Tillbaka till svenska Fidonet
English   Information   Debug  
FILM   0/18
FNEWS_PUBLISH   4186
FN_SYSOP   41525
FN_SYSOP_OLD1   71952
FTP_FIDO   0/2
FTSC_PUBLIC   0/13572
FUNNY   0/4886
GENEALOGY.EUR   0/71
GET_INFO   105
GOLDED   0/408
HAM   0/16052
HOLYSMOKE   0/6791
HOT_SITES   0/1
HTMLEDIT   0/71
HUB203   466
HUB_100   264
HUB_400   39
HUMOR   0/29
IC   0/2851
INTERNET   0/424
INTERUSER   0/3
IP_CONNECT   719
JAMNNTPD   0/233
JAMTLAND   0/47
KATTY_KORNER   0/41
LAN   0/16
LINUX-USER   0/19
LINUXHELP   0/1155
LINUX   0/22010
LINUX_BBS   0/957
mail   18.68
mail_fore_ok   249
MENSA   0/341
MODERATOR   0/102
MONTE   0/992
MOSCOW_OKLAHOMA   0/1245
MUFFIN   0/783
MUSIC   0/321
N203_STAT   898
N203_SYSCHAT   313
NET203   321
NET204   69
NET_DEV   0/10
NORD.ADMIN   0/101
NORD.CHAT   0/2572
NORD.FIDONET   189
NORD.HARDWARE   0/28
NORD.KULTUR   0/114
NORD.PROG   0/32
NORD.SOFTWARE   0/88
NORD.TEKNIK   0/58
NORD   0/453
OCCULT_CHAT   0/93
OS2BBS   0/787
OS2DOSBBS   0/580
OS2HW   0/42
OS2INET   0/37
OS2LAN   0/134
OS2PROG   0/36
OS2REXX   0/113
OS2USER-L   207
OS2   0/4784
OSDEBATE   0/18996
PASCAL   0/490
PERL   0/457
PHP   0/45
POINTS   0/405
POLITICS   0/29554
POL_INC   0/14731
PSION   103
R20_ADMIN   1117
R20_AMATORRADIO   0/2
R20_BEST_OF_FIDONET   13
R20_CHAT   0/893
R20_DEPP   0/3
R20_DEV   399
R20_ECHO2   1379
R20_ECHOPRES   0/35
R20_ESTAT   0/719
R20_FIDONETPROG...
...RAM.MYPOINT
  0/2
R20_FIDONETPROGRAM   0/22
R20_FIDONET   0/248
R20_FILEFIND   0/24
R20_FILEFOUND   0/22
R20_HIFI   0/3
R20_INFO2   2763
R20_INTERNET   0/12940
R20_INTRESSE   0/60
R20_INTR_KOM   0/99
R20_KANDIDAT.CHAT   42
R20_KANDIDAT   28
R20_KOM_DEV   112
R20_KONTROLL   0/13057
R20_KORSET   0/18
R20_LOKALTRAFIK   0/24
R20_MODERATOR   0/1852
R20_NC   76
R20_NET200   245
R20_NETWORK.OTH...
...ERNETS
  0/13
R20_OPERATIVSYS...
...TEM.LINUX
  0/44
R20_PROGRAMVAROR   0/1
R20_REC2NEC   534
R20_SFOSM   0/340
R20_SF   0/108
R20_SPRAK.ENGLISH   0/1
R20_SQUISH   107
R20_TEST   2
R20_WORST_OF_FIDONET   12
RAR   0/9
RA_MULTI   106
RA_UTIL   0/162
REGCON.EUR   0/2055
REGCON   0/13
SCIENCE   0/1206
SF   0/239
SHAREWARE_SUPPORT   0/5146
SHAREWRE   0/14
SIMPSONS   0/169
STATS_OLD1   0/2539.065
STATS_OLD2   0/2530
STATS_OLD3   0/2395.095
STATS_OLD4   0/1692.25
SURVIVOR   0/495
SYSOPS_CORNER   0/3
SYSOP   0/84
TAGLINES   0/112
TEAMOS2   0/4530
TECH   0/2617
TEST.444   0/105
TRAPDOOR   0/19
TREK   0/755
TUB   0/290
UFO   0/40
UNIX   0/1316
USA_EURLINK   0/102
USR_MODEMS   0/1
VATICAN   0/2740
VIETNAM_VETS   0/14
VIRUS   0/378
VIRUS_INFO   0/201
VISUAL_BASIC   0/473
WHITEHOUSE   0/5187
WIN2000   0/101
WIN32   0/30
WIN95   0/4276
WIN95_OLD1   0/70272
WINDOWS   0/1517
WWB_SYSOP   0/419
WWB_TECH   0/810
ZCC-PUBLIC   0/1
ZEC   4

 
4DOS   0/134
ABORTION   0/7
ALASKA_CHAT   0/506
ALLFIX_FILE   0/1313
ALLFIX_FILE_OLD1   0/7997
ALT_DOS   0/152
AMATEUR_RADIO   0/1039
AMIGASALE   0/14
AMIGA   0/331
AMIGA_INT   0/1
AMIGA_PROG   0/20
AMIGA_SYSOP   0/26
ANIME   0/15
ARGUS   0/924
ASCII_ART   0/340
ASIAN_LINK   0/651
ASTRONOMY   0/417
AUDIO   0/92
AUTOMOBILE_RACING   0/105
BABYLON5   0/17862
BAG   135
BATPOWER   0/361
BBBS.ENGLISH   0/382
BBSLAW   0/109
BBS_ADS   0/5290
BBS_INTERNET   0/507
BIBLE   0/3563
BINKD   0/1119
BINKLEY   0/215
BLUEWAVE   0/2173
CABLE_MODEMS   0/25
CBM   0/46
CDRECORD   0/66
CDROM   0/20
CLASSIC_COMPUTER   0/378
COMICS   0/15
CONSPRCY   0/899
COOKING   28304
COOKING_OLD1   0/24719
COOKING_OLD2   0/40862
COOKING_OLD3   0/37489
COOKING_OLD4   0/35496
COOKING_OLD5   9370
C_ECHO   0/189
C_PLUSPLUS   0/31
DIRTY_DOZEN   0/201
DOORGAMES   0/2008
DOS_INTERNET   0/196
duplikat   6000
ECHOLIST   0/18295
EC_SUPPORT   0/318
ELECTRONICS   0/359
ELEKTRONIK.GER   1534
ENET.LINGUISTIC   0/13
ENET.POLITICS   0/4
ENET.SOFT   0/11701
ENET.SYSOP   33803
ENET.TALKS   0/32
ENGLISH_TUTOR   0/2000
EVOLUTION   0/1335
FDECHO   0/217
FDN_ANNOUNCE   0/7068
FIDONEWS   23526
FIDONEWS_OLD1   0/49742
FIDONEWS_OLD2   0/35949
FIDONEWS_OLD3   0/30874
FIDONEWS_OLD4   0/37224
FIDO_SYSOP   12841
FIDO_UTIL   0/180
FILEFIND   0/209
FILEGATE   0/212
Möte HAM, 16052 texter
 lista första sista föregående nästa
Text 1477, 698 rader
Skriven 2007-01-06 10:12:08 av Roy Witt (1:397/22)
     Kommentar till en text av Ya'll
Ärende: Amateur Radio NewslineT Report 1534 -  January 5th, 2007
================================================================
Amateur Radio NewslineT Report 1534 -  January 5th, 2007

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1534 with a release date of
Friday, January 5th, 2007 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T.  New hams down-under prove their worth
providing firestorm communications, a federal report in the United
States says most areas have no interoperable emergency radio systems
and Samsung explores ways to control ionespheric propagation.  All this
and more on Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1534 coming your way
right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**

RESCUE RADIO: TASMANIAN RADIO CLUB AND THE THE VK FIRES

A group of newcomers to ham radio have been called out in the wake of a
series of wildfires ravaging part of Australia.  All are members of the
Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club.  One even lost his home in the
blaze.  Grant Stowell, V-K-3-H-F-S, of the WIA News has the details:

--

These East Coast Fires razed St Helens, Scamander etc. The number of
"F" calls there that have done an excellent job of setting up a simplex
communications channel, using channel 51 146.550, to keep in contact
with each other and report the fire's trail of destruction and heading.

Special mention must go to, VK7FLED Merv, VK7FEAT Stuart, VK7FTAN
Tanya. VK7YBN Terry, VK7FJBL Steve.  VK7ZOO Geoff
and an extra special mention to VK7FLCA Leon.  His who's home was
destroyed by the fire.

All these hams kept the lines of communication open when there was no
power, no phone, using their own generators or mobile rigs to keep
information flowing.

In the south of the state Radio Operators were requested by the
Tasmania Fire Service to assist Fire Comm from the operations centre at
Cambridge with radio communications for the Kellevie / Wielangta fire.

There have been two shifts set-up from 0700 to 1700 and 1700 to 2200
and the roster was full a short time after the call went out.  The
operator's role is to answer and log calls using TFS radios and
professional words and procedures.  There are over 15 amateurs involved
in this roster alone.

I'm Grant Stowell, VK3HFS.

--

The F suffix in the calls mentioned mean that they are new Australian
code free Foundation class hams, most of who came into the hobby within
the past year.  The Foundation Class concept originated in the U-K and
is fast becoming the entry level standard around the world.  (WIA News)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  NEVER TRUST A WIRED INFRASTRUCTURE

More proof that putting your trust in a wired communications
infrastructure can lead to disaster.  In this case Thailand and other
parts off Asia that will likely be without Internet access until the
end of February.  This, as the result of a earthquake that hit the
region on Tuesday, December 26th.

CAT Telecom is Thailand's Internet regulator and operator of the
country's international gateway.  It says that four of its eight
optical networks had been affected by the earthquake, causing its speed
to drop by 50 per cent. The problem was expected to continue until
repairs to the undersea network can be completed.

A vice president of CAT Telecom, told reporters that the company has
yet to estimate the financial losses as a result of the damages to the
undersea cable networks.  The damaged under seas cables account for
about 90 per cent of Thailand's total telecommunications capacity.  The
outage is mainly affecting  connections to Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan,
and the US.

Its well known that a growing number of hams in the U-S are trying to
tie future ham radio emergency communications to the Internet and its
coommercial wired infrastructure.  Our advice:  Think twice before
putting all of your eggs in one bit-bucket.  Having a parallel ham
radio only back-up that uses battery or solar powered R-F and no
Internet connections will be essential if and when a storm, earthquake
or other disaster blows the Internet away.   (Bangcock Post)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  NEW REPORT SAYS MOST CITIES DO NOT HAVE MODERN E-COMS
GEAR

Emergency responders in most U-S cities don't have the equipment and
skills needed to communicate with each other or with commanders during
a crisis.  This, according to a report to be released by the Homeland
Security Department..  Amateur Radio Newsline's Burt Hicks, WB6MQV,
reports:

--

The study was conducted by the Homeland Security Department.  It
concluded that only 6 of the 75 major metropolitan areas have radio
systems that permit their emergency response agencies ability to
communicate with one another during a disaster.  So called
interoperable radio systems.

Interoperable is a term that loosely means to have the ability to
interconnect the radios and radio networks of all first response
services.  This, so that they can communicate without the need for
other people to relay what was said

The research for the report included large and small cities, their
suburbs, along with United States territories.  It said that all 75
areas surveyed have policies in place for helping their emergency
workers communicate, but it cautioned that regular testing and
exercises are needed to effectively link these diverse  systems.  It
also said that while cooperation among emergency workers is high,
formalized leadership and planning across some regions has lagged.

The report gives the best ratings in emergency communications to
Washington, D.C; San Diego, California; Minneapolis and St.Paul in
Minnesota; Columbus, Ohio; Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Laramie
County, Wyoming.  The lowest scores went to Chicago, Illinois;
Cleveland, Ohio; Baton Rouge, Louisiana.; Mandan, North Dakota and
American Samoa..

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Burt Hicks, WB6MQV, for the Amateur
Radio Newsline.

--

The bottom line:  Five years after the al-Quida lead terror attacks
that brought down the World trade center and damaged the Pentagon, very
few first cities have invested in communications networks that let all
responders at the scene of an emergency talk to one another.  It also
means that Amateur Radio continues to be the only truly interoperable
first response radio service to be found in any region of the United
States.  (Various)

**


RESCUE RADIO:  COLORADO, WESTERN WASHINGTON ARES VOLUNTEERS RESPOND TO
WEATHER EMERGENCIES

Recent weather emergencies in Western Washington resulted in several
callouts of Amateur Radio communications volunteers.  Jeff Reinhardt,
AA6JR, has more:

--

ARES volunteers activated in Colorado after the first of two blizzards
struck on December 20th.  The initial storm paralyzed a large part of
the state and stranding thousands of  travelers.  The second severe
weather system hit about a week later.   It added more snow and travel
snags.

As reported in the ARRL Letter, after the first storm hit snowfall
totals averaging 20 to 30 inches were measured around the Front Range
of Denver and 40 inches or more in the foothills west of the city.
Denver International Airport was closed for several days with hundreds
of flights cancelled and thousands stranded. Governor Bill Owens
declared a state of emergency and activated the Colorado National Guard
to assist in rescuing stranded motorists.  The airport closed again
after the second storm arrived.

Colorado Section Emergency Coordinator Ben Baker, KB0UBZ, says that
Amateur Radio operators supported the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
Some staffed shelters while other ARES members used their four-wheel
drive vehicles to transport essential and emergency personnel to their
assignments.  The Colorado Emergency Operations Center as well as
county and local EOC's were opened.

ARES and RACES teams across Western Washington activated December 14th.
This, after severe weather struck the Pacific Northwest. Eight people
died, and nearly 1.5 million homes and businesses lost electrical power
in the wake of the strong winds and heavy rainfall.

Although the regions communications infrastructure stayed pretty much
intact, the state did activate its Emergency Operations Center at Fort
Murray.  Also, some ARES and RACES operations were staged so as to have
circuits established at the local EOC's and ECC's. This, as a
precaution in case major communication outages developed.

A secondary mission for the Washington state has was to support Red
Cross shelters.  The relief group opened 15 of them across the affected
region.

In both Colorado and Washington, hams in the affected areas proved
themselves ready for whatever emergency might come their way.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, in Los
Angeles.

--

According to news reports, at the height of the storm winds approaching
70 miles per hour were clocked at Seattle's SeaTac Airport.  Sea-Tac is
the city's official wind and precipitation data collection point,
(ARRL, Other published news reports)

**

Break 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K3ZFF
repeater of the Boisie County Amateur Radio Club serving Boisie, Idaho.

(5 sec pause here)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  NEW STUDY PREDICTS WILDFIRES USING OBSERVATIONS FROM
SPACE

Some good news for hams involved in emergency communications in areas
prone to wildfires.  NASA says that data from earth observation
satellites is helping build the capability to determine when and where
wildfires may occur by providing details on plant conditions.  Fred
Vobbe, W8HDU, has the details:

--

According to a recent edition of Science Daily, information gathered
from orbiting satellites has allowed scientists to quickly determine
the exact location of wildfires and to monitor their movement.  Now,
that same  research is offering another step toward predicting wildfire
development.  One that could complement data from National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration weather satellites used to help calculate
fire potential across much of the United States.

By studying shrublands prone to wildfire while flying across southern
California, scientists using the satellite collected data accurately
detected and mapped plant moisture and fuel condition as in the
greenness of grass, shrubs and plants.  Moisture levels and fuel
condition, combined with the weather, play a major role in the
ignition, rate of spread, and intensity of wildfires.

If proven accurate, the new method of predicting these fires could give
first responders and those who provide them with communications a leg-
up on planning the combined firefighting efforts.  As a safety tool it
could also let them know if a wildfire is turning toward them, and
possibly. now to escape.

In Lima, Ohio, I'm Fred Vobbe, W8HDU, for the Amateur Radio Newsline,.

--

This study was funded by NASA and the U.S. Joint Fire Science Program.
It was published in the August 30, 2006, issue of the American
Geophysical Union's Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences.
(Science Daily, NASA)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  SAMSUNG AND THE GLOBAL ANTENNA

Samsung says it wants to try to control ionespheric propagation.
According to an article in the January issue of Popular Communications,
researchers at the Korean electronics giant are said to be trying to
develop technology aimed at using the ionosphere as a medium for
reliable long distance communication without the need for expensive
satellites.

Every ham knows that the ionosphere already plays a role in
communications as a radio wave reflector for short-wave signals.  By
launching UHF signals behind a 1 GHz carrier signal, the Samsung
scientists hope to alter the behavior of the ionosphere.  This by
creating an alternating current within it that can then be modulated at
a particular frequency in order to create the equivalent of an antenna
with global proportions.  (Popular Communications)

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  HAM DEAD IN ANTARCTIC ACCIDENT

An accident has claimed the life of a radio amateur working neae the
South pole.  Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is here with the details:

--

A South African ham radio operator has been killed in a transport
accident in the Antarctic.  This, according a spokesman for South
Africa's Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism who identified
the victim as 25 year old Dewald Voigt, ZS1FRD.

The department's Director for the Antarctica Islands is Henry
Valentine.  He said that accident took place on Friday, December 22nd
shortly after Voigt arrived at the South African Antarctic station.

Voight was an engineer and scientist on assignment to the remote
Southern outpost.  He died in a Skidoo accident. For those not aware, a
Skidoo is a motorized toboggan or sled.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak at the studio in Los
Angles.

--

Voigt is the third South African known to have died in the Antarctic.
About 10 years ago a soldier died in a blizzard during the construction
of a new base.  In 1979 a South African died after falling into a
crevasse.  (Southgate, ZS6YI)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FINE IMPOSED ON UNLICENSES SAN DIEGO STATION

Teenage Mutant Ninja Radio says on its website that it signed off the
air "for a while" in October, "due to harassment by the FCC."  While
the unlicensed  broadcasts on 106.9 MHz have apparently ceased in San
Diego, the FCC hasn't walked away.  In fact, its holding the alleged
station owner responsible to the tune of $10,000, bjt not for the
actual transmissions.

The regulatory agency has ordered Alan M. Conrad to pay a $10,000 fine
for failure to respond to a Notice of Apparent Liability issued in
September.  This, after the FCC began inquiring about unlicensed
broadcasts from his property in May.

According to the FCC's San Diego office, it first acted against Teenage
Mutant Ninja Radio on April 25th after it received information that an
unlicensed broadcast  radio station was allegedly operating in the San
Diego area.  That's when FCC inspectors  confirmed by direction finding
that the signals 106.9 MHz were emanating from property owned by Alan
and Maria Conrad.  The Commission's says that its  records show no
license was ever issued for operation of a broadcast station at that
location on 106.9 MHz in San Diego, California.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  RETAILER DINGED FOR SELLING UNCERTIFIED CB GEAR

Yet another retailer who tried to sell non-certified C-B sets claiming
they were for use by radio amateurs has been dinged with a $7000 fine
from the FCC.  Told to pay the forfeiture is Michigan based Gambler's
CB & Ham Radio Sales & Service.

Back in a 2004, Gamblers is charged  with willfully and repeatedly
violating the Commission's rules by offering for sale non-certified
Citizens Band  transceivers. In its December 21st, 2006 order affirming
the fine, the Commission turned away claims by Gambler's that the
transceivers offered for sale did not require certification because
they weren't CB transmitters as defined in part 95.603(a) of the FCC
Rules.

Gambler's tried to claim the Galaxy radios in question were for use
only by hams.  Rule 95.603(a) does not specifically require
certification of Amateur Radio equipment.  The company tried to claim
that this holds true even if ithe transmitters are easily modifiable to
operate in the Citizens Band.

But the FCC turned away this defense.  Instead it gave Gambler's the
customary 30 days to pay the fine.  No word if the retailer plans any
further appeals into the federal courts.  (FCC)

**

HAM RADIO PR:  AR IN BBC SKY AT NIGHT MAGAZINE

Amateur Radio was featured in the December issue of the United
Kingdom's BBC Sky At Night magazine.  This, in a page article called
"How To Get Pictures From Space" written by David Worboys, M0ZLB.

In his article Wordboys describes the Amateur Radio Space Cam 1 system,
which is onboard, the International Space Station.  He also provides a
step-by-step guide on how the public can receive ISS Slow Scan TV
pictures.  (Southgate)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS: SVHFS SOLICITING CONFEEENCE PAPERS

he Southeastern VHF Society is calling for the submission of papers and
presentations for its 11th annual conference to be held April 27th and
28th in Atlanta, Georgia.  Papers and presentations are being solicited
on both the technical and operational aspects of VHF, UHF and Microwave
weak signal amateur radio. All submissions must be in either Microsoft
Word or Adobe Acrobat file format.  The deadline for the submission of
papers and presentations is March 2.  Send all questions, comments and
submissions to Jim Worsham at w4kxy@bellsouth.net. For further
information about the conference please visit www.svhfs.org on the
World-Wide-Web,  (SVHFS)

**


HAM RADIO ON THE WEB:  THE NEW DXPORTAL SEARCH ENGINE

Alex Savenok, 4Z5LZ has announced a  new search engine designed
specifically for Amateur Radio called DXPORTAL.

Savenok says that DXPORTAL was built using the famed Google core search
technology.  In this case, it prioritizes search results based on
Amateur Radio websites.  This way you get useful Amateur Radio web
information without the non topical results that general search engines
tend to return.

Give it a try yourself.  Again its in cyberspace at
http://beta.dxportal.com
(4Z5LZ)

**


HAM RADIO PUBLIC RELATIONS:  RARA AND 100 YEARS OF RADIO

New York's Rochester Amateur Radio Association is helping in the
promotion of the 100 year celebration of the first radio broadcast.  On
January 28th, club member Keith Freeberg, N2BEL, will appear on a local
talk show to promote the amateur service.

N2BEL will be appearing on the show "1370 Connections," on a public
broadcasting station WXXI in Rochester.  "1370 Connections" will air
the ham radio segment  from 1200 to 1300 EST on January 28,th.  If you
are not in the area you can listen to a live stream on the Internet at
www.wxxi.org/radio/index.html  (W2ZEY)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  LIMARC ON LONG ISLAND NY IN FEBRUARY

And its almost time for the LIMARC Hamfest.  Sponsored by the Long
Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club this is the biggest annual hamfest in
the New York City metropolitan area.  This year's gatheing is slated
for Sunday, February 25th,  at the Levittown Hall in the city of
Hicksville.  That's about 35 miles due Eeast of midtown Manhattan.
Doors open to the public at 9 AM Eastern time with a V-E exam session
to start one hour later.  More information is on line at
www.limarc.org/fest.htm  (K2EPM)

**

BREAK 2

The news never stops and neither do we.  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)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  N6RAS WINS BOAT PARADE AWARD

Some names in the news.  First up is Peter Barbour, N6RAS.  He was the
skipper of a sail boat that chalked up yet another victory in the
annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade.  This year he takes the
prize for "Best Boat Under 30 Feet."

Barbour's decorated sail boat featured over 300 feet of rope lights,
600 mini-lights, and a yellow strobe light were used to decorate the
vessel.  Also on-board was a ham station interfaced to a GPS unit that
transmitted his location as well as a short holiday greeting to the
entire world via the Internet.   (KH6WZ)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  WAYNE MILLS LEAVES ARRL

Wayne Mills, N7NG, has resigned as Membership Services Manager of the
ARRL.  In an e-mail to the Ohio Penn D-X Newsletter made public on
Sunday, December 31st, Mills said that he delivered a letter of
resignation to ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ, on
Thursday, December 14th.

Mills went on to say that his early departure had not been in his plan
but had become necessary.   While he did not elaborate, Mills said that
his departure did not indicate any fundamental differences with the
ARRL outside of the jurisdiction of its Chief Operating Officer Harold
Kramer.

Mills said that all in all, it's been a fun six and one-half years.  He
said that  the League has been a great place to work, and he would do
all but the last 22 months over again.  Mills also urges all of hams to
support the ARRL
Financially but adds one caveat.  He says to be sure to tell them what
you want, though because they don't always ask.  Mills also thanked all
of radio amateurs around the world for their great support.  (OPDX)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  ART BELL, W6OBB, BACK BROADCASTING FROM PAHRUMP
NEVADA

Art Bell, W6OBB, has returned to the United States and has resumed
broacasting his weekend edition of Coast to Coast A.M. from his
longtime home and studio in Pahrump, Nevada.  Bell opened the December
28 program by announcing that he had just relocated back from the
Philippines  along with his new wife Airyn, who had obtained the
necessary paperwork for immigrating to the United States.  W6OBB had
not previously disclosed his plans to return to the high desert where
he also owns radio station KNYE.  Bell indicated on his December 30,
show that one of the reasons for his return was not having access to
the massive Amateur Radio station he had built up at his Nevada home.
(ARNewslineT)

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  JIM ROBINSON, B3IAI OF J-BEAM - SK

The changing of the guard in ham radio continues.  This with word that
91 year old  Jim Robinson, G3IAI, has died.

Jim Robinson was cofounder of the well-known J Beam Aerial Company
Limited in Northampton, England.  Long before that Robinson built the
first ever J Beam with electrical conduit from a design by G2HCG many
years ago.  The J Beam antennas are VHF and UHF designs that use the
same square dipole for both thje driven element and reflector.  (RSGB)

**

RADIO IN SPACE:  COROT TO SEEK OUT NEW WORLDS

A small European built satellite has begun its mission to attempt to
discover the first rocky planets outside our solar system and radio the
pictures back to Earth.  Paul Vinoski, KR8ZZY, reports:

--

The satellite is called COROT,  That stands for Convection Rotation and
Planetary Transits.  It was launched at 1423 GMT on Wednesday, December
27th  from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

COROT will spend the next two months undergoing a comprehensive test
and checkout phase before it is declared operational in February or
March.
Built by Frances' Alcatel Alenia Space, the nearly 1,400-pound
satellite will operate in a precisely polar orbit with an altitude of
about 557 miles and an inclination of 90 degrees.

In addition to seeking out extra-solar planets, COROT will also measure
seismic waves traveling across the surface of stars in an attempt to
learn more about stars' internal processes.  Researchers say that
studying these vibrations can help astronomers determine the star's
mass, age and chemical composition.

COROT will be joined in 2008 by NASA's Kepler probe,.  Kepler will
carry a 37 inch telescope that should be able to spot rocky planets
even smaller than the size of Earth.  Scientists believe Kepler could
discover up to 50 extra-solar planets during its four-year mission,
according to NASA.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Vinoski, KR8ZZY.

--

Several more advanced planet-hunting missions are being assessed by
U.S. and European astronomers for launch in the next decade.  (Space
Update)

**

WORLDBEAT - SOUTH AFRICA:  HUNTING LIONS ON THE AIR

The annual Hunting Lions in the Air contest will take place over the
weekend of January 13th to the 14th. The objective of this contest is to
create and foster a spirit of international understanding and co-
operation among radio amateurs and Lions through worldwide radio
communication.
This year thee contest starts on the 13th at 00:00 UTC and ends 48 hours
later.  Phone and CW activity on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters along
with  Echolink activity is also allowed.  Complete rules are on-line at
ww.sk3bg.se   (SARL)

**

DX

In D-X, word that Phil Philippe, FR5DN, reports that he has put up an
APRS beacon on Reunion Island on 144.675 MHz.  He says that the
transmitter power is 40 watt into a 17-element yagi, horizontally
polarised beam pointed towards South Africa. The beacon transmits at 1
200 baud FM every minute from about 14:00 UTC to 03:00 UTC.  If you
heatr it, your QSN report goes to Phil by e-mail at fr5dn@oceanes.fr.

Also, F5LOW, will be active portable FM from Saint Pierre, Martinique
from January 17th to the 26th.  This will be a holiday style operation,
but look for him on all HF bands on SSB and PSK using an Icom IC-706
and a vertical antenna.  QSL via his home callsign, either direct or by
the bureau.

(From various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  RESTRUCTURING EDITORIAL -- WHAT WE THINK WILL HAPPEN
- PART 2

Lastly this week, we bring you part 2 of our editorial on the passing
of the Morse code exam.  Yes, it did appear in last weeks print
edition, but because of other news it was deleted at the last minute
from the audio version of the bulletin.

Well, it has now been two weeks since the FCC announced it would be
dropping Morse testing in the near future.  This week we look at the
proponents of ending Morse exams.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce
Tennat, K6PZW, is here with their varying views:

--

Lets start with the extreme and work our way toward reality.  If you
read the various ham radio websites and on-line blogs, you might be
lead to believe  that most of those who felt that Morse code is no
longer relevant in the modern world we live in are gloating over the
rest of us.  This, ever since the FCC announced that it would soon stop
testing for knowledge of the code.

The most extreme of these people predict that in short order all C-W
will disappear as hams come to realize that modern digital technology
has supplanted hand generated Morse.  They also want the FCC to mandate
that Morse identifiers on repeater be replace by ones using voice.

Thankfully for ham radio as well as all of mankind, extremists do not
represent the views or the will of the majority.  And when you look
past those making the most noise. it turns out that most of those who
campaigned to abolish Morse testing are folks no different that you and
me.  And they know that while digital might be more modern, operating
Morse can be a lot of fun.

Why you ask?  Well. gear is simple and cheap.  You do not need a lot of
power to make a contact.  Its one of the few modes on the High
frequency bands were long rag-chew contacts are encouraged.  And once
you get past the basics, a whole world of ham radio friendships are
yours.

Its for these reasons and numerous others that most of the who worked
to abolish Morse testing also are the first to tell you that the code
will not die off.  If anything, its likely to grow in popularity now
that its no longer a mandate to know and can be viewed as another way
to have fun in the hobby.

And in the end, that's why most folks become radio amateurs.  To relax.
To enjoy meeting one another by radio.

And less we forget.  No matter what those on the fringe mighrt want,
you will not be seeing the FCC mandate voice identifiers on repeaters.
That's because the identifiers are not there to tell the ham community
the call of a repeater.  Its there so that the FCC knows what
transmitters are taking to the air.

In the end, maybe the words written by ham radio song writer Andrew-
John Huddelston, OZ1XJ.  Not being a singer Ill just recite the key
words.  They go:

"Its great to QSO in Morse again, instead of talking till I'm horse
again.
I know I'm on my hobby horse again, but its so great to QSO in Morse
again."

With part 2 of our editorial on the passing of Morse proficiency
testing.  I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.

--

As we said in Part 1 of this editorial, there will likely be little if
any impact on ham radio as a result of the FCC dropping Morse testing.
Most of the comments you are hearing on the air and reading on ham
radio blogs is just poorly thought out rhetoric and really nothing
more.  With or without the Morse code, ham radio will continue and the
impact of it no longer being a test element is just that, and nothing
more.  And that ends the editorial comment and the newscast and for
this week.  (ARNewslineT)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

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

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim
Damron, N8TMW, and I'm Jeff Clark. K8JAC,  saying 73 and we thank you
for listening.

Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.





               R\%/itt




--- Twit(t) Filter v2.1 (C) 2000
 * Origin: SATX Alamo Area Net * South * Texas, USA * (1:397/22)