Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1888 - October 18 2013
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1888 with a release date of
October 18 2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a Q-S-T. Ham radio responds as a major cyclone hits
India and an earthquake hits the Philippines; the IARU Monitoring
Service says that Russia is again intruding into 15 meters; Sweeden
gives its hams access to 472 kilohertz; AMSAT to celebrate 30 years of
manned ham radio in space operations and a bit of early DX history from
down-under. Hear it all on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number
1888 coming your way right now.
(Billboard Cart Here)
**
RESCUE RADIO: AMATEUR RADIO ON SCENE AS CYCLONE PHAILIN HITS INDIA
Amateur radio operators in India were ready to respond when cyclone
Phailin roared up the Bay of Bengal, carrying winds of 155 mph at
landfall. But proper planning on the part of India's emergency
services kept casualties to a minimum as ham radio operators braved the
weather to make sure communications kept flowing. Amateur Radio
Newslines Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, has the rest of the story:
--
India's National Institute of Amateur Radio put as many as 200
operators on alert and many of those volunteers came through and were
dispatched as needed once the cyclone hit Odisha, along the country's
eastern coast.
And, news accounts are praising government officials in the country for
acting quickly to evacuate some half-a-million people living along
lowland coastal areas to get them out of harm's way.
Early accounts put the death toll in the teens.
The storm is believed to be the strongest to hit the region since 1999
when a tropical storm washed ashore causing 9,000 deaths and extensive
damage.
Power is still out in many areas in the wake of this storm.
Radio operators are staying on duty at shelters and other areas in many
of the coastal districts where flood and wind damage to the
infrastructure was the most extensive.
News accounts are reporting many of the mud homes and farms in the
coastal region hit by the storm were destroyed and roads remain blocked
by uprooted trees.
Jay, VU2JAU, was helping to coordinate storm relief activity on 40
meters, along with a team that included VU2DPI, VU3BHI and VU2AOR.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V.
--
During the height of the storm VU2JAU put out a world-wide request that
the frequency of 7 point 145 MHz on 40 meters be kept clear for
disaster communications. As we go to air, some ham radio emergency
communications is reported to still be ongoing as the clean-up effort
in the aftermath of the cyclone continues. (IARU R-3, other published
news sources)
**
RESCUE RADIO: HAMS RESPOND AS AN EARTHQUAKE HITS THE PHILIPPINES
The Philippine Amateur Radio Association has activated its Ham
Emergency Radio Operators group. This, following a Magnitude 7.2
earthquake that hit the province of Bohol at 8:12 a.m. local time on
Monday, October 14th.
At airtime the death toll stands near 110 and could rise. Dozens of
people are reported as missing, and authorities were checking into
reports of people trapped in collapsed buildings in both Cebu and
Bohol.
Roberto Vicencio is DU1VHY in Mandaluyong City. He has passed along
word that all radio amateurs are being asked to keep 7 dot 095 MHz on
40 meters clear until further notice. This frequency is being used for
both damage assessment and other ongoing relief work.
Meantime, a state of calamity was declared in both the Bohol and Cebu
areas. This prompted the closure of schools and other structures until
officials can determine the safety of buildings and bridges. The
initial jolt was followed by two aftershocks, each measuring more than
5.0 in magnitude. (PARA, VK3PC, Pacific News)
**
RESCUE RADIO: HISTORIC VK LIGHTHOUSE SAVED FROM FIRE
A bushfire on the Australian coast recently threatened the historic
Barrenjoey Lighthouse at Palm Beach, on the northern most point of
Sydney. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service reports the building
sustained some roof damage but is mostly fine after fire swept through
the area. This is good news, particularly to the Manly Warringah
(PRON: WOR-RING-A) Radio Society which has activated this lighthouse as
VK2MB in the 2013 International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend.
(VK3PC)
**
INTRUDER WATCH: RUSSIAN MILITARY BACK ON 21 MHZ
The IARU Monitoring Service newsletter reports on a possible Russian
military station that has been using the amateur radio 21 MHz band. It
says that encrypted voice traffic has been operating on 21000.0 kHz on
USB. Also that the in-band synchronizing signal was always audible and
quite strong. The transmitter sending out these transmissions is
believed to be located in or near Nizhny Tagil in Russia but its
purpose is unknown. The newsletter also reports that the Russian
military have also been using other frequencies in our 7, 14 and 21 MHz
bands and have been operating an Over The Horizon radar between 3500
and 3800 kHz. (IARUMS, IARU-R-1)
**
RESTRUCTURING: SWEDISH HAMS GET ACCESS TO THE 472 KHZ BAND
Some good news for radio amateurs and other spectrum users in Sweden.
Hams get a new band and commercial entities are given limited use of
unlicensed devices. Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD,
reports:
--
As of October 1st Swedish Telecom is permitting that nations radio
amateurs access to the 472 to 479 kHz band. Like in some locations the
maximum radiated power is one watt as opposed to the five watts
permitted by some nations.
The Swedish Telecom paper also reports that also on the same date that
new rules concerning exemptions from the requirement for radio
transmitters to have an operating license came into effect.
Most transmitters in Sweden still require a license but for the sake of
simplicity, the telecommunications regulator may allow exceptions in
cases where this is little risk of interference. One new exclusion
applies to vehicle communication transmissions in the 63 to 64 GHz
band. Other exemptions are associated to Radio Frequency
Identification use in the 2446 to 2454 MHz range for sales and
inventory control.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Heather Embee, KB3TZD, in Berwick,
Pennsylvania.
--
All in all it appears to be a win-win decision for everyone.
(Southgate)
**
RESTRUCTURING: UK ISSUES RULE MAKING TO LEGALIZE AM AND SSB ON CB
Twenty-eight months after the European Commission published a decision
aimed harmonizing CB radio across the European Union, United Kingdom
telecommunications regulator Ofcom has announced a consultation on
legalizing 27 MHz double sideband A.M. and Single Sideband
transmissions. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, is in Nottingham, in the UK with
more:
--
Ofcom has published proposals to amend current arrangements for
Citizens' Band radio in the UK, to allow the use of a wider range of
transmission standards.
Ofcom is proposing to allow amplitude modulation, double-and single
sideband transmissions on CB radio, which will bring the UK in line
with other European countries.
The consultation will close on 8 November.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, in Nottingham
in the UK.
--
11 meter CB radio was first introduced into the United Kingdom around
1972 as an F.M only service. In the late 1970's James Bryant, G4CLF,
who was then the President of the UK Citizens Band Association,
campaigned for the legalization of AM and SSB operation for use in that
service. Now some 36 years later it looks as though it may finally be
achieved. (RSGB)
**
WORLDBEAT: IARU ANNOUNCES THEME FOR WORLD AMATEUR DAY 2014
The IARU has chosen its theme for World Amateur Radio Day, 2014. Graham
Kemp, VK4BB, of the WIA news is here with the details:
--
Each year on 18 April is World Amateur Radio Day, which celebrates the
founding of the International Amateur Radio Union in 1925. The theme
"Amateur Radio: Your Gateway to Wireless Communications" has been
chosen for the day in 2014.
In 100 years it has evolved from crude spark-gap technology to digital
signal processing and software-defined radios.
The IARU understands that the date is close to Easter. It encourages
activity earlier or later to gain as much exposure and publicity as
possible for modern and easily accessed amateur radio.
Only six months to go. Will you be involved?
For the AmateurRadio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB, of the WIA News
in Australia.
--
Most if not all of the worlds national ham radio societies will be
taking part in World Amateur Radio Day 2014. Check with yours to find
out its celebration plans. (IARU, WIA NEWS)
**
BREAK 1
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the
N7KSO repeater system serving northwest Arizona.
(5 sec pause here)
**
BREAKING NEWS: CONGRESSIONAL IMPASSE SETTLED - FCC REOPENS
I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP with breaking news.
The House and Senate votes on Wednesday, night October 16th to at least
temporarily restore all government operations until January 15th and
permit the US Treasury to extend its debt ceiling limit through
February 7th have passed and been signed into law by the president.
This means that the FCC and other government agencies should now be
getting back to work, but that does not mean things will be back as
they were before the partial government shutdown began.
Even though the FCC is technically back in operation, you have to
remember that matters concerning services such as CB radio, the
Mult-Use or MURS Radio Service, GMRS and even Amateur Radio are going
to take a back seat to more important subjects. This includes but is
not limited to broadband expansion and broadcast related issues.
While the good news is that the stalemate is over for now, it could
take a bit more time before the FCC takes any matter under advisement
that is important to ham radio such as several requests for rule making
from the ARRL. And as you will hear in a few moments, the FCC could
even face a paperwork deluge of monumental proportions in the coming
days.
So for now the two key words are "be patient." (ARNewsline(tm))
**
RADIO LAW: MASSIVE BACKLOG COULD HIT FCC WHEN IT REOPENS
Don't expect miracles in the handling of any matter by the FCC when the
government shutdown ends. That's the prediction of attorney Mitchell
Lazarus from the law firm of Fletcher, Heald and Hildreth.
According to Lazarus, everything that would have come due during the
shutdown instead will all be due on the same day. Not the day the FCC
reopens, but the day after that.
And as to filings due on the day of reopening? They likely will also
be put off till that same - the next day. As such, Attorney Lazarus
believes that this creates the possibility of a massive accumulation of
filings, including the last-minute crunch when the electronic databases
becomes accessible and updated again.
The commission said right before the shutdown if its systems become
overwhelmed upon reopening, it will issue further guidance. Presumably
that includes extending filing deadlines, but until that happens nobody
can be sure.
The bottom line says Lazarus: "The longer this goes on, the worse the
chaos will be when it ends." (RW, commlawblog.com)
**
ENFORCEMENT FOLLOW-UP: ALLEGED INDIANA POLICE IMPOSTER CHARGED
A follow-up to our recent story about an Indianapolis area ham who was
arrested after authorities say he impersonated a cop during the funeral
of an Indianapolis police officer killed in the line of duty. Court
documents say that 38 year old Minh van Nguyen, now faces three felony
charges including two counts of impersonation of a public servant and
theft.
Nguyn holds the call sign KB9WDY. As reported, on the day of the
funeral of officer Rod Bradway, KC9PFW, police say that Nguyen showed
up in police uniform with police patches and a badge. Later, when
investigators searched Nguyen home, they recovered among other items,
including a 37-millimeter grenade launcher, a number of assault rifles,
shotguns, handguns and several thousand rounds of ammunition. Officials
said he also had body armor, several uniforms belonging to area police
agencies and numerous badges. This included one that belonged to
Indiana State Police.
If tried and convicted, Nguyen faces up to three years in prison. And
if convictions were to be reported to the FCC's Enforcement Bureau the
regulatory agency could call for a show cause hearing as to whether
Nguyen should be permitted to retain his Amateur Service license. But
as time has shown, such an action by the FCC is likely down the road at
least several years. (Published news reports)
**
ENFORCEMENT: FCC WARNS STATIONS ABOUT UNLICENSED OPERATION
Some unlicensed operators have caught the eye of FCC Enforcement
counsel Laura Smith. On July 8, Smith warned James E. Richburg
against unlicensed radio operation in the Amateur Radio bands.
According to Smith it had come to the FCC's attention that at multiple
times in the last several months Richburg had made radio transmissions
in the amateur bands for which a license is required and that Richburg
did not possess such a permit.
Then in August Smith sent notices to Charles W. Johnson and Mark W.
Althaus, warning them of unlicensed operation on 26.735 MHz. In this
letter Smith underscored that transmitting outside of authorized
frequencies violates Section 301 of the Communications Act. As such,
this could lead to the imposition of substantial fines and seizure of
radio equipment as well as possible criminal action up to and including
imprisonment.
In all three cases Smith directed that unauthorized operation of their
radio station must cease immediately. She also gave Richburg, Johnson
and Althaus 10 days from the date each received her letters to respond
to their respective warning notices. Each was instructed to state what
specific actions had been taken to comply with the FCC's rules. (FCC,
ARRL)
**
RADIO BUSINESS: SMALL WONDER LABS TO GO QRT
QRP kit supplier Small Wonder Labs is closing its doors permanently.
According to owner Dave Benson, K1SWL, he is going into retirement and
has discontinued sales of the popular RockMite.
Benson says that he will ship out the last several dozen orders shortly
and that he will continue to support requests for missing or
replacement RockMite parts from existing customers, but only over the
short term. He also hopes to keep the Small Wonder Labs website active
for a year, and it will maintain documentation for his earlier products
However QRP enthusiasts should not despair. According to the rumor
mill at least one other QRP kit supplier is interested in taking over
supplying the RockMite and there could be an announcement at any time
now.
For more on Dave Benson's future plans please visit smallwonderlabs.com
on the world-wide-web. (smallwonderlabs.com, others)
**
WORLDBEAT: POLAND NATIONAL PUBLIC BROADCASTER ADOPTS DAB+
National public broadcaster Polish Radio has begun transmitting in the
DAB+ digital audio transmission system. The Director and
Editor-in-Chief of Polish Radio 4 said that adopting the digital
standard enables the it to increase its coverage area, improve sound
quality and disseminate programming nationwide. (RW)
**
WORLDBEAT: WW2 GERMAN ENIGMA MACHINE TO BE AUCTIONED
A rare German Enigma encoding machine used by the Nazis to send secret
messages during the Second World War will go on sale in the United
Kingdom later this month. The machine, built in 1944, was part of the
German intelligence operation thwarted by British counter-intelligence
working out of Bletchley Park.
Engima machines were used through the war by the German military, but
this was a later model which sent out even more heavily encrypted
signals than earlier versions. A specialist from London auctioneers
Bonhams said the untouched and unrestored device is especially valuable
because it still has many of its original parts, and was not modified
after the war.
The unit comes with an original ebonite plugboard, which when added to
the Engima would swap pairs of letters. For example, pressing the F
key would send a letter B to be scrambled at the Enigma's rotors. This
of coarse would require a matching device at the other end to make
sense of the message.
If you want to own this prize World War 2 relic be prepared to shell
out at least $80,000. More is on the web at
tinyurl.com/enigma-for-sale. (Daily Mail)
**
WORLDBEAT: APPLE VS EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTS ON PROPRIETY CONNECTORS
Apple may be forced to abandon its proprietary 30-pin dock charger, at
least on the other side of the Atlantic, if European politicians get
their way. This after members of the European Parliament's Internal
Market Committee voted unanimously for a new law mandating a universal
mobile phone charger.
The Member of the European Parliaments want all radio equipment devices
and their accessories, such as chargers, to be interoperable to cut
down on electronic waste. Germany's Member of the European Parliaments
Barbara Weiler said she wanted to see an end to what she terms as cable
chaos.
This is not the first attempt to set a standard for universal phone
chargers. In 2009 the European Commission, the International
Telecommunications Union and leading mobile phone manufacturers drew up
a voluntary agreement based on the micro USB connector. However Apple,
which sold nine million units of the iPhone 5s and 5c's in just three
days has not adhered to the agreement despite signing up with it.
(euexaminer.com, networkworld.com)
**
PUBLIC SERVICE: HAM RADIO SUPPORTS BETHANY BEACH TRIATHLON
The Bethany Beach Delaware First Responders Triathlon featured ham
radio as one of its key components. This as the Sussex County Amateur
Radio Emergency Service provided communications support to the event.
Twenty amateur radio operators supported the triathlon. They were
located at strategic points throughout the course of the bike and run
events. The hams radio volunteers reported through a net control at
the Bethany Beach Fire Station. Status on the progress of the
participants as well as any emergency or medical needs were routed to
the appropriate authorities using ham radio.
The event which was held back on September 22nd included a 6 tenths of
a mile swim, an 1 mile bike and a 4.3 mile run. More than 800
participants took part. Planners say that it was a very successful
effort for the first responders as well as the Amateur Radio Emergency
Service communications team. The complete story is on the web at
tinyurl.com/bethany-triathlon-hams. (CapeGazette.com, eHam.net)
**
BREAK 2
This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. 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: AMSAT CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMATEUR RADIO
INVOLVEMENT IN HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT
A special highlight of this year's AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual
Meeting will be the celebration of the 30th anniversary of amateur
radio involvement in human space flight. This as it evolved into a
successful program on board the International Space Station that we all
know as ARISS. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in
the newsroom with more:
--
The AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting takes place November 1st
to the 3rd in Houston Texas. And in recognition of the 30th
anniversary of manned ham radio in space, a specially invited panel
featuring former Astronaut Owen Garriott, W5LFL, and other key
individuals who initiated this amazing program will take place on
Saturday evening, November 2nd as a part of the symposium's grand
banquet.
The event will be moderated by Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, who is AMSAT Vice
President of Human Space Flight. The presentation includes not only
remarks by Garriott and others, but also video highlights of amateur
radio participation in the first ever manned ham radio operation from
space as well as several other shuttle flights.
Owen Garriott, W5LFL flew on shuttle flight STS-9 in November 1983. He
was the first astronaut to utilize amateur radio to communicate with
those on the ground. This in turn permitted the general public to
speak with a United States astronaut from space, doing so outside of
NASA communication channels. Garriott's operation from the space
shuttle Columbia was commemorated in the video "Amateur Radios Newest
Frontier" produced and hosted by the late NBC newsman Roy Neal, K6DUE.
According to AMSAT, holding this celebration in Houston makes it all
the more special. This is because it will permit non-AMSAT personnel
and others involved with placing amateur radio on the space shuttles
and later onto the International Space Station a chance to participate
in the celebration.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, looking
skyward and remembering where I was when STS-9 flew overhead here in
the City of Angels.
--
The 31st Annual AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting takes place at
the Houston Marriott South at Hobby Airport. Details about the
symposium and this celebration are on the web at www.amsat.org. (AMSAT
- NA)
**
ON THE AIR: SPECIAL EVENT STATION II8IDXC CELEBRATES ITALYS IDXC 2015
On the air, listen out for special event station II8IDXC to be active
between November 2013 and May 2015. This operation is to help
publicize the 10th anniversary of Italy's "International DX Convention"
that will be held in the city of Paestum in April of 2015. Operations
will be on the High Frequency bands plus 6 meters using CW, SSB and the
Digital modes. The events QSL manager is IZ8EDJ. More information is
on the web at www.dxitalia.it (Southgate)
**
ON THE AIR: CELEBRATING THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY
Members of Turkey's Special Wireless Activity Team have been active
with the special event TC suffix callsigns for some years now to
celebrate the anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. This year the
celebration runs through October 31st and the group will be operational
as TC90TC through then. More details will be available on QRZ.com in
the coming days. (Southgate)
**
DX
In DX, K4ZIN and N4WDT will be on the air from Sierra Leone from
October 15th to the 22nd using the callsign 9L1JT. No operating times
or modes were stated. QSL via K4ZIN.
SM1TDE is currently on the air from Uganda as 5X8A on High Frequency
bands. No specific modes or operating times mentioned. QSL via his
home call.
Five operators from Japan will be active from Grenada Island operating
as J34J from November 20th to the 29th. Their operation will include
the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest. If you make contact please QSL via
JA1HGY
W9NJY will be active from Curacao from November 19th to the 25th
signing stroke PJ2. He will be operational on 160 through 10 meters on
CW only. QSL via WD9DZV either direct or electronically using Logbook
of the World.
JA1FUF and JF1CCH will be on the air from Kiribati from November 28th
to December 4th as T30NK and T30TS. Listen out for them on 40 through
6 meters using CW, SSB and PSK31. QSL each operator via his home call.
Lastly, M1AYI will be active from Falkland Islands October 20 through
November 19th as VP8DNY. He plans to be operational an all of the High
Frequency bands on SSB only. QSL via his home call.
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: CELEBRATING THE FIRST ZL DX ACCOMPLISHMENTS
And finally this week, October marked the beginning of a celebration in
New Zealand of the earliest days of DX. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim
Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the details"
--
After World War 1 and with the relocation of radio amateurs to the
supposedly useless shorter wavelength bands an amazing period of radio
exploration took place. Ham radio operators all over the world soon
realized that far from being useless these wavelengths allowed
communication over long distances than previously thought.
Amateurs in New Zealand were among those at the forefront of this
activity with the first Zed-L to Australia QSO in April 1923. This was
followed by what were then world record distance QSO's between New
Zealand and Argentina in May 1924, New Zealand and California in
September 1924, and Connecticut on the US east coast just weeks later.
And then the ultimate early Zed-L DX contact of Frank Bell, Z4AA and
his QSO with Cecil Goyder, G2SZ, in London, England on October 18 1924.
To commemorate the 90th anniversary of the record breaking activities
of these early pioneers of Amateur Radio, ZM90DX will be on the air
between October of this year through October 31st of 2014 on all bands
1.8 MHz to 1.2 GHz and beyond using all modes. Activated by the Kiwi
DX Group which is an informal group of DX'ers and contest enthusiasts,
ZM90DX will be used by stations around New Zealand and a special
commemorative QSL card will be available as well as an award program
for contacts with this nation during this period.
Not only will ZM90DX be active at expected times and on expected bands,
but in the spirit of those early pioneers the operators will also be
calling CQ on bands and in directions one may not necessarily expect.
This, with the intention of exploring the boundaries of radio
propagation.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, down-under in
Nelson, New Zealand.
--
This will be an unparalleled opportunity for Amateurs all over the
world to work Zed-L while celebrating the exploits of those early trail
blazers whose work paved the way for radio communications as we know it
today. Further details can be found on zm90dx.com and gb2nz.com.
(NZART)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE
With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ
Magazine, the FCC, the NZART, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio
Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB, the Southgate News, TWiT-TV and
Australia's WIA 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 Jin
Davis, W2JKD, in Vero Beach, Florida, saying 73 and we thank you for
listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.