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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2354 for Friday December 9th, 2022

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2354 with a release date of Friday December 9th, 2022 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. A young amateur's balloon makes an incredible
journey. A new record is set for the lowest ham band in Australia --and
meet the receipient of Newsline's International Newsmaker of the Year
Award for 2022. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report
Number 2354 comes your way right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART

**
A SOUTH POLE 'FIRST' FOR AMATEUR RADIO BALLOON

NEIL/ANCHOR: Our top story this week asks: When is a transmitting error
not really an error but a triumph? When those transmissions are coming
from an amateur radio high altitude balloon that became the first of
its kind to come so close to the South Pole. Kevin Trotman N5PRE has
that story.

KEVIN: When the high altitude balloon transmitting KM4ZIA, the amateur
radio call sign of 15-year-old Jack McElroy, was launched recently in Antarctica, it became part of atmospheric work being done by University
of Alabama researcher, Todd McKinney KN4TPG. Instead of just helping
build mathematical models of the atmosphere, however, Jack's balloon
soon embarked on a incredible journey. A little more than a week later,
its navigational equipment began to spit out a series of error messages
on 20 meters. One observer in the US, however, realized that nothing
was really wrong. He knew, in fact, that something remarkable was
happening. Family friend and high-altitude balloon expert, Bill Brown,
WB8ELK, knew Jack's solar-powered balloon was a short distance from the
South Pole. Mapping systems could no longer determine its position from
data being sent on 20 meters because of the densely spaced lines of
longitude there at the end of the Earth.

Jack's father, Tom McElroy, W4SDR, told Newsline in a phone interview:
[quote] "This is the closest any amateur radio balloon has come to the
South Pole." [endquote] Tom said Bill phoned the family home in Georgia
that morning from Huntsville, Alabama, on December 1st, and said Jack's
balloon had literally gone off the map. Tom broke the news to an
astonished Jack on the way to school. He said Jack had quite a story
for his science teacher that day.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

NEIL/ANCHOR: You can track Jack's balloon at aprs.fi, using his call
sign KM4ZIA. This isn't Jack's first balloon, either. He has launched
several over the years, including two years at Youth on the Air Camp,
in a team effort with his sister, Audrey McElroy, KM4BUN, who is this
year's 2022 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year.

**
STAMP COLLECTING GETS HOLIDAY SPIRIT FROM HAMS

NEIL/ANCHOR: The charitable spirit of amateur radio has always extended
past direct involvement with radio activity. Here in the US, one club
in Pennsylvania is looking for amateurs' assistance in a project that
members have been committed to for a number of years. Sel Embee KB3TZD
gives us those details.

SEL: If you're starting to receive holiday cards from friends or
eagerly awaiting the arrival of QSL cards from those treasured DX
contacts, members of the Holmesburg Amateur Radio Club, WM3PEN, in
Philadelphia are asking one more thing of you: Save those stamps. Hams
in the Pennsylvania club support the "Stamps for the Wounded" program,
which accepts donations of stamps from around the world for use in
occupational therapy programs in convalescent centers and hospitals
where veterans are receiving treatment.

Although the everyday United States "Forever Flag" stamp is not needed
for this program, all other stamps are welcome. Stamps should have at
least a quarter-inch margin around them and should not be removed from
the original envelopes on which they are sent. The hams in this club
have been longtime supporters of the program, which was established in
1942 to encourage stamp collecting among the nation's military veterans
who were at various stages of recovery. The program has more details on
its website at stampsforthewounded dot org (stampsforthewounded.org).
That's "stampsforthewounded" - one word, dot org.

If you wish to donate stamps to help the club in their efforts, you can
send them to Rich Shivers, K3UJ. You'll find his address in the text
version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org.

This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.

[FOR PRINT ONLY: Rich Shivers, K3UJ, 9029 Eastview Rd., Philadelphia,
PA 19152, USA ]

(HARC newsletter)

**
FCC COMMISSIONER COMMITS TO AM RADIO'S SURVIVAL

NEIL/ANCHOR: According to at least one member of the US Federal
Communications Commission, rumors of the death of AM radio are greatly exaggerated. Kent Peterson KC0DGY brings us that report.

KENT: The good news is that AM radio has a future, which means the band
isn't going to be reallocated anytime soon. Those were the words of FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington, speaking recently at the 79th annual
convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Simington
said that, for one thing, AM radio is an integral part of the life of
the more than 3 million farmers in the United States who rely on it
daily for vital information.

He called it the [quote] "essential spine" [endquote] of the Emergency
Alert System. He said that despite beliefs by many that it has been
killed off by more advanced technology, AM radio is here to stay for
the foreseeable future, especially for those who live on the kind of
farm where he himself grew up. He said he is against any move the FCC
might be pressured to consider to reallocate the band.

He told convention attendees: [quote] "Look, people listen to radio in
their cars or trucksâ-"particularly rural radio. That's just how it is.
And if people lose the ability to tune into AM on their cars, well,
there goes AM radio." [endquote] He said that while satellite is a good
option, it is too expensive. He said AM radio is not just free but
carries an important emergency signaling infrastructure.

In his opinion, the best option for AM radio's future to to simply
preserve it for the generations to come.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

NEIL/ANCHOR: In a further development, an influential United States
lawmaker has joined the push to talk automakers out of eliminating
broadcast AM radio in new cars. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts has
asked the car companies to respond in writing about their intentions
regarding AM and FM radio. He acknowledged that electric vehicles can
cause electromagnetic interference with AM signals but encouraged
carmakers to pursue some of the remedies they have devised. The car
companies include General Motors, Jaguar, Kia, BMW and American Honda.

(FCC.GOV, RADIO WORLD, AMATEUR RADIO WEEKLY)

**
TIME FOR THE '12 DAYS OF QRZ'

NEIL/ANCHOR: In case you need a way to keep the holiday fun going even
after the holiday season, QRZ.com has an event marking the winter
season in the Northern Hemisphere. Ralph Squillace KK6ITB brings us up
to date on that.

RALPH: In some parts of the world where it's winter, things can get a
little cold. Sometimes...a lot cold. So this year QRZ.com has offered
to heat things up and the action already got under way on the 1st of
December. The QRZ Winter Ops Award celebrates "the twelve days of QRZ."
To be eligible, hams need to log 12 confirmed contacts on any 12 days
from now through February 28th 2023. The certificate is being offered
for the first time as a holiday gift from QRZ's founder, Fred LLoyd,
AA7BQ. Fred writes on the website: [quote] "This one's going to be very
popular this season. We can't wait for people to show them to us
hanging in their shacks." [endquote] Hopefully it will keep the holiday
spirit - and confirmation of those dozen QSOs - going strong into the
new year.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(QRZ.COM)

**
RSGB CREATES SOCIAL DIVERSITY POST

NEIL/ANCHOR: There's so much more to amateur radio than just the
technical and scientific side of things. The Radio Society of Great
Britain is looking for someone to help address an important social
concern. Here's Jeremy Boot G4NJH with the details.

JEREMY: The Radio Society of Great Britain is creating the volunteer
position of social diversity officer to help the board address
inclusion and diversity within the ranks of amateur radio and the
society itself. Some of the new officer's tasks will include helping
boost society membership but will also focus on encouraging hams of all
ages and backgrounds to get their licence.

The RSGB is hoping that through creation of this new position the
society can complement the work of the RAIBC, the Radio Amateur Invalid
and Blind Club, which serves radio amateurs and shortwave listeners
with disabilities.

If the role of social diversity officer is one for which you would be interested in volunteering, please visit the society website at rsgb
dot org slash volunteers. (rsgb.org/volunteers) Application deadline is
Monday the 16th of January.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(RSGB)

**
ENGINEER NEEDED FOR FOR STATION WWVH

NEIL/ANCHOR: Listeners around the world tune in regularly to WWV and
WWVH, the radio station of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, for various voice announcements, including the time. Now
the US government agency hopes qualified engineers will tune into an
important job opening it has - for a position based in Hawaii. Jack
Parker W8ISH tells us more.

JACK: Radio station WWVH, which is part of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology, is looking to hire an engineer in charge. In
addition to maintenance of the station on Kauai, Hawaii, the job
requires regular communication with NIST's Time and Frequency division
in Boulder, Colorado. The engineer is responsible for the four radio transmission systems - on 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 MHz - which are required
to be on the air 99.7 percent of the time. One or two electronic
technicians will report to the engineer in charge.

For more details about the job and whether you qualify, visit the link
in the text version of this week's Newsline script at arnewsline.org

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

[FOR PRINT ONLY: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/690931100 ]


**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the Midstate Hams WA9RDF repeater in Greenwood Indiana on Sundays at 7
p.m. local time.

**


NEW RECORD SET ON LOWEST HAM BAND IN AUSTRALIA

NEIL/ANCHOR: In Australia, a new record has been set for a contact on
the 2200m-band. John Williams VK4JJW has those details.

JOHN: Using barely 1 watt of power, a station south of Perth in Western Australia made a record-setting one-way contact into North America on
the 2200-metre band, which at 136 kHz, is the lowest amateur band in
Australia. The contact was made on November 21st between VK6MJM and
received in the United States by Paul, KM5SW, in New Mexico. The
distance was 16,164 kilometres and the power was 0.8 watts EIRP. The
station was using a five-minute key-down mode known as WSJT-X
FST4W-300mode.

It was a big moment for the Western Australian Low Frequency
Experimenters Group, or WALFEG, which operates the station. It is led
by Peter Hall, VK6HP, and is affiliated with the Wireless Institute of Australia.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(WIA)

**

PROGRESS ON WORLD'S LARGEST RADIO TELESCOPE

NEIL/ANCHOR: The world's largest radio telescope is on track to be
completed by the end of this decade. Graham Kemp VK4BB has more on its progress.

GRAHAM: Sites in Australia and South Africa have begun construction on
the Square Kilometre Array Observatory, or SKAO, and astronomers are
hoping to see the massive observatory's two antenna stations finish construction by May 2023, with the first dish commissioned in April of
2024 according to a report on the Space.com website.

When the huge project is completed, it will boast a full 1-square
kilometer collection area and it will be the world's largest radio
telescope. Construction began recently on the observatory's mid-array
in the Karoo desert of South Africa which will scan for sources of
radio waves from 350 MHz to 15.4 GHz. The low-array is also under
construction north of Perth in Western Australia. It will use 131,072
dipoles seeking signals on frequencies between 50 and 350 MHz.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(SPACE.COM)

**
AMATEUR-OWNED COMPANY BUILDING SATELLITE PLANT IN INDIA

NEIL/ANCHOR: In our previous newscast, we shared the triumph of the amateur-owned company that sent two of its made-in-India CubeSats into
space aboard an Indian Space Research Organisation rocket. The company announced it is ready to join other enterprises in that nation in
taking the next step. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF tells us what's next.

JIM: Not long after the launch of its Thybolt 1 and Thybolt 2
satellites, Dhruva Space, based in Hyderabad (Hydra-BOD), announced it
was moving forward to build a facility where it can assemble and test satellites as large as 100 kg. Cofounder Abhay Egoor, the company's
chief technical officer, said Dhruva is already raising funds toward
that end. Dhruva joins another India-based space company, Pixxel, which
is building a satellite assembly facility in Bengaluru. Pixxel expects
that project to be completed during the first half of next year. Other companies are gearing up as well: Bangalore-based Bellatrix Aerospace,
which is building in Karnataka; and Agnikul Cosmos in Madras, which is
looking to develop testing facilities in Chennai.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(INVENTIVA, STARTUPSTORYMEDIA)
--

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, you can find Burkhard, DL3KZA, on the air from Albania as ZA/DL3KZA until December 13th. He is on 40-17m; mainly using FT8. QSL to his home call, either direct or by the bureau.

Between December 10th and 16th, you will be able to hear S21DX on the air from Dhal Char island in Bangladesh, IOTA number AS-140. The operators will be using the HF bands and the QO-100 satellite. QSL via EB7DX.

Lester, W8YCM, is active until December 11th from Jamaica using the call sign as 6Y8LV. He is also signing W8YCM/6Y for the remainder of his stay, which lasts into January. Listen on the HF bands. Send QSLs for his home call.

Listen for Capi, LU1COP, operating from Isla Martin Garcia, Argentina, IOTA number SA-055, as LP1A/E until December 11th. Capi is on 80 through 10 metres using FT8 and SSB. QSL via Logbook of the World. Paper QSLs should be sent to EA7FTR.

(DX-WORLD.NET)

**
KICKER: MEET OUR INTERNATIONAL NEWSMAKER OF THE YEAR FOR 2022

NEIL/ANCHOR: When Amateur Radio Newsline began presenting its International Newsmaker of the Year award in 2019, we did it to acknowledge the best embodiment of the spirit of amateur radio in the activities of an individual, club or other organization
during the past year. In presenting this year's award, we congratulate the winner we celebrated in that inaugural year: The West Bengal Amateur Radio Club of Kolkata, India. Here's our editor Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT to tell us why.

CARYN: Congratulations once again to the West Bengal Radio Club of Kolkata India, Newsline's International Newsmaker for 2022. Operating on a thin budget, sometimes with borrowed radio equipment, the club has consistently provided communications during
cyclones, after earthquakes, at major public events and to reunite missing family members with loved ones. The club also teaches its members valuable emergency-response skills that help save lives. This past year, those skills helped prevent a different
kind of tragedy: They assisted law enforcement in locating and rescuing a woman who had been kidnapped and was about to be handed over to a human-trafficking ring. The stories we have given our listeners this past year about this club's efforts show that
its commitment to public service, like their energy, knows no limits.

Newsline spoke to the club's secretary, Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, and he explained why members are so committed:

AMBARISH NAG BISWAS: We only make this club, not only for the amateur radio hobby. We make using this hobby how to save lives because all technology is for the human. If you are not using your hobby for the human, I don't believe that hobby...that hobby
is just a hobby.

CARYN: All of us at Amateur Radio Newsline salute this group for its combination of technology and humanity.

This is Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT.

**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Weekly; the ARRL; CQ magazine; David Behar K7DB; DX-World.net; FCC.gov; Holmesburg Amateur Radio Club; Inventiva; QRZ.com; Radio World magazine; the RSGB; shortwaveradio.de; Space.com; startupstorymedia; Tom
McElroy, W4SDR; USAJobs.gov; Wireless Institute of Australia; 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 Neil Rapp WB9VPG in Union, Kentucky saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2022. All righ
ts reserved.

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