Date: Wed, 5 Jan 94 10:41:51 PST From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup Errors-To: Info-Hams-Errors@UCSD.Edu Reply-To: Info-Hams@UCSD.Edu Precedence: Bulk Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #3 To: Info-Hams Info-Hams Digest Wed, 5 Jan 94 Volume 94 : Issue 3 Today's Topics: ARLB002 Vanity calls FT-530 Firmware Problems HamWindows Plus Need Info. on Mobile Radios New Year's resolutions :-) Vanity Callsign Notice of Propsed Rulemaking (PR93-305) Where's my QST? Send Replies or notes for publication to: Send subscription requests to: Problems you can't solve otherwise to brian@ucsd.edu. Archives of past issues of the Info-Hams Digest are available (by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/info-hams". We trust that readers are intelligent enough to realize that all text herein consists of personal comments and does not represent the official policies or positions of any party. Your mileage may vary. So there. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 14:50:43 GMT From: netcomsv!netcom.com!marcbg@decwrl.dec.com Subject: ARLB002 Vanity calls To: info-hams@ucsd.edu SB QST @ ARL $ARLB002 ARLB002 Vanity calls ZCZC AG66 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 2 ARLB002 ------------------------------ Date: 5 Jan 94 14:45:37 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: FT-530 Firmware Problems To: info-hams@ucsd.edu This is a cross-post of an item I put on CompuServe: I have had an interesting set of problems with my new FT-530 which I decided to post here in case anyone else cares to check it out. I purchased the radio in early October and it was manufactured in lot 3F16. The first problem I discovered was something that had been posted on internet regarding the inability to turn the Page Acknowledgement function on. After talking to Yaesu, I returned the radio for warranty repair and I just received it back. Page Acknowledgement now works! However, now I have discovered that the DTMF Code Squelch is no longer functioning properly (although I never fully checked this out prior to the repair). If I set my code to say 426, I only need to send the 42 followed by any other number in order for the unit to break squelch. 420, 421, 422, etc. will all work! This leaves me with 99 possible codes versus the advertised 999! I am curious if anyone else has experienced these problems. The Page Acknowledgement is a known problem and Yaesu does have a fix for it. Robert de N2JTX +-------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+ | Robert G. Schaffrath, N2JTX | Internet: rgs%wpmax2%gfimda@uunet.uu.net | | Systems Engineer | CompuServe: 76330,1057 | | Maxwell House Coffee Company | Phone: 914-335-2777 | | Kraft General Foods Corp. | Slogan: "ervice is ur mott" | +-------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: 5 Jan 94 15:44:15 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: HamWindows Plus To: info-hams@ucsd.edu >Does anyone have experiences with Hamwindows Plus by California >Software Incorporated? >I would be interested in recommendations or opinions >Colin Schmutter >SHMC0874@BCIT.BC.CA I have been using HamWindows for a couple of years. The early releases of the software had a lot of problems and I would not have recommended it before. However, the new release (Hamwindows Plus) is stable and is a nice package. The software is best when used in conjunction with your radio or radios. It has a large database on other countries including maps. It can be connected to your TNC to get information on DX stations heard and then switch your HF radio to the specified freq. . It can be tied into Hambase or similar software packages. It is too involved to go into detail on all the features here (It does almost everything except make contacts for you). If you want a more detailed description feel free to call me at 310-333-2355. It is not a good package to use for contesting but you can convert data from other logging programs if you wish to combine logs later. Hamwindows is based on Asymetrix Toolbox which is a less than perfect software product, it has problems releasing memory so running with less than 8 Meg of RAM is not recommended. The opinions expressed are strictly my own, I do not get any compensation for my endorsements. 73, Doug KK6OU ------------------------------ Date: 5 Jan 94 13:44:27 GMT From: ogicse!cs.uoregon.edu!sgiblab!sdd.hp.com!hpscit.sc.hp.com!hpuerca.atl.hp.com!kpm@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Need Info. on Mobile Radios To: info-hams@ucsd.edu I am looking for a good mobile twin band radio. My budget is upto $600.00 and I looking for performance & reliability. Please email me your suggestions on which radio I should look into. Currently, I have a Yaesu FT 470 (2m FM HT). Thanks and 73's Kaushik Mehta (KE4IHB) ------------------------------ Date: 5 Jan 94 17:36:37 GMT From: news-mail-gateway@ucsd.edu Subject: New Year's resolutions :-) To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Here are some New Year's resolutions I made regarding this group. I thought I'd share them with everyone... ;-) Realizing that I'm not likely to change anyone's mind regarding the concept of a no-code license or of the usefulness, appropriateness, etc. of Morse code, nor is anyone else likely to change my mind on these topics, I resolve to stay out of any debates on these subjects and to not take personally anyone else's opinions on these topics. I resolve to find the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document for this group and consult it before asking questions to the net. I resolve to always include my name and email address at the end of everything I send to the net, so that people will know who I am and will be able to reply to me. When I cannot get email through directly to someone, can't find an email address, etc., I resolve to never send a "Sorry to waste net bandwidth, but is John Doe out there..." message to the whole net thereby sending the mail to thousands of sites around the world. Instead I will call the person on the phone if I can, look up his callsign to get his address, send mail to the postmaster at his site, etc. I resolve to spend $7 for the ARRL Repeater Directory instead of asking the net about repeaters in a certain area. I resolve to make a note of where the Internet on-line callbook servers are so that I won't have to ask the net for info about a particular ham or where the callbook servers are. I resolve to never call the FCC to check on my new license or upgrade because I know it will take them away from processing licenses. As hard as it is, I will wait 12 weeks and then if I don't have it, I'll call the VEC first since they're apt to know if anything has gone awry. I resolve to never be afraid to ask a question to the net, even though I might be embarrassed some times. I will not let the very few rude people out there get to me! and the most important of all: I resolve to once in a while just ponder the romance of radio, the magic of communicating with a person in a faraway land, and to always remember that above all, amateur radio is FUN!! 73 es happy new year to all! :-) :-) Scott WO1G ========== Scott Sminkey email: sasminkey@eng.xyplex.com Software Sustaining Engineering voice: 508 952-4792 Xyplex, Inc. fax: 508 952-4887 295 Foster St. (Opinions, comments, etc. are mine, Littleton, MA 01460 not Xyplex's...) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 14:48:47 GMT From: netcomsv!netcom.com!marcbg@decwrl.dec.com Subject: Vanity Callsign Notice of Propsed Rulemaking (PR93-305) To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Federal Communications Commission FCC 93-545 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, DC 20554 PR Docket No. 93-305 In the matter of Amendment of the Amateur Service Rules to Implement a Vanity Call Sign System NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING Adopted: December 13, 1993; Released: December 29, 1993 Comment Date: March 7, 1994 Reply Comment Date: April 7, 1994 By the Commission: I. INTRODUCTION 1. The ardent desire of amateur operators for call signs of choice presents an opportunity for us to focus on serving an important segment of the public. By this Notice, therefore, we propose to amend the amateur service rules to authorize the use of vanity call signs as set forth herein. II. BACKGROUND 2. Each amateur station licensed by the Commission is assigned a unique call sign.[1] The assigned call sign itself conveys no frequency or operating privileges. Its only purpose is to provide for over-the-air identification of the station.[2] Nonetheless, amateur operators have a very high regard for call signs. They frequently request specific call signs with letters that represent something that is important to them, such as their initials, nicknames, or personal statements. Our current automated licensing process, however, will not support a vanity call sign system. The system is nearly two decades old and simply assigns call signs sequentially from groups of call signs, according to the applicant's class of operator license and mailing address.[3] III. DISCUSSION 3. Information age technology is providing the capability to administer a vanity call sign system and provide better and more friendly service to our customers. The Private Radio Bureau's Licensing Division will soon be installing a new automated licensing process that will provide greater flexibility in licensing. With the added capability, we can now propose to amend the rules to implement a system whereby amateur station licensees could select call signs of their choice, provided they are not already assigned. This vanity call sign system would be in addition to the current sequential call sign system that we would continue to use for those applicants who do not want a vanity call sign. 4. The rules we are proposing herein would allow the licensee of an existing primary station[4] to request a modification of the license to show a call sign selected by the licensee. We also propose to extend this privilege to the license trustee of an existing club station. Finally, we also propose to administer a club and military recreation station call sign system under our new automated licensing process.[5] 5. Applicants for a vanity call sign would use a new application form.[6] The applicant would list on the form a maximum of ten call signs, in order of preference. The form would then be filed with the Commission.[7] We request comment on other means, such as magnetic computer disks, that applicants could use to apply directly to the Commission for a vanity call sign. The automated process would compare the applicant's list with the assigned call signs in the groups designated in the sequential call sign system for the applicant's class of operator license. The first available call sign from the applicant's list would then be assigned. If none of the call signs listed are available, the automated process would reassign the call sign that the applicant had vacated. The vanity call sign listed by the applicant must be within the framework of the sequential call sign assignment system wherein certain groups of call signs are designated for each class of operator license. Applicants, therefore. could choose call signs from the groups corresponding to their license classes or lower license classes.[8] 6. Licensees requesting vanity call signs would find it helpful to know which call signs are assigned at the time that they file their applications so that they can make prudent selections of call signs with a real possibility that their requests can be granted. Even with our enhanced licensing system, we do not currently envision on-line access by the public to check for call sign availability. We request comments on how this service could be made available. 7. The system that we are proposing should be viewed as but one step in creating a government agency that works better and costs less.[9] We note that the amateur service is on the cutting edge of information technology. Electronic bulletin boards are commonplace in the amateur service. Its volunteer examiners use modern information systems to prepare and administer paperless license examinations, to prepare examination session manifests, to maintain a licensee data base, and a host of other activities. Examinees study for examinations using computer-aided instruction. Our amateur service licensee data base is widely available from entrepreneurs and bulletin boards in practically all forms of magnetic media.[10] Our goal is to accept eventually applications for licenses or call signs electronically. We may even be able to issue the licenses electronically at some future date. As a starting point, we hope to accept application data from the volunteer-examiner coordinators by the end of 1994. We request comment on the options that may be available to allow electronic data transfer as soon as possible. Ultimately, we may be able to develop a system whereby authorization occurs instantly.[11] IV. CONCLUSION 8. We firmly believe in the principle that government should he responsive to user needs. Therefore, we are attempting to satisfy the desires of persons in the amateur community who want to choose their own call signs. The vanity call sign system that we have proposed is designed to be practicable to administer and simple for the amateur community to use. Accordingly. we propose to amend the amateur service rules to provide a vanity call sign system. Comments are invited on the proposal. V. PROCEDURAL MATTERS Regulatory Flexibility Act 9. We certify that the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 does not apply to this rule making proceeding because, if the proposed rule amendments are promulgated, there will not be a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small business entities, as defined by Section 601(3) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The amateur stations that are the subject of this proceeding would not be authorized to transmit any communications where the station licensee or control operator has a pecuniary interest. The Secretary shall send a copy of the Notice of Proposed Rule Making, including the certification, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration in accordance with paragraph 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Pub. L. No. 96-354, 94 Stat. 1164, 5 U.S.C. '' 601-612 (1980). Ex Parte Rules - Non-Restricted Proceeding 10. This is a non-restricted notice and comment rule making proceeding. Ex Parte presentations are permitted, except during the Sunshine Agenda period, provided they are disclosed as provided in the Commission rules. See generally 47 C.F.R. '' 1.1202, 1.1203, and 1.1206(a). Comment Dates 11. Pursuant to applicable procedures set forth in Sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. '' 1.415 and 1.419, interested parties may filecomments on or before March 7, 1994, and reply comments on or before April 7,1994. To file formally in this proceeding, you must file an original and four copies of all comments and reply comments. If you want each Commissioner to receive a personal copy of your comments, you must file an original plus nine copies. You should send comments and reply comments to Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 20554. Comments and reply comments will be available for public inspection during regular business hours in the F.C.C. Reference Center of the Federal Communications Commission (Room 239), 1919 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20554. Authority 12. Authority for issuance of this Notice of Proposed Rule Making is contained in Sections 4(i) and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. '' 154(i) and 303(r). Contact Person 13. For further information concerning this proceeding, contact Maurice J. DePont, Private Radio Bureau, (202) 632-4964. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION William F. Caton Acting Secretary [1] Some possible amateur station call sign variations are K1SS, N2WHY, W3CAT, AA4AA, KA5LAW, NB6HAM, and WC7SKI. There are almost 15 million possible combinations of letters and numbers for amateur station call signs. [2] Section 97 119(a) of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. ' 97 119(a) requires an amateur station to transmit its call sign on its transmitting channel at the end of each communication and at least every ten minutes during a communication. [3] See Amateur Station Call Sign Assignment System, PR-5000 Private Radio Bureau Fact Sheet #206 dated June, 1991. Stations licensed to the higher classes of operator license are assigned shorter call signs. Because shorter call signs are fewer in number, they are generally considered more desirable. [4] A station licensed to an individual is a primary station. See Section 97.5(d)(1) of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. ' 97.5(d)(1). [5] In a related Order, adopted today, we are terminating the privately administered club call sign and military recreation system that was established, but not actually in operation, by an Order that we adopted on May 11, 1993. See 8 FCC Rcd 3594 (1993). [6] FCC Form 610-V. FCC Form 610 which is currently used by applicants would also advise licensees holding vanity call signs to submit FCC Form 610-V with the proper fee, if they want to renew their license and retain the vanity call sign. [7] Section 9(g) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. 47 U.S.C. ' 159(g), specifies a fee of $7.00 per year for amateur service vanity call signs. Section 9(f)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. ' 159(f)(1) allows the Commission to require payment of small fees in advance for a number of years not to exceed the relevant license term. The Commission will conduct a rule making proceeding to implement these regulations. A vanity call sign system will not be started until the issues regarding implementation of fees have been resolved. [8] In the case of a club station, the license trustee's class of operator license would apply. Because military recreation stations and radio amateur civil emergency stations (RACES) are licensed to non-amateur operators, these stations would not be included under the vanity call sign system. Persons commenting on this proposal, however, may wish to submit alternatives suggesting ways that military recreation and RACES stations might be able to be brought into a system that would afford them call signs of choice. [9] Vice President Al Gore, Report of the National Performance Review, From Red Tape to Results: Creating a Government That Works Better and Costs Less (1993). The Vice President's Report stresses putting people first. Serving customers and cutting costs are two of its key principles. This Notice embraces these principles by seeking ways to use efficient technologies that are now available to the Commission to provide amateur community customers with the services they desire. [10]The amateur service licensee data base is available from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161, (703) 487-4600 or 1-800-553-NTIS. [11]The licensee data base, for example, could service as the instrument of authorization. APPENDIX Part 97 of Chapter I of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations is proposed to be amended as follows: Part 97 - Amateur Radio Service 1. The authority citation for Part 97 continues to read as follows: Authority citation: 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47 U.S.C. '' 154, 303. Interpret or apply 48 Stat. 1064-1068, 1081- 1105, as amended; 47 U.S.C. '' 151-155, 301-609, unless otherwise noted. 2. In Section 97.17, paragraphs (b), (c), (f), are revised and a new paragraph (g) is added to read as follows: ' 97.17 Application for new license. ***** (b) Each application for a new amateur service license must be made on the proper FCC form: (l) FCC Form 610 for a new operator/primary station license; (2) FCC Form 610-A for a reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee; and (3) FCC Form 610-B for a new amateur service club or military recreation station license. (c) Each application for a new operator/primary station license must be submitted to the VEs administering the qualifying examination. ***** (f) One unique call sign will be assigned to each new primary, club, and military recreation station using the sequential call sign system (call sign is selected sequentially by the FCC from an alphabetized list corresponding to the geographic region of the licensee's mailing address and class of operator license.) The FCC will issue public announcements detailing the procedures of the sequential call sign system. (g) Each application for a new club or military recreation station license must be submitted to the FCC, l270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. No new license for a RACES station will be issued. 3. Section 97.19 is revised in its entirety to read as follows: ' 97.19 Application for a vanity call sign. (a) A person holding an operator/primary or club station license may request a modification of the license to show a call sign assigned under the vanity call sign system (licensee selects the call sign). (b) Each request for a modification of a operator/primary or club station license to show a new call sign assigned under the vanity call sign system must be made on FCC Form 610-V. The form must be submitted with the proper fee to the address specified in the Private Radio Services Fee Filing Guide. (c) Each request for a renewal of a operator/primary or club station license retaining a call sign assigned under the vanity call sign system must be made on FCC Form 610-V. The form must be submitted with the proper fee to the address specified in the Private Radio Services Fee Filing Guide. To renew the license without retaining a vanity call sign, the applicant must use FCC Form 610 as specified in Section 97.21. (d) The following persons are eligible to apply for a new vanity call sign: (1) The holder of a valid operator/primary station license; and (2) The license trustee holding a club station license. (e) RACES and military recreation stations are not eligible for a vanity call sign. (f) Only unassigned call signs are available to the vanity call sign system. (1) A call sign that was previously assigned to a station whose license has lapsed is not available to the vanity call sign system for 2 years following expiration of the license. (2) A call sign assigned to a station of a deceased licensee is not available to the vanity call sign system for 2 years following the licensee's death, or for 2 years following the expiration of the license, whichever is sooner. (3) A call sign that is vacated by the licensee is available immediately to the vanity call sign system. (g) Each vanity call sign requested must be selected from the groups of call signs designated under the sequential call sign system for the class of operator license held by the applicant or for a lower class. (1) The applicant must request that the call sign held be canceled and provide a list of up to 10 call signs in order of preference. The list will automatically end with the call sign vacated as the eleventh choice. (2) The first available call sign from the applicant's list will be assigned. When none of those call signs are available, the call sign vacated by the applicant will be reassigned. (3) Vanity call signs will be assigned from those call signs available at the time the application is processed by the FCC. (4) The FCC will issue public announcements detailing the procedures of the vanity call sign system. 4. Section 97.21 is revised in its entirety to read as follows: ' 97.21 Application for renewal, reinstatement, or modification of a license. (a) Each application for renewal, reinstatement, or modification of an amateur service license must be made on the proper FCC form(s): (1) FCC Form 610 to request renewal or reinstatement of an operator/primary station license. The form must be submitted to the FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. When the applicant desires to retain a call sign that was assigned under the vanity call sign system, FCC Form 610-V must be used as specified in Section 97.19. (2) FCC Form 610 to request modification of an operator license showing a change in operator class. The form must be submitted to the VEs administering the qualifying examination. A request for a vanity call sign may not be filed with the administering VEs. When the applicant desires to retain a call sign that was assigned under the vanity call sign system, the license will bear the original expiration date. (3) FCC Form 610 to request modification of an operator/primary station license showing a change of mailing address, change of name, or change of call sign to be assigned under the sequential call sign system. The form must be submitted to the FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. When the applicant desires to retain a call sign that was assigned under the vanity call sign system, the license will bear the original expiration date. (4) FCC Form 610-B to request renewal of a club, military recreation, or RACES station license. The form must be submitted to the FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. If the station has a call sign that was assigned under vanity call sign system, FCC Form 610-V must be used as specified in Section 97.19. (5) FCC Form 610-B to request modification of a club, military recreation, or RACES station license showing a change of mailing address, change of license trustee or custodian, or change of call sign to be assigned under the sequential call sign system. The form must be submitted to the FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. When the applicant desires to retain a call sign that was assigned under the vanity call sign system, the license will bear the original expiration date. (6) A reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee is not renewable. A new reciprocal permit may be issued upon proper application. (b) Each application for renewal, reinstatement, or modification of an amateur service license must be accompanied by a photocopy of the license document or the original document, unless it has been lost, mutilated, or destroyed. (c) When the licensee has submitted a timely application for renewal of an unexpired license (between 60 and 90 days prior to the end of the license term is recommended), the licensee may continue to operate until the disposition of the application has been determined. If a license expires, application for reinstatement may be made during a grace period of 2 years after the expiration date. During this grace period, the expired license is not valid. A license reinstated during the grace period will be dated as of the date of the reinstatement. (d) Under the sequential call sign system, unless the licensee requests a change, the same call sign will be assigned to the station upon renewal, reinstatement, or modification of a station license. 5. Current sections 97.21, 97.23, 97.25, and 97.27 are redesignated as Sections 97.23, 97.25, 97.27, and 97.29, respectively. -- | Marc Grant | Datamedia Services | POB 850472 | marcbg@netcom.com | Information Security Specialists | Richardson TX 75085 | marcbg@esy.com | 214-231-3998 (Voice/Fax) | Amateur Radio N5MEI Information Security Services For Small To Mid-Sized Businesses ------------------------------ Date: 5 Jan 94 16:20:17 GMT From: ogicse!emory!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!haven.umd.edu!cville-srv.wam.umd.edu!ham@network.ucsd.edu Subject: Where's my QST? To: info-hams@ucsd.edu Can anybody tell me what the January QST looks like (front cover)? I don't remember getting mine, and would like to maybe jog my memory. I can't find it anywhere, so I'm thinking that maybe I never got it! Scott NF3I -- 73, _________ _________ The \ / Long Original Scott Rosenfeld Amateur Radio NF3I Burtonsville, MD | Live $5.00 WAC-CW/SSB WAS DXCC - 119 QSLed on dipoles __________| Dipoles! Antenna! ------------------------------ Date: (null) From: (null) -- | Marc Grant | Datamedia Services | POB 850472 | marcbg@netcom.com | Information Security Specialists | Richardson TX 75085 | marcbg@esy.com | 214-231-3998 (Voice/Fax) | Amateur Radio N5MEI Information Security Services For Small To Mid-Sized Businesses ------------------------------ End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #3 ****************************** ******************************