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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2417 for Friday February 23rd, 2024

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2417 with a release date of Friday February 23rd, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Alabama police remain baffled over broadcast
tower's disappearance. Hams in the UK and Australia adjust to new
amateur regulations -- and meet one net where members are trafficking
in puns. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number
2417 comes your way right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART

**
QUESTIONS LINGER OVER MISSING RADIO TOWER

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: For our top story this week, we return to Jasper,
Alabama, where a broadcast tower mysteriously disappeared in early
February. For now, that mystery remains. Kent Peterson KC0DGY gives us
a closer look.

KENT: As police in Jasper, Alabama, continue to puzzle over the
apparent overnight disappearance of a 200-foot radio tower, listeners
bemoan the loss of the AM station that has been a mainstay in the
metropolitan Birmingham area since it first went on the air in 1957. A
recent report in the New York Times quoted longtime listeners as
praising station WJLX - "The Sound of Walker County" - as being a
trusted voice carrying information, storm warnings, traffic reports and
sports scores.

The voice went mysteriously silent from AM as the theft of its tower
was reported in a case that has baffled local authorities and cast
doubts for many - including the police - as to what really happened.
The absence of an AM station also prevented the broadcaster from
keeping its FM counterpart on the air, in compliance with FCC
regulations. The station's programming was carried only online until
iHeart Media provided one of its HD3 channel on the broadcaster's WDXB
station in Birmingham. According to a report in RadioWorld, iHeart
received the FCC's approval and the broadcaster is now providing a
signal to the WJLX FM translator on 101.5 MHz.

Meanwhile, concern remains over the fate of its AM outlet. The station
has begun raising funds by establishing a GoFundMe page. The station
manager, Brett Elmore, is quoted in the New York Times as asking: "Who
in the world steals a radio tower?"

Jasper police and listeners are asking the same question.

For now, not quite a month later, there are unproven theories - but as
Newsline went to production, there were still no answers.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

(RADIO WORLD, NEW YORK TIMES)

**
SCOUTS ACHIEVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH ISS ASTRONAUT

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In California, Girl Scouts who were involved in the
planning and design of an amateur radio station finally got to use it
on Thursday, February 22nd, in a 10-minute contact with the
International Space Station. Unlike many of the typical ARISS contacts
that have been made using a Telebridge station, this was a direct
contact from the station created at Girl Scouts Headquarters in
California. The girls were involved in its creation from the start with
help from the River City Amateur Radio Communications Society and Girl
Scout Heart of Central California coordinated by Jen Garland, KI1TTY
[KAY EYE ONE TTY]. The girls' instruction provided a look at hams'
emergency response roles -- and of course a possible career as an
astronaut.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4qI2mNreOY ARISS Contact

(JEN GARLAND, KI1TTY, ARISS)

**
DIGIPEATER IS BACK IN ACTION ON THE ISS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In other news about the ISS, the onboard packet radio digipeater resumed activity on 145.825 MHz as of the 15th of February. Additional digipeater access is expected to become available starting
on March 1st, with the launch of two new ham radio satellites:
Germany's SONATE-2 and CROCUBE from Croatia. Both satellites are on
educational missions. SONATE-2, from the University of Wuerzburg (PRON:
Vertz Berg), has a CW beacon and a SSTV transmitter in addition to the digipeater. CROCUBE has a similar configuration, however it will use an experimental SSDV downlink and have the capacity to send anniversary
and special occasion messages via AX.25 and CW.

(ARISS, AMATEUR RADIO DAILY, AMSAT)

**
NEW RULES IN EFFECT FOR UK AMATEURS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Hams in the UK have begun experiencing the first of
many sweeping changes Ofcom has made to licences and the licensing
process. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us more.

JEREMY: With the first rule changes from Ofcom having come into effect
on the 21st, the regulator will send out a new licence document to all
UK operators no later than autumn of this year. As reported earlier,
Ofcom's new rules not only simplify the licence process but permit ham
radio equipment to be operated under the supervision of a licensee.
Regional secondary locators have also become optional. Ofcom has also
raised the maximum power hams can use on most of the bands. The
regulator has promoted the changes for giving amateurs what it calls
[quote] "freedom to innovate."

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(OFCOM)

**
AMATEUR LICENSE CHANGES BEGIN IN AUSTRALIA

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Likewise, Australian hams are settling in to some new
license changes too. John Williams VK4JJW brings us up to date.

JOHN: Changes have taken effect in Australia on the assignment of
amateur radio licences. On the 19th of February, the change was made to
a class-licence system, meaning that the Australian Communications and
Media Authority is no longer renewing non-assigned amateur licences.
Although assigned apparatus licences are still required to operate a
repeater or a beacon, all other amateur operations are now covered by
the new system.

Hams surrendering their non-assigned amateur licences renewed in the
last few months may be eligible for a refund from the ACMA. Most hams
in Australia needed to take no action to complete their transition to
the new class licence, which is issued for free.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(ACMA)

**

INDIAN DXPEDITION TESTS DX ABILITIES OF VHF REPEATER

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: An island DXpedition by Indian amateurs successfully
tested the DX capabilities of an important VHF repeater on the
mainland. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF has those details.

JIM: A strategically located VHF repeater in India was put to the test
over the weekend of February 18th during a Beaches on the Air
DXpedition that reached 27 countries on SSB from Henry's Island. The
island location is significant because it is located in the Sunderbans
Reserve Forest, an area in Bengal that is prone to violent cyclones and
from time to time in need of emergency radio support.

A six-member team of hams from the West Bengal Radio Club made the QSOs
while studying the changes in propagation that occur during the
seasonal change from winter to summer. Although the hams are proud of
the DX contacts they made during the weekend, they are prouder still of
the successful connection they can rely on from the island to the VHF
repeater located atop the highest building in Kolkata. It fulfilled a
very practical, lifesaving objective: maintaining contact from a region
that is imperiled when disaster strikes.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF

(THE STATESMAN)

**

SILENT KEY, BILL HUDZIK, W2UDT, OF ARRL HUDSON DIVISION

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A prominent radio amateur in the New York area of the
ARRL has become a Silent Key. The death of Bill Hudzik, W2UDT, past
vice director for the ARRL's Hudson Division, was reported on Facebook
and in an ARRL newsletter by Nomar, NP4H, the division director. Bill
had stepped down as vice director of the ARRL Hudson Division on
February 1st, 2022. He had told fellow amateurs at the Division awards
luncheon that his decision was based on having been diagnosed with
Parkinson's disease. Bill was originally appointed to the post of vice
director in 2011 following the retirement of Frank Fallon, N2FF.

Bill had a reputation for representing ham interests in legislative
matters in New Jersey, including advocacy for amateurs in gaining an
exemption from a state law that banned cell phone use by motorists.
Bill had previously served as ARRL's Northern New Jersey section
manager. He had been a ham since 1961.

No other details were immediately available.

(ARRL)

**
LUNAR LANDER DELAYS LAUNCH OF CREW-8 ASTRONAUTS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: NASA's Crew-8 astronauts have had to wait a little
longer for their launch but the space agency gave them a good reason.
Andy Morrison K9AWM explains.

ANDY: The launch of a robotic lunar lander has delayed the departure of SpaceX's eighth crewed operational mission to the ISS. NASA's Crew-8
astronauts include Matthew Dominick, KC0TOR, the commander; Michael
Barratt, KD5MIJ, the pilot; and Jeanette Epps, KF5QNU, the mission
specialist. They are to be accompanied by mission specialist and
Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin.

Their date with the launch pad was moved from the 22nd of February to
no earlier than the 28th when they will be aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon
as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

Meanwhile, the robotic lander known as Odysseus - nicknamed Odie
-lifted off on February 15th and is expected to become the first
private spacecraft to land on the moon. It was built by Intuitive
Machines, a company based in Houston. The US has not touched the
surface of the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE, CNN)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the Tri-Town Radio Amateur Club, W9VT, in Homewood Illinois, as part of
the Wednesday Net at 8 p.m. local time.

**
SKYWARN NEEDS TRAINED SPOTTERS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Looking for a way to get ready for hurricane season?
Randy Sly W4XJ is here to give us one option.

RANDY: We're approaching that time of year when the National Weather
Service begins SKYWARN spotter training in the US for the start of
hurricanes and other storms of spring and summer. Lloyd Colston, KC5FM,
told Newsline that in his area of the United States, Wichita, Kansas as
well as the Norman and Tulsa, Oklahoma weather forecast offices have
already announced their upcoming classes. He said preparation is an
important and serious undertaking.

LLOYD: "You can be aware or you can be scared. The National Weather
Service offers training locally and virtually so you can be aware."

RANDY: Christopher Strong, warning coordination meteorologist for the Baltimore/Washington DC Weather Forecast Office told Amateur Radio
Newsline that hams can play a big part in being [quote] "weather aware,
by knowing what threats are possible." Amateur radio operators not only
need to keep our equipment ready to go but also keep our training up to
date.

You can attend spotter training online or find out about classes in
your area by visiting Weather.gov, then locate your local office by
entering your zip code in the search box. When you find your local
office, look for the Skywarn link.

This is Randy Sly, W4XJ

**
AWARD HONORS THE OPEN INNOVATIVE SPIRIT OF HAM RADIO

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The window is closing to submit names of candidates for
an award that honors the open, innovative spirit of ham radio. Sel
Embee KB3 T ZED D tells us how to apply.

SEL: Now in its fifth year, the Amateur Radio Software Award recognizes
the contributions that free, open source software has made to enhance
the experience of ham radio. The international award's judges are now
in search of this year's recipient from anywhere in the world.

Last year's winner was Stephen Loomis, N0TTL, whose development of
GridTracker has helped hams simplify the tracking of contacts by
visualizing radio traffic on such modes as FT8. Earlier winners were
David Rowe, VK5DGR, for his Codec 2 project, which gives digital voice communications access to other software and hardware projects without
the need for licensing, fees and other concerns. Jordan Sherer, KN4CRD,
and his project, JS8Call, won the award in 2021 and the first award
recipient was Anthony Good, K3NG, for the K3NG Arduino CW Keyer.

In addition to receiving the award, winners are also celebrated later
in the year with a special event station calling attention to the
innovative spirit they represent. For details, visit a r s award dot
com. Deadline is the 29th of February.

This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.

(ARSAWARD.COM)

**
DX CENTURY CLUB AWARD HONORS THE ELMERS BEHIND THE CHASERS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Behind every achievement of a young DX chaser, there is
at least one mentor who has cheered them on with moral support and
technical guidance. Working quietly behind the scenes, these seasoned
hams become big achievers too. Now these Elmers are getting a moment in
the sun as well, as we hear from Newsline's newest correspondent,
Travis Lisk N3ILS.

TRAVIS: The DX Century Club award is a top amateur radio honor that
recognizes hams who have confirmed contacts with 100 entities. Now
those hams who have guided younger achievers on their journey to DXCC
are in line for a top award themselves. A team of DX organizations is
preparing to give a mentor recognition award this May at the annual DX
Dinner, which coincides with Hamvention in Xenia.

To qualify for the award, mentors must have assisted a DX chaser who is
under the age of 30. Applicants will be reviewed by a judging committee
made up of representatives from the Southwest Ohio DX Association, the
Northern California DX Foundation and the International DX Association.

For an application form, send an email to thedxmentor at gmail dot com (thedxmentor@gmail.com)

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(425 DX BULLETIN, SWODXA)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, listen for the Intrepid DX Group's DXpedition to
Pigeon Island, IOTA Number OC-065, from the 22nd of February to the 7th
of March. The team will be operating CW, SSB and FT8 in fox and hound
mode on 160 through 6 metres. There will be as many as six stations operational. Watch the team's Facebook page for updates. See QRZ.com
for QSL details.

You have until the 26th of February to work Chuck, KC4KQE, who is on
the air as TF/KC4KQE from Iceland. He is operating SSB and FT8,
activating several POTA and SOTA locations during daylight hours. See
QRZ.com for QSL details.

Timo, OH1NA, will be operating holiday style as 3B8/OH1NA from
Mauritius, IOTA Number AF-049, from the 25th of February to the 7th of
March. He will operate CW, SSB, FT8 and FT4. See QRZ.com for QSL
details.

Listen for Nobby, G0VJG, operating holiday style as 5H3VJG from
Zanzibar Island, IOTA Number AF-032, Tanzania from the 7th to the 20th
of March. He will be using mainly SSB with some CW and FT8. He is
expecting to operate in the RSGB Commonwealth Contest on the 9th and
10th of March. See QRZ. com for QSL details.

**
KICKER: NETS OF NOTE: THE PUN-IN-LIFE NET

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We end this week's report by putting the spotlight on a
new net as part of our occasional series "Nets of Note." Newsline
visits this week with a startup net for hams who take radio seriously
enough to know there's also a time for laughter. As Ralph Squillace
KK6ITB tells us, this is no joke - or....is it?

RALPH: The multi-mode digital network known as the QuadNet Array
doesn't just unite fans of D-STAR, DMR and C4FM Fusion. Starting next
month, a new mode will be added to the mix once a week: Pun Mode. Pun
Mode is neither digital nor analogue and it's not the exclusive
practice of ham radio operators. Hams who have a reputation for
groan-inducing wordplay now have a refuge in which to practice their
craft. The Pun in Life Net is starting up on the QuadNet array
beginning on Saturday the 2nd of March at 4 p.m. Eastern Time, 1 p.m.
Pacific Time. The net control and punster-in-chief is Daryl Stout,
N5VLZ, a past participant in the World Championship Pun-Off held every
May at the O. Henry Museum in Austin Texas. Humor must conform to
on-the-air standards of decency -- and because this is a digital mode,
the only QRM you are likely to hear are the loud groans from
everyoneelse.

Visit the website openquad dot net (openquad.net) to check it out
before you check in. Daryl is hoping for a big enough crowd to make
this a pun-in-a-million experience.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(DARYL STOUT, N5VLZ)

**
DO YOU HAIKU?

Don't forget the Amateur Radio Newsline haiku challenge. If you're not
too busy tuning your antennas or chasing the latest DXpedition, pick up
a pencil and share your experience by sending an original haiku to us
here at Newsline. Use the entry form on our website, arnewsline.org and
please follow the rules for writing your three-line haiku -- sorry but
we cannot accept any entries that aren't written in traditional
haikuform.

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to the Amateur Radio Software Award; AMSAT
News Service; Australian Communications and Media Authority; Amateur
Radio Daily; ARRL; CQ Magazine; CNN; David Behar K7DB; DXWorld;
425DXNews; NY Times; Ofcom; QRZ.com; RadioWorld; shortwaveradio.de;
Southwest Ohio DX Association; West Bengal Radio Club; Wireless
Institute of Australia; Worldwide DX; 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 2024. All rights reserved.

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