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EHAM QTH QRZ ARRL HRO ICOM KENWOOD YAESU ELBO ROOM
WEEKEND EDITION:
Amateur Radio Newsline Report SCIENTISTS TO REVISE SOLAR STORM ASSESSMENT STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We begin this week with solar storms, something we amateurs have had more than our share of this year. In the US, scientists are looking to update the way they assess solar weather's impact here on Earth and even in space. Travis Lisk N3ILS has those details. TRAVIS: US scientists in the Space Weather Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are collaborating with the National Weather Service to update the way solar storms and other space weather is classified. According to an article on the space.com website, the scientists recognize that new knowledge about geomagnetic storms and recent advances in technology require them to revisit ways they look at space weather and its impact on the Earth and human space travel. The Space Weather Prediction Center's program coordinator, Bill Murtagh, explained the need for change during an interview with space.com, saying [quote] "The user base and needs have changed, the capabilities, the science and our understanding of the science  — a lot has changed. And the scales for all practical purposes have not changed, and they need to." [endquote] Some current scale categories for geomagnetic storms reflect impact on power grids and spacecraft operations, for instance, and others focus on the radio blackouts that have a serious impact on HF radio and navigation systems. This is Travis Lisk N3ILS. (SPACE.COM) ** LAUNCH DELAYED FOR AMSAT-DL'S ERMINAZ PAYLOAD STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The launch of AMSAT-DL's latest payload was delayed until next year because the original first stage of the rocket unexpectedly became compromised. We hear the details from Jeremy Boot G4NJH. JEREMY: The launch of AMSAT-DL's ERMINAZ payload has been moved to next year, following what is being called a "serious anomaly" that resulted in a loss of the first rocket stage. The incident took place on the 19th August during the test by Rocket Factory Augsburg at the SaxaVord Spaceport on the Shetland Islands. Rocket Factory Augsburg said it would take time to work on a new first rocket stage after repair work, fault analysis and qualification. AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-EA and the Libre Space Foundation are working together on the mission. The payloads include two PocketQubes from AMSAT-EA. The satellites will be using the amateur callsign AM1HAD allowing hams around the world to make contacts on FM or digital modes such as FT-4, FT-8 and AX.25/APRS. This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH. (AMSAT NEWS) ** PENNSYLVANIA HAM CLUB MARKS CENTENNIAL OF HISTORIC RAILROAD STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A radio club in eastern Pennsylvania plans to make some history of its own as it celebrates a very special centennial involving an iconic name recognized by railroad buffs around the world. Mark Abramowicz NT3V(Abram-o-vich) has the story from Reading [REDDING], Pennsylvania. MARK: The Reading Radio Club is preparing to honor the 100th anniversary of the historic Reading Railroad with two special event stations on Saturday, September 21st. For the first time ever, the group will activate club call signs W3BN and W3CCH simultaneously in separate operations 25 miles apart. The big, daylong celebration will see club members use W3CCH on two HF stations set up inside two retired passenger railroad cars parked outside the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Another group of club operators and friends will use W3BN on two HF stations that belonged to longtime contester Steve Dobbs NE3F in Spring Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Regrettably, Steve – who was extensively involved in the planning for the celebration using his station and array of towers, beams and wire antennas – died on August 30th following a short illness. It was his family’s wish that the event still proceed from his QTH. Activity on all four HF radios will be on 10, 15, 20, 40 and 80 meters with frequent spots on the DX clusters. The railroad earned its place in history starting in the 1830s as the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. For more on this special celebration and the available certificate, check out details at either W3BN or W3CCH on QRZ-dot.com. I'm Mark Abramowicz NT3V ** CANADIAN TEENS GAIN LICENSES AFTER HAM RADIO COURSEWORK STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In many parts of the world, school is back in session and regular lessons have resumed. Even before regular classes began, however, 21 teenagers in British Columbia, Canada, were already entrenched in some pretty important homework - or should we say hamwork? Andy Morrison K9AWM has those details. ANDY: Adam, VE7ZAL, and John, VE7TI, believe that their recent course on radio frequencies and electronics may well be unprecedented for secondary school students in Canada. That was what John wrote in the September/October issue of The Communicator, the magazine of Surrey Amateur Radio Communications. John and Adam, a robotics teacher at Kwantlen Park Secondary school in Surrey, British Columbia, teamed up to help nearly two dozen 13- through 17-year-olds get a better grasp on the principles behind amateur radio and pass the gift of radio on this next generation. By the time the course concluded, the students were able to sit the exam for the Canadian Amateur Radio Certificate. John wrote that Adam had proposed the idea for the course earlier in the year and that while the instruction progressed, the students' enthusiasm grew gradually with each session. He wrote: [quote]: "Throughout the course, we witnessed students experiencing significant revelations about the pervasive role of radio in our daily lives." [endquote] POTA, satellite communications and high-altitude balloons were - literally - among the high points of the lessons. When the sessions ended, the tradition of a Thursday night "Get on the Air" net kept the momentum going for the graduates. John and Adam hope to repeat the course next year. This is Andy Morrison K9AWM. (THE SARC COMMUNICATOR) ** AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM REOPENS AS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SHOWCASE STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A museum in Australia that once gave history lessons about the evolution of the telephone is preparing to reopen as a showcase of telecommunications. Jason Daniels VK2LAW takes a look inside for us. JASON: In Melbourne, a 1939 building that once housed a telephone exchange and, in 2003 a telecommunications museum, is reopening this month as the National Communications Museum at Hawthorn. The big day is the 21st of September. When the doors open, visitors will get a vast range of the past and present technologies used in communications throughout Australia. The building had formerly been home to the Victorian Telecommunications Museum, which was run entirely by volunteers from the Australian Historic Telephone Society until the museum's closure in 2019. According to its website, the new museum has inherited some of its collection from its predecessor. Emily Siddons, co-CEO and artistic director, writes on the website that the genesis of the building's design and planning occurred during COVID lockdown with the purpose of exploring human relationships with technology. She writes: [quote] "Ethical exploration of the development of new technologies has never been more urgent, especially given the rapid pace at which they are developing." [endquote] This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW (WIA, NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS MUSEUM WEBSITE) ** SRI LANKAN GIRL GUIDES FIND POWER IN HAM RADIO STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Girl Guides in Sri Lanka got some guidance themselves recently from the Radio Society of Sri Lanka, which helped them get on the air. John Williams VK4JJW tells us how it happened. JOHN: The International Girl Guide Camp that concluded on the 23rd of August left a lasting mark on two thousand Girl Guides from Sri Lanka's nine provinces and showcased the power of amateur radio for them all. The Radio Society of Sri Lanka was there in Ceylon to conduct demonstrations and to help the girls' hands-on experience with radio. Society volunteers ensured there would be radio capability by setting up for HF, VHF and Echolink communications. The radio society considered it a milestone for the camp with the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association getting on the air with an amateur radio club licence of its own through the help of society secretary Victor 4S7VK. The Girl Guides were calling QRZ as 4S7GGA. This is John Williams VK4JJW. ** WEST BENGAL HAMS HELP PREPARE POLICE FOR DISASTER STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Police personnel in West Bengal, India sharpened their disaster-communications skills recently with the help of some seasoned amateur radio mentors. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF brings us that story. JIM: Kolkata police and more than two dozen sub-inspectors of state received an introduction to the ways amateur radio can assist them when catastrophic events leave conventional means of communication disabled. The one-day session in late August at the police training centre in Salt Lake was taught by hams from the West Bengal Radio Club. The session was part of a broader three-day training program on disaster management for police personnel. The officers also learned what laws govern amateur radio activities and how the laws would apply to their on-air activities. They were reminded that hams need a licence from the Ministry of Telecommunication. More training programmes will be scheduled for the police personnel to bring them closer to getting that licence. This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF. (MILLENNIUM POST) ** NOMINATIONS NEEDED FOR HONORS AT CINCINNATI HAMFEST STEPHEN/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) ** WORLD OF DX Two separate activations are on the air in the UK from Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands. Tev, TA1HZ, is active as MJ/TA1HZ through to the 16th of September and will participate in the WAE DX SSB Contest on the 14th and 15th. See QRZ.com for QSL details, Meanwhile, listen as well for the two-person team of Peter, ON8ZZ and Fred, ON8ZL, on the air from the 13th through to the 15th of September. Their call sign is MJ/OT9Z. The pair will be calling on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres. Fred will participate in the WAE DX SSB Contest . QSL via ON8ZL. Listen for 4V1SAVANNAH, the callsign being used by the Radio Club d'Haiti to commemorate the 245th anniversary of the Battle of Savannah in 1779, during the American Revolution. Hundreds of volunteers from the French colony that later became Haiti fought alongside members of the colonial military against the British Army. The special event will take place from the 16th of September through to the 20th of October. QSL via N2OO (EN TWO OH OH), The Belgrade Amateur Radio Club is using the callsign YT 100 RB to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Radio Belgrade. A certificate is available. Visit the website yu1ano [Y U One A N O] dot org (yu1ano.org) for details. (425 DX BULLETIN, WIA) ** KICKER: A NEW JEWEL IN A SOTA QUEEN'S CROWN STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Our final story is about SOTA -- Summits on the Air -- and the achievement that became possible this summer for one YL -- in memory of another. We hear about them both from Ralph Squillace KK6ITB. RALPH: In a recent posting on the SOTA Reflector, Amy AG7GP, shared a thought from Ron Burns, NR3E, as he described his late wife's can-do attitude: [quote] "There are no real hurdles in life, only those that you imagine. Liz was proof that you can do anything you want, no matter what life hands you." [endquote] Ron and his wife, Liz K1LIZ, shared many challenging SOTA activations and hunts until she became a Silent Key in February of 2022. Liz, who was blind for more than three decades, had recently achieved the coveted SOTA standing of Mountain Goat. The organizers of the inaugural Queens of the Mountains YL SOTA event this past June have added a new jewel to the crown of one Queen of those same mountains: They call the honor the K1LIZ Memorial Achievement Award. It was conferred recently on Lorene W6LOR. Announcing the honor on the SOTA Reflector in a September 7th post, Amy AG7GP praised Lorene for her events during that June weekend. Lorene was presented with a personalized beverage glass. Amy wrote that the honor was being given [quote] "in memory of Liz's indomitable spirit that inspired so many." [endquote] Queen Lorene's glass is not half-full - it is brimming over with the spirit of a beloved fellow activator who knew that summits were never meant to be hurdles, only opportunities to showcase excellence. FRIDAY EDITION: Yet another day in paradise here on Cape Ann, it's almost time to pull the boat out of the harbor. I used it once this summer....It wasn't long ago that Alpha was the amp to own, now iot appears the Mercury Lux is the way to go today and it's American made. Is That Antenna Allowed? The Real Deal on the FCCs OTARD RuleThe Hackaday comments section is generally a lively place. At its best, it’s an endless wellspring of the combined engineering wisdom of millions of readers which serves to advance the state of the art in hardware hacking for all. At its worst — well, let’s just say that at least it’s not the YouTube comments section. Unfortunately, there’s also a space between the best and the worst where things can be a bit confusing. A case in point is [Bryan Cockfield]’s recent article on a stealth antenna designed to skirt restrictions placed upon an amateur radio operator by the homeowners’ association (HOA) governing his neighborhood. Hiding an antenna in plain sight. Putting aside the general griping about the legal and moral hazards of living under an HOA, as well as the weirdly irrelevant side-quest into the relative combustibility of EVs and ICE cars, there appeared to be a persistent misapprehension about the reality of the US Federal Communications Commission’s “Over-the-Air Reception Devices” rules. Reader [Gamma Raymond] beseeched us to clarify the rules, lest misinformation lead any of our readers into the unforgiving clutches of the “golf cart people” who seem to run many HOAs. According to the FCC’s own OTARD explainer, the rules of 47 CFR § 1.400 are intended only to prevent “governmental and nongovernmental restrictions on viewers’ ability to receive video programming signals” (emphasis added) from three distinct classes of service: direct satellite broadcasters, broadband radio service providers, and television broadcast services. Specifically, OTARD prevents restrictions on the installation, maintenance, or use of antennas for these services within limits, such as dish antennas having to be less than a meter in diameter (except in Alaska, where dishes can be any size, because it’s Alaska) and restrictions on where antennas can be placed, for example common areas (such as condominium roofs) versus patios and balconies which are designated as for the exclusive use of a tenant or owner. But importantly, that’s it. There are no carve-outs, either explicit or implied, for any other kind of antennas — amateur radio, scanners, CB, WiFi, Meshtastic, whatever. If it’s not about getting TV into your house in some way, shape, or form, it’s not covered by OTARD. It goes without saying that we are not lawyers, and this is not to be construed as legal advice. If you want to put a 40′ tower with a giant beam antenna on your condo balcony and take on your HOA by stretching the rules and claiming that slow-scan TV is a “video service,” you’re on your own. But a plain reading of OTARD makes it clear to us what is and is not allowed, and we’re sorry to say there’s no quarter for radio hobbyists in the rules. This just means you’re going to need to be clever about your antennas. Or, you know — move. ARRL Defends 902-928 Amateur Radio BandARRL® The National Association for Amateur Radio® has filed comments [PDF] with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging that the 902 – 928 MHz amateur radio band be protected. ARRL joins hundreds of licensed radio amateurs who utilize the band in opposing a proposal from NextNav Inc., a licensee in the 900-MHz Location and Monitoring Service (LMS), to completely reconfigure the 902 – 928 MHz band and replace the LMS with high-powered 5G cellular and related location services. Read more about NextNav’s proposal on ARRL News (8/15/2024) ARRL’s comments, filed by our Washington, D.C. Counsel on behalf of ARRL members and radio amateurs, point out several problems with NextNav’s request. “Contrary to NextNav’s assertions, the band is extremely crowded with millions of devices and transmitters in operation in multiple services, including the Amateur Service. Adoption of the proposal would result in either massive interference that would prevent proper operation or displacement to other bands. The difficulty is that there are no other bands known to be available, and in fact, some of the Amateur operations in this band are here because they were displaced when a portion of the 420 – 450 MHz band North of “Line A” was closed to the Amateur Service some years ago. Others were displaced from the same band when new Federal Government defense radars were initiated and continued Amateur secondary operations would have interfered with their operation.” Pushing amateur radio out of heavily used spectrum is a risk to public service, ARRL argues in the comments. “When space can be found in this band, Amateurs employ it to establish wide-area voice and some television signal repeaters. Others are actively experimenting with digital mesh networks and associated control links. These networks are a testbed for digital design and experimentation, but also are available and used for back-up emergency communications purposes. Still others operate low power beacons for propagation research. Weak signal work – tuning and experimenting to communicate over the longest paths with the least power – also is popular and leads to improvements in equipment.” Mesh networks are becoming increasingly useful in emergency communications. Just this past week, the ARRL Utah Section announced that dozens of Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) volunteers are working to expand the mesh network around the state. “The needs of participating agencies have evolved to require more than analog voice and low-speed data modes,” said ARRL Utah Section Public Information Coordinator Scott Rosenbush, K7HSR. “High-speed mesh networks using AREDN® [Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network] software will allow amateur radio to play a larger role in supporting these agencies in emergencies.” The ARRL Utah Section already has a five-county mesh network in place. The proposal from NextNav make it more difficult to operate networks like this one. “Under NextNav’s proposal, the much higher-powered transmitters would be ubiquitous and operating 24/7. The resulting interference would effectively exclude many of the current Amateur operations that are operating in the 902-928 MHz band.” The FCC docket remains open for reply comments from the public until September 20, 2024. As of September 6, over 800 comments have been filed by Amateurs and others who use this spectrum. The comments can be viewed at this link: https://tinyurl.com/ypxh583p. Click here for an ARRL Guide to Filing Comments with FCC. THURSDAY EDITION: 911 seemed to be forgotten by the tv media yesterday...Good time to turn on your radio gear and work some dx on 10-15 meters with the added benefit you won't have to listen to the bullshit spewing out of the media about the presidential race.... Geomagnetic storm expected to disrupt radio transmissions on September 12-13A geomagnetic storm is forecasted to occur on September 12-13, potentially causing interruptions in radio signal transmissions, the Astrophysics Department at the Physics Faculty of Baku State University told Report. The increased solar activity, attributed to continuous M-class flares, has elevated the Sun’s activity to a high level. These flares are known to block and hinder the propagation of radio waves. A coronal mass ejection (CME) from the northwest part of the Sun on September 10 is expected to trigger the geomagnetic storm on Earth, starting from the afternoon of September 12 and lasting until approximately 18:00 (GMT+4) on September 13. During this period, disruptions in the transmission and reception of radio signals may occur. Currently, the geomagnetic field is quiet but unstable. The effects of the CME will become apparent on Earth between September 12 and 13. The geomagnetic storm is predicted to reach G1 (mild) levels on the night of September 12, escalate to G2 (moderate) levels until 08:00 (GMT+4) on September 13, and then return to G1 levels until 20:00. Following this, the geomagnetic field is expected to stabilize and return to a quiet state.911 WEDNESDAY EDITION: Coffee and donuts this morning at the club, all are welcome....
DIPOLE DAY - SATURDAY - SEPT 21. 2024- 11 AM
Our next Radio Active Cape Ann event will be Dipole Day. If you never made an antenna this will be a great place to start. Beware, after making one antenna it is easy to get obsessed.
We have enough material prepared to make ten dipoles from 20m on up. I have prepared insulators, connectors, reels, and lines. I have about 200’ of wire. If you have wire you wish to use, by all means bring it along.
You will measure the wire and cut it to length then assemble the pieces and test it. A couple of taps with a soldering iron and you’re in business. Again, if you never soldered anything, here’s a good place to start. Equipment and instruction will be available. If it is a nice day we will set up a radio and make contacts with your new antenna. If it is raining we will work out of the garage,
668 Washington St, Gloucester
Sept 21 at 11 AM
Francine UpdatesFrancine update September 10, 2024 Noon Eastern: ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, just participated in a call with the National Weather Service Shreveport, Louisiana Field Office. "Our partners at NWS are closely monitoring the situation and preparing Louisiana for multiple possibilities, that each could change as the situation unfolds," he said. ARRL members and Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) volunteers in the path of the storm should prepare for impacts. The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida reports this morning that tropical storm Francine is likely to become a hurricane today, Tuesday September 10, 2024. A hurricane warning has been extended eastward along the Louisiana coast. The storm is now about 125 miles southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande river and 395 miles south-southwest of Ca Remember to call in to the CHOTA stations on Saturday
Next Saturday, the 14 September, lots of amateur radio stations will be on the air to take part in the Churches and Chapels on the Air event, also known as CHOTA. The event will take place from 10am to 4pm and operation will be focused on the 80, 40 and 20m bands. To see the […] Radio Society of Great Britain – Main Site – Read More
Asheville Radio Museum reopens in a larger locationThe specialty museum now has more space for you to learn about the history of radio in Asheville. The grand reopening will begin at 10:30 a.m. this Saturday, and the Vintage Radio Market will run from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission to both events is free — find specific directions and parking info. Pro tip: If you’re planning on visiting the radio museum’s new space, why not make it a day full of history? The Asheville Museum of History is just a short walk away, housed inside the Smith-McDowell house, the oldest brick structure in Buncombe County. Through permanent and rotating exhibits, the museum offers an expansive view of our region’s history and all of the communities that have contributed to it. TUESDAY EDITION: Beautiful weather here in New England, great time of year to get some antenna work done....I found a very noisy power transformer close to our repeater site at the cell tower. The question is what will National Grid do about it? It is raising havoc with our two meter repeater but not the 440 one. I will start calling this morning and see where it gets me....It's our pleasure to announce a special event station in the Nijmegen region commemorating 80 years of freedom: PA80OMG. We are back again in 2024 for the fourth consecutive time with this special event station, since last time we added another 5 years to our callsign. We commemorate and celebrate 80 years of freedom. The activities of our special event station will take place from 13 September up to 19 September 2024. WEB ADDRESS Amid wildfires and spotty cell service, Northstate residents turn to ham radios (California)The Northstate is no stranger to disasters or bad reception, but when a phone call isn’t able to go through, a ham radio may just be able to get you the help you need. “I’m up east of Redding and when the phone system goes out, we don’t have a connection to 911 but the ham radio still works and I can get a hold of somebody somewhere,” said Bob Frampton Secretary of Western Amateur Radio Repeater and Echolink Association Inc. otherwise known as WARREA. In the age of phones and Wi-Fi, some can take the ease of connecting to the rest of the world for granted, but head even 20 minutes into the mountains from cities like Redding, Red Bluff, and Chico, and you’ll quickly lose cell phone service. “Cell phone service up here, especially when you get outside the Redding area, the developed areas, is spotty at best. There’s a lot of times where I can get a hold of somebody on the ham radio, I won’t get a hold of over the cell phone,” said Frampton. Read more – KRCR: https://bit.ly/3MCX7Tu Ham radio operators to work from Blennerhassett Island (West Virginia)The Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub will activate a Parks on the Air radio station from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday on Blennerhassett Island. The event will make history and reflect on the history of the club, club officials said. The group will be the first amateur radio club to operate from the island, and ham radio operators will have the opportunity to register a two-way communication and gain awards. “Blennerhassett Amateur Radio Club was the original name of our club back in the 1940s. So, the outing to the island reflects, in part, our own history as the Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub and ham operators in the Mid-Ohio Valley,” club member Corey Meadows of Williamstown said. Read more – Marietta Times: https://bit.ly/4gjNsic MONDAY EDITION: Late start today, still out chasing rf noise at the site, seems we have several sources of rf interfering with us... How amateur radio operators keep Lee County connected during disastersFORT MYERS, Fla. —Losing power, phone lines, and internet service during a hurricane can be both frustrating and dangerous, leaving many people feeling helpless. However, there’s a dedicated group in Lee County working tirelessly to maintain communication even when traditional systems fail. NBC2 First Alert Meteorologist Rob Duns sheds light on this essential group: Lee County's Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES). Within the Lee County Emergency Operations Center lies the Amateur Radio Room. While the room itself is modest in size, its impact is significant. According to Rich Schneiders, who coordinates Lee County ARES, the motto of the group is clear: "When all else fails, Amateur Radio." Schneiders explains that while internet and phone lines might collapse during a disaster, amateur radios can continue to function as long as they have battery power. Lee County ARES is comprised of volunteer amateur radio operators who step up during emergencies. Volunteers like Carmine Vitrano, Steven Clayton, and Don Domina are critical to the operation. Vitrano recounts how, in past emergencies, he was the sole means of communication, relaying vital messages in real-time. Clayton echoes this sentiment, noting the importance of their role in maintaining communication lines. Domina adds that their work often serves as a backup communication link between shelters and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Although these volunteers may not be visible to the general public during an emergency, their efforts are invaluable. Positioned in evacuation shelters and communities across Lee County, they use reliable ham radios to ensure communication remains intact when conventional methods fail. “We need to man as many shelters as we can,” Schneiders says. “We’re committed to working with Lee EOC EM to do that and give back to the community that gives to us all the time.” During hurricanes, volunteers like Vitrano, Clayton, and Domina play a pivotal role in relaying information from various locations in the county to the Amateur Radio Room. From there, the information is forwarded to the county’s emergency management team, ensuring that critical updates and coordination continue even in the most challenging conditions. “When you start seeing this person-level when you can help people directly and you see the impacts, it really tugs at your heart,” Vitrano said. The dedication of Lee County ARES is evident, and they are currently looking for new members to join their ranks and support their mission. In times of disaster, while modern communication systems might falter, the steadfast reliability of amateur radio operators ensures that Lee County remains connected, proving that sometimes old-school technology is the most dependable. Hams Respond as Hawaii Threatened by Three Major StormsIn late August, Hawaii’s big island was threatened by three major tropical storms and amateur radio operators were prepared to assist as the threat grew more intense. Russell Roberts, KH6JRM, Public Information Officer, Hawaii County, ARRL Pacific Section, said that beginning August 23, storm watches and warnings were being issued for tropical storms Hone, Gilma, and Hector, all churning off the island’s southern coast. By August 31 and September 1, Hone had become a Category 1 hurricane with winds over 75 miles per hour (MPH), occasional gusts to 100 MPH and heavy rain. Gilma was next as a Category 1, but later intensified to a Category 3 hurricane, dropping 28 inches of rain which flooded roads, along with high winds that brought down trees, power and communications lines. “We had 3 Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) operators on the net for about 24 hours beginning August 30 and they handled 41 contacts,” said Roberts. “Some repeaters were out of fuel, so we switched to HF to pass traffic and assess the damage.” The storms never made landfall and while there were no fatalities or injuries, the damage was severe. Nearly 30,000 residents were affected. Power is still out for over 200 customers, cleanup and road repair are active. “We were very fortunate,” said Roberts. “There was concern a fire warning would need to be issued for several parts of the island. But the approaching weather brought rain and lowered temperatures.” National Preparedness Month: Have a Go KitSeptember is National Preparedness Month, and ARRL is working to help radio amateurs have a plan for family resilience. Many hams enjoy public service as part of their operating. Being ready to activate for a served agency through the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) involves not only being licensed and trained, but also prepared and equipped. ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, suggests that hams and their families have a “go-bag”. He says there are a few things to consider: “You need to be able to function while activated, so that means you need a kit for your needs and a kit for your radio needs. If your family is impacted by the situation, they also need to have some gear at the ready.” On the ARRL website, there’s an Emergency Prep Kit Checklist. It lists the common items such as food and water for several days, a first aid kit, medications, chargers for your devices and other useful items. Having a kit for your radio is useful as well. “Go kits will vary based on function and need for the field,” said Johnston. “Most kits should include a dual band HT and/or mobile radio with antenna, a power supply and all necessary cables and connectors. Every kit should include note pad or paper of some type as well as pens or pencils. You should have a power source and power cables. If you are working HF then you will need an HF radio and antenna, and if you want digital capabilities, then a computer with software preloaded will be desired.” Other things you may want will include tape and tools, spare batteries, headphones, flashlights of some sort, cell phone chargers, and a multimeter. Other items that won’t fit in a bag but may be needed include a generator, a working surface like a small folding table, a chair, and some type of shelter. WEEKEND EDITION: As you have probably read here, we spent $8000 replacing the 2 meter repeater antenna and hardline and now we have another problem. We have a S5 broadband noise interfering with our repeater that we need to track down and get remedied asap....My solution is to get the Yaesu 897 at the club and put it on frequency in the AM mode, connect a little directional antenna and go fox hunting. Now to find some volunteers at the club... Local Radio Club provides emergency communication, connects radio enthusiasts
In an era where digital communication reigns supreme, the Piedmont Amateur Radio Club (PARC) still serves as a vital and vibrant hub for radio enthusiasts and emergency communication services. The club’s mission extends beyond casual radio operation; it is essential in the community’s emergency preparedness network, offering an extra lifeline in times of crisis. For member Hal Reid, radio is more than just a hobby. It’s a passion deeply rooted in family tradition. Reid’s interest in radio began with his father, who was both a ham radio operator and commercial radio operator. Reid eventually passed his father’s passion for radio to his wife and five kids who are all licensed amateur radio operators. “Growing up, we had radios and that sort of thing ... it was just kind of a natural transition,” said Reid. Since moving to the Milledgeville community, Reid has been an active member of the Piedmont Amateur Radio Club for more than 20 years. The Piedmont Amateur Radio club, established more than 30 years ago, contains a thriving community of radio enthusiasts from across from Putman County and surrounding areas. A significant part of the club’s success can be attributed to its facilities, including an antenna site located east of Eatonton. The site, initially leased for a dollar per year, was later purchased by a club member. The property spans two acres with a 185-foot tower, several buildings, and array of radios. One of the club’s latest editions is a satellite station, which allows club members to communicate with people from all over. The PARC sustains its activities through a combination of membership dues and donations of surplus equipment. Additionally, the club’s membership varies from highly-technical individuals like engineers to those who are interested in ham radio as a hobby. Other members are drawn by the reliability of ham radio communication in emergency situations. “We’ve got probably 20% that are very technical people that have worked in communications,” said Reid. “We have a couple people who are engineers, and then we have what I guess you might call the ‘average bear,’ which is somebody who’s just interested in radio because it’s fun.” The club offers a wide range of activities and learning opportunities, including satellite communication, digital modes, and even moon bounce. “Moon bounce ham radio operators have been bouncing signals off the moon since the mid-‘50s,” said Reid. “But it’s not a simple thing to do. It takes a lot of technology, a lot of a certain amount of engineering, perhaps, but it’s one of those things we just thought it might be fun to do.” Another aspect of the PARC is deep community involvement, especially when it comes to emergency services. The club operates one of the most advanced Winlink systems in Georgia, allowing email communication over radio signals. With six stations operating 24/7 on different frequencies, the system plays a crucial role during emergencies for when traditional forms of communication are not available. “Every time there’s a hurricane, we get a lot of traffic, often messages from people letting family know they’re OK,” said Reid. “The system is quite robust, with some stations running on solar power and built-in redundancy if the internet goes down.” In addition to emergency preparedness, the club participates in several community events. One such event is Spin for Kids bicycle in Madison, where the club provides communication support for flat tires or other mechanical issues. The profits for the event funds camp experiences for children with serious illnesses, disabilities, or other life challenges. The club will take part in a nationwide exercise called Simulated Emergency Test (SET) in early October. The test will be in collaboration with American Radio Relay League (ARRL), giving hospitals a chance to test their preparedness for emergency communications. The PARC currently provides emergency communication services for St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Greene County, as well as Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin in Baldwin County, Jasper Memorial Hospital in Jasper County and Putnam General Hospital in Putnam County. They also offer their services to Central Georgia K9 Search & Rescue Team. Club meetings, which are open to the public, take place every second Saturday of each month at the tower site located at 234 Wesley Chapel Road in Eatonton. The meetings include regular club business, followed by a presentation on a topic related to amateur radio. For more information on how to get involved or obtain a radio license, visit the Piedmont Amateur Radio Club’s website at k4par.org. Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2445INFORMAL RADIO NETWORK AIDS BANGLADESH FLOOD RESCUE JIM/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to Bangladesh where one amateur's distress call led to an informal but highly effective network of rescue communicators. Graham Kemp VK4BB describes the scene. GRAHAM: In Bangladesh, an informal group of community-based hams mobilised to provide vital communication in the region surrounding Feni district following deadly floods that began on the 19th of August. Hams in the capital city of Dhaka rallied to assist after hearing from a fellow amateur via social media that he was trapped by rising water levels with no emergency response in sight. Abdullah Al Fahad, S21AF, stayed in touch with the amateur and monitored his situation while alerting other area hams. He said in an email: [quote] "We knew we had to act quickly." [endquote] Traditional means of communication were down. By the 22nd of August, the team's base station was set up at a 15-story building in Feni and a control room established at the office of Feni's deputy commissioner. There, the first group of amateur radio responders coordinated with the office of the deputy commissioner to help in the deployment of rescue and relief teams. Many hams continued to join the effort, bringing along their own personal equipment so the response network could extend its reach. Stations were set up at two army camps so that the deputy commissioner had communication with the army and field rescue teams. Fahad said that another base was set up at a scout headquarters in Dhaka and still another at his QTH. Over a four-day period the hams kept communication open across a 70-kilometer radius. It was estimated that they helped bring more than 375 rescue operations to fruition - some in remote areas. With flood water receding, authorities in Bangladesh have since turned their attention to the spread of waterborne illnesses. Some of the hams moved on to assist the flood situation in Noakhali. Fahad told the website, tbsnews.net [quote]: "Even though we weren’t under any official banner, just a group of friends doing what we could, we made a real difference." [endquote] The amateur who had sent out the original distress call to Fahad was rescued after four days. This is Graham Kemp VK4BB. (TBS NEWS NET, INDIA TODAY, ABDULLAH AL FAHAD S21AF) ** RASPBERRY PI SEEN AS KEY IN UNDERWATER TRANSMISSION JIM/ANCHOR: Scientists are hopeful that a Raspberry Pi may be a key component in making underwater communication more effective. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has that story. JEREMY: A Raspberry Pi is being used as one of three main components of a modem that is under development by researchers in Italy to make underwater communications more effective and less expensive. As described in a recent article in the IEEE (EYE Triple E) Spectrum, the Raspberry Pi is the modem's base. There is also a sound card hardware attachment which generates and records audio signals. For undersea operations, most modems use acoustical signals instead of radio because despite the slower rate at which they move, these signals can cover greater distances. Researchers at the University of Padova believe the modem will be a much more affordable alternative for communication with submarines, sensors or other entities. According to the Spectrum article, current modems typically cost at least ten thousand US dollars. The researchers, Filippo Campagnaro and Michele Zorzi, are also developing a transducer for conversion of energy into acoustic signals and back again. Their more-affordable device is a modification of something typically used to monitor the sounds of marine mammals and costs hundreds, instead of thousands, of US dollars. By making this technology more affordable, the scientists believe its uses can be extended beyond the military or the offshore oil and gas industries into the realms of biodiversity studies and climate change. This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH. (IEEE) ** SILENT KEY: RICHARD RYBA, WQ3Q, ADVOCATE FOR CANCER RESEARCH, PATIENT ASSISTANCE JIM/ANCHOR: Hams in Pennsylvania and beyond are grieving the loss of a friend who was an advocate for cancer research and cancer patient assistance. We hear about him from Travis Lisk N3ILS. TRAVIS: A little more than a year ago, Richard Ryba, WQ3Q, put out a call to his fellow hams asking for them to join the on-air team for N3P, a special event station to raise awareness and donations for pancreatic cancer research. On Thursday, September 5th, the Skyview Amateur Radio Society issued another call during their 2-metre evening net on Richard's behalf. It was a final call: Richard became a Silent Key on the 31st of August, five years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the same illness that took the life of his younger brother years earlier. An advocate for supporting research, Richard had been the driving force behind an annual special event station that went on the air throughout the US in conjunction with a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania walk-a-thon to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. He was well-known for his devotion to radio as a member and former officer of the Skyview Amateur Radio Society and the Breezeshooters Club of Western Pennsylvania. He recently joined the Southwestern Pennsylvania SKYWARN and the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. Richard was known as the designer of the QSL card for K2M, the Pennsylvania colony of the annual 13 Colonies Special Event station, for each of the past four years. He also had a unique way of identifying himself: Because his callsign contained the character combination "Q3Q," he often referred to his QTH as the "shack of quack." Eddie Misiewicz KB3YRU, net control for the Skyview Thursday night net, said: [quote] "His hope and his positive attitude will continue in all of us." [endquote] Richard, who had been licensed since 2013, was 74. This is Travis Lisk, N3ILS. (EDDIE MISIEWICZ, KB3YRU) ** SILENT KEY: PAUL GRAVELINE, K1YUB, AMSAT JOURNAL ASSISTANT EDITOR JIM/ANCHOR: Hams are also mourning the loss of the assistant editor of the AMSAT Journal. We hear more about him from Neil Rapp WB9VPG. NEIL: As both an editor and contributor, Paul Graveline, K1YUB, began his seven-year tenure as an assistant editor for the AMSAT Journal with the publication of the July/August 2017 issue. His deep involvement with AMSAT included being a member of the CubeSatSim Educational Materials Team that is part of AMSAT's educational relations program, using the CubeSat simulator as a learning tool. Paul, who was born in 1947, became a Silent Key on the 19th of August. His ham radio career had its roots in his activities as an enthusiastic shortwave listener starting in 1960. Three years later he became an amateur radio operator with a special interest in CW. His love for short-wave listening was undiminished and with a friend he later assisted in the rejuvenation of the listeners' group known as the Boston Area DXers. Paul wrote about Dr. Tamitha Skov, WX6SWW, for a January/February 2022 cover story in the AMSAT Journal. He was also coordinator for her Super Community Project, which seeks to spread a better understanding of space weather. This is Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. (AMSAT NEWS) ** ACMA BEGINS FEE COLLECTION FOR CALLSIGNS WITH 12-MONTH ASSIGNMENT JIM/ANCHOR: Some hams in Australia may have already noticed some new fees associated with their callsigns - John Williams VK4JJW is here to explain them. JOHN: Beginning on the 1st of September, hams in Australia will be paying a new fee of $34 for some special types of callsigns that have a 12-month assignment period. Those receiving a contest callsign will be charged $15. Those transferring a callsign to another amateur will be charged $15. Hams with a VK9 or VKØ callsign representing Australian external territories are the ones who will pay $34. The ACMA will send these callsign holders a reminder to renew after the 12-month period; otherwise, the callsign will be made available for re-allocation on the registry. Meanwhile, hams having two-letter, three-letter and F-series call signs are required to confirm active use of their call every five years but there are no longer any annual fees involved. An explanation of the new fees and policy from the Australian Communications and Media Authority can be seen on their website in the amateur radio callsign policy document. See the link in the text version of this week's Newsline script. This is John Williams VK4JJW. ** ROUTE 66 AND 9/11 SPECIAL EVENTS ON THE AIR JIM/ANCHOR: Two special events are on the air marking very different occasions in US history. The 2024 Route 66 On The Air special event will be active September 7th through to the 15th, celebrating the highway known as the Mother Road. Listen for twenty-three 1x1 callsigns that begin with "W6." From September 8th through to the 12th, hams are marking a more somber moment in history with the K4A Special Event, commemorating the terror attacks on September 11th, 2001. See QRZ.com for details of both events. ** DIGITAL RADIO INTRODUCED FOR NEW ZEALAND EMERGENCY RESPONSE JIM/ANCHOR: New Zealand is taking the first steps in providing digital radio service for its emergency response teams. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF brings us up to date. JIM M: A digital radio service for emergency responders has begun its rollout in New Zealand, putting four of the nation's emergency service agencies on the same network for the first time in history. The transmissions on the new Land Mobile Radio network will be used by police, fire and emergency, Wellington Free Ambulance and Hato Hone St. John Ambulance. The push-to-talk transmissions will be fully encrypted. The rollout of the LMR network will begin in Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland in 2025 and the goal is to ultimately serve 11 regions across New Zealand by 2026. LMR becomes part of the Public Safety Network, joining cellular roaming, which has been in service for the responders since July 2023. The Public Safety Network is spending 10 years and $1.4 billion to bring new devices into play for emergency response. The announcement by Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden did not mention other emergency responders such as LandSAR, the Coast Guard or Civil Defence. According to Next Generation Critical Communications, which is developing New Zealand's Public Safety Network, there is room for other government agencies to come on board later. This is Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF. (NZ NET NEWSLETTER, NEXT GENERATION CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS) ** FREE ONLINE STUDY GUIDES AVAILABLE FOR US TECH, GENERAL LICENSE JIM/ANCHOR: If you're looking to upgrade your license - or to simply make a start as a Technician - a new online resource has become available, and it's free. We hear the details from Stephen Kinford N8WB. STEPHEN: Hopeful candidates for the US Technician and General amateur radio licenses can now turn to a free, self-paced study guide being made available on the educational platform known as SuperKnova. The courses were developed by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory with the help of a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications. Both the Technician course and the upgrade to General Class focus heavily on the fundamentals of the electromagnetic spectrum and the basics of radio waves and propagation. The observatory said that this makes the material valuable for those in disciplines outside amateur radio too, such as individuals involved in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math careers. The coursework makes use of license study materials from the ARRL. Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS, the project instructor, said in a press release that [quote] "This is a great opportunity to share amateur radio with a new generation of potential ham radio enthusiasts. We’ve designed this course to introduce learners to the electromagnetic spectrum while developing radio skills and knowledge.†[endquote] This is Stephen Kinford N8WB. (ARDC) ** WORLD OF DX In the World of DX, be listening for Col, MMØNDX and Steve, MMØSAJ using the callsign 3A/MMØNDX and 3A/MMØSAJ from Monaco until the 9th of September. They are focusing on the low bands during their evening hours and on 6 metres QSL both calls via EB7DX and LoTW. Michele [pron: MEE-KELL], IZ8PWN is active holiday style as 8Q7WN from the Maldives, IOTA number AS-013, through to the 13th of September, using SSB and FT8 on 40-10 metres. QSL via I8KHC. Listen for Greg, N9GB will be active holiday style as J3/N9GB from Grenada through to the 10th of September using CW and SSB on 40-10 metres and some operation on 6 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details. A team of operators using the callsign EJ7NET (namely EI3HA, EI3ISB, EI5KO, EI6FR and EI9JF) will be on the air from the 7th through to the 11th of September from Inis Mor, Aran Islands, IOTA Number EU-006. They will be using CW, SSB and FT8 on the HF bands. QSL direct to EI6FR. (425 DX BULLETIN) ** KICKER: AN ELECTRIFYING DISCOVERY ABOUT BEES JIM/ANCHOR: For our final story, the buzzword is "electricity" - and it really, really, IS the BUZZWORD, as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH. JEREMY: The University of Bristol's Botanic Garden in Stoke Bishop was all abuzz with bees on the 24th and 25th of August as visitors learned about the importance bees have as pollinators and agents of change in the overall environment. It was not so long ago, though, that the university's researchers made a sweet and surprising discovery about something else: They found that swarms of honeybees are capable of generating electrical charges in the atmosphere, ones that rival those of thunderstorm clouds. In fact, the more dense the swarm, the bigger the electrical charge. The scientists recorded currents from swarms passing over a campus field station during 3-minute intervals. They recorded as many as 1,000 volts per metre. The research was published nearly two years ago in the Smithsonian magazine and the journal, iScience. Don't get too excited about applying bee power to any amateur radio operation going portable in the vicinity of an apiary. According to an article in the magazine, Popular Science, 50 billion bees would be needed to provide power to an LED light. That means even the smallest of the small rigs could not even hope to get on the air, operating Q R Bee. FRIDAY EDITION: Pulled the carb off the chainsaw and found the rubber diaphragms are pretty stiff, decided to order a replacement carb on Amazon, only $17.00 and includes sparkplug, tubing, and fuel filter- how the hell they do that is beyond me and free shipping to boot...Plumbing at club needs work, one of the col water shutoff valves is stuck, more investigation is needed in the moldy, spider infested basement today. Ham radio operators to tune in event from Blennerhassett IslandPARKERSBURG — The Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub will activate a Parks on the Air radio station from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday on Blennerhassett Island.The event will make history and reflect on the history of the club, club officials said. The group will be the first amateur radio club to operate from the island, and ham radio operators will have the opportunity to register a two-way communication and gain awards. “Blennerhassett Amateur Radio Club was the original name of our club back in the 1940s. So, the outing to the island reflects, in part, our own history as the Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub and ham operators in the Mid-Ohio Valley,” club member Corey Meadows of Williamstown said. “Blennerhassett Island is a unique (Parks on the Air) island. Ham operators can activate the island from the shoreline, providing the station sets up at the island’s museum in downtown Parkersburg,” he said. “We wanted to make some of our own history by actually being on-site.” Meadows shares responsibility of the Parks on the Air activations with a committee. By coincidence, the state of Ohio this weekend will conduct statewide Parks on the Air activations, he said. Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub will have an opportunity to work for various awards by contacting other Parks on the Air stations, Meadows said. Three ways are available to make progress toward awards with Parks on the Air, Meadows said. Activators, hunters and park-to-park contacts make up the three types of contacts, he said. Operators who put the stations on the air are activators. People who tune around and contact the activated stations are hunters. Activated stations who contact other activated stations, while both are on the air at the same time, are park-to-park. Each activated station, park and its location and identifying number are posted on the internet, which aids all three type stations to have success with contacting the various activations, he said. “Parks on the Air isn’t just about having fun and competing, “ Larry Dale, president of the club, said. “It’s an exercise for international radio operations to promote emergency awareness and preparedness from national/federal and state/provincial-level parks.” The public is invited to view the operations, he said. Information will be available about obtaining a ham radio license, which also is available at the club website W8PAR.org. 2024 Tiny Games Contest: Morse Quest Goes Where You DoDo you know Morse code already? Or are you maybe trying to learn so you can be an old school ham? Either way, you could have a lot of fun with [felix]’s great little entry into the 2024 Tiny Games Contest — Morse Quest. This minimalist text-based adventure game is played entirely in Morse code. That is, the story line, all the clues, and the challenges along the way are presented by a blinking LED. In turn, commands like LOOK, TAKE, and INVENTORY are entered with the slim key on the lower right side. A wee potentiometer allows the player to adjust the blink rate of the LED, so it’s fun for all experience levels. Of course, one could always keep a Morse chart handy. The brains of this operation is an Arduino Nano, and there’s really not much more to the BOM than that. It runs on a 9 V, so theoretically it could be taken anywhere you want to escape reality for a while. Be sure to check out the demo video after the break. Blog – Hackaday Read More THURSDAY EDITION: Chainsaw repair day here, the Homelite XL16 needs the carb to come off and get soaked and blown out over at the shop....switching the 2 meter repeater out later in day, the Kenwood 850 bit the dust and I will replace it with a Yaesu one we have kicking around.....busy day
UNEXPECTED CME IMPACT: A CME hit Earth's magnetic field today, Sept. 4th at 1030 UTC. The unexpected impact jolted the USGS magnetometer in Boulder, CO, by 40 nT, a fairly stout blow. A G1 geomagnetic storm watch is in effect as a result of the CME's arrival. CME impact alerts: SMS Text SOLAR CYCLE 25 CONTINUES TO SURGE: Solar activity continues to intensify. In August 2024, the average monthly sunspot number exceeded 200 for the first time in 23 years, almost doubling the official forecast:
The current solar cycle (Solar Cycle 25) wasn't expected to be this strong. When it began in Dec. 2019, experts predicted it would be weak like its immediate predecessor Solar Cycle 24. Instead, Solar Cycle 25 may be on pace to rival some of the stronger cycles of the 20th century. Already in May 2024 we have experienced a century-class geomagnetic storm with auroras sighted in the South Pacific, central America and south Africa. The last time sunspot counts were this high, in Sept.-Dec. 2001, the sun was winding up to launch the Great Halloween Storms of '03, which included the strongest X-ray solar flare ever recorded (X45) and a CME so potent it was felt by Voyager at the edge of the solar system. A repeat is not guaranteed, but current sunspot counts tell us it's possible. WEDNESDAY EDITION: Coffee, donuts, and lots of entertainment this morning at the club from 10-noon ARRL VEC Services Update During Systems DisruptionARRL previously reported that we are responding to a serious incident involving access to our network and headquarters-based systems. Several services have been affected, including those administered by the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC). Exam Registrations and Materials. ARRL Volunteer Examiners (VEs) should continue to submit exam registrations and material requests. We are able to post new or revised exam session dates and details to the website, we continue to ship out exam materials. Please remember that most exam materials are available on our website (www.arrl.org/resources-for-ves). Processing Applications to the FCC. We are processing Amateur Radio License applications to the FCC. This includes applications for new and upgrade licenses, individual applications, and club license applications. The VEC exam session upload webpage was not affected by the incident. The VE session counts webpage data entry programming has been unavailable since May 12th. It will be updated with new data as soon as we are able. VE Accreditations, International Radio Permits and License Class Certificates. We are unable to create Volunteer Examiner (VE) badges, certificates, and stickers. New ARRL VE applications and renewals are unable to be processed at this time. International Amateur Radio Permits and License Class Certificates are being created and shipped. 2024 – 2028 Extra Class Exam Booklets. A previous version of this story indicated that the ARRL VEC will supply its officially appointed, field-stocked VE team leaders with the new Extra-class exam booklet designs around mid-June. Due to ARRL’s recent system disruption, the shipment was delayed. The exam booklets were shipped out July 8 and should be have been delivered before August 1. VE Teams may contact the ARRL VEC to receive instructions on how to print new Extra exams in the interim. The newly revised pool must be used for Extra-class license exams starting July 1, 2024. Exam designs based off the previous pool are no longer valid. The outdated versions of the Extra exams should be destroyed or thrown away to avoid a mix-up at the testing session. ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program | FCC Application Fee Reimbursement Information. ARRL is continuing to accept reimbursement forms to cover the one-time $35 application fee for new license candidates younger than 18-years of age for tests administered under the auspices of the ARRL VEC. Reimbursement checks may take longer than normal to be processed at this time. We appreciate your patience as ARRL continues to work on restoring access to affected systems and services. Ham radio operators propose use of wireless radio sets
Kolkata: The organisation of ham radio operators in Bengal has written to the principal secretary of Health department recommending the use of radio wireless sets in shadow zones of state hospitals. The West Bengal Radio Club, in its letter, claimed that in a number of hospitals, the mobile network does not function properly, making it difficult to reach out to others through mobile calls. “The use of radio wireless sets will ensure communication even from such shadow zones. There will be a panic button in the wireless set which when pressed will alert the hospital’s control room and the nearest police station. So, if a woman is in distress, she can just press the panic button and immediate interventions can be made,” said Ambarish Nag Biswas of West Bengal Radio Club (WBRC). Also Read - Bengal minister appears for ED questioning in school jobs scam The recommendation of use of such wireless sets assume significance in the backdrop of the recent rape and murder of a female post graduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. WBRC has been working in close coordination with the state government, assisting it to establish communication in case of natural disasters that often snaps normal communication systems. During elections, the WBRC has been instrumental in providing seamless communication through ham radio stations in shadow zones in remote areas of Sunderbans. Radio wireless sets that emit signals within a range of 2 km are available in the market. “We can also extend assistance in training or mock drills,” Nag Biswas added. “We have received the letter and are examining the proposal,” said a Health department official.
TUESDAY EDITION: A cool start to a beautiful day...after I finish stacking the last of the biobicks into the basement I have to complete the bathroom at the radio club. Estate Planning for Hams (What happens to all your stuff?)August is National Make-a-Will month. Some estimates show that nearly two-thirds of Americans don't have a plan. For some, it's procrastination. Others don't know where to start. “So many times we hear from the family of a Silent Key who are overwhelmed with what to do with a lifetime worth of amateur radio gear,” said ARRL Director of Development Kevin Beal, K8EAL. “Simply thinking through what needs to be done ahead of time can prevent the stress on our loved ones after we are gone.” ARRL this week held a webinar, hosted by Beal and Dino Papas, KLØS, to discuss the first steps of planning. “It is something that, unfortunately, doesn’t get a lot of attention. The bottom-line up front is, ‘what happens to all our beloved ham gear when that inevitable day comes along that we become a Silent Key?’... Unfortunately, that day may arrive unexpectedly – so we need to prepare ahead of time to make it as simple as possible for our families,” said Papas. On the ARRLHQ YouTube channel, you can see a replay of the 52-minute presentation, along with the question-and-answer section at the end. “Your station is an asset, just like anything else you’ve built and put resources into. Deciding now what happens when you become a Silent Key can help solidify your legacy to ham radio,” said Beal. The ARRL Legacy Circle recognizes the generosity of individuals who have planned support for ARRL through wills, trusts, life insurance gifts, and other ways. The ARRL Legacy Circle ensures that ARRL and amateur radio will continue to thrive for generations to come. New 2 GB Raspberry Pi 5 Has Smaller Die and 30% Lower Idle Power UsageRecently Raspberry Pi released the 2GB version of the Raspberry Pi 5 with a new BCM2712 SoC featuring the D0 stepping. As expected, [Jeff Geerling] got his mitts on one of these boards and ran it through its paces, with positive results. Well, mostly positive results — as the Geekbench test took offence to the mere 2 GB of RAM on the board and consistently ran out of memory by the multi-core Photo Filter test, as feared when we originally reported on this new SBC. Although using swap is an option, this would not have made for a very realistic SoC benchmark, ergo [Jeff] resorted to using sysbench instead. Naturally some overclocking was also performed, to truly push the SoC to its limits. This boosted the clock speed from 2.4 GHz all the way up to 3.5 GHz with the sysbench score increasing from 4155 to 6068. At 3.6 GHz the system wouldn’t boot any more, but [Jeff] figured that delidding the SoC could enable even faster speeds. This procedure also enabled taking a look at the bare D0 stepping die, revealing it to be 32.5% smaller than the previous C1 stepping on presumably the same 16 nm process. Although 3.5 GHz turns out to be a hard limit for now, the power usage was interesting with idle power being 0.9 watts lower (at 2.4 W) for the D0 stepping and the power and temperatures under load also looked better than the C1 stepping. Even when taking the power savings of half the RAM versus the 4 GB version into account, the D0 stepping seems significantly more optimized. The main question now is when we can expect to see it appear on the 4 and 8 GB versions of the SBC, though the answer there is likely ‘when current C1 stocks run out’. Authorities in Jefferson County learn backup communication method
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ill. -- The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has begun training in a new form of communication. The team posted a picture on Facebook of its members at its first ever Amateur Radio Training class. Members in the training learning the rules and regulations, along with other necessary information to become Amateur Radio Operators. "We are striving to learn alternative communication means in case the current infrastructure ever goes down," the sheriff's office stated over the weekend. Jefferson County communicators were joined by members of the Mt. Vernon Police Department's Communications Division. LABOR DAY WEEKEND EDITION: A murky start today, a little muggy here on the island. .... ARRL Club Grants Will Be Awarded in NovemberApplications for the 2024 ARRL Club Grants program are now being reviewed (the application period closed July 26, 2024). ARRL Field Services Manager Mike Walters, W8ZY, said 110 grant applications have been received and the awards will be announced in late November. “Grants are available up to $25,000 and emphasis is given to projects that are transformative in nature,” said Walters. Examples of projects include but are not limited to getting on the air projects, ham training and skills development through mentoring, STEM and STEAM learning through amateur radio, station resources for use by the ham community, and emergency communications and public service projects that emphasize training. “Since 2022, $500,000 has been distributed to amateur radio clubs,” said Walters. “With this year’s awards, that total will increase to $1,000,000 awarded. The ARRL Club Grants are administered by The ARRL Foundation. Resilience Through Amateur Radio for National Preparedness MonthAmateur radio is an excellent tool for community resilience in times of crisis. The utility value of the critical communications it provides is enhanced by having well trained local Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) groups and other teams. However, to maximize the value to yourself, your family, and your community; an operator must be prepared. September is National Preparedness Month. …American Radio Relay League | Ham Radio Association and Resources – Read More
Amateur Radio Newsline Report
ARRL DISCLOSES IT MADE $1-MILLION PAYMENT TO HACKERS PAUL/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to Newington, Connecticut where the ARRL now acknowledges that it resolved last spring's cyberhacking incident by paying a hefty ransom. Kent Peterson KCØDGY brings us more details. KENT: The ARRL has disclosed that it agreed to a $1-million ransom payment to the hackers who disrupted its computers and servers on May 15th, stealing data and taking many of its services down. Writing on its webpage the league described the attack as [quote] "an act of organized crime," characterizing the initial demand payout as "exorbitant," in exchange for access to decryption tools. The ARRL said that the final amount was agreed upon only after extensive negotiation and that the sum - and the price tag for restoring the systems - is being covered by insurance. The ARRL said that although the hackers did not get any sensitive information from its members, it confirmed in July that the ransomware did access personal data of an estimated 150 employees who have since been provided with free identity-protection services. In July, the ARRL board created its Information Technology Advisory Committee. Members are being drawn from IT industry professionals as well as those on the league staff and board who have experience in the field. This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY. (ARRL) ** YOTA CAMP BLOG RECOUNTS CZECH REPUBLIC ADVENTURE PAUL/ANCHOR: As the summer wraps up in the Northern Hemisphere, so too does the Youngsters on the Air camp that took place in the Czech Republic. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has that story. JEREMY; Campers finished their week of immersion in amateur radio and friendship at the Youngsters on the Air camp on Friday the 23rd of August. Now all that's left is to remember the experience and to share it. Rhys Williams, MØWGY/AJ6XD, who represented the Radio Society of Great Britain at the camp, wrote a daily blog that recounts such daily activities as kit-building, balloon launching and operation of the special callsign OL24YOTA. If you weren't one of the campers, you can read the blog and experience that memorable week vicariously in words and pictures. Visit the link in the text version of this week's Newsline script. The camp was organised by the Czech Radio Club and the Youth Working Group of IARU Region 1. This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH. [DO NOT READ: https://rsgb.org/main/about-us/yota/yota-summer-camps/yota-czechia-2024/updates-from-yota-czechia-2024/ ] (RSGB) ** HAMS REUNITE MAN, "DEAD" FOR A DECADE, WITH FAMILY PAUL/ANCHOR: In India, a missing man's family believed they'd never see him again until - one decade later - hams helped bring him home. We have those details from Jason Daniels VK2LAW. JASON: The headlines in local Indian media called the man "dead for a decade" but the former mathematics teacher, said to affected by mental illness, has been returned home to his father and other family members with the help of a network of amateur radio operators. Reports in The Times of India and the Deccan Herald said that area residents near the border of India and Bangladesh noticed a man standing by a large patch of wet soil, writing and solving mathematical problems there with a large stick. They told the newspapers that he seemed otherwise disoriented, which stirred their concern. The police were contacted and, wanting to expand the search for family beyond the immediate area, authorities reached out to the West Bengal Radio Club, which is known for its success in missing-persons cases because of its connections among radio operators in India. Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, the secretary of the radio club, told Newsline in a text message that he and club member Parimal Roy, VU3ZIM, were able to circulate photos of the man to clubs in the region. Ultimately, authorities were contacted by the man's father. According to the newspaper accounts, the man, who is now in his 40s, apparently developed mental problems more than a decade ago and disappeared, leaving his family to believe they would not see him alive again. This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW. (TIMES OF INDIA, DECCAN HERALD, AMBARISH NAG BISWAS, VU2JFA) ** SILENT KEY: PATRICIA NELSON, KEØQXD, TRAINER, VOLUNTEER, RADIO HOST PAUL/ANCHOR: During a moment of silence at the most recent board meeting of the ARRL, attendees paused to remember several Silent Keys from this year. One of them left her mark nationally as a tireless volunteer and radio enthusiast. We hear about her from Kent Peterson KCØDGY. KENT: This past winter, Amateur Radio Digital Communications announced that Pat Nelson, KEØQXD, had recently joined their Conduct Review Committee. Familiar with her tireless spirit, they were looking forward to working with her. That partnership never happened. Pat died suddenly a few days later on January 29th. The contributions she could have made would have been the latest in an amateur radio tenure marked by creativity and a capacity for giving and volunteering. In Minneapolis and St. Paul, Pat had a long association with KFAI radio, a community broadcast station as a host and volunteer. A certified specialist in IT, she also assisted with programming and ran a company, NelsonWorks LLC, which provided computer training and support. When she joined the station, she became friends with Mike Stapp KEØWW, a longtime ham who introduced her to amateur radio. For Pat, that marked yet another beginning: She became licensed in 2018 and her commitment grew over the years. In 2022 she produced and hosted a special program on KFAI in honor of International Women's Day, focusing on women active in amateur radio. Pat also became a Volunteer Examiner at the Aurora Amateur Radio Group and served on its VE advisory board. She was a lifetime member of the OMIK Amateur Radio Association, an international group founded in 1952 by Black radio amateurs and she had previously served the association as secretary. In January 2023, Pat became the first guest speaker at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's Ham Radio Project in Virginia, led by Jesse Alexander WB2IFS. Supported by the ARDC, the project familiarizes students with amateur radio and the electromagnetic spectrum. Pat was 68. This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY. (JESSE ALEXANDER, WB2IFS; ARRL, ARDC) ** ARES TO ADOPT INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM INTO TRAINING PAUL/ANCHOR: Things have changed since the early years when ham radio operators stepped up to offer their communication skills during emergencies. The ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Service, which began in 1935, is in the midst of bringing some of its protocol up to date, as we hear from Randy Sly W4XJ. RANDY: The Amateur Radio Emergency Service, or ARES, is being brought into alignment with many of the agencies it serves by adopting the National Incident Management System's Incident Command system. This is an initiative of the ARRL to update the training of ARES members to better meet the needs of its partners. A statement by the ARRL reads, “This is a first step towards our long-term goal of being recognized by our served partner agencies as the “gold standard†of volunteer communications support based upon ARES members’ unique expertise and capabilities. The training has several levels and specialization areas to provide amateurs with a consistent track to advance their skills as well as their understanding of emergency communications practices. The Incident Command system is used throughout government, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector to manage efficient deployment of assistance and cooperation at incidents such as severe weather or natural disasters. ** SPOTLIGHT ON MISSISSIPPI EMERGENCY COMMUNICATOR PAUL/ANCHOR: At a recent meeting of council members in one Mississippi municipality, a seasoned emergency communicator was honored with a few moments in the spotlight We hear about him from Don Wilbanks AE5DW. DON: Tom Kelly, AB6Z, of the Pearl River Emergency Amateur Radio League in Mississippi, was recognized at the top of the Picayune city council agenda for his contribution to emergency services in the county. The retired Homeland Security professional, who has more than four decades in law enforcement, deploys communication assistance when it is needed by the fire and police chiefs. Tom described the league's plans and goals and explained the kind of training involved for league members, who learn to dispatch and manage radio operators, deliver messages via radio and read radar screens. Tom said the league is hoping to assist even more members in qualifying for their amateur radio licenses. In Picayune Mississippi, this is Don Wilbanks AE5DW. (THE PICAYUNE ITEM) ** CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PROVIDES A SPECTRUM OF EXPERIENCE PAUL/ANCHOR: You may not think of the electromagnetic spectrum as a museum exhibit, but one amateur radio club in Indiana put it on display - and showed it in action - at the Terre Haute Children's Museum recently. Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us how it happened. ANDY: Laurel Tincher, program manager of the Terre Haute Children's Museum, called QRZ, in a manner of speaking and the Wabash Valley Amateur Radio Association answered that call. She invited the club to present a day of ham-related activities to showcase the kinds of things amateur radio can do. According to club president Kevin Berlen, K9HX, 100 or so visitors on Saturday the 24th of August got that opportunity. They participated in a radio-related scavenger hunt and enjoyed activities that taught them a little more about Morse Code. As the hams made QSOs on SSB using a remote-controlled HF station, the youngsters got a better understanding of what HF propagation can do. The visitors didn't just take away a better understanding of amateur radio - one lucky youngster won the random drawing for a small STEM robotics kit. According to Kevin, quite a few of them expressed an interest in working toward getting their license. This is Andy Morrison K9AWM. (KEVIN BERLEN, K9HX) ** TRANSISTOR PROMISES FASTER, MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT OPERATION PAUL/ANCHOR: A new type of transistor is in the works inside a US campus laboratory. It is resilient and super-fast but, for now, it is still a work in progress, as we hear from Sel Embee KB3TZD. SEL: A new transistor in development inside a Massachusetts laboratory is said to be extremely tough and resilient and offer super-fast switching, while meeting - or even exceeding - industry standards. Researchers at MIT first announced the transistor's development in 2021 when they published the results of their study which explored the use of an ultra-thin ferroelectric material made from boron nitride. At that time the report was carried in the journal, Science, researchers wrote only of the possibilities. Now it is a reality. Working inside the laboratory, the scientists created that faster, more energy-efficient transistor and they claim that even after 100 billion switches, there are no signs of degradation. Researchers told Popular Mechanics magazine that, for electronic devices such as computers, this eliminates the need for selective storage on a chip. Scientists also say that boron nitride has another advantage: it remains stable over long periods of time because its polarization can be reversed when there is an electric field. The next reality - actually manufacturing it - could be a lot tougher. Scientists acknowledged that despite the great gains in this development, they still don't have a way to mass produce it. This is Sel Embee KB3TZD. (POPULAR MECHANICS, MIT NEWS) ** WORLD OF DX In the World of DX, there are two opportunities to get the South Cook Islands in your log. Listen for Bob, ZL1RS, calling QRZ as E51EME from Rarotonga, IOTA Number OC-013, from the 23rd of August through to the 15th of September. His operation is mainly 6-metre FT8 using ionospheric propagation. He will also operate 6-metre EME using the Q65-60A mode from WSJT-X. See QRZ.com for QSL details. You can also listen for Tom, N2WLG who will be on the air with the callsign E51WLG from Rarotonga, IOTA Number OC-013 from the 1st through to the 8th of September. He will operate CW and digital modes on 40-10 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details Listen for Giuseppe, IK5WWA, calling QRZ as IMØC [EYE EMM ZERO SEE] from San Pietro Island, IOTA Number EU-165 from the 1st through to the 15th of September 40-2 metres. QSL via his home call. Harald DF2WO will be back in Burkina Faso operating holiday style as XT2AW starting September 8th for about 14 days. Listen on 10-80 metres SSB and FT4. He will also be using the QO100 satellite. See QRZ.com for QSL details. Listen for the callsign TM4ØIPC from the 28th through to the 8th of September during the Paris Paralympic Games. The callsign is being operated by members of the RadioPole Associatif REF-40, F4KLM. QSL via F6DZU and LoTW. (425 DX NEWS) ** KICKER: NEW POTA SITE REALLY FLOATS THEIR BOAT PAUL/ANCHOR: Late last year, Parks on the Air, or POTA, added more parks in the US. In Indiana, this meant that suddenly a yellow dot appeared on the map just off of the shore of Porter Beach in the Indiana Dunes State Park. While initially this looked like a mistake, it turned out to be the JD Marshall Nature Preserve, US-10256, the site of a Great Lakes cargo ship which sunk in 1911. The park is completely underwater -- accessible only by boat. Nothing excites a POTA activator more than seeing a zero in the “number of activations†field on the website. That’s when Eric Kurtz, KE9AEB, chief of the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department, started calling his friends. Kurtz told Newsline: [quote] “I ended up creating a POTA account and realized that the JD Marshall was the only park in the State Of Indiana that had never been activated. Being a lakefront community, and being involved with the volunteer fire department, we’re fortunate that some of our members are boat owners and some of our members are amateur radio licensees and I put those pieces together so we could activate the JD Marshall.†[endquote] So assistant Fire Chief Dave Zak, a marina and boat owner, took six hams and their gear out onto Lake Michigan on Saturday, August 24th and moored above the wreck. I was one of those hams. The hams got right to it and in the space of a little under three hours, had logged 118 contacts including France. Active calls included K9ODF, the fire department club call, as well as the personal calls N9ITB and WD9GCO. Chris Lattimer, N9MMR, member of the fire department and founding member of the club, called it an amazing opportunity to be out on Lake Michigan operating an HF station from a boat. His son Tavas, KD9NSC, communications officer for the fire department, assembled the gear, tested everything beforehand and handled contact logging. Two others on board were Tommy Stecic, KE2CCX and Jack Albert, N9ITB, an experienced activator and my POTA buddy. The group was awarded credit for the first activation of the park. And their very first contact? Well, it was a ham from New York with the call KD2GUT. That’s right. Our own Caryn Eve Murray. Congratulations to all involved for an activation that went beyond expectations. Amateur radio is a varied hobby and as we often say "whatever floats your boat" is fine. HAMS YOU MIGHT KNOW
K1TP-
Jon....Editor of As The World
Turns....
SILENT KEYS Silet Key
KA1BXB-Don...Regular
on 3900 mornings....just
don't
mention
politics
to
him,
please! |
