Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2410 for Friday January 5th, 2024

[Amateur Radio Newsline]

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2410 for Friday January 5th, 2024

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2410 with a release date of Friday
January 5th, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams in Sri Lanka practice lessons learned from
disasters. Mobile base stations get new frequencies -- and a 50-year
friendship is reignited, thanks to amateur radio. All this and more as
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2410 comes your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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AMATEURS IN SRI LANKA RECALL TSUNAMI DISASTER

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The date, December 26th, holds a double significance
for amateur radio operators in Sri Lanka -- it's the reminder of a
horrifying event and a call to action -- an action which they took
recently to be prepared for next time. Graham Kemp VK4BB explains.

GRAHAM: People who remember the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami that swept
over parts of a number of southern Asian nations, including Sri Lanka,
in 2004, are not likely to forget it. Those who attended a special
emergency communications drill on December 26th, 2023 - just short of
20 years later - will likely not forget the lessons learned. The
Tsunami Commemorative Disaster Preparedness Drill was held on the
anniversary date by the Radio Society of Sri Lanka and the Amateur
Radio Civil Services Network to nurture what the partner groups called
[quote] "our collective readiness for swift and effective responses in
times of crisis." [endquote]

Mobile operations and first-aid training were just part of the six-hour
programme. The exercise emphasized efficient setup and operation from
the field and reviewed the best ways to prioritise traffic.
Participants practised field repeater setup and reviewed how to
establish a command center.

Sri Lanka was one of 14 countries devastated by the 2004 tsunami that
was triggered by an earthquake beneath the Indian Ocean. Nearly a
quarter of a million people perished.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(RSSL, ARCSN, ASSOCIATED PRESS)

**
MOBILE BASE STATIONS TO EXPAND FREQUENCY USE WORLDWIDE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Mobile band communication gained new parts of the
spectrum at the World Radiocommunication Conference late last year. We
have those details from John Williams VK4JJW.

JOHN: One of the agreements to emerge from the recent World
Radiocommunication Conference in Dubai is the expanded spectrum
becoming available for use by certain mobile base stations
internationally. The designated parts of the spectrum are at 700 to 900
MHz, 1.7 GHz and 2.5 GHz. This is intended to give greater flexibility
to operators around the world making use of HAPS mobile broadband
communication, also known as High Altitude Platform Station
communication. According to the International Telecommunication Union,
any fixed-point radio station situated 20 to 50 kilometres above the
Earth is a high-altitude platform station.

The company that has led the spectrum-expansion proposal for the past
few years is the SoftBank Corporation. The Japanese company has been
studying international standardization for such use since the issue was
put on the WRC 2023 agenda four years ago during WRC 2019. HAPS
technology has also been recognised as useful for communications during
disaster recovery, especially when storms or other events have left
terrestrial networks damaged.

This is John Willliams VK4JJW.

(ITU, SUASNEWS)

**
ELECTRONICS MUSEUM OFFERS FREE COURSE ONLINE FOR EXTRA CLASS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Free weekly classes are about to start online for hams
hoping to obtain their Extra Class license, as we hear from Neil Rapp
WB9VPG.

NEIL: If upgrading your US operating license class from General to
Extra is one of those items on your already long list of ham radio New
Year's resolutions, the National Electronics Museum in Hunt Valley,
Maryland is ready to help you make good on your word. January 18th
marks the start of the free weekly online classes the museum offers via
Zoom on Thursdays for 11 weeks. The three-hour sessions begin at 6:30
p.m. Eastern Standard Time. At other times of the year, the museum
offers similar classes for those wanting to test for the Technician and
General class. Hams who are enrolling for this course should purchase a
copy of the ARRL License Manual for Extra Class amateurs.

Those who live within driving distance of the museum are also eligible
for the free in-person examination session that is held at the end of
the 11-week instruction.

The museum is home to amateur radio station K3NEM, which holds its
monthly meetings on Zoom.

For more details about the classes or the museum itself, visit their
website which is in the text version of this weeks newscast at
arnewsline.org.

[DO NOT READ: www.nationalelectronicsmuseum.org and www.k3nem.org ]

This is Neil Rapp WB9VPG.

(K3NEM, NATIONAL ELECTRONICS MUSEUM)

**
GUJARAT CONFERENCE WELCOMES INDIA'S SATELLITE ENTHUSIASTS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The conference known as MAPCON ended last month but
satellite enthusiasts in India are hoping that the lessons of the
three-day event in Gujarat will endure. Jason Daniels VK2LAW brings us
that story.

JASON: Workshops, student competitions, tutorials and exhibits were the
mainstays of MAPCON 2023 - an acronym for the Microwaves, Antennas and
Propagation Conference in mid-December. This year, the international
forum for sharing technology and research among professionals was able
to share the spotlight with amateur radio, with a focus on the ham
satellite community.

An exhibit designed by AMSAT-INDIA, helped its regional coordinator,
Rajesh Vagadia, VU2EXP, demonstrate the vital role that ham radio and
satellites play in education. The exhibit was viewed by hundreds of
people from industry, government, defence and research. Writing in the
QRZ.com forums, Rajesh said that the exhibit tried to cover all
possible applications, from HF, UHF and VHF radios to logboks, QSL
cards, satellite models and test instruments.

He wrote: [quote] "We tried our best to cultivate the seeds of amateur
radio, hoping to get some fruitful results." [endquote] He was assisted
by his niece, Shyama Vagadia, VU3WHG, a student member of the IEEE's
Gujarat Chapter.

He added: [quote] "It was a great time for us to be in this top
conference for professionals yet representing amateurs!" [endquote]

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(QRZ.COM)

**
STUDENT PROJECT PROVIDES NEW SATELLITE FOR INDIA

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: India's HAMSAT, the microsatellite decommissioned in
2016, has been replaced following the New Year's Eve launch of a small
satellite created by students. The Somaiya (SO MAYA) Beliefsat-0 takes
its name from the K.J. Somaiya Institute of Technology. The project's
faculty coordinator, Umesh (OO-MESH) Shinde (SHIN DAY), VU3CDI, told
local media that he expected it to become [quote] a crucial player in
the realm of global amateur radio." [endquote] The satellite has a UHF
to VHF-FM repeater and VHF digipeater sending APRS standard telemetry
every 30 seconds.

(HINDUSTAN TIMES)

**

SILENT KEY: BROADCAST VETERAN CHARLES EDWARD RICH, W8GCW

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Broadcasters and radio amateurs alike have lost a
friend in Michigan. We hear about him from Dave Parks WB8ODF.

DAVE: Charles Edward Rich, W8GCW, was an amateur radio tinkerer, leader
and dreamer whose long lifetime in the hobby left an indelible mark in
the ham universe near his Michigan home. Chuck, as he was known, became
a Silent Key on the 28th of December.

He was inspired by his amateur radio father, who was also named
Charles. On his QRZ.com page, Chuck recalls how he and his father would
spend hours at the kitchen table practicing CW by passing the key back
and forth between them to improve their proficiency. By age 16, young
Chuck had his license and the next year he set up a radio and antenna
on his bicycle to use when he was riding it.

He later became a leader in the Holland Amateur Radio Club, serving as
its president, publishing its newsletter and teaching Morse Code. His
love of amateur radio also led him to a career in broadcast radio in
Michigan and Pennsylvania, where he had a series of jobs, including
disc jockey and news reporter. In 1971 he became the owner and operator
of WZND-FM radio that served the local Michigan communities until late
1986, when he and his partners sold the station.

According to his QRZ.com page, his enthusiastic on-air activity
included both home and mobile stations, and he spent time on Echolink
and IRLP.

Chuck was 89.

This is Dave Parks WB8ODF.

(QRZ.COM, THE HOLLAND SENTINEL)

**
HRU MARKS 25TH ANNIVERSARY ON JANUARY 6TH

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: This is a reminder that you have a few days left to
work special event station W2HRU and then attend Ham Radio University
on Long Island, New York on Saturday, January 6th. This marks HRU's
first in-person event since the COVID-19 pandemic and is the 25th
anniversary of the educational conference. Ham Radio University is also
the ARRL's NYC-Long Island Section annual convention. It will be held,
as before, at Long Island University in Brookville, Long Island,
NewYork.

For a full schedule visit hamradiouniversity.org For information about
contacts with W2HRU see the special event station's page on QR Zed.
dotcom.

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the East Coast Reflector 9050 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Sundays.

**
GETTING ON THE AIR TO CELEBRATE VINTAGE EQUIPMENT FROM KW ELECTRONICS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you love vintage Heathkit, Swan and Collins
equipment, you have a lot in common with hams in the UK who have great
affection for products made by KW Electronics. This month, many of
those hams have set aside time on the air for a big celebration, as we
learn from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: There's a lot of history behind the two letters "K" and "W" if
you're talking about radios, antennas and other equipment built for the
amateur radio market in the years following World War II. The name of
KW Electronics Ltd. in Kent, England, was derived from the callsign
suffix shared by its founders Rowley Shears G8KW and Ken Ellis G5KW.
Although the company was eventually purchased by the Decca Group,
amateur radio loyalty remains steadfast, especially in the UK.

Hams are getting on the air with the vintage equipment to mark KW
Weekend on the 6th and 7th of January. They will be using special
callsigns ending in those two letters. One amateur, Kev, GW0PUH, has
taken his commitment to the older radios a bit further and is already
operating in another celebration all month. He is on the air as GB9KW
until the 28th of January.

Off the air, you can still connect with KW enthusiasts on the internet.
A groups.io site allows devoted owners - or simply admirers - to post
their questions and thoughts about the equipment and related issues.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(425 DX BULLETIN, GROUPS.IO, KEVIN LARCOMBE, GW0PUH))

**
TEXAS TEEN CHOSEN FOR HIRAM PERCY MAXIM AWARD

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The ARRL has awarded its prestigious Hiram Percy Maxim
Award for 2023 to a Texas teenager for his leadership in a youth net
and his promotion of amateur radio among members of his troop in the
Trail Life USA organization. Paul Braun WD9GCO spoke with him.

PAUL: Recognizing youth in Amateur Radio is something near and dear to
our hearts here at Newsline. The ARRL just announced the winner of this
year's Hiram Percy Maxim award, and it's Sam Lovett, KI5RSV ofTexas.

I spoke with Lovett, and asked him how he got interested in ham radio:

LOVETT: My dad's always had a radio in his truck - never transmitted,
never got licensed because we always storm chased. Also got into this
book called "Backwoods Home Magazine" and I found one from 1992 that
mentioned ham radio and it sounded really interesting.

PAUL: As to what in particular interested him the most about amateur
radio, he told me:

LOVETT: I mean, there are so many aspects of ham radio. So far, the
ones that have interested me most is contesting, improving my speed
with CW, and vintage and classic equipment.

PAUL: Lovett is very active in attracting other youth to the hobby. I
asked what his plan was, and he said:

LOVETT: Lead by example, and I try to promote ham radio wherever I can.
I've also done a lot of demonstrations of ham radio, like every campout
I bring out my radio gear and do a little demonstration of HF and how
you can get QSO's around the world.

PAUL: Congratulations, Sam, on a job well done. We here at Newsline
encourage you to keep up the efforts and keep spreading the word about
our wonderful hobby. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun,
WD9GCO.

**
ARRL WRAPS UP YEAR-LONG EVENT AND HONORS VOLUNTEERS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The ARRL has celebrated and honored others in addition
to Sam Lovett. Its Volunteers On the Air operating event saw some
operators logging nearly 30,000 QSOs throughout the year. Like Sam,
other hams were honored with special awards, as seen on the league's
website. Here are two more honorees:

Ohio's Lyn Alfman, N8IMW, received the Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver
Antenna Award for her public service work and communication with
themedia.

Jo Ann Keith, KA5AZK, of Texas was given the George Hart Distinguished
Service Award, which is presented in recognition of selfless public
service work. Licensed since 1987, she was recognized by the league for
her role as net manager of the 7290 Traffic Net. The net first went on
the air in 1953.

(ARRL, QRZ.COM)


**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, be listening for members of the Zurich City Police
Radio Amateur Club, HB9SP, throughout the year, operating as HB20SP.
The club is marking its 20th anniversary. See QR Zed.com for details.

Listen for Alex, K6VHF, who will be on the air as K6VHF/HR9 from Roatan
Island, IOTA Number NA-057, until the 10th of January. He will be
operating with Paul, NO0T, and Bill, WT0DX. The team will use digital
modes, SSB and CW on 80-6 metres, and hope to participate in the ARRL
RTTY Roundup on the 6th and 7th of January. See QR Zed.com for QSL
details.

Listen throughout the new year for the special callsign 9A100RKZ
marking the 100th anniversary of the Radioklub Zagreb. The club was
founded on the 24th of March 1924. QSL via 9A1ADE.

Michel, F8GGZ, is on the air as TM700MP from the 5th to the 12th of
January, marking 700 years since the death of the merchant and explorer
Marco Polo, who opened up the Silk Road from Europe into many nations
of Asia. QSL via Michel's home call.

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KICKER: RADIO BRINGS TWO OLD ACQUAINTANCES, ONE NEW YEAR

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The celebrated Scottish poet Robert Burns is often
associated with the words in the traditional song sung at New Year's:
Auld Lang Syne. It is a song of farewell to things past and acceptance
of time moving on. In these early days of 2024, however, we are
reminded by this next story that some things of days gone by are worth
recapturing and treasuring - and it can happen because of amateur
radio. Here's Graham Kemp VK4BB with that story.

GRAHAM: Gautam Ray is a retired banker and a widower in Kolkata whose
only daughter lives in the United States. A lifetime ago, his college
mate Saifuddin Ahmed Choudhary was as close as family to him when both
were still university students. Missing the friend with the smiling
face in those old black-and-white photographs from college, Gautam
asked the West Bengal Radio Club for assistance. The club is known for
helping to reunite missing family members but - could the hams do the
same for dear friends who were like brothers? Ambarish Nag Biswas,
VU2JFA, secretary of the West Bengal Group, got in touch with Samsul
Huda of the Amateur Radio Society of Bangladesh to see whether this
small class reunion could happen for the men who have been apart since
1969. Gautam knew that his friend had long since left India for a
teaching position in Dhaka, Bangladesh and was active in theatre - and
the hams there set off on their search.".

Finding him took almost no time at all, according to news reports about
the reunion. Ambarish Nag Biswas told Newsline that on the 28th of
December the two talked over Zoom and made plans to meet up in February
at the Kolkata book fair. Choudary told the local newspaper: "This is a
new sunrise for the both of us." No doubt 2024 will also be a new year
for this very very old friendship that could never be forgot.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(DAIJIWORLD, MILLENNIUM POST)

**

DO YOU HAVE NEWS?

If you have a piece of Amateur Radio News that you think Newsline would
be interested in, send it on! We are not talking about advertising your
club's upcoming hamfest or field day participation, but something that
is out of the ordinary. If so, send us a brief overview via the contact
page at arnewsline.org. If it's newsworthy and we would like to cover
it, we'll get back to you for more details. Meanwhile, if you're
feeling even a little bit poetic, visit our website to learn more about
the Amateur Radio Newsline haiku challenge. We are starting a whole new
challenge for 2024 so get your entry in. Use the entry form on our
website and please follow the rules for writing your three-line haiku
-- and be sure to check out our previous winners!

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily; ARRL; Associated
Press; CQ Magazine; DaijiWorld; David Behar K7DB; 425DXNews; Ham Radio
University; Hindustan Times; the Holland Sentinel; ITU; Kevin Larcombe,
GW0PUH; Millennium Post; National Electronics Museum; QRZ.com;
shortwaveradio.de; Wireless Institute of Australia; YouTube; and you
our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. We remind
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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
Stephen Kinford N8WB in Wadsworth Ohio saying Happy New Year and 73. As
always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is
Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.