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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2412 for Friday January 19th,
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2412 for Friday January 19th, 2024
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2412 with a release date of Friday
January 19th, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Vandals destroy an Oklahoma radio tower. Text-
messaging from space is now a reality -- and learn about a Cold War bunker
that's still getting on the air. All this and more as Amateur Radio
Newsline Report Number 2412 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
VANDALS DESTROY OKLAHOMA RADIO TOWER
PAUL/ANCHOR: We begin this week's report with the deliberate destruction of
a radio tower in Oklahoma. A tower is the most visible sign of an active
radio station and this tower belonged to a commercial broadcast station
subsequently knocked off the air by thieves seeking copper. Ralph Squillace
KK6ITB has that story.
RALPH: Country music station K95.5 suddenly and unexpectedly went silent on
the 15th of January, its tower in ruins in a field not far from its Oklahoma
studio. As the Chocktaw County Sheriff's office began its investigation,
Will Payne of the Payne Media Group, which owns the station, assessed the
scene, which he described in a Facebook video as one of "catastrophic
damage." The video showed the tower down in the field, its guy wires cut as
a means of taking its top section down. The nearby generator had been
totaled. Wires were ripped out everywhere. The transmission lines,
containing a wealth of copper on the inside, had been cut in several places.
Payne Media Group made an appeal on Facebook to listeners and to the public
in general to be on the alert for anything that might provide the sheriff
with additional clues.
As Newsline went to production it was not clear when the station with the
callsign KITX, would be back on the air serving northeast Texas and
southeast Oklahoma. Listeners were being directed to its streaming programs
at K955.com
This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.
(PONCACITY.NOW, FACEBOOK)
**
TEXT-MESSAGING FROM SPACE BECOMES A REALITY
PAUL/ANCHOR: Newly launched Starlink satellites have successfully been put
to the test, making text-messaging from space a reality for SpaceX. We have
the details from Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
KENT: It works. Text messages have been sent successfully on a mobile phone
network in the US using Starlink satellite service. The test of the direct-
to-device, or D2D, service took place on the 10th of January using the
network of T-Mobile USA. This was the first step in realizing the plan by
SpaceX to bring this service to a wider commercial market.
The trial run took place only days after Starlink's first satellites for D2D
were launched and deployed. The company declared shortly afterward: [quote]
"The system works," adding that it has partnerships as well with mobile
operators in Australia, Japan and Canada. Commercial availability is
expected to begin later this year and the company is hoping voice, data and
service for the Internet of Things will commence in 2025. The premiere of
D2D via Starlink comes as a number of manufacturers of smartphones are
preparing to produce devices with D2D service as well. Apple's iPhone
already make this service available with the iPhone 14 in partnership with
satellite operator Globalstar.
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(CNBC)
**
CLASS LICENSE STRUCTURE ARRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
PAUL/ANCHOR: In just a few short weeks, hams in Australia who previously
held an apparatus license will become holders of the new class license.
Graham Kemp VK4BB has that update.
GRAHAM: The Australian regulator has sent letters to hams announcing that
the transition to the new class licence structure takes effect on the 19th
of February. The letter permits hams with valid apparatus licences to
continue operating under the same band and licence conditions as before and
assures hams who renewed the apparatus licence after the 9th of December
that they are eligible for a pro-rated refund if they surrender the
apparatus licence on or after the 19th of February.
The ACMA plans to check every five years that assigned callsigns are still
being used as authorised. Calls with a one-year expiry, such as special
event callsigns, and those calls with a VK0 or VK9 prefix, will receive
additional instructions in February regarding either renewals or
expirations.
These changes, which the regulator announce last year, also mean that there
are no fees for the licences. The ACMA will also take oversight of the
administration of amateur radio licence exams and callsign issuance
previously delegated to the Australian Maritime College.
This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(ACMA)
**
VERY LOW POWER DEVICES MAKING GAINS ON 6 GHZ
PAUL/ANCHOR: The FCC is giving greater privileges on 6 GHz to very low power
devices. Jack Parker W8ISH tells us what's going to happen next.
JACK: Following a recent FCC ruling that allows VLPs - very low power
devices - to operate on many of the 6 GHz frequencies, the regulator is
seeking comments on additional rules that would grant higher-power VLPs
access to the band as well under certain operating conditions.
The rules for short-distance operation over high-connection speeds take
effect on the 4th of March. Businesses including Amazon, Microsoft, Hewlett
Packard and Google have been eager to make use of this part of the spectrum,
which will become home for IOT, or internet of things, applications. These
include wearable devices, short-range mobile hotspots, healthcare monitors,
virtual reality devices and in-car connectivity.
Innovation, however, is expected to rev up among businesses who have been
waiting for this kind of spectrum availability. The FCC has asked for
comments on the proposed rules to be submitted no later than the 7th of
February, with reply comments to be filed no later than the 8th of March.
Two of the main questions under consideration are whether higher-power VLPs
should be given access to additional parts of the 6 GHz spectrum and whether
a higher-power class of VLPs should be established.
A link to the FCC document appears in the text version of this week's AR
Newsline report.
[DO NOT READ: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-23-86A1.pdf ]
This is Jack Parker W8ISH.
(FCC)
**
ARISS ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE FEATURES 3 ASTRONAUTS
PAUL/ANCHOR: The 40th anniversary conference of Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station features a lineup of three influential
astronauts. The latest to be added to the lineup is NASA's Tony England,
WØORE, who is the first astronaut to transmit Slow-Scan TV from orbit - and
the second astronaut to operate amateur radio from space. Tony joins the
program with conference keynote speaker Richard Garriott, W5KQW, son of
NASA's Owen Garriott, W5LFL, the first ham to make a QSO from space. The
group also includes Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, who played an active role in the
Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment.
The conference is being held at the Kennedy Space Center from the 22nd to
the 24th of February. Its focus is the positive impact of ham radio on human
spaceflight.
(AMSAT, ARISS)
**
PREPARE NOW FOR WINTER FIELD DAY
PAUL/ANCHOR: Winter Field Day is a worldwide event that is taking place on
January 27th and 28th. Despite its name, participation should leave you
with a good warm feeling, as Patrick Clark K8TAC explains.
PATRICK: Preparedness counts more than points do during Winter Field Day and
organizers are encouraging ham radio operators worldwide to use the
opportunity to sharpen their portable emergency communications skills. Snow,
ice, freezing temperatures and other cold-weather hazards are part of the
environment as hams get on the air using the HF, VHF and UHF bands and via
digital voice. This year, "bonus points" are being reclassified as
"objectives," and anyone activating is being encouraged to achieve as many
objectives as they can.
The maximum power allowed is 100 watts PEP and stations operating QRP are
encouraged to transmit at less than 5 watts on CW or less than 10 watts on
phone.
The organizer, the Winter Field Day Association, is also encouraging the use
of Winlink emails. Although the basic exchange contains simply callsign,
location, class and category, operators are being asked to consider
including temperature, weather conditions and signal reports.
For details or to register your station, visit winterfieldday.org - that's
one word "winterfieldday dot org"
This is Patrick Clark K8TAC.
(WINTER FIELD DAY ASSOCIATION)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline heard on bulletin stations around the world including the KV3B
repeater in Rockville, Maryland on Sundays after the net at 7:30 p.m. local
time.
**
HAMSCI WORKSHOP TO REVIEW ANNULAR ECLIPSE FINDINGS
PAUL/ANCHOR: With October's eclipse behind us and April's eclipse ahead of
us, the citizen scientists' group that has been studying both is inviting
hams and researchers to its next workshop to discuss some findings. Andy
Morrison K9AWM tells us how to get on board.
ANDY: Professional scientists and radio amateurs are being invited to
HamSCI's sixth annual workshop, which will present findings yielded by
ionospheric data collected during the annular solar eclipse last October.
The workshop will be held on March 22nd and 23rd at Case Western Reserve
University in Cleveland, Ohio. The citizen scientists' research group will
also share how it is getting ready for the solar eclipse taking place on the
8th of April. This will be a total eclipse for the Cleveland area.
The program will also include a discussion about how a college curriculum
can successfully integrate studies of amateur radio. Ham radio has been at
the forefront in much of the research being done by HamSci, which is
examining ionospheric disturbances, sporadic E, geomagnetic storms, solar
flares and of course, eclipses.
For details about HamSCI, its work and the workshop, visit hamsci dot org
(hamsci.org).
This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.
(HAMSCI)
**
WRTC 2026 RECEIVES GRANT FROM YASME FOUNDATION
PAUL/ANCHOR: The World Radiosport Team Championship has just received a
major financial boost from a private foundation that will help the next
event prepare for 2026 in England. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us more.
JEREMY: The organising committee of the World Radiosport Team Championship
2026 has received a ,500 grant, about £5,900, from the Yasme Foundation to
support this goodwill gathering of the world's top amateurs. The WRTC UK
will be held in 2026 in England, where the counties of Norfolk,
Cambridgeshire and Suffolk will host 50 operating sites for qualifying
teams.
The private foundation's gift recognises the opportunity the WRTC offers to
engaging top competitors from around the globe and providing a venue that
showcases the skills as well of youth operators.
The event taking place in July 2026 will be the 10th WRTC. The previous
worldwide competition, WRTC 2022, was held in Italy in 2023, delayed by one
year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(DXNEWS.COM, WIA)
PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, organizers of the World Radiosport Team Championship
stirred up even more enthusiasm and support for the event by announcing that
a bronze coin - the first of three in a series - is being made available to
donors for contributions of 100 pounds or more in 2023 and 2024. The
announcement was made on Monday, January 15th by Mark Haynes, MØDXR,
chairman and program manager, appearing on "Tonight @ 8," a livestreamed
webinar of the Radio Society of Great Britain.
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, listen for Felix, DL5XL, who is on the air as DP1POL in
Antarctica, IOTA Number AN-016, from the German research station "Neumayer
III." [PRONOUNCED: NOY-MY-ER Three ]He is using mostly CW, with some digital
modes and SSB. He is on the air until the end of the month. See QRZ.com for
QSL details.
Special event callsign AT3SM is being activated during a multi-club joint
IOTA DXpedition to the rarely activated St. Mary's Island, IOTA Number AS-
096. This island has not been activated in six years. The hams operating
from the 26th to the 28th of January are from three organizations: the
National Institute of Technology radio club, the Mangalore Amateur Radio
Club and the MIT radio club. They will also be participating in the national
field day of the Amateur Radio Society of India. See QRZ.com for QSL
details.
Between the 24th of January and the 6th of February, Keith, G3WRO, will be
operating holiday style as 8Q7WR from the Maldives, IOTA Number AS-013.
Listen for Keith on 40-10 metres and possibly on 80 metres. He will be using
SSB. QSL via his home call.
Kevin, W1DED is active until the 21st of January as W1DED/C6A from
Eleuthera, IOTA Number NA-001, in the Bahamas. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
Listen for Tom, 9A2AA, throughout the year. He is on the air with the
callsign 9A67AA in honor of 67 years of being on the air as a ham radio
operator. QSL via his home call.
(425 DX BULLETIN)
**
KICKER: "UNDERGROUND RADIO" HAS DIFFERENT MEANING INSIDE BUNKER
PAUL/ANCHOR: Our final story this week takes us underground where one
amateur radio club puts a Cold War-era relic to good use. Jeremy Boot G4NJH
introduces us to that club.
JEREMY: A Cold War-era bunker that was one of the last to be taken out of
service in the UK in 1991 has become a base for a ham radio club on the
North Yorkshire Moors. Like so many radio operators before in the Royal
Observer Corps, the hams are surrounded by concrete walls, 5 metres deep
into the underground, as they transmit important information and take
measurements. Now, however it is signal reports they are sending to other
hams - not levels of radiation that would have followed the dreaded nuclear
blast.
The station GBØROC of the Guisborough & District Amateur Radio Club is
underground radio at its finest. Like the other bunker sites, this location
was once a secret. Now you can't miss its high visibility on the map of
various amateur radio awards schemes: It is part of the Bunkers on the Air
scheme as B/G-0919, within Parks on the Air number G0003, Worldwide Flora
and Fauna area GFF-0012 and Worked All Britain square NZ60. Its video on
YouTube also shows how the club welcomes visitors who walk in or, in this
case, climb in - since access to the radio room requires careful descent
down a metal ladder.
The bunker is a restored symbol of history of a time when the world was on
edge. Now its business of radioactivity is simply just that: friendly
activity on the radio.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
[DO NOT READ: VIDEO AT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8HKixZuWKs&t=16s]
(YOUTUBE)
PAUL/ANCHOR: A link to the video can be seen in the text version of this
week's newscast at arnewsline dot org.
**
DO YOU HAVE NEWS?
If you have a piece of Amateur Radio News that you think Newsline would be
interested in, 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. We have started a new year - and a new challenge! Use the
entry form on our website and please follow the rules for the proper number
of syllables when writing your three-line haiku --
and be sure to check out our previous winners!
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to the ACMA; Amateur Radio Daily; Amateur Radio
Digital Communications; AMSAT; ARISS; ARRL; CQ Magazine; CNBC; David Behar
K7DB; 425DXNews; FCC; HamSCI; Poncacity.now; QRZ.com; shortwaveradio.de; the
WIA; Winter Field Day Association; 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 Paul
Braun WD9GCO in Valparaiso Indiana 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 19-jan-2024 07:41 E. South America Standard Time
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