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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2299 for Friday November 19th,
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2299 for Friday November 19th, 2021
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2299 with a release date of Friday
November 19th, 2021 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Welcome to the newest hams in space. An antenna
that's the smallest of the small -- and a Florida shack pays tribute to a
ham who gave his all to his community. All this and more as Amateur Radio
Newsline Report Number 2299 comes your way right now.
***
BILLBOARD CART
**
WELCOMING THE NEWEST HAMS IN SPACE
DON/ANCHOR: We begin this week by putting out the welcome mat to some new
radio amateurs on board the International Space Station. One of them's even
in charge of the crew! Neil Rapp WB9VPG picks up the story from here.
NEIL: Congratulations to Raja Chari, KI5LIU, the newest commander of a NASA
space mission. Raja and his three fellow members of SpaceX Crew-3 are now
aboard the International Space Station, having made the trip aboard the
Endurance, which launched on Wednesday, November 10th. According to the
Associated Press, the US Air Force test pilot from Iowa is the first rookie
to command a NASA mission in several decades. The mission is expected to
last six months.
It promises to be a busy six months for the crew, which includes Matthias
Maurer KI5KFH from the European Space Agency. The German astronaut will be
involved in more than 35 experiments while on board the ISS. He will also be
using the German callsign DP0ISS [Pron: DP ZERO ISS] during a dozen
scheduled contacts with German schools through the Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station program. The first of those contacts is set for
a school in Bavaria sometime between the 29th of November and the 5th of
December.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG.
(AMSAT, SPACE FLIGHT NOW, SCITECHDAILY, SPIEGEL.DE)
**
ISS ASTRONAUTS DODGE DEBRIS
DON/ANCHOR: For now, the newly constituted crew of the ISS is keeping a very
low profile. The Russian military's intentional destruction of an old
Soviet-era intelligence satellite has launched a cloud of space debris into
low-Earth orbit. That's a prime location for pieces to potentially strike
and damage the ISS or any other LEO satellite. As noted in an article on the
National Geographic website, the expanding universe of space junk has
spurred an even more critical need for space agencies, such as NASA, to
track the paths of these fragments. While space agencies sorted out the
situation, the astronauts were told to take shelter in the two capsules
attached to the ISS, which could bring them back to Earth in an emergency.
NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP later called the experience [quote] "a
great way to bond as a crew." [endquote]
(NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, NPR)
**
SMALL ANTENNA, BIG POSSIBILITIES
DON/ANCHOR: Think you don't have room for an antenna? Researchers are
experimenting with one antenna that's so small it might just blend into the
wallpaper. Dave Parks WB8ODF explains.
DAVE: Imagine an antenna that doesn't look like an antenna. Scientists at
Princeton University's Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education
have done just that. They're basing their work on something called large-
area electronics, which allows electronic circuits to be created on material
that is both thin and flexible. As a result, they're hoping to develop an
antenna array that could be incorporated into something as thin as wallpaper
or even a skin patch. Their findings are published in the October 7th issue
of Nature Electronics.
A report on the Phys.org website quotes Naveen Verma, the senior author of
the study, describing how the researchers adapted zinc-oxide thin-film
transistor technology for wireless use. They created a phased array of
antennas in a row that is 30cm, or one foot, long.
Lead study author Can Wu of Stanford University said this phased array
allows for point-to-point wireless communication. Although phased arrays are
already employed by cellular networks, radar systems and satellites,
scientists are seeing this new development as showing promise for handling
even more ranges of radio frequencies than ever before. Scientists said that
to add to their usefulness, the antennas could be located practically
anywhere—even as wallpaper in a room—making it potentially compatible with
devices being driven as part of the internet of things.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Dave Parks WB8ODF.
(PHYS.ORG)
**
END OF AN ERA FOR HAM-OWNED BUSINESS IN NEW ZEALAND
DON/ANCHOR: A business begun as a partnership nearly 3/4 of a century ago by
a pair of amateur radio friends in New Zealand has new owners. Jim Meachen
ZL2BHF brings us up to date.
JIM: Seventy-four years after two amateur radio operators opened their
retail doors as the New Zealand electronics business known as Jackson &
Wills, the company has been sold.
Jackson & Wills, which is located in Invercargill, bears the names of
Douglas Jackson ZL4GM and Maurice Wills ZL4GY, who became friends through
amateur radio after World War II. In recent years, the company was run by
the second generation: Maurice's son, Lindsay. Lindsay, who worked at
Jackson & Wills for 34 years, noted that the inventory gradually shifted
from analogue to digital equipment, reflecting the changes in technology.
The buyer, Ashley Communications, has been in busines since the 1930s and
was among the first to sell the original Tait mobile radios. According to a
story on the Southland Times website, the Jackson & Wills staff will remain
on the job after the sale closes.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.
(WIA, Southland Times newspaper)
**
GRANT HELPS IRISH RADIO GROUP UPGRADE STORM-HIT STATION
DON/ANCHOR: A prominent amateur radio group in Ireland can finally do some
necessary repairs. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us why.
JEREMY: The weather has taken its toll on the station equipment where
EI0MAR is operated by the Howth Martello Radio Group. The coastal location
has left such antennas as a commercial Cobwebb and an HF vertical victimised
by weather extremes. The group is going shopping for a new antenna and now
they also have a grant of 800 euros, the equivalent of about Sally00 in US
currency, to help with this and other needs, such as an up-to-date PC and a
new rig. The Irish Radio Transmitters Society website announced that the
grant is from its PAR, or Promoting Amateur Radio, fund.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(IRTS)
**
WYOMING AMATEURS HELP COUNTY TEST EMCOMM TRAILER
DON/ANCHOR: In Wyoming, radio operators have just completed a test that will
help their county respond better to emergencies. Christian Cudnik K0STH
tells us more.
CHRISTIAN: A large trailer could be seen parked in the lot at the Sheridan
Community Land Trust's trailhead on November 13th, but its presence had
nothing to do with any hiker using that Wyoming trail. Sheridan County
Emergency Management had parked the vehicle, its new EmComm trailer, to
conduct communications testing with the assistance of volunteers from the
Cloud Peak Amateur Radio and Electronics Group WY7SHR. The test was
particularly vital to fire and law enforcement departments as well as EMS.
Ryan Curry WY7RDC, Cloud Peak's president, told Newsline that the county
asked the hams to participate so they would become familiar with operations
in the trailer, which they'd helped build. The hams' involvement was also
needed because of their ability to set up cross-patch communications if the
dispatch center, or primary frequencies, fail.
It was a long day with an important mission. Ryan said the test was a first
for the club, which deployed three amateurs to operate mobile and kept one
at a base station monitoring the club's repeater as a backup. Following the
fire warden's maps, the hams used county HTs to determine the limits of
communication coverage at various locations, pinpointing any dead spots. The
club is looking for more amateurs to participate in their EmComm activities.
Please visit their website at cloudpeakradio dot org. (cloudpeakradio.org)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik K0STH.
(RYAN CURRY, WY7RDC)
**
TWO-DAY CELEBRATION OF INDIAN AMATEURS' 100 YEARS
DON/ANCHOR: When they couldn't hold their national hamfest as planned, hams
in India decided to celebrate ham history — and you can participate too!
Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us about it.
GRAHAM: Although COVID-19 precautions spurred organisers to postpone Hamfest
India until 2022, the Hamfest India 2021 organising Committee went ahead
with plans to offer a national celebration online, marking 100 years of
amateur radio in India. The commemoration of amateur radio's centenary in
India was hosted by the Mysore Hams on the 13th and 14th of November, using
the Zoom platform. The committee included Shankar Prasad VU2SPK and Madhukar
VU2MUD.
The two-day programme was livestreamed on YouTube and a recording is
available for viewing on the HamfestIndia 2021 channel there.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(YOUTUBE)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the KA1AAA
repeater and Echolink Conference server in Bradenton Florida on Sundays at
0000 UTC.
**
FRANCE DROPS FEE FOR AMATEUR EXAM
DON/ANCHOR: There is some good news for candidates for the amateur radio
exam in France: They can put away their wallets. Jeremy Boot G4NJH gives us
the details.
JEREMY: Candidates for the amateur radio exam in France no longer pay a fee
for the test and the operator certificate. France's National Frequency
Agency made the announcement recently on its website, advising hams who have
already paid that they may be eligible for reimbursement. The qualifying
terms of that reimbursement will shortly be posted on the agency's portal.
Letters will also be sent out to qualify amateurs, enabling them to apply
for a return of the fees.
This announcement is the latest reduction in costs for ham radio operators
in France. In 2019, the ANFR removed the annual fee for the radio licence
itself.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(SOUTHGATE, ANFR, ICQ PODCAST)
**
NETS OF NOTE: THE ILLINI NET'S BUSY WITH POSTGRADUATE ACTIVITIES
DON/ANCHOR: Our occasional series, "Nets of Note," looks at how and where
hams gather on the air. Paul Braun WD9GCO introduces us to a dedicated
collective of university alumni with an especially dedicated net control.
PAUL: We love to celebrate our seniors in the hobby, and Earl Finder W9CGZ,
at 98 years old, definitely qualifies. Yes, he’s been licensed since 1947,
but what brought him to our attention was the fact that he’s been running
the Illini Net out of Champaign/Urbana, Illinois daily since 1976! According
to Finder, it all started when he retired:
FINDER: When I retired, I made arrangements with a ham who had lived here
but moved to California to get on the air the next day. And we did - we
thought we’d just get on the air once in a while, but eventually it got to
the point where we were on there every day!
Eventually it got pretty widespread around the country with a lot of people
from Champaign/Urbana, Illinois where I live, and graduates from the
University of Illinois, and people who were stationed at Chanute Field for
many years and little by little it just grew until we had quite a few people
from all over the country who would check in.
PAUL: Finder told me it’s not just for U of I graduates or people from that
area:
FINDER: We have all kinds of people - we have PhDs, research scientists,
NASA engineers, we’ve had people contact us while flying airliners over the
US, military pilots while they were in the air, people on ships and on-the-
road truck drivers, too. All kinds of people.
PAUL: If you want to check out the Illini Net, it starts every day at 11:30
AM Central on 14.320MHz, plus or minus. Sounds like a great way to meet a
wide variety of hams.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Paul Braun, WD9GCO
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, be listening for the callsign HF150KCH and 3Z150PO
(Three Zed One Fifty Pee Oh), activated by the Klubu (Clue-Boo) Lacznosci
(Watch-Nawgee), SP2KFQ, from their club station until November 30th. The
activation is part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first
railway line in Chojnice (Hoy-Kneetsuh), where their club station is
located. QSL to the PZKBureau OT09 to SP2KFQ. See the club's QR Zed webpage
for details on how to apply for the award for the 150th anniversary of the
railway line.
Be listening for Vladimir OK2WX, who is on the air as 5H3WX from Zanzibar
until the 3rd of December. Listen on 80 through 10 metres where he will be
using CW and SSB. Send QSLs to HA3JB.
Listen for John Paul, KN6NNF, in Uganda where he is using the callsign 5X3Z
on 20 and 10 meters using FT8. QSL to 5X3Z via LoTW.
(OHIO PENN DX)
**
KICKER: REMEMBERING RUDY HUBBARD WA4PUP SK
DON/ANCHOR: Finally, we ask: What's in a name? If it's the name newly
bestowed on an ARES shack in Escambia County, Florida.....PLENTY! Kevin
Trotman N5PRE concludes our newscast with that story.
KEVIN: The Amateur Radio Emergency Service room inside Escambia County,
Florida's Public Safety building, proved to be a fitting place to dedicate a
plaque honoring the late Rudy Hubbard WA4PUP. Named in Rudy's memory on
November 12th, the room works hard to keep people in northern Florida safe —
just as Rudy himself did until his death last May at 97.
To many amateurs, he was perhaps best known as the longest continuously
seated section manager for the ARRL in North Florida. To others, such as
Gene Bannon KB4HAH, he was a lifelong friend and an understanding Elmer.
Gene said one of Rudy's gifts to his community was his development of the
section's first formally organized emergency plan, which laid out guidelines
later adopted by other ARRL sections.
Bill Hayden, WY8O (W Y 8 OH), said Rudy had a calming influence in tough
situations and knew what buttons to push to make things happen. To Bill and
many others, he was a father figure.
Gene said that when Hurricane Ivan battered Florida in 2004, Rudy was able
to secure a replacement for a critical 2m repeater that failed—and he
ensured that it became operational within 24 hours to restore communications
with shelters, distribution centers and various agencies. Gene remembered
too how in 2005, Rudy rallied other section managers to arrange for
interstate amateur radio response when Hurricane Katrina struck in
Mississippi and Louisiana.
Shortly before his death, Rudy requested that his shack be dismantled and
its contents sold to benefit the Five Flags Amateur Radio Club. But Rudy's
expertise, his friends and of course, his name are together in another
shack, the ARES room where volunteers continue much of Rudy's good works.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman N5PRE.
(GENE BANNON KB4HAH, BILL HAYDEN WY8O, PATCH.COM)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to AMSAT; Bill Hayden WY8O; CQ Magazine; David
Behar K7DB; Gene Bannon KB4HAH; the ICQ Podcast; Irish Radio Transmitters
Society; National Geographic; NPR; Ohio Penn DX; Patch.com; QRZ.com;
Phys.org; Ryan Curry WY7RDC; SciTech Daily; Southgate Amateur Radio News;
Southland Times newspaper; Spiegel.de; shortwaveradio.de; Wireless Institute
of Australia; YouTube; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur
Radio Newsline. You can write to us at newsline@arnewsline.org. 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.
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
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BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 19-nov-2021 09:09 E. South America Standard Time
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