Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1959 April 4 2015
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1959 with a release date of Friday,
April 4, 2015 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1,
The following is a QST. Hams in Oklahoma respond to severe weather
outbreak; the International Telecommunications Union dispatches rescue radio
communications gear to Vanuatu ; broadcasters say no to FCC field office
downsizing proposal; how to replace FM repeaters with Digital Voice and a
remote controlled asteroid relocation mission will come before NASA sends a
ship to Mars. All this and more on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1959
coming your way right now.
(Billboard Cart Here)
**
RESCUE RADIO: OKLAHOMA HAMS RESPOND TO TORNADOES
Wednesday, March 25th was a busy afternoon and evening for ham radio
emergency communications volunteers in Oklahoma . This as the Southwest
Independent Repeater Association and the Tulsa Region Skywarn Nets were
active in support of tornado warnings in both Metropolitan areas. Bill
Pasternak, WA6ITF reports:
--
[Bill] As the storms progressed across the Tulsa Metro area many of the
early damage reports were passed to The Tulsa Area Emergency Management
Agency via amateur radio. Oklahoma section radio amateurs, on both sides of
the State reported on these severe weather outbreaks until the exited late
that evening.
According to Lloyd Colton, KC5FM, both the Tulsa and Norman offices of the
National Weather Service have amateur radio stations. Colton , who is the
Oklahoma Section Manager notes that both encourage Skywarn and Weather Ready
Nation programs in their service area.
KC5FM says that in Severe Weather mode, volunteer radio amateurs serve as
SKYWARN net controllers operating with a tactical call of "TULSA WEATHER"
under using the callsign WX5TUL. There are 2 dual band radios, radar
displays and monitors to track warnings and briefings, as well as systems to
monitor APRS . Also, the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club's UHF Super link System is
used for SKYWARN traffic outside the metro area.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the newsroom
in Los Angeles .
--
In the wake of the severe weather outbreak 25 of the 77 counties in Oklahoma
were declared disaster areas by Governor Mary Fallin while the State's
Attorney General Scott Pruitt warned citizens to be wary of scammers seeking
to take advantage of survivors.
(KC5FM)
**
RESCUE RADIO: ITU SENDS TELECOMS KIT TO VANUATU
The International Telecommunications Union has deployed emergency
telecommunication equipment to Vanuatu following the devastation caused by
Category 5 Cyclone Pam that hit the archipelago on March 13th.
The ITU dispatched 40 satellite phones, 10 broadband global area network
terminals and 35 solar panels to the island nation to support relief
coordination efforts.
When Cyclone Pam slammed into the Vanuatu archipelago winds were estimated
to have reached 150 miles per hour with gusts peaking at around 200. This
caused massive damage to the nation's infrastructure while impacting
services such as electricity and communications with the outside world.
Over the years Vanuatu has been a haven for tourists and DXpeditions. Now,
many who had visited are struggling to recognize damaged landmarks shown on
TV news.
(GB2RS)
**
RADIO LAW: BROADCASTERS SAY NO TO FCC ENFORCEMENT DOWNSIZING

Broadcasters appear to be in agreement with the ARRL and numerous other
interests that are opposing the Federal Communications Commission's plan to
close two-thirds of its field offices around the country. Amateur Radio
Newsline Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the details:
--
[Bruce] A few weeks ago FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler proposed downsizing the
number of field offices the agency has throughout the country from 24 to 8.
He called it a cost-saving tool that shouldn't hinder the agency's ability to
do its work.
At that time, ARRL Chief Executive Officer Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, expressed
dismay at the proposal. In a widely published statement Sumner said that
it's troubling to see recommendations for such drastic reductions in the
Commission's geographic footprint and the number of field agents at a time
when the Field staff is facing ever-increasing challenges.
Now it appears as if the National Association of Broadcasters has joined in
condemning the Wheeler inspired cutback proposal. In an ominous warning the
N-A-B says that the plan would gut the agency's eyes and ears and leave it in
the dark.
Bob Weller is the trade group's vice president of spectrum policy. In a
blog posting on Monday, March 30th he warned that the change of pace is
coming right as the FCC is encouraging broadcasting companies to sell their
licenses to the nation's airwaves in a massive auction planned for next year.
One which will require some companies to share spectrum space.
Weller noted that while the broadcast industry lobby supports the concept of
spectrum sharing, that a robust mechanism for enforcement is critical to
ensure that devices operate only on the frequencies they are authorized.
He warned that fewer field offices could lead to some unsettling scenes if
malfunctions occur while companies are trying to share airwaves but the FCC's
cops aren't on the beat. That says Weller means disrupted emergency and
AMBER Alerts, unreliable police and fire communications, riskier air travel
and a host of other scary possibilities.
So far the FCC has rejected the impression that its response times will
change. In a statement, an FCC spokesperson said that under the proposed
approach, the commission would maintain its current commitment to respond to
all public safety spectrum issues within one day, anywhere in the country.
It was also noted that the majority of the nation is reachable within 4 to 6
hours.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW in Los Angeles .
--
The unnamed FCC spokesperson summed up by saying that if the proposal is
adopted, the commission will meet its responsibilities while existing within
today's flat-line budget Those who depend on FCC Field Bureaus for emergency
response are not certain that this promise can be kept. (The Hill)
**
RESTRUCTURING: FCC MAY APPROVE WIRELESS CARRIER AND GOVERNMENT SHARING
Federal regulators are set to vote on a plan to allow wireless carriers and
companies to share airwaves with the government. This, in an effort to make
more of the airwaves available for future wireless devices.
Essentially, the government has developed a spectrum sharing plan that would
protect radar systems near military bases and the coastline while auctioning
off access to the spectrum in other parts of the country. A portion of these
airwaves would also be reserved for free use by anyone with an FCC certified
device that doesn't create interference.
Traditionally, wireless carriers have paid billions of dollars at auctions
for licenses that give them exclusive rights to use airwaves for voice and
mobile Internet service. Now the Federal Communications Commission is
proposing a new approach for the 3.5 gigahertz band that would allow some
users to access the airwave at no cost while others could buy exclusive
licenses in specific geographic areas on a short-term basis.
The proposal is being looked at as a novel new effort by the FCC which has
spent the last several years trying to free up more airwaves for wireless
carriers trying to stay ahead of consumer demand, as well as setting aside
some frequencies for new Wi-Fi networks.
The agency proposed this airwaves sharing plan last spring, and the wireless
industry and some tech companies have been arguing about the details ever
since. Most of the sparring has been over technical rules, including the
size of protected zones around military bases.
The FCC is expected to approve the proposal at a meeting later this month.
What impact such a spectrum sharing plan might have on the near-by 3.3 to 3.5
GHz amateur radio and amateur satellite allocation is unknown.
More is on-line at
http://recode.net/2015/03/27/fcc-plans-a-vote-on-new-airwaves-sharing-plan/
(RECODE.net, other published news reports)
**
DX UP FRONT: THE ISLE OF MULL IN MAY
In DX up front, members of the Camb-Hams will be active as GS3PYE/P from the
Isle of Mull between May 15th and the 22nd. The Camb-Hams have been
activating the Scottish Isles each year since 2008 and will be traveling to
the Grasspoint, Isle of Mull, in the Scottish Inner Hebrides in 2015.
Ten operators will be active on all bands and many modes from 80 through 2
meters. 2 meters and 70 centimeters will also see satellite and EME
operations. The High Frequency bands will be covered by four simultaneous
stations, while the 6 and 4 meter stations will have a great take-off towards
the UK and Europe from the island's Eastern edge. All stations will be able
to run at the full U-K power limit. The primary E-M-E mode will be JT65 but
they will also be available for CW skeds. Up-to-date plans and progress will
be on dx.camb-hams.com. (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 including the K7
MRG repeater serving Prescott Arizona .
(5 SEC PAUSE)
**
ENFORCEMENT: WDBJ FINED FOR AIRING INDECENT PROGRAMMING MATERIAL DURING
NEWSCAST
The Federal Communications Commission intends to fine WDBJ Television, Inc.,
of Roanoke , Virginia , $325,000. This, for broadcasting what the agency
termed as graphic and explicit material during the station's evening
newscast. Stephan Kinford, N8WB, has the details:
--
[Stephen] Following up on viewer complaints, the FCC's Enforcement Bureau
investigated the situation surrounding a WDBJ news story about a former
adult film star who had joined a local volunteer rescue squad. The
investigation found that station staff obtained a video clip from an adult
film website and broadcast those images in the news report that aired at
approximately 6 p.m. on July 12, 2012 .
The Commission's enforcement action alleges that the broadcast of such
explicit content violated federal laws prohibiting the broadcast of indecent
programming. It plans to fine WDBJ $325,000, which is the maximum available
penalty.
This is the third action the FCC has taken regarding the broadcast of
indecent material since January 2014. In April 2014, its Enforcement Bureau
settled an investigation into allegations of the broadcast of vulgar language
on radio station KRXA - AM, which resulted in a payment of $15,000. In
August 2014, Border Media Business Trust paid $37,500 in penalties to settle
an investigation into the use of indecent language during a morning show on
radio station KDBR - FM.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB, in Wadsworth ,
Ohio .
--
The full text of Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture issued to WDBJ
is available at tinyurl.com/wdbj-proposed-fine (FCC release)
**
HAM TECHNOLOGY VIDEO: DIGITAL VOICE - WHICH WAY TO GO
If your club is thinking of replacing its current FM voice repeater with a
new Digital Voice system but don't know what's the right choice, help has
arrived in the form of a new video release from HamRadioNow.TV.
Produced by Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, the VHF/UHF DV System Comparison is the
story of a group of Digital Voice enthusiasts in Charlotte , North Carolina ,
who have repeaters for every digital voice system available except P-25.
They have D- STAR , DMR/ MotoTRBO and even a new Yaesu System Fusion machine.
So they're in a pretty good position to evaluate the various technologies.
And in episode 195 of HamRadioNow, Roland Kraatz, W9HPX gives a simple to
understand talk at the Charlotte Hamfest, comparing all three.
So if you or your club are thinking of making the Digital Voice move, first
take your web browser to tinyurl.com/hrn-on-dv, sit back for about an hour
and soak in the information that might help you make the right choice.
(ARNewsline, HRN)
**
RADIO READING : FREE DUTCH KINGDOM AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY E-MAGAZINE
The Dutch Kingdom Amateur Radio Society DKARS now has its own free monthly
magazine available for download as a PDF file. This e-zine contains articles
written in both English and Dutch. If you want to subscribe, simply send an
e-mail to magazine@dkars.nl and you will automatically receive an email with
a download link. Direct download is also available at www.dkars.nl (PJ4NX)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: COMMERCIAL LICENSE EXAMS AT HAMVENTION 2015
ETA International will have test proctors available during all three days of
2015 Dayton Hamvention to administer commercial radio license tests. ETA
certification and FCC license exams will be administered from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. both Friday and Saturday and 9 am to noon on Sunday. You can schedule
exams in advance by calling Lora Roberson at ETA at 800-288-3824 or by e-mail
to lroberson (at) eta-I (dot) org. You can also visit ETA at the Hamvention
booth #BA0429 to set up to take an exam on site. More information in PDF
format is at tinyurl.com/eta-hamvention-exams. ( ETA International)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: 2015 SAN BERNARDINO MICROWAVE SOCIETY 2.3 GHZ AND UP CONTEST
The 2015 San Bernardino Microwave Society 2 GHz and Up Contest and Club
Challenge is slated to begin at 6 a.m. local time on Saturday, May 2nd, and
end at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 3rd.
The purpose of this contest is for participants to operate all bands above
2.3 GHz. The exchange is the six-digit grid square. 100 QSO points are
given for the first contact with a station on each band plus 1 point per
kilometer of distance.
After either station moves 16 kilometers they may work again for distance
points. For more information, log forms and last year's results go to:
www.n6nb.com/sbmsrules.htm
(N6NB via the W6YX VHF Reflector)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: THE ANNUAL SCHOOL CLUB EU DAY
Europe 's annual School Club EU Day sponsored by Germany 's AATIS Initiative
is inviting in school amateur radio stations in Europe to be active on
Tuesday, May 5. This for the purpose of making contacts between those school
amateur radio club and school girls and boys with own callsigns as well as
contacts with other stations.
According to Region One of the International amateur Radio Union, this
activity is a great way to get young operators on the air from their school
shacks using their training call signs. IARU says that very often a new
operator may be intimidated by the fear of not knowing what to say to the
stranger on the other side of the radio. The exchange of information through
the AATIS Initiative helps to overcome this fear in a low pressure contest
format, it should not be made a "5-9-contest." As such, all operators are
encouraged to take more time to chat beyond the exchange of the necessary
details. 

A certificate of participation will be issued for stations
that send an excerpt from the log of the day. There is also the chance of
winning one of the prizes to be given away by the AATIS Initiative.
More information is available in this document:

http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php/documents/func-startdown/588/

(IARU
Region 1)
**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: AC2KG NAMED TO RECEIVE CADYAWARD
Ajay K. Poddar¸ AC2KG, of Elmwood , New Jersey , has been selected by the
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers as the winner of the 2015
International Frequency Control Symposium W.G. Cady Award.
Poddar, a chief scientist at Synergy Microwave Corp and an academic, was
cited for "the analysis, design, and development of a host of frequency
control products exhibiting state-of-the-art performance. This includes the
development of extremely low noise crystal oscillator circuitry.
The award marks the second honor for Synergy Microwave scientists this year,
and the third in 3 years. (ARRL)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: G3TXF WINS CASS AWARD FOR ZD9XF OPERATION
The Cass Award 2014 Single-Operator Cass Award has been won by Nigel
Cawthorne, G3TXF. This for his operation from the island of Tristan da Cunha
as ZD9XF in September of 2014.
While there G3TXF worked 9314 unique stations during the first 14 days of
his one-man DXpedition. The award states that G3TXF demonstrated an
outstanding effort to log as many DXers as possible and set a new
Single-Operator Cass Award record. Club Log founder Michael Wells, G7VJR,
presented Nigel with his plaque and prize at the C-D-X-C Annual Dinner is on
March 21st. (GB2RS)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: M6 DRQ AND BLUR TO RELEASE NEW CD
Dave Rowntree, M6 DRQ , and the band Blur are about to release their first
new studio album in 12 years. The new album is titled The Magic Whip and the
song Go Out has been pre-released on the music streaming service Spotify.
The UK Telegraph newspaper reports The Magic Whip, was recorded in Hong Kong
and will be released on April 28. Also that the group will play at London 's
Hyde Park on Saturday, June 20th.
More is on the web at
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11422729/Blur-to-release-first-studio-a
lbum-for-12-years.html ( Southgate )
**

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)
**
SWL NEWS: DEUTSCE WELLE TO CLOSE KIGALI RWANDA SHORT WAVE RELAY
German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle is shutting down its relay
station at Kigali in Rwanda . When the relay station first started
transmitting it was about 15 km from the city center. Since then Kigali has
grown and the station now finds itself in the suburbs. Because of this the
plot of land on which the station stands has skyrocketed in value.
But the price of real estate was just one issue Guido Baumhauer, Deutsche
Welle's Director of Distribution, was forced to face when attempting to
negotiate with the Rwandan government. According to Baumhauer, even if the
relay station wanted to stay it couldn't because its contract with the
Rwanda is expiring and its government does not wish to renew it.
Established in 1965 Kigali Rwanda was the broadcaster's last short wave
relay still in operation. Dismantling the station could take until August
2016 and Deutsche Welle has to vacate the premises by that date.

The full story is on the web at

http://www.dw.de/deutsche-welle-closes-kigali-outpost/a-18340960
(Deutsche Welle, Southgate )
**
WORLDBEAT: U.S. PROPOSES MAKING RADIO MARTI INDEPENDENT
The White House has proposed turning Radio Marti, the U.S.
government-controlled broadcaster created in part to undermine communist rule
in Cuba , into a separate entity. This, as Washington seeks as new direction
in its dealings with Havana .
Under the plan, the Miami based broadcaster, which is part of the
Broadcasting Board of Governors would become a separate entity along with
unspecified parts of Voice of America's Spanish-language service. In
essence, Radio Marti would cease to be part of the U.S. government and would
turn into a "grantee" receiving federal funding. The proposal does not
specify how it would be structured beyond that it would a private, nonprofit
organization. (Published news reports)
**
WORLDBEAT: FALCONS STOP VODAFONE PHONE TOWER UPGRADE
In the UK , the Register newspaper reports that some large birds have
interrupted a two hundred million dollar Vodafone 4 G antenna upgrade
program. The five pairs of nesting falcons disrupted Vodafone customers'
mobile phone signals in London and the south east - because the birds have
set up shop on the mobile carrier's towers.
Vodafone spokesman Simon Gordon told the press that Falcons usually like
rocky cliffs but given the absence of such in metropolitan London they make
do with phone towers. Typically they nest for two to three months. Gordon
added that Vodafone was very pleased to have the world's fastest bird as
visitors. You can read the complete story at tinyurl.com/nesting-falcons
(register.com, Southgate )
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: HAM RADIO CREW EXPANDS ON ISS
The number of ham radio operators on-board the International Space Station
is now at three. This following the March 28th arrival of Russian cosmonauts
Mikhail Kornienko, RN3BF, and Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, along with NASA
astronaut Scott Kelly.
European Space Agency Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, IZ0UDF, will return
to Earth in May, after Kjell Lindgren, KO5MOS; Oleg Kononenko, RN3DX, and
Kimiya Yui arrive at the ISS as part of a scheduled crew rotation.
Cristoforetti has conducted several Amateur Radio school contacts during her
time on board the ISS. (ARRL, NASA)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: GETTING STARTED WITH THE FM SATELLITES GUIDE
AMSAT's Director of Field Operations, Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK says the
handout titled Getting Started with the FM Satellites is now available on the
Word Wide Web. Written by Stoddard, the article shows the basic equipment
and techniques to learn successful operating on the satellites. It also
gives specific information on how to operate via SO-50, the only currently
available FM satellite at the moment. It's posted at
tinyurl.com/fm-satellite-operating. ( ANS )
**
DX
In DX, SM6MCW is now on the air as D44TBO from Cape Verde . The length of
his stay is unknown. So far his activity has been on 30, 20, 15, 12 and 10
meter CW. QSL via SM6MCW.
VA3 EGG will be active as 6Y4DX from Jamaica 's Jewel Paradise Cove Resort
until mid April. His operation will be holiday style on 40 through 10 meters
with 100 watts into a 46 ft long-wire. QSL direct to VA3 EGG .
Lastly, IZ2DPX has announced an operation from the Seychelles possibly with
the callsign S79DPX between August 9th and the 23rd. Activity will be on 80
through 6 meters using all modes. QSL via his home callsign. For details
and updates keep an eye on iz2dpx.jimdo.com
(This weeks DX news courtesy of the Ohio Penn DX Newsletter)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: NASA SAYS ASTEROID REDIRECT MISSION WILL TAKE PRECEDENCE
OVER MARS MISSION
And finally this week, a remote controlled mission to the red planet has
been a longtime priority for NASA. No the space agency revealed that they
will start working on an asteroid relocation mission first. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD, has the details:
--
[Heather] NASA Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot says that the
Asteroid Redirect Mission or A-R-M will provide an initial demonstration of
several spaceflight capabilities that will be needed to send astronauts
deeper into space, and eventually to Mars.
As the agency tries to find select the best asteroid for the mission, it
will study the candidate asteroids regarding their size, rotation, shape and
precise orbit. The main candidates so far are asteroids Itokawa, Bennu and
2008 EV5.
The agency expects to have a selected asteroid by 2019 and then place it
into a stable orbit around the moon they study it. To move the asteroid into
moon's orbit, NASA plans to use new trajectory and navigation methods. NASA
said it will be picking up a small asteroid that will burn in space if it
attempts to get into Earth's atmosphere before reaching us.
According to NASA, the A-R-M robotic spacecraft will test several
capabilities that will be needed for a long term human mission. For example,
it will test the advanced Solar Electric Propulsion or S-E-P technology.
S-E-P will basically be used to harness sunlight power and converts it to
electrical power using solar arrays that will be used to propel spacecraft
engine. And that's only one of the research projects that will be an
integral part of the Asteroid Redirect Mission.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD in Berwick ,
Pennsylvania .
-
NASA plans to launch the Asteroid Redirect Mission in 2020. It says that it
is expected to take six years before it can place an asteroid into lunar
orbit using radio remote control. (NASA, published news reports)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE
With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio
Penn DX Bulletin, 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 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.
Before we go, a reminder that Amateur Radio Newsline is seeking nominations
for its 2015 Young Ham of the Year Award. For consideration, a nominee must
have used amateur radio in some way that has benefited his or her community
or encouraged technological development directly or indirectly related to
communications.
Nominees must be 19 years or younger, and reside in the United States
including Hawaii , Alaska , Canada , and Puerto Rico or any of the Canadian
Provinces. The individual must also hold a currently valid United States or
Canadian Amateur Radio license.
This award is not a contest. The person selected as 'Young Ham of the Year'
is judged on his or her overall accomplishments and contributions. Any
prizes awarded are secondary in nature.
The deadline for submitting an application is May 30th 2015 and the decision
of the judging committee is final. To obtain an application, send a self
addressed, stamped envelope to 2015 Young Ham of the Year Award, in care of
Amateur Radio Newsline, 28197 Robin Ave. Santa Clarita , CA 91350 . You can
also download a form in Microsoft Word format at www.arnewsline.org/yhoty,
clicking on the word "here" and saving the file to print at a later time.
Presentation of the 2015 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award
will take the weekend of August 15 and 16 at the Huntsville Hamfest in
Huntsville Alabama .
For now, with producers Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in Los Angeles, Skeeter
Nash, N5 ASH , in Topeka, plus our news team world wide, I'm Jim Damron N8TMW
reporting from Charleston, West Virginia, saying 73 and as always we thank
you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.
***
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