It was a day many radio amateurs in Southern California had been anticipating for a long time. On September 18, US District Court Judge R. Gary Klausner sentenced convicted radio jammer Jack Gerritsen, now 70, to seven years imprisonment and imposed $15,225 in fines on six counts -- one a felony -- that included willful and malicious interference with radio communications and transmitting without a license. Before sentencing, Gerritsen apologized to the federal government, the FCC and the local Amateur Radio community, which had endured the brunt of Gerritsen's on-air tirades and outright jamming. "I'm sorry, and I apologize to everyone here," Gerritsen told those in the courtroom, which included more than a dozen radio amateurs and Gerritsen's family members. Gerritsen's contrition did nothing to convince Klausner toward leniency.

"How many times have you said you would not do this again?" Klausner reportedly asked Gerritsen, a repeat offender who served as his own attorney during his trial. "But based on your history, you come back again and again for this. I believe you will continue to do it, and it would send the wrong message to others, that five years is not long enough either!"

The sentence even exceeded US District Attorney Lamar Baker's recommended 46-month sentence. Gerritsen could have received up to 15 years in federal prison. Sentences on all counts will run concurrently.

The judge also tacked on two years' supervised probation following Gerritsen's prison term, but he recommended Gerritsen remain in custody during that period. Klausner further ordered Gerritsen to participate in a substance-abuse program. He told Gerritsen he could not identify himself by using any other means -- including his previously held Amateur Radio call sign KG6IRO -- than his real name, and he prohibited Gerritsen from owning, possessing or using any radio transmitting equipment.

The FCC fielded complaints of illegal radio transmissions linked to Gerritsen for four years. According to court documents, the Commission's investigation and signal tracking revealed that Gerritsen transmitted both prerecorded messages and real-time harassment and profanity for hours at a time. He often targeted local Amateur Radio repeater systems, precluding their use by licensed operators, and hams were among the most vocal complainants.

In May 2005 FBI agents, accompanied by FCC staff, arrested Gerritsen without incident and seized his radio equipment. Released on $250,000 bond while awaiting trial, Gerritsen remained in home detention, barred from possessing any radio equipment.

The FCC already had fined Gerritsen $10,000 for violating its rules and the Communications Act during his reign of radio terror. Just days before his December 2005 trial, the Commission affirmed $42,000 in additional fines – two $21,000 forfeitures. In doing so, the FCC rebuffed every argument Gerritsen offered in response to each Notice of Apparent Liability, including insistent "freedom of speech" claims. The government has yet to collect anything from Gerritsen.

Following his nearly four-day trial, Gerritsen, who lives in Bell, was found guilty on a felony count of causing malicious interference to a communications system operated by the United States -- the US Coast Guard Auxiliary -- during a 2004 search-and-rescue operation. He was convicted of misdemeanors for interfering with American Red Cross radio transmissions in early 2005 while the agency was preparing for disaster relief operations, and for causing the cancellation of a US Army Reserve homeland security training exercise in 2005 by interfering with US Army Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) communications. He also was convicted of transmitting on Amateur Radio frequencies without a valid license on three separate occasions in 2003 and 2004, all misdemeanors. The jury deliberated for less than an hour before returning its verdict December 9. Gerritsen has been in custody ever since.

In 2000, a state court convicted Gerritsen of interfering with a California Highway Patrol radio system and sentenced him to a year in prison. After his release, Gerritsen in 2001 successfully passed the Amateur Radio Technician class examination, filed an application and received the call sign KG6IRO. Just days later, however, the Commission realized its error -- granting a license to someone convicted of interfering with Public Safety radio frequencies -- and set aside the license. Claiming the FCC could not revoke his operating privileges without a hearing, Gerritsen continued to identify as KG6IRO in some of his transmissions.

The FCC has notified several entities -- including two trucking companies and a balloon festival sponsor -- regarding the alleged use of Amateur Radio frequencies by unlicensed individuals. Special Counsel in the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division Riley Hollingsworth advised all of the parties that unlicensed use of radio equipment not only can interfere with licensed users but violates federal law and could lead to fines of up to $10,000.

"Information before the Commission indicates that at the 2005 International Balloon Fiesta held in Albuquerque, there were numerous balloonists using Amateur Radio Service and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radio transmitting equipment without licenses," Hollingsworth wrote Paul Smith, the event's executive director on August 23. "Both services require a license from the Commission."

Hollingsworth told Smith that while the FCC encourages all balloonists to use communication equipment of some kind, he'd like the Balloon Fiesta to advise those participating in this year's event October 6-15 that unlicensed operation is illegal. He invited Smith to post the Advisory Notice on the event's Web site.

The Commission also contacted two trucking firms regarding alleged unlicensed transmissions from tractor-trailer rigs on 10 meters earlier this year. Hollingsworth sent a Warning Notice to Cardinal Express of Concord, North Carolina, on August 28, and Melton Truck Lines of Tulsa, Oklahoma, on August 30. The FCC cited information indicating that a Cardinal Express rig on Interstate 85 in North Carolina was the source of radio transmissions on 28.085 MHz on August 2. Hollingsworth told Melton Truck Lines that the FCC had information that one of its rigs, also on Interstate 85 in North Carolina, transmitted on 28.085 MHz on June 11.

Hollingsworth warned the trucking firms that, in addition to fines and other enforcement sanctions, operating transmitting equipment without a license could land drivers in jail and lead to seizure of radio equipment. He indicated this week that both trucking firms and their drivers have contacted him in response to the warning notices and are cooperating with the FCC.

The FCC sent a third Warning Notice to Parker Contracting of Panama City, Florida, on August 21 citing allegations that the contractor's employees have been operating unlicensed radio transmitting equipment on 145.020 MHz and interfering with licensed users. Hollingsworth said the contractor promptly contacted the Commission to report it had collected the Amateur Radio transceivers and was applying for a business license.

On August 18, the FCC wrote Neva Poovey of Newton, North Carolina, citing information indicating that she or someone in her residence had been operating radio equipment that caused interference on 10 and 12 meters. Hollingsworth noted that FCC records did not indicate a license authorizing transmissions on those bands had been granted to anyone at Poovey's address. Poovey's husband Michael responded to tell Hollingsworth he was testing "a huge mobile linear" with another individual in his driveway. A nearby radio amateur complained to the Commission after hearing the transmissions on the two amateur bands.

A Technician class licensee in Puerto Rico -- Joaquin Diaz Fontanel, WP3BH, of Humaco – was the target of a Warning Notice sent August 28 regarding alleged operation on 7.080 MHz, a frequency not available to Technician class operators.

There are several articles describing the N.V.I.S. antenna theory and a few ways to build them. Portable and Mobile operation using this style of antenna produces a good path of communications in the 100-250 mile range. Adapting a mobile station quickly and easily is the main feature of this article, plus low cost and ease of construction. Here is how to do two bands really easy for about $20. First is the hardware list.

Home Depot 100ft 12Ga Stranded RED wire. ($11.00)
2 #12 Wire Ring-Lugs with 3/8 inch holes. (.30)
2@3/8x24
4@3/8 inch flat washers (.20)
2 Quick Disconnect antenna bases ($6.00) HRO/other Mail order house.
2 Dog bone end insulators and 40 ft nylon rope. Junk box

Take the wire and cut at 33ft. This gives you 33ft for 40 meters, and 67 feet for 75 meters, the two most popular N.V.I.S. bands for A.R.E.S. use. Crimp and solder one of the ring-lugs to one end of each piece of wire. Using the 3/8x24 fine thread bolt and two flat washers, bolt the ring lug to the quick disconnect base (one flat on top and one on bottom of lug). You can have an option here. Use one quick disconnect for both sets of wire lugs (dual band antenna) or build 2 separate antennas and deploy the one you will be using. I built two separate antennas. The quick disconnect was chosen as lot's of us use singleband mobile HF antennas with quick disconnects. For portable operation, remove the mobile vertical antenna, connect the N.V.I.S. antenna and quick disconnect to your antenna base on your vehicle.

The picture left shows how the finished product looks connected ready to test. This is one of the one piece 3/8x24 single hole to SO-239 mounts (solid brass center pin, no pressed fitting).

Right is the testing of the antenna. The ground side of the antenna is your mobile. String out the antenna away from your mobile to a fixed structure further than the 33/66 ft of antenna you have. Red wire was chosen, as it is easy to see when strung at 3-5 ft above the ground. You do not want the antenna higher than 5 ft. The testing and tuning here is in the authors' deed restricted neighborhood front yard. The antenna wire is strung across the front lawn at about 3 ft above the ground and tied to the tree in the far left of the picture.

Tuning/trimming of the antenna is then done for resonance in the part of the band you will be operating. I allow an extra 12 inches of wire folded over at the end of the wire for future adjustments. There is no substitute for a good antenna bridge to get an antenna resonant. The antenna shows a near perfect match at 47ohms. No tuner will be needed here.

The #12 stranded wire gives +/- 80Khz on 40 meters and +/- 60Khz on 75 meters for less than 1.7:1 VSWR. Not bad for a simple wire antenna that took 30 minutes to build and 15 minutes to tune. /p>

Both antennas coiled up and ready to put into the ready bag for deployment.

Good Luck

Characteristics:

It is more or less omni-directional, and horizontally polarized.

Copper is the best possible electrical conductor at normal temperatures, next to silver.

Copper conducts better than gold! Antenna efficiency is the RADIATION RESISTANCE of the antenna, divided by the ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE. An antenna made from copper is 1.6 times more efficient than the same antenna made of aluminum.

It presents a high angle of takeoff when mounted low, and singly (great for Es), and can handle 100W. Stack two or more for extra gain if needed.

It's just a dipole folded around on itself, and supported at the far (open) end with a plastic insulator.

"Bent Dipole" might be a good term, as a "Folded Dipole" is quite another thing.

The Gamma Match:

A low VSWR may be obtained by adjusting the Gamma Match shorting bracket position, and also the length of the tubing and shorting bracket. The Gamma bracket "finds" the 50 Ohm point along the element, and connects that to the Coax connector via the Gamma tube.

The additional length of tube adds inductance into the circuit, and this is canceled out by the series capacitance formed between the insulated Gamma wire and the inside of the Gamma tube.

Description:

The shape is a closed 28" square, with a mounting /support bar through the middle. This mounting bar is attached to a copper TEE at the drive end, and to a CPVC TEE at the other end. The CPVC TEE acts as support and end-insulator for the radiating element and provides a mounting point for the Butterfly.

A large (3/4") part is used, and adapted down to fit the water pipe, to increase its insulating qualities, as there is very high voltage at this point. A strip of brass or copper 1/2 by 3" is screwed to the outside middle portion of the CPVC Tee, through a small center hole, and is rotated one way or the other as a resonance tuner (Butterfly). When the Butterfly is at right angles to the element, the frequency is the highest, when parallel, it's the lowest.

A Gamma match sets the impedance to 50 Ohms, and the Butterfly adjusts the center frequency. Center frequency is 50.00 to 50.800 with the exact dimensions shown

Typically the 2:1 SWR bandwidth exceeds 500 kHz.

Mounting:

A U bolt and saddle through the central tube provides a center mounting point. Another approach is to install a copper TEE in the center tube, with the open end down. In that open end solder a 1/2" brass rod which has been drilled and tapped for 3/8-24.

Side mounting on a tower can be achieved by using conduit clips to fix it to a horizontal mast.

In some climates where water is a problem, drill small weep holes in the bottom corners.

A spray coat of Krylon Clear Enamel will keep the copper shiny. If used mobile, you may use a colored paint, the same shade as your vehicle. Construction:

Material: 1/2" Copper waterpipe :
3 ea. 27 inch piece
4 ea. 12.5 inch piece
1 ea. 13.5 inch piece 3/8 i.d. Copper refrigeration tubing ( Gamma tube) *
1 ea. Brass plate 1/2" x 3" (Butterfly) *
1 ea. Brass plate: 1"x 2-1/4 in (to mount SO-239, Gamma rod) *
1 ea. Copper strip 3/8 x 4" to make Gamma tube bracket *
4 ea. Copper 90 Degree elbow
1 ea. 3/4 CPVC TEE
3 ea. 3/4 to 1/2 CPVC reducer
1 ea. Copper TEE
1 ea. 11" piece of RG8 insides (center conductor and insulation, Discard shield and outer plastic) *
1 ea. SO-239 coax connector (with tapped mounting holes and center pin) *
1 Lot Stainless Steel and Brass screws and Hardware *

Glue two of the 12.5" pipe sections into the CPVC reducers first, then glue the reducers into the opposite sides of the CPVC TEE.

Lay the assembly on a flat surface with the center opening of the TEE facing the middle of the antenna. This is where the first 27" piece (mounting bar) goes in, via a reducer. On the outside edge of the CPVC TEE is where the butterfly attaches. For mobile or portable use, use 3 s.s. #6 screws through each of the CPVC TEE joints for added strength. The rest of the antenna solders together to form a square, using the 90 degree elbows at the corners. Drill small weep holes in the bottom corners of all four 90s to let accumulated water drain out.

The brass plate is bent to form an "L" 1-3/4" tall with a 1/2" lip. A 5/8 hole is provided 1-1/4 inch from the bend, and an SO-239 is attached . Two small holes are drilled in the lip and the plate is mounted to the copper TEE with #6 s.s. self taping screws. Attatch the center conductor of a 11" piece of RG8 insides to the center pin (center wire and plastic dielectric only- remove and discard shield and outer covering). This is accomplished by soldering or using a screw if the SO-239 has a threaded center pin *

Slip the other end of the RG8 insides into the 3/8"copper tube 10.5", and tap the copper tube to the radiating element 13-1/2" from the SO-239 center, with the Gamma tube bracket.

The tap on the Gamma sets the impedance presented to the feedline. Resonance (center frequency) is adjusted by turning the butterfly.

Mount 15 feet or more high, for home use, and wherever you can for mobile. An antenna like this can be mounted 3" to 6" above the roof of a vehicle using CPVC >, PVC or acrylic spacers with suction cups. Have fun on 6.

*Parts are available in a kit from author which includes all "*" parts, drilled, punched, bent, and threaded, Contact George @ K0FF@ARRL.NET Don't Eat the Batteries" clause:

Recently my wife and I bought a new TV set, and in the instructions for the hand held remote control the warning said "Don't Eat the Batteries".
SO: WARNING

This is antenna is an electrical conductor.
Contact with power lines can result in death or serious injury.
Do not install this antenna, supporting mast or tower structure near any power lines, or where they could come into contact with power lines should the antenna or structure fall.

Geo K0FF

The FCC has formally launched its new Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) http://www.fcc.gov/pshs/. The PSHSB will assume some functions that had been under the umbrella of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), where the Amateur Radio Service will remain. WTB Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure Division Chief Michael J. Wilhelm, WS6BR, has assumed a role within the new bureau, however.

"The events of September 11, 2001, and last year's hurricane season underscored America's dependence on an effective national telecommunications infrastructure," the Commission said. "The new bureau will build on the Commission's longstanding commitment to meet the needs of public safety by promoting robust, reliable and resilient communications services in times of emergency." Addressing interoperability issues will be a part of that process, Acting Bureau Chief Ken Moran told the Commission September 26.

The PSHSB is responsible for the combined public safety-related functions previously spread among other bureaus and offices. It will include Policy, Public Communications Outreach and Operations and Communications Systems Analysis divisions. Wilhelm will serve as deputy chief of the PSHSB's Policy Division. The Public Communications Outreach and Operations Division will operate the FCC's Communications Center and the High Frequency Direction Finding Center.

Some observers had speculated that Amateur Radio would be shifted to the PSHSB, thus removing it from the WTB's market-based approach to regulation. Moving some of the WTB's current responsibilities to the new bureau could nonetheless speed up the process of moving Amateur Radio-related proceedings through the Commission.

The FCC Order setting up the new bureau is on the FCC Web site http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-35A1.pdf