A Michigan Mystery: Is Heathkit Back?

The legendary Heathkit name might once again be appearing on new electronics kits, including amateur radio gear. Or maybe not. The possible second reincarnation of Heathkit is shrouded in secrecy at the moment, so it's difficult to get any hard facts.

Will the old become new again? Heathkit's new owners
suggest in their online survey that they might bring back
classic ham gear ... perhaps a new version of W2VU's
ancient and highly-modified Twoer? (W2VU photo)

Here's what we do know: After the original Heath company got out of the kit business and eventually shut down completely, new owners in 2011 announced its return to the kit market, along with plans in introduce kits focused on computers and education (amateur radio equipment was not part of the initial plan). Things did not work out as planned and the new Heathkit declared bankruptcy and closed its doors last year without ever producing a single kit.

As part of the bankruptcy proceedings, the Heathkit name, logo, and rights to previous equipment designs were put up for auction. CQ Kit-Building Editor Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB, reports that at last week's Dayton Hamvention®, DZ Kits owner Brian Wood, W0DZ, told a kit-building forum that he had been an unsuccessful bidder for the company's assets, but that he did not know who the winning bidder was. 

Around the same time, the Heathkit.com website came back online, featuring a Mark Twain postage stamp and a famous Twain quote, "The news of my death has been greatly exaggerated." Also appearing on the website, although without a link from the home page, was an extensive survey for potential customers, saying "Heathkit is back" and seeking input on products that might be offered. The survey is at <http://heathkit.com/survey/index.php/278489?lang=en>.

Based on the content of the survey, it appears that the new owners are focusing on the amateur radio market to get them started, and some of the questions suggest that they may start out by re-introducing classic Heathkit gear, either in its original form or with updated electronics inside the classic chassis and case.

This still-functional Heathkit keyer has a built-in code oscillator and
speaker so it's useful for demonstrations as well as on-air use. Will
a new version return to the market? Stand by... (W2VU photo)

Here's what we don't know: There is no indication of who the new owners are or how to contact them. There is no "contact us" link on the website. A "whois" search on the internet for the registered owner of the heathkit.com domain name returns only the company name and address (in St. Joseph, Michigan). And there is no record as yet of any company with "Heath" or "Heathkit" in its name in the Michigan Secretary of State's online corporation registry. We don't know how soon the new owners intend to publicly announce their plans for the company, or when - if ever - they will introduce any new (or new-old) products.

 We encourage the new owners to reach out to the amateur radio media and ask anyone reading this who knows them to strongly suggest that they contact us so we can help them spread the word and to get facts rather than speculation out to the amateur community.

When and if we do have additional information to report, we will post updates here in the CQ Newsroom and/or in the pages of CQ.

 

-- By Rich Moseson, W2VU, Editor, CQ

Wheeler Nominated to Head FCC; Clyburn Named Acting Chair

Tom Wheeler has run two telecom lobbying groups, advised the FCC on emerging technology and written a book on telegraph history. Now, he has been nominated by President Obama to succeed Julius Genachowski as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.

President Obama announces the nomination of
Tom Wheeler (right) as the next chairman of the
Federal Communications Commission.
(White House photo)

Acting FCC Chair Mignon Clyburn
(FCC photo)

The president compared Wheeler to athletes Jim Brown and Bo Jackson, pointing out that he is the only person ever named to both the cable television and wireless industry halls of fame. 

According to the ARRL Letter, Wheeler - who is currently a managing director for a venture capital firm in Washington - previously served as president of the National Cable Television Association (now the National Cable & Telecommunications Association) and as CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association. He is also chairman of the FCC's Technological Advisory Council and of the State Department's Advisory Committee on International Communications and Information Policy. He was also a fundraiser for both of Mr. Obama's presidential campaigns. 

Of particular interest to hams, the ARRL says Wheeler is also the author of Mr. Lincoln's T-Mails, a book about the 16th president's use of the telegraph.

President Obama named FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn to serve as Acting Chair until the Senate confirms Wheeler's nomination.

"Tolerable" Interference Standards Studied

Should the federal government set specific interference rejection standards for receiver manufacturers?

It's a question the FCC considered, and decided against, back in the 1980s, when television interference (TVI) was still a major problem; and it's an issue that three separate federal panels have been studying for the past year and a half, looking at growing interference problems accompanying the staggering growth of wireless systems using frequencies shared with or adjacent to other services (including hams).

It looks like the FCC is headed down the same road it went down 30 years ago, with recommendations from its Technological Advisory Council (headed by Chairman-designate Tom Wheeler) to develop thresholds of "tolerable" interference for receivers rather than mandating specific interference-rejection standards. The FCC is seeking public comment. The docket number is ET 13-101, with a due date of June 21 and a reply deadline of July 8. Be sure to read the Public Notice and the underlying "white paper" before filing comments.

Open Space at Hamvention®

Shoppers at this year's Dayton Hamvention(R) noticed a
fair number of empty indoor booths, but there were only
16 fewer commercial vendors this year than last, and
the flea market was as crowded as ever. (CQ photo)

One of the first things people noticed at this year's Dayton Hamvention® was the number of empty booths in the exhibit halls. While the crowd of buyers seemed roughly equivalent to last year's (which the Dayton Amateur Radio Association announced as just under 25,000), the number of vendors appeared to be down noticeably. According to the Hamvention website, however, there were only 16 fewer vendors signed up for this year's show than last year's (245 vs. 261); but there were 41 unsold indoor booths, up considerably from last year's 18. The number of flea market vendors and spaces sold were virtually unchanged compared to both 2012 and 2011.

Names (Calls) in the News…N0AX, VE1QD, W9JUV

Well-known ham author Ward Silver, N0AX, has been elected President of the Yasme Foundation. He succeeds Wayne Mills, N7NG, who stepped down after being named CQ magazine's DX Editor earlier this year. Silver is author of the introductory book, Ham Radio for Dummies, and is Editor of the ARRL Handbook. The Yasme Foundation funds scientific and educational projects relating to amateur radio.


 

Scott Wood, VE1QD
(QRZ.com listing photo)

Scott Wood, VE1QD, has been named the Canadian Radio Amateur of the Year for 2012 by the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC). Wood, who wrote the November, 2011 CQ cover story on Radio Arcala, was recognized for founding and managing the Maritime DX Forum for the past eight years. Wood was formally recognized at the RAC booth at the 2013 Dayton Hamvention®.

Joe Schroeder, W9JUV (SK)
(K0NEB photo)

Longtime ham radio journalist, engineer and DXer Joe Schroeder, W9JUV, became a Silent Key on April 30. Schroeder was a staff member of ham radio magazine from 1974 to 1990, and was founding editor of the magazine's weekly newsletter, HR Report. He was also Managing Editor of Electronic Instrument Digest magazine as well as an authority on firearms history and gun collecting, a topic on which he also wrote and/or edited many books and magazine articles. Joe was 83.

ARRL Releases New Logbook Software

A new version of the ARRL's software library for interacting with its Logbook of the World electronic confirmation system was released on May 20. According to the ARRL Letter, version 1.14 of the TrustedQSL library allows users to sign and upload log files in a single operation, and reports apparent errors in station location (such as incorrect CQ zones) to the user. It also notifies you of contacts that you have already uploaded. The ARRL says upgrading to the new software is not mandatory but is encouraged.

UPDATE: The ARRL says release of the new software has been delayed due to the discovery of three "bugs" that have since been corrected. However, making changes required additional testing, so the League said it was delaying the release of the software until the end of May.

Better Late Than Never: 1984 DXpedition OKd for DXCC Credit

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
(Courtesy CIA World Factbook)

It took nearly 30 years, but the ARRL has finally granted DXCC credit for contacts made with the TI9CCC expedition to Cocos Island in 1984. Apparently, there were long-standing questions regarding the dates of the operation, but the ARRL Letter says the issue has finally been resolved.

Anyone who has a confirmed contact with TI9CCC between February 15 and 28, 1984, should e-mail DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, with the details in order to be placed on the list for a record update.

Fox-1 Satellite Scheduled for Launch in November 2014

AMSAT's Fox-1 satellite has been scheduled for launch aboard NASA's ELaNa XII mission late next year, according to the AMSAT News Service. NASA plans to launch the cubesat into an orbit with an expected lifetime of about 11 years. The satellite is scheduled to be delivered to NASA for integration with the launch vehicle next March, to be followed by a launch currently scheduled for next November.

The satellite will host scientific payloads as well as amateur radio equipment, as part of AMSAT's recent focus on supporting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. The satellite's planned educational mission qualified it for the NASA program, which provides free launches for selected projects. The launch is generally the most expensive part of any amateur satellite project.

ISS HamTV Frequencies Announced

Plans continue for the addition of digital amateur television (DATV) capability aboard the International Space Station. The project is designed to add a video component to school contacts already conducted by ISS crew members through ARISS, the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program. The DATV transmitter will operate on 2240.0 and 2437.0 MHz, according to the AMSAT News Service. The HamTV equipment is scheduled to be sent up to the station on a supply mission currently scheduled for early August. More information is available on the HamTV Project's Facebook page at <https://www.facebook.com/Hamtvproject>.

Additional 2-Meter Satellite Frequencies Proposed

The AMSAT News Service reports on a proposal from Region 1 of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) for an additional 2-meter satellite downlink subband between 144.000 and 144.025 MHz, to be
used for CW and SSB downlink signals. It was noted that these frequencies have become underutilized after most EME (moonbounce) activity moved further up the band.

AMSAT-NA has not yet taken a position on the proposal. 

It is worth noting that in the United States, FCC rules permit only CW operation on the frequency segment between 144.000 and 144.100 MHz.

New EME Record on 24 GHz

NASA photo

A new world distance record for EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) communications has been claimed by Rex Moncour, VK7MO, in Australia, and the OK1KIR EME Team in the Czech Republic. "Newsline" reports that the contact between the two stations spanned 16,383 kilometers, or approximately 10,180 miles - not counting the trip to the Moon and back! It is reported that VK7MO was using a new decoder that he developed in conjunction with "JT" mode developer and Nobel laureate Joe Taylor, K1JT. Rex was running 10 watts to a 1.14-meter dish while OK1KIR was running 22 watts to a 4.5-meter dish.

European Hams Promote Amateur Radio in Tunisia

Representatives of two national amateur radio associations in Europe teamed up with Tunisia's amateur radio society to make a presentation about amateur radio to the North African country's Minister for Technology, Information and Communica

tion.

According to "Newsline," Mustapha Landoulsi, DL1BDF, representing Germany's Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC) and Stefan Dombrowski, ON6TI, from Belgium's UBA national association, met with the minister on World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, along with members of the Tunisian association. They described amateur radio's role in emergency and disaster communications as well as science and engineering education through the amateur satellite program. Reports indicated that the minister was quite impressed with amateur radio's potential and promised to start the wheels turning to permit the licensing of individual Tunisians. Current laws limit the issuance of amateur licenses to cultural and educational organizations.

ABC Comedy Featuring Ham Radio Renewed

"Last Man Standing," the ABC-TV comedy starring Tim Allen, has been renewed for a third season, according to the program's producer, John Amodeo, NN6JA. In the program, Allen's character is a licensed amateur and has stations set up in his office and his basement, both of which are regularly seen (especially the office station). The use of amateur radio was featured on a recent episode, and Amodeo says he anticipates that it will be included in at least one episode next season as well. 

QSL card for "Mandy Baxter, KF0XIE"
Courtesy Last Man Standing

He also revealed that the character of Mandy Baxter, who was operating her father's radio but did not identify with a callsign, will be properly (if fictionally) licensed next season, as KF0XIE. Amodeo brought some of "Mandy's" QSL cards to the Dayton Hamvention® in May.

An article by Amodeo on the making of this past season's episode featuring ham radio will appear in the July issue of CQ magazine.

CQ Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

CQ ANNOUNCES 2013 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES 

            (Dayton, OH - May 17, 2013) -- CQ magazine today announced its 2013 Hall of Fame inductees, adding two members each to the CQ DX and Contest Halls of Fame along with eight new members of the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame.

            The CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame honors those individuals, whether licensed hams or not, who have made significant contributions to amateur radio; and those amateurs who have made significant contributions either to amateur radio, to their professional careers or to some other aspect of life on our planet. The 2013 inductees (listed alphabetically) are:

* Evelyn Garrison, WS7A (SK) - amateur radio industry leader

* Joel Kleinman, N1BKE (SK) - former Managing Editor of QST magazine

* Laurie Margolis, G3UML/GPC3L - Longtime BBC correspondent and contributor to amateur radio magazines

* Michael Owen, VK3KI (SK) - Longtime president of the Wireless Institute of Australia and chairman of IARU Region 3

* Harry Rubinstein (ex-9EEV) (SK) - Inventor of the printed circuit, the slider potentiometer and the combination potentiometer/on-off switch

* Walker Tompkins, K6ATX - Journalist, author and historian, his three dozen books included several well-known ham radio-related novels

* Joe Walsh, WB6ACU - Rock music performer and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee

* William G. (Bill) Welsh, W6DDB (SK) - CQ Novice Editor for 20 years; responsible for helping thousands to get their ham licenses

CQ DX and Contest and DX Halls of Fame

The CQ DX and Contest Halls of Fame honor those amateurs who not only excel in personal performance in these major areas of amateur radio but who also "give back" to the hobby in outstanding ways.

The 2013 inductees to the CQ DX Hall of Fame are:

* Vladimir Bykov, UA4WHX/AC4LN, has visited and operated from over 100 DX entities in the past ten years and operated from all six continents in 2012 alone. Has provided over 700,000 DX contacts for hams around the world (and QSLed them all).

* Robert "Gary" Dixon, K4MQG, is a founding member of the Carolina DX Association and as Founding President of INDEXA, the International DX Association, which has helped support over 200 DXpeditions in the past 30 years.

The 2013 inductees to the CQ Contest Hall of Fame are:

* Dale Green, VE7SV, is a world-class contester who has been hosting teams of new and experienced contesters at his superstation for the past 20 years, and recently helped start a contest group in Chile.

* Charles "Chas" Fulp, K3WW, also a multi-award winning contester and past president of the Frankford Radio Club (FRC), which saysChas "is our role model and sets the standard for other FRC members to strive to achieve."

Formal inductions to the CQ Contest and DX Halls of Fame were scheduled for the Dayton Hamvention.® More detailed descriptions of inductees will appear in the official announcement in the July 2013 issue of CQ magazine.

Joe Schroeder, W9JUV, Silent Key

We are saddened to report the passing of a good friend and colleague, Joe Schroeder, W9JUV. Joe was an accomplished DXer, Motorola engineer and ham radio journalist. He was on the editorial staff of ham radio magazine and was the founding editor of HR Report, a newsletter published by ham radio. According to his biography on QRZ.com, Joe was also Managing Editor of Electronic Instrument Digest magazine. He was also an authority on firearms history and gun collecting, and wrote &/or edited many books and article in that field as well as in electronics.  

Hams Continue to Help in Wake of Boston Marathon Bombings

Courtesy Minuteman Repeater Assn.

When two bombs exploded near the finish line of April's Boston Marathon, the first thing ham radio net controllers did was check in on each of the 250 ham volunteers working the course to make sure they were OK (they were). Next, according to reports from ARRL and Newsline, the hams continued providing communications as police halted the race and runners began to congregate at first-aid and water stations along the route, all of which had ham stations as well. The hams kept runners updated on events and coordinated deployment of "sweep buses" to transport runners still on the course to pre-arranged meeting areas. Hams in the finish line area remained at their posts and provided communications as needed from the medical tents until police - fearing additional explosions - ordered everyone evacuated.

Chinese Hams Help After Quake

A powerful earthquake - measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale - struck China's Sichuan province on the morning of April 20, resulting in nearly 200 deaths, more than 11,000 injuries and an estimated $3 billion in damages. This is the same region in which a massive quake five years ago killed more than 90,000 people. Ham radio operators from the Chinese Radio Sports Association and the Chinese Radio Amateur Club immediately went into action, providing emergency communications on both HF and VHF, according to WorldRadio Online Newsfront and other sources. The FM repeater in hard-hit Ya'an City was still functioning after the quake and carried much of the local radio traffic. Hams were also pressed into service to provide traffic control to speed the delivery of emergency supplies.

"P5 Project" Announced at Visalia

Courtesy CIA World Factbook

Two DXing organizations used the forum provided by the 2013 International DX Convention in Visalia, California, to announce the launch of a "sustained and ongoing effort" to organize a major DXpedition to North Korea (P5).

The Intrepid-DX Group and the World-Wide DX Group issued a joint statement in which they said discussions have been under way for four years with business and tourism professionals who regularly do business in North Korea, that several group members and advisors have made multiple visits to the country, and that a comprehensive proposal for a four-week ham radio operation had already been delivered to officials of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea through a Chinese emissary. "We are committed to work as hard and as long as it takes to activate this rare and much needed entity," said the statement. P5 is at the top of virtually every DX "most-wanted" list.

"Woodpeckers" Back on Ham Bands

Over-the-horizon radar, whose rat-a-tat sounding signals got them dubbed "woodpeckers" back during the Cold War, appear to be back on the ham bands. Newsline reports that the International Amateur Radio Union's Region 1 Monitoring System has discovered two such systems in operation - one on 80 meters (from 3,555-3,590 kHz and 3,750-3,785 kHz) that it says has been traced to Russia, and another on the 10-meter band that seems to be originating from Iran. The report says the Russian Radio Society has been asked to help deal with the 80-meter interference and that Germany's Department of Post and Telecommunications has sent an official complaint about the 10-meter signals to its counterpart in Iran.

FCC to Reassess RF Exposure Limits

The FCC has issued a Notice of Inquiry seeking input on possible changes to its rules regarding exposure to RF radiation. Specifically mentioned for additional review is the current provision in the amateur radio rules which consider an amateur's home to fall under less-restrictive "occupational/controlled" exposure limits, while areas outside the amateur's property are subject to the stricter "general population/uncontrolled" limits. For specifics, see ET Dockets 13-84 and 03-137, on the FCC website, <www.fcc.gov>.

FEMA Administrator Plans Field Day Operation

From left. ARRL General Counsel Chis Imlay, W3KD;
ARRL CEO Dave Sumner, K1ZZ; ARRL Emergncy
Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U; ARRL
President Kay Craigie, N3KN; FEMA Administrator
Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, and FEMA Chief Technology
Officer Ted Okada. (FEMA photo)

 

Craig Fugate, KK4INZ, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), told ARRL officials at a March meeting that he was looking forward to operating during Field Day this month and to have an opportunity to "test my own field gear." He did not indicate whether he would be operating on his own or with a group. According to the ARRL Letter, Fugate met with ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN; Chief Executive Officer Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, and Emergency Preparedness Officer Mike Corey, KI1U, to discuss amateur radio's role in public service and disaster communications. Fugate has long been an outspoken advocate of amateur radio as a communications resource "when all else fails."

Silent Keys: W1NJM, W7LLX

The ARRL Letter reports that former ARRL Communications Manager George Hart, W1NJM, passed away in late March at age 99. Hart spent more than 40 years on the ARRL staff and is credited with developing the National Traffic System, the league's organization of local, regional and national nets for passing radiogram traffic across the U.S.

Also reported as a Silent Key is Wendell Morrison, W7LLX, of Waukesha, Wisconsin. Morrison spent his career working for RCA, where he invented the Antennalyzer, which the Letter describes as "an early analog computing device for designing multi-tower AM directional arrays." He was 97 when he passed away last October.

WRTC 2014 Seeking Referees

Organizers of the 2014 World Radio Teamsport Championship, an international contesting competition that takes place every four years, are seeking applicants to be station referees. The referees monitor competitors at each station to assure that they are in compliance with all WRTC rules. Next year's event will take place in New England.

Referees must be: able to travel to Massachusetts next July; fluent in English; able to effectively monitor two audio streams at the same time; proficient in both SSB and CW contesting; able to stay awake and focused for 24 hours; able to send SMS text messages, not have any hearing impairments and never to have received a red card contest penalty or more than two yellow cards.

Applications must be submitted by December 1, 2013 and may be downloaded from <http://bit.ly/10hKUCo>.

FCC & ARRL: Win One, Lose One

The FCC has granted the ARRL's request to allow certain TDMA transmissions on the amateur bands, but denied a petition for reconsideration of the Commission's earlier decision on Broadband over Power Lines, or BPL.

According to the ARRL Letter, the FCC OKd a temporary waiver to permit the use of single-slot Time Domain Multiple Access transmissions on amateur frequencies above 30 MHz. A proposal to permanently authorize amateur use of this digital mode is currently pending before the Commission, suggesting that its eventual approval is likely.

The Letter also reports that the FCC has again denied an ARRL Petition for Reconsideration of its ruling on BPL. The Commission said the petition did not "raise new arguments based on new information … nor does it demonstrate any errors or omissions in the Commission's previous decisions." The ARRL says it will continue to "vigorously guard against the abuse and pollution of the radio spectrum in the use of BPL technology."

Idaho Law Exempts Hams, CBers from Tower Marking Rules

Idaho Governor Butch Otter
(Courtesy Idaho Governor's
Office)

A new law in Idaho makes clear that amateur radio and CB towers are exempted from another state law that requires all guyed towers to be "lighted, marked and painted and otherwise constructed to be visible in clear air during daylight hours from a distance of not less than 2000 feet." According to the ARRL Letter, the original law exempted some telecommunications towers, and the new law signed April 1 by Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter specifically defines amateur radio and CB towers as among those exempted from the earlier law's provisions. All towers, of course, continue to be subject to FCC and FAA requirements.

Ham Named to Senior State Dept. Post

Julie Zoller, KJ4EMJ
(ITU photo)

Julie N. Zoller, KJ4EMJ, has been named as the principal advisor to the U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy at the State Department, according to the ARRL Letter. Zoller's full title is (take a deep breath): Senior Deputy Coordinator of the Office of Multilateral Affairs, Communications and Information Policy Directorate, Economics and Business Affairs Bureau, United States Department of State. (Will all that fit on one business card?)

First-Class Radiotelegraph Ticket SK

As of May 20, 2013, the FCC will stop accepting applications for First Class, Second Class or Third Class Radiotelegraph Operator certificates. The ARRL Letter reports that current certificates will remain valid until expiration but will be renewed under a new licensing plan in which the old First Class and Second Class commercial licenses will be merged into a new Radiotelegraph Operator License, while the Third Class license will be consolidated with the Marine Radio Operator Permit and all current Third Class licenses will be renewed as Marine permits. This move is similar to FCC action more than 25 years ago on commercial radiotelephone licenses.

FCC: Many Cubesats Need Experimental Licenses

The FCC has determined that many small satellite projects, such as university-built cubesats, do not really qualify for licensing under as amateur satellites and must instead apply for experimental licenses. According to the AMSAT News Service, these satellites would still be permitted to operate in amateur satellite spectrum. However, ANS says the International Amateur Radio Union's Satellite Advisory Panel is concerned that it may no longer be appropriate for it to serve as frequency coordinator for what the FCC now views as non-amateur satellites.

The FCC says many small satellite projects need
experimental licenses, not amateur licenses.
(Pictured here is Korea's OSSI-1, not under
FCC jurisdiction - courtesy AMSAT-UK)

The IARU is urging all national amateur radio societies to work with their telecommunications administrations to find alternative frequencies for experimental satellites and to get a permanent allocation for them onto the agenda for one of the next two World Radiocommunication Conferences, either WRC-15 or -18. In the US, AMSAT and the ARRL are working together with the FCC to find both short-term and long-term solutions to this situation. AMSAT points out that having university satellites under the amateur satellite umbrella has resulted in many benefits for both amateur radio and the universities involved.

Two Sets of Unique Cubesats Launched

Two launches in two days from two different sides of the world have put seven new amateur radio satellites in orbit.

Korean singer turned satellite-builder Hojun Song, DS1SBO,
performs final assembly of his OSSI-1 satellite.
(Courtesy AMSAT-UK)

Four ham-sats, along with three research satellites, were launched on April 19 from the Baikonur launch complex in Kazakhstan. Among them is OSSI-1, designed and built in Korea by artist Hojun Song, DS1SBO, using only open-source materials (OSSI stands for Open Source Satellite Initiative). AMSAT-UK reports that Song spent seven years and $100,000 on the project, and Newsline says it's believed that this is the first ham satellite to be developed and built by just one person. More information is available on the OSSI blog at <http://opensat.cc/blog/>.

Antares rocket launches Phonesats toward orbit
(NASA photo)

An April 21 launch from NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility in Virginia lofted a trio of "phonesats" into orbit, so-called because they are built around off-the-shelf smartphones. NASA says the phones' abilities to send and receive calls and texts were disabled before launch and that they were connected to higher-powered (amateur) transmitters. The three phonesats were dubbed Alexander, Graham, and Bell. Graham and Bell were sending photos from their smartphone cameras via AX.25 packet. For more info, see <www.phonesat.org>.

ARRL Launches $10 Million Fundraising Effort

As it approaches its centennial in 2014, the ARRL has launched the Second Century Campaign in an effort to raise $10 million to assure funding of future programs. According to the ARRL Letter, the campaign has already raised over $4 million in donations and pledges, and hopes to raise the remaining $6 million by the end of its centennial year.

Boston Marathon Update: All Hams Reported Safe

Jeremy Breef-Pilz, KB1REQ, a ham radio operator working communications in the finish area, reported on on Twitter that all hams at the Marathon are safe:

"@KB1REQ: All #HamRadio volunteers for the #BostonMarathon are safe.  We complied with evacuation orders, not an incident for us to be involved in."

 

(Tnx to KB1REQ via WA3PZO)

Boston Marathon Explosion Update

Update ... CBS News is reporting that Boston Police says there are at least two deaths and 22 injuries as a result of explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon; and that Marathon officials are describing the blasts as being caused by bombs. Still no word on whether any hams were among the injured.

Explosions Reported at Boston Marathon Finish Line; Unknown Whether Hams Among Injured

The Associated Press is reporting two explosions at the finish line of today's Boston Marathon, resulting in an as-yet unknown number of injuries. Amateur radio operators have long provided course communications for the event and we assume there were hams among those at the finish line. We do not know at this time whether any hams were among the injured. Updates will be provided here as additional information becomes available.

Dayton Withdraws Amateur of the Year Award

The Dayton Amateur Radio Association, sponsor of the annual Dayton Hamvention (R), has withdrawn its 2013 Radio Amateur of the Year Award, initially awarded to Mustapha Landoulsi, DL1BDF.

According to a post on the Hamvention website: "We have received conflicting information from credible sources regarding the accuracy of the winning nomination. The General Chairman of Hamvention this year, Charles Kaiser, received these reports and followed up to verify their accuracy. Unfortunately this changes the way we score for the Amateur of the Year award and since the competition was close with other nominees the outcome would have been different. Based on all of this research the decision has been made by the Hamvention General Chairman not to award the Amateur of the Year for 2013."

Landoulsi, a retired airline pilot, had been recognized for work in promoting and developing amateur radio in the Middle East and for organizing delivery of emergency medical equipment and medication to countries in Africa.

There was no indication from DARA regarding the nature of the "conflicting information" or any additional details regarding its action. This is the first time since the award was first presented in 1955 that an award has been withdrawn after being announced, and the first time that the Amateur of the Year award has not been presented. The decision has no impact on this year's other Hamvention awards - Technical Achievement, Special Achievement and Club of the Year - which will be presented as originally announced. (Tnx WA6ITF)

Terry Zivney, N4TZ, Named Director of CQ WPX Contests

(Courtesy Ball State University
Photographic Services)

(Hicksville, NY) March 27, 2013 -- Terry Zivney, N4TZ, has been named Director of the CQ World Wide WPX Contests, effective immediately, CQ Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, announced today. Terry succeeds Randy Thompson, K5ZD, who has been WPX Contest Director since 2008 and recently was named Director of the CQ World Wide DX Contests.

Licensed since 1961, Zivney has held N4TZ since 1977 and has had numerous top-five USA finishes in the single-op/all-band (SOAB) low power category of CQWW, CQWPX (as KS9K), and ARRL DX contests.  He also competed in the 2010 World Radiosport Team Championship in Russia, and has had three articles published in the National Contest Journal.

Professionally, Zivney will retire in May 2013 from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana as the Maxon Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Finance and Insurance.  In the 1970s he worked as an electrical engineer at Scientific Atlanta and Computer Sciences Corporation.

"As a long-time low power contester," said N4TZ, "I especially appreciate the WPX contest because its unique mix of exotic DX and plentiful domestic contacts ensures that great fun will be had by all participants regardless of the propagation conditions.  I look forward to harnessing the momentum this contest has developed under the leadership of K5ZD and respecting the legacy of former directors K6AW, N8BJQ, and W8IMZ."

CQ Publisher Ross noted that "in my early talks with Terry, he has already offered several innovative ideas. Plus, he brings with him the valuable perspective of the low-power contester. I am looking forward to working with him as WPX Contest Director."

The CQ World Wide WPX Contests are the second-most popular amateur radio contests in the world (after the CQ World Wide DX Contests). The SSB portion of the 2013 WPX Contest is this weekend, March 30-31; the CW weekend is in May. Any questions regarding the 2013 WPX Contests should be directed to Terry via e-mail to <director@cqwpx.com>.

We thank K5ZD for his dedicated service to the WPX Contests and look forward to a seamless transition to N4TZ's administration of the event.

FCC Chairman Stepping Down

FCC Chairman Julius
Genachowski (W2VU photo)

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced today (March 22) that he would be resigning from the Commission within the next few weeks. Named to the FCC in 2009 by President Obama, Genachowski has focused on improving morale within the Commission and promoting the rapid growth of high-speed broadband Internet. He also has been very supportive of amateur radio and even visited the Dayton Hamvention in 2011.

Genachowski made his announcement at an FCC staff meeting. He did not say why he decided not to complete his five-year term.

FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell announced earlier this week that he would also be stepping down. 

Nominations Open for Young Ham of the Year - Deadline May 30

Do you know a young ham who is already making a significant contribution to the hobby or his/her community? If so, consider a nomination for Newsline's annual Young Ham of the Year award. The award is open US and Canadian hams age 18 or younger who have provided outstanding service to amateur radio or to his/her community or nation. Simply being licensed at a young age is not sufficient.

The 2012 Young Ham of the Year ceremony at the Huntsville
Hamfest. From left, Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW; CQ
Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU; 2012 Young Ham of the Year
Erin King, AK4JG (now a freshman at MIT); Bob Heil, K9EID,
of Heil Sound, and Yaesu's Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV.
CQ, Yaesu and Heil Sound are corporate co-sponsors
of the Young Ham of the Year award. (K0NEB photo)

The nomination deadline is May 30, 2013. Forms and complete information may be found online at <http://www.arnewsline.org/YHOTY> or by sending an SASE to 2013 Young Ham of the Year Award, c/o Newsline, 28197 Robin Ave., Santa Clarita, CA 91350. CQ is a corporate co-sponsor of the Newsline Young Ham of the Year award, along with Yaesu and Heil Sound.

Correction/Update on FCC Docket Number

FCC Commissioner Jessica
Rosenworcel encourages hams
to file comments regarding
amateur radio emergency
communications in the
Commission's ongoing inquiry
into reliability of the nation's
telecommunications network,
Docket 11-60. (FCC photo)

Updating an item posted previously in the CQ Newsroom … the docket number we were given for filing comments on the FCC's Network Reliability inquiry (DA 13-140) apparently is incorrect. The proceeding has actually been open for quite a while and comments may be filed using proceeding number 11-60 on the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), which may be accessed at <http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/>. - Tnx W6EM

Hamvention® Award Winners Span the Globe

   In line with the DXing theme of this year's Dayton Hamvention®, the Dayton Amateur Radio Association has selected people from three different continents as 2013 Hamvention award winners.

   Retired airline pilot Mustapha Landoulsi, DL1BDF, has been named Amateur of the Year, in recognition of his work in promoting and developing amateur radio in the Middle East and for organizing delivery of emergency medical equipment and medication to countries in Africa.

   The 2013 Technical Excellence Award is shared by Dave Witten, KD0EAG, and David Rowe, VK5DGR, for development of FreeDV, a program that encodes high-quality digital voice in a bandwidth of 1.125 kHz, less than half that of a single-sideband transmission.

   George Thomas, W5JDX, will receive the 2013 Special Achievement Award for his work promoting building and other technical topics on internet TV programs HamNation and AmateurLogic TV.

   Finally, the West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Group in Florida has been named Club of the Year, in recognition of its work with the South Florida Science Museum, youth recruitment and other activities. 

Congratulations to all!

Florida Ham Hit with $25k Fine

The FCC has issued a Notice of Apparent Liability in the amount of $25,000 to a Florida ham who the Commission says repeatedly interfered with Sheriff's Department communications at the Brevard County Jail. According to the FCC, Terry VanVolkenberg, KC5RF, of Cocoa, Florida, was identified as the source of interfering radio transmissions on 465.300 MHz. The Commission says the interference included transmission of vulgar language, sound effects, previously-recorded prison communications and threats to take over the jail and shoot a deputy. The amount of the proposed fine is based on what the FCC terms "particularly egregious" misconduct. VanVolkenberg was given the usual 30 days to either make payment arrangements or file a formal appeal.