Monster Media 1994 #1/monster.zip/monster/HAM/NEWSLINE.ZIP/NEWS862.TXT

Text File | 1994-02-22 | 19KB | 366 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 on Genie.

Editorial comment or news items should be E-mailed to [e-mail]
or [e-mail]. Voice or FAX to [phone].

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

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 NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #112 - POSTED 02/19/94

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    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
 NET
 CBBS twice monthly.  For current information updates, please call

      Los Angeles............................ [phone]
      Los Angeles (Instant Update Line)...... [phone]
      Seattle................................ [phone]
      Seattle................................ [phone]
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      Louisville............................. [phone]
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      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

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 Some of the hams of NEWSLINE RADIO...

 WA6ITF WB6MQV WB6FDF K6DUE W6RCL N6AHU N6AWE N6TCQ K6PGX N6PNY
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 and many others in the United States and around the globe!!!

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 [862]

 * * * *   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 for *
 *  air 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, PO Box *
 *  463, Pasadena, CA 91102.  Again, and as always, we thank     *
 *  you.  That ends the closed circuit with Newsline report      *
 *  number 862 for release on Friday, February 18 1994.          *
 *                                                               *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

                      The following is a QST

    Another ham-band may wind up in the hands of commercial users
 and the idea of an instant ham radio license may be quietly
 fading away.

 *****
    200 MHz of SPECTRUM TO BE REALLOCATED - HAM RADIO AFFECTED!

     Amateur Radio may loose part or all of one super high
 frequency band in the wake of the release of a Commerce
 Department report that recommends moving the military and other
 government agencies off much of the nation's airwaves to make way
 for new commercial use of the spectrum.  The spectrum under fire
 is at 2390 to 2400 Mhz and 2402 to 2417 Mhz.  If the FCC chooses
 to reassign it to the commercial sector, its loss will impact on
 several important ham radio projects including high speed packet
 radio data relays.
     The peril to the band became known on Thursday February 11th.
 In a preliminary report, the Commerce Department announced that
 it had targeted 200 MHz of prime VHF and UHF radio spectrum to be
 reissued immediately with an even bigger block to be made
 available over the next 15 years.  This latter could include the
 ham radio band that runs from 2300 to 2310 Mhz.  A band being
 looked upon in many crowded urban areas as the logical place to
 expand repeater and other FM relay operations as well as weak
 signal work.
     This reallocation proposal is part of a major push by
 congress the Clinton administration and the National
 Telecommunications and Information Agency.  The plan is to
 reassign valuable government spectrum to the private sector to
 expand all sorts of communications concepts.  It also follows an
 earlier decision to reallocate another big band of spectrum to
 the next generation of wireless technology, known as personal
 communications services.
     The Commerce Department report did designate certain specific
 spectrum to be shared by government and private sector users.  It
 said that moving some government services will be delayed until
 new equipment can be built.  As a result some of the reallocated
 spectrum will not be made available for several years.  The study
 also concluded that moving some services would be inappropriate.
 This, because of extensive investments made by the government or
 the services provided by the current spectrum users.  It
 recommended that certain navigational services, meteorology,
 astronomy and space communications services should not be moved.
    There are two days of sunlight in all of this.  First off, the
 Amateur Satellite band from 2400 to 2402 MHz was not put up on
 the chopping block.  This means that plans for the construction
 of the new Phase 3D ham satellite can go forward as planned.
    Second, and just as important is the fact that this is only an
 initial report.  Kind of a prototype suggestion by the NTIA that
 is still open to debate.  A final report on this proposed
 spectrum reallocation is scheduled for release after the Federal
 Communications Commission the and private sectors have a chance
 to comment on it.  Completion of that research and release of the
 report should come in about twelve months.  Meantime, hams
 involved in the use of spectrum at 2300 MHz and above should get
 ready for a knock down drag out fight to save that band.

 *****
                        INSTANT LICENSING

    The FCC's proposal to bring instant licensing to the amateur
 radio service appears to be in serious doubt.  Comments by the
 Chief of FCC's Private Radio Bureau seem to leave open the
 possibility that the proposal may never see the light of day.
 Ralph Haller, N4RH, spoke to amateurs at the Tropical Hamboree
 in Miami on February 5th.
    Commission officials say they are surprised at the response to
 the FCC's proposal to bring instant licensing to ham radio.  The
 idea is to allow people who successfully pass their first license
 exams to get on the air immediately.  That way they would not
 have to wait to receive a license from the commission.  A process
 that has taken as long as 3 months.  The ARRL strongly opposes
 the FCC's idea.  Frank Butler, W4RH directs the leagues
 Southeastern Division.  He says amateurs are solidly against
 instant licensing.
    "What their concern mainly is that people will get, make up a
 callsign and get on the air without ever really having ever
 taken a test."  Frank Butler, W4RH, Director ARRL Southeastern
 Division.
    Instant licensing the way the FCC proposed may not be
 necessary.  The commission is about to upgrade its nearly 30 year
 old computer system.  Ralph Haller, N4RH, says this promises to
 be much faster processing of license applications.
    "I think the people have some legitimate concerns in instant
 licensing that we are going to have to look out very closely and
 combine that with our improved speeds of services I expect with
 the new computer and weigh wether instant licensing makes sense
 in the amateur service."
    We seem to be leaving the door open for instant licensing the
 whole controversy could be taken care of with the new computer
 system.
    "I think that's a reasonable possibility.  Particularly as we
 get electronic filing with the VAX.  We may well reach the
 situation individual exam sites would have immediate access to
 our computers and we might even be able to have a license, I am
 dreaming a little bit here, that we may well be able to issue,
 have the VE issue the license right in the exam session."  Ralph
 Haller, N4RH, Chief of the FCC's Private Radio Bureau.
    Haller says the commission will look at the responses amateurs
 submit to the instant licensing proposal.  One that so far has
 little support in the amateur community.

 *****
                       VANITY CALL SIGN UPDATE

    Another big announcement from Ralph Haller.  Vanity callsigns
 are just around the corner.  Haller believes you'll be able to
 request a call sign of your choosing by late summer.  The program
 will probably be brought on line in phases, with Extra class hams
 getting first crack.  Club callsigns will also be available.
 Start saving your quarters...a vanity call sign will cost $70...
 that's 7-dollars for each of the 10 years an amateur radio
 license covers.

 *****
                  COURT ORDERS HAM OFF REPEATER

    This just in.  An Orange County California Superior Court has
 issued a three year restraining order against a ham that will
 keep him from operating on an area repeater.  The order was
 requested in January by an attorney for the Clairmont Amateur
 Repeater Association and was issued against Tim Seawolf, KJ5KE of
 Quail Valley.  This is a precedent setting case in that the club
 has used the civil rather than federal court system to ban
 someone from their repeater that they allege to be an undesirable
 operator.  More details on this story next week.

 *****
                       ARRL BOARD ELECTIONS

    The ARRL Board of Directors has affirmed its confidence in
 the leadership of George S. Wilson, W4OYI by electing him to
 serve another two years as the organizations president.  Wilson,
 an attorney from Owensboro Kentucky has turned out to be one of
 the most dynamic leaders in the leagues history.  Before his
 election two years ago, Wilson made a public pledge to do all he
 could to help clean up the many problems plaguing the ham bands.
 We carried his words right here on Newsline in 1992.  Wilson has
 since lived up to every word that he said!
    Also returning for additional two year terms are first vice
 president Rod Stafford, KB6ZV, Vice Presidents Jay Holladay,
 W6EJJ and Tom Frenaye, K1KI.  Treasurer Jim Mc Cobb, K1LLU,
 Executive Vice President Dave Sumner, K1ZZ and Chief Financial
 Officer Barry Shelly were also re-elected to serve the next two
 years.
    Elected to the Executive Committee are Rocky Mountain division
 director Marshall Quiat, AG0X, Hudson Division Director Stephen
 Mendelsohn, WA2DHF, Delta Division Director Joel Harrison,
 WB5IGF and Great lakes Division Director Al Severson, AB8P.

 *****
                      GEORGIA ANT

    A bill introduced in the Georgia Legislature that would
 eliminate the effect of restrictive property covenants on
 amateurs is believed to be the first of its type in the nation.
 This, according to Georgia Section Manager Jim Altman, N4UCK.
    Altman says that the proposed legislation known as Georgia
 House Bill 1134, would prevent all new and renewed covenants
 from regulating, controlling, or restricting antennas owned and
 operated by licensed amateurs in the state.
    Altman says that, in Georgia, all restrictive covenants have a
 life of 20 years, but can be renewed.  In banning new and renewed
 covenants the proposed new law would leave the existing covenants
 in place until their natural expiration, and prevent new ones.
 Then, over the next 20 years, all existing covenants would
 disappear.
    The bill was initially referred to the State Bar committee on
 real property law, which gave the measure a do pass
 recommendation.  That's a good sign and Amateurs in Georgia are
 urged to contact their state legislators and urge their support
 of H.B. 1134.  Hams elsewhere will want to watch this one
 carefully as it could set a national precedent for fighting deed
 restrictions nationwide.

 *****
                            STONER UPDATE

    Speaking about fighting deed restrictions, one ham who has
 been at the forefront of the battle is Don Stoner, W6TNS.  As
 previously reported, Stoner, who heads up the National Amateur
 Radio Association has been fighting an antenna battle of his own.
 In addition to legal action, Don has taken to the political high
 ground as well.  W6TNS is trying to get the Florida State
 Emergency Preparedness plan changed to include ham radio as an
 integral aspect and there-by negate anti ham radio deed
 restrictions in planned communities.  We ran into W6TNS at the
 recent Tropical Hamboree in Miami and got this update.
    "The condominium restrictive covenants are applicable all
 over the country.  There are hams all over the country that are
 precluded from actually getting on the air, at least on HF,
 because of these restrictive laws.  But the support from the
 local group in the Clearwater area, and really all over the state
 of Florida, has just been enormous.  One of the things I think we
 can do is marshal that support and organize it into a packet
 letter writing campaign.  I think hams will send packet messages
 to their legislator far easier than they will write a letter.
 They love to send messages over ham radio because that is what it
 is all about."  Don Stoner, W6TNS, President of NARA.
    Stoner also says that banning the prohibition on ham radio
 antennas is important to the safety of all of the residents of is
 regularly hurricane ravaged state.

 *****
                        SEATTLE TROLLEY QRM

    Seattle Washington hams are once again suffering from trolley
 car induced RFI.  The story goes back a number of years when
 Seattle added a number of new electric trolleys to their fleet.
 According to Clay Freinwald, K7CR of the Western Washington
 Amateur Relay Association, the presence of these new trolleys
 was instantly noted as their new electronic control system
 radiated like an all band transceiver and the overhead cattinary
 system of power wires became their gigantic antenna.
    Marty Hadfield a broadcast engineer at KMT
 matter.  Operating through the Western Washington Cooperative
 Interference Committee, Marty was able to get the Metropolitan
 Transit System to install filters on the vehicles to help
 minimize the problem.  The filters were not a cure all and you
 can still hear some of the interference on any AM radio.
    Recently, the transit authority purchased some dual powered
 vehicles.  They run on diesel engines in outlining areas and then
 connect to the transit overhead wiring when inside Seattle
 proper.  Marty Hadfield says that these new vehicles are not
 much different then the old ones.  They too radiate like crazy
 and this time the interference is not limited to the AM
 broadcast band.  He says that almost any radio in the downtown
 area can hear what sounds like a cats meow on any two way radio
 including those used by hams.  Marty is trying to solve the
 problem, but it looks as if its going to be an uphill road till
 all of the meowing is gone from the Seattle radio airwaves.

 *****
                             T9S DX

    In DX, the special event station T9S will be active during
 the month of February to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the
 Olympic Winter Games of 1984, which was held in Sarajevo.
 Activity will be on all bands and QSL cards will be handled by
 DL1QQ, direct or via the bureau.

 *****
                      PERRY TO BE AT DAYTON

    Educator Carole Perry, WB2MGP says that she is looking for
 youngsters skilled in talking before large groups to be a
 part of her Youth Seminar at the 1994 Dayton Hamvention.  The
 Staten Island New York school teacher will be expanding her youth
 session and says that more young hams are needed as speakers this
 year.
    "Once again we are looking for youngsters who are articulate
 and enthusiastic about what they enjoy about amateur radio.  I
 understand I am going to be getting an expanded time slot this
 year because of the popularity of the program last year.  It
 seems that the session that always follows me, unfortunately
 always has to deal with us running over a little bit.  So this
 year they have graciously given me a bigger time slot.  I am
 looking for lots and lots of youngsters to be interviewed and
 have them call me at [phone].  That's my home number and
 the machine will pick up if I am not here.  Or have them send
 resumes directly to me, I'm in the callbook.  About what it is
 about ham radio that they have participated in and if they are
 good and articulate speakers we will certainly consider bring
 them to Dayton."  Carole Perry, WB2MGP.
    Again, if you know of an articulate young ham who would like
 to speak at Carole Perry's Dayton Youth Forum please contact
 WB2MGP at area code [phone].  That line is both voice and
 fax.

 *****

    That is all from the Amateur Radio Newsline.  You can write us
 at Newsline, PO Box 463, Pasadena, CA 91102.

 * * * Newsline Copyright 1994 all rights are reserved. * * *