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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2356 for Friday December 23rd,
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2356 for Friday December 23rd, 2022
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2356 with a release date of Friday
December 23rd, 2022 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Hams prep for severe winter weather in the US. Make
plans for Ham Radio University -- and finally a Santa watch roundup and our
annual Christmas card to you. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline
Report Number 2356 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
SKYWARN OPS PREP FOR SEVERE WEATHER SEASON
JIM/ANCHOR: We begin this week with a report that acknowledges the severe
weather now sweeping through much of the United States. For the radio
volunteers of SKYWARN, there is no rest. Randy Sly W4XJ explains what comes
next.
RANDY: For SKYWARN Amateur Radio volunteers, there’s no time off now that
tornado and hurricane season is over. On December 10th, more than 1900
operators and 38 National Weather Service offices took part in a one-day
operation called SKYWARN Recognition Day, or SRD, where stations contact as
many of those offices as possible. Now, it's already time for winter weather
reporting.
In fact, Rob Macedo, KD1CY, one of the coordinators for SRD, didn’t even
have time to finish compiling his reports before he was activated for a
coastal storm last week that brought over 20" of snow in the Berkshire
Mountain region of New England and rainfall of as much as 3 to 4.5" in
southern New England.
Ken Graham, director of the National Weather Service, who is also a ham
radio operator with the callsign WX4KEG, sent a special video message to
SKYWARN Recognition Day participants, thanking them for participating and
for their involvement in SKYWARN reporting.
Those reports, whether snow, tornado damage or other information, he said,
have greatly helped the National Weather Service over the years. The link to
the video message can be found in the text version of this report at
ARNewline.org.
This is Randy Sly W4XJ.
[for print only, do not read:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HME-JjlEL8]
**
SPACE WEATHER CENTER TO HALT LOCAL MESSAGES
JIM/ANCHOR: The United States government's Space Weather Prediction Center
has proposed eliminating the recorded WWV geophysical alert message
available from its local Colorado phone number, 303-497-3235. Callers to
that number have been hearing the announcement about its discontinuation,
which takes effect on January 15th, 2023.
There are, however, numerous other ways to continue receiving this
information. Robert Steenburgh, ADØIU, acting lead of the Space Weather
Forecast Office, told Newsline that the messages are available via
subscription service on their website under the Forecasts and Summaries
category. He said subscribers can get these messages sent automatically
every three hours when they are updated. The website appears in the text
version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
Rob also told Newsline that the recording is a duplicate of the message
already available from WWV via telephone at (303) 499-7111 for WWV in
Colorado, and (808) 335-4363 for WWVH in Hawaii at 18 minutes past every
hour. He said the information is also available at the primary website of
the center. That link also appears in the text version of this week's
newscast.
Comments on this change can be submitted to the Space Weather Prediction
Center at the website spaceweather.gov under the feedback tab.
[TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE MESSAGE: https://pss.swpc.noaa.gov ]
[PRIMARY WEBSITE: https://www.spaceweather.gov/products/geophysical-alert-
wwv-text ]
(ROBERT STEENBURGH, ADØIU)
**
EMERGENCY RADIO TEAMS MERGE IN WESTERN CANADA
JIM/ANCHOR: In one Canadian province, emergency radio teams have decided
they'd work better as a team, so they're merging. Andy Morrison K09AWM
brings us the details.
ANDY: Radio responders and residents in one part of British Columbia,
Canada, can look forward to more streamlined emergency operations under a
merger announced recently by officials. Two town councils in the Capital
Regional District of the province have approved the merger of emergency
radio teams in View Royal and nearby Colwood. View Royal Mayor Sid Tobias
said the result would be greater efficiency in communications.
The View Royal Fire Rescue Chief, Paul Hurst, said the teams in both
municipalities will now report to a single leader and the amount of
equipment available and the number of volunteers will be doubled.
Amateur radio operators are part of the municipalities' response and make
use of their own communication systems if the localities' cell towers are
disabled in a disaster. The fire chief said that in those instances, the
hams become a lifeline. Their teams staff radio rooms in the fire
departments in both View Royal and Colwood, enabling them to communicate
with other hams. They are also able to stay in touch with various government
responders throughout the province.
The fire chief called it a win-win for both municipalities.
This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.
(WIA, SAANICH NEWS)
**
ENROLLMENT FOR 'DIRECT-TO-FULL' EXAM OPENS IN UK
JIM/ANCHOR: If you're in the UK and have decided that 2023 is your year to
become a Full license-holder, the Radio Society of Great Britain has some
helpful details about the process. Here's Jeremy Boot G4NJH to tell us more.
JEREMY: Six months after publishing the new Direct to Full examination
syllabus for UK licence-holders, the Radio Society of Great Britain is
preparing to accept enrollments for the exam starting in January 2023. This
exam is open to everyone, from Foundation to Intermediate candidates but it
was developed especially to accommodate those aspiring hams who already
possess technical competence and would rather bypass the three-tier licence
path.
Although the Direct to Full syllabus varies only slightly from the existing
syllabus, a new item has been introduced regarding aperture antennas. If you
wish more details on how to book for this exam, visit the rsgb website at
rsgb.org and select the option for "exam announcements" visible in the menu
on the right-hand side of the screen.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(RSGB)
**
HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY RETURNS AS ONLINE EVENT
JIM/ANCHOR: Do you want to get your new year started by attending the
popular Ham Radio University? The 24th annual event is set as an online
conference and registration has opened. Stephen Kinford N8WB tells us what
to expect.
STEPHEN: With some COVID-19 restrictions still in place, Ham Radio
University will again be an online conference on January 7th from 1300 to
2000 UTC. This is also the online convention of the NYC-Long Island section
of the ARRL and will be held as a GoToWebinar. The day's program will be
offering 17 informational presentations ranging from the Parks on the Air
experience to the basics of HF operating. Presentations will also be made by
experts on contesting and DXing as well as software-defined radios.
Advance registration is required for each presentation you plan to attend.
The conference is free but there is a suggested donation of .
This well-attended event has been organized again this year in memory of its
founder, Phil Lewis, N2MUN, who became a Silent Key in March of 2020.
For other details and to register visit hamradiouniversity dot org slash
forums. (HamRadioUniversity.org/forums)
This is Stephen Kinford N8WB.
(HRU)
**
THREE WINNERS CHOSEN IN 'DREAM RIG' CONTEST
JIM/ANCHOR: It pays to dream big. Three young amateurs were among those who
entered an essay contest to share their hopes for the next generation of
radio operators. The Intrepid-DX Group, which held the contest, was
listening. Jack Parker W8ISH tells us about the three who wrote the winning
essays.
JACK: Maria Polyanska, VE3OMV; Ryan Kocourek, N7RSK, and Toby Latino AG5ZM
are the first- second- and third-place winners, respectively, in the third
annual Intrepid-DX Group's "Dream Rig" Essay Contest. The competition draws
entries from hams ages 19 and younger in the US and Canada. The announcement
of the winners was made recently by the group's president, Paul Ewing,
N6PSE, who wrote that he was certain that [quote] "our youth are full of
great ideas, and they are brimming with enthusiasm to keep our hobby alive
and well into the future." [endquote]
This year's question asked candidates to describe how amateur radio factored
into their career plans.
Clearly, once the prizes are distributed to the three winners, those
youngsters can get started on answering that question -- this time, on the
air.
This is Jack Parker W8ISH.
(INTREPID DX GROUP)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the WI9HF
repeater of the Capital City Repeater Association in Madison, Wisconsin on
Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.
**
INDIAN AMATEURS PUT SANTA ON THE AIR
JIM/ANCHOR: Like the airwaves themselves, Santa is lighting up the sky in
all parts of the world. Give and receive the gift of holiday DX with these
two events. We hear first from John Williams VK4JJW:
JOHN: From Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata, Parks on the Air India and
Oscar India are celebrating Christmas by putting Santa on the Air through
the 31st of December. The call sign AU2SOA, Santa on Air, can be heard using
SSB and CW on HF, operating a Digital SSTV broadcast and looking for QSOs on
Echolink. To make contacts on FT 8, be listening on 20, 15 and 10 meters.
See QRZ.com for QSL details. QSOs will be confirmed via eQSL.
On Christmas Day, December 25th, operators will be on various HF bands
activating a park and will be spotting AU2SOA operators at
www.parksontheair.com.
Finally, on the last two weekends of December, Parks on the Air India will
activate AU2SOA on 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres transmitting a SSTV broadcast.
The photo you download will serve as your QSL card. The SSTV transmission
can be decoded via the receiving programs RXSSTV and MMSSTV and on Android
phones via ROBOT36.
This is John Williams VK4JJW.
(ARUNAVA DEY, VU3XRY)
**
OLD FATHER 9 CHRISTMAS TAKES TO THE SKIES
JIM/ANCHOR: The Radio Club of Pusula, OH9W, and Northern Radio Arcala, OH8X,
are activating the station they say belongs to the "genuine Santa from
Northern Finland, next to the North Pole." If you believe in Santa, you'll
want to hear this report about Santa Radio from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
JEREMY: Old Father Nine Christmas, OF9X, recently began activity on all
amateur radio bands and all modes; CW, SSB and Digital. You can expect
Santa's work to continue this year until December 31st, at 21:59 UTC.
According to the QRZ.com page for OF9X, this year's special theme will focus
on children in troubled areas of the world and will take the form of a
puzzle to be solved by letters the operators will be handing out to their
contacts. See the station's page on QRZ.com for details about how to submit
the puzzle results for an award. You can also see a list of hams who have
already contacted Santa and his elves.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(QRZ.COM)
**
DODROPIN CONNECTS SANTA TO KIDS ON ECHOLINK
JIM/ANCHOR: The last story in our Santa roundup features a special
correspondent with some news for our youngest listeners. He really needs no
introduction.
DON: Hello again boys and girls, it's the most wonderful time of the year.
It's time for the Santa Watch Net. That's right Santa is going to be making
his rounds and can you believe it? This is our 12th year in a row and the
little helpers at the DoDropIn will be keeping an eagle eye on the radar.
I'll look for you to join us on the Santa Watch Net starting at 1800 hours
Eastern Time. Well my little elf Dave, N3NTV, will be keeping track of old
Santa's location. And as always, Santa has a radio in his sleigh -- and you
know I just love chatting with the good boys and girls. So be listening for
N1S - that's Number 1 Santa. Gather up the little ones and get them checked
in because third party traffic is always on the "nice" list. Once again it's
the Santa Watch Net, Christmas Eve, 1800 hours Eastern on the DoDropIn
Echolink conference server node number 355800. Merry Christmas and 73 from
me, Number 1 Santa, and all my little helpers at the DoDropIn.
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, be listening for the Israel Amateur Radio Club, which is
operating special event stations celebrating Christmas and the Jewish
holiday of Hanukkah. Be listening for Hanukkah station 4Z8NER on the air
from December 18th through the 26th. Christmas stations 4X7XMAS, 4X8XMAS and
4X9XMAS will be on the air December 23rd, 24th and 25th. QSL via 4X6ZM, LoTW
and eQSL.
The TN8K DXpedition in the Congo begins operation shortly after operators
arrive from the Czech Republic on January 6th. The team will continue
operating until their departure date of January 21st. Be listening on 160
through 6 metres using CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, FT4 and PSK. Operators will also
be making contacts via the QO-100 satellite.
Listen for Harry, JG7PSJ, operating as JD1BMH from Chichijima (CHEE CHEE
JEEMA), IOTA number AS-031, Ogasawara (OH GAH SAH WARRA), from December 24th
to January 2nd. He will be using CW, SSB and RTTY on 80 through 10 metres.
QSL to his home call JG7PSJ via the bureau or direct.
Be listening for Pierre-Jean, F4GPK, operating as FY/F4GPK from French
Guiana (GEE YONNA) from December 26th to January 8th. QSL via eQSL or
direct to his home call.
Joe, VE3BW, will be using the callsign TI7/VE3BW (Tee Eye Seven/VE3BW) while
operating from Costa Rica from the 23rd of December to the 3rd of January.
Joe will be operating CW, SSB and FT8 on 160-6 metres. QSL to his home call.
All QSOs will be loaded to LOTW on his return.
(425 DX NEWS)
**
KICKER: NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HAM RADIO STYLE
JIM/ANCHOR: We end this newscast with a Newsline holiday tradition - a ham
log instead of a yule log. I'm going to share with you this much-loved
adaptation of the Clement Clarke Moore classic - proof that there is still
magic in the season and even moreso on the amateur bands this time of year.
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"
(AUTHOR UNKNOWN)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Weekly; Arunava Dey, VU3XRY; CQ
magazine; David Behar K7DB; the DoDropIn; DX-World.net; The 425 DX News; Ham
Radio University; Intrepid DX Group; POTA India; Radio Society of Great
Britain; Robert Steenburgh, ADØIU; shortwaveradio.de; SKYWARN; 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 Jim Damron, N8TMW in Charleston West Virginia
saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. And from all of us, Merry
Christmas! Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2022. All rights
reserved.
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