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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2405 for Friday December 1st,
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2405 for Friday December 1st, 2023
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2405 with a release date of Friday
December 1st, 2023 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. A massive fire ravages Nikola Tesla's last remaining
laboratory. Hams in India help track down a child's lifesaving but
unavailable medicine -- and if you believe in Santa, you may just hear him
on the air. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2405
comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
FIRE SWEEPS THROUGH NIKOLA TESLA’S LAST REMAINING LAB
PAUL/ANCHOR: We begin this week's report with news of a fire that nearly
destroyed a historic landmark with a longstanding connection to radio and
innovation. Kevin Trotman N5PRE has the details.
KEVIN: In New York, a raging fire swept through the last remaining
laboratory of Nikola Tesla, where a massive redevelopment began three years
ago to create a science center and a hub of amateur radio activity and
education. Marc Alessi, the nonprofit center’s executive director, said at a
press conference on November 28th that authorities have ruled out arson and
are still investigating the cause.
The historically significant laboratory building itself, set on a 15-acre
site on Long Island, sustained damages of at least ABFSL2HM$-million from the
November 21st fire. A worldwide fundraising effort on indiegogo has begun
for the lab, which the Serbian-born scientist used in the early 1900s. This
fundraising is separate from the already 0-million raised for the
renovation - an effort that is still -million short of its goal.
Amateur radio club N2TSC will be housed in the visitors center - a different
building from the devastated lab. Ed Wilson, N2XDD, the club’s president,
told Newsline that the visitors centre was not damaged by the blaze, which
drew the response of more than 100 volunteer firefighters from the
surrounding community. Plans continue to go forward for the site’s overall
redevelopment as an educational and community resource, but it is not clear
how far back the original opening date of late 2025 will be delayed.
I'm Kevin Trotman N5PRE.
(ED WILSON, N2XDD; CBS; PATCH.COM)
**
HAMS HELP TRACK DOWN LIFESAVING MEDICINE FOR ILL CHILD IN INDIA
PAUL/ANCHOR: Hams in India raced the clock to help locate and deliver
medicine in short supply to a critically ill little girl. John Williams
VK4JJW tells how they did it.
JOHN: Working under a critically short deadline and across the borders of
several nations, hams in India were able to locate a medicine that is vital
to a 7-year-old girl in neighbouring Bangladesh who was hospitalised for a
neurological disorder. The medicine was in her doctor's hands within 48
hours of being found.
The girl's parents had been told by doctors at Dhaka Medical College and
Hospital that they were in short supply of the anti-viral drug that was
successfully treating their daughter and that no stock of the drug could be
found elsewhere in the country at present. The girl's father told The Times
of India that he promptly launched a search by contacting Rahat Khan, S21DI,
an amateur radio operator in Bangladesh. Rahat put out a call to his network
of ham contacts in neighbouring countries, all to no avail. In India, hams
in the West Bengal Radio Club found an alternative of the brand in the state
of Kerala but it was not clear whether the girl would respond to that drug.
The necessary brand was at last located in New Delhi by one of the newest
members of the club, Naendraath Jana, a student in the Indian Academy of
Communication and Disaster Management. According to the club's secretary,
Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, the hams then tracked down someone at the New
Delhi airport who was preparing to return home to Bangladesh - and who
agreed to transport the medicine. The girl's father met the passenger at the
airport in Dhaka. The girl received the treatment on Friday, November 24th.
This is John Williams VK4JJW.
(THE TIMES OF INDIA, THE STATESMAN)
**
FCC SEEKS COMMENTS ON PROPOSALS FOR 2200 and 630 METERS
PAUL/ANCHOR: There is still time to comment on an FCC proposal that would
remove the baud rate limitation for the 2200 meter band and the 630 meter
band. The agency has said it would like input on what appropriate bandwidth
limitation might be set instead. In making this proposal, FCC acknowledges
previous comments that have been received, underscoring public-safety
benefits for radio communications during emergencies, such as natural
disasters.
The FCC is also proposing to maintain existing bandwidth limitations on the
VHF and UHF bands.
This is the latest action by the commission, which recently established a
bandwidth limitation of 2.8 kHz for digital transmissions on certain amateur
radio HF bands, eliminating the longstanding baud rate limitation on those
bands.
(FCC)
**
SPACEX ASSURES FCC: NO RADIO INTERFERENCE FROM STARLINK
PAUL/ANCHOR: In other news in Washington, D.C., the FCC has received a
document from SpaceX in which the company gives assurances that its cellular
Starlink system does not pose a hazard to other radio signals. More on that
from Sel Embee KB3TZD.
SEL: Responding to an FCC request for details about radio interference
hazards posed by its Starlink system, the company has submitted a 16-page
document to the agency explaining why ground-based and satellite services
will not face interference from its operation. The FCC had requested the
detailed analysis. SpaceX said that its direct-to-cell system uses software
that prevents radio interference and, in any case, transmissions can also
still be individually turned off if it occurs.
The Starlink system of satellites has been compared to cellular towers in
orbit. T-Mobile is its first partner in the venture and will be using
frequencies between 1.91 GHz and 1.995GHz for customers' transmissions.
Questions about interference have been raised before. An Australia-based
astronomy team recently published a study that they say links unintended
emissions from the SpaceX array of satellites to interference with the low-
frequency VHF radio antennas used to study the universe.
I'm Sel Embee KB3TZD.
(PC MAGAZINE)
**
NASA RELEASES NEW VERSION OF ISS-SPOTTING APP
PAUL/ANCHOR: Are you looking out for the International Space Station? NASA
has just made it even easier. Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us how.
ANDY: If you've got the International Space Station in your sights -
figuratively, of course - because you're hoping for a contact, there's a new
option to help you spot the ISS more easily. NASA has released a new version
of their Spot the Station mobile application that is downloadable from
either Google Play or the Apple Store. If the station is passing overhead,
you'll get notified in time to try for the APRS or voice repeater in time.
Although NASA is still sending alerts by email and text messages, the new
app allows users to see predictions of visible passes. You can also set
alarms that allow you to be on time to catch the ISS when it arrives in
sight.
Visit spotthestation.nasa.gov for more details.
This is Andy Morrison K9AWM
(NASA, AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)
**
YOUTH ON THE AIR APPLICATION PERIOD IS OPEN
PAUL/ANCHOR: It may be December but it's not too early to start thinking
about July -- because that means Youth on the Air camp, and this year the
young amateurs are heading to Nova Scotia, Canada. Jack Parker W8ISH shares
the details.
JACK: Even though the temperatures are dropping and snow has already fallen
in some parts of the world, young radio amateurs in North, Central and South
America are getting ready for warmer days ahead at Youth on the Air Camp.
It's taking place July 7th through July 12th at the Mount Saint Vincent
University campus in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The camp is being hosted by Radio
Amateurs of Canada.
The application period is now open. Licensed amateurs between the ages of 15
through 25 are being encouraged to complete the application form online by
the 15th of January. It can be found at YouthOnTheAir.org
Campers will be notified of their selection by the 1st of February. There
are allocated slots for applicants in each of the Americas to encourage as
wide an attendance as possible. Any remaining free places after the January
deadline can still be applied for up until the 31st of May.
As many as 50 campers will be accepted. Because COVID is still a concern,
organizers will be monitoring changes in guidelines for masking and
vaccinations.
For details about costs, travel arrangements and other details, visit the
Youth on the Air camp website or contact camp director Neil Rapp WB9VPG at
director at youthontheair dot org (director@youthontheair.org)
This is Jack Parker W8ISH.
PAU: There's still plenty for youngsters to do on the air in the meantime.
Starting December 1st, hams around the world who are age 25 and younger will
be marking YOTA month by using callsigns ending in "Y O T A," trying to beat
last year's final tally of 107,845 QSOs. As the month wraps up, don't miss
the YOTA Contest on December 30th. For complete details visit the website
events dot ham hyphen yota dot com (events.ham-yota.com)
**
NEWSLINE TO ANNOUNCE INT'L NEWSMAKER AWARD WINNER
PAUL/ANCHOR: Be listening next week when Amateur Radio Newsline announces
this year's recipient of the International Newsmaker of the Year award. We
launched this award in 2019 with our editorial staff recognizing the
individuals, groups or formal clubs who have spent the previous year
bringing amateur radio into the spotlight showing its positive values and
contributions to the community. We are broadening the award's scope this
year by acknowledging that the dissemination of information to the public
about amateur radio's impact no longer relies solely on mainstream media. We
are very proud of this year's winner, who you will get to meet very soon.
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the WB ZERO
YLE (WBØYLE) repeater on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., through Allstar, in
Morrisville Pennsylvania and Fall River Massachusetts.
**
FCC OKS CROSS-BAND OPERATIONS WITH MILITARY FOR PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE
PAUL/ANCHOR: With the help of a waiver from the FCC, hams in the US will be
able to contact military stations in an exercise marking Pearl Harbor
Remembrance Day. Kent Peterson KCØDGY has that story.
KENT: In the United States, hams have been granted an opportunity to mark
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day by communicating directly with
stations of the US military through cross-band operations. The FCC has
issued a waiver to permit such radio communication from December 6th through
to the 9th, on the occasion of the 82nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl
Harbor during World War Two.
Legal two-way communication with federal stations is highly unusual for
amateur radio. FCC regulations typically permit this on only one other
occasion, the annual Armed Forces Day Communications Test. Participating
hams will be monitoring three federal frequencies but are to respond on
parts of the bands assigned to amateurs.
In approving the request from the ARRL, the FCC said the waiver serves an
important purpose on a day of great historical significance. The FCC said
[quote] "This day has a historic significance and emphasizes the importance
of reliable communications and the need to be vigilant in our national
defense.ö [endquote]
To see a link to the FCC's limited waiver, follow the link in the text
version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
[DO NOT READ: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-23-1108A1.pdf
]
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(RADIO WORLD)
**
HISTORIC TRANSMITTER IN SWEDEN TO TRANSMIT TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
PAUL/ANCHOR: Christmas time is a time of tradition and for radio enthusiasts
in Sweden, there are few traditions more loved and anticipated than hearing
a Christmas message sent via a transmitter that is fast approaching its
100th year. Jeremy Boot G4NJH explains.
JEREMY: The pride of the pioneering Swedish engineer Ernst Alexanderson -
his 200kW high-frequency alternator built in 1924 - has a Christmas message
to deliver to the world this year, as in previous years. On Christmas Eve
morning, Sunday 24 December, the radio station in Grimeton with the callsign
SAQ, will deliver the words in the holiday spirit in CW at 0800 UTC at 17.2
kHz. Those of us who cannot be present can still watch the historic
transmitter and hear its message being sent during a livestream on the SAQ
Grimeton YouTube channel. The transmitter's startup will also be
livestreamed, starting half an hour before the message.
There are also many ways to listen but because there are few radios capable
of directly receiving the transmitter's frequency, there are internet
receivers and other options available. See the link in the text version of
this week's newscast to discover other ways to tune in.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
[DO NOT READ: https://alexander.n.se/en/the-radio-station-saq-
grimeton/lyssna-pa-saq/ ]
(THE ALEXANDER ASSOCIATION)
**
AUSTRALIA'S TECHNORAMA UNITING HAMS, BROADCAST COMMUNITY
PAUL/ANCHOR: Australia's robust universe of community radio stations teaches
through a volunteer organization known as Technorama, which provides a solid
footing in broadcast technology to those working behind the scenes.
Technorama is now hoping to expand its historical partnership with amateur
radio - and it's considered a natural, mutually beneficial relationship, as
we hear from Graham Kemp VK4BB.
GRAHAM: Technorama has big plans that don't end when its annual three-day
gathering in Sydney concludes on December 3rd. The broadcast skill-building
nonprofit organisation is cultivating a partnership between Australia's more
than 460 community broadcasting stations and the country's amateur radio
operators. Broadcast engineer John Maizels, VK2JPM, a Technorama founder and
immediate past president, says the unifying elements between the two worlds
- such as transmitters, antennas, generators, RF - mean that hams and these
broadcasters have much to offer one another.
There is a history of cross-pollination here that dates back to community
radio's birth in the 1970s, when hams assisted the burgeoning broadcasters,
and John believes that relationship will go much farther. Technorama is
already planning to hold its first formal radio tech training sessions in
more than three decades, inviting radio amateurs to join the broadcasters to
sign up to learn - and to be among those teaching. He says that community
radio stations are [quote] "just like amateur radio, just on steroids."
[endquote] Likewise, he said, ham radio classes can benefit community
broadcasters.
He told Newsline in a phone call that it's been "a squandered opportunity."
He said that building stronger bridges in both directions can fill the needs
of both communities.
This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(WIA, JOHN MAIZELS, VK2JPM)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, fans of the world's longest-running science fiction TV
show "Doctor Who" will be listening for special callsigns starting with
GBØWHO through GB9WHO until the 20th of December. The cult series marked its
60th anniversary on the 23rd of November. The show's original 694 episodes
ran steadily until 1989 but it was revived - much to fans' delight - in
2005. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
We remind listeners that the Advent Award for Bunkers on the Air in the UK
is now under way until the 25th of December. Activators as well as hunters,
including shortwave listeners, are eligible. Participants need to use the
special Advent Calendar Award Claim Tracker to be eligible. See the website
bunkersontheair.org under the downloads tab for more details. That's
"bunkers on the air" - one word.
(425 DX BULLETIN, BUNKERS ON THE AIR)
**
KICKER: HAMS GET ON THE AIR FOR A GOOD CLAUS
PAUL/ANCHOR: For our final story, we look at Santa Claus. OK, if you're a
grownup he's not really big news - or news at all - but if you're a
youngster or even grownup who loves a little holiday magic, you'll be
listening for Santa on the Air. Here's Jim Damron N8TMW to help us tune him
in.
JIM: Like radio waves themselves, Santa Claus is everywhere. While you can't
see him, you can definitely hear him - or one of his helpers - as amateurs
around the world return this year with a different kind of on-the-air scheme
- Santa on the Air.
Hams in the Longmont Amateur Radio Club and the Northern Colorado Amateur
Radio Club are giving local kids a chance to visit with Santa through the
10th of December, every night between 0000 and 0200 UTC on a number of local
repeaters. Lucky kids will be able to log a contact with Mrs. Santa. Both
Mr. and Mrs. Claus are using the callsign NØP.
In Ireland, the Shannon Basin Radio Club is putting Santa on the air on
Saturday, December 9th on the EI2SBC repeater. At this time of the year, the
callsign stands for Echo Icicle Two Santa Before Christmas.
Santa is also on the HF bands. Check-ins begin on the Santa Net every
evening at 7 p.m. Central Time on 3.916 MHz, ending on Christmas Eve. The
net is operated by the 3916 Nets. Their website, cqsanta.com has additional
information about how to check in before the net gets started.
A little closer to the North Pole, OH9SCL has turned its toy workshop into a
shack in northern Finland to prepare for QSOs from around the world. All the
HF bands are expected to light up like, well, a Christmas tree. As they have
done since 1986, local hams will be on the air calling QRZ from Lapland.
As always, check the QRZ.com page for any of these callsigns to get QSL
information and other details. The magic of radio is about to add to the
magic of the season -- and, let's face it, it's all for a good Claus.
This is Jim Damron N8TMW.
**
DO YOU HAVE NEWS?
If you have a piece of Amateur Radio News that you think Newsline would be
interested in, send it on! We are not talking about advertising your club's
upcoming hamfest or field day participation, but something that is out of
the ordinary. If so, send us a brief overview via the contact page at
arnewsline.org. If it's newsworthy and we would like to cover it, we'll get
back to you for more details. Meanwhile, if you're feeling even a little bit
poetic, visit our website to learn more about the Amateur Radio Newsline
haiku challenge.
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily; ARRL; CQ Magazine; David
Behar K7DB; Ed Wilson W2XDD; FCC; 425DXNews; John Maizels, VK2JPM; QRZ.com;
PC Magazine; Radio World; shortwaveradio.de; The Statesman; The Times of
India; Wireless Institute of Australia; YouTube; Youth on the Air; 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 Paul Braun WD9GCO in Valparaiso Indiana saying 73. As
always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright
2023. All rights reserved.
73 de Bill, PY2BIL
PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
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BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 01-dez-2023 08:00 E. South America Standard Time
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