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PY2BIL > ARNR 13.12.24 12:29l 386 Lines 17147 Bytes #357 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2459 for Friday December 13th,
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2459 for Friday December 13th, 2024
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2459 with a release date of Friday,
December 13th, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. The ISS deploys a ham radio satellite made of wood.
The Geminids are here so prepare to work some meteor scatter -- and there
are dozens of new hams in town at an ARRL model school in NYC. All this and
more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2459 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
ISS LAUNCHES JAPAN'S WOODEN HAM RADIO SATELLITE
NEIL/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to Japan, where officials at JAXA, the
Japanese space agency, cheered on December 9th as they watched the
International Space Station's deployment of LignoSat, an amateur radio
CubeSat made largely of wood. The satellite, which arrived at the ISS a
month ago, has been a high-profile experiment in avoiding space junk by
using biodegradable components -- in this case, magnolia wood. The long-
awaited joint launch by NASA and JAXA makes yet another satellite available
for amateur radio. The satellite has a CW beacon on 435.82 MHz, plus or
minus Doppler.
To view the launch, visit the YouTube link for the JAXA channel in the text
version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
[DO NOT READ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvUthxds36A&t=2326s]
**
GEMINIDS SHOWER: METEORS' FINAL HURRAH OF 2024
NEIL/ANCHOR: The meteors are putting on a show at the moment - and maybe
even giving a little boost to your last chances of DX via meteor scatter for
this year. Here's the update from Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
KENT: The final major meteor shower of the year - the Geminids - hits its
peak on the 14th and 15th of December but will remain active until Dec.
24th, Christmas Eve. It's a prolific shower that could be obscured by the
full moon in some regions during those key peak moments -- but radio offers
some solace.
If you can't see the showers, you can tune into them on FM radio, according
to FM DXer Nick Langan, writing on the RadioWorld.com website. Nick writes
that a sensitive FM radio tuned to an open frequency might be able to
receive a somewhat rewarding message from high above, as a series of audible
bursts known as "pings." He also recommends a directional Yagi FM band
antenna, if you have one.
Of course, those hams among us who enjoy meteor scatter will likely be
turning to radio too -- namely, 2 metres and 6 metres. They'll no doubt be
chasing those ionized trails left behind in search of some memorable DX.
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(RADIOWORLD.COM, SPACE.COM)
**
GET READY FOR THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SPECIAL EVENT
NEIL/ANCHOR: Pipers will be piping, drummers will be drumming, ladies will
be dancing, lords will be leaping and hams around the United States will be
calling QRZ starting at ØØØØ UTC on December 14th and ending Christmas Day.
The sixth year of operation for the popular 12 Days of Christmas special
event is getting under way on the HF bands. In addition to all those ladies,
lords and drummers - and a whole bunch of French hens, geese, swans and
turtle doves - you will also find two bonus stations, VC9XMAS1 and VC9XMAS2,
joining the action this year from Canada.
Everyone will be using either CW or SSB. There will be no QSL cards.
Work all 12 stations and Santa will let you download a certificate saying
CLEAN SWEEP after January 31st. If you also work either - or both - of the
bonus stations, your certificate will say CLEAN SWEEP PLUS. Best of all,
even if you work only a handful of stations, or just one, you can still
download a certificate confirming your contact.
Visit the QRZ.com page for K2RYD for more details -- and put this special
event on your holiday wish list.
**
CINCINNATI EVENT CELEBRATES THE WARMTH OF AM MODE
NEIL/ANCHOR: In the midst of a cold winter here in the United States, what
audio could impart more warmth than the sound of AM? Here's Stephen Kinford
N8WB with a suggestion on how to stay warm on the day after Christmas here
in the US.
STEPHEN: You'll receive a warm welcome when you check into the annual AM
Night of the Greater Cincinnati Amateur Radio Association on December 26th
Pre-net check-ins begin at 6 p.m. Eastern Time and the net continues well
into the night. Set your rig to AM mode and tune to 1.936 MHz. A number of
the check-ins are expected to be from ops who have converted some broadcast
rigs but you can also expect to hear military radios and some from the
golden age of AM broadcast radio. Of course if you have a contemporary rig
and it offers you AM mode, join in! AM Night will also apear on NetLogger to
help keep track of check-ins.
This is Stephen Kinford N8WB.
(QRZ.COM)
**
BBC RADIO DOCUMENTARY HIGHLIGHTS POWER OF CW
NEIL/ANCHOR: As we reported back in October, a Romanian teenager won a
starring role at an International High Speed Telegraphy World Championship
in Tunisia after setting a new world record for receiving callsigns sent
using Morse Code. Now Ianis [YONNIS] Scutaru, YO8YNS, is one of the many
stars in a new BBC Radio documentary about the power Morse Code has as a
communications protocol.
The documentary, "Ready to Transmit," is hosted by Stephen Coates and was
released on the 8th of December. In addition to visiting the recent
championship, the 28-minute program highlights the role Morse plays in
helping a disabled woman communicate with her family and talks to a war
veteran who still remembers her code skills after more than 80 years.
Code is also seen as a source of joy as the documentary quotes Ianis as
saying it brought him "unbelievable happiness" upon receiving his hard-
earned award.
To hear the documentary, visit the link in the text version of this week's
script at arnewsline.org
[DO NOT READ: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct7hsy ]
(BBC)
**
SILENT KEY: GASTON BERTELS, ON4WF, "ELDER STATESMAN" OF ARISS
NEIL/ANCHOR: A leader, an advocate and a creative influence on the team
behind Amateur Radio on the International Space Station has become a Silent
Key. We hear about him and his work from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
JEREMY: It was not so long ago that Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, received the
title of "Elder Statesman" from the ARISS International Team. The honour was
bestowed as a tribute to his ideas, contributions and efforts that led to
the creation of an effective team behind the Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station programme. Sharing his expertise in licensing
and third-party traffic, Gaston became a respected and well-recognised
figure in Europe and elsewhere. He died from cancer on the 3rd of December.
His long association with the pairing of human spaceflight and amateur radio
had its roots in a Space Shuttle mission of 1992 that resulted in a student
radio contact with Belgium's first astronaut, Dirk Frimout, ON1AFD. Many
other developments and innovations ensued in his work over the years which
established his influence with the European Space Agency.
Announcing his death, ARISS acknowledged the affable manner and enthusiasm
he brought to his work: [quote] "His personality radiated an inviting aura
to all. He has been a friend, a leader, and an inspiration to all of us."
[endquote]
Gaston Bertels was 97.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)
**
SILENT KEY: NZ NET's GERARD VAN ANTWERPEN, ZL2GVA, CW AWARD-WINNER
NEIL/ANCHOR: A proficient CW operator who was a fixture - and an award-
winner - in a variety of high-profile events in New Zealand has become a
Silent Key. We learn more about him from Graham Kemp VK4BB.
GRAHAM: Gerard van Antwerpen, ZL2GVA, was as enthusiastic a CW operator and
QRPer as one could hope to find. He used his talents regularly on the NZ
Net, where he began his now-familiar role as net control operator in
February of 2021. Over the years he achieved prominence for sending code as
a winner of the NZ Sprints, NZ Straight Key Night, the Sangster Shield and
the Memorial Contest.
Gerard became a Silent Key on the 19th of November, two years after being
diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Gerard's amateur radio life began in the Dutch province of Zeeland, where he
was born. He received the callsign PE1ONB in 1992 and after passing the
qualifying exam for CW at 12 wpm, gained privileges on HF with the callsign
PA3GMJ. After relocating to New Zealand in 1997, he would often be found in
his spare time building Morse paddles in his workplace, Cuddon Limited,
where he was a quality assurance and design manager.
An active member of the New Zealand Amateu Radio Transmitters society, he
was a committee member of Branch 22 and a steadfast operator there for Field
Day. When the time came to install a reverse beacon network receiver at the
club, he served as coordinator for the project.
On November 5th of this year - just a few days before he died - he
participated in the NZ Net for the final time.
Gerard was 59.
This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(NZNET)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including multi-mode
retransmissions on the ANZEL Automated News Broadcast System in Australia
and New Zealand on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Australia Eastern Standard Time.
**
DOZENS OF STUDENTS AT NYC MODEL SCHOOL PASS LICENSE EXAM
NEIL/ANCHOR: Graduation day came early for a group of students at Staten
Island Technical High School, an ARRL Education Model School that grew out
of the league's Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology. One hundred and
fifty-nine students took and passed their FCC licensing exams - 18 of them
upgrading to General and Amateur Extra. The program is overseen at the
school by teacher Everton Henriques KD2ZZT, who attended the Teachers
Institute in 2023. The students received congratulations from the league's
Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K5ATA and ARRL Hudson
Division Director Ed Wilson N2XDD. The New York City model school was
featured in a story on Amateur Radio Newsline this past February.
(ED WILSON, N2XDD)
**
STATIONS CALL ATTENTION TO AMATEURS WITH DISABILITIES
NEIL/ANCHOR: Amateur radio takes pride in its accessibility to radio
operators with disabilities. This month, a number of member societies in
Region 1 of the International Amateur Radio Union are celebrating the open
door that ham radio presents to the disabled community by calling QRZ with
special-event callsigns.
JEREMY: Special event stations in Croatia and in Switzerland are honouring
the resolution passed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly,
proclaiming the 3rd of December to be the International Day of Disabled
Persons. This is a day devoted to awareness of what those with disabilities
face around the world on the political, economic, cultural and social
fronts.
The Croatian stations are on the air until the end of the year, activating
call signs 9A24PDRA, 9A24PD and 9A24D. In Switzerland, hams have been using
the call sign HB9IPDA.
IARU Region 1 itself recognises its responsibilities as well through its
Information Programme for Disabled Radio Amateurs. That programme circulates
useful information connecting disabled hams and would-be hams with resources
to promote greater access and enjoyment of amateur radio.
Riri, OD5RI, the coordinator of the programme for IARU Region 1, encourages
participation, stating on the organisation's webpage: [quote] “Let's work
together to ensure that amateur radio continues to be a hobby and a service
that welcomes all, regardless of physical challenges.ö [Endquote]
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(IARU REGION 1, QRZ.COM)
**
HUNDREDS GATHER IN KOLKATA FOR HAMFEST INDIA
NEIL/ANCHOR: The world turns its attention to Kolkata as Hamfest India 24
opens its doors to hundreds from the international amateur radio community.
We have more details from Jason Daniels VK2LAW.
JASON: Delegates representing the amateur radio community from Nepal, Oman,
Germany, Dubai, the US - and more than 16 states from around India - will
converge in Kolkata on the 14th and 15th of December for Hamfest India 24.
The national amateur radio convention will take place at the Sister Nivedita
University and will be hosted by OSCAR India. OSCAR India is an organisation
with an educational mission and its name stands for Open Source Classes for
Amateur Radio.
Participants are expected to include representatives from the Nagaland State
Disaster Management Authority, the National Disaster Response Force, the
India Meteorological Department and the National Disaster Management
Authority.
Last year's event, which reported an attendance of more than 1,000 hams from
around the globe, was held in the state of Gujarat. The hamfest showcases
technical advancements in ham radio and provides opportunities for
networking and mentorship.
Organisers are particularly pleased to have the hamfest return to the state
of Bengal this year: It was home to the nation's first licensed radio
amateur, Amarendra Chandra Gooptu, 2JK, in 1921.
This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.
(TELEGRAPH INDIA, YOUTUBE)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, listen for Hannes, OE1SGU/OE3SGU using the callsign
DU1OE from Luzon Island, IOTA Number OC-042, in the Philippines until the
27th of December. Listen for him on 40-6 metres using all modes. See QRZ.com
for QSL details.
Joe, OZØJ, will be using the callsign TOØJ from French Guiana from the 20th
through the 31st of December. He will operate FT8, CW and SSB on 80-6
metres. See QRZ.com for QSL information.
Reiner, DL2AAZ will be on the air as 8Q7RL from the Maldives, IOTA Number
AS-013, through the 17th of December, using SSB and FT8 on 40-10 metres.
Also listen for David, HB9ILL, operating at 8Q7IL, through the 18th of
December. He is running 10 watts on 40, 20 and 10 metres SSB. QSL details
for both ops are on QRZ.com.
Polish amateurs have activations planned to celebrate Christmas and the New
Year. Listen for HFØCLAUS and SPØCLAUS on the air now through January 6th.
See QRZ.com for QSL details.
(425 DX BULLETIN)
**
KICKER: YOU'D BETTER WATCH OUT FOR THE SANTA WATCH NET
NEIL/ANCHOR: We end this week's report with a special message from someone
we only hear from at this time of year. This may be radio but that doesn't
mean this fellow isn't watching each and every one of us closely anyway to
see if we've been naughty or nice - in fact, here he is now to tell us what
his plans are for Christmas Eve. Here's a hint: It includes radio.
DON: HO! HO HO! HELLO AGAIN BOYS AND GIRLS! IT’S TIME AGAIN; TIME FOR THE
SANTA WATCH NET!
That's right, Santa will be making his rounds and for the 14th year in a
row, my little helpers at the Do-Drop-In will be keeping their highly
caffeinated eyes peeled on the radar. Join us on the Santa Watch Net
starting at 1800 hours Eastern Time.
HO HO, as always not-so-little elf Dave, N3NTV will be keeping track of old
Santa's QTH.
And you know I have a radio in my sleigh and I just love chatting with the
good children all over the world! So be listening for N1S - that's Number
One Santa. Ho Ho Ho!
Gather up the little ones and get them checked in. Third-party traffic is
always on the Nice List.
Once again, it's the Santa Watch Net, Christmas Eve, 1800 hours Eastern on
the Do-Drop-In Echolink Conference Server, Node Number 355800.
Ho Ho! Merry Christmas and 73 from me, Number One Santa, and all my little
helpers at the Do-Drop-In.
**
HAIKU AND CLOSE:
What? You haven't sent in your amateur radio haiku yet for Newsline's haiku
challenge? Go QRT for just a few minutes - and set your thoughts down using
traditional haiku format - a three-line verse with five syllables in the
first line, seven in the second and five in the third. Share your ham radio
experience, poetically, and then submit your work on our website at
arnewsline.org
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily; AMSAT News Service; BBC;
David Behar K7DB; Ed Wilson, N2XDD; FCC; 425DXNews; IARU Region 1; JAXA;
NZNet; QRZ Forums; RadioWorld; shortwaveradio.de; Space.com; Telegraph
India; 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 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 13-dez-2024 08:25 E. South America Standard Time
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