--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1R00005 Date: 01/20/98 From: STEVE COLETTI Time: 06:05am \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: Newsline #1064 [4/6] >>> Part 4 of 6... strike melted coils in the antenna tuning unit, popped the final amplifier tubes, opened the plate transformer, and "unwound" the Power Amplifier tank coils like they were watch springs. Meanwhile, in Portland, KBOO's 20 kilowatt Collins transmitter fried a plate transformer. It was all smoke but there was no fire. Even so, the transformer was still too hot to touch nearly an hour later. (Via Portland SBE Newsletter) <*> Strawcutter Back Back on the air without a license to broadcast is the Reverend Rick Strawcutter. The trade publication Radio World reports in its December 24th year end edition that following a self imposed four and half month hiatus, Pastor Strawcutter is again broadcasting his anti government message from his lower Michigan church. Strawcutter who is WA8RJD did cease his operations last year after a Toledo broadcast station complained of interference. He has now taken up residence on 99.3 MHZ. This is a frequency that Strawcutter claims will not interfere with anyone in the vicinity of the audience he wants to serve. But the FCC is taking a different view of Strawcutters' 95 watt unlicensed operation. Commission spokesman John Watson says of Strawcutter that he is defiant and continues to do so. Watson refused further comment on what action the FCC might take because the matter is under investigation. (Via Radio World Magazine) <*> San Bernadiono, CA Pirate And a new pirate is on the air in Southern California. Lyle Henry, K7OO reports that on December 7th at about 10 PM he found a unlicensed stereo station on 91.1 playing mideastern dance music. It was pretty much covering XTRA's Sunday evening Mexican program. K7OO says that he listened to it from San Bernardino to his home in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles. That's a distance of about 75 miles. Lyle says that there were some announcements and the station gave 202 area code number. He suspects that the pirate may have been rebroadcasting a satellite feed. Henry, a broadcast engineer says that the station may be located in the Pomona area. Its also running a good deal of power for him to hear it so well for the distance he did. (Via CGC Communicator) <*> QEX to go bimonthly QEX, the ARRL Forum for Communications Experimenters, has become a bi-monthly publication but the magazine has expand in size to compensate for the new publication schedule. QEX Editor Rudy Severns, N6LF, says that the total amount of material subscribers get each year would not decrease. Sevrens says that issues will be either 48 or 64 pages depending on available material. (Via ARRL) <*> G3AAJ retires Ron Broadbent. G3AAJ, retired from the position of Honorary Secretary of AMSAT UK. This, effective December 31st. Broadbent will continue as a member of the Amsat-UK Committee Board of Directors and as its representative to such organizations such as the IARU and the International Space Station planning committee. The job of Honorary Secretary has been taken on by G6ZRU. In England, Honorary is not a congratulatory term. It refers to being a volunteer and working without being paid. (Via AMSAT-UK) <*> RAC Affiliate Program Radio Amateurs of Canada has announced a new Affiliated Club Program. The only requirements for affiliation are is that a club application must be submitted to the RAC, the club must have a constitution and that club policies must not conflict with those of RAC. For more information or to apply for affiliation, Canadian hams should contact Radio Amateurs of Canada direct or via their website page. (Via RAC) >>> Continued to next message... ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- PCBoard (R) v15.3/M 10 * Origin: MoonDog BBS Brooklyn,NY 718 692-2498 (1:278/230) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1R00006 Date: 01/20/98 From: STEVE COLETTI Time: 06:05am \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: Newsline #1064 [5/6] >>> Part 5 of 6... <*> Philippine Celebration Across the Pacific, the special event callsign 4G50N has been issued to the Amateur Communications and Emergency Service Club of Naga City, in the Philippines. This, to celebrate Naga City's 50th charter anniversary. This call will be in use from January 1st to March 31st. (Via press release) <*> DX In DX, the DX News Sheet reports that 9K2ZZ, is once again active from Kuwait. He will be there until December, 1998. QSL via W8CNL, direct only. And if you were lucky enough to work K4LZE, as MW0BKA from Guernsey between December 4th and 9th then QSL to his home callbook address. Also, N4GN says that he is handling his own cards from the TF/OH4GN operation. QSL direct to him at: 8309 Dawson Hill Road Louisville, Kentucky 40299 direct or via the bureau. N4GN adds that the OJ0/N4GN and OH0/N4GN cards are not yet out. Once he gets back to Kentucky, he promises that he will get those done. Meantime, he says thank you for your patience. And with 10 meters becoming very active, check out the Channel Islands Chapter's "10 10 International." The group holds a popular net every Wednesday at 18:00 UTC and again at 02:00 UTC. Non-members are welcome. For more information, send E-mail to: rcnoll@ix.netcom.com (via various sources) <*> An RF flash attack And finally, a citizen of the Georgia Republic says that RF rays from a camera's flash almost killed him. Mr. Aslan Abashidze told local television in the regional capital Batumi that he had made the acquaintance of two people last summer who asked to photograph him. Abashidze says that he noticed an unusual brightness of the camera's flash. A half hour later he began experiencing chest pains. He was taken to a hospital where he was diagnosed as having suffered a heart attack. Abashidze accused those he calls enemies within Georgia and abroad of being behind a terrorist act to assassinate him, but a leading Georgian cardiologist disagrees. The doctor says that while it was theoretically possible that bright lights might bring on emotional or physical stress that might lead to heart conditions, that this was highly unlikely unless the victim already had physical or cardiac problems. But Aslan Abashidze wants to hear nothing of what the medical experts say. Instead, he claims that this was the 14th attempt on his life in recent years. Why, he does not say. (Via postings to DejaNews) <*> With thanks to the W5YI Report, the Dayton Hamvention, the Portland SBE News and the CGC Communicator, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. You can write to us at: Newsline P.O.Box 660937 Arcadia. California 91066 Our web page is at: www.arnewsline.org and our e-mail address is: newsline@ix.netcom.com For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF at our editors desk, we at Newsline say 73 and we thank you for listening. (* * * * Newsline is copyright 1998 & all rights are reserved. * * * * ... * This is the official BBS distribution of Amateur Radio Newsline * ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- PCBoard (R) v15.3/M 10 * Origin: MoonDog BBS Brooklyn,NY 718 692-2498 (1:278/230) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1R00007 Date: 01/20/98 From: STEVE COLETTI Time: 06:08am \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: Newsline #1065 [1/6] * Crossposted from: R_Ham-Radio >>> Part 1 of 6... SB NEWSLIN @ ALLBBS $NLIN.1065 Amateur Radio Newsline #1065 08 Jan 1998 Please read The Newsline Information and Copyright Notice before using any part of either the text or audio versions of Newsline in any manner. For a copy of the notice e-mail: bigsteve@dorsai.org. Editorial comments should be E-Mailed to: newsline@ix.netcom.com E-Mail subscriptions: Send mail to listserv@netcom.com with the following commands in the body of the message (the subject is ignored) To subscribe: subscribe newsline-list To unsubscribe: unsubscribe newsline-list For more information: help For any subscription problems contact: owner-newsline-list@netcom.com, or the person or club redistributing Newsline to your mailbox. DISCLAIMER: If this publication has appeared in your mailbox without a subscription please contact your ARC. A number of them redistribute this publication to their members in accordance with the terms specified within the copyright notice. Standard Newsline distribution channels cannot help you in making changes or unsubscribing. NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #1065 - 1/08/98 (*************************************************) (* *) (* A M A T E U R *) (* *) (* R A D I O *) (* *) (* N E W S L I N E *) (* *) (*************************************************) [1065] CLOSED CIRCUIT ADVISORY The following closed circuit is not for transmission over Amateur Radio. Just a reminder that the address for the Newsline Support Fund is: Newsline c/o Andy Jarema-N6TCQ P.O.Box 660937 Arcadia, California 91066 Again, and as always, we thank you. This ends the closed circuit with Newsline report number 1065 for release on Friday, January 9th 1998 to follow. <*> The following is a QST Weak signal says that its time to rein in FMers on the VHF and UHF bands and the ARRL Board will consider changes to the DXCC program. These stories and more on Newsline report 1065 coming your way right now! <*> Are FM spectrum restrictions needed Formal restrictions are needed to keep FM users from causing interference to the users of other modes on our VHF and UHF bands. So say the proponents of non FM point to point communications. They are tired of the growing amount of QRM that the growing number of FM users are creating and that its time to protect their interests from FM. Cross mode interference has always been a problem on any ham band. But now there appears to be an increase in the incidence of both inadvertent and purposeful interference to weak signal, EME, local SSB, CW and even AM contacts on our 2 meter, 1.25 meter and 70 Centimeter bands. There is also a growing number of new FM users who firmly believe that they have a right to operate anywhere on any band and on any frequency they choose. This, as long as they are technically in compliance with the FCC Part 97 rules. As a result, more and more users of SSB, CW, AM and even some exotic modes find themselves in direct confrontation with FMers. Hams who say that FM should be the only mode permitted to be used on any VHF or UHF ham band. In some cities the situation has gotten so bad that it is almost impossible for non-FM interests to use 2 meters. Now the ARRL Board of Directors may be getting ready to get involved. On Friday, December 26th, League Vice President Joel Harrison, W5ZN posted a note to the W6YX VHF Reflector looking for input on this topic from the weak signal community. Harrison admits that the proliferation of FM is becoming a problem in several areas of the country. Harrison says that he is preparing some information on the subject for the upcoming ARRL Board meeting. He asks the W6YX subscribers for any information that they feel will helpful in addressing this matter. The weak signal community's is divided. Some want mode specific protection >>> Continued to next message... ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- PCBoard (R) v15.3/M 10 * Origin: MoonDog BBS Brooklyn,NY 718 692-2498 (1:278/230) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1R00008 Date: 01/20/98 From: STEVE COLETTI Time: 06:08am \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: Newsline #1065 [2/6] >>> Part 2 of 6... written directly into the FCC Part 97 Amateur Rules. Others take a more moderate view. The suggest a campaign to educate every FMer that bandplans exist and must be respected. What Action the ARRL Board might take to help rectify this situation is unknown but a call by the League for some sort of educational campaign is the minimum that the non FM hams on the VHF reflector expect. (Adapted from W6YX VHF Reflector postings, others) <*> Yaesu on bandplanning Meantime, one ham equipment supplier is not waiting for the problem to get any worse. Yaesu USA has decided to supply international bandplanning information in revised issues of instruction manuals that will soon begin being shipped with several VHF and UHF radios. Quoting from the upcoming FT-847 Instruction Manual: "Please be certain to respect other amateurs by observing the operating bandplans in your country, and do not use the FM mode in the sub-bands recognized as being reserved for SSB/CW "weak-signal" work. These sub-bands typically may include the frequency ranges 50.0 to 50.5 or 51.0 to 51.125 MHZ, 144.0 to 144.5 MHZ, and 432.0 to 432.6 MHZ, but may be slightly different in your country. Satellite sub-bands to avoid are 29.3 to 29.5 MHZ, 145.8 to 146.0 MHZ, and 435.0 to 438.0 MHZ. The communications effectiveness of the amateur service requires the cooperation of all licensees, and operating bandplans have evolved so as to minimize interference among operators using incompatible emission modes such as FM and SSB." Yaesu's Chip Margelli, K7JA says that the frequencies cited were chosen to represent the best compromises between the North American, European, and pan-Pacific regional bandplans. Margelli says that they should make the point most adequately. (Via K7JA) <*> DXCC changes coming Some major changes will be taking place in the DXCC program if the ARRL Board of Directors accepts and adopts the report of a special study committee. The DXCC 2000 committee was established by the board and charged with redefining the DX Century Club rules for the year 2000 and beyond. Their interim report makes two key recommendations regarding DXCC country status that will primarily impact on those new hams just starting up the DX countries ladder. In their interim report, the committee recommended changes to what they say are the two most flawed aspects of what determines a countries eligibility for DXCC credit. They have suggested that to be considered as an ineligible country based on government, that any one of three criteria must be met. Either be a member of the United Nations, be a member of the International Amateur Radio Union or possess an I.T.U. assigned callsign allotment. The committee also suggests a significant change to the minimum size rule. If adopted as presented in the interim report, for an island to be considered a DXCC country it would have to have at least two points separated by not less than 100 meters of connected land above the high tide mark. And this would have to be proven through the use of charts of sufficient scale. The committees interim report also recommends some changes to the DXCC award structure with two new awards recommended. These are the DXCC Challenge for total band countries on 6 down to 160 meters, but excluding 30 meters. The other is the DXCC 2000 Award for working at least 100 countries during the year 2000. The ARRL Board will also be discussing this issue when it meets January 16th and 17th in Connecticut. DXers will be waiting to hear the outcome of their vote on this very important issue. (Via ARRL) <*> Cheap illegal radios More problems on the horizon for the FCC in the area of CB radio enforcement. This as large numbers of cheap, high power wideband radios capable of transmitting AM, FM and SSB between 25 and 32 MHz illegally make their way into the United States. According to internet news postings, these are radios that are prevented from being legally imported into the country because they do not meet the conditions for Class D CB operation. The manufacturers call them "Export CB sets." They run higher power than allowed in addition to their wide >>> Continued to next message... ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- PCBoard (R) v15.3/M 10 * Origin: MoonDog BBS Brooklyn,NY 718 692-2498 (1:278/230) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1R00009 Date: 01/20/98 From: STEVE COLETTI Time: 06:08am \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: Newsline #1065 [3/6] >>> Part 3 of 6... band multi-mode coverage. Now they are now showing up for pennies on the dollar in the Asian electronics marts. And more than a few are illegally getting to the United States. Rumors are that many are gray market items that have been illegally imported in large quantity. Others come as unwitting tourists buy them as gifts in Asia and have them shipped back to the United States as a consumer electronics item. Somehow, customs is not picking up on what they really are and they get cleared for delivery. As a result, more and more such sets are showing up on 11 meter CB as well as outside of CB and into the 10 meter amateur band. When combined with the good skip conditions we are having, you can see why they are popular with the Freeband crowd. Also why there may soon be another CB enforcement crisis for the FCC. (Via various Internet sources) <*> Thomas P. Gammon tentatively fined Still on the enforcement front, word that the FCC has issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture of $18,500 to Thomas P. Gammon. The FCC says that Gammon is the President of Turquoise Broadcasting, Inc., the permittee of Station KIXF-FM in Baker, California and Licensee of Station KIXW-FM, in Lenwood, California. The FCC charges Gammon with multiple ownership rule violations. (Via FCC release) <*> FCC browser access The FCC has upped the browser requirements to access the Universal Licensing System registration screen. According to Steven Reed of the FCC's Auctions Technical Support Staff, to access the newest version of the ULS, you will need Netscape 4.0 or higher to use the mapping system. If you are not going to use the mapping system, you can use a Netscape version higher than 3.01. Those wishing to register on the ULS may also complete a paper Form 606 and mail it directly to the FCC. (Via ARRL) <*> Ham hurt in accident Ron Zond, K3MIY, is reported recovering after being hit by a car in Clarion, Pennsylvania on December 19th. Gus Johnson, N3VNL reports that K3MIY was injured while crossing in a crosswalk. He was taken to Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh via Life Flight suffering injuries to his shoulder and pelvis. Johnson says that Zond is going to have a long road to recovery. To help, the Amateur Radio operators of Clarion have established the K3MIY Recovery Fund. Donations should be made payable to 'Amateur Radio of Clarion' and sent to: K3MIY Recovery Fund c/o Gus Johnson-N3VNL 38 Merle Street Clarion, PA 16214 (Via N3VNL) <*> Club helps handicapped Members of the Tri State Amateur Radio Association have come to the assistance of a severely handicapped club member. This after mother nature took down his antennas and knocked him off the air. Club president Raymond Henry, WY2D, tells Newsline that Don May, KC2HV is now back on following repairs to his antennas after a fall windstorm that hit over 60 miles per hour. The wind gusts were so severe that May's VHF and HF beams were down and his 80 and 40 meter dipole was ripped apart. May is a double amputee, having lost his legs to diabetes. But his disability has not stood in his way of enjoying ham radio. He is a member of ARES, RACES and was active in MARS. Don is also a member of the Tri State Club and was very active as an officer. (Via press release) <*> 73 kHz webpage on-line Brian Short, K7ON says that he recently volunteered to maintain the 73 Kilohertz webpage and just got around to moving it to a new location. Its URL is: >>> Continued to next message... ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- PCBoard (R) v15.3/M 10 * Origin: MoonDog BBS Brooklyn,NY 718 692-2498 (1:278/230) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1R00010 Date: 01/20/98 From: STEVE COLETTI Time: 06:08am \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: Newsline #1065 [4/6] >>> Part 4 of 6... http://www.qsl.net/k7on/qrp/experim.htm (Via release) <*> SSB Net FN 42 N1VHL reports a new 6 meter SSB net on 50.275 Sunday mornings at 14:30 UTC in Boston, Massachusetts area. That's in grid square FN 42. The net is informal to see how many people can be heard. (Via N1VHL) <*> ARRL Florida seminars The ARRL will sponsor two technical workshops this February at the Miami Tropical Hamboree and the Orlando Hamcation. In Miami, ARRL Laboratory Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI, will present an "RF Safety" session. The Leagues Steve Ford, WB8IMY, along with Barry Baines, WD4ASW, and other AMSAT experts will present "Amateur Satellites -- Today and Into the Future" on February the 13th in Orlando. Space for both workshops is limited and there is a fee for each session. For more information please contact: Rosalie White, WA1STO ARRL 225 Main St Newington, Connecticut 06111 E-Mail: wa1sto@arrl.org (Via ARRL) <*> Houston Net Celebration January 6th marked the 200th time the Houston AMSAT Net has been transmitted over commercial satellite. You can enjoy the net if you have access to a KU band satellite receiver. Tune it to the Hughes SBS 6 satellite on Transponder 13 B, with 6.2 MHZ wide band audio. If you don't have a satellite receiver but do have a computer with a sound card and real audio software you can get an audio feed at www.amsatnet.com (Via KK5DO) <*> Sputnik PS2 dead Reports from around the world appear to confirm that the Sputnik PS2 mini-satellite has stopped transmitting. The beacon signal from the working model of the original Sputnik 1 satellite was last monitored on December 29th or 30th. The battery powered 200 milliwatt transmitter had continued working for eight weeks after its launch by hand from the Russian Mir space station on November 3rd, transmitting a beep-beep tone on 145.82 MHZ. (Via ARRL, AMSAT, others) <*> ARRL honors NASA SAREX commitment The ARRL has honored NASA for its commitment to youth and to ham radio. This, when General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, presented a plaque from the Leagues' Board of Directors to the space organization in late December. The plaque thanks the agency for giving Amateur Radio its many opportunities over the past seven years to involve youngsters in educational activities through the Shuttle Amateur Radio or SAREX program. It was presented to NASA Director Dan Goldin and NASA Headquarters education officials. (Via ARRL) <*> RAC Foundation On the international scene, word that Canada' Manotick Amateur Radio Group, a small but active club with about 30 amateurs south of Ottawa, is the first to make a donation to the New Radio Amateurs of Canada Foundation. In a letter to RAC General Manager Debbie Norman, the club's secretary treasurer, Jim Devenny, VA3HL, presented the national society with a check for $220 Canadian. He has challenged all amateur radio groups and clubs, large and small, as well as individual amateurs, to follow the clubs' lead by contributing to make the RAC Foundation a great success. >>> Continued to next message... ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- PCBoard (R) v15.3/M 10 * Origin: MoonDog BBS Brooklyn,NY 718 692-2498 (1:278/230) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1R00011 Date: 01/20/98 From: STEVE COLETTI Time: 06:08am \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: Newsline #1065 [5/6] >>> Part 5 of 6... (Via RAC) <*> RAC seeks views on callsigns The Callsign Working Group, a joint Industry Canada and Radio Amateurs of Canada has filed its report with the Canadian Amateur Radio Advisory Board. This report deals with the policies and procedures that may be used in the future administration of Canadian Amateur Radio station callsigns. Radio Amateurs of Canada has been asked by Industry Canada to seek the views of amateurs concerning this important report. RAC says that it will welcome comments and responses to the callsign report by Canadian amateurs before making any formal proposal to Industry Canada. (Via RAC) <*> DX In DX, The "DX News Sheet" reports that PB0ALB, is planning to be active from Malaysia for six weeks in April and May of 1998 as 9M8CB. Activity will be from Serian on all bands. QSL direct to PB0ALB. And F2HE, will once again be active as FG/F2HE from the French Guadeloupe island of Les Saintes between February 1st and the 15th. QSL as directed on the air. FT5ZG has been showing up from Amsterdam and St. Paul Islands on 20 meters around 14.278 MHZ between 15:00 and 16:30 UTC. Sometimes there is a list operation being taken by F5PFP. QSL via F5RQQ. And the Coast Guard is transferring N2NL to Guam. Dave says he will be there for at least 2 years and hopes to be active as N2NL/KH2 sometime in the spring. He will operate mostly CW and will be active on most bands and in contests. (Via various DX sources) <*> DX names in the news The North Jersey DX Association has re-elected its incumbent officers to serve for another year. They are President Ben Friedland, K2BF; Vice President John Sawina, NA2R; Treasurer Gene Ingraham, N2BIM and Secretary Bill Hudzuk, W2UDT. (Via press release) <*> KD4WUJ garners 3 Grammy Nominations And congratulations to country entertainer Patty Loveless, KD4WUJ on her three Grammy nominations. Patty has been nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Vocal Collaboration and for her hit album "Long Stretch of Lonesome." (Via press release) <*> Lost and found doggie phone This from London: The January 2nd edition of "The Sun" newspaper tells the story of a British woman who lost a surprise gift for her roommate. A cellular telephone. Rachel Murray left the gift under the Christmas tree. Later she found only a pile of torn paper. She immediately suspected that friend Tony Dangerfield's bloodhound, Charlie, was the culprit. So Murray started a frantic search of their flat. She found nothing but figured that if the phone were somehow turned on, she could dial the number and hope to hear it ringing. So Ms. Murray obtained the number from the telephone company. She dialed it and heard muffled ringing from ... sleeping Charlie's stomach. At first she thought Charlie was lying on the phone, but then realized where it actually was. So the dog was rushed to a vet for treatment. He told Murray and Dangerfield to let nature take its course. 24 hours later, Charlie was just fine. If you are wonder about the phone, it works just fine too! (Via The Sun and other published news sources) <*> With thanks to the ARRL, AMSAT, the CGC Communicator and Radio Amateurs Canada, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. You can write to us at: >>> Continued to next message... ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- PCBoard (R) v15.3/M 10 * Origin: MoonDog BBS Brooklyn,NY 718 692-2498 (1:278/230) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1R00012 Date: 01/20/98 From: STEVE COLETTI Time: 06:08am \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: Newsline #1065 [6/6] >>> Part 6 of 6... Newsline P.O.Box 660937 Arcadia, California 91066 Our web page is at: www.arnewsline.org and our e-mail address is: newsline@ix.netcom.com For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF at our editors desk, we at Newsline say 73 and we thank you for listening. (* * * * Newsline is copyright 1998 & all rights are reserved. * * * *) ... * This is the official BBS distribution of Amateur Radio Newsline * ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- PCBoard (R) v15.3/M 10 * Origin: MoonDog BBS Brooklyn,NY 718 692-2498 (1:278/230) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1R00013 Date: 01/20/98 From: STEVE COLETTI Time: 06:10am \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: Newsline #1066 [1/5] * Crossposted from: R_Ham-Radio >>> Part 1 of 5... SB NEWSLIN @ ALLBBS $NLIN.1066 Amateur Radio Newsline #1066 16 Jan 1998 Please read The Newsline Information and Copyright Notice before using any part of either the text or audio versions of Newsline in any manner. For a copy of the notice e-mail: bigsteve@dorsai.org. Editorial comments should be E-Mailed to: newsline@ix.netcom.com E-Mail subscriptions: Send mail to listserv@netcom.com with the following commands in the body of the message (the subject is ignored) To subscribe: subscribe newsline-list To unsubscribe: unsubscribe newsline-list For more information: help For any subscription problems contact: owner-newsline-list@netcom.com, or the person or club redistributing Newsline to your mailbox. DISCLAIMER: If this publication has appeared in your mailbox without a subscription please contact your ARC. A number of them redistribute this publication to their members in accordance with the terms specified within the copyright notice. Standard Newsline distribution channels cannot help you in making changes or unsubscribing. NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #1066 - 1/16/98 (*************************************************) (* *) (* A M A T E U R *) (* *) (* R A D I O *) (* *) (* N E W S L I N E *) (* *) (*************************************************) [1066] Newsline report number 1066 for release on Friday, January 16th, 1998 to follow. <*> The following is a QST KB6LQS aborts his attempt to balloon around the world and Canada warns its hams not to violate American radio law when operating in the USA. These stories and more on Newsline report number 1066 coming your way right now! <*> Global Hilton fails American aviator Dick Rutan, KB6LQS and his companion Dave Melton have been forced to abort their around the world balloon flight and parachute to safety. This after a tear developed in the helium compartment of their Global Hilton balloon about an hour after takeoff from Albuquerque, New Mexico on January the 9th. Two balloonists abandoned their round the world flight just 100 miles from where they had taken off. The then unmanned balloon touched down but bounced back up to 30,000 feet and continued to drift for hours before deflating enough to crash in Texas. Both Rutan and Melton are now reported to be in good condition after landing 11 miles southeast of Vaughn, New Mexico. Rutan suffered a bloody nose from cactus needles. Melton had to be airlifted to an Albuquerque hospital after striking a cattle fence as he landed. Later reports said he dislocated a hip. At air time, its unknown if Rutan and Melton will try the record breaking flight again at a later date. (Via Newsline through published news reports) <*> CB and Ham Radio helps in northeast ice storm A record shattering ice storm paralyzes the northeast U.S. and radio amateurs are on the job helping disaster agencies. Hams throughout the Northeast respond to an ice storm emergency that left millions of Americans and Canadians without power. The storms's massive power and telephone outages hit hard in New York state, north to the Canadian border, west as far as Watertown, and east to Burlington, Vermont. Widespread power outages were also reported north of the border, with as many as 3 million residents in Southern Quebec affected. A state of emergency was declared in at least five upstate New York counties. National Guard units were dispatched to hard-hit Plattsburgh January 9th to assist with relief efforts. In Waterford, New York, 50 homes were evacuated where the Mohawk and Hudson rivers meet. From there Kevin Clark, WA2AEY reports that hams in and near Watertown were involved in relief efforts. "Our amateurs radio operators up here have been doing a great service to >>> Continued to next message... ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- PCBoard (R) v15.3/M 10 * Origin: MoonDog BBS Brooklyn,NY 718 692-2498 (1:278/230) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 135 AMATEUR RADIO Ref: F1R00014 Date: 01/20/98 From: STEVE COLETTI Time: 06:10am \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: Newsline #1066 [2/5] >>> Part 2 of 5... the general public up here by helping maintain communications between all the different shelters. A lot of the shelters are in public schools. Our local high school has something like 700 people in shelters there now. And all the surrounding areas, a lot of shelters are set up in volunteer fire halls in all kinds of communities around here." Clark Clark says nearly 7,000 people were in emergency shelters throughout Jefferson County. He says that the only repeater up and running was 147.375 and that many hams were helping with emergency communications. "Two meter FM is carrying the majority of the emergency communications for the amateurs around here. And I would say being supplemented by 75 meter sideband nets." Clark The storm has also taken its toll on antennas. Clark says he has seen many ham antennas down and thinks it will be a miracle if any are left standing. Several large commercial communications towers were also destroyed. ARES members in Albany County were activated January 8th to help the American Red Cross. April Stack, KA2QIG, reports that a local emergency net was operating on the 147.12 MHZ repeater, while neighboring Schenectady County ARES ran a flood watch emergency net on the 147.06 MHZ repeater. The 145.39 Mount Equinox, Vermont, repeater was also used to relay information to New York's northern counties when HF cannot be utilized. HF communications began January 8th on 7255 kHz, and later moved to 3993.5 kHz. Hams were stationed at the Albany, New York, Red Cross Chapter House, the National Weather Service in Albany, and at the New York State Emergency Management Office, as well as at designated sites along the Mohawk River. Hams were keeping in contact with Red Cross officials in Plattsburgh. Damage assessment was expected to continue at least for a week. Albany County operations were by ARES Emergency Coordinator George Odom, KB2SIY. Fifty ham radio operators who are Civil Air Patrol members from downstate New York State were summoned to the stricken area. They acted as relief communicators for ongoing CAP search operations. Nor are hams alone in providing assistance to the stricken area. In Maine, the Road Watchers CB Club has been active. Club members searched rural areas on foot looking for stranded motorists, broken power poles and damaged transmission lines. The CBers found over a dozen victims and counted over three hundred poles and several power transmission towers that had fallen under load of ice. (Via Newsline with information supplied by ARRL, CAP, Repeater Owners Remailer, WA2AEY and published news reports.) <*> Canadian warning A warning to Canadian operating in the United States. Do not operate out of band when visiting the lower 48. That alert comes Radio Amateurs of Canada. RAC is the Canadian national Amateur Radio Society. It issued the warning after being advised that Canadian amateurs visiting the south-east United States have been heard operating portable and mobile on 75 meter SSB between 3.725 and 3.750 MHZ. This says RAC is a violation of United States Part 97 rules. Radio Amateurs of Canadian warns all foreign amateurs including Canadians who intend to operate in the United States that they must comply with United States radio regulations. This says RAC includes sub-band restrictions. United States amateurs are not permitted to operate on phone below 3.750 MHZ. Neither are foreign hams who are visiting the USA. (Via Radio Amateurs Canada) <*> Vanity Gate 4 Apps flood FCC The flood gates have opened to Gate 4 of the Vanity Callsign program. As expected the FCC opened Gate 4 on Thursday, January 4th issuing approximately 600 new amateur Vanity Callsigns. The FCC reports that during December it received 497 paper applications along with 1873 electronic applications. In addition to the 600 Gate 4 Callsigns issued, the FCC assigned an additional 300 Gate 4 applications to the work in process file and all of those have been processed. The FCC issued an additional 79 Gate 4 Vanity Callsigns on January 8th. The FCC began accepting Gate 4 applications on Friday, December 2nd. (Via FCC Release, Amateur News Weekly) <*> >>> Continued to next message... ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 --- PCBoard (R) v15.3/M 10 * Origin: MoonDog BBS Brooklyn,NY 718 692-2498 (1:278/230)