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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2307 for Friday January 14th, 2022

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2307 with a release date of Friday
January 14th, 2022 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. The pandemic cancels a major DX convention.
Amateurs prep for Winter Field Day -- and an Olympic achievement for
amateur radio. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report
Number 2307 comes your way right now.

**
COVID CONCERNS SCRAP INTERNATIONAL DX CONVENTION

NEIL/ANCHOR: We begin this week with news of yet another
pandemic-related cancellation. Responding to concern over the
unprecedented upsurge in COVID-19 cases, organizers of the
International DX Convention in Visalia, California have called off the
annual event which is considered one of the premier amateur radio DX conventions. It was to have been held beginning April 8th, hosted by
the Southern California DX Club and the Northern California DX Club.
The announcement was made by cochairs Bill Kendrick, N6RV, and Mel
Hughes, K6SY. For details, visit dxconvention.org

(DXCONVENTION.ORG)

**
WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE DEPLOYS KEY REFLECTOR

NEIL/ANCHOR: Anyone watching the progress of the James Webb Space
Telescope now has a whole lot more to see -- and so does the telescope
itself! Kent Peterson KC0DGY brings us up to date.

KENT: Having "unfolded" the reflector that is central to its operation
as history's largest orbital observatory, the James Webb Space
Telescope now waits next to unfold the secrets of the universe. The $10
billion telescope will use its 21-foot gold-coated reflector to explore
the cosmos, most especially tracing the first stars to form in the
hundred million years following the creation of the universe. NASA
heralded it as a "major milestone."

Saturday's process completed the unfolding, which was done in stages on
January 7th and 8th.

You can see an animation of what occurred in space on YouTube. A link
to the video appears in this week's text version of the Newsline
script.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

[FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzGLKQ7_KZQ]

(BBC, SOUTHGATE, NASA)

**
AMATEURS PREP FOR WINTER FIELD DAY

NEIL/ANCHOR: It's January and that means, for those of us in the
Northern Hemisphere, Winter Field Day. Andy Morrison K9AWM explains how
to get in on the action.

ANDY: Get ready for Winter Field Day 2022, which is happening worldwide
on January 29th and 30th. As the organizers state on their website,
being ready for emergency communications isn't just an exercise done
when the sun is shining and the weather is mild. In the Northern
Hemisphere, where temperatures can easily drop below freezing this time
of year and snow and ice can complicate the scenario, hams are
preparing to operate using a variety of permissible modes with CW, SSB,
DMR, PSK among them. Winter Field Day rules prohibit operation on FT8
or FT4, however. QRP and LOW are the only power category choices this
year, with operators using 100 watts or less. For a look at the rules
and the logging instructions, visit winterfieldday dot com, that's
winterfield day - one word - dotcom. (winterfieldday.com)

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison K9AWM.

**
US TECH CLASS EXAM GETS NEW QUESTION POOL

NEIL/ANCHOR: Do you know someone who is a candidate for the US
Technician Class license? They have until July 1st to test under the
current pool of questions. A new pool of 412 test questions has been
released by the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators
and it takes effect from that date. The conference's Question Pool
Committee decided to reduce the number of questions by 11, eliminating
62 questions and introducing 51 new ones. These questions will be used
for the next four years. The conference describes the questions' level
of difficulty as being more balanced, adding that updates have been
made to questions about certain techniques and practices.

The questions are available for download as PDF or JPG files on the
National Conference website. Find the URL in the text version of this
newscast at arnewsline.org.

[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ: http://www.ncvec.org/page.php?id=373 ]

(NCVEC, SOUTHGATE)

**
SILENT KEY: MIKE SUBOCZ, VK3AVV/VK3JV, DEVELOPER OF LOGGING SOFTWARE

NEIL/ANCHOR: An amateur whose talents and generosity were widely known
by contesters in Australia and beyond has become a Silent Key. We hear
about him from John Williams VK4JJW.

JOHN: Mike Subocz VK3AVV/VK3JV was known locally as an active and
valued member of the Eastern and Mountain District Radio Club VK3ER,
where he was recently awarded a life membership -- but in the larger
world of amateur radio he was appreciated even more for his support of contesters and those involved in special events everywhere. Mike became
a Silent Key on the 5th of January, as reported by one of his close
friends Peter Forbes VK3QI.

Mike was the author of the widely used VKCL contest logging software, a
free program that became a mainstay for a number of events in
Australia, including the VHF-UHF Field Days of the Wireless Institute
of Australia. The program had been in use for more than 20 years. Roger Harrison VK2ZRH, Australia's Amateur Radio magazine editor in chief
recalled how he and Mike worked side by side since 2014 as managers of
those Field Days. The software's ease of use and versatility made it particularly appreciated by contest managers as well as participants.

The Wireless Institute of Australia noted on its Facebook page: [quote]
"Mike leaves behind a tremendous legacy of his hard and dedicated work
and his love for Amateur Radio." [endquote]

The Eastern and Mountain District club announced on its webpage that
all stations in the VHF/UHF contest on January 15 will observe a
one-minute silence in Mike's memory. The contest will therefore start
at 0101 UTC.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm John Williams VK4JJW.

(EMDRC WEBSITE, WIA, ROGER HARRISON VK2ZRH)

**
SILENT KEY: SAIF SHAHID, S21A, BANGLADESH LEAGUE FOUNDER

NEIL/ANCHOR: An influential amateur who helped change the role of ham
radio in Bangladesh has become a Silent Key. With that report, here's
Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: The founder of the Bangladesh Amateur Radio League and the
first licensed amateur of that nation has become a Silent Key. Saif
Shahid S21A died on the 10th of January in the United States. He had
been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and had other medical issues,
according to league members. In recent years, Saif lived in New Mexico
and held the callsign KF6WJZ. He also held the callsign G1NWJ when he
had lived in the UK. He was 75.

Saif led the Bangladesh league which he helped to create in May 1979.
In 1991 he successfully pressed the nation's government to support
amateur radio for emergency communications. The league was admitted
into the IARU in 1982.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(QRZ, BARL FACEBOOK PAGE)

**
1ST INTERNATIONAL WINNER OF EDUCATOR AWARD

NEIL/ANCHOR: The Carole Perry Educator of the Year Award to be
presented at this year's Orlando HamCation has its first international
winner. We hear more from Jack Parker W8ISH.

JACK: Combining cutting-edge technology with amateur radio, Dick
Fijlstra PA0DFN has a strong reputation for guiding students in
electronics and communication projects. However, the retired school
principal has not limited his work to classrooms in The Netherlands,
however. One of his best-known international school projects is called Communication Helps International Programs, or CHIP, which has
attracted schools throughout Europe. Dick has also been heavily
involved in the transmitter-hunting activities and competitions of the
European Youth ARDF Championships. Dick himself is an avid participant
in ARDF events.

Dick was chosen as the latest winner of the honor, which was created in
2018 to recognize educators whose work promotes amateur radio and radio science. Carole Perry, WB2MGP, was the first recipient of the award,
which bears the name of the New York-based educator.

Dick will be honored at Orlando HamCation in Florida on February 10th
through 13th. Congratulations, Dick!

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker W8ISH.

(ARRL)

**
CLUB CREATES MAP TO CONNECT HAMS IN CANADA

NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams in Canada have a new resource to help them locate
other radio operators, as we hear from Sel Embee KB3TZD.

SEL: The Georgian Bay Amateur Radio Club VE3OSR in Canada is offering a
way for hams to reconnect with one another through clubs, especially if
they have lost touch during the pandemic. Clubs throughout Canada, from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, are now shown on a colorful map display
which is free online for all hams' reference. The Georgian Bay amateurs
are encouraging other clubs in Canada to add themselves to the map,
which can be done by using the button labeled "CONTACT" on the bottom
of the web page containing the map. Visit gbarc dot ca stroke clubs dot
php (gbarc.ca/clubs.php)

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Sel Embee KB3TZD.

(GEORGIAN BAY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB)

**

YOUNG AMATEURS' WINNING ESSAYS AVAILABLE ONLINE

NEIL/ANCHOR: Congratulations to Silas Davis, W3SED; Olivia Lee, KD2UYX;
and Isaac Schmidt, K6IAS. The three youngsters wrote the winning essays
in the Intrepid-DX Group's second annual Youth 'Dream Rig' Contest.
Hams from around the United States who are 19 years old or younger were eligible. Silas, the first place winner, is 9.

This year's contest took place with the help of funding from Amateur
Radio Digital Communications. The youngsters were asked to address the
question of how amateur radio can evolve to remain relevant in the
internet age.

You can find the winning essays on the ARDC webpage. The link is
provided in the text version of this week's newscast script at
arnewsline.org. In announcing the winners previously, Paul Ewing,
N6PSE, president of the Intrepid-DX Group, said the essays were [quote] "brimming with enthusiasm to keep our hobby alive well into the
future." [endquote]

[FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ: https://tinyurl.com/23paapwp]

(AMPR.ORG)

**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the KB9LPP repeater in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin on Saturdays at 9 a.m. and
on Echolink.

**
PARKS ON THE AIR TALLIES UP ITS 2021 CONTACTS

NEIL/ANCHOR: Parks on the Air activators and chasers had a busy year in
2021. Vance Martin N3VEM gives us the year's numbers.

VANCE: In Parks on the Air News, with 2021 now in the books, Parks on
the Air would like to thank the nearly 4,000 activators, and 122,000
hunters who combined forces to make over 2.6 million contacts from over
10,000 parks in 45 different DXCC entities for 2021.

Of particular note, we would like to congratulate Bill, K4NYM who
completed 1,260 activations for the year and David, NG5E who activated
421 different parks. Congratulations are also due to Gene, NT2A who
hunted 5,458 parks, and Joe, N3XLS who made 11,467 hunter QSOs in 2021.

We also want to give special acknowledgment to two hunters, N5HA,
Kenneth Bailey, and W9AV, Clint Sprott, who managed to hunt at least
one park every day in 2021. There are several folks including myself
who are going to attempt the same feat in 2022, so stay tuned to the
monthly POTA updates to see how the 2022 Bailey-Sprott Park-a-Day
challenge is progressing, or follow along on twitter on instagram using
the hashtags #baileysprott and #parkaday

This is November 3 Victor Echo Mike with your 2021 December and Year
End Parks on the Air Update. Be sure to visit parksontheair.com for information about the program, and pota.app for spotting, park
information, leader boards, and more.

(POTA)

**
PRIDE RADIO GROUP TO HOST FIRST CONTEST

NEIL/ANCHOR: Pride Radio Group, an Australian group with an
international membership, is getting ready to host its first contest.
Luke Erlacher VK3UKW brings us that story.

LUKE: Pride Radio Group has been a home and a champion for
underrepresented groups in amateur radio for a little more than a year
and we are now planning our first contest.

The international CQ Pride contest will run through the first weekend
of June to celebrate Pride Month 2022.

The contest is open to all amateurs worldwide as single or multi
operator entries with bonus points for working diversity oriented
amateur radio groups, newly licensed amateurs, and low-power operation.

Some details such as log submission are still being finalised but mark
June 4 to June 6 on your calendars.

Pride Radio Group is an international group that aims to further
acceptance and inclusion for underrepresented groups in amateur radio.

This has been Luke VK3UKW for Pride Radio Group VK3PRG.


NEIL/ANCHOR: Find the contest rules in the text version of this week's
Newsline script. [FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ: https://prideradio.group/contest]

(PRIDE RADIO GROUP)

**
DXING COMES TO THE DESERT AT QUARTZFEST

NEIL/ANCHOR: As amateurs gear up for the big Quartzfest gathering in
Arizona, some hams are ready to go the distance -- the biggest distance
they can. Here's Ralph Squillace KK6ITB with the details.

RALPH: Think of the upcoming competition as "DXing in the desert,"
because that's just what it is -- and think of two of the contest's
past winners, such as Fred Scully, K0VK, and Richard McGaver, NK9G, as
being ready to rumble later this month. It's all friendly fun, really,
which is what amateur radio and camping out in Arizona's Sonora Desert
should be. During the one-week ham radio event known as QuartzFest, a
small but active club known as the Northern Arizona DX Association is challenging everyone there to see just how far their signals can reach
while operating out among the tall cacti. The founder of the Distance Challenge, Bob Wertz, NF7E, said this will be the DX challenge's third
year: He was inspired to suggest it after he attended QuartzFest in
2018 and with the help of co-chairman Ron Gerlak, KG7OH, the club made
it happen. This year, QuartzFest takes place between the 23rd and the
29th of January. The challenge itself will take place on the three
days: Monday, January 24th; Tuesday, January 25th; and Thursday,
January 27th. Be there - or at least, be listening. You could be the
next big DX that makes someone a winner.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ralph Squillace KK6ITB. (BOB WERTZ,NF7E)

**
HAMSCI WORKSHOP GETS GRANT, SEEKS PRESENTERS

NEIL/ANCHOR: The National Science Foundation has just given a grant to
HamSCI, which is meanwhile looking for presenters for its March
workshop. Kevin Trotman N5PRE brings us that story.

KEVIN: Congratulations to Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, founder of the Ham
Radio Science Citizen Investigation, or HamSCI, on being selected to
receive a National Science Foundation grant of nearly $50,000 toward
HamSCI's next workshop in March. The workshop will be held at the US
Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama on the 18th and 19th of
March and will feature in-person as well as virtual activities. Its
focus this year is HamSCI's Personal Space Weather Station project,
which was previously granted $1.3million from the National Science
Foundation. One of the project's goals is to gauge the impact weather
has on upper levels of the Earth's atmosphere. The findings are
expected to rely heavily on input from amateur radio operators.

Meanwhile, the workshop is calling for abstracts from prospective
presenters. Abstracts should be submitted no later than February 1st
and successful speaker candidates will be notified by February 16th. To
submit an abstract, upload the document using the button that can found
at hamsci dot org stroke hamsci2022 (hamsci.org/hamsci2022)

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

(HamSCI)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the world of DX, be listening for Felix, DL5XL, who has ben
operating as DP1POL since late December from Neumayer III (NOY-MEYER
THREE) Station in Antarctica. Both Felix and Theresa, DC1TH, will be on
the air until mid-February, mainly on 15 metres and 30 metres, using CW
and FT8. The station is expecting the arrival of Karsten, DM2KX, by the
middle of this month.

The Norwegian amateur radio society, the NRRL, is marking its 100 year anniversary. Be listening throughout the year for operators on the air
from the club station in Totland, to the south east of Bergen, using
the callsign LA100B. Hams will be using a variety of modes on HF and
6m. During contests, the operators will use the callsign LN1B.

The HD8M DXpedition team has cancelled its trip to the Galapagos
Islands which was scheduled for March. The announcement expressed
members' concerns over the spread of the coronavirus and in particular
its impact on Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. With many of the
operators needing to travel through various airports and more than one
country, the team has opted to look for another date when conditions
are safer.

(DX-WORLD.NET, IRTS)

**
KICKER: WHEN A HAM HAS THE METTLE FOR A MEDAL

NEIL/ANCHOR: With the Winter Olympics only weeks away in Beijing, it's
only natural to think about past challenges and triumphs. We end with a
story about one Olympic event that involved - what else? - amateur
radio. Mike Askins KE5CXP explains.

MIKE: If you called Bob Josuweit WA3PZO an Olympian among amateurs, you wouldn't be wrong. During the traditional Olympic Torch Relay that
heralded the start of the 1980 Winter Olympics here in the United
States, Bob and Robert Strickland, WA3HWZ, were among the area hams
providing local, mid-range and long-distance communication as the torch
made its way north from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia to the
opening ceremonies in Lake Placid, New York. Bob told Newsline that
some hams rode in the vehicles following the flame's path, ensuring the
runners arrived on time at various ceremonies along the 1,000-mile
route. Locally, members of the Holmesburg Amateur Radio Club were
stationed at various locations along that part of the route through Pennsylvania. In all, he said, there were about 20 hams involved to
meet the challenge of this on-the-road communications network.

Now, Bob didn't play much sports in his younger days and is more
accustomed to the kinds of "relays" you find on an HF Net, but he did
receive a Bronze Participation Medal from the Olympics organizers for
his efforts. Then, in 1984, when Los Angeles hosted the Summer
Olympics, he was called upon to provide technical support there as
well. As everyone knows, the best Olympic coaches are Olympic
medaliststoo.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Mike Askins KE5CXP.

(BOB JOSUWEIT, WA3PZO)

**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to the the ARRL; the BBC; Bangladesh
Amateur Radio League; Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO; Bob Wertz, NF7E; CQ
Magazine; David Behar K7DB; DX-World.net; Eastern and Mountain District
Radio Club; HamSCI; IRTS; NASA; National Conference of Volunteer
Examiner Coordinators; Pride Radio Group; QRZ.com; Roger Harrison,
VK2ZRH; Southgate Amateur Radio News; shortwaveradio.de; Wireless
Institute of Australia; Winter Field Day; 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 youall.

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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