ARRL Hudson Division 
October 2001
Hudson Division Beacon - e-mail edition
By Frank Fallon, N2FF, Director, Hudson Division, ARRL
30 East Williston Avenue, East Williston, NY 11596
(516) 746-7652
n2ff@arrl.org
Hudson Division Home Page - http://www.arrlhudson.org

ARRL Members

Please continue to spread the word to others who may want to receive this information
that they will need to access the ARRL members only web site and after becoming a member
they must edit their profile and elect to receive bulletins from the Section Manager 
and Director. The Beacon is a bit late and somewhat shorter than usually as like 
everyone else our little world has been disrupted in the last month. 

I am rushing to get this out to you before I leave Friday morning for the 
ARRL Executive Committee meeting in Dallas on Saturday. At this point I am 
still waiting to get a complete list of those that responded and were deployed 
in the WTC attack so that I can thank those hundreds who responded. 
Please SEC's send me those reports. Again thanks to those who made us all proud 
and responded as volunteer radio operators. 

Also, please try to volunteer for the NYC Marathon in November 4th. 
Steve, W2ML, needs 50 more volunteers than last year and there is a cut off 
date next week due to extra security this year.

JIM HAYNIE COMES TO NEW YORK CITY

The week of September 16th was a very busy week for ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP. 
On Monday he flew into Washington. On Tuesday he participated in the very 
successful "Amateur Radio Day" at FCC offices where he met with FCC commissioners. 
Later in the week he met with congressman and aides and viewed the Pentagon crash 
site with Riley Hollingsworth. 

On Friday, September 21, he was in New York City where he visited Red Cross 
Headquarters, toured a shelter site in Brooklyn and then held a meeting with
NLI ARES leaders and thanked them for a job well done. On Saturday he was at 
the Virginia Hamfest. That's a busy week for our volunteer ARRL President. 
But, that's what makes Amateur Radio great: its volunteers.

On Wednesday morning, September 19, 2001, I contacted Jim Haynie, W5JBP, 
in Washington DC and asked him to come to New York before he returned to Dallas. 
I felt that it would be helpful if he were able to get to New York City and meet 
some of the ARES volunteers here and thank our members who had done such a great 
job after the WTC attack. Jim let me know right away that he wanted to come but 
he would have to work out the details as he had to be a the Virginia Hamfest on 
Saturday morning. Over the next few hours and after a series of telephone calls 
Jim let me know that he would be able to fly in Thursday night, but he would have 
to be back at LaGuardia Airport by 5 PM in order to make a 7 PM flight down to Virginia. 
This would give us about eight hours to move around New York City before we had to have 
Jim back at the airport. New York traffic is never fun but the recent attack has left 
a bridge and tunnel closed resulting in further delays. 

A few hours later I had another call from Jim. Riley Hollingsworth wanted to come 
and would drive Jim to New York and asked that we arrange to get Riley a slot as 
a radio operator some time Saturday or Sunday. We made those arrangements, but 
Riley was subsequently put on weekend duty at the FCC facility in Gettysburg and 
he would not be able to come. 

On Friday morning Jim and I had breakfast at 7 AM at a hotel near LaGuardia and 
then with ARRL PR Staffer, Jennifer Hagey we set off for the half hour drive to 
Red Cross HQ in downtown Brooklyn. The trip took an hour and half because of 
traffic volume. 

When we finally reached Brooklyn Red Cross HQ we were able to find parking quite easily
and then we went through the military and civilian security. The MP at the gate 
was expecting us but the civilian security was unable to contact the people we 
were to meet inside. It took about 20 minutes for them to finally let us in and 
to get upstairs to the radio room. We had the same problem as many of our operators 
who had responded to the emergency. There was difficulty getting through the heavy 
security around the gigantic crime scene which resulted in some getting stuck at 
their assignments for too long. 

About a half hour later George Tranos, N2GA, NLI Section Manager; Tom Carubba, 
KA2D, NLI SEC, and Diane Ortiz-Tranos, K2DO, NLI PIC arrived and joined the group. 
It had taken them more than two hours to make the trip into Brooklyn from Long Island.

From the very first day, September 11th, I have been proud of the way ARRL members 
in the Hudson Division from both New York and New Jersey responded in overwhelming 
numbers. So many responded that many were unfortunately turned away. But the second 
week I was even prouder, if that's possible, of how much Jim Haynie has done for Amateur 
Radio. Remember that he too is a volunteer. We can't give him a pay raise but we sure 
can give him a pat on the back for working overtime. Jim is, after all, our national 
spokesman and chief volunteer. He meets the FCC Chairman and Commissioners, Senators 
and Congressman and a host of others and it is very important that he is able to tell
them first hand how we responded at both the Pentagon and the World Trade Center attacks.

Jim mentioned that one of the big questions from FCC staffers at "Amateur Radio Day 
at the FCC" was what is ham radio doing in this attack. Thanks, Jim, for taking the 
time to come to New York.

Jim and I were able to meet with some of the hams who had been handling radio 
communications for days for the Red Cross in Brooklyn. We thanked them for responding 
and showing what ham radio can do. I estimate that more than 400 individual operators 
were involved in the New York area at some point in supporting agencies such as the 
American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, NYC EOC, or a suburban RACES or ARES effort. 
By the time it is over and the three SECs involved have had time to check I am sure 
that the number in this area will be closer to 500. By the time we add in those hams 
who responded in the Washington area and nationwide the total figure may be closer to 
1,000. It really has been our finest hour! It has made us all very proud to be Amateur
Radio operators.

But it has also been a bit disappointing not to see ham radio getting the media coverage 
we deserve for our efforts. It appears that too many of us were so busy responding to 
the emergency that we did not have the time to tell our story to the press. But perhaps 
it is not too late for our Public Information Officers in NLI, NNJ and ENY to step in 
and get the story to their local contacts. This is a story that unfortunately is not 
going to go away for a long time! We have some interesting personal interest stories 
to tell here about the way we responded. How many ten-year-old kids were able to do 
an adult job in this disaster as did Beverly Holtz of Huntington, Long Island? That's 
pretty amazing! 

As we have all recently learned if we were not already aware, it is not a perfect world out
there. In this instance we need to blow our own horn and get recognition for amateur 
radio's role in providing communications after the attack. We are not all going to get 
our name or picture in the paper but it sure would be nice if a few of us did. And yes, 
it is likely that some who spent long hours in very uncomfortable and dangerous places 
may not get the recognition they deserve. That's an unfortunate reality, but we do not, 
I hope, volunteer our services for glory. I was told that one ham spent 35 continuous 
hours at ground zero waiting to be relieved but no one could give me a name or a callsign. 
It is unfortunate but understandable that there were these problems and delays in the 
initial phases of the response. Such was the early confusion of those we were supporting,
the heavy security around this crime scene, the very real fear that another shoe might 
drop, and travel problems associated with delivering relief operators to sites in 
lower Manhattan. While it's great to see our story told in the ham radio press, 
it is at least equally important to see that same story told by the general media on 
broadcast radio, television and in the newspapers. We need to let the general public 
know that ham radio is still there performing emergency communications despite the 
advent of cell phones and the Internet. Perhaps some of you might want to fill the 
vacant PIO -- Public Information Officer -- slots your Section Manager has available 
so we can do a better job of letting the public know that we have not been replaced 
by cell phones and the Internet. I am also looking into the possibility of developing 
hats and over shirts similar to what the Red Cross has so that we can be more easily 
recognized for what we are during emergencies: Amateur Radio operators. 
If you have not already done so you might also want to get some of your friends and 
neighbors to look at the news stories and pictures on the ARRL web site.

Print it out for them at http://www.arrl.org

SALVATION ARMY STILL NEEDS HAM VOLUNTEERS IN NEW YORK CITY

Although the Salvation Army has cut one shift of radio operators to support 
the organization's World Trade Center relief operation in New York City, it still
needs fresh Amateur Radio volunteers. "We are still short of people," said Jeff 
Schneller, N2HPO--who's coordinating the Salvation Army Team Emergency Response 
Network, or SATERN, operation.

The midnight to 8 AM shift has been suspended, but SATERN still needs six Amateur 
Radio operators per shift--a total of 12 per day--for the indefinite future. 
Schneller said the SATERN volunteers who have been there the longest now "are 
getting weary."

SATERN needs operators at the Kennedy Airport warehouse with their own base station 
set up from about 8 AM until about 9 PM--possibly broken into shifts. In addition, 
SATERN needs operators to ride with trucks to provide communication. Operators start
and end shifts at Salvation Army Division HQ on 14th Street in Manhattan, which also
needs operators.

Schneller said the word he has from Salvation Army is that the organization is 
happy with the Amateur Radio support it's been getting. "They want us to keep going," 
he said. So far, he said, some 40 Amateur Radio operators have turned out to help support
the Salvation Army relief effort--some from the New York City area but others from as 
far away as Missouri, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

"Response from around the nation and the world has been heartwarming," Schneller said, 
"especially those amateur operators who were willing to put their life on hold, so that
they could come help out for a few days or weeks in NYC."

Schneller requested that potential volunteers contact him directly: 
Home, 718-461-0370; Cell, 917-226-1339; Page, 718-939-3939 (give message to operator); 
Ham radio, Call N2HPO on the 147.270 repeater (141.3 or 127.3 CTCSS). From ARRL Letter

NEW YORK CITY MARATHON NEEDS HAM VOLUNTEERS

The New York City Marathon will be run as scheduled this year. On November 4, 
2001, 30,000 runners will leave Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island and run through 
the 5 boroughs of New York City to the finish line in Manhattan's Central Park.

Once again, over 400 Amateur Radio operators are being asked to volunteer their 
time and equipment to help the event run.

All logistics, medical and tired-runner drop out information flows over the 
11 networks set up for the day. But this year due to the events of September 11th, 
things are a bit different.

Each police command and medical checkpoint has asked to have ham radio assistance, 
noting the great support done in the wake of the Trade Center disaster. 
This has added an additional manpower requirement of over 50 hams.

You will be asked to bring an HT to the event with batteries enough to last for 6 hours.
Please take a day and join several million spectators watching this world class event
while helping make the Marathon run.

To volunteer send an email to ARRL Hudson Division Vice Director Steve Mendelsohn, 
W2ML, the Communications Coordinator of the Marathon, at w2ml@arrl.org 

If you are going to volunteer it must be by October 22nd to allow your 
information to be given to the appropriate police command and your reporting 
information and Operators Manual to be sent to you.

CONTESTS

If you are interested in contesting or DX don't forget that the CQWW SSB Contest
will begin at 8 PM on Friday, October 26 and last through to Sunday night. 
This is usually the largest DX Contest of the year. It's your chance to work a 
lot of DX stations in one weekend. You might be able to work DXCC in one weekend. 
On ten meters that's possible. Remember some of those rare stations will be easier 
to work on Sunday and will be looking for those "antenna challenged" stations with 
low power. 

NEW JERSEY LICENSE PLATE BILL MOVES CLOSER TO ENACTEMENT

On October 10th Bill Hudzik, W2UDT, NNJ SM, John Hults, K2WJ, a NNJ Local Government
Liaison who has been shepherding this bill since its inception about four years ago, 
and I met in Morris Plains, NJ with Melverene Cooke, the Executive Assistant to
Assemblyman Alex DeCroce, head of the Transportation Committee where our bill has 
been stuck for some time. I think Bill has unstuck the bill for us. He had all the 
facts and figures from a state agency showing that while the state currently loses 
almost fifty cents on each ham plate they issue that will not happen when our bill 
is passed. The report even went so far as to advocate passage of the proposed bill. 
By late November after elections we expect the bill to move for a vote. I want to 
thank Bill, John (who has been at this for years) and Ray Makul, K1XV, NNJ SGL who 
could not make the meeting for their hard work on this one. 

Those of you who live in NJ and have leased cars will soon be able to get ham plates 
that say Amateur Radio right on the plate. Currently ham plates are NOT available 
for leased vehicles. Those of you who currently have the old plates will have to ante
up fifteen dollars if you want a new plate. 

If you have not already done so, drop a line to your New Jersey assembly representative 
reminding them to vote for the bill. Information is available on the division web site.

ACTION ON NEW YORK TOWER BILL STILL POSSIBLE

In late September Assembly Sponsor Ron Tocci toured the WTC site with legislative 
members and drew Sheldon Silver's attention to ham operators at work on two occasions.
Tocci stressed that the legislature needs to pass the bill so they could help these 
volunteers do their emergency communications job. Silver responded that he hoped they 
would be able to get to the bill before the session ended. Tocci feels that there is 
still a real chance of passage this year and he is working on a proclamation thanking 
Amateur Radio operators for volunteer assistance after the WTC attack. 

WA2MMX TOWER ZONING HEARING IN KINDERHOOK NEW YORK 

(Here is a good example of why we need state tower legislation. Fred, WA2MMX, has 
lived in Kinderhook in Columbia County about thirty miles south east of Albany, NY 
for a number of years where he had a free standing fifty foot tower up. Recently he 
took the tower down and moved just six hundred feet into a newer development and a 
bigger house with more property, about an acre and a half. He wants to put up the 
same tower and antenna he had at the previous location. There is only one house between 
his present property and the old house. His fifty foot tower will be located 89.5 feet
from the nearest neighbor. No BIG DEAL you would think. Wrong! He had a hearing in 
early September and encountered some very stiff objections from irate members and a 
zoning board which did not understand their limitations under PRB-1. Here is Fred's 
unsolicited story about his second tower hearing in his own words.)

My zoning hearing that took place last night was certainly different from the 
free-for-all that took place last month. It was clear that the "neighbors" who literally 
verbally attacked me last month realized it was not appropriate behavior and took a much 
different approach. 

The hearing started off with my presentation of my application to the Zoning Board 
of Appeals. It was then followed by my Attorney, Al Millus, WB2EQR, making a 
presentation regarding my application and statements explaining PRB-1 to the Board.

Also present was Ed Hare, W1RFI, from the ARRL Lab who provided expert testimony 
regarding RF Safety and my need for a 50 foot tower, which actually showed that 
to be afforded optimum conditions, a 90 foot tower was more desirable from both 
operating and safety considerations. Even the attorney/neighbor understood that! 
There were many reasonable questions asked of both Al and Ed, which were answered 
professionally and completely.

Also present was Frank Fallon., N2FF, our Hudson Division Director who provided much
insight and education to those present about ham radio and its public service heritage.
Frank, like Ed and Al, was eloquent in his presentation and well received by the 
Zoning Board. In fact, at the end of this hearing, several board members came up
to the team and thanked them for the "education" in explaining amateur radio. It 
was quite surprising.

Behind the scene, was Chris Imlay, W3KD, the league's general counsel in Washington, 
D.C. and John Hennessy, N1KB, the League's regulatory specialist, who was the first 
person I contacted for help. John put me in touch with Chris who has provided 
immeasurable assistance from Washington. I am truly appreciative of both John and 
Chris' efforts on my behalf.

There are several things I learned from this hearing. First, if you believe your 
application will be met with rejection and hostility, I would highly suggest you use 
the services of an experienced attorney. Secondly, get Fred Hopengarten's (K1VR) 
book Antenna Zoning from the ARRL. Fred tells it like it is. Third, you will have 
to educate your audience before you even get into all of the reasons why you should
be allowed to construct your tower.

And fourth, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT show any hostility towards the Zoning Board 
or the audience. Luckily, at my first "hearing" I followed that advice, even though 
there were things I wanted to say. I restrained myself and remained calm and 
business-like; it paid off last night.

Only a few of the original "neighbors" attended and clearly they realized and 
even stated that last month was hostile and should not have happened. I was even
recognized as a good guy for my public service, although my next door neighbor 
did call ham radio a frivolous hobby.

The next hearing is scheduled for November 1st. The board has asked for additional 
submittals which are being handled by the "Dream Team"of AL, Ed and Frank. 
Additionally, I want to thank some of my friends who were also present for moral support.

Dana Jonas (WA2WNI), Don Chittenden (N2USM), Bob Isby (N2LUD), Mike Alecksynas 
(N2JVE) and Al Strobel, KA2HLA) were present as well as Al's dad, Gary Strobel a 
soon to be new ham who also sits on the Town Board. Gary had a few things to say t
o the "neighbors" and they listened. Welcome to ham radio, Gary.

I felt a bit better after last night. It is clear that we got the attention of the 
zoning board. I truly believe they want to resolve the application in the fairest 
way possible. Unfortunately, it is the fact that the zoning law is deficient in 
addressing ham radio towers that will make their job difficult. The next step is 
to get the zoning law changed to address amateur radio in a positive light.

One last thing, which I believe to be important: Support the ARRL! I like many hams
I used to just send in my dues and get QST and that was it, never thinking that I 
will be calling upon the League for help. Well I called upon them and they came. 
The big guns were there when I needed them. It has changed my whole attitude as a
long-time league member. I am not just a member any more, I am an advocate. If you 
are a ham, whether Novice or Extra, you need to support the ARRL. They are our only 
voice. They are there for you. They were there for me and I appreciate that. I plan
to be there for them, but, them is us. We are the League.

Remember, November1st is the next hearing. We are hoping for a resolution without 
having to go to Federal Court. Stay tuned.

73's Fred WA2MMX / NNN0FEF / NNN0GBJ-7 / NNN0ASI-14

IARU CONFERENCE IN GUATEMALA

This conference is an important prelude to WRC 2003 and part of the process of getting all
the countries in the Region to agree on a united stand at WRC 2003.

The International Amateur Radio Union, Region 2, held its 14th General Assembly in Guatemala City, 
October 1-5, 2001, with 21 IARU member-societies from throughout the Americas represented in person 
or by proxy. On the evening before the opening of the conference an Extraordinary General Assembly was 
held for the purpose of approving a new Constitution, Bylaws, and Standard Operating Procedures for IARU 
Region 2. The proceedings of the week-long conference were governed by the new documents.

In other actions, the conference:

Endorsed the objective of a worldwide allocation of at least 300 kHz for the amateur
service at 7 MHz, with the maintaining of a 300-kHz allocation for Region 2 amateurs 
as "an essential and non-negotiable requirement." The conference emphasized that other
objectives being sought by international broadcasters "should not be permitted to detract
from reaching the above goals."

Supported the revision of Article S25 of the international radio regulations as proposed 
by the IARU Administrative Council, including the incorporation by reference of 
Recommendation ITU-R M.1544. This would permit the Recommendation concerning operator 
qualifications in the amateur service to be updated in the appropriate ITU-R Study Group
rather than being drafted in a World Radiocommunication Conference. A proposal to amend 
Article S19 to permit greater flexibility in the formation of amateur radio call signs 
also was endorsed.

Encouraged member-societies to urge individual radio amateurs to intensify their efforts
to bring more persons to join amateur radio, with special attention to young people. A 
number of activities that have proven to be successful were offered for consideration.

Encouraged the publicizing of international frequency allocations with the objective 
of educating the users of CB equipment about the need for the responsible use of the 
radio spectrum.

Asked the IARU Administrative Council to study other ways to reduce interference from 
the users of CB radio equipment, particularly in the 10 and 12 meter bands.

Urged Region 2 member-societies to support a coordinated approach to secondary 
allocations to the amateur service in the low-frequency bands 135.7-137.8 kHz and 
160-190 kHz.

Requested the Region 2 Executive Committee to study the possibility of an amateur 
allocation near 5 MHz, similar to the domestic allocation recently requested by the 
ARRL in the United States.

Expressed appreciation for actions by the administration of Guatemala to preserve 
and improve the amateur allocation at 430-440 MHz.

Expressed concern about unauthorized operation in the amateur VHF and UHF bands 
and encouraged member-societies to take appropriate action, particularly against 
continuing commercial interference to amateur satellite uplinks in the two-meter band.

Noted with pride the many recent developments in amateur radio digital communications 
and urged member-societies to acquaint their members and their national administrations
with these developments and to stimulate further development in their countries.

The conference voted to hold its 15th General Assembly in 2004 in Trinidad & Tobago.

ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, headed the ARRL delegation. He was assisted 
by First Vice President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, and staff members David Sumner, K1ZZ, 
Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, and Jon Siverling, WB3ERA. Thanks, ARRL Letter.

ANTENNA ARTICLES SOUGHT

ARRL Antenna Compendium Editor Dean Straw, N6BV, is seeking additional, fresh antenna
articles for volume 7 of the Compendium. The popular Compendium book series features
previously unpublished articles dealing with antennas, transmission lines and propagation. 
The deadline to submit manuscripts is January 31, 2002. For more information or to submit 
article manuscripts, contact Dean Straw, 5328 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94121; 
n6bv@arrl.org. 

NEW ARRL PUBLICATIONS

A new book, Digital Signal Processing Techniques: Essentials of the Communications 
Revolution, by Doug Smith, KF6DX, has been released to the printer and will be available
soon.

Copies of the 1995-1999 QST View set have are now available for sale.

DXCC BRANCH UPDATE

As Chairman of the Membership Service Committee from time to time I get asked questions
about backlogs with handling DXCC applications. Those sending in cards always want to
know how long they will have to wait for that new certificate or coveted award. All of
us want it yesterday but the delay is unfortunately always weeks. September fillings 
always add to the delay. Please take a strong dose of patience but here is the latest 
status as of the week ending September 30, 2001:

Beginning Cards 130,655 
Cards Received 53,511 
Cards Processed 12,987 
Ending Cards 171,716 

Applications Pending 1,720 
Backlog Time 7 Weeks 

Outgoing Mail - we are mailing applications received on August 10, 2001.

Card Processing - we are entering cards received on August 18, 2001.

Mail logging of applications for the September 30 cutoff is still in progress. There 
are currently about 60 applications containing about 20,000 cards waiting to be logged in. Also, this year DXCC
is accepting applications postmarked by September 30, rather than received by that date, so we expect
more to arrive in the coming days.

QSL Branch

QSL Service Status: Current. Cards mailed as of 09/28/2001: 1,448,066. Includes cards
going to US Incoming QSL Bureaus and cards sorted & mailed by contractor. Cards mailed 
on 09/29/2001: 81,650.

ONE DAY TECH CLASS HELD ON LI 

We would like to remind you of this upcoming event: LIMARC One Day Tech Class 

Date: Saturday, October 13, 2001 Time: 9:00AM - 5:30PM EDT (GMT-04:00) 

LIMARC One Day Technician Class license course. To be held at Levittown Library. 
Registration & pre-study required. Contact George N2GA at n2ga@aol.com to register 
or for more info. 

AREA HAMFESTS - Please NOTE a previously scheduled hamfest has been cancelled 
-- GSBARC on 10/28

There is only one this month and it's your last chance to attend a hamfest in the 
Hudson Division this year.

Hall of Science Hamfest - Sunday October 21- 9 AM to 3 - buyers $5.00. Location: 
Hall of Science - 47-01 111th Street Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens VE 
Session 10:00 AM Talk In: 444.200 PL 136.5 or Simplex 146.520