Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2268 for Friday, April 16, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2268 with a release date of
Friday, April 16, 2021, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Volcanic eruptions stir hams on St. Vincent
to activate. The FCC sets deadlines for RF exposure assessments --
and receiving the QSL of a lifetime. All this and more, as Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2268 comes your way right now.

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ISLAND HAMS ON ALERT AMID VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Our top story this week comes from the Caribbean.
Just weeks after receiving an emergency supply of batteries to
assist with communications during a volcanic disaster, hams in St.
Vincent and the Grenadines are now facing that exact scenario. Randy
Sly, W4XJ, has that story.

RANDY: St. Vincent islanders knew the eruptions were coming. The La
Soufriere volcano had been dormant for 42 years on the Caribbean
island until Friday, April 9th. As the volcanic unrest began and the
pace of evacuations quickened, local hams maintained daily contact
with regional disaster agencies.

Carlos Alberto Santamaria, CO2JC, the IARU's Region 2 Emergency
Coordinator, told Newsline in an email that hams throughout the
region have been on the air around the clock, mainly using HF
frequencies on 80 and 40 meters. Hams are also in contact with the
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.

Winston Jeffery, J88AZ, is maintaining an Echolink gateway on 2
meters while another VHF repeater is being used for domestic
communications. As Newsline reported just a few weeks ago, hams
living in the Red Zone were given emergency batteries at the request
of Donald De Riggs, J88CD, director of the Rainbow Radio
League/Youlou Radio Movement amateur radio club.

Ash is also blanketing the nearby island of Barbados. According to a
report on CNBC, the West Indies Seismic Center said eruptions could
continue for weeks or months.

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

(CNBC, Carlos Alberto Santamaria CO2JC, The Daily DX)

**

FCC REQUIRES RF EXPOSURE EVALUATIONS STARTING MAY 3

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Starting May 3rd, hams and many other radio users in
the US are being required to evaluate human exposure to RF at their
stations. The April 2nd public notice from the FCC does not change
any RF exposure limits but sets a deadline for such evaluations at
stations that are new or have added or modified their existing
antennas or power. Amateurs will need to determine if their existing
stations retain the same exemptions they had under the old rules.
Hams who have already performed these evaluations needn't repeat
them, unless changes have been made to their stations.

The FCC has set a two-year period in which to conduct the exposure
assessment. A free downloadable booklet about RF exposure, and other
details about RF safety are available at the ARRL website.. Details
about the FCC's policy on human RF exposure are available at the
agency's website. See the printed version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org for links to both web pages.

FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ:

http://www.arrl.org/rf-exposure

https://www.fcc.gov/general/fcc-policy-human-exposure

(ARRL, FCC)

**

TENNESSEE REPEATER SYSTEM AIDS STRICKEN HIKER

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A linked repeater system in Tennessee provided a communications lifeline for a woman hiking in a national park. Kevin
Trotman, N5PRE, brings us that story.

KEVIN: A woman in distress while hiking with a group inside the
Great Smoky Mountain National Park was brought to safety late on
Sunday night, April 11th, with the help of communications over the
W4KEV repeater system in Tennessee. With no cellular service
available in the park, hiker Timothy Luttrell, KA9EBJ, used his HT
to hit the repeater in Gatlinburg which was linked to one in
Knoxville, which was being monitored by David Manuel, W5DJR. Timothy
told David that a woman in the hiking party had suffered exhaustion
and possibly dehydration and needed assistance. David notified
Emergency Medical Service as well as a medic who was part of the
park search team to help assess her condition via a series of
questions. Meanwhile, phone calls were placed to the hiker's family.
With questions relayed over the repeater, the medic determined the
woman was stable enough to accompany the other hikers as they
continued slowly down the trail, maintaining contact when possible. Arrangements were made for the hikers to meet with search and rescue
officers in a parking area - and ultimately for the woman's safe
pickup by her family.

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

(KEVIN DUPLANTIS W4KEV)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2269 for Friday April 23, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2269, with a release date of Friday,
April 23, 2021 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. History is made with a first flight on Mars.
Youth ham radio camp is postponed again in Region 1 -- and supersleuth
ham helps rescue a stranded hiker. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2269 comes your way right now.

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DRONE MAKES 1ST POWERED FLIGHT ON MARS

JIM/ANCHOR: We begin this week with the greatest moment not on
Earth....but on Mars. The American aviation pioneers, Wilbur and Orville Wright, would be proud that the spirit of their 1903 achievement lives on
173 million miles away - on Mars. Paul Braun, WD9GCO, brings us that
story.

PAUL: It only lasted a minute but it was the moment of many lifetimes. Ingenuity the drone aboard NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover, took to the
air on Monday April 19th, marking the first powered controlled flight of
an aircraft on another planet. With Mars' freezing temperatures, plus an atmospheric density that is 1 percent of Earth's and a gravity one-third
of Earth's, the challenge of achieving liftoff was different from what
the Wright brothers faced in 1903 with their pioneering flight here on
Earth. In fact, a tiny portion of the original Wright flyer was on board.

Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California were hailing
the pioneering flight as a "Wright Brothers Moment" on Mars. The little
drone achieved a height of about 3 metres during the 40-second flight.
Data was sent back to Earth via the Mars rover. There will be other
flights, expected to be farther and at greater heights. NASA announced
that this newest of all airfields on the red planet would be named Wright Brothers Field. Following the flight, the International Civil Aviation Organization, an agency of the UN, gave NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration an official designator of IGY, call-sign INGENUITY.

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

(NASA, BBC)

**

REGION 1 YOUTH AMATEUR RADIO CAMP POSTPONED

JIM/ANCHOR: Young amateurs in IARU Region 1 are going to have to wait
another year to attend ham radio camp. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, brings us up to date.

ED: Concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic have postponed the YOTA summer
camp planned for this summer by the Youth Working Group of IARU Region 1.

In making the announcement, Philipp, DK6SP, and Markus, DL8GM, the
group's chair and vice chair respectively, said that the organisers'
intention is to reschedule the camp for the summer of 2022. This is the
second pandemic-related postponement for the camp, which was being held
with support from the Croatian Amateur Radio Society. In place of in-
person events, Youngsters on the Air in Region 1 has been hosting a
number of online workshops.

Meanwhile, in IARU Region 2, planners have said they are still optimistic
that they will be able hold the first Youth on the Air camp for young
amateurs in North, Central, and South America this summer, and will be providing a COVID-regulations-compliant environment.

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

JIM/ANCHOR: As Newsline went to production, we also learned that the IARU Region 1 YOTA Subregional Camp in Hungary was also being postponed. The Hungarian Amateur Radio Society made the decision based on Region 1's
COVID-19 event cancellation policy.

(SOUTHGATE, YOTA REGION 1)

**

EXPERIMENTAL SENSOR SHOWS NOISE-REDUCTION POTENTIAL

JIM/ANCHOR: If you're constantly battling noise in the environment in
your attempts to get on the air, this next story from Kent Peterson,
KC0DGY, might just show some promise.

KENT: Researchers in the US who have been working with atom-based sensors
and receivers say their work holds potential for weeding out environmental noise and other radio interference. Scientists at the National Institute
of Standards and Technology see the sensor as a vital component because
of its ability to measure what they call the "angle of arrival" of a
wireless signal, a capability that they believe will have a positive
impact on transmissions for radar, 5G and other modes. According to an
article in phys.org, the system is able to take incoming signals, and
convert them to different frequencies. After measuring the separate electromagnetic waves' frequencies and their phase–that is, the position
of the waves relative to each other–the system can determine where the signal is coming from. The scientists say that's necessary in order to differentiate real communications from interfering signals. According to
the phys.org article, atom-based radio receivers and antennas have other
added benefits: They can be a great deal smaller than their traditional counterparts and, by making use of atoms to do the main work, have no
need for more conventional forms of electronics to do signal conversion.

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

(PHYS.ORG)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2273, for Friday May 21, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2273 with a release date of Friday,
May 21, 2021, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. China lands a rover on Mars. An amateur radio foundation helps a prominent academic resource—and battery technology
takes a big leap forward in Australia. All this and more, as Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2273 comes your way right now.

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CHINA'S ZHURONG ROVER EXPLORES MARS

DON/ANCHOR: For our top story this week, we look skyward: Hams and
others with an amateur interest in astronomy have been tracking the
journey of the rover that China sent to Mars. It landed there recently;
and Paul Braun, WD9GCO, picks up the story with this update.

PAUL: Although the China National Space Administration remained tight-
lipped about its Tianwen-1 mission which landed that nation's first
rover on Mars, amateur astronomers had been monitoring the spacecraft's signals intensely. They were listening for encouraging signs regarding
the deployed capsule that was carrying the rover Zhurong to the planet's surface. The Chinese rover's arrival on May 15th (which was Friday, May
14th in the US) follows the arrival of the Americans' Perseverance
rover in February. While Zhurong goes about its business on the surface
of Mars, the Chinese orbiter will be relaying signals between ground controllers in China and the rover. Zhurong is equipped with cameras, a magnetic field detector, ground-penetrating radar and a weather station.

Having landed on Mars, China's next venture into space will be sending
three astronauts to the nation's new space station.

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

(CNET, SPACE FLIGHT NOW, TECH TIMES)

**

ARDC GRANT HELPS PRESERVE USE OF MIT'S 'RADOME' ON CAMPUS

DON/ANCHOR: In the US, an unprecedented grant from a major foundation
that supports experimentation in amateur radio has helped save an
important tool on one prominent college campus. Sel Embee, KB3TZD, has
that report.

SEL: Amateur radio generosity has played a major role in saving an
important part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A beloved
part of the campus skyline (the radar dome, or "radome," as it is known)
has been spared, thanks to a student-led fundraising campaign and an unprecedented grant from the nonprofit foundation Amateur Radio Digital Communications. ARDC has provided $1.6-million—the largest gift in its history—to replace the aging fiberglass radome and renovate the 18- foot-wide, steerable parabolic dish it houses. The radome and dish were
to be removed permanently to enable new roofing to be installed on the
campus' tallest building, which has been its home since 1966.

The fiberglass radome and its dish, which were once used for weather
research, have been used most recently by the MIT Radio Society, W1MX,
for microwave experiments, moonbounce communication and other radio-
related activities. According to the MIT website, it most recently took
on a new role beyond contacts with deep space lunar CubeSats and low-
earth orbit satellites. During the pandemic, it also allowed students to conduct radio astronomy experiments remotely.

ARDC director Bob McGwier (pron: Mugwire), N4HY, issued a statement
saying: [quote] "We also hope this contribution helps get the message
out that ARDC is excited to support amateur radio and digital
communications projects of all sizes - including big ones, especially
when the results will be so long-lasting." [endquote]

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

(MIT, ARDC)

**

SILENT KEY: MILE SEKULOVSKI Z31JY, MACEDONIA'S OLDEST HAM

DON/ANCHOR: A noted radio amateur known throughout Macedonia for his
longevity on the air has become a Silent Key. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells
us about him.

JEREMY: The amateur radio community in Macedonia has lost its most
senior member: Mile Sekulovski, Z31JY, who became a Silent Key recently
at the age of 95. Mile was widely admired and respected for his
proficiency in CW, which he sharpened up during a World War II military telegraphy course.

According to his biography on the web page of the Radio Amateur Society
of Macedonia, he worked for the post office as a telegraph operator
after the war and later became employed as a telegrapher in civil
aviation.

He was also a dedicated homebrewer of electronic keys, transmitters, receivers, antennas and linear amplifiers.

According to his QRZ page, Mile—who was active on the air even into his later years - was the first ham in the former Yugoslavia to receive the individual call sign YU5JY in 1950.

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

(QRZ, RADIO AMATEUR SOCIETY OF MACEDONIA)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2274 for Friday May 28, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2274, with a release date of Friday,
May 28, 2021, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams mobilize in search for preteen boy. There
are six new inductees in the CQ Hall of Fame -- and Bletchley Park is reopening. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number
2274 comes your way right now.

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INDIANA HAMS MOBILIZE IN SEARCH FOR YOUNG BOY

JIM/ANCHOR: We begin this week's report with an account of amateur radio responsiveness in a human drama that turned to tragedy: a sweeping search
for a missing 12-year-old boy with autism which ended with the discovery
of his body in the Little Calumet River. Members of the Amateur Radio Association of Newton County, Indiana, were among the hundreds of
volunteers aiding the search for Kyrin Carter, the Missouri youth who was
last seen on May 15th leaving the Indiana hotel where his family had been staying. Club president Mike Swiader [pronounced: SWAYDER], KA9E, told Newsline that the hams provided VHF digital communications and GPS for
the northwest Indiana's K9 search and rescue teams, serving as their communications branch. Working inside the association's mobile
communications unit, the hams logged coordinates from the teams while
they were deployed, providing digital tracking to help create a search
map. Meanwhile, other searchers were deployed on foot, on horseback, by helicopter and by boat and were joined by the FBI and police from Indiana
and nearby Illinois. On Monday, May 24th, the body of the little boy was
found in the river, and dive teams pulled him out.

By then, Mike said, the hams' team had been demobilized because the
nature of the search had changed. They learned of the boy's death through their liaison to local law enforcement.

(MIKE SWIADER KA9E, NW INDIANA TIMES)

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HAMS INVITED TO JOIN IN HONORING WORLD WAR II HERO

JIM/ANCHOR: Hams are being invited to help honor the last surviving
recipient of the most prestigious military award given after World War
II. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, tells us how.

KEVIN: Not everyone has a United States Navy warship commissioned in
their honor but Hershel "Woody" Williams, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Medal of Honor recipient was present in Norfolk, Virginia for just such a ceremony last year.

This year, amateur radio operators are planning a unique gesture of their
own at a birthday reception for Woody. Woody, the nation's last surviving recipient of the Medal of Honor from World War II, turns 98 on October
2nd.

Donna Snow, W5SML, known for the American reality TV show "Texas Flip N
Move," has begun collecting QSL cards and birthday greetings to be
presented to him at the reception in Texas on October 13th.

Woody received the Medal for bravery during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He continues his service through the Woody Williams Foundation, which
assists Gold Star Families, people whose family members have lost their
lives in service to their country..

Amateur radio operators who want to help honor Woody can send a QSL card
with their wishes to the address at the bottom of Donna's page on
QRZ.com. Donna also writes: [quote] "Don't worry about sending too many,
I have BIG trailers!" [endquote]

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

Jim: Woody is from right here in West Virginia, I'm proud to say.

(REX KING W5EAK, QRZ)

**

SENDING A MESSAGE TO SAMUEL F.B. MORSE

JIM/ANCHOR: If you could contact Samuel F.B. Morse, what would you tell
him? Newsline's Randy Sly, W4XJ, posed that question to mark an important anniversary.

RANDY: On May 24, 1844, Samuel F.B. Morse sent the first telegraph
message from Washington, DC to Alfred Vail in Baltimore, Maryland. In
addition to helping invent the telegraph, Morse also developed the code
he sent.

Today, the preservation of Morse Code has been left primarily in the
hands of amateur radio operators. On this anniversary, Amateur Radio
Newsline asked a few hams what they would say to Samuel Morse if he were
alive today.

Howard Bernstein, WB2UZE, co-founder of the Long Island CW Club said:
"Thank you so much for having the forethought and vision to create one of
the most internationally beneficial modes of communication still in use
177 years later."

Steve Szabo, WB4OMM, of the North American QRP CW Club said: "No one
could have envisioned the future communications technology that you originated. I'm in awe that low power Morse Code using a simple
transceiver and a wire can span the globe."

Finally, Stew Rolfe, GW0ETF, President of the CW Operators Club said:
"Well Sam, I bet you never thought your simple code would be heard across
the airwaves well into the 21st century, kept alive and lovingly cared
for by a bunch of hobbyists in pretty much every country of the world!"

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Randy Sly, W4XJ. Thank you, Mr. Morse for giving us the original digital mode.
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2282, for Friday, July 23, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2282 with a release date of Friday,
July 23, 2021, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Ham radio at the ready in flooded parts of
Europe. Radio responds to Cuba's humanitarian crisis - and the FCC OKs an experimental station on 40 MHz. All this and more, as Amateur Radio
Newsline Report Number 2282 comes your way right now.

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HAMS AT THE READY AFTER WESTERN EUROPE FLOODING

PAUL/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to Europe where nations in the
western part of the continent have suffered disastrous flooding. As
Newsline went to production, amateur radio operators were on alert and awaiting word on possible deployment. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us more.

ED: As record rainfall and some of the worst flooding in decades
devastated an area in the west of Europe, amateur radio operators stood
by to help. As the death toll rose and the search continued for those missing,Germany took the worst hit. Belgium, Luxembourg and the
Netherlands suffered, with Belgium holding a national day of mourning on
July 21st. In part of Belgium where water submerged an antenna vital for crisis communication, hams stepped up to volunteer in three provinces.

Meanwhile as the European Civil Protection mechanism was activated, the
Dutch Amateur Radio Emergency Service, the Belgian Amateur Radio
Emergency Service and the emergency communications unit of the DARC,
awaited word as to whether additional communications help would be
needed.

Greg Mossop, G0DUB, emergency communications coordinator in IARU Region
1, told Newsline in a recent email that Germany's deployment of soldiers
to assist in relief efforts bolstered the Technisches Hilfswerk, the
nation's Civil Protection organisation which had thousands of volunteers working to remedy the physical damage.

Greg told Newsline that the situation continued to evolve as bursting
rivers damaged power and communications networks along with bridges. An
update on the IARU Region 1 website said [quote] "This emergency will
last for some time as infrastructure is repaired and the threat from
damaged dams and more rainfall is reduced." [endquote] Meanwhile, in
Germany's southeast, water flowing down from the Alps stirred mudslides
and overflowing rivers, causing yet another disaster area. Casualties
were reported to be less than those affected in the northwest.

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

(IARU REGION 1, GREG MOSSOP G0DUB, BBC)

**

INDIAN AMATEURS HELPING WITH DISASTER RESPONSE TRAINING

PAUL/ANCHOR: In India, amateurs are helping train additional volunteers
to respond to their region's disasters. John Williams, VK4JJW, brings us
up to date.

JOHN: A new educational partnership has been formed between civil defence officials in coastal West Bengal, India and amateurs in the West Bengal
Radio Club. Hoping to improve communications and emergency response
following intense cyclones and other disasters in remote regions,
officials have asked for training from the Indian Academy of
Communication, the ham club's educational wing. Going online with the
Google Meet platform, hams will train a total of more than 90 civil
defence volunteers. Posupoti Mondal, VU3ODQ, will lead the instruction
under the guidance of the academy's secretary Rinku Nag Biswas, VU2JFB.

Officials decided that ham radio training is essential for civil defence volunteers after previous efforts by the West Bengal Club proved
invaluable in earlier disasters.

West Bengal club secretary Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, said eventually
there will be more than 90 students.

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

(AMBARISH NAG BISWAS VU2JFA, MILLENNIUM POST)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2285, for Friday, August 13, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2285 with a release date of
Friday, August 13, 2021 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams step up to help in California's deadly
Dixie Fire. Amateur radio catches a ride on the Perseids meteor shower
-- and a World War II veteran gets IN the air. All this and more, as
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2285 comes your way right now.

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BREAKING NEWS: HAMS RESPOND AS ALGERIAN FIRE GROWS

JIM/ANCHOR: We begin this week with breaking news. As Newsline went to production on August 12th, hams from the Algerian National Society ARA
had begun assisting with emergency communications as deadly forest
fires swept through the northern region. The International Amateur
Radio Union Region 1 reported that at least 65 lives were claimed by
the blaze raging in the town of Ouacif (wa-SEEF) in the Province of
Tizi Ouzou (Tee Zee OO ZOO). Operating on 7.110 MHz, 3.650 MHz and
14.300 MHz, hams were establishing communications between the mobile
station in Ouacif and the crisis centre in Tamda. Watch Newsline's
Twitter feed and Facebook page for updates.

(GREG MOSSOP G0DUB, IARU, REGION1 )

**

CALIFORNIA AMATEURS STEP UP DURING DEADLY DIXIE FIRE

JIM/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, in the US, in Northern California, nearly one
month after its flames began, the Dixie Fire has become the second
largest wildfire in the state's history. One group of radio amateurs
stepped up to keep the lines of communication open for local
firefighters when communications failed. Randy Sly, W4XJ, has that
story.

RANDY: With the Dixie Fire knocking out communications, wiping one town
off the map, and forcing thousands in northern California to evacuate,
a group of amateur radio operators helped emergency responders continue
to get the word out. The Lake Almanor [PRONOUNCE: Al-muh-noor]
Emergency Radio Net was on the air trading realtime information with
one another and neighbors. Hams were monitoring 7.199 MHz and
conducting their emergency net on 147.420 simplex. They also jumped in
to help the Peninsula Fire Department troubleshoot their problems when
the main firehouse radio failed, along with repeater issues. Mark
Burnham, K6FEJ, one of the net's members, said that modified 2-meter
radios had to be installed in the fire chief's vehicle for backup and
at the firehouse crew's quarters. Mark said the Yaesu radio was
modified by Ron, NB6X, to operate on fire department frequencies and a
12-volt power supply and J-pole were added outside the building. The
hams also set up a scanner on the main fire frequency near the
firefighters' sleeping quarters so they would be able to hear calls.
Another member of the net, Dale, KM6BQY, remained in the mandatory
evacuation zone, because he is also involved in search and rescue work.

By the middle of the second week of August, the Dixie Fire was declared
the largest wildfire burning in the United States. It had already
destroyed nearly 500,000 acres and was only 21 percent contained.

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

(NPR, NBC, MARK BURNHAM K6FEJ)

**

CATCHING A RADIO RIDE ON THE PERSEIDS

JIM/ANCHOR: If you haven't tried meteor scatter, now's the time. The
Perseid Meteor shower is here. Paul Braun, WD9GCO, spoke to someone
who's having a whole lot of fun with them right now.

PAUL: One of the hottest topics in amateur radio today is the digital
mode developed by Dr. Joe Taylor K1JT, that is, FT8 and its relatives.
But the upcoming Perseid meteor shower should bring the mode's origins
into focus as Dr. Taylor originally developed it specifically to work moonbounce and something called meteor scatter. Mike White, K7ULS, from
Utah is an experienced moonbounce and meteor-scatter operator. I asked
him about this facet of the hobby. He said that the object is to bounce
the signal off of the ionized trail that a meteor leaves. I asked what
bands are used the most to work that and he told me:

WHITE:  Six meters is the easiest, and then two meters is the next
hardest one. But with the upcoming Perseids meteor scatter shower on
the 12th through the 13th you should have at least one hundred meteors
per hour.

PAUL: I asked White about the other VHF and UHF choices, but he
confirmed that while the others can work, the size of the antenna and
the power required goes up quite a bit. As far as six meters goes:

WHITE: Yeah, it's the best option. You can use as small as a three-
element Yagi.

PAUL: I then asked White about what kind of antenna setup he used. He explained:

WHITE: I use an elevation system on my antenna because I don't have big
towers here. I actually have everything mounted on the back of an RV
trailer. I just tilt it up into the meteor stream, and away we go.

PAUL: I can vouch for that. I had to work our interview in between
rounds of EME or moonbounce activity over several days.

White said that if conditions are right, you can often work a station
up to 900 miles away bouncing the signal off of the meteor trails.

So, this weekend, you may want to just crane your neck skyward and
watch the meteors as they pass by, or you may want to fire up the radio
and the computer and point your antenna skyward and try your luck with
meteor scatter.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2287, for Friday, August 27, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2287, with a release date of
Friday, August 27, 2021, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. A dispute over a medical device and suspected
RFI. NASA plans a radio telescope on the moon -- and in New York, a
special event station marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2287, comes
your way, right now.

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DISPUTE OVER SUSPECTED RFI AND INSULIN PUMP

PAUL/ANCHOR: Our top story this week involves suspected RF interference
that appears to be affecting a medical device. But does this point to
ham radio? Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, explores that question.

RALPH: A ham radio operator in Florida is off the air, following a
challenge by a neighbor in his retirement community, that his amateur
radio station is causing life-threatening interference to the wireless communications in her insulin pump.

According to a report by WFTV Channel 9 Orlando, an independent
consultant hired by the residential community known as On Top of the
World, near Ocala, Florida, believes that RF from the ham station
"could have produced" interference with the pump's delivery of measured
insulin doses.

WFTV reported that the woman, Michelle Smith, is a Type 1 diabetic,
who claims that David Birge, WB9UYK, had put her health at risk by
operating his station.

David is now off the air in compliance with the community board's order
to him. It remains unclear, however, whether the consultant's findings definitively proved that RFI was a factor. In 2019, the US Food and
Drug Administration issued an alert that some models of insulin pumps
with unencrypted wireless connectivity had cybersecurity flaws that
left them vulnerable to hacking that could modify the settings.

Eric Koester, KA0YWN, an electrical design engineer in Minnesota, who
is not involved in the Florida dispute, told Newsline in an email, that
he has been familiar with RF emissions testing and RF immunity testing
since 1995. He said that the more subtle kind of changes Michelle Smith reported seeing in her insulin pump are inconsistent with the larger
scale reactions he has seen documented in devices compromised by RF interference.

Meanwhile, the WFTV report noted that the Florida community's board of directors has already modified its regulations on antennas in a way
that would permit operations by licensed radio amateurs living there.

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

(WFTV, FDA, ERIC KOESTER KA0YWN)

**

NASA MAKING PLANS FOR A 'LUNAR ARECIBO' DISH

PAUL/ANCHOR: Radio astronomers' beloved Arecibo dish is no more - at
least not in Puerto Rico. But how about a replacement that's....not
of this earth? Kent Peterson, KC0GDY, explains.

KENT: How do you top Arecibo, the iconic radio telescope that collapsed
last December, leading to its dismantling?

You build one similar to it - and you do it on the far side of the moon.

The Lunar Crater Radio Telescope is just a concept for now, but in
theory, its massive dish would be capable of detecting those radio
waves that eluded even the best of the telescopes here on earth. Better
yet, that reception wouldn't be competing against the atmospheric
interference that challenge earth-based telescopes. The lunar telescope
would be able to more clearly detect radio waves above 10 metres, which
were inaccessible to the Arecibo dish.

Joseph Lazio, one of the NASA radio astronomers on the lunar radio
telescope project, was quoted on the Business Insider website as
saying [quote] "With a sufficiently large radio telescope off Earth,
we could track the processes that would have led to the formation of
the first stars, maybe even find clues to the nature of dark matter."
He made his remarks in a press release about the project, which is
still considered very preliminary. This past spring, NASA awarded
$500,000 for further research and development on the telescope, which
will be designed to rest inside a lunar crater on the far side of the
moon.

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

(BUSINESS INSIDER, EARTH SKY)

**

AMSAT SPACE SYMPOSIUM ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS

PAUL/ANCHOR: AMSAT's 39th space symposium and annual general meeting
is now accepting registrations for the event, which is taking place
Friday, October 29th through Sunday October 31st, in Bloomington,
Minnesota. Students are also invited to register. AMSAT is issuing
a call for papers by presenters. Last year's event was held virtually,
but this year's symposium is to take place at the Crowne Plaza hotel
at Minneapolis International Airport.

See the link to the registration website in the printed version of this newscast at arnewsline.org

https://launch.amsat.org/Events

To submit a paper, see details that are in this week's newscast script.

https://www.amsat.org/2021-amsat-symposium-proceedings-call-for-papers

(AMSAT)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2289, for Friday, September 10th, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2289 with a release date of
Friday, September 10th, 2021, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. A rocket explosion destroys two European
satellites. Hams help safeguard animals in a California wildfire --
and have you ever logged a contact with a hot-air balloon? All this
and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2289, comes your
way, right now.

***

BILLBOARD CART

**

RADIO OPERATORS SUPPORT WILDFIRE ANIMAL RESCUE

DON/ANCHOR: We begin this week with an update on the wildfires
plaguing the US West Coast. In California, the Caldor Fire hasn't
just left its impact on residents and business owners in the more
than 200,000 acres it has destroyed: The animals who live there are
suffering as well. Amateur radio operators are stepping in to help
these victims of this historic blaze too. Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB,
has the details.

RALPH: As flames of the Caldor Fire began sweeping perilously close
to their homes starting in mid-August, residents were quickly
evacuated to safety, often having to leave behind their pets and
livestock. That's where hams in the El Dorado County Amateur Radio
club and members of its Neighborhood Radio Watch program have
stepped in. They've been providing radio communications support to
those who have not forgotten the animals. According to Alan
Thompson, W6WN, the club's public information officer, radio
operators have been assisting the South County Large Animal Rescue
Group, El Dorado County Animal Services and the various emergency
response agencies around California. The organizations are
conducting welfare checks throughout the fire-damaged county,
looking after animals who are sheltering in place—or facilitating a
rescue when necessary. The hams themselves are getting support too:
They're being joined by volunteers in the club's Neighborhood Radio
Watch program, area residents using inexpensive General Mobile Radio
Service, or GMRS, radios.

Alan wrote to Newsline: [quote] "We desperately love our animal
companions." [endquote] The club reminds people in the affected
areas to contact El Dorado County Animal Services or the shelter if
they have animals they are concerned about. You'll find the phone
numbers in the printed script of this week's newscast at
arnewsline.org.

[PRINT ONLY, do not read: Western slope: 530-621-5795; the shelter: 530-621-7631; South Tahoe area: 530-573-7925]

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

(ALAN THOMPSON W6WN)

**

GENESIS SATELLITES DESTROYED IN EXPLOSION

DON/ANCHOR: Two European-built amateur radio satellites were
destroyed in an explosion during their rocket's first test flight.
Ed Durrant, DD5LP, has details.

ED: The pair of AMSAT-EA Genesis satellites that were aboard the
first test flight of Firefly Aerospace's Alpha launch vehicle were
destroyed when the rocket, fueled by kerosene, launched from the
Vandenberg Air Force Base north west of Los Angeles—and then
exploded. The blast blew apart the GENESIS-L and GENESIS-N
satellites that had been built in collaboration with the Universidad
Europea and ICAI. The satellites were outfitted for amateur
communications using Amplitude Shift Keying and CW. Earliest reports
on Twitter described what happened two and a half minutes after
lift-off, saying the vehicle [quote] "appeared to lose control and
tumble moments before the fiery explosion." [end quote]. According
to a report on SpaceNews, the lift-off occurred only after a first
launch attempt was made an hour earlier but was aborted in the final
seconds of the countdown. The two digital repeater satellites were
among several on board the rocket built by Texas-based Firefly
Aerospace. Firefly tweeted [quote] "Alpha experienced an anomaly
during first stage ascent that resulted in the loss of the vehicle."
[end quote] The company was previously known as Firefly Space
Systems before entering bankruptcy, which it emerged from in 2017
with new owners.

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

(TWITTER; SPACENEWS, AMSAT)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2290 for Friday, September 17th, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2290 with a release date of
Friday, September 17th, 2021 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Tokyo's ham fair is cancelled because of
COVID. A special event station marks a birthday for a Voice of
America station -- and 1,000 new parks join the POTA program. All
this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2290 comes
your way right now.

***

BILLBOARD CART

**

COVID SPURS CANCELLATION OF TOKYO HAM FAIR

NEIL/ANCHOR: Our top story this week is the cancellation of Tokyo
Ham Fair 2021, the world's largest ham radio event. Yoshinori
Takao, JG1KTC, chairman of the Japan Amateur Radio League,
announced that JARL had been committed to holding the ham fair as
planned on October 2nd and 3rd using extreme preventative measures
against COVID-19 but new waves of infection made it necessary to
call everything off. He expressed hope for better chances in 2022.
The 2020 ham fair was also called off due to the pandemic.
According to the JARL website, more than 42,000 people attended
the fair in 2019 over the course of two days.

(JARL)

**

IARU REGION 3 OPTS FOR VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

NEIL/ANCHOR: The IARU Region 3 is also responding to the pandemic
—by holding its first digital regional conference. Jason Daniels,
VK2LAW, brings us that story.

JASON: The IARU Region 3 Conference kicks off on September 20th
and for its hosting organisation, RAST, it was supposed to be
three days of business and fellowship in Bangkok, Thailand. It
will instead be held digitally: a first for Region 3, but a
necessary response to the extraordinary circumstances of the
COVID-19 pandemic. RAST's president, Jack Hantongkom, HS1FVL,
writes on the conference website: [quote] "We are excited about
the opportunities of holding an innovative virtual conference."
[endquote] As such, the member societies will still meet in
working groups to deal with technical, operational and policy
matters, typical of any such conference except that this, the 18th
regional conference, will take place on the Zoom platform. The
tentative list of participants on the conference website includes
attendees from ORARI, the Indonesian amateur radio society; the
Chinese Taipei Amateur Radio League; the Chinese Radio Amateurs
Club; the American Radio Relay League and the Malaysian Amateur
Radio Transmitters Society, among others. Jack writes further:
[quote] "This conference will bring us together at what is a very
difficult time for us all. " [endquote]

For full details of the conference go to the URL given in this
weeks script at arnewsline.org

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

[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ: https://www.iarur3conf2021.org/ ]

(IARU REGION 3)

**

AMSAT SYMPOSIUM MOVES FROM HOTEL INTO VIRTUAL MODE

NEIL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, in the US, AMSAT has also announced a
change in plans for its 2021 Space Symposium and Annual Meeting.
Originally scheduled to take place at the Crowne Plaza hotel in
Bloomington, Minnesota, it will instead be held on Zoom on
Saturday, October 30th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. The
program will be a mix of live Q&A sessions and pre-recorded video
segments. Registration is required through the AMSAT member
portal. AMSAT plans to make the event available for public viewing
later on its YouTube channel. AMSAT announced the changes, citing
concerns about safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(AMSAT)

**

SPACEX RECOVERY VESSELS NAMED FOR 'BOB AND DOUG'

NEIL/ANCHOR: Remember Bob and Doug? No, not the fictional McKenzie
brothers, but the NASA astronauts. SpaceX is remembering them and
Paul Braun, WD9GCO, tells us how.

PAUL: In August of 2020, Bob Behnken, KE5GGX, and Doug Hurley,
became the first astronauts launched aboard a crew Dragon
spacecraft in a historic commercial flight. This year, Bob and
Doug were to play key roles in the splash-down stage of another
history-making mission called Inspiration4. Well....at least their
namesakes were ready: Two vessels in SpaceX's recovery fleet
were named for the pair, in a nod to last year's mission which
helped signal a new era in spaceflight. The ships bearing their
names became part of the recovery fleet for Inspiration4, which
-- with a crew of four private citizens aboard -- marked the
world's first all-civilian space flight.

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

(NASA, SPACE.COM)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2291, for Friday, September 24th, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2291, with a release date of
Friday, September 24th, 2021, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hospitalized children talk to the ISS via ham
radio. Researchers call for new regulations for satellites -- and
youthful SOTA activators in Romania have a meeting with meteors. All
this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2291 comes your
way right now.

***

BILLBOARD CART

**

HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN CONTACT ISS VIA HAM RADIO

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We begin this week with a story that shows the power
that amateur radio can have in the lives of children, especially those
who have been hospitalized for serious illness. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE,
brings us that report.

KEVIN: It was a remarkable 10 minutes that students and patients at the Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., are not likely to
forget: a question-and-answer exchange on Tuesday, September 21st,
between an ISS astronaut and the young patients in the pediatric acute
care hospital in America's capital city.

According to Bob Koepke, AA6TB, the event's technical mentor, the ARISS contact was arranged with Seacrest Studios, the educational space
inside the hospital to continue patients' education while they are
receiving treatment there. The space and communications component is coordinated with the help of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, NASA
and the local Alexandria Amateur Radio Club. Bob said the hospital's
proposal for the ISS contact had been accepted in March of 2020 but
concerns for COVID safety changed the shape of the event. Instead of
using an on-site amateur radio station for the contact, it would rely
instead on a multi-point telebridge with Claudio Ariotti, IK1SLD, in
Italy, eliminating the need for a large gathering of people. The
patients stayed in their rooms, connecting to the action via an iPad
and the help of a hospital staffer.

JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, was ready and fielded 16
questions, using the callsign OR4ISS, during the 10-minute pass. More
than 1,300 students and patients from kindergarten to 12th grade
enjoyed the event, along with 500 parents and 400 professionals. A
recording of the contact is available on YouTube at the link that
appears in this week's Newsline script at arnewsline.org

Meanwhile, the application period begins on October 1st for proposals
for ARISS contacts in 2022.

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

FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKDjGxmcE-Y

(ARISS, BOB KOEPKE, AA6TB)

**

RESEARCHER BLAMES SATELLITES FOR NIGHT SKY 'POLLUTION'

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Look! Up in the sky! That is, if you can. Light
pollution is becoming an issue and researchers in Canada have what they
hope is a solution. With that story, here's Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

ANDY: A Canadian astronomer is urging that international regulations be established to set limits on permissible levels of satellite brightness. Samantha Lawler of the University of Regina (ruh-JYE-nuh) in Saskatchewan
said the ever-increasing population of communications satellites, such as
those launched by SpaceX's Starlink, generate the kind of light pollution
that hampers astronomers' research. The scientist was part of a team that included researchers from the University of British Columbia and the
University of Toronto who studied the optical brightness of thousands
of satellites, including those in so-called megaconstellations.

The team concluded that in the not-too-distant future one in every 15
points of light in the sky will actually be a satellite. The research
team also expressed concern about the crowding of satellites in orbit, increasing the possibility of more collisions.

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

(GLOBAL NEWS, SOUTHGATE, CJWW RADIO)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2298 for Friday, November 12th, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2298, with a release date of Friday, November 12th, 2021, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams in Japan homebrew their own virtual hamfest.
A popular digital amateur TV magazine halts publication -- and QSL cards
are racing their way to you from the Indianapolis Speedway.

All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2298, comes
your way right now.

***

BILLBOARD CART

**

BREAKING NEWS: DAYTON HAMVENTION IS A 'GO'

STEPHEN: We begin this week with breaking news.

Dayton Hamvention 2022 is not just going to be a premier hamfest but a reunion, as organizers prepare for the first gathering at the Xenia
Fairground and Expo Center in Ohio after two years of cancellations. Hamvention's general chairman Rick Allnut, WS8G, told Newsline in a phone interview that committees have been meeting and volunteers are committed
to making up for the time lost to pandemic cancellations.

Hamvention will be happening on Friday May 20th through Sunday May 22nd,
with an international reception scheduled on Thursday May 19th. Rick said
the registration site is already taking bookings from vendors and inside exhibitors and individual visitors can already buy their tickets. All
details are available on the hamvention.org website. RIck said: "Tickets
are all printed and ready to go."

**

HAMS IN JAPAN HOMEBREW THEIR OWN FEST

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Hams have always believed that if you really want
something, sometimes it's better to build it yourself. Nowhere is that
more evident lately than in Japan, where radio operators were
disappointed once again this year by cancellation of that nation's major
radio event. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, tells us more.

GRAHAM: Never mind that the Tokyo Ham Fair was cancelled again this year
by the Japan Amateur Radio League because of COVID-19 precautions. The
Virtual Ham Festa 2021 has taken its place thanks to the creativity of a
group of independent dedicated radio amateurs. Scheduled speakers
included Shiro Sakai, JH4PHW, explaining the best practices for using
eQSL, and Yuki Shimizu We, JO2ASQ, explaining amateur satellite communications. One of the biggest topics on the agenda was the
resurgence of CW.

A true homebrew project built on the Zoom platform, the November 13th
hamfest was designed with a Main Stage for seminars and live
presentations. Other features included booths and a space for eyeball
QSOs. The organising committee was headed by Taka, 7K1BIB, who said that
like all major ham radio events, an on-the-air component was also a big
part of the plan: As a social experiment an international FT8 QSO Party
was to take place on 40 metres in parallel to the virtual event.

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

(TAKA 7K1BIB, SOUTHGATE)

**

THE NATURE OF EXCITEMENT FOR SLOVENIA'S WWFF

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The World Wide Flora & Fauna program has welcomed S5FF
- Slovenia - and hams there are eager to share the excitement. Ed
Durrant, DD5LP, brings us up to date.

ED: Radio operators in Slovenia held a quiet but well-earned celebration during the first full weekend in November as they marked their nation's arrival as a registered region in the Worldwide Flora & Fauna programme.
It was the culmination of two months of intense effort by a team of hams including Mike Gregoric, S55GX, who said the team members are all
experienced SOTA, IOTA and World Castles Award activators. Mike, who has
been a ham since 1995, told Newsline that he realized this past summer
that Slovenia needed to organize and become part of the awards programme,
which would require adding a national log manager and coordinators. WWFF
vice chairman Manfred Meier, DF6EX, and member administrator Luk
Waterschoot, ON4BB, encouraged the Slovenian team's efforts. Mike, who
serves as coordinator, told Newsline that the team pulled all the
essential ingredients together, a web page, an S5 logo and the definition
of all the new activation areas. Mike said that there are now 191 such
sites - and the numbers are growing.

Some other possibilities are growing too: Mike hopes Slovenia's
participation will encourage more portable operations and even boost
amateur radio tourism from abroad. He told Newsline: [quote] "Everyone
can make nature their shack." [endquote]

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

(MIKE GREGORIC, S55G; MANFRED MEIER, DF6EX, WWFF WEB PAGE)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2301 for Friday December 3rd, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2301 with a release date of Friday, December 3rd, 2021, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Ham radio marks 100 years of signals crossing the ocean. A well-known author and podcaster becomes a Silent Key -- and we announce the winner of the 2021 Amateur Radio Newsline International
Newsmaker of the Year award. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2301, comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**

AMATEUR RADIO'S 100 YEARS OF TRANSATLANTIC SIGNALS

NEIL/ANCHOR: We begin this week by marking a turning point in amateur
radio history: the first transatlantic communications on the amateur
portion of the spectrum 100 years ago this month. A video from the Antique Wireless Museum in New York celebrates the one-century-mark of what the
museum is calling "The Triumph of the Amateurs," which began with the
first test on Dec. 11 1921. Jack Parker, W8ISH, picks up the story from
here.

JACK: A dramatic video released recently by the Antique Wireless Museum
tells how hams conceived of a historic test in 1921 that showed the world
that the shortwave spectrum below 200 meters was anything but useless when
it came to sending messages across the ocean. This was the now-famous Transatlantic Test Project. In a one-hour video, Ed Gable, K2MP, and Mark Erdle, AE2EA, tell how the amateur spirit of experimentation put ham
station 1BCG on the air with a tube-based transmitter on 1.3 MHz. The CW transmission from Connecticut by the Radio Club of America was
successfully copied in Scotland.

As hams prepare to re-enact that day on its anniversary using a replica of
the original transmitter, hams everywhere can learn all about the moments
that made history on 160 meters. Find a link to the YouTube video in the
text version of this week's newscast on our website arnewsline.org

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

(FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ:
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt_M5VVsR1Q )

(YOUTUBE, ANTIQUE WIRELESS MUSEUM)

**

RADIO CAROLINE SEEKS REPORTS ON NEW TRANSMITTER

NEIL/ANCHOR: Who doesn't love the thought of a better, more powerful transmitter? You don't even have to be a ham: In the UK, an upgrade has
been made at Radio Caroline, a once-notorious pirate radio station,
leaving the station feeling loud and proud. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, picks up
the story from here.

JEREMY: If you can hear the new, high-power signal of Radio Caroline on
648 KHz AM, you can thank its new 25 kW transmitter, a Harris DX25U which
is a nice step up from the station's older 10 kW Nautel model.

The station manager, Peter Moore, writes on the Southgate Amateur Radio
News website that the station is keen to know how much further its signals
are reaching these days. He asks for reception reports to be sent to help
the crew achieve even more improvements. You can find a link to the
reception report at radiocaroline.co.uk

Peter said: [quote] "Now the new transmitter is in service covering a much larger area than before, we hope to reconnect with more of our listeners
from the past." [endquote]

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

(RADIO CAROLINE, SOUTHGATE)

**

CYCLING HAMS HELP RAISE FUNDS TO BEAT CANCER

NEIL/ANCHOR: All hams know that public service is a big part of what we do
— but it isn't always done holding a radio, as we hear from Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

GRAHAM: When the Great Cycle Challenge rolled out in October to raise
funds to find cures for childhood cancers, the Bendigo Amateur Radio and Electronics Club was ready for this monthlong bicycle-based event. This
time, however, members weren't stationed along any particular route, as
hams often are during one-day events; they were on the road themselves throughout the month, pedaling more than 600 kilometres toward their
financial destination. The club reports that the BAREC Pedal Radio Group's efforts helped raise nearly AU $1,400.00 for the cause, adding their total
to the national fundraising total of more than $6.9 million.

Of course, that's not to say there wasn't some kind of radio involved.
BAREC pedal group member Graeme Knight, VK3GRK, said afterward in a press release: [quote] "Some of our radio club members enjoy bike riding, and
some of us even use radios to keep in touch with others while out riding." [endquote]

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

(BAREC)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2303, for Friday, December 17th, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2303, with a release date of
Friday, December 17th, 2021 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams on alert during deadly US tornadoes.
Radio re-enacts historic transmissions - and everyone's on the air
this holiday season: even Santa. All this and more as Amateur Radio
Newsline Report Number 2303, comes your way right now.

***

BILLBOARD CART

**

CENTRAL US TORNADOES BRING HAMS INTO ACTION

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We begin this week with deadly tornadoes that
devastated homes and lives recently in Kentucky and nearby states.
Randy Sly, W4XJ, shares those developments.

RANDY: SKYWARN nets were activated across much of the central
United States from Friday evening into early Saturday, December 10th
and 11th, as a tornado outbreak of unprecedented proportion tore
through Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri,
Ohio, and Tennessee.

Christine Weilgos (Well-gus), Warning Coordination Meteorologist for
the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky, which covers one
of the hardest hit areas, reported that their SKYWARN desk was manned
by two local amateurs, Garry Wheatley, KD4GCY, and Jeff Estes, KM4LDP.
The SKYWARN linked repeater system across Arkansas was also active
throughout the night.

At least 50 tornado reports were received by the NWS during the
evening. Of the four strongest tornadoes reported in western Kentucky,
the largest was tracked for over 200 miles on the ground. At least 88
people are known to have perished across five states. The highest
impact was in Kentucky, where the death toll stands at 74, with an age
span from 2 months to 98 years of age. There are reports that
approximately 100 people are still unaccounted for. Early estimates of
damages and economic losses have ranged into the billions of dollars.

ARES and other amateur emergency resources across the area are still
ready to go, should additional communications support be needed.

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

**

AMATEURS MARK 2 MARCONI ANNIVERSARIES

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Radio operators on both sides of the Atlantic marked
two big moments in radio history as Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us.

JEREMY: The two Marconi anniversary activations had everything but
Guglielmo Marconi himself. Members of the Marconi Radio Club of
Newfoundland and the Poldhu Amateur Radio Club in Cornwall, England
paid tribute to Marconi's first experimental radio transmission across
the Atlantic. The Newfoundland amateurs contacted the Poldhu radio
operators marking December 12th, 1901, the day Marconi first heard a transatlantic transmission, Morse Code for the letter "s," sent from
Cornwall to Cabot Tower in Canada.

There was even more excitement, however, the previous day in Ardrossan, Scotland. Amateurs there received a duplicate of a message sent 100
years earlier from the US on amateur radio frequencies in the shortwave spectrum.

Shortly after the re-enactment of the December 11th, 1921 transmission
got under way in Connecticut, however, the replica of the 1BCG
transmitter failed and went off the air. The replica, built for the
75th anniversary of the transatlantic tests, had been restored earlier
this year by the Antique Wireless Association in Bloomfield, New York.

The association's Mark Erdle, AE2EA, told Newsline in an email that
that the transmitter suffered a plate choke failure. He said the
association hopes to get it back on the air by February of 2022.

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

(QRZ.COM, MARK ERDLE AE2EA)

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In case you missed this test re-enactment, up until
December 26th you can still work UK stations using a "/2ZE" (Slash
Two - ZED -E) suffix on their normal call signs. Until the end of
December, the special event stations GB2ZE (G B 2 ZED E) and GS2ZE
(G S 2 ZED E) will be on-air to celebrate Paul Godley's achievements
back in 1921.

(RSGB)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2304, for Friday, December 24th, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2304 with a release date of Friday, December 24th, 2021, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. A first-time activation of a South Pacific Island.
A solar probe 'touches' the sun -- and Newsline's annual Christmas card to
our listeners. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number
2304 comes your way right now.

***

BILLBOARD CART

**

NEW IOTA ACTIVATED BY TEAM FROM INDIA

DON/ANCHOR: We begin this week's report with a group of adventurous DXpeditioners. They have succeeded in activating a new Island on the Air in the South Pacific, in a quest worthy of the 19th century science fiction masterwork, "Mysterious Island" by Jules Verne. Here's Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

GRAHAM: It is not science fiction, but radio fact, that the Manic Monkeys
team of radio operators made a 600 kilometre journey this month from Bangalore, India to Sao Jorge Island, designated AS-177 by IOTA, activating the remote island for the first time. They had gone in search of the
fictional Lincoln Island that appears in Jules Verne's classic novels but
the adventuresome hams with the callsign AT7SJ were also in search of QSOs. Between December 3rd and December 6th, they logged 1,600 such contacts on
SSB, CW and FT-8, while camped in difficult terrain, according to team
leader Madhu Prasad, VU3NPI. Madhu told Newsline of other discoveries:
[quote] "The island had mysterious propagation conditions: the signals
would go up and down like the tide and mysteriously close abruptly on all bands with S9 noise." [endquote]

Madhu said that the team had been landlocked in India for two years by the pandemic and were still grieving the loss of the team's Elmer, Dev, VU2DEV,
to cardiac arrest. Now they can proudly add this uninhabited, thickly forested, island to their earlier activations of St. Mary's Island AS-096
and Danushkodi Island AS-173.

Madhu told Newsline that the team unfortunately did not find mysterious Lincoln Island, nor did they locate the Aquaphone, the fictional wireless device used by Jules Verne's protagonist, Capt. Nemo. They're leaving that quest - and Lincoln Island - for 2022.

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

(MADHU PRASAD, VU3NPI)

**

NASA SOLAR PROBE 'TOUCHES' THE SUN

DON/ANCHOR: With Solar Cycle 25 upon us, who isn't even a little bit
obsessed with the sun? So this news from NASA is well-timed, as we hear
from Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

NEIL: NASA has announced a milestone moment in the life of the Parker Solar Probe: this year it reached the corona of the sun, a move into the solar atmosphere that is expected to yield more - and more detailed - insights
into space weather. The US space agency is commenting only now on the achievement, which happened last spring, three years after the probe's
launch, following the publication of a recent paper in the Physical Review Letter, which discussed the latest chapter of the Parker probe's journey.
NASA said the probe's entry into the super-hot corona meant it was [quote] "flying into the eye of a storm." [endquote] Once there, it studied solar
wind and examined magnetic patterns known as "switchbacks" which have their origins on the surface of the sun itself.

The paper's lead author, Justin Kasper, was quoted by National Public
Radio, as saying that entry into the corona lasted for several hours and
was an expected and much-anticipated occurrence. The probe, which is built
to tolerate more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, is expected to re-enter the corona in January of 2022.

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

(NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, SPACE.COM)

**

OPEN SOURCE WORKSHOP AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE

DON/ANCHOR: YouTube once again provides an opportunity for those who missed
an amateur radio event. This one's on Open Source CubeSats. Here's Ed
Durrant, DD5LP.

ED: If you missed a chance to attend the Open Source CubeSat Workshop held virtually on December 9th and 10th, you can still view the two days of presentations by visiting the Libre Space Foundation Channel on YouTube.
This virtual workshop held on Zoom was its fifth iteration since its launch four years ago in Germany.

The opening remarks by Artur Scholz, DO4ALS, of the Open Source CubeSat Workshop Committee, stressed the importance of open-source CubeSats as a
means of conducting small space missions. Developers and mission operators attended the online sessions to collaborate, compare notes and build community. As with previous sessions, attendees participated as members of research institutes, businesses, learning institutes or as individuals.

See the link to the two days of presentations in the text version of this week's script at arnewsline.org

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

[FOR PRINT: DO NOT READ, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCzrYL9QmZiR7vmiQBZYV9E2WGyDmiC3m]

(AMSAT, YOUTUBE)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2308, for Friday, January 21st, 2022

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2308, with a release date of
Friday, January 21st, 2022, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Disaster and a communications blackout in
Tonga. Preserving DX access on remote central Pacific Islands --
and an online museum with some very old and very rare QSL cards.
All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2308
comes your way right now.

**

DISASTER CUTS TONGA'S COMMUNICATIONS WITH REST OF WORLD

PAUL/ANCHOR: We begin this week with a developing story. As
Newsline went to production, relief and communication efforts were
coming slowly to the island nation of Tonga, which was left cut off
from the rest of the world after two consecutive natural disasters.
Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, fills us in.

JIM MEACHEN: The eruption of an underwater volcano triggered a
deadly tsunami that devastated the nation of Tonga, throwing the
Pacific island chain into a communications blackout. While military
relief efforts struggled to bring clean water and basic supplies
from Australia and New Zealand to residents, Tonga's apparent lack
of active amateur radio operators spelled silence on those
frequencies. As Newsline went to production amateurs in New Zealand
who are also active first responders awaited word on what help was
needed - by radio or other means. Don Wallace, ZL2TLL, a director
of IARU Region 3, told Newsline in an email he and Andrew Bate,
ZL1SU, manager of the New Zealand Red Cross IT & Telecom Emergency
Response Unit, were among those awaiting word on whether they would
be deployed. Don said the Red Cross itself was already providing
aid. In a public posting on Facebook, Mark Hanrahan, VK4DMH,
president of the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society VK4WIG, said the
only communications available from Tonga appeared to be via a few
satellite phones, which were proving unreliable.

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

(BBC, DON WALLACE ZL2TLL; ANDREW BATE, ZL1SU, FACEBOOK)

**

RESEARCHERS BUILD WORLD'S SMALLEST ANTENNA USING DNA

PAUL/ANCHOR: While we hams work with conductive metal wire when we
set out to build the best antenna for our purposes, a group of
researchers in Canada used something else: DNA. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH,
has that story.

JEREMY: Researchers in chemistry at the University of Montreal have
created what they call the world's tiniest antenna, one they have
engineered using DNA to let them study structural changes that
occur within proteins.

This nanoantenna uses light instead of the radio frequencies we
hams are so accustomed to. Researcher Scott Harroun said in a
report [quote]: "The DNA-based nanoantennas can be synthesised with
different lengths and flexibilities to optimize their function."
[endquote]

He added later: [quote]"By carefully tuning the nanoantenna design,
we have created a five nanometre-long antenna that produces a
distinct signal when the protein is performing its biological
function." [endquote]

The researchers reported their findings recently in the journal
Nature Methods. They compared the fluorescent nanoantenna's
performance to that of a repeater: It receives light in one
wavelength and transmits back at another, depending on what
behaviour it detects in the protein.

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

(TECHEXPLORIST.COM)

**

ISRAELI STUDENTS' SATELLITES ENTER ORBIT

PAUL/ANCHOR: Students in Israel recently experienced the thrill of
seeing amateur radio satellites of their own design....sent into
space! Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, has more on that story.

JASON: Eight satellites designed and built by students throughout
Israel were sent into space on January 13th aboard SpaceX's FALCON
launcher. The eight satellites, Tevel 1 through 8, have amateur
radio FM transponders and beacon transmitters, all operating on the
same frequency. They entered their planned orbits about 90 minutes
after departing the launcher. The beacon transmissions can be heard
on 436.400 MHz. The FM transponders are using an uplink frequency
of 145.970 MHz and a downlink frequency of 436.400 MHz. The mission
also carried AMSAT-EA's HADES and EASAT-2 satellites. HADES is
using the callsign AM6SAT and EASAT-2 is using the callsign AM5SAT.

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

(OBSERVATORIAL.COM, AMSAT)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2309, for Friday, January 28th, 2022

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2309 with a release date of Friday, January 28th, 2022 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. There's progress in restoring some of Tonga's communications. Researchers create a new transistor that uses sound
waves - and hams in the UK prepare for the Queen's platinum jubilee. All
this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2309, comes your
way right now.

**

PROGRESS IN RESTORING TONGA'S COMMUNICATIONS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Our top story this week takes us to the struggling
island nation of Tonga, which is still cut off from the world following back-to-back natural disasters. Hams continue to keep a watchful eye.
Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, picks up the story from here.

JIM: Efforts have been ongoing to restore communications to Tonga, where
an undersea volcano left a vital fibre-optic cable broken beneath the
ocean, isolating the island nation. According to a BBC report, 2G
wireless service has been set up on the archipelago's main island with
the help of a satellite dish from the University of the South Pacific.
Other than the intermittent service of satellite phones, however,
outside contact has been limited as the country struggles with a
contaminated water supply and other concerns brought on by a subsequent tsunami.

Tonga apparently has no active amateur radio operators and hams in the immediate Pacific region have reported that the amateur HF bands are
presently unusable. Some marine VHF bands are said to be active. Hayden Honeywood, VK7HH, is among those amateurs using YouTube and other social
media channels to provide updates whenever possible. One of Hayden's
most recent accounts came from Roly, ZL1BQD, whose friend in Tonga
operates a 1-kilowatt broadcast radio station at 91.3 FM. The station
was unaffected by the tsunami and is carrying public service messages.

0Meanwhile, New Zealand's ministry of foreign affairs estimate it will
take at least a month, if not more, before the cable can be fixed.

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

(HAYDEN HONEYWOOD VK7HH, BBC)

**

FAA SETTLES INTERFERENCE ISSUE WITH MAJORITY OF AIRCRAFT

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The US FAA has made major progress on the issue of interference between 5G transmissions and airline altimeters. Kent
Peterson, KC0DGY, brings us this update.

KENT: For some models of Boeing, Airbus and Embraer aircraft, radio interference isn't just an annoyance; it has the potential for deadly consequences. That was at the root of the US Federal Aviation
Administration's concern about 5G cell phone signals, which use the same C-band spectrum as some of the airliners' altimeters.

The FAA said planes landing in low-visibility conditions risked
interference from mobile phones, naming Verizon and AT&T as two of the carriers. Now, in a dramatic turnaround of its position, the FAA has
said that more than three-quarters of planes have altimeters that can
filter out 5G transmissions and are in the clear. Some telecom and
consumer advocates, such as attorney Harold Feld, publicly criticized
the FAA for taking too long to evaluate altimeters after the FCC
approved the cellular carriers' use of the C-band in 2020.

According to an article on the ArsTechnica website, the FAA only began
vetting the altimeters in February 2021 once the FCC had auctioned off
the spectrum to the carriers. The ArsTechnica article said that in 40
other countries where C-band spectrum is in use for cellular service,
there have been no reports of 5G causing trouble with altimeters.

In the US the FCC standards place a 200 MHz guard band between the
cellular carriers and the frequencies used by the altimeters.

More approvals are expected soon.

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

(ARS TECHNICA)

**

PORTUGAL CRACKS DOWN ON RADIO INTERFERENCE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, the Portuguese communications regulator
cracked down late last year on what it called abuse and interference on
a number of frequencies, including maritime mobile and amateur bands.
IARU Region 1 reported that ANACOM, the Portuguese Communications
Authority, in partnership with the Maritime Police, sought to verify the proper and legal use of radios by conducting inspections on vessels
between the ports of Caminha and Peniche. According to the report, unauthorized use of frequencies was the most common violation. The
report indicated that such practices, in addition to being illegal, can
cause interference, especially to radios being used for emergency
response. ANACOM noted in the report that it was leaving the matter of sanctions to the Maritime Police.

(SOUTHGATE, IARU REGION 1)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2310, for Friday, February 4th, 2022

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2310 with a release date of Friday, February 4th, 2022, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Radio adventure in the sea north of Russia. Japan reaches out to young amateurs -- and hams honor one of America's best-
known presidents. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report
Number 2310, comes your way right now.

**

PLANS ARE ON ICE (AND SNOW) FOR RUSSIAN ISLAND ACTIVATION

DON/ANCHOR: We begin this week with a tale of adventure. While many of
us in the Northern Hemisphere may be bitterly complaining about winter's
bite, here are some amateurs who are actively seeking out the most wintry
of winters -- north of Russia. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has the details.

JEREMY: It is little more than a month before a team of six adventurers
from the Russian Robinson Club departs for Rykachev Island in the Kara
Sea. The island, which is number AS-104 in the Islands on the Air awards scheme, bears the name of the late Russian meteorologist who was devoted
to the study of Russia's northern seas. The team departs on March 3rd,
and will travel to their activation site by snowmobile, setting up camp,
and using the call sign R150WS. The call sign is a nod to the 150 years
that have elapsed since Rykachev Mikhail Alexandrovich and other
scientists founded the Russian weather service. According to a Twitter
posting by Andy, EU7A, the team may also try to operate enroute from
Isachenko Island, IOTA number AS-050. If they are successful, they will
be active there as RI0BI. This adventure is the sixth in the club's
series of "Legends of the Arctic" DXpeditions. According to the club's
website, they are also planning a video documentary similar to those
created on previous Dxpeditions.

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

(RUSSIAN ROBINSON CLUB, OHIO PENN DX)

**

CARIBBEAN ISLAND HAMS MARK 27 YEARS SINCE CLUB'S FOUNDING

DON/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, in the much warmer Caribbean, amateurs are
marking nearly three decades of success for their club in Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines. John Williams, VK4JJW, has that report.

JOHN: The view of Mount St. Andrews could not have been more perfect
for members of the Youlou Radio Movement in Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines. On January 22nd, members of the ham radio organisation
and their families gathered within view of that important summit to
mark 27 years since the group was founded atop that peak -- 2,000 feet
above sea level -- by five amateurs. Known originally as the Rainbow
Radio League, its purpose remains the same today: providing a team of volunteers available for disaster communications by radio. Sean
Patterson, J88CU, one of the original five, spoke at the recent
celebration, sharing the story of the hams' first portable operation
as a formal group in 1995. The anniversary celebration, included the
induction of two honoured guests - Ira Harris, VP2EIH, from Anguilla,
and Donald Howe, 9Z4FV, from Trinidad - as Youlou members. The next day,
the celebration continued as some of the hams visited Mary Barnard,
J88AM, and Martin Barnard, J88AA, to thank the two longtime hams for
their years of personal assistance to Youlou. Moving forward, the
group's next step is to consider a name change to the Youlou Amateur
Radio Association, and make plans for several SOTA and POTA activations
this year.

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

(SOUTHGATE, YOULOU RADIO MOVEMENT, SEARCHLIGHT NEWSPAPER)

**

STRAIGHT KEY MONTH MARKS 16TH YEAR OF SPECIAL EVENT

DON/ANCHOR: CW enthusiasts: Were you busy with your straight key for
the first few weeks of the year? You're likely in the log for a very
successful event by the Straight Key Century Club. Randy Sly, W4XJ,
is here to tell us more.

RANDY: "The Party's Over," says the welcoming message on the Straight
Key Century Club website. That means that January's Straight Key Month,
the club's 16th annual event, ended in a flurry of final contacts fast approaching a total of almost 50,000, according to their website. In
addition to congratulating all club members who signed up to be operators
for this special event, the club also thanked Justin, KF0GZB, for
submitting the design that is being featured in this year's Straight
Key Month QSL card. The event also marked the 16th anniversary of the
Straight Key Century Club, which encouraged all operators to celebrate
the original tools of the early days of radiotelegraphy by using straight
keys, bugs or cootie keys during their shifts on the air. Official
stations operated in all 13 US regional call areas. Separate stations
were on the air from six IARU continental regions along with those in
Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ, operating this year as
K3Y/0.

(SKCC)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2311, for Friday, February 11th, 2022

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2311, with a release date of Friday, February 11th, 2022, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. A peak moment for a SOTA activator in Argentina. A preeminent microphone company changes hands -- and an APRS pioneer becomes
a Silent Key. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number
2311, comes your way right now.

**

ONE HAM'S HF RADIO 'FIRST' ON HIGHEST PEAK IN THE AMERICAS

JIM/ANCHOR: We begin this week's report with the story of a ham who has
just achieved a peak experience atop another peak - this one in South
America. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us about him.

ED: An Argentine amateur radio operator has accomplished the first HF activation of the highest peak in the Summits On the Air programme,
fulfilling a long-standing goal. On January 10th, Diego Lizarraga, LU9MZO, operated from Aconcagua (Pron:a.kon.ta.gwa), which at nearly 7,000 metres
high and is also the highest peak in the Americas. This is the first time
any amateur radio operator has made contacts from Aconcagua using one of
the HF bands (the previous and first activation in 2019 was executed using
2 metres FM). According to reports, he spent an hour and a half on the air using 40 metres and found time as well to work some stations on VHF and
UHF. His total for the day was 64 contacts, with 15 of them on HF. He was heard as far away as Buenos Aires, San Luis (Pron:San Luise), Mendoza provinces in Argentina as well as into Chile. His dream of operating from there on HF had been a few years in the planning and the timing worked out well for him. As he descended from the peak to a base camp some 4300
metres below, snow had already begun to fall. On January 12th, he returned
to the entry of Aconcagua Park where he was cheered on by friends and relatives.

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

(SOTA, THE YL BEAM)

**

PROMINENT US MIC COMPANY HEIL SOUND IS SOLD

JIM/ANCHOR: In the United States, Heil Sound, which has been run by Bob
Heil, K9EID, and his wife, Sarah, for decades, has been sold. The Heils announced the purchase of the well-known professional microphone company
by Ash Levitt and Steve Warford. Ash, the company's president and CEO, and Steve, director of operations, are veterans of the business, having worked with Bob since they were teenagers. Bob will remain with the company as founder and CEO emeritus, continuing to do product design for the amateur radio market. Heil Sound has been in business since 1966.

(HEIL SOUND)

**

INDIA'S NEWEST HAMS PREP FOR DISASTER

JIM/ANCHOR: In India, a group of newly licensed hams is about to prep for
the worst with a mock disaster drill. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, has those
details.

GRAHAM: Civil defense volunteer Dipak Giri is awaiting his new call sign
and a new assignment. He was recently among the more than two dozen
volunteers who successfully completed the three-month amateur radio
training course online with the Indian Academy of Communication and
Disaster Management in West Bengal. Rinku Nag Biswas, VU2JFB. secretary of
the academy, is proud of all the graduates, who like Dipak, now face their next challenge: a mock disaster drill that will be held in March by the
local government to test their capabilities in handling real-life crises.
In a real disaster, such as a tornado, earthquake or cyclone, they would
be the first responders in an area near the Sundarbon Forest which has no internet or mobile phone service. According to Ambarish Nag Biswas,
VU2JFA, many of the academy's students received their field training
during January's Ganga Sagar Mela, a religious pilgrimage that draws
thousands to West Bengal from across India. Ambarish Nag Biswas is
secretary of the West Bengal Radio Club whose hams have traditionally
provided emergency communication during this massive gathering.

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

(WEST BENGAL RADIO CLUB)
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2387, for Friday, July 28th, 2023

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2387, with a release date of Friday,
July 28th, 2023, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams call QRZ to help a flood-damaged region of
Italy. Dangerous conditions cancel a second activation on Rockall -- and a successful orbit for CubeSATS from the Philippines. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2387 comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**

CALLING QRZ TO RESTORE FLOOD-DAMAGED EMILIA-ROMAGNA

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Italy's flood-devastated region of Emilia-Romagna faces a
long period of reconstruction and hams are involved in providing their own kind of support. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, brings us the details.

JEREMY: Although some hams may be more familiar with the Emilia-Romagna
region of northern Italy as the host of the recent World Radiosport Team Championship, it is actually now in the amateur radio spotlight for another reason. Remember the callsign 1A0C (One Ay Zero C). Hams will be calling
QRZ until the 2nd of August to focus attention on the charitable work being done there by the Italian Relief Corps of the Order of Malta, focusing on
the badly damaged Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. The historic deadly
floods in May displaced thousands of families, destroyed communities and threatened to wreck many local industries. A multinational team of amateurs will be on the air from the radio station at the Magistral Villa on the Aventine Hill. The Order of Malta's humanitarian projects are known
throughout the world, assisting 120 nations with medical, social and humanitarian needs. The operators include Fernando EA5C, Simone IK5RUN, Jun JH4RHF, Dmitry RA9USU and others.

At the time Newsline was being produced, the team's website was under construction. Visit the QRZ.com page of 1A0C for updates.

This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(425 DX BULLETIN, QRZ, ORDER OF MALTA)

**

A TRIBUTE TO BELOVED SOTA SILENT KEY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: SOTA activators are planning an international tribute to recall the treasured friendship of a ham who became a Silent Key last year.
Ed Durrant, DD5LP, gives us the details.

ED: From his shack in Poland, Jarek SP9MA, is leading the way among his
fellow SOTA supporters. He has issued a call to all friends of the beloved
ham known as Guru who became a Silent Key in March of 2022. Jarek wrote on
the SOTA reflector that he will begin using the callsign SP59GURU on
January 11th of next year, which would have been Guru's 59th birthday. The callsign will remain active through to March 11th, the anniversary of his death. The loss of Jose-Antonio Gurutzarri Jauregi EA2IF to cancer rocked
the SOTA community last year, most especially in Europe, where his
commitment to radio on the summits began in his native Spain in 2013.

Jarek has put out a call to SOTA activators worldwide to join him in this special event activation and to start making plans now, well in advance of January.

Though there will be no diplomas or awards for QSOs, Jarek believes the contact itself will provide a memorable moment. In that way, Guru, who left his mark also as a top contester and CW operator, will get another moment
with his SOTA brothers and sisters.

Or, as Jarek wrote on the SOTA reflector: [quote] "I just think that as
many hearts as possible would connect with the Guru at that time."
[endquote]

This is Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(SOTA REFLECTOR)

**

DANGEROUS CONDITIONS CANCEL REPEAT ROCKALL ACTIVATION

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Radios and other equipment remain on Rockall Island, where
a second attempted activation has failed. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, brings us up
to date.

JEREMY: A second - and very brief - activation of the remote granite islet known as Rockall was called off after hazardous conditions in the North Atlantic had forced the team to return to the mainland.

Cam Cameron, Emil Bergmann, DL8JJ, and Nobby, G0VJG, set sail on the 16th
of July, only to turn back three days later after making several passes at Rockall. The hams were hoping to have a second activation - three hours of
CW and SSB - during their return trip.

The trio was traveling to recover radio equipment left there during the
June activation of MM0UKI. Emil and Nobby had called QRZ for several days before their departure, leaving Cam on Rockall. In a challenge to benefit charity, Cam was hoping to break the previous 45-day stay record set in
2014. He had called for rescue in late June after 32 days of exhaustion and hypothermia.

Describing the team's failed attempt to return, Emil wrote on the Rockall DXpedition's Facebook page: [quote] "Nature has said NO. We reach[ed] the Rockall without difficulty, but the waves [were] extremely high. That's the way of life." [endquote]

Don't be discouraged: The team plans another recovery attempt.

This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(FACEBOOK, DX-WORLD.NET)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2381, for Friday, June 16th, 2023

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2381, with a release date of Friday,
June 16th, 2023 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. A youth DXpedition sets its sights on Guyana. Satellites get in the act on Field Day -- and ham radio aids in a
dramatic rescue in Idaho. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline
Report Number 2381, comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**

YOUNG DXPEDITIONERS SET SIGHTS ON GUYANA

PAUL/ANCHOR: Our top story this week takes us to Guyana - that's the
location a young quartet of DXpeditioners has its collective eye on. We
hear about their plans from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

JEREMY: Their trip has been years in the making and now, with the travel precautions of the pandemic behind them, a team of DXpeditioners -- all
in their 20s -- is finally free to travel to their destination: Guyana.
Four friends, Jamie, M0SDV, Philipp, DK6SP, Tomi, HA8RT, and Sven, DJ4MX,
are young: Sven is 21, team co-leader Jamie is 22; Tomi is 24 and co-
leader Philipp is 25.

Their youth hasn't stopped them from becoming veteran DXpeditioners.
Jamie told Newsline: "We have been fortunate enough to visit some amazing locations worldwide." Now they putting together their plan to operate in Guyana between the 14th and the 24th of next February, operating CW, SSB,
FT8, and RTTY, on the HF bands.

They have not yet been assigned a callsign.

The Northern California DX Foundation said it has given the team a $5,000 grant as a way of encouraging the next generation of adventuring
amateurs.

Jamie said that the group's website will be updated regularly to keep DX hunters apprised and, of course, to encourage others to support the activation.

See the text version of this week's newscast on our website,
arnewsline.org, to find a link to the DXpedition. The team will also be releasing a separate website dedicated to the DXpedition itself and will communicate with chasers via social media.

[DO NOT READ: www.8R-2024.com]

This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(GUYANA DXPEDITION WEBSITE, JAMIE MØSDV)

**

HAM RADIO PLAYS PIVOTAL ROLE IN SEATTLE DRILL

PAUL/ANCHOR: Residents in the city of Seattle take the notion of being neighborly quite seriously. So seriously, in fact, that they regularly
hold disaster drills to practice ways to help one another out. Of course,
it involves amateur radio. Here's Jack Parker, W8ISH, with a report on
the latest exercise, which was held on June 11th.

JACK: The disaster scenario in the city of Seattle, Washington, was
simulated but there was nothing fictional about the scene of neighbor
helping neighbor. On June 11th, the city's Emergency Communication Hubs rehearsed the all-important coordinated response that everyone would have
in the event of a citywide power outage -- from neighbors to local authorities.

The exercise was called Power Down. Twenty-five hams from the Auxiliary Communications Service of Amateurs were dispatched to transmit messages
using voice and digital modes, such as Winlink and Fldigi. The hams
worked at one of the city's 10 participating hubs, at rally points for
city workers, or in the radio room of the city's Emergency Operations
Center. Many of the hams were asked to move between the various locations
to help balance out resources. Most of the hams communicated via nets
using repeaters that have power generators on site.

According to Susanna Cunningham, WB7CON, the public information officer
for the ACS, the exercise was a successful demonstration of cooperation
but unearthed some challenges: There were coverage issues with repeaters
that are used less frequently -- and hams making use of Winlink did not
always succeed in getting all the ICS forms submitted from the Hubs to
their targeted locations. Susanne said that these issues and others will
be evaluated at the July meeting of the ACS on July 8th.

This is Jack Parker, W8ISH.

(SUSANNA CUNNINGHAM, WB7CON)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2382 for Friday, June 23rd, 2023

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2382, with a release date of Friday,
June 23rd, 2023 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams get on the air as a cyclone hits India; the
FCC's systems go back online -- and get ready to chase the 13 Colonies
Special Event stations. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline
Report Number 2382, comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**

HAMS MOBILIZE TO ASSIST DURING CYCLONE BIPARJOY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to India where hams played a
crucial role in public safety and communication as a cyclone enveloped
the region. More on that from Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

JIM: Amateur radio operators in western India were deployed and kept on
high alert as Cyclone Biparjoy closed in on the western shore near the
port of Jakhau on Thursday, June 15th, tearing roofs off houses, and
leaving thousands without power.

Local news reports from the Indian state of Gujarat said that the state's Disaster Management Authority responded to power outages and other damage
by deploying six ham radio teams, two of them in the district near the
port of Jakhau, as well as a number of mobile units. Pakistan and India
had already moved an estimated 173,000 people to shelters in preparation
for the storm's arrival.

The deadly cyclone killed at least two people in India before weakening
and heading toward Pakistan's southern coastal areas. The name of the
Cyclone - Biparjoy (Bipper Joy) - means "disaster" in Bengali.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(ASSOCIATED PRESS, TIMES OF INDIA)

**

FCC REPORTS ITS ULS BACK ONLINE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In the United States, the FCC reported an end to the long shutdown of some of its systems, much to the relief of hams and others
needing to file documents. Paul Braun, WD9GCO, brings us that report.

PAUL: The Federal Communications Commission's nearly month-long outage of
its Universal Licensing System and related systems has ended. The systems
came back on line, on a limited basis, on Wednesday, June 21st. A public announcement by the FCC alerted users to the remaining unavailability of
the systems' query download function, which permits search results to be
saved as text files.

The shutdown put the brakes on amateur radio filings and other FCC applications that were facing immediate deadlines, causing widespread frustration and much wider speculation as to the cause behind the
shutdown. The FCC's public announcement did not address the cause and
despite repeated requests from Amateur Radio Newsline to clarify what had occurred, the agency referred only to the announcement on its website.
The announcement cited [quote] "technical issues." [endquote] It was not possible to determine specifically where those issues occurred - or why
they occurred - and whether there had been a security breach or if any presumed built-in redundancies failed to operate properly.

The FCC said it has provided deadline extensions for filings that were affected by the shutdown and that it expects high traffic on its systems
in the days to come. Those ULS applications that were impacted will not
need to pay waiver fees, seek waivers, or provide any special attachments.

The FCC said that the deadline extensions and other relief measures only
apply to those filings between the outage period of June 9th to June
29th.

This is Paul Braun, WD9GCO.

(FCC)

**

WRTC GAINS SUPPORT FROM ITALIAN OFFICIALS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The World Radiosport Team Championship, which is about to
open shortly near Bologna, Italy, has gained the official patronage and support of the Ministry of Enterprises and the Made in Italy initiative.
The competition is being held in a region of Italy known as an economic
engine because of the strength of its business ventures in technology and craftsmanship. This recognition adds a much-needed boost, following the devastating floods that swept through the region, challenging the
organizers of the event which takes place July 4th through July 11th.

(WRTC 2022 REFLECTOR)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2383, for Friday, June 30th, 2023

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2383, with a release date of
Friday, June 30th, 2023, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Ofcom proposes sweeping license changes in the
UK. The QSO of a lifetime makes one ham's Field Day unforgettable --
and meet Amateur Radio Newsline's Young Ham of the Year for 2023.
All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2383, comes
your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**

OFCOM PROPOSES SWEEPING CHANGES FOR UK LICENSES

NEIL/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to the UK, where Ofcom is
proposing a major overhaul of amateur radio licensing and
operations. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, brings us those details.

JEREMY: Stating it wants to provide amateurs in the UK with greater
access to licences while delivering greater operating freedom, the communications regulator Ofcom is proposing sweeping changes to its
ham radio licence framework.

None of these changes affects the frequencies or bands amateurs
can use but it does increase the maximum permitted power for
transmitting across the three classes of licence. The proposed
maximum allowances are 20 watts for Foundation; 100 watts for
Intermediate in most bands and 1,000 watts for Full licence
holders who are operating where ham radio has a primary
allocation. Ofcom is also proposing low power airborne
transmission on some bands.

Beacons, repeaters and gateways would no longer require a Notice
of Variation in most cases -- the holders of a Foundation licence
would be permitted on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Foundation
licence holders would also be allowed to build their own
equipment.

In another change, hams advancing to a higher class of licence
would be required to surrender their lower-level licence and call
sign, holding only a single personal licence. This requirement
would not apply to clubs.

This is just a sample of what Ofcom is suggesting. The regulator
is seeking feedback and has set a deadline of the 4th September
for comment. For a link to the document please see the text
version of this week's newscast script at arnewsline.org

This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

[FOR PRINT ONLY:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-2/ updating-amateur-radio-licensing-framework ]

(above URL all on one line)

(OFCOM, AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)

**

OH BABY! WHAT A GREAT FIELD DAY!

NEIL/ANCHOR: So you think you had a great Field Day? Sorry....but
no matter how amazing a time you had, no matter how many QSOs you
and your club logged, it can never compare to the experience of
one amateur in Alabama who helped organize his club's big weekend.
Jim Damron, N8TMW, tells us more.

JIM: Patrick Nagle, N4GLE, was ready. Field Day weekend couldn't
come soon enough for this member of the Muscle Shoals Amateur
Radio Club. Patrick has been part of the organizing committee for
the club's Field Day for the past three years and everyone was
ready to put the club callsign, W4JNB, on the air.

This year, Rhett Allen Nagle was also ready. In fact, on June 23,
2023, just as Field Day prep was under way, he was so ready that
he was born. With the doctor's help, Rhett's mother, Kaitlyn
Hendrix Nagle, brought him into this world, and into Patrick's
arms.

Patrick told Newsline that he and his wife had hoped for Rhett's
birth to take place a few days after Field Day but the doctor
wasn't available on their chosen date of June 26th. So June 23rd
it was going to be! Holding strong at the Field Day site was
brand-new grandfather, Papa Roy Nagle, KI4UX, who kept things
running smoothly, and stayed in touch with his son.

The happy new father may have been away from the club's operating
site this year, but he told Newsline he knows he had the best QSO
of Field Day weekend. While it may not have been made over the
air, he said that all those eyeball QSOs with his new son included
plenty of snuggles.

This is Jim Damron, N8TMW.

NEIL/ANCHOR: Newsline offers the Nagle family all the best. We
can't wait to hear that Rhett has received his callsign.

(PATRICK NAGLE, N4GLE)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2384, for Friday, July 7th, 2023

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2384, with a release date of Friday,
July 7th, 2023 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Gains in attendance at Europe's largest hamfest.
Sri Lanka loses a respected member of the amateur community -- and there
are big plans ahead for radio at Scout camps. All this and more, as
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2384 comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**

GAIN IN ATTENDANCE AT HAM RADIO FRIEDRICHSHAFEN

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Our top story this week takes us to Germany. With Ham
Radio Friedrichshafen (Pron: Freed Ricks Harfen) completing two weeks
ago, the attendance figures have been announced and there's some good
news. Over to our European Correspondent Ed Durrant, DD5LP, who attended.

ED: This year's attendance at Ham Radio, Europe's largest Hamfest, was up
by 10% to 11,100 and the number of traders by 15% compared to last year, despite predictions that Hamfests may suffer due to the increase in
online sales during and following the pandemic.

It was clear there was an increase in the number of people both at the
indoor flea market halls and in the main trader and exhibitor hall.
While there were no new major radio announcements -- other than we
already know of from Hamvention -- it was good to see Kenwood back with a stall but a shame that only Yaesu's agents represented them. ICOM was
there with their usual impressive large display area and competing in
size was a new company to the amateur radio market - Aaronia a
manufacturer of high quality test equipment.

All in all, it was a very uplifting event.

Just as important was the announcement that the required legislative
document had just been signed to implement the new German entry level "N class" amateur radio licence. The regulations will come into force on the
21st of June 2024, the week before next years "Ham Radio" event between
the 28th and 30th and indeed the very first examinations for this new
class of licence will take place at "HAM RADIO 2024." The new licence
will allow access to 70cm, 2m and 10m running a maximum of 10 watts and
will conform to CEPT specifications for an entry level licence.

This is Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

**

FCC SEEKS INPUT ON COMMERCIAL USE OF HF SPECTRUM

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Following years of experimental use of the frequencies
between 2 and 25 MHz - a range the FCC considers underutilized - members
of the Shortwave Modernization Coalition have asked the agency for rule changes that would permit fixed, long-distance, time-sensitive
transmission of data by commercial entities. The FCC is requesting public comment on the proposed rule change, which the Commission said would not
have an impact on that part of the spectrum used exclusively by amateur
radio, maritime or aeronautical services.

A rule change would make the frequencies available to regular commercial operations. At present only 61 of the 21,507 active licenses for
frequencies between 2 and 25 MHz are for industrial and business use, according to the FCC.

The businesses seeking access have relied until now on satellite, fiber, microwave and millimeter wave wireless transmissions.

Shortwave Management Coalition members, who include such entities as
companies in the financial markets, believe a rule change could widen
access to other industries such as mining, petroleum and manufacturing.

Comments are due to the FCC within the month.

(FCC, SWLING POST)

**

FCC TO CONSIDER KEEPING FM6 RADIO FOR LOW-POWER TV

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In other action in Washington, it is shaping up to be a
busy month for the Federal Communications Commission, which is
considering whether low power analog TV stations that have a Channel 6 allocation can continue to broadcast analog FM radio. Kevin Trotman,
N5PRE, tells us what's behind the issue.

KEVIN: In a small number of US markets, FM broadcast audio has long been available from TV stations making use of a subcarrier 250 kHz from the
top of the Channel 6 frequencies. At the FCC's open meeting on July 20th,
the FCC will look at an option it favors: permitting these low-power TV stations to continue this practice as a supplementary service even after
the TV stations' conversion to digital.

The FCC believes that preserving the operations for those 13 low-power stations would benefit the public interest, noting as well that there is
no record of TV interference with the adjacent FM channels, known as FM6 stations. The FCC wrote in a fact sheet on its website that it has not received complaints with credible evidence showing anything to the
contrary.

FM6 radio is permitted to operate only on 87.75 MHz and the service may
only be offered within the low-power TV station's coverage area and on a non-interference basis.

This is Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

(FCC)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2385 for Friday July 14th, 2023

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2385, with a release date of
Friday, July 14th, 2023, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. The World Radiosport Team Championship heads to
the UK. Campers prepare for Youth on the Air camp in Canada -- and
calling QRZ among a universe of UFOs. All this and more, as Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2385 comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**

UK CHOSEN TO HOST WRTC 2026

PAUL/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to the World Radiosport Team
Championship. The prestigious international competition wrapped up in
Italy on July 9th and the winners were announced -- including the venue selected to host the competition in 2026. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, brings us
that report.

JEREMY: The World Radiosport Team Championship - a high profile
competition often viewed as the Olympics of amateur radio - has
declared the United Kingdom the winner in the selection process to be
host site for the next international contest. The English counties of
Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk - all in East Anglia - were selected
by the Sanctioning Committee to serve as home to the 50 operating
locations for the competing two-person teams.

In an interview with ICQ Podcast presenter/technical editor Martin
Butler, M1MRB, WRTC 2026 President Mark Haynes, M0DXR, said organisers
are going to rely heavily on amateur volunteers throughout the UK to
provide technical help and support during setup and operation.

Meanwhile, as WRTC 2022 concluded, the top three winning pairs - among
the other victorious operators - were identified as UW7LL and VE3DZ for
first place; DJ5MW and DL1IAO, second place; and 9A7DX along with 9A3LG, third. For a full list of winners and their scores, visit the WRTC 2022 website at wrtc2022 dot it (wrtc2022.it).

Newsline would also like to congratulate our colleagues at the ICQ
Podcast, which has been chosen as a media partner, providing updates as
the organising progress goes forward. The announcement was made on the podcast's website on 10th July by its founding editor, Colin Butler,
M6BOY.

This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(ICQ PODCAST, WRTC 2022, WRTC 2026)

**

STUDY CONFIRMS EMISSIONS FROM SATELLITE CONSTELLATIONS

PAUL/ANCHOR: According to a new study, those tiny low-earth orbit
satellites may be delivering something unwanted and much less attractive
than broadband internet access. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the details.

JIM: Large satellite constellations that provide detailed Earth imagery
as well as broadband internet access to some regions have been shown to
emit unintended electromagnetic radiation that may prove a challenge to radioastronomers' research. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for
Radio Astronomy in Germany report that interfering signals appear to
come from the electronics on board a number of SpaceX satellites.
Writing in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, the researchers said
they made the discovery using the facility's Low Frequency Array
telescope. They drew their conclusions after observing 68 of the
satellites in low earth orbit.

The report's lead author, Federico Di Vruno, said [quote] "This study represents the latest effort to better understand satellite
constellations' impact on radio astronomy." [endquote] The scientist
said that the most recent observations confirm there is a measurable
existence of the radiation.

This is Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(PHYS.ORG)

**

SILENT KEY: RUSSIAN ROBINSON CLUB'S GEORGE CHLIYANTS, UY5XE

PAUL/ANCHOR: The DX community is grieving the loss of an influential
amateur who helped organize and promote DXpeditions in the polar
regions. We hear more about him from Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

GRAHAM: George Giorgiy Chliyants, UY5XE, was a friend and an advocate to
many. A number of reports say that George recently became a Silent Key.
He has clearly left his mark: In 1993, while attending the IOTA
convention in Spain, George encouraged the creation of what became the
Russian Robinson Club, a group of adventurous amateurs who would come to operate out of particularly challenging locales in the polar regions.
He later became QSL manager for many of the Russian expeditions in bot
h the Antarctic and the Arctic. He had also served as the president of
the UDXC and vice president of the Robinson club. One of his DXpeditions
was EM20YU, in which he activated the Chernobyl exclusion zone in 2006
with Boris, UT7UT.

Licenced in 1966, he was an active ham whose contesting activity had won
him many awards and plaques. He was also a published author and had been
a correspondent for a number of amateur radio magazines, including Radio
and RadioMir, both in Moscow and RadioHobby, in Kyiv.

George was 75.

This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(WORLDWIDE ANTARCTIC PROGRAM, UT7UT.COM, UY5XE HOMEPAGE)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2386, for Friday, July 21st, 2023

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2386, with a release date of Friday,
July 21st, 2023, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Changes in band access await hams in Australia. A much-loved electronics supplier is closing after 50 years -- and a ham
marks a DXCC achievement of two lifetimes. All this and more as Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2386 comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**

BAND-ACCESS CHANGES AWAIT AUSTRALIAN AMATEURS

JIM/ANCHOR: There are gains and losses for amateurs in Australia, as the nation's regulator moves ahead with proposed changes to spectrum access. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, has that story.

GRAHAM: Advanced amateurs in Australia and overseas equivalents will be
losing their access to frequencies between 3.4 and 3.6 GHz, which have been identified for reallocation to commercial interests and for use by earth station protection zones. While proposing those changes, the Australian Communications and Media Authority is expanding standard amateurs and
overseas equivalents access to frequencies between 50 and 52 MHz, in
addition to the current 52 to 54 MHz. These modifications are contained in
the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions Omnibus Amendment Instrument
2023, Number 1.

The ACMA took its action following the submission of public comments to the consultation. The regulator said it received only six such comments, with
the majority supporting the changes.

This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(ACMA)

**

RSGB VIDEO EXPLAINS SWEEPING CHANGES AT OFCOM

JIM/ANCHOR: Meanwhile in the UK, hams are getting some help in
understanding the changes that Ofcom has in the works. We have those
details from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

JEREMY: As Ofcom undertakes the first sweeping changes in ham radio
licensing and call sign policy in 25 years, the Radio Society of Great
Britain has been hoping to make things simpler. The society is offering guidance on this consultation through a variety of materials that include a newly released video by Murray Niman, G6JYB, the society's spectrum and licensing expert.

The RSGB is hoping that clubs will share the video at their meetings and assist hams in understanding the work underway. The video can be found on
the RSGB's YouTube channel or on the consultation web page of the society
at the link found in the text version of this week's newscast.

The regulator is seeking feedback and has set a deadline of the 4th
September for comment.

This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

[DO NOT READ: rsgb.org/licencereview ]

**

SILENT KEY: COMPUTER HACKER KEVIN MITNICK, N6NHG

JIM/ANCHOR: A computer hacker who was once on the FBI's "most-wanted" list
- and who described himself as possessing the world's most expensive
amateur radio license, has become a Silent Key. Here's Sel Embee, KB3TZD,
to tell us about him.

SEL: Kevin Mitnick, N6NHG, whose computer-hacking skills landed him a
federal prison term with hundreds of supporters pressing for his freedom,
has become a Silent Key. Kevin died on Sunday, July 16th, of pancreatic cancer.

According to several online obituaries, by the time he was 16 years old,
Kevin had already sharpened his software skills, gaining unauthorized
access to computer systems. Ultimately, it was his illegal download of software from Digital Equipment Corporation in the 1980s that led to a
massive manhunt, his conviction and five-year prison term.

Having become a ham radio operator at the age of 13, he wished to return to the air once he was released from prison and spent more than $16,000 in
legal fees to petition the FCC for a license renewal. He succeeded, saying afterward that, as a result, he possessed the most expensive amateur radio license in the world.

Kevin was 59.

This is Sel Embee, KB3TZD.
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)