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PY2BIL > ARNR 05.04.24 14:01l 418 Lines 19173 Bytes #105 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2423 for Friday April 5th, 202
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2423 for Friday April 5th, 2024
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2423 with a release date of Friday,
April 5th, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Hams are on alert after a bridge collapse in
Baltimore. Candidates in Germany prep for the country's newest class ham
license -- and a weather service outage in the US reminds hams of their
vital roles in emergencies. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline
Report Number 2423 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
HAMS ON ALERT AFTER BALTIMORE BRIDGE DISASTER
NEIL/ANCHOR: Our top story is the ongoing recovery following the collapse of
the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the US city of Baltimore. Hams were put on
alert and several days into the recovery, severe weather rolled in. Kevin
Trotman N5PRE has this developing story.
KEVIN: A call went out for heightened awareness among radio amateurs in the
Baltimore, Maryland area as the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on
Tuesday, March 26th, after being struck by a cargo ship near the Port of
Baltimore. Shortly after the early morning incident, Chris Van Winkle,
AB3WB, manager of the ARRL Maryland DC section. reached out to ARES members
section wide, asking that they stand by. Meanwhile, Maryland and Baltimore
officials declared a state of emergency.
As Newsline went to production on the 4th of April, hams remained on alert
as severe weather pounded the region, posing potential complications to
recovery operations near the harbor. Sid Caesar, NH7C, the assistant section
manager and public information coordinator, said section leadership
continued to be vigilant, engaging in incident planning in case the need
arose to activate any amateur radio support in the days ahead.
This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.
(SID CAESAR, NH7C)
**
NETWORK OUTAGE DURING STORM HIGHLIGHTS HAMS' IMPORTANCE
NEIL/ANCHOR: As weather-tracking and communications technology grow more
sophisticated, it’s easy to think that system failures won't be a problem in
an emergency. In the American Midwest, however, weather-watchers - and hams
- got a dose of reality, as we hear from Randy Sly W4XJ.
RANDY: Several areas across the United States received a wakeup call on the
night of April 1st when a national data network outage knocked out radar and
warning capabilities in many cities just as severe weather began hitting the
central part of the country.
In the St. Louis region, just as a storm system brought heavy rainfall,
hail, and even a tornado to the area, the Weather Forecast Office’s radar
and warning systems went dark. Meteorologists had to rely on other resources
while calling on the Kansas City office to provide backup.
Michael Musher, a meteorologist and spokesman for the National Weather
Service, told the media, <quote> "During this outage, some warning services
were impacted,ö <endquote> he indicated that they are working with network
vendors to determine the root cause for the 5 hour blackout.
Radio amateurs were active across the heartland. For example, Fox 19 TV in
Cincinnati reported ham activity for a tornado in Mason County, Kentucky. A
former SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator for the Washington DC/Baltimore
Weather Forecast Office told AR Newsline that the best thing we can do for
the National Weather Service is always be ready to serve.
This is Randy Sly W4XJ.
(NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, NY TIMES, KSDK TV5, FOX CHANNEL 19)
**
AMSAT-DL ADVANCES MICROWAVE AMATEUR RADIO PAYLOAD IDEA
NEIL/ANCHOR: AMSAT-DL has outlined a proposed microwave amateur radio
payload for a geostationary satellite, in response to requests from the IARU
and the European Space Agency.
The proposal favors positioning that would include eastern European
countries and large portions of eastern North America with the western limit
including Ontario and points east. In a 31-slide presentation, AMSAT DL's
Kai Siebels, DHØSK, and Matthias Bopp, DD1US, outline a plan that they
believe would include the most suitable orbit, comparing the intended
coverage to that provided by the successful OSCAR-100 satellite.
The suggested main downlink would be in the 10 GHz band, while the uplink
could be on a number of different bands, including 23cm and 13cm, to
encourage experimentation. AMSAT-DL also said that the mission would become
an excellent resource for disaster and emergency communications, noting that
a GEO satellite transponder was used during the earthquake that struck
Turkey in 2023.
(AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)
**
HAMS AID EXPECTED VEHICLE JAMS AT ECLIPSE EPICENTER
NEIL/ANCHOR: While hams prepare to get on the air on Monday, April 8th, to
assist with HamSCI's ionospheric studies during the solar eclipse over North
America, one group of hams in the area of totality will have some more
terrestrial reasons to be active. Jack Parker W8ISH explains.
JACK: Members of the Mid-State Amateur Radio Club in Johnson County Indiana
have been put on high alert for the upcoming Total Eclipse on April 8th.
County EMA officials requested backup ham radio communications in case their
county 800 MHz radio system becomes overloaded during disaster
communications.
With over 300,000 out-of-town visitors descending on Franklin, Indiana, the
Total Eclipse Epicenter, the sheriff is planning on all cell service and
possibly their radio system to be overloaded. When all else fails, that’s
when the Mid-State ARC Auxcom Team comes into play.
Nearly two dozen hams will be on hand at six county-wide deployment sites to
handle normal and emergency traffic if needed. The hams have been part of
the planning task force since last fall. Johnson County has two major
interstates and several state highways that carry traffic through the county
and around central Indiana. Johnson county roads are expected to be jammed
with traffic before and especially after the eclipse. In August of 2017,
Kentucky had gridlocked highways for hours following the eclipse.
Johnson County is planning for all contingencies including lost
communications. As of last week the Indiana governor declared a state of
emergency until after eclipse weekend. That’s why if All Else Fails, there
will be amateur radio.
This is Jack Parker, W8ISH
**
CANDIDATES PREP FOR GERMANY'S NEW LICENSE
NEIL/ANCHOR: In Germany, the DN9 licence is a GO! The race is on for hopeful
would-be radio amateurs to get their applications in for a test for the new
Class N entry-level 2m/70cm/10m licence.
Unlike in some other countries, in Germany all licence examinations are run
by the regulator - the BundesNetzArgentur or BNetzA for short and places in
the first test sessions are limited. On March 20th the regulator opened the
flood gates through an announcement on the social media platform "X" for
applications for the tests to be submitted. The first test will take place
in Dortmund on June 24th the day the new class of licence becomes legal.
Further tests are scheduled during June in Nuremberg on the 25th and at Ham
Radio Friedrichshafen on the 29th. Ten further tests will take place in July
at various locations around Germany.
Here's to lots of activity from the new hams as soon as they have their
licences -perhaps during Ham Radio Friedrichshafen or soon after when they
have bought their new radios at the show?
(BNetzA)
**
M17 PROJECT LAUNCHES NEW SOFTWARE, DIGITAL VOICE PROTOCOLS
NEIL/ANCHOR: The open-source developers of the M17 project have been busy
and they recently announced new releases. We have details from Stephen
Kinford N8WB.
STEPHEN: New open-source software, hardware and UHF/VHF digital voice
protocols have been launched by the M17 Project with the support of Amateur
Radio Digital Communications.
Further refinements to the amateur radio digital communications protocol
include a new remote radio unit, or RRU, that is described as a
"comprehensive, UHF FM/M17 repeater in a box." According to a joint press
release from the M17 project and ARDC, the unit is designed to accommodate
close antenna placement, producing better and more reliable signal strength.
Other improvements include the ability to convert a 9600-baud capable radio
into an M17 transceiver through the use of the M17 modem; and an Open HT
transceiver, which uses SDR technology for QRP dual-band operation.
The March 29th press release announced that an RRU transceiver is also in
development with the goal of providing a comprehensive FM/M17 repeater for
remote sites or masts. It is expected to feature direct antenna connection
that eliminates the need for a long coax.
This is Stephen Kinford N8WB.
**
EXPANDED HAMVENTION HOURS FOR VOICE OF AMERICA MUSEUM
NEIL/ANCHOR: If your plans to visit Xenia, Ohio next month for Hamvention
include a side-trip to the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting
in nearby West Chester, you'll be pleased to know that the museum will once
again have expanded hours. On Thursday, May 16th and Friday, May 17th, you
can visit from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., on Saturday, May 18th, from noon to 9 p.m.,
and on Sunday, May 19th, from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is 00. WC8VOA, the
ham radio station of the West Chester Amateur Radio Association, will be on
the air. Visit wc8voa.org or voamuseum.org for more details.
(JOCELYN BRAULT, KD8VRX/VA2VRX)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
shortwaveradio.de, broadcasting via shortwave from Germany into the UK,
Ireland and western Europe. Newsline is played at various times throughout
the week on 3975 and 6160 kHz.
**
NOMINATE OUR NEXT YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR
NEIL/ANCHOR: Do you know a promising young radio amateur who'd be a good
candidate for the Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year award? Let
Newsline know! 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.
**
NEW YORK HAM IS WORLD'S FIRST CANADIAN CENTURY CLUB WINNER
NEIL/ANCHOR: A ham in New York has won a top honor from Radio Amateurs of
Canada - and he's the first recipient of this new award. We hear about him
from Dave Parks WB8ODF.
DAVE: Receiving a top award from the Radio Amateurs of Canada was twice the
honor for Steven Hines, N2PQJ. He is not only a winner of the Canadian
Century Club Award but the first amateur in the world to receive it.
The New York amateur had been chasing stations in Canada for the longest
time in hopes of one day qualifying for its Trans-Canada Award. That award
was discontinued, however, because its requirements were deemed outdated.
For one thing, it failed to recognize the northern territory of Nunavut,
which became Canada's third territory in 1999.
Enter the Canadian Century Club Award, its replacement. To qualify, amateurs
need to show evidence of two-way contacts with a minimum of 100 amateur
stations in Canada, with between 1 and 20 in each of the 10 provinces and
between 1 and 20 in any of the three territories.
Steven's achievement is celebrated in the latest issue of Canadian Amateur
Magazine, where he is pictured holding the award. Congratulations on your
persistence - and patience!
According to the RAC website, the challenge doesn't end there. The RAC said
it is considering the addition of endorsements for 200, 300 or more
stations.
This is Dave Parks WB8ODF.
(CANADIAN AMATEUR MAGAZINE, RAC)
**
GRANT SUPPORTS UPCOMING JARVIS ISLAND DXPEDITION
NEIL/ANCHOR: A DXpedition to an environmentally sensitive Pacific island has
just received a substantial grant to help with the activation, as we hear
from Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.
RALPH: The Northern California DX Foundation is providing a 5,000 grant to
the Dateline DX Association for its Jarvis Island National Wildlife Reserve
Dxpedition this summer. The N5J team recently announced that the trip
received the much-needed go-ahead from the US Fish & Wildlife Service in
Hawaii. Government approval was needed for an activation from this rare
entity because it is an environmentally sensitive location. Three research
biologists from the US Fish and Wildlife Service will accompany the team.
The permit was issued recently to the Dateline group's George AA7JV and Don
N1DG.
The activation of N5J will be done two ways: Four operators will install six
Radio-in-a-Box stations on the island, operating CW, SSB and FT8 on HF and 6
metres. Radio-in-a-box enables operation remotely from a boat when land
access is restricted.
Twenty-five other operators from Asia, North America and Europe will be on
the air remotely via satellite using CW and FT8 in fox and hound mode.
The 13-day DXpedition is tentatively set for the 1st of August and is
subject to change, depending on the weather.
Jarvis Island has not been on the air since 1990. It is part of the Pacific
Remote Islands Marine National Monument
This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.
(WIA, JARVIS ISLAND DXPEDITION WEBSITE)
**
NJ AMATEUR RECOGNIZED FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE ROLE
NEIL/ANCHOR: In the US, a federal agency that oversees volunteerism and
community service has honored a New Jersey radio amateur for his leadership
in regional emergency response. Sel Embee KB3TZD has that story.
SEL: Congratulations to James Kennedy, K2PHD, who received a bronze
President's Volunteer Service Award from AmeriCorps [pron: A MERRY CORE],
the agency of the US government that promotes community service and
volunteerism. James received the award on the 26th of March in recognition
of having given 100 hours of assistance to the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, or FEMA. He serves FEMA Region Two as a volunteer regional
coordinator, meaning he has oversight of activities and response up and down
the coast of the state of New Jersey.
Apart from his FEMA responsibilities, James serves as Northern New Jersey
ARES section emergency coordinator in the ARRL Hudson Division. He is also
the manager of the Community Emergency Management Response Team for the
township of Roxbury.
Licensed as a ham since 1960, James served during the Cold War era as a US
Coast Guard and commercial radiotelegraph and signals intercept operator.
This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.
(TAPINTOROXBURY)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, be listening for Tev, TA1HZ, operating holiday style as
8Q7HZ from the Maldives, IOTA Number AS-013 between the 6th and the 15th of
April. He will be using SSB and FT8/FT4 on 30, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 metres.
See QRZ.com for QSL details.
Special callsign II1GM [EYE EYE ONE G M] is on the air through the 30th of
April to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Guglielmo [pron:
GOO YEE EL MO] Marconi. You will hear different operators calling from
different call areas, such as II1GM/1, II1GM/2, and so on. See QRZ.com for
QSL information.
The D.A.R.C. special event callsign DA24WARD is on the air through to the
30th of April, marking World Amateur Radio Day. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
Listen for Tom, K7TLM, and Leslie, KD7YZE, operating as E51TLM from
Rarotonga, OC-013, in the South Cook Islands from the 7th through to the
13th of April. They will operate QRP on 10 metres SSB and slow CW. See
QRZ.com for QSL details.
(425 DX BULLETIN)
**
KICKER: EASTER, A HOLIDAY TO EGG ON THE RADIO HUNTERS
NEIL/ANCHOR: Radio has a long tradition of hunting, whether it is for a rare
DX, a SOTA summit or an island. Our final story looks at some of the more
unconventional hunts that went on during Easter Weekend -- hunts that
involved anything but Easter eggs. Jim Damron N8TMW has that story.
JIM: On Easter weekend, QRP operators in the US Pacific Northwest went
hunting - their quarry was the Sasquatch, the hairy, mythical forest
creature also known as Bigfoot. On the Friday just before Easter Sunday, the
annual Sasquatch Stomp stepped off, organized by the Pacific North West QRP
Group. Designed for CW operators, the contest's other distinction was its
method of scoring. It awarded negative points - and the lowest points
determined the winner.
Meanwhile, radio enthusiasts throughout Europe were busy hunting too: They
tuned their dials in search of radio pirates. This contest was just for fun,
as it has always been since it was launched during Easter holiday season in
2016 by a group known as Radioactives of Middle Finland. Jann, one of the
organisers, explained to Newsline in an email that the Easter holiday break
in Europe gives people the free time to hunt for as many unlicensed
broadcast stations as they like. Pirate stations, also known as free radio
stations, are popular in much of Europe and the playful competition brings
extra holiday cheer - not to mention good listening.
Janne and his friend Jan-Mikael keep the rules simple. Participants didn't
even need a radio - an online SDR receiver works just fine. With events like
these for holiday hunters, who needs Easter eggs?
This is Jim Damron N8TMW.
(RADIOACTIVES OF MIDDLE FINLAND)
**
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. Share with
fellow listeners the poetry that is inspired by your ham radio experience!
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily; ARRL; CQ Magazine; David
Behar K7DB; DXNews; DXWorld; 425DXNews; Fox Channel 19; GNU Radio; HamSCI;
Jarvis Island DXpedition website; KSDK-TV 5; National Weather Service; New
York Times; QRZ.com; Radioactives of Middle Finland; shortwaveradio.de; Sid
Caesar, NH7C; TapIntoRoxbury.com; 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 2024. All rights reserved.
73 de Bill, PY2BIL
PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 05-abr-2024 08:12 E. South America Standard Time
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