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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2435 for Friday June 28th, 202
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2435 for Friday June 28th, 2024
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2435 with a release date of Friday,
June 28th, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. An earthquake drill adds extra meaning to Field
Day. AMSAT is shutting its email alias service -- and 4 metre privileges
are extended in Germany until year's end. All this and more as Amateur Radio
Newsline Report Number 2435 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
INDIANA CLUB ADDS EARTHQUAKE AWARENESS TO FIELD DAY
SKEETER/ANCHOR: So how was YOUR Field Day? We begin this week's report by
visiting some amateurs in Indiana who seized the opportunity to add an
earthquake awareness exercise to this important annual drill. Andy Morrison
K9AWM takes us there.
ANDY: Field Day took on an expanded role as a disaster preparedness
opportunity in Marion County, Indiana. Members of the Indianapolis Radio
Club W9JP used the two-day ARRL event to raise awareness about earthquake
preparedness too. Indiana sits atop the New Madrid Fault line, which is a
seismic zone where earthquakes can occur.
The club's Field Day coordinator Jeff Hammer N9NIC told Newsline that the
earthquake communications exercise was held in the morning before Field Day.
Hams engaged were in the Marion County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency
Service, as well as local ARES and SATERN partners. There was added support
from RACES officer Jason Lopez, N9CRT, plus officials from the Town of
Speedway.
Jeff told Newsline: [quote] "It was a seamless operation. The setup for
Field Day replicated the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service deploying to
assist a government entity." [endquote] For the earthquake exercise,
specialists were called in from ARES, the Indianapolis Radio Club and The
Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints Emergency Communications. Disaster-
related information was passed on VHF simplex, repeaters and via WINLINK,
all using solar or battery power. Seasoned hams as well as newbies got
involved.
Although the earthquake exercise was over by the time Field Day began, the
seismic theme stayed with everyone throughout the ARRL event. Stopping by,
local visitors learned that what they were observing at Field Day might one
day help save their lives if a disaster message had to get through.
This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.
(JEFF HAMMER N9NIC)
**
SPLIT VERDICT IN DEATH OF HAM AND COMPANION
SKEETER/ANCHOR: In Australia, a murder case that sparked one of the state of
Victoria's largest missing persons searches, has ended with a split verdict
over the death of an amateur radio operator and his companion. Jason Daniels
VK2LAW has that story.
JASON: An Australian court has found a former pilot guilty of murder in the
death of a woman who was accompanying her friend, an amateur radio operator,
on a camping trip in Victoria. Greg Lynn had faced charges in the deaths of
both Carol Clay, 73, and Russell Hill, VK3VZP. In the statement declaring
Greg Lynn guilty in Clay's death, the court returned a verdict of not guilty
in the death of the 74-year-old radio amateur saying there was insufficient
evidence to determine how he died. According to media reports, the jury
deliberated for six days before reaching the split verdict.
Greg Lynn, 57, is to be sentenced on the 19th of July and could face life in
prison. According to media accounts, the parties had argued at the time
because Greg Lynn had been hunting in the area.
This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.
(BBC.COM, ABC.NET.AU)
**
AMSAT TO SHUT ITS MAIL ALIAS SERVICE
SKEETER/ANCHOR: AMSAT is shutting its mail alias service, citing hacking as
one of the reasons. Dave Parks WB8ODF brings us the details.
DAVE: Users of AMSAT's Mail Alias Service have been asked to migrate to
different email accounts as soon as possible as AMSAT prepares for the
member amenity's shutdown on the 1st of August. In a note to its members,
AMSAT cited past instances of "hacking and email account hijacking" which
has an impact on its ability to operate it in an affordable manner. AMSAT
wrote: [quote] "It has come to the point where the AMSAT volunteer IT staff
can no longer keep up with the maintenance requirements to keep the alias
mail list clean and to work with email gateways to remove blocks."
[endquote]
To use a member's mail alias on AMSAT.ORG, all a sender needed to know was
the ham radio call sign of their intended recipient - they did not need to
know their actual email address. AMSAT believes now that, all things
considered, the funds saved from the shutdown are better invested in
satellite development for members.
This is Dave Parks WB8ODF.
[AMSAT NEWS SERVICE]
**
GET READY FOR THE NEXT 13 COLONIES SPECIAL EVENT
SKEETER/ANCHOR: The year's most revolutionary special event is back -- and
it's all about the American Revolution which is celebrated in the US on the
4th of July.Travis Lisk N3ILS fires the first shots for us.
TRAVIS: The 13 Colonies Special Event is back on the air for its 16th year,
inviting shortwave listeners, DX stations and hams here in the States to
take up the challenge of making QSOs with operators in each of the original
13 US colonies. This year, as before, the fight will not be for independence
but for as much of a clean sweep of contacts as possible. Certificates will
be available regardless of how many stations are contacted between the 1st
and the 7th of July. Each station will also make QSL cards available.
Expect to find some fireworks in the pileups, especially for the three bonus
stations: GB13COL in Great Britain; TM13COL in France and WM3PEN in
Philadelphia. Stations K2A through to K2M represent the Colonies and the
earliest days are expected to be the busiest.
For more details, visit the website 13colonies dot us. Be sure to use the
numerals "1" and "3" for thirteen. (13colonies.us)
The special event is dedicated to Tom Francis, W1TEF, who was the South
Carolina state manager for K2L until he became a Silent Key in 2020.
This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.
(13 COLONIES SPECIAL EVENT)
**
SPECIAL EVENT MARKS JAPAN'S WARTIME AIR RAIDS OVER AUSTRALIA
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, a short but important special event station is
marking the impact of another war on another continent in another century.
Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us how to contact this brief but important
activation. It's all taking place for two hours -- and it is on the 29th of
July.
GRAHAM: The Townsville Amateur Radio Club , VK4WIT, is helping to ensure
that no one forgets the Japanese air raids over north Queensland in July of
1942 during World War II. On the first night, bombs were dropped by several
aircraft but fell into the ocean. During the second attack, the bombs landed
in the bush outside town. Although there was little damage and only a few
casualties reported, the towns lived with the peril of having unexploded
bombs in their midst. Townsville's harbour made it an important military
base and the unexploded bombs posed a threat to Allied forces making use of
the harbour.
Ray, VK4OIL, expects to be on the air from 0400 UTC to 0600UTC and is
looking for amateurs who want to set up portable 40metre stations at the WW2
Heritage Oonoonba Bomb Site. Operators will be working centered around
7100kHz LSB.
This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(ANZAC WAR MEMORIAL; TOWNSVILLE ARC)
**
ACMA SEEKS INPUT ON REPEATER AND BEACON LICENSING
SKEETER/ANCHOR: The ACMA is further fine-tuning the licensing process for
repeaters and beacons in Australia and is looking for input, as we hear from
Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.
JASON: The Australian Communications & Media Authority is asking radio
amateurs and accredited persons to comment on guidelines proposed for the
licensing process for repeaters and beacons. The regulator has set a
comment deadline of the 5th of August, stating that its goals include
opening up more opportunities for repeater and beacon licences and to have
enhanced transparency with regard to coordinating frequencies. The ACMA
would like to retain the practice of having applicants coordinate their
frequencies with the Wireless Institute of Australia or through an
accredited person.
Although Australia now has a class licence system for hams as of this year,
beacon and repeater licenses remain unchanged.
Hams may give their views directly to the ACMA through their portal or
submit their feedback via the WIA.
This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.
(ACMA)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the AH6LE
repeater in Clackamas County Oregon on Sundays at 6 p.m. local time.
**
GERMAN REGULATOR EXTENDS 4 METRE PRIVILEGES UNTIL DEC. 31
SKEETER/ANCHOR: There's good news for hams in Germany who have been enjoying
part of the 4 metre band on a temporary basis. Regulators have extended the
privilege through to the end of the year for Class A licence holders.
Operation on 4 metres requires the use of horizontally polarized antennas
and no more than 25 watts ERP from a fixed station location. Transmissions
may occupy a bandwidth of no more than 12 kHz and remote transmissions are
prohibited. Use of the 4m band has been slowly expanding in some European
countries. The German regulator began issuing temporary privileges for 4m in
2014.
(FEDERAL NETWORK AGENCY)
**
SHORTWAVE LISTENERS GIVE AID AT INDIAN TRAIN DISASTER
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Emergency response doesn't always involve radios - and two
shortwave listeners in India are proof of that. We hear about them from Jim
Meachen ZL2BHF.
JIM: Two shortwave listeners studying to become licensed hams in India have
more than proven that they already understand the community service spirit
of amateur radio. They were among the many to rush to the scene of a deadly
train accident in West Bengal on Monday the 17th of June. Local media
identified them as Kajal Roy and Shekhar Debnath - two members of the West
Bengal Radio Club - and their swift actions have been credited with helping
save lives after a cargo train and passenger train collided in the Himalayan
foothills, killing at least 10. Local villagers also responded at the scene
to assist with rescue.
The club's secretary, Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, said the pair had set up
camp to assist the casualties and were able to transport injured passengers
to area hospitals. The two have had previous experience with disaster
assistance, having helped out during the Sikkim floods late last year.
This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.
(TIMES OF INDIA, AMBARISH NAG BISWAS, VU2JFA, INDIA TODAY)
**
HISTORIC TRANSMITTER ON AIR FOR ALEXANDERSON DAY
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Get ready for a special CW message to be sent from a
historic transmitter in Sweden on 17.2 kHz. We hear more from Jeremy Boot
G4NJH.
JEREMY: The historic Alexanderson alternator in Grimeton, Sweden, will be
back on the air sending a message on CW on Sunday the 30th of June, which is
Alexanderson Day.
If you have the ability to copy 17.2 kHz, you may be able to hear the CW
signals sent from the Grimeton Radio Station using the callsign SAQ. This
was originally designed as a commercial long-wave transmitter and has long
since become a World Heritage Site. It bears the name of its creator, Swede
Ernst F.W. Alexanderson.
The actual transmission is set to begin at 0900 UTC, following a 30-minute
warmup of the alternator. According to the Alexander Association website,
hams may listen throughout the day for amateur radio station SK6SAQ, which
will also be marking the occasion.
Listeners around the world who cannot visit the site personally will be able
to watch the transmission and celebration live on the YouTube channel of the
Alexander Association, Grimeton SAQ veteran radio friends.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(ALEXANDER ASSOCIATION, GRIMETON SAQ VETERAN RADIO FRIENDS)
**
HAM'S DOCUMENTARY SEEN AS BASIS FOR TV SERIES
SKEETER/ANCHOR: An award-winning documentary film by a ham in California is
being considered for a TV series here in the US. Ralph Squillace KK6ITB
tells us what's next.
RALPH: Levi Maaia K6LCM is an innovator. The Californian amateur, a former
STEM educator, is also an award-winning filmmaker whose documentary
"Pathways to Invention," won Best Documentary Feature at the Los Angeles
Independent Film Festival Awards in 2022. The film was also shown on the
public broadcasting system in the US.
Innovator that he is, Levi and his production partner Noah Mark have been
asked to return to TV screens with aptly named "The Innovators," a new TV
series to be carried on American Public TV. Levi an advocate for the Maker
movement, shows the stories that showcase the spirit of inventors, amateur
radio operators, tinkerers, problem-solvers and so many others who live
their lives outside the lines of conformity.
Levi writes in a press release that [quote] "this series blends the personal
touch of a travel show with the insightful exploration of invention and
entrepreneurship." [endquote]
That kind of entrepreneurship no doubt includes Levi himself who has been a
ham since 2006, with commitments to the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club and
Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation. He is a ham radio educator whose
involvement has included teaching high school and working with Amateur Radio
on the International Space Station, or ARISS's, US Education Committee.
The two partners are working hard right now to bring this series to
viewers' home screens. That's not just innovation - that's determination
too.
This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.
(MAAIA MARK PRODUCTIONS)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, listen for Christian, F4EBK, using the call DU3/F4EBK
from Luzon Island, IOTA Number OC-042, through to early 2025. You can
listen for him on 20, 15 and 10 metres, where he may be found around 0009
UTC and after 2100 UTC. QSL via F4EUO.
Eric, KV1J, will be on the air as FP/KV1J from Miquelon Island, IOTA
Number NA-032, from the 2nd to the 16th of July. He will participate in the
IARU HF World Championship taking place on the 13th and 14th of July. He
expects to operate primarily SSB and FT8 with a mix of some CW, RTTY and
FT4. Listen on 80-6 metres, especially on 12, 10 and 6m. See QRZ.com for QSL
details.
(425 DX BULLETIN)
**
KICKER: QSOS TURN CLEVER WHEN CALLSIGNS BECOME MEMES
SKEETER/ANCHOR: If you think there's something funny about this week's final
story, you're right. It's about using memes on the air. Yes, we are talking
about memes, not beams. Some of ham radio's youngest operators are on the
air through August 15th celebrating some clever, unusual callsigns and
spreading the smiles as they make contact. We hear more from Kent Peterson
KCØDGY.
KENT: Imagine logging the callsign DLØLOL in Germany. Or GBØOTY in England?
How about OOØF in Belgium? These are valid callsigns that young radio
operators in some countries are using for the fourth annual "meme
appreciation" special event. It's mostly for fun and amusement. The young
operators in Canada who started this madness in 2022 explain the overriding
philosophy on their website using these words: [quote] "Why the heck do you
do this? Boredom, mischief, and too much free time." [endquote] They confess
that it's also a ploy of sorts to attract more young ops who believe that
people can sometimes be allowed to get silly on the air.
Operators are using FT8 and SSTV in addition to SSB and they're even
activating some POTA locations. Listen on all of HF but don't be surprised
if some of these callsigns show up on 2m, 70cm and the QO-100 satellite.
Visit mememonth.ca - that's "meme month" - one word - dot ca for details.
Remember - these memes can be a scream.
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(MEMEMONTH.CA)
**
DO YOU HAIKU?
Does your amateur radio experience ever inspire a bit of poetry? Why not
immortalize that incredible QSO or fantastic antenna by participating in the
Amateur Radio Newsline haiku challenge. Use the entry form on our website,
arnewsline.org and please follow the rules for writing your three-line haiku
-- we cannot accept any entries that aren't written in traditional haiku
form. And be sure to check out our previous winners!
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to the AMSAT News Service; Australian
Communications & Media Authority; Alexander Association; ANZAC War Memorial;
ARRL, Amateur Radio Daily; AMSAT News Service; BBC; CQ Magazine; David Behar
K7DB; DXWorld; FCC; Federal Network Agency; 425DXNews; Jeff Hammer, N9NIC;
Meme Month; QRZ.com; shortwaveradio.de; Thirteen Colonies Special Event;
Times of India; Townsville Amateur Radio Club; Wireless Institute of
Australia; YouTube; 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 Skeeter Nash N5ASH
in Jonesboro, Arkansas 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 28-jun-2024 08:11 E. South America Standard Time
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