Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2149 for Friday, January 4 2019

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2149 with a release date of Friday, January 4 2019 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. In New York, amateurs line up for Ham Radio University. British YLs prepare to turn 40 in style. And in the U.S., the FCC announces it could suspend some of its operations as part of a partial government shutdown. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2149 comes your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART
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BREAKING NEWS: FCC SUSPENDS OPERATIONS ON JAN. 3 FOLLOWING GOVT. SHUTDOWN

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We begin this week with breaking news. Newsline went to production on Thursday, January 3rd, just hours after the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C., shut many of its operations, becoming one of the many U.S. government agencies to close down in the wake of the Dec. 22 partial government shutdown. The FCC made its announcement as deadlock between the president and Congress over funding for the controversial Mexican border wall entered its 14th day. FCC systems to remain available to the public include the Universal Licensing System, the Commission Online Registration System, the Auction Application System and the Auctions Public Reporting System. Spectrum auctions and related activities are to continue because the auctions are funded by their own proceeds. The FCC had originally been expected to shut previously but the agency announced in late December it was able to delay such action for a little while because it had come up with available funds to continue its operations. With the partial closure, visitors to the FCC's website will still be able to get online but the agency will not be updating any information displayed there, search engines will not work, license transactions will cease -- and there will be no access to data about informal complaints filed with the agency. The Office of the Inspector General is to remain open. 

(WIRED, ASSOCIATED PRESS, FCC)

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NEW YORK AREA AMATEURS HIT THE BOOKS AT 'HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY'

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In New York, hams are going back to school at the ARRL's New York City/Long Island section convention - a gathering also known as Ham Radio University. Jim Damron N8TMW has those details.

JIM: The ARRL’s New York City/Long Island section convention is known as Ham Radio University and the 20th annual event takes place on Saturday the 5th of January on Long Island University’s C.W. Post campus in Brookville. The ARRL’s new CEO Howard Michel WB2ITX will be the keynote speaker and attendees will have a full day of forums and workshops – 30 in all – including kit building, an overview of Skywarn, Raspberry Pi applications and of course, the digital modes. If you aren’t anywhere near the New York area you can still attend in spirit by working special event station W2HRU which has been on the air already since the 29th of December, operating on 80, 40 and 20 meters. There will be a downloadable certificate confirming your contact. Meanwhile, if you are able to get there, think of it as a good day to fine-tune your radio skills, make new friends and visit with some old friends.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I’m Jim Damron N8TMW

(HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY)

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SPACE STATION'S FAN CLUB IS GROUNDED

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Members of the fan club of the International Space Station have flown high for years by following the ISS but now the club's future has been grounded. Andy Morrison K9AWM has the details.

ANDY: The singer Lady Gaga has her little monsters; the American rockers Grateful Dead had their Deadheads and yes, even the International Space Station has had its followers over the years. Goodbyes however are never easy and though the ISS is still flying high, the ISS fan club is calling it quits. In a December posting on the fan club’s website, Alain IZ6BYY announced that after 17 years it’s time to sign off. So as of New Year’s Day, the 1st of January, the club is no more. A champion of ARISS and ISS SSTV events, the club posted regular reports from around the world about contacts made, events planned and comments from followers. Created in late 2001 by Alain and Claudio IK1SLD the independent website was a treasured resource for those who love and follow ISS-related happenings. One of its biggest fans was cosmonaut Valery Korzun RZ3FK who wrote to the organizers in 2002 to thank them for bringing the site to life. In 2006, Commander Bill McArthur KC5ACR who was on Expedition 12 praised the fan club for helping facilitate contacts from space. He wrote in a letter from space: [quote] “Thank you for your participation in this greatest of all human endeavors.” [close quote] He was ending his own mission at the time – and now, the fan club’s mission has likewise run its course.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Andy Morrison K9AWM.
(ISS FAN CLUB WEBSITE)

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HAMS CONNECT AUSTRALIAN SCOUTS WITH U.S. ASTRONAUT

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Even without a fan club, the ISS and those on board will always have followers. In Australia, young fans are preparing to chat with one veteran of ISS spaceflight, as Robert Broomhead VK3DN tells us.

ROBERT: On the 12th of January, Tony Hutchison VK5ZAI will establish a phone connection from Talem Bend in South Australia to ISS astronaut Mike Fossum KF5AQG, enabling Scouts at the 25th Australian Jamboree to ask him questions about life on board the international space station. Back home on earth now, Mike finds it easy enough to have a conversation with these young Scouts: He is, after all, the leader of a troop of Scouts himself in the United States. This event will take place at 10:30 a.m. SA Summer time (00:00 UTC) on Saturday morning and will be streamed live to Echolink and IRLP by Bob, VK4DA and the British Amateur Television Club site By  Shane, VK4KHZ. The contact will also be broadcast live via the local FM radio station from the Jamboree site.

The exchange will have an impressive audience locally as well: It's expected that 8,000 to 9,000 scouts will be attending this event. Members of the Amateur Radio Experimenters Group and the Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society will be there at the Jamboree as well, promoting our hobby of Amateur Radio.

For Amateur Radio Newsline this is Robert VK3DN

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BRITISH YL GROUP PREPS FOR 40TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: YLs in England are getting ready for a party and a special event station that's been 40 years in the making, as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: In an amateur radio lifetime, 40 years isn’t an especially long time but arriving at that milestone as a group is still cause for celebration. As it reaches the age of 40 in April of this year, the British Young Ladies Amateur Radio Association is marking the occasion throughout 2019. The YLs are holding a rally in Blackpool on the April anniversary date and there will be a year-long special event station that includes international participation.
BYLARA’s Jenni Jones M0HZT told Newsline that YLs in Britain were a little late to the game in forming their own group, following the U.S., Australia and Canada. The desire for YLs to contact other YLs on the air is what draws many into its growing membership. Jenni, who got her ticket in 2000, said the search for other YLs on the air is what spurred her to join almost nine years ago.

JENNI: What I wanted to do was work as many YLs as I could. When I joined BYLARA and heard about the awards I thought “hmmmm ok” and that got me thinking. I had counted at the time how many YLs I had worked and at that point it was about 30. Now it is more than that, now. Literally!

JEREMY: Now YLs like Jenni are calling YLs all the time, particularly on the weekly BYLARA Net on Thursdays at 1830 UTC on 3688 kHz. Meanwhile, as the call sign for the special event station still awaits final approval, the BYLARA organizers are preparing for the big weekend party on the 28th and 29th of April at the Norbreck Hotel. In the U.S., YLRL and BYLARA member Ria N2RJ has been working on a call sign for American YLs to use in a show of support. This big celebration will also raise BYLARA’s profile and accomplish something else:

JENNI: To encourage more members to get on the air and get them active. It has always been my wish to get our members active.

JEREMY: With the celebration soon in full swing, it is hoped that level of activity will last at least another 40 years.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I’m Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

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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 in Madison Wisconsin on Tuesday nights at 7:30.

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YOUTUBE VIDEOS FEATURE CANBERRA HAM CLUB PRESENTATIONS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Can't get to a meeting of your ham club but don't want to miss a special presentation? One club in Australia has solved that problem, as Jason Daniels VK2LAW explains.

JASON: It looks like the Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club is ready for prime time. Late last year the Australian club announced the launch of its YouTube page. The club said in a posting on Facebook that with the increasing popularity of recording club presentations at its monthly meetings, the committee had determined the videos deserved a home on YouTube. Videos have already been made available featuring Roger VK2ZRH discussing the mysteries of Sporadic E and Wade VK1MIC discussing radio communications during his three-day hike in the Bimberi wilderness over last Easter weekend. The club noted that eventually all recorded presentations will be posted on the site – and did not rule out the likelihood of livestreaming in the future. 
For Amateur Radio Newsline I’m Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(CANBERRA REGION ARC)

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AMSAT HOLDS THIRD ANNUAL CW ACTIVITY DAY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The first day of the New Year found CW enthusiasts sitting with their straight keys, bugs and even their computers as part of the third annual CW Activity Day organized by AMSAT. Ray Soifer, W2RS told Newsline that as in previous years, the activity day is not a contest but a fun amateur satellite event. All forms of CW got into the act for the 24 hour period. Ray said AMSAT’s CW Activity Day replaced Straight Key Night on the OSCAR Satellite, which had been an AMSAT tradition for 25 years. Ray wrote: [quote]: “The idea is to encourage everyone to enjoy CW operation no matter how they choose to do it.” [endquote]

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ROLLING BACK TIME FOR A NIGHT ON AM

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Classic rigs and those with state-of-the-art electronics all got a few hours of AM action organized by hams in the Cincinnati, Ohio area as Jack Parker W8ISH tells us.

JACK: While the rest of the world prepared to turn the calendar ahead in late December, members of the Greater Cincinnati Amateur Radio Association were turning back the clock, just for a night, on December 27th. The date marked the club’s annual AM night, which has been turning the weekly 160 meter sideband net into an AM Net since the mid-1990s. According to Jay K8CJY, one of the 1936 net managers, it was a full night of AM with lots of participation. Jay told Newsline that that 65 stations and SWLs checked into the net, with the most active amateurs checking in from 18 states. There were also SWL reports from Utah, Indiana, New York, Florida and across the pond in England.
Where rigs were concerned, it was indeed a night for classics. Jay said the station with the oldest transmitter was Joseph WA4VAG, running a World War II aircraft rig. Other military rigs got in on the action, including net control station Bill NM4A running a TMC GPT 750. In Malabar Florida, Murray K4HV checked in with a Collins 20V3 broadcast transmitter. Jay said that some of the stations were running classic AM rigs from the 50s while others checked in with the most up-to-date SDR rigs such as FlexRadios.
The activity no doubt left everyone feeling nice and warm on a winter’s night – particularly since the formal net began at 9 p.m. and the radios were still glowing until the net concluded at 11:15 p.m. local time.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I’m Jack Parker W8ISH.

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CUBAN AMATEURS PASS LICENSE EXAMS WITH HIGH MARKS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Congratulations to the 255 licensed amateurs who’ll be operating in 2019 from Cuba after taking their exams late last month. The licensing exam was given on the 22nd of December and the Federation of Radio Amateurs of Cuba reported that 96.95 percent of the 263 candidates were successful. The highest level exam, Category 1, gained 58 new licensees. According to the FRC website this means that in 2018 a total of 565 licensees passed their qualifying exams in Cuba becoming either new hams or successful upgrades.
(SOUTHGATE)
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WORLD OF DX

In the world of DX, listen for Mike, OE6MBG, using the call sign S79AA from Mahe (Mah-reh) Island starting on the 5th of January. He will be operating until February the 2nd. He will be on the air on 160/80/40/20/15/10 meters and possibly 6m using CW and SSB. QSL via ClubLog's OQRS or LoTW.

In South Sudan, Diya, YI1DZ, is active for the next six months as Z81D. He will be on 80 through 10 meters using SSB and some Digital modes. QSL via OM3JW. He will also use ClubLog and LoTW.

In Antarctica, Alex, RD1AV can be heard as RI1ANV operating from the Vostok Station. He will be at the base station until February 2019. QSL via RN1ON, direct, by the Bureau or ClubLog's OQRS.

Meanwhile, an update: Members of the Bouvet Island 3Y0I (three why zero eye) DXPedition are awaiting the completion of upgrades to and final certification of the ship they will use to travel to Bouvet - the  "Atlantic Tuna," a rugged vessel built in Iceland. At the moment no firm date can be given for when the radio operators and crew will set sail. For up to date information visit the web page rebeldxgroup dot com (rebeldxgroup.com)

(OHIO PENN DX NEWSLETTER, REBEL DX GROUP WEBSITE)

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KICKER: TRIBUTE TO A DX FRIENDSHIP THAT KNEW NO DISTANCE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Finally we bring you the story of seven days in January that one ham set aside to honor a friend who became a Silent Key last year. This is the story of Special Event station J69Z/K3LP as told by Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

KENT: One of the greatest tributes one ham can pay another, especially if that ham has become a Silent Key, is to let his call sign again be heard on the air. This is the gift Ancletus Ernest J69Z has given his friend David Collingham K3LP, operating as special event station J69Z/K3LP for seven days this month. A fall into an icy Maryland pond last year on January 6th took the life of the noted DX Hall of Famer at the age of 59. Ancletus told Newsline that the men’s friendship had taken root quickly in 1996 after Ancletus worked Dave’s station twice while DXing from home on St. Lucia. Dave praised his operating style and encouraged him to try contesting; Ancletus hosted him later that year at his island QTH and together they entered the CQWW SSB contest. Dave became his valued coach, looking over his shoulder. The duo teamed up a few more times on St. Lucia before Dave accompanied Ancletus to Barbados and helped club members there sharpen their contesting skills too. Ancletus told Newsline that after Dave’s death he’d asked his widow for permission to honor him, saying [quote]: “I would like to keep Dave’s history of radio alive.” [endquote] She cried and told him “yes.” The one-man special event that began January 1st continues through to January 7th – Ancletus is operating portable at the beach during the day and at his QTH at night. He told Newsline he will do this every year as a tribute to his friend and hopes he can meanwhile find sponsorship for the QSL cards that bear the special call sign J69Z/K3LP. It is a symbol of an enduring DX friendship for which no distance was too great.
For Amateur Radio Newsline I’m Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

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NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Labs; Amateur News Weekly; the ARRL; Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club; CQ Magazine; Ham Radio University; Hap Holly and the Rain Report; ISS Fan Club; Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin; Rebel Dx Group; Southgate Amateur Radio News; Ted Randall's QSO Radio Show; Wireless Institute of Australia; WTWW Shortwave; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. Please send emails to our address at newsline@arnewsline.org. More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's only official website at www.arnewsline.org.
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 and as always we thank you for listening.
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