SILENT KEY: CONTESTER, WRTC 2022 REFEREE RICHARD KING, K5NA

NEIL/ANCHOR: The World Radiosport Team Championship is going forward this summer in Bologna without one of its key referees, who has become a
Silent Key. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, tells us about him.

GRAHAM: The World Radiosport Team Championship Committee is grieving the
loss of a fellow contester and avid DXer from Texas, Richard King, K5NA. Richard had been chosen to be a referee for the WRTC 2022 event in
Bologna in July.

According to a report on the Daily DX, Richard was electrocuted on April
12th while he was assisting another ham taking down a 40-meter antenna.
The report goes on to say: [quote] "Richard jumped in at the last minute
to try and keep the antenna from getting snagged on a guy wire. The
antenna hit a nearby powerline." [endquote] Two nurses who live in the neighborhood began CPR until emergency services could arrive but Richard
died shortly thereafter. He and his wife Susan, K5DU, are well-known as serious contesters and DXers.

WRTC 2022 organisers issued a statement saying "Richard's contributions
to the sport of amateur radio will not be forgotten and his legacy will continue to inspire and guide us in the years to come." Richard belonged
to the Central Texas DX and Contest Club.

This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

**

WRTC CHAMPIONS WITHDRAW FROM COMPETITION

NEIL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, the defending championship team from Lithuania
has announced that they will not defend their title when the World
Radiosport Team Championship goes forward in July.

The international high-profile contest was postponed from last year
because of the pandemic.

The withdrawal announcement by defending championship team members
Gedimas, LY9A, and Mindaugas, LY4L, was posted on the WRTC 2022
Reflector, citing a number of frustrations and deeper differences with
the organisers that they said will be keeping them at home.

(WRTC 2022 REFLECTOR, WRTC WEBSITE)

**

NEW COURSE IN 'LEARNING HOW TO LEARN' CW

NEIL/ANCHOR: A free course in Comprehensive Instant Character Recognition
is being offered by CW Innovations with the goal of helping active CW operators learn ways to increase their proficiency. The 10-week classes
focus on teaching operators how to help themselves learn Morse Code, addressing the mental and emotional roadblocks that have typically halted learners' progress. The class is designed for hams who can currently copy
10 to 15 words per minute, and are already actively on the air having
QSOs. Visit cwinnovations.net for details. The website includes an
application form.

(CWINNOVATIONS.NET)

**

GRANT ALLOWS YOUTH ON THE AIR AMERICAS CAMP TO EXPAND

NEIL/ANCHOR: What's better than having one great summer camp experience
on the air? Having more of it, of course! That's about to become
possible, as we hear from Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

KEVIN: Just as young amateurs prepare for this summer's Youth on the Air Americas camp in Canada, camp organizers themselves learned that their
summer experience for young hams has received a $125,000 grant from
Amateur Radio Digital Communications. The funds now assure that the camp experience will continue through 2025 and that each session will become
open to more campers than before. The current threshold of 30 will
increase to 50 in the two years ahead. So pack your bags if you're going
this year: Camp starts on July 16th. And if you want to learn more or
plan ahead for next summer, visit youthontheair.org

This is Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

(ARDC, YOUTH ON THE AIR CAMP)

**

SCIENTIST TEAM EYES EARLIER MAXIMUM FOR SOLAR CYCLE 25

NEIL/ANCHOR: If you've been wishing for solar maximum to come sooner
rather than later in the current cycle, you might just get your wish, according to a group of solar physicists. Patrick Clark, K8TAC, has that story.

PATRICK: The end of this year - or sometime next year, could bring
maximum sunspot activity for Solar Cycle 25, according to Scott McIntosh
of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, in Boulder, Colorado and
a team of solar physicists. The team presents its findings in a paper in
the January edition of Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences.

In the paper, the solar scientists make use of a terminator event during
the previous cycle - sometime in mid-December 2021 - to project the
maxima of Solar Cycle 25 and to forecast the cycle's amplitude.

Although some might project differently for the future, this team
believes it's best to keep your eye on the skies during the fourth
quarter of 2023 and thereafter into the new year.

This is Patrick Clark, K8TAC.

(FRONTIERS IN ASTRONOMY AND SPACE SCIENCES)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

INDIAN RESEARCHERS DEVELOP MICRO-SUPERCAPACITOR

PAUL/ANCHOR: When it comes to super-capacitors, scientists in India are calling their new development the smallest-of-the-small. We hear about it
from Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

JASON: Scientists in India say that they have created the smallest micro- supercapacitor to date, developing it out of two-dimensional materials: graphene and molybdenum disulfide. This is considered significant because
as electronic devices continue to shrink - as is the case with wearable sensors and smart devices - their energy storage devices must be just as small. Supercapacitors are considered ideal for this task because they
not only store energy but can handle the kind of rapid charge-discharge
cycles beyond the ability of conventional chemical batteries.

Misra said that she and her colleagues used two-dimensional materials for
the ultramicro-supercapacitor because they are semiconductors. Each of
the multi-layer electrodes acts as a field-effect transistor.

She told the IEEE Spectrum that the tiny device has a remarkably high capacitance and an easy ability to integrate with electronic chips
because of its use of a gel electrolyte instead of a liquid.

The researchers are not stopping there, however. Their next challenge is
to create devices out of other two-dimensional materials in an attempt to boost capacitance even further.

This is Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(IEEE SPECTRUM)

**

SILENT KEY: CALGARY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATOR JASON LOW, VE6SRT

PAUL/ANCHOR: Hams in the amateur radio community - and the community-at-
large - in Calgary, Alberta, are grieving the loss of a devoted public servant. Here's Andy Morrison, K9AWM, to tell us about him.

ANDY: It is difficult for those who knew him to imagine the emergency communications community without Jason Low, VE6SRT, being there. Jason
had served Redwood Meadows Emergency Services in Calgary as a
firefighter, EMT and fire communications officer. Jason became a Silent
Key unexpectedly on April 15th.

According to the Redwood Meadows Emergency Services website, Jason could
not be revived despite the best efforts of his colleagues and emergency medical personnel. Chief Rob Evans wrote on the website that the team was "devastated."

According to Vince d'Eon, VE6LK, and Ian Burgess, VA6EMS, Jason - known
to everyone as Jay - worked tirelessly to ensure the quality of emergency communications and shared his expertise in radio as well as the computer dispatch system.

Ian told Newsline that Jay was a lifelong radio enthusiast who was
introduced early on to the hobby by his scanner. He later got his ham
license and used his skills to help communities in the Calgary area
connect to the fire department's dispatch.

Vince wrote in an email: [quote] "Jay was generous with his time and expertise, offering solutions across the province, the country, and the continent. There is no way to know how many people were safer and better
cared for thanks to Jason." [endquote]

Jay was 50.

This is Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

(VINCE D'EON, VE6LK; IAN BURGESS, VA6EMS)

**

SILENT KEY: STEVE SZABO, WB4OMM

PAUL/ANCHOR: Amateurs in the Florida community and beyond are mourning
the death of a leader and an Elmer whose deep involvement in ham radio
touched many lives over the years. We hear about him from Kevin Trotman,
N5PRE.

KEVIN: Well-known for his enthusiasm for QRP, Steve Szabo, WB4OMM, served
as a powerful influence on the many amateurs he knew personally or had
come to know on the air. Steve, a past president of the North American
QRP CW Club, became a Silent Key on April 23rd. He had been diagnosed
with lung cancer.

His involvement with amateurs ran deep throughout his years on the air.
He was a Life Member of the AARL, which he served as a volunteer examiner
and QSL card checker and he had been Northern Florida Section Manager for
four years. Steve also belonged to the Quarter Century Wireless
Association, and numerous local and national clubs, including the Dayton
Beach Amateur Radio Association, where he held numerous leadership roles. According to a post by Kevin, KK4BFN on QRZ.com, Steve started the
Daytona Beach CERT Amateur Radio Team Group in 2005 and served as its president until illness earlier this year compelled him to step down.

Steve was 70.

This is Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

(QRZ, WB4OMM WEBSITE, DIGNITY MEMORIAL)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the AH6LE repeater
in Beavercreek and Wilsonville, Oregon, on Sundays at 6 p.m. local time.
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

GRANT FUNDS STUDENT COURSE ON SPECTRUM AT OBSERVATORY

JIM/ANCHOR: The National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia, is offering a select group of young students an opportunity to
study the electromagnetic spectrum, as we hear from Sel Embee, KB3TZD.

SEL: Twenty science-minded students between the ages of 18 and 20 are
being given an opportunity to enroll in an intensive course about the electromagnetic spectrum being hosted by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia. This is the second year the observatory has conducted the course, which begins in September of this
year and runs through May of 2024. The program is being overseen by the observatory's director of Diversity & Inclusion and is funded by a grant
from Amateur Radio Digital Communications. A special effort is being made
to find enrollees who are Black, indigenous or people of color as well as students from the LGBTQIA community who wish to gain experience,
particularly as it applies to amateur radio and any future careers in
science, technology, engineering and math. Students accepted into the 40-
week program will receive a stipend of $4,000.

Lyndele von Schill, director of Diversity & Inclusion, can be reached for questions at her email address at lvonschi@nrao.edu

The observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation.

This is Sel Embee, KB3TZD.

(ARDC)

**

SILENT KEY: JOHN KNIPPING, AA9KC, OF THE 'FREEWHEELERS NET' ON 80M

JIM/ANCHOR: A founding member of a popular net that is a fixture on 80m
has become a Silent Key. We hear about him from Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

KEVIN: John Knipping, AA9KC, was one of the original "Freewheelers" on
3916 kHz. In November of 1998 he answered a call put out by Ken Odom,
W4FCW, on 3916 kHz and out of that early QSO bloomed a friendship and ultimately a popular net where everyone was welcome.

John became a Silent Key on April 29th at the age of 92.

According to his online obituary he was a Korean War veteran, a musician
and a member of the Egyptian Radio Club.

The tradition of easy camaraderie lives on, however: The net continues
making new friends and welcoming old ones every night on 80m, starting at
10 pm Eastern Time.

This is Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

(LEGACY.COM, 3916 FREEWHEELERS NET)

**

JOIN US AT THE NEWSLINE "TOWN HALL FORUM" IN DAYTON

JIM/ANCHOR: Just a reminder to our listeners that there's more to Amateur Radio Newsline this month than just this newscast. If you're going to
Xenia, Ohio for Hamvention, be sure to stop in Forum Room 2 on Friday, May 19th, starting at 11:35 a.m. local time. The popular Town Hall forum is
back after many years, and we have three guests. Riley Hollingsworth,
K4ZDH, will take questions about the ARRL Volunteer Monitor Program. IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, will discuss issues facing the IARU that
affect amateurs worldwide -- and Mark Smith, N6MTS, will take questions
about a proposal to standardize headset connectors for interoperability.
Come along and join us!

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard in bulletin stations around the world including the shortwave
broadcast station of shortwaveradio.de in Lower Saxony, Germany on 6160
kHz AM. The station's European summer schedule will be 07:00 to 17:00 UTC
on weekends, 15:00 to 17:00 UTC Monday to Friday. Broadcasts can also be
heard from 17:00 to 23:00 UTC daily on 3975 kHz AM.
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

DAVE KALTER MEMORIAL YOUTH DX ADVENTURE CANCELLED

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: This year's Dave Kalter Memorial Youth Adventure has been cancelled. Organizers at the Dayton Amateur Radio Association said there
was insufficient time for the kind of planning that would have allowed everyone to obtain their necessary passports. No other details were immediately available and there was no indication when the next trip would
be scheduled. This year's DX adventure was to have taken place in Curacao.

The annual trip, which has brought young amateurs to the Dutch Caribbean, Costa Rica and Curacao, is named in memory of Dave, KB8OCP, who became a Silent Key in November of 2013.

(DARA)

**

SILENT KEY: ARGENTINA'S PIONEERING YL, AZUCENA ALBARRACIN, LU9OY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A popular, lively voice in amateur radio in Argentina has become a Silent Key. We learn more about her from Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

GRAHAM: In the final year of her life Azucena Albarracin, LU9OY, was no
longer able to be on the air -- but until then, the 95-year-old was a well-known and well-recognised voice in her home country of Argentina, as
well as in Chile and Uruguay. She became a Silent Key on Thursday, the
13th of April at her home.

According to a news article in the YL Beam newsletter, she was an almost constant presence on the air during the last 50 years and many heard her exchanging greetings and information on 20 meters. Her introduction to
amateur radio came during the early 1960s and she embraced operating on
AM. She and another amateur Nelly Lopez, LU5OX, now a Silent Key, were considered pioneers in being the first women amateurs in the region. By
the time she retired as a teacher, she had become a major presence on
sideband where she was well-respected as an operator.

According to the news article, her 90th birthday was a great occasion inspiring amateurs who had worked her from DX locations to travel and
attend the celebration.

This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(YL BEAM)

**

AMSAT PRESIDENT'S CLUB RELEASES COMMEMORATIVE COIN

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: AMSAT supporters who are deepening their commitment to
amateur radio in space by joining the President's Club have a special commemorative coin that says "thank you." We hear more from Neil Rapp,
WB9VPG.

NEIL: The AMSAT President's Club has released its commemorative coins for 2023, with this year's coin marking the 40th anniversary of the launch of
the AMSAT OSCAR 10 satellite. The German amateur radio microsatellite took
to the sky from French Guiana aboard an Ariane 1 rocket on June 16th,
1983. According to the AMSAT-DL website, the star-shaped satellite had an elliptical orbit that made it possible for radio communications of several hours' duration to take place around the world.

Members of the AMSAT President's Club will be receiving the coin along
with other recognition, including mention in the AMSAT Journal. The President's Club is an annual membership organization and each year'S
2-inch metal coin honors a different OSCAR satellite.

Visit amsat.org and look for details about the President's Club.

This is Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)

**

NETS OF NOTE: APRS THURSDAY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: This week, in our occasional series, Nets of Note,
Newsline takes a look at one net that provides an opportunity for all
licensed hams anywhere in the world to learn more about APRS. Patrick
Clark, K8TAC, has that story.

PATRICK: For one very enthusiastic group of amateurs worldwide, every
Thursday is net day. Check-in time on that day between 0000 and 2359 UTC
and ensures that every amateur will receive all APRS net traffic from any stations checking in during the 24-hour period that follows their own check-in.

Organizers call it APRS Thursday, and it's been going strong since
December of last year. The net is conducted over the Announcement server service of KJ4ERJ, and it is managed by Michael, KC8OWL, and Angelo DU2XXR/N2RAC. Angelo, in the Philippines, is also the net manager of a separate net, known as the APRSPH net.

Both Michael and Angelo hope that the Thursday check-ins will increase familiarity with APRS for hams and grow this kind of message activity
around the world.

If you're curious about APRS or want to learn more, you can email Michael
at kc8owl@yahoo.com

This is Patrick Clark, K8TAC.

(APRS NET)

**

NOMINATE NEXT 'YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR'

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The deadline is coming up fast for a chance to nominate
your choice for Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak Young Ham of the
Year award. Candidates must reside in the continental United States and be
a licensed ham 18 years of age or younger. We are looking for someone who
has talent, promise and a commitment to the spirit of ham radio. Find application forms on our website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab. Nominations close on May 31st.
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

BILL REINTRODUCED TO PROPOSE HF DIGITAL CHANGES

DON/ANCHOR: In the United States, an Arizona lawmaker has renewed hope
for changing what many consider outdated rules by the FCC for digital communications. Sel Embee, KB3TZD, has those details.

SEL: A bandwidth limit would replace symbol rate limit for HF digital operations under a bill known as the Amateur Radio Communications
Improvement Act. The bill was introduced on May 11 by Arizona
congresswoman Debbie Lesko, a Republican, and is similar to a bill she
had introduced last year, hoping to update rules by the FCC that focus on symbol rates. The bill, which is now in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, would set a bandwidth limit of 2.8 kHz instead. US advocates of
the bill, including the ARRL, have long argued that a bandwidth limit was necessary because of crowded conditions on the HF bands. They have been concerned that protocols might be developed in the future that would
possess wider bandwidth protocols than necessary.

The lawmaker said in a statement that updating the rules to accommodate
modern technology is especially important in times of natural disasters,
such as forest fires, floods and hurricanes, when messages need to be
sent and received efficiently. Faster protocols already accomplish this
in other countries.

This is Sel Embee, KB3TZD.

(ARRL, REP. DEBBIE LESKO)

**

FORMER FCC CHAIRMAN NEWTON MINOW DIES AT 97

DON/ANCHOR: Newton Minow, who had been appointed chairman of the Federal Communications Commission by President John F. Kennedy in the 1960s, has
died. The attorney, who was a vocal critic of the emerging content of broadcast television in the US, died Saturday, May 6th, at the age of 97.
He was also well-known as an advocate of the US space program. It was
during his tenure in 1962 that the world saw NASA's launch of Telstar 1,
the first communications satellite, developed by the American Telephone
and Telegraph Company, better known as AT&T.

(NPR)

**

POPULAR SATELLITE DECAYS FROM ORBIT

DON/ANCHOR: A popular ham radio satellite launched a little less than
eight years ago from China has left its orbit. Stephen Kinford, N8WB,
brings us that report.

STEPHEN: Satellite enthusiasts have one fewer satellite to rely on now.
The orbit has decayed for the popular linear transponder satellite known
as XW-2A. The satellite was sent into space in September of 2015 from
China's Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The satellite does not leave
space without sharing a little bit of glory: In August of 2022, two
amateurs used XW-2A to achieve communication over a record distance for
the 25 kg microsat. It was a transatlantic QSO between EA4NF in Spain and VE1CWJ in Nova Scotia, a memorable distance of 4,751 km.

This is Stephen Kinford, N8WB.

(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE, CAMSAT)

**

HAMS, START YOUR ENGINES FOR THE BIG RACE

DON/ANCHOR: Hams, start your engines. A big race - and a big special
event station - is getting under way in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jack
Parker, W8ISH, has the details.

JACK: Now that the dust has settled from the Indy Grand Prix race,
members of the W9IMS Special Event Station are gearing up for another
week of logging contacts leading up to the 107th running of the
Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, beginning May 22nd.

This is the 20th year for the W9IMS team to reach out and let ham radio operators be a part of the racing season in Indianapolis. For two
decades, they have logged over fifteen thousand contacts a year for the
three race series at Indy. That is a lot of QSL cards.

Check the W9IMS page at QSL.com for more information.

Reporting from Indianapolis, this is Jack Parker, W8ISH.

**

TRY NEWSLINE'S HAIKU CHALLENGE

DON/ANCHOR: If a great QSO feels like poetry to you, you might enjoy this
new challenge from Amateur Radio Newsline. We're inviting listeners to
channel their most creative selves and share the joy of ham radio in the
form of a haiku. On our website, arnewsline.org, you will find a
submission form for sending your most inspired offering. All haikus must follow the traditional form to qualify: The first line is five syllables,
the second line is seven syllables and the finishing third line has
another five syllables.

Our team will pick from the best submissions that follow the 5/7/5
syllable rule and represent the love of amateur radio. Your prize? Glory,
of course! We will share our favorite haiku of the week on the Amateur
Radio Newsline website.

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the AH6LE repeater
on Sundays at 6 p.m. in Beavercreek and Wilsonville Oregon.
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

A SUCCESSFUL HAMVENTION 2023 IS IN THE LOG

NEIL/ANCHOR: This year's Dayton Hamvention was another success, with
several vendors returning after an absence along with some great weather.
The rain was mostly overnight on Friday and caused minimal disruptions.
The main buzz was about 2 new handheld radios being announced, one from
ICOM America and another from JVC/Kenwood who returned to Hamvention after being absent since the start of the pandemic.

2023 Hamvention Amateur of the Year Carsten Dauer, DM9EE, received a
standing ovation in front of a large crowd attending his forum about his
work to house evacuated Ukrainian family members as well as shipping
donated radio gear, power banks, solar panels, and first aid kits for use
to assist operators despite the partial Russian invasion.

Steve Morgan, W4NHO, was recognized with the Spirit of Amateur Radio award
for his work in coordinating disaster relief communications during the
recent Eastern Kentucky flooding. The Voice of America Museum in nearby
West Chester, Ohio, had expanded hours during Hamvention and reported
record attendance of nearly 400 visitors.

The youth socials at the YOTA booth were standing room only. And, many
hams were greeted by the first known live duck to attend Hamvention,
Mochi, accompanied by Junie, N1DUC, who was promoting her new YouTube
channel, and educating people about domesticated ducks.

Finally, 2023 marked the return of our own Newsline Town Hall. Attendees
heard international updates from Tim Ellam, VE6SH, the president of IARU. Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, returned to the town hall to talk about the
ARRL Volunteer Monitoring program, while Mark Smith, N6MTS, proposed a new open headset interconnect standard to assist with group activities and
EMCOMM.

**

US AUTOMAKER WON'T ELIMINATE AM RADIO IN NEW CARS

NEIL/ANCHOR: AM radio isn't quite dead yet among those selling cars in the
US. One carmaker has shifted gears into reverse - literally. Here's Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, with an update.

KENT: In the United States, the Ford Motor Company has reversed an earlier decision to eliminate AM radios in its new cars, trucks and SUVs. The carmaker's announcement was made on Tuesday, May 23rd, on the heels of a bipartisan bill introduced in Washington, D.C., pressing for AM broadcast radio's retention as a public safety measure.

Ford CEO Jim Farley announced on social media that the reversal comes came after discussions with government policy leaders who believe the
elimination of AM broadcast radio in vehicles will cut motorists off from essential emergency alerts transmitted on those frequencies.

The CEO wrote on Twitter that all 2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles would
include AM radio. He added: [quote] "For any owners of Ford's EVs without
AM broadcast capability, we'll offer a software update." [endquote] The
update would restore AM functionality.

The US Federal Communications Commission has also thrown its support
behind the proposed legislation that seeks to halt the trend toward automakers' removal of AM broadcast in US vehicles. The bill, introduced
May 17th, is known as the "AM for Every Vehicle Act." The FCC cannot
regulate what automakers do, but was nonetheless vocal about the value AM radio has to motorists who may need to receive emergency alerts while on
the road.

Other manufacturers, including Volvo, Tesla and BMW, have indicated they
were dropping AM radio from their new electric cars because of
interference between the vehicles' electrical operating systems and the AM broadcast band. The Associated Press did not immediately receive comment
from the other carmakers.

The bill's opponents, including The Alliance for Automotive Innovation,
which represents US automakers, called the AM radio proposal unnecessary.
They said that the US warning system, operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, can also deliver safety warnings by other means, such
as FM broadcast, satellite and cellular networks.

This is Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

(ASSOCIATED PRESS, HOUSE.GOV, INSIDE RADIO, VARIETY)

**

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION RANGE EXPANDS IN SOUTH CAROLINA

NEIL/ANCHOR: Emergency preparedness got a needed boost in South Carolina
and Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, has those details.

KEVIN: Dorchester County, South Carolina is getting ready for hurricane
season on the ground and in the air. High atop a 226-foot tower, members
of the county's emergency management office have been installing an
antenna system that will allow the county's amateur radio response team a wider communication range with first responders during emergencies. The
hams are members of DART, or the Dorchester Amateur Radio Team.

County officials told the local CBS TV station that the installation is designed to close a communications gap between Columbia and as far away as Charleston, South Carolina - a need that became apparent after Hurricane
Ian struck the region last autumn. As storm season approaches again, the emergency management office is supplementing this antenna work high in the
air by taking on some serious training on the ground. Emergency officials
will soon be teaching classes to help get more volunteers prepared for
their amateur radio technician license.

This is Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

(NEWS2)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

HAMS CLAIM DISTANCE RECORD FOR SATELLITE

JIM/ANCHOR: Two satellite enthusiasts recently logged a contact that they
claim has set a new record. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, brings us more.

NEIL: Two satellite enthusiasts are claiming a new QSO distance record
with the SO-50 satellite in a May 24th contact that covered 5,584 km -
the distance between Michigan and Northern Ireland.

Joe, KE9AJ, notes on his QRZ.com page that he has long had a particular enthusiasm for extreme distance satellite QSOs. He and George, M0ILE,
were able to log one another, and claim bragging rights to having beaten
the previous record by 61 km. That record was set in 2018 by Jerome,
F4DXV, and Scott, N1AIA, between France and Maine.

This is Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

(AMATEUR RADIO DAILY, AMSAT)

**

SILENT KEY: HALL OF FAME MEMBER, CONTESTER, CHIP MARGELLI, K7JA

JIM/ANCHOR: The amateur radio community has been shaken by the loss of
someone who was a familiar face, a familiar voice, and a friend to
many -- including those of us at Amateur Radio Newsline. Chip Margelli,
K7JA, has become a Silent Key. We hear more about him from Don Wilbanks,
AE5DW.

DON: Chip Margelli, K7JA, was many things to many of us: A top-notch
contester in numerous ARRL and CQ magazine competitions; a Silver
Medalist at the 1990 World Radiosport Team Championship; and a polished operator of CW, who was admitted into the First-Class CW Operators' Club.
Chip, who became a Silent Key on May 25th, even achieved national
notoriety outside the amateur radio community, when he appeared on a US
late night talk show, with TV host Jay Leno 2005, in an on-screen rivalry
that pitted his CW proficiency against the speed of the US champion in
fast cell phone text-messaging.

A recipient of the E.T. Krenkel Medal in 2021, Chip was also listed in
the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. Over the years, he worked for such
companies as Yaesu USA, Heil Sound, Ham Radio Outlet, and for CQ magazine.
He was a personal friend to many of us at Amateur Radio Newsline. Chip
was present in 1986 with Newsline cofounder, and treasured friend, the
late Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the first ceremony introducing the Young
Ham of the Year Award, and at subsequent ceremonies at the Huntsville
Hamfest.

Rest well, Chip. You leave many grieving friends behind.

This is Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.

**

RADIO SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN SEEKS EDITOR

JIM/ANCHOR: If you are a member of the Radio Society of Great Britain,
and have strong skills in writing and editing - plus technical knowledge relevant to electronics and amateur radio - this job might just suit you. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has the details.

JEREMY: Lee Aldridge, G4EJB, the editor of RadCom Basics, has announced
his retirement later this year, and the RSGB is seeking a replacement.
RadCom basics publishes material focusing on new amateurs, and those who
want to develop greater skills in the fundamentals. A successful
applicant will assign articles, and work with authors in developing them,
and will be responsible for writing additional articles. There are also
editing responsibilities that include handling copy sent in by regular contributors and others.

The RadCom Basics editor reports to RadCom's managing editor. For details
about the job, including salary range being offered, send an email to
radcom at rsgb dot org dot uk. (radcom@rsgb.org.uk)

This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(RSGB)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the N5OZG repeater
of the Crescent City Amateur Radio Group in Metairie, Louisiana,
following the net on Sundays at 8 p.m.
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

SILENT KEY: JERRY OWENS, W3GHO, VOICE OF W. PENNSYLVANIA NETS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A popular and active voice on the air has gone silent in western Pennsylvania. We hear about him from Randy Sly, W4XJ.

RANDY: A final call went out on Friday, June 2nd, during the Western Pennsylvania Phone Traffic Net for Jerry Owens, W3GHO. It was followed by
a moment of silence. Jerry, a popular longtime presence on many area
nets, became a Silent Key on the morning of Wednesday, May 31st, in
Corry, Pennsylvania.

His enthusiasm and active participation in nets and other activities left their marks everywhere in the region. A licensed ham for 67 years, Jerry
was a member of the Union City Amateur Radio Club and served as net
control station for the Army Military Auxiliary Radio System. He was also active in the National Traffic System, handling Radiogram traffic for the daily Western Pennsylvania Phone Traffic Net on 80 meters.

To those who knew him - or even knew OF him - Jerry was the voice of
Corry, Pennsylvania, serving as the official snow measurer for that city
for the National Weather Service Office in Cleveland, Ohio, just on the
other side of the border between the two states. Weather stories in
newspapers and on TV would often quote his snow statistics.

Jerry had also been deputy radio officer and a net control station representing Erie County, Pennsylvania, in the Western Pennsylvania PEMA
ACS RACES Net. His other net control duties included the Western
Pennsylvania Health and Wellness Net on weekdays and the Western
Pennsylvania ARES net on Saturdays.

In 1960, he joined the Old Buzzards Amateur Radio Club and was net
control for them on Monday mornings on 80 meters.

His friend, Eddie Misiewicz, KB3YRU, who gave the final call, speaks for
many when he told Newsline [quote] "I will miss him greatly." [endquote]

An Ohio native, Jerry was 85 years old.

This is Randy Sly W4XJ.

(EDDIE MISIEWICZ, KB3YRU)

**

CENTRAL STATES VHF SOCIETY CONFERENCE RETURNS TO ARKANSAS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The Central States VHF Society is bringing its annual conference back to Arkansas, where it was held more than two decades ago. Here's Andy Morrison, K9AWM, with that story.

ANDY: Much has changed since the Central States VHF Society last held one
of its annual conferences in Arkansas. That was in 1997, a year in which
tube amplifiers with high-voltage power supplies were still widely used.
It was also before the advent of the WSJT suite of software - or even computers in the shack.

After years of being in other locations, the conference returns to
Arkansas next month. The 55th annual conference meets in Little Rock, and
the agenda, including the technical presentations, will reflect the
changing landscape of VHF operation during the past 26 years.

Organizers are encouraging hams to bring their families with them and has scheduled a variety of family-oriented activities on July 27th, 28th and
29th, even as the board meeting, the business meeting and other VHF-
sessions take place.

Visit the website that appears in the text version of this week's
newscast for information on how to register. The roster of attendees is growing every day.

[for PRINT ONLY: http://2023.csvhfs.org]

This is Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

(AMATEUR RADIO DAILY, CENTRAL STATES VHF SOCIETY)

**

ARRL JOINS PROGRAM TO ENHANCE NATIONAL SAFETY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The ARRL has joined a program designed to help in the emergency response during a national crisis. Sel Embee, KB 3 T Zed Dee,
has more.

SEL: Created in 2018 to enhance security and emergency communications in
the United States, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
has welcomed the American Radio Relay League, the ARRL, into its SAFECOM program. The ARRL's involvement ensures that amateur radio will flourish
as a strong presence in the nation's response in times of crisis. Josh Johnston, K-E-5-M-H-V, the ARRL's director of emergency management, said
on the ARRL website that amateur radio's resources will gain even more interoperability with emergency responders and will have a voice in the development of a more comprehensive blueprint for keeping the nation safe
and its communications intact. That includes enhancing the connections
between emergency responders and helping build out the network for the
future.

In making its announcement on Friday, June 2nd, the ARRL said it expects
its new role to bring increased involvement for such groups as ARES, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, and other ARRL emergency programs.

This is Sel Embee, K-B-3-T-Zed-D.

(CISA, ARRL)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

SATELLITE QSOS TO FLY HIGH FOR FIELD DAY

PAUL/ANCHOR: In the US and Canada, almost everyone is getting ready for
Field Day - and that includes satellite enthusiasts. We hear about their
plans from Sel Embee, KB3TZD.

SEL: In case you've been wondering, Field Day is for the birds! Once
again, just as the ARRL sponsors the 23-hour exercise known as Field Day
for hams throughout the US and Canada, AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, takes this test of emergency communications to the skies.
For satellite users, this will be a 27-hour period between 1800 UTC on Saturday the 24th of June through to 2100 UTC on Sunday the 25th.

Satellite users are advised to check the AMSAT status page for what will
be available. AMSAT has said there will be more than 10 transponders and repeaters available during that weekend. FM voice satellites will include SO-50, AO-91, PO-101, the International Space Station and possibly
LilacSat for those in search of bonus points. Ops are advised to be aware
of congestion on FM low earth orbit satellites. The rules set a limit of
one QSO per FM satellite, including the ISS.

The exchange is the traditional ARRL Field Day Exchange.

This is Sel Embee, KB3TZD.

(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)

**

NEWSLINE'S NEIL RAPP WB9VPG RECEIVES YASME EXCELLENCE AWARD

PAUL/ANCHOR: Newsline is always pleased to share news of radio amateurs
who have received recognition for their contributions to the community.
But we are never more proud than when one of those being honored is a
member of our own team. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, an anchor and correspondent
for Newsline, has received the Yasme Excellence Award from the Yasme Foundation for his years of work with the next generation of ham radio operators. Neil provided the initial radio club sponsorship for the
Region 2 YOTA camps, which he now serves as manager, providing
administrative assistance for the camps as a nonprofit. He has also
served as manager of Hamvention's Ham Radio 2.0 showcase. The foundation
board of directors issued a statement saying that "recruiting young
operators is key to the survival of amateur radio and his tireless
efforts are appreciated." [endquote] The award consists of an engraved
crystal globe and a cash grant of $500. Neil, we here at Newsline can
only add our own congratulations and sincere appreciation for all that
you do.

(YASME FOUNDATION)

**

HAM RADIO HELPS IN DRAMATIC RESCUE IN IDAHO

PAUL/ANCHOR: In Idaho, amateur radio played a role in the dramatic rescue
of an 80-year-old man in a rocky wilderness region. Dave Parks, WB8ODF,
has the details.

DAVE: Members of Scout Troop 77 from Eagle, Idaho were well-prepared for
their canoeing trip into Hells Canyon just a few weeks ago and took along
a few hand-held radios, a satellite communications device and a ham
radio. They were soon to encounter another adventurer, an 80-year-old
retired judge who had at one time been a Scoutmaster in his home state of Oregon, which borders the canyon. This man was not so prepared: He had
lost his balance while taking photographs in the region and fell 60 feet
down a rocky riverbank on the Snake River, sustaining serious injuries to
his neck, back, ankle and lower leg.

The Scouts were canoeing when they were flagged down by a woman who heard
the calls for help from the man, Eric Valentine, who was in serious pain. Henry Cavanagh, KJ7QJU, used his radio to contact the adults who were
with the other Scouts. Henry's father, Brian, KJ7QJT, an assistant
Scoutmaster and a wilderness first-responder, was among those arriving to
tend to the man. Others arrived and stabilized him while the assistant Scoutmaster reached out to emergency dispatch services from his satellite communicator. Members of the area utility, Idaho Power, were able to help
move the injured man by jet boat to a campground where a helicopter could safely land to transport him to a local hospital.

Returning home to Oregon late last month, Eric was recovering and already planning his next hike. He told the Baker City Herald website, however,
that he will no longer hike alone in Hells Canyon.

This is Dave Parks, WB8ODF.

(SCOUTING MAGAZINE, THE SEATTLE TIMES)

**

TRY NEWSLINE'S HAIKU CHALLENGE

PAUL/ANCHOR: Here's a homebrew challenge for you: Write your own ham
radio haiku! We're inviting listeners to channel their most creative
selves and share the joy of ham radio in the form of a haiku. On our
website, arnewsline.org, you will find a submission form for sending your
most poetic offering. Be sure you follow the traditional form to qualify:
The first line is five syllables, the second line is seven syllables and
the finishing third line has another five syllables. Be sure to follow
that form.

Our team will pick from the best submissions that follow the 5/7/5
syllable rule and represent the love of amateur radio. Your prize? Fame
and glory, of course -- and a featured spot for your haiku on the Amateur Radio Newsline website. Visit our website at arnewsline.org to see this
week's winning haiku.
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

13 COLONIES OPERATING EVENT MARKS 15th YEAR

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: It's a historic milestone for an on-air event that
celebrates America’s revolutionary past. Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz (Abram-o-vich) NT3V, has the story.

MARK: It's back and marking its 15th year on the ham bands.

It's the annual 13 Colonies Special Event, running this year from July 1
to July 7.

Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, is coordinator for WM3PEN, a special call sign
activated from the "Cradle of Liberty" in Philadelphia.

"It's a relatively easy event for many people to operate," Josuweit
explains. "It's making contact with one or more of the 13 special event stations in each of the 13 colonies."

"Plus, we've added over the years three bonus stations – WM3PEN in Philadelphia, GB13COL in England, and recently, TM13COL in France."

Josuweit says activity during the 13 Colonies Special Event has been
climbing rapidly in recent years, and there are some occasional pile-ups,
so you may need a little patience and persistence to get through.

"Last year we were well over a quarter million contacts for all the
stations combined," he recalls. "And, for WM3PEN, back in 2013 I believe,
it was we were just around 3,000 contacts. Last year, we were closer to 13,000."

There's a special certificate offered to operators working the event.
And each of the groups running stations in the original 13 colonies has special QSL cards tied to this year's theme surrounding the signers of
the Declaration of Independence.

"We'll be on all modes at different times, using HF and satellites. There
will even be some SSTV," Josuweit advises. "The best thing to do is watch
the various spotting networks such as DX Summit. There's a 13 Colonies Facebook page which people can monitor as well."

Josuweit says you don't have to be a contester to work the stations. He
says the operators at each station realize how much interest there is.
Many, Josuweit says, will be operating long hours, even on the Fourth of
July holiday, to make sure every station they can work gets into the log.

For a link to the group's website, go to the text version of this story, published on our website, arnewsline.org.

<PRINT ONLY: DO NOT READ: http://www.13colonies.us/>

I’m Mark Abramowicz, NT3V.

**

SATELLITE ENTHUSIASTS ENCOURAGED TO TAKE THE 'LEDSAT' CHALLENGE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The challenge is on - are you up to it? The European
Space Agency and S5Lab (pronounced: Ess Five Lab) are inviting hams
around the world to get involved in making a special contact through the digipeater of an educational CubeSat known as LEDSAT. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG,
tells us how to get involved.

NEIL: LEDSAT, an LED CubeSat developed by university students in Rome
with assistance from AMSAT Italia, was created primarily to demonstrate
an LED-based payload to be used with ground-based optical tracking.
Starting on June 26th and through to July 30th, it takes on a secondary purpose: It is part of a challenge to hams that will win them the prize
of a personalized QSL card designed just for this competition. Hams are
being asked to send a digital message via satellite to PI9ESA, the ground station of the ESA's Education Office. The CubeSat follows a sun-
synchronous orbit and its digipeater will be activated at certain times.
It has two communication windows, one around midday and one at midnight. Operators will be based at the ESA ground station to copy the messages.
Hams are encouraged to use their preferred pass-prediction software to
assist in the contact.

LEDSAT's digipeater has the ability to store and forward digital messages
with a delay of up to two days.

For details about frequencies being used and other procedures of the operation, visit the ESA website at esa dot int (esa.int) and search for LEDSAT.

The challenge was organized to celebrate the launch of LEDSAT in August
of 2021.

(EUROPEAN SPACE AGENY, S5LAB, AMSAT NEWS)

**

BUSINESSMAN AND ALMA MATER'S HAM CLUB SHARE A MILESTONE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The chief executive officer of iFixit, a business that provides toolkits and repair guides for do-it-yourselfers, distinguished himself on the California campus of his alma mater recently. Kyle Wiens [WEENS], who graduated from California Polytechnic State University, took
his ham radio license exam under the watchful eye of volunteer examiners
from the Cal Poly Amateur Radio Club, W6BHZ. He passed, becoming the
newest licensee - number 2,000, It was a different kind of graduation for Kyle, who founded his company with a friend in a campus dorm room in 2003 while he was still a student at Cal Poly.

Six years later - in 2009, the on-campus amateur radio club began
offering license exams for students and the public.

According to an article on the club's website, Kyle wasn't the only one
from iFixit to claim newfound status as a licensee. Several members of
the iFixit team were also there and passed - right along with the boss.

(W6BHZ.ORG, iFIXIT WEBSITE)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

HUNT A WRTC COMPETITOR AND COMPETE FOR AN AWARD

NEIL/ANCHOR: So you want to be part of the World Radiosport Team
Championship but you didn't qualify and you're not in Italy right
now? That's a small point, really, if you want to get in on the
action. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, explains.

GRAHAM: While amateur radio teams from all over the world compete
in the WRTC on July 8th and July 9th, hams from all over the world
can now compete right along with the competitors: Organisers have
announced the WRTC 2022 Competition Award - yes, it's still known
as WRTC 2022 because of the one-year COVID delay. Hams who have
had QSOs with competing stations in the championship can work
toward this award by getting on the air during the contest and
listening for the action. Organisers recommend that those seeking
the award submit their complete logs within six hours after the
contest ends, which will be at 1800 UTC on Sunday the 9th of July.

The WRTC 2022 Competition Award is the latest event created in
support of the championship. THE WRTC 2023 Award, offered earlier,
challenged radio operators to make contacts with special event
stations in 12 regions throughout Italy, all ending with the
suffix WRTC. There were also special event stations around the
world - most of them also ending with the suffix.

For more details about the Competition Award, visit wrtc2022 dot
it (wrtc2022.it) and look under the "NEWS" tab.

This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(WRTC)

**

FCC SETS APPLICATION WINDOW FOR LOW-POWER FM STATIONS

NEIL/ANCHOR: The FCC is getting ready to accept applications for
new low-power FM stations. Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, brings us up to
date.

KENT: As Newsline reported in February, the FCC has made room on
the spectrum for the operation of new, low-power FM broadcast
stations in the US. The agency has now announced that a filing
window for permit applications will be open between November 1st
and November 8th of this year.

The commission will accept proposals for frequencies anywhere in
the FM band, from Channel 201 to Channel 300. The last time the
FCC opened a filing window for low-power FM broadcast operation
was in 2013.

FCC data lists a little fewer than 2,000 such stations operating
in the US since the year 2000, when the FCC created the service
for 100-watt stations engaged in noncommercial educational
broadcasts. Commercial operations and individuals are ineligible
for operation of these stations.

When competing applications are filed, an auction may need to
occur before the allotments are decided.

The FCC will release filing procedures and other relevant details
later. Meanwhile, prospective applicants are encouraged to monitor
the Audio Division Web Page on the agency website.

This is Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

(FCC, RADIOWORLD)

**

SATELLITE ENTHUSIASTS REGISTER FOR CONVENTION IN INDIA

NEIL/ANCHOR: Satellite fans, get ready for a big weekend in India
devoted to your favorite subject. Registration has opened, as we
hear from Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

JIM: Registration has opened for satellite enthusiasts and other
amateurs planning to attend the OSCAR Convention in West Bengal,
India on September 23rd and 24th. The website is also accepting
registration for the radiosport portion of the weekend: a CW
contest and some fox-hunting activity.

The weekend theme is simple: "Get on the Air." OSCAR is an acronym
that stands for Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio.

While the full schedule is not yet posted, the organiser, OSCAR
India, has said the event planners are making special efforts to
support and encourage youth to get more involved in amateur radio.
Various licence exams will be offered at the venue. The programme
of presenters is expected to showcase the latest technologies and
assist attendees in broadening their knowledge of operating
techniques, antenna design, digital modes and signal propagation.

There will also be plenty of opportunity to socialize.

The OSCAR Convention is supported by Parks on the Air India and
Beaches on the Air India.

For details or to submit your registration, visit the website
address that appears in the text version of this week's newscast
at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: oc.beaham.in ]

This is Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(OSCAR INDIA, ARUNAVA DEY VU3XRY)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

CLIPPERTON ISLAND DXPEDITION TO INCLUDE SATELLITE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In case you've marked your calendar for January of next
year, hoping to make contact with the Clipperton Island DXpedition,
there's extra good news if you are a satellite enthusiast. Neil Rapp,
WB9VPG, explains.

NEIL: When members of the Perseverance DX Group call QRZ in January of
2024 from Clipperton Island, they'll have an extra way to make contact.
The team just announced that the TX5S DXpedition will include satellite operations. The team's satellite station manager, Andreas N6NU, reported
in a recent press release that the team hopes to use the IO-117 GreenCube satellite, which not only has a generous footprint over the island but
has passes that last more than an hour.

The uninhabited atoll in the eastern Pacific Ocean will be home for the
team for 16 days as they use SSB, CW, RTTY and FT8. This is the 38th most wanted DX according to Clublog - and it is IOTA number NA-011.

This is Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

(AMSAT, CLIPPERTON ISLAND WEBSITE)

**

HONORS FOR FILM ABOUT HAM CLUB IN SCOTLAND

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: There's nothing like a good contest to bring out the
thrill of competition in some hams. In Scotland, however, one amateur
radio group is enjoying the status of being one of the top winners at -
of all things - a film festival. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, explains what
happened.

JEREMY: Hams in the Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society had the kind of
performance you might not see in a DX contest, a sprint or even in a QSO party. They were among the top winners at this year's Doric Film
Festival, an event that shines a light on filmmakers who celebrate Doric culture and language in their work. The five-minute production is
colorful, lively and entirely in the Doric language. Interestingly
enough, this is not the radio society's first appearance in a film. A 12 -minute film, "Hams," was released in 1961 and is available for viewing
online in the Moving Image Archives of the National Library of Scotland.
That film, however, is in black and white - and in English.

Doric, once the official language of Scotland, is still widely spoken in
the country's Northeast. The festival's winning films were screened last
month at the awards ceremony on the campus of Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.

The stars of the radio society's film are, of course, the many operators
in the club and they are seen sending Morse Code and talking to the International Space Station. There is even a cameo appearance by a pig.
Of course, you'll have to watch the film on YouTube to understand why.
See the link to the society's film in the text version of this week's
Newsline script at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN5v8xkHIXo ]

This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(DORIC FILM FESTIVAL, NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND, ABERDEEN AMATEUR
RADIO SOCIETY)

**

RADIO AMATEUR CHOSEN AMONG ENGINEERING'S "WOMEN OF INFLUENCE"

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A prominent West Coast business journal has named an
active California YL among those who have left an impact on modern-day engineering. We get those details from Jack Parker, W8ISH.

JACK: A third generation amateur radio operator, inspired by her father
and her grandfather, has been selected for inclusion in the San Diego, California, Business Journal's list of Women of Influence in Engineering.

Michelle Thompson, W5NYV, a licensed ham for 25 years, belongs to the
FCC's Technical Advisory Council and works on amateur satellite service regulatory reform. A Life Member of the ARRL, she is technical
specialist for the ARRL Field Organization's Southwestern Division.

She writes on her page on QRZ.com: [quote] "Amateur radio is why I
became an engineer and is the motivation for a large amount of the
volunteer work I do. I give back to ARRL, IEEE, DEFCON, and many other organizations." [endquote] In 2018 she and two cofounders created the nonprofit Open Research Institute. ORI conducts open source research and development for amateur radio and other areas and provides its findings
free.

This is Jack Parker, W8ISH.

(WIA, QRZ)

**

SILENT KEY: ASOKA DA SILVA, 4S5BAK, VHF NET'S 'WEATHERMAN'

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A well-respected amateur in Sri Lanka, and a familiar
voice on a popular evening net, has become a Silent Key. We hear about
him from Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

JASON: The Radio Society of Sri Lanka held a special tribute VHF Tribute
Net to honor Asoka da Silva, 4S5BAK, who became a Silent Key on the 26th
of June, two months after his 75th birthday. The retired banker, who rose
to prominence in the financial sector, was remembered by many who checked
in on VHF or via Echolink during the one-hour net. The net was recorded
by the society to present to Asoka's family as a gift.

A mainstay of the daily 9 p.m. net for the past three years, Asoka was a familiar voice who would share with his fellow hams a thorough, well- researched weather report that many looked forward to hearing. His last check-in on the net took place on the 9th of April. According to the
radio society, even in the difficult final months of his life, Asoka was determined to upgrade the amateur radio licence he had first acquired following his retirement. Despite frequent hospitalizations, he
successfully sat the General and Advanced exams and qualified for that sought-after upgrade.

The VHF tribute net allowed hams from elsewhere, including the United
States, Canada and India, to check in with Victor Goonetilleke (goo-nuh- till-ecke) 4S7VK as net control. They shared memories of Asoka,
remembering him fondly as the net's "weatherman," and expressed their condolences to his family.

The radio society's own tribute online said [quote] "We have lost a dear friend, and his untimely departure leaves an immense void that will be difficult to fill." [endquote]

This is Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(RSSL, YOUTUBE)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

SCOUTING'S GIRLS, BOYS ON AIR FOR NATIONAL JAMBOREE

PAUL/ANCHOR: July is Scouting Jamboree month, and this year, it's for
girls as well as boys in the American section of the worldwide scouting organization, Bill Stearns, NE4RD, has that story for us.

BILL: National Jamboree is the largest outdoor educational event
organized by the Boy Scouts of America. Held every four years, the
Jamboree offers a program of educational and training events; high
adventure activities; tests of strength and endurance; entertainment,
and camaraderie with fellow Scouts from around the nation. The year 2023
will be the first National Jamboree to include ScoutsBSA female
participants. The Boy Scout program was renamed ScoutsBSA when female participants were welcomed in 2019.

The K2BSA Amateur Radio Association will be active from the National
Jamboree July 19th through the 28th. They will have a demonstration
station where Scouts can get on the air and radio merit badge classes throughout the event. The operation was funded by a grant from the ARDC
and powered by Icom America transceivers.

You can participate in this event by being the amateur on the other end
of the call. Help Scouts earn their contact cards and complete a
requirement for their merit badge. K2BSA will be active minimally from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time on 40m through 10m as conditions permit, on
D-STAR REF033A, and on Echolink on *JOTA-365*.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, and the K2BSA Amateur Radio Association,
this is Bill Stearns, NE4RD.

**

COAST-TO-COAST EVENT CELEBRATES RETIRED AIRCRAFT

PAUL/ANCHOR: From British Columbia in the west to Prince Edward Island
in the east, this could well be the biggest retirement party ever thanks
to a dedicated group of amateur radio and aviation enthusiasts. Sel
Embee, KB3TZD, tells us how to join the festivities.

SEL: It's likely that not many people know and love the RCAF CC115
Buffalo aircraft as much as Phill Tanner, VA7XOZ. An Air Force aircraft technician familiar with the inner workings of the Search and Rescue
planes, Phill has joined with a handful of other amateurs to prepare a
weekend of special QSOs, based in four different provinces, to mark the planes' retirement. The event is being called Buffalos on the Air. On
July 22nd, you can find Phill calling QRZ on the amateur bands as
VC7BUFF457 at Comox Heritage Park in British Columbia. Like the other
three operators, Phill will be inside one of the planes, using its
antenna and an amateur radio transceiver. Calvin Winter, VE4AJ, will
operate as VC4BUFF462 from the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
in Manitoba; Dave Ackerman, VE3UGT/VE3OX will sign as VC3BUFF456 at the National Air Force Museum of Canada in Ontario; and Doug Silliker,
VY2DS, will use the callsign VY2BUFF451 from Summerside Air Force
Heritage Park on Prince Edward Island. The hams will be operating CW,
SSB and FT8, most likely between 10m and 40m.

The hams will also try for a coast-to-coast 2-metre net between the four aircraft on July 22nd. Buffalos on the Air is also welcoming spectators
who live locally to attend the events at each of the activation sites.
The rest of the world is invited to make contact with the stations, and
those who have a QSO with more than one of the operators can request a certificate from Doug.

You can find additional details on the Facebook page for Buffalos on the
Air.

This is Sel Embee, KB3TZD.

(PHILLIP TANNER, VA7XOZ)

**

ROCKALL EXPEDITIONER RESCUED SAFELY

PAUL/ANCHOR: Scottish adventurer Cam Cameron is home safe. You may
recall that he was joined initially - and briefly - by two amateur radio operators on Rockall in the North Atlantic during his attempt to break
the 45-day record for a stay there, set in 2014. His other goal was to
raise money for charity. Cam's challenge came to an end in late June
after 32 days, after he was successfully rescued by coast guard and search-and-rescue personnel. He wrote on the expedition website that he
was [quote] "in pain, exhausted and hypothermic." However, he did meet
his other goal, and was grateful to have helped a number of charitable
causes.

(BBC.COM, ROCKALLEXPED.COM)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the
VK8MA repeater in Australia's Northern Territory, on Sundays at 7 p.m.
local time.
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

INDIA'S MOON LANDER MAKES SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH

JIM/ANCHOR: India is hoping to become the fourth nation to achieve a controlled moon landing and, at last reports, its spacecraft was well on
its way. John Williams, VK4JJW, has that report.

JOHN: The launch of the Chandrayaan-3 mission was a historic one for India, which is aiming to achieve a soft lunar landing after the previous mission
in 2019 failed. The Indian Space Research Organization declared its
trajectory a "precise orbit" shortly after its launch on Friday, the 14th
of July. The name of the spacecraft is Sanskrit for "moon craft." It is expected to live up to that name when it makes its intended arrival on the south pole of the lunar surface in late August.

This is John Williams, VK4JJW.

(CNN, ISRO)

**

ELECTRONICS SELLER, A FAVORITE OF HAMS, CLOSING DOORS

JIM/ANCHOR: Another much-loved source of electronics supplies for radio amateurs is about to join the growing list of companies shutting down. It's scheduled to happen next month. We have those details from Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.

RALPH: All Electronics in Van Nuys California, has provided at least two generations of hobbyists, radio amateurs and tinkerers with a variety of surplus electronics parts and manufacturers' overruns for their projects.
The legendary seller will be closing its doors in the next few weeks -
likely by the end of August. When All Electronics announced earlier this
year that it was calling it quits, the business had already scaled back its previous seven-day-a-week operation for walk-in customers, keeping its
doors open on weekdays only. The company notes on its website that its mail-order business has been brisk lately as the 56-year-old enterprise attempts to close out its warehouse in time for final shutdown.

This is Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.

(QRZ.COM, ALL ELECTRONICS)

**

HAMS TO PLAY ROLE IN WW2 DRILL RE-ENACTMENT

JIM/ANCHOR: To ensure they are prepared for emergencies and extreme
weather, many hams are accustomed to sharpening their responses through regularly scheduled drills. But the drill that's taking place next month in Mobile, Alabama is for a major event that actually happened more than 70
years ago: It was World War II. Jack Parker, W8ISH, fills in the details.

JACK: There will be a "Call to Battle Stations" sounded on Saturday, August 12th, and those aboard the battleship USS Alabama and submarine USS Drum
will be ready for what is to follow in Battleship Memorial Park. Vintage
enemy aircraft will do a flyover in a mock attack. The crew on board the
ships will fire the vessels' 20mm guns. Meanwhile, radio communications
will go forward with members of the Deep South Amateur Radio Club, also on board, calling QRZ on 20m and 40m. They will be using the club callsign
K4DSR, and the callsign K5LDA.

Unlike the radio amateurs, the crewmen are all re-enactors. Dressed in WWII-era Navy uniforms, they will conduct weapons briefings and
demonstrations while reliving some of the stories of that time. This is a Living History Crew Drill designed to show the public just how things were
in the heat of war so many years ago.

What the members of the Living History Crew share with the hams is that
they are all volunteers. They show that they appreciate the spirit of volunteerism and education by conducting these drills, to bring history to life again, a few times each year.

This is Jack Parker, W8ISH.

(WPMI, FACEBOOK, QRZ)

**

GRANT WILL UPGRADE AMATEUR STATION AT RADIO MUSEUM

JIM/ANCHOR: An infusion of money is helping an all-volunteer museum in New England upgrade its on-site ham radio station. Andy Morrison, K9AWM, tells
us what changes are in store.

ANDY: The Amateur Radio Club of the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum
of Connecticut is about to expand its reach with the help of a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications. The on-site club, which has the callsign, W1VCM, intends to add new antennas as well as earth-space
capability to its operations. The club plans to have a high-gain antenna system, a satellite transceiver and computer-controlled tracking giving
better access to QSOs through the International Space Station and several low-earth orbit amateur satellites.

Bob Allison, WB1GCM, president of the amateur radio club, said in a press release that the club's demonstrations of amateur radio have provided encouragement to visitors, some of whom decide they want to become hams
too.

This all adds up to a big plus for the museum as well, according to its director John Ellsworth. He said that the availability of a working radio station complements the museum's role in telling the story of
communication. The museum, which has showcased communications history for
33 years, is run entirely by volunteers, providing opportunities for
children to build crystal radio sets and attend other hands-on classes that bring history - as well as more modern-day technology - into their lives.

Bob told Newsline in an email: [quote] "The spirit of amateur radio is live and well at the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut."

This is Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

(BOB ALLISON, WB1GCM)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

RADIO OPERATOR NEEDED FOR INDIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: India's government is looking for a radio operator to join
the team at the country's research station in the Antarctic. If you like
cold weather, Graham Kemp, VK4BB, tells us what's involved.

GRAHAM: A qualified radio operator is among the many posts being advertised for the next Indian Antarctic Expedition with preference being given to Ham
or maritime radio operators. The National Centre for Polar and Ocean
Research has been interviewing candidates for a variety of contract
positions to work at its Antarctic research base beginning in November or December of this year. The research season ends sometime in 2025. Radio communication is considered an essential component of this 43rd expedition, which hopes to look at the ecosystem as well as satellite communication, ionospheric studies, stellar observations and climate change. The
government has been seeking a candidate proficient in English.

This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(NCPOR)

**

SUCCESSFUL ORBIT FOR CUBESATS BUILT IN PHILIPPINES

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Students in the Philippines are feeling proud that their
two ham radio cubesats have entered orbit. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, tells us about their mission.

JASON: Two amateur radio cubesats from the Philippines are now in orbit. Maya-5 and Maya-6 were built by university students with the goal of
helping the nation keep its momentum going on satellite development while using locally sourced materials.The primary mission of the cubesat pair is
to give the amateur radio community a digital message relay service through the Automatic Packet Reporting System, or APRS. The onboard APRS
digipeaters use the frequency of 145.825 MHz for transmitting as well as receiving. The cubesats are also demonstrating a data/message store-and- forward system compatible with Universal Amateur Radio Text and E-mail messaging.

The International Space Station released the cubesats on the 19th of July.

This is Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(AMSAT NEWS, STAMINA4SPACE)

**

CHURCHES AND CHAPELS ON THE AIR GETS FOOTHOLD IN US

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A popular ham radio activity that activates churches and chapels, mainly in the UK, is getting a foothold in the US. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, tells us more about it.

KEVIN: The amateur radio community and the church community in the UK have enjoyed a one-day convergence each September since 2006. That was the year
in which John G3XYF, suggested that CHOTA - Churches and Chapels on the Air
- could be as viable and important an activity as Lighthouses, Mills,
Islands, Summits, Railways and other "on the air" entities. The activity
began simply with his own church in East Yorkshire, where John operated
with the special callsign GB0LOW. CHOTA, which is organized by the World Association of Christian Radio Amateurs and Listeners, has since grown to include between 20 and 30 churches in the UK and, in some instances, a few churches in the Czech Republic and Germany.

This year's event is taking place on Saturday the 9th of September - and
just as CHOTA grew in the years following 2006, it leaps across the ocean
now to the Highlands Presbyterian Church in Mississippi where Frank Howell will be calling QRZ under his own callsign K4FMH. Other hams, using their
own calls as well, are expected to join him on the 16-acre church campus. Frank expects the event to feature stations for SSB, CW and FT8. There will also be VHF/UHF and satellite operations. Frank told Newsline in an email [quote] "This is a great fit for our church of about 1,100 members because
we seek to reach out to the community to bring them to our campus."
[endquote]

He said that a number of area clubs are involved as are some hams in the congregation. The church is so ham-friendly, in fact, that the
administrator and an administrative assistant are planning to take their technician license exam soon.

Frank has already received emails from other US churches inquiring about joining September's activation. Interested churches should email John and
let him know the name and location of the church and the callsign being
used. John's email appears in the text version of this week's newscast.

CHOTA is not a contest, but there are certificates for contacting the
stations - and there are rewards for just being part of this goodwill event that's now gone intercontinental.

This is Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

[DO NOT READ: John G3XYF email address: jhwresdell@gmail.com )

(JOHN WRESDELL G3XYF; FRANK HOWELL, K4FMH, WACRAL)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)