The electronic publication of the Amateur Radio Newsline is distributed with the permission of Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, President and Editor of Newsline. The text is transcribed from the audio service by Dale Cary and is first published on Genie. Editorial comment or news items should be E-mailed to 3241437@mcimail.com or B.PASTERNAK@genie.geis.com. Voice or FAX to +1 805-296-7180. All other information and disclaimers are in the text header below. - - - - - NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #109 - POSTED 01/29/94 ***************************************************************** * * * * * ***** * * **** * ***** * * ***** * * ** * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * *** * ** * *** * * * * * *** * * * ** * * ** * * * * * ** * * * * * ***** * * **** ***** ***** * * ***** * * * * **** * **** ***** *** * * * * * * * * * * * * * **** ***** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **** ***** *** * * * ***************************************************************** The following is late news about Amateur Radio for Radio Amateurs as prepared from NEWSLINE RADIO scripts by the staff of the AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, INC. -- formerly the WESTLINK RADIO NET CBBS twice monthly. For current information updates, please call Los Angeles............................ (213) 462-0008 Los Angeles (Instant Update Line)...... (805) 296-2407 Seattle................................ 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Thank You NEWSLINE ***************************************************************** Some of the hams of NEWSLINE RADIO... WA6ITF WB6MQV WB6FDF K6DUE W6RCL N6AHU N6AWE N6TCQ K6PGX N6PNY KU8R N8DTN W9JUV KC9RP K9XI KB5KCH KC5UD KC0HF G8AUU WD0AKO DJ0QN and many others in the United States and around the globe!!! ***************************************************************** [859] * * * * C L O S E D C I R C U I T A D V I S O R Y * * * * * * * The following is a closed circuit advisory and is not for * * air over amateur radio. Repeat, not for broadcast. This is * * just a reminder that the address for the Newsline Support * * Fund is Newsline, in care of Dr. Norm Chalfin, K6PGX, Post * * Office Box 463, Pasadena, CA 91102. Again, and as always, * * we thank you. That ends the closed circuit with Newsline * * report number 859 for release on Friday January 28, 1994. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The following is a QST The ARRL files against an instant ham radio ticket and the Red Cross asks hams for help. ***** ARRL FILES AGAINST INSTANT LICENSE The ARRL said that it would challenge any move toward the creation of an instant ham radio license and it has now put its words on paper and sent them off to the FCC. This, in comments opposing the commission generated proposal to grant immediate on the air privileges to amateur examinees before a license is issued by the Commission. The League says that it stands by its previous statement in opposition to a petition for rule making that resulted in the FCC's proposal, in PR Docket 93-267. At that time, the ARRL said in response to a petition by the Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society VEC that such a system was both unlawful and a would be detrimental to enforcement. The League said that the FCC had, as recently as 1987, denied such a concept and that the absence of an up to date database of such temporary call signs would make both self regulation by amateurs themselves and rules enforcement by the Commission more difficult. The League now says that suggestions in the NPRM that precedents for such a plan exist in other services are incorrect and has reiterated its opinion that such a plan is inconsistent with the international radio regulations. Instead, the ARRL has emphasized that electronic filing of applications with the FCC would accomplish the same goal. This, of reducing the wait to get on the air, while maintaining total FCC oversight of licensing. As we've reported, AMSAT North America is in full agreement with the ARRL but the rival National Amateur Radio Association, many VEC's and several prominent radio clubs have gone on the record of favoring an instant licensing plan. NARA and a number of radio clubs say that in lieu of self assigned call signs, each VEC should have a previously assigned block of calls that it can issue on the spot. Most of those in favor of instant licensing are however demanding that the FCC include better safeguards against bootlegging than are in the original commission proposal. The reply comment cutoff date for this proposal is February 10th. Look for a decision on this one fairly early. ***** ARRL BOARD MEETING HELD RECENTLY A frigid Hartford, Connecticut was the scene for this years first annual meeting of 1994 for the ARRL's Board of Directors. The temperature was below freezing outside, but not so in the meeting hall itself. Board members spent their meeting covering a variety of topics affecting amateur radio. A League committee will look into the possibility of offering group legal defense insurance to league members involved in lawsuits over antennas and rfi. The league wants to loosen some of the rules governing spread spectrum techniques. In fact the ARRL says it will file a petition for rulemaking seeking to remove overly restrictive rules concerning the use of spread spectrum communications. Board members adopted an interim report and band plan recommendation for amateur use 219 to 220 Mhz. That one mhz slice has been proposed for limited amateur use including packet communications. And the first steps may be starting to change the 40m novice subband. A League committee will consider possibly relocating that band. The committees report is due in July. You will be getting a reminder from League when your license is about to expire. That new practice will also include sending a 610 form to help encourage amateur radio license renewal. A lot of what the ARRL board decided last week will definitely affect your day to day ham radio operations for years to come. ***** LEAGUE AT THE NAT The ARRL is inviting Broadcast professionals and others to visit its booth at the annual convention of the National Association of Broadcasters, to be held March 21st through the 24th at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The booth, manned by ARRL Public Information Manager Steve Mansfield, N1MZA, has in past years attracted several hundred amateurs and former amateurs. Steve will be on hand to field questions from those in broadcasting who are interested in Amateur Radio. The League will be in Booth number is 2703. ***** RED CROSS NEEDS HAMS In the wake of the January 17th Northridge earthquake, the Los Angeles chapter of the Red Cross says that it is in very desperate need of hams to provide help on weekdays and weekday evenings filling shifts in its quake relief shelters. Weekdays pose a real problem for the Red Cross as many of their volunteers have regular jobs. If you are coming to Los Angeles, have a two meter hand-held and have at least six free hours, please call Jim Prince at area code (213) 739-4510. This Red Cross says that this work is vital to those made homeless by the recent quakes, so please consider donating some time. ***** WESTLINK REPORT NEWSLETTER ISSUE DELAYED The Northridge earthquake has taken yet another toll. This, in the ability of a popular ham radio newsletter to get its next edition in the mail. If you are a subscriber to the Westlink Report ham radio newsletter, you may be wondering where edition number 665 is. While it is true that Publisher Burt Hicks, WB6MQV is looking to sell the publication, that's not the reason for the delay in your getting the latest work. Hicks says that last weeks California earthquake is to blame. "While I was sitting at the keyboard at 4:30 in the morning when the quake hit. It's only by the grace of God that I wasn't killed as things came flying off the tops of bookcases and speaker shelving. The computer was hit and sent flying. It took me a couple of days to find it after unburying it. Yes, the issue will come out. But, it is going to be a couple of weeks. My apologies to our readers." Burt Hicks, WB6MQV, Editor of Westlink Report. While we had Burt on the phone we also asked why he has decided to bow out of the ham radio publishing arena after fourteen years. "It has become quite a burden on us with my work schedule shift at a Hollywood TV station. I work all night five days a week. Then I have four children to keep me awake the rest of the time. It's becoming increasingly difficult, I don't know maybe it is just old age. I still love the newsletter, but at a certain point your body can only handle so much." Burt Hicks, WB6MQV, Editor of the Westlink Report. Hicks says that he plans to continue publishing the Westlink Report until a suitable buyer comes along. He says that he will only sell out to an individual or group that promises to uphold the same commitment to moral and journalistic integrity started by his predecessor Joe Schroeder, W9JUV, in his HR Report. Hicks adds that the next edition will soon be in the mail. ***** THIS WEEK IN AMATEUR RADIO UPDATE A quick correction. A few weeks ago we reported on the return of This Week in Amateur Radio to the satellite bands. Unfortunately we got the transponder wrong. This Week in Amateur Radio can be found on Galaxy 3 Transponder 17 with 5.8 MHz audio, not on Transponder 19 as reported. ***** NO DAYTON BUSSES If you are planning to attend the 1994 Dayton Hamvention, better plan to drive your car out to the Hara Arena convention venue. This is because Hamvention planners have announced that they will not be providing free bus service to hotels and motels this year. The problem is simply one of cost. Dayton first began providing the free bus service after land adjacent to the Hara Arena was made off limits for parking. Over the years, the cost of providing the free bus service has soared until it topped the ninety thousand dollar mark. That's simply more than the Hamvention can afford to pay. But over the past twelve months, much of the old parking adjacent to the Hara Arena became available once again. Its now privately owned, so there will be a nominal daily charge to be decided by the owner of each lot. Getting the parking spaces back means that the Hamvention can cut back this expensive transport service, Now it needs to provide shuttles only to outlying parking facilities such as the Salem Mall. According to Hamvention General Chairman Dave Grubb, KC8CF, this will be a savings of over forty-five thousand dollars. Money that can better be spent on improving other aspects of this yearly event. Grubb adds that the Hamvention Planning Committee is also working with the Dayton Chamber of Commerce and the city's Convention and Visitors bureau. This, to see if either will help to underwrite the cost of running busses from the various hotels. In lieu of that, the Hamvention is also trying to get the hotels and motels to provide this service for their guests. The bottom line is that a few out of town visitors who fly to Dayton for the Hamvention may be inconvenienced by this change, but the enhanced on-site parking may make things a lot easier for the vast majority of Hamvention attendees who drive. ***** TAPR MEETING Tucson Amateur Packet Radio better known as TAPR has scheduled its annual meeting for March 4th to 6th at the Best Western Inn at the Airport in Tucson. The meeting will feature presentations and papers on several new hardware projects, discussions, and hands-on demonstrations. The afternoon session on Saturday will feature a mini-symposium on future directions in amateur packet radio. For more information contact Program Chairman Keith Justice, KF7TP, at (602) 461-8687, or contact TAPR at 8987-309 East Tanque Verde Road, Unit Number 337, Tucson, Arizona 85749. Their voice mail system number is (817) 383-0000 and the fax line is (817) 566-2544. ***** QSL STATISTICS In DX, the ARRL says that its members in 1993 sent about 7 and a quarter tons of QSL cards to the ARRL Outgoing QSL Bureau, and the Bureau shipped them out. This was a total 2,182,000 cards for DX destinations. The US Incoming QSL Bureau's volunteers sorted just over two million cards in 1993, as well. ***** QSL ROMEO Cards for the 9D0RR operation should be sent to Edward Kritsky, Box 715, Brooklyn, New York 11230. The former address of Box 776 belongs to Romeo Stepaneko and is now being used only for his personal business. The change applies only to 9D0RR cards. All other cards for Romeo still go to the Box 766 address. ***** VIDEO WINNER Emmy award winning producer Rich Moseson, NW2L has won yet another honor. The ARRL reports that his video titled Ham Radio Horizons was a finalist in the New York Festivals International Non-Broadcast Media competition for 1993. The awards were presented January 14th in New York City. The 49-minute program introducing non-hams to Amateur Radio is part of the CQ Communications video library, which also includes videos on satellite operation, DXing, contests, and packet radio. Executive producer Rich Moseson is also ARRL Section Manager for Northern New Jersey. ***** For this week, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. You can write to us at Post Office Box 463, Pasadena, CA 91102. * * * Newsline Copyright 1994 all rights are reserved. * * *