Post by David (N4DLT) on Oct 9, 2009 11:55:15 GMT -5
The following is a Q-S-T. The rare call 4U1UN will come back on the air for one week only this month with an all star cast at the mics and keys. Also, ham radio assists in the wake of the Sumatra earthquake, hams are safe on American Samoa following a Tsunami, a California concrete hauling company faces a fine for operating in the two meter ham band and a popular hamfest returns after an absence of 13 years. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline" report number 1678 coming your way right now.
RADIO CELEBRATION: 4U1UN ACTIVITY WEEK FROM NYC
4U1UN, the United Nations Headquarters station in New York City will make a rare appearance on the air from October 19th to the 25th . This, with an all star line-up of top gun DX'ers and contester's at the controls of the famed station. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, has the details:
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The list of operators reads like a whose who in the worlds of contesting and DX'ing. Names like Marti Laine, OH2BH, from Finland,.Roger Western, G3SXW from the U-K. Kaz Watanabe, JK3GAD from Japan and Gene Schumat, UA9AB, from Asiatic Russia, to mention only a few. In all there will be about two dozen of the best of the best bringing 4U1UN to life in celebration of 4U1UN Activity Week.
For those not aware, 4U1UN may be geographically located on Manhattan's East side but as far as ham radio is concerned it is considered a DXCC entity unto itself. It became rather rare after 911 when new security measures were put in place. As a result its not often that 4U1UN takes to the airwaves. In fact it has to be a special event such as this to bring the station on. This is one of those rare occasions but as the operators note security access to the building is heavily restricted. None the less, the team says that it will do its best to make this rare station available to all.
As to an operating schedule. Its going to be restricted to 12"00 to 04:00 UTC each day. That translates into 8 a.m. to midnight Eastern Daylight Time. All-night activity is planned for Friday the 23rd and Saturday the 24th of October. The 24th is United Nations Day.
Logs for 4U1UN will be uploaded to Logbook to the World after the operation is completed. All QSL requests go via HB9BOU.
And I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale, Arizona, reporting for the Amateur Radio Newsline.
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In addition to the commemorative 4U1UN operation several of the team members will participate in the CQ World-Wide SSB Contest. They will be entering in the Two Transmitter or M2 category.
And this final note. Keep an ear open for the callsign 4U64UN to be active until mid-November. It will be on to celebrate the 64th annual UN General Assembly.
(NQ2G / LA5IIA, OH2BN, Southgate)
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BREAKING DX NEWS: MIDWAY ISLAND COMES ON THE AIR
And some late breaking DX news. A multi-national team of 18 operators will activate Midway Island at about the time this newscast goes on the air and is expected to continue through October 19th. They are signing K4M and will operate from Sand Island.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has authorized this amateur radio operation from this rare U.S. entity for only a 10 day period. This is the first amateur radio activity from Midway in almost 10 years. Midway Island ranks number 24 world-wide and number 13 in Europe on the DX Magazine's "Most Wanted List".
We will have more DX news later on in this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report. (OPDX)
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RADIO LAW: SENATE BILL INTRODUCED TO STUDY HAM RADIO EMCOMM
A companion bill to the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009 was introduced in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, October 6 by Connecticut Democrat Joe Lieberman and Maine Republican Susan Collins.
Titled Senate Bill 1755, it carries the same name as the House measure introduced this past April by Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee. The bill, if passed, would direct the Department of Homeland Security to undertake a study on emergency communications with an emphasis on the role that ham radio operators play.
S 1755 points out that "There is a strong Federal interest in the effective performance of Amateur Radio Service stations, and that performance must be given support at all levels of government; and protection against unreasonable regulation and impediments to the provision of the valuable communications provided by such stations.
Introduction of S 1755 is the result of many months of groundwork laid by the American Radio Relay League and appears to be directly based on the basis and purpose of the service. This as outlined in Section 97.1 of the FCC rules. (ARRL)
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RESCUE RADIO: HAMS HELP IN THE AFTERMATH OF WEST SUMATRA QUAKE
A number of amateur radio stations are reportedly assisting in the aftermath of the earthquake in Western Sumatra. According to information supplied to the Southgate news, station YB5ZA is located in the Governor's office of West Sumatra province, and is operational in support of the disaster management command post. Its said to be are operating on 7.0650 MHz on 40 meters as well as on 145.500 MHz FM simplex. YB5ZA is reportedly also supporting a 2 meter repeater on the 146.260 in and 146.860 MHz out channel pair.
Another station involved in relief efforts is YB5ZDD. It is on the air using 7.065 MHz on SSB from the airport in Padang City. Lastly, YB1TY has established an iQSO gateway via iqso.orari.net to handle messaging related to disaster relief. All of these operations and possibly others are expected to be operational for some time. (Southgate, Various)
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RESCUE RADIO: HAMS SURVIVE KH8 TSUNAMI
And some good news about several hams living on American Samoa. Lee Wical, KH6BZF, in Hawaii has informed the Ohio Penn DX Newsletter that American Samoa Amateur Radio Association President Larry Gandy, AH8LG, his wife Uti, KH8FO and their family are safe and sound. This, after the tsunami that hit a week ago.
Larry is currently on solar power as the island power is spotty at best. Also, his shop in Pago Pago harbor did sustain some damage.
KH6BZF adds that KH8AA is reportedly safe as well. (KH6BZF)
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RESTRUCTIRING: CANADIAN HAMS TO SHARE WITH MILITARY SYSTEM ON 70 CM
Industry Canada has informed Radio Amateurs of Canada that it has authorized the Department of National Defense to use a digital system called Enhanced Position Location Reporting System or EPLRS in the 430 to 450 MHz shared 70 centimeter band. The EPLRS system consists of mobile, fixed, transportable and airborne stations that use 5 MHz-wide spread spectrum channels to provide strategic telemetry information for military platforms.
This authorization is on a no-protection, non-interference basis, which means that no new restrictions will be imposed on Canadian amateur operations in this band as a result. Industry Canada says that there is a slight chance of minor interference to amateur radio systems. Typically in the form of a minor audible clicking noise. If Canadian amateurs encounter such interference, they are requested to report it by e-mail to Radio Amateurs of Canada at regulatory at rac dot ca. The information reported should include the geographical location, date, time, frequency and mode being used by the amateur station, and a description of the interference. (RAC)
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RADIO RULES: ONTARIO CANADA ENACTS HANDFREE RULES THAT WILL IMPACT HAMS
If you are a ham living in the Canadian Province of Ontario, or planning to visit, listen up. On Wednesday, September 30th the Ontario Ministry of Transportation in announced that Bill 118 that bans several distractions while operating a motor vehicle in the Province will take effect on October 26, 2009.
According to Radio Amateurs of Canada, the new law makes it a violation for drivers to talk, text, type, dial or e-mail using handheld cell phones or any other handheld communications or entertainment devices. Following a three-month educational period police will start issuing tickets on February 1, 2010.
The new law does directly impact ham radio mobile operations although not immediately. Posting to the Radio Amateurs of Canada blog page, Vice President for Public Relations Peter West, VE3HG, noted that all two-way radios in all vehicles must be hands-free in three years time. The only permanent exception is for emergency response vehicles. At the end of the three-year interim exemption, all commercial, CB and Amateur Radio equipment used in moving vehicles by the vehicle operator must be set up for hands-free operation. (RAC)
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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 N6ME repeater serving Fullerton California.
(5 sec pause here)
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ENFORCEMENT: CALIFORNIA STATION FINED $5000 FOR AIRING WRONG EAS
The FCC has proposed a $5000 fine against a California religious broadcaster who inadvertently sent out the wrong message during a designated test. This, even though the station is a volunteer in the EAS program. Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the details:
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The Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture was issued to Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, Inc., licensee of FM radio station KWVE in San Clemente, California. KWVE is a Local Primary or LP station designated to initiate the transmission of Emergency Activation System tests and alerts in several counties.
On October 19, 2008 the Commission's Enforcement Bureau says that it received a complaint alleging that KWVE transmitted commercial programming and an advertisement as part of an EAS test message. This in turn caused the programming and advertisement to be retransmitted by other broadcast stations and cable systems in the area.
On August 27, 2009, the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division issued a letter of inquiry to the Calvary Chapel directing it to respond to the allegations against station KWVE. On September 9th Calvary Chapel did so and admitted that the incident had occurred. It called it a simple mistake caused by an employee who intended to run a scheduled weekly EAS test instead ran an unscheduled Required Monthly Test or RMT instead. It also admitted that the board operator failed to transmit the End of Message or EOM code and the message advising that the test had been concluded. Calvary Chapel categorized the incident as solely an operator error and did not constitute a willful or repeated violation under the of the Commissions Rules
But the FCC disagrees. It says KWVE is charged with the responsibility of knowing and complying with the terms of its authorization, of the Communications Act and the FCC Rules. This includes the required procedures for conducting EAS tests. Moreover, the Commission has long held that licensees are responsible for the acts and omission of their employees and independent contractors. As such it has consistently refused to excuse licensees from forfeiture penalties where the actions of employees or independent contractors have resulted in violations.
Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa was given the usual 30 days to pay the fine or to file an appeal.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.
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But that's not where this enforcement case ends. The CGC Communicator newsletter notes that a number of prominent people in the EAS community have stepped forward with plans to tell the FCC that they believe that the fine is inappropriate. These experts note that In short they note that Local Primary stations volunteer their services to the nation, and some of them are beginning to ask if its worth the added responsibility of being an Local Primary if they, too, will be subject to fines for occasional slip-ups. (FCC, CGC)
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ENFORCEMENT: A CONCRETE FINE FOR OPERATING IN THE 2M HAM BAND
A California firm has been issued a proposed $4000 fine for operating on amateur radio frequencies. This as the FCC issues a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture to the Shimmick Construction Company Inc. after being caught operating a dispatch service in the 2 meter band.
In late May the FCC's Los Angeles office received several complaints that a Yorba Linda, California, concrete delivery company was operating numerous mobile stations in on 146.025 MHz. On May 26th, an agent used direction finding gear to locate the source of the transmissions that were not identified by call sign.
On May 27th the agent visited the site and spoke with the supervisor of the on-site concrete plant. The supervisor allowed the agent to inspect several of the handheld radios in use at the site where it was found that a number of portable transceivers were programmed to 146.025 MHz.
In its follow-up investigation the FCC determined that the two companies had formed the joint venture called Shimmick-Obayashi -- Shimmick Construction Inc and Obayashi Corporation and that both were Commission licensees. However none of these licenses permitted operation in any ham radio band. As a result, a proposed $4000 has been issued to the twin companies which has the usual 30 days to pay or to file an appeal. (FCC)
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THE SOCIAL SCENE: THE NEW ORLEANS HAMFEST IS BACK
A popular hamfest that's been missing in action for several years has made a triumphant return. The place is New Orleans and Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, was there;
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Saturday, October 3rd saw the return of something New Orleans radio amateurs had not experienced in 13 years& a New Orleans hamfest. The last New Orleans hamfest was held in November of 1996 and, for many reasons, didn't return until 2009.
By all accounts, the hams of the Crescent City were ready and the fest was an unqualified sucess. Keith Barnes, W5KB, president of the Jefferson Amateur Radio Club who, in association with the Delta DX Association and the New Orleans Amateur Radio Club sponsored the event, says there were many positive comments about all aspects of the fest from the venue, hotel location and venders. Keith says it takes countless hours to put on the 8 hour party, but with the help of area hams it all went smoothly. Other area clubs pitched in as well. The Ozone ARC lent their prize drum and the Amateur Radio Disaster Services of Louisiana (SELCOM) provided their 146.86 repeater for talk-in.
Icom and MFJ were there showing their latest toys as well as several venders from surrounding states.
The idea of resurrecting the hamfest began several years ago by one the original committee members of the original New Orleans Hamfest which was called AMACOM, the New Orleans Ham and Computer Festival.
Seldon Ohlsson W5LMR had often brought up reprising the fest and for whatever reason it was not done. After moving back into the Jefferson Amateur Radio Club House this last January, after having renovated it post Katrina, (Katrina's flood waters destroyed everything that the club had owned) the idea of resurrecting and co-sponsoring a Hamfest for New Orleans was brought up again. The membership said yes. It was a sometimes bumpy road, but on Saturday, October 3, the dream was realized.
Sadly, W5LMR became a silent key a few years ago. While he didn't live to see his dream realized, I know he was there in spirit and would have been the first to pitch in and help.
I was there and I had a great time! Here's to many more hamfests in the great city of New Orleans!
From 50 miles up the road in Picayune , Mississippi, Don Wilbanks, AE5DW for the Amateur Radio Newsline.
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The bottom line. Hams in the New Orleans area were happy to see this hamfest return. (AE5DW)
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PUBLIC SERVICE: D-STAR REPLACES PACKET AT MEDTRONIC MARATHON
D-Star text messaging has now replaced packet radio in the Minneapolis and Sait Paul, Minnesota, Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. This after another flawless operation with the new mode in 2009.
According to the amateur radio team supporting the event, five Icom D-Star RP-1D access points installed on Twin Cities building rooftops have proven to be 100% reliable. This included the unusually warm 2007 race where more than 50 runners were sent to area hospitals.
Team member Erik Westgard, NY9D, say that Packet radio's low data rate, complexity of the character mode interface, and user training issues have put that aging mode on the back burner. Westhgard noted that using D-Star messaging means that any available operator can use the groups web based missing runner application. This means that they can be helping family members far more quickly.
In 2010 look for an expansion of D-Star in this event. This, as the support team hopes to begin phasing in D-Star digital voice. This they say will allow the concurrent use of low speed data messaging as well as voice contacts. (WB9QZB)
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PUBLIC SERVICE: EDUCATIONAL CONTACT USES D-STAR INTERNATIONAL LINK
D-Star has been used for a transatlantic hookup between students in two schools separated by about 8000 miles. This as pupils at St. Marys Catholic School in Kent in the United Kingdom got the chance to speak with their counterparts at St, Marys Catholic School in Temple, Texas via a D-Star based ham radio link-up.
The contact took place on Tuesday, October 5th. The students at both schools had prepared questions to ask each other. This included such diverse subjects as sports, television, classroom subjects and culture. They were also treated to presentations at before the contact to learn more about what amateur radio is.
Brian Joyner, G8ZYZ, and Catherine Block, M1CVF, handled the duties in the United Kingdom using the services of the GB7FK D-Star repeater in Kent. Steve Bosshard, NU5D, and the Temple Amateur Radio took care of the technology in the Lone Star State.
Reports are that the session went flawlessly and that both sides are looking forward to the next one. (M1CMN, Southgate)
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PUBLIC SERVICE: HAM RADIO ASSISTS THE HEAD OF THE CHARLES REGATTA
Ham radio will be providing communications for the Head of the Charles Regatta that takes place the weekend of October 16th to the 18th.
The Head of the Charles Regatta, also known as HOCR or HOTC, is a rowing race held each October on the Charles River, which separates Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is the largest 2-day regatta in the world, with more than 8,000 athletes rowing in some 1750 boats in 56 events. It also attracts about 300,000 spectators throughout Regatta weekend.
To make the event safe and successful, ham radio volunteers from around the area will be using the 145.430 Belmont and 146.820 Brookline repeaters to support the Red Cross Aid Stations. The Red Cross Health and Safety Committee will have at least eight rescue boats on the river and six aid locations on the shore.
The Head of the Charles Regatta is run by an office of 3 and approximately 1,500 volunteers. The regatta is hosted by Cambridge Boat Club, a rowing and social club founded in 1909 that is headquartered on the Cambridge side of the river. Since 1998, the Head of the Charles Regatta's Charity Program has generated over $650,000 for its official charities, which include Access Sport America, Cambridge Community Foundation, and Community Rowing. (KC1US, Wikipedia)
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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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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: WB6MMH MAKES ARNEWSLINE AVAILABLE ON ECHOLINK AND IRLP
If you are on EchoLink or own use repeater that's tied to the world using IRLP there is a new service. One that will permit you to listen to these weeks newscasts just by connecting to the appropriate Echolink or IRLP node.
This new service is the work of longtime friend Skip Hansen, WB6YMH, of Rancho Palos Verdes, California. According to him, if you would like to hear the current weeks Newsline report on your repeater or link it's really easy if you are on EchoLink or IRLP.
Skip says that on EchoLink just connect to the Newsline conference, node number 6397 or dial the word news on the DTMF pad. On IRLP connect to experimental node 0016 providing that access to "experimental nodes" have been enabled by the node operator. Once you do either, the server will play the news in 2 minute chunks with 10 second pauses between them to reset timeout timers and give you an opportunity to disconnect simplex nodes. Audio is stopped during the pauses so no content is lost.
Our thanks to Skip Hansen, WB6YMH, for providing this value added service. One that will permit many hams to listen to Newsline whenever they want and wherever they might be. (ARNewsline")
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NAMES IN THE NEWS: THREE SHARE NOBEL PRIZE FOR PHYSICS
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to share the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics. One half will go to Charles K. Kao of Standard Telecommunication Laboratories, Harlow, in the UK, and Chinese University of Hong Kong for groundbreaking achievements concerning the transmission of light in fibers for optical communication. The other half is being jointly awarded to Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith, Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ, in the USA. This, for the invention of an imaging semiconductor circuit known as the CCD sensor.
In 1966, Charles Kao made a discovery that led to a breakthrough in fiber optics. He carefully calculated how to transmit light over long distances via optical glass fibers. With a fiber of purest glass it would be possible to transmit light signals over 100 kilometers, compared to only 20 meters for the fibers available in the 1960s. Kao's enthusiasm inspired other researchers to share his vision of the future potential of fiber optics. The first optical fiber was successfully fabricated just four years later, in 1970.
Meantime, in 1969 Willard Boyle and George Smith invented the first successful imaging technology using a digital sensor that they called the Charge-Coupled Device or CCD. CCD technology makes use of the photoelectric effect, as theorized by Albert Einstein and for which he was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize. By this effect, light is transformed into electric signals. For Boyle and Smith the challenge when designing an image sensor was to gather and read out the signals in a large number of image points, pixels, in a short time. They were successful and because of this the CCD has become the digital camera's eye.
This discovery revolutionized photography, as light could now be captured electronically instead of on film . CCD technology is also used in many medical applications, including imaging the inside of the human body for both diagnostics and for microsurgery. (Adapted from Nobel Foundation release)
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RADIO ON THE NET: QRZ.COM NOW HAS ELECTRONIC QSLING INFO
The giant QRZ dot com callsign website has expanded its callsign database. This, with added fields that take into account the emergence of electronic confirmations of on the air contacts as well as those hams who only use cards sent via the mail.
The newly added fields are Mail QSL that indicates whether this person will QSL by Postal Mail, eQSL says that a ham is using eQSL.cc, LOTW indicates whether this person uses LOTW. Another new field is IOTA which permits the insertion of an Islands on the Air designator.
Fred Lloyd, AA7BQ, who owns and manages QR.com notes that these are all user supplied items. That means if the item appears in the listing then the record reflects the member's choice. Otherwise, nothing is shown for these items. Lloyd adds that these new fields are also transmitted in the QRZ XML Logbook Data stream. For more info about logbook data, see the QRZ.com XML page. (QRZ)
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EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: WI-FI SECURITY PAINT
The BBC News reports that researchers have created a special kind of paint which can block out wireless signals. The paint reportedly contains an aluminum-iron oxide which the inventor claims to resonates at the same frequency as wi-fi meaning the airborne data is absorbed and blocked.
Developed at the University of Tokyo, the paint could cost as little as $10 per kilogram. I t means security conscious wireless users could block their neighbors from being able to access their home network without having to set up encryption. Another possible use would be in restaurants and theaters where use of cellphones and text messaging devices has become an annoyance to others.
While paints blocking lower frequencies have been available for some time, this is the first technology to absorb frequencies transmitting in the 100 GHz range.
You can read the full BBC News story 'Anti-wi-fi paint offers security' at news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8279549.stm (BBC)
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NAMES IN THE NEWS: APPLE PASSES TWO BILLION APS DOWNLOADS
Apple Inc. says that more than 2 billion applications have been downloaded from its App Store. This, marking a milestone for the company's year-old business.
According to Apple, more than 85,000 applications are available to 50 million iPhone and iPod Touch customers worldwide. Apple also notes that more than 125,000 software designers are registered in its iPhone Developer Program. (Apple)
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HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AMSAT-NA SUPPORTS JOTA WITH AO-51
Turning to ham radio space related news, word from AMSAT-North America says that it is supporting the 52nd Jamboree on the Air Scouting event by dedicating AO-51 operation to it.
On October 17th and 18th the AO-51 the QRP repeater will be set to crossband FM mode and allocated for the scouts to use. The mode change should occur at 00:00 UTC on the 17th and run for approximately 48 hours.
The frequencies to be used for the Jamboree weekend will be 145.880 FM uplink, and 435.150 FM Downlink. No tone access is required. All satellite users are requested to give priority to Jamboree stations and to hold QSO's with them. (KO4MA)
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DX
In DX, word from our longtime friend John Abbruscato, W5JON, that he will be operating from the hilltop QTH overlooking the Caribbean Sea, and Marigot Bay, St. Lucia from October 20th to the 30th. He will use the call J68JA on 160 through 6 meters using an Icom IC-7000, KL-400 Amplifier into multi-band dipoles on the High Frequency bands and a 3 Element yagi on 6. The dates include the Includes CQ World Wide SSB Contest. QSL to W5JON.
A German team will operate from the Radio Club Station of Tunisian Scouts using a special callsign 3V3S between November 23rd and December 2nd. The team will install and use a Spiderbeam and verticals. Once the DXpedition has concluded the antennas will be donated to the 3V8SS club station. QSL via DL9USA. More is on-line at www.3V3S.tk.
Brian, ND3F, will be active from Barbados as 8P9SS between November 22nd and December 2nd. His operation will probably be on all bands, and he will also be in the CQWW DX CW Contest on November 28th and -29th as a Single-Op/All-Band/Low-Power entry. QSL via Logbook to the World or direct to ND3F.
K9NW will be active from Botswana as A25NW between November 23rd and December 1st. His operation is expected to include His operation is also expected to include the CQWW DX CW Contest. QSL via his home callsign as listed on QRZ.com.
F5PTM will be active from Afghanistan through December as T6YA . Listen out for him on 40, 30, 20 and 17 meters on CW only. QSL via F5OGL.
DL9USA,will be active from Comino Island between October 15th and the 22nd. Bands and modes of his activity were not provided. QSL via his home callsign.
Lastly JA1FJJ, will be active from Bhutan as A52FJJ through October 20th. Operations will be on 80 through 10 meters using SSB, RTTY and PSK31. He plans to use 500 watts into a G5RV antenna. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the Bureau.
(Above from various DX news sources)
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THAT FINAL ITEM: THE LONGEST CW MESSAGE EVER
And finally this week, an answer to the question of what was the longest Morse code message ever sent. With the answer, here's Amateur Radio Newsline's Burt Hicks, has the details:
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The longest Morse message ever sent took place on October 26, 1864. That's when then Governor of the Territory of Nevada, James W. Nye, ordered that a telegram be sent to President Abraham Lincoln that contained the entire text of the Nevada State Constitution.
According to historians, the job of sending such a long telegram at the height of the Civil War was a challenge. This was because there was no direct wirline link from Carson City to Washington, DC. So telegrapher James H. Guild worked seven hours to transmit the message to Salt Lake City, where it was resent to Chicago, then Philadelphia, and finally to the War Department's telegraph Office in Washington. There, two days later, where a 175-page transcription was made.
The final page shows a total 16,543word count and cost $4313.27 to send. In todays dollarettes that would be $59,229 to pay for the one-way the transmission. Three days after receiving this telegram and in accordance with an Act of Congress, President Lincoln proclaimed that Nevada was admitted into the Union.
This 175-page transcription is now in the holdings of the National Archives and is on display in an exhibition entitled "BIG!" That exhibit celebrates the 75th anniversary of the National Archives by featuring big records, big events and of coarse some very big ideas.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Burt Hicks, in Los Angeles.
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The exhibition runs through January 3, 2010 in Washington, DC. It will then be sent out on a national tour. (News release)
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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.
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Don Carlson, KQ6FM, in Reno, Nevada, 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
RADIO CELEBRATION: 4U1UN ACTIVITY WEEK FROM NYC
4U1UN, the United Nations Headquarters station in New York City will make a rare appearance on the air from October 19th to the 25th . This, with an all star line-up of top gun DX'ers and contester's at the controls of the famed station. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, has the details:
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The list of operators reads like a whose who in the worlds of contesting and DX'ing. Names like Marti Laine, OH2BH, from Finland,.Roger Western, G3SXW from the U-K. Kaz Watanabe, JK3GAD from Japan and Gene Schumat, UA9AB, from Asiatic Russia, to mention only a few. In all there will be about two dozen of the best of the best bringing 4U1UN to life in celebration of 4U1UN Activity Week.
For those not aware, 4U1UN may be geographically located on Manhattan's East side but as far as ham radio is concerned it is considered a DXCC entity unto itself. It became rather rare after 911 when new security measures were put in place. As a result its not often that 4U1UN takes to the airwaves. In fact it has to be a special event such as this to bring the station on. This is one of those rare occasions but as the operators note security access to the building is heavily restricted. None the less, the team says that it will do its best to make this rare station available to all.
As to an operating schedule. Its going to be restricted to 12"00 to 04:00 UTC each day. That translates into 8 a.m. to midnight Eastern Daylight Time. All-night activity is planned for Friday the 23rd and Saturday the 24th of October. The 24th is United Nations Day.
Logs for 4U1UN will be uploaded to Logbook to the World after the operation is completed. All QSL requests go via HB9BOU.
And I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale, Arizona, reporting for the Amateur Radio Newsline.
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In addition to the commemorative 4U1UN operation several of the team members will participate in the CQ World-Wide SSB Contest. They will be entering in the Two Transmitter or M2 category.
And this final note. Keep an ear open for the callsign 4U64UN to be active until mid-November. It will be on to celebrate the 64th annual UN General Assembly.
(NQ2G / LA5IIA, OH2BN, Southgate)
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BREAKING DX NEWS: MIDWAY ISLAND COMES ON THE AIR
And some late breaking DX news. A multi-national team of 18 operators will activate Midway Island at about the time this newscast goes on the air and is expected to continue through October 19th. They are signing K4M and will operate from Sand Island.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has authorized this amateur radio operation from this rare U.S. entity for only a 10 day period. This is the first amateur radio activity from Midway in almost 10 years. Midway Island ranks number 24 world-wide and number 13 in Europe on the DX Magazine's "Most Wanted List".
We will have more DX news later on in this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report. (OPDX)
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RADIO LAW: SENATE BILL INTRODUCED TO STUDY HAM RADIO EMCOMM
A companion bill to the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009 was introduced in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, October 6 by Connecticut Democrat Joe Lieberman and Maine Republican Susan Collins.
Titled Senate Bill 1755, it carries the same name as the House measure introduced this past April by Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee. The bill, if passed, would direct the Department of Homeland Security to undertake a study on emergency communications with an emphasis on the role that ham radio operators play.
S 1755 points out that "There is a strong Federal interest in the effective performance of Amateur Radio Service stations, and that performance must be given support at all levels of government; and protection against unreasonable regulation and impediments to the provision of the valuable communications provided by such stations.
Introduction of S 1755 is the result of many months of groundwork laid by the American Radio Relay League and appears to be directly based on the basis and purpose of the service. This as outlined in Section 97.1 of the FCC rules. (ARRL)
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RESCUE RADIO: HAMS HELP IN THE AFTERMATH OF WEST SUMATRA QUAKE
A number of amateur radio stations are reportedly assisting in the aftermath of the earthquake in Western Sumatra. According to information supplied to the Southgate news, station YB5ZA is located in the Governor's office of West Sumatra province, and is operational in support of the disaster management command post. Its said to be are operating on 7.0650 MHz on 40 meters as well as on 145.500 MHz FM simplex. YB5ZA is reportedly also supporting a 2 meter repeater on the 146.260 in and 146.860 MHz out channel pair.
Another station involved in relief efforts is YB5ZDD. It is on the air using 7.065 MHz on SSB from the airport in Padang City. Lastly, YB1TY has established an iQSO gateway via iqso.orari.net to handle messaging related to disaster relief. All of these operations and possibly others are expected to be operational for some time. (Southgate, Various)
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RESCUE RADIO: HAMS SURVIVE KH8 TSUNAMI
And some good news about several hams living on American Samoa. Lee Wical, KH6BZF, in Hawaii has informed the Ohio Penn DX Newsletter that American Samoa Amateur Radio Association President Larry Gandy, AH8LG, his wife Uti, KH8FO and their family are safe and sound. This, after the tsunami that hit a week ago.
Larry is currently on solar power as the island power is spotty at best. Also, his shop in Pago Pago harbor did sustain some damage.
KH6BZF adds that KH8AA is reportedly safe as well. (KH6BZF)
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RESTRUCTIRING: CANADIAN HAMS TO SHARE WITH MILITARY SYSTEM ON 70 CM
Industry Canada has informed Radio Amateurs of Canada that it has authorized the Department of National Defense to use a digital system called Enhanced Position Location Reporting System or EPLRS in the 430 to 450 MHz shared 70 centimeter band. The EPLRS system consists of mobile, fixed, transportable and airborne stations that use 5 MHz-wide spread spectrum channels to provide strategic telemetry information for military platforms.
This authorization is on a no-protection, non-interference basis, which means that no new restrictions will be imposed on Canadian amateur operations in this band as a result. Industry Canada says that there is a slight chance of minor interference to amateur radio systems. Typically in the form of a minor audible clicking noise. If Canadian amateurs encounter such interference, they are requested to report it by e-mail to Radio Amateurs of Canada at regulatory at rac dot ca. The information reported should include the geographical location, date, time, frequency and mode being used by the amateur station, and a description of the interference. (RAC)
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RADIO RULES: ONTARIO CANADA ENACTS HANDFREE RULES THAT WILL IMPACT HAMS
If you are a ham living in the Canadian Province of Ontario, or planning to visit, listen up. On Wednesday, September 30th the Ontario Ministry of Transportation in announced that Bill 118 that bans several distractions while operating a motor vehicle in the Province will take effect on October 26, 2009.
According to Radio Amateurs of Canada, the new law makes it a violation for drivers to talk, text, type, dial or e-mail using handheld cell phones or any other handheld communications or entertainment devices. Following a three-month educational period police will start issuing tickets on February 1, 2010.
The new law does directly impact ham radio mobile operations although not immediately. Posting to the Radio Amateurs of Canada blog page, Vice President for Public Relations Peter West, VE3HG, noted that all two-way radios in all vehicles must be hands-free in three years time. The only permanent exception is for emergency response vehicles. At the end of the three-year interim exemption, all commercial, CB and Amateur Radio equipment used in moving vehicles by the vehicle operator must be set up for hands-free operation. (RAC)
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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 N6ME repeater serving Fullerton California.
(5 sec pause here)
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ENFORCEMENT: CALIFORNIA STATION FINED $5000 FOR AIRING WRONG EAS
The FCC has proposed a $5000 fine against a California religious broadcaster who inadvertently sent out the wrong message during a designated test. This, even though the station is a volunteer in the EAS program. Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the details:
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The Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture was issued to Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, Inc., licensee of FM radio station KWVE in San Clemente, California. KWVE is a Local Primary or LP station designated to initiate the transmission of Emergency Activation System tests and alerts in several counties.
On October 19, 2008 the Commission's Enforcement Bureau says that it received a complaint alleging that KWVE transmitted commercial programming and an advertisement as part of an EAS test message. This in turn caused the programming and advertisement to be retransmitted by other broadcast stations and cable systems in the area.
On August 27, 2009, the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division issued a letter of inquiry to the Calvary Chapel directing it to respond to the allegations against station KWVE. On September 9th Calvary Chapel did so and admitted that the incident had occurred. It called it a simple mistake caused by an employee who intended to run a scheduled weekly EAS test instead ran an unscheduled Required Monthly Test or RMT instead. It also admitted that the board operator failed to transmit the End of Message or EOM code and the message advising that the test had been concluded. Calvary Chapel categorized the incident as solely an operator error and did not constitute a willful or repeated violation under the of the Commissions Rules
But the FCC disagrees. It says KWVE is charged with the responsibility of knowing and complying with the terms of its authorization, of the Communications Act and the FCC Rules. This includes the required procedures for conducting EAS tests. Moreover, the Commission has long held that licensees are responsible for the acts and omission of their employees and independent contractors. As such it has consistently refused to excuse licensees from forfeiture penalties where the actions of employees or independent contractors have resulted in violations.
Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa was given the usual 30 days to pay the fine or to file an appeal.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.
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But that's not where this enforcement case ends. The CGC Communicator newsletter notes that a number of prominent people in the EAS community have stepped forward with plans to tell the FCC that they believe that the fine is inappropriate. These experts note that In short they note that Local Primary stations volunteer their services to the nation, and some of them are beginning to ask if its worth the added responsibility of being an Local Primary if they, too, will be subject to fines for occasional slip-ups. (FCC, CGC)
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ENFORCEMENT: A CONCRETE FINE FOR OPERATING IN THE 2M HAM BAND
A California firm has been issued a proposed $4000 fine for operating on amateur radio frequencies. This as the FCC issues a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture to the Shimmick Construction Company Inc. after being caught operating a dispatch service in the 2 meter band.
In late May the FCC's Los Angeles office received several complaints that a Yorba Linda, California, concrete delivery company was operating numerous mobile stations in on 146.025 MHz. On May 26th, an agent used direction finding gear to locate the source of the transmissions that were not identified by call sign.
On May 27th the agent visited the site and spoke with the supervisor of the on-site concrete plant. The supervisor allowed the agent to inspect several of the handheld radios in use at the site where it was found that a number of portable transceivers were programmed to 146.025 MHz.
In its follow-up investigation the FCC determined that the two companies had formed the joint venture called Shimmick-Obayashi -- Shimmick Construction Inc and Obayashi Corporation and that both were Commission licensees. However none of these licenses permitted operation in any ham radio band. As a result, a proposed $4000 has been issued to the twin companies which has the usual 30 days to pay or to file an appeal. (FCC)
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THE SOCIAL SCENE: THE NEW ORLEANS HAMFEST IS BACK
A popular hamfest that's been missing in action for several years has made a triumphant return. The place is New Orleans and Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, was there;
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Saturday, October 3rd saw the return of something New Orleans radio amateurs had not experienced in 13 years& a New Orleans hamfest. The last New Orleans hamfest was held in November of 1996 and, for many reasons, didn't return until 2009.
By all accounts, the hams of the Crescent City were ready and the fest was an unqualified sucess. Keith Barnes, W5KB, president of the Jefferson Amateur Radio Club who, in association with the Delta DX Association and the New Orleans Amateur Radio Club sponsored the event, says there were many positive comments about all aspects of the fest from the venue, hotel location and venders. Keith says it takes countless hours to put on the 8 hour party, but with the help of area hams it all went smoothly. Other area clubs pitched in as well. The Ozone ARC lent their prize drum and the Amateur Radio Disaster Services of Louisiana (SELCOM) provided their 146.86 repeater for talk-in.
Icom and MFJ were there showing their latest toys as well as several venders from surrounding states.
The idea of resurrecting the hamfest began several years ago by one the original committee members of the original New Orleans Hamfest which was called AMACOM, the New Orleans Ham and Computer Festival.
Seldon Ohlsson W5LMR had often brought up reprising the fest and for whatever reason it was not done. After moving back into the Jefferson Amateur Radio Club House this last January, after having renovated it post Katrina, (Katrina's flood waters destroyed everything that the club had owned) the idea of resurrecting and co-sponsoring a Hamfest for New Orleans was brought up again. The membership said yes. It was a sometimes bumpy road, but on Saturday, October 3, the dream was realized.
Sadly, W5LMR became a silent key a few years ago. While he didn't live to see his dream realized, I know he was there in spirit and would have been the first to pitch in and help.
I was there and I had a great time! Here's to many more hamfests in the great city of New Orleans!
From 50 miles up the road in Picayune , Mississippi, Don Wilbanks, AE5DW for the Amateur Radio Newsline.
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The bottom line. Hams in the New Orleans area were happy to see this hamfest return. (AE5DW)
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PUBLIC SERVICE: D-STAR REPLACES PACKET AT MEDTRONIC MARATHON
D-Star text messaging has now replaced packet radio in the Minneapolis and Sait Paul, Minnesota, Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. This after another flawless operation with the new mode in 2009.
According to the amateur radio team supporting the event, five Icom D-Star RP-1D access points installed on Twin Cities building rooftops have proven to be 100% reliable. This included the unusually warm 2007 race where more than 50 runners were sent to area hospitals.
Team member Erik Westgard, NY9D, say that Packet radio's low data rate, complexity of the character mode interface, and user training issues have put that aging mode on the back burner. Westhgard noted that using D-Star messaging means that any available operator can use the groups web based missing runner application. This means that they can be helping family members far more quickly.
In 2010 look for an expansion of D-Star in this event. This, as the support team hopes to begin phasing in D-Star digital voice. This they say will allow the concurrent use of low speed data messaging as well as voice contacts. (WB9QZB)
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PUBLIC SERVICE: EDUCATIONAL CONTACT USES D-STAR INTERNATIONAL LINK
D-Star has been used for a transatlantic hookup between students in two schools separated by about 8000 miles. This as pupils at St. Marys Catholic School in Kent in the United Kingdom got the chance to speak with their counterparts at St, Marys Catholic School in Temple, Texas via a D-Star based ham radio link-up.
The contact took place on Tuesday, October 5th. The students at both schools had prepared questions to ask each other. This included such diverse subjects as sports, television, classroom subjects and culture. They were also treated to presentations at before the contact to learn more about what amateur radio is.
Brian Joyner, G8ZYZ, and Catherine Block, M1CVF, handled the duties in the United Kingdom using the services of the GB7FK D-Star repeater in Kent. Steve Bosshard, NU5D, and the Temple Amateur Radio took care of the technology in the Lone Star State.
Reports are that the session went flawlessly and that both sides are looking forward to the next one. (M1CMN, Southgate)
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PUBLIC SERVICE: HAM RADIO ASSISTS THE HEAD OF THE CHARLES REGATTA
Ham radio will be providing communications for the Head of the Charles Regatta that takes place the weekend of October 16th to the 18th.
The Head of the Charles Regatta, also known as HOCR or HOTC, is a rowing race held each October on the Charles River, which separates Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is the largest 2-day regatta in the world, with more than 8,000 athletes rowing in some 1750 boats in 56 events. It also attracts about 300,000 spectators throughout Regatta weekend.
To make the event safe and successful, ham radio volunteers from around the area will be using the 145.430 Belmont and 146.820 Brookline repeaters to support the Red Cross Aid Stations. The Red Cross Health and Safety Committee will have at least eight rescue boats on the river and six aid locations on the shore.
The Head of the Charles Regatta is run by an office of 3 and approximately 1,500 volunteers. The regatta is hosted by Cambridge Boat Club, a rowing and social club founded in 1909 that is headquartered on the Cambridge side of the river. Since 1998, the Head of the Charles Regatta's Charity Program has generated over $650,000 for its official charities, which include Access Sport America, Cambridge Community Foundation, and Community Rowing. (KC1US, Wikipedia)
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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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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: WB6MMH MAKES ARNEWSLINE AVAILABLE ON ECHOLINK AND IRLP
If you are on EchoLink or own use repeater that's tied to the world using IRLP there is a new service. One that will permit you to listen to these weeks newscasts just by connecting to the appropriate Echolink or IRLP node.
This new service is the work of longtime friend Skip Hansen, WB6YMH, of Rancho Palos Verdes, California. According to him, if you would like to hear the current weeks Newsline report on your repeater or link it's really easy if you are on EchoLink or IRLP.
Skip says that on EchoLink just connect to the Newsline conference, node number 6397 or dial the word news on the DTMF pad. On IRLP connect to experimental node 0016 providing that access to "experimental nodes" have been enabled by the node operator. Once you do either, the server will play the news in 2 minute chunks with 10 second pauses between them to reset timeout timers and give you an opportunity to disconnect simplex nodes. Audio is stopped during the pauses so no content is lost.
Our thanks to Skip Hansen, WB6YMH, for providing this value added service. One that will permit many hams to listen to Newsline whenever they want and wherever they might be. (ARNewsline")
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NAMES IN THE NEWS: THREE SHARE NOBEL PRIZE FOR PHYSICS
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to share the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics. One half will go to Charles K. Kao of Standard Telecommunication Laboratories, Harlow, in the UK, and Chinese University of Hong Kong for groundbreaking achievements concerning the transmission of light in fibers for optical communication. The other half is being jointly awarded to Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith, Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ, in the USA. This, for the invention of an imaging semiconductor circuit known as the CCD sensor.
In 1966, Charles Kao made a discovery that led to a breakthrough in fiber optics. He carefully calculated how to transmit light over long distances via optical glass fibers. With a fiber of purest glass it would be possible to transmit light signals over 100 kilometers, compared to only 20 meters for the fibers available in the 1960s. Kao's enthusiasm inspired other researchers to share his vision of the future potential of fiber optics. The first optical fiber was successfully fabricated just four years later, in 1970.
Meantime, in 1969 Willard Boyle and George Smith invented the first successful imaging technology using a digital sensor that they called the Charge-Coupled Device or CCD. CCD technology makes use of the photoelectric effect, as theorized by Albert Einstein and for which he was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize. By this effect, light is transformed into electric signals. For Boyle and Smith the challenge when designing an image sensor was to gather and read out the signals in a large number of image points, pixels, in a short time. They were successful and because of this the CCD has become the digital camera's eye.
This discovery revolutionized photography, as light could now be captured electronically instead of on film . CCD technology is also used in many medical applications, including imaging the inside of the human body for both diagnostics and for microsurgery. (Adapted from Nobel Foundation release)
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RADIO ON THE NET: QRZ.COM NOW HAS ELECTRONIC QSLING INFO
The giant QRZ dot com callsign website has expanded its callsign database. This, with added fields that take into account the emergence of electronic confirmations of on the air contacts as well as those hams who only use cards sent via the mail.
The newly added fields are Mail QSL that indicates whether this person will QSL by Postal Mail, eQSL says that a ham is using eQSL.cc, LOTW indicates whether this person uses LOTW. Another new field is IOTA which permits the insertion of an Islands on the Air designator.
Fred Lloyd, AA7BQ, who owns and manages QR.com notes that these are all user supplied items. That means if the item appears in the listing then the record reflects the member's choice. Otherwise, nothing is shown for these items. Lloyd adds that these new fields are also transmitted in the QRZ XML Logbook Data stream. For more info about logbook data, see the QRZ.com XML page. (QRZ)
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EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: WI-FI SECURITY PAINT
The BBC News reports that researchers have created a special kind of paint which can block out wireless signals. The paint reportedly contains an aluminum-iron oxide which the inventor claims to resonates at the same frequency as wi-fi meaning the airborne data is absorbed and blocked.
Developed at the University of Tokyo, the paint could cost as little as $10 per kilogram. I t means security conscious wireless users could block their neighbors from being able to access their home network without having to set up encryption. Another possible use would be in restaurants and theaters where use of cellphones and text messaging devices has become an annoyance to others.
While paints blocking lower frequencies have been available for some time, this is the first technology to absorb frequencies transmitting in the 100 GHz range.
You can read the full BBC News story 'Anti-wi-fi paint offers security' at news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8279549.stm (BBC)
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NAMES IN THE NEWS: APPLE PASSES TWO BILLION APS DOWNLOADS
Apple Inc. says that more than 2 billion applications have been downloaded from its App Store. This, marking a milestone for the company's year-old business.
According to Apple, more than 85,000 applications are available to 50 million iPhone and iPod Touch customers worldwide. Apple also notes that more than 125,000 software designers are registered in its iPhone Developer Program. (Apple)
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HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AMSAT-NA SUPPORTS JOTA WITH AO-51
Turning to ham radio space related news, word from AMSAT-North America says that it is supporting the 52nd Jamboree on the Air Scouting event by dedicating AO-51 operation to it.
On October 17th and 18th the AO-51 the QRP repeater will be set to crossband FM mode and allocated for the scouts to use. The mode change should occur at 00:00 UTC on the 17th and run for approximately 48 hours.
The frequencies to be used for the Jamboree weekend will be 145.880 FM uplink, and 435.150 FM Downlink. No tone access is required. All satellite users are requested to give priority to Jamboree stations and to hold QSO's with them. (KO4MA)
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DX
In DX, word from our longtime friend John Abbruscato, W5JON, that he will be operating from the hilltop QTH overlooking the Caribbean Sea, and Marigot Bay, St. Lucia from October 20th to the 30th. He will use the call J68JA on 160 through 6 meters using an Icom IC-7000, KL-400 Amplifier into multi-band dipoles on the High Frequency bands and a 3 Element yagi on 6. The dates include the Includes CQ World Wide SSB Contest. QSL to W5JON.
A German team will operate from the Radio Club Station of Tunisian Scouts using a special callsign 3V3S between November 23rd and December 2nd. The team will install and use a Spiderbeam and verticals. Once the DXpedition has concluded the antennas will be donated to the 3V8SS club station. QSL via DL9USA. More is on-line at www.3V3S.tk.
Brian, ND3F, will be active from Barbados as 8P9SS between November 22nd and December 2nd. His operation will probably be on all bands, and he will also be in the CQWW DX CW Contest on November 28th and -29th as a Single-Op/All-Band/Low-Power entry. QSL via Logbook to the World or direct to ND3F.
K9NW will be active from Botswana as A25NW between November 23rd and December 1st. His operation is expected to include His operation is also expected to include the CQWW DX CW Contest. QSL via his home callsign as listed on QRZ.com.
F5PTM will be active from Afghanistan through December as T6YA . Listen out for him on 40, 30, 20 and 17 meters on CW only. QSL via F5OGL.
DL9USA,will be active from Comino Island between October 15th and the 22nd. Bands and modes of his activity were not provided. QSL via his home callsign.
Lastly JA1FJJ, will be active from Bhutan as A52FJJ through October 20th. Operations will be on 80 through 10 meters using SSB, RTTY and PSK31. He plans to use 500 watts into a G5RV antenna. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the Bureau.
(Above from various DX news sources)
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THAT FINAL ITEM: THE LONGEST CW MESSAGE EVER
And finally this week, an answer to the question of what was the longest Morse code message ever sent. With the answer, here's Amateur Radio Newsline's Burt Hicks, has the details:
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The longest Morse message ever sent took place on October 26, 1864. That's when then Governor of the Territory of Nevada, James W. Nye, ordered that a telegram be sent to President Abraham Lincoln that contained the entire text of the Nevada State Constitution.
According to historians, the job of sending such a long telegram at the height of the Civil War was a challenge. This was because there was no direct wirline link from Carson City to Washington, DC. So telegrapher James H. Guild worked seven hours to transmit the message to Salt Lake City, where it was resent to Chicago, then Philadelphia, and finally to the War Department's telegraph Office in Washington. There, two days later, where a 175-page transcription was made.
The final page shows a total 16,543word count and cost $4313.27 to send. In todays dollarettes that would be $59,229 to pay for the one-way the transmission. Three days after receiving this telegram and in accordance with an Act of Congress, President Lincoln proclaimed that Nevada was admitted into the Union.
This 175-page transcription is now in the holdings of the National Archives and is on display in an exhibition entitled "BIG!" That exhibit celebrates the 75th anniversary of the National Archives by featuring big records, big events and of coarse some very big ideas.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Burt Hicks, in Los Angeles.
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The exhibition runs through January 3, 2010 in Washington, DC. It will then be sent out on a national tour. (News release)
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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.
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Don Carlson, KQ6FM, in Reno, Nevada, 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