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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2311 for Friday February 11th, 2022

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2311 with a release date of Friday February 11th, 2022 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. A peak moment for a SOTA activator in
Argentina. A preeminent microphone company changes hands -- and an APRS
pioneer becomes a Silent Key. All this and more as Amateur Radio
Newsline Report Number 2311 comes your way right now.

**
ONE HAM'S HF RADIO 'FIRST' ON HIGHEST PEAK IN THE AMERICAS

JIM/ANCHOR: We begin this week's report with the story of a ham who has
just achieved a peak experience atop another peak - this one in South
America. Ed Durrant DD5LP tells us about him.

ED: An Argentine amateur radio operator has accomplished the first HF activation of the highest peak in the Summits On the Air programme,
fulfilling a long-standing goal. On January 10th, Diego Lizarraga,
LU9MZO, operated from Aconcagua (Pron:a.kon.ta.gwa), which at nearly
7,000 metres high and is also the highest peak in the Americas. This is
the first time any amateur radio operator has made contacts from
Aconcagua using one of the HF bands (the previous and first activation
in 2019 was executed using 2 metres FM). According to reports, he spent
an hour and a half on the air using 40 metres and found time as well to
work some stations on VHF and UHF. His total for the day was 64
contacts, with 15 of them on HF. He was heard as far away as Buenos
Aires, San Luis (Pron:San Luise), Mendoza provinces in Argentina as
well as into Chile. His dream of operating from there on HF had been a
few years in the planning and the timing worked out well for him. As he descended from the peak to a base camp some 4300 metres below, snow had
already begun to fall. On January 12th, he returned to the entry of
Aconcagua Park where he was cheered on by friends and relatives.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.

(SOTA, THE YL BEAM)

**
PROMINENT US MIC COMPANY HEIL SOUND IS SOLD

JIM/ANCHOR: In the United States, Heil Sound, which has been run by Bob
Heil K9EID and his wife Sarah for decades, has been sold. The Heils
announced the purchase of the well-known professional microphone
company by Ash Levitt and Steve Warford. Ash, the company's president
and CEO, and Steve, director of operations, are veterans of the
business, having worked with Bob since they were teenagers. Bob will
remain with the company as founder and CEO emeritus, continuing to do
product design for the amateur radio market. Heil Sound has been in
business since 1966.

(HEIL SOUND)
**
INDIA'S NEWEST HAMS PREP FOR DISASTER

JIM/ANCHOR: In India, a group of newly licensed hams is about to prep
for the worst with a mock disaster drill. Graham Kemp VK4BB has those
details.

GRAHAM: Civil defense volunteer Dipak Giri is awaiting his new call
sign and a new assignment. He was recently among the more than two
dozen volunteers who successfully completed the three-month amateur
radio training course online with the Indian Academy of Communication
and Disaster Management in West Bengal. Rinku Nag Biswas, VU2JFB.
secretary of the academy, is proud of all the graduates, who like
Dipak, now face their next challenge: a mock disaster drill that will
be held in March by the local government to test their capabilities in
handling real-life crises. In a real disaster, such as a tornado,
earthquake or cyclone, they would be the first responders in an area
near the Sundarbon Forest which has no internet or mobile phone
service. According to Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, many of the
academy's students received their field training during January's Ganga
Sagar Mela, a religious pilgrimage that draws thousands to West Bengal
from across India. Ambarish Nag Biswas is secretary of the West Bengal
Radio Club whose hams have traditionally provided emergency
communication during this massive gathering.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(WEST BENGAL RADIO CLUB)

**
ISS TO BE DISPOSED OF IN WATERS OF 'POINT NEMO'

JIM/ANCHOR: The deep waters of the South Pacific have been chosen as
the final resting place for the International Space Station in the
years ahead, as we hear from Jim Meachen ZL2BHF

JIM: The region is known as Point Nemo, the South Pacific Oceanic
Uninhabited Area - and it's been selected by NASA as the final resting
place of the International Space Station. The United States space
agency intends to retire the space laboratory by 2031 by having it
crash into this remote section of the ocean. While it is no surprise
that plans were in the works for its retirement, NASA had been quiet
until recently about its specific plans. The ISS was launched in 2000
and NASA has said, in announcing its plans that it intends to keep the
space station operational until the very end. Its experiments and its
many contacts through the Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station program, have kept it and its more than 200 astronauts and
cosmonauts in the spotlight over the years. NASA plans to yield the
space station's position among the stars to commercial ventures. The
final destination for the ISS is about 2,000 miles north of Antarctica
and 3,000 miles off the eastern coast of New Zealand. Since 1971, it's
been a place that has become home to space debris from other nations,
including Russia and Japan. For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jim Meachen
ZL2BHF.

(CNN)

**
PROBE CONCLUDES THAT RADIO WAVES SICKENED US DIPLOMATS

JIM/ANCHOR: Radio waves have been pinpointed as the source of some
health issues suffered by US diplomats overseas. Kent Peterson KC0DGY
has that update.

KENT: A panel of investigators working for United States intelligence
agencies has concluded that highly directional electromagnetic pulses
are partly to blame for a baffling set of brain injuries reported by
American spies and diplomats working abroad as far back as 2016. The scientists' conclusions affirm one previous theory for what has come to
be called "Havana Syndrome." The findings indicate the radio signals
were transmitted by an external device, afflicting some Central
Intelligence Agency officers and diplomats. The panel's probe did not
include attempts to determine who was behind the transmissions of the
pulsed electromagnetic energy. The syndrome takes its name from the
first group of people who exhibited such symptoms while assigned to the
US Embassy in Havana, Cuba. Officials have said that similar symptoms
have since been reported by Americans working for the US government in
70 different countries.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Kent Peterson KC0DGY

(NYTIMES, NBC)

**
SILENT KEY: PACKET RADIO PIONEER BOB BRUNINGA, WB4APR

JIM/ANCHOR: A pioneer in the development of APRS has become a Silent
Key. With those details, here's Neil Rapp WB9VPG.

NEIL: The developer of the Automatic Packet Reporting System, or APRS,
has become a Silent Key. Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, died on Monday, February
7th, according to a post on AMSAT's Facebook page quoting his daughter, Bethanne. He had been battling cancer for two years and was also
diagnosed with COVID-19, according to the post. More than a
quarter-century ago, Bob developed the now-widely-used packet radio
technology that enables real-time tracking over ham frequencies.

Bob, a US Navy veteran, had also been senior research engineer at the
US Naval Academy's small satellite lab in Annapolis, Maryland. He, was
author of the book "Energy Choices for the Radio Amateur," published by
the ARRL. Bob wrote on his QRZ page that his ham radio journey
began in 1963 with the Novice callsign WN4APR. He was a life member of
AMSAT organization and belonged to the IEEE National Committee on Transportation and Aerospace Policy.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG.

(AMSAT, IEEE, QRZ, FACEBOOK)

**
SPECIAL EVENT MARKS 80 YEARS SINCE VOA'S 1ST BROADCAST

JIM/ANCHOR: The original 75Kw transmitter that went on the air for the
first Voice of America broadcast 80 years ago this month is the
centerpiece of a special event station celebrating that historic
anniversary. The transmitter no longer works and is part of an exhibit
at the VOA museum in West Chester, Ohio, but there are plenty of
working transmitters - and transceivers - to celebrate the day it went
live on February 1st, 1942. Hams will be calling QRZ as W3V, W8O and
W4A - on February 19th and 20th - from VOA sites in Washington, DC;
West Chester, Ohio; and Greenville, North Carolina. Jocelyn Brault,
KD8VRX, of the West Chester Amateur Radio Association, WC8VOA, said certificates will be available for anyone who works any or all of the
three stations. There will also be digital QSL cards for each
individual site as well as paper QSLs. Be listening on CW, SSB and FT8
both days between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time. For details, visit
any of the three stations' pages on QRZ.com.

(JOCELYN BRAULT, KD8VRX)

**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the W8GK repeater in Charleston, West Virginia on Sundays at 8:30 p.m.
local time after check-ins during the Kanawha Amateur Radio Club Two
Meter Net.

**
TIME TO APPLY FOR YOUTH ON THE AIR CAMP

JIM/ANCHOR: It's time to apply for Youth on the Air camp. Stephen
Kinford N8WB explains how.

STEPHEN: The application period has opened for the Youth on the Air
camp being held June 12th through June 17th. Young amateurs in IARU
Region 2 who are ages 15 through 25 are welcome to attend this year's
camp which will take place again at the National Voice of America
Museum of Broadcasting in West Chester Township, Ohio. Application
deadline is March 1st and the application process is free. Campers will
be notified by March 15th if they are accepted, and those accepted will
need to send a $100 deposit. The camp is encouraging young amateurs to
attend from different areas of North, Central and South America. For information about scholarships, waivers and travel assistance, visit
the website YouthOnTheAir.org

If there are changes in the COVID-19 pandemic status or CDC guidelines, organizers are committed to notifying everyone as much in advance as
possible if that has an impact on the camp.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Stephen Kinford N8WB.

(YOUTH ON THE AIR)

**
CONTEST SEEKS YOUNG AMATEURS WITH COMMUNITY SPIRIT

JIM/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, a special honor is awaiting a young amateur who
has shown extraordinary care and initiative in helping the community on
and off the air. The Young Ham Lends a Hand Contest is being by Carole
Perry, WB2MGP, director of Youth Activities for the Radio Club of
America. It is sponsored by the RCA and the Quarter Century Wireless Association. Any young amateur can be nominated for their volunteer
efforts, whether the youngster has aided someone in the military, the community, a senior -- or even has acted as a mentor to other amateurs.
The application forms are due in by the first of April and the winner
receives a $100 stipend.

The winner will be announced at the Youth Forum held at Hamvention in
Xenia, Ohio. For details contact Carole Perry at wb2mgp@gmail.com

(CAROLE PERRY, WB2MGP)

**
RSGB PUBLISHES NEW BAND PLANS

JIM/ANCHOR: If you're in the UK, look for the release of the new band
plans. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us more.

JEREMY: The band plans published each year by the Radio Society of
Great Britain are now available.

They are based on the band plans of IARU Region 1, but allow for
national variations and special amendments. The 2022 plans can be found
in the February edition of RadCom, the RSGB's magazine. There is also a
master version published online as an Excel file which includes all the
notes of changes made.

Acting on feedback from amateur radio operators, the Society has added
new tabs in the Excel version, labelled by frequency, but hams who
prefer the earlier version of labelling by wavelengths retain that
option too. The band plan is expected to be reviewed during the course
of the year.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.(RSGB)

**


BOUVET, MARS HELICOPTER ON QSO TODAY EXPO AGENDA

JIM/ANCHOR: Bouvet Island and the Ingenuity Mars helicopter are just
two topics awaiting guests at this year's QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo
next month. Jack Parker W8ISH has more details.

JACK: For insights into the planning of the Bouvet Island 3Y0J
DXpedition in November this year -- or to hear how amateur radio and
other technical pursuits can advance global technology -- these are
just two of many presentations being offered at the next QSO Today
Virtual Ham Expo. It's taking place on March 12th and 13th.
Presentations will also include some hands-on guidance on operating and building techniques. In all, there will be more than 60 notable
amateurs offering perspectives on at least 20 different topics. The
keynote speaker is Courtney Duncan, N5BF, who recently retired from
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he worked on digital and radio frequency hardware and software for various space missions. His most
recent project was the Ingenuity Mars helicopter, for which he was telecommunications lead.

Tickets and additional details are available at qsotodayhamexpo -that's
one word - dot com.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jack Parker W8ISH.

(QSO TODAY)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, listen for Francis, F6BWJ, operating as FM/F6BWJ
from Martinique until mid-March. You can hear him on 40/30/15 meters
using CW only. QSL to F6BWJ.

Yuri, VE3DZ, is also on Martinique, operating as FM/VE3DZ starting on
February 19th. Listen on all HF bands where he will be using CW, SSB
and FT8. You can also hear him in the ARRL DX CW Contest on February
19th and 20th when he will be using the callsign TO4A. He will continue
with the TO4A callsign until February 24th. QSL via VE3DZ to the home
call via OQRS.

On the French side of St. Martin, you'll find Jeff, VA3QSL, operating
as FS/VA3QSL until the 22nd of February. He is operating holiday style
on CW, SSB and the digital modes on 40 metres through 6 metres. QSL to
his home callsign, via the Bureau or direct. You may also use LoTW
after he returns home on February 22nd.

Jean, F4CIX, is using the callsign FW1JG from Wallis Island where he
will remain for the next two or so years. Listen on 40/20/15/10 meters
where he is using SSB and FT8. QSL direct via LoTW.

(OHIO PENN DX)

**
KICKER: WHEN MORSE CODE HAS A FAMILIAR RING

JIM/ANCHOR: Hams who are learning Morse Code are often told it takes
time before all those dits and dahs develop a comfortable familiar ring
-- but for one ham in Massachusetts, that comfortable CW ring didn't
come for 29 years. When it did arrive, the ring didn't land on his
ears, but on the fourth finger of his left hand. Mike Askins KE5CXP
ends our newscast with that story.

MIKE: As Stephen Celuzza, K1SAC, practices to master his CW, you might
conclude he's practically married to the study of the Code. While he's certainly devoted to his radio journey, he's more devoted to Becky, his
wife of 29 years. Becky understands the joy her husband takes in
chasing POTA activators and QSOs during the slow speed CW contests held
by K1USN. So when his original wedding ring no longer fit and couldn't
be enlarged because of its distinctive pattern, Becky, who is an
artist, devised a creative solution: She designed a new ring for her
husband. It features lotus flowers and bamboo stalks -- and a special
secret Morse Code messsage. Each flower stands for "dit" and each stalk represents "dah." She cast a sample of it in bronze which the couple
took to a jewelry casting shop which created the final ring in white
gold. As for what its hidden message, well, it begins with the letter
"I" followed by the letter "L." When a couple is married for 29 years,
there's no further need for guesswork in copying that code.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mike Askins KE5CXP.

(STEPHEN CELUZZA, K1SAC)

**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to AMSAT; Carole Perry, WB2MGP; CQ
Magazine; David Behar K7DB; DX-World.net; Heil Sound; the IEEE; Jocelyn
Brault, KD8VRX; Ohio Penn DX; QRZ.com; QSO Today; Radio Society of
Great Britain; Stephen Celuzza, K1SAC; South African Radio League;
SOTA; Southgate Amateur Radio News; shortwaveradio.de; West Bengal
Radio Club; Wireless Institute of Australia; the YL Beam; Youth on the
Air; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline.
You can write to us at newsline@arnewsline.org. 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.

For now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and
our news team worldwide, I'm Jim Damron N8TMW in Charleston West
Virginia saying 73. As always we thank you for listening.

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

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