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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2300 for Friday November 26th, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2300 with a release date of Friday November 26th, 2021 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Belgium cancels its ham radio exams. Grants
help fortify emergency radio networks in the Caribbean - and the
meaning of gratitude, even if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving. All
this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2300 comes your
way right now.

***
BILLBOARD CART

**
BELGIUM CANCELS AMATEUR EXAMS

JIM/ANCHOR: COVID-19 has once again cancelled amateur radio
examinations in Belgium. Ed Durrant DD5LP brings us the details.

ED: As dramatically rising coronavirus cases in Belgium spurred
authorities to fortify public health restrictions, the Belgian
regulator, the BIPT, has announced that all amateur radio examinations
are being cancelled until the new year. The news was posted on the
website of the UBA, the membership organisation known as the Royal
Union of Belgian Radio Amateurs.

Amateurs in Belgium do not have the option of taking the exams online
and the BIPT declared that sufficient air circulation in the
examination rooms cannot be assured so that tests can be given safely.

This is the second cancellation of exams since the start of the
pandemic. The regulator made a similar announcement in October of 2020,
citing the same concerns for candidates and examiners. Exams did not
resume until this past spring.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.

(UBA website, SOUTHGATE)

**
SOTA ENTHUSIASTS ACTIVATE DURING JAPANESE VIRTUAL HAMFEST

JIM/ANCHOR: When volunteers built a virtual hamfest after the
cancellation of Tokyo Ham Fair, they used the platform Zoom. That
inspired another group of volunteers to offer a complementary activity
at the same time on November 13th - only this group used a
higher-altitude platform: four of Japan's summits. Jason Daniels VK3LAW
picks up the story from here.

JASON: If you've already seen the YouTube video for the Virtual Ham
Festa 2021, you already know about the four live-streamed SOTA
activations that became part of the excitement on November 13th. The activations ranged from Tetsuya JL1SDA atop the 1-point summit
Kannonyama to Kazuhiro 7N1FRE on the 10-point summit, Takayama.
According to a report from Waka JG0AWE on the SOTA Reflector, the two
hams, along with Kiichi JS2VVH and Satoru JG1BOK, decided the live
webcast would add excitement to the free, all-volunteer event and help
share their devotion to scaling the heights. You can watch it on the
Virtual Hamfest 2021 YouTube channel and even without understanding
Japanese, you'll quickly comprehend that this kind of enthusiasm needs
no translation.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(SOTA REFLECTOR)

**
REGISTRATION TO BEGIN FOR VIRTUAL HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY

JIM/ANCHOR: In the US, hams are preparing the 23rd edition of Ham Radio University which will once again be held virtually. Registration for
the full day of forums begins in December. HRU is set to take place on
the GoToWebinar platform on January 8th. For details as the agenda
develops, visit hamradiouniversity.org

(HRU)

**
US VIRGIN ISLANDS BUILDING STRONGER RADIO SYSTEMS

JIM/ANCHOR: The US Virgin Islands are often on the receiving end of
serious storm damage - but radio operators there are now on the
receiving end of some funds and some hope. John Williams VK4JJW brings
us that story.

JOHN: In 2017, the hero of the moment in the US Virgin Islands was the
solitary amateur radio repeater that survived two Category 5
hurricanes, allowing emergency responders limited communication between agencies and the heavily impacted islands. Hams in St. Croix had also
organized a first-responders net on HF â-" but hurricanes Irma and
Maria had destroyed the region's power grid as well as antenna towers.
The government had no use of its land-mobile-radio system either.

Now the Virgin Islands have a new hero of the moment: a $27,955 grant
from Amateur Radio Digital Communications to provide a more robust
means for radio response during future disasters. The Virgin Islands
Amateur Radio Group in St. Croix will use the funds to buy
commercial-grade antennas and backup repeaters, as well as manuals to
train a new influx of amateurs for preparedness. The group's president
Fred Kleber, K9VV/NP2X, said in a press release that the priority will
be to bolster the ham radio systems and add digital communications. He
called it [quote] "a new chapter for new and future territory
amateurs." [endquote]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams VK4JJW.

(DAN ROMANCHIK KB6NU)

**
GRANT TO STRENGTHEN AMATEUR NETWORK IN HAITI

JIM/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, in another part of the Caribbean, $14,864 in
ARDC funds are going to the Haiti International Friendship Amateur
Radio Club which will work with the Radio Club d'Haiti to establish an
HF emergency communications network comprising six locations in cities
on the island nation. The grant will cover the cost of a small
generator, power supply, wire antenna and an HF transceiver for each of
the six stations put together by the HIFARC. The need for this network
became apparent after Haiti was struck by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake
this past August. (QRZ.COM, DAN ROMANCHIK KB6NU)

**
GET READY FOR ORLANDO HAMCATION

JIM/ANCHOR: Are you ready for the national convention at the Orlando
Hamcation? It's only a few weeks away, as Stephen Kinford N8WB tellsus.

STEPHEN: Early registration has begun for the ARRL's National
Convention in Orlando, Florida, and the early bird rate of $75 in US
Currency is in effect through December 15th. The convention opens on
Thursday, February 10, 2022, with all-day workshops and a luncheon
featuring ARRL CEO David Minster NA2AA as the keynote speaker. The
workshops will include Technology Academy, Emergency Communications
Academy, Contest University, Winlink and Hands-On Handbook, a
step-by-step walk through the topics in the ARRL Handbook.

HamCation, which is one of the biggest amateur radio conventions in the
US, continues on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - that's February, 11th,
12th and 13th. It's taking place at the Central Florida Fairgrounds and
Expo Park in Orlando. This year marks the 75th anniversary of
HamCation. Additional details on workshops and other activities can be
found at hamcation.com

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford N8WB.

(ARRL)

**
FCC OKS FIRST FM-CAPABLE CB RADIOS FOR US MARKET

JIM/ANCHOR: The US market could soon be seeing its first FM-capable
citizens band radios. Here's Sel Embee KB3TZD with more on that.

SEL: The FCC has given its first OK for the manufacture of an
FM-capable citizens band radio in the US market. President Electronics,
of Naples, Florida, was given the go-ahead to introduce the model known
as the President Thomas FCC to US consumers. Authorization was granted
on November 10th, allowing operation between 26.965 MHz and 27.405 MHz
with a maximum output of 4 watts. The FCC acted after the radio was
certified by Timco Engineering, a Florida company under contract to act
on the agency's behalf.

This past summer, the FCC approved FM as an option for citizens
bandusers.

The SWLing Post said on its website that it was unclear how soon the
radios might be in distribution.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Sel Embee KB3TZD.

(FCC, SWLING POST)

**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the K3PSG repeater in Butler, Pennsylvania at 2 a.m. and 8 p.m. on
Tuesdays.

**

IARU GIVES HIGH HONORS TO THREE FOR LEADERSHIP

JIM/ANCHOR: It's not every year that the International Amateur Radio
Union's Administrative Council honors a ham with an award bearing the
name of a much-admired and respected Silent Key. This year, however,
there is a recipient - and two other honorees. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has
the details.

JEREMY: IARU Region 1 president Don Beattie G3BJ, a former president of
the Radio Society of Great Britain, has another title to his name now: Recipient of the Michael J Owen VK3KI Award, recognizing volunteer contributions that the IARU called reflective of the spirit of Michael
Owen's four decades of service.

The IARU also chose two recipients for its Diamond Award, another
honour reflecting unwavering service. They are Gopal Madhavan
VU2GMN/M0GDB, and Ken Yamamoto JA1CJP. Gopal was selected based on his
service on Region 3's executive committee which he has chaired at
times. Likewise, Ken has served as its secretary and its chairman.

Michael Owen, who had served as president of the Wireless Institute of Australia, had also been a director and the chairman of IARU Region 3
and held numerous other roles over the years, contributing to the World Administrative Radio Conference in 1970 and the World
Radiocommunication Conference in 2003. He became a Silent Key in
September 2012.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(SOUTHGATE, IARU)

**

YOUNGEST AMATEURS READY FOR YOTA MONTH

JIM/ANCHOR: With the arrival of December, some of the youngest voices
in amateur radio will be calling QRZ. Neil Rapp WB9VPG tells us what's happening.

NEIL: The calendar may show that next month is December but the amateur
radio calendar calls it something else: YOTA month. Next month's 31
days are devoted to encouraging youngsters around the world to get on
the air using the letters Y O T A as their suffix in their callsigns. International YOTA stations will be calling QRZ with operators in their
teens and early 20s. Be listening for ZS9YOTA from South Africa,
5B4YOTA from Cyprus, OD5YOTA from Lebanon and K8Y, K8O, K8T, and K8A
from the US. There are many others and the bands are expected to be
busy as the young radio operators vie for various awards and plaques.

Hams making contacts with these YOTA stations are advised, as always,
to remember that they might just be that young radio operator's first
contact â-" so make it memorable.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG.

(YOTA)

**
RECORD DEAL IS MUSIC TO HAM'S EARS

JIM/ANCHOR: An English rock musician who also happens to be a ham has
just signed a record deal that's music to his ears. Jeremy Boot G4NJH
brings us that story.

JEREMY: As a ham, Dave Rowntree M0IEG, is used to being in the shack,
operating solo. Now he's getting a chance to make a solo debut on the
air in a different way. Known as the percussionist with the English
rock group Blur, Dave has just been signed by a recording label for a
debut solo album. Dave has already done a number of film and TV scores, including those for Netflix and the BBC, but the album's release next
year on the label Cooking Vinyl is going to be all his own show. Music
Week reported the deal on November 17th on its website, where Dave said [quote]: "As a kid I used to spend hours spinning the dial on my radio, dreaming of escape to all the places whose exotic stations I heard.
I've tried to make an album like that - tuning through the spectrum,
stopping at each song telling a story about a turning point in my life,
then spinning the dial and moving on." [endquote] Congratulations,Dave.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(MUSICWEEK.COM, SOUTHGATE)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the world of DX, be listening for 10 special event stations on the
air to commemorate the 13th anniversary of Tangerang Selatan City in
Indonesia. The callsigns include: 8H13H, 8H13U, 8H13T and 8G13T, among
others. An award is available. Check QRZ.com for details.

Be listening for the Holy Land DX Group, HDXG, operating from Rwanda
with the callsign 9X4X until December 1st. Listen for them on 160
through 10 metres where operators will be using CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8.
They may also operate via satellite. Operators are expected to be
active in the CQWW DX CW Contest on November 27th and 28th. Send QSLs
to Ruben, 4Z5FI, direct, by the Bureau, or using ClubLog's OQRS.

Brian, ND3F, is using the callsign C6AQQ from Nassau, New Providence
Island in the Bahamas. He will be on the air during the CQWW DX CW
Contest and afterward until December 7th. Outside of the contest,
listen for Brian on FT8. Send QSLs to EA5GL.

Operators with the Budapest Radio Amateur Society are on the HF bands
until December 16th using the callsign HG5PLANET. They are celebrating
the "The Nature Friendly Development - Sustainability Expo" in
Budapest. E-QSLs are requested.

(OHIO PENN DX)

**
KICKER: THANKFUL IN BRAZIL FOR AMATEUR RADIO

JIM/ANCHOR: Here in the United States, where Newsline is produced,
households were marking the holiday of Thanksgiving, a time for
reflection and gratitude. Our final story comes from Brazil, where
Thanksgiving may not be observed at all, but the giving of thanks for
amateur radio is certainly foremost on the minds of the surviving
firefighters who had been buried in a cave in late October during a
training exercise north of Sao Paolo. According to the Associated
Press, 16 of the 27 were trapped and 9 died after the roof of the cave collapsed. Search and rescue operations went forward with the help of
civil defense and, yes, amateur radio. According to a translated post
from the LABRE, the Brazilian national society, that appeared on
Southgate Amateur Radio News, the hams of the Sao Paolo State Amateur
Emergency Network, provided vital communication links between the
command post and workers in the rescue area. With no telephone or
internet at their disposal, the hams knew that amateur radio and their repeaters would serve as vital lifelines -- and that's a kind of
thanksgiving too, after all.

(ABC NEWS, SOUTHGATE, ASSOCIATED PRESS)

**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to the ABC News; the ARDC; ARRL; Associated
Press; CQ Magazine; CNN; David Behar K7DB; Ham Radio University; Ohio
Penn DX; QRZ.com; Oregon Ham-WAN; Radio Society of Great Britain; the
Shortwave Listening Post; the SOTA Reflector; the IARU; Southgate
Amateur Radio News; shortwaveradio.de; the UBA; YOTA; 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 Jim Damron N8TMW in Charleston, West
Virginia saying 73. As always we thank you for listening.

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

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