Conference cvg::hamradio_iii

    
    SB NEWSLIN @ ALLBBS $NLIN.1015
    Amateur Radio Newsline #1015 24 Jan 1997
    
    The Newsline Information and Copyright Notice is now published
    seperately
    every month.  Please read this notice before using any part of Newsline
    in
    any manner.  For a copy of the notice e-mail [email protected] or
    netmail
    Steve Coletti @ 1:278/230 on Fidonet.
    
                   NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #1015 - 01/24/97
    
                (*************************************************)
                (*                                               *)
                (*                 A M A T E U R                 *)
                (*                                               *)
                (*                   R A D I O                   *)
                (*                                               *)
                (*                N E W S L I N E                *)
                (*                                               *)
                (*************************************************)
    
       The following is late news about Amateur Radio for Radio Amateurs as
    prepared from NEWSLINE RADIO scripts by the staff of the AMATEUR RADIO
    NEWSLINE, INC., formerly the WESTLINK RADIO NETWORK.  Amateur Radio
    Newsline is a audio news service distributed via telephone.
    
       This hardcopy version is produced by Dale Cary - WD0AKO from scripts
    provided to him weekly by Newsline.  It is then distributed to on-line
    services, bbs networks and internet user jointly by Dale Cary and Steve
    Coletti.
    
       Editorial comments, news item and all other business should be
    directed
    to:
    
                               Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF
                             Newsline Producer & Editor
    
                        Internet E-mail: [email protected]
                               [email protected]
                               Phone: (805) 296-7180
                                Fax: (805) 296-7180
                        (Fax senders wait for voice prompt.)
    
       For further information about the AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, please
    write
    to us with an S.A.S.E. at:
    
                                      NEWSLINE
                               c/o Andy Jarema-N6TCQ
                                   P.O.Box 660937
                                    Arcadia, CA
                                       91066
    
                                                        Thank You,
                                                            NEWSLINE
    
    (**************************************************
    Some of the hams of AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE: WA6ITF WB6MQV WB6FDF K6DUE
    W6RCL N6AHU N6AWE N6TCQ K6PGX N6PNY KU8R N8DTN W9JUV KC9RP K9XI KB4KCH
    KC5UD KC0HF G8AUU WD0AKO DJ0QN and many others in the United States and
    around the globe!!!
    (**************************************************
    
    [1015]
    
                   C L O S E D   C I R C U I T   A D V I S O R Y
    
       Newsline report number 1015 for release on Friday, January 24th,
    1997 to
    follow.
    
    (*****
    
                               The following is a QST
    
       More on the downward trend Amateur Radio. Fewer people are taking
    tests
    to become hams and even fewer licensed radio amateurs are upgrading.
    Also,
    the ARRL meets in the Duke City and RF safety questions hit in July.
    
       Learn more on Newsline Report number 1015 coming your way right now!
    
    (*****
    
                            FEWER TESTS - FEWER UPGRADES
    
       The number of people taking ham tests is dropping.  The number of
    amateurs upgrading is almost at a standstill.  So say the figures on
    1996
    year to date ham radio testing published in the January 1st edition of
    the
    W5YI Report.
    
       Last week we reported that the number of higher grade license
    holders
    was on the decline.  That only the no-code Technician class was showing
    any
    growth.
    
       According to publisher Fred Maia who also operates the W5YI VEC,
    people
    are simply not taking new or upgrade examinations like they used to. 
    Maia
    says that until 1992 the number of persons being administered Amateur
    Radio
    license examinations was steadily on the rise.  But in 1995 the number
    of
    testing sessions and the number of people seeking tests decreased
    dramatically. So did the number of examination elements being
    administered.
    And 1996 was the worst year yet with 17,000 fewer examines being
    administered 30,000 fewer examination elements.
    
       Maia says that there is all sorts of speculation as to why ham radio
    has
    slipped into a low growth cycle.  One of the most prevalent theories is
    that potential new hams are being drawn away by what he calls the wired
    world of the Internet and World Wide Web.  As Fred points out, there is
    no
    exam or licenses needed to get onto the Internet and working DX is no
    harder than clicking on an icon marked chat.  Needless to say that none
    of
    this bodes well for the future of the Amateur Radio Service, and
    especially
    for population growth on the high frequency bands.
    
       But there is one bright spot in all of this. The ARRL reports that
    there
    were 306 more new licensees age 21 and younger in November of last year
    than during October.  Kids may love the World Wide Web, but some
    youngsters
    also consider ham radio a viable communications interest as well.
    
    (Via W5YI)
    
    (*****
    
                                      ARRL BoD
    
       The ARRL held its first Board of Directors meeting of 1997 in the
    shadow
    of Sandia Mountain, just to the east of Albuquerque, New Mexico and it
    was
    in the Duke City that League Directors met on January 16th and 17th.
    
    
       The League has made it official.  The ARRL will work to keep Morse
    code
    as a requirement for access to the high frequency amateur bands.  The
    League's decision comes after survey results showing a majority of
    members
    favoring keeping Morse code as a requirement for HF operating
    privileges.
    The League's Board of Directors has decided not to support changing the
    existing international treaty requirements when the issue surfaces at
    the
    WRC-99.
    
       And amateur radio licenses could get new names and licensing
    criteria.
    A committee proposal for changing the FCC's amateur licensing structure
    will be published in QST magazine.  League members will be invited to
    submit comments to their Directors before May 31st.  The Board says it
    will
    not take action on the Committee's recommendations before its July
    meeting.
    This so that members will have a chance to be heard.
    
       And noting the increasing number of participants in the spectrum
    management process, the Board has created the ARRL Spectrum Forum.  The
    Forum is an electronic mail roundtable for national amateur
    organizations,
    as well as regional entities and groups.  And the Membership Services
    Committee is being directed to study ways to better serve the digital
    community.  Solving spectrum sharing and other disputes may soon have a
    new
    procedure to follow.  The ARRL is establishing an Alternative Dispute
    Resolution service for use by individual hams, amateur organizations,
    citizens, organizations and others having disputes over amateur radio
    related issues.  The idea for the Dispute Resolution Service first
    surfaced
    at the League sponsored National Frequency Coordinators meeting in St
    Charles, MO in October of 1995.  The League is also reviewing the way
    ham
    radio testing is conducted.  The League's Executive Committee has been
    told
    to study the adequacy of FCC rules governing the qualifications of
    Volunteer Examiners. Coming under particular scrutiny will be VEs who
    obtained license upgrades by obtaining waivers of Morse code
    proficiency.
    The Executive Committee will also investigate the extent of abuses of
    the
    Morse code exam waiver provisions for applicants with severe handicaps.
    And the Committee will be asked to suggest any regulatory changes it
    deems
    necessary.  More information on the Albuquerque Board meeting will
    appear
    in the March issue of QST magazine.
    
    
       More on the Boards actions in future Newsline reports.
    
    (Adapted from ARRL Bulletin 1/22/97)
    
    (*****
    
                           LITTLE LEOS TARGET 2 METER FM
    
       2 meter repeaters in the Americas could wind up sharing the 146 to
    148
    MHZ spectrum if the Low Earth Orbiting Satellite industry has its way.
    This
    is the latest wrinkle in the seemingly never ending attempt by the
    so-called Little Leo satellite industry to find new spectrum to expand
    into.
    
       And the Little Leo boys are taking a rather novel approach this
    time.
    Believe it or not, they are now claiming that they can augment existing
    ham
    radio emergency service communications by bringing in their advanced
    satellite technology. In the simplest of terms, it sounds as if they
    want
    to replace us with them.  But over simplified explanations are really
    not
    enough to explain what's going on.  Because of this we want to refer
    you to
    the excellent editorial by ARRL Executive Vice President Dave Sumner,
    K1ZZ
    that appears on page 9 of the February issue of QST.
    
       Dave takes great pains to explain exactly what's happening and even
    if
    hams beat this one back, why we will have to be on guard to protect our
    VHF
    and UHF bands for many years to come.
    
    (Adapted from ARRL Letter)
    
    (*****
    
                         RF SAFETY QUESTIONS TO HIT IN JULY
    
       The nations VEC's have decided to begin testing hams on the new RF
    exposure questions next July. This, even though the FCC had granted a
    years
    moratorium on the implementation of its new rules regulating human
    exposure
    to radio frequency energy.
    
       When it adopted the new RF exposure rules, the FCC also put forth a
    requirement that additional RF safety questions be added to the Novice,
    Technician, Technician Plus and General class Amateur Service exams. 
    This
    meant revising the Question Pool for these exam elements.
    
       The new RF safety questions are intended to quiz an applicants
    knowledge
    of the hazards of exposure to strong electromagnetic fields as well as
    what
    precautions should be taken to keep himself and the general public away
    from harm.
    
    (Via W5YI)
    
    (*****
    
                                FCC GETS BOMB THREAT
    
       The Federal Communications Commission has received two separate bomb
    threats.  An entertainment trade publication reports that both warnings
    came shortly after noon Tuesday, January 21st and forced hundreds of
    agency
    employees into Washington's chilly streets.
    
       The first threat was received by the agency's Cable Bureau, and the
    second was received a block away at the commission's M Street
    headquarters.
    The caller claimed that a bomb would explode at 1 p.m.
    
       Washington Metropolitan Police and Federal Protection Service bomb
    squads failed to turn up evidence of any explosive device.  FCC
    employees
    returned to work at about 3 in the afternoon.
    
       Police believe that the same person made both threats.
    
    (Via Variety)
    
    (*****
    
                                ANOTHER VANITY DELAY
    
       The FCC says that it could be March before another call is issued
    under
    Gate 2 of the vanity call sign program.  No vanity calls dated since
    the
    end of last November have been processed because of what an FCC
    spokeswoman
    called unspecified computer related problems.
    
       According to the Gettysburg License Processing Facility, vanity
    applications have not been processed since last December 19th.  While
    computer experts work to resolve the latest problems,
    
       Gettysburg personnel are continuing to hand process the pile of some
    600
    vanity applications that required special handling from the December 19
    vanity call sign run.  The FCC also is in the midst of processing
    several
    hundred refunds for earlier unsuccessful vanity filers.
    
    (Via FCC, ARRL)
    
    (*****
    
                       NON FM TO FILE FOR UHF/VHF PROTECTION
    
       Weak signal and other non-FM users of the VHF and UHF spectrum are
    saying it will be full speed ahead in preparing a rule making request
    to
    the FCC to protect their turf from encroachment by users of the "fun
    mode."
    This, in light of the formal signing of the agreement between the
    National
    Frequency Coordinators' Council and the American Radio Relay league. 
    An
    agreement that creates the National Frequency Coordination office as
    the
    potential single point of contact between the FCC and the FM
    coordination
    community.
    
       The move by weak signal, CW, SSB, EME, Amateur Television, satellite
    enthusiasts and even AM users to legally protect their subbands from
    encroachment by users of FM began on the Internet Usenet about three
    months
    ago.  Theses hams say that are very concerned about the memorandum
    signed
    between the ARRL and the NFCC because previous gentleman agreements
    dealing
    with protected spectrum may not longer be honored by the FM community. 
    The
    loose knit group will ask the FCC to legally designate certain portions
    of
    all amateur bands from 50 MHZ to 13 centimeters as being off limits to
    any
    FM signal, be it simplex or repeated in any way.
    
       6 meters and 2 meters already have protected segments for Morse only
    operation.  The coalition will request additional band segment
    protection
    based on current ARRL bandplans.  No protection is being asked for
    spectrum
    above 13 centimeters because there is not yet any mode standardization
    nor
    many users of these super high frequency bands.
    
    (Via W5YI, VHF News, Others)
    
    (*****
    
                        HAMS RESPOND TO MICHIGAN PLANE CRASH
    
       Members of the Monroe County ARES were activated late on the
    afternoon
    of January 9th.  This, in response to the crash of a commuter aircraft
    near
    Ida, Michigan.
    
       Comair flight 3272 was in route to Detroit Metro Airport from
    Cincinnati.  According to Dale Williams, WA8EFK, a communication center
    was
    activated at the Monroe County Chapter of the American Red Cross. 
    Under
    the auspices of Monroe County Emergency Coordinator Mike Karmol, N8KUF,
    hams were initially dispatched to the crash scene and the field command
    post at the Raisinville Township Hall.  Communication was provided to
    the
    Red Cross, which assisted Emergency Management and Human Services
    Personnel.
    
       Blowing snow and a 30 degrees below zero wind chill factor hampered
    efforts at the accident site. Twenty six amateurs were involved with
    the
    emergency operation as local officials and National Transportation
    Safety
    Board conducted their investigation.
    
       The twin engine Embair Brasillia turboprop carried 26 passengers and
    a
    crew of three.  All aboard were killed in the crash.
    
    (Via ARRL)
    
    (*****
    
                            NYC GETS TWO RACES STATIONS
    
       New York City RACES now has two officially recognized stations ready
    to
    operate at a moments notice.  They are KB2YNK at the Office of
    Emergency
    Services in Manhattan and WB2JSM at the Hall of Science Amateur Radio
    Club
    in Queens.
    
       According to the ARRL's Hudson Division Loop Newsletter, KB2YNK
    became a
    reality in October, 1996.  It was the result of an unprecedented
    donation
    of funds for equipment from the City of New York.  As a result, the
    station
    currently has 2 meter, 70 Centimeter, and HF capabilities. Plans are in
    the
    works to add packet and other communication modes by the end of the
    year.
    
       Meanwhile, WB2JSM is undergoing a major upgrade and will provide
    everything from packet to HF, 6 meter, 2 meters, 70 centimeters and
    satellite communications by spring.  Extensive power backup systems are
    being installed to provide long term emergency communications without
    commercial power availability.
    
       RACES died in the Big Apple in the early 1970's after the people who
    served from its inception either moved away, lost interest in ham radio
    or
    passed away.  Now, after two decades its resurrection is now a reality.
    Its members say that they plan to be in the forefront of a Public
    Service
    commitment to the city of New York and it's agencies for many years to
    come.
    
    (Via Hudson Division Loop Newsletter)
    
    (*****
    
                         THE DX MAGAZINE HAS NEW PUBLISHER
    
       In ham radio industry related news, word that the DX Magazine,
    previously published by Paul and Nancy Smith, following many years of
    publication by Chod Harris, has been sold again.  The purchaser is Carl
    Smith, N4AA.  Smith is the current publisher of QRZ DX.  The March
    issue
    will be the first one by Smith.
    
    (Via press release)
    
    (*****
    
                                LONG ISLAND HAMFEST
    
       And the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club, LIMARC to those who
    know
    it, LIMARC will be holding its Winter 1997 Hamfest on Sunday February
    16th.
    Location is the New York State Armory in Freeport, New York  with doors
    open to the general public from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Eastern Standard
    Time.
    
    (Via LIMARC)
    
    (*****
    
              YOUTH SPEAKERS NEEDED FOR DAYTON HAMVENTION YOUTH FORUM
    
       New York City educator Carole Perry, WB2MGP, is looking for young
    hams,
    age 8 to 18, to take part in her annual Dayton Hamvention Youth Forum.
    For
    the better part of a decade, Carole Perry has taken time out of her
    busy
    schedule to travel to Ohio to host the young peoples gathering at
    Hamvention.  As is her tradition, she is seeking young hams with the
    ability to communicate their love of Amateur Radio to other
    non-licensed
    youngsters and teens who will be in attendance.
    
       The 1997 Dayton Hamvention will be held the weekend of May 16, 17
    and 18
    at the HARA Arena in Dayton, Ohio.  Between 35,000 to 40,000 hams from
    around the world attend this gigantic event.
    
       If you are a young ham who is planning on being there, or you know
    of an
    articulate young ham who is, please contact Carole Perry as soon as you
    can. Her 24 hour a day telephone number is
    
                                   (718) 983-1416
    
                              or you can e-mail her to
    
                                [email protected]
    
    (Via WB2MGP)
    
    (*****
    
                                 AMSAT-QATAR FORMED
    
       The ham radio community in Qatar is now formally involved in ham
    radio
    satellites.  On January 8th, they formalized the creation of
    AMSAT-Qatar.
    According to is first president, Mohamed Althani, A71EY, AMSAT-Qatar
    was
    formed to take an active part in all present and future AMSAT sponsored
    projects.  The groups address is:
    
                                    AMSAT-Qatar
                                    P.O.Box 2260
                                    Doha, Qatar
    
       E-mail goes to:
    
                                 [email protected]
    
    (Via AMSAT-Qatar)
    
    (*****
    
                                  LINENGER TO MIR
    
       Ham Astronaut Jerry Linenger, KC5HBR, has became the fourth American
    to
    occupy a position on the Russian Space Station Mir.  This, following
    the
    docking of Atlantis to the Russian space station on Tuesday, January
    14th.
    
       Linenger officially traded places with fellow ham Astronaut John
    Blaha,
    KC5TZQ, when their form fitted Soyuz seat liners were swapped for
    return to
    Earth.  He will stay aboard Mir until May. Linenger will be permitted
    to
    operate ham radio from the Mir.  But he is still waiting for news from
    the
    FCC to see if he will be permitted to make third party contacts with
    school
    children in the United States and friends.
    
    (Via AMSAT-NA, Newsline)
    
    (*****
    
                              CHALLENGER COMMEMORATIVE
    
       Still with ham radio in space, on Tuesday, January 28th the
    Challenger
    Middle School Amateur Radio Club in San Diego, California will operate
    a
    special event.  Station KI6YG  will take to the air to commemorate the
    eleventh anniversary of the Challenger space shuttle tragedy. 
    Operating
    hours will be from 16:00 UTC on January 28th to 01:00 UTC on January
    29th.
    Frequencies will be on or near 14.250, 21.350, and 28.350 MHZ.
    
    (Via AMSAT-BBS)
    
    (*****
    
                                YEAR END MIR CONTACT
    
       And Hampton Virginia's Granby High and Mary Calcutt Elementary
    schools
    were successful in a year end contact to U.S. Astronaut John Blaha who
    just
    returned to earth after several months aboard the Russian Space Station
    Mir.  What made the contact special was that Astronaut Blaha had
    attended
    Mary Calcutt and graduated from Granby High School in the 1960s.
    
       The 10 minute contact was conducted from the Amateur Radio Satellite
    Station Exhibit KE4ZXW at the Virginia Air and Space Center.
    
    (Via AMSAT-BBS)
    
    (*****
    
                                         DX
    
       In DX, F6EXV, has received his CE3/F6EXV license to operate in
    Chile.
    He will be on the air as soon as he can get the station up and
    operational.
    Reports say that he will be there for 2 or 3 years.
    
       And PB0ALB will be in Sarawak, East Malaysia from April 19th to June
    6th
    as 9M8CC.  Activity will be on AMTOR, RTTY and SSB on 80 through 10
    meters.
    
       And in case you have not heard, the long awaited DXpedition to Heard
    Island came on the air right on schedule.  From all indications the
    group
    has run up a record number of contacts including some on bands rarely
    used
    for DXpedition operations.
    
    (Via various DX sources)
    
    (*****
    
                                   COLD CALL SIGN
    
       And finally, get ready for a really cool operation.  This as a
    result of
    the FCC has granted special temporary authority for John Fowler, N1PDV,
    to
    use the call W1B on February 8th and 9th from Jericho, Vermont.  The
    operation will honor the 132nd anniversary of the birth of Wilson Alwyn
    "Snowflake" Bentley.
    
       Who was Snowflake Bently you ask?  He is the man credited with
    determining that no two snowflakes are alike.  Bentley who was born and
    raised in Jericho is believed to have photographed more than 5000
    individual snowflakes using a camera rigged to a microscope.  He also
    analyzed the density and shape of individual raindrops.
    
       Fowler says that the W1B operation will include SSB and CW in the
    General class portions of many High Frequency bands.
    
    (Via ARRL)
    
    (*****
    
       With thanks to Fred Maia W5YI, the ARRL, the FCC and Amateur News
    Weekly, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline.  You can write to
    us
    at:
    
                                      Newsline
                                   P.O.Box 660937
                                Arcadia, California.
                                       91066
    
       For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF at our editors desk, we at
    Newsline
    say 73 and we thank you for listening.
    
    (* * * * *  Newsline is copyright 1997 & all rights are reserved. * * *
    * *
    --
     <
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     <   Please e-mail all address changes or report distribution problems
    >
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    >
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      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    

    Amateur Radio Newsline #1015 31 JAN 1997
    
    The Newsline Information and Copyright Notice is now published
    seperately
    every month.  Please read this notice before using any part of Newsline
    in
    any manner.  For a copy of the notice e-mail [email protected] or
    netmail
    Steve Coletti @ 1:278/230 on Fidonet.
    
                   NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #1016 - 01/31/97
    
                (*************************************************)
                (*                                               *)
                (*                 A M A T E U R                 *)
                (*                                               *)
                (*                   R A D I O                   *)
                (*                                               *)
                (*                N E W S L I N E                *)
                (*                                               *)
                (*************************************************)
    
       The following is late news about Amateur Radio for Radio Amateurs as
    prepared from NEWSLINE RADIO scripts by the staff of the AMATEUR RADIO
    NEWSLINE, INC., formerly the WESTLINK RADIO NETWORK.  Amateur Radio
    Newsline is a audio news service distributed via telephone.
    
       This hardcopy version is produced by Dale Cary - WD0AKO from scripts
    provided to him weekly by Newsline.  It is then distributed to on-line
    services, bbs networks and internet user jointly by Dale Cary and Steve
    Coletti.
    
       Editorial comments, news item and all other business should be
    directed
    to:
    
                               Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF
                             Newsline Producer & Editor
    
                        Internet E-mail: [email protected]
                               [email protected]
                               Phone: (805) 296-7180
                                Fax: (805) 296-7180
                        (Fax senders wait for voice prompt.)
    
    
       Hardcopy comments or complements can be directed to:
    
                                 Dale Cary, WD0AKO
                         Hardcopy Distribution for Newsline
    
                         Internet E-mail: [email protected]
                               Phone: (218) 236-6324
    
    
       For further information about the AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, please
    write
    to us with an S.A.S.E. at:
    
                                      NEWSLINE
                               c/o Andy Jarema-N6TCQ
                                   P.O.Box 660937
                                    Arcadia, CA
                                       91066
    
                                                    Thank You,
                                                    NEWSLINE
    
    (**************************************************
    Some of the hams of AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE: WA6ITF WB6MQV WB6FDF K6DUE
    W6RCL N6AHU N6AWE N6TCQ K6PGX N6PNY KU8R N8DTN W9JUV KC9RP K9XI KB4KCH
    KC5UD KC0HF G8AUU WD0AKO DJ0QN and many others in the United States and
    around the globe!!!
    (**************************************************
    
    
    [1016]
                                    
                   C L O S E D   C I R C U I T   A D V I S O R Y
    
       The following advisory is not necessarily for transmission over
    amateur
    radio.  This is just a reminder that the address for the Newsline
    Support
    Fund is:
    
                                      Newsline
                               c/o Andy Jarema-N6TCQ
                                   P.O.Box 660937
                                Arcadia, California
                                       91066
    
       Again, and as always, we thank you.  This ends the closed circuit
    with
    Newsline report number 1016 for release on Friday, January 31st, 1997
    to
    follow.
    
    (*****
    
                               The following is a QST
    
       News leaks tell the world of amateur radio what the ARRL wants in a
    revised license structure and the killer of three hams to get life in
    prison without parole.  These stories and more on an extended Newsline
    report number 1016 coming your way right now!
    
    (*****
    
                         PROPOSED ARRL LICENSING STRUCTURE
    
       The ARRL will soon propose a new licensing structure for ham radio
    in
    the United States.  The League says that it will not release the
    proposal
    until it is printed in the March issue of its QST magazine, but some of
    the
    information is already public.
    
       The recommendation appears to be a win-win for everyone but codefree
    Technician class operators. Tuck Miller, KC6ZEC served on the panel
    that
    prepared the proposal.
    
    
       WRC99 recommends some great changes for the future of amateur radio.
    The ARRL Board of Directors has received a final report from the WRC99
    planning committee.  The committee spent several months exchanging
    e-mail,
    conference phone calls, and in person meetings to arrive at its
    decision.
    
       After receiving all the survey responses from league and non league
    members alike, they recommended that the ARRL support retaining the cw
    requirement in the international treaty.
    
       The committee was also charged with looking into possible changes in
    the
    existing licensing structure.  The committee recommends eliminating the
    present novice class license, as most new amateurs enter through the
    technician class gate. Also recommended were expanded voice privileges
    for
    all license classes above the technician license in various bands. 
    This
    would enable technician plus licensees, to be called the intermediate
    license, to sample a portion of the HF spectrum.
    
       Digital privileges would also be extended to the new intermediate
    licensees to other hf frequencies.
    
       CW, once again to be supported for retention by the League in the
    international treaty, will be a bit more stringent in a return to a
    sending
    test, and one minute of solid receiving copy will be required. 
    Lowering
    the speed requirement to 10 wpm for the General and Advanced Class
    licensee
    is also urged.  Extras would remain at 20 wpm.
    
       The full committee report will be published in an upcoming edition
    of
    QST magazine and all readers are urged to send in their thoughts.
    
    
       As outlined, the proposal has something for everyone except codefree
    Techs.  The anticipated return to hard copy receiving and hand
    transmitting
    will make cheating on code tests all but impossible.  Unfortunately, it
    may
    also make it even more difficult for no-coders to ever upgrade.
    
    (Via KC6ZEC, Newsline)
    
    (*****
    
                                 TUSCALOOSA TORNADO
    
       Ham radio was a vital link when a tornado hit Tuscaloosa, Alabama on
    Friday, January 24th.
    
    
       Severe storms pound central Alabama January 24th.  The National
    Weather
    Service puts out a call for radio amateurs to help relay storm reports.
    >From the Mississippi border on the west to Georgia on the east,
    spotter
    groups throughout the state activate and fill various frequencies with
    emergency information.
    
       In central Alabama, large hail becomes widespread.  Amateurs relay
    dozens of reports of hail, up to golf ball size.  In West Alabama, a
    tornado slams into Tuscaloosa shortly after 5 p.m. One man is killed
    and
    damage is extensive.  A car winds up in the middle of a supermarket
    aisle.
    
       Radio amateurs stayed on the job from mid afternoon until nearly
    midnight, running Skywarn nets and assisting with damage reports. 
    Other
    hams helped with Red Cross disaster relief and emergency management
    operations.  At one point, more than half a dozen Alabama counties were
    under tornado or severe thunderstorm warnings at the same time.  A
    hectic
    day, forecasters say, with radio amateurs lending valuable
    communications
    assistance.
    
    
       Hams stayed on alert overnight providing important information on
    the
    severe weather in the area.
    
    (Via Newsline)
    
    (*****
    
                        HAMS AND REACT COMBINED TEXAS SEARCH
    
       Radio operators from several different services recently banded
    together
    to help in a missing persons search in Texas.
    
    
       Hams, CBers and GMRS operators joined forced on January 4th in a
    search
    for a missing woman. According to Lee Bessing, N5NTG, some 200
    volunteers
    from the San Antonio pooled their talents and radio gear to look for a
    32
    year old woman missing since Christmas Day.  Bexar County REACT was
    tasked
    by the regions Heidi Search Center to coordinate radio communications.
    Four local ham clubs, two REACT Teams, a volunteer fire department and
    some
    CB'ers all volunteered to help in the hunt.  They searched on foot and
    from
    their own fixed wing aircraft including a Cessna 150. Also used were
    two
    helicopters and several dirt bikes.  Communications took place on 11
    meter
    CB, 2 meter FM, GMRS Radio and 28 cellular phones. The search was
    called
    off as darkness approached. The missing woman was not found but later
    reports indicate that the woman may have been a run-away.
    
    
       Radio clubs involved in the search included the Alamo Area Radio
    Organization, Radio Operators of South Texas, the San Antonio Repeater
    Organization and San Antonio Radio Club.  The REACT Teams were Bexar
    County
    REACT and Comal County REACT. Comal County REACT also provided search
    dogs
    for the hunt.
    
    (Via N5NTG)
    
    (*****
    
                                  NO DEATH PENALTY
    
       The killer of three Southern California hams will not be sentenced
    to
    death.  Los Angeles news reports say that prosecutors from the District
    Attorneys office have abandoned plans to seek the death penalty again
    when
    a former city worker is sentenced on February 7th.  This, for killing
    three
    radio amateurs employed at the C. Erwin Piper Technical Center in Los
    Angeles, California.
    
       Ex-radio repairman Willie Woods is expected to be sentenced to life
    in
    prison without parole for the murders of Tony Gain, W6KFN, Neil
    Carpenter,
    KA6QIB, Marty Wakefield, N6BZ and non-ham James Walton.  Woods, who
    installed two way communications equipment in city emergency vehicles
    pulled a handgun from his toolbox and shot his supervisors one by one,
    tracking them down in the Piper Tech building's hallways and offices.
    This, after he had been received poor reviews and reprimands for
    working
    too slowly.
    
       The jury convicted Woods of first and second degree murder for the
    July
    1995 killings but deadlocked 10 to 2 in favor of the death penalty.
    Prosecutors could have sought retrial of the penalty phase with a new
    jury
    but opted instead for life in prison without the possibility of parole.
    
    (Via Los Angeles, CA news sources)
    
    (*****
    
                           HAM DONATES $35 MILLION TO USC
    
       Entrepreneur Gordon S. Marshall, W6RR, has given a $35,000,000
    donation
    to an area college.
    
       Gordon S. Marshall is the founder of Marshall Industries, one of the
    nation's largest electronics distributors.  On Wednesday, January 15th,
    he
    donated the money to the University of Southern California School of
    Business.  Marshal, who is now 77, graduated from USC after serving as
    a
    bomber pilot in World War II.
    
       In 1953, he established Marshall Industries, which distributes
    industrial electronic components and production supplies in the United
    States and Canada.  He launched his company six years after graduating
    from
    what was then called USC's College of Commerce.  He says that his
    electronics entrepreneurial career grew out of his teenage years as a
    ham
    radio operator in Pasadena, California.
    
       USC officials say that the gift from W6RR will be used to fund a new
    program to expose all first year MBA students to international
    business.
    This, by sending each one overseas for four weeks.
    
    (Via USC, WA6WZO, others)
    
    (*****
    
                           HAMVENTION COORDINATION FORUM
    
       The National Frequency Coordinators Council has announced that it
    will
    hold a repeater coordinators forum at the 1997 Dayton Hamvention. It
    will
    take place at 11:15 AM, Saturday May 17, at Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio.
    
       The forum will be open to all hams interested in repeater
    coordination.
    The NFCC Board says that it will publish an agenda prior to the
    meeting.
    It adds that it hopes have the kinks worked out of the membership
    process
    by the time Hamvention rolls around.  This to permit recognized
    coordinators who are not members to sign up at the same time.
    
    (Via NFCC)
    
    (*****
    
                                 HAM RADIO AND MORE
    
       The six year old Ham Radio and More talk radio program hosted by Len
    Winkler, KB7LPW, may be canceled at the end of March.  Winkler says
    that
    the shows owner, KFNN AM in Phoenix, Arizona,  is claiming that the
    program
    is not producing enough advertising revenue to warrant keeping it on
    the
    air.  If ad profits to the station do not climb substantially, the show
    will disappear after its March 30th broadcast.
    
    (Via KB7LPW)
    
    (*****
    
                             KEENEY TO FCC:  NOT AGAIN
    
       The Reuter news service has reported that Regina Keeney has asked
    not to
    be renominated for a seat on the Federal Communications Commission.
    Keeney,
    a Republican, said she would, instead, like to remain as chief of the
    FCC
    Common Carrier Bureau.
    
       Keeney was nominated for a Commission seat last year by President
    Clinton but Congress did not act on the nomination.  In declining to
    run
    again, Keeney cited personal reasons for her decision.
    
    (Via FCC release)
    
    (*****
    
                               N3JT RETIRES FROM FCC
    
       FCC Attorney Jim Talens, N3JT, retired on January 3rd, after almost
    22
    years at the agency. Most recently, Talens was involved in the matter
    of
    the little LEO satellites and the 2 meter band. There he served as a
    behind
    the scenes mediator to explain the hams' position in a rather heated
    atmosphere.
    
       Previously, he was involved in satellite work, cellular radio and
    telephone regulation.  Talens now plans to go into private practice
    focusing on communications law.
    
    (Via FCC Release, ARRL)
    
    (*****
    
                         PORTLAND 88.7 QUIET AGAIN DOWNTOWN
    
       The Portland Oregon radio pirate broadcaster we reported on several
    weeks ago has gone silent.  At least for the moment he is.  This
    according
    to the local Society of Broadcast Engineers newsletter that says an FCC
    enforcement officer traced the 88.7 MHZ. signal of "Subterradio" to a
    building in downtown Portland and spotted the antenna on the roof.
    
       After being unable to enter the locked building, the manager was
    located, and an appointment was made to inspect the facility on
    December 4.
    But upon arrival, the manager refused entry.  He told the FCC that he
    didn't want federal agents poking around in his building.
    
       Interviewed last month in Anodyne, a Portland area alternative arts
    and
    music magazine, the self named "DJ Schmeejay," operator of Subterradio,
    talked enthusiastically about increasing his power and establishing
    additional transmitter sites.  So, after he struck out with the
    building
    manager, the FCC agent booked an appointment with DJ Schmeejay.
    Schmeejay
    denied everything.  However, the signal on 88.7 MHZ. disappeared at
    about
    the same time.
    
    (Via Portland SBE Newsletter)
    
    (*****
    
                              NEW FCC PERSONNEL IN PDX
    
       And speaking about the Portland FCC.  Word that Jim LaFontaine has
    joined Binh Nguyen in the Portland FCC Enforcement office.  LaFontaine
    hails from Los Angeles, California.  Nguyen was with the now closed
    Portland field office for several years.
    
    (Via Portland SBE Newsletter)
    
    (*****
    
                                 ELMER ANNIVERSARY
    
       The Amateur Radio Elmers Resource Directory is about to celebrate
    its
    sixth birthday.  The Directory was first posted to rec radio on the
    Usenet
    in March of 1991.  It's been growing ever since.
    
       The most significant change is its recent entry onto the World Wide
    Web.
    Its URL is:
                       http://www.novia.net/~pschleck/elmers
    
       Currently the Amateur Radio Elmers Resource Directory is taking a
    few
    hundred hits a day and registering online about 20 new volunteer Elmers
    a
    month.
    
    (Via  A/R Elmers)
    
    (*****
    
                                   THE CYBER GUY
    
       And another kind of Elmer, a computer Elmer is going national.  The
    Cyber Guy, the nation's first full-time Internet reporter and fastest
    growing news insert has been added to stations in four cities.  These
    are
    San Diego, Portland, and Tyler, Texas.
    
       The Cyber Guy gives TV viewers the latest news about how life is
    being
    shaped by the ever changing Internet made its debut in Los Angeles
    several
    months ago.  Several times the topics covered have been allied to
    Amateur
    Radio and its ties to the world wide web.
    
    (Via press release)
    
    (*****
    
                        DX - HEARD LOGS SHIPPED BY SATELLITE
    
       In DX, word that the Heard Island DXpedition has used packet radio
    over
    amateur radio satellites to transmit log data from one of the most
    remote
    locations on earth.  According to Ray Soifer, W2RS, logs were uploaded
    from
    VK0IR, downloaded by ON1AIG, and transmitted from Belgium via the
    Internet
    to waiting hams around the world.  Roger Cooke, G3LDI, reports seeing
    VK0IR
    log data on UO-22 and KO-23, while use of KO-25 has been observed by
    Jim
    White, WD0E.
    
       If you want to find out whether you are in the log check out the log
    data on the expedition's Web site.  Its located at:
    
                       http://www.aurumtel.com/heard-log.html
    
    (Via AMSAT BBS)
    
    (*****
    
                               NEW ARRL CONTEST RULES
    
       From the contest log, DXpedition scores are being added to the
    aggregate
    competition totals for active affiliated clubs in the ARRL DX Contest.
    The
    present rules require that single guest operators and the station
    licensee
    must be members of the same club.  This rule has been waived for
    DXpeditions only.  At least two-thirds of the operators in a
    multi-operator
    entry must be members of the same club for the score to count for that
    club.
    
       Also, starting with the 1998 ARRL International DX Contest, multi-op
    stations will no longer have to remain on a band for at least 10
    minutes
    after commencing operation on that band.  The ARRL Contest Advisory
    Committee and the ARRL Awards Committee have approved changing the
    rules to
    allow six band changes per hour.  In effect, the revised rule does not
    allow more changes in an hour than the present rule, but do allow a
    station
    to quit an unproductive band after a single contact.
    
    (Via ARRL)
    
    (*****
    
                                   HOLIDAY CHEER
    
       Finally, ham radio was responsible for passing out some cheer and
    good
    will his past holiday season.  It features the letter H and happened in
    Indianapolis, Indiana.
    
    
       If you ask any ham on the north side of Indianapolis what HCARES
    stands
    for, they would tell you it identifies the Hamilton County Amateur
    Radio
    Emergency Service.  They would also tell you HCARES took on a new
    meaning
    over the holidays.
    
       Over a dozen hams assisted the Hamilton County Red Cross Chapter
    with
    the delivery of food baskets during the Thanksgiving and Christmas
    holidays
    this year.  Hundreds of care packages were delivered to elderly and
    handicapped families in need.  Each food package provided the needy
    families with a turkey, and enough canned goods to fix a warm holiday
    meal.
    John Wasmuth, AA9KB coordinated the mobile delivery units.
    
       The food was donated by Hamilton County residents and stores.  Now,
    if
    you look it up, you will now find that HCARES stands for Hamilton
    County
    Amateur Radio operators that care about their community.
    
    
       Be it Operation Santa Claus for kids or bringing food to the
    elderly,
    the ham radio community again responded from their hearts in 1996.
    
    (Via Amateur News Weekly)
    
    (*****
    
       And for this week, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline.  You
    can
    write to us at:
    
                                      Newsline
                                   P.O.Box 660937
                                Arcadia, California
                                       91066
    
       For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF at our editors desk, we at
    Newsline
    say 73 and we thank you for listening.
    
    (* * * *   Newsline is copyright 1997 & all rights are reserved.  * * *
    *
    
    

    
    SB NEWSLIN @ ALLBBS $NLIN.1017
    Amateur Radio Newsline #1017 07 FEB 1997
    
    The Newsline Information and Copyright Notice is now published
    seperately
    every month.  Please read this notice before using any part of Newsline
    in
    any manner.  For a copy of the notice e-mail [email protected] or
    netmail
    Steve Coletti @ 1:278/230 on Fidonet.
    
                   NEWSLINE RADIO - CBBS EDITION #1017 - 02/07/97
    
                (*************************************************)
                (*                                               *)
                (*                 A M A T E U R                 *)
                (*                                               *)
                (*                   R A D I O                   *)
                (*                                               *)
                (*                N E W S L I N E                *)
                (*                                               *)
                (*************************************************)
    
       The following is late news about Amateur Radio for Radio Amateurs as
    prepared from NEWSLINE RADIO scripts by the staff of the AMATEUR RADIO
    NEWSLINE, INC., formerly the WESTLINK RADIO NETWORK.  Amateur Radio
    Newsline is a audio news service distributed via telephone.
    
       This hardcopy version is produced by Dale Cary - WD0AKO from scripts
    provided to him weekly by Newsline.  It is then distributed to on-line
    services, bbs networks and internet user jointly by Dale Cary and Steve
    Coletti.
    
       Editorial comments, news item and all other business should be
    directed
    to:
    
                               Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF
                             Newsline Producer & Editor
    
                        Internet E-mail: [email protected]
                               [email protected]
                               Phone: (805) 296-7180
                                Fax: (805) 296-7180
                        (Fax senders wait for voice prompt.)
    
    
       Hardcopy comments or complements can be directed to:
    
                                 Dale Cary, WD0AKO
                         Hardcopy Distribution for Newsline
    
                         Internet E-mail: [email protected]
                               Phone: (218) 236-6324
    
    
       For further information about the AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, please
    write
    to us with an S.A.S.E. at:
    
                                      NEWSLINE
                               c/o Andy Jarema-N6TCQ
                                   P.O.Box 660937
                                    Arcadia, CA
                                       91066
    
                                                    Thank You,
                                                    NEWSLINE
    
    (**************************************************
    Some of the hams of AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE: WA6ITF WB6MQV WB6FDF K6DUE
    W6RCL N6AHU N6AWE N6TCQ K6PGX N6PNY KU8R N8DTN W9JUV KC9RP K9XI KB4KCH
    KC5UD KC0HF G8AUU WD0AKO DJ0QN and many others in the United States and
    around the globe!!!
    (**************************************************
    
    
    [1017]
    
                   C l o s e d   C i r c u i t   A d v i s o r y
    
       The following advisory is not necessarily for transmission over
    amateur
    radio.  This is just a reminder that the address for the Newsline
    Support
    Fund is:
    
                                      Newsline
                               c/o Andy Jarema-N6TCQ
                                   P.O.Box 660937
                                Arcadia, California
                                       91066
    
       Again, and as always, we thank you.  This ends the closed circuit
    with
    Newsline report number 1017 for release on Friday, February 7th, 1997
    to
    follow.
    
    (*****
    
                               The following is a QST
    
       Powerline safety comes to the world wide web thanks to ham radio. 
    This
    story and more on Newsline report number 1017 coming your way right
    now!
    
    (*****
    
                            POWERLINE SAFETY ON THE WWW
    
       A Georgia ham has set up a site on the world Wide Web dedicated to
    promoting safety in dealing with overhead power transmission lines.
    
       Andrew Funk, KB7UV is the Assistant News Operations Manager at WAGA
    television in Atlanta. For the past year he has been working on safety
    guidelines for those involved in Electronic News Gathering.  This, as a
    result of reports from around the country where engineers and reporters
    were hurt or killed when the mast of a news gathering van was
    inadvertently
    extended into overhead power lines.
    
       While the guidelines were developed primarily for broadcasters, Andy
    believes that this material might be of interest to Radio Amateurs as
    well
    since the powerline contact accident procedures were developed in
    cooperation with the safety department of Georgia Power.  You can find
    it
    by taking your computer over to the Internet and then going to
    
                             http://www.wagatv.com/eng
    
    courtesy of Andrew Funk, KB7UV.
    
    (*****
    
                          ARRL ELECTIONS AND THE INTERNET
    
       And in case you have not noticed, more and more ARRL election
    campaigns,
    and even some recall campaigns, are going world wide over the Internet.
    In
    the past year or so you have probably noticed announcements from
    several
    candidates in local and regional League elections posted to the
    Internet
    news groups.  Some candidates have posted campaign literature to the
    World
    Wide Web and sent it as e-mail to national ham radio news outlets.
    
       Obviously, these candidates are hoping for some added recognition
    that
    will help put them over the top.  This is a far cry from the old days
    when
    candidates in League elections paid little attention to anyone outside
    their geographic area. Obviously it also signals another way that the
    world
    wide web is changing the face of ham radio.
    
       By the way, it is Newslines policy is not to comment on League
    elections
    until after the results are in.
    
    (*****
    
                             ARRL MEMBERSHIP UP IN 1996
    
       The ARRL says that its membership is growing despite the latest
    negative
    figures in overall growth in the hobby.  The League says that it ended
    1996
    with its largest membership in history.
    
       The grand total was 175,023, up 1,461 from the previous month.  This
    is
    an increase of 3,574, or approximately 2.1% from a year earlier.  By
    comparison, in 1995 League membership showed a decline of about 0.6%.
    
       Demographically, the Southeastern Division is now the largest,
    overtaking the Atlantic Division for the first time.  The Rocky
    Mountain
    Division posted the largest percentage increase for the fifth time in
    the
    past six years.
    
    (*****
    
                          ARRL TO OFFER WEEKEND HAM CLASS
    
       And the ARRL is going into the ham radio training business. 
    Beginning
    in March, the League will sponsor three Amateur Radio licensing
    classes, to
    be held at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut.
    
       Classes will cover the Technician class test elements and an upgrade
    class will instruct the General class theory.  Each class will include
    proper amateur operating procedures and repeater etiquette.  There will
    also be a radio and test equipment display and demonstration.
    
       Instructing will be Ed Hammond, WN1I.  Ed is a well known author and
    lecturer and a ham for 25 years.  Technician licensing classes will be
    held
    March 14, 15 and 16, and April 11, 12 and 13.  A General theory upgrade
    class will be held April 25, 26 and 27.  Classes will run from 6 to 10
    PM
    on Friday evening, and from 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
    
       If you know someone who is interested in ham radio, tell that person
    that he or she can see a part of ham radio history at the same time.
    Advance registration is required and thee is a fee for this class.
    
    (*****
    
                         WA4SIR TO SPEAK AT DAYTON BANQUET
    
       A well known ham has been named as the banquet speaker of the Dayton
    Hamvention.  Ron Parise, WA4SIR will address the crowd in Dayton on
    Saturday night the 17th of May.
    
       Ron came to fame in the world of amateur radio when he pioneered
    packet
    radio from the Space Shuttle in December of 1990.  The mission was
    STS-35
    aboard the Columbia.  And Ron held dozens of voice QSO's with fellow
    hams
    all over the world. In addition to the packet operation on that early
    day
    SAREX mission.  He had to wait almost three years to fly.  After the
    Challenger put a hiatus on manned space flight.
    
       Later, Ron flew again aboard STS-67 aboard the Endeavor in March of
    1995.  Using voice and packet again very effectively for SAREX.  In
    deed,
    Ron Parise a key member of the SAREX team.
    
       Working from his home base at the Goddard Space Flight Center as an
    engineer scientist, WA4SIR is not an astronaut, he is a payload
    specialist.
    The payload NASA calls ASTRO-1 is his specialty.
    
       Astronauts are pilots or mission specialists. Ron handles a highly
    technical payload.  So sophisticated  that is calls for very special
    operation.  He plans to give details that, as well as highlights of his
    missions at the Dayton Banquet on the 17th of May.
    
       And here is some good news for those of you wondering how to get to
    and
    from the Hamvention site once you get to Dayton.  According to its
    planners, Hamvention has found a replacement for those costly hotel
    buses
    that have discontinued running.  Instead they have arranged with a taxi
    cab
    company to have a number of cabs at Hara Arena along with a curbside
    starter to facilitate the operation.
    
       And here is the good part.  The cab company agreed to a flat rate
    between the local hotels and Hara Arena.  In other words, the rate
    charged
    will be per trip depending on distance, instead of a per person fee.
    
       The Hamvention has also added free bus service to and from Dayton
    Mall
    and the University of Dayton Arena.  They will also continue the free
    buses
    to and from Hara Arena from the Air Force Museum, Forest Park, the
    Salem
    Mall and the KOA Campgrounds.
    
    (*****
    
                          MITNICK SENTENCING AGAIN DELAYED
    
       The sentencing of computer hacker Kevin David Mitnick, N6NHG, on
    parole
    violation and cellular telephone fraud convictions will be reset after
    a
    February 24th hearing on motions filed by his new lawyer.  The defense
    and
    the prosecution agreed to postpone the sentencing date while the
    defense
    files some new motions.  Mitnick's sentencing has been delayed twice
    since
    he changed attorneys last September.
    
       These charges are separate from a new twenty five count indictment
    returned last September.  It alleges that Mitnick stole proprietary
    software from manufacturers, damaged University of Southern California
    computers and stole computer passwords. That complaint also alleges
    Mitnick
    and an accomplice used cloned cellular phone codes to make their calls
    and
    computer connections untraceable.  Mitnick has pleaded not guilty to
    those
    charges.
    
    (*****
    
                                  ARCC ON THE WWW
    
       The Area Repeater Coordination Council which is the VHF and UHF
    frequency coordination group for Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New
    Jersey has just updated their online repeater database.  You can reach
    it
    on the Internet at:
    
                              http://www.arcc/inc.org
    
       According to K3NXU, area hams can review the database for your
    club's
    coordination information.
    
       ARCC is not the only coordinator on line.  We have found several by
    using the Alta Vista and Yahoo search engines on the world wide web. 
    Use
    the words ham radio and coordinator in your search request.
    
    (*****
    
                                HAMTRONICS WEB SITE
    
       Jerry Vogt of Hamtronics Incorporated has announced that his company
    has
    a new site on the world wide web.  One of the things found on the
    Hamtronics web page is the company' 1997 catalog and other special
    information.  You can check it out at:
    
                             http://www.hamtronics.com
    
    (*****
    
                                 ORLANDO HAMCATION
    
       The 1997 Orlando HamCation and Computer Show, sponsored by the
    Orlando
    Amateur Radio Club, will be held on February 14, 15 and 16, in Orlando,
    Florida.  The Orlando HamCation is the second largest hamfest in the
    southeastern U.S. with over 400 swap tables, 150 commercial exhibitors
    and
    the largest tailgate area in the southeast.
    
       For further information about the Orlando HamCation, please visit
    the
    Orlando Amateur Radio Club's home page at:
    
                          http://www.cycat.com/users/oarc
    
    (*****
    
                                   TULSA HAMFEST
    
       This years Tulsa Green County Hamfest in Tulsa will feature a
    special
    guest appearance by Roy Neal, K6DUE.  Neal was supposed to be last
    years
    banquet speaker but was forced too beg off when do to last minute
    health
    reasons.  This year the planners say that Roy has again accepted their
    invitation and will be there.
    
       The Tulsa Green County Hamfest will be held March 15 and 16.  For
    more
    information on this event go to their internet home page at:
    
                        http://www.greencountry.com/hamfest
    
    (*****
    
                              SISTER ALVERNA IMPROVING
    
       Some names in the news and some good news. First, Patrick Tice,
    WA0TDA
    reports that Sister Alverna O'Laughlin, WA0SGJ, of the Handi-Hams spent
    Christmas at her mother house in Assisi Heights.  Sister Alverna was
    injured in an auto accident last May.
    
    (*****
    
                                  ARRL HONORS HAMS
    
       The American Radio Relay Leaue has bestowed honors on several hams. 
    Dr.
    Robert C. Smithwick, W6JZU, and Mr. Ken Kirk-Bayley, GJ0KKB, have won
    the
    ARRL International Humanitarian Award for 1996.  The two are the
    co-founders of MediShare International, a program of the Medical
    Amateur
    Radio Council.
    
       James Jacobs, K1GHT, was tabbed for the ARRL Certificate of Merit in
    recognition of his lifetime of humanitarian service and goodwill
    through
    Amateur Radio.
    
       Also, Michael Pilotti, N3IRZ, also won an ARRL Certificate of Merit
    in
    recognition of his arranging for the travel of Ukraine radio amateur
    Nick
    Bortnick, UX0ZZ, to the United States for special medical care.
    
    (*****
    
                                 ALBANY APPOINTMENT
    
       Albany County New York ARES Emergency Coordinator George Odom,
    KB2SIY,
    has appointed April Stack, KA2QIG, as Assistant E C for Public
    Information.
    KA2QIG also serves as an ARRL Public Information Officer.  Her new
    appointment was announced at the combined County RACES and ARES
    Christmas
    dinner held in Albany.
    
    (*****
    
                                 WISCONSIN TEEN NET
    
       And Tony Olivero, N9ZWM is 14 year old ham and the net control of a
    Teen
    Net on the W9UDU repeater.  The system is on 147.27 MHZ.  It covers
    southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.  The net meets on
    Thursdays
    at 7:00PM Central time. Tony says that all teens in its coverage area
    are
    invited to check in and take part.  You can contact Tony via the
    Internet
    to:
    
                                   [email protected]
    
    
    (*****
    
                     SCHOOLS SELECTED FOR STS-83 SAREX CONTACTS
    
       Sixteen schools, including institutions in the People's Republic of
    China and on Okinawa, have been picked for scheduled SAREX contacts
    during
    NASA's STS-83 space shuttle mission. The tentative launch date is March
    27th.
    
       Three hams are scheduled to be aboard the shuttle Columbia.  They
    are
    Mission Commander James Halsell, KC5RNI, Payload Commander Janice Voss,
    KC5BTK, and Donald Thomas, KC5FVF, mission specialist.
    
       The STS-83 flight is scheduled to last 16 days and will carry a
    SAREX
    station that is configured for voice and packet.  The mission's primary
    payload is the microgravity science laboratory.
    
    (*****
    
                             DAYTON ARC ZIPCODE CONTEST
    
       The Dayton Amateur Radio Association, the same people who bring tou
    the
    annual Dayton Hamvention, has a novel contest that the club is
    sponsoring
    during 1997.  The object of the DARA FM Zip Contest is to work as many
    amateur stations in as many different United States postal Zip Codes as
    is
    possible.  This using FM on the recognized national simplex frequencies
    in
    the 2 meter, 1 and a quarter meter and 70 centimeter bands.
    
       Only FM voice is permitted, with the contest running from 19:00 UTC
    to
    23:00 UTC on April 6th, June 8th, August 10th, October 5th and November
    30th of this year.  The first outing of this new contest took place on
    February 2nd, but that was to late to make this weeks newscast.
    
    (*****
    
                                         DX
    
       DX wise, the Island DX News reports W1BIH will be active as PJ9JT
    from
    Curacao through March 30th. Activity will have an emphasis on CW, with
    operations on 160 through 10 meters.  QSL via W1AX.
    
       Also, ZS6EZ who serves as the QSL Manager for ZS8RI, reports that a
    lot
    of people are losing their QSLs mailed to him because they put "Edward
    and
    Marion Island" on their envelopes.  ZS8IR's QSL route is via ZS6EZ in
    South
    Africa.  Whatever you do, never put Edward and Marion Island on the
    envelope.
    
       And, K8PYD, from the 8th Area QSL Bureau would like to remind
    everyone
    with a new vanity call sign to send new SASE envelopes with your new
    callsigns on them.   Also, you should still send an envelope or two
    with
    your old callsign on it just in case some cards continue to show up
    over
    the next few years at your QSL bureau.
    
    (*****
    
                                       FISTS
    
       Finally, have you ever hear of FISTS.  FISTS is a special interest
    group
    with an interest in preserving the use of Morse code and to
    perpetuating
    its use on the ham radio bands.  This, by encouraging friendships on
    the
    air and making it fun to use the code.  FISTS wants hams to want to
    learn
    CW.  Not because is simply a requirement for operating on the high
    frequency bands.  Rather, because CW can be a neat thing to do and
    allows
    them to communicate with a skill they can be proud of.
    
       The group was formed in England by G3ZQS in 1986 as an Elmering and
    Ragchewing type club. Ironically, even with the moves to delete the
    code as
    a mandatory licensing requirement, FISTS is growing at a phenomenal
    rate as
    more and more hams seek information.  For more information about FISTS
    contact Nancy Kott, WZ8C, the North American FISTS Representative at
    her
    Callbook address or by e-mail to:
    
                                   [email protected]
    
    (*****
    
       With thanks to the ARRL, This Week in Amateur Radio and FISTS,
    that's
    all from the Amateur Radio Newsline.  You can write to us at:
    
                                      Newsline
                                   P.O.Box 660937
                                Arcadia, California
                                       91066
    
       For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF at our editors desk, we at
    Newsline
    say 73 and we thank you for listening.
    
    (* * * *   Newsline is copyright 1997 & all rights are reserved.   * *
    * *