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, ND0AKO, and is first published in The Radio & Electronics Round Table on the Genie Online System. An archive of previous Newsline transcriptions are available in the Genie software library. Sorry, there is no FTP site currently available, however they may be extracted from the rec.radio.info newsgroup archive at OAK.oakland.edu and other SIMTEL mirror FTP sites. If you have any comment, suggestion, or news item you would like to submit, send them via E-Mail to 3241437@mcimail.com or B.PASTERNAK@genie.geis.com. You can contact Newsline at +1 805-296-7180. It is a combination answering and FAX machine, if you have a FAX to send, wait for the voice prompt and press your fax-send button. All other information and disclaimers are in the text header below. - - - - - NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #115 - POSTED 03/12/94 ***************************************************************** * * * * * ***** * * **** * ***** * * ***** * * ** * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * *** * ** * *** * * * * * *** * * * ** * * ** * * * * * ** * * * * * ***** * * **** ***** ***** * * ***** * * * * **** * **** ***** *** * * * * * * * * * * * * * **** ***** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **** ***** *** * * * ***************************************************************** 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 NETWORK. The electronic version of newsline is posted on this CBBS twice monthly. For current information updates, please call Los Angeles............................ (213) 462-0008 Los Angeles (Instant Update Line)...... (805) 296-2407 Seattle................................ (206) 368-3969 Seattle................................ (206) 281-8455 Tacoma................................. (206) 927-7373 Louisville............................. (502) 894-8559 Dayton................................. (513) 275-9991 Chicago................................ (708) 289-0423 New York City.......................... (718) 353-2801 Melbourne, FL.......................... (407) 259-4479 For the latest breaking info call the Instant Update Line listed above. To provide information please call (805) 296-7180. This line answers automatically and will accept up to 30 minutes of material. Check with your local amateur radio club to see if NEWSLINE can be heard weekly on the air in your area. Articles may be reproduced if printed in their entirety and credit is given to AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE as being the source. For further information about the AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, please write to us with an SASE at P.O. Box 463, Pasadena, CA 91102. 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!!! ***************************************************************** [865] * * * * 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 * * transmission 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 865 for release on Friday, 03/11/94 * * to follow. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The following is a QST The government is going back into court to try and set standards for what is deemed indecent on the air and a Chicagoland ham is a life saving hero. ***** GOVERNMENT APPEALS INDECENCY RULING A Washington D.C. federal appeals court will give the government another chance to argue that its ban on indecent programming on broadcast and cable television doesn't violate free speech. According to the Los Angeles Times, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in orders dated Wednesday February 15 and released Friday February 18 said it will reconsider rulings that struck down the federal regulations as unconstitutional. Last November 23, a three judge panel of the court had thrown out an FCC rule that banned indecent TV and radio broadcasts between 6 a.m. and midnight. That ruling said the regulation was an unconstitutionally broad encroachment on free speech. A finding in the governments favor will make it easy to prosecute anyone using foul language on the radio including potty mouth hams. ***** FCC AND ARRL TO PROTECT JAMMER HUNTER IDENTITY The ARRL and the Field Operations Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission have signed a new agreement concerning the use of amateur volunteers in the area of rules enforcement. The new accord adds an condition to protect the identities of Amateur Auxiliary members when the FCC institutes an enforcement proceeding involving information provided by the leagues Amateur Auxiliary. The agreement is a revised and expanded version of one entered into in 1984 between the ARRL and the FCC. It spells out the roles of amateurs as trained and registered official observers, as well as the role of the Field Operations Bureau. While the new arrangement continues to place the responsibility for initial information gathering at the local level, it also specifies a more centralized system for presenting information to the government in cases where enforcement action is requested. This will be accomplished between the Office of the Chief of the Field Operations Bureau and the league's Washington, DC office. The volunteers will continue to be known as the ARRL Amateur Auxiliary to the Field Operations Bureau. The FOB also agrees to assist the ARRL in the training of volunteers and in publicizing the objectives and accomplishments of the program. The bottom line is that jammers, foul mouths and other sources of interference had better watch out since members of the Amateur Auxiliary are probably already at work. The good guys now have the same protection the bad guys have had for years -- anonymity. They will never know who the jammer hunters are but their work will pay off when an FCC inspector comes knocking their your door or a letter containing a notice of violation and a heavy fine shows up in the mail. The new agreement became effective on February the 26th. ***** CALL SIGN PLAN EXTENDED The FCC has also granted an ARRL a request to extend the comment deadline in its vanity call sign proposal as outlined in Personal Radio Docket 93-305. The comment deadline has been extended to April 21st the reply comment deadline was extended to May 23rd. The Commission's Notice of Proposed Rule Making was released December 29, 1993, with an original comment deadline of March 7, 1994. The League said more time was needed for response because of the importance of the proposal to amateurs and therefore the need to ensure fairness in whatever system was adopted. In granting the League's request the FCC said that it believes it is desirable that the record be as complete as possible and that it reflect the views of the amateur community. More on both of these stories in future Newsline reports. ***** C-QUAM NAMED AM STEREO STANDARD Its has only taken a decade for the FCC to finally decide to name the Motorola C-Quam system to be the national standard for stereo broadcasting on the AM broadcast band. The commission first authorized AM stations to broadcast in stereo back in 1982. At that time the agency declined to single out a single stereo system from the five competing systems available at the time. Instead it said that it wanted to let market forces to determine the course of AM stereo development. The field of contenders quickly narrowed to two contenders. The Motorola C-Quam system and another developed by Kahn. In 1988 the FCC reaffirmed its decision not to mandate an AM stereo standard. It did note that the marketplace seemed to be converging toward C-Quam as the defacto standard. But congress, recognizing the loss of revenues to the nations manufacturing and sales refused to wait. It wanted an AM stereo standard that the United States could market to the world. As a result, the 1992 Telecommunications Authorization Act directed the FCC to adopt a single AM stereo broadcasting transmission standard. It took almost another two years, but in January of this year the Motorola system was officially chosen. Stations broadcasting using the Kahn system will soon have to cease using it. They will have the option of switching over to the Motorola C-Quam system or reverting to monaural operation. For consumers who bought those truly rare AM stereo receivers, particularly those that receive other than the C-Quam system, you now own a piece of communications history. A part of history that did not survive in the AM stereo marketplace. ***** Ham Radio Helps Save A Life Now the story of a ham radio rescue as reported on the Genie information service. When Scott Montgomery, N9GLL, left for work last December 16th he didn't expect anything other than the usual--heavy traffic. But on passing a shopping mall he noticed a small car parked with its hazard lights blinking. Its door was wide open and an elderly man in the driver's seat was leaning back in an awkward position. The driver apparently couldn't talk, but gestured repeatedly toward his chest. Scott correctly interpreted that the man was having difficulty in breathing, which is one sign of a possible heart attack. So he radioed his dad, K9DQU with "Priority Traffic." On establishing contact he told Jack Montgomery that an ambulance was needed quickly at the scene. Jack called 911 requesting an ambulance and was transferred to the Chicago Fire Department. Scott stayed at the scene to pin-point the ambulance's destination. When the paramedics arrived, they went to work on the sick man immediately. The ambulance driver radioed for a Fire Department engine company to help with needed additional manpower. At his request, Scott watched for and waved the engine company into position at the scene. Eventually, the engine company radioed the Chicago police to secure the sick man's vehicle, since obviously he was in no position to drive at all. Before he left the scene, both the fire engine company personnel and paramedics praised Scott for his assistance to a citizen in need. This, because there seemed no reason to doubt that Scott Montgomery, N9GLL may well have saved the mans life. ***** NARA NARA, the National Amateur Radio Association says that its not as big as some of the rumors say, but it is showing the steady growth patterns it had anticipated. NARA was the brainchild of entrepreneur Donald Stoner, W6TNS who noticed that there was a gap that the ARRL was not filling, so he jumped in to fill the breach. "We've done very well. We have about 7,500 members now. Our goal, I don't think it is overly optimistic to get 10,000 this year." Donald Stoner, W6TNS, NARA President. Stoner says that the goals of NARA are fairly modest but defiantly attainable in his eyes. "We, as you know, we are not anti league. We work, we actually stick to the beginners end of things. The league has to be all things to all hams. That makes their job much more difficult. Where all we have to do is help the beginner and aim our efforts towards the beginner." Donald Stoner, W6TNS, NARA President. Stoner says that NARA not only supports the American Radio Relay League but he considers it as a membership feeder to the League as newcomers gravitate toward higher levels of sophistication in their ham radio careers. ***** CLONED PAGERS Illegally cloned pagers is the latest trick being used by drug dealers to avoid detection. The clones piggy-back on the pager numbers of legitimate users, preventing law enforcement agencies from eavesdropping on their illegal activities. The owners of the legitimate pagers may notice an increase in the number of pages they are receiving, but the strange codes displayed appear to be nothing but gibberish. Most pager users simply figure that a glitch has taken place in the pager dispatch system. The street price of an illegally cloned pager is in the area of seventy five to a hundred dollars, according to law enforcement officials. ***** YAESU SPACE CAMP Amateur radio has taken another step closer to the stars by reaching out to young people in Alabama. Beginning this summer, kids attending Space Camp in Huntsville will get an up-close demonstration of amateur radio. The program is the idea of a leading amateur radio equipment manufacturer. Space Camp is an extremely popular activity for young people. Each year thousands of children go through a variety oft simulations and training courses. Its all designed to teach kids space travel and what being an astronaut is being like. Space Camp students are about to be exposed to amateur radio. Yaesu USA is donating equipment for two amateur radio stations at space camp. Kevin Karamanos, WD6DIH, manages National Sales for Yaesu Radio products. "Every year we go to the show in Huntsville, Alabama, which is quite a big show in the southern part of the country and we usually go to the space camp for one day every year. We saw how many kids came through there and thought we would like to send our kids through there. Wouldn't it be great to teach kids about ham radio along with the space program." Kevin Karamanos, WD6DIH, National Sales for Yaesu USA. Yaesu is providing equipment for a satellite and HF station. Huntsville hams will operate the equipment and will explain amateur radio to the children. Space Camp students will end up talking with astronauts in space. "The goal is, when the orbiting space station eventually gets in the air. The future hams and future astronauts that go through and train here, the young hams. They can go ahead and operate and talk to the astronauts and pass some of the time away. So it is a good benefit for both." Kevin Karamanos, WD6DIH. Space camp students will enjoy state-of-the-art technology, courtesy of Yaesu. Karamanos says the equipment supplied to the Space Camp stations will be Yaesu's latest--and greatest. Nor does the company's commitment to the nations youth end there. Yaesu is again serving as the corporate underwriter to the Westlink Report Young Ham of the Year award scheduled for presentation in early June. ***** DX In DXpedition news, word that an operation is being probable for Cocos Island beginning May 20th. A group is planning an all bands plus satellite and 6 meters operation. They will concentrate on CW, satellite and RTTY with QSL's will be handled by OKDXA. A list of operators will be published in the near future. ***** HAM NEWS AND VIEWS If you are planning to attend the 1994 Dayton Hamvention we want to invite you to come and also be a part of the biggest ham radio news seminar ever held. The two hour and fifteen minute session is titled "Ham News and Views from Around the World". Its a joint presentation of RAIN -- the Chicago based Radio amateur Information Network and of Newsline. The session runs from 2:45 to 5:00 PM eastern time on Saturday April 30th, and the guest list is truly the who's who in amateur radio news and information. Jim Davis, KU8R, will be moderating the session with Hap Holly, KC9RP of RAIN and our own Newsline producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF as part of the panel. The star-studded guest list includes Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF from New Zealand. Jim is the president of the New Zealand Amateur Association of Radio Transmitters and hosts several ham radio bulletin services down under. And flying in from the United Kingdom is Peter Chadwick, G3RZP. Peter is the immediate past president of the Radio Society of Great Britain and the moderator of their GB2RS official bulletin service. While not with us in person, Hans van der Gronnendaal, ZS6AKV will be with the group through the magic of videotape to tell us about ham radio bulletin services in his part of the world. Three other United States services will be represented as well. Scheduled to appear are Len Winkler, KB7LPW who hosts "Ham Radio and More" out of Phoenix Arizona, George Bowen, N2LQS of the satellite delivered "This Week in Amateur Radio" from Albany New York and Dave Marthouse, N2AAM of Spectrum. Never before has a group like this been assembled for as wide ranging a presentation as "Ham News and Ham Views from Around the World". It takes place on Saturday, April 30th from 2:45 to 5:00 PM Eastern time in Meeting Room 2 at the 1994 Hamvention in Dayton. We hope to see you there. ***** For this week, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. You can write to us at Post Office Box 463 in Pasadena, CA 91102. * * * Newsline Copyright 1994 all rights are reserved. * * *