Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1933 - August 29 2014
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1933 with a release date of August
29 2014 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
A ham radio floater balloon makes two trips around the world; an IARU
Region One official says 23 centimeters is in jeopardy; Moldavia joins
the CEPT universal licensing system; International Lighthouse and
Lightship Weekend sets a new record and a Morse sprint will honor the
memory of the late Nancy Kott, WZ8C. Find out the details are on
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1933 coming your way right
now.
(Billboard Cart Here)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: HAM BALLOON CIRCUMNAVIGATRES EARTH
British radio amateur Leo Bodnar, M0XER, recently launched several
solar powered balloons that have managed to circumnavigate the globe.
The most interesting of these appears to be B 64 as we hear from
Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD:
--
B-64 carrying an 11 gram transmitter payload, was launched from
Silverstone in the UK on July 12th and it's still flying. It completed
its first circumnavigation of the Northern Hemisphere on July 31 and
its second complete trip on or about August 21st. When last reported
it was on is third round the world trip over northern Russia heading
towed the Arctic Circle at an altitude of about 40,000 feet above mean
sea level.
B-64 transmits 10 milliwatt signal on 434.500 MHz signing M-zero-X-E-R
dash 4 and using the data modes Contestia 64/1000 and APRS. In
designing the balloons payload, Bodnar has utilized some clever
techniques including the storage of up to 5 days of positions when the
balloon is out of radio contact. It later transmits a log file of its
previous locations in the comments field of the APRS packet when ground
acquisition is re-established. This enables a fairly complete path to
be built up.
Like all od Bodnar's floaters, B-64 is a plastic foil party balloon
that flies between 25,000 and 45,000 feet as carried by winds aloft.
When looked at on an APRS tracking map if you see only a straight line
on the track it means that it is currently out of radio contact.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Heather Embee, KB3TZD.
--
Bodnars' other balloons still aloft are designated as B-63 and B-66.
The paths of all of them in flight over the past 6 weeks can be seen at
spacenear.us/tracker/flyb.php (Southgate, others)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: IARU - R1 TO DISCUSS PODSSIBLE LOSS OF 23 CM BAND
A dire prediction the imminent loss by amateur radio of the 23
centimeter band has been issued by an official International Amateur
Radio Union Region One. The warning along with suggested action was
authored by Michael Kastelic, OE1MCU, who is the Chair of the IARU
Region One VHF UHF and Microwave Committee.
In his paper, OE1MCU writes that the latest reports he has received
make it seem to him that radio amateurs will lose the 23 centimeter
band in the near future. He does not offer any specific date for this
to happen but he does note that the current amateur 23 centimeter
allocation includes a key Amateur Satellite Service uplink band at 1260
to 1270 MHz which is now being shared as a downlink for the new
European Galileo Global Positioning System.
OE1MCU goes on to note that in his opinion, if the loss of 23
centimeters happens that a proposal for a new amateur radio allocation
such as 1300 to 1310 MHz should be added to the agenda of the 2018
World Radio Conference. This so that amateurs still have spectrum to
utilize near the current 23 centimeter allocation in which to operate.
A short excerpt from his paper to be presented at the upcoming
International Amateur Radio Union Region One conference slated for
September 21st to the 27th in can be found at amsat-uk.org/tag/iaru.
(IARU-R1, AMSAT-UK)
**
RADIO IN SPACE: ANOMALIES DETECTED IN ORBITS OF 2 GALILEO SATELLITES
LAUNCHED THIS WEEK
Meantime what might be at least a minor setback for the European
Galileo G-P-S system has been reported by European Space Agency. This
after two of the satellites recently launched for the system have shown
an anomaly in their orbits the implications of which for the overall
mission have yet to be determined.
Arianespace which was responsible for launch and the orbital injection
of the satellites acknowledged that complementary observations gathered
after the separation of the two birds from the Soyuz launch vehicle
have highlighted a discrepancy between targeted and actual orbital
height for the Galileo satellites. An Arianespace spokesperson later
said that the satellites are in an orbit lower than was planned.
Meantime, the European Space Agency said that both satellites are
safely in orbit and are being controlled from its operations center in
Germany. Also that further information on their status will be made
available after the preliminary analysis of the situation is completed.
Since it was approved back in 1998, the European Commission has
invested the equivalent of some $17 billion United States dollars in
the Galileo program. Since then it has suffered years of delays due to
political and industrial disagreements. (Published News Reports)
**
RESTRUCTURING: MOLDOVA HAS JOINED CEPT LICENSING
International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 reports that Moldova has
signed the pan-European CEPT Novice and Class 1 amateur radio license
agreement.
The CEPT Radio Amateur License Class 1 corresponds to the United States
Extra and United Kingdom's Advanced and Full licenses. The CEPT Novice
License is closely compatible to the Unites States General and United
Kingdom Intermediate license.
There is also a CEPT entry class license which equate to the United
States Technician and United Kingdom Foundation class, however Moldavia
is not joining in that entry level system at this time.
CEPT which is an English acronym for the European Conference of Postal
and Telecommunications Administration which was established in 1959.
Among its duties is the administration of a universal licensing system
that permits radio amateurs in a given member nation to receive
reciprocal operating privileges in that of other member nations.
(IARU-R1)
**
EMERGING HAM TECHNOLOGY: THE VK6IRO TRANS INDIAN OCEAN BEACON PROJECT
A trans-Indian Ocean 2 meter Chirp modulated beacon is now in its
planning stage. Chirp is a spread spectrum technique that uses its
entire allocated bandwidth to broadcast a signal making it robust to
band noise.
The VK6RIO beacon transmitter will be located in Perth, Australia with
the receive site in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Its purpose will be
to detect possible openings on 144 MHz via Troposphereic Ducting across
the Indian Ocean, which has never been accomplished before. The use of
Chirp means that the receive site will be able to detect a signal at up
to minus 50 decibels below the actual band noise floor.
Right now, the Australia to South Africa path is considered the
greatest terrestrial challenge for VHF radio amateurs, and is even more
difficult than such a contact using moon bounce techniques. (SARL)
**
DX UP FRONT: K5LBU ANNOUNCES CGANGE OF PLANS
In DX up front, Charles Frost, K5LBU, has announced that the planned
trip to Mozambique with WB6OJB has been canceled. This, due to medical
problems with the latter. Instead, K5LBU will be going to Botswana in
early September and is looking for additional operators for a 4 to 7
day trip. If you are interested, contact him ASAP via E-mail at 3da0cf
(at) gmail (dot) com. (OPDX)
**
DX UP FRONT: LUXEMBOURG SEPTEMBER 10 THROUGH 17
Also, PA3EWP, PA1AW, PA9JO and PB5X will be active stroke LX from
Luxembourg from September 10th through the 17th. Operations will be on
80 through 10 meters with four stations using all modes. QSL via PA1AW.
(OPDX)
**
DX UP FRONT: ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS IN NOVEMBER
And down the calendar a bit more comes word that W4VKU will be leading
a team of ten operators to the Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands in
November. The callsign for both activations will be VU4KV. QSL's go
via W4VKU. (OPDX)
**
BREAK 1
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the Ski
Country Amateur Radio Club repeater serving Vail Colorado.
(5 sec pause here)
**
ENFORCEMENT: FCC PROPOSES $14000 FINE TO CB OPERATOR WHO REFUSED
STATION INSPECTION
The FCC has proposed a $14,000 fine against Tommie Salter of
Jacksonville, Florida. This for apparently refusing to allow an
inspection of his Citizen Band radio station by Commission personnel.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephan Kinford, N8WB, has the details:
--
According to its August 22nd release the FCC says that Tommie Salter
has a history of causing interference to his neighbor's home electronic
equipment. On March 17, 2004, the Enforcement Bureau's Tampa Office
issued him a Notice of Violation for failing to allow an agent
inspection of his CB station in response to interference complaints.
After receiving further interference complaints, the Tampa Office
restricted Salter's hours of operation three times from 2004 to 2006.
And in 2004 he was assessed a forfeiture for operating a
non-certificated CB transmitter during his restricted hours.
Fast forward to this past March 21st. In response to a new complaint
of interference to a neighbor's home electronic equipment, agents from
the Tampa Office monitored radio transmissions on 27.245 MHz in the 11
meter Citizens Band. They also used radio direction finding techniques
to locate the source of the signals to Salter's residence.
At that point the agents knocked on the front door and identified
themselves to him as Commission personnel. They then told Salter about
the interference complaint and asked if they could inspect his CB radio
station. But Salter denied the agents' request.
The agents then verbally warned Salter that refusing to allow an
inspection of his CB radio station violated the Communications Act and
the FCC's Rules. As such his refusal could result in a forfeiture
action. But Salter again denied the agents request.
Now, as a result of this refusal the FCC has issued a $14,000 Notice of
Apparent Liability to Salter which is double the base amount of $7000.
In doing so the regulatory agency notes that Salters' actions
demonstrate a deliberate disregard for the Commission's authority and
its rules and thus warranting a significantly increased penalty over
the base amount.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB, reporting.
--
As is usual in cases such as this, Tommie Salter was given the
customary 30 calendar says from the FCC release to pay the full amount
or to file a written statement seeking reduction or cancellation of the
proposed fine. (FCC)
**
RADIO LAW: CALIFORNIA PASSES NEW CELLPHONE ANTI-THEFT LAW
California Governor Jerry Brown signed new legislation that requires
that all smart phones destined for sale in the Golden state sold after
July 1, 2015 to contain a remotely controllable anti-theft security
feature. One that could be used to render these devices inoperable if
lost or stolen.
This technology already exists but up to now phone owners must choose
it. The new California law will require it to be a default standard on
all new phones but owners will be able to turn of the feature if they
choose to do so. (Published News Reports)
**
PUBLIC SERVICE: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR JIMMY FUND WALK
Hams are needed to assist in this years Jimmy Fund Walk slated for
Sunday, September 21st in Boston, Massachusetts. Assignments usually
run from 5 AM to 7 PM Eastern Daylight Time, but there are some half
day morning openings as well. All communications is on 2 meter FM so a
good antenna for an HT with extra batteries are required for the First
Aid Station assignments. A mobile antenna is needed for use on
transport buses. For more information or to volunteer please contact
Steve Schwarm by e-mal to w3eve (at) arrl (dot) net and put the words
Jimmy Fund in the subject line. More is on line at jimmyfundwalk.org
(W3EVE)
**
PUBLIC SERVICE: MASSACHUSETTS RIDE TO DEFEAT ALS
Still with public service events in Massachusetts, we have all seen the
video's of people around the world taking the ice bucket challenge to
increase awareness and raise funds for research into finding a cure for
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis better known by the acronym ALS. But
this is not the only way that awareness of this killer disease is being
brought to the attention of the public.
Ham radio is also doing its part and one of the groups involved is the
Worcester Emergency Communications Team. It is in the process of
soliciting radio amateurs to help with communications for the Annual
Ride to Defeat ALS that will be held in the city of Wayland,
Massachusetts on Sunday September 28th.
If you wish to volunteer or have any questions please contact Rob
Capizzio via e-mail at rob (at) kc2ema (dot) net. More information
about the event is available at tinyurl.com/als-bike-ride. (KG1H)
**
NEW GEAR: ICOM PREVIEW 50TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION IC-7850
Icom has displayed a pre-release version of what is calling a very
special High Frequency and 6 meter radio in celebration of the
company's 50th anniversary. Designated as the IC-7850, the radio is
based on Icom's IC-7800 but incorporates several circuitry improvements
as well as special styling.
Icom says that the IC-7850 will be produced early in 2015 but in very
limited numbers. You can download a brochure on this 50th anniversary
Icom radio in PDF format at tinyurl.com/new-ic-7850. A short video of
the IC-7850 recorded at the Tokyo Hamfaire is on line at
tinyurl.com/icom-anniversary-radio (Southgate, others)
**
NEW GEAR: YAESU FT-991 KW/50/144/430 MHz TRANSCEIVER
Yaesu has announced the introduction of a new High Frequency, VHF and
UHF base station transceiver dubbed the model FT-991. This new
transceiver is capable of operating SSB, CW, AM, FM, Packet as well as
the company's exclusive System Fusion C4FM Digital Voice mode.
The FT-991 is not yet listed on the Yaesu English language website nor
has any pricing been announced. However specifications are available
at several independent sites on the World Wide Web including
nicktoday.com. You can see a short video of this new transceiver on
YouTube at tinyurl.com/n462ksn. (Southgate, others)
**
RADIO ENTERTAINMENT: VK9MT MELLISH REEF VIDEOS POSTED
Four short videos have been posted on the VK9MT Mellish Reef Web page
on the recent DXpedition to that remote location. Titles of the videos
are "Mellish Reef 2014 Collage," "Sailing to Mellish Reef," "VK9MT
Setup" and "VK9MT Setup Short Form". Each runs less than 10 minutes
and can be found at Videos can be found at
tinyurl.com/mellish-2014-video. (OPDX)
**
HAM RAPPENINGS: ILLW 2014 SETS SOME NEW RECORDS
The just concluded 2014 International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend
saw 541 registrations from 56 countries making for some new records in
the annual event.
According to Jim Linton, VK3PC, some 20 per cent of all registrations
were first-time activations. New countries for the event included
Barbados and Kuwait.
Linton says that it was an outstanding year for the United States which
has with 91 activations. This, exceeded the previous an all time high
of 80 it achieved back in 2011.
Some first-time portable operations of former maritime navigation
structures came from several countries that in all numbered more than
100.
Linton says that already 30 registrations are listed for next years
International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend that will be held on
August 15 and 16 of 2015. More about this year's event is on the web
at illw.net (VK3PC)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: COMMISSIONER PAI AT UPCOMMING NAB RADIO SHOW
National Association of Broadcasters president Gordon Smith will engage
in a one-on-one chat with FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai. This, the annual
Radio Luncheon at the upcoming joint 2014 NAB and Radio Advertising
Bureau gathering slated for September 10th to the 12th in Indianapolis.
Indiana.
Commissioner Pai has been very outspoken on just about every aspect of
broadcasting and telecommunications since his appointment back in 2012.
He and Smith are expected to discuss communications policy and how it
affects free, local radio broadcasting. (TalkMedia)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: WZ8C MEMORIAL CW SPRINT
The North American QRP CW Club and FISTS are jointly sponsoring a
special Morse sprint on September 3, from 0000 to 0300 UTC. This, in
memory of the late CW advocate Nancy Kott, WZ8C.
WZ8C was the leader of the FISTS CW Club in North America as well as
being past editor of WorldRadio and WorldRadio Online magazines. She
was also a 2014 inductee into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame in
recognition of her work in promoting Morse code.
This sprint is part of month-long operating challenge that is also
being done in Nancy Kott's memory. Complete details about the
exchange, log submission, etc. can be found at
tinyurl.com/remembering-wz8c. (CQ)
**
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: ASTRONAUT STEVE NAGEL N5RAW - SK
The changing of the guard in Amateur Radio continues. This, with the
sad news that NASA astronaut Steven Nagel, N5RAW, who flew four space
shuttle missions, died Thursday August 21st.
Nagel became a NASA astronaut in August 1979. He first flew as a
mission specialist on STS-51G, which launched on June 17, 1985. In
1991 as Commander on flight STS-37 he was among the all ham radio crew
where he was joined by astronauts Ken Cameron, KB5AWP; Linda Godwin,
N5RAX, Jay Apt, N5QWL, and Jerry Ross the former N5SCW.
During this mission, the crew aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis
deployed the Gamma Ray Observatory for the purpose of exploring gamma
ray sources throughout the universe. They also conducted the first
scheduled spacewalk in more than 5 and a half years as well the first
unscheduled spacewalk to free a stuck antenna on Gamma Ray Observatory.
Some of the crew members spent many of their free hours using the
Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment 2 meter ham radio station to talk with
youngsters in schools around the world. That flight was chronicled in
the joint ARRL and AMSAT video Ham Radio in Space.
Nagel's last flight was as commander of STS-55 that carried the German
D-2 Spacelab. With that mission's completion Nagel had logged a total
of 723 hours in space. He then assumed a position with the Astronaut
Office from which he retired in March of 1995 to become the of deputy
director for the Operations Development, Safety, Reliability, and
Quality Assurance Office.
In September 1996, Nagel transferred to the Aircraft Operations
Division where he performed duties as a research pilot, chief of
aviation safety and deputy division chief. He retired from NASA on May
31, 2011.
Nagel is survived by his wife, Linda, and his two daughters, Lauren and
Whitney. At the time of his passing Nagel was age 67. (NASA,
published news reports)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: ELECTRON'S QUANTUM BEHAVIOR RECORDED BY LASERS
Researchers say they've come up with a way to record and control
behavior of a single electron at the quantum mechanical level which
they say could bring quantum computing and information processing one
step closer. Hal Rogers, K8CMD, reports:
--
The team headed by University of Chicago scientists focused on the
quantum mechanical property of electrons knows as spin. They report
using ultra fast pulses of laser light to control the quantum state of
electrons contained inside nano scale defects located in a diamond.
They then observed changes in that electron over a period of time.
The researchers say that this all operates in a manner similar to the
way conventional computers hold bits of data. Those being a binary 1 or
0 in an electron's charge state. In a quantum-based computer spin
states of individual electrons would represent a quantum representation
of that same bit.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Hal Rogers, K8CMD.
--
You can read the entire story of this new discovery on the web at
tinyurl.com/laser-quantum-experiment (TechTimes.com)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: ASSISTANCE NEEDED IN TRACKING NEW GREEK HAMSAT
The Cyprus Amateur Radio Society is asking all radio amateurs to
support the work of the Lambdasat program which is in the process of
readying the first Greek ham radio satellite for operation. This
through what it calls the establishment of the necessary infrastructure
for reception and relaying of the micro satellites signals back to the
controllers on Earth for scientific analysis.
Lambdasat, was launched on Sunday, July 13th from the Wallops Island
launch facility and was received at the International Space Station
about three days later. The satellite remained stored at the
International Space Station for scheduled deployment on Tuesday, August
26th. It is expected to remain in orbit from 9 to 11 months. More
details about the project and how to assist is on the web at
tinyurl.com/first-greek-hamsat (CARS)
**
PROPAGATION STUDY: NEW 222 MHZ BEACON ON THE AIR FROM GRID EN52
A new 222 MHz beacon has come on the air from Clinton, Wisconsin.
Located in Grid Square E N 52 the beacon operates on 222.058 MHz
signing N9HF running about 3 « watts from a vintage Midland 13-509
transceiver into a single horizontally polarized halo antenna. The
N9HF beacon went on the air at 0001 GMT on August 23rd. Reception
reports go to n9hfontheair (at) gmail (dot) com (VHF Reflector, W9JJ)
**
DX
In DX word that G3ZEM will be operating stroke 4 W from a water's edge
location of Timor Leste between October 8th and the 20th. Activity
will be on 160 through 10 meters primarily on CW. There will be a
focus towards the lower frequency bands if conditions are favorable.
QSL via M0URX.
VE3LYC and KD1CT will attempt to operate from Matthew Island from
September 4th to the 7th. They will maintain one station on the air
around the clock, operating on all bands from 40 through 10 meters
using CW and SSB. QSL via VE3LYC, direct or by the Bureau.
HA0HW will be on the air from Thassos Island as SW8WW between September
12th and the 22nd. He will operate mainly CW, with some SSB and RTTY
on the HF bands and on 6 meters. QSL via his home callsign, direct or
via the HA Bureau.
Keep an ear open for K7TRB who will be active from Rwanda as 9X0VA
until October. Bands and modes of this operation were not announced.
QSL via his home callsign.
K9EL will once again be operational stroke FS from St. Martin between
November 20th and December 2nd. Activity will be on 160 through 6
meters. QSL via his home callsign.
Lastly, ZS1ANF, RD3MX and UA1PAW will be active as RI1ANR from the Novo
Runway Airbase in Antarctica between November 2014 and March 2015.
Their operation will be on 160 through 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL
via RK1PWA.
(This weeks DX news courtesy of OPDX)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: MAKE SURE YOUR DEVICES ARE CHARGED
And finally this week, if you are planning a trip by air to the United
States you will want to make certain that the batteries in any
electronic device you plan to carry with you are charged and ready to
demonstrate to the TSA as we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Cheryl
Lasek, K9BIK:
--
The TSA recently published an announcement stating that passengers
boarding flights to the United States from certain overseas airports
will need to prove that all electronic devices they plan to take with
them on board a flight can be powered up.
Part of the text of the announcement says that the Secretary of
Homeland Security has directed TSA to implement enhanced security
measures at certain overseas airports with direct flights to the United
States.
It says that as the traveling public knows, all electronic devices are
screened by security officers. During the security examination,
officers may also ask that owners power up some devices, including cell
phones. Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft.
The traveler may also undergo additional screening.
The announcement goes on to say that the TSA will continue to adjust
security measures to ensure that travelers are guaranteed the highest
levels of aviation security conducted as conveniently as possible.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, reporting.
--
As many hams who travel internationally carry an HT in addition to
cellphones, laptops and the like, it will be important to be able to
demonstrate to the TSA that devices that work off internal batteries
can indeed be powered up. More is on-line at the link provided in this
weeks printed Amateur Radio Newsline report. More is on line at
http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/06/cha...-flying-tsa-wi
ll-now-block-dead-devices-at-some- airports/?ncid=twitt (TSA, Published
news reports)
**
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. 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, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita
California, 91350.
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Ralph
Squillace, KK6ITB, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.