Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1982 for Friday, Oct. 23, 2015
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1982 with a release date of
Friday, Oct. 23 2015 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Hams respond to typhoon disaster victims' needs
in the Philippines. A new documentary showcases the life and times of
radio wizard Arthur Collins. Ofcom proposes revoking hundreds of
unvalidated amateur licenses. And the International Amateur Radio Union
declares young hams a top priority. All this and more in Amateur Radio
Newsline report 1982 coming your way right now.
[Billboard Cart Here and Intro]
**
HAMS MOBILIZE IN STORM-STRUCK PHILIPPINES
Typhoon Koppu slammed the northern Philippines the weekend of Oct. 18
and by the time it was downgraded to a tropical storm last Monday, it
had already left its deadly imprint. Torrential downpours and
landslides led to dozens of deaths and tens of thousands of
evacuations. But disaster response from radio amateurs was just as
rapid, and the National Telecommunications Commission worked with the
Philippine Amateur Radio Association to meet the challenge. Hams
mobilized to keep tabs on all affected areas and relay information as
needed. The Philippine amateurs' Ham Emergency Radio Operator network
focused special attention on the eastern side of Luzon, the main island
battered by the Category 4 storm. Koppu is being called the second most
powerful storm to hit the island nation this year.
(SOUTHGATE AMATEUR RADIO NEWS, ARRL, and BBC NEWS)
**
IARU: KEEPING AMATEUR RADIO YOUNG AND GROWING
By the time the International Amateur Radio Union's Region 3 conference
wrapped up on Oct. 16, directors had clearly agreed that the single
most effective way of keeping amateur radio vibrant is by engaging the
next generation. Directors throughout the region noted that programs
such as Youngsters On the Air, in Region 1, and ARRL Kids Day, in
Region 2, are already successfully energizing young licensees. In a
report presented to the conference, Region 3 directors also had praise
for Australia's recent introduction of its Foundation License, an
entry-level ticket, that has begun opening the airwaves to youth on the
air in that nation.
In her report to the Region 3 Conference, Region's 1 Youth Working
Group Chairwoman Lisa Leenders, PA2LS, said the first Youngsters On the
Air summer program has already inspired more radio activity for young
people on the national and local level. Leenders recommended that
organizers consider a second YOTA summer event.
Of course, Region 3's directors also recognized other ways to keep
amateur radio on the upswing, such as reaching out to attendees at
Do-It-Yourself Maker Fairs, and encouraging radio amateurs whose
tickets have lapsed to consider becoming relicensed.
But in the end, directors looked to youth as radio's brightest, most
shining future, sharing that conclusion in a report that reads, in
part, QUOTE"An underlying theme for all of us is where will the next
generation of radio amateurs come from, so that what we enjoy today can
continue to provide benefits to the community."ENDQUOTE
(ARRL)
**
CELEBRATING ARTHUR COLLINS [ANCHOR]: Amateur radio's storied past,
however, would not be complete without an acknowledgement of Oklahoma
native Arthur Collins, W-ZERO-C-X-X (W0CXX). The founder of Collins
Radio Company was known as an amateur radio wizard. He was the creator
of innovative equipment and radios that would eventually make history,
including the radio that landed on the moon with Neil Armstrong and
carried the astronaut's voice back to Earth. Collins' legacy is being
celebrated in a just-released documentary. Amateur Radio Newsline's
Mike Askins, K-E-5-C-X-P, (KE5CXP), talked to one of the film's
creators: [MIKE'S REPORT]
**
DEADLINE FOR ARISS CONTACTS IS NOV. 1
ARISS - the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program
-has a message for schools everywhere: Your homework is due in
twoweeks.
November 1 is the deadline by which formal and informal proposals can
be submitted by educational organizations, schools and related groups
who are looking to host an amateur radio contact with a member of the
Space Station crew in 2016. Because crew schedules and, of course,
orbits determine the exact dates, ARISS can only say that the QSOs
would be scheduled sometime between July 1 and December 31 of nextyear.
Applicants need to show how they will integrate the Space Station
contact into a larger, more comprehensive education plan and, at the
same time, draw participation of a large number of students and other
people.
For more information, visit www.arrl.org or the ARISS website.
(ARRL, ARISS)
**
UK HAM LICENSES, GOING, GOING, GONE
[ANCHOR:] Speaking of deadlines, if you're a licensed radio amateur in
the UK - and want to stay that way - check the date you were supposed
to revalidate your license. You may be in for a surprise. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has the story:
[JEREMY]: In the UK, procrastination may have cost you your amateur
radio license. Ofcom is preparing to revoke 10,000 unvalidated
licenses, the first in a series of such cancellations the agency has
planned. The first licenses to be acted on are those that missed their
due date for revalidation between September 2012 and January 2013.
Ofcom will be contacting license-holders using the last known postal
address on record with the office to make them aware of the pending
action. According to its website, the office is required to tell the
radio amateur why the license is being revoked and give the
license-holder time to respond before Ofcom makes its final decision.
There is a Nov. 17 deadline for amateurs to comment on these proposed
cancellations. Amateurs wishing to retain a valid license are being
urged by the agency to contact their office in London as soon as
possible. Details can be found at the website
http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/ Although a lifetime license was
introduced in December 2006, all licenses issued prior to that time
required renewals. Ofcom reports that almost half of all amateur radio
licenses - 47% to be exact -- were left unvalidated at the end of 2013.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH reporting from
Nottingham in the UK.
***
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the Mid State Amateur Radio Club repeater station, WA9RDF, in Johnson
County, Indiana, which broadcasts our report on Sundays at 7 pm.
** **
HAMS ARE BIG WHEELS AT BICYCLE FEST
[ANCHOR]: Hams who ordinarily might be more preoccupied with the solar
cycle - or even cycles per second - kept their eyes fixed earlier this
month on more terrestrial cycles - in this case, more than 1,000
two-wheelers - during the 41st annual Mount Dora Bicycle Festival in
Florida's Lake Country. Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD,
tells us more about this 3-day benefit event:
[HEATHER]:
Following the riders is a 25-year tradition for the Florida hams who
provide critical communication to keep cyclists safe during the Mount
Dora Bicycle Festival. Cyclists follow 12 separate routes of varying
lengths, but all have the same purpose - to raise money for the local
food pantry. While the cyclists followed their routes this year, once
again the Lake Amateur Radio Association and Lake County, Florida ARES
followed the cyclists. With 1,325 cyclists from around the country
riding this year, the hams were kept busy. The longest route was 100
miles and the shortest just 12. Many featured Lake County's trademark
challenging hills. Even early morning fog and Florida humidity did not
get in the way of the riders. Nor did anything get in the way of the
hams who kept close watch at rest stops and in radio-equipped motor
vehicles. The vehicles transported cyclists whose bicycles had broken
down and, in one case, a rider who suffered a broken collarbone. Plans
are already in the works for the 2016 Mount Dora Bicycle Festival,
which will run from Oct. 7 through Oct. 9. Yes, the hams will be ready
too. I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD, in Berwick, Pennsylvania.
(ARRL)
**
UN CELEBRATING 70
It's not exactly a QSO Party, but it IS a celebration of international
proportions: the Union Nations amateur radio club station, 4U1UN, will
mark the UN's 70th anniversary by operating on the weekend of Oct. 24
and 25 with the call sign 4U70UN. The club's station will set up in a
garden area on the ground level of the UN's Manhattan headquarters and
operate during daylight hours only. Operators plan to be on as many
bands, in as many modes, as possible. Satellite operation will also be
included. DXers, take note: 4U1UN is considered a separate DXCC entity.
Visit www.qrz.com for QSL card details. Please do not send QSL cards to
the UN.
(ARRL, AMSAT NEWS SERVICE, QRZ.COM)
**
PLUGGING THE HOLES IN CALIFORNIA'S SAFETY NET
Hams in the Laguna Woods, California area now have a wireless network
to use for data transmissions in extreme emergencies. Three new
antennas just went up in the region, creating the Amateur Radio
Emergency Data Network, also known as "hamnet."
Dave Southworth, KS6RFI, secretary of the Laguna Woods club, describes
it as QUOTE"very similar to the Internet in that you can send email and
everything else. But you can't go out and send it to mom and pop out in
Wisconsin." It's a mesh network, with each antenna performing the same
role a router might perform for the Internet. And it provides speeds
for data transmission that outpaces even the voice of a radio operator.
Yes, it's THAT fast - and it should be. It's the area's safety net for
communications.
Southworth adds, QUOTE"it's an alternate communication path. If there
was a big earthquake where the earth shifted and cut Internet cables,
then we'd use our radios and hamnet capabilities to communicate between
other hamnet meshes." It could even transmit pictures of areas needing
emergency services, giving first-responders an idea of what's needed.
And it's one of many such projects throughout California's Orange
County. With this hamnet, the region's safety net has just widened a
little bit more.
(THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER)
**
A 'FIRST' FOR NEPAL Ham radio is involved in yet another safety project
-- this one in Nepal, which has just received its first 2 meter
repeater with a newly installed IRLP node. The repeater and node were
created by the Bay-Net amateur radio club in California working with
Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu. They are expected to be particularly
useful following the recent earthquake that struck Nepal. The
earthquake last April killed more than 9,000, and injured more than
23,000, by some estimates. The Bay-Net Club, WW6BAY, is a club most
active in establishing repeater systems for use by the Red Cross and
other public service organizations. The club credited Kent Johnson,
W7AOR, and Keith Goobie, VA3YC, for their special assistance.
(www.bay-net.org)
**
INDIA: ELECTION HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
In the Indian state of Kerala (KERR'-a-lah), this year's election is
going to look a lot like the one in 2010. But it's because of the hams
involved, not the candidates. In a remote, heavily forested area known
as Edamalakkudy (edda-mala-KUDDY), administrators have brought in radio
operators to create a communications network of VHF radios that will
connect the local polling places with the district election office,
miles away. Election officials say this is the only method that works -
not even mobile phone connections can be made in the region.
Thirty hams from around Kerala will monitor the polling process,
hitting the repeaters that will then transmit the results to the
district. The region has voting population of 1,407, of which 925 are
women.
(THE HINDU Newspaper)
**
THE WORLD OF DX
Tack, J-E-ONE-C-K-A (JE1CKA), will be active as 4W/JE1CKA from Timor
Leste through Oct. 28, working 160-10 meters using mainly CW. He may be
on SSB during the CQ WorldWide DX SBB contest, however, on Oct. 24 and
25. QSL via his home call sign. Masa, J-A-ZERO-R-Q-V (JA0RQV) is
operating from Neiaf, Vava'u Island from Tonga as A35JP/P through Nov.
2. He is working on 40 through 6 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via his
home callsign, by the Bureau, direct, Logbook of the World or ClubLog.
Find John/ZS5J and YL Beth/2W0VOW in Mozambique on a DXpedition through
Nov. 3. Their call sign is C91B. Beth is operating primarily SSB and
John is operating CW. Activity is on all HF bands from 160 through 6
meters. Visit QRZ.com for more details.
And finally a special event: To commemorate Guglielmo Marconi's 120th
anniversary of his first wireless message, members of the ARI Lecce
continue operating under the special callsign IY7LE until Dec. 31. They
will also use IY7LE/P from different locations for the different
Italian diplomas. Details on awards and diplomas can be found on
www.arilecce.it under "Contest and Diplomas." QSL via the Bureau,
direct or LoTW.
(OHIO PENN DX NEWS)
**
KICKER: SCOUTING FOR ANSWERS
In the state of Michigan, the football rivalry between the Michigan
State Spartans and the University of Michigan Wolverines is legendary.
So when the teams both took the field on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Michigan
Stadium in Ann Arbor, not too many people gave thought to the fact that
there was a third rival in this Big Game, waiting on the sidelines: The
Boy Scouts were having their 2015 Jamboree on the Air, and hams at the
local club station, WA2HOM, at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, awaiting
the arrival of the Scouts. And waiting. And yes, waiting. Writer Dan
Romanchik, KB6NU, a club member and ham radio blogger, recalls, one day
later, in his blog: QUOTE"Yesterday, I prepared to entertain some Boy
Scouts for the 2015 Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) at WA2HOM, our club
station at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. The museum folks had notified
the local Scout groups, and they thought they were going to get a big
turnout. Instead, no one showed up. I was there from 10:00 am until
1:30 pm, and not a single Scout showed up."ENDQUOTE At the stadium,
however, the teams showed up for the afternoon game. So did the fans.
And everyone played hard. Romanchik, being a realist, knew that even
decent band conditions - for a change - were no match for optimum
football conditions and a rivalry that dates to the 19th century. The
largest event in Scouting didn't stand a chance against the largest
event in Michigan college football. Talk about dealing with serious
radio interference. The final score, by the way, was Michigan State,
27; U of Michigan, 23. And sadly, Scouts, Zero. (KB6NU's Ham Radio
Blog, Oct. 18 2015, DETROIT FREE PRESS)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE With thanks to Alan Labs, the ARRL, AMSAT News Service;
CQ Magazine; Detroit Free Press, DX Coffee; the FCC; The KB6NU Ham
Radio Blog; Jim Linton, VK3PC; Hap Holly and the Rain Report; the Hindu
newspaper; Irish Radio Transmitters Society; the Orange County
Register; the Ohio-Penn DX Newsletter; QRZ.COM; Southgate Amateur Radio
News, TWiT TV; the Wireless Institute of Australia; and you our
listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. Our email
address is . More information is available at
Amateur Radio Newsline's only official website located at
www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at Amateur
Radio Newsline, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.
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 New Orleans,
saying 73 and as always we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.