Monster Media 1996 #15/Monster Media Number 15 (Monster Media)(July 1996).ISO/ham/arrl.zip/ARRL0517.TXT

Text File | 1996-05-25 | 16KB | 291 lines

The ARRL Letter
Electronic Update
May 17, 1996
__________________________________
IN THIS UPDATE:

* FCC issues reminder about HF transceivers
* FCC streamlines PC certification
* FCC launches new Family Radio Service
* Wisconsin PRB-1 bill fails
* Solar flux is up
* New call Puerto Rico sign blocks issued
* Vanity call sign filing tips
* FCC backfills 7th District holes
* Howard M. Crosby, W2CCG, SK
* Dick Pitner, W0FZO, SK
* In Brief: New hams and upgrades up;
   Students plan SAREX activity; Mir update;
   W8ZR named university president;
   SETI League inaugurates search
__________________________________

FCC ISSUES REMINDER ABOUT HF TRANSCEIVERS

The FCC has issued a friendly reminder about those HF transceivers
ostensibly marketed for "amateur" use, but actually designed and intended
specifically for the so-called "freeband" radio operators, who operate
primarily in the 26 to 28 MHz frequency range.

In a May 13 Public Notice, the FCC points out that it's a violation of FCC
regulations to import or market a transmitter designed or intended to
operate outside the amateur bands unless the equipment has been issued a
grant of equipment authorization for the radio services it's capable of
operating. The FCC says it wanted to clarify its rules on equipment that's
"intended to operate in various radio services in the high frequency radio
spectrum, including '10-meter' Amateur Radio Service (ARS) equipment." The
notice--directed to "manufacturers, importers, vendors and users of these
transceivers"--emphasizes that transmitters intended for use by
FCC-authorized radio services except the Amateur Radio Service must be
type-accepted.

In the words of the Public Notice: "The Commission considers that the
transceivers discussed above are intended to be operated on frequencies
where the use of type-accepted equipment is required, because of the
simplicity of modifying them to extend their operating frequency range."

The FCC also noted that it's illegal to import, market or operate a
transmitter that requires a grant of equipment authorization but for which
no grant has been issued, and that it's a violation to transmit on
frequencies allocated to a licensed radio service "without the appropriate
Commission-issued station license." Violators could be subject to fines or
imprisonment as well as equipment seizure and forfeiture.--FCC

FCC STREAMLINES PC EQUIPMENT AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS

In a move aimed at getting personal computers and PC accessories to market
faster, the FCC has adopted new rules to relax the equipment authorization
requirements for such products. Instead of requiring FCC certification, the
new rules allow a self-authorization process where PC manufacturers or
suppliers issue a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) with FCC standards for
limiting radio frequency emissions. The new rules permit manufacturers and
suppliers of personal computers and PC peripherals to put a product on the
market after testing it to ensure compliance and including a DoC in the
accompanying literature, instead of having to apply for equipment
authorization and await FCC approval.

The FCC anticipates the new rules will significantly speed up the process of
getting the products to market and will save the PC industry some $250
million a year.

To ensure that equipment continues to comply with FCC standards,
laboratories testing products under the new procedures must be accredited by
the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the American
Association for Laboratory Accreditation or by other organizations approved
by the FCC. Manufacturers and suppliers also may continue to use the FCC
certification process, which can take a month or longer.

The new rules also permit the separate authorization of main computer boards
and power supplies under a DoC and marketing of personal computers assembled
from separate components that have themselves been authorized under a DoC.
Under the old rules, PCs and PC accessories had to be tested and authorized
based on the specific configuration of parts, and separate testing and
authorization was required every time the configuration changed.

PCs and accessories are subject to authorization to make sure they don't
cause interference to broadcasting, aeronautical and maritime communication
and Amateur Radio.--FCC

FCC ESTABLISHES FAMILY RADIO SERVICE

The Federal Communications Commission amended Part 95 of its rules May 10 to
establish a new, unlicensed personal radio service, to be called the Family
Radio Service. This service was created in response to a petition filed by
the Radio Shack Division of Tandy Corporation, requesting that the
Commission establish a new radio service aimed at providing small groups
with an affordable and convenient means of direct, short range (up to
one-half mile), two-way voice communication. FRS radios would use 14
channels in the 462 to 468-MHz band. Transceivers would have to be
FCC-certified.

The Commission suggests the FRS could be used by hunters, campers, hikers,
bicyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts to keep in contact with one another
during outings. It could also be used by parents to keep in touch with
children playing in the neighborhood ,or families or friends to keep in
contact with one another while at shopping malls, sporting events,
amusements parks and similar locations.--FCC

WISCONSIN PRB-1 BILL DEAD FOR NOW

A busy legislative agenda and political infighting are being blamed for the
failure of a bill in the Wisconsin legislature that would have gone further
than PRB-1 in limiting local control over Amateur Radio antennas. The bill,
SB-544, had state Senate approval. Supporters had hoped to get approval of
the state Assembly during a brief special session, but it never made it to
the floor.

According to Gary Schwartz, K9GS, who tracked the proposed legislation, the
bill would have prevented localities from restricting ham radio towers on
the basis of height or aesthetics, unless there was a specific health or
safety concern. The bill also would have kept localities from enacting laws
affecting placement, screening or height of Amateur Radio antennas "if the
ordinance or resolution is based solely on aesthetic considerations." The
bill was modeled after existing provisions of Wisconsin law that restrict
localities from regulating certain satellite TV antennas. Supporters have
vowed to try again next year.

SOLAR UPDATE: FLUX IS UP

Propagation guru Tad Cook,  KT7H, reports the average solar flux was up just
a few points during the first full week of May, and the average A index
moved from 5.7 the previous week to 6.1. After peaking around 80, solar flux
should drop below 70 after May 20 and rise above 70 again after June 1. The
geomagnetic field is expected to be most stable between May 21 and 27. Best
worldwide DX at this low point in the solar cycle is expected on 30 and 40
meters. Look for 20 meters and even higher bands to open up, especially on
north-south paths, when the solar flux is at 80 or higher.

Sunspot numbers for May 2 through May 8 were 0, 0, 0, 12, 26, 27 and 19
respectively, with a mean of 12. The 10.7-cm flux was 67.9, 68.3, 69.4,
70.8, 74.6, 74.9 and 76.1 respectively, with a mean of 71.7.

NEW CALL SIGN BLOCKS ISSUED FOR PUERTO RICO

On Monday, May 7, the FCC began issuing call signs in Puerto Rico from one
of the new--and long-awaited--call sign blocks, NP3. For some time now, the
Amateur Radio community has been awaiting FCC action to begin issuing new
call sign prefixes (blocks) for areas in the Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii
that are running low on--or are already are out of--available call signs for
higher class licensees.

The FCC already has granted NP3AA through NP3AR, as of May 13. So far, it
appears that no new call signs have yet been granted from the new Alaska and
Hawaii prefixes. The FCC has said it no longer will restrict Alaska call
signs to the number 7, so future call sign prefixes could contain any
numeral from 0 to 9, such as NL1 or AL0. New Hawaiian prefixes may contain
the number 7, such as AH7 (prefixes for Kure Island already contain a 7, but
suffixes begin with K).

MORE ON VANITY CALL SIGN PROCEDURES

Here are some tips about filing for a vanity call sign. Most of these
resulted from members' frequently asked questions in the wake of the FCC's
announcement to open filing Gate 1 on May 31:

You don't need to include proof that you or your deceased close relative
formerly held the call sign applied for, but the FCC can require proof.
Remember that making a false statement on an FCC application is against the
law and is punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment.

The FTP version of FCC Form 610V is acceptable for filing. In fact, you may
even download or obtain it from the FCC via the Internet at
http://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form610V or ftp://ftp.fcc.gov/pub/Forms/Form610V/,
or by fax at 202-418-0177 (request Form 006108).

Include FCC Form 159 if you're paying for your vanity call sign application
by credit card or if multiple applications are being paid for with one fee,
charge or check. But (contrary to instruction for FCC Form 610V) Form 159 is
not required if paying by money order. Form 159 is available from the FCC
via the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form159 or
ftp://ftp.fcc.gov/pub/Forms/Form159/.

Payments made by personal check receive equally expedient handling as money
orders or bank checks, and no check-clearing delays are expected.

The most recent holder of a call sign has first access to that call sign.
However, a person with an expired license that is within the two-year grace
period is still considered to hold the license.

Just prior to announcing the opening of Gate 1 in the vanity call sign
program, the FCC denied outright three of four petitions for reconsideration
and granted only part of a fourth petition. The amendment the FCC adopted
clarifies that a renewal application for a vanity call sign is considered to
be filed on time when received "on or before" the license expiration date.

FCC TO BACKFILL HOLES IN SEVENTH DISTRICT

Because of a computer programming snafu, the FCC inadvertently skipped over
a chunk of seventh district call signs in the sequence KC7RAA to KC7ZZY, and
jumped instead to the KD7 call sign block. The Commission intends to
backfill the missing Group D call signs. As ARRL/VEC Manager Bart Jahnke,
KB9NM, explains: "The FCC intends to leave the current 149 grants as is and
to go back and fill in the KC7RAA-KC7ZZY group first." After that, the FCC
will pick up where it left off.

The FCC took a different tack when about 50 Group D call signs were
similarly skipped in the fourth district. Instead of issuing the skipped
block out of sequence, the FCC deleted those grants and issued new call
signs from the originally intended sequence.

HOWARD M. CROSBY, W2CCG, SK

Howard "Bing" Crosby, W2CCG, of Syracuse, New York, died April 15, 1996. He
was 93. Bing was one of the most senior hams in the US, having begun his
hamming in 1913 in his home state of Minnesota. He had been an ARRL member
for nearly 75 years, and a 70-year membership certificate was issued to Bing
earlier this year. He also was a Professional Engineer and a member of IEEE
and QCWA. His wife and daughter survive.--Denis Garrod, VE3CYR

RICHARD W. PITNER, W0FZ0, SK

Former Midwest Division Vice Director Dick Pitner, W0FZO, of Sioux City,
Iowa, died May 14, 1996. He was 87. Dick became vice director in January
1974, succeeding Paul Grauer, W0FIR, who became director, and he served for
one term. Dick also was a leading member of the 3900 Club, which meets on
that 75-meter frequency. Tod Olson, K0TO, remembered Dick as "a good friend
and an exemplary person and amateur." Services are May 18 at First Christian
Church, Sioux City, Iowa.

__________________________________

In Brief:

* According to FCC figures, the numbers of new hams and of hams who've
changed their class of license are up compared to the last half of 1995. New
hams for the months of January, March and April have each totaled more than
3000, and upgraders have topped 1200. In February, new hams numbered 2109,
and there were 980 upgraders. During the last half of 1995--which included
the Federal government furlough the last half of December--the number of new
hams averaged 2137 per month, while upgrades averaged 811 per month.

* Students at Eisenhower Middle School in Texas, which has a scheduled SAREX
QSO with STS-78 in June, will do their own earthbound micro-gravity
experiment, involving 70-cm ATV between the school and the Brooks Air Force
Base Lab. During the QSO itself, more than 100 students and parents will be
in the auditorium.--Rosalie White, WA1STO

* A Mir update: The astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the Mir orbital complex
report the ICOM-228 has been switched from the 25-W output setting to 5 W to
conserve power. This change should result in a signal reduction of about one
S-unit. US Astronaut Shannon Lucid continues to operate under Russian
Amateur Radio rules. Legally, she may use the Russian club call sign R0MIR.
There are, however, some limitations for hams in the US, which does not
currently have a third-party traffic agreement with Russia. This agreement
does not affect Shannon, but it does affect US Amateur Radio stations. All
properly licensed Amateur Radio stations in the US may talk to Shannon or
anyone else on Mir, but they may not let unlicensed individuals--third
parties--talk to anyone aboard Mir.

* James C. Garland, W8ZR, has been named president of Miami University, a
20,000-student institution in Oxford, Ohio. Garland, 53, is now dean of the
College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at The Ohio State University
in Columbus.--Ronald Long, W8GUS

* Ham radio was there as the SETI League has kicked off its Project Argus
survey of the heavens, seeking microwave signals that might indicate
intelligent extraterrestrial life. The first five radiotelescopes in the
effort went on line simultaneously on Earth Day, April 21, at 1900 UTC. The
telescopes are in Spain, Canada, Colorado, Hawaii and at SETI League
headquarters in New Jersey. The simultaneous launch of the five stations was
coordinated via ham radio. Dr H Paul Shuch, N6TX, is the SETI League's
executive director.--SETI League

===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published by the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main
St, Newington, CT 06111; tel [phone]; fax [phone]. Rodney J.
Stafford, KB6ZV, President; David Sumner, K1ZZ, Executive Vice President.

Electronic edition circulation, Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, e-mail
[e-mail].
Editorial, Rick Lindquist, KX4V, e-mail [e-mail].

The purpose of The ARRL Letter is to provide the essential news of interest
to active, organizationally minded radio amateurs faster than it can be
disseminated by our official journal, QST. We strive to be fast, accurate
and readable in our reporting.

Material from The ARRL Letter may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any
form, including photoreproduction and electronic databanks, provided that
credit is given to The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League.