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Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1668 - July 31 2009

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  1. AA7BQ

    AA7BQ QRZ Founder QRZ HQ Staff QRZ Page

    Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1668 - July 31 2009

    The following is a Q-S-T. California hams assist in a mountain rescue. We have the sound from the scene. Also, a new radio telemetry system could be a big challenge to BPL for power grid control, another petition to ban closed and private repeaters is filed with the FCC and Johannes Kepler is honored with his own spaceship. Who was Johannes Kepler you ask? Find out on Amateur Radio Newsline™ report number 1668 coming your way right now.

    **

    RESCUE RADIO: CALIFORNIA HAMS HELP WITH MOUNTAIN RESCUE

    A pair of Southern California hams have helped to coordinate a mountain rescue. This after one received a report from the other over a 2 meter repeater that a hiker had been injured on one of the highest peaks in the San Gabriel Mountain range.

    Rich Lippucci, KI6RRQ, was monitoring the Catalina Amateur Radio Association repeater from his home in the city of Vista on Saturday, July 11th . That’s when he heard a station ask if there was anyone monitoring. He responded and learned that the caller, Kirk Gustafson, KE6MTF, was on his handheld transceiver hiking around the Mt Baldy area. He was about 2.5 miles off road at the San Antonio Ski Hut when other hikers informed him that a woman was hurt up the trail in the backcountry. They suspected she might have a broken ankle but were not sure. They also had no cellphone service:

    --

    Rescue audio. Hear it in the audio version of this newscast downloadable at www.arnewsline.org

    --

    Using his wireline telephone, Lippucci called the local 911 emergency number and was eventually connected to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's dispatch center. He then worked with an operator only identified as Chelsea and coordinated the rescue with the San Bernardino Fire Department who sent a foot patrol to the area:

    --

    Rescue audio. Hear it in the audio version of this newscast downloadable at www.arnewsline.org

    --

    Meantime, the local sheriff's office dispatched a helicopter to meet someone at the ski hut to take them to where the hiker was down. Unfortunately, the chopper could not land in the rugged terrain.

    In the meantime, the group of hikers had transported the injured woman down the trail to the ski hut, stabilized her leg and determined it was probably not broken. But they also realized that they could not carry her out of the area due to the steepness of the trail. The dispatcher told Lippucci that the helicopter would perform a skid rescue. That’s where a crew member suspends a basket from the helicopter the victim is strapped in and pulled back up. It was not long before the helicopter was getting ready:

    --

    Rescue audio. Hear it in the audio version of this newscast downloadable at www.arnewsline.org

    --

    At that point Gustafson relayed back that the rescue would likely happen momentarily.

    --

    Rescue audio. Hear it in the audio version of this newscast downloadable at www.arnewsline.org

    --

    After about 15 minutes from arriving on scene the helicopter crew got the victim airlifted out and on her way to treatment.

    According to Lippucci both the 911 emergency dispatch and the Sheriff's office accepted the ham radio emergency call without hesitation. The San Bernardino Sheriff's office has had a long and very positive relationship working with that county's radio amateurs. In fact, Lippucci says that they used a ham radio operator to relay questions to through him to Gustafson. This, in order to gain all the information they wanted and needed to put assets on the emergency.

    The rescue was truly a success for ham radio. Lippucci says that as a CERT member, this was the very reason that got his radio license for, in the first place. ( KR6AL)

    **

    RESCUE RADIO: KY HAMS TO TAKE PART IN INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS DRILL

    Still with rescue radio news, word that the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management and its Department of Military Affairs has invited the states organized emergency communications groups to take part in a statewide pandemic influenza exercise. One that is planned for August 3rd to the 7th.

    According to the planners, the communications portion of the exercise will begin each day at 8:00 A.M. and run until approximately 8:00 P.M. Monday through Thursday and will end at 2:00 P.M. on Friday. One of the goals is to use pre-identified 2 meter and 80 meter frequencies to facilitate contact with all 120 counties in the Commonwealth. Some UHF repeaters and Echolink equipped stations will also take part.

    Planners say that to some degree the ham radio aspect of the exercise will be like operating a week long net with a station in the Commonwealth Emergency Operations Center used to pass traffic and log check-ins. More information on this massive Kentucky emergency planning exercise can be found at www.kyham.net/kyem2009.html. (KG4KBU via QRZ.com)

    **

    EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: RADIO COULD CHALLENGE BPL FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MONITORING

    FM subcarriers on broadcast stations also called SCA channels could challenge BPL in the area of power grid monitoring. Jerry Gaul, KE7GGV, has the details:

    --

    B-P-L watch out. Here comes S-C-A. This, as e-Radio and Direct Energy announce that they are partnering with manufacturers of smart grid devices such as thermostats, in-home displays, load controls and appliances to use broadcast RF as a way to monitor power consumption needs.

    Using FM subcarriers leased from radio stations, e-Radio transmits the notifications to the home-based receivers across a municipality or utility service area that results in significantly reduced peak energy demand. The technology can also intervene on the consumer's behalf, cycling off appliances for set periods of time during peak periods.

    E-Radio and Direct Energy say that their Utility Message Channel allows utilities, energy retailers or government agencies to send alerts, messages and commands to smart grid-enabled devices and consumer appliances. This is information that tells them to lower their energy consumption and operate more efficiently.

    The two partnering companies have conducted pilot tests in California, Texas and Ontario, Canada. In Texas, Direct Energy's affiliate, CPL Retail Energy, has launched a demand-response and energy efficiency pilot program for residential customers. The pilot uses e-Radio-enabled thermostats to achieve and measure peak period reductions.

    For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Gerry Gaule, KE7GGV, in Albany, Oregon.

    --

    Direct Energy has an agreement with e-Radio, which operates wireless communications networks and makes FM receiver modules for "smart grid" devices to partner in this energy saving project. (RW)

    **

    BREAK 1

    From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the KF4ADM repeater serving Williamsburg Virginia.

    (5 sec pause here)


    **

    RADIO LAW: YET ANOTHER ANTI PRIVATE REPEATER PETITION FILED

    Ham radio history is once again repeating itself. This as a Washington D.C. area ham becomes the latest to say its time to outlaw all closed and private repeaters and has asked the FCC for a rules change to outlaw these type of systems. And in a recent interview with Hap Holly, KC9RP, of the Rain Report, Murry Green, K3BEQ, of Cheverly, Maryland, explained what he is asking the regulatory agency to do:

    --

    Green: "I've asked the FCC to change the rules to prohibit limiting the use of frequencies used by closed repeaters directly or indirectly except where a user blatantly violates the Commissions rules."

    ---

    Green told Holly that he's taking this action because he believes that the spectrum used by repeaters really belongs to all radio amateurs and that the claim by closed repeaters that limiting access helps share the financial burden has little merit:

    --

    Green: "Closed repeaters and its regulated frequency should be open to all amateurs having the proper class of licensee and not on a pay for use basis. Voluntary contributions work for the large majority of open repeaters throughout the United States. It can work for closed repeaters provided users are given that opportunity."

    --

    Green also appears to see closed and private repeaters as both discriminatory and a violation of the FCC's rules:

    --

    Green: "Its not a closed society. Its not an elitist group. You simply can't discriminate. And also it violates the FCC rules which state that frequencies are to be regulated effectively and used effectively. If you have an elitist group that’s discriminating on who can come in, its wrong. It's simply wrong. Its not amateur radio."

    --

    Green is not the first ham to file a rules change request asking the FCC to outlaw closed and private repeaters. Since Newsline began in 1977 we have reported on at least 6 similar petitions, and maybe more. All of these were denied for the same reasons. First is that the FCC does not recognize the terms open, closed and private in regard to repeaters. To the FCC, a repeater is a repeater and the words open, closed and private are nothing more than ham radio terms that you will not find in the rules.

    Also, as recently as last May's Dayton Hamvention FCC Forum, the agency's rules man, Bill Cross, W3TN, reiterated the FCC long standing position that is not in any way discriminatory for a repeater owner operator to be selective in whom he or she chooses to repeat:

    --

    Bill Cross, W3TN: "One of the common misunderstandings is that amateur radio repeaters are not common carrier systems. There is no duty to serve on a non-discriminatory basis.

    "If you want to limit it (access to a repeater) to people in a DX club, that’s fine. If you want to limit it rush hour messages that are going to be traffic related or mobiles get priority, that’s fine.

    "You put the repeater up. Its yours to run and (its) your obligation to control it and limiting it is allowed."

    --

    At airtime, its not known if the FCC will assign a Rule Making designation to the K3BEQ rules change request or simply dismiss it as being non relevant based on past proceedings. After all, if the regulatory agency does not even recognize the existence of closed and private repeaters as separate and distinct entities, how can it act to make a rule to make them go away. (ARNewsline™ with audio provided by RAIN)

    **

    ENFORCEMENT: REPEATER PROBLEMS CONTINUE IN THE UK

    Malicious interference and other firms of on the air abuse are still plaguing repeaters in London, England. Because of this at least one system is considering some drastic action with support of government regulators. Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, reports:

    --

    Repeater users in the London area will be aware that abuse continues to mar the network with a minority making it unpleasant for those who simply wish to enjoy the hobby. The East London 2m repeater, GB3EL, has been suffering from abuse recently and the Keeper has instigated a curfew between the 6pm and 6am to reduce the instances of abuse.

    This action has proven effective in the past and the RSGB Emerging Technologies Committee and Ofcom support the Keeper's actions. The ETCC encourages proactive measures by all Keepers to manage their repeaters in accordance with the terms of their NoVs. Users are especially asked to consider their own actions and not to react when abuse is heard, as this is just what abusers are hoping will happen.

    Im Jeramy Boot and you are listening to the Amateur Radio Newsline.

    --

    The Term NOV used in that report stands for Notice of Variation to a UK ham license that permits one to put up a repeater. Unlike the United States where anyone install a temporary repeater to replace one that's gone dark to fight user abuse, in the UK it’s the national society that holds all of the repeater operators licenses. An individual who decides to put one up without it being licensed could wind up doing some serious time in the old gray bar hotel. (RSGB)

    **

    NAMES IN THE NEWS: SENATE CONFIRMS CLYBURN AND BAKER AS FCC COMMISSIONERS

    The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Obama's nominations of Democrat Mignon Clyburn, and Republican Meredith Attwell Baker, to the remaining two seats on the Federal Communications Commission. Clyburn is the daughter of House majority whip James Clyburn, and the former publisher and editor of the Charleston weekly newspaper, the Coastal Times. She currently serves on the South Carolina Public Service Commission. Baker, the daughter of former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker, is a former Commerce Department official who oversaw the $40 coupon program for converter boxes during the digital television transition. Both were approved on Friday, July 24th (FCC)
    **

    ELECTRONIC SAFETY: SMOKE DETECTOR RECALL

    A product warning from the Consumer Products Safety Council. It says that About 94,000 Kidde model PI2000 dual sensor smoke alarms, have been recalled. This, because the agency says that an electrostatic discharge can damage the unit, causing it not to warn consumers of a fire. The recall includes the date codes 2008 Aug. 01 through 2009 May 04. The products were sold at retail, department, and hardware stores and through electrical distributors nationwide from August 2008 through May 2009. Details by Web at www.kidde.com or http://www.cpsc.gov. (CPSC Release)

    **

    RADIO EDUCATION: CALIFORNIA TEACHER TURNING OUR SCHOOL AGE HAMS

    Amateur radio is finding a receptive young audience among some California school age youngsters. This, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times by writer Bob Poole who says that teenagers in one Los Angeles suburban middle school have been discovering shortwave radio and getting their ham radio licenses

    Thanks to science teacher Karl Beutel, KE6MAO, some 75 teenagers in have already become licensed amateur radio operators and more will likely become hams in the coming years. This as the course will continued to be offered at the school.

    Buetel said he was motivated to become a ham radio operator by the 1994 Northridge earthquake. You can read the LA Times story at www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-teen-radio25-2009jul25,0,1740751.story?track=rss (ARNewsline™)

    **

    RADIO PUBLICATIONS: PASSPORT TO WORLD BAND RADIO IN LIMBO

    The publisher of Passport to World Band Radio has told readers that the future of the famed SWL guide is in "limbo." Acknowledging on the Passport's Web site that "solid content" is essential to the success of a publication, publisher Larry Magne cited what he termed as other considerations as the reason behind the decision to possibly cease publication.

    According to the ARRL, Magne gave no exact reason for the decision, but indicated that it reflects the decline in popularity of shortwave listening, as well as the availability of shortwave schedules on the Internet.

    Magne noted that Passport to World Band Radio, which just released its 25th edition this year, will continue to maintain the WorldScan database and uphold all of its proprietary material. He says that this should help allow for an orderly return to production, should conditions allow. (ARRL)

    **

    HAM HAPPENINGS: CELEBRATING THE 2010 SUMMER E SEASON

    The Oklahoma City DX club recently celebrated the peak summer 6 and 10 meter Sporadic E Season DX season by operating with the call W5E. Its is now looking to expand the celebration in 2010 by asking clubs in other call districts to reserve a W prefix and E suffix call for next June.

    Club spokesman Graham Welch, WE5I, says that the W5E call has already been reserved by him for July 2nd to the 11th of 2010. He is now looking for clubs or individuals in each of the 1 to 4 and 6 through 0 call areas who are interested in reserving one of the remaining nine such calls in a joint celebration of the 2010 peak of sporadic E season. Graham says to contact him by e-mail to we5I (at)cox (dot) net if your club or group is interested in taking part. (Oklahoma DX Club)

    **

    ON THE AIR: MISSOURI SCOUTS ON HF SEEKING RADIO MERIT BADGES

    A group of scouts from Blue Springs Missouri Troop 58 are operating a High Frequency station at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation located in Camp Osceola. The scouts will be on the air in pursuit of their Radio Merit Badge through August 4th on 3.940 and 7.280 MHz using the special call N-Zero-Z. They will also be looking to exchange QSL cards via their Scoutmaster Michael Pratt, KB0EPY, whose address is good in the callbook or on QRZ dot com. (KB0EPY)

    **

    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: SPACE JAM 3 IN ILLINOIS

    Take one part scouting. Add to it a high altitude ham radio balloon launch and a contact with the International Space Station. Mix it all together and you wind up with an event called Space Jam 3. Jack Parker, W8ISH, has the details:

    --

    While the world was watching replays of the history making moon walk last week, dozens of Illinois Boy Scouts were taking their first steps toward space technology.

    Space Jam 3 got off the ground last week with a high altitude balloon launch in Rantoul, Illinois. Space Jam is sponsored by DePauw University. It’s purpose is to get Scouts into technology.

    With assistance from the Vermillion County Amateur Radio Association, they were able to launch a helium filled balloon and use the cross band repeater for amateur radio contacts across the Midwest.

    The longest radio contact occurred when the balloon reached the 99-thousand foot level. Two stations, one in Walbridge, Ohio the other in Mexico, Missouri, completed a 470 mile QSO.

    On the ground, Dave Cline KB9ZMF, said he thought 200 Boy Scouts were on the radios throughout the Space Jam. They also worked on high tech merit badges in Space Exploration, ,Aviation, Radio & Electronics and on Nuclear Science Composite Materials

    Talking with Astronaut Robert Thirsk, VA3CSA, onboard the International Space Station, topped the weekend Space Jam activities.

    Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Jack Parker W8ISH.

    --

    Space Jam Four is already being planned for August of 2010. (W8ISH)

    **

    HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AMSAT-UK ANNOUNCES FUNCUBE

    AMSAT-UK has announced a new amateur satellite project called FUNcube. This is an educational single cubesat project with the goal of educating young people about radio, space, physics and electronics.

    FUNcube will support the educational science, technology, engineering, and math curricula and at the same time provide an additional resource for the Radio Society of Great Britain's GB4FUN Mobile Communications Center.

    The target audience consists of primary and secondary school pupils and FUNcube will have a high power 145 MHz telemetry beacon that will provide a strong signal for the pupils to easily receive. It will also carry a UHF to VHF linear transponder that will have up to 1 watt and which can be used by radio amateurs worldwide for SSB and CW communications.

    The FUNcube project has already received initial funding from the United Kingdom based Radio Communications Foundation and is expected be developed in collaboration with ISIS-Innovative Solutions in Space. (ANS)

    **

    HAM RADIO NEAR SPACE: BACAR SET TO LAUNCH ON SATURDAY AUGUST 8

    The long awaited South African Balloon Carrying Amateur Radio or BACAR flight will take place on Saturday, August 8th. The lighter than air craft will lift off Africa between 08:00 and 08:15 and with a multi-payload which should be of interest to radio amateurs and shortwave listeners around the globe.

    The payload includes an APRS system operating on 144.800 MHz which will be switched on 2 minutes before launch and allow APRS stations to follow the flight. A 40 meter beacon will be operating on 7.022 MHz transmitting telemetry information every one minute. The data will include the inside and outside temperature and the pressure in millibars.

    The callsign of the APRS transmitter will be ZS6SAT. A full commentary of the launch activity to be broadcast on 7.082 MHz and streaming via EchoLink and on the world wide web. Please visit www.amsatsa.org.za for more information on the flight. (Southgate)

    **


    WORLDBEAT: CHINA NOW AT 90000 HAMS

    Ham radio is growing in China. According to the Chinese Radio Sports Association which oversees licensing for hobbyists in the world's most populous country, some 90,000 of the worlds radio amateurs live in are in that nation and the number has been steadily growing in recent years. This, despite mobile phones and the Internet becoming commonplace in nearly all of the country. (Published news report)

    **

    WORLDBEAT: UK CELEBRATES WW2 RADIO SERVICES

    Meantime, the famed museum at London's Bletchley Park will be celebrating the essential contribution of radio to the war efforts. This, with the family event the weekend of August 1st and 2nd called Wireless Waves. Various radio societies and other groups will demonstrate a range of equipment from World War Two onwards. Groups taking part include the Vintage and Military Amateur Radio Society, Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society, Bletchley Park Radio Society and a World War Two replica German field radio station. Full details are at www.bletchleypark.org.uk. (GB2RS)

    **

    WORLDBEAT: US BASED TRANS-ATLANTIC BEACON UPS POWER

    The WA1ZMS trans-Atlantic beacon operated by Brian Justin on 144.285 MHz is now running a 500 watt transmitter and giving the system a 7 kilowatt Effective Radiated Power signal beaming toward Europe. The beacon is G-P-S locked and the antenna is made up of two stacked 5-element yagi's beaming at 60 degrees from grid locator FM07fm. More about this system is on-line at www.directivesystems.com/WA1ZMS.htm (Southgate)

    **

    THE CONTEST CORNER: THE 2009 EUROPEAN DX CHAMPIIONSHIP

    Turning to contest news, Saturday, August 1st is the European HF Championship contest. This event runs from 1200 until 2359 U-T-C using SSB and CW on all HF bands from 80 to 10 meters. The interesting exchange being used this year is the last two digits of the year you were licensed in addition to the obligatory signal report. An interesting exchange indeed. (Via e-mail)

    **

    DX

    In DX, word that a multi-national operation from Swaziland will be on the air through August 11th. They will sign 3DA0SS from the Hawane Resort and a campsite near Manzini. Plans are to cover as many bands and modes as possible, including PSK31, RTTY and CW. Operations will be on or near to scout frequencies. QSLs should be sent via GI4FUM.

    P49T and W3TEF portable P4 will activate P41USA over the anniversary date of the USA attacks on September 11th, 2001. Listen for P41USA to be active on all bands between September 8th and the 17th. Activity will include the September VHF Contest. All QSLs go to W3TEF.

    OY1CT was active from Streymoy in the Faroe Islands during the RSGB IOTA Contest. If you work him QSL direct to OY1CT.

    LA1BN and LA1LO will be operational on 50.155 MHz from grid square JO39 in the Norwegian mountains from August 10th to the 15th. QSL as directed by the operators.

    Lastly, JA6VDB and JE6AQP will be active slash 6 from Japan's Nozaki Island, Ojika Island and Goto Island between August 8th to the 12th. Their operation will be on 40 through 15 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via their home callsigns, direct or via the bureau.

    (Above from various DX news sources)


    **

    THAT FINAL ITEM: HONORING KEPLER WITH A SPACESHIP

    And finally this week, any ham who operates or tracks ham satellites is well aware of the term Keplerian Elements. That’s the mathematics numbers used to point your antenna. Well in honor of the man who developed them, Europe's next space freighter will be called Johannes Kepler. This, in honor of the great 17th Century German scientist's work. Frank Lusa, VK2FJL, has the rest of the story.

    --

    Johannes Kepler was the father of celestial mechanics. His three laws describe planetary motion and allow scientists to predict how objects will move through the solar system.

    The Automated Transfer Vehicle is currently being assembled in Bremen ready for its 2010 mission to resupply the International Space Station.

    European Space Agency delegates agreed to the name at a recent meeting. The first ATV was called Jules Verne after the French science fiction writer and completed a flawless maiden mission last year. It delivered more than five tones of supplies to the orbiting outpost before dropping back to Earth in a controlled burn-up over the Pacific Ocean.

    The ATV is one of the most capable spacecraft ever developed in Europe. After launch, the space truck can work out where it needs to go in space, and then makes a fully automatic docking once it arrives at its destination.

    --

    Another Kepler spacecraft is also about to make the headlines. The US space agency has also used the Kepler name for its news planet hunting telescope due for launch in August. (WIA News)

    **

    NEWSCAST CLOSE

    With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB, the Southgate News and Australia's W-I-A News, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline™. Our e-mail address is newsline@arnewsline.org. More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's™ only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline™, P.O. Box 660937, Arcadia, California 91066.

    For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I’m Jim Davis, W2JKD, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.

    Amateur Radio Newsline™ is Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.



     
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