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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2273 for Friday May 21, 2021
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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.
***
BILLBOARD CART
**
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 0.6-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.ö [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)
**
BATTERY DEVELOPED IN AUSTRALIA PROMISES IMPROVED ENERGY
DON/ANCHOR: If you're a portable operator always on the lookout for changing
battery technology, this new development from Australia might make you stop
and think. Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us about it.
GRAHAM: A manufacturer in Brisbane, Australia is claiming to have created an
aluminum-ion battery with a charging speed as much as 60 times faster than
that of top-quality lithium-ion cells. The company, Graphene Manufacturing
Group, also says the newly developed aluminum-ion coin cell is capable of
holding three times the energy of other aluminum-based cells. The batteries
are said to last three times longer than the lithium-ion variety.
This development relies on nanotechnology developed at the University of
Queensland, according to a recent article in Forbes magazine. The battery
was created by inserting aluminum atoms into perforations made in graphene
planes.
The company claims that because the batteries lack an upper Ampere limit
that would otherwise cause spontaneous overheating, the batteries are also
safer. The stable base materials also facilitate their recycling later.
The company hopes to bring these cells to market by the end of 2021 or early
2022.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(FORBES)
**
BRIDGING THE GAP: HAM CAM INTERNATIONAL
DON/ANCHOR: With eyeball QSOs becoming less likely during the past pandemic
year, hams have relied on different ways to get together when they're not on
the air. Dave Parks WB8ODF tells us about an international group that
employs a unique hybrid of voice and video that taps into the internet.
DAVE: The friendships that amateur radio operators form over the air have
taken on a new dimension for the 240 or so hams in 45 nations who belong to
Ham Cam International. These licensed amateurs contact each other using
streaming video over internet protocol, or SVOIP, using a streaming video
system known as Jitsi.
Murray Green K3BEQ, one of the core members, told Newsline: [quote] "These
dedicated amateurs have the best of two worlds. They not only communicate
with each other by voice but have the added benefit of video and that makes
a big difference in bonding with each other." [endquote] By adding video,
the hams can visit one another's shacks, tour parts of one another's
countries and have more personalized discussions about their other ham
activities such as DXing, contesting, digital communications and satellites.
He said that this has given an especially big advantage to hams who live in
neighborhoods with antenna restrictions or have financial issues that
preclude them from setting up a home station capable of DX. It's a cultural
exchange featuring amateurs from the US, Africa, Isle of Man, Kuwait,
Australia, Europe, Israel, and elsewhere having round table discussions on a
daily basis. Membership is free to licensed amateurs. Additional details can
be found at hamcaminternational dot com (hamcaminternational.com)
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Dave Parks WB8ODF.
**
ARISS SELECTS 9 US GROUPS FOR 2022 CONTACTS
DON/ANCHOR: A Michigan library; a Long Island, New York Boy Scout district;
and an Ohio high school are among the nine organizations chosen by Amateur
Radio on the International Space Station to begin the planning process for
students to make contacts with crew members on the ISS between January and
June of next year. The successful applicants are: Bellefontaine High School
in Bellefontaine, Ohio; Carter G. Woodson Middle School in Hopewell,
Virginia; Lewis Center for Educational Research in Apple Valley, California;
Matinecock (Muh-TINNA-COCK) District of the Suffolk County New York Boy
Scouts in Medford, New York; McBride High School in Long Beach, California;
Old St. Mary's School in Chicago; Salem-South Lyon District Library in South
Lyon, Michigan; Sussex County Charter School for Technology in Sparta, New
Jersey and the Space Hardware Club in Huntsville, Alabama.
Their selection means each group must now present an equipment plan to
ARISS' technical team describing how they will successfully host the
contact. ARISS will then select the final organizations for the contacts and
place them on the schedule.
(ARISS)
**
ISS RADIO OPERATING IN CROSS-BAND REPEATER MODE
DON/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, the Interoperable Radio System aboard the
International Space Station is active in cross-band repeater mode through
mid-June, according to the ARISS website. The radio will be turned off on
the 2nd of June during the Russians' EVA. The cross-band repeater operates
on an uplink of 145.990, with a 67 Hz tone, and a downlink of 437.800 Mhz.
In mid-June, the radio will change to the Automatic Packet Reporting System
mode. ARISS spokesman Dave Jordan AA4KN told Newsline that since the
interoperable radio system is considered an experiment, modes in use are
subject to change.
(ARISS)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the KD5DMT
Benton County Radio Operators' Repeater System in Arkansas on Saturdays at
1900 Central Time during the Info Net.
**
VIRGINIA EMCOMM STARTUP TO COVER 4-COUNTY REGION
DON/ANCHOR: Disasters can—and do—strike at all times of the year. In one
rural region of Virginia, radio operators have developed a plan that musters
enough communications strength to cover the emergency needs of four rural
counties. For that report we turn to Christian Cudnik K0STH.
CHRISTIAN: The group of hams is small but their agenda is ambitious: They
are organizing so they can assist with hazard mitigation in four small
counties located less than 75 miles southeast of Washington, DC. In this
mostly rural area, hurricanes, ice storms and flooding are all realities—as
is the Lake Anna Nuclear Power Plant. R3EMCOMM, as this startup group is
known, has a core group of about a dozen volunteers working closely
together. Many are also members of the Culpeper Amateur Radio Association.
Their goal is to keep an eye on Culpeper, Orange, Madison and Rappahannock
(Rap-a-HANNOCK) counties.
Program director for administration Mike Murphy KD7PUF told Newsline that
members are asked to use the ARES Task Book as a guide in their planning but
adapt it to the special needs of their communities. Mike said [quote] "We
want to reinvent what we do - providing service, education, and training to
a larger community than just those who want to be hams." [endquote] Toward
this end, the group has also begun working with Culpeper County Civil
Defense. With the help of Al Swann KN4AAA in that office, the hams hope to
coordinate with radio operators using FRS, MURS, and GMRS systems. The group
also has the support of Ed Gibbs KW4GF, assistant section manager for the
ARRL in Virginia, who has been with them since the earliest planning began
two years ago.
Mike said: [quote] "We are learning, one day at a time, and hoping to
grow." [endquote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Christian Cudnik K0STH.
(R3EMCOMM)
**
ICELAND OFFERING NEXT LICENSE TEST ON JUNE 5
DON/ANCHOR: The Post and Telecom Administration in Iceland has set Saturday,
June 5th as the date for the next amateur radio licensing exam. The agency
put it on the schedule at the request of Iceland's national amateur radio
society, which had to delay its teaching sessions this past spring as a
result of COVID-19 restrictions. Test preparation was able to resume earlier
this month to get candidates ready for the exams which most likely will be
held at Reykjavik University.
(SOUTHGATE)
**
AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS SUPPORT INDIANAPOLIS 500 RACE
DON/ANCHOR: Hams, start your engines....or at least your rigs. There's a
special event getting under way for the big car races in Indianapolis. Jack
Parker W8ISH has those details.
JACK: When it comes to special events the W9IMS special event station for
the Indianapolis 500 mile race is second to none. For the 18th year in a
row the W9IMS team is tuning up and listening for contacts for the three
Indianapolis races.
The Amateur Radio race team will be active on 20 and 40 meters for the 105th
running of the Indianapolis 500 mile race May 30th. They will be on the air
beginning May 23rd through Race Day. The eager guys and gals just finished
a week logging contacts for the Indy Car Grand Prix. In August they will
fire up the radios for another week of sideband contacts leading up to the
Brickyard 400.
Making contact with the W9IMS special event station will get you an original
designed QSL card. If you make contact for each race you are also eligible
for a special race certificate. For more details check out W9IMS on qrz.com
Reporting from Indianapolis, home of the famed two and one half mile oval,
this is Jack Parker W8ISH
**
QSO TODAY VIRTUAL EXPO NEEDS PRESENTERS
DON/ANCHOR: The organizers of the next QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo are
looking for radio operators with tips to share to help beginners sharpen
their operating skills or to learn the basics of building. The online expo
will take place on August 14th and 15th and presenters are needed. Each
presenter will be able to create a pre-recorded lecture which will be added
to the virtual platform for playback during the event. Speakers will then be
available in a moderated Zoom room afterward for a Question and Answer
period. To submit an application visit qsotodayhamexpo.com.
Application deadline is June 15th.
(QSO TODAY)
**
TRANS-ATLANTIC BEACON ON THE AIR IN IRELAND
DON/ANCHOR: A transAtlantic beacon has gone on the air in Ireland. Jeremy
Boot G4NJH tells us more about it.
JEREMY: A 2-metre, two-way transAtlantic beacon has completed its on-air
trial period and is now on the air with the call sign EI2DKH. The beacon is
operated by Tony Baldwin EI8JK in County Cork, Ireland. With antennas
beaming due west, the 50-watt beacon transmits on 144.488 MHz every even
minute and listens for replies on 144.120 MHz every odd minute. At least one
other beacon on the other side of the Atlantic is set up to be in listening
mode for Tony's beacon. It's in St. John's, Newfoundland and has the call
sign VO1FN.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(IRTS)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, Ken LA7GIA, the co-leader of the 3Y0J Bouvet Island
DXpedition, reports on the group's Facebook page that the DXpedition has
received a record 00,000 equivalent in US currency from the German DX
Foundation. The group is planning its activation of the coveted DX entity in
2023.
Elsewhere, be listening for Marius ON4RU/OQ3R, who will be in Martinique
using the call sign FM/OQ3R between the 23rd of May and the 5th of June. Be
listening on 160-10 meters where he will be using CW only. You can also
listen for him as Tee-Oh-Three-F (TO3F) during the CQWW WPX CW Contest on
the 29th and 30th of May. QSL both callsigns via ON4RU direct.
Phil, KC3CIB expects to activate Shelter Island in Juneau, Alaska, for a
fishing trip between the 29th and 31st of May. Be listening on the HF bands
where he will be operating mainly using the digital modes. QSL via eQSL or
Direct.
(DX-WORLD)
**
KICKER: MINNESOTA BIRTHDAY PARTY, HAM RADIO STYLE
DON/ANCHOR: Finally—do hams know how to party, or what? Well if you're
turning 163 years of age, as the state of Minnesota just did here in the US,
you definitely want amateur radio to be part of the festivities. Kent
Peterson KC0DGY tells us how it happened.
KENT: What if you could have a birthday party with an unlimited guest list?
Well, if you're the state of Minnesota and the party hosts are the members
of the South East Metro Amateur Radio Club in Cottage Grove, it's easy. The
hams got on the air from a public park in Stillwater on Tuesday, May 11 to
mark Minnesota's 163rd birthday and they partied like it was 1858—the year
Congress gave the territory its statehood. Stillwater is considered the
birthplace of Minnesota, the nation's 32nd state.
Special event station W-Zero-M received birthday greetings on behalf of
Minnesota from hams around the US and Canada. No one sang "Happy
Birthday"—you can't have music on amateur radio, after all—but 20 and 40
meters were lighting up with well-wishers while the operators enjoyed a view
of the scenic St. Croix River from the park.
Ordinarily a birthday party calls for cutting the cake but someone—a local
resident, according to a newspaper report—accidentally cut down the antenna
instead. The news report said that the person mistakenly believed the thin
wire had become caught in the park's fencing. A quick fix, with the help of
a slingshot, put the party back in action until 2100 UTC.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Kent Peterson KC0DGY.
(THE GAZETTE NEWSPAPER, SEMARC WEBSITE)
**
DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR
DON/ANCHOR: This is an important reminder that we are fast approaching the
May 31st deadline to nominate the next Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial
Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year. Time is running out: If you
know a dedicated radio operator 18 or younger who embodies the spirit of
experimentation, community service and communication, they are eligible.
Think of nominating them for this honor. The award will be presented in
August at the Huntsville Hamfest. Candidates should be living in the United
States, its possessions or any Canadian province. Downloadable forms are
available on our website arnewsline.org
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur News Weekly; ARDC; ARISS; the ARRL;
Amateur Radio Digital Communications; CNET; CQ Magazine; David Behar K7DB;
DX World; Forbes; Gazette Newspaper; Ohio Penn DX newsletter; QSO Today;
QRZ.com; Radio Amateur Society of Macedonia; Radio Society of Great Britain;
R3EmComm; South East Metro Amateur Radio Club; Southgate Amateur Radio News;
shortwaveradio.de; Space Flight Now; Ted Randall's QSO Radio Show; WTWW
Shortwave; Wireless Institute of Australia; YouTube; and you our listeners,
that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. Please send emails to our
address at newsline@arnewsline.org. More information is available at Amateur
Radio Newsline's only official website at arnewsline.org. Be sure to follow
some of these stories as they get a more indepth look on the YouTube Channel
of 100 Watts and a Wire. Search for the video segment with the title "Two
Stories."
For now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and our
news team worldwide, I'm Don Wilbanks AE5DW in Picayune, Mississippi saying
73. As always we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.
73 de Bill, PY2BIL
PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 21-mai-2021 14:26 E. South America Standard Time
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