Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1286 - April 5 2002<br /><br />Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1286 with a release date of Friday, April<br />5th, 2002 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. <br /> <br />The following is a Q-S-T. Australian radio regulators say no to I-LINK and the<br />NCVEC says its time to revamp Element 2. These stories are first on Amateur<br />Radio Newsline report number 1286 coming your way right now.<br /><br />(Billboard Cart Here) <br /> <br />**<br /><br />INTERNATIONAL: I-LINK NOT LEGAL IN AUSTRALIA<br /><br />One of the very popular internet based linking protocols appears to be illegal<br />to use in Australia. This as the Australian Communications Authority issues a<br />finding against I-Link. Q-News Graham Kemp, VK4BB, has the background:<br /><br />--<br />There are two competing systems being used in ham radio to link repeaters over<br />the Internet. One is called I-LINK and the other is I-R-L-P.<br /><br />I-R-L-P stands for the Internet Radio Linking Project. It was developed in<br />Canada by Dave Cameron, VE7LTD. It's aim is to link ham radio systems<br />separated by long distance over the Internet without the use of expensive eased<br />lines or satellites. I-R-L-P uses Voice-Over-IP software to link radio sites<br />around the world. But I-R-L-P uses its own custom interface board and software<br />suite running on a Linux platform. And that's why many hams have opted for an<br />alternative called I-LINK.<br /><br />I-LINK does everything that I-R-L-P does in linking repeaters, but it does not<br />require a computer running Linux or any proprietary hardware interface. The<br />needed software is available to anyone. It runs on a P-C and anyone can have it<br />in their computer. Even non-hams. And that is what seems to be bothering our<br />regulatory body, the A-C-A. It says that the widespread and open availability<br />of I-LINK could make it possible for non hams to get on the air.<br /><br />Over the past few weeks, much comment has been made regarding the legality or<br />otherwise of I-LINK here in Australia. To clarify the A-C-A position, let me<br />quote in part from a letter by John Martin the Federal Technical Advisory<br />Chairman.<br /><br />"There should be no issue with I-LINK because the A-C-A has made it clear that<br />it must be impossible for anyone to gain access to an amateur transmitter by<br />any means other than on-air working one of the stations that is connected to<br />the link. The only system which can comply with this is I-R-L-P."<br /><br />This action by our A-C-A appears to not sitting well with I-LINK proponents in<br />other nations. Some fear the decision here in V-K could bring similar action<br />by other communications regulators in their parts of the world.<br /><br />VK's National Society, the Wireless Institute of Australia's President Ernest<br />Hocking VK1LK along with WIA/ACA Liaison team member Gilbert Hughes VK1GH met<br />with the ACA Thursday 28 March to discuss the current situation.<br /><br />--<br />Hocking: “In order to address this situation the ACA have agreed to develop<br />an information paper in conjunction with the WIA ACA liaison team. This paper<br />will aim to make clear the criteria under which Internet linking can take<br />place. The paper will not endorse specific software or systems. Rather it<br />will provide clear guidance on the conditions that need to be met for the<br />operation of such linked systems to remain legal within the the Radio<br />Communications Act.”<br />--<br /><br />It was agreed that every effort would be made to develop the paperwithin a<br />period of 4 - 6 weeks. WIA President VK1LK has called on the Ham population of<br />VK to "ask for your patience over the next few weeks whilst this document is<br />being developed".<br /><br />From Q-News Australia, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB, reporting for the Amateur Radio<br />Newsline.<br /><br />--<br /><br />Articles describing I-LINK recently appeared in both CQ and QST Magazines. No<br />matter. Basically the Australian Communications Authority has said IRLP is O-K<br />but I-Link has to go. At least for now. (Q-News)<br /><br />**<br /><br />RADIO REGULATIONS: FCC PROPOSES TO STRENGTHEN RULES AGAINST REPETITIVE<br />APPLICATIONS<br /><br />The FCC has proposed changing its application rules for all wireless radio<br />services--including the Amateur Radio Service--in an effort to expand the scope<br />of its current ban on repetitious applications. Newsline’s Bruce Tennant,<br />K6PZW, has more:<br /><br />--<br />The ARRL Letter reports that an FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making released<br />March 20th seeks to modify section 1.937 of its rules. This, to prohibit the<br />filing of all applications that are substantially similar to applications the<br />agency denied or dismissed with prejudice within the previous 12 months. <br /><br />The term “with prejudice” means a legal issue or court case that is<br />dismissed for good reason and the plaintiff is barred from bringing another<br />action on the same claim. And, if the FCC gets its way, WT Docket No. 02-87<br />will bring a rules change that might prohibit a handful of applications filed<br />by new and renewing hams where a similar or identical application was denied in<br />the past 12 months. <br /><br />The FCC cites the pending license request by Herbert L. Schoenbohm, ex-KV4FZ,<br />as an example of a repetitious application. Schoenbohm's amateur license<br />renewal was finally denied in 2000, when the US Supreme Court refused to hear<br />the case. His authority to operate as a radio amateur expired in January 2001.<br /><br />Then, last April, Schoenbohm applied for a new Amateur Radio license and passed<br />the General exam. The FCC has designated that application for hearing, to<br />determine, in part, if Schoenbohm deserves to be a Commission licensee.<br /><br />The FCC says that such cases consume significant resources to re-litigate. <br />Especially since they involve identical issues and the same applicants very<br />close in time.<br /><br />What about routine issues like dismissed vanity applications? The FCC says<br />that they would not be impacted in any way. For vanity license applications,<br />the FCC now allows these applicants to correct the mistakes and file again. <br />The FCC says that it will continue to do so if the proposed rule change is<br />adopted.<br /><br />For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Bruce Tennant, K6PZW<br />--<br /><br />Comments on WT Docket No. 02-87, are due 30 days from the publication of the<br />proposed rule in the Federal Register. Reply comments will be due 45 days after<br />publication. (ARRL)<br /><br />**<br /><br />HAM RADIO TESTING: NEW ELEMENT 2 DRAFT EXAMINATION RELEASED FOR COMMENT<br /><br />The proposed draft syllabus for the new Element 2 Amateur Radio examination has<br />been released for public comment. As we go to air, Scotty Neustadter, W4WW,<br />who chairs the NCVEC Question Pool Committee says that this draft syllabus will<br />be posted to the ARRL's web page within a few days. <br /><br />Neustadter adds the period for public comment will close on May 9th. He asks<br />that you send your comments to all the members of the Question Pool Committee<br />of the NCVEC. Their e-mail addresses are:<br /><br />Scotty Neustadter, Chair w4ww@arrl.net<br />Bart Jahnke, Member vec@arrl.org<br />Fred Maia, Member fmaia@texas.net<br />John Johnston, Member Johnston.John1@worldnet.att.net) <br />(NCVEC, W4WW)<br /><br />**<br /><br />Break 1<br /><br />From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on<br />bulletin stations around the world including the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio<br />Club Net serving Santa Barbara California.<br /><br />(5 sec pause here)<br /><br />**<br /><br />HAMVENTION 2002 - THE CHAIRMAN SPEAKS OUT<br /><br />The Dayton Hamvention is now just a bit more than a month away and its General<br />Chairman, Jim Graver, KB8PSO, is speaking out. Actually he has been talking to<br />RAIN Producer and 2002 Radio Amateur of the Year Hap Holly, KC9RP. One of the<br />things he made public was who will be speaking at the Hamvention’s grand<br />awards banquet:<br /><br />--<br />Graver: “It will be William Cross from the FCC and Paul Reid from FEMA, and<br />they will be talking about emergency communications and preparedness in respect<br />to Amateur Radio.”<br />--<br /><br />Want yo hear more? Well Holly has prepared an extended intervieww with Jim<br />Graver. Part 1 is on line right now at www.rainreport.com. If you don’t<br />happen to have internet access, try calling 847-827-7246. (RAIN)<br /><br />**<br /><br />CONSUMER ALERT: TELEPHONE AREA CODE 809 IS COSTLY <br /> <br />If you get an e-mail, voicemail or page telling you to call a phone number with<br />an 809 area code, beware. The CGC Communicator reports that chances are, it's<br />a scam and your phone bill will be <br />astronomical. The FCC has already issued a public warning about calling this<br />area code. Its on the web at www.fcc.gov/cib/consumerfacts/809.html (CGC<br />Communicator, FCC) <br /> <br />** <br /><br />COMMUNICATIONS BUSINESS: AOL REPORTEDLY COURTING LINUX<br /><br />Linux users listen up. Your favorite operating system may finally be getting a<br />shot at becoming a real competitor to Microsoft Windows as rumors surface that<br />AOL Time Warner Inc. is negotiating to buy the Linux distributor Red Hat Inc. <br /><br />The Washington Post reported in late January that such talks were underway. <br />The deal could bolster AOL Time Warner against rival Microsoft as both<br />companies design strategies for moving their services beyond the personal<br />computer to mobile devices and such nascent services as interactive television.<br /> (Publised reports)<br /><br />**<br /><br />HAMFESTS: ST. JOHN LUTHERAN SCHOOL HAMFEST <br /><br />Turning to the hamfest scene. The St. John Lutheran School Hamfest and<br />Electronics Show is slated for Saturday, April 13th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. <br />Location is in Garfield Heights Ohio. Garfield Heights is 10 minutes South East<br />of Cleveland with the school at 11333 Granger Road. Admission is only one<br />dollar. For more information please write by e-mail to ln4js@visn.net. (via<br />E-Mail)<br /><br />**<br /><br />NAMES IN THE NEWS: KE4IQB NAME WITHDRAWN FOR DEPUTY NASA ADMINISTRATOR<br /><br />NASA says the White House has withdrawn the nomination of Marine Corps Major<br />General and former astronaut Charles F. Bolden, KE4IQB, to be the space<br />agency’s next Deputy Administrator. Bolden is currently Commanding General<br />of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, based in San Diego. According to the CQ<br />website, the NASA announcement did not say why Bolden’s nomination was<br />withdrawn, but suggested that the Defense Department objected to losing him<br />from an active military command during the war on terrorism. There was no<br />immediate word on who would be named to the number two post at NASA instead of<br />Bolden. (CQ)<br /><br />**<br /><br />NAMES IN THE NEWS: KB2GSD TO PITCH FOR FREE AIRTIME <br /><br />Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD, will be the pitch man for a new campaign taking on<br />broadcasters for not offering enough affordable or free airtime to federal<br />candidates. This, even though the airwaves are owned by the American public. <br /><br />The coalition sponsoring the Cronkite narrative said that its kicking off its<br />grass-roots drive following passage of the landmark campaign finance reform<br />legislation. This legislation spared broadcasters from having to offer deep<br />discounts to federal candidates. <br /> <br />Under current federal law, broadcasters are required to give discounts to<br />political candidates. However the actual rate can vary depending upon the time<br />it is slated to air. (Publisged reports)<br /><br />**<br /><br />NAMES IN THE NEWS: W6TIA RETIRES FROM KFWB<br /><br />Richard Rudman, W6TIA, the Chief Engineer of KFWB - AM in Los Angeles<br />California is retiring following a truly illustrious thirty year career at the<br />all-news station. Rudman, who is the National Chair of Congressional Emergency<br />Alert System Advisory Committee is perhaps better known for his roles with the<br />establishment and evolution of the E-A-S nationwide.<br /><br />During Rudman’s tenure heading up the engineering helm of KFWB, the region<br />has been regularly challanged by major brush fires, power failures,<br />earthquakes, riots, and more. Throughout all of this Rudman has kept KFWB on<br />the air. A truly enviable record and one that W6TIA can be proud of. <br /><br />And less we forget, W6TIA has agreeed to be a part of this years Newsline<br />sponsored Ham Radio Town Meeting at the 2002 Dayton Hamvention. His topic will<br />be the Emergency Alert System and introducing it to Amateur Radio. (CGC<br />Communicator, ARNewsline(tm))<br /><br />**<br /><br />BREAK 2<br /><br />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.<br /><br />**<br /><br />EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: SMART FENCES<br /> <br />Smart fences are possible. So say Pennsylvania State College researchers who<br />are using acoustic technology to turn a simple chain-link fence into an<br />intrusion detection system. <br /><br />To make the system work, a single strand of galvanized steel wire, a system of<br />springs and weights and some inexpensive ground sensors make the fence<br />sensitive to intruders. Among parties interested in the technology are the<br />U.S. military, airports and oil companies. (PSC News Release)<br /><br />**<br /><br />SPACE AND SCIENCE: REPLACEMENT TDRS IN TROUBLE<br /><br />A NASA communications satellite launched into orbit on March 8th has developed<br />a problem with its onboard supply of propellant. The trouble is delaying the<br />Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-I from reaching its ultimate destination, a<br />circular orbit about 22,300 miles above Earth's equator. The satellite's<br />current egg-shaped orbit is 22,236 miles at its ap[ogee and about 4,970 miles<br />at its perigee. The spacecraft's manufacturer, Boeing Satellite Systems, is<br />hopeful that its engineers will ultimately be able to deliver the satellite<br />into its proper orbit. If it can’t, the satellite could be declared a total<br />loss. (Published news reports)<br /><br />**<br /><br />INTERNATIONAL - HOLLAND: NEW LATIN AMERICAN RADIO STATIONS CD <br /><br />Dutch shortwave enthusiast Max van Arnhem has produced an audio Compact Disc<br />featuring 371 wave files of Latin American and Caribbean radio stations. <br />According to Media Network, most are off-air recordings as received in his home<br />in The Netherlands, but there are also some recordings made on one of the five<br />trips he made to Central America and the Caribbean between 1979 and 2001. You<br />can find a review of the CD, and details of how to buy it at<br />www.rnw.nl/realradio/booklist/html/lacd.html. (Media Network)<br /><br />**<br /><br />DX<br /><br />In D-X, the Ducie Island DXpedition is being called a major success. The<br />ifirst ever D-Xpedition to the newest DXCC entity came to an end March 26. The<br />VP6DI team was on the air for just over nine days and loged over 39,000<br />contacts. VP6DI HF QSLs go via VE3HO, and 6-meter QSLs go to JA1BK. <br /><br />And some good news for DXCC chasers. This as the ARRL announces that it will<br />accept SSB contacts with P-5 slash 4L4FN in the Democratic Peoples Republic of<br />Korea for DXCC credit. The operator of the station is Ed Giorgadze of the<br />Republic of Georgia. He has been active from the capital city of Pyongyang<br />since last November. Valid contacts from the beginning his P-5 operation last<br />fall may be submitted for credit, effective immediately. (ARRL)<br /><br />**<br /><br />A NEWSLINE FOLLOW-UP: THE POLITICS OF 11 METERS - PART 2: “A NATIONAL<br />RESOURCE CALLED REACT”<br /><br />Last week we told you that there has only been one truly successful<br />organization with any political ties to 11 meters. In Part 2 of his special<br />report on the not so political side of 11 meter Class D CB, Amateur Radio<br />Newsline’s David Black, KB4KCH, takes a look at REACT.<br /><br />--<br /><br />A long known name in CB radio is REACT, or Radio Emergency Associated<br />Communications Teams. REACT's mission statement stresses public safety<br />communications, assisting individuals, groups and government agencies.<br /><br />The stated goal: To save lives, prevent injuries and give assistance wherever<br />and whenever needed. The group promotes establishing a monitoring network of<br />trained volunteer citizen-based communicators and using all means available to<br />deliver their message. REACT, it seems, has succeeded on both counts.<br /><br />The idea of using CB radio in an organized way for emergency communications was<br />born in a mid-winter Chicago snowstorm. It happened after CB radio was used to<br />summon assistance for a young family with a very sick child whose car was stuck<br />on an expressway. That was in the winter of 1962 when CB was really still in<br />its infancy.<br /><br />Not long after, the groups founder, Henry B. "Pete" Kreer, convinced the<br />Hallicrafters Company to sponsor the REACT program. The initial requirements<br />for a Team was for three members who agreed to monitor 11 meters several hours<br />a day for emergencies. There were no dues or other requirements except to<br />comply with federal and state regulations. <br /><br />By 1964, it was determined that there was a need for a National CB Emergency<br />Channel. REACT National Headquarters asked all of its 800 teams to monitor<br />channel 9 as a voluntary emergency channel. The scheme worked so well that in<br />1967, REACT led a movement to convince the FCC to designate channel 9 as the CB<br />emergency channel. It was a major political success and many CB hobbyists<br />began to look at REACT as a possible voice in Washington. But that was not to<br />be.<br /><br />In 1969, General Motors Research Labs assumed sponsorship of REACT. Also in<br />1969, Jerrold Reese -- a name that would become synonymous with the growth of<br />REACT became its Managing Director. Founder Henry Kreer remained on with the<br />title of Executive Director.<br /><br />It was on April 24, 1973, that REACT and to a lesser degree 11 meter C-B<br />probably got its greatest public exposure. That’s when NBC's Today Show<br />televised an interview with Gerald Reese and Henry Kreer. Their interview<br />dealing with the REACT program was aired on some 220 affiliated stations. It<br />lead to over 500 inquiries. <br /><br />In 1975, REACT broke from GM and started as an independent organization. Not<br />long after, REACT International received not-for-profit status in the state of<br />Illinois followed by federal tax exempt status. <br /><br />REACT was on its own and less than a year later, it was represented at the<br />first White House Conference on CB radio. And in the ensuing years it won many<br />awards for promoting highway safety through its radio monitoring efforts. <br /><br />But nothing last forever and the late 1970's brought declining use of 11 meter<br />Class D CB. As the 80’a approached there were far more CB sets sitting on<br />closet shelves than on the air. The C-B craze was dying and with it fewer<br />people in the REACT program. <br /><br />By the middle 1980’s REACT the only major organization with any ties at all<br />to 11 meters. REACT had survived the CB shakeout probably because never<br />claimed to be a savior or rallying point for 11 meter hobby operators. It’s<br />self appointed task was assistance to the public. REACT was now national and<br />chapterized and tax exempt. It also had broadened its horizons to include<br />other bands and began using operators from other services including ham radio. <br />C-B was now only a part of the REACT model.<br /><br />In retrospect, one might say that REACT fought very hard for setting up an<br />emergency communications monitoring system on 11 meters, but it was not a<br />lobbiest for the rights of the 11 meter hobby radio operator. Instead, it<br />always has lived to its mission statement and that’s probablly why it has<br />survived and prospered for the last 40 years.<br /><br />For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m David Black, KB4KCH.<br /><br />--<br /><br />To learn more about REACT International or to find out if there is an active<br />REACT team in your area, please write to REACT International, Inc. 5210 Auth<br />Road, #403, Suitland, Maryland 20746. You can also go to their website at<br />www.reactintl.org.<br /><br />Meantine, one question remains: Will anyone ever be successful in totally<br />organizing political potential of 11 meter C-B? That part of the story, next<br />week. (ARNewsline(tm))<br /><br />**<br />NEWSCAST CLOSE<br /><br />With thanks to Alan Labs, Amateur News Weekly, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC<br />Communicator, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio<br />Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB and Australia's Q-News, that's all from the Amateur<br />Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is newsline @arnewsline.org. More<br />information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's(tm) only official website<br />located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at<br />Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), P.O. Box 660937, Arcadia, California 91066. <br /><br />Before we go, a reminder that the nominating period for the 2002 amateur Radio<br />Newsline Young Ham of the Year is now open. No significant changes from last<br />year. Nominees must be 18 or younger. Full rules and an application is on our<br />website at www.arnewsline.org.<br /><br />For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Mert Garlick,<br />N6AWE, saying welcome to the year 2002, 73, and we thank you for listening." <br />Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2002. All rights reserved.