ARRL Hudson Division May 2003 Hudson Division Beacon

ARRL Hudson Division
May 2003
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.hudson.arrl.org

ARRL Members Please continue to spread the word to others who may wish to receive this information that they will need to access the ARRL members only web site. After becoming a member they must edit their profile and elect to receive bulletins from the Section Manager and Director. If you are already a member on the ARRL site (http://www.arrl.org) from the "Members Only" box click on "members data page" and then under email notification options set "Division/Section notices" to YES. You will receive the next bulletin sent. Past Bulletins are available at http://www.hudson.arrl.org * ONLY DAYS LEFT - HUDSON DIVISION AWARDS NOMINATIONS DEADLINE MAY 15 The Hudson Division will present awards to outstanding amateurs residing in the division in 2003. We hope many of you will make nominations and bring a deserving Hudson Division ham to the attention of the Awards Committee. Forms are available on the web site at http://www.hudson.arrl.org Please return completed applications to W2ML by May 15. The seven-member committee, composed of assistant directors from each section, will announce the results in late May. Awards will be given for the Hudson Division Amateur of the Year, Grand Ole Ham, and Technical Achievement. Please make a nomination for each of these Awards. * HAMVENTION NEXT WEEK It's that time again. May 16, 17 and 18 will be the big gathering in Dayton. I hope to see many of you in the crowd or at the ARRL Booth. You will also find me at the Hal booth or at the RTTY Forum in room one at 10:00 AM on Saturday morning. For the fourth year in a row I am the moderator of the RTTY Forum. The topic is "Ten Sure Fire Ways to Improve QSO counts in RTTY Contests" Hear from three top contesters who know how to get more QSO's in a RTTY contest. They have done it time and time again. We plan to torture them into revealing the secrets of their high scores during their presentation. Hear from the guys who know how to do it from the South, the East and the West. Speakers: Donald A Hill, AA5AU, George Johnson, W1ZT, and Jay Townsend, WS7I * BROADBAND OVER POWER LINE" POSES HF INTERFERENCE THREAT (This could be a bigger threat than the "Little Leo" proposals of a few years back. While "Little Leo's" would have meant the possible loss of one band, the "BPL" proposal may mean a much higher noise level on a number of our bands in the 2 to 80 MHZ range. It may also put us in conflict with some of our neighbors who would be using these proposed devices. It appears that there is a huge potential for two-way interference here. You may want to send your comments to the FCC on this issue. de N2FF) The FCC has invited public comment on the concept of using existing electrical power lines to deliver Internet and broadband service to homes and offices. The Commission initiated a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) in ET Docket 03-104 when it met April 23. What the FCC calls "Broadband over Power Line" (BPL) is a form of carrier-current technology typically known as power line communication (PLC). Whatever its name, the technology is raising serious interference concerns within the Amateur Radio community, since BPL would apply high-frequency RF to parts of the power grid. One aspect of the NOI is to gather information on potential interference effects on authorized spectrum users. "Entire communities will be affected, so every amateur in that community could have part of the radiating system 'next door' on the power wiring on his or her street," cautioned ARRL Lab Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI. Hare chairs the PLC Work Group of the IEEE C63 Accredited Standards Committee on Electromagnetic Compatibility http://c63.ieee.org/ So-called "access BPL" would use medium-voltage (1 kV to 40 kV) power lines to deliver Internet and broadband applications. Hare says access BPL is likely to be a more significant interference source than in-building PLC technology "because overhead electrical wiring is a much better antenna than the electrical wiring within a building." ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, editorialized on the subject of PLC in "It Seems to Us . . ." in the October issue of 2002 QST. "Is it possible to do power line communications without causing interference to over-the-air communications?" Sumner asked. "Count us among the skeptics. What may be a fine transmission line at 60 Hz looks more like an antenna at HF." Hare said his own computer analyses of interference potential from access BPL/PLC suggest "a significant increase in noise levels" from deployed systems. The FCC appears enthusiastic about BPL, however, saying it has the potential to "provide consumers with the freedom to access broadband services from any room in the house without adding or paying for additional connections." The Commission also touted BPL as "a competitive alternative to digital subscriber line and cable modem services." New digital power line designs use multiple carriers spread over a wide frequency range--from 2 MHz up to 80 MHz--and capable of high data rates--up to 20 MB/s, the FCC said. In addition to viewpoints on interference potential, the FCC also has requested comments on the current state of high-speed BPL technology, test results from BPL experimental sites, appropriate measurement procedure for testing emission characteristics for all types of carrier-current systems, changes that may be needed in Part 15 technical rules, and the equipment approval process to foster the development of BPL. BPL/PLC technology already has been deployed in some European countries, and amateurs there have complained about interference. Japan-responding in part to concerns expressed by its amateur community--decided last year not to adopt the technology because of its interference potential. Ed Hare and others on staff have done a remarkable job of pulling together in one place information that puts the lie to industry claims that "no interference has been reported" from PLC/PLT/BPL tests to date. This link takes you to the news story posted on the ARRL Web: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/04/30/2/

> HUDSON DIVISION CABINET AND PRESIDENTS MEETING - Final Reminder Saturday June 7th there will be a joint Hudson Division Cabinet and Club Presidents Meeting starting at 9:30 at the at the Paramus Congregational Church at 9 AM. Coffee and bagels will be provided. We will provide free pizza for lunch to those attending. The meeting will end by 2 PM. Please bring your ideas and input. If you have any items for the agenda please send me an e-mail. * ARRL SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS - THREE IN THE HUDSON DIVISION As a Director of The ARRL Foundation I am very pleased to announce that there are 33 scholarship winners for the 2003 academic year for a total of more than $31,000 thanks to the generosity of ARRL members over the years. This year marks the first time the William R. Goldfarb Memorial Scholarship has been awarded. a full, four-year undergraduate scholarship to a meritorious young Amateur Radio operator. The new award is the result of a generous endowment from the late William Goldfarb, N2ITP. See http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/05/07/2/?nc=1

This year's winners in the Hudson Division are: Timothy L. Murphy, KB2YGJ, Bergenfield, New Jersey: The Perry F. Hadlock Memorial Scholarship, $2000. Ryan J. Nerp, KC2EDH, Lake Katrine, New York: The Henry Broughton Memorial Scholarship, $1000. His father is Jeff G Nerp, WX2N. Thanks to the Schenectady ARC for setting up this scholarship. Andrew J. Maroney IV, W2AJM, New Windsor, New York: The Dr James L. Lawson Memorial Scholarship, $500. I have met Andrew at meetings of the Orange County ARC with his grandfather Maroney III, Andrew J, WA2QAX . Winner Andrew's father is Andrew J Maroney, W2SON. All three have been pictured in past issues of QST and the ARRL "Operating Manual." Congratulations to them all. * CONGRESSWOMAN McCARTHY THANKED FOR HER SUPPORT OF HR 1478 Last Sunday I had a chance to thank my Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy for her support of both our Spectrum Protection Bill and the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act. She has recently signed on to cosponsor both bills. She is now one of the thirteen original cosponsors of HR 1478. The measure, designated HR 1478, would require private land-use regulators such as homeowners' associations to "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio antennas consistent with the PRB-1 limited federal preemption. PRB-1 now applies only to states and municipalities. Both my wife and I were guests at Town of North Hempstead Awards luncheon at the Swan Club in Roslyn, NY. The Congresswoman was present with her son and his family. My wife and I had the opportunity to speak with the congresswoman during the event and I thanked her for her support of these two bills. The reality was that a number of local hams and I had sent her many letters and e-mails asking for her support of both bills. I had spoken to her personally three times about cosponsoring the Spectrum Protection bill. Finally she took action. Her comment was interesting. She said, "Oh, I received so many letters and e-mails that I simply had to cosponsor the bills." Those personal contacts, letters and e-mails are important and they do eventually pay off. Have you made contact with your congressional representative about these bills? As Jim Haynie has pointed out, "The League can do the mechanics, but it is now up to our members to write their elected representative and urge support and ask that they cosponsor and support the bill. Lawmakers respond best to individual members." >NEW JERSEY ANTENNA BILL - A 3065 - LOOKING FOR MORE COSPONSORS The response from NJ hams has been positive and will certainly help our effort to get an antenna support Bill passed in the state. Thanks, also, to the many NNJ clubs who passed the word out to their members. Some held letter writing nights at their meetings. We need everyone's help on this important issue! Check our NNJ webpage at http://www.hudson.arrl.org/nnj/ for the latest updates on A3065. Thanks to the efforts of Matt Ahearn, KB2PNN, the bill now has a co-sponsor, Assemblyman George Geist (4th District).

But we need additional support. Please get other hams who may not be ARRL members to write also. If you have not already done so, please write to: Assemblyman Jerry Green, The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly and Housing and Local Government Committee Chairman District Office: 17 Watchung Ave., Plainfield, NJ 07060 telephone (908)-561-5757 Assemblyman Albio Sires, Speaker of the General Assembly District Office: 303 58th Street, West New York, NJ 07093 telephone 201-854-0900 The bottom line is, we need your help to do this. Please E-mail me if you have any NJ Senate or Assembly contacts. * SPECTRUM PROTECTION ACT - HR 713 - GETS A BOOST The chairman of the Senate Communications Subcommittee, Montana Republican Conrad Burns, has signed on as a cosponsor of S 537, the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act. The commitment by Burns, the expected architect of the Senate's spectrum management legislation, indicates that the measure--an ARRL initiative on its third attempt in Congress--now has his attention. Burns' cosponsorship also could convince others to follow suit. (It may also indicate the bill may become a rider to Burns' other legislation.) See http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/04/04/4/?nc=1 for details, "Actually, this is the best opportunity that we've ever had to get this bill through, because more members of Congress than ever before are paying attention to ham radio now," said Haynie, who's been in Washington this week to speak about Amateur Radio issues with lawmakers and regulators. In addition, Haynie pointed out, the House and Senate will be considering major spectrum reform bills, and the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act could serve as an amendment to that sort of legislation. HR 713 and S 537 are aimed at ensuring the availability of spectrum to Amateur Radio operators. The legislation would protect existing Amateur Radio spectrum against reallocations to or sharing with other services unless the FCC provides "equivalent replacement spectrum" elsewhere. Bilirakis and Crapo, both Republicans, have twice before sponsored similar legislation at the League's recommendation. "The League is doing all it can, but we know the success or failure will be in the hands of the amateur community," said Haynie, who pledged the ARRL's continuing efforts in Washington to get the bill enacted. "Letters and e-mails are the key to getting legislation passed." A sample letter is available on the ARRL Web site. Those writing their lawmakers are asked to copy their correspondence to the League via e-mail at specbill03@arrl.org. The measures would amend the Communications Act to require the FCC to provide "equivalent replacement spectrum" to Amateur Radio and the Amateur-Satellite Service in the event of a reallocation of primary amateur allocations, any reduction in secondary amateur allocations, or "additional allocations within such bands that would substantially reduce the utility thereof" to amateurs. The text of HR 713 and S 537 is available via the Thomas Web site. * RSGB PRESIDENT VISITS NEWINGTON RSGB President Bob Whelan, G3PJT, General Manager Peter Kirby, G0TWW, and Commercial Manager Mark Allgar, M1MPA, visited HQ on April 29 and 30. In addition to discussing WRC-03 preparations, IARU matters, power line communications, and other topics of mutual interest. They gave a detailed presentation on the UK Foundation License. This entry-level license, which debuted in 2002, can only be earned through in-person classes that combine practical activities, a Morse assessment with no defined code speed requirement, and a 20 (soon to be 25) question written exam. Foundation licensees receive call signs with the M3 prefix and have privileges on all bands from 136 kHz to 440 MHz except 10 meters with a 10 W power limit. Most Foundation licensees earn their tickets in small weekend classes sponsored by radio clubs. Initial response has been excellent, with about 5000 new licensees so far - 20% of them under 21. (To put this in perspective, there are 50,000 licensees in the UK, and new ham numbers had been declining for years.) In addition to creating new hams, the program has energized radio clubs and long-time members. More information on the Foundation License is available from www.rsgb.org. The three have returned home but will return to the U.S. to attend the Dayton Hamvention. * HELP CLEAN UP THE TEN METER BAND Riley Hollingsworth has requested the assistance of the ARRL Amateur Auxiliary/Official Observers in stepped-up monitoring and reporting of interference from unlicensed domestic operation on 10 meters. He specifically asks for reports of interference from "business entities including trucking companies, truckers or other individuals." Riley requests special attention to this problem for the next 6 months (May - October). He indicates that the FCC will use the information to identify the areas where such operation is most prevalent and work with FCC regional offices on enforcement. Even if you're not an OO, you can help out in this effort. Reports can be sent to Chuck Skolaut/K0BOG (k0bog@arrl.org) and should include as much detail as possible. Chuck will organize the data collected and send it to the FCC. Chuck suggests the following: date, time, frequency, and mode type (SSB, AM, etc)and then listen for distinguishing operating characteristics such as language used (English, Spanish and some use echo boxes), possible identifying references to location and if mobile, such as truckers, possible schedule and highway routes and truckline names and handles(names). > WESTECHESTER COUNTY ARES/RACES ACTIVATED FOR TWO MAJOR FIRES IN YONKERS These fires were the two largest in the history of the City of Yonkers. See http://www.news12.com/NewCDA/articles/article_detail/0,5942,%26rid%3D11%26region%3DWC%26tab%3Dtopstories%26id%3D53705,00.html ARES was activated around 3:00 am Friday, March 14th to support the American Red Cross response to a fire that killed two, severely injured three, and displaced 200. At the peak, 150 clients were sheltered at School 18 on Park Hill in Yonkers. The initial evacuation was to Enrico Fermi Junior High School, which had no electricity. Besides planning to provide communications, ARES rolled the two Westchester Red Cross communications vehicles, which have been outfitted by WECA, in order to use their generators. By the time the vehicles arrived around 4-4:30am, the clients were in the process of being relocated to School 18 a short distance further away from the fire. This school was not in the immediately affected area and had heat and light.

The vans were set up to provide a communications post outside the school. The built-in portable remote receiver for the 147.06 repeater was set up with the tower truck, enabling low-power handheld use insidethe school. Communications were initially between the two schools as clients were relocated to School 18 and then between School 18 and the Red Cross chapter in White Plains. The following Westchester ARES/RACES members participated (along with a former member who is now active in ARES in Worcester, Massachusetts and was visiting family locally): KB2LLY, N2TWN, N2VQP, N2NWZ, N2WQG, NB1ISO, N2DHH, WB2NHC, WB2NHC, M2YGK, N2YHK, N2TSE, N2DVQ, WA2KHR, N2FMC, N2AMP, N2TJE Two days later, on March 16th, fire struck again at 85 Bronx River Road in Yonkers. See: http://www.news12.com/NewCDA/articles/article_detail/0,5942,%26rid%3D11%26region%3DWC%26tab%3Dtopstories%26id%3D53763,00.html

This time ARES responded to a Red Cross service center at Mark Twain JHS and near the incident scene on Bronx River road. The tower truck w/portable remote for 147.06 was deployed at the service center and the field communications van, located near the fire with portable remote was also used. ARES also worked with NYC's SATERN group which serves the Salvation Army. An operator was also stationed at the Red Cross headquarters in White Plains. Participating Westchester ARES/RACES members were: N2DHH, WB2NHC, N2NWZ, N2TWN, KB2LLV, N2YGK, N2DVQ, N2TSE, N2TWN, N2VQP Alan Crosswell, N2YGK, EC/RO Westchester County * METROPLEX ARC IS ON THE MOVE Since January 1, 2003, the Metroplex Amateur Radio Club, a Fort Lee, NJ-based Repeater Club, has been making its "MARC" in the Metropolitan area. Having purchased the assets of the now defunct Metroplex Amateur Communications Association, Inc., it has taken control of the two-meter repeater site, operating on 145.450/144.850, with a PL of 100.0. With an elevation of over 600 feet above sea level, the repeater enjoys a very wide area coverage throughout the New York metropolitan area.

A 440 repeater, which has been assigned the 443.950/448.950 pair, will be up and running during the Summer, 2003. A fully approved ARRL Affiliated Club, assigned to the Northern New Jersey Section of the Hudson Division, the group serves as a back-up repeater for the Bergen Emergency Communications Association/ARES; the Bergen-Passaic County SkyWarn Spotter System/NWS; and the Ramsey Office of Emergency Management/RACES. MARC currently has an Accredited Volunteer Examiner Group, with Nick Bernice, W2NAB serving as VEC. Nick, a high school physics teacher and an adjunct professor of Computer Science, at Ramapo College, was recently activated, with his reserve unit, for the duration of the Iraqi Conflict. Several MARC hams, led by club president, Tom Bennett, N2IMG, recently completed the SkyWarn Basic Course, offered by Meteorologist Scott Reynolds, KC2JCB, at the Bergen County Community Services Building, in Paramus, NJ. Club member Mike Adams, WA2MWT, is the Bergen County SkyWarn Coordinator.

The Metroplex Amateur Radio Club will be participating in the initial F-Station Field Day operation, working from the Emergency Operations Center, at the Municipal Building, in Ramsey, NJ. Some members, who want the traditional A-Station format, will be assisting the Ramapo Mountain Amateur Radio Association, at the rural New Jersey State Forest Fire Tower, in Ringwood, NJ. Club Officers include: Tom Bennett, N2IMG, President; Dom Benjamin, AB2BW, Vice-President; Armand Lucchesi, WA2SHA, Trustee Directors: John Acovino, KB2VVB; Nick Bernice, W2NAB; Frank Ferrer, KB2VVP; George Lafasakis, N2ROI;

The Repeater Group meets every Saturday, at 1:00 PM, at the Red Oak Diner, Fort Lee, NJ, for an informal meeting and technical "roundtable". Their website is www.metroplex.org. The motto of the Metroplex Amateur Radio Club is: "We are looking for new members, additional activities, and the advancement of Amateur Radio--a great hobby. We are looking to make our MARC in the Metropolitan Area." Submitted by Michael Adams, WA2MWT Wa2mwt@arrl.net * NEW YORK TIMES HAS ARTICLE ABOUT BOOK ABOUT JERRY POWELL'S QSL CARDS Don't know if many caught it but there was an article almost a page in size about ham radio on page 26 of the May 4th Arts & Leisure section of the NY Times. The Times reproduced in color three of the QSLs of the late W2OJW plus a picture of JY1. W2OJW, while never a member of NJDXA, often attended meetings. The article centers around the recent coffee table book "Hello World" about W2OJW's QSL card collection. See http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/04/arts/television/04SALA.html

>>>>>APPROVED HAMFESTS: 25 May 2003 + Great South Bay ARC http://www.gsbarc.org Contact:Walter Wenzel, KA2RGI Massapequa, NY Sect: New York City-Long Island PO Box 1356 West Babylon, NY 11704-0356 Phone: 631-957-0218 Email: info@gsbarc.org 31 May 2003 + Bergen ARA http://www.bara.org Contact: Jim Joyce, K2ZO Washington Township, NJ Sect: Northern New Jersey 286 Ridgewood Blvd. North Washington Township, NJ 07676 Phone: 201-664-6725 Email: k2zo@arrl.net

1 Jun 2003 + Hall of Science ARC http://www.qsl.net/hosarc Contact:Stephen Greenbaum, WB2KDG 85-10 34th Avenue Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Phone: 718-898-5599 Email: wb2kdg@arrl.net Queens, NY Sect: New York City-Long Island 8 Jun 2003 + Long Island Mobile ARC http://www.limarc.org Contact:Brian Gelber, WB2YMC 46 Forest Drive Plainview, NY 11803 Phone: 516-822-0673 Email: hamfest@limarc.org Bethpage, NY Sect: New York City-Long Island 21 Jun 2003 + Raritan Valley Radio Club http://www.w2qw.org Contact:Fred Werner, KB2HZO Piscataway,NJ Sect: Northern New Jersey 20 Woodcrest Lane Greenbrook, NJ 08812 Phone: 732-968-7789 Email: wb2njh@aol.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------- ARRL Hudson Division Director: Frank Fallon, N2FF n2ff@arrl.org --------------------------------------------------------------------