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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2363 for Friday Febr
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2363 for Friday February 10th, 2023
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2363 with a release date of Friday
February 10th, 2023 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Hams step in as tremors rock Turkey and Syria. A
tough beginning on Bouvet Island -- and one radio repeater devotes itself to
America's big football weekend. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline
Report Number 2363 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
AMATEUR RADIO RESPONDS TO QUAKE IN TURKEY, SYRIA
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We begin this week with a developing story. A 7.8 magnitude
earthquake shook southern Turkey, northern Syria and neighboring regions on
Monday, February 6th. As the death and casualty counts continued to rise
amid aftershocks, hams deepened their involvement in emergency response.
Jeremy Boot G4NJH gives us the details Newsline had at production time:
JEREMY: With the death toll well into the thousands and many more injured in
the massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake that shook the region along the borders
of Syria and Turkey, Aziz Sasa, TA1E, president of IARU member society TRAC,
arrived at the disaster area shortly after 6th February. He assisted with
frequency coordination for the teams carrying out search operations. Aziz
has been in touch with the IARU region's emergency communications
coordinator Greg Mossop, GØDUB, who provided additional details to Newsline.
Radio has played a pivotal role here on many levels.
Other nations have also responded. Search and rescue teams from Georgia and
Bosnia-Herzegovina arrived with hams among the group. Romania's team had no
amateurs in theirs but was making use of communications equipment supplied
by one of its amateur radio emergency groups. The Turkish emergency
communications group was on VHF and UHF frequencies but also making use of
3.777 and 7.092 MHz as needed.
Little was known at the time of writing about the level of response in
Syria. Newsline will continue to follow this developing story.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(IARU, GREG MOSSOP, GØDUB)
**
BOUVET ISLAND IS ON THE AIR
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Troublesome weather conditions plagued the Bouvet Island
DXpedition 3YØJ (Three Why Zero Jay) during its first days on the air, but
the camp came through the high winds of February 8th without issues after it
was secured. One member wrote on dx-world.net that it was [quote] "the most
extreme expedition I've been to." [endquote]. There were also reports of the
callsign being pirated so those who believe they have worked the island will
only know for sure from the team's uploaded logs on the weekend of February
10th. While doing the uploads on the boat, they will re-stock their
essential food to enable them to continue the DXpedition for another week.
The team has added two streams of FT8 in fox-hound mode. Chasers were
advised to not work the team on FT8 if they already logged a contact on CW
or SSB. The West Coast pilot station, Rich KE1B, said that the team has
scaled back its expectations in response to its current challenges.
Operators had intended to log 200,000 QSOs from the island but according to
Rich [quote] "the team will be lucky to get 20,000 QSOs instead." [endquote]
(DX-WORLD.NET, 3YØJ.NO)
**
SILENT KEY: ORLANDO'S RAYMOND PAUL RICHARD, W4RPR
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: As Orlando Hamcation was about to get under way in Florida
on Friday, Feb. 10th, the ham radio community there was grieving one of its
leaders and top organizers. We hear those details from Jack Parker W8ISH.
JACK: Raymond Paul Richard, W4RPR, of Ocala, Florida, grew up in Michigan
where he became an active amateur radio operator at the age of 14. A
generous donor and life member of the ARRL, he belonged to its Maxim
Society, a group whose membership comprises ARRL benefactors. At the time of
his death on January 30th at age 65, Ray was serving as advance ticket
chairman for Hamcation, which is also the ARRL's Southeastern Division
Convention.
He was active in the Orlando Amateur Radio Club and had previously served as
its membership chairman. His range of work on behalf of the club earned him
the group's KB4UT Wayne Nelson Amateur of the Year award in 2019. The award
is named for the club's former president who became a Silent Key in 2001.
This is Jack Parker W8ISH.
(ORLANDO SENTINEL, ARRL NEWSLETTER)
**
PROTOTYPE WIRELESS SYSTEM CALLED 'POWER-FREE'
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Imagine being able to transmit without having to rely on a
battery or some other external power source. Well, a group of researchers in
Washington State did more than imagine it. We hear the details from Kent
Peterson KCØDGY.
KENT: A research team in Washington state has developed a prototype of
wireless communication that enables a signal to be transmitted by relying on
a byproduct of its circuitry's electrical resistance instead of any external
source of power. This new system differs from previous so-called passive
wireless and backscatter communication systems because unlike its
predecessors, it does not need to make use of sunlight, broadcast TV signals
or ambient temperature differences to provide it with power. The electrical
resistance it uses instead is known as "Johnson noise," the name given to
the charge that electrically conductive materials generate within
themselves. The University of Washington prototype, like its predecessors,
can function on very little power. The wireless - and power-free -
transmission occurs through the opening and closing of a switch - a
transistor - that connects the antenna to a resistor.
Findings by the university development team were released by the university
and published as well on the Hackaday website and by the news organization
known as The Conversation. The researchers write on the university website:
[quote] "Our system, combined with techniques for harvesting energy from the
environment, could lead to all manner of devices that transmit data,
including tiny sensors and implanted medical devices, without needing
batteries or other power sources. These include sensors for smart
agriculture, electronics implanted in the body that never need battery
changes, better contactless credit cards and maybe even new ways for
satellites to communicate." [endquote]
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, THE CONVERSATION.COM)
**
ARDC REPORTS ON (sal061) MILLION IN GRANTS GIVEN IN 2022
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Grant money helped amateur radio grow in new directions last
year. Here's a short accounting from Sel Embee, K B 3 T Zed D.
SEL: The private foundation known as Amateur Radio Digital Communications
continued to spread its support for ham radio and broader communication
science and technology during 2022. According to the annual report released
at its community meeting on January 21st, ARDC distributed 101 grants
totaling (sal061) million last year. It expanded support across international
borders, with 13 percent of that grant money going to programs outside the
United States. Meanwhile, ARDC's plans for the year ahead include providing
funds for 95 scholarships; thirteen of those will be going to support women
who are pursuing degrees in STEM studies.
ARDC's 2022 survey of 44Net usage drew a response that exceeded its
expectations, more than 1700 replies. The system, also known as the AMPRNet
or Amateur Packet Radio Network, is an internet network often used for
scientific and digital purposes.
ARDC also introduced its new technical director. Jon Kemper K-A-6-N-V-Y came
on board at the ARDC in October of 2022. The California amateur brings a
strong background of engineering management experience.
This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.
(ARDC)
**
SKYWARN TEAM OPTS FOR SURPRISE IN NEXT DRILL
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In Western Pennsylvania, some emergency responders are in
for a big surprise - and that's the whole idea behind their next exercise.
We find out why from Randy Sly W4XJ.
RANDY: As amateur radio operators. we are supposed to plan for emergencies,
but we can never plan on emergencies. That’s why such events as the ARRL
Simulated Emergency Tests, or SETs, are good, but participants still know
ahead of time when and where an activity will take place.
So, the Southwest District Skywarn Team Of Western Pennsylvania is building
the element of surprise into their upcoming training exercise. Sometime
before the next SET on April 1st, they will have an unexpected weather
exercise initiated by the Pittsburgh National Weather Service Office. When
SKYWARN is activated, they will then be told how serious the weather event
is, whether there is internet or cell service and the status of power. From
then on, spotters will be deployed and begin their work just as in an actual
emergency. Eddie Misiewicz (Mi-shé-vitz - short e), KB3YRU, president of the
group, told AR Newsline that the unexpected is always part of a normal
activation and that hams will be better prepared for an actual emergency
when their training begins with “Surprise! This is a test.ö
This is Randy Sly, W4XJ
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the KB9LPP
repeater in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin on Saturdays at 9 a.m. and on Echolink.
**
SOUTH AFRICA PLANS A SOTA CELEBRATION
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Hams in South Africa who activate summits throughout that
country are planning to celebration 20 years of those activations. Jim
Meachen ZL2BHF tells us what they have in mind.
JIM: Activators of Summits On the Air in South Africa are marking 20 years
in the programme by urging all participants to either hunt or activate a
summit on the 18th of February. Activators will be posting their proposed
times on the WhatsApp group and Facebook page of ZS-SOTA. South Africa
became part of SOTA on January 1st, 2003 when the first two summits were
activated by Andrew Roos, then using the callsign ZS1AN. On that day,
Andrew, now callsign ZS5U, operated CW from Lion's Head, SOTA number ZS/WC-
058, and MacLear's Beacon, SOTA number ZS/WC-043.
All hams who participate in the 20th anniversary activity will receive a
commemorative certificate.
This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.
(SARL)
**
DEADLINE SET FOR YOTA SUMMER CAMP IN HUNGARY
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Young amateurs hoping to spend part of their summer in
Hungary at YOTA camp have until the end of the month to apply, as we hear
from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
JEREMY: Young amateurs who live in IARU Region 1 have until the 28trh of
February to apply for Youth on the Air summer camp. The camp will take place
from the 5th to the 12th of August in northwest Hungary, near the border
with Austria and Slovakia. Organisers are advising prospective campers to
get in touch with their local IARU youth coordinator to learn how to apply.
There are spots open for 100 campers. Guest teams will be able to attend
from Regions 2 and 3. One of the main goals of the camp is to train young
amateurs to arrange for youth activities in their home countries and get
other young people interested in amateur radio.
This year is the 11th edition of the camp and it is being operated with the
help of the Hungarian Amateur Radio Society, MRASZ. The IARU Youth Working
Group works closely with youth coordinators to arrange for the camp to be
held. Previous years' camps have been hosted by Bulgaria, Croatia and South
Africa.
Anyone who has questions may write to the organisers at youth at iaru hyphen
r1 dot org. (youth@iaru-r1.org).
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(YOUNGSTERS ON THE AIR, IARU REGION 1)
**
HAMS HELP LOST MAN RETURN TO FAMILY IN INDIA
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Hams in India who specialize in helping lost family members
get back home recently assisted with just such a reunion. Here's Graham Kemp
VK4BB with that report.
GRAHAM: In India, a man with hearing and speech impairments and a history of
wandering from home when under stress was reunited with his family with the
help of amateur radio operators. The involvement of amateur radio operators
from Kolkata ended a long search by the family of the 58-year-old man, who
turned up at the religious pilgrimage known as the Gangasagar Mela last
month. The mela was held about 100 km south of Kolkata, which is
headquarters to the West Bengal Radio Club whose hams assist every year to
ensure safety and communications at the pilgrimage. The hams noticed the man
was in distress but because of his challenges, they could not communicate
successfully with him.
According to local media, he turned out to be from Khammam in the Indian
state of Telangana. Members of the club receive special training in helping
communicate with individuals who may be unable to speak or in cases where
there is a language barrier. The club's secretary, Ambarish Nag Biswas,
VU2JFA, said that the man's responses to certain photographs helped them
determine the region where he resides. By late January, the mystery was
solved. The man, who had been moved to living quarters at a local mission,
was successfully identified and his family was contacted by the police.
Ambarish Nag Biswas was able to then communicate with the man with the help
of Ram Mohan Suri, VU2MYH, director of the National Institute of Amateur
Radio, who can speak the man's language, Telugu. Arrangements were made for
his son to retrieve him and return him home.
Dibas Mondal, VU3ZII, assisted in his transfer back to his family with the
help of the police.
This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(TELANGANA TODAY, TIMES OF INDIA)
.
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, be listening for the UN Global Service Center Amateur
Radio club, 4U1GSC, using the call sign 4U13FEB for the month of February.
The special call is on the air to promote World Radio Day, which is marked
on the 13th of February. The club is based in Brindisi, Italy. QSL via
9A2AA, either direct or by the bureau.
Be listening for Alex, K6VHF, who is using the call sign K6VHF/HR9 from
Roatan Island, IOTA number NA-057 until the 15th of February. Alex is
operating FT8, RTTY and some SSB and CW on 80-10 metres. QSL via Club Log's
OQRS, LoTW, or direct to his home call.
Francois, F8DVD, is on the air as TM2ØAAW from the 10th to the 24th of
February and will participate in the 20th Antarctic Activity Week, which
takes place from the 19th to the 26th of the month. He is operating from
France. QSL via LoTW, or via home call, direct or by the bureau.
Listen for Bernhard, DL2GAC, who is on the air from the Solomon Islands
until the 8th of May. His call sign is H44MS and he is operating from
Malaita, IOTA number OC-047, until late April. Listen for him on 80-6 metres
where he will be using SSB and some FT8. QSL to his home call, direct or via
the bureau. He will upload his log to Club Log and LoTW when he returns
home.
(425 DX NEWS BULLETIN)
**
KICKER: (SUPER)BOWLED OVER BY GMRS RADIO
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: You don't have to be a fan of American football to
appreciate our final story this week. You just need to be a fan of radio.
Here's Ralph Squillace KK6ITB to explain.
RALPH: If you're a fan of American football, you might think all the
excitement would be centered around State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
for the big game on Sunday, February 12th. If you're a fan of radio,
however, you know that the Super Bowl isn't the only spot where the action
is. This is the year the NFL - the National Football League - meets GMRS.
The Arizona GMRS Repeater Club decided to open up access to its General
Mobile Radio Service repeater for Super Bowl weekend, from Friday, February
10th through to Sunday, February 12th. Any and all licensed GMRS operators
who've come to town may use the repeater on 462.550 MHz, which is Channel 15
on many radio models. The tone is 141.3 Hz and the mode is narrow band FM.
President Gary Hefley, whose GMRS call is WQUZ645, told Newsline in an email
that on the weekends the repeater is not customarily open to non-members.
It's where the club holds its general and training nets. When one of the
club's members came up with the idea to open it up for Super Bowl visitors,
the board agreed.
Like more than half of the more than 380 club members, Gary is also an
amateur radio operator. his call sign is K7AZL. Everyone knows that in GMRS,
like amateur radio and football, there are rules. As the club said in a
recent press release: [quote] "This is a family friendly repeater, so use
your best judgment. Even if your team loses." [endquote]
This is Ralph Squillace KK2ITB.
(GARY HEFLEY, K7AZL; LLOYD COLSTON, KC5FM)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE - DO YOU HAVE NEWS?
PAUL/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 Amateur Radio Weekly; Amateur Radio Digital
Communications; the ARRL; the Austin Chronicle; CQ magazine; David Behar
K7DB; DX-World.net; Eddie Misiewicz, KB3YRU; FCC; 425 DX News; Gary Hefley,
K7AZL; Greg Mossop, GØDUB; Hackaday; IARU Region 1; John VE1CWJ; Lloyd
Colston, KC5FM; the Quarter Century Wireless Association; Radio World;
shortwaveradio.de; Steve Wright, EI5DD; William Franzin, VE4VR; Wireless
Institute of Australia; WPSD Local 6; 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 Stephen
Kinford N8WB in Wadsworth Ohio 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 10-fev-2023 08:02 E. South America Standard Time
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