Subject: Amateur Radio Newsline #1015 24 Jan 1997 Date: Monday, January 27, 1997 3:51AM SB NEWSLIN @ ALLBBS $NLIN.1015 Amateur Radio Newsline #1015 24 Jan 1997 The Newsline Information and Copyright Notice is now published seperately every month. Please read this notice before using any part of Newsline in any manner. For a copy of the notice e-mail bigsteve@dorsai.org or netmail Steve Coletti @ 1:278/230 on Fidonet. NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #1015 - 01/24/97 (*************************************************) (* *) (* A M A T E U R *) (* *) (* R A D I O *) (* *) (* N E W S L I N E *) (* *) (*************************************************) The following is late news about Amateur Radio for Radio Amateurs as prepared from NEWSLINE RADIO scripts by the staff of the AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, INC., formerly the WESTLINK RADIO NETWORK. Amateur Radio Newsline is a audio news service distributed via telephone. This hardcopy version is produced by Dale Cary - WD0AKO from scripts provided to him weekly by Newsline. It is then distributed to on-line services, bbs networks and internet user jointly by Dale Cary and Steve Coletti. Editorial comments, news item and all other business should be directed to: Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF Newsline Producer & Editor Internet E-mail: Billwa6itf@aol.com newsline@ix.netcom.com Phone: (805) 296-7180 Fax: (805) 296-7180 (Fax senders wait for voice prompt.) For further information about the AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, please write to us with an S.A.S.E. at: NEWSLINE c/o Andy Jarema-N6TCQ P.O.Box 660937 Arcadia, CA 91066 Thank You, NEWSLINE (************************************************** Some of the hams of AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE: WA6ITF WB6MQV WB6FDF K6DUE W6RCL N6AHU N6AWE N6TCQ K6PGX N6PNY KU8R N8DTN W9JUV KC9RP K9XI KB4KCH KC5UD KC0HF G8AUU WD0AKO DJ0QN and many others in the United States and around the globe!!! (************************************************** [1015] C L O S E D C I R C U I T A D V I S O R Y Newsline report number 1015 for release on Friday, January 24th, 1997 to follow. (***** The following is a QST More on the downward trend Amateur Radio. Fewer people are taking tests to become hams and even fewer licensed radio amateurs are upgrading. Also, the ARRL meets in the Duke City and RF safety questions hit in July. Learn more on Newsline Report number 1015 coming your way right now! (***** FEWER TESTS - FEWER UPGRADES The number of people taking ham tests is dropping. The number of amateurs upgrading is almost at a standstill. So say the figures on 1996 year to date ham radio testing published in the January 1st edition of the W5YI Report. Last week we reported that the number of higher grade license holders was on the decline. That only the no-code Technician class was showing any growth. According to publisher Fred Maia who also operates the W5YI VEC, people are simply not taking new or upgrade examinations like they used to. Maia says that until 1992 the number of persons being administered Amateur Radio license examinations was steadily on the rise. But in 1995 the number of testing sessions and the number of people seeking tests decreased dramatically. So did the number of examination elements being administered. And 1996 was the worst year yet with 17,000 fewer examines being administered 30,000 fewer examination elements. Maia says that there is all sorts of speculation as to why ham radio has slipped into a low growth cycle. One of the most prevalent theories is that potential new hams are being drawn away by what he calls the wired world of the Internet and World Wide Web. As Fred points out, there is no exam or licenses needed to get onto the Internet and working DX is no harder than clicking on an icon marked chat. Needless to say that none of this bodes well for the future of the Amateur Radio Service, and especially for population growth on the high frequency bands. But there is one bright spot in all of this. The ARRL reports that there were 306 more new licensees age 21 and younger in November of last year than during October. Kids may love the World Wide Web, but some youngsters also consider ham radio a viable communications interest as well. (Via W5YI) (***** ARRL BoD The ARRL held its first Board of Directors meeting of 1997 in the shadow of Sandia Mountain, just to the east of Albuquerque, New Mexico and it was in the Duke City that League Directors met on January 16th and 17th. The League has made it official. The ARRL will work to keep Morse code as a requirement for access to the high frequency amateur bands. The League's decision comes after survey results showing a majority of members favoring keeping Morse code as a requirement for HF operating privileges. The League's Board of Directors has decided not to support changing the existing international treaty requirements when the issue surfaces at the WRC-99. And amateur radio licenses could get new names and licensing criteria. A committee proposal for changing the FCC's amateur licensing structure will be published in QST magazine. League members will be invited to submit comments to their Directors before May 31st. The Board says it will not take action on the Committee's recommendations before its July meeting. This so that members will have a chance to be heard. And noting the increasing number of participants in the spectrum management process, the Board has created the ARRL Spectrum Forum. The Forum is an electronic mail roundtable for national amateur organizations, as well as regional entities and groups. And the Membership Services Committee is being directed to study ways to better serve the digital community. Solving spectrum sharing and other disputes may soon have a new procedure to follow. The ARRL is establishing an Alternative Dispute Resolution service for use by individual hams, amateur organizations, citizens, organizations and others having disputes over amateur radio related issues. The idea for the Dispute Resolution Service first surfaced at the League sponsored National Frequency Coordinators meeting in St Charles, MO in October of 1995. The League is also reviewing the way ham radio testing is conducted. The League's Executive Committee has been told to study the adequacy of FCC rules governing the qualifications of Volunteer Examiners. Coming under particular scrutiny will be VEs who obtained license upgrades by obtaining waivers of Morse code proficiency. The Executive Committee will also investigate the extent of abuses of the Morse code exam waiver provisions for applicants with severe handicaps. And the Committee will be asked to suggest any regulatory changes it deems necessary. More information on the Albuquerque Board meeting will appear in the March issue of QST magazine. More on the Boards actions in future Newsline reports. (Adapted from ARRL Bulletin 1/22/97) (***** LITTLE LEOS TARGET 2 METER FM 2 meter repeaters in the Americas could wind up sharing the 146 to 148 MHZ spectrum if the Low Earth Orbiting Satellite industry has its way. This is the latest wrinkle in the seemingly never ending attempt by the so-called Little Leo satellite industry to find new spectrum to expand into. And the Little Leo boys are taking a rather novel approach this time. Believe it or not, they are now claiming that they can augment existing ham radio emergency service communications by bringing in their advanced satellite technology. In the simplest of terms, it sounds as if they want to replace us with them. But over simplified explanations are really not enough to explain what's going on. Because of this we want to refer you to the excellent editorial by ARRL Executive Vice President Dave Sumner, K1ZZ that appears on page 9 of the February issue of QST. Dave takes great pains to explain exactly what's happening and even if hams beat this one back, why we will have to be on guard to protect our VHF and UHF bands for many years to come. (Adapted from ARRL Letter) (***** RF SAFETY QUESTIONS TO HIT IN JULY The nations VEC's have decided to begin testing hams on the new RF exposure questions next July. This, even though the FCC had granted a years moratorium on the implementation of its new rules regulating human exposure to radio frequency energy. When it adopted the new RF exposure rules, the FCC also put forth a requirement that additional RF safety questions be added to the Novice, Technician, Technician Plus and General class Amateur Service exams. This meant revising the Question Pool for these exam elements. The new RF safety questions are intended to quiz an applicants knowledge of the hazards of exposure to strong electromagnetic fields as well as what precautions should be taken to keep himself and the general public away from harm. (Via W5YI) (***** FCC GETS BOMB THREAT The Federal Communications Commission has received two separate bomb threats. An entertainment trade publication reports that both warnings came shortly after noon Tuesday, January 21st and forced hundreds of agency employees into Washington's chilly streets. The first threat was received by the agency's Cable Bureau, and the second was received a block away at the commission's M Street headquarters. The caller claimed that a bomb would explode at 1 p.m. Washington Metropolitan Police and Federal Protection Service bomb squads failed to turn up evidence of any explosive device. FCC employees returned to work at about 3 in the afternoon. Police believe that the same person made both threats. (Via Variety) (***** ANOTHER VANITY DELAY The FCC says that it could be March before another call is issued under Gate 2 of the vanity call sign program. No vanity calls dated since the end of last November have been processed because of what an FCC spokeswoman called unspecified computer related problems. According to the Gettysburg License Processing Facility, vanity applications have not been processed since last December 19th. While computer experts work to resolve the latest problems, Gettysburg personnel are continuing to hand process the pile of some 600 vanity applications that required special handling from the December 19 vanity call sign run. The FCC also is in the midst of processing several hundred refunds for earlier unsuccessful vanity filers. (Via FCC, ARRL) (***** NON FM TO FILE FOR UHF/VHF PROTECTION Weak signal and other non-FM users of the VHF and UHF spectrum are saying it will be full speed ahead in preparing a rule making request to the FCC to protect their turf from encroachment by users of the "fun mode." This, in light of the formal signing of the agreement between the National Frequency Coordinators' Council and the American Radio Relay league. An agreement that creates the National Frequency Coordination office as the potential single point of contact between the FCC and the FM coordination community. The move by weak signal, CW, SSB, EME, Amateur Television, satellite enthusiasts and even AM users to legally protect their subbands from encroachment by users of FM began on the Internet Usenet about three months ago. Theses hams say that are very concerned about the memorandum signed between the ARRL and the NFCC because previous gentleman agreements dealing with protected spectrum may not longer be honored by the FM community. The loose knit group will ask the FCC to legally designate certain portions of all amateur bands from 50 MHZ to 13 centimeters as being off limits to any FM signal, be it simplex or repeated in any way. 6 meters and 2 meters already have protected segments for Morse only operation. The coalition will request additional band segment protection based on current ARRL bandplans. No protection is being asked for spectrum above 13 centimeters because there is not yet any mode standardization nor many users of these super high frequency bands. (Via W5YI, VHF News, Others) (***** HAMS RESPOND TO MICHIGAN PLANE CRASH Members of the Monroe County ARES were activated late on the afternoon of January 9th. This, in response to the crash of a commuter aircraft near Ida, Michigan. Comair flight 3272 was in route to Detroit Metro Airport from Cincinnati. According to Dale Williams, WA8EFK, a communication center was activated at the Monroe County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Under the auspices of Monroe County Emergency Coordinator Mike Karmol, N8KUF, hams were initially dispatched to the crash scene and the field command post at the Raisinville Township Hall. Communication was provided to the Red Cross, which assisted Emergency Management and Human Services Personnel. Blowing snow and a 30 degrees below zero wind chill factor hampered efforts at the accident site. Twenty six amateurs were involved with the emergency operation as local officials and National Transportation Safety Board conducted their investigation. The twin engine Embair Brasillia turboprop carried 26 passengers and a crew of three. All aboard were killed in the crash. (Via ARRL) (***** NYC GETS TWO RACES STATIONS New York City RACES now has two officially recognized stations ready to operate at a moments notice. They are KB2YNK at the Office of Emergency Services in Manhattan and WB2JSM at the Hall of Science Amateur Radio Club in Queens. According to the ARRL's Hudson Division Loop Newsletter, KB2YNK became a reality in October, 1996. It was the result of an unprecedented donation of funds for equipment from the City of New York. As a result, the station currently has 2 meter, 70 Centimeter, and HF capabilities. Plans are in the works to add packet and other communication modes by the end of the year. Meanwhile, WB2JSM is undergoing a major upgrade and will provide everything from packet to HF, 6 meter, 2 meters, 70 centimeters and satellite communications by spring. Extensive power backup systems are being installed to provide long term emergency communications without commercial power availability. RACES died in the Big Apple in the early 1970's after the people who served from its inception either moved away, lost interest in ham radio or passed away. Now, after two decades its resurrection is now a reality. Its members say that they plan to be in the forefront of a Public Service commitment to the city of New York and it's agencies for many years to come. (Via Hudson Division Loop Newsletter) (***** THE DX MAGAZINE HAS NEW PUBLISHER In ham radio industry related news, word that the DX Magazine, previously published by Paul and Nancy Smith, following many years of publication by Chod Harris, has been sold again. The purchaser is Carl Smith, N4AA. Smith is the current publisher of QRZ DX. The March issue will be the first one by Smith. (Via press release) (***** LONG ISLAND HAMFEST And the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club, LIMARC to those who know it, LIMARC will be holding its Winter 1997 Hamfest on Sunday February 16th. Location is the New York State Armory in Freeport, New York with doors open to the general public from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. (Via LIMARC) (***** YOUTH SPEAKERS NEEDED FOR DAYTON HAMVENTION YOUTH FORUM New York City educator Carole Perry, WB2MGP, is looking for young hams, age 8 to 18, to take part in her annual Dayton Hamvention Youth Forum. For the better part of a decade, Carole Perry has taken time out of her busy schedule to travel to Ohio to host the young peoples gathering at Hamvention. As is her tradition, she is seeking young hams with the ability to communicate their love of Amateur Radio to other non-licensed youngsters and teens who will be in attendance. The 1997 Dayton Hamvention will be held the weekend of May 16, 17 and 18 at the HARA Arena in Dayton, Ohio. Between 35,000 to 40,000 hams from around the world attend this gigantic event. If you are a young ham who is planning on being there, or you know of an articulate young ham who is, please contact Carole Perry as soon as you can. Her 24 hour a day telephone number is (718) 983-1416 or you can e-mail her to wb2mgp@ix.netcom.com (Via WB2MGP) (***** AMSAT-QATAR FORMED The ham radio community in Qatar is now formally involved in ham radio satellites. On January 8th, they formalized the creation of AMSAT-Qatar. According to is first president, Mohamed Althani, A71EY, AMSAT-Qatar was formed to take an active part in all present and future AMSAT sponsored projects. The groups address is: AMSAT-Qatar P.O.Box 2260 Doha, Qatar E-mail goes to: a71ey@qatar.net.qa (Via AMSAT-Qatar) (***** LINENGER TO MIR Ham Astronaut Jerry Linenger, KC5HBR, has became the fourth American to occupy a position on the Russian Space Station Mir. This, following the docking of Atlantis to the Russian space station on Tuesday, January 14th. Linenger officially traded places with fellow ham Astronaut John Blaha, KC5TZQ, when their form fitted Soyuz seat liners were swapped for return to Earth. He will stay aboard Mir until May. Linenger will be permitted to operate ham radio from the Mir. But he is still waiting for news from the FCC to see if he will be permitted to make third party contacts with school children in the United States and friends. (Via AMSAT-NA, Newsline) (***** CHALLENGER COMMEMORATIVE Still with ham radio in space, on Tuesday, January 28th the Challenger Middle School Amateur Radio Club in San Diego, California will operate a special event. Station KI6YG will take to the air to commemorate the eleventh anniversary of the Challenger space shuttle tragedy. Operating hours will be from 16:00 UTC on January 28th to 01:00 UTC on January 29th. Frequencies will be on or near 14.250, 21.350, and 28.350 MHZ. (Via AMSAT-BBS) (***** YEAR END MIR CONTACT And Hampton Virginia's Granby High and Mary Calcutt Elementary schools were successful in a year end contact to U.S. Astronaut John Blaha who just returned to earth after several months aboard the Russian Space Station Mir. What made the contact special was that Astronaut Blaha had attended Mary Calcutt and graduated from Granby High School in the 1960s. The 10 minute contact was conducted from the Amateur Radio Satellite Station Exhibit KE4ZXW at the Virginia Air and Space Center. (Via AMSAT-BBS) (***** DX In DX, F6EXV, has received his CE3/F6EXV license to operate in Chile. He will be on the air as soon as he can get the station up and operational. Reports say that he will be there for 2 or 3 years. And PB0ALB will be in Sarawak, East Malaysia from April 19th to June 6th as 9M8CC. Activity will be on AMTOR, RTTY and SSB on 80 through 10 meters. And in case you have not heard, the long awaited DXpedition to Heard Island came on the air right on schedule. From all indications the group has run up a record number of contacts including some on bands rarely used for DXpedition operations. (Via various DX sources) (***** COLD CALL SIGN And finally, get ready for a really cool operation. This as a result of the FCC has granted special temporary authority for John Fowler, N1PDV, to use the call W1B on February 8th and 9th from Jericho, Vermont. The operation will honor the 132nd anniversary of the birth of Wilson Alwyn "Snowflake" Bentley. Who was Snowflake Bently you ask? He is the man credited with determining that no two snowflakes are alike. Bentley who was born and raised in Jericho is believed to have photographed more than 5000 individual snowflakes using a camera rigged to a microscope. He also analyzed the density and shape of individual raindrops. Fowler says that the W1B operation will include SSB and CW in the General class portions of many High Frequency bands. (Via ARRL) (***** With thanks to Fred Maia W5YI, the ARRL, the FCC and Amateur News Weekly, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. You can write to us at: Newsline P.O.Box 660937 Arcadia, California. 91066 For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF at our editors desk, we at Newsline say 73 and we thank you for listening. (* * * * * Newsline is copyright 1997 & all rights are reserved. * * * * *