Amateur Radio Contact – KA4UDX <-> 9K2UU in Kuwait – 7,336 miles on 20 meters
Latitude 28.669903 (28° 40′ 11” N)
Longitude 48.373986 (48° 22′ 26” E)
Grid Square LL48eq
Bearing 45.5° NE (from KA4UDX)
Distance 7336.0 mi (11806.1 km)
9K2UU-Kuwait-Google-Earth
9K2UU-7347-45-Miles-Google-Earth
—
73 de KA4UDX,
Alan Spicer
I don’t know what the authority of such an activist (for Sharks) is in international or local waters around Guatemala and Costa Rica … but they say that they were asked by Guatemala to stop the vessel from poaching sharks. Then the sent a gunboat to arrest them. It’s almost like, on the seas, they were acting as Bounty Hunters do on land on Jail Bail Jumpers, to basically arrest that vessel and crew. Shooting water canon high pressure water at them … attempting to swamp their vessel or cause their engines to stop. That and although not ramming them … maybe causing the other boat to ram them? Is that excessive use of force for an activist vessel? I don’t know but I’m glad I searched out the video on YouTube and saw the whole thing about the illegal shark finning operation in Costa Rica. If anything they aught to be shutting down and arresting those people … but maybe the mafia operation (cited as running all of that), that wants this captains head, is too powerful even for the Costa Rican and Guatemalan governments?
Sea Shepherd Captain Arrested in Germany on Warrant Issued by Costa Rica
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Captain Paul Watson was arrested in Germany for extradition to Costa Rica. The German police have said that the warrant for Captain Watson’s arrest is in response to an alleged violation of ships traffic in Costa Rica, which occurred during the filming of Sharkwater in 2002. The specific “violation of ships traffic” incident took place on the high seas in Guatemalan waters, when Sea Shepherd encountered an illegal shark finning operation, run by a Costa Rican ship called the Varadero. On order of the Guatemalan authorities, Sea Shepherd instructed the crew of the Varadero to cease their shark finning activities and head back to port to be prosecuted. While escorting the Varadero back to port, the tables were turned and a Guatemalan gunboat was dispatched to intercept the Sea Shepherd crew. The crew of the Varadero accused the Sea Shepherds of trying to kill them, while the video evidence proves this to be a fallacy. To avoid the Guatemalan gunboat, Sea Shepherd then set sail for Costa Rica, where they uncovered even more illegal shark finning activities in the form of dried shark fins by the thousands on the roofs of industrial buildings.
(more at the link above.)
The real reason for Captain Paul Watson’s arrest and potential extradition to Costa Rica (VIDEO)
Published on May 16, 2012 by WakeAustraliaUp
SEA SHEPHERD STATEMENT – MAY 13 2012:
Captain Paul Watson was arrested yesterday in Germany for extradition to Costa Rica. The German police have said that the warrant for Captain Watson’s arrest is in response to an alleged violation of ships traffic in Costa Rica, which occurred during the filming of Sharkwater in 2002. The specific “violation of ships traffic” incident took place on the high seas in Guatemalan waters, when Sea Shepherd encountered an illegal shark finning operation, run by a Costa Rican ship called the Varadero. On order of the Guatemalan authorities, Sea Shepherd instructed the crew of the Varadero to cease their shark finning activities and head back to port to be prosecuted. While escorting the Varadero back to port, the tables were turned and a Guatemalan gunboat was dispatched to intercept the Sea Shepherd crew. The crew of the Varadero accused the Sea Shepherds of trying to kill them, while the video evidence proves this to be a fallacy. To avoid the Guatemalan gunboat, Sea Shepherd then set sail for Costa Rica, where they uncovered even more illegal shark finning activities in the form of dried shark fins by the thousands on the roofs of industrial buildings.
Conservationists around the world maintain hope that the Costa Ricans will drop the charges against Captain Watson. There is also a chance that the charges have already been dropped, but Sea Shepherd has been unable to confirm that with the Costa Rican officials. With Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity, it would be a travesty for them not to stand up for sharks, which sit at the highest levels of the food chain assuring balance among ecological communities in the ocean.
While in jail, Captain Watson is being assisted by the European Parliament Vice President Daniel Cohn Bendit and the European deputy Jose Bove. Our hope is that these two honorable gentlemen can set Captain Watson free before this nonsense goes any further. The European Sea Shepherds have also mobilized to support Captain Watson.
This video footage extracted from Rob Stewart’s documentary SHARKWATER (2006)
http://www.sharkwater.com/
Free Captain Paul Watson!
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO HELP FREE CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON!
CALL, EMAIL AND SHARE!:
http://tinyurl.com/bw7envx
OR SIGN THE PETITION!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/663/009/291/release-paul-watson/
Click on the link below to find out more about why Paul Watson was arrested:
http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2012/05/13/captain-paul-watson-arre…
(Below is the details from the latest Sea Shepherd Call to Action).
“In shocking news, German officials have decided to proceed with the extradition of Captain Watson to Costa Rica. Our last hope of saving Captain Watson from extradition is to convince German officials at the Ministry of Justice to step in and overturn their decision. Show your support for Captain Watson by contacting Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, the Federal Minister of Justice in Berlin, Germany. Let her know that the warrant for Captain Watson’s arrest is politically motivated and thus should be ignored by the German goverment. With international support we can set Captain Watson free, and keep him from the possibility of facing an unfair trial in Costa Rica.”
Please contact: (Please be respectful in your communications)
Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger
Federal Minister of Justice
Deutscher Bundestag
Platz der Republik
11011 Berlin
Telephone 030 – 227 751 62
Fax 030 – 227 764 02
E-Mail: sabine.leutheusser-schnarrenberger@bundestag.de
Federal Ministry of Justice
Mohrenstrasse 37
10117 Berlin, Germany
Telephone: +49 (030) 18 580-0
Telefax: +49 (030) 18 580-9525
Sample Letter:
Dear Ms Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger,
I was very concerned to hear that Germany has detained Sea Shepherd’s Captain Paul Watson for possible extradition to Costa Rica. I understand that the warrant for Captain Watson’s arrest is politically motivated and possibly due to an incident in which Sea Shepherd uncovered an illegal shark finning operation.
I support Sea Shepherd’s efforts to monitor and publicise illegal fishing and whaling around the world and recognize that some illegal fishing operations try to use international law to shut down the Sea Shepherd operations.
I urge you to consider the valuable work Captain Watson and Sea Shepherd are undertaking globally to highlight the dangers to our oceans in considering this extradition request.
Sincerely,
Your Name.
—
Alan Spicer
* I guess it’s not just marine which has trouble with 4G LTE … Apple iPad doesn’t work everywhere (as advertised.)
* As reported Here: http://techcrunch.com/2012/05/13/to-4g-or-not-4g-apple-pulls-wifi4g-branding-for-ipads/
and here: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/03/apple-4g-ipad-international/.
* I’ve been blogging a bit on 4G LTE for the Marine (Boating, Yachting) Market … because marine vessels that travel outside of the U.S. can run into the same kinds of problems described by the above mentioned Apple 4G LTE problem. The FCC did frequency auctions – but that’s the U.S. Other countries might not have had the same frequency bands available as the U.S. did. It’s getting harder and harder to make an “International” Cellular Data device. GSM was more worldwide initially … and if you were able to get a Quad Band Device then you were good to go everywhere … assuming you could make the roaming payment arrangements or get a local sim card. But with the new bands being used by 4G LTE it kind of throws a monkey wrench into all of that. 700 Mhz wasn’t one of the 4 in “Quad Band”. I believe the Ericsson W25 and W35 do 2100 Mhz but that was for something called WCDMA. The new 4G LTE is using 700 Mhz and 2100 Mhz … I’ll have to look up what they are using in Australia (from the articles above) and elsewhere worldwide.
Of course there will be the fallback to 3G and 2G capabilities … and so far they seem to be following the “GSM” and “CDMA” (AT&T and Verizon/Sprint) separate technology chains for that fall back capability. In the above article the *bitch* is that in other countries they assumed or were sold on the idea that they would get 4G LTE speeds. And that was not the case. So those people don’t care about the fallback capability to 3G or whatever. They want their 4G and they want it now.
* LTE – “Let Them Eat (Cake)” – as I said in another blog post on here … seems to be the mind set. Sorry but we’re not sorry – that it doesn’t work for YOU. Sorry but we’re not sorry that you cannot have 4G LTE.
* “You might be a bit ahead of the curve” – someone told Alan Spicer – while I was fighting to get 4G LTE systems for the marine market. Anyway some time soon they may get it all sorted out and figure out a way to Play Nicely with cellular 4G worldwide. I’ll keep waiting … I’ll keep trying!
P.S. Apple iPad Specs here: http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/
Note frequency bands for different types of Internet service (note also the split in devices between AT&T and Verizon.)
Model for AT&T: 4G LTE (700, 2100 MHz)3; UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
Model for Verizon: 4G LTE (700 MHz)3; CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz); UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
* The “3″ reference material is:
4G LTE is supported only on AT&T and Verizon networks in the U.S. and on Bell, Rogers, and Telus networks in Canada. See your carrier for details.
Cellular data plan is sold separately. The model you purchase is configured to work with a particular cellular network technology. Check with your carrier for compatibility and cellular data plan availability.
* In other words YMMV – Your Mileage May Vary. Caveat Emptor. Let the Buyer Beware. Let the buyer EAT CAKE. LTE - Let Them Eat (Cake.)
* Check this article out: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2390355,00.asp
LTE May Kill the World Phone
By Sascha Segan
August 3, 2011 11:29am EST
New 4G LTE networks are being built on so many frequency bands that it will be very difficult to build true world phones, and LTE phones’ battery life and signal quality will suffer, Informa Telecoms and Media research analyst Malik Saadi said after releasing a report this week.
The Informa report reiterates what many in the wireless industry already know: LTE is being launched on too many frequency bands for phone builders to cover all of them. Here in the U.S., launches so far have focused on the 700Mhz and 1700Mhz bands. That’s not too bad.
But to roam to Europe, the Informa report says, your phone will need to support 800, 2600, and maybe 1800. To travel in Asia, you’re looking at 700, 800, 1800, 2100, 2300, or 2600, depending on where you go. Japan has a 1500 band just for that country.
The Informa press release also doesn’t mention LightSquared’s particular 1500Mhz band, or the possibility that Clearwire may implement LTE in 2500Mhz.
“There is no way you can support all of the 22 [LTE] bands in a single device,” Saadi said. Remember phone makers need to add all of the 3G bands too, as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS antennas.
The best bet for U.S. phones will be quad-band LTE devices that support 700, AWS, 2100, and 2600, giving them some coverage in countries worldwide. But those roaming phones won’t have anywhere near the coverage or signal quality of local phones which support all the local bands.
(More at the link…)
http://www.informatandm.com/analyst-webinars
LTE Spectrum Strategies: Licensing, band adoption and the challenge of global fragmentation
(Video – Webinar – Informa Telecoms and Media) LTE Spectrum Strategies and Forecasts to 2016.
—
Alan Spicer
Alan Spicer Marine Telecom and WiFiYacht.net
+1 954 683 3426
communications @ marinetelecom.net
http://www.dockwalk.com/Essentials/DockTalk.aspx?g=posts&t=47954
Fire in Antibes on 19 meter? Pride of Stavanger Yacht (picture from Dockwalk.com forum, credit given.)
The boat appears to be the « Pride of Stavanger », a 19m owned by a Norwegian businessman. An interesting (but not too flattering) background article dated October 2011 can be found at: http://50plusboomerlife.com/2011/10/pride-and-predjudist/ . Several videos are also available : http://www.nicematin.com/derniere-minute/video-le-feu-de-yacht-maitrise-au-port-d%E2%80%99antibes.867389.html and http://temoins.bfmtv.com/fr/videos/tout/2012-05-10/40696/yacht-en-feu-au-port-vauban.html Sad but fortunately no-one was hurt… well, maybe someone’s pride…
Fire picture from www.nicematin.com
Video from: http://www.nicematin.com/derniere-minute/video-le-feu-de-yacht-maitrise-au-port-d%E2%80%99antibes.867389.html
Written by Fredrik Lund. – http://50plusboomerlife.com/2011/10/pride-and-predjudist/
Pride of Stavenger in her former glory (click for bigger picture) - http://50plusboomerlife.com/2011/10/pride-and-predjudist/
One sunny day this week, we strolled into the marina in Antibes. Like all the other tourists, we stared with badly disguised envy at the super elegant mega yachts. Strung out like pearls on a string along the Antibes marina. All with flags from assorted tax havens, flying from their stern.
Well, truth be told, there where one or two exceptions. One of them flying a somewhat tattered and worn version of the norwegian flag at her stern, where her name is written in bold letters: “Pride of Stavanger”. Apart from being in clear breach of all current norwegian flagrules and regulations, both flag and vessel seemed in major need of attention. Perhaps it is unfair to compare the “Pride of Stavanger” with the other mega yachts, who sports a crew of several good-looking, well-groomed persons, with the yachts name printed on their tight, white T-shirts. But if you have the guts to name one of your private possessions to be the pride of a city with about 250 000 inhabitants, you better live up to it!
---
Alan Spicer
$250.00 + Shipping and Handling … USE 4G LTE or WiMAX Now on your Marine Vessel!!!! (Yacht, Sail Boat, Fishing Boat, Tug Boat / Work Boat, …)
Change Cellular or WiMax providers without having to change your Cellular Router system! Test other providers to see if you want to switch, use multiple providers if you want to! Supports over 125 or the latest 3G/4G USB and ExpressCard modems out there … upgrades add new ones as they come out.
The Cradlepoint MBR1200B can provide 4G LTE and 3G Internet using plug in 3G/4G Express Cards or USB type Cellular Internet Data Cards. This is pretty cool for sail and motor yachts … you can get on the 4G LTE fast track now … and for those boats that maintain more than one INTERNET CARD you can plug them both in swap cards without having to mess with taking things apart and changing “Sim Cards”. You can also Fail Over and Load Balance multiple Cellular Data cards either to provide redundancy or to increase speed for your Internet connection onboard the boat.
Cradlepoint MBR1200B For Marine Application
(For external / topside antenna – requires a Cellular Data card with “external antenna” jack)
This picture shows the Cradlepoint MBR1200B from the front … showing the 1 Express Card slot and the 2 USB card slots – which can handle a total of 3 Cellular Data Modem cards. There is a built-in 802.11N wireless access point … but you could also link it into a larger yacht onboard network by using one of the 4 LAN Wired Network ports. The WAN / Internet port is designed for a “Landline” style Internet source … where it would be the PRIMARY INTERNET … you could use that to have VSAT be Primary and if that goes down … then it automatically fails over to your Cellular Data Cards. Aside from that generally I would not use that port.
The system runs on 12vDC via the included AC-DC Power Supply, but could be run on a 12vDC system on a boat. So that allows a flexibility in how the unit gets powered. (DC tends to suffer from less “power hiccups” than AC-DC power supplies. Usually AC-DC equipment – it is recommended – to be put on UPS battery backup.)
The full Cradlepoint MBR1200B Data Sheet is here: Cradlepoint MBR1200B Data Sheet
* Additional Note: Generally your Cellular Data Card(s) will operate primarily on 4G / LTE if they are of that type, and will fall back to 3G and 2G services where 4G is not available. This may be CDMA / EDVO for some providers, and may be UMTS / HSPA / EDGE / GPRS for other providers, depending on what technology chain they use. In the process of setting such a system up … I can help you figure those things out. Voice Telephone for Analog devices and PBX systems can also be sorted out using VOIP Service across the Data Connection. Separate hardware would be needed for the Analog – VOIP, and that is often provided for you by the VOIP Service Provider.
Cradlepoint MBR1200B – $250.00 plus Shipping and Handling.
* Support Agreements available for “remote support” for the initial installation and lasts for 1 year from Alan Spicer @ $500 for the 1st year and $350 each additional year … Which includes support for this device and your entire boat onboard network (Drawings and Documentation Provided) *
!# Support Agreements get 1 onboard 1 hour visit each year when your boat is in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area. You can use the onboard visit on your 1st year to have me set up your Cradlepoint MBR1200B on the boat. Additional hours beyond 1 hour will be charged at my current technical labor rate.
—
Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
+1 954-683-3426
This is a new business card proof (image) that’s been sent off for printing today. Please take One. Please save a copy … and pass it on. Thanks!
Alan Spicer Marine Telecom – 2012 Business Card
(right click and Save Picture As – or save the picture image using the method appropriate for your computer Operating System.)
—
Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
“Cellular 3G/4G, Satellite, WiFi Hotspot Sharing Systems, and Onboard Wired/Wireless Networks”
“Computer Repairs and Upgrades … including cleanups and virus removal – Onboard the Boat and/or Pick-Up and Delivery Service”
Lightspeed II – Best in Class – WiFi Hotspot Sharing System with 10 dBi Gain Marine Omni-Directional White Fiberglass Antenna – and built-in WiFi Spectrum Analyzer (all the tools the others leave out.)- see http://www.wifiyacht.net or http://www.wifiyacht.com.
Ericsson W35 3G+ (most cellular companies call this 4G) – Voice and Data Terminal (and Marine Package with Antenna) for Marine Internet and PBX Voice Communications
Contact Info:
Telephone (iPhone, Text Message) – +1 954 683 3426
Email – communications@marinetelecom.net
LinkedIn – Alan Spicer Marine Telecom (and Group: Marine Telecom (Communications))
Twitter – @alanspicer
Facebook – Alan Spicer
The 2012 U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame has three new members. During an induction ceremony held at the Kennedy Space Center, Franklin Chang Díaz, Kevin Chilton and Charles Precourt joined an elite group of American space heroes. Chang Díaz flew on seven space shuttle flights and logged more than 16-hundred hours in space, Chilton was the pilot on STS-49, the first flight of space shuttle Endeavour and was the commander of STS-76 and Precourt flew on four space shuttle missions, as a mission specialist, a pilot and a commander. This is the eleventh group of space shuttle astronauts named to the Hall of Fame. Earlier inductees represent the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz programs. There are now 82 space explorers enshrined in the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Also, NASA commercial partner, SpaceX conducted a test firing of its Falcon 9 rocket on the pad at Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The successful test clears the way for Falcon 9′s upcoming demonstration flight to the ISS as part of NASA’s plan for private companies to take over cargo delivery to the orbiting complex, the next ISS Crew, Expedition 31 Soyuz Commander Gennady Padalka, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Flight Engineer Sergei Revin participated in traditional ceremonies at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia before departing for the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to complete training for their launch to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft later this month and more!
—
Alan Spicer
George Zimmerman Trial is NOT going to be a quick one. According to the Arraignment Video today – the next activity was set for August 8th???? Zimmerman’s attorney filed waiving a speedy trial,filed for discovery (for evidence and such sharing), among other procedural things.
By MATT GUTMAN (@mattgutmanABC) and SENI TIENABESO (@senijr_abc)
May 8, 2012
George Zimmerman was a no-show in a Florida court today as his lawyer entered a plea of not guilty to second degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
His expected absence came as Zimmerman’s attorney waived his right to a speedy trial, saying he “needs additional time to prepare” for the high-profile case.
In Florida, a defendant is entitled a trial within 175 days of being charged, but Zimmerman’s attorney Mark O’Mara has told ABC News he would try to prolong the process to allow racial tensions and the emotion associated with the case to subside.
“… set the docket signing for August 8th at 8:30″
http://www.youtube.com/user/alanspicertelecom
http://www.flcourts18.org/presspublic.html
—
Alan Spicer
Republicans, Get In My Vagina: Kate Beckinsale Satirizes ‘War On Women’ With Funny Or Die (VIDEO)
—
Alan Spicer
TM95BA-QRZ-Image
* Amateur Radio Contact – KA4UDX <-> TM95BA in Arras, France – 40 Meter Band (7 Mhz) – 4545.8 miles
* Special Event Station TM95BA …
95th Anniversary of the Battle of Arras (9 April 2012)
There will be exactly 95 years this Monday, April 9 at 5:30 am (British time) that 24,000 British soldiers by surprise emerged from the bowels of the city to deliver the famous Battle of Arras. This was an impressive diversion operation conducted by the Allies quelquesjours before the great French attack on the Chemin des Dames in the Aisne. Plusieursmanifestations historique.A celebrate the event with a ceremony starting at 6:30 am (French time) on the site of the Wellington Quarry, whose medieval galleries extraction of chalk, linked together during the First World War by tunneling NZ servirentde underground barracks during the weeks before the offensive.
TM95BA-Google-Earth-Image
TM95BA-Google-Earth-Distance
—
73 de KA4UDX,
Alan Spicer