Otto, KØIAB, had an old radio and
Dorothy asked if any information on it would be found. I looked and
asked around and learned a great deal about the old radio business.
There are many listings available with dozens of manufacturers but I could
find nothing on this make and model. I asked Bill Wood, VE5WV, if he
would be willing to spend some time inquiring on it. He found some
interesting information from Geoffrey Bourne, President of the Antique
Wireless Association. The information printed on the radio is that
it is model Claratone manufactured by the Equitable Radio Corporation of
Hughesville, PA. Geoffrey says that the radio was made in 1925, the
manufacturer was in business for only one year. They produced four
different models: Claratone, Claratone 124, Claratone 124LS and the
Professional 124P. All models used five 201A tubes in a TRF (Tuned
Radio Frequency) circuit. Original prices for the radio sets ranged
from $39 to $60.
Dorothy's radio is in excellent
condition and works well. She said that Otto spent a lot of time
working on it and was very fond of it. The radio was made to operate
on batteries, Otto made an AC supply to run the radio on. This is a
very unique radio and I am sure that Otto's family will continue to enjoy
it as much as he did.
73
Mark WBØOAJ
FCC
PROPOSES FINE FOR HAM ACCUSED OF INTENTIONAL INTERFERENCE
The FCC has proposed fining a
Nebraska Technician-class Amateur Radio operator, Scott E. Kamm, NØUGN, of
Waterbury, $12,000 for alleged willful and repeated interference,
broadcasting of music and failing to identify with his call sign.
The FCC's Kansas City office released the Notice of Apparent Liability for
Forfeiture (NAL) on January 24.
Responding to complaints of
continuing interference on the input of a 2-meter repeater, FCC agents
monitored the frequency last December 9. They observed "very strong
signals on the frequency 146.31 MHz consisting of music, sound effects and
unmodulated carriers" and no station ID. The FCC said the
transmissions were "interfering with existing communications in progress"
between other amateur stations.
The FCC said it used
direction-finding techniques to determine that the source of the signals
was Kamm's residence in Waterbury. The next day, an FCC agent
monitoring the same sorts of transmissions, tracked the source to Kamm's
residence, and inspected Kamm's amateur station.
"The agent found an amateur radio
transceiver capable of operating on 146.31 MHz," the FCC said. Kamm
claimed no transmissions were made from his station and that he used the
unit to receive only.
Based on its evidence, however,
the FCC Kansas City office determined that Kamm "willfully and repeatedly"
violated FCC Part 97 rules "by causing intentional interference,
broadcasting music and failing to identify with his station call
sign." The FCC determined that the appropriate fine was $12,000 and
ordered Kamm to pay the fine within 30 days unless Kamm seeks a reduction
or appeals the proposed forfeiture.
Kamm already has come to the
attention of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau. He was the target of
several letters and an FCC Warning Notice from Special Counsel Riley
Hollingsworth during 2002. Last fall, the FCC's Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau set aside Kamm's amateur license based upon
complaints about the operation of his station and questions regarding his
qualifications to be a licensee, Kamm's license expired last September,
and his renewal application has reverted to a pending status while the
matter was referred to the Enforcement Bureau.
ARISS
CONTACT WITH JAPANESE SCHOOL FIRST SINCE
COLUMBIA
TRAGEDY
Pupils at an elementary school in
Japan have been the first youngsters to speak to the astronauts aboard the
International Space Station since the shuttle Columbia tragedy. The
contact took place February 18 between 8N3HES at the Hirano Elementary
School and astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT, at the controls of NA1SS.
The direct 2-meter contact was arranged by the Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS) program, which has been on hold since
the shuttle catastrophe.
No one asked any questions about
the Columbia tragedy during the approximately 10-minute contact that was
marred by some communication difficulty. An audience of
approximately 180 people--essentially the entire school plus several
reporters--was on hand for the ARISS contact. Pettit managed to
answer eight of the nine questions put to him by the fifth and sixth
graders.
One student wanted to know what
Pettit would bring with him if he had to live in space for the rest of his
life. "I would hope to bring my whole family." Pettit
responded. "I would bring my wife and my children and we would live
in space together."
Because of the Columbia disaster,
the mission of the expedition 6 crew members already has been extended
until at least June. It had been scheduled to end next
month.
Other students asked questions
relating to everyday life aboard the space station, including how the crew
gets rid of its trash. Pettit explained that after putting the trash
into airtight bags, it's loaded on an empty Progress cargo supply rocket
and sent back into Earth's atmosphere. "It's the ultimate means of recycling your
garbage," he said.
Pettit told the youngsters that
it's "nice and warm" aboard the space station--about 22 degrees
Centigrade--but that the crew could set the temperature to whatever they
desired.
One student asked what the crew
would do if someone became ill. "Fortunately no one has become sick
on our mission, so we haven't had to worry about that, " Pettit
replied. He said that in the case of sickness among the crew, the
crew would contact flight surgeons on Earth to get advice. He also
Explained that the crew has a medical kit on board for those kinds of
situation.
ARISS is an international project
with participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
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