Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (C To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Fri Dec 20 2019 05:27 pm SWEDISH AGENCIES UNDERTAKE RF POLLUTION STUDY NEIL/ANCHOR: Swedish agencies have taken on an RF pollution study, and the focus is on solar panels. Here's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH. JEREMY: Sweden's national radio society, the SSA, reports that studies of solar panel installations have begun to determine whether they are a source of RF pollution. Both the Swedish Electrical Safety Agency, and the Swedish Energy Agency, are looking at the installations' optimizers and inverters in particular. The inverters are used to convert the direct current of the solar panel to alternating current. Amateur radio operators are not the only ones who suffer from this kind of RF interference. Weather stations, remote-control car alarms, wireless speakers, home alarms and garage-door openers can also be impacted. The Swedish agencies' scrutiny is expected to continue until March 2020. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH. (SSA) ** FCC SEEKS COMMENTS ON REMOVAL OF AMATEURS FROM 3 GHz BAND NEIL/ANCHOR: The Federal Communications Commission is seeking comment on its plan to remove amateur radio operators from the 3.3 GHz to 3.55 GHz band, and looking for what it calls "transitional mechanisms" for its implementation. The agency formally adopted the proposed change at its meeting on the 12th of December. FCC officials wrote that the move comes as a way of making new spectrum available for use by mobile and fixed wireless broadband. The notice was released on December 16th, and can be viewed at docs dot fcc dot gov (FCC.GOV) ** HAMS HELP BRING SANTA TO HOSPITALIZED KIDS NEIL/ANCHOR: Now here's a Christmas story that comes to us from Tampa, Florida, home to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital. Florida is, of course, more than a few degrees warmer than the North Pole, but this story is heartwarming for other reasons, as we learn from Mike Askins, KE5CXP. MIKE: Members of the Bay Area Emergency Amateur Radio Service, or BEARS, are accustomed to responding to emergencies - so at holiday time, if there are any youngsters stuck in the hospital, instead of being home waiting for Santa - well, yes, that qualifies as an emergency. Like ingenious elves at the North Pole, the Bay Area hams responded on December 11th, in the same way they have done in previous years - with the magic of radio linking young patients to the man with all the toys. Hospital officials told a local TV station that the idea started about 10 years ago. With this scenario, youngsters denied a visit to Santa at the mall, or the hope of glimpsing him at home late on Christmas Eve, might still be able to put a QSO on their Christmas list. The Bay Area emergency hams have a station at the hospital that uses the call sign W4TCH, so the rest was easy. Team members from the hospital's Child Life Department, brought the radios to each child's bedside, and the next voice the children heard was, well, a really big DX from the North Pole, that any ham radio operator would envy. Even if the kids eventually stop believing in Santa, there's a sure bet they'll still believe in radio. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mike Askins, KE5CXP. (WTSP-TV, ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL WEBSITE) ** LISTENING FOR SANTA ON CHRISTMAS EVE NEIL/ANCHOR: Speaking of Santa, are you ready to start listening for him on the air? Christmas Eve is coming up fast, and the DoDropIn is ready on EchoLink. With this special report we have....well.....Santa himself. SANTA: Ho HO Ho Boys and Girls, can you beliEve how fast time flies, it's my favorite time of year again. That is right, its time for the Santa Watch Net. DON: And old Santa is going to making his rounds again. SANTA: Who You calling old little buddy? DON: Sorry, Santa will be making his rounds again for the 9th year in a row, and the gang at the DoDropIn, will be watching the radar. Join the Santa Watch Net, starting at 1800 hours Eastern Time. SANTA: That's alright, I will put you back on the NICE LIST. And my little elf, Dave, N3NTV, he is STILL such a cute little fellow. He's going to be calling the net, and calling out ole Santas location, OOPS QTH. DON: And just like last year, Santa has a radio in his sleigh, and he'll chat with the kids again. SANTA: Oh, I love that part. Bring all the little ones. Get 'em checked in. Because, you know, 3rd party traffic: always on the NICE LIST. DON: Once again it's the Santa Watch Net. Christmas Eve 1800 hours Eastern on the DoDropIn Echo-link Conference server, node number 355800. SANTA: Ho Ho Ho... Merry Christmas from me, Old Saint Nick, and all my little elves at the DoDropIn. Ho Ho Ho Ho! --- SBBSecho 3.10-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (801:1/2) þ Synchronet þ Temple of Doom BBS - tod.eothnet.com .