XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, rec.radio.amateur.policy, rec.radio.info

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2447 for Friday September 20th, 2024
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2447 with a release date of
Friday, September 20th, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Icom issues warnings about counterfeit products
in the wake of deadly HT explosions in the Middle East. An influential
group weighs in on the proposed privatization of 900 MHz - and three
hams have an eyeball QSO that creates some inspiring harmony. All this
and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2447 comes your way
right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART


**
ICOM ISSUES STATEMENT ON COUNTERFEIT RADIOS AFTER EXPLOSIONS

PAUL/ANCHOR: As Newsline went to production, Icom Japan issued a
statement regarding its IC-V82 handheld radio, a discontinued model
that some reports say may have been counterfeited in connection with
deadly explosions in Lebanon. The company statement did not directly
address those explosions by name but said that the radios and
batteries, which were manufactured and exported between 2004 and 2014,
went to markets that included the Middle East between 2004 and 2014.

Ray Novak, N9JA, senior sales manager for Icom America's amateur radio division, expressed certainty that the radios in question were
counterfeit. Attending a Rhode Island trade show, he told the
Associated Press: [quote] "I can guarantee you they were not our
products."

Acknowledging the relative ease with which unauthorized radios can be duplicated, Icom's website also includes detailed information showing
how consumers are able to determine whether or not their radio is a counterfeit.

For a link to that part of the company website, see the text version of
this newscast at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: https://www.icomjapan.com/explore/genuine_info/ ]


(ICOM AMERICA, ASSOCIATED PRESS)

**
INFLUENTIAL GROUP WEIGHS IN ON PROPOSED PRIVATIZATION OF 900 MHz BAND

PAUL/ANCHOR: An influential group in the US has weighed in on the
proposed privatization of the 900 MHz band, just as the clock winds
down on sending comment to the FCC. Kent Peterson KC0DGY explains the
issue - and the concerns.

KENT: The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit group in the US advocating for freedom in the use of technology, has added its voice to
the chorus urging the FCC to keep the 900 MHz band accessible to
amateur radio operators, industrial, scientific and medical devices and unlicensed consumer electronics. Those frequencies are being eyed by
NextNav, a geolocation technology company, which made a request earlier
this year to the FCC for exclusive rights to the part of the spectrum
between 902 and 928 MHz.

The private company's stated intent has been to have these frequencies privatized for use by 5G cellular communications and a positioning,
navigating and timing network to be used in the US as a backup for GPS navigation. The ARRL and a number of other amateur organizations have
already spoken out urging the FCC to turn the proposal down. In its
response to the FCC, the ARRL argued that the move would pose a risk to
public service because it would edge ham radio operators out of a part
of the spectrum that is well-used.

The period for comments to the FCC on this proposal closed on Friday,
the 20th of September.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

(ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION, ARRL, FCC)

**
UK PROVIDERS ROLL OUT SHARED RURAL NETWORKING

PAUL/ANCHOR: In the UK, amateurs using mobile phones to self-spot on
the clusters while operating portable got some good news recently from
cellular companies, as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: Hams operating portable from summits and parks in the UK may
find it easier to announce their activations on the various spotting
networks with the help of a Shared Rural Network being created by all
of the UK's cellular providers. Absence of 4G coverage in rural areas
has been a stumbling block for cellular communications in those
underserved areas. An agreement was signed in 2020 between Ofcom and
the four cellular service providers to fill that need. The regulator
announced recently that Vodafone, O2 and EE have fulfilled their
commitment to bring 4G coverage to 88 percent of the UK's landmass by
this past June but that the fourth cellular provider, "3", did not meet
that deadline. Ofcom said that "3" believes that it has met its
commitment as of the 22nd of August. The deadline for the network's
completion is the end of January 2027.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(OFCOM)

**
DAB+ RECEIVERS TO DELIVER IMPROVED EMERGENCY ALERTS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, outside the US, users of DAB+ [D A B Plus]
technology will be seeing some improvements in the delivery of
emergency alerts. Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us what's going on.

GRAHAM: The delivery of improved emergency alerts and communication is
expected next year for users of the newest DAB+ receivers, which are in
wide use in Australia and many parts of Europe and Asia. According to a
report on the Radio World website, the radios will be able to respond
instantly for emergency transmissions, switching the receiver to the
station transmitting the details and displaying text information on the
screen. The technology also enables temporary radio channels to be
established for the delivery of information. The standard is known as
Automatic Safety Alert, or ASA, and ASA-equipped receivers are also
capable of being turned on automatically to receive these emergency
messages.

The technology was developed by WorldDAB in partnerhip with
Digitalradio Deutschland, working with the chipmaker Frontier Smart Technologies. The initiative went forward with manufacturers such as
JVC Kenwood and Technisat on board.

DAB+ radio is not in use in the United States but proved especially
useful in Australia in 2011 during the floods that overtook Brisbane, Queensland. The deadly flooding killed dozens of people, forced massive evacuations and ultimately cost $2.38 billion, according to the
Insurance Council of Australia.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(RADIO WORLD, WORLDDAB.ORG)

**
SILENT KEY: MICHAEL VALENTINE, W8MM, ENTREPRENEUR, HAMVENTION VOLUNTEER

PAUL/ANCHOR: A familiar face at Hamvention, a beloved member of the
Dayton Amateur Radio Association - and generous benefactor to ham radio
- has become a Silent Key. Michael Valentine, W8MM, died on the 17th of September.

A former engineer for Drake and Cincinnati Electronics, Michael was
well-known for his inventive, entrepreneurial spirit and his generosity
to the amateur community. He was well-known too for his later work with
radar detectors. In Jack's announcement of Michael's passing, he
acknowledged Michael's belief in giving back to the community. He was
involved in a number of University of Cincinnati scholarships and was a
major supporter of ARRL initiatives as a member of the ARRL's Hiram
Percy Maxim Society. He served on the league's Second Century Campaign Committee in 2014, on the occasion of the ARRL's centennial, and
launched the Valentine Challenge Fund, matching contributions dollar-for-dollar.

Jack Gerbs, WB8SCT, DARA's past president, said in an email to
association members: [quote] "Michael, you will be missed. Until we
meet again in that big "Ham Shack in Heaven."

Michael was 74.

(FACEBOOK; RIA JAIRAM, N2RJ; DARA)

**

SRI LANKA'S SEANET24 EVENT MOVES TO OCTOBER 3RD

PAUL/ANCHOR: There's been a change in plans for SEANET24, the three-day regional radio event held in Sri Lanka. John Williams VK4JJW brings us
up to date.

JOHN: The date for SEANET24, a three-day event organised by the Radio
Society of Sri Lanka, has been moved from September 21st to the weekend
of October 3rd. Sri Lanka is poised to hold its first presidential
election on the 21st of September and in case a curfew is imposed, the
society thought it best to move the date for the amateur radio
gathering. The society is urging all those hoping to attend SEANET to
update their hotel reservations.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(YL BEAM, RADIO SOCIETY OF SRI LANKA)

**
CINCINNATI HAMFEST SEEKS NOMINEES FOR 2 'CLUB OF THE YEAR' AWARDS

PAUL/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)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the WR6AAC repeater in Lake Forest, California on Tuesdays at 6:45 p.m.
local time.

**
HAM RADIO HELPS ONE MAN'S HOMECOMING AFTER A HALF-CENTURY

PAUL/ANCHOR: Hams in India played a crucial role in helping a man
return home after more than a half-century. John Williams VK4JJW has
that dramatic story.

JOHN: An abused child who was sold by his father and stepmother 52
years ago in India has been able to return home to the property he
inherited from his late father in Odisha with the help of amateur
radio. According to various Indian media reports, the man, who is now
in his 60s, was living in a state-run home whose administrators
contacted the West Bengal Radio Club. The West Bengal amateurs are
contacted often by local authorities because of the hams' wide network
of contacts.

The news report said that more than five decades ago, the man's family
had taken him to Delhi and sold him when he was about 8 years old.
There was no other information available about what happened to him
after that or how he ended up living in a state home.

Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, secretary of the radio club, told local
media that the man's younger brother was unable to recognise him after
so many years but finally made positive identification after viewing
the scars on the man's back that had been inflicted by years of
childhood beatings.

The news report said that initially the younger brother did not want
his sibling returned because he would have had to share the inheritance
of the property with him. The hams intervened and secured support from
the district magistrate and other authorities on the matter. The elder
brother was returned home and district administrators are taking
measures to provide him with his inheritance.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(MILLENNIUM POST)

**
AMATEURS RECEIVE HONORS FROM RADIO CLUB OF AMERICA

PAUL/ANCHOR: Five prominent amateur radio operators are among the 13
award recipients to be honored in November by the Radio Club of
America, which has also announced its incoming class of 2024 fellows.
That class of eight includes two hams. Jack Parker W8ISH tells us who
all of these noted amateurs are.

JACK: Congratulations to physicist and radio astronomer Nathan "Chip"
Cohen, W1YW, who will receive the Dr. Arno Penzias Award for
Contributions to Basic Research in the Radio Sciences. Chip is known as
a pioneer in the area of fractal antennas.

Congratulations also to Tucker Dunham, KD2JPM, who is receiving the
Carole Perry Young Professional Award for his work advancing amateur
radio digirepeaters for emergency use. Tucker is studying
microelectronic engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

James Breakall, WA3FET, will receive the Dr. Ulrich Rohde (ROADY) Award
for Innovation in Applied Radio Science and Engineering. An RCA Life
Fellow, he is known for his work in numerical electromagnetics and
antenna design.

The Edgar F. Johnson Pioneer Citation is being given to Stanley
Reubenstein, WA6RNU, for his contributions to the success of the RCA
and the industry.

The late electrical engineer, radio personality and leader of the
Maritime Mobile Service Net, Ren├(c) Albert Stiegler III, K4EDX, is
being honored posthumously with the Barry Goldwater Amateur Radio
Award.

Meanwhile, Michael Kalter, W8CI, and Howard Rosen, VE2AED, have been
named RCA fellows for 2024. Michael is well-known for his leadership of
Dayton Hamvention. Howard, an inventor with more than 83 patents to his
credit, is an innovator in RF technology, electronics and medical
systems.

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(RADIO WORLD)

**
HURRICANE FRANCINE KNOCKS LOUISIANA RADIO STATIONS OFF AIR

PAUL/ANCHOR: Although radio operators on the amateur and commercial
side all take pride in the medium's resilience, several broadcast radio stations in Louisiana were not so fortunate during the recent arrival
of Hurricane Francine.

The Desk, an industry website, reported that FCC disaster-related
reports showed that the Category 2 hurricane took at least five radio
stations in the state off the air - both AM and FM broadcasters. The US
Federal Emergency Management Agency has often underscored the
importance of local radio stations in delivering emergency alerts
during disasters. The critical role AM radio has played for decades in communicating these messages in the US has been part of a robust debate
to retain AM radios in newly manufactured vehicles.

(THEDESK.NET)

**


WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, be listening for Lucy, AB3MY, operating as
DU1/AB3MY on Luzon Island, IOTA number OC-042, in the Philippines until
the 24th of September. Listen for her using SSB and possibly some FT8
on 40, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 metres. QSL via her home call. Her
activity is to honor her late father, Percy Tence, PY2PD.

Listen for Michal, OM2DX, using the callsign TO2DX (TEE OH TWO D X)
from Reunion Island, IOTA number AF-016, from the 27th of September
through to the 7th of October. He will operate CW, RTTY and FT8 on
60-10 metres. Listen for him as well in the CQ World Wide RTTY DX
Contest on the 28th and 29th of September. QSO to his home call.

(DX-WORLD.NET, 425 DX BULLETIN)

**
POUNDING - AND SOUNDING - THE BRASS, NASHVILLE STYLE

PAUL/ANCHOR: In our final story, we learn about three avid contesters
who traveled recently to Nashville, Tennessee where they learned they
could make beautiful music together. Skeeter Nash N5ASH introduces us
to them.

SKEETER: Jim Green, K0XV; Lonnie Craven, K4KZ and Dave Needham, AA4VT,
are veteran HF operators whose finely tuned skills at sending code
demonstrate how well each one knows his way around a CW key, especially
during a contest. Never having met one another until this past summer,
there was no way these hams could have known that they also share an
enviable proficiency in another mode - a mode that also relies on keys,
but in this case, musical keys. They all play the French horn and like
the CW key, this brass instrument is also capable of creating a
powerful message. It did just that when the men joined the Celebration Orchestra for a performance in late June in Nashville, Tennessee. The
orchestra is part of the Global Missions Project that uses the power of Christian evangelical music to transmit a message of faith. After three
hours of rehearsal on the morning of June 21st, the curtain went up on
the orchestra that same afternoon.

Jim told Newsline in an email that Dave and Lonnie have traveled internationally on missions with the music ministry but this was his
first time with the Celebration Orchestra. The last thing he expected
was an eyeball QSO. Jim told Newsline: [quote] "Imagine my absolute
surprise to learn that there were two horn players who were also radio amateurs." [endquote]

Now they can listen for one another, whether they are pounding - or
sounding - the brass, As Jim told Newsline: [quote] "Whether we perform together again remains to be seen. If we register for a trip, then we
will make music together again." [endquote]

To hear the concert, follow the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pnbHFitJ74 ]

This is Skeeter Nash N5ASH.

(QRZ.COM, JIM GREEN, K0XV)

**
HAIKU FOR YOU

Don't forget the Amateur Radio Newsline haiku challenge. Share with
fellow listeners the poetry that is inspired by your ham radio
experience! 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.

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Weekly; AMSAT News; APRSFoundation.org; ARRL; Cincinnati Hamfest; David Behar K7DB;
Electronic Frontier Foundation; Franklin Amateur Radio Club; FCC;
425DXNews; Jim Green, K0XV; Ofcom; QRZ.com; Radio Society of Sri Lanka;
Radio World; shortwaveradio.de; TheDesk.Net; WorldDAB.org; YL Beam; 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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