Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1873 - July 5 2013
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1873 with a release date of July 5
2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Ham radio responds to disasters in India and
the Philippines; an emergency communications drill in Los Angeles
assumes that the wired infrastructure has broken down; spectrum changes
coming in the USA, the UK and Australia; a new sun watching satellite
will aid in propagation forecasting and a Canadian teen creates the
worlds first human heat powered flashlight. Find out how she did it on
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1873 coming your way right
now.
(Billboard Cart Here)
**
RESCUE RADIO: HAMS IN INDIA RESPOND TO FLOODING
Hams in India have again responded as flooding hits that nation. Jeremy
Boot, G4NJH, reports:
--
The recent severe flooding in northern India has resulted in
communication links being affected when they are most needed.
Members of the Indian National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad,
have been providing emergency communication facilities in the
worst-affected areas of Uttarakhand state, North India. Reported
operating frequencies include 7.073 and 14.160 kHz and callsigns in use
include VU2JOS, VU2MCW, VU3NUG.
As usual, all amateurs are urged to give priority to emergency
communications regardless of any other activities on the bands.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, in Nottingham
in the U.K..
--
More on this situation as information becomes available. (GB2RS)
**
RESCUE RADIO: PHILIPPINE HAMS RESPOND TO TYPHOON GORIO
Hams in the Philippines were ready when yet another tropical storm came
their way. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the newsroom with what we know
so far:
--
The Philippine Amateur Radio Association activated its Emergency Net
last week in anticipation of tropical storm Gorio. At the time the
typhoon was crossing the Eastern Visayas Region in the general
direction of the Bicol area located at the southernmost tip of Luzon
Island.
The Philippine Amateur Radio Association spokesman is Ramon Anquilan
DU1UGZ. He was quoted as saying that members of the Ham Emergency
Radio Operations or HERO group are using 7.095 MHZ as an emergency
calling frequency. As such the national society was requesting
neighboring ham radio operators assist by staying clear of the
frequency until the emergency net is was closed down.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in Los
Angeles.
--
The latest information on this severe weather event is on-line at the
Philippine Amateur Radio Association website. Its in cyberspace at
www.para.org.ph (PARA)
**
RESCUE RADIO: LOS ANGELES DRILL INCLUDES HAM RADIO
An interesting emergency communications drill on the United States West
coast. This as members of California's Los Angeles County Disaster
Communications Service met at its Temple Station on June 24th to
practice sending data but doing so without the use of the internet and
without the use of any infrastructure.
Deputy Hector Figueroa, KE6VRL, is the Temple Station Systems
Administrator for Communications. He says that communications was
accomplished via the use of the Amateur Radio Service and the Narrow
Band Emergency Messaging Software. This software is capable of running
on various computing platforms and operating systems making it easy to
implement especially in a disaster. Figueroa says that most of the
Disaster Communications Service volunteers were able to install and use
the system in less than an hour's time.
Most used battery power for their computers and battery powered radios
to send messages during the training. These consisted of message types
used in the national Incident Command System to request support, report
damage, and provide health and welfare traffic.
Members of the City of Rosemead staff also participated in the
demonstration and training while volunteers from San Dimas, Temple City
and Pasadena were on hand to practice and gain valuable experience.
More information is on line at temple.lasd.org. (Los Angeles County
Disaster Communications Service)
**
RESTRUCTURING: FCC APPROVES OPENING 10 MHZ OF UHF SPECTRUM TO
COMMERCIAL USE
The FCC has adopted a Report and Order that will increase the Nation's
supply of spectrum for flexible use services, including mobile
broadband. This by opening 10 megahertz of spectrum in the bands 1915
to 1920 MHz and 1995 to 2000 MHz also known as the H Block for
commercial licensing.
According to its June 27th Report and order on WT Docket 12-357 the FCC
says that by enabling 10 megahertz of spectrum to be used for mobile
broadband the Commission's efforts to ensure that the Nation's wireless
networks have the capacity, speed and ubiquity to keep pace with
consumers' expectations and ever rising demand for mobile services. The
FCC also calls it a step towards meeting its obligation under the
Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 to license 65
megahertz, including the 10 megahertz in the H Block. This, by
February of 2015. (FCC)
**
RESTRUCTURING: 915-921 MHZ TO BE LICENSE EXEMPT IN UK
British telecommunications regulator Ofcom has published a statement
setting out its decision to release the 870 to 876 and 915 to 921 MHz
spectrum bands on a license exempt basis. The released spectrum will be
used by Short Range Devices and Radio Frequency Identification. A
further rule making procedure on the technical details of the license
exemption will follow this fall.
Meantime, the adoption of 915 of 921 MHz by the pan-European CEPT
agreement is said to be possible. If it were to happen it would create
the only license exempt spectrum between 41 and 2400 MHz that is
available world-wide. Other license exempt frequency bands for Short
Range Devices and Radio Frequency Identification are only available on
a regional or nation wide basis only. (Southgate, Ofcom)
**
RESTRUCTURING: IMMINENT SPECTRUM SALE BRINGS TENSIONS TO A HEAD
DOWN-UNDER
The second attempt by Australian authorities to sell some prime
spectrum in the 700 MHz band for use in expanding broadband is meeting
with opposition from those who say its needed for public safety
communications. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, of the WIA News has the details:
--
The (Australian) federal government is resisting calls to reserve
highly sought-after mobile phone spectrum for use by police and
emergency services, in fact they have released a proposal suggesting
it hopes to pull in more than $900 million from the sale of spectrum it
could not sell earlier this year.
The office of Victoria's Premier Denis Napthine accused federal Labor
of "effectively selling community safety" to fix an ailing budget,
while the Police Federation of Australia renewed calls for the
government to earmark the spectrum in case it is needed by law
enforcement during terrorist strikes and natural disasters.
Previous Communications Minister Stephen Conroy issued draft directions
for the Australian Communications and Media Authority to decide by
September 1 on the "appropriate procedures" for allocating the unsold
spectrum and said access charges would have to be at the same reserve
price that failed to attract bidders during the first auction.
A 30 megahertz block of the most sought-after 700MHz band of the
spectrum the "waterfront property" of the cell phone industry was
unsold and the government last month said the intention was that it
would "be returned to the market for sale at a later date".
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB, of the WIA News
in Australia.
--
The Australian government feels confident that it can attract bidders
but based on the last attempt to divest itself of this spectrum, it
could turn out to be a hard sell. (WIA News)
**
WORLDBEAT: ICASA CLARIFIES SOUTH AFRICAN LICENSING PAYMENTS
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has informed
the South African Radio League that it has now analyzed all payments
for that nations amateur service licenses. It says that in 2012 some
209 radio amateurs paid the proper fee for a five year license but
failed to notify the regulatory service of that fact when payment was
made. This year there were an additional 34.
To rectify the situation the regulatory agency says that it plans on
mailing five year licenses to these hams which will be valid until 2017
and 2018 respectively.
On a more negative note, ICASA says that the same inquiry revealed that
823 South African radio amateurs did not renew their licenses. As
such, these licenses will be cancelled and the regulatory agency says
that it will make arrangements for the urgent sealing or confiscation
of the equipment if payment is not made immediately.
The South African Radio League in urging hams in that nation to check
their payment records to make certain that they have renewed their
licenses. If not that they should do so without any further delay.
(ICASA, SARL)
**
BREAK 1
>From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the K9OQO
repeater serving Appleton, Wisconsin.
(5 sec pause here)
**
ENFORCEMENT: UNLICENSED USE OF HT'S BRINGS $30,000 NAL
The FCC has issued a $30,000 Notice of Apparent liability to Remel,
Inc. and its corporate parent, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. This for
allegedly unlawful operation of radio frequency devices on a General
Mobile Radio Service frequency for more than nine years without
Commission authority. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeff Clark, K8JAC,
reports:
--
On June 21, 2012, Thermo Fisher filed an application for a new Public
Land Mobile Radio Service license with the Commission's Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau. A few weeks later July 2, 2012, Thermo
Fisher filed a request for Special Temporary Authority to permit the
operation of certain handheld radio transmitting equipment pending the
grant of its Public Land Mobile Radio Service. In its S-T-A Request,
Thermo Fisher indicated that its handheld radios were used in
connection with manufacturing certain products used by the Center for
Disease Control and other health care facilities. It also stated that
the radios were "an essential communications link" for its factory
operations and for the safety and security of its personnel. At the
time, Thermo Fisher further indicated that it had operated the handheld
radio transmitters for a number of years and that it discontinued their
operation on June 14th, 2012, as soon as it became aware that the
radios were not properly licensed.
The STA was granted on July 9, 2012 under call sign WQPN622. Thermo
Fisher's application for a new Public Land Mobile Radio Service license
was granted on August 30, 2012 under call sign WQPW523.
Because it appeared that Thermo Fisher had operated its handheld radio
transmitting equipment without authorization, the Wireless Bureau
referred this matter to the Enforcement Bureau for investigation and
possible enforcement action. On January 30, 2013, the Enforcement
Bureau's Spectrum Enforcement Division issued a letter of inquiry to
Thermo Fisher, directing the company to submit a response to a series
of questions relating to the unauthorized operation of the radio
transmitting equipment. Thermo Fisher responded on February 27, 2013
and indicated that Remel began operating the radio transmitting
equipment in approximately October 2002.
Now, in issuing the $30,000 NAL, the FCC notes that the companies admit
that they operated their radio transmitting equipment without
Commission authorization since approximately October 2002 and continued
for more than nine years, until June 14, 2012. As such the Commission
finds that the companies apparently violated Section 301 of the
Communications Act and Sections 1.903(a) and 95.3 of the agency's Rules
by failing to obtain Commission authority to operate their radio
transmitting equipment. Therefore based on the information before it
the agency says that a $30,000 fine is warranted in this case.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeff Clark, K8JAC.
--
Remel, Inc. and Thermo Fisher Scientific were given the customary
thirty days to pay the proposed fine or to file an appeal. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: FLORIDA UNLICENSED STATION OPERATORS ARRESTED
The owner of an unlicensed radio station in Marion County Florida and
an employee were taken into custody Tuesday, June 25th by federal
authorities and Ocala, Florida sheriff's deputies. This following a
tip about the illegal operation filed by a radio engineer from a local
broadcast station.
In early April, the Federal Communication Commission received
information that a radio station on 97.7 FM, was operating without a
license. FCC agents came to the area and T-hunted the station to a
location in the city of Summerfield. They went to the property, where
they saw a double-wide mobile home and a single-wide mobile home with a
radio tower behind it. The station was playing Mexican music and
advertising Hispanic businesses in the area. No one was home, so the
agents left a warning notice and departed.
However, the Property Crimes Unit of the Marion County Sheriff's Office
began listening to the radio station. They also observed people
entering and leaving the property.
Authorities requested a search warrant, which was granted Tuesday, June
25th leading to a raid on the unlicensed broadcast facility. At that
time Luis Alfredo Galindo and Juan Ramon Nieves were arrested and taken
to a Sheriff's Office substation for an interview.
Nieves said he was the owner of the station, for which he did not have
a license but which he admitted had been in existence for about a year.
He was charged under a Florida statute with operating an unlicensed
radio station and was taken to the Marion County Jail. He has since
been released on $5,000 bond.
Galindo claimed to be employed by Nieves. He was charged with making
unauthorized radio transmissions and interfering with a radio station.
He was remanded to jail in lieu of $5000 bail and at airtime it's not
known if he is still in custody. (RW, Other news reports)
**
RESTRUCTURING: POST BROADBAND AUCTION BANDPLANNING NOT GOING WELL
While it may seem hard to believe, two of the nations top
communications industries are acting like hams did some forty years
ago. This in relation to the use of spectrum when rules get changed to
permit broadband more access to the airwaves. Amateur Radio Newsline's
Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, takes a look as history seems ready to repeat
itself, but this time with billions of dollars at stake:
--
Shades of two meter frequency coordination in-fighting some four
decades ago. This as the National Association of Broadcasters has told
the FCC that it cannot reasonably employ a variable band plan for the
post-incentive auction 600 MHz band. This, if it includes broadcasters
and wireless carriers on co-channels and adjacent channels in
neighboring markets.
Soon after the FCC released its post auction plan which intermixes
broadcast and wireless operators, broadcasters and some major wireless
carriers teamed up to oppose it. Both said that it would cause mutual
interference or reduce the amount of usable spectrum the FCC could
recover.
But the FCC counters by stating that this concept is the only one that
will allow it flexibility to recover varying amounts of bandspace in
different markets.
And in another shade of ham radios bandplan fighting of the past, the
National Association of Broadcasters has countered with its own
so-called "Down From 51 Reversed" plan. This is kind of like the 2
meter inverted tertiary splits adopted decades ago by Southern
California and a few other places that reverses the inter system uplink
and downlink, but on a much broader basis.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH
--
The FCC is seeking comments on its original plan and others including
the National Association of Broadcasters "Down From 51 Reversed" plan,
but nobody is really happy with any form of sharing. In its recently
comments the NAB said that none of the other plans adequately address
the interference issue, but that the lesser of the evils would be the
"Down from 51 Reversed" plan. Kind of reminds you of the past, doesn't
it. (Published news reports)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: EMCOMMWEST 2013 CANCELLED
There will be no EMCOMMWEST ham radio convention in 2013. So says the
Board of Directors in a front page posting to the events website.
According to the post, the board has been discussing the options for
and fate of EMCOMMWEST 2013. It says that there have been many changes
in the volunteer workforce during the past 12 months. This coupled
with the small period of time between now and the traditional date of
the event has led the Board to decide to forgo 2013.
The Board goes on to say that circumstances leading to this decision
include the loss of several key volunteers; the continued inability to
draw the major vendors and manufacturers to the show and the fact that
little has been accomplished to make measurable progress toward event
production for this year. It goes on to say that if there is to be an
EMCOMMWEST in 2014 it may require a local club to take the helm and
provide the much-needed volunteer base for the event.
EMCOMMWEST began in 1999 when a group of Northern Nevada amateur radio
operators interested in improving emergency communications hosted the
very first symposium that lead to the convention as it is today. More
is on-line at emcommwest.org. (EMCOMMWEST.ORG website)
**
WORLDBEAT: HAM RADIO FRIEDRICHSHAFEN VIDEO NOW ON LINE
Ron Moorefield, W8ILC, who just returned from this years European Ham
Radio Convention in Friedrichshafen, Germany estimates that around
14,000 or so hams attended this years offering.
Moorefield was there with a contingent representing the Dayton Amateur
Radio Association which of coarse sponsors the annual Dayton
Hamvention. While at Ham Radio, the Dayton group live streamed the
three day event back to the United States and also recorded it for
anyone to watch at a later date. The files have now been posted and
you can see this years European amateur radio highlight at
www.ustream.tv/recorded/35112685.
But one suggestion. If you plan to watch all the video at once that
the folks from Dayton sent back, you might want to make a big bowl of
popcorn and have some cold drinks handy. That's because there is a lot
there to see.
Ham Radio 2013 was held June 28th to the 30th at the convention
facility not far from the picturesque shores on Lake Constance in
southern Germany not far from the borders with Switzerland and Austria.
(W8ILC)
**
VIDEO HAPPENINGS: HAM RADIO NOW PRESENTS HAM RADIO - THE CONVENTION
And speaking about Europe's Ham Radio exposition, you can find out more
about its inner workings in a new video produced by Gary Pearce, KN4AQ.
In a one on two interview with show planner Petra Rothgerber who runs
Ham Radio and Kelly Hall, K1LLY, the Dayton Hamvention's Co-chair of
International Relations you can find out the two conventions differ in
their planning and execution.
It should be noted that Petra Rothgerber is not a radio amateur. By
profession she runs trade shows. As such she explains the way in which
Ham Radio is a professionally managed event. By contrast, the Dayton
Hamvention is an event that's run by a dedicated corps of volunteers.
So listening to the two talk and compare notes is an interesting
experience to say the least.
KN4AQ has titled this show Europe's Biggest Hamfest. It's Episode 84
of his Ham Radio Now series that can be viewed on-line at
arvideonews.com/hrn. (ARVIDEONEWS)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: YHOTY 2013 ON RAIN
And less we forget, this weeks RAIN Report will feature an interview
with 2013 Amateur Radio Newsline Young ham of the year Padraig
Lysandrou, KC9UUS, conducted by reporter Mark Abramovich NT3V. Its all
on-line right now at www.therainreport.com. We hope that you will
listen in. (RAIN)
**
BREAK 2
This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. From the United
States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the
world from our only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being
relayed by the volunteer services of the following radio amateur:
(5 sec pause here)
**
WORLDBEAT: THE BOGONG HIGH PLAINS ADVENTURE
If you are interested in adventure then this is for toy. The 2013
Australian Bogong High Plains Winter Trip will take place from August
5th to 9th. Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephan Kinford, N8WB, has the
cool details:
--
Yes that's right. We said winter because in the Southern Hemisphere it
is the their winter season as a team of radio amateurs and their
friends will be heading out across the snowy wilderness to ski through
some of Australia's most stunning alpine landscapes.
The group will be led by VK3GT, VK3FMAW and VK3SN and will venture up
onto mountain plateaus which sit well over 1800 meters above sea level.
Using ultra light solar powered gear, these back country skiers will be
active on 40 meters each afternoon and 80 meters every evening their
local time. Other High Frequency bands will be activated according to
conditions. And if you happen to live in Australia, contacts will also
be available over the north-eastern Victoria state 2 meter and 70
centimeter repeaters each day as well.
So if you want to hear and possibly contact this down-under trekking
adventure, keep an ear on 40 and 80 meters for a signal that will
likely be just above the noise. Who knows: Maybe you will be one of
the lucky ones to make contact.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB, in rather
warm Wadsworth, Ohio.
--
More about this Australian winter ham radio adventure is on-line at
www.vk3sn.net (VK3SN, WIA)
**
RADIO TECHNOLOGY: WWVB CELEBRATES ITS 50 YEARS OF SERVICE
Friday, June 5th marked the 50th anniversary of a radio station whose
sole purpose is to keep the nation on time. Of coarse we are talking
about WWVB, the sister station of WWV that sends out a time-precise
signal every night that many clocks and wris****ches across the U.S.
use to make sure they have the correct time.
WWVB went on the air on July 5, 1963. It broadcast with 7 kilowatts of
Effective Reradiated Power signal on a frequency of precisely 60 kHz.
Since then it has become the standard relied upon for accuracy in
automated time keeping.
Now, an interesting article on the stations half century of service
along with a possible projection of its future has been written by
author Joe Hanson for the on-line publication Wired at
tinyurl.com/wwvb-history. (RW, WIRED)
**
RADIO IN SPACE: NEW SUN-WATCHING SATELLITE LAUNCHED
Turning to space related news, word that NASA has launched a satellite
on a two year mission to explore a little-studied region of the sun.
The new bird will help to better understand and forecast space weather
that can disrupt communications systems on Earth. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD, reports:
--
Unlike a traditional liftoff, the Iris sun-observing satellite rode
into Earth orbit late Thursday, June 27th on board an Orbital Sciences
Corporation Pegasus rocket. This is a booster that is released from a
modified Lockheed L-1011 jet aircraft that carries it to a launch
altitude. In this case the launch carrier took off around sunset from
the Vandenberg Air Force Base on California's central coast. At an
altitude of 39,000 feet it released the Pegasus booster which ignited
its engine for the 13-minute climb to space.
Shortly thereafter NASA confirmed that Iris had successfully reached
its intended orbit and that it had received confirmation that the
satellite deployed its solar panels and was generating power.
The 7-foot-long Iris, weighing 400 pounds, carries an ultraviolet
telescope that can take high-resolution images every few seconds.
Unlike NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which observes the entire
sun, Iris will focus on a little-explored region that lies between the
surface and the corona. That's the glowing white ring that's visible
during eclipses.
Iris is being managed by the space agency's Goddard Space Flight Center
in Greenbelt, Maryland. Its ultimate goal is to learn more about how
this region of the sun drives solar wind and to better predict how
space weather can cause disruptions to communications here on Earth.
The latter is something very near and dear to ham radio operators,
world-wide.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD, in Berwick,
Pennsylvania.
--
As a historical note the first successful Pegasus launch occurred on
April 5, 1990 with NASA test pilot and former astronaut Gordon
Fullerton in command of the carrier aircraft. Video coverage of the
June 27th Iris launch is on-line at tinyurl.com/iris-watches-sun.
(NASA, others)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: 2013 AMSAT-UK INTERNATIONAL SPACE COLLOQUIUM
The 2013 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will be held late
Friday, July 19th through Sunday, July 21st at the Holiday Inn,
Guildford, England.
It is anticipated that both the FUNcube-1 and FUNcube-2 missions will
be launched later this year. As such the FUNcube team will be on hand
to talk about the missions and its planned educational outreach. A
demonstration of the Engineering Model, which has been performing
flawlessly for almost a year, will also be provided.
The Space Colloquium will be preceded by a "Hands-On" CubeSat Workshop.
This free workshop will take place at the nearby University of Surrey
earlier in the day, also on Friday, July 19.
Further details on both events and hotel booking information is on the
web at tinyurl.com/amsat-uk-2013. (AMSAT-UK)
**
RADIOSPORTS: RULE CHANGES FOR 2013 CQ WORLD WIDE VHF CONTEST
In radiosports news, some new rules are coming to the CQ World Wide VHF
Contest. In order to be considered for an award, your log must be
received by the robot or postmarked no later than 23:59 UTC on August
4th. Logs received after that date will still be listed in the results
but will not be eligible for award status.
The 2013 CQ World-Wide VHF Contest starts at 1800 UTC on Saturday July
20th and concludes at 2100 UTC on Sunday July 21st. Extensions may be
granted by the director for a valid reason if you contact that person
before the deadline. A detailed set of rules can be found beginning on
page 56 of the June 2013 issue of CQ Magazine. (CQ)
**
DX
In DX, EA5RM will be active from Bolivia until July 19th as CP1XRM.
What makes this operation unique is that he will be on the High
Frequency bands using a 100 watt solar powered station to a vertical
antenna. QSL via his home call.
WU2D will be on the air from San Felix Island July 8th to the 13th
signing CE0X stroke WU2D. He will be active on 20, 17 and 15 m mainly
using SSB. CE0X is the call issued to the Southern Cross DX Group but
no other information is available as we go to air.
G3SWH will be active stroke 6Y5 from Jamaica through July 9th. Listen
out for him on all of the High Frequency bands. If you make contact QSL
via his home call.
RK4FF will be operational as 6V7S from Senegal through July 16th. His
activity will be on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters using CW, SSB and
RTTY. QSL via his call.
F5SWB as TU5DF will be on the air from the Ivory Coast until October.
His operations are 40 through 6 meters using mainly CW with some SSB
and PSK31. QSL to his home call.
LZ1GC and 3D2DD will be operational from Rotuma Island from September
27th through October 11thas 3D2GC/P and 3D2DD/P respectively. 3D2GC/P
will be active on 160 through 6 meters using CW , SSB while 3D2DD/P
will operate SSB only. QSL each operator via his home call.
PG5M will be active from Yap Island September 8th to 15th as V6G. He
will be operational on 40 through 10 meters using CW only. QSL via
PG5M.
Lastly, while it may be the start of summer in the northern latitudes,
its always a good time for Christmas. In this case we are referring to
Christmas Island where VK3DAC is active as VK9DAC. His operation is
reported to be holiday style on 80 to 10 meters using SSB only. QSL as
directed on the air.
(Above from various DX news sources)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: CANADIAN TEEN DEVELOPS BODY POWERED FLASHLIGHT
And finally this week, the story of a fifteen year old Canadian student
used her knowledge of electronics to develop an innovative flashlight.
One that could eventually revolutionize portable lighting because all
it needs for power is its owner's body heat. Amateur Radio Newsline's
Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, has the rest of the story:
--
The UK Daily Mail newspaper says Ann Makosinski is a high school junior
in Victoria, British Columbia. In deciding on a science project she
realized that Peltier tiles, which produce electricity when one side is
heated and the other is cooled could use body-heat to create energy for
a flashlight. So she set off to do just that.
Te result is a LED flashlight that lights simply by holding it on the
outside. That causes the tiles to heat up on one side while the
ambient air cool down the tile on the inside. The power created by the
tiles was enough so she created a four component voltage multiplying
circuit that would provide the level she required.
As a result of her efforts, this September Ann will be one of fifteen
finalists presenting their projects at the Google Science Fair in
Mountain View, California. The winner gets a prize of $50,000 and a
trip to the Galapagos Islands.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, in Zion,
Illinois.
--
You can read the full story and watch the video of Ann Makosinski
explaining and demonstrating her invention on the web at
tinyurl.com/heat-powered-light. An interview with Ann Makosinski
conducted by writer Alexander Baron on how she actually developed her
amazing human powered flashlight can be read at
www.digitaljournal.com/article/353536. (Southgate, Daily Mail)
**
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(tm). Our e-mail address is
newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) org. More information is available at
Amateur Radio Newsline's(tm) only official website located at
www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at Amateur
Radio Newsline(tm), 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Don
Wilbanks, AE5DW, in Southern Mississippi, saying 73 and we thank you
for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.