Ham Radio/Ham Radio CD-ROM (Emerald Software) (1995).ISO/news/al0212/al0212.88

Text File | 1988-02-12 | 17KB | 312 lines

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The ARRL Letter, Volume 7, No. 3, February 12, 1988


  Published by:
       The American Radio Relay League, Inc.
       225 Main St.
       Newington, CT 06111

  Editor:
       Jay Mabey, NU0X

       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 to
  the American Radio Relay League, Inc.

ARRL FINDS FCC PART 15 PROPOSALS A THREAT
     The FCC has proposed in General Docket 87-389 to amend Part 15 of
its rules regarding radiofrequency devices.  There has been,
throughout the 50-year history of Part 15, a proliferation of low-
power RF radiating devices placed in operation, without the need of
FCC licensing.  Presently the rules are especially crafted to fit
individual devices as they are invented.
     The Commission proposes to classify RF devices into two broad
categories: intentional radiators, such as hand-held transceivers,
cordless phones, and garage door openers; and unintentional radiators,
such as receivers, VCRs, and computers.  A third category of
incidental radiation devices would remain under present rules which
state: if such equipment causes interference, it is the operator's
responsibility to eliminate it.
     Under the FCC proposal, there is to be a generalized set of
frequency and distance dependent radiation limits.  Unintentional
radiators will be permitted to generate a field strength of 100
microvolts per meter from 30 to 88 MHz; 150 microvolts per meter from
88 to 216 MHz; 200 microvolts per meter at 216 to 960 MHz; and 500
microvolts per meter above 960 MHz, which is very much the same as the
limit for Class B computer devices under existing rules.  From 1705
kHz to 30 MHz there is to be a 30-microvolt per meter limit measured
at 30 meters.
     Intentional radiation devices would be restricted from certain
frequencies held by Government agencies and safety services.
     The ARRL Board of Directors voted that our comments on Docket 87-
389 are to be filed emphasizing the following points: Amateur
frequencies are not to be utilized by intentional radiator devices;
permitted field strengths for unintentional radiators should not
exceed present maximums; and  rules should be enacted requiring RFI
resolution information, including identification of a manufacturer's
representative, to be included in the equipment user's manual.  The
League's filings will be accompanied by engineering studies showing
what levels of emissions can cause, and in some cases are already
causing, interference to radio amateurs.
     Amateurs are encouraged to file comments with the FCC.  These
comments should point out any interference problems already being
experienced both to your equipment or to neighbors' equipment
perceived to be coming from your transmitting, which might be made
worse through relaxation of shielding requirements.
     The filing deadline for comments is March 7, 1988. Official
participation requires an original and five copies of each submission.
Send comments to the Secretary, FCC, 1919 M Street, Washington DC,
20554.

COMMENT TIME EXTENDED FOR RM-6196
     TV Answer Inc., of McLean, Virginia, has filed a Petition for
Rulemaking with the FCC (RM-6196) requesting permission to utilize 500
kHz of the 216-222 MHz band for interactive viewer responses.
     The ARRL received notice just at press time that the FCC has
extended the comment period on RM-6196 until February 29, 1988, and
March 15, 1988 for filing reply comments.  We have already filed
comments urging the Commission to dismiss this proposal; see ARRL
Letter No. 2, February 1, 1988.

CONSTITUTION BICENTENNIAL UPDATE
     The stations operating Constitution Bicentennial "2OO" calls for
the balance of February include the following: February 20-26:
Nebraska--W2OOAFG, K2OOKKV, and W2OOVQN.  February 27-March 4: Ohio--
WB2OOSMC, W2OOYX, W2OOUMD, W2OODZ, K2OOSCH, AK2OOY, KC2OOIG, W2OORSW,
N2OOBC, K2OOORW, WD2OOPHL, K2OOYOJ, KD2OOEU, W2OOFO, and W2OONCK.

USSR/CANADA SKITREK UPDATE
     Planning for the Amateur Radio communications network supporting
the Skitrek expedition is now in its final stages.  Three Russian and
three Canadian skiers will depart Cape Artichesky on Severnaya Zemlya
in the USSR around March 1st on the 1750 km trek across the polar ice
to Cape Columbia on Ellesmere Island in Canada.
     During the three month journey, Soviet and Canadian Amateur Radio
stations will be providing daily communications between the ski teams
and their bases.
     The skiers will be able to "hear" their location read from UoSAT
11 on 2 meters at approximately 100 minute intervals, to keep abreast
of the team's progress.  ICOM is providing the HF and VHF
communications equipment used in this venture.       CRRL President
Tom Atkins, VE3CDM/VE8UA, and Barry Garratt, VE3CDX/VE8CDX, chief
Canadian coordinator for the Skitrek, are in Moscow to meet with their
Soviet counterpart, Leonid Labutin, UA3CR, for finalization of amateur
communications arrangements.  The special call sign for the main
Canadian base station on Resolute Bay, Cornwallis Island, Northwest
Territories, will be CI8C.  QSL via Box 313, Don Mills, Ontario, M3C
2S7.  Operation of the station is scheduled February 15-June 15, 1988.

BEVERLY BAKER DEPUTY CHIEF, PRB
     FCC Chairman Dennis Patrick has announced the appointment of
Beverly G. Baker to the position of Deputy Chief of the FCC Private
Radio Bureau.  She will be working with the newly appointed PRB Chief,
Ralph Haller, N4RH. (see ARRL Letter No. 25, December 26, 1987).
     Ms Baker joined the Commission in 1979 as a staff attorney in the
International and Satellite Division of the Common Carrier Bureau.
Since that time she has held positions in the Domestic Facilities
Division and the Computer II Task Force of the Common Carrier Bureau,
and the Tariff Division as Chief of the Legal Branch.
     Since October 1987 Ms Baker has been Legal Assistant to the
Chief, Private Radio Bureau.
     She holds a BA from Dension University, and a JD from Cornell Law
School.  She is a member of the Bar of the District of Columbia and
the Supreme Court of Ohio.

ARRL LIFE MEMBERSHIP MAY TRANSFER TO SPOUSE
     The ARRL Board of Directors at its January meeting made Life
Membership transferable to a spouse under certain limited conditions.
ARRL By-Law 9 now reads "Life Membership is not transferable; however,
upon the death of a Life Member, it may pass to a surviving spouse
upon request, if he or she is a Family Member and licensed at the time
of the Life Member's death.  A new Life Member plaque, if desired,
will be available for a one-time fee of $25.00."

HAMS TO ASSIST WITH GETTYSBURG RE-ENACTMENT
     For those who were not able to "be there" the battle of
Gettysburg will be re-enacted on its 125th anniversary June 22-26,
1988.
     The Penn-Mar Radio Club and the Adams County Amateur Radio
Society will be providing approximately 200 operators per day to staff
the network of emergency and support radio network, and any volunteers
are very welcome to participate in this history-making event.
     Operators will be staffing portable/mobile stations, as well as
the Adams County Operations Center in the Gettysburg Courthouse.
Additional operators will be required to provide health and welfare
traffic for the over 8000 people expected to take part in the event.
     Packet radio connected to the National Traffic System (NTS) will
be utilized to keep participants in touch with their families during
the event.
     If you are planning to be in Pennsylvania in June, have no Field
Day plans, and have a desire to be a part of history, further
information on this event and where the volunteers will be needed is
available from Ron Paull, N3ECL, at 717-528-8412, or Bill Vanderhoof,
WA2CRK, 717-624-4835.

DXCC PROGRAM REFINEMENT ANNOUNCED
     At its meeting in Farmington, Connecticut on January 22-23, the
ARRL Board of Directors affirmed the findings of the ARRL DX Advisory
Committee's comprehensive report on the DXCC program.  Therein, the
Board recognized that, through the over 1500 survey responses and
hundreds of letters submitted by DXers worldwide, the DX community is
generally supportive of a continuation of the present basic DXCC
program with some refinement and modest expansion.
     The DXCC rules, country criteria, and country deletion criteria,
as well as accreditation criteria, have been rewritten, providing a
concise description of the program.  New endorsable single-band DXCC
awards have been created for the 10, 80, and 40 meter bands for
contacts made since November 15, 1945.  The 5-Band DXCC also has
become endorsable for 160 meters and VHF.       Endorsement levels
have been eased for 160-meter, VHF, 80-, and 40-meter DXCCs to
increments of 10 (and a once-a-year exception at levels above 150),
and the Satellite DXCC award is now also endorsable in 10-country
increments.
     In order to lessen the impact of processing of other
applications, the new awards will be phased in as follows:
     Applications for the 10-meter single-band award and the Satellite
award will be processed beginning July 1, 1988.  Applications will be
accepted during a two-week "window" prior to this date beginning June
15, but will be held until July 1.       No application will be
processed prior to July 1.
     The 10-meter application with the highest total number of valid
credited countries will be assigned the Number 1 certificate, with
subsequent numbers assigned in accordance with the number of country
credits.  In case of a tie, applicants will be assigned the same
number, with subsequent numbers(s) left vacant. For example if two No.
3s are issued, the No. 4 certificate will not be issued, and the
numbering would resume with certificate No. 5.      The 80-meter
single-band award is effective November 1, 1988, also with a two-week
window for receipt of applications to allow for numbering of
certificates.  The 40-meter single-band award will be similarly
instituted effective May 1, 1989.
     The details of this enhanced program will be announced in April
QST.  The new rules and associated country, deletion and accreditation
criteria will be published in the next edition of the ARRL DXCC
Countries List, which will be available soon from your local Amateur
Radio book dealer or ARRL HQ for $1.00.

FCC LA OFFICE PHONE NUMBER
     The Cerritos, California, office of the FCC has changed its
listed telephone number to the following:

    213-809-2096 (Public number)
    213-865-0598 (Recorded information)

     Their address remains as published in ARRL Letter 26 (December
31, 1987) as:

                    FCC
         Cerritos Corporate Towers
      18000 Studebaker Road, Room 660
             Cerritos, CA 90701

UoSAT COMMAND STATION DAMAGED
     Some of Southern England's infamous weather has damaged the
primary UoSAT Mission Control Station.
     Gale force winds damaged the antenna system at the University of
Surrey, which has been undergoing repair and refurbishment after ten
years of continuous service.       Repairs are underway on the main
system, and the back-up system consisting of the famous UoS
(University of Surrey) gun mount and dish was worked on during the
high winds to enable UO-9 and 11 to be returned to service.  UO-11 was
off the air for several days while repairs were effected.
     In other news from Surrey, a 60-page publication is available on
the UoSAT spacecraft.  UoSAT Spacecraft Data Booklet covers both UoSAT
1 and 2 is available from the University of Surrey and AMSAT-UK for
three and one half English pounds (payment in English Pounds is
required) from:
                  AMSAT-UK
             94 Herongate Road
       Wanstead Park, London, E12 5EQ
                  England

AMSAT PHASE 3C TO LAUNCH SOON
     The launch of AMSAT's Phase 3C Amateur Satellite could occur as
early as the latter part of April.  The word from Europe is that as
soon as tests in West Germany are complete, the spacecraft will be
arriving in Paris on its way to the ESA launch facility at Kourou,
French Guiana.
     Into technical writing?  The AMSAT folks are in need of authors
to provide information to the Amateur Radio community about Phase 3C,
and how to utilize the satellite.  If you are interested in assisting
with this project call AMSAT at 301-589-6062.


OLYMPIC SPECIAL EVENT STATION
     To assist in publicizing the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games,
Canadian amateurs are authorized to use the following special prefixes
until the end of February.      In Newfoundland and Labrador, CJ1 and
CJ2; VX1-VX8 in all provinces and the Northwest Territories; and CH1
in the Yukon.
     Additionally, the Calgary Amateur Radio Association is operating
the special event station VX6OCO with a commemorative award available.
     Two employees of ABC Sports at the Olympics, Elliot Block,
K6ELX/VX6, and Chuck Pharis, KB6IUA/VX6 will operate a special event
station from Calgary.  Operations for the special event station will
be SSB/CW on 10-80 meters, as well as FM on 2 meters and 1-1/4 meters
     To be eligible for the special ABC Sports Winter Olympics QSL
card, simply work either K6ELX or KB6IUA on any band.  All cards
should be sent to the Callbook  address of K6ELX, or via the bureau.
For a direct QSL, a #10 SASE is required.

APCO ANNUAL CONFERENCE ANNOUNCED
     The 1988 APCO (Associated Public-Safety Communications Officers,
Inc.) convention will be held in Little Rock, Arkansas, August 7-12,
1988.  The 54th national gathering is expected to draw over 3000
attendees.
     The conference will, in addition to the business meeting, feature
several workshops and seminars on technical, operational, management,
supervisory, and regulatory matters.
     One of the main topics in the regulatory front is the regional
planning process mandated by the FCC's newly adopted National Plan for
Public Safety Communications, which includes a licensing plan for the
821-824 and 866-869 MHz spectrum recently allocated for Public Safety
use.
     There will be a large trade show, expected to house over 260
booths featuring Public Safety communications products.
     Registration is set at $120 for APCO members, and $150 for non-
members.  For registration or further information write to Conference
Planning, APCO, National Office, PO Box 669, New Smyrna Beach, FL
32070, or call 904-427-3461.
     Another highlight of the conference program will be an
abbreviated version  of APCO's 80-hour Telecommunications Training
Course for Public Safety dispatchers.

RAAG CELEBRATES 30 YEARS
     In celebration of their 30th anniversary, Radio Amateur
Association of Greece, (RAAG), a sister society of the ARRL, will be
operating from their official club station, using the call sign
SX1RAAG.
     This operation will start April 30, 1988 at 0000 UTC and conclude
at 2400 UTC on June 30, 1988.  Special QSL cards will be sent via the
Bureau to all amateurs completing two-way QSOs with SX1RAAG.  This
will be an all-band operation (except 17 and 12 meters).

GENERAL LOREN G. WINDOM, W8GZ, SK
     Loren G. Windom, W8GZ, 82, will be missed by the amateur
community.
     "Windy" was past Director of the ARRL Central Division from 1931
through 1934.  At the time there was no Great Lakes Division and the
Central Division included all of both current Divisions.
     Windy was a frequent contributor to QST, and his name is
synonymous with a particular multiband antenna, the "Windom."
This was but one of his many technical contributions to Amateur Radio.
     General Windom, a much-decorated hero of World War II, went on to
a distinguished legal career in Ohio.
     He and Don Wallace, W6AM (SK) shared the honor of working more
postwar DXCC countries on phone that anyone else, and Windy earned
5BDXCC No. 3.

ANNIVERSARY CONGRATULATIONS
     ARRL Director Emeritus Bob Thurston, W7PGY, and his wife Maxine
have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
     In the state of Washington, at least, that event rated a
gubernatorial proclamation, and December 20, 1987 was declared "Robert
and Maxine Thurston Day."
     Congratulations Bob and Maxine!