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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2350 for Friday November 11th, 2022

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2350 with a release date of Friday November 11th to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Climate change raises ham radio's profile in Mozambique. The transistor celebrates its 75th year -- and a pioneering
YL becomes a Silent Key. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline
Report Number 2350 comes your way right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART

**
CLIMATE CHANGE SPURS MOZAMBIQUE TO FOCUS ON HAM RADIO

JIM/ANCHOR: The United Nations Climate Change Conference may be under
way in Egypt, but a series of climate talks held earlier among African
nations has already made a big difference - a difference that lands
amateur radio in a more prominent role as climate grows ever more unpredictable. Jason Daniels VK2LAW brings us up to date.

JASON: The climate talks that took place among African nations earlier
this year in Mozambique have paved the way to something unprecedented
in that nation: Mozambique's first ham radio station earmarked
specifically for disaster response. Following several seasons of deadly
winds and floods battering the country, its leaders are now giving
highest priority to formalizing disaster-risk reduction measures such
as this. The need for resilient telecommunications is at the top of
thelist.

A prototype emergency ham radio station has been launched in the
capital city of Maputo, set up by the National Institute of
Communications, or INCM. The station has the support of the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster, the World Food Programme's Technology
division in Mozambique and the National Institute for Disaster Risk
Management and Reduction. There are plans to add stations in Tete (tay
tay), Niassa (Nee Ossa), Pemba and other provinces.

Sudhir Kumar, the telecommunications cluster's preparedness officer,
told the Mirage News: [quote] "Together, we assessed the needs and
drafted a national action plan for telecommunications preparedness in Mozambique."

A dozen radio operators have been trained as hams and have received
licenses. Radio operators throughout the country are also being
encouraged to participate.

Kumar said that additional volunteers are likely to come from the young
people who comprise more than half Mozambique's population. A workshop
is planned soon at a major communications technology institute in
Maputo.

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(MIRAGE NEWS)

**
SILENT KEY: ELLEN WHITE, W1YL, PIONEERING YL

JIM/ANCHOR: The worldwide ham community and most especially those in
the Connecticut offices of the ARRL are mourning the loss of an amateur
radio leader. We hear more about her from Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

KEVIN: Ellen White, W1YL. spent more than three-quarters of her life
involved in amateur radio and was known the world over for her
expertise and advocacy. Ellen became a Silent Key in Florida on Sunday, November 6th.

The ARRL posted an obituary on its website, noting that Ellen's 25
years with the league included her stint as deputy communications
manager and later, editor of the column, "How's DX," for QST, the
league's magazine. She had been a ham since 1946 and over the years.
she became a well-known presence globally. In 2019, she received the
Russian E.T. Krenkel Medal, an honor bestowed upon groups and
individuals who have contributed much to amateur radio. She had been a broadcast station engineer by profession and as an amateur, she
developed a fondness for contests.

The Florida Contest Group considered her its "founding grandmother,"
and she is pictured on its home page beside her fellow club members.
Ellen was 95.

This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

(ARRL)

**
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT TRANSISTORS AFTER 75 YEARS

JIM/ANCHOR: Unless you're a boat anchor enthusiast, chances are you owe
a lot of your amateur radio success to the transistors that are the
heart and soul of your rig and other station equipment. The IEEE's (Eye
Triple E's) Electron Devices Society has set aside much of the coming
year to mark the transistor's 75th anniversary. Kent Peterson KC0DGY
tells us what's in store.

KENT: Considered by many to be the foundation of the electronics
industry, the transistor was created at Bell Labs in New Jersey in
1947, sidelining vacuum tubes for most users of electronics. Its
development garnered the 1956 Nobel Prize in physics for the trio who
created it and now, so many years later, its recognition is taking on
new life, starting next month.

The IEE's Electron Devices Society will be holding a series of meetings
and conferences into 2023, devoted to the transistor and so many of the
devices it inspired and made possible. The first program is the IEE International Electron Devices Meeting to be held on December 3rd
through the 7th in San Francisco.

There will also be plenty of written material to read about the
transistor in the coming year. Society members are writing a book about
how it was developed and the EDS newsletter and IEEE Spectrum will be publishing technical articles about the transistor in the months ahead.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

(IEEE)

**
RSGB SELECTS COORDINATOR OF CW COMPETENCY TEST

JIM/ANCHOR: If you're in the UK and want a way to formally measure your
Morse Code competency, there's a newly appointed ham to oversee your
test. Here's Jeremy Boot G4NJH to introduce him.

JEREMY: Eric Arkinstall, M0KZB, recognises that for many fellow hams,
amateur radio is all about the love of Morse Code, plain and simple.
For Eric, being an amateur has almost always been about the love of all
things radio when, since at age 11, he built his first crystal set.

Recently the Radio Society of Great Britain appointed him coordinator
of the Morse Competency test which awards operators recognition for
their efforts.

Although a Morse Code Certificate is not proof of a national standard
of proficiency or internationally recognised, it is a matter of pride
for those operators who attain it. In most countries now including the
UK, a knowledge of Morse Code is no longer a requirement for a ham
radio licence.

According to the RSGB website, 5 words per minute is the slowest speed
for which the certificate is issued. This is being done to encourage
progress towards higher speeds. Tests are also available at 10, 12, 15,
20, 25 and 30 wpm.

If you wish to take the test, you can email Eric directly at morse.tests@rsgb.org.uk

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(RSGB)

**
NASA CHOOSES HAMS TO HELP COPY ORION'S SIGNAL

JIM/ANCHOR: The Orion spacecraft, which is set to be launched toward
the moon this month, won't be making the trip alone. Amateur radio
operators will be along for the ride - well, sort of. Paul Braun WD9GCO explains.

PAUL: When Artemis 1 dispatches an uncrewed Orion spacecraft on its
journey to the moon, two hams will be on board the mission even though
they're keeping their feet solidly on Planet Earth. Amateur radio
operators are part of the 18-member team of volunteers who will be
tracking various parts of the 25-day mission, recording whether it is
possible to copy Orion's signal. NASA said they will also track and
measure changes in Orion's radio transmissions.

The team will include satellite enthusiast Scott Chapman, K4KDR, of
Vermont and amateur astronomer Scott Tilley, VE7TIL of British
Columbia. The two amateurs were chosen to join space agencies and
international companies from Canada, Germany, Korea and elsewhere.

I'm Paul Braun WD9GCO.

(SPACE.COM)


***
FCC SEEKING NEW GRADS FOR ENGINEERS' PROGRAM

JIM/ANCHOR: If you're a recent college graduate with an engineering
degree or expect to graduate with that degree in December, this
opportunity from the US Federal Communications Commission might
interest you. We have the details from Sel Embee KB3TZD.

SEL: The Honors Engineer program, an FCC career development initiative,
has openings for engineering graduates interested in spending a year
working alongside experienced professionals. The engineers will tackle
such issues as broadcast standards, next-generation communications
networks and innovations in space. They will also explore public safety
issues and consult with homeland security agencies. Another focus will
be new communications technologies, especially with respect to energy, education and health care.

The program is run with an eye toward having its participants
ultimately join the FCC as fulltime employees.

Candidates may find this to be a competitive program. The agency
considers academic achievement only one part of the successful
engineer's resume. The FCC will also take into account technical skills
and extracurricular activities. All candidates must show that they
have an interest in working for a government employer in the
communications sector.

If you're interested, you have until December 2nd to apply.
Applications are available online. You'll find the link to the
application process in the text version of this week's newscast script
at arnewsline.org

This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.

(FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/685101100

(FCC)

**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the AH6LE repeater in Clackamas County Oregon on Sundays at 6 p.m.
local time.

**

ELMERS ORGANIZE TO HELP CANADA'S NEWBIES

JIM/ANCHOR: In western Canada, a growing number of hams have discovered
that the most effective way to transmit to other hams doesn't
necessarily involve being on the air. Andy Morrison K9AWM has
thatstory.

ANDY: In Calgary, Alberta, a group of enthusiastic mentors has begun
tackling the ongoing mystery of the vanishing newbie - the candidate
who studies for and passes the Canadian Basic certification. That same
ham then moves on to an Advanced licence, attends some club meetings
but soon tapers off radio-related activity within that first year. It
is a recurring pattern of loss that Jerry Spring VE6TL and others in
Calgary believed they could help stop.

Jerry told Newsline [quote]: "This pattern continued for years until a
few of us Elmers got together and figured out what was missing." That's
when they formed a dedicated team of Elmers known as SASTAR. SASTAR
stands for Southern Alberta Support Team for Amateur Radio. Compiling a
list of the latest newbies, the team reached out to reduce what Jerry
calls the "culture shock" experienced by new licence holders: the
antenna regulations, the different modes and their own puzzling
equipment needs. The Elmers of SASTAR organised and reached out via
personal contact methods that included Zoom and groups.io which added
extra appeal for the youngest among the newbies.

Jerry said: [quote] "Suddenly, we started seeing/hearing a lot more
people on the air. Some even decided to learn CW and take to the HF
airwaves even though they hadn't considered these things before. The
same thing happened with fox hunting, SOTA and Field Day." [endquote]
In fact, some now volunteer as SASTAR Elmers too.

The enthusiasm is spreading to the Atlantic provinces, where APSTAR was
born with the help of SASTAR. Prince Edward Island amateur George
Dewar, VY2GF/VY2PLH, is replicating this proven method with Elmers in
that region with guidance from Jerry and Pat VE6PDS. George may not be
the last one to extend the experiment either. Jerry said he's already
had inquiries from a friend in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Stay tuned.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(JERRY SPRING, VE6TL)


**
DISASTER-RESPONSE STARTUP LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS

JIM/ANCHOR: Just as the word Anemoi (Anna Moy) signifies the mythical
Greek gods of the four winds, a new effort known as Anemoi Incident
Response is looking to provide communications and assistance to all
corners of the United States when disaster strikes. As it grows from
its Arkansas location, the not-for-profit conducting a nationwide
recruitment action, a multifaceted outreach that includes amateur radio operators. Dave Parks WB8ODF has those details.

DAVE: Colleen Udell, president of Anemoi Incident Response, said the organization received its nonprofit status in May but its origins go
back much further with the veteran responders who created it. Anemoi's component teams include AUXCOMM, weather spotters, ground crew, social
media and dispatch. Colleen told Newsline [quote] "We all have plenty
of years of disaster relief experience and wanted to find a way to
utilize communications to complement what is going on with all these
other disaster relief organizations." [endquote] The other assistance
groups include ARES and nongovernmental organizations that step in
during a crisis. Colleen said Anemoi is as much a safety net for these
NGOs as well as for the small communities that sometimes fall between
the cracks in a crisis because they lack a robust response team or any
plan at all.

AUXCOMM team director Thomas Sarlitto, KD9JSA, is based in Illinois and assistant AUXCOM director Paul Falk, KO4KXV, is in Florida. Anemoi hams
can live anywhere in the US, just as the group's stormchasers are
scattered throughout the US. Tom said that portable repeaters are in
the works for UHF/VHF radios and non-amateurs can eventually be
deployed using GMRS and business radios.

If you have skills that you think can be put to good use in helping,
visit their website myanemoi dot org (myanemoi.org). That's anemoi,
spelled A N E M O I

You'll find a link to an application form and a reminder on their home
page that [quote] "there's no shortage of ways to give back."
[endquote]

This is Dave Parks WB8ODF.

(ANEMOI)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, be listening for Frans, PC2F, operating as PF01MAX
until the 20th of November, during the Grand Prix weekends of this
year's FIA Formula One World Championship. QSL to PC2F either direct,
via the bureau, Logbook of The World or eQSL.

The T88WA team is active until the 14th of November from Koror Island,
IOTA number OC-009, Palau. They are on the air from this western
Pacific island on 160m through 6m. Send QSLs via M0URX or LoTW.

Chris HB9FIY is on St Helena Island and will operate for the next two
weeks as ZD7CA on 40-10m, holiday style. He will be using SSB and the
Digital modes when time permits. QSL via EA5GL.

Listen for Brian, ND3F, on the air from New Providence Island as C6AQQ
from November 24th through to December 1st. He will be on all HF bands
and will participate in the CQWW CW contest. QSL via EA5GL.

If you were hoping to work Haru, JA1XGI, as TX5XG this month from the
Austral Islands, please update your calendar: He has postponed his
activation until next year. No further details were available.


(DX NEWS, RSGB, DX-WORLD.NET)

**
KICKER: THANKING A SINGULAR MILITARY VETERAN

JIM/ANCHOR: We end this week's report by looking a holiday that is
observed every November in the US. It was originally known as Armistice
Day. So what does this have to do with amateur radio? Randy Sly W4XJ
will tell us now.

RANDY: In the United States, November 11th is Veterans Day, a day
honoring the men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces.
The annual holiday is marked on the anniversary of the end of World War
I. On that day, one man likes to honor amateur radio for its service as
well. Eligible for the draft in late 1960s, he chose to enlist in the
Navy. When asked if he had any experience, he mentioned he had been a
ham radio operator since his freshman year in high school. The
recruiter's eyes lit up: He shared that his amateur radio license would
allow him to enlist at a higher rank and enter active duty as a third
class petty officer without needing to attend Radioman A school. During
his time on active duty, that man's ham radio experience paid off,
helping him become a leader in the communications mission of his
destroyer. In addition to using his technical expertise, he was the
only one in radio central that could also send and receive traffic
using Morse Code during training exercises.

That man, and many others like him who have served their country,
received their training simply by being hams. So thank you, amateur
radio, for your service. By the way, that man was me.

This is Randy Sly W4XJ.

JIM/ANCHOR: And thank you for YOUR service, Randy!

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Anemoi Incident Response; the ARRL; CQ
Magazine; David Behar K7DB; DX-World.net; Jerry Spring, VE6TL; Mirage
News; QRZ.com; Radio Society of Great Britain; Southgate Amateur Radio
News; 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 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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