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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2326 for Friday May 27th, 202
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2326 for Friday May 27th, 2022
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2326 with a release date of Friday May
27th, 2022 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Hamvention returns to Xena and so do the hams.
Amateurs make contact with China's Mars Mission -- and CQ magazine welcomes
this year's Hall of Fame inductees. All this and more as Amateur Radio
Newsline Report Number 2326 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
HAMVENTION RETURNS TO XENIA AFTER TWO-YEAR ABSENCE
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: This week's newscast offers expanded coverage of the first
Hamvention to be held in the United States after two years of pandemic
cancellations. Paul Braun WD9GCO was among those there - and he gives us a
wrap-up of the weekend.
PAUL: Thousands of hams once again converged on the Greene County
Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio as Hamvention returned after a two-year absence
due to COVID-19. Judging by reports from attendees, people were definitely
ready to come back. The weather was typical for Hamvention, and a storm did
come through late on Saturday, but anyone who's been to Hamvention knows
that rain is nothing unusual.
The Hamvention committee, along with all of the volunteers from the Dayton
Amateur Radio Association, planned a full schedule of events and forums that
were well-attended. The vendor buildings were fairly full, with a few
noticeable vendors from years past absent, but those that did set up had, by
all accounts, a good amount of traffic.
The legendary Hamvention flea market did seem slower than in recent years
according to eyewitnesses. However, with the threat of storms and the still-
uncertain COVID conditions, coupled with higher-than usual gas prices, it
didn't seem out of line.
There were also many offsite events, including open houses at DARA and the
National Voice Of America Museum of Broadcasting.
Our congratulations to the Hamvention Committee and all of the DARA
volunteers on a job well done. It was good to see Hamvention return, and we
at Newsline hope to return to Hamvention next year.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO reporting from Xenia,
Ohio.
**
CQ MAGAZINE INDUCTS 2022 HALL OF FAME MEMBERS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The annual Dayton contest dinner held during the Hamvention
weekend on May 21st saw the induction of two new members into the CQ Contest
Hall of Fame. Recipient David Pascoe, KM3T, is well-known for his
championships and record scores as well as his charitable work as a
volunteer pilot for those with medical needs. Craig Thompson, K9CT,
developer of the North American Collegiate Championship program, was the
other recipient, recognized for his work with Contest University and
numerous other initiatives. CQ's Amateur Radio Hall of Fame added seven new
names, three of whom are Silent Keys. They are the late jazz pianist Robert
Ringwald, K6YBV; Franklin Antonio, N6NKF, philanthropist and cofounder of
chipmaker Qualcomm; and Wolf Harranth, OE1WHC/OE3WHC, Radio Austria
International broadcast journalist. The other inductees are R. Scott Wright,
KØMD, Mayo Clinic physician leading the team developing COVID-19 treatment
with convalescent plasma; Peter Marks, AB3XC, the physician leading the
team at the US Food and Drug Administation overseeing COVID-19 vaccines,
treatment and testing; Les Kramer, WA3SGZ, developer of prosthetic devices
for lower limbs and Roy Lewallan, W7EL, author of the EZNEC antenna
modelling software that has set standards for ham radio antenna design.
(SOUTHGATE, CQ MAGAZINE)
**
A NEW CHAPTER FOR LIBRARIES ON THE AIR
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Elsewhere in Ohio, amateurs have been gearing up to activate
a place known mostly for offering study and quiet contemplation: the local
public library. Jack Parker W8ISH tells us about this upcoming event.
JACK: Now here's one for the books - in this case, the library books as well
as the log books. It's an activation by the Western Reserve Amateur Radio
Club called Libraries on the Air. It's happening on Saturday, June 18th at
the Youngstown Public Library Main Branch in Ohio. This first-time
activation is inspired in part by the working relationship the hams already
have with the county library system, which has been hosting the club's
holding workshops, license classes and testing sessions.
Just like any popular library book, this event has started to go into
circulation. Amanda Farone, KC3GFU, the club's secretary, told Newsline that
a club in Missouri plans to participate on the same day and activate one of
their local libraries. There's also been interest from a club in Kentucky.
Amanda told Newsline: [quote] "We would love for this to go nationwide at
some point and get as many libraries activated as possible." [endquote]
Amanda said the event is being run in a style similar to Parks on the Air
but for now, paper logs and Excel-type spreadsheets are being accepted until
a logging software can be developed in time for next year's event. Amanda
said that if the event gains enough traction, the club's activation can
expand beyond the main branch to all 11 libraries in the county. Hams will
be on the air from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time. You won't need to carry a
library card but keep those QSL cards handy.
For additional details, send an email to libraries o t a at gmail.com
(librariesota@gmail.com)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker W8ISH.
(AMANDA FARONE, KC3GFU)
**
SILENT KEY: NOTED SELLER OF ELECTRONICS SURPLUS GOODS JOHN BIRKETT, G8OPP
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A name well-known for decades to radio enthusiasts in Great
Britain has become a Silent Key. We hear about his remarkable life and
career from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
JEREMY: Radio components of every kind imaginable were a speciality for John
Birkett G8OPP who opened his first shop, J Birkett, in Lincoln in 1960. With
that small business, John served subsequent generations of radio
enthusiasts, supplying hard-to-find components and surplus equipment,
everything from military and test devices to wire and cables. John was also
a friendly, familiar face at radio rallies where he became a much-sought-out
attendee.
John became a Silent Key at the age of 93 on 30th April. His death was
recently reported on a number of ham radio news sites. His obituary on the
website of the Radio Society of Great Britain recalled how his shop evolved
into more than a collection of components and equipment; it was a gathering
spot for those who shared the bond of radio and the spirit of
experimentation and creativity. His motto was "not a piece of junk in
sight."
A post dated 20th May on the website Hackaday paid tribute to what was
ultimately the worldwide presence of this very local shop: [quote] "Though
many of you from beyond where this is being written may never have heard of
him, the chances are that if you follow electronics enthusiasts from the UK,
you will have unwittingly seen items which passed through his hands."
[endquote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(RSGB, HACKADAY, SOUTHGATE)
**
SILENT KEY: RICHARD MACKAY VK2HRM, HAM CLUB FOUNDING PRESIDENT
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: One of the architects of the Snowy Mountains Amateur Radio
Club in New South Wales, Australia, has become a Silent Key. With that
report, here's Jason Daniels VK2LAW.
JASON: Richard MacKay VK2HRM didn't just help bring the Snowy Mountains
Amateur Radio Club into being in the early 2000s; he served as its president
to shepherd it through its earliest days. The New South Wales amateur, whose
love of radio was ignited by his earliest adventures on citizens band,
became a Silent Key on the 4th of May.
An appreciation of his life, penned by Bill Steptoe, VK2ZZF, and posted on
the club's website, said that Richard, an automotive engineer by profession,
was also the guiding force behind the club's VK2RSM repeater systems. The
systems operated on 70 cms, 2m and 6 m and had links to repeaters in
Jindabyne and Nimmitabel. According to Bill's post about Richard, his health
had been failing in recent years and that curtailed his active involvement
with the club.
Bill wrote: [quote[ "Richard will be greatly missed as a friend and great
mate." [endquote]
Richard was 61.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels VK2LAW.
(SNOWY MOUNTAINS ARC WEBSITE, MONARO POST)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline heard on bulletin stations around the world including the KV3B
repeater in Rockville, Maryland on Sundays after the net at 7:30 p.m. local
time.
**
HEIL REBRANDS AMATEUR RADIO DIVISION
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Heil Sound Communications, well-known in the amateur
community and in the world of professional audio, has announced a rebranding
of its Ham Radio division. The division website has been redesigned and its
product packaging will also have a new look. The company said that after
having given a new look to its pro division last year, it realized it was
time to overhaul the ham radio side. Heil Sound said in a statement that the
changes achieve the goal customers had requested, creating an entity
separate from the pro side of the market. The company was established by Bob
Heil K9EID decades ago. A change in ownership within the company was
announced in February of this year, with Bob staying as CEO emeritus and
continuing his involvement in amateur radio product design.
(HEIL SOUND, ICQ PODCAST)
**
LAST CHANCE TO NOMINATE YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you are hearing this report before May 31st, you still
have time to nominate a talented young radio amateur for Newsline's Bill
Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award. Consider sending us the name
and qualifications of a licensed radio operator 18 years of age or younger
who lives in the continental United States. Find details and application
forms on our website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab. Remember our
deadline is May 31st.
**
AMATEURS RECEIVE TRANSMISSIONS FROM CHINA'S MARS MISSION
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Almost a year after its launch, China's Mars mission has
made contact with hams here on Earth. Ed Durrant DD5LP has those details.
ED: AMSAT-DL reports that it has successfully received transmissions from
Tianwen-1, the Chinese Mars mission. According to a recently published
report, this took place at Bochum Observatory in Germany using a 20-meter
antenna and GNU radio. GNU radio is free open-source software used to create
software-defined radios. The report, written by Daniel Estévez EA4GPZ, Mario
Lorenz DL5MLO and Peter Gülzow DB2OS, said that the Chinese spacecraft has
been successfully tracked using a real-time GNU radio decoder that has
stored 10 months' worth of transmitted telemetry information. By
interpreting the telemetry variables, the GNU radio was able to track the
mission, which began with its launch on July 23rd of last year.
The paper was first published for GNU Radio Conference 2021 held last
September in North Carolina. The radio conference for 2022 is scheduled for
September in Washington, D.C.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.
(SOUTHGATE)
**
SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO LEAGUE HISTORY PROJECT NEEDS HELP
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: History isn't always what it seems and so the South African
Radio League is reaching out to amateurs there who may have documents and
artifacts that better tell the story of how the league was created. John
Williams VK4JJW brings us that story.
JOHN: Amateur radio forever looks forward to the next generation to ensure
its survival but the South African Radio League has begun looking back - way
back - to better discover its identity. Sorting through the scrapbooks in
the garage of a Silent Key has led some league members to conclude there's
more to its history than was previously known. That has led to a project at
the National Amateur Radio Centre, the league's headquarters, involving a
bit of a treasure hunt. Amateurs in South Africa are asked to sort through
old magazines and other materials they have that contain insights into the
league and its predecessor organisations. Hams are also being asked to look
at programmes from past years' annual general meetings as well as photos
taken there. The project would welcome original material or anything that
can be scanned or photographed or perhaps brought to the National Amateur
Radio Centre. If you have anything to share, please contact the centre.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams VK4JJW.
(WIA)
**
SOUTH AFRICAN CLUB SCHEDULES YOUNGSTERS' FOX HUNT
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: While some hams in South Africa may be hot on the trail of
radio history, members of the Sandton Amateur Radio Club ZS6STN have been
more concerned with tracking two radio foxes named Fred and Fiona. The club
has organized a fox-hunting event for amateurs and their families scheduled
for Sunday the 29th of May. The foxes are carrying VHF emergency rescue
beacons but according to the club's scenario, will be lost in the park and
in need for the youngsters to be their rescuers. Participants are asked to
bring their HTs, an antenna and oh yes, their appetites for lunch afterward.
Hopefully Fred and Fiona will be found in time to share in the menu too.
(SOUTHGATE)
**
PRIDE RADIO GROUP PREPS FOR INTERNATIONAL CONTEST
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Get ready for the first international contest being
organized by the Pride Radio Group. It's a big moment for this still-young
Australia-based organization, as Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us.
GRAHAM: Barely two years after its founding, the Pride Radio Group is
hosting its first contest for hams worldwide during pride month, which
begins in June. The contest, CQ Pride, will be held from June 4th to June
6th. It is open to amateurs in single and multi-operator categories on all
HF non WARC, VHF and UHF bands and using all usual modes.
Organiser Michaela, VK3FUR, said that the Pride Radio Group event is a
celebration of diversity within the amateur radio community. Michaela said
that small clubs and individual newcomers are especially welcome. Contacts
can be on CW, phone and digital and may be made using satellites, repeaters,
hotspots and internet links provided RF is involved in at least one hop.
Participants may spot other stations but not themselves.
Additional details are available at the link provided in the text version of
this week's newscast script at arnewsline.org.
[FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ: https://prideradio.group/contest ]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(PRIDE RADIO GROUP)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, be listening for special event call sign 9M22DX from
West Malaysia between June 1st and the 30th. The activation is designed to
promote mountain radio operation as well as DX. Between June 3rd and 5th,
this callsign will be used from the Bukit Perangin summit on various HF
bands and modes. For the rest of the month, the activation will continue as
a DXpedition. QSL to 9M2CDX direct or via ClubLog.
Leonard, K1NU, will be active as K1JV from Shelter Key in Key Colony Beach,
Florida between June 11th and 18th. Listen on various HF bands where Leonard
will be using CW and FT8. QSL direct to the home call, to ClubLog or via
LoTW.
(OHIO PENN DX)
**
KICKER: AT HAMVENTION, LOST AND FOUND AGAIN
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We end this week with a story of one of the unexpected
bonuses of going to Hamvention this year. It's not finding a good price on a
new rig or antenna or even winning a grand prize at a drawing. It's
discovering something - or someone - believed to have been lost long ago.
Mike Askins KE5CXP brings us that story now.
MIKE: When the organizers of Hamvention declared it would be a Reunion
Weekend this year after two years of pandemic cancellations, they had no
idea how true the word "reunion" would ring for two hams in attendance.
Shortly after Jocelyn Brault (pronounced "BRO") KD8VRX/VA2VRX and Jeff
Menard (MAY NARD) VA2SS were introduced to one another by a mutual friend,
Jeff had a flash of recognition and told Jocelyn: [quote[ "You look
familiar, don't I know you?" [endquote] Jocelyn, who lives in Ohio but is
originally from Montreal, didn't think so, especially since Jeff is from
Quebec. He was certain Jeff was mistaken. Still, Jeff kept pressing for
details as both of them continued talking and it turns out his hunch was
right: The pair had known one another a lifetime ago: It was on a campus in
Sherbrooke, Quebec, where both had been college students. Jeff and Jocelyn
were nearly 30 years younger at the time and neither one had taken that leap
yet into amateur radio.
Fast-forward now to the Xenia Fairgrounds, former college friends from Canda
reunited in Ohio by amateur radio.
The two exchanged call signs, their contact information and a promise to
stay in touch - on and off the air. All it took was the fine-tuning of
Hamvention's Reunion Weekend to put two friends back on the same wavelength.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mike Askins KE5CXP.
(JOCELYN BRAULT, KD8VRX/VA2VRX)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amanda Farone, KC3GFU; the ARRL; CQ Magazine;
David Behar K7DB; DXWorld.net; Hackaday; Heil Sound; ICQ Podcast; Jocelyn
Brault, KD8VRX/VA2VRX), Monaro Post; Ohio Penn DX; Pride Radio Group;
QRZ.com; Snowy Mountains Amateur Radio Club; the Radio Society of Great
Britain; South African Radio League; Southgate Amateur Radio News;
shortwaveradio.de; Wireless Institute of Australia; 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 Stephen Kinford N8WB in Wadsworth Ohio saying 73.
As always we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2022. All rights reserved.
73 de Bill, PY2BIL
PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 27-mai-2022 08:01 E. South America Standard Time
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