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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2356 for Friday December 23rd, 2022

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2356 with a release date of Friday December 23rd, 2022 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams prep for severe winter weather in the US.
Make plans for Ham Radio University -- and finally a Santa watch
roundup and our annual Christmas card to you. All this and more as
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2356 comes your way right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART

**
SKYWARN OPS PREP FOR SEVERE WEATHER SEASON

JIM/ANCHOR: We begin this week with a report that acknowledges the
severe weather now sweeping through much of the United States. For the
radio volunteers of SKYWARN, there is no rest. Randy Sly W4XJ explains
what comes next.

RANDY: For SKYWARN Amateur Radio volunteers, there's no time off now
that tornado and hurricane season is over. On December 10th, more than
1900 operators and 38 National Weather Service offices took part in a
one-day operation called SKYWARN Recognition Day, or SRD, where
stations contact as many of those offices as possible. Now, it's
already time for winter weather reporting.

In fact, Rob Macedo, KD1CY, one of the coordinators for SRD, didn't
even have time to finish compiling his reports before he was activated
for a coastal storm last week that brought over 20" of snow in the
Berkshire Mountain region of New England and rainfall of as much as 3
to 4.5" in southern New England.

Ken Graham, director of the National Weather Service, who is also a ham
radio operator with the callsign WX4KEG, sent a special video message
to SKYWARN Recognition Day participants, thanking them for
participating and for their involvement in SKYWARN reporting.

Those reports, whether snow, tornado damage or other information, he
said, have greatly helped the National Weather Service over the years.
The link to the video message can be found in the text version of this
report at ARNewline.org.

This is Randy Sly W4XJ.

[for print only, do not read:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HME-JjlEL8]

**
SPACE WEATHER CENTER TO HALT LOCAL MESSAGES

JIM/ANCHOR: The United States government's Space Weather Prediction
Center has proposed eliminating the recorded WWV geophysical alert
message available from its local Colorado phone number, 303-497-3235.
Callers to that number have been hearing the announcement about its discontinuation, which takes effect on January 15th, 2023.

There are, however, numerous other ways to continue receiving this
information. Robert Steenburgh, AD0IU, acting lead of the Space
Weather Forecast Office, told Newsline that the messages are available
via subscription service on their website under the Forecasts and
Summaries category. He said subscribers can get these messages sent automatically every three hours when they are updated. The website
appears in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

Rob also told Newsline that the recording is a duplicate of the message
already available from WWV via telephone at (303) 499-7111 for WWV in
Colorado, and (808) 335-4363 for WWVH in Hawaii at 18 minutes past
every hour. He said the information is also available at the primary
website of the center. That link also appears in the text version of
this week's newscast.

Comments on this change can be submitted to the Space Weather
Prediction Center at the website spaceweather.gov under the
feedbacktab.

[TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE MESSAGE: https://pss.swpc.noaa.gov ]

[PRIMARY WEBSITE: https://www.spaceweather.gov/products/geophysical-alert-wwv-text ]

(ROBERT STEENBURGH, AD0IU)
**
EMERGENCY RADIO TEAMS MERGE IN WESTERN CANADA

JIM/ANCHOR: In one Canadian province, emergency radio teams have
decided they'd work better as a team, so they're merging. Andy Morrison
K09AWM brings us the details.

ANDY: Radio responders and residents in one part of British Columbia,
Canada, can look forward to more streamlined emergency operations under
a merger announced recently by officials. Two town councils in the
Capital Regional District of the province have approved the merger of
emergency radio teams in View Royal and nearby Colwood. View Royal
Mayor Sid Tobias said the result would be greater efficiency in
communications.

The View Royal Fire Rescue Chief, Paul Hurst, said the teams in both municipalities will now report to a single leader and the amount of
equipment available and the number of volunteers will be doubled.

Amateur radio operators are part of the municipalities' response and
make use of their own communication systems if the localities' cell
towers are disabled in a disaster. The fire chief said that in those
instances, the hams become a lifeline. Their teams staff radio rooms in
the fire departments in both View Royal and Colwood, enabling them to communicate with other hams. They are also able to stay in touch with
various government responders throughout the province.

The fire chief called it a win-win for both municipalities.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(WIA, SAANICH NEWS)


**
ENROLLMENT FOR 'DIRECT-TO-FULL' EXAM OPENS IN UK

JIM/ANCHOR: If you're in the UK and have decided that 2023 is your year
to become a Full license-holder, the Radio Society of Great Britain has
some helpful details about the process. Here's Jeremy Boot G4NJH to
tell us more.

JEREMY: Six months after publishing the new Direct to Full examination
syllabus for UK licence-holders, the Radio Society of Great Britain is preparing to accept enrollments for the exam starting in January 2023.
This exam is open to everyone, from Foundation to Intermediate
candidates but it was developed especially to accommodate those
aspiring hams who already possess technical competence and would rather
bypass the three-tier licence path.

Although the Direct to Full syllabus varies only slightly from the
existing syllabus, a new item has been introduced regarding aperture
antennas. If you wish more details on how to book for this exam, visit
the rsgb website at rsgb.org and select the option for "exam
announcements" visible in the menu on the right-hand side of the
screen.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(RSGB)

**
HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY RETURNS AS ONLINE EVENT

JIM/ANCHOR: Do you want to get your new year started by attending the
popular Ham Radio University? The 24th annual event is set as an
online conference and registration has opened. Stephen Kinford N8WB
tells us what to expect.

STEPHEN: With some COVID-19 restrictions still in place, Ham Radio
University will again be an online conference on January 7th from 1300
to 2000 UTC. This is also the online convention of the NYC-Long Island
section of the ARRL and will be held as a GoToWebinar. The day's
program will be offering 17 informational presentations ranging from
the Parks on the Air experience to the basics of HF operating.
Presentations will also be made by experts on contesting and DXing as
well as software-defined radios.

Advance registration is required for each presentation you plan to
attend. The conference is free but there is a suggested donation of $5.


This well-attended event has been organized again this year in memory
of its founder, Phil Lewis, N2MUN, who became a Silent Key in March
of2020.

For other details and to register visit hamradiouniversity dot org
slash forums. (HamRadioUniversity.org/forums)

This is Stephen Kinford N8WB.

(HRU)

**
THREE WINNERS CHOSEN IN 'DREAM RIG' CONTEST

JIM/ANCHOR: It pays to dream big. Three young amateurs were among those
who entered an essay contest to share their hopes for the next
generation of radio operators. The Intrepid-DX Group, which held the
contest, was listening. Jack Parker W8ISH tells us about the three who
wrote the winning essays.

JACK: Maria Polyanska, VE3OMV; Ryan Kocourek, N7RSK, and Toby Latino
AG5ZM are the first- second- and third-place winners, respectively, in
the third annual Intrepid-DX Group's "Dream Rig" Essay Contest. The
competition draws entries from hams ages 19 and younger in the US and
Canada. The announcement of the winners was made recently by the
group's president, Paul Ewing, N6PSE, who wrote that he was certain
that [quote] "our youth are full of great ideas, and they are brimming
with enthusiasm to keep our hobby alive and well into the future."
[endquote]

This year's question asked candidates to describe how amateur radio
factored into their career plans.

Clearly, once the prizes are distributed to the three winners, those
youngsters can get started on answering that question -- this time, on
the air.

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(INTREPID DX GROUP)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the WI9HF repeater of the Capital City Repeater Association in Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.

**
INDIAN AMATEURS PUT SANTA ON THE AIR

JIM/ANCHOR: Like the airwaves themselves, Santa is lighting up the sky
in all parts of the world. Give and receive the gift of holiday DX with
these two events. We hear first from John Williams VK4JJW:

JOHN: From Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata, Parks on the Air
India and Oscar India are celebrating Christmas by putting Santa on the
Air through the 31st of December. The call sign AU2SOA, Santa on Air,
can be heard using SSB and CW on HF, operating a Digital SSTV broadcast
and looking for QSOs on Echolink. To make contacts on FT 8, be
listening on 20, 15 and 10 meters. See QRZ.com for QSL details. QSOs
will be confirmed via eQSL. On Christmas Day, December 25th, operators
will be on various HF bands activating a park and will be spotting
AU2SOA operators at www.parksontheair.com.

Finally, on the last two weekends of December, Parks on the Air India
will activate AU2SOA on 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres transmitting a SSTV
broadcast. The photo you download will serve as your QSL card. The SSTV transmission can be decoded via the receiving programs RXSSTV and
MMSSTV and on Android phones via ROBOT36.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(ARUNAVA DEY, VU3XRY)

**
OLD FATHER 9 CHRISTMAS TAKES TO THE SKIES

JIM/ANCHOR: The Radio Club of Pusula, OH9W, and Northern Radio Arcala,
OH8X, are activating the station they say belongs to the "genuine Santa
from Northern Finland, next to the North Pole." If you believe in
Santa, you'll want to hear this report about Santa Radio from Jeremy
Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: Old Father Nine Christmas, OF9X, recently began activity on all
amateur radio bands and all modes; CW, SSB and Digital. You can expect
Santa's work to continue this year until December 31st, at 21:59 UTC.
According to the QRZ.com page for OF9X, this year's special theme will
focus on children in troubled areas of the world and will take the form
of a puzzle to be solved by letters the operators will be handing out
to their contacts. See the station's page on QRZ.com for details about
how to submit the puzzle results for an award. You can also see a list
of hams who have already contacted Santa and his elves.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(QRZ.COM)

**
DODROPIN CONNECTS SANTA TO KIDS ON ECHOLINK

JIM/ANCHOR: The last story in our Santa roundup features a special correspondent with some news for our youngest listeners. He really
needs no introduction.

DON: Hello again boys and girls, it's the most wonderful time of the
year. It's time for the Santa Watch Net. That's right Santa is going to
be making his rounds and can you believe it? This is our 12th year in a
row and the little helpers at the DoDropIn will be keeping an eagle eye
on the radar. I'll look for you to join us on the Santa Watch Net
starting at 1800 hours Eastern Time. Well my little elf Dave, N3NTV,
will be keeping track of old Santa's location. And as always, Santa has
a radio in his sleigh -- and you know I just love chatting with the
good boys and girls. So be listening for N1S - that's Number 1 Santa.
Gather up the little ones and get them checked in because third party
traffic is always on the "nice" list. Once again it's the Santa Watch
Net, Christmas Eve, 1800 hours Eastern on the DoDropIn Echolink
conference server node number 355800. Merry Christmas and 73 from me,
Number 1 Santa, and all my little helpers at the DoDropIn.

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, be listening for the Israel Amateur Radio Club,
which is operating special event stations celebrating Christmas and the
Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Be listening for Hanukkah station 4Z8NER on
the air from December 18th through the 26th. Christmas stations
4X7XMAS, 4X8XMAS and 4X9XMAS will be on the air December 23rd, 24th and
25th. QSL via 4X6ZM, LoTW and eQSL.

The TN8K DXpedition in the Congo begins operation shortly after
operators arrive from the Czech Republic on January 6th. The team will
continue operating until their departure date of January 21st. Be
listening on 160 through 6 metres using CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, FT4 and
PSK. Operators will also be making contacts via the QO-100 satellite.

Listen for Harry, JG7PSJ, operating as JD1BMH from Chichijima (CHEE
CHEE JEEMA), IOTA number AS-031, Ogasawara (OH GAH SAH WARRA), from
December 24th to January 2nd. He will be using CW, SSB and RTTY on 80
through 10 metres. QSL to his home call JG7PSJ via the bureau or
direct.

Be listening for Pierre-Jean, F4GPK, operating as FY/F4GPK from French
Guiana (GEE YONNA) from December 26th to January 8th. QSL via eQSL or
direct to his home call.

Joe, VE3BW, will be using the callsign TI7/VE3BW (Tee Eye Seven/VE3BW)
while operating from Costa Rica from the 23rd of December to the 3rd of January. Joe will be operating CW, SSB and FT8 on 160-6 metres. QSL to
his home call. All QSOs will be loaded to LOTW on his return.

(425 DX NEWS)

**
KICKER: NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HAM RADIO STYLE

JIM/ANCHOR: We end this newscast with a Newsline holiday tradition - a
ham log instead of a yule log. I'm going to share with you this
much-loved adaptation of the Clement Clarke Moore classic - proof that
there is still magic in the season and even moreso on the amateur bands
this time of year.

JIM: Twas the night before Christmas and all through the shack The rig
was turned off and the mic cord lay slack

The antenna rotor had made its last turn, the tubes in the linear had
long ceased to burn.

I sat there relaxing and took off my specs, preparing to daydream of
Armchair DX-- When suddenly outside I heard such a sound, I dashed out
the door to see what was around.

The moon shone down brightly and lighted the night. For sure
propagation for the low bands was right.

I peered toward the roof where I heard all the racket and there was
some guy in a red, fur-trimmed jacket!

I stood there perplexed in a manner quite giddy: Just who WAS this
stranger? di di dah dah di dit?

He looked very much like an FCC guy who'd come to check up on some
badTVI.

I shouted to him: "Old man...QR-Zed?" "Hey you by the chimney all
dressed up in red!"

I suddenly knew when I heard sleigh bells jingle The guy on the rooftop
was Jolly Kris Kringle

He had a big sack full of amateur gear which was a big load for his
prancing reindeer. Transmitters, receivers, for cabinets and racks Some
meters and scopes and a lot of coax.

He said not a word 'cause he'd finished his work. He picked up his sack
and he turned with a jerk. As he leaped to his sleigh, he shouted with
glee And I knew in a moment he'd be QRT.

I heard him transmit as he flew o'er the trees "Merry Christmas to all,
and to all seventy-three."

"Ho Ho Ho"

(AUTHOR UNKNOWN)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Weekly; Arunava Dey,
VU3XRY; CQ magazine; David Behar K7DB; the DoDropIn; DX-World.net; The
425 DX News; Ham Radio University; Intrepid DX Group; POTA India; Radio
Society of Great Britain; Robert Steenburgh, AD0IU; shortwaveradio.de;
SKYWARN; 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 Jim Damron, N8TMW in Charleston West
Virginia saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. And from all
of us, Merry Christmas! Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2022.
All rights reserved.

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