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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2456 for Friday November 22nd, 2024
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2456 with a release date of
Friday, November 22nd, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Chinese and Russian students collaborate on a
ham radio satellite. The next head of the FCC is nominated -- and New
Zealand hams help a community radio network grow. All this and more as
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2456 comes your way right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART

**
QSOS BEGIN VIA CHINESE AND RUSSIAN STUDENTS' CUBESAT

JIM/ANCHOR: Our top story this week is about a satellite created
through the efforts of Russian and Chinese college students working
together. The satellite is in orbit now and hams are busy making use of
it for their QSOs. Graham Kemp VK4BB has the details.

GRAHAM: The collaborative efforts of Chinese and Russian university
students have helped put a CubeSat known as ASRTU-1 into space. Its
2-metre FM transponder recently became active, with an uplink of
145.850 MHz requiring a CTCSS tone of 67 Hz. The 12U satellite,
weighing 15.7 kg, also has SSDV cameras and a telemetry system aboard.

According to a report on ChinaDaily.com, the creation of the satellite
was undertaken to encourage cultural exchanges while tapping into the higher-education resources of both nations. The educational and ham
radio microsatellite was launched on Nov. 4th on board a Soyuz rocket
-a moment eagerly awaited by the students who assisted with the work at
the Harbin Institute of Technology in China.

The microsatellite's camera system has a UHF SSDV downlink for low
resolution images on 436.210 MHz. There is also a high-speed downlink
for high-resolution images on 10460 MHz.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(AMSAT-SM, AMATEUR RADIO DAILY, CHINA DAILY)

**
BRENDAN CARR TO REPLACE JESSICA ROSENWORCEL AS FCC CHAIR

JIM/ANCHOR: Here in the US, there will be a new leader at the helm of
the FCC under the new administration. We hear the details from Kent
Peterson KC0DGY.

KENT: The FCC has announced that senior Republican, Brendan Carr, is to
become its next chairman in 2025 under the Trump Administration,
succeeding Jessica Rosenworcel. Carr has served at the FCC since 2012.
His previous posts include legal adviser and general counsel. He was
named by then-President Donald Trump in 2017 to be a commissioner and
was later named by President Joe Biden to a term that runs through2029.

Carr said the FCC's priority must be to [quote] "restore free speech
rights for everyday Americans" [endquote] claiming that major social
media outlets have created a "cartel" that he believes censors
conservative viewpoints in particular. Carr is also an ally of Elon
Musk, whose Starlink satellite internet service has thrice been
rejected for subsidies from the FCC. Musk was recently named by Trump
to co-lead the new Department of Government Efficiency with former
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Until next January, the FCC will remain led by Democrats, 3-2. After he
takes office, Trump will appoint a new FCC commissioner.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.


(FCC, THE HILL, WASHINGTON POST)

**
COMMITTEE TO REVIEW IARU REGION 3 BAND PROPOSAL FOR CW

JIM/ANCHOR: One of the many issues taken up at the recent IARU Region 3 conference in Thailand was the proposed harmonization of the CW portion
of the 40-meter band plan with the other regions. The proposal
designates 7000 to 7040 kHz for CW only. Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us
what comes next.

GRAHAM: The Board of the WIA -- after a full briefing by Peter Young,
VK3MV, WIA delegate who attended and represented the Wireless Institute
of Australia at the IARU Region 3 meeting held in Thailand -- advises
that principles were established for band planning and that the
proposal by the IARU R3 HF Bandplan committee for the 40 metre band
will be sent to a committee before being presented to the other two
region meetings over the next three years.

I'm VK4BB, Graham Kemp.

(WIA)

**

OHIO SITE MARKS 30TH YEAR SINCE VOA WENT OFF THE AIR

JIM/ANCHOR: Inside a museum building in Ohio where work crews are busy
with renovations, many people recall the final day the building served
as a shortwave relay station for Voice of America. Neil Rapp WB9VPG
tells us more.

NEIL: Even as the Voice of America Museum remains closed with the hope
of reopening after renovations are complete, many were remembering a
much more dramatic closing at that site in West Chester Ohio. The
legendary shortwave relay station went silent 30 years ago -- on
November 14th, 1994 -- making its final broadcast to listeners overseas
when it was decommissioned by the US government. The building's more
recent closure is to allow upgrades to various systems on the premises
as well as to reorganize exhibits.

Meanwhile, the West Chester Amateur Radio Association, WC8VOA, has been
able to continue its regular meetings and open-house sessions at club headquarters inside the museum because the club shack is not part of
the renovation. Members were also in the shack to participate in the
recent ARRL Sweepstakes.

According to the VOA Museum website, there are hopes the renovation
work will be finished by mid-January and plans are being made for a
grand re-opening to the public.

This is Neil Rapp WB9VPG.

(VOA MUSEUM)

**
SILENT KEY: JOHN BOSTIC, WB4GOV, OF THE SOUTHCARS NET

JIM/ANCHOR: The community of hams who run the South Coast Amateur Radio
Service net known as SouthCars is grieving the loss of a member who
helped restore the group's foundation. We hear about him from Jack
Parker W8ISH.

JACK: To other members of the SouthCars 40-metre service net, few hams
could ever match the service given by John Bostic, WB4GOV. John, who
became a Silent Key on the 9th of November, had served as the net's
first general manager following its reorganization in late 1996. The
net had been in operation since the mid-60s and is a service net that
is on the air daily, passing traffic and assisting in emergencies when
needed.

As it grew to more than 14,500 members, the SouthCars net needed a
numbering method to keep things orderly and John instituted a system
that is still in place. According to an obituary in the QRZ.com forums,
he also established an awards program for the group, underwriting the
cost of plaques and trophies so that net control stations and others
could be honored for their contributions. According to the obituary
[quote] "he laid a firm foundation for the operation of SouthCars,
which developed into the largest and most prestigious net on the 40
meter band." [endquote] His tenure as manager ended when he stepped
down in 2004. The obituary said that he had been in declining health in
recent years.

John was 89.

This is Jack Parker W8ISH,

(QRZ.COM FORUMS)

**
CHANGES UNDERWAY IN ARRL's VEC PROGRAM

JIM/ANCHOR: If you're a Volunteer Examiner for any level of the US
amateur radio licenses, you can expect to be affected by this update
explained by Paul Braun WD9GCO.

PAUL: Some changes are coming to the ARRL's VEC program that will
affect exam teams in the US. According to an ARRL representative, the
VEC department is phasing out the supply of field-stocked printed exams
and encouraging VEs to download and print out their own from online
sources such as Exam Tools. The ARRL will continue to supply other
exam-related forms such as the FCC Form 605 or the CSCE and session
reports.The ARRL is also encouraging VE teams to explore electronic,
on-line testing whether in person or remotely.

For more information, check with your VEC contact, listed at the
webpage listed in the text version of this report on the arnewsline.org website.

[Do Not Read: https://www.arrl.org/volunteer-examiners ]

This is Paul Braun, WD9GCO

(ARRL)

**
GET READY TO WORK YOUNG OPS DURING YOTA MONTH

JIM/ANCHOR: Get ready to work the younger generation of radio operators
in December: It's YOTA month, as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: Don't forget that YOTA Month, also known as December, begins in
a little more than one week. Stations with radio operators under the
age of 26 will be on the air from countries around the world: France,
the UK, the Republic of Korea, Hungary, Argentina, Egypt and the United
States, to name a few. This is their month in the spotlight and
most of their callsigns contain the suffix Y O T A for Youngsters (or
Youth) on the Air. The US callsigns are K8Y, K8O, K8T and W8A, with the single-letter suffixes spelling "YOTA."

As in previous editions of this monthlong event, organisers stress that contacts should be made with the understanding that these QSOs may be
the youngsters' first experience in an on-the-air event and so patience
and care are key parts of the exchange. Awards will be available for
shortwave listeners as well as licensed amateur radio operators. The
real award, however, is knowing that you may have inspired someone to
pursue amateur radio over the course of their lifetime.

See details and a list of registered stations by visiting the link that
appears in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

[DO NOT READ: https://events.ham-yota.com/ ]

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the WR2ABA repeater system of the Larkfield Amateur Radio Club in
Huntington, New York, at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, following the Ragchew Net.

**

NEW ZEALAND NETWORK GROWS WITH HELP FROM HAMS

JIM/ANCHOR: In New Zealand, amateur radio operators are sharing the
power of radio - in this case, low-power license-free handhelds - to
bring communities and families closer together. We learn the details of
their efforts from Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

JIM: Helping people connect over radio - and stay connected - is the
mission behind the effort known as Rebuild Free Radio Network. It's an
emerging collective in New Zealand that's relying mainly on portable, licence-free handheld PRS radios that are often used as tools in public
safety. A number of the participants also have their amateur radio
licences, including the network's national coordinator.

Writing in Qua, the newsletter of the Franklin Amateur Radio Club, club
member Trish Murray ZL1TTM, explained how, community by community, she
is helping to strengthen the network locally. She described the
hands-on, interactive workshops she has been leading to get people
familiar with the UHF radios they have purchased but may be hesitant to
use. The workshops explain that local resiliency is the best reason for
using a radio and the area repeaters, whether it's to stay in touch
with other family members or communicate in a crisis.

Trish wrote that some of the more enthusiastic radio operators are
considering taking the next step. [quote] "Most people are completely
new to radio, so it's really inspiring seeing the confidence grow and
hear their first tentative calls. We also have experienced radio users,
and also now some who would like to go and do their ham licenses. I am encouraging this!" [endquote]

For more details about the Rebuild Free Radio Network, visit the link
in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org.

[FOR TEXT ONLY, DO NOT READ:
https://rebuildfree.com/topic/communications/ ]

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(QUA, REBUILD FREE RADIO)

**
FOR 25TH YEAR, SKYWARN SPOTTERS GET THEIR DAY

JIM/ANCHOR: Now here's a weather prediction for you: In early December,
expect a 100 percent chance of sincere appreciation showering down on
volunteer spotters participating in Skywarn. Randy Sly W4XJ tells us
how it's going to happen.

RANDY: For 24 hours on the first weekend of December, the Skywarn
network of volunteer operators will be recognizing something other than
storms, tornadoes, icy conditions, wind or floods. On-air operations
will be devoted to the scores of Skywarn spotters whose service helps
protect lives and property around the United States. The occasion is
the 25th anniversary of Skywarn Recognition Day which the National
Weather Service and the ARRL created in 1999 to shine a light on the
work of these weather spotters whose information-gathering is so vital
to everyone's well-being and safety.

Amateur radio operators are a big part of that team. From 7 p.m.
Eastern Time on Friday, December 6th through to 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, December 7th they'll be making contacts via CW, SSB, FT-4,
FT-8 on HF on 2 meters FM and DMR.

In a video on the National Weather Service YouTube channel, Ken Graham,
WX4KEG, director of the NWS called Skywarn spotters the "gold standard"
of citizen science. Coast to coast, they'll be calling CQ and
listening.

This is Randy Sly W4XJ.

(NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE)

**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, listen for Nobu, JA0JHQ on the air as T88PB from
Koror, IOTA number OC-009, Palau from the 22nd through to the 26th of
November. Most of his activity will be during the CQ WW DX CW Contest.
See QRZ.com for QSL details.

Special callsigns R2024DX and UE34DX will be on the air to mark the
34th anniversary of the Miller DX Club until the 30th of November. The operators are on the air from Millerovo, Russia. QSL via RQ7L.

Listen for Darrell, AB2E and John, K3TEJ operating CW, SSB and FT8 as
AB2E/VP9 and K3TEJ/VP9 from Bermuda, IOTA Number NA-005, until the 26th
of November. They are focusing on 30, 17 and 12 metres. They will
participate in the CQ WW DX CW contest with the callsign VP9I (VEE PEE
NINE EYE). See QRZ.com for QSL details.

Juris, YL2GM and Eugene, EA5EL will be active as XV9X from Phu
Quoc Island, IOTA number AS-128, Vietnam, until the 2nd of December,
using CW, SSB and FT8 on 160-10 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL
information.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: ONE HAM'S CHALLENGE TO THE WORLD: TRY SOMETHING NEW

JIM/ANCHOR: As we move toward the final month of 2024, a special
message comes to us from a ham in Germany. His name is Fabian
[Fay-Be-ENN] Kurz [Kertz], DJ5CW, and he wants to challenge all of us -including himself - in the new year. During each one of the 52 weeks
awaiting us in 2025, Fabian invites us to try something new that is amateur-radio related, whether it is designing your own QSL card or
trying to make a contact on 6-metres via sporadic E. He reminds us,
too, that what some of us may consider a simple exercise others may
perceive as a monumental achievement. He believes that no matter your
level of proficiency or expertise, it is important to expand your
horizons.

One of the most important parts of the challenge is to help other hams
achieve that weekly goal, if you are able.

Fabian told Newsline that he was inspired to create this challenge
after discovering a photography challenge on the internet. The
challenge asked photogaphy enthusiasts to create a photo for a
different theme during each week of the year and to share the results
via social media. Applying it to ham radio, Fabian expected he would do
this as a personal challenge, by himself - but he said that once he
started sharing the idea with friends, it took off! He asks that hams
post their progress on social media using hash hamchallenge
(#hamchallenge). There is also an IRC channel available and the link is
in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

Fabian hopes that if a photograph or a picture is worth a thousand
words, this adventure is surely worth 52 weeks of challenge and
breaking through new frontiers.

[DO NOT READ: https://web.libera.chat/#hamchallenge ]

(FABIAN KURZ, DJ5CW)

**
JUST SAY 'HI' TO HAIKU

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

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily; AMSAT-SM, ARRL;
China Daily; David Behar K7DB; FCC; 425DXNews; The Hill; IARU; National
Weather Service; QUA newsletter; QRZ Forums; Rebuild Free Radio; shortwaveradio.de; VOA Museum; Washington Post; Wireless Institute of Australia; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio
Newsline. We remind our listeners that Amateur Radio Newsline is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that incurs expenses for its
continued operation. If you wish to support us, please visit our
website at arnewsline.org and know that we appreciate you all. We also
remind our listeners that if you like our newscast, please leave us a
5-star rating wherever you subscribe to us. For now, with Caryn Eve
Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and our news team
worldwide, I'm Jim Damron N8TMW in Charleston West Virginia saying 73.
As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is
Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.

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