Amateur Radio Newsline" Report 1632 - November 21, 2008

The following is a Q-S-T. Hams respond to the Southern California firestorms, C-Q calls on the FCC to appoint a replacement for rules enforcer Riley Hollingsworth, more tower problems for hams in the U-S and the case of the booby-trapped repeater jammer in the UK. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline" report number 1632 coming your way right now.

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RESCUE RADIO: THE CALIFORNIA FIRESTORMS

Ham radio was quick to respond when a series of wind-driven firestorms erupted across southern-California. The first of these brushfires was spotted in the north-east corner of Los Angeles San Fernando Valley in the town of Sylmar. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the newsroom where you can still smell the smoke.

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The first of these brushfires was the Sayre fire spotted in the north end of the town of Sylmar. That's at the north-east corner of Los Angeles well known San Fernando Valley and literally 7 miles and one mountain south of the Newsline studio.

And as the fire widened and intensified, hams associated with Los Angeles A-R-E-S were called out to provide communications support to Olive View Hospital which experienced a power and telephone outage at a time when flames were approaching and patient evacuation was imminent.

Marty Woll, N6VI and Tom Turner KI6CCW were immediately dispatched to the scene. Olester Santos Ki6RWR, Jim Curio, KI6FGV, Wyatt Underwood, K6LZL and District Emergency Coordinator David Greenhut, N6HD, provided net or operational support. The net continued until approximately 7:20 on the morning of November 15th but the fire continued to rage on.

The battle against this fire continued throughout the weekend with many road closures. At times ham radio operators found themselves advising one another on which roads were open passable and which were not:

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Unknown ham operator: "The 118 to the 405, the 118 to the 210, the 210 to San Fernando Road..."

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Early on Saturday morning, November 15th ARES activated a net is over the Disaster Amateur Radio Network repeater system. The net exchanged fire observations and kept its ears open for both communications and power outage in and around Los Angeles County. All licensed amateur radio operators were encouraged to provide observation and participate.

Meantime, in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties brush fires also sprang up. Thousands were evacuated and many homes were damaged or destroyed by the flames. Gordon West, WB6NOA, was at a Red Cross evacuation center when he filed this report:

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WB6NOA: "Here in Orange County, southern California, our local Red Cross ham radio communications team was taking part in an early Saturday morning RACES drill when the fire hit. At the conclusion of the training, we hear a ham radio operator call on 2 meters: "&this is not a drill message. We have a wildfire "

Within an hour this small Chino Hills wildfire was a raging inferno, fanned ny 50 MPH winds associated with our Southern California Santa Ana high pressure system.

Our 60-member communications team out of Orange County was dispatched to provide communications at evacuation centers in shelters along with other hams, but we had to keep moving shelters because the flames kept coming closer and closer. Ultimately, two shelter with ham radio Red Cross communicators were set up for four days of communications handling messages in and out between the shelter and our local Orange County chapter. Many of our clients in the shelters lost everything and they appreciated everything that ham radio operators were doing.

211 homes (in the area) were damaged or destroyed. Huge spot fires got as far as five miles away were reported by ham operators. The bamnds were flooded -- 2 meters and 440 -- with orderly ham radio communications supporting those local served agencies.

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The firestorm also lead a southern California hospital to evacuate and ham radio helped coordinate the operation. Amateur Radio Newsline's Joe Moell. K0OV, has the details:

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Shortly before noon on Saturday, November 15, a wildfire broke out northeast of Brea-Olinda High School. It became part of the Freeway Complex firestorm that has burned over 28,000 acres and damaged or destroyed over 250 homes in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. At the time, members of the Orange County Hospital Disaster Support Communications System, an ARES group best known as HDSCS, were participating in an annual messaging drill with city and county RACES groups and the Red Cross. News of the fire terminated the drill and HDSCS established a net to determine which members could respond to hospitals if needed. There was concern that this new fire could threaten Kindred Hospital in Brea if it jumped westward over the 57 freeway.

When the fire did jump ten freeway lanes about 12:45 PM, Net Control sent five members to this hospital so that they could get there before traffic became too congested. At 2:45 PM, as the operators were in place at Kindred and in communication with the net, a page was received from St. Jude hospital in Fullerton and a call came in from Placentia-Linda hospital in Placentia, also requesting Amateur Radio operators in accordance with pre-established procedures. St. Jude was receiving heavy smoke and its Emergency Department had gone on diversion status. Placentia-Linda had been advised that it might receive chronic pulmonary patients from nearby skilled nursing facilities. HDSCS members were immediately sent from the net to these facilities. A member was also sent to Orange County Emergency Medical Services Agency operations center in Santa Ana.

At 3:15 PM, the decision was made to close and evacuate the Kindred Brea hospital, as reported by Reid Green KF6LOK to Net Control April Moell WA6OPS.

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WA6OPS: "What we understand is that all 37 are going to other Kindred facilities, correct?"

KF6LOK: "That is confirmed. Kindred Brea is on full evacuation."

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Clearing the facility required the movement of all patients by ambulance to four other Kindred hospitals in Orange and Los Angeles Counties. Ten of these patients were fully dependent on ventilators. HDSCS operators assisted with communications throughout the evacuation. The HDSCS net also kept officials at the Emergency Medical Services Agency fully informed of the situation. All patients were under way by 6 PM. Ham radio support continued at Placentia Linda Hospital until that evening and at St. Jude hospital through Saturday night and into Sunday afternoon.

There's no doubt that having ham radio at these facilities to provide additional communications paths and back up the overloaded telephone lines was a godsend to harried members of the hospital staff and administration during this difficult time.

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According to K0OV, in addition to the evacuation of Kindred Brea hospital his group also provided communications assistance to two other hospitals during the firestorm emergency.

Last but by no means least, ham radio participation in the firestorm emergency relief effort caused one event to be cancelled. That one was to be a training session for hams involved in disaster communications:

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KG6DNY: "The CERT refresher scheduled for tomorrow at Fire station 88 has been cancelled due to the brush fires. End of QST. Thanks for the frequency guys. KG6DNY clear."

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As this report is recorded on Thursday, November 20th, most of the fires are contained or controlled but they are still fresh on everyone's mind. All you have to do is step outside and take a deep breath to know what happened only a few days ago.

In the newsroom, not far from the remnant of the Sayre fire, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, reporting for the Amateur Radio Newsline.

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As we go to air, all of the southern California firestorms have been contained, but tinder dry conditions remain across the region. This means that all first responders and the hams that back them up remain on high alert. (ARNewsline" with input from KA6GSE, WB6NOA, K0OV, others.)

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BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the N9MCS repeater serving Rockford Illinois.

(5 sec pause here)


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RESCUE RADIO: THE BIG CALIFORNIA SHAKEOUT

Ironically, the first of the southern California firestorms hit only hours after hams across the region had taken part in one of the biggest state-wide disaster drills ever held. Called the Big Shakeout, the scenario for the exercise focused on a mock 7.8 magnitude earthquake which would have the potential to devastate the region. In Orange County, some of the same hams who would later volunteer for fire communications duty took part. Again, Joe Moell, K0OV:

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In Orange County, ham radio operators were drilling side-by-side with hospital staff members. The Hospital Disaster Support Communications System, an ARES group, fielded the largest number of members to help the largest number of hospitals of any single-day drill in its 28-year history.

Forty-four HDSCS members went into 32 hospitals. The emphasis was a realistic near-real-time response using the group's automatic response procedures. Instead of members going inside the hospitals and setting up prior to the simulated shaker, these responders pre-staged nearby and were dispatched by Net Control into the facilities during the chaos after the temblor. This taught them what it is really like to enter, get to the Hospital Command Centers and get on the air with their portable equipment under these difficult conditions.

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WA6OPS: "Copy W7KTS we'll get to you in a minute. WD8ICK what is your location?"

WD8ICK: "I am away from home at Brookhurst and Talbert in Fountain Valley."

WA6OPS: OK, we don't have anybody yet at Orange Coast Hospital, so please proceed there. Your tactical call will be Orange Coast. Copy?"

WD8ICK: "QSL, this is WD8ICK."

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Members received their assignments just a few hours before the event. For training purposes, they were not told in advance which hospitals would be simulating evacuations and which would be receiving simulated evacuees. The hams got that information, and all the other message traffic to be handled, as they worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the Incident Commander, the Liaison Officer, and other staff members in Hospital Incident Command System positions. Messages sent and received included requests for ambulances to move evacuated victims, including Neonatal Intensive Care Unit infants. They also passed simulated orders for oxygen tanks and for pharmaceuticals such as Cipro and morphine.

The Great Shakeout wasn't the only time that Orange County hams have drilled with their hospital counterparts recently. It was actually the sixth time so far in 2008 in which HDSCS members have participated directly with hospital staff members in drills that the hospitals must perform to maintain their accreditation.

From Orange County, California, this is Joe Moell K-zero-O-V for Amateur Radio Newsline.


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This exercise was the largest ever to take place in the country and involved the participation of millions of California residents and a large number of ham radio communications volunteers. The ham radio group in Orange County was just one of many. (ARNewsline", K0OV)

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ENFORCEMENT: CQ TO THE FCC - NAME A SUCCESSOR TO RILEY - NOW

CQ magazine is calling on FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Kris Monteith to move swiftly to name a successor to Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, as Special Counsel for Amateur Radio, and to bring FCC enforcement back to the ham bands.

Writing in his "Zero Bias" editorial in the December 2008 issue, CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, noted that the Commission not only has failed to name a successor to Hollingsworth, but that not a single amateur enforcement action has been taken since his retirement this past July. At that time, the editorial notes, the amateur radio community was assured that the Commission's dedication to enforcement in the Amateur Service would remain strong. But Moseson says that the FCC's total inaction since July suggests otherwise:

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Moseson: This is deeply disturbing and of grave concern. It would be a tragedy, and a travesty, if the FCC were to go back on its promise to be there for us and allowed amateur enforcement to once again drop off the radar."

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The need for continuing amateur enforcement was reinforced after the December issue was went to press. Thats when CQ was informed of an outburst of racist diatribes on 20 meters, including the transmission of recordings of a Hitler rally and of Nazi marching songs.

Moseson notes that this type of behavior was all too common before Hollingsworth became the rules enforcer a decade ago. Most of it quickly disappeared once it became obvious that someone in authority was paying attention. But now, only a matter of months since Hollingsworth retired from public service it has become obvious to the hams wanting to reek havoc that they are once again free to do whatever they please without fear of any consequences:

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Moseson: "The FCC must get back into the amateur enforcement business, and it must do so quickly before the situation once again gets out of control. Enforcement Bureau Chief Monteith must act promptly to name a successor to Riley Hollingsworth and assure amateurs that they have not once again been abandoned by the Commission."

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You may recall that in his pre-retirement comments that Riley Hollingsworth urged the ham radio community to not let the FCC abandon ham radio enforcement. The CQ decision to pressure the FCC to name a successor to Hollingsworth kind of echos his words. The full text of Rich Moseson's editorial is on-line at www.cq-amateur-radio.com, linked from the December issue highlights. (CQ)

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RADIO LAW: ANOTHER APPEAL IN THE PA TOWER CASE

A Pennsylvania ham is facing yet another appeals board hearing. This after a neighbor of Charles Mills, W3YNI, says that he is not happy with the latest decision the zoning commission rendered in the case. Mark Abramovich, NT3V, reports:

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W3YNI would like it to end soon.

The southwestern Pennsylvania amateur just can't seem to satisfy neighbors who don't want the emergency coordinator for his community to have a 53-foot-tower on his property.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the story, Charles Mills has been battling for many months to satisfy the township zoning hearing board and neighbor complaints that his tower doesn't meet requirements.

Mills' biggest adversary it turns out is neighbor John Ducar, who has made it clear he doesn't want a tower right near his property.

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review newspaper, quoted Ducar as saying at the Nov. 13 hearing:

"This is a major eyesore. This is a major aesthetic nuisance."

That's the crux of his dispute with Mills. The trees that that neighbor insisted Mills put up as part of a plan to screen the tower simply were not enough.

Ducar wants Mills to move the tower, but Mills has said that's not possible given the size of his property and the contour of the land.

So now, Ducar wants the township to revoke the permit it granted to Mills in August to put up the tower.

Mills' attorney, Mike Lazaroff, K3AIR, worked closely with Mills and the township to satisfy all its requirements. And Mills says he'd rather work with the community than take the matter to court.

All of this may be mute next month when a new law regarding regulation of amateur radio towers goes into effect in Pennsylvania.

The law, dubbed Pennsylvania's PRB-1 basically tells municipal governments they must reasonably accommodate amateur radio service communications and, quoting the law here, "shall impose only the minimum regulations necessary to accomplish the legitimate purpose of the municipality."

Now, legitimate purposes, according to the law, known as Act 88 of 2008, shall include a clearly defined health, safety or aesthetic objective of a municipality such as preserving a historical or an architectural district.

And, while there is discussion in the law of ensuring safety requirements of a tower structure, it also stipulates, quoting here: "No ordinance, regulation, plan or any other action shall restrict amateur radio antenna height to less than 65 feet above ground level."

There have been lots of posts on the ham radio boards about Mills' situation. And, there is overwhelming support for his cause.

Lazaroff, K3AIR, gave the zoning board 12 letters from neighbors supporting Mills. He also gave them a petition signed by 47 township residents who support Mills.

Perhaps Melinda Young, one of those who composed a letter to support Mills, said it best when she wrote:

"I have great piece of mind knowing that Charles Mills has a tower so that if and when there is another disaster such as 9-11 or something worse, God forbid, we have someone in our township that we can count on to communicate and coordinate our emergency efforts."

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, in Philadelphia.

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The board is expected to render a decision when it meets December 11th. We'll let you know what they decide. (ARNewsline")

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RADIO LAW: SAN DIEGO PROPOSES TOWER RESTRICTIONS

The City of San Diego , California, seems poised to try to violate the states PRB One type law and impose some severe tower and antenna restrictions on its ham radio community.

Back in 2003 then Governor Gray Davis signed into law a measure that assures California hams that their tower and antenna needs would be reasonably accommodated. Now it appears as if San Diego is ignoring that state-wide edict as it prepares to enact a set of regulations that would require an expensive site development permit. Not only that, but it would also direct that a tower retracts when not in use and that the a tower and its antenna be located in the least visible location from adjacent public rights of-way and adjacent properties. Last and by no means least that it be removed if not used for 2 years.

Hams in the area are more than a bit appalled at the actions of the areas legislators, especially in a time of a very severe city budget shortfall. Also, the city admits that it gets only one or two tower permit requests from hams every year.

The hams of San Diego say that the proposed new regulation is not needed. Also that it runs afoul of state law. They say that they will fight to keep the proposal from becoming a city ordinance. If it does, look for it to be challenged by the San Diego ham community, in the courts. (WA6ILQ, others)

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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)

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RESTRUCTURING: CANADA TO GIVE HAMS EXPERIMENTAL 600 METER BAND

Some Canadian hams will soon have access to the 600 meter very low frequency band. This after telecommunications regulator Industry Canada accepts a Radio Amateurs of Canada proposal that will permit selected Canadian radio amateurs to operate in the vicinity of 500 kHz.

Industry Canada has authorized Radio Amateurs of Canada to recommend which hams who would be licensed to operate in the 504 to 509 kHz band. Power output would be a maximum of 20 watts ERP and bandwidth up to 1 kHz. Stations operating in this band would be technically operating under Special Developmental Licenses although they would all be radio amateurs. Distinct call signs would be used and the licenses would be renewable annually subject to the amateur demonstrating the research he has carried out.

Hams taking part in these operations would support Canada's efforts to action a proposal on the agenda of the 2011 World Radio Conference for a new amateur allocation in the 600-meter band. More information will follow in upcoming Radio Amateurs of Canada bulletins. (RAC)

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HAM HAPPENINGS: ALE AT 500 DAYS

The Global Automatic Link Establishment or A-L-E High Frequency Network believes it is the first net to operate continuously for more than 500 days. This, on all international amateur radio shortwave bands simultaneously.

The main purpose of the network is to provide efficient emergency and disaster relief communications to remote areas of the world. Beginning with a core group of 6 North American radio operators in June 2007, the net rapidly expanded to cover large areas of the planet with 24 hour a day, 7 day a week digital communications.

Relying on radio communications, the net is a system of interconnected base stations scans the various radio bands from 3.5 Megahertz to 28 Megahertz every 10 seconds. Using this system net members are connected with each other and can send internet email or cell phone mobile text messages from the field. More about A-L-E is on line at hflink.net. (HFLink release)

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NAMES IN THE NEWS: YL DXER NEEDED

Bill Horner, VK4FW, a member of the Oceania Amateur Radio DX Group says that one more Y L is needed to participate in the upcoming VK9LA operation. He says that there are currently 5 YL's on the team but only 2 are operators. A third experienced female ham is needed. If you are interested in going on this operation please e-mail vk4fw(at) westnet (dot) com (dot) au for more information. (Southgate)

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THE SOCIAL SCENE: 6TH IDXC CONVENTION IN APRIL 2009

Turning to the ham radio social calendar, word that Italy's 6th International DX Convention will be held April 18th tp the 19th, 2009. Organized by the Strange Radio Team the venue is the city of Paestum near Salerno. More details will be forthcoming in January and posted at www.strangeradioteam.com. (OPDX)

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DAYTON HAMVENTION 2009: AWARDS NOMINATIONS SOUGHT

The Dayton Hamvention now is accepting nominations for its 2009 Radio Amateur of the Year, Special Achievement, and Technical Excellence awards. The Radio Amateur of the Year Award is presented to an individual who has made a long-term, outstanding commitment to the advancement of Amateur Radio. The Technical Excellence Award is for the person who has made an outstanding technical advancement in the field of Amateur Radio. The Special Achievement Award honors someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of Amateur Radio by spearheading at least one significant project.

All amateur radio operators are eligible. The Hamvention Awards Committee makes the decision on all awards based in part upon the information it receives and not on the number of nominations submitted for a given individual. Documentation that informs the Awards Committee of a candidate's accomplishments may include magazine articles, newsletters, newspaper clippings, and even videos. These materials become the property of Hamvention and cannot not be returned.

The deadline for nominations is February 18, 2009 with the winners recognized nest May at the Hamvention. Additional details on these awards and a nomination form are available on the Dayton Hamvention Web site at www.hamvention.org. Nominations also are accepted via U-S mail to Dayton Hamvention Awards, PO Box 964, Dayton, Ohio, 45401. (DARA)

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BREAK 3

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)

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OLD TIME RADIO: THE CHICAGO WLS STORY BY W9CHI

Scott Childers, W9CHI, has authored a new book titled Chicago's WLS Radio. Childers tome is an illustrated history of the station known as the windy city's Big 89. It takes you from the stations inception in the 1920's by Sears Roebuck in all the way to last year's Big 89 Rewind special. W9CHI tells Newsline that it was a book that he wanted to do:

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W9CHI audio here. Talks about the eay the station connects with its audience. Hear it in the MO3 version of this newscast downloadable at www.arnewsline.org

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Many well-known celebrities, like Gene Autry, owe their careers to the Big 89, through the famous Saturday night program The National Barn Dance. And some rather famous air personalities such as Dick Biondi, Larry Lujack, and John Records Landecker became household names thanks to the stations incredible influence on the Chicago broadcast scene.

Chicago's WLS Radio is part of the Images Of America series by Arcadia Press. More information is at W9CHI's website at WLS History dot com. (ARNewsline")

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OLD TIME RADIO: W9CHI ON THE RAIN REPORT

Also, you can learn more about Scott Childers, W9CHI, and his book on W-L-S over the next two weeks on the Chicago-based RAIN Report. You can hear it over the phone at 773-358-7845 or on-line at www dot therainreport dot com. And therainreport is spelled as one word. (RAIN)

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EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: KGO RADIO GOES GREEN

San Francisco station KGO AM says that it has gone partially green. According to its website, on October 30th KGO became the first major commercial broadcast media outlet in California to reach its listeners by harnessing the power of the sun to reduce its dependence on the regions power system.

The KGO solar energy program began last winter. The now completed solar panel installation is located at the stations transmitter site near San Francisco's Dumbarton Bridge. Not only does it reduce KGO's daily load on the power grid, but it will serve as an ongoing test facility for emerging solar technology. You can see the construction of the solar power system as it progressed from 2008 to now http://dynamic.kgoradio.com/solar.php. (RW)

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HAM RADIO IN SPACE: LEONID METEOR STORM A HAM RADIO SUCCESS

This years Leonid meteor shower peaked on November 17th and 18th much to the delight of weak signal scatter enthusiasts world-wide. Peak rates of 20 to 100 meteors had been anticipated during the early hours of the 17th and again during the waning hours of the 18th at around 21:30 UTC.

While the rather bright moonlight probably spoil the show for star gazers, ham were reportedly thrilled with the pings, hits and QSO'sthey had during the storm. This, by bouncing their signals off the ionized trails of meteors burning up in the Earths atmosphere.

Researchers who study the comet Tempel-Tuttle say that it is the source of the annual Leonid meteor swarm. (VHF Reflector)

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WORLDBEAT - HOLLAND: RADIO NETHERLANDS GLOBAL PANEL WANTS YOU

Hams tend have strong opinions on world events and issues. If you are one who does then Radio Netherlands Worldwide may have something to interest you.

According to Media Network, the station is looking for people to join its Global Panel in English. If you join you will be regularly invited to give your opinion about current topics. The results of the surveys will be published on the Radio Netherlands Web site and will be used in the programs of Radio Netherlands Worldwide.

If you're interested, go to www dot globalpanel.nl to sign up. (Media Network)

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WORLDBEAT - UK: CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF LOUIS BRAILLE

On the air, listen out for GM3WUX will be operating GB2HLB, from December 26th of this year through January 22nd 2009. This, to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of inventor Louis Braille whose tactile language for the sightless has been adapted world-wide.

In dedication to the Braille bicentenary each QSO made by GB2HLB will receive a special QSL card depicting Braille and raising awareness of the the United Kingdom's Royal National Institute of Blind People. A fund raising web page for the group can be found at www.justgiving.com/louisbraille. (GB2RS)

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WORLDBEAT - INDIA: INDIA'S HAMS CELEBRATE BOSE

Be on the lookout for several stations in India to sign with the AU2 prefix between now and December 8th. This, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sir Jagadeesh Chandra Bose. That nation considers Bose as the father of radio communications in India. (E-mail)

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ON THE AIR: COMMEMORATING THE ARECIBO OBSERVATORY

Operation of special event station KP4AO commemorating Puerto Rico's Arecibo Observatory's 45th anniversary has been postponed to Sunday, November 23rd. This due to Angel Vazquez, WP3R, involvement in this past weekend's ARRL SSB Sweepstakes. The Arecibo operation will be on 20 meter SSB only. It will run from 1300 to 2000 UTC and those that make contact with KP4AO will receive a certificate via W3HNK. (WP3GW)

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DX

In DX, word that G3RWF is in Kenya through November 24th using the callsign 5Z4LS. Between November 25th and December 2nd he will be in Uganda as 5X1NH. QSL via his home call.

5R8IC will be active from Ile Sainte Marie, Madagascar through the 14th of December. His operation is CW only on 30 through 10 meters. QSL direct to F6ICX.

ON4JM will be on the air portable O-D-5 until the end of December. He in Lebanon working with the United Nations. QSL to his home call.

And listen out for OP0DL on from Patriot Hills in Antarctica until around December 25th. He's there on work a assignment and on the air as time permits. QSL vis ON5XX.

Lastly, DJ4SO will be on the air portable V 5 in Namibia until December 4th. His activity will be mostly on CW, RTTY and PSK31. He will be on 160 through 10 meters. QSL as directed on the air.

(Above DX news from RSGB and various other DX news sources.)


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THAT FINAL ITEM: THE BOOBY-TRAP REPEATER JAMMER

And finally this week, the rather bizarre video showing the discovery of a repeater jamming device with a booby-trap attached. That's the story from the United Kingdom told in an item that first aired on ITV news and is now posted to a video sharing website. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the rest of this rather strange tale now coming to the attention of hams world wide:

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The accidental find of the booby trapped jamming unit apparently took place in the United Kingdom in late 2007. According to an early 2008 report by Erika Barnes of ITV News and only recently discovered on the YouTube dot com video website, the device was accidentally discovered in Buckinghamshere by the caretaker of the property.

Mike Harrison is the manager of Wolton Estate. Thats a tiny in-land island in Englands south end. He told Barnes that in the course of his regular duties that he unearthed some top soil and found a white box. He was suspicious and decided to not go near it. After turning it over using a long stick he noticed a battery attached to something that he suspected might be an explosive and decided to back away.

Authorities found it to be a radio jamming device intended to interfere with ham radio relay communications to a repeater located on a tower near a location known as Brill. Authorities say that the device was also designed harm and possibly kill anyone who might have found it and try to turn it off. Thankfully for Harrison he moved it with the stick and even more thankfully the device failed to detonate.

At the time the report aired that there was at least one more jamming device in the area. The ITV story warned that anyone who might find it to not tamper with it. Instead, that they should notify the local police. No word if it was ever located and disarmed.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

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Talk about carrying repeater jamming to a new low. As far as we have been able to determine, the person or persons who planted the booby trapped jamming devices is still at large. You cam see the story yourself at www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT11HFigbxk&feature=related (ARNewsline")

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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 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 Carlson, KQ6FM, saying 73 from Reno, Nevada, and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline" is Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.