Volume 16, Number 16 (April 18, 1997)

Address Changes: Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, e-mail kcapodicasa@arrl.org.

Editorial: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, e-mail elindquist@arrl.org.

IN THIS EDITION:

ARRL CALLS ON FCC TO PRIVATIZE HANDLING OF MALICIOUS INTERFERENCE COMPLAINTS

Citing "a substantial need to improve and increase the quantity and quality" and timeliness of enforcement in malicious interference complaints, the ARRL has called on the FCC to "create a streamlined, privatized enforcement process" to handle and adjudicate the most serious Amateur Service rules violations. In a petition for rulemaking filed March 28, the League asked that the FCC change its rules to permit members of the volunteer Amateur Auxiliary to bring evidence of malicious interference violations directly before the Chief Administrative Law Judge. The Chief ALJ would be authorized to determine if the complainants have a valid case, to issue show-cause orders, and to designate complaints for hearing.

The League recommended that the FCC capitalize on the volunteer resources available through the Amateur Auxiliary to relieve the evidence-gathering burden in such cases. If the rules changes are approved, the League said it would likely assist members of the Amateur Auxiliary in preparing and submitting complaints and in presenting cases at administrative hearings. "The increased use of volunteer resources would seem to be entirely appropriate in the Amateur Service, which involves avocational use of radio only," the ARRL concluded.

While noting that most hams obey the rules, the League said Amateur Radio needs the Commission's help "in a very few, persistent, serious enforcement cases" but has not been getting it in recent years because of the FCC's staff and budgetary limitations.

"Indeed, notwithstanding the best efforts of the Commission over the past several years, there has been no resolution of the four or five most serious cases brought to the Commission's attention," the League said in its petition. Even in some of the cases the FCC did act upon, the League said the Commission did not go far enough to make the problems go away permanently. The League cited a case in New Orleans where fines against several amateurs were reduced but remain unpaid and uncollected. "There is a widespread, and growing, perception that administrative forfeitures are not collectable," the ARRL said, pointing to the complex, time-consuming method of collecting fines that is required by federal law. The ARRL noted that while the FCC suspended one ham's license in that city in 1996, it failed to look into malicious interference charges against at least two other hams in that area. The League said examples like these send a message that the FCC won't enforce Amateur Service rules in malicious interference cases. Informal mediation attempts also have failed. "Malicious interference problems, if left unchecked, tend to spread and increase in intensity," the League said. The ARRL suggested that a series of "visible, successful enforcement actions" would deter rules violations and promote self-regulation.

The ARRL also suggested that some FCC policies get in the way of timely, effective enforcement. Current Wireless Telecommunications Bureau policy requires the Commission to independently corroborate evidence gathered by Amateur Radio volunteers. "The policy often acts as an absolute obstacle to any enforcement activity whatsoever," and it demoralizes volunteers, who view their efforts as wasted.

While noting that malicious interference cases often attract a lot of attention within the amateur community, the League said ham radio can be "justifiably proud" of its history of voluntary rule compliance. "The overall level of compliant behavior among amateurs has not deteriorated over the years," the League emphasized, citing fewer than 10 active malicious interference cases in the US at present.

MIREX ROUND 2 SCHOOL CONTACT A SUCCESS

With spare parts now on hand to repair an ailing carbon dioxide scrubber aboard the Russian Mir space station, ham-astronaut Jerry Linenger, KC5HBR, took a few minutes to share some pleasant thoughts Monday, April 14, with some elementary school pupils in Michigan. The youngsters, at Alaiedon Elementary School in Mason, Michigan--near the state capital of Lansing--posed 18 questions to Linenger during the on-the-air visit, which was occasionally interrupted by QRN. The Michigan contact used AMSAT's "telebridge" network, and was made via AMSAT member Graham Ratcliff, VK5AGR, in Adelaide, Australia. The telebridge patches a remote amateur satellite ground station through a telephone loop provided by MCI/Darome Telecommunications in Chicago to an Amateur Radio station set up at the school. Alaiedon Elementary science teacher John Barry headed up the successful effort in Michigan. Leading the school technical committee was Jeff Broughton, WB8RJY, assisted by Brent Williams, WB8TRL, and John Imeson, N8JFB.

During the QSO, Linenger spoke of his very young son, John, and how he likes "talking" with him on a regular basis via tape-recorded letters (some of which have been aired on National Public Radio). Some 50 people assembled in the Alaiedon Elementary media center, about half of them pupils. Another 350 or so more participated in the MIREX QSO via a public-address link to the school's gymnasium, and a remote audience heard the contact on the WB8RJY repeater on 443.700 MHz FM. US Rep Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, was in the Alaiedon school audience during the contact.

The school enjoyed a lot of live media attention, as two TV stations and a daily newspaper showed up to cover the event. The telebridge hookup worked well, and Linenger commented more than once on how well he could hear the school.

Last week, a Progress rocket carrying spare parts for Mir's CO2 scrubber plus other supplies successfully docked with Mir. The scrubber shut itself off earlier this month when a coolant leak caused it to overheat. Both NASA and Moscow say there is no danger to the crew.

Meanwhile, comments this week by NASA Space Shuttle Program Manager Tommy Holloway gave rise to optimism that the space agency will refly the curtailed STS-83 mission this year. The mission, which would be designated STS-83R, would carry the microgravity science laboratory (MSL) and could again include SAREX. In Holloway's words: "The shuttle manifest for the remainder of the year, while tight, appears able to accommodate a reflight of Columbia and its MSL payload in early July with reasonable impact to shuttle launch dates for the rest of calendar year 1997." NASA managers were to make a final decision on flying STS-83R April 18. --Pat Kilroy, WD8LAQ/NASA

HAMS RELAX A BIT AS MINNESOTA FLOOD WATERS RECEDE

With the exception of Northwestern Minnesota and North Dakota which are now seeing the effects of melting snow, the major threat of rising water in and around Minnesota has passed, reports Minnesota Section Manager Randy "Max" Wendel, N0FKU. "We're seeing light at the end of the tunnel with our flooding," he added. A blizzard April 5 left over a foot of snow in the Fargo/Moorhead and Grand Forks/East Grand Forks areas of the Red River Valley, and freezing temperatures encased already flooded communities. Renewed flooding in the Red River Valley was reported late this week. In Fargo, North Dakota, hams were reported to be working with relief workers to track the rising waters.

As flooding threatened, an ARES HF Flood net met on 75 meters, activated daily in late afternoon, for ARES ECs and other radio amateurs in affected areas to provide flooding updates and report any anticipated communications needs that might arise. While there was no significant loss of commercial communication service, telephone service and power were out in some communities. In the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St Paul), the MARS system was activated at the request of the Salvation Army office. MARS assisted in relaying messages from the flooded communities of Montevideo and Granite Falls, where the Salvation Army was transporting supplies from its warehouse in the Twin Cities. State Army MARS Director Claudine Will, N0HQB, reported that members of the Robbinsdale ARC in the Twin Cities traveled to Montevideo/Granite Falls to assist in the field. They set up communication back to the Salvation Army warehouse which was staffed by Matt Stepaniak, N0TNL, who dedicated several long days as a net control station to assist MARS and Salvation Army relief efforts. ARES members from Willmar (Kandiyohi County) also provided communications in Montevideo/Granite Falls. In Moorhead (Clay County), ARES EC Ken Covey, W0ZQJ, reported that several hams offered help with relief efforts. Radio amateurs also assisted the Salvation Army by communicating needs for sandbaggers, food, dike patrols, transportation, and other general volunteer duties. The same occurred in the Twin Cities and other areas of Minnesota.

Throughout the state, flood levels often equaled or exceeded any previous flood crests ever recorded. Half of Minnesota's counties were officially designated by President Clinton to qualify for federal disaster-relief funding. Vice President Al Gore visited the state last week and expressed his concern.

"I would like to express my personal thanks to all radio amateurs, MARS members and ARES members who provided communications throughout the floods in Minnesota," Wendel said. "Radio amateurs were able to provide a needed resource." He said hams can never be ready enough to respond to an emergency and urged all hams to register as ARES members.

SOUTH DAKOTA FLOODING BRINGS OUT BEST IN HAMS

Watertown, South Dakota, lived up to its name this past week. After record flooding struck the town, the call for help went out early on April 5. Twenty-five hams, most members of South Dakota's Lake Area Radio Klub members (LARK) provided support communication while more than a quarter of the town's 20,000 residents were evacuated. Before standing down April 13, LARK members manned radios, coordinated food deliveries, hauled and filled sandbags, and passed information among the various governmental and private agencies that were involved.

The effort drew thanks from a variety of officials, including Watertown Mayor Brenda Barger (who oversaw the flood-relief effort), Gov William Janklow and US Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD). Daschle accompanied Vice President Al Gore when the vice president visited Watertown April 11 to view the destruction. Daschle later toured the Codington County Emergency Management Center, the hub of the flood relief effort.

Bob Hoaas, K0ZBJ, spent the longest time on duty after being displaced from his Lake Kampeska home by floodwaters early April 6. Still out of his home early this week, K0ZBJ manned the radio gear at the Codington County Extension Center, which served as the main evacuation center. Denny Warrick, KF0HL, spent more than 30 hours April 5, 6 and 7 at the emergency operations center, passing information and answering questions. Kurt Engel, NT0Q, pulled the night duty there April 5 and was busy on two radio systems when it became necessary to evacuate more residents in the wee hours of April 6. He was joined by his daughter, Rachel Engel, KB0NOG, for a few hours late April 6. LARK President Laurel Foss, KB8HMR, logged the second most number of public service hours during the flooding, much of that at the extension center shelter.

At another evacuation shelter in Watertown Senior High School, Wendell Lunde, KB0NOE, was the primary operator the three days the facility was open. Henry German, KB0NOF, handled some overnight duty. Officials closed the shelter April 8.

With a radio in hand to receive instructions on April 5, Boyd Joens, KF0YX, found himself in the sandbag business. He hauled 29,000 sandbags from the South Dakota Department of Transportation office to Codington County for use by individuals. Joens transported another 30,000 sandbags, and volunteers (with help from some 200 prison inmates) worked during a blinding blizzard and sub-zero wind chill to fill and place the bags in a last-ditch effort to save hundreds of homes from flooding. The effort proved successful. Later in the week, when flood waters threatened nearby Lake Pelican, KF0YX transported still more sandbags for residents to use.

Flood waters limited the participation of at least two LARK members. Merle Kolden, N0GKZ, and Burdette Wibeto, N0GHM, had helped man the station at the extension center evacuation site on April 5. They managed to get to their homes at Wallace late that day, but the high water closed all routes between Wallace and Watertown by the next morning, preventing them from returning to provide additional assistance. --Denny Warrick, KF0HL

HAM RADIO EXCLUDED FROM CB ENFORCEMENT BILL

At the request of the ARRL, Amateur Radio has been specifically exempted from a bill submitted April 17 by US Sen Russell Feingold (D-Wisconsin) that would give states and municipalities authority to enforce the FCC's CB regulations. Feingold's bill, designated Senate Bill 608, originated with efforts by the Beloit, Wisconsin, City Council--responding to long-standing CB interference complaints--to pass an ordinance allowing local authorities to enforce FCC regulations. The bill is aimed at reducing radio frequency interference stemming from the use of unauthorized equipment or frequencies by CBers.

In presenting his bill, Feingold told his Senate colleagues that he has received RFI complaints over the past several years from numerous Wisconsin communities "in which whole neighborhoods are experiencing persistent radio frequency interference."

If approved by Congress, Feingold's bill would amend the Communications Act to allow state or local governments to enforce regulations that prohibit the use of CB equipment not authorized by the FCC (such as high-power linear amplifiers). As it now stands, no license is required to operate on the 11-meter Citizens Band, but the FCC does have strict requirements on the type of equipment that CBers can legally use. Feingold's bill would preserve the federal preemption of all other telecommunications matters. It excludes FCC-licensed services, including Amateur Radio, from state or local oversight.

Also at the ARRL's request, the bill calls upon the FCC to provide "technical guidance" to states and municipalities in detecting and determining violations. Those affected by a state or local enforcement decision would be able to appeal to the FCC. ARRL asked Feingold to add this provision as final safeguard for amateurs who might be erroneously prosecuted despite the bill's other exemptions for amateurs. Feingold's bill also would not preclude the FCC from enforcing its own regulations as they apply to CB.

Feingold called his bill "a common-sense solution to a very frustrating and real problem which cannot be addressed under existing law."

NJ JUDGE RULES HAM INTERFERENCE OUT OF HIS HANDS

A New Jersey Superior Court judge has ruled that federal law prevents him from declaring ham radio interference a nuisance. Judge Reginald Stanton made that determination in a case reported April 16 in the New Jersey Star Ledger, in which a couple sued their neighbor, Walter Kornienko, K2WK, of Lafayette, New Jersey, claiming his transmissions interfered with their telephone, TV, and garage door opener. The couple, Leopold and Karen Korins, was trying to get Stanton to declare the situation an nuisance and to direct Kornienko to cut back on his hobby. But Kornienko's lawyer claimed his client had a right to operate under a federal license and suggested the Korins do more to shield their appliances from RFI. According to the news report, Kornienko, who's been licensed since 1967, runs the maximum 1500 W PEP.

"There is no question that there has been meaningful intrusion into the Korins' home and their expectations of enjoying a reliable and reasonably high quality level of telephone and television reception," Stanton is quoted as saying in the Star Ledger report by Bill Riley.

Stanton conceded, however, that the FCC had jurisdiction and he had no authority to limit Kornienko's hamming. "If he is obeying the FCC rules and the Korins can't fix the situation in their home, that's tough and they'll have to lump it," Stanton reportedly said.

Kornienko is said to have expressed relief at the ruling. Hudson Division Director Frank Fallon, N2FF, said he'd discussed the problem with Kornienko, an avid contester. He described the area as rural, rather than suburban, and expressed the hope that Kornienko could somehow recover his legal expenses.

RADIO SHACK TAKES HTX-204 DUAL-BAND HT OFF THE MARKET

Radio Shack notified its stores April 17 that it's immediately recalling unsold stocks of its new HTX-204 dual-band handheld transceiver because of what a source at Radio Shack headquarters called "a regulatory compliance issue" involving the transceiver. Radio Shack said it plans to take the HTX-204 off the market and has no immediate plans to offer another dual-band HT. The HTX-204 started showing up in the chain's 7000 retail stores about six weeks ago.

A Radio Shack official at the company's Ft Worth, Texas, headquarters said the company was concerned about the "potential for illegal use" of the HTX-204. He declined to be specific, but he did emphasize that the HTX-204 is perfectly legal for use on Amateur Radio frequencies.

Radio Shack expressed disappointment with the turn of events surrounding the HTX-204 and directed any questions to local Radio Shack retail stores.

INTERNATIONAL MARCONI DAY

Special event operations are planned for this weekend to commemorate International Marconi Day, Saturday, April 19. One of the more unusual is W6KB/IMD, which will transmit from Bolinas, California, from the site of commercial radio station KPH, and--using a remote-control wire link with commercial site WCC on Cape Cod, Massachusetts--will listen from both coasts! Operation will commence April 19 at 0000 UTC and conclude 24 hours later. Frequencies will be 7.037 and 10.121 MHz. For more information, contact Adam McLaughlin, KD6POC, e-mail kd6poc@jps.net or kd6poc@qsl.net; Web http://www.jps.net/jmclaugh.

Radio Austria International will operate special event station OE1M on International Marconi Day, April 19, 0000-2400, all bands, SSB and CW. A special QSL is available for QSOs and SWL reports. Operating modes and frequencies of OE1M will be announced by Radio Austria International each hour following the news. QSL with sase and one IRC to Radio Austria International, A-1136 Wien, Austria. For more information, see http://www.ping.at/rai/ on the Web.

A list of other IMD stations can be found at http://www.etruria.net/associazioni/ari/imd.htm on the World Wide Web.

SOLAR FLUX DOWN, NUMBERS UP

Sun watcher Tad Cook, KT7H, Seattle, Washington, reports: Average solar flux was down a little with sunspot numbers up a bit over the past week. The most significant event was the delayed reaction to the big solar mass ejection, which drove the Planetary A index to 38 and K index up to 7 on April 11. Over the next few days watch for a retreat in the solar flux from the high 70s down to the low 70s until the end of the first week in May, when it will start creeping up to the 80s again. Solar flux is expected to be above 80 by May 10.

Look for geomagnetic disturbances to appear again around April 24 and 25. All of this forecast is based upon activity seen during the last solar rotation, and, of course, new activity could appear at any time.

Sunspot numbers for April 10 through 16 were 47, 31, 30, 34, 45, 39 and 33, respectively, with a mean of 37. The 10.7-cm flux was 77.6, 77.1, 76.4, 78.8, 77.4, 78.7 and 75, respectively, with a mean of 77.3, and estimated planetary A indices were 10, 38, 9, 8, 4, 4, and 12, respectively, with a mean of 12.1.

EDWARD P. TILTON, W1HDQ, SK

Ed Tilton, in a photograph taken in the mid-1970s. (Photo credit: Paul Wilson, W4HHK)

ARRL Headquarters was saddened to learn that VHF pioneer and former QST VHF Editor Ed Tilton, W1HDQ, of Spring Hill, Florida, died March 1. He was 89. In December 1939, Tilton inaugurated the first QST column devoted to VHF. Originally called "On the Ultra Highs," it eventually became "The World Above 50 MHz." Tilton edited the VHF column until he retired from the ARRL staff in 1960, reporting on-the-air activity and encouraging experimentation initially on the then 56 and 112-MHz amateur allocations, and later on all VHF and UHF bands. The UHF DX Records box--the precursor of today's standings boxes--debuted in 1940. During World War II, Tilton worked as a field engineer for the military on radar projects--mostly at Pearl Harbor and Guam, and became acquainted with the great technological progress the military was making in the VHF-UHF spectrum. Even while occupied with his wartime duties, he still managed to file occasional columns throughout the war years.

In 1947, Tilton established the first WAS standings box for 6 meters. In 1955, he proposed establishing the first calling frequencies for the 6 and 2-meter bands.

Following his retirement, Tilton remained a QST Contributing Editor. He was the author of the ARRL's first VHF Manual and wrote numerous articles for QST.

Tilton's column inspired an entire generation of VHF and UHF enthusiasts and encouraged such activities as EME, meteor scatter and auroral propagation. He was considered an authority on sunspots and solar flares and their effects on propagation. As ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ, put it: "Ed Tilton was one of the outstanding amateur scientists of his generation. Perhaps more than any other individual, he led the exploration of the extended-range properties of the VHF and UHF bands."

Tilton was a life member of the ARRL. He also belonged to the QCWA and the Spring Hill Amateur Radio Club. He was a native of Springfield, Massachusetts. His wife, Leitha, died in 1995. His sister, Ruby, is among the survivors. He is to be interred in Canton, Connecticut. Donations in Ed Tilton's name may be made to the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, 300 E Bay Dr, Largo, FL 34640.

In Brief:

  • This weekend on the radio: EU Spring Sprint, Michigan QSO Party, and the YU DX Contest. On April 22, the ARRL VHF/UHF Spring Sprint for 222 MHz is also scheduled.

  • Welcome to the ARRL staff: Walter E. Ireland, WB7CSL, accepted the position of Technical Specialist in the ARRL Washington Office, effective April 1. He directly assists Technical Relations Manager Paul Rinaldo, W4RI. Walt was first licensed as K1FUW in 1963. He has just taken early retirement from the federal government, his most recent position being Chief, Spectrum Management and Regulatory Affairs Division, International Broadcasting Bureau, US Information Agency, a position he held for six years. Prior to that he worked for the Board for International Broadcasting (RFE/RL) and the Voice of America in various technical management capacities. --David Sumner, K1ZZ

  • Welcome to HQ: Dan Miller, K3UFG, joined the ARRL Educational Activities Department on April 17. His primary duties will involve deciding on new videos to add to the EAD tape library, working on the Novice/Tech Instructor Guide, working with NASA on the evaluation system for SAREX lesson plans, and other activities. Dan, 51, is from Erie, Pennsylvania, and holds an Advanced class license. In the past, he has done school demonstrations involving SAREX, taught licensing classes, edited a club newsletter, been an active traffic handler, and served as president of Radio Amateurs of Erie.

  • Open late to serve you! To better serve our members and customers, the ARRL Publications Order Desk has extended its hours! Now you can reach an ARRL customer service assistant from 8 AM to 9 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Call toll-free: 888-277-5289 (US only). Our friendly staff will be available to help you place your order, renew your membership, or find an ARRL dealer in your area.

  • New e-mail address for e-pubs, software support: Effective immediately, the e-mail address for support of ARRL electronic publications and software is epubs@arrl.org. The tis@arrl.org address remains valid for technical information service (TIS) inquiries. --Jon Bloom, KE3Z

  • Hams to operate from Biosphere 2: Amateur Radio will have a central role as the Biosphere 2 Center in Oracle, Arizona, celebrates Earth Day April 20 with special event station K7RST. The Earth Day special event will take place on the lawn of the human habitat where the former Biospherians lived. Frequencies include 7.117.5, 7.238, 14.245, 21.138, 21238, 28.405, and 50.130 MHz, plus a two-meter repeater on 147.140 (+600 kHz). The special event station with operate with the cooperation of the Southern Arizona DX Association, the Radio Society of Tucson, the Tucson Repeater Association and the Old Pueblo Radio Club. Operation begins at 1300 UTC April 20 and concludes at 0000 UTC April 21. A commemorative certificate is available. Send a QSL and a 9x12 sase to K0DVH listing signal report and contact number on your card. For more information, contact Dave Kalahar, KD4HXT, e-mail cool-fm@theriver.com. For more information on Biosphere 2, contact Bryan Thorpe, KE6TCF, tel 800-992-4603, ext 1; e-mail bthorpe@bio2.edu; WWW http://www.bio2.edu.

The ARRL Letter

The ARRL Letter is published by the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259. Rodney J. Stafford, KB6ZV, President; David Sumner, K1ZZ, Executive Vice President.

Circulation, Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, e-mail kcapodicasa@arrl.org.

Editorial, Rick Lindquist, N1RL, e-mail elindquist@arrl.org.

Visit the ARRLWeb page at http://www.arrl.org.

The purpose of The ARRL Letter is to provide the essential news of interest to active, organizationally minded radio amateurs faster than it can be disseminated by our official journal, QST. We strive to be fast, accurate and readable in our reporting.

Material from The ARRL Letter may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, including photoreproduction and electronic databanks, provided that credit is given to The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League.

How to Get The ARRL Letter:

The ARRL Letter is distributed directly from ARRL HQ only to elected League officials and certain ARRL appointees and to paid subscribers of the now-defunct hard-copy edition of The ARRL Letter . For members and nonmembers alike, The ARRL Letter is available free of charge from these sources:

  • The ARRLWeb page (http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/). This version of The ARRL Letter includes any photographs.

  • The HIRAM BBS: 860-594-0306.

  • The ARRL Technical Information Server (Info Server): Send an e-mail message to info@arrl.org. The subject line should be blank. In the message body, type send ltrmmdd.txt, where mm represents two digits for the month and dd represents two digits for the day (The ARRL Letter is published every Friday). For example, to request The ARRL Letter file for Friday, January 3, 1997, you'd type send ltr0103.txt. Then, on a separate line, type quit.

  • CompuServe and America Online subscribers, as a downloadable text file in the services' ham radio libraries

  • The Netcom server, run by the Boston Amateur Radio Club and Mike Ardai, N1IST: Send e-mail to listserv@netcom.com (no subject needed). The body of the message should say subscribe letter-list.