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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2358 for Friday January 6th, 2
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2358 for Friday January 6th, 2023
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2358 with a release date of Friday
January 6th, 2023 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. There are two more callsigns to listen for from
Bouvet Island. Smartphones are gaining increased satellite capability --
hams in Ohio get an exemption from a new distracted-driving law. All this
and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2358 comes your way right
now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
BOUVET DXPEDITION ADDS TWO MORE CALLSIGNS
PAUL/ANCHOR: We begin this week with a Bouvet Island Dxpedition update. As
if the 3YØJ team itself weren't generating enough buzz in the ham
radiosphere, two additional callsigns are expected to be on the air from
that coveted DX location. John Williams VK4JJW gives us those details.
JOHN: The long-awaited Bouvet Island Dxpedition team has a new twist to its
plans. Two Norwegian radio operators who are part of the Dxpedition team
intend to operate from the island under their own calls for a limited time.
It is intended to happen toward the end of the 3YØJ team's expected 22-day
activation late this month. The development was reported on January 1st on
the website DX-WORLD.NET, which gave confirmation from Ken, LA7GIA, co-
leader of the main Bouvet activation. Ken said that this would be the first
time any Norwegian with an LB callsign activated from Bouvet. The gameplan
is apparently to have the 3YØJ pilot stations inform eager DX hunters when
the pair get on the air. Be listening for the callsigns used by Gjermund,
3Y/LB5GI, and Erwann, 3Y/LB1QI.
This is John Williams VK4JJW.
(DX-WORLD.NET, 3YØJ WEBSITE)
**
NEW SMARTPHONE MODELS GAIN SATELLITE ACCESS
PAUL/ANCHOR: In this new year, sat-phone users and amateur radio operators
won't be the only ones who can bounce radio signals off satellites. Here's
Kent Peterson KCØDGY with that story.
KENT: Some smartphones are gaining a new capability in the new year: direct
satellite access. Text-messaging that uses satellite communications will be
possible for some consumers using Hauwei and Apple devices, according to a
recent report in the IEEE Spectrum. While Apple and Hauwei expect to use
older satellites that are already in orbit by putting new chips in their
flagship handsets, new low-Earth-orbit satellite networks are also being
built. Those are in the works from startup companies Lynk Global and AST
SpaceMobile, which hope to provide service to 5G phones in areas without
terrestrial coverage.
Observers note that this satellite functionality on smartphones will not
include the ability to make phone calls or to stream data but its added
capacity of texting will provide another means of calling for help in an
emergency in regions where the caller has a clear view to the sky.
Working in partnership with Globalstar, Apple devices have offered a service
called Emergency SOS via satellite since last November. Huawei however has
not yet announced the date of its rollout. Meanwhile, Lynk Global expects to
begin operations in the new year and AST SpaceMobile expects to launch five
of its satellites later this year.
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(IEEE SPECTRUM)
**
STRAIGHT KEY MONTH GETS GOING FOR SKCC
PAUL/ANCHOR: It's not just a new year, it's Straight Key Month, according to
the calendar of the Straight Key Century Club. Randy Sly W4XJ keys in on the
action for us.
RANDY: With the ARRL's Straight Key Night, a January 1st event, already in
the books, the Straight Key Century Club is keeping the fun going for CW
operators around the world through to the end of the month. On January 2nd,
operators who are club members began calling CQ with various callsigns
starting with K3Y from the 10 US call areas, as K3Y/Ø through K3Y/9. Outside
of the continental United States, club members are calling as K3Y/KH6, KL7
and KP4.
Across six continents, operators will be on the air with stations for the
special event, You will hear them calling "CQ SKM," using their own
callsigns. These are stations in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America,
Oceania and South America.
This annual event celebrates the founding of the SKCC in 2006 and pays
tribute to the earliest telegraphy keys - the straight key, the bug and the
sideswiper, also known as the cootie.
This is Randy Sly W4XJ.
**
AMSAT'S ANNUAL CW ACTIVITY DAY HONORS A PIONEER
PAUL/ANCHOR: Another popular CW activity has just been given a new name. We
have those details from Neil Rapp WB9VPG.
NEIL: What began as AMSAT Straight Key Night eventually became AMSAT's CW
Activity Day, an event devoted to amateurs who enjoy CW operating via linear
satellites. The event was held this year on January 1st - but even while it
was still in the planning stages, it underwent yet another name change: This
year it became the W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day. The new name honors
satellite pioneer Ray Soifer, W2RS, who became a Silent Key in March 2022 at
the age of 79. The CW activity day had been his project and he organized the
New Year's Day event for AMSAT with great enthusiasm. He encouraged hams to
make good use of their straight keys and bugs and report their progress on
the AMSAT Bulletin Board mailing list. As always, this activity is held at
the same time the ARRL holds its own Straight Key Night.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG.
(AMSAT)
**
OHIO HAMS EXEMPT FROM DISTRACTED-DRIVER LAW
PAUL/ANCHOR: Amateur radio operators are getting a break in Ohio under a new
law restricting the use of handheld electronic devices by drivers. Jack
Parker W8ISH has those details.
JACK: Under a new law taking effect in Ohio, if you are holding a cellphone
or similar device in your hands while operating a motor vehicle, that is
sufficient reason for you to be stopped by the police: It is considered a
primary offense.
Hams, however, needn't worry. The distracted-driving law exempts radio
amateurs as well as utility workers and first-responders, such as police.
Penalties are increasing for those drivers found to be engaged in so-called
distracted driving but with the new law, the next six months will provide a
grace period. Drivers who are not eligible for the exemption will only be
issued warnings while the state launches a public-education campaign about
the change in enforcement.
With this law, Ohio joins the ranks of other states where exemptions were
granted for amateur radio use while driving, including Indiana, Minnesota,
Wisconsin and Washington state.
This is Jack Parker W8ISH.
(SPRINGFIELD NEWS-SUN)
**
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR 'YOUNG HAM LENDS A HAND' CONTEST
PAUL/ANCHOR: If you know a young amateur radio operator who's been
especially generous in giving time to assist an older person, a military
veteran or the community-at-large, you might know a candidate for the Radio
Club of America's "Young Ham Lends a Hand" award. Candidates may also be
youth involved in recruiting others to get their licenses. Carole Perry,
WB2MGP, is accepting nominations until April 1st for the award, which will
be presented, along with a 000 stipend, at the Youth Forum during Dayton
Hamvention. Email your nominee's name, callsign, age, address and phone
number to her at wb2mpg@gmail.com. Be sure to include your reasons for the
nomination.
(RADIO CLUB OF AMERICA)
**
NEW LEADERSHIP AT AMPLITUDE MODULATION INTERNATIONAL
PAUL/ANCHOR: AM enthusiasts who belong to Amplitude Modulation International
have welcomed a new leader. Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us about him.
ANDY: The torch has been passed at Amplitude Modulation International: John
McGrath N9AMI has become executive director, succeeding Dale Gagnon, KW1I,
(K W One Eye). In 1993, Dale was one of the group's founders who announced
AMI's formation during Dayton Hamvention. The founders created a group that
would both celebrate and advocate for AM, the original voice mode on the
amateur bands. According to the AMI website, members are encouraged to
participate in all kinds of activity within the group's 10 regions and to be
active in annual operating events and contests. AMI also monitors all FCC
and ARRL activity that could have an impact on operators using AM.
Writing on the recently updated website, Dale tells members that there are
some new changes in the works. An online forum has been added to the website
to give amateurs a greater voice in the issues they care about. He writes
that the forum is open to anyone interested in AM operation and not limited
to AMI membership only. He will also be introducing a new program called AMI
On Ten and intends to bring back the Thanksgiving Jamboree.
Dale is encouraging visitors to the website. You can visit AM International
at aminternational dot club (aminternational.club)
This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.
(QRZ FORUMS, AM INTERNATIONAL)
**
NOMINATIONS NEEDED BY RADIO SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN
PAUL/ANCHOR: With a new year, comes the change in leadership at the Radio
Society of Great Britain. The nomination period continues this month, as we
hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
JEREMY: Although the window has closed for nominations for board director of
the Radio Society of Great Britain, the nomination period continues through
to the end of January for other roles, such as regional representative,
elected director and president. The current president, Stewart Bryant,
G3YSX, is completing his two-year term in April. There are nine volunteer
roles in all that need to be filled. Regional representatives are needed for
England South-West and the Channel Islands, England North-West, East
Midlands, Northern Ireland, South Wales. Details can be found on the
Society's website at rsgb dot org stroke election. (rsgb.org/election).
The Society will be holding its annual general meeting on April 15th and the
results of the election will be announced then.
Only members of the RSGB are able to nominate candidates.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(RSGB)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline heard on bulletin stations around the world including the KV3B
repeater in Rockville, Maryland on Sundays after the net at 7:30 p.m. local
time.
**
SPEAKERS NEEDED FOR QSO TODAY VIRTUAL EXPO
PAUL/ANCHOR: The next QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo takes place on March 24th
through to the 26th, asking the question: "New Ham radio license, now
what?" Organizers are looking for speakers who can address this topic in
particular, whether the new license is at entry level, such as Technician
class here in the United States, or perhaps at a higher level with more
privileges.
Organizer Eric Guth 4Z1UG is asking amateurs with expertise in certain areas
of amateur radio to consider newcomers in particular and to offer
presentations at the Expo this spring. There is a link to an online
application form and additional details in the text version of this week's
newscast script at arnewsline.org.
[DO NOT READ: https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/speakercall.html ]
**
INNOVATIVE ANTENNA DEVELOPER GETS LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP
PAUL/ANCHOR: A celebrated antenna expert from West Bengal, India, has just
been granted yet another honor. We hear more about him from Graham Kemp
VK4BB.
GRAHAM: Srikanta Pal, the scientist who was recently granted a patent for
the world's smallest antenna has been given an honorary life membership in
the West Bengal Radio Club. Born in West Bengal, he is a research professor
at Birla Institute of Technology in Kolkata.
He was presented with the honour on Wednesday, December 28th, by the club's
secretary, Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, who told Newsline in a text message
that the professor has taken a keen interest in amateur radio antennas.
After learning more details about the kind of work the club is involved in,
he said that, as an honorary life member, he would study some useful types
of antennas that hams could use for emergency response in disasters.
In 2009, the professor was credited with having helped solve satellite
signal interference problems at the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank telescope at
the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in West Virginia. Later, he
assisted astronomers in solving interference issues at the Jodrell Bank
Radio Telescope site in the UK.
This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(WBRC, BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, be listening for VI10SOTA (VEE EYE TEN SOTA) which is on
the air in Australia to celebrate the 10th year of Summits on the Air in the
VK1 region. The station will be active through to the end of the year and
any amateur with an Australian licence who is activating a VK1 SOTA peak may
use it.
Logs of all activators will be found under each activator’s log in their
account.
Be listening for Harald, DF2WO, using the call sign D44TWO from Sao Tiago
(AF-005), Cape Verde until the 21st of January. He is on 160 through 6
metres, using FT8 with some SSB and CW. He is also using the QO-100
satellite. QSL via MØOXO's OQRS.
Listen for Darren, VK4MAP, who is working holiday style as FW/VK4MAP from
Wallis & Futuna in the South Pacific through the first half of January.
Listen for him on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres where he will be operating
SSB. QSL direct to his home call.
The special call sign DB100RDF is on the air to mark 100 years of
broadcasting in Germany. This commemorates the fact that the first official
radio entertainment in Germany went on the air on the 29th of October, 1923.
QSL direct to DO2PZ or via the bureau.
You can hear the special call sign EG1NMP from the 7th to the 10th of
January. The station is on the air to remember the wreck of the Monte
Palomares, a Spanish freighter that sank in the North Atlantic on the 10th
of January, 1966. QSL only via LoTW and eQSL.
(425 DX NEWS)
**
SAYING 73 TO THE OLD YEAR AROUND THE WORLD
PAUL/ANCHOR: Our final story has a little bit of magic in it. Some of it is
amateur radio magic and the rest is simply New Year's magic -- because we
can't put a final ribbon on the holiday season without this story of a QSO
that happened in two countries across the change of the year. John Williams
VK4JJW explains.
JOHN: With poor conditions on the bands, the 10-minute QSO between one ham
in Australia and another in Thailand might have felt more like it lasted for
a year. Well....in a way, it actually did.
Supoj (Sue Podge) E25JRP was on 20 metres at 2130 local time in Bangkok in
the final hours of the old year, but very few CW operators responded to his
call in that first half-hour. At 2200 local time, someone more distant came
back to him - like the others, his call began with a V - perhaps it was VR,
from Hong Kong, or VU, from India. Battling serious QSB, Supoj asked for a
repeat - and then another.
He told Newsline: [quote] "After a couple of question marks and 'again,' I
got all of his callsign." [endquote] It was VK5PL, Dave, a colleague from
the Long Island CW Club in the United States. Dave was at home in Australia
and recognised Supoj's callsign when he heard it on the air. Two thousand
twenty-three was already well underway at his QTH. The year-change had
started two hours earlier.
Riding the fickle QSB, the two had just enough time to exchange new year's
wishes - and for Dave to log his first QSO of the new year and Supoj to log
one of his final ones of the old year.
Dave wrote on the club's forum on groups.io: [quote] "I had a great start to
the year." [endquote]
Supoj told Newsline: [quote] "I turned off my rig with a big smile."
[endquote]
Now, of course, with everyone properly settled into 2023, the only thing
that needs to get in sync are those band conditions.
This is John Williams VK4JJW.
(SUPOJ, E25JRP; GROUPS.IO)
**
NEWCAST CLOSE - DO YOU HAVE NEWS?
ANCHOR: Do you have a piece of Amateur Radio News that you think Newsline
would be interested in? We are not talking about advertising your club's
upcoming hamfest or field day participation, but something that is out of
the ordinary. If so, send us a brief overview via the contact page at
arnewsline.org. If it's newsworthy and we would like to cover it, we'll get
back to you for more details.
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to the Alexanderson Association; Amateur Radio
Weekly; the ARRL; Birla Institute of Technology; CQ magazine; Dave, VK5PL;
David Behar K7DB; the 425 DX News; IEEE; Radio Society of Great Britain;
shortwaveradio.de; Springfield News-Sun; Supoj, E25JRP; Straight Key Century
Club; 3YØJ Website; West Bengal Radio Club; Wireless Institute of Australia;
and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. We
remind our listeners that Amateur Radio Newsline is an all-volunteer non-
profit organization that incurs expenses for its continued operation. If you
wish to support us, please visit our website at arnewsline.org and know that
we appreciate you all. We also remind our listeners that if you like our
newscast, please leave us a 5-star rating wherever you subscribe to us. For
now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and our news
team worldwide, I'm Paul Braun WD9GCO in Valparaiso Indiana saying 73. As
always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright
2023. All rights reserved.
73 de Bill, PY2BIL
PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 06-jan-2023 08:19 E. South America Standard Time
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