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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2354 for Friday December 9th,
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2354 for Friday December 9th, 2022
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2354 with a release date of Friday
December 9th, 2022 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. A young amateur's balloon makes an incredible
journey. A new record is set for the lowest ham band in Australia -- and
meet the receipient of Newsline's International Newsmaker of the Year Award
for 2022. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2354
comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
A SOUTH POLE 'FIRST' FOR AMATEUR RADIO BALLOON
NEIL/ANCHOR: Our top story this week asks: When is a transmitting error not
really an error but a triumph? When those transmissions are coming from an
amateur radio high altitude balloon that became the first of its kind to
come so close to the South Pole. Kevin Trotman N5PRE has that story.
KEVIN: When the high altitude balloon transmitting KM4ZIA, the amateur radio
call sign of 15-year-old Jack McElroy, was launched recently in Antarctica,
it became part of atmospheric work being done by University of Alabama
researcher, Todd McKinney KN4TPG. Instead of just helping build mathematical
models of the atmosphere, however, Jack's balloon soon embarked on a
incredible journey. A little more than a week later, its navigational
equipment began to spit out a series of error messages on 20 meters. One
observer in the US, however, realized that nothing was really wrong. He
knew, in fact, that something remarkable was happening. Family friend and
high-altitude balloon expert, Bill Brown, WB8ELK, knew Jack's solar-powered
balloon was a short distance from the South Pole. Mapping systems could no
longer determine its position from data being sent on 20 meters because of
the densely spaced lines of longitude there at the end of the Earth.
Jack's father, Tom McElroy, W4SDR, told Newsline in a phone interview:
[quote] "This is the closest any amateur radio balloon has come to the South
Pole." [endquote] Tom said Bill phoned the family home in Georgia that
morning from Huntsville, Alabama, on December 1st, and said Jack's balloon
had literally gone off the map. Tom broke the news to an astonished Jack on
the way to school. He said Jack had quite a story for his science teacher
that day.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman N5PRE.
NEIL/ANCHOR: You can track Jack's balloon at aprs.fi, using his call sign
KM4ZIA. This isn't Jack's first balloon, either. He has launched several
over the years, including two years at Youth on the Air Camp, in a team
effort with his sister, Audrey McElroy, KM4BUN, who is this year's 2022
Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year.
**
STAMP COLLECTING GETS HOLIDAY SPIRIT FROM HAMS
NEIL/ANCHOR: The charitable spirit of amateur radio has always extended past
direct involvement with radio activity. Here in the US, one club in
Pennsylvania is looking for amateurs' assistance in a project that members
have been committed to for a number of years. Sel Embee KB3TZD gives us
those details.
SEL: If you're starting to receive holiday cards from friends or eagerly
awaiting the arrival of QSL cards from those treasured DX contacts, members
of the Holmesburg Amateur Radio Club, WM3PEN, in Philadelphia are asking one
more thing of you: Save those stamps. Hams in the Pennsylvania club support
the "Stamps for the Wounded" program, which accepts donations of stamps from
around the world for use in occupational therapy programs in convalescent
centers and hospitals where veterans are receiving treatment.
Although the everyday United States "Forever Flag" stamp is not needed for
this program, all other stamps are welcome. Stamps should have at least a
quarter-inch margin around them and should not be removed from the original
envelopes on which they are sent. The hams in this club have been longtime
supporters of the program, which was established in 1942 to encourage stamp
collecting among the nation's military veterans who were at various stages
of recovery. The program has more details on its website at
stampsforthewounded dot org (stampsforthewounded.org). That's
"stampsforthewounded" - one word, dot org.
If you wish to donate stamps to help the club in their efforts, you can send
them to Rich Shivers, K3UJ. You'll find his address in the text version of
this week's newscast at arnewsline.org.
This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.
[FOR PRINT ONLY: Rich Shivers, K3UJ, 9029 Eastview Rd., Philadelphia, PA
19152, USA ]
(HARC newsletter)
**
FCC COMMISSIONER COMMITS TO AM RADIO'S SURVIVAL
NEIL/ANCHOR: According to at least one member of the US Federal
Communications Commission, rumors of the death of AM radio are greatly
exaggerated. Kent Peterson KCŘDGY brings us that report.
KENT: The good news is that AM radio has a future, which means the band
isn't going to be reallocated anytime soon. Those were the words of FCC
Commissioner Nathan Simington, speaking recently at the 79th annual
convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Simington said
that, for one thing, AM radio is an integral part of the life of the more
than 3 million farmers in the United States who rely on it daily for vital
information.
He called it the [quote] "essential spineö [endquote] of the Emergency Alert
System. He said that despite beliefs by many that it has been killed off by
more advanced technology, AM radio is here to stay for the foreseeable
future, especially for those who live on the kind of farm where he himself
grew up. He said he is against any move the FCC might be pressured to
consider to reallocate the band.
He told convention attendees: [quote] “Look, people listen to radio in their
cars or trucks—particularly rural radio. That’s just how it is. And if
people lose the ability to tune into AM on their cars, well, there goes AM
radio." [endquote] He said that while satellite is a good option, it is too
expensive. He said AM radio is not just free but carries an important
emergency signaling infrastructure.
In his opinion, the best option for AM radio's future to to simply preserve
it for the generations to come.
This is Kent Peterson KCŘDGY.
NEIL/ANCHOR: In a further development, an influential United States lawmaker
has joined the push to talk automakers out of eliminating broadcast AM radio
in new cars. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts has asked the car companies
to respond in writing about their intentions regarding AM and FM radio. He
acknowledged that electric vehicles can cause electromagnetic interference
with AM signals but encouraged carmakers to pursue some of the remedies they
have devised. The car companies include General Motors, Jaguar, Kia, BMW and
American Honda.
(FCC.GOV, RADIO WORLD, AMATEUR RADIO WEEKLY)
**
TIME FOR THE '12 DAYS OF QRZ'
NEIL/ANCHOR: In case you need a way to keep the holiday fun going even after
the holiday season, QRZ.com has an event marking the winter season in the
Northern Hemisphere. Ralph Squillace KK6ITB brings us up to date on that.
RALPH: In some parts of the world where it's winter, things can get a little
cold. Sometimes...a lot cold. So this year QRZ.com has offered to heat
things up and the action already got under way on the 1st of December. The
QRZ Winter Ops Award celebrates "the twelve days of QRZ." To be eligible,
hams need to log 12 confirmed contacts on any 12 days from now through
February 28th 2023. The certificate is being offered for the first time as a
holiday gift from QRZ's founder, Fred LLoyd, AA7BQ. Fred writes on the
website: [quote] "This one's going to be very popular this season. We can't
wait for people to show them to us hanging in their shacks." [endquote]
Hopefully it will keep the holiday spirit - and confirmation of those dozen
QSOs - going strong into the new year.
This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.
(QRZ.COM)
**
RSGB CREATES SOCIAL DIVERSITY POST
NEIL/ANCHOR: There's so much more to amateur radio than just the technical
and scientific side of things. The Radio Society of Great Britain is looking
for someone to help address an important social concern. Here's Jeremy Boot
G4NJH with the details.
JEREMY: The Radio Society of Great Britain is creating the volunteer
position of social diversity officer to help the board address inclusion and
diversity within the ranks of amateur radio and the society itself. Some of
the new officer's tasks will include helping boost society membership but
will also focus on encouraging hams of all ages and backgrounds to get their
licence.
The RSGB is hoping that through creation of this new position the society
can complement the work of the RAIBC, the Radio Amateur Invalid and Blind
Club, which serves radio amateurs and shortwave listeners with disabilities.
If the role of social diversity officer is one for which you would be
interested in volunteering, please visit the society website at rsgb dot org
slash volunteers. (rsgb.org/volunteers) Application deadline is Monday the
16th of January.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(RSGB)
**
ENGINEER NEEDED FOR FOR STATION WWVH
NEIL/ANCHOR: Listeners around the world tune in regularly to WWV and WWVH,
the radio station of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, for
various voice announcements, including the time. Now the US government
agency hopes qualified engineers will tune into an important job opening it
has - for a position based in Hawaii. Jack Parker W8ISH tells us more.
JACK: Radio station WWVH, which is part of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology, is looking to hire an engineer in charge. In
addition to maintenance of the station on Kauai, Hawaii, the job requires
regular communication with NIST's Time and Frequency division in Boulder,
Colorado. The engineer is responsible for the four radio transmission
systems - on 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 MHz - which are required to be on the air
99.7 percent of the time. One or two electronic technicians will report to
the engineer in charge.
For more details about the job and whether you qualify, visit the link in
the text version of this week's Newsline script at arnewsline.org
This is Jack Parker W8ISH.
[FOR PRINT ONLY: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/690931100 ]
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
Midstate Hams WA9RDF repeater in Greenwood Indiana on Sundays at 7 p.m.
local time.
**
NEW RECORD SET ON LOWEST HAM BAND IN AUSTRALIA
NEIL/ANCHOR: In Australia, a new record has been set for a contact on the
2200m-band. John Williams VK4JJW has those details.
JOHN: Using barely 1 watt of power, a station south of Perth in Western
Australia made a record-setting one-way contact into North America on the
2200-metre band, which at 136 kHz, is the lowest amateur band in Australia.
The contact was made on November 21st between VK6MJM and received in the
United States by Paul, KM5SW, in New Mexico. The distance was 16,164
kilometres and the power was 0.8 watts EIRP. The station was using a five-
minute key-down mode known as WSJT-X FST4W-300 mode.
It was a big moment for the Western Australian Low Frequency Experimenters
Group, or WALFEG, which operates the station. It is led by Peter Hall,
VK6HP, and is affiliated with the Wireless Institute of Australia.
This is John Williams VK4JJW.
(WIA)
**
PROGRESS ON WORLD'S LARGEST RADIO TELESCOPE
NEIL/ANCHOR: The world's largest radio telescope is on track to be completed
by the end of this decade. Graham Kemp VK4BB has more on its progress.
GRAHAM: Sites in Australia and South Africa have begun construction on the
Square Kilometre Array Observatory, or SKAO, and astronomers are hoping to
see the massive observatory's two antenna stations finish construction by
May 2023, with the first dish commissioned in April of 2024 according to a
report on the Space.com website.
When the huge project is completed, it will boast a full 1-square kilometer
collection area and it will be the world's largest radio telescope.
Construction began recently on the observatory's mid-array in the Karoo
desert of South Africa which will scan for sources of radio waves from 350
MHz to 15.4 GHz. The low-array is also under construction north of Perth in
Western Australia. It will use 131,072 dipoles seeking signals on
frequencies between 50 and 350 MHz.
This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(SPACE.COM)
**
AMATEUR-OWNED COMPANY BUILDING SATELLITE PLANT IN INDIA
NEIL/ANCHOR: In our previous newscast, we shared the triumph of the amateur-
owned company that sent two of its made-in-India CubeSats into space aboard
an Indian Space Research Organisation rocket. The company announced it is
ready to join other enterprises in that nation in taking the next step. Jim
Meachen ZL2BHF tells us what's next.
JIM: Not long after the launch of its Thybolt 1 and Thybolt 2 satellites,
Dhruva Space, based in Hyderabad (Hydra-BOD), announced it was moving
forward to build a facility where it can assemble and test satellites as
large as 100 kg. Cofounder Abhay Egoor, the company's chief technical
officer, said Dhruva is already raising funds toward that end. Dhruva joins
another India-based space company, Pixxel, which is building a satellite
assembly facility in Bengaluru. Pixxel expects that project to be completed
during the first half of next year. Other companies are gearing up as well:
Bangalore-based Bellatrix Aerospace, which is building in Karnataka; and
Agnikul Cosmos in Madras, which is looking to develop testing facilities in
Chennai.
This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.
(INVENTIVA, STARTUPSTORYMEDIA)
--
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, you can find Burkhard, DL3KZA, on the air from Albania
as ZA/DL3KZA until December 13th. He is on 40-17m; mainly using FT8. QSL to
his home call, either direct or by the bureau.
Between December 10th and 16th, you will be able to hear S21DX on the air
from Dhal Char island in Bangladesh, IOTA number AS-140. The operators will
be using the HF bands and the QO-100 satellite. QSL via EB7DX.
Lester, W8YCM, is active until December 11th from Jamaica using the call
sign as 6Y8LV. He is also signing W8YCM/6Y for the remainder of his stay,
which lasts into January. Listen on the HF bands. Send QSLs for his home
call.
Listen for Capi, LU1COP, operating from Isla Martin Garcia, Argentina, IOTA
number SA-055, as LP1A/E until December 11th. Capi is on 80 through 10
metres using FT8 and SSB. QSL via Logbook of the World. Paper QSLs should be
sent to EA7FTR.
(DX-WORLD.NET)
**
KICKER: MEET OUR INTERNATIONAL NEWSMAKER OF THE YEAR FOR 2022
NEIL/ANCHOR: When Amateur Radio Newsline began presenting its International
Newsmaker of the Year award in 2019, we did it to acknowledge the best
embodiment of the spirit of amateur radio in the activities of an
individual, club or other organization during the past year. In presenting
this year's award, we congratulate the winner we celebrated in that
inaugural year: The West Bengal Amateur Radio Club of Kolkata, India. Here's
our editor Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT to tell us why.
CARYN: Congratulations once again to the West Bengal Radio Club of Kolkata
India, Newsline's International Newsmaker for 2022. Operating on a thin
budget, sometimes with borrowed radio equipment, the club has consistently
provided communications during cyclones, after earthquakes, at major public
events and to reunite missing family members with loved ones. The club also
teaches its members valuable emergency-response skills that help save lives.
This past year, those skills helped prevent a different kind of tragedy:
They assisted law enforcement in locating and rescuing a woman who had been
kidnapped and was about to be handed over to a human-trafficking ring. The
stories we have given our listeners this past year about this club's efforts
show that its commitment to public service, like their energy, knows no
limits.
Newsline spoke to the club's secretary, Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, and he
explained why members are so committed:
AMBARISH NAG BISWAS: We only make this club, not only for the amateur radio
hobby. We make using this hobby how to save lives because all technology is
for the human. If you are not using your hobby for the human, I don't
believe that hobby...that hobby is just a hobby.
CARYN: All of us at Amateur Radio Newsline salute this group for its
combination of technology and humanity.
This is Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT.
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Weekly; the ARRL; CQ magazine;
David Behar K7DB; DX-World.net; FCC.gov; Holmesburg Amateur Radio Club;
Inventiva; QRZ.com; Radio World magazine; the RSGB; shortwaveradio.de;
Space.com; startupstorymedia; Tom McElroy, W4SDR; USAJobs.gov; Wireless
Institute of Australia; 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 Neil Rapp WB9VPG in
Union, Kentucky 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 09-dez-2022 08:17 E. South America Standard Time
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