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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2367 for Friday March 10th, 2023

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2367 with a release date of Friday
March 10th, 2023 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. A trio of hams arrives aboard the ISS. Digital
Voice technology gains big financial support -- and get ready for the
"Nervous Novices Net." All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline
Report Number 2367 comes your way right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART

**
GRANT WILL ADVANCE FREEDV HF TECHNOLOGY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Our top story this week is about a boost for
cutting-edge amateur radio. A major open-source ham radio technology
for HF digital voice has received a major grant to advance its
development. Kevin Trotman N5PRE has that report.

KEVIN: The FreeDV Project, an open-source software initiative created
by an international team of hams, has received $420,000 from Amateur
Radio Digital Communications. The team plans to use that money to help
bring FreeDV into the mainstream.

According to an ARDC press release, the goal is to [quote] "open the
path to widespread adoption of a truly open-source, next-generation
digital voice system for HF radio." [endquote]

Some of the funds will go towards the hiring of digital signal
processing developers to work alongside FreeDV volunteers to improve
the readability of digital voice carried over SSB under poor HF
conditions. The plan is to improve low signal-to-noise ratio operation
and improve speech quality. The team also hopes FreeDV can also be
embedded in some more commercial radios. Towards that end, specialists
will work alongside some commercial HF radio engineers.

The FreeDV website mentions some versions of the technology that are
already in use, including the special version in use over the QO-100 geostationary satellite. FreeDV is also being employed to overcome poor propagation through experimental combinations of internet and HF radio.
FreeDV encompasses the Codec 2 speech codec/modem and all are open
source.

This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

(ARDC, Dan Romanchik, KB6NU)

**
COMPETITION FOCUSES ON VISION FOR HAM RADIO'S FUTURE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Hams in Region 1 of the IARU are being asked to
brainstorm in a competition envisioning amateur radio's future, as we
hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: Hams in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Northern Asia are
being asked to take the challenge of seeing into the future. Region 1
of the International Amateur Radio Union is inviting teams and
individuals to engage in two types of brainstorming as part of the
region's HamChallenge competition. Both challenges are designed to
inspire projects that increase awareness of amateur radio's vitality
and relevance today.

The first challenge asks hams to create projects that reach out to
people who do not have a radio licence. The project could be a social
media campaign, a video, a storyboard or some other creative venture
that showcases the power ham radio has in building friendships and
expanding scientific knowledge.

The second challenge focuses on a project that reaches out to other
hams showing the way amateur radio might look in 10 years. Entries in
this part of the challenge can be a technology project, an experiment
or something else.

All ideas should be sent to the IARU Region 1 by July. Proposals should
be sent by email to hamchallenge at iaru hyphen r1 dot org. (hamchallenge@iaru-r1.org) There are monetary prizes and a chance for
the winners to carry their message to a wider audience.

I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(IARU REGION 1)

**
TRIO OF HAMS ARRIVE ON BOARD THE ISS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Four astronauts are now on board the International
Space Station. The crew includes the first astronaut from the United
Arab Emirates to fly aboard a commercial mission. He also happens to be
an amateur radio operator. Paul Braun WD9GCO has that story.

PAUL: Four astronauts, three of them licensed amateur radio operators,
arrived on the ISS on Friday, March 3rd, for a six-month stay in orbit.
One of them, astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, KI5VTV, is also making his
first trip into space.

The Crew-6 launch took place a day earlier from the Kennedy Space
Center in Florida. The other members of the team are mission commander
Stephen Bowen, KI5BKB, pilot Warren "Woody" Hoburg, KB3HTZ, and
Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, who - like Al Neyadi - is making
his first space flight. The crew will conduct a variety of experiments including a study of the way certain materials burn in microgravity and
an examination of microbial samples collected from outside the
spacecraft.

This is NASA's sixth crew to use the commercial SpaceX transport
system.

I'm Paul Braun WD9GCO.

(CNBC)

**
HAMS IN DELAWARE MOBILIZE FOR SURPRISE WEATHER DRILL

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Fast-moving amateurs in Delaware recently responded to
a surprise emergency weather drill. Randy Sly W4XJ tells us what
happened next.

RANDY: SKYWARN and emergency managers in Sussex County on the Delaware Peninsula, hold quarterly exercises they call "Pop Ups," recognizing
that unexpected emergencies pop up. The latest exercise, called "Pops
in the Dark," began on Saturday, March 4. It called for "all hams on
deck" in Sussex and Kent Counties. Amateurs were mobilized without
commercial power and throughout the activation were limited to only
whatever fuel and battery capacity they had at thetime.

The exercise was a severe winter storm, with reported ice accumulations
and 10-12" of snow. The event had two parts. On Day 1, the Emergency
Operations Center nets worked simultaneously with SKYWARN and then
remained active through the remainder of the exercise. On Days 1 and
2, repeaters were reported down and only simplex frequencies were used.
Barbara Dean, KC3LGE, public information officer Sussex, told AR
Newsline that, in addition to coordinating various communications
tasks, the nets also included suggestions on getting the most out of
their available power. Pops in the Dark concluded on March 8
followed by the collection of after-action reports.

This is Randy Sly, W4XJ

**
NEW CW NET IN IRELAND ATTRACTS 'NERVOUS NOVICES'

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In Ireland, hams who love Morse Code but are nervous
about getting on the air now have a welcoming on-air spot to try out
their new skills. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us about it.

JEREMY: The newest net in Ireland is called "Nervous Novices."
Organised by Eamo, EI7LC, the 80 metre net is designed to encourage CW newcomers to get on the air without feeling as if they needed to be
proficient enough for a full ragchew.

Check-in begins from 20:30 local time, meeting somewhere between 3.550
and 3.555 MHz. Amateurs are encouraged to operate QRS to accommodate
the slowest participants. The emphasis is on good operating practices,
not speed.

Get on the air and listen for the call "CQ NNCW"

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(IRTS)

**
FCC NOMINEE WON'T PURSUE CONFIRMATION

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The search is on for a new nominee to join the US
Federal Communications Commission following a decision by President Joe
Biden's nominee to withdraw. Gigi Sohn had been nominated for the
vacant FCC seat but announced on Tuesday, March 7th, that she would not
seek the appointment because of what she characterized as personal
attacks.

The attorney is best known as a veteran public interest advocate. Her confirmation as commissioner would have given the Democratic Party a
3-2 majority on the FCC.

(WASHINGTON POST)

**
EX-AGENCY OFFICIALS PRESS TO KEEP AM RADIO IN CARS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The fight to keep AM radio in new electric vehicles
just gained a few more prominent voices in the US, as we learn from
Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

KENT: FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington, who has been an outspoken
opponent of carmakers' plans to remove AM broadcast radio from electric vehicles, has been joined by seven former officials in the US emergency management agency. In a letter to US Transportation Secretary Pete
Buttigieg the seven praised AM radio's capacity for long-distance communications, making this broadcast mode [quote] "a vital public
safety system." [endquote]

Commissioner Simington spoke late last year at a convention of the
National Association of Farm Broadcasters and for much the same
reasons, described AM radio as "the essential spine" of the Emergency
Alert System. Simington said he agreed with the letter written to the transportation secretary and called the push to keep AM radio in
electric cars a matter for urgent attention.

A number of automakers have stopped including AM radios in their
vehicles claiming the cars cause electromagnetic interference with AM
signals. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts recently asked a number of carmakers, including American Honda, Jaguar, General Motors, Kia and
BMW, to declare their intentions regarding AM and FM radio.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

(RADIO WORLD)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the K6TZ repeater in Santa Barbara California on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
Pacific Time.

**
DAMAGE TOPPLES VITAL NEBRASKA COMMUNICATIONS TOWER

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A communications tower serving fire and emergency
services in Nebraska was found toppled and destroyed in Nebraska, the
apparent result of having had one of its guy wire anchors damaged.
According to a report on the websiteruralradio.com, the tower suffered structural failure and toppled, causing an estimated $575,000 in damage
to the tower and its equipment. The local sheriff's office, fire and
EMS service, Verizon wireless and the school district were among those
making use of the tower. Cellphone service was re-established on a
temporary tower and the emergency service and fire channels were moved
to another location. The Nebraska State Patrol's forensic evidence team
is studying the evidence at its crime lab and has contacted the FBI
which may pursue the case as an act of domestic terrorism.

(RURALRADIO.COM)

**

'ROVER' CATEGORY ADDED TO VIRGINIA QSO PARTY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A new category is being added to the Virginia QSO
Party, which kicks off later this month. Sel Embee KB3T Zed Dee tells
us what's behind this decision.

SEL: This year's Virginia QSO Party includes a bit of an experiment.
Organizers are adding a new category - "Rover" - which raises the
number of categories for non-fixed stations to three. The inclusion of
the rover category, which now joins "mobile" and "expedition," is being
done to accommodate hams who, for various reasons, cannot be included
in the other classes of mobile operator. That may mean they make use of commercial power, retractable antenna masts or non-mobile support
structures. Rover operators must still identify with their callsign
followed by /M. Rovers are permitted to make contacts while moving or stationary. A non-operating driver is required for rover and mobile
operators who plan to be on the air while the vehicle is in motion.

The QSO Party is being organized by the Sterling Park Amateur Radio
Club and will be held on March 18th and 19th.

This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.

(QRZ.COM)

**
CB RADIO MARKET GROWS FOR FM MODE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The shape of CB radios is changing: An increasing
number of them are now capable of FM, as we hear from Jack ParkerW8ISH.

JACK: Little more than 18 months after the FCC approved the use of FM
for Citizens Band on 27 MHz, manufacturers have responded to the demand
for the mode. Companies now in the market include President Electronics
USA, Uniden, RadioOddity, QYT and Cobra. It was Cobra's original
petition that pushed the need to the forefront of the agency, with
support from the other companies. When the FCC granted the request in
July 2021, the move was called the biggest change for Citizens Band
since the expansion of CB channels from 23 to 40 in 1977.

FM is now used on the CB radio spectrum from 26.965 MHz to 27.405 MHz,
enabling a higher-quality audio for radio users who do not need the
distance capabilities offered by radios with the SSB mode.

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(RADIO WORLD, CCJDIGITAL.COM, FCC)

**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, Jim WB2REM, John K4LT, and Bob KE2D are using the
call sign HD8M from Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands, IOTA SA-004,
until the 11th of March. , They are using CW, SSB and FT8 in fox-hound
mode on 160-6 metres. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, or direct to
WB2REM; They will upload to LoTW after six months.

From Norfolk Island, IOTA number OC-005, listen for Tom, VK3FTOM, who

is joining the VK9NT team that will be on the air there from the 17th
to the 31st of March. Tom will also be using his own personal
callsign, VK9TOM, starting on or around the 13th of March for "some
QRP operating" while on the island.

Luca, HB9OBD is active holiday style as D44KIT from Sal Island, IOTA
number AF-086, Cape Verde until the 5th of April. Listen for him on SSB
and FT8 on 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres. QSL via LoTW, eQSL, or via EB7DX.

Hiro, JF1OCQ, is in the Comoro Islands, IOTA number AF-007, where he is
on the air as D67AA until the 22nd of March. He is using CW, SSB, and
the digital modes on 160 - 10 metres. QSL via LoTW or direct to his
home call. He will upload his log to Club Log and other platforms.

(DX-WORLD.NET)

**
KICKER: FINDING FAMILY, EIGHT DECADES LATER

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We finish this week's report with one family's story.
Nearly eight decades after fleeing Bangladesh during turbulent
political times, a woman in northern India has reconnected with the
family she left behind. It happened all because of ham radio. Graham
Kemp VK4BB has that story.

GRAHAM: Nearly eight decades of silence and loss ended on Tuesday,
March 7th, when 85-year-old Maya Chakraborty finally spoke with the
nephew she'd been seeking for so long - the son of her deceased older
sister. The call was via internet video but the human connection here
was because of ham radio. She was a young girl when her family left
their native village in Sylhet in Bangladesh and lost contact with her
much older sister. The Times of India newspaper reported that she had
lost much hope of finding the rest of her family but asked her son
Suvendu to help track them down. Suvendu contacted the West Bengal
Radio Club, which has expertise in reuniting missing persons. The
club's secretary contacted the Amateur Radio Society of Bangladesh and
the hams were able to find Ranjit Chakraborty, Maya's nephew, who is
nearly 80 years old himself. His mother - Maya's sister - had long
since died.

Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, secretary of the West Bengal club, told
the newspaper [quote] "It was difficult to find a person among
millions." [endquote] He told Newsline that on March 7th, the aunt and
her nephew were reconnected during an emotional video call. He said
that both are now applying for visas to take that reunion to its
logical next step.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(TIMES OF INDIA, AMBARISH NAG BISWAS VU2JFA)

**

IN SEARCH OF 'YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR'


STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We remind our listeners that young hams who live in the continental United States have an opportunity to make news, if they
aren't already doing so, by being a recipient of this year's Amateur
Radio Newsline Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award.
Consider nominating an amateur radio operator 18 years of age or
younger -- someone who has talent, promise and a commitment to the
spirit of ham radio. Find more details along with application forms on
our website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab. The nomination period
closes on May 31st.

**

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 Amateur Radio Digital Communications;
Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA; CQ Magazine; Dan Romanchik, KB6NU; David
Behar K7DB; DX-World.net; FCC; Free DV Project; 425 DX News; IARU
Region 1; Irish Radio Transmitters Society; RadioWorld; RuralRadio.com; shortwaveradio.de; the Times of India; the Washington Post; YouTube 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 2023. All
rights reserved.

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