Volume 26, Number 6 June, 1996

Copyright © 1996 by EMARC

JUNE MEETING

FIELD DAY

Field Day Volunteers still needed!

We need someone with a pickup truck who can drive a trailer from Burlingame to Los Altos the week before field day 17-20.

A RV or other temporary housing to house one of the operating stations for the weekend.

A volunteer to captain the SSB station.

NEWSLETTER BY EMAIL

IN THE HOSPITAL

LAST MINUTE ITEMS

TALK IN frequency for EMARC FIELD DAY is the 145.23 - 100 repeater. If you suddenly find yourself available to help out with moving equipment in the week before field day, we will be listening on that repeater.

Please note Peter Johnson's ad has a new Web address. investorlink.com. ---> greenjungle.com. We were afraid to ask the significance, but you can.
 
 

JAMMERS AGAIN

Maybe we should be prepared next year with a combined Bike-A-Thon and transmitter hunt. It would be unique and could gain some publicity. Did I mention the terrain? Finding a transmitter in that area would be a real challenge and would help a good cause. Anybody care to try it?

Someone asked me why we have our field day at the seminary. I told them it was because the ground was holy and just sucked the electrons in.
-- DW
 
 

EMARC announcement mailing list

EMARC Relay

Contributions to the newsletter from members, family, and guests are earnestly solicited! Contributions subject to editing and/or compression. ASCII files via packet, Internet or diskettes preferred; but all readable forms welcome. Here are the various ways to reach the editor:

Packet: KD6WRG@N0ARY.#NOCAL.CA
Internet: dwilkes@svpal.org
CompuServe: 71242,3255;
AOL: davewilkes
VHF voice: KD6WRG on W6APZ, 145.23- (100Hz PL) 10AM net weekdays; EMARC net Thursdays 8 PM; Various other times.
Mail: 1093 Kelly Drive, San Jose CA 95129-3222
Voice: 408-996-1613 (Until 9 PM); Fax: 408-725-1036
Eyeball: at EMARC meetings.

 Fee-only
Investment Services
(No Commissions)
14 Years Industry Experience
Individuals, Trusts, Retirement Plans
No-Load Mutual Funds
Personal Account Statements
Peter W. Johnson, Jr., PFP(KN6MO)
Registered Investment Advisor
408-747-1222

www.greenjungle.com

TELEPHONE NUMBERS INTERNET ADDRESSES WEB SITES

LOCAL EXAM SITES AND SCHEDULES

06/30/96,S,Sunnyvale,94086,408-255-9000,Sunnyvale VEC
07/02/96,S,Fremont,94537,408-255-9000,Sunnyvale VEC
07/06/96,A,Cupertino,95014,408-243-8349, Emmett Freitas
07/13/96,S,Sunnyvale,94086,408-255-9000, Sunnyvale VEC
07/20/96,A,Cupertino,95014,408-243-8349, Emmett Freitas
07/20/96,S,Redwood City,94063,408-255-9000, Sunnyvale VEC
07/21/96,S,Berkeley,94704,408-255-9000, Sunnyvale VEC
07/28/96,S,Sunnyvale,94086,408-255-9000, Sunnyvale VEC
08/03/96,A,Cupertino,95014,408-243-8349, Emmett Freitas
08/06/96,S,Fremont,94537,408-255-9000, Sunnyvale VEC
08/10/96,S,Sunnyvale,94086,408-255-9000, Sunnyvale VEC
08/17/96,A,Cupertino,95014,408-243-8349, Emmett Freitas
08/17/96,S,Redwood City,94063,408-255-9000, Sunnyvale VEC
08/25/96,S,Sunnyvale,94086,408-255-9000, Sunnyvale VEC
09/03/96,S,Fremont,94537,408-255-9000, Sunnyvale VEC
09/07/96,A,Cupertino,95014,408-243-8349, Emmett Freitas

The Cupertino exam is sponsored by TRAC and is held at Tandem, 19333 Vallco Parkway, Cupertino. The 1st and 3rd Sat of each month from 8 to noon.

 DeLong Consulting
Internet - Firewalls - E-Mail - UNIX
Bridging the gap - Your net Internet

Owen DeLong
Consultant

3251 Firth Way, San Jose, CA 95121
408-322-3741 - Fax: 408-532-9362
Email: Owen@DeLong.COM

EMARC Calendar of Events

Regularly-scheduled events:

The Station Open House program for 1996 is expanding! Omri, AA6TA, will host open houses on Tuesdays from 7 to 9 PM local time on an "as available" basis. The emphasis in the Tuesday open houses will be satellite operations and HF digital modes (RTTY, AMTOR, etc.). Please check with Omri (he is available virtually anytime on the W6APZ repeater, 145.230-, 100PL before coming. This is in addition to the Wednesday open houses, typically hosted by Bob, KD6VIO. The station open houses are for EMARC members and their invited guests only. Please do not discuss on the air the exact location of the station.

EMARC NET is held every Thursday at 8 PM on the W6APZ repeater, 145.230-; the 100 Hz PL is off for the net.

10 AM net. Weekdays at 10 AM on W6APZ, 145.23- (100Hz PL). A very informal rag chew net with mostly EMARC members.

Foothill Flea Market: 2nd Saturday (starts pre-dawn), March thru September. Bring 4 quarters for the parking meters. At Foothill College, just west of I-280 at the El Monte/Moody Rd. exit in Los Altos. Talk-in: 145.27-

Project OSCAR meets following each Foothill Flea Market about 11 AM at Harry's Hofbrau in Mt. View, 399 El Camino Real at Bonita St., north of Grant and south of Castro, on the west side of the street.

No formal program - just get to know each other and (if you wish) have lunch together

PS There is a Project OSCAR / AMSAT net every Wednesday evening at 19:30 local time on the W6APZ repeater, 145.230-, 100 Hz PL. All hams welcome - you do not need to be active on the satellites to participate.

Livermore Flea Market: 1st Sunday (starts 7 AM) year round, rain or shine. At Las Positas College, Airway Blvd. exit off I-580 just west of Livermore. Talk-in 147.120+ or 145.35-(100Hz PL). Parking is free.
 
 

The NorCal QRP Club meets following the Livermore flea market at 11 AM at the California Burger in Pleasanton, about. 2 miles from the flea market.
 
 

T-hunts: See the February, 1995 RELAY under Carrier Detect (page 6). Difficulty Levels: 1 - very easy; 2 - simple; 3 - average; 4 - hard; 5 - very hard; 6 - "never find it". For latest info and directions, call Rich KN6FW, 510-462-1467, or via packet at KN6FW@WA6YHJ. #NOCAL
 
 

Amsat net. Wednesdays at 19:30 on the WA6PWW repeater, 147.015+, as well as the W6APZ repeater, 145.230-, 100 PL. Net control: Bill, AA6PA.
 
 

10-10 Net. The local net for 10 meters enthusiasts meets every Monday at 8 PM on 28.475 MHz; net control: Neal, WA6OCP.
 
 

June 22-23 Field Day Remember that Field Day is the fourth weekend of June, not the last weekend. Don't show up a week late.

August 10 Foothill Flea Market. Sunrise 'til Noon. Sponsor: EMARC.

October 19-20 Boy Scouts Jamboree On The Air (JOTA). Contact AA6PZ, Paul for more information.

HAVE THEY NO SENSE OF DECENCY?

CW BOOTLEGGER A Morse Code bootlegger is on the air using the call sign of a deceased ham. KJ7EO reports via packet radio that he has been receiving QSL Cards from station's claiming that they have made CW contacts with Irwin Hubenthal, AB7F. Well KJ7EO happens to be Dale Hubenthal who says that AB7F was his father who passed away three years ago. Dale says that he is sorry to say that the contacts made to AB7F, most on 40 meter cw, were to a bootlegger rather than to his dad who was a truly great ham.

George Raven sent me page 1 of 12 of Jim Lomasney's A Field Day plan For the Foothills Club. from December, 1966. Jim did the Field Day statistics and paperwork, keeping order in the midst of chaos. We will have to get a complete copy for historical purposes.

STOP THE PRESSES! Last week we had a special edition of the Pacific Division Update containing an advance copy of the July 1996 editorial for QST. That editorial asked all hands to write to five individuals connected with preparations for WRC-97. A gratifying number of you wrote last week (on a national basis, over 1,000 messages were received by FCC). So many wrote, in fact, that the FCC has set up new procedures for receiving "interested parties" comments on the WRC-97 process. A last minute change was therefore made to the editorial, just before the July issue of QST was to go to press. A copy of the revised editorial is given below, in its entirety. The most significant change is related to those new FCC procedures. The FCC has asked that all WRC-97 comments from "interested parties" be directed to a single, central location. E-mail should be sent to wrc97@fcc.gov. Written comments with an original plus one copy, should be sent to: Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554. Each comment, both written and via e-mail, should include at the top, "Reference No. ISP-96-005" and "Advisory Committee Informal Working Group 2A." The revised editorial follows:

Editorial -- July 1996 QST ---It Seems To Us --- Write Now! Get out a pen and paper, or boot up your computer. There's work to be done! Your help is needed to defend two meters and 70 cm. Yes, that's right--the two most popular and most crowded amateur VHF/UHF bands! But don't panic, and don't "go ballistic." Here's what's happening, and what you can do about it. The United States is preparing for the 1997 ITU World Radiocommunication Conference, WRC-97. In the past, the public has been able to participate in the preparations for such conferences by responding to FCC Notices of Inquiry. In March, the FCC announced a streamlining of its International Bureau's preparatory processes for WRCs. Under the new scheme, the NOIs have been eliminated in favor of increased emphasis on WRC Advisory Committees. For WRC-97, a series of Informal Working Groups (IWGs) of the Advisory Committee has been created to address specific agenda items. The output of each IWG will go directly to a joint FCC-NTIA-Department of State Steering Committee of the Advisory Committee. There, draft proposals as received from the IWGs will be reviewed and forwarded to the FCC for possible release as preliminary US proposals for public comment. In announcing the streamlined WRC preparatory process, the FCC tried to reassure those who might be concerned about reduced opportunities for public participation: "Interested parties should note that input to the Advisory Committee may be sent at any time...." A pre-press version of this editorial, circulated far and wide by e-mail and packet radio, caused so much input to be generated--more than 1,000 comments in less than a week--that the FCC had to modify its procedures to cope with the deluge! Hold that thought while we shift gears to the substance of the issue. One of the WRC-97 agenda items includes consideration of possible additional frequency allocations for the mobile- satellite service. So-called "little LEOs," low-earth orbit satellites below 1 GHz, already have allocations. Their proponents claim these are inadequate and are trying for more. The needs of little LEOs are being addressed in IWG- 2A, chaired by Warren Richards of the Department of State. The ARRL technical relations staff participates in IWG-2A to represent Amateur Radio interests. At the May 7 IWG-2A meeting, an industry representative presented a list of "candidate bands" for little LEOs. The list included a number of bands that would negatively impact existing services, and does not include others that would appear to be technically more feasible but to which strong objection from incumbents could be expected --- the point being that some political, rather than purely technical, judgment already has influenced the list. We have asked for, but to date have been given no explanation of why some bands were included and not others. Incredibly, 144-148 and 420-450 MHz were included on the list! This is the first time in memory that another service has been proposed for the two-meter amateur band. We must make sure it is also the last time. We do not need to explain to ARRL members the extensive use that is made of these bands by amateurs. The two bands provide the backbone of our local public service communications effort. Voice and data, mobile and fixed, even television--the list of present amateur uses is a long one, and of future uses is even longer. Both are already used for satellite services and for moonbounce and extended- range terrestrial operations requiring extremely sensitive receivers and high levels of effective radiated power. Apparently we did need to explain all this to the little LEO industry representatives, so we did just that--both at the meeting and in a follow-up letter on May 15. We also explained that we had to regard the matter as extremely serious. No one with the slightest background in radiocommunication could possibly believe that a mobile- satellite service could be introduced into either band without disrupting existing and future amateur operations. Therefore, we said, if we did not receive assurance that they would be taken off the list of candidate bands by the deadline for this issue of QST, we would have no choice but to bring the matter to the attention of the entire membership. The response we received was unsatisfactory. In effect, we were told the little LEO industry would consider our views but that until their spectrum needs are satisfied, all bands must remain under consideration. So, this is a call to action. We must get across to the industry and government participants in IWG-2A that the 144- 148 MHz and 420-450 MHz bands cannot be considered as candidates for mobile-satellite services. We need to drive the point home so forcefully, with so many grassroots responses, that no one is ever tempted to try this again. Which brings us back to that invitation for "interested parties" to send input "at any time." There's no time like the present! According to the Commission's new procedures, comments by e-mail should be sent to: wrc97@fcc.gov. Written comments, with an original plus one copy, should be sent to: Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554. Each comment should include at the top, "Reference No. ISP-96-005" and "Advisory Committee Informal Working Group 2A." FCC staff assures us that comments will be given prompt consideration, and asks that parties refrain from filing comments in accordance with previous instructions. Do comment. But be civil. Don't abuse people who are simply doing their jobs. We have to get across that casting covetous eyes on amateur bands is counterproductive, and contrary to the public interest. To accomplish this we need a lot of comments, including yours. But remember that the objective is to educate and persuade, not to intimidate. We don't need to. The facts are on our side. For the latest news on this particular issue, check the ARRL Home page at www.arrl.org/ and click on "Band Threat News." Then write. Right now!

-- David Sumner, K1ZZ

[I'm very happy I wasn't the only one who, upon reading the above, immediately thought the request for the VHF and UHF bands might be a smoke screen for an attempt to grab ham bands at 900 MHz and above one gigahertz. -- DW]

AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE

When asked his personal opinion on whether or not the code should remain, President Stafford may have surprised many in the audience: "My personal view is that, if I were starting over with amateur radio today, I probably would probably think it not appropriate to have CW to be as a requirement to get on the HF bands." KB6ZU

President Stafford did place one caveat on this position. While he favors codefree access to the High Frequency bands, he also feels that overall testing has to get tougher to insure that the quality of operations will be maintained: "I certainly think that it's appropriate that we make the testing system a little more relevant to what is happening. A little more relevant in regards to the technical requirements, a little more relevant with regard to operating knowledge and so forth. You can only learn so much by studying for your test. A lot of it is operational once you get your license. It seems to me we could do a little bit better job, even in the initial testing process, the initial learning process to get people ready to operate Amateur Radio." KB6ZU Rod Stafford emphasizes that the League is only now beginning its inquiry as to what the ham radio public wants to do regarding the future of the Morse code as an examination requirement for high frequency ham radio operation. He says that the committee he has appointed to study the issues has a lot of work to do in the coming months and years before any official ARRL decisions are made, and input from the ham radio community will be solicited. Those interested in hearing President Staffords' complete comments on the no-code issue are invited to call the Rain Dial Up service at (847) 827-Rain. It will be there through June the 6th.

TEEN HAM ARRESTED ON SCANNER CHARGES Christian County Kentucky police have arrested a teenage ham on charges of possessing a piece of ham radio equipment that they say is capable of intercepting police communications. This, even though the radio in question cannot be modified for out of band operation and a state has a law that excludes ham radio operators from the scanner radio ban. This bizarre story started on May 11th when Greg Godsey, KF4BDY, a 16 year old ham from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, was arrested by a local police who charged that the teen was in possession of a scanner that could receive police radio frequencies. But the radio in question is not a scanner. Rather it is a Radio Shack HTX 202 2 meter handheld. A radio that Tandy Corporation says cannot be modified for out of band operation! Complicating this case even further is the arrogance of the local law enforcement and officers of the court handling the case. Reports say that the arresting officers did not bother to check either the radio or a Kentucky law that exempts equipment possessed by a licensed Amateur Radio operator even if it is capable of receiving police frequencies. One officer simply keyed his radio. When he heard noise from Godsey's ham set he arrested the teen age ham and confiscated the HTX 202.

At a court appearance on May 14th, the judge assigned to the case refused to listen to an attorney for Godsey who wanted to point out the exemption for ham radio operators. An exemption that holds federally licensed radio amateurs can own and operate scanner radios. In what local hams are calling a power play by a Kentucky court system that opposes the ham radio exemption, the judge bound KF4BDY over for a trial. Greg Godsey, KF4BDY has been a ham for less than a year and is the ARES Emergency Coordinator for Christian County, Kentucky. He denies that his HTX 202 has been modified to operate out of band. Experts from Tandy are expected to be in Kentucky to testify on his behalf at the trial. As the ham radio community knows, to this day no other ham has successfully modified a HTX 202 for out of band operation without the attempt causing serious or irreparable harm to the radio set.

FCC: NO MORE FREEBAND TRANSCEIVERS Ironically, at about the same time the Largo CBer was being taken into custody, the FCC was issuing a terse reminder to manufacturers and importers of pseudo High Frequency Amateur transceivers. Radios ostensibly marketed for Amateur use, but are in reality intended specifically for the so called Freeband radio operators. These are the renegade CB'ers who routinely operate in the 26 to 28 MHZ frequency range and occasionally wander into the 10 meter ham band. In its May 13 Public Notice, the FCC says that it is a violation of its regulations to import or market a transmitter designed or intended to operate outside the amateur bands. That equipment for non-ham use must be issued a grant of equipment authorization for the radio services it's capable of operating. The notice also emphasizes that transmitters intended for use by FCC authorized radio services except the Amateur Radio Service must be type-accepted before they can be placed on sale. The FCC has long held that it is illegal to import, market or operate a transmitter that requires a grant of equipment authorization but for which no grant has been issued. They say that it is a violation to transmit on frequencies allocated to a licensed radio service without the appropriate Commission issued station license. Violators, say the FCC, will be subject to fines or imprisonment as well as seizure and forfeiture of any equipment in their possession.

Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, editor. Newsline is copyright 1996 All rights reserved.

[Newsline does not allow their articles to be edited when reprinted. I am not responsible for the spelling or grammar. -- DW]

JAPANESE AMATEURS

Kei's practical advice to UHF experimenters: due to sharp QSB, small (30 cm or less) changes in antenna height and/or horizontal location can be crucial, so make those variable. For example, mount a vertical antenna offset from a mast on a rotator, so the horizontal position changes as the rotator operates. A very interesting talk, and well worth the effort.
de Omri AA6TA

LAST MINUTE COMMENTS FROM THE RADIO OFFICER, AA6PZ

1. A large tent or RV to hold some of the VHF/UHF/ Satellite operations.

 2. A captain for HF SSB. AA6PZ is willing to do it [again], however it is time for other people to learn how.

 3. Help with the tear down Sunday afternoon. We have enough bodies, but most of them will be getting tired. Besides, taking towers down is often more exciting than putting them up!
 
 

Paul, AA6PZ

FIELD DAY

Talk in on the 145.23 repeater

DIRECTIONS

From the East Bay: Take 680 or 880 South to North on 280. Exit at Foothill Expressway and turn left at the end of the ramp. Pass the 280 ramps and look for Cristo Rey Dr. on the right.

From the South: Take 85, 87 or 17/880 North to 280 North. Exit at Foothill Expressway and turn left at the end of the ramp. Pass the 280 ramps and look for Cristo Rey Dr. on the right.

From the North: Take 101 South to South on 85, then North on 280. Exit at Foothill Expressway and turn left at the end of the ramp. Pass the 280 ramps and look for Cristo Rey Dr. on the right.

 Take 280 South to Foothill Expressway Exit and turn Right at the end of the ramp. Look for Cristo Rey Drive on the right.

 Take Foothill Expressway South past 280 and look for Cristo Rey Dr. on the right.

ELECTRONICS MUSEUM AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (EMARC)

The annual event is intended to exercise amateur operating skills and gain experience in conditions resembling those that might prevail in the aftermath of a major disaster. Stations must not use commercial power (it will probably be disrupted!), nor use any permanent structures or antennas (they might be damaged).

In emergencies, radio amateurs have on many occasions rendered valuable communications services in support of public safety agencies. Radio amateurs also frequently support civic events with volunteer communications services.

Our club, EMARC, is one of several in this area (and hundreds nationwide) participating in this year's Field Day activities. We expect to operate four stations, including a satellite communications station. We will operate by voice, Morse code, and digital packet radio. The event runs for 24 hours beginning at 11 AM Saturday, June 22. We will be easily accessible near the intersection of Foothill Expressway and I-280, about where Los Altos borders Cupertino.

SENT TO: KNTV-11, KICU-TV, KARA Radio, KSJO Radio, Mercury News, Los Altos Town Crier

We still need your help for FIELD DAY

Put up, take down, operators, contact loggers, pot-luck suppliers, cooks, whatever, EMARC is looking for Field Day volunteers. If interested in helping out, please contact:

First and most important: For the pot-luck items for the Saturday barbecue, contact Anne Paull, who will coordinate who is bringing what or for suggestions on what to bring. Anne will not be trans-porting, storing, or otherwise involved in the pot-luck.

Paul Zander, AA6PZ Radio Officer

Mikel Lechner, KN6QI EMARC President

Copyright © 1996 by EMARC