XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, rec.radio.amateur.misc, rec.radio.info

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2336 for Friday August 5th, 2022

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2336 with a release date of Friday
August 5th, 2022 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams respond to deadly floods in Kentucky.
Amateurs in Canada get new frequencies on 60 metres -- And YLs pay
tribute to a telegraphy pioneer. All this and more as Amateur Radio
Newsline Report Number 2336 comes your way right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART

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HAMS RESPOND TO DEADLY FLOODS IN KENTUCKY

DON/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to Kentucky, where parts of the
state have been hit by deadly floods. Randy Sly W4XJ brings us up
todate.

RANDY: The last week of July found amateur radio operators on alert in
Eastern Kentucky as a trail of thunderstorms brought flooding that left
at least 37 people dead. Jack Hedges, KY4TPR, told Amateur Radio
Newsline that he and a team of hams operated on ARES frequencies from
the State Emergency Operations Center in Frankfort. He was assisted by
Mike Swigert, KE4YRI, Dennis Lutz, W2QN, Patrick Compton, KF4FMZ, and
Odis Carroll, W4IOD, who served as an official relay station for
theEOC.

Woody Hartlove, KO4UMQ, Harlan County EC and SKYWARN Coordinator,
reported that SKYWARN was activated for the Jackson Weather Forecast
Office three times in his area due to flash flooding. He and another
ham were also deployed with the Red Cross to provide communications for
their disaster action teams.

In addition to causing loss of life, the flood wreaked havoc on the
electric service, waterlines androads. As flood waters recede,
residents in many areas of Eastern Kentucky continue to remain stranded
due to the destruction of scores of small bridges linking roadways.

This is Randy Sly W4XJ.


***

NY ELECTRONICS MARKETER FACES NEARLY $700,000 FCC FINE

DON/ANCHOR: A Brooklyn, New York marketer of wireless microphones has
been fined nearly $700,000 by the US Federal Communications Commission
for what the agency said is a decade-long practice of selling these
devices, which are not RF-compliant. The FCC said that 32 microphones
sold by Sound Around failed to comply with FCC requirements governing
emissions power and use of the spectrum, rules that protect against
harmful interference to other spectrum users. The FCC has rejected the business' assertion that the dollar amount of the proposed fine was too
high, that a decade of warnings and notices sent by the FCC was
insufficient and that photos of the company's marketing websites did
not provide proof that the item was available for purchase. According
to a press release from the FCC, the US Department of Justice will be
given the case to handle if Sound Around fails to pay the fine.

(FCC)

**
AMATEURS IN CANADA GAIN EXPANDED ACCESS ON 60M

DON/ANCHOR: In Canada, amateurs have new privileges on 60 meters. Kevin
Trotman N5PRE has those details.

KEVIN: Amateurs in Canada have been granted a new band for operating in
an official update from Innovation Science and Economic Development
Canada. The announcement on July 28th said that hams in that country
are now able to use the worldwide allocation on 60m that spans 15 kHz
between 5351.5 and 5366.5 kHz. The band fits between the existing
Canadian amateur channelised privileges at 5332, 5348, 5373 and 5405
kHz and gives hams secondary user privileges to transmit at a maximum
of 100 watts and a bandwidth of no more than 2.8 kHz on a
non-interference basis.

This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.


**
ILLINOIS CLUB GETS GRANT FOR ORIENTEERING PROJECT

DON/ANCHOR: Radio orienteering is about to get a whole lot more popular
in the US state of Illinois and Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us why.

ANDY: An amateur radio club in Illinois has received funds to support
an array of radio orienteering events they will be hosting to share the activities with outdoor enthusiasts, youngsters and members of the
public. This will also be designed to serve as a hoped-for gateway to
amateur radio. The grant given to the Sangamon Valley Radio Club from
Amateur Radio Digital Communications will underwrite the club's costs
for supply of low-power transmitters, controllers, handheld directional
radio receivers, compasses, maps and related items for the fox-hunting activities.

According to a press release from the ARDC, the club's experience will
extend even farther into the community: After a number of events, club
members will create a list of equipment other clubs would need to start activities of their own that sharpen people's direction-finding skills.
The club will also offer other clubs guidance. ARDC said in its press
release [quote]: "While the sport is very popular in Europe, as well as
parts of Asia, growth in the United States and Canada has been slow." [endquote]. The Sagamon club will begin its activities here in the US
with Scout groups and the Civil Air Patrol, starting this summer and
continuing into the fall. More events are planned in 2023.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(ARDC)

**
SILENT KEY: JOHN DILKS, VK6CJW/M0CJW, FRIEND AND MENTOR

DON/ANCHOR: A well-known and well-regarded amateur in both Australia
and the UK has become a Silent Key. We hear more about him from Jeremy
Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: With regret it is announced that John Dilks, VK6CJW (also
M0CJW) is now silent key. He died on 29th July, aged 86 and will be
much missed on the air by his friends worldwide.

John was a character in the very best of amateur radio tradition. He
divided his time until recently between Perth in Western Australia and
his UK home near Newark. In his younger days, for example, he took his
whole family in a battered old van overland through Europe, the Eastern
Bloc countries, when travel was very difficult, through the Middle
East, India, Sri Lanka and beyond. He was involved in many enterprises
and international interests and even politics. He would regale his
adventures to amateur clubs and others when invited to do so. He was to
be found on HF almost daily with VK when conditions allowed, and on
repeaters locally. He was also to be found at many radio rallies in the
UK with a keen following.

John was a good, dependable and loyal friend to many: always happy to
help and encourage, swap yarns and pass on his own tips. He will be
very much missed. Our condolences to his family and friends.

Jeremy Boot G4NJH

**
HAMFEST INDIA RETURNS WITH IN-PERSON EVENT

DON/ANCHOR: Hams in India have been waiting since 2019 for the return
of Hamfest India in person and it is now back on the calendar. Jim
Meachen ZL2BHF brings us that report.

JIM: The organising committee for Hamfest India has announced the
event's return on the 12th and 13th of November in Mysore, Karnataka.
As with so many other major amateur radio events, this well-attended
event, which made its debut in India in 1991, had not been held in
person as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. K. Shankar Prasad, VU2SPK,
the event's general convenor, said the committee is putting together an
agenda and a website and both should be available soon. The website is
under development at www dot hfi2022 dot com (www.hfi2022.com)

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(HAMFEST INDIA)

**
'TEAPOT' SPECIAL EVENT BREWING In WEST VIRGINIA

DON/ANCHOR: If special events are your cup of tea, try this one in West Virginia. Jim Damron N8TMW tells us hams are ready to serve.

JIM: Something's brewing in Chester, West Virginia: It's a special
event station celebrating a beloved local roadside symbol which calls
itself the World's Largest Teapot. Tea and QSOs will be served starting
August 8th through the 14th, in conjunction with the local Teapot
Festival that takes place in the northern West Virginia community.
Organized by the Hancock Auxcomm Team in Hancock, West Virginia, this
is very possibly the world's largest tea party: Amateurs will be on the
air with 1x1 call signs W0T through W9T and there will be a bonus
station WV8HAT. Hams contacting all 10 call signs will earn a
certificate for a full cup. Those working all 10 plus the bonus station
are endorsed for a full pot.

The roadside teapot itself is a former advertising symbol created
before World War II and before it gained its spout and handle, it was a
humble barrel that advertised a brand of root beer. Standing 14 feet
high, it is big enough to hold a colorful history and this annual
amateur radio ritual now marking sixth year. As usual, however, you'll
have to provide your own biscuits and cakes.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jim Damron N8TMW.

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the WW8GM repeater of the General Motors Amateur Radio Club in Detroit, Michigan on Saturdays at 9 p.m. local time.


**
DV SCOTLAND, PHOENIX UK MERGE DMR NETWORKS

DON/ANCHOR: A merger between two popular DMR networks has promised
users the best of both. Jeremy Boot G4NJH brings us that update.

JEREMY: The DV Scotland and Phoenix UK DMR networks have merged,
simplifying integration with other networks - both digital and
analogue. With both networks having a wide array of repeaters,
reflectors and servers, the two were considered complimentary and a
natural for such a merger. This had been a work in progress for many
weeks. The new network now benefits from a variety of DMR, D-Star and
Yaesu System Fusion repeaters as well as Allstar hubs and analogue
simplex gateways.

Eric G6FGY told Newsline in an email that current users will not notice
any changes and the new network DVScotland-Phoenix will continue
hosting a variety of nets accessible by various modes each week. Eric
said the merger reflects rather a change in the management structure to
operate the network.

A list of the nets hosted on this newly merged network can be seen
using the link that appears in the text version of this week's
newscast. The multimode network also supports Peanut, Echolink and
HamShack Hotline. Computer and mobile users can also listen in by using
the link asl dot dvscotland dot uk (asl.dvscotland.uk)

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

[FOR PRINT ONLY: https://www.dvscotland.net/multimode-nets ]

(DVSCOTLAND, ERIC G6FGY)

**

ALARA CONTEST ENCOURAGES INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP

DON/ANCHOR: For more than 40 years, YLs in Australia have been hosting
a contest that doesn't just involve scorekeeping - it also encourages international communication. Graham Kemp VK4BB explains how it works.

GRAHAM: Yes there are awards to be had in the 42nd contest sponsored by
the Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association. There are even
certificates and trophies - but organisers want participants around the
world to know that the real goal of the 42nd annual ALARA Contest on
the 27th and 28th of August is to get all licensed ham radio operators
around the world - OMs and YLs alike - talking to one another. By
spotting on the clusters and even on Facebook, all the competitors
actually work together to make it easier to make those important
contacts. Competition? Yes! But friendly competition. Be listening too
for some of the newest licenced YLs as well as Girl Guides and Scouts.
Some contacts are expected to be made on Echolink as well.

Visit the ALARA contest page for more details. The link is in this
week's text version of the newscast script. You'll find the rules and
any other details you need to know to get into the contest.

I'm Graham Kemp VK4BB.

[FOR PRINT ONLY: alara.org.au/contests/index.html ]

**
CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TRIP TO WARM UP THE BANDS

DON/ANCHOR: It's time to strap on those cross-country skis -- if you're
in Australia, that is -- and grab your radio equipment. Hams are set
for high adventure in the Victorian Alps, as we hear from Jason Daniels
VK2LAW.

JASON: There's nothing like a winter trip through the snow-filled
Victorian Alps to bring some Winter warmth to the bands. That's what a
team of cross-country skiing radio amateurs in Australia is hoping for
as they call QRZ between Friday August 5th and Tuesday August 9th. The activators include Stephen, VK3SN, Gerard, VK3GT, Bronwen VK3FIRH and
others and they will be on the HF bands, 80 through 10m, using SSB and
FT8. They will also be on 2m and 70 CM simplex and on repeaters.
They'll be using lithium batteries and light solar panels for power.
This isn't the first time many of these hams have been making this kind
of winter trip. Past travels have been quite an adventure, involving
operations from igloos and a number of remote peaks.

Listening for them promises to be quite an adventure too.

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(STEPHEN, VK3SN)

**
INDIAN SCHOOLGIRLS' SATELLITE LAUNCHED WITH 75 EXPERIMENTS

DON/ANCHOR: A satellite built by girls in India has been stirring some excitement. John Williams VK4JJW tells us why.

JOHN: A small satellite built by 750 schoolgirls in India, will be on
board for the maiden flight of the Indian Space Research Organization's
Small Satellite Launch Vehicle this month. The students were mentored
by SpaceKidz India in the construction of this 8-kilogram satellite. It
carries 75 small experiments, a camera to study solar panels in space
and a variety of long range communications transponder experiments. The satellite also has a messaging system for amateur radio operators.

Although this is not the first student satellite built with the help of SpaceKidz India, this one is dfferent because it carries its own power
systems and batteries to power an anticipated six-month-long orbit.
This satellite is not, of course, the main payload for the launch
vehicle. The rocket will also be carrying the Microsat 2A, which is
designed to assist in the mapping of parcels of land.

At the time Newsline went to production, the launch was scheduled for
August the 7th.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(SPACE KIDZ INDIA, REPUBLICWORLD.COM)


**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, listen for Tom, KA1IS, (Kay Ay Won Eye Ess) who
will be on the air as JW/KA1IS on Spitsbergen Island (EU-026) between
the 10th and 16th of August. He'll be on various HF bands using CW and
SSB. QSL via his home callsign.

Eugen, DL8AAI, will be active as 5H2JK from August 8th to 14th from the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania, (National Park 5HFF-0005). He will
operate afterward in the town of Moshi. Be listening on HF where he
will be using SSB. QSL via home call through bureau only.

Along with around 300 other teams, the Isle of Man Amateur Radio
Society will be celebrating the 25th annual Lighthouse and Lightship
weekend on August 20th and 21st by activating the Point of Ayre
Lighthouse. This will be "Lighthouse IM0001" for the weekend and
operators will be using the club call sign, GT3FL for the full 48
hours. Listen on 80m through 70 cm. Operators will be using CW, SSB and
some digital modes. There will be a special 25 years of ILLW
downloadable certificate available for the lighthouse teams taking
part. See QRZ.com for further details of GT3FL's activation.

Plan ahead to be listening for Kasimir, DL2SBY, will be active in
Monaco as 3A/DL2SBY between October 20th and 23rd. He will be using
mostly FT8 but some CW. He will be operating with 100 watts and mobile antennas. QSL only via ClubLog, direct or LoTW.

(OHIO PENN DX, IRTS)


**
KICKER: YLs STILL CELEBRATE THE MESSAGE OF A TELEGRAPHY PIONEER

DON/ANCHOR: We end this week's report with the story of an
international group of YLs paying tribute to a telegraphy pioneer. For
that story we turn to Sel Embee KB3TZD.

SEL: A statue stands in Cobourg, Canada honoring Fern Blodgett Sunde,
the first Canadian woman to hold a second class wireless operator's certificate. Blodgett Sunde herself stands as a pioneer and role model
for many women who've followed her path in sharpening their own
telegraphy skills, even those in civilian life. During World War II,
Blodgett Sunde crossed the Atlantic Ocean 78 times aboard a Norwegian
ship because neither Canada nor Great Britain permitted women to work
on board their country's ships. Recently, members of the Canadian
Ladies Amateur Radio Association made trips of their own - some of them crossing oceans too - in order to see that statue. The visitors who
arrived in Cobourg on July 28th included Ann Nutter VE3HAI, Sarla
Sharma VU2SWS, Suzanne Snape VE7IM, Roberta Williams VA3RMWX and Janet
Maggart, N9ZKU. They told the website, Today's Northumberland, that
after watching the unveiling of the statue two years ago in an online
video they started planning their own journey to be there in person.

Such tributes may not have the same sense of ceremony and pomp as the
one in 1943, when Blodgett Sunde became the first woman to be honored
by the King of Norway who gave her the Norwegian War Medal. But there
is perhaps no greater honor than to be recognized by a generation that
follows your path, a community of YL operators gathering from around
the world to celebrate someone who led the way in wartime.

This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.

(FACEBOOK, TODAY'S NORTH UMBERLAND)

**

HUNTSVILLE HAMFEST INVITATION

DON/ANCHOR: One final note: An invitation to join us August 20th at
the Huntsville Hamfest in Alabama as we present our annual Bill
Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year award to Audrey McElroy,
KM4BUN. We, along with the Huntsville Hamfest staff and our corporate
partners CQ Communications, Yaesu USA, Heil Sound and RadioWavz
Antennas, hope to see you there. To find out more, visit hamfest.org.

**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to ALARA; the ARDC; the ARRL; CQ Magazine;
David Behar K7DB; DV Scotland; Eric, G6FGY; Facebook; the FCC; Hamfest
India; IRTS; Ohio Penn DX; QRZ.com; Radio Society of Great Britain; RepublicWorld.com; Southgate Amateur Radio News; shortwaveradio.de; SpaceKidzIndia; Stephen VK3SN; Today's North Umberland; 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 Don Wilbanks AE5DW in Picayune,
Mississippi saying 73. As always we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2022. All rights reserved.

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