THE ALINCO STORY - THE EPILOGUE

In our April 1998 edition we brought you a story of how 1/3 watt Alinco 70 metre handy-talkies were being pushed in full-page newspaper ads in Israel as licence-free radios. We were concerned that our dear 430 MHz band would be overrun by non-hams. What happened in the meantime? The IARC purchased 2 of these radios from the "Rosh Kesher" company, Alinco's distributors in Israel. A laboratory check with the "STG" company confirmed our suspicions that the devices' output power greatly exceeded that of radios needing no licence. The lab report was passed on to the Ministry of Communications for their care. The latest word is that the sale of these radios has been stopped, and that "Rosh Kesher" (Communications Head in free translation) has promised to be good and not do it again.

TOWER PERMISSION GRANTED

For the past months Eliezer 4X6DL has been petitioning the National Planning Council for permission to put up a tower at his new home in a country residential community near Gedera. The first session of the Council refused permission. Making an appeal to the Committee, 6DL came armed with full support of the Israel Amateur Radio Club. On Friday January 22nd, Eliezer received the good news: his appeal was granted, and he received authorisation to erect a 16 metre high tower (52 feet). This is an important decision seen as a precedent for the amateur community. 4X6DL incurred much expense and rattled nerves from the ordeal, and now victorious says it was worthwhile. Eliezer promises a full written account, the essence of which we intend to bring you in this newsletter. Stay tuned.

CORRECTION: Last month we reported about the high speed 2.4 GHz modem that Ronnen 4Z4ZQ demonstrated. We erroneously reported that the device cost a mere $50, but Ronnen has pointed out that that would be only after a huge discount - the real cost is $150. The Internet connection is with a "BreezeCom" device passing - get this - 3 megabytes of info a SECOND!!! All this took place during a meeting of the Digital Communications Group in Haifa's Bet Miller centre last Hanukkah time with many taking part, including 4Z6VT, 4Z4MY, 4Z4RM, 4X1IL, 4Z4ZQ, 4Z7DEF and 4Z5CA.

READERS OF THIS NEWSLETTER IN THE HEBREW HAGAL may have wondered if the IARC was going to hold its 50th anniversary celebrations once again as we close our 51st year. Sorry guys and gals: My (4X1MK's) goof. I inadvertently send Shlomo 4X6LM, editor of HaGAL Magazine, the file for our January `98 newsletter, instead of the 1999 issue. Trusting that we know what we're doing, Shlomo printed it, no questions asked. But it's our goof, so please don't show up again at the Tel-Aviv Centre for the Performing Arts, unless you bought tickets for whatever performance will be on exactly one year after the IARC gala social event.

THE IARC REPEATER COMMITTEE members never rest on their laurels, keeping themselves busy maintaining and improving the country's network of VHF and UHF repeaters. The Tel-Aviv repeater has been further refined with more receivers picking up the best input signals and a new controller which allows the transmission of recorded messages.

UFO's IN THE JUDAEAN DESERT have been documented by Tidhar 4Z5CA in his Internet site: www.iarc.org/~4z5ca/ . Rosewell - watch out!

NAME CHANGE FOR THE IARC VOTED DOWN - It seems that some hams feel that the "Israel Amateur Radio Club" is no longer a fitting name for our organisation. One new name suggestion was "Operators of Radio and Communication (free translation from the Hebrew)." The matter was brought to a vote at the IARC executive council: 4 in favour of the change, 2 against and 4 abstained. According the IARC constitution on votes of this type, the motion fell. So we're still the Israel Amateur Radio Club.

THANKS to Corinne Yehudah 4X6VT for her years of volunteer service running the IARC outgoing QSL bureau. Ami Rosenberg 4Z9GCB is the new manager, and hats off to him. Volunteerism is no stranger to him as in the past he was IARC secretary, translating many articles for HaGAL magazine as well. Not to be forgotten is Kuti Shtessel 4X6OM who continues running the IARC incoming bureau, sorting the QSL cards and taking care of distributing them to the members.

THE KEREN KAYEMET (the Jewish National Fund, in charge of forestation and other land improvement operations in the country) has agreed to sponsor the IARC's special operation for the year 2000. Their contribution will be the printing of QSL cards and certificates, in the same fashion as did the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation for our 50th anniversary.

JY1 - GET WELL SOON Heartfelt wishes from all the radio amateurs of Israel are sent to our good friend and neigbour, King Hussein JY1, for his speedy recover. May the Power of the Creator manifest Itself in giving you, your majesty, full health.

Until next time, 73 de Ahron and Ron