This week in Amateur Radio.

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TWIAR News FeedThis Week in Amateur Radio: North America's Amateur Radio News Magazine. Articles on amateur radio and news stories in the media featured here.

FCC Proposes Additions, Changes to Amateur 5 MHz AllocationActing on a 2006 Petition for Rulemaking filed by the ARRL, the FCC has issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), ET Docket No 10-98 to modify the rules that govern amateurs’ secondary use of five channels in the 5 MHz frequency range known as 60 meters. The proposed changes would substitute a new channel for one that is seldom available because of occupancy by the fixed service, which is primary in this range. Also proposed is an increase in power from 50 to 100 W effective radiated...

Edmonds man's voice heard around the world (Washington)From the comfort of his home on a hill overlooking Browns Bay, John Owens listens to chatter coming from Asia, Africa and the tip of Chile, all linked by amateur radio operators.

National Hurricane Center's WX4NHC Sets On-The-Air Station TestThe annual WX4NHC On-the-Air Station Test from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami will take place Saturday, May 29, 1300-2100 UTC.“The purpose of this annual station test is to test all of our radio equipment, computers and antennas using as many modes and frequencies as possible,” said WX4NHC Assistant Amateur Radio Volunteer Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R. “This is not a contest or simulated hurricane exercise.”

Cayman Islands get new ham radio regulationsThe Cayman Islands Governor in Cabinet has adopted a set of regulations to govern that nation's amateur radio service. The effect of the new law will be to create a plan for the issuance of amateur radio licenses by the Cayman Islands Information and Communications Technology Authority to persons who have satisfied the certification process by way of examination of their knowledge and competence with respect to electricity and radio, including amateur radio apparatus.

Police: Woman made threats using ham radio (California)A San Jacinto woman was caught only 30 hours after she began using her ham radio to broadcast threatening messages to Hemet police officers and Riverside County Fire Department firefighters over official radio frequencies and otherwise disrupting communications.

Radio friends help WDVX back on the air (Tennessee)WDVX is back on the air, thanks to some radio friends. Broadcast of the publicly supported radio station was interrupted Sunday when lightning damaged the station's transmitter on Cross Mountain in Campbell County. When local ham radio enthusiasts saw a story on the station's plight in the News Sentinel, the group began looking for ways to help. One of the ham enthusiasts was Kevin Duplantis [W4KEV], an engineer with South Central Radio Group...

FCC goes after illegal CB and unwanted ham radio repeater usersSince the beginning of the year the FCC's enforcement effort in the private radio area seems concentrated in two areas. These are violations of the Part 95 rules governing the 11 meter Citizens Radio Service and ridding repeaters of unwanted users in the Amateur Radio Service. A quick count of enforcement letters issued since January 1st shows nine warning notices sent to individuals for violations of Part 95. Most of these were for running overpowered transmitters on 11 meters that were causing interference to their neighbors home electronics.

Radio operator pleads not guilty (California)A ham radio operator accused of making bomb threats, jamming police and fire channels, and interrupting Inland Empire emergency radio traffic pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony charges. Irene Marie Levy, 29, is charged with making criminal threats and making a false bomb report. She is also facing misdemeanor counts of maliciously interrupting a communications transmission and obstructing arrest.

Students build radio telescopeSeveral months ago a group of students were pitched an idea by their Physics teacher Gregory Grist during a period in time where they were learning about radio waves. The idea being to build a radio telescope and use it to collect data from Jupiter. What first started as an honors program requirement later turned into an extensive data gathering research project.

Gonsett, Born to RF EngineeringYou see it in the neat rows of cherimoya fruit trees in the orchard of his summit home in Fallbrook, north of San Diego. You see it in his tidy laboratory. His clients can attest to his relentless discipline. Bob Gonsett knows exactly how he likes things done. Bob Gonsett, [W6VR] consulting radio engineer, started life in Los Angeles, and there is no way you can understand him without knowing a thing or two about his father.

What to Do in the Event of a Real EmergencyLet’s forget, if we can, the car bomb in Times Square that fizzled. Instead, let’s suppose it hadn’t. Or let’s suppose that it’s a couple of months from now, and a category 5 hurricane hits the East Coast of the U.S. Or that the Big One finally hits – in Seattle. There’s no question thatthese would all be disasters of immeasurable proportions. The loss of life would be great, the loss in property would be huge.

CREWS: Shutdown.fcc.govIncreasingly, somegroups contend there's a crisis in journalism, even to the extent of advocating government support of news organizations. The dangers to freedom inherent in the concept of government-funded ideas and the impact on critique and dissent seem not to bother them. Meanwhile, the Federal Communications Commission plays along. Its Future of Media project seeks"to help ensure that all Americans have access to vibrant, diverse sources of news and information that will enable them to enrich their families, communities and democracy."Public comments are due Friday.

FCC's Crowell to leave in JuneColin Crowell, a senior counselor to the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, is leaving the agency in June to pursue other professional opportunities, according to a press release. Crowell, who has spent 20 years as an aide to Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), is known as an influential expert in the politics and policy of technology and has worked as the head of external affairs and as a senior adviser to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.

Spring field day for ham radio enthusiasts (Utah)Sinbad Desert Amateur Radio Club held their annual spring field day at the Wedge Overlook camp ground number 5, April 18. A field day is a trial run to see how well the ham radio operator can set up his or her radio, put up an antenna in primitive conditions and make contacts with other ham radio operators around the country or world. One important part of field day is to learn what it would take to get communications going after a disaster like in Haiti or Chile. The other important part of field day is to meet and share with other ham's the enthusiasm and excitement of ham radio.

Ham Radio Club To Dedicate Repeater (New York)The CCAFMA Ham Radio Club is planning a formal dedication of its 146.97 repeater, which is located in the Hearts Content area near Warren, at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 15. The repeater is instrumental in providing emergency communications and has a wide coverage area. It will be dedicated to the memory of Donald Backstrom, N3DB, who was the original owner and developer of the repeater in addition to being a longtime club member and mentor of many area hams. Mardy Backstrom, W3YZR, Backstrom's daughter, will be present with her mother for the dedication. The public is welcome to attend.

Memories of Madras - On the same wavelength (India)In the early 1960s, hams from Bangalore played a supportive role in events organised by the Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC). They made communication possible among stewards during a race or a rally. Strangers to motor sports, these hams had to be told what was going on before they could pass on any information. It was cumbersome; therefore, MMSC encouraged its members to get ham licences. It was a long time before any of us actually did!

Collapsible fabric Yagi antennaLeave it to fashion designer and radio geek Diana Eng to make this stylish collapsable Yagi antenna. She has a complete how-to at Make: Online.

Ham radio operator pleads not guilty to transmitting bomb threats, jamming radio traffic (California)A ham radio operator who allegedly transmitted bomb threats, jammed police and fire channels and interrupted Inland Empire emergency agencies' radio traffic pleaded not guilty today to felony charges. Irene Marie Levy, 29, is charged with making criminal threats and making a false bomb report. She is also facing misdemeanor counts of maliciously interrupting a communications transmission and obstructing arrest.

SoCal woman accused of disrupting police radio (California)An amateur radio operator has been arrested in Riverside County after allegedly disrupting police and fire radio communications over two days and making a bomb threat. Hemet police say Irene Levy was arrested Monday at her mobile home in San Jacinto, where authorities seized 11 radios and seven scanners.

Did K8JSM really break the law?Many gun-rights advocates will concede that telling security officials you want to see the president while wearing a sidearm in the parking lot of an airport recently used by Air Force One is, well, not very smart. But is it criminal?

K8JSM released from jailThe Ohio man arrested with a loaded handgun at Asheville Regional Airport as President Barack Obama was leaving on Air Force One was released from jail this afternoon. Joseph Sean McVey, 23, used a bondsman to post $100,000 bond at the Buncombe County Detention Center, a jailer said. He was released from custody about 4 p.m. Police arrested McVey at the airport Sunday and charged him with going armed to the terror of the public, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of 120 days. He has a June 10 court date.

McVey was not threat to Obama, Secret Service saysThe Secret Service does not believe there was a threat to President Obama from an armed man arrested at an airport just after Air Force One left for Washington. Joseph Sean McVey, 23, of Coshocton, Ohio, sparked alarm when he was collared Sunday at the airport in Asheville, N.C. McVey, who was wearing a pistol, was observed in a public lot in a car with Ohio plates that had radio antennas, lights and sirens like a police cruiser.

Armed Ohio man arrested near Obama's plane is harmless, friends sayAn Ohio man arrested Sunday with a gun near where the president was boarding Air Force One in North Carolina is a harmless, if overzealous, traffic-safety volunteer and ham-radio enthusiast, acquaintances say. Joseph Sean McVey, 23, of Athens, is being held on a $100,000 bond in Asheville, N.C., where a judge set his next court date for June 10.

Arrestee at Obama's Asheville exit had earlier handgun issueThe Ohio man arrested with a loaded handgun at Asheville Regional Airport as President Barack Obama was leaving on Air Force One was an honor student described as a“good kid” by family and friends. Joseph Sean McVey, 23, made an initial court appearance by video Monday in Buncombe County following an arrest that gained national attention.

Ohio sheriff pulls gun permit of man in NC arrestAn Ohio sheriff suspended the concealed weapons permit of an armed man who authorities say told them he wanted to see the president in North Carolina, and a report given to The Associated Press said the sheriff's office recently lectured the man about proper gun handling.

Internet sites reveal more about Ohio man arrested at Asheville airportAn Ohio man arrested Sunday at Asheville Regional Airport with a gun and police scanners around the time President Barack Obama flew out on Air Force One wrote on one Web site that he planned to become a police officer. A variety of social networking and personal Web sites also show that Joseph Sean McVey is a HAM radio enthusiast.

Armed man arrested outside Asheville airport as Obama leaves (North Carolina)A man arrested outside Asheville Regional Airport as President Obama left town Sunday appeared in court briefly via video today in Buncombe County District Court. Police charged Joseph Sean McVey, 23, of Coshocton, Ohio, with going armed to the terror of the public, a misdemeanor offense. McVey is being held on $100,000 secured bond and there is a federal hold on his detainment.

Young HAM ops help on race day (Michigan)Behind the scenes at the YMCA Fun Run/Walk were school-aged kids keeping communication open over HAM radios.

Spotters critical during severe weather (North Dakota)While the technology of monitoring severe weather has improved over the years, one of the basic tools of the meteorologist remains the same.“Weather spotters are very important,” Harlyn Wetzel, lead meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Bismarck. “The satellites and the radar all get better but there is no tool like the human eye.”

Weather spotters gear up for storm season (Wisconsin)There are at least two people in New Richmond crossing their fingers for severe weather this summer. Severe Weather Awareness Week is April 19-23.“I wish there was more weather this year,” said Zach Westlund, a five-year storm spotting veteran for the National Weather Service.

Amateur radio buffs call other stations (UK)Radio hams at the Caister Lifeboat visitor centre managed to contact more than 130 other radio amateurs in 29 different countries when they took part in the annual International Marconi Day to mark the inventor's birthday.

Wisconsin town may silence 10-year-old ham radio operatorSamm Markstrom is a 10-year-old ham radio fanatic who suffers from cerebral palsy. His family says the hobby has changed his life by building his self confidence."There are a lot of days he can't get outside to play and he gets really depressed and upset,"mother Catherine Markstrom says.

Can you hear me now? (Texas)Cherokee County Amateur Radio Club members have invited county residents to learn more about their organization at the group’s Drakes on the Lake event Saturday, Club webmaster Brad Low said. The radio club promotes the operating of Ham two-way radios and using them for public service.

Mt. Pleasant Boy Fights To Keep Ham Radio (Wisconsin)A 10-year-old Mt. Pleasant boy who has won awards for his ham radio communications may now be forced to take down the tower he uses in his back yard.

Old Two-Way Radio Thrives in Internet AgeWith millions of people posting up-to-the-minute photos on Facebook, checking Twitter and snuggling up to iPhones, it's easier than ever to stay in touch. So you might expect those two-way radios to have gone the way of rotary phones by now. A few years ago, several blogs even put ham radio alongside35 millimeter film and VHS video tape on a list of once popular things slated to disappear. But they were wrong.

Amateur radio operators will be there in time of need (Iowa)They’re a group of HAM radio operators but want to go beyond being a"ham"when it comes to responding to emergencies. Known as CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams), this group is hoping to build upon their membership in the Fayette County and surrounding area to establish a network of trained volunteers that help in all types of ways when disaster strikes.

Ham radio enthusiasts hope to spread hobby (Wisconsin)In a small room at the Wood County Emergency Management office, Will Hascall sat in front of a corner desk, ham radio handset in front of his mouth, his conversation with others punctuated by intermittent beeps and a little static."I admit, I'm a gadget freak,"the 38-year-old transplanted Californian said."I've been a ham radio operator for about 10 years."

Mount Pleasant Officials Will Decide on Boy's Ham Radio Tower Wednesday (Wisconsin)The Plan Commission in Mount Pleasant will decide Wednesday whether a 10-year-old boy will have to take down his ham radio tower, just days after he won a heroism award for using it. Samm Markstrom was honored by the county’s Volunteer Center, for telling the National Weather Service in Sullivan about a rare winter tornado that hit nearby Kenosha last January.

10-Year-Old's Radio Tower May be Illegal (Wisconsin)Samm Markstrom is a 10 year old ham radio fanatic who suffers from cerebral palsy. His family says the hobby has changed his life by building his self confidence.

Family fears son will lose tower (Wisconsin)A 10-year-old ham radio operator from Mount Pleasant won a civic award for relaying severe weather information. But, village leaders in his community are threatening to take down the radio tower that relayed the critical report of a Kenosha tornado to local National Weather Service office.

In the NavyOf all my naval experiences that I have written for various publications, I have never written what actually got me in the navy six months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. As an avid electronic enthusiast and radio"ham"living in the Panama Canal Zone in 1940 the only way to have a ham radio station was through affiliation with either the Army or Navy reserve. I joined the Naval Reserve under the"V-3"program and attended Thursday night drill periods at the Naval Reserve radio station which was located in one of the old French canal buildings in the coconut grove on the beach of New Cristobal. We would practice naval radio traffic procedures for about an hour and then could switch the transmitter over to"ham"frequencies and ham into the wee hours as long as we pleased..

Ham operators to help in emergencies (Indiana)Communications are the cornerstone of emergency response at all levels. With that in mind, Putnam County Emergency Operations Center Director Dave Costin is reaching out to Amateur Radio Operators to help the county in case of emergencies.

Radio Kuwait cleared from amateur radio bandRadio Kuwait was broadcasting in the Amateur Radio 7 MHz allocation, however speedy action by the IARU Monitoring System Intruder Watch resolved the problem.

New laws for Cayman radio hamsThe Governor in Cabinet has adopted regulations to govern amateur radio in the Cayman Islands. These regulations were made in accordance with section 97 of the Information and Communications Technology Authority Law (2006) and came into effect following their publication in the Cayman Islands Gazette on 29 March 2010.

FCC claims three local radio stations caused interference with airport ILS (Texas)Power lines and a substation just a few of the culprits that interfered with Lubbock's airport ILS. You can now add radio signals to that list. Mix 100, KLLL, and Rock 101 named in an FCC claim that those radio station frequencies crossing over the ILS signal in February.

Ham radio fan, 11, making Hamvention debut (California)The views from the Mitchell home on Sulphur Mountain are incredible, even on a hazy day, with a vista that extends out to the Channel Islands, down to the Simi Valley/Moorpark area and on up to Santa Barbara. While anyone would appreciate the beauty, for a ham radio operator such vistas are even more exciting, because with even the most basic antenna Randall Mitchell, 11, can talk to almost all of Ventura County, with just the lowest-level radio license.

Ham radio, credited with helping in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, gains popularity (Pennsylvania)In the age of e-mail, Facebook, Twitter and cell phones, ham radio may seem like a relic of the past, much like buggy whips and rotary phones. While the ham radio isn’t exactly the new iPad, it is gaining popularity. There are just under 700,000 ham radio operators in the U.S., nearly double the number there were in 1978, according to the Federal Communications Commission. It’s easier to gain a license, which fans say has spurred interest. The FCC recently dropped the longtime requirement for operators to learn Morse code.

Family fears village will take down son's radio tower (Wisconsin)Just days after a 10-year-old boy won an award for his ham radio contributions, his parents are worried local regulations will force them to take down the backyard tower he uses to communicate. The village sent letters beginning last fall, threatening to fine Jim and Cathy Markstrom or order the removal of the tower behind their home at 1639 Stoddard Lane. On Wednesday, the Mount Pleasant Plan Commission is expected to make a final decision on the issue.

Local radio hams face new rules (Cayman Islands)The 25 amateur radio hams in Cayman who enjoy communicating over the global radio-waves are now subject to new regulations, which were formalized last month, the government announced today (Monday 19 April.) According to a GIS release, Cabinet adopted regulations to govern amateur radio in accordance with the Information and Communications Technology Authority Law (2006), which came into effect following their publication in the Cayman Islands Gazette on 29 March. Amateur radio is a service as well as a hobby, with participants communicating with fellow amateurs at home and abroad using a broad range of technologies.

Icelandic volcano disrupts IARU meetingThe volcanic eruption in Iceland has disrupted an International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1 Executive Committee meeting. The IARU Region 1 website reports that participants of the yearly IARU Region 1 Executive Committee meeting struggled to reach Sofia from various parts of the World due the Iceland Eyjafjallajokull's volcanic ashes.

Boston Marathon: Let's visit Control CentralJim Palmer admits he's never been interested in running ... and would be hard pressed to run even one-twenty sixth of the Boston Marathon route. But that doesn't mean that Monday's Boston Marathon isn't a big day for him. Palmer, of Peabody, an amateur radio operator, works with other volunteers at the race's net control center in Brookline (which is in the proverbial undisclosed location), and helps provide volunteer communications to the Red Cross and to the Boston Athletic Association.

Man aims to share love of Morse code (Pennsylvania)In a world filled with Twitter, Facebook and texting, Morse code can be a foreign language. But that doesn't mean everyone wants to let it go.

Sun City tunes out ham radio operator's request for 8-foot antenna (South Carolina)Eric Glasscott wants to put an eight-foot radio antenna on his Sun City Hilton Head home so he can help his neighbors if Mother Nature ever starts knocking things down.

Ham radio operators help keep contact in emergencies (Nebraska)Technology changed the world of communications, but in a crisis, Bill Pook said, you can still depend on a reliable old standby - ham radios.

Help Keep the W1AW Dream AliveW1AW. It is the most famous call sign in the century-long history of Amateur Radio. To hundreds of thousands of radio amateurs, W1AW is synonymous with Hiram Percy Maxim --the visionary who first recognized a need for a national network of Amateur Radio operators in North America, and who just a few years later saw a similar need for the worldwide federation that we now know as the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). Amateur Radio without Hiram Percy Maxim would be like automobiles without Henry Ford or electricity without Thomas Edison. Without Mr Maxim, Amateur Radio probably would not exist today -- and if it did, it would be a pale shadow of the enriching endeavor we now enjoy.

CRSA Requests Clear Frequencies Following EarthquakeThe Chinese Radio Sports Association (CRSA) has requested that 7.050 and 7.060 MHz be kept clear to allow for emergency communications (at times when there might be propagation to the affected area) following the 7.1 earthquake in the Yu Shu District, Qinghai Province on April 13. A team of Chinese amateurs are already active in supporting the rescue and recovery efforts; on April 15, they flew to Qinghai to deliver communications equipment and provide communications support.

Radio hams mark Marconi Day at Caister (UK)RADIO hams in Caister will be trying to contact other amateurs around the world next Saturday as part of the International Marconi Day celebrations.

A hobby and a service: Amateur radio operators enjoy wireless communication (Ohio)For some, it's a social network. For others, it's an outreach mechanism. For a few, it's an organized emergency action organization. For outsiders, the Ashland Area Amateur Radio Club is a group of hams speaking in code, call signs and unrecognizable lingo.

SkyWarn recruits new storm spotters (Pennsylvania)People don't need to put themselves in the path of a tornado to be an important part of the National Weather Service's volunteer corps.

Ham radio operators shoot for the moon (Pennsylvania)Utilizing a 3-watt transmitter during an active sunspot cycle in the 1950s, Ernie Schmidt talked to a guy from Oregon during his drive to work. Depending on the time of day, Schmidt could communicate with people from Europe, the Caribbean and the U.S. West Coast.

Weather spotters keep eyes to the sky for stormsPortage County weather spotter Dave Levorson sees things in a spring and summer sky many people miss. By looking at the shape of a cloud or monitoring the speed of a wind gust, he can tell whether his day is about to get interesting. When a storm is brewing, he typically knows a day or two in advance. The anticipation often can be hard to take.

City tunes in to amateur radioUnderstanding the need and importance of timely rescue operation, Civil Defence is going to launch two ham (amateur) radios on Wednesday to enable communication in emergency situations.

FCC Looks to Lower Fees for Vanity Call SignsThe FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order (NPRM) on April 13 seeking to lower the fee for Amateur Radio vanity call signs. Currently, a vanity call sign costs $13.40 and is good for 10 years; the new fee, if the FCC plan goes through, will go down to $13.30 for 10 years, an decrease of 10 cents. The FCC is authorized by the Communications Act of 1934 (as amended) to collect vanity call sign fees to recover the costs associated with that program. The vanity call sign...

The First Rookie Roundup -- Coming April 18The ARRL's newest contest -- the Rookie Roundup -- is getting a lot of buzz among newly-licensed amateurs. Designed as a modern equivalent to the ARRL Novice Roundup from a few decades ago, this new incarnation combines a competitive event with some on-the-air training. The first Rookie Roundup is scheduled for April 18 and will be an SSB contest.

Telephone Outage in Nebraska -- No April Fool's JokeEarly on the morning of Thursday, April 1, almost 40,000 people -- including Lincoln's government, business and emergency centers -- in Southeastern Nebraska found out that they had no landline telephone service, as well as spotty cell phone coverage, thanks to an equipment malfunction at a Lincoln switching facility owned by Windstream Communications. According to news reports, residents of 12 counties were unable to contact 911 and dispatch centers had to provide other ways to report emergencies -- including Amateur Radio.

ARRL Files Petition for Reconsideration over Waiver for Non-Amateur Device in 70 cm BandThe ARRL has filed a Petition for Reconsideration with the FCC concerning a waiver granted to the ReconRobotics Corporation for a device known as the ReconScout - a remote-controlled surveillance robot designed for use in hazardous areas.

Moonbounce for Everyone -- Courtesy of the Arecibo Radio TelescopeSending Amateur Radio signals to the Moon and back has never been easy. After roundtrip journeys of nearly half a million miles, even the most powerful signals generated by hams are exquisitely weak on arrival. Because of the equipment and expertise necessary for successful"moonbounce"operating, this facet of Amateur Radio has been traditionally confined to a small audience. But for three days in April even hams with very modest stations will have the opportunity to experience the thrill of moonbounce, thanks to the giant radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.

ARRL Files Comments in Response to Hospital Association Seeking Blanket Waiver Request for Amateur Radio DrillsIn February 2010, the American Hospital Association (AHA) filed a request with the FCC for a blanket waiver of Section 97.113(a)(3) of the Commission's Rules"to permit hospitals seeking accreditation to use Amateur Radio operators who are hospital employees to transmit communications on behalf of the hospital as part of emergency preparedness drills."On March 3, the FCC issued a Public Notice -- WP Docket 10-54 -- seeking comments if the Commission"should grant AHA's request for a blanket waiver of Section 97.113(a)(3) to permit amateur operators who are hospital employees to participate in emergency drills that are conducted by hospitals for accreditation purposes and that are not government-sponsored."Section 97.113(a)(3) specifically prohibits amateur stations from transmitting communications"in which the station licensee or control operator has a pecuniary interest, including communications on behalf of an employer."On April 2, the ARRL filed comments regarding the blanket waiver request.

ARRL Responds to FCC's NPRM Calling for New Rules on Vanity and Club Call SignsIn November 2009, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) -- WT Docket No 09-209 -- seeking to amend the Commission's Amateur Radio Service rules in an attempt to clarify certain rules and codify existing procedures governing the vanity call sign system, as well as revise certain rules applicable to club stations. In March, the ARRL submitted comments and additional proposals to the FCC to update the Amateur Service's call signassignment system and provide for continued growth of the Amateur Radio Service, as well as enhance the pride and satisfaction of licensees in their personal achievements in the radio art. The ARRL's positions were developed by the Executive Committee at its March 13 meeting.

Sarah Heil Is Named President of Heil SoundHeil Sound Ltd. named Sarah Heil its president. The manufacturer of microphones was founded in 1966 by her husband, CEO Bob Heil.

Local 'hams' it up on radio (Ohio)In a society of ever changing and progressing technology, one local resident is asking his own question of"Can you hear me now?"

City of Manassas to End BPL ServiceOnce touted as"the most successful BPL deployment in the nation,"the City of Manassas, Virginia has decided to get out of the BPL business, once and for all. At a Special Meeting on Monday, April 5, the Manassas City Council -- acting on a recommendation from the Manassas Utilities Commission -- unanimously voted to discontinue Broadband over Powerline (BPL) Internet service as of July 1, 2010 to the approximately 520 residents and businesses who currently subscribe to the service; these customers were told that they have three months to find a new Internet service provider.

Ham Radio Growing In The Age Of TwitterOnly a few years ago, blogs listed ham radio alongside 35 mm film and VHS tape as technologies slated to disappear. They were wrong.

Call for regulatory body to streamline amateur radio (Qatar)Amateur radio continues to play a crucial role at various levels particularly during natural calamities and other disasters despite technological advancements across the world, asserted Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah.

Morine elected ARRL section manager (North Carolina)Bill Morine, of Wilmington, has been elected ARRL section manager for North Carolina, a volunteer position which represents the interests of the state's 18,000 licensed amateur radio operators, or"hams."It is the highest ranking office for amateur radio in North Carolina. When he begins his two-year term on April 1, Morine will oversee 263 volunteer managers who coordinate emergency and public service communications across the state. ARRL is the national association for amateur radio.

Attiyah opens amateur radio conference (Qatar)The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah lauded the role of amateur radio associations in providing channels of communication to all people as he opened the 2010 Regional Conference on Amateur Radio (RCAR) yesterday at Doha Sheraton.

Windstream and PSC meet, discuss massive phone outage (Nebraska)As Windstream sought to downplay a phone outage that wreaked havoc across Southeast Nebraska for about 15 hours Thursday, the Nebraska Public Service Commission expressed concerns it could happen elsewhere.

Thursday outage illustrates how fragile system is (Nebraska)Modern technology is great when it works, but when it doesn't, watch out. Lincoln and 15 southeast Nebraska counties found that out Thursday when a central telephone switching system and its backup went offline, leaving callers unable to call 911 or unable to call into the capital city.

iPad zings, but ham radio still crackles (North Carolina)As Apple computer enthusiasts lined up Saturday for a chance to touch, swipe at and buy the newest gadget, another class of self-described technology geeks eagerly shopped the N.C. State Fairgrounds for communications contraptions of a different era - ham radios. Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/04/04/420451/ipad-zings-but-ham-radio-still.html#ixzz0kCcnJo6R

ARRL, Red Cross Sign Memorandum of UnderstandingOn Thursday, March 25, ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the American Red Cross (ARC) at ARC National Headquarters in Washington, DC. The MoU, which replaces an earlier Statement of Understanding that expired in 2007, provides a"broad framework for cooperation"between the ARRL and the ARC"in preparing for and responding to disaster relief situations at all levels in rendering assistance and service to victims of disaster, as well as other services for which cooperation may be mutually beneficial."

Amateur Radio Assists with Rescue in Great Smoky MountainsOn Sunday, March 28 -- a day with a lot of rain, wind, sleet and, fog -- John Oakberg, NK4N, of Sevierville, Tennessee, went out hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Mt LeConte. When he was about 1 mile up from Alum Cave Bluff, he came across Judy Potter, 57, of Atlanta who had broken her ankle while on the trail. Oakberg reached for his cell phone to call 911, but there was no coverage available. He then reached for his handheld transceiver and put out a call to any Amateur Radio operators who may be listening via some nearby VHF 2 meter repeaters.

Smoky Mountains hiker rescued thanks to ham radio operatorsA woman who became injured on a hike on Mt. LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains was rescued Sunday thanks to ham radio operators. The hiker was Judy Potter, 57, of Atlanta. John Oakberg was hiking Sunday afternoon when he came across Potter, who had broken her ankle and was stuck on the mountain, with the weather getting worse by the hour.

Amateur radio operators keep communications open (California)Lots of news items lately talking about China's ability to hack into America's communications systems and shut it down. If true, that could mean no cell or landline phone services until the problem is resolved. Similarly, a crippling disaster could do the same thing and cause panic, particularly if roads and highways were closed as the result, say, of an earthquake. How would word get out in such an eventuality?

HAM Radio Club Looks for New Members (Pennsylvania)The Fort Armstrong Wireless Association, an amateur HAM radio club, is currently looking for new members to join.

Radio operators want old residential TV towers (Kentucky)Local ham radio operators want to give new life to residential TV towers by incorporating them into an emergency communications system. The Kentucky Colonels Amateur Radio Club and the Kentucky 4th District Amateur Radio Services are seeking donations of the TV towers, which have become increasingly obsolete as more households have turned to cable, satellite and digital TV providers.

Do you copy? (Wyoming)To a number of people across the United States, Robert Atwood is known only as K5ABQ, his ham radio call letters. Atwood has been an amateur ham radio operator since 1999 and tries to talk to Albuquerque, N.M., and Rochester, N.Y., every day.

AiTi, Police Join To Clear AirwavesBandar Seri Begawan - The Authority for Info-Communications Technology Industry (AiTi) and Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) yesterday carried out an operation on roads to clamp down on unlicenced amateur radio operators who could disrupt emergency communications. Ak Saiful Rozman Pg Roslee, assistant manager of AiTi's Monitoring and Enforcement Unit, said that those who are unlicenced could be operating out of the assigned bandwidth onto restricted radio frequencies, which could have dire consequences.

Are you reading me? (New Zealand)Radio enthusiasts are breathing life into a dormant frequency at a Bucklands Beach station. Kieran Nash listens in. In a beautiful art deco building overlooking the Hauraki Gulf, a group of amateur radio enthusiasts are reviving a radio frequency that harks back to the days of the Titanic.

Ham-radio operators are the 'eyes and ears' of Bothell (Washington)They're set to aid city emergency workers in case of a disaster"That's one interesting thing, we practice for a time we hope never comes,"said Bothell resident William Harding.

What's the Frequency, Kenneth?Of all the hundreds of science fiction tales I digested as a boy, nothing so firmly shaped my nascent understanding of infinity as Orson Welles's 1938 radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds. I'm not saying I was one of those naifs who looked under the bed for little green men--as a suburban teenager in the 1970s I was already far too sophisticated for such silliness.

FCC Wants to Help Hams Participate in Disaster DrillsThe commission proposes to change its rules to make it easier for amateur radio operators to take part in disaster drills in order to help in emergencies. The Federal Communications Commission says it recognizes that hams play a vital role in times of disasters, especially when land mobile radio services are damaged or overloaded.

Ham of the Year came late to radio calling (Wisconsin)Getting to an Onalaska Ham radio operator involves parking near a mailbox made from a computer, crabbing sideways through a garage full-to-the-rafters with crated and boxed old computers and electronics, past a 'saint' of a wife and down to the basement full of radios. Carl Thurston of Onalaska is the Riverland Amateur Radio Club's Ham of the Year. His call is KC9HDS.

Weather spotters prep for storm season (Minnesota)Austin is no stranger to severe weather once temperatures start to climb, and no one knows that more intimately than the network of weather spotters who cover Mower County. A public Skywarn training at Crane Community Chapel on Tuesday gave experienced spotters a timely review and first-timers a taste of what watching storms is all about.

Students to talk to astronaut during space station 'fly-by' (Texas)Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi, who speaks English, will be contacted by Tri-County Amateur Radio Club of Azle from a radio station set up in the school's gym. The local ham operators arranged the conversation through Johnson Space Center's ham radio organization, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS).

Amateur radio operators help with tsunami warning test (California)You may have seen the billboards lit up along Highway 101 telling you there would be a tsunami warning test Wednesday. Tim Hanna, a member of the Mendocino County Amateur Radio Communications Service, participated in a portion of the test involving the use of Ham radios.

Glitch delays launch of new ham radio web siteThe ARRL reports that the launch of its new web site has been delayed following problems that appeared as the huge computer programs were being transferred to their main Web server.

Amateur radio signal could set world recordA radio signal which has travelled more than 16,000 miles around the globe from Australia to Norfolk could put the county in the record books.

The real mastersSimply put, any amateur radio is referred to as 'HAM radio' and the operators are called 'Hams'. By definition, the term amateur would imply that the radio and its operator are either committed to helping communities or pursue it out of individual interest without any ambition of financial compensation, unlike commercial radio operators.

Ham Fest brings 'hams' together, off the airwaves (Connecticut)There were no loaves of bread or mayonnaise at this Ham Fest. But the hams filling the Southington High School cafeteria Sunday were plenty complemented by power panels and antennas -"hams"being ham radio users, that is.

Weather spotters always needed for severe storms (Nebraska)Modern technology is helpful, but trained spotters are still a crucial cog in the severe weather alert system, Region 5/6 Emergency Management director Bill Pook said.

ARRL Requests Support for Senate Bill 1755Senate Bill 1755 -- The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009 introduced in October 2009 by Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) -- has unanimously passed the US Senate and has been sent to the US House of Representatives for consideration and now sits in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The ARRL is asking its membership to contact the leadership of the Energy and Commerce committee, requesting support and action on moving S 1755 through the committee. S 1755 accomplishes the same things as HR 2160; HR 2160 was introduced in April 2009 by Rep Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18). Since S 1755 has already been approved by the Senate, moving it forward in the House will simplify the process.

Companion Bill Introduced in US House to Provide Technical Resources to FCC CommissionersFollowing the Senate's lead, Representative Jerry McNerny (D-CA-11), introduced HR 4809 -- the FCC Commissioners' Technical Resource Enhancement Act -- in the House of Representatives on March 10. Copying the exact language from S 2881 (a bill with the same name) introduced by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) in December 2009, the bill seeks to provide greater technical resources to FCC Commissioners.

Sierra Papa India Echo SierraFOREIGN EMBASSIES aren't just places you visit to get tourist visas or where politicians negotiate trade deals - they are also rats nests of spies and pump-out encrypted messages over the public airwaves to this very day. Meet the numbers stations.

Willowick weather spotter has eyes on the skies (Ohio)Scott Ivancic of Willowick has no problem being identified with the weather, especially that of the nasty kind.

Ham Radio Keeps Up With the Digital Age (Texas)The National Weather Service says in the age of digital technology, an old standby like Ham Radio could help save your life in natural disasters or severe weather.

Baby Blindness Pioneer Dr Arnall Patz, ex-WA3EVC (SK)Dr Arnall Patz, ex-WA3EVC -- an ophthalmologist who discovered and eliminated a major cause of blindness in premature infants -- passed away from heart disease on March 11. He was 89. In 1954, Patz proved that treating premature babies with pure oxygen could destroy their eyesight. At the time, this was the most common cause of blindness in premature infants.

To Explain the Broadcast Spectrum, FCC Unveils Cool Interactive ToolsAs part of its grand new plan, the FCC is making a major push to involve and inform the public. RSS feeds, a blog, and a Twitter account have all made relatively recent appearances, along with a home broadband speed test.

Amateur Radio Operators Take Part In Exercise (Ohio)Amateur radio operators continue to play a vital role in supplying communications during emergency situations. Members of the Ashland Area Amateur Radio Club gathered in the Emergency Operations Center at the Ashland County Sheriff's Office in taking part in the hazardous materials and severe weather functional exercise.

Are you a weather nut? Become a Weather Spotter (Minnesota)Spring will officially be here Saturday, and with warmer temperatures comes the possibility of adverse weather such as thunderstorms and tornadoes. That means it's also time for the National Weather Service's Skywarn Weather Spotter training sessions.

FCC Proposes to Eliminate Spread Spectrum APC Requirement, Reduce Spread Spectrum Power Limit; Cleans Up Portions of Part 97In response to a 2006 ARRL Petition regarding spread spectrum issues, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) on March 16 (WT Docket No 10-62), proposing to amend Part 97 to facilitate the use of spread spectrum communications technologies by eliminating the requirement that amateur stations use automatic power control (APC) to reduce transmitter power when the station transmits a spread spectrum (SS) emission and reducing the maximum transmitter power output when transmitting a SS emission. Through an Order attached to the NPRM, the Commission also made"certain non-substantive revisions"to the Amateur Service rules.

Cam Hartford, N6GA, Named CQ Magazine QRP EditorCam Hartford, N6GA, of Claremont, California, has been named QRP Editor of CQ Amateur Radio magazine, Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, announced today. Hartford succeeds Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, who passed away in January. Ingram's final bi-monthly QRP column appears in the April issue of CQ. Hartford's first column will be in the June issue.

Weather or not? (Oklahoma)Working with emergency management is 'never dull,' said Capt. Kevin Marks, Broken Arrow Police Department. 'And, it's usually weather-related.' Though this winter has provided plenty of excitement for Broken Arrow Emergency Management, tornado season is expected to bring more.

FCC Releases National Broadband PlanThis morning, the FCC held an Open Meeting to introduce its report Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) that will be delivered to Congress today. Calling it"an ambitious agenda for connecting all corners of the nation while transforming the economy and society with the communications network of the future -- robust, affordable Internet,"the Commission found that nearly 100 million Americans lack broadband at home today and 14 million Americans do not have access to broadband.

Wireless warriors: Hancock County group enjoys ham radio as hobby, public serviceWhen disaster strikes, communication is key for emergency responders. When traditional means don't work, emergency crews turn to amateur radio operators -- their friends, neighbors, and in some cases, total strangers -- to help spread the word about what needs to be done and where help is most needed.

Arnall Patz, a Doctor Who Prevented Blindness, Is Dead at 89...Dr. Patz was a ham radio operator, and before coordinating centers were developed, he made calls late at night to facilitate the transport of corneas as they were flown around the country for transplants.

Coastal Communities Test Tsunami Preparedness (Washington)When a major earthquake strikes the Washington coast a tsunami may follow. Thousands of lives will depend on a mix of emergency response tactics. Coordinating those responses is the hard part. Next week Grays Harbor County will hold a tsunami exercise to find out what's working - and what's not - in their plans to save lives.

Changes to South African amateur radio regulationsIt appears that South Africa's regulator, ICASA, is ready to publish the draft radio regulations in the Government Gazette, it could even be early next week. As soon as the SARL (South African Radio League) receives a copy of the draft regulations, it will be posted on the SARL website at www.sarl.org.za.

So much more than a hobby: Ham radio essential for emergency communicationIf anyone thinks ham radio is outdated, think again. When a 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocked Haiti in January and knocked out most communications -- even cell phones -- ham radio operators were able to contact the United States and other countries to relay the extent of the initial damage.

FCC Airs Plan to Cover 100M American Homes With 100 Mbps BroadbandThe FCC is swinging for the fences, but can it really deliver on its loft goals? Broadband in many parts of America is undeniably bad. Hardly a healthy market, typically only one or two big players compete on a local level, and the result of the low level of competition is high prices. Unfortunately, the cost of entry for small service providers is quite high and ISPs like Comcast, Time Warner, and Embarq have made market entry even harder by successfully lobbying many state and local governments to ban municipal Wi-Fi and/or enact measures that make it harder to finance such new deployments.

Disaster management: 2 HAM radio units in state (India)If conventional communication networks fail when nature unleashes her fury in the form of Aila-like cyclones, extensive floods and earthquakes, governments can execute rescue and relief operations through satellite-based low-cost HAM radios.

Morse code beeps back into business (New Zealand)Forget Facebook and Twitter, morse code is on a comeback. A law change has opened up a radio frequency band so that hobby operators around the country can again communicate in dashes and dots.

FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Correspondence PostedThe FCC has posted new Amateur Radio enforcement correspondence on its"Amateur Radio Service Enforcement Actions"Web page. Laura Smith, Special Counsel in the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, sent a letters to the Sacramento (California) Municipal Utility District and to Northwestern Energy of Helena, Montana; Northwestern Energy also received letters voicing these same concerns in March and September 2009. These letters concerned complaints that equipment operated by these utilities may be causing harmful radio interference to Amateur Radio operators. Direct all questions concerning the Amateur Radio Service Enforcement Actions Web postings via e-mail only to the FCC Enforcement Bureau.

Law Judge Says Washington State Licensee Can Keep Ham LicenseIn January 2007, the FCC issued an Order to Show Cause to David L. Titus, KB7ILD, of Seattle, Washington, to justify why his General class Amateur Radio license should not be revoked and initiated a hearing process to determine whether Titus"is qualified to remain a Commission licensee"in light of a 1993 felony conviction at the age of 18 for"communicating with a minor for immoral purposes."

Fire kills Conn. ham trying to rescue dogAs the flames roared and the black smoke billowed around them, David Kostrey pulled his sister, Joann, from their burning house early Wednesday. They made it outside, but then David Kostrey (KD1BD) stopped and turned around. Someone was missing; his dog was still inside. Kostrey, 57, rushed back into the burning house. It was last time anyone saw him alive.

Cigarette May Have Caused Deadly Derby FireA lit cigarette is thought to have caused the fire Wednesday morning that killed a well-respected Derby man. David Kostrey, (KD1BD) 56, the deputy director of the city's Office of Emergency Management, died from smoke inhalation as he tried to rescue his dog as his apartment on the second floor of 196 Derby Ave. burned.

Amateur Radio Operators (Florida)The Walton County Sheriff's Office and the Emergency Management and Public Safety Communications Division is offering the local amateur radio operators (HAM) the opportunity to be a part of the agencies Auxiliary Communications Service.

Ham radio: Nerdy until there's an emergencyThe first Saturday of every month, Bernhard Hailer and his ham radio buddies go on a hunt. With antennas made mostly of plastic pipes and metal tape measurers pointing out of car windows, they set off from Warren Avenue in Fremont and traverse Tri-City area streets trying to locate the signal emitted by a hidden transmitter the size of an envelope box.

FCC releases Internet speed test toolThe U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Thursday launched a broadband test service to help consumers clock the speed of their Internet.

Dresden students connect with people around the world by radio (Ohio)Static scratched through the speaker that sat in front of Dresden Elementary sixth-grader Austin Gliha. He repeated the same words over and over again as he held the button on the microphone down,"CQ CQ CQ CQ40 CQ40 CQ40, this is WX8J the Dresden Elementary Amateur Radio Station calling CQ40 meters and standing by ..."

South Carolina EMS, others team up for backup emergency communication systemStephens County EMS, Stephens County Hospital and the Toccoa Amateur Radio Society are teaming up to provide an extra layer of security for emergency medical services. Those organizations have worked together to join the Amateur Radio Emergency Service program.

Student-built spacecraft will be launched at WallopsNot much bigger than a child's toy block, two spacecraft designed and built by university students in Kentucky and California will fly in space for a short period this month to gather information that may be applied to future small Earth orbiting space vehicles.

Tower of steel supports city communications (Alabama)Two hundred and fifty feet of steel now loom over Enterprise that will upgrade communications for emergency responders and bring numerous benefits to area residents. The communications tower, located behind Enterprise City Hall, will combine all emergency responder communication systems onto one self-sustaining, 150 mph wind resistant antenna, said Police Chief T.D. Jones.

Stillwater students rock the radio airwaves (Washington)When is a retired Stillwater teacher not a retired Stillwater teacher? When the principal asks him to come back and work with the students doing Radio Roundup.

Volunteer Fairfax Steps InWhen the paralyzing February snowstorms hit the region, the American Red Cross staffed emergency shelters in the area. Oak Marr was the shelter nearest to Vienna-Oakton. Getting the Red Cross workers to the shelter was a challenge. Enter Volunteer Fairfax.

Is the Web 2.0 Community the Next Pirate Radio?Pirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. Its etymology can be traced to the unlicensed nature of the transmission, but historically there has been occasional but notable use of sea vessels - fitting the most common perception of a pirate - as broadcasting bases. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation. Rules and regulations vary widely from country to country. In countries such as the US and many countries in Europe, many types of radio licenses exist, and often the term pirate radio generally describes the unlicensed broadcast of FM radio, AM radio, or short wave signals over a wide range.

Radio Club de Chile Lists Emergency Frequencies, E-mail AddressRadio Club de Chile ( RCCH ) President Dr Galdino Besomi, CE3PG, reports that the situation in Chile is"very complex"as the country suffers aftershocks registering 6.0 or higher after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Chile on February 27.

Amateur radioers keep lines of communication open (California)Before Facebook, Twitter and text messaging, there was radio. And when a major disaster knocks out the power, cuts off access to the Internet and scrambles cell signals, radio is once again king.

Radio room to be used by EMA (Illinois)The old radio room in the Jefferson County Courthouse is getting a facelift so others can be helped in case of an emergency. The Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency plans to use the old room as a communications base of operations during severe weather or emergency situations.

FCC Reaffirms Statement on ROSIn mid-February, European amateurs first used a new, experimental digital mode known as ROS. On February 23, 2010 -- after FCC review of the original documents provided from the developer's Web site -- the FCC made the following statements on ROS:

FCC Seeks Comments for Waiver to Allow Radio in Hospital Emergency DrillsIn February 2010, the American Hospital Association (AHA) filed a request with the FCC for a blanket waiver of Section 97.113(a)(3) of the Commission's Rules"to permit hospitals seeking accreditation to use Amateur Radio operators who are hospital employees to transmit communications on behalf of the hospital as part of emergency preparedness drills."

ARRL Seeks Input for New IARU Region 2 Band PlanThe International Amateur Radio Region 2 conference -- held later this year in El Salvador -- brings together delegations from the national Amateur Radio Societies in the Western Hemisphere. One of the topics on the agenda will be the Region 2 HF band plan. This band plan is"harmonized with"-- spectrum management-speak for"very similar to"-- the IARU Region 1 and Region 3 band plans.

Tornado Drill Part Of Severe Storms Preparedness Month (Kentucky)Even though winter continues to blast cold weather, ice and snow on Lexington and central Kentucky, spring storm season is just around the corner.The Division of Emergency Management wants to make sure you're ready. The month of March is declared as Severe Storms Preparedness Month and citizens are urged to take time out to make sure that they're prepared for what Mother Nature can dish out when warm weather comes in the spring.

A Close Encounter for AMSAT-OSCAR 51While many in North America were fast asleep Monday morning, March 1, the AMSAT-OSCAR 51 satellite had a potentially dangerous encounter with another spacecraft known as Formosat 3D. OSCAR 51 is a popular Amateur Radio satellite that often functions as a crossband FM repeater, relaying brief conversations over hundreds of miles. Formosat 3D is part of a constellation of six remote sensing microsatellites that collect atmospheric data for weather prediction and for ionosphere, climate and gravity research. Both orbit at an altitude of approximately 500 miles.

Local Radio Club Ready For Fun Or Emergencies (Nevada)Many people don't know what a ham radio operator is."Unlike a CB radio that a person could buy and immediately use, ham operators are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and must follow the rules and regulations of the FCC,"says Charles Lum Kee, founder of the Virgin Valley Radio Club.

Amateur Radio Operators Provide Communications Support in HaitiAfter the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the island nation of Haiti on January 12, many Amateur Radio operators asked how they could volunteer their time and service to assist with communications support. When Project Medishare -- a partnership between the University of Miami Medical School (UoM) and physicians and health officials in Haiti -- needed help with their communications, Amateur Radio operators were quick to respond.