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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2357 for Friday December 30th, 2022

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2357 with a release date of Friday December 30th, 2022 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams in Switzerland get use of the 4m band.
Amateur ranks grow on Prince Edward Island, Canada -- and get ready to
jump into the DX Ultra-Marathon. All this and more as Amateur Radio
Newsline Report Number 2357 comes your way right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART

**
SWISS AMATEURS GRANTED ACCESS TO 4M BAND

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We begin this week with good news for the new year.
Starting on the first of January, hams in Switzerland will be allowed
to operate on the 4m band using all commonplace simplex modes. The
Swiss amateur radio association USKA reported recently that their communications authorities have granted approval to hams holding HB9
licenses for a maximum operating power of 25 watts ERP. Hams may
operate only on freqencies between 70 MHz and 70.0375 MHz. They also
have permission for the range between 70.1125 and 70.5000MHz.

Relays and Echolink gateways will not be permitted on the band and any
stations being operated via remote-control must get permission from the regulator, OFCOM-CH.

(DARC, FEDERAL NETWORK AGENCY)

**
TEMPORARY AUTHORIZATIONS RENEWED IN GERMANY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: There is also good news for hams in Germany as
temporary authorisations for certain bands have been renewed for
another year. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has the details.

JEREMY: In Germany, the Federal Network Agency, BNetZA, has extended
temporary allocations for amateur operation in part of the160 metre,
the 6 and 4 metre and 13 and 6 centimetre bands. These permissions were
to have expired at the end of this year but are now granted anew until
the 31st of December 2023. According to a Google translation of the announcement in the agency Gazette, 6 m band operation is allowed in
the 50 to 50.4 MHz frequency range. Class A licence holders may use a
maximum of 750 watts PEP and Class E licence holders can transmit with
a maximum of 100 W PEP with operation only permitted using horizontal polarisation. For the frequency range between 50.4 and 52 MHz, only 25
watts PEP is allowed but contest operation is permitted.

On the 4m band, operation is granted up to 25w ERP using horizontal polarisation by Class A licence holders and on frequencies between
70.150 and 70.210 MHz. At the top end of 160 metres, Class both A and
E licence holders may use their permitted maximum transmission power,
operating at weekends within the frequencies 1.85 and 2.00 MHz. Contest operation on 160m is only allowed on these frequencies and at the
weekend.

Finally, holders of licence Class E are given access to the 13 and 6 cm
bands, from 2320 to 2450 MHz and 5650 to 5850 MHz with a maximum power
of 5 W PEP so that they can take part in the Hamnet Mesh data network

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(FEDERAL NETWORK AGENCY)

**
HAM RANKS INCREASE ON PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND AFTER STORMS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In one Canadian province, hams have noticed that the aftereffects of the past storm season haven't all been bad. Sel Embee,
KB3 T Zed D is here to tell us about one big change for the better.

SEL: There are a lot of happy radio operators on Prince Edward Island
lately. Hams in this province of Atlantic Canada have discovered their
ranks are growing.

According to a report by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation,
tropical storm Fiona and the COVID-19 pandemic have created an
environment that has led island residents to discover the appeal of
radio communications. Prince Edward Island, also known among island
chasers as IOTA Number NA-029, has become a place to nurture new
amateurs, according to members of the Charlottetown Amateur Radio Club.

The club's president, Bill McMaster, VY2WM, told the CBC that the
group's membership has grown especially after amateur radio's profile
grew during tropical storm Fiona this past September. At the time of
the storm, local operators were helping with emergency response through
the CANWARN emergency communications network, joining the ongoing nets, providing status reports and weather updates.

Organizers told the CBC that the hams on the island expect to have
another training program for license candidates by springtime.

This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.

(CBC)

**
CONTEST UNIVERSITY 2023 ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The course outline and professor biographies aren't up
on the website yet but you can still register for Contest University,
which is being held this coming spring during Dayton Hamvention in
Ohio. Contest University will take place on Thursday May 18th from 7 am
to 5 pm at the Hope Hotel, the day before Hamvention itself opens its
doors. The Hope Hotel will be the center of all activities related to contesting. Bookmark the website contestuniversity.com - that's one
word "contestuniversity" - to keep track of the curriculum for the
weekend and the roster of instructors. Visit the website and
registernow.

(CONTEST UNIVERSITY)

**
PROPOSAL WOULD ELIMINATE FCC'S SYMBOL RATE LIMITS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A proposal called the Amateur Radio Communications
Improvement Act hopes to overhaul rules affecting data transmissions.
Kent Peterson KC0DGY brings us that report.

KENT: Saying that federal regulations need to keep pace with advances
in amateur radio technology, a United States lawmaker has proposed
updating rules governing data transmissions over the amateur bands. The proposed Amateur Radio Communications Improvement Act would eliminate
the current symbol rate limits set by the FCC. The lawmaker, Debbie
Lesko, an Arizona Republican, writes on her website that regulation of
symbol rates has become outdated because newer technology permits the
spectrum to handle greater amounts of data. The proposed update of the
FCC rules removes the symbol rate limit and sets a 2.8 kHz bandwidth
limit, which is already in place for amateurs using 60 meters.

The ARRL previously pressed the FCC to remove HF symbol rate limits
claiming that, among other things, it was an obstacle to
experimentation. Although the FCC has previously questioned the need
for any bandwidth limit at all, the ARRL has said there is a need for
such limits because digital protocols could be developed that have
excessively wide bandwidths. The ARRL issued a statement saying the
league hoped the FCC would remove the restriction on its own without
waiting for the bill to be passed.

With lawmakers in Washington DC concluding the 117th Congress, there
was no further action taken on the bill.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

(DEBBIE LESKO WEBSITE, ARRL)

**
LAWMAKER CHALLENGES ANTENNA RESTRICTIONS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In another action in Washington, DC, one lawmaker
introduced a bill just before Christmas that proposes protection for
amateurs and their antennas - the same protection already available to
other forms of wireless communication such as television, satellite and internet. That update comes to us from Jim Damron N8TMW.

JIM: An Ohio congressman is seeking to provide relief for home-based
amateur radio operators who are unable to easily operate in private
residential neighborhoods such as condominiums, gated communities and
some single-family subdivisions. The measure introduced by Congressman
Bill Johnson, a Republican, would grant hams the same pre-emption given
in 1996 to consumers of broadcast TV antennas, satellite dishes,
multichannel multipoint distribution services and wireless internet.
The American Radio Relay League has previously urged the Federal
Communications Commission to give the same relief to hams but the FCC
has told the league that such action can only come from Congress. John
Robert Stratton, N5AUS, noted on the ARRL website that a joint
resolution by members of Congress in 1994 supported the use of ham
radio from private residences, recognizing it as a public benefit in
keeping with the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act.

This is Jim Damron N8TMW.

(BILL JOHNSON WEBSITE, ARRL)

**
SHORTWAVE SIGNALS USED IN PROBE OF ASTEROID

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: When is it better to transmit on the shortwave bands
than on microwave? Ralph Squillace KK6ITB has the answer.

RALPH: It was only a test transmission but the signals being
transmitted from Gakona, Alaska to the West Coast of the United States
were being done with a specific purpose. Before the receiving antenna
arrays near Socorro, New Mexico and Bishop, California were to receive
the chirping signals transmitted at around 9.6 MHz, they were bounced
off an asteroid known as 2010 XC15 (twenty-ten XC15). With the asteroid
twice as far away as the moon is from Earth, this was more challenging
a feat than moon bounce.

The longer-wavelength-than-normal transmissions on December 27th were
from the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program, or HAARP, in
Alaska. It was HAARP's first involvement in probing the interior of an asteroid, something NASA had hoped would be possible as part of
preparation for the anticipated arrival of a much larger asteroid
coming closer to Earth, in 2029. Scientists say that the best way to successfully hit and deflect an oncoming asteroid and protect the Earth
from damage is to learn how the asteroid's mass is distributed.

Hams and amateur radio astronomers were invited to listen and submit
their reception reports to HAARP. QSL cards were to be sent to those
who emailed their findings. Now that's some rare DX.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(U OF ALASKA GEOPHYSICAL INSTITUTE, QRZ)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the W9BCC repeater in Wausau Wisconsin on Sundays at 9 p.m. during the
Rib Mountain Repeater Association's Sunday Night Swapnet.

**
HONORING THOSE WHO INSPIRE OTHERS' DX ACHIEVEMENTS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A new program launched by an Ohio DX group honors those
who inspire others in their pursuit of DX. Andy Morrison K9AWM has
those details.

ANDY: Achieving DXCC is an honor - but what about the hams who work so
hard behind the scenes helping other amateurs achieve that coveted
status of DXCC award-winner? The Southwest Ohio DX Association has
launched a new program that recognizes the hams who help other radio
operators achieve their first 100 confirmed DX entities. The amateur
receiving the assistance must be under the age of 30. The DX
association has specifically designed the award this way to target
those who help younger amateurs and ensure they continue to be
encouraged and active in the hobby even after receiving their DXCC
certificate.

The intent of targeting this audience helping younger amateurs is to
attract and retain those operators who are most likely to remain
engaged in the hobby after achieving DXCC. The DX Mentor Recognition
Program has the support of the Northern California DX Foundation and
the International DX Association. Both groups are providing
representatives on the judging committee. The award will be presented
at Dayton Hamvention in May at the Southwest Ohio DX Association
dinner.

For more information about the DX Mentor Recognition Program or to
download an application, visit the website in the text version of this
week's newscast at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: https://www.swodxa.org/DX-Mentor-Program/ ]

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(425 DX NEWS)

**
IDEAS NEEDED FOR RADIO'S ROLE MARKING KING'S CORONATION

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Hams in the UK are being asked to contribute their
ideas for radio's role in marking the King's coronation. Jeremy Boot
G4NJH tells us more.

JEREMY: Long before there was radio, the UK had its fire beacons,
torchlight relays that served as warnings of invasions in earlier
centuries. As the Radio Society of Great Britain makes its plans to
help mark the coronation of King Charles III and his Queen Consort next
May, the society hopes to give this ancient tradition a role as well. A
number of events will be organised for the occasion with an eye toward demonstrating amateur radio to the public. The society's Coronation
Lead, Alan Messenger, G0TLK, is looking for ideas about what shape the
special events will take and most particularly how the fire beacons can
be included, as a way of honouring tradition. UK hams are being asked
If they have suggestions for these events or any other thoughts, to
contact Alan at special dot projects at rsgb dot org dot uk (special.projects@rsgb.org.uk)

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(RSGB)

**
THE 2023 DX ULTRA-MARATHON HAS BEGUN

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The marathon is on! Starting January 1st, 2023, if
you're a DXer, you can be in the running. Neil Rapp WB9VPG tells ushow.

NEIL: Since it was founded in June 2018 the True Blue DXers Club has acknowledged that, long path or short path, there is no easy path to
good DXing. Beyond having good equipment, DXing takes skills and
patience. The club continues to nurture its appreciation for DXing
accomplished via CW and SSB. It has announced its latest year-long
operating event that begins on January 1st. This is their 2023 DX Ultra-Marathon and it is encouraging CW and sideband operation in as
many DXCC entities and WAZ Zones as possible. If you wish to be in the
running during the 2023 marathon, you needn't join the club itself but
you are required to register. The link for registration can be found in
this week's text version of our newscast at arnewsline.org

Then start making QSOs as early as January 1st and begin uploading your
logs on January 15th.

The club's website notes that like any worthy marathon, this event
requires operators to push their limits and make an investment in time
and in effort.

This is Neil Rapp WB9VPG.

[ FOR PRINT ONLY: www.tbdxc.net/marathon ]

(425 DX NEWS, TRUE BLUE DXERS CLUB)

**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, special stations SP90ENIGMA and SP90ENG are active
until 15 January to mark the 90th anniversary since Polish
cryptologists first broke the Enigma cipher. For SP90ENIGMA, send QSL
via SP3PGR. For SP90ENG, QSL via SP3PDO. The Marconi Club is holding
the fifth edition of its QSO Party Day on the 7th of January. Operators
will be on the air from 0700 to 18000 UTC on 80, 40 and 20 metres,
using CW. The ARI Loano (LOW-ANNO) Marconi Club is a member of the International CW Council. Operators will be calling "CQ MCD."

Special callsigns R2023NY and UE23NY are active on the HF bands until
the 8th of January for the annual "Russian New Year" radio marathon
organized by the Miller DX Club. QSL via RQ7L.

Be listening for HH75RCH on the bands from January 1st through the 1st
of May. This is the special callsign marking the 75th anniversary of
the Radio Club d'Haiti, established on March 29th 1948. QSL via Club
Log's OQRS, or via N2OO (N 2 OH-OH).

(425 DX NEWS)

**
KICKER: A HOLIDAY NET THAT'S A SAFETY NET

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Our final story for this week is about one holiday net
that is also, for many, a kind of safety net. Don Wilbanks AE5DW has
that story for us.

DON: Sometimes we get on the air looking for more than just a signal
report. As the holiday season draws to a close, ONTARS, the Ontario
Amateur Radio Service, has stepped in twice to do just that. Known for
the daily net it holds on 3.755 MHz, ONTARS also provided a gathering
place for amateurs who spent this past Christmas in need of company.
That net, known as Sam's Christmas Cracker, was conducted by Sam Jones,
VE3ZSZ, as he has done for the past six years with the support of Barry Lisoweski, VE3ISX, the ONTARS manager. Sam shared this year's net on
December 25th on 80 metres at 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time with Kevin
VA3RCA.

Sam told Newsline in an email that the net added some holiday
brightness for people who may have suffered a death in the family or
perhaps were left trapped by the recent blizzard that struck in the northeastern regions of the United States and Canada. He said [quote]
"It was about 120 minutes of just funny jokes and funny stories."
[endquote]

Together everyone checked in and found a common meeting ground on the
air. Sam said he plans to hold another net on New Year's Day, January
1st. This will be on 7.185 MHz lasting from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern
Time. It will be called the Positive Vibrations Net.

Sam told Newsline [quote]: "It's important. I try to bring smiles
across the miles." [endquote]

This is Don Wilbanks AE5DW.

(SAM JONES, VE3ZSZ)

**

NEWCAST CLOSE - DO YOU HAVE NEWS?

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Do you have a piece of Amateur Radio News that you
think Newsline would be interested in? We are not talking about
advertising your club's upcoming hamfest or field day participation,
but something that is out of the ordinary. If so, send us a brief
overview via the contact page at arnewsline.org. If it's newsworthy and
we would like to cover it, we'll get back to you for more details.

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to the Alexanderson Association; Amateur
Radio Weekly; the ARRL; Canadian Broadcasting Corporation;
Congresswoman Debbie Lesko; Contest University; CQ magazine; the DARC;
David Behar K7DB; the 425 DX News; Sam Jones, VE3ZSZ;
shortwaveradio.de; the True Blue DXers Club; University of Alaska
Geophysical Institute; Wireless Institute of Australia; and you our
listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. We remind
our listeners that Amateur Radio Newsline is an all-volunteer
non-profit organization that incurs expenses for its continued
operation. If you wish to support us, please visit our website at arnewsline.org and know that we appreciate you all. We also remind our listeners that if you like our newscast, please leave us a 5-star
rating wherever you subscribe to us. For now, with Caryn Eve Murray
KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and our news team worldwide, I'm
Stephen Kinford N8WB in Wadsworth Ohio saying 73. As always we thank
you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2022. All
rights reserved.

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