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PY2BIL > ARNR 24.12.21 17:23l 350 Lines 15191 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2304 for Friday December 24th
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2304 for Friday December 24th, 2021
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2304 with a release date of Friday
December 24th, 2021 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. A first-time activation of a South Pacific Island.
A solar probe 'touches' the sun -- and Newsline's annual Christmas card to
our listeners. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number
2304 comes your way right now.
***
BILLBOARD CART
**
NEW IOTA ACTIVATED BY TEAM FROM INDIA
DON/ANCHOR: We begin this week's report with a group of adventurous
DXpeditioners. They have succeeded in activating a new Island on the Air in
the South Pacific, in a quest worthy of the 19th century science fiction
masterwork, "Mysterious Island" by Jules Verne. Here's Graham Kemp VK4BB.
GRAHAM: It is not science fiction, but radio fact, that the Manic Monkeys
team of radio operators made a 600 kilometre journey this month from
Bangalore, India to Sao Jorge Island, designated AS-177 by IOTA, activating
the remote island for the first time. They had gone in search of the
fictional Lincoln Island that appears in Jules Verne's classic novels but
the adventuresome hams with the callsign AT7SJ were also in search of QSOs.
Between December 3rd and December 6th, they logged 1,600 such contacts on
SSB, CW and FT-8, while camped in difficult terrain, according to team
leader Madhu Prasad, VU3NPI. Madhu told Newsline of other discoveries:
[quote] "The island had mysterious propagation conditions: the signals would
go up and down like the tide and mysteriously close abruptly on all bands
with S9 noise." [endquote]
Madhu said that the team had been landlocked in India for two years by the
pandemic and were still grieving the loss of the team's Elmer, Dev VU2DEV,
to cardiac arrest. Now they can proudly add this uninhabited, thickly
forested, island to their earlier activations of St. Mary's Island AS-096
and Danushkodi Island AS-173.
Madhu told Newsline that the team unfortunately did not find mysterious
Lincoln Island, nor did they locate the Aquaphone, the fictional wireless
device used by Jules Verne's protagonist, Capt. Nemo. They're leaving that
quest - and Lincoln Island - for 2022.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(MADHU PRASAD, VU3NPI)
**
NASA SOLAR PROBE 'TOUCHES' THE SUN
DON/ANCHOR: With Solar Cycle 25 upon us, who isn't even a little bit
obsessed with the sun? So this news from NASA is well-timed, as we hear from
Neil Rapp WB9VPG.
NEIL: NASA has announced a milestone moment in the life of the Parker Solar
Probe: this year it reached the corona of the sun, a move into the solar
atmosphere that is expected to yield more - and more detailed - insights
into space weather. The US space agency is commenting only now on the
achievement, which happened last spring, three years after the probe's
launch, following the publication of a recent paper in the Physical Review
Letter, which discussed the latest chapter of the Parker probe's journey.
NASA said the probe's entry into the super-hot corona meant it was [quote]
"flying into the eye of a storm." [endquote] Once there, it studied solar
wind and examined magnetic patterns known as "switchbacks" which have their
origins on the surface of the sun itself.
The paper's lead author, Justin Kasper, was quoted by National Public Radio,
as saying that entry into the corona lasted for several hours and was an
expected and much-anticipated occurrence. The probe, which is built to
tolerate more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, is expected to re-enter the
corona in January of 2022.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG.
(NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, SPACE.COM)
**
OPEN SOURCE WORKSHOP AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE
DON/ANCHOR: YouTube once again provides an opportunity for those who missed
an amateur radio event. This one's on Open Source CubeSats. Here's Ed
Durrant DD5LP.
ED: If you missed a chance to attend the Open Source CubeSat Workshop held
virtually on December 9th and 10th, you can still view the two days of
presentations by visiting the Libre Space Foundation Channel on YouTube.
This virtual workshop held on Zoom was its fifth iteration since its launch
four years ago in Germany.
The opening remarks by Artur Scholz, DO4ALS, of the Open Source CubeSat
Workshop Committee, stressed the importance of open-source CubeSats as a
means of conducting small space missions. Developers and mission operators
attended the online sessions to collaborate, compare notes and build
community. As with previous sessions, attendees participated as members of
research institutes, businesses, learning institutes or as individuals.
See the link to the two days of presentations in the text version of this
week's script at arnewsline.org
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.
[FOR PRINT: DO NOT READ, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?
list=PLCzrYL9QmZiR7vmiQBZYV9E2WGyDmiC3m]
(AMSAT, YOUTUBE)
**
NEW LICENSE LEVEL PROPOSED FOR IRELAND
DON/ANCHOR: Some changes are in the works for Ireland's amateur radio
licenses. Jeremy Boot G4NJH brings us up to date.
JEREMY: ComReg, the Irish telecommunications agency, plans to introduce a
new level of amateur radio licence at either a novice or entry level,
targeting younger licence candidates in particular. Ireland presently has
only one class of ham radio licence. The recommendation is outlined in the
agency's recent statement on a Strategy for Managing the Radio Spectrum from
2022 to 2024.
ComReg describes the rationale behind the introduction of the new licence,
which would not require full knowledge of HAREC – the Harmonised Amateur
Radio Examination Certificate. The document further states that Ireland is
interested in [quote] "nurturing, developing and deploying STEM talent and
the availability of a novice licence would enable the amateur radio service
to act in the national interest." [endquote]
Some clarification would still be needed with respect to CEPT, which has
separate definitions and suggested syllabi relating to Entry, Novice and
Full licences.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(COMREG, SOUTHGATE)
**
HAM INVOLVEMENT SOUGHT FOR MOON MISSION
DON/ANCHOR: Japan's space agency is looking for hams to participate in the
mission of a very tiny, ULTRA tiny, moon lander. John Williams VK4JJW tells
us what's involved.
JOHN: The JAXA Ham Radio Club JQ1ZVI has a date with the moon in February
and is hoping to take the world's amateur radio community along for the
ride, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, is looking for
amateur radio operators to receive telemetry from the transmitters on board
its 6U CubeSat, which it is calling OMOTENASHI. The 70cm amateur band
signals will be sent from both the orbiting satellite and the moon lander.
Described as the world's smallest moon lander, it will transmit on UHF only.
Although there is a ground station in Japan at Wakayama, hams around the
world will be asked to listen for the transmissions on 437.41 MHz.
More details about the project and how to QSL the reception of transmissions
can be found on the JAXA Ham Radio Club website. We are including a link to
that in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm John Williams VK4JJW.
[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ:
https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/omotenashi/JHRCweb/jhrc.html ]
(JAXA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB)
**
CONTEST UNIVERSITY ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS
DON/ANCHOR: Are you ready for Contest University at Dayton Hamvention? Well,
you still have a few months before it happens of course but don't let that
stop you from registering. Contest University takes place at the Hope Hotel
in Dayton, Ohio, on May 19, which is the day before Hamvention itself opens.
Returnees will notice that this is a change of venue. It's closer to the
Hamvention site at the fairgrounds in Xenia and will be the home of all
official contesting activities.
You can register and get more details at the website contestuniversity dot
com.
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the K5ARC
repeater in Gonzales, Louisiana on Thursdays at 8:15 p.m. local time.
**
DUTCH REGULATORS CRACK DOWN ON ANTI-5G DEVICES
DON/ANCHOR: Fearing radioactive transmissions from 5G mobile networks'
towers, people in the Netherlands may have placed themselves in greater
danger by wearing what they believe to be protective devices. Jeremy Boot
G4NJH has that story.
JEREMY: The very devices such as necklaces, bracelets and sleep masks that
have made claims to shield people from what some fear is radioactivity from
5G mobile networks' towers, according to Dutch officials, have themselves
been emitting ionising radiation at hazardous levels.
A report in the BBC says that the Dutch authority for nuclear safety and
radiation protection (ANVS) have issued a warning about the products,
telling people there could be long term hazardous effects. The agency has
ordered a halt to the sale of these devices.
The BBC report quoted the World Health Organization's assertion that like
amateur radio signals, 5G mobile networks make use of non-ionising radio
waves that do not pose a danger, adding that they are similar to the 3G and
4G networks already in use.
Some people fear damage to their DNA from such transmissions and in extreme
cases, this has led to attacks on the transmitters and towers.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(BBC)
**
ALL HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS IS SOME DX
DON/ANCHOR: A father and son in Washington State have been celebrating the
holiday season, ham radio style. Ralph Squillace KK6ITB has that report.
RALPH: There's little question what might have been on Jacob Hoschar's
Christmas list this year. The Washington State youngster had already
celebrated having his first wish fulfilled: getting upgraded from Technician
to General Class. That made KY7HAM a very happy 11-year-old indeed. Now he's
ready for the world of HF and all of its adventures. The journey began a
year ago when Jacob's school was shut during the pandemic. He and his
father, Andrew, studied together to become hams together and got their
licenses one week apart from one another. Their father-son journey is
documented on the YouTube channel set up by proud father, K7OWN. One of the
videos shows Jacob making his first contact via satellite. Now with his
appetite sufficiently whetted for DX, he's ready to cross oceans and
continents via radio and start filling that log. For this freshly minted
General Class operator, the world is his, this holiday season.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, members of the Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society in
the UK are using the following special callsigns to celebrate Christmas in
Market Harborough and saying farewell to 2021. They'll be on the air through
December 31st. Be listening for GB1XMS on 30 meters using CW; GB2XMS, on HF
using SSB and FT8; GB5XMS , mainly using Data as well as CW and SSB; and
GB9XMS, using mainly FT8. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
Be listening throughout January for special event station OZ50Q. Danish
Radio Amateurs will be marking the 50th anniversary of Her Majesty Margrethe
II, the Queen of Denmark's, accession to the throne. Send QSLs to OZ1ACB,
ClubLog's OQRS, eQSL or LoTW.
Get ready for an international radio marathon called Russian New Year 2022.
The Russian Union of Radio amateurs, the Miller-DX-Club and the
HAMLOG.ONLINE portal will begin the marathon starting at 0000 UTC on
December 25th and finish at 2100 UTC on January 14th. Callsigns include, but
are not limited to, RG22NY, RJ22NY, RK22NY, RL22NY and RM22NY. For the full
list see the website mdxc.ru. The QSL manager for all the special callsigns
is RQ7L.
Bob, PY6TV, and a small team of Brazilian radio operators will be using the
callsign ZY6A from Friars Island, Brazil, between January 20th and the 23rd.
Listen on all HF bands for all modes.
(OHIO PENN DX)
**
KICKER: NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HAM RADIO STYLE
DON/ANCHOR: We end this newscast with a Newsline holiday tradition - a ham
log instead of a yule log. We again offer this much-loved adaptation of the
Clement Clarke Moore classic as read by Jim Damron N8TMW.
JIM: Twas the night before Christmas and all through the shack
The rig was turned off and the mic cord lay slack
The antenna rotor had made its last turn, the tubes in the linear
had long ceased to burn.
I sat there relaxing and took off my specs, preparing to daydream of
Armchair DX-- When suddenly outside I heard such a sound, I dashed
out the door to see what was around.
The moon shone down brightly and lighted the night. For sure
propagation for the low bands was right.
I peered toward the roof where I heard all the racket and there was
some guy in a red, fur-trimmed jacket!
I stood there perplexed in a manner quite giddy: Just who WAS this
stranger? di di dah dah di dit?
He looked very much like an FCC guy who'd come to check up on some
bad TVI.
I shouted to him: "Old man...QR-Zed?"
"Hey you by the chimney all dressed up in red!"
I suddenly knew when I heard sleigh bells jingle
The guy on the rooftop was Jolly Kris Kringle
He had a big sack full of amateur gear which was a big load
for his prancing reindeer.
Transmitters, receivers, for cabinets and racks
Some meters and scopes and a lot of coax.
He said not a word 'cause he'd finished his work.
He picked up his sack and he turned with a jerk.
As he leaped to his sleigh, he shouted with glee
And I knew in a moment he'd be QRT.
I heard him transmit as he flew o'er the trees
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all seventy-three."
"Ho Ho Ho"
Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.
(AUTHOR UNKNOWN)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to AMSAT; the ARRL; the BBC; CQ Magazine;
Comreg; Contest University; David Behar K7DB; JAXA Amateur Radio Club; Madhu
Prasad, VU3NPI; National Public Radio; Ohio Penn DX; QR Zed.com; QSO Today;
Radio World; Southgate Amateur Radio News; Space.com; shortwaveradio.de;
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, Merry Christmas, and 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 24-dez-2021 13:13 E. South America Standard Time
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