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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2467 for Friday, February 7th,
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From: PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2467 for Friday, February 7th, 2025
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2467 with a release date of Friday,
February 7th, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Ham radio prepares for the first polar-orbit
spaceflight. Austria's historic short-wave station is demolished -- and hams
in Turkey activate in memory of a Silent Key. All this and more as Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2467 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
HAM TO TRANSMIT SSTV IMAGES FROM 1ST POLAR-ORBIT SPACEFLIGHT
JIM/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us high above the North Pole and the South
Pole. A ham radio operator is one of four astronauts scheduled to orbit the
Earth in the weeks ahead via both poles -- for the first time -- as we hear
from Graham Kemp VK4BB.
GRAHAM: A ham radio operator is one of four astronauts who will be aboard
the first spaceflight to orbit the Earth via the North and South poles. The
mission aboard the Fram2 is scheduled to last anywhere from 3 to 5 days
after its scheduled launch sometime after the 1st of March. The spacecraft
‘s name is a tribute to the Fram, a Norwegian-built ship used on expeditions
to both poles during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The space mission’s pilot Rabea Rogge of Germany is that nation's first
female astronaut. She holds the amateur radio callsigns LB9NJ and KD3AID.
She will transmit SSTV images using the amateur radio equipment on board.
Although the images are to be sent as part of a high school and university
competition for students, the images may also be received by any amateur
radio operator capable of receiving SSTV transmissions. After the mission is
complete, the images will also be available for viewing on the SSTV gallery
of Amateur Radio on the International Space Station.
This is also an ambitious scientific research mission. Flying an estimated
425 to 450 km above both poles, the flight is expected to present
unprecedented views of both polar regions. The crew will conduct a variety
of scientific experiments on board.
Rabea’s crew mates on the Dragon spacecraft will be commander Chun Wang of
Malta, vehicle commander Jannicke Mikkelsen of Norway and mission specialist
Eric Philips of Australia.
Additional details about the mission and each crew member can be found by
following the link that appears in the text version of this week’s newscast
at ARNewsline.org
[Do not read: https://f2.com/ ]
This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(AMATEUR RADIO DAILY, FRAM2 WEBSITE, SPACEFLIGHT NOW)
**
AUSTRIAN SHORTWAVE SITE DISMANTLED
JIM/ANCHOR: What was once radio history in Austria is now, as expected,
reduced to rubble. We have details from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
JEREMY: The historic short-wave radio transmitting site at Moosbrunn,
Austria, has been dismantled. The Austrian newspaper, Der Standard, reports
that the demolition in late January marks the end of a long episode in
broadcast history. The destruction was described in the newspaper as [quote]
"a precise, targeted explosion." [endquote]
The facility, built during the Cold War Era, had once been home to Radio
Austria International. After Radio Austria went off the air in 2003, the
transmitter was used by international broadcasters such as Radio D.A.R.C. a
programme produced by the German national amateur radio society. After the
closure of the Moosbrunn site at the end of December 2024, Radio D.A.R.C.
moved to the short-wave station in Woofferton, England, which has been
carrying it since January.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(RADIO WORLD, DER STANDARD.DE)
**
GET READY FOR WORLD RADIO DAY
JIM/ANCHOR: World Radio Day, February 13th, was adopted in 2012 by the
United Nations to acknowledge radio's role in people's lives everywhere.
Although the focus is usually on broadcast radio services, amateur radio
will be involved in some events around the world. This year's theme is
"Radio and Climate Change." One of the many international events happening
involves the Shanghai Coast Radio Station XSG, which maintains a Global
Maritime Distress and Safety System as well as Morse code telegraph
services, The station is hosting a two-day Crossband Event in which the
radio station will communicate via CW with amateur radio operators, with
each side transmitting on their authorized frequencies while monitoring the
other party's frequencies. The event runs from 00:00 UTC on the 12th of
February to 00:00 UTC the next day.
For a list of amateur radio frequencies that XSG will be monitoring for ham
transmissions, see the text version of this week's newscast at
arnewsline.org
[DO NOT READ:
3521.3-3526.3kHz
7021.3-7026.3kHz
10121.3-10126.3kHz
14021.3-14026.3kHz
21021.3-21026.3kHz
(SWLING POST; RADIOREFERENCE.COM)
**
TURKISH AMATEURS ACTIVATE IN MEMORY OF EARTHQUAKE VICTIM
JIM/ANCHOR: Hams in Turkey are remembering a friend and fellow amateur who
lost his life two years ago when a deadly earthquake rocked the region.
Jason Daniels VK2LAW tells us what they're doing.
JASON: Mustafa Asim Ezer, TA8DX, was 44 years old and, with his wife, he was
eagerly awaiting the birth of a daughter in just a few days when a
catastrophic earthquake shook Turkey on the 6th of February, 2023. They had
even picked out the baby’s name: Pera.
An avid radio operator, mountaineering enthusiast and search-and-rescue
volunteer, Mustafa did not survive the 7.8 magnitude quake, which shook
southern Turkey, northern Syria and neighbouring regions.
His fellow amateurs are using the special event callsign TC8DX through the
17th of February to honour the memory of one of their own - a businessman
and outdoorsman who gave back so generously to his community. His fellow
hams are remembering him as the founder of an amateur radio association in
Kahramanmaras and an active supporter of many activities on HF and the VHF-
UHF bands.
Mustafa’s final gesture of support to his community came in 2023, shortly
before his death. He was among those activating special event station
TC100TC to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of
Turkey.
Two years later, his fellow hams now mark a more somber anniversary and
remember their friend.
This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.
(425DX BULLETIN, TADX.ORG)
**
BRAZIL'S NAVY OKs 1ST ARCHIPELAGO DXPEDITION IN 23 YEARS
JIM/ANCHOR: For the first time in 23 years, amateur radio operators have
been granted permission for a DXpedition from a South American archipelago
in the Atlantic Ocean. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has the details.
JEREMY: A DXpedition is going forward to the St. Peter & St. Paul Rocks in
the Atlantic Ocean after ham radio operators with the Araucßria DX Group
received permission to operate. The team said that the authority came from
the Brazilian Navy, which operates a research station on the archipelago's
major islet, Belmonte. The activation of the callsign PY0S will signal the
first activation of its kind from the archipelago since the PTØS DXpedition
in November of 2012. The Araucßria team plans to travel in October or
November to the site, which is the 14th among ClubLog's Most Wanted DX
entities.
According to a press release, the hams have a goal going beyond calling QRZ.
They said they want to "increase world-wide awareness of this unique rock
formation and the role played by the Brazilian Navy in scientific research
and study of this extremely difficult and rare environment." [endquote]
The operation will not be on the rocks themselves. As stipulated by the Navy
permit, the team will be on a boat anchored not far from the shore. Five
Radios in a Box will be used for operating CW, SSB and FT 8 on 160 through
to 6 metres. There will be six local operators: Adrian KO8SCA, Fred PY2XB,
George AA7JV, Mike KN4EEI, Peter PY5CC and Tomi HA7RY, along with a number
of remote operators.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(ARAUCARIA DX GROUP, 425 DX BULLETIN)
**
AUSTRALIAN REGULATOR FINALIZES LICENSE-FEE CHANGES
JIM/ANCHOR: Faced with the upcoming sunset of methods used to calculate fees
for repeaters, beacons and some apparatus amateur licenses, the Australian
Communications and Media Authority has finalized small changes it is making.
These changes, based on a new methodology, will take effect after the 1st of
April sunset of the previous method. The result is that repeaters, beacons
and non-assigned apparatus licenses will be assessed 2.62 annually. The
changes do not affect those holding Australian class licenses, which have no
annual fees. The ACMA said in its February 5th announcement that it has not
yet finalized its apparatus license tax reforms for radionavigation-
satellite service repeaters.
(ACMA)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline heard on bulletin stations around the world including the
Montgomery Amateur Radio Club's KV3B repeater in Rockville Maryland on
Sundays at 7:30 p.m. local time.
**
HAM CLUB LIVES THE GOOD LIFE IN RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
JIM/ANCHOR: Life is good in one senior living community in Maryland, where
retirees have a small but active ham club - and respectable log of contacts.
Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us about them.
ANDY: The Charlestown Amateur Radio Club KB3CAN has an outlook that is
anything but retiring. With only a small membership in a Maryland retirement
community, the club recently completed Winter Field Day with 95 digital and
SSB contacts in the log. Last summer, members were active in in ARRL Field
Day and the Maryland QSO Party.
The club has something else to celebrate - the second year since its rebirth
on the grounds of Charlestown Senior Living, a nonprofit retirement
community in suburban Catonsville that provides continuing care ranging from
independent living to skilled nursing.
Club president Gary Rogers KO3F [Kay Oh Three Eff] said that although the
community has a long history of having an amateur radio club, the original
club had to be dismantled more than a decade ago to accommodate building
renovations. When Gary moved there in 2022 and discovered that his
apartment’s construction made it difficult to get on the air easily, he met
with two members of the original club to start things up again.
Gary told Newsline in an email that the administration wasn’t just on board
but became part of the rebirth. He said [Quote] “The administration not
only approved but assigned their maintenance staff to run the coax through
the conduit to the roof and install the antennas with me supervising.ö
[Endquote] Installations were completed by November of 2023 - everything
from the grounding system to ensuring the roof warranty was not compromised
by the presence of antennas. There are 10 club members ranging from their
70s to their 90s.
Gary said the club recently developed the capability to do Winlink, a global
email system that uses radio frequencies instead of the internet. The club’s
next step is to explore how members can get on the air remotely from their
apartments.
This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.
(GARY ROGERS, KO3F; PATCH.COM)
**
DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR SOFTWARE AWARD NOMINEES
JIM/ANCHOR: You have until the 28th of February to nominate your favorite
ham radio open source software project for the 6th annual Amateur Radio
Software Award! This international honor promotes free innovative software
that enhances the ham radio experience. Past winners include David Rowe,
VK5DGR, for Codec 2, Anthony Good, K3NG, for Arduino CW Keyer and Jordan
Sherer, KN4CRD, for JS8Call. Find award rules and the official nomination
form at A R S award dot com. (arsaward.com)
(AMATEUR RADIO SOFTWARE AWARD)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, Mika [MEE Kuh], OH2FFP, is operating as OJ1ABOA from
Aboa Research Station, Antarctica, IOTA number AN-016 until the 12th of
February. QSL via OH2FFP.
Listen for Bruno, VE3BRU operating as S79/VE3BRU from Mahe [MAH HAY], IOTA
number AF-024, Seychelles until the 20th of February, using CW and SSB on
40-10 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
Bernhard, DL2GAC, is using the callsign H44MS from Malaita [MUH-LIGHT-A],
IOTA number OC-047, in the Solomon Islands between the 9th of February
through to the 7th of May. He will be calling QRZ on 80-6 metres using SSB
and FT8. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
The special-event callsign II3MPL [EYE EYE THREE MPL] is on the air through
the 1st of May, marking the 50th anniversary of ARI Merano/Meran IQ3MP. See
QRZ.com for QSL details.
Marty, KE4TT, is on the air as P4/KE4TT from Aruba, IOTA number SA-036 until
the 11th of March, using CW, SSB and FT8 on various HF bands. See QRZ.com
for QSL details.
(425 DX BULLETIN)
**
KICKER: SQUIRRELING AWAY A PERSONAL TREASURE
JIM/ANCHOR: For this week's final story, we tell you about one SOTA
activator's highest summit of achievement. It's actually no bigger than a
card that could fit in his wallet. We hear about him from Ralph Squillace
KK6ITB.
RALPH: Ray, KD8EQA, is still a few weeks away from achieving Mountain Goat
status as a SOTA activator -- but even in the three-plus years he's been
involved in Summits On The Air, the Colorado ham has found many kinds of
meaningful recognition, most of them with a connection to animals. As a SOTA
chaser, he received a Rooster Award from his friend Steve, WGØAT, after 50
successful contacts with activators on Mt. Herman. This unofficial honor was
granted in memory of Steve's two beloved goats, Peanut and Rooster. Ray
later became an official Shack Sloth, achieving 1,000 points chasing summits
throughout Colorado.
As both the elevations and Ray's point score began to soar, so did his
enchantment with the natural beauty around him. Becoming a ham in 2021, it
didn't take long for the avid hiker to step out with his portable gear: His
first SOTA activation was on Mt. Antero [ANN TERRO], a so-called
"fourteener" for its 14 thousand plus feet above sea level. Enchanted by
nature's vistas and animals - from moose to hummingbird - Ray has had his
share of what he considers "wow moments."
What he received in June of 2023 has no equal in his eyes. It was not the 4
points he got that day for his activation on Devil's Head summit. No, Ray
was in the national forest specifically to visit the active fire tower,
where Ashley, the tower's lookout officer, had promised to present him with
a card bestowing membership in something the Forest Service called the
Ancient and Honorable Order of Squirrels. An internet search shows that, at
least since the 1940s, the forest lookouts have presented these cards at
active fire towers around the US to raise public awareness of the perils of
forest fires.
To Ray, there is no greater honor than being a card-carrying Forest Service
squirrel. The card is a tangible reminder of all that was once good in our
world so long ago and still surrounds us now. "I cherish this," he told
Newsline: [quote] "It is one of the most valuable things I own." [endquote]
This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.
**
What? You haven't sent in your amateur radio haiku yet for Newsline's haiku
challenge? Take a break - go QRT for just a few minutes - and set your
thoughts down using traditional haiku format - a three-line verse with five
syllables in the first line, seven in the second and five in the third.
Share your ham radio experience, poetically, and then submit your work on
our website at arnewsline.org
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to the ACMA; Amateur Radio Daily; David Behar
K7DB; Der Standard.de; 425DXNews; the Fram2 website; Gary Rogers, KO3F;
Patch.com; radioreference.com; Radio World; Spaceflightnow.com; SWLing Post;
TADX.org; Wireless Institute of Australia; 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. For now, with Caryn
Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and our news team worldwide,
I'm Jim Damron N8TMW in Charleston West Virginia saying 73. As always we
thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2025. All
rights reserved.
73 de Bill, PY2BIL
PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
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BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 07-fev-2025 08:14 E. South America Standard Time
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