Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1990, December 18, 2015
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1990, with a release date of Friday,
December 18, 2015 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. A gun battle in Afghanistan kills a ham, another typhoon
hits the Philippines, the new and improved FCC website goes live,
it's almost time for Quartzfest, an update for Newsline's EchoProducer
users, and part 2 of our remembrance of Bob Ferrero, W6RJ. All this, and
more, in Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1990 coming your way right now.
(Billboard Cart Here and Intro)
**
RADIO AMATEUR KILLED IN KABUL VIOLENCE
DON/ANCHOR: We begin this week's report with word that a ham from Spain
has become a Silent Key, following a gun battle inside the Spanish Embassy
in Kabul. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has the details:
[JEREMY]: Isidro Gabino San Martin Hernandez, EB1BT, from Leon, Spain, was
working as part of the Spanish Embassy's security team in Kabul when he, another
police officer, and numerous others on the diplomatic staff, were killed during
an extended shootout inside the embassy early Friday evening, Dec. 11. The
shootout closely followed the explosion of a car bomb,
believed to have been set by Taliban suicide bombers, outside the
Embassy's guest house gate. A group of gunmen then entered the embassy
compound and a 9-hour gun battle ensued.
According to an account posted in The Spain Report, all the attackers were
ultimately killed by the Afghan Police Special Forces.
A statement released by the Spanish Home Office said the Home Secretary
had offered the King's and the Prime Minister's condolences to Gabino's
widow, and ordered Spanish flags flown at half-mast for three days on
police buildings.
Hernandez, the father of four, was 48.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, in Nottingham, UK.
**
FLORIDA HAM AGREES TO PENALTY
In a consent decree with the FCC, Thomas J. Warren, K3TW, of Lecanto,
Florida, has agreed to pay a $3,500 civil penalty for failing to identify
while transmitting on 20 meters.
The consent decree, issued Dec. 9, says in part: QUOTE "In response to
complaints that an unidentified station was transmitting on an Amateur
Radio frequency at 14 MHz, FCC agents determined that the transmissions
were coming from Mr Warren's residence. To settle this matter, Mr. Warren admits
that he failed to transmit his assigned call sign, violated the Commission↕s
rules, will report any noncompliance with rules governing
the Amateur Radio Service, and will pay a $3500 civil penalty."
The decree traces the case back to June 25 of this year, when, the agency
says, Warren acknowledges he may have failed to transmit his station
identification as required. The decree went on to say that Warren's
transmissions QUOTE "related to an ongoing dispute with another amateur
radio operator, whose intentional interference had allegedly disrupted
communications on the American Foreign Service Net that operates weekly
on 14.316 MHz." ENDQUOTE
With the issuance of the decree, the agency has concluded its
investigation of Warren.
(ARRL, FCC)
**
HELPING BRACE UP SOUTH BENGAL
A team of radio amateurs from Chennai, Bangalore and Kerala are traveling
to south Bengal to assess the communications infrastructure, and other
assets that would help the state brace for any disaster, such as the
cyclone that struck in May 2009.
The hams' main challenge is to study what kind of shelter is available
in the region, the state's disaster-management plan if any, and the
feasibility of creating a series of amateur radio communication bases.
The hams will take into account the area's access to the Internet, even
in remote areas.
(HINDUSTAN TIMES)
**
TACKLING THE PHILIPPINES' TYPHOON
A weather disaster in another part of the world - the Philippines - had
ham radio operators mobilizing well before it made landfall. And then, as
Typhoon Melor approached, the Philippine Amateur Radio Association
activated its Ham Emergency Radio Operations, or HERO.
By the time it hit on Monday, Dec. 14, the typhoon swept through the
central part of the nation, cutting power for millions, and leaving at
least six dead, one of them a child.
The Philippine government reported that more than 90,000 homes were
damaged, at least 8,000 beyond repair. In addition, mudslides and
landslides left roads blocked.
HERO has been making use of 7.095 MHz, lower side band, as its calling frequency
for emergency traffic, requesting that all amateurs keep the frequency clear.
The hams are utilizing backup power, and plan to
continue operations as the typhoon makes landfall throughout the
archipelago.
(CHANNEL NEWS ASIA, SOUTHGATE AMATEUR RADIO NEWS, WEATHER.COM)
**
FCC WEBSITE UPGRADE
For ham radio operators, not every long-awaited launch necessarily
involves a CubeSat. On Dec. 9, the FCC set course on a new trajectory
with a website designed for improved access and navigation. A statement
from the Commission describes the new website as featuring QUOTE "a more
responsive design, a new site navigation structure, and an improved
search capability." ENDQUOTE
The site also provides a friendlier interface for display on mobile
devices, tablets, and other platforms beyond the desktop environment.
The site includes some big plusses for hams: There is now the ability to
link hams directly to the Universal Licensing System from the homepage,
and also access a direct link to the Electronic Comment Filing system,
which is used for input in official proceedings.
Project Manager Deanna Stephens also notes, in an agency blog online,
that the site's ability to offer navigation by toggling permits browsing
by Categories or by Bureau and Office -- hopefully providing more responsiveness
to user preferences.
(ARRL, FCC)
--- BgNet 1.0a12 - The Thunderbolt BBS wx1der.dyndns.org Little Rock, AR
* Origin: Temple of Doom BBS - tod.eothnet.com (57:57/1)
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