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Amateur Radio Newsline (C)
From
Daryl Stout@618:250/1 to
All on Fri Jul 3 08:43:39 2020
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 Mondays at 8 p.m. local time, just before the New
York City Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Service net.
**
CQ MAGAZINE NAMES NEW CONTESTING EDITOR
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The September issue of CQ magazine will feature the
debut column of CQ's new Contesting Editor, Tim Shoppa, N3QE. The
magazine has named him as the successor to Dave Siddall K3ZJ, who
wrote the monthly contesting column for the magazine for five years.
According to a CQ press release, Dave has stepped down, to tend to
increasing work responsibilities.
Tim, who lives in Bethesda, Maryland, and is secretary of the Potomac
Valley Radio Club, is an active and seasoned contester, and a top
winner consistently, in the USA Tri-Bander/Wires category of the
CQ WPX contests. He said in the press release that he hopes his column
will provide encouragement for individuals and clubs, and inspire them
to improve their skills and stations through contesting. Tim has been
licensed since the age of 10.
(CQ MAGAZINE)
**
NETS OF NOTE: THE BBC BROADCASTERS NET
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In our occasional series Nets of Note, Newsline visits
with groups of hams who share a special bond or interest. This week,
that common thread is the BBC and broadcasting - and Jeremy Boot, G4NJH,
has the story.
JEREMY: It doesn't require too much effort for BBC professionals to get
on the air, especially if these are broadcast professionals, who also
happen to be hams. So you can expect the BBC Broadcasters Net to offer
some pretty lively chat. Retirees, as well as those currently working
as engineers and broadcasters, join Giles Herbert, G0NXA, on Tuesdays
at 0900 British Summer Time, on or near 3.700 MHz. Giles, a former
engineer, whose parents also worked for the BBC, told Newsline that the
monthly net has become a weekly one, since the start of the COVID-19 restrictions. Now, he's hoping it will expand beyond its BBC connections,
and include people who have worked in the British Independent TV Sector,
and Cinema as well.
He said that with the roster growing, new voices and new stories are
heard every week. There are no YLs yet among the group of cameramen,
studio electricians, sound operators, engineers, and researchers, but,
he is hopeful. He said one of the more familiar voices is that of Jim
Lee, G4AEH, who is also heard reading the news on BBC Radio 4.
It isn't all shop talk, Giles said. The net also takes some lively turns
toward the subject of life after retirement, and of course, current events.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
**
INTREPID-DX GROUP HOLDING YOUTH ESSAY CONTEST
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you want to know how to attract more young hams to
amateur radio, you have to ask the experts. The experts, in this case,
are the young people themselves. That's the rationale behind a youth
essay contest, launched by the Intrepid-DX Group. Organizers are asking
U.S. licensees age 19 or younger, to write a two-page essay about their personal ham radio goals, and their thoughts on attracting more young
amateurs. Author of the best essay will receive an ICOM IC-7300.
Deadline for entries is July 31st, and winners will be announced on the
DX group's website, and Facebook page, on August 10th. Entries should
be sent in text format, or as an MS Word attachment, to intrepiddxgroup
at gmail dot com (
intrepiddxgroup@gmail.com)
(INTREPID DX GROUP)
**
USING PUBLICITY TO BOOST AMATEUR RADIO
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Publicity can be magical, and when it comes to ham
radio, it's great magic. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us how one amateur
in the UK, used newspaper publicity to boost ham radio's profile,
during the pandemic.
JEREMY: Have you ever wished your local community understood more about
amateur radio? Well, why not do what one enterprising ham did, and
contact your regional newspaper? Phil, G4OBK, lives in the North of
England, out in a country area, and he contacted the Rydale Gazette
Herald, and let them know about what radio amateurs are doing during
the COVID-19 lockdown, giving them as reference an article from the
national society, the RSGB, but also offered to add to it with local
content.
The newspaper jumped at the offer, and the result can be seen at the
newspaper reference given in our newscast notes on our website
arnewsline.org
[FOR PRINT ONLY:
https://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/18518331.radio-enthusiast-making- waves-nearly-40-years/ }
(above URL all on one line)
Perhaps a benefit from the publicity may be an easier time for amateurs
in the area applying for planning permission for new antenna masts when
the community understands more what amateur radio is?
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
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From
Daryl Stout@618:250/1 to
All on Fri Jul 10 09:09:26 2020
KIDS' CW CLUB GETS VANITY CALL SIGN
JIM/ANCHOR: Although Amateur Radio Newsline typically doesn't run birth announcements, this one's a little different. We are happy to report the
birth of a new call sign, K2LCW, granted recently to the Kids LICW Club.
The club's very young members have been learning Morse Code from the Long Island CW Club in New York, an especially welcome activity during the
long quarantine. The Long Island CW Club - also known as W2LCW - is the
proud parent, and according to instructor Robb, K2MZ, is now in search of
a suitable logo. According to the Long Island CW Club website, since their launch earlier this year, the kids' classes have attracted students from
31 U.S. states, and four countries.
(GROUPS.IO)
**
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the WB5ITT repeater
of the Triangle Repeater Association in Houston, Texas, on Mondays at 7:30
p.m.
**.
NEW ARES TO SERVE RURAL WEST VIRGINIA
JIM/ANCHOR: Hams in one West Virginia county have been busy preparing for disaster, whenever it comes. Jack Parker, W8ISH, has the details.
JACK: West Virginia is getting a new amateur radio emergency network. Hams
in the Morgan County region have formed the Morgan County Amateur Radio Emergency Service as a way of providing backup to first responders, and
other service organizations, in times of crisis in the isolated rural area. According to an article in the Morgan Messenger, the group is expected to supplement official communications among police, firefighters, EMA units,
and 911 operators.
The effort is being coordinated by John Petersen, WQ0J, his group of 60
or so amateurs believe the new network will be a plus for emergency
response in the eastern panhandle county, where some communities are cut
off from the mainstream by a mountain.
Tyler Murphy, of the Morgan County Rescue Squad, told the website that emergency responders welcome the addition of the ARES group, particularly
if the mainframe system fails, phones are out, and the squad's radios
aren't working.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.
(THE MORGAN MESSENGER, LOCALDVM.COM)
JIM/ANCHOR: John told Newsline that 23 hams turned up at the organizing
meeting last month, and the next session will be at the end of July. We're looking forward to watching this life-saving effort grow.
**
IARU NAMES NEW COORDINATOR OF ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY
JIM/ANCHOR: A leading amateur radio operator in the UK has become the new coordinator of electromagnetic compatibility concerns at the International Amateur Radio Union. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us more.
JEREMY: Martin Sach, G8KDF, has been named global Electromagnetic
Compatibility Coordinator for the IARU, according to a posting on the
website of the Radio Society of Great Britain. Martin succeeds Tore Worren, LA9QL, of Norway, who has served as coordinator since 2017.
Martin has been the RSGB's liaison to the IARU on electromagnetic
compatibility issues. Last year, he received the Wortley-Talbot Trophy
from RSGB president Dave Wilson, M0OBW, for his efforts in developing
software that could identify VDSL2 interference.
The EMC coordinator is responsible for seeing that international standards bodies take radio amateurs' needs into consideration in their actions, particularly with respect to unwanted interference. The coordinator deals
with such bodies as the CISPR, the International Special Committee on
Radio Interference, and the ITU, along with numerous regional
telecommunication organisations. Martin will have the assistance of experts
on the subject who are volunteering their time and insights.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(RSGB, IARU)
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From
Daryl Stout@618:250/1 to
All on Fri Jul 17 11:44:16 2020
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the W2GSB repeater
in Lindenhurst, New York, and WR2UHF, in Farmingville, New York -- both
on Mondays at 8 pm, after the Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club Info Net.
**
NEW ZEALAND RADIO OPERATORS FIND BIG POWER IN QRP
PAUL/ANCHOR: In New Zealand, low-power operators are getting ready for
their next event, which is high power only in its level of excitement.
Here's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, with the details.
JIM: Three years after a group of six low-power operators was first
organised in New Zealand, more than 100 members of the New Zealand
QRPers Group are now familiar faces on the hiking trails, and at
campsites around the country. Organiser Wayne Jacobsen, ZL2OZ, believes
that group members can achieve more with less, in their portable
operations. He encourages participation in the weekly 80m QRP Net on
Thursday evenings, and fosters enthusiasm for the various awards the
group presents. They include the Parks Award, the Pacific Islands Award,
and the Offshore Islands Award. Members are now getting ready for their
next big monthly "Go QRP Night," which will be held on the 25th of July, starting at 8pm local time. Wayne himself takes the concept of doing
more with less quite seriously: Although he often uses an FT817, he told Newsline his favourite rig is a very small 'QRPver 1v3', 80m monobander.
He operates it with an End fed half wave antenna, with a ZM-2 QRP ATU,
and three lithium ion rechargeable batteries. He told Newsline: [quote]
"All that gear fits nicely into a less-than-1-square foot by 4-inch thick
bag, and weighs less than 2 pounds." [endquote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
**
AMSAT-DL EYES EUROPEAN MOON LANDER FOR TRANSPONDER
PAUL/ANCHOR: Will a ham radio transponder end up on the European Moon
Lander now under development? Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us about one
such proposal.
ED: The European Space Agency has received a proposal from
AMSAT-Deutschland to include an amateur radio transponder, known as
LunaART, on board the Large European Lander, now under development
for a moon mission. AMSAT-DL says that inclusion of the LunaART
platform, would permit additional radio science experimentation
globally, on amateur radio frequencies, and provide a backup
communications option during a crisis, or when the ESA network is
busy. The goal would be for the LunaART, and its payloads, to interact
with international AMSAT groups, as well as schools, and STEM
organisations around the world.
In its formal proposal to the ESA, AMSAT-DL writes: [QUOTE] "Such a
challenging project will certainly motivate especially the next
generation to achieve personal goals in education, science, engineering,
and beyond." [ENDQUOTE)
The European moon lander is currently under development by ESA engineers,
and is envisioned as a multi-purpose project, ranging from supplying
cargo, to supporting further human exploration of the moon's surface.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY)
**
TWO EVENTS OFFER HAMS A VARIED VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE
PAUL/ANCHOR: Just a reminder that there are two virtual ham expos coming
up fast on the calendar. As previously reported on Newsline, the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo, will be held on the 8th and 9th of August, and U.S. hams
who register by July 24th, will be eligible for early bird prizes. This
free 48-hour event was organized by the QSO Today podcast, hosted weekly
by Eric Guth, 4Z1UG. Details are available at qsotodayhamexpo dot com. (qsotodayhamexpo.com)
For those who can't wait until August, a virtual hamfest and DX Academy
will also be held on Saturday, July 25th, hosted by DX Engineering.
Hamfest speakers will touch on such topics as public service, youth in
amateur radio and satellites. The DX Academy will be held in the
afternoon, and will include a discussion of the recent DXpedition to
Pitcairn Island. Details are available about this free event on the DX Engineering website.
**
SILENT KEY: MICHAEL JOHN CALHOUN KI4KIC
PAUL/ANCHOR: A ham radio operator with a long history in commercial radio
in New England, and Washington, D.C., has become a Silent Key. Jim Damron, N8TMW, tells us about him.
JIM: A Florida amateur radio operator, who also enjoyed a long career in broadcast radio and journalism, has become a Silent Key. Michael John
Calhoun, KI4KIC, started as a disc jockey at two Vermont radio stations,
while still a student in high school and college, but eventually, broke
into news reporting at other stations in the state. He served as press secretary to Senator Patrick Leahy in 1978, becoming part of the campaign
that led to Leahy's re-election in 1980. He moved to Washington, D.C.,
where he became a reporter, and then a news director at WRC radio there.
He combined print and broadcast journalism with radio station management
in subsequent jobs, but in his spare moments, he enjoyed amateur radio,
and held a General Class license. Michael was also an experienced sailor,
and once he retired from broadcasting, he became a volunteer trainer for
the American Red Cross.
Michael, who died on July 8th, was 68.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.
(VTDIGGER)
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From
Daryl Stout@618:250/1 to
All on Thu Jul 23 22:53:42 2020
SILENT KEYS: TWO FROM LONG ISLAND MOBILE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A valued longtime member of the Long Island Mobile
Amateur Radio Club, Bill Capitman (CAP IT MIN), WB2CUK, has become a
Silent Key. Bill was a valued member of the New York group, and was
perhaps most well-known for his leadership for three decades of the
weekly Swap-n-Shop on Thursday nights on the club's repeater. Licensed
since 1964, he was also a familiar face at regional hamfests, in and
around New York, where he and his wife, Gail, KA2RYE, also a Silent Key,
were known to be fixtures. Until 2002, the couple were also regular
visitors to Dayton Hamvention.
Bill had been challenged by a variety of physical problems, which kept
him bedridden for some time, according to members of the club. He
became a Silent key on Sunday, July 19th, at the age of 74.
The club has also suffered a second loss: Harry Schrader, WB2H, who was
a past board member, and had served as vice president. In addition to
LIMARC as his amateur radio family, he leaves behind his wife, Diane,
N2DMS, daughter Heidi, KC2GRL, and son Christopher, KC2GRM.
(RICHIE CETRON K2KNB, QRZ.COM)
**
LOCKDOWN BOOSTS ROSTER OF HAMS IN UK
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Perhaps one of the very few benefits to emerge out of
the global crisis with COVID-19 is - more hams! Jeremy Boot, G4NJH,
tells us about all the new licenses in the UK.
JEREMY: Lockdown has been so favourable for amateur radio in the UK
that, at the latest count, in the last three months, more than one
thousand new licensees have taken their examinations online, and
passed, according to the Radio Society of Great Britain.
As the number of licensed radio operators now begins to exceed 75,000,
the RSGB is taking special pride in the newcomers, who have worked hard
for their achievement, in spite of the restrictions of the pandemic.
To celebrate their success, and to inspire others, it has created a
new web page sharing their stories, as part of the society's campaign,
"Get on the Air to Care." One of the newest Foundation licensees is a 10-year-old boy, living on England's north west coast. You can find the
link on the society website at rsgb.org.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(RADIO SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN)
**
HAM RADIO ASTRONAUTS TAKE 300th U.S. SPACEWALK
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Congratulations to Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR, and Robert
Behnken, KE5GGX, the NASA astronauts who completed the 300th spacewalk
by U.S. astronauts, on Tuesday, July 21st, working outside the
International Space Station, on a station system upgrade.
The five-and-a-half-hour task, involved various upgrades to the space
station's power system. For those of us back here on Earth, the event
was covered by NASA Television.
(NASA)
**
AUSTRALIAN AMATEURS PUBLISH FREE DOWNLOADABLE E-MAGAZINE
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Even if you're not in Australia, the latest free
electronic magazine published for amateurs there, might be of interest
to you too. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, tells us about it.
JIM: When a ham sends "QTC" it means "I have a message for you." With
that very Q-Code, the Radio Amateur Society of Australia, launched its
first issue of QTC, the organisation's free magazine, which is readable
as an e-Zine online. The magazine's move to a full e-Zine platform means
that the PDF of the Winter Edition is readable from a browser from a
computer, a tablet, or even a smartphone.
The 25-page issue includes articles on how to kill QRM at the home
station, and an array of tips for avid DXers.
Find a link to the July/August issue in the printed version of this
week's Newsline script on our website arnewsline.org
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
[for print only, do not read:
https://online.fliphtml5.com/tpcis/warq/]
(RASA)
**
NO RE-ELECTION BID FOR ARRL GREAT LAKES DIVISION EXEC
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: There will be changes when the Great Lakes Division of
the ARRL holds its next election. Phil Thomas, W8RMJ, tells us more.
PHIL: After serving for the past six years, Tom Delaney, W8WTD, ARRL
Great Lakes Division vice director, has announced that he will not
run for re-election.
W8WTD, in a short statement, released on Sunday, July the 19th, stated
that it had been a privilege to serve as vice director for the Great
Lakes Division of the ARRL. Tom Delaney went on to say that he remains committed to the ARRL, and its goals for amateur radio. W8WTD, in
closing, said that he thanks all who have shown him the support and encouragement over the past six years.
Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Phil Thomas, W8RMJ.
---
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From
Daryl Stout@618:250/1 to
All on Thu Jul 30 22:16:05 2020
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 Pacific time.
**
CHANGES MADE TO AUSTRALIAN CALL SIGNS
JIM/ANCHOR: Australian call signs are undergoing some changes. John
Williams, VK4JJW, tells us what they are.
JOHN: The Australian Communications and Media Authority has made some administrative changes to call signs, which the authority says is
designed to give more flexibility, and options to amateurs who are being
given a more active role in managing their own call signs.
All licenced hams will have the ability to obtain a three-letter call
sign. This change removes the association between the call sign suffixes
and amateur qualifications, whether the licence is for foundation,
standard, or advanced level. The result is that a ham can now have a
call sign to last their lifetime. This includes any moves the amateur
may make from one state or territory to another - a change that formerly required a change in call sign.
The changes are also designed to make access to digital modes easier for foundation licensees. The foundation call sign structure has not been compatible with all modes of digital operation.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
(ACMA)
**
2ND SATELLITE JOINS EUROPEAN DATA RELAY SYSTEM
JIM/ANCHOR: The European Data Relay System just got a bit of a boost
with a new satellite in its network. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us more.
JEREMY: Almost a year after its launch, a second European Data Relay
System satellite has become operational, on a laser communication
network, that speeds the data flow between Earth-observing-satellites
and Earth itself.
The EDRS-C satellite, launched on August 6th, 2019, has entered full
service after a user-commissioning review, and joins the network's
first satellite EDRS-A. It is in geostationary orbit, about 36,000
kilometers, or more than 22,000 miles, above the Earth.
The two EDRS satellites are part of the EU's Copernicus program, and
join two other Sentinel satellites, that assist in the transmission
of images and other data gleaned from monitoring vegetation, waterways,
and soil. The satellites can also be used to relay data in emergency situations.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SCITECH DAILY)
**
MAINE TO GET STATE'S FIRST CUBESAT
JIM/ANCHOR: They're calling it MESAT1, and it's going to become the
first CubeSat produced in the U.S. state of Maine. The University of
Maine Wireless Sensing Laboratory has signed an agreement with AMSAT
for the construction of the small satellite. It will carry an amateur
radio payload, along with a variety of science payloads. The launch is
still about three years away, and will take place under NASA's CubeSat
Launch Initiative. Amateurs around the world are expected to be able to
make use of MESAT1, once it is commissioned. It will carry a VHF/UHF
telemetry beacon, command receiver, and linear transponder.
(UNIVERSITY OF MAINE, AMSAT)
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From
Daryl Stout@618:250/33 to
All on Fri Aug 7 09:03:49 2020
EARLY REGISTRATION FOR 2021 YOTA CAMP IN THE AMERICAS
NEIL/ANCHOR: If you're between the ages of 15 and 25, and live in the
Americas, start thinking about getting on the air at camp next summer.
Jack Parker, W8ISH, explains.
JACK: Although the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled plans for the first Youth
on the Air Camp in the Americas this past June, young amateur radio
operators can look forward to July of 2021. Organizers have announced
that campers from North, Central, and South America, will be able to
attend camp sessions that have been rescheduled for July 11th through
16th next year. The activities will take place in West Chester Township
in Ohio, at the National Voice of America museum of Broadcasting.
Early registration is being granted for campers who had been accepted to
this year's camp. Once that is complete, new registrants will be permitted
to sign up. The camp can accommodate as many as 30 youngsters. Licensed amateurs who are 15 through 25 years of age will get on the air during a week-long special event station.
This year, a virtual YOTA Day was held on Zoom, and streamed on YouTube
in place of this year's on-site camp. The day's activities can be viewed
on the Youth on the Air YouTube channel.
For more details about next year's camp, visit YouthOnTheAir dot org (YouthOnTheAir.org) or write to camp director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, using
the email director at youthontheair dot org (
director@youthontheair.org)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.
(YOUTH ON THE AIR)
**
HE'S LICENSED FOR A LIFELONG LOVE OF RADIO
NEIL/ANCHOR: The youthful love of amateur radio grows up and matures, but
for many of us, it doesn't go away - at any age. Ralph Squillace, KK6ITF,
tells us about one very special new licensee, whose love dates back to
World War II.
RALPH: The first time Bryan Knight got his amateur radio license, he was
11 years old. The world was living under the shadow of World War II, when Bryan, who was growing up in the UK, became the proud holder of a "G3"
call sign.
Now a retired aerospace engineer, Bryan just got a new call sign again -
this time after testing with the Bledsoe County Amateur Radio Club in Tennessee, where he lives. On July 11th, he earned his General Class
ticket at age 93.
The Bledsoe County Club was celebrating its first anniversary, when Bryan stopped by Field Day in June. His fate was sealed: in July, he sat for his exam.
Now he's back on the air as KO4FHG. It's not his first U.S. call sign. A veteran of the Royal Air Force, he moved to the U.S,. and after gaining citizenship, got his license as a young man. But - as he told Newsline
recently -- life happens and licenses lapse.
Well, no more: KO4FHG is back to ragchewing on the local repeaters, and
is getting ready to return to HF. He's also polishing his CW.
Andrew Albertson, KN4CTG, club trustee, and a founding member, told
Newsline: "This is what we got into it for, to promote the hobby, and
bring back some of the life into the hobby."
At 93 years of age, Bryan couldn't agree more about great new beginnings.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.
**
THE MILLENNIUM NET GOES QRT
NEIL/ANCHOR: A popular net with an easygoing roundtable format has gone
QRT, as we hear from Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
ANDY: It was called the Millennium Net, but in its formative years, it
was The Net on Six, because that was the band where it began. On
Wednesday evenings, hams gathered there to toss around topics ranging
from music to astronomy to, of course, ham radio.
The Millennium Net would have been scheduled to meet again on Aug. 19,
but there will be no more check-ins for the group. The net has gone QRT.
The one-hour net, which more recently moved to EchoLink instead, grew
in popularity with its casual roundtable format. Then a few years ago,
one of its founders, Mike Thurlow, NJ2BA, became a Silent Key. The net
went silent, too. Net cofounder Gary Wilt, N2NJY, decided to revive it
after a few weeks', but by 2019, the lack of check-ins and a general
weariness had pretty much sealed its fate.
There is, however, a legacy the net leaves behind. Longtime net member
Daryl Stout, WX4QZ, said one evening's discussion on the net inspired
his creation of a comprehensive reference list of about 150 nets, split
between D-STAR, EchoLink, and other linked nets. That list is still
available by writing wx4qz at arrl dot net. This net, however, has run
its course.
Daryl told Newsline "while the net is no more, the memories will live
on forever."
For Amateur Radio Newsline,I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
(DARYL STOUT WX4QZ)
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From
Daryl Stout@618:250/33 to
All on Fri Aug 14 12:26:02 2020
PORTABLE OPERATIONS CONTEST LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Whether you're a big station or a little station, get
ready for a contest later this year, that's about to level the playing
field. Paul Braun, WD9GCO, has those details.
PAUL: Now this is a first: It's being called the Fox Mike Hotel -
Portable Operations Challenge, and this contest is making its debut
this year, by posing one question: "Can the Super Station contester
best the Little Pistol portable operator?"
October may seem like a long way off but it's not - and that means the
question will be answered on October 3rd and 4th, the weekend of the
challenge, which uses scoring methods to level the operating field for
both portable and home based stations. Organizers compare it to golf,
which uses handicapping to equalize players facing different courses
and different challenges. The scoring metric uses the distance-per-power
value with multipliers for portable operations and transmission mode.
Frank Howell, K4FMH, created the concept based on his own portable ops
team's contest participation competing against bigger stations. The
challenge's sponsors are the South African Amateur Radio League, the UK
DX Foundation, the ARRL's National Contesting Journal, and the Hellenic
Amateur Radio Association of Australia.
For more details, visit foxmikehotel dot com slash challenge (foxmikehotel.com/challenge). No golf clubs required, but participants
will need to be "on-the-ball" in October.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.
(FRANK HOWELL K4FMH)
**
WHITE HOUSE PULLS NOMINATION OF FCC COMMISSIONER
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In the U.S., the White House has pulled its nomination
of an FCC commissioner, who has served on the panel since 2013. Here's
Heather Embee, KB3 T Zed Dee, with the details.
HEATHER: The White House has withdrawn its nomination of FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly, who has served on the panel since 2013. O'Rielly has
been praised by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai (PIE), for his work on issues related
to the 3.5 GHz spectrum and related policies.
O'Rielly, who was first appointed to the panel by President Barack Obama, recently spoke out against President Donald Trump for an executive order
that would limit social media companies' liability protections. Trump did
not give any reason for his withdrawal of the nomination, but according
to various published reports, the White House and others on the political
right have said that social media's practice of moderating content is
biased against conservative views.
Before his nomination was withdrawn, O'Rielly, who like Trump is
Republican, would have faced Senate confirmation for a term that ended
in 2024.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD.
(DEADLINE.COM, FCC.GOV)
**
SOTA ACTIVITY WEEKEND ATTRACTS HAMS IN ENGLAND
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: As challenging as this year has been for many of us, if
you're an enthusiast of Summits on the Air, or SOTA, things are always
looking up. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us about an upcoming activity weekend specifically for amateurs in the southeast of England.
ED: If you've never operated from a summit before - and especially if you
have - you might want to put your hiking shoes on during the weekend of
August 22nd and 23rd, and head to one of 15 summits in the southern
England region. That's the area from Wiltshire in the west, to Kent in the
east and south, to the Isle of Wight and the South Downs.
The organisers, Tim Price, G4YBU, and Richard Perzyna, G8ITB, have
suggested these two days - which coincide with the ILLW weekend, be
considered an activity weekend for SOTA activators.
Individual operators are free to choose whatever bands and modes they
please, but organisers are hoping there will also be 2-metre activations
among the more typical HF activity.
If this is to be your first activation, it might prove useful to visit www.sotadata.org.uk , where there are resources to guide you on
recommended routes, available parking and other details.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(ICQ PODCAST)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the Potomac
Highlands Amateur Radio Club's N8VAA repeater, in Moorefield, West
Virginia, on Mondays, at 8 p.m. local time.
**
ARRL BOARD SELECTS NEW CEO
NEIL/ANCHOR: A prominent New Jersey radio amateur has been chosen as the
new chief executive officer of the ARRL. David Minster, NA2AA, of Wayne,
New Jersey, was chosen by the league's board of directors to succeed
interim CEO Barry Shelley, N1VXY. A CW operator and seasoned contester,
David also belongs to AMSAT, the Straight Key Century Club, the Frankford
Radio Club, and the North American QRP CW Club. His tenure begins
September 28th.
(ARRL)
**
ANOTHER HAM JOINS STARLINER MISSION TO ISS
NEIL/ANCHOR: Congratulations to Jeanette Epps, KF5QNU, who will be making
her first space flight next year, as part of the Boeing Starliner-1
mission to the International Space Station. She will join a six-month expedition that includes two other hams - Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, and
Josh Cassada, KI5CRH, who were both chosen for the mission in 2018. This
is to be the first operational crewed flight of Starliner. The mission
will be the first as well for John Cassada, but it will be the third for Sunita Willliams, who has been on two previous expeditions to the ISS.
(SOUTHGATE, NASA)
**
HAMS HELP SHARE EXCITEMENT OVER INDY 500 RACE
NEIL/ANCHOR: In Indianapolis, hams went the distance recently to keep up
the excitement for an iconic 500-mile auto race, as Jack Parker, W8ISH,
tells us.
JACK: While the Indianapolis 500 mile race ran without fans in the stands, thousands of amateur radio operators from around the world were still able
to reach out, and touch history in the making.
During the week prior to the 104th running of the Indy 500, members of the W9IMS special event station, ran their own 7-day marathon to log contacts
in honor of the 500-mile race.
Due to COVID-19 concerns, the race was moved from Memorial Day weekend to August 23rd, to allow pandemic issues to run its course. Track officials
had to ban fan participation at the last minute, and only allowed race
crews and officials, inside the two and a half mile oval. That didn't deter
the W9IMS special event club. Despite poor band conditions, they
successfully operated for seven days, taking check-ins on most of the HF bands. The 500-mile race stats are not in yet, but the crew reported over 5,200 contacts for the first two races earlier in the spring.
W9IMS normally operates three weeks of special event stations, starting in May, with the Indy Grand Prix, then the Indy 500, and then in July for the Brickyard 400.
This year, every station who contacted W9IMS for all three races, will
receive a special certificate or QSL card. Check out the details on the
W9IMS, QRZ page.
Reporting from Indianapolis, for Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Jack
Parker, W8ISH.
**
WYOMING CLUB EVENT SAYS 'COME AND GET US'
NEIL/ANCHOR: Who says ham radio operators don't know how to recycle creatively? The Shy-Wy Amateur Radio Club had reserved the special event
call sign W7Y for the Wyoming ARRL Section Convention the club was
scheduled to host in Cheyenne -- but the pandemic prompted the
convention's cancellation.
The call sign, however, is going to be as active as ever. It's been repurposed. Be listening on various bands, and in various modes, including digital and satellite, for W7Y between September 6th and September 15th.
The club is calling this its "Come and Get Wyoming" event. All logs will
be uploaded to Logbook of the World, and there are additional details on
the special event page on QRZ.com
Meanwhile, the club is also putting out a special request to any and all Wyoming amateur radio operators to please join them on the air. Contact shywyevents at gmail dot com (
shywyevents@gmail.com) and ask to be put
on the schedule.
Remember, you'll have 10 days to get Wyoming in your logbook, just in
case you need it for that Worked All States Award. Come and get it!
(R.J. BRAGG WY7AA)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the K4EX repeater in Dade City, Florida, on Tuesdays, after the 7pm
net.
**
COVID-RELATED RULES CHANGE FOR LIGHTHOUSE EVENT
PAUL/ANCHOR: Although there have been some changes in the guidelines
for participants, entrants are operating from 43 countries during the
23rd International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend on the 22nd and 23rd
of August. Organizer Kevin, VK2CE, reports that despite the changes
in venue in many instances, radio operators can expect to benefit
from some flexibility regarding use of the special event call signs
associated with the annual event. If a lighthouse or lightship has
been shut due to COVID-19 restrictions, stations are expected to
inform their contacts that the operators are not at the lightouse,
but in proximity to it, or within line-of-sight if that is the case.
Kevin writes: [quote]: "Participation from home or club rooms is
encouraged, even if it is only to offer support for those who have
made the effort to set up at, or near a lighthouse. Hopefully, 2021
will see some kind of normality return to the planet." [endquote]
He was pleased to report, however, that the number of participants
is far greater than had been anticipated under the circumstances.
We'll report more about this event later in the newscast in our
World of DX segment.
**
PRISON FOR HAM AFTER GUILTY PLEA TO PORN CHARGES
PAUL/ANCHOR: An Illinois amateur radio operator, and a former longtime
Boy Scout leader, has pleaded guilty to trafficking in child
pornography. Milton Forsberg, K9QZI, had been indicted on the charges
in November of 2019. He pleaded guilty in federal court in Urbana,
Illinois, and under a plea agreement worked out between his attorney
and the assistant U.S. attorney, the 80-year-old man will serve a
prison sentence of six and a half years, and pay a special assessment
of $10,200.
According to published reports, Forsberg had been affiliated for more
than 40 years with the Boy Scouts. The case against him opened, and
grew after police received charges in September of 2019, saying that
he had sexually abused a 13-year-old boy in 1965.
(CHAMPAIGN-URBANA NEWS GAZETTE)
**
COURT UPHOLDS FCC FEE EXEMPTION TO WIRELESS CARRIERS
PAUL/ANCHOR: The FCC will be permitted to exempt wireless carriers from
$2 billion in fees, despite a challenge by numerous cities around the
U.S. Stephen Kinford, N8WB, brings us those details.
STEPHEN: A United States Court of Appeals judge has declared that the
Federal Communications Commission can pre-empt an estimated $2 billion
in local fees that would have been imposed on wireless carriers, and
their 5G networks. Dozens of cities went to court to try and block a
previous vote by the FCC, that favored such carriers as AT&T, T-Mobile,
and Verizon. Major cities around the U.S. sued the FCC following that
vote, but the recent decision by the Court of Appeals in the 9th Circuit upholds most of the FCC's actions. Judges did overturn part of the
agency's ruling, that sought to restrict what cities and towns can
impose on the carriers, regarding the aesthetics of their setups.
The cities losing the case included Washington, D.C., Boston, New York
City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and San Francisco, along with Portland,
Oregon, and Austin, Texas.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB.
(ARSTECHNICA)
**
CALIFORNIA HAM CLUB REJUVENATING MEMBERSHIP ONLINE
PAUL/ANCHOR: Online is the place to be, it seems, if you're looking to
breathe new life into your old ham club - and one group in California
is trying to make that happen. Here's Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.
RALPH: There's a long history behind the Palisades Amateur Radio Club
in southern California, but it looks like recent history has got in
the way of much of the club's activities - as it has for most anything amateur-radio related these days.
Once among the largest clubs in the region during the 1960s and 1970s,
the Palisades Amateur Radio Club of Culver City was home to more than
300 hams in the region.
Now the club is saying "welcome home" - not just to current members,
but anyone anywhere who may have ever been a member. The club is
rejuvenating its membership and activity - this time on the weekends
on the Zoom platform - and is inviting all radio operators with ties
to the club, to please join them. The details are available from Dick
McKay, K6VGP, at his email address Dick at McKay dot org (
Dick@McKay.org)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.
(BART PULVERMAN WB6WUW)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the K6TZ repeater, in Santa Barbara, California, on Wednesdays at
7pm Pacific Time.
**
STUDENTS CHALLENGED TO BUILD CUBESATS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Now here's a challenging homework assignment some
young hams might just be impatient to get started on. Neil Rapp,
WB9VPG, explains.
NEIL: The start of the school year heralds the beginning of CTE
Mission: CubeSat, a national challenge from the United States
Department of Education, asking students to design and build CubeSat prototypes. The multi-phase exercise is designed to help students
develop technical skills for careers in the space research industry,
and related fields. Schools are being asked to form teams, and develop
a mission proposal, which needs to be submitted no later than October
16th. Teams should submit their information online, with school
information, project proposal, details about the team, and a
description of the learning outcomes expected. For support, students
and teachers can refer to the CubeSat resource hub on the challenge
website.
Phase 2 of the challenge runs from January to May 2021, and as many as
five finalists will be chosen from the first phase to participate in
next year's activities. Finalists will each receive a portion of the
$25,000 cash prize pool, and a variety of kits used in satellite
development, along with related hardware and software.
Up for the challenge? Visit ctemissioncubesat dot com. That's
ctemissioncubesat - that's one word! - dot com. (ctemissioncubesat.com)
A virtual information session was held online on September 1st, but
there are more details online. Recognizing the difficult conditions
under which schools must operate during the COVID-19 pandemic, the
department says it acknowledges schools' needs for flexibility in this collaborative effort.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.
(AMSAT)
**
AUSTRIAN AMATEUR CLUB GETS READY FOR FIELD DAY
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In Austria, radio amateurs are preparing for a big
Field Day event, that will include a display of some of their favorite equipment. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, has that story.
ED: Some amateurs in Austria are going ahead with their plans for a
Field Day on Saturday, the 12th of September. Amateur Radio Club
Gmunden will be hosting their event in Vochdorf, and expect to be on
the air starting at 10am local time. Hams wanting to be a part of
the event are asked to let the club know, by contacting Alfred, OE5CTL,
for pre-planning details. His address is S E N (dot) A (dot) brunbauer
(at) A O N (dot) AT (
sen.a.brunbauer@aon.at).
According to the club website, the Field Day will also be an opportunity
for radio enthusiasts to have their radio equipment on display, ranging
from home-brew transceivers to mobile antennas.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(AMATEUR RADIO CLUB GMUNDEN)
**
SPECIAL EVENT MARKS BATTLE OF BRITAIN ANNIVERSARY
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In the UK, hams are on the air, giving a history lesson
about the Battle of Britain, which was 80 years ago this month. Jeremy
Boot, G4NJH, tells us more.
JEREMY: September is under way, and so is a special event station,
GB80BOB, marking the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. It's
on the air until the 28th of the month, with hams from the Royal Air
Force Amateur Radio Society, commemorating the conflict that took place
between July and October of 1940.
The activation will include operation on the 15th of September, which
in 1940, was proclaimed Battle of Britain Day, and marks the RAF
Fighter Command's victory over the German Luftwaffe.
Because COVID-19 restrictions are still in effect, radio operators
will be on the air from their homes, thanks to Ofcom relaxing its rules
around special event station locations. Visit the Royal Air Force
Amateur Radio Society website, for a complete list of operators, and
the postcode locations from which they are operating. The website is
located at rafars dot org. (rafars.org)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SOUTHGATE)
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UK NET FOR BLIND VETS ADDS DIGITAL OPTION
JIM/ANCHOR: In the UK, an amateur radio group for blind veterans
isn't letting the HF's noise get in the way of their regular net.
Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us more.
JEREMY: When increasing noise began disrupting their mornings four
days a week on 80 metres, the Blind Vets UK Amateur Radio Society
didn't go QRT: Instead, they got creative and found a new mode they
could add as an alternative. Encouraged by longstanding member Doc
G4ZJO, the group secured the help of the North West Fusion Group, one
of the UK's biggest clubs. The Fusion Group, which maintains a
network of repeaters and gateways, set up and began hosting a Yaesu
System Fusion reflector for use by the blind amateurs. According to
Douggie, G7CDA, one of the Fusion Group administrators, a WiresX room
is now bridged to the YSF reflector around the clock. He said the
network has become a busy place, where Doc chairs the regular 10 a.m.
daily nets. Douggie told Newsline that the WiresX Room is being used increasingly by both blind and sighted hams, as well as members and non-members of the Blind Vets UK organisation. It's growing, he said,
"at some rate of knots."
Don't worry, there is plenty of room for even more hams to join in.
WiresX Room 44222 is called BLIND-VETS NWFG, and the reflector is YSF
number 42233 which is called GB-BLIND-VETS. The North West Fusion
Group also has a presence in the United States and at least one
gateway there is usually connected to the group network.
Douggie told Newsline: "Anyone can call in the network or join the
nets where they will be made most welcome."
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(DOUGGIE LANCASTER G7CDA)
**
POPULAR DIGITAL NET MOVES TO NEW TIME SLOT
JIM/ANCHOR: In the U.S., the popular net known as the All Things
Digital After Net is on the move. It's staying on Reflector 58 B, but
will now meet at 6 p.m. Central Time in the U.S. on Tuesdays. The
change is being made to accommodate a work-schedule conflict. The net
control is El Erby, K4DJL. All hams with an interest in any digital
radio mode are welcome to check in.
(DARYL STOUT WX4QZ)
**
SOUTH AFRICA ANNOUNCES 119 NEWLY LICENSED HAMS
JIM/ANCHOR: After several months of delays in testing, South Africa
has finally welcomed some new hams to the bands. John Williams,
VK4JJW, tells us about them.
JOHN: Congratulations to the 119 new amateur radio operators in South
Africa. The new hams have successfully completed the recent Radio
Amateurs Exam, a 60-question test held for the Class A licence on the
29th of August, following a delay from May as a result of the
pandemic.
Relaying the details given by Noel Hammond ZR6DX, the South African
Radio League said that 124 tests were given at 27 exam centres under
special COVID-19 protocols that included holding a morning and an
afternoon session.
The 119 successful candidates have since been emailed the results.
Before taking the written test, the candidates were required to
complete a Practical Operating Assessment and evaluated by two HF
Assessors, carefully done in accordance with pandemic restrictions.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
(SARL, SOUTHGATE)
**
ARKANSAS HAM OFFERS NEW AMATEUR RADIO TV CHANNEL
JIM/ANCHOR: There are many conventional ways to promote amateur
radio: workshops, hamfests, YouTube videos and of course Elmering.
But how about a ham radio channel on the Roku digital media player?
Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, tells us about one ham who's making it happen.
SKEETER: As the administrator and creator of Ozark Digital, a digital
ham radio network based in Arkansas, Curtis, N9INK, is always looking
for ways hams can expand their reach. Hoping to promote the hobby
across generations - and even geography - through creative TV
programming, he has secured a channel on the Roku streaming TV
player. The noncommercial channel is called Amateur Radio Today, and
Curtis is looking to provide viewers with free content - ultimately
around the clock - on anything and everything amateur radio-related.
Curtis told Newsline that what he needs now are more programs. He has
a few pre-recorded videos already up there to get things started, but
he is hoping to fill the schedule of the Amateur Radio Today channel
with how-to videos, interviews, discussions, and maybe - down the
line - a live feed from a DXpedition, whenever that may be
technically possible.
Subject matter can range from digital operation and hotspots, to boat
anchors. There are, of course, technical requirements. Videos should
be in high-definition MP4 format. All content must be reviewed by him
first. He said that live feeds are also possible, but will be carried
with a three-minute delay.
Curtis said his goal isn't just to provide ham radio programming, but
to help provide the hobby with a future filled with enthusiastic,
inquisitive amateurs.
Amateurs interested in providing content should write him at
curtg49@yahoo.com
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH.
(CURTIS N9INK)
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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 in Mountain Home, Idaho, on Wednesdays at 8 p.m.
local time.
**
IN THE UK, A 'VIRTUAL' SUCCESS
PAUL/ANCHOR: One of the newest clubs in the UK has never gathered its
members for a meeting - and that's apparently just fine with
everyone, as we hear from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: It's no secret that virtual amateur radio clubs work. In the
UK, Essex Ham has been successfully doing this since 2011. Now
they've got some company, largely as a product of the COVID-19
pandemic. The Online Amateur Radio Community Club came into being
this past spring following discussions between Francis Hennigan,
M0UKF, and four or five other hams.
Francis tells the club's story on YouTube in an interview with Callum McCormick, M0MCX, noting that the need for a virtual club became
apparent to him in March when he volunteered to assist with remote invigilation of licence exams.
The Online Amateur Radio Club evolved from there. Although it is
predominantly a UK-focused club, membership is not necessarily
limited geographically. Francis told Callum that the club, which has
about 130 members, is hoping especially to reach into the community
of younger hams. Weekly nets are already being held on the digital
modes, including DMR, D-STAR, Echolink, and Fusion.
He said there are no fees, because there are no costs. Even though
the club is only a few months old, organisers are already setting up
a ‘buddy system’ to support new members. The club begins its
intermediate level training course on the 28th September.
For more details about the Online Amateur Radio Community Club, visit
their Twitter feed, which is, “@M0OUK.”
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(CALLUM MCCORMICK M0MCX ON YOUTUBE)
**
CHECK-IN OPPORTUNITIES EXPAND FOR BLIND HAMS DIGITAL NET
PAUL/ANCHOR: Check-in opportunities have expanded for the Blind Hams
Digital Net which has added a network bridge - and a whole lot more.
Jack Parker, W8ISH, gives us the details.
JACK: The Blind Hams DMR Net had a quiet beginning but now its voices
are everywhere. On that first day - April 7, 2018 -- only three
amateurs checked in. The net was simply an idea that grew out of an
online discussion hams were having on a mail server but it was soon
to grow to be even more.
It is now known as the Blind Hams Digital Net, and has an
international reach with an average of 50 check-ins, a group that
sometimes climbs to 76. The establishment of the Blind Hams Network
Bridge gave more room to grow, and there are now eight nets on the
bridge. The hams also have a presence on Brandmeister TalkGroup
31679. Thanks to Patrick KE4DYI, the connections support DMR, D-STAR,
Fusion, AllStar, EchoLink, Peanut, and Wires-X.
More recently, the group added a YouTube channel that includes a
roundtable discussion called "CQ Blind Hams," and a podcast of the
same name has also been created.
The blind hams group has a strong advocacy voice off the air as well.
Roger Clark, VK3KYY, and a team of programmers pressed for the use of
open GD77 firmware and programming software to make a Radioddity HT
more easily programmable by blind users. In Germany, Ian, DJ0HF,
created MP3 tutorials, and PDF files to guide users.
No radio? No problem! Even without a radio, hams can still be part of
the action. Hams who are not on the air can join via the Peanut
smartphone App, or just listen to the chatter using their Alexa
device, or they can stream audio from the bridge using their
computers.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.
(JOEL CASE W0CAS)
**
NETS OF NOTE: THE HOTSPOT, PI, SBC AND ZOOM NET
PAUL/ANCHOR: In our occasional series Nets of Note, shining a
spotlight on nets of particular interest, Newsline looks this week at
one net that functions as a digital helping hand to demystify the
various modes. It's called the Hotspot, Pi, SBC, and Zoom Net. Hams
check in on Mondays at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on the QuadNet Array.
The net was created as the Raspberry Pi Net to assist with setup and operation, using Single Board Computers like the popular Raspberry
Pi. Daryl, WX4QZ, and Steven, KC9SIO, are serving temporarily as net
control stations, standing in for Ted VE7LEE. It's all about
camaraderie, communications, and of course, questions and answers.
(DARYL STOUT WX4QZ)
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CITIZEN SCIENCE CONTRIBUTES TO SPACE WEATHER STUDY
NEIL/ANCHOR: When it comes to predicting coronal mass ejections,
occasionally it's better NOT to be a scientist. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH,
tells us why.
JEREMY: Citizen science has proven invaluable to researchers at the
University of Reading in their search for a more accurate way to
forecast coronal mass ejections. Thousands of volunteer participants
in the Stormwatch citizen science project have been sending
researchers their observations about previous CME images captured by
special wide-angle cameras on spacecraft since the project began in
2010. The scientists then combined these observations with their own forecasting methods, making use of the additional information.
According to an article in Science Daily, this model increased
accuracy of solar storm predictions by 20%, supporting researchers'
theory that the inclusion of imaging cameras on future space weather monitoring missions by ESA and NASA would be beneficial. The team also
found that forecasts' uncertainty was reduced by 15 percent as a
result of the volunteers' input which provided a better sense of the trajectory and shape of the solar storm.
The results of the study were originally published in AGU Advances.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SCIENCE DAILY)
**
CW CONTEST IS SLOW SPEED BUT FAST-GROWING
NEIL/ANCHOR: What are you doing on Sunday nights? Try slowing down!
Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, explains.
KEVIN: The K1USN Radio Club doesn't believe good things should be
rushed - not even contests. That's why their new slow-speed CW contest
- known as the SST - will go at as leisurely a pace as radio operators
need it to be. Based on feedback from its inaugural one-hour event
held on September 13th, the contest is being held every week at 0000
to 0100 UTC Mondays, which in the United States takes place from 8
p.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Sundays. According to the club website,
the leisurely pace also allows for friendly greetings between
operators and not just a hasty exchange of information.
The nonprofit club comprises civilian radio enthusiasts, as well as
former and active members of the military. The contest is designed to
be especially welcoming to those who are new at CW.
For more details visit triple w dot kay one you ess en dot com
(www.k1usn.com)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
(K1USN)
**
NEW AUSTRALIAN AMATEURS GET NEW ONLINE RESOURCE
NEIL/ANCHOR: There is a new resource in Australia for licensees who
have more questions than answers right now. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, picks
up the story from here.
JIM: Newcomers have more questions than answers when they first get
their licence to get on the air and clubs can't be everywhere,
offering the one-on-one support most newbies need. The Radio Amateur
Society of Australia has made an online collection of knowledge-based
articles available to newcomers, hoping it will help fill the support
gap many of them encounter.
The free resource is called the Amateur Radio Tech Support Service,
and it offers detailed information on how to set up a station, how to understand what kind of antenna you may need, DXing, complying with regulations and of course dealing with interference. There is also an
online guidebook for newcomers called "Welcome to Amateur Radio."
The website notes that the service is presently in the pilot stage and
if it proves successful, it may be expanded. Look for the link to this
tech support service in the printed version of this script on our
website, arnewsline.org
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
[PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ:
https://amateurradiotechsupport.freshdesk.com/support/home ]
(SOUTHGATE)
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DELAYED LAUNCH OF 2 CHINESE AMATEUR RADIO SATELLITES
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, if you were awaiting the scheduled launch
of the latest two Chinese Amateur Radio satellites, it looks like
you'll be waiting until spring of next year. CAMSAT, the Chinese
Amateur Satellite Group, has announced that CAS-7A has been postponed
until May and CAS-5A won't launch until June. The delay is the latest
in a series for CAS-7A.
(SOUTHGATE)
**
TELEPHONE PIONEERS DIAL UP ENTHUSIASM FOR QSO PARTY
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: This month you'll get an opportunity to operate by
phone - but it's not what you think. Jack Parker, W8ISH, explains.
JACK: It pays to be an amateur radio operator who has also worked for
one of the telephone-related businesses in the United States. These
hams get to operate phone while celebrating phones. On Monday, the
19th of October, the Telephone Pioneer QSO Party will be getting on
the air for eight hours, beginning at 1800 UTC for their 56th annual
event.
You don't need to be affiliated with any of the phone companies to
score a contact. Operators will be using all modes, including the
digital modes. In fact, for the first hour, the only contacts
happening will be on FT-8, with that hour reserved exclusively for
this digital mode.
For more details, visit the website tpqso dot com (tpqso.com). Whether
you once worked for the phone company - or still do - and even if you
never have, listen for someone calling QRZ and with any luck, you
won't hear a pileup or a busy signal.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.
(TELEPHONE PIONEERS)
**
WISCONSIN HAM CLUB's MOBILE UNIT GOES PUBLIC
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In LaCrosse, Wisconsin, one ham club was inviting
everyone to "get on the bus" by rolling out their new emcomm unit.
Here's Dave Parks, WB8ODF, with that report.
DAVE: When does an open house party become an open BUS party? When the location is a new mobile communications unit for a ham radio group and
the vehicle happens to be a bus. The Mississippi Valley Amateur Radio Association, W9MVA, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin welcomed visitors to its
new shack on wheels, which serves as an emergency communications unit.
It also functions as a kind of school bus because it demonstrates
radio technology to youngsters.
Although the mobile unit was active in June when some of the hams
participated in Field Day, it received hams and other visitors
formally during its more low-key public rollout at the open house held
by the club on Saturday September 26th.
The custom-made bus has UHF, VHF and HF beam antennas, as well as
dipoles and can also operate in conjunction with two portable antenna
towers.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Dave Parks, WB8ODF.
(WKBT)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, Adrien, F4IHM, is using the call sign 5U4IHM, from
Niger where he is on a mission assignment. He will be mainly on 40 and
20 metres, using CW and FT8. Send QSLs to his home call, direct or via
the REF Bureau.
From Kuwait, be listening for Abdallah, 9K2GS, who will use the call
sign 9K2K during the CQWW DX SSB Contest on October 24th and 25th.
Send QSLs to EC6DX or by LoTW.
Listen for the special event call sign EN100LT, being used by hams in
Ukraine to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Kharkiv Theater for
Children and Youth. The special event began in September, and will
continue until March 31st of 2021. Send QSLs to UT5LU. There is an
award available. For details see QR Zed.com
(OHIO PENN DX)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K2ADA repeater
in Ocala, Florida, on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. local time.
**
RSGB VIDEOS GO BACK TO BASICS FOR NEWCOMERS
JIM/ANCHOR: Newly licensed hams in the UK are finding videos to be an increasingly valuable tool in shack lately. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has more
on that story.
JEREMY: The Radio Society of Great Britain is taking amateur radio back to basics in the hopes of helping beginners. The society has produced a six-
part series of videos for the thousands of new Foundation licence-holders
who were successfully tested via remote invigilation but were not required
to take practical assessments.
That's where the videos come in with their practical advice and a look at
how to do things, hands-on.
Amateurs such as Rob, M0VFC, Bob, G0FGX, and Dan, M0WUT, take the
beginners through the basics of setting up a station, and making that
first contact on FM and on SSB. Other videos show how to adjust an
antenna's length for the lowest SWR and how to use an antenna matching
unit or tuner. Another video introduces the digital modes.
For hams who would prefer to view all the basics in one sitting, the
society has also produced a full 30-minute video highlighting all six
skills. All the videos can be seen at rsgb.org/foundation-practicals.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(HEATHER PARSONS, RSGB)
**
HAM'S CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE MARTIAN KIND
JIM/ANCHOR: There's something to be said for proximity. The planet Mars is approximately 38.59 million miles from Earth, according to NASA, its
closest approach until 2035. That means NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
is close by too - relatively speaking. The orbiter, which flies just 274
km, or 170 miles, above the surface of the planet, communicates with Deep Space Network antennas on the earth via radio. Recently, however Scott
Tilley, VE7TIL, reported he picked up its signal too, using a 60 cm dish
in his backyard in British Columbia.
Tilley, who is also a satellite radio enthusiast who hunts lost "zombie" satellites and spy satellites, is calling it a close encounter of the best kind.
(SOUTHGATE)
**
THAILAND'S KING GETS LICENSE, SHACK AND ON THE AIR
JIM/ANCHOR: If you find yourself feeling a bit like royalty when you're in your shack, consider the king of Thailand. He *is* royalty - and now he's feeling like an amateur radio operator - because he is one! Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, has that story.
JASON: Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn, officially known as King Rama
X, received his crown in May of 2019. Now he's also got an amateur radio callsign. On the air, His Majesty is known as HS10A.
At a ceremony held recently in Bangkok in the Dusit Palace, the king
received donations of an ICOM IC-7300 transceiver for HF and an Icom-9700
for VHF/UHF. He also received a variety of antennas and other equipment
for the royal shack.
The advanced class licence and the callsign became his on Sept. 24 at a ceremony attended by the nation's communications regulator, the NBTC Secretariat, represented by General Sukit Khamasundara, and the Radio
Amateur Society of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the
King, led by its president, Jakkree Hantongkom, HS1FVL.
Be listening on the air for the callsign HS10A. That's not just the king
of Thailand, but the patron of the nation's radio society.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.
(SOUTHGATE)
**
CALIFORNIA CLUB SERVES AS RADIO AMBASSADORS
JIM/ANCHOR: Sometimes the best introduction to ham radio is....non-ham
radio! One club in California is counting on that, as Ralph Squillace,
KK6ITB, explains.
RALPH: The El Dorado County Amateur Radio Club hopes that having a booth
at the recent National Night Out in Pollock Pines, California was
compelling enough to give people a good impression about ham radio. But
just in case, the club brought along something perhaps even more
compelling: some radios to give away. No, these weren't amateur radios.
They were the low-power, license-free Family Radio Service, or FRS,
handhelds used often by hikers and campers and - the club hopes - kids. Youngsters won the radios in drawings the club held at the October 3rd
event and were soon on the air, spelling out their names in the
International Phonetic Alphabet. These are the same kind of handhelds used
in combination with GMRS radios in the local Neighborhood Radio Watch
public safety program the club implemented.
The club's public information officer Alan Thompson, W6WN, told Newsline
that its Neighborhood Watch has - quite unexpectedly - become a potent recruiting tool for new hams. Sometimes, after all, starting with low
power can make a high-power impression, especially with the youngest
future radio operators.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.
(ALAN THOMPSON W6WN)
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HISTORIC TRANSMITTER TO MARK UNITED NATIONS DAY
PAUL/ANCHOR: If you're interested in history, you might want to tune in to 17.2 kHz a little later this month. There's a special international
message headed your way from Sweden. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, picks up the story from here.
ED: If you're capable of receiving 17.2 kHz and you know CW, there's a
message waiting for you on October 24th. It's being transmitted from the Alexanderson Alternator SAQ in Grimeton, Sweden and it's being sent in
honour of United Nations Day. UN Day marks the creation in 1945 of this international body to promote world peace.
The very low frequency transmitter is far older than the UN. It was built starting in 1922 and is the last surviving example of Anderson Alternator technology that works. The transmitted message will begin at 1500 UTC. QSL reports can be made online using a form that will be open from October
24th until November 6th.
Meanwhile, if you'd rather make contact on the HF bands, listen for
amateur radio station SK6SAQ which will be on the air sending CW on 7.035
MHz and 14.035 MHz. Of course if you don't know CW you can make contact on
SSB on 3.755 MHz. QSLs can be sent via email to info at alexander dot n
dot se (
info@alexander.n.se), via the bureau or by mail to the address on their QRZ page.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(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 WR6AAC repeater
in Lake Forest, California, on Tuesdays at 6:45 p.m. local time.
**
HAMS IN AUSTRALIA MARK POLIO'S END IN AFRICA
PAUL/ANCHOR: A successful public health initiative is something to
celebrate - especially now - and hams in Australia are doing just that.
Here's Graham Kemp, VK4BB, with the details.
GRAHAM: In Australia, amateur radio operators are marking an
accomplishment that takes on special meaning in these pandemic times: the eradication of the polio virus throughout Africa. The World Health Organisation declared Africa's 25 nations, states and territorities to be polio-free as of August 25th.
Lee Moyle, director of the Wireless Institute of Australia, said the activation will begin on the 24th of October, marking World Polio Day. The special event station VK65PFA, will continue until the 24th of November.
For Lee, this takes on special significance because he is also a member of Rotary International which has given high priority to the campaign to wipe
out polio. Rotary members who are also amateur radio operators are also invited to join ROAR, Rotarians of Amateur Radio.
Meanwhile, visit the QRZ page of VK65PFA, for operating and QSL details.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, past president of Brisbane's Mid-City Rotary Club, and VK4BB.
(WIA)
**
AUSTRALIA MAKES CHANGES IN AMATEUR RADIO SYLLABUS
PAUL/ANCHOR: Australia is also making some notable changes in its amateur radio syllabus. Robert Broomhead, VK3DN, shares that report.
ROBERT: As part of its latest update to the amateur radio syllabus, the Australian Communications and Media Authority is now giving amateurs the ability to transfer their call sign to another licensee simply by
completing a call sign transfer form online. This permission is granted to
any amateur of any licence class who holds a three-letter call sign. The change is expected to give hams more options and flexibility in managing
call signs and would clearly be useful within families where more than one member is a ham. The application form needs the signature of both parties, however, before it goes to the ACMA. The syllabus changes also remove some
of the historical restrictions on the Foundation licensees from the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Robert Broomhead, VK3DN.
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K8SCH repeater of the OH-KY-IN Amateur Radio Society, in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. local time. Newsline has played during the TechTalk net for more than
35 years!
**
ASSAULT IN UK AMATEUR OPERATING PORTABLE
NEIL/ANCHOR: In the UK, authorities are looking for four men who assaulted
an amateur operating portable. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has that story.
JEREMY: Police in Gloucestershire are looking for information about the assault on a ham who was operating portable last month near Cheltenham. The amateur, whose name and call sign were not made public, was attacked by four men who accused him of spying on them and recording them. A report in the Gloucester Echo said the ham was operating portable from Cleeve Common near Cheltenham at 9:20 on the evening of September 8th.
The report did not say whether the man, who is in his fifties, required medical attention. Police said the assailants left the scene in a Land
Rover.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SOUTHGATE, GLOUCESTER ECHO)
**
NO RESISTANCE TO THIS NEWFOUND SUPERCONDUCTOR
NEIL/ANCHOR: Most of us know about electrical conductors, such as cables and electrical lines. They carry electricity but, of course, it comes at a
price: some of that energy is lost due to resistance. Now a group of New
York researchers is saying things don't necessarily have to be that way. Scientists at the University of Rochester say they have created a superconductor that has no resistance - and unlike most other
superconductors, can operate at room temperature instead of needing to be cooled.
According to an October 15th article posted on the Popular Mechanics
website, this superconductor combines the right amount of pressure with the elements that bond readily. The scientists have squeezed sulphur, carbon,
and hydrogen�carbonaceous sulphur hydride in a diamond anvil, which exerts nearly 300 gigapascals of pressure. Therein lies the catch: that pressure is the equivalent of about 3 million times the Earth's ambient air pressure.
The researchers next task, then, is to tinker with the chemical mix and see
if they can take some of that pressure off.
(POPULAR MECHANICS)
**
AN ECHOLINK NET CELEBRATES ACTRESS HEDY LAMARR
NEIL/ANCHOR: Actress Hedy Lamarr was as noted for her performances as her penchant for inventing in the realm of radio. There's a party for her on Echolink - and Jim Damron, N8TMW, tells us about it.
JIM: Among radio enthusiasts and fellow tinkerers, the late actress Hedy Lamarr deserved her name up in lights for reasons that had nothing to do
with Hollywood. An inventor with a penchant for technology the star is credited with helping develop a patented radio signaling device used during the Second World War that years later led to GPS, Bluetooth, increased security on mobile phones and Wi-Fi. In 1997 - just three years before her death at the age of 85 - she was given the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Pioneer Award.
On Monday, November 9th, which would have been her 106th birthday, the Echolink ROC-HAM Conference Server is hosting Hedy Lamarr Day with a four-
hour net. Four YL net controllers will be taking check-ins and celebrating
her accomplishments. The net will also be accessible on the DODROPIN Conference Server Node 355800.
For just a short while, Hedy Lamarr will also be back on the screen - the small screen in this case. Organizer John DeRycke, W2JLD, told Newsline that the event will be streamed on YouTube's World Amateur Radio Day channel. It will also be heard on Broadcastify.
Be watching Netlogger - and be listening on EchoLink -- for the call sign
N9H, and visit the QRZ page for details about a special event QSL card.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.
**
RSGB ANNOUNCES NEW UK HAMS, UPGRADES ACHIEVED REMOTELY
NEIL/ANCHOR: Congratulations to the newest hams across the Pond in the UK. A Twitter announcement by the Radio Society of Great Britain reports that
2,000 hams have passed their Foundation exams via remote invigilation. Big congrats as well to the 268 amateurs who were able to upgrade to
Intermediate level in the same manner. The remote exams were put in place in April in response to the pandemic.
(SOUTHGATE, TWITTER)
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GERMAN TOWN PREPARES FOR 'GOLDEN ANTENNA' HUMANITARIAN AWARD
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: One town in Germany is preparing to recognize an amateur
radio operator for extraordinary humanitarian efforts. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, brings us that story.
ED: Who wouldn't wish for a golden antenna? In this case, it's the name
of an award, not the description of a high-end Yagi or beam atop some
lucky ham's tower. The town of Bad Bentheim in Germany has a 50-year
tradition of recognizing the great public service ham radio provides
to the community, and in the past, it has hosted Deutsch-Niederlndische Amateurfunker Tage (DNAT), or German-Dutch Amateur Radio Days.
This year, the mayor is taking things a step further because of the extra challenges posed by COVID-19. The Golden Antenna Award, a humanitarian
award known locally as Gouden Antenne, will be presented by the mayor,
and awards committee to the ham or hams who have answered amateur radio's highest calling.
In 2018, Mayor Volker Pannen presented it to Johan Jongbloed, PA3JEM, recognising his rescue work as part of an international amateur radio
team assisting after the devastating Nepal earthquake.
Nominations can be made until April 1, 2021. The award will be presented
in August, and the winner will be invited to Bad Bentheim. As Johan said
during the 2018 ceremony "when the going gets tough, hams get going."
Links and addresses for submissions appear in the printed version of this script on our website and arnewsline.org.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
[FOR PRINT ONLY: Mail nominations to Stadt Bad Bentheim, P.O. Box 1452,
D-48445 Bad Bentheim, Germany. Email nominations to
juerriens@stadt-badbentheim.de]
(SOUTHGATE, TWITTER, ARRL)
**
TIME FOR HAMVENTION AWARD NOMINATIONS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Speaking of awards, if you've already got Hamvention 2021
on your mind - and who doesn't? - it's OK to start thinking about
Hamvention awards right now. Phil Thomas, W8RMJ, explains.
PHIL: Nominations for awards at Hamvention 2021 are set to open this
Sunday, November the 1st.
The awards committee will be accepting nominations for "Club of the Year," "Technical Achievement,"Special Achievement," and the prestigious "Amateur
of the Year Award."
The nomination period for each award will be open until Monday, February
the 15th, 2021.
Hamvention awards have been held since 1956.
Of note, the Dayton Hamvention was first held in 1952.
Entry forms are available on the Hamvention website at: hamvention.org
Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Phil Thomas, W8RMJ.
**
YL CONTEST HONORS MEMORY OF BELOVED SILENT KEY
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In the spirit of friendship and remembrance, an
international group of YLs is running a contest in memory of the
Silent Key, who died before she could see it come to fruition.
Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has that story.
JEREMY: November 3rd will mark one year since the death of Carine DuBois, F5ISY, who was part of a circle of YLs around the world, who were close
despite geographical distance. On the weekend of November 7th and 8th,
Carine's friends are running a contest, The Day of the YLs, on the HF
and VHF bands, to promote the kind of YL activity Carine herself
encouraged. Operating modes will be CW, SSB, FT8, and RTTY. YLs, OMs, and shortwave listeners are encouraged to participate. Logs must be submitted
no later than the 16th of November. Awards will be given to all
participants who collect at least 33 points for contacts with YLs.
For details, visit the Day of the YLs Facebook page.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(JENNI JONES M0HZT)
**
PENNSYLVANIA AMATEURS CELEBRATE PROFESSIONALS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: It's time for radio amateurs to celebrate radio
professionals. In the U.S., hams are marking the 100th anniversary
of commercial broadcast station KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, tells us more.
KEVIN: Pennsylvania AM radio station KDKA has been on the air
continuously since reporting the presidential election results of
the 1920 contest between Warren G. Harding and James Middleton Cox.
Ham clubs in the Pittsburgh area are marking the occasion, with a
full month of special-event activations. There's an especially good
reason hams take a special interest in KDKA. It first went on the air
as an amateur radio station in 1916, using the call sign 8XK, and was
operated by Frank Conrad, assistant chief engineer of Westinghouse
Electric and Manufacturing Company.
Be listening all month for special-event stations from Pittsburgh area
clubs such as the North Hills Amateur Radio Club, the Panther Amateur
Radio Club, the Steel City Amateur Radio Club and the Wireless
Association of South Hills. Beyond Pittsburgh, hams will be
participating from the Skyview Radio Society, the Butler County
Amateur Radio Public Service Group, and the Washington Amateur
Communications Radio Club. Be listening for such call signs as K3A,
K3D, K3K, and W8XK.
A full schedule and other details can be found on the QRZ.COM page for
W8XK or at kdka100.org.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
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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.
**
PERU SELLING AMATEUR RADIO FREQUENCIES
NEIL/ANCHOR: Peru has become one more nation to sell off part of the
spectrum used by radio amateurs so it can be used for 5G mobile technology. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the details.
JIM: Amateur radio operators and other users of the 3.5 GHz spectrum in
Peru are losing access to the frequencies in the range between 3.3 GHz and
3.8 GHZ.
The MTC, Perus transport and communications ministry, will instead permit
the frequencies to be used by telecom operators who want to provide such mobile broadband services as 5G. The decsion was made in October but the spectrum sale for 5G technology is not expected until the first half of
2021. Frequencies between 24.2 GHz and 25.5 GHz will also be tendered.
Jos Aguilar, MTCs general director of communications policies and regulation, issued a statement saying: [quote] Now there is a possibility
of making better use of this band, which will benefit more Peruvians with modern services and will encourage private investment in the sector." [endquote]
The 3.5 GHz frequencies presently used by Peruvian hams is the frequency 5G services are being assigned by regulators worldwide.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(WIA, BNAMERICAS)
**
HAM RADIO CYCLING ENTHUSIASTS RAISE FUNDS FOR RESEARCH
NEIL/ANCHOR: A group of Austrailian hams went bicycle mobile for a worthy cause. Robert Broomhead, VK3DN, has that story.
ROBERT: Members of the Bendigo Amateur Radio and Electronics Group VK3CMZ
are counting the dollars raised last month when the BAREC Pedal Radio Group took on the challenge to raise money to help the Children's Medical
Research Insitute fight childhood cancer. The hams' participation in the
Great Cycle Challenge in October brought in about $700 and covered more
than 250 kilometres.
Graeme Knight, VK3GRK, said that the Pedal Radio Group grew out of club members who share another great interest beyond radio: cycling for health, fitness and social activity. Graeme said that the group is also a great way
to increase awareness about amateur radio because the cyclists are out and about in the community and are highly visible.
Ah, but don't forget radio here: During the October event, in between their rides, the hams had QSOs on some of the local nets to let listeners and
other club members know that they were on their cycles - and they were on a roll!
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Robert Broomhead, VK3DN.
(BAREC)
**
FLYING PIGS QRP CLUB HOSTS 'RUN FOR THE BACON' CONTEST
NEIL/ANCHOR: Every month a group of CW operators engage in some friendly competition. Some might say they're....pig-headed about it. Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, explains.
SKEETER: With the arrival of November, it's almost time again for what CW enthusiasts are calling PIG-nacious fun: It's the monthly "run for the
bacon" QRP contest. Held on the third Sunday night of each month, it's a source of pride for its organizer, the appropriately named Flying Pigs QRP Club International W8PIG. This high-energy contest has a low-power requirement: Contacts must be made using 5 watts or less. Competitors are encouraged to go whole hog: Working 50 or more piggies qualifies you for a multiplier of two. That's not so difficult, really: It's OK to work the
same contact on different bands for credit toward the multiplier. The two-
hour contest begins at 2300 UTC. For more details visit
qrpcontest.com/pigrun/
Pigs may not be able to fly yet, but at least they can get on the air.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH.
(FLYING PIGS QRP CLUB)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K5DUR repeater in Rowlett, Texas, on Sundays at 7 p.m. local time.
**
FLORIDA CLUB'S HOMEBREW PROJECT IS ITS TRAILER
JIM/ANCHOR: If an emergency trailer is considered home to amateurs who
belong to ARES, then this next story is surely about a home-improvement project. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, explains.
KEVIN: The latest homebrew project by members of Clay County Amateur Radio Emergency Services isn't a custom rig or a special antenna. The Florida ARES group is busy refurbishing its radio shack on wheels, a communications
trailer that was donated to them after it was retired from service by the county's Emergency Operations Center.
Clay ARES members have been spending time outfitting the trailer with their own state-of-the-art communications equipment, and transforming it into a command center that will also accommodate hams' overnight stays in extreme emergencies.
Scott Roberts, KK4ECR, the public information officer for Clay ARES, told
Clay Today Online that while the trailer can be deployed if necessary to
help in emergencies, the hams want to enhance its capabilities in voice, satellite, digital communications, email and texting over the air. The
trailer will also be used to train new and future hams.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
(CLAY TODAY ONLINE)
**
NETS OF NOTE: THE AUSTRALIAN CULTURE NET, 'DINKY DI'
JIM/ANCHOR: In our occasional series, Nets of Note, which looks at
interesting and creative ways amateurs gather on the air, we visit a group
of radio operators in Australia whose thoughts - and words - have been
turning to poetry lately. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, picks up the story from
here.
JASON: Sunday nights will never be the same in VK2. For the past two months, amateurs have been getting on the air at 1900 hours Australian Eastern Standard Time to read poetry to one another. It's not just a Sunday night poetry fest but a time for jokes, yarns, quizzes, and memorable stories from history. The inspiring force behind this so-called Dinky Di (pronounced:
DIE) or Culture Net is Peter O'Brien, VK2DIE, a fan of Australian Bush
Poetry who one night shared the classic work, "The Man from Snowy River," by poet Banjo Paterson, during a Snowy Mountains Amateur Radio Club net. That
got things rolling.
Angelo, VK2NWT, told Newsline that poetry has now been happening on the air regularly -- with rhyme and with reason: The net has begun to grow in popularity in the New South Wales Far South Coast and Monaro region. It
lasts about an hour, and Peter coordinates the discussion. So if you're not averse to a little verse, consider joining the net on VK2RSE at 147.375 MHz, VK2RFS 146.760 MHz or VK3RDH at 146.625 MHz. None of the repeaters require a tone. If you're not local but have access to IRLP, join in via Node 6211.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.
(WIA, ANGELO GIUFFRE VK2NWT)
***
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, a disappointment for DX chasers. The KX0X DXpedition to Jan Mayen Island in the Arctic Ocean has been cancelled. Clublog lists the Norwegian volcanic island as the 75th most wanted DX in its recently updated list. The team announced on DX-World that it will be refunding donors' contributions shortly.
However, Erik, LA2US, who has been active on Jan Mayen Island as JX2US since mid-October, has logged more than 6,200 QSOs. He is operating CW and some
FT8 in F/H submode through March 2021. QSL only via ClubLog OQRS. He will upload to LoTW after his return home in April.
Be listening for the callsign DP0GVN from the German Antarctic research station Neumayer-III, where Theresa, DC1TH, will soon be on the air. Theresa will be making QSOs via the amateur radio transponder on board the QO-100 geostationary satellite. The ground station for the satellite was provided last year by AMSAT-DL. QSL to DL5EBE, direct or via the DARC QSL bureau.
Logs are also uploaded to LotW intermittently.
Finally, in case you had plans to listen for David, F8AAN, operating as FS/F8AAN from St. Martin Island starting November 18th, be advised he has cancelled his plans because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(SOUTHGATE, DX-WORLD)
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UK 'CARE' CAMPAIGN ADDS FOCUS FOR HOLIDAY SEASON
DON/ANCHOR: What's the best gift you can give a ham for Christmas this
year? A campaign in the UK called "Get on the Air To Care," has a
suggestion. It's "Get on the Air for Christmas" -- and Jeremy Boot, G4NJH,
has the details.
JEREMY: Organisers are calling it "Get on the Air for Christmas" and the campaign is an offshoot of the highly successful "Get on the Air to Care" joint programme of the National Health Service and the Radio Society of
Great Britain.
While "Get on the Air to Care" was a special plea to amateurs to step up
their on-air activities during the first pandemic lockdown to ease the situation for lonely amateurs, the focus during the holiday period will
be to bring some good cheer if the lockdown is extended, as it will
surely curtail celebrations between friends and family. Organisers want
hams to be extra active during the holiday period between Saturday, the
19th of December, and Saturday, the 9th of January. The radio society's website will be posting the schedules and information about special nets
being held on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in particular - or at any
other time during the season - and is asking for clubs to email their
details as soon as possible. The nets will also be publicised in the next issue of RadCom and in the GB2RS news broadcasts.
The email address is radcom at rsgb dot org dot uk (
radcom@rsgb.org.uk).
Get on the Air for Christmas has also launched two Christmas Hope QSO
Parties, one that begins on Monday the 21st of December and another that begins on Monday the 4th of January. Look online for hashtag G O T A 4 C
to follow this campaign.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SOUTHGATE, RSGB)
**
COLORADO HAM CLUB HOSTS FIVE DAYS OF SANTA
DON/ANCHOR: In Colorado, one radio operator who has as much heart as
holiday spirit is reprising a role he played once - many years ago --
only this time he's going on the air to make it happen. Jack Parker,
W8ISH, tells us about him.
JACK: It's been a long time since Chuck K0ITP (K ZERO I T P) put on a
Santa suit. That was years ago at an event at a country club in Peoria, Illinois. This year, however, the president of the Longmont Amateur Radio
Club in Colorado is hopping back on the sleigh to bring Santa to children
via amateur radio. He plans to be on the air on the club repeaters
between 6 and 7 p.m. Mountain Time on December 1st through 5th. Licensed
hams are invited to share their shack with a youngster - perhaps a child
or grandchild - who will likely be missing out on some of the traditional events or seeing Santa in person because of the COVID-19 precautions.
Chuck said he will make sure they still have a chance to talk to Santa by getting on the air with a licensed amateur.
Chuck told the local newspaper, the Times-Call, that the club is hosting
this event for the first time because members are also hoping to give
children an early holiday gift: the gift of an interest in amateur radio.
He said it will give parents a chance to hear what their kids want to
find under the tree.
Local hams can visit the club website for repeater information at W Zero
E N O dot org (w0eno.org) The repeaters are also on EchoLink Node 8305.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.
(CHUCK POCH K0ITP, THE TIMES-CALL NEWSPAPER)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, it seems the world's most remote island will remain inaccessible for a bit longer to amateur radio. The Rebel DX Group had
hoped to activate Bouvet Island as Three-Y-Zero-Eye (3Y0I) by the end of
this year but operators are unable to travel because of COVID-19
restrictions. The group said on its website that their equipment remains
in South Africa, and if restrictions are lifted before the conclusion of
the Antarctic summer they hope to be ready. For updates visit the website bouvetoya.org
Time is running out to work Mike, VK4DX, as VK4DX/P on Russell Island.
His activation ends on November 24th. Be listening on 40-15 metres where
he will be operating SSB and CW using 100 watts and wire antennas. Send
QSLs via the bureau, ClubLog, Logbook of the World or direct mail.
Be listening for special event stations 7Z20G, 8Z20G, and HZ20G, being activated by members of the Saudi Amateur Radio Society during the G20
Riyadh summit in the capital city of Saudi Arabia. The summit began Nov.
13th and will conclude on the 23rd. QSL via LoTW or direct to the Saudi Amateur Radio Society.
In Indonesia, listen on various HF bands and modes for special event
station 8A10N to celebrate that nation's "National Heroes Day 2020." The station is being operated by YH3BHL through December 10th. Send QSLs via
LoTW or eQSL.
(OHIO PENN DX, REBEL DX GROUP, VK4DX website)
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IOWA STUDENTS TRACK BALLOON'S GLOBAL TREK
PAUL/ANCHOR: Youngsters in Iowa got a lesson in world travel and amateur
radio recently, thanks to an adventurous balloon they launched as a
science project. Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, has that story.
RALPH: A group of science students in Pella, Iowa feel like they've been around the world - and in a way, they have. It took 13 days, 2 hours and
8 minutes for the 150 fifth-graders from the Jefferson Intermediate
School to complete the journey on November 18th that involved crossings
over the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Yellow Sea and the
Pacific Ocean.
The students stayed home, of course, but their hearts and minds traveled
with a helium-filled scientific balloon they'd launched with support
from the Pella Amateur Radio Club. It was launched carrying a SkyTracker
with APRS that had been designed and built by Bill Brown, WB8ELK. The
Near Space balloon transmitted on 2 metres as it carried the callsign
WB0URW-8 around the world as the students kept tabs on it on their
computers and smartphones.
Jim Emmert, WB0URW, said that with financing from local foundations, the
Pella club has been working with students at the school for a while now, presenting various lessons in the fields of earth science and amateur
radio technology. The balloon - the latest such venture - was a success.
Not one to rest on its helium-filled laurels, the balloon returned home, according to Jim, only to embark on its second such journey.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.
(JIM EMMERT WB0URW)
**
ISS PREPS FOR SLOW-SCAN TV TRANSMISSION
PAUL/ANCHOR: Get ready for some Slow-Scan TV. The International Space
Station is scheduled to have an SSTV transmission on Tuesday, December
1st starting at 12:30 UTC until 18:25 UTC. There will be a second
transmission on Wednesday, December 2nd from 11:50 UTC until 18:25 UTC.
Listen for SSTV signals to be downlinked at 145.800 MHz +/- Doppler
shift. The mode of transmission is expected to be PD 120.
You will be able to post your images in the online ARISS SSTV gallery.
For updates on this event, follow the Twitter account with the handle at-symbol ARISS underscore status (@ARISS_status).
(AMSAT)
**
AM ENTHUSIASTS IN EUROPE SET DATE FOR QSO PARTY
PAUL/ANCHOR: Organizers of this next event in Europe aren't calling it a contest but a celebration. It's all about AM, as Jeremy Boot, G4NJH,
explains.
JEREMY: The coming winter just become a little warmer in Europe. The
Facebook group known as AM Amateur Radio Europe is putting the final
touches to plans for its Winter 2021 AM QSO Party. It will run from
Friday the 22nd of January at 1800 UTC until Sunday the 24th of January
at 1759 UTC. Organisers stress that although points and certificates
will be awarded, this is not a contest; it is designed to encourage conversation between amateurs using the original ham radio voice mode.
Points are awarded for each QSO, and each new DXCC worked, and there are
power categories that accommodate each level of the UK licence.
For details, visit the AM Amateur Radio Europe group's Facebook page.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(FACEBOOK)
**
SOTA ACTIVATION, WYONG FIELD DAY ON AUSTRALIA'S HAM CALENDAR
PAUL/ANCHOR: It looks like 2021 is almost here - and with it, two big
events in Australia. Robert Broomhead, VK3DN, has those details.
ROBERT: There's good reason hams in Australia can't wait to put 2020
behind them: Plans are already in the works for a SOTA summit activating
event in the Mount Hotham Ski region. This would be the fifth such event
and organisers are looking for expressions of interest from SOTA
members. The event would take place between the 5th and the 8th of
February 2021. No event was held this year because of the bush fires in
the North East and Gippsland. Brian, VK3BCM, asks that interested SOTA activators email him at bcmcdermott at tpg dot com dot au (
bcmcdermott@tpg.com.au)
It will be a big month as the Wyong Field Day is happening on Sunday the
28th of February. The 62nd annual event in New South Wales is the
Southern Hemisphere's largest amateur radio event. Radio enthusiasts
from around Australia and from overseas are expected to be there.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Robert Broomhead, VK3DN.
(SOTA REFLECTOR, CENTRAL COAST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
K6SOA Repeater in Laguna Beach, California, on Tuesdays at 8 p.m.
local time.
**
MEET ARN'S INTERNATIONAL NEWSMAKER AWARD WINNER FOR 2020
JIM/ANCHOR: Last year, Newsline conferred its inaugural International Newsmaker of the Year Award with great pride to the West Bengal Radio
Club in India. This year, we are pleased to present it to a team
comprising health service workers and amateur radio operators in the
UK, all responding together to the COVID-19 crisis. Here's Ed Durrant,
DD5LP, who shares our pride in making this announcement.
ED: The winner of Newsline's second annual International Newsmaker of
the Year Award is the Get on the Air to Care project, conceived of by
Paul Devlin G1SMP and operated jointly by the UK's National Health
Service and the Radio Society of Great Britain. Created in response to
the COVID-19 pandemic, the campaign has decreased social isolation in
the UK and around the world by encouraging amateurs to Get On The Air 2
Care - with inactive hams returning and those who always wanted to,
becoming newly licenced amateurs. It also gave rise to this season's
Get On the Air 4 Christmas initiative. Most importantly, though,
#GOTA2C has accomplished something amateurs work so hard to achieve:
the campaign has placed amateur radio front and centre in such
mainstream media channels as the BBC, ITV Wales and major newspapers,
raising amateur radio's profile and attracting new licence-holders even
in this era of remote-testing.
Congratulations to Paul Devlin, G1SMP, who conceived of the idea as
part of the NHS England Emergency Care Improvement Support Team and to
the Radio Society of Great Britain and the National Health Service who
have implemented it. You'll be hearing more from Paul Devlin next week
when Newsline chats with him.
Meanwhile, the RSGB and the NHS have added yet another element to their campaign: an NHS Charity auction beginning December 9th and ending
December 19th at the start of the Get on the Air for Christmas
campaign. One item for auction should surely help amateurs get on the
air to care, even after the holidays. It is a Morse Code key
handcrafted and donated by Roy Bailey, G0VFS, of Trowbridge and
District Amateur Radio Club. Having based his design on the noted semi-automatic Vibroplex, he has dubbed his creation the Virus-
PerpleXed Bug and an engraved decal bears its name. If you wish to participate, visit the Society's website for details. The URL appears
in the printed version of this script on the arnewsline website.
[DO NOT READ, FOR PRINT ONLY: rsgb.org/gota4c]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(RSGB)
**
IN LONDON, A TOWER OF GRATITUDE
JIM/ANCHOR: How do you say "thank you?" Try sending Morse Code, as
London's tallest building is doing. Here's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, to tell
us more.
JEREMY: The Shard building, which defines the London skyline, has been
the symbol of the city since its completion seven years ago. It
recently became transformed into a symbol of gratitude - in a way that
ham radio operators, more than most people, can comprehend. At 306-
metres in height, it is the UK's tallest building, which makes its
important message - flashing in blue and white LED lights at the very
top - hard to miss. That message is in Morse Code.
The 575 lights flash, spelling "Thank You," two words directed to the
National Health Service workers whose efforts have helped protect the
British public since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. City dwellers
and visitors have stopped to marvel at the light show since it began on
the night of Thursday, November 26th.
But even London's tallest building isn't above needing a little help.
That help came from the Radio Society of Great Britain. The RSGB
stepped in to verify that all those high profile dits and dahs were
indeed being sent correctly, ensuring that the message's delivery
enjoyed a towering triumph.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SOUTHGATE)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
VK8MA repeater in Australia's Northern Territory on Sundays at 7 p.m.
local time.
**
AMSAT IRELAND SEEKING MEMBERS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: With a new callsign and an ambitious agenda, AMSAT
Ireland has launched itself. Here's more from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: After years of planning and waiting, AMSAT Ireland has
announced that its organisation is complete and it has become active
with a callsign of EI2SAT. AMSAT Ireland is now seeking ham radio
operators and other enthusiasts to become members. The organisation is
part of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, or AMSAT, which was
created in the United States in 1969 to support ham radio's
involvement in space research and communication.
The emergence of AMSAT Ireland comes as Ireland prepares for the
launch of its first satellite, EIRSAT-1, the Educational Irish
Research Satellite 1. It is being designed by a team of students in
University College Dublin and academic staff is designing the 2U
CubeSat as part of the European Space Agency's Fly Your Satellite
programme.
Interested hams are asked to visit the website at www amsat dot ie (www.amsat.ie)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SOUTHGATE)
**
CALIFORNIA CLUB NURTURES NEW, RETURNING AMATEURS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Because all hams need mentors, including those
returning to the hobby after many years, one club in California has
devoted itself to the task. Paul Braun, WD9GCO, tells us about them.
PAUL: One of the hot topics in any discussion today about the future
of amateur radio is always, "How do we get more people interested?"
Another is, "Once we get them licensed, how do we keep them
interested?"
One club in California was formed specifically to find some answers to
those questions. Called GOTA Hams, they're a fairly new organization
but they are very active and growing.
I spoke with Vice President Mark Arlotti, KM6AHY, about what the
clubs goals were:
ARLOTTI: GOTA Hams Amateur Radio Club is an active club. We wanted to
put together a group that would be able to put new hams on the air and
even get other hams that maybe had their callsign a while back active
again.
PAUL: Arlotti spoke about club activities. One thing is a regular
Radio in The Park event to raise public awareness. Their other
activities are more challenging:
ARLOTTI: We also like to do field ops which is kind of like "Radio in
the Park" but a little more distance. Like we'll go out to the desert
or up to the mountains - we'll do a camping trip and set up a mobile
station totally with batteries and solar panels. Next month in January
we plan on going out to Quartzfest in Arizona.
PAUL: The club also has a very active net on a local repeater:
ARLOTTI: On a nightly basis, we do a ham net at 8PM on the WA6FZH
repeater here in Southern California, and we do a roundtable where we
answer questions and we talk about other things besides ham radio just
to keep people together. We always ask for first-time callers, you
know, and its a good opportunity for them to feel free to get on the
air and talk and practice their skills.
PAUL: The club's website is at gotahams dot com - that's G O T A hams
dot com.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.
**
WORLD OF DX
In the world of DX, be listening for members of the ARI Club of
Grosseto, IQ5GR, on the air as IO5CNPP, until the 20th of December.
They are activating in remembrance of the Heroes of the 1986 Chernobyl
Nuclear Power Plant disaster. QSL direct to the address on Q R Zed
.com or by the Bureau to IZ5RHU. A "Heroes of Chernobyl Diploma" is
available. For more details, see Q R Zed .com.
Listen for a group of Senegalese operators on the air as 6V1A from
Goree Island between December the 18th and 20th. They will be on CW
and SSB on all HF bands. QSL using LoTW. If you want a direct QSL
card, you can cover the costs via PayPal at 6 v 1 a dot a r a s at
gmail dot com. (
6v1a.aras@gmail.com)
In Bolivia, Antonio, EA5RM, will be active as CP1XRM, between January
9th and 26th, working as a Solidaridad Medica and Radio-amateurs
Without Frontiers NGO volunteer. He will be on the air on SSB and in
the digital modes during his spare time. QSL via LoTW.
(OHIO PENN DX)
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SILENT KEY: COLIN HORRABIN G3SBI
NEIL/ANCHOR: A well-known innovator, and the creator of a low-noise receive mixer known as the H-Mode mixer, has become a Silent Key. Jeremy Boot,
G4NJH, tells us about him.
JEREMY: Colin Horrabin, G3SBI, an amateur radio operator known for his development of the H-Mode mixer used in many HF radios, died in late
November at his home in the UK, one month after being diagnosed with
cancer. Colin, who was employed by the Daresbury Nuclear Physics Laboratory before retiring, had been a licenced ham since the age of 16. He held his current call sign since 1963. He notes on his profile page on QRZ.com that although he was enthusiastic about operating mobile SSB, his bigger
interest was in CW, particularly on the LF bands.
The board of the Radio Society of Great Britain awarded him the Bennett
Prize in 1994 for his innovative contributions to the art of radio.
According to the RSGB, his H-Mode mixer formed the core of the CDG2000 high-performance transceiver he co-designed with Dave, G8KBB, and George, G3OGQ. That design was recognised with the Ostermeyer Trophy from the RSGB
in 2003.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(RSGB, ARRL, QRZ.COM)
**
REMEMBERING FIRST HAM RADIO SATELLITE
NEIL/ANCHOR: Happy 59th birthday OSCAR 1! OSCAR, which stands for Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio, became the first ham radio satellite following its launch on December 12th, 1961. Its orbit was a brief one, lasting only 22 days, but it was embraced by hams around the world. Though
its orbit decayed quickly, more than 570 hams in 28 nations still had time
to report their observations to AMSAT's predecessor, known as Project
OSCAR.
(AMSAT)
**
NEW VHF HANDBOOK AVAILABLE FROM IARU
NEIL/ANCHOR: A new edition of the International Amateur Radio Union's VHF Handbook has recently been published, and it's downloadable as a PDF. This
is version 9 of the handbook and it is based on the actions taken at the
2020 IARU Region 1 virtual General Conference. It contains all the
decisions made regarding the bands at VHF and higher. The handbook's band
plan also shows changes made to 436-438 MHz and covers 145 MHz satellite allocations.
You can find the link for downloading the handbook in this newscast's
printed script at arnewsline.org
[FOR PRINT ONLY: DO NOT READ]
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-341-Handbook
(AMSAT-UK)
**
BRAZILIAN REGULATOR CLARIFIES EQUIPMENT APPROVALS
NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams in Brazil who enjoy operating with vintage equipment are likely to breathe a sigh of relief at the latest government announcement. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, explains.
JASON: Regulators in Brazil have assured amateur radio operators that an approval process is in place to permit the continued use of older radio equipment past the end-of-year deadline. ANATEL, the national regulator,
had been asked by Brazil's amateur radio organisation, LABRE, to ensure
that an approval process will still continue after this year's December
31st deadline. Hams were concerned that no time period had been identified
for that process. The fate of such equipment became unclear because in some cases, such radios and other devices lack an FCC-ID and are not included on the government's approved list.
In a translation provided on Southgate News, LABRE wrote: [quote] "We now
have the guarantee that old equipment will continue to be type approved in
the current way indefinitely." [endquote] The approval process includes presentation of the manual for any equipment that lacks international certification.
In making the announcement, LABRE reminded all operators that effective January 1st, everyone must still receive approval for continued use of
older equipment.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.
(SOUTHGATE, LABRE)
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SOMETIMES SATELLITES GROW ON TREES TOO
SKEETER: Another Christmas tree - this one in Canada - is sending its
holiday message via satellite. Well, sort of. It was a project of one
amateur radio club in British Columbia. For that report, we turn to
Newsline's newest team member, Randy Sly, W4XJ.
RANDY: The Gulf of Georgia Cannery is a museum in a 19th century
building that highlights the history of the fishing industry on
Canada's West Coast. Inside the building, one of the Christmas trees on display for the cannery's holiday festival puts a spotlight on amateur
radio, using ornament designs that represent CubeSats, transmitted
signals and amateur radio operators themselves. The Richmond Amateur
Radio Club calls its tree "Communicating to One World" and its message
is that amateur radio is a universal experience that uses high tech to
connect people. In keeping with ham ingenuity, many of the ornaments
were homebrew. Club members created them from coasters, printer
cartridges, parts of ballpoint pens, pull tabs from canned food and
other household items.
Although the festival and display ended on December 24th, the interest
in the trees will continue through to the end of the holiday season.
Visitors to the cannery as well as people viewing the trees on Facebook
and Instagram, were encouraged to vote for their favourite tree. The
club is, of course hoping its tree will get a good signal report.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ.
(RICHMOND 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
K7EFZ repeater in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. local time,
after Eagle Rock Emergency Practice Net.
**
EUROPE PREPS FOR SATELLITE CONSTELLATION
SKEETER: Will the new year bring Europe its own system of low-earth
orbit satellites? Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, explores that possibility.
RALPH: With 2021 about to get underway, officials in a number of
European Union nations will begin a feasibility study for a
constellation of low-earth orbit satellites similar to the Starlink
project under way by Elon Musk's SpaceX. Europe's version of the U.S. satellite constellation is envisioned as being able to give people in
isolated areas access to the internet and permit more secure
communications for governments. It would reportedly cost $7.3 billion
in U.S. currency or 6 billion euros.
The development could lead to a rivalry in space broadband coverage as SpaceX's own beta version is said to begin service to Europe by
February or March of 2021. Starlink's goal has been to deploy as many
as 42,000 satellites to bring high-speed internet to different parts of
the globe. Its public beta service presently serves only the northern
U.S. and southern Canada.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.
(BUSINESS INSIDER, YAHOO)
**
CHINA'S RADIOTELESCOPE WELCOMES THE WORLD
SKEETER: With the Arecibo Observatory gone following its tragic
collapse, China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope, or
FAST, is quickly opening its doors to the world's astronomers. FAST is
the world's largest radiotelescope, taking that status from Arecibo
after its construction was completed in 2016.
According to the French news agency AFP, China's giant telescope is
taking on another role once associated with Arecibo. It is giving the international community of astronomers access to its antennas and radio receivers so they can study radio waves emitted from black holes,
galaxies and stars and even transmit and reflect signals to see what
bounces back.
(AFP, SPACE.COM)
**
RADIO EQUIPMENT STOLEN FROM RUSSIAN 'DOOMSDAY' PLANE
SKEETER/ANCHOR: As hams, we can sympathize with anyone who's got a
serious craving for good radio equipment, but there are times when that craving can go to extremes. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, explains.
ED: The disappearance of military radio equipment at an airfield in the southern region of Rostov, Russia, remains a mystery. All that is known
is that thieves broke into an airplane that was there undergoing
repairs and stole electronics, that included five radio boards and
other equipment.
Perhaps more significantly, the aircraft was a highly classified
Ilyushin Il-80, known as the "doomsday plane." It is one of four such
planes designed to be used in the event of nuclear war. That means that
it would serve as an airborne post for the Russian president who could
get on the air and order the launch of intercontinental ballistic
missiles or issue other orders.
The theft is believed to have occurred sometime between the 26th of
November during the plane's last inspection, and the 4th of December
when the theft was reported to local police.
Further details have not been publicly disclosed about the stolen
equipment but investigators collected shoeprints and fingerprints from
the plane's interior for a possible criminal investigation.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.
(BBC, SOUTHGATE)
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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.
**
JAPAN'S HAM COMMUNITY SHRINKS BUT SOUTH AFRICA GAINS NEWCOMERS
PAUL/ANCHOR: It's been a discouraging year for amateur radio in Japan
-- but in South Africa, new amateur radio operators are celebrating
their new privileges. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, reports on both stories.
JASON: The number of licenced amateur radio stations has decreased once
again in Japan, according to Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. There were 389,343 licenced hams this past December, a
drop of 12,837 from December 2019 figures. In that month, there were
402,180 licensed stations but that number as well signified a drop of
about 15,000 from the previous year.
The majority of Japanese radio operators hold a Class 4 licence, which
was introduced as an entry level licence in the 1950s.
Meanwhile, a new group of licenced amateurs is ready to get on the air
in South Africa. Test results are in and the South African Radio League reports there was a 95 percent pass rate for those who sat for the
exam. That means 81 new hams. Two of the candidates took the exam for a
Class B licence, which is the entry level license and is assigned a ZU
prefix.
The next radio amateur exam will be given on May 22, 2021.
Congratulations to all the new hams.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.
(SARL, HIDEO KAMBAYASHI JH3XCU)
**
SWISS REGULATOR CHANGES LICENSE PROCEDURES
PAUL/ANCHOR: The new year brings some changes for amateur radio
operators in Switzerland but it's mostly procedural. Ed Durrant, DD5LP,
has that story.
ED: In Switzerland, changes have been made under the new
Telecommunications Act affecting the administration of amateur radio operations and related costs. The Swiss regulator Ofcom is moving to a licence-exempt model that will require hams to have a certificate of
ability after passing a qualifying examination. Hams will be charged
110 Swiss francs, or about $122 in US dollars for call sign issuance.
Swiss hams will be required to pay an reduced annual fee of 50 Swiss
francs, or $55 in US dollars, down from 96 Swiss francs for their
annual license. Repeater and remotely operated stations continue to
need to be registered and they will pay a one-time fee of 70 Swiss
francs, or nearly $78 dollars. The same one-time registration fee
applies to systems operating above 1 GHz such as those hams wishing to
use the QO-100 satellite system.
In short, many procedures remain largely unchanged, according to
Switzerland's national amateur radio society. The USKA said in an announcement: [quote] "The path to amateur radio is still the same and
for the already active radio amateurs everything remains as it was.
Only the management of frequencies and the associated terms have been rearranged." [end quote] The changes are in effect beginning January
1st, 2021.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(SOUTHGATE, USKA)
**
SWLs AND HAMS AWAIT YOTA AWARDS
PAUL/ANCHOR: December YOTA Month is over and now the wait begins for
the awards. Andy Morrison, K9AWM, picks up the story from here.
ANDY: Youngsters on the Air closed out a very active December YOTA
Month by announcing some good news for hams and shortwave listeners who
chase YOTA stations. YOTA is now providing awards for SWLs as well as transmitting hams. SWLs need to register on the YOTA event website
where they can log QSOs they heard on the air, qualifying them for
awards at bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels. SWLs are also able
to use the website to request QSL cards after entering data about the
QSO they heard. To receive these cards, listeners must have an SWL
callsign and belong to a national society to use its QSL service.
Meanwhile, as December YOTA Month wrapped up its activity, organizers announced that award plaques were going to be presented in seven
categories: Most Stations Contacted in CW; Most Stations Contacted in
SSB; Most Stations Contacted in Digital and Most Stations Contacted.
Awards will also be given to Best Overall Score OM; Best Overall Score
YL and Best Overall Score Youngster for operators younger than 26.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
(YOTA)
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SILENT KEY: JAMES GOLDEN KD0AES
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A popular net control operator with the Handiham Program
for disabled amateurs has become a Silent Key. Christian Cudnik, K0STH,
tells us about him.
CHRISTIAN: James Golden, KD0AES, a Life Member of the Handiham Program,
was perhaps best known as net control for the Tuesday Handiham Radio
Club net, a busy gathering place for disabled amateurs like him.
According to his obituary in the Nevada Daily Mail, the Nevada, Missouri
radio operator, who had cerebral palsy, brought such enthusiasm to his
on-air responsibilities that at one point he served as net control for
three nets a week. Grateful for his skill in handling busy traffic in an always-polite manner, a number of amateurs pooled their money to
purchase a Handiham Life Membership for him.
James continued with his activity until two weeks before his death on
December 9th. James Golden, who was 46, died of COVID-19.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik, K0STH.
(HANDIHAM, NEVADA DAILY MAIL)
**
SILENT KEY: LOGGING SOFTWARE DEVELOPER DAVE PRUETT K8CC
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We also report the death of NA Contest Logging Software Developer Dave Pruett, K8CC. Dave became a Silent Key on the 29th of
December. A chairman of the Michigan QSO Party and a log-checker for the ARRL's 10-meter and 160-meter contests, Dave's most widely known
contributions were perhaps in the area of contest log development. Early
on, he was the developer of a program for RadioShack computers that
checked logs for duplicate contacts. He also created the NA contest
logging software which is capable of handling a number of contests. He
was also a former editor of the National Contest Journal.
Dave was 66.
(ARRL)
**
SILENT KEY: FORMER RAC PRESIDENT FARRELL (HOPPY) HOPWOOD VE7RD
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: An influential member of the Canadian Amateur Radio
Community has become a Silent Key. John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us about
his long career.
JOHN: Farrell Hopwood, VE7RD, who had been president of RAC, and a
member of the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame, has become a Silent
Key. Known as Hoppy, he died on December 8th. The son of a telegrapher
father and a Teletype-operator mother, Hoppy began his long career in telecommunications in his native British Columbia in 1948. In 1955,
Hoppy became an amateur radio operator with the call sign VE7AHB. Those
who attended Expo 86 in Vancouver saw the amateur radio station and
exhibit there that was created by Hoppy and his team. An avid DXer, he
was also involved in VHF/UHF linking and packet.
Hoppy became an early member of the Canadian Radio Relay League and the Canadian Amateur Radio Federation, rising through its ranks into
leadership. He also became involved in key discussions to merge the two organisations into the RAC. Hoppy later became president of the RAC,
retiring from the post in 1998 after serving three terms.
He was inducted into the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame in 2015.
Hoppy was 91.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
(RAC)
**
NOVA SCOTIA CONTEST WEATHERS THE STORM
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A recent winter contest hosted by one Canadian amateur
radio club turned out to be a disaster -- and the members couldn't have
been happier. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, has those details.
KEVIN: The Halifax Amateur Radio Club called their contest the "2-Meter
Get on the Air Winter Event," and it was designed to challenge the hams' ability to stay connected in the face of an emergency. For four hours on January 2nd, it was a dry run for disaster for John Bignell, VE1JMB, the club's director-at-large, and 50 or so other club members. It also
turned out to be a frozen run: the contest went forward despite a heavy snowfall that covered much of Nova Scotia. John, who is also an EHS
Advance Care Paramedic, said the contest underscored the need for hams
to have a reliable communications network when disaster strikes, as it
did in 2017 when Bell Aliant suffered a connection outage of landlines
and cellphones in Eastern Canada.
John told the Saltwire Network website that the contest was also about
having fun but it's important to remember too that when the Red Cross,
rescue teams or ground-search personnel need communications backup, hams should be there and ready. That makes everyone a winner in every
contest.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
(JOHN BIGNELL VE1JMB)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
N2XPM repeater in Cedarhurst, New York, on Saturdays, at noon local
time.
**
HAMCATION NAMES NEIL RAPP WB9VPG 'EDUCATOR OF YEAR'
JIM/ANCHOR: This next story is a personal one, celebrating one member
of our Newsline family. Our anchor and correspondent, Neil Rapp,
WB9VPG, who teaches high school chemistry in Indiana, has been named
Carole Perry Educator of the Year by Orlando HamCation. Newsline
editor Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT, spoke to Neil about his commmitment
to amateur radio education.
CARYN: Licensed since the age of 5, Neil Rapp knows better than most
of us that ham radio is the best teacher.
NEIL: Especially when I got into high school, ham radio helped me
understand science. When I got to Chemistry, when everybody else was
having a hard time, I already knew my metric system, when I got to
Physics, I already knew Ohm's law -- because I did all of that when I
was 5.
CARYN: Those early lessons became the foundation for the path his life
took as sponsor of school ham clubs, in the ARRL Teacher Institute and
as one of the founders and camp director of Youth on the Air for IARU
Region 2. For Neil, ham radio doesn't get old -- it gets YOUNG.
NEIL: Yeah, we do have youth in ham radio, and we do have kids doing
great things with it. There are some opportunities to make sure this continues. It amazes me that the kids that are really into CW at a
time when a lot of people didn't want to learn CW and that's what kept
them out of the hobby. They're also into all these cool new digital
modes that are becoming more efficient and setting the pace for the
commercial radio industry and cell phones and public service and all
the digital stuff. A lot of that came from ham radio.
CARYN: His next project? A Youth on the Air mini-camp that mixes
science with the science of socializing.
NEIL: What we are trying to do is build some of those social
connections between the kids and that's why there is a lot of YOTA
time that's at an amusement park, at Dave & Buster's, at this place
and that place that may not have a thing to do with ham radio because
it's social interaction time. The whole YOTA thing isn't just learning
about radio and learning about technology; it's getting the social
aspect there so that kids know other kids. We have seen in Europe that perpetuates the hobby. That keeps the kids in the hobby.
CARYN: So congratulations Neil. Your well-deserved Carole Perry trophy
will now sit beside your autographed oscillator from Carole's Youth
Forum at Hamvention.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT.
**
COUNTDOWN TO PLUTO'S BIG ANNIVERSARY
JIM/ANCHOR: Whether or not you still think of Pluto as a planet, its
discovery is still something to celebrate. Randy Sly, W4XJ, tells us
why.
RANDY: The Northern Arizona DX Association is about to launch the
first event in its 10-year special event countdown to the 100th
anniversary of its discovery in the Kuiper (KY-PURR) Belt. Be
listening for club members operating between February 13th and the
21st as W7P. They'll be at the Lowell Observatory from which Pluto was
first spotted and their home QTHs. One of the operators will be Doug
Tombaugh, N3PDT, nephew of Pluto's discoverer, Clyde Tombaugh. He will
operate as W7P/0.
There will be special QSL cards each year leading up to the 100th
anniversary event. A certificate with endorsement stickers for each of
the 10 years of the special event and for a contact with Doug and his
team will be available later as well, Visit the QRZ.COM page for more
details.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ.
(QRZ)
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UK TV CHANNEL RECOUNTS AMATEUR'S NOTORIOUS, BRUTAL KILLING
NEIL/ANCHOR: The notorious killing of an amateur radio operator in the
UK was revisited recently, for TV viewers of a special three-part series. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us about it.
JEREMY: The brutal murder story, broadcast over a three-day period on the
UK's ITV channel, was no fictional drama. The episodes, which were
transmitted between Monday 11th and Wednesday 13th January, recount the
killing in June 1989 of Oxfordshire radio amateur Peter Dixon, G0HFQ,
and his wife, Gwenda. The couple were on holiday in Pembrokeshire, South
West Wales, where Peter had been operating as GW0HFO/M.
The two were found dead, shot at point-blank range within half a mile of
their campsite on 5th July. The Radio Society of Great Britain was asked
by police to put out a QST, asking amateurs to check their logbooks
between the 29th June, and the 5th July, police believing that Peter had
made a contact with another mobile station on 28 MHz on the morning of Wednesday 28th June. They were looking for clues, any clues at all.
Still, it took years of detective work, before the case ended with an
arrest and conviction: John Cooper, a former farm labourer, was found
guilty of the killings in 2011. In an odd twist to the story, Cooper
himself had appeared on ITV on a popular game show - just days before
robbing and shooting the ham radio operator and his wife.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(ITV WEBSITE, 73 MAGAZINE/OCTOBER 1989)
**
CALIFORNIA HAMS DEDICATE COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY
NEIL/ANCHOR: In California, one amateur radio club gave a big thank-you
to one of their own, in the form of a special honor. Ralph Squillace,
KK6ITB, tells us what happened.
RALPH: The Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club values its resources: They
include a state-of-the-art communications facility atop a reservoir in
Santa Barbara County, California - and they include Bill Talanian, W1UUQ,
the ham who helped secure funding to make it a reality. Bill, a former
trustee of the 150-member club, has been doing that kind of volunteer
work for more than four decades.
Earlier this month, the club held a formal dedication of the facility,
naming it the Talanian Communications Facility. Such a facility provides
the kind of ability club members need to respond to communities in
crisis, as they did in 2017, when the Thomas Fire ripped through Ventura
and Santa Barbara Counties. Club members helped pass traffic for
emergency responders. The club also has a mobile rover vehicle, as well
as emergency radio communications stations at the Santa Barbara chapter
of the American Red Cross, and the Santa Barbara County Office of
Emergency Management.
Club members told the website Noozhawk that Bill played a key role in
securing funds for the facility atop the Vic Trace Reservoir. Hams have considered it the hub of their communications network since 2011.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.
(NOOZHAWK)
**
HAMS SUPPORT COMMUNICATIONS AT INDIAN RELIGIOUS PILGRIMAGE
NEIL/ANCHOR: An annual religious pilgrimage in India once again had the
support of a local amateur radio club which, this year, also made use
of a satellite. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, gives us that report.
JIM: The callsign AT2GSI wasn't your average DX. It was being used
between the 9th and the 19th of January, by members of the West Bengal
Radio Club in India, where hams were calling QRZ from Sagar Island,
designated IOTA AS-153. There was a lot more to this activation,
however. The hams were also present on the island, as they always are
during the annual Hindu pilgrimage, to where the Bay of Bengal meets the
river Ganges. Using HTs and a ground station for the Qatar OSCAR 100
satellite, made them even more capable this year of keeping emergency
support communications open. More than 700,000 pilgrims had already
arrived there by January 14th.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(MILLENIUM POST)
**
RSGB NOMINATIONS DUE BY JAN. 31
NEIL/ANCHOR: Time is running out for nominations for the Radio Society
of Great Britain's elections. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has that story.
JEREMY: Changes are ahead for the Radio Society of Great Britain, which
is accepting nominations for its elections. The society is seeking
candidates for president, one elected board director, and one
representative each, in Regions 2, 6, and 12. Results will be announced
at the annual general meeting on April 24th, where President Dave Wilson,
M ZERO OBW (M0OBW) is to retire, following three years in that post
during his current tenure, which is his second term. That meeting will
be held virtually.
The RSGB positions are voluntary. Interested amateurs can learn more
about these positions, or how to nominate a candidate, by visiting the
website rsgb dot org stroke election (rsgb.org/election). Nominations
are due no later than January 31st.
Meanwhile, the RSGB board has appointed veteran BBC broadcaster Steve
Richards, G4HPE, to fill the vacant post of GB2RS News Broadcast
manager. Steve's voice is familiar to many listeners as a newsreader on
the GB2RS report.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(RSGB)
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FRENCH MILITARY SEEKS RADIO RECEIVERS, JAMMERS
PAUL/ANCHOR: When is jamming a signal actually desirable? When it's The
French military. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, has more on the story:
ED: The French Defence Ministry has a tender out for radio jammers that
can be drone-mounted The government's Defence Innovation Agency has put
out a request for proposals in search of a small, low-power warfare
device that can find radio communication transmitters while mounted on a
fixed or rotary-wing drone and possibly disable the signals through
jamming. Proposals were due no later than the 18th of January and demonstrations of prototypes will follow over the course of the next
seven months.
The devices are expected to be capable of detecting any number of
transmitters operating between 30 MHz and 6 GHz and able to transmit
their findings in real-time to a receiving station on the ground.
Bidding is being limited to companies within the European Union.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(UPI, THE DEFENSE POST)
**
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
KB3AWQ repeater in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on Thursdays at 9 p.m.
local time.
**
YOTA MONTH ACTIVATIONS TOP TOTALS FROM PREVIOUS YEAR
PAUL/ANCHOR: The numbers are in: The total contacts made by young
amateurs during December YOTA month outpaced those made the previous
year. Sel Embee, KB3TZD, tells us more.
SEL: For the 24 young amateur radio operators in the Western Hemisphere
who were part of December YOTA Month, the numbers added up in a big way.
The Youth on the Air operators logged 14,699 QSOs while calling QRZ with special event callsigns. The contacts, made using SSB, CW, digital modes
and satellites, dramatically topped the previous year's total of 12,487.
Some of the operators, such as Michael, W3MLJ, said his favorite part of
the activation was being able to run five radios at the same time, all
logging contacts on digital modes such as FT-8. Calin K8MTJ got a
special kick out of working ZR1ADI in South Africa using FT8.
The hams, all younger than 26, had their efforts coordinated by Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO, who worked with YOTA month manager Tomi, HA8RT. The
event was a prelude to the first YOTA camp to be held in the Western Hemisphere this summer. That's planned for July 11th through 16th.
Meanwhile, more than 2,100 operators of all ages received awards based
on the number of YOTA Month contacts they'd made. Unclaimed awards can
be downloaded at events dot ham hyphen yota dot com. (events.ham-
yota.com)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Sel Embee, KB3TZD.
(YOTA)
**
MICHIGAN AMATEUR ISSUES PLEA FOR KIDNEY
PAUL/ANCHOR: A longtime radio amateur in Michigan has been reaching out
on social media for a life-saving donation. Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, tells
us about him.
DON: Philip Ross, AB8PR, who has been a licensed ham since 1971, has
been looking lately for something a whole lot more than some rare DX or
a good signal report. The Michigan grandfather learned recently he has end-stage kidney disease and needs a living donor to make a transplant possible. He tells his story on various social media sites and his own
website papaphilcan dot com (papaphilcan.com) in the hopes that someone
will come forward to help him. He notes that dialysis - his only other
option - is not a cure but a form of disease management that leads to a shorter life with greatly lessened quality. His website reads: Papa Phil
Can; His Kidneys Can't. Even if AB8PR is not in your logbook, if you
think you can include him in your own plans to help, visit his website
to learn more. That's papaphilcan dot com.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.
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CLUB OFFERS MICROWAVE NETWORK TO BOOST BRITISH COLUMBIA EMCOMM
JIM/ANCHOR: For one ham club in Canada, emergency response doesn't just consist of HTs, repeaters and HF radios. Radio operators there are hoping
they can soon assist local responders by getting their microwave network
in the game. Christian Cudnik, K0STH, has that story.
CHRISTIAN: The Kamloops Amateur Radio Club, which already provides
emergency support on the ground throughout its region in British Columbia, sees even more potential in their mountaintop-to-mountaintop broadband network. They're offering to open its use to the TNRD, the regional
governing body, in the hopes that the microwave links' internet
connectivity and large data bandwidth can provide an additional resource
for local Emergency Operations Centres in the case of wildfires or other calamities.
Club president Myles, VE7FSR, said the idea of providing the TNRD, or Thompson-Nicola Regional District, with a higher level of assistance was inspired by a 2017 wildfire in the region. He and some friends in the
British Columbia Wireless Amateur Radio Network recalled how the blaze had hampered the Emergency Operations Centers' abilities to communicate vital information.
Myles told Newsline that for the region's various municipalities to
utilize the club's high speed microwave system, they'd need to first
establish that they have line-of-sight with the mountaintops and then
install dishes there to connect with the EOCs below. Myles said this sort
of operation has come of age. EOCS, he said, are more dependent than ever
on internet access because the data bandwidth is so much greater there
than on VHF, UHF and especially HF.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik, K0STH.
(MYLES BRUNS VE7FSR)
**
GEORGIA AMATEURS DEMONSTRATE RADIO SCIENCE ON FIELD DAY
JIM/ANCHOR: Winter Field Day was a little bit different this year for some hams in Georgia. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, tells us how they spent it.
KEVIN: The Macon, Georgia shopping mall known as the Shoppes at River
Crossing became part of a Winter Field Day activity and even the mall's security department got in on the action. Hams were using the occasion to demonstrate analog and digital HF operations as well as UHF/VHF and D-
STAR. According to David Johnson, KF4ALH, emergency coordinator for Macon-
Bibb ARES, this field day activity was more about scoring big points on education and public relations instead of points in a contest. Hams from Macon-Bibb County ARES were joined by the Macon-Bibb County EMA Volunteer Group, Macon Amateur Radio Club, the Monroe County ARES Group and the
Monroe County Amateur Radio Society.
The hams gave science lessons and history lessons, along with a basic look
at how amateur radio works and the role it plays when hurricanes sweep through.
David said a few visitors seemed interested in learning more and doing
more. He added: "If even one new person gets the Amateur Radio bug from
our event, I consider that a bonus."
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
(DAVID JOHNSON KF4ALH)
**
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS MARK ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE CENTENARY
JIM/ANCHOR: A special event is celebrating 100 years since the creation of
the Royal Australian Air Force. Robert Broomhead has that story.
ROBERT: A call has been put out for enthusiastic recruits to serve the
Royal Australian Air Force -- no, not for military duty but to become
airborne nonetheless via the radio as part of one of two special event stations marking the 100th anniversary of the RAAF.
Hams will be using the call signs VI100AF and VK100AF from the 1st of
March to the 29th of May, for 100 days. The Air Force's actual birthday is March 31st. On that date in 1921, the RAAF became an independent service
from the Army. It is the world's second-oldest air force. Its roots are
with the Australian Flying Corps, which sent troops during World War I to serve in the Middle East and European theatres.
Activations can be done at the home QTH, at a club or even a park or SOTA location. There are plans to operate from four Air Force Bases as well.
Time for Aussie hams to register is short. Organisers are hoping to
release the roster for both call signs sometime around the 5th of
February.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Robert Broomhead, VK3DN.
(CENTRAL COAST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, AIRFORCE.GOV.AU)
**
OFCOM CLARIFIES LICENSE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR VP8 HAMS
JIM/ANCHOR: Word from Ofcom in the UK has clarified some longstanding confusion over licensing responsibilities in the British Antarctic
territory region. Hams seeking new VP8 licences to operate in the
Antarctic and South Georgia have learned they will only be able to use
those licences on the Falkland Islands. On the other hand, hams with
existing VP8 calls may use them temporarily in the British Atlantic Territories, South Sandwich and South Georgia as well as in the Falklands until the licensing responsibilities are better defined.
Ofcom noted that the British Atlantic Territories, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands cannot lissue their own licences or assign call signs.
Ofcom left the option open for those locales to ask the Falkland Islands
to administer licensing and call signs on their behalf as had been the
case up until early 2020.
(OPENFALKLANDS.COM)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the Utah Amateur
Radio Club's W7SP repeater, on Sundays as part of the club's 9 p.m. net.
**
HAMSCI PROPOSAL DEADLINE APPROACHES
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Organizers are still looking for amateurs' ideas for presentations at next month's HamSCI Workshop – but the deadline is
almost here. Sel Embee, KB3TZD, explains.
SEL: With this year's HamSCI Workshop coming up on March 19th and 20th,
the deadline is approaching fast for hams, scientists and other experts to submit presentation abstract proposals. This year's theme is midlatitude ionospheric sensing but presentations are not required on that subject.
The workshop will again be held virtually on Zoom, as it was last year, in cooperation with the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania and sponsored
by the National Science Foundation.
A team meeting will also be held for HamSCI's Personal Space Weather
Station project. This project's goal is the creation of a citizen science instrument that enables space weather to be studied right from your QTH.
Abstracts for presentations are due by the 15th of February. They can be
sent via the conference webpage at hamsci dot org (hamsci.org), that's ham-s-c-i-dot-org.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Sel Embee, KB3TZD.
(HAMSCI)
**
AUSTRALIA'S WYONG FIELD DAY REPLACED BY 'MAYHAM' EVENT
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The popular Wyong Field Day in Australia has been
cancelled due to COVID precautions, but Ed Durrant, VK2JI, tells us what
will be happening in its place.
ED: In light of the recent new COVID events across Australia and the situation's changeable nature at present, the executive committee of the Central Coast ARC, with input from a survey of club members, has decided
not to run the Wyong Field Day 2021 which was planned for Sunday the 28th
of February. This is a decision that was not easy, and was taken
considering the safety of the club members, traders and those who attend
the day.
However, open your calendar's as the club wishes to announce the Central
Coast Amateur Radio Club "Mayham" event which will be held on Sunday the
30th of May 2021 at the Wyong Race Course. We would like to see this one-
time event attract as many visitors as the Field Day does every year, who knows, this could be the largest gathering of radio amateurs in the
Southern Hemisphere this year!
Traders have already been contacted and informed of the new date and we
expect the exhibitor and lecturer variety to be just as broad as was
planned for the 2021 Field Day.
Full details and information regarding this event will be updated on the
clubs website at ccarc (dot) org (dot) au and through social media as it becomes available.
Looking forward to NO MAYHEM at the MayHam event, For the Central Coast
ARC, this was Ed, VK2JI.
(CCARC)
**
CANADIAN SATELLITE CONSTELLATION WOULD PROVIDE NEW INTERNET ACCESS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A Canadian satellite operator has become the latest player
to join the low-earth orbit action over Earth's skies. The company Telesat announced on February 9th that it intends to build a constellation of 300 satellites in order to deliver high-speed internet worldwide in the next
two years. Known as Lightspeed, it will be designed to serve fixed and
mobile network operators, aeronautical and maritime users, enterprise customers, and governments. Consumers wishing to use Lightspeed's services would purchase their service from one of Lightspeed's direct customers.
The company said financing still needed to be finalized. If Telesat is successful, that would make the company the latest seeking to offer satellite-based internet services. The most well-known one perhaps is
SpaceX's Starlink service which is already serving parts of North America. Project Kuiper (KIE-PURR) has also announced it is moving forward but has
had no launches yet.
(FORTUNE MAGAZINE)
**
RSBG ANNOUNCES AWARD-WINNERS
STEPHEN:/ANCHOR: The Radio Society of Great Britain has announced the
winners of its construction competition held during lockdown and Jeremy
Boot, G4NJH, has the results.
JEREMY: The Radio Society of Great Britain has announced the winners of
the construction competition held for projects created during the autumn
2020 lockdown, the Christmas and New Year holiday period and the early
part of this year.
Response exceeded the society's expectations and the decision was made to
name four winners instead of one.
Congratulations to: first-prize winner Gordon Lean, G3WJG ; runner-up Paul Graham, M0PGX; third-prize winner Laurence Fletcher, G4SXH, and to Robert Lynch, M0NVQ, who was chosen as highly commended.
Learn more about their projects in the April RadCom, and on the RSGB
website at the URL given in the written text on the arnewsline.org
website.
[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ:
www.rsgb.services/gota2c-construction-competition].
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
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YOUNGSTERS' FORUM IN IARU REGION LOOKS AT SOTA, IOTA, WWFF
PAUL/ANCHOR: Who doesn't want to get outdoors? Young hams in IARU Region 1
are making plans to do just that and holding an online forum, as we hear
from Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
ED: Summits on the Air, Islands On the Air, Worldwide Flora and Fauna and other radio-friendly outdoor activities will be the focus of discussion
among young amateurs during the next YOTA Online session this month. It's being held by the Youth Working Group of IARU Region 1. The programme will begin at 1900 UTC on Thursday, the 25th of February. This episode is
called "Gone exploring" and shares different ways to enjoy outdoor activations. The Youth Working Group Chair Philipp Springer, DK6SP, writes
on the ham-yota.com website that, as with previous episodes in the series, there will be a question-and-answer period afterwards.
YOTA Online is a monthly presentation by Region 1's youngest amateurs. The events are livestreamed on YouTube, Twitch and Facebook and the organisers
are also hoping to stream the proceedings via the QO-100 geostationary satellite in DATV mode.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(IARU REGION 1 WEBSITE)
**
U.S. HAMS RESPOND TO WINTER WEATHER EXTREMES
PAUL/ANCHOR: Recent weather extremes throughout much of the United States
put hams' preparedness to the test, as we hear from Randy Sly, W4XJ.
RANDY: Sleet, winter storms and other severe weather systems plus power
and telecommunications outages challenged hams across the nation, even as temperatures fell to record lows in parts of the U.S. South. Arctic
conditions prevailed through much of the central region of the country as well. The ARRL's emergency response director Paul Gilbert, KE5ZW, reported
on the league website that an ARES net was set up in Texas to track
rolling blackouts taking place as the power grid there became overwhelmed
by customer demand. The net also handled health and welfare needs and
vehicle accident reports. Hams responded to similar conditions as well in Alabama where the Section Emergency Coordinator David Gillespie, W4LHQ,
also reported on the league website that the region was dealing with power outages and temperatures below freezing. Although not every region
activated an ARES group, hams were standing by just in case as the threat
of the return of severe weather hung over many regions.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ.
(ARRL)
**
AUSTRALIAN HAM GROUP HELPS MEMBERS SOLVE ACMA ADDRESS REQUIREMENT
PAUL/ANCHOR: In Australia, one radio group has directed its problem-
solving toward hams unable to fulfill the regulator's requirement for a permanent address. Here's Robert Broomhead, VK3DN, with more.
ROBERT: The ACMA's requirement that hams in Australia provide a public
postal address to be certified and licensed left some amateurs with a
dilemma: they do not have a fixed address at the moment because they have
been traveling or are perhaps in a vulnerable segment of the population.
Leave it to amateur radio ingenuity and problem-solving to resolve this
issue. The Pride Radio Group, created last year as a welcoming
organisation for amateur radio operators in the LGBTQ community, has
arranged a free mail redirection service for its members in Australia. It provides a post box address that can be publicly listed and is separate
from the address of the ham's QTH. The radio group's founder Michaela (Mick-EYE-ALE-A) Wheeler VK3FUR/VK4XSS, said Pride is providing the mail redirection service free to its members with the help of the provider HotSnail. Michaela said members receive an address to use on their registration paperwork. If mail arrives at that address, HotSnail scans it
and forwards it to the email address the ham has provided. While this
service cannot be used for QSL cards, Michaela said it does solve the
address problem for the ACMA's required paperwork.
Michaela said that because Pride Radio Group operates as a virtual entity, using HotSnail made the most sense because the service can be managed remotely.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Robert Broomhead, VK3DN.
(MICHAELA WHEELER VK3FUR/VK4XSS)
**
RESEARCHERS DEVELOP SENSITIVE, EFFICIENT TERAHERTZ DETECTOR
PAUL/ANCHOR: Researchers in Moscow have developed a terahertz detector
with unprecedented sensitivity and it shows promise in several areas of science. Jack Parker, W8ISH, has the details.
JACK: A development from researchers in Moscow has presented what
researchers consider good prospects for radio astronomy, wireless communications, medical diagnostics and security systems. It involves the
use of something called quantum-mechanical tunneling in graphene. The scientists have used it to create a highly sensitive terahertz detector.
This solves the problem of inefficiency when mobile systems make use of extremely high frequencies beyond the traditional ones used today. Most transistors in use today in typical wireless receivers aren't fast enough
to recharge at those frequencies: Wi-Fi receivers typically use signals at about 5 GHz and 5G mobile can transmit as high as 20 GHz - but going much higher usually poses a challenge.
What researchers in Moscow and the University of Manchester have created
is a device much more sensitive to those in commercial use now, which are based on semiconductors and superconductors. In this new development, the application of even very low voltage to the control contact or gate in a tunneling transistor aligns energy levels of the source and channel, permitting current to flow.
On the website Phys.Org, one of the Moscow researchers, Dennis Bandurin writes: [quote] "The current characteristics give rise to great hopes for
the creation of fast and sensitive detectors for wireless communications." [endquote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.
(PHYS.ORG)
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TOWERING VICTORY FOR VERMONT AMATEUR
DON/ANCHOR: A New England ham's battle to put up radio towers is over and
at last, he can start construction. Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, tells us what
it took for him to win his case.
KENT: Zach Manganello, K1ZK, may well consider himself the recipient of a towering victory in every sense of those words. The longtime amateur spent
the greater part of 2020 defending his proposal to install two radio
towers on his property the rural part of Vermont. Last summer, neighbors objected to his original proposal for the 84-foot towers saying they were
too high and were damaging to their views. Zach downsized his plans and
tried again.
He even conducted visual impact tests floating a balloon to simulate the height of the tower to ensure neighbors' views would remain unaffected.
This month, the Telecommunications Review Board of the Town of Shelburne granted Zach the right to go ahead with two towers, one at 40 feet and the other 60 feet, both supported by guy wires.
According to a report in the Burlington Free Press, the local board
decided to give its support to Zach's tower project after being convinced
that having backup emergency communications in the neighborhood was a
local asset. The report said the panel was impressed as well by Zach's willingness to share the educational aspects of amateur radio with the
greater community.
All of this came as the hoped-for good news for Zach, a lifelong radio enthusiast since his childhood in Maine and a ham since the age of 14.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.
(BURLINGTON FREE 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 WD8IIJ repeater
of the Steubenville-Weirton Amateur Radio Club on Fridays at 8 p.m. local
time in the hometown of the late great Dean Martin, Stuebenville, Ohio.
**
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION FOR HAMSCI SPACE WEATHER PROJECT
DON/ANCHOR: The space weather project launched by the HamSCI collective
has been getting some pretty prominent notice. Andy Morrison, K9AWM, is
here with the details.
ANDY: Amateur radio's volunteer space weather watchers have been getting
some recognition from the pros lately. A February 9th article in "Eos:
Earth & Space Science News" gives a respectful nod to the space weather
sensor network created worldwide by Ham Radio Science Citizen
Investigation, or HamSCI, a collective created by Nathaniel Frissell,
W2NAF.
The article praises the crowdsourced data hams are able to collect from
radio signals as those signals are influenced by changes in ionospheric propagation. It was co-written by Nathaniel along with David Kazdan, AD8Y,
and Kristina Collins, both of Case Western Reserve University, W8EDU. Eos
is a publication of the American Geophysical Union.
The authors discuss how hams monitor what responses the Earth's atmosphere
has to different solar activity and the activity's impact on telecommunications and electrical utilities, among other things. The
article advocates increased reliance on what hams and their amateur
stations can offer. [quote] They write: "With open-source instrumentation cheaper and more plentiful than ever before, the time is ripe for amateur scientists to take distributed measurements of the ionosphere — and the amateur radio community is up for the challenge.” [end quote]
With support from the National Science Foundation, HamSCI has launched a Personal Space Weather Station project to support hams who wish to collect such data to be used in space science research. Publication of the article comes just weeks before HamSCI's virtual workshop which is being held on
March 19th and 20th.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
(EOS: EARTH & SPACE SCIENCE NEWS)
**
YOUTH ON THE AIR CAMP BEGINS PRIORITY REGISTRATION
DON/ANCHOR: If you know a young radio amateur who can't wait for camp
season, Jack Parker, W8ISH, has some good news for you.
JACK: Organizers have reaffirmed their commitment to hosting this year's
Youth on the Air camp, even as campers from across the Americas who were accepted into last year's cancelled camp are completing priority
registration now. The camp is scheduled to be open in Ohio from July 11th
to the 16th with COVID-19 safety restrictions in place.
Camp director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, said in an announcement that a final
decision will be made in April about whether the camp must be postponed
for another year. In the meantime, applications will be accepted in March
for any prospective campers who were not a part of last year's group. The
camp will host a maximum of 30 youngsters.
Neil wrote: [quote] "We are truly hopeful that we can proceed with the
camp this summer. We have some exciting plans! We are also looking at an operating event in the summer. Stay tuned." [endquote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.
(YOTA AMERICAS CAMP)
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SARL PARTNERSHIP TO ASSIST KENYA'S NEWEST HAMS
DON/ANCHOR: Hams in South Africa are partnering with hams in Kenya to
help that nation's newest amateurs. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, brings us that
story.
JIM: The Communication Authority of Kenya has approved a memorandum of understanding that will allow the South African Radio League to assist
the Radio Society of Kenya by administering the technical parts of the
amateur licence exam. Regulator approval of the agreement was announced
in late February. The memorandum outlines how the Kenyan radio society
will continue to administer the regulations and operating procedure
portions but states that the South African group will conduct online
courses for training of the Kenyan amateurs and provide the training
manuals and presentation material as well. The arrangement, which had
been worked out during the past six months, can now go forward. SARL has similar agreements in place with Namibia and Botswana.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(SARL NEWS BULLETIN)
**
AMSAT-DL TRACKS MARS SPACE PROBE
DON/ANCHOR: When it copied signals recently from two space probes near
Mars, AMSAT Germany was listening for a special reason. Ed Durrant,
DD5LP, explains.
ED: AMSAT-DL, which has a long-term goal to launch a space probe to Mars,
has been listening meanwhile to probes from China and the Emirates that
are in orbit around the planet. Using the Bochum Observatory dish at the Sternwarte Bochum Institute, the German AMSAT organisation has copied
signals from Tianwen-1 and EMM/Hope, both of which are transmitting on
8.4 GHz. AMSAT-DL makes use of the dish on a regular basis to receive transmission from the NASA/NOAA weather satellites.
Built in 1965 to provide ground support for the Apollo missions, the dish
was renovated in 2003 with the help of amateur radio operators who added phase-locked receivers in the 2.3 GHz, 5.8 GHz and 10.4 GHz amateur
bands, along with the 8.4 GHz receiver. The dish also has an S-band, 2.4
GHz amateur transmitter with 250 watts PEP output. The dish, which is 20 -metres, or 65.6 feet, in diameter, copied signals from Voyager 1 in
2006.
AMSAT Germany's plan for a probe of its own dates to 2002, when
preparations began for a way to circle Mars, conduct experiments and
leave a payload on the planet's surface. Scientists hope the German P5-A
probe will be capable of transmitting on amateur radio frequencies
receivable on Earth using a 2- to 3-metre parabolic antenna.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(AMSAT-DL)
**
HAMS IN BRAZIL CHALLENGE REGULATOR'S LACK OF RESPONSE
DON/ANCHOR: Hams in Brazil have challenged the nation's regulator, saying
its lack of response is keeping hams off the air. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has
that story.
JEREMY: Brazil's amateur radio society LABRE has told the nation's communications regulator ANATEL that problems communicating with them and their website have been standing in the way of many who wish to operate legally on the ham bands.
In a letter dated the 23rd February, the radio organisation LABRE
acknowledged that the recent introduction of online licence testing had
eased some of the difficulties in getting on the air but hams are now
thwarted by the bureaucracy they face in order to complete the process.
The letter cited excessive days waiting and a lack of communication from ANATEL. LABRE said that these difficulties have been reported by newly licensed amateurs as well as those qualifying for upgrades.
In a report of the letter, which appeared on Southgate Amateur Radio
News, there had been no immediate response from the Brazilian regulator.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SOUTHGATE)
**
OPEN REGISTRATION BEGINS FOR YOUTH ON THE AIR CAMP
DON/ANCHOR: It's time to think about amateur radio camp - and the
application period is now open for young hams throughout North, Central,
and South America. The Youth on the Air camp will take place from July
11th through July 16th at the National Voice of America Museum in West Chester, Ohio and will welcome as many as 30 campers ages 15 through 25. Scholarships are available for those who cannot afford the $100 camp fee.
The window to apply closes on March 21st at 2359 UTC. For details or to download a brochure visit YouthOnTheAir.org
Organizers will announce in April whether camp needs to be rescheduled in response to COVID-19 restrictions but for now the plans are going
forward.
**
NOMINATE A YOUNG HAM FOR NEWSLINE'S AWARD
DON/ANCHOR: Speaking of young hams, we have opened the nomination period
for our annual Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline
Young Ham of the Year award. 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
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COVID CONCERNS MODIFY IARU REGION 1 YOUTH EVENTS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Concerns over COVID-19 have altered some plans for
young amateurs in IARU Region 1, as we learn from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: While planning remains carefully optimistic in the United
States for the first youth ham radio camp in the Americas, organisers
elsewhere in IARU Region 1's Youth Working Group have announced a
modified schedule in response to COVID-19 measures. In-person IARU
Region 1 youth events on the calendar before the end of June will
not take place, and any activities set for later in the year are
subject to review as conditions evolve. Youngsters on the Air in
Region 1 has meanwhile been hosting a number of online workshops
including a recent session on SOTA, WorldWide Flora and Fauna, and
other outdoor operating activities.
The announcement by Alex, IV3KKW, on the IARU Region 1 website,
noted that the rollout of vaccines will be monitored, as will the
development of further variants of the coronavirus. Events on the
calendar for the second half of the year will remain in place for
the time being.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(IARU, SOUTHGATE)
**
SPECIAL EVENT STATION TO HELP AILING AMATEUR
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In a special event station getting under way on
March 13, hams are reaching out to help one of their own. Dave
Parks, WB8ODF, tells us about it.
DAVE: Amateur radio operators around the country are joining
Christian Cudnik, K0STH, and Alexander Valladares (pronounced:
Via - dar - us), W7HU, in a seven-day special event on the bands
to highlight the urgent need facing fellow amateur Phil Ross,
AB8PR, who is in need of a kidney from a live donor.
Special event station K4P - which stands for Kidney For Phil -
will be operating on 17, 20, 40, and 80 meters, from March 13
to March 20, sharing the story of the Michigan grandfather,
who is in end stage renal failure. The hams will be calling QRZ
on single sideband and in FT8. Special event QSL cards and a
downloadable digital certificate will be available for confirmed
contacts.
Phil has been told that unless a matching kidney can be located
from a living donor soon, he will require dialysis, a time-consuming intervention that is not considered a cure. For details on the
special event, visit the QR Zed page for K4P. Cudnik and Valladares
have also been focusing attention on Phil's situation on their
respective YouTube channels, "100 Watts and a Wire" and "W7HU Alex."
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Dave Parks, WB8ODF.
**
HAMVENTION AWARD-WINNERS ANNOUNCED
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The Hamvention Awards Committee has announced this
year's honorees and one of our Newsline colleagues is a recipient.
Here's Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, with the details.
KEVIN: Congratulations to Newsline's own Science Editor, Tamitha
Mulligan Skov, WX6SWW, winner of the Technical Achievement award
from the Hamvention Awards Committee. Tamitha was among those chosen
for this year's honors by Hamvention co-chairs Michael Kalter, W8CI,
and Frank Beaford, WS8B, who called her [quote] "a real space pioneer." [endquote]
Newsline listeners know her from her solar weather reports here, as
well as on HamNation, YouTube, the Weather and History channels, and
for her work in the MIT Technology Review and in Popular Science
magazine. Licensed since 2018, Tamitha is a research scientist for
the Aerospace Corporation, and has also been an instructor at Contest University numerous times. The Hamvention co-chairs wrote: [quote]
"She is always seeking new ways to bring an awareness of Space Weather
and its effects into the mainstream, and hopes to herald in a new era
of TV weather broadcasting before the end of Solar Cycle 25."
[endquote]
Honors are also being given to Wesley Lamboley, W3WL, who is
receiving the Special Achievement Award for his work in youth
coaching, membership recruiting and technical problem assistance.
Angel M. Vazquez, WP3R, is receiving the Amateur of the Year Award,
for his work as one of the principal support engineers at the Arecibo
parabolic dish antenna that was operational in Puerto Rico until its
collapse late last year. Club of the Year has been given to the Vienna
Wireless Society, K4HTA, for its educational efforts and public service
for 58 years in the Washington, D.C. area.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
(HAMVENTION.ORG, QRZ.COM)
**
GRANTS AVAILABLE FROM CALIFORNIA FOUNDATION
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Amateur Radio Digital Communications, a California
nonprofit foundation that supports technical innovation, is
encouraging individuals and organizations with projects involving
digital communication and amateur radio to apply for grants.
Executive director Rosy Wolfe, KJ7RYV, said philanthropic grants
are given to schools, universities, public charities, and others
involved in nonprofit endeavors, who submit a request. The subject
areas may also also include internet technologies, and the
communication sciences. Past recipients have included the Foundation
for Amateur Radio, the Chippewa Valley Amateur Radio Club, the ARRL
Foundation, and the Hoopa Valley Tribe.
For more details, visit the website ampr.org
(AMPR)
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STARLINK FLEET ADDS 60 NEW SATELLITES
NEIL/ANCHOR: High up above the Earth, the Starlink fleet of satellites is growing, and Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, tells us about the newest additions.
JIM: Sixty additional internet satellites were added to the Starlink fleet after a March 11th launch from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. The
satellites, however, weren't the only things of interest on board. A number
of radio enthusiasts have been reporting on reddit.com, Hackaday and
similar websites that they were able to receive the Falcon 9 spacecraft's telemetry downlink on 2232.5 MHz. Some of the innovators reported that they were able to demodulate the signal, convert it into binary data and then
plain text. Two hackers in particular were reported to have received the transmissions using a repurposed satellite dish and an open source SDR peripheral known as a HackRF.
Of course, while they were all listening and decoding, most of the rest of
us were simply waiting to learn that in the skies just 180 miles south of
New Zealand, 60 newcomers now raised the total of the Starlink fleet to
total to 1,265 satellites.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(HACKADAY)
**
CONTACT THE 'LAST MAN STANDING' SPECIAL EVENT
NEIL/ANCHOR: Just a reminder: Don't forget to get on the air between March 24th and March 30th as the amateur radio community says "thanks" and
"goodbye" to American TV's popular "Last Man Standing" show which put
amateur radio back in prime time with main character Mike Baxter, KA0XTT.
The show is ending its 9-year run. Be listening for special event station KA6LMS as operators coast-to-coast in the U.S. and in Canada call QRZ. If you're near your radio anywhere in the world be listening on SSB, CW, FT8, DSTAR, DMR, YSF, Satellite, Echolink, AllStar and more. For details visit
the website g s b a r c dot o r g slash l m s (gsbarc.org/lms)
**
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K6SIS repeater
in Siskiyou County, California on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. local time.
**
RADIO PROVIDES TRAFFIC REPORTS FOR COVID VACCINATIONS
NEIL/ANCHOR: Do you remember last week's report about a Washington, D.C., Traffic Information Station that was broadcasting a highway advisory that
was 8 years old? We are happy to report this week that a similar low-power
AM radio station in another U.S. city was used to broadcast an especially timely message, directing people to a drive-through clinic to get their COVID-19 vaccine. The message went out on 1630 AM in Denver, Colorado, transmitting prerecorded information in English and Spanish. It helped thousands of older Colorado residents arrive for their appointments at
Coors Field, where 10,000 doses were given out.
(RADIO WORLD)
**
UK AMATEURS QUICK TO WELCOME 'SLOW CW'
NEIL/ANCHOR: A group of hams in the UK believes that slow CW provides the
fast track to improving skills in code. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, explains.
JEREMY: Their numbers are not quite 500 strong but these CW enthusiasts are hoping to attract new members and change all that: They are radio amateurs living primarily in the UK — and when they send CW, they send it slowly.
The group is known on Facebook as "SLOW CW UK" but despite its base of operations in the UK, anyone from anywhere in the world is welcome to join.
The hams meet most evenings on or near 3.555 MHz between 1930 and 2030 UTC
and can often be heard calling "CW SLOW," sending at about 10 words per minute. Their goal isn't just to have a QSO but to improve sending and communications skills.
Visit the Facebook page "SLOW CW UK" for more details.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(FACEBOOK)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K6TZ repeater
in Santa Barbara, California, on Wednesdays, at 7 p.m. local time.
**
NETS OF NOTE: THE FOOD NET
JIM/ANCHOR: Our occasional series, Nets of Note, turns to another popular obsession among amateur radio operators. You guessed it: food. Here's Paul Braun, WD9GCO.
PAUL: This time on "Nets Of Note," we bring you the Food Net, started by
Daryl Stout, WX4QZ. As evidenced by the fact that any time a group of hams
get together, there will be food involved, this is one net that should
appeal to all of us. I asked Stout to tell me more.
STOUT: Food Net was founded on the premise that "H.A.M." stands for "Have Another Meal" and you don't call us Late For Dinner. And on some nets when some hams talk about what's cooking...invariably, one will chime in with something like, "I'll be there in 5 minutes!!"
Before COVID-19, food was a major part of hamfests and Field Day, and hopefully these activities will be able to resume.
The net itself discusses cuisines, recipes, meals, cooking methods, et
cetera. The bottom line is that everyone has to eat.
One ham said his wife marinated pork chops in an Instant Pot with Coca-Cola and cooking them. He said they were the best pork chops he had ever eaten.
The Net meets on the Quadnet Array on the 3rd Saturday of each month at 4PM Eastern. For details go to
https://openquad.net for connection options via D-Star, DMR, WIRES-X, and Fusion.
PAUL: The next net will be on Saturday, April 17th. Stout said that if you
go to the website referenced on his QRZ page, you can find spreadsheets
with information on many other nets that he's involved with.
Now, please excuse me while I go eat dinner. For Amateur Radio Newsline,
I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.
**
HAMS TO ASSIST AT POLLING STATIONS IN REMOTE AREAS
JIM/ANCHOR: In West Bengal, India, amateurs will be bringing their radios
to some polling stations at election time. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, tells us
why.
JIM M: Just as they did in 2016 and 2019, amateur radio operators in West Bengal, India are assisting at polling stations in remote locations to help with reporting votes to the Election Commission. The commission has
accepted the offer from the West Bengal Radio Club to relay results in
areas lacking a strong mobile communications network. The hams' involvement recently won approval from the Wireless Planning and Communication Wing of
the Department of Telecommunications located within the Ministry of Communications. Amateur radio is regulated by the ministry. According to
club secretary Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, 30 hams will be deployed to a total 130 polling stations in the Sunderbans area which is a remote part of Bengal. They will be using the special call sign AU2ECI, between March 29th through to April 1st. All the participants assisting with communications
have received training from the Indian Academy of Communication and
Disaster Management. Votes are to be counted on May 2nd.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jim, Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(AMBARISH NAG BISWAS VU2JFA, TIMES OF INDIA, MILLENNIUM POST)
**
SUMMIT AWARD SCHEME EXPANDS TO SOUTHERN GERMANY
JIM/ANCHOR: If you're hearing this newscast this in southern Germany, get ready for a new operating challenge coming your way starting April 5th. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, has those details.
ED: The mountain award scheme known as HEMA is about to arrive in southern Germany. Created 10 years ago in the UK, it appeals to hams interested in
the range of operating challenges that exist between the Global Mountain
Award and Summits on the Air schemes. In fact, HEMA hams are more
interested in achieving interesting contacts with or between summits than merely collecting points. Inclusion of the new Alpine "DL" area means that
any hams interested in getting their first contact as a chaser or activator should be near their radios on Easter Monday, the 5th of April onwards. For rules, see the HEMA webpage at hema dot org dot uk (hema.org.uk)/ where you can register and access the spotting page. Then, keep your eye out for activations of those newly authorised summits.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm HEMA DL coordinator, Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
**
SOYUZ ROCKET DEPLOYS NEW AMATEUR SATELLITES
JIM/ANCHOR: Fourteen new amateur radio satellites are in orbit following
their launch on March 22nd from Kazakhstan. They were deployed by a Soyuz rocket. All are operating on bands allocated to the amateur satellite
service and have been coordinated by the IARU Satellite Frequency
Coordination Panel. Three other satellites launched with them: KMSL from Korea, UNISAT-7 and WildTrackCube-Simba from the University of Rome -- do
not have amateur missions.
(SOUTHGATE, AMSAT-UK)
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AUSTRALIAN REGULATOR SEEKS INPUT ON 5-YEAR PLAN
NEIL/ANCHOR: Do you have an opinion on radio spectrum use in Australia?
The Australian Communications and Media Authority wants to hear from you. Here's John Williams, VK4JJW.
JOHN: The ACMA is looking for input on a draft of its five-year spectrum
plan, a key document that will guide its priorities in allocating and
managing frequencies in the years ahead. The proposed changes are being
drawn up in consultation with members of the telecommunications industry, radio hobbyists and others in the community. This is the first such draft
to be created under the Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform
and Modernisation) Act 2020.
Priorites are expected to be heavily impacted by the ACMA's goal to support deployment of 5G services throughout Australia. A review is also ongoing to replace apparatus licences with non-assigned amateur licensing arrangements
as a way of keeping licensees' costs affordable and to reduce the burden on regulators. The ACMA has a number of options for replacing the current apparatus licence but prefers the establishment of non-assigned amateur and outpost stations under a class licence. The agency also plans to review the prospect of creating licences for higher-power operations and intends to consult with the amateur community on this issue.
Feedback may be submitted to the ACMA no later than April the 28th.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
(ACMA)
**
UTAH AMATEURS CELEBRATE CENTENNIAL
NEIL/ANCHOR: The Ogden Amateur Radio Club, one of Utah's oldest ham radio clubs, bears the call sign of its founder Dr. W. Glen Garner, W7SU. He
became its first president shortly after its founding 100 years ago this
May.
The club is marking its centennial with an array of activities, including a special event station in May and a centennial QSL card contest for its members. Newsline congratulates the Ogden amateurs on 100 great years.
(OARC WEBSITE)
**
IARU REGION 1 EYES INVOLVEMENT BY YOUNGER GENERATION
NEIL/ANCHOR: IARU Region 1 is assessing its future and hoping for a younger perspective. Here's Ed Durrant, DD5LP, to tell us what's up next.
ED: Faced with eroding enrollment in many of its member societies, IARU
Region 1 has begun organising a workshop on keeping amateur radio vibrant
as its licensees age. Discussions about the workshop were held at its
General Conference on March 24. The workshop itself will be held in October
of this year, hosted by the Serbian Amateur Radio Society. If COVID restrictions are still in place at the time, the workshop will be conducted virtually instead.
Participants are particularly concerned about the lack of top leadership
among amateurs 35 and younger. The committee wrote on the IARU website: [quote] "The IARU Region 1 Executive Committee shares that it's time for change and we need to start moving forward. Working together and changing
the current trends. We need to focus our thinking and way of operating." [endquote]
Towards that end, the committee said it was committed to bringing new
people into the discussion.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(IARU REGION 1)
**
MISSILE RANGE DEEMED VULNERABLE TO INTERFERENCE
NEIL/ANCHOR: RF control links being used at 420 and 430 MHz to set up a
linked repeater system in New Mexico are being cited as potential sources
of interference to critical systems at the nearby White Sands Missile
Range, the largest open air test range of the United States Department of Defense. The department's Regional Spectrum Coordinator, the FCC and the
ARRL worked together to track down the amateur radio communications, which were discovered to come from the repeater system's RF control links on 70 centimetres. Amateur radio is a secondary service on the band. The owners
of the control links have been asked to re-coordinate the frequencies by
May 31st.
(SOUTHGATE, ARRL)
**
NEW ZEALAND YOUTH NET EXPANDS ITS REACH
NEIL/ANCHOR: A popular net among the youngest amateurs in New Zealand just
got a little bigger and a little more ambitious. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, tells
us how they're growing.
JIM: Like everything that starts out in life young and small, the net
formerly known as Young Transmitters New Zealand has grown up. It has rebranded and expanded to become the YOTA Oceania Net. The net's founder Thomas Bernard, ZL3TOM, announced the change in a recent newsletter,
telling Newsline that the net is now run in partnership with Youngsters on
the Air, recognising that participants hope to connect with other hams in
more regions than before. The net is held Mondays at 0600 UTC on All-Star
and Echolink. Tom uses the special event callsign ZL6YOTA during the net to encourage more young amateurs to check in.
For more information about the net, and ways to join this growing
community, visit his website at zl3tom dot com [zl3tom.com]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
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CONTEST FOR YOUNG HAMS MAKES DEBUT IN REGION 1
PAUL/ANCHOR: The Youth Working Group of the IARU Region 1 has announced a
new contest, as we hear from Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
ED: Young amateurs in IARU Region 1 are hoping for a big turnout in May
for the debut of the YOTA contest, an initiative designed to get more young amateurs on the air around the world. The 12-hour competition will be held three times a year, with the first one happening on the 22nd of May. There
are eight categories, including ones for hams 25 and younger and the
contest exchange will be the operators' ages. Activity will be on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10-metre bands in CW and SSB modes. The later contests will be
in July and December.
The Youth Working Group has arranged the event with the cooperation of the Hungarian Amateur Radio Society. Details are available on the website shown
in this week's Newsline script at arnewsline.org.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
PRINT ONLY:
https://ham-yota.com/contest
(YOUTH WORKING GROUP IARU REGION 1)
**
ECHOLINK NET TO MARK WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY
PAUL/ANCHOR: Speaking of the IARU, it's almost time to mark its 96th anniversary. The worldwide celebration includes this one happening on Echolink. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, tells us about it.
KEVIN: Like the International Amateur Radio Union itself, one net
celebrating the IARU's founding has undergone plenty of changes since its inception. The net began modestly on Echolink in 2015 when John DeRycke
(Duh Rikey) W2JLD said he noticed there were no celebrations being held in that mode to mark the IARU's founding in Paris in 1925. It has grown in subsequent years to include other modes and extended hours of operation.
This year's net will span 16 hours with 10 to 12 net controllers from
around the world and the special event call sign W7W. Hams will be checking
in on the ROC-HAM Echolink conference node 531091 and on Allstar 2585.
Other conferences will be linked in including the *DODROPIN* NODE 355800, WALES NODE 485040 and the South Wales Digital Group node 676659. Users of
DMR, and the Hamshack Hotline will also be able to check in.
For full details of the celebration, visit the QRZ page for W7W, and to
view the QSL card marking the event.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
**
TWO-WAY RADIOS HELP NEW ZEALAND SEARCH AND RESCUE
PAUL/ANCHOR: In New Zealand, there's promise for extra search-and-rescue success using drones outfitted with two-way radio. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF,
tells us more.
JIM: Take a highly directional microphone array and processor, a team of drones and a wild landscape with the potential for the danger of getting
lost and you have a promising search-and-rescue communications tool.
At least that's what executives at Dotterel, a company in Auckland, New Zealand are hoping. Outfitting drones with this kind of audio payload is providing two-way radio capability that can conduct search-and-rescue over large areas by hearing people's cries for help. This adds one more tool to
the versatile toolbox of public safety operations which already contains
the ability to use thermal imaging, cellphone signals and visual imagery. According to an article in DroneLife, this radio installation will permit two-way communications with people on the ground calling for aid and who
can provide details of their injuries..
Shawn Edlin, the company's CEO, said in a press release that the
microphones are able to receive highly directional audio on the ground as
the signal remains uncompromised by drone propeller noise and other sounds.
Brandon McCarthy, Auckland search and rescue leader, said audio will
provide an extra capability for the team's operations going forward.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(DRONELIFE)
**
CONTEST UNIVERSITY TO BE HELD VIRTUALLY AGAIN
PAUL/ANCHOR: With Hamvention being held virtually again this year, there
are two programs figuring prominently on the calendar. We hear about them
from Stephen Kinford, N8WB.
STEPHEN: Hamvention's Contest University will be held virtually again this year, just like Hamvention itself. Classes get under way at 9 a.m. Eastern Time, or 1300 UTC, Thursday May 20th on Zoom. Registration is free and you
can start signing up from the 20th of April.
Please check contestuniversity.com for updates and a course outline.
Lessons of a different sort continue the next day as Hamvention's 2021
Award winners make 45-minute presentations followed by a Q&A - again, all conducted virtually on Zoom. Presenters are Newsline's science editor
Tamitha Mulligan Skov (SKOVE) WX6SWW, winner of the Technical Achievement Award; Wesley Lamboley W3WL, winner of the Special Achievement Award; Angel Vazquez, WP3R, Amateur of the Year; and the Vienna Wireless Society K4HTA
Club of the Year.
Don't forget the Hamvention QSO Party on Saturday, May 22nd from 8 a.m. to
8 p.m. Eastern Time.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, K8WB.
(HAMVENTION)
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WSPR SIGNALS CONFIRM DOOMED AIRLINER'S ROUTE
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you think Weak Signal Propagation Reporting is of
great benefit only to hams, guess again - and listen to this story
from Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
GRAHAM: The memory of the doomed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 is
seared into the memory of many who recall the ill-fated Boeing 777.
The Beijing-bound aircraft vanished somewhere over the Indian Ocean
on the 8th of March in 2014 with 239 people on board. Two separate
searches for wreckage and clues came up empty, although more than 30
pieces of debris have turned up in various places.
Now radio, in the form of Weak Signal Propagation Reporting, or
WSPR, may be offering some clues to its flight path. Hams, of
course, often make use of this one-way, low power transmission mode
created by Princeton physicist Joe Taylor, K1JT to test propagation.
Now it is being used by aviation expert Richard Godfrey of The
Independent Group in the search for the long-missing plane. He said
recently that he believes the aircraft set off eight WSPR tripwires
over the Indian Ocean validating previous flight-path analyses of
drift modeling and Inmarsat satellite data.
According to various news reports, MH370's final moments were in the
southern part of the Indian Ocean, in a spot that can now be more
precisely identified.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(SPUTNIK NEWS, AIRLINE RATINGS WEBSITE)
**
COMM ACADEMY'S VIRTUAL CONFERENCE A HIT
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A free emergency communications training conference
went virtual for the first time this year and the response was
overwhelming. Christian Cudnik, K0STH, has that report.
CHRISTIAN: Comm Academy, the free annual training conference for
emergency communicators, exceeded its geographic boundaries this
year and in doing so, exceeded expectations. This month's two-day
conference marked the first time it has been held virtually,
allowing for worldwide participation. According to Tim Helming,
WT1M, the number of viewers watching live often exceeded 1400 and
never dropped below 950. The format offered pre-recorded
presentations with live Q&A afterward. Going online allowed the 20-
year-old conference to expand its more traditional regional reach
within the Pacific Northwest community out to a worldwide audience.
Tim told Newsline: [quote] "It was a vast amount of work, but we're
all really pleased with how it came out." [endquote] Although
organizers hope to return to the in-person format next year, Tim
said there is no turning back now on inviting the world to attend
once again and organizers are exploring various options. He told
Newsline: [quote] "It's clear that there's a big hunger out there
for this kind of training and community." [endquote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik, K0STH.
(TIM HELMING WT1IM)
**
TOP HONORS IN GERMANY FOR PIONEER IN HF, SDR
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A businessman, ham radio operator and pioneer in software-defined radio has been honored in Germany for his
achievements. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, gives us the details.
ED: Ulrich Rohde, developer of the SDR technology, has been
recognised in Germany for advancing the use of microwave and high
frequency radio. He has been given the Order of Merit of the Federal
Republic of Germany on the recommendation of Markus Sder,
Minister-President of Bavaria. Ulrich holds the call sign DJ2LR in
Germany, and N1UL in the US.
Ulrich, a respected professor, is a partner in the Munich-based
technology company, Rohde & Schwarz, which deals in HF technologies.
According to the biography on his company website, his many previous
honours include the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Radio Club
of America, the Industrial Pioneer Award of the IEEE and the IEEE
Region 1 Award for his work in the design and use of RF technology.
He has been granted numerous honorary professorships and doctorates
around the world. Last year in Germany, a special call sign DL35SDR
was issued, recognizing his presentation 35 years ago of SDR
technology at a conference in 1985. He has also been a leader at
numerous US-based companies, serving as president of the Rohde &
Schwarz USA subsidiary in Fairfield, New Jersey and creating the New Jersey-based Synergy Microwave Corporation in 1985.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(DARC, ROHDE & SCHWARTZ WEBSITE)
**
NORWAY AMATEUR LEAGUE HOLDS DIGITAL GENERAL MEETING
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Presentations by radio experts are the highlight of
a convention being hosted virtually in Norway. Let's hear more from
Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: A digital HamConvention will be under way between the 18th
and 26th of April in connection with the digital general meeting of
Norway's national amateur radio society, the NRRL. The eight-day
programme includes lectures from amateur radio experts, including
various technical subjects and a presentation on the NRRL's role in
a rescue operation during the December 2020 landslide in a Norwegian
village. For the more adventurous radio operators, there is also a
how-to session from a team of Norwegian DXpeditioners. Additional
details are available in Norwegian on the league's website nrrl.no.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SOUTHGATE)
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SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR
JIM/ANCHOR: You have until May 31st to nominate a talented young radio
amateur for the Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline
Young Ham of the Year award. 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
**
DISCOVERING SIMPLEX IN 'LIGHT UP 2 METERS' EVENT
JIM/ANCHOR: One of the best ways to get hams on the same band, in the
same mode at the same time is to organize an event. Sunday April 25th is
the date for 'Light Up 2 Meters Night,' a very local event for
participating hams who are encouraged to get on the air using 2 meters
simplex from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. local time. The event is the creation of
Joseph Durnal, NE3R, who stresses that this isn't a contest; just an
operating activity to bring hams together and explore the possibilities
of operating simplex. The primary operating frequency will be 146.52 MHz,
but other simplex frequencies may also be available in different
locations.
(JOSEPH DURNAL NE3R)
**
STRAIGHT KEY CENTURY CLUB PREPS FOR SPRINTATHON
JIM/ANCHOR: Fifteen years of sending CW with a straight key is no small achievement. Randy Sly, W4XJ, is here to tell us how one group has been
making every contact a celebration for all those years.
RANDY: The Straight Key Century Club is celebrating its 15th anniversary.
It all began with a simple post in the QRZ.com forum about the ARRL
Straight Key Night after it ended in 2006. Tom Peterson, KC9ECI, wanted
to see the event extended. He wrote:"Do it the 1st of each month. Start
your own SKCC club. One hundred Qs with a straight key in a year gets a certificate. Ah, the heck with it ...I'm officially starting the SKCC
club..." Since that day, the club has grown to over 24,000 members who
are taking to the airwaves with straight keys, sideswipers and semi-
automatic keys.
Tom told Newsline that he never thought the club would get this big. In
fact, he's amazed. He said: "The success of the SKCC has less to do with
me and everything to do with a great bunch of operators who were willing
to step up. I just provided the 'spark' of an idea."
Members can work toward awards and participate in many activities,
including a monthly Sprintathon. The May Sprintathon, which starts at
1200Z on May 8, offers bonus points for a contact made with any member
who joined during the first year, those with a number lower than 2545.
For more information and to register for a free membership, visit skccgroup.com.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Randy Sly, W4XJ, SKCC number 616S.
**
SWISS AMATEUR SOCIETY SEEKING MENTORS
JIM/ANCHOR: Recognizing that amateur radio isn't an activity we engage in alone, the national amateur radio society in Switzerland is asking
members to take things one step further: They want seasoned hams to
consider mentoring newcomers. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has that story.
JEREMY: The USKA, the Swiss national amateur radio society, has put out a
call to its members asking them to consider offering encouragement,
support and expertise to new and prospective amateurs. The national
society is in the process of putting together a mentoring system and
hopes hams will offer their time and commitment to meet with newcomers,
either virtually or in person. Their responsibilities will include
helping to answer questions on either the Ofcom HB3 Novice licence or the
HB9 (CEPT Class 1) certificate. Other mentors are being asked to serve as instructors, provide advice for participation in contests and other
events as well as demonstrating certain basic skills. Willi, HB9AMC, who coordinates youth training for the society, said [quote] "The activity is fully worthy of the ethos of amateur radio.' " [endquote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SOUTHGATE)
**
AMATEUR RADIO CENSUS PROBES RELEVANT ISSUES
JIM/ANCHOR: Was there ever a ham radio operator who didn't want to be
heard? Well, one amateur in Maryland is giving hams around the world an opportunity for just that, even without benefit of a rig, an antenna or a linear amp. Jim, K3MRI, has launched a new effort called Ham Census,
which he said is inspired by the newest licensees who have entered the worldwide community. The Census presents questions about the future of
amateur radio, personal views on regulations, operating preferences, gear
and organizations. The six-part census takes about 40 to 45 minutes to complete and it is available online at hamcensus.org. There is no cutoff
date for responses. Jim said results are available to all respondents in
the hopes that a better-informed amateur community can more effectively influence laws, practices and the future of amateur radio in general.
(HAM COMMUNITY.ORG)
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100 WATTS AND A WIRE MARKING EPISODE 300
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We here at Newsline want to take time out to
congratulate our colleague Christian Cudnik, K0STH, at 100 Watts
and a Wire. The show, which began in 2015 as an audio podcast, is
marking Episode Number 300 on Saturday, May 15th. The show can be
seen on YouTube or heard on the 100wattsandawire.com 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
KD2SL repeater in Syracuse, New York at 8 p.m., following the Monday
Night Hobby and Information Net.
**
OHIO CLUB HONORED AS ARRL 'SPECIAL SERVICE CLUB'
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: When the Highland Amateur Radio Association got
together recently for brunch in a local park in southern Ohio, they
were marking two occasions: it was the first time members were able to
be together in a long time for a "meet and greet" -- and they were
receiving special recognition from the ARRL as a Special Service Club.
ARRL officials attended the event too and presented the honor
formally. Special Service Clubs are defined as groups leading the way
in training, publicity and community support to improve the interests
of amateur radio. The club in southern Ohio is one of only a dozen in
the state to be given this designation.
(HIGHLAND COUNTY PRESS)
**
HISTORY LESSON HIGHLIGHTS ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST NOTABLE HAMS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The Arizona Historical Society has an online history
lesson scheduled. Its topic is a lawmaker who was also one of the most high-profile American hams. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, explains.
KEVIN: The late United States Senator Barry Goldwater was also known
by his callsign K7UGA. History has recorded his many contributions as
a lawmaker to the evolution of amateur radio in the US. The Arizona
Historical Society is presenting a virtual event on Wednesday, May
19th that explores the life of the state's most notable amateur radio
operator who, during the war in Vietnam, was instrumental in
organizing volunteers to connect families via ham radio with their
relatives serving overseas during the conflict. The Society, based in
Tucson, houses much of the senator's longtime shack in its collection.
The presentation by Arizona State University history professor Eric
Nystrom will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific Time - or 0100 UTC.
A donation to the museum is requested for anyone attending the
discussion, which will be held on Zoom.
A link to register for the event can be found in the script of this
week's newscast at arnewsline.org
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
[FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ:
https://bit.ly/3mRPwTz]
(ARIZONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY)
**
DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Just a reminder that we are fast approaching the May
31st deadline to nominate the next Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial
Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year. If you know a dedicated
radio operator 18 or younger who embodies the spirit of experimentation, community service and communication, they are eligible. Think of
nominating them for this honor. The award will be presented in August
at the Huntsville Hamfest. Candidates should be living in the United
States, its possessions or any Canadian province. Downloadable forms
are available on our website arnewsline.org
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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 Benton County Radio Operators' Repeater System in Arkansas, on Saturdays at 1900 Central Time during the Info Net.
**
VIRGINIA EMCOMM STARTUP TO COVER 4-COUNTY REGION
DON/ANCHOR: Disasters can - and do - strike at all times of the year.
In one rural region of Virginia, radio operators have developed a plan
that musters enough communications strength to cover the emergency needs
of four rural counties. For that report, we turn to Christian Cudnik,
K0STH.
CHRISTIAN: The group of hams is small but their agenda is ambitious:
They are organizing so they can assist with hazard mitigation in four
small counties located less than 75 miles southeast of Washington, DC.
In this mostly rural area, hurricanes, ice storms and flooding are all realities - as is the Lake Anna Nuclear Power Plant. R3EMCOMM, as this
startup group is known, has a core group of about a dozen volunteers
working closely together. Many are also members of the Culpeper Amateur
Radio Association. Their goal is to keep an eye on Culpeper, Orange,
Madison and Rappahannock (Rap-a-HANNOCK) counties.
Program director for administration Mike Murphy, KD7PUF, told Newsline
that members are asked to use the ARES Task Book as a guide in their
planning but adapt it to the special needs of their communities. Mike
said [quote] "We want to reinvent what we do - providing service,
education, and training to a larger community than just those who want
to be hams." [endquote] Toward this end, the group has also begun
working with Culpeper County Civil Defense. With the help of Al Swann,
KN4AAA in that office, the hams hope to coordinate with radio operators
using FRS, MURS, and GMRS systems. The group also has the support of Ed
Gibbs KW4GF, assistant section manager for the ARRL in Virginia, who has
been with them since the earliest planning began two years ago.
Mike said: [quote] "We are learning, one day at a time, and hoping to
grow." [endquote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik, K0STH.
(R3EMCOMM)
**
ICELAND OFFERING NEXT LICENSE TEST ON JUNE 5
DON/ANCHOR: The Post and Telecom Administration in Iceland has set
Saturday, June 5th as the date for the next amateur radio licensing
exam. The agency put it on the schedule at the request of Iceland's
national amateur radio society, which had to delay its teaching sessions
this past spring as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. Test preparation
was able to resume earlier this month to get candidates ready for the
exams which most likely will be held at Reykjavik University.
(SOUTHGATE)
**
AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS SUPPORT INDIANAPOLIS 500 RACE
DON/ANCHOR: Hams, start your engines....or at least your rigs. There's a special event getting under way for the big car races in Indianapolis.
Jack Parker, W8ISH, has those details.
JACK: When it comes to special events, the W9IMS special event station
for the Indianapolis 500 mile race is second to none. For the 18th year
in a row, the W9IMS team is tuning up and listening for contacts for the
three Indianapolis races.
The Amateur Radio race team will be active on 20 and 40 meters for the
105th running of the Indianapolis 500 mile race May 30th. They will be
on the air beginning May 23rd through Race Day. The eager guys and gals
just finished a week logging contacts for the Indy Car Grand Prix. In
August, they will fire up the radios for another week of sideband
contacts leading up to the Brickyard 400.
Making contact with the W9IMS special event station will get you an
original designed QSL card. If you make contact for each race you are
also eligible for a special race certificate. For more details, check
out W9IMS on qrz.com
Reporting from Indianapolis, home of the famed two and one half mile
oval, this is Jack Parker, W8ISH
**
QSO TODAY VIRTUAL EXPO NEEDS PRESENTERS
DON/ANCHOR: The organizers of the next QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo are
looking for radio operators with tips to share to help beginners sharpen
their operating skills or to learn the basics of building. The online
expo will take place on August 14th and 15th and presenters are needed.
Each presenter will be able to create a pre-recorded lecture which will
be added to the virtual platform for playback during the event. Speakers
will then be available in a moderated Zoom room afterward for a Question
and Answer period. To submit an application visit qsotodayhamexpo.com.
Application deadline is June 15th.
(QSO TODAY)
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All on Fri May 28 11:14:53 2021
2020's YHOTY CHRIS BRAULT KD8YVJ WINS ARDC SCHOLARSHIP
JIM/ANCHOR: Congrats to Amateur Radio Newsline's Young Ham of the Year
for 2020, Chris Brault, KD8YVJ. The ARRL announced that he was among the
more than 200 deserving winners of scholarships through the ARRL
Foundation. Chris is the recipient of a $10,000 Amateur Radio Digital Communications scholarship. Chris will be attending St. Louis University
with a major in Aeronautics and a minor in computer science. He's also
weeks away from earning his private pilot license. We here at Newsline
wish this deserving young amateur all the best.
**
DEADLINE CLOSING FOR YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR
JIM/ANCHOR: Speaking of the Young Ham of the Year Award, May 31st at
midnight Eastern time is the deadline to submit your nominations for this year's recipient. If you know of an outstanding licensed radio amateur
under the age of 18 in the US, Canada or any of the US possessions,
please download the nomination form from our website, complete it and
email it back to
newsline@arnewsline.org
The award will be presented at the Huntsville Hamfest in Alabama in
August.
**
CALIFORNIA AMATEURS LAUNCH BOATS ON THE AIR
JIM/ANCHOR: What's better than having boats in the water? Try having
Boats on the Air. Well, one group in California is making it happen. Dave Parks, WB8ODF, explains.
DAVE: In the same tradition as POTA, SOTA, and IOTA, now there's BOTA --
that is, Boats on the Air, an activation that its organizers hope will
set sail as an activity worldwide. The inaugural Boats on the Air is
leaving the dock on Saturday, June 5th, and operators from the San
Francisco Amateur Radio Club will be activating watercraft of all kinds.
For the organizers, including Kent Carter, AJ6NI, the floating shack will
be a sailboat called the Auriah (AH-RYE-AH). Part of the challenge, he
said, is to bring mobile ham radio gear into a marine environment and get
on FM, AM, CW, SSB, digital voice, or digital data modes.
Chasers and activators will be on the air for three hours beginning 2000
UTC. A boat is considered to be activated if it completes four QSOs. The
event website says: [quote] "Join us to activate any moving floating
object on any body of water." [endquote]
In short, that means the boat can be powered by motor, by sail -- even by human effort or....well, use your imagination. In other words, whatever
floats your boat.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Dave Parks, WB8ODF.
(KENT CARTER AJ6NI)
**
RADIO SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN CHANGES 50MHz AWARDS
JIM/ANCHOR: Changes are coming to some awards being given by the Radio
Society of Great Britain. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, gives us the details.
JEREMY: The RSGB will be merging the 50MHz 2-Way Countries award and the
50MHz DX Countries award soon, having determined that the two awards significantly duplicate one another. The new award will be released as
the 50MHz Countries award and it will retain the incremental levels of
award present in the two it will replace. Hams who have been working
towards either of the current 50MHz awards will have until the end of
this year to complete them while the RSGB works toward launching the new award.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(RSGB)
**
POPULAR D-STAR NET CHANGES CHECK-IN TIME
JIM/ANCHOR: Here in the US, a popular D-STAR Net is starting check-ins
two hours earlier, and has big plans to get involved in emergency
response. Here's Andy Morrison, K9AWM, with those details.
ANDY: The Illinois D-STAR Net is on the move. Starting on Wednesday, June
2nd, it is starting two hours earlier. Hams will be able to check in at 7
p.m. Central Time. Net control Steven Reiners, KC9SIO, told Newsline that
there are two benefits to moving the time of the Net, which meets on
Reflector 51 D. Steven said he is hoping that the move will attract new members, bring back many of the original ones, and fulfil the Net's
original mission to foster conversation among stations throughout the
state. He said the other goal of the move is to have the Net join a
statewide system for emergency communications, eventually attracting the participation by hams in all 102 counties.
Meanwhile, the KB0ZSG International D-Star Net continues to take check-
ins on Sundays at 7 p.m. Central Time in the US on Reflector 91C. The net carries the name and callsign of founder Connie Ballantyne, who became a Silent Key in February, 2020.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
(STEVEN REINERS KC9SIO)
**
GET READY FOR 'TUNE-UP' EVENT
JIM/ANCHOR: If you can't wait for ARRL Field Day, you don't have to. The
100 Watts and a Wire community is encouraging hams to go portable on June
11th through June 13th as part of the annual Tune-Up Activity. It's a way
to test your portable antennas and stations in preparation for the big
event. If you don't have a portable station, you can still get on the
air. Work as an individual or as part of a team, operating on any band
and in any mode. The exchange is your Call sign, your 100WattID if you
have one, your state, province or DX Country and a true signal report.
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All on Fri Jun 25 00:38:55 2021
POSTAL OFFICIALS SAY: HERE COMES THE SUN
DON/ANCHOR: With the help of the United States Postal Service, the sun
is finally enjoying its day in.....the sun. Jim Damron, N8TMW, tells
us what's happening.
JIM: We hams aren't the only ones keeping a close watch on the various activities of the sun. It seems the US Postal Service has taken an
intense interest too, so much so that it is issuing a set of stamps
bearing images from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. The stamps
feature 10 images received at the observatory, including plasma blasts,
solar flares, coronal holes, coronal loops and those all-important
sunspots.
NASA launched its Solar Dynamics Observatory in 2010 to collect solar
data, including details about the sun's magnetic field and activity
on the sun's surface.
On Friday, June 18th, the post office issued the stamps during a
ceremony in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Thomas Marshall, the postal service's general counsel and executive
vice president, issued a statement saying: "We hope these amazing
stamps will help generate the same sense of wonder and curiosity about
our star that inspired our ancestors, and the scientists at NASA to
want to better understand the sun, space, and the myriad of
possibilities that exist in our solar system, in our universe and
beyond."
Dean Pesnell, project scientist for the observatory, said the
observatory has given us [quote] "the ecology of the sun.... It's
giving us the big picture, one detail at a time."
That means that we hams, of course, can now celebrate Solar Cycle 25
one stamp at a time, with each QSL card we send.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.
(CNN)
**
GET READY FOR VIRTUAL HAM EVENT IN FRIEDRICHSHAFEN
DON/ANCHOR: Just a reminder that even as hams in North America get
ready for Field Day, one of the world's largest amateur radio events,
Ham Radio Friedrichshafen, continues this year as a virtual event.
The fair is taking place from June 25th to June 27th, with lectures
in German and English. The 2-Dimensional virtual fairgrounds is based
on the original one in Germany, and will feature exhibitors and special-interest groups who are able to interact with visitors through
video chat.
(HAM RADIO FRIEDRICHSHAFEN)
**
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the K8QIK repeater in Lancaster, Ohio on Mondays at 8 p.m.
**
AUSTRALIAN AMATEUR RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS MEDAL
DON/ANCHOR: A prestigious medal has been awarded to one amateur radio
operator in Australia whose name is already well-known to a group
there known as the Old Timers. Robert Broomhead, VK3DN, has the
details.
ROBERT: Congratulations to Bill Roper, VK3BR, who received the Order
of Australia Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. The award
was given for his service to amateur radio. Bill, who was recognised
on June 14th, was among 1,190 Australians honoured on the list.
Since the late 1990s, Bill has been the editor of Old Timers News,
the Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club of Australia's journal, published
twice a year. He is a life member, and membership secretary of the
club, and a former president and secretary. Bill also has a long
history of service to the Wireless Institute of Australia, serving
as treasurer of the Victorian Division from 1962 to 1972, and federal
office manager from 1989 to 1993.
Well done, Bill.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Robert Broomhead, VK3DN.
(WIA)
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All on Thu Jul 22 19:33:24 2021
FCC OKS EXPERIMENTAL 40 MHZ STATION FOR HAM IN GEORGIA
PAUL/ANCHOR: The FCC has given the go-ahead to an amateur in Georgia who
is operating an experimental station on 40 MHz. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE,
brings us those details.
KEVIN: For the next two years, anyone tuning to the frequency 40.662 MHz
is likely to hear a two-minute Weak Signal Propagation Reporter
transmission coming from an omnidirectional antenna in Atlanta, Georgia
in the United States. Experimental station, WL2XUP, went on the air in mid-July under an experimental license granted through July 1st, 2023 by
the FCC. Gregory Holcomb, NI4Y, who is assigned the new callsign, will be conducting tests on the band and his two-minute transmissions occur every
10 minutes. He is permitted a maximum output of 400 watts Effective
Radiated Power.
Details about the station were reported in the EI7GL blog, where the
author, John wrote: [quote] The really big challenge now is trying to
raise awareness amongst the amateur radio community in North America and making them aware of the 40 MHz band and the activity on it. [endquote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
(EI7GL BLOG)
**
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the W4EDP and
N4LMC repeaters in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. local
time.
**
COMMERCIAL TELEVISION INDUSTRY RETIRES LAST NTSC TRANSMITTER
PAUL/ANCHOR: The commercial TV industry has retired the last of its transmitters employing the original system used for black-and-white and
early color TV. Jack Parker, W8ISH, gives us the details.
JACK: Those of us who love our straight keys, our boat anchors, our tube radios and other parts of early ham radio have it easy. We can still use
the technology from which our roots have sprung. Television, however,
recently hit a milestone in the United States, where the industry retired
the last few remaining commercial transmitters that use the system
developed by the National Television Standards Committee. The NTSC
system, which first defined black-and-white transmissions and later
color, generated pictures comprising 525 lines displayed at nearly 30
frames per second. This produced the familiar analogue TV broadcasts that delivered programming to American audiences for more than 70 years. Now,
in an age of digital and HDTV, NTSC screens have gone dark.
The Hackaday blog, which reported the development in its July 14 post,
wrote: [quote] "We have to admit to being sorry to see the passing of
analogue TV, it was an intricate and fascinating system that provided a testbed for plenty of experimentation back in the day. Perhaps as we see
it slip over the horizon it's worth pondering whether its digital
replacement will also become an anachronism in an age of on-demand
streaming TV. " [endquote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.
(HACKADAY)
**
ARRL REOPENS CONNECTICUT HEADQUARTERS
PAUL/ANCHOR: The ARRL's headquarters is back in business. Sel Embee,
KB3TZD, gives us the details of the ceremonial reopening of the doors.
SEL: The doors are open again in Newington, Connecticut, home to the
American Radio Relay League. The ARRL hosted a rededication ceremony
there on July 15th to coincide a return to business as usual as pandemic restrictions have eased. Members of the ARRL's board of directors were in
town from around the country to attend board and committee meetings and
were present at the ceremony.
The league shut its building at the close of the day on March 23, 2020 in response to the governor's executive order for businesses. It was just
days after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a global pandemic. Many ARRL staffers worked remotely instead. Other services,
such as the W1AW bulletin and the code-practice transmissions continued.
ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, said he was pleased to see the league's services and staffing bounce back. He said [quote] "This speaks to the resilience and dedication of our staff, board members and volunteers." [endquote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Sel Embee, KB3TZD.
(THE BRISTOL PRESS, ARRL)
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All on Fri Aug 6 07:41:54 2021
QSO TODAY VIRTUAL EXPO RETURNS
NEIL/ANCHOR: Get ready for the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo. It's back
after retooling its platform and as Stephen Kinford, N8WB, tells us, organizers are optimistic.
STEPHEN: The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo is returning on the 14th and
15th of August, and will be based on the original platform used for the successful expo held in August of 2020. Organizer Eric Guth 4Z1UG, host
of the QSO Today podcast, said the move back to a single-platform
experience will avoid the widespread problems reported previously when
the conference attempted to integrate two virtual convention platforms provided by different vendors.
Eric said the platform, known as vFairs, has implemented such upgrades
as a video meeting lounge, and said he anticipates what he is calling a "flawless user experience." He said he hopes to exceed the expectations
of the more than 14,000 attendees at the live online event. He said a
preview of the platform will be made available from 8 a.m. Pacific Time
on August 1st through 5 p.m. Pacific Time on August 3rd so that
prospective attendees can experience the environment without cost. The
URL for the preview is in the printed script of this week's Newsline
report at arnewsline.org
[FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ:
https://qsotest.vfairs.com ]
Eric said the platform will have a lobby, auditorium, exhibit hall, and lounges, as well as a variety of speaker presentations.
For ticket information or to register, visit qsotodayhamexpo.com
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB.
**
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. Pacific
Time.
**
VP4 PREFIX REPORTEDLY CONSIDERED FOR FORMER FALKLANDS DEPENDENCIES
NEIL/ANCHOR: The dilemma over assigning prefixes to amateurs operating
from certain locations near the Falklands Islands continues. We have an
update from Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
ED: The Falklands government, which no longer issue new VP8 licences for amateur operation from the former Falkland Islands Dependencies,
including South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, is reportedly favouring the assignment there of the VP4 prefix formerly used in
Trinidad and Tobago. According to various reports, the prefix would be
used in the remote regions by subdividing the suffix with VP4 Axx for
South Georgia and South Sandwich and VP4 Bxx for British Antarctic Territories. The VP8 prefix ceased to be used in those regions recently
as a result of new communications legislation in the Falklands.
VP8 licences were formerly used by DXpeditioners wishing to activate
South Georgia and the South Sandwich islands as well as the Antarctic peninsula, South Orkneys and South Shetlands. There has been no public consultation sought by the Falkland Islands Communications Regulator on
this issue. The British Antarctic Territories, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands cannot issue their own licences or assign call signs.
Ofcom in the UK has left the option open for those locales to ask the
Falkland Islands to administer licensing and call signs on their behalf
as had been the case up until early 2020.
The report, which appeared on several news websites, is credited to DXpeditioner Alan Cheshire, VK6CQ/VP8PJ.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(SOUTHGATE, OHIO PENN DX)
**
NAVAJO CODE TALKER EVENT MOVES TO OPERATORS' QTHS
NEIL/ANCHOR: The annual Navajo Code Talker special event is going
forward in spite of a COVID-19 closure of their usual site, the Navajo
Nation itself. Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, has those details.
RALPH: Although the Navajo Nation in Arizona remains closed as a result
of COVID-19 precautions, the annual special event station honoring the
Navajo Code Talkers of World War II will be on the air as scheduled
between the 10th and 14th of August. This is the 17th annual celebration
of the Native American members of the military who thwarted Japanese interception of their messages by using their language in their coded transmissions in the South Pacific.
THe special event station N7C will operate instead from the home QTHs of
Ray, W7USA, Bob, K7BHM, John, W5PDW, and Herb, N7HG. Herb's father. John Goodluck, was among the original 29 Code Talkers in the United States
Marine Corps who developed the code. John Goodluck died in 2000 at the
age of 76.
Be listening for N7C on 40, 20 and 17 metres. For additional details and
QSL information, visit the station's page on QRZ.COM.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.
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All on Fri Aug 13 02:21:51 2021
SPACEX ACQUIRES FIRM COFOUNDED BY RADIO AMATEUR
JIM/ANCHOR: A firm cofounded by a radio amateur has just merged with
the SpaceX technology giant. Sel Embee, KB3TZD, has more on that.
SEL: SpaceX, Elon Musk's giant California-based space technology
company, has acquired a satellite communications company cofounded by
an amateur radio operator. The merger makes Swarm Technologies a wholly
owned subsidiary of SpaceX. Swarm, which specializes in Internet-of-
Things technology and low-cost satellite connectivity, has asked the
Federal Communications Commission to transfer control of its earth and
space station licenses. Swarm was founded in 2016 by Ben Longmier, K-
F-5-K-M-P and Sara Spangelo. In 2020, the company launched its first
dozen commercial satellites, established ground stations in Alaska, New Jersey, Washington State, Guam, the Azores and elsewhere and began
expanding market access. Swarm is licensed in non-voice, non-
geostationary mobile satellite service, operating in the bands between 137-to-138 MHz and 148-to-149-decimal-95 MHz.
In 2020, Swarm Technologies placed second in the most Innovative Space Companies list created by Fast Company. The top spot went to SpaceX.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Sel Embee, K-B-3-T-Zed-D.
(SPACE EXPLORED.COM, FASTCOMPANY.COM)
**
HOMEBREWERS IN HYDERABAD HELP QO-100 SATELLITE USERS
JIM/ANCHOR: Two inventive amateurs in India have come up with a clever
way to communicate with the QO-100 satellite. Robert Broomhead, VK3DN,
tells us about their accomplishment.
ROBERT: Hams in Hyderabad have found a homebrew solution to make
communication via the QO-100 satellite easier for other amateurs. They
have designed prototype converters that will enable the hams to use the transponders on board the geosynchronous satellite. The prototypes
include both up converters and down converters. Homebrewers Sasi
Bhushan, VU2XZ, and A. Amarendra, VU2AAP, told the Telangana Today
newspaper that the converters eliminate the need for such expensive
equipment as software-defined radios. They said the system works in a
way similar to a TV set-top box that receives programmes beamed from satellites, converting radio waves into signals for the TV. The circuit
boards within the converter are designed to communicate via the 10 GHz frequency for downlink and the 2.4 GHz frequency for uplink.
Sasi said the first hams to be given the opportunity to use the
converters are members of the Lamakan Amateur Radio Club in Hyderabad.
A transverter is also in the works, combining uplink and downlink
capability.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Robert Broomhead, VK3DN.
(TELANGANA TODAY)
**
RULE CHANGES PERMIT SCOUT, GUIDE GROUPS IN YL CONTEST
JIM/ANCHOR: The youngest of the YLs will be getting in on the action
this year as women in Australia get ready for a big annual contest. We
hear more from Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.
JASON: A change in rules this year is permitting some new first-timers
to get on the air for the 41st annual contest of the Australian Ladies
Amateur Radio Association this month. The newest entrants are YLs who
are in Scout and Guide groups and they'll be using their club's
equipment and callsign. Lynda, VK7QP, writes in the ALARA newsletter,
"The YL Beam," that the event on August 28th and 29th is [quote] "a
friendly contest and a chance to start learning how to operate a
contest." [endquote] YLs of all ages will clearly have the run of the
field here. YLs get to work everyone; OMs are only eligible to work
YLs. The 24-hour event will offer a combination of SSB and CW contacts. Contacts over Echolink will be accepted and all other operations will
be on the HF bnds except for 160 metres and the WARC bands. All
licensed operators around the world may enter.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.
(YL BEAM)
**
UK BROADBAND SERVICES PLAN NEW CONNECTIONS VIA WATER PIPES
JIM/ANCHOR: A change is afoot in how companies in the UK deliver
broadband services and it might just make ham radio operators happy
too. Here's more from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: There's encouraging news for broadband subscribers in rural
areas of the UK: communications companies have been given the official go-ahead to use water pipes instead of having to dig new trenches to
connect homes and businesses to the internet using fibre optic cable
services. According to the government website, gov.uk, the rollout is
expected to take place throughout the UK, ending in March 2024, with an emphasis on rural areas.
Stephen Unger, commissioner at the Geospatial Commission, issued a
statement saying: [quote] "Our ambition must be for reliable broadband
to become as easy to access tomorrow as drinking water is today."
[endquote]
The announcement is good news to those concerned about the traditional installation where roads and land are dug up. It is also good news for
amateur radio operators who may have reported RFI from broadband's
copper wires carrying VDSL Broadband services.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(GOV.UK)
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From
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All on Fri Aug 27 08:30:46 2021
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.
**
WEST BENGAL HAMS MARK 100 YEARS OF RADIO
PAUL/ANCHOR: This year has brought double the celebration for hams in
India. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, tells us there's still time to attend
some of the programs - virtually.
JASON: Indian amateurs aren't just marking 100 years of ham radio;
they're also celebrating 75 years of their nation's independence.
A full weekend of celebration was hosted by the West Bengal Radio
Club on August 14th and 15th, highlighted by an online tech talk
with noted home brewer Ashhar Farhan, VU2ESE, creator of the Bitx
and micro BITX open source transceivers. The programme, hosted by
Saborni Nag Biswas, VU2JFC, was followed by a webinar on the first
century of Indian amateur radio led by S. Ram Mohan, VU2MYH, and
Sriramamurthy Suri, VU2MY, both of the National Institute of Amateur
Radio and S. Satyapal, VU2FI, of the Indian Institute of Hams.
Both events were livestreamed. If you were unable to attend virtually
while the programmes were taking place, they are available for viewing
on YouTube. The links appear in the script of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekQe98ccurM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQpy1t-xLoE
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.
(WEST BENGAL RADIO CLUB)
**
ACMA SEEKS INPUT ON 2x1 CALLSIGNS
PAUL/ANCHOR: Australian officials are looking for hams' input on their
review of 2x1 callsigns. Robert Broomhead, VK3DN, has more.
ROBERT: The Australian Communications and Media Authority is asking
hams to share their thoughts on allocation arrangements for 2x1
callsigns. The callsign allocations are to be handled by the
Australian Maritime College, which already manages allocations for
amateur beacons, repeaters, special event callsigns, and normal
callsigns. The ACMA have posted a survey, and are interested in
hearing hams' thoughts on the issue and use of the two-by-one
callsigns. The authority wants to know, for instance, whether the
callsigns should be made available only to clubs and Advanced level
amateurs, or whether any level of licence can have access.
Hams have until the 31st of August to complete the short five-question
survey. According to the authority, hams will be able to use the 2x1
callsigns without having to get a new licence, or make changes to their existing licence.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Robert Broomhead, VK3DN.
(ACMA)
**
ACMA REVIEWS ARRANGEMENTS FOR AMATEUR REPEATERS, ASSIGNED BEACONS
PAUL/ANCHOR: The authority is also reviewing its plans for assigned
amateur beacon and repeater stations. More details on that from Graham
Kemp, VK4BB.
GRAHAM: The Australian Communications and Media Authority is in the
middle of sorting through more than 800 responses to its consultation
on a review of non-assigned amateur and outpost licensing arrangements.
The ACMA's review is also taking a look at accreditation for repeater
and amateur beacon assignments.
The ACMA has been trying to implement a licensing procedure that will
minimise the burdens of regulation, and allow benefits for hams to
continue at an affordable price.
According to the consultation paper outlining the proposed changes
earlier this year, three options are under consideration. In the
first, the ACMA would not change apparatus licensing arrangements
and conditions. In the second, the authority would simplify existing
licensing arrangements and licence conditions. In the third, which is
the preferred option for the AMCA, operation of non-assigned amateur
stations would be authorised for holders of Foundation, Standard, and
Advanced level qualifications through a class licence, rather than an
apparatus licence. This would involve creation of an amateur class
licence authorising amateur station operation by those holding
Foundation, Standard, or Advanced level qualifications, and would
include individuals visiting Australia, and having overseas equivalent qualifications or licences.
Meanwhile, operation of assigned amateur beacon and repeater stations
would remain authorised under apparatus licensing arrangements.
In a recent advisory, the ACMA has indicated it will provide updates
via its e-bulletin.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(ACMA)
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SILENT KEY: NEWSLINE'S ROBERT SUDOCK WB6FDF
JIM/ANCHOR: The next story is a personal one. One of the earliest members
of the Newsline family, has become a Silent Key. Here's Don Wilbanks,
AE5DW, with some memories of him.
DON: We've just learned of the passing of one of our Newsline family. One
that dates back to the very beginnings of Newsline. Robert Sudock,
WB6FDF, passed away on July 7th, in Long Beach, California at the age of
74. He had been in poor health for some time.
Bob was there when Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, and Jim Hendershot, WA6VQP, formulated the idea to drive to the top of a mountain, and report on the
state of the Westlink 220 repeater system in the Los Angeles area. That
became the Westlink Report, and you know it now as Amateur Radio
Newsline.
Bob, like Bill Pasternak, hailed from Brooklyn, New York. When a young
Bill Pasternak, then WA2HVK, moved to LA, Bob was one of his first
contacts. Their lifelong friendship began with that first contact. He had
a long career in broadcast engineering including stops at KZH channel 31,
and KLON radio in Long Beach, and KTTV channel 11 in Los Angeles. It was
there where he worked alongside Bill Pasternak. He served on the board of
the Southern California Frequency Coordinating Committee. From 1974 to
1976, Bob edited and reported the Mt. Wilson Repeater Association news
and was an original member of Newsline. Bob subbed for Newsline's Graham
Kemp, VK4BB, as anchor of the Wireless Institute of Australia's "News"
when Graham went on holiday. Bob was heard often on Newsline, and when
Bob Heil began Ham Nation, he asked Newsline to be part of the show. Bob Sudock was the original news presenter on Ham Nation. When he fell ill, I filled in for him, firmly expecting to just keep his seat warm. That was
10 years ago.
Bob and I sat down via Skype a few years ago, and we had a long
conversation about the beginnings, and little-known facts of Newsline for report #2000. You can find that on our website, arnewsline.org under the
Extra tab. Scroll about halfway down for that audio.
I never met Bob Sudock, but we talked on the phone many times. He was a
gentle soul with a big heart, and a deep, resonant voice. After Bill
passed away, he was invaluable in helping us pick up the pieces, and keep Newsline going. Robert Sudock was truly one of The Good Guys.
Good DX, Bob. Tell Bill hello for us.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.
**
NORTH CAROLINA RADIO MUSEUM MARKS 20 YEARS
JIM/ANCHOR: How do you mark 20 years of devotion to radio? If you happen
to have your very own museum, you broadcast your joy with a party. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, tells us about the celebration.
KEVIN: On Saturday, September 11th, everyone is invited to the Asheville
Radio Museum in North Carolina to help it mark two decades of preserving
radio history. What grew into a regional home for radio history of all
kinds began with founders Clint Gorman, K4KRB, and the late Carl Smith,
N4AA. Carl and his wife, Miriam, rescued a 1930s-era radio receiver in
need of a fix-up. Miriam, who was also a ham, then suggested they add to
their collection, with the help of some other ham radio operators. Out of
that grew an exhibit that became the Southern Appalachian Radio Museum.
Now the museum, located on a college campus, showcases all facets of
radio technology, from cellphones and Bluetooth to GPS and, of course,
vintage commercial and amateur radios. There is even an early 1900s spark
gap transmitter for Morse Code.
The public celebration is from noon to 3 p.m. on the campus of the Asheville-Buncombe Technical College, and details are available on the museum's website which is a v l radiomuseum.org.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
**
HAMS RAISE PROFILE OF GROUP THAT AIDS DISABLED VETERANS
JIM/ANCHOR: Hams in Illinois are getting on the air to support a group
that aids disabled veterans. Andy Morrison, K9AWM, tells us about their special event station.
ANDY: Disabled US military veterans have found a friend in an
organization known as Healing Of Our American Heroes, or HOOAH. For
years, an Illinois organization known as HOOAH Deer Hunt for Heroes has provided wounded former soldiers with access to outdoor activities and
paid all their expenses. The Illinois program will gain even more
momentum on September 4th, 5th and 6th because they too have found a
friend: the Chicago Suburban Radio Association, W9SW, which is showing
its support by activating a special event station during the group's fundraiser. The hams will be on the air calling W4V - We're 4 Veterans -
from Hickory Hills campground.
Ron Delpiere-Smith, KD9IPO, the club's vice president, said those dates,
which mark Labor Day Weekend, will be the club's first special event for
the veterans group. Be listening on 10 through 80 metres.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
(RON DELPIERE-SMITH, KD9IPO)
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IN SWITZERLAND, HIGH-FLYING QSOS IN HOT AIR BALLOON
DON/ANCHOR: Hams who are up for some high adventure in Switzerland
are taking their ambitions seriously by operating from a hot-air
balloon. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us about their plans.
ED: Plans for the Helvetia Telegraphy Club's next big activation are
up in the air. In fact, the radio operators hope to get up in the
air and stay there for at least two hours aboard a hot-air balloon.
Their scheduled launch date is the 14th of September when they hope
to start operating sometime after 0530 UTC. The callsign HB9HC/AM
will be activated by members of the USKA/HTC National Mountain Day
Commission as hams ascend to the sky over Switzerland, operating all
the while on 40m, 30m and 20m. They will be transmitting with 15
watts of CW power, making use of vertical dangling antennas. If
you're interested in a contact, watch the Reverse Beacon Network or
the DX clusters. You can also use APRS if you're interested in
tracking the balloon's exact position. Are the radio operators'
hopes perhaps a bit overinflated? Probably not: They're already
advising everyone to get familiar with such important Q codes as QAH
for Altitude, and QAL for Landing.
All details are on their website at the URL given in the script on
our arnewsline.org website.
(DO NOT READ:
https://hb9htc.clubdesk.com/hb9htc5/aktivitaeten/hb9hcam_on_air)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(QRZ.COM, SOTA REFLECTOR, HELVETIA TELEGRAPHY 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
K7MMA repeater in Spokane, Washington, on Fridays at 5 p.m. Pacific
time.
**
BBC INTERVIEWS DEVELOPER OF WORLD'S FIRST MICROSATELLITE
DON/ANCHOR: If you're a satellite enthusiast, you owe a bit of
thanks to one notable homebrewer, tinkerer and distinguished
professor in the UK. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us about a recent BBC
interview with him.
JEREMY: With an imagination fueled by NASA's Apollo missions a
decade earlier, Martin Sweeting, G3YJO, went on to launch a new era
in space himself: the age of microsatellites, which began as a
homebrew project built partly at home and partly on the University
of Surrey campus. That first, very basic microsatellite - U0Sat-1,
the granddaddy of all that would come later - was eventually
launched by NASA in 1981. Martin, an amateur radio operator since
his student years, recalls in a new interview with the BBC what it
was like being the creator of the first microsatellite in a pre-
internet era. More than amateur radio communications tools, today's microsatellites aid the world in navigation, scientific research,
weather and environmental monitoring. As satellite mega-
constellations now revolutionize communications yet further, Martin,
a Distinguished Professor of Space Engineering at the university,
also makes a plea to clean the skies of the hazard of space junk.
The BBC posted the half-hour interview on its website.
That URL is available in the script of this week's newscast at
arnewsline.org
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
[FOR PRINT: DO NOT READ www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct2h26]
(BBC SOUNDS)
**
YL AWARDS INTRODUCED INTO OCEANIA DX CONTEST
DON/ANCHOR: The Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association is
introducing a new twist or two on an old favorite DX contest now in
its 76th year. With those details, here's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
JIM: If you're looking for contacts with stations in the Oceania
region and you happen to be a YL, you're in luck. The Oceania DX
Contest is taking place on two consecutive weekends - October 2nd
and 3rd for phone and October 9th and 10th for CW - and this year,
the spotlight includes two awards being introduced specifically for
YLs. Both awards, sponsored by ALARA, the Australian Ladies Amateur
Radio Association, are being given to a single-operator YL who
achieve the highest combined score in phone and CW. YLs inside the
Oceania region are eligible for the Florence McKenzie Award, named
for Australia's first known licensed female ham radio operator who
received the callsign A2GA in 1925. YLs in the rest of the world are
eligible for the Austine Henry Award, named for a prize-winning
homebrewer who was a member of the YASME Foundation, the RSGB, NZART
and the ARRL. She became Australia's third licensed YL in 1930 when
she received the callsign VK3YL.
YLs who want to be considered for either award should select the YL
box on their entry form when they submit their log.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(YL BEAM)
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REPLICA TRANSMITTER BEING PREPPED FOR DECEMBER EVENT
NEIL/ANCHOR: Big plans are being made to mark the day radio
amateurs proved they could send signals across the Atlantic. Jack
Parker, W8ISH, tells us what's happening.
JACK: December 11th, 1921 was a significant day for amateur radio:
It was the day of the Transatlantic Test Project, when hams'
shortwave frequencies showed themselves to be capable of
transatlantic radio communications, even at 200 meters or less.
The experimental transmission of station 1BCG, using a tube-based
transmitter, was conducted by the Radio Club of America on 1.3 MHz
and resulted in successful reception in Scotland.
One hundred years later, December 11th, 2021 will be an equally
significant day. A replica of that transmitter will be used to
re-enact that CW transmission on 160 meters not far from the spot
in Connecticut from which the original CW transmission was sent.
Longtime Antique Wireless Association member Bob Raide, W2ZM, now
a Silent Key, (SK) built the replica for a special event 25 years
ago. AWA volunteers have spent lots of time lately refurbishing
it, wiring a plate supply, building a filament power supply and
sorting out usable tubes.
For a day that comes along once every hundred years, radio
operators -- and the transmitter -- need to be ready.
AWA trustee, Joe Stoltz, K2AEI, told Newsline: [quote] "We have
had the transmitter powered up and are able to get 350 watts RF on
160 meters with one amplifier tube. The next step is to construct
a 160 meter antenna so we can do some actual on-air testing before
December." [endquote] Then be listening for the contact of the
century.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.
(ANTIQUE WIRELESS ASSOCIATION, JOE STOLTZ K2AEI)
**
US, UK STATIONS ALSO MARK TRANSATLANTIC ANNIVERSARY
NEIL/ANCHOR: Some equally important modern-day contacts are being
planned for the big anniversary and they involve radio societies
in the US and the UK. Here's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, with those
details.
JEREMY: The Radio Society of Great Britain also has big plans for
the centenary of the first transatlantic personal message between
radio amateurs. Nick Totterdell, G4FAL, the society's HF contest
committee chairman, told Newsline that the ARRL and RSGB members
are organising a number of activities surrounding the anniversary.
There will also be a Transatlantic QSO Party to be held on the
13th and 14th of November, being sponsored by the Radio Club of
America. Nick said other activities will be disclosed soon on the
society's website and will appear in the society's RadCom
magazine. The society is hoping to maximise participation in the
US and the UK and increase worldwide awareness of this achievement
100 years ago.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
**
POTA ADDS MORE THAN 1,000 PARKS TO ITS SYSTEM
NEIL/ANCHOR: If you activate or even chase Parks on the Air,
you'll want to hear the first of this new monthly POTA report from
Vance Martin, N3VEM.
VANCE: This month in Parks on the Air news, we have two exciting
updates to share with everybody. Our first: We are excited to
announce that we have recently added over 1,000 parks to the Parks
on the Air System. For the last several months we've had a small
contingent of volunteers combing through user requests to add
additional parks, validating that those requested parks meet the
criteria for inclusion in POTA and formatting the list so they
can be added to the system. After hundreds of volunteer hours the
lists are now in the system and ready for you to go activate.
Check out the maps and search pages at the POTA.APP website to see
if any of these new units are in your area.
Also in POTA news, we are excited to share that we are formalizing
a Parks on the Air support desk. You can always continue to get
community support via the Facebook group or via the POTA Help
Channel in the POTA Slack Group. But we have a small group of
volunteers who have agreed to be on a rotating schedule to help
you with your official technical support questions. To reach the
official POTA support desk, all you need to do is send an email to
help@parksontheair.com
We have coverage for most days of the week so you will usually get
a response within 24 hours but no worse than 48 hours based on our
volunteers' schedules. We won't solve every problem that fast but
you'll know that we're on it. Issues requiring Level 2 support are
generally resolved within the week.
This is N3VEM. Be sure to visit Parks On the Air dot com for more
info about the program and POTA.APP for spotting, park
information, leaderboards and more.
(VANCE MARTIN, N3VEM, POTA)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
linked repeaters of the Desert Amateur Radio Club KK7AJB, in La Paz
County, Arizona, on Fridays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 6:45 p.m. local
time.
**
NATIONAL HURRICANE CONFERENCE POSTED ON YOUTUBE
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you're devoted to weather-watching, you might want
to take a look at the 2021 Virtual National Hurricane Conference
Amateur Radio Workshop. It was held in June, and is now posted on
Youtube. The conference lasts four hours and eight minutes, but if
there's a particular workshop you're interested, you can find an index
and the approximate start times below the video on the site. Workshops
include a discussion of surface reports; overviews of the National
Hurricane Center and the Hurricane Watch Network; and best practices in SKYWARN for tropical systems.
Find the link to the video in the script of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
[FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ecZRKVgIG0]
(LLOYD COLSTON KC5FM)
**
IARU REGION 1 HONORS SIX FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Six prominent radio amateurs in IARU Region 1 have been recognized for their years of contributions. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells
us about them.
JEREMY: Six hams in Region 1 of the International Amateur Radio Union
have been awarded medals for their years of work contributing to the
IARU. They are Tore Worren, LA9QL, who recently stepped down as Region
1 EMC Committee Chairman but remains on the committee. Tore is being recognised for bolstering IARU's presence in electromagnetic
compatibility matters. Medal recipient Jacques Verleijen, ON4AVJ, is
being recognised for developing the Contest Working Group and
coordinating work on VHF, including revision of the handbook. He is a
member of the Political Relations Committee and secretary to the VHF
Plus (VHF+) committee. Hans Welens, ON6WQ, is being honoured for
supporting smaller societies, most especially in Africa and creating
the concept of Support to the Amateur Radio Service, or STARS, which he chaired until 2011. The medal to Dave Court, EI3IO, celebrates his work
on the Spectrum and Regulatory Liaison Committee which he chaired until recently. His work, among other things, helped lead to the regionwide allocation to the amateur service of a 2 MHz segment at 50 MHz. Hilary Claytonsmith G4JKS, is being credited for the region's successful work
in EMC matters. Hilary is an EMC committee member and served as its
secretary for nearly 25 years. A medal was also given to Peter Jost,
HB9CET, deputy coordinator for the IARU Monitoring System, for his work
with the monitoring system's newsletters.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SOUTHGATE, DON BEATTIE, G3BJ)
**
POPULAR HAMFESTS HOSTED AGAIN WITH CAUTION
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you've been in the mood for a hamfest lately, and
you're going to be in the area just north of New Orleans, Don Wilbanks
AE5DW, has a recommendation for you.
DON: Two busy days of amateur radio activities are on tap for attendees
of the Slidell (SLY-Dell) EOC Hamfest sponsored by the Ozone Amateur
Radio Club. It's going to be held in the Slidell Auditorium with doors
opening at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 8th and at 8 a.m. on Saturday,
October 9th. Entrance for the public is through the lobby doors.
Hamfest chairman Dave Hartley, K5OZ, reminds everyone that masks are
mandatory for all indoor activities in Louisiana so they will be
required to attend the hamfest.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.
(DAVE HARTLEY K5OZ)
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, even as hams in Louisiana prepare for their hamfest, members of the Peoria Area Amateur Radio Club in Illinois are celebrating the fact that they just finished enjoying the return of
their Superfest. It took place on September 18th and 19th, and according
to news reports, there are two other reasons to feel encouraged: The
club also saw an uptick in membership, especially among YLs.
(PAARC)
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APPALACHIAN TRAIL ACTIVATIONS LIGHT UP AIRWAVES
JIM/ANCHOR: When POTA, SOTA and Worldwide Flora and Fauna operators
activated sites along the Appalachian Trail in the eastern United States recently, the airwaves above apparently blazed a few trails of their own.
Dave Parks, WB8ODF, brings us that report.
DAVE: Saturday, October 2nd, was a busy day for Appalachian Trail
activations, as more than 60 stations called CQ from points along more
than two thousand miles of trail. David, ND1J, and Mike, KB7THL, operated
POTA stations in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, respectively, and
Jonathan, W4UYE, and Bob, AC1Z, activated SOTA summits in Georgia and Virginia, respectively. According to organizer Mike, WB2FUV, the day ended with at least 25 unique SOTA summits activated and at least 26 POTA
partipants in 11 of the 14 states. Mike himself was operating QRP CW on
West Mountain along the original section of the trail and logged 77
contacts. He said many SOTA stations were also making summit-to-summit contacts with W7A SOTA stations on the 10 point peaks in Arizona.
The event marked the trail's 100th anniversary. But the celebration
extended beyond the US: Preliminary results on the event website showed
that the farthest DX went to Heinz, OE5EEP/p in the Austrian mountains. He broke through the stateside pileups to work two SOTA stations on the
trail.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Dave Parks, WB8ODF.
(MICHAEL MORAN WB2FUV)
**
RESULTS ARE IN FOR PORTABLE OPERATIONS CHALLENGE
JIM/ANCHOR: The results are in for the Portable Operations Challenge held
in Sepember. Here's Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
ED: The Portable Operations Challenge 2021 took place on September 4th and
5th and the overall winner showed what can be done from a great portable location and using very low power. With just six contacts and running at one-watt CW on twenty metres, Jack Haefner, NG2E, took out the top spot
with a grand total of 615,924 points. His six contacts were from all
around the US, plus one that went all the way from his Hogback Mountain
SOTA summit W4V/SH-007 in Virginia to French SOTA chaser Christian,
F4WBN, near the French/Spanish border. All contacts took place within 32 minutes of operating, in session two of the contest.
The most efficient contact measured in kilometres per watt used was that
same Virginia - France contact with 6,340 kilometres per watt achieved.
So, this year both the overall winner and the furthest km/watt contact
title go to one person - Jack Haefner, NG2E. WELL DONE, Jack!
The number of entrants was a little disappointing. There were only
eighteen, far more had been hoped for in this, the second year, of the challenge.
Of those entering however, there were a wide variety of power levels and
modes both from home and portable locations.
Of the eighteen entrants, fifteen were from the US, two from Europe and
one from Australia.
For the portable operations challenge, and ARNewsline, this has been Ed,
DD5LP.
**
CHINA ANNOUNCES LOSS OF SATELLITE
JIM/ANCHOR: China had great hopes for a satellite launched late last month
but following a malfunction, has declared it lost. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW,
has that story.
JASON: China's Shiyan-10 satellite was declared lost shortly after its
launch on Monday, September 27th. In releasing the news, Chinese state
media reported that the spacecraft did not function properly despite
having had a normal flight one day earlier. A report on Twitter said a
flash was seen in the sky above New South Wales, Australia. According to SpaceNews, the flash was believed to be a sign that the launch was on
course and that this was a visible burn of the upper stage of the Long
March 3B rocket that carried the satellite as payload. The satellite was
to have entered a geosynchronous orbit around Earth. It was said to have malfunctioned during the launch and by Tuesday, September 28th, was
officially declared a failure.
Shiyan-10's launch closely followed the liftoff of China's Jilin-1 Gaefen
02D satellite, which was reported to have achieved successful orbit.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.
(SPACE.COM, SPACENEWS)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the VK8MA 2-meter repeater in Australia's Northern Territory on
Sundays at 7 p.m. local time.
**
ALL EYES ON WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S FIRST HOMEMADE CUBESAT
DON/ANCHOR: In Western Australia, all eyes are on the state's
first homemade Cubesat. John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us what
happens next.
JOHN: Students at Curtin University in Western Australia proudly
watched as their homemade satellite, Binar-1, was sent into Low
Earth Orbit from the ISS in early October. Now the Cubesat has
other work to do.
Ben Hartig, Binar's program manager, said that the amateur radio
community is expected to make use of the satellite on the UHF
frequencies between 430 MHz and 440 MHz. Students will also be
listening and decoding signals the satellite is sending to
determine the satellite's location and performance. The satellite,
which has two cameras on board, is circling Earth once every hour
and a half at a distance of 400 kilometres, or nearly 250 miles,
above the Earth.
Phil Bland, director of the university's Space Science and
Technology Centre, said that as Western Australia's first
homegrown spacecraft, Binar-1 has a key role in the centre's space
programme, which includes getting six more satellites launched
during the next 18 months.
A statement on the BinarSpace website declares its mission. It
says [quote]: "As Western Australia's first spacecraft, this marks
the start of our state's journey into space. The use of amateur
frequencies on this satellite forms the backbone of an exciting
opportunity to engage the community and STEM students. Our
outreach program aims to inspire bold projects in space
exploration." [endquote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
(PHYS.ORG, BINAR SPACE WEBSITE)
**
RADIO CLUB ARGENTINO MARKS CENTENNIAL WITH SPECIAL EVENT
DON/ANCHOR: The world's third amateur radio association marked its
centennial on the 21st of October. Listen on the air for special
event station L21RCA -- and listen to this report from Jason Daniels,
VK2LAW.
JASON: Members of the Radio Club Argentino have a number of
reasons to be proud. The national amateur radio society of
Argentina was the sole Latin American organisation to be in Paris
in 1925 when the International Amateur Radio U nion was created.
When the IARU's Region 2 came into being, the radio society had a
presence in Mexico City in 1964 and became a part of that historic
moment. The Argentine radio society turns 100 years old this year
and its web page offers a retrospective in photographs of its
evolution over the years.
Licenced Hams aren't the only radio enthusiasts who can enjoy
being part of this year's big celebration. The society's
Centennial Certificate Program has opened its awards program to
shortwave listeners as well. For information on how to qualify,
visit the link in the text version of this week's newscast at
arnewsline.org
[PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ:
https://www.lu4aa.org/wp/certificado- del-centenario-para-radioescuchas/ ]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.
DON/ANCHOR: According to association secretary Carlos Beviglia,
LU1BCE, special event station L21RCA had already made more than
100,000 QSOs by October 25th.
(RADIO CLUB ARGENTINO, CARLOS BEVIGLIA, LU1BCE)
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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.
**
SOUTH AFRICAN WEATHER BALLOON FLIES HIGH
SKEETER/ANCHOR: In South Africa, a high-flying balloon carried some
projects - and some high hopes - into the sky, as we hear from Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
GRAHAM: Under the sunny skies of South Africa on the 30th of October, the Secunda Radio Club, ZS6SRC, released a high-altitude weather balloon that
was ultra-light but carried some heavy-duty payloads. Among those sharing
the trip into near space were a variety of experiments, a crossband FM repeater, Slow Scan TV, and the new AMSAT-SA AfriCUBE linear transponder,
with APRS and a CW beacon on 2m.
This was the latest of the club's projects known by the acronym BACAR, for Balloon Carrying Amateur Radio. The club's ongoing weather balloon
initiative has been heralded in the past for its contributions to STEM education through the programme's cooperation with local schools.
According to the club website, the curriculum includes programming of microcontrollers, digital electronics and, of course, radio
communications.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(GERT BOTHA ZS6GC, SECUNDA RADIO CLUB WEBSITE)
**
COMMENTS SOUGHT FOR NEW VP0 PREFIX IN BRITISH TERRITORY
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Regulators are looking for comments on use of a new prefix
in the British Antarctic Territory. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the details.
JIM: While formal details are still being worked out with respect to the
new Victor Papa Zero callsign prefix for hams operating in the Antarctic region, the government of the British Antarctic Territory is seeking input
no later than November 10th on draft legislation specific to the British Antarctic Territory which includes the South Orkney and South Shetland
islands as well as the mainland sector of the Antarctic continent.
The Victor Papa Zero prefix is also to apply to hams operating on the
British sector of the Antarctic mainland and the South Sandwich Islands
but authorities have not yet determined how the transition will be made
there from existing VP8 licences.
The recent announcement of the new prefix for these former Falkland
Islands Dependencies was heralded as a welcome development for
DXpeditioners and chasers after the use of VP8 licenses was no longer permitted there.
To see the consultation and find out how to comment, visit the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ:
https://britishantarcticterritory.org.uk/consultation-amateur-radio-
licensing/ ]
(above URL all on one line)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(OHIO PENN DX)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the world of DX, be listening for the Eureka Amateur Radio Club VY0ERC
on the air from the Eureka weather station in Nunavut on Canada's
Ellesmere Island, IOTA NA-008. Operators will be calling QRZ until the
22nd of November on all HF Bands. Send QSLs to M0OXO (Em Zero Oh Ex Oh),
Club Log's OQRS and Logbook of The World.
Remo, HB9SHD, is using the callsign 8Q7RM from the Maldives, IOTA AS-013, throughout November. Listen for him on FT8. He will also be using slow CW
and SSB on the bands from 6m to 40m. Send QSLs to his home call, either
direct or via the bureau, Club Log’s OQRS and Logbook of the World.
Ken, LA7GIA, the noted DXpeditioner, is operating from Bangui in the
Central African Republic as TL7M until the 15th of November. He will be operating on all bands and all modes. According to the QRZ page for TL7M
he will also make the first activation of 60m in the Central African
Republic under a special permit. Send QSLs to M0OXO.
(IRTS, DX-WORLD.NET)
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From
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All on Thu Nov 11 22:11:57 2021
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K9DEW repeater
in Warsaw, Indiana, on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.
**
HEDY LAMARR SPECIAL EVENT SHOWS STAR QUALITY
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The late American actress Hedy Lamarr is apparently still
a big star as far as the world's amateur radio operators are concerned.
The sixth annual Hedy Lamarr Day Net, N9H, drew 190 check-ins from around
the world. The special event was held on November 9th on Echolink on what would have been the actress' 107th birthday. Organizer John Derycke (duh-RYE-Key), W2JLD, called it the most successful Hedy Lamarr event to
date. Hedy Lamarr was being celebrated for her on-screen talents but most especially for her role as co-inventor of a frequency hopping system that prevented jamming of radio signals to torpedos and now forms an important
part of today's cell-phone and WiFi networks.
**
POPULAR DATV MAGAZINE ENDS PUBLICATION
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The digital amateur TV magazine known as CQ-DATV, has published its final issue. Geri Goodrich, KF5KRN, has that story.
GERI: In a publishing lifetime that lasted for eight years with 100
issues, the amateur television magazine CQ-DATV filled a gap left by the demise of two earlier ATV magazines and had been widely read among enthusiasts. That era has ended with the publication of its latest - and
last - issue, released in October. The production team's Trevor Brown
G8CJS writes in this 100th issue: [quote] "All good things must come to
an end and CQ-DATV is no exception." [endquote] The digital-only
publication reports that it received more than 500,000 downloads during
its lifetime and was welcomed by readers who had lost "Der TV Amateur," published in Germany and "Repeater" published in the Netherlands. CQ-DATV credits Ian Pawson G0FCT who introduced the magazine in 2013 as a digital publication and served as its editor. The magazine, which also became available as a PDF edition, is making all of its 100 issues available for download. They can be obtained by visiting the link that appears in the
text version of this week's newscast script on our website arnewsline.org
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Geri Goodrich, KF5KRN.
(SOUTHGATE, CQ-DATV)
[FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ"
https://cq-datv.mobi/ebooks.php ]
**
IRELAND AND INDIA JOIN PARKS ON THE AIR
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Portable radio enthusiasts are thrilled with the news
that Parks on the Air has added two new countries. Here's Vance Martin,
N3VEM, with the latest.
VANCE: In Parks on the Air News, in October we welcomed Ireland and India
to Parks on the Air! So please join me in saying dia duit and namaste to
our newest POTA friends! October was another record-setting month, with
an all-time high for both number of activators and number of QSOs, with
1,630 activators making a combined 329,019 QSOs.
In our last news item for the month, POTA is excited to officially
announce that for our 2022 summer plaque event, we will be adding several plaques for DX QSOs. There will be up to 6 DX plaques available, pending sponsorship - one each for the most QSOs made as an activator outside of
the continental United States for IARU Regions 1, 2, and 3, and 1 each
for hunters who make the most QSOs with activators in those same regions.
If you or your organization is interested in sponsoring one of these new
DX plaques in 2022, please send an email to
n3vem@parksontheair.com for details.
This is November 3 Victor Echo Mike with your October Parks on the air
Update. Be sure to visit parksontheair.com for information about the
program, and pota.app for spotting, park information, leader boards, and
more.
(PARKS ON THE AIR)
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From
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All on Fri Nov 19 09:17:24 2021
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the KA1AAA
repeater and Echolink Conference server in Bradenton, Florida, on Sundays
at 0000 UTC.
**
FRANCE DROPS FEE FOR AMATEUR EXAM
DON/ANCHOR: There is some good news for candidates for the amateur radio
exam in France: They can put away their wallets. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH,
gives us the details.
JEREMY: Candidates for the amateur radio exam in France no longer pay a
fee for the test and the operator certificate. France's National
Frequency Agency made the announcement recently on its website, advising
hams who have already paid that they may be eligible for reimbursement.
The qualifying terms of that reimbursement will shortly be posted on the agency's portal. Letters will also be sent out to qualify amateurs,
enabling them to apply for a return of the fees.
This announcement is the latest reduction in costs for ham radio
operators in France. In 2019, the ANFR removed the annual fee for the
radio licence itself.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SOUTHGATE, ANFR, ICQ PODCAST)
**
NETS OF NOTE: THE ILLINI NET'S BUSY WITH POSTGRADUATE ACTIVITIES
DON/ANCHOR: Our occasional series, "Nets of Note," looks at how and where
hams gather on the air. Paul Braun, WD9GCO, introduces us to a dedicated collective of university alumni with an especially dedicated net control.
PAUL: We love to celebrate our seniors in the hobby, and Earl Finder
W9CGZ, at 98 years old, definitely qualifies. Yes, he's been licensed
since 1947, but what brought him to our attention was the fact that he's
been running the Illini Net out of Champaign/Urbana, Illinois daily since 1976! According to Finder, it all started when he retired:
FINDER: When I retired, I made arrangements with a ham who had lived here
but moved to California to get on the air the next day. And we did - we thought we’d just get on the air once in a while, but eventually it got
to the point where we were on there every day!
Eventually it got pretty widespread around the country with a lot of
people from Champaign/Urbana, Illinois where I live, and graduates from
the University of Illinois, and people who were stationed at Chanute
Field for many years and little by little it just grew until we had quite
a few people from all over the country who would check in.
PAUL: Finder told me it's not just for U of I graduates or people from
that area:
FINDER: We have all kinds of people - we have PhDs, research scientists,
NASA engineers, we've had people contact us while flying airliners over
the US, military pilots while they were in the air, people on ships and on-the-road truck drivers, too. All kinds of people.
PAUL: If you want to check out the Illini Net, it starts every day at
11:30 AM Central on 14.320MHz, plus or minus. Sounds like a great way to
meet a wide variety of hams.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, be listening for the callsign HF150KCH and 3Z150PO
(Three Zed One Fifty Pee Oh), activated by the Klubu (Clue-Boo) Lacznosci (Watch-Nawgee), SP2KFQ, from their club station until November 30th. The activation is part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the
first railway line in Chojnice (Hoy-Kneetsuh), where their club station
is located. QSL to the PZKBureau OT09 to SP2KFQ. See the club's QR Zed
webpage for details on how to apply for the award for the 150th
anniversary of the railway line.
Be listening for Vladimir, OK2WX, who is on the air as 5H3WX from
Zanzibar until the 3rd of December. Listen on 80 through 10 metres where
he will be using CW and SSB. Send QSLs to HA3JB.
Listen for John Paul, KN6NNF, in Uganda where he is using the callsign
5X3Z on 20 and 10 meters using FT8. QSL to 5X3Z via LoTW.
(OHIO PENN DX)
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From
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All on Fri Nov 26 09:13:41 2021
IARU GIVES HIGH HONORS TO THREE FOR LEADERSHIP
JIM/ANCHOR: It's not every year that the International Amateur
Radio Union's Administrative Council honors a ham with an award
bearing the name of a much-admired and respected Silent Key. This
year, however, there is a recipient - and two other honorees.
Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has the details.
JEREMY: IARU Region 1 president Don Beattie, G3BJ, a former
president of the Radio Society of Great Britain, has another title
to his name now: Recipient of the Michael J Owen VK3KI Award,
recognizing volunteer contributions that the IARU called
reflective of the spirit of Michael Owen's four decades of
service.
The IARU also chose two recipients for its Diamond Award, another
honour reflecting unwavering service. They are Gopal Madhavan,
VU2GMN/M0GDB, and Ken Yamamoto, JA1CJP. Gopal was selected based
on his service on Region 3's executive committee which he has
chaired at times. Likewise, Ken has served as its secretary and
its chairman.
Michael Owen, who had served as president of the Wireless
Institute of Australia, had also been a director and the chairman
of IARU Region 3 and held numerous other roles over the years,
contributing to the World Administrative Radio Conference in 1970
and the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2003. He became a
Silent Key in September 2012.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SOUTHGATE, IARU)
**
YOUNGEST AMATEURS READY FOR YOTA MONTH
JIM/ANCHOR: With the arrival of December, some of the youngest
voices in amateur radio will be calling QRZ. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG,
tells us what's happening.
NEIL: The calendar may show that next month is December but the
amateur radio calendar calls it something else: YOTA month. Next
month's 31 days are devoted to encouraging youngsters around the
world to get on the air using the letters Y O T A as their suffix
in their callsigns. International YOTA stations will be calling
QRZ with operators in their teens and early 20s. Be listening for
ZS9YOTA from South Africa, 5B4YOTA from Cyprus, OD5YOTA from
Lebanon and K8Y, K8O, K8T, and K8A from the US. There are many
others and the bands are expected to be busy as the young radio
operators vie for various awards and plaques.
Hams making contacts with these YOTA stations are advised, as
always, to remember that they might just be that young radio
operator's first contact -- so make it memorable.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.
(YOTA)
**
RECORD DEAL IS MUSIC TO HAM'S EARS
JIM/ANCHOR: An English rock musician who also happens to be a ham
has just signed a record deal that's music to his ears. Jeremy
Boot, G4NJH, brings us that story.
JEREMY: As a ham, Dave Rowntree, M0IEG, is used to being in the
shack, operating solo.
Now he's getting a chance to make a solo debut on the air in a
different way. Known as the percussionist with the English rock
group Blur, Dave has just been signed by a recording label for a
debut solo album.
Dave has already done a number of film and TV scores, including
those for Netflix and the BBC, but the album's release next year
on the label Cooking Vinyl is going to be all his own show.
Music Week reported the deal on November 17th on its website,
where Dave said [quote]: "As a kid I used to spend hours spinning
the dial on my radio, dreaming of escape to all the places whose
exotic stations I heard. I've tried to make an album like that -
tuning through the spectrum, stopping at each song telling a story
about a turning point in my life, then spinning the dial and
moving on." [endquote]
Congratulations, Dave.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(MUSICWEEK.COM, SOUTHGATE)
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From
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All on Fri Dec 3 02:19:59 2021
SUCCESS WAS IN THE (QSL) CARDS
NEIL/ANCHOR: For one ham club in Massachusetts, a recent QSL sorting party became a celebration party. Andy Morrison, K9AWM, shares the details.
ANDY: The recent QSL sorting party of the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio
Club was anything but routine. As they handled the coveted confirmations
of DX contacts, preparing the cards to be sent to their recipients, the volunteer crew found itself on the receiving end of something as well: The Massachusetts club was presented with a plaque from the ARRL's DX QSL
Bureau System for the group's 25 years of service to the ARRL regional
bureau. Club president Bruce Blain, K1BG, accepted the honor on behalf of
the club from the bureau's comanager, Eric Williams, KV1J.
With hams enjoying a better sunspot cycle now, there's likely to be lots
more DX on the horizon so the club can look forward to sorting many more
of those cards for the foreseeable future.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
(JOE REYNOLDS KA1GDQ)
**
CHANGES COMING FOR AUSTRALIAN LICENSEES
NEIL/ANCHOR: Australia's regulator is seeking input on two proposed
changes affecting amateur radio licensees. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, brings us
that story.
GRAHAM: Australia's communications regulator has proposed syllabus changes impacting the Advanced, which is the Full amateur licence and, in a
separate move, seeks to restrict further issuance of two callsign suffixes associated with emergencies.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority's proposal for the
Advanced licence would adopt the exam syllabus from the CEPT
Recommendations, making the certificate of proficiency fully compatible
with CEPT HAREC.
Separately, the regulator is seeking to drop callsign suffixes SOS and PAN from future allocations because of their association with international emergency and distress calls. Hams with callsigns already containing these suffixes will not be affected. Going forward, the suffixes will be added instead to a list of reserved call signs.
The regulator invites comments on both of these proposals and asks hams to respond no later than the close of business, Australia time, on Monday,
the 13th of December. A link to the survey is in the text version of this newscast on our website arnewsline.org.
In another move, hams have been notified that the ACMA now requires all equipment sold or imported into Australia to comply with ARPANSA's electromagnetic energy exposure levels, simplifying the mandatory testing procedure for most amateurs.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ:
https://tinyurl.com/yc7w3hz8 ]
(ACMA)
**
SPECIAL ACTIVATION MARKS PEARL HARBOR'S BOMBING
NEIL/ANCHOR: The US Battleship Iowa's original Navy callsign, NEPM, will
be heard on the air on Tuesday, December 7th, marking the anniversary of Japan's surprise aerial bombing of the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in
1941. That attack spurred the United States' entry into World War II.
The US Navy's Third Fleet Spectrum Manager has authorized the callsign's activation by the Battleship Iowa Amateur Radio Association and the Iowa's Innovation and Engineering Team. The hams will be operating split; be listening for them on 14.781.5 MHz and answer their call using 14.343 MHz.
The activation will take place between 1600 and 2359 UTC.
For more details, visit the QRZ.COM page for NEPM.
(BATTLESHIP IOWA AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION)
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From
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All on Fri Dec 10 01:21:26 2021
WEBINAR CELEBRATES INDIA'S WIRELESS PIONEER BOSE
PAUL/ANCHOR: Hams in India gathered recently to celebrate one of radio's pioneers and to share his story. John Williams, VK4JJW, brings us that
report.
JOHN: Celebrated for his studies into transmitting and receiving on
radio's shortwave frequencies - and for his spirit of experimentation -
the pioneering Indian scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose was the focus of a webinar held by the West Bengal Radio Club. The one-hour webinar took
place on November 30th but is now available for viewing on the club's
YouTube channel. The programme opens with a presentation by biophysicist Gautam Basu who told attendees [quote] "He took a road that no one took
before and that is why we should remember him." [endquote] The scientist,
who died in 1937, was born in what is now Bangladesh. He is credited with developments that eventually led to Guglielmo Marconi's creation of the wireless receiver.
For a link to the YouTube channel, and the webinar, see the text version
of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
[FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h35q4xPskFM]
(YOUTUBE)
**
FCC NIXES HAM CLUB'S EDUCATIONAL FM CHANNEL PROPOSAL
PAUL/ANCHOR: A Seattle, Washington area amateur radio club had its applications for noncommercial educational FM channels tossed out by the
FCC, which told the club there were too many technical defects in the proposal. According to a Report in Radio World, the Fort Ward Amateur
Radio Club on Bainbridge Island had a number of issues that needed
addressing, including what the FCC cited as failure to comply with interference treaty agreements between the US and Canada.
The FCC allows unsuccessful applicants to reapply with an amendment fixing
the issues, provided they do so within 30 days of the rejection.
(RADIO WORLD, SOUTHGATE)
**
QSO TODAY VIRTUAL HAM EXPO SEEKS PRESENTERS
PAUL/ANCHOR: If you have a skill to share, an insight to explain or some
other contribution you'd like to make to the world's amateur radio
community, you may want to offer a presentation at the next QSO Today
Virtual Ham Expo, which is taking place on the weekend of March 12th and
13th, 2022. Stephen Kinford, N8WB, has details.
STEPHEN: With the new year just around the corner, planning is already
well under way for the next QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo. Hams and other presenters are being asked to consider sharing on various aspects of the
hobby in which they have expertise. According to the QSO Today website,
the ongoing search is an international one, with hams being asked to
present from around the world to the thousands who attend the virtual
two-day conference. Presentations are generally recorded for playback
during the event, followed by a live question-and-answer period. Accommodations can be made for presentations in languages other than
English.
The QSO Today website has an online application for prospective speakers.
If you wish to apply, follow the link included in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB.
https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/speakercall.html
(QSO TODAY)
**
POTA PLANNING TWO WINTER EVENTS
PAUL/ANCHOR: Parks chasers and activators are looking forward to two
winter events. With that report is Vance Martin, N3VEM.
VANCE: In Parks on the Air News: As the seasons start to change we at POTA would like to remind you of two upcoming winter events. The first is the Annual "New Beginnings / New Year's" certificate. To Earn one of these certificates, simply make at least one contact as a POTA Activator or
Hunter, in the first week of 2022. We can't think of a better way to ring
in the New Year, than by doing so with Parks on the air. Also landing in January is our next "Seasonal Support Your Parks Event." The first
seasonal event of 2022 is on January 15th and 16th, which gives you a
great opportunity to do some wintertime POTA. For those of you in the
north, just remember to dress warm, fire up your portable heaters if
you’re lucky enough to have them, and stay safe! Lastly, be sure to tune
in to your favorite ham radio media outlets in early January, as next month’s POTA update will include not only the December release, but the year-end summary for 2021 as well. We look forward to having you join us
as we celebrate a spectacular year of Parks on the Air.
This is November 3 Victor Echo Mike, with your Month Ending November 2021 Parks on the air Update. Be sure to visit parksontheair.com for
information about the program, and pota.app for spotting, park
information, leader boards, and more.
(POTA)
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From
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All on Fri Dec 17 08:37:12 2021
HANDBOOK'S 76TH EDITION TO BE ITS FINAL ONE
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A treasured broadcast handbook will soon be out of
print. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has that report.
JEREMY: The World Radio TV Handbook an invaluable guide to broadcast
radio around the globe, has ceased publication. The publisher has
announced that its soon-to-be-released 76th edition will be its last.
A statement from the publisher, Nicholas Hardyman, read: [quote]
"This has been an extremely difficult decision, and was only made
after a lot of thought and discussion. We know that many people rely
on WRTH, and greatly enjoy getting the new edition every year. We
realise that this news will be disappointing for many people."
[endquote]
The directory, with more than 600 pages of listings and maps, was
valued as a comprehensive compendium of medium wave, shortwave, and
FM broadcasts, and included a section on clandestine broadcasters.
Based in the UK, but providing global coverage, it has long been
considered a reliable guide for DXers and devoted radio listeners.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(YOUTUBE, EI7GL BLOG)
**
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the K5VOM repeater in Greenville, Texas, on Mondays at 7:30 p.m.
**
KIDS GIVE SANTA 10 OVER ON THESE NETS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The Santa Net, hosted by the hams of the 3916 Nets,
is back on the air in the United States through December 24th. Radio
operators are providing youngsters with this on-air opportunity to
let Santa know what their top two or three gift wishes are. Hams are
asked to please remember to ensure the contact is in compliance with
all FCC Rules and Regulations governing third party traffic. Check-ins
start at 7 p.m. Central Time on 80 metres. You can also reserve a spot
by visiting the website www.cqsanta.com where you'll find videos of
past QSOs with Santa.
Meanwhile, on Echolink, the 11th annual Santa Watch Net will take place
on Christmas Eve on the DoDropIn channel starting at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
As the four-hour net gets under way, David, N3NTV, will be using NORAD
radar to track Santa. For details visit the website dodropin.net
(DODROPIN, 3916 NETS)
**
HOP ABOARD THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Another favorite holiday special event is already well
under way. Hope aboard the Christmas Train. Here's Jim Damron, N8TMW,
with details.
JIM: The special event Christmas Train may have its station in West
Virginia, but this is a train that can cross the United States and
even pull into some DX locations on a moment's notice. The HF bands
are its express tracks. Listen for the Christmas train, callsign K8C,
on 80, 40, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters, using both SSB and CW. The
train is making stops right up through Christmas Day, when it will
operate on a partial schedule. You already have your ticket: so....
hop aboard the train!
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.
(QRZ)
**
FINNISH HAMS PUT OF9X AND HIS 'ELVES' BACK ON THE AIR
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: At this time of the year, we need to ask: do you
believe in the magic of DX? There are few DXes more elusive or rare
than this one. Here's Ed Durrant, DD5LP, to tell us about it.
ED: Are you ho-ho-hoping to score one big DX, before 2021 shuts its
door? The Finnish Amateur Radio League, S.R.A.L., may be able to help
make that happen. The league has been on the air as OF9X and OF2YOTA
since early this month, and will continue through to the end of
December. Here's a hint: OF9X is compiling his log and checking it
twice -- and his phonetics are "Old Father Nine Christmas." Are you
feeling the holiday spirit yet? Even if you only believe in the powers
of CW, SSB, or Digital, you can still add OF9X to your wish list of
contacts. You can also work his elves who are using the callsign of
OF2YOTA. The league is marking its centennial year, so that means you
get an extra present under your tree: Both callsigns, along with the
callsign OI3AX, active earlier this month, count toward the S.R.A.L.
Jubilee award.
Send QSL cards for OF9X to OH2BH. Send QSL cards for OF2YOTA to OH5CZ.
Now get on the air, and let your rig's screen light up like a Christmas
tree.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
QRZ.COM
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From
Daryl Stout@618:250/33 to
All on Thu Dec 23 20:43:32 2021
DUTCH REGULATORS CRACK DOWN ON ANTI-5G DEVICES
DON/ANCHOR: Fearing radioactive transmissions from 5G mobile networks'
towers, people in the Netherlands may have placed themselves in greater
danger by wearing what they believe to be protective devices. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has that story.
JEREMY: The very devices such as necklaces, bracelets and sleep masks that have made claims to shield people from what some fear is radioactivity from
5G mobile networks' towers, according to Dutch officials, have themselves
been emitting ionising radiation at hazardous levels.
A report in the BBC says that the Dutch authority for nuclear safety and radiation protection (ANVS) have issued a warning about the products,
telling people there could be long term hazardous effects. The agency has ordered a halt to the sale of these devices.
The BBC report quoted the World Health Organization's assertion that like amateur radio signals, 5G mobile networks make use of non-ionising radio
waves that do not pose a danger, adding that they are similar to the 3G and
4G networks already in use.
Some people fear damage to their DNA from such transmissions and in extreme cases, this has led to attacks on the transmitters and towers.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(BBC)
**
ALL HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS IS SOME DX
DON/ANCHOR: A father and son in Washington State have been celebrating the holiday season, ham radio style. Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, has that report.
RALPH: There's little question what might have been on Jacob Hoschar's Christmas list this year. The Washington State youngster had already celebrated having his first wish fulfilled: getting upgraded from
Technician to General Class. That made KY7HAM a very happy 11-year-old
indeed. Now he's ready for the world of HF and all of its adventures. The journey began a year ago when Jacob's school was shut during the pandemic.
He and his father, Andrew, studied together to become hams together and got their licenses one week apart from one another. Their father-son journey is documented on the YouTube channel set up by proud father, K7OWN. One of the videos shows Jacob making his first contact via satellite. Now with his appetite sufficiently whetted for DX, he's ready to cross oceans and continents via radio and start filling that log. For this freshly minted General Class operator, the world is his, this holiday season.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, members of the Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society in
the UK are using the following special callsigns to celebrate Christmas in Market Harborough and saying farewell to 2021. They'll be on the air
through December 31st. Be listening for GB1XMS on 30 meters using CW;
GB2XMS, on HF using SSB and FT8; GB5XMS , mainly using Data as well as CW
and SSB; and GB9XMS, using mainly FT8. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
Be listening throughout January for special event station OZ50Q. Danish
Radio Amateurs will be marking the 50th anniversary of Her Majesty
Margrethe II, the Queen of Denmark's, accession to the throne. Send QSLs to OZ1ACB, ClubLog's OQRS, eQSL or LoTW.
Get ready for an international radio marathon called Russian New Year 2022. The Russian Union of Radio amateurs, the Miller-DX-Club and the
HAMLOG.ONLINE portal will begin the marathon starting at 0000 UTC on
December 25th and finish at 2100 UTC on January 14th. Callsigns include,
but are not limited to, RG22NY, RJ22NY, RK22NY, RL22NY and RM22NY. For the full list see the website mdxc.ru. The QSL manager for all the special callsigns is RQ7L.
Bob, PY6TV, and a small team of Brazilian radio operators will be using the callsign ZY6A from Friars Island, Brazil, between January 20th and the
23rd. Listen on all HF bands for all modes.
(OHIO PENN DX)
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PARKS ON THE AIR TALLIES UP ITS 2021 CONTACTS
NEIL/ANCHOR: Parks on the Air activators and chasers had a busy year
in 2021. Vance Martin, N3VEM, gives us the year's numbers.
VANCE: In Parks on the Air News, with 2021 now in the books, Parks on
the Air would like to thank the nearly 4,000 activators, and 122,000
hunters who combined forces to make over 2.6 million contacts from
over 10,000 parks in 45 different DXCC entities for 2021.
Of particular note, we would like to congratulate Bill, K4NYM, who
completed 1,260 activations for the year and David, NG5E who activated
421 different parks. Congratulations are also due to Gene, NT2A, who
hunted 5,458 parks, and Joe, N3XLS, who made 11,467 hunter QSOs in
2021.
We also want to give special acknowledgment to two hunters, N5HA,
Kenneth Bailey, and W9AV, Clint Sprott, who managed to hunt at least
one park every day in 2021. There are several folks including myself
who are going to attempt the same feat in 2022, so stay tuned to the
monthly POTA updates to see how the 2022 Bailey-Sprott Park-a-Day
challenge is progressing, or follow along on twitter on instagram
using the hashtags #baileysprott and #parkaday
This is November 3 Victor Echo Mike with your 2021 December and Year
End Parks on the Air Update. Be sure to visit parksontheair.com for
information about the program, and pota.app for spotting, park
information, leader boards, and more.
(POTA)
**
PRIDE RADIO GROUP TO HOST FIRST CONTEST
NEIL/ANCHOR: Pride Radio Group, an Australian group with an
international membership, is getting ready to host its first
contest. Luke Erlacher, VK3UKW, brings us that story.
LUKE: Pride Radio Group has been a home and a champion for
underrepresented groups in amateur radio for a little more than
a year, and we are now planning our first contest.
The international CQ Pride contest will run through the first weekend
of June to celebrate Pride Month 2022.
The contest is open to all amateurs worldwide as single or multi
operator entries, with bonus points for working diversity oriented
amateur radio groups, newly licensed amateurs, and low-power operation.
Some details such as log submission are still being finalised, but mark
June 4 to June 6 on your calendars.
Pride Radio Group is an international group that aims to further
acceptance and inclusion for underrepresented groups in amateur radio.
This has been Luke, VK3UKW, for Pride Radio Group, VK3PRG.
NEIL/ANCHOR: Find the contest rules in the text version of this week's
Newsline script.
[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ:
https://prideradio.group/contest]
(PRIDE RADIO GROUP)
**
DXING COMES TO THE DESERT AT QUARTZFEST
NEIL/ANCHOR: As amateurs gear up for the big Quartzfest gathering in
Arizona, some hams are ready to go the distance -- the biggest
distance they can. Here's Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, with the details.
RALPH: Think of the upcoming competition as "DXing in the desert,"
because that's just what it is -- and think of two of the contest's
past winners, such as Fred Scully, K0VK, and Richard McGaver, NK9G,
as being ready to rumble later this month. It's all friendly fun,
really, which is what amateur radio and camping out in Arizona's
Sonora Desert should be. During the one-week ham radio event known
as QuartzFest, a small but active club known as the Northern Arizona
DX Association is challenging everyone there to see just how far their
signals can reach while operating out among the tall cacti. The founder
of the Distance Challenge, Bob Wertz, NF7E, said this will be the DX challenge's third year: He was inspired to suggest it after he attended QuartzFest in 2018, and with the help of co-chairman Ron Gerlak, KG7OH,
the club made it happen. This year, QuartzFest takes place between the
23rd and the 29th of January. The challenge itself will take place on
the three days: Monday, January 24th; Tuesday, January 25th; and
Thursday, January 27th. Be there - or at least, be listening. You could
be the next big DX that makes someone a winner.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.
(BOB WERTZ, NF7E)
**
HAMSCI WORKSHOP GETS GRANT, SEEKS PRESENTERS
NEIL/ANCHOR: The National Science Foundation has just given a grant to
HamSCI, which is meanwhile looking for presenters for its March workshop. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, brings us that story.
KEVIN: Congratulations to Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, founder of the Ham
Radio Science Citizen Investigation, or HamSCI, on being selected to
receive a National Science Foundation grant of nearly $50,000 toward
HamSCI's next workshop in March. The workshop will be held at the US
Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama on the 18th and 19th of
March, and will feature in-person as well as virtual activities. Its
focus this year is HamSCI's Personal Space Weather Station project,
which was previously granted $1.3 million from the National Science
Foundation. One of the project's goals is to gauge the impact weather
has on upper levels of the Earth's atmosphere. The findings are expected
to rely heavily on input from amateur radio operators.
Meanwhile, the workshop is calling for abstracts from prospective
presenters. Abstracts should be submitted no later than February 1st,
and successful speaker candidates will be notified by February 16th.
To submit an abstract, upload the document using the button that can
found at hamsci dot org stroke hamsci2022 (hamsci.org/hamsci2022)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
(HamSCI)
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AUSTRALIAN CLUB BEGINS DISASTER COMMUNICATION SESSIONS
PAUL/ANCHOR: It's only a beginning, but one amateur radio club in
Australia has taken the important first steps in helping residents
in local districts, or shires, to communicate better during
disasters. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, brings us that story.
GRAHAM: Radio's resiliency during trying times has become the focus
of a new Special Interest Group convened by the Bendigo Amateur
Radio and Electronics Club. The group held its first meeting on
Saturday, January 15th, focusing on needs in the Shire of Mt.
Alexander. Using the Zoom platform, the meeting drew
representatives from a disaster-preparedness group, other amateur
radio clubs in Victoria and a number of candidates studying for
their amateur radio licence.
Coordinator Tony Falla, VK3KKP, told Newsline that there were even
some attendees who are not intending to become hams but nonetheless
want to be able to listen to the amateur frequencies and pass along
messages, sometimes by citizens band radio, when disaster strikes.
Tony is calling the special interest group the Mt. Alexander Radio
Watch and said its purpose is to create a network of listeners, not
to launch a rescue group. He said the Bendigo club is also working
with the Greater Bendigo Council to create a mechanism to link area
residents with the local council if they experience difficulties
during disasters.
Tony said the process will be ongoing in Mt. Alexander and that
other special interest groups are being organised shire by shire.
Meanwhile he said he hopes other shires will set up similar groups
of their own and perhaps send a representative to the next Mt.
Alexander meeting.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(TONY FALLA, VK3KKP)
**
SVALBARD ACTIVATION TO INCLUDE SATELLITE CONTACTS
PAUL/ANCHOR: Braving the cold, a group of DXpeditioners is heading
to the Arctic Ocean for an island activation that includes some
hoped-for satellite contacts. John Williams, VK4JJW, brings us that
report.
JOHN: Svalbard, which is considered the world's northernmost
habitable place, is home to about 2,000 residents and - for better
or worse - more than 3,000 polar bears. In April it will also
become home to a team of amateur radio operators who are launching
the first DXpedition from that location to make use of the QO-100
satellite. According to the team's website, although it will prove
daunting enough to operate CW, SSB, RTTY, FT4 and FT8 following a
snowmobile trip to their location in temperatures as cold as minus
25 degrees Celsius, the team will face the bigger challenge of
completing QSOs via satellite. The team's website states that this
region is on the very edge of the satellite's footprint and permits
a view of QO-100 at only 3 degrees above the horizon. Erik de Mey,
ON4ANN, and Max van Rymenant, ON5UR, considered such a challenge
early last year with Svalbard in mind. The team will be using the
callsign JW100Q0 for its satellite contacts between April 22nd and
24th. HF contacts will be made with the callsign JW0X between April
19th and 26th. Mark your calendar.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
(AMSAT, DX ADVENTURE WEBSITE))
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SILENT KEY: SPACE ADVOCATE CHUCK BIGGS SR., WA5GNB/KC5RG
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A Texas amateur known for his devotion to NASA programs
and to the Military Auxiliary Radio System, or MARS, has become a Silent
Key. Chuck Biggs Sr., WA5GNB and KC5RG, died on January 18th in hospice
care in Houston. The Arkansas native was a US Air Force veteran who took
a civilian position with NASA's then-new Manned Spacecraft Center, which
was later to be renamed the Johnson Space Center. His three decades of
effort with NASA led him to ultimately become vice president of the
Manned Space Flight Education Foundation. Chuck had also been involved
in SAREX, the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment and OSCAR, the Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio programs. The Space Center named him
ham radio operator of the year in 1987.
A bronze plaque hangs at the Space Center today, bearing his name and likeness. Chuck was 84.
(LEGACY.COM)
**
RESEARCHERS' TRANSISTORS OPERATE USING SOUND WAVES
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Imagine a transistor that uses sound waves. Researchers
have done more than imagine it: they've created it. Andy Morrison,
K9AWM, explains.
ANDY: They're called acoustic topological transistors and unlike devices presently in use, they operate using sound waves, not electrons.
Researchers say that one of the transistors' key assets is its ability
to function with almost no dissipation of energy. The electrons are
designed to flow with no resistance.
According to a January 19th post on the IEEE Spectrum website, the
creation of these transistors was made possible with the use of
acoustical topological insulators. This follows the development in 2007
of something related: electronic topological insulators. These
insulators protect electrons' flow from any disturbances. Oxford
University researcher Harris Pirie said the development of these newest transistors will find applications in such fields as one-way acoustic propagation, ultrasound imaging, acoustic noise reduction, echolocation, acoustic cloaking and acoustic communications.
He said that because the physics of sound waves and the physics of light
waves are so alike, the same design principles that scientists used for creating acoustic topological transistors would be useful as well for
similar devices using light.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
(IEEE SPECTRUM)
**
CYBERATTACK HITS GERMANY RADIO CLUB WEBSITE
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Hams in Germany are being reassured that their personal
data has not been affected by a cyberattack on the DARC website. Ed
Durrant, DD5LP, tells us more.
ED: The Deutscher Amateur Radio Club is reassuring hams in Germany that
a cyberattack on the group's website, which exploited the vulnerability
of a plug-in, does not appear to have compromised any members' data. The
DARC said it successfully halted the January 15th attack and will not
restore the full website to online status until it is convinced the site
is completely secured again. A statement by the DARC board reaffirmed to members that their personal data is kept in folders that are distinct
from the website and members' passwords to the website itself are stored encrypted. The board said it believed the attack was automated and was
not launched specifically to collect members' data. Meanwhile, an IT
company has been asked to conduct a forensic investigation.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(DARC)
**
NORDIC RADIO SOCIETY PLANS FOR LATEST HF CONFERENCE
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The Nordic Radio Society's HF Conference promises to be
an international event, as we hear from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: Thirty-three years after their first HF Conference, the Nordic
Radio Society is preparing to host a return to Fr, [pronounced:
Foor- ] the small Swedish island in the Baltic Sea where all previous
such events have taken place.
This year's conference is scheduled from 15th to 17th August and should,
as usual, draw a substantial international attendance; they have been
held consistently every three years. Organisers note on their webpage
that the popularity of the programme has grown substantially since the
first in 1986, the agenda now including exhibits and talks, with
participants from all around the world. The society encourages
interested attendees to submit presentation papers now, the deadline
being 15th February. Previous conferences have addressed such subjects
as propagation, building resiliency for HF networks, achieving higher efficiency using low bandwidth links, and robust communications through
HF skywave channels using a filter bank spread spectrum technique.
To learn more about the conference, visit the link that appears in the
text version of this week's newscast.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(NORDIC RADIO SOCIETY)
[Note: link is missing - will be re-added later -- the editor has been
emailed. DS]
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AMATEURS CLAIM NEW QSO DISTANCE RECORDS USING SATELLITES
DON/ANCHOR: Some new long-distance records are being claimed for contacts using amateur radio satellites. Congratulations to Juan Felipe, A65GC, and Jerome, F4DXV, for their QSO on HO-113 made on the 13th of January between
the United Arab Emirates and France. Their contact at 1952 UTC reportedly spanned a distance of 5,298 km, or nearly 3,300 miles. Jerome, F4DXV, also reported a contact with Sergei, ES4RM, which would be a new record for AO-
109.
That contact between Estonia and France on the 22nd of December last year, they believe covered 2,445 km, or 1,500 miles, setting a new record for
that satellite. Their contacts were reported on the AMSAT News Service.
Well done!
(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)
**
SPECIAL EVENT MARKS 90 YEARS OF AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORP
DON/ANCHOR: Australian amateurs are paying tribute to nine decades of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. They're doing it by - what else? - getting on the air. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has those details.
JIM: Just weeks after hams in the UK began operating with a special
callsign marking the 100th anniversary of the British Broadcasting
Corporation, similar on-the-air festivities are taking place Down Under:
Ham radio operators in Australia are using the callsign VK90ABC to mark
the 90-year anniversary of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It's
a nod to that memorable moment when the nation's airwaves came alive on
the 23rd of November in 1923, with Australia's first licensed public
radio broadcast, which featured the St. Andrews Choir. All amateur radio operators throughout Australia will be eligible to use the callsign, but
must apply for it first through an email to info at vk 90 abc dot net. (
info@k90abc.net)
According to the callsign's QRZ page, there will be no QSLs sent direct
or by the bureau. Contacts are to be confirmed via LoTW and eQSL, with
logs uploaded once a month.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(VK90ABC.NET)
**
SPECIAL EVENT STATION BEING HELD AT LINCOLN HISTORIC SITE
DON/ANCHOR: Another special event, this one in the US, marks the life
of an American president, as we hear from Skeeter Nash, N5ASH.
SKEETER: There's a lot of history in the logs of the log cabin in Lerna, Illinois, home of the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site. The cabin
was home to Thomas Lincoln and Sarah Bush Lincoln, father and stepmother
of Abraham Lincoln, the lawyer who was to become the 16th president of
the United States. The National Trail Amateur Radio Club is marking
Lincoln's February birthday by putting two callsigns on the air between February 7th and 13th. Be listening for K9L, which will be used by
members operating from their home QTH; and W9L which will be used at
the historic site itself.
There will be commemorative QSL cards for successful contacts on all
bands in all modes. The 86-acre historic site is no stranger to
important moments in history, and this amateur radio event expects to
be one of them. To learn more about how to get in the log - the radio
log, in this case - visit the QRZ page for either call sign.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH.
(NATIONAL TRAIL AMATEUR RADIO CLUB)
**
MYSTERIOUS PULSES DETECTED BY AUSTRALIAN RADIO TELESCOPE
DON/ANCHOR: What's that up in the sky? A radio telescope in Australia
has picked up some unusual signals and Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us what
they might just be.
GRAHAM: We've all heard strange transmissions on the air but perhaps
none as strange as these: A radio telescope in Western Australia has
been picking up highly polarised signals in a repeating series of
pulses, suggesting that the bright object which appears to be its
source possesses a strong magnetic field. The scientists at the
International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research are detecting the
radio waves at a rate of three times an hour. An astrophysicist at
Curtin University believes this might be a magnetar, something that
only existed in theory until recently. Researchers have known about
the bright object since it was first seen in March of 2018.
The more than 4,000 low-frequency antennas of the Murchison Widefield
Array are picking up transmissions, which originate some 4,000
light-years away from Earth. Curtin University astrophysicist Natasha Hurley-Walker has stated that no, this isn't coming from aliens. To
solve the mystery, researchers at the Pawsey Supercomputing Center in
Perth will be exploring data from similar pulsing objects to compare
to this one.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(INTERESTINGENGINEERING.COM)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the W8GK repeater in Charleston, West Virginia on Sundays at 8:30 p.m. local time after check-
ins during the Kanawha Amateur Radio Club Two Meter Net.
**
TIME TO APPLY FOR YOUTH ON THE AIR CAMP
JIM/ANCHOR: It's time to apply for Youth on the Air camp. Stephen Kinford, N8WB, explains how.
STEPHEN: The application period has opened for the Youth on the Air camp
being held June 12th through June 17th. Young amateurs in IARU Region 2
who are ages 15 through 25 are welcome to attend this year's camp which
will take place again at the National Voice of America Museum of
Broadcasting in West Chester Township, Ohio. Application deadline is March
1st and the application process is free. Campers will be notified by March 15th if they are accepted, and those accepted will need to send a $100 deposit. The camp is encouraging young amateurs to attend from different
areas of North, Central and South America. For information about
scholarships, waivers and travel assistance, visit the website YouthOnTheAir.org
If there are changes in the COVID-19 pandemic status or CDC guidelines, organizers are committed to notifying everyone as much in advance as
possible if that has an impact on the camp.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB.
(YOUTH ON THE AIR)
**
CONTEST SEEKS YOUNG AMATEURS WITH COMMUNITY SPIRIT
JIM/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, a special honor is awaiting a young amateur who has shown extraordinary care and initiative in helping the community on and
off the air. The Young Ham Lends a Hand Contest is being by Carole Perry, WB2MGP, director of Youth Activities for the Radio Club of America. It is sponsored by the RCA and the Quarter Century Wireless Association. Any
young amateur can be nominated for their volunteer efforts, whether the youngster has aided someone in the military, the community, a senior -- or even has acted as a mentor to other amateurs. The application forms are
due in by the first of April and the winner receives a $100 stipend.
The winner will be announced at the Youth Forum held at Hamvention in
Xenia, Ohio. For details contact Carole Perry at
wb2mgp@gmail.com
(CAROLE PERRY, WB2MGP)
**
RSGB PUBLISHES NEW BAND PLANS
JIM/ANCHOR: If you're in the UK, look for the release of the new band
plans. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us more.
JEREMY: The band plans published each year by the Radio Society of Great Britain are now available.
They are based on the band plans of IARU Region 1, but allow for national variations and special amendments. The 2022 plans can be found in the
February edition of RadCom, the RSGB's magazine. There is also a master version published online as an Excel file which includes all the notes of changes made.
Acting on feedback from amateur radio operators, the Society has added new tabs in the Excel version, labelled by frequency, but hams who prefer the earlier version of labelling by wavelengths retain that option too. The
band plan is expected to be reviewed during the course of the year.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(RSGB)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the KB3AWQ
repeater in Williamsport Pennsylvania on Thursdays at 9 p.m. Eastern
Time.
**
REGISTER NOW FOR ST. PATRICK'S SPECIAL EVENT
PAUL/ANCHOR: February is a short month so it's not too early to start
thinking about St. Patrick's Day - and that's just what some hams around
the world have been doing. Here's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, with the details.
JEREMY: Amateurs and shortwave listeners around the world have signed up
to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day and vie for special awards during the 48 hours between the 16th and 18th of March. Organisers of the special St. Patrick's Awards event have created a web page with details that include categories in which radio operators and listeners can compete -- and explanations of how they can qualify for awards. All participants need to visit the web page and register if they plan to apply for an award. All
awards are available as downloadable PDFs after the event has concluded.
Stations in Ireland, Canada and the United States are among those who
have already begun registering. The website lists when they will be on
the air and in what modes, including DMR, PSK and even on the Hamshack Hotline.
The website is stpatricksaward dot com - that's stpatricksaward - all one
word - dot com. (stpatricksaward.com)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(ST PATRICK'S AWARD)
**
AMSAT SEEKS VOLUNTEER ENGINEERS FOR PROJECTS
PAUL/ANCHOR: If you're an engineer with some free time to devote to two
of AMSAT's projects, you might just be one of the volunteers they're
looking for. Jack Parker, W8ISH, brings us the details.
JACK: If you're interested in being part of AMSAT's all-volunteer team
working with its FOX-Plus and GOLF CubeSat programs, AMSAT is interested
in hearing from you. The FOX-Plus program needs an electrical engineer
with RF experience who can help design and build the RF communications
for the low-earth orbit CubeSats. Candidates should be familiar with
analog and digital communications protocols and will be working with
digitally synthesized audio for FM modulated VHF/UHF/SHF voice and
telemetry channels. The FOX-Plus and GOLF CubeSat programs also need mechanical engineers whose responsibilities may include analysis of
thermal characteristics of the CubeSat and oversight of the environmental testing procedure. AMSAT requires US citizenship or proof of permanent residency for all candidates for these volunteer positions. CubeSat
experience and a ham radio license is also preferred but not necessary.
For details, send an email to volunteer at amsat dot org. (
volunteer@amsat.org)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.
(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)
**
TIME TO SIGN UP FOR ARDF YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP
PAUL/ANCHOR: There's a big contest planned in Romania to test youngsters' amateur radio direction finding skills -- and the time to sign up is now.
Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us how.
ED: Letters of intent are due soon for teams wanting to participate in
the 4th IARU World Youth Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championship
being held this summer in Romania. The event is being hosted by the
Romanian Federation of Radio Amateurs. All letters of intent must be
received no later than March 1st at the email address wyac2022 at gmail
dot com (
wyac2022@gmail.com).
The championship will take place June 29th through to July 3rd and will include hunts on 80 and 2m along with an 80m sprint. Saturday will see an awards ceremony and a hamfest.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(IARU)
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VOICE OF AMERICA EVENT LOGS 3,665 QSOs
NEIL/ANCHOR: Congratulations to the organizers of the Voice of America
80th anniversary special event station. Operators logged 3,665 QSOs at stations W3V, W8O and W4A, according to Jocelyn Brault KD8VRX/VA2VRX of
the West Chester Amateur Radio Association. He said that all digital
cards have been sent and certificates will be emailed shortly. Paper QSLs
are expected to be sent out sometime in March.
**
HISTORIC MARCONI HUT DEPICTED IN VIRTUAL 3D MODEL
NEIL/ANCHOR: In England, radio is about to embrace one digital mode yet unknown on the amateur bands: Digital art. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has that
story.
JEREMY: Hams in the UK have played a big role in celebrations of the
BBC's centenary this year. The most recent special event station was
heard on the 14th of February as radio operators in Chelmsford called QRZ
as station GB100 2MT [pronounced as GB100 2MT], marking the historic
first transmission from the Marconi Company's Writtle Hut there. The hut
is now going digital with the help of an artist who is creating a digital model of it for inclusion at the Chelmsford Museum. The artist, Sian Fan,
and the museum are calling the exhibit Forecast22 - the Birth of British Broadcasting. The virtual 3D model will include a replica of the 2MT transmitter as well as contents of the building. The exhibit opens in
October.
If you can't get to Chelmsford to take a step inside history, don't
worry. You can take part in the Forecast22 on your mobile phone wherever
in the world you might be. It's a different kind of 'digital DXing' but a fitting option for a celebration that changed the shape and the sound of British broadcasting.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(CITYLIFE CHELMSFORD)
**
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the word, including the K5DUR repeater
in Dallas, Texas, on Sundays at 7 p.m. local time.
**
AUSTRALIA PREPARING FOR A WHOLE LOT OF 'MAYHAM'
NEIL/ANCHOR: There are big happenings planned for hams in New South
Wales, Australia. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, brings us that report.
JASON: Mayham, the largest amateur radio gathering in the Southern
Hemisphere, has an equally large and ambitious agenda for Sunday the 1st
of May. In addition to planning the usual activities, such as pedestrian
and mobile fox hunts, organisers from the Central Coast Amateur Radio
Club are looking for lecturers to deliver talks on a variety of subjects.
Each 45-minute presentation will be followed by no more than 15 minutes
of questions and answers. Formerly known as Wyong Field Day, it has run
over 60 years without a break, even through these COVID years. Mayham is scheduled to be held at the customary location of the Wyong race course.
If you have a presentation you'd like to share with some of Australia's
most enthusiastic radio amateurs, contact Col, VK2ZCO, by emailing ccarc
at ccarc dot org dot au (
ccarc@ccarc.dot.org.au) and describe your
proposed lecture. If you're looking to upgrade - or even get - your first licence, contact education coordinator of the club at education at ccarc
dot org dot au (
education@ccarc.dot.org.au)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.
(CENTRAL COAST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB)
**
ARISS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ISS CONTACTS
NEIL/ANCHOR: If you're interested in learning more about setting up,
hosting and participating in a contact with the ISS through Amateur Radio
on the International Space Station you may want to attend an introductory webinar being hosted by ARISS. It will be held on UTC March 4th - which
is the evening of March 3rd for attendees in North America. The webinar
will help give schools, science centers, museums and other institutions information they need to apply for a contact with the space crew.
Registration for the seminar is required.
Applications for a space-crew contact should be submitted no later than
the 31st of March. Such a contact would ideally draw a large number of attendees and participants and be included in an educational plan
focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Visit the ARISS-USA website for more details. All contacts are being scheduled for January the 1st through June 30th of 2023.
(ARISS-USA)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the N7OEI repeater
in Navajo and Apache counties, Arizona, on Thursdays at 7 p.m. local time.
**
IN NEW ZEALAND, GOING TO ANY LENGTH FOR A QSO
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Many, many amateurs search for the "Biggest and best
antenna." At their recent field day, however, some hams in New Zealand
proved they would go to ANY lengths - and we do mean ANY lengths. Jim
Meachen, ZL2BHF, brings us that story.
JIM: "That's not an antenna! THIS IS AN ANTENNA!" Chris, ZL4RA, led a
group on the South Island of New Zealand, looking to try something
"different" in the 2022 Jock White Memorial Field Day on the last weekend
in February.
Chris had scouted out a ZL3 SOTA Summit. He, Russ, ZL4JW, and Jim, ZL4JI,
had a plan: operating portable with a quarter-kilometre long-wire. Yes, portable. The antenna was to cross a gully pointing north-northeast to
cover NZ and perhaps into VK as well. That's three wavelengths on 80
metres and six on 40 metres! Or, as Chris describes it, "ridiculously
long." It took some effort to install the 20-foot masts in the wind and
rain and to run the wire. One back stake support was a problem due to the strain on it from this length of wire, but it survived."
The results? Success, even with just 100 watts maximum power. Although the antenna bandwidth was a bit narrow, both transmit and receive signals were strong. Saturday brought some unexpected QRM but by Sunday the antenna was truly "going the distance." And that's the long and short of it!
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(CHRIS RIO ZL4RA)
**
REGISTRATION OPENS FOR SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO LEAGUE SYMPOSIUM
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If the technical side of amateur radio interests you, this next report from John Williams, VK4JJW, might be of special interest.
JOHN: Registration has begun for the South African Radio League's
technical symposium, which will explore amateur radio technology. The
virtual event is being held on Saturday the 9th of April on the Bluejeans platform. Presenters include Sylvain Azarian, F4GKR, president of IARU
Region 1, who will talk about software defined radio and various ham radio applications. Cor Rademeyer, ZS6CR, will discuss ways to analyse GPS
position data to detect RF propagation disturbances. Brian Jacobs, ZS6YZ,
will update everyone on the league's next-generation beacon project. Other discussions will cover the AMSAT-South Africa AfriCUBE satellites and
SARL100 project, which is preparing for the league's centennial celebration.
The symposium is free for members of SARL and AMSAT-South Africa. Find the link to register in this week's text version of this Newsline report.
[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ:
https://tinyurl.com/rapc2kdu ]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
(SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO LEAGUE)
**
THOUSANDS MAKE CONTACT DURING PLUTO SPECIAL EVENT
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The pileups have quieted down and it's all over, but the counting after the Pluto Anniversary Special event held last month. Randy
Sly, W4XJ, has the numbers.
RANDY: Over 6,500 hams reached for the stars last month but were happy to reach a dwarf planet instead. From February 14th to the 21st, amateur
radio operators celebrated the discovery of Pluto by contacting W7P and
W7P/Ø for the Pluto Anniversary Special Event. This annual countdown will last until the centennial of the discovery in 2030. Most of the operation
took place from a trailer at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff Arizona
where Clyde Tombaugh changed the understanding of our solar system on
February 18th, 1930.
Held in conjunction with the "I Heart Pluto Festival" at the observatory,
the event is in its second year, organized by the Northern Arizona DX Association, under the coordination of Bob Wertz, NF7E.
The final tally may show as many at 7,500 contacts logged by the 18
operators on W7P and the five operators on W7P/0, which was led by Doug Tombaugh, N3PDT, nephew of the famed astronomer. The team was contacted by stations from all 50 US states and 57 countries. For QSL information, look
up W7P on QRZ.com.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ.
**
ACTIVATORS GET TO NAME NEW UNNAMED SUMMITS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you claim it and it has no name, you name it: that's
the concept behind a new challenge from managers of the international HEMA summit awards scheme. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us what's going on.
ED: The Southern Bavaria Association of HEMA added 101 summits to its list
of those that can be activated under the award scheme on February the
26th. HEMA summits have a prominence of between 100 and 150 metres. They
all have a code with a latitude and longitude designation but several are lacking a name. The new option allows the first activator of any summit currently described as "No Name" to give that summit a name within the
HEMA system. The name cannot be rude, slanderous or contain any words that
are trademarked. Otherwise, use your best operating strategy when you're
on the summit and then....come back down and use your imagination: Submit
your log, along with a proposed name.
For details of the scheme, visit HEMA dot ORG dot UK.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(DD5LP ASSOCIATION MANAGER HEMA DL)
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HAWAIIAN HAMS PREP FOR STATEWIDE DRILL
NEIL/ANCHOR: Organizers in Hawaii are looking for amateurs to
participate in an important statewide emergency drill in April.
Christian Cudnik, K0STH, brings us that report.
CHRISTIAN: For hams in Hawaii, the three-hour emergency communications exercise being held by the Hawaii Amateur Radio Emergency Service on
April 16th will be like none of the others held several times each year.
The drill will be conducted following the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program, which standardizes terminology, methodology and
policy used during the exercise. It will simulate a period of
catastrophic rain and wind covering the islands, taking down power,
internet and cell towers. According to Hawaii ARES spokesman Stacy
Holbrook, KH6OWL, a planning team has developed a full incident action
plan using the forms and format of the program's Incident Command System Structure. Stacy told Newsline in an email he was unaware of any other statewide exercises being done in this manner.
Using on-air nets, social media and local clubs, organizers are reaching
out to the more than 3,800 licensed amateurs throughout Hawaii, hoping
to get as many hams as possible on board. The drill is an all-mode, all-
band exercise that makes use of analog, simplex and Digital modes as
well as VHF, UHF and HF. Hams using WINLINK will have the additional
support of an ongoing Zoom meeting to assist with any troubleshooting.
Stacy told Newsline: [quote] "We would love to build relationships with
the fire chiefs, police chiefs, and served agencies in our area so they
know they have another asset they could use if needed." [endquote] He
said the goal is to use the ICS system so everyone is on the same
training level and gets the needed experience with the command structure
and forms.
There is additional information and a signup form on the website hawaiiares.net.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik, K0STH.
(STACY HOLBROOK, KH6OWL)
**
LEADER NEEDED FOR RSGB CONVENTION
NEIL/ANCHOR: The Radio Society of Great Britain needs someone to chair
its upcoming convention. Could that be you? Here's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: A hybrid convention is on the cards this year for the Radio
Society of Great Britain, which hopes to combine a return to an in-
person event with the best of the online conventions held these past two years.
Planning is already under way but the organisers are in need of a
convention chair. According to the RSGB website, this leader should be
someone familiar with all developments going on in amateur radio and
should be comfortable planning for online events as well as those in
person.
Meanwhile, the team is seeking input from anyone and everyone who would
like to help shape the event which will be held in October. A survey is
posted online for amateurs to share their ideas with the organisers.
It's not necessary to be a member of the RSGB to participate in the
survey. As with the previous two online conventions, the hybrid version
will be providing access to people attending from outside Great Britain.
Visit the website rsgb dot org stroke convention (rsgb.org/convention)
to provide your input and learn more about the vacancy.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(RSGB)
**
YOUTH CATEGORY ADDED TO CQ MAGAZINE'S DX MARATHON
NEIL/ANCHOR: Young hams may want to be aware of a new category
introduced this year by CQ magazine in its DX Marathon, which is already
under way. The Youth Category is an overlay category open to any
operator born on January 1st, 1997 or later. There are certificates for
the highest scorer among young operators in each of the six continents.
Visit the rules section of the website at dxmarathon dot com
(dxmarathon.com). And, good luck, everyone!
(CQ MAGAZINE)
**
NOMINATE YOUNG AMATEURS FOR NEWSLINE AWARD
NEIL/ANCHOR: We here at Newsline are asking listeners to think of a
young amateur radio operator with talent, promise and heart. Consider nominating them for Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak Memorial
Young Ham of the Year Award. This is our commitment to honoring young
talent 18 years of age or younger who reside in the United States, its possessions, or any Canadian province. Find application forms on our
website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab. Nominations close May
31st.
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SILENT KEY: SATELLITE ENTHUSIAST RAY SOIFER, W2RS
SKEETER/ANCHOR: A lifelong amateur whose achievements with ham radio satellites could be traced to his years as a New York City teenager, has become a Silent Key. Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, tells us about him.
RALPH: Ray Soifer, W2RS, is credited with achieving the first ham radio
QSO via satellite ionization trail reflection. It was 1960 and Ray, then K2QBW, and his friend Perry Klein, then K3JTE, made the contact together
as high school students who were enthralled by satellites. Ray became a
Silent Key on March 1. He was living in Arizona at the time of his death.
After Perry Klein became founding president of AMSAT, Ray took on a number
of posts with the organization, including executive vice president, acting president and member of the board of directors. Ray's consistent devotion
to satellite operation led him in 1975 to achieve the first reported inter-satellite relay communication, making use of AMSAT-OSCAR 7 and AMSAT-OSCAR 6 when the two were in close orbit to one another. Ray was chairman of the annual IARU Satellite Forum between 1995 and 2005, a
member of the IARU's Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel; and was
secretary and later chairman of the IARU Region 2's VHF/UHF Committee.
He also wrote frequently on satellite-related topics for the AMSAT
Journal, QST and RadCom, the magazine of the Radio Society of Great
Britain.
Ray was 79.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.
(AMSAT)
**
SILENT KEY: SOTA'S JOSE-ANTONIO GURUTZARRI JAUREGI, "GURU," EA2IF
SKEETER/ANCHOR: The close-knit community of SOTA activators is grieving
the loss of a well-known friend to many, on and off the summits. Ed
Durrant, DD5LP, has his story.
ED: Jose-Antonio Gurutzarri Jauregi was better known as Guru, or by his callsign, EA2IF. A ham since his teens in native Spain, he embraced participation in Summits on the Air in 2013, combining his love of
portable activation with his affinity for hiking. Guru became a Silent Key
on March 11. His death from cancer was announced by Ignacio, EA2BD, on the SOTA Reflector.
Radio and friendship were common threads throughout his life. Starting
with a friend, Esteban EA2BYG, who introduced him to CB radio in 1980 as a teenager. Another friend, Jose-Ramon, EA2AD, later brought him into the
world of amateur radio. Guru became an adept contester and CW operator and over the years placed in the top three spots for such competitions as the
CQ World Wide DX contest and the ARRL International DX CW competition. By 2018, after a few years in the SOTA programme, he was invited to join the
SOTA Global Publicity Team.
According to Ignacio, at the time of Guru's death he was 26 points short
of one last goal he sought despite his terminal diagnosis: He wanted to achieve Mountain Goat status in the SOTA awards scheme. Paying tribute to
his friend, Ignacio wrote on the reflector: [quote] "In our hearts, after
so many activations - 415 - you are already in the herd, Guru...73 my
friend." [end quote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP, and I am proud to have known Guru. Vale Guru, EA2IF ..... you will be sorely missed by the SOTA community.
(SOTA REFLECTOR, QRZ.COM)
**
UK BEACON PROJECT GAINS FUNDING FROM RSGB
SKEETER/ANCHOR: In the UK, a beacon project that will help in the study of meteors has gained some financial support. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has the details.
JEREMY: A partnership between radio astronomers and the amateur radio community has been recognized by the Legacy Committee of the Radio Society
of Great Britain, which will be providing funds for a 50 MHz beacon to
assist in the study of meteors above the UK.
According to the RSGB website, the beacon will operate from the Sherwood Observatory of the Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society. It will make
use of circular polarization and will beam up vertically.
The announcement noted that because meteors entering the Earth's
atmosphere create an ionized trail reflecting transmissions at 50 MHz,
that band is extremely useful for the planned range of STEM and citizen science projects.
The amount of the Legacy Committee gift was not disclosed.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(RSGB)
**
WIA WELCOMES YOUTH CORRESPONDENT TO AMATEUR NEWSCAST
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Amateur Radio Newsline would like to congratulate Alec, VK2APC, of Sydney, Australia for joining the Wireless Institute of
Australia's National News team. Alec is 12 years old, got his license last year and is the son of Pete, VK2LP. Alec will be reading youth-related
news for listeners of the weekly WIA report.
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
Butler County Amateur Radio Public Service Group's K3PSG repeater, in
Butler, Pennsylvania, on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. local time
**
FCC HAM RADIO LICENSE FEE TAKES EFFECT APRIL 19TH
PAUL/ANCHOR: Get ready for April 19th. If you're looking to upgrade,
renew, or change your callsign, you have until that date to do so without having to pay a fee. The FCC has announced its new $35 application fee
for US amateur radio licenses takes effect on that date. The agency said
the fees can be paid by using the Commission's Universal Licensing
System on the FCC website. The FCC posted a public notice on its website
on March 23, announcing it would begin collecting the fees, which it has
said will cover the costs of processing the applications. For hams, the
fees apply to new licenses, renewals, upgrades, sequential call sign
changes and applications for vanity calls. It does not apply to such administrative updates as change of email or other mailing address.
(FCC)
**
OREGON LAUNCHES STATE'S FIRST SATELLITE
PAUL/ANCHOR: The team behind Oregon's first satellite gets bragging
rights this week after its successful launch from Alaska. Ralph
Squillace, KK6ITB, brings us that story.
RALPH: Space enthusiasts are celebrating the launch of Oregon's first satellite, which carried amateur radio into low Earth orbit on a
spacecraft no larger than a box of tissues. Known as OreSat0, it is an
open source CubeSat built by the Portland State Aerospace Society, an interdisciplinary group of students at Portland State University. With
solar panels, batteries, a color camera and of course amateur radio on
board, it was launched on March 15th from Kodiak, Alaska.
The group's faculty advisor, Andrew Greenberg, KD7CJT, said on the
university website [quote]: "Our small group of space hipsters gathered
in the rocket room to watch the launch with fancy bagels and pour-over
coffee, and then collectively held our breath for more than an hour." [endquote] After some nervous moments, they learned the flight had gone smoothly. Its mission, which is to test the cubesat system itself, is
expected to last several years. Fear not, this won't be the first and
the last for Oregon. The group is already hard at work on OreSat0.5
(OreSat Zero Point Five), and it's scheduled for launch this summer. It
will be a larger satellite for NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative and will
carry equipment gathering data for global climate science, studying the distribution of high altitude cirrus clouds.
Meanwhile if you'd like to track the pride of Oregon's space fans, see
the link in the text version of this week's script at arnewsline.org
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.
[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ:
https://uniclogs-cesium-megqz.ondigitalocean.app/ ]
**
NORWAY'S BEGINNERS' LICENSE GAINS TRACTION
PAUL/ANCHOR: Norway is moving forward with a plan to introduce a new
amateur radio license for beginners. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has that story.
JEREMY: Norway has plans to introduce a 10-watt entry level certificate
for young hams. It has the financial support of one million Kroner, or
nearly $114,000 US dollars, from the Norwegian Research Council with the
input of hams throughout the nation.
The proposal, introduced last year, was discussed at Norway's
Hammeeting, an annual amateur radio convention. Attendees included the communications regulator NKOM, and the Norwegian Radio Relay League. The
NRRL, the Research Institute of Forsvaret and Torbjrn, LA4ZCA, are
working together on a plan to introduce the subject formally into school curricula. The proposed certificate would become available to 12- and 13-year-old enthusiasts operating at low power on limited bands.
The entry level licence has the support of such groups as the Academic
Radio Club, or ARK, which has already been making classes available. The
ARK is Norway's oldest amateur radio club for students.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(ARK, SOUTHGATE)
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RSGB REOPENS NATIONAL RADIO CENTRE AT BLETCHLEY PARK
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park has opened
its doors again following a brief COVID-related closure. Jeremy Boot,
G4NJH, brings us up to date about returning to visit.
JEREMY: Visitors are again welcome at the RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park. The centre reopened on Monday, the 28th of March having
been shut after many members of its volunteer team had fallen ill with COVID-19. While visitors are still encouraged to wear face masks, they
are not now mandatory.
Amateur radio operators will have to wait a little longer to operate from
the GB3RS amateur radio station on site, however, as it remains
unavailable.
The radio room itself is open, however; and groups may visit in small
numbers. RSGB members will be allowed to use their vouchers for free
entry to the centre and it is no longer necessary to book arrival times
in advance.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(RSGB)
**
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the J88CU repeater
on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. local time in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
**
HAMVENTION WEEKEND BANQUET WILL HONOR APRS PIONEER
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you're going to Hamvention, get your tickets early for
the AMSAT/TAPR Banquet. The dinner is honoring a pioneer who became a
Silent Key this year. Jack Parker, W8ISH, has the details.
JACK: One of the highlights of Dayton Hamvention weekend this May is
expected to be the AMSAT/TAPR Banquet which is being held in honor of
APRS pioneer Bob Bruninga (BREW nin guh), WB4APR. Bob, who became a
Silent Key in February, developed the widely used packet system more than
a quarter century ago, enabling real-time tracking and data transfer over amateur radio frequencies. The dinner is taking place on Friday, May 20th
at 6:30 p.m. local time and will showcase Bob's life and achievements.
Tickets are $57 each, and must be pre-purchased no later than Friday, May
13th from the AMSAT store; they will not be sold at the AMSAT booth. The banquet will take place at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center in Kettering, Ohio, a 20-minute drive from Hamvention at the fairgrounds in Xenia.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.
(AMSAT, TAPR)
**
TELESCOPE'S DETAILED IMAGES CAPTURE 'ODD RADIO CIRCLES'
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: With the help of a radio telescope in South Africa,
mysterious radio circles in space are becoming a little less mysterious. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, tells us about that telescope's recent discovery.
GRAHAM: The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory has captured the
most detailed images to date of what are known as ORCs, for "odd radio circles," in a discovery astronomers are calling unprecedented. The
circles themselves are nothing new: The first three were discovered in
2019 by astronomers at Australia's national science agency CSIRO using
the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder. Archival data from
radio telescope imagery in India in 2013 contained the fourth image. The Australian radio telescope identified a fifth one last year. Scientists
are curious as to why ORCs show up in radio waves but are undetected by optical or X-ray telescopes.
Astronomers theorise that the huge circles take about 1 billion years to
reach their maximum size. Their diameter is said to be 10 times the
diameter of the Milky Way, measuring about a million light-years across.
Some have a galaxy at their centres.
ORCs beam out radio signals every 18 minutes on average but little else
is known about them. That could change. Scientists said that with the
newest images from South Africa's high resolution radio telescope, they
may be a bit closer to understanding them better.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(NATURE, CNN)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
East Coast Reflector on Sundays at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, where
more than 240 repeaters and simplex nodes rebroadcast our newscast.
**
SUMMITS ON THE AIR BEGINS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
JIM/ANCHOR: This is an exciting year for amateurs who are active in the Summits on the Air awards scheme. We hear what's going on from Ed
Durrant, DD5LP.
ED: Just as hams in the Summits on the Air award scheme rise through the
tier of awards to increase their standing, so too has the awards scheme
scaled new heights. For the past month, SOTA has been marking its 20th anniversary in England and Wales, the birthplaces of the programme,
which now has more than 24,000 participants on all the major continents. During April, SOTA management team member Tom Read, M1EYP, will be
operating special event station GB20SOTA from the summit of "The Cloud",
which is designated as G/SP-015 in the SOTA award scheme. Additional
special event calls will be on the air throughout this year as hams in Northern Ireland, Scotland and the United States mark the occasion. The celebration kicked off last month with summit activations by GW association manager Roger Dallimore, MW0IDX, under the GB2OTA call sign in Wales. Free commemorative certificates will be available.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
**
LICENSE DELAYS TEST PATIENCE OF BRAZIL'S RADIO APPLICANTS
JIM/ANCHOR: Impatient over ongoing delays, applicants for Brazil's
amateur radio license are applying even more pressure on officials.
Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, brings us that update.
JEREMY: In Brazil, the long wait has become even longer as applicants
waiting for their radio amateur licence report that at least six months
have passed in some cases and they are growing impatient.
Brazil's national amateur radio society has asked ANATEL, the nation's regulator, to act promptly and resolve the delays for the waiting
candidates. The group is asking the regulator to modernise its computer
system and standardise processes across all of the Brazilian states. The amateur organisation, known as Liga de Amadores Brasileiros de Rádio
Emissão (LABRE), believes the system incompatibility has resulted in
long wait times that have discouraged candidates from seeking licences.
The Brazilian amateurs' latest plea comes in the form of a petition,
following unsuccessful attempts at progress during meetings held in
person as well as remotely between LABRE and ANATEL.
The petition can be seen at the website that appears in the text version
of this week's newscast. It is in Portuguese with a Google translation
to English available.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ:
https://www.change.org/p/radioamadores-unidos-exigem-celeridade-e- moderniza%C3%A7%C3%A3o-dos-sistemas-da-anatel ]
(above URL all on one line)
(LABRE, SOUTHGATE)
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NOMINATE YOUNG AMATEURS FOR NEWSLINE AWARD
NEIL/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.
**
AMATEUR RADIO VETERAN FOCUSES ON SHARING WELL-HONED SkILLSET
NEIL/ANCHOR: Many hams use the opportunity of retirement from their
paying jobs to "pay it forward" to the amateur radio community. Paul
Braun, WD9GCO, tells us about one such amateur.
PAUL: One of the challenges many amateur radio clubs face is finding a constant flow of presenters to keep meetings interesting. John Portune,
W6NBC, a former electronics industry writer and educator, as well as a frequent contributor to QST and other related publications, is offering
a partial solution. Portune has developed a series of presentations on a variety of topics and has made himself available to present them.
Portune said he was looking for something to do now that he's retired,
so he decided that volunteering to teach on a variety of ham topics fit
right in with his skillset.
Portune gave a presentation to the Porter County Amateur Radio Club in
Indiana on Friday, April 8th. His topic was the design and construction
of a 10-meter Moxon antenna. If you'd like to see it, check the link in
the printed version of this week's report. He can be reached through his website, w6nbc.com
FOR PRINT ONLY:
https://youtu.be/wdyLRprTJRU
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.
**
POTA OPERATORS ACTIVATE "SUPPORT YOUR PARKS" EVENT
NEIL/ANCHOR: Parks activators are celebrating spring in a big way. Vance Martin, N3VEM, tells us what they've been up to.
VANCE: In Parks on the Air News, we hope you'll join us in just a few
days for the spring "Support Your Parks" event on April 16th and 17th
UTC. If the past is any indication, there could be anywhere from six to
eight hundred operators putting parks on the air for the weekend event.
This is a great opportunity to get out portable and activate some parks
as the weather turns warm, or just stay home and have plenty of parks to chase. It's also an excellent opportunity to practice and prepare for
the summer's big activity - our annual plaque event. This year, that
happens on July 16th and 17th UTC. All of our plaques, including the
three new DX activator plaques, are now fully sponsored thanks to a
number of generous hams. More information about the summer event will be coming over the next couple months, so stay tuned to these monthly POTA updates, and the plaque event section of pota.app. This is November
Three Victor Echo Mike.
(POTA)
**
DX ASSOCIATION NAMES HUMANITARIAN FUND FOR ITS FOUNDER, NOW A SILENT KEY
NEIL/ANCHOR: The fund created by a noted DXer and humanitarian now
carries his name. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, gives us the details.
JASON: Out of grief has come a renewed commitment to generosity. Still mourning the recent loss of friend and benefactor Zorro Miyazawa,
JH1AJT, the International DX Association has added his name to the humanitarian aid fund Zorro created and endowed in January of 2016.
INDEXA's Humanitarian Aid Fund is now known as The Zorro Miyazawa,
JH1AJT, Hams with Hearts Fund. The funds are used to provide assistance
to any humanitarian aid projects undertaken by amateurs during their DXpeditions. The announcement on the INDEXA website noted that the
tagline reflects "Zorro's character and values," adding [quote] "INDEXA
is proud and grateful to be able to sustain Zorro's legacy through this
fund." [endquote] Zorro, who was known as much for his role as a
humanitarian as a ham, became a Silent Key in March.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.
(INDEXA)
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All on Fri Apr 22 07:58:02 2022
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the W-ZERO-EF
repeater in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, on Saturdays at 9:30 a.m.
**
ONLINE COURSE GETS UNDER WAY FOR CANADIAN LICENSE
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Classes are getting started for Canada's basic operating certificate -- and the course is being offered online. Dave Parks,
WB8ODF, has the details.
DAVE: Candidates for Canada's basic level amateur radio operator
certificate are beginning their studies on Sunday, April 24th and will continue through Thursday, June 30th. This is an online course for
anyone interested in a Canadian operating certificate, including
candidates in overseas countries. The classes are being conducted with
the help of the Annapolis Valley Amateur Radio Club of Nova Scotia. The coursework prepares candidates for the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Basic Qualification Level Operator Certificate exam.
Al Penney, VO1NO, is the instructor for the three-hour classes which
meet on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. To enquire about costs
and registration, contact the course administrator via email at
basiccourse - that's one word - at rac dot ca (
basiccourse@rac.ca.) The sessions are being recorded so should anyone miss a class they may catch
up on the material.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Dave Parks WB8ODF.
(RADIO AMATEURS OF CANADA)
**
TEEN EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM GETS HIGH GOVERNMENT HONORS
SKEETER/ANCHOR: An emergency-response team of teens - some of them
amateur radio operators - has received an award from a top U.S.
government agency. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, has the details.
KEVIN: A high school emergency response team that includes several
amateur radio operators has been recognized by federal officials for
their crisis preparedness work. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management
Agency, or FEMA, has presented its Region 6 Youth Preparedness Award to
the Clovis High School Teen Community Emergency Response Team in Clovis,
New Mexico. The team is known by the acronym CERT. The team has been
training under the guidance of the city's emergency management director,
Dan Heerding, KG5DTV, who shares the award with them. According to a
news story on the KCBD-TV website, the young CERT members have already
been deployed to three community events and collectively donated 856
hours of their time.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
(SOUTHGATE, KCBD-TV)
**
NASA SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS HONOR APOLLO 16 ANNIVERSARY
SKEETER/ANCHOR: It's been 50 years since the historic moon mission known
as Apollo 16. Amateurs around the US will agree: that's reason to
activate some special event stations. Paul Braun, WD9GCO, has those
details.
PAUL: If you remember NASA's Apollo 16 moon mission - or even if you
weren't around back then - you don't want to miss the 50th anniversary celebration of that historic journey, which was the fifth moon landing mission. NASA on the Air special event stations around the United States
will be on the bands between Saturday April 23rd and Wednesday April
27th marking the milestone. Different local NASA radio clubs will be
active at different hours so check the spotting clusters or the NASA on
the Air wordpress blog site. The many participating clubs at NASA sites include the Ames Research Center Amateur Radio Club, NA6MF, in
California; the Glenn Research Center club, NA8SA, in Ohio; the Goddard
Space Flight Center club, WA3NAN, in Maryland and the Stennis Space
Center club, N5SSC, in Mississippi.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.
(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE, NASA ON THE AIR BLOG, NASA)
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HAMS PREP FOR ARMED FORCES DAY CROSS-BAND EXERCISE
DON/ANCHOR: May is a busy month in the United States on the amateur radio calendar. There's Hamvention opening on the 20th of May - and just a week before, on May 14th, there's the Armed Forces Day Cross-Band exercise.
Jack Parker, W8ISH, has the details.
JACK: Ham radio and government radio operators will be sharing messages
and testing their operating efficiency starting at 1300 UTC on May 14th in
an exercise hosted by the US Army Military Auxiliary Radio System, or
MARS. They'll be taking part in the Armed Forces Day Cross-Band exercise,
an interoperability event with a history that goes back more than 50
years. Hams will be listening for stations on US military frequencies and transmitting on nearby amateur frequencies. Participating hams will be
able to confirm their contacts with a QSL card. Hams copying messages from
US Army and US Navy stations can request a QSL card online using the form
at the website that appears in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
FOR PRINT ONLY:
https://www.usarmymars.org/events ]
Hams seeking a QSL card from US Air Force stations whose messages they
have copied should send a request by mail to the Armed Forces Day
Celebration, Chief, Air Force MARS, 203 West Losey Street, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois 62225.
According to the Department of Defense website, the numerous military
stations transmitting messages will include Travis Air Force Base in California, the Newport Naval Radio Station Museum in Newport, Rhode
Island, the US Coast Guard Base in Alameda, California, the Pentagon in Washington DC and the Barrow Army Reserve Center in Kentucky.
Although Armed Forces Day is May 21st, the test is being run a week
earlier to accommodate Hamvention.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH.
(US DEPT OF DEFENSE)
**
MAINE AMATEURS RECEIVE TRAINING TO ASSIST DISASTER RESPONDERS
DON/ANCHOR: A group of amateurs in the state of Maine feels a little more ready for the next big emergency to come along. They've just completed
some important training. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, tells us more.
KEVIN: Members of the Aroostook [pronounced: uh-ROO-stick] County Amateur Radio Emergency Services just got another tool to add to their amateur
radio kit: Training to function as CERT, the acronym for Citizen Emergency Response Team.
Brian Goff, KC1NHJ, the community outreach planner for the county's
emergency management agency, told WAGM-TV that the CERT members provide support to search and rescue personnel as well as those administering
first aid. He said even if the hams are not directly involved in providing
the actual hands-on assistance, their use of radios is invaluable in
getting the word out especially if cell towers may not be working.
Their training took place on a Saturday in the middle of April. The CERT members' first big test will come in just a matter of weeks when they will test their new skills by participating in an emergency drill.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
(WAGM-TV)
**
FCC FILING SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN ON FIRST DAY OF NEW FEE
DON/ANCHOR: On the day the FCC's new ham radio license application fees
took effect, a system outage halted the agency's electronic batch filing system and files could not be processed. The ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator sent out a notice to league members making them aware of the shutdown that occurred on Tuesday, April 19th. The FCC had asked that no further files be submitted for exam sessions or license applications until
the issue could be resolved. The system was back on line, however, a few
days later. The Volunteer Examiner Coordinator sent a notice to league
members on Saturday, April 23rd saying that processing was restored and business could proceed as usual. The FCC was expected to begin reducing
the backlog even as new files arrived. The FCC has previously said that
the new $35 charge was necessary to cover staff costs associated with the application process, even though the review system is largely automated.
(ARRL, FCC)
**
INDIAN ENGINEERING SCHOOL HOSTS 2-DAY INTRO TO AMATEUR RADIO
DON/ANCHOR: One of India's pre-eminent engineering universities was the
scene of a workshop on amateur radio basics. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, gives us
that report.
GRAHAM: More than three dozen engineering and science students and their instructors were introduced to amateur radio and all its elements during a workshop held April 5th and 6th in Gujarat, India. Rajesh Vagadia, VU2EXP, regional coordinator of AMSAT-India, gave the presentation at PDEU, one of
the Indian state's top engineering schools.
In addition to gaining familiarity with various types of amateur radio equipment and the modes of communication, the students watched practical demonstrations, including Slow Scan TV, PSK-31 and Morse Code and learned
to operate an HT. They also heard the stories behind many of the QSL cards
on display throughout the two-day programme. Some careful planning ahead allowed the students to experience amateur radio contacts using the AO-91 Cubesat and had prearranged QSOs with Lucky, VU2LBW, and Kaustav, VU2UUU.
Rajesh wrote that both four-hour days had a packed schedule and he hoped
the students had gained insights into amateur radio's popularity and possibilities.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(SOUTHGATE)
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YOUNG HAM AWARD NOMINATING WINDOW TO CLOSE SOON
PAUL/ANCHOR: The clock is ticking on the time you have left to send in
your nominations for the Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio
Newsline Young Ham of the Year award. Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark
Abramowicz (pronouncer Abram-a-vich) NT3V is chairman of the award
committee, and has more.
MARK: We're looking for candidates - 18 years or younger from the
continental United States.
Details under the awards tab at our website: arnewsline.org.
We're looking for someone who has a real love of the hobby - perhaps
through a public service role in amateur radio. Maybe that young ham you
know serves as a net control for a local net.
Or they like working with other young people, helping expose them to the
fun and excitement of ham radio.
Maybe - thanks to Elmers or other mentors - they really have developed a
love of contesting, or chasing DX and sharing those experiences with
others.
Are they active in your radio club?
Have they ever been to Dayton or made a presentation there or someplace
else?
How about introducing amateur radio at school?
Maybe establishing a school radio club.
Or have they helped set up and taken part in a contact with the
International Space Station?
Time to act now.
Deadline for nominations is May 31st.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V.
**
HAM STATIONS WARMING UP FOR INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR RACES
PAUL/ANCHOR: If you're getting revved up for the annual special event
station at the Indianapolis Speedway, you're not alone. Jack Parker,
W8ISH, takes us for a test drive.
JACK: As spring temperatures warm up so do the radios at W9IMS, the
official special event station at the Indianapolis 500 Motor Speedway. Starting early Monday May 9th, you can make contact with the special event station for the Indy Grand Prix race the following weekend. That's seven
days of continuous access on 20 and 40 meters.
This is the first of three races and the special event stations for the
racing season at the famed two-and-one-half-mile oval in Speedway,
Indiana.
Later this month, beginning May 23rd, you can make a second contact with
W9IMS for the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 mile race. They will
be logging contacts until race day. According to station coordinator Bill Kennedy, WY9T, this is the 19th year for the Indy 500 special event
station.
After a short breather, the W9IMS men and women will rev up the radios
again for the NASCAR 200 race beginning July 25th.
Each contact will receive a custom designed QSL card for each race. Those
hams logging all three special event stations are eligible for a special three-race certificate this fall.
You can find more details of the times and dates by logging onto W9IMS at
QRZ. Com.
Reporting from Indianapolis, for Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Jack
Parker, W8ISH.
**
YOUNGSTERS PREP FOR DX ADVENTURE IN CURACAO
PAUL/ANCHOR: The three youngsters who were scheduled for a big DX
adventure in 2020 are two years older - and two years more eager to get
going and get on the air. They're ready for the Dave Kalter Memorial Youth
DX Adventure that will land them in CURACAO as PJ2T between July 14th and 19th. Created in 2008, the adventure group provides a DX experience,
education and some travel experience for young licensees between the ages
of 12 and 17 at no cost to them. It is supported entirely by donations
from individuals, clubs and other organizations. If you're heading to Hamvention later this month, stop by booth number 2602, and meet the trio
of young operators and their team. Tickets will also be sold for a raffle drawing on an HF rig to help support their trip. The trio of young radio amateurs are the same ones chosen for the 2020 trip before it was
cancelled because of the pandemic. The youth DX group's last adventure
was held in 2019, and set a program record of 6,569 QSOs.
(DAVE KALTER MEMORIAL YOUTH DX ADVENTURE)
**
SCOUT CAMP ACTIVATION AT WEST POINT RETURNS AFTER 2 YEARS
PAUL/ANCHOR: A special event station for young Scouts in the United States
is back after two years, and it logged an impressive array of contacts.
For that story we turn to Newsline's newest correspondent, George Zafiropoulos, KJ6VU.
GEORGE: You might consider special event station W2P the official station
of the Comeback Kids. The 58th annual Scout Camporee at the West Point Military Academy in New York had to be cancelled for two consecutive years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the weekend of April 22nd to 24th, it returned and got on the air, making 577 contacts on CW and phone, covering
41 states and 25 DXCC entities on three continents. James Gallo, KB2FMH,
one of the organizers, told Newsline that organizers and the West Point Scoutmaster's Council saw that the camporee itself made up for lost time,
even with the usual number of 6,000 attendees reduced to 4,000 as a COVID precaution. The radio station had about 13 operators working in rotation
on five stations on Saturday and three stayed on with James to finish up
the activation the next day. James said the contacts were devoted to mini-ragchews, giving everyone a chance to share memories of being in
Scouting or the military. Many of the operators, who were from the Fair
Lawn Amateur Radio Club in New Jersey, handled the pileups and engaged
their contacts in a lively conversation. He said the most memorable
contact was logged in the middle of the night on 20 meters: a 5-watt
station with the call sign R5AJ. The operator told James he'd been a Scout
as a boy and when he found the listing on QRZ he had to make the call. He
gave the Scouts a signal report of 5 and 8.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm George Zafiropoulos, KJ6VU.
(JAMES GALLO, KB2FMH)
PAUL/ANCHOR: If you worked W2P or heard it as a shortwave listener, QSL
with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the mailing addresss of W2TMR
no later than May 9th.
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All on Thu May 12 19:18:35 2022
90TH ANNIVERSARY ACTIVATIONS REMEMBER AMELIA EARHART
NEIL/ANCHOR: Few things can touch history and relay its message better
than amateur radio, especially across an ocean. Two groups of hams on
opposite sides of the Atlantic plan to do just that, as we hear from
Dave Parks, WB8ODF.
DAVE: Amelia Earhart, the American pioneering aviator, crossed the
Atlantic Ocean nonstop on May 20 and 21 in 1932, becoming the first
female pilot to do so. On the 90th anniversary of that achievement, some
radio waves will accomplish the same thing, coming from transmitters in Atchison, Kansas and Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Hams in Londonderry
will activate the callsign GB0AEL between the 13th and 30th of May, celebrating the pioneering pilot whose single-engine plane touched down
on the very field where they will be calling QRZ. Operators will be
amateurs from the North West Group Amateur Radio Club, MN0NWG.
Meanwhile in Kansas - Earhart's hometown - operators Steve, KC0VYS, and
Chuck, KB0TOT, will be on the air on May 20th and 21st at what is now
the Amelia Earhart Memorial Airport. Both stations will be offering commemorative certificates for hams who make successful contacts. Steve
wrote on his QRZ page that the hams in Kansas will be using his callsign
and promoting the Irish activation too.
The "AEL" in GB0AEL stands or "Amelia Earhart Legacy." Hams in the North
West group have written [quote] "By making contact with GB0AEL, you will
also be making history." [endquote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Dave Parks, WB8ODF.
(QRZ, SOUTHGATE)
**
UK ORGANIZERS PREP FOR SUMMER 'VILLAGE OF GEEKS'
NEIL/ANCHOR: Organizers in the UK are preparing for a summer camping
festival they describe as [quote] "a temporary village of geeks,
crafters and technology enthusiasts." [endquote] Jeremy Boot, G4NJH,
tells us what's going to happen - and when.
JEREMY: More than 2,000 people are expected this summer at Electromagnetic Field which will bring technology, scientific curiosity and a special
event amateur radio station to Eastnor Castle Deer Park in Herefordshire.
The volunteer-run, not-for-profit event is taking place between 2nd and
5th June and will include an Amateur Radio Village GX1EMF and AMSAT-UK Village GB4EMF. Campers will be able to arrive as early as the Thursday
before in order to set up and they needn't take down their camp until
the Monday following.
In addition to speakers and workshops on everyone's favourite tech
topics, there will also be music and other entertainments. The event is
held every two years although the 2020 field day was cancelled because
of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ticket prices and other information is available at the website emfcamp
dot org. That's emfcamp - one word - dot org.
Those attending only for the day are eligible for free admission.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(EMFCAMP.ORG)
**
PARKS ON THE AIR ADDS 3 DX HUNTER CATEGORIES
NEIL/ANCHOR: The Parks on the Air awards scheme has added three new
categories for DX Hunters. Vance Martin, N3VEM, brings us that report.
VANCE: In Parks on the Air News, due to popular demand and a willing
supply of sponsors, we have added 3 new DX Hunter Categories to the
summer plaque event, to compliment the new DX Activator plaques. This
brings the total number of plaques available to win up to 17. To have a
shot at winning of these plaques, join the fun on July 16th and 17th.
More details are available from the "Plaque Event" menu item at pota dot
app. If you're a ham that happens to be into free and open source social
media platforms as an alternative to the offerings of the large
corporate interests, we're pleased to share that Parks on the Air and
several of its volunteers now have a presence on the Fediverse. Look for
us using the handle @
parksontheair@mastodon.radio
This is November Three Victor Echo Mike.
(POTA)
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All on Thu May 19 21:13:03 2022
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K5DUR repeater
in Rowlett, Texas, on Sundays at 7 p.m. local time.
**
NOMINATION DEADLINE NEARS FOR YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
SKEETER/ANCHOR: The nomination deadline is closer than you think for the Amateur Radio Newsline Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year
Award. This honor is given to a young radio operator with the kind of
skill and dedication so valued by Newsline's late cofounder Bill
Pasternak WA6ITF. Perhaps one of these youngsters will be the next award recipient. 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 - and that is coming up fast.
**
SCOUTS OFFER HAMVENTION LANYARDS AND TICKET LAMINATION
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Are you headed to Hamvention? If you're looking for an inexpensive but extremely handy Hamvention souvenir, the Boy Scouts
Venture Crew 73 has just what you need, and Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, has what
you need to know.
DON: Once again, the best Hamvention souvenir is one of the least
expensive and most useful. It's the 2022 Hamvention lanyard available
from the Boy Scouts Venture Crew 73, led by George Ewing, WD8NHI. As you
get ready to pass inside the main gate at the Greene County Fairgrounds
look for the Venture Crew tent. Go inside and for just $5 you can get
your Hamvention 2022 lanyard and have your Hamvention ticket laminated to
hang around your neck. No more fumbling for your ticket at the entrance
to the tents and buildings, your ticket is right there and visible for security to see. Best of all, you can't lose your ticket! While you're
at it go ahead get the full color Hamvention 2022 patch from the Scouts,
also $5. This patch features a loop so you can hang it securely from,
you guessed it, your lanyard! If you're in too much of a hurry to get
inside the gate, you can pass by booth 4011 in the building with the
prize drum and get your lanyard and patch there. It also makes a great
gift for your ham friends who couldn't make it to Hamvention this year
and as gifts for the next club meeting or prizes for the next hamfest.
Support Venture Crew 73 and get one of the most useful and least
expensive items at Hamvention. That's a win all the way around.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.
**
HAM RADIO JOINS SWISS 'ADVENTURE EXPERIENCE'
SKEETER: TunBasel (Tunn Bah-Zull), an interactive adventure experience
for young people in Switzerland, is encouraging children to engage in
playful experiments with everything from soap to digital avatars to
amateur radio. Youngsters from 7 to 13 years of age will combine
recreation with learning in this science-focused environment over the
course of several days. On May 22nd, the Union of Swiss Shortwave
Amateurs, or USKA, will be among the presenters, which includes an array
of noted universities. The hams will demonstrate shortwave, UHF and VHF communications and guide the children through a kit-building exercise.
The TunBasel website says the event is designed to showcase and nurture
young talent.
(SOUTHGATE)
**
AUSTRALIAN REGULATOR MAKES FEE-CALCULATION TOOL AVAILABLE
SKEETER/ANCHOR: The sometimes confusing task of figuring out the correct
fee for an apparatus license in Australia could become a little less
confusing soon. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, explains.
GRAHAM: Hams in Australia have a new tool to help them calculate the
apparatus licence fee for their shacks. The Australian Communications and Media Authority has made a fee calculator available to help find what the
AMCA is calling "the most cost-efficient licence option" for amateurs and holders of other radio licences. The fees relate to the operation of a radiofrequency transmitter or receiver.
The ACMA has said that the calculator will receive regular updates with respect to pricing and other options. For a link to the calculator, see
the text version of this week's Newsline script at arnewsline.org
[FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ:
http://www.openspec.com.au/fee-calculator ]
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(ACMA)
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All on Thu May 26 19:45:46 2022
AMATEURS RECEIVE TRANSMISSIONS FROM CHINA'S MARS MISSION
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Almost a year after its launch, China's Mars mission has
made contact with hams here on Earth. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, has those
details.
ED: AMSAT-DL reports that it has successfully received transmissions from Tianwen-1, the Chinese Mars mission. According to a recently published
report, this took place at Bochum Observatory in Germany using a 20-meter antenna and GNU radio. GNU radio is free open-source software used to
create software-defined radios. The report, written by Daniel Estvez,
EA4GPZ, Mario Lorenz, DL5MLO, and Peter Glzow, DB2OS, said that the
Chinese spacecraft has been successfully tracked using a real-time GNU
radio decoder that has stored 10 months' worth of transmitted telemetry information. By interpreting the telemetry variables, the GNU radio was
able to track the mission, which began with its launch on July 23rd of
last year.
The paper was first published for GNU Radio Conference 2021 held last September in North Carolina. The radio conference for 2022 is scheduled
for September in Washington, D.C.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(SOUTHGATE)
**
SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO LEAGUE HISTORY PROJECT NEEDS HELP
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: History isn't always what it seems and so the South
African Radio League is reaching out to amateurs there who may have
documents and artifacts that better tell the story of how the league was created. John Williams, VK4JJW, brings us that story.
JOHN: Amateur radio forever looks forward to the next generation to
ensure its survival but the South African Radio League has begun looking
back - way back - to better discover its identity. Sorting through the scrapbooks in the garage of a Silent Key has led some league members to conclude there's more to its history than was previously known. That has
led to a project at the National Amateur Radio Centre, the league's headquarters, involving a bit of a treasure hunt. Amateurs in South
Africa are asked to sort through old magazines and other materials they
have that contain insights into the league and its predecessor
organisations. Hams are also being asked to look at programmes from past years' annual general meetings as well as photos taken there. The project would welcome original material or anything that can be scanned or photographed or perhaps brought to the National Amateur Radio Centre. If
you have anything to share, please contact the centre.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
(WIA)
**
SOUTH AFRICAN CLUB SCHEDULES YOUNGSTERS' FOX HUNT
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: While some hams in South Africa may be hot on the trail
of radio history, members of the Sandton Amateur Radio Club ZS6STN have
been more concerned with tracking two radio foxes named Fred and Fiona.
The club has organized a fox-hunting event for amateurs and their
families scheduled for Sunday the 29th of May. The foxes are carrying VHF emergency rescue beacons but according to the club's scenario, will be
lost in the park and in need for the youngsters to be their rescuers. Participants are asked to bring their HTs, an antenna and oh yes, their appetites for lunch afterward. Hopefully, Fred and Fiona will be found in
time to share in the menu too.
(SOUTHGATE)
**
PRIDE RADIO GROUP PREPS FOR INTERNATIONAL CONTEST
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Get ready for the first international contest being
organized by the Pride Radio Group. It's a big moment for this still-
young Australia-based organization, as Graham Kemp, VK4BB, tells us.
GRAHAM: Barely two years after its founding, the Pride Radio Group is
hosting its first contest for hams worldwide during pride month, which
begins in June. The contest, CQ Pride, will be held from June 4th to June
6th. It is open to amateurs in single and multi-operator categories on
all HF non WARC, VHF and UHF bands and using all usual modes.
Organiser Michaela, VK3FUR, said that the Pride Radio Group event is a celebration of diversity within the amateur radio community. Michaela
said that small clubs and individual newcomers are especially welcome. Contacts can be on CW, phone and digital and may be made using
satellites, repeaters, hotspots and internet links provided RF is
involved in at least one hop. Participants may spot other stations but
not themselves.
Additional details are available at the link provided in the text version
of this week's newscast script at arnewsline.org.
[FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ:
https://prideradio.group/contest ]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(PRIDE RADIO GROUP)
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FCC REMINDS AMATEURS TO CREATE ACCOUNT IN NEW REGISTRATION SYSTEM
PAUL/ANCHOR: In the US, the FCC has issued a reminder to all amateurs that
the agency's legacy Commission Registration System, known by the acronym CORES, is being retired effective July 15th. Hams who are already using
the current version of CORES, also known by the name CORES2, are not
impacted by the retiring system. Legacy CORES users must make the
transition by establishing a username account and then accessing CORES2 to associate their registration numbers with their usernames.
(FCC)
**
QUEEN'S JUBILEE REFLECTED IN SOME UK CALL SIGNS
PAUL/ANCHOR: Amateurs in the UK have the opportunity to celebrate the
Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II simply by calling QRZ. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, brings us those details.
JEREMY: The arrival of June has brought an extra element of distinction
for amateur radio operators in the UK who are looking to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on the air. Hams who have applied for a notice of variation from Ofcom will be inserting a "Q" into their call signs
throughout the month to mark the occasion. Those who have not applied for
the NoV can still add /70 (slash-70) to the end of their call signs as an alternative.
Be listening on the bands for that extra touch for the royal celebration.
The opportunity has been made available to hams at Foundation,
Intermediate and Full licence levels. The addition of Q to call signs had
also been authorised for the Queen's earlier jubilees in 2012 and 2020.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
**
SPECIAL EVENT STATION A HIGHLIGHT OF YOUTH ON THE AIR CAMP
PAUL/ANCHOR: There will be lots to do for youngsters attending Youth on
the Air camp this month in Ohio. The good news is that there's also plenty happening for those of us who aren't even campers. Sel Embee, KB3TZD,
explains.
SEL: Even if you're no longer young enough to go to summer camp anymore,
you can still be a part of the action happening this month at the Youth on
the Air Camp for young hams from North, Central, and South America. You
can try to get into the log when the young operators activate the special-event callsign W-8-Y while the camp is in session between Sunday,
June 12th and Friday, June 17th. If you wish to attend the opening and
closing ceremonies, these will be live streamed on YouTube on the “Youth
on the Air” channel.
The camp is taking place this year at the National Voice of America Museum
of Broadcasting in Ohio and at a nearby hotel. Nathaniel Frissell, W-2-N-
A-F, founder of HamSCI will speak at the opening ceremony on Sunday, June
12th starting at 2100 UTC. Closing ceremonies will begin at 1700 UTC on Friday, June 17th.
For details, visit the webpage youthontheair dot org (YouthOnTheAir.org).
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Sel Embee, K-B-3-T-Zed-D.
(YOUTH ON THE AIR)
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TEXAS EMERGENCY RESPONSE GROUP GETS GRANT FOR EQUIPMENT UPGRADES
JIM/ANCHOR: A welcome infusion of grant money is going to make all the difference in the world for one Texas group of amateurs involved in
emergency response. Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, tells us about their plans.
SKEETER: New radios, antennas and related communication equipment are in
the future for a Texas emergency response team with the help of $11,349 in Community Development Partnership funds. The hams who volunteer with the
Lee County Amateur Radio Emergency Services have operated since 2019,
serving as backup communications for the county during disasters. The
amateur radio group will add $3,500 of its own funds, with the goal of expanding the size of the area it serves and enhancing its operating resiliency.
According to a report on the KWHI News website, the grant was among 36 provided through the partnership funds, which are designed to help such nonprofit service organizations as fire departments and emergency
responders. The grant is courtesy of the Lower Colorado River Authority
and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH.
(KWHI NEWS)
**
JAMSAT PREPARES FOR VIRTUAL CONFERENCE THIS MONTH
JIM/ANCHOR: An AMSAT conference will be held this month in Japan, but it's being held virtually. Of course, you are all invited. Graham Kemp, VK4BB,
tells us how to attend.
GRAHAM: Anyone who wants to attend the annual symposium of JAMSAT, the
AMSAT organisation of Japan, is welcome to attend simply by logging onto
Zoom. A full programme of speakers is planned, along with a social
gathering and a virtual banquet, which will make for a busy day on June
25th. JAMSAT's station, JS1YAQ, is scheduled to be on the air while the symposium is in session.
To participate, send an email to ja3nas at gmail dot com
(
ja3nas@gmail.com) and include your name, call sign and the best email
address to reach you at.
You can find a link to the symposium programme in the text version of this week's Newsline script at arnewsline.org
[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ: jamsat.or.jp ]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(JAMSAT)
**
100 WATTS AND A WIRE 'TUNE UP' WEEKEND ARRIVES
JIM/ANCHOR: What ham doesn't want a good excuse to get on the air - maybe
even OUT in the open air? What ham doesn't want to show there is a purpose
for firing up that rig? For three days - Friday, June 10th, Saturday June
11th and Sunday June 12th - you will have that opportunity. It's the 100
Watts and a Wire Tune Up. Organized by the popular podcast, the outdoor operating event will begin at 00:00 UTC Friday and wrap up on Sunday at
23:59 UTC. The exchange will be your call sign, your 100 Watts and a Wire
ID if you have one, the state you reside in and a true signal report. If you're operating CW, be sure to send "C-Q T-U" so others will recognize
you.
(100 WATTS AND A WIRE)
**
OHIO NET INVITES THE WORLD TO CHECK IN
JIM/ANCHOR: A new net has been launched to accommodate night owls here in
the United States and others around the world at whatever time of day it happens to be. Stephen Kinford, N8WB, has those details.
STEPHEN: The Silvercreek Amateur Radio Association in Ohio has issued an invitation to hams around the world, inviting them to check into the
group's new Beacon Net. The net launched on Sunday, June 5th at 10 p.m.
local time, and is held each week on Sundays and Wednesdays at that hour
and Fridays at 9:30 p.m. local time.
Although the net can be heard on the local W8WKY repeater, check-ins also
take place on the club's Allstar Hub node number 48496 and their Echolink W8WKY-R channel. The net plans to add more repeaters and Allstar hubs
later.
HF operators get a chance at their own version of The Beacon Net on
Fridays, starting at 9:30 p.m. local time. The frequency is 3.834 MHz,
plus or minus, depending on conditions.
For Amateur Radio and the Silvercreek Amateur Radio Association, I'm
Stephen Kinford, N8WB.
(SILVERCREEK AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the W8SRC repeater
in Dexter, Michigan, on Fridays at 9 p.m.
**
EU COUNTRIES TO STANDARDIZE CHARGERS FOR HANDHELD ELECTRONICS
DON/ANCHOR: Life for users of handheld electronics in EU countries is
expected to get a little bit simpler, as we hear from Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
ED: Electronics users in the EU nations will soon only be permitted to
use one kind of charger with their smartphones, headphones, tablets and
many other handheld electronic devices. The European Commission, the
executive branch of the EU, said that standardisation of all handheld
devices to use the same USB-C port by 2024 will make products more
sustainable and generate less electronic waste. Observers immediately
noticed that the move will have an especially big impact on companies
with proprietary chargers, such as Apple. Makers of laptops are being
given until later to complete the transition to universal charging ports.
The tentative agreement was reached June 7th and amends the Radio
Equipment Directive. The agreement will undergo a formal vote after the
summer recess has ended.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(WASHINGTON POST, NPR, TECHMONITOR)
**
ITU's AMATEUR STATION MARKS 60 YEARS ON AIR
DON/ANCHOR: Congratulations to 4U1ITU, the amateur radio station of the International Telecommunications Union, which is marking 60 years of
operation as part of the United Nations specialized agency for
communication. Its first QSO in June of 1962 was with DL4VK in Germany
and that contact marked the start of a busy 24 hours in which more than
1,300 contacts worldwide were logged. The station has since logged more
than a million contacts in CW, SSB and digital modes, including its first
use of the weak signal mode software WSJT, which bounced signals off the
moon. That activation was made by Nobel laureate Joe Taylor, K1JT, the software's creator and was logged on the occasion of the station's golden anniversary. In recent years 4U1ITU has logged contacts with astronauts
aboard the International Space Station and participated in the ARISS
program with students in Switzerland.
(ITU)
**
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED IN IARU REGION 1 HAM CHALLENGE
DON/ANCHOR: Judges in the IARU Region 1 Ham Challenge have identified the
five finalists, and Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, is here to tell us who they are.
JEREMY: As the IARU Region 1 Ham Challenge 2022 comes to its conclusion,
the five finalists have been announced. The jury has chosen these
proposals in keeping with the competition's goal to solicit ideas that
will draw more people into amateur radio and invigorate the hobby for
those already involved.
The finalists will continue in the competition at Ham Radio
Friedrichshafen, either online or in person, in a question-and-answer
forum. They are Nestor, 5B4AHZ, for a project known as "Escape Rooms," Gustavo, EA4HDN, for "AM BoB," Christian, HB9FEU, for "A public database
of fun projects for innovation," Luca, IU2FRL, for "UrgenSat" and Guy,
ZS6GUY, for "A Workbook that will showcase various aspects of the hobby."
Their next task is to prepare a video about their project and a document giving details on how they plan to make it a reality. Both the video and
the paper are due by the 22nd of June.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(IARU REGION 1)
**
SABLE ISLAND DXPEDITION LAUNCHES WEBSITE
DON/ANCHOR: If you're hoping to work the team on Sable Island off the
Canadian coast this fall, you can now track their progress with their
newly launched website. Here's Dave Parks, WB8ODF, with details.
DAVE: On a small North Atlantic island southeast of Nova Scotia, Canada,
you can expect to find gray seals, wild horses and ... amateur radio operators. Well, the third group will only be in temporary residence
there on Sable Island, which is also known as the Sable island National
Park Reserve. The team plans a seven- or eight-day DXpedition in October
and November as CY0S.
A website was launched earlier this month to keep DX enthusiasts up to
date and it will be adding new information on a regular basis. The
website is c y 0 s dot com (cy0s.com) and continues to be updated by
webmaster Chaz, W4GKF, and Randy N0TG. The team, which includes three DX
Hall of Famers, expects to operate in a very small area on the island so
as not to have any impact on the animals.
Visit the website regularly for updates.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Dave Parks, WB8ODF.
(SABLE ISLAND DXPEDITION WEBSITE)
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SWEDISH HAM RADIO OPERATOR TO BECOME ARCHBISHOP
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: There are many prominent positions radio amateurs have achieved over the years, from United States Senator, to the monarchy in nations like Jordan or Thailand. In Sweden, Defence Minister Peter
Hultqvist holds the amateur radio callsign SM4HCF. Now you can add the
Church of Sweden's incoming archbishop to that list, as we hear from
Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: The Church of Sweden has elected Martin Modeus, SM5LVQ, to be the
71st Archbishop of the Church of Sweden. According to the Swedish Society
of Radio Amateurs, Martin already serves the church as bishop of the
Diocese of Linkping, the fifth largest city in Sweden, located in the
south of the country. Martin will be received as archbishop during a
service to be held in December at Uppsala Cathedral, which has been the
see of the Church of Sweden's archbishop since the 12th Century. Martin
is to succeed Antje Jackelen, Sweden's first female archbishop, who is retiring.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SWEDISH SOCIETY OF RADIO AMATEURS)
**
SPECIAL EVENT IN AUGUST TO HONOR ABANDONED, ABUSED PETS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you think amateur radio is going to the dogs, you're
right - but those dogs are getting plenty of company, as we hear from Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
ED: The dog days of August will soon be upon us, and so too will August
26th, known as International Dog Day. A number of hams around the world
have decided to run with the pack by getting special event call signs and getting on the air to publicize the needs of abandoned and abused pets
who have ended up in shelters - dogs as well as cats. Hanz, YL3JD, wrote
in a QRZ.com forum that he will be operating CW from his shack in Latvia
using the call sign YL1DOG starting on Monday the 22nd of August until
the 26th. Hanz wrote: [quote] "I feel obligated to give exposure to this.
In my power as a radio amateur and animal lover bringing attention to
these abandoned pets is the least I can do." There are plans for other
call signs to be on the air too, including Joop, PG4I, signing as PF6DOG,
and Edwin, PD0SOT, signing as PD6DOG. International Cat Day is being celebrated on August 8th. Yevgeny, YL2TD, will be among those on the air
from the 7th until the 9th of August. He will be using the call sign
YL1CAT.
The list is growing but organizers are looking for even more operators to
call QRZ on behalf of shelter animals. Visit the website catsanddogsontheair.com to get the details. Then email Hugo, CT7AOV, to
have your station included on the list.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(QRZ, CATSANDDOGSONTHEAIR.COM)
**
TWO GRANTS SUPPORT OPEN-SOURCE PROJECTS FOR HAM RADIO
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Two grants have strengthened the practice of sharing and experimenting through open-source programs used for amateur radio. Andy Morrison, K9AWM, tells us what's going on.
ANDY: Amateur Radio Digital Communications has announced two grants
supporting open-source initiatives in amateur radio. One is a grant
focusing on software-defined radios, designed to help simplify the use of
the open-source software development kit, GNU Radio, on Windows
computers. The grant is also being given to support an upgrade of GNU
Radio's graphical user interface, known as GNU Radio Companion. These
funds will permit the hiring of developers, including a usability expert
to improve the experience of using GNU Radio Companion. Other expected improvements include better documentation for GNU Radio, easier
installation on MacOS and Windows computers and easier installation of out-of-tree modules. The contract workers will receive guidance from
volunteer mentors who are with the GNU Radio group.
The other grant will support experiments by students at Bradley
University in Peoria, Illinois, who are experimenting on the 33 cm band, developing an open-source 915 MHz digital transceiver system. Both the hardware and software are open-source and the design supports multiple
FSK/ASK modulation standards. According to the ARDC, the project will
permit low-cost experimentation with digital protocols on this
underutilized band and will fill a need that exists for available open-
source and open-hardware modules for digital radio modes.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
(DAN ROMANCHIK KB6NU)
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THIRTEEN COLONIES SPECIAL EVENT RUNS THROUGH JULY 8TH
NEIL/ANCHOR: Get ready for the annual mad dash for a Clean Sweep
with the 13 Colonies Special Event. Jim Damron, N8TMW, brings us
that report.
JIM: The Thirteen Colonies Special Event, one of the amateur radio
calendar's most popular activities, starts calling QRZ starting
Friday, July 1st at 1300 UTC. Operators will be based on each of the
original 13 US colonies and at bonus stations in England,
Pennsylvania and France. The event runs through July 8th at 0400
UTC. The event honors the original 13 colonies that fought for
American independence and honors military veterans, and those still
active in the service.
This 14th annual nonprofit event is also dedicated to Tom Francis,
W1TEF, who had served as the state manager for South Carolina, which
is using the special event call sign K2L. Tom became a Silent Key in
March of 2020.
For further details on the event, including the modes being used,
visit the website www.13colonies.us - that's w w w numeral ONE,
numeral THREE colonies dot us. You can also visit the QRZ page for
any of the colonies or for bonus station TM13COL in France, GB13COL
in England, and WM3PEN in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.
(13 COLONIES SPECIAL EVENT)
**
SHOPPING FOR QSOS AT WALMART
NEIL/ANCHOR: One of the more zany on-the-air events is back for its
third run. WalMart Parking Lots on the Air will be held on July 2
from 0000Z to 2359Z to coincide with the birthday of the famous
chain of American stores. The exchange must take place on an
amateur radio satellite and include the callsign and either the
WalMart store number or grid square. Activators -- or "associates"
as they are called by the event organizers -- are asked to use the
store number to reduce duplicate contacts. Rules and award
information are online at wmplota.org. So don't miss out on bonuses
like the birthday special or the MacGyver. Put on your pajamas and
aluminum foil hat, grab the rig, and head to a store parking lot
near you.
**
SOUTH AFRICA ANNOUNCES NEWEST LICENSEES
NEIL/ANCHOR: South Africa has announced its newest licensed radio
amateurs. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has that report.
JIM: South Africa has welcomed its newest amateur radio operators,
following exam sessions for Class A and B licences that were held
recently. Seventy-four who took the Class A exam on May 21st
successfully completed its 60 multiple-choice test questions,
according to the South African Radio League.The Class A licence
permits a maximum of 400 watts of power.
A Class B exam was held on the 11th of June hosted by the ZS3ZU
Hammies. All seven young operators who took the 30-question exam
passed. To mark the occasion, three of the new amateurs took part in
the Hammies Sprint being held the next day - Sunday the 12th of June
- running the ZS3ZU station. The Class B licence, issued to
operators younger than 21, permits a maximum output of 100 watts of
power on HF, VHF and UHF bands. The licence is only valid until
holders reach their 25th birthday..
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(SOUTHGATE, SARL)
**
WORKSHOP EXPLORES DISASTER COMMUNICATION AND THE PRESS
NEIL/ANCHOR: A workshop held jointly by groups in India and Japan
took an in depth look at communicating with the press during
disasters. We have more details from John Williams, VK4JJW.
JOHN: Amateur radio operators were among those in attendance during
a disaster-risk workshop held jointly on Friday, June 24th, by
organisations in India and Japan. Attendees were there to tackle the
challenge of communicating with the press about disasters.
Specialists from Japan and India teamed up for the full day of
presentations hosted by the Press Club of Kolkata. Both nations'
governments gave their support to the event, which also marked 70
years of diplomatic relations between Japan and India. Described as
a media sensitisation program, it united responders, government
agencies and media managers to discuss various aspects of handling
information and news coverage about risks during disasters.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
(ASIAN COMMUNITY NEWS, AMBARISH NAG BISWAS, VU2JFA)
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DISASTER EXERCISE SET FOR HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
DON/ANCHOR: Hams throughout Hawaii are getting ready for a disaster drill
that needs as many participants as possible. We hear more from Kevin
Trotman, N5PRE.
KEVIN: To help hams in Hawaii ensure that they can be prepared when
hurricanes or other disasters strike the islands, Hawaii ARES is
conducting a disaster exercise on Saturday the 16th of July. Amateurs who volunteer to participate will make use of their radios as well as their computers to send messages in a variety of ways. That will include the
use of Winlink to transmit emails with simulated hurricane reports. Other messages will also simulate reports from area Red Cross shelters and will provide field situation and damage reports.
Michael Miller, KH6ML, appeared on a recent KITV newscast in Hawaii to
share the details and ask for all licensed amateurs to get involved. Hams
who participate in SKYWARN, CERT, and other emergency response programs
are welcome, as are those who may not be involved in RACES, ARES or any
club. In this statewide exercise, the hams will follow the standardized Incident Command System that is in use throughout the United States. The exercise presumes that each of the Hawaiian islands has lost internet,
cell phone service and electrical power as a result of a hurricane.
For details on how to get involved visit the website hawaiiares.net
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
(HAWAIIARES.NET, KITV HAWAII)
**
TRADITIONAL CW CELEBRATED DURING 'NIGHT OF NIGHTS'
DON/ANCHOR: Listen up: Commercial Morse Code is about to return to the
air, if only for a night. Randy Sly, W4XJ, explains.
RANDY: In the early years of the 20th century, there was nothing more reassuring for a lonely radio officer on a storm-tossed ship than the
response of a coastal station to their call. The last of these Morse
messages was sent on July 12, 1999. On that date, the founders of the
Maritime Radio Historical Society established their organization with the specific goal of returning coast station KPH to the air as a means to
honor the men and women who made the profession of radiotelegrapher one
of honor and skill. On July 12, 2022, the MRHS will hold its 23rd annual
Night of Nights, commemorating the tradition of commercial Morse code
once thought dead.
Each July 12th, since the year 2000, transmitters are brought online for
this special event from the original Marconi/RCA transmission site in
Bolinas, California. KPH and KFS will be operating on assigned commercial frequencies while K6KPH will be operating on several HF amateur radio
bands. For operational times, frequencies and QSL information, please
check the Maritime Radio Historical Society website at radiomarine.org.
(MARITIME RADIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY)
Newsline's Randy Sly, W4XJ reporting.
**
POTA OPERATORS UPLOAD OWN LOGS
DON/ANCHOR: Hams active in Parks on the Air received upbeat news on the
POTA website recently: From 1200 UTC on July 1st activators have been
able to upload their own logs rather than rely on regional volunteer coordinators to do so. Hams logging onto the POTA site should now see a
menu option called "My Log Uploads." The feature became active on July
1st, following a period of successful beta testing. Posting on the
website QRPer, Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL, said the option was a welcome
change for activators.
The system update comes just in time for the POTA Annual Support Your
Parks Plaque Event on the 16th and 17th of July where there will be
shields to be won for various classes of operation.
(POTA)
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HAMS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA HOST 'CRUISE IN' FOR MOBILE
JIM/ANCHOR: If you're one of those hams who likes to operate while mobile, you're in good company, as we hear from Sel Embee, KB3TZD.
SEL: Inspired by a group of American amateur radio operators in Wisconsin, Surrey Emergency Program Amateur Radio V-E-7-S-A-R is hosting its first
mobile cruise-in for hams in British Columbia, Canada. It's an opportunity
to show off creative approaches to mobile operation, whether the portable shack is maritime mobile, pedestrian, bicycle or even horseback.
A post on the Surrey group's blog said that the local event will be held on August 14th and is modeled after the one that has been held for a dozen
years by the Portage County Amateur Radio Service in Wisconsin. The Surrey club's members are hoping to see creative approaches to operators' grab 'n'
go kits as well as more formal installations. Prizes will be awarded for
most bands covered and neatest installation. Entries will be judged by the Surrey fire and police services. The club is hosting it in the parking lot
of the A&W Restaurant in Surrey.
For more details visit v-e-7-s-a-r-dot-net (ve7sar.net)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Sel Embee, K-B-3-T-Zed-D.
(SURREY EMERGENCY PROGRAM AMATEUR RADIO)
**
CAR MAKERS REPORT DECLINE IN AM RADIOS
JIM/ANCHOR: Is AM mode going away? Well, certainly not in amateur radio,
but there has apparently been some action among automakers who are making
the transition to electric car manufacture. Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, brings
us that story.
KENT: Amplitude modulation - so loved by radio amateurs for being the first voice mode -- is apparently becoming the last-choice commercial radio
option for some automobile manufacturers who are having second thoughts
about retaining AM radio in their new cars, many are citing electric-motor interference. They claim that the electric motors that provide the power to the drive wheels mess with terrestrial AM radio reception, creating such issues as distortion, static and signal loss.
Tesla has already cut AM radios from its vehicles, starting with its
original Model S. BMW pulled it from both its i3 and i8 sedans -- and no
Audi models that are fully electric are equipped with AM radios either.
A representative for Audi explained on the consumerguide.com website that drivers can make up for the loss by opting to stream those stations via digital signals on a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. An article on the
website, thedrive.com, also noted that AM is practically gone from the broadcast radio scene in Europe as well, overtaken by the DAB format.
In the US, however, where AM radio still remains popular, it will be a challenge, especially for those long-distance drivers who most especially
love the commercial radio version of DXing. In fact, as one author wrote on the website of incompliancemag.com: [quote] " Woe to those drivers who have fond memories of listening to an ever-changing array of AM radio stations
as they traveled across the country in wood-paneled station wagons!" [endquote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.
(CONSUMERGUIDE.COM, THEDRIVE.COM, INCOMPLIANCEMAG.COM)
**
PARKS ON THE AIR PREPS FOR SUMMER PLAQUE AWARDS
JIM/ANCHOR: The Parks on the Air awards program is hosting its Summer
Plaque Event, and preparing for its big awards ceremony to be held online
on the POTA YouTube channel. Vance Martin, N3VEM, has the details.
VANCE: Don't miss the Summer Plaque event, coming up July 16th and 17th,
UTC. This is our busiest weekend every year, and it's your chance to win
one of 17 high quality plaques for your shack!
Once the event is over, be sure to upload your activation logs using POTA's new self-upload service, and then be on the lookout at the annual plaque
event section from the menu at pota dot app for details on the award
ceremony where an esteemed list of guests will join us on the official POTA YouTube channel to help us announce the winners. Guest presenters for this year's awards show include individuals from :
AR Newsline
Ham Radio Crash Course
ICQ Podcast
Ham Radio Live! & WRMI Shortwave "CQ Calling Show"
Ham Radio Workbench Podcast
Parks on the Air
I am personally excited to announce that Matt Here, N3NWV, whom many of you know from our official POTA 101 videos will be taking over the reins of
these monthly updates beginning in August. I've had a lot of fun recording these updates, but I'm looking forward to handing the reins over to our official media-manager as we continue to grow the program.
As always, the team at Parks on the Air wishes you safe activations, and
happy hunting. 73. This is November Three Victor Echo Mike.
(POTA)
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RADIO SEIZED FOR INTERFERING WITH POLICE TRANSMISSIONS
PAUL/ANCHOR: In Texas, authorities cracked down after a hand-held radio
caused emergency intereference with police transmissions. Mike Askins,
KE5CXP, brings us those details.
MIKE: Authorities in Graham, Texas, seized a handheld radio that they
said had been transmitting illegally for months on emergency frequencies
used by the Young County Sheriff's Office. According to local media
reports, the transmissions on the dispatch channels often included the
voices of a man, woman and some children yelling at one another and the
sounds of a barking dog. A story in the Olney Enterprise newspaper said
that the police were so hampered in using their own assigned frequencies
that they often had to use cellphones instead to communicate.
Sheriff Travis Babcock contacted the Federal Communications Commission
which provided him with an official statement to read on the emergency
channel but that failed to bring the transmissions to a halt. The news
report said that on July 8th two officers patroling in their car heard
the unauthorized traffic and were able to track down the radio and its
owner. The owner of the radio was not identified.
It was not clear what charges would be filed against the owners of the
radio, which is now the property of the county sheriff's office. Charges
could range from a misdemeanor for interfering with public duty to a
federal offense for interfering with emergency communications.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mike Askins, KE5CXP.
(THE OLNEY ENTERPRISE, GRAHAM LEADER)
**
WISCONSIN EVENT CELEBRATES FLIGHT, HOSTS SPECIAL EVENT STATION
PAUL/ANCHOR: Aviation enthusiasts are getting ready to head to Wisconsin,
or point their antennas in that direction, for a special event - and a
special event station - celebrating flight. Randy Sly, W4XJ, brings us
the details.
RANDY: More than 10,000 aircraft and a half-million flight enthusiasts
will descend on Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, from July
25th to July 31st, turning it into the busiest airport in the world. It's
time for AirVenture, sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association.
Once again this year, it will not only involve being in the air but on
the air…
The ARRL has supported AirVenture since 2018 with an exhibit encouraging pilots and aviation aficionados to discover radio communications and technology through amateur radio. Kids will get a chance to experience
ham radio too: Volunteers at KidVenture will give youngsters an
opportunity to build and take home a radio receiver capable of listening
to air traffic and other nearby transmissions in the 65 - 140 MHz range.
If you aren't able to personally fly in or even drive in, you still have
a chance to check in: A special event station, W9W, sponsored by the EAA Warbirds of America, will be operating on HF, VHF and UHF during
AirVenture. More information about frequencies and operations of W9W can
be found in the text version of this week's newscast at ARNewsline.org.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ.
TEXT VERSION ONLY:
The special event station will be located on the Warbirds' grounds near
their headquarters, against the backdrop of the display of historic and
vintage ex-military aircraft. Look for W9W on 40 - 10 meters near 7.225, 14.250, 21.235, and 28.425 MHz. The station will also operate on the
2-meter and 440 MHz bands, simplex. A special event QSL card will be
issued for contacts with W9W.
**
STATIONS SIGNING UP FOR LIGHTHOUSE AND LIGHTSHIP WEEKEND
PAUL/ANCHOR: Most of us already know about beacons and the jobs they do
for us as hams but what about the original beacons, the ones that have
helped guide sailors by using beams of light? Amateur radio operators are again preparing to celebrate the world's lighthouses and lightships with
an international weekend in August. Here's John Williams, VK4JJW, with
the details.
JOHN: Though many of the world's lighthouses now operate by automation
instead of the efforts of lighthouse keepers, there will be live
operators at historic lighthouses around the world on the weekend of
August 20th and 21st. They'll be operating radios instead of lighthouses
but in doing so, they will honour them.
This is the annual event known as the International Lighthouse and
Lightship Weekend, which since 1993 has publicised the need to ensure
these structures are not forgotten and are kept in good repair. What
began as an event with 11 operations at lighthouses eventually grew to
include 544 lighthouses and lightships across 56 countries in 2011. The 48-hour activation begins at 0001UTC on August 20th, on all frequencies
and in all modes. Radios will either be set up inside the lighthouses or directly nearby.The amateur radio event will be happening on the same
weekend that the International Lighthouse Heritage Weekend is held by the Association of Lighthouse Keepers, whose members are committed to
preserving lighthouse heritage.
Most importantly, it is not a contest. It is, in a way, a beacon in its
own right, shining a light on these important treasures that have long
served ships at sea for so long.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
(ASSOCIATION OF LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS, ILLW)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the WD8IIJ
repeater of the Steubenville-Weirton Amateur Radio Club on Fridays at 8
p.m. local time in the hometown of the late great Dean Martin,
Steubenville, Ohio.
**
HAMS IN BELGIUM TAKE QSO PARTY TO THE AIR
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In Belgium, a group of hams will be taking their next QSO party to the air. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us what they've got planned.
ED: When is a QSO party more than just a QSO party? When it gets an extra
lift from a hot air balloon operating on 2 metres, 2,500 feet above the Belgian province of East Flanders. It's a club-wide project overseen by Jurgen, ON8VC, Niels, ON3NSB, and Bernard, ON5MB, members of the radio
club Zottegem, ON6ZT. The launch for the flight, which will last about an
hour and a half, is scheduled for August 10th at about 6 p.m. local time.
It is of course weather-dependent.
Jurgen said there will be two pilot ground stations. Erwin, ON7XF, and
Theo, ON4CLF, will handle logging for all stations worked. Dominique,
ON3DDH, and Chris, ON6ME, will be documenting the event in photos by
following the balloon by car. The QSL cards will feature many of the
photos.
Jurgen told Newsline in an email that the club has a QSO party each month
on VHF, mostly with local stations operating on 145.550. The hams decided
a few months ago to try and incorporate a hot air balloon into the
activity.
Stations are expected to spot their contacts on dxsummit.fi but amateurs outside the region of this very local event can still follow the action
on APRS. Club manager Benard ON5MB will run an APRS tracker that can be followed at APRS.fi.
Jurgen said this QSO Party is a kind of test flight: He said there are
already plans in the works to try this on HF in 2023.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(JURGEN ON8VC)
**
SPANISH MAGAZINE SPONSORS INTERNATIONAL YL EVENT
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: An amateur radio magazine published in Spain has announced
a YL Diploma contest that's going to be a worldwide event. Neil Rapp,
WB9VPG, brings us up to date.
NEIL: Every month, a Spanish magazine known as Selvamar Noticias transmits friendship, goodwill and radio education - not over the amateur bands, but through the pages of its free publication. Created by Manel, EA3IAZ, and
Juan Jos, EA3IEW, it has devoted itself to environmental issues, and to celebrating the achievements of the youngest members of the amateur radio community. The magazine also supports YLs deeply involved in the hobby.
The August edition of the magazine shines the spotlight on those YLs by devoting one third of its articles to YLs and their accomplishments. The magazine is also sponsoring a YL Diploma contest that runs from August
15th through to the 21st. Citizens Band stations and SWLs are also able
to participate. Stations will also be using Echolink and the digital modes.
Manel and Juan Jos told Newsline in an email that the event is open to operators in all countries. The diploma will be presented as a downloadable PDF.
A link to additional details about the event can be found in the text
version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org.
Although since starting publishing two years ago, the magazine has been translated into several languages including an accessible version for the disabled, the August edition will only be available in Spanish.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.
(Note: Due to the long URL's, they won't fit into the lines for the BBS
ham radio echoes. Please go to www.arnewsline.org -- click on SCRIPT,
then open the file in Notepad or a similar utility to read it. DS).
**
PROGRAM OFFERS HANDS-ON LEARNING TO FOUNDATION LEVEL HAMS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: One amateur club in the UK is providing hands-on learning
to newcomers now that those lessons are no longer required by the license exam. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, brings us the details.
JEREMY: Although the practical exam is no longer a requirement for a Foundation licence in the UK, practical experience is still a vital part
of getting started on the air. Members of the Sutton and Cheam Radio
Society in Surrey are providing that to newcomers with a hands-on session
on the 11th of September in Surrey. New licence-holders will learn how to adjust an aerial for various frequencies, make contacts on VHF and HF and learn how to set up a station. They will also get a chance to hear - and
learn more about - Morse Code. Many of these demonstrations were once
elements in the formerly mandated practical exam.
The practical proficiency test requirement was removed so that online
testing could take place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Practicals for the Intermediate exam were eliminated the previous year.
Those attending will be asked to pay a 10 fee which is to cover use of
the headquarters of the 7th Banstead Scouts.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SUTTON AND CHEAM RADIO SOCIETY)
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DV SCOTLAND, PHOENIX UK MERGE DMR NETWORKS
DON/ANCHOR: A merger between two popular DMR networks has
promised users the best of both. Jeremy Boot G4NJH brings us that
update.
JEREMY: The DV Scotland and Phoenix UK DMR networks have merged,
simplifying integration with other networks - both digital and
analogue. With both networks having a wide array of repeaters,
reflectors and servers, the two were considered complimentary and
a natural for such a merger. This had been a work in progress for
many weeks. The new network now benefits from a variety of DMR,
D-Star and Yaesu System Fusion repeaters as well as Allstar hubs
and analogue simplex gateways.
Eric, G6FGY, told Newsline in an email that current users will
not notice any changes and the new network DVScotland-Phoenix
will continue hosting a variety of nets accessible by various
modes each week. Eric said the merger reflects rather a change in
the management structure to operate the network.
A list of the nets hosted on this newly merged network can be
seen using the link that appears in the text version of this
week's newscast. The multimode network also supports Peanut,
Echolink and HamShack Hotline. Computer and mobile users can also
listen in by using the link asl dot dvscotland dot uk
(asl.dvscotland.uk)
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
[FOR PRINT ONLY:
https://www.dvscotland.net/multimode-nets ]
(DVSCOTLAND, ERIC G6FGY)
**
ALARA CONTEST ENCOURAGES INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP
DON/ANCHOR: For more than 40 years, YLs in Australia have been
hosting a contest that doesn't just involve scorekeeping - it
also encourages international communication. Graham Kemp, VK4BB,
explains how it works.
GRAHAM: Yes there are awards to be had in the 42nd contest
sponsored by the Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association.
There are even certificates and trophies - but organisers want
participants around the world to know that the real goal of the
42nd annual ALARA Contest on the 27th and 28th of August is to
get all licensed ham radio operators around the world - OMs and
YLs alike - talking to one another. By spotting on the clusters
and even on Facebook, all the competitors actually work together
to make it easier to make those important contacts. Competition?
Yes! But friendly competition. Be listening too for some of the
newest licenced YLs as well as Girl Guides and Scouts. Some
contacts are expected to be made on Echolink as well.
Visit the ALARA contest page for more details. The link is in
this week's text version of the newscast script. You'll find the
rules and any other details you need to know to get into the
contest.
I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
[FOR PRINT ONLY: alara.org.au/contests/index.html ]
**
CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TRIP TO WARM UP THE BANDS
DON/ANCHOR: It's time to strap on those cross-country skis -- if
you're in Australia, that is -- and grab your radio equipment.
Hams are set for high adventure in the Victorian Alps, as we hear
from Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.
JASON: There's nothing like a winter trip through the snow-filled
Victorian Alps to bring some Winter warmth to the bands. That's
what a team of cross-country skiing radio amateurs in Australia
is hoping for as they call QRZ between Friday August 5th and
Tuesday August 9th. The activators include Stephen, VK3SN,
Gerard, VK3GT, Bronwen, VK3FIRH, and others and they will be on
the HF bands, 80 through 10m, using SSB and FT8. They will also
be on 2m and 70 CM simplex and on repeaters. They'll be using
lithium batteries and light solar panels for power. This isn't
the first time many of these hams have been making this kind of
winter trip. Past travels have been quite an adventure, involving
operations from igloos and a number of remote peaks.
Listening for them promises to be quite an adventure too.
This is Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.
(STEPHEN, VK3SN)
**
INDIAN SCHOOLGIRLS' SATELLITE LAUNCHED WITH 75 EXPERIMENTS
DON/ANCHOR: A satellite built by girls in India has been stirring
some excitement. John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us why.
JOHN: A small satellite built by 750 schoolgirls in India, will
be on board for the maiden flight of the Indian Space Research
Organization's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle this month. The
students were mentored by SpaceKidz India in the construction of
this 8-kilogram satellite. It carries 75 small experiments, a
camera to study solar panels in space and a variety of long range communications transponder experiments. The satellite also has a
messaging system for amateur radio operators.
Although this is not the first student satellite built with the
help of SpaceKidz India, this one is dfferent because it carries
its own power systems and batteries to power an anticipated six-
month-long orbit. This satellite is not, of course, the main
payload for the launch vehicle. The rocket will also be carrying
the Microsat 2A, which is designed to assist in the mapping of
parcels of land.
At the time Newsline went to production, the launch was scheduled
for August the 7th.
This is John Williams, VK4JJW.
(SPACE KIDZ INDIA, REPUBLICWORLD.COM)
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All on Thu Aug 11 20:22:13 2022
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.
**
IARU REGION 1 ANNOUNCES WINNERS IN 1st HAMCHALLENGE CONTEST
NEIL/ANCHOR: There are two top winners sharing the glory in the
first Hamchallenge competition of Region 1 of the International
Amateur Radio Union. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us about their
achievements.
ED: The International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 has chosen two
hams to share top honours equally in their Hamchallenge
competition. The contest, which was introduced for the first time
on April 30th, asked participants to propose game-changing ideas
that would help grow the international amateur radio community.
Nestor, 5B4AHZ, and Christian, HB9FEU, were chosen as first-place
winners. Nestor's winning project was "Ham Radio Escape Room," a
virtual escape room inspired by the pandemic. Teams use radio
instead of webcams to communicate. Christian's project was a
public database of fun projects for innovation and technology-
oriented hobbyists. Many of the activities accommodated those
with very little experience or available equipment.
The third place winner was Luca, IU2FRL, and the Youth Prize went
to Guy, ZS6GUY. IARU Region 1 said it will be in touch with the
winners to help them turn their proposals into actual working
models. Hamchallenge will return in 2023.
This is Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(IARU, SOUTHGATE)
**
RADIO PREPAREDNESS PROJECT BEGINS IN TRIPURA
NEIL/ANCHOR: A new emergency-preparedness strategy by officials
in the northeastern Indian state of Tripura is giving high
priority to amateur radio. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has that story.
JIM: As many as nine new amateur radio stations are being set up
by the government of Tripura in India in an attempt to improve
communications during disasters. The State Disaster Management
Agency told reporters during a recent press conference an
estimated 1500 trained volunteers have already stepped forward to
operate the stations as they become available. The first station
will be ready to go on the air shortly and will be based at the
State Emergency Operation Centre in the Secretariat Complex. The
remaining eight still require proper licences from the Ministry
of Communication. The state officials said that ten more
automated rain gauges and seven automated weather stations will
also be installed in urban areas by India's Meteorological
Department.
Officials said they had hope that these additional measures would
increase all teams' abilities to provide lifesaving response in
the state, which is prone to a variety of catastrophes, including
flash floods, strong winds and heat waves.
This is Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(NORTHEAST TODAY)
**
HAMS TOLD TO SHARE FREQUENCIES DURING PARIS OLYMPICS
NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams in France will need to share many of their
frequencies with broadcasters and others involved in the Paris
2024 Olympic Games. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, brings us those details.
JEREMY: Just as some amateur frequencies were opened to other
users during the Olympics in London in 2012, amateur frequencies
are to be shared during the 2024 Olympics in France.
According to recent news reports, some VHF and UHF frequencies
are to become available between 26th June and 15th September 2024
to accommodate the Organising Committee for the Paris Games and
thus requiring amateur radio operators to limit their activities
on those bands.
The National Frequency Agency of France, which is responsible for
allocations in that country, said frequencies are being made
available during the games for private mobile radio voice
communications, mostly by walkie-talkie. Amateur radio operators
are considered primary users on 2 metres by the ITU. On other
bands, 1240 MHz to 1260 MHz will be used for programme-making and
special events, or PMSE services. These frequencies are open to
hams on a secondary basis. Frequencies on the 2.3 GHz band, also
open to hams on a secondary basis, will be used for video links.
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(SOUTHGATE)
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All on Fri Aug 19 15:37:27 2022
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
WB5ITT repeater of the Triangle Repeater Association in Houston,
Texas, on Mondays at 7:30 p.m.
**
SCIENTISTS ANNOUNCE KEY TO SMALLER CAPACITORS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Physicists in Europe say they have found a key to
creating smaller capacitors for electronics. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, has
that report.
KEVIN: Researchers believe they have found a means of building smaller capacitors, allowing for some electronic devices to be greatly
miniaturized. The IEEE Spectrum reports that scientists are saying
these capacitors could even be as small as one-hundredth the size of
many of the ones presently in use. They are creating them with
materials they call superlattices and they are made from materials that
mimic antiferroelectrics. Antiferroelectrics are important because they
have positive and negative poles -- electric dipoles -- pointed in
opposing directions, creating zero electric polarization. Exposed to an electric field having sufficient strength, antiferroelectrics can
become highly polarized, which results in the large energy densities
needed.
Because there are few antiferrelectric materials that occur naturally, scientists have created and used artificial ones and report in the
Journal, Science, that their work with the superlattices shows promise
for working on a much smaller scale: their ability for energy storing
is 100 times greater than conventional capacitors. Physicists believe
they will someday be used to create these ultra-tiny capacitors.
Physicist Hugo Aramberri of the Luxembourg Institute of Science and
Technology said: [quote]: "It would be interesting to measure other properties, like how much voltage they can withstand, their endurance
in long-term use, and ultimately commercial viability." [endquote]
I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
(IEEE SPECTRUM)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, be listening for Fred, DL5YM, and his XYL Tina,
DL5YL, operating as HB0/DL5YM and HB0/DL5YL, respectively, from
Lichtenstein between September 7th and 27th. They will hike during the
daytime and later operate on 160-6 metres using mostly CW, with some
SSB and RTTY. You may also hear them in the CQWW DX RTTY Contest on
September 24th and 25th. QSL via their home callsigns, direct, via the
DARC Bureau or ClubLog.
Be listening for Giuseppe, IK5WWA, operating as IM0M (Eye Em Zero Em)
from La Maddalena between September 1st and 13th on various HF bands
plus 6 metres. He will also participate in the I.I.A. Italian Island
Award. Send QSLs to his home callsign, via the bureau or direct.
Alex, AK4AM, will be active as AK4AM/p from Atlantic Beach, Bogue Banks
off the coast of North Carolina between September 2nd and 6th. This is
IOTA NA-112. Alex will be on 160 metres through 6 metres. Additional
details are available on QRZ.com. QSL via LoTW.
Satoshi, JH2EUV, can be heard on the air from Timor-Leste (OC-148) as 4W/JH2EUV. He is operating on 10, 12 and 15m FT8. It is unclear how
long his stay will be. QSL via LoTW or the bureau.
Be listening for Harald, DF2WO, operating from Burkina Faso as XT2AW
from September 4th to the 18th. He will be on the HF bands using CW,
SSB and the digital modes. He will also be using the QO-100 satellite.
QSL via QRZ.com instructions.
Here's a reminder too, for the weekend of the 20th and 21st of August.
It's the 25th annual International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend.
With 360 lighthouses around the world registered at the time of writing
to take part in this event they will be active across the HF and VHF
bands on all modes. This is not a contest so call and have a chat! Full details at ILLW dot NET.
(OHIO PENN DX, DX-WORLD.NET)
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From
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All on Thu Aug 25 18:04:51 2022
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, like the George County ARES repeater in Lucedale, Mississippi, Wednesdays at 7:37 p.m. local time.
**
ITCHING TO WORK THE SCRATCHIN' POST QSO PARTY
JIM/ANCHOR:If you want to have a QSO party, all you need is a reason. Much like the World's Largest Teapot event that recently concluded, this ARES special event station is just dripping in Southern charm.
DON: In coastal Mississippi exactly 40 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico
and 10 miles west of the Alabama state line lies the friendly little town
of Lucedale, Mississippi, founded in 1901, population 24,762. Right in the heart of downtown Lucedale on the corner of Mill and Main you'll find a four-by-four wooden notched post known as The Scratchin' Post. From 1937
until 1993 there was a very popular 24-hour restaurant at that site known
as The Coffee Pot, renowned for its 5-inch tall merengue pies. The
restaurant is long gone, a victim of progress and rerouted highways, but
The Scratchin' Post still stands tall. And on Saturday, September 3rd,
George County ARES will put it on the amateur radio map with The Scratchin' Post QSO Party. You may be asking why is it called The Scratchin' Post?
It was a tradition when entering and exiting the restaurant to scratch your back against the post. Several famous spines found comfort in rubbing up against that hunk of wood. Baseball legend Dizzy Dean. Country music
legends Tennessee Ernie Ford and Ernest Tubb. Actors Kirk Douglas, Gene
Autrey and Roy Rogers. Even Ronald Reagan in his Hollywood days as well as
Tom Lester, "Eb" on "Green Acres." You can scratch that radio itch by listening for K5K on 20 and 40 meters phone as well as FT4 and FT8.
Operating hours are 1300 to 2300 UTC on Saturday, September 3rd. They will
be operating Field Day style from the downtown City Park. If you're in
that neck of the woods, stop by and enjoy some fine Southern hospitality. Everything you need to know, as well as a picture of The Scratchin' Post,
can be found on the K5K QRZ page. Sounds like the perfect excuse for a QSO party.
I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.
**
VOLUNTEER MONITORS SEND HAMS COMMENDATIONS, NOTICES
JIM/ANCHOR: A recent trip to the mailbox brought surprises for some hams - some pleasant surprises, others not-so-pleasant. Sel Embee, KB3TZD,
explains.
SEL: The Volunteer Monitor Program, begun in 2020 as a cooperative effort between the FCC and the ARRL, recently released its report for July of this year. The program delivers commendations as well as notices of improper operation to hams as a way of boosting compliance with amateur radio
license regulations.
The latest commendations include a ham in Columbia, South Carolina for
helping amateurs complete programs for the Community Emergency Response
Team and for assisting those involved in the county's Emergency Operations Center. Commendations were also given to hams in Poughkeepsie (poo-KIPP-
See) New York for conducting the community bulletin board on a local
repeater. Hams in Roslyn, Pennsylvania were also given commendations for involving the Phil-Mont Mobile Radio Club in Field Day and MESH operations.
Meanwhile, notices for unlicensed operation were sent to logging companies
in Washington state for their use of 2-meter amateur frequencies. Another notice for unlicensed operation was sent to an operator in Indian Hills, California for operating 2m simplex APRS during a high-altitude balloon flight, one year after the operator's license had been cancelled by the
FCC.
Notices for operating FT8 outside license privileges were issued to a Technician class operator in Martinez, California and a General-class
operator in Trenton, New Jersey. Notices for operating on SSB outside their General class privileges were issued to hams in Massapequa (massa-PEE-
KWAH), New York, and Trenton, New Jersey.
This is Sel Embee, KB3TZD.
(ARRL)
**
SPECIAL 9/11 EVENT MARKS TERROR ATTACKS' 21st ANNIVERSARY
JIM/ANCHOR: Recalling the difficult day that was September 11th, 2001, a
group of US amateurs is marking that grim anniversary with a special event starting very soon. Jack Parker, W8ISH, tells us what their plans are.
JACK: Members of the Alabama Contest Group will be carrying the message
"Nine Eleven, Remembered Once More," during a special event being activated
to honor the victims of terrorism who perished 21 years ago in New York
City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Stations will be
using the callsign K4A starting at 0001 UTC on September 8th and running through to September 12th, operating on all bands and using CW, SSB, FT8
and RTTY. Organizers are expecting many hams to be calling in with stories
of remembrances from September 11th, 2001.
Planners have been busy on the Discord chat app making a schedule that will
be accessible to amateurs worldwide. An extra effort will be made on CW and FT8 to help Pacific DX operators, especially in VK and ZL, make contacts. Certificates will be available in addition to QSL cards. QSOs are needed on four bands in any combination of modes to qualify for a certificate.
Outside of North America, only three bands are needed.
According to the QRZ page for K4A, this event recognizes "peace-loving
people all over the world." Visit the page for K4A or WA1FCN for more
details.
This is Jack Parker, W8ISH
(ALABAMA CONTEST GROUP)
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RSGB PREPARES FOR RE-ENACTMENT OF TRANSATLANTIC CENTENARY TESTS
NEIL/ANCHOR: Get ready for the Transatlantic Centenary Tests, coming this December to an HF frequency near you. The Radio Society of Great Britain
has already started to get things rolling, as we hear from Jeremy Boot,
G4NJH.
JEREMY: With the support of Ofcom, the Radio Society of Great Britain
have reactivated five callsigns that date back to the 1920s, at the dawn
of amateur radio communication across the Atlantic. The call signs are
going back on the air for all of December during the Transatlantic
Centenary Tests, which took place between 1921 and 1923. The call sign
G5WS is being used from the 1922 tests, as the first to make the ocean crossing. Its signal from South London was heard in North America on the
24th of December in 1922.
Other call signs will be G5AT and G6XX, both used for the 1923 tests,
G6ZZ, used for tests in 1924 on a moving rail train, and the Scottish Highlands call GM3DR.
These tests will differ from the original ones in that they will engage stations in two-way communications with UK and Crown Dependency-based stations. Stations will be in England, Scotland, Wales, Guernsey, the
Isle of Man, Jersey and Northern Ireland.
So get ready for what lies ahead. Additional details can be found on the
RSGB website. See the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
[PRINT ONLY:
https://rsgb.org/transatlantic-tests/ ]
(RSGB)
**
EAST COAST RADIO OPERATORS PUT APPALACHIAN TRAIL ON THE AIR
NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams are signing up to activate POTA and SOTA sites along
the Appalachian Trail in the eastern United States. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE,
tells us about the event and its participants.
KEVIN: Imagine being part of an event that covers six national parks,
eight national forests, more than 40 SOTA summits and over 65 state parks
and forests that have POTA designations. It's a stretch of land known as
the Appalachian Trail and it's considered a major national treasure in
the United States. For the second year in a row it will be where you can
find activators participating in the second annual Appalachian Trail On
the Air event. It's also where chasers around the country, if not the
world, will be pointing their antennas.
The trail itself has a POTA national designation of K-4556 and on the
weekend on Saturday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 2, activators will be
posting their POTA schedules and SOTA alerts. Activators can plan ahead
and sign up in advance now by going to the website www dot A T ontheair
dot net (www.atontheair.net) and complete the form that appears on screen
when you click the button that says "RSVP."
This event was begun last year as the inspiration of Mike WB2FUV, an
amateur living in the mountains of upstate New York. According to his QRZ page, he fell in love with operating QRP from the mountains and trails of
the northeast two years ago. He writes on his page that last year's event attracted more than 50 activators on SOTA summits and POTA parks in 11
states all along the Trail. Chasers were answering their calls from
throughout North America and Europe.
This is Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
(QRZ, SOTA REFLECTOR, NORTHEAST SOTA CLUB)
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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.
**
W1AW MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF ITS SHACK'S DEDICATION
PAUL/ANCHOR: Congratulations to W1AW, the headquarters station of the
American Radio Relay League. The station is marking the anniversary of
the dedication of the brick building in Newington, Connecticut, that
became its shack on September 2nd, 1938. The league's official station
has the callsign of its founding president, Hiram Percy Maxim, who became
a Silent Key in 1936. Following his death, the league applied to replace
its callsign of W1MK with Maxim's. The busy station is known around the
world for the welcome it gives to guest operators as well as for its
bulletin transmissions and on-air practice sessions of Morse Code.
(ARRL)
**
YOUTH PLAQUES ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN OCEANIA DX CONTEST
PAUL/ANCHOR: There's extra excitement for younger amateurs in this year's Oceania DX contest. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, tells us why.
GRAHAM: Two new, youth-related, plaques have been added to the phone
section of this year's Oceania DX contest on October 1st from 0600 UTC, sponsored by Oscar Reyes, VK3TX, a noted DXer and an IARU Region 3
director.
The two new plaques are intended to engage younger hams. The "World Youth Phone plaque" will recognise the highest-scoring amateur of 25 years or younger from outside of Oceania. The "Australia Youth Phone plaque" will recognise the highest-scoring amateur 25 years of age or younger from
within Australia.
This is the 77th running of the contest whose aim is to get non-Oceania stations to contact those around the Pacific region and the bands promise
to be busy with VK and ZL operators calling CQ Oceania DX contest.
This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(OCEANIA DX CONTEST, WIA)
**
OBSERVATORY EDUCATOR HONORED FOR WORK IN ASTRONOMY
PAUL/ANCHOR: Hard work in the field of astronomy education paid off
recently for one longtime educator who's been honored for her years of advocacy at facilities around the United States. We hear more from Sel
Embee, KB3TZD.
SEL: The assistant director for education and public outreach at the
National Radio Astronomy Observatory has been honored for her work by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Suzanne Gurton is being recognized
with the Klumpke (Klumm-Key) Roberts Award for nearly four decades of her effort helping educators develop and present astronomy programs to
further the public's understanding. Before joining the Observatory in
2016, Suzanne Gurton worked at a number of planetariums around the United States and also served as an astronomy lecturer at the Griffith
Observatory in Los Angeles. She is a former writer and producer at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
Previous recipients of this award have included Isaac Asimov, Carl Sagan, Timothy Ferris, and Walter Sullivan.
The observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation.
I'm Sel Embee, KB3TZD.
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CANADIAN LICENSE-HOLDERS ASKED TO WEIGH IN ON CALLSIGNS
DON/ANCHOR: Radio Amateurs of Canada is hoping to push for some changes
that affect license-holders' callsigns and the group is asking for input.
We hear the details from Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
ANDY: Radio amateurs who hold a Canadian Certificate and have a Canadian callsign are being asked to complete a survey for Radio Amateurs of Canada, which wants to advocate for changes in policies regarding Canadian
callsigns. The results of the survey will be used by the RAC to come up
with proposals to show Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada,
the governmental regulator.
According to the RAC website, hams are being asked to weigh in on questions about special-event callsign authorisations, two-letter suffixed callsigns, the handling of callsigns for Silent Keys; and various special prefix authorisations. The survey will also explore whether it should be mandatory for hams to change their callsigns if they relocate to another region in Canada. Hams are also being asked whether callsigns with one suffix letter should be issued as permanent personal call signs.
This is just a sampling of the issues included in the survey, which opened
on the 5th of August and will remain accessible to hams until the 30th of September. Though the questions are thorough, they take no more than 10 or
15 minutes to complete. The survey was created by Dave Goodwin, VE3KG, the RAC's regulatory affairs officer.
Amateurs holding Canadian callsigns wishing to take part in the survey can
do so by using the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
This is Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
[FOR PRINT ONLY:
https://www.rac.ca/canadian-amateurs-call-sign-policy-survey/ ]
(RADIO AMATEURS OF CANADA)
**
ARRL GRANT MAKES ARKANSAS SCHOOL CLUB A REALITY
DON/ANCHOR: School is only back in session barely a week for many
youngsters in the United States, but one group of teenagers already has
some serious homework to do. Dave Parks, WB8ODF, tells us about their assignment.
DAVE: It's official: Cave City High School in Arkansas, has its own radio
club at last. The club recently received its charter from the American
Radio Relay League along with an $8,000 grant from the ARRL's Grant Foundation. Those funds will be used to purchase and install radio
equipment, including a local repeater. Science teacher Lynn Williams,
N5TLW, told the Guard On Line that the club received lots of support from
the Batesville Area Radio Club whose members helped the high school club's president, Ithyca Bacon, KI5QOS, get things in motion. The students are
hoping their station and the repeater will be on the air within the next
few months. In the meantime, the school club is going to host a number of informational meetings for community members who want to learn more.
The achievement is bittersweet for many involved in setting up the new
club. The president of the Batesville area amateurs, Steve Shelton, AE5RU, became a Silent Key on the 27th of August. Lynn, who is a member of the Batesville club, said on the Batesville club's Facebook page that the
success of the students' efforts to form the Cave City High School Amateur Radio Club comes in large part due to Steve's dedication to that effort. He wrote: [quote] "The current and future students in the club will benefit
from his influence." [endquote]
This is Dave Parks, WB8ODF.
(GUARDONLINE, FACEBOOK)
**
CHINA RESCHEDULES LICENSE EXAMS FOR 'C' CLASS
DON/ANCHOR: Candidates for the top-level amateur license in China have a
few more weeks to wait to take their exam, which has been postponed. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has that story.
JIM: Amateurs in China will soon sit for a technical proficiency assessment being given for those seeking the highest class of the nation's amateur
radio licence - the "C" class. C class hams are permitted up to 1 kW of
power on bands below 30 MHz and 25 watts above 30 MHz. The exam will be
held in Beijing on November 5th and will be overseen by the Beijing Radio Association.
The announcement came from the Chinese Radio Amateurs Club, the national
ham radio association, which said that the assessment had originally been scheduled for October 22nd but had to be rescheduled.
This is Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(CRAC, SOUTHGATE)
**
EQUIPMENT SETS SAIL FOR PALAU DXPEDITION
DON/ANCHOR: It won't be long now before 15 hundred pounds, or 680
kilograms, of equipment for the T88WA DXpedition arrives at its final destination: The Republic of Palau in the western Pacific Ocean. The ship
set sail on the 7th of September. The operators, members of the Western Washington DX Club, are to leave the United States at the end of October: Justin, K5EM; Jack, N7JP; Rob, N7QT; Brian, N9ADG; and Robin, WA7CPA, the
only YL in the group. The expedition will take place inside an operating bungalow between November 2nd and 14th using three stations and six
antennas. One hexbeam will be pointed towards Europe and another towards
North America. The group writes on their page on QRZ.com that they are
hoping to make the first activation of 60m from Palau and be lucky enough
to give EU contacts on the low bands.
(QRZ)
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UK AMATEURS ACTIVATE FOR RAILWAYS ON THE AIR
PAUL/ANCHOR: All aboard: It's time to celebrate Britain's heritage steam railways, and Jeremy Boot, G4NJH has just the ticket.
JEREMY: The Moorlands and District Amateur Radio Society has a special
link to the Foxfield Light Railway as that is where the club is based. Foxfield, which is run by a preservation society, is one of Britain's
oldest heritage steam railways. Club members are putting it on the air
during the Railways on the Air event on September 24th and 25th using
the callsign GB1FLR. Railways on the Air is an annual celebration of the
role that these trains played in the nation's heritage. Be listening on
HF and VHF phone as the Foxfield amateurs operate from locator square
IO82. The club welcomes QSL cards via eQSL, direct or through the
bureau. Full details are on the GB1FLR qrz.com page.
For details about the event and a list of other stations, visit rota dot
barac dot org dot uk. (rota.barac.org.uk)
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(QRZ.COM)
**
REGISTRATION OPENS FOR TASSIE HAM RADIO CONFERENCE AND EXPO
PAUL/ANCHOR: Registration has opened for a major amateur radio
conference Down Under. John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us what's happening
in Tasmania.
JOHN: Speakers from around the world will be presenting lectures on a
wide range of amateur radio topics during the Tassie Ham Radio
Conference and Expo in November. Registration has opened. The two-day
event, which is being organised by the Radio and Electronics Association
of Southern Tasmania, will be held on the Sandy Bay campus of the
University of Tasmania. The conference will be held on Saturday the 5th
of November and presentations will include such topics as interference mitigation, remote station operation, low-power portable EME, promoting
your amateur radio club and youth engagement.
The expo will be held the next day.
Registration is mandatory for those who wish to attend. See the link in
the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org.
[PRINT ONLY:
reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference-and-expo/ ]
This is John Williams, VK4JJW.
(REAST)
**
CUB SCOUTS TO GET HAM RADIO PREVIEW
PAUL/ANCHOR: When youngsters meet up on Saturday, October 1st at the
Peterloon Scout Camp in Cincinnati, they will be getting a preview of
two things: These 10-year-old boys, known in Scouting as Webelos (wee- buh-lows) will see what awaits them when they leave the rank of Cub
Scout and become full-fledged Scouts. They will also get a preview of
amateur radio. Be listening for a special event station being operated
by the West Chester Amateur Radio Association operating all day from the
scout camp with the call sign N8P. Hams will be on the air using the
club's Go-Box, calling CQ and looking for future hams in Scouting.
(JOCELYN BRAULT, KD8VRX/VA2VRX)
**
UK HAM LOGS FIRST-TIME 8M CONTACT WITH SOUTH AFRICA
PAUL/ANCHOR: Imagine being the first amateur to log a DX contact on a
band that is experimental in your country. Well, that happened to one
ham recently in England. We hear about him from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: For Paul, G7PUV, it was an experiment that worked. The East
Sussex amateur, who holds an Innovation and Trial licence to use 40 MHz, announced that he has made the first SSB contact on the band between the
UK and South Africa, where 8 metres is a standard ham frequency which
gives amateurs a primary allocation with a maximum of 400 watts output
between 40.675 and 40.685 MHz.
Paul reports that he accomplished this Trans Equatorial Propagation
contact with Willem, ZS6WAB.
He writes on his QRZ.com page that Ofcom has permitted him access to the
band on frequencies between 40 and 42 MHz for testing purposes.
Paul posted a video of the 17th of September contact on his Twitter
feed. You can watch it by following the link that appears in the text
version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
[FOR PRINT ONLY:
https://twitter.com/AceBlaggard/status/1571161819846164482 ]
I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(TWITTER, SOUTHGATE)
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FAMILY OF HAMS LAUNCHES EDUCATION PROGRAM IN ROMANIA
JIM/ANCHOR: A new amateur radio education project in Romania has begun reaching thousands of students -- as well as their families. Ed Durrant,
DD5LP, tells us more.
ED: Enjoying amateur radio is a family priority for Petrica (Patricka)
YO9RIJ, his wife, Alina (R-leen-A), YO9RYJ, and their son, Rares
(raresz), a short-wave listener with the call sign YO9 -001. Since the
spring, however, spreading the word about amateur radio has become an additional priority. Alina (R-leen-A), a college professor, believes that
the science of radio is an important part of students' education,
inspiring Petrica (Patricka) to develop an educational curriculum with
lessons mixing science and amateur radio. Called RadioScience 2.0, it was
one of six projects to win funding from the Romanian American Foundation
this past spring. By May, students were receiving lessons in the schools
and even in the parks, with hams from the Romanian Contest Team
participating to share their experiences too. Petrica (Patricka) told
Newsline in an email that nearly 5,000 youngsters and teenagers - and
even parents and grandparents - have since attended classes to learn and
to explore kit-building. Most recently, more than 50 young people took
their ANCOM exam a little more than a week ago, testing to earn their
licence.
Petrica (Patricka) said this is just the beginning. His dream is to build
a ham radio science centre in Buzau (BuzzOw) City. He said it is: "A real challenge but we have hope!"
This is Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
**
AM QSO PARTY CELEBRATES ORIGINAL VOICE MODE
JIM/ANCHOR: The annual AM QSO Party sponsored by the Antique Wireless Association isn't so much a contest as a challenge: It invites hams to
get on the air using radio's original form of voice communication:
amplitude modulation. Andy Morrison, K9AWM, tells us about this year's
event.
ANDY: Ron Skipper, W8ACR, coordinator of the AM QSO Party for the Antique Wireless Association, considers this year's event a success. The weekend operation introduced hams to amplitude modulation - or reminded long-
timers that AM is still a viable option. During the two-day activity on September 24th and 25th, Ron himself made 40 or so contacts during the
QSO party. He told Newsline that three of those operators he logged said
they were experiencing either their first or second time using AM mode.
Ron told Newsline [quote] "I think that once a ham operator uses AM successfully, he realizes that it is a viable alternative to SSB, and not
just an outdated mode of communication." [endquote]
Ragchews were encouraged and, for others, so was simply listening. Ron
reminds hams that there's plenty of time now to prepare for the next AM
QSO Party. If your rig already has AM mode, try it out. If have vintage
gear at home, dust it off. Or, if you are a home brewer, get busy.
This is Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
(RON SKIPPER, W8ACR)
**
RSGB UNVEILS UPDATED TOOL TO MEASURE EMF
JIM/ANCHOR: To help amateurs in the UK comply with EMF exposure limits,
the Radio Society of Great Britain has updated its calculator - and is
also looking for input on the changes. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, brings us the details.
JEREMY: An updated tool has become available to help hams comply with
Ofcom licence requirements to monitor their stations' electromagnetic
field exposure. The Radio Society of Great Britain has made changes to
both its online calculator and web app and are seeking feedback on the
new versions, which have been launched on a trial basis. The new
calculators enable hams to determine EIRP as well as compliance
distances. According to the RSGB website, the updated calculators no
longer have the previous versions' 10 MHz minimum frequency restriction
or the minimum separation of the near field boundary. They recommend a compliance distance of 2.4 metres to keep people from coming into contact
with the antenna. The new version also calculates limits set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection for 1998
and 2020.
Additional details are available on the Society's website at rsgb.org
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(RSGB)
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From
Daryl Stout@618:250/33 to
All on Thu Oct 6 19:45:00 2022
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the W3NTT repeater
in Palmerton Pennsylvania at 9 p.m. on Sundays.
**
AMSAT-INDIA GIVES ENGINEERING STUDENTS AN INTRO TO HAM RADIO
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Amateur radio was the big lesson of the day recently on
one university campus in India. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, tells us what
everyone talked about happened.
JIM: There was perhaps no better way to mark the occasion of Engineering
Day in September than to hold an amateur radio workshop on a university
campus and provide some eye-opening lessons for tech students there.
AMSAT-India's regional coordinator, Rajesh Vagadia, VU2EXP, did just that
at Marwadi University in Gujarat, and in four hours the 80 students from
the Information and Communications Technology Department, along with a
special team assigned to a student project, gained insights into amateur
radio as well as ham radio satellites. For that one special team of
students, the timing could not have been better: The university recently announced that they will be building a satellite to be launched by the
ISRO. The workshop provided some bonus preparatory work for them.
The more terrestrial-minded demonstrations - from digital modes and VHF
FM to SSTV - were conducted with the help of Sakshi Vagadia, VU3EXP, and Shyama Vagadia, VU3WHG, who is also part of the student satellite team. Workshops also covered such topics as the jargon of amateur radio,
operating in the POTA and IOTA award programmes, high-altitude balloon tracking and, of course, CW.
Just as every amateur contact on the air is usually followed up with a
QSL of some sort, this workshop is not the end of the contact with this campus. Rajesh reported that the university administrators were so
pleased that AMSAT-INDIA can expect to come back to conduct more
programmes.
This is Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(QRZ.COM)
**
EXTRA CLASS 'GERATOL' NET TURNS 50
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A popular Extra Class net is back on the air after taking
a break for a few months. We hear about their plans from Sel Embee,
KB3 T Zed Dee.
SEL: The GERATOL Net is back. That's spelled G E R A T O L, which stands
for Greetings Extra Radio Amateur Tired of Operating Lately, except after
a few months of NOT operating lately, the net is back on the air. You can
find Extra Class operators checking in every night on 3.668 MHz, starting
at 0100 UTC. Now in its 50th year of operation, the net is marking the occasion by adding an anniversary award to the array of awards it already confers to qualifying hams. To be eligible, hams must make 50 contacts -
one for each year of the net's lifetime - during a session of the GERATOL
Net. These contacts must be logged during the period of the net's
anniversary year. The contacts must include the club staton W0NL.
For details about the award or additional information on how to find and
check into the net, visit the website g e r a t o l dot net (geratol.net)
This is Sel Embee, KB3TZD.
(GERATOL NET)
**
STUDENTS IN UKRAINE AWAIT THEIR SATELLITE'S LAUNCH
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A student-built CubeSat is being prepared for launch next month and its young creators in UKraine have included amateur radio
operators in their plans. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, brings us up to date.
ED: Students at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute in Ukraine
are looking forward to the November launch of an educational satellite
they built with a group of space-exploration enthusiasts. The students' Cubesat is designed to work on a variety of scientific and technical
issues related to research at the institute's school, the National
Technical University of Ukraine.
The Cubesat, QBUA01, will be in a sun-synchronous orbit and accessible to
hams around the world who can receive telemetry, beacon and science
payload data.
The nano-satellite project will focus its studies on near space and will explore the operation of solar sensors, magnetometers, gyroscopes, electromagnets and flywheels used in stabilization and orientation in
space. Research will also focus on thermal regulation of a payload using
heat pipes and on new software for controlling satellite systems and
obtaining telemetry. Frequencies to be used are still being finalized.A
9k6 GMSK UHF downlink is proposed using AX25.
This is Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(IARU)
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PROGRESS FOR IRELAND'S FIRST SATELLITE
NEIL/ANCHOR: Another success has been scored by Ireland's first
satellite, which is moving forward through development and testing to
its eventual launch. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, reports.
JEREMY: The team developing EIRSAT-1, Ireland's first satellite, has
returned from Belgium, where the project underwent rigorous testing at
the CubeSat Support Facility, including an assessment to ensure it
would survive launch. The University College Dublin team includes David Murphy, EI9HWB, and Lána Salmon, EI9HXB. They are developing the low- earth-orbit CubeSat as part of the European Space Agency's "Fly Your Satellite" programme. ESA administrators have said in the past that
they view the project as a way to grow a new generation of space
scientists and engineers to nurture a space programme for Ireland. The satellite is tentatively scheduled for a launch from an ESA base in
French Guiana by early 2023.
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY, IRISH TECH NEWS)
**
AUSTRALIAN RADIO GROUP CYCLES FOR CANCER RESEARCH
NEIL/ANCHOR: In Australia, hams are on the move for a very important charitable cause - and the power they are using is pedal power. Graham
Kemp, VK4BB, tells us what they're up to.
GRAHAM: You've heard, of course, of the Solar Cycle but what kind of
hams concern themselves with the Charitable Cycle? That would be
members of the Bendigo Amateur Radio & Electronics Club's Pedal Radio
Group, Throughout the month of October, these most mobile of the moble operators are getting themselves in motion to meet the Great Cycle
Challenge, which is raising money throughout Australia for research
into childhood cancer.
This is an event that the Pedal Radio Group participates in each year.
The group's spokesman, Graeme Knight, VK3GRK, writes: [quote] "This is
a great chance to get out, have fun, exercise and promote amateur
radio." [endquote] Riders pledge how many km they will ride and how
many dollars they hope to raise. As Graeme also notes, there's nothing
to stop riders from carrying an HT - safely of course - and making
contacts.
He asks: [quote] "Could this be Bikes on the Air?" [endquote] Perhaps
yes but remember, it's kilometres that count most here - not contacts.
This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(BAREC)
**
HISTORIC SITE HOSTS L.I. RADIO CLUB CELEBRATION
NEIL/ANCHOR: Congratulations to the Suffolk County Radio Club, W2DQ,
which celebrated its own personal history of 75 years at a site where groundbreaking history was once made by innovator Nikola Tesla. The
club's special event activation and outdoor celebration was held on
Saturday October 8th at the scientist's former laboratory, Wardenclyffe,
on Long Island, New York. Portable antennas provided the radio reception
and a gathering of friends and food, plus a visit from local elected
officials, provided the rest of the reception. All the best to the club
for the next 75 years.
**
SEVEN-DAY EVENT FOCUSES ON ENGLISH LIGHTHOUSES
NEIL/ANCHOR: As the days get progressively darker earlier in some parts
of the world, the lighthouses of England are providing a little radio
relief. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, picks up the story from here.
JEREMY: Traditionally beacons of safe navigation for ships at sea,
lighthouses in England are about to become symbols of successful
navigation for signals sent in their direction by amateur radio
operators around the world. The organisation that oversees the English Lighthouse Awards scheme has set aside seven days -- Saturday the 22nd
of October through to Friday the 28th -- for the Lighthouse Challenge. Activators will be lighting up these towers, at least figuratively,
hoping for contacts from lighthouse hunters throughout England -- and
beyond. According to the event website, contacts made during the week
will also count toward the programme's regular awards. They may also contribute to other organisations' awards since many carry a Worked All Britain Square and references for World Wide Flora Fauna or POTA.
If you are interested in being a part of the activity during the week,
just tune your rig up and get started. Registration is not necessary
and entry is free, as are the awards and certificates. Only activators
are required to keep logs.
For additional details, visit englishlighthouseawards - that's one
word - dot uk (englishlighthouseawards.uk/)
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(ENGLISH LIGHTHOUSE AWARDS)
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All on Fri Oct 21 08:59:47 2022
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline heard on bulletin stations around the world including the
WB0QXW repeaters in St. Louis, Missouri, on Monday nights following the
World Friendship Net which begins at 7 p.m. local time on EchoLink.
**
NEW YOUNG AMATEURS LICENSED IN SOUTH AFRICA
JIM/ANCHOR: Here at Newsline we always celebrate the licensing of new
hams, especially among the younger generation. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, is
here with some more reasons for us all to celebrate.
GRAHAM: The Hammies Amateur Radio Club, ZS6ZU, is celebrating yet
another graduation. The latest group of youngsters who'd been studying
to sit for their Class B - the entry-level licence - passed their
recent examinations. The club, a member of the South African Radio
League, has prospective licence-holders work with volunteer tutors
learning theory and completing hands-on projects. The youngsters are
usually between the ages of 9 and 15. Congratulations to everyone for a
job well done.
I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
**
HAM RADIO ARCHIVE TO DIGITIZE CLUB, PERSONAL DOCUMENTS
JIM/ANCHOR: Is it possible to digitize amateur radio history? Well, the Internet Archive is planning to do just that - and it needs your help.
Andy Morrison, K9AWM, explains.
ANDY: If you want to be a part of history, here's your chance. The
Internet Archive is asking ham radio operators to look in their
collections of printed and digital materials as well as any personal
materials for inclusion in a digital library providing a window into
the history of the amateur radio community. The library is especially interested in collecting material that documents contributions by any
groups who historically may have been marginalized in the ham
community, such as women and people of color.
A recent grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications is underwriting
the development of the library, which will give open access to educators, students, researchers and members of the public. The library is called
the Digital Library of Amateur Radio and Communications. Print materials,
such as newsletters, pamphlets and journals, will be digitized for easier access. To enrich the collection further, developers of the library are
hoping to conduct oral histories of influential individuals active in
amateur radio.
If you think you have materials that could be useful for the library,
email Kay Savetz, K6KJN, the program manager of special collections.
Writing on the Internet Archive blog, Kay noted that he was especially interested in obscure materials, including locally produced ham radio newsletters and small magazines. Kay can be reached at
kay@achive.org
I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
(GIZMODO, HACKADAY, INTERNET ARCHIVE BLOG)
**
WEST VIRGINIA STUDENTS FORM COLLEGE HAM CLUB
JIM/ANCHOR: The newest team on the campus of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia isn't involved in varsity sports, but amateur
radio. Sharing the same name as the school's athletes, the Thundering
Herd Amateur Radio Club is getting a foothold with a core group of six members, including founder Jacob Wriston, KE8PWC. Jacob is a pre-med
student majoring in biology and a ham for two years. He told Newsline
that one of the most immediate things on the club's agenda is to help unlicensed members study for the FCC exam and to grow the size of the
club. There's lot of studying to be done and of course some paperwork
too, so the club can apply for a callsign and establish a shack on
campus.
Meanwhile, Jacob has been exploring the HF bands and perfecting the art
of antenna-building. He told Newsline that hands-on projects are
perhaps his favorite part of the hobby. It looks like one of those
projects, the Thundering Herd Amateur Radio Club, is coming to
fruition.
(JACOB WRISTON, KE8PWC)
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All on Fri Oct 28 02:09:05 2022
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the
N8VAA repeater, serving parts of West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland
and Pennsylvania and the Potomac Highlands Amateur Radio club from
Moorefield, West Virginia on Monday nights at 8.
**
HAMS WORLDWIDE PREP FOR CQWW COMPETITIONS
PAUL/ANCHOR: As Newsline went to production, hams were gearing up
for the first part of the two-part CQ WW amateur radio competition -
considered the largest of its kind in the world. The first of the
48-hour marathons begins on SSB at 0000 UTC on Saturday, October
29th and ends at 2399 UTC on Sunday October 30th. More than 35,000
hams are expected to be on the air for the first of the two weekend
contests. After that, you have time to prepare for the CW challenge,
which will be held on the weekend of November 26th and 27th. Details,
rules and the results of previous competitions are available at cqww
dot com (cqww.com).
**
CALIFORNIA AMATEURS EXPAND TRAINING FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE
PAUL/ANCHOR: A newly formed nonprofit group in California is
filling a need to support ongoing disaster-response efforts. Ralph
Squillace, KK6ITB, tells us what's been happening.
RALPH: Few people understand the value of the El Dorado County
Neighborhood Radio Watch in California better than the members who
have joined the group since it began in 2019. The radio watch's
life-saving communication efforts using General Mobile Radio
Service equipment, combines with those of the El Dorado County
Amateur Radio Club to save lives - some even of their own members.
This has been especially critical during wildfires and in other
disasters. The two organizations are now working together even more
closely - and more formally - following the creation of a nonprofit corporation known as the Community Emergency Radio Association, or
CERA. As a fundraising arm for the two radio groups, CERA is there
to receive donations and apply for community safety grants,
magnifying the lifesaving potential of these local radio sentinels.
Alan Thompson, W6WN, told Newsline that the teamwork goes beyond
even that ambitious agenda. CERA is also a mentoring group,
assisting in emergency preparedness, public safety exercises and
instruction to prepare for the amateur radio licensing exams. Alan,
who is the public information officer for the groups, said that the
El Dorado hams' membership roll has grown and the Neighborhood
Radio Watch now has 500 members throughout the county. Alan said
the groups are also consulting with several other ham radio clubs
both in and outside of California. Alan gave a presentation
recently to the Cool-Pilot Hill Advisory Committee at the Pilot
Hill Grange on Monday, October 24th.
This is Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.
(ALAN THOMPSON, W6WN)
**
YOUNG HAM FROM INDIA SET FOR ANTARCTIC TRIP
PAUL/ANCHOR: Imagine being a young amateur radio operator chosen
for a first-time trip outside your home country - to Antarctica.
Well for one young ham in India, that just became a reality. John
Williams, VK4JJW, tells us about him.
JOHN: Congratulations to Sarabjeet Singh Chhabra, VU2CUW, who at
age 27 becomes part of a team going to Antarctica in December as
part of the 42nd Indian Scientific Expedition there. Sarabjeet has
been a ham since 2015 and according to a news report in Telengana
Today, this will be his first international journey. He was chosen
to join the logistics team by a panel of 11 at the Ministry of
Earth Sciences in Delhi. His work will involve providing support to
the primary research team. Each team has two radio operators who
will be using handheld VHF radios or larger HF rigs to cover
greater distances, depending on what type of communication the team
needs. This is an annual expedition to India's Antarctica Base
Station conducted by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean
Research.
This is John Williams, VK2JJW.
(TELENGANA TODAY, ITSHAMRADIO.COM)
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All on Fri Nov 4 01:10:04 2022
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.
**
GERMAN AMATEURS AWAIT NEW 'N' OPERATOR CLASS
DON/ANCHOR: Hams in Germany are awaiting a decision by the nation's
regulator to add a third class of amateur radio license by early next
year. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us what that could mean.
ED: Germany's proposed new "N" class entry-level licence could be in
place as early as January the 1st of 2023. The possible addition,
announced earlier this year, is being reviewed by the German regulator, BNetZa, as a way to add a third licence class to the existing E, Novice
and A, Full, licence classes. A change in the regulations would give the
N class operators call signs with the prefix DN and the current DN
callsigns, which are used for training purposes under supervision of a licensed ham, would be cancelled on December 31st of this year, to be
replaced by the use of a DN/ prefix .
The new entry level "N" class will grant privileges to use the 2 metre
and 70 centimetre bands with up to 10 watts EIRP. The operator will be
allowed to build and operate home made equipment as long as it conforms
to the regulations. It is possible that usage of the 10 metre band may
also be added to the class N licence at the end of 2023.
The content of the licence exam syllabi will also be changed to make them "cumulative" with the ability, it is hoped, to allow the taking of the
class N, class E and class A exams in sequence to get to a full licence
in one day of testing. The class N exam will cover all legal regulations, operational rules and a limited amount of technical knowledge questions.
The class E and A exams will then only cover additional, more technical
theory questions, building on the knowledge of the previous level or
levels.
This is Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
**
HAMS IN KOLKATA SOLVE RF ISSUE FOR POLICE RADIOS
DON/ANCHOR: When you have a radio interference problem, who better to
turn to than an amateur radio operator? That's just what police officials
in one part of India thought when their handheld radios were knocked out
of service by holiday lights. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, brings us the details.
GRAHAM: A group of major Hindu festivals were coming up on the autumn calendar, starting on Sunday October 30th, and police officials in West Bengal, India, were once again struggling with their radios. Something
was causing havoc with their handhelds during the autumn Hindu festivals
and it appeared that VHF radio communication was again going to be nearly impossible for crowd control and security.
This year, police took their radio dilemma to some local radio amateurs
in the West Bengal Radio Club. According to a report by the Indo Asian
News Service, the hams conducted a variety of tests on the officers'
radios. Ultimately, they noticed the interference peaked when signals had
to pass through areas where traditional holiday lights were being used to decorate Kolkata's parks and gardens during the festive season. With the
help of physicist Pasupati (posso potty) Mandal (mon dall), VU3ODQ, a
club member, the hams determined the interference came from the strings
of LEDs manufactured in China, which used cheaper components. According
to Dipak (dee pock) Chakraborty (chock rah boar tee), VU3OKT, when they
were illuminated, the LEDs emitted a noise on a frequency very close to
the one the police radios were using.
The hams recommended replacing the Chinese LEDs with ones manufactured in India, which had different components that did not seem to cause the same issue. According to Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, that seemed to have
solved the problem in time for the festivals.
This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE)
**
INDIA LAUNCHES FIRST GROUP OF COMMERCIAL SATELLITES
DON/ANCHOR: India has launched its first group of commercial satellites. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, explains what comes next.
JEREMY: The Indian Space Research Organisation is celebrating the launch
into orbit of 36 internet satellites from the London-based company,
OneWeb. The launch on Sunday, October 23rd coincided with the Indian
Festival of Lights, known as Diwali. An Indian GSLV Mark III rocket was substituted for the Russian Soyuz originally planned for the operation
before the Ukraine invasion earlier this year.
This was the second flight for the Indian rocket but its first commercial multi-satellite mission. The flight was overseen by the ISRO's commercial division, New Space India Limited.
According to a BBC report, the latest launches mean that OneWeb, which is partly owned by the British government, is almost three-quarters of the
way to having its first-generation satellite constellation achieve global coverage. The rollout is expected to be completed by the middle of 2023.
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(BBC, SPACE.COM)
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ELMERS ORGANIZE TO HELP CANADA'S NEWBIES
JIM/ANCHOR: In western Canada, a growing number of hams have discovered
that the most effective way to transmit to other hams doesn't necessarily involve being on the air. Andy Morrison, K9AWM, has that story.
ANDY: In Calgary, Alberta, a group of enthusiastic mentors has begun
tackling the ongoing mystery of the vanishing newbie - the candidate who studies for and passes the Canadian Basic certification. That same ham then moves on to an Advanced licence, attends some club meetings but soon tapers off radio-related activity within that first year. It is a recurring
pattern of loss that Jerry Spring VE6TL and others in Calgary believed they could help stop.
Jerry told Newsline [quote]: "This pattern continued for years until a few
of us Elmers got together and figured out what was missing." That's when
they formed a dedicated team of Elmers known as SASTAR. SASTAR stands for Southern Alberta Support Team for Amateur Radio. Compiling a list of the latest newbies, the team reached out to reduce what Jerry calls the
"culture shock" experienced by new licence holders: the antenna regulations, the different modes and their own puzzling equipment needs. The Elmers of SASTAR organised and reached out via personal contact methods that included Zoom and groups.io which added extra appeal for the youngest among the
newbies.
Jerry said: [quote] "Suddenly, we started seeing/hearing a lot more people
on the air. Some even decided to learn CW and take to the HF airwaves even though they hadn’t considered these things before. The same thing happened with fox hunting, SOTA and Field Day." [endquote] In fact, some now
volunteer as SASTAR Elmers too.
The enthusiasm is spreading to the Atlantic provinces, where APSTAR was
born with the help of SASTAR. Prince Edward Island amateur George Dewar, VY2GF/VY2PLH, is replicating this proven method with Elmers in that region with guidance from Jerry, and Pat, VE6PDS. George may not be the last one
to extend the experiment either. Jerry said he's already had inquiries from
a friend in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Stay tuned.
This is Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
(JERRY SPRING, VE6TL)
**
DISASTER-RESPONSE STARTUP LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS
JIM/ANCHOR: Just as the word Anemoi (Anna Moy) signifies the mythical Greek gods of the four winds, a new effort known as Anemoi Incident Response is looking to provide communications and assistance to all corners of the
United States when disaster strikes. As it grows from its Arkansas
location, the not-for-profit conducting a nationwide recruitment action, a multifaceted outreach that includes amateur radio operators. Dave Parks, WB8ODF, has those details.
DAVE: Colleen Udell, president of Anemoi Incident Response, said the organization received its nonprofit status in May but its origins go back
much further with the veteran responders who created it. Anemoi's component teams include AUXCOMM, weather spotters, ground crew, social media and dispatch. Colleen told Newsline [quote] "We all have plenty of years of disaster relief experience and wanted to find a way to utilize
communications to complement what is going on with all these other disaster relief organizations." [endquote] The other assistance groups include ARES
and nongovernmental organizations that step in during a crisis. Colleen
said Anemoi is as much a safety net for these NGOs as well as for the small communities that sometimes fall between the cracks in a crisis because they lack a robust response team or any plan at all.
AUXCOMM team director Thomas Sarlitto, KD9JSA, is based in Illinois and assistant AUXCOM director Paul Falk, KO4KXV, is in Florida. Anemoi hams can live anywhere in the US, just as the group's stormchasers are scattered throughout the US. Tom said that portable repeaters are in the works for UHF/VHF radios and non-amateurs can eventually be deployed using GMRS and business radios.
If you have skills that you think can be put to good use in helping, visit their website myanemoi dot org (myanemoi.org). That's anemoi, spelled A N E
M O I
You'll find a link to an application form, and a reminder on their home
page that [quote] "there's no shortage of ways to give back." [endquote]
This is Dave Parks, WB8ODF.
(ANEMOI)
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All on Thu Nov 17 18:57:34 2022
ISS ASTRONAUT BOB BEHNKEN, KG5GGX, RETIRES
NEIL/ANCHOR: A US astronaut whose tenure on board the ISS made history has retired from NASA. We hear about him from Paul Braun, WD9GCO.
PAUL: Congratulations to astronaut Bob Behnken, KG5GGX, who retired from
NASA on Friday, the 11th of November. Bob, a former colonel in the US Air Force, made headlines as the pilot and joint operations commander for the first crewed flight of the SpaceX Dragon when it was launched to the International Space station in May of 2020. Previously, Bob had been on flights of the space shuttle Endeavour, logging 93 days in space. During
these missions, he completed 10 spacewalks in all, for a total of 61 hours.
Bob became an astronaut candidate for NASA in July of 2000. His first spaceflight was aboard the Endeavour eight years later, as a mission specialist.
This is Paul Braun, WD9GCO.
(NASA, AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)
**
MARCONI IS HONORED BY VIRTUAL REALITY PRESENTATION IN WALES
NEIL/ANCHOR: Using the innovative technology of virtual reality, an arts center in Cardiff, Wales, is celebrating a radio pioneer who made history
with technology that was innovative for his own time: the 19th century. We have those details from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: The presentation at the Wales Millennium Centre is called "A Signal Across Space," a title that refers to the Morse Code transmission sent on
13 May 1897 by Guglielmo Marconi across a stretch of open sea.
The signal travelled between Flat Holm Island in the Bristol Channel and Lavernock Point on the south Wales coast. The moment becomes reality - or rather, virtual reality - for audience members at the centre who are given special VR headsets enabling them to experience themes in music, poetry and dance that were inspired by Marconi's experiment. Viewers see it all in a 360-degree immersive experience.
The 50-minute film has several sections, of which one uses part of a
lecture from the Barry and District Radio Society describing Marconi's experiment. Another section, called "In the Air," recounts the story of Marconi's 19th century experiment more directly. The centre has also
assembled a small exhibit for audience members to view afterwards,
offering a closer look at Lavernock, where Marconi received those first transmissions. The programme concludes on 20th November .
I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, NATION WEBSITE)
**
ACMA SEEKS INPUT ON PROPOSED LICENSE IN AUSTRALIA
NEIL/ANCHOR: The deadline is coming up fast for hams in Australia to
comment on a proposed new license class. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, brings us
up to date.
GRAHAM: The clock is running out for amateurs in Australia who want to
submit comments on a proposed amateur class licence and on a separate
proposal that would permit amateurs to increase operating power from 400
watts to 1 kW PEP. Under the latter, Advanced Class amateurs.
The class licence is proposed to take effect in July 2023.
The Australia Communications and Media Authority will accept all
submissions until 5 p.m. Australian Eastern Time on the 29th of November.
This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(ACMA)
**
HAMVENTION CHOOSES "INNOVATION" AS THEME FOR 2023
NEIL/ANCHOR: The Hamvention 2023 team has announced that "Innovation" will
be their theme for the 2023 expo in Xenia, Ohio. Writing on the Hamvention website, team member Michael Kalter, W8CI, said the theme was particularly exciting because [quote]: "We are confident it encompasses the world of amateur radio today in just one word." [endquote] Hamvention will be held
May 19, 20 and 21, 2023 at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center. Tickets are already available online and by mail. The website is hamvention.org
(HAMVENTION 2023)
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From
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All on Fri Nov 25 02:40:27 2022
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 nights at 8 local time, just before the
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Service Net.
**
SKYWARN PROGRAM GOING STRONG IN SEVERE WEATHER
PAUL/ANCHOR: As many of us know, weather patterns seem to be changing everywhere. One thing that doesn't change is hams' dedication to
preparedness in the face of disaster. Randy Sly, W4XJ, spoke to one
such group.
RANDY: With the recent late season hurricanes, and early season snow
storms here in some parts of the United States, everybody's talking
about the weather these days. For the National Weather Service, one
of their key resources for determining ground truth reports during
severe weather is the SKYWARN program, which is strongly supported
by the amateur radio community.
While hams have always played a key role in the program since its
inception in 1965, one group has taken their mission way beyond
SKYWARN. The Southwest District Skywarn Team Of Western Pennsylvania
offers general weather classes, training for relay and net control
stations, SKYWARN reporting procedures, daily rain gauge reporting
with CoCoRaHS, and other training, along with bi-monthly meetings on
Zoom. They also have worked at developing relationships with adjacent
NWS forecast offices to provide better interconnectivity, and
communications during activations.
Eddie Misiewicz (Mi-sh-vitz - short e) KB3YRU, President of the group,
told AR Newsline that they want to provide "all things weather" for
those who are interested even if they don't have a license. He also
hopes that their Zoom meetings might also be a gathering place for
other SKYWARN leaders and volunteers, in order to share information
and ideas.
To learn more about the Southwest District SKYWARN team and meeting
times, you may contact Eddie at
KB3YRU@arrl.net.
This is Randy Sly, W4XJ
**
FOR OLDER HAMS, A DIFFERENT KIND OF DXPEDITION
PAUL/ANCHOR: The South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu (VAN-Wah-TWO)
isn't exactly roughing it: there's a power grid, commercial air service,
homes to rent, and a population of more than 40,000 people. For a group
of adventurous amateurs with the average age of 70, that makes it a
great spot for a DXpedition. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, tells us what they've
got planned.
KEVIN: Van Herridge, N4VGE, is a born traveler, and though he calls
South Carolina home, he is always looking for adventure beyond his QTH.
Now, he and a group of older amateurs will follow that roving spirit to
Vanuatu in the South Pacific. The group has planned a two-week DXpedition
in December of 2024, and it will include participation in that year's
ARRL 10-meter contest.
The men are bringing all their necessary equipment, and they're also
bringing their wives, because this DX has hotels, restaurants, beaches,
and other attractions to make it a family holiday too.
DXers already know that Vanuatu ranks 100th on the DXCC list of 340
countries. For this team, however, it ranks number one as a good spot
to aim for more than 50,000 QSOs using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8. They're
looking for four more radio operators, and inviting them to bring their
spouses to make it a great team. Van asks that interested DXpeditioners
contact him at
vanherridge@gmail.com. That's herridge, spelled
h e r r i d g e.
Meanwhile, the team is also working on developing a website and seeking sponsors.
This is Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
(VAN HERRIDGE, N4VGE)
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All on Thu Dec 1 18:54:25 2022
YOUTH ON THE AIR CAMP APPLICATION PERIOD OPENS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Young amateur radio operators in North, Central and
South America are being invited to plan for a memorable time in Canada
this coming July: Applications are now open for the third Youth on the
Air camp, which is open to licensed radio amateurs between the ages of
15 and 25. The camp will be held on the campus of Carleton University in Ontario, Canada from July 16th through to July 21st.
The application process is free and allocations are being held for
campers from each of the three Americas to allow for attendance from
countries throughout IARU Region 2. For the best chances at being
chosen, prospective campers are being encouraged to apply by January
15th. The application process will however continue through to May 31st.
To apply - and to read details about making separate arrangements for transportation - visit YouthOnTheAir dot org (YouthOnTheAir.org)
(YOUTH ON THE AIR CAMP)
**
OFCOM EXTENDS EXPERIMENTAL ACCESS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The telecommunications regulator in the UK delivered
some good news to amateurs who enjoy experimenting on the air. Jeremy
Boot, G4NJH, tells us what they learned.
JEREMY: Amateurs who hold a Full licence in the UK will be eligible to
use the frequencies between 146 to 147MHz after receiving a Notice of Variation from Ofcom. In some restricted areas operational limitations
exist. The notice is available on a temporary basis only and is subject
to a 30-day notice period that it is being changed or withdrawn.
By making this part of the spectrum available, Ofcom is hoping to
encourage experimentation by radio amateurs, allowing them to experiment
with new technologies such as digital voice and data transmissions
having moderate bandwidth. Ofcom defines "moderate" as being up to 500
kHz wide.
The one-year Notice of Variation was first made to full licensees in
October 2014. The Radio Society of Great Britain said that it is pleased
that Ofcom has accepted its latest request to extend the agreement. NoV applications are made via the RSGB website at rsgb dot org slash nov (rsgb.org/nov)
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
**
MUSEUM'S HAM STATION GETS ARDC GRANT
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The Museum of Information Explosion in Huntsville,
Alabama, is getting a modernized amateur radio station that will feature digital technology to complement the more traditional gear being
showcased in the museum's other exhibits. The station is being
established with the help of a $16,000 grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications and is designed to show how ham radio is surviving by
changing with the times. The museum is set to open early next year.
Various local ham radio clubs, including the Radio Club of the Museum of Information Explosion, will serve as docents for visitors and will also
go on the air from the station.
(ARDC)
**
OTTAWA OPERATOR ADDED TO HALL OF FAME
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: An amateur radio operator from Ottawa, Canada has just
been chosen for the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. Dave Parks,
WB8ODF, tells us about him.
DAVE: The name of Bryan Rawlings, VE3QN, is being added to the roster of
those who have contributed to amateur radio consistently over the years
as both an advocate and a participant. First licensed in 1959 as VE2AME,
Bryan returned to active participation in Canadian amateur radio in 2002
after years of living overseas. Radio Amateurs of Canada cites his
consistent work in the preparation for and attendance at the
International Telecommunications Union's World Radio Conferences in
2012, 2015 and 2019. The RAC has credited him with being a key member of
the Canadian delegation at ITU meetings. The Hall of Fame chairman of
the board Frank Davis VO1HP, writes on the RAC website that Bryan's work
on the national and international levels involved helping hams gain
access to frequencies at both 60 meters and 630 meters. Frank
acknowledges Bryan's successes as well in establishing and maintaining
a good working relationship with Innovation Science and Economic
Development Canada, the nation's regulator.
Congratulations to Bryan.
This is Dave Parks, WB8ODF.
(WIA, RAC)
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ENGINEER NEEDED FOR FOR STATION WWVH
NEIL/ANCHOR: Listeners around the world tune in regularly to WWV and
WWVH, the radio station of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, for various voice announcements, including the time. Now
the US government agency hopes qualified engineers will tune into an
important job opening it has - for a position based in Hawaii. Jack
Parker, W8ISH, tells us more.
JACK: Radio station WWVH, which is part of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology, is looking to hire an engineer in charge.
In addition to maintenance of the station on Kauai, Hawaii, the job
requires regular communication with NIST's Time and Frequency
division in Boulder, Colorado. The engineer is responsible for the
four radio transmission systems - on 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 MHz - which
are required to be on the air 99.7 percent of the time. One or two
electronic technicians will report to the engineer in charge.
For more details about the job and whether you qualify, visit the
link in the text version of this week's Newsline script at
arnewsline.org
This is Jack Parker, W8ISH.
[FOR PRINT ONLY:
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/690931100 ]
**
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
Midstate Hams WA9RDF repeater in Greenwood Indiana on Sundays at 7
p.m. local time.
**
NEW RECORD SET ON LOWEST HAM BAND IN AUSTRALIA
NEIL/ANCHOR: In Australia, a new record has been set for a contact
on the 2200m-band. John Williams, VK4JJW, has those details.
JOHN: Using barely 1 watt of power, a station south of Perth in
Western Australia made a record-setting one-way contact into North
America on the 2200-metre band, which at 136 kHz, is the lowest
amateur band in Australia. The contact was made on November 21st
between VK6MJM and received in the United States by Paul, KM5SW, in
New Mexico. The distance was 16,164 kilometres and the power was 0.8
watts EIRP. The station was using a five-minute key-down mode known
as WSJT-X FST4W-300 mode.
It was a big moment for the Western Australian Low Frequency
Experimenters Group, or WALFEG, which operates the station. It is
led by Peter Hall, VK6HP, and is affiliated with the Wireless
Institute of Australia.
This is John Williams, VK4JJW.
(WIA)
**
PROGRESS ON WORLD'S LARGEST RADIO TELESCOPE
NEIL/ANCHOR: The world's largest radio telescope is on track to be
completed by the end of this decade. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, has more on
its progress.
GRAHAM: Sites in Australia and South Africa have begun construction
on the Square Kilometre Array Observatory, or SKAO, and astronomers
are hoping to see the massive observatory's two antenna stations
finish construction by May 2023, with the first dish commissioned in
April of 2024 according to a report on the Space.com website.
When the huge project is completed, it will boast a full 1-square
kilometer collection area and it will be the world's largest radio
telescope. Construction began recently on the observatory's mid-
array in the Karoo desert of South Africa which will scan for
sources of radio waves from 350 MHz to 15.4 GHz. The low-array is
also under construction north of Perth in Western Australia. It will
use 131,072 dipoles seeking signals on frequencies between 50 and
350 MHz.
This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(SPACE.COM)
**
AMATEUR-OWNED COMPANY BUILDING SATELLITE PLANT IN INDIA
NEIL/ANCHOR: In our previous newscast, we shared the triumph of the amateur-owned company that sent two of its made-in-India CubeSats
into space aboard an Indian Space Research Organisation rocket. The
company announced it is ready to join other enterprises in that
nation in taking the next step. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, tells us what's
next.
JIM: Not long after the launch of its Thybolt 1 and Thybolt 2
satellites, Dhruva Space, based in Hyderabad (Hydra-BOD), announced
it was moving forward to build a facility where it can assemble and
test satellites as large as 100 kg. Cofounder Abhay Egoor, the
company's chief technical officer, said Dhruva is already raising
funds toward that end. Dhruva joins another India-based space
company, Pixxel, which is building a satellite assembly facility in
Bengaluru. Pixxel expects that project to be completed during the
first half of next year. Other companies are gearing up as well: Bangalore-based Bellatrix Aerospace, which is building in Karnataka;
and Agnikul Cosmos in Madras, which is looking to develop testing
facilities in Chennai.
This is Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(INVENTIVA, STARTUPSTORYMEDIA)
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All on Fri Dec 16 11:03:16 2022
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the
ZS0MOT (Zed Ess Zero Em Oh Tee) repeater in Middelburg, South Africa
on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. local time.
**
NEW QUESTIONS ON GENERAL TEST EXAM
PAUL/ANCHOR: In the US, the General Class operators' license test is
getting a new question pool. Stephen Kinford, N8WB, tells us what's
changing.
STEPHEN: If you are a ham in the United States looking to upgrade to
General next year, you can expect some changes in the new pool of
questions that take effect on July 1st of 2023. The 432 questions
were just released and the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators' Question Pool Committee says they reflect significant
changes: There are 51 new questions being introduced; 73 were
removed. The committee believes the questions' level of difficulty
is more balanced. These questions will be in use through June 30th of
2027.
Examiners can expect to see the new General exam booklets by mid-
June of 2023. The ARRL advises hams who are using the 9th edition of
the General Class License Manual or the 6th edition of the league's
General Class Q&A to take their exam no later than June 30th before
the changed questions come in.
This is Stephen Kinford, N8WB.
(ARRL)
**
LONGTIME SPECTRUM GUARDIANS RETIRE IN NEW ZEALAND
PAUL/ANCHOR: Two veteran staffers at New Zealand's telecommunications
agency are leaving at the end of this year. Here's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF,
with more about them.
JIM: Radio Spectrum Management in New Zealand is preparing to say
goodbye to two members of its radio investigations team who are among
those with the longest tenure. RSM has announced the retirement of
Mike Baird and Grant Wheaton who have both been part of the team since
the early 1970s. RSM said that the pair's efforts have played a big
role over the years in strengthening processes and technical abilities
of the investigations group.
In addition to following up on reports of radio frequency interference,
RSM manages the radio spectrum in New Zealand, handles licensing rules
and oversees compliance and enforcement of the Radiocommunications Act
of 1989. It is part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment.
This is Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(WIA, RSM)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, be listening for Earl, WA3DX operating from
Senegal between December 22nd and January 20th, mainly using FT8. He
will use his home call with a prefix. In Dakar, he will use the
prefix 6W1; in Mbao, he will use 6W7 and on Kaolack and Saloum
Islands (IOTA number AF-045), his prefix will be 6W6. Send QSL
direct to WA3DX or via LoTW.
A team consisting of S51V, S52OT, S54W, S57DX and others will be on
the air from Lampedusa Island, IOTA number AF-019 as IG9/S59A from
January 23rd to the 31st. The operation will focus on the CQWW 160
metre CW contest during the last full weekend of January. Outside of
the contest, be listening on all bands and all modes for the prefix
IG9 (Eye G Nine) before their homecalls.
Andre, ON7YK is in The Gamba operating as C5YK until February 24th,
2023. Listen on 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m, mostly using the digital
modes. QSL via LoTW and eQSL, or to his home call direct or via the
bureau.
Listen for the callsign TN8K from the Republic of Congo, activated
by the CDXP Group. The team from the Czech Republic expects to
operate between January 7th and the 19th. The operators will be on
the HF bands from 160m to 6m using CW, SSB, RTTY , FT8, FT4 and PSK.
They will also make use of the QO-100 satellite. QSL via OK6DJ, OQRS
or LOTW.
(EINDHOVEN.SPACE BLOG, DX-WORLD.NET)
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All on Fri Dec 23 00:40:37 2022
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the WI9HF repeater
of the Capital City Repeater Association in Madison, Wisconsin, on
Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.
**
INDIAN AMATEURS PUT SANTA ON THE AIR
JIM/ANCHOR: Like the airwaves themselves, Santa is lighting up the sky in
all parts of the world. Give and receive the gift of holiday DX with
these two events. We hear first from John Williams, VK4JJW:
JOHN: From Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata, Parks on the Air India
and Oscar India are celebrating Christmas by putting Santa on the Air
through the 31st of December. The call sign AU2SOA, Santa on Air, can be
heard using SSB and CW on HF, operating a Digital SSTV broadcast and
looking for QSOs on Echolink. To make contacts on FT 8, be listening on
20, 15 and 10 meters. See QRZ.com for QSL details. QSOs will be confirmed
via eQSL.
On Christmas Day, December 25th, operators will be on various HF bands activating a park and will be spotting AU2SOA operators at www.parksontheair.com.
Finally, on the last two weekends of December, Parks on the Air India
will activate AU2SOA on 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres transmitting a SSTV broadcast. The photo you download will serve as your QSL card. The SSTV transmission can be decoded via the receiving programs RXSSTV and MMSSTV
and on Android phones via ROBOT36.
This is John Williams, VK4JJW.
(ARUNAVA DEY, VU3XRY)
**
OLD FATHER 9 CHRISTMAS TAKES TO THE SKIES
JIM/ANCHOR: The Radio Club of Pusula, OH9W, and Northern Radio Arcala,
OH8X, are activating the station they say belongs to the "genuine Santa
from Northern Finland, next to the North Pole." If you believe in Santa, you'll want to hear this report about Santa Radio from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: Old Father Nine Christmas, OF9X, recently began activity on all amateur radio bands and all modes; CW, SSB and Digital. You can expect
Santa's work to continue this year until December 31st, at 21:59 UTC. According to the QRZ.com page for OF9X, this year's special theme will
focus on children in troubled areas of the world and will take the form
of a puzzle to be solved by letters the operators will be handing out to
their contacts. See the station's page on QRZ.com for details about how
to submit the puzzle results for an award. You can also see a list of
hams who have already contacted Santa and his elves.
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(QRZ.COM)
**
DODROPIN CONNECTS SANTA TO KIDS ON ECHOLINK
JIM/ANCHOR: The last story in our Santa roundup features a special correspondent with some news for our youngest listeners. He really needs
no introduction.
DON: Hello again boys and girls, it's the most wonderful time of the
year. It's time for the Santa Watch Net. That's right Santa is going to
be making his rounds and can you believe it? This is our 12th year in a
row and the little helpers at the DoDropIn will be keeping an eagle eye
on the radar. I'll look for you to join us on the Santa Watch Net
starting at 1800 hours Eastern Time. Well my little elf Dave, N3NTV, will
be keeping track of old Santa's location. And as always, Santa has a
radio in his sleigh -- and you know I just love chatting with the good
boys and girls. So be listening for N1S - that's Number 1 Santa. Gather
up the little ones and get them checked in because third party traffic is always on the "nice" list. Once again it's the Santa Watch Net, Christmas
Eve, 1800 hours Eastern on the DoDropIn Echolink conference server node
number 355800. Merry Christmas and 73 from me, Number 1 Santa, and all my little helpers at the DoDropIn.
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All on Fri Dec 30 06:10:47 2022
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the W9BCC repeater
in Wausau, Wisconsin, on Sundays at 9 p.m. during the Rib Mountain
Repeater Association's Sunday Night Swapnet.
**
HONORING THOSE WHO INSPIRE OTHERS' DX ACHIEVEMENTS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A new program launched by an Ohio DX group honors those
who inspire others in their pursuit of DX. Andy Morrison, K9AWM, has those details.
ANDY: Achieving DXCC is an honor - but what about the hams who work so
hard behind the scenes helping other amateurs achieve that coveted status
of DXCC award-winner? The Southwest Ohio DX Association has launched a new program that recognizes the hams who help other radio operators achieve
their first 100 confirmed DX entities. The amateur receiving the
assistance must be under the age of 30. The DX association has
specifically designed the award this way to target those who help younger amateurs and ensure they continue to be encouraged and active in the hobby even after receiving their DXCC certificate.
The intent of targeting this audience helping younger amateurs is to
attract and retain those operators who are most likely to remain engaged
in the hobby after achieving DXCC. The DX Mentor Recognition Program has
the support of the Northern California DX Foundation and the International
DX Association. Both groups are providing representatives on the judging committee. The award will be presented at Dayton Hamvention in May at the Southwest Ohio DX Association dinner.
For more information about the DX Mentor Recognition Program or to
download an application, visit the website in the text version of this
week's newscast at arnewsline.org
[DO NOT READ:
https://www.swodxa.org/DX-Mentor-Program/ ]
This is Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
(425 DX NEWS)
**
IDEAS NEEDED FOR RADIO'S ROLE MARKING KING'S CORONATION
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Hams in the UK are being asked to contribute their ideas
for radio's role in marking the King's coronation. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH,
tells us more.
JEREMY: Long before there was radio, the UK had its fire beacons,
torchlight relays that served as warnings of invasions in earlier
centuries. As the Radio Society of Great Britain makes its plans to help
mark the coronation of King Charles III and his Queen Consort next May,
the society hopes to give this ancient tradition a role as well.
A number of events will be organised for the occasion with an eye toward demonstrating amateur radio to the public. The society's Coronation Lead,
Alan Messenger, GØTLK, is looking for ideas about what shape the special events will take and most particularly how the fire beacons can be
included, as a way of honouring tradition. UK hams are being asked If they have suggestions for these events or any other thoughts, to contact Alan
at special dot projects at rsgb dot org dot uk (
special.projects@rsgb.org.uk)
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(RSGB)
**
THE 2023 DX ULTRA-MARATHON HAS BEGUN
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The marathon is on! Starting January 1st, 2023, if you're
a DXer, you can be in the running. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, tells us how.
NEIL: Since it was founded in June 2018 the True Blue DXers Club has acknowledged that, long path or short path, there is no easy path to good DXing. Beyond having good equipment, DXing takes skills and patience. The
club continues to nurture its appreciation for DXing accomplished via CW
and SSB. It has announced its latest year-long operating event that begins
on January 1st. This is their 2023 DX Ultra-Marathon and it is encouraging
CW and sideband operation in as many DXCC entities and WAZ Zones as
possible. If you wish to be in the running during the 2023 marathon, you needn't join the club itself but you are required to register. The link
for registration can be found in this week's text version of our newscast
at arnewsline.org
then start making QSOs as early as January 1st, and begin uploading your
logs on January 15th.
The club's website notes that like any worthy marathon, this event
requires operators to push their limits, and make an investment in time
and in effort.
This is Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.
[ FOR PRINT ONLY: www.tbdxc.net/marathon ]
(425 DX NEWS, TRUE BLUE DXERS CLUB)
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All on Fri Jan 6 06:36:05 2023
NOMINATIONS NEEDED BY RADIO SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN
PAUL/ANCHOR: With a new year, comes the change in leadership at the Radio Society of Great Britain. The nomination period continues this month, as
we hear from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: Although the window has closed for nominations for board director
of the Radio Society of Great Britain, the nomination period continues
through to the end of January for other roles, such as regional representative, elected director and president. The current president,
Stewart Bryant, G3YSX, is completing his two-year term in April. There
are nine volunteer roles in all that need to be filled. Regional representatives are needed for England South-West and the Channel
Islands, England North-West, East Midlands, Northern Ireland, South
Wales. Details can be found on the Society's website at rsgb dot org
stroke election. (rsgb.org/election).
The Society will be holding its annual general meeting on April 15th and
the results of the election will be announced then.
Only members of the RSGB are able to nominate candidates.
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(RSGB)
**
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.
**
SPEAKERS NEEDED FOR QSO TODAY VIRTUAL EXPO
PAUL/ANCHOR: The next QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo takes place on March
24th through to the 26th, asking the question: "New Ham radio license,
now what?" Organizers are looking for speakers who can address this topic
in particular, whether the new license is at entry level, such as
Technician class here in the United States, or perhaps at a higher level
with more privileges.
Organizer Eric Guth, 4Z1UG, is asking amateurs with expertise in certain
areas of amateur radio to consider newcomers in particular and to offer presentations at the Expo this spring. There is a link to an online application form and additional details in the text version of this
week's newscast script at arnewsline.org.
[DO NOT READ:
https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/speakercall.html ]
**
INNOVATIVE ANTENNA DEVELOPER GETS LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP
PAUL/ANCHOR: A celebrated antenna expert from West Bengal, India, has
just been granted yet another honor. We hear more about him from Graham
Kemp, VK4BB.
GRAHAM: Srikanta Pal, the scientist who was recently granted a patent for
the world's smallest antenna has been given an honorary life membership
in the West Bengal Radio Club. Born in West Bengal, he is a research
professor at Birla Institute of Technology in Kolkata.
He was presented with the honour on Wednesday, December 28th, by the
club's secretary, Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, who told Newsline in a
text message that the professor has taken a keen interest in amateur
radio antennas. After learning more details about the kind of work the
club is involved in, he said that, as an honorary life member, he would
study some useful types of antennas that hams could use for emergency
response in disasters.
In 2009, the professor was credited with having helped solve satellite
signal interference problems at the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank telescope
at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in West Virginia. Later, he assisted astronomers in solving interference issues at the Jodrell Bank
Radio Telescope site in the UK.
This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(WBRC, BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY)
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ARDC HOLDING COMMUNITY MEETING ON JAN. 21
DON: Amateur Radio Digital Communications invites everyone to its next community meeting, which is being held on the Zoom platform on Saturday, January 21st. Attendees will meet the new advisory committee members, learn about grants given in 2022 and hear about the recently concluded 44Net Assessment. To attend, you must register. See the link in the text version
of this week's Newsline script for the registration link.
[DO NOT READ: www.ampr.org/community-meeting-registration/ ]
(ARDC)
**
INTERNATIONAL ATTENDANCE AT HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY
DON/ANCHOR: The popular annual event known as Ham Radio University returned this year as an online event and attracted international attendance. Paul Braun, WD9GCO, has the wrap-up on that.
PAUL: Saturday, January 7th, was a back-to-school day for more than 1,000 radio amateurs who signed up for a seat in the virtual classrooms of Ham
Radio University. The day of education and fellowship marked the third time this event has been held online since the first one was held on Long
Island, New York 23 years ago. The fact that it was held in a virtual space meant it could open its doors to visitors beyond the New York metropolitan area and welcome amateurs from Bulgaria, Germany, Lebanon, Greece, Thailand and Korea as well as many other nations.
Organizers said that in all, 1,662 hams registered and of those, 1,082 attended the free event, taking advantage of the various forums, which included Software Defined Radios, Parks on the Air, grounding in the ham
shack and the role of Raspberry Pi Computers in amateur radio.
Did you miss a forum or perhaps you weren't available to attend at all?
This year's presentations were recorded and will soon be available for
viewing on Ham Radio University's YouTube Channel. Meanwhile, the hard work has already begun on next year's event, which organizers hope will be available as a combination of virtual and in-person classes.
This is Paul Braun, WD9GCO.
(DIANE ORTIZ, K2DO, TOM CARRUBBA KA2D)
**
POTA REPORTS A ROBUST YEAR FOR 2022 ACTIVATORS
DON/ANCHOR: Parks on the Air administrators have spent the past few days tallying up activator totals for 2022. Matt Heere, N3NWV, is here to share
the final numbers.
MATT: Howdy, POTA Folks, I'm Matt, N3NWV, and this is the December 2022 monthly POTA update which is our 2022 year-end wrap-up so instead of
December statistics let's talk about how 2022 stacked up against 2021. In terms of total activations there were 141,477. That's 195 percent increase over the previous year. Seven thousand one hundred eighty-seven activators participated in these activations, which is 171 percent increase over 2021.
In total, 14818 parks were activated, a 134 percent increase over 2021.
These parks are spread out across 72 DXCC entities, a 147 percent increase over 2021.
And drum roll please; we logged over 6.26 million QSOs in 2022. That's a
220 percent increase, more than double what we logged in 2021.
And as you might expect with the maturity of the POTA program a lot of the growth is happening outside of the United States. In IARU Region 1 we had 5,940 activations. That's a 418 percent increase over 2021. Fantastic
numbers for Region 2 outside of the Continental US as well. Eleven
thousand six hundred thirty activations represents a 267 percent increase
over 2021.
Last, but by no means least, Region 3's 8,780 QSOs represents a 283 percent increase over 2021.
(POTA)
**
KING'S CORONATION INSPIRES OPERATOR AWARD IN BRITAIN
DON/ANCHOR: Amateur radio operators in the UK have become very involved in planning for the coronation of the next king. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us about one award group that has launched an event that continues right
through to the end of the year.
JEREMY: The Coronation of King Charles III in Westminster Abbey in May has inspired the Worked All Britain awards group to create a year-long event honoring the new monarch of the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth realms. The King Charles III Coronation Award is open to any amateur radio operator who is able to log contacts within the various geographical squares inside
the UK throughout 2023. Hams may operate on all licenced frequencies and modes, to qualify. According to the group's website, the initial
certificate will be awarded for 10 points. There are endorsements for each
10 after that. Finally, each multiple of 100 points earns the operator a
new certificate and a trophy.
Details about the scoring methods are available on the website at the
address that appears in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
[DO NOT READ:
http://wab.intermip.net/Coronation%20Award.php ]
(WORKED ALL BRITAIN)
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All on Thu Jan 19 20:33:32 2023
WEST BENGAL HAMS ENSURE PILGRIMS' SAFETY
JIM/ANCHOR: A massive religious pilgrimage in India has just
concluded, and as always the safety of the thousands attending was
assured with the help of amateur radio as we hear from Jim
Meachen, ZL2BHF.
JIM: A record number of pilgrims turned out this year for the
largest religious gathering in India, the Gangasagar Mela, and the
West Bengal Radio Club was there as always to assist with public
safety, communications and coordination for individuals who fell
ill, and needed airlifting from the island to area hospitals. More
than a dozen people were reported missing at the massive gathering
and the hams assisted in reuniting them with their families on the
island. Officials told the Hindu newspaper that they had the
support of about 42 amateur radio operators.
The mela began on the 5th of January and ended on the 17th.
While they were there, the hams were also able to make contacts as
part of Islands on the Air from the island, which is in the Bay of
Bengal and has the designation of AS-153. They used the callsign
AT2WBRC.
This is Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(AMBARISH NAG BISWAS, VU2JFA, THE HINDU)
***
BBC FEATURES THE LEADING VOICES OF CW EDUCATORS
JIM/ANCHOR: In the UK, broadcast radio isn't about to start getting
rid of its voice programming and replacing it with CW but this month,
the BBC embraced the mode gladly. Twice, in fact. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH,
tells us about it.
JEREMY: The BBC has run programming before that examined Morse Code
as a form of communication but this month the broadcaster revisited
the subject with one ham from the United States who is a leading CW
educator. On the afternoon current affairs programme, PM on BBC Radio
4, Howard Bernstein, WB2UZE, cofounder of the Long Island CW Club,
spoke with presenter Evan Davis about the mode's growing popularity
in the United States and people's efforts to learn it. The LICW has
membership around the world availing themselves of the club's free
instruction.
Meanwhile, the voice of CW enthusiast Mervyn Foster, G4KLE, can be
heard on BBC Three Counties Radio. Mervyn, a volunteer at the
National Radio Centre, appeared on the breakfast programme of Andy
Collins on the 13th of January. A lifelong fan of CW, Mervyn told
Andy about its resurgence in the UK and its usefulness even
outside amateur radio.
To hear either or both of these interview, visit the links that
appear in the text version of this week's newscast at
arnewsline.org
I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
[Howard interview:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001h638 ]
[Mervyn interview:
https://tinyurl.com/h9ny9dsp ]
**
RADIO RELAY INTERNATIONAL EXPANDS ITS REACH
JIM/ANCHOR: Puerto Rico just got another safety net to protect the
island when disaster strikes, as we hear from Christian Cudnik,
K0STH.
CHRISTIAN: The global ham radio emergency-response network known
as Radio Relay International has expanded to provide crisis
communications in Puerto Rico. RRI announced that the expansion of
its Digital Traffic Network infrastructure into the island comes
after a year of working with volunteers there to upgrade emergency preparedness through training courses. The area digital coordinators
for RRI have also been giving the volunteers one-on-one assistance
and technical support.
RRI's Digital Traffic Network is a modified hybrid mesh network
that uses primarily HF but is also involved in creating VHF and
UHF gateways for local support. The system has the advantage of
universal interoperability between voice and CW and digital
platforms. RRI handles traffic as radiograms in voice, CW and
digital modes via the Digital Traffic Station function. Message
traffic can also be routed between Winlink and RRI's own system.
James Wades, WB8SIW, RRI's emergency management director, credited
Victor Rivera, WP4QZH, and Emmanuel Cruz, NP4D, for their work in
Puerto Rico, along with numerous other team members. Puerto Rico
becomes part of a larger service of RRI's Digital Traffic Network
connections that also include Asia, Oceania and Europe.
This is Christian Cudnik, K0STH.
(JAMES WADES, WB8SIW)
**
YOUTH DX ADVENTURE GROUP RETURNING TO CURACAO
JIM/ANCHOR: Is there a trip to Curaao in the future for a young
hopeful DX adventurer you may know? If so, you will want to hear
this report from Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
ANDY: The Dave Kalter Memorial Youth DX Adventure group is
returning to Curaao this year, and is inviting young amateurs to
be part of the operation. The application period has opened. The
trip will take place between July 13th and 18th with the goal of
forming a DX team of amateurs between the ages of 12 and 17.
This year, the timing of the trip has an added bonus: Because this
year's DX adventure overlaps somewhat with the Youth on the Air
Camp taking place in Canada in July, the young hams in Curaao can
expect to have some scheduled contacts with the YOTA campers as
well. The PJ2T site in Curaao will once again be the QTH for the
Caribbean activation. According to the Youth DX Adventure website,
the team is applying to once again use the call sign PJ2Y
Application forms can be downloaded from the website that appears
in this week's text version of Newsline.
This is Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
[DO NOT READ: qsl.net/n6jrl ]
[JIM STORMS, AB8YK]
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* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)
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From
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All on Fri Jan 27 11:11:36 2023
AMSAT NEEDS NEW MANAGER FOR GRIDMASTER HEAT MAP
NEIL/ANCHOR: Are you a satellite enthusiast hoping to go for the big prize with your contacts? There's an opening at AMSAT for a capable volunteer who can help with an important tool for chasers. Sel Embee, KB3TZD, tells us what's involved.
SEL: AMSAT's Gridmaster Heat Map has served as an invaluable guide to grid- chasers using satellites, for those activating hams who need to be aware of which grids are in greatest need. AMSAT says in a recent weekly service bulletin that the map may be going away unless a replacement manager can be found.
Paul Overn, KE0PBR, will be stepping down after three years at the helm of
the project in which he tracked grid rarity based on crowdsourced data from hams who updated him. Paul's Twitter feed, atgridmasterheat
(@GridMasterHeat) displays a color-coded map of grid rarities ranging from green - the most common - to red, for rare.
The map plays an especially important role in the pursuit of AMSAT's prestigious GridMaster Award. This honor is conferred on any amateur around the world who works all 488 Maidenhead grid squares in the 48 contiguous United States via satellite and has those contacts confirmed in writing.
AMSAT is looking for a volunteer to assume Paul's post. The candidate should be capable of collecting crowdsourced data and transferring it to a spreadsheet or some other format and providing updates every week to
satellite users.
For details visit www.amsat.org
This is Sel Embee, KB3TZD.
(SEAN KUTZKO, KX9X)
**
VINTAGE RADIO MUSEUM REOPENING IN IRELAND
NEIL/ANCHOR: A beloved museum for fans of antique radio and gear is finally reopening its doors in Dublin. We have more details from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: The doors are reopening at Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum, a vintage collection of radios and radio-related items housed in a Martello Tower near Dublin, Ireland. On the weekend of January 14th, the first visitors were
able to step inside after the museum had been closed for two months for renovation work. Though the initial opening provided some limited access
while the remainder of the work was completed, full access was expected to
be available after January 21st.
The well-loved museum was opened by Pat Herbert in 2003 and the radio aficionado brought much of his collection to its displays. The museum continues to have the support of his family and friends following Pat's
death in 2020 at the age of 83
The museum is the home of amateur radio station EI0MAR, which is operated by the Howth Martello Radio Group. There is more history to this museum than
just the collection it holds: In the mid-19th century, the tower itself
housed the first telegraphy station connecting Great Britain and Ireland.
Lee de Forest, the pioneering radio scientist from the US, visited the tower in 1903 to conduct experiments in wireless telegraphy.
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(WIA, FACEBOOK, QRZ)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the world of DX, there's good news for Bouvet Island Dxpedition 3Y0J
(Three Why Zero Jay) watchers: Despite earlier reports to the contrary, team members are operating /mm from the ship as they make their way to the
island. Be listening for them using their home calls plus /mm using CW and SSB. Team co-leader Ken LA7GIA said the group has a dipole with capability
of 17m and 20m.
Juan, LU8DBS, is on the air in his spare time as LU1ZV at Esperanza Base, Antarctica, IOTA number AN-016. Listen for him on 40, 20 and 10 metres where he is using SSB through to the end of January. In February, he will be
adding CW and digital modes. Send QSLs direct to LU4DXU.
Be listening for Robson, PY6TV, who will be using CW and SSB with the
callsign PT6D from Ilha da Mare, IOTA Number SA-023 from the 2nd to the 5th
of February. QSL direct to his home call and see his QRZ.com page for PayPal details. Robson will upload his log to Club Log.
Adam, VK2YK, Chris, VK5FR, Ivan, VK5HS, and a team of other VK hams, will be using the callsign VK5TIL from Troubridge Island, IOTA number OC-139, on the 7th, 8th and 9th of February. They will operate CW, SSB and digital modes on various bands. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS, LoTW and eQSL.
Be listening for John, W5JON, who will be on the air as V47JA from St.
Kitts, IOTA number NA-104, from the 31st of January to the 15th of February. He will be using SSB and FT8 on the HF bands and 6 metres. QSL via LoTW, or direct to W5JON.
(425 DX Bulletin)
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* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)
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From
Daryl Stout@618:250/33 to
All on Fri Feb 3 02:13:07 2023
FREE MAGAZINE FOR IRISH HAMS MARKS ITS 2ND YEAR
PAUL/ANCHOR: Two years after its launch as a free resource for Irish
amateurs, an online magazine is still going strong. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH,
tells us about it.
JEREMY: The only free monthly amateur radio e-magazine in Ireland is
preparing to mark its second year of publication. The Connacht Regional
News Magazine is seen as the voice of ham radio experimenters, innovators
and homebrew-builders. It has gained a following in Europe, the United
States and a number of Pacific nations. The latest edition features a worldwide news roundup as well as articles about various antennas, the 5
MHz band and awards from the National Radio Society of Ireland.
A number of clubs have also written updates on their activities, from fundraising walks to annual general meetings.
The editor, Steve Wright, EI5DD, told Newsline that the goal from the
start has been to promote radio activities by various clubs and societies
from both sides of the border in Ireland. The independent publication
also reports on the Irish Radio Transmitter Society and the NRSI, the two national societies in Ireland.
Steve told Newsline that the magazine is distributed free and is easy to access from the QRZ.com page of EIØCL or EI5DD. It also appears on the
Galway VHF Group Blog and on the magazine's own Facebook page.
Best of all, over the last two years, the magazine has grown from a six-
page publication in its earliest days to a full 30-page offering.
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(STEVE WRIGHT, EI5DD)
**
HAMS PLAN SYMPOSIUM FOR OPERATING IN MARITIME CANADA
PAUL/ANCHOR: Get ready for a special symposium that focuses on the needs
of amateurs in maritime Canada. Andy Morrison, K9AWM, helps us take a
look at what's in store.
ANDY: Planning is getting underway for organizers of this year's
Symposium for Maritime Amateur Radio Technology, which is being hosted by
the WestCumb Amateur Radio Club in Nova Scotia on May 6th. Ham clubs throughout Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and elsewhere
play an active role in this annual event, which features a series of one-
hour classes throughout the day and a variety of social gatherings.
This is the sixth annual event and its focus is on the technical and procedural aspects of ham radio as it relates to operating in the
maritime region. John VE1CWJ, will present a class on amateur radio use
of satellites; Gordon, VE9GC, will discuss remote station operation; and Bill, VE1YY, Glenn, VE9GJ, and Jason, VE1PYE, will talk about making successful contacts on the 630m band. There will also be classes on the
use of the WINLINK radio messaging system and WSPR, or Weak Signal
Propagation Reporter.
Additional details about the event, known as SMART23, can be found on the website that appears in this week's text version of the newscast at arnewsline.org
[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ: westcumb.ca/smart23 ]
This is Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
(JOHN VE1CWJ)
**
VANUATU DXPEDITION SHIFTS DATE TO OCTOBER 2024
PAUL/ANCHOR: If you want to work a DXpedition that isn't quite so remote
as Bouvet Island, this story from John Williams, VK4JJW, might interest
you.
JOHN: DX chasers who have their calendars marked for the Vanuatu
DXpedition in December 2024 need to turn their calendar pages back by two months. The eight-member team has announced they will instead be heading
to the South Pacific island for their two-week activation in October of
2024. The operators are hoping to capitalize on the springtime
propagation in the Southern Hemisphere and plan to participate in the CQ
WW DX Phone Contest.
The activation site will be on the island of Efate, which is the most populated in the nation's archipelago. Efate boasts a robust tourism
industry. Spouses and partners will be accompanying the team members,
whose average age is 70. The operators have said they expect to log more
than 40,000 QSOs.
Vanuatu is 1,500 miles from Sydney, Australia and 3,000 miles from
Honolulu, Hawaii.
This is John Williams, VK4JJW.
(DX-WORLD.NET)
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* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)
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From
Daryl Stout@618:250/33 to
All on Thu Feb 9 19:35:51 2023
SOUTH AFRICA PLANS A SOTA CELEBRATION
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Hams in South Africa who activate summits throughout that country are planning to celebration 20 years of those activations. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, tells us what they have in mind.
JIM: Activators of Summits On the Air in South Africa are marking 20 years
in the programme by urging all participants to either hunt or activate a summit on the 18th of February. Activators will be posting their proposed times on the WhatsApp group and Facebook page of ZS-SOTA. South Africa
became part of SOTA on January 1st, 2003 when the first two summits were activated by Andrew Roos, then using the callsign ZS1AN. On that day,
Andrew, now callsign ZS5U, operated CW from Lion's Head, SOTA number ZS/WC-058, and MacLear's Beacon, SOTA number ZS/WC-043.
All hams who participate in the 20th anniversary activity will receive a commemorative certificate.
This is Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(SARL)
**
DEADLINE SET FOR YOTA SUMMER CAMP IN HUNGARY
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Young amateurs hoping to spend part of their summer in
Hungary at YOTA camp have until the end of the month to apply, as we hear
from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: Young amateurs who live in IARU Region 1 have until the 28trh of February to apply for Youth on the Air summer camp. The camp will take
place from the 5th to the 12th of August in northwest Hungary, near the
border with Austria and Slovakia. Organisers are advising prospective
campers to get in touch with their local IARU youth coordinator to learn
how to apply. There are spots open for 100 campers. Guest teams will be
able to attend from Regions 2 and 3. One of the main goals of the camp is
to train young amateurs to arrange for youth activities in their home countries and get other young people interested in amateur radio.
This year is the 11th edition of the camp and it is being operated with the help of the Hungarian Amateur Radio Society, MRASZ. The IARU Youth Working Group works closely with youth coordinators to arrange for the camp to be held. Previous years' camps have been hosted by Bulgaria, Croatia and South Africa.
Anyone who has questions may write to the organisers at youth at iaru
hyphen r1 dot org. (
youth@iaru-r1.org).
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(YOUNGSTERS ON THE AIR, IARU REGION 1)
**
HAMS HELP LOST MAN RETURN TO FAMILY IN INDIA
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Hams in India who specialize in helping lost family members get back home recently assisted with just such a reunion. Here's Graham
Kemp, VK4BB, with that report.
GRAHAM: In India, a man with hearing and speech impairments and a history
of wandering from home when under stress was reunited with his family with
the help of amateur radio operators. The involvement of amateur radio operators from Kolkata ended a long search by the family of the 58-year-old man, who turned up at the religious pilgrimage known as the Gangasagar Mela last month. The mela was held about 100 km south of Kolkata, which is headquarters to the West Bengal Radio Club whose hams assist every year to ensure safety and communications at the pilgrimage. The hams noticed the
man was in distress but because of his challenges, they could not
communicate successfully with him.
According to local media, he turned out to be from Khammam in the Indian
state of Telangana. Members of the club receive special training in helping communicate with individuals who may be unable to speak or in cases where there is a language barrier. The club's secretary, Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, said that the man's responses to certain photographs helped them determine the region where he resides. By late January, the mystery was solved. The man, who had been moved to living quarters at a local mission,
was successfully identified and his family was contacted by the police. Ambarish Nag Biswas was able to then communicate with the man with the help
of Ram Mohan Suri, VU2MYH, director of the National Institute of Amateur Radio, who can speak the man's language, Telugu. Arrangements were made for his son to retrieve him and return him home.
Dibas Mondal, VU3ZII, assisted in his transfer back to his family with the help of the police.
This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(TELANGANA TODAY, TIMES OF INDIA)
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)
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From
Daryl Stout@618:250/33 to
All on Fri Feb 17 14:00:46 2023
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.
**
CW/AM EVENT CELEBRATES VINTAGE GEAR
PAUL/ANCHOR: If the evolution of radio gear interests you - and if you
own and operate some of the earliest rigs - you might want to plan for a
big operating event next month. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, tells us what's involved.
KEVIN: Age matters. It's even worth points if you're a ham taking part in
the John Rollins Memorial CW/AM DX event in March. The event is organized
by the Antique Wireless Association and you don't have to be a member to participate. If you are using a transmitter and receiver manufactured
before 1970, you can score big points. Likewise, any homebrew gear using
tubes that were available before 1970 is also in the running.
The activity takes place on 80, 40, and 20 meters, on Wednesday, March
1st, and Thursday, March 2nd, and again on Saturday, March 4th, and
Sunday, March 5th. Power is limited to 100 watts for CW and 100 watts
carrier level for AM.
For details on scoring, visit the association website at the link
provided in the text version of this week's newscast script at
arnewsline.org
The event is named for association member John Rollins, W1FPZ, who was a well-known home-brewer of radio equipment. John became a Silent Key in
March of 2008.
This is Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
DO NOT READ:
https://www.antiquewireless.org/homepage/event-details-for-rollins-dx-event/
**
FCC CREATES ROOM FOR 16 NEW FM RADIO STATIONS
PAUL/ANCHOR: The FCC has made room for 16 new broadcast stations on FM
and expects there will be competition for the spots on the spectrum.
Here's that report from Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.
KENT: There could be a handful of new FM radio stations on the air in
small rural communities from Minnesota and Missouri to Texas and Vermont:
the FCC has opened up 16 FM allotments in areas eligible for a new
service. The FM table is updated by the FCC after its staff engineers determine that the vacant allotments comply with the agency's minimum
distance separation requirements and city-grade coverage requirements.
The areas that are eligible for a new FM service include Grand Portage, Minnesota; Bunker, Missouri; Junction and Sonora in Texas; and Barton, Vermont.
The FCC says all new FM commercial allotments are subject to an auction process, and competing applications may be filed once the commission
decides it is ready to accept applications.
When competing applications are filed, an auction may need to occur
before the allotments are decided.
This is Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.
(FCC, RADIOWORLD)
**
HOTEL BOOKINGS BEGIN FOR WRTC IN BOLOGNA
PAUL/ANCHOR: A major world radio event, postponed from last year,
suddenly got more real with the start of hotel bookings. John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us about it.
JOHN: Competitors and referees received the earliest access to hotel
bookings for the World Radiosport Team Championship which is to be held
this July in Bologna, Italy. The online booking system opened on February
1st. The next round of reservations began on February 7th for visitors
and others. According to details on the WRTC Reflector message list
hotels throughout the surrounding area will be providing support for competitors, referees, judges, sponsors and the contest committee.
To see details about the WRTC and who its competitors are, visit wrtc2022
dot it (wrtc2022.it)
The World Radiosport Team Championship is held every four years in a
different host country. This year's event is a postponement from last
year when health concerns during the pandemic caused it to be called off. Two-member teams whose members have qualified for the event will arrive
from every continent to compete in this 24-hour nonstop competition,
which is often referred to as the Olympics of amateur radio.
This is John Williams, VK4JJW.
(WRTC REFLECTOR)
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* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)
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From
Daryl Stout@618:250/33 to
All on Thu Mar 23 22:03:07 2023
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K2JJI repeater
of the Tryon Amateur Radio Club, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary
this year, in upstate New York. Newsline is heard Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.
before the ARES/RACES net, and on Echolink node 845553, with a live audio
feed on Broadcastify under K2JJI.
**
A VIRTUAL VISIT TO BOUVET ISLAND
NEIL/ANCHOR: The Northern Illinois DX Association hosted the first presentation by a Three Y Zero Jay team member on what it was like to
live on, and activate Bouvet Island. DXpeditioner Adrian, KO8SCA,
provided a one-hour talk, complete with dramatic photographs, on the
Zoom platform earlier this month. He described the team's 10-day effort
to maintain a delicate balance of food and fuel supplies as they
scheduled precious time to operate on the air - at first using CW and
SSB and later FT8. They also kept an eye on storm systems. As Adrian
told his viewers [quote] "Mother Nature is never doing things in your
favor." [endquote] The DXpedition left the island on February 14th,
after making more than 19,000 QSOs.
Whether you worked Bouvet Island or not, you can still view Adrian's talk
which is now available to everyone on YouTube on the Northern Illinois DX Association channel. You can also find a link to it through the Northern Illinois DX Association website at nidxa dot org (nidxa.org).
(YOUTUBE, AMATEUR RADIO WEEKLY)
**
FOR YOUNG ACTIVATOR IN AUSTRALIA, A PEAK AT GLORY
NEIL/ANCHOR: A very young amateur in Australia has completed a summit activation that he's likely never to forget. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, shares
his victory with us.
GRAHAM: First-time summit activator Emile, VK5WWW, has now earned one
point in the SOTA awards scheme for each year of his life: The 10-year-old Australian amateur successfully activated Mount Wellington in Tasmania
with an HT, and a lot of hope on Tuesday, March 21st, shortly before 9:30
am local time.
The summit is 1,270-metres, or 4,167 feet, high.
Operating at VK5WWW/7, he logged six contacts in the Hobart area on 2m. One-half hour later, it was a done deal. Emile's first solo act was a
success.
His proud father, John, VK5HAA, who is also an activator, reported his
son's SOTA success on the Australian SOTA activators' groups.io email
list.
Congratulations on reaching new heights, Emile. Good on ya!
This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(GROUPS.IO)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, the Sable Island DXpedition CY0S is under way in Nova Scotia, Canada until the 30th of March and will include 2M EME operation. Operators will also use the HF bands plus 6 metres. Modes will include CW,
SSB and FT8 in fox-hound mode. Contacts also count for Parks on the Air,
for Park VE-0210, the ARLHS Lighthouse Award, for Lighthouse SAB-002, and
IOTA for Island Number NA-063. QSL via WA4DAN.
Listen for Miguel, CT1EBM, who is using the callsign CN2EBM from the 26th
of March to the 9th of April during a 5,000-kilometre tour through Morocco.
He is using SSB and FT8 on the HF bands. He will be operating via the
QO-100 satellite on SSB. For details, see QRZ.com.
Philippe FK4QX, Yves FK4RD and Michel FK8IK are using the callsign TX5L
from Lifou Island, IOTA Number OC-033, in New Caledonia from the 27th
through to the 31st of March. They are operating CW and SSB on 40-10 metres, QSL via F4FTV.
Pista, HA5AO, will be on the air as 5X2I, on the shores of Lake Victoria
in Uganda from the 24th of April to the 10th of May. He will operate CW,
SSB, and FT8, in fox/hound mode on 40-10 metres. QSL request to OQRS, or
send your card direct or via the bureau to HA5AO. The complete log will
be uploaded to LoTW six months after the expedition.
Be listening for Janusz, SP9FIH, who is operating as E51WEG and for Leszek, SP6CIK, operating as E51CIK from Rarotonga, IOTA number OC-013, in the
South Cook Islands. They will be there from the 13th to the 28th of April, operating CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8 on 40-10 metres. QSL via Club Log's OQRS.
(425 DX BULLETIN)
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* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)
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From
Daryl Stout@618:250/33 to
All on Fri Apr 14 12:45:49 2023
AUTISM AWARENESS EVENT GOES GLOBAL
PAUL: Special events are becoming more and more popular in our hobby.
Often they’re organized by a club or group that is tied to a specific
event or place. But in the case of one ham, James Gallo, KB2FMH, he
simply found a cause that was important and created a global event to celebrate it.
GALLO: I do a lot of special events, because I find them interesting. So
we found Autism Awareness and I thought, "That's an interesting subject.
A lot of people in our hobby have a position somewhere on the autistic spectrum in some way or another, and I know that from talking to people
over the years. So we decided to make a special event for that."
PAUL: Gallo started to plan the event, and then his girlfriend came up
with a great idea:
GALLO: "And then as I'm putting it together, my girlfriend, who's my muse
in radio business, said, ''Why don't you invite other operators - you'll
get a bunch of operators from around the country.'' And then I thought,
"Well, it's considered 'World Autism Awareness Day', so let me reach out
to a few friends globally that I've met over the years, and see if
they're interested." And it started to grow.
PAUL: And grow it did. The event was a big success, and drew in a large
number of participants:
GALLO: "I think we had 80-something volunteers across 26 states and 24 countries."
PAUL: Gallo is planning on running the event again next year, so keep an
eye out for an announcement if you wish to participate or even just
chase. It's all for a good cause.
This is Paul Braun, WD9GCO.
**
RSGB SEEKS TECHNICAL EDITOR FOR RADCOM MAGAZINE
DON/ANCHOR: The Radio Society of Great Britain is looking to hire a new technical editor, as we hear from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: RadCom, the magazine of the Radio Society of Great Britain, is
saying goodbye to Matthew Smith, M0VWS, who is leaving his role as
technical editor. The team is looking for a new technical editor with a
strong background in electronics and the technical side of amateur radio.
The ideal candidate should also be capable of writing and editing
articles and working with authors from whom articles have been
commissioned. The technical editor will also read and edit copy from contributors and columnists and assist volunteers with the RSGB Technical Forum. This is a salaried staff position.
For a full description of other responsibilities visit rsgb.org/careers.
Although there is an opportunity to occasionally work from home, the
technical editor will be based at RSGB's headquarters which is near
Bedford. For queries or to submit a CV, contact the managing editor
Edward O'Neill at
edward.oneill@rsgb.org.uk.
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(RSGB)
**
MARYLAND SCIENTIST HONORED FOR EMERGENCY PREP WORK
DON/ANCHOR: A scientist and radio amateur in Howard County, Maryland, has
been recognized for his many hours of helping others prepare for
disaster. Sel Embee, KB3TZD, tells us more about him.
SEL: Congratulations to Dan Wilt, WB6FLL, who has been named Emergency Management Volunteer of the Year from officials in Howard County,
Maryland. Dan leads the Howard County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency
Service and is a member of the Columbia Amateur Radio Association.
Dan is a device physicist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
in Laurel, Maryland. According to a press release on the webpage of Johns Hopkins lab, Wilt spent more than 150 volunteer hours supporting RACES
events and activities last year at public service events and during
snowstorms and hurricanes. He has also assisted RACES in the creation of guides to help fellow operators during emergencies so communication can
become easier for first responders. As a member of the Columbia Amateur
Radio Association, K3CUJ, he has coordinated exercises to help prepare
his fellow club members for future incidents.
During the awards ceremony, Mike Hinson, director of the county's Office
of Emergency Management, praised Dan for [quote] "a willingness to help
others learn and a desire to serve whenever and however possible."
[endquote]
This is Sel Embee, KB3TZD.
(JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, PATCH.COM)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the N0LAR repeater,
of the Lamar Area Amateur Radio Club in southeast Colorado, or on FM radio station KRHJ on 88.3 MHz on Fridays at 5 p.m.
**
HUNGARIAN HAMS' SURVEY EXPLORES YOUTH, OTHER ISSUES
NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams in Hungary's national ham radio society want to hear
from you. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us why.
JEREMY: Hams around the world are being invited to provide their views
and share their experiences about amateur radio through an online survey
from the Hungarian Amateur Radio Society. The short survey asks questions about your personal preferences and radio history but also wants to know
what your priorities are -- whether it is your operating preferences,
your expectations from membership in a national society or the roles you
think a local club should have. There are also questions about whether
you know very many active younger operators. The society is interested in having the survey responses in time for the Youngsters on the Air Region
1 camp which it is hosting from the 5th to the 12th of August in Hungary.
The group would also like to present the survey results at the IARU
general conference in November.
A link to the survey appears in the text version of this week's Newsline script at arnewsline.org
[DO NOT READ:
https://mrasz.org/state-of-hamradio ]
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(HUNGARIAN AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY)
NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams in the US may notice when they take the survey that the question about license class does not include the option to select the
level of FCC license. The creators of the survey recommend that US hams
use HAREC for Extra, NOVICE for General and other classes and ENTRY for Technician.
**
NATIONAL VOA MUSEUM EXPANDS HOURS FOR HAMVENTION
NEIL/ANCHOR: One of the biggest ham radio weekends in the United States
is about to get a little bigger. Here's Jack Parker, W8ISH, with that
update.
JACK: If Hamvention doesn't give you a big enough dose of amateur radio
when you're in Xenia next month, take a side trip to the National Voice
of America Museum of Broadcasting in nearby West Chester, Ohio. The
museum expands their hours for visitors during Hamvention and features
new exhibits including a dedicated room for shortwave equipment and
amateur radio. Other exhibits include a complete collection of R.L. Drake
Ham Radio equipment that was originally in the lobby of the R.L. Drake
Corp. in Miamisburg, Ohio.
The on-site WC8VOA ham shack has new, updated equipment and yes, the
station will be on the air for guest operators. The museum's expanded
hours are Thursday May 18th and Friday May 19th from 1 to 9 p.m.;
Saturday May 20th from noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday, May 21st from noon to 5
p.m. so that you can plan on a weekend of total radio immersion.
You can find more details on the museum website at voamuseum.org
This is Jack Parker, W8ISH.
(JOCELYN BRAULT, KD8VRX/VA2VRX; VOICE OF AMERICA MUSEUM)
**
GRIDTRACKER TEAM WINS SOFTWARE AWARD
NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams who are fans of Gridtracker will be happy to learn
they're not alone: Its development team just won a major award. Here's
Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, with the details.
RALPH: Congratulations to Stephen Loomis, N0TTL, and the team that
produced Gridtracker.org, for becoming recipients of the fourth annual
Amateur Radio Software Award. This international honor recognizes free,
open projects developed in the spirit of sharing to enhance amateur radio operations everywhere. According to the award website, Gridtracker was
chosen for its ability to focus on visualizing radio traffic on FT8 and
other modes, simplifying the process of tracking contacts, especially in contests.
In the same spirit of sharing that helped create Gridtracker, Stephen,
who lives in Oregon, has asked the awards committee to provide a $300
grant to the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Oregon. The nonprofit advocacy, resource and educational organization works to help those who
have mental illness and assists their families.
This is Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.
(AMATEUR RADIO SOFTWARE AWARD, AMATEUR RADIO WEEKLY, GRIDTRACKER)
**
BOUVET DXPEDITION VETERAN TO ACTIVATE IN FIJI
NEIL/ANCHOR: One member of the team is back home from the recent Bouvet
Island 3Y0J DXpedition but not for long. John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us
what he's got planned next.
JOHN: Cezar, VE3LYC, is getting ready to put one of the Fiji islands back
on the air after too many years of things being quiet there. Yanuca
Island, IOTA Number OC-189, was activated first in 1993 and again in 2007
- but there's been no radio operation there since then. Cezar will be on
the air May 1st through the 5th using the callsign 3D2LYC. DX World.net reports that his goal is to log 4,000 QSOs with 2,500 unique stations on
six continents. He will be on most of the HF bands and will operate both
CW and SSB.
While not as harsh an environment as the one found on remote Bouvet
Island, Yanuca does not have any visitor accommodation. Cezar said he has
been able to locate a generator and gas as well as food and water to use during his stay.
This is John Willliams, VK4JJW.
(DX WORLD.NET)
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NETS OF NOTE: THE HOUSTON AMSAT NET
PAUL/ANCHOR: A devoted group of satellite enthusiasts in Houston, Texas,
has something to celebrate. Their weekly 2-meter net, has surpassed the
1500 mark. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, tells us more about the group.
NEIL: On the Houston AMSAT Net, talk usually centers around satellites
and balloons but soon migrates to other topics. It's a long-running conversation that dates back to before the 1990s. In recent years the net
has gained even more participants by being carried on Echolink on the
AMSAT Conference Node. It is also available as a livestream while the net
is in progress at amsatnet.com. There is also a link to nets recorded
during the previous four weeks. You have even more ways to listen than
that: the net is available as a podcast on popular services such as Apple Podcast and on 1860 kHz AM.
The AMSAT News Service recently recognized the group for having held its 1,506th net. Keep the conversation going!
This is Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.
(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)
**
BOOK REVIEW: "THE CW WAY OF LIFE," BY CHRIS RUTKOWSKI, NW6V
PAUL/ANCHOR: Sometimes, the only thing that comes close to being on the
air is ... reading about being on the air. Here's one of our occasional
book reviews -- it's from Randy Sly, W4XJ, and it's all about CW.
RANDY: Whatever your level of CW proficiency, Chris Rutkowski, NW6V has something for you. Chris recently released a great book about Morse Code called "The CW Way of Life." He provides 232 pages full of meaningful and entertaining content that is well written. With each page, all I could
think about was that familiar phrase, "and there's more!"
Chris first takes us through the basics of CW and operating with a
straight key...and there’s more! He talks about how we approach process
and understand Morse Code. Do you want to explore a unique approach to strengthening your copy skills, try his chapter on Code Talking...and
there's more! He gives us a special way to notate code, some drills, and
a whole section on Morse Code lingo, including standard exchanges,
protocols, and operating etiquette...and still there's more! Finally, he
leads us through advanced key training, looking at bugs, paddles and the
rest.
Available through Amazon, this is a great book for hams or non-hams
interested in the original digital. I give it a 5 9 9.
This is Randy Sly, W4XJ.
**
HAMS WORLDWIDE MARK WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY
PAUL/ANCHOR: This year's World Amateur Radio Day celebrated the 98th anniversary of the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union,
using the theme Human Security for all. Around the world, hams in every nation marked the day in their own way. John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us
more.
JOHN: For hams in South Africa, World Amateur Radio Day - officially the
18th of April - turned into a month-long celebration. Amateurs in the
South African Radio League activated the special event callsign ZS9WARD
from the first day of April and will continue to do so until the last. In Canada, the theme was "Get on the Air on World Amateur Radio Day" and
Radio Amateurs of Canada's official stations operated from one coast to
the other with numerous callsigns such as VA2RAC, VE4RAC, VO1RAC, and
VY1RAC.
The IARU webpage acknowledged the participation of stations around the
world on the big day itself. Hams in Denmark used the callsign 5PØWARD,
in the United States the calls were NU1AW, W1W, W4A, K4A, and N4A, Belgium
had OT23WARD and Slovenia had S50ARD.
In India, the celebration took on an added level of meaning as one ham,
Hari, VU3UCR, announced that on World Amateur Radio Day he accomplished
the first-time activation of Bandipur National Park in Karnataka for
Parks on the Air India. He announced on Facebook this also makes him the
third person in India to activate a national park in POTA, an awards
scheme that is still new and growing in popularity in that nation.
This is John Williams, VK4JJW.
(FACEBOOK, IARU, SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO LEAGUE)
**
NOMINATE NEXT 'YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR'
PAUL/ANCHOR: There is only a month left to nominate your choice for
Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak Young Ham of the Year award. Candidates must reside in the continental United States and be a licensed
ham 18 years of age or younger. We are looking for someone who has
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 on May 31st.
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MILLING ABOUT ON THE AIR FOR A SPECIAL RADIO EVENT
JIM/ANCHOR: In Australia and in the UK, hams will be milling about -
literally - for this outdoor special event. We learn the details from John Williams, VK4JJW.
JOHN: There's more to mills than wheat, corn or flour. Some mills can
produce QSOs. Well, at least that's going to be the case in Australia
during the Mills on the Air radio event being held in conjunction with the Mills on the Air taking place at the same time in the UK. That would be
the 13th and 14th of May. Hams are on the air activating the mills and
also hoping to score points at the same time for SOTA, POTA and World Wide Flora and Fauna. The Bendigo Amateur Radio and Electronics Club is proud
to be the first to get things started in 2017 with the activation of
Andersons Mill in Smeaton, Victoria - but now mill activation are grinding along quite nicely throughout Australia.
They will be joining more than 300 windmills and watermills being
activated throughout the UK to celebrate its industrial heritage. If you
wish to receive a certificate from the Denby Dale Amateur Radio Society,
which organises the event in the UK, be sure to register there at the link
in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
[DO NOT READ: www.ddars.net/register.html ]
This is John Williams, VK4JJW.
(DDARS.NET, MILLS ON THE AIR)
**
CELLPHONE USERS LOG DIRECT CONTACT VIA SATELLITE
JIM/ANCHOR: A space-based cellular phone network that relies on satellites instead of towers may not be so far off as you think. Kent Peterson,
KC0DGY, has that story.
KENT: Imagine being able to have a cellphone signal delivered directly to
your mobile device from space instead of from a cell tower. Two smartphone users reported recently that they had just that experience. A call between
a phone user in Texas, and another in Japan was reportedly routed through
a low Earth orbit satellite manufactured by AST SpaceMobile. These were standard, unmodified smartphones: a Samsung Galaxy S22 in Texas and an
iPhone in Japan. The BlueWalker3 satellite that made the call possible is powerful enough to pick up cellphone signals from over 1,000 miles away
thanks to an array of 100,000 individual antenna elements on board.
Smartphones and satellites typically do not share the same part of the spectrum for direct communication, leaving phones to rely on local cell
towers instead. According to an article in The Verge, AST SpaceMobile was
able to adapt its network architecture so it was similar to 3rd Generation Partnership Project, or 3GPP, standard that cell networks use.
Some smartphones are already capable of message-based satellite routing solutions in emergencies but a full-service call with a voice connection
like this is said to be breaking new ground. The article said there will
be further testing.
This is Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.
(THE VERGE)
**
UK HAMS MARK ANNIVERSARY OF 'DAM BUSTERS RAID'
JIM/ANCHOR: Hams in the UK are marking the 80th anniversary of the famous World War II "Dam Busters Raid," and Jeremy Boot ,G4NJH, tells us what's involved.
JEREMY: The Royal Air Force sent a squadron of bombers into the night to complete a mission known as Operation Chastise, but better known as the
Dam Busters Raid. Its targets, in the heart of industrial Nazi Germany’s Ruhr Valley, were three dams for destruction, but which were heavily
protected from any underwater or air assault.
The successful mission, which set off on the 16th of May in 1943, is being commemorated from the 14th to 16th of May this year by the Stockport Radio Society with the callsign GB0DBA.
Stockport is an industrial town in Greater Manchester, a region with
strong ties to the mission that employed the now-famous "bouncing bombs."
The planes, modified to carry the bombs, were manufactured at Chadderton
and assembled at Woodford. The aircrew trained over the Derwent Reservoir.
Manchester University has a building dedicated to Barnes Wallis, the
creator of the bouncing bomb -- and to Wing Commander Guy Gibson, who was later proposed as a candidate for the UK Parliament.
Listen on the HF bands, with a focus on 20 and 40 metres, for operators
using SSB, CW and RTTY. There will also be radio activity on VHF using FM, C4FM and FT8 on 2 metres, and SSB and CW using the QO-100 satellite.
Please visit the QRZ.com page of GB0DBA for QSL details.
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(QRZ.COM)
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K3PSG repeater
in Butler, Pennsylvania, at 2 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesdays.
**
DIGITAL LIBRARY OF HAM RADIO EXPANDS COLLECTION
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The numbers just keep growing into the tens of thousands
in the Internet Archive's Digital Library of Amateur Radio And
Communications. Jack Parker, W8ISH, gives us those details.
JACK: It's a virtual bookshelf of radio that seems to go on into infinity:
The addition of new documents from the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club in
Alaska, the Worldwide TV-FM DX Association, the Irish Radio Transmitters Society and the Pikes Peak Radio Amateur Association in Colorado has
expanded a digital collection of shortwave and amateur radio history to
more than 75,000 items. This is the work-in-progress known as the DLARC
Radio Library. The library also contains more than two dozen episodes of
the RAIN Report that were believed to have been lost. Yes, you will also
find archived newscasts from Amateur Radio Newsline.
Program manager of special collections Kay Savetz, K6KJN, said the most
recent additions include recorded presentations and talks, including those from the MicroHams Digital Conference and the Radio Amateur Training
Planning and Activities Committee, known as RATPAC. The library is
especially pleased to have added episodes of International Radio Report
dating back 23 years. The collection also features Continent of Media,
which focuses on the range of media throughout the American Continent.
Many amateur clubs' newsletters which were never posted online before are
now available and are full text-searchable and available for download. The library, which was created with a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications, is always looking for new material to add to the
collection. See the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
This is Jack Parker, W8ISH.
(KAY SAVETZ, K6KJN)
[DO NOT READ:
https://archive.org/details/dlarc ]
**
NEW HAM RADIO MUSEUM OPENS IN OHIO
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Congratulations to Ohio's new amateur radio museum. It's
the Waller-McMunn Museum in Cambridge that has opened to visitors in a restored radio station building after years of work by volunteers
assembling the collection of ham radio gear and related items. The museum
is the pride of the Cambridge Amateur Radio Association, W8VP. The name of
the museum honors Homer McMunn who built the first radio receiver in
Cambridge in 1912; it also pays tribute to his brother-in-law, Roy Waller
who is credited with being the first to copy signals from a US Navy
station operating in Arlington, Virginia that year. The two men were known
as experimenters who built receivers and transmitters and operated a
wireless station in town. Their enthusiasm eventually led to the creation
of the Wireless Association of Cambridge.
(THE DAILY JEFFERSONIAN, GYPSY ROAD TRIP.COM)
**
RESEARCHERS CREATE THINNER, DENSER COMPUTER CHIPS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Researchers in the United States have created thinner,
denser computer chips with big possibilities. We learn more from Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.
KENT: Denser and more powerful computer chips may soon be possible thanks
to findings in a laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Researchers there have developed a means of working with 2D materials so slender that they are no more than three atoms thick. By layering them
atop a fully fabricated silicon chip, they are able to create a denser integration.
According to the MIT news website, this low-temperature growth and
fabrication technology does not result in damage to the chip. Damage was a major concern during previous attempts to achieve this integration atop a silicon CMOS wafer because the process customarily requires temperatures
of 600 degrees Celsius. Temperatures above 400 degrees Celsius could cause
the transisitors and circuits to break down.
The news website also reported that this technology reduces the growth and integration process on an 8-inch wafer from more than a day to less than
an hour. A shortened growth time is seen by researchers as particularly attractive for industrial fabrications because of its efficiency.
Researchers also said they want to explore use of this process for such flexible surfaces as textiles, polymers or papers, raising the prospect of integrating semiconductors into clothing, paper notebooks and other
everyday items.
This is Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.
(MIT)
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NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR AMSAT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DON/ANCHOR: If you're active in AMSAT, and know someone who shows promise
in the organization's leadership, consider nominating them for a spot on
the board of directors. Four incumbent seats will soon expire and voting
will be held in the third quarter of this year. Terms are for two years.
As many as two alternate directors may be chosen to serve one-year terms.
For nominations to be considered, they must be in writing and should be submitted by either one member society or five individual members who are
in good standing. The nominee's name, callsign and contact information
should be provided along with the same information for those individuals submitting the candidate. Email nominations are acceptable when sent to
jdavis@amsat.org - otherwise postal mail may be used. Send to Jeff Davis, KE9VPO, Post Office Box 11, Yorktown, Indiana 47396.
The nomination deadline is the end of the day on June 15th. The four incumbents leaving behind vacancies are Jerry Buxton, N0JY (En Zero Jay
Why), Joseph Armbruster, KJ4JIO, Robert Bankston, KE4AL, and Zach
Metzinger, N0ZGO (En Zero Zed Gee Oh).
(AMSAT NEWS)
**
KEEP LISTENING FOR CORONATION STATIONS
DON/ANCHOR: If you're still feeling festive after the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, offers some ways to keep celebrating.
JEREMY: Coronation weekend has come and gone in the UK, but the Radio
Society of Great Britain believes in keeping a good moment alive. Special event callsigns are still on the air through to the end of June.
Individual radio amateurs and clubs are eligible to use the GB23C
callsign which was used first by the Cray Valley Radio Society which
activated it in Greenwich. Information on how to obtain and use the call
on the RSGB website.
Hams are also being encouraged to use one of hundreds of callsigns Ofcom
is making available to celebrate the historic fire beacon network
throughout the UK. Callsigns such as GB23BIR was activated by the Furness Amateur Radio Society and according to RSGB district representative
Martyn, M0TEB, it was quite popular as a contact.
Visit rsgb.org/coronation for other details and to find out more about
getting a Coronation QSL card or one of three RSGB Coronation awards.
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(RSGB)
**
AUSTRALIAN HAMS OFFER A QSO WITH A 'VAMPIRE'
DON/ANCHOR: Ever have a QSO with a vampire? It's not so hard as you might think. Richard, VK2SKY, brings us this story about an Australian warship
that makes it possible.
RICHARD: G'day, Amateur Radio Newsline listeners, this is Richard,
VK2SKY, in Sydney, Australia, with a little vampire story for you. Yes, I know, Halloween is months away, but I think you'll like this story
anyway.
A team of amateurs, led by Colin VK2JCC, has set up shop in the radio
room aboard HMAS Vampire. "HMAS" stands for His Majesty's Australian
Ship, and the Vampire is located at the Australian National Maritime
Museum here in Sydney. The radio room is part of the museum, and thus
open for visitors to learn about the importance of radio communications,
both in wartime and in peace.
The Vampire team has been active for a few weeks now, using the callsign Victor Kilo Two Victor Mike Papa (VMP - Vampire, get it?). If you've
never worked a warship before, now is a great time to start!
So far, eight amateurs are on the roster to keep Vampire on the air,
using CW and Sideband on 20 and 40 metres, and the station is now a
permanent fixture on the ship.
But wait, there's more! Over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th June, the
Vampire will be active for 24 hours for a special event, Museum Ships on
the Air. You’ll find the station on or near 14.250 MHz. Vampire will join many other ships around the world for this fun event.
So, listen out for Victor Kilo Two Victor Mike Papa on board HMAS Vampire
in Sydney, Australia. And check out the VK2VMP page on qrz.com. Hope to
catch you on the air!
(AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM, MANLY WARRINGAH RADIO SOCIETY)
**
NOMINATE OUR NEXT 'YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR'
DON/ANCHOR: We remind our listeners that you still have an opportunity to nominate a promising young radio amateur - but time runs out at the end
of this month. Young hams who live in the continental United States have
an opportunity to make news of their own in the world, if they aren't
already doing so, by being a recipient of this year's Amateur Radio
Newsline Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award. Think of an amateur radio operator 18 years of age or younger -- someone who has
talent, promise and a commitment to the spirit of ham radio. This is your chance to help honor and acknowledge that person who will, no doubt, go
on to teach and inspire others. Find the nomination form on our website arnewsline.org under the "AWARDS" tab. Nominations close on May 31st.
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BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the KJ3LR repeater
in Bradenton, Florida, on Fridays at 10 p.m.
**
SILENT KEY: CONTESTER, DXER, BERNHARD "BEN" BUETTNER, DL6RAI
NEIL/ANCHOR: An antenna accident has claimed the life of another ham - a well-known DXer and contester. We have those details from Jeremy Boot,
G4NJH.
JEREMY: A noted DXer, contester and CW enthusiast from Germany has become
a Silent Key. Bernhard Buettner, DL6RAI, who was known to everyone as Ben,
was killed following an accident while doing antenna work at his QTH in
Aruba. Writing about his friend's death, Martin DL5RMH, said that they
were working together to prepare to change one of the antenna masts when
the mast Ben was tending to buckled unexpectedly and Ben fell to the
ground. He could not be revived despite immediate first aid and the work
of an ambulance rescue crew.
Ben's own account of his ham radio life reflects a long and enduring love
for active radio operation around the world. He fell in love with CW as a shortwave listener in 1978 after decoding a message he copied from a local ham. He worked to gain proficiency in Morse and by March of 1980, the 16- year-old radio enthusiast passed his license test, qualifying at 12 words
per minute.
An avid traveler, he operated from at least 45 countries around the globe
and became a serious contester using CW, RTTY and the digital modes.
Between 2002 and 2005, he was the WAE DX contest manager for the DARC.
From 2007 to 2019 he was president of the prestigious Bavarian Contest
Club.
He purchased the QTH in Aruba in 2014 from another ham and was operating
from there intermittently as P4/DL6RAI or P44X. His widow, Luise, is also
an amateur, with the callsign DL2MLU.
This is Jeremy, Boot G4NJH.
NEIL/ANCHOR: Newsline takes this opportunity to remind listeners to please follow safety precautions always when doing antenna work, or any other
radio activity, that presents a potential hazard such as this.
(SOTA REFLECTOR, QRZ.COM)
**
MASSACHUSETTS HAMS STEP UP FOR 'RELAY FOR LIFE'
NEIL/ANCHOR: In one Massachusetts community, amateur radio is helping
shine a brighter spotlight on a public event for cancer-awareness. We have those details from Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
ANDY: While participants in the annual Relay for Life take thousands of
steps around a college athletics track during a two-day fundraiser for
cancer research, the Mohawk Amateur Radio Club will be taking steps too:
These Massachusetts amateurs will be on the air as the two-day event steps
off on Friday, June 9th, at 6 p.m. local time. They will be on the campus
of the Mount Wachusett Community College, reaching out globally over the airwaves to raise awareness of the lifesaving work of the American Cancer Society.
The hams will be on 20 and 40 meters during the day and will switch to 80 meters at night.
As in the past, many of those answering the call of station N1WW are
likely to have cancer survival stories of their own -- and some of the operators, such as Jack Burgoyne, W1PFZ, will be sharing theirs.
Jack, and club president Kevin Erickson, N1ERS, spoke to the Gardner News website recently about the event and the club's history of providing
support to it.
With a big turnout of spectators expected as individuals and teams in the relay make their rounds on the track, the ham club will also be raising
its own profile. Kevin said the club hopes people will take a moment to
visit the club trailer and check out the radios that are carrying that important message around the world.
This is Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
(AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, THE GARDNER NEWS)
**
QRP DAY COMES TO IARU REGION 3
NEIL/ANCHOR: The power of QRP isn't always measured in watts or even milliwatts. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, explains.
JIM M: It started as a long-ago suggestion from the New Zealand
Association of Radio Transmitters, which suggested to IARU Region 3 in
1997 that QRP operation be given its day in the sun - literally. Since
then, Region 3 societies have helped advance involvement in such QRP activities as QRP field days, QRP contests, instructions for QRP kit-
building and publication of articles about QRP operating. That's all
about to get even more intense on June 17th, which will once again be
QRP Day throughout IARU Region 3.
Writing to IARU member societies' directors and liaison officers, Yuki
JH1NBN, Region 3 secretary, encouraged promotion of QRP operation, particularly when it is highlighted on that day. He wrote in his letter
that QRP [quote] "offers advantages concerning, among others, the
reduction of QRM on the amateur bands." [endquote]
The day promises a powerful outcome.
This is Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(IARU REGION 3)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)
-
From
Daryl Stout@618:250/33 to
All on Thu Jun 1 20:29:07 2023
TRY NEWSLINE'S HAIKU CHALLENGE
JIM/ANCHOR: What's almost as good as perfect propagation? How about....a
ham radio haiku! We're inviting listeners to channel their most creative selves, and share the joy of ham radio in the form of a haiku. On our
website, arnewsline.org, you will find a submission form for sending your
most poetic offering. Be sure you follow the traditional form to qualify:
The first line is five syllables, the second line is seven syllables, and
the finishing third line has another five syllables.
Our team will pick from the best submissions that follow the 5/7/5
syllable rule, and represent the love of amateur radio. Your prize?
Fame and glory, of course -- and a featured spot for your haiku on the
Amateur Radio Newsline website. Visit our website at arnewsline.org to
see this week's winning haiku.
**
CALIFORNIA AMATEUR FACES $24,000 FINE
JIM/ANCHOR: A California amateur is facing a $24,000 fine from the FCC,
which has charged him with deliberate interference with a regularly
scheduled 80 meter net, held by the Western Amateur Radio Friendship Association. Philip J. Beaudet, N6PJB, is said to have repeatedly
interfered with the net, and failed to identify himself by his callsign.
They released a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture on May 30th, outlining the case against him. The agency said that last November and December, an agent from the San Francisco Field Office used direction
finding on 3.908 MHz, and on both occasions, was able to identify the
ham's Burney, California, home as the source of the interference cited
in repeated complaints to the agency.
The notice states that Beaudet has 30 days to respond, either with payment,
or a written statement seeking a reduction or cancellation of the proposed forfeiture.
(FCC, RADIO WORLD)
**
BELGIAN HAMS GAINING 8M BAND ACCESS
JIM/ANCHOR: Some new space on the spectrum awaits amateurs in Belgium,
and Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has that story.
JEREMY: Hams in Belgium will soon be enjoying the privileges enjoyed
by those in South Africa, Slovenia, and Ireland, by gaining access to
the 8-metre band. The UBA, the Royal Belgian Amateur Radio Union, has
proposed giving hams with a Class A operating certificate, a HAREC full licence, the ability to get on the air with as much as 5 watts ERP, and
a bandwidth limit of 3 kHz. Permission is to be granted to individuals following approval from the Belgian regulator BIPT.
The frequency range being authorised is between 40.660 and 40.690 MHz.
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)
**
HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN HAVE ARISS QSO WITH SPACE STATION
JIM/ANCHOR: Hospitalized children outside Washington, D.C., were given
a chance to talk with an ISS astronaut recently on amateur radio.
Patrick Clark, K8TAC, tells us how things went.
PATRICK: Having fulfilled the first part of his space mission a few
days earlier - to arrive on board the ISS - astronaut John Shoffner,
KO4MJC, got under way with one of his next goals: to share the joys
and opportunities of STEM studies as an educator. On May 26th, he
shared that view from space through a QSO with youngsters at the
Children's Inn in Bethesda, Maryland. It was a telebridge contact that
made use of a ground station in Belgium with the callsign ON4ISS. The youngsters at the Children's Inn learned about life in space, and got
a closer look too, at the way amateur radio can connect people. The
Children's Inn provides a free residential environment to children and
young adults who are patients at the National Institutes of Health as a
means of reducing stress on the young patients, and furthering the
institutes' clinical research. With the help of ARISS and amateur radio,
the youngsters also got a view of the great things that can happen beyond
the bounds of planet Earth.
This is Patrick Clark, K8TAC.
(ARISS, FACEBOOK)
**
NEW SITE CONSOLIDATES HAM CLUBS' NEWS
JIM/ANCHOR: We were saddened some time ago by the passing of Richard,
G4TUT, whose Southgate Amateur Radio News website served as a reliable
global bulletin board for many, including amateur radio podcast teams.
This badly missed resource is now being revived, and provided by Cale,
K4HCK, through his new "Amateur Radio Daily" website. Once the domain
name is transferred from Southgatearc, its URL will also route you there.
This is a new resource available for hams and clubs looking to get word
out about their activities. So, if you want other hams to see what your
club is up to, visit Amateur Radio Daily at daily.hamweekly.com or simply
send the story directly to Cale via email to K4HCK (at) hamweekly (dot)
com. Cale's new website will display the submitted stories, and provide
an RSS feed to receive daily updates automatically as they arrive, and
are posted.
(CALE, K4HCK)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)