SB NEWSLIN @ ALLBBS $NLIN.971 Amateur Radio Newsline #971 24 Mar 1996 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. Edited for format corrections only. NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #971 - POSTED 03/24/96 (********************************************************************* (* *) (* * * ***** * * **** * ***** * * ***** *) (* ** * * * * * * * ** * * *) (* * * * *** * ** * *** * * * * * *** *) (* * ** * * ** * * * * * ** * *) (* * * ***** * * **** ***** ***** * * ***** *) (* *) (********************************************************************* 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: 3241437@mcimail.com MCI E-mail: WESTRADIO Phone: (805) 296-7180 Fax: (805) 296-7180 (Fax senders wait for voice prompt.) Hardcopy comments or complements can be directed to: Dale Cary, WD0AKO Hardcopy Distribution for Newsline Internet E-mail: wd0ako@rrnet.com Phone: (218) 236-6324 The audio version of Newsline can be recorded from one of the currently operating lines listed below. This list is kept as accurate as possible. If any changes are not listed, please contact Dale Cary, WD0AKO at the above listed addresses. Audio Version of Newsline ========================= Los Angeles............................ (213) 462-0008 Los Angeles (Instant Update Line)...... (805) 296-2407 Seattle................................ (206) 368-3969 Seattle................................ (206) 281-8455 Tacoma................................. (206) 927-7373 Louisville............................. (502) 894-8559 Dayton................................. (513) 275-9991 Chicago................................ (708) 289-0423 New York City.......................... (718) 284-0752 Melbourne, Florida..................... (407) 768-7447 Houston, Texas......................... (713) 362-4650 Conroe, Texas.......................... (409) 525-6250 Electronic Hardcopy Version of Newsline ======================================= GEnie (RTC Bulletin Board)............. m345;1 GEnie (File Library)................... m345;3 Dallas Remote Imaging BBS (DRIG)....... (214) 492-7573 In bulletin number 36 The Midwest Connection BBS............. (701) 239-2440 In bulletin number 6 of the ham radio conference Delphi.....................In the ham radio conference CompuServe/HamNet.................... HamNet Library 0 MicroSoft Network.......... Amateur Radio File Library Internet...............In the rec.radio.info newsgroup Internet FTP: oak.oakland.edu......................... In archive: pub/hamradio/docs/newsline Local BBS's............In the Ham Radio conferences on Fidonet, RIME, Intelec, I-Link, AR-Net and Fringenet. True Speech Internet Site ========================= http://www.scott.net/~wa4fat For the latest breaking info call the Instant Update Line listed above. To provide information please call (805) 296-7180. This line answers automatically and will accept up to 30 minutes of material. Check with your local amateur radio club to see if NEWSLINE can be heard weekly on the air in your area. Articles may be reproduced if printed in their entirety and credit is given to AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE as being the source. 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!!! (********************************************************************* [971] (* * C L O S E D C I R C U I T A D V I S O R Y * * (* * (* The following advisory is not necessarily for * (* transmission over amateur radio. This is just a * (* reminder that the address for the Newsline Support * (* Fund is: * (* Newsline * (* c/o Andy Jarema-N6TCQ * (* P.O.Box 660937 * (* Arcadia, California * (* 91066 * (* * (* Again, and as always, we thank you. This ends * (* the closed circuit with Newsline report number 971 * (* for release on Friday, March 22nd, 1996 to follow. * (* * (* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The following is a QST Revisions continue to the ham radio testing pool even as the dispute between the VEC Corporation and the ARRL drags on. This story and more on Newsline report number 971 coming your way right now. (***** NCVEC QUESTION POOL WORK CONTINUES The American Radio Relay League may be at odds with the National Conference of Volunteer Examination Coordinators Incorporated, but the work of revising the questions that are used on Amateur Radio exams is going forward. As reported three weeks ago, the ARRL has petitioned the FCC to create what the league calls a "new mechanism" to oversee the overall ham radio examination system. So far, the FCC has ignored the Leagues request and according to Fred Maia of the W5YI VEC who serves on the NCVEC Question Pool Committee, revisions to several exam elements are underway right now: "The Element 4B extra class questions were released and they will be used in the examination room on July the 1st as scheduled. And on February 1, 1996, the question pool committee released the syllabus, that's the outline for the next one we are going to work on and that's the no-code technician requirements which is element 2 and element 3A Technician." Maia Maia adds that the Question Pool Committee has separated itself from the political bru-ha-ha that has developed over League membership and participation in the National Conference of Volunteer Examination Coordinators. He says that committee is letting the ARRL, the FCC and the VEC conference president work out the problem. (***** RAINCOAT CHARLIE FINE UPHELD Raincoat Charlie has been ordered to pay up! Raincoat Charlie was the pseudonym used by William Irwin, K3CQR of De Bary, Florida when he was jamming other hams on 14.315 MHZ will have to pay a $500 fine. This according to the FCC which says that it has denied Irwin's Petition for Reconsideration of the monetary forfeiture. Back in December of 1992, the FCC's Vero Beach Field Office was made aware of interfering transmissions occurring on the 20 meter frequency. The interference continued on a regular basis until July 23rd 1993. That's when federal agents traced the signals to Irwins home. During a subsequent station inspection, Irwin admitted to the FCC that he had used his station to interfere with other hams on the frequency under the guise of Raincoat Charlie. On July 28th, 1993 the Vero Beach Field Office issued K3CQR a $2,000 Notice of Apparent Liability to Monetary Forfeiture. Irwin responded on August 11th that he could not pay. So on August 17th the assessment was lowered to $500, but Irwin still balked at paying. Again he petitioned the FCC claiming his inability to pay, but provided no financial information that would persuade the commission to further reduce its fine. Instead, he requested that the FCC permit him to inspect its records pertaining to the events that lead to his apprehension. But the commission has now ruled that the $500 fine is more than reasonable because Irwin admitted being the source of willful and repeated interference to other ham radio communications. It has also denied his request to see the records of his case saying that can only happen if he files a Freedom of Information Act request. Even then the FCC can turn him down if it sees fit. In the meantime, Irwin was ordered to pay up. If he wants to appeal further it is going to cost a lot more than $500. That would not even be a down payment on a good communications lawyer capable of challenging the FCC in federal court. (***** HARRISBURG, PA HAMS HELP IN FLOODS About thirty volunteers from a Pennsylvania radio club came to the aid of the Red Cross to help after the Susquehanna River overflowed its banks, flooding the capital on January 20th. According to John Obradovich, W3IS, who is the President of the Harrisburg Radio Amateur Club hams provided communication between Dauphin County Red Cross headquarters and two mass-care facilities that lacked telephone service. The following day, the Red Cross requested additional volunteers with vehicles for disaster assessment training and reporting. Several hams were among those who reported. (***** SKYWARN And speaking about emergencies and emergency communications, word that a new communications tool came in handy when severe weather pounded central Alabama March 6th. A successful new idea was developed by radio amateurs active in Alabama's Skywarn network. Hams in Alabama operating a Skywarn net. This has become a common event, Alabama has led the nation for 2 years in tornado related deaths. But Skywarn nets in Alabama and many other states face new challenges. The National Weather Service is doing more with less, by closing some of its offices, including Montgomery, Alabama. Two tornadoes struck in and near that area March 6th, killing 7 people and causing heavy damage. Closing the Montgomery office means local Skywarn groups must communicate with the Weather Service office near Birmingham. That's almost 90 miles away and too far for any one repeater to cover. So hams came up with a solution. Montgomery and Birmingham radio amateurs are now tied together, it's thanks to the 220 MHZ band and some technical ingenuity. A 220 repeater south of Birmingham links hams in both cities. The link simulcasts on a 2 meter repeater serving Montgomery. And there's a touchtone activated alarm system. This allows hams in either city to call each other when severe weather or other emergencies arise. The link system was jointly designed by Ken Barnes, KD4PEI and Ron Arant, N4PHP. It didn't take long for the system's value to become obvious. "The signal was crystal clear and very very clean." Arant John Simons, KC4UCP, ran a Skywarn Net using the new 220 link system. "The 220 machine proved to be an asset that night. And I think that if other areas had 220 available, it would be more useful in the weather network." Simons Hams in Alabama already use remote base systems tied to repeaters to extend their communications range. The 220 link between Birmingham and Montgomery is another step in their efforts to better serve the public during emergencies using amateur radio. Voice communications networks are just part of what Alabama Skywarn groups are working to improve. Efforts are also underway to set up a wide area coverage packet radio system to assist with relaying storm and damage reports. (***** NEWSLINE CINCINNATI Phil Thomas, N8LJA who produces the regional Amateur News Weekly has put a new outgoing Newsline service into operation from Cincinnati, Ohio. According to Thomas, the number for the service is (513) 745-1948. Midwest hams interested in Thomas' regional ham radio news service can call into Amateur News Weekly at (513) 745-2824. (***** FREE COLLEGE HAM RADIO CLASS A free Amateur Radio course will begin on Wednesday evening, March 27, at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. The class will meet at 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM for 8 consecutive Wednesdays. There is no charge for this course, however, the students will be responsible for purchasing their own study materials. The purpose of this course is to provide the students with the information and training necessary to pass an entry level Amateur Radio exam and acquire a FCC Amateur Operators license. If you live in the area and want to register for the course, contact Ed or Carol Walsh at (508) 679-8527 evenings or weekends. You can also register E-Mail to mrefw@aol.com (***** NEW CD-ROM VERSION OF QST AVAILABLE The ARRL's new CD-ROM version of QST was a hit at the marketplace. The CD-ROM features an entire year's worth of QST, plus QEX and the National Contest Journal. It includes full text, photographs, schematics and other graphics, and advertisements. Among other things, users can search for text and zoom in to schematics and diagrams to enhance detail. (***** NEW EU EMI STANDARDS From England comes word that the draft of the European Union EMC Standard has been published by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. It contains procedures and tests to ensure compliance with the European EMC Directive which came into force on the 1st of January. The Radio Society of Great Britain, through its EMC and Licensing Advisory Committees, is evaluating the document and will be responding to it. Copies are available from the: British Standards Institution 389 Chiswick High Rd London United Kingdom (***** NEW RSGB RLO Also, a new RSGB Radio Liaison Officer has been appointed for the county of Wiltshire, until the next session of RLO elections take place later this year. He is Ivan Rosevear, G3GKC of Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire. The RSGB says that its RLO's are available to help and advise members locally. (***** DX STAMPS Also, the government of the Solomon Islands has released a set of four postage stamps commemorating inventor Guillermo Marconi and 100 Years of Radio Communication. The $1.05 stamp shows Marconi demonstrating his invention, c. 1896. A $1.20 stamp depicts a typical maritime installation of the Marconi International Marine Communication Company, c. 1900. A $1.35 stamp depicts the first aeronautical radio systems supplied by Marconi to commercial aircraft. A $1.45 stamp shows Marconi in Japan during his 1933-34 world tour. The four stamps are available on a color first-day cover from Peter Taylor, G8BCG. (***** UNDERGROUND CABLE BY LAW And good news for hams down under. Word that the Australian Federal Government has announced that it intends to force both Telstra and Optus Vision to lay their cable television lines underground. Local municipal councils will also be given the power to insist on underground cabling in their areas. The new measures are in response to public comment about the installation cable and pay television transmission lines alongside existing above-ground telephone lines. The new rules will apply only to cables that have not yet been laid; existing cables will not be affected. Putting the new cables underground should minimize RFI ingress to pay cable television systems. (***** SOUTH AFRICA HAM CLASSES The South African Radio League has appointed Dikgang Moseneke as its Patron. Moseneke is chairman of the board of Telkom South Africa's telecommunications subsidiary. At his induction ceremony, Moseneke released a plan to introduce Amateur Radio into South African school system. He also wants to create a development fund to establish ham radio stations at educational institutions in South Africa. (***** DX - 3RD DISTRICT QSL BUREAU In DX, the Third Call Area Incoming QSL Bureau has a new address. The Pennsylvania DX Association has assumed responsibility for the bureau. The new address is: Pennsylvania DX Association P.O. Box 100 York Haven, PA 17370-0100 All envelopes and cards on file at the former incoming W3 bureau have been transferred to the Pennsylvania DX Association. (***** DX - 6 M BEACON FROM 4X Also, Neil Carr, G0JHC reporets via the VHF reflector that 4X1IF has been granted permission by Israeli telecommunications authorities to run a 50 MHZ beacon from his home. Neil says that Ralph has already installed a halo antenna on his tower and the beacon system itself is now complete. The beacon will take to the air in early May on 50.058 MHZ running about 3 watts and initially with Ralph's 4X1IF call. (***** AO-10 BACK From AMSAT North America, word that OSCAR-10 may once again be coming back to life. Reports say that the satellite's transponder is putting out a beacon tone. Also, the downlink has been intermittently functional. OSCAR-10 is one of the oldest ham satellites still in orbit. As such it has been plagued by solar radiation corrupting its on-board computer. Also, low levels of sunlight reaching its panels have kept it off the air. (***** CONGRATULATIONS SAMMY A word of congratulations to eighteen year old Sammy Garrett, AA0CR. Sammy was the recipient of Newsline's 1991 Young Ham of the Year award. Now some six years later Sammy is the recipient of yet another honor. AA0CR has been selected to receive a $1,000 college assistance scholarship from the C-Span television network. As a part of the award, Sammy also gets an expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for himself and one of his parents. He plans to use the scholarship funds toward his first years tuition at American University. (***** HAM RADIO THESIS Last but by no means least, a Georgia ham has decided to use Amateur Radios' participation in emergencies as a subject for her Masters thesis, and she is asking for your help. Bella Romain, N4ILQ of Carrollton Georgia has decided to do an in-depth study into just what motivates hams to risk their own lives to provide help to others. Sometimes doing so while putting their own personal safety at risk. She says it is something that needs to be better understood: "Ham radio has been a part of my life for many years Out-Q: ...ham radio operators who do this. Since nobody has done such a study, and since Bella Romain needs a topic for her thesis, she figured she could combine the two into a single project that would benefit not only her, but the Amateur Radio service as well. To that end, she will make the completed work available to anyone interested after it has been completed and graded. If you want to become a part of this rather ambitious project, drop a note to: Bella Romain, N4ILQ 285 Timber Ridge Trail Carrollton, Georgia 30117 You can also e-mail her via the Internet to: bella@mindspring.com (***** And for this week, 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 1996 & all rights are reserved. * --