Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1909 - March 14, 2014
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1909 with a release date of March
14 2014 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a Q-S-T.
Ham radio is called to play a part in the Malaysian Airlines mystery;
the DARC says the number of German ham radio operators is declining; a
new GPS system forces the closure of a pair of amateur television
repeaters; steps 1 and 2 of the commissioning of the new ISS Ham Video
transmitter considered a success, lots happening on the FCC enforcement
scene and FEMA introduces a new wireles alert frequently asked
questions web page. Find out the details are on Amateur Radio
Newsline(tm) report number 1909 coming your way right now.
(Billboard Cart Here)
**
RESCUE RADIO: MISSING FLIGHT SEARCH INVOLVES AMATEUR RADIO EMCOMM
The disappearance of a Malaysian Airline Boeing 777 jetliner with 239
passengers on board is a mystery that nine nations are trying to solve.
But during its early hours ham radio was called in to help with the
human aspect of the situation as we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's
Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF:
--
When Malaysian Airline flight MH370 bound for Beijing, disappeared from
the air traffic radar, the Emergency Management Centre at Kuala Lumpur
Airport provided accommodation for all next-of-kin at the Everly Hotel
at Putrajaya. The Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitters' Society
President, Mohd Aris Bernawi 9M2IR, said his group was asked to provide
a communications link between the airport and the hotel.
9M2IR said the Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitters' Society quickly
set up a station at the hotel led by Zanirul Akhmal Zanirun 9M2PRO.
Azizi Samsuri 9W2ZZE as the team leader. The Malaysian Amateur Radio
Transmitters' Society also provided a cross-band VHF/UHF link to avoid
any unnecessary interference from the public services. An HF link was
later added. The Negeri Sembilan Amateur Radio Club provided the
volunteers for the station at the airport's Emergency Management
Centre.
During the call-out there were 11 volunteers at the airport and 23 at
the hotel, all on rotating shifts. 9M2IR oversaw the entire process
for the Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitters' Society.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, in Nelson, New
Zealand
--
Meantime the mystery surrounding Malaysian Airline flight MH 370
continues. (VK3PC)
**
WORLDBEAT: DARC NOTES DECLINE IN NUMBER OF GERMAN AMATEUR LICENSEES
The German national amateur radio society, the DARC, reports the number
of amateur radio licenses in that nation fell by 3.2% in 2013. As of
last December 31st there were 68,191 amateur radio licenses as opposed
to 70,446 at the end of 2012 and 71,659 at the close of 2011. The
total including Club Stations, repeaters, beacons and special calls and
training calls was 75,031 at the end of 2013 versus 77,089 in 2012 and
78109 as 2011 drew to a close. This says the DARC shows a continuing
the pattern of steady decline in recent years.
Nor did the number of new people joining the hobby did show a hoped for
increase in 2013 with only 829 receiving an amateur radio certificate
and 724 in 2012. DARC says that these figures fall far short of the
number needed to stabilize the nations amateur population. The DARC
say the number of exam participants were 909 in 2013 and 804 in 2012.
But there may be some light at the end of this downward tunnel.
According to the DARC educational training callsigns showed an increase
in 2013 with 2711 D-N calls issues. That's 183 more than in 2012 when
only 2528 were issued. The German N calls are held by amateur radio
educators and are used by unlicensed people operating under the direct
control of those trainers. (DARC, Southgate)
**
WORLDBEAT: NEW RULES PROPOSED FOR HAM RADIO IN BELGIUM
Hams in Belgium appear on the verge of getting some new regulations. On
Tuesday, February 19, the Belgium national society the UBA met with the
regulator the nations telecommunications regulator to discuss what is
known as a the forthcoming Royal Decree or R D for radio amateurs
expected out later this year. Among the proposed changes are the
disconnecting from holding an operator license which is valid for 5
years and a transmitting station license for which there will be an
annual tax. The intention is that the total cost remains unchanged for
most radio amateurs but a lot less expensive for those who do not own
station or who just want to use a club station. Te full list of
proposed changes are on the national society's website at
tinyurl.com/BelgiumUBA and BelgiumUBA is spelled as one word. (UBA
via Southgate)
**
RADIO LAW: GALILEO GPS CLOSES DOWN 23CM ATV REPEATER DB0QI
A new Global Positioning System headquarted in Germany has led to the
closure of a pair of co-sited Amateur Television repeaters. On March
4th the owners of the Munich-based DB0QI repeaters operating analog on
1276 MHz and digital on 1291 MHz took them out of service after being
informed by the nations Federal Network Agency that they were
interfering with the operation of the Global Positioning System's
Galileo Satnav Control Center. As elsewhere, the 23 cm band in Germany
is allocated to radio amateurs only on a secondary use basis. So far
no other ham radio operations in Germany have been affected.
(Southgate, others)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: HAM VIDEO COMMISSIONING STEPS 1 AND 2 SUCCESSFUL
Steps 1 and 2 of the commissioning of the new Ham Video transmitter
system on board the International Space Station have been completed and
deemed a total success.
Presently Ham Video is transmitting a blank image and no audio in what
is being called configuration 1. The signal is on 2422 MHz with a
Symbol rate 1.3. Blank transmission will then move to 2395 MHz at the
same Symbol rate. These blank transmissions will continue until the
next commissioning step which is planned April 12th.
Reports from ground stations during blank screen transmissions are
welcome and will allow further analysis of their performance and
radiation characteristics from the ISS. They can be filed on line at
tinyurl.com/new-ariss-tv. Recordings of signals received during
commissioning steps at Matera ground station will be made available on
the British Amateur Television Club server. (ON4WF)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: ARISS CONTACTS TO BE DELAYED
Due to the increased work load of Astronaut and ham radio operator
Koichi Wakata, KC5ZTA, ARISS has had to move 3 schools back to its
long term waiting list. Planners say that they hope to get all of them
rescheduled and completed by this fall.
Also, there are also several other schools that are on the list for
possible postponement to the fall season. This is because for the
period from May 12th to June 15th there will be no licensed radio
amateurs on-board the International Space Station. (ARISS)
**
DX UP FRONT: XZ1Z FROM MYANMAR
In DX up front, word that JH1AJT will be in Myanmar for a Foundation
for Global Children mission through March 21st. During that time he
plans to be on the air as as XZ1Z from Sunday the 16th but only during
his spare time. Activity would probably be on high bands. QSL via
JH1AJT. (JA1TRC, Souhgate)
**
DX UP FRONT: 7P8Z FROM LESOTHO MARCH 28 AND 29
Also get ready for ZS4TX to be on the air as 7P8Z from Lesotho on March
28th and the 29th. Although this is mainly a VHF activation to
explore possible F2 and Trans Equatorial Propagation openings on 6
meters, ZS4TX may also be active on 10 and 12 meter CW. The actual
operating site is at 10,800 feet situated right next to the Afriski
Resort which also claims to have the highest Restaurant and Pub in
Africa. QSL as directed by the operator
Still in Lesotho, news that EI7CC is on the air as as 7P8PB through
April 3rd. Activity will be limited because he will be on a family
holiday and will only operate when circumstances permit. Logs will be
uploaded to Logbook of the World immediately upon his return to
Ireland. QSL via EI7CC either direct or via the bureau.
**
BREAK 1
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the
W0EF Repeater Swap Shop Net serving Minneapolis, Minnesota.
(5 sec pause here)
**
ENFORCEMENT: CALIFORNIA HAM DINGED $13600 FOR OPERATING UNLICENSED FM
BROADCAST STATION
Even though he said he had no malicious intent, Brian Ragan, KF6EGI,
will have to pay a pretty hefty FCC fine for making unlicensed
broadcasts in the FM band and not permitting the FCC to inspect his
station. Amateur Radio Newsline's Ralph Squillace KK6ITB, has more:
--
Back in 2012 field personnel from the FCC's Enforcement Bureau T-hunted
a signal on 104.9 MHz to Brian Ragan's garage in Suisun City,
California. While there the agents heard the station identify itself
on the air as KBRS.
According to the regulatory agency's account, at the time the agents
tried to inspect the station but no one responded. Ragan later told
the FCC he had been afraid to open the door when he heard them identify
themselves as being with the agency's Enforcement Bureau. He also
admitted to having operated the unlicensed FM broadcast entity for six
months.
This led to a notice of apparent liability for $17,000 for operating an
unlicensed station and failing to allow FCC personnel to inspect the
premiss. In his reply Ragan didn't contest the facts but appealed,
saying that he'd had no malicious intent adding that he had immediately
complied with the notice of unlicensed operation. Ragan also submitted
a required written statement saying that he was now in compliance with
Section 301 and no longer engaged in unauthorized operation.
But that cut very little ice with the FCC. In its March 10th
Forfeiture Order the regulatory agency upheld most of its findings.
Among other items it noted that it need not demonstrate an intent to
violate a rule to make a finding that a license holder engaged in
willful misconduct. But based on his compliance as a radio amateur
with that service's rules that it was reducing the fine to $13, 600.
At the same time it reiterated that, as a licensed ham for at least six
years, Ragan should be aware that, among other things, radio equipment
at his station must be made available for inspection when requested by
the FCC.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.
--
Ragan was then given the customary 30 days from release of the
Forfeiture Order to pay it in full or arrange a time payment method
with the agency. If he does not respond within that time period and
the forfeiture is not paid, the case may be referred to the U.S.
Department of Justice for further enforcement. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: PITTSBURGH PA CBER ORDERED TO PAY $18000 FINE
The FCC has affirmed an $18,000 Forfeiture Order previously issued
against Nathaniel Johnson of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This for his
alleged repeated failure to make his CB station available for
inspection by authorized FCC representatives and his failure to comply
with the restricted hours of CB Station operation set forth in an
official FCC notice.
On May 14, 2013, the Enforcement Bureau's Philadelphia Office issued a
Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $18,000 to
Mr. Johnson. Although the FCC has evidence that Johnson received a
copy of the notice that was sent by Certified Mail, he has not filed a
response. Based on the information before it the Commission has now
affirmed the forfeiture order.
As is usual in these cases, the FCC has given Johnson the usual 30 days
from the March 12th release of the order to pay the fine in full,
arrange for time payments or file an appeal. If he fails to do any of
these the matter will likely be turned over to the Department of
Justice for further action. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: NEW JERSEY CB SHOP CITED FOR SALE OF UNCERTIFIED GEAR
A New Jersey CB radio shop is the subject of a citatation from the FCC.
Amateur Radio Newslines Stephan Kinford, N8WB, has the details:
--
The FCC has issued an official Citation to Thomas Wilson doing business
as the Redman CB Stop of Absecon, New Jersey. This for its alleged
violation of Section 302(b) of the Act and Sections 2.803, and 2.815(b)
of the Commission's rules by marketing to consumers in the United
States unauthorized radio frequency devices. In this case the devices
are described as 16 makes and models of non-certified RF power
amplifiers capable of operation with both the 11 meter Citizens Band as
well as in the 10 meter amateur service.
Examples of what the FCC terms as the non-certified RF amplifiers
observed on the Redman CB Website included such units as the Fatboy 900
Mobile Amplifier, the Zombie Products 500 Watt Effective Rradiated
Power Linear Amplifier 2290 Driver, and the Palomar FET 450 HD Export
Ham Radio Mosfet Linear Amplifier. According to Commission records,
these devices have not received an FCC grant of certification, which is
required for external radio frequency power amplifiers operating on
frequencies below 144 MHz and marketed in the United States. As such,
Section 2.815(b)(1) of the FCC's Rules prohibits persons from offering
for sale any external radio frequency power amplifier that is capable
of amplification between 26 MHz and 28 MHz.
Redman was warned to immediately cease all sales of this equipment in
The United States or face punitive action that could include monetary
forfeitures not to exceed $16,000 for each such violation or each day
of a continuing violation, and up to $112,500 for any single act or
failure to act.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB, reporting
--
Redman was told that if it chooses to respond to the Citation to
challenge the factual and legal findings, that it has 30 days from the
March 5th release date of the document to do so. (FCC)
**
RESCUE RADIO: FEMA CREATES WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERTS FAQ WEB PAGE
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has developed a new Frequently
Asked Questions or F-A-Q web page dealing with alerts sent directly to
wireless and mobile devices. The page answers such questions as what
are Wireless Emergency Alerts and why they are important to the
recipient. What types of alerts will be received; what such messages
look like and more. The page appears to be a truly valuable asset to
anyone involved in rescue radio or first response operations. Its on
the web at www.fema.gov/wireless-emergency-alerts (FEMA)
**
RESCUE RADIO: SALVATION ARMY PUTS NEW EDS SATERN STATION 'ON THE AIR'
The FCC has approved a new call sign for a recently created SATERN
station located in the Salvation Army's Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi
Division's Emergency Disaster Services center. The new call of WB5ALM
stands for William Booth 5 Alabama Louisiana Mississippi and is
dedicated to William Booth who was the founder of the Salvation Army.
The WB5ALM call was activated for the first time on March 5th during a
check-in to the International SATERN Net on 20 meter phone. SATERN,
which is an acronym for Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network, is
the volunteer amateur radio communications arm of the Salvation Army's
Emergency Disaster Services. (Nevada Amateur Radio Newswire)
**
PUBLIC SERVICE: VOLUNTEERS NEDED FOR WALK FOR HUNGER COMMUNICATIONS
If you live in the Boston, Massachusetts area and would like to
participate in an important public service event, listen up. Volunteer
ham radio communicators are needed for this years Project Bread Walk
for Hunger slated for Sunday, May 4th. This will be the 46th running
of the event and hams are needed to provide communications support for
the Project Bread staff as well as along the the 20 mile route of the
walk. Those interested in helping out this year should apply via the
web at www.mmra.org/wfh and fill out the sign-up form. If you have
questions please send an email to wfh14 (at) mmra (dot) org (KA1NCF)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: DAVID CHARTOCK NEW HEAD OF ADVERTISING AT CQ
CQ Communications has announced the appointment of David Chartock to
head the company's advertising department, effective immediately.
Chartock will guide CQ magazine's advertising sales as the magazine
charts new ground as a part-print, part-digital "hybrid" publication
covering the entire communications hobby.
Chartock has more than 25 years' experience in publishing, both in
editorial and sales positions. From 1989 to 2002, he was
Editor-in-Chief and Web Content Editor of the trade magazine, New York
Construction News. Since 2002, he has been an independent sales
representative, working with start-up publications and the annual
journal of New York's Concrete Industry Board. He can be contacted by
e-mail to (CQ)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: ARRL'S KX9X RECREATES SOUND OF SPARK FOR NPR
When you need the sound of a working spark gap transmitter, the best
place to turn is the ARRL. So when the daily National Public Radio
series All Things Considered needed such a sound, that's exactly where
it went.
The sound effect was required for an episode titled "What if World War
I Had Never Happened?" In order to provide sound effect, ARRL Media
and Public Relations Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, took a short trip over
to the ARRL Lab where there just happens to be a working spark
transmitter.
There he took the provided script and sent it by hand as the sound of
the spark transmitter was recorded. You can hear the results of KX9X
effort when the show airs on your local NPR outlet or soon thereafter
on the NPR website at npr.org/programs/all-things-considered. (KX9X
via ARRL PR Reflector)
**
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)
**
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: MORSE PRESERVATIONIST NANCY KOTT, WZ8C - S.K.
We seem to use the term the changing of the guard more and more these
days. Sadly and we must use it once again this week after receiving a
report that world renown Morse code preservationist Nancy Kott, WZ8C,
of Metamora, Michigan died on March 2nd at the age of 58.
Nancy Kott was the former editor of WorldRadio Magazine and was with it
during its transition to WorldRadio Online. This was the United States
very first electronic only publication ham radio periodical.
But she is likely best remembered as the member of the United Kingdom
based Morse code preservationist group known as the FISTS CW Club who
was instrumental in bringing knowledge of that society to U.S. Shores.
As such, she operated the FISTS booth each year at the Dayton
Hamvention and was a speaker at several seminar sessions over the
years.
According to the ARRL, WZ8C was a member of the it's A-1 Operator Club.
She was also an honorary member of the Texas DX Society and a member of
the groups DXpedition to Belize in 2006. She also operated from the
British Virgin Islands as VP2V stroke WZ8C in 2007.
Professionally Nancy Kott was a field representative for the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. Survivors include her husband, Tim
Lange. Those of us who knew her will miss her very much. (ARRL, The
Daily DX, ARNewsline)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AN UPDATE ON THE FOX-1 AND FOX-2 MICROSATS
The new Fox series of ham radio cubesats are well on their way to
becoming a reality. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Damron, N8TMW, has
the details:
--
AMSAT's Tony Monterio, AA2TX, has released an update on the Fox CubeSat
program via the AMSAT News Service. According to the report, the main
point of Fox-2 is to develop and fly an advanced SDX or software
defined transponder. An SDX system can be programmed to be any kind of
transponder but will initially operate as a linear SSB and CW inverting
mode-J satellite. This means using a VHF uplink and UHF downlink by
default.
As to the smaller Fox-1 satellites, all four units will use the same
hardware and avionics. The universities involved in this project will
supply their experiment cards and the software can be customized for
each satellite as needed. Once the Fox-1 flight models are built, the
engineering team can begin working on the larger Fox-2. This will be a
3 unit sized CubeSat which is three times the size of the Fox-1 birds.
As such, Fox-2 MicroSats will provide a lot more power and space for
the electronics.
I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.
--
The Fox series of CubeSats will be among the most sophisticated ham
radio birds ever placed in the sky. (ANS)
**
HAM RADIO NEAR SPACE: CROSSBAND REPEATER FROM BALLOON IN APRIL
The University of Akron Amateur Radio Club is planning to launch a high
altitude balloon named UA-HABP2 on Saturday, April 12th at around 11am
EDT. The payload includes a cross band FM repeater with its input on
438.050 MHz and an output of 145.600 MHz running 2 watts out. With the
balloon expected to get as high as 80,000 feet, the repeater will have
a projected coverage area exceeding 200 miles for a majority of the two
to four hour flight. The balloon will also carry a slow scan
television system as well as well as a telemetry downlink. For the
latest information on this pending repeater near space project keep an
eye on the w8upd.org website for updated launch info as well as real
time tracking when the mission begins. (KC8LIN)
**
ON THE AIR: GB1PER VICARIOUSLY READY FOR TAKE-OFF
On the air, plan to listen out March 29th and 30th for the United
Kingdoms Worcester Radio Amateur Association which will be activating
call sign GB1PER for the annual Airfields on the Air oiperation. This
event will take place on the grounds of the former Royal Air Force base
at Perdiswell which is where the Kings Flight was based during the
Second World War. GB1PER will be on the H-F bands only. More details
are on QRZ.com (M0VNG)
**
DX
In DX, Eye-One F-Q-H is again active as 5V7DX from Kpalime Village in
the central Togo. Word is that he will be there until late March on
the top bands using mostly CW with some SSB. QSL to his home callsign
either direct, via the bureau or Logbook of the World.
BA3AX and BD3AEO will be active slash B3 from Yuetuo Island between
March 21st through the 24th. Their operation will be 20, 17 and 15
meters meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK. QSL via BA3AX direct, via
the bureau or using Logbook of the World. Kore information is on
QRZ.com.
N5JC and N5JR will be active stroke HH2 from Haiti between March 25th
and April 1st. Activity will be on 160 through 6 meters with a focus on
CW, RTTY and the 30, 17 amd12 meter bands. QSL both callsigns via N5JR
direct, via the bureau or electronically using Logbook of the World.
JA6WFM is now active as YS1/NP3J from San Salvador on 80 through 6
meters using CW and SSB. He will be there through the end of the year.
QSL via EA5GL.
Lastly, N7QT, AB1UH, W4VAB and N7UN will be operational as 5J0X from
San Andres Island between April 2nd and the 14th. Their activity will
be primarily holiday style on 80 through 10 meters using CW, SSB and
PSK. QSL direct to N7QT.
BA3AX and BD3AEO will be active slash B3 from Yuetuo Island between
March 21st through the 24th. Their operation will be 20, 17 and 15
meters meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK. QSL via BA3AX direct, via
the bureau or usung Logbook of the World. More information is on
QRZ.com.
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: HAMS RECEIVE LONG DEACTIVATED NASA ICE SPACECRAFT
And finally this week comes wiord that a group of ham radio operators
using equipment at an observatory in Germany have received signals
from the NASA 's International Cometary Explorer deep space probe. This
is a spacecraft that was retired from service back in in 1997. Amateur
Radio Newslne's Heather Embee, KB3TZD, reports:
--
According to AMSAT-DL, on March 1st and 2nd, some unnamed radio
amateurs were able to detect the beacon signal from the retired NASA
International Cometary Explorer deep space probe using facilities at
the Bochum Observatory in Germany. After some changes to the ground
equipment and aligning the receive antenna to the predicted position in
the sky, the beacon signal could positively be identified due to its
frequency, its position and the frequency shift due to the radial
velocity.
Initially known as the International Sun-Earth Explorer 3 the probe was
launched in 1978 and became the first spacecraft to orbit the Earth-Sun
Lagrange point. There it measured the interaction between the Earth's
magnetic field and the Sun. It was also the first spacecraft to detect
the stream of particles known as the solar wind approaching Earth.
In 1982 the spacecraft was renamed the International Cometary Explorer
and diverted to the Moon, where its gravitational pull placed it on a
heliocentric orbit. In 1985, the comet Giacobini-Zinner was visited
followed by observation of Halley's Comet in 1986.
While the instrumentation on board was still functional and fuel for
more trajectory maneuvers was available, support for the International
Cometary Explorer mission was terminated in 1997, though the spacecraft
transmitter was left on. It was last detected by the NASA Deep Space
Network in 2008. Its current orbit will result in the spacecraft
returning to Earth toMoon space in August.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD, in Berwick,
Pennsylvania.
--
According to researchers, a small propulsive maneuver and lunar flyby
could allow International Cometary Explorer to be directed back into
the Earth to Sun Lagrange point in a halo orbit and perhaps resume a
science mission. However in February a NASA study determined that the
required resources to contact the spacecraft were not available and due
to budgetary constraints no further attempts are planned. (AMSAT-DL)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE
With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the
Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB, the South
African Radio League, the Southgate News, TwiT-TV, Australia's WIA News
and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline(tm).
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For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Skeeter
Nash, N5ASH, near Houston, Texas, saying 73 and we thank you for
listening.
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