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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2434 for Friday June 21st, 2024

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2434 with a release date of
Friday, June 21st, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. NASA's got good copy on the Voyager 1 space
probe. The US military vows to be more aware of hobbyists' balloons
--and another electronics retailer is shutting its doors. All this and
more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2434 comes your way
rightnow.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**
VOYAGER 1 BACK IN ACTION FROM DEEP SPACE

PAUL/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us into deep space. Few things are
more frustrating than not getting clear copy on a signal but when it's
being sent by Voyager 1 some 15 billion miles away and it's garbled,
it's a matter of serious concern. NASA reports that Voyager 1 is back
in action on all four instruments. Ralph Squillace tells us about it:

RALPH: Launched in 1977, NASA's deep space probe Voyager 1, had more
than outlived the space agency's expectations for a useful life.
Nonetheless when some of its transmission came in garbled last
November, NASA believed this might signal the end of usefulness for the farthest-traveling human-made spacecraft.

Scientists were wrong. Various media reports say that Voyager 1 has
returned to sending data on magnetic fields, plasma waves and
space-bound particles, just as before.

Popular Science in its June 14th report called it "the little
spacecraft that could."

That turnaround didn't happen overnight. In April, the Voyager 1 team
was able to collect some engineering data, which gave hope that the
partial fix could re-establish full functionality. In May, two of the
four equipment arrays were brought back into service. Additional
maintenance is said to be needed but on the matter of usable science
data, it is good copy all the way.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(SPACE.COM, AP, POPULAR SCIENCE)

**
BOSTON-AREA ELECTRONICS RETAILER TO SHUT AFTER 75 YEARS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Another beloved electronics retailer in the US is closing
its doors after 75 years in business. Sel Embee KB3TZD has the details.

SEL: Seventy-five years ago, businessman John Ahigian [UH-HIDGE-YUN]
opened the doors of his new business, the "You-Do-It" Electronics
Center in Needham, Massachusetts. Its highly visible neon sign was
well-known among hobbyists, and those in search of buying electronics
and electronics parts. The businessman died in 2022 at the age of 94.
But the store, which employed many of John Ahigian's family members,
continued to attract loyal shoppers.

Apparently, the draw wasn't enough: On the 13th of June, the business
sent customers an email announcing it would be shutting later thisyear.

According to the website Boston.com, which carried the news, customers
went on social media to lament the impending loss, telling stories
about how they would seek out tips, advice and spare parts at the
store. The website quoted one longtime customer, Alex Guaraldi, who
called the business [quote] "a better version of what RadioShack was
back in the day." [endquote]

The website also quoted Stuart Brorson, an electrical engineering
professor at Northeastern University, who blamed the internet for the
store's demise, saying that larger retail outlets are capable of
overnight shipping on cheaper components and equipment.

Until its doors close permanently, the store's inventory, office
furnishings and even its shelves will be offered for purchase at big
discounts.

This is Sel Embee, K-B-3-T-Zed-D.

(BOSTON.COM)

**
YASME ANNOUNCES EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS

PAUL/ANCHOR: A past winner of Newsline's International Newsmaker of the
Year award has been among those chosen for the Yasme Foundation's
Excellence Award, which recognizes exemplary operating, technical and organizational accomplishments.

Congratulations to Raisa Skrynnikova [SKREE NICK KO-VA}, R1BIG, who is
being honored by Yasme for her YouTube channel, YL Raisa, which
educates and entertains its more than 15,000 subscribers and spreads
good will by welcoming newcomers to amateur radio. Raisa was last
year's recipient of the International Newsmaker of the Year Award from Newsline.

Other winners include Randy Hall, K7AGE, who is being recognized for
his substantial library of YouTube videos and according to Yasme
"exemplifies the ham radio mentor." Rudy Severns, N6LF, is being
honored for the revisions and expansions he has accomplished in the
ARRL Antenna Book in its chapter "Effects of Ground." He is credited
with helping to open up the 630 and 2200 meter bands as the holder of
an experimental license.

Philip Gladstone, N1DQ, is being recognized for his role in
citizen-science and ham radio. The Gladstone Signal Spotting Challenge
bears his name. Philip is the creator and maintainer of the
PSKReporter.info website, also known as the Digimode Automatic
Propagation Reporter.

Finally, Paul Schreier, HB9DST, (AA1MI), is being honored for his
active role in Summits on the Air and his efforts as a board member of
the Helvetia Telegraphy Club. He is also a top organizer of many events including the World High Speed Telegraphy Championships held in 2012.

(YASME FOUNDATION)

**
YLS ASCEND SUMMITS TO BE "QUEENS OF THE MOUNTAINS"

PAUL/ANCHOR: In many parts of the world, amateur radio is moving in
sync with Mother Nature, finding its way increasingly outdoors. The
first weekend in June seemed to be a worldwide celebration of operating
from mountains and other summits, and here in the US, an organized
group of YLs established a new tradition. We hear about it from Andy
Morrison K9AWM.

ANDY: Never mind playing King of the Hill. Paula K9IR, Amy AG7GP, and a
few dozen YLs around the US - if not the world - were Queens of the
Mountains. It happened on the weekend of June 8th and 9th when it
seemed that many of the more adventurous ham radio operators were
heading to the summits. The pair were kicking off an inaugural YL SOTA
event to encourage women to try activating for Summits on the Air and
to support one another in making summit-to-summit QSOs. Amy told
Newsline she and Paula were inspired to try out this event after a
group of eight YLs activated a summit in July of last year during the
Pacific Northwest W7O (W Seven Oh) SOTA campout. Although near-blackout conditions for radio posed challenges on the first day, this was hardly
the toughest obstacle the YLs faced. Amy said many of the activators
braved heavy rain, mud, poison ivy and vehicle break-downs. She told
Newsline: [quote] "Doing Summits on the Air, you learn to be prepared
for the extra environmental challenges." [endquote] Despite those
challenges - or perhaps because of them - expect the Queens of the
Mountains to be back on top next year.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM. (AMY HAPTONSTALL, AG7GP)

**
IN WALES, SUMMIT ACTIVATORS GO "WHOLE HOG"

PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile on the same weekend in Wales, despite seriously
crowded band conditions, no one accused SOTA activators of hogging the airwaves. Going whole hog came afterward as activators feasted during
the third annual GW SOTA S2S and Hog Roast, organized by Ben GW4BML.
Jeremy Boot G4NJH serves up this story.

JEREMY: Saturday the 8th of June dawned grey and damp but activators'
appetites were intact for the day ahead, regardless. Sunshine
eventually peeked through and the activators grabbed whatever spots
they could find on 2m, 70cm and 40m. They listened for signals from
their chasers - as well as from one another. In a report shared with
Newsline, Allan GW4VPX, said that some of the operators reported more
than 30 contacts, a mix of chasers and summit-to-summit exchanges. Some activators had travelled a great distance from throughout England and
Wales to participate.

Almost everyone wanted to log GB4HOG, the special event callsign of
Richard G3CWI, who co-founded Summits on the Air in 2002. Richard was
chasing QSOs from the site where the hog roast would later be held.
Sure enough, by mid-afternoon, full logs were exchanged for full
bellies as 62 activators, spouses and chasers shared their adventures.
The tables were as crowded as the bands had been -- and everyone seemed
to be hogging the food.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(BEN GW4BML)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the N6ICW repeater system in the Sacramento, California area during the
Monday ARES/RACES net which starts at 7:30 local time.

**
FCC SAYS MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED ROUTER, WI-FI POWER LIMITS

PAUL/ANCHOR: A major electronics manufacturer has been sanctioned by
the FCC for making what the bureau says were changes to legal power
limits on Wi-Fi devices and routers. Kent Peterson KC0DGY brings us the details.

KENT: The US Federal Communications Commission has proposed a fine of
more than $367,000 against a major electronics manufacturer for selling
Wi-Fi adapters and routers that the commission believes were modified
to exceed legal power limits. The report of the action against ASUSTek
Computer Inc. was posted on the FCC website on Friday June 14th. The
equipment marketing violation charge includes sanctions against ASUSTek Computer, which is based in Taiwan and Asus Computer, the wholly owned affiliate that markets the routers in the US.

The bureau's posting said it had a complaint from a purchaser of three
model GT-AXE routers and when they were tested by a certified
laboratory, the authorized power exceeded legal limits by between 4 and
9 dB, or nearly eight times the legal power level on some frequencies.

The Notice of Apparent Liability noted that the company and the FCC had
entered into a consent decree following an investigation of similar
violations involving Wi-Fi adapters and routers.

The FCC posting did not include a statement from the company, nor was
there comment from Asus Computer on the company website.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

(FCC, FORBES)

**
US MILITARY TO IMPROVE TRACKING OF HOBBYISTS' BALLOONS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Hobbyists will be glad to know that the US military is
making an effort to be more balloon-friendly. Patrick Clark K8TAC
explains.

PATRICK: NORAD - the North American Aerospace Defense Command - has
been making a concentrated effort to track and identify objects that
might be high-altitude weather, research or hobbyist radio balloons,
such as ones launched by amateur radio clubs and school groups. NORAD
is now studying numerous websites to determine as best as it can what
balloons are flying over North America at any given time. US fighter
jets shot down three hobbyists' balloons in 2023 after detecting - and
shooting down - another high-altitude balloon, which the government
department identified as a spy balloon from China.

Steven Armstrong, NORAD's chief of strategic engagement, told the
military website Task & Purpose that NORAD is now taking a closer look
at raw radar returns to ensure more hobbyists' balloons don't meet the
same fate. NORAD now reaches out to hobbyist or researcher groups when
it is practical to do so.

It seems to be working. Armstrong said that in April, NORAD confirmed
there was a hobbyist balloon that had been launched but concluded it
did not pose a threat.

This is Patrick Clark K8TAC.

(TASK AND PURPOSE, SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN)

**
YOUNG RADIO OPS TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE FOR TURKEY'S POTA

PAUL/ANCHOR: The Parks on the Air program is still very young in Turkey
-- and now, so are some of its biggest fans. We learn who they are from
Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

JASON: Two years after Furkhan, TA7H, put his home country of Turkey on
the POTA map, the Parks on the Air programme in Turkey has been growing
bigger and younger every day. In a country where only 67 of the 322
listed parks have been activated so far, younger amateurs have begun
taking up the challenge this year. Now, about half of Turkey's POTA
activators are young amateurs, according to Ersan, TA1EYE.

Ersan said a quartet of four young radio operators in search of outdoor activities away from the RFI of the city are now leading the way.
TA3TGC, TA3LCK, TB3BDV and 4K6IJ, have operated in the parks around
Bursa City using their club call sign YM3KB, then moved on with their
radios into parks near other cities. Meanwhile, young POTA enthusiasts
TA7YLY, TA7AZC and TA7EK have been calling CQ POTA in the Black Sea
region. Ersan said this trio also did some of the earliest activations
the year POTA began in Turkey.

Furkan was inspired to bring POTA to Turkey after operating from the US
as W7AOF and quickly logging parks in all 50 US states. He received the
names of the national and nature parks from the Ministry of Agriculture
and Forestry, collected the necessary data for them and processed them
for the POTA database.

This year, to further nurture POTA in Turkey, the website tadx dot org (tadx.org) was launched to show the parks listed in Turkey and the
team's park-related activities. It can only get busier.

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(ERSAN, TA1EYE)

**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, listen for Vitaly, F4WBU, active as TM17CEF through
to the 28th of June and as TM24F from the 29th of June through to the
14th of July. He is using these callsigns in recognition of the 17th
edition of the UEFA European Football Championship, the quadrennial international men's football championship of Europe being held in
Germany. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

Listen for Jeff, W7BRS, operating as VK2/W7BRS from Lord Howe Island,
IOTA Number OC-004, from the 20th of July to the 1st of August. He will
operate CW, SSB and FT8 in fox and hound mode on 40-10 metres. QSL via
M0URX's OQRS.

Listen for TM67OG (TM Six Seven Oh Gee) on the air during the Paris
2024 Olympic Torch Relay and the Games. You may hear this callsign
between the 25th of June and the 27th of July. A second callsign,
TM67JO, will be on the air between the 26th of July and the 11th of
August. QSL information is available on QRZ.com.

Michael, DF8AN, is on the air from Jersey, IOTA Number EU-013, as
MJ/DF8AN, until the 25th of June. Michael is using some CW and digital
modes on 80 through 6m. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: 'CAREER DAYS' MAKES DEBUT AT HAM FAIR IN GERMANY

PAUL/ANCHOR: For our final story we visit the international Ham Radio exhibition in Friedrichshafen [Freed-Ricks-Harf-Ven], Germany, which
will have its doors open between the 28th and 30th of June. This year's
event has found a way to combine the amateur with the professional -
and Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us how.

JEREMY: Employers in technical fields and prospective job candidates
will have a chance to meet up for the first time this year in
Friedrichshafen to see who is hiring and who is hunting. According to
the organisers' website, the job marketplace recognises that hams are
ideal candidates for employment in technical fields and their amateur
skills fit well in a professional environment. Career days will be held
for two days - the 28th and 29th of June.

Visitors can now have a lot more to look forward to than a fancy new state-of-the art rig: They will perhaps find a new way to afford it.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(HAM RADIO FRIEDRICHSHAFEN)

**
DO YOU HAIKU?

If a good day of radio is like poetry to you, pick up a pencil and join
the Amateur Radio Newsline haiku challenge. Share your experience by
sending an original haiku to us here at Newsline. Use the entry form on
our website, arnewsline.org and please follow the rules for writing
your three-line haiku -- sorry but we cannot accept any entries that
aren't written in traditional haiku form. Share with fellow listeners
the poetry that is inspired by your ham radio experience!

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Allan, GW4VPX; Amateur Radio Daily; Amy Haptonstall, AG7GP; ARRL; Associated Press; Ben Lloyd, GW4BML;
Boston.com; CQ Magazine; David Behar K7DB; Ersan, TA1EYE; FCC;
425DXNews; Forbes: Ham Radio Friedrichshafen; Popular Science; QRZ.com; Scientific American; shortwaveradio.de; Space.com; Task & Purpose;
Yasme Foundation; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur
Radio Newsline. 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. We also
remind our listeners that if you like our newscast, please leave us a
5-star rating wherever you subscribe to us. 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 2024. All rights reserved.

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