| |
PY2BIL > ARNR 17.12.22 04:33l 374 Lines 17536 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 59132PY2BIL
Read: GUEST
Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2355 for Friday December 16th,
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RBS<DB0ERF<OK0NAG<OK0NBR<OK2PEN<VE2PKT<VE3CGR<PY2BIL<PY2BIL
Sent: 221216/2013 @:PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM Sally 7.2.058 $:59132PY2BIL
From: PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2355 for Friday December 16th, 2022
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2355 with a release date of Friday
December 16th, 2022 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Hams help a lost 5-year-old find her way home. A
hiking trail steps off with a boost from amateur radio -- and hams in
Connecticut pay tribute to the transatlantic tests of 1921. All this and
more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2355 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
HAMS HELP RETURN LOST 5-YEAR-OLD TO FAMILY
PAUL/ANCHOR: Last week we celebrated the Newsline's selection of the West
Bengal Radio Club as International Newsmaker of the Year. This week our
first story reports on their latest effort - reuniting a family with the 5-
year-old daughter who they had given up for dead. John Williams VK4JJW has
that story.
JOHN: A children's game of hide-and-seek at a railway station went very
wrong in August of 2020, when a 5-year-old girl chose an unfortunate spot to
hide from her three brothers: a train that pulled out of the station shortly
afterwards. She was eventually able to disembark farther down the line at
the Kolkata Railway Station but because she spoke only Hindi and not
Bengali, she could only explain her situation with her tears when police
found her crying at the station. According to a report in the Millennium
Post, a year passed in which the girl was sent by an NGO to a children's
care home and enrolled in school. She gained fluency in Bengali and soon
became an honors student in her class. Unable to track down her parents all
this time, the administrators of the private home notified the West Bengal
Radio Club of the girl's predicament, according to Ambarish Nag Biswas,
VU2JFA. Club members utilised their network of contacts and were able to
trace her family to Jharkhand, a bordering state in eastern India.
Photographs shared with the family on the WhatsApp mobile platform confirmed
that this was indeed their missing daughter.
The little girl went home on Saturday, December 10th.
Ambarish Nag Biswas told the Indo Asian News Service: [quote] "When our
contacts got in touch with the mother and we got her to connect with her
daughter through a video call, it was a heart-wrenching moment. The woman
had given up her child as dead. The little girl had given up all hope of
getting back to her family ever again." [endquote]
This is John Williams VK4JJW.
(MILLENNIUM POST, INDO ASIAN NEWS SERVICE)
**
VINTAGE TRANSMITTER IN TRANSATLANTIC TRIBUTE
PAUL/ANCHOR: In the US recently, hams teamed up for a radio activation that
turned out to be a living museum and a tribute to history. Kevin Trotman
N5PRE tells us about it.
KEVIN: Visitors to the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of
Connecticut were part of a celebration of history taking place on Sunday,
December 11th. They watched and heard as Bob Allison, WB1GCM, got on the air
using a repurposed Gates BC1T commercial transmitter using the callsign
W1VCM/1BCG for AM operation on 75 meters. Bob was marking the 101st
anniversary of amateur station 1BCG's contact with Scotland during the ARRL
Transatlantic Test of 1921. Bob, president of the museum's amateur radio
club, told Newsline: [quote] "December 11th is a great day to celebrate
Amateur Radio, as the day marks the many technological successes of the era:
CW's efficiency and effectiveness over spark, the use of a superheterodyne
radio receiver, and the directional Beverage Antenna." [endquote]
The tribute event had been organized by Clark Burgard, N1BCG, of Greenwich,
Connecticut. The original transmissions that made history more than a
century ago occurred in Greenwich, about 90 minutes southwest of the museum,
with operators sending CW across the ocean.
This year, more modern equipment joined the refurbished Gates transmitter
during Bob's three-hour activation, which also included time spent on 40M
and 2M sideband.
Before he left for the day and headed out into the snow, Bob made sure he
logged one more important contact: Bob talked to the museum visitors who'd
been observing him on the radio to share in the triumph of more than a
century ago.
This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.
(BOB ALLISON WB1GCM)
**
NEW INDIAN SPECIAL EVENT STATION HONORS RADIO PIONEER
PAUL/ANCHOR: Hundreds of contacts were made this year on the air by a new
special event station in India honoring that nation's noted radio pioneer.
We have that story from Graham Kemp VK4BB.
GRAHAM: This year, Datta, VU2DSI, was not the only amateur activating a
special event station in late November to mark the birth of the pioneering
Indian scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose. Datta has operated his special event
AU2JCB for 17 years - but this year, Parks on the Air-India organised their
own separate tribute using the call sign AT8JCB. It was a POTA activation as
well, operating from Mohanpur Forest Park in West Bengal India, POTA number,
VU-0136. Parks on the Air-India is a relatively new programme in India. It
began barely a year ago but according to POTA country administrator Arunava
Dey, VU3XRY, the team of operators made up for lost time with the Bose
tribute. He said the response was nothing short of "huge" and a great
success.
Arunava told Newsline that over the course of the eight-day activation,
AT8JCB logged more than 900 QSOs using SSB and FT8.
With QSL and eQSL cards being sent in mid-December to their various
destinations, POTA-India has other activities in store for the rest of the
month. There are also more than 4,000 parks to be activated on the list of
qualifying POTA locations.
The man called by many to be the "father of radio communications" would no
doubt be proud of all the amateur radio activity these days in India.
This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(ARUNAVA DEY VU3XRY, POTA INDIA, QRZ.COM)
**
ROMANIAN EVENT MARKS HIKING TRAIL'S INAUGURAL YEAR
PAUL/ANCHOR: From now through the first half of the new year, amateurs in
Romania will be celebrating that nation's newest natural resource: a hiking
trail. We have more on that from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
JEREMY: The journey of discovery that comes with hiking along Romania's Via
Transilvanica is an adventure for hikers cyclists and horseback riders. It
got under way on the 8th of October with the official opening of the 1,400-
km trail which had taken four years of preparation.
The journey which marks the trail's inauguration is also one for amateur
radio operators. Radio Club YO6KGS is activating special event station
YR1400VT on the HF bands from now 'til the 30th of June 2023. It's a
celebration of the long-distance trail that Romania sees as its counterpart
to the Appalachian Trail in the United States and El Camiño de Santiago in
Europe. While hikers hope to gain insights into their own lives in a natural
setting, amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners around the world
can work towards diplomas at different levels according to the number of
contacts with other operators, many of whom will be young amateurs and
members of the YO6KGS School Radio Club.
Listen for their call sign on SSB and CW. CW speeds will not exceed 14 wpm.
For details about the rules and awards visit the QRZ.COM page for YR1400VT -
and wherever you are, enjoy the journey.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH
(ADRIAN BACIU, YO5IA, QRZ.COM)
**
DMR RADIO AIDS RESCUERS SEARCHING FOR LOST HIKER
PAUL/ANCHOR: The lifesaving capabilities of DMR proved useful to a hiker in
New Hampshire recently. Sel Embee KB3TZD has that story.
SEL: A relaxing day with his dog turned into a dangerous trek for a ham who
was hiking the trails of central New Hampshire on Sunday, December 11th. He
had become lost -- and the coming sunset and forecast of snow put him in
even greater danger, especially after the battery in his cell phone died. He
had been carrying his DMR HT, however, and placed a call for help on the
statewide talkgroup using a local repeater.
Bill Barber, N-E-one-B, heard the call and was able to contact the man's
wife. She notified police who joined firefighters in starting a search. Bill
also contacted Rick Zach, K-one-R-J-Zed, who knows the area's trails. Rick
stayed in touch with the lost amateur on the statewide talk group while
communicating with the search team.
At one point, the amateur unintentionally changed channels on his HT but
another amateur, Chuck Cunningham, K-one-M-eye-Zed, noticed this had
happened and was able to restore communications. The ham found his way to a
road and was picked up by the searchers at 6:30 p.m.
Telling this story on one of the QRZ.com forums, Raul (Rah-Oool) "Skip"
Camejo (cam ay HO), A-C-one-L-C, recommended that hikers carry DMR radios
because their batteries last longer.
Skip's story did not identify the ham but wrote that thanks to the three
amateurs who heard his call on DMR "the wayward ham is going to be able to
enjoy another Christmas holiday with his family."
This is Sel Embee, K-B-3-T-Zed-D.
(ARRL NEW ENGLAND DIVISION)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the ZS0MOT
(Zed Ess Zero Em Oh Tee) repeater in Middelburg South Africa on Wednesdays
at 7 p.m. local time.
**
NEW QUESTIONS ON GENERAL TEST EXAM
PAUL/ANCHOR: In the US, the General Class operators' license test is getting
a new question pool. Stephen Kinford N8WB tells us what's changing.
STEPHEN: If you are a ham in the United States looking to upgrade to General
next year, you can expect some changes in the new pool of questions that
take effect on July 1st of 2023. The 432 questions were just released and
the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators' Question Pool
Committee says they reflect significant changes: There are 51 new questions
being introduced; 73 were removed. The committee believes the questions'
level of difficulty is more balanced. These questions will be in use through
June 30th of 2027.
Examiners can expect to see the new General exam booklets by mid-June of
2023. The ARRL advises hams who are using the 9th edition of the General
Class License Manual or the 6th edition of the league's General Class Q&A to
take their exam no later than June 30th before the changed questions come
in.
This is Stephen Kinford N8WB.
(ARRL)
**
LONGTIME SPECTRUM GUARDIANS RETIRE IN NEW ZEALAND
PAUL/ANCHOR: Two veteran staffers at New Zealand's telecommunications agency
are leaving at the end of this year. Here's Jim Meachen ZL2BHF with more
about them.
JIM: Radio Spectrum Management in New Zealand is preparing to say goodbye to
two members of its radio investigations team who are among those with the
longest tenure. RSM has announced the retirement of Mike Baird and Grant
Wheaton who have both been part of the team since the early 1970s. RSM said
that the pair's efforts have played a big role over the years in
strengthening processes and technical abilities of the investigations group.
In addition to following up on reports of radio frequency interference, RSM
manages the radio spectrum in New Zealand, handles licensing rules and
oversees compliance and enforcement of the Radiocommunications Act of 1989.
It is part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.
(WIA, RSM)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, be listening for Earl, WA3DX operating from Senegal
between December 22nd and January 20th, mainly using FT8. He will use his
home call with a prefix. In Dakar, he will use the prefix 6W1; in Mbao, he
will use 6W7 and on Kaolack and Saloum Islands (IOTA number AF-045), his
prefix will be 6W6. Send QSL direct to WA3DX or via LoTW.
A team consisting of S51V, S52OT, S54W, S57DX and others will be on the air
from Lampedusa Island, IOTA number AF-019 as IG9/S59A from January 23rd to
the 31st. The operation will focus on the CQWW 160 metre CW contest during
the last full weekend of January. Outside of the contest, be listening on
all bands and all modes for the prefix IG9 (Eye G Nine) before their
homecalls.
Andre, ON7YK is in The Gamba operating as C5YK until February 24th, 2023.
Listen on 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m, mostly using the digital modes. QSL via
LoTW and eQSL, or to his home call direct or via the bureau.
Listen for the callsign TN8K from the Republic of Congo, activated by the
CDXP Group. The team from the Czech Republic expects to operate between
January 7th and the 19th. The operators will be on the HF bands from 160m to
6m using CW, SSB, RTTY , FT8, FT4 and PSK. They will also make use of the
QO-100 satellite. QSL via OK6DJ, OQRS or LOTW.
(EINDHOVEN.SPACE BLOG, DX-WORLD.NET)
**
BOUVET ISLAND HAMS LAUNCH PROPAGATION POLL
PAUL/ANCHOR: Few of us need reminders that the Bouvet Island DXpeditioners
who'll be activating 3YØJ (Three Y Zero J) from the remote island are
setting sail in less than a month. The 22-day on-air operation is being led
by Ken, LA7GIA; Rune, LA7THA; and Erwann, LB1QI and the 12-member team is
motivated to log more than 200,000 QSOs. With Bouvet in the number two spot
on the DXCC Most Wanted List, this is not an impossible goal. While others
have activated Bouvet over the years, none have approached logging that many
QSOs.
The team is committed to making contacts. If you visit the DXpedition
website at 3YØJ dot N O (3YØJ.no), you will find a propagation poll under
the tab labeled "Latest News." This will enable interested DXpedition
chasers to provide the team with details about their station setup,
including power and antenna, so that the operators can approximate
propagation to a certain region based on the stations calling them from
there.
(3YØJ)
**
KICKER: WHEN A HOMEBREW QSL CARD IS BEST
PAUL/ANCHOR: We begin our final story this week by making an observation:
When you are an amateur radio operator, it's easy to make someone else
happy. That's what a retiree in Oregon and a youngster in Wisconsin both
recently discovered. Ralph Squillace KK6ITB tells us how it happened.
RALPH: A late November day found Chris Billings, WA7RAR, activating a local
park near his Oregon home. It was Thanksgiving Day and in a fitting mood for
the US holiday, Chris was grateful to find 10 meters open. He decided to
call CQ on that small portion of the band where Technician class operators
can legally operate SSB on HF, hoping to give newcomers a chance to work
him. A young voice emerged from the pileup: It was Bennett Bachman, KD9WCG,
age 10. Chris learned that this was an especially happy moment for the new
ham from Wisconsin. This was only his second QSO on 10 meters.
Chris mailed Bennett a QSL card along with a note that he wasn't expecting
Bennett to respond, especially if he had no QSL cards of his own yet.
On December 8th, it was Chris' turn to have a happy moment: something from
Bennett arrived - a handmade QSL card. Bennett's father, Dave KV9O (Kay Vee
9 Oh), said that Bennett designed the cards himself, sending one to Chris
and the other to his first 10m contact, Gordon West, WB6NOA. Dave said the
first contact was a joyful moment too because Bennett had studied for his
license using Gordon's Technician guide. Bennett is now trying to start a
ham radio club at school and is studying for his General class license so he
can be less dependent on 10m band openings.
Chris, however, is glad Bennett found him on that 10m opening on
Thanksgiving Day. Posting on Facebook, he publicly thanked Bennett for the
handcrafted card, adding [quote] "I love to find cards in my mailbox and
this is certainly one of the special ones!"[endquote]
This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.
(CHRIS BILLINGS, WA7RAR; DAVE BACHMAN, KV9OX; FACEBOOK)
**
NEWCAST CLOSE - DO YOU HAVE NEWS?
PAUL/ANCHOR: Do you have a piece of Amateur Radio News that you think
Newsline would be interested in? We are not talking about advertising your
club's upcoming hamfest or field day participation, but something that is
out of the ordinary. If so, send us a brief overview via the contact page at
arnewsline.org. If it's newsworthy and we would like to cover it, we'll get
back to you for more details.
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Adrian Baciu, YO5IA; Amateur Radio Weekly;
the ARRL; Arunava Dey, VU3XRY; Bob Allison, WB1GCM; Chris Billings, WA7RAR;
CQ magazine; Dave Bachman, KV9OX; David Behar K7DB; DX-World.net; Endhoven
Space Blog; Facebook; FCC.gov; POTA India; shortwaveradio.de; Three Y Zero
J; 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 Paul Braun
WD9GCO in Valparaiso, Indiana 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 16-dez-2022 20:13 E. South America Standard Time
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
