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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2440 for Friday August 2nd, 2024 Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2440 with a release date of Friday, August
2nd, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. The Bouvet Island 3Y0K team negotiates for a
transport vessel. Mechanical Key Week gets underway for CW operators
--and long-hidden artifacts of a college radio club come to light. All
this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2440 comes your
way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**
BOUVET ISLAND 3Y0K DXPEDITION IN TALKS FOR TRANSPORT VESSEL

NEIL/ANCHOR: Our top story this week is the Bouvet Island DXpedition,
3Y0K, which is making progress in getting back on track for 2026. Jason
Daniels VK2LAW has those details.

JASON: The 3Y0K Bouvet Island Dxpedition, which suspended its
acceptance of donations in April while organisers reassessed the trip's financial picture, has plans to go forward with a $1.6 million budget
in 2026. According to the DXpedition website, negotiations are under
way for a contract for a large transport vessel. The team says it
already has received all the helicopter permits necessary from the
Norwegian Polar Institute. The DXpedition's cost is expected to be
shared with [quote] "a small private group," [endquote] according to organisers.

The website describes the Dxpedition as a "large-scale operation with
20 to 24 operators," but said the team still needs between 4 and 6
additional amateurs for CW/SSB operation. The three-week trip to the
remote island is to be fully financed upfront but Bouvet's planners
hope to restart their fundraising campaign soon, seeking donations from individuals and clubs as a way of recovering some expenses. The
fundraising is not expected to resume until a contract is signed for
the vessel.

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(BOUVET ISLAND 3Y0K WEBSITE)

**
FCC ADDS NEW CODE TO EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM

NEIL/ANCHOR: In the US, the FCC has made some changes to its Emergency
Alert System. Kent Peterson KC0DGY tells us what's in store.

KENT: The Federal Communications Commission is hoping to add a new
event code to its Emergency Alert system and will meet to consider the
proposal on Wednesday, August 7th. The three-letter code, MEP, is
designed to cover those individuals who are overlooked by existing
codes, such as AMBER Alerts, which focus on abducted and missing
children.

The MEP event code -- for missing and endangered persons -- would also
be used in Wireless Emergency Alerts. The FCC believes the new alert
code would fill a need to bring awareness to the thousands of people
-mainly missing indigenous and native women - who cannot be located.
Many tribal organizations in the various native communities have urged
the FCC to activate the code. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said it
would allow for [quote] "a more rapid and coordinated response to
incidents, and build on efforts by Tribal Nations, the Department of
Interior and the Department of Justice, to collect comprehensive data
on missing and endangered Indigenous person cases." [end quote]

The FCC said that manufacturers of equipment used in the nation's
Emergency Alert System will be given time to upgrade software and do
whatever else is necessary to integrate the new code.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

(RADIO WORLD, FCC)

**
SUDIP KUMAR NANDA, HAM RADIO ADVOCATE IN INDIA, DIES DURING US VISIT

NEIL/ANCHOR: A retired public official in India who was committed to
using ham radio to aid communication in remote regions has died in the
United States during a family visit. We have details about him from
Graham Kemp VK4BB.

GRAHAM: Sudip Kumar Nanda had a long career in public service in his
home state of Gujarat (GOO-juh-rott), focusing with public health and
welfare foremost on his agenda. His efforts included overseeing relief
provided in the aftermath of a 2001 earthquake and strong advocacy for
blood donation and the Ayurvedic system of traditional medicine.

One of his most prominent contributions as a public servant was to
introduce amateur radio in parts of the state underserved by
traditional communication services. Following a cyclone in 1997, when
he was serving as relief commissioner of the state, he promoted ham
radio to ensure that hard-hit districts still had a means of
communicating. He advocated again for amateur radio in 2001 following
an earthquake in January. That same year the Gujarat Institute of
Amateur Radio was created and with his extensive experience in disaster communication management, he was chosen as its chairman.

His radio contributions endured, especially in 2023 when Cyclone
Biparjoy struck the state and the Gujarat Institute of Amateur Radio
sent 38 hams to the state's emergency operation centre to assist with
disaster communications.

He and his wife were visiting their daughter in New York at the time of
his death on July 26th. Local media said the cause was cardiac arrest.

Nanda was 68.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(GUJARAT SAMACHAR, INDIAN EXPRESS, DESH GUJARAT)

**
CANADA WILDFIRES PROVIDE PREPAREDNESS STRATEGIES

NEIL/ANCHOR: Although amateur radio was not taking a significant role
as emergency-response teams battled the fast-moving wildfires in the
Canadian province of British Columbia, the challenges facing western
Canada have been providing some emergency communicators with a
blueprint for going forward. Randy Sly W4XJ has that report.

RANDY: Even as they keep an eye in the wildfires threatening the west,
the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services teams have been working
on a comprehensive plan called PACE, for Primary, Alternate,
Contingency and Emergency, to address communications across Canada.
Emergency disaster specialist for the Maritime Division of the
Salvation Army, John Bignell, VE1JMB, told Newsline that the plan
includes the critical role hams can play in disaster-response efforts.
Toward that end, the EDS teams are studying IP linked systems such as
Yaesu Fusion and Echolink and such technologies as Winlink so that
traffic can be passed even when the communication infrastructure has
suffered a failure. John told Newsline: [quote] : "We believe that by
internal training and developing relationships with local hams and ham
clubs in each region, we can significantly improve our disaster
response capabilities." [endquote]

The Salvation Army EDS teams see this as an opportunity to deliver what
could be needed in the future when a more extensive amateur radio
involvement may be needed. Meanwhile, said John, the teams are
collaborating with each division to develop a more comprehensive
communication plan.

This is Randy Sly W4XJ.

(JOHN BIGNELL, VE1JMB)

**
SPACEX GIVES DETAILS OF SPACECRAFT TO DE-ORBIT ISS

NEIL/ANCHOR: We reported recently that SpaceX had been awarded a
contract from NASA for a spacecraft that is to deorbit the
International Space Station in 2030, when its operational lifetime
concludes. At a July 17th press briefing with NASA, SpaceX said it will
help NASA accomplish this by creating an enhanced version of its Dragon spacecraft, known as the United States Deorbit Vehicle. It will be
based on the original Dragon, but its trunk section will be redesigned
and twice and long, with more thrusters.The final ISS crew will depart
the station once the altitude reaches 330 kilometres, down from its
present 400 kilometres as part of a natural decay in its orbit.

(NASA, AMSAT NEWS)

**

FISTS 'MECHANICAL KEY WEEK' GETS UNDERWAY

NEIL/ANCHOR: There's still time to participate in "Mechanical Key
Week," an annual celebration of Morse Code hosted by the FISTS CW Club. Participants started getting on the air on Thursday, August 1st and the
week doesn't end until the 11th of August. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has more
details.

JEREMY: The FISTS CW Club has been promoting the use of Morse Code on
the air for 37 years. During Mechanical Key Week, hams are busy with
their straight keys, cooties and bugs. Best of all, you don't need to
belong to FISTS to be a part of this activity. Logs are due no later
than the 7th of September.

FISTS is also known as the International Morse Preservation Society. It
has chapters in Europe, East Asia, Oceania and the Americas. It was
founded in England by George Longden, G3ZQS/GX3ZQS, whose callsignwas
passed on to the FISTS CW Club after he became a Silent Key in 2006.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(FISTS CW 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 W9BCC repeater in Wausau Wisconsin on Sundays at 9 p.m. during the
Rib Mountain Repeater Association's Sunday Night Swapnet.

**
TELEPHONE MUSEUM HOSTS NEW HAMPSHIRE HAM RADIO CLUB

NEIL/ANCHOR: A popular telephone museum in New England made an
important connection recently with a local ham radio club. Andy
Morrison K9AWM tells us what happened next.

ANDY: Hams from the Twin State Radio Club, W1FN, had a chance to
operate phone in a very different way recently. Dave Colter, WA1ZCN,
and other club members visited the New Hampshire Telephone Museum on
the 27th of July to give visitors a two-hour taste of amateur radio.
Many of the visitors turned out to be hams themselves.

The program focused on amateur radio as a family-friendly activity with
a strong public-service component - showcasing the wealth of technical
advances being made every day.

According to Graham Gifford, the museum's director of programming, the
amateur radio presentation was a natural fit for what is essentially a
museum of communications. Although the Warner, New Hampshire building
showcases a wide array of telephones and telephone history, the story
it tells of different types of communication through the years extends
beyond that. Previous museum events have included an after-school
presentation this past April about the solar eclipse and its impact
--and a discussion about the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(GRAHAM GIFFORD)
**
RSGB CONVENTION CALLED 'FEAST OF AMATEUR RADIO'

NEIL/ANCHOR: Excitement is building for the RSGB convention to be held
this fall. Jeremy Boot G4NJH gives us a preview.

JEREMY: The Radio Society of Great Britain is offering what its website
is calling "a feast of amateur radio" at its convention in Milton
Keynes this coming October. Once again, AMSAT's Colloquium will take
place at the same time during the convention which is between the 11th
and 13th of October.

The ups and downs of Solar Cycle 25 and the particulars of Sporadic-E
are two of the propagation-related presentations being offered this
year. Steve Nichols, G0KYA, chair of the propagation studies committee,
will discuss the solar cycle and the predictions he made three years
ago. Chris Deacon, G4IFX, will be exploring Sporadic-E and its use for
amateur contacts.

In all, there will be three thematic streams of presentations in the
programme: Getting Started, Operating and Technical. For details, visit
the society's website at rsgb dot org stroke convention
(rsgb.org/convention). There is also a convention update in the August
issue of RadCom, the RSGB's magazine.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(RSGB)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, you have until the 6th of August to work Steve,
ZL4CZ, using the callsign E51CZZ, and Steve, ZL2KE, using the callsign
E51KEE, from Rarotonga, IOTA number OC-013, and Aitutaki, IOTA number
OC-083. They are on 40-10m, focusing on 20, 15 and 10 metres. Their
activity is holiday style. QSL via LoTW.

Listen for Randy, K5SL, on the air from Turks and Caicos as VP5/K5SL
from the 14th through the 24th of August on the HF bands. He will be
using CW. QSL via his home call.

Thierry, FY4JI, is active until the 10th of August from French Guiana
as TO973FY. He is celebrating the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Listen on
the HF bands where he will be using SSB and FT8. QSL via EA5GL.

Members of the Russian Robinson Club will be active from Ayon island,
IOTA Number AS-038, in the East Siberian Sea, using the callsign RI0KA
[R EYE ZERO KAY AY] from the 12th through the 29th of August. Listen
on various HF bands. QSL via RZ3EC.

(DX WORLD)

**
KICKER: COLLEGE RADIO CLUB ETCHED INTO MEMORY - AND ONE WALL

NEIL/ANCHOR: For our final story, we visit a Pennsylvania college
campus building under renovation. If the walls could talk, these walls
would tell a story about a ham radio club of bygone years. Travis Lisk
N3ILS brings us those details.

TRAVIS: Like hieroglyphics on a wall, these etchings tell a story - but
this tale dates back to some not-so-ancient times: The wall etchings
are callsigns of students who belonged to the campus amateur radio
society at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, a club founded a century
ago. Some remnants left by members of the now-defunct club were
discovered on the walls of a fifth-floor room in a building undergoing renovation. The room was apparently used for storage; the shack, which
had been in a number of campus locations, eventually was moved to the building's basement.

Following the discovery of the callsigns, the university contacted
graduates of the college, including Daryl George, whose callsign as a
student was WA3EMX, and Neil Wells, whose callsign is still K1UTV. Both
are 1969 graduates and shared their memories in an article on the
campus website. Both of their callsigns appear etched on the
building'swall.

The club had a callsign: W3AEQ. Gary Wilson, K2GW, continues to renew
it, a gesture of optimism that ham radio will be back on the air one
day on campus in much the same way it first arrived through the efforts
of students in electrical engineering and physics.

For now, the Lehigh University Amateur Radio Society exists only in the memories and the hopes of some of the school's graduates. It exists too
in those FCC-issued letters and numbers firmly carved into the wall of
a campus building so many decades ago.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(LEHIGH UNIVERSITY)

**
DO YOU HAIKU?

Ah, the sweet words of a beautiful poem, they make the heart sing - and
the well-chosen words of a well-written haiku guarantee good
propagation. OK, maybe not. But why not pick up a pencil and join the
Amateur Radio Newsline haiku challenge anyway? 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. Share with fellow listeners
the poetry that is inspired by your ham radio experience!

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily; AMSAT News; ARRL;
Bouvet Island 3Y0K website; CQ Magazine; David Behar K7DB; DXNews;
DXWorld; 425DXNews; FCC; FISTS CW Club; Graham Gifford; the Gujarat
Samachar; John Bignell, VE1JMB; Indian Express; Lehigh University;
NASA.GOV; QRZ.com; Radio Society of Great Britain; Radio World; shortwaveradio.de; 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 Neil Rapp WB9VPG in Union Kentucky saying 73. As always
we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright
2024. All rights reserved.

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