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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2333 for Friday July 15, 2022
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2333 with a release date of Friday
July 15, 2022 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. The James Webb Space Telescope sends its first
images. Indonesia prepares to send its first ham radio satellite into
space -- and meet our Young Ham of the Year for 2022. All this and more
as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2333 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
WEBB TELESCOPE SENDS FIRST IMAGES TO EARTH
JIM/ANCHOR: We begin this week with one of the most groundbreaking
radio transmissions ever to reach the Earth from space. We hear those
details from Paul Braun WD9GCO.
PAUL: July 11th was a huge day for fans of space, astronomy, and
science in general as NASA revealed the first images from the James
Webb Space Telescope. The first deep-field image released to the
public, the highest-resolution infrared view of the universe to date,
shows a cluster of distant galaxies so dense that they act as a
gravitational lens to magnify even more distant galaxies. Given the
time it takes the light to travel, the photo also shows some of the
oldest objects ever observed.
The Webb telescope, which has been in development since 1996, differs
from the Hubble, which it is meant to replace. It's designed to see
farther into the infrared spectrum and can capture objects far dimmer
than Hubble can see. The 21-foot-diameter main mirror is mounted on a
space platform which places it clear of infrared interference from
Earth's atmosphere.
NASA has promised even more amazing imagery in the coming days. While
the telescope is not tied directly to amateur radio, it does use radio
to transmit the data back to Earth, and we here at Newsline can't
resist an exciting space story.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO
(CNN, NASA)
**
INDONESIA READY FOR LAUNCH OF ITS FIRST HAM RADIO SATELLITE
JIM/ANCHOR: There's some other big news involving space - this time
from Indonesia. We have those details from Jason Daniels VK2LAW.
JASON: After six years in development, Indonesia's Surya Satellite-1
-the nation's first satellite - has begun the first leg of its journey
into space: shipment to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or
JAXA. In October of this year the amateur radio cubesat, which has an
APRS digipeater on board, will be launched from Japan for its journey
to the International Space Station. The ISS will release the satellite
into orbit in November.
It was developed by students at Surya University and had support of the Satellite Technology Research Center at the country's National Research
and Innovation Agency. Experts at the Aeronautics and Space Research Organization in Indonesia heralded the satellite as a pioneer of nano satellites for Indonesia and expressed hope it would inspire other
Indonesian universities to complete similar projects.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jason Daniels VK2LAW.
(SOUTHGATE, ORARI, UN OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS)
**
SWISS AUTHORITIES GRANT EXEMPTION TO HOMEBREW TRANSMITTERS
JIM/ANCHOR: Back home on Earth, authorities in Switzerland have just
given some good news to hams who enjoy building their own transceivers.
Ed Durrant DD5LP has more on that story.
ED: It is now official: The European CE certification requirement for
amateur radio built homebrew transmitters has been removed in
Switzerland. Although this has been the accepted practice in the
country for some time, a recent publication by Swiss regulator Ofcom
has formally declared the exemption acceptable and legal. Exemptions
are also granted for commercial equipment that is modified for personal
home use. Kits to build transmitters may also be imported for amateurs'
own personal use. Imported radios for amateurs even those that do not
possess an European CE certification mark are allowed. The hams remain responsible to ensure that all of their equipment complies with
regulations governing spurious emissions.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.
(USKA, SOUTHGATE)
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.
(USKA, SOUTHGATE)
**
DIGITAL CONFERENCE PLANNED FOR SEPTEMBER
JIM/ANCHOR: Yet another amateur radio conference is taking place in
person this year following COVID cancellations. Stephen Kinford N8WB
gives us those details.
STEPHEN: Hams interested in any and all forms of digital communication
are welcome to attend the 41st ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications
Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, from September 16th to the
18th. In the meantime, organizers are looking for technical papers on
such topics as digital satellite communications, digital signal
processing, HF digital modes. software defined radio, global
positioning systems, peer-to-peer wireless networking and the role of
homeland defense digital communications in amateur radio. If you have
expertise to share on these or other related subjects, you can
submit your papers no later than September 1st to ARRL production
coordinator Maty Weinberg, KB1EIB.
The three-day conference will be held at the Hilton Charlotte Airport
Hotel. Maty's address is m a t y at arrl.org (
maty@arrl.org)
For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Stephen Kinford N8WB.
(ARRL)
**
PRESENTERS NEEDED FOR QSO TODAY VIRTUAL EXPO
JIM/ANCHOR: Preparations are already in the works for the next QSO
Today Virtual Ham Expo and organizers are putting out a call for
presenters. Topics can be most amateur-radio related subjects worth
sharing: an insight into technology, a skill, a ham radio project or
invention - even a story.
The expo is being held on September 17th and 18th. According to an
announcement by organizer Eric Guth, 4Z1UG, there will be a particular
effort to seek young active amateur radio operators as speakers.
For additional details about how to get involved, follow the link in
the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
[FOR PRINT ONLY:
https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/speakercall.html ]
**
DIT DAH CW GANG CARRIES MESSAGE OF FRIENDSHIP
JIM/ANCHOR: There's more to Morse Code than just successfully logging
QSOs, and few hams know that better than this next group. Randy Sly
W4XJ tells us about them.
RANDY: One of the things we experience each Field Day is that food,
fellowship and QSOs go together well for amateur radio operators. This
formula has also been followed for many years by a group in Michigan
called the "Dit Dah CW Gang." Established by Ted Rachwal, K8AQM, Jeremy Downard, K8JAD and his father, Greg Downard, KE8CEW, the gang is an
informal group of CW operators who come together during the year for
various events of the Straight Key Century Club as KS8KCC.
Ted told Amateur Radio Newsline that the friendships developed during
those weekends and at other times is what draws amateurs from the
region to join them. "Our plan," he said, "is to consume more calories
than QSOs." But don't let that fool you. As seasoned operators with a
lot of power and great antennas, they are always working pileups while
on the air. In fact, when they call CQ they mean business! If you've
already been fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of one of
their unique QSL cards, you'll recognize right away that the card's
humorous but slightly menacing cartoon characters depicting different
members of the "gang" can be quite misleading: This is a decidedly
friendly bunch that wants to hear from as many operators as possible.
Since receiving their vanity call in 2016, the Dit Dah CW Gang has now
been joined by other quasi-official clubs in all US call areas who
obtained an SKCC-related call. So get out your straight key, dust off
your bug and listen for KS8KCC and its cousins during the nextevent.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ.
(DIT DAH CW GANG)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the Utah Amateur Radio Club's W7SP repeater on Sundays as part of the
club's 9 p.m. net.
**
HAMS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA HOST 'CRUISE IN' FOR MOBILE
JIM/ANCHOR: If you're one of those hams who likes to operate while
mobile, you're in good company, as we hear from Sel Embee KB3TZD.
SEL: Inspired by a group of American amateur radio operators in
Wisconsin, Surrey Emergency Program Amateur Radio V-E-7-S-A-R is
hosting its first mobile cruise-in for hams in British Columbia,
Canada. It's an opportunity to show off creative approaches to mobile operation, whether the portable shack is maritime mobile, pedestrian,
bicycle or even horseback.
A post on the Surrey group's blog said that the local event will be
held on August 14th and is modeled after the one that has been held for
a dozen years by the Portage County Amateur Radio Service in Wisconsin.
The Surrey club's members are hoping to see creative approaches to
operators' grab 'n' go kits as well as more formal installations.
Prizes will be awarded for most bands covered and neatest installation.
Entries will be judged by the Surrey fire and police services. The club
is hosting it in the parking lot of the A&W Restaurant in Surrey.
For more details visit v-e-7-s-a-r-dot-net (ve7sar.net)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Sel Embee, K-B-3-T-Zed-D.
(SURREY EMERGENCY PROGRAM AMATEUR RADIO)
**
CAR MAKERS REPORT DECLINE IN AM RADIOS
JIM/ANCHOR: Is AM mode going away? Well, certainly not in amateur radio
but there has apparently been some action among automakers who are
making the transition to electric car manufacture. Kent Peterson KC0DGY
brings us that story.
KENT: Amplitude modulation - so loved by radio amateurs for being the
first voice mode -- is apparently becoming the last-choice commercial
radio option for some automobile manufacturers who are having second
thoughts about retaining AM radio in their new cars, many are citing electric-motor interference. They claim that the electric motors that
provide the power to the drive wheels mess with terrestrial AM radio
reception, creating such issues as distortion, static and signal loss.
Tesla has already cut AM radios from its vehicles, starting with its
original Model S. BMW pulled it from both its i3 and i8 sedans -- and
no Audi models that are fully electric are equipped with AM radios
either.
A representative for Audi explained on the consumerguide.com website
that drivers can make up for the loss by opting to stream those
stations via digital signals on a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. An
article on the website, thedrive.com, also noted that AM is practically
gone from the broadcast radio scene in Europe as well, overtaken by the
DAB format.
In the US, however, where AM radio still remains popular, it will be a challenge, especially for those long-distance drivers who most
especially love the commercial radio version of DXing. In fact, as one
author wrote on the website of incompliancemag.com: [quote] " Woe to
those drivers who have fond memories of listening to an ever-changing
array of AM radio stations as they traveled across the country in
wood-paneled station wagons!" [endquote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson KC0DGY.
(CONSUMERGUIDE.COM, THEDRIVE.COM, INCOMPLIANCEMAG.COM)
**
PARKS ON THE AIR PREPS FOR SUMMER PLAQUE AWARDS
JIM/ANCHOR: The Parks on the Air awards program is hosting its Summer
Plaque Event and preparing for its big awards ceremony to be held
online on the POTA YouTube channel. Vance Martin N3VEM has the details.
VANCE: Don't miss the Summer Plaque event, coming up July 16th and
17th, UTC. This is our busiest weekend every year, and it's your chance
to win one of 17 high quality plaques for your shack! Once the event
is over, be sure to upload your activation logs using POTA's new
self-upload service, and then be on the lookout at the annual plaque
event section from the menu at pota dot app for details on the award
ceremony where an esteemed list of guests will join us on the official
POTA YouTube channel to help us announce the winners. Guest presenters
for this year's awards show include individuals from : AR Newsline Ham
Radio Crash Course ICQ Podcast Ham Radio Live! & WRMI Shortwave "CQ
Calling Show" Ham Radio Workbench Podcast Parks on theAir
I am personally excited to announce that Matt Here, N3NWV, whom many of
you know from our official POTA 101 videos will be taking over the
reins of these monthly updates beginning in August. I've had a lot of
fun recording these updates, but I'm looking forward to handing the
reins over to our official media-manager as we continue to grow the
program.
As always the team at Parks on the Air wishes you safe activations, and
happy hunting. 73. This is November Three Victor Echo Mike.
(POTA)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, be listening for Pete, ZL4TE, using the call sign
E51RMP from the South Cook Islands through to the 21st of July. He will
be operating holiday style, QRP on some of the HF bands and will also
be on VHF, using the digital voice mode D-STAR. Pete will be using both
CW and SSB. Send QSLs to his home call.
Listen for special event stations 4Z21MG and 4X21MG to be active from
Maccabiah Village in Israel during the 21st Maccabiah Games, an
international sporting event, through July 26th. Operation is on
various HF bands using CW, SSB, FT8. There will also be operation on
various satellites. QSL via 4X6ZM.
(OHIO PENN DX)
**
KICKER: AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE ANNOUNCES 2022 YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR
JIM/ANCHOR: Amateur Radio Newsline is proud to announce the winner of
the 2022 Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline Young
Ham of the Year award. Newsline's Mark Abramowicz (Abram-o-vich) NT3V,
chairman of the award program, is here with the story.
"Really? Oh, my God!"
That was the reaction of Audrey McElroy KM4BUN after learning she had
been selected as the recipient of Newsline's Young Ham of the
Yearaward.
Audrey, of Cumming, Georgia, is the daughter of Thomas McElroy, W4SDR,
and Janet McElroy, K4PRM. Her brother, Jack, is KM4ZIA.
Audrey is 18 and an honor student who graduated in June from Forsyth
Central High School in Cumming, Georgia. She already has begun computer
science studies at Georgia Tech.
She credits her parents with generating her early interest in
amateurradio.
"By the age of like 3 or 4, I was out there helping my dad put antennas
up, run coax in the hot summer heat," she recalls. "And, I became so
fascinated looking into the radios."
Audrey passed her Tech test in June 2014 at the age of 10, took her
General license exam a few years later and passed her Extra test on
Election Night 2016 at the age of 13.
In 2019, Audrey was invited to join the Dave Kalter Memorial Youth DX
Adventure to Curacao.
"Probably one of the best experiences in my life, not only in amateur
radio but overall," she recalls. "We were so blessed to be able to use
the PJ2T station.
"And we spent day and night making contacts. We broke the record for
the number of contacts made. I think we made over 65-hundred contacts
in just the span of really just a few days when you count up all the
hours."
Audrey says she put her love of amateur radio together with her pursuit
of biotechnology STEM studies in high school to produce a senior
capstone project that involved a high-altitude balloon launch.
Her payload was small roundworms or C elegans.
"My whole project was launching them up to 100,000 feet, which I
calculated using the amount of helium and everything," she explains.
"And at the same time I was taking measurements and readings about the
pressure and the temperature."
But this was not her first launch. She credits her mentor, Bill Brown,
WB8ELK, a NASA engineer, with helping her achieve success in launching
several high altitude and orbiting balloons including one that circled
the globe nearly five times.
Audrey has made presentations during forums in Dayton, Huntsville and
for the Youth on the Air camp. Audrey says promoting amateur radio is a
big part of her immediate future.
"Now I kind of make it my mission to bring more youth and especially
women into amateur radio and STEM," she says.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz NT3V. JIM/ANCHOR:
Audrey will receive her award on Saturday, Aug. 20 during ceremonies at
the Huntsville Hamfest in the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to the ARRL; Consumerguide.com; CQ
Magazine; CNN; the Dit Dah CW Gang; David Behar K7DB; NASA; ORARI; Ohio
Penn DX; QRZ.com; QSOToday; Southgate Amateur Radio News;
shortwaveradio.de; Surrey Emergency Program Amateur Radio;
thedrive.com; UN Office for Outer Space Affairs; USKA: 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.
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 2022. All rights reserved.
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