Post by David (N4DLT) on Aug 11, 2009 10:49:18 GMT -5
The following is a Q-S-T. Restructuring comes to Tonga, 40 meter expansion is delayed in France, four new hamsats are on-orbit but only two are operational, a broadcaster is fined for alleged interference to aviation radio and a long overdue editorial from us to you. What's it about you ask? Find out right here on Amateur Radio Newsline™ report number 1669 coming your way right now.
(Billboard Cart Here)
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RESTRUCTURING: MAJOR CHANGES IN TONGA
Major changes are taking place in amateur radio in Tonga. This, according to Paul Kidd, A-35-R-K, who tells the Ohio Penn DX Newsletter that he recently had a meeting with that nations radio Licensing Officer and the Technical Officer in the newly formed Department of Communications. Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Carlson, KQ6FM, is here with some of what A-35-R-K learned.
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In the past, amateur radio licenses in Tonga have been managed and issued by a variety of different government agencies. That’s now changed with the creation of the Department of Communications which is already building a website and plans to make license application forms available online.
For newcomers, a 'Novice' or some other type of entry level license may be created to encourage more activity. The formation of a club station and licensing classes, possibly through the Tonga Maritime Training Institute, was also discussed.
Licensing procedures for visiting operators and yachts in transit will be simplified, especially for those entering the country somewhere other than the capital. The new agency may make it possible for visitors to apply on-line, however, they will still want to see an applicant in person before issuing a license.
As to call signs, A35 single letter suffix calls may soon be issued to resident Advanced Class licensees, and possibly to special event and contest operations as well. A35 two letter suffix callsigns may be issued to entry level licensees while 3 letter suffix callsigns will likely be issued to short-term visitors and transiting yachts.
In other changes, the permitted output power will increase to 400 watts to bring Tonga up to the same level that is authorized in New Zealand and Australia. The current 40 meter allocation of 7.0- to 7.1 MHz will be continued but 7.1 to 7.2 MHz operation will be permitted on a secondary basis as well. An allocation for 60 meters was discussed, but no action on this will be considered until further studies and consultations are made.
Maybe most important of all, A35RK says that Tonga now has a government Emergency Response Plan, and amateur radio participation in it is authorized. This, in conjunction with the Tonga Defense Force, the Tonga Meteorological Service, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and the Tonga Red Cross. In all some very positive steps forward for ham radio in that nation.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Carlson, KQFM, in Reno.
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The Tonga government also intends to more carefully monitor amateur and maritime communications in an effort to reduce unlicensed operation and to insure compliance with regulations. (OPDX)
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RESTRUCTURING: 7.1 - 7.2 MHz STILL OFF LIMITS IN FRANCE
If you plan to vacation in France, be sure to avoid 7.1 to 7.2MHz . At least for now. This is because French telecommunications authorities have not authorized that spectrum parcel in that country. Although the Department that controls frequency allocation in France, the AFN, has approved the use of that portion, it has yet to be signed off by a Ministerial Decree nor published in the official Journal.
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HAM RADIO IN SPACE: FOUR NEW MICRO HAMSATS ON-ORBIT BUT ONLY TWOP WORK
Four new ham radio satellites have been deployed from the Space Shuttle Endevour during the now concluded STS-127 mission. The new birds are named Castor, Pollux, BEVO1 and AggieSat but only two appear to be working.
Castor and Pollux are reported to be O-K. They will transmit on 145.825 MHz at 1200 baud AFSK and 9600 baud FSK. The transmitter uses the AX.25 protocol. Initial Keplarian elements to track them are posted on the AMSAT website.
BEVO1 and AggieSat2 were also ejected together from the Space Shuttle but it appears that they failed to separate. No signals have been heard from BEVO1, although beacon packets have been reported as coming from AggieSat2.
The current theory is that only partial separation occurred. And while the inhibit switches keeping the satellites powered off have been closed, allowing the satellites to boot up it is likely that the antennas did not deploy correctly. AggieSat2 transmits with 1watt of power so it is easier to hear, while BEVO1 only has 200 milliwatts out during beacon mode.
More is on the web at www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/a.../msg72870.html (ANS)
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HAM RADIO IN SPACE: BETTER THAN USUAL PERSEID METEOR SHOWER ON AUGUST 12
Meteor scatter enthusiasts listen up. This year's Perseid meteor shower could be even better than usual.
According to NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office, a filament of comet dust has drifted across Earth's path. When Earth passes through it, sometime between 0800 and 0900 UTC on August 12th, the Perseid meteor rate could surge to twice its normal value.
Translated into ham radio language, this means more meteors leaving ionized trails as they burn up in the Earth's atmosphere and more chances for those involved in the meteor scatter mode to make contacts by bouncing signals off those ionized trails.
You can check spaceweather.com for details on this years Perseid meteor shower and tips on how best to observe it. (Spaceweather)
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RESCUE RADIO: HAM RADIO REPORTS CITED IN CANARY ISLAND FIRE
Strong winds fanned forest fires on Saturday and Sunday August 1st and 2nd on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma. According to news reports attributed to unnamed radio amateurs large plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the island's southern tip where fires were active on two fronts.
The reports said that firefighters were forced to retreat as flames raged out of control near two towns. Some 4,000 residents were evacuated from the area Saturday.
La Palma is located of the coast of West Africa, and is one of the least developed of the Canary Islands. At airtime news reports say that the fire has destroyed some 50 homes. No other information on the role ham radio operators may have played in rescue radio efforts was included in news reports from the region. (Published news reports)
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RESCUE RADIO: NEVADA COUNTY THANKS HAMS
Back in the United States, several Nevada Amateur radio operators conducted a Simulated Emergency Test at the Panaca Nevada Fire Department on June 27 and 28. The test was used to demonstrate ham the radio operator's emergency communications capabilities using various modes of operation. This included Digital, Single Side Band and CW.
Rick Stever, head of Lincoln Co. Emergency Management, thanked Lee Hone K7NKH and Chuck Reifsnyder AD7OY for their help in organizing the ham radio aspect of the event. Stever also voiced his support to the members of the community who participated and who continue to support the county's Emergency Management. (Lincoln Record)
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RESCUE RADIO: HIGH WINDS VS. HAMS ACROSS THE MIDWEST
Central Indiana hams felt like thy got dumped on this past week and for good reason. 4 to 8 inches of rain fell on south-central Indiana the morning rush hour and the noon hour.
Johnson county hams, just south of Indianapolis, were busy calling in reports of flooded streets as they had flashbacks to last years 100 year flood. That June 2008 event tore out bridges, ripped open a dam and flooded homes throughout the county.
In rural Brown county, high winds toppled trees, damaged homes and brought down power lines leaving thousands of residents in the dark and without phone service. EMA Director Richard Woehlecke, K9VM, said it was the worst flooding and wind damage that he had seen in a decade.
Further south in Jackson county, much heavier rains flooded county roads keeping some closed for most of the week. Some hams maintained stand-by communications throughout the incident.
And west if Indianapolis QIN Net manager Ivan Flint, W9ILF, is picking up pieces of radio equipment and his home after high winds ripped through the area. Flint's amateur radio and antennas were damaged as a result of the high winds.
Reporting from Indianapolis, this is Jack Parker, W8ISH. (W8ISH)
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ENFORCEMENT: FCC WARNS HLI ABOUT UNCERTIFIED VIDEO TRANSMITTER
The FCC has issued an official Citation to Hobby Lobby International for marketing what the agency terms as non-compliant radio frequency devices. According to the Commission, these devices called Pilot View FPV 2400 video transmitter exceeded the maximum radiated power limit for a Part 15 device.
Back on March 5th, the FCC's Spectrum Enforcement Division sent Hobby Lobby International a Letter of Inquiry asking if the Tennessee company was marketing an unauthorized radio frequency device through its website. The company responded by telling the FCC that they began selling the Pilot View FPV 2400 video transmitter in May of 2008 and so far had sold 109 units of the device in the United States. Hobby Lobby also noted that the Australian manufacturer of the transmitter, Intelligent Flight, had represented to them that the device was FCC compliant.
The FCC noted that Hobby Lobby sent a unit to a Commission's lab for evaluation prior to receiving the Letter of Inquiry. After receiving the Letter of Inquiry, Hobby Lobby contacted the test lab to inquire about the test results. At that point it learned that the device is not FCC compliant. According to the Citation, Hobby Lobby says that the last date that a transmitter was received by it was November of 2008. Its also the time when it lost all contact at Intelligent Flight.
In the Citation, the FCC says that it appears that Hobby Lobby violated several sections of the Rules by marketing the Pilot View FPV 2400 transmitter in the United States. The company was then told that future violations of this sort could lead to monetary forfeitures of up to $16,000 for each violation or each day a violation continues. (FCC)
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BREAK 1
From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the AA4ED repeater serving Broward County Florida.
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ENFORCEMENT: BROADCASTER FINED FOR AVIATION BAND INTERFERENCE
The FCC has affirmed a $4000 fine issued against California based Playa Del Sol Broadcasters. This after it determined that a broadcast translator at its transmit site was causing interference to three frequencies in the aviation band. Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reports:
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On March 12, 2008, the FCC Enforcement Bureau’s San Diego, California, office received a complaint of
interference from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department regarding the aviation frequency of 122.875 MHz, in the Indian Wells, California area. The Sheriff’s Department identified the interference as having the same audio as station KRCK on 97.7 MHz in Mecca, California. That’s a station licensed to Playa del Sol
On March 13, 2008, an agent from the San Diego Office traveled to the Indian Wells and was able to detect the audio of KRCK on three separate frequencies in the VHF aviation band. These were 109.5 MHz, 122.2 MHz, and 136.1 MHz. The agent also determined that the three signals were emanating from the KRCK studio which is collocated with FM Broadcast Translator station K238AK.
On March 14, 2008, the agent returned to the studio location of KRCK and inspected FM Broadcast Translator station K238AK. During the inspection, the agent requested that the translator station be taken off the air. By using portable measurement equipment, the agent determined that all three signals previously measured in the aviation band went off the air and returned whenever the K238AK transmitter was switched off. The agent determined that the measured signals on 109.5 MHz, 122.2 MHz, and 136.1 MHz, were spurious emissions emanating from station K238AK.
On July 31, 2008, the San Diego Office issued a Notice of Apparent Liability in the amount of $4,000 to Playa. The notice found that Playa apparently willfully and repeatedly violated the Rules by failing
to adequately attenuate by at least 60 db the spurious emissions from its translator.
In its Response, Playa argues that a forfeiture is not warranted in this case because it responded to the San Diego Office and addressed the issue “promptly and fully,” and that the violation was not willful or repeated.
Now, after weighing the Playa del Sol response and in conjunction with the agency's Forfeiture Policy Statement the FCC conclude this past July 17th that Playa del Sol Broadcasting willfully and repeatedly violated Section 74.1236(c) of the Rules. Considering the entire record including the fact that Playa did
not cease the unauthorized emissions until the San Diego agent confirmed its translator as the source of the interference, the FCC says that neither reduction nor cancellation of the proposed $4,000 forfeiture is warranted.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.
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Playa del Sol Broadcasting was given the customary 30 days to pay or to file an appeal. (FCC)
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ENFORCEMENT FOPLLOW-UP: FCC ISSUES $24000 NAL TO ALLEGED SHOPING CENTER RADIO JAMMER
The FCC has issued a $24,0000 Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture to Kevin W. Bondy, licensee of GMRS station WQGX752, in Encino, California. This for apparently willfully and repeatedly violating Section 95.183(a)(5) of the Commission's Rules by engaging in unlicensed radio operation and intentional interference to licensed radio operations; and apparently willfully and Section 95.115 of the Rules by failing to allow an inspection of his radio equipment by Commission personnel.
You may remember our story a few months ago when an agent from the Los Angeles FCC office used direction finding equipment to locate the source off interference to the shopping centers radio system. Using mobile direction finding gear the agent traced the signal to Bondy's car and accompanied by deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff's office confronted him. The FCC agent identified himself to Bondy and explained that a refusal to allow an inspection could result in a fine. Then the agent asked Bondy if he could perform an inspection of all radios in his vehicle. Initially, Bondy refused to allow an inspection, then later agreed to allow an inspection, then refused again. Bondy's refusal was witnessed by the Sheriff's Department deputies.
Now, after weighing all the evidence the FCC says that in its opinion that Kevin W. Bondy's actions warrant not only the base amount fine for each violation but an enhancement based an several circumstances. These include the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violations, and with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, and history of prior offenses, ability to pay, and other such matters as justice may require. Applying the Forfeiture Policy Statement and the statutory factors to the case, the FCC concludes that Bondy is apparently liable for a $24,000 forfeiture.
As is always the case, Bondy was given the customary 30 days from the May 14th date of the liability notice to pay or to file an appeal. That date has long since passed. Meantime an informed source indicated to the CGC Communicator that Bondy may walk away free from the most serious criminal charges levied against him. CGC reports that its possible that a Ventura county prosecutor filed the wrong charges with a wiretapping charge being at the heart of the matter. The presiding judge dismissed that charge on July 23, along with another charge stemming from it. As of now, the only prevailing criminal charge against Bondy is one of making annoying phone calls, but the prosecution has the option to re-file its case. (FCC, CGC)
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RADIO LAW: COMMENTERS TO FCC FEAR IBOC INTERFERENCE
Mentions of alleged interference due to increased FM In Band On Channel or IBOC digital radio m power levels are now cropping up in filed comments to the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC had asked about how to treat cases of alleged interference when it sought the next round of comments on the proposed voluntary FM IBOC power increase.
According to Radio World On-Line, approximately 32 of 41 comments filed oppose a blanket power increase for IBOC operations. Many urge the FCC to wait until after the tests being conducted by National Public Radio Labs are concluded before the agency makes a decision on the proposed power increase.
In its filing, NPR stated that the few commenters supporting the proposed blanket power increase have offered no new evidence or basis to justify the proposal. NPR calls this a significant omission, particularly given the failure of the prior testing to examine the impact of the proposed increase on analog SCA subcarrier services for the visually impaired and other SCA compatibility.
The comment period on this matter closed about three weeks ago. (RW)
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NAMES IN THE NEWS: K0DQ FIRST EVER TO WIN ALL MAJOR DX CONTESTS SINGLE OP
A McLean, Virginia ham operating the 2008 CW weekend of the CQ World Wide DX Contest has perhaps become the only person ever to win single-op world championships in all six major ham radio DX contests
John Scott Redd, K0DQ, on the air from Aruba as P40Q racked up over a million more points than his closest competitor in the Single-Operator Low Power Class
Redd got his first taste of contest victory back in 1966 as a Navy officer posted to Uruguay and operating CX2CO in the phone weekend of the CQ World Wide DX Contest. Redd worked his way up through the Navy ranks to Vice Admiral and became Commander of the Fifth Fleet. He then served as a civilian in the Iraq Coalition Provisional Authority and as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center before retiring in late 2007.
But ham radio and contesting were never far away, and operating from Mexico as XE1IIJ in the early 1970s, Redd won single-op world championships in the CQWW Phone Contest, the ARRL DX Phone and CW Contests and the CQ WPX Phone Contest. Thirty years later, when his professional life permitted a little more hamming time, he added the WPX CW crown as P41P, operating from P43P's station in Aruba, in 2002. The only prize that eluded him was the CQWW CW. That is until now.
Redd has already been inducted into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame for his contesting achievements on top of all his other accomplishments. (CQ)
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HAM HELP: FREE IARU LOCATOR MAPS
Everyone loves getting something for nothing so here's one for you. Free IARU locator maps are available in PDF format for downloading. Maps are available for many nations on all continents. The U-S map includes Hawaii and Alaska. You can find them at iarumapsrussia.webs.com. (G0GQK)
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HAM RADIO ON THE WEB: QRP KITTS ON YOU TUBE
EA5BLP, has created a YouTube channel dedicated to QRP radios and their operation. The videos no there were recorded with a simple photo camera and mostly in a noisy afternoon of very poor propagation. QRP kits covered include the SW-20, Ten Tec 1330, Weber dual band, K-1, Heathkit hw-9 and others. The videos are at www dot youtube dot com/user/ea5blp. (Southgate)
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THE SOCIAL SCENE: ARRL / TAPR DCC IN SEPTEMBER IN CHICAGO
Turning to the ham radio social scene, the joint ARRL and Tucson Amateur Packet Radio Digital Communications Conference will again be held this year in the Chicago area. The dates are on September 25th to the 27th. This conference offers both technical and introductory presentations. The sponsors welcome the submission of both technical papers and presentations for the event covering all digital voice and data technologies. More information is on line at www.tapr.org. (TAPR)
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THE SOCIAL SCENE: ILLW THE WEEKEND OF AUGUST 15
Some 300 lighthouses and light ships representing 50 nations are set take part in the 2009 International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend and the total number is expected to exceed 400 by the time the event takes place. Organized by Scotland's Ayr Amateur Radio Group International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend will happen the weekend of Saturday, August 15th at 0001 UTC through Sunday, August 16 at 2359 UTC. More information about the event, including a registration form is available on the web at illw.net/2009. (ILLW)
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THE SOCIAL SCENE: CELEBRATING SVARC AT 50
And words of congratulations to the Scioto Valley Amateur Radio Club of Chillicothe, Ohio which is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year. Established in 1959, over the years this club has served many amateur radio operators in Southern Ohio. And in recognition of this milestone the club will be sponsoring a special event station from 1400 to 2200 U-T-C on October 10th with stations will be operating on 10, 15 and 20 meters. Commemorative QSL cards will be available. More information is at www dot qsl dot net slash W8BAP. (KD8EAD)
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BREAK 2
This is ham radio news for today’s radio amateur. 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)
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EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: MARINE CORPS BANS SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES
The U.S. Marine Corps has banned MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, and several other social media sites from its networks. The ban which is effective immediately was instituted in response to a late July warning from U.S. Strategic Command.
According to news reports the Strategic Command told the rest of the military it was considering a Defense Department-wide ban on the Web 2.0 sites. This, due to what the government says are network security concerns.
The Marine Corps says it will issue waivers to the Web 2.0 blockade if a "mission critical need" can be proven. They will continue to allow access to the military's internal "SNS-like services." But for most members of the Corps, access to the real, public social networks is now shut off for at least the next 12 months. (Published news reports)
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RADIO FINDINGS: OLDER AMERICANS PREFER NEW GADGETS
A study called: "Graying Gadgets: How Older Americans View Consumer Electronics." Says that 67% of those Americans over the age of 70 use a cell phone on a weekly basis. Also that 27% more likely to visit travel Web sites than the average Internet user, and 98% more likely to visit health sites. When asked about what top five consumer electronics they intend to buy in the next year, this demographic listed High Definition TV sets, laptop computers, cell phones, digital cameras or GPS devices.
Even though this group consisting of boomers and World War II-generation Americans grew up with radio, it was not listed in their top five items that they must have. For manufacturers of consumer goods this seems to bolster the argument for having an AM / FM radio included on cell phones.
More than 3,000 older Americans took part in the study in November and December 2008. Those interviewed ranged in age from 55 to 85. (RW)
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RADIO IN SPACE: YOUR NAME HEADED TO MARS
Your name and call could be added to a microchip on the Mars Science Laboratory Rover heading to the red planet in 2011.
All you need to do is to go to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory U-R-L found in this weeks printed Newsline report and fill in the blanks. While there is no space for your callsign, many hams are simply adding it right after their last name.
The Mars Science Laboratory is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program. This is a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet. The Mars Science Laboratory is a rover that will assess whether Mars ever was, or is still today, an environment able to support microbial life.
Again, to get your name on that Mars bound microchip is to mars9.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/partic...name/index.cfm (VK2SKY)
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RADIO IN SPACE: EXTENDING THE WORLD WIDE WEB INTO THE FINAL FRONTIER
The University of Colorado at Boulder is working with NASA to extend the Interenet into the final frontier. The two are working to develop and test the new communications technology which will extend Earth's Internet into outer space and across the solar system.
Called Disruption Tolerant Networking, or DTN, the new technology will enable NASA and other space agencies around the world to better communicate with international fleets of spacecraft that will be used to explore the Moon, Mars and beyond in the coming decades. Or put another way, its expanding the Internet where no website has ever been before. (NASA)
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ON THE AIR: CELEBRATING KARATE IN GERMANY IN DECEMBER
Members of Germany's Waldkirchen Radio Club will activate special event station DP3SSKW on CW and SSB through December 31st. This, to celebrate the 3rd ####o-ryu Shukokai Karate 2009 Worldcup. Skeds for 40 and 80 meters are possible via E-mail to DK7FK at b (dot) barth (at) pension-monika (dot) de. QSL via the bureau or direct to DK7FK. (Southgate)
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ON THE AIR: UK RAYNET SPECIAL EVENT AUGUST 9
From the U-K word that Norfolk County RAYNET will be operational on Sunday August 9th with a special event station. GB4NCR, from Walcott in Norfolk on 80 meter SSB with a primary frequency of 3.663MHz. 40 meters will be used if 80 isn't open. QSL cards are available and can be send either via the bureau or direct to G4PSH with a stamped self-addressed envelope. (RSGB)
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ON THE AIR: CELEBRATING THE SPANISH FORMULIA 1 RACE
Ham Radio will be a part of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix will take place in Valencia Spain from August 8th to 23rd. Commemorative stations AM5FUV, AO5FUV, AN5FUV EG5FUV and EH5FUV will take to the airwaves to help commemorate this years event. A special award will be issued to those who will make at last 3 QSO's with 3 different event stations. The QSL Manager will be EA5FL. Further information can be found at QRZ.com. (Southgate)
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ON THE AIR: THE IOWA QSO PARTY IN OCTOBER
Back in the USA the 2009 Iowa QSO Party takes place on October 17th from 1400 to 2300 U-T-C. All band and modes are included but no contacts using repeaters or other relay devices are allowed. More information plus summary sheets are at www dot wa0dx dot org. (Via e-mail)
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DX
In DX, word that 3B8FQ has received approval and will be active as 3B7FQ from St. Brandon Island, in August. He will depart Mauritius on the 10th of August and returns from St. Brandon on the 30th. Operation will be SSB and CW on 40 to 10 meters. This may be his last visit to 3B7 for the next five years. QSL via K5XK.
More than 12,000 contacts were made by VK9NI from Norfolk Island during mainly the RSGB Islands on the Air contest on July 5th and 6th. This, despite poor band conditions on 160 through to 10 meters. A nine-member team ran multiple stations using phone, CW and RTTY. If you worked them, QSL as directed on the air.
JM1LJS and JA3RAF will be active from Wallis Island between August 9th and 15th using the callsign FW1W. They plan to operate SSB, CW and possibly some digital modes on 40 through 6 meters. QSL direct via their home calls only.
A multi-national group is on the air from Swaziland until August 11th signing 3DA0SS. Operation is from both the Hawane Resort and a campsite near Manzini. Plans are to cover as many bands and modes as possible, including PSK31, RTTY and CW. QSL as directed on the air.
OH1TX and OH0RJ will be leading a three man team on a two day trip to Market Reef in mid-August. They expect to arrive on the `Rock' by noon on August 10th and to depart early on the 12th. They will use the call O-J-0Zero-Japan.
Lastly, CT1GPQ will be active from Timor Lorosae between August rd and the 3rd of October. His activity will be on 40, 30, 20 and 17 meters using SSB, RTTY and CW. The pilot station and QSL manager is CT1GFK.
Above from various DX news sources
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THAT FINAL ITEM: AN EDITORIAL ON INTERFERENCE
And finally this week, we depart from the customary to bring you one of our infrequent editorials. This one deals with malicious interference, those who cause it and also those who seem to seek it out. Here's our Producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF:
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Over the past two weeks we have been getting complaints that Newsline is jamming and in other ways harassing users of the frequency of 14.275 MHz on the 20 meter band.
For the record, we at the Amateur Radio Newsline are information providers only. We have no broadcast equipment and we air nothing ourselves. Our audio content is distributed over the Internet and by automated telephone and is formatted for retransmission specifically over VHF and UHF FM repeaters because that is where we believe that it belongs. It was never intended for retransmission on the High Frequency bands, however there are some hams who have chosen to do so for reasons known only to themselves.
If you are among those being interfered with on 14.275 MHz and live within the United States or its possessions, we suggest you obtain the call letters of the station that is doing the rebroadcast that is interfering with you and file a formal complaint with the FCC. It is the responsibility of that Federal Government agency to police the airwaves and only that agency can solve your problem.
That said, we would also question why anyone would even want to operate on or near 14.275 MHz. That is a frequency with a long history of being the home of numerous problems in our service.
With so many other frequencies available on 20 meters alone, there would seem to be no reason to congregate on 14.275 MHz other than to satisfy ones own voyeuristic needs. And in our humble view, that is not a good reason to tune a radio to that frequency.
If you cannot help yourself and feel a need to be there, please do not call or e-mail us to say that you were jammed or harassed. We will only respond that we warned you not to waste your time operating on or near 14.275.
I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, and that how we see it in the studio in Los Angeles.
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There is simple solution to the problem of 14.275 MHz or any other frequency like it. Just don't bother listening and forget those who are making it into a mess even exist. (ARNewsline™)
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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 Newsline™. Our e-mail address is newsline@arnewsline.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™, P.O. Box 660937, Arcadia, California 91066.
A reminder that next weekend, August 15th and 16th is the Huntsville Hamfest and the presentation of the 2009 Young Ham of the Year Award to Andrew Koenig, KE5GDB. We hope to see and meet many of you there.
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I’m Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline™ is Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
__________________
Fred Lloyd, AA7BQ
Publisher, QRZ.COM
aa7bq@qrz.com
(Billboard Cart Here)
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RESTRUCTURING: MAJOR CHANGES IN TONGA
Major changes are taking place in amateur radio in Tonga. This, according to Paul Kidd, A-35-R-K, who tells the Ohio Penn DX Newsletter that he recently had a meeting with that nations radio Licensing Officer and the Technical Officer in the newly formed Department of Communications. Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Carlson, KQ6FM, is here with some of what A-35-R-K learned.
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In the past, amateur radio licenses in Tonga have been managed and issued by a variety of different government agencies. That’s now changed with the creation of the Department of Communications which is already building a website and plans to make license application forms available online.
For newcomers, a 'Novice' or some other type of entry level license may be created to encourage more activity. The formation of a club station and licensing classes, possibly through the Tonga Maritime Training Institute, was also discussed.
Licensing procedures for visiting operators and yachts in transit will be simplified, especially for those entering the country somewhere other than the capital. The new agency may make it possible for visitors to apply on-line, however, they will still want to see an applicant in person before issuing a license.
As to call signs, A35 single letter suffix calls may soon be issued to resident Advanced Class licensees, and possibly to special event and contest operations as well. A35 two letter suffix callsigns may be issued to entry level licensees while 3 letter suffix callsigns will likely be issued to short-term visitors and transiting yachts.
In other changes, the permitted output power will increase to 400 watts to bring Tonga up to the same level that is authorized in New Zealand and Australia. The current 40 meter allocation of 7.0- to 7.1 MHz will be continued but 7.1 to 7.2 MHz operation will be permitted on a secondary basis as well. An allocation for 60 meters was discussed, but no action on this will be considered until further studies and consultations are made.
Maybe most important of all, A35RK says that Tonga now has a government Emergency Response Plan, and amateur radio participation in it is authorized. This, in conjunction with the Tonga Defense Force, the Tonga Meteorological Service, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and the Tonga Red Cross. In all some very positive steps forward for ham radio in that nation.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Carlson, KQFM, in Reno.
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The Tonga government also intends to more carefully monitor amateur and maritime communications in an effort to reduce unlicensed operation and to insure compliance with regulations. (OPDX)
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RESTRUCTURING: 7.1 - 7.2 MHz STILL OFF LIMITS IN FRANCE
If you plan to vacation in France, be sure to avoid 7.1 to 7.2MHz . At least for now. This is because French telecommunications authorities have not authorized that spectrum parcel in that country. Although the Department that controls frequency allocation in France, the AFN, has approved the use of that portion, it has yet to be signed off by a Ministerial Decree nor published in the official Journal.
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HAM RADIO IN SPACE: FOUR NEW MICRO HAMSATS ON-ORBIT BUT ONLY TWOP WORK
Four new ham radio satellites have been deployed from the Space Shuttle Endevour during the now concluded STS-127 mission. The new birds are named Castor, Pollux, BEVO1 and AggieSat but only two appear to be working.
Castor and Pollux are reported to be O-K. They will transmit on 145.825 MHz at 1200 baud AFSK and 9600 baud FSK. The transmitter uses the AX.25 protocol. Initial Keplarian elements to track them are posted on the AMSAT website.
BEVO1 and AggieSat2 were also ejected together from the Space Shuttle but it appears that they failed to separate. No signals have been heard from BEVO1, although beacon packets have been reported as coming from AggieSat2.
The current theory is that only partial separation occurred. And while the inhibit switches keeping the satellites powered off have been closed, allowing the satellites to boot up it is likely that the antennas did not deploy correctly. AggieSat2 transmits with 1watt of power so it is easier to hear, while BEVO1 only has 200 milliwatts out during beacon mode.
More is on the web at www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/a.../msg72870.html (ANS)
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HAM RADIO IN SPACE: BETTER THAN USUAL PERSEID METEOR SHOWER ON AUGUST 12
Meteor scatter enthusiasts listen up. This year's Perseid meteor shower could be even better than usual.
According to NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office, a filament of comet dust has drifted across Earth's path. When Earth passes through it, sometime between 0800 and 0900 UTC on August 12th, the Perseid meteor rate could surge to twice its normal value.
Translated into ham radio language, this means more meteors leaving ionized trails as they burn up in the Earth's atmosphere and more chances for those involved in the meteor scatter mode to make contacts by bouncing signals off those ionized trails.
You can check spaceweather.com for details on this years Perseid meteor shower and tips on how best to observe it. (Spaceweather)
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RESCUE RADIO: HAM RADIO REPORTS CITED IN CANARY ISLAND FIRE
Strong winds fanned forest fires on Saturday and Sunday August 1st and 2nd on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma. According to news reports attributed to unnamed radio amateurs large plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the island's southern tip where fires were active on two fronts.
The reports said that firefighters were forced to retreat as flames raged out of control near two towns. Some 4,000 residents were evacuated from the area Saturday.
La Palma is located of the coast of West Africa, and is one of the least developed of the Canary Islands. At airtime news reports say that the fire has destroyed some 50 homes. No other information on the role ham radio operators may have played in rescue radio efforts was included in news reports from the region. (Published news reports)
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RESCUE RADIO: NEVADA COUNTY THANKS HAMS
Back in the United States, several Nevada Amateur radio operators conducted a Simulated Emergency Test at the Panaca Nevada Fire Department on June 27 and 28. The test was used to demonstrate ham the radio operator's emergency communications capabilities using various modes of operation. This included Digital, Single Side Band and CW.
Rick Stever, head of Lincoln Co. Emergency Management, thanked Lee Hone K7NKH and Chuck Reifsnyder AD7OY for their help in organizing the ham radio aspect of the event. Stever also voiced his support to the members of the community who participated and who continue to support the county's Emergency Management. (Lincoln Record)
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RESCUE RADIO: HIGH WINDS VS. HAMS ACROSS THE MIDWEST
Central Indiana hams felt like thy got dumped on this past week and for good reason. 4 to 8 inches of rain fell on south-central Indiana the morning rush hour and the noon hour.
Johnson county hams, just south of Indianapolis, were busy calling in reports of flooded streets as they had flashbacks to last years 100 year flood. That June 2008 event tore out bridges, ripped open a dam and flooded homes throughout the county.
In rural Brown county, high winds toppled trees, damaged homes and brought down power lines leaving thousands of residents in the dark and without phone service. EMA Director Richard Woehlecke, K9VM, said it was the worst flooding and wind damage that he had seen in a decade.
Further south in Jackson county, much heavier rains flooded county roads keeping some closed for most of the week. Some hams maintained stand-by communications throughout the incident.
And west if Indianapolis QIN Net manager Ivan Flint, W9ILF, is picking up pieces of radio equipment and his home after high winds ripped through the area. Flint's amateur radio and antennas were damaged as a result of the high winds.
Reporting from Indianapolis, this is Jack Parker, W8ISH. (W8ISH)
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ENFORCEMENT: FCC WARNS HLI ABOUT UNCERTIFIED VIDEO TRANSMITTER
The FCC has issued an official Citation to Hobby Lobby International for marketing what the agency terms as non-compliant radio frequency devices. According to the Commission, these devices called Pilot View FPV 2400 video transmitter exceeded the maximum radiated power limit for a Part 15 device.
Back on March 5th, the FCC's Spectrum Enforcement Division sent Hobby Lobby International a Letter of Inquiry asking if the Tennessee company was marketing an unauthorized radio frequency device through its website. The company responded by telling the FCC that they began selling the Pilot View FPV 2400 video transmitter in May of 2008 and so far had sold 109 units of the device in the United States. Hobby Lobby also noted that the Australian manufacturer of the transmitter, Intelligent Flight, had represented to them that the device was FCC compliant.
The FCC noted that Hobby Lobby sent a unit to a Commission's lab for evaluation prior to receiving the Letter of Inquiry. After receiving the Letter of Inquiry, Hobby Lobby contacted the test lab to inquire about the test results. At that point it learned that the device is not FCC compliant. According to the Citation, Hobby Lobby says that the last date that a transmitter was received by it was November of 2008. Its also the time when it lost all contact at Intelligent Flight.
In the Citation, the FCC says that it appears that Hobby Lobby violated several sections of the Rules by marketing the Pilot View FPV 2400 transmitter in the United States. The company was then told that future violations of this sort could lead to monetary forfeitures of up to $16,000 for each violation or each day a violation continues. (FCC)
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BREAK 1
From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the AA4ED repeater serving Broward County Florida.
(5 sec pause here)
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ENFORCEMENT: BROADCASTER FINED FOR AVIATION BAND INTERFERENCE
The FCC has affirmed a $4000 fine issued against California based Playa Del Sol Broadcasters. This after it determined that a broadcast translator at its transmit site was causing interference to three frequencies in the aviation band. Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reports:
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On March 12, 2008, the FCC Enforcement Bureau’s San Diego, California, office received a complaint of
interference from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department regarding the aviation frequency of 122.875 MHz, in the Indian Wells, California area. The Sheriff’s Department identified the interference as having the same audio as station KRCK on 97.7 MHz in Mecca, California. That’s a station licensed to Playa del Sol
On March 13, 2008, an agent from the San Diego Office traveled to the Indian Wells and was able to detect the audio of KRCK on three separate frequencies in the VHF aviation band. These were 109.5 MHz, 122.2 MHz, and 136.1 MHz. The agent also determined that the three signals were emanating from the KRCK studio which is collocated with FM Broadcast Translator station K238AK.
On March 14, 2008, the agent returned to the studio location of KRCK and inspected FM Broadcast Translator station K238AK. During the inspection, the agent requested that the translator station be taken off the air. By using portable measurement equipment, the agent determined that all three signals previously measured in the aviation band went off the air and returned whenever the K238AK transmitter was switched off. The agent determined that the measured signals on 109.5 MHz, 122.2 MHz, and 136.1 MHz, were spurious emissions emanating from station K238AK.
On July 31, 2008, the San Diego Office issued a Notice of Apparent Liability in the amount of $4,000 to Playa. The notice found that Playa apparently willfully and repeatedly violated the Rules by failing
to adequately attenuate by at least 60 db the spurious emissions from its translator.
In its Response, Playa argues that a forfeiture is not warranted in this case because it responded to the San Diego Office and addressed the issue “promptly and fully,” and that the violation was not willful or repeated.
Now, after weighing the Playa del Sol response and in conjunction with the agency's Forfeiture Policy Statement the FCC conclude this past July 17th that Playa del Sol Broadcasting willfully and repeatedly violated Section 74.1236(c) of the Rules. Considering the entire record including the fact that Playa did
not cease the unauthorized emissions until the San Diego agent confirmed its translator as the source of the interference, the FCC says that neither reduction nor cancellation of the proposed $4,000 forfeiture is warranted.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.
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Playa del Sol Broadcasting was given the customary 30 days to pay or to file an appeal. (FCC)
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ENFORCEMENT FOPLLOW-UP: FCC ISSUES $24000 NAL TO ALLEGED SHOPING CENTER RADIO JAMMER
The FCC has issued a $24,0000 Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture to Kevin W. Bondy, licensee of GMRS station WQGX752, in Encino, California. This for apparently willfully and repeatedly violating Section 95.183(a)(5) of the Commission's Rules by engaging in unlicensed radio operation and intentional interference to licensed radio operations; and apparently willfully and Section 95.115 of the Rules by failing to allow an inspection of his radio equipment by Commission personnel.
You may remember our story a few months ago when an agent from the Los Angeles FCC office used direction finding equipment to locate the source off interference to the shopping centers radio system. Using mobile direction finding gear the agent traced the signal to Bondy's car and accompanied by deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff's office confronted him. The FCC agent identified himself to Bondy and explained that a refusal to allow an inspection could result in a fine. Then the agent asked Bondy if he could perform an inspection of all radios in his vehicle. Initially, Bondy refused to allow an inspection, then later agreed to allow an inspection, then refused again. Bondy's refusal was witnessed by the Sheriff's Department deputies.
Now, after weighing all the evidence the FCC says that in its opinion that Kevin W. Bondy's actions warrant not only the base amount fine for each violation but an enhancement based an several circumstances. These include the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violations, and with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, and history of prior offenses, ability to pay, and other such matters as justice may require. Applying the Forfeiture Policy Statement and the statutory factors to the case, the FCC concludes that Bondy is apparently liable for a $24,000 forfeiture.
As is always the case, Bondy was given the customary 30 days from the May 14th date of the liability notice to pay or to file an appeal. That date has long since passed. Meantime an informed source indicated to the CGC Communicator that Bondy may walk away free from the most serious criminal charges levied against him. CGC reports that its possible that a Ventura county prosecutor filed the wrong charges with a wiretapping charge being at the heart of the matter. The presiding judge dismissed that charge on July 23, along with another charge stemming from it. As of now, the only prevailing criminal charge against Bondy is one of making annoying phone calls, but the prosecution has the option to re-file its case. (FCC, CGC)
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RADIO LAW: COMMENTERS TO FCC FEAR IBOC INTERFERENCE
Mentions of alleged interference due to increased FM In Band On Channel or IBOC digital radio m power levels are now cropping up in filed comments to the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC had asked about how to treat cases of alleged interference when it sought the next round of comments on the proposed voluntary FM IBOC power increase.
According to Radio World On-Line, approximately 32 of 41 comments filed oppose a blanket power increase for IBOC operations. Many urge the FCC to wait until after the tests being conducted by National Public Radio Labs are concluded before the agency makes a decision on the proposed power increase.
In its filing, NPR stated that the few commenters supporting the proposed blanket power increase have offered no new evidence or basis to justify the proposal. NPR calls this a significant omission, particularly given the failure of the prior testing to examine the impact of the proposed increase on analog SCA subcarrier services for the visually impaired and other SCA compatibility.
The comment period on this matter closed about three weeks ago. (RW)
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NAMES IN THE NEWS: K0DQ FIRST EVER TO WIN ALL MAJOR DX CONTESTS SINGLE OP
A McLean, Virginia ham operating the 2008 CW weekend of the CQ World Wide DX Contest has perhaps become the only person ever to win single-op world championships in all six major ham radio DX contests
John Scott Redd, K0DQ, on the air from Aruba as P40Q racked up over a million more points than his closest competitor in the Single-Operator Low Power Class
Redd got his first taste of contest victory back in 1966 as a Navy officer posted to Uruguay and operating CX2CO in the phone weekend of the CQ World Wide DX Contest. Redd worked his way up through the Navy ranks to Vice Admiral and became Commander of the Fifth Fleet. He then served as a civilian in the Iraq Coalition Provisional Authority and as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center before retiring in late 2007.
But ham radio and contesting were never far away, and operating from Mexico as XE1IIJ in the early 1970s, Redd won single-op world championships in the CQWW Phone Contest, the ARRL DX Phone and CW Contests and the CQ WPX Phone Contest. Thirty years later, when his professional life permitted a little more hamming time, he added the WPX CW crown as P41P, operating from P43P's station in Aruba, in 2002. The only prize that eluded him was the CQWW CW. That is until now.
Redd has already been inducted into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame for his contesting achievements on top of all his other accomplishments. (CQ)
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HAM HELP: FREE IARU LOCATOR MAPS
Everyone loves getting something for nothing so here's one for you. Free IARU locator maps are available in PDF format for downloading. Maps are available for many nations on all continents. The U-S map includes Hawaii and Alaska. You can find them at iarumapsrussia.webs.com. (G0GQK)
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HAM RADIO ON THE WEB: QRP KITTS ON YOU TUBE
EA5BLP, has created a YouTube channel dedicated to QRP radios and their operation. The videos no there were recorded with a simple photo camera and mostly in a noisy afternoon of very poor propagation. QRP kits covered include the SW-20, Ten Tec 1330, Weber dual band, K-1, Heathkit hw-9 and others. The videos are at www dot youtube dot com/user/ea5blp. (Southgate)
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THE SOCIAL SCENE: ARRL / TAPR DCC IN SEPTEMBER IN CHICAGO
Turning to the ham radio social scene, the joint ARRL and Tucson Amateur Packet Radio Digital Communications Conference will again be held this year in the Chicago area. The dates are on September 25th to the 27th. This conference offers both technical and introductory presentations. The sponsors welcome the submission of both technical papers and presentations for the event covering all digital voice and data technologies. More information is on line at www.tapr.org. (TAPR)
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THE SOCIAL SCENE: ILLW THE WEEKEND OF AUGUST 15
Some 300 lighthouses and light ships representing 50 nations are set take part in the 2009 International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend and the total number is expected to exceed 400 by the time the event takes place. Organized by Scotland's Ayr Amateur Radio Group International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend will happen the weekend of Saturday, August 15th at 0001 UTC through Sunday, August 16 at 2359 UTC. More information about the event, including a registration form is available on the web at illw.net/2009. (ILLW)
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THE SOCIAL SCENE: CELEBRATING SVARC AT 50
And words of congratulations to the Scioto Valley Amateur Radio Club of Chillicothe, Ohio which is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year. Established in 1959, over the years this club has served many amateur radio operators in Southern Ohio. And in recognition of this milestone the club will be sponsoring a special event station from 1400 to 2200 U-T-C on October 10th with stations will be operating on 10, 15 and 20 meters. Commemorative QSL cards will be available. More information is at www dot qsl dot net slash W8BAP. (KD8EAD)
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BREAK 2
This is ham radio news for today’s radio amateur. 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)
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EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: MARINE CORPS BANS SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES
The U.S. Marine Corps has banned MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, and several other social media sites from its networks. The ban which is effective immediately was instituted in response to a late July warning from U.S. Strategic Command.
According to news reports the Strategic Command told the rest of the military it was considering a Defense Department-wide ban on the Web 2.0 sites. This, due to what the government says are network security concerns.
The Marine Corps says it will issue waivers to the Web 2.0 blockade if a "mission critical need" can be proven. They will continue to allow access to the military's internal "SNS-like services." But for most members of the Corps, access to the real, public social networks is now shut off for at least the next 12 months. (Published news reports)
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RADIO FINDINGS: OLDER AMERICANS PREFER NEW GADGETS
A study called: "Graying Gadgets: How Older Americans View Consumer Electronics." Says that 67% of those Americans over the age of 70 use a cell phone on a weekly basis. Also that 27% more likely to visit travel Web sites than the average Internet user, and 98% more likely to visit health sites. When asked about what top five consumer electronics they intend to buy in the next year, this demographic listed High Definition TV sets, laptop computers, cell phones, digital cameras or GPS devices.
Even though this group consisting of boomers and World War II-generation Americans grew up with radio, it was not listed in their top five items that they must have. For manufacturers of consumer goods this seems to bolster the argument for having an AM / FM radio included on cell phones.
More than 3,000 older Americans took part in the study in November and December 2008. Those interviewed ranged in age from 55 to 85. (RW)
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RADIO IN SPACE: YOUR NAME HEADED TO MARS
Your name and call could be added to a microchip on the Mars Science Laboratory Rover heading to the red planet in 2011.
All you need to do is to go to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory U-R-L found in this weeks printed Newsline report and fill in the blanks. While there is no space for your callsign, many hams are simply adding it right after their last name.
The Mars Science Laboratory is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program. This is a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet. The Mars Science Laboratory is a rover that will assess whether Mars ever was, or is still today, an environment able to support microbial life.
Again, to get your name on that Mars bound microchip is to mars9.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/partic...name/index.cfm (VK2SKY)
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RADIO IN SPACE: EXTENDING THE WORLD WIDE WEB INTO THE FINAL FRONTIER
The University of Colorado at Boulder is working with NASA to extend the Interenet into the final frontier. The two are working to develop and test the new communications technology which will extend Earth's Internet into outer space and across the solar system.
Called Disruption Tolerant Networking, or DTN, the new technology will enable NASA and other space agencies around the world to better communicate with international fleets of spacecraft that will be used to explore the Moon, Mars and beyond in the coming decades. Or put another way, its expanding the Internet where no website has ever been before. (NASA)
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ON THE AIR: CELEBRATING KARATE IN GERMANY IN DECEMBER
Members of Germany's Waldkirchen Radio Club will activate special event station DP3SSKW on CW and SSB through December 31st. This, to celebrate the 3rd ####o-ryu Shukokai Karate 2009 Worldcup. Skeds for 40 and 80 meters are possible via E-mail to DK7FK at b (dot) barth (at) pension-monika (dot) de. QSL via the bureau or direct to DK7FK. (Southgate)
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ON THE AIR: UK RAYNET SPECIAL EVENT AUGUST 9
From the U-K word that Norfolk County RAYNET will be operational on Sunday August 9th with a special event station. GB4NCR, from Walcott in Norfolk on 80 meter SSB with a primary frequency of 3.663MHz. 40 meters will be used if 80 isn't open. QSL cards are available and can be send either via the bureau or direct to G4PSH with a stamped self-addressed envelope. (RSGB)
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ON THE AIR: CELEBRATING THE SPANISH FORMULIA 1 RACE
Ham Radio will be a part of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix will take place in Valencia Spain from August 8th to 23rd. Commemorative stations AM5FUV, AO5FUV, AN5FUV EG5FUV and EH5FUV will take to the airwaves to help commemorate this years event. A special award will be issued to those who will make at last 3 QSO's with 3 different event stations. The QSL Manager will be EA5FL. Further information can be found at QRZ.com. (Southgate)
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ON THE AIR: THE IOWA QSO PARTY IN OCTOBER
Back in the USA the 2009 Iowa QSO Party takes place on October 17th from 1400 to 2300 U-T-C. All band and modes are included but no contacts using repeaters or other relay devices are allowed. More information plus summary sheets are at www dot wa0dx dot org. (Via e-mail)
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DX
In DX, word that 3B8FQ has received approval and will be active as 3B7FQ from St. Brandon Island, in August. He will depart Mauritius on the 10th of August and returns from St. Brandon on the 30th. Operation will be SSB and CW on 40 to 10 meters. This may be his last visit to 3B7 for the next five years. QSL via K5XK.
More than 12,000 contacts were made by VK9NI from Norfolk Island during mainly the RSGB Islands on the Air contest on July 5th and 6th. This, despite poor band conditions on 160 through to 10 meters. A nine-member team ran multiple stations using phone, CW and RTTY. If you worked them, QSL as directed on the air.
JM1LJS and JA3RAF will be active from Wallis Island between August 9th and 15th using the callsign FW1W. They plan to operate SSB, CW and possibly some digital modes on 40 through 6 meters. QSL direct via their home calls only.
A multi-national group is on the air from Swaziland until August 11th signing 3DA0SS. Operation is from both the Hawane Resort and a campsite near Manzini. Plans are to cover as many bands and modes as possible, including PSK31, RTTY and CW. QSL as directed on the air.
OH1TX and OH0RJ will be leading a three man team on a two day trip to Market Reef in mid-August. They expect to arrive on the `Rock' by noon on August 10th and to depart early on the 12th. They will use the call O-J-0Zero-Japan.
Lastly, CT1GPQ will be active from Timor Lorosae between August rd and the 3rd of October. His activity will be on 40, 30, 20 and 17 meters using SSB, RTTY and CW. The pilot station and QSL manager is CT1GFK.
Above from various DX news sources
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THAT FINAL ITEM: AN EDITORIAL ON INTERFERENCE
And finally this week, we depart from the customary to bring you one of our infrequent editorials. This one deals with malicious interference, those who cause it and also those who seem to seek it out. Here's our Producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF:
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Over the past two weeks we have been getting complaints that Newsline is jamming and in other ways harassing users of the frequency of 14.275 MHz on the 20 meter band.
For the record, we at the Amateur Radio Newsline are information providers only. We have no broadcast equipment and we air nothing ourselves. Our audio content is distributed over the Internet and by automated telephone and is formatted for retransmission specifically over VHF and UHF FM repeaters because that is where we believe that it belongs. It was never intended for retransmission on the High Frequency bands, however there are some hams who have chosen to do so for reasons known only to themselves.
If you are among those being interfered with on 14.275 MHz and live within the United States or its possessions, we suggest you obtain the call letters of the station that is doing the rebroadcast that is interfering with you and file a formal complaint with the FCC. It is the responsibility of that Federal Government agency to police the airwaves and only that agency can solve your problem.
That said, we would also question why anyone would even want to operate on or near 14.275 MHz. That is a frequency with a long history of being the home of numerous problems in our service.
With so many other frequencies available on 20 meters alone, there would seem to be no reason to congregate on 14.275 MHz other than to satisfy ones own voyeuristic needs. And in our humble view, that is not a good reason to tune a radio to that frequency.
If you cannot help yourself and feel a need to be there, please do not call or e-mail us to say that you were jammed or harassed. We will only respond that we warned you not to waste your time operating on or near 14.275.
I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, and that how we see it in the studio in Los Angeles.
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There is simple solution to the problem of 14.275 MHz or any other frequency like it. Just don't bother listening and forget those who are making it into a mess even exist. (ARNewsline™)
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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 Newsline™. Our e-mail address is newsline@arnewsline.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™, P.O. Box 660937, Arcadia, California 91066.
A reminder that next weekend, August 15th and 16th is the Huntsville Hamfest and the presentation of the 2009 Young Ham of the Year Award to Andrew Koenig, KE5GDB. We hope to see and meet many of you there.
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I’m Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline™ is Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
__________________
Fred Lloyd, AA7BQ
Publisher, QRZ.COM
aa7bq@qrz.com