• Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2304 for Friday December 24th, 2021

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    Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2304 for Friday December 24th, 2021

    Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2304 with a release date of Friday December 24th, 2021 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

    The following is a QST. A first-time activation of a South Pacific
    Island. A solar probe 'touches' the sun -- and Newsline's annual
    Christmas card to our listeners. All this and more as Amateur Radio
    Newsline Report Number 2304 comes your way right now.

    ***

    BILLBOARD CART

    **
    NEW IOTA ACTIVATED BY TEAM FROM INDIA

    DON/ANCHOR: We begin this week's report with a group of adventurous DXpeditioners. They have succeeded in activating a new Island on the
    Air in the South Pacific, in a quest worthy of the 19th century science
    fiction masterwork, "Mysterious Island" by Jules Verne. Here's Graham
    Kemp VK4BB.

    GRAHAM: It is not science fiction, but radio fact, that the Manic
    Monkeys team of radio operators made a 600 kilometre journey this month
    from Bangalore, India to Sao Jorge Island, designated AS-177 by IOTA, activating the remote island for the first time. They had gone in
    search of the fictional Lincoln Island that appears in Jules Verne's
    classic novels but the adventuresome hams with the callsign AT7SJ were
    also in search of QSOs. Between December 3rd and December 6th, they
    logged 1,600 such contacts on SSB, CW and FT-8, while camped in
    difficult terrain, according to team leader Madhu Prasad, VU3NPI. Madhu
    told Newsline of other discoveries: [quote] "The island had mysterious propagation conditions: the signals would go up and down like the tide
    and mysteriously close abruptly on all bands with S9 noise." [endquote]

    Madhu said that the team had been landlocked in India for two years by
    the pandemic and were still grieving the loss of the team's Elmer, Dev
    VU2DEV, to cardiac arrest. Now they can proudly add this uninhabited,
    thickly forested, island to their earlier activations of St. Mary's
    Island AS-096 and Danushkodi Island AS-173.

    Madhu told Newsline that the team unfortunately did not find mysterious
    Lincoln Island, nor did they locate the Aquaphone, the fictional
    wireless device used by Jules Verne's protagonist, Capt. Nemo. They're
    leaving that quest - and Lincoln Island - for 2022.

    For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Graham Kemp VK4BB.

    (MADHU PRASAD, VU3NPI)

    **
    NASA SOLAR PROBE 'TOUCHES' THE SUN

    DON/ANCHOR: With Solar Cycle 25 upon us, who isn't even a little bit
    obsessed with the sun? So this news from NASA is well-timed, as we hear
    from Neil Rapp WB9VPG.

    NEIL: NASA has announced a milestone moment in the life of the Parker
    Solar Probe: this year it reached the corona of the sun, a move into
    the solar atmosphere that is expected to yield more - and more detailed
    - insights into space weather. The US space agency is commenting only
    now on the achievement, which happened last spring, three years after
    the probe's launch, following the publication of a recent paper in the
    Physical Review Letter, which discussed the latest chapter of the
    Parker probe's journey. NASA said the probe's entry into the super-hot
    corona meant it was [quote] "flying into the eye of a storm."
    [endquote] Once there, it studied solar wind and examined magnetic
    patterns known as "switchbacks" which have their origins on the surface
    of the sun itself. The paper's lead author, Justin Kasper, was quoted
    by National Public Radio, as saying that entry into the corona lasted
    for several hours and was an expected and much-anticipated occurrence.
    The probe, which is built to tolerate more than 2,000 degrees
    Fahrenheit, is expected to re-enter the corona in January of 2022.

    For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG. (NATIONAL PUBLIC
    RADIO, SPACE.COM)

    **
    OPEN SOURCE WORKSHOP AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE

    DON/ANCHOR: YouTube once again provides an opportunity for those who
    missed an amateur radio event. This one's on Open Source CubeSats.
    Here's Ed Durrant DD5LP.

    ED: If you missed a chance to attend the Open Source CubeSat Workshop
    held virtually on December 9th and 10th, you can still view the two
    days of presentations by visiting the Libre Space Foundation Channel on YouTube. This virtual workshop held on Zoom was its fifth iteration
    since its launch four years ago in Germany.

    The opening remarks by Artur Scholz, DO4ALS, of the Open Source CubeSat Workshop Committee, stressed the importance of open-source CubeSats as
    a means of conducting small space missions. Developers and mission
    operators attended the online sessions to collaborate, compare notes
    and build community. As with previous sessions, attendees participated
    as members of research institutes, businesses, learning institutes or
    as individuals.

    See the link to the two days of presentations in the text version of
    this week's script at arnewsline.org

    For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.

    [FOR PRINT: DO NOT READ, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCzrYL9QmZiR7vmiQBZYV9E2WGyDmiC3
    m]

    (AMSAT, YOUTUBE)

    **
    NEW LICENSE LEVEL PROPOSED FOR IRELAND

    DON/ANCHOR: Some changes are in the works for Ireland's amateur radio
    licenses. Jeremy Boot G4NJH brings us up to date.

    JEREMY: ComReg, the Irish telecommunications agency, plans to introduce
    a new level of amateur radio licence at either a novice or entry level, targeting younger licence candidates in particular. Ireland presently
    has only one class of ham radio licence. The recommendation is outlined
    in the agency's recent statement on a Strategy for Managing the Radio
    Spectrum from 2022 to 2024.

    ComReg describes the rationale behind the introduction of the new
    licence, which would not require full knowledge of HAREC - the
    Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate. The document further
    states that Ireland is interested in [quote] "nurturing, developing and deploying STEM talent and the availability of a novice licence would
    enable the amateur radio service to act in the national interest."
    [endquote]

    Some clarification would still be needed with respect to CEPT, which
    has separate definitions and suggested syllabi relating to Entry,
    Novice and Full licences.

    For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

    (COMREG, SOUTHGATE)

    **
    HAM INVOLVEMENT SOUGHT FOR MOON MISSION

    DON/ANCHOR: Japan's space agency is looking for hams to participate in
    the mission of a very tiny, ULTRA tiny, moon lander. John Williams
    VK4JJW tells us what's involved.

    JOHN: The JAXA Ham Radio Club JQ1ZVI has a date with the moon in
    February and is hoping to take the world's amateur radio community
    along for the ride, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, is
    looking for amateur radio operators to receive telemetry from the
    transmitters on board its 6U CubeSat, which it is calling OMOTENASHI.
    The 70cm amateur band signals will be sent from both the orbiting
    satellite and the moon lander. Described as the world's smallest moon
    lander, it will transmit on UHF only. Although there is a ground
    station in Japan at Wakayama, hams around the world will be asked to
    listen for the transmissions on 437.41 MHz.

    More details about the project and how to QSL the reception of
    transmissions can be found on the JAXA Ham Radio Club website. We are
    including a link to that in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

    For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm John Williams VK4JJW.

    [FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ: https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/omotenashi/JHRCweb/jhrc.html ]

    (JAXA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB)

    **
    CONTEST UNIVERSITY ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS

    DON/ANCHOR: Are you ready for Contest University at Dayton Hamvention?
    Well, you still have a few months before it happens of course but don't
    let that stop you from registering. Contest University takes place at
    the Hope Hotel in Dayton, Ohio, on May 19, which is the day before
    Hamvention itself opens. Returnees will notice that this is a change of
    venue. It's closer to the Hamvention site at the fairgrounds in Xenia
    and will be the home of all official contesting activities.

    You can register and get more details at the website contestuniversity
    dot 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 K5ARC repeater in Gonzales, Louisiana on Thursdays at 8:15 p.m.
    local time.

    **
    DUTCH REGULATORS CRACK DOWN ON ANTI-5G DEVICES

    DON/ANCHOR: Fearing radioactive transmissions from 5G mobile networks'
    towers, people in the Netherlands may have placed themselves in greater
    danger by wearing what they believe to be protective devices. Jeremy
    Boot G4NJH has that story.

    JEREMY: The very devices such as necklaces, bracelets and sleep masks
    that have made claims to shield people from what some fear is
    radioactivity from 5G mobile networks' towers, according to Dutch
    officials, have themselves been emitting ionising radiation at
    hazardous levels.

    A report in the BBC says that the Dutch authority for nuclear safety
    and radiation protection (ANVS) have issued a warning about the
    products, telling people there could be long term hazardous effects.
    The agency has ordered a halt to the sale of these devices.

    The BBC report quoted the World Health Organization's assertion that
    like amateur radio signals, 5G mobile networks make use of non-ionising
    radio waves that do not pose a danger, adding that they are similar to
    the 3G and 4G networks already in use.

    Some people fear damage to their DNA from such transmissions and in
    extreme cases, this has led to attacks on the transmitters and towers.

    For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

    (BBC)

    **
    ALL HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS IS SOME DX

    DON/ANCHOR: A father and son in Washington State have been celebrating
    the holiday season, ham radio style. Ralph Squillace KK6ITB has that
    report.

    RALPH: There's little question what might have been on Jacob Hoschar's Christmas list this year. The Washington State youngster had already
    celebrated having his first wish fulfilled: getting upgraded from
    Technician to General Class. That made KY7HAM a very happy 11-year-old
    indeed. Now he's ready for the world of HF and all of its adventures.
    The journey began a year ago when Jacob's school was shut during the
    pandemic. He and his father, Andrew, studied together to become hams
    together and got their licenses one week apart from one another. Their father-son journey is documented on the YouTube channel set up by proud
    father, K7OWN. One of the videos shows Jacob making his first contact
    via satellite. Now with his appetite sufficiently whetted for DX, he's
    ready to cross oceans and continents via radio and start filling that
    log. For this freshly minted General Class operator, the world is his,
    this holiday season.

    For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

    **
    WORLD OF DX

    In the World of DX, members of the Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society
    in the UK are using the following special callsigns to celebrate
    Christmas in Market Harborough and saying farewell to 2021. They'll be
    on the air through December 31st. Be listening for GB1XMS on 30 meters
    using CW; GB2XMS, on HF using SSB and FT8; GB5XMS , mainly using Data
    as well as CW and SSB; and GB9XMS, using mainly FT8. See QRZ.com for
    QSL details.

    Be listening throughout January for special event station OZ50Q. Danish
    Radio Amateurs will be marking the 50th anniversary of Her Majesty
    Margrethe II, the Queen of Denmark's, accession to the throne. Send
    QSLs to OZ1ACB, ClubLog's OQRS, eQSL or LoTW.

    Get ready for an international radio marathon called Russian New Year
    2022. The Russian Union of Radio amateurs, the Miller-DX-Club and the HAMLOG.ONLINE portal will begin the marathon starting at 0000 UTC on
    December 25th and finish at 2100 UTC on January 14th. Callsigns
    include, but are not limited to, RG22NY, RJ22NY, RK22NY, RL22NY and
    RM22NY. For the full list see the website mdxc.ru. The QSL manager for
    all the special callsigns is RQ7L.

    Bob, PY6TV, and a small team of Brazilian radio operators will be using
    the callsign ZY6A from Friars Island, Brazil, between January 20th and
    the 23rd. Listen on all HF bands for all modes.

    (OHIO PENN DX)
    **

    KICKER: NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HAM RADIO STYLE

    DON/ANCHOR: We end this newscast with a Newsline holiday tradition - a
    ham log instead of a yule log. We again offer this much-loved
    adaptation of the Clement Clarke Moore classic as read by Jim Damron
    N8TMW.

    JIM: Twas the night before Christmas and all through the shack The rig
    was turned off and the mic cord lay slack

    The antenna rotor had made its last turn, the tubes in the linear had
    long ceased to burn.

    I sat there relaxing and took off my specs, preparing to daydream of
    Armchair DX-- When suddenly outside I heard such a sound, I dashed out
    the door to see what was around.

    The moon shone down brightly and lighted the night. For sure
    propagation for the low bands was right.

    I peered toward the roof where I heard all the racket and there was
    some guy in a red, fur-trimmed jacket!

    I stood there perplexed in a manner quite giddy: Just who WAS this
    stranger? di di dah dah di dit?

    He looked very much like an FCC guy who'd come to check up on some
    badTVI.

    I shouted to him: "Old man...QR-Zed?" "Hey you by the chimney all
    dressed up in red!"

    I suddenly knew when I heard sleigh bells jingle The guy on the
    rooftop was Jolly Kris Kringle

    He had a big sack full of amateur gear which was a big load for his
    prancing reindeer. Transmitters, receivers, for cabinets and racks Some
    meters and scopes and a lot of coax.

    He said not a word 'cause he'd finished his work. He picked up his sack
    and he turned with a jerk. As he leaped to his sleigh, he shouted with
    glee And I knew in a moment he'd be QRT.

    I heard him transmit as he flew o'er the trees "Merry Christmas to all,
    and to all seventy-three."

    "Ho Ho Ho"

    Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.

    (AUTHOR UNKNOWN)

    **
    NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to AMSAT; the ARRL; the BBC; CQ Magazine;
    Comreg; Contest University; David Behar K7DB; JAXA Amateur Radio Club;
    Madhu Prasad, VU3NPI; National Public Radio; Ohio Penn DX; QR Zed.com;
    QSO Today; Radio World; Southgate Amateur Radio News; Space.com; shortwaveradio.de; YouTube; 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 Don Wilbanks AE5DW in Picayune Mississippi
    saying 73, Merry Christmas, and as always we thank you for listening.

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

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