Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1285 - March 29 2002<p>Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1285 with a release date of Friday, March<br />29th, 2002 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. <br /> <br />The following is a Q-S-T. Russia orbits a new but temporary ham radio<br />satellite and the ARRL says its time to re farm the Novice bands. What is<br />refarming? Find out on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1285 coming your<br />way right now.<p><br />(Billboard Cart Here) <br /> <br />**<p>HAM RADIO IN SPACE: RS-21 IN OBIT<p>Yet another ham radio satellite is now in space. This one is the Russian Radio<br />Sport 21. Roy Neal, K6DUE, has the details:<p>--<p>Meet the latest ham radio satellite: RS-21. The newest ham radio satellite.<p>The satellite's formal name is the Russian-Australian Scientific and<br />Educational Microsatellite Kolibri-2000. To most hams however, it is simply<br />Radio Sport 21. <p>According to the AMSAT News Service, the new ham-sat was remotely launched on<br />March 20th from a Russian Progress M-1-7 launcher that had brought supplies to<br />the International Space Station. That launch took place after the Progress<br />ship had un-docked from the I-S-S.<p>Alex Zaitzev, RW3DZ, the director of the Microsat Office of the Russian Space<br />Research Institute, describes RS-21 as a non-government, non-commercial<br />project, built with cooperation from students in Russia and Australia. It is<br />currently in a circular orbit just over 200 miles above the Earth and on the<br />air. Downlink frequencies are listed as 145.825 and 435.335 MHz. <p>The birds uses both CW and FSK for its telemetry transmissions, but it wont<br />last very long. Zaitzev says that RS-21 was designed with a limited lifespan<br />and that it will fall back into the atmosphere during the late winter or spring<br />months. Till then though, RW3DZ, says that the satellite will send down data<br />and digitally recorded voice messages.<p>For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Roy Neal, K6DUE.<p>--<p>Meantime, the L.A. Daily News reports that the current crew on board the<br />International Space Station will be spending an extra month in orbit. Russian<br />Cosmonaut Commander Yuri Onufrienko, RK3DUO along with American Astronauts Carl<br />Walz, KC5TIE and Dan Bursch, KD5PNU will spend the time correcting problems<br />with the Canadian built robotic arm used for ongoing I-S-S construction. This<br />will mean the crew will be on board for a total of 189 days. This will be a<br />new record for the US crew members on board the International Space Station. <br />(AMSAT-NA)<p><br />**<p>HAM RADIO IN SPACE: HIGH SCHOOL CHEMISTRY EXPERIMENT TO THE ISS<p>A small science experiment at two Bloomington, Indiana High Schools is now<br />headed for the International Space Station. A ham radio operator is helping to<br />make it happen. Amateur News Weekly’s Jack Parker, W8ISH, has the details<br />from the home of Indiana University.<p>--<p>Eleven honors chemistry students from Bloomington North and Bloomington South<br />High Schools have collaborated with NASA to prepare a protein crystal growth<br />experiment. The protein, frozen since November, is now ready to be transported<br />to the International Space Station. <p>Bloomington North advanced chemistry teacher Neil Rapp, WB9VPG will join the<br />students as they travel to the Kennedy Space Center for the April 4th launch of<br />the Atlantis space shuttle. Once the experiment is aboard the International<br />Space Station, it will thaw and allow the crystals to grow. After the crystals<br />are formed, they will be transported back to earth and studied by NASA, and<br />eventually returned to the Bloomington High schools. <p>According to Neil Rapp, the formation of protein crystals is an important step<br />in the development of drugs designed to cure various diseases. <p>Reporting for Amateur News Weekly, this is Jack Parker W8ISH.<p>--<p>All eleven chemistry students will be on hand for the launch of Atlantis. Each<br />will receive a plaque and shirts designed to commemorate the launch of their<br />experiment into space. (WB9VPG)<p>**<p>ARRL TO FCC: TIME TO RE-EVALUATE THE NOVICE BANDS <p>The ARRL has asked the FCC to eliminate the 80, 40 and 15-meter Novice and<br />Technician Plus Morse code subbands. It also wants the FCC to reuse that<br />spectrum, in part, to expand the radiotelephone allocations on 80 and 40<br />meters. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Bruce Tennant, K6PZW has the details:<p>--<p>According to the ARRL Letter, a Petition for Rule Making filed March 22nd, the<br />League requests that the FCC revise its Amateur Service rules in accordance<br />with the modified Novice band refarming scheme the ARRL Board of Directors<br />okayed in January. The Petition has not yet been put on public notice for<br />comment. <p>Refarming is a government-ese term coined a few years back. Its a way of<br />saying that spectrum assigned to a given radio service will be reassigned for<br />other uses within that service. In this case, reassigning spectrum now<br />primerally dedicated to Novice C-W operation to various other modes.<p>If the FCC approves the plan, current Novice and Technician Plus licensees<br />would be permitted to operate on the 80, 40, 15 and 10-meter General-class<br />Morse code allocations at up to 200 watts output. <p>The ARRL's petition also asks the FCC to permit amateurs to use spread spectrum<br />on the 222 to 225 MHz band. It also requests an expand the pool of special<br />event call signs beyond the 1 by 1 format to include identifiers for US<br />territories and possessions that do not provide for mailing addresses. And it<br />asks the FCC to clarify its rules to indicate that modulated CW is permitted<br />for repeater station identification.<p>For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m I’m Bruce Tennant, K6PZW.<p>--<p>In its petition, the ARRL cited substantial advancements in the use of<br />“digital techniques” in the HF bands such as PSK31 to bolster its assertion<br />that a refarming plan is needed. The ARRL says that the Novice High Frequency<br />sub-bands are underutilized and Amateur Radio cannot wait any longer on this<br />issue. A copy of the ARRL's complete Petition for Rulemaking is available on<br />the ARRL Web at www.arrl.org. (ARRL)<p>**<p>Break 1<p>From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on<br />bulletin stations around the world including the Montgomery County Amateur<br />Radio Club repeater serving Washington D C.<p>(5 sec pause here)<p>**<p>A NEWSLINE FOLLOW-UP: A POLITICALLY DISORGANIZED 11 METER CLASS D SERVICE<p>A few weeks ago we reported that the FCC has refused to hear an appeal by an<br />Illinois C-B operator convicted of Disorderly Conduct for interfering with a<br />neighbors home entertainment electronics. In the days since that report first<br />aired, it caused quite a stir on several Internet discussion groups. Everyone<br />wants to know how a service that once boasted 3 out of every 5 Americans with<br />radios in their cars could wind up where the local sheriff or policeman could<br />take an operator off the air.<p>After a bit of research, the answer seemed pretty clear. In one word: <br />Politics. Here is Amateur Radio Newsline’s South East Bureau Chief David<br />Black, KB4KCH, with part 1 of a multi part look at the strange political side<br />of 11 meter C-B.<p>--<p>When it comes to having political representation, most communication groups are<br />in good shape. Hams have the American Radio Relay League looking after their<br />political well being. Broadcasters have the powerful National Association of<br />Broadcasters. Cellular telephone companies have the CTIA. Even the General<br />Mobile Radio Service, which shares frequencies with the Family Radio Service,<br />has representation amid the Personal Radio Steering Group. So, what form of<br />communications lacks representation? That would be 11 meter, Class D Citizens<br />Band radio. What does CB have? This:<p>--<br />Sound from 11 meter CB<br />--<p>Give CB a listen, and you hear lots of people using a service without any<br />structure or formalized representation. Some might even call it anarchy.<p>--<br />More sound from 11 meters<br />--<p>Ironically, CB's lack of political power--as well as its inability to defend<br />against bureaucratic attack--is not due to shortage of people using the<br />airwaves. Many believe that next to cellular telephones, the second largest<br />selling piece of 2-way radio equipment in the 20th century has been the CB<br />radio.<p>During the gas crisis in the 1970s, many cars sported some sort of 11 meter<br />whip and a cheap CB radio under the dash. Low cost 11 meter radios by the<br />millions were manufactured, imported and sold. The industry had hobby<br />magazines and several newspaper style newsletters devoted to CB radio.<p>CB operators outnumbered hams by at least 20 to one. And they outnumber GMRS<br />users by 1000 to one.<p>But CB was not able to defend itself from outside pressures either back then or<br />today. Why? Part of the reason goes back to CB’ers themselves in the 1970s<br />and early 1980s. Most of them were not really interested in the service. It<br />was just a utility. A way to help learn where to find the cheapest gasoline or<br />avoid speed traps.<p>The CB radio service lacked any real monetary commitment. Without that, there<br />was no political commitment. And when fuel prices began to ease, many but not<br />all 11 meter operators pulled their radios out of their cars--and put them in<br />the attic. <p>Then there were the few others, the die hard CB hobbyists. They treated CB<br />channels 1 through 40 as a sort of ham radio-like hobby. Some operated<br />illegally, but would take the chance just to make a DX contact. But they never<br />organized. Why? <p>Different CB groups formed over the years. Many called themselves political<br />messiahs of 11 meters. But many turned out to be bogus. <p>During the late 1970's and early 1980's, C-B radio scam artists were busy,<br />trying to separate the 11 meter radio operator from his hard earned cash. As<br />group after group appeared and then vanished, it became apparent to most using<br />C-B that trusting anyone was too expensive. Now, more than 25 years later,<br />trust in any C-B political organization seems little more than a remote<br />possibility.<p>And what about the legal C-B operators? Those dedicated to public service? <br />That part of the story, next week.<p>For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm David Black, KB4KCH.<p>--<p>Next week David tells us about the only successful C-B organization and the<br />reason that it survived when the rest went away. (ARNewsline(tm))<p>**<p>SHORTWAVE: ARNEWSLINE VISITS AN SWL-FEST<p>From C-B to shortwave listening. Ham radio operators are not the only radio<br />hobbyists who hold conventions. So do Short Wave Listeners and one of the most<br />successful gatherings is Winterfest. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Steve Coletti<br />took his tape recorder and visited this years gathering. He has this report:<p>--<br />AUDIO ONLY - NO TEXT. Download MP3 audio at www.arnewsline.org by clicking on<br />the newscast number.<br />--<p>It may not be the size of the Dayton Hamvention or Huntsville Hamfest, but to<br />Short Wave Listeners, Winterfest is truly the best. (ARNewsline(tm))<p>**<p>RADIO GROUPS: NEW MURS USERS GROUP FORMING IN CYBERSPACE<p>We have covered C-B and short wave listening. How about MURS -- the newly<br />created Multi-Use-Radio Service. Well, according to an Internet posting, an<br />organization called The MURS OPEN Group has begun work to form an<br />Internet-based MURS User's Group. This group will be a non-profit corporation<br />whose main goal will be to encourage the growth of Multi-Use Radio Service. If<br />you are interested in learning more, you can visit the group in cyberspace at:<br />http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MURS-OPEN/ (MURS Open Group)<p>**<p>CONVENTIONS: WELCOME TO HAM RADIO AT NAB<p>If you are planning a trip to the upcoming National Association of Broadcasters<br />convention, be advised that the hams of Las Vegas are expecting you. Bill<br />Croghan, WB0KSW, says that the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club repeaters are up,<br />active and hard linked. <p>Bill Croghan is the Chief Engineer of Lotus Broadcasting in Las Vegas. He says<br />that on two meters try 146.94, minus 600 kHz offset with a 100 Hz access tone. <br />This machine is now located on the Hilton hotel immediately above the<br />Convention center, but on the opposite tower. From this site it should be<br />useable from deep inside the Convention center and easily from anywhere on the<br />Las Vegas strip. <p>If you would rather use a U-H-F machine try 448.500, minus MHz offset also with<br />a 100 Hz access tone. This system is hard linked to the 2 meter machine but<br />located on the old Tropicana hotel site as in years past. With the two systems<br />linked any ham attending N-A-B with either a 2 meter or 70 centimeter radio can<br />have fun and stay in touch. The convention takes place April 8th through the<br />11th at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. (BEAN)<p>**<p>CONVENTIONS: WELCOME TO THE NAB HAM RADIO RECEPTION<p>Also, this years N-A-B Ham Radio Reception will take place Wednesday Evening,<br />April 10th at 6 PM following the close of the exhibit hall. Location is the<br />Hilton Convention Center in Ballroom B. The gathering is being co-sponsored by<br />C-Q Magazine and Kenwood Communications. C-Q Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA and<br />Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, along with Kenwood’s Paul Middelton, K4NUH, will<br />be there as your host.<p>Amateur Radio Newsline will also be loitering around the convention and the Ham<br />Radio Reception. We will be represented by Producer Bill Pasternak WA6ITF and<br />by Todd Hitzeroth, N6ZXJ, who serves on the Young Ham of the Year Award<br />committee. (CQ, ARNewsline(tm))<p>**<p>BREAK 2<p>This is ham radio news for todays radio amateur. From the United States of<br />America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from our<br />only official website at www.arnewsline.org.<p>**<p>EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: KERMIT AND THE V-CHIP <p>Sesame Street’s Kermit the Frog has a new part-time job. According to news<br />reports the little green guy will be put to work boosting the awareness of the<br />television V-Chip.<p>The V-Chip is a mandatory internal accessory built into any T-V set larger than<br />thirteen inches diagnal picture. The chip reads a digital code that contains a<br />program's rating and can be programmed to block out television shows parents<br />deem inappropriate for their kids. <p>Now the Hallmark Channel in conjunction with The Jim Henson Company, has<br />donated the image of Kermit to the Federal Communications Commission for use in<br />an upcoming promotional campaign to bring attention to the availability of the<br />V-Chip. A new brochure to be distributed to the public by the FCC, the<br />Hallmark Channel and other interest groups, will feature Kermit sporting a "V"<br />with his fingers and urging parents to monitor the programming their children<br />watch. (Published news reports)<p> <br />**<p>INTERNATIONAL - CANADA: VE7BFK IS NEW ARDF COORDINATOR<p>Gordon D. Young, VE7BFK has been appointed as the Radio Amateurs of Canada<br />National A-R-D-F Coordinator. Young first became interested in A-R-D-F when<br />the Friendship Amateur Radio Society hosted the 3rd Friendship Radio Games in<br />Victoria British Columbia back in 1993. He has since attended A-R-D-F events<br />in Russia, Japan and the United States. He replaces Perry Creighton, VA7PC who<br />has held that appointment for several years. (RAC)<p>**<p>INTERNATIONAL - ISRAEL: 500TH NEWSLETTER ON THE AIR<p>From Israel comes word that Mark Stern, 4Z4KX, recently celebrated the 500th<br />edition of his ‘Newsletter on the Air’ for that nations Russian-speaking<br />ham community. Stern, the former UP2OE, has been performing this service for<br />the last 11 years every Saturday morning on 7.080 MHz. <p>Stern also seeks donations of used gear that he donates to newly arrived<br />new-immigrant hams. As a result of his efforts many have gotten on the air in<br />Israel in only a short time after their arrival in that nation. <p>And if all that were not enough for one ham, Stern is also the Israeli Award<br />Manager and issues the awards and trophies for the Holyland and Israeli<br />VHF-UHF Contests. (Hagal International)<p>**<p>DX<p>In D-X, hams are usually out looking for D-Xpeditions. Heres a twist. A<br />future D-Xpedition is looking for you. Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, explains:<p>--<p>Have you always wanted to take part in a major D-Xpedition, but never known how<br />to get on an expedition team? Now could be your chance. Ken Holdom, ZL4HU, the<br />leader of 'The Kermadec DX Association's' planned operation from the Chatham<br />Islands - ZL7 - later this year, is looking for experienced SSB and CW<br />operators to accompany the group. "As this will be a 24-hour-per-day operation,<br />we are looking for operators who feel they have the willingness and ability to<br />operate during both day time and night time," Ken says. For further information<br />please contact the Kermadec DX Association, PO Box 7, Clyde, Central Otago, New<br />Zealand or e-mail to zl2hu@clear.net.nz. <p>--<p>Again, that e-mail address to apply is zl2hu@clear.net.nz (RSGB)<p>A D-Xpedition to San Felix became active on March 16th as X-R-Zero C. It was<br />active for 14 days on all bands and modes. If you made contact, QSL via John<br />Kennon, N7CQQ, P. O. Box 31553, Laughlin, Nevada 89028.<p>Lastly, N6DE and K6EP will be active from St. Croix through April 2nd. During<br />the CQ World Wide S-S-B Contest, they will use the callsign WP2Z. QSL WP2Z<br />contacts via KU9C, and non-contest QSO’s to each operator's home callsign<br />address. (Various DX sources)<p>**<p>THAT FINAL ITEM: AN APRIL 1ST CB D-XPEDITION TO THE ISLE DU CONEY<p>Earlier in this week's newscast we reported that 11 meter C-B has no political<br />clout. What it does have is a bunch of people who just want to have fun. Now, a<br />group of them is planning what they call a People's Radio D-Xpedition from an<br />exotic island location. Roving reporter Pierre Pullinmyleg is here with the<br />details:<p>--<br />AUDIO ONLY - NO TEXT. Download MP3 audio at www.arnewsline.org<br />--<p>Hopefully, Pierre will be back a year from now to pull your leg once again. <br />(The April Fools Day File)<p>**<p>NEWSCAST CLOSE<p>With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ Magazine,<br />the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Rain, the RSGB, and Australia's Q-News,<br />that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is<br />newsline@arnewsline.org. More information is available at Amateur Radio<br />Newsline's(tm) only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can<br />also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), P.O. Box 660937,<br />Arcadia, California 91066. <p>For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Don Wilbanks,<br />KC5MFA saying 73, and we thank you for listening." Amateur Radio Newsline(tm)<br />is Copyright 2002. All rights reserved.