 
SB NEWSLIN @ ALLBBS $NLIN.899
 Amateur Radio Newsline #899 06 Nov 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 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 just like any
 other news item from any other permissable/public source.
 
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.
 
- - - - - -
 
 NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #899 - POSTED 11/07/94
 
 (***************************************************************)
 (*                                                             *)
 (*      *   * ***** *    *  **** *     ***** *   * *****       *)
 (*      **  * *     *    * *     *       *   **  * *           *)
 (*      * * * ***   * ** *  ***  *       *   * * * ***         *)
 (*      *  ** *     * ** *     * *       *   *  ** *           *)
 (*      *   * *****  *  *  ****  ***** ***** *   * *****       *)
 (*                                                             *)
 (*                ****    *   ****  *****  ***                 *)
 (*                *   *  * *  *   *   *   *   *                *)
 (*                ****  ***** *   *   *   *   *                *)
 (*                *  *  *   * *   *   *   *   *                *)
 (*                *   * *   * ****  *****  ***                 *)
 (*                                                             *)
 (***************************************************************)
 
    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
      CompuServe/HamNet...................... Coming Soon!
      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
 
    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!!!
 
 (****************************************************************
 
 Note from Dale - WD0AKO, Hardcopy distribution.
    Please accept my apologies for the delay in getting this out.
 I was out of town this weekend and did not get it finished before
 I had to leave.  Thanks for your patience.
 
 
 [899]
 
 (* * * *   C L O S E D   C I R C U I T   A D V I S O R Y   * * * *
 (*                                                               *
 (*      The following advisory is not for transmission over      *
 (*   amateur radio.  This is just a reminder that the address    *
 (*   for the Newsline Support Fund is Newsline, in care of       *
 (*   Randy Hammock, KC6HUR, Post Office Box 463, Pasadena,       *
 (*   California 91102.  Again, and as always, we thank you.      *
 (*      That ends the closed circuit with Newsline report        *
 (*   number 899 for release on Friday, November 4, 1994 to       *
 (*   follow.                                                     *
 (*                                                               *
 (* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 
                       The following is a QST
 
    President Clinton signs the ham radio support bill into law,
 the FCC says it won't use the VEC system to temporarily license
 foreign hams and the National Amateur Radio Association has a new
 leaders.  Find out who on Newsline report number 899 coming your
 way right now.
 
 (*****
                    PRESIDENT SIGNS PRO HAM BILL
 
    The ARRL supported joint resolution favoring Amateur Radio was
 signed into law by President Bill Clinton on October 22.  Now
 known as Public Law 103-408, it was the result of a joint
 congressional resolution supporting Amateur Radio was successfully
 passed through both houses of Congress in the wee hours of the
 morning of October 7.  The language of the new law supports
 "reasonable accommodation" in the operation of Amateur Radio
 stations in homes, automobiles and public places.
    Getting the measure passed through congress was a last ditch
 effort by Senators Charles Robb, Wendell Ford and Alan Simpson to
 make Senate Joint Resolution 90 a reality.  The bill passed on the
 floor of the Senate under unanimous consent at 12:10 AM on October
 7th.  From there it then went to the House of Representatives
 where it was brought up by Congressman Al Swift and passed
 unanimously at 2:45 AM.  Patricia Spurlock, a staffer for Senator
 Robb, and Stephanie Vance, a staffer for Congressman Mike
 Kreidler, worked overtime on the bill.  You may remember that it
 was Kreidler introduced the original House version.
    More information on this successful League initiative appeared
 in the September, October, and November issues of the
 ARRL's QST magazine.
 
 (*****
             FCC ABANDONS RECIPROCAL LICENSING DOCKET
 
    The FCC has abandoned a proceeding aimed at using the all
 volunteer testing program to certify foreign hams for operation in
 the United States.  Private Radio Docket 92-167 proposed that
 Volunteer Examiners inspect credentials and administer brief
 examinations to visiting foreign amateurs as a basis for the
 granting of temporary FCC operating permits to hams from countries
 which do not have reciprocal operating agreements with the United
 States.
    In its comments on the FCC proposal, filed in 1992, the ARRL
 had said there were better ways to achieve the objective of the
 proceeding.  The League suggested that the US take the lead in
 establishing a universal worldwide license.  It urged the FCC to
 abandon its proposal and consider alternative steps leading in
 that direction  including US participation in a European CEPT
 license arrangement.
    Now, the FCC has decided not to amend its current rules
 regarding visiting hams.  Instead, it has noted the suggestions in
 the comments for alternative means of licensing visiting foreign
 amateurs.  It says it will continue to explore other options for
 meeting this need and will work to ensure the reciprocal treatment
 of US amateurs overseas.
 
 (*****
                        TEXAS FLOOD RECOVERY
 
    As Texans recover from massive flooding two weeks ago, the
 Amateur Radio response to this disaster continues.  7180 kHz has
 been a central frequency during the day for handling Health and
 Welfare messages into and out of the stricken areas of the state
 Also, the coordination of disaster relief supplies is also taking
 place on 7180 kHz and in the evening, on-air activity shifts to
 3873 kHz.
    The 7290 Traffic Net on -- obviously found 7290 kHz, the Texas
 CW Traffic Net on 3643 kHz, and the Texas Traffic Net on 3873 kHz
 are also providing support along with the National Traffic System.
 When checking into these nets, please follow the Net Control
 Station's direction.  Also, a clear frequency is also very much
 appreciated by those hams not taking part in the communications
 operations.
 
 (*****
                               SET-94
 
    When hams in Alabama started looking for a scenario to pick for
 this year's Simulated Emergency Test held a few weeks ago, they
 didn't have to look far.  Instead of dreaming up a completely
 imagined disaster... they re-enacted a real emergency that
 happened about 18 months earlier.
    The simulated traffic being relayed sounds straight out of
 March 1993.  That's when Alabama and the eastern United States
 were paralyzed by a record shattering winter storm.  The real
 storm closed roads, schools and businesses.  The simulated storm
 causes the same problems.  At one point, only repeaters with
 emergency power are allowed to operate.  This is the first chance
 some hams get to relay traffic.
    From HF to UHF, ham bands are active with SET traffic.  Hams
 set up one station at the National Weather Service Forecast
 Office.  Meteorologist-in-Charge Garry Petti is impressed with
 what he saw and heard.
    Hams taking part in the SET agree.  The exercise is an
 excellent way to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses in emergency
 communications systems.  They also have praise for the job done by
 SET coordinator Mark Parmley, WA4UHC.  He gets the credit for
 helping hams better prepare for what history proves can happen.
    Part of the plan for the Alabama SET was not to rely on any
 one band or mode.  Communications were set up not just on 2 meter
 voice.   But on 80 meters and 6 meters, on packet, and using
 remote base systems to link voice repeaters together.
 
 (*****
                   ARRL - LAMBDA SETTLEMENT COST
 
    Newsline has received word from the ARRL that its insurance
 and not the leagues operating budget paid most of the cost of its
 recent legal settlement with the Lambda Amateur Radio Club.
    As previously reported, the two groups have announced an out of
 court settlement to Lambda's discrimination claim.  Part of the
 compromise included an agreement for the League to pay Lambda's
 legal fees pegged at $25,000.  We at Newsline also speculated that
 the ARRL itself had probably shelled out another $25,000 in its
 own defense.  But as it turns out this is not the case. This is
 because the ARRL happens to have insurance to cover these kinds
 of situations.
    According to the League's Executive Vice President, Dave
 Sumner K1ZZ, the settlement of Lambda's administrative complaint
 did not cost the League any more than if the ARRL had gone into
 the hearing and had won.  Sumner says that by settling the league
 was able to avoid the distraction of a hearing and to continue
 concentrating on what he termed as the important Amateur Radio
 issues.
    Sumner noted that he did not think it is appropriate to
 discuss the details of the League's insurance coverage.  He did
 say that speculation about the cost to the League is inaccurate
 and must be corrected.
 
 (*****
                     NARA CHANGES PRESIDENTS
 
    The nations "other" national ham radio society has a new
 leader.  Joseph Condron AA5LD of Arlington, Texas has replaced
 Donald Stoner W6TNS as the President of the National Amateur
 Radio Association.
    According to Stoner, Condron was elected at a recent meeting of
 the N.A.R.A. Board of Directors.  W6TNS describes Condron as a
 hard working and loyal person who has the time and energy to put
 into making Nara expand.
    After electing Condron as its new President, the old N.A.R.A.
 board then resigned to permit Joe to appoint his own board in the
 Arlington area.  All three former board members were in the
 Seattle area and with Stoner a resident of Florida.
    Stoner says that he is still involved and supplying help and
 assistance to the National Amateur Radio Association, but nothing
 with any deadline connected to it.
    At airtime, there has been no announcement as to the make-up
 of the new NARA board.
 
 (*****
                   30M BAND FOR BRASILIAN HAMS
 
    Brazilian hams now have access to the 30 meter band.  On
 September 1st 1994, the Brazilian Ministry of Communications has
 granted PY prefix Class A license holders permission to use
 30-meters on a secondary basis.
    According to P2WWV, this new band is shared with the fixed
 service.  Amateurs are limited to non voice modes and to the
 frequencies from 10 dot 138 to 10 dot 150 MHz.  Transmitter power
 output to 200 Watts.
    For those of you not aware, the Class "A" is the highest class
 of ham radio operator license offered in Brazil.
 
 (*****
                   WEBERSAT WO-18 PROBLEM NOTED
 
    The Webersat WO-18 ham satellite is in trouble.  Controllers
 say that A problem seems to have developed on WO-18 making it
 difficult to copy packets from the satellite.
    Controllers say that they do not yet have a handle on the
 cause.  As we go to air they are in the process of getting some
 test equipment into the ground station to get a look at the
 signal.
    Telemetry does not indicate anything wrong and to the ear,
 WO-18 sounds essentially as it always has.  It is not yet
 impossible to copy, but data quantities received during a pass
 are reduced about 30% -- and that's only if one "tweaks" the IF
 shift on his receiver.  With no special tuning efforts, results
 seem worse.
 
 (*****
                          AMSAT-OSCAR-10
 
    Also, several observer stations have reported that Amsat Oscar
 10's downlink is FMing once again.  Downlink frequency instability
 is due to low and varying battery voltages.
    Controllers say that this is a very dangerous condition for the
 ageing bird.  They say it is important that all ground stations
 curtail transponder operations when the frequency of the downlink
 becomes unstable.  This, to reduce the drain on AO-10's batteries
 and to allow them to recharge.
 
 (*****
               IARU APPOINTS ZS5AKV SATELLITE ADVISER
 
    The Administrative Council of the International Amateur Radio
 Union has appointed Hans van de Groenendaal ZS5AKV to the newly
 created post of IARU Satellite Adviser.  Hans main task will be
 to keep the Administrative Council informed on all technical and
 operational aspects of the Amateur Radio Satellite Service.  This,
 to enable the Council to adopt appropriate policies to advance the
 interest of the Amateur Satellite Service before the ITU and
 Regional Telecommunications Agencies.
    ZS5AKV is the Immediate Past President of Southern African
 Amsat and Executive Committee member of IARU Region 1.  He brings
 with him many years of satellite experience to the job.  His
 appointment is a direct result of recommendations made to the
 Administrative Council by the IARU ad-hoc Satellite Advisory
 Committee.
    As long-time listeners know, ZS5AKV is also a regular
 contributor to Newsline.
 
 (*****
                    COMPUTER HACKER INDICTED
 
    A computer hacker with alleged ties to the criminal underworld
 has been indicted by the federal government on multiple charges of
 cellular telephone fraud.  Federal authorities in San Francisco
 accuse Clinton Lee Watson of being a one-man illegal electronics
 factory supplying the underworld.
    Authorities say that technology developed by Watson has allowed
 high-tech thieves to literally steal cellular telephone codes out
 of the air for installation on other so-called "clone" phones.
 Cloned cellular telephones are units who's destination telephone
 number duplicates that of a legal user who gets dinged for all of
 the calls made on both phones.
    Authorities say that Watson's alleged underworld connections
 span the nation from San Francisco to New York.
 
 (*****
                       DX - CHAMPIONSHIP
 
    In DX, word that the deadline for applications from teams for
 the 1995 World Radiosport Team Championship has been extended to
 February 28, 1995. This, as the Washington, DC, organizers
 continue to weigh suggestions and iron out details of the event.
 
 (*****
                           DX - AH1A
 
    Also, N3SL reports that anyone still needing an AH1A QSL card
 should resubmit now. The Mile Hi DX Association will close the
 post office box effective February 1, 1995.  All unclaimed U.S.
 and JA QSL's were sent to the respective bureaus nearly a year
 ago, so check there first.  After February 1st, K1ER and N3SL
 will have the logs.
 
 (*****
                        HOT BEADS MISSING
 
    If someone at a swapmeet or hamfest offers to sell you 600
 little glass beads that glow in the dark run to the nearest
 phone and call the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  No, we are not
 kidding since these beads contain a radioactive material missing
 in Grand Rapids Michigan.
    The Associated Press reports that the NRC is scrambling to
 find the beads that were taken by a temporary worker from a
 Michigan company.  A detective told the news service that the
 worker took the beads used to make military compasses because he
 thought they were -- and we quote --"cool" to look at.
    The worker then gave some of the beads to a friend, who passed
 some on to friends and so on.
    Half of the 12-hundred beads taken are missing.  The
 Radioactive material in the beads cause them to glow yellow in
 daylight and green in the dark.
    Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials say the beads, filled
 with radioactive tritium gas, could cause only minor radiation
 contamination if broken.  But they want the beads returned, no
 questions asked.
 
 (*****
 
    And for this week, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline.
 You can write to us at:
 
                       Amateur Radio Newsline
                       Post Office Box 463
                       Pasadena, California
                       91102
 
 (* * * Newsline Copyright 1994 all rights are reserved. * * *
