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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2283 for Friday July 30, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2283 with a release date of Friday
July 30, 2021 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Concern over satellite broadband interference.
NASA creates a 'super' antenna â-" and meet this year's Bill Pasternak
WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year. All this
and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2283 comes your way
right now.
***

UK ACTS TO PREVENT SATELLITE CONSTELLATION INTERFERENCE

DON/ANCHOR: Our top story this week looks at signal interference. No
one wants it, of course, especially communications systems with
thousands of satellites in the sky. Jeremy Boot G4NJH picks up the
story from here.

JEREMY: Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, has plans to mandate low-earth orbit satellite broadband systems such as OneWeb and SpaceX's Starlink, to engage in frequency coordination in order to avoid
blocking one another's signals. Ofcom has said it will amend the
companies' satellite licenses to ensure such coordination happens. They
are particularly concerned about interference posing an obstacle when
the market opens to additional satellite network companies. The
regulator said satellites in non-geostationary orbits have a greater
risk of interference with their uplink and downlink transmissions
because as they move across the sky, competing satellites can end up in
the same antenna direction at the same time, compromising communication
with user terminals on earth. The website, arstechnica.com, revealed
the development, noting that Ofcom has issued a more detailed report
outlining its concerns. Ofcom identified such constellations as SpaceX,
already in beta service, and the proposed Kuiper (Ky-PURR)
constellation from Amazon. Ofcom's report also identifies OneWeb, owned
by Bharti Global and the UK government which is in its initial phase.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(ARS TECHNICA)

**

SWITZERLAND IMPOSES IMPORT RESTRICTIONS ON ELECTRONICS

DON/ANCHOR: Shopping for ham radio equipment and other electronics in Switzerland just got a little more complicated. Ed Durrant DD5LP tells
us why.

ED: Companies in countries outside the European Union are no longer
being permitted to import electronics to customers in Switzerland
unless those companies have a business affiliation within Switzerland, according to a posting on the website of the USKA, Switzerland's
national amateur radio society.

A translation of the USKA posting says that the use of a Swiss-based "intermediary" for companies in those nations became mandatory as of
mid-July. Although Switzerland is not part of the European Union, a
trade agreement exists between the EU and the Swiss government.

The USKA's head of political lobbying, Willi Vollenweider HB9AMC, wrote
on the website that the organisation considers this action "of
strategic importance" to radio amateurs. Willi noted that the USKA
hopes to petition the government, during its consultation period, on
behalf of Swiss radio amateurs.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.

(USKA)

**
NASA DEVELOPS ANTENNA TO SURVIVE HARSH ENVIRONMENT

DON/ANCHOR: If you've ever dreamed of the perfect antenna, well, it
doesn't yet exist. But scientists at NASA have developed one they
believe is robust enough for one of Jupiter's moons. Here's Ralph
Squillace KK6ITB with the details.

RALPH: Think of it as a kind of super antenna: The unprecedented design
from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is an all-metal structure created
to withstand the intensely radioactive environment of Europa, one of
Jupiter's moons. Its designer, Nacer Chahat, a senior antenna engineer
at NASA, created it even before an actual robotic lander for Europa
becomes a reality. He said it was important to be ready for effective communications from such a harsh, watery, radioactive environment as
Europa. Writing on the IEEE Spectrum website, Nacer said the antenna is
able to transmit at a high data rate, is lightweight enough to not
impede takeoff and landing, can communicate with Earth from 550 million
miles away and is resistant to the intense ionizing radiation of
Jupiter. He said a critical point was the antenna's construction of
circularly polarized union cells that are entirely aluminum. They are
capable of transmitting and receiving on X-band frequenciesâ-"7.145 to
7.19 GHz for the uplink and 8.4 to 8.45 GHz for the downlink.

Nacer wrote: [QUOTE] "Although it was designed for Europa, it is a revolutionary enough design that we're already successfully
implementing it in future missions for other destinations in the solar
system." [ENDQUOTE] He said that meanwhile, the lab might make use of
this design in 2026 on a joint JPL/European Space Agency mission to
bring rocks back from Mars.

Nacer wrote that when a Europa lander mission becomes a reality, the
antenna will further prove its real worth: [quote] "Without a working
antenna, the lander will never be able to tell us whether we could have
living neighbors on Europa." [ENDQUOTE]

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(IEEE SPECTRUM)

**
IARU GIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARD POSTHUMOUSLY TO FORMER REGION 2 PRESIDENT

DON/ANCHOR: In an emotional ceremony, the International Amateur Radio
Union recognized one of its leaders recently but the awardâ-"delayed by pandemic restrictionsâ-"was delivered posthumously. Jason Daniels
VK2LAW gives us the details.

JASON: Not quite two years after the IARU conferred the Michael J. Owen
VK3KI Memorial Award to Reinaldo Leandro YV5AM, the honor was finally
presented honoring his long service to the international organisation.
The ceremony, postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, was
bittersweet, however. Relatives were on hand to receive the honor on
behalf of the former IARU Region 2 president, who became a Silent Key
on May 23rd of this year at the age of 79. Reinaldo, who was also an
avid DXer and DXpeditioner, died knowing he had been chosen to receive
the honor. In an emotional ceremony recently in Miami, Florida, it was presented to his niece, daughter and sister by Ramon Santoyo XE1KK, the
current president of IARU Region 2. The award was created in 2012 and
bears the name of VK3KI in recognition of his years of service and his
giving spirit to amateur radio.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(IARU REGION 2, WIA)

**
COAST-TO-COAST ACTIVATION FOR 'WORLD'S LARGEST TEAPOT'

DON/ANCHOR: It's tea time! Here's a special event you might enjoy that's....steeped.....in some interesting, and fun, history. Jim Damron
N8TMW explains.

JIM: If chasing special event stations is your cup of tea, you might
want to check out what's going to be brewing between August 1st through
to August 8th. Hams around the country will be calling QRZ on all
bands, using all modes, to celebrate the World's Largest Teapot. You
heard that right: the celebrated teapot stands 14 feet high and 14 feet
in diameter in northern West Virginia near the border with Ohio and the
special event coincides with the annual teapot festival in Chester,
West Virginia on August 7th.

The local club organizing the event, the Hancock Auxiliary
Communications Team, will be using the callsign W8T and will be
operating from the site of the teapot itself. There will also be a
bonus station, WV8HAT. This is the fifth year for the special event but according to one of the organizers, Justin Shaw W8LPN, this is the
first year there will be 10 stations activating using W (number) T
callsigns from all call areas around the country. Contact with all 10
gets chasers a clean sweep, known as a Full Cup. Hams contacting all
stations plus the bonus station are eligible for a Full Pot.
Information about certificates is available on the QRZ page for W8T.

Even if tea isn't your bag, you may find the history of this beloved
symbol compelling. Its humble origins date to the years before World
War II when it began life as a wooden barrel used in a root beer
advertising campaign. A handle and spout were later added and, reborn
as a teapot, it enjoyed subsequent roles as a concession stand, a
souvenir shop and a pottery with a gift shop. After it was refurbished,
it was rededicated in 1990 as a beloved symbol of local identity. It
has since inspired the annual festival in August where proud residents
can share that their cups runneth over.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jim Damron N8TMW.

(JUSTIN SHAW W8LPN, QRZ, WEIRTON DAILY TIMES)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the K5DUR repeater in Dallas Texas on Sundays at 7 p.m. local time.

**

MISSOURI HAMS HAVE A CAPITAL IDEA

DON/ANCHOR: In the US, the state of Missouri is turning 200 years old
and hams there have a capital idea for celebrating. It involves, of
course, the state's earliest capital. Randy Sly W4XJ brings us up
todate.

RANDY: While Missouri has always been called the "Show Me" state, from
August 7th through the 14th, it will become the "Hear me" state. In
celebration of the state's bicentennial, special event station K0B will
be on the air, sponsored by the St. Charles, Missouri Amateur Radio
Club. Event organizer Jim Briggs, KK0GT told Amateur Radio Newsline
that, in addition to operating from various members' homes, K0B will
have a station located at the SCARC Hamfest in O'Fallon, Missouri on
August 8. On August 10, they will be "on the air" at the site of the
first Capitol building in Missouri, located in the St. Charles Historic District on the west bank of the Mississippi River. This is the first
time an amateur radio station has operated at this site. The building
served as the state Capitol from 1821 to 1826.

K0B will be active on SSB, CW, and FT8 on 80-6 meters, as well as
2-meter FM simplex. A special paper QSL and a downloadable PDF
certificate will be available. Watch the SCARC Facebook page for an
operating schedule and more information. Also, be on the lookout the
rest of this year for more special event stations, as Missouri
celebrates 200 years.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Randy Sly, W4XJ

(ST. CHARLES AMATEUR RADIO CLUB)


**

SILENT KEY: FRED STONE W8LLY, EMERGENCY RESPONDER

DON/ANCHOR: Members of the Bellbrook Amateur Radio Club in Ohio are
mourning the loss of an amateur who was remembered as not just a friend
but an educator and mentor. Fred Stone, W8LLY, became a Silent Key on
July 26th. He had been ill with pancreatic cancer. Fred was well-known
as an active participant in public service activities including ARES
and he had been a District Emergency Coordinator for District 3 for
many years. Many hams recalled him in comments on the club's Facebook
page, crediting Fred for providing the gateway to amateur radio
forthem.

(FACEBOOK PAGE OF BARC)

**

WORLD OF DX

In the world of DX, JA1TOKYO is on the air, marking the Olym pic and
Paralympic Games that opened on July 23 in Tokyo. Each band has been
assiged its own operator. The station will remain active until the 5th
of September. There are also 10 mobile stations with the callsign 8J
[regional call area] OLYMPIC at each regional headquarters of the Japan
Amateur Radio League and 8N [regional call area] OLP will be on the air
as well at a higher output. No QSL cards are required. EQSLs are being accepted. For QSL, certificate and awards information, follow the link
in the printed script of this newscast at arnewsline.org. [PRINT ONLY,
do not read: https://www.jarl.org/English/4_Library/A-4-2_Awards/Award_Main.htm]

R3RRC/0 will be operating from Furugelm Island, the southernmost island
in Russia between July 31st and August 4th. Maxim, RU5D, Gennady, R3BY
and Vitaly, R0MR will be using R3RRC/0 as well as their personal
callsigns RU5D/0, R3BY/0 and R0MR/P respectively. Be listening on 40 to
10 meters where they will be using CW, SSB, FT8 and FT4. Harald, DF2WO,
will be in Kigali, Rwanda, using the callsign 9X2AW between September
13th and 28th. He will be using CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8 on 20,17,15,and
10 meters. QSL direct to his home callsign.

Bo, OZ1DJJ, will be on Tasiilaq Island using the callsign OX3LX between
July 28th and August 13th. He will be found mainly on 6m and 4m but
will also be on some of the HF bands.Send QSLs to OZ0J (Oh Zed
ZeroJay).

(DX-WORLD.NET, JARL)
**

KICKER: MEET YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR FAITH HANNAH LEA KD3Z

DON/ANCHOR: Amateur Radio Newsline is proud to announce the winner of
the 2021 Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline Young
Ham of the Year. Newsline's Mark Abramowicz NT3V, chairman of the award program, is here with the story. FAITH: "Wow! Thank you! That's pretty
cool!"

MARK: The reaction from Faith Hannah Lea, KD3Z, upon learning she had
been chosen as Newsline's Young Ham of the Year.

Faith Hannah is 16 and the daughter of James, WX4TV, and Michelle,
N8ZQZ, Lea of Palm Coast, FLA.

Faith Hannah says her parents were a big influence in her entry into
the world of amateur radio starting in December 2014 at the age of 10.

FAITH: "So, I started studying for my Technician license along with my
brother. And, we both went in and got it. And, two weeks later I had
earned my General and then two months later I earned my Extra. So, that
allowed me to really get into the stuff that I liked, which was
workingHF."

MARK: Only 18 months after being licensed, Faith Hannah was invited to
the 2016 Dave Kalter Memorial Youth DX adventure operating PJ6 from the
Dutch island of Saba.

FAITH: "And that's when I realized, especially that DXing is amazing
because I absolutely love those huge pileups and getting to talk to all
of those different people. Because, I'm not entirely sure why but I
love being at the calling end of a big pileup and just running that as
fast as I can which is probably why I enjoy contesting."

MARK: Among her PJ6 achievements was a satellite contact that broke the
SO-50 distance world record.

In August, 2018, Faith Hannah took part in the Youngsters on The Air
program in Johannesburg, South Africa for a weeklong stay that featured
kit building and antenna building, satellite operations and a
high-altitude balloon launch.

But on the way to South Africa, Faith Hannah and her father had a
22-hour layover in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. While on the ground
in that Middle Eastern country, she visited and operated A62A and
A60YOZ activated by the Emirates Amateur Radio Society.

In December 2018, Faith Hannah, her father, and her younger sister,
Hope, ND2L, took part in the N4T mini-Dxpedition to the Dry Tortugas in
the Gulf of Mexico.

While there, the girls made 1,970 HF contacts and 100 satellite
contacts during the 36-hour operation on the island.

Her account was published by CQ Magazine and she got the April 2019
cover with her sister.

Faith Hannah has been involved in several special event and contest
operations with her family and continues to remain active in promoting
the hobby to youth.

She completed high school through home schooling, but before doing so
applied for and was accepted at Daytona State College where she earned
an Associate of Arts degree at 15.

Now, at 16, she's enrolled in Stetson University in Deland, Florida.

FAITH: "Right now I am working on two different bachelor's degrees. One
is a bachelor of science for molecular and cellular biology and another
is a bachelor in business administration."

MARK: Faith Hannah will have no problem contributing to her education.
She placed first in Florida's statewide competition and second in the
national Veteran of Foreign Wars essay contest earning a $16,000
scholarship.

She said she's exploring two career tracks right now - medicine or the
law, or possibly both.

As for amateur radio, Faith Hannah says there's always time for that.

FAITH: "I know this sounds weird but it doesn't really take all of my
time to do my school, to have fun and to do ham radio," she explained.
"It all just fits in perfectly because a lot of times if I'm getting on
the radio and it's not a contest I'll just do it in the evening when
gray line is there because that's usually when I'm free and it's a
great time to make contacts.

"And, if it's a weekend, we might take a radio and go out to a park or something and get on the air. And once it starts dying down, we'll just
hang around the park for a couple hours."

MARK: You can follow Faith Hannah and her family on their "Ham
Radio.World" YouTube channel where you'll also see her brother,
Zechariah, WX4TVJ, and sister, Grace, KE3G.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V. DON/ANCHOR:
Because of a spike in the Delta variant of Covid-19, Amateur Radio
Newsline will not be publicly presenting the award at the Huntsville
Hamfest this year. Instead, we'll do it virtually and you'll be able to
see it here on our website, AR Newsline-dot.org. Follow us for details
when you can see it.

**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Ars Technica; Amateur News Weekly; the
ARRL; Bellbrook Amateur Radio Club; the BBC; CQ Magazine; David Behar
K7DB; DX-World.net; IARU Region 2; IEEE Spectrum; Japan Amateur Radio
League; Justin Shaw W8LPN; QRZ.com; Southgate Amateur Radio News; shortwaveradio.de; St. Charles Amateur Radio Club; Ted Randall's QSO
Radio Show; USKA; WTWW Shortwave; and you our listeners, that's all
from the Amateur Radio Newsline. You can write to us at newsline@arnewsline.org. For more information or to support us visit
our official website at arnewsline.org. Be sure to follow some of these
stories as they get a more indepth look on the YouTube Channel of 100
Watts and a Wire. Search for the video segment with the title "Two
Stories."

For now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and
our news team worldwide, I'm Don Wilbanks AE5DW in Picayune,
Mississippi saying 73. As always we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.

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