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 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 #112 - POSTED 02/19/94 ***************************************************************** * * * * * ***** * * **** * ***** * * ***** * * ** * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * *** * ** * *** * * * * * *** * * * ** * * ** * * * * * ** * * * * * ***** * * **** ***** ***** * * ***** * * * * **** * **** ***** *** * * * * * * * * * * * * * **** ***** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **** ***** *** * * * ***************************************************************** 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!!! ***************************************************************** [862] * * * * 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, PO Box * * 463, Pasadena, CA 91102. Again, and as always, we thank * * you. That ends the closed circuit with Newsline report * * number 862 for release on Friday, February 18 1994. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The following is a QST Another ham-band may wind up in the hands of commercial users and the idea of an instant ham radio license may be quietly fading away. ***** 200 MHz of SPECTRUM TO BE REALLOCATED - HAM RADIO AFFECTED! Amateur Radio may loose part or all of one super high frequency band in the wake of the release of a Commerce Department report that recommends moving the military and other government agencies off much of the nation's airwaves to make way for new commercial use of the spectrum. The spectrum under fire is at 2390 to 2400 Mhz and 2402 to 2417 Mhz. If the FCC chooses to reassign it to the commercial sector, its loss will impact on several important ham radio projects including high speed packet radio data relays. The peril to the band became known on Thursday February 11th. In a preliminary report, the Commerce Department announced that it had targeted 200 MHz of prime VHF and UHF radio spectrum to be reissued immediately with an even bigger block to be made available over the next 15 years. This latter could include the ham radio band that runs from 2300 to 2310 Mhz. A band being looked upon in many crowded urban areas as the logical place to expand repeater and other FM relay operations as well as weak signal work. This reallocation proposal is part of a major push by congress the Clinton administration and the National Telecommunications and Information Agency. The plan is to reassign valuable government spectrum to the private sector to expand all sorts of communications concepts. It also follows an earlier decision to reallocate another big band of spectrum to the next generation of wireless technology, known as personal communications services. The Commerce Department report did designate certain specific spectrum to be shared by government and private sector users. It said that moving some government services will be delayed until new equipment can be built. As a result some of the reallocated spectrum will not be made available for several years. The study also concluded that moving some services would be inappropriate. This, because of extensive investments made by the government or the services provided by the current spectrum users. It recommended that certain navigational services, meteorology, astronomy and space communications services should not be moved. There are two days of sunlight in all of this. First off, the Amateur Satellite band from 2400 to 2402 MHz was not put up on the chopping block. This means that plans for the construction of the new Phase 3D ham satellite can go forward as planned. Second, and just as important is the fact that this is only an initial report. Kind of a prototype suggestion by the NTIA that is still open to debate. A final report on this proposed spectrum reallocation is scheduled for release after the Federal Communications Commission the and private sectors have a chance to comment on it. Completion of that research and release of the report should come in about twelve months. Meantime, hams involved in the use of spectrum at 2300 MHz and above should get ready for a knock down drag out fight to save that band. ***** INSTANT LICENSING The FCC's proposal to bring instant licensing to the amateur radio service appears to be in serious doubt. Comments by the Chief of FCC's Private Radio Bureau seem to leave open the possibility that the proposal may never see the light of day. Ralph Haller, N4RH, spoke to amateurs at the Tropical Hamboree in Miami on February 5th. Commission officials say they are surprised at the response to the FCC's proposal to bring instant licensing to ham radio. The idea is to allow people who successfully pass their first license exams to get on the air immediately. That way they would not have to wait to receive a license from the commission. A process that has taken as long as 3 months. The ARRL strongly opposes the FCC's idea. Frank Butler, W4RH directs the leagues Southeastern Division. He says amateurs are solidly against instant licensing. "What their concern mainly is that people will get, make up a callsign and get on the air without ever really having ever taken a test." Frank Butler, W4RH, Director ARRL Southeastern Division. Instant licensing the way the FCC proposed may not be necessary. The commission is about to upgrade its nearly 30 year old computer system. Ralph Haller, N4RH, says this promises to be much faster processing of license applications. "I think the people have some legitimate concerns in instant licensing that we are going to have to look out very closely and combine that with our improved speeds of services I expect with the new computer and weigh wether instant licensing makes sense in the amateur service." We seem to be leaving the door open for instant licensing the whole controversy could be taken care of with the new computer system. "I think that's a reasonable possibility. Particularly as we get electronic filing with the VAX. We may well reach the situation individual exam sites would have immediate access to our computers and we might even be able to have a license, I am dreaming a little bit here, that we may well be able to issue, have the VE issue the license right in the exam session." Ralph Haller, N4RH, Chief of the FCC's Private Radio Bureau. Haller says the commission will look at the responses amateurs submit to the instant licensing proposal. One that so far has little support in the amateur community. ***** VANITY CALL SIGN UPDATE Another big announcement from Ralph Haller. Vanity callsigns are just around the corner. Haller believes you'll be able to request a call sign of your choosing by late summer. The program will probably be brought on line in phases, with Extra class hams getting first crack. Club callsigns will also be available. Start saving your quarters...a vanity call sign will cost $70... that's 7-dollars for each of the 10 years an amateur radio license covers. ***** COURT ORDERS HAM OFF REPEATER This just in. An Orange County California Superior Court has issued a three year restraining order against a ham that will keep him from operating on an area repeater. The order was requested in January by an attorney for the Clairmont Amateur Repeater Association and was issued against Tim Seawolf, KJ5KE of Quail Valley. This is a precedent setting case in that the club has used the civil rather than federal court system to ban someone from their repeater that they allege to be an undesirable operator. More details on this story next week. ***** ARRL BOARD ELECTIONS The ARRL Board of Directors has affirmed its confidence in the leadership of George S. Wilson, W4OYI by electing him to serve another two years as the organizations president. Wilson, an attorney from Owensboro Kentucky has turned out to be one of the most dynamic leaders in the leagues history. Before his election two years ago, Wilson made a public pledge to do all he could to help clean up the many problems plaguing the ham bands. We carried his words right here on Newsline in 1992. Wilson has since lived up to every word that he said! Also returning for additional two year terms are first vice president Rod Stafford, KB6ZV, Vice Presidents Jay Holladay, W6EJJ and Tom Frenaye, K1KI. Treasurer Jim Mc Cobb, K1LLU, Executive Vice President Dave Sumner, K1ZZ and Chief Financial Officer Barry Shelly were also re-elected to serve the next two years. Elected to the Executive Committee are Rocky Mountain division director Marshall Quiat, AG0X, Hudson Division Director Stephen Mendelsohn, WA2DHF, Delta Division Director Joel Harrison, WB5IGF and Great lakes Division Director Al Severson, AB8P. ***** GEORGIA ANT A bill introduced in the Georgia Legislature that would eliminate the effect of restrictive property covenants on amateurs is believed to be the first of its type in the nation. This, according to Georgia Section Manager Jim Altman, N4UCK. Altman says that the proposed legislation known as Georgia House Bill 1134, would prevent all new and renewed covenants from regulating, controlling, or restricting antennas owned and operated by licensed amateurs in the state. Altman says that, in Georgia, all restrictive covenants have a life of 20 years, but can be renewed. In banning new and renewed covenants the proposed new law would leave the existing covenants in place until their natural expiration, and prevent new ones. Then, over the next 20 years, all existing covenants would disappear. The bill was initially referred to the State Bar committee on real property law, which gave the measure a do pass recommendation. That's a good sign and Amateurs in Georgia are urged to contact their state legislators and urge their support of H.B. 1134. Hams elsewhere will want to watch this one carefully as it could set a national precedent for fighting deed restrictions nationwide. ***** STONER UPDATE Speaking about fighting deed restrictions, one ham who has been at the forefront of the battle is Don Stoner, W6TNS. As previously reported, Stoner, who heads up the National Amateur Radio Association has been fighting an antenna battle of his own. In addition to legal action, Don has taken to the political high ground as well. W6TNS is trying to get the Florida State Emergency Preparedness plan changed to include ham radio as an integral aspect and there-by negate anti ham radio deed restrictions in planned communities. We ran into W6TNS at the recent Tropical Hamboree in Miami and got this update. "The condominium restrictive covenants are applicable all over the country. There are hams all over the country that are precluded from actually getting on the air, at least on HF, because of these restrictive laws. But the support from the local group in the Clearwater area, and really all over the state of Florida, has just been enormous. One of the things I think we can do is marshal that support and organize it into a packet letter writing campaign. I think hams will send packet messages to their legislator far easier than they will write a letter. They love to send messages over ham radio because that is what it is all about." Don Stoner, W6TNS, President of NARA. Stoner also says that banning the prohibition on ham radio antennas is important to the safety of all of the residents of is regularly hurricane ravaged state. ***** SEATTLE TROLLEY QRM Seattle Washington hams are once again suffering from trolley car induced RFI. The story goes back a number of years when Seattle added a number of new electric trolleys to their fleet. According to Clay Freinwald, K7CR of the Western Washington Amateur Relay Association, the presence of these new trolleys was instantly noted as their new electronic control system radiated like an all band transceiver and the overhead cattinary system of power wires became their gigantic antenna. Marty Hadfield a broadcast engineer at KMT matter. Operating through the Western Washington Cooperative Interference Committee, Marty was able to get the Metropolitan Transit System to install filters on the vehicles to help minimize the problem. The filters were not a cure all and you can still hear some of the interference on any AM radio. Recently, the transit authority purchased some dual powered vehicles. They run on diesel engines in outlining areas and then connect to the transit overhead wiring when inside Seattle proper. Marty Hadfield says that these new vehicles are not much different then the old ones. They too radiate like crazy and this time the interference is not limited to the AM broadcast band. He says that almost any radio in the downtown area can hear what sounds like a cats meow on any two way radio including those used by hams. Marty is trying to solve the problem, but it looks as if its going to be an uphill road till all of the meowing is gone from the Seattle radio airwaves. ***** T9S DX In DX, the special event station T9S will be active during the month of February to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Olympic Winter Games of 1984, which was held in Sarajevo. Activity will be on all bands and QSL cards will be handled by DL1QQ, direct or via the bureau. ***** PERRY TO BE AT DAYTON Educator Carole Perry, WB2MGP says that she is looking for youngsters skilled in talking before large groups to be a part of her Youth Seminar at the 1994 Dayton Hamvention. The Staten Island New York school teacher will be expanding her youth session and says that more young hams are needed as speakers this year. "Once again we are looking for youngsters who are articulate and enthusiastic about what they enjoy about amateur radio. I understand I am going to be getting an expanded time slot this year because of the popularity of the program last year. It seems that the session that always follows me, unfortunately always has to deal with us running over a little bit. So this year they have graciously given me a bigger time slot. I am looking for lots and lots of youngsters to be interviewed and have them call me at (718) 983-1416. That's my home number and the machine will pick up if I am not here. Or have them send resumes directly to me, I'm in the callbook. About what it is about ham radio that they have participated in and if they are good and articulate speakers we will certainly consider bring them to Dayton." Carole Perry, WB2MGP. Again, if you know of an articulate young ham who would like to speak at Carole Perry's Dayton Youth Forum please contact WB2MGP at area code (718) 983-1416. That line is both voice and fax. ***** That is all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. You can write us at Newsline, PO Box 463, Pasadena, CA 91102. * * * Newsline Copyright 1994 all rights are reserved. * * *