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Ärende: Amateur Radio NewslineT Report 1909 - March 14, 2014
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Amateur Radio NewslineT 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 NewslineT report number 1909 coming
your way right now.
**
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 DN calls issues. That's 183 more than in 2012 when only 2528 were
issued. The German DN 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 RD 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.
**
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 Radiated 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 dave@cqcomm.com (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)
**
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, I1FQH 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 word 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 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 NewslineT. Our e-mail
address is newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) 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, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350..
Our e-mail address is newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) 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, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita
California, 91350
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.
Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.
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* Origin: K 5 R X T (Royz Xtra Terrific) So-Central Texas, USA (1:387/22)
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