Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1927 - July, 18 2014
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1927 with a release date of July 18
2014 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Ham radio first responders activate as Typhoon
Rasmussen hits the Philippines; the United States takes home the gold at
WRTC2014; German hams get limited time access to the 4 meter band; Spain
extends its 60 meter ham band evaluation; the government of Brazil chases
paraglider pilots off 2 meters; a cubesat with a solar sail to launch before
years end and a very happy 100th birthday to the ARRL. All this and more on
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1927 coming your way right now.
(Billboard Cart Here)
**
RESCUE RADIO: PHILIPPINES RADIO HAMS ACTIVATED FOR TYPHOON RAMMASUN
The Philippines Amateur Radio Association disaster response group known as
the Ham Emergency Radio Operation was activated on July 14th. This as
Typhoon Rammasun threatened that nation and then headed toward the China
coastline. We have the latest in this report:
--
Typhoon Rammasun, known as Typhoon Glenda in the Philippines departed that
nation on Wednesday, July 16th. This after causing at least 20 deaths while
knocking out power to entire provinces, ripping roofs of buildings and
forcing nearly half a million people to flee from its strong rain and winds.
According to news reports, the number of citizens evacuated to emergency
shelters reached more than 423,000. These were mostly in the eastern
province of Albay which was the first to be hit by the typhoon.
Before the typhoon made landfall, Philippine Amateur Radio Association
President Thelma Pascua, DU1IVT, had activated the groups Ham Emergency Radio
Operation or HERO network with primary operations on 7.095 MHz in the 40
meter band. Other frequencies used by these ham radio first responders
included 7.119 and 7.151 MHz. All amateurs within radio range of these
frequencies were asked to stay clear until the emergency was declared over.
Also prior to the typhoon's arrival the Philippine National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council had warned the public of the storm, with
possible landslides and flash flooding. According to reports, the HERO
network and other emergency response agencies were working closely with one
another to provide communications into isolated areas and to assess damage
caused by the storm.
For the amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the newsroom
in Los Angeles.
--
More about the typhoon and its aftermath in next weeks Amateur Radio
Newsline report.
(VK3PC, published news reports)
**
RADIOSPORTS: USA TAKES THE GOLD AT WRTC2014
The 2014 World Radiosport Team Championship is over and the United States
has brought home the gold. ARRL Executive Vice President Dave Sumner, K1ZZ
who served as the events Chief Referee got to announce the winners:
--
K1ZZ: "...This was a team that was in first place after the first hour and
never looked back. Not only did they have the highest multiplier, they had
the highest QSO total (of) 4,572. They had the highest QSO points that means
their contacts were worth more per contact because they made contacts outside
North America.
"But I know it is a tremendous pleasure for Doug, K1DG, who has been on that
pedestal himself, now to present the Gold Medals for WRTC2014 to N6MJ and
KL9A, the operators of K1A."
--
As Dave Sumner stated, the first place and the Gold Medal went to the team
of Daniel Craig, N6MJ and Chris Hurlbut, KL9A. They operated with the call
K1A and garnered the top spot with an overall score of up 7,184,844 points.
Taking the Silver Medal was the Slovakia team of Rastislav Hrnko, OM3BH, and
Jozef Lang, OM3GI. They were on the air as W1L and logged 6,816,144 points.
Rounding out the top three was the German team of Manfred Wolf, DJ5MW, and
Stefan von Baltz, DL1IAO, who took home the Bronze Medal. This after having
scored a total of 6,421,383 points operating as W1P.
This year's actual on-the-air competition took place the weekend of July
12th and the 13th from sites in and around the city of Westborough,
Massachusetts. 59 teams from around the world took part.
More about this event including a video archive of the opening and closing
ceremonies is at wrtc2014.org. (WRTC, others)
**
RESTRUCTURING: GERMAN RADIO HAMS GET 70 MHZ ACCESS
The German Federal Network Agency has approved the use of 70.000 to 70.030
MHz by Class A radio amateurs through August 31st.
The German national society, the DARC report the restrictions are similar to
those for the 50 MHz band. Those are a maximum of 25 watts Effective
Radiated Power, permission to use all modes with a bandwidth of up to 12
Kilohertz into a horizontally polarized antenna system.
This temporary authorization means that the 4 meter band is available in
Germany for the first time since way back in 1957. The DARC says it will
work with the various agencies necessary in hope of garnering a permanent
allocation for the band. (DARC, Southgate, IARU-R1)
**
RESTTRUCTURING: SPAIN EXTENDS 5 MHZ OPERATIONS TEST
Hams in Spain are getting a time extension for their use of the 5 MHz or 80
meter band. Back on January 1st Spain's Department of Post and
Telecommunications authorized the use of several frequencies in that spectrum
until this past June 30th. But following a request from the Union
Radioaficionados Espanoles, the nations telecommunications regulator has
granted permission for use of the band to continue until November 30th, 2015
The frequencies authorized are 5268, 5295, 5313, 5382, 5430 and 5439 kHz,
with a power of 100 Watts PEP. Because these channels are not in common with
any 5 MHz allocations outside Spain, hams in other countries making contact
with Spanish stations on 60 meters are reminded that their own transmitted
signal must remain within their nations designated frequency allocation.
(G4WMO, OK1RP, EA7OP, URE)
**
INTRUDER WATCH: IARUMS REPORTS ACTIONS AGAINST HAM BAND INTRUDERS
The International Amateur Radio Union Monitoring System newsletter reports
on action against illegal Brazillian Hanglider and Paraglider communications
on 144 to 148 MHz and a French intruder on 40 meters. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, has the details:
--
After receiving complaints that unlicensed stations were using the 2 meter
band to coordinate sport flying activities, the Brazilian Telecommunications
Agency Anatel took direct action against the intruders early last April.
That's when Brazilian Federal Agents visited a launching hill in the city of
Caraguatatuba, located in the northern shore of the State of Sao Paulo.
There they detected illegal aeronautical mobile communications in the 144 to
148 MHz amateur band and traced it directly to sports pilots flying hang
gliders and para-gliders.
The agents confiscated a number of hand held transceivers being used by the
non-ham sports pilots and cited them for their unauthorized use of these
devices. Anatel also ordered all sports pilots to move any radio operations
away from ham radio spectrum and into what it termed as a more appropriate
telecommunications services such as that nations Limited Service or
Aeronautical Mobile Service.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, near Los
Angeles. .
--
Meantime in response to complaints about a long CW transmission on 7 dot 166
MHz every Wednesday afternoon, the Monitoring Service traced those to
France's the Centre for Telecommunication and Specialized Data Processing
north-east of Paris. These transmissions were made up of encrypted five
letter groups. This finding led to a formal complaint being filed with the
appropriate authorities. At airtime the outcome of this one is unknown.
(IARUMS-R1)
**
BREAK 1
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the W9RCA repeater
serving Indianapolis Indiana.
(5 sec pause here)
**
RESCUE RADIO: PARTIAL AGENDA FOR GAREC 2014 ANNOUNCED
The emergency communications provided by radio amateurs during and after a
Super Typhoon that hit the Philippines will be among many presentations and
displays at the Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference or
GAREC slated for August 14th to the 15th. This in conjunction with Alabama's
Huntsville Hamfest. Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephan Kinford, N8WB, reports:
--
As a part of the GAREC 2014 program a detailed presentation will be given on
the Super Typhoon Haiyan that struck the central part of the Philippines in
November of 2013. Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Typhoon Yolanda was one of
the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded and devastated portions of
Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines. Volunteer response to it
involved over 100 radio amateurs in the Philippines-based Ham Emergency Radio
Operations Network.
Other presentations expected to be given are the work of radio amateurs
following flooding in Brazil and the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster in Japan.
Delegates will also get to see the work of Salvation Army Team Emergency
Radio Network and the Military Auxiliary Radio System. Formal message
handling, the National Traffic Service and third party traffic will be likely
discussed.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB, reporting.
--
Attendance at this year's Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
Conference will also offer delegates the opportunity to attend the Huntsville
Hamfest which this year is an ARRL Centennial Event. It's being held the
weekend of August 16th and 17th at Huntsville's Vom Braun Center. For
details on the Huntsville Hamfest simply take your web browser to
Hamfest.org. (VK3PC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: FCC DIRECTS OREGON HAM TO ECXPLAIN ALLEGED VIOLATIONS
On June 5th, the Resident Agent of the FCC's Portland Office of the
Enforcement Bureau issued a Notice of Violation to Oregon amateur service
licensee Thomas Ryan Price, W7WL. This for his alleged violation of Sections
97.101(d), 97.113(a)(4) and 97.119(a) of the Amateur Service Rules.
According to the regulatory agency, this past May 13th its agents used radio
direction-finding techniques to pinpoint the source of an interfering signal
to Price's residence in the city of Sweet Home. At that time the agents
claim that Price was the source of malicious interference to other radio
communications on 3 point 908 MHz by transmitting music on the frequency and
failure to properly identify at the end of each transmission.
When it issued the Notice of Violation the FCC told Price that in accordance
with Section 1.89 of the agency's rule, that he had 20 days to submit a
written statement concerning this matter . The response had to fully explain
each violation and contain a statement of the specific actions taken to
correct each and preclude recurrence including a time line for completion of
any pending corrective actions. That date is now past.
At that time Price was also directed to support his response with an
affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury, signed and dated by him
showing personal knowledge of the representations provided in his response,
verifying the truth and accuracy of the information and confirming that all
of the information requested by the Notice which is in the licensee's
possession, custody, control, or knowledge has been produced.
The FCC stated that to knowingly and willfully make any false statement or
conceal any material fact in reply to this Notice is punishable by fine or
imprisonment under Title 18 of the U.S. Code. It also stated that the
Commission will use all relevant material information before it, including
any information disclosed in his reply, to determine what, if any,
enforcement action is required to ensure compliance. (FCC)
**
RADIO LAW: CLIPS AIRED ON TV WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE ON-LINE CLOSED
CAPTIONING
The FCC has voted unanimously to apply online closed captioning mandates to
video clips that originally aired on TV. The mandate applies only to clips
from programs that were originally captioned on TV, and only to sites owned
or controlled by that TV distributor. It does not apply to library
programming that predates the compliance deadlines. The new rules will be
phased in gradually starting in January of 2016 with the process to be
completed by July of 2017. The complete story is on the web at
http://tinyurl.com/llt5sao (Multichannel News)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: FACEBOOK SAYS OK TO HAM CALLS AS ALTERNATE NAME
Officially licensed amateur radio operators may now use their call sign as
their alternate name, or nickname, on their individual Facebook profiles.
This thanks to Richard Bobbitt, NW7OR, who recently organized a petition
drive on the social media site in the hope of achieving this goal.
It turned out that Jeff Ferland, KB1PNB, who works at the Facebook
Headquarters in Menlo Park, California found the petition on an amateur radio
Facebook Group to which he belongs. After doing a bit of research Ferland
wrote the necessary code, then got it reviewed and approved.
To add your call Bobitt says to go to go to "Settings", then click on "Edit
Your Name." In the middle of the page you will see the words "Alternate
Name." That's where you can add your callsign.
Bobbitt says that the petition was originally the idea of Richard Allcorn,
KW7PTL, without whom, this may not have happened so easily and quickly. Over
1000 hams on Facebook signed the petition within the first week or so after
it was posted on the various Facebook ham radio pages.
(NW7OR)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: RAC ANNUAL GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING JULY 27 IN
WESTMINSTER BC
Radio Amateurs of Canada will be holding its 2014 Annual General Meeting on
July 27th in New Westminster, British Columbia. This years gathering is
being hosted by the Orca DX and Contest Club and will be held in conjunction
with the 59th annual Vancouver Pacific Northwest DX Convention. The
location is the Inn on the Quay in New Westminster. All Radio Amateurs of
Canada members who can make the gathering are invited to attend. (RAC)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: UNESCO HERITAGE FLOWER PARADE FROM THE NETHERLANDS
The 73rd annual UNESCO Heritage Flower Parade will take place in the city of
Zundert in the Netrherlands on September 7th. In celebration of this event,
that nations national amateur radio society the VERON will activate the
special callsigns PA73CORSO, PA73EBP and PA73LOU. All three calls will be
operational between August 12th and September 8th from Zundert and
surroundings. A special QSL card and an award will be available for
contacting this event. Full information including QSL routing is on line at
qrz.com/db/pa73corso. (Southgate)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: K9CT JOINS NCDXF BOD
Some names in the news. First up is Craig Thompson, K9CT, who as been
elected to the Board of Directors of the Northern California DX Foundation.
In addition to normal director duties, K9CT will help the foundation to
develop and execute a program for significant contributions through estate
giving and tax planning. (W0GJ)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: K6TW ELECTED TO TORRANCE CA CITY COUNCIL
Tim Goodrich, K6TW, has been elected to the Torrance, California City
Council. Originally licensed as KC2DDS at the age of 17, Goodrich, now 34
holds an Extra Class license. At 18, he enlisted in the Air Force, where he
served as a communications, navigation, and cryptological technician on the
E-3 AWACS early warning system aircraft. During his time in the military, he
was deployed to the Middle East on three occasions. This in support of the
no fly zones over Iraq, Afghanistan, and the pre-war Iraq bombing. After
finishing his military duty Goodrich went back to school, earning his Masters
in Public Administration from Uthe University of Southern California. He
also became active in his community, especially as a volunteer with the
Torrance Police and Fire Departments doing communications and Community
Emergency Response Team work. In his spare time, K6TW enjoys operating CW on
the High Frequency bands and Summits on the Air activities. (ARRL)
**
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)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: SURREY SPACE CENTRE ANNOUNCES UK CUBESAIL SATELLITE
PROJECT
The United Kingdom's Surrey Space Center is embarking on a very fasciunating
new peoject that will include Amateur Radio as we hear from Newsline's
Heather Embee, KB3TZD:
--
They are calling it CubeSail and describing it as an exciting,
ground-breaking educational satellite project from the Surrey Space Centre.
One that its builders hope to launch into a 680 kilometer Sun Synchronous
Orbit sometime in December of this year.
CubeSail will be a 3 unit size CubeSat with a 6 kilogram mass. A key
feature of this tiny bird will be its ability to deploy a 25 square meter
sail structure. This will be used to demonstrate the propulsion effect of
solar radiation pressure sometimes referred to as solar sailing. It will
also show the increased de-orbiting capabilities of the sail as a drag
augmentation device.
The satellite will provide beacons for which amateur radio operators will be
able to receive. At the moment the designers are considering the use of a
9600 Bit-Per-Second AX.25 protocol on the downlink. The International
Amateur Radio Union Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel has already
assigned CubeSail a downlink frequency of 435.240 MHz.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD, in Berwick,
Pennsylvania.
--
More about this rather exciting project is on the web at
tinyurl.com/cubesail (AMSAT UK)
**
RADIO IN SPACE: ISEE-3 THRUSTERS FAIL TO FIRE
NASA's International Earth Sun Explorer also known as ISEE-3 will not be
resuming its original mission after all. This after the citizen scientists,
engineers and ham radio operators trying to rescue it discovered on July 9
that the almost four decade old space observatory's propulsion system is no
longer working.
According to Keith Cowing, who spearheaded the ISEE-3 Reboot Project along
with Dennis Wingo, KD4ETA, there was no burn and no detected no acceleration
after the July 9th scheduled burn.
The failure may have come as a surprise to controllers. The spacecraft's
small hydrazine thrusters had been fired successfully on July 3rd and systems
appeared nominal. And on July 8, the spacecrafts thrusters even managed to
perform one of the six burns that would have set it up for a return to the
orbit into which it was launched in 1978.
But all is not lost. Controllers at the ISEE-3 Reboot Project were able to
place the spacecraft into its science mode using the big dish antenna at the
Arecibo radio observatory in Puerto Rico. This will allow its instrument to
collect data and radio it back to Earth for several months before it flies
out of practical communications range.
In addition to Wingo, other hams who were involved in the ISEE-3 Reboot
Project included Achim Vollhardt, DH2VA, and Mario Lorenz DL5MLO.
(ARNewsline from published news reports)
**
WORLDBEAT: CW OPERATORS NEEDED FOR UK WWI COMMEMORATIVE EVENT
Some skilled Morse operators are needed the weekend of July 28th and 27th to
operate reproductions of World War One telegraph equipment for a special
event in the United Kingdom. The replica telegraph equipment is being
constructed by members of the Trowbridge and District Amateur Radio Club to
be used in the event that commemorates the start of World War One, but there
is a critical shortage of CW operators to demonstrate the stations. An UK
ham willing to volunteer should contact G0GRI via the clubs website at
radioclubs.net/trowbridgedarc.
(GB2RS)
**
DX
In DX, word that RA0CHI will be active from Putiatina Island from July 20th
to the 30th. Operations will be on 160 through 10 meters. QSL via his home
callsign.
HA9MDN will be on the air stroke 9A from Vir Island between July 25th and
August 3rd. Activity will be on SSB, RTTY, PSK and SSTV. QSL via his home
callsign by the bureau or eQSL.
ZS6AYU, will be operational from Botswana as A25GF between September 1st and
the 3rd. This will be on 6 meters only expedition from Grid Square KH 22 and
beaming North. He hopes to be on the air between 1300 until around 1900 UTC
on 50.097 MHz CW. QSL via ZS6AYU, direct or by the bureau.
DL7VOA will be active as J34O from Grenada between November 22nd and
December 6th. Activity will be holiday style and include the CQ World Wide DX
CW Contest on November 29th and 30th. QSL via DL7VOA either direct or via
the bureau.
TA1HZ reports that will be operating from Palau as T88HZ between October
24th to the 30th including the CQ World Wide SSB Contest. The log from this
operation will be uploaded to Logbook of the World of the World as soon as
time permits. QSL to TA1HZ direct or via the bureau. Paper QSL's will be
sent out in June 2016 via the bureau.
Lastly, listen out for station HS50RAST to be active through December 31st
to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand.
QSL via E21EIC direct or electronically via Logbook to the World.
(This weeks DX news courtesy of OPDX)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: AMAZON ASKS FAA TO PERMIT DRONE PACKAGE DELIVERY TESTS
Amazon.com is asking the Federal Aviation Administration permission to field
test drone aircraft as part of its plan to deliver packages to customers in
30 minutes or less. Amateur Radio Newsline's Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, has the
rest of the story:
--
In a letter to the FAA dated Wednesday, July 9th, Amazon.com said it is
developing aerial vehicles as part of its previously announced Amazon Prime
Air delivery service. It noted that these high tech delivery aircraft can
travel over 50 miles per hour and carry loads of up to 5 pounds. The company
noted that about 86 percent of its deliveries weigh 5 pounds or less.
The Federal Aviation Administration currently allows hobbyists and model
aircraft makers limited privileges to fly remote controlled drones, but their
commercial use is all but completely prohibited. Amazon is asking for an
exemption to the ban so it can test its design for the proposed delivery
service. The Seattle, Washington-based company says its drone testing will
only take place over Amazon's private property, away from airports or areas
with aviation activity and definitely away from military bases.
With Amazon's paperwork now submitted, at this point, its all up to the FAA
to decide.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, in Zion, Illinois.
--
As many will remember, Amazon created a media frenzy last December when it
outlined its plan to deliver packages using drone aircraft. While at the
time some thought it to be a joke it turns out that the company is very
serious in developing such a futuristic air delivery system. (Seattle Times;
Other 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.
Before we go, a word of congratulations to the ARRL which is holding its
Centenary Convention as this newscast goes to air. This gathering marks the
100th anniversary of the League which is the official representative of
United States radio amateurs to our government and to the world.
It is truly a remarkable achievement for any organization to last for 100
years but the ARRL has made the mark and is not looking back. So as the
League moves into its second century of representation of the United States
amateur radio service please permit us to add our thanks to the ARRL for what
you have done and what you will do in the future. Without the ARRL its
doubtful if any of us would be enjoying ham radio as we know it today.
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Skeeter
Nash, N5ASH, in Victoria, Texas,saying 73 and we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.
***
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We hope you enjoyed it!
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