SILENT KEY: ALAN HEATHER, G0PQA

NEIL/ANCHOR: As the old year ends, another notable veteran ham has become
a Silent Key, as we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

JEREMY: Alan Heather, G0PQA, a longtime radio amateur, whose radio
contacts included King Hussein of Jordan, JY1, and Helen Sharman, GB1MIR,
the UK's first astronaut, has died.

Alan was the author of a biography of Oliver Heaviside, the mathematician
and electrical engineer, whose work included discovery of a layer of
ionized gas above the ground that reflects radio waves, allowing signals
to travel past the horizion. The layer is known as the Kennelly-Heaviside Layer. The scientist died in 1925, before Alan was born, but he was
considered a distant cousin, whose career influenced Alan's own life
later.

Alan's local work in commercial radio, as well as on citizens' band, was
to later earn him the nickname "Radio Man." The former newspaper reporter, historian and broadcaster was 88.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(SOUTHGATE AMATEUR RADIO NEWS, THE TORQUAY HERALD EXPRESS)

**

SILENT KEY: CANADA'S WILLIAM JAMES 'BILL' GILLIS, VE1WG

NEIL/ANCHOR: We also note the passing of William James 'Bill' Gillis,
VE1WG, the former president of Radio Amateurs of Canada. Bill died on
Monday, Dec. 26. He had been president of the RAC from 2002 to 2003,
and was director of the Maritimes Region. He was also a two-term
president of the Moncton Area Amateur Radio Club, and a member of the
Montreal Amateur Radio Club, and the Oakville Radio Club. Bill was 87.

(ARRL)

**

HAMS KEEP PACE IN PARADISE

NEIL/ANCHOR: What's better than running a marathon in paradise? Doing
it with amateur radio support, as Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Damron,
N8TMW, tells us.

JIM: The 44th running of the Honolulu Marathon had the power of radio
to keep them on the move. The Honolulu Marathon on December 11th wasn't
just a feat of endurance for the more than 30,000 runners. The hams who provided communications and safety for the race's 44th running, also
went the distance in their own way. According to the ARRL Pacific
Section, radio operators went on the air as early as 4 a.m., and some
stayed on the air for as many as 18 hours for this, the fourth largest
marathon in the U.S.

With Net Control operated by Ralph Toyama, NH6PY, 35 hams operated on
both 2 meters and 70 centimeters. Some were also on the air using 800
MHz digital radios - nonamateur radios, but nonetheless crucial in
providing those links to aid stations, medical teams, transportation
vehicles, and police.

Hams were also at the finish line, feeling just as victorious as if
they'd run the race themselves; which, in a way, they did.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.

(ARRL PACIFIC SECTION)


Posted by VPost v1.7.081019

BACK TO SCHOOL AT HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY

SKEETER/ANCHOR: No one gets a degree from from this university, but
there are plenty of hams excited about class being in session on Sunday, January 8th, in Bethpage, New York. The 18th annual Ham Radio University
will feature a full day of sharing ideas, knowledge, and fellowship,
among amateur operators. If you can't get to the Briarcliffe College
campus, be sure to work Special Event Station W2HRU. The station went
on the air on Jan. 1, and will be operating through Jan. 8 on 40 and 20
meters. On the day of the event, operations will also be on PSK31 on 20
meters. Of course, if you are there in person, there'll be 30 forums to
attend, and the ARRL's Chief Executive Officer, Tom Gallagher, NY2RF,
will give the keynote speech.

For more details visit hamradiouniversity.org

(HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY)

**

NEW LF FREQUENCY EYED FOR FRENCH LICENSEES

SKEETER/ANCHOR: There's a vacancy on the bands at 162 kHz, and some
amateurs in France are looking to fill it. Amateur Radio Newsline's
Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has more.

JEREMY: If you're a licensed amateur in France, and eager to get on the
air at 162 kHz, you have until January 16th to let the CSA, the French
Superior Council of Audio-visual, know you support its use as an amateur frequency.

Radio France, the public radio broadcaster, ceased operations on the
frequency at the end of 2016, and the CSA is seeking expressions of
interest for another radio service there. The frequency had been in use
by France Inter, one of the public broadcaster's channels. The
discontinued service had been announced as a cost-saving measure.

Their departure from the frequency created an opportunity for hams, and
the CSA will be seeking input during the first half of January about
amateur use. Again, you have until January 16th to let them know.

Visit the authority's website at www.csa.fr where there is a link to
download details about expressing interest.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(SOUTHGATE ARC)

**

AUSTRALIAN HAMS AWAIT 60 METER BAND

SKEETER/ANCHOR: In Australia, there is going to be a new band at 60
meters, but when? Hear these details from Amateur Radio Newsline's
Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

GRAHAM: No matter where in the world you're listening to Amateur Radio Newsline, if you've been waiting to get a contact on 60 meters to VK
land, you need to wait just a little bit longer. Although the updated Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan was planned to take effect on
January 1st, the 5.3 MHz band is not yet ready for prime time.
Administrative and regulatory details need to be brought up to date
before the new spectrum plan can kick in. The International
Telecommunications Union has already approved the worldwide allocation
on a secondary basis for amateurs, for the band between 5351.5 and 5366.5
kHz.

There are still details to be ironed out. So be patient. Our regulatory
body, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, has many "T"s
to cross and many "i"s to dot before we can begin to QSO with the world
on the new 60 meter amateur band at 5.3 Megs.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(WIA)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the W9YPC repeater, serving Markham, Illinois.


Posted by VPost v1.7.081019

NETS OF NOTE: THE YL SYSTEM

DON/ANCHOR: With our next report, Amateur Radio Newsline brings you the
first in an occasional series that looks at nets with interesting stories
to tell. This week, we introduce the YL System of Nets, which has been on
the air for 53 years. It began with a group of female ham radio operators,
but it's not just for YLs anymore, as we learn from Amateur Radio
Newsline's Jim Damron, N8TMW.

BOBBIE: "It's a good place to come, our controls are very friendly. It
takes a lot of people to run this system, because they are there 8
o'clock in the morning, until the band goes out at night. And, that
happens Monday through Friday. On the weekends, we are there for at least
three hours."

JIM: That's Bobbie Livingston, K4ZGH, president of the YL International
Single Sideband System, an ambitious collection of nets that run from
sunrise to sundown during the week, and several hours each weekend. What
began in 1963 as an emergency response network among women, morphed over
the years from a sisterhood into a system. Soon, friends and friends-of-friends, both YLs and OMs, came on board to help run the various
net sessions throughout each day, and to talk, ham to ham.

BOBBIE: "We have 17,292 members at this time. Of course, with that number,
we also have some Silent Keys, because we have been operating for 53 years. Each year, it is a loss when one of our members is called home. And you
know, they're like your family."

JIM: In between all those nets, there are newsletters, get-well cards, conventions, and even eyeball QSOs. There is also always a big welcome
for new participants. Details can be found at ylsystem.org. Meanwhile,
be listening during the week on 14332 kHz and, at other times, you can
find them on 15, 40 and 80 meters. This is one busy group!

BOBBIE: It takes a lot of people to keep this all going -- and with the
help of all of our members, we do it!

JIM: Bobbie spoke with Amateur Radio Newsline's Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT.
I'm Newsline's Jim Damron, N8TMW.

DON/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, if you know of a net with an interesting story to
tell, email us at newsline at arnewsline.org and we might just feature it
as one of our next Nets of Note.

**

RADIO CLUB OF AMERICA SPOTLIGHTS 'WIRELESS WOMEN'

DON/ANCHOR: The Radio Club of America, the world's oldest organization of wireless communications professionals, has devoted an expanded section of
its website to women in wireless. It's not just a history lesson, it's a collection of resources, as we learn from Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD.

HEATHER: What does screen star Hedy Lamar have in common with Kentucky's Lieutenant Governor Jenean Hampton, K-5-E-I-B? The same thing Professor
Ada Poon of Stanford University shares with former ARRL president Kay
Craigie, N-3-K-N. They are all featured in the newest section of the Radio
Club of America website, in an area called "Wireless Women." The section
was established to inspire and inform women, who are considering a
profession in the wireless sector.

It also lists resources to help women researching career opportunities,
and presents the RCA Vivian Carr Award, to honor women for outstanding achievements in the industry. The award was named for the former Radio
Club president. Perhaps best of all, for the youngest of the YLs, that
section of the website lists universities with an engineering focus,
that also have a significant number of female students.

For women wishing to network, the website provide information and links
for the best contacts at such professional organizations as the Society
of Women Engineers, IEEE's Women in Engineering, and Women of Wireless Communications. For any amateurs wanting to turn professional, it's the
place to go.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, K-B-3-T-Z-D.

DON/ANCHOR: Visit the website at radioclubofamerica.org and navigate
to the section marked "wireless women."

(RADIO CLUB OF AMERICA)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the Spokane, Washington UHF Repeater of K7TMF and K7MMA on Fridays at
5 p.m. Pacific Time.


Posted by VPost v1.7.081019

THE 60 METER COMMUNITY GROWS

JIM/ANCHOR: More countries are joining the roster of nations enjoying 60
meter privileges, as we learn from Amateur Radio Newsline's John Williams, VK4JJW.

JOHN: The world community of amateurs transmitting on 60 meters just
expanded again by two more nations. Slovenia's telecommunications regulator
has approved use of the band in that nation, beginning with a temporary three-month license. That license extends from January 11th through April
11th, and covers 5351.5 kHz to 5366.5 kHz, with a 15w EIRP. Meanwhile,
Niger's telecommunications regulator has approved the use of 60 meters
there, just in time for the upcoming 5U5R DXpedition to Niger in March.
Their operation, which will cover CW and SSB, is expected to be around
5360 kHz. Slovenia and Niger join Kazakhstan, which also recently gained
access to the band. The United States has no widespread 60 meter privileges, beyond five frequency channels on Upper Sideband, with each channel having
a bandwidth of 2.8 kHz.

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

(SOUTHGATE AMATEUR RADIO NEWS)

**

ESSEX RAYNET ANSWERS FLOOD OF REQUESTS

JIM/ANCHOR: Ham radio response was strong and swift, when severe weather
struck in the county of Essex in the UK recently. We hear more from Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

JEREMY: The radio amateurs of Essex RAYNET have a lot to be proud of, even
as rain, winds and flooding bore down on the UK county recently. Hams were placed on standby on Thursday, Jan. 12, as weather intensified. By the
early morning hours of Friday, Jan. 13, as high tides approached, area evacuations had begun, and the hams were put into action. Essex RAYNET established a control station at the district emergency response center
of Tendring District Council, and made use of cross-band repeaters. The repeaters aided with local coverage, and functioned on a county-wide level
for members en-route to give assistance. Essex RAYNET also deployed a team
to the emergency rest center at the Tendring Education Center, and another
to the Frobisher School to assist with the evacuation.

At one point, the hams along with other volunteers and council officials
had been active for 24 hours, as evacuations continued through the evening
of Friday, Jan. 13. By Saturday morning, however, risks had greatly
diminished, and residents were able to return home, and the RAYNET hams
were stood down. They headed home, some having logged more than 40 hours
of service.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
WW7SEA, the Columbia Center Repeater in Seattle, Washington at 444.550
MHz on Mondays at 9 pm local time.

**

NOVICE RIG ROUNDUP NOT JUST FOR OLDTIMERS

JIM/ANCHOR: If you're feeling nostalgic for the good old days - even if
you're too young to remember them - this next story, from Amateur Radio Newsline's Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, is for you:

KENT: Let me take you back to a thrilling time of yesteryear, when chirpy
rigs and sloppy code could be regularly heard coming from novice CW
stations.

BRI: Back in the old days of the novice license, you would hear these guys running these rigs quite often there would be a little bit of chirp on the signal, or it might drift around and would sound quite different from
today's store-bought rigs.

KENT: That's Bri Carling, AF4K, who is organizing the Novice Rig Roundup.
He says it will be 9 days of fun operating with old-fashioned radio
equipment from the 40s, 50s and 60s, including Drake, Hallicrafters, Hammerland, Heath, homebrew, and QRP rigs.

BRI: We're going to be recapturing some of that nostalgic feeling when
they operated these old rigs. A lot of people still have them, and can put
them on the air, and have fun with them.

KENT: And there are a few calls to really listen for:

BRI: There are a few guys who still have their original novice call sign --
in which case those folks will be attracting a lot of attention.

KENT: Just call CQ NRR. That's what you'll be hearing all up and down
40, 80, 15 and 10 meters, usually operating in the higher end of the CW sub-bands.

BRI: They'll be exchanging the usual information: RST, power level. It's a little more casual than your typical contest.

KENT Hey, maybe some sloppy code?

BRI: Ha Ha, you will hear some sloppy code, but you will hear some good
code too. We run the gamut from people who might be getting back into CW,
or those just learning CW, to folks who are experienced A1 operators.

KENT: So dust off that old CW novice rig, and get on the air starting at
zero hundred hours UTC on February 18th through 2359 hours UTC on February
26, for 9 full days of the Novice Rig Roundup.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

JIM/ANCHOR: The roundup ends with a random prize drawing among hams who
record 10 or more confirmed QSOs, using the NRR Logging program. The
prize? Winner's choice of a Camelback Straight Key, or a Bug from Vizkey.


Posted by VPost v1.7.081019

D-STAR BECOMES FIREFIGHTING TOOL

NEIL/ANCHOR: Firefighting and ham radio operation are not a new
combination, but in one Texas community, firefighters are going a step
further. Here's Amateur Radio Newsline's Paul Braun, WD9GCO.

PAUL: Most hams are aware of how ARES and RACES coordinate with local
emergency services to provide communications assistance in the event of
a disaster. The Howard County Volunteer Fire Department in Big Spring,
Texas, took a much more proactive approach. I spoke with Tommy Sullivan, KG5HRK, department chief about their program:

SULLIVAN: W5AW, the Big Spring Amateur Radio Club has been in existence
in Howard County for twenty to thirty years. Lloyd Duck was the president
of the club, and he approached me about joining in, or helping them to
buy new D-STAR equipment, where they could do D-RATS and all of that, and
then we discussed how the fire department could help them get that, and
how would the fire department benefit. And, after we discussed it, and
really looked at it, and saw that in a major disaster where we lose our
radio tower, and all of that, with this D-STAR and the amateur radio club,
we could still communicate, we could still transmit our ICS forms, could transmit pictures from the scene to the emergency operations center here
in Howard County, and also to the state operations center in Austin.

PAUL: Sullivan said that the program's been successful so far:

SULLIVAN: Out of fifty firefighters, I've got twelve now that are
licensed amateur radio operators to help supplement the fire department
with the amateur radio and vice-versa, because everybody succeeds better
when we all work together. I didn't want to wait until the disaster, and
try to figure out another backup plan. I want to go into it, where we
already have this in place, and everything operational, plan for the worst
and hope for the best.

PAUL: Sullivan is hoping their program will serve as a model, since he
feels this is a very important idea:

SULLIVAN: Maybe other fire departments will take our lead. We don't have
a chance of failing this - we've got to succeed the first time. If we
walk into it and go, "Hey - our system's impenetrable, and infallible"
then we're thinking in the wrong direction.

PAUL: And yes, Sullivan was talking to me from an active fire scene,
although one that his crew had under control.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.

**

HAM AND EGGS, BUT MOSTLY HAMS

NEIL/ANCHOR: We radio operators love to chew the rag but there's nothing
like chewing on a waffle or some flapjacks in the company of friends - as
we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Mike Askins, KE5CXP.

MIKE'S REPORT: The Willits Amateur Radio Society, W6MMM, has enjoyed
1,250 days of ham for breakfast. That's right, the Willits, California
club, founded in 1992, considers itself one of the more social clubs out
there. So, when they gathered on Saturday, January 14, for the latest in
a long series of breakfasts, eggs, pancakes, sausage, and coffee, were on
the agenda. The club has more than 50 members, and its constitution states
that the group's objective is to promote interest in fellowship and fun in amateur radio, and to further the cooperation between Mendocino County
amateur radio operators. Members take part in health care drills too,
testing radios throughout the county, and responding when the Offices of Emergency Services needs help getting messages through during storms and
other events.

Of course, there are also those breakfasts at a place called Lumberjack's Restaurant, right there in Willits. As the club notes on its Facebook
page, you don't need to be a ham to join the group, and share some ham and eggs.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mike Askins, KE5CXP.

(WILLITS AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY)


Posted by VPost v1.7.081019

A WORLD RADIO DAY PREVIEW IN LONDON

ANCHOR/PAUL: World Radio Day is coming, and London's getting a sneak
preview. We hear more from Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

JEREMY: World Radio Day London will be held on Friday the 10th of February, between 3 and 8 p.m. local time, just a few days before World Radio Day.
That global event, organized by UNESCO, is devoted to exploring radio in
all its incarnations. It's a day for education and celebration among
industry professionals, academics, radio enthusiasts, and people curious
about the art and science of radio. The worldwide event is in its sixth
year.

The London event will be a free radio fair hosted by SOAS Radio, with
exhibits, workshops and speakers from the BBC, Refugee Radio Brighton,
and the University of Sunderland. The event is being cohosted by the Communication for Development Network and Centre of African Studies.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(WORLD RADIO DAY)

**

HONORS FOR HAM IN MAUI

ANCHOR/PAUL: One radio amateur on the island of Maui has just distinguished himself as a Volunteer Examiner. He's been overseeing exams since 1982.
Here's Amateur Radio Newsline's John Williams, VK4JJW, with the details.

JOHN: You've heard of the Worked All States and Worked All Counties awards
but what's it like being honored with the "Administered 100 Exams" award?
Ask Mel Fukunaga (Foo-Koo-NAH-Gah) KH6H, an amateur in Maui, who was
recently honored for his work as a Volunteer Examiner with just that prize.
Mel has overseen the license testing process on Maui since 1982, and on December 2, he showed up for his 100th VE session. He administers the
exams three times a year - in April, August and December.

Mel was given a personalized "V-E-C-C" award engraved with his name by the
Maui Amateur Radio Club KH6RS. Celebrating the occasion, the blog on the
club's website noted [quote] "If you received your license on Maui in the
last 25 years or so, you most likely have tested with Mel." [ENDQUOTE]

Of course, when he's not giving tests or training volunteers to assist
with emergency communications, Mel hosts the Maui Emergency Net on Monday nights on the Hawaii State Civil Defense VHF Repeater Network.

Congratulations Mel, from all of us here at Amateur Radio Newsline. I'm
John Williams, VK4JJW.

(DARREN HOLBROOK KH6OWL, MAUI AMATEUR RADIO CLUB)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the W0CRA repeater system in Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, on Sundays at 9 a.m.
local time.

**

HAM RADIO GOES IVY LEAGUE

PAUL/ANCHOR: There are quite a few ham radio clubs around the world. But,
few of them can claim to be as old as W-1-Y-U, the Amateur Radio Club at
Yale University, now in its 85th year.

I spoke with James Surprenant, AB1DQ, who works for the Yale School of Medicine, and is the club president:

SURPRENANT: I became involved with the Yale Radio Club last year in the
Spring of 2016. I started working at Yale the previous summer, and I was curious to whether Yale had a radio club or not. So I searched around on
the website, and found that they did in fact have one, but it was somewhat inactive, so I reached out to the officers at the time, and got together
with Ed, W1YSM, who is a faculty member I work with, and we've been working
on reviving the club, and making it a more active club.

PAUL/ANCHOR: I asked Surprenant how the club has fared over the years:

SURPRENANT: Like a lot of college clubs, the Yale club has waxed and waned
in student involvement since the year when it was first founded in 1931.
Around 1990, it actually lost its status as a student club, it was no
longer falling under the Dean's Office, and in fact the Dean's Office took
away our last fixed station on campus.

PAUL/ANCHOR: One of the ideas to get the students involved was to hold a introduction to ham radio workshop on campus, which they did last Fall.
They talked about the history and gave demos. I asked how it went:

SURPRENANT: It was well-received - we had over twenty participants for the fifteen slots that were available, and we gained at least one new member
from that session. K-C-1-G-T-O, a new licensee, Han Zhang actually who's a senior engineering student at Yale, joined the club and sat for his Element
2 and 3 test at our VE session and earned his General.

PAUL/ANCHOR: In today's internet-connected world, getting young people interested in radio can be challenging. I asked Surprenant how the club
is approaching recruitment:

SURPRENANT: Some of the things we've discovered that students are
interested in is the whole builder/maker aspect of ham radio. If you do hands-on projects like kitbuilding, Arduino, micro-controllers - they're interested in that. We've also discovered that young students are also fascinated by fox hunting and strangely enough, they're actually interested
in passing traffic, and how the NTS works! So those are areas where we are targeting our programs, and this month we're returning to the CEID, and
we're going to be doing a build-a-thon with our student members there, and we're going to build a 20-meter QRP regenerative kit with our students.

PAUL/ANCHOR: Hopefully, Yale's plan to work with other school clubs will
help to build a network of ideas that, in turn, will increase the number
of young people discovering the hobby.


Posted by VPost v1.7.081019

THIS 'COMEBACK KID' IS AN OM

PAUL: What's more satifying as making radio contact with a ham from the
North Cook Islands? How about...helping him get on the air in the first
place! Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, tells us that story.

JIM: There's a voice back on the HF bands, and the sound of some
well-practiced Code, coming from the North Cook Islands that some longtime
hams haven't heard in about 30 years. Pia Taraeka, E51PT, also known as
Papa Pia, has had his license, but until recently, little else to get on
the air.

That all changed recently, thanks to two hams from the Western Washington
DX Club, W7DX. Papa Pia received a donation of radio gear from Bob
Nielsen, N7XY. Another club member, Bengt-Erik Norum K7ADD/E51AMF, who has
been active from the region on a DXpedition, helped get the shack up and running again. The DX Club is one of the West Coast's largest, most active radio clubs on the West Coast.

Now Papa Pia can resume a radio career that began in 1962, when he was
employed as a radio operator for the Cook Island and New Zealand
governments. His amateur radio activity ended in 1984, he says in his QRZ profile.

He's back now, so be listening for him and please note - if you contact
him, he only accepts QSL cards mailed directly to him.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(THE DAILY DX, COOK ISLANDS NEWS)

**

HONORING A HEROIC HAM AND HIS CREW

PAUL: There is a movement to honor the heroic and quick-thinking actions
of one amateur radio operator and three other crew members on board a
military aircraft nearly 43 years ago. We hear more from Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.

DON's REPORT: On September 15th, 1974 Staff Sergeant Homer Perry, K4YZJ,
and three other crewmen on board a C-7A aircraft, serving with the 94th Tactical Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia, were on a
local training mission with 13 Aeromedical personnel on board.

During the takeoff roll, the number-2 engine exploded, and erupted into
flames. Unable to abort the takeoff, they continued and attempted a
go-around and began shut down procedures on the number-2 engine and to extinguish the fire.

Due to a magnesium fire in the engine nacelle, practically impossible to
put out, the first attempt to extinguish the fire failed. Witnesses
testified seeing flames trailing as much as 100 feet behind the number-2 engine.

With an unsuccessful first attempt, the crew discharged the remaining
engine fire extinguisher, also unsuccessful. The aircraft commander was
able to turn the aircraft around and lined up with the opposite runway as
the fire eventually self-extinguished.

The crew made a successful emergency landing, and safely evacuated all personnel on the aircraft. Investigators say that had the fire not been extinguished, the aircraft would have likely exploded in mid-flight
resulting in wing separation. The rapid and decisive actions of the crew resulted in the saving of 17 lives, and a multi-million-dollar aircraft
from total destruction.

There is a petition to award the crew the Distinguished Flying Cross for
their heroism. If you would like to add your name to honor Homer Perry,
K4YZJ, and the rest of this brave crew, please visit
www.thepetitionsite.com, click browse and search for Heroism after 43
years. The detailed link can be found in the printed edition of this
week's Newsline report. You can also visit the Facebook page. Facebook.com/DFCfortheC7crew.

Let's see these heroes get the recognition they deserve.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/812/048/032/

**

SHORTWAVE FEST LONG ON AMBITION

PAUL: Listen up! There's still time to register for the 30th anniversary
of the Shortwave Listeners' Fest in Pennsylvania. Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephen Kinford, N8WB, has those details.

STEPHEN: The North American Shortwave Association is looking for a few
good listeners. Well, more than a few, actually. Radio hobbyists are
gathering in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, just north of Philadelphia,
from March 2nd through March 4th for the Winter SWL-Fest. They will
explore scanning, satellite TV, shortwave, mediumwave and even take a
look at pirate broadcasting. Attendees in the past have typically included broadcasters from Voice of America, Trans World Radio, Swiss Radio International, and China Radio International, among others. There will
also be a late-night listening session on Friday, which will include a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the SWL-Fest.

Yes, there's still time to register, and you can do that online. Visit swlfest.com for details.

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

(NORTH AMERICAN SHORTWAVE ASSOCIATION)


Posted by VPost v1.7.081019

NAVAL HONORS FOR AUSTRALIAN AMATEURS

JIM/ANCHOR: You don't have to be in the military to receive Navy honors
- not if you're one of the Australian hams who were involved in a special
event marking a noted World War I battle at sea. Amateur Radio Newsline's
John Williams, VK4JJW, has that story.

JOHN'S REPORT: The Royal Australian Navy's role in WWI was a point of
pride back then, even as it is now. Just ask Mike, VK4QS, Alan, VK4SN,
Bob, VK4RJ, Peter, VK4QC, Mike, VK4MIK, and Doc, VK5BUG. The six hams, operating as VI4SEA last November, marked the Navy's first single-ship
action at sea during the war as HMAS Sydney engaged Germany's SMS Emden.
The hams' efforts were hailed in a letter their team leader received from
the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, who said he was encouraged
by amateur radio's promotion of the nation's military heritage. The team
had also operated two other stations during the ANZAC centenary in 2015
-- VI4AE2 honoring the Australian submarine at the Dardanelles in April,
and VI4ANZAC noting the Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train in December.

(WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA)

**

RADIO SCOUTING

JIM/ANCHOR: More Scouts are getting on the air this week, and Amateur
Radio Newsline's Bill Stearns, NE4RD, tells us where and when.

BILL'S REPORT: This week in Radio Scouting, we have one activation of the
K2BSA callsign, one activation from Scout Camps on the Air, and JOTA
planning.

Jeffrey Kent, KB0GVI, is the control operator for the K2BSA portable 0
station at the Old Capitol Valley District Winter Camporee at Lake Iowa
State Park in Ladora, Iowa, on February 26. Look for Jeffrey on the
cluster, and help make his event a success for the scouts.

Chuck McBride, WS5ADV, is the control operator for WS5BSA at the Troop 20
Hut in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on March 11th. Chuck will have the scouts active on 20 through 10 m on SSB from a Yaesu Ft-840 if the bands are open. This is a pretty active group, and they'll be on our activation list
regularly.

We're just finishing up our 9th month in the countdown to Jamboree on the
Air. If you haven't found a location, scheduled the event on the district calendar, or found some partners, now is the time to get cracking! Merit
Badge Colleges and Fairs are popping up on many districts calendar over
the next few weeks, this is a prime time to recruit help, advertise your
desire to have an event (if you haven't scheduled it), or promote your
event by helping with a Radio Merit Badge program.

For more information on K2BSA and radio scouting, please visit http://www.k2bsa.net/.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, and the K2BSA Amateur Radio Association, this
is Bill Stearns, NE4RD.

**

NEWFOUNDLAND HAM BECOMES RAC'S ATLANTIC DEPUTY DIRECTOR

JIM/ANCHOR: Radio Amateurs of Canada has had a new deputy director
appointed in its Atlantic Region. He is Frank Davis, VO1HP, who is known
as an enthusiastic DXer on 160 meters, and a contributor to a project
that would bridge the Atlantic on 144 MHz using terrestrial propagation
modes. Frank, who lives in Newfoundland, has been a licensed ham for more
than a half-century.

Frank's appointment took effect on February 8th. He replaces Len Morgan,
VE9MY, of New Brunswick, who will continue on as manager of the RAC's
incoming QSL bureau.

(RADIO AMATEURS OF CANADA)


Posted by VPost v1.7.081019

HELPING PROSPECTIVE HAMS, BY THE BOOK

NEIL/ANCHOR: Elmering has a long tradition in amateur radio, and one
Texas club takes it so seriously, they have invested some grant money
in a special book to recruit and encourage new licensees. Let's hear
more from Amateur Radio Newsline's Skeeter Nash, N5ASH.

SKEETER: Members of the Cedar Creek Amateur Radio Club, K5CCL, don't
consider prospective hams to be dummies - and they're not calling them
dummies. They'd actually like to call them fellow hams. That's why
they're making free copies available of the ARRL book, "Ham Radio for
Dummies." The Athens, Texas club believes that wide distribution of the
book to libraries and schools will give people greater access to radio knowledge, and perhaps help cultivate new licensees. The book, which is
in its second edition, is by ARRL contributing editor Ward Silver N0AX.
A grant from LDG Electronics of St. Leonard, Maryland, made it possible
for the club to purchase copies, and nearly every school and public
library in the tri-county area around this Texas community received a
copy from Glenn Hughes, KF5CTG, a former teacher, who coordinated the
project for the Cedar Creek club.

An estimated 30 copies were distributed, now await their new readership,
and the club hopes some VE sessions will eventually follow.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH.

(CEDAR CREEK LAKE NEWS, THE ATHENS REVIEW, CEDAR CREEK AMATEUR RADIO
CLUB BLOG)

**
A WINNING WYONG FIELD DAY

NEIL/ANCHOR: Amateurs from the Central Coast of New South Wales,
Australia, had a full day recently - a VERY full day - during Field Day
at Wyong. With that story is Amateur Radio Newsline's Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

ED'S REPORT: After months of preparation and hard work, the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club's Field Day at Wyong took place Sunday, the 26th of February.

Aerial shots of the hamfest from a drone, showed the car parks to be full;
in fact, overflowing and lots of people walking around the flea market.

Many positive comments have already been received regarding the variety
of topics being covered in the two, parallel lecture streams. A big vote
of thanks goes to Bob, VK2AOR, for putting both lecture streams together.

The ATV and DMR demonstrations on the upper floor of the race club, were
well attended, with all seats being filled, and standing room only for
the Brandmeister and DMR demos. Ian, VK2HK, who ran these demonstrations,
tells me he was only able to get away for 10 minutes during the day, so
high was the interest, and questions about this new digital voice mode.
Ian had to be supplied with food and drink by other club members, so
again, thanks to Ian for his dedication.

Along with the DMR demonstrations, the other hits of the day were the
lecture on Space Weather from the Australian Government's Bureau of Meteorology, and the Drone flying demonstrations. These demonstrations
were so effective, that the drone retailer left at the end of the day
with no stock left.

While lectures and demonstrations were taking place on the upper floors,
there was also lots happening at ground level, with the traders and flea
market stalls getting lots of attention, and the testing room busy not
only with Australian, but this year also US amateur radio examinations.

For a hamfest that has been going almost 60 years, it is good to see the
CCARC expanding into new areas of interest to their visitors, and having
a very successful Wyong Field Day 2017.

Through involvement of a local radio station, and attendance of youngsters
from local schools, it is hoped that the message about Amateur Radio will
be passed on to a new generation of club members, but before the CCARC
Field Day in 2018, the club has a lot to prepare in it's celebrations of
the club's 60th. birthday in October. Long may the CCARC continue in its efforts of promoting Amateur Radio in "God's Country", the Central Coast
of New South Wales Australia.

For the Central Coast ARC, this has been Ed, DD5LP, VK2JI.

**

NOMINATE YOUR "YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR"

NEIL: Amateur Radio Newsline would like to remind listeners that the
nomination period has opened for the Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham
of the Year Award. Although we accept nominations through May 31, don't
wait too long to download your application from our website, and get
your documentation together to support your nominee. Young Ham candidates
must be 18 or younger, and be a resident of the United States, its
possessions, or any Canadian province. Application forms are available
on our website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab. Please read the
rules carefully. Applications are being accepted between Wednesday,
March 1 and May 31. The award will be presented on August 19th at the Huntsville Hamfest in Huntsville Alabama. Join us in helping celebrate
young, talented, community-minded amateurs by nominating a youngster
you admire.


Posted by VPost v1.7.081019

WWV: THE DAY THAT TIME STOOD STILL

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Daylight Saving Time, which starts Sunday, March 12,
confuses lots of people - at least temporarily. But radio station WWV had another issue recently with keeping. Here's Newsline's Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

NEIL's REPORT: Radio Station WWV, operated by the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology, continually transmits the current
time on several frequencies from just outside Fort Collins, Colorado.
If you tuned into WWV recently, and it seems they disappeared... well, it wasn't another David Copperfield TV special. WWV was off the air recently
for installation of a 250 kVA backup generator. Matt Deutch, N0RGT, is the chief engineer at WWV, and explains what took place.

MATT: We've had the same diesel generator to back up WWV since 1967, 68 something like that, and it worked wonderfully for us, but over the years,
it has slowly started to accumulate its problems. And, the reliability was
in question. It was having trouble starting sometimes, especially when we needed it, and so the division scraped together some money, and said let's
get a new generator. So we've installed a new generator. The testing isn't
done quite yet. We're still in the midst of... Cummins is gonna test it...
but we've run it. We have a new automatic transfer switch, and we're hoping
to do a load test next week, and transfer it onto the building, also and
make sure everything works okay.

NEIL: Matt further explains what took place instead of the expected two
days of service outage that was anticipated.

MATT: That was to pull the new cable through the conduit... put in new
conduit, and pull cable through it, and reconnect it to the distribution
panel. So, it was just for safety measure for the workers to work on that equipment. And, it went a lot faster than we thought it would, which is
good. And so, we just had two short outages instead of the day long
outages like we had anticipated.

NEIL: So for the couple of weeks until the testing is complete, WWV is
running without a backup generator. And ironically, that's exactly the
time that an unexpected outage took place.

MATT: We did have one outage that was unscheduled. We need the generator
about once every five years. And, we did have a snow storm last week, and
one of our outages was unplanned. We didn't have a backup generator, and
sure enough, we lost power. We were off the air for about two hours
without a backup generator.

NEIL: The generator will be fully functional soon, and WWV will be back
to being all time, all the time. And, it sure was fun to call WWV and ask, "What time is it?" But alas, it's happened many times before.

Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, in
Bloomington, Indiana.

**

A MEDAL FOR HER MORSE CODE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A 90-year-old former Morse Code operator in the UK, has
just been honored for her World War 2 service, as we learn from Newsline's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

JEREMY: A World War II wireless operator, who used her Morse Code skills transmitting coded messages between India and England, has been awarded
a war medal recognizing her service. Diana O'Brien is now 90 years old.
She was 17, and her name was Diana Ballantyne when she joined the First
Aid Nursing Yeomanry in 1944. She'd decided to help the war effort even
more by learning Morse Code, and working as a wireless operator.

She trained at Henley-on-Thames and Bletchley Park, but was eventually
posted to India, where she worked in Delhi and then Calcutta, transmitting coded messages back to England, supporting troops behind enemy lines in
Burma. She returned to the UK in October of 1945, and eventually married,
and settled in the Lake District.

The Mayor of Shrewsbury, where Diana has lived since 2015, presented her recently with the campaign War Medal 1939-1945.

Her family told the Westmorland Gazette that her spirit for public service stayed with her even after the war. Before moving into a residential care
home, she volunteered for a number of local organizations, including the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, the League of Friends at Westmorland
County Hospital, the Red Cross, the Victoria League, and the Women's
Institute.

And yes, her family says, she still remembers Morse Code.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(THE WESTMORLAND GAZETTE)

***

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including W4GS, the Grand
Strand Amateur Radio Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on Sundays at
8 p.m.


Posted by VPost v1.7.081019

PUSH-TO-TALK MAKES CONTACTS - AND FRIENDS

SKEETER/ANCHOR: Young hams in South Africa are making friends with young American hams living in Michigan. It's all because of ham radio, as we
hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

JIM MEACHEN: You're never too young to form a long-distance friendship,
but while children before the era of the internet did that by becoming
penpals, some youngsters of the current digital age are going - not
online - but on the air. Kids in the South African Radio League's Hammies Amateur Radio Club, ZS6ZU, have been building bonds with their counteparts
in the U.S. for almost two years through a net organized by Ed Engelman,
KG8CE, of the Young Amateur Communications Ham Team, in Menominee,
Michigan. Hammies organizer Noel Hammond, ZR6DX, said it's fun - and it's working.

NOEL: The aim and whole idea of the net and the group, is to get the kids
to discuss, to talk about themselves, learning different cultures, and
what it is like here in Africa, what it is like in the States, and
hopefully, getting to learn each other's cultures. Kids have been very
good ambassadors from both sides.

JIM: Even with their days being many hours apart, Noel said the kids still
find a way to bridge that huge time zone between them.

NOEL: We have had some great conversations with the kids. The kids have
had great conversations with each other. They ask about South Africa, of course, and there are a lot of questions about the States, what they do,
and what they like about ham radio. The fantastic thing here is that the
common denominator is ham radio.

JIM: In South Africa, those twelve weeks of Saturday morning Hammies
classes have taught the kids enough technical stuff to become confident operators, but it's the on-air get-togethers with the other children that provides unity. Maybe one day Noel, says, the radio can unite them in
other ways.

NOEL: I am hoping over a period of time, we can take it to the next level,
and maybe we can get an eyeball QSO. That would absolutely be a dream, be
a dream come true. Maybe take some kids there, or some kids come across
here, and do some of those things, and get to know each other that way.

JIM: That's ham radio building friendships, one child at a time. For
Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

**

YL DXER IS DAYTON DINNER'S HEADLINER

SKEETER/ANCHOR: Ruth Willet, KM4LAO, isn't just an active YL and a DXer,
she's the keynoter at an upcoming dinner at Dayton Hamvention. Let
Newsline's Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, introduce her:

NEIL'S REPORT: The SouthWest Ohio DX Association has announced that Ruth Willet, KM4LAO, will keynote its 32nd annual DX Dinner(R), held in
conjunction with the 2017 Dayton Hamvention(R). Her topic will be
"Experiencing the Hobby of a Lifetime." So, let's meet Ruth. She will
tell you a little bit about herself.

RUTH: I'm a freshman at Kettering University in Michigan, where I am
majoring in mechanical engineering, and engineering physics. So, although
I live in Georgia, I chose to go to Kettering in Michigan, because of the
small size, and another big attraction to the school was the co-op
program. So, basically the entire schedule is set up around co-ops. It's basically a quarter schedule, so you're in school for a quarter, about 11 weeks, an entire semester, and then you go and work for a company in an engineering field related to your major. So, I'm working right now for
Textron Specialized Vehicles in Augusta, Georgia. I've been there since
the beginning of January. I'll be there until the end of March, which is
about 11 weeks, and then I'll be heading back to school.

NEIL: Ruth is still basking in the thrill of last year's enviable ham
radio DX adventure.

RUTH: I was a member of the 2016 Dave Kalter Memorial Youth DX adventure.
We traveled to the island of Saba last August. There were nine of us. We
lived on the island for about a week. It was a lot of fun, getting the experience of traveling there, and operating from the island. We operated

on satellites, as well as HF. So, satellites were pretty neat, since most
of us hadn't experienced satellite operations before. Getting to put Saba
on the air, was quite the adventure.

NEIL: Ruth looks forward to sharing her adventures with everyone at the
DX dinner.

RUTH: I'm looking forward to basically sharing some of the stories of what
I've been able to do in this hobby, thanks to the great people I've been
able to interact with, and learn from. Building on that, share my ideas
that I've learned from the different experiences I've been able to have regarding how we can promote this personal hobby, and attract people who
will get licensed and stay interested in this hobby, and interested in
amateur radio to keep it moving forward into the future.

NEIL: You can hear Ruth's talk at the DX dinner on Friday, May 19, at the Dayton Marriott, 1414 S. Patterson Boulevard, starting with a social hour
at 5:30 PM. For more information, and to order tickets, visit
swodxaevents.org. Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp,
WB9VPG.


Posted by VPost v1.7.081019

THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF AM ARE BACK

PAUL/ANCHOR: If you've never tried AM mode, now's your chance. Whatever the
age of your rig, this time-honored voice communication mode is about to
have an event all its own. Here's Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD, with more.

HEATHER: What could be better than high-fidelity amateur radio? Nothing!
How about enjoying this through a contest known as the AM Rally, which
takes place the weekend of April 1st and 2nd. The weekend of AM QSOs not
only pays homage to the oldest form of voice modulation, which predates
SSB, but encourages all amateurs - even first-timers who've never used AM
mode - to switch their rigs out of SSB. Hams are asked to experience the
rich sound their contacts have when their signals contain a carrier with
double sideband - perhaps for the first time in their operating careers.
The action is happening on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 and 6 meters, and
there's an opportunity to earn certificates, as well as learn more about
this historic mode of transmission. Hams with transistorized rigs,
home-brew rigs, boat anchors, software-based rigs, and many other types of equipment can participate. Even military rigs and rigs converted from AM broadcast qualify; there are separate categories for each type. Please
visit www-dot-amrally-dot-com (www.amrally.com) for details, operating frequencies and information about logging software.

Even if you're too young to remember the good old days of AM, if you're licensed, you're old enough to go back in time for just a few hours, and experience AM.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD.

(CLARK BURGARD N1BCG)

**

NETS OF NOTE: THE BROTHERS NET

PAUL: Newsline's occasional series, Nets of Note, takes a look at some
unusual on-air gatherings. This week's find is from Amateur Radio
Newsline's Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

NEIL: On this week's "Nets of Note, we meet Phil Henline, KB0OPR, one of
the founding brothers of the Brothers Net on 40 meters. These guys know
how to throw a party... I mean... a net. Phil tells us how it all got
started.

PHIL: The net started quite by accident. My younger brother got me into
ham radio. Our father passed away in '93. He bribed me with my dad's
Kenwood 520S and a tuner, and said "if you get your general license, I'll
give those to you." So I got my license. I got on one night. I don't
remember what frequency it was, and I heard about three fellows chatting,
and I heard this one fellow say that he lived in Indiana, but he was
originally from Wisconsin. So when they finished, I contacted him, and
we had a little chat, and we discovered that we each had brothers still
living in Wisconsin, that were hams. So we would make contacts every
Saturday morning, and that went on for probably about six or eight months.
Then one day, my brother Kurt said, "We should start a brothers net."

NEIL: Very soon, though, the net was opened to everyone, brothers or no brothers. And it just started to grow. Now there are 944 members in 41
states, and 32 countries. Each night has a different theme.

PHIL: Monday night, we do what we call tube night, which is old radio
night. You don't have to have an old radio to join us, but if you do, we'd
like you to fire it up. Every other Tuesday night is Route 66, where we
talk about nothing but cars, and Route 66, and things of that nature.
The opposite Tuesday night we have what we call rocket science night. And,
we have another NCS that is into the scientific area, and he does a net
around that.

NEIL: Wednesday night is Canadian night. Thursday is for astronomy, Friday
is for trivia. Saturday is well, wide open! This net even has its own
mascot!

PHIL: My brother, Kurt, WA9KMB, in Medford, had an eagle nesting in one of
the trees on his property. So we called him Rudy, and eventually we decided
we should have a mascot. So, Kurt found this beautiful stuffed eagle that's about maybe 2 foot tall, very attractive, and we have what we call a "handshake" every year. So, every first week in June, we go to Russellville, Kentucky to K4ELO. He has a farm there, and he hosts it. We have about 40 people a year. And, Rudy the mascot then gets auctioned off. Whoever wins
Rudy has to take Rudy with them wherever they go, and they have to
photograph Rudy in all these different places. They'll submit the
photographs to me, and I'll keep a constant slideshow going on our website.

NEIL: For some brotherly advice, try the Brothers net on 7.192 at 7 pm
Eastern Monday through Saturday. And, you can check out the pictures of
Rudy and get more information at their website, w9bro.net.

Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

ANCHOR/PAUL: Meanwhile, if you know of a net with an interesting story to
tell, email us at newsline at arnewsline.org , and we might just feature
it as one of our next Nets of Note.


Posted by VPost v1.7.081019

103-YEAR-OLD HAM IN RUSSIA, A SILENT KEY

JIM/ANCHOR: In his lifetime, Victor Sokkolov, U5FS, of Izmail, Russia,
had seen World War I, the Russian Revolution, and World War II, in which
he served in the military. Victor, who became a Silent Key on March 25
at the age of 103, was believed to be among the oldest amateurs in Russia,
if not the world.

A less active ham in his later years, Victor was proud of his military
service, and would often tell of the action he was involved in, including
the Russian landing on the Kerch Strait, which aimed to recapture Crimea
from Germany.

His death was reported in the Daily DX.

(SOUTHGATE, DAILY DX)

**

PUTTING ITALY'S REPEATERS ON THE MAP

JIM/ANCHOR: Anyone who has ever searched for a repeater, only to be
frustrated, should get to know a ham like Andrea (ON-DRAYA NOOT-ZI) Nuzzi, IZ8WNH. Over the course of two to three months, he researched and created
an interactive map of amateur radio repeaters throughout Italy, with downloadable data for programming transceiver memory. Andrea explains here
how he accomplished it.

ANDREA: Greetings from IZ8WNH to all Amateur Radio Newsline followers. The
map was conceived to easily visualize repeaters' data based on Ham radio operator's position. It's not obvious to find information when moving from
a place to another, so the map allows OM/YL to find easily what they are looking for. Italy's repeaters' data are unofficially distributed through IK2ANE Walter's spreadsheet, which means they are not either exhaustive or accurate. I am doing a huge effort to find new data, and validate the
existing ones by verifying more than 1850 records, one by one, and asking
the collaboration of local OM/YL. So far, 40% of records have been
positively validated, and there's still a lot to do.

The map offers additional tools like four combinable filters based on
Italian regions, counties, the type of repeater, and the band. Filtered recordsets are automatically shown on the map, and on demand, in a table. Collected data are exported as pdf and csv files. There are two different
csv formattings to help OM/YL in setting RTX memories with Chirp or
dedicated Yaesu softwares.

The website works with some HTML and PHP, a lot of JavaScript and MySQL database. It took me about 2-3 months to write down the complete code,
create a database, insert additional code to provide a fully responsive website, and fix incompatibilities among IE- and FF-based browsers. Nevertheless, maintaining the website up and running, as well as updating
the database are never-ending processes!

JIM/ANCHOR: Thank you, Andrea. A link to his repeater map can be found at iz8wnh.it/en.html

**

IARU GUIDE: NOTHING LOST IN TRANSLATION

JIM/ANCHOR: Another ham - this one in Romania - has taken a different kind
of creative initiative. He has translated the IARU Emergency
Telecommunications Guide into Romanian. The guide is an invaluable
resource for amateurs wanting to set up a state-of-the-art National
Emergency Network, and provide training for operators. Hams in Romania now
have additional help in doing this, thanks to the efforts of one amateur, Francisc Grunberg (Fran-Sick Groon-berg), YO4PX, who has translated its 93 pages.

The guide is now available in HTML and PDF format on the website of the Romanian Federation of Radio Amateurs at radioamator.ro.

The IARU guide is the latest body of ham radio literature translated by Francisc, whose profession is that of a translator and writer.

(SOUTHGATE, QRZ)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the WA3PBD repeater of the Two Rivers Amateur Radio Club in McKeesport, Pennsylvania during the 8 pm. Monday Night Net.


Posted by VPost v1.7.081019

RESTORING RADIO AUSTRALIA'S SHORTWAVE

NEIL/ANCHOR: Radio Australia's shortwave service went off the air in
January, but shortwave radio proponents say it's not dead yet. Here's
Amateur Radio Newsline's John Williams, VK4JJW.

JOHN: The Australian Parliament is considering a proposal that would
restore Radio Australia's shortwave transmission services to the
Northern Territory, as well as international audiences in the Pacific.
The controversial January shutdown sparked a public outcry, and an
immediate call for reversal of the decision. In the meantime, Sen. Nick Xenophon of South Australia has proposed an amendment to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act of 1983, that would require the shortwave station's return to the air, including its services to areas such as
New Guinea and Vanuatu. The senator has declared the shortwave service
vital to thousands of Australians living in rural areas, most especially
in the bush.

The broadcaster had cut the service, claiming it wanted to focus on its
digital offerings instead, and noted that the move would save $1.9 million annually.

Public comment is being accepted by the Senate Environment and
Communications Legislation Committee, which is due to make its report on
the bill on the 10th of May.

One supporter of the senator's measure is former shortwave radio engineer,
Gary Baker, who told the Shepparton News recently that even if the measure succeeds, it would take time to get back on the air again. He said
shortwave broadcast is a highly specialized field, and staffing is likely
to be the biggest challenge if service is restored.

He told the newspaper [QUOTE] "You can't just grab someone off the street
and get them to run Radio Australia." ENDQUOTE

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

AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT WEBSITE, ABC.NET.AU, SHEPPARTON NEWS)

**

UPDATE: IN THE UK, RADIO MUSEUM DOORS OPEN

NEIL/ANCHOR: The waiting is over. The newest radio communication museum
in Great Britain has begun receiving visitors, as we hear from Amateur
Radio Newsline's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

JEREMY: In the central England city of Derby, the new Radio Communication Museum of Great Britain has been in the midst of two construction projects.
The first is the museum building itself, housing exhibits that comprise
all manner of wireless communication. The other construction project has
been the website, which is growing, as its brick-and-mortar counterpart
does too.

The building now contains an operations room with transmitters connnected
to antennas; a mechanical workshop; an ESD electronics laboratory, and a variety of galleries. The museum has at long last been open to groups by arrangement -- but formal school programs are expected to get under way
very shortly this spring.

The museum exists thanks to longtime radio amateur Steve Haseldine, G8EBM, whose profession is also in radio. In addition to conceiving of the
museum, he donated items from his personal collection to create the first displays.

Hams like Steve are expected to be especially drawn to the operations room
with its selection of radios dating from the 1930s to the present day -
from Collins and Drake and Eddystone, to Hallicrafters and Flexradio.
There are even former military and commercial AM radios from Labgear and Geloso. The museum, it seems, is now QRV.

For more information visit radiocommunicationmuseum.org

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

**

DON'T FORGET OUR YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR

NEIL/ANCHOR: We remind you once again of Amateur Radio Newsline's
commitment to honoring young talent. Is there a young radio operator
who particularly impresses you? Nominations have opened for the Bill
Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award for amateurs 18 or
younger, who reside in the United States, its possessions, or any
Canadian province. Find application forms on our website arnewsline.org
under the "YHOTY" tab. The award will be presented on August 19th at the Huntsville Hamfest in Alabama.

Visit our website for details at arnewsline.org. Nominations close May
31, and that's just a few weeks away.


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FOR K2BSA, IT's MORSE AND MORE

DON/ANCHOR: Scouts are busy on the radio again this week, and there's even a fun code competition thrown into the mix. For more details on that, let's
hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Stearns, NE4RD.

BILL: This week in Radio Scouting, we have 1 activation of the K2BSA
callsign, and 1 activation from Scout Camps on the Air.

Ben Kuo, KK6FUT, will be the control operator for the K2BSA portable 6
station at the Ventura County Council Conejo Valley District Camporee, in Moorpark, California on April 22nd and 23rd. This the the third activation
of the camp by the ham radio operators from the Conejo (co-ney-ho) Valley Amateur Radio Club (CVARC). In the spirit of Boy Scout Camporees, where
scouts compete to show off their scouting skills, the group is sponsoring
a competition for scouts to decode a message in Morse Code to win a
blister pack of FRS radios, and an ARRL Technician License Manual. Ben,
who has been organizing the event, and regularly works with scouts as a
scout leader and Radio Merit Badge counselor, said that, surprisingly, one
of parts of ham radio which attracts the most interest from scouts is
Morse Code. Although it's no longer required for a license, the scouts have
an enormous interest in decoding and sending Morse code, even more than
talking on the radio. After last year's event, scouts were sending Morse
code messages by flashlight all over camp, and scouts were specifically
coming to the group's tent to learn about Morse code. Last year, the group showed off ham radio to the over 600 participants in the Camporee, with 65 scouts decoding their first Morse code message, and entering the contest,
and helping dozens of scouts make contacts on the air. The group is hoping
to do the same this year, with another Morse Code contest, and first
contacts for scouts. The group plans to be on HF on 20m, 40m, 15m, and 10m primarily on phone and digital, depending on band conditions, and local
VHF repeaters.

Robert Swain, W5APO, will be the control operator for special event station
W0A at the Southern Area 4 Section Order of the Arrow Conference hosted by Uh-To-Yeh-Hut-Tee Lodge at the Sand Hill Scout Reservation in Brooksville,
FL, on April 22nd. The event will host close to 1000 scouters and scouts,
and will be a great opportunity to show off amateur radio!

For more information on K2BSA and radio scouting, please visit http://www.k2bsa.net/.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, and the K2BSA Amateur Radio Association, this
is Bill Stearns, NE4RD.

**

BREAKING THE ICE....IN ICELAND

DON/ANCHOR: Does ham radio leave you cold? Well it did for one youngster
from North Carolina who got back recently from his first DXpedition - to Iceland. Amateur Radio Newsline's Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, talked with him.

NEIL: Mason Matrazzo, of Clemmons, North Carolina, was on the air from
Iceland as TF/KM4SII in the middle of March. This was his first DXpedition.
He took along a Buddistick, an FT-450, and 25 feet of coax on a trip to
Iceland with his mother. Mason is just 14 years old. Mason explains the difficulties he ran into operating on the trip.

MASON: Mother nature was none too kind during this expedition, and I only
got really one day where I could get the antenna set up the whole time we
were there; maybe actually technically speaking, too. But, there's a bunch
of problems.

NEIL: Problems getting the antenna mounted outside the hotel, and extreme weather conditions definitely got in his way. Mason wasn't very happy with
the amount of contacts he was able to get, but he still had a great time,
and learned a lot.

MASON: I managed to work 15 countries, and it was only like - I don't know
- 20 something, maybe no more than 25 QSOs. It was very painful, I'll say,
when you when you're trying to work somebody through S9, S9+10 noise. So I couldn't actually hear if a frequency was clear very easily. But
fortunately, I had Internet access. So I got on one of the online SDRs in Europe, and found a clear spot, and I just started calling CQ there, and eventually I got spotted by someone in Russia, and I got some callers. It
was slow going, but I did manage to pull some of them out of the S9 noise.
That was the first night, and the second night I was on the air, it was a little bit late, and the band had gone really long and funky, and I wasn't getting any callers coming back to my CQ, at least that were audible. So I
just spent the rest of the night in search and pounce mode.

NEIL: Mason plans on trying another DXpedition soon.

MASON: Like I said, this is the first I've ever been internationally. So,
it was a good first time. Next time, I'm hoping that I operate where I get myself a quieter location, and a warmer location. I think somewhere
tropical would be good next, because it was; it was cold!

NEIL: And Mason, I can't blame you for that.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.


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NO SHORTAGE OF SHORTWAVE

PAUL/ANCHOR: Shortwave service is back in Australia, but it's not what
you think. Here's Amateur Radio Newsline's, Graham Kemp.

GRAHAM: With Radio Australia having ended its shortwave transmissions
in January, some of the gap is about to be filled by a North Queensland
radio operation starting in May. Radio 4KZ Innisfail will run its 1.5
thousand watts into an inverted V antenna, and will simulcast station 4KZ, which is an AM/FM operation. The shortwave simulcast will be on 5055kHz
seven days a week between 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. local time. The new shortwave service was reported on the website SWLING.COM and credited the general
manager of NQ Radio, Al Kirton, VK4FFKZ, with creating this to provide
service to some areas left without radio when Radio Australia went off
the shortwave bands earlier this year. Meanwhile in Parliament, there's
a measure by Senator Nick Xenophon which would reinstate Radio Australia's shortwave service if it passes.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

PAUL/ANCHOR: Al Kirton, VK4FFKZ, told Amateur Radio Newsline in an email
that listeners will receive an attractive QSL card if they send in
reception reports. He said the first two weeks of shortwave will be a
trial-run operation.

(WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA, Al KIRTON VK4FFZ, SWLING.COM)

**

STILL TIME TO NOMINATE YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR

PAUL/ANCHOR: And now, another reminder that nominations are open for our Amateur Radio Newsline Bill Pasternak Young Ham of the Year Award. What
does it all mean? Let's hear from a past winner.

CHRISTOPHER: I'm Christopher Arthur, NV4B, the 2000 Newsline Young Ham of
the Year. Being chosen Young Ham of the Year remains one of the greatest
honors I have ever received. It showed me that the amateur radio community appreciates leadership among the youth in our hobby. My early success in amateur radio has translated to a ten-plus-year career in computer
engineering. I have remained active in the hobby since I won the award,
and I am currently an active member of the Muscle Shoals Amateur Radio
Club, where I am involved in technical projects and presentations, Field
Day, VHF contesting, and education and testing of new hams. The yaesu
FT-847 I was awarded has been used to make over 20 thousand QSOs since
2000. I hope that number continues to grow as I remain active in the
years to come. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christopher Arthur, NV4B.

PAUL/ANCHOR: If there is a young radio operator who particularly impresses
you, visit our website for details at arnewsline.org. Find application
forms under the "YHOTY" tab. Nominations close May 31. Yes, that's barely
a month away!

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
W3BN, the 2-meter repeater of the Reading Radio Club in Reading,
Pennsylvania, on Friday evenings at 8 p.m. local time.


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