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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2306 for Friday January 7th, 2022

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2306 with a release date of Friday
January 7th, 2022 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams step in amid Colorado's wildfires. Hams
in the UK salute 100 years of the BBC -- and it pays to call CQ in some
of the most unlikely places. All this and more as Amateur Radio
Newsline Report Number 2306 comes your way right now.

**
AMATEUR RADIO RESPONDS TO COLORADO WILDFIRES

PAUL/ANCHOR: We begin this week with a look at a Colorado landscape
devastated by wildfires. As always, amateur radio responded. Here's
Randy Sly W4XJ with the details.

RANDY: Colorado hams were active and on high alert as wildfires
consumed as many as 1,000 homes and businesses in suburban Denver in
recent days. The wildfires, believed to be among the state's most
damaging, began on Thursday, December the 30th, as two grass fires
erupted in mid-morning. Hams with Boulder County ARES were activated.

Amanda Alden K1DDN, public information coordinator for the ARRL
Colorado section, told Newsline that Boulder County ARES chairman Allen
Bishop K0ARK and Colorado Section Emergency Coordinator, Jon Blome,
KF0JB sent out preemptive pages and alerts to a group of adjacent
counties for ARES members who could assist in Boulder. There was
concern that the fires, fanned by 100 mile-an-hour winds, would block
the usual responders' access to the area. As evacuations of thousands
began, ARES ops were on the air at the Boulder EOC and three evacuee
shelters. The fires eradicated whole neighborhoods in the towns of
Superior and Louisville in Boulder County, and people had only minutes
to safely escape.

Amanda told Newsline that approximately 12 ARES members kept
communications running, especially at shelters where ARES members
remained for 44 hours. As snow began to fall 24 hours after the initial
fire, the blazes were mostly extinguished and power was being restored.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Randy Sly W4XJ.

(AMANDA ALDEN K1DDN, CNN)

**
GERMAN AMATEURS TEST-DRIVE WI-FI NETWORK

PAUL/ANCHOR: Following a flood late last year, hams in Germany have
begun rethinking their emergency-response strategies. Ed Durrant DD5LP
has that story.

ED: The painful lessons of the flooding in Germany when the Ahr River
burst its banks last September were not lost on amateur radio
operators. A prototype radio response system is now in the works with
eye toward a rollout and demonstration this coming April. Networks are
being established featuring high-performance Wi-Fi communications
providing those in hard-hit areas with the ability to send and receive
messages over the internet. The prototype's development is being
underwritten by the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club; full-scale nationwide operation is estimated at costing 1 million euros. The DARC's emergency
radio officer Oliver Schlag DL7TNY said outside funding would be needed
to implement the full programme. The ultimate goal is to provide the
Wi-Fi connections through the WLAN components as well as charging
stations for mobile devices of those in the impacted areas.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.

(MARKET RESEARCH TELECAST, WIA)

**
US FOREST SERVICE SEEKS FEES FROM WIRELESS INSTALLATIONS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Wireless installations may soon be facing a fee in the US
for operating on public forest land. Dave Parks WB8ODF gives us those
details.

DAVE: In the United States, one of the bigger battles that the American
Radio Relay League is taking on in this new year is the US Forest
Service's plan to collect fees from anyone using its public lands for
permanent communications installations possibly including some ham
radio repeaters. The agency's proposal would have an impact on more
than 1,367 sites serving an estimated 10,000 wireless
communicationsuses.

The annual fee is required by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.
This fee would apply only to new and existing permanent installations
on Forest Service lands and would have no impact on visiting amateurs'
portable use of any US national parks and forests.

The Forest Service says the fees are necessary to cover costs for
creation of communications site management plans, the hiring of people
for the communications use program and upgrading access to
communications sites on the Forest Service lands. The Federal Register
notice explains that lands within the National Forest System are
utilized for communications providers' towers, buildings and other
permanent infrastructure.

The ARRL is encouraging amateurs to comment in writing no later than
February 22nd on how this would impact ham radio installations on these properties. Send comments online to the Federal Rulemaking Portal.
There is also an address for deliveries through the US Postal Service.
Send mail to Director, Lands & Realty Management Staff, 201 14th Street
SW, Washington, DC 20250-1124. All correspondence must include a
reference to "RIN 0596-AD44."

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Dave Parks WB8ODF.

(US FEDERAL REGISTER, ARRL)

**
HAM RADIO SALUTES 100 YEARS OF THE BBC

PAUL/ANCHOR: In the UK, the amateurs are saluting the professionals
with a year-long special event station marking the 100th anniversary of
the British Broadcasting Company. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us how to get
into the action.

JEREMY: If you hear the special event callsign GB100BBC on the HF bands
you're hearing the sound of celebration. The BBC's amateur radio club,
known as the London BBC Radio Group, is using that callsign throughout
this year to mark 100 years since a number of wireless radio
manufacturers, including Marconi, created the British Broadcasting
Company. Ham stations are getting on the air from the main shack in
central London as well as from members' QTHs and other BBC locations.

Organisers ask all contacts please to keep in mind that there will be
no direct QSLs. Commemorative QSL cards will be available only through
the bureau. You may also QSL using LoTW and eQSL.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(QRZ.COM)

**
NAVY VET PREPS CAMPING TRAILER FOR DISASTER RESPONSE

PAUL/ANCHOR: In Washington State, one Navy veteran has transformed an
old camper into a resource for emergency response. Christian Cudnik
K0STH tells us about him.

CHRISTIAN: Retired US Navy commander Frank Hutchison, AG7QP, has taken
the principles of submarine design that he'd learned in the military
and steered them in the direction of his amateur radio public service
work. An emergency responder in his Spokane, Washington community,
Frank has converted a 60-year-old camper trailer into a ham radio communications center, a project he began more than a year ago. The
trailer now has the capacity for three radios, two heavy-duty
rechargeable batteries and a pair of 200-watt solar panels on the roof
to keep the interior lit. There's even a kitchenette. Following months
of work, Frank was able to give the camper a test-drive of sorts this
past October during an emergency exercise at his church. That helped
Frank see what else needed to be done to get the emergency vehicle
ready for action. Frank, who is the assistant emergency coordinator for
the Spokane County Amateur Radio Emergency Service, told the Spokesman newspaper that the renovated trailer [quote] "gives me the capability
of helping others. I can support local and state-wide emergency
communications for one week without any outside support." [endquote] He
told the newspaper that he hoped there would never be a need to use it
at all -- but with wildfires and other natural disasters a reality,
he'll be ready -- just in case.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Christian Cudnik K0STH.

(THE SPOKESMAN)

**
NEW LEADERSHIP FOR RADIO AMATEURS OF CANADA

PAUL/ANCHOR: The new year has brought new leadership to Radio Amateurs
of Canada. Phil A. McBride, VA3QR/VA3KPJ, has taken office as the RAC's
new president, succeeding Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA. Phil formerly served
as the director of Ontario South for the RAC. Licensed since 1994,
Phil's other amateur radio activities include membership in the
Canadian Forces Affiliate Radio System and work as webmaster and club
examiner for the Guelph Amateur Radio Club.

(RAC, QRZ.COM)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the K6PVR repeater in Ventura, California on Sundays at 6:30 p.m.
localtime.

**
ARRL REDEFINES 'LOW POWER' FOR CONTESTS

PAUL/ANCHOR: The ARRL has redefined what is considered "low power" in
its contests. Stephen Kinford N8WB brings us that report.

STEPHEN: New Year's Day marked the start of a new definition of low
power for operators in HF contests sponsored by the ARRL. The league
now defines low-power as 100 watts or less. Although the ARRL says it
made the move to standardize its categories with those in other
low-power contests, the league also recognizes that 100 watts is now
the most common maximum output of most modern HF transceivers. The
previous power limit was 150 watts.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Stephen Kinford N8WB.

(ARRL)

**
ANNUAL PORTABLE OPS CHALLENGE BECOMES OPEN SOURCE

PAUL/ANCHOR: Organizers of the annual Fox Mike Hotel portable
operations challenge are making the event available to any group
wanting to host the contest, which was founded on the concept of
leveling the playing field for operators by the use of Km-per-watt
scoring and golf-like handicapping rules. The Steering Committee
believes its approach, methods and rules can be used as-is or adjusted
as needed, although the name of the event must be retained.

Details about how to get started are in the September/October 2021
issue of the National Contesting Journal, which is free as a digital
download to all ARRL members.

(FRANK HOWELL K4FMH)

**

FM BROADCAST INTERFERENCE HALTED AT DUTCH AIRPORT

PAUL/ANCHOR: The latest incident of broadcast interference with air
traffic controllers has been halted in the Netherlands. Jeremy Boot
G4NJH brings us that story.

JEREMY: Dutch authorities have closed down the radio interference from
an FM broadcaster that was disrupting communications between pilots and
air traffic controllers at an Amsterdam airport. A report on the
website of the Dutch national amateur radio society VERON said that the
FM transmissions were from a licenced broadcaster but were in violation
because the music was being broadcast on the aviation band. Air Traffic
Control of the Netherlands said the transmitter has since been shut
down. No information was given about any sanctions and the broadcaster
was not identified.

According to the report, the violation posed a risk but no planes were
in immediate danger during that period.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(VERON, SOUTHGATE)

**
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO AID RADIO TRANSCRIPTION FOR MILITARY

PAUL/ANCHOR: In Australia, one project is studying how artificial
intelligence can aid radio transcription for the military. Graham Kemp
VK4BB brings us the details.

GRAHAM: The Australian Army is working to simplify some areas of its
radio communications through the help of a collaborative effort with
Microsoft. The programme relies on artificial intelligence, or AI, to
automate communications transcription and analysis. The military is
hoping the end result will be greater situational awareness and a
higher level of tactical decision-making.

A December 16th report by the Microsoft News Center said the first
priority will be the analysis of radio voice communications, providing searchable text transcripts that military commanders can refer to and
glean enhanced situational awareness to assist in their
decision-making. Part of that effort is to use AI to identify sender,
recipient and other key message parameters which will help sort out the transcription process properly.

Brigadier Ian Langford, director general of the Future Land Warfare
Branch told Microsoft: [quote] "Employing artificial intelligence tools
through a reliable, secure and resilient platform to consolidate
battlefield communications is an important step toward the creation of
a decision support engine to create decision advantage in the future." [endquote]

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(MICROSOFT NEWS)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, be listening for members of the West Bengal Radio
Club, VU2WB, in India operating with the special callsign AU2GSI from
Sagar Island, AS-153, between the 9th and the 16th of January. The
activation coincides with the Gangasaga Mela Celebration. Be listening
on 40, 20 and 15 metres. Send QSLs via eQSL.

Jacques, F6HMJ, is on the air in southern Senegal as 6W7/F6HMJ through
to February 22nd. Listen for him on 40-10 metres where he will be using
CW and SSB. Send QSLs to his home call.

There's still time to work Andrea HB9DUR who is using the callsign
EX0DX from Kyrgyzstan. He is there until the 10th of January. Listen on
various HF bands. QSL to his home call, or via LoTW, Club Log OQRS
oreQSL.

A small team of operators will be on Friars Island, SA-023, Brazil from
January 20th to the 23rd. Listen for ZY6A. The team will be operating
on various HF bands. QSL details are on QRZ.COM

The Bouvet Island 3Y0J DXpedition recently announced some replacements
in its team. Cezar VE3LYC and Otis NP4G have come on board for the
November trip, which is going ahead after the departure of Sandro
VE7NY, Laci HA0NAR and Dima RA9USU. The team expects to be on the
island for three weeks.

(DX-WORLD.NET, 3Y0J WEBSITE)

**
KICKER: THIS SHOPPING LIST INCLUDED A SURPRISE QSO

PAUL/ANCHOR: You never know what's going to happen when you call CQ.
One ham in Tennessee found out that if you do it in an unlikely place,
using an unlikely method, you may just be surprised at what happens.
Here's Skeeter Nash N5ASH with our final story for the week.

SKEETER: There was no doubt about it: Bill Price K4FLH was calling CQ
and the sound of his Morse Code practice could be heard loud and clear, everywhere. In this case, "everywhere" turned out to be the inside of
the huge Walmart store where he was shopping. Instead of using a keyer,
Bill was practicing his CW using the small high-pitched electronic horn
that's attached to the riding cart that the store provides for disabled shoppers like him. The horn is there to warn other shoppers of the
cart's approach.

Bill told Newsline he's been practicing that way since the summer and
he never once thought anything would come of it except improved code
practice -- that is, until late December. Bill wrote on Facebook that
to his surprise, that day his Morse message caught the ear of another
shopper: a fellow ham also using a cart with a horn. What followed was
a 10-minute QSO between the two. It ended when they agreed to meet up
at the checkout for an eyeball QSO.

Bill not only got his shopping list completed - he ended up with
something that wasn't on his list. He wrote [quote] "I now have a new
friend." [endquote]

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Skeeter Nash N5ASH.

(BILL PRICE K4FLH)

**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amanda Alden K1DDN; the ARRL; the BBC;
Bill Price K4FLH; CQ Magazine; David Behar K7DB; DX-World.net; Frank
Howell, K4FMH; Market Research Telecast; Microsoft News; QRZ.com; Radio Amateurs of Canada; Southgate Amateur Radio News; the Spokesman
newspaper; shortwaveradio.de; the 3Y0J website; VERON; Wireless
Institute of Australia; 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 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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