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PY2BIL > ARNR 16.08.24 16:00l 378 Lines 17098 Bytes #237 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2442 for Friday August 16th, 2
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2442 for Friday August 16th, 2024
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2442 with a release date of Friday,
August 16th, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. ISS astronauts await their delayed ride home in
2025. Longwave radio comes to the Arctic Circle -- and hams welcome the
return of the callsign of a beloved Silent Key. All this and more as
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2442 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
STARLINER ASTRONAUTS MAY RIDE HOME ON CREW DRAGON
JIM/ANCHOR: We begin this week on the International Space Station where one
amateur radio operator and her fellow crew member are still waiting for a
much-delayed trip back home to Earth. Sel Embee KB3TZD updates us on the
fate of that flight.
SEL: Boeing's troubled Starliner CST-100 will not be returning home from the
International Space Station with astronauts Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, and
Butch Wilmore on board. NASA instead hopes to book a return flight to Earth
for them on the next Crew Dragon in February 2025. According to a NASA press
release, the space agency will delay the August 18th launch of SpaceX's Crew
9 mission until September 24th and make room for the duo on its return
flight in 2025. That would mean sending two astronauts to the ISS in
September instead of four.
The two US astronauts have been in space since the June 5th launch of the
Starliner, which has suffered a series of technical issues, including five
helium leaks. Their mission was to have lasted eight days. A number of media
outlets have reported internal strife at NASA as officials cannot reach an
agreement in the meantime on how to handle the stranded, disabled Boeing
spacecraft and whether it can ultimately return to spaceflight.
This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.
(ARS TECHNICA, NASA)
**
HAARP RESEARCHERS SEEK HAM INPUT
JIM/ANCHOR: There is still time to participate in ongoing research by the
High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program in Alaska. Be listening on
August 18th through to the 20th on frequencies between 2.8 MHz and 10 MHz
and log your reception reports. The experiments support work by the Polar
Aeronomy [pron: AIR - onomy] and Radio Science Summer School whose studies
include the generation and propagation of extremely low frequency/very low
frequency waves. The address for sending your reports can be found in the
text version of this week's Newsline script at arnewsline.org
[DO NOT READ: uaf-gi-haarp@alaska.edu or postal mail to: HAARP, PO Box 271,
Gakona, AK 99586 ]
(AMATEUR RADIO DAILY, HAARP)
**
HAMS IN INDIA GIVE FEEDBACK ON RADIO RULE PROPOSALS
JIM/ANCHOR: Hams in India are being asked to give input on new license rules
being proposed. We have more on that from Graham Kemp VK4BB.
GRAHAM: Radio amateurs in India are facing a deadline of the 24th of August
to submit feedback on new amateur radio rules being proposed by the Ministry
of Communications' Department of Telecommunications.
The changes relate specifically to the Amateur Station Operators'
Certificate. A certificate would become mandatory for anyone who wishes to
operate or even install ham radio equipment and would be assigned under two
categories, restricted and general, defined by operating privileges.
The government is also proposing the elimination of a separate authorisation
for the import of ham radio equipment.
Finally, candidates for the certificate will be required to apply to sit for
the exam at least one month before it is given.
The government released a draft of these and related changes, publishing
them in the Gazette, in July.
Feedback and suggestions should be sent directly to the Joint Secretary of
the Department of Telecommunications in New Delhi.
This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AMATEUR RADIO, WIA)
**
NEW SHORTWAVE TRANSMITTER FOR RADIO NEW ZEALAND
JIM/ANCHOR: A brand-new 100 kW transmitter began sending its signals across
the Pacific this month as Radio New Zealand entered a new era of commitment
to serving its shortwave listeners. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF has that report.
JIM: As one of two nations still providing the Pacific region with shortwave
radio service, Radio New Zealand has replaced its 33-year-old transmitter in
the central North Island with a new one capable of DRM digital and analogue
operation. The move is part of the public broadcaster's .4 million
investment in facilities improvements.
New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was quoted by the
Radio World website as affirming the vital role shortwave still places since
the service was launched in 1948. He said: [quote] "Shortwave is the most
certain system there is to make sure that in a crisis, tsunami or cyclone,
we can get through." [endquote] The minister marked inauguration of the
transmitter along with dignitaries from the shortwave service area which
includes the Cook Islands, Samoa, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon
Islands. There are 22 broadcast partners throughout the region using RNZ's
DRM digital streams by rebroadcasting them locally without compromising
audio quality.
Following Australia's shutdown of its shortwave transmitters in 2017, New
Zealand and China have become the only two providing the region with
shortwave services.
This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.
(RADIO WORLD)
**
ARCTIC CIRCLE BROADCASTS TO DEBUT AS LONGWAVE RADIO
JIM/ANCHOR: On the other side of the spectrum, the decline of long-wave
radio may be a little bit overstated. Here's Jeremy Boot G4NJH with word of
a long-wave radio startup.
JEREMY: Radio listeners tuning to 252kHz may soon be enjoying some long-
range Dxing, as Arctic 252, the new broadcast station on that frequency,
begins testing things out in September.
The Finnish-based station is hoping to serve listeners throughout the Arctic
region. It is possible too that anyone with a long-wave radio receiver might
be able to hear some of its signals in the northernmost parts of North
America.
According to Hackaday, the website reporting this story, the same frequency
is used by an Algerian station in North Africa - and it was formerly used by
an Irish station as well as Finland's own YLE longwave broadcaster although
both have long since gone off the air. The broadcaster says on its website,
arcticradio.net, that it hopes for a clear channel allocation by the ITU.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(HACKADAY, ARCTICRADIO.NET)
**
US BUSINESS PETITIONS FOR EXPANDED USE OF 900 MHz
JIM/ANCHOR: In the United States, the FCC has put out a request for public
comment on a petition by a Virginia-based business to have the 900 MHZ band
reconfigured and new rules adopted. The company, NextNav, specializes in
geolocation, navigation, timing and positioning services. NextNav asked the
FCC last April for rules to permit the band's use for backup to GPS and to
have 15 MHz of the spectrum allocated for mobile broadband.
Since 1995, location and monitoring services have been allocated use of the
band between 902 and 928 MHz. They share primary-user status with
industrial, scientific and medical users, as well as government. Amateur
radio and unlicensed FCC Part 15 devices are secondary users.
The FCC is seeking comments no later than the 5th of September. Hams are
being encouraged to look at the petition and provide input on how amateur
radio might be affected.
Matt, KØLWS, explains the details in a podcast on his YouTube channel, where
he has also posted links to the FCC documents and NextNav's petition. Follow
the link in the text version of this week's Newsline script at
arnewsline.org
[DO NOT READ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGMg8lwR2lg ]
(MATT KASKAVITCH, KØLWS; FCC]
**
TWO CUBESATS GIVE SATELLITE FANS MORE OPTIONS
JIM/ANCHOR: Hams chasing the birds have two new CubeSats to contact. Jeremy
Boot G4NJH tells us about them.
JEREMY: Welcome to Robusta-3A, a French student-built CubeSat launched in
July by the European Space Agency, and Sonate-2 a German CubeSat that
activated its APRS digipeater earlier this month. Sonate-2 was launched in
March.
Amateurs chasing Robusta have been advised to expect operating protocols and
uplink frequency similar to the FalconSAT-3 store-and-forward system. Until
its formal commissioning, Robusta-3A was to transmit short telemetry bursts
on 436.750 MHz, the downlink coordinated by the IARU. r Robusta's main
mission is weather observation. It is the seventh satellite built on campus
by students at the University of Montpellier and elsewhere.
Meanwhile, plenty of activity has been reported on the APRS digipeater
aboard SONATE-2, whose mission has been to demonstrate the use of AI with
autonomous payloads. The digipeater operates intermittently and in half-
duplex mode using the callsign DPØSNX.
Its amateur radio payload has a central role in the educational mission of
the CubeSat, which is designed to serve mainly high school students. In
addition to the digipeater and CW beacon, the VHF transceiver is expected to
provide SSTV downlinks on 145.880 MHz with images from optical sensors in
the AI payload.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE; AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the WBØQXW
Repeater System in Saint Louis, Missouri on 145.210 Mhz Mondays after the
World Friendship Net beginning at 7 pm Central time.
**
HAMS' WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP ASSISTS POLICE
JIM/ANCHOR: Technical wireless officers and radio operators in the Police
Wireless Department in Gujarat, India received some relevant lessons from
amateur radio during a technology workshop held at training headquarters in
Rajkot. Jason Daniels VK2LAW has the details.
JASON: For three hours, 25 attendees inside the police training centre in
Rajkot had their eyes opened to applications from amateur radio that could
assist communications in their law-enforcement work.
Led by Rajesh Vagadia, VU2EXP, the regional coordinator of AMSAT-India and
the Amateur Radio Society of India, the session covered the various modes
and applications useful in both ham radio and police work. It included an
overview of the different types of modulation and communication protocols,
as well as the importance of SWR, power measurement and the use of an
antenna analyser.
Various types of equipment were on display, from telescopic antennas and
dummy loads to an RTL SDR Dongle and CW Paddle and Keyer.
There were demonstrations of digital communication, including sending text
messages between two VHF radios and SSTV images between two local VHF
stations.
A report in the AMSAT News Service bulletin proclaimed the session fruitful.
The organisers hoped that the attendees had taken away some new approaches
to enhance their productivity in police work.
This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.
(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)
**
WRTC OPENS BIDDING FOR ENTRY OF SPONSORED TEAMS
JIM/ANCHOR: Are you wishing you could compete in the big leagues at the
World Radiosport Team Championship in two years? There's a way you can plan
for it now -- and John Williams VK4JJW tells us how.
JOHN: The next World Radiosport Team Championship won't be happening until
2026 but the worldwide competition has already begun for radio amateurs
looking to enter this high-level event as part of a sponsored team. Instead
of being selected based on the WRTC qualification programme based on results
in major contests, prospective sponsored teams engage in competitive bidding
in the hopes of securing a place as top bidder. Bidding begins at 20,000 US
dollars and the sealed-bid auction will have two rounds. Sponsored teams are
considered an important funding source by WRTC organisers.
Initial bids may be emailed until the 30th of April 2025 to finance at
wrtc2026 dot org (finance@wrtc2026.org)
The competitive element continues when the two winning teams get to the
event venue in the east of England. Organisers say that sponsored teams are
as eligible as any other entrants to win WRTC2026.
This is John Williams VK4JJW.
(WRTC)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, be listening for the special event callsign GBØMND,
marking Merchant Navy Day on the 3rd of September. Operators will be on the
air from the coastal town of South Shields in northeast England, operating
on the HF bands using CW, SSB and the digital modes. The activation
recognizes merchant seafarers of the world and especially the British
Merchant Navy. See QSL details on QRZ.com
Listen for Kari, JQ7ELL, operating from Tashiro island, IOTA number AS-206,
as JQ7ELL/7 from the 31st of August through to the 1st of September. Kari
will be on the HF bands and 6m; using SSB and FT8. QSL through the bureau
only.
Francesco, IK6QON, will be active from Milos Island, IOTA number EU-067,
using the callsign SV8/IK6QON from the 24th through to the 31st of August.
He will operate holiday style on HF; SSB, CW and FT8. QSL via his home call,
direct or by the bureau.
Listen for special event station ES1924TE which is on the air to celebrate
the centenary of amateur radio in Estonia through to the 18th of August. See
QRZ.com for QSL details.
(425 DX BULLETIN, DX WORLD)
**
KICKER: HAM RADIO FAMILY EMBRACES SILENT KEY'S CALLSIGN
JIM/ANCHOR: For any grieving family or community, one of the greatest
sources of comfort can sometimes be found in keeping memories vibrant. When
grief strikes in the amateur radio family, however, one of the best comforts
is sometimes.....that person's callsign. Especially THIS callsign. Don
Wilbanks AE5DW explains.
DON: When he first went on the air a month ago with his newly reassigned
callsign, Charlie Hartley was afraid that those hearing him would be
startled. The last time that callsign - K9EID - was on the HF bands, it was
the familiar on-air identity of his grandfather, Bob Heil. The popular,
well-regarded audio engineer became a Silent Key in February, and the ham
radio community was shaken.
Bob was also the proud grandfather of grandson Charlie, who'd presented him
with a surprise Christmas gift two months before Bob's passing: He announced
that he'd just received his ham license. On the K9EID page of QRZ.com,
Charlie describes Bob - his mentor and inspiration - as "an incredible man
who changed the lives of many." Charlie, who upgraded to General in March,
applied for Bob's callsign to be transferred to him.
The surprise gift now belongs to Charlie, as the recipient of remarkable
love and welcome from those who respond to his calls on 15 and 20 meters.
Charlie told Newsline: [quote] "I have received nothing but positivity and
heartwarming stories of how Bob touched their lives. Every story is unique,
and I love to hear each and every one of them." [endquote] It has been a
healing experience for Charlie's two families - his personal family and his
ham radio family.
The bond between grandfather and grandson doesn't end there: The incoming
sophomore at Webster University in St. Louis is busy with his studies for a
career befitting the legacy of the original K9EID. Charlie told Newsline:
[quote] "I'm studying audio engineering. It must be in my blood." [endquote]
This is Don Wilbanks AE5DW.
**
HITTING NEW HEIGHTS WITH HAIKU
If a good day of radio is like poetry to you, pick up a pencil and join the
Amateur Radio Newsline haiku challenge. Share your experience by sending an
original haiku to us here at Newsline. Use the entry form on our website,
arnewsline.org and please follow the rules for writing your three-line haiku
-- sorry but we cannot accept any entries that aren't written in traditional
haiku form. Share with fellow listeners the poetry that is inspired by your
ham radio experience!
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily; AMSAT News Service;
ArcticRadio.net; Ars Technica; Charlie Hartley, K9EID; CQ Magazine; David
Behar K7DB; 425DXNews; FCC; Hackaday; Matt Kaskavitch, KØLWS; NASA; QRZ.com;
Radio World; shortwaveradio.de; Wireless Institute of Australia; the WRTC;
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. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is
Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.
73 de Bill, PY2BIL
PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 16-ago-2024 11:49 E. South America Standard Time
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