New SDR Radio User’s Discussion Group.
Welcome to the SDR (Software Defined Radio) User’s Discussion Group.
This discussion group is for people interested in the state of the art of the development of SDR (Software defined Radio) and the commercial, open source and experimental options available to licensed radio amateurs worldwide.
Its purpose is educational and informative.
To join visit this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sdr-users/join?
In this new forum important things can be discussed such as:
What is DUC and DDC transceivers? Who is making them?
Does Hermes or Mercury, mean anything to you? What about SDR-IQ or Perseus?
Do they cost more or less to manufacture? Where are they manufactured? Who manufactures them? What is a FPGA? And an ADC? Where are these components engineered and/or manufactured?
What are the differences between Open source software and Propietary software? PowerSDR, SmartSDR, cuSDR, Ham-radio SDR, and many others…? Who is writing them? What is their history?
Is SDR for everyone?
And, what’s this about client servers?
How much more am I purchasing for $9,000.00? If I already have a $900.00/ 100W transceiver that operates all bands from 160M to 432MHz (70cm)?
How important are these extreme statistics being published by the ARRL and other independent labs?
Join and start the discussion at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sdr-users/join?

CQ announces 2013 Hall of Fame Inductees

CQ magazine today announced its 2013 Hall of Fame inductees, adding two members each to the CQ DX and Contest Halls of Fame along with eight new members of the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame.

The CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame honors those individuals, whether licensed hams or not, who have made significant contributions to amateur radio; and those amateurs who have made significant contributions either to amateur radio, to their professional careers or to some other aspect of life on our planet.

The 2013 inductees (listed alphabetically) are:
* Evelyn Garrison, WS7A (SK) - amateur radio industry leader

* Joel Kleinman, N1BKE (SK) - former Managing Editor of QST magazine

* Laurie Margolis, G3UML/GPC3L - Longtime BBC correspondent and contributor to amateur radio magazines

* Michael Owen, VK3KI (SK) - Longtime president of the Wireless Institute of Australia and chairman of IARU Region 3

* Harry Rubinstein (ex-9EEV) (SK) - Inventor of the printed circuit, the slider potentiometer and the combination potentiometer/on-off switch

* Walker Tompkins, K6ATX - Journalist, author and historian, his three dozen books included several well-known ham radio-related novels

* Joe Walsh, WB6ACU - Rock music performer and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee

* William G. (Bill) Welsh, W6DDB (SK) - CQ Novice Editor for 20 years; responsible for helping thousands to get their ham licenses

CQ DX and Contest and DX Halls of Fame
The CQ DX and Contest Halls of Fame honor those amateurs who not only excel in personal performance in these major areas of amateur radio but who also "give back" to the hobby in outstanding ways.

The 2013 inductees to the CQ DX Hall of Fame are:
* Vladimir Bykov, UA4WHX/AC4LN, has visited and operated from over 100 DX entities in the past ten years and operated from all six continents in 2012 alone. Has provided over 700,000 DX contacts for hams around the world (and QSLed them all).
* Robert "Gary" Dixon, K4MQG, is a founding member of the Carolina DX Association and as Founding President of INDEXA, the International DX Association, which has helped support over 200 DXpeditions in the past 30 years.

The 2013 inductees to the CQ Contest Hall of Fame are:
* Dale Green, VE7SV, is a world-class contester who has been hosting teams of new and experienced contesters at his superstation for the past 20 years, and recently helped start a contest group in Chile.
* Charles "Chas" Fulp, K3WW, also a multi-award winning contester and past president of the Frankford Radio Club (FRC), which saysChas "is our role model and sets the standard for other FRC members to strive to achieve."

Formal inductions to the CQ Contest and DX Halls of Fame were scheduled for the Dayton Hamvention.® More detailed descriptions of inductees will appear in the official announcement in the July 2013 issue of CQ magazine.


http://www.southgatearc.org/news/may..._inductees.htm





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Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1866 – May 17 2013

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1866 with a release date of May 17 2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. Hamvention 2013 is here; D-Star and kids become an important part of Hamvention; Russian Radar invades 80 meters; a California ham seeks signatures for petition on public warning legislation; the Hurricane Watch Net says it could use more Net Control Stations; registrations for International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend ramp up and the tale of some newly developed self healing integrated circuit chips. All this and more on Amateur Radio Newsline™ report number 1866 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


**

HAMVENTION 2013: THE GATES SWING OPEN AND HAMVENTION BEGINS

Its Hamvention time in Dayton, Ohio. This as the gates at the HARA Arena swing open for this years show of shows in amateur radio. And in an interview with Rain’s Hap Holly, KC9RP, Hamvention spokesman Dave Kalter, W8CI, there’s a lot to look forward to including some spectacular prizes:

--

Kalter: “Our prize committee has been really busy. They want to out-do what they did last year. Last year we had over $80,000 in prizes and this year we want to surpass that.”

--

But while prizes are an important aspect of Hamvention, so are other activities with the many forums being front and center:

--

Kalter: “We get a lot of questions about forums and how important forums are to amateur radio. And a lot of people love to mix their day
And sit down, watch a forum and learn something. All that information can be found at our website at www.hamvention.org.”

--

As this year’s theme is the DX Hamvention, there are a lot of visitors from outside the United States.
--

Kalter: “We have people coming literally from all over the world. A large contingent is coming in from China this year. We had large group from India last year. And of coarse Qatar and all throughout the middle-East, Europe; a very strong (presence) from South America and throughout Africa. And that’s the big thing about amateur radio: When you see people with a call that you know is a foreign call – most of these people I find are just absolutely delighted to get to know you and (have you) talk to them face to face.”

--

According to Kalter, its not easy for some foreign visitor to get to the Hamvention, but planners are always ready to assist:

--

Kalter: “People come from a lot of countries for which they need an actual written. The city of Dayton; the city of Trotwood; the counties around have all joined in to help us to make amateur radio operators from all over the world feel welcome. Sometimes as many as four letters to one person (are needed) just so they can get their visa.”

--

And says Kalter, the Hamvention would not be possible without the volunteers who make it happen.

--

Kalter: “This is an all volunteer undertaking. From the General Chairman all the way through. We do contract for some emergency services; for bus services; we lease out the Hara Arena but as far as the nitty-gritty work and the planning, all of that is done by volunteers.”

--

Kalter adds that not all of the volunteers live in the Dayton area:

--

Kalter: “We are really pound of our amateur radio community here. We are also proud of the fact that there are amateur radio operators that come from all over the United States and other parts of the world just to help volunteer for this great event.”

--

By the way, if you are in Dayton for Hamvention 2013 and find yourself in need of any kind of assistance, simply dial your 2 meter mobile or handheld to the repeater pair of 146.34 in and 146.94 out. That’s the official repeater for Hamvention. Its call is W8BI and no PL tone is required.

OK. Its time for our reporters in Dayton to grab their audio recorders and go to work. You will hear their reports on Hamvention 2013 beginning next week.

(ARNewsline with audio supplied by RAIN)

**

HAMVENTION 2013: KIDS AND D-STAR MIX AT HAMVENTION 2013

Kids and D-Star were to be part of Hamvention 2013’s activities. This as the Texas Interconnect Team announces that for the Hamvention weekend, reflector REF033B will officially be the Dayton Kids Reflector.

Megan McClellan, K5MEM, will spearhead the project from the ARRL Youth Booth starting Friday morning and continuing during show hours on Saturday and Sunday. The objective is to give the future young hams an opportunity to experience the fun and excitement of talking with someone far-away place using the magic of Amateur Radio. The participants in the Youth area will have access to handheld radios and a DV-AP, and will operate under the supervision of an experienced Control Operator.

Even if you not at this years Hamvention you can assist in this effort by connecting using D-Star to Reflector REF033B during event hours Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If nobody is talking, give them a call. Remember, for any QSO to begin it takes someone calling the first CQ. (N9JA, others)

**

HAMVENTION 2013: UPDATED AMSAT LVB TRACKER SHOWN AT DAYTON

One product at Dayton that likely won’t make headline reviews but which is certain to be of interest to satellite enthusiasts is a new version of AMSAT G6LVB Tracker. The new unit replaces the original amber only LCD display with an O-LED or Organic Light Emitting Diode display will be available in blue, green and amber. The new display offers a high visibility contrast with a wide angle of view. More information and a photo showing the old and new displays can be found on-line at amsat.org. (ANS)

**

INTRUDER WATCH: RUSSIAN RADAR ON 75 – 80 METERS

In other news, the latest IARU Monitoring System Newsletter reports the Russian Over The Horizon Radar that has invaded the 3.5 MHz band is still very active. The interfering Radar system is believed to be located in the area of Makhachkala, on the Caspian Sea and transmits simultaneously between 3.515 to 3.545 and 3.560 to 3.590 MHz. As a result, amateur radio and other services are suffering interference during the evening hours. The German and Dutch telecommunications regulators have been informed and have been asked to intercede. (IARUMS)

**


HURRICANE WATCH NET SEEKS NEW MEMBERS FOR NET CONTROL STATIONS

The ARRL Letter says that with the 2013 hurricane season approaching, the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, and the Hurricane Watch Net are gearing up for what could be a very active storm season. And in preparation for what Mother Nature might have in store the Hurricane Watch Net is seeking new members who can serve as net control stations.

For those not aware, the Hurricane Watch Net provides on-the-ground, real-time weather data from amateur radio operators who volunteer their time to monitor their own properly calibrated home weather stations. The hams then report the data collected to the Hurricane Watch Net, which in turn forwards it to WX4NHC which is the amateur radio station at the National Hurricane Center.

For more information on the role played by hams in this vital, life saving service, and how you can become a part of it, take your web browser to tinyurl.com/hurricane-net-2013. (ARRL)

**

STORY CORRECTION: PROPER SOURCE CREDIT ON DARC AND UBA SUPPORT AMATEUR RADIO IN TUNISIA STORY

And before we go any further, a correction to the source credit in last weeks newscast concerning the story about Germany’s DARC and Belgium’s UBA supporting amateur radio in Tunisia. In the print edition we gave the source credit to an organization called A-R-A-T. Well it turns out that the groups actual name is ASTRA which stands for Association Tunisienne des Radio Amateurs that translated into English is the Association of Tunisian Radio Amateurs. How the credit which was only seen in the print edition got typo’ed remains a bit of a mystery, but we are sincerely grateful to our listeners and readers across Europe and in Tunisia for bringing this discrepancy to our attention. (ARNewsline)

**

BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the W8BI repeater of the Dayton Amateur Radio Association serving the Hamvention City of Dayton, Ohio.

(5 sec pause here)


**

RESCUE RADIO: W6TIA SEEKS SIGNATURES ON PUBLIC WARNING LEGISLATION PETITION

Richard Rudman, W6TIA, who is a core member of the Broadcast Warning Working Group, has posted an online petition urging Congress and the Executive Branch of government to enact legislation for a national public warning strategy. This so emergency public information is always coordinated with other emergency response measures.

In the petition Rudman and the Broadcast Warning Working Group advocate that Emergency Public Information be treated as a true response resource within the culture of emergency management professionals and to be legislated by Congress. And in an interview with Amateur Radio Newsline, W6TIA, explained the importance of getting the government to pay attention to this special need:

--

Rudman: “The petition was started because we feel that two pieces of legislation that died in the last session (of Congress) should be brought back and strengthened, so that for one thing there is a unified strategy for emergency management and tying it to emergency public information including warnings.”

--

The legislation referred to by W6TIA was based on the Partnership for Public Warning report titled “A National Strategy for Integrated Public Warning and Capability.” He noted that this was reinforced with language from the previous legislative attempts and feels this proposal can finally give real, wide-ranging value and meaning to FEMA’s Common Alerting Protocol warning tool called the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.

Rudman tells Newsline that he hopes to collect between 100 and 200 signatures. He then plans to present them to what he terms as key people in Congress who supported past attempts at such legislation in the hope of getting them to introduce them again, and get them passed. W6TIA has about 75 signatures so far. You can read and sign the petition at tinyurl.com/true-response-resource or tinyurl.com/epi-strategy. (RW, ARNewsline)

**

RESCUE RADIO: EMCOMM HAM RADIO REPEATER EVICTED BY AMERICAN TOWER

A decision by American Tower Corporation to evict an amateur radio emergency communications system from a tower the company recently acquired in New Mexico has both the sponsoring radio club and many of the people working in local emergency services very concerned. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Norm Seeley, KI7UP, reports:

--

The repeater in question is located on Buck Mountain overlooking the community of Ruidoso. New Mexico, and is operated by the Sierra Blanca Amateur Radio Club. The equipment was installed on the tower in 2004 and except for when the tower suffered some damage three or four years ago the repeater has been used continuously for emergencies such as the Little Bear Fire in June 2012, and in the Rio Ruidoso flood of July 2008.

Tony Davis is the president of White Mountain Search and Rescue. He said that he learned late Wednesday May 8th that the tower holding the amateur radio repeater that is owned and maintained by Rick Sohl, K5RIC, had been sold to American Tower Corporation. Despite attempts by Sohl to negotiate an arrangement, American Tower has decided to terminate amateur radio use of the facility, effective immediately. Davis said that there are other towers near the same location, but they are largely occupied.

Ruidoso Acting Fire Chief Harlan Vincent also serves as the village emergency services manager. He says that he is not happy about the decision of the Boston-based American Tower company. He noted that Ruidoso relies heavily on heavily on ham operators in time of emergency. He said that when emergency service repeaters go down, the ham radio repeaters are still functioning and able to get information from point A to point B.

According to the Ruidoso News article reporting the repeaters eviction, this system is used by amateur operators not just in Lincoln County. It also provides coverage into Otero, Chaves and Eddy County, and as far away as the Panhandle of Texas and into the city of El Paso.

Davis and Doug Thompson, W5DET, who is president of the Sierra Blanca Amateur Radio Club, have sent an "open letter" for publication in the Ruidoso News to the chairman, president and chief executive officer of American Tower Corporation. It asks him to reconsider the company's stance.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

--

More on this story can be found on-line at tinyurl.com/repeater-evicted. (Ruidoso News, Southgate)

**

ENFORCEMENT: FCC UPHOLDS $15000 FINE AGAINST UNLICENSED OREGON BROADCASTER

The FCC has upheld a $15,000 fine against an Oregon resident for allegedly operating an unlicensed radio station.

Following up on a complaint from a local broadcaster in 2011, the Portland office of the Enforcement Bureau traced the signal on 97.9 MHz in Prineville, Ore. to the residence of Joshua McMurchie’s. A police officer accompanied the FCC agent to the address where the FCC agent inspected the station and issued McMurchie a Notice of Unlicensed Operation.

Following another complaint in 2012, an agent again T- hunted the source of the signal to McMurchie’s residence and found a transmitter there. The commission said that McMurchie admitted operating the station and offered to surrender the transmitter.

Last July, FCC issued McMurchie a Notice of Apparent Liability in the amount of $15000 raising by $500 it from the base amount of $10,000 because the unlicensed transmissions continued even after McMurchie was ordered to cease operation.

But in its May 9^th release the FCC says that McMurchie never answered the original Notice of Apparent Liability. Based on that and the evidence before it the agency has now issued a Forfeiture Order for $15,000 giving him 30 days to pay or the case may be referred to the Justice Department for collection. (FCC)

**

RADIO BUSINESS: PUBLISHER SOUGHT FOR VHF COMMUNICATIONS MAGAZINE

A small but popular magazine targeted at those who operate 50 MHz and above is on the block. This as Andy Barter, G8ATD, announces his intention to retire from publishing the currently U-K based VHF Communications Magazine

According to Barter, he has published VHF Communications Magazine for the past 13 years and now wants to retire. He says that he will publish all 4 issues in 2013 but if anyone in the group would like to take over publication of the magazine from 2014 on and give it a new lease of life please contact him.

Barter says that the job of publisher involves translating articles from the German magazine UKW Berichte plus finding additional articles to fill the VHF Communications. In addition there is the work of producing the magazine, getting it printed and distributed, handling subscriptions plus orders for back issues and the like.

The current circulation of the magazine is 349 with just 80 of those from the UK. If this interests you, please contact G8ATD by e-mail to andy (at) vhfcomm (dot) co (dot) uk. (Southgate)

**


ARRL CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION: ARRL PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE SPONSORING "I AM THE ARRL" VIDEO CONTEST

As part of the ARRL's Centennial Celebration in 2014, the League’s Public Relations Committee is sponsoring an "I am the ARRL" video contest. The Committee is looking for pairs of short video clips featuring ARRL members. One clip should show the radio amateur on the radio, while the other should show the same ham in his or her work setting saying who they are, that they like ham radio and that they are the ARRL.

As explained by ARRL Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, an example might be a car mechanic in coveralls working over an engine who looks at the camera and says 'I am Henry Smith, N0XCC. I like to talk to people in exotic countries and I am the ARRL.' This clip would then be paired with a shot of him at home talking on the radio.

Pitts says that the ARRL is looking for videos that communicate that you are that
guy or gal down the street and you are an important part of the ARRL. W1AGP adds that with Field Day coming up next month, there is a great opportunity for filming clips.

If this project interests you can find out more is on-line at tinyurl.com/arrl-second-century-video. (ARRL)

**

SOCIAL SCENE: AMSAT ANNOUNCES DATE AND LOCATION OF 2013 SPACE SYMPOSIUM

And if you are an amateur radio space enthusiast the mark down November 1st to the 3rd as the dates for this years AMSAT Space Symposium. The venue will be the Marriott Hobby Airport Hotel not far from the grounds of the grounds of NASA’s Johnson Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas, which is the home of the famed ham radio station W5RRR.

The AMSAT Annual Meeting will be held in conjunction with the Space Symposium. This will provide you with an opportunity to hear about AMSAT's plans for the future and voice your own thoughts and opinions to organization’s Board of Director members and other officials.

Over the coming months both the AMSAT Journal and AMSAT News Service will be issuing timely updates on plans for this years Space Symposium. More information will also be available on-line at www.amsat.org. (ANS)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS: OLE VIRGINIA HAMFEST JUNE 9

On the social scene, word that the Ole Virginia Amateur Radio Club will be holding its 39th Hamfest in Manassas Virginia on June 9th, and you are invited to be a part of the festivities.

This year in partnership with the 4 H, the club the gathering will be hosting a Youth Lounge to provide teen and preteen youth complete with on the air ham radio demonstrations. There will also be a number of educational events to foster amateur radio awareness among the younger members of the community.

Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, will be organizing and chairing the Youth Lounge. Hartlage, was the 2004 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year and a former ARRL Vice-Director. She is nationally known as a promoter of Youth in Amateur Radio and is an active member of the Youth in the Second Century Committee sponsored by the American Radio Relay League.

More about both the Ole Virginia Amateur Radio Club hamfest and its dedicated youth activities can be found on-line at www.manassashamfest.org. Organizers say that they hope to see you there. KC4DV

**

BREAK 2

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

(5 sec pause here)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: GOOGLE ASKS FCC PERMISSION TO CREATE EXPERIMENTAL 2.5 GHZ NETWORK

Google may be trying to create an experimental wireless network covering its Mountain View, California, headquarters. This in a move that some analysts say could be a sign that the company may be planning the creation of a super-fast wireless networks in other locations that would allow people to connect to the World-Wide-Web using mobile devices.

Google recently submitted an application to the Federal Communications Commission, asking for an experimental license to create an experimental radio service with a two-mile radius covering its headquarters. The network would only provide coverage for devices built to access frequencies from 2524 to 2625 megahertz. This is spectrum which could work well in densely populated areas and which mobile operators in China, Brazil and Japan are already building wireless networks using. This in turn means that compatible devices can eventually be manufactured.

According to Communications News, much of Google’s application is confidential, but it does say that the first deployment of the experimental network would take place inside a specific building on Google’s property. That building reportedly houses the company’s Fiber Team, which is part of the Google Access unit that has introduced high-speed wired Internet and video in Kansas City.

A Google spokesperson declined to comment on the purpose of the application, saying the company regularly experiments with new ideas. More is on the web at tinyurl.com/google-2-ghz. (TechNewsNow.com, ARSTechnica, CommNews, others)

**

WORLDBEAT: ILLW REGISTRATION TIE

The battle for the most registrations for the 2013 International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend leadership appears at this moment to be a tie between Australia and Germany with 40 registrations each. This out of more than 220 from 30 countries around the world.

Looking at other nations, the United States has registered 23 lighthouse and lightship entities. It’s followed by England at 18, Argentina with at 12, Ireland and Scotland with 9 each, with Canada, Netherlands and Sweden at 8 a piece.

With registration only at about the half-way mark, it so far appears that the number of entities planning to take part is ahead of last year at this same time. If you plan to activate a lighthouse or lightship for this fun operating event and want to register it, simply take your web browser to www.illw.net.

This year’s International Lighthouse and Lightship weekend takes place the weekend of August the 17th and 18th and planners say that they hope you will be there. (VK3PC)

**

WORLDBEAT: RADIO AND TV MARTI BACK ON THE AIR AFTER FIRE

Radio and Television Marti broadcasts to Cuba from the United States government resumed on Monday, April 22nd. This after a trashcan fire forced the temporary evacuation of the headquarters of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting in Miami the day before.

According to the United States Broadcasting Board of Governors, the building that houses Marti and its website reportedly sustained damage due to an accidental fire caused by a lighted cigarette left in a container in a designated smoking area outside the building. While windows cracked due to the heat, no one was injured and sprinklers were automatically set off.

Carlos García Pérez, director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting said he was grateful for a quick response from firefighters, and for the continued work of the station’s broadcasters through the ordeal.

In Cuba, Radio Martí is available on 1080 AM and also on 1260 AM as Radio Caracol. (RW)

**

ON THE AIR: GB4PEN – THE PENLEE LIFEBOAT SPECIAL EVENT

On the air, keep an ear open for Geoff Powell, M1EDF, will be on the air as GB4PEN through the 24th of May. This, to commemorate the crew of the United Kingdom lifeboat the Penlee.

According to Wikipedia, the lifeboat Penlee sank off the coast of Cornwall in the UK on December 19, 1981. This after it had gone to the aid of the vessel the Union Star after its engines failed in heavy seas.

The story goes that after the Penlee had managed to rescue four people that both vessels were lost with all hands. In all, sixteen people died including eight volunteer lifeboatmen.

M1EDF says that he will be operating on 160, 80, 40, 30 meters using CW only. QSL’s go direct to M1EDF who adds that any donations received with QSLs will benefit the United Kingdom’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution. More is on-line at www.qrz.com/db/GB4PEN (Southgate)

**

ON THE AIR: NEW REGIONAL NET SERVING TN, VA, MC AND BEYOND

The State of Franklin Friendship net is a brand new regional net serving East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Northwest North Carolina. This new ragchew net is held on several linked local repeaters in the area and also worldwide via Echolink. You're invited to join in every Thursday evening at 9:30PM EDT. More details and a list of net repeaters and Echolink nodes can be found at facebook.com/stateoffranklinnet. Stateoffranklin is all one
word. (AE5DW)

**

DX

In DX, 7Z1HL will be active from Saudi Arabia until May 31^st as HZ1FOC He is active on the various H-F Bands. QSL only Heribert Lennertz, HZ1FOC , P.O.Box 85661 , Riyadh 11612 , Saudi Arabia.

PB2T is currently operational stroke TF from Iceland on the High Frequency bands. If you make contact please QSL via his home call

OD5SK is currently active from Jordan as JY8KS. He is reported to be on the H-F bands only. QSL via IZ8CLM

OH6VM will be on the air from Market Reef from June 2^nd to the 5^th. He will be using the call sign OJ0VM also on the various High Frequency bands QSL OH6VM.

HA0NAR will be active as 3D2AR from Viti Levu Island in the Fiji Island group sometime in October. His operation will likely on 160 through 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via his home callsign and for updates please visit www.ha0nar.hu on the World-Wide-Web.

Lastly, G3SXW and G3TXF are on the air from Jersey Island on all of the HF bands using the call sign GH4FOC for the FOC commemorative operation as well as GJ3SXW and GJ3TXF. QSL’s for GH4FOC go via G3SWH while GJ3SXW go via G3SXW and GJ3TXF via G3TXF. All calls can be either paper or electronic using Logbook of the World.

(Above from various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: SELF HEALING CHIPS ARE A REALITY

And finally this week, indestructible electronics are a step closer to reality thanks to engineers at the California Institute of Technology who have developed what they are calling self-healing integrated chips. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, has more:

--

The team from the High-Speed Integrated Circuits laboratory in Caltech's Division of Engineering and Applied Science repeatedly blasted tiny power amplifiers with a high-power laser, vaporizing many of their components. They then watched the chips develop their own work-arounds in less than a second.

The new integrated circuits are so small that 76 of them, including the amplifier and everything needed to heal it, can fit on one penny. The amplifiers developed by the team use on-chip sensors that monitor temperature, current, voltage, and power. These sensors send the information to a custom application-specific integrated circuit or ASIC which is a central processor on the same chip that functions as the system’s brain. The ASIC evaluates the information it receives from the sensors about the amplifier’s performance, decides what adjustments need to be made to the system’s actuators, and makes those changes. The unit was designed to get to the optimum state for all actuators in any situation without outside intervention.

The benefits of this approach go beyond overcoming severe damage. Because of the self sensing, these amplifiers used about half as much power as those without the self-healing capability, and performance was more predictable and reproducible.

In addition to working around damage to parts of the circuits, the amplifier’s self-healing can repair static variation due to differences across components and long-term aging problems that arise over time as use changes the internal properties of the system. It can also handle
short-term variations caused by changes in load, temperature, and differences in supply voltage.

Since chips such as these are useful for next-generation communications, imaging, sensing, and radar applications, showing successful self-healing here should mean that it also can be done in less cutting-edge electronic systems such as cellphones and maybe someday even in ham radio gear.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, in Zion, Illinois.

--


Research on this project was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Air Force Research Laboratory. More on this story is on-line at tinyurl.com/self-healing-chips. (CalTech, WIA)

**

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, TWiT-TV, Australia's WIA News and the 2013 Dayton, Hamvention, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline™. Our e-mail address is newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) 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™, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350

A reminder that the there are only about two and a half weeks left to nominate a young ham age 18 or under for this years Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award. The closing date is midnight on May 30^th and any nominations postmarked or sent to us electronically after that date will not be counted for this years judging. This years winner will receive an expense paid trip to the Huntsville Hamfest courtesy of Yaesu USA, a week at Spacecamp Huntsville from CQ Magazine, a prize of ham radio gear and a plaque commemorating the event from us here at the Amateur Radio Newsline. Full details and a nominating form are on our website at www.arnewsline.org/yhoty. We look forward to receiving your nominations.

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors’ desk, I’m Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, in South Mississippi saying 73 and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline™ is Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.

During the recent LOTW changes some of our users experience upload problems for a short while but once the LOTW changes were completed our users reported that everything was functioning normally again.


However if any users do still have issues then please contact me immediately and I will help resolve the problem.

Our team are always available to help Log4OM users - Hams helping Hams for free!


Terry G4POP - Log4OM Development Team

HRD Software, LLC has released an update for a new problem with Logbook of the World by the ARRL.

The cause of the issue was a change in URLs for the Logbook of the World website. This issue caused not only HRD but all other logging programs using the developer API to fail when uploading or downloading data. The update is free for all 6.0 users and is at http://www.hrdsoftwarellc.com.

Work continues on the 6.1 release. The beta sites have been giving back good feedback.

Many of the HRD Software team members are at the Dayton Hamvention this weekend. HRD can be found in booth 100 in Audio Alley; all hams and HRD users are encouraged to stop by and say hello to the team.

HRD always has special pricing during Hamvention, and this year is no exception. For those that are unable to make it to Dayton, HRD is going to extend this special pricing for online orders during the weekend. Enter the coupon code dayton2013 to get $10 off of HRD.

HRD 6.0 is also available in a 30 day demo version. This is a full-featured copy with no restrictions except for the time limit.

You can purchase and download the product at http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com.
HRD Downloads: http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com
HRD Forum: http://forums.hrdsoftwarellc.com
HRD on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/HRDsoftware

amsat_fox.gifFox-1 has a launch date!

NASA announced Monday, May 13 that AMSAT’s Fox-1 FM transponder spacecraft has been assigned a launch in 2014.

For details on the launch vehicle, targeted launch date, orbit specifics, and more, please attend the AMSAT Forum and visit the AMSAT booth at the Dayton Hamvention this weekend.

Watch http://www.amsat.org/ and the AMSAT News Service for more details to follow as they become available.

AMSAT’s Fox-1 CubeSat aims to provide these features:

• Fox-1 is designed to operate in sunlight without batteries once the battery system fails. This applies lessons learned from AO-51 and ARISSat-1 operations.

• In case of IHU failure Fox-1 aims to continue to operate its FM repeater in a basic, ‘zombie sat’ mode, so that the repeater remains on-the-air.

• Fox-1 is designed as the immediate replacement for AO-51. Its U/V (Mode B) FM transponder will make it even easier to work with modest equipment.

• From the ground user’s perspective, the same FM amateur radio equipment used for AO-51 may be used for Fox-1.

AMSAT Bulletin Board - AMSAT-BB
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/maillist/



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Ham Radio decades ago was an experimental hobby. Most hams back then built or designed their own equipment. Today, Al Gallo WØERE and “SAP” NØSAP have come up with another fun project you can join in with us.

We will have a 30 Meter Mobile Beacon transmitting on 10.129.25 MHz starting on May 16^th at 12:00 UTC as we travel to Dayton Hamvention. We will transmit on this frequency at 3 watts giving our current Grid Square so you can track our movement from Southwest Missouri (Nixa, MO.) to Dayton, Ohio. We will be back on the air May 20^th at the same time 12:00 UTC on our return trip to Nixa, MO.

The antenna will be a 23-foot trailing wire mounted on a Hustler mast without the resonator. Using Litz wire, it starts floating in the air at 35 MPH and will be flapping in the wind at about four to five feet off the ground. The length of the wire gives us a safe distance for vehicles behind us.

We will be monitoring 40 Meter SSB at 7.265 MHz and QSY to 18.140 MHz during our trip for Beacon reports. If you should hear our Beacon signal, please contact us on the air, by email, or audio file at erecom@hotmail.com. You can also see the Beacon on QRZ under WØERE or Ham Nation Episode 97 at http://twit.tv/show/ham-nation/97. Click on the SD Large Video for viewing.

We need to hear from you to better understand propagation and signal reports at the time of transmission and location. NØSAP will be driving and receiving on the air reports. WØERE will be operating the Beacon from the passenger seat. If you are going to Dayton, we hope to see you on the road.

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield (VA3OOG) along with flight engineers American Tom Marshburn and Russian Roman Romanenko returned to return to Earth on Tuesday from a five-month stint on board the International Space Station landing in Kazakhstan at 3.31am BST.
Since docking with the ISS in a Soyuz craft in December, the 53-year-old station commander has kept hundreds of thousands of followers back on Earth informed and entertained from orbit.
He has tweeted from the space station at least 1,500 times, capturing remarkable images of many corners of the world.
https://twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield


Hadfield was born in Sarnia, Ontario, in 1959. A mechanical engineer by training, he joined the military and graduated top of his class in 1988, from a US air force test pilot school. In 1991, the US navy voted him test pilot of the year. He has flown more than 70 different aircraft, among them the supersonic dogfighter, the F/A 18 hornet.
The Canadian astronaut corps recruited Hadfield in 1992, from more than 5,000 applicants. He worked on space shuttle safety, and went on to become Nasa's chief CapCom, the voice of mission control for astronauts in orbit, on 25 space shuttle missions.
This was Hadfield's third trip into space. He flew aboard the shuttle Atlantis to the Mir space station in 1995, and to the ISS to install Canada's robotic arm in 2001. The installation took two space walks, which made Hadfield the first Canadian to float freely in space. The Royal Canadian Mint commemorated the feat with gold and silver coins.

The canadian astronaut posted a cover version of the david bowie's song space oddity recorded 230 miles above the earth on sunday night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc8BcBZ0tAI

Although i dont have a 2mtr transceiver,commander hadfield was active on ham radio as reported on the iss fan club website.
http://www.issfanclub.com/

Welcome back home expedition 35.

DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) is a 2-slotted (channel) TDMA (time division multiple access) 2-way communications mode that operates on VHF, UHF, and 8/900 MHz. It is actually the world's most utilized commercial standard since it is used from everything from middle schools to hotels and from utilities to mines. Ham radio users started using DMR in 2009 because it is a robust performance standard using the latest digital voice technologies that improve upon earlier digital audio quality and RF range conerns. The last 3 years have been exciting for exponential growth. The 2 voice/data channels from one repeater allow you to save on infrastructure costs (one set of duplexer cans, antenna, feedline, power supply, site rent, etc). Also if slot 1 (channel 1) is busy, you can easily just move to slot 2. DMR is an open worldwide standard. There are multiple manufacturers of DMR equipment which makes it quite affordable to get started.

DMR-MARC is a worldwide radio network featuring over 160 linked repeaters that are 100% digital. To learn more about DMR or how you can join our network visit http://dmr-marc.net. The "TRBO FAQ" link at the top of the page leads you to a good collection of information about DMR.

We recently welcomed our 14th country, the United Kingdom, to the network. Please stop by our booth at the Dayton Hamvention to see first hand how it works. We will be in the Ball Arena, booth 0449 near the ARRL.

Seeing is believing. Don't just take our word for it. Talk to our users and repeater trustees who will be around to answer your questions.

73,
Mike, AA9VI

AmateurLogic.TV Episode 54 is now available for download.
We explore three different Remote Control options to control a station from anywhere in the world. George and Tommy prepare for Dayton Hamvention. And some really funny stuff…

1:10:00 of interesting and entertaining ALTV.

Download

View in web browser: YouTube

Updated Free Log4OM software

The latest release of the free Log4OM logging software version 1.12.1 has just been released and available for download together with the updated user guide here

http://www.pisto.it/wordpress/

This release has many new features, some of which are listed below, and issues reported by our users have also been resolved.

One of the most significant changes has been the enhancement of the DX cluster which is now probably the most refined and easy to use cluster ever and provides instant visualisation of your required countries, band, mode, IOTA

The user forum can be found here http://www.pisto.it/forum/

Added user selection of KM or Miles, can also be changed at runtime.

Ability to set the TX output power of the operator’s station while logging a QSO.

Added to the archive manager a select all button to select all currently displayed filtered entries.

Extra standard filters added to the DX clusters

New frequency control display.

Added ‘Un-worked mode on spot or band’ cluster filter.

New Webcam support for HRDLog.net – Communicator window.

Added a realtime program log to the help menu

Added the Clublog's most wanted ranking into the cluster windows.

Net Control Enhancements:

Ability to start external programs before and after the initialisation of Log4OM with
time delays

Cluster colours can now be user defined to display worked and confirmed status for
country, band , mode & Call sign.

Cluster worked/confirmed status by Country, Band, Mode & Call sign can now
additionally be filtered by Country, QSL, eQSL, LOTW and LOTW+QSL.

Cluster highlight colour of special filters and most wanted can now be user defined.

New Log4OM Communicator added for interfacing external software by any data
protocol.

Terry G4POP - Log4OM Development Team

If there's any reason to be involved in Ham Radio greater than the sheer enjoyment of the hobby, it'd be in Disaster Preparedness. As we all know, when disaster strikes, Ham Radio works! So keeping in mind that with the US Hurricane season soon to start June 1st., now's the time to get prepared, sooner, rather than later. This article from one of the national Preppers groups Ham Radio Blog, offers some advice on how to start getting ready, Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season...

Ham Nation 97: Preparing for the Trip to Dayton is available for download and viewing at http://twit.tv/hnGetting ready for Dayton, how to install a mobile radio for a road trip, AM/FM radio continued, and more.

Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1865 – May 10 2013

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1865 with a release date of May 10 2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T.

A new 24 Gigahertz E-M-E record claimed between Australia and the Czech Republic; new life for ham radio in Tunisia; NASA and ham radio assemble a PhoneSat image of Earth and an in-depth preview of the 2013 Dayton Hamvention. All this and more on Amateur Radio Newsline™ report number 1865 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


**

HAMVENTION 2013 PREVIEW: DOORS OPEN FRIDAY MAY 17

It won’t be long before the gates at the Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio swing open for the 2013 Dayton Hamvention. This year’s gathering runs May 17^th to the 19^th and for the first time ever, its theme is the DX Hamvention. And in a recent interview with Hap Holly, KC9RP, of the RAIN Report, Hamvention spokesman Michael Kalter, W-8-C-I, explained the reasoning for this choice:

--

Kalter: Our theme this year, the DX Hamvention, seemed to resonaste with us because in order to have good DX and to make contact, toy reach out to the world. That’s literally what Hamvention is tryiong to do; we reach out to the world and bring amateur radio operators in throughout the whole world.

--

And says Kalter, this appears to be a record year for those showing and selling their wares at Hamvention:

--

Kalter: “We have more vendors inside this year than we have ever had. Last year was a big year so we nearly sold out inside. It appears as if its going to be another great year inside. Its hard to keep up with all of the folks that are coming but you know that’s part of the surprise of Dayton is that a new vendor comes in and you go: ‘…oh my gosh, I didn’t know about these people and you find some new and interesting radio gear.’”

--

And will there be anything really special taking place? Kalter says most definitely:

--

Kalter: “One of the big things this year is that Homeland Security is going to be involved with us. They approached us last year and they are going to have a special emergency (class) this year. I think you can get your different certificates from the 100B through the 800B certificate. That’s a new thing for this year.”

--

As usual, Amateur Radio Newsline has its team of reporters at Hamvention 2013. We also will be hosting the annual Ham Radio Town Meeting on Saturday, May 18^th where the central topic will be “What DX Means to Me.” In keeping with the theme of this years Hamvention, this will be a non-technical look at working and being DX from a very personal point of view. Among our presenters will be world-class DX operator Chip Margelli, K7JA, of Innov Antennas; Hollywood film maker and DX’er Dave Bell, W6AQ and the United States Coordinator of the International Morse Code Preservation group FISTS, Nancy Kott, WZ8C, to mention only three. So if you will be at Hamvention 2013, please stop by Meeting Room 2 on Saturday, May 18^th from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Meeting Room 2 for this year’s Ham Radio Town Meeting. We are looking forward to seeing you there. (ARNewsline™ with audio supplied by The RAINReport)

**

HAMVENTION 2013: LIVE NETCAST COURTESY OF W5KUB

And speaking about Hamvention, if you cannot be there in person, then you can travel to Dayton vicariously again this year thanks to Tom Medlin, W5KUB and his live television streaming at W5KUB.com.

Tom’s live broadcast begins on Wednesday May 15th at 8:00 AM Central time as he starts the 550 Mile drive from Memphis to Dayton. On Thursday you can get a peak of the various vendors setting up and then enjoy the next three days of the Hamvention itself. And if you make it to Hamvention, Tom says that he and his crew will be set up at space SA302 and to drop by and say hello.

Once again, that’s the 2013 Hamvention live on your computer or tablet courtesy of Tom Medlin at W5KUB.com. (W5KUB)

**

HAMVENTION 2013: ICOM TO STREAM LIVE FROM HAMVENTION

And this just in. In addition to exhibiting some new products, Icom says that it will transmit a live video stream across the Internet from its Dayton Hamvention booths on Saturday, May 18th. At airtime, guest speakers include Emmy-nominated television producer John Amodeo, NN6JA of the hit ABC sitcom “Last Man Standing;” noted ham radio educator Gordon West, WB6NOA and AmateurLogic.TV host George Thomas, W5JDX. Thomas is also the recipient of this years Dayton Hamvention Special Achievement Award. A complete webcast schedule and other Dayton-related information can be found at www.icomamerica.com/dayton2013. (Icom)

**

RADIO IN SPACE: M CLASS SOLAR EVENT CAPTURED ON MAY 3RD

In other news, an intense solar storm erupted from the Sun on Friday, May 3rd in what astronomers have described as a dazzling solar display. The solar flare discharged from the left limb of the Sun peaked at 17:32 GMT, registering as a medium-strength M 5.7-class event that launched hot solar plasma about 200,000 kilometers above the surface of the Solar Disc. Photos of the event were captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and sent back to Earth by radio.

The May 3rd solar storm was the second major space weather event in three days, but was not aimed at Earth. The Solar Disc fired off an eruption on Wednesday, May 1st from the same region, which at the time was at the very leftmost limb of the Sun as seen by the Solar Dynamics Observatory. Astronomers predict that this active region will be rotating to face Earth fairly soon.

So far the strongest solar flare of the year occurred on April 11 and registered as an M 6.5 class storm. M-class solar flares are medium-strength events and are the weakest type of storm that can still have an impact on Earth. When aimed directly at our planet they can cause aurora displays and some short term radio communications outages. The stronger X class flares are the ones that can interfere with communications satellites and cause major radio blackouts on Earth.

The Solar Dynamics Observatory is a NASA mission in launched in February of 2010 to study the Sun for over five years. It is one of several spacecraft constantly monitoring the our star to track these solar weather events as we approach what’s believed to be near the peak of Solar Cycle 24. (Space.com, Spacenews, Wikipedia)

**

BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the Hamvention repeater, W8BI, serving Dayton, Ohio.

(5 sec pause here)


**

WORLDBEAT: DARC AND UBA SUPPORT AMATEUR RADIO IN TUNISIA


Amateur radio could soon have a new life in Tunisia as we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline’s Norm Seeley, KI7UP:

--

The Deutscher Amateur Radio Club, which is Germany’s national amateur radio society, reports that after the political changes in Tunisia amateur radio in that North African country has a new opportunity to expand. This as members of the Association of Tunisian Radio Amateurs used World Amateur Radio Day on April 18th to inform the that nations public and in particular its Minister for Technology, Information and Communication about amateur radio in its various forms.

Representatives of European amateur radio organizations were there to support the event. This included the International Office of the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club in the person of Mustapha Landoulsi, DL1BDF. Landoulsi gave a presentation on the important role of amateur radio in emergency and disaster situations.

Stefan Dombrowski, ON6TI, from the Belgian federation the U-B-A was also on hand. He explained the history of the development of amateur radio satellites, and in particular, the construction of CubeSat spacecraft and the AMSAT-UK FUNcube satellite.

According to reports, the Tunisian Minister was quite impressed by the potential of amateur radio. As a result he has promised to ensure that the necessary statutory basis for granting individual licenses would be created as soon as possible.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

--

This information appears to open up the prospect for the successful development of amateur radio in Tunisia. (ARAT)

**

RADIO RECORDS: NEW 24 GHZ EME WORLD RECORD OF 16383 KM

Rex Moncur, VK7MO, has completed a Earth-Moon-Earth QSO with the OK1KIR EME Team in the Czech Republic with some 10,180 miles between. This, to claim the new world EME record on 24 GHz.

To accomplish this feat VK7MO used just a 1.14 meter dish and 10 watts which he has designed for portable operation. On the other end of the path OK1KIR used a 4.5 meter dish and 22 watts.

According to the VK7 News, this has been a 12 month project for VK7MO during which he collaborated with famed Digital low noise mode developer Joe Taylor, K1JT. The two worked to produce improved decoders that could cope with the very wide spreading of signals on the 24 GHz E-M-E path.

Word is that VK7MO and K1JT will be publishing this work in the next edition of DUBUS magazine. This is a publication which is devoted to VHF and Microwave amateur radio communications. More information is at www.dubus.org. (vk7news)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: NASA AND HAM RADIO ASSEMBLE THE PHONESAT PICTURE

Engineers at NASA's Ames Research Center in California and amateur radio operators around the world recently collaborated to reconstruct an image of Earth sent to them from three smartphones launched into a low Earth orbit. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Heather Embee KB3TZD, reports:

--

The joint effort was part of NASA's nanosatellite mission called PhoneSat. The first phase was launched on Sunday, April 21^st aboard the Antares booster from NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility in Virginia.

Although the ultimate goal of the PhoneSat mission was to determine whether a consumer-grade smartphone can be used as the primary flight avionics for a satellite in space, the three miniature satellites also used their smartphone cameras to take pictures of Earth. These images were then transmitted to multiple ground stations as data packets with each packet holding a small piece of the big picture.

As the data became available, the PhoneSat Team working with multiple ham radio operators pieced together a high-resolution photograph from data sent back by the tiny birds. Amateur radio operators from every continent except Antarctica contributed in capturing the data packets needed to piece together the final image.

This first PhoneSat mission successfully ended Saturday, April 27^th after atmospheric drag caused the tiny satellites to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up as predicted by the mission planners.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Heather Embee, KB3TZD, in Berwick, Pennsylvania.

--

The PhoneSat project is a technology demonstration mission funded by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate and the Engineering Directorate at NASA Ames Research Center. The project started in summer 2009 as a student led project between the Ames Research Center and the International Space University at Strasbourg. For more information about the PhoneSat mission and the part played by amateur radio please visit www.phonesat.org on the World-Wide-Web. (NASA Release, Southgate)

**


RESCUE RADIO: PREMIERE NETWORKS JOIN FEMA IN EAS

FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, says it will add Premiere Networks as a Primary Entry Point station for the nations Emergency Alert System or EAS. FEMA has already been installing satellite receivers at Primary Entry Point stations, intending to use satellite delivery of emergency alerts as an alternative distribution method.

According to reports Premiere Networks will use its satellite program receivers at its affiliates as another tool for delivering national EAS messages. The radio affiliates would in turn broadcast the emergency messages to the public.

Primary Entry Point stations are private or commercial radio broadcast stations that cooperatively participate with FEMA to provide emergency alert and warning information to the public before, during, and after incidents and disasters. Since the national EAS test in 2011, both FEMA and the FCC have been studying the results and executing fixes. (RW)

**

RADIO POLITICS: PRESIDENT OBAMA TO NOMINATE TOM WHEELER AS NEXT FCC CHAIRMAN

President Obama says that he will nominate wireless telecommunications and cable executive Tom Wheeler as the next FCC chairman. He will also designate Commissioner Mignon Clyburn to act as “acting Chairwoman” once current Chairman Julius Genachowski leaves the agency.

In a press statement, Genachowski said he’s known Wheeler for 20 years and he’s made strong contributions to the FCC’s work. This includes unleashing spectrum for mobile, removing barriers to private investment, and strengthening our cyber security. Genachowski called Clyburn a strong, experienced and thoughtful leader who’s distinguished herself as a champion for closing America’s digital divide. (Published news reports)

**

RADIO POLITICS: W7EQI SAYS TV SPECTRUM AUCTION SHOULD BE UNENCUMBERED

Representative Greg Walden, W7EQI, of Oregon is worried that the FCC could mess up its planned auctions of TV broadcast frequencies by imposing too many restrictions on the process. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Jim Davis, W2JKD, has more:

--

In a recent statement Walden, who the chairman of the House Communications and Technology subcommittee, endorsed the recommendations of the Expanding Opportunities for Broadcasters Coalition, a group of TV stations interested in participating in the auctions.

In his statement Walden asked the rhetorical question of what if the FCC held a broadcast incentive auction and no one came? He went on to note that could be a distinct possibility if the Commission does not heed the advice that the coalition of television stations filed recently with the agency.

Walden also agreed with the broadcasting group that the FCC should not exclude any wireless carriers, such as AT&T and Verizon, from the auctions. They argue that restricting bidders would likely suppress the final bid amount, leaving crucial revenue on the table.

Consumer advocacy groups have urged the FCC to prevent Verizon and AT&T from buying up the entire TV spectrum at auction. They argue that it would further consolidate market power in the top two carriers and stifle competition in the industry.

I’m Jim Davis, W2JKD.

--

Last year, Congress authorized the FCC to encourage TV stations to voluntarily give up their rights to some of their spectrum for auction to cellular and broadband carriers. These broadband suppliers claim that they are struggling to keep pace with the booming demand for mobile data spectrum. (The Hill)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS: ARMED FORCES DAY CROSSBAND MILITARY/AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS TEST HELD EARLY

The Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard co-sponsored the annual military to amateur radio communications tests in celebration of the 63rd Anniversary of Armed Forces Day a bit early this year. That’s just after this newscast goes to air.

Although the actual Armed Forces Day is celebrated on May 18th, the Crossband Communications Test was conducted May 11th to prevent conflict with the Dayton Hamvention, which is the same weekend.

The annual celebration featured traditional military to amateur cross band communications using both SSB voice and Morse code. These tests give Amateur Radio operators and Short Wave Listeners an opportunity to demonstrate their individual technical skills, and to receive recognition from the appropriate military radio station for their proven expertise.

QSL cards will be provided to those stations that made contact with the military stations. Full details can be found at tinyurl.com/crossband-2013. (US MARS, ICPO, Southgate)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: RAC NAMES SCOTT WOOD VE1QD AS CANADIAN RADIO AMATEUR OF 2012

The Radio Amateurs of Canada Board of Directors has announced the selection of Scott Wood, VE1QD of Halifax, Nova Scotia, as the Canadian Radio Amateur of the Year for 2012.

Wood celebrated sixty years in Amateur Radio in 2012. Over these years he has contributed enormously, and in many and varied ways both to our hobby and to radio in general. In his youth as a net controller in the Oregon State Fire Service, later as a radio operator in the US Naval Reserve, as a member of the Board of Directors for Radio for Peace International, in contesting and DXing, and in elmering aspiring new hams, both young and old. However, it is the leadership in Amateur Radio that Scott has demonstrated locally, regionally, and internationally that is being recognized with this award.

According to Radio Amateurs of Canada, Wood has demonstrated vision, enthusiasm, and a commitment to excellence in the area of Amateur Radio DXing. This through the establishment and management of the Maritime DX Forum for eight consecutive years.

Radio Amateurs of Canada says that VE1QD envisioned the forum to be a venue where DX’ers in the region could come together annually to hear world-class, as well as local DX experts speak about important and current DX topics. The gathering would also provide a forum in which to share ideas with some of the best operators and leaders within the amateur radio community.

Presentation Canadian Radio Amateur of the Year for 2012 will be made to Scott Wood, VE1QD at the Radio Amateurs of Canada booth at the 2013 Dayton Hamvention. (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)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: VO-52 SATELLITE COMPLETES EIGHT YEARS ON ORBIT

VU2WMY reports that AMSAT-India's VO-52 hamsat completed 8 years on-orbit on Sunday, May 5th. He notes that the overall health of the satellites parameters are excellent and that AMSAT-India hopes that transponders on-board VO-52 will continue to render services for many more years to come. He also notes that during the time it has been in space that VO-52 has proven to be a valuable communications resource for the amateur radio community. (VU2WMY, Southgate)

**


HAM RADIO IN SPACE: DEAD SATELLITE COMES ALIVE

The Times of India reports that a three-kilogram student satellite named Jugnu that was thought to be dead has come back to life.

Jugnu was launched on October 12, 2011 with a one year mission life. After it stopped transmitting controllers stopped tracking it.

Now comes word from the Nitte Amateur Satellite Tracking Centre in Bengaluru that it has been heard once again. Also that while its signals were strong, some of its internal functions had apparently weakened.

You can read the entire story on the re-birth of this bird at tinyurl.com/india-satellite-lives. (Tmies of India)

**

WORLDBEAT: SULTAN ORDERS CONSTRUCTION OF HEADQUARTERS FOR ROARS

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said has ordered the construction of a permanent headquarters for the Royal Omani Amateur Radio Society also known as ROARS. This on a piece of land allocated for the ham radio society.

The plan was recently unveiled by the Secretary General of the Royal Omani Amateur Radio Society. In a speech during opening the regular session of the General Assembly, the Secretary General extended the thanks and appreciation of ROARS members to His Majesty the Sultan for the support given to the group since its establishment in the 1970’s. He also noted that is what he termed as the wise vision of the Sultan that has played a major role in moving forward with all of the activities that may advance the nation’s youth while giving them the opportunity of added scientific and technical progress. (ROARS)

**

WORLDBEAT: LONDON GB3LV IRLP/ECHOLINK NODE UP-AND-RUNNING AGAIN

Some good news for hams in North London, England. After some software hardware problems along with extensive radio room refurbishments, the GB3LV I-R-L-P and Echolink node is back in service. The node holds the IRLP designation of 5600 and Echolink assignment of 155403. It was off the air for several weeks during the upgrade. (G4CJC)

**

WORLDBEAT: SARL PLANNING YOUTH WEEK IN FEBRUARY 2014

The South African Radio League is planning to hold a Youth Week in mid February of 2014. This to coincide with the ARRL School Club Round-up from February 11th to the 15th of 2014 in the United States.

The South African Radio League’s newly appointed Youth Councilor is Gerhard Coetzee, ZS3TG. He says that he is looking for input and suggestions on the type of activity young radio amateurs in South Africa would like to see included. If you have any ideas, please e-mail then to youth (at) sarl (dot) org (dot) za before the end of May. (SARL)

**

ON THE AIR: BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC SPECIAL EVENT

G0ELZ and G3UFO have announced that special event call signs GB70BOA and GB70WA will be on the air between May 20th to the 27th. This to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.

Operations using all modes will take place on 80 through 10 meters as well as on 144 and 432 MHz. Station operators are hoping to make over 2800 contacts during this period. A special commemorative QSL card will be available. More details can be found on line at tinyurl.com/cmvdvq8
(G0LEZ)

**

DX

In DX, word that HD2A and HC2AQ will be active from Galapagos Islands May 15th to the 20th as HD8A. Operations will be on all of the High Frequency bands. QSL via HD2A.

OY1CT will be active from the Faroe Islands during May with special call OW75FOC. He will be operating on the High Frequency bands only. If you work him please QSL via Carsten Thomsen, OW75FOC, Kvivik, the Faroe Islands or as directed on the air.

UA4WHX is currently operational portable CP1 from Bolivia. You will find him on the various HF bands. QSL via UA4WHX.

ZL2AGY will be active from Rarotonga Island from May 9 to the 29th as E51FOC and E51AGY. QSL either via his home call.

Members of F6KUF Club station will be operating from Noirmoutier Island from May 18th to the 20th as F6KUF stroke P. They will be active on 80 through 2 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via F6KUF

F4CZU will be on the air from Gozo Island through May 18th as 9H3ZU. He will be active on most HF Bands. QSL via F4CZU

Lastly, HA0NAR will be operational from Viti Levu Island, Fiji Islands in October 2013 as 3D2AR. Listen out for him an all of the High Frequency bands. QSL via his home call

(Above from various DX news sources)


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THAT FINAL ITEM: GLOW IN THE DARK SHEEP

And finaly this week, word that scientists in Uruguay have announced the world's first genetically-modified phosphorescent sheep. No, we are not kidding as we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline’s Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, who has this glowing report:

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According to news reports, nine glow-in-the-dark sheep were born in October of 2012 at Uruguay's Institute of Animal Reproduction in a genetics experiment in conjunction with the Institut Pasteur. The scientists say that they used the fluorescent protein from a species of jelly fish to give sheep a distinct glowing green color when exposed to ultraviolet light.

One of the team’s lead researchers is Alejo Menchaca. In a recent press conference he noted that the genetic modification was done in the desire to fine tune the technique. Other researchers believe that these genetically modified, glow in the dark animals can help mankind to better understand diseases and how they develop in both the animal kingdom and in human beings.

The scientists say the nine sheep developed normally. They claim there are no differences between them and their non-genetically modified siblings other than that they can be made to glow from head to toe.

And before you ask, we have no idea if they can been trained to blink on and off in Morse code nor if they did if they would be considered for bonus points on Field Day.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, not all that far from the glow of Hollywood.

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More can be found on line at various on-line news sites including tinyurl.com/sheep-glow. (Various news sources)


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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, TWiT-TV and Australia's W-I-A News, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline™. Our e-mail address is newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) 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™, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350

A reminder that the nominating period for the 2013 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award is now open. Full details and a nominating form are on our website at www.arnewsline.org/yhoty.

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors’ desk, I’m Jim Damron, N8TMW, in Charleston, West Virginia, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.

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