• Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2274 for Friday May 28, 2021

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    Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2274 for Friday May 28, 2021

    Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2274 with a release date of Friday
    May 28, 2021 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

    The following is a QST. Hams mobilize in search for preteen boy. There
    are six new inductees in the CQ Hall of Fame -- and Bletchley Park is reopening. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number
    2274 comes your way right now.

    ***

    BILLBOARD CART

    **
    INDIANA HAMS MOBILIZE IN SEARCH FOR YOUNG BOY

    JIM/ANCHOR: We begin this week's report with an account of amateur
    radio responsiveness in a human drama that turned to tragedy: a
    sweeping search for a missing 12-year-old boy with autism which ended
    with the discovery of his body in the Little Calumet River. Members of
    the Amateur Radio Association of Newton County, Indiana, were among the hundreds of volunteers aiding the search for Kyrin Carter, the Missouri
    youth who was last seen on May 15th leaving the Indiana hotel where his
    family had been staying. Club president Mike Swiader [pronounced:
    SWAYDER] KA9E told Newsline that the hams provided VHF digital
    communications and GPS for the northwest Indiana's K9 search and rescue
    teams, serving as their communications branch. Working inside the
    association's mobile communications unit, the hams logged coordinates
    from the teams while they were deployed, providing digital tracking to
    help create a search map. Meanwhile, other searchers were deployed on
    foot, on horseback, by helicopter and by boat and were joined by the
    FBI and police from Indiana and nearby Illinois. On Monday, May 24th,
    the body of the little boy was found in the river and dive teams pulled
    him out.

    By then, Mike said, the hams' team had been demobilized because the
    nature of the search had changed. They learned of the boy's death
    through their liaison to local law enforcement.

    (MIKE SWIADER KA9E, NW INDIANA TIMES)

    **
    HAMS INVITED TO JOIN IN HONORING WORLD WAR II HERO

    JIM/ANCHOR: Hams are being invited to help honor the last surviving
    recipient of the most prestigious military award given after World War
    II. Kevin Trotman N5PRE tells us how.

    KEVIN: Not everyone has a United States Navy warship commissioned in
    their honor but Hershel "Woody" Williams, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran
    and Medal of Honor recipient was present in Norfolk, Virginia for just
    such a ceremony last year. This year, amateur radio operators are
    planning a unique gesture of their own at a birthday reception for
    Woody. Woody, the nation's last surviving recipient of the Medal of
    Honor from World War II, turns 98 on October 2nd.

    Donna Snow W5SML, known for the American reality TV show "Texas Flip N
    Move," has begun collecting QSL cards and birthday greetings to be
    presented to him at the reception in Texas on October 13th

    Woody received the Medal for bravery during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He continues his service through the Woody Williams Foundation, which
    assists Gold Star Families, people whose family members have lost their
    lives in service to their country..

    Amateur radio operators who want to help honor Woody can send a QSL
    card with their wishes to the address at the bottom of Donna's page on
    QRZ.com. Donna also writes: [quote] "Don't worry about sending too
    many, I have BIG trailers!" [endquote]

    For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

    Jim: Woody is from right here in West Virginia, I'm proud to say.

    (REX KING W5EAK, QRZ)

    **
    SENDING A MESSAGE TO SAMUEL F.B. MORSE

    JIM/ANCHOR: If you could contact Samuel F.B. Morse, what would you tell
    him? Newsline's Randy Sly W4XJ posed that question to mark an important anniversary.

    RANDY: On May 24, 1844, Samuel F.B. Morse sent the first telegraph
    message from Washington, DC to Alfred Vail in Baltimore, Maryland. In
    addition to helping invent the telegraph, Morse also developed the code
    he sent.

    Today, the preservation of Morse Code has been left primarily in the
    hands of amateur radio operators. On this anniversary, Amateur Radio
    Newsline asked a few hams what they would say to Samuel Morse if he
    were alive today.

    Howard Bernstein, WB2UZE, co-founder of the Long Island CW Club said:
    "Thank you so much for having the forethought and vision to create one
    of the most internationally beneficial modes of communication still in
    use 177 years later."

    Steve Szabo, WB4OMM, of the North American QRP CW Club said: "No one
    could have envisioned the future communications technology that you
    originated. I'm in awe that low power Morse Code using a simple
    transceiver and a wire can span the globe."

    Finally, Stew Rolfe, GW0ETF, President of the CW Operators Club said:
    "Well Sam, I bet you never thought your simple code would be heard
    across the airwaves well into the 21st century, kept alive and lovingly
    cared for by a bunch of hobbyists in pretty much every country of the
    world!"

    For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ. Thank you, Mr. Morse
    for giving us the original digital mode.

    **
    BLETCHLEY PARK REOPENING

    JIM/ANCHOR: Enthusiasts of code, and of history, are grateful to learn
    that Bletchley Park and the National Radio Centre are reopening in
    Great Britain. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us more.

    JEREMY: Bletchley Park, which was the heart and soul of codebreaking
    during World War II, has reopened its doors to visitors as pandemic restrictions become less stringent in Great Britain. At the same time,
    the National Radio Centre of the Radio Society of Great Britain, which
    is located on the historic site, will resume its own array of
    activities. The National Radio Centre reopens daily starting on Friday
    the 28th of May and will offer demonstrations of amateur radio from the
    GB3RS station. Visitors may observe operations but for now will not be permitted into the radio room.

    The welcome being extended by Bletchley is being delivered cautiously,
    however, and is following COVID-19 safety guidelines. Visitors are
    being asked to book their visits in advance by going online and
    selecting a predetermined time of entry. Beginning on the 7th of June, Bletchley Park will also welcome educational groups who will again be
    able to make use of on-site resources.

    For details or to book a visit visit bletchleypark.org.uk

    For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

    (BLETCHLEY PARK, RSGB)

    **
    SILENT KEY: FORMER MINNESOTA BUSINESSMAN RICHARD PHILSTROM W0TLE

    JIM/ANCHOR: The former owner of a successful ham radio supply center in Minnesota has become a Silent Key. Kent Peterson KC0DGY tells us
    abouthim.

    KENT: Richard Philstrom W0TLE, a lifelong radio amateur in the
    Minneapolis area and creator of a business that served local amateurs
    in the 1980s, has become a Silent Key. A veteran of the US Navy, Dick
    became a licensed ham in 1965, receiving the callsign WN0NHL shortly
    before entering the military service. When he left the Navy, he was
    hired at Electronic Center in Minneapolis, reporting to Ward Jensen who
    became his ham radio mentor. At Electronic Center, Dick eventually
    became manager of the business' ham radio department. By 1980, he had
    purchased the department and opened it in North Minneapolis as Midwest
    Amateur Radio Supply. Four years later, he left the business to begin
    work for various companies dealing in super computers and eventually
    left the industry to work for a medical supply company.

    Dick was a charter member of the Handi Hams organization, which serves
    amateurs with disabilities; a life member of the ARRL and a member of
    the Quarter Century Wireless Association.

    Dick died May 8th at the age of 76. His callsign had formerly belonged
    to his mentor Ward Jensen W0TLE.

    For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

    (QCWA, LEGACY.COM)

    **

    CQ MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES 2021 HALL OF FAMERS

    JIM/ANCHOR: There are some familliar names being added to the CQ
    Amateur Radio Hall of Fame this year and Stephen Kinford N8WB tells us
    who they are.

    STEPHEN: Six amateur radio operators have been added to the CQ Amateur
    Radio Hall of Fame, which honors individuals who have made prominent contributions to the community either as hams or through their
    professional careers. This year's inductees, announced on Friday, May
    21st, include Archibald Doty, W7ACD, a Silent Key. A cofounder of the
    second oldest college radio station in the US, he was also heavily
    involved in research into vertical antennas. Other inductees include
    Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, founder of Ham Radio Science Citizen
    Investigation and organizer of the 2017 Solar Eclipse QSO Party.
    Another honoree is concert pianist Lorin Hollander WA1PGB, who augments
    work as a performer with deep involvement in music and arts education.
    CQ is also honoring former ARRL counsel and general counsel Christopher
    Imlay W3KD; noted propagation researcher Cathryn Mitchell M-Zero-IBG;
    and Admiral Charles Richard, W4HFZ, commander of USSTRATCOM, the United
    States Strategic Command, one of eleven unified commands of the
    Department of Defense.

    The Hall, created in 2001, now has a total of 339 members.

    For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Stephen Kinford N8WB.

    (CQ MAGAZINE)

    **
    BREAK HERE:

    Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
    Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world as well as
    anytime, on demand, through the Hamshack Hotline system. Choose
    Extension 7008, Option 1.

    **
    2020's YHOTY CHRIS BRAULT KD8YVJ WINS ARDC SCHOLARSHIP

    JIM/ANCHOR: Congrats to Amateur Radio Newsline's Young Ham of the Year
    for 2020 Chris Brault, KD8YVJ. The ARRL announced that he was among the
    more than 200 deserving winners of scholarships through the ARRL
    Foundation. Chris is the recipient of a $10,000 Amateur Radio Digital Communications scholarship. Chris will be attending St. Louis
    University with a major in Aeronautics and a minor in computer science.
    He's also weeks away from earning his private pilot license. We here at Newsline wish this deserving young amateur all the best.

    **
    DEADLINE CLOSING FOR YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR

    JIM/ANCHOR: Speaking of the Young Ham of the Year Award, May 31st at
    midnight Eastern time is the deadline to submit your nominations for
    this year's recipient. If you know of an outstanding licensed radio
    amateur under the age of 18 in the US, Canada or any of the US
    possessions, please download the nomination form from our website,
    complete it and email it back to newsline@arnewsline.org

    The award will be presented at the Huntsville Hamfest in Alabama in
    August.

    **
    CALIFORNIA AMATEURS LAUNCH BOATS ON THE AIR

    JIM/ANCHOR: What's better than having boats in the water? Try having
    Boats on the Air. Well, one group in California is making it happen.
    Dave Parks WB8ODF explains.

    DAVE: In the same tradition as POTA, SOTA and IOTA, now there's
    BOTAâ-"that is, Boats on the Air, an activation that its organizers
    hope will set sail as an activity worldwide. The inaugural Boats on the
    Air is leaving the dock on Saturday, June 5th and operators from the
    San Francisco Amateur Radio Club will be activating watercraft of all
    kinds. For the organizers, including Kent Carter, AJ6NI, the floating
    shack will be a sailboat called the Auriah (AH-RYE-AH). Part of the
    challenge, he said, is to bring mobile ham radio gear into a marine
    environment and get on FM, AM, CW, SSB, digital voice or digital data
    modes.

    Chasers and activators will be on the air for three hours beginning
    2000 UTC. A boat is considered to be activated if it completes four
    QSOs. The event website says: [quote] "Join us to activate any moving
    floating object on any body of water." [endquote]

    In short, that means the boat can be powered by motor, by sailâ-"even
    by human effort or....well, use your imagination. In other words,
    whatever floats your boat.

    For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Dave Parks WB8ODF.

    (KENT CARTER AJ6NI)

    **

    RADIO SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN CHANGES 50MHz AWARDS

    JIM/ANCHOR: Changes are coming to some awards being given by the Radio
    Society of Great Britain. Jeremy Boot G4NJH gives us the details.

    JEREMY: The RSGB will be merging the 50MHz 2-Way Countries award and
    the 50MHz DX Countries award soon, having determined that the two
    awards significantly duplicate one another. The new award will be
    released as the 50MHz Countries award and it will retain the
    incremental levels of award present in the two it will replace. Hams
    who have been working towards either of the current 50MHz awards will
    have until the end of this year to complete them while the RSGB works
    toward launching the new award.

    For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

    (RSGB)

    **
    POPULAR D-STAR NET CHANGES CHECK-IN TIME

    JIM/ANCHOR: Here in the US, a popular D-STAR Net is starting check-ins
    two hours earlier and has big plans to get involved in emergency
    response. Here's Andy Morrison K9AWM with those details.

    ANDY: The Illinois D-STAR Net is on the move. Starting on Wednesday,
    June 2nd, it is starting two hours earlier. Hams will be able to check
    in at 7 p.m. Central Time. Net control Steven Reiners KC9SIO told
    Newsline that there are two benefits to moving the time of the Net,
    which meets on Reflector 51 D. Steven said he is hoping that the move
    will attract new members, bring back many of the original ones, and
    fulfil the Net's original mission to foster conversation among stations throughout the state. He said the other goal of the move is to have the
    Net join a statewide system for emergency communications, eventually
    attracting the participation by hams in all 102 counties.

    Meanwhile, the KB0ZSG International D-Star Net continues to take
    check-ins on Sundays at 7 p.m. Central Time in the US on Reflector 91C.
    The net carries the name and callsign of founder Connie Ballantyne, who
    became a Silent Key in February 2020.

    For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Andy Morrison K9AWM.

    (STEVEN REINERS KC9SIO)

    **
    GET READY FOR 'TUNE-UP' EVENT

    JIM/ANCHOR: If you can't wait for ARRL Field Day, you don't have to.
    The 100 Watts and a Wire community is encouraging hams to go portable
    on June 11th through June 13th as part of the annual Tune-Up Activity.
    It's a way to test your portable antennas and stations in preparation
    for the big event. If you don't have a portable station, you can still
    get on the air. Work as an individual or as part of a team, operating
    on any band and in any mode. The exchange is your Call sign, your
    100WattID if you have one, your state, province or DX Country and a
    true signal report.

    **
    WEST BENGAL HAMS HELP REUNITE MAN WITH FAMILY

    JIM/ANCHOR: Hams in West Bengal, India have helped an older man find
    his way back to his family in another Indian state. Jason Daniels
    VK2LAW brings us up to date.

    JASON: Amateur radio operators in West Bengal, India, are working to
    return a 70-year-old grandfather to his home and family in Uttar
    Pradesh. The man has become a familiar face to villagers for the past
    seven months because of his seemingly nonstop work weeding patches on
    the sides of roads, cleaning drainage ditches and tidying up around the
    banks of ponds. According to a newspaper account, he earned the
    nickname "Clean Grandpa" from the local residents who watched him work.
    Hams in West Bengal became involved after one of the local council
    members took a photo of the man doing his cleanup work and shared it on
    social media. The hams saw the photo and contacted local officials
    about him. The officials were able to track down the man's relatives.
    The family was making plans for their reunion with the man and to bring
    him home. The man's return home is being coordinated by club member
    Arnab Roy Chaudhury VU3JWN.

    Area residents told the newspaper they were sorry to see him leave,
    saying he did a better job cleaning up the village than any government
    workers could have done.

    For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

    (WEST BENGAL RADIO CLUB)

    **
    KICKER: SPACE AGENCY LAUNCHES CONTEST TO NAME SPACECRAFT

    JIM/ANCHOR: Finally, we ask: What's in a name? Plenty if you're trying
    to name a spacecraft that's expect to have its moment in the sun.
    Graham Kemp VK4BB brings us the last story of this week.

    GRAHAM: Nothing may be new under the sun but something new will soon be
    out in space keeping a vigilant eye on solar activity. The European
    Space Agency is designing a solar-storm-hunting spacecraft that can
    spot eruptions known as coronal mass ejections before they reach the
    Earth. When the spacecraft detects danger, it will transmit an alert
    that allows us to prepare for what's to come here on Earth.

    The ESA is calling the spacecraft "the world's first mission to provide
    solar warning" -- but for now that's ALL the agency is able to call it
    because the craft doesn't have a name. Not yet, anyway.

    That's where the rest of us can step in. The ESA wants us to help name
    the spacecraft, which will join us in watching sunspots form and will
    track propagation of solar events before the end of the decade. Use the
    ESA website to enter the name of your choice. You have until the 17th
    of October. Just bear in mind that you can't submit names that have
    already been used for other missions. Sending those to the ESA for consideration will surely get you a bunch of coronal mass...rejections.

    For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Graham Kemp VK4BB.

    (EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY, AUTOEVOLUTION.COM)

    **

    NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur News Weekly; the ARRL; AutoEvolution.com; Bletchley Park CQ Magazine; David Behar K7DB; the
    European Space Ageny; Kent Carter AJ6NI; Legacy.com; Mike Swiader KA9E;
    NW Indiana Times; Ohio Penn DX newsletter; QCWA; QRZ.com; Radio Society
    of Great Britain; Rex King W5EAK; Steven Reiners KC9SIO; Southgate
    Amateur Radio News; shortwaveradio.de; Ted Randall's QSO Radio Show;
    WTWW Shortwave; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur
    Radio Newsline. Please send emails to our address at
    newsline@arnewsline.org. More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's only official website at arnewsline.org. Be sure to follow
    some of these stories as they get a more indepth look on the YouTube
    Channel of 100 Watts and a Wire. Search for the video segment with the
    title "Two Stories."

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

    Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.

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