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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2446 for Friday September 13th, 2024
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2446 with a release date of
Friday, September 13th, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Scientists study a new way of looking at solar
storms. The APRS Foundation seeks members to help carry on its work
--and an award-winning SOTA experience for one YL. All this and more
as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2446 comes your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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SCIENTISTS TO REVISE SOLAR STORM ASSESSMENT

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We begin this week with solar storms, something we
amateurs have had more than our share of this year. In the US,
scientists are looking to update the way they assess solar weather's
impact here on Earth and even in space. Travis Lisk N3ILS has those
details.

TRAVIS: US scientists in the Space Weather Prediction Center of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are collaborating with
the National Weather Service to update the way solar storms and other
space weather is classified. According to an article on the space.com
website, the scientists recognize that new knowledge about geomagnetic
storms and recent advances in technology require them to revisit ways
they look at space weather and its impact on the Earth and human space
travel.

The Space Weather Prediction Center's program coordinator, Bill
Murtagh, explained the need for change during an interview with
space.com, saying [quote] "The user base and needs have changed, the capabilities, the science and our understanding of the science Γ-èΓ-" a
lot has changed. And the scales for all practical purposes have not
changed, and they need to." [endquote]

Some current scale categories for geomagnetic storms reflect impact on
power grids and spacecraft operations, for instance, and others focus
on the radio blackouts that have a serious impact on HF radio and
navigation systems.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(SPACE.COM)

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LAUNCH DELAYED FOR AMSAT-DL'S ERMINAZ PAYLOAD

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The launch of AMSAT-DL's latest payload was delayed
until next year because the original first stage of the rocket
unexpectedly became compromised. We hear the details from Jeremy
BootG4NJH.

JEREMY: The launch of AMSAT-DL's ERMINAZ payload has been moved to next
year, following what is being called a "serious anomaly" that resulted
in a loss of the first rocket stage. The incident took place on the
19th August during the test by Rocket Factory Augsburg at the SaxaVord Spaceport on the Shetland Islands. Rocket Factory Augsburg said it
would take time to work on a new first rocket stage after repair work,
fault analysis and qualification.

AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-EA and the Libre Space Foundation are working together
on the mission. The payloads include two PocketQubes from AMSAT-EA. The satellites will be using the amateur callsign AM1HAD allowing hams
around the world to make contacts on FM or digital modes such as FT-4,
FT-8 and AX.25/APRS.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(AMSAT NEWS)

**
PENNSYLVANIA HAM CLUB MARKS CENTENNIAL OF HISTORIC RAILROAD

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A radio club in eastern Pennsylvania plans to make some
history of its own as it celebrates a very special centennial involving
an iconic name recognized by railroad buffs around the world. Mark
Abramowicz NT3V(Abram-o-vich) has the story from Reading [REDDING], Pennsylvania.

MARK: The Reading Radio Club is preparing to honor the 100th
anniversary of the historic Reading Railroad with two special event
stations on Saturday, September 21st. For the first time ever, the
group will activate club call signs W3BN and W3CCH simultaneously in
separate operations 25 miles apart. The big, daylong celebration will
see club members use W3CCH on two HF stations set up inside two retired passenger railroad cars parked outside the Reading Railroad Heritage
Museum in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Another group of club operators and
friends will use W3BN on two HF stations that belonged to longtime
contester Steve Dobbs NE3F in Spring Township, Berks County,
Pennsylvania. Regrettably, Steve - who was extensively involved in the
planning for the celebration using his station and array of towers,
beams and wire antennas - died on August 30th following a short
illness. It was his family's wish that the event still proceed from his
QTH. Activity on all four HF radios will be on 10, 15, 20, 40 and 80
meters with frequent spots on the DX clusters. The railroad earned its
place in history starting in the 1830s as the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad.

For more on this special celebration and the available certificate,
check out details at either W3BN or W3CCH on QRZ-dot.com.

I'm Mark Abramowicz NT3V

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CANADIAN TEENS GAIN LICENSES AFTER HAM RADIO COURSEWORK

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In many parts of the world, school is back in session
and regular lessons have resumed. Even before regular classes began,
however, 21 teenagers in British Columbia, Canada, were already
entrenched in some pretty important homework - or should we say
hamwork? Andy Morrison K9AWM has those details.

ANDY: Adam, VE7ZAL, and John, VE7TI, believe that their recent course
on radio frequencies and electronics may well be unprecedented for
secondary school students in Canada. That was what John wrote in the September/October issue of The Communicator, the magazine of Surrey
Amateur Radio Communications. John and Adam, a robotics teacher at
Kwantlen Park Secondary school in Surrey, British Columbia, teamed up
to help nearly two dozen 13- through 17-year-olds get a better grasp on
the principles behind amateur radio and pass the gift of radio on this
next generation. By the time the course concluded, the students were
able to sit the exam for the Canadian Amateur Radio Certificate.

John wrote that Adam had proposed the idea for the course earlier in
the year and that while the instruction progressed, the students'
enthusiasm grew gradually with each session. He wrote: [quote]:
"Throughout the course, we witnessed students experiencing significant revelations about the pervasive role of radio in our daily lives."
[endquote] POTA, satellite communications and high-altitude balloons
were - literally - among the high points of the lessons. When the
sessions ended, the tradition of a Thursday night "Get on the Air" net
kept the momentum going for the graduates.

John and Adam hope to repeat the course next year.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(THE SARC COMMUNICATOR)

**
AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM REOPENS AS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SHOWCASE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A museum in Australia that once gave history lessons
about the evolution of the telephone is preparing to reopen as a
showcase of telecommunications. Jason Daniels VK2LAW takes a look
inside for us.

JASON: In Melbourne, a 1939 building that once housed a telephone
exchange and, in 2003 a telecommunications museum, is reopening this
month as the National Communications Museum at Hawthorn.

The big day is the 21st of September. When the doors open, visitors
will get a vast range of the past and present technologies used in communications throughout Australia. The building had formerly been
home to the Victorian Telecommunications Museum, which was run entirely
by volunteers from the Australian Historic Telephone Society until the
museum's closure in 2019. According to its website, the new museum has inherited some of its collection from its predecessor. Emily Siddons,
co-CEO and artistic director, writes on the website that the genesis of
the building's design and planning occurred during COVID lockdown with
the purpose of exploring human relationships with technology. She
writes: [quote] "Ethical exploration of the development of new
technologies has never been more urgent, especially given the rapid
pace at which they are developing." [endquote]

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW

(WIA, NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS MUSEUM WEBSITE)

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SRI LANKAN GIRL GUIDES FIND POWER IN HAM RADIO

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Girl Guides in Sri Lanka got some guidance themselves
recently from the Radio Society of Sri Lanka, which helped them get on
the air. John Williams VK4JJW tells us how it happened.

JOHN: The International Girl Guide Camp that concluded on the 23rd of
August left a lasting mark on two thousand Girl Guides from Sri Lanka's
nine provinces and showcased the power of amateur radio for them all.
The Radio Society of Sri Lanka was there in Ceylon to conduct
demonstrations and to help the girls' hands-on experience with radio.

Society volunteers ensured there would be radio capability by setting
up for HF, VHF and Echolink communications. The radio society
considered it a milestone for the camp with the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association getting on the air with an amateur radio club licence of
its own through the help of society secretary Victor 4S7VK. The Girl
Guides were calling QRZ as 4S7GGA.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(YL BEAM, RADIO SOCIETY OF SRI LANKA)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the N2JDW repeater in New York City on Monday nights at 8 local time,
just before the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Service Net.

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WEST BENGAL HAMS HELP PREPARE POLICE FOR DISASTER

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Police personnel in West Bengal, India sharpened their disaster-communications skills recently with the help of some seasoned
amateur radio mentors. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF brings us that story.

JIM: Kolkata police and more than two dozen sub-inspectors of state
received an introduction to the ways amateur radio can assist them when catastrophic events leave conventional means of communication disabled.
The one-day session in late August at the police training centre in
Salt Lake was taught by hams from the West Bengal Radio Club. The
session was part of a broader three-day training program on disaster
management for police personnel.

The officers also learned what laws govern amateur radio activities and
how the laws would apply to their on-air activities. They were reminded
that hams need a licence from the Ministry of Telecommunication. More
training programmes will be scheduled for the police personnel to bring
them closer to getting that licence.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(MILLENNIUM POST)

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NOMINATIONS NEEDED FOR HONORS AT CINCINNATI HAMFEST

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you know of a club in the Great Lakes Region or the
Ohio Valley region of the US that has distinguished itself in support
of amateur radio, now is the time to let everybody know. Dave Parks
WB8ODF tells us how.

DAVE: The next Cincinnati Hamfest is still almost a year away but
organizers are wasting no time in finding a deserving group of amateurs
to receive the award for Great Lakes Region Club of the Year. To be
eligible, a club must be located within the Great Lakes region of
Kentucky, Ohio or Michigan. Most importantly, clubs that are nominated
must demonstrate a passion for amateur radio and be active in its
advancement. Cincinnati Hamfest also presents an award for Club of the
Year among nominees located within the Ohio Valley region of Indiana,
Kentucky or Ohio. Nomination forms for both awards are available at the
hamfest website, cincinnatihamfest - that's one word - dot org. (cincinnatihamfest.org)

Cincinnati Hamfest won't be happening until August 9th, 2025 but the
months ahead will go quickly, so consider who you might want to
nominate for these honors.

This is Dave Parks WB8ODF.

(QRZ.COM, CINCINNATI HAMFEST)

**
WORLD OF DX

Two separate activations are on the air in the UK from Jersey, the
largest of the Channel Islands. Tev, TA1HZ, is active as MJ/TA1HZ
through to the 16th of September and will participate in the WAE DX SSB
Contest on the 14th and 15th. See QRZ.com for QSL details, Meanwhile,
listen as well for the two-person team of Peter, ON8ZZ and Fred, ON8ZL,
on the air from the 13th through to the 15th of September. Their call
sign is MJ/OT9Z. The pair will be calling on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10
metres. Fred will participate in the WAE DX SSB Contest . QSL
viaON8ZL.

Listen for 4V1SAVANNAH, the callsign being used by the Radio Club
d'Haiti to commemorate the 245th anniversary of the Battle of Savannah
in 1779, during the American Revolution. Hundreds of volunteers from
the French colony that later became Haiti fought alongside members of
the colonial military against the British Army. The special event will
take place from the 16th of September through to the 20th of October.
QSL via N2OO (EN TWO OH OH),

The Belgrade Amateur Radio Club is using the callsign YT 100 RB to
celebrate the 100th anniversary of Radio Belgrade. A certificate is
available. Visit the website yu1ano [Y U One A N O] dot org
(yu1ano.org) for details.

(425 DX BULLETIN, WIA)

**
KICKER: A NEW JEWEL IN A SOTA QUEEN'S CROWN

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Our final story is about SOTA -- Summits on the Air
--and the achievement that became possible this summer for one YL -- in
memory of another. We hear about them both from Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

RALPH: In a recent posting on the SOTA Reflector, Amy AG7GP, shared a
thought from Ron Burns, NR3E, as he described his late wife's can-do
attitude: [quote] "There are no real hurdles in life, only those that
you imagine. Liz was proof that you can do anything you want, no matter
what life hands you." [endquote] Ron and his wife, Liz K1LIZ, shared
many challenging SOTA activations and hunts until she became a Silent
Key in February of 2022. Liz, who was blind for more than three
decades, had recently achieved the coveted SOTA standing of
MountainGoat.

The organizers of the inaugural Queens of the Mountains YL SOTA event
this past June have added a new jewel to the crown of one Queen of
those same mountains: They call the honor the K1LIZ Memorial
Achievement Award. It was conferred recently on Lorene W6LOR.
Announcing the honor on the SOTA Reflector in a September 7th post, Amy
AG7GP praised Lorene for her events during that June weekend. Lorene
was presented with a personalized beverage glass. Amy wrote that the
honor was being given [quote] "in memory of Liz's indomitable spirit
that inspired so many." [endquote]

Queen Lorene's glass is not half-full - it is brimming over with the
spirit of a beloved fellow activator who knew that summits were never
meant to be hurdles, only opportunities to showcase excellence.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(SOTA REFLECTOR)

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HAIKU FOR YOU

Don't forget the Amateur Radio Newsline haiku challenge. If you're not
too busy tuning your antennas or chasing the latest DXpedition, pick up
a pencil and 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 Weekly; Amateur Radio
Digital Communications; AMSAT News; ARRL; Australian Communications and
Media Authority; David Behar K7DB; 425DXNews; Millennium Post; QRZ.com; National Communications Museum; Radio Society of Sri Lanka; the SARC Communicator; SOTA Reflector; shortwaveradio.de; SPACE.com; 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 Stephen Kinford N8WB in Wadsworth Ohio saying 73. As
always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is
Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.

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