Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

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� Ham Radio Newsletter - For up to date information for hams �
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� Published by : Brian Murrey KB9BVN at Indpls, IN �
� �
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� Send all article submissions to Brian Murrey at 1:231/30 �
� Or via GEnie address MURREY �
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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

1. EDITORIALS
Brian's Corner - What this Newsletter is about .......... 1

2. BULLETINS
The ARRL Letter, Vol 8, Num 8, April 21, 1989 ........... 2
RAIN Bulletin ........................................... 8

3. ARTICLES
The Story of Digipeter Rabbit ...................... 9
Central Indiana Ham Info ................................ 13
Mods for Yaesu FT-727R By Mark Huff, WA4DHY ............ 15
Packet Radio Tutorial By:Scott Loftesness W3VS ........ 17
Illinois Ham Radio Tax!! ................................ 25

Amateur Radio News Page i
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

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E D I T O R I A L S
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In this, the first issue of The Ham Radio News, I have decided
to use articles that have been previously published and passed
around on the various Ham related BBS systems in the United
States and Canada. I have every intention to publish this
newsletter on a bi-weekly basis, posting it in the Fidonet where
it can be file requested from 1:231/30, and also uploading it to
GEnie's Radio Roundtable. Your contributions are needed to keep
this newsletter alive and growing. I promise to publish
anything submitted, be it Pro-Code, Anti-Code, Anti-ARRL,
Pro-ARRL, or even critisism of this new publication. There is
to be NO CHARGE for this newsletter, with the exception of the
per hour/use fee that many systems charge for general access and
downloading. Anything printed in this newsletter may be
reprinted in it's entirety, providing the author or authors are
given full credit for their work. If you do not want to upload
articles for the newsletter, then you may also send them to me
via the Postal Service in either hard copy format, or on
standard IBM 360K formatted diskettes. I welcome any and all
feedback regarding the format of this newsletter. The views
expressed in this newsletter will not necessarily be those of
myself, nor will they necessarily be the views of any assistant
editors that we may pick up at a later date.

Brian Murrey - Editor KB9BVN

Amateur Radio News Page 1
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

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B U L L E T I N S
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Published by: The American Radio Relay League, Inc.
225 Main St.
Newington, CT 06111

Editor: Jay Mabey, NU0X

Material from The ARRL Letter may be reproduced in whole or in
part, in any form, including photoreproduction and electronic
databanks, provided that credit is given to The ARRL Letter and
to the American Radio Relay League, Inc.

PART 15 LOW POWER DEVICE RULES ADOPTED--INCLUDES 4 HAM BANDS!

On March 30, the FCC adopted its First Report and Order in
General Docket 87-389, amending Part 15 of its rules governing
radio- frequency devices, which, because of their low power, are
not required to be licensed.

The Order was released April 18, too late to be used in this
issue of the ARRL Letter. The information here is drawn from
the official presentation at the FCC open meeting, the press
conference which followed and from ARRL Washington Coordinator
Perry Williams, W1UED.

There's good news, bad news and ghastly news. The good news is
that the leakage permitted from some non intentional radiating
devices (a broad class of devices including radio and TV
receivers, VCRs, stereo equipment and the like) will have to be
reduced to the more stringent limits now permitted to Class B
computing devices which are used in the home.

The bad news is that non compliant devices of this type are
"grandfathered" for ten years! Existing TV tuners, for
instance, can be designed, built and sold for another decade,
having to observe only today's radiation limits. Though the FCC
didn't say a word about RFI to consumer devices, the
improvements eventually made in front ends of TVs and VCR/TV
combinations should result in improved RF rejection, and thus
less likelihood of RFI complaints, but we'll have to wait until
the next century to know!

The ghastly news is that the FCC has adopted seven new "consumer
bands" where intentional radiating devices, such as home
security systems, garage-door openers, wireless stereo speakers
and TV "wireless rabbits" (devices which transfer programs to
other TVs and VCRs throughout the house) may operate with higher
power than otherwise would be permitted. Four of the specified
bands, supposedly selected because Industrial, Scientific and
Medical (ISM) devices already operate there, are allocated to
the Amateur Radio Service on a primary or secondary basis.

Amateur Radio News Page 2
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

These bands are: 902-920 MHz, 2400-2483.5 (the amateur band here
is 2390-2450 MHz), 5725-5875 MHz (hams have 5650-5925 MHz) and
24.00-24.25 GHz (of which 24.00-24.05 is exclusively amateur,
the remainder shared).

Existing intentional radiating devices which do not comply with
the new technical limits are grandfathered for three years in
the design phase, five years for importing and marketing. The
new devices, including "TV rabbits" and remote speakers, must
comply with the standards set out in the Order from the start.
with RFI issues at all. Manufacturers are not required to
include instructions on dealing with interference in consumer
guides furnished with their equipment. The only gesture the FCC
made toward warning the public about interference is a label
stating that the device must not cause interference to any
licensed radio service and must accept interference which occurs
to it from such services. The second part of this label is not
required on radio and TV receivers. Two days after the FCC
Order was adopted, the ARRL Executive Committee voted to seek
reconsideration and whatever injunctive relief is necessary to
protect amateur interests.

1989 DARA AWARD WINNERS NAMED

The Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) HamVention Awards
Committee has named Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, as its 1989 Radio
Amateur of the Year. Pasternak was chosen, according to
HamVention General Chairman Bill McNabb, WD8SAY, based on "his
continuing interest in the promotion of Amateur Radio, his
direct participation in the Westlink Amateur Radio News Service,
as the author of Amateur Radio articles and books and as the
producer of Amateur Radio related videos including The New World
of Amateur Radio..."

Chosen as the winner of the Technical Excellence Award is Byron
Goodman, W1DX. Goodman was honored for his involvement in the
early days of the development of Amateur Radio single-sideband
communications and for his founding of the ARRL DXCC program.

The 1989 Specific Achievement Award goes to Phil Karn, KA9Q,
(see ARRL Letter Vol. 8 No. 7, page 3) for his work in the
development of packet-radio software and his numerous writings
on the use of computers in Amateur Radio. Karn was also
recognized for his ongoing technical volunteer work with
AMSAT-NA.

Presentation of awards will be made at the annual DARA Awards
Banquet that will take place on Saturday evening, April 29.
1984 Radio Amateur of the Year Dave Bell, W6AQ, is scheduled to
be the keynote speaker.

Amateur Radio News Page 3
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

CRRL RESPONDS TO DOC DEREGULATION PROPOSAL

The Canadian Radio Relay League (CRRL) has responded to the
DOC's deregulation proposal. In its submission, CRRL indicated
that the deregulation would meet many present and future needs
of the Canadian Amateur Service.

CRRL However, expressed the following concerns as well: First;
the proposal specified a 6-kHz maximum bandwidth for the 10.100
- 10.150 MHz band. This would allow SSB operation which could
interfere with fixed stations that are primary users of this
band. Such interference could cause amateurs to lose the band
worldwide. CRRL asked DOC to specify a maximum bandwidth of 1
kHz.

A second CRRL concern was DOC's proposal allowing an amateur to
establish a home, portable and mobile station under one call,
but not to operate these concurrently. CRRL asked DOC to permit
this again so amateurs operating computer-controlled BBSs while,
say, operating mobile, would not have to get a second station
license and call.

Thirdly, CRRL asked DOC to continue issuing VE0 calls for
stations on ships in international waters.

The final concern voiced by CRRL noted that deregulation,
specifically deregulation of mode subbands, could upset the
equilibrium between the Canadian and US Amateur Radio
communities. If Canadian amateurs came to understand that,
under deregulation, they were free to operate any mode on any
frequency in the amateur bands -- without regard for the
international Amateur Radio community -- there could be reaction
in the US which would result in expansion of US phone subbands.
CRRL asked DOC to emphasize to amateurs the importance of
observing voluntary band plans developed by the CRRL.

W1AW OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULED

Open house! The ARRL HQ building will be open Sunday, June 11,
from 10 AM to 4 PM. If your club or group wants to schedule a
visit, please notify Membership Communications Services at HQ.
Be sure to bring a copy of your license if you'd like to operate
W1AW, however, operating time may be severely limited due to
construction.

The Newington Amateur Radio League (NARL) is sponsoring their
annual hamfest and flea-market the same day as the W1AW open
house. The festivities will be held at the Newington High
School between the hours of 9 AM and 2 PM, with "guide service"
to HQ provided.

HF PACKET RADIO COOPERATIVE DESIGN INITIATIVE

The ARRL has announced the creation of a new project to develop
the next generation of modems and protocols for HF packet radio

Amateur Radio News Page 4
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

transmission. The project will coordinate the efforts of
Amateur Radio designers whose proposals are adopted by the ARRL.
Modest funding will be available for reimbursement of approved
direct out-of-pocket expenses relating to the development of
prototypes, but not labor, overhead or other costs.

Overall funding for this project is to come from two sources.
One is from the ARRL Technology Fund, which welcomes individual
and corporate contributions. Also, the League has applied to
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a small grant
to help underwrite this project.

Serious designers interested in participating in this
development project may obtain further information from Lori
Weinberg at ARRL HQ. General information concerning this
project may be found in the May issue of QST on pages 54-55.

FCC INSPECTOR GENERAL NAMED

The Commission has named John Kamp, currently Director of Public
Affairs, as the FCC's first Inspector General.

The newly created office of Inspector General is one of 33 such
offices created by the Inspector General Amendment Act of 1988.
Kamp's responsibilities will include the conduct and supervision
of audits and investigations relating to the programs and
operations of the agency; recommending policies for activities
designed to promote economy, efficiency and effectiveness, as
well as to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in agency
programs; and to keep Congress fully informed about any problems
or deficiencies within the agency.

Kamp joined the Commission in 1980 as a staff attorney in the
Policy and Rules Division, and since has held several legal,
policy and public liaison positions throughout the agency. Kamp
has also served on the personal staffs of Commissioner James
Quello, former Chairman Mark Fowler, and former Mass Media Chief
James McKinney.

BBC IS OFF 17 METERS!

There is good news for 17 meter fans! The BBC has vacated its
18.080 MHz broadcasting frequency when it shifted to the spring
schedule. Their new frequency is 17.640 MHz. David Evans,
G3OUF, of the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) contacted
BBC at the ARRL's request and reports that the move is intended
to be permanent.

ARRL MEMBERSHIP FIGURES ARE UP

Once again ARRL membership figures have increased over last
year's totals:

Amateur Radio News Page 5
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

Division 1988 1989 to date
======== ==== ============

Atlantic 15,276 15,822
Central 11,671 12,149
Dakota 3,163 3,341
Delta 5,869 6,227
Great Lakes 12,918 13,539
Hudson 9,713 9,938
Midwest 6,930 7,123
New England 10,899 11,395
Northwestern 8,229 8,909
Pacific 9,671 10,187
Roanoke 9,618 10,142
Rocky Mountain 4,357 4,596
Southeastern 13,862 14,515
Southwestern 13,463 14,154
West Gulf 10,069 10,515

Total membership figures show 158,448 this year compared to
151,361 at this time last year!

DOVE MICROSAT SCHEDULED FOR LAUNCH

The Digital Orbiting Voice Encoder (DOVE) MicroSat will be
launched from French Guyana in Fall 1989 by the European Space
Agency (ESA) aboard an Ariane 4 launch vehicle. DOVE is
sponsored by AMSAT's Brazilian counterpart, BRAMSAT, and its
sun-synchronous orbit will allow ground stations to hear two
morning passes, transmitting on 145.970 MHz. DOVE will begin an
Amateur Radio educational project that will last one year and
include short messages expressing school student's wishes for
peace in the world to be transmitted via DOVE's voice encoder.
For further details contact:

Rich Ensign, N8IWJ,
421 N. Military,
Dearborn, MI 48124,
313-274-1718 (home)
313-278-0900 (school).

RSGB CALL FOR PAPERS

Anyone interested in presenting a paper at the second Radio
Society of Great Britain (RSGB) Data Symposium should contact
Mike Dennison, G3XDV, at RSGB HQ as soon as possible. The
Symposium is to be held concurrently with the AMSAT-UK Space
Colloquium on July 28-30. Further information may be obtained
by writing C/O Lambda House, Cranborne Road, Potters Bar,
Hertsfordshire, EN6 3JE, England.

Amateur Radio News Page 6
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

FIRST TEN 17-METER 'WAS' AWARDS Congratulations are in order to
the first ten amateurs to earn Worked All States (WAS) on the
17-meter band. The award winners are:

1) Christopher M. Merchant, KA1LMR
2) Joseph Reisert, Jr., W1JR
3) Steven R. Buerg, KD6PY
4) Charles A. Brown, N5CB
5) Walter T. Qualls, W5ERG
6) Raymond C. Baldwin, WB7OHF
7) Theodore H. Raschick, W0RGT
8) Richard I. Little, KY9L
9) Carl D. Hagler, K5CKQ
10)Thomas O. Thorburn, KA1POP

PHIL SAGER, WB4FDT, LEAVES HQ

Phil Sager, WB4FDT, who has conducted the Happenings and League
Lines columns in QST for over 3 years, is leaving HQ to attend
graduate school at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston,
Louisiana. Phil was also ARRL Letter Editor in 1986-87, and has
been in charge of keeping The FCC Rulebook up-to-date since
coming to HQ in 1986. During the mid-1970's, Phil worked in the
former Amateur and Citizens Division of the FCC in Washington,
DC -- the only League staffer to work at the FCC in that
capacity -- and served as Virginia Section Manager from 1982-84.
Good luck Phil!

Amateur Radio News Page 7
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

The RAIN Dialup Service (R.D.S) provides programming for both
hams and communications devotees. Produced by RAIN, the Radio
Amateur Information Network Foundation, the R.D.S. updates
Fridays at (312) 299-INFO from Des Plaines, IL.

The current edition will be on line from Apr. 28-May 4, 1989,
and contains the following: Mike Anderson, WV7T, talks about
taking the radio shack into the local Radio Shack; and a 220
update from "220 Notes" editor, Art Reis, K9XI.--14 minutes of
QUALITY ham radio programming, that YOU are encouraged to
retransmit, as authorized by FCC regulation 97.113-D2.

GIVE THE R.D.S. A TRY!

Additional RAIN programming can be heard on the HF ham bands:
The IARN, International Amateur Radio Network, airs a 45-minute
program 5 times each day simultaneously on 3975 KHz (LSB);
14275, and 28475 KHz (USB) at these UTC times: 1100, 1300, 1700,
2100, and 0000. When the IARN is activated on 14.275 during
emergencies, the program may be moved down to 14.265 KHz (3975
and 28475 are unaffected.) Often there is a live "net" on 14.275
following the broadcasts. There are two additional Sunday
transmissions: on 3890 KHz (AM) at 2200, and 7290 KHz (AM) at
2300. The IARN program is transmitted by Glenn Baxter, K1MAN,
from Belgrade Lakes, ME.

The GATEWAY RADIO NEWS LETTER is transmitted by Vern Jackson,
WA0RCR, from Wentzville, MO. It typically lasts an hour, and
can be heard on 1860 KHz (AM) on the 160-meter band at these UTC
times: Sat.-Thurs. at 2200; Sundays at 1200, and 1900; Tue. at
0930; and Thurs. (combined with a live "net") at 0100.

If you know of other HF ham radio programs, let me know, that I
may update this list.

FREE HAM RADIO PROGRAMMING. if you are looking for ham radio
programming on cassette for use on a local net, or for your own
information, The RP REPORT is now available FREE of charge.
Simply send a blank C90 cassette along with an SASE and enough
postage for 2 ounces for each month you wish to receive this
program service. There are 4 RP REPORTS per cassette, one
cassette per month. Produced by Hap Holly, KC9RP, The RP REPORT
is Available from the RAIN Foundation, P.O. Box 2565, Des
Plaines, IL. 60017.

Amateur Radio News Page 8
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

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A R T I C L E S
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A No Code Fable By Frank
Terranella, N2IGO

Once upon a time, in the far-away kingdom of Radio, there was a
peaceful valley called Hamville, inhabited by a group of
rabbits. Hamville was originally settled by the Whiskey family,
and the patriarch of that family was an old hare called Charlie
Whiskey.

Charlie Whiskey was a farmer by trade. He came to the beautiful
valley of Hamville when it was all open meadows. He saw the
potential for farming the vacant land and over time he developed
a thriving carrot plantation. Charlie Whiskey's carrot
plantation was the envy of all the inhabitants of the kingdom of
Radio. He succeeded year after year in producing a bumper crop
of carrots. All the other residents of the king- dom came to
Charlie for advice on planting carrots. Charlie would always
tell them, "The secret's in developing a good ear." No, Charlie
didn't have superior hearing, but he had developed a very
special skill. You see, Charlie picked his carrots with his
ears.

In fact, Charlie had worked hard at perfecting this skill and
was able to harvest at better than 20 carrots a minute. All of
Charlie's family learned to pick carrots with their ears. Soon
they were all picking at better than 20 carrots a minute.
Charlie was so proud of his special skill that he insisted that
everyone who came to work at Hamville first show that he could
pick carrots with his ears. Charlie would not give new settlers
any land unless they could demonstrate to his foreman, Victor
Echo, that they could pick at least 5 carrots a minute with
their ears. When they could pick 13 carrots a minute, Charlie
gave them more land to work. When they were able to pick
carrots by ear at the rate of 20 a minute, Charlie made them
full citizens of Hamville.

This process of learning to pick carrots with your ears went on
for sometime. In other parts of the kingdom of Radio, other
rabbits began to pick carrots by ear. However, there were some
noisy ducks, known as the Quackers, who lived in the community
of Good Buddy. They used their mouths to pick their crops
instead of their ears. They had much larger mouths than the
rabbits and saw no need to use their ears. The rabbits all
looked down on the Quackers. "We must always require ear
harvesting skills for entry into Hamville," they said. "That
way we will keep out those noisy Quackers." So everyone who came
to Hamville had to learn how to pick carrots by ear if they
wanted to stay. Charlie Whiskey was adamant about that. "If
you don't want to learn the skill of ear harvesting then go work
in Good Buddy with the Quackers," he would say.

Amateur Radio News Page 9
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

And so the years passed, and new methods of farming were
developed. These new methods were easier to learn than ear
harvesting, especially for the animals who didn't have the big
ears that the rabbits had. What's more, the new methods were
just as efficient as ear harvest- ing. As time went by, fewer
and fewer of the young animals were willing to learn the skill
of ear harvesting. The population of Hamville began to dwindle.
All the residents of Hamville were getting on in years. To make
matters worse, there were new neighbors nearby who coveted the
beautiful open farmland of Hamville. They wanted to come in and
turn it into commercial uses like shopping centers. And worst
of all, the pollution from the Quackers, the other Rabbits, and
the Mice (known in Hamville as the QRM group) was having an
adverse effect on farming in Hamville. The future looked bleak
indeed.

Then, one day, a stranger called Digipeter Rabbit came to
Hamville. He was an educated rabbit who had studied at the
School for Scientific Bunnies (SSB). He had majored in Farm
Mechanics and knew all of the latest scientific agricultural
methods. But for all his education and know-how, there was one
thing that Digipeter could not do. He could not master the
skill of picking carrots with his ears, and since he already
knew how to pick carrots more efficiently with new scientific
methods, he was not interested in learning.

Charlie Whiskey was outraged. "What do you mean you won't learn
to pick carrots with your ears? Why, we in Hamville have been
picking carrots that way for 75 years. It's a tradition here.
It shows that we're special and that we're better than the
Quackers. If you don't have the desire to develop a good ear,
then we don't want you here in Hamville." But Digipeter was
adamant. He saw no reason to learn an obsolete skill just to
stay in Hamville and he refused to even try. Charlie Whiskey
took the matter to the Ancient Royal Rabbit League, which he had
found- ed. The ARRL decreed that everyone in Hamville must
learn to pick carrots with his ears or be banished. And so
Digipeter Rabbit left Ham- ville and founded his own village
called Techietown.

Soon, all the young animals in the land of Radio were flocking
to Techietown. But Digipeter had his own entrance requirement.
A good ear and a good memory were not enough for him. No one
could stay in Techie- town unless he could demonstrate technical
knowledge, understanding and ability, and the desire to
contribute to the advancement of Techietown.

Digipeter encouraged all the residents of Techietown to
experiment in the cultivation of new unexplored lands, never
before farmed. Digi- peter showed them how to overcome
pollution problems. He showed them how to use the land they had
more efficiently. Digipeter even perfected a method of farming
which allowed a number of rabbits to farm the same land at the
same time. And while the residents of Hamville were picking 30

Amateur Radio News Page 10
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

carrots a minute on a good day, in Techietown, harvests of 300
carrots a minute were possible. Using Digipeter's methods, and
those developed by the other bright, young residents, Techietown
soon became the most prosperous village in the kingdom of Radio.
This did not escape the notice of the Field Carrot Council,
which governed the kingdom of radio. To reward the residents of
Techietown for their contributions to the kingdom, the Field
Carrot Council gave Techietown more and more land to work, until
its borders touched those of Hamville.

Meanwhile, Hamville was still plodding along as it always had,
oblivious to the revolution in farming occurring around it. The
old hares still picked carrots by ear. The Ancient Royal Rabbit
League complained bitterly to the Field Carrot Council about all
the new land it was giving to Techietown, but the population of
Hamville continued to drop. When the Field Carrot Council gave
2 acres of Hamville property to Techietown, the residents of
Hamville began, for the first time, to be genuinely concerned
about their plight. Some even dared to ask the Ancient Royal
Rabbit League to change its mind about the need to learn to pick
carrots by ear to live in Hamville. "We need new blood here to
fight off the Field Carrot Council," they said. Charlie
Whiskey, now in his nineties, was furious. "We have to maintain
our standards. We don't need those smart young bunnies, we need
rabbits skilled in our time-honored harvesting tech- niques. We
need rabbits who are dedicated enough to the principles of
Hamville to want to learn our methods. If a rabbit really wants
to live here, he'll learn our ways. If he doesn't, we don't
want him. You don't want those Quackers to move here, do you?"

But by now the residents of Hamville had seen the writing on the
wall. Although they genuinely enjoyed picking carrots with
their ears, they realized that there were now other ways which
yielded just as many carrots. And though they would probably
continue to pick carrots by ear as they always had, they could
no longer shun those bright young rabbits who chose a more
modern method. A group of rabbits, led by an elder statesman
rabbit named Elmer, who had once served in the government of the
kingdom of Radio, asked the Ancient Royal Rabbit League to
change its policy. The League agreed and issued a decree that
henceforth ear harvesting skills would not be required to become
a resident of Hamville.

When Digipeter Rabbit heard of the decree, he sent envoys to
Hamville with all the latest scientific discoveries, which he
shared freely with the residents. The residents of Hamville
seized upon the new know- ledge and soon Hamville became
revitalized. Its population began to increase as young rabbits
were attracted to its bountiful open farmland. The Field Carrot
Council, impressed by the renaissance in Hamville, did not take
away any more of its land, but actually gave some new territory
to Hamville. Everyone was amazed at the new vibrancy of
Hamville.

Charlie Whiskey, though sad that his beloved harvesting method

Amateur Radio News Page 11
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

was no longer in vogue, saw that his people were prospering and
was glad. And to show that there were no hard feelings, Charlie
Whiskey sent Digipeter Rabbit a packet of 73 carrots which he
had picked himself -- with his ears.

The residents of Hamville rejoiced and declared a festival to
cele- brate their new prosperity. And over the front door of
the Hamville Festival they put a banner, which read: "A bunny's
worth is measured not by the skill of his ears, but by what lies
between them." The residents of Hamville had learned an
important lesson.

-THEEND-

Amateur Radio News Page 12
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

==================================================
Central Indiana Amateur Radio Information 12/25/88
==================================================
Hit P to pause, S to stop, any key to resume....
==================================================

Indy Club info
--------------

Indianapolis Radio Club - founded 1914

Meetings on the second Friday of each month except July and August.
Meetings start at 7:30pm and are held at the Missions Buliding at
222 South Downey Ave. in Indianapolis. Licensed or not, all welcome
to attend.

President Michael L. Galloway WD9AVQ
--------------------------------------------------------------------

American Red Cross - Indianapolis Chapter

Formed in the mid 60's as a result of the Halloween Coliseum disaster.
No dues are charged, however members of this club are expected to
donate time in four club related activities a year to sustain active
member status. A complete station is maintained at 441 East 10th
Street and is capable of worldwide communications. The station is
opened to all members 24 hours a day. The club sponsors Novice
training beginning the first Monday after Labor Day and classes run 10
weeks. The first Monday after New Years begins the Tech/General
courses that run 12 weeks. All classes are from 7:00pm to 9:30pm and
there is NO CHARGE. The club meets on the second Tuesday of every
month at 7:30 in the Red Cross Chapter house. Call 317 634 1441 for
more information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Harrison Amateur Radio Club - Building 809 Ft. Harrison IN 46226

Founded in 1984 this club has focused on bringing new hams into the
hobby through courses offered at no charge. Currently they have over
50 members and over 125 amateurs have gotten their tickets through the
training that this club offers. Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday
of every month at 7:30pm. Information about the club and talk-in to
the clubhouse can be found on the 443.25 and 146.76 repeaters. For
further information contact Bob Blankenship at 317 482 5480 or Rick
Viehe at 317 542 0741.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Midstate Amateur Radio Club

This club has a Novice class starting on February 2nd, 1989 and these
classes will be held from 7:00pm to about 9:30pm. The instructor is
Dave Wendt KA9OOH. Courses will be held at University Heights
hospital located at 1402 E. South Co. Line Road. For more information
contact Dave at 784 1044 day or night. This club also has a repeater

Amateur Radio News Page 13
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

in operation on 146.835/-.600 Mhz. The classes are NO CHARGE.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Central Indiana Clubs
===========================

Boone County Amateur Radio Club

This is a fairly new group, formed December 3, 1987. This club also
sponsors a Novice course and the meetings are held the first Thursday
of the month at the Lebanon Cable TV office located behind the Preston
store on North Lebanon Street. Contact Bob Blankenship at 482 5480 or
Mike Ottinger at 482 1866 for more info.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Madison County Amateur Radio Club

The club address is RR4 Box 417, Alexandria IN 46001. This club meets
the first Monday of the month. Dues run $10.00/yr. Contact Frank M.
Dick III at 642-1237 for further info.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

For more details on the Central Indiana Radio scene, purchase a copy
of the 1988 Amateur Radio Directory from the Indpls. Radio Club. This
directory is given away but a $5.00 donation for the continuation of
the project is expected. (Paid $10 for mine and it's worth every penny
and then some)

Amateur Radio News Page 14
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

CPU MODS FOR THE
YAESU FT-727R HANDHELD
By Mark Huff, WA4DHY

Here are the CPU "modifications" known for the YAESU FT-727R
handheld. As the one that most are interested in is the
extended (out of band) coverage mod, here's how to "open up"
your FT-727R step-by-step. (NOTE: The following instructions
for extended coverage will work for both the old and new CPU
versions.)

1. Remove the battery pack.

2. Locate the RAM backup switch according to your manual (this
will be the switch FARTHEST away from the two small battery
terminals).

3. Turn the switch off, count to 5, then turn it back on.

4. Slide the battery pack back onto the handheld.

5. Turn the handheld on. The readout should be entirely blank.
If it is not, you probably did not wait long enough before
turning the switch back ON, so repeat the above procedure.

6. Key in the following on the Keypad: 001111

The rig should now come to life. You will have to reprogram all
the memories, as well as the repeater splits (shifts) for both
bands. The display will now cover 100-199, and 400-499 MHz, but
it obviously won't work over this entire range due to the
inherent limitations of the circuitry. Coverage will be around
139-159, and 420-461 MHz. Also note that you must enter
frequencies from the second (tens MHz) digit on. (I.E. Before
the mod, getting to 146.88 MHz meant entering "6880" or "688D".
After the mod you must enter "46880" or "4688D".) The reset
code, to place the rig back to U.S. ham band coverage only, is
007777.

ADDITIONAL STUFF

There are additional CPU codes for the FT-727R, which can be
used to modify it's performance in several ways. Here are all
the known codes, and how they affect the handheld. They have
only been tested (with the exception of "001111") on the new CPU
(late-1987 and later) model of the FT-727R:

001111: Extended frequency coverage setting. Will tune 100-199
and 400-499 MHz, but actual operating coverage is more limited
(typically 139-159 and 420-461 MHz). Steps available are 5/10
KHz on VHF, and 12.5/25 KHz on UHF. Shifts on both bands are
empty (0.0) by default and must be reprogrammed.

Amateur Radio News Page 15
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

003333: Use for this setting is unknown. Coverage is 144-154
and 430-440 MHz. Steps of 10/20 KHz are available on both VHF
and UHF. Although coverage goes above 150 MHz, only keyboard
entry from the one MHz digit on is available. On VHF, to go
above 149.990 MHz, you must start from the upper reaches of 149
MHz and scan up above 150 MHz. Shift on VHF comes up empty
(0.0), but UHF has default shift of 5.0 MHz.

005555: Possible Region 3 setting. Turns handheld into the "B1"
model. Coverage is 144-148 and 430-440 MHz, with steps of
12.5/25 KHz on both VHF and UHF. Shifts are 0.6 MHz on VHF, and
7.6 MHz on UHF.

007777: Standard Region 2 (U.S.A. and Canada) setting. Makes
handheld the "A" model. Coverage is 144-148 MHz on VHF, and
440-450 MHz on UHF. Frequency steps available are increments of
5/10 KHz on VHF, and 12.5/25 KHz on UHF. Shifts are 0.6 MHz on
VHF, and 1.6 MHz on UHF.

009999: Region 1 (European and African) setting. Sets handheld
to the "B" model. Coverage is 144-146 MHz on VHF, and 430-440
MHz on UHF. Both the VHF and UHF bands have frequency steps of
12.5/25 KHz. Default shifts are 0.6 MHz for VHF, and 1.6 MHz
for UHF.

Any of these codes can be entered into the CPU by following
steps 1 through 6 on the previous page, substituting the code
entered in step 6 with any of the above codes. No doubt more
codes exist, but these are all that have been heard of to date.

73, Mark Huff, WA4DHY

Amateur Radio News Page 16
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

HamNet Packet Radio Tutorial
----------------------------

by Scott Loftesness W3VS
CompuServe 76703,407

Now that your SYSOP has begun experimenting in the exciting new
world of Packet Radio, I thought it might be interesting to
others here on HamNet to begin sharing a bit more of this new
technology.

Recently, I've uploaded a couple of news items which have
highlighted commercial applications of packet radio techniques:
the Genstar system being developed by Gerard O'Neil of Princeton
University and the recently announced Motorola Portable
Communications Terminal. I believe these to be just the first
of many announcements we will see in the coming years as the
packet radio form of digital communications finds even more
commercial applications.

In the meantime, we amateurs are blazing many new trails in this
technology - from the simple TNC idea to the elegant PACSAT
orbiting bulletin board system. Most of the success of the
amateur radio packet efforts is due to a group of true
enthusiasts scattered across the United States. Leading the way
were our Canadian friends to the north who developed the
original "Terminal Node Controller". Doug Lockhart and his
friends in Vancouver developed an 8085-based TNC in the late
'70's and its popularity spread quickly as they made available
the PC board and parts kits.

Pockets of packet interest rapidly developed in the Washington,
DC, Tucson, AZ, and San Francisco Bay Area - to be quickly
followed by new groups in St. Louis, New Jersey, and Southern
California. The first ARRL Packet Radio Conference was held in
October, 1981 in Gaithersburg, Maryland - and provided the first
truly international amateur packet get together. Plans were
reviewed - and ideas shared. One of the attendees, Den Connors,
KD2S, moved off to Tucson to join a rapidly growing group of
friends and formed Tucson Amateur Packet Radio. This energetic
group began the creation of a completely new, "second
generation" TNC - building on the best of the original work done
in Vancouver.

While the Tucson group was developing the hardware for a TNC, a
group led by Tom Clark, W3IWI, became concerned about the lack
of any kind of amateur standard as far as packet radio protocols
were concerned. The original Vancouver protocol worked fine for
a small group in a single geographic area - but clearly would
not support the kind of growth in packet radio enthusiasts that
was expected. In addition, the onset of the Phase IIIB amateur
satellite and its packet radio repeater possibilites added
impetus to the need to develop a new standard.

Amateur Radio News Page 17
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

Meeting in October, 1982, this group developed a new amateur
standard called AX.25. The standard was completed just in time
- it was incorporated into the original version of the Tucson
(TAPR) TNC board in late 1982. Approximately 200 of the TAPR
boards have been distributed nationwide - for extensive field
testing of the hardware/software combination. This board has
become a real hit - it worked beyond anyone's expectations and
has created a tremendous additional interest in packet radio.
The test phase is nearly complete - and will be followed by
availability of a parts kit later this year for general
distribution through the amateur community. By this time in
1984, amateur packet activities will have grown dramatically
from the several hundred current experimenters to many more
amateurs - and with exciting implications for new applications
using the new technology.

The TAPR TNC is a remarkable piece of equipment - and a truly
elegant hardware/software design. We'll spend some time
describing some of the details of this TNC. Much of this
material is directly from the excellent manual which accompanied
the beta test boards - and which is available from TAPR for $15
(PO Box 22888, Tucson, AZ 85734).

The TAPR TNC is the result of a tremendous design effort by many
people including Mark Baker, Marc Chamberlin WA7PXW, Pete Eaton
WB9FLW, Chuck Green N0ADI, Dave Henderson KD4NL, Lyle Johnson
WA7GXD, Dave McClain N7AIG, Dan Morrison KV7B, Margaret Morrison
KV7D, and Harold Price NK6K, along with Den Connors.

Very few terminals or home computers contain the hardware and
software necessary to attach to, and control, an amateur radio.
Compatibility between such systems could obviously be a problem.
Because of this, extensive testing and use of packet radio
without some additional tool would be very difficult, if not
impossible.

The TNC is that tool. It is connected between your terminal (or
computer) and your amateur radio. Just what is it that the TAPR
TNC provides? Between the interfaces to your terminal or
computer and your radio is a complete microcomputer with memory
and input/output devices. This microcomputer with appropriate
software is used to implement the packet radio protocols. Thus
any computer can be interfaced to any other computer via amateur
radio using the TNC.

The TAPR TNC connects to an RS-232-C interface, found on most
terminals and home computers. A parallel interface is also
provided, although not supported for terminal interfacing in the
initial software release. The necessary connections exist to
interface the TNC to your amateur radio equipment. These
connections include lines to your external speaker (or earphone)
jack and the microphone jack (both for microphone audio and for
push-to-talk control).

Also included is a complete modem used to convert the digital

Amateur Radio News Page 18
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

information coming from the computer or terminal into an analog
signal (a set of audio tones) which your radio can transmit. It
also performs the reverse function, converting analog signals
from your receiver to digital data. Because of the bandpass
characteristics of many amateur radios, an active audio filter
is also included in the TNC. Passive filters proved inadequate
to support transmission rates of 1200 baud - a design objective.

Power for the electronics on the board required four different
voltages: +5, -5, +12, and -12 volts. The TNC includes on board
power supplies for these voltages and uses a custom wound power
transformer designed specifically for TAPR and included with the
board.

But hardware is only part of the TNC. Software is equally (if
not more) important, for it's the software which makes this
hardware useful in handling packet radio protocols.

The TAPR software was designed to support two interfacing
requirements. The first interface is to the computer or
terminal and involves processing commands and assembling data
into packets. Also, packets received must be processed and
formatted for display back to the computer or terminal. The
second interface is the radio interface which provides two
different packet communications protocols (AX.25 and the
original Vancouver protocols), keying the radio, and sending
proper Morse code identification using your call sign. The
protocol involves accessing the shared radio channel, formatting
and sending packets, receiving and deciphering packets, and
filtering out packets not intended for your station.

The software is implemented on the TAPR board in read only
�emories (ROM's). 24K of ROM is provided on the board for this
purpose, along with 6K of on-board random access memory (RAM).

The TAPR TNC beta test version sold for $200 - a very low price
for such an incredibly well-designed and engineered unit! As
mentioned earlier, the initial tests using this board have been
most impressive. I'll provide a more detailed description of
both the hardware and software components in forthcoming
tutorial messages.

We'll continue our tutorial on packet radio by reviewing in more
detail the hardware and software implemented on the Tucson
Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR) Terminal Node Controller (TNC).

The TAPR TNC is a self-contained, microprocessor-based device
intended to act as an intelligent interface between a user's
ASCII communcations system (terminal or computer) and
radio-based packet communications.

A 6809 microprocessor acts as the system CPU in the TAPR TNC.
The 6809 is readily available and widely accepted for
application in dedicated function controllers as well as general
purpose low-end computers. It executes the software stored in

Amateur Radio News Page 19
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

the system's EPROM's.

The 6809 has an internal 2-phase clock generator and provides
control, address, and data bus input/output for family
peripheral devices. It has capabilities for
position-independent code and is designed to support multiple
stacks, making it very efficient for executing block structured
high level languages such as Pascal and Forth. Information on
the 6809 architecture is available in Motorola, Hitachi, and AMI
literature - and in several books which are widely available in
the computer sections of most bookstores.

The serial port is designed to provide a full-duplex RS-232-C
interface for the user's terminal or personal computer. Full
baud rate selection from 50 baud to 19.2 kilobaud is supported
by the port. EIA RS-232-C levels and transition rates are
implemented as well. The serial port is controlled by a 6551
LSI UART which contains an internal, software-controlled
baud-rate generator. The transmitter and receiver are
double-buffered and capable of interrupt-driven operation. The
6551 supports hardware flow control - allowing the terminal or
computer to pace input and output from the TNC. 1488 and 1489A
devices are used to translate the TTL levels from the 6551 to
RS-232-C levels for the port itself.

A parallel port is also included on the TAPR board. Although
not used for terminal support in the initial releases of the
supporting software, it is used for certain status indications.
A 6820 is used to provide two 8-bit TTL-level handshaking ports.

The system port interfaces to other devices on the TNC itself.
These include a non-volatile RAM chip used to store certain of
the system parameters across power-downs, DIP switches used for
certain reset options, the HDLC controller chip, and an
indicator driver interface for a variety of LED-monitored system
functions. Implemented using a 6522, the system port also
includes timing functions used for HDLC baud rate generation,
software timing functions, the CW identification, and on-board
calibration of the modem frequencies. The 6522 is a very
powerful LSI chip which incorporates a pair of 8-bit
programmable I/O ports, four control lines (for handshaking),
two 16-bit programmable timers/counters, and an 8-bit shift
register. The non-volatile RAM is used to store system
parameters that are not normally changed such as call sign,
terminal attributes, and timing parameters, but which remain
user alterable. This allows configuration changes for a given
session only, or on a "permanent" basis. The system port also
handles the interface to the radio push-to-talk circuitry.

A Western Digital WD1933B HDLC controller is used to implement
the HDLC standard bit oriented protocol including CRC check sum
and zero bit insertion. The HDLC controller interfaces to an
on-board 1200 baud modem providing phase-coherent AFSK
modulation (with Bell 202 compatibility) using the EXAR
2206/2211 chips. Also included is the necessary impedance

Amateur Radio News Page 20
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

matching circuitry for interface to most popular amateur radio
equipment. A 14-second hardware "watchdog" timer is inserted in
series with the transmitter push-to-talk line to prevent
accidental RF channel lockout which might be caused by a
software error.

A unique feature of the TNC is the capability for on-board
calibration of the modem tone frequencies. This is accomplished
using jumpers which allow for the modem to be disconnected from
the HDLC chip.

The on-board memory bank consists of six JEDEC-standard 28-pin
"byte-wide" sockets. Three of these sockets are mapped for 2K
static RAM's. The other three sockets are mapped as 8K EPROM or
static RAM sites. The configuration supports 2716, 2732 and
2764-type EPROM's. A custom memory map PROM is included which
provides the address decode for the ROM and RAM chips.

Also included on the TAPR TNC board is a user wire-wrap area -
primarily to allow custom interfaces to be developed to support
unusual radio interface requirements. Power busses are included
in the area so that active devices may be added directly onto
the TNC board itself as may be required by the user.

This completes the hardware description of the TAPR TNC. As you
can see, it's a very complete design using the latest in LSI
chip technology.

I'm going to continue this series by describing the operation of
the Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR) Terminal Node Controller
(TNC) - and the tremendous function which has been implemented
in the TNC software will become readily apparent!

The TAPR TNC operates in one of three modes:
Command Mode
Converse Mode
Transparent Mode

Command mode is used to modify various software operating
parameters. Converse mode and Transparent mode are both data
transfer modes - supporting transmission and reception of
packets across the radio link.

Command mode is automatically entered upon power-up or reset of
the TNC. It can also be entered from one of the other modes by
sending an appropriate control sequence from the terminal to the
TNC. For example, if I'm running in Converse mode, I can get to
command mode by simply entering a control-C. I can they make
any operating mode parameter changes I need to, and return to
Converse mode by using the CONVERS command. The flexibility the
TNC provides in this regard is really outstanding. You can
switch into and out of Command mode very easily - and not lose
any data coming across the link.

Many of the parameters which can be altered in Command mode are

Amateur Radio News Page 21
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

saved in the NOVRAM chip mentioned earlier in this series. This
chip is an electrically erasable read-only memory - and permits
me, for example, to save away my call-sign (which becomes my
address in the AX.25 protocol) so that I need not reset it every
time I power up. The NOVRAM really helps make the TNC startup
procedure extremely simple - since most all of the parameters I
have tailored have been tucked away into the NOVRAM.

In addition to the NOVRAM, the ROM contains a set of default
operating parameters which can be invoked to completely reset
the NOVRAM values. This is helpful after experimenting with a
number of parameters - and deciding to start over from the
ground up!

To give an example of how simple it is to get the TNC
"on-the-air", the following sequence of commands will take the
TNC from power-up to Converse mode:

MYCALL W3VS - Sets my callsign into the address field.
(Only necessary once!)
PERM - Save my callsign into the NOVRAM.

CONVERS - Enter Converse mode.

Hello Test - Sends an unaddressed packet with the text
"Hello Test".

Ctrl-C - Returns to command mode.

CONNECT K8MMO - Requests that I be connected to K8MMO.
Automatically enters Converse mode if
K8MMO acknowledges my CONNECT request.

Hello Dave - Sends an addressed packet to K8MMO with
the text "Hello Dave".

Ctrl-C - Returns to command mode.

DISCONNECT - Disconnect from K8MMO.

As you can see, operating the TNC is really a breeze. In fact,
from power-up to being on the air is typically a matter of a few
seconds.

Among the parameters which can be altered in Command mode are
several which determine how the TNC responds to what it hears on
the radio link. For example, I can tell the TNC to monitor all
packets it hears - including those not specifically addressed to
me. This is obviously useful for "reading the mail" on the
channel! In fact, I can tell it to monitor all activity, or
just activity either TO or FROM a specific station. In
addition, I can tell the TNC whether I want it to become a
digipeater - a digital repeater which repeats what packets
addressed to another station but containing my callsign as a
repeater address. (It's interesting to note that the default is

Amateur Radio News Page 22
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

digipeat on - it's so automatic that I really don't know (other
than by hearing my radio got on and off) that I'm being used as
a digipeater!

I can also define the specific operating parameters for the
link. Items such as the length of a packet (default of 128
bytes), whether it should send a packet when it sees a specific
character (default is carriage return) or send a packet after so
many seconds of inactivity from my terminal. I can also cause
the TNC to automatically send a beacon every so many seconds or
send it after so many seconds of no activity on the packet
channel.

I've just shown a few of the features available in Command mode
on the TAPR TNC. The software is extremely well done - and
using the TNC is a pleasure! You immediately sense that this
box was put together by folks who really understand both the
hardware and the software aspects of microcomputing and
communications!

Let's talk now about Converse mode. As shown in my example, I
can cause the TNC to enter Converse mode by entering the CONVERS
command and also by connecting with another station. The TNC
will also automatically enter Converse mode whenever another
station requests a connect with me! In this case, it prints out
a message saying:

Connected to K8MMO

and enters Converse mode. From that point on, whatever I type
is sent to the other station.

If I'm not connected to another station but enter Converse mode
using the CONVERS command, my packets will be "unaddressed" and
only can be copied by other stations which are monitoring all
packets on the channel. This is the technique used to say "CQ"
on a packet channel. For example, on my TRS-80 Model 100, I
have created a CQ file which I transmit containing my name,
address, callsign, station equipment, phase of the moon, etc.!
To say CQ, I simply send this packet. If others are around,
typically one will connect with me and our QSO has begun!

Earlier, I mentioned the digipeating mode. I can cause my
packets to automatically be sent via a repeater. I simply say:

CONNECT K8MMO VIA WB4JFI-1

WB4JFI-1 is a local AMRAD repeater run by Terry Fox which is
available 24 hours per day. In this case, my station sends its
packets to WB4JFI-1 which verifies that they are valid packets
(i.e. frame check sequence is valid) and then retransmits them
to K8MMO. Neat!

Well, we've covered Command and Converse modes pretty
thoroughly. Let's now talk about Transparent mode. Transparent

Amateur Radio News Page 23
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

mode allows you to effectively turn the TNC into a modem - i.e.
it will not locally echo characters, will ignore command/control
character sequences, etc. The advantage of this mode is in
transferring files which might contain any of those characters.
In Transparent mode, it's possible to transmit a binary file to
another station. With the built-in error detection and
correction of the AX.25 protocol, error-free transmission is
guaranteed! It's possible to exit from Transparent mode to
Command mode by sending a very specific sequence of characters
(default is three control-C's sent with no other data for one
second before and after). Obviously, the odds of this sequence
occuring in normal transmission is very, very low - which is
just what's wanted in Transparent mode.

Another use of transparent mode is in running a computer system
at the other guy's station. For example, I have run the CP/M
system at K1HTV in this manner - and run BASIC programs, CP/M
commands such as DIR to get a file directory listing, etc. It's
just like sitting at the console of that other system - with the
addition of a time delay required for transmission of the
packets at 1200 baud!

Well, we've pretty well covered the operational aspects of the
TAPR TNC. As you've seen, it's an extremely versatile device -
and provides nearly all of the functions you'd want!

You are probably a bit curious (I know I was) about the software
package used in the TAPR TNC. This excellent package was
written in a combination of Pascal and 6809 assembler by Harold
Price NK6K, Dave Henderson KD4NL, and Margaret Morrison KV7D.
The bulk of the code was written in Pascal while assembler was
used for the interrupt handling and data buffering routines.
The Pascal code effectively relies on the assembler code as
device drivers for the hardware interfaces present on the TNC.
The combined package is over 20K of code - stored in the ROM of
the TNC.

This concludes this section of the packet radio tutorial. Next,
we'll describe some of the activites underway in the Washington,
DC area with packet radio - and some of our plans for the
future.

Amateur Radio News Page 24
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

----------------------------------------------------------------
- ALERT -- ALERT -- ALERT -- ALERT -- ALERT -- ALERT -- ALERT
----------------------------------------------------------------

A bill has been introduced in the Illinois State Legislature
to LICENSE radio communications equipment and users BY THE STATE
OF ILLINOIS. The current bill would affect citizens band (CB)
transceivers and paging receivers of all kinds. However, it is
reported that this bill is being amended and expanded to cover
the use and possession of ALL radio communications equipment
including cellular telephones, amateur radio equipment, marine
radio, land mobile (the various business radio systems), general
mobile (GMRS), etc.

The intent is to control the use of radio communications by
personsdealing in illegal activities--primarily drug dealers.

RAIN -- RADIO AMATEUR INFORMATION NETWORK
TRANSCRIPT OF MARCH 20,1989 INTERVIEW WITH ILLINOIS STATE
REPRESENTATIVE SHAW CONCERNING ILLINOIS STATE RADIO LICENSE BILL
----------------------------------------------------------------
RAIN
RADIO AMATEUR INFORMATION NETWORK FOUNDATION, INC.
P. O. Box 2565
Des Plaines, Illinois 60017-2565

A Not-For-Profit News and Information Service
For The Radio Amateur

Alanson P. "Hap" Holly, KC9RP, Executive Director

Offices: (312) 827-RAIN (827-7246)
24 Hour Program Dial-Up Service: (312) 299-INFO (299-4636)
Note: Our Area Codes will change from (312) to (708)
on November 11, 1989.

RAIN is affiliated with the BEAR, The Broadcast Employees
Amateur Repeater (of Chicago)
Transmitting on 145.15 MHz (-.600 input) (1B PL)
News reports and requests for information may also be left on
The BEAR Hotline 24 Hours a Day at (312) 827-BEAR (827-2327)

----------------------------------------------------------------

(C) Copyright, 1989 by the Radio Amateur Information Network
Foundation, Inc. Due to the important nature of this
information, permission is hereby granted to any party to
publish or distribute the text of this interview, in whole or in
part, by any means, printed or electronic, provided credit is
given to the copyright holder. Audio recordings, suitable for
use by bulletin or broadcast stations are available from the
foundation.

Amateur Radio News Page 25
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

----------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSCRIPT OF A RAIN NETWORK INTERVIEW WITH WILLIAM SHAW,
ILLINOIS STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 34th, DISTRICT (CHICAGO)
CONCERNING HIS NEW LEGISLATION, "AN ACT IN RELATION TO CERTAIN
COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES", WHICH WOULD PROVIDE FOR ILLINOIS STATE
LICENSING OF CITIZENS BAND RADIOS, PAGERS, CELLULAR TELEPHONES,
AND 2-WAY RADIO EQUIPMENT AND USERS. THE INTERVIEWER WAS
ALANSON P. "HAP" HOLLY, KC9RP.
----------------------------------------------------------------

INTERVIEWER: "This is a RAIN weekly spotlight. Imagine paying a
five dollar fee to license your Ham or CB transceiver, cellular
telephone, or beeper -- and if you are caught not licensing
these devices with the state you'd possibly face fines and even
imprisonment. Well it's no joke, especially to State
Representative William Shaw, 34th District of Illinois. Shaw
wants to license CB radios, cellular phones, and beepers in
Illinois. Why? Well, I spoke with Mr. Shaw about his
proposal."

INTERVIEWER: "What are you proposing in this bill?"

REPRESENTATIVE SHAW: " What the bill call for is that all CB's
and cellular telephones and beepers be licensed by the State of
Illinois and there will be a five dollar fee dealing with the
licensing of those beepers and cellular telephones and CB's.
This is a bill that is aimed at drug pushers in Illinois. It's
not intended to harm or hurt the CB people, but in light of a
large investigation that had been made in Illinois, a lot of
drug pushers are using CB radios and beepers to do their
transaction with drugs. And that's what this is aimed at, not
the legitimate CB people who use it for sport. While we want to
license them and make sure that they have an application is
because many of the drug dealers are not gainfully employed. It
would be a criminal penalty attached to that application if a
person lied on that application. And there again that's aimed
at the drug dealer. I think that would give the police
departments throughout Illinois here another tool that they need
in order to fight the drug traffic in Illinois." "The police
departments would be able to see a CB in a car or see a cellular
telephone in a car and in many instances hear a pager, or see a
pager...and certainly they know who the drug dealers are in many
instances, but they just can't walk up to that person because
they know that they're a drug dealer and lock them up if they
have no drugs on them. But if they have this pager and they
have lied on the application certainly that's reason that that
person could be put in jail -- and it would be similar to the
seat belt law. The police departments would not be able to stop
you just because they saw a CB in your car, you would have to
commit some other offense -- traffic offense."

INTERVIEWER: "With all due respect, Representative Shaw, with
all the CB radios that have been floating around for literally
twenty years, who needs to go out and buy a new one?"

Amateur Radio News Page 26
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

REPRESENTATIVE SHAW: "Well that would also apply to the people
that have CB radios, you would have to still apply for that
license and pay the five dollar fee."

INTERVIEWER: "Ah, so there is no grandfather clause."

REPRESENTATIVE SHAW: "No, there's no grandfather clause in
there, because if we grandfathered them in -- you know -- the
drug dealers and the people that are using them for illegal
activities still have them. Today, for a person standing by a
telephone, waiting on a phone call, that's too easy for the
various law enforcement agencies to check and put a tracer on
those phones. But they can do this handily while they are
rolling around Illinois by either CB or a pager system or
cellular telephone."

INTERVIEWER: "The only problem with that argument in CB, of
course, there's no way to identify a radio without actually
looking at it, so how do you expect to carry that out?"

REPRESENTATIVE SHAW: "Well, we're not primarily interested in
that portion of it. The only thing we want to do is know who
got those -- who own those CB's and what is the purpose of the
CB. All of that information would be on the application. And
by some chance if that person happened to get stopped, commit a
traffic violation or something, then the police would be at
liberty to ask questions about a CB and whether he have a
license or not."

INTERVIEWER: "OK, of course you're not just picking on CB
here..."

REPRESENTATIVE SHAW: "Oh, no..."

INTERVIEWER: "You're looking at cellular and pagers. Where does
Ham radio fit into this bill?"

REPRESENTATIVE SHAW: "Ham radio doesn't fit into it. I don't
think the bill even talks about Ham radio."

INTERVIEWER: "Well, why not?"

REPRESENTATIVE SHAW: "Ah, because... well one of the reasons is
I didn't think about it, but maybe it should be in there."

INTERVIEWER: "Well, the logical question is that if you leave
Ham radio out of the bill then you're assuming that there is no
illegal activity on Ham radio, and of course that's no more true
or false then CB or cellular or pagers."

REPRESENTATIVE SHAW: "Well, you're absolutely right and
certainly if they're not in there then I think at this point --
because Ham operators can talk all over the world and certainly
in many of the countries where drugs are coming in from -- if a

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Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

person that was dealing in illegal activities with drugs would
be able to communicate with his counterpart in so many foreign
countries."

INTERVIEWER: "Of course the argument would be, well, of course
Amateur Radio operators are licensed."

REPRESENTATIVE SHAW: "Licensed already."

INTERVIEWER: "Right, so what's the purpose of licensing the
radios, too?"

REPRESENTATIVE SHAW: "Well, the total crux of this bill is aimed
at curbing drugs. That's the total aim. And this is not to say
that all Ham or people who use CB or pagers or cellular
telephones are drug dealers. I'm not implying that. The only
thing that I'm saying that there is a great number of people,
according to various police departments around Illinois, that
are using the pager system and CB's and the cellular telephones
for illegal activity when it come to drugs."

INTERVIEWER: "Well, again in due respect Representative Shaw, if
the drug smugglers and the pushers obtain weapons, even though
they may be outlawed, the same is going to happen with CB radios
and the like."

REPRESENTATIVE SHAW: "I understand that but at the same time the
various police departments can see a CB radio in a car. They
can see a pager on the person and they can see a cellular
telephone. It's a little bit different than a weapon because
you have to have an antenna to communicate with on this or the
pager is going to go off -- and even though they have the solid
ones -- but the police departments have a better chance of
seeing that than they do these Uzi machine guns and all of the
weapons that we are talking about. They are very easily hidden
but what we are talking about here, you can't hide those. Not
and communicate."

INTERVIEWER: "I don't mean to beat a dead horse but if the
criminal can go out on the street and buy a hand gun in Chicago,
which has laws pertaining to such and governing the licensing of
such, the same thing's going to happen to CB radio and I really
don't see where this law is going to have any impact -- if it
ever gets passed."

REPRESENTATIVE SHAW: "Well, that's what I would call up on
people like yourselves, law abiding people, to support this type
of legislation, because it will have an impact, because on the
application we identify who the person are and we can also
identify if that person is employed or whether he's not
employed. And if the person lie on the application that is an
offense in itself -- if you lie on the application. And
certainly a person who buy a pager, if he lie about his
profession on that application, it give the police department
the weapon that it need. And you can then charge that fellow

Amateur Radio News Page 28
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

with a -- it would call for, I think a thousand dollar fine, on
a second offense then it call for being put in the
penitentiary."

INTERVIEWER: "This has been the RAIN weekly spotlight, with
Illinois State Representative William Shaw discussing his
proposed legislation that would require state licensing of CB
radios, cellular telephones, and pagers. Just what are the
chances of this bill passing the Illinois Legislature, and if
passed, would it be struck down in the courts as being
unconstitutional? And furthermore, what are the National
implications of such a bill?"

(END OF INTERVIEW)

ORIGINAL TEXT OF PROPOSED ILLINOIS STATE RADIO LICENSE
LEGISLATION REPRESENTATIVE SHAW PROPOSED TO BROADEN THE
PROVISIONS TO OTHER RADIO SERVICES -- SEE TRANSCRIPT OF
INTERVIEW OF MARCH 20, 1989 FROM RAIN -- RADIO AMATEUR
INFORMATION NETWORK

86th General Assembly
State of Illinois
Introduced March 1, 1989 by Representative Shaw
New Act; Ch. 38, par. 108-1

Section 1. As used in this Act:

(a) "Citizens band radio" means a radio which is capable of
receivingand transmitting on some or all of the radio
frequencies set aside by theFederal Communications Commission
for citizens band radio communications.

(b) "Department" means the Department of Revenue.

(c) "Paging device" means a portable wireless device which is
capableof receiving signals indicating that the user is being
paged or that a message has been left for the user. "Paging
device" does not include a cellular telephone or cordless
telephone.

Section 2:

(a) Any person who owns, uses or is a lessee of a paging device
or citizens band radio shall pay an annual fee of $5 to the
Department for each such paging device or citizens band radio.
Upon receipt of the application and the proper fee, the
department shall issue a license which shall be validfor one
year. The department shall prescribe and furnish forms to be
used for application for and renewal of, licenses. No person
shall posses or use a paging device or citizens band radio in
this State which has not beenlicensed in accordance with this
Act.

Amateur Radio News Page 29
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

(b) Any person carrying a paging device or citizens band radio
shall carry the license issued by the Department pursuant to
this Act for that deviceor radio. Any person operating a motor
vehicle containing a paging device or citizens band radio shall
the license in the motor vehicle. Any person required to carry
a license under this Act shall display the license to a law

Section 3:

Any person who violates this Act is guilty of a petty offense.
Any person who commits a second offense or subsequent violation
of this Act is guilty of a business offense.

Section 4:

(a) This Act does not apply to any person who is not a resident
of Illinois, and this Act does not prohibit such a nonresident
from possessing or using a paging device or citizens band radio
in this State withouta license.

(b) Any person who becomes a resident of Illinois, having
obtained a paging device or citizens band radio before becoming
a resident, shall obtain a license in accordance with this Act
within 60 days after becoming a resident.

(c) This Act does not apply to any paging device or citizens
band radio owned, held or stored for sale or lease to, or use
by, others, and which is not used by the person owning, holding
or storing such paging device or citizens band radio, except for
demonstration purposes.

Section 5:

(a) The Department shall promulgate rules for the administration
and enforcement of this Act.

(b) The Department may require persons engaged in the sale or
lease of paging devices and citizens band radio, and persons
supplying any services for users of paging devices (including,
but not limited to, providing message-taking services or
telephone lines), to supply sale, lease, service and other
records to the Department as may be necessary or appropriate, in
the judgmentof the Department, for the administration and
enforcement of this Act.

Section 6:

No citizens band radio or paging device shall be sold, leased or
possessed in this State unless it bears a unique identification
number, affixed bythe manufacturer, seller or lessor. Such
unique identification number shall be submitted with any
application for, or renewal of, a license under this Act.

Section 7:

Amateur Radio News Page 30
Volume 1, Number 1 April 30, 1989

Section 108-1 of the "Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963",
approved August 14, 1963, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 108-1. Search without warrant.

(1) When a lawful arrest is affected a peace officer may
reasonably search the person arrested and the area within such
person's immediate presence for the purpose of:

(a) Protecting the officer from attack; or

(b) Preventing the person from escaping; or

(c) Discovering the fruits of the crime; or

(d) Discovering any instruments, articles or things which may
have been used in the commission of, or which may constitute
evidence of, an offense.

(2) No motor vehicle, or driver or passenger of such vehicle,
shall be stopped or searched by any law enforcement officer
solely on the basis of a violation or suspected violation of
Section 12-603.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, or a violation or
suspected violation of "An Act in relation to certain
communications devices", enacted by the 86th General Assembly.

Amateur Radio News Page 31

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