Last week, the ARRL reported that they would “press” the FCC to release the “Omnibus” Amateur Radio Report and Order. Well, yesterday they got their wish. The executive summary of R&O FCC 06-149 states:

In this R&O, we amend the Part 97 Amateur Radio Service rules as follows:

• revise the operating privileges of amateur radio operators to allow more spectrum in four currently-authorized amateur service HF bands to be used for voice communications;
• permit auxiliary stations to transmit on additional amateur service bands;
• permit amateur stations to transmit spread spectrum communications on the 1.25 meter (m) band;
• permit amateur stations to retransmit communications from the International Space Station;
• permit amateur service licensees to designate the amateur radio club to receive their call sign in memoriam;
• prohibit an applicant from filing more than one application for a specific vanity call
  sign;
• eliminate certain restrictions on equipment manufacturers that are no longer
  necessary;
• permit amateur radio stations operating in Alaska and surrounding waters more
  flexibility in providing emergency communications; and
• remove certain restrictions in the amateur service license examination system that are no longer necessary.

One item that will affect those of us who operate HF is that most of the Novice bands has been re-allocated to phone operation. The full, 45-page Report and Order is available online on the FCC website.

In a message to the University of Michigan Amateur Radio Club’s mailing list, Vishal KD8DTF offered the following:

Hi everyone,

You may be aware of flood situation in India, especially in southern Gujarat, which is my home state. Until yesterday 70% of my home town, Surat, was flooded with water. In fact, there was 4 ft water level on the first floor of my house and about 10 ft water level on the streets of Surat. It is estimated that the water that flowed in 3 days through the city amounted to be the water required by the whole state for 3 years! This estimate is sufficient to give us idea of enormity of flood. There was no power, communications, and in some areas, no drinking water for three consecutive days. The situation is improving but there is still no electricity in major areas and phone lines are down. I still cannot call home on land-line, but cell phones are working on and off. This would’ve been the best time to make use of our favorite hobby of amateur radio and I really wish I could help people.

What inspired me to write this is the fact that there are indeed three ham stations set up in Surat, and they have been really helpful in saving hundreds of people from drowning, hunger and thirst. We all are pursuing such a wonderful hobby that can really make us proud. My association with this hobby has made me feel proud one more time, so I thought of sharing my thoughts with you all. To get more clear idea of the situation, please check the following links. These links are provided by a regional newspaper, which is in Gujarati. You wouldn’t need to know the language, because a picture is worth a thousand words.

• Gallery 1
• Gallery 2
• Gallery 3

Finally, the good news is that water is receding and situation is improving.

73, Vishal

This from Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF:

Hi All,

At the recent Dayton Hamvention the newly formed Ham Radio Video Corps (HRVC) was unveiled to the ham radio public. As previously mentioned on this remailer, the HRVC, conceived by TV/Film Producer Dave Bell, W6AQ, following lengthy talks with Al Kaul, W6RCL, and others including Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, and this writer.

The HRVC is a group dedicated to the acquisition, post production, library and distribution of video related to all aspects of the hobby of Amateur Radio. It is hoped that eventually the HRVC will be a one stop world-wide repository and resource of video related to Amateur Radio in times of emergency, emergency preparation, operator training, education resources to educators as well as providing stock footage of every aspect of this global wireless hobby and public service.

One of the first tasks that HRVC will undertake is to provide additional video for Allen, W1AGP, and the ARRL to use in the “Hello” campaign. The preferable format is Mini-DV (or DV Cam), but any high quality or broadcast quality video format will be accepted. Analog broadcast formats like Betacam or DVC-PRO would be great, but the Min-DV has proven to be a less expensive alternative. (Super VHS recorded in SP mode is also OK, but please regular VHS at any play speed.)

To help kick off the HRVC a remailer has been established on Yahoogroups for the organization. (Before anyone asks, Yahoogroups was chosen because it is free of charge.)

If you are a video professional or believe that you can assist this project in other ways, you are invited to join. To subscribe, simply send an e-mail to subscribe-thehrvc@yahoogroups.com. The group is un-moderated and you can begin posting to it as soon as your confirmation e-mail arrives. All that’s asked is that discussions be kept on topic as noted in the purpose for creating the group and the remailer.

Dave Bell, Alan Kaul and I hope that some of you will find the concept of a Ham Radio Video Corps interesting and will become a part of it. We believe that it will go a long way in assisting dedicated folks like Allen W1AGP and others who are trying to publicize the good works of the ham radio community by providing them with the one tool that is always lacking: Good quality up to date video of ham radio in action.

If you have any questions about the group or its objective(s) please send them to w6aq@aol.com. Questions regarding the operation of the remailer itself go to me to wa6itf@arnewsline.org. (I seem to have been elected as “webmaster” for this one.)

As we said at Dayton 2 1/2 weeks ago: “Welcome to the Ham Radio Video Corps. You and your camera are needed to make it happen”

Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF

Voting in the 2005 election for Director and Vice Director of the Great Lakes Division is just about to begin. Overall, it’s been both an interesting and enlightening experience for me.

The most interesting part of my experience has been the campaigning, or to put it more accurately, the reaction to my campaign. Some people are so hostile towards the ARRL! At Findlay, I even had one guy throw my flyer onto the table and tell me, “I won’t have anything to do with that commie organization.”

I’ve gotten many positive responses, too, though. That’s been very heartening. I told my wife after one club meeting that if I don’t win, it will be because I didn’t get out and speak to enough clubs. Listening to and working with people is what this is all about. If you can do that, then you’ll get their support.

And you need that support, not only to get elected, but to put programs in place and have them succeed. I always knew that to be the case from a theoretical point of view, but now I know it from a practical point of view. This is where I’ve been most enlightened.

The ballots should be in the hands of ARRL members this week, and experience shows that those most likely to vote will do so in the next week or two. Consequently, I won’t be campaigning so hard this month as last. I’ll be attending a few club meetings, but the election is really in the hands of the voters now.

If you already support me, I thank you for your vote. If you’re undecided about who to vote for, please read the candidate’s statements carefully and then choose the one who you think will best represent you and Amateur Radio. If you have any questions about where I stand, phone me 734-930-6564 or send and e-mail to kb6nu@arrl.net.

Whatever you do, don’t throw away that ballot. It’s important that you vote.