conjunction with the 2007 ARRL National Convention at the Huntsville Hamfest. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has more:
--
According to the ARRL Letter, the league's Alabama Section and the Huntsville Hamfest Association will co-sponsor GAREC-07. IARU International Coordinator for Emergency Communications Hans Zimmermann, F5VKP and HB9AQS, says it will take place Thursday and Friday, August 16 and 17 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, just prior to the convention and hamfest.
This will mark the third annual Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference and the first held in the United States. GAREC-07 is an acronym for Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference 2007.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the studio in Los Angeles.
--
Additional details on the Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference for 2007 will be announced as they become available . (ARRL)
**
THE BPL FIGHT: CONCORD MASS. DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY
Amateurs in Concord, Massachusetts are closely monitoring plans by the town's electric utility to implement a Broadband over Power Line system using gear supplied by PowerGrid Communications. But they also say that so far there has been a lot of cooperation between the supplier and the Concord ham community in planning the system.
Steve Telsey, N1BDA, of the Colonial Wireless Association says that PowerGrid' Chief Technology Officer has already held a meeting with the local ham community and brought samples of the equipment to demonstrate. N1BDA describes their relationship with the company as cordial and very cooperative.
He says that PowerGrid is aware that hams are very concerned about this system and that they are willing to notch out the ham bands. But Telsey also notes that this will not address problems faced by shortwave listeners and users of time signal stations like WWV.
There are currently no BPL operations in Concord and that any pilot program would not commence until at least February or March. The BPL database indicates that the proposed new system will include the entire community of Concord with some overhead and underground installation. Approximately 130 nodes would be deployed.
N1BDA says that the lighting company is still exploring a possible business model. He says that it is still possible the whole thing might get canceled. For now, Colonial Wireless Association officers are requesting that the matter be kept low key so that negotiations can move forward in a spirit of cooperation as they have been, so far. (K9HI, Eastern Mass AR News)
**
Break 1
From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the WD5ERD repeater of the Plano Amateur Radio Clubs Good News Net serving the ham radio community of Plaino, Texas.
(5 sec pause here)
**
LICENSING STATS: NUMBERS GOING DOWN EXCEPT TECH
The latest numbers are in and it looks as if very little upgrading has been taking place lately. But George Mc Couch, K3UD, thinks that’s all about to change. And change for the better. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant has both the bad news and the good:
--
George Mc Couch, K3UD, posts licensing statistics on QRZ.com. He says that the number of Extras, Advanced, General and Novice class license holders has decreased somewhat in recent days.
Mc Couch says that as of January 1st , there are only 108,205 Extra class license holders. That’s down by 208 since the last reporting period. Also gone are 866 Advanced, 704 General and 683 Novice class operators.
Meantime, the Technician class continues to grow. Their number stands at 322,966 and representing a growth of 1,896 licensees. It also means that Technicians now account for half of the 655,832 licensed United States hams.
But here is the good news we promised. In an editorial note, George says that he thinks that we have hit the low point for upgrading and its likely to get better from here. He says that since the FCC has announced that it will soon be dropping the code test requirement he expects to see an initial, and likely ongoing gain in the General and Extra class trickets.
Mc Couch thinks it could be that the bottom line number of 655,832 is about as low as it will. But he adds that it will be interesting to see what the effect the upcoming rules change will have.
This is K3UD's analysis the numbers of individual FCC licensees for the months of October, November and December 2006. He also covers many other license statistics in addition to the quarterly figures we have presented here.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.
--
All of K-3-U-D's very comprehensive licensing statistics appear on the Home and News Pages at QRZ.com but you may have to hunt a bit to find them by the time this weeks newscast makes it to air. (QRZ.com, ARNewsline™)
**
ENFORCEMENT: PA HAM GETS NOV FOR FAILURE TO UD
A Pennsylvania ham who allegedly failed to identify in a timely manner has been sent an official Notice of Violation from the Philadelphia office of the FCC. The notice to Andrew Ban, KB3GRK, whom the FCC says was monitored by one of its agents on September 12 and 13, 2006 and failed to identify for long durations during his transmission made on both days.
The FCC says that in one instance, Ban or whomever was operating his station did identify for nearly one hour. In a second instance, the period exceeded 20 minutres. The FCC says that these are violations of section 97.119(a) of the Amateur Radio Service rules. This section requires stations in the Amateur service to identify at the end of each communication, and at least every 10 minutes during a communication.
Ban was given 20 days from the December 20th issuance of the Notice of Violation to respond. (FCC)
**
ENFORVCEMENT: DON’T TO TO THOSE NOT LICENSED
Todd A. Hamilton, KC8WOM, Darren L. Kamphouse, KD8DDO, and David E. Kutzbach, KD8BNG, have each been sent an Advisory Notice by the FCC. This, for allegedly failing to identify and conversing on the air with other, unlicensed stations.
In its Debember 6th , 2006 letter to the three Michigan hams, the FCC says that it has information that indicates while participating in hunting activities in their area, that they were transmitting without identifying by call sign and to communicating with hunters using unlicensed Amateur Radio equipment.
The FCC says that such use of their stations violates its rules. It requested that each ham call FCC Special Counsel Riley Hollingsworth to discuss this matter with him. (FCC)
**
RADIO ACCIDENTS: ICE FELLS KSYZ FM TOWER
The KSYZ FM transmitting tower in Boelus, Nebraska hit the ground early Sunday morning, December. 31st . The tower came down as a result of the recent ice storm that hit central Nebraska a few days earlier. The station that operates on 107.7 MHz says that weather permitting, it will start rebuilding soon. In the meantime the station is back on the air from a temporary tower site Pictures of the fallen tower are at http://www.ksyz.com/towerpics.html ) (CGC)
**
HAM RADIO IN THE WEB: WWW.HAMATLAS.EU
www.hamatlas.eu is a new, on-line Amateur Radio reference LIBRARY just brought on-line by Darek Milka, SP6VNK. The site already contains complete information on all 337 DXCC entities, over 3000 pictures and more than 1100 maps all of which are related to the hobby. Darek tells Amateur Radio Newsline that it took for years of work to bring it on line. He says that everyone is welcome to stop by. Again the URL is www.hamatlas.eu (SP6VNK)
**
HAM RADIO ON THE SILVER SCREEN: NEW VIDEO TELLS NCDXF STORY
The Northern California DX Foundation has released a new promotional video explaining the many aspects of the organization and its work. Produced by James Brooks, 9V1YC, the 10 minute show highlights the many accomplishments of the Foundation. This includes its educational programs, its commitment to sponsorship of DXpeditions, its support for the World Radiosport Team Championship games and the joint NCDXF IARU International Beacon Network,
DVD copies will be available in the coming weeks, but the show is available now for viewing on-line under the "Videos" section of the groups website at www.ncdxf.org. It can be viewed or downloaded from the Google Video at
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1969114446660423090 (Various))
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: MARCONI DAY IN APRIL
Its not to early to begin planning for the next International Marconi Day. Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, has more:
--
International Marconi Day will take place on Saturday 28th April this year. Although the event is not a contest, participants can qualify for award certificates by contacting special stations.
These stations must operate on or close to a site where Guglielmo Marconi carried out experiments or where Marconi equipment was used prior to his death in 1937.
If you would like to operate one of these special award stations, it is essential that you register the station by emailing webmaster@gb4imd.org.uk prior to the event .
Jeramy Boot, G4NJH.
--
More on International Marconi Day is on the web at www.gb4imd.org.uk .
(GB2RS)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS AT THE FCC
Some names in the news. First up is Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin who named Fred Campbell as Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and Catherine Seidel as Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.
Fred Campbell comes to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau's Chief after serving as Chairman Martin’s Legal Advisor for wireless issues. Preior to that he held thr position of an Attorney Advisor in the Wireline Competition Bureau.
Newly promoted Catherine Seidel has been the Acting Chief of Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (since April of 2005. She has also served as a Deputy Bureau Chief and Chief of Staff for that bureau. Previously, she served as the Chief of the Telecommunications Consumers Division in the Enforcement Bureau and has also held positions in the Common Carrier Bureau and the Mass Media Bureau. Prior to joining the Commission in 1993. (FCC)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: ZL3NL RECEIVES RCA FRED LINK AWARD
High honors for a ham from New Zealand. Jeff Clark, K8JAC, reports:
--
The Radio Club of America has honored Sir Angus Tait, Zed-L-3-N-L, as the recipient of the 2006 Fred M. Link ,W2ALU, Award. R-C-A recognized Tait for his substantial contributions to the advancement and development of land mobile radio and communications.
Angus Tait had a childhood fascination for electronics and left high school to work in a radio store. He served with the Royal Air Force in radar during World War II. After the war, he designed and built mobile radio equipment, although his first company.
In 1969, he founded Tait Electronics Ltd., in Christchurch, New Zealand, considered a world leader in mobile radio. He has kept his manufacturing base in New Zealand, with 95 per cent of production exported to 160 countries
--
The 87 year old Tait was unable to attend RCA's awards banquet to receive the honor. Tait Communications President Bill Fredrickson accepted the award in his stead. (RCA)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: VE7IS WINNER OF IRLP NEW YEARS ROUND-UP
Kenneth Roy McNeil, VE7IS, of Okanagan Falls, British Columbia, Canada, is the winner of the 4th annual IRLP New Year Around the
World QSO Party. According to Alinco's North America representative Evelyn Garrison, WS7A, Mc Neil's name was chosen out of the more than 500 hams who were on frequency and on-line at the time of the drawing.
Garrison tells Newsline that Bill Slaughter, VE7CIM, of Burnabee Radio in Burnaby, British Columbia, will get to present Mc Neil with an Alinco DJ-5 hand-held radio the not to distant future. She also said that a lot of people had a great New Years Eve celebrating together thanks to ham radio and the Internet Radio Linking Project. The New Year Around the
World QSO Party was part of the regular Friday Night IRLP Open Forum International Net. (WS7A)
**
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 - IRELAND: WIN A HAM TRIP WITH CQIR - IRELAND CALLING
If you have ever dreamed of a ham radio vacation in Ireland, here is your chance to win a free trip to Erin's Isle. This, as the Irish Radio Transmitters Society celebrates the 75th anniversary of its founding throughout 2007.
The Irish Radio Transmitters Society came into being back in 1932. As part of the jubilee celebrations, overseas entrants with 75 or more QSOs with special event stations will have the opportunity to win a trip to Ireland! To make this possible, the Society is organizing an International Radio Contest called "CQIR - Ireland Calling." Full rules and county codes on the society's website. At www.irts.ie. (IRTS)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE" NEW HAM-SATS GET OSCAR DESIGNATIONS
Two new ham-sats now have official OSCAR designations. AMSAT OSCAR coordinator Bill Tynan, W3XO, has re-named the RAFT One as NAV-OSCAR-60 or NO-60. Also, the ANDE satellite is now NAV-OSCAR-61 or NO-61. Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy's Satellite Laboratory designed and built RAFT One and ANDE orbital communication packages under the watchful eye of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR. (ANS)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AMSAT-NA LAB MOVES TO MARYLAND
AMSAT North America should be all moved into its new Lab facility by the time this newscast rezches air. Its Vice President of Engineering, Bob Mc Gwiar, N4HY, says that the Florida-to-Maryland-Move-Team planned to have all of the contents of the old AMSAT Orlando laboratory placed in the new facility in Pocomoke City, Maryland on or about January 7th .
The new lab is 6000 square feet. The Clean Room is so Large that it requires required 8 large air handlers that were delivered to the facility by 24 foot trucks.
Mc Gwiar says that the new facility will handle the Eagle and several joint ventures on smaller satellites. AMSAT North America plans to have the new laboratory available to help in the development of the Phase 3 E ham radio bird.
Photos of the new facility are on-line at http://n4hy.smugmug.com/gallery/2297432/ (ANS)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: NEW RECORD FOR SOLAR POWER
A new world record achieved in Solar Cell technology. Boeing-Spectrolab says that it recently achieved a conversion efficiency of 40.7 percent. This, establishes a new milestone in sunlight-to-electricity performance. More is on line at www.energy.gov/news/4503.htm (Science OnLine)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: NEW CHIPS IMPROVE MOBILE RECEPTION
STMicroelectronics has announced that it is sampling a new digital AM/FM radio receiver chipset for use in automotive applications. The company says that the chips sophisticated digital signal processing techniques allow them to provide excellent reception quality while reducing interference even in the presence of challenging signal conditions. Jointly developed by ST and Bosch’s subsidiary, Blaupunkt, this advanced digital receiver chipset integrates audio signal processing and Radio Data System decoding. (RW)
**
WORLDBEAT-ANTARCTICA AND U.K: BECOMING AWARE OF THE SOUTH CONTINANT
The United Kingdom's North Wakefield Radio Club will be running special event station GB0WAP between February 19th to the 25th . This, to raise awareness about Antarctica.
This will be the only Worldwide Antarctic Program station running from Britain. For award chasers, the station will have the unique reference of 'W-A-P zone 72, More information can be found on the world-wide-web at www.ddxc.net/wap/ (GB2RS)
**
WORLDBEAT - MONGOLIA: NEW NATIONAL SOCIETY FORMED
Mongolia now has a new national ham radio society. According to JT1CD, the Mongolian Amateur Radio Society was formed at a conference of that nations radio amateurs held last November 18th .
Nick named MARS, the Mongolian Amateur Radio Society will officially represent Mongolia to the International Amateur Radio Union. It will also act as a conduit in dealings with other national Amateur Radio societies, worldwide. (OPDX)
**
WORLDBEAT _ BULGARIA: A SPECIAL EVENT
Radio Bulgaria's DX Editor Dimiter Petrov, LZ1AF will be using the special event call sign LZ50DXJ through December 31, 2007. This, to mark the 50th anniversary of Radio Bulgaria's DX Program which started on November 17, 1957. LZ1AF will be active on all H F bands mostly on CW. Special QSL cards will be issued and dealt with via the QSL bureau. (Southgate)
**
WORLDBEAT - PORTUGAL: ZL TO CT ON 2 METERS
Moonbounce enthusiasts in New Zealand and Portugal are claiming a new Earth-Moon-Earth distance record. This, in a December 6th contact, using the digital JT-65-B mode.
Taking part were Nick Wallace, ZL1IU and Joe Kraft, CT1HZE. Wallace was running 500 Watts to four 12 element Yagis, while Kraft was putting 1.5 kW into four 11 element beams. The E-M-E contact spanned a terrestrial distance of 19,685 kilometers. (WIA News)
**
DX
In D-X, word that CE3FZ , will be active as CE2P from Panul Lighthouse, Chile during the weekends of January and February. Activity will be on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters on SSB only. QSL to his callbook address.
Also, ON4AA, is active as portable HI8 from the Dominican Republic until 14th January. He plans to focus on 40 and 20 meter SSB, RTTY and PSK31.
And PA0RRS will be active from Penang Island through the 28th of February. QSL these last two as directed on the air.
(Above from various DX news sources)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: FESSENDEN - YES OR NO?
And finally this week, conflict over Canadian inventor Reginald Fressenden and the claim that he made the worlds first radio broadcast on Christmas Eve of 1906. While radio amateurs world wide seem to have adopted this belief as being true, some non-ham scholars are not so sure. Jim Linton, VK3PC, has the story of one of them and the facts he says prove the Fessenden broadcasts never took place:
--
Fessenden father of broadcasting or not?
The world is celebrating the centenary of radio broadcasting, marking the first broadcast by Reginald Aubrey Fessenden in December 1906. .
Undoubtedly a brilliant man, Canadian-born Fessenden with numerous inventions to his name, is now having doubts cast over whether he is the father of broadcasting.
A radio history enthusiast and writer, James E. O’Neal, has found that evidence for the broadcast having actually occurred, is decidedly lacking.
Writing in Radio World magazine, O’Neal makes some valid points that are likely to be the subject of continued debate.
Fessenden never spoke of a Christmas Eve broadcast at the time and only mentioned it once, in a 1932 letter just before his death.
The often repeated reference to 1906 broadcast is the 1940 biography, "Fessenden: Builder of Tomorrows," written by his widow Helen.
Through most of his career, Fessenden wrote in numerous technical journals. However despite extensive research by O’Neal he could not find any printed reports in them of Fessenden’s Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve broadcasts of 1906. Much less any newspaper reports to back up the story.
Fessenden was supposed to have alerted stations by wireless telegraphy of his impending broadcast. Again, archival checks of wireless logbooks found no reference to such an alert or the broadcast.
O’Neal also raises doubts whether wireless telegraphy station equipment at the time could have demodulated the intelligence on an AM signal.
While another inventor, Lee De Forest, in a 1925 Radio News article claimed that he originated the world's first broadcast of speech and music. Fessenden never rebuts De Forest's claim in any subsequent issue of that publication.
O’Neal writes that he really wanted to believe that Fessenden did what is claimed.
He had the means to do the broadcast, however according to O’Neal, all evidence points to the Christmas Eve event 1906 at Brant Rock, Massachusetts, as being a contrived story.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Linton, VK3PC.
--
Its likely that none of us will ever know for sure if Fessenden really was the first radio broadcaster. Those signals are lost in the antiquity of time. Then again there are some things that are far better left to the mind, to the imagination and to the heart. They are called traditions and the belief in Reginald Fessenden's radio broadcasts seem to lie among them. (WIA News)
**
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 Newsline™. Our e-mail address is newsline@arnewsline.org. More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's™ only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline™, P.O. Box 660937, Arcadia, California 91066.
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™ is Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Now, Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1535 with a release date of Friday, January 12th , 2007 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a Q-S-T.
A California ham becomes an international hero for assisting in the rescue of a stranded sailor off the coast of Chile. Also, a power provider works with hams in Massachusetts to avoid interference and more about Reginald Fessenden and the worlds first radio broadcast. Did he really make it? You decide for yourself after hearing Amateur Radio Newsline™ report number 1535 coming your way right now.
RESCUE RADIO: SOCAL HAM ASSISTS IN RESCUE AT SEA
A Riverside California ham has been dubbed a hero by his fellow radio amateurs. This after he helped to coordinate the rescue of a sailor off the coast of Chile. We have more in this report from Burt Hicks, WB6MQV:
--
We have all heard the story before. Someone, somewhere in need of communications during an emergency and out from the sidelines comes a ham that can provide it. An in reality, that’s the story of the rescue of around-the-wold sailor Ken Barnes off the coast of Chile on January 5th . A rescue made possible with more than a little help from a ham radio operator back home.
That ham is Migual Morales, KC6CYK, of Riverside California.
--
Morales: "I got involved because I learned last Monday evening that an American was stranded and adrift somewhere in the South Pacific where two oceans collide at the tip of the continent down there. No cellphone. The satellite cellphone that he had was cutting off and on every 30 seconds and that was the most (time) he could talk."
--
Mike, as he is known locally, heard about Barnse's predicament on local newscasts and offered to help. He did this by contacting the sailor's fiancee, Cathy Chambers, and suggesting he might be able to get in touch by radio with hams in Chile who also might be able to assist.
--
Morales : "And so I called the family. I found their number in the directory and I introduced myself to Cathy Chambers and I told her that I had lived in Chile when I was a kid. And speaking the language and having a ham radio license here in the states and being affilated with the Radio Club of Chile I was able to talk to my colleagues down there, and I offered my services voluntarily of coarse. And she said that she was very happy and said to please do what you can."
--
In an interview with the ARRL, Morales, who also peaks fluent Spanish, said he felt it was important for Barnes family to know the mariners situation and how the rescue plans were progressing. He did this by making contact with on 10 meters with stations in Chile. From them he obtained what he termed as credible reports as to what was actually happening.
--
Morales: "I was lucky enough really: I have a Novice license but I was able to go to 20 meters and 5 meters abd monitor and listen and talk on 10 meters with ham rafio operators in CE7 in the southern part of Chile.
--
One of the things he learned that the Chillian Navy was putting off any rescue attempt.
--
The Chilean Navy had no intention in rescuing Ken Barnes. To them, it was someone else stranded there and they were expecting him not to survive. That’s a reality of that part of the world.
To them, to send a war ship into international waters some 300 miles over the 200 nautical miles that they had to extend their trip. It was not worth it.
They are now claiming credit and they are now saying that yhey were coordinators and they instructed. Baloney -- they didn't do that."
--
The Navy did dispatch one of the CP3 Orion aircraft Chile uses to patrol its 200-mile-offshore territorial claim. The plane spotted Barnes foundering vessel, photographed it and even attempted to drop a life raft that missed its mark. Morales later learned that the Chilean Navy recruited the trawler the Polar Pesca 1 to undertake the actual rescue while it coordinated the effort.
--
Morales: "The private company Ploa Pesca is the one (that rescued Barnes). It is a private factory fleet of fishing vessels. They are the ones that deserve the credit."
--
Morales said he was able to gather information from Punta Arenas, on the extreme southern tip of South America, and, via his Chilean ham radio contacts, from the rescue ship.
--
Morales: "I was relaying information as far as the location of the privateer. I woud get the latitude and longitude from the Punta Arenas radio operators -- and not from the Chilean Navy -- and I relayed it to the U.S. Coast Guard as well as the family. So, for the first time they knew first hand the true information and the true location and what was being done to rescue him."
--
The 47 year old Barnes, left Long Beach, California, late last October, hoping to be the first person to sail around the world from the United States West Coast. A severe storm badly damaged his boat and soaked his supplies.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Burt Hicks, WB6MQV, in Los Angeles
--
The City of Riverside has announced plans to honor Morales for rendering assistance to Barnes. For his part, Morales says he's "a very low-key type of person who isn't all that fond of being in the media spotlight. That said, we hams can her more with Mile Morales, KC6CYK on this weeks Rain Report. Its available right now as an MP3 file at our website at www.arnewsline.org and streaming audio at www.therainreport.com. Its also available by telephone at 641-985-5999. (ARNewsline™, ARRL, Riverside County Amateur Radio Assn., W6TRTW, others)
**
RESCUE RADIO: GAREC 07 TO BE HELD IN THE USA
The International Amateur Radio Union has announced that the Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference 2007 will take place in August. This, in conjunction with the 2007 ARRL National Convention at the Huntsville Hamfest. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has more:
--
According to the ARRL Letter, the league's Alabama Section and the Huntsville Hamfest Association will co-sponsor GAREC-07. IARU International Coordinator for Emergency Communications Hans Zimmermann, F5VKP and HB9AQS, says it will take place Thursday and Friday, August 16 and 17 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, just prior to the convention and hamfest.
This will mark the third annual Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference and the first held in the United States. GAREC-07 is an acronym for Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference 2007.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the studio in Los Angeles.
--
Additional details on the Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference for 2007 will be announced as they become available . (ARRL)
**
THE BPL FIGHT: CONCORD MASS. DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY
Amateurs in Concord, Massachusetts are closely monitoring plans by the town's electric utility to implement a Broadband over Power Line system using gear supplied by PowerGrid Communications. But they also say that so far there has been a lot of cooperation between the supplier and the Concord ham community in planning the system.
Steve Telsey, N1BDA, of the Colonial Wireless Association says that PowerGrid' Chief Technology Officer has already held a meeting with the local ham community and brought samples of the equipment to demonstrate. N1BDA describes their relationship with the company as cordial and very cooperative.
He says that PowerGrid is aware that hams are very concerned about this system and that they are willing to notch out the ham bands. But Telsey also notes that this will not address problems faced by shortwave listeners and users of time signal stations like WWV.
There are currently no BPL operations in Concord and that any pilot program would not commence until at least February or March. The BPL database indicates that the proposed new system will include the entire community of Concord with some overhead and underground installation. Approximately 130 nodes would be deployed.
N1BDA says that the lighting company is still exploring a possible business model. He says that it is still possible the whole thing might get canceled. For now, Colonial Wireless Association officers are requesting that the matter be kept low key so that negotiations can move forward in a spirit of cooperation as they have been, so far. (K9HI, Eastern Mass AR News)
**
Break 1
From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the WD5ERD repeater of the Plano Amateur Radio Clubs Good News Net serving the ham radio community of Plaino, Texas.
(5 sec pause here)
**
LICENSING STATS: NUMBERS GOING DOWN EXCEPT TECH
The latest numbers are in and it looks as if very little upgrading has been taking place lately. But George Mc Couch, K3UD, thinks that’s all about to change. And change for the better. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant has both the bad news and the good:
--
George Mc Couch, K3UD, posts licensing statistics on QRZ.com. He says that the number of Extras, Advanced, General and Novice class license holders has decreased somewhat in recent days.
Mc Couch says that as of January 1st , there are only 108,205 Extra class license holders. That’s down by 208 since the last reporting period. Also gone are 866 Advanced, 704 General and 683 Novice class operators.
Meantime, the Technician class continues to grow. Their number stands at 322,966 and representing a growth of 1,896 licensees. It also means that Technicians now account for half of the 655,832 licensed United States hams.
But here is the good news we promised. In an editorial note, George says that he thinks that we have hit the low point for upgrading and its likely to get better from here. He says that since the FCC has announced that it will soon be dropping the code test requirement he expects to see an initial, and likely ongoing gain in the General and Extra class trickets.
Mc Couch thinks it could be that the bottom line number of 655,832 is about as low as it will. But he adds that it will be interesting to see what the effect the upcoming rules change will have.
This is K3UD's analysis the numbers of individual FCC licensees for the months of October, November and December 2006. He also covers many other license statistics in addition to the quarterly figures we have presented here.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.
--
All of K-3-U-D's very comprehensive licensing statistics appear on the Home and News Pages at QRZ.com but you may have to hunt a bit to find them by the time this weeks newscast makes it to air. (QRZ.com, ARNewsline™)
**
ENFORCEMENT: PA HAM GETS NOV FOR FAILURE TO UD
A Pennsylvania ham who allegedly failed to identify in a timely manner has been sent an official Notice of Violation from the Philadelphia office of the FCC. The notice to Andrew Ban, KB3GRK, whom the FCC says was monitored by one of its agents on September 12 and 13, 2006 and failed to identify for long durations during his transmission made on both days.
The FCC says that in one instance, Ban or whomever was operating his station did identify for nearly one hour. In a second instance, the period exceeded 20 minutres. The FCC says that these are violations of section 97.119(a) of the Amateur Radio Service rules. This section requires stations in the Amateur service to identify at the end of each communication, and at least every 10 minutes during a communication.
Ban was given 20 days from the December 20th issuance of the Notice of Violation to respond. (FCC)
**
ENFORVCEMENT: DON’T TO TO THOSE NOT LICENSED
Todd A. Hamilton, KC8WOM, Darren L. Kamphouse, KD8DDO, and David E. Kutzbach, KD8BNG, have each been sent an Advisory Notice by the FCC. This, for allegedly failing to identify and conversing on the air with other, unlicensed stations.
In its Debember 6th , 2006 letter to the three Michigan hams, the FCC says that it has information that indicates while participating in hunting activities in their area, that they were transmitting without identifying by call sign and to communicating with hunters using unlicensed Amateur Radio equipment.
The FCC says that such use of their stations violates its rules. It requested that each ham call FCC Special Counsel Riley Hollingsworth to discuss this matter with him. (FCC)
**
RADIO ACCIDENTS: ICE FELLS KSYZ FM TOWER
The KSYZ FM transmitting tower in Boelus, Nebraska hit the ground early Sunday morning, December. 31st . The tower came down as a result of the recent ice storm that hit central Nebraska a few days earlier. The station that operates on 107.7 MHz says that weather permitting, it will start rebuilding soon. In the meantime the station is back on the air from a temporary tower site Pictures of the fallen tower are at http://www.ksyz.com/towerpics.html ) (CGC)
**
HAM RADIO IN THE WEB: WWW.HAMATLAS.EU
www.hamatlas.eu is a new, on-line Amateur Radio reference LIBRARY just brought on-line by Darek Milka, SP6VNK. The site already contains complete information on all 337 DXCC entities, over 3000 pictures and more than 1100 maps all of which are related to the hobby. Darek tells Amateur Radio Newsline that it took for years of work to bring it on line. He says that everyone is welcome to stop by. Again the URL is www.hamatlas.eu (SP6VNK)
**
HAM RADIO ON THE SILVER SCREEN: NEW VIDEO TELLS NCDXF STORY
The Northern California DX Foundation has released a new promotional video explaining the many aspects of the organization and its work. Produced by James Brooks, 9V1YC, the 10 minute show highlights the many accomplishments of the Foundation. This includes its educational programs, its commitment to sponsorship of DXpeditions, its support for the World Radiosport Team Championship games and the joint NCDXF IARU International Beacon Network,
DVD copies will be available in the coming weeks, but the show is available now for viewing on-line under the "Videos" section of the groups website at www.ncdxf.org. It can be viewed or downloaded from the Google Video at
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1969114446660423090 (Various))
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: MARCONI DAY IN APRIL
Its not to early to begin planning for the next International Marconi Day. Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, has more:
--
International Marconi Day will take place on Saturday 28th April this year. Although the event is not a contest, participants can qualify for award certificates by contacting special stations.
These stations must operate on or close to a site where Guglielmo Marconi carried out experiments or where Marconi equipment was used prior to his death in 1937.
If you would like to operate one of these special award stations, it is essential that you register the station by emailing webmaster@gb4imd.org.uk prior to the event .
Jeramy Boot, G4NJH.
--
More on International Marconi Day is on the web at www.gb4imd.org.uk .
(GB2RS)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS AT THE FCC
Some names in the news. First up is Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin who named Fred Campbell as Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and Catherine Seidel as Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.
Fred Campbell comes to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau's Chief after serving as Chairman Martin’s Legal Advisor for wireless issues. Preior to that he held thr position of an Attorney Advisor in the Wireline Competition Bureau.
Newly promoted Catherine Seidel has been the Acting Chief of Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (since April of 2005. She has also served as a Deputy Bureau Chief and Chief of Staff for that bureau. Previously, she served as the Chief of the Telecommunications Consumers Division in the Enforcement Bureau and has also held positions in the Common Carrier Bureau and the Mass Media Bureau. Prior to joining the Commission in 1993. (FCC)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: ZL3NL RECEIVES RCA FRED LINK AWARD
High honors for a ham from New Zealand. Jeff Clark, K8JAC, reports:
--
The Radio Club of America has honored Sir Angus Tait, Zed-L-3-N-L, as the recipient of the 2006 Fred M. Link ,W2ALU, Award. R-C-A recognized Tait for his substantial contributions to the advancement and development of land mobile radio and communications.
Angus Tait had a childhood fascination for electronics and left high school to work in a radio store. He served with the Royal Air Force in radar during World War II. After the war, he designed and built mobile radio equipment, although his first company.
In 1969, he founded Tait Electronics Ltd., in Christchurch, New Zealand, considered a world leader in mobile radio. He has kept his manufacturing base in New Zealand, with 95 per cent of production exported to 160 countries
--
The 87 year old Tait was unable to attend RCA's awards banquet to receive the honor. Tait Communications President Bill Fredrickson accepted the award in his stead. (RCA)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: VE7IS WINNER OF IRLP NEW YEARS ROUND-UP
Kenneth Roy McNeil, VE7IS, of Okanagan Falls, British Columbia, Canada, is the winner of the 4th annual IRLP New Year Around the
World QSO Party. According to Alinco's North America representative Evelyn Garrison, WS7A, Mc Neil's name was chosen out of the more than 500 hams who were on frequency and on-line at the time of the drawing.
Garrison tells Newsline that Bill Slaughter, VE7CIM, of Burnabee Radio in Burnaby, British Columbia, will get to present Mc Neil with an Alinco DJ-5 hand-held radio the not to distant future. She also said that a lot of people had a great New Years Eve celebrating together thanks to ham radio and the Internet Radio Linking Project. The New Year Around the
World QSO Party was part of the regular Friday Night IRLP Open Forum International Net. (WS7A)
**
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 - IRELAND: WIN A HAM TRIP WITH CQIR - IRELAND CALLING
If you have ever dreamed of a ham radio vacation in Ireland, here is your chance to win a free trip to Erin's Isle. This, as the Irish Radio Transmitters Society celebrates the 75th anniversary of its founding throughout 2007.
The Irish Radio Transmitters Society came into being back in 1932. As part of the jubilee celebrations, overseas entrants with 75 or more QSOs with special event stations will have the opportunity to win a trip to Ireland! To make this possible, the Society is organizing an International Radio Contest called "CQIR - Ireland Calling." Full rules and county codes on the society's website. At www.irts.ie. (IRTS)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE" NEW HAM-SATS GET OSCAR DESIGNATIONS
Two new ham-sats now have official OSCAR designations. AMSAT OSCAR coordinator Bill Tynan, W3XO, has re-named the RAFT One as NAV-OSCAR-60 or NO-60. Also, the ANDE satellite is now NAV-OSCAR-61 or NO-61. Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy's Satellite Laboratory designed and built RAFT One and ANDE orbital communication packages under the watchful eye of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR. (ANS)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AMSAT-NA LAB MOVES TO MARYLAND
AMSAT North America should be all moved into its new Lab facility by the time this newscast rezches air. Its Vice President of Engineering, Bob Mc Gwiar, N4HY, says that the Florida-to-Maryland-Move-Team planned to have all of the contents of the old AMSAT Orlando laboratory placed in the new facility in Pocomoke City, Maryland on or about January 7th .
The new lab is 6000 square feet. The Clean Room is so Large that it requires required 8 large air handlers that were delivered to the facility by 24 foot trucks.
Mc Gwiar says that the new facility will handle the Eagle and several joint ventures on smaller satellites. AMSAT North America plans to have the new laboratory available to help in the development of the Phase 3 E ham radio bird.
Photos of the new facility are on-line at http://n4hy.smugmug.com/gallery/2297432/ (ANS)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: NEW RECORD FOR SOLAR POWER
A new world record achieved in Solar Cell technology. Boeing-Spectrolab says that it recently achieved a conversion efficiency of 40.7 percent. This, establishes a new milestone in sunlight-to-electricity performance. More is on line at www.energy.gov/news/4503.htm (Science OnLine)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: NEW CHIPS IMPROVE MOBILE RECEPTION
STMicroelectronics has announced that it is sampling a new digital AM/FM radio receiver chipset for use in automotive applications. The company says that the chips sophisticated digital signal processing techniques allow them to provide excellent reception quality while reducing interference even in the presence of challenging signal conditions. Jointly developed by ST and Bosch’s subsidiary, Blaupunkt, this advanced digital receiver chipset integrates audio signal processing and Radio Data System decoding. (RW)
**
WORLDBEAT-ANTARCTICA AND U.K: BECOMING AWARE OF THE SOUTH CONTINANT
The United Kingdom's North Wakefield Radio Club will be running special event station GB0WAP between February 19th to the 25th . This, to raise awareness about Antarctica.
This will be the only Worldwide Antarctic Program station running from Britain. For award chasers, the station will have the unique reference of 'W-A-P zone 72, More information can be found on the world-wide-web at www.ddxc.net/wap/ (GB2RS)
**
WORLDBEAT - MONGOLIA: NEW NATIONAL SOCIETY FORMED
Mongolia now has a new national ham radio society. According to JT1CD, the Mongolian Amateur Radio Society was formed at a conference of that nations radio amateurs held last November 18th .
Nick named MARS, the Mongolian Amateur Radio Society will officially represent Mongolia to the International Amateur Radio Union. It will also act as a conduit in dealings with other national Amateur Radio societies, worldwide. (OPDX)
**
WORLDBEAT _ BULGARIA: A SPECIAL EVENT
Radio Bulgaria's DX Editor Dimiter Petrov, LZ1AF will be using the special event call sign LZ50DXJ through December 31, 2007. This, to mark the 50th anniversary of Radio Bulgaria's DX Program which started on November 17, 1957. LZ1AF will be active on all H F bands mostly on CW. Special QSL cards will be issued and dealt with via the QSL bureau. (Southgate)
**
WORLDBEAT - PORTUGAL: ZL TO CT ON 2 METERS
Moonbounce enthusiasts in New Zealand and Portugal are claiming a new Earth-Moon-Earth distance record. This, in a December 6th contact, using the digital JT-65-B mode.
Taking part were Nick Wallace, ZL1IU and Joe Kraft, CT1HZE. Wallace was running 500 Watts to four 12 element Yagis, while Kraft was putting 1.5 kW into four 11 element beams. The E-M-E contact spanned a terrestrial distance of 19,685 kilometers. (WIA News)
**
DX
In D-X, word that CE3FZ , will be active as CE2P from Panul Lighthouse, Chile during the weekends of January and February. Activity will be on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters on SSB only. QSL to his callbook address.
Also, ON4AA, is active as portable HI8 from the Dominican Republic until 14th January. He plans to focus on 40 and 20 meter SSB, RTTY and PSK31.
And PA0RRS will be active from Penang Island through the 28th of February. QSL these last two as directed on the air.
(Above from various DX news sources)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: FESSENDEN - YES OR NO?
And finally this week, conflict over Canadian inventor Reginald Fressenden and the claim that he made the worlds first radio broadcast on Christmas Eve of 1906. While radio amateurs world wide seem to have adopted this belief as being true, some non-ham scholars are not so sure. Jim Linton, VK3PC, has the story of one of them and the facts he says prove the Fessenden broadcasts never took place:
--
Fessenden father of broadcasting or not?
The world is celebrating the centenary of radio broadcasting, marking the first broadcast by Reginald Aubrey Fessenden in December 1906. .
Undoubtedly a brilliant man, Canadian-born Fessenden with numerous inventions to his name, is now having doubts cast over whether he is the father of broadcasting.
A radio history enthusiast and writer, James E. O’Neal, has found that evidence for the broadcast having actually occurred, is decidedly lacking.
Writing in Radio World magazine, O’Neal makes some valid points that are likely to be the subject of continued debate.
Fessenden never spoke of a Christmas Eve broadcast at the time and only mentioned it once, in a 1932 letter just before his death.
The often repeated reference to 1906 broadcast is the 1940 biography, "Fessenden: Builder of Tomorrows," written by his widow Helen.
Through most of his career, Fessenden wrote in numerous technical journals. However despite extensive research by O’Neal he could not find any printed reports in them of Fessenden’s Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve broadcasts of 1906. Much less any newspaper reports to back up the story.
Fessenden was supposed to have alerted stations by wireless telegraphy of his impending broadcast. Again, archival checks of wireless logbooks found no reference to such an alert or the broadcast.
O’Neal also raises doubts whether wireless telegraphy station equipment at the time could have demodulated the intelligence on an AM signal.
While another inventor, Lee De Forest, in a 1925 Radio News article claimed that he originated the world's first broadcast of speech and music. Fessenden never rebuts De Forest's claim in any subsequent issue of that publication.
O’Neal writes that he really wanted to believe that Fessenden did what is claimed.
He had the means to do the broadcast, however according to O’Neal, all evidence points to the Christmas Eve event 1906 at Brant Rock, Massachusetts, as being a contrived story.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Linton, VK3PC.
--
Its likely that none of us will ever know for sure if Fessenden really was the first radio broadcaster. Those signals are lost in the antiquity of time. Then again there are some things that are far better left to the mind, to the imagination and to the heart. They are called traditions and the belief in Reginald Fessenden's radio broadcasts seem to lie among them. (WIA News)
**
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 Newsline™. Our e-mail address is newsline@arnewsline.org. More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's™ only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline™, P.O. Box 660937, Arcadia, California 91066.
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™ is Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.