SB NEWSLIN @ ALLBBS $NLIN.903 Amateur Radio Newsline #903 07 Dec 1994 Amateur Radio Newsline is produced as an audio service by Newsline, a service of the Westlink Radio Netowrk. The transcribed version is produced by Dale Cary, WD0AKO from materials provided by Newsline. and is jointly distributed to online services and bulletin board networks by Steve Coletti and Dale Cary. Copyright owner is Newsline. Permission to reuse all or part of either this written or the audio form requires that the item be taken in it's entirety, not be subject to any further editing or commentary, and that full credit given to Newsline as the source. Permission is granted to all amateurs who want to transmit the audio version in it's entirety over nets or repeaters. The text version may be used for packet distribution as long as it is sent in its entirety and the BIN header is kept intact. NOTICE: When Newsline is transmitted in it's full form over voice or digital forms of Amateur Radio, it is recommended that the closed circut advisory be deleted. Audio, Computer, and Packet retransmissions must be made without the editing or deleting of any other part of the Newsline content. Unauthorized additional commentary to the original message is also prohibited. To do so is a violation of copyright and subjects the initiator to legal action by Newsline. Newsline may also be excerpted for code practice transmissions, and may be used as a reference source in bulletin board discussions under acceptable Fair Use practices. Any other use is not allowed without the expressed permission of Newsline. Editorial comment, news items and all other business should be directed to Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, Newsline's Producer and Editor-In-Chief. E-Mail - 3241437@mcimail.com or B.PASTERNAK@genie.geis.com Phone/Fax - +1 805 296-7180, fax senders wait for voice prompt. Text Version information: America Online - tstader@aol.com (Terry Stader, Sysop) or D.CARY@genie.geis.com Compuserv, Delphi, Genie - D.CARY@genie.geis.com Usenet - david@stat.com (David Dodell - Moderator rec-radio-info) FTP, (oak.oakland.edu) - wy1z@neu.edu (Scott Erlich, Boston ARC) Internet mailing list (individuals) - bigsteve@.dorsai.org Internet mailing list (re-distributors) - D.CARY@genie.geis.com BBS Networks - Steve Coletti (within the conference/echo) or bigsteve@dorsai.org via Internet. (RIME users can RO mail to ->35, Fidonet users can Netmail to 1:278/309) - - - - - - NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #903 - POSTED 12/05/94 (***************************************************************) (* *) (* * * ***** * * **** * ***** * * ***** *) (* ** * * * * * * * ** * * *) (* * * * *** * ** * *** * * * * * *** *) (* * ** * * ** * * * * * ** * *) (* * * ***** * * **** ***** ***** * * ***** *) (* *) (* **** * **** ***** *** *) (* * * * * * * * * * *) (* **** ***** * * * * * *) (* * * * * * * * * * *) (* * * * * **** ***** *** *) (* *) (***************************************************************) 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. For current information updates, please call Audio Version of Newsline ========================= 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 Electronic Hardcopy Version of Newsline ======================================= GEnie (RTC Bulletin Board)............. m345;1 GEnie (File Library)................... m345;3 Dallas Remote Imaging BBS (DRIG)....... (214) 492-7573 In bulletin number 36 The Midwest Connection BBS............. (701) 239-2440 In bulletin number 6 of the ham radio conference Delphi................................. In the ham radio conference Internet............................... In the rec.radio.info newsgroup FTP: oak.oakland.edu, archive: pub/hamradio/docs/newsline Fidonet, RIME, Intellec, I-Link........ In the Ham Radio conferences on those networks CompuServe/HamNet...................... Coming Soon! For questions or comments about the text version, contact me at D.CARY@GENIE.GEIS.COM on the Internet. 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!!! (**************************************************************** (* * * Very Sorry for the delay. Putting in many long days and lack of sleep finally caught up with me. Am some what operation now. Thanks for your patience. 73. Dale Cary - WD0AKO * * *) [903] (* * * * C L O S E D C I R C U I T A D V I S O R Y * * * * (* * (* Newsline report number 903 for release on Friday, * (* December 2, 1994 to follow. * (* * (* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The following is a QST Economics takes its toll on a ham radio satellite. Russia confirms that it has turned off the Oscar 21 satellite for financial reasons. Also a teenager is nabbed as a jammer in Arizona and a powerful democrat wants a republican returned to the FCC! Find out who's backing who on Newsline report number 903 coming your way right now. (***** AO-21 GONE FOREVER It's official. Sources inside Russia have confirmed what Newsline reported in early October. They say that the very popular Amsat Oscar 21 satellite is off the air for good. That the main reason for it going away is a lack of funding to keep it and its host satellite on the air. Here are the details. Leonid Labutin, UA3CR is a ham radio satellite coordinator inside Russia. He tells AMSAT North America and Newsline that the operation of OSCAR-21, which is also known as RS-14, was terminated as a result of the shutdown of its parent spacecraft known as Informator One. On or about September 16th both satellites suddenly went silent. A few days later Labutin says that the Space Flight Control Center near Moscow informed AMSAT-Russia that the radio control of Informator One was switched off, ending all on-board experiments. For those not aware, AMSAT-OSCAR-21 was a piggy-back transponder on the Informator One. In turn, Infromator One was an experimental satellite that was built under the order of the Ministry of Geology. Both birds came into being only because the geologists could not find a professional organization to make the transponder fit their groups requirements. The problem was solved when the Amateur Radio society AMSAT-U-ORBITA accepted the responsibility. As a payment for their work, the geologists agreed to install the Radio Amateur transponder on board Informator One. An agreement between AMSAT-Russia and the Russian space center was made early on for joint control of both satellites. But it was the beleaguered Russian economy that spelled the end of OSCAR 21. As a result of financial difficulties of the Defense Ministry for continuing the joint control of both Amateur and Commercial payloads, it was simply decided to shut both off. The result is that Informator One and OSCAR 21 have gone silent. Leonid Labutin says that there is little chance that either of these transponders will ever be brought on line, ever again. (***** ARIZONA TEEN JAMMER CITED The family of an Arizona teenager will soon be shelling out a lot of money because their kid decided to play radio jammer. The youngster may have thought it was all in fun but the FCC did not quite look at it the same way. In Southeast Arizona an unidentified 17 year old has been cited for malicious interference to sheriff and police frequencies in Cochise County and Sierra Vista Police. Over a two week period the FCC received reports from the Cochise County and Sierra Vista Police Departments of malicious interference over their dispatch frequencies. Apparently, this teenager thought he would have fun transmitting foul language and music. The Federal Communications Commission from Douglas, Arizona traced the signals to the boy's home and apparently found him there. He has now been fined $1000 as of November 5th. As usually happens, there will be a thirty day window for an appeal, but it will have to be filed by the youngsters family because the teenager is legally a minor. (***** OMAHA RFI In Nebraska, it was ham radio that helped to solve the problem of some strange RFI that show up in and around Omaha. It seems that owners of Sears brand garage door openers began bombarding the FCC office with complaints that they were able to close the doors but not open them. The FCC says that several Omaha hams heard about the problem and offered to investigate it. They then assisted Commission staffers in locating the interference source. The offending signal turned out to be a brand new air to ground communications system at nearby Offut Air Force Base that was operating on a frequency very close to that of the Sears garage door openers. The Air Force contractor agreed to solve the problem by changing the new radios to another frequency. Garage door openers are now functioning properly and ham are heros in Omaha. (***** TASMA Will packet radio determine who becomes the next president of one of the nations leading coordination councils? That could be the outcome of the upcoming election of officers for Southern California's 2 meter Area Spectrum Management Association. This is because the Southern California packet community has openly thrown its support behind one of the two slates of candidates running for the office. Several bulletins forwarded to Newsline are urging packet radio operators to turn out in droves to the December 3rd TASMA meeting in Carlsbad, California. Packeteers are being told by their political leaders to join Tasma and to vote in favor of the re-election of incumbent TASMA President Sidney Radus, N6OMS. Radus who had been reported ready to stand aside has decided to run for re-election. He and the rest of his ticket are being challenged by a slate of candidates put up by a San Diego repeater group calling itself C Bar. Its nominee for the TASMA presidency is also an attorney; Rick Anglin, N6KUB. How much backing C Bar can generate is not known, but the TASMA election rules do permit any ham to join the organization, even on the day of an election and to vote for candidates of his or her choice. The packet community says it favors Radus because of his position in favor of working closely with their special interest group. With packet operators seemingly more politically motivated than the average repeater user, it may well be packet operators who determine the future of two meter FM voice in the nations most populous repeater area. The meeting takes place about the time this newscast goes to air. Since what happens out in California could impact on coordination councils nationwide, will have the results and an analysis of this crucial vote next week. (***** DEMOCRAT TO THE WHITE HOUSE: RETAIN REPUBLICAN ON FCC Democratic Senator Paul Simon from Illinois has sent a strong letter to the White House urging President Bill Clinton to renominate Andrew Barrett to another five-year term at the Federal Communications Commission. The Associated Press says that Barrett, a Chicago native, is one of two Republican commissioners at the FCC. He has served at the agency since 1989 and is term expires in June. There has been much speculation inside the Washington political arena as to whether Barrett, who has been quiet about his intentions, will seek another FCC term. He says that he has not seen the Simon letter, but says that he believes he will also have the support of Senator Carol Moseley Braun should he pursue a renomination. Barrett said he spoke previously with Simon and Moseley Braun about garnering their endorsements. In the event he does seek another term if he says that he will first inform the White House and FCC chairman Reed Hundt. Since Barrett initially was named to the FCC by President Bush, it is unclear whether Clinton will stick with Barrett or look elsewhere to fill the post. (***** CONELRAD REBORN The Federal Communications Commission has adopted a new emergency broadcast system for TV, radio and, for the first time, cable television systems. The system, which is to provide TV viewers and radio listeners with warnings on everything from approaching tornadoes and flooding to chemical spills, will be more advanced than the current system, which is more than 40 years old. The system will have a louder warning tone and text in large letters for those who can't see or hear well. Stations and cable outlets using the new system will also have the capability of providing warnings in a variety of languages. And for the first time, the warning system will permit these outlets to send as well as receive alert information. Thousands of broadcast stations and most, if not all, of the nation's 11,000 cable systems must have the new system in place by 1996 and 1997 respectively. (***** DETROIT EIC Also from the FCC, word that forty-four year old James Bridgewater, AA8JD has been named as the new Engineer in Charge of the FCC's Detroit, Michigan field office. Bridgewater holds an Extra class ham ticket along with both BSE and BSEE degrees from Purdue University. He began his career with the FCC back in 1977. (***** JY1 QSO's 4X4 His majesty King Hussein, JY1 is bringing the new peace accord with neighboring Israel to a level that even includes ham radio. The Israeli ham radio publication Ha Gal International reports that the Jordanian monarch recently held his first recorded contact with an Israeli youngster whose call sign is 4Z9FHB. Ha Gal also reports that the thawing of relations between the two countries has already lead to discussions between their respective Amateur Radio societies on matters of technical cooperation and DXpedition planning. (***** DX In DX we have two quick items this week. First is word that Iraqi operator YI9CW has applied for authorization to operate on 30 meters. If granted it will be a first for that war torn nation. Also, DL2VK says that he will be signing /HS0 for about 6 months during his tour in Thailand. Most activity will be CW, though packet, AMTor, PacTOR and SSB may be used if time permits. (***** NEWSLINE STORY: PART 4 And finally, for the past three weeks we have been taking a look back at the early days of Newsline. The era when we were known as the Westlink Radio Network. That was some seventeen years ago, and while it is nice to reminisce, the real challenge is in the future. How will you be getting your ham radio news a decade from now? We put that question to former Newsline anchorman Alan Kaul, W6RCL. In real life, Alan is a producer with NBC Network news where he specializes in matters of future science and technology. We asked Alan to take a look ahead: "Every man, every ham, every woman. They all have the ability to be the producer of this newscast or any other newscast. I presume someday a service like Netcom or Compuserve or America Online for example will have something called the Newsline list. Anybody who wants to file to that, can file to it. Anybody that wants to make use of that, receiving the e-mail in his or her mail box for example, could put together a newscast and read it on his or her repeater. And so that each newscast would be custom made for each area. In stead of having one newscast that sort of disseminated to the entire world, using the e-mail server list one comprehensive battery of information could be disseminated to the entire world. And anyone that wants to be his or her own editor, his or her own producer could pick and choose that news the he or she thinks is relevant and serves his or her geographical listening area." Kaul, W6RCL. For those of you not aware, Newsline is already active on two popular public bulletin boards. You can reach us on the Genie and America Online systems in their ham radio bulletin areas. Also, Newsline scripts are posted each week by Dale Cary, WD0AKO and Steve Coletti to numerous bulletin boards and to the Internet. Alan Kaul says that more of this kind of diversity is what the future probably has in store: "I think that's the way we are going. We're into an area of narrower and narrower and narrower casting. It's the things you and I are interested that used to be, in the professional world, broadcasting. Ninety percent of us used to tune in. Now there are so many things that are available for us to tune in to. The broadcast news media, for example, once had ninety to ninety five percent of the audience. We're down to fifty to forty seven percent of the audience. That's how it is going. There are so many things we can all, sort of, be interested in. We can pick. We can choose. And I see programs like Newsline or any other similar news service sort of disseminating until there are a million hams. For example in the United States there may be a million different markets for the news. People will pick and choose their own." Kaul, W6RCL. To sum it all up. Newsline is already a part of the Information superhighway. As it expands, we intend to grow with it and we hope to meet many of you there as well. (***** And for this week, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. You can write to us at: Newsline Post Office Box 463 Pasadena, California 91102 (* * * Newsline Copyright 1994 all rights are reserved. * * * --