FCC & ARRL: Win One, Lose One

The FCC has granted the ARRL's request to allow certain TDMA transmissions on the amateur bands, but denied a petition for reconsideration of the Commission's earlier decision on Broadband over Power Lines, or BPL.

According to the ARRL Letter, the FCC OKd a temporary waiver to permit the use of single-slot Time Domain Multiple Access transmissions on amateur frequencies above 30 MHz. A proposal to permanently authorize amateur use of this digital mode is currently pending before the Commission, suggesting that its eventual approval is likely.

The Letter also reports that the FCC has again denied an ARRL Petition for Reconsideration of its ruling on BPL. The Commission said the petition did not "raise new arguments based on new information … nor does it demonstrate any errors or omissions in the Commission's previous decisions." The ARRL says it will continue to "vigorously guard against the abuse and pollution of the radio spectrum in the use of BPL technology."

Idaho Law Exempts Hams, CBers from Tower Marking Rules

Idaho Governor Butch Otter
(Courtesy Idaho Governor's
Office)

A new law in Idaho makes clear that amateur radio and CB towers are exempted from another state law that requires all guyed towers to be "lighted, marked and painted and otherwise constructed to be visible in clear air during daylight hours from a distance of not less than 2000 feet." According to the ARRL Letter, the original law exempted some telecommunications towers, and the new law signed April 1 by Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter specifically defines amateur radio and CB towers as among those exempted from the earlier law's provisions. All towers, of course, continue to be subject to FCC and FAA requirements.

Ham Named to Senior State Dept. Post

Julie Zoller, KJ4EMJ
(ITU photo)

Julie N. Zoller, KJ4EMJ, has been named as the principal advisor to the U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy at the State Department, according to the ARRL Letter. Zoller's full title is (take a deep breath): Senior Deputy Coordinator of the Office of Multilateral Affairs, Communications and Information Policy Directorate, Economics and Business Affairs Bureau, United States Department of State. (Will all that fit on one business card?)

First-Class Radiotelegraph Ticket SK

As of May 20, 2013, the FCC will stop accepting applications for First Class, Second Class or Third Class Radiotelegraph Operator certificates. The ARRL Letter reports that current certificates will remain valid until expiration but will be renewed under a new licensing plan in which the old First Class and Second Class commercial licenses will be merged into a new Radiotelegraph Operator License, while the Third Class license will be consolidated with the Marine Radio Operator Permit and all current Third Class licenses will be renewed as Marine permits. This move is similar to FCC action more than 25 years ago on commercial radiotelephone licenses.

FCC: Many Cubesats Need Experimental Licenses

The FCC has determined that many small satellite projects, such as university-built cubesats, do not really qualify for licensing under as amateur satellites and must instead apply for experimental licenses. According to the AMSAT News Service, these satellites would still be permitted to operate in amateur satellite spectrum. However, ANS says the International Amateur Radio Union's Satellite Advisory Panel is concerned that it may no longer be appropriate for it to serve as frequency coordinator for what the FCC now views as non-amateur satellites.

The FCC says many small satellite projects need
experimental licenses, not amateur licenses.
(Pictured here is Korea's OSSI-1, not under
FCC jurisdiction - courtesy AMSAT-UK)

The IARU is urging all national amateur radio societies to work with their telecommunications administrations to find alternative frequencies for experimental satellites and to get a permanent allocation for them onto the agenda for one of the next two World Radiocommunication Conferences, either WRC-15 or -18. In the US, AMSAT and the ARRL are working together with the FCC to find both short-term and long-term solutions to this situation. AMSAT points out that having university satellites under the amateur satellite umbrella has resulted in many benefits for both amateur radio and the universities involved.

Two Sets of Unique Cubesats Launched

Two launches in two days from two different sides of the world have put seven new amateur radio satellites in orbit.

Korean singer turned satellite-builder Hojun Song, DS1SBO,
performs final assembly of his OSSI-1 satellite.
(Courtesy AMSAT-UK)

Four ham-sats, along with three research satellites, were launched on April 19 from the Baikonur launch complex in Kazakhstan. Among them is OSSI-1, designed and built in Korea by artist Hojun Song, DS1SBO, using only open-source materials (OSSI stands for Open Source Satellite Initiative). AMSAT-UK reports that Song spent seven years and $100,000 on the project, and Newsline says it's believed that this is the first ham satellite to be developed and built by just one person. More information is available on the OSSI blog at <http://opensat.cc/blog/>.

Antares rocket launches Phonesats toward orbit
(NASA photo)

An April 21 launch from NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility in Virginia lofted a trio of "phonesats" into orbit, so-called because they are built around off-the-shelf smartphones. NASA says the phones' abilities to send and receive calls and texts were disabled before launch and that they were connected to higher-powered (amateur) transmitters. The three phonesats were dubbed Alexander, Graham, and Bell. Graham and Bell were sending photos from their smartphone cameras via AX.25 packet. For more info, see <www.phonesat.org>.

ARRL Launches $10 Million Fundraising Effort

As it approaches its centennial in 2014, the ARRL has launched the Second Century Campaign in an effort to raise $10 million to assure funding of future programs. According to the ARRL Letter, the campaign has already raised over $4 million in donations and pledges, and hopes to raise the remaining $6 million by the end of its centennial year.

Boston Marathon Update: All Hams Reported Safe

Jeremy Breef-Pilz, KB1REQ, a ham radio operator working communications in the finish area, reported on on Twitter that all hams at the Marathon are safe:

"@KB1REQ: All #HamRadio volunteers for the #BostonMarathon are safe.  We complied with evacuation orders, not an incident for us to be involved in."

 

(Tnx to KB1REQ via WA3PZO)

Boston Marathon Explosion Update

Update ... CBS News is reporting that Boston Police says there are at least two deaths and 22 injuries as a result of explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon; and that Marathon officials are describing the blasts as being caused by bombs. Still no word on whether any hams were among the injured.

Explosions Reported at Boston Marathon Finish Line; Unknown Whether Hams Among Injured

The Associated Press is reporting two explosions at the finish line of today's Boston Marathon, resulting in an as-yet unknown number of injuries. Amateur radio operators have long provided course communications for the event and we assume there were hams among those at the finish line. We do not know at this time whether any hams were among the injured. Updates will be provided here as additional information becomes available.

Dayton Withdraws Amateur of the Year Award

The Dayton Amateur Radio Association, sponsor of the annual Dayton Hamvention (R), has withdrawn its 2013 Radio Amateur of the Year Award, initially awarded to Mustapha Landoulsi, DL1BDF.

According to a post on the Hamvention website: "We have received conflicting information from credible sources regarding the accuracy of the winning nomination. The General Chairman of Hamvention this year, Charles Kaiser, received these reports and followed up to verify their accuracy. Unfortunately this changes the way we score for the Amateur of the Year award and since the competition was close with other nominees the outcome would have been different. Based on all of this research the decision has been made by the Hamvention General Chairman not to award the Amateur of the Year for 2013."

Landoulsi, a retired airline pilot, had been recognized for work in promoting and developing amateur radio in the Middle East and for organizing delivery of emergency medical equipment and medication to countries in Africa.

There was no indication from DARA regarding the nature of the "conflicting information" or any additional details regarding its action. This is the first time since the award was first presented in 1955 that an award has been withdrawn after being announced, and the first time that the Amateur of the Year award has not been presented. The decision has no impact on this year's other Hamvention awards - Technical Achievement, Special Achievement and Club of the Year - which will be presented as originally announced. (Tnx WA6ITF)

Terry Zivney, N4TZ, Named Director of CQ WPX Contests

(Courtesy Ball State University
Photographic Services)

(Hicksville, NY) March 27, 2013 -- Terry Zivney, N4TZ, has been named Director of the CQ World Wide WPX Contests, effective immediately, CQ Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, announced today. Terry succeeds Randy Thompson, K5ZD, who has been WPX Contest Director since 2008 and recently was named Director of the CQ World Wide DX Contests.

Licensed since 1961, Zivney has held N4TZ since 1977 and has had numerous top-five USA finishes in the single-op/all-band (SOAB) low power category of CQWW, CQWPX (as KS9K), and ARRL DX contests.  He also competed in the 2010 World Radiosport Team Championship in Russia, and has had three articles published in the National Contest Journal.

Professionally, Zivney will retire in May 2013 from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana as the Maxon Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Finance and Insurance.  In the 1970s he worked as an electrical engineer at Scientific Atlanta and Computer Sciences Corporation.

"As a long-time low power contester," said N4TZ, "I especially appreciate the WPX contest because its unique mix of exotic DX and plentiful domestic contacts ensures that great fun will be had by all participants regardless of the propagation conditions.  I look forward to harnessing the momentum this contest has developed under the leadership of K5ZD and respecting the legacy of former directors K6AW, N8BJQ, and W8IMZ."

CQ Publisher Ross noted that "in my early talks with Terry, he has already offered several innovative ideas. Plus, he brings with him the valuable perspective of the low-power contester. I am looking forward to working with him as WPX Contest Director."

The CQ World Wide WPX Contests are the second-most popular amateur radio contests in the world (after the CQ World Wide DX Contests). The SSB portion of the 2013 WPX Contest is this weekend, March 30-31; the CW weekend is in May. Any questions regarding the 2013 WPX Contests should be directed to Terry via e-mail to <director@cqwpx.com>.

We thank K5ZD for his dedicated service to the WPX Contests and look forward to a seamless transition to N4TZ's administration of the event.

FCC Chairman Stepping Down

FCC Chairman Julius
Genachowski (W2VU photo)

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced today (March 22) that he would be resigning from the Commission within the next few weeks. Named to the FCC in 2009 by President Obama, Genachowski has focused on improving morale within the Commission and promoting the rapid growth of high-speed broadband Internet. He also has been very supportive of amateur radio and even visited the Dayton Hamvention in 2011.

Genachowski made his announcement at an FCC staff meeting. He did not say why he decided not to complete his five-year term.

FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell announced earlier this week that he would also be stepping down. 

Nominations Open for Young Ham of the Year - Deadline May 30

Do you know a young ham who is already making a significant contribution to the hobby or his/her community? If so, consider a nomination for Newsline's annual Young Ham of the Year award. The award is open US and Canadian hams age 18 or younger who have provided outstanding service to amateur radio or to his/her community or nation. Simply being licensed at a young age is not sufficient.

The 2012 Young Ham of the Year ceremony at the Huntsville
Hamfest. From left, Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW; CQ
Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU; 2012 Young Ham of the Year
Erin King, AK4JG (now a freshman at MIT); Bob Heil, K9EID,
of Heil Sound, and Yaesu's Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV.
CQ, Yaesu and Heil Sound are corporate co-sponsors
of the Young Ham of the Year award. (K0NEB photo)

The nomination deadline is May 30, 2013. Forms and complete information may be found online at <http://www.arnewsline.org/YHOTY> or by sending an SASE to 2013 Young Ham of the Year Award, c/o Newsline, 28197 Robin Ave., Santa Clarita, CA 91350. CQ is a corporate co-sponsor of the Newsline Young Ham of the Year award, along with Yaesu and Heil Sound.

Correction/Update on FCC Docket Number

FCC Commissioner Jessica
Rosenworcel encourages hams
to file comments regarding
amateur radio emergency
communications in the
Commission's ongoing inquiry
into reliability of the nation's
telecommunications network,
Docket 11-60. (FCC photo)

Updating an item posted previously in the CQ Newsroom … the docket number we were given for filing comments on the FCC's Network Reliability inquiry (DA 13-140) apparently is incorrect. The proceeding has actually been open for quite a while and comments may be filed using proceeding number 11-60 on the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), which may be accessed at <http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/>. - Tnx W6EM

Hamvention® Award Winners Span the Globe

   In line with the DXing theme of this year's Dayton Hamvention®, the Dayton Amateur Radio Association has selected people from three different continents as 2013 Hamvention award winners.

   Retired airline pilot Mustapha Landoulsi, DL1BDF, has been named Amateur of the Year, in recognition of his work in promoting and developing amateur radio in the Middle East and for organizing delivery of emergency medical equipment and medication to countries in Africa.

   The 2013 Technical Excellence Award is shared by Dave Witten, KD0EAG, and David Rowe, VK5DGR, for development of FreeDV, a program that encodes high-quality digital voice in a bandwidth of 1.125 kHz, less than half that of a single-sideband transmission.

   George Thomas, W5JDX, will receive the 2013 Special Achievement Award for his work promoting building and other technical topics on internet TV programs HamNation and AmateurLogic TV.

   Finally, the West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Group in Florida has been named Club of the Year, in recognition of its work with the South Florida Science Museum, youth recruitment and other activities. 

Congratulations to all!

Florida Ham Hit with $25k Fine

The FCC has issued a Notice of Apparent Liability in the amount of $25,000 to a Florida ham who the Commission says repeatedly interfered with Sheriff's Department communications at the Brevard County Jail. According to the FCC, Terry VanVolkenberg, KC5RF, of Cocoa, Florida, was identified as the source of interfering radio transmissions on 465.300 MHz. The Commission says the interference included transmission of vulgar language, sound effects, previously-recorded prison communications and threats to take over the jail and shoot a deputy. The amount of the proposed fine is based on what the FCC terms "particularly egregious" misconduct. VanVolkenberg was given the usual 30 days to either make payment arrangements or file a formal appeal.

"Just Like Twitter, Only More Advanced…"

Mandy Baxter (Molly Ephraim) talks on ham radio during
a recent episode of "Last Man Standing" on ABC.
(Photo courtesy "Last Man Standing")

That's the assessment of ham radio made by Mandy Baxter, the character played by Molly Ephraim on the ABC-TV comedy, "Last Man Standing." In an episode that aired in mid-March, the teenaged Mandy has been banned from her computer and cell-phone until she improves her history grades. She gets on the air from her father's ham station, though, and declares it to be "just like Twitter, only more advanced (since) you don't have to type!" In the program, hams who she contacts provide help with her paper. If you missed the show when it aired, you may watch it online at <http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/last-man-standing>. It is Show 217, titled "The Fight." Producer John Amodeo, NN6JA, will have an article about the making of the episode in an upcoming issue of CQ.

Montana Hams Get New Legal Protections

Montana State Representative Pat Connell, WA7PDC, (L),
and ARRL Section Manager-elect George Forsyth, AA7GS
(center), watch as Governor Steve Bullock signs into law
new protections for Montana hams. Connell was the bill's
sponsor. (Photo courtesy governor.mt.gov)

Montana Governor Steve Bullock signed a new law in February exempting licensed amateurs in the state from distracted driving laws and setting a minimum height of 100 feet below which local authorities may note regulate amateur radio towers, according to the ARRL Letter. House Bill 148 was sponsored by state Representative Pat Connell, who is also WA7PDC.

XE1L, G3VA, Silent Keys

Luis Chartarifsky, XE1L (SK)
(K0NEB photo)

A sad ending to the TX5A DXpedition to Clipperton Island. After returning to San Diego, noted DXer and team member Luis Chartarifsky, XE1L, suffered a fatal heart attack. This was Luis's tenth major DXpedition, in addition to smaller operations from over a dozen countries. The news was first reported on the DX Coffee Facebook page.

Pat Hawker, G3VA (SK)
(Photo courtesy RSGB)

The ARRL reports that longtime RadCom columnist and Radio Society of Great Britain Life Vice President Pat Hawker, G3VA, became a Silent Key in February at age 90. Hawker wrote the bi-monthly "Technical Topics" column in RadCom for 50 years before stepping down in 2008. Many of his columns have been collected in Technical Topics books offered by RSGB. A ham since 1938, his radio skills were put to good use in World War II, during which he served in military intelligence for both the UK and the Netherlands.

CQ Launches Online Photo Gallery

The "CQ Garage" section of the CQ Photo Gallery
features ham radio license plates from all over.
[Photo courtesy Portage Co. (OH) Amateur Radio Service]

 

CQ magazine has launched a photo gallery on the "flickr" online photo site to supplement photos published in the magazine. According to Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, "we both shoot and receive many more photos than we are able to print, but we still want to share many of them with our readers. The new CQ Photo Gallery allows us to do that." Initial sets of photos include CQ cover images, the "CQ Garage" featuring ham radio license plates from all over, and photos from the FCC's February field hearing on lessons learned from Superstorm Sandy. The gallery may be accessed at <http://www.flickr.com/photos/cqphotogallery/sets>.

APRS Underground

Map of underground APRS network set up by WB4APR
at Mammoth Cave, Kentucky.
(From aprs.org website)

Some of the radio gear used in the underground
APRS experiment. (From aprs.org website)

Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) developer Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, has successfully set up an underground communica- tion network in Kentucky's Mammoth Cave, the world's longest known cave system. The ARRL Letter reports that Bruninga, a senior research engineer at the U.S. Naval Academy, set up the system as an experiment in extending the range of underground communications. Normal VHF and UHF radios must be in line of sight of each other and generally have a range of no more than a few hundred feet, according to Bruninga. But by setting up APRS transceivers as packet digipeaters, his team was able to set up a network covering nearly a mile. He also discovered that UHF worked better than VHF, making it possible for cavers without amateur licenses to set up similar links using inexpensive and license-free Family Radio Service equipment.

AMSAT Preparing for Two Launch Opportunities

AMSAT's "RadFxSat" cubesat (Fox-1B) has been selected by NASA for launch in the fourth round of the space agency's Cubesat Launch Initiative. The Fox-1 satellite had been chosen in the intiative's third round and construction is scheduled to be completed later this year. The RadFxSat should be ready to fly in the second half of 2014, according to the AMSAT News Service (ANS). Both satellites include UHF/VHF analog FM transponders, will support high-speed digital data transmissions are designed to host advanced science payloads.


It is this ability to carry science payloads and AMSAT's recent focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education that has moved AMSAT's proposals to the "head of the class" in the NASA program, according to the group. AMSAT is still responsible for design and construction costs, but NASA will pay for the satellite launches, normally the most expensive aspect of an amateur satellite project. No specific launch dates have been set as of press time.

Along the same lines, ANS reports that AMSAT and Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) have signed a collaboration agreement to jointly develop future satellite projects. The agreement was signed by AMSAT President Barry Baines and Virginia Tech Assistant Vice President John Rudd. Projects will be coordinated by AMSAT's Vice President of Engineering, Tony Monteiro, AA2TX, and Virginia Tech Professor Bob McGwier, N4HY.

Smartphone-based Ham Satellite Now in Orbit

Dr. Susan Jason works on the
STRaND-1 satellite.
(Courtesy AMSAT-UK website)

The University of Surrey - a pioneer in amateur radio satellite development in the United Kingdom (old-timers may recall the UoSat series) - has launched the UK's first cubesat, called STRaND-1. According to Newsline, the satellite is built around a Google Nexus One smartphone with an Android operating system. It carries an amateur radio packet downlink which transmits on 437.568 MHz. The purpose of the project was to demonstrate the feasibility of using a smartphone to control a spacecraft. Its signals were first heard in Sudan by Nader Omer, ST2NH, soon after its February 25th launch and deployment. Follow the mission online at <http://bit.ly/XBem9u>.

Ham Radio to be Featured on Tonight's "Last Man Standing" on ABC

Ham radio will be featured on tonight's broadcast of "Last Man Standing," on ABC at 8pm East and West, 7pm Central. Episode 217, "The Fight." - Be sure to tune in! (Tnx producer John Amodeo, NN6JA)

Hector Elizando's character, Ed Alzate, uses ham radio to communicate from the Amazon on
tonight's episode of "Last Man Standing" on ABC. (Photo courtesy "Last Man Standing")

Microsoft blocking ARRL.NET/.ORG e-mail

The ARRL reports that it is working with Microsoft to lift a block placed on e-mail to/from its members who use arrl.net or arrl.org addresses in conjunction with e-mail accounts on hotmail.com, msn.com, live.com and outlook.com. The League says more than 20,000 of its members are affected, and that its information technology staff is working to get normal e-mail forwarding restored as quickly as possible. There was no indication as to the reason for Microsoft's action.

FCC Commissioner: Hams Should Comment on "Network Reliability" Proceeding

FCC Commissioners Ajit Pai and Jessica Rosenworcel
at Commission field hearing in New Jersey on lessons
learned from superstorm Sandy. (W2VU photo)

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel has asked CQ to encourage readers to file written comments on the role of amateur radio in providing communications in large-scale disasters as part of its ongoing inquiry into "network resilience and reliability" in the wake of superstorm Sandy. The first hearing as part of that inquiry was held on February 5 in New York City and New Jersey. A second hearing was scheduled in California on February 28.

The docket number is 11-60, titled "Notice of Inquiry into Network Continuity and Reliability." Comments may be filed via the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), which may be accessed at <http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/>.

Additional photos and information from the hearing may be found in the CQ Photo Gallery at <http://bit.ly/XiDtge>.

NOTE: Proceeding number above has been updated as of 3/19/13. The original docket number we were given, DA 13-140, does not seem to be recognized by the ECFS. Docket 11-60 is an ongoing proceeding on network reliability, on which comments related to Sandy have been filed by the Commission as well as by individuals.

Red Cross to Phase Out ECRVs

The American Red Cross had decided to phase out its Emergency Communications Response Vehicles (ECRVs) that have been a ubiquitous part of its presence at the scene of major disasters over the past decade. According to the ARRL, the move is part of a long-term strategy to move toward more portable communications systems that will be able to be used in any vehicle.

(Courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

 The League says the Red Cross has assured it that the move will in no way decrease its reliance on amateur radio and amateur radio operators as part of its disaster response. It quoted Red Cross Disaster Services Technology Manager Keith Robertory, KG4UIR, as noting that, "(i)n a disaster, amateur radio will be the fastest-deployed radio network because operators already live in the impacted communities." He says local Red Cross chapters should continue and improve existing relationships with local hams.

IARU Region 2 Seeks HF Band Plan Input - March 1 Deadline

Possible updates to the HF band plan for North and South America will be on the agenda at this year's conference of Region 2 of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), and input is sought on suggested changes … but there is a March 1 deadline. The band plan is voluntary and specific regulations of government agencies such as the FCC take precedence. According to the ARRL, interested hams should study the current bandplan at <http://www.iaru-2.org/band-plan> and e-mail any suggested changes by March 1 to their national association. A list of contact information is at <http://www.iaru-2.org/directory>.

ARRL Board Sets 2013 Legislative Agenda

One of the major actions of the ARRL Board of Directors at its January meeting was to set priorities for seeking legislative action in the 113th Congress, which will serve through 2013 and 2014. Top of the list is an attempt to get a bill through Congress to require the FCC to extend its "reasonable accommodation" rule for amateur antennas and towers to include private land use agreements (CC&Rs) in addition to state and local laws.

Also high on the list, according to the ARRL Letter, is opposition to legislation that "would lead to the reallocation of amateur spectrum or to sharing arrangements that reduce the utility of existing allocations," and to bills that would diminish the rights of licensed stations in favor of unlicensed technologies. That goal appears to be getting an immediate test (see next item).

FCC Proposes Greater Sharing of 5 GHz Ham Band for Unlicensed Wi-Fi Devices

The FCC in late February issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (FCC 13-22) seeking to provide an additional 195 megahertz of spectrum in the 5 GHz band for unlicensed Wi-Fi use, as well as other broadband services. Amateurs currently have a secondary allocation on the band between 5.650 and 5.925 GHz, and since 1997, 100 MHz of that allocation (5.725-5.825 GHz) has been shared with unlicensed "National Information Infrastructure" users. The new proposal would extend that shared spectrum to include 5.850-5.925 GHz, effectively making all but 100 MHz of the amateur allocation on the band shared with unlicensed Wi-Fi devices.

Ham Leads Team Developing New Weather App

Kim Elmore, N5OP
(NOAA Photo)

There's a new winter weather "app" available for Apple and Android mobile devices that helps forecasters get a clearer picture of ground conditions, and a ham is the leader of the team that developed it. Dr. Kim Elmore, N5OP, is a research meteorologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and was Principal Investigator on the project to develop the free "mPING" app.

The ARRL Letter reports that users of mPING, which stands for "mobile Precipitation Identification Near the Ground," may simply select the type of precipitation that is falling at their location -- such as rain, snow, sleet or hail -- and press submit. Time and location of the observation are automatically included with the report.

Ham Episode to Air on "Last Man Standing"

Ham radio has finally played a part in an episode of ABC's comedy "Last Man Standing," starring Tim Allen as outdoorsman Mike Baxter. An episode taped in February and scheduled to air in mid-March includes a cast member (not Allen) calling in from a portable HF station while hiking in the Amazon.

Baxter's real ham station and fictional call sign, KA0XTT, have been fixtures on the show for the past two seasons, but only in the background.


The program airs Friday nights at 8 Eastern and Pacific time, 7 Central, on ABC. If you missed the episode (#217), it should also be available for viewing online via the "ABC Player" app or from the ABC website.

ARRL Board Establishes ad hoc Logbook Committee

In the wake of high-profile crashes and slowdowns of the ARRL's Logbook of the World (LoTW) online confirmation system, the League's board of directors has established an ad hoc committee to review current policies and practices, user issues and, according to the ARRL Letter, "the economic value of an LoTW award point or credit." The committee will deliver a preliminary report to the full board at its next meeting in July.

There is no indication of how or whether the committee's work may affect plans to introduce LoTW support for CQ's Worked All Zones (WAZ) award later this year.

Update: No Call Sign for Serbian Prime Minister

Ivica Dacic
(Courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Last year, the ARRL reported on its website (and we reported on the League's report here) that then newly-elected Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic was a licensed amateur, holding the call sign YU1YU. The League now says that's only partially correct. It seems that the Prime Minister did pass his license exam and was a member of a radio club, but had never applied for a personal call sign. Apparently, receiving a call sign in Serbia is not automatic after passing an amateur license exam, but must be requested. YU1YU was suggested to Dacic as a possible call, says the ARRL, but he never followed up.

Hammond Mfg. to Take Over Peter Dahl Transformer Line

Hammond Manufacturing of Guelph, Ontario and Cheektowaga, New York, is the new manufacturer of the Peter Dahl line of transformers and other magnetic products. Peter Dahl transformers have been staples among both amateur and professional builders for decades and have been manufactured since Dahl's death several years ago by Harbach Electronics. In early February, Harbach's Jeff Weinberg, W8CQ, announced that his company would be discontinuing the line, but followed up soon after with the announcement that Hammond had agreed in principle to acquire the Peter Dahl line. The deal was to be completed by March 31. For more information, see <http:harbachelectronics.com> and/or <http://www.hammondmfg.com>.

New IRC "Model" Introduced

The ARRL Letter reports that the Universal Postal Union has rolled out a new "model" of the International Reply Coupon, or IRC. Known as the Doha model, the new coupons will become available on July 1, 2013 and will be good through December 31, 2017. The current "Nairobi" model IRCs are valid through December 31, 2013. The U.S. Postal Service no longer sells IRCs but post offices in the U.S. must redeem them and they may still be purchased in other countries.

Hams Take Part in ISS "Dead Zone" Experiment

No, it's not Zombies in Space, but rather an experiment to see the extent to which "exhaust" from new electric thruster engines may disrupt radio communications. According to the AMSAT News Service these new thrusters, which NASA is planning to use for future space exploration missions, produce highly-ionized plumes of space plasma that have a side-effect of scattering RF signals. The experiments carried out in early February, used the International Space Station's amateur radio packet beacon on 145.825 MHz to help determine the size, shape and duration of the RF "shadow" that would result each time a thruster is fired. Participating ham stations noted the times at which the beacon signals disappeared and reappeared as the ISS flew over their locations. More information about the experiment may be found at <http://bit.ly/sEKOJd>.

Roundup: Spectrum Changes for World Hams

Iceland has joined the growing list of countries permitting amateurs to operate on 472-479 kHz, as a result of action at last year's World Radiocommunication Conference to create a worldwide secondary amateur allocation on the band. The ARRL Letter reported that the new privileges became effective on January 16. Still no FCC action to establish an amateur allocation on these frequencies in the U.S.

Newsline reports that hams in Greenland and Sweden have new or expanded access to the 60-meter (5 MHz) band, and the ARRL says amateurs in Australia may lose their privileges on 2300-2302 MHz. The Wirelesss Institute of Australia is opposing the move, claiming it will cut off Australian hams from pursuing Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) contacts on the band with hams in other parts of the world.

PSK-31 Code Gets ITU Official "Seal of Approval"

The code behind the popular PSK-31 digital mode has now been officially endorsed by the International Telecommunication Union and given its own "recommendation" number. The ARRL reports that the technical characteristics of "Varicode," developed by Peter Martinez, G3PLX, in the 1990s and which serves as the underpinning of PSK-31, has been officially enshrined by the ITU as Recommendation ITU-R M.2034, Telegraphic Alphabet for Data Communication by Phase Shift Keying at 31 Baud in the Amateur and Amateur Satellite Services.
 

ARRL CEO Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, says the primary value of the designation is that it "provides further documentation in an important international forum of radio amateurs' continuing creativity and contributions to the art and science of radio communication."

ITU Regulations Available for Free Download

Speaking of the ITU, an electronic version of its 2012 International Radio Regulations may be downloaded at no charge from the ITU website at <http://www.itu.int/pub/R-REG-RR-2012>. This update includes decisions of international radio conferences going back to 1995. The relevant section for hams is Article 25. If you prefer a hard copy, it is also available, but at a cost of more than $400 US.

High Speed Telegraphy Championships

The 2013 World High Speed Telegraphy
Championship will be held in Bulgaria.

So you think your code skills are world-class? Here's a chance to put them to the test: The Bulgarian Federation of Radio Amateurs will host the 11th World High Speed Telegraphy Championship in September. Newsline reports the event will be held in the city of Borovets between September 22 and 26, and that competitors from all over the world are invited to participate. More information is available at <www.bfra.org> or by e-mail to <bfra_hq@hotmail.com>.