From Newsgroup: alt.ham-radio.ssb

THIS WILL BE MY LAST TIME I PUT UP NEWSLINE HERE. I MOVE TO ZAKINTHOS IN TWO WEEKS AND HAVE NO AOL THERE. SOME ONE ELSE NEED TO TAKE OVER DOING JOB. IT BEEN LOTS OF FUN.

MR. RADIONEWS

Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1423 ­ November 19, 2004

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1423 with a release date of
Friday, November 19, 2004 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. Ham radio in California says goodbye to
the Tournament of Roses Parade and W7DXX speaks out on his Internet
controlled remote base in Baghdad. And its not the first time. Find
out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1423 coming
your way right now.



(Billboard Cart Here)

**


PUBLIC SERVICE: HAMS QUIT TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE - LIMIT SERVICE
TO ATV


Ham radio will not be a major part of the 2005 Tournament of Roses
Parade. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP has the rest of
the story:


--


Although it was never officially part of the Tournament of Roses, ham
radio has been providing a communications link along the Rose Parade
route for more than 40 years. And long before there was any official
group, people like Tom O'Hara, W6ORG, of P-C Electronics were the
early pioneers:


--


O'Hara: "I first got involved with the Rose Parade
communications
when I was one of the Emergency Coordinators for Pasadena. They
asked us ti help out with some longer range stuff than what the CB
operators were doing. This was in the middle 1960's."


--


Using video cameras and Amateur television, the ham radio volunteers
were ever alert for any kind of an emergency situation that might
develop. If they spotted something they would send their pictures
back to the parade coordinator who could then take the necessary
action.


--


O'Hara: "Later on they added more and more ATV and more and
more
hams. At one time I think there were 17 camera positions."



--


Amateur Radio literally pioneered the use of closed circuit
television for coordinating large scale events in the Tournament of
Roses Parade. At one time hams even had Amateur Television
transmitters sending back pictures from helicopters flying
overhead. And they did this long before most television stations had
camera equipped news choppers of their own.


--


O Hara: "Got involved with the helicopter with the first ATV in
1968. Put it in the Sheriff's helicopter. And when I got my own
helicopter I put it in and flew around one year."


--


As the parade grew, so did the Amateur Radio communications effort.
By the 1970's TORRA had unofficially been formed. TORRA stands
for
Tournament of Roses Radio Amateurs and in the 1980's the hams
involved formalized as a club and with this came the golden days of
ham radio supporting the parade.


Today TORRA has more than 300 active members who regularly volunteer
their time. At least that's the way it had been until an
incident
occurred last year. That's when an incident took place that
apparently caused things to go sour.


According to an article in the Pasadena Star News, a pair of ham
radio operators were carrying equipment onto the grounds of
Tournament House in preparation for the last parade. They were
stopped by a senior Tournament official and their presence
challenged. The unnamed official even went so far as to accuse the
ham radio volunteers of lying to get on the grounds.


Now enter Nextel. The same Nextel that has patented the words push-
to-talk.


Nextel is a corporate sponsor of the 2005 parade, and reportedly has
donated a number of phones to the event. This means that most
Tournament of Roses officials will have a Nextel phone with direct walkie-talkie service in their pockets.


Bill Flinn is the Tournament's chief operating officer. Talking
about Amateur Radio's departure he was quoted by Pasadena Star
News
as saying: "I think it's come to the end of a run. We are sorry to
see them go."


But depending on the Nextel walkie-talkie phones as a primary form of communications could turn out to be a mistake for the parade and
those that run it. Unlike hams, parade officials and their corps of volunteers are not trained communicators. Rather they have been used
to handing a message to a ham radio operator and having an answer
appear. Most are likely unaware that they will have to contend with
numerous people calling at the same time. All with priority traffic
and all demanding immediate answers.


With their years of experience, the hams were the buffers who learned
how to work around these problems. But the cellphone provider is
coming in cold with no experience in this specialized communications
area. There will likely be no experienced net control stations and
no way to prioritize needs.


On Thursday, November 18th, as this report was being prepared, we
received a copy of a letter from TORRA Chair Jeanne Nordland, WD6BWN,
thats being sent to all of the groups members. It confirms that hams
will not be providing voice communications in 2005, but that A-T-V
assistance to the parade will continue as it has in years past.


But ATV is only one part of the equation. the question still remains
as to whether or not the Nextel phones can take the place of the hams
and a structured voice communications network. This is something
that nobody will really know until January 1st of 2005. That's
when
the drama will be played out live to the world on their livingroom T-
V screens -- on New Years Day. And likely, 10's of millions of
people will be watching.



For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP,
reporting.


--


As Norm said, these days the Tournament of Roses Amateur Radio group
currently has about 300 members. How many might return if they are
asked back in 2006 is really, anyones guess.


To read the complete Pasadena Star News article on the departure of
ham radio from the Tournament of Roses Parade, take your web browser
to http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206%257E22097% 257E2529574,00.html


(ARNewsline(tm), CGC Communicator, Pasadena Star News, W6ORG)


**


THE BPL FIGHT: FCC ISSUES ERATTUM ON BPL R&O


The FCC has issued whats known as an Notice of Erratum. One that
slightly modifys its Report and Order on the introduction of
Broadband Over Powerline operations.


Two changes were made. First in Section 15.15 under General
Technical Requirements section B now reads: "Except as follows,
an
intentional or unintentional radiator must be constructed such that
the adjustments of any control that is readily accessible by or
intended to be accessible to the user will not cause operation of the
device in violation of the regulations. Access BPL equipment shall
comply with the applicable standards at the control adjustment that
is employed. The measurement report used in support of an
application for Certification and the user instructions for Access
BPL equipment shall clearly specify the user- or installer-control
settings that are required for conformance with these
regulations."


Also, Section 15.31 is amended by revising a paragraph under
Measurement standards to read:
"Measurements shall be performed at a sufficient number of
radials
around the equipment under test to determine the radial at which the
field strength values of the radiated emissions are maximized. The
maximum field strength at the frequency being measured shall be
reported in the equipment authorization report. This paragraph shall
not apply to Access BPL equipment on overhead medium voltage lines.
In lieu thereof, the measurement guidelines established by the
Commission for Access BPL shall be followed."
While these changes may seem as minor right now, they could impact
ham radio and other services in the future. This, when and if B-P-L
ever becomes a major player in the area of direct to home high speed
Internet access. (FCC)
**


THE BPL FIGHT: ITS NOT BPL IN WESTERN VK


Meantime, some good news on the B-P-L front from down-under. Word
that interference being heard by hams in Western Australia is not
coming from a powerline broadband installation. The problem is that
nobody is sure exactly what the source is. W-I-A newsman Dennis
Muldownie, VK6KAD, is in Redcliff with more:


--


One of the rumors persisting in VK6 is that our power authority is
running BPL. This has been denied several times. I may have found
the source of these rumors, as I have stumbled across a website
dating back to 2002, in which the testing of Broadband by the power
company was mentioned.


However it was not BPL technology. There is an ongoing project here
to "rewire" the West by placing low voltage and some higher tension
feeders underground. This is - or was - progressing slowly. It
improves the street-scape out of sight and reduces the potential for
damage in bad weather. In providing these services apparently
optical fiber cable was also placed in the trench, and the Broadband
was under test on the fiber. Not you will note on BPL.

Very little of WA was ever wired by Cable as in Sydney and Melbourne
for Cable TV, and therefore Cable Modems are not an option. The way
is clear for the power authority to provide such services by Fiber
as it replaces the overhead with underground. I have not found out
what the tests revealed.

And having said all that, I am finding excessive noise in isolated
pockets on the AM Broadcast band, from power lines in my area. I
suspect the approved items used on Power lines obtainable from many
outlets are not as bullet proof as we would like to suspect...

The saga continues.


--


The saga does indeed continue and Dennis is one of those at the
forefront of the search. (WIA News)


**


Break 1


From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the N9TO
Repeater serving Westmont Illinois.


(5 sec pause here)


**



RADIO AND THE LAW: CLUBS AND THE FCC


Still with legal issues, for a group to be eligible for a club
callsign, the FCC has four criteria thar must be met. It says that a
club must be made up of at least four members, have a name and legal
document of organization and a primary purpose of being devoted to
Amateur Radio activities consistent with FCC rules. But do you know
how many of the members of a radio club need to hold ham radio
licenses?


These and many other questions are answered by former FCC rules Chief
John B. Johnston, W3BE, in an article titled "What Is a Club"

appearing in the just out December issue of Worldradio Magazine. And
filling close to two pages, Johnston explains in great detail the
recognition given clubs by the regulatory agency and the rules
regarding club call signs.


If you have ever had questions regarding radio clubs and their
dealings with the FCC, this is the tell all definitive article you
have been waiting for. More about subscribing to Worldradio and
sample issues is on-line at www.wr6wr.com


And less we forget, the answer to how many members of a radio club
must hold a valid FCC issued ham radio license is only one. The
rules say that at least one member must have an operator and primary
station grant from the agency to apply for a club station license. (Worldradio)


**


RESCUE RADIO: US COAST GUARD AUXILIARY SEEKS RADIO AMATEURS


The ARRL Letter says that the U-S Coast Guard Auxiliary is looking
for Amateur Radio operators or prospective amateur licensees.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has more:


--


Wayne Spivak, KC2NJV, is with the Coast Guard's National Public
Affairs Department. He says that because the service operates every
day, in good weather and in bad, that the U-S Coast Guard Auxiliary
is on the air whether there is power to operate or not. And at times
like these, the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary rely on the Auxiliary
Net as a backup radio network. In areas with a large U-S Coast
Guard presence, the AuxNet operates in both a support and backup
capacity. More important, in regions where there is no regular Coast
Guard presence, the Auxiliary may rely solely on its AuxNet for
communication.


And because of this, Spivak says the Coast Guard Auxiliary is seeking
ham radio volunteers. He says that this is because amateurs are good communicators. That they have developed both in everyday radio
operation and participation during emergencies through RACES, ARES
and SKYWARN.


Spivak believes that Amateur Radio and the U-S Coast Guard Auxiliary
are an ideal fit. He says that the US Coast Guard Auxiliary is open
to all US citizens over the age of 17. A security background check,
paid for by the US Coast Guard, is required before an applicant is
accepted. If you are interested in expanding your public service
horizons, please visit the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Web site. Its in cyberspacw at www.cgaux.org. Again, that U-R-L is www.cgaux.org and
I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting for the Amateur Radio
Newsline.


--


A direct link to the U-S Coast Guard Auxiliary application webpage is
at http://www.cgaux.org/cgauxweb/getzip.html (ARRL)


**


RESCUE RADIO : MARITIME MOBILES SERVICES NET NOW STREAMING AUDIO


The sound of the daily Maritime Mobile Service Net can now be heard
in streaming audio on the Internet.


The net meets daily on 14.300 MHz between 16:00 UTC and 03:00 UTC.
The audio streaming originates from the receive site of W-L-O Marine
Radio in Mobile, Alabama using a Japan Radio Company N-R-D 535 D
receiver fed from a T-C-I ground mounted loop antenna.


As with any streaming audio on the Internet, there will be an
inherent lag from the time its encoded in Alabama and when you hear
it on your computer. In this case the delay could be anywhere from 4
seconds to 1 minute, as compared to live on-the-air audio.


Because of this, this streamed audio is not meant to be used to
control the net. Rather, it is intended as another means for non
hams to listen to the net, family of boat crews to listen for the
boat and a way to monitor the net when you are away from the radio or
when you have no propagation to hear the net control station.


You can hear the streamed audio daily when the net is in operation.
You will need a media player like Winamp or Real installed on your
computer. Simply take your web browser to www.mmsn.org and click on
the yellow icon that says "Listen Live." (MMSN)


**


ENFORCEMEMT: CBS PROTESTS JACKSON WARDROBE MALFUNCTION FINE

Viacom Corporation, the parent of the CBS network says the FCC's
proposed 550-thousand-dollar fine for Janet Jackson's Super
Bowl "wardrobe malfunction" is "entirely illogical." Viacom says
neither it nor anyone at CBS knew Justin Timberlake would yank off a
piece of Jackson's black leather top.


The move exposed Jackson's right breast for less than a second, but
generated a-half (m) million complaints to the Federal Communications Commission. The fine is the largest ever imposed against a T-V
outlet. Viacom is seeking to have it rescinded and has indicated
that it will fight the matter in the Federal courts. (Published news
reports)

**


ENFORCEMENT: WLFK-LP ADMONISHED FOR BROADCASTING ADVERTISEMENTS


Low Power FM stations are prohibited from broadcasting advertisements
by the Communications Act of 1934 and by the FCC's own rules.
And
doing so has brought a letter of admonishment to a Wisconsin based
LPFM station.


This hand-slap went to WLFK-LP and is looked at as a fair warning to
all Low Power F-M stations not to broadcast commercial
advertisements. A letter of admonishment carries a warning to cease
and desist but no punitive action such as a fine. More is on-line
at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-
3555A1.doc (FCC)


**


TELECOMMUNICATIONS LAW: SPAMMER BOUNTY SUGGESTED BY FTC


The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has given its endorsement to a plan
that would reward insiders for information leading to the arrest and conviction of people or companies that produce spam. In a recent
report the FTC said that some anti-spam proposals, such as a "Do Not
Spam" list similar to the agency's highly successful "Do Not Call"
list, would not work and could make spam worse. But the agency said
that providing monetary rewards for turning in spammers could work in
some cases. The FTC is suggesting rewards ranging from $100,000 to
$250,000 to turn spammers in. (FTC)


**


SPECIAL EVENTS: PEARL HARBOR DAY COMMEMORATIVES - DEC. 4 - 7


Two upcoming special event stations will be on the air to commemorate
Pearl Harbor Day. The first will be operated by the Historical
Electronics Museum Amateur Radio Club from December 4th to the 7th
using the call sign W2W. Operation will be in the General; class
segments of all of the high frequency bands. Further information is
on-line at www.qsl.nwt/w3gr or by e-mail to w3gr@arrl.net
(Worldradio)


The other operation we have heard about will be one day only on
December 7th. This one by the U-S-S Kidd Amateur Radio Club down in
Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Look for this operation mainly SSB on 30
meters from 14.250 to 14.320 MHz and C-W near the popular QRP calling frequencies on 40 through 10 meters. More on this one is on the web
at www.lsu.edu/brarc (Worldradio)


**


SPECIAL EVENTS: THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE - DEC. 16 - 20


And a bit later in December the Anaheim California Police Amateur
Radio Club will sponsor special event station K6B. This, to
commemorate the 6oth anniversary of the famed Battle of the Bulge
that took place during World War 2. Operation will be on 40 through
15 meters from December 16th through the 20th. For more information
please e-mail km6hb@arrl.net. (Worldradio)


**


BREAK 2


This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. From the
United
States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to
the world from our only official website at www.arnewsline.org and
being relayed by the volunteer services of the following radio
amateur:


(5 sec pause here)


**


NAMES IN THE NEWS: A FLY-IN TO HONOR K9TRG


He served the ham radio community for years, especially in the early
days of F-M. And on Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11th, some
nineteen hams from around the nation gathered at a restaurant in
Suburban Chicago to honor their friend Art Householder, K9TRG, of
Spectronics fame.


If you operated F-M in the 1960's or 1970's using radios like
a
Motorola 80 D or a General Electric Progress Line, then the name Art Householder and the call sign K9TRG has to ring a bell. Back when F-
M was in its infancy, Art was the premiere supplier of decommissioned
police and taxi dispatch radios to the growing world of Amateur Radio
F-M.


Now retired and in declining health, he cannot travel as he used to.
So this year his friends came to the Rose Garden restaurant in
Elkgrove, Illinois to spend the day with him.


And the list reads like a whose' who of ham radio including such
notables as Evelyn Garrison, WS7A, who came from Washington State and
F-M pioneer Dick McKay, K6VGP, of Los Angeles. From the Chicago area
ATV pioneer Henry Rue, AA9XW, the FCC's Russell "Joe" Moonie and
RAIN producer Hap Holly, KC9RP, were among those sharing the day
with .


While the luncheon is held every Thursday, this was notable event for
Art because of the number of people who either took time off from
work or traveled thousands of miles to attend. And many say that
they plan to do it again next year. (KC9RP)


**


RADIO LAW FOLLOW-UP: COURT ORDER ON PET CHIPS THAT CAN'T BE READ


Remember our story a few months ago about a particular pet
identification transponder chip that were not compatible with most
scanners in use in the United States? Well, it took some time but a
judge now barred a company from selling or advertising these
microchips.


The preliminary injunction from San Diego Superior Court Judge
William C. Pate yesterday blocks several named defendants from
selling or advertising its unit called "Recovery Chip," If and when
the company wants to resume selling or promoting the Recovery Chip
product, the court must first approve the company's proposed
advertisements. Also, any new ads must disclose that the Recovery
Chip cannot be read by the majority of microchip scanners in U.S.
shelters.

Banfield, the Pet Hospital has been the U.S. distributor of the
particular per I-D chip. It is based in Portland, Oregon and
operates in Pets Mart stores throughout the United States. Banfield voluntarily suspended microchip sales in early May, before the
lawsuit was filed, and has no immediate plans to resume its microchip
program. (Published news reports)


**


EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: FREE WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS IN VAN NUYS CA


A pilot program to provide free wireless Internet access in part of
Los Angeles began on October 29th. This at the Marvin Braude
Constituent Services Center in the suburban of Van Nuys. During the
six-month program, anyone in the area will be able to use a wireless-
enabled notebook computer, P-D-A or other mobile device to access the Internet. The high-speed access will be available in the outdoor
plaza, along Van Nuys Boulevard and in public meeting rooms and
service counters in the building. (Computing)

**


WORLDBEAT - BELGIUM: QRP POWER TESTS ANNOUNCED


Sunday November 21st, , December 26th and January 16th are the dates
announced of the second Belgian U-B-A 'Candlelight Tests." In these
tests, several stations transmit simultaneously on 80, 40 or 30
meters running micro power levels ranging from 100 milliwatts down to
5 milliwatts. The challenge for participating amateurs is to copy
the code words embedded in the transmitted messages. Full
information is on the U-B-A website. A link to it appears ay www.uba.be/actual/candlelight/candlelight_en.html. (GB2RS)


**


DX


In D-X, PF5X, informs the Ohio Penn D X newsletter that he has
received his license from the local authorities in Singapore. Also
that his station was inspected and approved for active usage. His
callsign is 9V1CW, and Enno says that he will be in Singapore for
about 3 years. All QSLs via PA0KHS direct or via the bureau. (OPDX)


And word that N3SIG has been redeployed to McMurdo Station in
Antarctica. Chris says that he expects to be there until March 5th.
Thats the good news. The bad comes in a report that says the ham
shack's antennas there were destroyed, and there us also damage to
the main HF rig. So he plans to hand carry a HF rig from his home in Pennsylvania to Antarctica. When he arrives, Chris says that he will construct a dipole and will be on the air as N3SIG stroke KC4.
Listen for him mainly on 14 dot 243 MHz which is the unofficial
Antarctica ham radio calling frequency. (OPDX)


Lastly, a real rare one with word that Christmas Island as VK9XG will
be active from the 22nd of November until the 8th of December. The
station will be operated by W0YG and W0MY and will be operational in
the CQ world wide CW contest plus a much-needed RTTY activation on
40, 80 and 160 meters. QSL this one as directed on the air. (OPDX)


**



THAT FINAL ITEM: THE BAGDHAD REMOTE BASE - REVISITED


Two weeks ago we reported that former 73 Magazine Editor Keith
Lamonica, W7DXX, had arranged for the installation of a remotely
controlled transceiver in Baghdad, Iraq. A transceiver whose
functions could be controlled by hams world wide over the Internet.


Well, that announcement by W7DXX has created quite a stir in ham
radio circles because of the armed conflict taking part in that
nation. This has resulted in many questions from the ham radio
community that Lamonica recently addressed in an interview with
Rain's Hap Holly, KC9RP. W7DXX says that some hams don't
spend the
time to read whats in front of them:


--


Lamonica: "There has been a lot of activity, especially on the
qrz.com site about the operation and people just don't take a breath
and sit back and read the instructions. We have outlined everything
that should satisfy anyones curiosity, but you still have people that
just put their blinders on and go off to make wild statements."


--


Lamonica has lots more to say about the Baghdad remote and other uses
of the Internet by ham radio. You can her it all on this weeks RAIN
Report. Its on line in streaming audio at www.rainreport.com or on
your phone at 847-827-7246. That number is easy to remember as 847- 827-R-A-I-N. (ARNewsline(tm), RAIN)


**
NEWSCAST CLOSE


With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ
Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands,
Rain, the RSGB and Australia's W-I-A News, that's all from the
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is
newsline@arnewsline.org. More information is available at Amateur
Radio Newsline's(tm) only official website located at
www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), P.O. Box 660937, Arcadia, California
91066.


For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm
Jeff
Clark, K8JAC, saying 73 and we thank you for listening." Amateur
Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.













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