Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (C) To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Fri Nov 09 2018 08:31 am FCC SWITCHES TO NEW ONLINE REGISTRATION SYSTEM STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The FCC is retiring its present version of the Commission Registration System, also known as CORES. As of March 1 of next year, anyone applying for an FCC Federal Registration Number, or FRN, must first create a username and password on the system, before they can receive the FRN itself. That's already the case - but on the new CORES website - anyone who already has an FRN from the old Commission Registration System will need to create a user name to continue managing it under the new system. You can find the website using the URL included the text version of this report. This is especially important for Volunteer Examiners while administering amateur radio license exams. FRNs are used in place of Social Security numbers. Hams who do not have Social Security Numbers must instead use their Taxpayer Identification Number to get an FRN. An FRN is required for everyone using this system. All hams who are already licensed and wishing to conduct business with the FCC, such as renewing their license, or changing their address, also need to be registered properly through the new Commission Registration System, so they have access to the online Universal Licensing System. It should also be noted that individuals with a new FRN will be able to log into the FCC's Universal Licensing System, and set their preferences from receiving electronic copies of your documents to getting them on paper by postal mail, if desired. Again, look at the printed version of this report at arnewsline dot org and you'll find the link to the CORES website. (https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do) (BOB ROSE AA3RR) ** MONTANA REPEATER LOOKS TO MAKE CONNECTIONS STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Good news travels fast, especially on a repeater that's a source of pride to hams who got it running, and are now looking to get it networked. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, revisits those hams in Montana. NEIL: You may remember a few weeks ago, we shared a story about how some hard-working hams in the North Yellowstone Amateur Radio Club went where no repeater has gone before. They opened up a remote area of Yellowstone National Park that had no communications. They were able to acquire an abandoned phone company building about 8,000 feet up a mountain. A number of individuals and other clubs from surrounding areas pitched in their time, talent, and resources to make this repeater possible, and created a system to break the silence. Jim Halfpenny, K9YNP, tells us what's happening now. JIM: Right now, we are mapping the coverage of where this repeater is allowing us to transmit to. We've got isolated hams that have no phone, no radio... and suddenly the repeater is up and talking into narrow valleys. We've opened it up wide open. So we're mapping coverage, and more coverage mapping is still needed. NEIL: Now that the repeater is in place, the next step will be to extend the coverage by linking through the Montana Repeater Link Association, or MRLA. JIM: We are working with folks, volunteers, and knowledgeable folks on the MRLA system to extend that coverage south into Gardiner, Montana; Northgate of Yellowstone; and Yellowstone Park. That's our next reallly big plan, but because of all the snow is going to have to wait until next summer before we can actually accomplish setting up that linkage. NEIL: But for now, a large area around Gardiner, Montana appreciates their efforts. JIM: During this winter season, we are going to have much better coverage than we had before. The repeater got started about September 10th. The northern Yellowstone ecosystem will have better communications also. The new repeater, hopefully in the future, will be a boon to emergency services. NEIL: The North Yellowstone group offers an invitation to hams in the area. JIM: Local hams and visitors to Yellowstone National Park can now talk on the repeater on 146.98 MHz, with a negative offset, and a tone of 100 Hz. So we welcome everybody to join in when they come through the park, or are near the park. We'd really appreciate their participation. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. ** THREE NEW AMATEUR BANDS FOR INDIA STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Indian officials have updated the country's frequency plan, and that's encouraging news for hams there, as Graham Kemp, VK4BB, tells us. GRAHAM: Still trying for that elusive QSO with India? Amateurs there now have access to three new bands - 60 metres, 630 metres and 2300 metres. The nation's telecommunications regulator, the Ministry of Communications, has updated the Indian National Frequency plan and added 5 MHz, 472kHz and 135kHz to the list of available bands where hams can try to catch a contact. The band plan became effective on the 25th of October. It should be noted for all three frequencies, amateurs carry status of secondary users. They are limited to 1 watt EIRP on 630 and 2300 metres and 15 watts EIRP when using 60 metres. According to a report in Southgate Amateur Radio News, the new bands comply with current criteria set by the International Telecommunications Union. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB. (SOUTHGATE) --- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32 * Origin: RadioWxNet: The Thunderbolt BBS wx1der.dyndns.org (801:1/2) þ Synchronet þ Temple of Doom BBS - tod.eothnet.com .