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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2366 for Friday March 3rd, 202
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2366 for Friday March 3rd, 2023
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2366 with a release date of Friday
March 3rd, 2023 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Caribbean island communities strengthen their
emergency networks. Hams are asked to join a solar-eclipse study -- and
Hamvention organizers announce this year's award winners. All this and more
as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2366 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
ISLANDS RECEIVE RADIO DONATION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE
NEIL/ANCHOR: An Australian company's donation of HF radios and antennas is
moving amateurs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines closer to the development
of improved islandwide HF emergency response -- an important element in an
area often battered by hurricanes. Graham Kemp VK4BB brings us that report.
GRAHAM: When emergency radio equipment from Barrett Communications arrived
from Australia on the 14th of February, the director of the Rainbow Radio
League/Youlou (YOO LOO) Radio Movement noted that the date was Valentine's
Day and declared the delivery [quote] "a gift of love." [endquote] Donald
DeRiggs, J88CD, said he was grateful for the donation - the third of its
kind provided by Barrett for emergency use in St. Vincent and the
Grenadines. The equipment is not only a useful way to bolster communications
during hurricane season but a way to safeguard areas such as those that were
left vulnerable during the eruption of the volcano, La Soufriere in 2021.
The Australian company has taken an active role in helping the island
communities. Previous donations by Barrett were used to assist the island of
Dominica in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017. Donald said that as
soon as this new equipment can be programmed and deployed there will be
drills in May or early June to prepare for the coming hurricane season.
The latest shipment was transported to Kingstown from the air cargo facility
by Leslie Edwards J88LE. It included HF radios, portable solar panels, spare
microphones, a portable antenna mast and broadband dipoles.
This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(DONALD DE RIGGS, J88CD)
**
SENSORS ON BOARD ISS TO STUDY IONOSPHERE
NEIL/ANCHOR: The US military is getting ready to do some intense testing on
the ionosphere, via the ISS. We have those details from Kent Peterson
KCØDGY.
KENT: Two ionospheric sensors will be tested on board the International
Space Station this spring in an experiment designed to ultimately improve HF
radio communications for the US Department of Defense. The website, Breaking
Defense, reported that the sensors are to be sent to the ISS in March. The
US military has been revisiting the importance of HF radio as an alternative
to satellites, having realized that US satellites could become compromised
or destroyed by enemy attack. HF bands are already being used by the three
branches of the US military for some long-range communications.
Andrew Nicholas, one of the lead researchers on the sensor project, told the
Breaking Defense website that the sensors will be measuring ionospheric
particle density and its impact on the radio waves passing through it.
He said the data from the tests will help in the development of better
ionspheric monitoring models. Eventually the military might even consider
creating satellites that would constantly monitor such important ionospheric
changes to assist in the performance of HF communication.
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(BREAKING DEFENSE.COM)
**
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR HAMSCI STUDY OF SOLAR ECLIPSES
NEIL/ANCHOR: As any ham knows, signal reports matter. Well, they're about to
matter even more for those radio enthusiasts who are participating in a
citizen science project taking place during two solar eclipses, this year
and next year. For that story, we turn to our newest correspondent Patrick
Clark, K8TAC, who was also Newsline's Young Ham of the Year in 2001.
PATRICK: There will be a little bit of competition and a whole lot of
research going on later this year for participants in a QSO party organized
by Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation, or HamSci. Volunteer radio
operators and shortwave listeners will join researchers at a number of US
universities sending, receiving and recording signals during the October
14th solar eclipse. The data will be collected and used for testing computer
models of the ionosphere to assess its variability. This is the first of two
eclipses over North America that HamSci will be studying. The second one is
on April 8, 2024.
Both Solar Eclipse QSO Parties encourage the use of CW, SSB and digital
modes on 160-6 meters. At the same time, hams who operate CW and digital
beacons, WSPR and FST4W, will be able to take part in the Gladstone Signal
Spotting Challenge.
Registration starts in July. Organizers stress the importance of this
opportunity. As they say on the project's website [quote]: "If we miss the
chance to collect meaningful data in 2023 and 2024, it will be decades
before North American hams and researchers get another opportunity."
[endquote] For details, visit hamsci dot org [hamsci.org]
This is Patrick Clark K8TAC.
(HAMSCI)
**
SILENT KEY: FORMER FCC CHIEF ENGINEER RAY SPENCE, W4QAW
NEIL/ANCHOR: A noted contester and DXer who had once been the chief engineer
for the Federal Communications Commission has become a Silent Key. We learn
more about him from Jim Damron N8TMW.
JIM: Raymond Spence, W4QAW, was so devoted to contesting and DXing that a
1984 newspaper interview with him described the traffic-stopping view his
collection of towers provided to motorists who would see them from a nearby
highway. The Washington Post article noted that much of the six and a half
acres of Raymond's property in Virginia served him well. Raymond, who was
retired from the post as chief engineer for the FCC in nearby Washington,
DC, became a Silent Key on February 18th, due to heart failure.
Born in 1929, he was an active ham for much of his life. His basement radio
room served as his main contest station and he was a top performer in many
major contests. He is listed on the DXCC Honor Roll and was a member of the
National Capitol DX Association and the Potomac Valley Radio Club.
This is Jim Damron N8TMW.
(WASHINGTON POST, DX NEWS.COM, QRZ.COM)
**
HAMVENTION AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
NEIL/ANCHOR: If you want to know who's REALLY looking forward to Hamvention
this year, consider this list of amateurs who'll be coming to Dayton to
receive some awards. Paul Braun WD9GCO has the details.
PAUL: Hamvention has announced this year's award recipients. I spoke with
awards committee chair Michael Kalter, W8CI, about them.
KALTER: First is the special achievement winner, Dr. Jason McDonald, N2TPA.
He’s just been instrumental in promoting international friendship and
community through amateur radio by forming scouting clubs in Canada,
Philippines, and Florida. Right now there are more than 500 youth in these
clubs that have been licensed and are on the air.
KALTER: This year’s Technical Achievement Award goes to Dr. James Breakall,
WA3FET, and his work’s been so instrumental in amateur radio antenna
technology development for decades. He’s teamed with experts in the field to
develop state-of-the-art advancements with a wide range of applications
including the Numeric Electromagnetic Code, NEC.
KALTER: Amateur of the Year goes to Carsten Dauer, DM9EE. He’s been active
in European amateur radio through WRTC and YOTA for 30 years. But more
recently, he has spearheaded a group called DM9EE-Helping Hands, a movement
to provide amateur radio equipment to war-torn Ukraine by collecting
donations and delivering them personally to communities in Ukraine.
PAUL: Amateur Radio Club of the Year goes to The Delaware Valley Radio
Association, formed in 1930 to serve the Trenton, New Jersey metropolitan
area.
To read more, visit Hamvention’s website, hamvention.org. Congratulations to
the winners from all of us at Amateur Radio Newsline.
**
MAJOR INDIAN BROADCASTER HONORS WEST BENGAL HAM
NEIL/ANCHOR: Congratulations to Ambarish Nag Biswas VU2JFA, secretary of the
West Bengal Radio Club in India, who were Newsline's International Newsmaker
of the Year for 2019 and 2022. At a recent ceremony in Kolkata, he was given
the Ananya Samman award from Zee News, a Hindi broadcast channel that is
part of one of India's largest media companies. He told Newsline this was a
special honor for him as the first amateur radio recipient. The award is in
recognition of the club's life-saving work during cyclones, the pandemic and
in other areas of public concern. Newsline joins him in celebrating this
achievement.
(YOUTUBE)
**
IN SEARCH OF 'YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR'
NEIL/ANCHOR: We remind our listeners that young hams who live in the
continental United States have an opportunity to make news, if they aren't
already doing so, by being a recipient of this year's Amateur Radio Newsline
Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award. Consider nominating an
amateur radio operator 18 years of age or younger -- someone who has talent,
promise and a commitment to the spirit of ham radio. Find application forms
on our website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab. Nominations are now
open and close on May 31st.
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the WA7ABU
repeater in Willamette Valley Oregon on Saturdays at 6 p.m. local time.
**
FIRST-TIME PARTNERSHIP FOR WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY
NEIL/ANCHOR: The theme of World Amateur Radio Day this year is a recognition
of the vital role ham radio has played in a number of world crises. John
Williams VK4JJW tells us what's planned.
JOHN: In an unprecedented partnership, the International Amateur Radio Union
is being joined by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security and the
World Academy of Art and Science to mark World Amateur Radio Day on the 18th
of April. The organisations have declared the theme of the day to be Human
Security for All, or HS4A.
The theme arises out of the partners' shared belief that hams have a unique
means to fulfill the United Nations' mission of providing human security for
individuals around the world. The campaign the partnering groups have
launched together honours ham radio's proven track record in responding to
natural disasters, the pandemic, climate change and even armed conflicts -
the many things that undermine individual security without regard to
national boundaries. This important concept was declared a priority by the
United Nations in 1994.
Ham radio gains its advantage as a responder by providing technical
knowledge, practical skills and backup systems that provide a security net
in times of crisis.
The IARU, which has membership societies in more than 150 nations around the
world, made the announcement on its webpage for Region 1. A two-week event
will be held on the air from April 11th through to the 25th highlighting the
HS4A campaign for World Amateur Radio Day.
This is John Williams VK4JJW.
(IARU REGION 1)
**
PARKS ON THE AIR INTRODUCES 48-HOUR CONTEST
NEIL/ANCHOR: Operating portable in the park just gained a little more of a
competitive edge. Dave Parks WB8ODF explains.
DAVE: A new activity being introduced this June by the Parks on the Air
organizers is going to be different from the casual portable outdoor
operating experience activators and hunters enjoy. This is a contest. For 48
hours, hams will collect contacts and points as part of the new Parks on the
Air Plaque Event, which is intended to become an annual competition. In a
YouTube interview with Kevin Thomas W1DED, POTA president Jason Johnston,
W3AAX, explained the different categories available to both hunters and
activators and explained that anyone who made their first POTA contact after
June 2, 2022, is eligible for the additional category of rookie.
Participants must be registered with POTA and can use CW, SSB and the
digital modes. Hams will not be permitted to use the WARC bands.
As for multipliers, there are none. This keeps the playing field level so
that everything - even multiple reference areas - will be worth a single
point.
This is Dave Parks WB8ODF.
NEIL/ANCHOR: The contest will be held on HF, VHF, UHF and SHF. For a look at
the rules and other details for the event, see the link in the text version
of this week's Newsline report at arnewsline.org
[FOR PRINT ONLY:
https://docs.pota.app/docs/award_events/plaque_event/plaque_event.html ]
**
LONGTIME 40M NET IN INDIA AVAILABLE AS LIVE STREAM
NEIL/ANCHOR: One of the oldest nets held among radio amateurs in India has
begun a live stream. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF has those details.
JIM: The origins of the Belgaum Hambel Net predate the internet by several
decades, when a group of young shortwave enthusiasts in the city of Belgaum
would get together to study for their ASOC examination in the physics lab of
a local college where Pal, VU2PAL, was a professor. By 1973, the group - now
licensed hams - had grown. In 1973 they formed the Hambel Amateur Radio
Club. By 1988, the hams had agreed to have regularly scheduled QSOs with one
another on 7.052.5 MHz - and little by little the on-air circle of friends
grew to include those living outside the immediate area. The net was
formally launched by Professor Pal in November 1989. He moved it to 7.050
MHz and gave it a name - the Hambel Belgaum Net. He was also its first and
most active net control. According to the club's website, by the time he
became a Silent Key in 2016, he had logged tens of thousands of QSOs via the
net alone.
The group's well-established 40-metre net tradition continues today from 7
a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Indian Standard Time, but the world has recently begun
listening in. The net now uses YouTube to livestream its check-ins, with net
controllers Bebu, VU2PNU, Omprakash, VU2KOC, Joshi, VU2BRJ, and Yaseen,
VU3PMY.
You can listen too. See the link to one of the more recent nets in the text
version of this week's script at arnewsline.org
This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.
[FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRw9qluW9WY ]
(HAMBEL NET WEBSITE, YOUTUBE)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, Phil, VA3QR, is operating from Panama throughout March,
using various call signs depending upon his location. Those call signs
include HP1/VA3QR, HP3/VA3QR and HP8/VA3QR. He will be using SSB and the
digital modes. QSL to his home call.
Listen for Matt, ZL4NVW, who will be activating several SOTA summits on
Secretary Island off the Fiordland coast from the 7th
to the 13th of March. He will be on 40m through 10m, SSB only. Secretary
Island uses the IOTA designation OC-203 for the South Coastal Islands of New
Zealand. QSL to his home call.
Listen for Robert, OK2PYA, operating as EA6/OK2PYA from various World Wide
Flora & Fauna areas on Mallorca in the Balearic Islands, IOTA EU-004 until
the 7th of March. He is using CW on 40-10 metres. QSL via Club Log's OQRS
and LoTW.
(425 DX BULLETIN, DX-WORLD.NET)
**
KICKER: THE HEIGHT OF GRATITUDE FOR A SUMMIT RESCUE
NEIL/ANCHOR: For our final story, we visit with a SOTA activator who is
recovering from serious injuries after a fall on a summit. While he is
healing, he plans to active a campaign of gratitude for his rescuers. Here's
Jeremy Boot G4NJH with that story.
JEREMY: It was just a few weeks ago that Alan 2EØJWA had hopes of scoring 4
points plus a 3-point winter bonus for activating the largest summit in his
immediate area, G/SP-001 Kinder Scout in the Peak District National Park.
His goal on that day in January came crashing down with him when he fell on
a piece of black ice on the well-marked summit path, shattering his left
leg. He expects that after two surgeries, he will be back on his feet by
mid-May - perhaps even back on the air for a summit by summer.
As he tells colleagues on the SOTA Reflector, however, he might not be
making those plans at all were it not for the kind souls who first rushed to
his aid on the trail to stabilise him -- and then for the welcome arrival of
the volunteer team he describes in his blog as "angels in red coats," the
Glossop Mountain Rescue Team. It was a complicated rescue but they moved him
safely off the hill just as snow showers were threatening to arrive.
Alan is now asking others on the SOTA Reflector and the ham community to
help inspire some kind of special event or thank-you gesture for helping to
keep this SOTA activator alive. To Alan, the winter bonus for that summit
truly belongs to the angels in red coats.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(SOTA REFLECTOR, 2EØJWA BLOG)
**
DO YOU HAVE NEWS?
NEIL/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 Breaking Defense.com; CQ magazine; David
Behar K7DB; Donald De Riggs, J88CD; DX-World.net; FCC; 425 DX News; Hambel
Net; HamSCI; Parks on the Air; RadioWorld SOTA Reflector; the 2EØJWA Blog;
shortwaveradio.de; Washington Post; YouTube 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. We also wish a happy 21st
anniversary to the Summits on the Air awards scheme, created March 2nd,
2002. For now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York,
and our news team worldwide, I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG in Union Kentucky 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 03-mar-2023 07:59 E. South America Standard Time
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