SILENT KEY: FORMER NEWSLINE ANCHOR DON CARLSON KQ6FM

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We here at Newsline were saddened to learn of the passing
of one of our former anchors and correspondents. We have more about this
Silent Key from Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.

DON: Don Carlson, KQ6FM, became a Silent Key on Friday, June 21st, from complications to pancreatic cancer. In addition to his work as a familiar
voice in the earlier years of Amateur Radio Newsline, Don had a long professional career as a voice talent and radio broadcaster. As the owner
of his own company, The Voice Shop, he produced a variety of commercial
spots, as well as those for the ARRL on amateur radio. He was active in
the ARRL, serving on its National Public Relations Committee, where he
helped with the creation of the public information officers' Swiss Army
Knife Guide, and its training program. He was also devoted to ARES and Emergency Service, and had served on the board of directors for the annual convention as well as convention emcee. He held a variety of posts with
the ARRL, including Public Information Coordinator. In 2010, he was named
Ham of the Year in ARRL's Pacific Division.

Newsline is proud to have had him on our team.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.

**

MOVING DAY FOR HAM EXHIBIT AT NASA FACILITY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A ham station that doubled as an educational exhibit at
a NASA facility, is looking for a new home. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, tells
us more.

KEVIN: Amateur Radio Station KE4ZXW is leaving its longtime home at the Virginia Air and Space Center, in Hampton, Virginia. Operated by the
VASC Amateur Radio Group, with the support of other area amateur radio
clubs, the station served as a real-life educational exhibit, giving
school groups, and other visitors demonstrations of VHF, UHF, HF, VHF,
and satellite communications, using CW, Voice, and Digital modes. The
station was also capable of communications with the International Space Station.

That ended on June 30th, the station's last day at the center, which is
the official visitor center for the Langley, Virginia facility of NASA.

The center's executive director and CEO, Robert Griesmer, said the
station would be seeking a new home. It had been off the air since
March 13, at the request of the center, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

(QRZ)

**

CHINESE LAUNCH COMPLETES NETWORK OF NAVIGATION SATELLITES

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If your radio activities include making use of global navigation satellites, you might be interested to learn that China has
just completed its own network, seen as one more option in a mix that
includes Europe's Galileo, Russia's GLONASS, and the United States' GPS.
Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, has that story.

JASON: It's called BeiDou (Bay DOO), and the final satellite to complete
this Chinese geolocation system was launched aboard a rocket on Tuesday,
June 23, in the southwestern Sichuan province. Observers consider the
satellite network's completion a significant step toward elevating that nation's status in the lucrative geolocation services market.

Astronomer Jonathan McDowell at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for
Astrophysics told AFP news service, that he believed China would now
achieve independence from the systems in Europe and the U.S. The system's
name translates from the Chinese into "plough" or "Big Dipper," as in the constellation.

BeiDou has been operational since 2012, but was limited to the Asia-Pacific region. Its services have been in use worldwide for the past two years. The network contains 30 satellites.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(YAHOO NEWS)

**

ADVOCATE SPEAKS OUT FOR INDIAN SATELLITE USE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In India, authorities are being asked to widen the
permissions for amateur satellite use, as we hear from Jim Meachen,
ZED L 2 BHF

JIM: Although India has a robust amateur radio satellite programme, with
many hams building, launching, and using these noncommercial satellites,
not all classes of licence in India can take advantage of this experience.
One Indian amateur, Rohit Bokade, VU3OIR, is petitioning to change that,
and is asking for Indian authorities to permit satellite use for all
grades of licence. Call signs such as his, with a VU3 prefix, are for
the Restricted grade of licence, and are denied satellite communications,
as well as contact with the International Space Station.

The petition, seen on the change dot org (Change.org) website,
acknowledges the rapid growth in amateur satellites launched in the
last decade, and praises their educational value. The petition states
that the change being requested would permit easier satellite access
for students, permitting more of them to get involved in space technology, either as communicators or designers.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(AMSAT, CHANGE.ORG)
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WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA MEETING SET THIS MONTH

JIM/ANCHOR: The Wireless Institute of Australia has rescheduled its annual general meeting for this month. Here's more from Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

GRAHAM: There will be plenty of room at the Annual General Meeting of the Wireless Institute of Australia, when it convenes on Saturday, the 25th of July. Although the meeting is being held behind closed doors, because of COVID-19 restrictions, attendance is not expected to be a problem at the Victoria national office, because the session will be livestreamed on the internet, and questions and discussions will also be handled electronically. Voting however, will be done by proxy forms, which have been mailed to
members. The forms must be received at the WIA office at least 24 hours
before the start of the meeting at 10 a.m. on the 25th of July.

The business to be transacted was originally scheduled for the meeting, and convention on 10th of May in Hobart, Tasmania, when the pandemic forced
closure and cancellations of public gatherings for safety reasons.
Regulations required that a meeting be held before the end of July.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(WIA)

**

TOWERING OPPOSITION FOR VERMONT HAM'S PLANS

JIM/ANCHOR: Radio interference of a different sort is challenging the plans
of one amateur radio operator in Vermont who has plans for two towers on
his property.

HEATHER: Neighbors of Zachary Manganello, K1ZK, say the two 84-foot towers
he wants to build on his property in Dorset, Vermont, are just too much.
They are challenging his application, saying the towers will ruin their panoramic view of the mountains, and affect the character of the area.
Some neighbors have stated they are afraid that the electromagnetic signals will have a bad effect on their health.

Zachary, a ham since 1994, when he was 14 years old, is also the trustee
for the Black Mountain Radio Group, W1JXN, according to his profile on
QRZ.com.

He is awaiting the results of a balloon test, being conducted by an
engineering firm, to simulate how the towers would look, and impact
neighbors' views. Zachary has told local officials he would consider a
modified proposal to address neighbors' concerns. He and his attorney,
Brian Sullivan, say however, that federal and state exemptions for ham
radio towers supersede any height limitations set by local laws.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD.

(THE SHELBURNE NEWS)

**

UK REGULATORS DELAY RADIO SWITCHOVER TO DIGITAL

JIM/ANCHOR: The plan to switch fully to digital radio from analogue is
getting a reprieve in the UK. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has the details.

JEREMY: If you live in the UK, and you were planning to get rid of your
AM and FM radios, think again. Regulators have announced that the planned switchover from analogue to digital, will be delayed until 2032.

The original plan would have scrapped the analogue broadcasts available
on older receiving devices, in favour of digital signals. Instead of the commercial analogue licences expiring in 2022, Ofcom will renew them for another decade, on condition that the licensee also provides digital
service.

This delay marks the latest slowdown in the UK's switch to all-digital commercial broadcasting. It is estimated that 60 percent of radio
listeners have made the leap to digital in the UK, but Ofcom recognises
that there remains a strong loyal group of listeners to traditional AM
and FM signals.

The rules do not apply to BBC radio stations.

Media Minister John Whittingdale, told the Daily Mail that despite this accommodation of AM and FM listeners, there was still a long-term
commitment to the continued growth of digital radio.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(SOUTHGATE, DAILY MAIL)
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HAMS FILE OBJECTION TO SHORTWAVE PLANS NEAR CHICAGO

PAUL/ANCHOR: An application to the FCC for a shortwave station in the
Chicago area, has drawn fire from a number of ham radio operators.
Andy Morrison, K9AWM, has been following that story.

ANDY: A group of ham radio operators has challenged a shortwave
broadcaster's plan for an international radio station, in a suburb of
Chicago, Illinois, and has filed an objection with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. Parable Broadcasting Company, requesting
the call sign WPBC, has told the federal agency it plans to include
religious and educational programming that would be heard in some
parts of Europe, and would also be capable of transmitting data
content provided by third parties as a point-to-point message facility.
The station hopes to operate with 15 kW of power on the six international shortwave broadcast bands between 5.9 and 15.8MHz.

Bennett Zobb, AK4AV, Christopher Rumbaugh, K6FIB, and Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB, filed a joint comment to the FCC, saying they believe the data transmission portion of the station's operation may disqualify its
application. They contend that the for-hire portion of their transmissions would not be a broadcast for listening by any members of the public. They wrote: [quote] "The applicant proposes to use the Digital Radio Mondiale
(DRM) standard. All data messages from this station must be in a form
readily decoded by ordinary DRM receivers, and rendered as publicly
accessible content, without encryption or obscuration of their purpose
or meaning." [endquote]

Parable has said it intends to use Digital Radio Mondiale modulation, and
told the FCC that this plan fulfills a request by the National Association
of Shortwave Broadcasters to expand the DRM market yet further. The
publication Radio World, which carried this story, requested comment from Parable's attorney, who said the applicant is reviewing the hams'
objections, but said the application complies with all FCC rules.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

(QRZFORUMS, RADIO WORLD)

**

GALWAY DIGITAL RADIO GROUP COMPLETES DMR NETWORK

PAUL/ANCHOR: In Ireland, amateurs are celebrating the completion of a long-awaited network of DMR radio repeaters. We pick up that story from
Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

JEREMY: The fourth and final repeater of the Galway Digital Radio Group's
DMR network, has been installed, and the network is complete. The
repeater, EI7LRD, became active on Saturday, the 11th of July, allowing
the repeater group to realise its goal to provide DMR repeater coverage
for most of County Galway, and some areas of nearby counties. According
to Steve Wright, EI5DD, the coverage is designed to be uninterrupted,
because the four repeaters are set up to permit roaming, which allows
for as much of a continuous connection as possible, when switching
between repeaters. DMR has been growing in popularity throughout Ireland
in recent years. Steve told Newsline he believed that probably the Galway
area now likely has Ireland's best digital radio facilities.

The four-repeater network is supplemented by a 2-metre multi-mode gateway
for DMR, D-STAR, and Fusion, as well as a 2-metre C4FM Wires-X gateway
serving Galway City. There is also a 2-metre Yaesu Fusion repeater, with Wires-X in the southeast of County Galway, and a 70cm D-STAR repeater,
covering Galway City.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

**

HAMS PAY TRIBUTE TO HISTORY'S 'BUFFALO SOLDIERS'

PAUL/ANCHOR: Black soldiers who served in the American military after
the Civil War, have found a place in history - and ham radio operators
are honoring them, too; with a special event later this month. Here's
Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, with the details.

KEVIN: Amateur radio operators will be paying tribute on HF, as well as satellite, in honor of the soldiers who made history, when they joined
the United States Army in Texas, following the end of the American Civil
War. Members of the six regiments of Buffalo soldiers, as they came to
be known, were Black Americans, whose military service was authorized by Congress on July 28th 1866, creating two units for cavalry, and four for infantry.

Using the call signs W5W and W5B, hams in Texas will operate in the
worldwide special event on July 25th and 26th. Commemorative QSL cards
and certificates will be made available. Shortwave listeners are also
being invited to take part in the event, which will also be made
available for listening live on Facebook on Saturday, July 25th, at 1pm, Central Time. Look for the livestream on the Facebook page called Buffalo Soldiers Program - Texas Parks and Wildlife. Texas Parks officials are
devoting the month of July to celebration of the legacy of the Buffalo
soldiers who served in the American West.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

(QRZ.COM, AMSAT)
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MARS INTEROPERABILITY EXERCISE SCALES DOWN

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A scaled-down communication exercise between the amateur
radio community, and members of the Military Auxiliary Radio System, or
MARS, began on Monday, July 20th. It was held in place of the larger
quarterly Department of Defense exercise, because of the COVID-19
pandemic. The drill did, however, have the same purpose -- to sharpen interactivity between the hams and MARS members. Christian Cudnik, K0STH,
picks up the story from here.

CHRISTIAN: As Amateur Radio Newsline went to production, ham radio
operators and MARS members, were wrapping up an HF Skills Exercise,
that ran from Monday, July 20th, to Friday, July 24th. Army MARS program manager, Paul English, WD8DBY, told Newsline that tens of thousands of
hams around the country, were instructed to listen to WWVH and WWV, twice
a day, for instructions on monitoring 60 meters. MARS members reached out
on that band, seeking meteorological information, along with various
counties' traffic information, detailed reports about local utilities,
and outages as well as any road closures.

Paul told Newsline that 99 percent of the time, the hams' subsequent
reports to MARS members, were expected to contain simple factual
information, indicating everything was fine. MARS members were also communicating with hams in the Automatic Link Establishment, and the
Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network. He added: [quote] "This
is about practicing skills and procedures, not the information content."
Even under non-emergency conditions, he said, the partnership is
necessary, for MARS to be successful in its mission.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik, K0STH.

(PAUL ENGLISH WD8DBY)

**

CHANGES FOR ILLINOIS D-STAR NET

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The popular Illinois D-STAR Net is on the move. The
Wednesday night net, which takes place at 9 p.m. Central Time, has
migrated to Reflector 51-D, that's 51 Delta, because of issues with
hotspots on the previous reflector. The change took effect Wednesday,
July 22nd. Reflector 1C, where the Net had previously been, will
remain the home of the KB0ZSG International D-STAR Net, which takes
place on Sundays at 7 p.m. Central Time.

(DARYL STOUT WX4QZ)

**

AMSAT LAUNCHES REFLECTOR FOR D-STAR USERS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Speaking of D-STAR, AMSAT now has a reflector available
to hams who enjoy using that mode. Jack Parker, W8ISH, tells us more.

JACK: AMSAT has announced the creation of a new D-STAR Reflector
supporting four different reflector names: XLXSAT, XRFSAT, DCSSAT, and
REFSAT. Hams using hotspots to connect to D-STAR, are advised to refresh
or update their BlueDV or PiStar host files, to see the new entries.
Walter Holmes, K5WH, says that the new D-STAR reflector is not bridged
into the system the way AMSAT's DMR Talk Group and its Yaesu System
Fusion reflectors are. He said bridging was likely after a bit more
testing. AMSAT has had a DMR talkgroup, and a Fusion reflector, for
more than a year, and their success is credited with sparking interest
in adding D-STAR to the system.

The DMR TalkGroup is 98006, and the Fusion YSF Reflector is 11689.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.

(AMSAT)

**

SIGNAL REPORTING NETWORK EXPANDS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Hams in Australia are especially proud of their success
in expanding a signal-reporting network in the west. Robert Broomhead,
VK3DN, gives us the details.

ROBERT: In western Australia, the Northern Corridor Radio Group, VK6ANC,
has once again expanded a work-in-progress: the RBN automatic CW HF
signal reporting network. With the help of FISTS Down Under, the hams
have added a new station to the network, to fill a void, and earliest
tests showed it to be successful, as far away as the southeastern part
of Australia. Radio operators in Australia are being encouraged to test
it out on all bands, between 3.5 MHz and 24 MHz, and report back on
their experience. It is expected to be an especially useful tool for
operators in the Summits on the Air programme.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Robert Broomhead, VK3DN.

(JOHN VK6NU via FACEBOOK)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K7EFZ repeater,
in Idaho Falls, Idaho, at the end of the Eagle Rock Emergency Practice Net
at 9 p.m. local time on Tuesdays.
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AMSAT SYMPOSIUM SEEKS PRESENTERS ON SATELLITE TOPICS

JIM/ANCHOR: Another amateur radio event going virtual later this year,
is on the lookout for hams who have something to say about satellites.
Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, has the details.

NEIL: The stage will be virtual, but the topics will be very real, at
the 2020 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium. It's being held on
October 17th, and organizers are looking for presentations on a variety
of topics relevant to amateur satellite use. So, start thinking about
whether you have something to share. Any papers' tentative titles, along
with abstracts, should be sent to Dan Schultz, N8FGV, via email at
n8fgv at amsat dot org. Final copies of all papers should be submitted
no later than the 5th of October.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

(AMSAT)

**

NEW ZEALAND HAMS GET 3-MONTH EXTENSION FOR 60M BAND

JIM/ANCHOR: Hams in New Zealand just got more time to enjoy 60 meters.
Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the details.

JIM: July 24th has come and gone, but 60 metres is still alive and well
in New Zealand, for some amateurs. The band was accessible as part of a
trial period, that was to have ended on the 24th. Hams in ZL-land now
have a three-month extension, meaning they are able to continue using
the band until the 24th of October. Radio operators need to have a
sub-licence obtained from the New Zealand Amateur Radio Transmitters
Society, which extends the station's primary licence to include 60 metres operation. Hams who wish to participate in the trial, and would like a sub-licence, can download an application form at nzart dot org dot nz (nzart.org.nz)

The trial period has been put in place so NZART, Radio Spectrum Management,
and the band's primary users, can explore the feasibility of permitting
amateur use there on a secondary basis, without creating interference for primary users.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(NZART)

**

SILENT KEY: GRADY FERGUSON W5FU

JIM/ANCHOR: The amateur radio community has lost a respected contester.
Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, tells us about him.

KEVIN: Hams in the contesting world will remember Grady Ferguson, W5FU,
most of all perhaps, for the world-class multi-operator contest station
he and friend, Tom Taormina, K5RC, built just south of Houston, Texas
in the late 1970s. The pair were to collaborate again some years later
on the creation of the Comstock Memorial Station, W7RN, in Virginia City
in northern Nevada. They believed the effort to be necessary, after their multi-op station in Texas was damaged in 1983 by Hurricane Alicia, and eventually dismantled.

Grady, who formerly held the call sign NA5R, became a Silent Key on July
14th. His cause of death was listed as COVID-19.

Prolific and polished, Grady was also the author of an article in the
National Contest Journal in 2010, headlined "Some Solutions for Sharing Resources in Multi-operator Stations."

According to a tribute posted by Tom on the W7RN station website, Grady
fell in love with contesting, after attending a Texas DX Society Field
Day in the late 1970s, and that set his ham radio career on course from
then on.

Grady Ferguson was 76.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

(W7RN WEBSITE)

**

IN INDIA, A REUNION AMID A PANDEMIC

JIM/ANCHOR: A group of hams in West Bengal, India, have reunited an
elderly man with his family after two years -- in spite of the present pandemic. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, gives us the details.

GRAHAM: It took time, patience and yes, even a pandemic, before an
elderly resident of Uttar Pradesh in India, could be returned home
safely to his family, after an absence of more than two years.

According to Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, of the West Bengal Radio Club,
the man had gone missing from his home two years ago. When he was
spotted on the street in West Bengal in late March, by the secretary of
a local business association, attempts got under way to assist him. The COVID-19 lockdown, however, had just begun, and the businessman grew
concerned for the older man's well-being. After obtaining a health
checkup for him, the businessman assisted with food and clothing, and
reached out to the West Bengal Radio Club. The club sent members to ask
the man about his family, and the location of his home village. Although
his recollection was not clear, he eventually provided enough details, so
that club members could track down the village chief, and the man's family.

The man's sons made the drive to West Bengal. Their father was tested for coronavirus, and when the report came back negative, on July 24th, they
were able to bring their father home.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(AMBARISH NAG BISWAS VU2JFA)
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AMAZON'S KUIPER SYSTEM GETS FCC'S OK

NEIL/ANCHOR: Amazon's ambitious plan for its satellite constellation is
moving ahead. Paul Braun, WD9GCO, gives us that update.

PAUL: The FCC has approved the deployment plan of Amazon's Kuiper
satellite system, which is designed to provide high-speed broadband
internet service to government, business, and consumers, using 3,236 satellites. The system is to include customer terminals, gateway earth stations, software-defined network, and satellite control functionality,
among other components. Kuiper has stated that it can commence service
after the first 578 satellites are launched. There will be five phases
of deployment. For space-to-Earth communications, Kuiper plans to operate
on 17.7-18.6 GHz and 18.8-20.2 GHz. For Earth-to-space communications, it
will use 27.5-30.0 GHz.

Amazon has already posted 104 new job openings in support of the low-earth-orbit project. Many of the jobs are in various parts of the engineering field, and in wireless communications, and are based in the
states of Washington, Virginia, and Georgia.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.

(FCC, AMAZON)

**

SILENT KEY: BOB REYNOLDS WB3DYE

NEIL/ANCHOR: The amateur radio and commercial broadcast communities are
both grieving the loss of a seasoned professional. Bob Reynolds, WB3DYE,
became a Silent Key on the 2nd of August. In addition to being an
enthusiastic amateur radio operator, and a ragchewer on all the bands,
Bob was perhaps best known to non-hams in northeast and central
Pennsylvania as a longtime reporter for Newswatch 16 on WNEP-TV. Before
his retirement in 2014, he had long since established a reputation as an investigative reporter.

Bob was 67.

(WNEP, QRZ.COM)

**

EXTRA ONLINE SUPPORT FOR NEW HAMS IN THE UK

NEIL/ANCHOR: New hams in the UK are getting extra support that's
personal - even if it's from a distance. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us
how.

JEREMY: New licence-holders, especially those who took their exams via
remote invigilation, now have a place to call their own, even if it is
only in the virtual universe. The Radio Society of Great Britain has established a group on Facebook, to provide guidance to new hams, as
well as those who are returnees to radio. The group provides guidance
on establishing a home station, and a connection to a number of
experienced hams, who can advise on a range of issues.

The Facebook page is one of several resources the society is making
available at this challenging time of social distancing. New hams
interested in exploring this, and other resources, should visit the
website at rsgb dot org slash beyond hyphen exams
(rsgb.org/beyond-exams.)

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(RADIO SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN)

NEIL/ANCHOR: It is also worth noting that OFCOM has also made changes
in testing for the Intermediate Level license, elimimating the practical
test, as it did with the Foundation level. This means Intermediate Level
exams can now be given over the internet via remote invigilation.

**

AMSAT OF SOUTH AFRICA HOSTING SPACE SYMPOSIUM

NEIL/ANCHOR: Amateur satellite enthusiasts in South Africa are getting
ready for their annual space symposium, as we hear from Graham Kemp,
VK4BB.

GRAHAM: There's still time to register for the annual space symposium
of AMSAT of South Africa, which is taking place as a live event online,
on Saturday, the 22nd of August.

The programme will feature discussions about using simple hardware and
software to track and decode small satellites in orbit; SATNOGS, and of
course, AMSAT OSCAR 7, the longest operating amateur radio satellite.

Software engineer Burns Fisher, WB1JF, a prominent volunteer in the
creation of the Fox1 series of satellites, will deliver two presentations -
one on satellite telemetry collection, and another on a simple telemetry station called Fox-in-a-Box.

Visit amsatsa dot org dot za (amsatsa.org.za) for details on how to
register, and an explanation of costs. The event will begin at 0800 UTC
and conclude at 1700 UTC. It will include a lunch break -- but you'll
have to provide your own sandwiches.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(SARL, AMSAT)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the Reading
(REDDING) Radio Club's W3BN repeater, in Reading (REDDING), Pennsylvania
on Fridays at 8 p.m. local time.
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UK EXAMS ARE BOOKED THROUGH SEPTEMBER

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you've been waiting to take your license exams in the
UK, you're going to have to wait a little longer. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH,
explains.

JEREMY: Hams in the UK who had hoped to gain their Foundation licence or upgrade to Intermediate this month, are going to need some patience:
demand has been so great, that most available slots for the Radio Society
of Great Britain's online exams, are already booked through late September.
The remote-invigilation exams were previously only given to Foundation candidates, but they were recently opened up to Intermediate candidates
as well. The requirement for a practical has been dropped for both levels
of licence.

To register for an exam, visit rsgb.org/exampay

The changes have resulted in big growth in online training. Free coursework
is available from a number of sources, including Essex Ham, and the GM6DX website.

Links to both websites are available in the printed script of this week's report.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

[PRINT ONLY: https://gm6dx.thinkific.com/ and https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online/ ]

(SOUTHGATE, RSGB)

**

SWISS AMATEUR RADIO GROUP OFFERS RECRUITMENT INCENTIVES

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: There's a bonus for hams in Switzerland, who help boost membership in the national amateur radio organization. Ed Durrant, DD5LP,
gives us the details.

ED: The USKA, the Union of Swiss Shortwave Amateurs, has a recruitment
drive under way, with a bit of a financial twist. They're offering a
financial bonus for members who successfully sign up new members,
especially those under the age of 25. According to the group's website,
the effort began as a way to address declining membership, and does not
apply to former USKA members who are rejoining.

In 2018, 3,070 of Switzerland's 4,877 amateur radio licensees were members
of the USKA. The USKA recently focused as well on promoting youth
involvement in amateur radio, after noticing that its roster of new members included only one amateur younger than 25 in 2018.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(USKA, SOUTHGATE)

**

SPECIAL EVENT RECALLS 2 DEVASTATING U.S. HURRICANES

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Hurricane season is under way in parts of the U.S., and
for many, it evokes painful memories. A special event station is marking
the 15th anniversary of two of the most devastating, as we hear from Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.

DON: Fifteen years ago, residents of Louisiana and Texas were bracing for
two devastating storms that swept the region. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed communities, displaced families, and cost lives, putting 2005
on one part of the U.S. hurricane map that so many would like to forget. Katrina was described as the largest natural disaster in U.S. history, and
one month later, Rita swept through, deepening the tragedy.

Special Event Station K5R is marking the anniversary, and on the weekend
of August 28th through the 30th. Hams will be mostly on 40, 20, and 17
meters, using SSB and CW, and successful contacts can be awarded a
certificate.

Scott Hernandez, KD5PCK, is sponsoring the special event, and asks all
hams to visit the station's page on QRZ.com for more details, or the
Facebook page for K5R Special Event Station. A number of operators
calling QRZ are, like me, Katrina survivors. I'll be on the air as well,
so be listening.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.

(SCOTT HERNANDEZ KD5PCK)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the KV3B repeater
in Rockville, Maryland, on Sunday nights at 8 local time.
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WEST BENGAL HAM'S DX: FROM INDIA TO ANTARCTICA

NEIL/ANCHOR: Sometimes you wait a lifetime for that big DX -- and for
one ham in India, it finally happened just a few weeks ago. John
Williams, VK4JJW, picks up the story from here.

JOHN: Babul Gupta, VU3ZBG, has been DXing since childhood, listening
to the radio for those far-away signals. A radio enthusiast for more
than five decades, he received the signals of a lifetime this month,
when he picked up a transmission from the Antarctic, while he was near
the shore in West Bengal, India.

He told the Times of India, and New Delhi Television, that the signals
were sent on 15476 kHz from an Argentinian scientists' base camp at
Esperanza, Antarctica. He verified the contact by emailing the
scientists a recording of the audio, and the scientists replied with
an acknowledgment.

According to Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, secretary of the West Bengal
Radio Club, this is the first time in recent years, that anyone from
that Indian state has been able to copy a radio signal from the
Antarctic.

As for Babul Gupta, he told local media it was nothing short of a
defining moment in his life -- one he has no doubt awaited for 50
or so years.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.

(SOUTHGATE, NDTV)

**

HAMS HELP IN COVID CONTRACT-TRACING

NEIL/ANCHOR: A successful contact is something to be celebrated, but
in the age of COVID-19 contacts have come to mean something else. In
India, amateur radio operators are doing their part to trace those
kinds of contacts. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, has those details.

JASON: Ham radio has become a powerful tool to help authorities in
Bengaluru, India, with contact tracing, and other tasks related to
keeping track of the COVID-19 spread. Working mainly from their home
QTH, 80 to 100 radio operators are assisting as volunteers and conduct
surveys and assist patients, relaying information for government use.

According to a report in The Times of India, the hams previously were
involved in monitoring individuals who were required to be on home
quarantine and in assisting with reports of violations.

The director of the Indian Institute of Hams, Shankar Satyapal VU2FI,
told the newspaper that he hoped the realtime communications made
possible by ham radio would keep authorities provided with as much
up-to-date information as possible.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(SOUTHGATE, TIMES OF INDIA)

**

FOUNDATION ADDS YOUNG CONTESTER TO ITS BOARD

NEIL/ANCHOR: The World Wide Radio Operators Foundation, has added a
prominent young amateur from Germany to its board of directors. Twenty-two-year-old Philipp Springer, DK6SP, is a member of the Youth
Working Group of IARU Region 1, and a lead planner for the Youngsters
on the Air - Team Germany program. Philipp was among the well-ranked contesters at the WRTC 2018 in Germany, as part of Team Y82D. The
foundation's chairman Tim Duffy, K3LR, praised the selection of Philipp
for the board, and said he was encouraged by the youthful enthusiasm he
brings to the hobby. Congratulations Philipp!

(QRZ.COM)

**

AUSTRALIAN YL CONTEST BREAKS THE QUARANTINE ICE

NEIL/ANCHOR: Sometimes a contest is more than just a contest - especially during quarantine. In Australia, a group of YLs has set out to show how
it's done. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, has those details.

GRAHAM: This year, the 40th contest of the Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association, or ALARA, doesn't just provide an opportunity to do your best
on the air - it's being seen as a way to chip away at the social isolation that has become so entrenched during this global pandemic.

The contest begins on Saturday, August 29th, at 0600 UTC, and finishes on Sunday the 30th, at 0559 UTC.

As Sue, VK5AYL, contest manager for ALARA said: "We are really looking
forward to hearing some young and new YLs in the contest this year, and catching up with many amateurs along the way."

An Alara Contest page has been established on Facebook, and its use is optional: It's available for hams to spot any contacts they have made with other YLs - but self-spotting is not permitted in this event.

As organisers state on their Facebook page [quote] "We hope to meet you on air." [endquote]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB. 73 and 88!!

(WIA, ALARA)
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SILENT KEY: GLEN ZOOK K9STH

PAUL/ANCHOR: The Collins Collectors Association is grieving the loss
of a treasured longtimer, who has become a Silent Key. Jack Parker,
W8ISH, tells us about him.

JACK: Members of the Collins Collectors Association, treasured the
friendship and expertise of Glen Zook, K9STH, who was known to fellow
hams as a valued technical expert. Glen became a Silent Key on August
13th. One of the early members of the Collins group, the electrical
engineer from Indiana moved to Texas after college, to take up a job
with Collins Radio. CCA president Scott Kerr, KE1RR, told Newsline
that Glen had [quote] "a passion for getting things right" [endquote],
and often shared his expertise with members posting on the CCA
reflector.

Glen had also been the first FM editor of CQ Magazine, and author of
more than 1,000 articles for various other publications, including
Popular Electronics, and 73 magazine, according to his profile on
QRZ.com. His website k9sth dot net [k9sth.net], with its array of
downloadable files, shows his range of projects, and serves as a
window into his own ham radio station.

Glen was an amateur radio operator for more than 60 years, and
according to his family, he was a mechanical and electronics wizard,
who could fix anything, especially the antique radios he loved so
much. His daughter, Rebecca, posted on her Facebook page: [quote]
"A profoundly gifted man, there wasn't much he couldn't accomplish."

Scott Kerr added that as one of the CCA's particularly patient
oldtimers: [quote] "Glen will be especially missed." [endquote]

Glen Zook was 76 years old.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.

(FACEBOOK, QRZ.COM)

**

SILENT KEY: NASA ENGINEER JOHN CHITWOOD K3RGB

PAUL/ANCHOR: Another Silent Key - this one in Florida - was most
especially celebrated for his long years of work with the NASA
space program. Jim Damron, N8TMW, has the details.

JIM: A ham who enjoyed a prominent career for nearly four decades,
working at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, has become a Silent
Key. John Stephen Chitwood, K3RGB, of St. Petersburg, Florida, has
died of COVID-19. He had been hospitalized following a fall in June,
and then tested positive for the coronavirus.

A radio tinkerer and a builder since he was a child, he received his
Novice license in 1961. Though he became a DJ at his college radio
station at Drexel University, his time in college also provided entry
into the world of space travel. He began working on the Greenbelt,
Maryland campus of NASA's Goddard center, while still at the university.

He later became part of the team on the Cosmic Background Explorer,
or COBE. Measurements made with the help of the COBE satellite later
helped two scientists win the Nobel Prize in physics in 2006, for
their study of the origin of stars and galaxies.

According to his obituary in the Washington Post, John also served as secretary and treasurer for the Foundation for Amateur Radio, and was
part of its Scholarship Committee for 46 years.

John Stephen Chitwood was 73.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.

(WASHINGTON POST)

**

CANADIAN AMATEUR RADIO HALL OF FAME SEEKS NOMINEES

PAUL/ANCHOR: Hams in Canada are being asked to name names - the best
of the best - for induction into the Radio Amateurs of Canada Hall of
Fame. Dave Parks, WB8ODF, has that story.

DAVE: If you live in Canada, and know someone who you think deserves
a place in the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame, now's your chance
to make it happen. Radio Amateurs of Canada is accepting nominations
until the end of September, and the trustees of the hall are looking
for hams who have performed great service to amateur radio in Canada
over a sustained period of time. All nominations should include a
biographical information about the nominee, and three references.
The RAC prefers nomination documents via email in PDF format, but
will also accept those delivered by regular mail.

Now can you keep a secret? You'll have to: All nominations are
required to be kept confidential, which means you can't tell anyone
you're nominating them, nor can you ask their permission. Simply go
to the hall of fame web page, and download the nomination form to
get started. You can find it at wp dot rac dot ca forward slash carhof,
which is spelled "c a r h o f" for Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of
Fame. (wp.rac.ca/carhof)

Deadline is the last business day of September.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Dave Parks, WB8ODF.

(RAC, SOUTHGATE)
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HAMS SAVOR TRANS-ATLANTIC TRIUMPHS ON 2 METRES

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Amateur signals went the distance in late August,
crossing the Atlantic from Europe to the Caribbean. John Williams,
VK4JJW, has those details.

JOHN: August ended with a flourish for a number of amateur radio
operators who had a wild ride across the Atlantic Ocean, thanks to
an opening on 144 MHz between the Canary Islands and the Caribbean.
On the 27th and 28th of August, operators using FT8 and SSB on the
island of Tenerife, successfully contacted stations in Guadeloupe,
Martinique, and Puerto Rico.

Cesar, EA8CXN, reported that he successfully logged at least two
trans-Atlantic contacts on SSB with Yoyo, FM5CS, on Martinique,
and Burt, FG8OJ, on Guadeloupe. That's a distance of approximately
4,800 kms, or nearly 3,000 miles.

The Puerto Rican contacts set a new distance record across the
Atlantic, according to a report on the EI7GL blog. The distance
there was 5,200 kms, or a little more than 3,200 miles. That broke
the record set on April 8th of this year, between a Cape Verde
station, and an operator in Curacao - a distance of 4,759 kms, or
about 2,950 miles.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.

(SOUTHGATE)

**

HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY CONSIDERS VIRTUAL VERSION

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: With COVID-19 still in the picture, Ham Radio
University's planners are said to be rethinking their strategy
for the big annual day of radio education in January. Jack Parker,
W8ISH, gives us the details.

JACK: Organizers of the popular Ham Radio University, held for more
than two decades on Long Island, New York, are considering the
likelihood of hosting it in January as a virtual conference instead.
Founded by Phil Lewis, N2MUN, who became a Silent Key this past March,
Ham Radio University is a day of workshops, learning, and fellowship.
Its website notes that it is presently scheduled to take place on
January 9, 2021, on the campus of Long Island University, in
Brookville, New York. A message from the ARRL Hudson Division quotes
Richie, K2KNB, of the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club, as saying
the HRU committee is leaning toward a virtual event. More details are
expected from the organizing committee.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.

**

ANTIQUE RADIO CONTEST GETS A 'VIRTUAL' VIEWING

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: You won't have to travel to New York this year to vote
on the beloved old radio equipment that competes each year in a kind
of popularity contest. Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, explains the new option
available.

SKEETER: The Antique Wireless Museum isn't letting a pandemic get in
the way of its popular People's Choice Contest, which is usually held
at its facilities in Bloomfield, New York. This year, the entries are
visible - and available for people's votes - on the AWA website
instead.

You don't need to be a member of the AWA to vote on some of these
beautiful old oscillators, receivers, and transmitters. All you need
to do is send an email, noting the entry number of your favorite item.
The email should be sent to voting at antiquewireless dot org (voting@antiquewireless.org).

You have until the first of October to send in your selection. The
winner will be announced on October 5th, and voting has already opened.

The address for viewing entries can be seen in the printed version of
this script at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ - FOR PRINT ONLY: antiquewireless.org/homepage/2020-virtual-peoples-choice/]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH.

(AWA)

**

LONG-RUNNING INTERNATIONAL D-STAR NET IS ON THE MOVE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The long-running KB0ZSG [KAY BEE ZERO ZED ESS GEE] International D-STAR Net is on the move. The net is moving from
Reflector 1C to Reflector 91C, effective the 13th of September.
The day and time for the net will remain the same - 7 p.m. Central
Time in the U.S. on Sundays.

The net bears the call sign of its founder Connie Ballantyne, now
a Silent Key, and it is run by Steve, KC9SIO. With the changes
happening, it is recommended that hams wanting to connect starting
on the 13th update their settings. Steve said the move became
necessary to resolve a problem of having too many hotspots
connected to Reflector 1 and 30 at the same time.

(DARYL STOUT WX4QZ)
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MIXED RESPONSE ON FCC'S PROPOSAL FOR HAM RADIO FEES

JIM/ANCHOR: While the FCC has not set a date to vote on imposing a
$50 charge for a new amateur radio license or renewal, the agency has
been accepting public comments about its Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, with a mixed response. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, has that story.

NEIL: Wil Wiquist, the FCC's associate director of media relations,
told Newsline in an email that the FCC is mandated to charge a fee to
hams, because of changes Congress enacted in 2018. The law is known
as the RAY BAUM'S Act, an acronym for Repack Airwaves Yielding Better
Access for Users of Modern Services. It directly impacts personal
licenses such as amateur radio.

Opinions thus far in the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System have
included numerous arguments against the fee, saying it would deter
young people, and keep ham radio out of the reach of retirees and
low-income applicants. A Michigan amateur wrote, however, that he
considered the proposal reasonable, suggesting a fee waiver for
individuals younger than 18. The Valley Amateur Radio Association in
Virginia suggested fees of no more than $15 for initial licenses and modifications, and a waiver for operators active in emergency
communications and community events. One ham wrote, from North
Carolina: [quote] "I am in favor of the fee, if the fees will be used
to strengthen enforcement. If the fees are just going to go into the
treasury, then what's the purpose?" [endquote]

The FCC calls the fees cost-based. Wiquist said that in addition to
its automated system, the FCC also employs a Special Temporary
Authority for Personal Licenses, using such non-automated agency
resources as analyst review and processing and engineer technical
review. He said the process' cost is about $135.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

(FCC)

**

REGULATOR PROPOSES REMOVING LICENSE TEST IN BRAZIL

JIM/ANCHOR: Imagine getting your ham radio license without having to
pass a test! Well in Brazil, that might just become a reality. Graham
Kemp, VK4BB, has that story.

GRAHAM: Taking the Brazilian Amateur Radio League by surprise, the
nation's regulator, the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency,
has proposed eliminating the amateur radio certificate exam for all
classes. Regulator ANATEL's published proposal outlines a structure
that would grant free access to the Class C licence, which would
align the process with that used for citizens band radio. The
regulator is proposing advancement to subsequent classes B and A
after the applicant presents a certificate of completion for
technical classes in communications - or a minimum of three years' instruction.

ANATEL has requested support from the Brazilian radio group, LABRE,
which is a strong proponent of minimum requirements for a radio
amateur licence. The regulator's move also contradicts most practices
in the international regulation of licences. LABRE has asked for a
meeting with the regulator to clarify the proposal.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(SOUTHGATE)

**

DOCTORAL CANDIDATE SENDS UP BALLOON FOR THESIS

JIM/ANCHOR: Want to help a university student work toward a
doctorate? Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us all you have to do is....use
your radio.

ED: A balloon experiment launched on Saturday September 12th by
students at the Warsaw University of Technology is carrying important
data for one student pursuing a doctoral degree. The ballon has an
unusual VLF 210m-long fully-airborne antenna system which creates an electromagnetic field on 14.2 kHz. Listeners in Poland may recall
this was once the frequency of the Babice Radio Station, which played
an important wartime role relaying messages to the German submarines
in the Atlantic. Radio enthusiasts have been asked to listen for the transmission and provide feedback on signal reception during the
three-hour flight -- everything from location, SNR and bandwidth.

The operation will commence while the balloon is still on the ground,
and the antenna will rise as the balloon ascends to its maximum
altitude of 30 km.

Hams will be able to track the balloon via APRS on 144.800 MHz. The
balloon's call sign is SP5AXL -- the call sign assigned to the
Heritage Park Society of the old Babice Radio Station.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(SOUTHGATE, THE ALEXANDERSON ASSOCIATION)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the
W2VL repeater on Long Island, New York at 8:30 p.m. local time on
Mondays.
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IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON HAM RADIO DISCUSSED AT MINI-CONFERENCE

PAUL/ANCHOR: In Canada, organizers have added a mini-conference to
the RAC's annual general meeting and one of the bigggest topics is
COVID-19.

JOHN: The COVID-19 pandemic itself will be a kind of headliner when
Radio Amateurs of Canada hosts a mini-conference just before its
annual general meeting on the 20th of September. In addition to
talks about satellite, engaging more youth, remote operations and a
recap of the St. Paul Island DXpedition, the day's programme will
feature what's being billed as "a fireside chat" on amateur radio
during the global pandemic. Panelists will be Tim Ellam, VE6SH:
president of the International Amateur Radio Union; Rick Roderick,
K5UR, president of the American Radio Relay League; and Steve Thomas
M1ACB, general manager of the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB)

Moderator will be Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA, president of the Radio
Amateurs of Canada.

This is to be the first time the annual general meeting will be held virtually, and the RAC has opted to add the interactive mini-
conference to round out the day. The annual general meeting will
begin at 4 p.m., at the conclusion of the mini-conference.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.

(RAC)

**

TWO HAMS IN INDIA SCORE A 'PERSONAL BEST'

PAUL/ANCHOR: The recent AMSAT-UK OSCAR QSO Party has given 2 hams in
India reason to celebrate, as Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, tells us.

JASON: Marathon runners aren't the only enthusiasts who are proud of
achieving what's called their "personal best." Ham radio operators
have their big moments too. Two hams in India -- Rajesh VU2EXP and
Lucky VU2LBW -- reported recently that during the AMSAT-UK OSCAR QSO
Party they worked six different FM satellites in one day, September
9th.

Rajesh is the regional coordinator for the West India Zone of
AMSAT-India. He writes: [quote] "It's a personal record for us for
such satellite activities in the region." [endquote] The satellites
included AO-27, a 27-year-old satellite and SO-50, launched 18 years
ago.

To add to the thrill, said Rajesh, it should be noted that he
achieved the contacts using a portable setup from his terrace in
Gujarat (Goo-Juh-Rott), using a pair of HTs and a homebrew antenna.

He added: "What a memorable day!"

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(SOUTHGATE)

**

SILENT KEY: BILL SEXTON N1AN, PROMINENT MEMBER OF MARS

PAUL/ANCHOR: A New York ham who achieved distinction - both as a
journalist and in ARMY MARS - has become a Silent Key. Caryn Eve
Murray, KD2GUT, has that report.

CARYN: An amateur radio operator with a prominent role in the Army
Military Auxiliary Radio System has become a Silent Key. Bill Sexton,
N1AN, devoted himself to serving MARS following a long, prominent
career in journalism that included reporting from foreign bureaus in
Tokyo and Beijing for the Long Island daily newspaper, Newsday.

A Korean War veteran, he retired from the paper in 1991 and served as
the public affairs officer for MARS for 13 years. During the 9/11
terror attacks in the U.S. - and later during Hurricane Katrina -
Bill assisted with emergency radio communications, earning him the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. Bill was also the
author of "Army MARS at 90: Helping Protect the Homeland," a 100-page
study of the organization's role in national security. Bill held the
Army MARS callsigns AAR1FP, and AAA9PC.

Bill had suffered a stroke one week before his death on September
6th. He was 91.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT.

(NEWSDAY)

**

SILENT KEY: AVUTU NAGI REDDY VU2ANI, LEADER IN INDIAN AMATEUR RADIO

PAUL/ANCHOR: A leader in amateur radio in southeastern India has
become a Silent Key. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, tells us more.

GRAHAM: Avutu Nagi Reddy, VU2ANI, was a homebrew enthusiast, a
helping hand at antenna installations and an all-around guide who
shared the science of ham radio with others. Avutu became a Silent
Key on Thursday the 10th of September at home in the Indian state of
Andhra Pradesh. He was heard often on the HF bands, and was a
familiar voice particularly on 40 meters. He was also a leader,
serving as secretary of the Coastal Amateur Radio Society. His love
of radios extended to his impressive collection of radios and
amplifiers.

Avutu was 64.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(NEWS TRACK LIVE)
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PRIDE RADIO GROUP LAUNCHES IN AUSTRALIA

NEIL/ANCHOR: We all take pride in who we are as amateur radio
operators. Now a new club is forming as a virtual collective, hoping
to provide a welcoming spirit to amateurs who are also part of the
world's LGBTQI community. Robert Broomhead, VK3DN, has that story.

ROBERT: The Pride Radio Group launched itself on the 13th of September
and within the first week alone, it had become a group of 50. A virtual community organised by Michael Wheeler, VK3FUR, the group encourages discussions on SDR, antenna design, and HF operating -- much of it on
the Discord app for now -- and it promises what Michael calls a "safe
and friendly environment." Michael said the group's origins are rooted
in the hope to provide representation for radio operators in the
LGBTQI community in Australia and the Oceania region, and that it just
grew from there. While the group awaits its Australian call sign to be granted, plans are in the works for a future with special event
activations, DMR talkgroups, and a pride-focused contest, likely for
June of 2021. Michael said other ham clubs have already reached out
asking how their own organisations can become more inclusive and
welcoming. Michael told Newsline: [quote] "I've had a number of people personally reach out to me to tell me that a group like this might be
just the sort of thing they need to get back on the air." [endquote]

For more details about this emerging group, visit the website
prideradio dot group (prideradio.group)

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Robert Broomhead, VK3DN.

(QRZ FORUMS, MICHAEL WHEELER VK3FUR)

**

'GET ON THE AIR' CAMPAIGN DRAWS NATIONAL EXPOSURE, NEW HAMS

NEIL/ANCHOR: In the UK, the Get On the Air To Care campaign has
accelerated since the Radio Society of Great Britain and the NHS
teamed up to highlight ham radio as an antidote to the malaise of
pandemic lockdown. In fact, national media, such as the BBC and the
"i" newspaper, have shared such stories as this next one, as Jeremy
Boot, G4NJH, explains.

JEREMY: Caitlin Field, M6XTT, is the third generation ham in her
family - and its first YL. She joins grandfather Don, G3XTT, and
father, Ed, 2E0WWF, in her fascination with radio and science. When
lockdown happened, Caitlin made the most of her time by studying the Foundation course provided online by Essex Ham. Using Zoom, Don
supplemented his granddaughter's studies with regular tutoring
sessions and proclaimed her an eager student. It also gave the two
some quality "grandpa-and-granddaughter time" which they both
thoroughly enjoyed during an otherwise isolating lockdown. On her
third try, Caitlin passed the exam given by remote invigilation by
RSGB president, and exam quality manager, Dave Wilson, M0OBW. Soon the 10-year-old was the holder of her father's old Foundation call sign.

Getting on the air to care - or caring enough to help someone new get
on the air in the first place - is the essence of this joint campaign
with the health service, according to Steve Thomas, M1ACB, the RSGB's
general manager. Now, it seems, that mainstream media also cares - and
cares enough to put amateur radio stories like this on the air.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

NEIL/ANCHOR: We also mention that the RSGB has begun making remote invigilation available for applicants for the Full license. On
Thursday, September 24th, the society began accepting exam bookings
for all three levels of license. Exams are now being booked for
Wednesday, October 21st, and beyond.

(STEVE THOMAS M1ACB, DON FIELD G3XTT)

**

VISITORS' AMATEUR STATION TO SHUT IN SWEDEN

NEIL/ANCHOR: A popular ham station for guest operators in Sweden has
become another casualty of the global pandemic. Graham Kemp, VK4BB,
has those details.

GRAHAM: There's little more than two months to go before SI9AM, the
Visitors Amateur Radio Station in Utanede Sweden closes its doors
permanently. It was established 20 years ago and is owned by eight
radio clubs in Sweden's third call area. There have been no guest
operators, however, since the COVID-19 pandemic and its board has
opted to cease operations on the first of December.

Since the visitors station opened on July 19, 2000 it has logged about
160,000 QSOs. The station is known as the King Chulalongkorn (Chew Luh
Long Korn) Memorial Amateur Radio Visitors station, and is located near
the Thai Pavilion that opened in 1998 to honor the Thai king's visit
to the Swedish town in 1897.

SI9AM president J�rgen, SM3FJF, made the announcement, adding that all
QSL cards and SI9AM awards will still be sent for confirmed radio
contacts.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(SI9AM)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the K4LYL repeater in Bedford, Virginia on Tuesdays and Thursdays at
10 a.m. and 10 p.m. local time.
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HOSPITAL HELPS WASHINGTON HAMS EXPAND EMCOMM COVERAGE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: When it comes to planning for emergency coverage,
hospitals and hams are a natural team. Christian Cudnik, K0STH, tells
us about one such effort in Washington State.

CHRISTIAN: With the help of a local hospital, hams in Clallam County, Washington are hoping to provide the county with a security blanket of
RF coverage. Their effort has been a two-year project between the
Clallam County Amateur Radio Club and Forks Community Hospital.
According to club member Joe Wright, KG7JWW, who is also an area
emergency coordinator for ARES in Forks, the goal is to establish
"operational areas" throughout the county including the vast prairie
and serve those areas with more radios and repeaters. While standard communication will continue to rely on the VHF repeater and vertical
antenna, the goal is to extend the range, linking to UHF repeaters
beyond.

Joe credited the hospital for having established an on-site amateur
radio station after 9/11 for Clallam County ARES. He said the hospital
has also assisted in other ways, including with installation of a
repeater and equipment for an emergency radio site on Gunderson
Mountain, just outside of town.

He told Newsline "the new repeater location has significantly
increased our coverage" and other expansions are in the planning
stages. One of them is for a location that will cover the county's
farthest northwest areas and cross over to Vancouver Island, British
Columbia.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik, K0STH.

(THE FORKS FORUM)

**

AMATEUR TO CAST HER ABSENTEE BALLOT FROM ISS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Although more voters than ever in the U.S. are
expected to use absentee ballots in November's presidential election,
one amateur radio operator will be casting her ballot from space. Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, has those details.

DON: Astronaut Kate Rubins, KG5FYJ, has a few important things on her
agenda following her mid-October launch from Russia to the
International Space Station. Once there, she will begin her research
using the Cold Atom Lab aboard the ISS. She will also work on a
cardiovascular experiment.

And, she plans to cast an absentee ballot, and vote in the United
States presidential election. According to Space.com, her vote will
take the form of a secure electronic ballot which gets transmitted to
Mission Control, and sent on from there to the county clerk back home
in Texas.

Of course, high-flying absentee ballots are nothing new for her.
According to the Associated Press, she and fellow astronaut Shane
Kimbrough, KE5HOD, voted for president the same way in 2016, hoping
their votes would go the distance.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.

(SPACE.COM, ASSOCIATED PRESS)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the
N9EOC repeater of the Central Indiana Amateur Radio Association in Noblesville, Indiana, on Sundays at 8 p.m. local time.

**

AMATEUR SATELLITE MARKS 27 YEARS IN ORBIT

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Imagine 27 years on the job: The team behind a
satellite called AMRAD-Oscar 27 has no trouble imagining it at all.
The satellite just marked its birthday in space, as Neil Rapp, WB9VPG,
tells us.

NEIL: Happy 27th birthday to the satellite that was launched from
French Guiana in September of 1993 and is still on the job. Hams
around the world have made contacts with AMRAD-Oscar 27, which has
also been used for a successful D-STAR mode satellite QSO. Even after
a temporary outage in 2012, the team behind the project couldn't be
prouder of the satellite's longevity and its reputation for being
relatively easy to work. AO-27 was built by the Amateur Radio Research
and Development Corporation (AMRAD) in McLean, Virginia.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

(SOUTHGATE, AMSAT)
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ON-AIR EXCITEMENT FOR WORLD'S LARGEST SCOUTING EVENT

JIM/ANCHOR: Yes, it's almost time for Jamboree on the Air and Jamboree on
the Internet. Bill Stearns, NE4RD, gives us those details.

BILL: Radio Scouters are getting ready for the world's largest scouting
event just one week away, Jamboree on the Air and Jamboree on the Internet
on October 16th through the 18th local times. With current COVID-19
guidelines varying from state to state and country to country, this year's event will no doubt be somewhat of a challenge.

With the guidelines in place, we have definitely seen a decrease in
planned participation and as such we only have 4 call areas with reserved K2BSA callsign usage.

Mark Hughes, KG4VWE, will be activating K2BSA/4 in West Point, GA, at the Chattahoochee Council Fall Family Camp.

David Mulvey, K5DCM, will be activating K2BSA/5 in San Angelo, TX, with a location of To Be Determined.

Brandon Arias, KM6WZP, will be activating K2BSA/6 in Riverside, CA, at
Mount Rubidoux.

Lori Abraham and Robert Crow, KA8CDC, will be activating K2BSA/8 in
Wheeling, WV, at the Sandscrest Scout Reservation.

Registration for JOTA/JOTI is located at jotajoti.info this year. Please communicate your intentions for your activity with your local district and council for any approvals needed under the current guidelines in your
area.

For more information on this and radio scouting, please visit our website
at k2bsa.net.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, and the K2BSA Amateur Radio Association, this
is Bill Stearns, NE4RD.

**

HAMS ON HIGH ALERT DURING SIMULATED EMERGENCY TEST

JIM/ANCHOR: Hams around the United States were on high alert on Saturday October 3rd, and if the situations they faced felt a little unreal, that's because they were: The carefully scripted emergencies were part of a drill
for the Simulated Emergency Test of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service. Christian Cudnik, K0STH, has that story.

CHRISTIAN: From Bedford County, Pennsylvania to Cherokee County, Georgia -
and beyond - emergencies suddenly seemed real as first responders and
amateur radio operators played it for keeps in the Simulated Emergency
Test. The scenario there was a search for missing hikers in the woods.

Lloyd Roach, K3QNT, public information officer of the Bedford County
Amateur Radio Society, told WTAJ news that it was a chance to polish coordination skills with the area's firefighters, fire chiefs, police and
even the search-and-rescue teams.

Hams in Northern Florida responded to a simulation in which excessive heat taxed the power grid, prompting the state to begin rolling blackouts. The focus there was on response to heatstroke patients and individuals with critical needs requiring hospital transport.

In Georgia, the Cherokee ARES group tackled a simulated earthquake rocking
the state. Hams in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, responded to flooding
evacuations and illness from polluted water, ARES members in Hawaii
deployed EmComm stations for a simulated hurricane, communicating with shelters providing assistance.

In the days following the Simulated Emergency Test, organizers are
expected to assess the activity and uncover any weaknesses in procedures
and communications to better prepare for the real thing.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik, K0STH.

(WTAJ, WQOW, ARRL NORTHERN FLORIDA, CLAY TODAY)

**

SILENT KEY: ARRL NNJ SECTION MANAGER STEVE OSTROVE K2SO

JIM/ANCHOR: A New Jersey amateur radio operator who was a leader in the
radio community has become a Silent Key. Steve Ostrove, K2SO, Northern New Jersey Section Manager, died of cancer on October 2nd.

Steve became section manager in 2019, and had previously served in the position from 2016 to 2017.

Steve Ostrove was 74.

(ARRL)

**

RESEARCHERS CLAIM 'LIMITLESS' LOW-VOLTAGE POWER SOURCE

JIM/ANCHOR: Hams who operate portable, and even those who don't, are
always in search of the "perfect" power source. Researchers are too - and Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, tells us about some findings from scientists in Arkansas.

KEVIN: Physicists at the University of Arkansas have created a circuit
that they say can harvest the thermal motion inside graphene - an
electrically conductive form of elemental carbon - and turn it into low- voltage electrical current to power sensors or small devices.

They also say the power is clean and limitless. They created the circuit
by using two diodes to convert AC into DC. The pulsing DC current performs work on a load resistor.

The researchers claim the diodes have a symbiotic relationship with the graphene and increase the circuit's power. They believe that this project
has proven that graphene�s thermal motion at room temperature induces an alternating current in a circuit -- an achievement that some physicists
have said is not possible.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

(PHYS.ORG, TECH EXPLORIST.COM)
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HAMS PREP TO COMMUNICATE WITH HAWAIIAN RESEARCH SATELLITE

PAUL/ANCHOR: Elsewhere in the sky, and a bit higher up, there are plans
for hams to be part of a satellite mission that began as a project in
Hawaii. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, explains.

NEIL: The Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory has plans to collaborate with
amateur radio operators to communicate with its Neutron-1 satellite to
send and receive messages after the satellite is released in November from
the International Space Station. Neutron-1 is carrying an FM repeater with
a downlink on 435.300 MHz and an uplink on 145.840 MHz. It is expected to
be in space for about one year.

The satellite will be controlled through a ground station at a local
community college. The space flight lab will control the Neutron-1 via the GlobalStar network.

The Neutron-1 was launched aboard an NG-14 rocket from Virginia on Friday October 2nd as part of a resupply mission to the ISS. It is a project involving students, volunteers, faculty and staff at the University of
Hawaii. Its mission is to measure neutrons in space and radiation coming
from the sun.

The satellite is the space flight lab's second completed spacecraft. In
2016, the failure of a suborbital rocket after launch caused the loss of
the first iteration of the Neutron-1 payload.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

(AMSAT)

**

CLASSES BEGIN (VIRTUALLY) AT ARES ACADEMY

PAUL/ANCHOR: School is in session for the New England ARES Academy in the
U.S. but not the way it was originally planned. Heather Embee, KB3TZD, explains.

HEATHER: The Northeast HamXposition/ARRL New England Division Convention
was supposed to be hosting classes for the first New England ARES Academy
but the current pandemic called everything off. Well, almost. Academy
classes have still been going forward but now they are virtual. The
coursework is being offered instead on the Zoom platform. The courses accommodate beginners with five Basic Track classes and work with more advanced amateurs in additional sessions and workshops. One-hour classes
are being held on weeknights, and two-hour workshops take place on
Saturday mornings.

The courses provide additional guidance in the ARRL's ARES training
standards. The newly created New England ARES Academy grew out of the successful New Hampshire-ARES Academy program, which held classes for
eight years at the New Hampshire State Fire Academy.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD.

(SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION)

**

BELGIUM HALTS HAM RADIO EXAMS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Not everything can be done remotely, however, Amateur radio candidates in Belgium may have to wait a little longer to take their
tests. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has the details.

JEREMY: While many organisations around the world have gone online to administer amateur radio exams safely to candidates during the COVID-19 pandemic, Belgium has announced all testing must be halted.

The communications regulator BIPT said its decision was made out of
concern for the health and safety of BIPT staff and licence candidates. As
a result, testing has been suspended temporarily.

Belgium's national amateur radio society said that the BIPT will contact
the interested parties when examinations can return to normal. Candidates
who have already registered and paid for the test will be able to re-
register without incurring extra costs and will receive priority for
testing.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(SOUTHGATE)
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BALLOONS ARE JAMBOREE HEADLINERS FOR INDIANA SCOUTS

NEIL/ANCHOR: Remember last week's big balloon launch by students from around the United States? Well those balloons just gained some company up in the
sky. Boy Scouts in Indiana did a launch as part of Jamboree on the Air - and Andy Morrison, K9AWM, shares those details.

ANDY: Boy Scout Troop 1 in Jeffersonville Indiana places a special emphasis
on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math skills. So when the scouts
hosted their local council's Jamboree on the Air event on Saturday, October 17th, they naturally had everything down to a science. Or perhaps - UP - to
a science is a more accurate description: In addition to making HF contacts, fox-hunting and playing Morse Code games, the scouts launched lightweight helium balloons, each carrying a payload of no more than 13 grams. Now
they're tracking them using APRS in the hopes they can follow the planned circumnavigation of the Earth in the jet stream. Using the callsign N9BWT-
12, the balloons transmit their location every two minutes.

The project is nothing new to this science-minded group of scouts. During
last year's JOTA event, the lightweight balloon made its way around the
world one and three-quarter times before it was lost in a thunderstorm
in southern California.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(STEVEN DRIVER N9BWT)

**

COMPETITION IS IN THE CARDS FOR STRAIGHT KEY CENTURY CLUB

NEIL/ANCHOR: For members of the Straight Key Century Club, the competition's
in the cards - the QSL cards, that is. Skeeter Nash N5ASH explains.

SKEETER: CW enthusiasts who've had their fill of sprints, QSO Parties, marathons, and other on-air contests, are being invited to take their competitive spirits off the air for a little while, and express themselves
with something other than their straight keys. This is a QSL Card contest,
and it's for members of the Straight Key Century Club, which is marking
its 15th anniversary in 2021.

Members are being asked to provide designs for QSL cards to be used during
the club's annual Straight Key Month, which begins on January 2nd, 2021. The call sign for the event is, once again, K3Y.

If you belong to the club and have an idea for a catchy card, submit your entry no later than December 14th. Members will vote online for their
favorite designs starting on December 15th. The most popular design is the
one that gets the distinction of being the official K3Y QSL card for
Straight Key Month. Even if you don't win the top honors, if your QSL card lands among the top 12 in popularity, it will be among those featured in the club's printed calendar for the new year.

Members of the Straight Key Century Club should send their images to Drew at AF2Z at skccgroup.com (drew@skccgroup.com)

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH.

**

THE LAST OF TV'S 'LAST MAN STANDING'

NEIL/ANCHOR: Attention TV fans, Tim Allen, KK6OTD, is going QRT on the Fox Network. The American TV sitcom "Last Man Standing" will begin its ninth and final season on the network early next year. The Fox network has carried the series since May 2018, following its cancellation by ABC a year earlier. The show features Tim as amateur radio operator Mike Baxter, KA0XTT.

Producer John Amodeo, AA6JA, told Newsline in an email that cast and crew
are now in the process of shooting 21 shows to begin airing in January. All
is not lost, however: As John noted, even after Season 9 is done, the show's 194 episodes will live on in syndication.

(TV LINE)

**

DEADLINE APPROACHES TO APPLY FOR ARISS CONTACTS

NEIL/ANCHOR: Only a few weeks remain for teachers and other educators to be
a part of the next series of radio contacts with the International Space Station. Here's Paul Braun, WD9GCO, with those details.

PAUL: If you are an educator or part of an educational organization, this is
a reminder that you only have a little more than a month to apply for a ham radio contact with astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The proposal window closes on the 24th of November. Contacts are now being
planned to take place between July 1st and December 30th of next year. ARISS is looking in particular for organizations that will attract a high number
of participants and intend to use the experience as part of a larger
education plan.

Visit the website ariss dot org (ariss.org) for more details and to find a proposal form.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.
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BUSINESSMAN CLOAKS ANTENNAS SPROUTING UP IN NETHERLANDS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you think the next news item could be a great
opportunity for someone to help hams living in restrictive communities
to hide their towers and antennas, you're right. In fact, an
entrepreneur has done just that - in the Netherlands -- only he gets
hired mostly by telecomm companies. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, has the rest
of that story.

GRAHAM: The Dutch company appropriately called Camouflage BV, is in the business of making it seem like all those antennas have gone away. The company's chief, Anton Hermes, is an expert at hiding them.

Hermes has earned the nickname "Antenna Man" for good reason. He's
helping cloak many of the tens of thousands of antennas cropping up in
The Netherlands, including the new influx serving the growing 5G networks.

Antenna cloaking no longer means just pretending they are part of some
very tall trees. Hermes takes a more creative approach, using objects that resemble a church spire, fake windows, or the roof of a clock tower. The
only catch is that the camouflage must be crafted of polyester, since
many building materials block radio waves.

Although these antennas are for commercial ventures, hams can relate to
what he recently told a reporter for the online newsletter Vice
Netherlands. Hermes said: "This war against antennas upsets me."

Hams might say he has plenty of company.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(VICE NETHERLANDS)

**

THE GERATOL NET IS BACK FOR WINTER OPERATION

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The GERATOL Net is back. A new season of operating has
begun on this Worked-All-States Net. Extra Class operators in the U.S.
gather on 3.668 MHz every evening starting at 0100 UTC. Visit their
website at geratol.net - spelled G E R A T O L - and then plan to check
in. Newcomers as well as old members are welcome.

(GERATOL.NET)

**

FRENCH AMATEUR LOGS RECORD CONTACTS VIA SATELLITE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: There have been some new records set for satellite
contacts logged - and Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, is here to tell us about them.

NEIL: Two thousand twenty has turned out to be a record year for Jerome LeCuyer, F4DXV, and his satellite contacts. He and Casey Tucker, KI7UNJ,
told AMSAT that they have set a new record via the RS-44 satellite. On
October 19th, the French amateur completed a QSO of 8,402 km -- or 5,220
miles -- with Casey in Idaho. This broke the previous record of 8,357 km -
or just under 5,200 miles - set in May between a ham in Germany, and a
ham from Louisiana.

Meanwhile, Jerome reported another record-setting contact - this one on
AO-27, working Michael Styne, K2MTS, in New York. The distance of this
QSO was 5,904 km -- or 3,668 miles -- beating the previous record of
5,682 - or a little more than 3,500 miles - set in June between operators
in Russia and Thailand.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

(AMSAT)

**

SILENT KEY: CLIFF KAYHART W4KKP

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A ham radio operator who had just turned 109, has become
a Silent Key. Paul Braun, WD9GCO, shares this remembrance of him.

PAUL: Back in 2016 my editor, Caryn Eve Murray, gave me an assignment to contact and interview a man, who was believed to be the oldest living ham.

Cliff Kayhart, W4KKP was 104 years old at the time and had been a licensed, active ham for 79 years. He was an absolute delight to talk to, bright and sharp, and still active on the air. Our conversation was mostly about his
age and activity, but that story led to talk about World War II, and his experiences before, during, and after the war. As Newsline went to
production on Thursday, Oct. 29th, we learned that Cliff had become a
Silent Key on Oct. 26th, just a few days past his 109th birthday. Our condolences to his family and all who knew him.

After our Newsline report ran, we posted an extended version of my
interview with Cliff on our website as an "Extra." You can listen by
following the link in the text version of this newscast.

[[https://www.arnewsline.org/extra/2016/9/1/amateur-radio-newsline-report- 2027-extra.html?rq=cliff%20kayhart]]

(above URL all on one line)

On a personal note, the phone call I had with him remains one of the
highlights of my career with Newsline, and one of the most memorable of
my life. W4KKP has gone QRT one last time.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the WA2EHL
repeater in Burlington, New Jersey, on Fridays at 7 p.m. local time.
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SILENT KEY: JIM TIEMSTRA K6JAT, ARRL PACIFIC DIVISION DIRECTOR

NEIL/ANCHOR: A prominent radio amateur on the U.S. West Coast has become a Silent Key. Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, has that story.

RALPH: ARRL members on the West Coast have lost a leader: The ARRL's
Pacific Division Director, Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, has become a Silent Key.
The Oakland, California amateur died on October 30th.

Before becoming director in 2018, Jim had served as vice director from 2009 through 2017. He also served on a variety of committees and had a number of board assignments. An ARRL Life Member, Jim became a ham in 1970 in his Chicago, Illinois hometown where with the call sign WN9ELU he was president
of his high school radio club. Jim was best known for his enthusiasm for contesting and DXing and his commitment to public service and emergency response. He belonged to the Oakland Amateur Radio Emergency Service Group
and was part of the team responding in 1989 to the Loma Prieta earthquake
and in 1991 to the Oakland Hills firestorm.

Jim, a retired attorney, was the first president of the Oakland Radio Communication Association, which he incorporated in 1998 and served as a founding director. He was trustee of the club's call sign WW6OR.

Jim Tiemstra was 65.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.

(ARRL)

**

TURNING TO VINTAGE PUBLICATIONS ABOUT VINTAGE GEAR

NEIL/ANCHOR: Because radio waves are as old as nature itself, even the
oldest books rarely go out of style - just out of print. However one ham in Romania is making them available as free digital downloads. Ed Durrant,
DD5LP, picks up the story from here.

ED: There are hams who enjoy vintage rigs and antique straight keys but how about hams who appreciate historic publications about radio? Iulian Rosu, YO3DAC / VA3IUL, an accomplished QRP contester in Romania who loves
homebrew in addition to QRP operating, is one of those enthusiasts. Now he
is sharing free downloadable PDFs of some old books about radio that date
back as much as 100 years.

The titles include "The Wireless Experimenters Manual," by E. Bucher, published in 1920, and "Radio, Miracle of the 20th Century," by F. Drinker
and J. Lewis, published in 1922. He also has a collection of old radio magazines in downloadable format - publications such as the archive
collection of Radio Times, dating to 1923 and The Wireless Constructor,
from 1926. There's even a General Electric handbook on sideband, first published in 1961.

They are all there -- for the curious as well as the collector -- the
website URL appears in the printed version of this newscast on our website
at arnewsline.org

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

[FOR PRINT ONLY: DO NOT READ - https://www.qsl.net/va3iul/Files/Old_Radio_Frequency_Books.htm]

(SOUTHGATE, QSL.NET)

**

FCC OKS DIGITAL OPERATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL AM RADIO

NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams who have great enthusiasm for various modes of digital operation are getting some more company on the air - just in a different
part of the spectrum. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has told commercial AM radio stations that they will be allowed to convert to an all-digital broadcast if they are presently using analog or a hybrid of
analog and digital signals. The stations' changes are to be voluntary.

The FCC's late October announcement clears the way for AM stations to
provide an all-digital signal that gives better coverage over a wider area
of listeners and enables the signal to carry additional information, such
as the title and artist for a particular song -- details that are visible
on a compatible digital radio receiver.

The stations are required, however, to notify the FCC at least 30 days
before making their change. They are still required to be a part of the Emergency Alert System.

(FCC)

**

IRELAND'S 1st SATELLITE SEEKS AMATEUR RADIO INPUT

NEIL/ANCHOR: Ireland takes particular pride in the fact that it is
launching its first satellite in 2021 - but the team behind it is looking
for some amateur radio help. Here's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, to explain.

JEREMY: The Educational Irish Research Satellite 1 or EIRSAT-1, will be launched sometime early next year, carrying three science experiments on behalf of students at University College Dublin and other researchers. The
Low Earth Orbit CubeSat was designed by engineering and space science
students and academic staff as part of the European Space Agency's Fly Your Satellite programme.

Hams are being asked to help out with signal acquisition shortly after the satellite's launch on the Vega rocket. Hams, scanner, listeners and others
are being asked to help with ground station operations. In a recent visit
to the South Dublin Radio Club, David Murphy EI9HWB, and Fergal Marshall of the EIRSAT-1 team explained the satellite's operations and how hams can assist. Their talk is available on YouTube where the two explain the uplink and downlink schemes and the role amateurs can play.

To see the video, visit the club's website at southdublinradio club dot
weebly dot com (southdublinradioclub.weebly.com). Then get ready for the
new year when Ireland's first satellite will make history.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(SOUTHGATE, EIRSAT-1)
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SILENT KEY: NOTED LOW-BAND DXER JOHN DEVOLDERE ON4UN

JIM/ANCHOR: A noted DXer, a leader in low-band operations, and a friend to amateurs worldwide, has become a Silent Key. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us
about him.

ED: Many amateurs in the DXing world are grieving the loss of a friend, a mentor and a guiding spirit: John Devoldere, ON4UN, became a Silent Key on
the 9th of November. According to a post from his daughter Marleen on DX- World, John had been in poor health for sometime. His daughter said he died peacefully at his home in Belgium.

A prominent figure in low-band communications, he was celebrated by many for his friendship, his enthusiasm and his willingness to share what he knew. Known for his extensive writing, his popular book, "Low-Band Dxing," was the guide for many amateurs. He was elected to the CQ magazine Contest Hall of Fame in 1997 and the CQ DXing Hall of Fame in 2008.

John wrote on his QRZ page that he was a proud amateur for 59 years, having first been licenced in 1961 at the age of 20.

His daughter said a digital farewell ceremony was being planned for Saturday the 21st of November, and that details would follow. She said anyone with questions can email her directly at ON4UN dot SK at gmail.com (ON4UN.SK@gmail.com)

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(DX-WORLD, QRZ)

**

HAMS HELP CHILDHOOD FRIENDS HAVE ONLINE REUNION

JIM/ANCHOR: Amateur radio is all about making connections -- and in India,
two long-lost childhood friends who aren't hams learned they could rely on radio to bring them together, at least virtually. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, tells
us how it happened.

GRAHAM: It is said that amateur radio is one of the best places to meet new friends. But a ham radio club in the northeastern state of Tripura recently showed that amateur radio is also one of the best ways to meet up with old friends.

Just ask Chandana Basu and Sabita Roy. The two women were schoolmates 40
years ago in northern India, but after Chandana's family moved to West
Bengal in 1981, the friends lost touch. They both kept their childhood memories but also held onto hope they might see one another again someday.

That "someday" happened recently after Chandana acted upon her long-held
wish to see her friend. She learned that the Tripura Ham Radio Club had members who might be willing to assist.

She gave them her friend's old address, and club members eventually tracked Sabito to the city of Udaipur in Rajasthan, another northern state in India. This isn't the end of the story, however.

The two women finally had the first face-to-face communications in four decades, arranged by the Tripura Ham Radio Club and the Calcutta Ham Radio Club. The reunion took place over a video conference which, at least for non-hams, is the closest thing to a meaningful QSO as one can get.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(NORTHEAST NOW)

**

NEW MARIANAS ISLANDS CLUB HAS AMBITIOUS AGENDA

JIM/ANCHOR: One of the newest clubs in the Marianas Islands is small - but
it hopes to be mighty. Here's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, with the details.

JIM: The Radio Amateur Marianas DX Club has only had its licence since September but they are making up for lost time. Cris Francisco Jr., club president, told the Saipan Tribune in a recent news article that the club expects to be busy in this disaster-prone Pacific island commonwealth which was devastated after Super Typhoon Yutu struck in 2018 with rebuilding work continuing for months afterward.

Cris told the newspaper that a ham radio club would also enable better communications with the American Red Cross and other humanitarian aid
groups.

The 20 or so members also hope to be available for larger-scale events that are more upbeat, such as triathlons and other public events.

Cris said that ham radio is nothing new in the region and said many of the club members had belonged to organisations that are now gone. The club recently bought a repeater, which has the call sign WH0ACH.

He said there hasn't been an operating repeater in the Marianas since the typhoon destroyed the single repeater serving the region at that time.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(SAIPAN TRIBUNE)
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REALTIME SPECIAL EVENT HIGHLIGHTS VIRTUAL SCI-FI CONVENTION

DON/ANCHOR: When COVID-19 turned a popular sci-fi convention into a
virtual, socially distant event, some Chicago area hams got creative with
some plans of their own. Andy Morrison, K9AWM, explains.

ANDY: In the Chicago suburbs, what started out as science fiction ended
up as science fact. WindyCon, the well-attended annual science fiction convention had to be scrapped due to COVID-19 - but the event went
forward anyway as a virtual convention known as Breezycon, on November
13th through 15th. While sci-fi enthusiasts enjoyed panels, music and
gaming during those three days, with socially distant chatter on the
Discord app, hams from the DuPage Amateur Radio Club W9DUP showed their support as well. Taking their cue from Breezycon's change in plans - the
move from in-person to virtual - special event station W9W got on the air
too, just as scheduled -- and just as it had done in previous years for Windycon.

As things turned out, its operation was a virtual success: Using SSB, CW
and FT-8, DuPage Amateur Radio Club hams operated their personal stations
and paid tribute to sci-fi fans who were attending the big event from a
safe distance.

Some might say this is truly the stuff of sci-fi. But for those radio operators among us who already lost this year's in-person opportunities
at Hamvention, Friedrichshafen and the big Tokyo Ham Fair, this was
simply ham radio, doing what it does best.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

DON/ANCHOR: According to club vice president Daniel Gunderson, N9MUF, the
four operators logged 149 contacts over the weekend -- 93 SSB, 49 FT8,
and 7 CW. Well-done.

(QRZ.COM, WINDYCON, DANIEL GUNDERSON N9MUF)

**

FLORA & FAUNA ACTIVATIONS SWEEP AUSTRALIA

DON/ANCHOR: Whether you're an activator or a chaser, you don't want to
miss Australia's World Wide Flora & Fauna activation this month. Here's
Robert Broomhead, VK3DN, to tell us more.

ROBERT: Hams in Australia are getting ready for their big World Wide
Flora & Fauna activation weekend on the 28th and 29th of November. They
are registering their call signs and locations with Paul, VK5PAS, the
national coordinator. Paul is keeping track of amateurs who are involved
so he can prepare a report at the conclusion of the event, and send out Activation Participation certificates.

The many sites include Cape Blanche Conservation Park, Mornington
Peninsula National Park, Murray Sunset National Park and Echo Sugarloaf
State Reserve. There are more than 680 national parks throughout
Australia so there's plenty to choose from.

By the way, if you're planning to chase the activators, they will be
posting alerts to spot their operations on the website parksnpeaks.org

You can also consult the DX cluster at wwff dot co slash dx hyphen
cluster (wwff.co/dx-cluster)

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Robert Broomhead, VK3DN.

(WWFF AUSTRALIA)

**

ON-AIR TRIBUTE BEGINS TO INDIA'S PIONEER BOSE

DON/ANCHOR: How do you pay proper tribute to an early pioneer of wireless communication? You go on the air, of course -- and that's what is
happening now in India, as we hear from John Williams, VK4JJW.

JOHN: He is honored by many in India - and well beyond - as the father of wireless communication. There is no question that Jagadish Chandra Bose,
who was born on the 30th of November in 1858, left a sizable legacy to
radio when he died in 1937. Every year for the past 15 years, Datta
VU2DSI has gone on the air as a reminder to hams everywhere that we owe
much to this progressive-thinking 19th century born man of science and
his experiments, including communication in the microwave frequency range using a Galena crystal in his 60 GHz receiver.

This year, Datta will honor Bose by operating with the call sign AU2JCB, between the 20th of November and the 15th of December. He will be joined
by a number of other stations operating as well with JCB in the suffix.

For more details visit the QRZ.COM page for AU2JCB, and be listening.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.

(DATTA VU2DSI, QRZ.COM, BRITTANICA)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the W4HPL repeater of the Cookeville Repeater Association in Cookeville, Tennessee,
on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. Central Time.
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EVENT HONORS HAMMARLUND RADIO'S FOUNDER

PAUL/ANCHOR: Speaking of Hammarlund radios, do you remember them?
Perhaps you even own and still use one. This next story - from Mike
Askins, KE5CXP - is for you.

MIKE: By the time the Hammarlund Radio Hullabaloo special event station
W4H went off the air, the 11 operators from the High Appalachian
Mountain Amateur Radio Society had logged contacts and countless
stories. The three-day event between the 19th and 21st of November was a celebration of the November 19th birthday of company founder Oscar
Hammarlund in 1861. The operation also gave a respectful nod to the
presence of Hammarlund's radio factory right there in Mars Hill, North Carolina, between 1951 and 1973.

Mostly, however, the special event was a celebration of the famous
Hammarlund radios, some of which were pressed into service to make
contacts during this successful special event. According to Ralph,
W4RRJ, one operator was even using a Hammarlund SP-600 JX-17 receiver
and a Johnson Viking 2 when he made his contacts using AM mode. This
wasn't the only vintage equipment: Ralph said that about one-third of
the SSB contacts were made by operators using a Collins KWM-2.

Ralph told Newsline that the most common stories operators heard were
from hams who'd regretted having sold their old Hammerlund radios years
ago when they drifted away from amateur radio, not knowing they'd return someday. Another ham recalled growing up near the Mars Hill factory and remembering the silver dollars the company gave employees on the
business' tenth anniversary.

The special event also called for contacts on the Mt. Mitchell 2-meter repeater, the highest repeater east of the Mississippi River, so that
hams unable to get on HF could still check in. Ralph said next year's
plans are even bigger: it will be the 140th anniversary of Hammarlund's
birth and the 70th anniversary of the factory's move to Mars Hill.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mike Askins, KE5CXP.

PAUL/ANCHOR: Ralph told Newsline that in all there were 975 contacts in
49 states, 11 provinces, and 30 foreign countries.

(RALPH ROGNSTAD JR W4RRJ, HIGH APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN AMATEUR RADIO
SOCIETY)

**

GOING OFF ROAD AND ON AIR IN KENTUCKY

PAUL/ANCHOR: You don't always need to script a simulated emergency to
sharpen your emergency prepardness. One ham radio club in Kentucky demonstrated that recently by going on-air when a group of Jeep
enthusiasts went off-road. Christian Cudnik, K0STH, tells us what
happened.

CHRISTIAN: Members of the Lake Cumberland Amateur Radio Association
partnered in early November with the Somernites Cruise organization for
the inaugural Jeep Nationals Trail Event in the back woods of Kentucky. According to Chris Perry, KY4CKP, while 38 Jeeps had off-road adventures
in a local state park a number of LCARA operators were at remote support locations with access to the 2-meter repeater as well as to their EmComm trailer.

During the three-hour event, club members tracked the progress of the
event and were prepared to summon help if any vehicles broke down or any medical issues arose. Chris said the trail ran through an area where
cell service is practically nonexistent so the presence of the hams was
vital.

A YouTube video of the adventure, narrated by Brian Perry, KY4BDP,
summed up the point of the whole exercise. Brian says: "It doesn't have
to be an emergency, you can practice your emergency communication
procedures in a fun event where everybody has a good time." Video of the
event can be seen on the LCARA channel on YouTube.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik, K0STH.

(CHRIS PERRY KY4CKP)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
WA7ABU repeater in Salem, Oregon, on Saturdays at 6 p.m. local time.
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DISCOVERY EXTENDS LIFESPAN OF SOLAR PANELS

JIM/ANCHOR: There's some good news for hams who use solar panels when
they operate portable. Well, it's good news - but it's still in the
future. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the details.

JIM: Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have announced
their discovery of a means of extending the lifespan of perovskite-
based solar cells, using a method that is also environmentally
friendly.

Perovskite, which is used as a semiconductor, is light-sensitive
material that degrades over time.

The researchers are calling their finding a cost-saving measure because
it allows perovskite-based cells to be recycled. The process renews the
cells' ability to absorb light by restoring a panel's photovoltaic
capability.

One of the PhD students on the research team in the Department of
Applied Physics told the Jerusalem Post that the key is the use of a
layer of stable oxides. The student, Avi (Ah-Vee) Schneider said the
layer [quote] "acts as an electrode of the cell but it's also a stable material that allows for us to be able to remove any degraded
perovskite." [endquote]

He said that perovskite is the most sensitive component in the solar
cell and the most likely to suffer damage over time.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(JERUSALEM POST)

**

MARKETER OF MOBILE RADIOS AND HTS CHARGED BY FCC

JIM/ANCHOR: The FCC has cracked down on a California-based company,
saying it sold radios capable of transmitting illegally. Jack Parker,
W8ISH, tells us more.

JACK: The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has charged a radio
marketer with the sale of six models of mobile and handheld two-way
radios that allowed transmission outside authorized frequencies. The
November 24th action by the agency's Enforcement Bureau notified Rugged
Race Products, also known as Rugged Radios, that the California company
must immediately stop selling the radios in the U.S. or face fines.
According to the FCC citation, the agency's inquiry of the company's
marketing dates back to its initial contact in August of 2018 in
response to complaints.

The citation says Rugged Radios acknowledged that it marketed each of
the six models identified in the letter of inquiry, dating as far back
as February 2014.

The citation further says: [quote] "Rugged Radios acknowledged that all
six models were 'sold with the capability of being face-programmable to
allow a user to enter new operating frequencies' and that the
associated manufacturer or supplier delivered the radio to the Company
with this capability." [endquote]

The FCC acknowledges, however, that after the first letter of inquiry,
Rugged Radios did take steps to comply with agency rules and halted its marketing of four of the six models and later ensured that new models
included the appropriate FCC ID and labeling information. The company
also made firmware changes that disabled face-programming changes on
the two remaining models, but ultimately pulled them from the market as
well in May of 2020.

The FCC has given the company 30 days to respond to the citation.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.

(FCC)

**

CHANUKAH SPECIAL EVENT LIGHTS UP THE AIRWAVES

JIM/ANCHOR: If you're looking to grab some DX from Israel, you'll have
nine special days and nights in December. John Williams, VK4JJW, has
that story.

JOHN: Get ready for a number of Israeli radio amateur stations to light
up the airwaves throughout Chanukah, the festival of lights, for nine
days beginning at 1400 UTC on December 10th. The special event stations
will include 4X1C, which will be activated by a team of hams as the
first candle of the holiday is lit. On the next night, 4X2H, will join
4X1C on the air as the second candle is lit. Subsequent activations
will be by 4Z3A, 4X4N, 4X5U and others, with the number in each call
sign representing the number of candles to be lit on that day. All new stations will join the ones previously activated.

The team activating 4X0NER will be on for the duration of the special
event. Be listening on all the HF ham bands including the WARC bands
and the QO-100 satellite.

Operations end at 2159 UTC on December 19th. There are special
certificates available for Israeli amateurs, European amateurs and hams
from outside Europe. The certificates are digital downloads provided by
the Israel Amateur Radio Club. The club is also offering a prize for
best menorah and invites hams to email pictures of menorahs in and
around their QTH from their part of the world.

For details about the certificates and the photo contest, visit the
club website at iarc.org/iarc.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.

(ISRAEL AMATEUR RADIO CLUB)
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ARISS CONTACT TOUCHES DOWN IN OKLAHOMA

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In a part of Oklahoma with a proud space legacy, a new generation is touching the sky, this time via amateur radio. Here's
Mike Askins, KE5CXP.

MIKE: There's been a nice bit of astronaut history going on for years
in Tucumseh, Oklahoma, and perhaps no one knows that better right now
than the students in the Tecumseh High School Amateur Radio Club,
K5THS. On Friday, December 4th, they added themselves to that local
history book when they spoke over amateur radio with ISS astronaut
Shannon Walker, KD5DXB. The nine-minute Q&A happened over a 2-meter
station built by 20 ham radio operators. Teacher Bill Crow, K5LUO, led
the group in its effort to get the station, with its beam and
rotators, up and running.

One by one, the students quickly stepped up to the microphone inside
the school auditorium to deliver their questions to Shannon Walker,
who this year became the first woman to fly inside a SpaceX Crew
Dragon capsule. You can see a video of the exchange in the printed
version of this report's script on the Amateur Radio Newsline website. [arnewsline.org]

[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ: https://tinyurl.com/y3kofh36]

Making space history seems to be a natural for this part of Oklahoma.
Gordon Cooper, one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts, was a native
of nearby Shawnee, and attended Shawnee High School, where he played
on the school's football team. Gordon Cooper Drive is named for the
space pioneer, and it runs between Shawnee and Tecumseh.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mike Askins, KE5CXP.

(MARK KLEINE N5HZR, W5NOR.ORG)

**

'12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS' RETURNS FOR 3RD YEAR

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In just a few days, the 12-day countdown to Christmas
begins - and so does a popular holiday special event. Jim Damron,
N8TMW, tells us how to get involved.

JIM: If Salli Rosato, K2RYD, is feeling a little bit like Mrs. Santa
Claus right now, there's good reason: For weeks now, she's been
getting wish lists from hams everywhere, and it seems they're all
asking for the same present: Another chance to work the operators in
the Annual 12 Days of Christmas Special Event. Well, that wish has
been granted. The third annual special event begins on December 14th
at 00:00 UTC, and runs until Christmas Day at 23:59 UTC. Operators
from the Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club on Long Island will be
back on the air, as will operators from Michigan, Arizona, and
Virginia. As you've all been good little OMs and YLs, you're getting
an extra special present: Some of the operators will be calling QRZ
with two call signs - so you can grab your French hens, and your
turtle doves at the same time, and qualify more easily for that Clean
Sweep certificate. Be listening on 10 through 160 meters on SSB and
CW. There will also be satellite operations. The party, however,
doesn't end there. On Christmas Day, get back on the air, and work K2B,
the Christmas Birthday Special Event, and celebrate with three amateur
radio operators who will be a year older on December 25th.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.

**

CHRISTMAS EVE A SILENT NIGHT FOR SAQ TRANSMITTER

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: COVID precautions have cancelled the traditional
Christmas Eve transmission from Grimeton (pronounced: GRIMMA-ton)
Sweden by the Alexander Association. The SAQ transmitter's message is
sent every year on 17.2 kHz. The association website posted a notice
saying: [quote] "We find it sad to have to make this decision, but see
it as a necessary measure to protect everyone involved." [endquote]
The website directs fans of the historic transmitter to clips on
YouTube where previous transmissions can be heard.

(GRIMETON WORLD HERITAGE FOUNDATION)

**

FORMER HAM IN ILLINOIS GETS PRISON FOR CHILD PORN

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A judge has ordered an 80-year-old former ham radio
operator who was also a Scout leader to prison. Andy Morrison, K9AWM,
has the rest of the story.

ANDY: A former amateur radio operator and Scout leader in Illinois,
who had helped more than 300 young men attain the rank of Eagle Scout
over 40 years, has been sentenced to prison for child pornography,
according to various news reports.

A U.S. District Court judge ordered Milton Forsberg, formerly K9QZI,
to prison for 6 and a half years, a shorter sentence that the judge
said takes into account his age and poor health. Forsberg pleaded
guilty in August of this year.

A report in the News-Gazette said that Forsberg told the judge, during
a sentencing done via video, that he was ashamed of himself. The
prosecutor said police had also received tips about inappropriate
behavior when he was a Scout leader but he has not been criminally
charged.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

(NEWS GAZETTE, WCIA)
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VIDEOS AVAILABLE FROM QRP VIRTUAL CONVENTION

NEIL/ANCHOR: If you weren't able to attend the convention of the G-QRP Club this past September, there's still time to attend - virtually. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us how.

JEREMY: The G-QRP Club, which devotes itself to low-power ham radio, is
making presentations from its two-day Virtual Convention available on its
new YouTube channel and on the 9th of December began uploading videos of
the various sessions.

Welcoming visitors to the opening session, Nick Bradley, G4IWO, called the virtual event "a first for the QRP community" and called the attendance overwhelming. It was a new experience for the club, which was founded in
1979 by the Rev. George Dobbs, G3RJV. George became a Silent Key in March
of 2019.

The club's call sign is G5LOW. Its virtual convention was the concept of
club chairman Steve Hartley, G0FUW, who said during the opening session [quote] "I am proud we have been able to do something and see everyone turn out." [endquote] This was one of the ham radio events to take its
activities online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presentations covered such topics as HF propagation tools, going portable
QRP with SDRs, battery technology for QRP use and the FT4 and FT8 modes.

To find the archived presentations from the convention, visit the G-QRP
Club channel on YouTube.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(G-QRP CLUB)

**

SOLAR CELL SETS UNPRECEDENTED EFFICIENCY

NEIL/ANCHOR: If you make use of solar energy when doing portable
operations, this next story may be a ray of sunshine - literally. Here's
Ed Durrant, DD5LP, with the details.

ED: An international team headed by scientists has announced the
development of a solar cell that has beat the world record for efficiency.
The research center Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin said that the development of a perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell has created a 29.15 percent
efficiency, pushing it ahead of the existing maximum of 28 percent. This is
an important increase in the amount of energy produced using the same
amount of sunshine hitting the same surface area. The efficiency rating
means that these panels convert 29.15 percent of the incident light into electrical energy.

The researchers are encouraged that they will reach their long-range target
of more than 30 percent.

Silicon cells are the global standard used in solar farms and it has been developed separately from perovskite as a semiconductor for solar panels.
The researchers' published paper on the development calls the tandem solar cells "a promising option." The researchers also noted that combining the
two semiconductors doesn't notably increase the cost of the panels' manufacture.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(SCIENCE ALERT, SCIENCE MAGAZINE, HZB)

**

CHANGES TO NEW ZEALAND'S GENERAL USER RADIO LICENSE

NEIL/ANCHOR: In New Zealand, there have been some changes to the General
User Radio License, Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, gives us the details.

JIM: Recent changes by New Zealand regulators to the General User Radio Licence now permit the use of an increased number of unlicenced low-power wireless devices across frequencies that include the HF spectrum. The
changes permit the use of wireless microphones and Radio Frequency Identification transmitters in the gigahertz bands and Radio Spectrum Management is now allowing frequencies starting with the AM medium wave
band right up to 10 metres to be used for other low-power purposes, such as wireless charging devices.

The devices must be used in a manner that does not cause interference to licensed radio services, such as military, broadcast or amateur radio. If
that happens, the user must stop using the device.

The GURL requires use of equipment that complies with radio standards and
the technical parameters of the licence and mandates that each device carry
a label saying it is RSM-approved.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, SOUTHGATE)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the KV3B repeater in Rockville, Maryland, on Sundays after the net at 7:30 p.m. local time.
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IN AUSTRALIA, SPORADIC-E GOES THE DISTANCE

SKEETER: Two meters has been going the distance recently in Australia.
John Williams, VK4JJW, picks up that story for us.

JOHN: A remarkable opening recently on 144 MHz helped radio amateur transmissions in Australia span 3,200 km, or not quite 2,000 miles on
the 15th of December. According to a report on the EI7GL blog, summer Sporadic-E season takes the credit for the big opening in which WSPR
signals from John, VK2IJM, and David, VK2DVM, in Sydney, were copied in Western Australia near Perth by Peter, VK6KXW. One-hop Sporadic-E is
typically limited to a distance of 2,300 kms, or 1,429 miles.

The blog post goes on to say that the amateurs believe this distance
was perhaps accomplished with two Sporadic-E hops. They noted that it
is rare for this to occur at 144 MHz and more commonly seen on the 6
metre band.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.

(EI7GL BLOG)

SKEETER: From that same EI7GL blog comes another bit of news -- this
time by way of meteor scatter. During this year's Geminid meteor
shower, a 144 MHz signal from Jon, OY9JD, in the Faroe Islands was
heard 3,075 kms - or 1,910 miles -- away in Bulgaria by Stamen,
(pronounced STAMMIN) LZ1KU. The blog notes that typically meteor
scatter contacts' maximum distance is about 2,300 kms, similar to that
of Sporadic-E. So the contact couldn't be attributed to one-hop meteor scatter. According to the blog, it's now believed that Jon's signal may
have bounced off the International Space Station as it passed over
Europe.

**

EXTENSIONS GRANTED FOR GERMAN RADIO OPERATORS

SKEETER: German authorities have granted extensions to temporary
operations on various bands for radio amateurs - and they did it right
on deadline. Here's Ed Durrant, DD5LP, with the details.

ED: Just a little more than a week before a December 31st expiration
date, the German regulator BNetzA has extended the temporary use of a
number of bands for amateur radio operators and increased weekend top
band power levels, ensuring continued operations there through until
the end of 2021.

The IARU Region 1 website reports the weekend power increase to 750
watts output for class A and 100 watts for class E operators on the
1850-2000 kHz part of the German 160 metre band at which time contest
stations are allowed to use the band.

The regulator is also extending temporary use for 2320-2450 MHz (13cm), 5650-5850 MHz (5cm), 50-52 MHz (6m) and 70.150�70.200 MHz (4m) bands.

Amateurs in Iceland have also received a renewed authorisation for the
use of 1850-1900 kHz in international contests in the new year. The
national group - Icelandic Radio Amateurs or IRA received the approval
on December the 4th from the Post and Telecom Administration (PTA). The
use is subject to the same requirements as use of the frequency range 1810�1850 kHz.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(SOUTHGATE, IARU REGION 1)

**

AUSTRIAN HAMS GAIN ACCESS TO 60 AND 630 METRE BANDS

SKEETER: There's more room on the bands as well for amateurs in
Austria. Hams now have access to the 60 metre band from 5351.5 to
5366.5 kHz with a maximum EIRP of 15 watts and to 472 � 479 kHz at 1W
EIRP. This is consistent with other countries 60 metre access under the
ruling made at the ITU's World Radio Conference in 2015 and 630 metre
access from the ITU's WRC in 2012. Hams are secondary users on both 60
and 630 metres in countries where the bands are available.

(SOUTHGATE, SOTA REFLECTOR)

**

WHEN MORSE CODE GROWS ON TREES

SKEETER/ANCHOR: You may remember Newsline's story earlier this month
about London's Shard building sending Morse Code holiday messages from
its uppermost lights. In a similar way, a market town in Cheshire
England is using the lights on this season's Christmas tree to send the
dits and dahs of CW. Here's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, to decode that tale.

JEREMY: This Christmas, the residents of Macclesfield are learning what
many military and ham radio operators have known all along: if you want
to ensure that a message gets out, send it in Morse Code. That's
particularly true this year with the town's Christmas tree. The tree
has traditionally been decorated with paper stars bearing handwritten
messages - but that was before the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the
town council had a bright idea - an idea as bright as the lights on the Macclesfield tree itself. The council commissioned a local art
collective to install holiday lights that would be able to flicker
messages sent in CW. People now send those messages by texting to a
dedicated phone number and they are converted into the flickering
language of illuminated dits and dahs.

The installation is being called Message in Lights, and it is designed
to encourage appreciation of the tree for everyone from a safe
distance. Who knows? It might also encourage appreciation of Morse
Code, too.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(SOTA REFLECTOR)
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PROJECT KUIPER UNVEILS ANTENNA DESIGN

PAUL/ANCHOR: As any ham will tell you, when it comes to a good signal
it's all about the antenna. That wisdom is also a guiding principle for Project Kuiper, the Amazon satellite constellation designed to provide internet access from space. Here's Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, with that
report.

KENT: Following development and testing this past fall, Amazon has
unveiled its single aperture phased-array design antenna it plans to
use on customer terminals with the company's Project Kuiper satellite constellation. The details were made public on December 16th, revealing
a small, light antenna no more than 12 inches across and with the
capacity of a maximum throughput of as much as 400 Mbps. The small size
has been designed to keep production costs low.

Amazon's planned deployment of the 3,236 low-earth orbit satellite
group got the go-ahead this past summer from the Federal Communications Commission. The project's goal is to provide low-latency broadband
internet access with a focus on serving communities in remote regions
without traditional high-speed internet access.

The project's senior manager of hardware and antenna development, Nima Mahanfar, has said in published reports that the single-aperture
antenna design is unprecendented for the Ka-band, which is in the
microwave range where the transmit and receive frequencies are very far
apart. Project Kuiper boasts a major advancement here, combining
transmit and receive phased-array antennas into one aperture.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

(THE VERGE, SATELLITE TODAY, AMAZON)

**

SILENT KEY: TORONTO'S ALBERT VANDERBURG VE3ARV

PAUL/ANCHOR: A ham who made many contributions to amateur radio in the
Toronto, Canada, area has become a Silent Key. Dave Parks, WB8ODF,
tells us more about him.

DAVE: Albert Vanderburgh, VE3ARV, who was known in the ham community as
Van, was described as one of the core members of the Toronto FM
Communications Society. Paying tribute in his post on Ham Radio
Canada's Facebook page, Michael Walker, outlined some of Van's further accomplishments. He said Van had also been part of a group that
designed a repeater-linking controller in the 1970s that was so
advanced at the time that the professional engineering association, the
IEEE (Eye Triple E) wrote about it.

In the mid-1960s, Van had been a partner in a startup tech company
called Teklogix. It was there that he helped develop wireless
controlled conveyor systems and handheld devices used to manage
inventory back in the days before electronic barcodes came on the
scene.

Van was 96.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Dave Parks, WB8ODF.

(LEGACY.COM, FACEBOOK)

**

SILENT KEY: CW MENTOR ROY CLAYTON G4SSH, SOTA MAINSTAY

PAUL/ANCHOR: The SOTA community is grieving the loss of one of its
mainstays and mentors. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us about him.

JEREMY: Roy Clayton, G4SSH, has become a Silent Key. According to a
notice on the SOTA Reflector, Roy died on Christmas Day, another
casualty of COVID-19.

In posting the memorial to Roy, John, G4YSS, recalled that Roy had been
a ship's op on Shell Tankers and other marine radio shacks and the UK's
chief Morse Examiner for a good decade. Roy excelled in CW and John
described him as a CW mentor to many, including to himself.

He was also devoted to the mentoring of the next generation. As John
wrote: [quote] "It was Roy's idea. The Scarborough Special Event Group
gave a lot of pleasure and enjoyment over the years as avid collectors
of a series of colourful QSL cards will testify. It also taught several youngsters how to run a GB station and handle a pile-up, some of which
were massive." [endquote]

John wrote that Roy's affections also extended to Citizens Band radio,
where he ran The Chairman Network near Scarborough on Channel 17-FM.
John said: "He would give advice and loan equipment there too, even
sending around a monthly news-letter and was very much looked up to." [endquote]

Roy was 84.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(SOTA REFLECTOR)

**

'GET ON THE AIR' CW KEY AUCTION BENEFITS UK CHARITY

PAUL/ANCHOR: The Get on the Air to Care campaign in the UK, which won
this year's Amateur Radio Newsline International Newsmaker Award, has
won another victory for encouraging increased radio contacts during
lockdown. The Radio Society of Great Britain, which partnered with the
UK's National Health Service in this campaign, has raised more than
2,000 pounds - or nearly $2,800 in equivalent US currency, following
its charity auction. An anonymous CW enthusiast made the winning bid of 1,025.99 pounds for a handcrafted Bug CW Key made by Roy Bailey, G0VFS.
The RSGB is matching the funds and donating the sum to the NHS
Charities Together fund. Meanwhile, the related campaign, Get on the
Air for Christmas, continues until January 9th, encouraging holiday
QSOs as a way to ease isolation.

(RSGB)
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LAWMAKERS SEEK PROBE INTO ARECIBO COLLAPSE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In the US, Congress is taking a second look at the
collapse of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Paul Braun, WD9GCO,
tells us more.

PAUL: Lawmakers in Washington, D.C., plan an investigation into the
December collapse at the Arecibo Observatory, just weeks after Puerto
Rico's outgoing governor committed $8 million in resources to rebuild
its historic radiotelescope.

In the December 1st collapse, the dish was gashed beyond repair
following the crash of a 900-ton instrument platform. The telescope, a
valued cornerstone in modern astronomy, was being decommissioned by the
US National Science Foundation following other damage that occurred
weeks earlier. At the time of the final collapse, it had been earmarked
for dismantling.

Congress has requested a report by the end of February.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO

(SPACE.COM)

**

IOWA STUDENTS' BALLOON CIRCLES EARTH A THIRD TIME

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The world has kept turning into the new year and so too
has one Iowa amateur radio club's balloon project. Jack Parker, W8ISH,
has that story.

JACK: Three circumnavigations after its launch, the Pella Amateur Radio
Club's APRS balloon was still the pride of the Jefferson Intermediate
School fifth graders who'd helped launch it back in November. It ended
the year 2020 as a success in the sky. Transmitting on 144.39 MHz with
the callsign WB0URW-8, the helium-filled balloon had completed three
trips around the world since its November 5th launch and seemed
unstoppable. It was still making its rounds as 2021 dawned, according to
radio club member Jim Emmert, WB0URW. Jim told KNIA-KRLS radio that in
its third trip around Planet Earth, the balloon passed over Canada,
Greenland, Portugal, Spain, Albania and North Macedonia - among many
other places. Powered by solar panels, the balloon can be tracked by
following the link that appears in this week's script on our website at arnewsline.org.

[for print only, do not read: https://aprs.fi/#!call=a%2FWB0URW- 8&timerange=604800&tail=604800]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: According to a January 6th report by the radio station,
the balloon has since completed its fourth trip - a journey that takes
about two weeks. The students have reason to be proud.

**

PROJECT EYES DIRECT WAY TO GATHER SOLAR POWER

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Imagine collecting the solar power you need from a spot
much, much closer to the sun. Jim Damron, N8TMW, tells us about a
project that's doing more than just imagining.

JIM: The US Air Force Research Laboratory is hanging its hopes on
something called Helios. It's a key component named after the Greek sun
god and is part of an experiment known as Arachne (Uh-RACK-Knee)
expected to be launched into space in 2024. The formal name of the
project is the Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstrations and Research
solar beaming project.

What's that? The Air Force lab describes it as a project that will
explore a way to harvest solar energy directly from space, where
sunlight is more potent outside the Earth's atmosphere and where solar
panels have more hours of exposure. Through use of something called
"sandwich tiles" and other systems, the experiment will convert the
collected energy to radio waves for beaming back to Earth as usable
power.

Helios, which is being supplied by Northrup Grumman, will house the
platform on which these solar beaming experiments occur. Northrup
Grumman's role has left the Air Force lab free to concentrate on
acquiring a spacecraft where it might all begin to happen.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.

(CLEAN TECHNICA, POPULAR MECHANICS, US AIR FORCE)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the WB
ZERO YLE (WB0YLE) repeater on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., through Allstar, in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, and Fall River, Massachusetts.
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REVERSE BEACON NETWORK ADDS NODE IN FINLAND

JIM/ANCHOR: Researchers whose studies focus on propagation have gained
a new tool in their arsenal. It's in Finland - and Ed Durrant, DD5LP,
tells us about it.

ED: A new node has become active in northern Finland as part of the
Reverse Beacon Network, thanks to the support of the Yasme Foundation.
The new node was set-up at Radio Arcala OH8X, near the Lapland border
to help in the study of a propagation mode known as the Polar Path.
This propagation occurs in northern Europe during winter. At night,
the Polar Path provides several hours' worth of coverage over North
America.

Radio Arcala's node will become one of the research tools being used
by the researchers in that part of the world. The Yasme Foundation's
grant programme was announced last year, providing grants to regions
studying reception reports and conducting geophysical research. A
Yasme-funded node was installed last October in Tunisia, bolstering
the Reverse Beacon Network's presence in northern Africa.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(WIA, EHAM.NET)

**

POPULAR TV PERSONALITY GETS HAM RADIO LICENSE

JIM/ANCHOR: It seems that "Last Man Standing" actor Tim Allen isn't
the only main player on a TV show to get a ham radio ticket. Meet
Donna Snow, who has been a fixture on a popular DIY Network program in
the U.S. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, introduces her to us.

KEVIN: Donna Snow of the long-running reality show "Texas Flip 'N
Move" recently became Donna Snow, W5SML. Although her call sign is a
lot newer than the name she made for herself on the popular home-
makeover series, she is hoping for changes in her own shack soon.
Inspired by her ham radio mentor Rex King, W5EAK, a Vietnam veteran
and a former Navy radioman and officer, Donna is exploring ways to use
ham radio as a tool to connect veterans struggling with life after
military service. She has already accomplished that through renovation projects that included making a bathroom safer for a Vietnam vet, and repairing a flood-damaged American Legion Post. She is presently
redoing the yard outside the home of a widow of a veteran who fought
at Iwo Jima.

While studying to upgrade to General class, she is also making plans
for a TV show featuring amateur radio and, of course, the veterans
themselves. Her progress reports appear every week on her QRZ page.

Donna told Newsline in an email: [quote] "I am on a mission to tell
everyone about ham radio and the benefits it offers to all, no matter
their age." [endquote] She said she is living the spirit of her vanity
call sign W5SML - SML for "Snow Much Love."

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

**

LAUNCH OF SPAIN'S HAM RADIO SATELLITE POSTPONED TO MARCH

JIM/ANCHOR: Two ham radio satellites from Spain have had their
launches put off for a few more weeks. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, explains.

JEREMY: A delay by SpaceX has postponed Spain's scheduled amateur
radio satellite launch on January 14th. The departure of the EASAT-2
and Hades satellites is now on the calendar for sometime in March to
coincide with the Starlink mission.

According to the AMSAT-EA website, both satellites are carrying an FM
/ FSK repeater and are capable of voice and digital communications.
EASAT-2 is assigned the callsign AM5SAT and Hades is assigned AM6SAT.

SpaceX is to launch the satellites via the in-space transportation
provider Momentus aboard the Falcon 9 Launcher.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(AMSAT-EA, SOUTHGATE)

**

SPACECRAFT COPIES FM SIGNAL NEAR JUPITER'S MOON

JIM/ANCHOR: Think of this as perhaps the world's tiniest space QSO.
NASA reports that its Juno spacecraft which is orbiting Jupiter copied
an FM radio signal from its largest moon, Ganymede (GANNY-MEED). It
turns out that the radio emissions were the result of electrons
oscillating at a lower rate than they were spinning, causing them to
amplify radio waves. Juno picked it up as it was passing by a polar
region of Jupiter where the magnetic field lines connect to Ganymede.

It's called "cyclotron maser instability" and it's a natural
occurrence. The excitement only lasted 5 seconds -- but it was a
first.

(EOS.ORG)
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CITY ANTENNA LAW UPTURNED BY FCC RULING

NEIL/ANCHOR: The FCC has invalidated one U.S. city's law challenging
satellite antenna installations. Andy Morrison, K9AWM, has the details.

ANDY: The FCC has declared that federal law protects the right of
property owners and tenants to install and use satellite dish antennas,
even if the antennas are visible from the street. The panel's ruling
on January 11th, invalidates an ordinance in the city of Chicago,
Illinois, that restricts such installations. The FCC says that its
rule - known as the Over the Air Reception Devices rule, or OTARD -
protects the antennas' use, and allows video consumers greater choice
of content. Chicago had argued that its law, enacted in 2012, was put
in place to enforce "aesthetic standards", and that the measure does
not violate the federal ruling. The petition had been brought by the
Satellite Broadcasting & Communications Association, DirecTV, and the
DISH Network.

The Over-the-Air Reception Devices Rule does not apply, however, to
AM/FM radio, CB radio, or amateur radio.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

(FCC)

**

PROPOSAL TO SUPPORT JAPAN'S STUDENT RADIO OPERATORS

NEIL/ANCHOR: Students in Japan could get more opportunities in amateur
radio, if a requested change in national regulations wins approval.
Graham Kemp, VK4BB, has that story.

GRAHAM: Elementary and junior high school students in Japan can expect
greater opportunities in amateur radio. This, under a proposal from the
Japan Amateur Radio League. League president Yoshinori Takao, JG1KTC,
has asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, for
changes in regulations that would create greater chances for students interested in volunteering activities, especially disaster communications.
The change, if approved, would require a partial amendment to the Radio
Law Enforcement Regulations. In a translation from the Japanese, posted
on various news websites, Yoshinori said: [quote] "We would like to
nurture a wide range of amateur radio operators, who will lead the next generation." [endquote] The initiative is being undertaken, in
cooperation with the Japan Amateur Radio Development Association.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(SOUTHGATE, JARL)

**

FCC REMINDER ISSUED DAYS BEFORE U.S. INAUGURATION

NEIL/ANCHOR: With fears of further civil unrest in Washington, D.C. at
the presidential inauguration on January 20th, the U.S. Federal
Communications Commission issued a warning several days earlier, in the
form of an enforcement advisory to all licensed and unlicensed radio
services, stating that providing any support to such activity could be considered a criminal act. The advisory was directed at amateur radio operators, operators on the General Mobile Radio Service, Family Radio
Service radios, and Citizens Band. The advisory noted that this applies
as well to messages that are encoded to mask their meaning. The advisory states: [quote] "Individuals using radios in the Amateur or Personal
Radio Services in this manner may be subject to severe penalties,
including significant fines, seizure of the offending equipment, and, in
some cases, criminal prosecution." [endquote]

(FCC)

**

GOLD RUSH SPECIAL EVENT STATION IS MINING FOR CONTACTS

NEIL/ANCHOR: In California, a special event station, marking America's
Gold Rush is mining for contacts, as we hear from Mike Askins, KE5CXP.

MIKE: You might say this event is as good as gold and, well, you wouldn't
be exaggerating. The El Dorado County Amateur Radio Club is marking the discovery of gold in 1848 at Sutter's Mill -- a discovery which most
students of American history know sparked the Gold Rush the following
year. This year, the mad rush on January 23rd and 24th will be on the HF
bands. As hams look to strike QSO gold using CW, SSB, RTTY, PSK-31, and
JS8, they will be digging deep through all those pileups, and hoping to
log the club call sign AG6AU. By the way, it's no exaggeration to say
you'll strike gold if you get a valid contact. The callsign suffix "AU"
means gold on the periodic table of elements.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mike Askins, KE5CXP.

(EL DORADO AMATEUR RADIO CLUB)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world, and now being heard as well
on the Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club's W2GSB and WB2QGZ repeaters,
on Saturday mornings at 8, following the 7 a.m. check-ins of the club's
new "Newsline With a Cup of Joe" Net. Newsline is also heard on Monday
nights at 8 p.m. after the club's Info Net.
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FIRST DIGITAL SYSTEM OPERATIONAL IN NORTH DUBLIN

PAUL/ANCHOR: Hams using digital modes in one part of Ireland have
something to be grateful for, as Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us.

JEREMY: In Ireland, hams in North Dublin who use the digital modes are celebrating the area's first digital system, which was put into use on
the 19th of January. The C4FM Wires-X Gateway became operational thanks
to the efforts of Ger EI4HOB and the North Dublin Radio Club EI0NDR.
With the call sign EI2PMD, it is available to local hams at 144.825 MHz.
The repeater is linked to the CQ-IRELAND Room, as are systems from
Galway, Limerick, and Northern Ireland.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(IRTS)

**

QCWA IN SEARCH OF TREASURER

PAUL/ANCHOR: The Quarter Century Wireless Association is looking for an amateur radio operator who doesn't just love radio but has a talent for finance and numbers too. In short, the nonprofit group is in search of a treasurer to fill the post left vacant last year. The treasurer is
responsible for preparing the proposed operating budget for approval by
the Board of Directors. The treasurer also provides the Board with
quarterly income statements along with a year-end income statement and
balance sheet. The treasurer's responsibilities also include preparing
the necessary paperwork at tax time, which includes the proper documents
for employees and contract workers and the federal tax return, among
other forms.

Members who are interested should contact Ken, VE6AFO, at
president@qcwa.org.

(QCWA)

**

SKYWARN PREPS FOR SEASON'S STORMY WEATHER

PAUL/ANCHOR: Stormy weather is a reality this time of year in many parts
of the world. In the U.S., a special group of hams is always preparing
for it, as we learn from Randy Sly, W4XJ.

RANDY: While we normally think of Skywarn activations during tornadoes
and hurricanes, winter storms also require “ground truth,” actual
reports from the field to confirm what meteorologists are observing on
radar and with other instruments. While spotters can report by phone,
email or online, those from the Amateur Radio community can also
communicate such things as snow depth and ice accumulation to
meteorologists quickly and efficiently through local repeater nets
connected to the weather services office.

Christopher Strong, Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the Baltimore/Washington Weather Forecast Office, states, "Reports of snow
and ice are vital to keeping the forecast on track. Automated reporting stations are great at detailing temperatures, rainfall, and winds, but
do not report snow and ice accumulation. So, spotter reports really help
us see how much is accumulating and match it up with how much we
expected through that time."

Reports from radio amateurs and other spotters help the National Weather Service save lives and property in the community and minimize the impact
of severe weather on the public. To find out more about becoming a
Skywarn Spotter, please visit the Skywarn page on the National Weather
Service Website and click on the link to contact the Warning
Coordination Meteorologist in your area.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Randy Sly, W4XJ.

**

CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE SOLAR KIND

PAUL/ANCHOR: In the U.S., the Parker probe sent up by NASA has just made
a close encounter of the solar kind. Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, gives us the details.

KENT: For the first time since last September, NASA's Parker Solar Probe spacecraft made a close approach to the sun just as solar activity began
to kick into high gear.

From a distance of 8.4 million miles, or 13.5 million kilometers, the
probe made its approach on Sunday, January 17th. There's plenty of data
for it to collect, especially with Solar Cycle 25 now well under way.
Last November, the sun had its first major flare in three years.

NASA has planned four close approaches to the sun this year along with
two flybys of Venus, with the first one happening on February 20th.
After that, it's back to the sun for another close look on April 29th.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

(SPACE.COM)
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RESTORATION BEGINS ON WORLD WAR II ENIGMA MACHINES

JIM/ANCHOR: If restoring old boat anchors, or even making ancient straight keys usable, is a challenge that appeals to you, consider this monumental
task being undertaken in Germany right now. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us
about it.

ED: It looks like restoration experts at Germany's State Archaeological
Museum in Schleswig-Holstein are looking at additional work. After
starting the one years desalination and restoration work on a World War II enigma machine found in the Baltic Sea off the north east coast of Germany
in December last year, another six units have been found. Unfortunately
many of this find had been made unusable before they were thrown into the
sea from German Warships at the end of the second world war.

The machines, which resemble old typewriters, have inner workings that
include three interchangeable rotors used to scramble messages. These
messages were then sent using Morse code to another ship or land station
that had another enigma machine to decode the message.

Restored enigma machines have been shown and operation demonstrated both
at Friedrichshafen, and Dayton Hamfests.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(LIVESCIENCE, PHYS.ORG)

**

HAMS IN INDIA HELP ID MISSING MAN AS AUSTRALIAN CITIZEN

JIM/ANCHOR: Amateur radio operators in India are being credited with
helping make an important contact in Australia but the communication here
has nothing to do with DXing. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, tells us what
happened.

JASON: A man who had been found wandering disoriented on the streets of Kolkata, India several weeks ago has been identified as an Australian
citizen with the help of local amateur radio operators. According to a
report in the Times of India, the 69-year-old man, who is of Indian
origin, is from Sydney, Australia. He has been in one of the local state-
run hospitals since he was found.

The West Bengal Amateur Radio Club intervened at the request of local
health department officials who wanted the man's family located and knew
the club has a long track record of helping reunite families.

Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, club secretary, said that although there were still many missing details, paperwork found in the man's possession
indicated he was residing in Sydney but had formerly owned property in
India. The newspaper report said the man speaks English but appears to
have some kind of mental disorder. The Australian Deputy High
Commissioner's Office in Kolkata told the newspaper that efforts are under
way to contact his family members.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(TIMES OF INDIA)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K3ALG repeater
in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, on Sundays at 4:30 p.m. local time.
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YOUNG CALIFORNIA AMATEUR WINS CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Congratulations to the California ninth grader and
amateur radio operator who is among those students to win the prestigious Congressional App Challenge. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, has the details.

NEIL: Sean Donelan, KM6NGN, is the author of an amateur radio app for
mobile devices that simplifies coordination tasks for net controllers overseeing hams in the field at public service events. The app, NetHam,
was the top winner in the 2020 Congressional App Challenge in his home
state's 11th congressional district. The United States House of Representatives established the nationwide award eight years ago to
inspire students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and
Math. The award is being given out this year in 308 of 435 congressional districts.

The app makes use of a Raspberry Pi4B, an Arduino, and a Nextion HMI
Touch Display. To see it in action, watch Sean's demonstration video
at the web address you'll find in this week's newscast script at arnewsline.org. Well done, Sean!

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ: vimeo.com/454747550]

(PATCH, SOUTHGATE)

**

QSO PARTY BRINGS ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES IN MINNESOTA

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The biggest challenge of a QSO Party isn't necessarily
the propagation. Here's Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, with the story of one
group of hams who found that out.

KENT: Members of the Mississippi Valley Amateur Radio Association were up
for the challenge of the Minnesota QSO Party and hoped their brand-new
Mobile Communications Bus was too. The hams crossed the state border from their Wisconsin home into a Minnesota county that is considered rare in
these operating events. Using CW and phone, they joined the action from a parking lot at a high point in Houston County for the February 6th
contest. They used the call sign Whiskey Zero Minnesota (W0M). Vice
president Bill Kleinschmidt, N9FDE, told Newsline that 11 hams
participated, two serving as the main ops while others filled in and
provided support.

Bill said Mother Nature was ready for the QSO Party too - in a different
way. He told Newsline: [quote] "She dumped six inches of snow on us just before the contest, then to add insult, she dropped the temperature ten to twenty below zero for setup and takedown operations." [endquote] The bus passed the test and kept everyone warm for the full 10 hours. The club did well too with a total score of 203,392, combining the 1,816 QSO points to
the state, province, country and DX scores.

Bill told Newsline the real challenge of the day came later, when the bus brakes failed just as the hams prepared to drive down from the hill. The brakes had begun to leak.

The hams made one final call of the day: to Craig, N9ETD, who runs a
towing business. Bill told Newsline that repairs were under way, and the
club should be back on the road soon for new adventures. Next up: their
home state Wisconsin QSO Party on March 14th and 15th.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

(BILL KLEINSCHMIDT N9FDE)

**

MARS MEMBERS AND HAMS PREP FOR INTEROPERABILITY EXERCISES

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Members of the Military Auxiliary Radio System will have
their first interoperability exercise with the amateur radio community on February 23rd through the 27th. Exercises will begin on Channel 1, the
initial calling channel on 60 meters, but may not necessarily be limited
to that channel.

US Army MARS Chief Paul English, WD8DBY, issued a statement saying that
ICS 213 messages will be passed in both voice and digital modes. Radio operations will also take place in the usual voice modes.

Following this month's exercise, the next one will be held from March 1st
to March 7th.

(MARS)

**

U.S.-BUILT RF JAMMERS TO ASSIST AUSTRALIA'S MILITARY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: An American-built RF-jamming system is about to begin production to help the military in Australia. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW,
explains what it will do.

JASON: Australia's military is expected to benefit from the protective
power of RF jammers under a system being developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation in the United States. The system of open-architecture RF
jammers will be built by electronic warfare experts to provide protection
from radio-controlled improvised explosive devices, or IEDs. The system
is designed to minimise disruption to communications systems while establishing a protective barrier for the warfighters and their equipment.

The $329.9 million order for the system, which is designed to protect foot soldiers, vehicles and permanent structures, according to officials of the United States Naval Sea Systems Command, which announced the order. Work
will be done in San Diego, California and is expected to be ready for
delivery to Australia by December of 2022.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(MILITARY AEROSPACE.COM)
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VARIETY OF EVENTS MARK WORLD RADIO DAY CELEBRATIONS

PAUL/ANCHOR: A lot of celebrating took place around the world and on the
air during the weekend of February 13th and 14th. It was the 10th
anniversary of UNESCO's World Radio Day, recognizing radio as the single most-consumed medium with an ability to reach the world's largest and most diverse audiences. Amateur radio was, of course, a big part of the global activities. In Spain, call signs were activated with the suffix WRD from
the 12th to the 14th of the month. Hams throughout India had a variety of activities on tap. In the southern Indian state of Kerala (KER-uh-luh),
the Institute of Amateur Radio had hams on the radio reminding people of
the rescue and disaster assistance hams provide during floods, cyclones
and other events. A radio festival displayed antique and unusual
equipment, from handhelds to rare transmitters. Hams also got busy
preparing for a two-day Field Day in India on the 27th and 28th of
February where emergency communications will be given a test run. The
website, weather.com, even got into the act by posting an article
reminding people of hams' unique ability to assist in emergencies even
when commercial power has been cut off. One celebration began over the
weekend and will continue at least for a while longer. Be listening for
the callsign 4U13FEB until the 28th of February. Members of the UN Global Service Center ARC in Brindisi, Italy, are calling QR Zed until then to promote World Radio Day. Meanwhile, get ready for the next big event specifically for hams: Sunday, April 18 is World Amateur Radio Day.

(SOUTHGATE, WEATHER.COM, INDIAN EXPRESS)

**

REVIVED ANTENNA RECONNECTS WITH VOYAGER 2

PAUL/ANCHOR: If you've ever been off the air for a year or so, you know
that your first contact has got to be a good one. Especially if it's
serious DX like the one we hear next about from Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

GRAHAM: The completion of a complicated upgrade of an aging antenna at the Deep Space Network in Canberra, Australia has restored full contact
between Earth and the Voyager 2 probe. The trailblazing spacecraft, which
was launched 44 years ago by NASA, had been crossing the heavens in
relative silence after a 70-meter dish there known as DSS 43 was shut down
and dismantled for a needed refreshing. In space as on Earth, however, few things are immune to the impact of the global pandemic. The ordinarily
large team of experts NASA would have sent to Canberra for the makeover
was limited to four for safety reasons — and the reduced size of the team delayed the upgrade's progress. With DSS 43 being the only antenna capable
of communicating with Voyager 2, the probe had few options for
communicating: It could only transmit to the smaller dishes in Canberra
but was unable to receive any commands, especially those that could have
fixed problems if any had been detected on board.

After a test message was sent last October when DSS 43 was partially reassembled, NASA and other experts were optimistic.

Now with DSS 43 back in business, the long silence is over but two-way
contact still requires something of a wait: Round-trip communication
between Earth and the far-away Voyager 2 takes 35 hours.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(NYTIMES)

**

SILENT KEY: LIGHTHOUSE ACTIVATOR HANDEL 'ANDY' BLUER G3UUZ

PAUL/ANCHOR: A ham known for years of powerful operations at lighthouses throughout the UK has become a Silent Key. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us
about him.

JEREMY: Handel Bluer, G3UUZ, who was also known as Andy, is perhaps best recalled by hams throughout in the UK for the remarkable longwire antennas
he would string from atop whatever lighthouse he happened to be
activating. That included those times he operated from Bishop Rock between 1976 and 1980 where he worked pileup after pileup, according to his son Redders M5ACT. Redders told Newsline he remembered his father saying that
he was able to work stations in America from there long before anyone else
in the UK was able to do so.

Andy became a Silent Key this month at the age of 92. He had achieved recognition in The Short Wave Magazine in July of 1971 for his noted
abilities in Top Band operation from such lighthouses as Nash Point in
South Wales. Andy's fondness for lighthouse operations earned him a
profile in the March 2000 issue of Practical Wireless magazine where the authors of the article said they were pleased to be shared his insights
into [quote] "finding a happy medium between being a lighthouse keeper and
a radio amateur." [endquote]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(REDDERS BLUER M5ACT, THE SHORT WAVE MAGAZINE, PRACTICAL WIRELESS)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K7ECI repeater
of the Elmore County Amateur Radio Club in Mountain Home, Idaho on
Wednesdays at 8 p.m. local time.
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COLORADO STUDENTS MAKE CONTACT WITH ISS

DON/ANCHOR: It was worth waiting for: A contact at last between the ISS
and students in Denver, Colorado. Amanda Alden, K1DDN, has those details.

AMANDA: After dealing with strict COVID safety guidelines and numerous schedule changes, STEM students from John F. Kennedy High School in
Denver, Colorado, finally got the green light for their QSO with Commander Mike Hopkins, KF5LJG, aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday, February 24th. The successful telebridge contact was arranged using a
relay station in Portland, Oregon with David Payne NA7V as the controller.
The last ARISS attempt with a school failed to take place because of
technical difficulties.

During the 11-minute pass, students were able to ask 20 questions, ranging from the way COVID-19 has impacted space travel to whether any data-
collection done in space has helped in an emergency situation on Earth. In late 2019 the JFK school partnered with members of Rocky Mountain Ham
Radio and the Cherry Creek Young Amateur Radio Club who mentored the
students on the use of amateur radio communications to prepare them for
their ARISS contact.

To hear the contact, visit YouTube at the link printed in this week's
newscast script at arnewsline.org

[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RgszX0npbQ]

**

INDIA HOSTS NET IN THE LANGUAGE OF FRIENDSHIP

DON/ANCHOR: Friendship has many languages in amateur radio. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, tells us about one recent net that celebrated all of them.

JIM: Amateur radio operators in India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and elsewhere checked into a special 90-minute friendship net held on the 21st of
February, marking the UN's declaration of International Mother Language
Day. The more than 100 check-ins came throughout Asia as well as Mexico, Ukraine and the United States via EchoLink while those in the Kolkata,
India region connected through the local VHF repeater. The net had been organised by the Amateur Radio Society of Bangladesh and the West Bengal
Radio Club as a celebration of cultural and linguistic diversity. The
United Nations created International Mother Language Day in 2000 in the
hopes of fostering multilingualism and a general appreciation for other languages.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

**

MULTI-LINGUAL HAM HANDBOOK GOES ONLINE

DON/ANCHOR: Speaking of languages, which one do YOU speak? An online
project by a YL in Russia has helped hams make their QSOs a little more multi-lingual. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us more.

ED: Radio communication needs language as much as it needs good equipment
in the shack and now many of the languages of amateur radio are more accessible than ever. A guidebook written 40 years ago by two brothers in Finland - Jukka (YOOKA) OH2BAD and Miika (MEEKA) OH2BR – has been
converted into an online interactive guidebook, with the brothers'
permission. Raisa R1BIG, a popular YL in Russia well-known for videos of
her amateur radio journey, told Newsline she and a friend who is an IT specialist created the online guide over the course of the past few weeks.
She said she was inspired by the brothers' original handbook, "The Radio Amateur's Conversation Guide," which Jukka (YOOKA) had shared with her two years ago.

With one mouse-click you can now read and hear almost 200 ham radio
phrases. Eight languages are available on the site, and more are in the
works, including the next one - Polish, being recorded by Darek, SP3TLJ.
Raisa herself recorded the Russian-language entries and Pete, M0PSX, is working on a new version of the English language sound files.

Although English is still the predominant language heard on the bands,
imagine being able to call "CQ 20 metres" or ask "When did you first get
your licence?" in Japanese or German. A link to the online guide can be
seen in the printed version of this week's newscast script at
arnewsline.org

For Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Ed Durrant, DD5LP (please repeat this
in German, Ed!)

[FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ: https://raisa.blog/how-to/the-radio-amateur-s-conversation-guide]

(RAISA, R1BIG)
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THOUSANDS OF QSOS MADE TO HONOR DISCOVERY OF PLUTO

DON/ANCHOR: Imagine getting a QSL card from Pluto. Thousands did. Well,
OK, it was really the next best thing: a special event station
celebrating Pluto. Here's Randy Sly, W4XJ, with the details.

RANDY: Amateur radio operators from around this world recently celebrated
the discovery of another world: Pluto, which was first seen in 1930 by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. Special event station W7P - with "P" for Pluto
- was activated last month by the Northern Arizona DX Association for the Pluto Anniversary Countdown Special Event. There will be an event
counting down each of the next 10 years, ending with the centennial year
2030.

This was a particularly special event for Doug Tombaugh, N3PDT, nephew of
the astronomer who made the discovery. Doug marked the occasion by
operating along with three other amateurs as W7P/0, logging 1,191
contacts. He said he especially enjoyed talking with other amateurs who
knew his uncle or were involved in other activities related to Pluto.

Countdown coordinator Bob Wertz, NF7E, said in all 15 amateurs logged
more than 7,000 contacts from their home QTHs as well as from a
communications trailer on the grounds of Lowell Observatory, where Clyde
first made his discovery.

The countdown begins again next year on February 12th – the last Saturday before the February 18th anniversary itself.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ.

**

SOLAR PANEL PROMISES MORE STREAMED ENERGY TO EARTH

DON/ANCHOR: Now here's a story that should energize you: A ham radio
operator has helped develop a way to bring more of the sun's power home
to Earth. Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, sheds light on this.

KENT: Amateur radio ingenuity has helped lead to the development of a prototype solar panel designed to transmit electricity to Earth from
outer space.

Launched in May of 2020 aboard a Pentagon drone, the device is known as
the Photovoltaic Direct Current to Radio Frequency Antenna Module, or
PRAM for short. Project co-developer Paul Jaffee, KJ4IKI, said in a
recent CNN report that the PRAM underwent a successful test recently by
the United States Department of Defense at the U.S. Naval Research
Laboratory.

He said the PRAM produces about 10 watts of energy for transmission but
could be scaled up, bringing the promise of transmitting energy to the
power grids back on Earth. The panel uses the blue waves of light in
space which become diffused when entering the Earth's atmosphere. It
captures these waves, which are more powerful than sunlight on Earth, and retains that energy.

No, the PRAM hasn't yet sent any of that power back home, but scientists
say the tests have shown it works. The concept is to beam microwaves to
Earth for conversion into electricity wherever it is needed. Paul told
CNN that the next move would be to expand its ability to collect even
more sunlight to prepare it for that microwave transportation back to
Earth.

Team co-leader Chris DePuma told CNN the technology would be especially
useful in regions where natural disasters have taken down the power grid.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

(CNN)

**

AMATEUR MAKES PLANS FOR 'FLYING HAMS' PODCAST

DON/ANCHOR: If you're one of those amateur radio operators who likes to
get on air FROM the air, as a pilot, this next story from Andy Morrison, K9AWM, might have you in mind.

ANDY: Dan Hileman, WO5WO, is a ham with a high-flying idea. A former
airline pilot-turned-middle school teacher has another project on the
runway. He's planning to start a podcast this summer devoted to hams who enjoying being IN the air....as much as they like to be ON the air. He'd
like to bring hams on board for ragchews about fly-ins, DX-peditions, FAA flight safety tips, and projects that combine being a pilot and an
amateur radio operator. He's especially interested in stories of famous – and not-so-famous – hams in the sky. He told Newsline in an email that
the podcast is [quote] "just a fun way to connect already connected
hobbies" [endquote] and he can't guarantee there won't be more than a few corny jokes along the way. He said he hopes the half-hour, bi-weekly
podcast will inspire youngsters to think about flying and radio as two
related hobbies.

He's working with a ham radio friend who's a former Air Force pilot and together they're hoping to, well, get things off the ground. Dan welcomes
any and all ideas. You can reach him via email at flyinghams78@gmail.com
Who knows what ideas might just take wing?

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the WA2EHL repeater
in Burlington, New Jersey, on Fridays at 7 p.m. local time.
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VIDEO TRAINING GIVES BASIC SKILLS TO UK HAMS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: School is in session in the UK for hams who believe
that in radio, the learning never stops, even if your classroom is a
remote one.

Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us about the lessons they're taking.

JEREMY: University students and young schoolchildren aren't the only
ones learning new skills remotely. Hams at all levels of licence in
the UK are being introduced to common amateur radio construction
basics through a new video series from the Radio Society of Great
Britain. The videos are part of the society's "Get on the Air to
Care" campaign to highlight amateur radio's abilities to reduce
social isolation. They are also being released in conjunction with
British Science Week which spotlights the importance of science,
technology, engineering and math skill. This year's annual event
began on the 5th March and runs on to the 14th. The videos, which
grow increasingly ambitious as the series goes forward, demonstrate
ways to tune a dipole using a NanoVNA, how to build a simple balun,
as well as a more ambitious project: creating an audio interface
between the transceiver and computer to permit operation in the
popular data modes.

To see the videos, visit the RSGB's channel on YouTube or its website.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(RSGB)

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The Society has also announced a record number of
hams passing their Foundation license exam taken remotely during
the past year. In a message on shared on Twitter, the RSGB said
3,000 people have passed the exam since April of last year. The
society compared that with the previous average of only 1,350
people a year.

**

YLS BEING CHALLENGED TO SHARE RADIO STORIES

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you're a YL with a radio story to tell, listen
carefully to this next report from Sel Embee, KB3 T Zed D.

SEL: Grassroots Emergency Communications Operations and Greg Lee,
KI6GIG, are challenging the world's YLs - and the world's would-be
YLs. Greg has announced an activity called "Choose to Challenge,"
on the occasion of International Women's Day on March 8th. Women
who are amateur radio operators, or interested in becoming hams,
are being asked to tell their stories.

It's that simple: why they became hams, the challenges they faced,
and, of course, their successes. They're being asked to share advice
for other women and young girls - and even for men - and to offer
ideas that will encourage others to study and become licensed.

Although responses in languages other than English are welcome,
Greg said those submissions will be run through Google translate.
The organization plans to run responses in its newsletter, "Sticky
Notes." Greg said all responses should be sent via email to gecoradio@gmail.com, that's spelled g e c o radio at gmail dot com.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Sel Embee, KB3TZD.

(GREG LEE KI6GIG)

**

SPECIAL NET IN INDIA MARKS INT'L WOMEN'S DAY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Another event celebrating women worldwide was a net
based in India. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has more.

JIM M: In India, four YLs helped the West Bengal Radio Club mark
International Women's Day by serving as net control operators during
the March 8th VHF-Echolink net on the VU2WB repeater. The 90-minute
net had 112 check-ins who will each receive a special eQSL card
marking the occasion. The net control operators were Rinku, VU2JFB,
Saborni, VU2JFC, Sangita, VU3ZIH, and Amrita, VU3ZHH. Saborni is the
daughter of club secretary Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, who said this
was the first year the club was hosting the special net.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard of bulletin stations around the world, including the
Kanawha (kuh-NAW-uh) Amateur Radio Club Two Meter repeater W8GK in
West Virginia during the club's Sunday net at 8:30 PM Eastern time.
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GERMAN 'HEALING' DEVICE BANNED OVER RFI

NEIL/ANCHOR: In Germany, a device marketed for its alleged healing powers
has been banned for interfering with amateur radio communications. Ed
Durrant, DD5LP, picks up the story from here.

ED: Marketers selling an electronic device in Germany claimed that for the steep price of 8 thousand Euro – the equivalent of more than $9,000 US dollars – it could awaken the healing powers of the human body by revitalising its water content.

Apparently, what it really awakened was amateur radio interference. A
recent news report by the Associated Press said that the device being sold
by the Swiss company Wassermatrix AG uses frequencies allocated for amateur radio operators. According to the DARC website, RFI has been reported by
hams using the low end of 2 meters in the weak signal / EME segment.

A posting on the QRZ.com forum cited claims made by the device's developers that operation was based on principles used by Nikola Tesla and Georges Lakhovsky, claiming that it was especially effective because the human body
is comprised of a high percentage of water.

The RFI complaints are what set the regulator's actions in motion. The device's sale and use are now banned in Germany. Use of already purchased units would be a prosecutable offence.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(ASSOCIATED PRESS, QRZ.COM)

**

MAJOR HAM EVENTS MAKE ON-SITE PLANS CAUTIOUSLY

NEIL/ANCHOR: Plans are moving forward cautiously for major on-site amateur radio events in Germany, and in the UK. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, fills us in.

ED: Even as the organisers of Ham Radio Friedrichshafen proceed with plans
for a COVID-compliant in person conference in June, they are also advising caution that plans may need to be modified to be a hybrid event with an
online component. In a statement, organisers said they were taking into account the slow vaccination rate in Germany and how quarantine
restrictions or test requirements could impact the number of foreign
attendees. The 45th event is scheduled for June 25th through 27th.

Meanwhile, organisers of the UK's National Hamfest also remain somewhat optimistic about their event to be held in September. The directors said on the event website: "We are closely monitoring the ever changing health landscape, government guidance and roadmap steps coming out of lockdown,
and are optimistic that we can arrive at a decision in June for this
year's event."

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.

(SOUTHGATE)

**

RSGB ELECTIONS BEGIN

NEIL/ANCHOR: For members of the Radio Society of Great Britain, it's
decision time again, as we hear from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

JEREMY: Voting has begun for the Radio Society of Great Britain's elections and will continue until 9 a.m. local time on Thursday the 22nd of April. Election details are available in the April issue of RadCom which is
currently being sent to RSGB members. The Society is also preparing for its annual General Meeting which will be held online and will be available on livestream on Saturday the 24th of April. If members have questions for any
of the directors they will be able to submit them in advance using the form available on the society's website at rsgb.org.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(RSGB)

**

PLANS FOR 2 x 1 CONTEST CALL SIGNS IN AUSTRALIA

NEIL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, hams in Australia will be pleased to learn that the Australian Maritime College has indicated system changes are in the works
to enable them to issue 2x1 contest call signs. The changes, however, are expected to take several months.

(AUSTRALIAN MARITIME COLLEGE)
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FIRST-TIMERS SET SIGHTS ON ISLAND DXPEDITION

JIM/ANCHOR: There's a first for everything, and one group of ham radio operators has decided it's time for them all to jump into the water (at
least figuratively) for their first DXpedition. Jack Parker, W8ISH, has
the details.

JACK: This is going to be a summer of firsts for the amateur radio team descending on C6A IOTA NA-048 FL05, also known as Bimini Island in the Bahamas. According to DJ, N4RRR, one of the organizers, it will be a first DXpedition for everyone on the team, which includes some disabled military veterans. DJ said that because the Caribbean Island is also a prime tourist destination, some of the hams will be bringing their wives for vacation activities. The hams have applied to use the call sign C6AHA. He said some
of their antennas will be positioned to enable Europe, the Pacific Islands
and Australia to get C6A in their logs.

DJ told Newsline: "We plan to light up C6A for everyone to get it in their
log books" adding that "we hope people will be nice and forgiving with us
and let us make the most of this trip, being first-timers receiving pile-
ups."

The trip is scheduled for July 14th through the 21st.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.

(DJ FINCH N4RRR)

**

EMERGENCY BATTERIES HELP HAMS IN CARIBBEAN 'RED ZONE'

JIM/ANCHOR: In the Caribbean, amateur radio stations in a hazardous region near a volcano got a gift to help their vital operations. John Williams, VK4JJW, gives us the full story.

JOHN: A gift of emergency batteries provided to amateur radio operators in
the highest hazard zone of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has put those stations back on the air. The 12-volt batteries, provided through the country's General Services office, have enabled hams to get on the air in
the nation's northernmost settlement of Fancy, and in Rose Hall, the settlement with the highest altitude. The amateur stations are both in the
Red Zone, a highly hazardous region because of its proximity to a volcano.

Officials regularly monitor activity at the La Soufriere (soo-free-AIR)
volcano in the north, where an activity known as effusive eruption has been noted in recent weeks.

The hams received the batteries at the request of the Rainbow Radio League/Youlou Radio Movement amateur radio club. Its director Donald De
Riggs J88CD made the request on behalf of Elna Michael, J88NEK, of Fancy,
and Percy Lampkin, J88NEB, of Rose Hall.

According to a news report on the Searchlight VC website, the station in
Fancy now maintains contact with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency
Management Agency and the station in Rose Hall has been checking into
local and regional nets.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.

(SEARCHLIGHT VC, CDEMA)

**

NOVICE RIG ROUNDUP CELEBRATES 'YESTERYEAR'

JIM/ANCHOR: Hams who like getting on the air the old-fashioned way got that chance recently in a special operating event, as we hear from Randy Sly,
W4XJ.

RANDY: If you were beginning in ham radio 50 or so years ago, your amateur radio experience would begin with a Novice Class license, good for only a year, and you would operate a crystal-controlled 75-watt CW transmitter. Often, these rigs were homebrew, drifted in frequency, with chirps and key clicks on the signal. By modern standards, this all sounds archaic, but
each year hams from around the country dust off their old radios, dig out their straight keys and return to the good ol’ days of yesteryear.

This year, there were more than 292 such hams and they logged 4,300
contacts the old-fashioned way, most of them adhering to Novice
restrictions. They were part of the annual Novice Rig Roundup, co-chaired
by Dan Sands, N7SU, and Doug Tombaugh, N3PDT. The event, held annually
during the third week of February, was established in 2015 by Bry Carling, AF4K, now a silent key. This year's event was a showcase for talking about
such now-obsolete radios as Heathkit DX-40’s, Drake, and Hallicrafters,
as well as homebrew rigs with exotic vacuum tubes like 807's and 6146's.

Novice Rig Roundup is more than just an annual event. For information and
to join in the fun, visit their webpage at novicerigroundup.org.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ

**

PLEASE PARTICIPATE IN NEWSLINE'S SURVEY

JIM/ANCHOR: Amateur Radio Newsline would like some help from listeners.
We want to know whether you would like to continue hearing the World of
DX each week or if we should switch to a contest calendar instead. Please visit our website where you'll find a survey asking you to tell us your preference. The survey can be found on the right-hand side of the page at arnewsline.org
--- SBBSecho 3.13-Win32
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ALABAMA TORNADOES HIT HOME FOR ONE AMATEUR

NEIL/ANCHOR: In Alabama, where tornadoes raged through part of the
landscape in late March, one radio amateur made an especially painful discovery about the importance of preparedness. Randy Sly, W4XJ, brings us that story.

RANDY: James Spann, WO4W, is no stranger to severe weather. As chief meteorologist for WBMA in Birmingham Alabama, he is a familiar TV face
during tornado activations, always reminding viewers that they need a
severe weather plan. If fact, when he and his wife built a new home a few years ago, they included a storm shelter

Last week, tornadoes and other severe weather pummeled the state, wrecking buildings and killing at least five people in one county. During his report
on a long track of violent storms, he suddenly said, "What I'm doing is texting my wife to be sure she's in the shelter.." -- He moved off camera
with a co-worker taking over.

Rejoining less than 15 minutes later, he shared some bad news with viewers. His home was hit by a tornado.

"The reason I had to step out," he explained, "We had major damage at my house. I had to be sure. My wife is okay, but the tornado came right
through there and it's not good. It's bad. It's bad."

However, their preparedness made the difference. "My wife got the warning,"
he said, "she had a plan, she was in the shelter and she's fine."

Then, Spann was back to work making sure others would be informed and safe too.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ.

**

RECORDINGS AVAILABLE ONLINE FROM HAMSCI EVENT

NEIL/ANCHOR: If you missed the HamSCI virtual event which was livestreamed
on March 19th and 20th, you can attend via YouTube where videorecordings of the workshops are now available. This is the second year HamSCI went
virtual in response to the global pandemic. The free program, supported by
the National Science Foundation and the University of Scranton, featured presenters on such topics as personal space weather stations, mid-latitude sporadic-E, weak signal VHF propagation and related topics.

A link to the recorded programming for Days 1 and 2 can be found in the printed version of this week's newscast script at arnewsline.org

FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ:

FOR DAY 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfhAxuViTYQ

FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ:

For DAY 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CrvuS0h9XA

**

WORLDWIDE BALLOON LAUNCHES MARK EQUINOX

NEIL/ANCHOR: Spring in the Northern Hemisphere isn't just about flowers
waking up and starting to bloom. It's also about..... balloons! Mike
Askins, KE5CXP, explains.

MIKE: When the medium altitude balloon launched by science teacher Jill Gravante took to the sky on March 20th from an upstate New York junior high school, the event was part of a wide-ranging celebration dispatching 14
such balloons, linking students and teachers involved in STEM activities worldwide. In what was called the Equinox Balloon Launch, each balloon
carried a lightweight Skytracker APRS and WSPR payload, all solar-powered. They were launched from various spots in the US, Argentina and Australia on paths that, one week later, had them sailing over Siberia, China and South Africa. After the launch at Winburn Middle School in Kentucky, science
teacher Jenny McCall, and Ron Malinowski, WX4GPS, later tracked the balloon named "Bessie" over southern Siberia, heading into Mongolia. Although it's
not spring in his part of the world, the launch even attracted involvement
by Melbourne teacher Greg Hellard.

Bill Brown, WB8ELK, the designer of the Skytracker technology, said the launches were coordinated by Washington State high school teacher Trevor MacDuff, KS1LAS, with help from Los Angeles science educator Joanne
Michael, KM6BWB. The enthusiasm, however, needed no coordination at all.
In fact, Joanne posted on Facebook that befitting a project that involved students, it was a "textbook launch."

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mike Askins, KE5CXP.

(BILL BROWN WB8ELK)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including WA5AIR, the Texas
Link System which carries Newsline on seven repeaters on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. local time.
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33)

SILENT KEY: HEXBEAM INNOVATOR WALDI SP7IDX

PAUL/ANCHOR: Hexbeam users and DXers alike are marking the loss of a
popular and prominent figure. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us about Waldi, SP7IDX.

JEREMY: An amateur radio operator considered one of the world's foremost makers of hexbeam antennas has become a Silent Key.

The death of Waldi was reported on the DX-World.Net website. Reportedly recovering from COVID-19, he suffered a fatal heart attack on 4th April.

His QTH in southeast Poland was also the company headquarters for his successful hexbeam antenna, used widely by Dx-peditioners around the world.
He was a well-known Dxpeditioner, most particularly in the Islands on the
Air awards scheme.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(DX-WORLD.NET)

**

JS8CALL DEVELOPER WINS SPECIAL RECOGNITION

PAUL/ANCHOR: The developer of a popular new software that enhances weak-
signal communication has received special recognition. Sel Embee, KB3TZD, tells us about him.

SEL: The creator of the weak-signal digital communication conversational application known as JS8Call is this year's recipient of the Amateur Radio Software Award. The award, founded by Claus AE0S, is an international honor recognizing the spirit of innovation given freely to the amateur radio community. Congratulations to Jordan Sherer, KN4CRD, of Atlanta, Georgia,
who created the application as an extension of the FT8 protocol. According
to the awards website, the application was five years in the works and has added new vitality to digital communications, most particularly among
members of ARES. It is available to users as a free download. On his
QRZ.com page, Jordan describes the application as "a derivative of QSJT-X
that focuses on long-form keyboard-to-keyboard style communication similar
to what you'd see in Fldigi or FSQ."

Jordan will receive his award certificate and a grant of $300.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Sel Embee, KB3TZD.

(RICH GORDON K0EB)

**

RSGB ANNOUNCES 'FRIENDSHIP ON THE AIR' AWARD

PAUL/ANCHOR: Most of us know that for a good ham radio experience you need good components. One of the most important components, however, is an intangible one: friendship. The Radio Society of Great Britain hopes to
change that by making that friendship tangible and rewarding it. Here's
Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, to explain.

JEREMY: Making contact is at the heart of the latest award being offered by the Radio Society of Great Britain. The Friendship on the Air award has
been launched to celebrate contacts that turn into friendships amongst
hams. It's a noncompetitive award that encourages amateurs to dispense with the quick QSO and really connect with other radio operators. It's an
outgrowth of the "Get on the Air to Care" campaign launched last year by
the RSGB and the National Health Service to reduce social isolation during
the global pandemic. The RSGB said that the award ties in with the theme of World Amateur Radio Day on Sunday the 18th of April: "Home but Never
Alone."

For details on how to qualify for the award, visit the link provided in
this week's Newsline script at arnewsline.org

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

[FOR PRINT ONLY: www.rsgb.org/friendship-award]

(RSGB)

**

NOMINATE A YOUNG HAM FOR NEWSLINE'S AWARD

PAUL/ANCHOR: There's one more award worth mentioning here: The Bill
Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year
award. Just a reminder that the nomination period is open. Think of a young amateur whose commitment to community and whose enthusiasm for radio has inspired you and others and submit their name. Nominees must 18 or younger living in the United States, its possessions or any Canadian province. Downloadable nomination forms can be found on our website arnewsline.org

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including D-STAR Reflector 91
C in Melbourne, Australia on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Australian Eastern
Time.
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33)

HISTORIC SITES BEING ACTIVATED FOR MARCONI DAY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Amateur radio stations in the UK, Europe, the US,
Canada and elsewhere will be celebrating the anniversary of the
birth of Guglielmo Marconi and their connection to the wireless
pioneer as International Marconi Day stations get on the air on
Saturday April 24th. The annual event is sponsored by the Cornish
Radio Amateur Club, operating as GB4IMD. Stations from around the
world may contact operators who are on the air at historic Marconi
sites using special call signs to mark the day. In New York, a
consortium of amateur radio stations on Long Island will be on the
air at such sites as the original Marconi wireless telegraph station
in the Village of Babylon, where they will operate as K2S. Station
K2M will be at the Marconi Tower in Binghamton New York. In the UK,
GB4LD will operate at the site of the old Marconi Hut in Cornwall
and VP8VPC will be operating from the Falkland Islands. Awards are
available for shortwave listeners as well as amateur radio
operators. For details about awards and a list of the registered
Marconi Day stations, visit the website of the Cornish Radio Amateur
Club at gx4crc.com

(CORNISH AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, WALT GROSSER W2TE)

**

WRTC PLEDGES TO GO FORWARD WITH BOLOGNA EVENT

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The organizers of a prestigious worldwide amateur
radio competition are proceeding with a means to hold it safely next
year in Italy. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, picks up the story from here.

ED: Recognising that challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic may still
remain next year when the World Radiosport Team Championship takes
place in Bologna, Italy, organisers have pledged to go forward with
plans for the competition. The committee announced on its website
that the qualifying events and schedule remain the same as printed
in the qualification rules but that different options are being
looked at as the impact of the pandemic remains uncertain. The
committee also acknowledged that travel and other factors have been
affected differently around the world and this is, of course, a
consideration in such a global contest. Board president Carlo De
Mari, IK1HJS, wrote on the website: [quote] Please continue with your
plans as best you can for now. We will make announcements here on
the WRTC 2022 reflector as soon as they can be made public."
[endquote]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(WRTC WEBSITE)

**

YOUTH CAMP FOR HAMS MOVES AHEAD CAUTIOUSLY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Another long-awaited amateur activity - this one for youngsters in IARU Region 2 - is moving ahead with an eye on the
pandemic as well. Here's Jack Parker, W8ISH.

JACK: The first Youth on the Air camp for young amateurs in North,
Central and South America is moving ahead with its plans to open in
July. Camp organizers said in a press release that the camp, which
was postponed by the pandemic in 2020, will comply with state and
federal COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines. A maximum of 30
youngsters will be able to attend the camp from July 11th through
July 16th at the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in
West Chester Township, Ohio. Camp staffers are either fully
vaccinated or in the process of completing the vaccine series by the
end of April. Campers themselves may be asked to take a COVID-19
test or self-quarantine before arriving, depending on guidelines
being recommended in July.

Twenty-eight campers have already registered. The application period
ends June 1st and there is no fee to apply. The cost of the camp is
$100 plus transportation and scholarships are available for campers
who cannot afford the camp's cost.

For more details, download the camp brochure available online at YouthOnTheAir.org. Or, you can also contact Camp Director Neil Rapp,
WB9VPG, at director@youthontheair.org.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.

**

SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Don't forget that the Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial
Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year award is looking to
honor a deserving young ham. Think of a young amateur whose
commitment to community and whose enthusiasm for radio has inspired
you and others and submit their name. Nominees must 18 or younger
living in the United States, its possessions or any Canadian
province. Downloadable nomination forms are due no later than May
31st and can be found on our website arnewsline.org

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
NM5EM repeater in Grants, New Mexico, on Thursdays at 8 p.m. local
time.
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33)

CALIFORNIA AMATEUR HAILED AS 'GPS SLEUTH'

JIM/ANCHOR: A California amateur has used his skills to help in the
rescue of a missing hiker as we hear from Mike Askins, KE5CXP.

MIKE: The Los Angeles Times is calling Ben Kuo, AI6YR, (Ay EYE Six Y R) a "tech-savvy good Samaritan" and a "GPS sleuth." Ben, whose ham radio activities have proven especially critical during California's wildfires, recently used his skills to assist in another emergency: Los Angeles
County officials were frantically searching for a hiker who'd gone
missing on a peak in California's Angeles National Forest on Monday,
April 12th. Ben's only clue was a photo the sheriff's office had posted
on its social media accounts: the hiker's photo of his legs atop a rocky cliff. Ben, who knows the area as a hiker and SOTA activator, realized he might be able to match the terrain in the hiker's photo by using publicly available satellite imagery. According to the Times story, when he
thought he found a close enough match, Ben sent authorities the GPS coordinates. The location was close enough: Using the coordinates, a
rescue team picked up the hiker the next day just as temperatures were
set to plummet to below-freezing levels. The hiker was in a remote,
almost inaccessible area about three-quarters of a mile away from the
spot Ben had pinpointed.

Ben told Newsline he's grateful he could call upon his experience as a
hiker and SOTA activator, both of which keep his map and navigation
skills sharp. In fact, he said, the hiker was found not far from SOTA
summit W6/CT-064, East Twin Peaks. According to news reports, the hiker
was airlifted to safety by a search-and-rescue team, and did not require hospitalization.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mike Askins, KE5CXP.

(BEN KUO AI6YR, ABC CHANNEL 7, LOS ANGELES TIMES, VENTURA COUNTY STAR)

**

OREGON UTILITY FUNDS PURCHASE OF SOLAR-POWERED RADIOS

JIM/ANCHOR: Solar-powered emergency radios are being made available to
some hams in coastal Oregon thanks to the local utility. Christian
Cudnik, K0STH, brings us those details.

CHRISTIAN: The sun is shining in more ways than one for the members of
the Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem (nuh-HAY-lum) Bay in Oregon. The local electric utility has given them a $5,000 grant to help them buy ham radio base stations that run on solar power. A "go-box" has already been designed to serve as a solar-powered station with a 25-watt radio,
antenna, battery, solar panel and other equipment, enabling emails to be transmitted over the air. The volunteer corps plans to set the stations
up around the northern part of Tillamook (tilla-MOOK) County as part of
their long-range plan to help bolster the coastal region's resilience following any major calamity. This is included in an overall
communications plan that incorporates General Mobile Radio Service as
well as amateur radio. According to an article in the Tillamook County
Pioneer website, the region has more than 100 amateur radio operators,
and 400 more residents using GMRS.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik, K0STH.

(THE TILLAMOOK COUNTY PIONEER)

**

NEW DISCOVERY FOUND IN FAST-RADIO BURSTS

JIM/ANCHOR: Is changing frequencies a good thing? Well hams do it all the
time and now a mysterious transmission in space known as an FRB, or
fast-radio burst, has been found to be engaging in that practice too.
Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has more on that story.

JEREMY: Researchers have made a discovery that they say changes the shape
of their search for the source of FRBs, fast-radio bursts detected in
space that appear to come from – well, no one quite knows. Scientists in McGill University's physics department have detected bursts down to 110
MHz, a good deal lower in frequency than the previously detected 300 MHz. Writing in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, the researchers write that
this new discovery has led them to think differently about where the
bursts are coming from. Using radiotelescopes in British Columbia and the Netherlands, the team detected the significantly lower frequencies and a consistent delay of about three days between detection of the higher and
the lower frequencies. They're still hot on the trail of the source of
the bursts but say that the ability to detect 110 MHz transmissions
brings them much closer to understanding things, especially one burst
that was first detected in 2018 and is relatively close to Earth.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(PHYS.ORG)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the N2JDW repeater
in New York City, on Monday at 8 p.m. local time.
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33)

PARKER PROBE EXPLORES SUN'S IMPACT ON VENUS' IONOSPHERE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Much farther out in space, a probe has unlocked some
mysteries that will surely pique the interests of watchers of solar
weather. Paul Braun, WD9GCO, gives us the details.

PAUL: As it moves through its solar cycle, the activity of the sun
causes changes in the ionosphere of the planet - but the planet we're
talking about here is Venus. The Parker Solar Probe, in a flyby of the
planet last summer, picked up a naturally occurring low-power radio
signal and determined that the Venusian ionosphere is thinner during
solar minimum than during solar maximum. Last summer's flyby happened
six months after solar minimum. The probe found changes that had
occurred in Venus' upper atmosphere since data collection nearly three
decades ago by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter in 1992 during a high
activity period.

Although the Parker probe's primary mission is to study the sun, it
does interact with Venus because it uses gravity assist from the
planet to bend th orbit of the probe and bring it closer to the sun.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.

(CNN)

**

NEW ZEALAND AMATEURS APPROVED FOR 60M OPERATION

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: There's good news in New Zealand for hams who have
been hoping to make contacts on the 5 MHz band. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF,
has that report.

JIM: Amateurs in New Zealand have won the right to use 60 meters on a secondary basis operating as sub-licencees of the New Zealand
Association of Radio Transmitters. NZART's president Mark Gooding,
ZL2UFI, announced the decision, which followed successful talks with
the regulator, RSM. This approval is being treated as the precusor to
adding the 5 MHz band to the General User Radio Licence at the end of
12 months. This would eliminate the need for any further sub-licences
for use of the band. In the interim, RSM will assess interference
issues before moving forward.

Hams who hold the old sub-licence are being advised that it will not
be grandfathered in under the new agreement and they must complete the
new application and send it to NZART headquarters. All hams are being
asked to review a list of frequently asked questions which can be
found on the NZART website, nzart dot org dot nz (nzart.org.nz)

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(NZART)

**

RSGB ADDS RESOURCES FOR RADIATION MEASUREMENTS, OPERATOR EXAMS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The website of the Radio Society of Great Britain has
added new material to guide hams in two areas of their biggest concerns:
safety and licensing. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has been following that
development.

JEREMY: New resources are available on the website of the Radio
Society of Great Britain to help amateurs with upcoming examinations
and to assist as well with the new requirement to measure their
stations' electromagnetic radiation.

Two new videos assist with measuring a station's electromagnetic
radiation as is now required by Ofcom for public safety and which
explain the reasons behind the new rules. Stations with power of more
than 10 watts must perform these measurements and calculations as part
of their licence requirement. Both videos feature EMC Chairman John
Rogers, M0JAV, who explains the procedure in one video - and in the
other, demonstrates how to use the downloadable calculator.

Meanwhile, the Society's Examinations and Syllabus Review Group has
updated its collection to include two new mock exams for the Full
licence, adding PDFs that show the questions' answers and explanations
for each. The Society notes that these are not the same questions that
would appear in a Full licence exam and are provided merely as a study
aid. Mock exams for Foundation and Intermediate level licences will be
added later.

Links to both videos as well as the mock exams can be found in the
print version of this script on our website arnewsline.org

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

PRINT ONLY: To see both videos go to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lL_gdUU3Wo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9NYlQwbCZQ

PRINT ONLY: For exams, www.rsgb.org/mock-exams

(RSGB)
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BATTERY DEVELOPED IN AUSTRALIA PROMISES IMPROVED ENERGY

DON/ANCHOR: If you're a portable operator always on the lookout for
changing battery technology, this new development from Australia might
make you stop and think. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, tells us about it.

GRAHAM: A manufacturer in Brisbane, Australia is claiming to have
created an aluminum-ion battery with a charging speed as much as 60
times faster than that of top-quality lithium-ion cells. The company,
Graphene Manufacturing Group, also says the newly developed aluminum-ion
coin cell is capable of holding three times the energy of other
aluminum-based cells. The batteries are said to last three times longer
than the lithium-ion variety.

This development relies on nanotechnology developed at the University of Queensland, according to a recent article in Forbes magazine. The
battery was created by inserting aluminum atoms into perforations made
in graphene planes.

The company claims that because the batteries lack an upper Ampere limit
that would otherwise cause spontaneous overheating, the batteries are
also safer. The stable base materials also facilitate their recycling
later.

The company hopes to bring these cells to market by the end of 2021 or
early 2022.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(FORBES)

**

BRIDGING THE GAP: HAM CAM INTERNATIONAL

DON/ANCHOR: With eyeball QSOs becoming less likely during the past
pandemic year, hams have relied on different ways to get together when
they're not on the air. Dave Parks, WB8ODF, tells us about an
international group that employs a unique hybrid of voice and video that
taps into the internet.

DAVE: The friendships that amateur radio operators form over the air
have taken on a new dimension for the 240 or so hams in 45 nations who
belong to Ham Cam International. These licensed amateurs contact each
other using streaming video over internet protocol, or SVOIP, using a streaming video system known as Jitsi.

Murray Green, K3BEQ, one of the core members, told Newsline: [quote]
"These dedicated amateurs have the best of two worlds. They not only communicate with each other by voice but have the added benefit of video
and that makes a big difference in bonding with each other." [endquote]
By adding video, the hams can visit one another's shacks, tour parts of
one another's countries and have more personalized discussions about
their other ham activities such as DXing, contesting, digital
communications and satellites.

He said that this has given an especially big advantage to hams who live
in neighborhoods with antenna restrictions, or have financial issues that preclude them from setting up a home station capable of DX. It's a
cultural exchange featuring amateurs from the US, Africa, Isle of Man,
Kuwait, Australia, Europe, Israel, and elsewhere having round table discussions on a daily basis. Membership is free to licensed amateurs. Additional details can be found at hamcaminternational dot com (hamcaminternational.com)

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Dave Parks, WB8ODF.

**

ARISS SELECTS 9 US GROUPS FOR 2022 CONTACTS

DON/ANCHOR: A Michigan library; a Long Island, New York Boy Scout
district; and an Ohio high school are among the nine organizations
chosen by Amateur Radio on the International Space Station to begin the planning process for students to make contacts with crew members on the
ISS between January and June of next year. The successful applicants
are: Bellefontaine High School in Bellefontaine, Ohio; Carter G. Woodson Middle School in Hopewell, Virginia; Lewis Center for Educational
Research in Apple Valley, California; Matinecock (Muh-TINNA-COCK)
District of the Suffolk County New York Boy Scouts in Medford, New York; McBride High School in Long Beach, California; Old St. Mary's School in Chicago; Salem-South Lyon District Library in South Lyon, Michigan;
Sussex County Charter School for Technology in Sparta, New Jersey and
the Space Hardware Club in Huntsville, Alabama.

Their selection means each group must now present an equipment plan to
ARISS' technical team describing how they will successfully host the
contact. ARISS will then select the final organizations for the contacts
and place them on the schedule.

(ARISS)

**

ISS RADIO OPERATING IN CROSS-BAND REPEATER MODE

DON/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, the Interoperable Radio System aboard the
International Space Station is active in cross-band repeater mode
through mid-June, according to the ARISS website. The radio will be
turned off on the 2nd of June during the Russians' EVA. The cross-band repeater operates on an uplink of 145.990, with a 67 Hz tone, and a
downlink of 437.800 Mhz. In mid-June, the radio will change to the
Automatic Packet Reporting System mode. ARISS spokesman Dave Jordan
AA4KN told Newsline that since the interoperable radio system is
considered an experiment, modes in use are subject to change.

(ARISS)
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BLETCHLEY PARK REOPENING

JIM/ANCHOR: Enthusiasts of code, and of history, are grateful to learn
that Bletchley Park and the National Radio Centre are reopening in Great Britain. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us more.

JEREMY: Bletchley Park, which was the heart and soul of codebreaking
during World War II, has reopened its doors to visitors as pandemic restrictions become less stringent in Great Britain. At the same time,
the National Radio Centre of the Radio Society of Great Britain, which is located on the historic site, will resume its own array of activities.
The National Radio Centre reopens daily starting on Friday the 28th of
May and will offer demonstrations of amateur radio from the GB3RS
station. Visitors may observe operations, but for now will not be
permitted into the radio room.

The welcome being extended by Bletchley is being delivered cautiously, however, and is following COVID-19 safety guidelines. Visitors are being
asked to book their visits in advance by going online and selecting a predetermined time of entry. Beginning on the 7th of June, Bletchley Park
will also welcome educational groups who will again be able to make use
of on-site resources.

For details or to book a visit visit bletchleypark.org.uk

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(BLETCHLEY PARK, RSGB)

**

SILENT KEY: FORMER MINNESOTA BUSINESSMAN RICHARD PHILSTROM W0TLE

JIM/ANCHOR: The former owner of a successful ham radio supply center in Minnesota has become a Silent Key. Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, tells us about
him.

KENT: Richard Philstrom, W0TLE, a lifelong radio amateur in the
Minneapolis area, and creator of a business that served local amateurs in
the 1980s, has become a Silent Key. A veteran of the US Navy, Dick became
a licensed ham in 1965, receiving the callsign WN0NHL shortly before
entering the military service. When he left the Navy, he was hired at Electronic Center in Minneapolis, reporting to Ward Jensen who became his
ham radio mentor. At Electronic Center, Dick eventually became manager of
the business' ham radio department. By 1980, he had purchased the
department and opened it in North Minneapolis as Midwest Amateur Radio
Supply. Four years later, he left the business to begin work for various companies dealing in super computers and eventually left the industry to
work for a medical supply company.

Dick was a charter member of the Handi Hams organization, which serves amateurs with disabilities; a life member of the ARRL, and a member of
the Quarter Century Wireless Association.

Dick died May 8th at the age of 76. His callsign had formerly belonged to
his mentor Ward Jensen, W0TLE.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

(QCWA, LEGACY.COM)

**

CQ MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES 2021 HALL OF FAMERS

JIM/ANCHOR: There are some familliar names being added to the CQ Amateur
Radio Hall of Fame this year, and Stephen Kinford, N8WB, tells us who
they are.

STEPHEN: Six amateur radio operators have been added to the CQ Amateur
Radio Hall of Fame, which honors individuals who have made prominent contributions to the community either as hams or through their
professional careers. This year's inductees, announced on Friday, May
21st, include Archibald Doty, W7ACD, a Silent Key. A cofounder of the
second oldest college radio station in the US, he was also heavily
involved in research into vertical antennas. Other inductees include
Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, founder of Ham Radio Science Citizen
Investigation and organizer of the 2017 Solar Eclipse QSO Party. Another honoree is concert pianist Lorin Hollander, WA1PGB, who augments work as
a performer with deep involvement in music and arts education. CQ is also honoring former ARRL counsel and general counsel Christopher Imlay, W3KD; noted propagation researcher Cathryn Mitchell, M-Zero-IBG; and Admiral
Charles Richard, W4HFZ, commander of USSTRATCOM, the United States
Strategic Command, one of eleven unified commands of the Department of Defense.

The Hall, created in 2001, now has a total of 339 members.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB.

(CQ MAGAZINE)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world as well as anytime, on
demand, through the Hamshack Hotline system. Choose Extension 7008,
Option 1.
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* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

SPECIAL EVENT STATION TO HIGHLIGHT CUBAN CRISIS

PAUL/ANCHOR: The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Cuba is gaining a
worldwide voice for the remainder of July through special event station
W4C. Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, has that story.

DON: Radio operators from around the US have been on the air as W4C since
July 19th and will continue through to the end of the month, calling QRZ
and carrying word of the economic and medical challenges in Cuba. The
special event, SOS Cuba, has been organized by Florida ham Alexander Valladares (PRONOUNCED: BAYA DARE EHZ) W7HU, who was formerly a citizen
of Cuba. Alex's YouTube Channel, W7HU, Alex, will be livestreaming as he operates Whiskey Four Cuba. Hams have reported difficulty making contact
on the air with amateurs in Cuba, indicating widespread jamming. This
special event will carry a message of support for those struggling on the island.

Alex writes on the station's QR Zed page: [quote] "Instead of taking to
the streets we realized that our efforts will be more efficiently
utilized by getting on the air and making a special event out of it." [endquote]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.

PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, the FCC has reportedly begun an investigation
into the jamming of radio signals on a number of frequencies on the 40-
metre band, based on complaints from amateurs who say they have been
unable to communicate with radio operators in Cuba. Motherboard and other media outlets are reporting that FCC field agents are becoming involved,
as is the US State Department. The investigation is looking into a
possible connection between the jamming and the Cuban government in
Havana.

(ALEX VILLADARES W7HU, SOUTHGATE)

**

TOWER BATTLE ENDS IN FAVOR OF MASSACHUSETTS HAM

PAUL/ANCHOR: A long-running battle over an amateur radio tower has ended
with a positive outcome for one ham in the US. Kent Peterson, KC0DGY,
tells us why this Massachusetts ham is so happy.

KENT: The on-again, off-again amateur radio tower project outside the Massachusetts home of Mikhail Filippov, KD1MF, is on again. A judge in
the city of Framingham has ruled that local zoning officials were wrong
last year when they revoked the project's building permit. The zoning
board said at the time that the tower project did not comply with zoning requirements and could not go forward—but on July 14th, the judge said
that ham radio towers are among those structures exempt from those such requirements, provided the project has a building permit.

As Newsline reported more than a year and a half ago, Mikhail and his
wife, Galina, had received the city building permit for the 80-foot
structure despite neighbors' challenges that it would damage their
property values and become an eyesore. Mikhail had already poured the
tower's foundation but agreed to halt the project until zoning dispute
could be resolved.

That appears to have happened.

Writing on the web page of the ARRL's Eastern Massachusetts Section,
Mikhail's attorney Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, declared [quote]: "Mr.
Filippov is a very happy radio amateur."[endquote]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

(EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION, ARRL; THE FRAMINGHAM SOURCE)

**

BATTLE OVER ANTENNA MAST CONTINUES FOR UK AMATEUR

PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, on the other side of the Pond, an amateur in
England is at odds with the local officials over a retractable antenna
mast, something he had installed six years ago.

JEREMY: The Wiltshire Council rejected the application of Tidworth
amateur Bob Coleman, G0WYD, calling his plans for the structure in his
back garden "unneighbourly" and incompatible with the area.

Bob told the Andover Advertiser newspaper [quote] "Due to various spinal surgeries, I am unable to play the sports I used to love. Radio
communication is one of the few hobbies I can do and it plays a large
part in keeping me mentally healthy, especially in the last year."
[endquote]

Neighbours had filed complaints about the mast as far back as 2019,
leading the council planning officials to inform Bob he needed
permission. According to the newspaper, he applied but the forms were reportedly not valid, and so he reapplied.

The newspaper story noted that neighbours understand his love of amateur radio, but report that the antenna reaches from his property into theirs,
and they worry about a storm knocking it over.

Bob has the option to appeal the decision.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(ANDOVER ADVERTISER, QRZ)
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INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDWAY WRAPPING UP W9IMS EVENT

JIM/ANCHOR: Hams are nearing the final lap of the big W9IMS event at
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Here's Jack Parker, W8ISH, with more.

JACK: As summer comes to a close, members of the W9IMS special event
station are busy wrapping up another week of world-wide contacts during
the annual Brickyard race. As the official amateur radio club for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the W9IMS group has been logging hundreds
of contacts during the Indy Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race
and now the Brickyard race.

The official numbers will be tabulated in the coming days and then each contact will receive a special QSL card, designed for each event. Those stations that made the log for all three races will receive a
commemorative certificate as well.

This is the 18th year for the W9IMS special event station and despite
weak band conditions this spring, early reports indicated they logged
over 6-thousand contacts during the first two races. The W9IMS team is
hoping to double that amount in the final race of the season. They
should cross the finish line and take the checkered flag on a record
number of contacts for the racing season at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway.

Reporting from Indianapolis, this is Jack Parker, W8ISH.

**

SILENT KEY: LIFELONG AMATEUR, JAZZ 'AMBASSADOR' BOB RINGWALD K6YBV

JIM/ANCHOR: The music world and the amateur radio world are both
grieving the loss of a friend. We turn to Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, for
that story.

RALPH: Robert Ringwald, K6YBV, was a lifelong amateur radio operator,
who also made his mark in the jazz world as a jazz ambassador and co-
organizer in 1974 of California's first Sacramento Jazz Festival where
his band was a headliner. A professional jazz pianist, he was also an enthusiastic radio amateur. First licensed in 1957, he soon became
adept in CW which he identifies on his QRZ page as his most frequent
mode. Bob became a Silent Key on August 3rd.

Blind almost since birth, Bob became known to many checking into the
Alaska Pacific Preparedness Net on 20 meter SSB, California Traffic
Net, 75 meter SSB, Northern California Net, Region Net 6 and the
Pacific Area Net on 80- and 40-meter CW. He was especially proud of his daughter, actress Molly Ringwald, and took great pains to keep things authentic when she portrayed an amateur radio operator in one episode
of the NBC sitcom, "The Facts of Life." Bob wrote: "Naturally the
writers had Molly's lines all wrong. I volunteered to write the ham
talk to be authentic and they gratefully accepted." Molly also used her father's callsign in the episode.

With his passing, Amateur Radio Newsline has also lost a friend. Bob
Ringwald was a frequent contributor of story ideas that listeners have
heard each week. He died at the age of 80.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.

(ASSOCIATED PRESS, QRZ, RINGWALD.COM)

***

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
K2BNL repeater in Upton, New York during the 8 p.m. Thursday night Tech
Net.
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* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

SPAIN PREPARES FOR TWIN SATELLITE LAUNCHES

PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, in Spain, hams await the scheduled launch next
month of two AMSAT-EA Genesis satellites. John Williams, VK4JJW, brings
us up to date.

JOHN: The satellites are called GENESIS-L and GENESIS-N, and their
planned launch on September 2nd has been eagerly anticipated by Spain's national amateur radio society, the URE. The launch is to take place
at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base, where the two digital
repeating satellites will take to the sky along with a number of other satellites. The GENESIS satellites, built by students from the European University, wlil be using Amplitude Shift Keying, and CW.

Additional details, and a list of the satellites' working frequencies,
can be found on the URL website, which is listed in the script of this
week's newscast at arnewsline.org

https://www.ure.es/satelites-genesis-de-amsat-ea-2/

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.

(URE, SOUTHGATE)

**

SWEEPING ANTENNA ARRAY DELIVERS GALAXIES IN HIGH-DEFINITION

PAUL/ANCHOR: Back here on earth, many of us know the benefits of high- definition, especially when it comes to video images. But now scientists
in the UK are making use of some benefits of high-definition imagery,
thanks to a huge antenna array in Europe. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has those details.

JEREMY: Scientists are crediting 70,000 one-metre-high antennas with
helping unveil new insights into how our solar system came into being,
by providing as-yet unattainable visual details. The array is letting scientists gather ultra-high-definition imagery to get a clearer picture
of various galaxies as they give birth to planets and suns. The radio
imagery they are using is the result of a linked international network
of telescopes known as LOFAR, for Low Frequency Array. Although most of
the antennas are in nine nations throughout Europe, the majority are in
The Netherlands.

According to Neal Jackson of the University of Manchester, the imagery
is permitting researchers to see more clearly what happens inside
galaxies when planets and suns are being created. He told the BBC,
"These high-resolution images allow us to zoom in, to see what's really
going on when supermassive black holes launch these jets of material."

The project leader, Leah Morabito, of Durham University in the UK, said scientists believe images such as these are giving greater insight into
the creation of our own solar system too. According to the BBC, for the
array to work, the team had to find a way to gather and digitise signals received by each antenna. The signals were then sent to a central
processor for combination with all the other images being gathered by
the rest of the array.

Leah Morabito told the BBC that the team plans to scan numerous galaxies
in the years ahead, adding, "I think we're definitely in for some
surprises."

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(BBC)

**

SPECIAL NYC EVENT MARKS 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11

PAUL/ANCHOR: Many of the hams who will be on the air on September 11th
calling QRZ from New York City, were in a very different place 20 years
ago. Some of them hurried to the World Trade Center in Manhattan, as first-responders to the terror strikes that day. They were answering a
call then - and this year, they are the ones calling to mark the painful anniversary.

The first-responders and their friends and supporters are hams in the Northeast Wireless Radio Club, NW2C, and the Great South Bay Amateur
Radio Club, W2GSB. They will be on the air together from 10 a.m. to
8 p.m. Eastern Time, operating special event station W2T, using CW,
SSB, and the digital modes.

Hams may also contact them via satellite. In the words of their station, Whiskey Two Tango, "We Will Never Forget." Mark it on your calendar.

(MIKE SARTORETTI, KC2SYF)

**

IN NEW ZEALAND, BACKYARDS GO BACK ON THE AIR

PAUL/ANCHOR: What do SOTA activators do when the summits are off limits?
In New Zealand, the answer is right there in their backyards. We hear
more from Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

GRAHAM: Nothing - not even a solar flare or even a pandemic - could stop
the Backyards on the Air activation from going ahead recently in New
Zealand. The pandemic, in fact, was actually the inspiration for the
event on Sunday, August 22nd. It was born in the spring of 2020, as
lockdown enveloped the nation. A group of SOTA activators looked for
new options, because their beloved summits had been declared off
limits.

Organiser Mark Sullivan, ZL3AB, said this recent activation found
participants once again in their backyards, and after two hours of
calling QRZ, some boasted contacts with the US and VK, as well as
around New Zealand. Mark described his own activation as a bit less
successful, owing to a pole that collapsed, and someone's child
next-door playing with an incredibly loud toy lawn mower.

Mark did encourage and reward experimentation, however. In his
invitation to participants, he wrote: "It should go without saying
that double points will be awarded to anyone who operates using.....
a Delta loop."

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(MARK SULLIVAN ZL3AB)
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AMATEUR RADIO TEAM EYES NASA'S GATEWAY PROJECT

JIM/ANCHOR: If you're old enough to remember when amateur radio first
went on the air on the International Space Station almost 21 years ago,
you can probably appreciate the slow and careful effort that's being made
now with respect to NASA's Gateway project, the multi-purpose station
being designed for eventual lunar orbit. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, tells us
about ham radio's interest in the project.

NEIL: The amateur radio exploration team (AREx), an international team of
ham radio organizations, is crossing its collective fingers that one day
ham radio will be welcome aboard the NASA's Gateway project in much the
same way ham radio eventually ended up on the ISS.

Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, a co-leader of the team, said AREx is "cautiously optimistic" that at some point one of the modules to be launched later
for the Gateway may provide some optimal conditions for a ham shack,
including access to reliable power from the sun and a good field of view
of the earth to enable radio contacts. Even with those conditions met, however, NASA would still have to commit to a ham radio presence on
board. Frank said: [quote] "We are being patient and working with NASA as
to what is the best approach...We are just staying engaged." [endquote]

The Gateway's first modules are already earmarked to launch together commercially. Those are the HALO, the astronauts' pressurized living
quarters, and the Power Propulsion Element. Frank said that modules to be launched after these first two may provide even richer fields of view of
the earth. Meanwhile, unlike the development of the ARISS program on
board the ISS two decades ago, he said, progress is expected to be intermittent.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

(NASA, FUNK TELEGRAMM MAGAZINE, FRANK BAUER KA3HDO)

**

FATHER-DAUGHTER CYCLISTS CONCLUDE RADIO EXPEDITION

JIM/ANCHOR: After a successful bicycle tour and fundraiser, a bicycling father-daughter team is back home in England. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us
how their adventure went.

ED: The father-daughter cycling ham radio team of Kevin Richardson,
G0PEK, and Lauren Richardson, 2E0HLR, have come to their journey's end.
Their Megacycle Expedition finished as planned on August 25th in northern Scotland. Starting at Land's End, it was a 28-day trek of more than 1,700-kilometres and was a fundraiser for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. They also raised contacts along the way via amateur radio,
using their home call signs while on VHF and UHF during the day and using MX0KRO, the callsign of the Kent Active Radio Amateurs group, when
camping.

Hams and non-hams alike followed them on Twitter and their Megacycle Expedition Facebook page where they got to see the two adventurers reach
their finish line in northern Scotland. There, the duo even participated
in International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend operating on HF from
the lighthouse at Cape Wrath.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(FACEBOOK)

**

BONAIRE AMATEURS FORM NEW AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

JIM/ANCHOR: What does it take to form a new amateur radio club? Sometimes
it's just a handful of willing radio operators who share the same island
in the southern Caribbean ocean. John Williams, VK4JJW, takes us there.

JOHN: The newest ham radio club on the world map is wasting no time
getting things done. The Bonaire Amateur Radio Club PJ4BAR celebrated its recent birth by hosting a field day on Sorobon Beach from August 27th
through to the 29th. For now, the fledgling club's membership boasts all
nine active radio amateurs who call Bonaire their home fulltime, with additional membership among those amateurs who have addresses on the
island but live elsewhere much of the time. Still, the club does enjoy fellowship on and off the air and its weekly meetings often last until
late into the night. So if you should hear the club callsign on the air,
be sure to work the station -- and don't forget to send those QSL cards
to M Zero U R X [M0URX].

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.

(OHIO PENN DX)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the AH6LE repeater
in Beavercreek, and Wilsonville, Oregon, on Sundays, at 6 p.m. local
time.
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MEET ARRL MAXIM AWARD WINNER: KATHERINE FORSON, KT5KMF

DON/ANCHOR: A Texas high school honor student has received the
ARRL's premier honor, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award. Paul
Braun, WD9GCO, introduces us to her.

PAUL: As we discover every year with our Young Ham Of The Year
award, there are some amazing young people in our hobby today. One
of those is Katherine Forson, KT5KMF, the American Radio Relay
League's 2021 Hiram Percy Maxim Award winner.

I spoke with the remarkable young woman, who was licensed as a Tech
at the age of nine, and was an Extra five years later. Forson said
she loves the public-service aspect of amateur radio, and
participates in a variety of local events throughout the year. She's
also fascinated by the opportunities that the digital modes, such as
FT-8, afford operators. But what's most interesting to her is that
ham radio has helped her decide her future:

FORSON: This is actually pretty interesting because ham radio has
helped me a lot in figuring that out. Yes, I am a trained Skywarn
storm spotter - I actually want to be a meteorologist. I finished
just a couple weeks ago my application to Texas A&M. They have an
incredible geosciences program there and specifically meteorology.
They have the oldest ham radio club in Texas on campus and they also
have a student storm chasing team.

PAUL: When asked if she had any advice for other young women who may
be hesitant about getting into radio or science, like she did, she
offered this:

FORSON: If it's something you want to do, you go for it. I can
remember when I first got licensed, when I was taking my test it was
this room full of adult men and I was this tiny 9-year-old girl and
I tried to use a giant calculator. It was awkward at first, but it's
become something that I love, it's given me something that I have in
common with my family, and it's helped me figure out what I want to
do with my life so I think, even if it's intimidating at first,
don't let that stop you. Don't let being one of the few women, one
of the few young girls, stop you.

PAUL: Forson is working with other Texas-area female hams to create
a YL-friendly online community tied into the ARRL North Texas
section website.

Promoting youth in amateur radio is something near and dear to our
hearts here at Amateur Radio Newsline. Our 2020 Young Ham of the
Year, Chris Brault, was a former Maxim Award winner himself.
Congratulations from all of us at Newsline to Katherine Forson, who
has a bright future ahead. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun,
WD9GCO.

**

US HAMS ACTIVATE THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL

DON/ANCHOR: America's Appalachian Trail has always captured hikers' imaginations, and next month, it will be capturing hundreds and
hundreds of miles of radio signals. Jim Damron, N8TMW, has that
report.

JIM: In the United States, the 2,190-mile-long Appalachian Trail
will present 2,190 miles of possibilities for SOTA and POTA
activators on Saturday, October 2nd. SOTA enthusiasts are already
registering to activate summits that are within a short distance on
the trail and hams will be calling between 1200 UTC and 2100 UTC
throughout the day. If you're an avid hiker as well as a SOTA or
POTA activator, you have time to add your name and your summit or
park of choice to the list by sending an email to A T ontheair at
gmail dot com (ATontheair@gmail.com). SOTA activators may also post
an alert on SOTAWatch. This event is being held on the same day as
the W7A s2s 10-point madness so it's recommended that SOTA chasers
stand by and defer to summits calling other summits.

For details visit the Appalachian Trail on the air website. The URL
is listed in the printed script of this week's newscast at
arnewsline.org

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.

[DO NOT READ: atontheair.com]

(SOTA REFLECTOR, ATONTHEAIR)

**

LISATS HAM CLUB TO RETRANSMIT INSPIRATION4 LAUNCH

DON/ANCHOR: If you want to hear history as it happens, be listening
for the audio retransmissions provided by the Launch Information
Service and Amateur Television System. They'll be retransmitting
feeds of the countdown and the booster recovery for SpaceX's
Inspiration4, a three-day mission featuring the first all-civilian
crew inside a Crew Dragon spacecraft. It's a charity flight for the
benefit of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. At the time
Newsline went to production, liftoff was scheduled for September
15th. According to Joe Dolinsky, W0WD, the LISATS (LEE-SATS) Amateur
Radio Club repeater will carry feeds of the transmissions. There is
also a "listen live" button on LISATS.ORG, the (LEE-SATS) website,
which has links to Broadcastify. Listening may also be possible via
EchoLink at WB4ATV.

(JOE DOLINSKY W0WD)
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SPECIAL EVENT CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY OF VOA RELAY STATION

NEIL/ANCHOR: The "voice of freedom" transmitted its first words
from West Chester, Ohio across the ocean in September of 1944 at
the then-new Bethany Relay Station of the Voice of America. The
West Chester Amateur Radio Association WC8VOA, which calls the
iconic building its home, is celebrating the relay station's
birthday this year with a special event station on September 25th
and 26th. Jocelyn Brault KD8VRX/VA2VRX told Newsline that the
club's shack is actually the original control room for the relay
station. For the special event, be listening on 20 and 40 meters
for SSB, FT8 and perhaps some CW as well. Those making a QSO are
eligible for a downloadable certificate available 24 hours after
the event.

(JOCELYN BRAULT KD8VRX/VA2VRX)

**

ULTRA-TINY BATTERY SHOWS POWER AND PROMISE

NEIL/ANCHOR: When it comes to batteries, tiny might just be the
next big thing. Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, explains why.

KENT: The smaller the battery, the more powerful the
possibilities? The designers of a new battery technology being
used in a fitness tracker would like to think so. California-based
Sila created the battery for a wristband tracker that experts say
could revolutionize everyday electronics and perhaps have
implications for modes of transportation too. For now, the ultra-
tiny powerhouses are in a niche-market item, a fitness tracker
called the Whoop 4.0. According to a New York Times article, the
battery has the same lifespan as the power source used in the
previous model of that tracker but it's a whole one-third smaller.

Sila and Whoop together said the battery had potential for mass
marketing in other devices in the next couple of years. Unlike
lithium-ion batteries, which rely on the ionization and movement
of lithium atoms, these new batteries use an anode made of silicon
instead of graphite, requiring smaller space for the lithium atoms
as they move from the anode side of the battery to the cathode.

Sila and another company, QuantumScape, told the New York Times
that their batteries will likely be used in a few short years in
smart eyeglasses, electric cars and maybe even flying cars one
day.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

(NYTIMES)

**

SILENT KEY: CHARLIE BYARS, W5GPO, LONGTIME WEATHER SPOTTER

NEIL/ANCHOR: A well-known weather-spotter and amateur radio
operator in north Texas has become a Silent Key. Randy Sly, W4XJ,
tells us about him.

RANDY: Charlie Byars, W5GPO, took the lead in tracking severe
weather with his local Amateur Radio Emergency Services Skywarn
group, which he helped create in 1974. A licensed ham since 1959,
Charlie died Sunday, September 12th. Devoted to alerting people in
Archer and Wichita counties about dangerous weather, Charlie was a
part of the crucial information network in operation on April
20th, 1979, when a deadly tornado swept through the region,
killing 40 people, and destroying thousands of homes.

Over the years, Charlie's commitment to weather reporting found him
in numerous roles, including ARES district coordinator for eight
counties. According to a report in the Times Record News of
Wichita Falls, he was also the recipient in 2005 of an award from
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Charlie Byars was 86.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ.

(THE WICHITA FALLS TIMES-RECORD NEWS)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the D-Star Reflector 91-C in Melbourne, Australia on Wednesday
nights at 7:30 local time.
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ESSEX HAM SPECIAL EVENT SUPPORTS NEW HACKSPACE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In the UK, the ever-expanding universe of creative
workshops, known as hackspaces, just got an extra boost from some ham
radio friends. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us about it.

JEREMY: East Essex Hackspace became the newest of 70 hackspaces
throughout the UK on Saturday, September 18th, as this community-based "makerspace" opened as a welcoming place to encourage learning and
tinkering. It includes a construction and electronics workbench,
reflecting a spirit so familiar to amateur radio operators.

To help celebrate opening day at this new workshop, Essex Ham operated
special event station GB0EEH on HF and VHF, not just for the QSOs, but
to support the community effort and to demonstrate amateur radio to those attending at the Hawkwell location. According to the hackspace's Wiki,
the space in the pavilion has been provided by Rochford District
Council and the lease is in effect until October of 2027.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(EAST ESSEX HACKSPACE)

**

NEW MICROCONTROLLER EDITOR AT CQ MAGAZINE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Congratulations to Jack Purdum, W8TEE, who has become
the new Microcontrollers Editor of CQ magazine. Jack, who is an Arduino authority, will have his first column appear in the November issue, the magazine has announced. His predecessor, Anthony Luscre, K8ZT, is
starting up a new column called "Ham Radio Explorer" that will launch
in the December issue.

(CQ MAGAZINE)

**

SILENT KEY: EAST COAST REFLECTOR'S RICK BEUTNAGEL, N3RRB

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Another extended family of ham radio operators is
grieving for one of their own. We hear their story, and the story of a well-loved Silent Key, from Dave Parks, WB8ODF.

DAVE: An emotional last call has been made on the IRLP/Allstar East
Coast Reflector for Richard Beutnagel N3RRB, a mainstay of the
reflector. Rick, a licensed ham since 2018, became a Silent Key on
Wednesday, September 15th of COVID-19 while caring for his ailing
parents in Deltona, Florida.

Friends and members of the 9050 reflector told Newsline that Rick
arrived on the system in October of 2020 and immediately established
himself as a mentor. It was a role that came naturally to him on and
off the air, and in the reflector's Zoom room.

One of Rick's most selfless projects was the 40 meter QRP transceiver
he built for a 14-year-old amateur who came to call him "Uncle Rick" He
also made use of the electronics business he owned and operated to
create equipment and software for the East Coast Reflector's control
stations so they could track the number of connected nodes at any given
time.

Rick also believed in personal connections so even while riding his
bike around town, he would carry his HT on his handlebars and keep his
phone connected to the East Coast Reflector Zoom Room.

Reflector member Pres W2PW told Newsline: "The amateur community lost a
good one." I would like to add: "Rick, you will be missed but never forgotten."

For Amateur Radio Newsline and everyone on the East Coast Reflector,
I'm Dave Parks, WB8ODF.

**

BOUVET 3Y0J TRIP GETS ARRL GRANT

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Next year's Bouvet Island DXpedition has been given its
latest financial boost, and it's from the ARRL. Skeeter Nash, N5ASH,
has that report.

SKEETER: The 3Y0J (Three Y Zero Jay) Bouvet Island DXpedition --
considered one of the costliest ever -- has been awarded $5,000 from
the ARRL. The amount given to the nonprofit Amateur Radio DXpeditions organization, which is based in Norway, is the same sum given back to
the ARRL following the Intrepid DX Group's cancellation of its Bouvet
trip, after the ship planned to carry them there was sold to new
owners.

Amateur Radio DXpeditions -- and its 12 operators -- are planning a
November 2022 activation, with a goal of 120,000 contacts. The team
will be on the island for 20 days. The grant is named for Silent Keys
Lloyd Colvin, W6KG, and Iris Colvin, W6QL, and supports international
DX teams to foster global goodwill. The DXpedition's $650,000 budget
makes it among the most expensive ones on record. The team earlier
received a $100,000 donation from the Northern California DX Foundation
and a gift from the German DX Foundation that is the equivalent of
$11,815.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH.

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, it appears that the RV Braveheart, which was
sold by Nigel Jolly, K6NRJ, to new owners, may sail again with hams
aboard sometime. Paul, N6PSE, of the Intrepid DX Group announced
recently on the group's Facebook page that the ship will be relocating
from New Zealand to Ushuaia (Ooose-Why-Uh), in southernmost Argentina
and the new owner plans to make it available once again for amateur
radio DXpeditioners.

(INTREPID DX GROUP)
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* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

SILENT KEY: ACTIVE NET PARTICIPANT WALTER PAGE PYNE, WA3EOP

JIM/ANCHOR: A prominent active amateur radio operator and a well-known
voice on the OMISS and Century Club nets has become a Silent Key. Sel
Embee, KB3TZD, tells us about him.

SEL: Walter Page Pyne was known for identifying his callsign as WA3EOP -
We Are Three Elephants On Patrol - and his voice was a familiar one on the OMISS Net, the Century Club Net, the YL International Single Sideband Net
and numerous other nets. Page, as he was known to friends, died on
September 26th in his Maryland hometown of Hagerstown. A life member of
the Antietam (Ann-Tee-Tum) Radio Association and the International Order
of Odd Fellows ham club, he was also a cofounder of the Cheese Hollow
Amateur Radio Society in Maryland. He had served as Charter Year President
of the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Chapter (#222) of the Quarter Century Wireless Association. Page, a former phone activities manager for the
ARRL's Maryland/DC section, at the time of his death belonged to the
Maryland Emergency Phone Net.

Walter Page Pyne was 74.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Sel Embee, KB3TZD.

(QRZ.COM, TRIBUTE ARCHIVE)

**

SCHOOL FOR DEAF PREPS FOR UNIQUE ARISS CONTACT

JIM/ANCHOR: Few things are outside the realm of possibility with amateur radio, as a group of deaf students in the UK is about to learn in an ARISS
QSO with an American astronaut. Here's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

JEREMY: American astronaut Mark Vande Hei, KG5GNP, is scheduled to
complete a unique amateur radio contact from the ISS with students at Mary Hare School for deaf children in Berkshire, England.

Ciaran Morgan, M0XTD, the UK's ARISS operations lead, told Newsline that
the event will proceed like a standard ARISS contact for the astronaut,
but students and school volunteers will have access to a stenographer
using a device that projects what is being said onto a large screen in
their auditorium. Ciaran added that the text will also appear on a live
web stream which will also feature a sign language interpreter. Meanwhile, hams from the Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society have been
assisting the students by providing lessons on amateur radio.

The school noted on its blog: [quote] "These will be the first deaf
children to have done this, making it a world first." [endquote]

While some of the students will be linked to the action by a web feed,
others will be in the auditorium itself as socially distanced spectators.
It is scheduled to take place sometime during the week of October 10th.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(CIARAN MORGAN, M0XTD, ARISS-UK, MARY HARE SCHOOL)

**

CQWW DX CONTEST GAINS PLAQUE SPONSORS FOR YOUTH

JIM/ANCHOR: As the date inches forward for the CQ WorldWide DX contest,
there are new sponsors for categories featuring young competitors. Ed
Durrant, DD5LP, has those details.

ED: The IARU Region 1 Youth Working Group will be sponsoring plaques
awarded in the upcoming CQWW DX contest for competitors in Europe and
Africa who are 25 years of age or younger. Plaques will be given to young
SSB and CW operators. A number of other YOTA branches and IARU Youth
Working Groups are sponsoring other awards on other continents for young participants. The CQWW contest announced on its blog in August that
organisers have created a number of overlays within the contest, including those for young operators and for hams who are experimenting with new technologies. A new Explorer category has been created for those radio operators who are using SSB and CW while employing such new technologies
as internet-linked stations.

The contest dates are October 30th and 31st for SSB and November 27th and
28th for CW.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(CQWW BLOG)

**

IT'S 'FALLOUT' WEEKEND FOR 100 WATTS AND A WIRE

JIM/ANCHOR: Don't forget to be listening for operators calling "CQ FALL
OUT!" on October 8th, 9th and 10th. Those are the days for the portable operating event of the 100 Watts and a Wire community. Operators are being encouraged to work any band, any mode and alone or as a team. The exchange
is your call sign, your 100Watts ID if you have one, your state, province
or DX country and a true signal report.

For details, visit the website 100wattsandawire.com and use the numerals
"1 Zero Zero" for the word "one hundred."

(100 WATTS AND A WIRE)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K7MMA repeater
in Spokane, Washington, on Fridays at 5 p.m. local time.
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

SPEEDWAY QSL CARDS RACE TO THE FINISH LINE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you're still waiting for your QSL cards from the three Indianapolis Motor Speedway special events, they're on their way. Jack
Parker, W8ISH, gives us a look behind the scenes of the massive mailing
that's been going on.

[sound clip: envelope being cut open]

JACK: That's the sound of another self-addressed, stamped QSL envelope
being opened for processing. Members of the W9IMS Special Event Station gathered to open, separate and then fill-in and mail out thousands of QSL cards following a summer of racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

BILL: "This is what we call our Monster card party. We have a few others
that we do and then they trickle in all year long."

JACK: Bill Kennedy, W9YT, coordinates the special event stations and the Monster chore stuffing and returning thousands of QSL cards each fall. A behind-the-scenes look at this QSL process found it takes dozens of W9IMS members to get the job done.

BILL: "We have a big following. They want to work us every year and make
a big effort to get all three races."

JACK: W9IMS is the official special event station for three of the IMS
races. They operate 24/7 for a week prior to the Grand Prix and
Indianapolis 500 mile race in May. In August, they again fire up the
radios for the Brickyard 200-race. A custom-designed QSL card is
produced for each race. Those stations who log all three race events
receive a special certificate as well. This is the 18th year for this
W9IMS special event station. Bill says the summer time operation often reflects the solar cycles. This year's total contacts fell just short of
the 18,000 recorded contacts a few years ago. As the sun cycle fell, so
did the total contacts.

Bill: "You could follow the total card by following the solar cycle. As
the cycle came down so did our Qs. As the cycle is going back up, our Qs
are going back up."

Jack: Bill says this crew has become very proficient in not only logging contacts but in filling out the QSL cards and certificates after the
checkered flag falls on the last race of the season.

Bill: "That's a lot contacts and a lot of cards to do at the end of the
year."

Jack: For Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Jack Parker, W8ISH.

**

NORWAY PLANS ENTRY-LEVEL CERTIFICATE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The Norwegian Radio Relay League, Norway's national
amateur radio organization, is working with a research institute there to
help introduce an entry-level amateur radio category that would become available to operators as young as 12 or 13. Operators would be permitted
a maximum transmitting power of 10 watts. The goal is to encourage the
newest amateurs to build their own simple transmitters and receivers and
spur interest in technology and science to complement ther schoolwork.
NRRL is working to move this certificate forward with funds provided for
the study by the Norwegian Research Council. Norway presently has only
one class of radio operators.

(SOUTHGATE)

**

AUSTRALIAN 2x1 CALLSIGNS DEBUT IN WORLDWIDE CONTEST

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: With the CQ WW SSB contest over, no doubt you have more
than a few contest callsigns in your log. How many of them are among the newest from Australia? Let's hear more from Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

JASON: The long-awaited 2 x 1 VK contest callsigns got their first
official run on the air during the big CQ WW SSB contest in late October.
The Wireless Institute of Australia reports that assignment of the calls
by the Australian Maritime College came just in time for the global competition. In fact, three of the WIA's own directors were assigned the
calls for use in the competition. Some reports say that many amateurs who heard the new contest calls were at first confused by the unusual single-letter suffixes but everything ultimately ran smoothly. If you
have thoughts you'd like to share about Australia's new contest
callsigns, the WIA is eager to hear your comments. Send them on to
national office at wia dot org dot au (nationaloffice@wia.org.au)

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(WIA, SOUTHGATE)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

FINDING POWER WITHOUT RELYING ON BATTERIES

NEIL/ANCHOR: Imagine a world in which your various internet-linked devices didn't have to rely on batteries. Well, researchers in Spain can already
see that day coming. Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, tells us more.

KENT: They've been on the wish list for lots of us but now battery-free devices have made the leap to the list of possibilities for some
researchers in Spain. Scientists at the IMDEA Networks Institute in Madrid
are using LiFi and Radio Frequency backscatter technologies to make it
happen. After three years of research, they've created a sustainable
wireless communication system that they call PassiveLiFi and say it could
be deployed for systems in smart agriculture, smart cities and even smart homes. A November 26th article on the Hackster website describes how LiFi happens. The article says: [quote] "IoT devices would transmit data by reflecting and modulating the incoming RF signals present in the
environment, a passive transmission technique known as RF backscattering
that consumes very little power." [endquote]. One of the researchers notes that when the scientists began their work, LiFi technology and RF backscattering were viewed as independent from one another.

Will they now make a winning and workable combination? With an estimated
64 billion or more users of battery-powered IoT devices in the world,
there'll be plenty of people watching to find out.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

(HACKSTER)

**

SILENT KEY: QST COLUMNIST JOEL R. HALLAS, W1ZR

NEIL/ANCHOR: A longtime contributor to the library of amateur radio
knowledge and expertise has become a Silent Key. Joel R. Hallas (Hal
luss), W1ZR, was the author of numerous books and a contributing editor to
the ARRL's QST magazine, which he had formerly served as technical editor.
His QST column "The Doctor is In" also inspired a popular podcast. An
amateur radio operator since 1955, Joel died on November 25th at the age
of 79.

(ARRL)

**

BELGIUM PLANS TO OFFER EXAMS IN EARLY 2022

NEIL/ANCHOR: Radio exams will be back in Belgium in just a few weeks. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, has the details.

ED: Shortly after announcing that it was suspending all amateur radio
licence exams through to the end of this year due to the pandemic,
Belgium's regulator BIPT has scheduled its first examination in 2022 for Friday, the 7th of January. The test will not be given at BIPT facilities, which the regulator has deemed insufficient to comply with COVID
precautions. The exam site will instead be the Euro Space Center, a
science museum in Wallonia in the Belgian-Luxembourg Province in southern Belgium. The testing procedures will be the same that are followed at the regulator's site.

The announcement was made public on the website of the UBA, the national amateur radio member society. Candidates may test for the basic ECC
report-89 ON3 licence; the CEPT Novice ON2 licence; or the HAREC Full
licence.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(SOUTHGATE, UBC)

**

ARISS NAMED NEWSLINE'S INT'L NEWSMAKER OF THE YEAR

NEIL/ANCHOR: Following two great recipients in previous years - namely The West Bengal Radio Club in India and the Radio Society of Great Britain- National Health Service's Get-on-the-air-to-care project, both of whom continue to do great work, we are proud to announce the winner of the 2021 ARNewsline International Newsmaker of the Year Award. This year's honor
goes to Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, or ARISS, an organization I've had the pleasure of working with myself. This group,
based across fifteen countries around the world, has been supporting
amateur radio from the space station and performing school links around
the world to astronauts for over 20 years. As well as enthusing youngsters
in the magic of space and radio, they have also generated publicity for Amateur Radio in the mainstream media channels of radio, TV and
newspapers. Congratulations to a deserving award-winner from all of us
at Newsline.

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the Metro Area
Repeater Association's WD0HWT repeater in Oakdale, Minnesota, at 7 p.m.
local time on Sundays.
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

MINNESOTA HAM GETS SPECIAL RECOGNITION

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In amateur radio, where communication and public
service are core elements, some people really shine. One of them
was recently recognized for his efforts by the Civil Air Patrol's
Minnesota Wing. Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, has that story.

KENT: Matt Stepaniak, N0TNL, calls his recent honor one of the
proudest moments in his life. The Civil Air Patrol volunteer has been
part of the Minnesota Wing for 20 years. His dedication as a squadron communications officer earned him honors in 2015, with the Robert
Dunbar Memorial Award, presented for his use of his amateur radio
technical skills in his work.

His latest honor came in October during National Disability Employment Awareness Month with a new spotlight shining on Matt, who's formally
known as 1st Lt. Matthew Stepaniak. In addition to training other
volunteers to use their radios, he has played a key role in emergency
response, coordinating his efforts with the local Salvation Army. On
Fridays at 9 p.m., he is dispatcher for the Viking squadron's FM
network. Matt has cerebral palsy, and fulfills all these
responsibilities and more from home, where his equipment includes his
ham shack, as well as his Civil Air Patrol radio and antenna.

In the Civil Air Patrol announcement of his honor, Matt describes his
Civil Air Patrol work as a perfect channel for volunteerism and public
service - two things that remain strong to his core, thanks to ham
radio.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

(CIVIL AIR PATROL)

**

INDIAN HAM CONVENTION IN HYDERABAD DRAWS CROWD

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In India, a crowd of enthusiastic attendees showed
up for a convention that had been cancelled last year due to the
pandemic. Here's Graham Kemp, VK4BB, with details.

GRAHAM: Billed as the first technical convention for ham radio
operators to be held following India's COVID lockdown, the Lamakaan
Amateur Radio Club's fourth convention attracted enthusiastic
attendees to Hyderabad on Saturday, Dec. 11th and Sunday, Dec. 12th.
The convention drew a full array of speakers to the Muffakham Jah
College of Engineering and Technology, and was livestreamed via
satellite built by hams in India to those who were not among the 400
convention attendees. Last year's event was cancelled because of the
pandemic. This year, the programme included forums on Cubesats,
software defined radio, DXing, satellites and the digital modes. Hams
were encouraged to share their experiences in experimenting with radio
and other wireless technologies.

The college hoped that by hosting the event, students would also be
spurred to obtain their amateur radio licences. Professor Mohammed
Arifuddin Sohel, head of the school's Department of Electronics and Communications, said during the first day's opening remarks that he
believed the students would be inspired by what they saw and heard.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(YOUTUBE, TELAGANA TODAY, THE HINDU)

**

FOXHUNT ENTHUSIASTS PREP FOR BIG CHALLENGE IN TURKEY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: With an ancient city as their backdrop, foxhunt
enthusiasts, are preparing for a big challenge in Turkey. Here's
Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, with that report.

JASON: Get ready for a gathering of nations in Turkey for some serious foxhunting this month. Between December 20th and 26th, amateur radio foxhunters will set off near the ruins of the 7th century Turkish city
of Side on the Mediterranean coast. The challenge is being called the
First International Radio-Orienteering Competition and it is being
hosted by the UA Foxhunters of Ukraine, and the NEO Sports Club.
Although the contest follows all the IARU rules for staging and
scoring, this is not an official IARU championship. There will be two
Classic events, a sprint competition, and radio orienteering over the
course of the seven days. For details visit the event website at
wrocturkey.com

Meanwhile, plans are already in the works for the next IARU world
competition. That is most likely to be hosted by the Amateur Radio
Union of Serbia in September 2022. This will be the 20th IARU ARDF
World Championship, and will closely follow World Cup competitions
for individual foxhunters.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(HOMINGIN.COM, WROCTURKEY.COM)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

NEW LICENSE LEVEL PROPOSED FOR IRELAND

DON/ANCHOR: Some changes are in the works for Ireland's amateur radio licenses. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, brings us up to date.

JEREMY: ComReg, the Irish telecommunications agency, plans to introduce a
new level of amateur radio licence at either a novice or entry level, targeting younger licence candidates in particular. Ireland presently has
only one class of ham radio licence. The recommendation is outlined in the agency's recent statement on a Strategy for Managing the Radio Spectrum
from 2022 to 2024.

ComReg describes the rationale behind the introduction of the new licence, which would not require full knowledge of HAREC - the Harmonised Amateur
Radio Examination Certificate. The document further states that Ireland is interested in [quote] "nurturing, developing and deploying STEM talent and
the availability of a novice licence would enable the amateur radio service
to act in the national interest." [endquote]

Some clarification would still be needed with respect to CEPT, which has separate definitions and suggested syllabi relating to Entry, Novice and
Full licences.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(COMREG, SOUTHGATE)

**

HAM INVOLVEMENT SOUGHT FOR MOON MISSION

DON/ANCHOR: Japan's space agency is looking for hams to participate in the mission of a very tiny, ULTRA tiny, moon lander. John Williams, VK4JJW,
tells us what's involved.

JOHN: The JAXA Ham Radio Club, JQ1ZVI, has a date with the moon in
February, and is hoping to take the world's amateur radio community along
for the ride, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, is looking
for amateur radio operators to receive telemetry from the transmitters on board its 6U CubeSat, which it is calling OMOTENASHI. The 70cm amateur band signals will be sent from both the orbiting satellite and the moon lander. Described as the world's smallest moon lander, it will transmit on UHF
only. Although there is a ground station in Japan at Wakayama, hams around
the world will be asked to listen for the transmissions on 437.41 MHz.

More details about the project and how to QSL the reception of
transmissions can be found on the JAXA Ham Radio Club website. We are including a link to that in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.

[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ: https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/omotenashi/JHRCweb/jhrc.html ]

(JAXA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB)

**

CONTEST UNIVERSITY ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS

DON/ANCHOR: Are you ready for Contest University at Dayton Hamvention?
Well, you still have a few months before it happens of course but don't let that stop you from registering. Contest University takes place at the Hope Hotel in Dayton, Ohio, on May 19, which is the day before Hamvention itself opens. Returnees will notice that this is a change of venue. It's closer to the Hamvention site at the fairgrounds in Xenia, and will be the home of
all official contesting activities.

You can register and get more details at the website contestuniversity dot com.

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K5ARC repeater
in Gonzales, Louisiana, on Thursdays at 8:15 p.m. local time.
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

DXERS PUSH TO RETAIN ACCESS TO ISLAND GROUP

PAUL/ANCHOR: The Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument is
on the map for many avid DXers. Now they're working to make sure
those islands get to stay there. Ralph Squillace, KK6ITF, explains
what's happening.

RALPH: Imagine logging a DX contact from any of the seven islands
and atolls in the central Pacific Ocean managed by the US Fish &
Wildlife Service. This group is known as the Pacific Remote Islands
Marine National Monument. DXpeditions don't happen often there --
in fact it's been almost four years since a five-member team from
the Northern California DX Foundation landed on Baker Island using
the callsign KH1/KH7Z. The foundation's Don Greenbaum, N1DG, is now
leading an effort to open the islands up for more DXers to have the
kind of experience he and his teammates had on Baker Island in
2018. The US Fish & Wildlife Service, along with the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, have received public
comment on the proposal, which has the support of the Foundation.
As a new management plan is being drafted for the islands, DXers
want to be confident it will ensure continued occasional access
there. The comment window closed on January 20th but the Foundation
is hopeful. It said in a statement: [quote] "Ham radio was used by
the early colonizers of Howland, Baker and Jarvis Islands in the
mid 1930s. It is a tradition that extends to today with the 2018
Baker Island radio expedition." [endquote]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.

(OHIO PENN DX, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DX FOUNDATION)

**

ONLINE DX MUSEUM PRESERVES RARE AND VINTAGE QSLs

PAUL/ANCHOR: Speaking of DX, many of us would agree, DX never gets
old, even if those cards from far-away locations become vintage. Ed
Durrant, DD5LP, tells us about a unique online museum of sorts that
preserves QSL cards for sharing...we hope, forever.

ED: Jean Michel, F6AJA, has thousands and thousands of QSL cards,
some from rare DX entities, and he didn't even have to turn his rig
on once to get them. Jean Michel has created an online gallery of
images of nearly 20,000 QSL cards sorted into different albums,
including an assortment of the 10 most wanted DXCC entities,
spanning the years 2011 to 2020. The collection contains more than
500 cards from contacts on rare French Pacific Islands, more than
1,000 from the various research bases in Antarctica and
commemorative stations for the IARU and the ITU. That collection
has more than 900 cards. Hams collecting DX from the United States
have contributed images from each of the states, all dating before
1945. The site is in French but is available as an English
translation. We are including the address in the text version of
this week's newscast. You'll also find Jean Michel's email address.
He's always looking to add to his collection and you can write to
him if you're interested in contributing some of your own cards.

[FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ: http://LesNouvellesDX.free.fr ]

[FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ: LesNouvellesDX@free.fr ]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(OHIO PENN DX)

**

CLUB CREATES MAP TO CONNECT HAMS IN CANADA

PAUL/ANCHOR: Hams in Canada have a new resource to help them locate
other radio operators, as we hear from Sel Embee, KB3TZD.

SEL: The Georgian Bay Amateur Radio Club VE3OSR in Canada is
offering a way for hams to reconnect with one another through
clubs, especially if they have lost touch during the pandemic.
Clubs throughout Canada, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, are now
shown on a colorful map display which is free online for all hams'
reference. The Georgian Bay amateurs are encouraging other clubs in
Canada to add themselves to the map, which can be done by using the
button labeled "CONTACT" on the bottom of the web page containing
the map. Visit gbarc dot ca stroke clubs dot php
(gbarc.ca/clubs.php)

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Sel Embee, KB3TZD.

(GEORGIAN BAY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the KD5DMT repeater in Benton County Arkansas on Saturdays at 7
p.m. local times during the Amateur Radio Information Net on the
Benton County Radio Operators' Repeater System.
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

HAMS IN UK PREP FOR PLATINUM JUBILEE SPECIAL EVENT

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: There will be big celebrations everywhere in the UK this
year for the queens' platinum jubilee. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us how
ham radio is getting involved.

JEREMY: Hams in the UK who are planning to operate this June in
celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee should keep their eyes on
the website of the Radio Society of Great Britain. Ofcom has granted permission for callsigns to include the special regional secondary
locator letter Q but its use will require a Notice of Variation. The
website rsgb.org will carry those details shortly. Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II is Britain's longest reigning monarch and thus the first to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. Special use call signs have been used by
hams for previous occasions, including the Queen's Golden Jubilee in
2002 and her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(RSGB)

**

HAMS JOIN FCC'S TECH ADVISORY COUNCIL

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The two newest members of the FCC's Advisory Council are
radio amateurs. Sel Embee, KB3 T Zed D, has the details.

SEL: When the Federal Communications Commission's Technical Advisory
Council holds its first meeting of the year on Feb. 28, two amateur
radio operators will be part of the proceedings for the first time. Greg Lapin, N9GL, chairman of the ARRL's RF Safety Committee, and Michelle Thompson, W5NYV, CEO of the Open Research Institute, have joined the
council following their appointment by FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
The FCC relies on the council's advice on a number of issues including artificial intelligence, emerging wireless technologies
and advanced spectrum-sharing technologies.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Sel Embee, KB3TZD.

(ARRL)

**

DEADLINE NEARS FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT NOMINATIONS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you know a software innovator who's devoted to
helping amateur radio operations improve, you still have a little time
to submit their name for the Amateur Radio Software Award. The deadline
is February 14th. The international award is given each year to developers
of creative open-source programs that follow good development practices
and are available free to users. Previous winners have included Jordan
Sherer, KN4CRD, for JS8Call, and Anthony Good, K3NG, for the K3NG Arduino
CW Keyer.

For details and to find the official nomination form, visit arsaward dot
com (arsaward.com). The winner will be announced in April.

(ARS AWARD WEBSITE)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
VK3HJQ repeater in Victoria, Australia, and the EchoLink Conference
Server 69556 and IRLP Node 9556 on Sundays at 9 a.m. local time.
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

CANADIAN AMATEURS RECEIVE GRANT FOR EMCOMM WORK

DON/ANCHOR: Congratulations to the members of the New Westminster
Amateur Radio Club in British Columbia which has been given an $8,000
grant from the province to support and develop its emergency radio
response capabilities. According to a report in the New Westminster
Record, the ham club is among 250 nonprofit groups to receive grants
from an estimated $140 million of funding, which supports public safety
and conservation programs. The grant to the amateur radio club is part
of about $5.5 million earmarked specifically for emergency and safety
services.

(THE NEW WESTMINSTER RECORD)

**

PILOTS FAULT ELECTRONIC 'SPOOFING' OF GPS SIGNALS

DON/ANCHOR: No one likes radio interference - not hams and certainly
not airline pilots. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us about interference
that's reportedly impacting planes' navigation.

ED: Radio interference that has created electronic spoofing of GPS
signals is reported to be interfering with aircraft attempting to land
at Israel's Ben Gurion airport, according to several news outlets. The
Times of Israel reports that the signals are coming from defense systems installed in Syria by Russia, and they are having an impact on commercial airliners.

State-owned Israeli TV station KAN said that Moscow has told Israel the signals are part of defense systems designed to protect Russian soldiers
in Syria. A pilot told the KAN news outlet that the signals during the
last four weeks have been as strong as those experienced in early 2019.
The pilot said however, that those earlier signals eventually stopped.
He told the station [quote] "What we've run into is [electromagnetic]
spectrum interference from the east, which has taken us a while to
understand what it is." [endquote]

The reports said that officials believe the interference with commercial planes is collateral damage and that the jamming is directed elsewhere.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(KAN ISRAELI TV, THE TIMES OF ISRAEL, THE TURKISH PRESS)

**

PANEL ASSESSES JAPAN'S EFFORT TO ATTRACT YOUNGER HAMS

DON/ANCHOR: In Japan, officials have begun taking extra steps to ensure amateur radio is accessible for the youngest of the young who aspire to
get their licenses. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, has been following that story.

JASON: Members of a new panel designed to make amateur radio more
accessible for beginners in Japan held their first meeting on January
26th. The Amateur Radio Advisory Board for Wireless Human Resource
Development was created by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and
Communications. One of its members is Yoshinori Takao, JG1KTC, president
of the Japan Amateur Radio League.

According to a press release on the Ministry's website, the goals
include fostering experimentation and research in amateur radio and
making activities more accessible for newcomers, especially the very
young. The creation of the panel follows efforts during the past few
years by Yoshinori and the JARL. Working in cooperation with the Japan
Amateur Radio Development Association, the JARL pressed the Ministry
two years ago to find more opportunities for elementary and junior high
school students to learn about amateur radio.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(JARL, SOUTHGATE)

**

AM RALLY PAYS TRIBUTE TO ORIGINAL VOICE MODE

DON/ANCHOR: Amplitude Modulation enthusiasts have been gearing up for
the AM Rally being held from 0000UTC Saturday, February 5th through to
0700 UTC on Monday, February 7th. Plans are in place, even with the
prospect of a CME impacting 40m and up. Technician Class licensees even
have a chance operating AM on 6m, with the preferred frequency of 50.400
MHz. If you don't want to keep a log, you can still submit details about
your participation on the event website. For details, visit amrally.com
Then start listening for the call of "CQ, AM Rally."

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the Lookout Mountain Amateur Radio Community's N4LMC repeater and the LMARC SouthEast Link
Digital Systems on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. local time.
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

ISS TO BE DISPOSED OF IN WATERS OF 'POINT NEMO'

JIM/ANCHOR: The deep waters of the South Pacific have been chosen as the
final resting place for the International Space Station in the years
ahead, as we hear from Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

JIM: The region is known as Point Nemo, the South Pacific Oceanic
Uninhabited Area - and it's been selected by NASA as the final resting
place of the International Space Station. The United States space agency intends to retire the space laboratory by 2031 by having it crash into
this remote section of the ocean. While it is no surprise that plans were
in the works for its retirement, NASA had been quiet until recently about
its specific plans. The ISS was launched in 2000 and NASA has said, in announcing its plans that it intends to keep the space station operational until the very end. Its experiments and its many contacts through the
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program, have kept it and
its more than 200 astronauts and cosmonauts in the spotlight over the
years. NASA plans to yield the space station's position among the stars to commercial ventures. The final destination for the ISS is about 2,000
miles north of Antarctica and 3,000 miles off the eastern coast of New Zealand. Since 1971, it's been a place that has become home to space
debris from other nations, including Russia and Japan.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(CNN)

**

PROBE CONCLUDES THAT RADIO WAVES SICKENED US DIPLOMATS

JIM/ANCHOR: Radio waves have been pinpointed as the source of some health issues suffered by US diplomats overseas. Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, has that update.

KENT: A panel of investigators working for United States intelligence
agencies has concluded that highly directional electromagnetic pulses are partly to blame for a baffling set of brain injuries reported by American spies and diplomats working abroad as far back as 2016.

The scientists' conclusions affirm one previous theory for what has come
to be called "Havana Syndrome." The findings indicate the radio signals
were transmitted by an external device, afflicting some Central
Intelligence Agency officers and diplomats. The panel's probe did not
include attempts to determine who was behind the transmissions of the
pulsed electromagnetic energy. The syndrome takes its name from the first group of people who exhibited such symptoms while assigned to the US
Embassy in Havana, Cuba. Officials have said that similar symptoms have
since been reported by Americans working for the US government in 70
different countries.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson KC0DGY

(NYTIMES, NBC)

**

SILENT KEY: PACKET RADIO PIONEER BOB BRUNINGA, WB4APR

JIM/ANCHOR: A pioneer in the development of APRS has become a Silent Key.
With those details, here's Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

NEIL: The developer of the Automatic Packet Reporting System, or APRS, has become a Silent Key. Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, died on Monday, February 7th, according to a post on AMSAT's Facebook page quoting his daughter,
Bethanne. He had been battling cancer for two years and was also diagnosed with COVID-19, according to the post. More than a quarter-century ago, Bob developed the now-widely-used packet radio technology that enables real-
time tracking over ham frequencies.

Bob, a US Navy veteran, had also been senior research engineer at the US
Naval Academy's small satellite lab in Annapolis, Maryland. He, was author
of the book "Energy Choices for the Radio Amateur," published by the ARRL.
Bob wrote on his QRZ page that his ham radio journey began in 1963 with
the Novice callsign WN4APR. He was a life member of AMSAT organization and belonged to the IEEE National Committee on Transportation and Aerospace Policy.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

(AMSAT, IEEE, QRZ, FACEBOOK)

**

SPECIAL EVENT MARKS 80 YEARS SINCE VOA'S 1ST BROADCAST

JIM/ANCHOR: The original 75Kw transmitter that went on the air for the
first Voice of America broadcast 80 years ago this month is the
centerpiece of a special event station celebrating that historic
anniversary. The transmitter no longer works and is part of an exhibit at
the VOA museum in West Chester, Ohio, but there are plenty of working transmitters - and transceivers - to celebrate the day it went live on February 1st, 1942. Hams will be calling QRZ as W3V, W8O and W4A - on February 19th and 20th - from VOA sites in Washington, DC; West Chester,
Ohio; and Greenville, North Carolina. Jocelyn Brault, KD8VRX, of the West Chester Amateur Radio Association, WC8VOA, said certificates will be
available for anyone who works any or all of the three stations. There
will also be digital QSL cards for each individual site as well as paper
QSLs. Be listening on CW, SSB and FT8 both days between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time. For details, visit any of the three stations' pages on
QRZ.com.

(JOCELYN BRAULT, KD8VRX)
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SOLAR STORM DISABLES SOME STARLINK SATELLITES

PAUL/ANCHOR: Satellites destined for the Starlink constellation were lost
just a day after launch as the result of a solar storm. Andy Morrison,
K9AWM, picks up that story.

ANDY: A geomagnetic storm disrupted nearly 50 SpaceX Starlink satellites
that were in low-earth orbit following their deployment one day earlier.
The satellites went into safe mode to minimize atmospheric drag's effects
on their orbits but Starlink said as many as 40 of them would likely be
lost, becoming little more than space debris when they dropped out of
their allocated orbit. According to several news reports, the storm made
the atmosphere too dense for the satellites to make their way to the
higher altitudes of their planned orbits. The February 3rd launch sought
to add the new satellites to the 2,000 or so already in the Starlink constellation providing space-based internet access. According to CNN,
there are about 145,000 Starlink subscribers in 25 countries.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

(CNN, SPACE.COM)

**

UK HAMS MARK 100 YEARS OF BRITISH BROADCASTING

PAUL/ANCHOR: Even as the London BBC Radio Group marks 100 years of
British broadcasting by operating its special event station GB100BBC, a
second group of hams in the UK is creating its own party. Jeremy Boot,
G4NJH, brings us those details.

JEREMY: The Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is marking the centenary
this month of a programme aired on the 14th of February 1922, one hundred years ago, from a hut not far from Chelmsford.

Preceded by the familiar station announcement of "This is Two Emma Toc,"
the programme itself featured talk and occasional piano music - all transmitted at 200 watts on a frequency of 428 kHz. This entertainment broadcast helped bring about the creation of what was to become the BBC
in 1922.

The Chelmsford hams will be on HF, VHF and UHF and are operating all
month as GB1002MT. They will confirm QSOs via eQSL and LoTW only.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(SOUTHGATE, CHELMSFORD AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY)

**

AMSAT SOUTH AFRICA SEEKS PAPERS FOR SYMPOSIUM

PAUL/ANCHOR: AMSAT South Africa is looking for presenters for its virtual symposium being held in July. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, has that story.

JASON: With the COVID-19 pandemic still a major concern, AMSAT South
Africa will be holding its annual space symposium as a virtual event
again this year. The one-day event will take place on Saturday the 23rd
of July, showcasing the theme "Space, the next frontier for expansion of amateur radio."

Organisers are still seeking proposals for papers and are asking that all prospective presenters send in their submissions by the 31st of March.
Each presenter will receive a time slot of 20 to 30 minutes and will be
given a 10-minute period for questions and answers.

Topics may range from the basics on how to use hand-held transceivers to
work satellites all the way to more complex issues, such as building satellites or conducting space research with a space weather station.

Accepted presentations are due in by the 1st of July in Microsoft Word
and PowerPoint format. For details, email organisers at admin at amsatsa
dot org dot za (admin@amsatsa.org.za).

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(AMSAT-SA, SARL)

**

SPECIAL EVENT BRINGS PLUTO A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME

PAUL/ANCHOR: Want to work Pluto? Well there's still time and it's not the
kind of DX contact you think. Here's Randy Sly, W4XJ, to tell you how.

RANDY: When tuning across the ham bands, you never know what you'll
encounter. This week, for instance, you might hear operators talking
about the planet Pluto and its discovery. The Northern Arizona DX
Association is, again, hosting its annual Pluto Anniversary Countdown, celebrating the discovery of the planet by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. This
is the second year for the special event from the Lowell Observatory in Arizona. The special event will end in its centennial year of 2030.

You may hear stories like some from last year, when contacts talked about meeting the famed astronomer at their grade school, at star parties or
through an astronomy course. One contact, Uno Carlsson, KC3EJS, was an aerospace engineer and part of the team for the New Horizons project that
did a fly-by of Pluto in 2015.

Look for W7P on the air through February 21st. You might even have a
chance to talk with Doug Tombaugh, N3PDT, nephew of the man whose
discovery changed a bit of how we look at our galaxy. Doug and four
other hams are operating as W7P/0.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ.
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DIGITAL VOICE EMERGENCY NETWORK PLANNED IN MAINE

NEIL/ANCHOR: The largest United States county east of the Mississippi
River is about to get its first digital amateur radio emergency service
to be affiliated with the county. Jim Damron, N8TMW, has that story.

JIM: There's a lot of ground to cover in Aroostook [pronounced: uh-ROO-
stick] County, Maine, which at more than 6600 square miles, has a lot
going on when disaster strikes. A group of amateur radio operators
calling themselves the Caribou Emergency Amateur Radio Service are now
working to establish formal emergency communications structure in that
rural county with D-STAR. The idea is to connect hams with one another as
well as local and state agencies using that digital voice mode. Emergency response is already provided from the Aroostook Amateur Radio Association
and ARES, but Caribou's response will primarily come alongside those of
county agencies using D-STAR. Caribou announced on its Facebook page
earlier this month that it is working to establish the first D-STAR
repeater in northern Maine.

Meanwhile, T.H. Merritt, KM4TJI, the group's president and cofounder,
told a Bangor, Maine newspaper that the group has already met with local
fire, police and emergency medical services. He said that the Caribou
group is being created based on his experience as an emergency radio
operator in Florida and has a membership of 17. That is expected to grow
as more people sign up and begin studying for their ham radio licenses.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.

(BANGOR DAILY NEWS)

**

AMATEURS ENJOY TWO QSO PARTIES IN ONE

NEIL/ANCHOR: What's better than one QSO party? Try two that are going on
in the Carolinas. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, has the details.

KEVIN: In the United States, North and South Carolina are teaming up for
a two-QSO-party weekend: On Saturday, February 26th, hams in South
Carolina's 46 counties will be chasing contacts. There is a new category
for hams operating portable from temporary stations, activating in one or
more counties. Expedition stations may move from county to county.'

On Sunday, February 27th, it's North Carolina's turn and hams will be
chasing contacts in that state's 100 counties. There are bonus points for working the NC4QP bonus station as well as the callsigns N4D, N4U, N4K,
N4E -- all the stations having suffixes that spell "DUKE" in honor of
Duke University, the pride of North Carolina.

For details on both QSO parties, see the text version of this week's
Newsline script at arnewsline.org.

[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ:

https://ncqsoparty.org/ http://scqso.com/ ]

From beautiful Aiken, South Carolina, this is Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, for Amateur Radio Newsline.

**

HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY WORKSHOPS NOW ONLINE

NEIL/ANCHOR: If there was a workshop you wanted to attend at the virtual
Ham Radio University conference, but missed it, now's your chance to make
up for lost time. Stephen Kinford, N8WB, tells us how.

STEPHEN: Held on January 8th as a virtual conference, Ham Radio
University may be over but it's not gone. Videos of the day-long event
have been uploaded to YouTube where any number of workshops are available
for viewing. Whether you couldn't attend HRU or weren't able to get to
all the workshops you wanted, the HRU YouTube channel makes it easy to
see what you missed.

In addition to the introductory classes for DXing and the basics of HF operating, presenters also cover contesting, the various logging programs
out there, Parks on the Air, the HF digital modes and QRP operations. As
well as several other topics covered in the videos, an assortment of
workshops from previous years complete the channel. Ham Radio University played host to the ARRL New York City / Long Island Section Convention.

Find a link to the channel in the text for this week's newscast script at arnewsline.org

[PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ: www.youtube.com/c/HamRadioUniversityNLI/videos]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB.

(HRU)
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TRANSATLANTIC TRIUMPH FOR REPLICA TRANSMITTER

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A transmitter that was built to honor the one used 100
years ago during the famous Transatlantic Tests scored big during brief
QSO Party on Saturday, February 26th. Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, tells us
about it.

KENT: It was a memorable moment as the 100-year-old vacuum tubes inside a replica of the Transatlantic Test transmitter powered a signal that once
again spanned an ocean -- and perhaps even time. For three hours, three
museum volunteers put callsign W2AN/1BCG on the air, marking the
successful completion of repairs done since the replica's activation for
the December centennial of the historic December 1921 test. Ed Gable,
K2MP, Peter Schuch, WB2UAQ, and Bill Hopkins, AA2YV, operated for three
hours from upstate New York feeding a T-antenna with lots of radials. The moment seemed right: Ed told Newsline that [quote] "a very nice thing happened." [endquote] He said operators crowding the bands in the
weekend's 160m SSB contest appeared to move aside and make room for the important 375-watt transmission. Some high points:Reaching farther west in
the US to log W8KGI in New Mexico -- and crossing the ocean once more,
logging OH1XX in Finland, and YO2VG in Romania. Ed, the museum's curator emeritus, said this ends the 100-year-celebration. He said [quote] "The transmitter now goes into display mode at the museum and will wake up
sometime in someone else's future." [endquote]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

(ED GABLE, K2MP/W2AN)

**

GERMAN YL BECOMES NEW YOUNGEST ADVANCED LICENSEE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The newest advanced class license-holder in Germany is a
YL barely in her teens. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us about her.

ED: A 13-year-old girl in Germany can now join the rest of her family on
the air, and celebrate her recent achievement: Congratulations to
Frederike D�tsch, DH9FD, who has become the country's youngest person to currently hold a Class A radio amateur licence. She follows in the
footsteps of another bright YL, Laura Bergmann, DL2JJ, who was only 10
years old in 2017 when holding her previous callsign of DO9JJ, upgraded
her licence from novice to full, joining both her parents on the air.

Frederike passed her license exam administered by BNetzA, the Federal
Network Agency and now joins her parents and her grandfather as active
hams. According to a press release from the DARC, she has been a member of
the German amateur radio club since late last year. With her new advanced level of licence, she is permitted to transmit on all ham radio
frequencies in Germany. Be listening for her on the air.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(DARC)

**

NEWSLINE'S YHOTY 2022 NOMINATIONS OPEN

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Online nominations are now being accepted for the Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year
award. Newsline’s Mark Abramowicz (pronouncer- Abram-uh-vich) NT3V is the chairman of the YHOTY award committee, and has this report.

MARK: Our founder, the late Bill Pasternak WA6ITF, established this award
45 years ago to recognize the outstanding achievements of young people -
boys and girls - through amateur radio.

It brought him great joy to read the many nominations he forwarded to a
select group of judges to choose the winner. He insisted an independent
panel of amateur radio's best to pick from the nominees.

I can tell you, Bill was always thrilled with the results.

I know this, because Bill asked me to fill a board vacancy and serve as the chairman of the award and judging committee in 2002.

I was honored when Josh Abramowicz KB3GWY, now KK4WDP, my son, was
nominated by a fellow Scouter to receive the award, and we met in
Huntsville where Bill presented it.

We lost Bill in 2015.

However, his legacy lives on as the Amateur Radio Newsline staff
unanimously agreed to attach his name to the award to honor his memory.

Now, it's up to you! We here at Newsline need your help to identify a
young person 18 years or younger living in the Continental USA to nominate
for the 2022 award.

The nomination form and details are available on our website -
arnewsline.org. We only accept online nominations to speed the process
and make it easier for you to compile photos, letters, emails, and anything else you can think of to help us get to know the young person you're endorsing. The most important link right now in all of this is you.

Don't wait until the last minute because a good nomination packet takes
time to prepare. The deadline for nominations is May 31.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V.
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SILENT KEY: ETHERNET NETWORKING'S DAVID BOGGS, WA3DBJ

NEIL/ANCHOR: Everyone, in their own way, leaves a mark on the world.
Paul Braun, WD9GCO, tells us about one ham who changed the world. This
ham recently became a Silent Key.

PAUL: David Boggs, WA3DBJ, was part of the team who invented the packet- switching ethernet networking standard that now connects most of the
world's computers. Even if you use Wi-Fi, some part of the signal chain
is connected with ethernet. David became a Silent Key on February 19th, according to his wife, Marcia Bush.

David worked in the iconic Computer Science Laboratory, part of the
legendary Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, or PARC. This is the place
where, in the early 1970s, a group of brilliant minds invented most of
the concepts and hardware that would define modern computing as we know
it today. His partner in the effort, Bob Metcalfe, once described Boggs
as "the perfect partner. I was more of a concept artist, and he was a build-the-hardware-in-the-back-room engineer." To us, it makes perfect
sense that it was a ham who took an idea, went into the workshop and
figured out how to cobble the hardware together. His legacy lives on
almost everywhere you look.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.

**

SILENT KEY: DISASTER RELIEF VOLUNTEER EDWARD WARREN COX, KE3D

NEIL/ANCHOR: A Texas man whose six decades on the air were marked by his advocacy for disaster relief communications as well as amateur radio in education has become a Silent Key. Jack Parker, W8ISH, has that story.

JACK: A veteran of the US Army Signal Corps, where he served during the Vietnam War, Edward Warren Cox, KE3D, continued his commitment to
service throughout the years that followed. A ham for nearly six
decades, he volunteered in emergency and disaster relief communications, especially during hurricanes and assisted in the conversion of an
ambulance into a mobile command center.

Ed died on February 21st in Austin, Texas.

First licensed as a ham with the callsign KN3SWJ in 1962, he became an
avid DXer and DXpeditioner. He eventually earned a license in the UK as
G5EC and held CEPT permits to operate in Belgium, Germany and The
Netherlands. An advocate for amateur radio in education, he worked as a volunteer at a number of schools assisting with radio contact with some
of NASA's Space Shuttles, in a program that predated ARISS. He was the
husband of Joan Cox KD4SRD and a life member of the ARRL, RACES and
ARES. He was also a member of the Austin Amateur Radio Club, which has established the Ed Cox KE3D Memorial Fund which will help provide radio equipment for schools.

Ed Cox was 75.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.

(THE STATESMAN)

**

REGISTRATION OPENS FOR SEA-PAC

NEIL/ANCHOR: If you're heading to Oregon for SEA-PAC, now is the time to register. Here's Stephen Kinford, N8WB, with details.

STEPHEN: SEA-PAC, the largest amateur radio convention in the American Northwest, is promising "sand, surf, and radios" - and all of it in
person this summer. Online registration opened on the 7th of March. The convention, which is happening June 3rd through the 5th, will be at the Seaside Convention Center in Oregon. This will also serve as the
location for the ARRL's Northwestern Division convention. According to
the SEA-PAC website, the event will comply with whatever state and local regulations are in effect for COVID-19 at the time. A SEA-PAC QSO Party
will be held the weekend before - on May 28th - to get everyone ready
for the three-day event. For registration or information visit the
website at seapac dot org (seapac.org)

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB.

(SEA-PAC)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including OH-KY-
IN Amateur Radio Society's K8SCH repeater in Cincinnati, Ohio, on
Wednesdays at 9 p.m. local time.
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* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

ARECIBO REOPENS TO VISITORS IN PUERTO RICO

SKEETER/ANCHOR: The Arecibo Observatory, former home of the iconic radio telescope, is opening its doors to visitors once more, as Mike Askins,
KE5CXP, tells us.

MIKE: The powerful radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto
Rico is long gone following a collapse in 2020, but its visitor center and observation deck are back in business. Guests making reservations in
advance are able to see what's left of the reflective dish that helped researchers win a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1993.

Ricardo Correa, director of communications, told United Press
International: [quote] "Arecibo is not closed anymore." [endquote]. He
said that scientific research still continues at the United States
National Science Foundation facility using such tools as a 12-meter
telescope and a LIDAR scanning to study the atmosphere by bouncing laser
beams off particles above our planet.

There is also a tribute to the iconic radio telescope itself. An outdoor exhibit features artifacts recovered from the telescope and its platform.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mike Askins, KE5CXP.

(UPI)

**

OHIO SCHOOL HAM CLUB TRANSMITS WISDOM, WIRELESSLY

SKEETER/ANCHOR: In one Ohio school, lessons on electronics theory and the electromagnetic spectrum have graduated to a level way beyond theory. Andy Morrison, K9AWM, brings us that story.

ANDY: On Tuesday nights in a high school biology room, members of the Columbiana Clippers Amateur Radio Club, K8LPS, can be found calling QRZ.
Not only are they logging contacts; they're gaining a deeper understanding
of the lessons about the electromagnetic spectrum taught at the school
since 2018 by Columbiana Police Sgt. Wade Boley, N8YMX, one of the
school's resource officers. The club rig, which was donated by a local business, puts out 100 watts of power and the students are putting out immeasurable enthusiasm.

Wade told the newspaper that ham radio has also provided geography lessons since the students always look up any DX contact they've worked for the
first time. The other map is provided by Wade, teaching youngsters the geography of electronics: how to read circuits and interpret schematics.

Some students, however, are finding a roadmap for life.

Katie Campbell, KE8LQR, told the Morning Journal News newspaper that
becoming a ham has helped her with leadership skills, giving
presentations, mathematics ability and communications. She told the
newspaper: [quote] "Amateur radio in general has helped me in every aspect
of my life." [endquote]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

(MORNING JOURNAL NEWS)

**

HAMVENTION AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

SKEETER/ANCHOR: Congratulations to the winners of this year's awards to be presented at Hamvention. Club of the Year: The Highland Amateur Radio Association in Hillsboro, Ohio; Special achievement: Kerry Banke, N6IZW,
for his years of work with amateur radio in space; Technical achievement:
Adam Farson VA7OJ / AB4OJ, for his ongoing technical support to hams
globally; and Amateur of the Year, Jim Simpson, KF8J. Awards will be
presented in Xenia, Ohio the weekend of Hamvention, May 20th through the
22nd.

(MICHAEL KALTER, W8CI, TIM DUFFY, K3LR)

**

SKEETER/ANCHOR: Hams use less visible parts of the natural world: the electromagnetic spectrum and the ionosphere. And now hams around the world
are getting ready to call attention to that same world's more visible and treasured parts: the national parks and protected natural areas in the countries of the Americas. Jim Damron, N8TMW, has the details.

JIM: For one week in April, the World Wide Flora & Fauna program is urging
hams throughout the Americas to participate in its "Parks in the Americas Week" between April 3rd and April 10th. Operation qualifies hams for recognition in the International Awards Program of the WWFF and it makes
each chosen natural setting a winner too. Activation with a portable
station calls attention to these nature preservation areas, which are
listed on the WWFF website. The names of all qualifying natural areas can
be obtained by contacting the national WWFF coordinator in each country.

Ronaldo, PS8RV, the Brazilian national coordinator, wrote on the WWFF
website that hams will be permitted to operate on CW, SSB, FM and FT8 and there will also be awards for shortwave listeners.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.

(WWFF.CO)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the W4HPL repeater
in Cookeville, Tennessee on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. local time.
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* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

AUSTRALIAN HAMS HELP ONE ANOTHER FOLLOWING FLOOD LOSSES

PAUL/ANCHOR: Amateur radio clubs are proud to be able to help in
disasters - but what happens when the clubs themselves become victims?
John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us how one club in Australia has stepped up
to help a dozen of those whose shacks were devastated by recent floods.

JOHN: An amateur radio club on the border of New South Wales and
Victoria in Australia has come to the rescue of a dozen or so clubs
that, like their own, works to assist communities ravaged by such
disasters as bush fires, earthquakes and floods. In this case, however,
the North East Victoria Amateur Radio Club has stepped in because the
other clubs became victims themselves after recent floods destroyed
their vital radio gear, and in many cases, washed it away. The club has
been providing assistance by collecting funds as well as new radio gear.

Frank Scott, VK2BFC, secretary of the club, told ABC.NET news that a
fund has been created to replace as much of the other clubs' lost gear
as possible. He said many of the clubs belong to the Wireless Institute
of Australia's Civil Emergency Network. According to Frank, most of the equipment that was lost was not covered by flood damage insurance. Frank
said it was difficult to get that kind of insurance for such items as
ham radio equipment, and communication towers.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.

(ABC.NET)

**

TWO-DAY DRILL IN INDIA PREPS FOR DISASTER

PAUL/ANCHOR: Two groups of hams tested their portable communications capabilities recently on a remote island in India. Jason Daniels,
VK2LAW, tells us about their drill.

JASON: An exercise in emergency preparedness brought hams in one region
of India to a remote island on the River Ganga near Patna, the capital
city of Bihar. It was a two-day field exercise on March 12th and 13th
for members of the Society of Radio Amateurs, relying only on battery
power for more than 30 hours. They were joined by operators from the
Indian Wave of Amateur Radio, VU2IWA, based in Kolkata who, like the
hams from Bihar, know that preparedness is essential in a region like
theirs, which is prone to earthquakes and floods. Radio conditions that weekend were conducive to good contacts. According to a report on the
Global Bihari news site, hundreds of QSOs were made between that remote
island and radio operators as far away as Europe. The hams were pleased
with the results since many of them provide essential communication
during the region's natural disasters.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(GLOBAL BIHARI)

**

AMATEURS FOCUS ON SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Weather preparedness is a priority everywhere, and Randy
Sly, W4XJ, tells us how those of us in the United States can get
involved.

RANDY: As we, here in the United States, approach the season for thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes, the National Weather Service is holding Severe Weather Preparedness Weeks across the country. Tornado
drills, announcements through the media and personal preparation
information are just a few ways the Weather Service is getting the word
out at this time of year to be prepared.

It's a good time for amateur radio operators, involved in ARES, RACES,
CERT, Skywarn, and other groups, to ensure that we are also prepared.
This includes making sure that all radios, accessories along with backup
power sources are fully functional and that all contact information is
up to date with the agencies and organizations served.

Christopher Strong, Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the Baltimore/Washington DC Weather Forecast Office told Amateur Radio
Newsline that hams can play a big part in being "weather aware," by
knowing what threats are possible. Hams should have a plan if extreme
weather occurs. Strong said that, during an event, operators are
important as they actively gather impact data from their community and
get that information back to the National Weather Service, which
improves the accuracy of the notifications being issued.

Over the years, the motto: "When all else fails, amateur radio" has
proven true in many situations. This is not only due to amateur
operators' readiness to serve, but our willingness to be prepared.

For more information, go to weather.gov and click on Spring
Preparedness.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ.

**

NOMINATE YOUNG AMATEURS FOR NEWSLINE AWARD

PAUL/ANCHOR: It's time to think about the next generation of radio
operators, and appreciate their skill and dedication. Perhaps one of them
will be the next recipient of the Amateur Radio Newsline Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award. Consider nominating an amateur
radio operator 18 years of age or younger with talent, promise and a commitment to the spirit of ham radio. Find application forms on our
website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab. Nominations close May
31st.
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

RADIO TRIUMPH ATOP CARIBBEAN'S HIGHEST POINT

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: There was celebration in the Dominican Republic, where
one radio amateur achieved his longtime goal atop the Caribbean's highest peak. Jim Meachen, ZED L 2 B H F, brings us his story.

JIM: There was nothing easy about the climb up Pico Duarte, the highest
point in the Dominican Republic -- indeed the highest point in the
Caribbean -- but Yeudy Marte, HI5YJM, wasn't looking for this to be easy.
When he set off on the morning of Saturday, March 12th with a group of 20
or so hikers, he was looking for a challenge. Yeudy found it there in the
Jose del Carmen Ramirez National Park. His goal was to successfully make
the climb and then activate the peak.

He and his fellow hikers battled a steep path and faced strong winds -
but within an hour of operating, Yeudy had a log he could be proud of. He
told Newsline in an email that, operating on 2 metres FM, he first
contacted Carlos, HI5CBB, followed by Gabriel, HI8GSP. He made 11
contacts within the hour. He had also hoped to operate on 20 metres QRP,
but told Newsline that conditions made that impossible.

Pico Duarte has an elevation of 3,098 metres, or 10,164 feet -- and to
Yeudy, that marked the height of his success.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(YEUDY MARTE, HI5YJM, SOTA REFLECTOR)

**

CLUB ASSIGNED CALLSIGN OF SILENT KEY IN HER HONOR

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The former callsign of a friend, leader, and influential
YL who became a Silent Key two years ago is now the callsign of the club
she called home. Dave Parks, WB8ODF, brings us the details.

DAVE: You can detect the presence of Connie Ballantyne twice among her
friends in the CIRCLE Amateur Radio Club. You'll find her in the name of
the club itself, which is an acronym for Connie's International Radio Communicators Linking Electronically. And now, you'll find it in the
club's callsign too: KB0ZSG, which had been Connie's callsign until she
became a Silent Key in February 2020 from breast cancer. Connie's
worldwide legacy included an international D-STAR Net held Sundays at 7
p.m. Central Time in the US. As many as 150 hams check in regularly from around the world.

Club president Steven Reiners, KC9SIO, told Newsline that during the seven-hour net that followed shortly after Connie's death, hams pressed
for the net's name to be changed to honor her. They asked if her callsign could be obtained for the club. Steven said: [quote] "They have all
given me the best advice throughout this long, difficult process."
[endquote]

Steven, who had been Connie's main back up as net control since 2013, is
now working with club members on a third way to keep Connie's presence
among them: establishing a D-Star Repeater bearing her callsign to be permalinked to Reflector 91C. He said the net has been hosted there for
nearly two years thanks to Clayton VK7ZCR, Ian, VK3JS, Nigel, VK3GY; and
Phil, VK3PG. It's no surprise: The reflector is known affectionately as Ninety-One "C" for Connie.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Dave Parks, WB8ODF.

(STEVEN REINERS KC9SIO)

**

LICW CLUB LAUNCHES TALKGROUP ON DMR

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: When they're not sending CW, many hams just like to
chat -- and sometimes those ragchews are about CW. Now there's a new home
for discussions such as these. Jim Damron, N8TMW, tells us more.

JIM: Morse Code enthusiasts around the world have been checking into a
new DMR Talk Group that's been launched by the Long Island CW Club. Talk
Group 59973 is on the TGIF Network and is open to anyone with an interest
in - or curiosity about - using CW. Traffic is slowly building on the
Talk Group and activity goes on around the clock. Hams engage in general ragchews, handle technical questions or use the Talk Group to make a date
to get on one of the HF frequencies for a QSO using CW. Hams with
hotspots as well as those with TGIF repeater access are able to check in
once they have registered their DMR ID with the network at tgif dot
network (tgif.network). Then they simply push to talk and put their call
sign out there.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.

(GROUPS.IO)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

FCC CLARIFIES NEW AMATEUR RADIO APPLICATION FEES

JIM/ANCHOR: In the US, the Federal Communications Commission has
clarified its new application fee which takes effect this month.
Stephen Kinford, N8WB, has the details.

STEPHEN: If you're looking to upgrade your US amateur radio license, the
FCC's new $35 application fee will not apply to you. The commission
recently clarified the circumstances under which the new fees will be
applied when they take effect on April 19th. The FCC said that upgrading amateur radio license classes or changing club station trustees are
exempt from the fee. The fee does not apply to any changes of email
address or postal mailing address either. The fee will be applied
however, for new licenses, renewals, rule waivers or new vanity call
signs.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB.

(FCC, ARRL)

**

HAMS IN INDIA HELP REUNITE MISSING MAN WITH FAMILY

JIM/ANCHOR: Connections between amateur radio operators in different
parts of India proved especially useful for one group of hams looking to reunite a lost man with his family. John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us how
it happened.

JOHN: Amateur radio operators have reunited a man from Kolkata, India
with his family after the man went missing last year while taking his
parents on a trip to Kanyakumari, a coastal town on the southern end of
India.

Hams from the West Bengal Radio Club, who have a long track record of
success in solving missing-persons cases, were contacted recently by the
man's father, a retired customs officer in his 70s.

An account in the Millennium Post newspaper tells how Ambarish Nag
Biswas, VU2JFB, club secretary, worked with amateurs in Chennai to track
down the missing man. The hams circulated a photograph of him that was provided by his parents, who had been searching for their son on their
own without luck. According to the newspaper story, on Friday April 1st
the man was seen on the street in Kanyakumari begging for money. A
photograph was taken of him and shown to his parents. Only his father recognised him, due to the son's changed appearance. The father reported
that his son had been prone to depression the past several years. Once
his identity was confirmed, the man was taken into safe custody at a
local police station to await his parents' arrival. Ambarish Nag Biswas
told the newspaper that amateur radio operator, Debdutta Mukherjee,
VU3JXA, was going to accompany the father when he went to retrieve his
son. Kanyakumari is more than 2,000 km from Kolkata.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.

(MILLENNIUM POST, THE TIMES OF INDIA)

**

GET READY FOR WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY

JIM/ANCHOR: Hams around the world will be marking Monday, April 19th as
World Amateur Radio Day, a day of global friendship. This is the date on
which the International Amateur Radio Union was created in Paris in
1925. Its first president was Hiram Percy Maxim, who was cofounder of
the American Radio Relay League. Hams will be extended the spirit of friendship by doing what they do best - getting on the air. One such
event will be the net being held on the Echolink Conference node 531091 starting at 1300 UTC on April 19th and ending at 0500 UTC on April 20th.
Other events can be found by searching social media platforms with the
hashtag #WorldAmateurRadioDay.

**

VIRTUAL WORKSHOP HELPS TRAIN HAMS FOR HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

JIM/ANCHOR: Hams in the US are attending an important virtual workshop
on hurricane preparedness and its various sessions will be available on YouTube afterward. Randy Sly, W4XJ, has those details.

RANDY: As hurricane season moves in along the East Coast of the United
States, amateur radio operators will be able to train for hurricane preparedness during a free workshop being held virtually on Monday April
11th. The workshop is taking place during the National Hurricane
Conference with various sessions being held from 10:30 a.m. to noon and
from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time. Topics include the
importance of surface reporting by ham radio operators, an overview of
the Hurricane Watch Net, a look at the VoIP Hurricane Net and best
practices in SKYWARN. There will also be a presentation on the Salvation
Army Team Emergency Response Radio Network, known by the acronym SATERN.

The workshop will be held on Zoom. Those who are unable to attend or
missed the workshop altogether can view everything later on Youtube. The workshop may be virtual, but hurricane season is not.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ.

(LLOYD COLSTON, KC5FM)
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

MARCONI DAY REAFFIRMS HAMS' CONNECTIONS TO RADIO HISTORY

NEIL/ANCHOR: Marconi Day is another favorite among hams because it
honors our shared history no matter where our QTH is. Jeremy Boot,
G4NJH, tells us about this year's event.

JEREMY: Connections to Guglielmo Marconi are everywhere: In Italy, the
UK, the Falkland Islands, Germany, Austria and the United States. Those locations and more will be lighting up the amateur radio map on April
23rd - the Saturday closest to Marconi's birth date -- as stations get
on the air for International Marconi Day. These are official stations
that have registered with the annual event's organiser, the Cornish
Radio Amateur Club GX4CRC. They will be using the callsign GB4IMD during
the 24 hours. Marconi's actual birthday was the 25th of April, 1874.
Hams are being encouraged to make contact with these historic sites
which have connections to the radio pioneer. Registered stations will
only be active from sites where Marconi had operated from, lived or set
up an experimental station.

Deadline is April 22nd. For details, visit the website in the text
version of this week's newscast.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ: gx4crc.com/gb4imd/

(CORNISH RADIO AMATEUR CLUB)

**

CROATIA WILL BE HOME TO IARU REGION 1 YOUTH SUMMER CAMP

NEIL/ANCHOR: Young amateurs who live in Region 1 of the IARU and guests
from regions 2 and 3 can start making plans right now for summer camp.
This year, it's in Croatia. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, has the details.

ED: After the pandemic forced the cancellation of the YOTA summer camp
for two years in IARU Region 1, organisers are back on track. The camp
is accepting attendee applications for this year's camp which will be
held in August in Croatia, in Karlovac, just outside of Zagreb. The host
for this 10th edition of the camp is HRS, the Croatian national amateur
radio association.

Youth coordinators throughout Region 1 are being asked to identify as
many as four participants from their member society and submit the
youngsters' applications no later than May 8th. Each team will consist
of a team leader between the ages of 18 and 30 and a small group of team members, aged 15 to 25. Team leaders may be chosen from attendees of
previous YOTA camps but team members must be first-time attendees. No
more than 80 may attend. The dates for the camp are August 6th through
the 13th.

For additional details about costs and schedules, visit the Youngsters
on the Air website at ham dash yota dot com. (ham-yota.com)

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(IARU REGION 1)

**

YOUTH ON THE AIR SEEKS HOST VENUE FOR 2023 SUMMER CAMP

NEIL/ANCHOR: The summer of 2022 isn't here just yet in the Western
Hemisphere, but if you aren't already thinking about the summer of
2023 - yes, that's 2023! - maybe you should be. Andy Morrison, K9AWM,
explains.

ANDY: The Youth on the Air Camp for young amateurs in North, Central and
South America is on the move. While campers prepare for this summer's adventures just north of Cincinnati, Ohio, organizers are looking for a
host site for next year's regional camp and are opening a bidding
process for the next location. The week-long camp is open to licensed
amateur radio operators between the ages of 15 and 25. Potential hosts
should be able to schedule the camp between June 1 and August 15, 2023
and have access to meeting rooms, event space, and lodging that can accommodate 25 to 40 youngsters and 10 to 15 staff members for six to
seven days. Outdoor spaces will be needed for some events. The camp also requires space for at least three HF stations and antennas to be on the
air simultaneously. More details and a host application form are
available in an information packet at YouthOnTheAir.org. If you have
questions or are interested in applying to host, contact assistant
director Adam Johnson, KD9KIS, at adam@youthontheair.org no later than
June 30, 2022.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM

(YOUTH ON THE AIR)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
W0EF repeater of the Hennepin Twin City FM Club in St. Louis Park,
Minnesota, on Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. local time.
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

VOA MUSEUM TO EXTEND HOURS DURING HAMVENTION

SKEETER/ANCHOR: In Ohio next month, there will be more to Hamvention
weekend than just Hamvention. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, tells us about one
option visitors will have.

NEIL: It's become a Hamvention tradition: Expanded hours for visitors at
the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting during Hamvention
weekend next month. The museum and the West Chester Amateur Radio
Association are looking forward to hosting convention-goers and
providing a look at the exhibits, which include the Robert Drake
collection of radios and the recently restored transmitter that provided
the first VOA broadcast into occupied Europe on February 1st, 1942.
Meanwhile, if you're hoping to get in some QSOs while you're spending
the weekend in Ohio, licensed amateurs will be able to operate from the
club's WC8VOA station on the premises. The expanded hours are Thursday
May 19th, Friday May 20th and Saturday, May 21st, from 1 to 9 p.m., and Sunday, May 22nd from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is $10.00 at the door. The
museum is a short drive from the fairgrounds in Xenia.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

(JOCELYN BRAULT, KD8VRX/VA2VRX)

**

GERMANY'S HAM RADIO FRIEDRICHSHAFEN TO BE A REUNION

SKEETER/ANCHOR: Another amateur radio reunion among friends is taking
place in Germany in just a few weeks. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, brings us those details.

ED: After a difficult period of cancellations of in-person gatherings
around the world, Europe's number one amateur radio event, Ham Radio Friedrichshafen, is calling itself "a reunion with friends," a theme
shared by another of the word's other major ham exhibitions, Hamvention
in Xenia, Ohio in the US. The event website says that Germany looks
forward to playing host to the world at the 45th international amateur
radio exhibition at the Neue Messe in Friedrichshafen from June 24th to
26th. It is important to note that tickets are only available online, so
those attending must have tickets in hand when they arrive at the venue. Tickets can either be printed or displayed at the event from a mobile
device. For full details including the currently in effect COVID-19
health protocols, visit the website, whose address appears in this
week's text version of our newscast at arnewsline.org

[FOR PRINT ONLY DO NOT READ: https://tinyurl.com/2veyy5dm ]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

**

WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA PREPS FOR TASMANIA

SKEETER/ANCHOR: One more gathering of hams - this one in Australia - is getting ready to open its doors. John Williams, VK4JJW, brings us that
story.

JOHN: Registration has begun for amateurs wishing to attend the annual
general meeting and virtual conference of the Wireless Institute of
Australia. The event, which will be a hybrid of in-person and virtual
events, is coming up fast: It's taking place on the 7th of May and will
be streamed from Hobart, Tasmania. The focus this year is on Antarctica
and a number of presentations will be exploring the roles that wireless communication has played throughout history, including the Australasian Antarctic Expedition that took place from 1911 to 1914. Microwave
experimenter Rex Moncur, VK7MO, who is a former director of the
Australian Antarctic Division, will discuss his work at the helm of the division from 1988 to 1999. Peter Yates, VK7PY, and Kim Briggs, VK7KB,
who are both with the Australian Antarctic Division, will talk about the current challenges facing Antarctic communications. For additional
details about costs, viewing the live stream or registering to attend in person, please see the link in the text version of this newscast's
script at arnewsline.org.

[ FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ: tinyurl.com/ytret3r ]

The event is being hosted by the Radio and Electronics Association of
Southern Tasmania.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.

(WIA)

**

NOMINATE YOUNG AMATEURS FOR NEWSLINE AWARD

SKEETER/ANCHOR: It's time to think about the next generation of radio operators and appreciate their skill and dedication. Perhaps one of them
will be the next recipient of the Amateur Radio Newsline Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award. Consider nominating an amateur
radio operator 18 years of age or younger in the continental United
States with talent, promise and a commitment to the spirit of ham radio.
Find application forms on our website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY"
tab. Nominations close May 31st.
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

US GOVERNMENT TO STUDY PROPAGATION USING SATELLITE-BASED SENSORS

DON/ANCHOR: In the United States, officials hope to study HF propagation
using satellite-based sensors. Andy Morrison, K9AWM, brings us that story.

ANDY: A division of the United States Department of Defense is hoping to
gain a greater understanding of how HF waves propagate by taking those detailed measurements from inside the ionosphere itself. This takes information-gathering into a new realm because these studies typically
rely on data gathered done from systems on the ground.

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is looking to take the measurements using sensors onboard very low earth orbit satellites. The
agency project, named Ouija (Wee-Jah) is designed to get a better model of
the ionosphere to address the challenges of electromagnetic noise facing
HF radio transmissions of warfighters. The satellites are about 200 to 300 kilometres -- or 125 to 185 miles -- above the Earth. According to an
article on the Industrial Equipment News website, the satellite payload
will do direct sampling to measure electron density but will also conduct indirect measurements using radio occultation.

Jeff Rogers, the program's manager in DARPA's Strategic Technology Office,
was quoted on the website, saying that Ouija's work inside the ionosphere would supplement measurements that would still be taken from the ground.
He said the goal was [quote] "to develop and validate accurate, near
real-time HF propagation predictions." [endquote]

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

(INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT NEWS)

**

ARRL, RSGB MAKING CHANGES AT HELM OF NEWS MEDIA

DON/ANCHOR: A veteran journalist and public information specialist has
joined the American Radio Relay League as its news editor. John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, will be responsible for the league website's news content, the
weekly ARRL Letter and two columns in QST magazine: "Happenings" and
"Amateur Radio World." John will also be the voice of the ARRL Audio News which is produced weekly. John fills the vacancy left by the retirement of Rick Lindquist, WW1ME. John has served the league's Ohio Section for the
past decade as its public information coordinator.

Meanwhile in the UK, the search is on for a replacement to fill the
vacancy this summer when RadCom magazine editor Elaine Richards G4LFM, retires. The monthly magazine is published by the Radio Society of Great Britain. Additional responsibilities include putting together the weekly
GB2RS news and overseeing production of the RadCom Basics and RadCom Plus specialist online only publications. Candidates should have experience in
both print and digital formats. Applicants can apply on the Redwood
website which is rewoodrecruitment - that's one word - dot com. The
Society is also seeking a technical editor, following the recent death of Giles Read, G1MFG. For details visit the society website at rsgb dot org stroke careers (rsgb.org/careers).

(ARRL, RSGB)

**

HAM RADIO WORKSHOP FROM HURRICANE CONFERENCE NOW ON YOUTUBE

DON/ANCHOR: As hurricane season gets going in some parts of the United
States, hams who could not attend a virtual preparedness workshop will
still be able to view the proceedings. Randy Sly, W4XJ, brings us up to
date.

RANDY: If you weren't able to log on to the recent Virtual Amateur Radio Workshop at the National Hurricane Conference in Orlando, Florida, you can still have the experience of being there. The 4-hour, 33-minute workshop
can be viewed on YouTube along with a schedule of various presentations
that were hosted by Rob Macedo, KD1CY, director of operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net. Topics that were covered included the Hurricane Watch Net,
the VOIP Hurricane Net, the Canadian Hurricane Center, and the importance
of surface reports. There was also a presentation on the Salvation Army
Team Emergency Radio Network, known by the acronym SATERN, and a discussion
of SKYWARN and CANWARN programs.

Rob says in his introduction to the workshop that the 2021 hurricane
season in the United States was formidable and that 2022 promises to be at least as challenging.

A link to the recording can be found in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

[FOR PRINT ONLY: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTKJz9FpSAs ]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ.

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the W7GAA repeater
in Bullhead City, Arizona, on Friday nights at 7:30 local time.
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)