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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2343 for Friday September 23rd, 2022

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2343 with a release date of Friday September 23rd, 2022 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams respond as Hurricane Fiona bears down.
China prepares to launch another ham radio satellite -- and Youth on
the Air camp heads to Canada in 2023. All this and more as Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2343 comes your way right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART

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HAMS AID IN EFFORTS AFTER HURRICANE FIONA

PAUL/ANCHOR: Our top story this week is Hurricane Fiona, which brought devastation to the islands of the Caribbean. Amateur radio operators
were part of the team responding to the vast needs of the region.

RANDY: As Hurricane Fiona ravaged the region, amateur radio operators
were hard at work in areas of the Eastern Caribbean and Western
Atlantic. Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the Turks and Caicos
islands suffered severe flooding, catastrophic wind damage and major
power outages as the storm, which grew to Category 4, made its way
toward Bermuda. In addition to local communications support, the
Hurricane Watch Net was activated and Salvation Army Team Emergency
Radio Network was handling health and welfare traffic.

William Planas-Montes, NP3WP, ARES section emergency coordinator for
Puerto Rico reported that around 45 ham radio operators were working
with different government municipalities and ARES personnel were
setting up equipment in anticipation of additional activity.

Jason Tremblay, VE3JXT, emergency coordinator for the Bermuda area of
IARU Region 2, told AR Newsline that, at the time of this report,
planning was still underway by their executive team for that area.

This is Randy Sly, W4XJ

**
SWITZERLAND AMATEURS SHARPEN THEIR RADIO READINESS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Disaster preparedness, even when there is no immediate
disaster, is also a big part of amateur radio. Ed Durrant DD5LP tells
us how hams in Switzerland worked recently with their radio teammates
to polish their skills.

ED: Hundreds of hams, citizens band operators and owners of private
mobile radios teamed up throughout Liechtenstein and Switzerland in a wide-ranging emergency-response drill on Saturday, September 18th. The fictional scenario was similar to the simulated regional power shortage
that played out three times before. The radio event has come to be
known as the Swiss Emergency Contest but it is less of a true
competition than a measure of readiness if all or part of the power
grid fails. Hams in the Union of Swiss short wave Amateurs, the USKA,
have taken the lead in this effort.

Only days earlier, at its board of directors meeting, the leadership
announced it was developing an operating framework for hams and those
using other types of radios to assist during blackouts and power
shortages when communication during emergencies takes even higher
priority.

The latest exercise employed a variety of equipment and modes and used
such alternate power sources as solar panels and batteries.

This is Ed Durrant DD5LP.

(BERNARD WEHRLI, HB9ALH; USKA)

**
CHINA PREPS NEXT AMATEUR RADIO SATELLITE

PAUL/ANCHOR: China is preparing to send a new ham radio satellite into
orbit in the next few weeks. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF has the details.

JIM: The CAS-10 amateur radio satellite is set to go into space from
China's Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in early November, where it
will be sent to the Tiangong Space Station aboard the Tianzhou-5 cargo spacecraft. The satellite, which carries a V/U linear transponder, will
become operational sometime after its deployment from the space station
around the 15th of December. The transponder is expected to operate all
day throughout the satellite's lifetime, using a VHF uplink and UHF
downlink with a 30 kHz bandwidth. CAS-10 is also equipped with a
camera. Hams will be able to send DTMF commands to download photos
taken by the camera and stored in the satellite's flash memory.
Satellite telemetry data will be sent via Morse Code.

For additional details and frequencies, visit the AMSAT-UK link in the
text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

[FOR PRINT ONLY: http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=858 ]

I'm Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(AMSAT-UK, SOUTHGATE)

**
YOUTH ON THE AIR TO GO CAMPING IN CANADA

PAUL/ANCHOR: Organizers have just announced that campers attending next
year's Youth on the Air camp in the Americas will be packing their bags
for a northern location. Jack Parker W8ISH has the details.

JACK: The Youth on the Air Camp, which was held in West Chester, Ohio,
for its first two years, is moving north to Canada for its third year.
The camp will be able to host as many as 30 young amateurs from North,
Central and South America on the campus of Carleton University in
Ontario, Canada. Applications will be accepted starting December 1st
and any amateur radio operators in the Americas who are between the
ages of 15 and 25 are welcome to apply. Prospective campers who do not
live in Canada are being encouraged to apply for passports and tourist
visas in time to enable them to enter the country to attend camp.

Youngsters who attended previous sessions of Youth on the Air camp will
return to serve as leaders. Top priority for admission will go to
first-time attendees and youngsters who reside outside the United
States.

The camp will take place from July 16th through to the 21st with Radio
Amateurs of Canada serving as the local host.

For additional details, visit the camp's web page at YouthOnTheAir dot
org (YouthOnTheAir.org)

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(YOUTH ON THE AIR CAMP)

**
VOICE OF AMERICA SITE MARKS 78TH ANNIVERSARY

PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, there are still big things happening in West
Chester, Ohio, which had been the host of the youth camp for the past
two years. Remembering the site's importance as a Voice of America
relay station, hams are activating a special event station to mark its important anniversary. Neil Rapp WB9VPG brings us that report.

NEIL: Where it once carried vital news to people in South America,
Europe and Africa during troubled times in the world, the Voice of
America Bethany Relay Station in West Chester, Ohio, is now carrying a
message of celebration. Members of the West Chester Amateur Radio
Association, WC8VOA, which is housed at the VOA museum on the relay
station site, will be marking the 78th anniversary of the relay station
during a special event station on September 24th and 25th. VOA sent its
first news reports and programs out to the world from that former Ohio
farmers field in July of 1944 and continued to do so until the
transmitter went silent in 1994.

For the special event, hams will be using the club callsign and calling
QRZ using CW, SSB and the digital modes. The station will begin
operation at 12:00 UTC on Saturday and will go QRT at 00:00 UTC on
Sunday. Be listening on 15, 20 and 40 meters. Hams making contacts will
be eligible for a downloadable certificate from the club website. See
the *WC8VOA* page on QRZ.com for details.

I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG.

(JOCELYN BRAULT, KD8VRX/VA2VRX)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the K7MMA repeater in Spokane, Washington on Fridays at 5 p.m.
Pacifictime.

**
UK AMATEURS ACTIVATE FOR RAILWAYS ON THE AIR

PAUL/ANCHOR: All aboard: It's time to celebrate Britain's heritage
steam railways and Jeremy Boot G4NJH has just the ticket.

JEREMY: The Moorlands and District Amateur Radio Society has a special
link to the Foxfield Light Railway as that is where the club is based. Foxfield, which is run by a preservation society, is one of Britain's
oldest heritage steam railways. Club members are putting it on the air
during the Railways on the Air event on September 24th and 25th using
the callsign GB1FLR. Railways on the Air is an annual celebration of
the role that these trains played in the nation's heritage. Be
listening on HF and VHF phone as the Foxfield amateurs operate from
locator square IO82. The club welcomes QSL cards via eQSL, direct or
through the bureau. Full details are on the GB1FLR qrz.com page.

For details about the event and a list of other stations, visit rota
dot barac dot org dot uk. (rota.barac.org.uk)

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(QRZ.COM)

**

REGISTRATION OPENS FOR TASSIE HAM RADIO CONFERENCE AND EXPO

PAUL/ANCHOR: Registration has opened for a major amateur radio
conference Down Under. John Williams VK4JJW tells us what's happening
in Tasmania.

JOHN: Speakers from around the world will be presenting lectures on a
wide range of amateur radio topics during the Tassie Ham Radio
Conference and Expo in November. Registration has opened. The two-day
event, which is being organised by the Radio and Electronics
Association of Southern Tasmania, will be held on the Sandy Bay campus
of the University of Tasmania. The conference will be held on Saturday
the 5th of November and presentations will include such topics as
interference mitigation, remote station operation, low-power portable
EME, promoting your amateur radio club and youth engagement.

The expo will be held the next day. Registration is mandatory for those
who wish to attend. See the link in the text version of this week's
newscast at arnewsline.org.

[PRINT ONLY:
reast.asn.au/news-events/tassie-ham-radio-conference-and-expo/ ]

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(REAST)

**
CUB SCOUTS TO GET HAM RADIO PREVIEW

PAUL/ANCHOR: When youngsters meet up on Saturday, October 1st at the
Peterloon Scout Camp in Cincinnati, they will be getting a preview of
two things: These 10-year-old boys, known in Scouting as Webelos
(wee-buh-lows) will see what awaits them when they leave the rank of
Cub Scout and become full-fledged Scouts. They will also get a preview
of amateur radio. Be listening for a special event station being
operated by the West Chester Amateur Radio Association operating all
day from the scout camp with the call sign N8P. Hams will be on the air
using the club's Go-Box, calling CQ and looking for future hams in
Scouting.

(JOCELYN BRAULT, KD8VRX/VA2VRX)

**
UK HAM LOGS FIRST-TIME 8M CONTACT WITH SOUTH AFRICA

PAUL/ANCHOR: Imagine being the first amateur to log a DX contact on a
band that is experimental in your country. Well, that happened to one
ham recently in England. We hear about him from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: For Paul, G7PUV, it was an experiment that worked. The East
Sussex amateur, who holds an Innovation and Trial licence to use 40
MHz, announced that he has made the first SSB contact on the band
between the UK and South Africa, where 8 metres is a standard ham
frequency which gives amateurs a primary allocation with a maximum of
400 watts output between 40.675 and 40.685 MHz.

Paul reports that he accomplished this Trans Equatorial Propagation
contact with Willem ZS6WAB.

He writes on his QRZ.com page that Ofcom has permitted him access to
the band on frequencies between 40 and 42 MHz for testing purposes.

Paul posted a video of the 17th of September contact on his Twitter
feed. You can watch it by following the link that appears in the text
version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

[FOR PRINT ONLY:
https://twitter.com/AceBlaggard/status/1571161819846164482 ]

I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(TWITTER, SOUTHGATE)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, the special callsign 9H6QE is being used by the
Marconi Amateur Radio Circle, 9H1MRC, on the island of Malta, IOTA
number EU-023. The activation celebrates the life of the late Queen
Elizabeth II. The station will be on the air until October 14th on
20,17,15, 12 and 10 meters. QSL direct only via 9H1MRC.

Be listening for Francesco, IK6QON, on the air as 5R8FG from Madagascar
from October 8 and the 17th. He will be operating holiday style on
various HF bands using CW and SSB. He will also be on on Nosy Be
Island, IOTA number AF-057, and Nosy Iranja Island, IOTA number AF-57,
and in the city of Diego Suarez in the north part of Madagascar. QSL
via IZ6BRJ, direct or through the Bureaus.

Listen for Gianpi, (Jee-On-Pea) IK1TTD, on the air on 20 metres as
8Q7TD from the Maldive Islands, on Fasmendhoo Island, IOTA number
AS-013, between October 2nd through to the 17th. He is commemorating
his 25th wedding anniversary. QSL via his home callsign, direct,
through the Bureau or LoTW.

Alex, K6VHF, will be active as K6VHF/HR9 from Roatan Island between
October 27th and 31st on 40-10 meters using CW, SSB and 10 watts on the
digital modes. QSL via LoTW, ClubLog OQRS, eQSL, direct or through the
Bureau to his home callsign.

(OHIO PENN DX)

**
KICKER: ON LONG ISLAND, A TOWER OF POWER

PAUL/ANCHOR: For our final story, we take you to Long Island, New York,
where inventor Nikola Tesla conducted many of his groundbreaking
experiments. Tesla's former laboratory is the perfect inspirational
spot for a ham radio club to celebrate an important anniversary. Jim
Damron N8TMW tells us what happens next.

JIM: Marking its 75th anniversary on Long Island, the Suffolk County
Radio Club, W2DQ, appreciates what it means to be part of radio
history. So it's celebrating the occasion at a nearby historic spot -Wardenclyffe, the former laboratory of electronics innovator Nikola
Tesla, now renamed the Tesla Science Center. Though the noted engineer
and inventor died in 1943 - four years before the radio club was
founded in Suffolk County, his spirit will be present on October 8th
when the club activates special event station N2T from the historic
tower between 1500 UTC and 2359 UTC.

Ed Wilson, N2XDD, vice president of the Suffolk County Radio Club, told Newsline in a phone call that Wardenclyffe was the perfect place for
the special event station because of the history behind the site and
Tesla's contributions to radio. Hams contacting the operators during
the event will be able to receive a downloadable certificate.

Meanwhile, even with Tesla himself long gone, his old laboratory is
still functioning as an incubator for new things in the radio universe.
The Tesla Science Center Amateur Radio Club, N2TSC, was formed this
past July by a handful of hams. Ed, who is also its president, told
Newsline that members have the immediate goal of focusing on education
in the schools - a priority that is sure to have an impact that lasts
beyond the next 75 years.

This is Jim Damron N8TMW.

(ED WILSON, N2XDD)

**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to AMSAT-UK; the ARRL; Bernard Wehrli,
HB9ALH; CQ Magazine; David Behar K7DB; Ed Wilson, N2XDD; Jocelyn
Brault, KD8VRX/VA2VRX; Ohio Penn DX; QRZ.com; REAST; Southgate Amateur
Radio News; shortwaveradio.de; Twitter; the USKA; Youth on the Air
Camp; 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 Paul Braun WD9GCO in Valparaiso Indiana saying 73. As
always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is
Copyright 2022. All rights reserved.

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