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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2324 for Friday May 13th, 2022

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2324 with a release date of Friday
May 13th, 2022 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Illegal use of amateur radio suspected in
Japan. Brazil gets pro-active on solar panel RFI -- and pioneering
pilot Amelia Earhart is honored on both sides of the Atlantic. All this
and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2324 comes your way
right now.

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BILLBOARD CART HERE

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REPORT: HAM RADIO USED ILLEGALLY ON TOUR BOAT THAT SANK

NEIL/ANCHOR: Our top story this week takes us to Japan where a report
about a fatal tour boat accident says the operator may have made use of
amateur radio illegally. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF takes up the story
fromhere.

JIM: A Japanese tour boat that sank last month, killing 11 of the 26
people on board, was making use of amateur radio illegally as one of
its main communications methods, according to a report in one of
Japan's main daily newspapers. Japan's Radio Act forbids the use of
amateur radio for profit-making purposes but according to a report on
the Mainichi Shimbun news site, the Yazu I tour boat relied often on
ham radio to communicate with the office, other tour operators and
other ships.

The boat sank on April 23 off the Shiretoko Peninsula of Hokkaido in
the northern Japanese waters. The news account said that it was
believed that the captain of the boat was unable to get a signal on his
mobile phone and the onboard satellite phone was broken. The news
report said that another cellphone was used to summon help but did not
identify who it belonged to.

The report did not say what kind of distress led to the boat's sinking,
nor did it say whether anyone also used amateur radio that day to
summon help.

Anyone found guilty of violation of the Radio Act faces a possibility
of as much as one year in prison or a fine of 1 million yen, the
equivalent of $7,700 in US currency.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(MAINICHI SHIMBUN, WASHINGTON POST)

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BRAZIL PASSES REGULATION LIMITING SOLAR PANEL RFI

NEIL/ANCHOR: Brazilian lawmakers have passed a tough new law limiting
RF interference from solar panels. Jeremy Boot G4NJH brings us the
details.

JEREMY: Brazil took an important step in the containment of solar panel
RFI by adopting new regulations and requirements that took effect on
the 2nd of May. The ordinance governs the generation, conditioning and
storing of electricity in photovoltaic systems. The move by Brazil's
National Institute of Metrology and Quality was hailed by amateur radio operators, including members of the Spectrum Management and Defense
Group of The Liga de Amadores Brasileiros de Rádio Emissão or LABRE,
the Brazilian national amateur group. The Brazilian organisation
provided guidance and feedback to the national institute with the help
of the electromagnetic compatibility coordinator of the IARU and
theARRL.

A statement in English translation on the LABRE website praises the new regulation which exceeds the language of its 2011 version by providing
this kind of RFI protection for the first time. In translation into
English, LABRE praised the measure, calling it [quote] "an effective
advance in the protection of radiocommunications in Brazil against
interference generated by photovoltaic systems." [endquote]

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(SOUTHGATE, LABRE)

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SILENT KEY: AMATEUR NEWS WEEKLY CREATOR PHIL THOMAS, W8RMJ

NEIL/ANCHOR: Amateur Radio Newsline has lost a friend, a supporter and
a colleague: Phil Thomas W8RMJ has become a Silent Key. Jack Parker
W8ISH tells us about him.

JACK: Members of the Germantown Amateur Radio Society in Ohio learned
of the death of Phil Thomas W8RMJ in an email from the club's
president, Phyllis Moyer, KE8CPM. According to the note, Phil became a
Silent Key on Thursday night, May 5th. Phil was known more widely in
the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana area as the creator of Amateur News Weekly, a regional news report bringing local hams updates about amateur radio activities. Although he had put production of the newscast on hold
recently because of health issues, he had hoped to restart the reports
when his condition improved. Listeners to Amateur Radio Newsline were
also familiar with Phil's voice: He was an occasional contributor to
our weekly global newscast.

Phil was first licensed in 1980 and later took the callsign of his late
father, Clem. Phil and wife Rilda, N8LJB, were licensed at the same
time. Phil was a cofounder of the Germantown Amateur Radio Society and
had been active in the MidCars Amateur Radio Service. The MidCars
website lists him as one of the net's regular service control
operators.

At the time of his death he had been looking forward to attending
Hamvention later this month. Phil was 70 years old.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jack Parker W8ISH.

**
NEWSLINE'S GRAHAM KEMP AMONG WIA AWARDEES

NEIL/ANCHOR: The next story brings a moment of pride to Newsline as we
share that one of our own correspondents is among those receiving top
honors in Australia. That story comes to us from John Williams VK4JJW.

JOHN: Congratulations to Newsline's own Graham Kemp VK4BB for being
awarded a Presidents Commendation at the recent Wireless Institute of
Australia Annual General Meeting. Graham was honoured for his
leadership with the news service group and for his anchor duties.
Graham joins a group of other honorees, including Dale Hughes VK1DSH;
and Peter Young, VK3MV, who were also recipients of the Presidents Commendation. Bevan Daniel, VK5BD, received the Ron Wilkinson
Achievement Award for his production of the National News Service
videos; Andrew Chapman, VK4QF, received the Chris Jones Award for his
vital role in creating the crosslinked repeater network known as the SE Queensland Wide Area Network. Ian Jackson, VK3BUF, was given the
Technical Excellence Award; Hayden Honeywood, VK7HH, received the
Michael Owen Medal; and Grant Willis, VK5GR, was given the GA Taylor
Award for various roles, including his involvement in the IARU on
behalf of the WIA. The eight awards were announced on the 7th of May.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm John Williams VK4JJW.

(WIA)

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NOMINATION DEADLINE NEARS FOR YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR AWARD

NEIL/ANCHOR: Speaking of awards, we are halfway through the month of
May and the nomination deadline approaches for the Amateur Radio
Newsline Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award. It's time
to think about the next generation of radio operators and appreciate
their skill and dedication. Perhaps one of them will be the next award recipient. Consider nominating an amateur radio operator 18 years of
age or younger in the continental United States with talent, promise
and a commitment to the spirit of ham radio. Find application forms on
our website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab. Nominations close
May31st.

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YOUTH ON THE AIR TO WELCOME VISITORS AT DAYTON HAMVENTION

NEIL/ANCHOR: If you're heading to Hamvention in the company of some
younger radio operators, this next story may be of interest to you.
Stephen Kinford N8WB has the details.

STEPHEN: Younger radio amateurs visiting Hamvention will find a busy
agenda at the Youth on the Air Booth in the Xenia Fairgrounds' Volta
building. Booth 4304 will be welcoming young visitors by hosting
mini-forums on Friday and Saturday in coordination with ARISS, HamSci,
the Yasme Foundation and a number of other groups. There will also be
social hours for young amateurs who stop by on Friday and Saturday at
noon. These activities will take place in a small meeting area just
behind the main booth. For more details, visit youthontheair dot org
slash hamvention2022 (youthontheair.org/hamvention2022/

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Stephen Kinford N8WB.

(YOUTH ON THE AIR)

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GERMANY'S YOUTH MARK SCHOOL CLUB DAY

NEIL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, in Germany, young students have already shown
their enthusiasm for making even more contacts as we hear in this
report from Ed Durrant DD5LP.

ED: Throughout Germany on Thursday, May the 5th, the amateur radio
bands had school club callsigns and educational callsigns with the
prefix of DN on-the-air for the 23rd annual European School Club Day.
Students listened for stations calling QRZ throughout Europe. Some QSOs
were also arranged in advance. The highlight for many students,
including those in Berlin, was an enviable DX: Successful contacts were
made with DP0GVN, the German Antarctic Research Station Neumeier III.

Florian Schmid, DL1FLO, who oversees education and youth work for the
DARC, declared the day's activities a success and said other such
events will follow.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.

(THORSTEN SCHMIDT, DO1DAA)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the WM3PEN repeater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Wednesdays at 8
p.m. local time.

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90TH ANNIVERSARY ACTIVATIONS REMEMBER AMELIA EARHART

NEIL/ANCHOR: Few things can touch history and relay its message better
than amateur radio, especially across an ocean. Two groups of hams on
opposite sides of the Atlantic plan to do just that, as we hear from
Dave Parks WB8ODF.

DAVE: Amelia Earhart, the American pioneering aviator, crossed the
Atlantic Ocean nonstop on May 20 and 21 in 1932, becoming the first
female pilot to do so. On the 90th anniversary of that achievement,
some radio waves will accomplish the same thing, coming from
transmitters in Atchison, Kansas and Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
Hams in Londonderry will activate the callsign GB0AEL between the 13th
and 30th of May, celebrating the pioneering pilot whose single-engine
plane touched down on the very field where they will be calling QRZ.
Operators will be amateurs from the North West Group Amateur Radio
Club, MN0NWG.

Meanwhile in Kansas - Earhart's hometown - operators Steve,
KC0VYS, and Chuck, KB0TOT, will be on the air on May 20th and 21st at
what is now the Amelia Earhart Memorial Airport. Both stations will be
offering commemorative certificates for hams who make successful
contacts. Steve wrote on his QRZ page that the hams in Kansas will be
using his callsign and promoting the Irish activation too.

The "AEL" in GB0AEL stands or "Amelia Earhart Legacy." Hams in the
North West group have written [quote] "By making contact with GB0AEL,
you will also be making history." [endquote]

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Dave Parks WB8ODF.

(QRZ, SOUTHGATE)

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UK ORGANIZERS PREP FOR SUMMER 'VILLAGE OF GEEKS'

NEIL/ANCHOR: Organizers in the UK are preparing for a summer camping
festival they describe as [quote] "a temporary village of geeks,
crafters and technology enthusiasts." [endquote] Jeremy Boot G4NJH
tells us what's going to happen - and when.

JEREMY: More than 2,000 people are expected this summer at
Electromagnetic Field which will bring technology, scientific curiosity
and a special event amateur radio station to Eastnor Castle Deer Park
in Herefordshire.

The volunteer-run, not-for-profit event is taking place between 2nd and
5th June and will include an Amateur Radio Village GX1EMF and AMSAT-UK
Village GB4EMF. Campers will be able to arrive as early as the Thursday
before in order to set up and they needn't take down their camp until
the Monday following.

In addition to speakers and workshops on everyone's favourite tech
topics, there will also be music and other entertainments. The event is
held every two years although the 2020 field day was cancelled because
of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ticket prices and other information is available at the website emfcamp
dot org. That's emfcamp - one word - dot org.

Those attending only for the day are eligible for free admission.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(EMFCAMP.ORG)

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PARKS ON THE AIR ADDS 3 DX HUNTER CATEGORIES

NEIL/ANCHOR: The Parks on the Air awards scheme has added three new
categories for DX Hunters. Vance Martin N3VEM brings us that report.

VANCE: In Parks on the Air News, due to popular demand and a willing
supply of sponsors, we have added 3 new DX Hunter Categories to the
summer plaque event, to compliment the new DX Activator plaques. This
brings the total number of plaques available to win up to 17. To have a
shot at winning of these plaques, join the fun on July 16th and 17th.
More details are available from the "Plaque Event" menu item at pota
dot app. If you're a ham that happens to be into free and open source
social media platforms as an alternative to the offerings of the large corporate interests, we're pleased to share that Parks on the Air and
several of its volunteers now have a presence on the Fediverse. Look
for us using the handle @parksontheair@mastodon.radio

This is November Three Victor Echo Mike.

(POTA)

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WORLD OF DX

In the world of DX, be listening for Gerben, PG5M, active as HB0/PG5M
from Liechtenstein until the 15th of May. Gerben is operating holiday
style on various HF bands using CW only. QSL via PG5M or ClubLog's
OQRS. For updates, follow the Twitter page of his home call.

Members of the Ecuador DX Club will operate special event station HD1E
from Quito on Monday, May 23rd and Tuesday, May 24th. The hams are
celebrating Ecuador's Bicentennial Independence Day, which is on May
24th. They will be on all HF bands using all the usual modes. QSL via
LoTW. A free commemorative diploma will be available for all successful contacts.

Other hams in Ecuador who are members of the HCDX Group have been using
the callsign HD200BP since May 1st from Quito (Special Event) and will continue until the end of May. They are commemorating the 200th
anniversary of the Battle of Pichincha. Look for them on the HF bands
using SSB and FT8/FT4. QSL via EC5R.

Be listening for Reiner, DL2AAZ, using the callsign TO2AZ from
Basseterre Island, Guadeloupe, between May 27th and June 10th. Reiner
will operate holiday style on 40 to 10 meters, including 30, 17 and 12
meters. He will be using CW and SSB. QSL to his home call.

(OHIO PENN DX)

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KICKER: A WORLD OF CONCERN FROM AN OCEAN AWAY

NEIL/ANCHOR: Our final story this week reminds listeners how small
amateur radio can make the world, especially in an emergency. Ed
Durrant DD5LP explains.

ED: There's a great distance between the American South and the Azores,
where Geir Tore Christiansen LA5ZO was with his sailboat in late April.
The Norwegian amateur heard a ship's urgent transmission on 12 MHz
digital selective on his DSC-equipped HF radio and quickly pinpointed
its origin as the United States. Suddenly the vastness of geography
became irrelevant. Geir has been a radio operator on merchant ships and
oil rigs for much of his life and, as he told Newsline, responding to a
radio distress call is simply something an operator does. Geir reached
out to the United States Coast Guard via satellite phone. Meanwhile in
the U.S., the Coast Guard received a call on VHF-FM channel 16 from the
crew of that same ship off the coast of New Orleans, Louisiana. A crew
member had gone missing and was reported overboard in the Gulf of
Mexico. According to a Coast Guard press release and a report on the
nola.com website, the Coast Guard sent out an urgent marine information broadcast and several units of the service began a search in the
waters. Geir said he learned later that the man was successfully
rescued. The Coast Guard could not confirm those details to Newsline
but a report on Southgate Amateur Radio News said a heat-sensing camera
located the man, who was wearing an inflatable vest for flotation. A
helicopter rescue pulled him out of the water. No doubt the rescued man
held fast to the lifeline as it was lowered into the water for him. The
other lifeline - radio - was one he perhaps could not see but it was
surely there as strong as ever.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.

(NOLA.COM, GEIR TORE CHRISTIANSEN LA5ZO, US COAST GUARD, SOUTHGATE)


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NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to the ARRL; Arpp, Root and Carter Funeral
Home; CQ Magazine; David Behar K7DB; Geir Tore Chrstiansen, LA5ZO;
Mainichi Shimbun; NOLA.COM; Ohio Penn DX; QRZ.com; the Radio Society of
Great Britain; Parks on the Air; Southgate Amateur Radio News; shortwaveradio.de; Thorsten Schmidt, DO1DAA; US Coast Guard; Washington
Post; 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 Neil Rapp WB9VPG in Union, Kentucky saying
73. As always we thank you for listening.

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

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