Monster Media 1994 #1/monster.zip/monster/HAM/NEWSLINE.ZIP/NEWS0311.TXT

Text File | 1994-03-20 | 19KB | 379 lines

The electronic publication of the Amateur Radio Newsline is distributed
with the permission of Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, President and Editor of
Newsline.  The text is transcribed from the audio service by Dale Cary,
ND0AKO, and is first published in The Radio & Electronics Round Table on
the Genie Online System.

An archive of previous Newsline transcriptions are available in the Genie
software library.  Sorry, there is no FTP site currently available, however
they may be extracted from the rec.radio.info newsgroup archive at
OAK.oakland.edu and other SIMTEL mirror FTP sites.

If you have any comment, suggestion, or news item you would like to submit,
send them via E-Mail to [e-mail] or [e-mail].
You can contact Newsline at [phone].  It is a combination answering
and FAX machine, if you have a FAX to send, wait for the voice prompt and
press your fax-send button.

All other information and disclaimers are in the text header below.

 - - - - -
 NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #115 - POSTED 03/12/94

 *****************************************************************
 *                                                               *
 *       *   * ***** *    *  **** *     ***** *   * *****        *
 *       **  * *     *    * *     *       *   **  * *            *
 *       * * * ***   * ** *  ***  *       *   * * * ***          *
 *       *  ** *     * ** *     * *       *   *  ** *            *
 *       *   * *****  *  *  ****  ***** ***** *   * *****        *
 *                                                               *
 *                 ****    *   ****  *****  ***                  *
 *                 *   *  * *  *   *   *   *   *                 *
 *                 ****  ***** *   *   *   *   *                 *
 *                 *  *  *   * *   *   *   *   *                 *
 *                 *   * *   * ****  *****  ***                  *
 *                                                               *
 *****************************************************************

    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.  The electronic version of newsline is posted on this
 CBBS twice monthly.  For current information updates, please call

      Los Angeles............................ [phone]
      Los Angeles (Instant Update Line)...... [phone]
      Seattle................................ [phone]
      Seattle................................ [phone]
      Tacoma................................. [phone]
      Louisville............................. [phone]
      Dayton................................. [phone]
      Chicago................................ [phone]
      New York City.......................... [phone]
      Melbourne, FL.......................... [phone]

    For the latest breaking info call the Instant Update Line listed
 above.  To provide information please call [phone].  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 SASE at P.O. Box 463, Pasadena, CA
 91102.

                                              Thank You
                                              NEWSLINE

 *****************************************************************

 Some of the hams of NEWSLINE RADIO...

 WA6ITF WB6MQV WB6FDF K6DUE W6RCL N6AHU N6AWE N6TCQ K6PGX N6PNY
 KU8R N8DTN W9JUV KC9RP K9XI KB5KCH KC5UD KC0HF G8AUU WD0AKO DJ0QN
 and many others in the United States and around the globe!!!

 *****************************************************************

 [865]

 * * * *   C L O S E D   C I R C U I T   A D V I S O R Y   * * * *
 *                                                               *
 *     The following is a closed circuit advisory and is not     *
 *  transmission over amateur radio.  Repeat, not for broadcast. *
 *  This is just a reminder that the address for the Newsline    *
 *  Support Fund is Newsline, in care of Dr. Norm Chalfin,       *
 *  K6PGX, Post Office Box 463, Pasadena, CA 91102.  Again, and  *
 *  as always, we thank you.  That ends the closed circuit with  *
 *  Newsline report number 865 for release on Friday, 03/11/94   *
 *  to follow.                                                   *
 *                                                               *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

                      The following is a QST

    The government is going back into court to try and set
 standards for what is deemed indecent on the air and a
 Chicagoland ham is a life saving hero.

 *****
                GOVERNMENT APPEALS INDECENCY RULING

    A Washington D.C. federal appeals court will give the
 government another chance to argue that its ban on indecent
 programming on broadcast and cable television doesn't violate
 free speech.
    According to the Los Angeles Times, the U.S. Court of Appeals
 for the District of Columbia Circuit, in orders dated Wednesday
 February 15 and released Friday February 18 said it will
 reconsider rulings that struck down the federal regulations as
 unconstitutional.
    Last November 23, a three judge panel of the court had thrown
 out an FCC rule that banned indecent TV and radio broadcasts
 between 6 a.m. and midnight.  That ruling said the regulation was
 an unconstitutionally broad encroachment on free speech.  A
 finding in the governments favor will make it easy to prosecute
 anyone using foul language on the radio including potty mouth
 hams.

 *****
         FCC AND ARRL TO PROTECT JAMMER HUNTER IDENTITY

    The ARRL and the Field Operations Bureau of the Federal
 Communications Commission have signed a new agreement concerning
 the use of amateur volunteers in the area of rules enforcement.
 The new accord adds an condition to protect the identities of
 Amateur Auxiliary members when the FCC institutes an enforcement
 proceeding involving information provided by the leagues Amateur
 Auxiliary.
    The agreement is a revised and expanded version of one entered
 into in 1984 between the ARRL and the FCC.  It spells out the
 roles of amateurs as trained and registered official observers,
 as well as the role of the Field Operations Bureau.
    While the new arrangement continues to place the
 responsibility for initial information gathering at the local
 level, it also specifies a more centralized system for presenting
 information to the government in cases where enforcement action
 is requested.  This will be accomplished between the Office of
 the Chief of the Field Operations Bureau and the league's
 Washington, DC office.
    The volunteers will continue to be known as the ARRL Amateur
 Auxiliary to the Field Operations Bureau.  The FOB also agrees to
 assist the ARRL in the training of volunteers and in publicizing
 the objectives and accomplishments of the program.
    The bottom line is that jammers, foul mouths and other sources
 of interference had better watch out since members of the Amateur
 Auxiliary are probably already at work.  The good guys now have
 the same protection the bad guys have had for years -- anonymity.
 They will never know who the jammer hunters are but their work
 will pay off when an FCC inspector comes knocking their your
 door or a letter containing a notice of violation and a heavy
 fine shows up in the mail.
    The new agreement became effective on February the 26th.

 *****
                     CALL SIGN PLAN EXTENDED

    The FCC has also granted an ARRL a request to extend the
 comment deadline in its vanity call sign proposal as outlined in
 Personal Radio Docket 93-305.  The comment deadline has been
 extended to April 21st the reply comment deadline was extended to
 May 23rd.
    The Commission's Notice of Proposed Rule Making was released
 December 29, 1993, with an original comment deadline of March 7,
 1994.  The League said more time was needed for response because
 of the importance of the proposal to amateurs and therefore the
 need to ensure fairness in whatever system was adopted.
    In granting the League's request the FCC said that it believes
 it is desirable that the record be as complete as possible and
 that it reflect the views of the amateur community.
    More on both of these stories in future Newsline reports.

 *****
                   C-QUAM NAMED AM STEREO STANDARD

    Its has only taken a decade for the FCC to finally decide to
 name the Motorola C-Quam system to be the national standard for
 stereo broadcasting on the AM broadcast band.  The commission
 first authorized AM stations to broadcast in stereo back in
 1982.  At that time the agency declined to single out a single
 stereo system from the five competing systems available at the
 time.  Instead it said that it wanted to let market forces to
 determine the course of AM stereo development.
    The field of contenders quickly narrowed to two contenders.
 The Motorola C-Quam system and another developed by Kahn.  In
 1988 the FCC reaffirmed its decision not to mandate an AM stereo
 standard.  It did note that the marketplace seemed to be
 converging toward C-Quam as the defacto standard.
    But congress, recognizing the loss of revenues to the nations
 manufacturing and sales refused to wait.  It wanted an AM stereo
 standard that the United States could market to the world.  As a
 result, the 1992 Telecommunications Authorization Act directed
 the FCC to adopt a single AM stereo broadcasting transmission
 standard.  It took almost another two years, but in January of
 this year the Motorola system was officially chosen.
    Stations broadcasting using the Kahn system will soon have to
 cease using it.  They will have the option of switching over to
 the Motorola C-Quam system or reverting to monaural operation.
 For consumers who bought those truly rare AM stereo receivers,
 particularly those that receive other than the C-Quam system, you
 now own a piece of communications history.  A part of history
 that did not survive in the AM stereo marketplace.

 *****
                   Ham Radio Helps Save A Life

    Now the story of a ham radio rescue as reported on the Genie
 information service.  When Scott Montgomery, N9GLL, left for work
 last December 16th he didn't expect anything other than the
 usual--heavy traffic.  But on passing a shopping mall he noticed
 a small car parked with its hazard lights blinking.  Its door was
 wide open and an elderly man in the driver's seat was leaning
 back in an awkward position.
    The driver apparently couldn't talk, but gestured repeatedly
 toward his chest.  Scott correctly interpreted that the man was
 having difficulty in breathing,  which is one sign of a possible
 heart attack.  So he radioed his dad, K9DQU with "Priority
 Traffic."  On establishing contact he told Jack Montgomery that
 an ambulance was needed quickly at the scene.
    Jack called 911 requesting an ambulance and was transferred
 to the Chicago Fire Department.  Scott stayed at the scene to
 pin-point the ambulance's destination.
    When the paramedics arrived, they went to work on the sick man
 immediately.  The ambulance driver radioed for a Fire Department
 engine company to help with needed additional manpower.  At his
 request, Scott watched for and waved the engine company into
 position at the scene.  Eventually, the engine company radioed
 the Chicago police to secure the sick man's vehicle, since
 obviously he was in no position to drive at all.
    Before he left the scene, both the fire engine company
 personnel and paramedics praised Scott for his assistance to a
 citizen in need.  This, because there seemed no reason to doubt
 that Scott Montgomery, N9GLL may well have saved the mans life.

 *****
                              NARA

    NARA, the National Amateur Radio Association says that its
 not as big as some of the rumors say, but it is showing the
 steady growth patterns it had anticipated.  NARA was the
 brainchild of entrepreneur Donald Stoner, W6TNS who noticed that
 there was a gap that the ARRL was not filling, so he jumped in
 to fill the breach.

    "We've done very well.  We have about 7,500 members now.  Our
 goal, I don't think it is overly optimistic to get 10,000 this
 year." Donald Stoner, W6TNS, NARA President.

    Stoner says that the goals of NARA are fairly modest but
 defiantly attainable in his eyes.

    "We, as you know, we are not anti league.  We work, we
 actually stick to the beginners end of things.  The league has to
 be all things to all hams.  That makes their job much more
 difficult.  Where all we have to do is help the beginner and aim
 our efforts towards the beginner." Donald Stoner, W6TNS, NARA
 President.

    Stoner says that NARA not only supports the American Radio
 Relay League but he considers it as a membership feeder to the
 League as newcomers gravitate toward higher levels of
 sophistication in their ham radio careers.

 *****
                          CLONED PAGERS

    Illegally cloned pagers is the latest trick being used by drug
 dealers to avoid detection.  The clones piggy-back on the pager
 numbers of legitimate users, preventing law enforcement agencies
 from eavesdropping on their illegal activities.  The owners of
 the legitimate pagers may notice an increase in the number of
 pages they are receiving, but the strange codes displayed appear
 to be nothing but gibberish.  Most pager users simply figure that
 a glitch has taken place in the pager dispatch system.  The
 street price of an illegally cloned pager is in the area of
 seventy five to a hundred dollars, according to law enforcement
 officials.

 *****
                         YAESU SPACE CAMP

    Amateur radio has taken another step closer to the stars by
 reaching out to young people in Alabama.  Beginning this summer,
 kids attending Space Camp in Huntsville will get an up-close
 demonstration of amateur radio.  The program is the idea of a
 leading amateur radio equipment manufacturer.
    Space Camp is an extremely popular activity for young people.
 Each year thousands of children go through a variety oft
 simulations and training courses.  Its all designed to teach
 kids space travel and what being an astronaut is being like.
 Space Camp students are about to be exposed to amateur radio.
 Yaesu USA is donating equipment for two amateur radio stations at
 space camp.  Kevin Karamanos, WD6DIH, manages National Sales for
 Yaesu Radio products.

    "Every year we go to the show in Huntsville, Alabama, which is
 quite a big show in the southern part of the country and we
 usually go to the space camp for one day every year.  We saw how
 many kids came through there and thought we would like to send
 our kids through there.  Wouldn't it be great to teach kids about
 ham radio along with the space program."  Kevin Karamanos,
 WD6DIH, National Sales for Yaesu USA.

    Yaesu is providing equipment for a satellite and HF station.
 Huntsville hams will operate the equipment and will explain
 amateur radio to the children.  Space Camp students will end up
 talking with astronauts in space.

    "The goal is, when the orbiting space station eventually gets
 in the air.  The future hams and future astronauts that go
 through and train here, the young hams.  They can go ahead and
 operate and talk to the astronauts and pass some of the time
 away.  So it is a good benefit for both."  Kevin Karamanos,
 WD6DIH.

    Space camp students will enjoy state-of-the-art technology,
 courtesy of Yaesu.  Karamanos says the equipment supplied to the
 Space Camp stations will be Yaesu's latest--and greatest.  Nor
 does the company's commitment to the nations youth end there.
 Yaesu is again serving as the corporate underwriter to the
 Westlink Report Young Ham of the Year award scheduled for
 presentation in early June.

 *****
                               DX

    In DXpedition news, word that an operation is being probable
 for Cocos Island beginning May 20th.  A group is planning an all
 bands plus satellite and 6 meters operation.  They will
 concentrate on CW, satellite and RTTY with QSL's will be handled
 by OKDXA.  A list of operators will be published in the near
 future.

 *****
                       HAM NEWS AND VIEWS

    If you are planning to attend the 1994 Dayton Hamvention we
 want to invite you to come and also be a part of the biggest ham
 radio news seminar ever held.  The two hour and fifteen minute
 session is titled "Ham News and Views from Around the World".
 Its a joint presentation of RAIN -- the Chicago based Radio
 amateur Information Network and of Newsline.  The session runs
 from 2:45 to 5:00 PM eastern time on Saturday April 30th, and the
 guest list is truly the who's who in amateur radio news and
 information.
    Jim Davis, KU8R, will be moderating the session with Hap
 Holly, KC9RP of RAIN and our own Newsline producer Bill
 Pasternak, WA6ITF as part of the panel.  The star-studded guest
 list includes Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF from New Zealand.  Jim is the
 president of the New Zealand Amateur Association of Radio
 Transmitters and hosts several ham radio bulletin services down
 under.  And flying in from the United Kingdom is Peter Chadwick,
 G3RZP.  Peter is the immediate past president of the Radio
 Society of Great Britain and the moderator of their GB2RS
 official bulletin service.  While not with us in person, Hans van
 der Gronnendaal, ZS6AKV will be with the group through the magic
 of videotape to tell us about ham radio bulletin services in his
 part of the world.
    Three other United States services will be represented as
 well.  Scheduled to appear are Len Winkler, KB7LPW who hosts "Ham
 Radio and More" out of Phoenix Arizona, George Bowen, N2LQS of
 the satellite delivered "This Week in Amateur Radio" from Albany
 New York and Dave Marthouse, N2AAM of Spectrum.
    Never before has a group like this been assembled for as wide
 ranging a presentation as "Ham News and Ham Views from Around the
 World".  It takes place on Saturday, April 30th from 2:45 to 5:00
 PM Eastern time in Meeting Room 2 at the 1994 Hamvention in
 Dayton.  We hope to see you there.

 *****
    For this week, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline.
 You can write to us at Post Office Box 463 in Pasadena, CA 91102.
 * * * Newsline Copyright 1994 all rights are reserved. * * *