CAN RF CAUSE CANCER? or CAN RF CURE CANCER! 

                                       By Bob Wexelbaum, W2ILP

 

            Effective on January 1, 1998, new FCC rules limited the RF power that hams, as well as all others who transmit RF waves could expose themselves and the public to.   As a result of ANSI/IEEE safety precautions, we were all to follow rules that limited power levels and distances from antennas.  The belief was that RF exposure was hazardous.  As a potential cause of cancers, radio waves were deemed to be even more dangerous at VHF frequencies than at microwave frequencies, because of the aledged vulnerability due to resonance with the physical length of human bodies.  The HF ham bands were also identified as very hazardous, particularly at high power levels.  The limitations that were to be enforced can be read in Part 97.  Research was initially sponsored by the manufacturers of cell phones.  Dr. George Carlo, who was involved with early research, was of the opinion that the research was not complete when he was forced to end his work.  He wrote a book called “Cell Phones – Invisible Hazards in the Wireless Age”.  The British call their cell phones “mobile phones”.    They have just recently renewed the suspicious questions involving RF hazards, and have been quoting Dr. Carlo.  It has been a legend that the British were always slow to get American jokes…but RF safety is no joke and they just recently began to publicize the Dr, Carlo concepts, now in 2008!  Carlo and others believe that there is a long term hazard that can cause cancer in people who use cell phones for many years and particularly those who start using  them when youngsters.  This belief is based on the concept that human cells can be damaged by RF; not just because of initial thermal effects, which the ANSI/IEEE danger levels have been based on.  The present RF levels are based on the “specific absorption rate” (SAR) which basically only recognizes immediate thermal effects   It does not consider long term exposure which may genetically damage human cells.  Can RF cause cancer?  I dunno…but I believe that more research is necessary.

            In recent news reports, including an exciting segment on the CBS TV program, “60 Minutes”, we learn about an Extra Class ham radio operator, who has been working on attempting to cure cancers, by using RF waves.  He has had no formal medical training,, nor has he had any formal electronics training…nor has he a bachelors degree of any kind.  His initial introduction to being an RF tinkerer is based on his basic efforts studying for a ham license and building his own radio transmitters.  He has succeeded as far as owning his own commercial television station.  His QRZ QTH is listed as Erie, PA, but he has now retired to Sanibel Island, FL.  He initially was trying to generate energy by beaming RF at salt water.  This could be an answer to our energy crises except that the energy to produce the RF was greater than the energy that could be produced by tickling the hydrogen atoms in H2O so that they produced hot fire that burst out of the liquid water!  His name is John Kanzius and his call is K2TUP.  John himself has cancer and he has become sympathetic to the youngsters who he has met in hospital wards.  He realizes that he may not have time to cure himself but developing his methods might save many others who suffer from the dreaded cancerous diseases in the future.  His XYL says that he awoke one night and started looking for a pie plate, because he suddenly got the idea that using the RF generator he had used for his water-hydrogen burning experiments might be a way to burn up cancer cells.  When I first heard about the pie plate, I suspected that he was going to use it to beam microwaves, but I later learned that the frequency he uses is 13.56 MHz.  This is an HF frequency, not far from the 20 Meter ham band!  Somehow it resonates with hydrogen molecules.   What K2TUP is now working on with experts from the University of Pittsburg is a method to get gold nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes into the cancer cells, so that they may be burnt by the RF.  This might be difficult to do without also burning up healthy cells.   Ironically Erie, PA is the home of factories that manufacture carbon resistors. John’s experiments are now being conducted on hot dogs, but it is hoped that in about 4 years they might be tried on humans. John has been exceeding the RF safety limits of Part 97!   Can RF cure cancer?  I dunno….but I believe that more research is necessary.

 

 

PRESIDENT’S NOTE by ED GELLENDER, WB2EAV

 

Things seem to be looking up.  The problems we have had on 146.745 MHz have recently broken our way.  To summarize, when we were off the air for a while when Northrop Grumman moved our repeater, MetroCor gave our frequency allocation to NB2A without following due diligence.  When we yelled, they eventually realized that they had put themselves in a real pickle and offered a compromise to see if coexistence is possible.  As soon as NB2A got wind of this, he turned off his repeater PL and virtually started jamming us.  Nothing worked until we filed a complaint with the FCC (Riley Hollingsworth and I are now like this – said with fingers crossed).  When the FCC politely asked NB2A to turn on his PL, he complied…notably without the bluster we had become used to.  By this point, MetroCor was apparently suitably embarrassed that several of their members couldn’t take it anymore and actively worked to support us.  The NB2A repeater then had its frequency coordination pulled.  We have withstood the ordeal and done well, but we must thank those who have helped.  We couldn’t have done it without their support.  For once, nice guys didn’t finish last.

 

Northrop Grumman declared unilaterally that all company affiliated clubs MUST have at least 15 employee members.  The fact that we don’t have 15 hams working here was not their problem.  I called in some favors and we now have several new members (on paper) who do not know anything about ham radio. This now puts us in full compliance with company guidelines…until their next bright idea comes along.

 

As part of Northrop Grumman’s new policy for clubs, they have these spiffy new release forms for members, especially employee members, to sign and absolve them from liability.  I have spoken to people active in other company clubs and one went so far as to discuss it with a lawyer friend…Poor fellow laughed so hard that he couldn’t catch his breath.  Now you know why we are shopping for insurance.        

 

FIELD DAY – JUNE 28-29, 2008

Ray, W2DKM has located a terrific site for Field Day.  It is in Commack and has all the comforts of home.  We assume that we’ll bring the generator to power rigs, since the scoring is horribly stacked against you without one, but it should be really nice to have things like, electricity, water, and (get this) even air conditioning.

 

The Field Day site is at Dix Hills Park and Golf Course, which is a Huntington town park, on the north side of Vanderbilt Parkway, 0.8 miles east of Deer Park Road (NY231).  Access it via either LIE exit 51 or Northern State exit 42-S.  We will be in the first building on the left (parking is a bit further).  We plan to set up stations on 40 and 80 with antennas between trees (no folding masts).  Further details will be in the June newsletter.  Meanwhile, we desperately need to know who will attend.  It would be a shame to have the next best thing to the Honeymoon suite at the Waldorf-Astoria all lined up and no one to take advantage of our good fortune.   Let me know your intentions!  I can be reached at [email protected] or at work at 516-575-0013.                   

                                                                                                                                                           

 

                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 GRUMMAN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB MINUTES OF GENERAL MEETING 4/16/2008

 Karen KC2OPX, secretary.

                                          The meeting was called to order by Ed at 5:45 PM.

 

TREASURERS REPORT – Ed, WB2EAV     REPEATERS Gordon, KB2UB

 Finances continue to be in good shape.              146.745 is back up again.  

                                                                                     

VE REPORT – Bob, W2ILP                             NET REPORT- Zack, WB2PUE

2 Applicants applied; one passed Tech, one        7:30 Sunday net was excellent.

upgraded to Extra.  5 VEs were present:              8:30 Thursday net was good and

AB2NT, KA2GVD, KB2QFT, KC2OPX,           .745 is now usable.

And W2ILP  

                                                                                                                                                                   

OLD BUSINESS

Gordon and Ed checked the Bethpage repeater antenna and suggested that we buy an MFJ 920 antenna coupler / SWR bridge for $100.  The club members voted and agreed.                                 

NEW BUSINESS

We’re looking for liability insurance for FD.  The club members voted and agreed to buy insurance, not to exceed $350. 

PROGRAM

We are continuing to make plans for FD.  It is now certain that FD will be at the Dix Hills golf course.  Ray, W2DKM, got a commitment from the Town of Huntington for us to use the golf course building on FD weekend for a $25 fee.  We will probably log on paper rather than use computers this year.

 

The meeting was adjoined at 6:55 PM

 

GARC NETS:

40 Meters: 7.289 MHz at 7:30 AM EST Sundays.

2 Meters (via repeaters): 146.745 MHz (-.600)at 8:30 PM EST Thursdays.

                                           145.330 MHz (- .600) at 9:00 PM EST Thursdays.

[Tone for both repeaters is 136.5 Hz]         (ARES/RACES) Mondays

                                          

MEETINGS

General Meetings of the GARC are held on the third Wednesday of each month, starting at 5:30 PM.   The meetings are usually held at the Ellsworth Allen Park in Farmingdale.   Driving directions and maps can be obtained from http://www.mapquest.com   It is suggested that the GARC Web Site be checked to be certain of meeting location, which may change after this newsletter is distributed. Board meetings are held eight days before the General Meeting.                                                                     

                                                  

GARC WEB SITE

The web site of the GARC can be found at http://www.qsl.net/wa2lqo/  Webmaster is Pat Masterson, KE2LJ.  Pictures of GARC activities, archives of newsletters, roster of members, and other information about the GARC may be found there.   

                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

INTERNET LINK OF THE MONTH FOR INTERNERDS

 

            Most of you guys might be familiar with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF.  Bill writes a VHF column for WorldRadio.  He is an active promoter of Amateur Radio Newsline.  I had debated with Bill about the elimination of CW exams and the dumbing down of technical exams on the old rec.radio.amateur. policy group at a time when Bill only held a Technician license.   Now Bill is a gadfly who seems to poke into many of my discussion groups from time to time and we have discussed lots of stuff including the death of Princess Dianna when it happened, our favorite TV comedians, etc. Bill had publicized my trip to Australia.  He used some of my ideas expressed in other posts that I had made, usually without giving me credit.  He is always looking for ham news on QRZ and everywhere he can find it.  Anyway I now belong to a chat group of Ham Pilots.  I am not a Pilot but I am interested in the avionics equipment as well as the ham gear that the ham airplane owners install on their planes, so I was accepted in their group.   Suddenly Bill pops up in it, telling how he became a pilot when he lived in Brooklyn, NY, even before he moved to California. 

 

            You guys know how we all joke about REAL HAMS.  Those are the old timers, like most of us, who built their own transmitters and who passed 20 wpm CW exams.  Now WA6ITF had suggested that the flying hams view a video that is called “REAL PILOTS”.  Real pilots flew Spitfires.  They weren’t just drivers of airliners.  I am going to make that video the internet link for this month.   This is purely sexy entertainment, but I do remember that the British take their Spitfires very seriously.  They are revered for destroying German bombers during WWII.  Anyway the video is:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXKUFSKc4Bw

 

            I hope that this video is good for a laugh.  It isn’t just a real watch commercial.

           

 

 

 

PUZZLE

Here is another cryptogram:   DZ   UVO   CTMXHRLUO   UWCGHRCT   FZ   H   IMXXCIILUO   UN   CZC

 

-   UWCOCGI,   CHXP   LOQUALOS   RPC   GCWMT LHRLUO   UN   IUDC   WGCQLUMIAZ   PCAT

 

  FCALCN.     –SCUGSC   FCGOHGT   IPHV---

 

Solution to April’s Cryptogram: The solution to April’s cryptogram was unfortunately given away in April.

 

 

 

 

EDITORIAL

 

As I continue to work on these newsletters, I am constantly learning new dos and don’ts about MS Word.  It seems that there are often invisible entries imbedded into this newsletter format that must be eliminated in order to write over space where they once existed.  This is not very obvious because…well obviously they are invisible.  You will note that this NL has a new integrated heading, which was the only easy way for me to solve a problem that would not allow me to use the whole front page without messing up the top of the page or wasting the bottom of the page..  I am sure that there are other ways to solve this dilemma…but my method seems to work for me. 

I am also aware that many typos still creep into the NLs. I am reminded of that fact by some readers.  I apologize for this, as it is my responsibility to edit this NL and fix up all typos. spelling errors, etc.  I am however hopeful that those who read my stuff, looking for errors, will savor some of the content before discarding it into the round file.   Alas…perhaps they, like me, are handicapped in not being able to accurately perform two tasks at the same time.

 

73,

Bob w2ilp (Inserting Lost Paragraphs)

 

 

CQ de WA2LQO May 2008

 VOL.  81, NO.  5

 

EDITOR

Bob Wexelbaum W2ILP

(631) 499-2214

[email protected]

 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

All the members of GARC (we hope!)

 

CQ de WA2LQO is published monthly by the Grumman Amateur Radio Club for its members and friends. Send articles and amateur equipment advertisements to: W2ILP. Articles may be sent by e-mail or postal mail.  They can be in MS Word format or simply in plain text.  Articles will only be edited when permission is granted by the author.

 

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS

For insertion to the WA2LQO website, information may be sent to Pat Masterson.

Pat Masterson’s e-mail address:

[email protected]

Ed Gellender’s e-mail address:

[email protected] or [email protected]

 

 

 

GRUMMAN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB OFFICERS FOR 2008

 

President          Ed Gellender               WA2EAV           X02-14    516-575-0013

Vice President  Gordon Sammis                    KB2UB     Retiree     631-666-7463

Secretary          Karen Cefalo               KC2OPX                       631-754-0974
Treasurer          Ed Gellender            WB2EAV              X02-14   516-575-0013

1Yr Board Member    Zack Zilavy                 WB2PUE              Retiree     631-667-4628
1YrBoard Member     Dave Ledo                  AB2EF

1Yr Board Member   Bob Christen           W2FPF        

2 Yr Board Member   Bob Wexelbaum    W2ILP            Retiree     631-499-2214

2 Yr Board Member    Jack Cottrell          WA2PYK      Retiree     516-249-0979

Trustee WA2LQO Ray Schubnel        W2DKM Retiree

 

STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

 

FCC Exam Coord        Bob Wexelbaum              W2ILP    Retiree         631-499-2214

Webmaster                   Pat Masterson                 KE2LJ     Retiree         813-938-4614

Please note that Pat’s phone number was incorrect in previous issues.

 

                                                                                                                                


GARC VE EXAMS

 

We are continuing to proctor exams for all classes of ham licenses on the second Tuesday of each month, starting at 5:00 PM.

 

The present exams are:-

The Element 1 CW exam is no longer required.

Element 2: Technician

Element 3: General

Element 4: Amateur Extra Class

 

The fee for 2008 is $14.00 for all exams taken in one sitting.

 

Applicants for upgrades should bring their present license and a photocopy of it and know their FRN number.

 

New, first time applicants should be aware that their Social Security number will be required on their application form, unless they register with the FCC for an FRN.

 

All applicants should bring picture ID such as driver’s licenses.

 

Until further notice exams will be given at:-

Briarcliffe College

1055 Stewart Avenue

Room: Long Beach #5

Bethpage, NY

Briarcliffe, Bethpage is located in a building that was formerly part of the Grumman complex.

 

All applicants should contact W2ILP to pre-register, so as to confirm location.  If no applicants apply, the exam session will be cancelled. 

 

For any information e-mail:-

[email protected]

or phone-

(631) 499-2214

 

Study material is available at the web sites of the ARRL

http://www.arrl.org

or W5YI

http://www.w5yi.org

All VECs use the same Q &A pools.

 

Since the beginning of the VE program the GARC has provided opportunities to take the ham exams monthly, during all 12 months of every year.

 

Bob Wexelbaum, W2ILP and the GARC VE team.

                                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

The ARRL vs the FCC on BPL

 

I believe that the ARRL has never before sued the FCC.  I also believe that the FCC has never before been forced to admit that it has been at least partially wrong.  I am referring to the case involving BPL which has been reported in a recent ARRL bulletin.   I had to carefully read the bulletin in order to understand precisely what it may mean to us hams and to the future users of any BPL system, if any. On April 25th the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. (No pun intended) released a decision of the ARRL’s anti-BPL case.  The decision that was released in April was based on a hearing that took place last October.  The result of the decision does not mean that BPL will be banned.  It only agrees with the ARRL on two points, but fails to address the entire issue.  Thus the decision is not such a total victory for the ARRL as hams might have liked.  The Court only finds that the FCC failed to satisfy the notice and complaint required of the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to provide a reasonable explanation for its choice of the extrapolation factor for measuring access BPL emissions.  The FCC had not fully disclosed for public comment the studies which it had claimed to rely upon.  Secondly the Court agreed with the ARRL that the FCC erred in not providing a reason for choosing 40 dB per decade for Access BPL systems.

The attorney for the ARRL observed that the FCC had been overly zealous in advocating BPL and that the hams would have been better off had the FCC dealt with the BPL interference potential in an honest and forthright manner at the outset.

Banning BPL entirely can be a state or local decision, as well as an FCC decision.  On a separate positive note the state of Texas has totally banned BPL.  New York has not.

In my humble opinion BPL interference should be dealt with on a case by case basis, so as to best satisfy the general public as well as the radio amateurs.  I believe that the ARRL, as well as the FCC, has been overly zealous.  Fighting BPL has been expensive for the ARRL and I dunno if it is or was really worth all of the hoopla.  Enuf sed. AR K

73,  

Bob w2ilp