American Legion takes to Airwaves in Salute to Veterans

Indianapolis Legionnaires will honor their fellow veterans in a special on-the-air tribute on Veterans Day, November 11th. That when members of The American Legion Amateur Radio Club will operate using the special event call sign W9L on 20 meters, 2-meter simplex, a Central Indiana repeater and connect world wide via IRLP beginning at 9:00 a.m. through 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

Frequencies in use will include to 14.275 MHz upper sideband on 20 meters, 146.46 MHz on 2 meter simplex, the 145.17 MHz repeater in Hamilton County and IRLP Node 4816. Those who make contact with W9L will be eligible to receive an attractive full color commemorative certificate. More about this event including QSL routing is on the web at website www.legion.org/hamradio

Super Typhoon Haiyan

The Super Typhoon Haiyan has affected the Philippines, triggering flooding, destroying buildings and causing millions of people to take shelter.
Ramon Anquilan DU1UGZ of the Philippines Amateur Radio Association (PARA) reports that the typhoon made landfall at about 4.40am local time today in Guian Estern Samar, about 600 kilometers southeast of Manila, and neighboring provinces are affected.
Then it made second landfall over Dulag-Tolosa, Leyte with maximum sustained winds of 235 kilometers per hour near the center and gusting up to 275 kph.
Sadly the area of Bohol and Cebu, which suffered from the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in October, are also along the typhoon's path. Bohol was the epicenter of the earthquake that killed 222 people, where at least 5,000 survivors still living in tents.
There is no power in many areas including Masbate, Ticao Island, Southern Sorsogon, Romblon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Northern Cebu, Cebu City, Bantayan, Camotes Islands, Northern Negros Occidental, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras and Dinagat Province.
Ramon DU1UGZ said, "HERO (Ham Emergency Radio Operator) have reported that those along the typhoon path have shut down their radios as they wait out for it to pass. In a few hours, we feel we should be hearing them again."
Already there have been some 270 postings of emergency traffic. More reports are expected. Earlier PARA called for the frequencies of 7.095 and 144.740 to be kept clear for emergency traffic.
Typhoon Haiyan, the world's strongest this year, and some reports make it potentially one of the most intense recorded.
The Philippines is battered by an average of 20 major storms or typhoons each year. Typhoon Bopha left about 2,000 people dead or missing on Mindanao Island in December 2012.
Jim Linton VK3PC
Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee

FCC says Fluorescent Lighting Jamming Cellphone site

It doesn’t happen very often but the FCC has issued an official Citation and Order for violation of Section 15.5(b) of the Commission’s regulations governing what are called Incidental Radiators. In this case the recipient is Ronald Bethany doing business as Perfect Cuts Salon in San Antonio, Texas, who is being cited for operating incidental radiators and causing harmful interference to a cellular telephone system.
This past July 24th the FCC’s Houston Office used direction finding techniques to locate the source of an unknown transmissions on 705 MHz to the Perfect Cuts Salon. The agent confirmed that the interfering signal was coming from the overhead fluorescent lighting in the salon.
The agent then interviewed Bethany who is the owner of the salon. He reportedly stated that representatives of AT&T had conducted on and off testing of the lighting in the salon and confirmed that the interior fluorescent fixtures were the source of interference to a cell site located next door. Bethany further stated that he had unsuccessfully asked General Electric, the manufacturer of the fluorescent lighting, to replace the lighting.
The FCC says that Bethany would not cooperate, so the agent from the Houston Office was unable to conduct his own on/off testing of the lighting in the salon. The agent verbally warned Bethany that he must repair or replace the lighting fixtures to resolve the interference.
On July 31, the agent spoke by telephone with Bethany, who stated that the lighting was not causing him any problems and that he saw no reason to repair or replace them unless he was paid to do so. The agent reiterated to Bethany that he must resolve the interference or be in violation of the FCC’s rules. As of the October 25^th release date of the Citation AT&T continues to report receiving interference at its cell site next door to Mr. Bethany’s salon.
Now, based on the evidence it has on hand the FCC has found that Ronald Bethany is in violation Of Section 15.5(b) of its Rules by operating incidental radiators and causing harmful interference. It has directed him to cease operation of the incidental radiators immediately. Or in simpler terms, it basically told him to turn off the lights until the interference can be resolved. 

source; Skeeter Nash, N5ASH