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Re: [Sbarc-list] ARRL Statement about CA Hands-Free Law
by W6YN Don Milbury 18 Jun '08

18 Jun '08

What a dance! I have contended from the beginning there can be no lasting resolution until there is legislative or executive action to specifically exempt licensed amateur radio operation. As the law stands now, there is no specific exemption for amateur radio operation. ARRL reluctantly confirms this but is taking no action to remedy the problem. 73, Don, W6YN -- <michael(a)reynoldsoffice.com> wrote: This was posted on the ARRL site today: --------------------------------------- California Hands-Free Law to Go into Effect July 1; Ham Radio Not Affected Says Counsel A new California hands-free cellular telephone law goes into effect July 1, 2008. It, like many others around the country, prohibits using mobile telephones while driving unless a hands-free device is utilized. ARRL has received numerous questions about its application to the use of mobile Amateur Radio stations by licensed amateurs. The law, in relevant part, states as follows: "23123. (a) A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone unless that telephone is specifically designed and configured to allow hands-free listening and talking, and is used in that manner while driving." ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, advises that "The definition of prohibited behavior in California's recent statute does not include a prohibition of operating a mobile, licensed Amateur Radio station while driving, because Amateur Radio transceivers are not telephones. While ARRL cannot guarantee that this statute will not be interpreted by law enforcement officers or the courts of California more broadly than that, it is our view that a fair reading of the statute excludes mobile operation of Amateur Radio equipment by licensed radio amateurs. That said, it is obvious that drivers should pay full time and attention to driving. To the extent that operating their amateur stations while mobile is a distraction to them, they should consider, if possible, pulling over safely to the side of the road and conducting their amateur communications while stationary." ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, adds that while the statute on its face does not apply to Amateur Radio mobile operation, problems could still arise: "Law enforcement officers are not telecommunications experts and may not understand or be concerned about the difference between a cellular telephone and a ham radio. If you do get stopped, be polite and state that you were operating a mobile Amateur Radio transmitter as specifically authorized by the FCC and not a wireless telephone. Don't engage in an argument if the officer issues a citation -- that won't help your cause. If cited, you will need to follow the instructions about contesting the citation in traffic court. As ARRL counsel notes, the language of the statute does not appear to include amateur mobile operation. Unfortunately, you could have to go through the inconvenience of appearing in court to contest a citation." ARRL will continue to monitor the application of this statute relative to radio amateurs.

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Free Resistors
by Dennis H. Morales 18 Jun '08

18 Jun '08

The Free Resistors have gone to a good home. Thanks for all that contacted regarding them. 73 de AD6EZ Denny <><

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FREE - Hundreds of Resistors - FREE
by Dennis H. Morales 17 Jun '08

17 Jun '08

Free Resistors by the Hundreds! I have two 25-pullout tray organizers full of resistors of various sizes (watts & Ohms) that are labeled 20 Ohm thru 18M. They are being offered for FREE! The only catch is that I am only going to keep them until this Friday morning; then they are going out with the trash - unless someone wants them in which case I will hold onto them until they can pick them up! I think that this was a "FreeBee" at one of our past July swap meets and now it is time to make more room in my garage. I want for them what I paid $0.00, but if someone can use them, I would hate to find that fact out later once I dump them! Hurry up and call - I have the banks of phones on the ready and folks waiting answer your calls! Wait! There is more - free wire, cables, etc in a wooden box that has to go and I have not looked inside in over two years. Your guess is as good as mine! 73 de AD6EZ Denny Morales 805-968-0221 Home 805-886-3817 Cell dennismo2(a)cox.net

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Amplifier needed for International Space Station Contact in August
by Ken Owen 16 Jun '08

16 Jun '08

Hi folks: As most of you know, SBARC is arranging a special contact with an astronaut on the International Space Station and a local Boy Scout troop (tentatively set for the week of August 18 to 22). We have every element necessary for the primary station plus a back up station, except we need to borrow a couple of two-meter amplifiers. The ARISS folks require that we have 80 watt transmit capability on two-meters, and our radios will fall just short of this. So, we need your help! Please let me know if have an amplifier available that is capable of at least 80 watts. We will need to borrow it in the days leading up to the week of 8/18. This is your chance to help out on a very special SBARC event. Check out the "background" below and the attached draft application for more info. Thanks in advance! Ken Owen, N6KTH AMSAT Area Coordinator n6kth(a)n6kth.com (805) 448-5726 BACKGROUND: The history is as follows. Glenn Schiferl, a scout leader and head of the UCSB Physics computing services, approached co-worker Bob Pizzi (AC6PZ) and informed him that the astronaut on the next launch to the ISS wanted to do a contact from the ISS with a local BSA group. Bob said SBARC would back up the effort. Since an astronaut is requesting this contact, all of the normal approvals and application delays will be bypassed. We have arranged to have the contact take place on the patio on the roof of the physics building. There are plans in the works to involve the astronomy department and to include an educational component with the scouts. This could be a huge media event, and it's a great opportunity to set up the SBARC rover and spend the day promoting the club and amateur radio. NASA will promote this event as well. An ISS contact of this type involves kids submitting questions in advance, and a few get the opportunity to ask the questions of the astronaut. THE RADIO EQUIPMENT: There will need to be two, two-meter FM ham stations capable of space communications (see the attached block diagram). The primary station will have full tracking capability (azimuth & elevation rotors, tracking software and interface) a circularly polarized beam, pre-amps and a power amplifier. The backup station will only need to have an omni-directional antenna, but it will also need pre-amps and amps. Ken, N6KTH has the critical equipment necessary for the tracking station, and he, plus two of the other principle organizers all have Yaesu ft-847s that will be used as the rigs for both stations.

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The dim lights of congress
by Bill Talanian 12 Jun '08

12 Jun '08

It is not my intent to turn the SBARC ListServer into another UTube squash court of bouncing political rhetoric but there are times when something has so much humor to it that it is hard to resist. In the name of fun and entertainment on how to cut down on future RFI. ><http://youtube.com/watch?v=e-LOtKIIKcg>http://youtube.com/watch?v=e-LOtKIIKcg >

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Montecito Remote Base Progress
by Ken Owen 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

Hi folks: I am glad to announce that the Montecito Remote Base project is coming along quite nicely. Please visit the project web site to see great new photos of the equipment installed in the cabinet: http://www.n6kth.com/montecito We hope to have the system up for initial testing of the repeater in a week or two. For those who have not heard about the project, Ken, N6KTH, Matt, W6KGB, Calli, KD6OVS and Dave, K9KBX are the principle drivers behind an exciting initiative to install a remote base on Mountain Drive above Montecito. As it is currently envisioned, we will have a multi-band, multi-mode remote attached to a 440 repeater. This will be and OPEN SYSTEM for everyone to use. Matt just finished installing the equipment in the cabinet, and now Calli is beginning the process of making the electrical connections and integrating the equipment. Dave recently finished construction of a wooded enclosure at the site, and everyone had a hand in the laying of conduit and installing a temporary antenna. The system was recently featured in KeyKlix. The web site chronicles all of this, and includes detailed photos of the equipment, and maps showing the potential coverage of the system. Ken Owen, N6KTH.com http://www.n6kth.com/montecito

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Re: [Sbarc-list] CHP Position on the "Hands-Free" Wireless Telephone Laws
by AJSOENKE＠aol.com 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

Read the section on new drivers - kids in their first year of driving. There is specific restriction on any form of wireless communication with numerous devices listed. With that as context it appears that the new law for mature drivers does not limit use of those devices, only cellphones. I have some quotes from school district interview with CHP I'll try topublish as soon as Finals are over. Irregardless of the phone issue, there is an over-riding Vehicle code which makes it illegal to drive while being distracted for any other reason than prevailing traffic. Al **************Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4?&NCID=aolfod00030000000002)

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Re: [Sbarc-list] CHP Position on the "Hands-Free" Wireless Telephone L aws
by W6YN Don Milbury 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

You say you want an exception? There is a mention of "two-way radio" on the DMV Web site concerning this very issue. No pickups however! >From DMV FAQ: Q: What if my phone has a push-to-talk feature, can I use that? A: No. The law does provide an exception for those operating a commercial motor truck or truck tractor (excluding pickups), implements of husbandry, farm vehicle or tow truck, to use a two-way radio operated by a push-to-talk feature. http://www.dmv.ca.gov/cellularphonelaws/ 73, Don, W6YN -- Jay Hennigan <jay(a)west.net> wrote: W6YN Don Milbury wrote: > It is interesting to note that the term "Wireless or Cellular Telephone" does not appear in the Library of Congress - 'Standard Industrial Codes' however "Radiotelephone Communications" does. This is the major issue with the law as written. The CA Vehicle Code has a "Definitions" section, and *THAT* definition, if it existed, would be the definitive one. Unfortunately there is no definition of "wireless telephone". Further confusing the issue is the FCC emission designator "radiotelephone" used to describe all forms of voice transmission regardless of (lack of) connection to the public switched telephone network. Getting the law changed is going to be a major problem as it is a popular law with the "Hang up and drive" crowd, insurance companies, etc. IMNSHO, the easiest "fix" is an addition to the definitions section of the Vehicle Code clarifying that amateur, CB, business band, etc. transceivers are exempt. -- Jay Hennigan - CCIE #7880 - Network Engineering - jay(a)impulse.net Impulse Internet Service - http://www.impulse.net/ Your local telephone and internet company - 805 884-6323 - WB6RDV _______________________________________________

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Re: [Sbarc-list] CHP Position on the "Hands-Free" Wireless Telephone L aws
by W6YN Don Milbury 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

It is interesting to note that the term "Wireless or Cellular Telephone" does not appear in the Library of Congress - 'Standard Industrial Codes' however "Radiotelephone Communications" does. 73, Don, W6YN -- "Dennis Gibson" <wb6tnb(a)cox.net> wrote: Don - you've made an excellent point that I gave some thought to after reading the CHP e-mail. The CHP may regard amateur radio transceivers capable of making autopatch calls as wireless . Hopefully the ARRL and other amateur radio advocacy groups will work toward an interpretation that doesn't mention the possibility of amateur radio transceivers being wireless telephones. 73 ----- Original Message ----- From: "W6YN Don Milbury" <w6yn(a)juno.com> To: <sbarc-list(a)lists.netlojix.com> Cc: <wb6tnb(a)cox.net> Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 9:45 AM Subject: Re: [Sbarc-list] CHP Position on the "Hands-Free" Wireless Telephone Laws So it looks like you must be sure you wear your hands free headset while using the repeater phone patch or you may be cited. Without a specific amateur radio exemption in the law I think troubles are possible. ARRL (Don't worry - Be happy} should be working to have this exemption added to the law. 73, Don, W6YN

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Re: [Sbarc-list] CHP Position on the "Hands-Free" Wireless Telephone L aws
by W6YN Don Milbury 03 Jun '08

03 Jun '08

So it looks like you must be sure you wear your hands free headset while using the repeater phone patch or you may be cited. Without a specific amateur radio exemption in the law I think troubles are possible. ARRL (Don't worry - Be happy} should be working to have this exemption added to the law. 73, Don, W6YN "Dennis Gibson" <wb6tnb(a)cox.net> wrote: ------------------- The following was published in the CGC Communicator (issue #839; June 3, 2008), an e-mail newsletter for broadcast engineers in Southern California. Many broadcast engineers have amateur radio licenses. I have subscribed to the CGC Communicator for more than ten years and have always found it to be an extremely reliable source of information. CHP POSITION ON THE "HANDS-FREE" WIRELESS TELEPHONE LAWS CGC has been flooded with opinions on the subject of the "hands-free" wireless telephone laws that go into effect in California on July 1, 2008. However, two readers sent us copies of the following letter from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) that appears to be great news for not just ham radio operators, but two-way users in general. CGC has verified the authenticity of the following e-mail. While the following letter is not necessarily binding on non-CHP law enforcement officers, we plan to carry a copy of the letter in our two-way radio equipped vehicles to reduce our chances of becoming a legal test case come July 1. ****************************************************************** CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL E-MAIL Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 07:48:20 -0700 From: Fran Clader <FClader(a)chp.ca.gov> Subject: Re: New Cell Phone Laws - July 1, 2008 The new cell phone laws involve only wireless telephones. They do not concern radios such as your (Amateur Radios), unless they are also wireless telephones. Again, the law only applies to wireless telephones. Thanks for your inquiry. If you have any further questions, please give us a call. Or, you can call your local San Diego area CHP office. Fran Clader Commander Office of Media Relations California Highway Patrol (916) 657-7202

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