Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2237for Friday September 11 2020 Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2237 with a release date of Friday September 11 2020 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a QST. A tower accident kills a ham in Maine. Reactions to a U.S. license fee proposal fill FCC website -- and a jury returns a guilty verdict in a ham's murder. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2237 comes your way right now. ** BILLBOARD CART ** GUILTY VERDICT IN 2018 KILLING OF CALIFORNIA AMATEUR JIM/ANCHOR: A U.S Marine Corps lieutenant has been found guilty in the beating death of a well-known amateur radio operator in his Murrieta, California home. A Riverside County jury found First Lieutenant Curtis Lee Krueger guilty of assault and second-degree murder in the 2018 killing of Henry Allen Stange WA6RXZ, according to John Hall, the DA's public information officer. The ham's body was not located until June of 2018 when his remains were discovered in a shallow grave in Joshua Tree National Park. Police said the beating had also fractured his skull. The prosecutor said the 54-year-old radio operator had been in a relationship with the Marine's girlfriend at the time. She pleaded guilty last year to being an accessory after the fact and received a sentence of 10 months in jail and three years probation for the felony. Krueger is scheduled to be sentenced on October 16th. He faces 16 years to life in prison. (THE PRESS ENTERPRISE, RIVERSIDE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY) ** RESCUE BY REPEATER FOR TWO U.S. HAMS JIM/ANCHOR: Two dramatic rescues-by-repeater took place near the Nevada-California border in late August bringing home the reality that amateur radio saves lives, especially in remote areas where cell phones simply do not function. Ralph Squillace KK6ITB has those details. RALPH: Ham radio came to the aid of a critically injured motorcyclist in a head-on highway collision in late August. Eric Bero KI7WHH called in from the scene where the victim remained on the center line of Highway 89, west of Highway 395. Jim Sanders AG6IF heard the details and called 911, staying on the air with Eric while highway patrol responded. The road was secured from traffic while a helicopter was summoned to transport the victim. Elsewhere, hams responded to a distress call from a radio operator whose vehicle got stuck on a backcountry road. According to local news reports, Tom Foss K6ICE was carrying only a day's supply of water and no food when his Subaru Forester became immobilized. He called for help on the Sierra Intermountain Emergency Radio Association's NV7CV repeater. His situation was reported to police by Rick Olson KM6DYL and his son Ryan KM6DYO, who were listening. Another listener, Ed Terlau KG7ZOP, guided Tom in finding his location coordinates on his mobile phone and Paul Gulbro WA6EWV linked his repeater to widen the communications reach. Finally search and rescue, aided by John Abrott KD7NHC, was able to bring Tom to safety. For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ralph Squillace KK6ITB. (RECORD-COURIER.COM) ** HAM DIES IN FALL FROM TOWER IN MAINE JIM/ANCHOR: Another tragic tower accident has claimed the life of a ham radio operator - this time in Maine. Heather Embee KB3TZD brings us that story. HEATHER: A ham radio operator who worked part-time as a broadcast engineer for WLBZ News Center Maine has become a Silent Key following a fatal 80-foot fall from an amateur radio tower. A friend who was on the scene in the rural town of Union, Maine, told authorities that James Larner N1ATO was secured to the tower using a harness and carabiner clips. At the time of the accident on September 2nd he was taking apart an antenna that was mounted on the tower. James, who was 74, was no stranger to towers, having worked as an engineer for a number of broadcast entities in his home state. The accident is being investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration which will work in conjunction with the Maine Medical Examiner. For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Heather Embee KB3TZD. (NEWS CENTER MAINE, WIRELESS ESTIMATOR) ** MIXED RESPONSE ON FCC'S PROPOSAL FOR HAM RADIO FEES JIM/ANCHOR: While the FCC has not set a date to vote on imposing a $50 charge for a new amateur radio license or renewal, the agency has been accepting public comments about its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, with a mixed response. Neil Rapp WB9VPG has that story. NEIL: Wil Wiquist, the FCC's associate director of media relations, told Newsline in an email that the FCC is mandated to charge a fee to hams because of changes Congress enacted in 2018. The law is known as the RAY BAUM'S Act, an acronym for Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services. It directly impacts personal licenses such as amateur radio. Opinions thus far in the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System have included numerous arguments against the fee, saying it would deter young people and keep ham radio out of the reach of retirees and low-income applicants. A Michigan amateur wrote, however, that he considered the proposal reasonable, suggesting a fee waiver for individuals younger than 18. The Valley Amateur Radio Association in Virginia suggested fees of no more than $15 for initial licenses and modifications and a waiver for operators active in emergency communications and community events. One ham wrote, from North Carolina: [quote] "I am in favor of the fee if the fees will be used to strengthen enforcement. If the fees are just going to go into the treasury, then what's the purpose?" [endquote] The FCC calls the fees cost-based. Wiquist said that in addition to its automated system, the FCC also employs a Special Temporary Authority for Personal Licenses, using such non-automated agency resources as analyst review and processing and engineer technical review. He said the process' cost is about $135. For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG. (FCC) ** REGULATOR PROPOSES REMOVING LICENSE TEST IN BRAZIL JIM/ANCHOR: Imagine getting your ham radio license without having to pass a test! Well in Brazil that might just become a reality. Graham Kemp VK4BB has that story. GRAHAM: Taking the Brazilian Amateur Radio League by surprise, the nation's regulator, the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency, has proposed eliminating the amateur radio certificate exam for all classes. Regulator ANATEL's published proposal outlines a structure that would grant free access to the Class C licence, which would align the process with that used for citizens band radio. The regulator is proposing advancement to subsequent classes B and A after the applicant presents a certificate of completion for technical classes in communications - or a minimum of three years' instruction. ANATEL has requested support from the Brazilian radio group LABRE, which is a strong proponent of minimum requirements for a radio amateur licence. The regulator's move also contradicts most practices in the international regulation of licences. LABRE has asked for a meeting with the regulator to clarify the proposal. For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Graham Kemp VK4BB. (SOUTHGATE) ** DOCTORAL CANDIDATE SENDS UP BALLOON FOR THESIS JIM/ANCHOR: Want to help a university student work toward a doctorate? Ed Durrant DD5LP tells us all you have to do is....use your radio. ED: A balloon experiment launched on Saturday September 12th by students at the Warsaw University of Technology is carrying important data for one student pursuing a doctoral degree. The ballon has an unusual VLF 210m-long fully-airborne antenna system which creates an electromagnetic field on 14.2 kHz. Listeners in Poland may recall this was once the frequency of the Babice Radio Station, which played an important wartime role relaying messages to the German submarines in the Atlantic. Radio enthusiasts have been asked to listen for the transmission and provide feedback on signal reception during the three-hour flight -- everything from location, SNR and bandwidth. The operation will commence while the balloon is still on the ground and the antenna will rise as the balloon ascends to its maximum altitude of 30 km. Hams will be able to track the balloon via APRS on 144.800 MHz. The balloon's call sign is SP5AXL -- the call sign assigned to the Heritage Park Society of the old Babice Radio Station. For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP. (SOUTHGATE, THE ALEXANDERSON ASSOCIATION) ** BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the W2VL repeater on Long Island, New York at 8:30 p.m. local time on Mondays. ** UK NET FOR BLIND VETS ADDS DIGITAL OPTION JIM/ANCHOR: In the UK, an amateur radio group for blind veterans isn't letting the HF's noise get in the way of their regular net. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us more. JEREMY: When increasing noise began disrupting their mornings four days a week on 80 metres, the Blind Vets UK Amateur Radio Society didn't go QRT: Instead, they got creative and found a new mode they could add as an alternative. Encouraged by longstanding member Doc G4ZJO, the group secured the help of the North West Fusion Group, one of the UK's biggest clubs. The Fusion Group, which maintains a network of repeaters and gateways, set up and began hosting a Yaesu System Fusion reflector for use by the blind amateurs. According to Douggie G7CDA, one of the Fusion Group administrators, a WiresX room is now bridged to the YSF reflector around the clock. He said the network has become a busy place where Doc chairs the regular 10 a.m. daily nets. Douggie told Newsline that the WiresX Room is being used increasingly by both blind and sighted hams as well as members and non-members of the Blind Vets UK organisation. It's growing, he said, "at some rate of knots." Don't worry, there is plenty of room for even more hams to join in. WiresX Room 44222 is called BLIND-VETS NWFG and the reflector is YSF number 42233 which is called GB-BLIND-VETS. The North West Fusion Group also has a presence in the United States and at least one gateway there is usually connected to the group network. Douggie told Newsline: "Anyone can call in the network or join the nets where they will be made most welcome." For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH. (DOUGGIE LANCASTER G7CDA) ** POPULAR DIGITAL NET MOVES TO NEW TIME SLOT JIM/ANCHOR: In the U.S., the popular net known as the All Things Digital After Net is on the move. It's staying on Reflector 58 B but will now meet at 6 p.m. Central Time in the U.S. on Tuesdays. The change is being made to accommodate a work-schedule conflict. The net control is El Erby K4DJL. All hams with an interest in any digital radio mode are welcome to check in. (DARYL STOUT WX4QZ) ** SOUTH AFRICA ANNOUNCES 119 NEWLY LICENSED HAMS JIM/ANCHOR: After several months of delays in testing, South Africa has finally welcomed some new hams to the bands. John Williams VK4JJW tells us about them. JOHN: Congratulations to the 119 new amateur radio operators in South Africa. The new hams have successfully completed the recent Radio Amateurs Exam, a 60-question test held for the Class A licence on the 29th of August, following a delay from May as a result of the pandemic. Relaying the details given by Noel Hammond ZR6DX, the South African Radio League said that 124 tests were given at 27 exam centres under special COVID-19 protocols that included holding a morning and an afternoon session. The 119 successful candidates have since been emailed the results. Before taking the written test, the candidates were required to complete a Practical Operating Assessment and evaluated by two HF Assessors, carefully done in accordance with pandemic restrictions. For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm John Williams VK4JJW. (SARL, SOUTHGATE) ** ARKANSAS HAM OFFERS NEW AMATEUR RADIO TV CHANNEL JIM/ANCHOR: There are many conventional ways to promote amateur radio: workshops, hamfests, YouTube videos and of course Elmering. But how about a ham radio channel on the Roku digital media player? Skeeter Nash N5ASH tells us about one ham who's making it happen. SKEETER: As the administrator and creator of Ozark Digital, a digital ham radio network based in Arkansas, Curtis N9INK is always looking for ways hams can expand their reach. Hoping to promote the hobby across generations - and even geography - through creative TV programming, he has secured a channel on the Roku streaming TV player. The noncommercial channel is called Amateur Radio Today and Curtis is looking to provide viewers with free content - ultimately around the clock - on anything and everything amateur radio-related. Curtis told Newsline that what he needs now are more programs. He has a few pre-recorded videos already up there to get things started but he is hoping to fill the schedule of the Amateur Radio Today channel with how-to videos, interviews, discussions and maybe - down the line - a live feed from a DXpedition, whenever that may be technically possible. Subject matter can range from digital operation and hotspots to boat anchors. There are, of course, technical requirements. Videos should be in high-definition MP4 format. All content must be reviewed by him first. He said that live feeds are also possible but will be carried with a three-minute delay. Curtis said his goal isn't just to provide ham radio programming but to help provide the hobby with a future filled with enthusiastic, inquisitive amateurs. Amateurs interested in providing content should write him at curtg49@yahoo.com For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Skeeter Nash N5ASH. (CURTIS N9INK) ** RESEARCHERS FIND WAY TO 'MAP' SPORADIC-E JIM/ANCHOR: We all know sporadic-E is unpredictable - or is it? Researchers in New Mexico say: "Not so fast." Geri Goodrich KF5KRN explains. GERI: Making use of broadband radio noise and unintentional RF emissions from power lines, researchers in New Mexico report that they are now able to characterize and map sporadic-E, the erratic phenomenon that we hams make use of for long-range communications mainly on 10 and 6 meters. Until now, sporadic-E's occurrence has been largely unpredictable. Researchers at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base made use of a method developed by a team headed by research physicist Ken Obenberger, who said the technique can be employed anywhere there is an electrical grid. Chris Fallen KL3WX, one of the research collaborators at the lab, was quoted in its publication comparing the technique to weather forecasting. He says: [quote] “This is similar to how meteorologists can predict how likely thunderstorms will occur in the afternoons above New Mexico during monsoon season, but use Doppler radar to identify and track specific thunderstorms as they occur. Ken’s technique basically provides weather radar for sporadic-E, only using radio noise from power lines as the radar transmitter.” [endquote] The publication noted that the ability to more accurately get a handle on sporadic-E would be vital during disasters that call upon amateur radio operators to relay emergency information. For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Geri Goodrich KF5KRN. (LOS ALAMOS DAILY POST) ** KICKER: 2019 YHOTY DHRUV REBBA KC9ZJX GETS ARRL POST JIM/ANCHOR: Finally, Newsline takes special joy in announcing that Dhruv Rebba KC9ZJX, our 2019 Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Young Ham of the Year, has been appointed the ARRL Illinois State Section Youth Coordinator. The prominent post is the latest accomplishment the high school student has achieved. Last December, Dhruv was one of two students chosen to receive the "I Have a Dream Award" for Youth at the 44th annual Martin Luther King Awards Luncheon. In 2018, he was part of the Dave Kalter Youth DX Adventure in Curacao. In his role with the ARRL, Dhruv is responsible for promoting on-air activities for youth, including School Club Roundup, and encouraging other youth-related programs and ideas. Dhruv has been a ham since the age of 9. All the best, Dhruv, we couldn't be prouder of you! ** NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to the Alexanderson Association; Amateur News Weekly; the ARRL; CQ Magazine; Curtis N9INK; David Behar K7DB; Douggie Lancaster G7CDA; the FCC; the Los Alamos Daily Post; News Center Maine; Ohio Penn DX; QRZ.COM; the Riverside County District Attorney's office; the Press-Enterprise; shortwaveradio.de; the Record-Courier; South African Radio League; Southgate Amateur Radio News; Ted Randall's QSO Radio Show; the Wireless Estimator; WTWW Shortwave; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. Please send emails to our address at newsline@arnewsline.org. More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's only official website at arnewsline.org. For now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and our news team worldwide, I'm Jim Damron N8TMW in Charleston West Virginia saying 73 and as always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.