The ARRL Letter Vol. 13, No. 6 March 24, 1994 FCC surveys telephone interference, says manufacturers could do better The FCC has released the results of a telephone interference survey and concluded that since some telephones are "bulletproof," all of them could be. Thirty-five FCC field offices each picked three random cases of telephone interference on record and then visited the scene. The transmitting stations included 47 citizens band, 27 amateur, 23 AM broadcast, 10 FM broadcast, and one international broadcast station (none were specifically identified). At the location experiencing interference, the FCC's Field Operations Bureau personnel first tested the telephones on site, then tested their own "bulletproof" telephones, as well as several commercially available filters. Altogether, 241 different telephones were tested. Among the FCC's conclusions was that transmitter power did not seem to be a significant factor; they said that 10 watts or less caused telephone interference in one-third of the cases. The FCC also said that filters worked only one-third of the time. "Manufacturers can design telephones to be interference free," the Commission said, citing its bulletproof telephones, which were immune from interference "virtually all of the time." The FCC said that it hopes the survey will encourage affected parties "to productively address and resolve this problem." The FCC said it receives 25,000 complaints per year from people who are "unable to use their telephones" because nearby radio stations interfere with them. "Whenever the radio stations are on the air, the telephones pick up their transmissions, which then override any ongoing telephone conversation," the FCC said. The survey's goals The survey's goals were to pinpoint the following: * What telephones are affected, * What type transmitting stations are involved (including power levels), * Whether commonly available filters are effective in eliminating interference, * Whether specially designed telephones are effective in eliminating interference. The report emphasized that because the survey was based on what the FCC called a random sample, "it cannot be claimed that identical results would be derived under scientific surveying and testing, nor should the results be construed as FCC endorsement or criticism of any particular manufacturer's product." At the transmitting station, FOB staff logged the type of station (ie, amateur, citizens band, broadcast, etc.), measured its power, and got information on antenna height, antenna gain, and distance from the complainant. At the complainant's location, the FOB disconnected all telephones, then plugged them, one at a time, into a single jack, while the station was transmitting. Also tested were the effectiveness of several commercially available telephone filters. Finally, the FOB connected "bulletproof" telephones to the telephone jacks and listened for interference. The power levels of the transmitting stations varied from 2 watts to half a million watts, one-third of them running less than 10 watts. Of the 241 telephones tested, 68% received interference. The rest did not. In tests of the AT&T Z100B1 filter on 138 telephones receiving interference, 62% of the telephones continued to receive interference. A number of other filters were tested, on 82 telephones receiving interference. As a group, these filters eliminated interference on 29% of the telephones, the FCC said. The FCC tested its "bulletproof" telephones at 52 locations and found them 96% effective. Conclusions The FCC said the transmitting stations most likely to cause telephone interference are citizens band, amateur, and broadcast stations. Citizens band stations accounted for half the telephone interference cases, while amateur and broadcast stations caused the other half. The power levels used by the transmitting stations did not appear to be a significant factor in causing telephone interference, the FCC concluded, based on power levels of 10 watts or less causing a third of the interference. "Although some telephones did not receive interference, the limited nature of [this survey] would not support the conclusion that [those particular models] would always reject interference," the FCC said. On the other hand, models that were observed to be susceptible to interference by the FCC can be presumed to be susceptible in other installations. The FCC said that telephone interference filters "cannot be relied upon to eliminate telephone interference," since, in two out of three cases in this survey, they didn't work. "Manufacturers can design telephones to be interference free," the FCC said. "'Bulletproof' telephones were immune from interference virtually all of the time. "Notwithstanding the 25,000 reports of telephone interference the FCC has received to date," the FCC said, "it is FOB's experience that, as large as this number is, it probably represents only a fraction of the actual instances in which this interference occurs. "Given the enormous numbers of instances in which this type of interference is experienced by consumers, it is our hope that this survey, notwithstanding its informality, will serve as a catalyst for affected parties to productively address and resolve this problem. As always, FOB remains ready to assist in that effort." If you would like a copy of the survey, which includes a list of telephone models checked, send an SASE with two units of first class postage to the Technical Information Service at ARRL HQ. HamVention names award winners For the fourth time in the past five years, an ARRL dignitary has been named the Dayton HamVention Amateur of the Year. Chosen this year was Perry Williams, W1UED, who retires at the end of April as ARRL Washington Area Coordinator, after 40 years of League service. Perry joined the Headquarters staff in 1954, and in 1975 took the reins of a new department, Membership Services. In 1980 he became Washington Area Coordinator. Perry is featured in a story about the League's Washington office in April QST. Receiving the Technical Achievement Award is Dick Newell, AK1A, of Bolton, Massachusetts, the inventor of PacketCluster. Newell, 43, began experimenting with what he called a "packet conference board system" in 1986, and sold his first PacketCluster software in 1988. Today, more than 600 PacketClusters are operating, in 34 countries. Version 6 is in the works for a planned introduction at the HamVention. In December 1990 Newell left his job to devote full time to PacketCluster, for 18 months working on the Amateur Radio version. Today, he is a part of Harvard Radio, and a commercial version, called PacketCluster Systems, is being marketed to public safety agencies. "In the beginning," Newell said, "I thought if I could sell five PacketClusters, I could buy that Alpha amplifier I'd always wanted. Now it's estimated that 40,000 to 45,000 amateurs regularly use a PacketCluster. "This has certainly kept me off the streets the past eight years," Newell said. A QST story about Dick Newell appeared in August 1990 QST, page 54. The DARA Special Achievement Award goes to Russ Kroeker, N7HGE, of Kent, Washington, whom the DARA credits with "conceiving, planning, implementing, and operating" the Evergreen Intertie, a system of interlinked repeaters stretching from Oregon to British Columbia and east over the Rocky Mountains. Kroeker, 53, has been with the Boeing Co. for 20 years and currently is a manager for electronic product development. He was first licensed in 1986, when the Evergreen Intertie was born. "It was the brainchild of Richard Fryer, VE7OG," Kroeker says, "beginning with a single link between two repeater systems across the border." Kroeker at the time was chairman of the repeater committee of the Boeing Employees Amateur Radio Society (BEARS), and became involved in designing a link controller to expand and improve the system. "Boeing has supported the project over the years," Kroeker said. Before joining Boeing, Kroeker worked in Malawi (then called Nyasaland), designing VHF links between broadcast stations and building radio studios. He was first there while a student at Rutgers University, in 1962, as part of Operation Crossroads Africa. Kroeker's current involvement in the mature Evergreen Intertie is as a consultant, "helping out when there are political or technical problems such as siting of repeaters." A description of the Evergreen Intertie was in June 1991 QST, page 83. Previous Dayton Hams of the Year include former ARRL President Harry Dannals, W2HD (1993); International Amateur Radio Union President and former ARRL General Manager Dick Baldwin, W1RU (1992); and ARRL Hudson Division Director Steve Mendelsohn, WA2DHF (1990). The awards will be presented at the Dayton HamVention, April 29 to May 1, 1994. FCC's PRIVATE RADIO CHIEF NAMED TO PCS TASK FORCE FCC Private Radio Bureau Chief Ralph Haller has been named to head a Commission task force on personal communication services (PCS). The Commission said that the task force would provide "a focal point for all of the PCS issues currently before" it. The task force would work with all of the FCC's bureaus and offices that are involved in PCS issues, and would be responsible "for assuring consistency between policies and rules for narrow-band and wide-band PCS." FCC Chairman Reed Hundt said that "I am confident that under the leadership of Ralph Haller, the PCS task force will lead the Commission in the timely development of a comprehensive regulatory framework for PCS." Other members of the task force include Tom Stanley, Chief Engineer; Robert Pepper, Chief, Office of Plans and Policy; Donald Gips, Deputy Chief, Office of Plans and Policy; and Michael Katz, Chief Economist. ARRL VOLUNTEERS HELP HEAD OFF NY PLATE FEES New York state amateurs will soon be able to obtain distinctive call sign plates, according to ARRL Public Information Coordinator Stephan Anderman, WA3RKB. The original bill in the New York State Assembly was flawed, in that it would have included a $15 annual surcharge. When ARRL Government Liaison Phil Bradway, KB2HQ, learned of the problem with the bill, he contacted the Tryon Amateur Radio Club, of Gloversville, who had been behind the design of the new plates. The NY Department of Motor Vehicles was alerted to the problem and the bill was withdrawn, removing the threat of increased cost to amateurs. The new plates will carry the same $5 annual surcharge as the old; an initial fee of $18.00 will pay for the plate, Anderman said. BRIEFS * The ARRL has begun mailing FCC amateur license expiration notices to its members. The notices, including an envelope addressed to the FCC's processing facility in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, are sent 90 days before the license expiration date and are generated from the FCC database. Addresses are cross-checked with the ARRL membership database and the QST mailing address is used if it is different from the address in the FCC database. * Closing date for nominations for the Westlink Report Young Ham of the Year award is April 30, 1994. Amateurs aged 18 or younger are eligible, with emphasis on those with unusual qualifications such as participation in emergency communication operations, assisting with licensing classes, and so on, according to Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF. The award is underwritten by Yaesu USA. The winner will be notified in early May and will receive a trip to the Sea Pac convention in Seaside, Oregon, on June 4 and 5, to receive the award. Official applications for nomination are available from Westlink, 28197 Robin Avenue, Saugus, California 91350. * Here are the FCC's amateur licensing figures as of the end of 1993: Extra 65,277 Advanced 112,637 General 126,898 Technician 227,681 Novice 99,105 Total 631,598 The ranks of Extras grew by 6.5% during the year, Advanced by 2.5%, General by 1.4%, Technician by 18.5%, and Novice licensees were essentially unchanged. * Congratulations to ARRL HQ administrative assistant Lisa DeLude (and husband Peter) on the birth of their first child, Nicole Emily, who arrived March 11. * Amateur Radio bulletin services will be the topic of a gathering at this year's Dayton HamVention. The session, called "Ham news and ham views from around the world," is scheduled to include Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, of Newsline; Hap Holly, KC9RP, of the Radio Amateur Information Network (RAIN); former Radio Society of Great Britain president Peter Chadwick, G3RZP; radio host Len Winkler, KB7LPW; George Bowen, N2LQS, of the satellite-delivered show "This Week in Amateur Radio," and others. The forum will run from 2:45 PM to 5 PM on Saturday, April 30, in HamVention Meeting Room 2. For more information, contact Pasternak at 708-635-6351 or RAIN at 805-296-7180. * "Shortwave listening is the ultimate form of QRP," the saying goes. ARRL Assistant Technical Editor Jim Kearman, KR1S, attended the Seventh Annual SWL Winterfest near Philadelphia on March 11 and 12 and found a number of licensed amateurs among the 200 or so listeners there. Those speaking at forums included Shel Dunham, W4OEL; Skip Arey, WB2GHA; Joe Buch, N2JB; Etgon Byington, N2KXT; Harold Hausenfluck, WB4JSP; and Alan Johnson, N4LUS. Information on next year's Winterfest is available from Kris Field, 705 Gregory Drive, Horsham PA --