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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2461 for Friday December 27th, 2024
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2461 with a release date of
Friday, December 27th, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. A rocket explosion destroys hopes for Taiwan's
newest ham satellite. Germany's national ham radio society finds its
voice on shortwave from England -- and hams pay tribute to the Silent
Keys who shaped their lives. All this and more as Amateur Radio
Newsline Report Number 2461 comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**
ROCKET'S SELF-DESTRUCTION ABORTS HAM SATELLITE'S JOURNEY

PAUL/ANCHOR: A much-anticipated ham radio satellite built by students
in Taiwan never made it into orbit. The rocket self-destructed, as we
hear from Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

JIM: Taiwan's PARUS T1A satellite was to become one of the newest FM
repeaters in space but it never got a chance. The rocket launch was
aborted by Japanese startup Space One right after liftoff on Wednesday, December 17th. The rocket destroyed itself, according to news reports.
Engineer Mamoru Endo, a company executive, said that an autonomous
safety mechanism triggered the destruction, likely after a first-stage
engine or control system abnormality caused the rocket to become
unstable.

Hams worldwide had anticipated the eventual orbit of 3U CubeSat which
had an FM cross band repeater and an APRS digipeater on 145.825 MHz,
the same frequency as the International Space Station's APRS channel.

Meanwhile, the amateur satellite known as PARUS T1 is being scheduled
for launch by SpaceX in January, carrying an APRS store-and-forward
system.

Both satellites were student projects at National Formosa University.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)

**
ISS HOSTING SPECIAL SSTV EVENT FOR HOLIDAY SEASON

PAUL/ANCHOR: Yes, there's a way to extend the holiday season for just a
few more days. The International Space Station has been giving hams an opportunity to participate in an SSTV event that began Christmas Day,
December 25th and runs through the 5th of January. It's an experiment
known as Expedition 72 - the ARISS Series 23 SSTV Experiment.
Transmissions of images are being sent via the RS0ISS station,
operating on 145.800 MHz using PD120 mode. Once you're done decoding
the images, you can send them to ARISS and apply for an award. See the
link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org.

[DO NOT READ: ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV

(ARISS, AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)

**
NEW OBSTACLE FOR BILL TO KEEP BROADCAST AM RADIO IN US CARS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Once again, as before, a bill to mandate AM broadcast
radio in US vehicles has died without lawmakers taking action. We have
that update from Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

KENT: Attempts have once again stalled for a measure that would require
AM broadcast radio in all new vehicles sold in the United States.

Despite the bipartisan support for it in the US Congress, the "AM
Radio for Every Vehicle Act" fell victim on the 17th of December to
scrambling by lawmakers in Washington, D.C. Those members of Congress
faced a deadline to pass a measure that would keep the government
funded through March 14th and avoid a widespread shutdown.

CBS News reported that the lawmakers' stopgap spending measure reached mid-month would solve the greater issue but, in doing so, would cut
several items, including the AM Radio mandate for vehicles.

The National Association of Broadcasters was among those expressing disappointment since AM Radio is considered a valuable resource for transmitting public safety information during emergencies. The makers
of some electric cars would like AM Radio eliminated, acknowledging
that their vehicle's electronic systems interfere with AM reception.

The bill is not dead, however. Many advocates plan to take the measure
up in the next session of Congress in 2025.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

(RADIOWORLD.COM, CBS)

**
CALIFORNIA HAMS TO ESTABLISH GMRS REPEATER FOR COMMUNITY

PAUL/ANCHOR: The cooperation between amateur radio and other radio
services continues to grow. In fact, one ham club in southern
California recently committed to making that happen - in a big way, as
we hear from Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

RALPH: The Mile High Radio Club isn't just in favor of growing amateur
radio as a public service; it wants to see radio in general become a
public service asset. The club recently agreed to provide its mountain community with a repeater for General Mobile Radio Service, or GMRS so
anyone with a compatible radio can pass along information or ask for
help. The repeater is to be located in Idyllwild, in a region often
facing wildfires and earthquakes. Expanded GMRS service would prove
useful not only during events such as those but to assist hikers who
encounter emergency situations on the popular wilderness trails.

Like amateur radio operators, GMRS users must be licensed but there is
no qualifying test and one license can be used by all members of a
family.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(AMATEUR NEWS WEEKLY)

**
CONCERN OVER STORMS' IMPACT ON SATELLITES

PAUL/ANCHOR: A scholar from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
has expressed concern about the impact of geomagnetic storms on
space-traffic coordination among satellites. Dave Parks WB8ODF brings
us the details.

DAVE: Two geomagnetic storms this year had a serious impact on
low-earth-orbit satellites after increased atmospheric density created
drag affecting satellites' orbits.

The first storm was a solar event last May that made the aurora more
visible at lower latitudes in the northern hemisphere. The second storm
was in October. Most of the satellites affected by these storms were
part of the Starlink constellation.

William Parker of MIT told a meeting of the American Geophysical Union
on December 9th that the shift in orbits was not easy to accurately
track, posing a greater likelihood of collisions. He called the
phenomenon a "mass migration" of satellites.

He called for better forecasting of space weather and the use of better
models, saying such requirements were "critical" to being able to move
forward with these kinds of operations in space.

This is Dave Parks WB8ODF.

(SPACENEWS.COM)

**
RADIO DARC SHORTWAVE PROGRAMMING TO DEBUT FROM ENGLAND

PAUL/ANCHOR: The new year is bringing changes for the Deutsche Amateur
Radio Club's weekly shortwave broadcast. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us
what to expect.

JEREMY: Listeners of the Deutsche Amateur Radio Club's weekly shortwave broadcast will be tuning their dials to 9670 kHz on Sunday the 5th of
January as programming begins from a new location at a BBC property in Woofferton, England. The new year's move comes with the December
shutdown of Austria's ORS Shortwave radio station in Moosbrunn, the
former home of Radio Austria International. The new location is
operated by a BBC subsidiary company, Encompass Media, and is home to
10 transmitters. The Austrian station had carried programming for the
D. A. R. C. for about a decade.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(SWLING POST, RSGB)

**
HAM RADIO CALLING CQ AT AUSTRALIAN SCOUT JAMBOREE

PAUL/ANCHOR: In Australia, Scouts are getting ready for 10 days of
adventure and yes, ham radio too. John Williams VK4JJW takes us to
Queensland for that report.

JOHN: A small city will be springing up seemingly overnight, in
Queensland, Australia, as thousands of Scouts set out for the
Maryborough Showgrounds and Equestrian Park. Scouts Queensland will be
hosting visitors from around Australia for the first Jamboree in four
years, giving Scouts an opportunity during those 10 days to participate
in activities that are as entertaining as they are educational,
everything from rock climbing and archery to cooking and attending
concerts.

Naturally, amateur radio will be involved. Scouts will be calling CQ
with the special callsign VI 2025 AJ from the 5th of January through to
the 16th. There will be two HF stations operating SSB and FT8. E-QSL
cards will be sent at the end of each day, directly from the Jamboree
site. This is your chance to get in on some of the adventure.

The Jamboree is the 26th such event for the Scouts. Those who do not
attend this time around will have to wait until 2029,

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(QRZ.COM, AJ2025)

**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the 9Z4RG repeater on Saturdays at 1200 UTC in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
and Tobago.

**
GROWING RESCUE GROUP IN NY GETS INFUSION OF NEW RADIOS

PAUL/ANCHOR: In northern NY State, a rescue group is experiencing a
resurgence - and they've got a grant to help them update their
emergency radios. Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us about them.

ANDY: Thirty is the magic number for members of Search and Rescue of
the Adirondacks, an organization in the northern mountains of New York
State. Known by the acronym, SARNAK, the group is marking its 30th year
with a core group of 30 volunteers. It is also preparing for the
arrival of 30 new radios - the result of a grant of more than $6,000
from the town of North Elba. This will enable SARNAK to continue its
mission to support search and recovery missions by replacing its
second-hand fire department radio with updated communication equipment.
The new radios will have longer-lasting batteries and a greater range
than the 40-kilometer radius surrounding the local repeater. They will
also have digital capability.

Coordinator Jeff Berry, KE2DKA, told the Lake Placid News that SARNAK
has been experiencing a resurgence since the challenges of the pandemic
eased up and is now inspired to expand its community engagement. He
said volunteers have already begun doing more local public-service
activities, providing support to major races and other events,
including the 90-mile Adirondack Canoe Classic.

SARNAK has had support too from local ham radio clubs, including the
Adirondack Amateur Radio Association and the High Peaks Amateur
RadioGroup.

Although SARNAK members such as Elena Lumby, KE2DJC and Joe Shoemaker,
K2SHU, already have their ham licenses, the group plans to use the
grant money to help fund training so that more search and rescue
volunteers can become hams too. That will hopefully carry them and
SARNAK's important work for at least another 30 years.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(LAKE PLACID NEWS)

**
LOGS ARE DUE FOR CONTEST HONORING SO-50 SATELLITE

PAUL/ANCHOR: Satellite enthusiasts have until the 10th of January to
submit their logs for contacts made during the global competition that celebrated the 22nd anniversary of the launching of SO-50, also known
as Saudisat 1C. The low-earth orbit satellite was the centerpiece of
the event organized by the Saudi Amateur Radio Society between the 13th
and 22nd of December. Hams were challenged to make as many contacts as
possible in different Maidenhead grid squares. To submit your logs, or
get technical help see the email addresses in the text version of this
week's newscast at arnewsline.org.

[DO NOT READ: SUBMIT LOGS TO: log@sars.sa FOR OTHER INFORMATION,
write to: hzldg@sars.sa ]

**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, listen for Billy, F4GJE, who will be in Africa
through early January. He will be using the callsign C5RK from the
Gambia on the 4th and 5th of January before moving onto Senegal. He
will operate from Senegal on the 11th and 12th of January using the
callsign 6W1RD. Billy will operate SSB and FT8/FT4 on 80-10 metres. All
QSLs are via EA7FTR.

Aldir, PY1SAD, will be operating as 8R1TM from Georgetown, Guyana, from
the 1st of January through to the 8th of February. He will be using CW,
SSB and digital modes on all bands. He will also operate via satellite.
See QRZ.com for QSL details.

Listen for Earl, WA3DX, who is operating from Trinidad as 9Y4/WA3DX
from the 29th of December to the 14th of January using FT8 and FT4.
Find Earl on 40-10 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: SPECIAL EVENT GIVES VOICE TO THE MEMORIES OF SILENT KEYS

PAUL/ANCHOR: As the year draws to a close, it's only natural to look
back on the moments that made up 2024. We also think of those whose
signals have long since gone silent. That was the purpose of the K4S
Silent Key Special Event which began at the time of the Thanksgiving
holiday here in the US and ended just as December began. We hear more
from Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

RALPH: The hams in Georgia's Statesboro Amateur Radio Society remember
them all - the radio operators who have come and gone from the air and
from their lives but have left an enduring mark. Inspired by this
season of gratitude and reflection, club member Gene Britt, KM4QQU,
suggested that club members activate a special event station that
wasn't just another activity but a big thank-you to the Silent Keys who
shaped their lives.

Buddy Horne, AJ4BH, the club's repeater trustee and former secretary,
told Newsline: [quote] "Just about every ham could relate to one or
more Silent Keys who encouraged them." [endquote]

The week was filled with QSOs from CW and SSB contacts, but that wasn't
.the end of it. Buddy told Newsline he made about a third of his
contacts via Slow Scan TV and logged some international contacts on FT8
He said another club member, Anna Davis, KO4JKO, checked into a YL net
on EchoLink that is based in India. She was able to hear remembrances
-and make note of the callsigns - of influential Silent Keys of
yearspast.

Buddy said this special event isn't likely to be a one-time thing. Club
members are already looking forward to bringing it back in 2025.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(BUDDY HORNE, AJ4BH)

**

Say farewell to 2024 by sending in your amateur radio haiku for
Newsline's haiku challenge. It's as easy as writing a QSL card. Set
your thoughts down using traditional haiku format - a three-line verse
with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second and five in
the third. Submit your work on our website at arnewsline.org

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to the Amateur Radio Daily; AMSAT News
Service; Buddy Horne, AJ4BH; CBS; David Behar K7DB; 425DXNews; Lake
Placid News; QRZ Forums; RadioWorld.com; shortwaveradio.de;
SpaceNews.com; SWLing Post; Wireless Institute of Australia; YouTube;
and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. We
remind our listeners that Amateur Radio Newsline is an all-volunteer
non-profit organization that incurs expenses for its continued
operation. If you wish to support us, please visit our website at arnewsline.org and know that we appreciate you all. We also remind our listeners that if you like our newscast, please leave us a 5-star
rating wherever you subscribe to us. For now, with Caryn Eve Murray
KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and our news team worldwide, I'm
Paul Braun WD9GCO in Valparaiso Indiana saying 73. As always we thank
you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2024. All
rights reserved.

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