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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2420 for Friday March 15th, 2024
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2420 with a release date of Friday
March 15th, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Space junk from the ISS lands safely. Hamvention
announces its award winners for 2024 -- and the architect of an important
repeater network becomes a Silent Key. All this and more as Amateur Radio
Newsline Report Number 2420 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
DISCARDED "SPACE JUNK" FROM ISS FALLS TO EARTH WITHOUT INCIDENT
JIM/ANCHOR: Our top story concerns debris from a massive package of
batteries discarded by the International Space Station. It had been
projected to hit parts of Europe. Thankfully it didn't. Here's Travis Lisk
N3ILS with a more detailed report.
TRAVIS: Tossed from the International Space Station in 2021, nine batteries
weighing a total of 2.6 metric tonnes re-entered Earth's atmosphere on
Friday, the 8th of March, in free-fall, crashing into the Atlantic Ocean
between Guatemala and Florida.
In the days and weeks prior, the impending arrival of the so-called "space
junk" set off alarms in various parts of Europe, including Germany and
Luxembourg, with predictions being made of the damage the debris might do if
any of it arrived in populated areas there.
The European Space Agency's Space Debris and Independent Safety Offices
provided updates to its member states throughout the day. In Bonn, Germany,
the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, National
Warning Center alerted the public to the possibility of hearing a sonic boom
or seeing luminous phenomena overhead.
At the time of the battery pack's release, it was considered the largest
object to be tossed from the ISS.
This is Travis Lisk, N3ILS.
(ESA, SPACE.COM)
**
ULTRA-SMALL SATELLITE HAS AMATEUR RADIO CAPABILITY
JIM/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, just a few days earlier, a few dozen satellite were
sent into space and among them was an ultra small CubeSat available for
amateur radio use. Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us about it.
ANDY: Weighing just 1.3 kg, the small satellite known as Ectobius was
launched on the 4th of March in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 to
conduct radar detection of the Earth. It will also provide amateur radio
access.
The creators, Care Weather and the Brigham Young University Spacecraft Club,
are calling this the smallest satellite radar system ever in orbit.
CareWeather said it is the first in its fledgling series of weather
satellite precursors. Ectobius, a 1U CubeSat, was among 53 payloads on board
SpaceX's Transporter-10.
The university club will be coordinating the sharing of amateur radio
activity. Hams will be able to use the CubeSat as a mailbox, digipeater and
telemetering station if they wish to study CubeSat thermals.
According to the CareWeather and BYU club website, Ectobius is expected to
have an orbital life of three years, although the duration of its scientific
mission is only two months.
This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.
(SATNEWS.COM, CAREWEATHER.COM)
**
GERMANY'S N-CLASS LICENSE HOLDERS TO GET "DN9" CALLSIGNS
JIM/ANCHOR: The German regulator has announced that the callsign designation
for the new, entry level "N" class license that takes effect on the 21st of
June will be DN9 - which adds a numeral to the previously announced "DN"
prefix. This is expected to have a capacity of more than 18,000 callsign
assignments available. The first examinations the "N" class license will
take place on the weekend of June 28th at "Ham Radio Friedrichshafen." The
license conforms to CEPT specifications for an entry level licence.
(FUNK TELEGRAMM)
**
**
SILENT KEY: ENGINEER DANNY HAMPTON, K4ITL, 2009 HAMVENTION AMATEUR OF THE
YEAR
JIM/ANCHOR: A North Carolina amateur who was named Hamvention Amateur of the
Year in 2009, has become a Silent Key. Danny Hampton, K4ITL, was considered
an old-school radio operator who was the architect of the Piedmont Coastal
Repeater Network created in the early 1970s.
Danny had been a longtime engineering contractor for the Capitol
Broadcasting Company where, for WRAL-TV in North Carolina, he would often
climb a TV tower to troubleshoot or conduct repairs. According to his
obituary, he made his last climb in October of 2023. Danny, who was legally
blind, was honored at Hamvention in 2009 as a driving force behind the
Southeastern Repeater Association and the Piedmont Coastal Repeater Network.
Licensed at the age of 12, he was described in his obituary as a keen
problem-solver with a talent for fixing two-way radios, HF radios and
repeater systems.
In a YouTube video, members of the Piedmont Coastal Repeater Network 2 meter
net can be heard during a tribute to him. According to net control Charles
Murray, KI4DCR, "there will be no final call because we will never forget
him." [endquote} Danny, who died on February 28th, was 79.
(WRAL TV, NORTH CAROLINA AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS GROUP)
**
HAMVENTION ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS FOR 2024
JIM/ANCHOR: The awards chairman of Hamvention has announced the names of
those chosen to receive awards this coming May in Xenia, Ohio. We learn who
they are from Mark Abramowicz N3TV.
MARK: Three prominent US radio operators and an international club for YLs
are being honored during Hamvention for their achievements and contributions
to amateur radio. Their names were announced recently in a press release and
on social media by awards chair Michael Kalter, W8CI.
The special achievement award is being given to top contester, QRP operator
and ham radio educator Anthony Luscre, K8ZT. The Ohio ham has shared his
expertise with countless other hams, leading numerous workshops at Contest
University, the QSO Today Expo and at Dayton Hamvention itself. His
achievements include numerous first-place finishes at the world and US
levels in the CQ Worldwide SSB and CW QRP contests.
ARRL license manual author Ward Silver, NØAX, is to receive the Technical
Achievement Award. Trained as an electrical engineer, Ward has been the lead
editor for the ARRL Handbook and the Antenna Book and has written numerous
study guides. A two-time recipient of the Bill Orr Technical Writing Award,
Ward's long-running monthly column that once appeared in QST magazine is now
in book format. A cofounder of the World Radiosport Team Championship, Ward
was inducted into the CQ Contest Hall of Fame in 2015.
Michigan amateur Edward Engleman, KG8CX, is Dayton’s Amateur of the Year. A
cofounder of the Young Amateurs Communications Ham Team, or YACHT, Ed is a
strong advocate for youth in amateur radio. With a background in public
school education, Ed has helped young amateurs get involved in presentation
to other youth at events such as Hamcation and Hamvention. According to the
press release [quote] "Ed is proud to be part of the future of amateur radio
by paying forward his interest in amateur radio by developing the next
generation of hams." [endquote]
The Young Ladies' Radio League, the YLRL, has been chosen Club of the Year.
The honor comes during the 85th anniversary of this international group that
fosters friendships, assists in helping newcomers and organizes contests.
The group has also provided assistance in emergencies.
Congratulations everyone. Hamvention will be held in Xenia, Ohio, from May
17th to May 19th.
This is Mark Abramowicz N3TV.
**
YASME FOUNDATION PRESENTS SUPPORTING GRANTS, AWARDS
JIM/ANCHOR: The Yasme Foundation has announced the latest round of grants
and awards. Kevin Trotman N5PRE brings us up to date on the deserving
recipients.
KEVIN: Two ham operators have been named recipients of the Yasme
Foundation's Excellence Award, which honors groups or individuals for their
significant contributions at the technical, operating or organizational
level. The latest awards are being given to Philip Gladstone, N1DQ, and Paul
Schreier, HB9DST. Philip maintains the PSKReporter.info website, also known
as the Digimode Automatic Propagation Reporter, which he created. His work
has contributed much to ionospheric research through citizen science. "The
Gladstone Signal Spotting Challenge" bears his name.
Paul Schreier is a steadfast promoter of Summits on the Air and CW
operations. He is a board member of the Helvetia Telegraphy Club for CW
enthusiasts in Switzerland and an organizer of various amateur radio events.
The foundation's board also announced a ,000 grant each to the Foundation
for Amateur Radio and ARRL Foundation scholarship programs.
Supporting grants of undisclosed amounts were given to Contest University at
Dayton; the YOTA/HamSci Hamvention activities.
The Yasme Foundation also provided a grant of an undisclosed amount to
Merzuke Gediktas, TA7YLY. The foundation has provided the funds to help her
promote amateur radio in Turkey, particularly to women and girls.
Earlier this year, the foundation gave a .500 supporting grant to the
organizing committee of the World Radiosport Team Championship which will
take place in 2026 in England.
This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.
(YASME FOUNDATION, DX NEWS)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the K7MMA
repeater in Spokane, Washington on Fridays at 5 p.m. Pacific time.
**
NOMINATE OUR NEXT YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR
JIM/ANCHOR: We're asking our listeners to nominate a promising young radio
amateur to become the Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year for
2024. Candidates must live in the continental United States and be 18 years
of age or younger. Tell our judges about your nominee's talent, promise and
commitment to the spirit of ham radio. This is your chance to help honor and
acknowledge that person who will, no doubt, go on to teach and inspire
others. Find the nomination form on our website arnewsline.org under the
"AWARDS" tab. Nominations close on May 31st.
**
FCC CHARGES LANDLORDS WITH SUPPORT OF RADIO PIRACY
JIM/ANCHOR: Empowered by a law that broadened its enforcement abilities
concerning pirate radio, the FCC has taken action against two landlords. We
have more from Sel Embee KB3TZD.
SEL: Two property owners in the United States have received notices of
illegal pirate radio broadcasting from the Federal Communications
Commission, warning them that agents have traced illegal broadcast signals
to their addresses.
In response to a complaint the FCC received in 2022, Charles Wyatt of
Greenville, South Carolina, was sent the so-called "pirate letter,"
indicating that agents confirmed that signals were being transmitted on 87.9
MHz from his property. The FCC stated there are no license records for
broadcast operations at that site. According to a story in Radio World, the
FCC did not explain why it took no action during the two years since the
complaint was made.
Separately, a property owner in Maplewood, New Jersey received a similar
letter which followed investigations of a complaint about illegal
broadcasting on 91.7 MHz. The FCC confirmed that the property owner is
Somerset Maplewood LLC and that, likewise, there are no records of a
broadcast license on file.
Under the PIRATE Act, which became law in 2020, third parties who permit
such illegal broadcasts can be fined a maximum of .4 million. The FCC
however, is not empowered to collect penalties. Collection is referred to
the US Department of Justice.
The act's acronym stands for Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through
Enforcement.
This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.
(FCC, RADIO WORLD)
**
ARDC GRANT BOLSTERS NEW EMERGENCY RESPONSE NETWORK
JIM/ANCHOR: A recent grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications is
helping a club effort led by an Indiana father and son to develop an
emergency-response network of clubs that focuses on flexibility. Our own
Paul Braun, WD9GCO, who is president of one of those clubs, explains:
PAUL: We recently reported that the ARDC was accepting grant applications
again. This time we’re going to share a success story with the recent
recipient of one of those grants.
Chris Lattimer, N9MMR, and his 13-year-old son Tavas, KD9NSC, have been
building a new club tied to a fire department in their town and building an
emergency communications network tied to another established regional club
that meets at a first-responder training facility. I spoke to Lattimer about
the project:
LATTIMER: Essentially we’ll have two locations, each outfitted with radios
for HF/VHF/UHF capabilities. Each location can be turned into an emergency
operations center, and then we have all of the people through both clubs and
facilities trained to use those radios.
PAUL: Lattimer’s plan is to enlist new hams from public-service facilities
and coordinate between them and the clubs:
LATTIMER: The Northwest Indiana Amateur Radio Partnership is a conjunction
of the Ogden Dunes Amateur Radio Club and the Porter County Amateur Radio
Club coming together to support emergency communication, to facilitate
public safety communications and to promote the advancement of education in
wireless technology through amateur radio.
PAUL: The partnership plan has real benefits for all involved -- and a small
network like this brings an enhanced flexibility that isn't just an asset to
the hams involved, but a vital resource for the community.
For Amateur Radio Newsline and the Porter County Amateur Radio Club, I'm
Paul Braun WD9GCO.
**
IOTA PUBLISHES ITS HONOR ROLL FOR CHASERS
PAUL/ANCHOR: The Islands on the Air awards program has published its honor
roll of chasers. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us about that list.
JEREMY: Seven hundred and forty-five callsigns from around the world are
listed on the newly released Honour Roll of the Islands on the Air awards
progamme, now in its sixtieth year. This annual list is published to
recognise top chasers whose verified scores meet or exceed 50 percent of the
total of numbered IOTA groups. Those totals do not include provisional
numbers.
The top radio operator listed in the Honour Roll for 2024 is 9A2AA in
Croatia, with a score of 1,133. The second and third spots, respectively,
are held by two stations in Italy: I2YDX with 1,132; and I1JQJ with 1, 131.
Islands on the Air is administered in partnership with the Radio Society of
Great Britain. There are an estimated 1,200 designated IOTA ocean island
groups within the awards programme.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(IOTA)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, be listening for Stefan, DL7AOS, operating holiday style
as 5P5K from Romo Island, Denmark, IOTA Number EU-125, between the 23rd of
March and the 6th of April. Stefan may also participate in the CQ WW WPX SSB
Contest. He will operate SSB and digital modes on 80-6 metres. See QRZ.com
for QSL details.
Listen for Chris, VK2YUS, who is using the callsign YJØCA from Port Vila,
IOTA Number OC-035, Vanuatu (VANN-OO-AHH-TU) until the 21st of March. He is
operating on SSB on 40-10 metres, mainly between 2100 UTC and 1000 UTC. QSL
direct to his home call.
**
KICKER: AT THIS LIBRARY, CHECK OUT HAM RADIO AS WELL AS BOOKS
JIM/ANCHOR: We end this week's report with a visit to the library - in this
case a branch library in Madison County, Mississippi, where the community is
able to check out books, CDs and movies. This time, they were checking out
amateur radio. Randy Sly W4XJ takes us there.
RANDY: The hams who belong to the Jackson Amateur Radio Club are a veritable
living library of information about getting on the air, so what better place
to share their knowledge with the community than at the local library
itself? On Saturday morning, March 2nd, it was story time and members
including Clay, AC5Z, Mike K5XU, Rick, N5ZNL and Frank, K4FMH, shared their
personal narratives as CW ops, builders, satellite chasers and
experimenters. There were no cloak-and-dagger mystery stories here. This
session, the first in a series, was designed to demystify what amateur radio
is all about. The quarterly program is called Get S.M.A.R.T. - for Saturday
Morning Amateur Radio Time.
The hams' involvement with the library doesn't end with these quarterly
sessions for the community. The club is also hoping to help at least one
library staffer at each branch to get a license and perhaps set up a ham
station as well on the premises. Frank wrote in a March 5 post on his blog:
[quote] "It underscores the interest by libraries to catalyze their STEM
programming efforts." [endquote]
The next Get S.M.A.R.T. session is expected to include an activation from
the garden area behind the library. What better way to cultivate a hobby for
newcomers?
This is Randy Sly W4XJ.
(FRANK HOWELL, K4FMH)
**
DO YOU HAIKU?
Don't forget the Amateur Radio Newsline haiku challenge. If you're not too
busy tuning your antennas or chasing the latest DXpedition, pick up a pencil
and 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.
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily; AMSAT; CQ Magazine;
David Behar K7DB; DXWorld; European Space Agency; FCC; Frank Howell, K4FMH;
425DXNews; Funk Telegram; Islands on the Air; North Carolina Amateur Radio
Repeaters Group; QRZ.com; Radio World; SATNEWS.com; shortwaveradio.de;
SpaceNews; WRAL-TV; Yasme Foundation; 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
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BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 15-mar-2024 08:02 E. South America Standard Time
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