• Amateur Radio Newsline (C)

    From Daryl Stout@316:36/20 to All on Thu Mar 23 22:03:07 2023
    BREAK HERE:

    Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K2JJI repeater
    of the Tryon Amateur Radio Club, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary
    this year, in upstate New York. Newsline is heard Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.
    before the ARES/RACES net, and on Echolink node 845553, with a live audio
    feed on Broadcastify under K2JJI.

    **

    A VIRTUAL VISIT TO BOUVET ISLAND

    NEIL/ANCHOR: The Northern Illinois DX Association hosted the first presentation by a Three Y Zero Jay team member on what it was like to
    live on, and activate Bouvet Island. DXpeditioner Adrian, KO8SCA,
    provided a one-hour talk, complete with dramatic photographs, on the
    Zoom platform earlier this month. He described the team's 10-day effort
    to maintain a delicate balance of food and fuel supplies as they
    scheduled precious time to operate on the air - at first using CW and
    SSB and later FT8. They also kept an eye on storm systems. As Adrian
    told his viewers [quote] "Mother Nature is never doing things in your
    favor." [endquote] The DXpedition left the island on February 14th,
    after making more than 19,000 QSOs.

    Whether you worked Bouvet Island or not, you can still view Adrian's talk
    which is now available to everyone on YouTube on the Northern Illinois DX Association channel. You can also find a link to it through the Northern Illinois DX Association website at nidxa dot org (nidxa.org).

    (YOUTUBE, AMATEUR RADIO WEEKLY)

    **

    FOR YOUNG ACTIVATOR IN AUSTRALIA, A PEAK AT GLORY

    NEIL/ANCHOR: A very young amateur in Australia has completed a summit activation that he's likely never to forget. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, shares
    his victory with us.

    GRAHAM: First-time summit activator Emile, VK5WWW, has now earned one
    point in the SOTA awards scheme for each year of his life: The 10-year-old Australian amateur successfully activated Mount Wellington in Tasmania
    with an HT, and a lot of hope on Tuesday, March 21st, shortly before 9:30
    am local time.

    The summit is 1,270-metres, or 4,167 feet, high.

    Operating at VK5WWW/7, he logged six contacts in the Hobart area on 2m. One-half hour later, it was a done deal. Emile's first solo act was a
    success.

    His proud father, John, VK5HAA, who is also an activator, reported his
    son's SOTA success on the Australian SOTA activators' groups.io email
    list.

    Congratulations on reaching new heights, Emile. Good on ya!

    This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

    (GROUPS.IO)

    **

    WORLD OF DX

    In the World of DX, the Sable Island DXpedition CY0S is under way in Nova Scotia, Canada until the 30th of March and will include 2M EME operation. Operators will also use the HF bands plus 6 metres. Modes will include CW,
    SSB and FT8 in fox-hound mode. Contacts also count for Parks on the Air,
    for Park VE-0210, the ARLHS Lighthouse Award, for Lighthouse SAB-002, and
    IOTA for Island Number NA-063. QSL via WA4DAN.

    Listen for Miguel, CT1EBM, who is using the callsign CN2EBM from the 26th
    of March to the 9th of April during a 5,000-kilometre tour through Morocco.
    He is using SSB and FT8 on the HF bands. He will be operating via the
    QO-100 satellite on SSB. For details, see QRZ.com.

    Philippe FK4QX, Yves FK4RD and Michel FK8IK are using the callsign TX5L
    from Lifou Island, IOTA Number OC-033, in New Caledonia from the 27th
    through to the 31st of March. They are operating CW and SSB on 40-10 metres, QSL via F4FTV.

    Pista, HA5AO, will be on the air as 5X2I, on the shores of Lake Victoria
    in Uganda from the 24th of April to the 10th of May. He will operate CW,
    SSB, and FT8, in fox/hound mode on 40-10 metres. QSL request to OQRS, or
    send your card direct or via the bureau to HA5AO. The complete log will
    be uploaded to LoTW six months after the expedition.

    Be listening for Janusz, SP9FIH, who is operating as E51WEG and for Leszek, SP6CIK, operating as E51CIK from Rarotonga, IOTA number OC-013, in the
    South Cook Islands. They will be there from the 13th to the 28th of April, operating CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8 on 40-10 metres. QSL via Club Log's OQRS.

    (425 DX BULLETIN)
    --- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (316:36/20)
  • From Daryl Stout@316:36/20 to All on Fri Apr 14 12:45:48 2023
    AUTISM AWARENESS EVENT GOES GLOBAL

    PAUL: Special events are becoming more and more popular in our hobby.
    Often they’re organized by a club or group that is tied to a specific
    event or place. But in the case of one ham, James Gallo, KB2FMH, he
    simply found a cause that was important and created a global event to celebrate it.

    GALLO: I do a lot of special events, because I find them interesting. So
    we found Autism Awareness and I thought, "That's an interesting subject.
    A lot of people in our hobby have a position somewhere on the autistic spectrum in some way or another, and I know that from talking to people
    over the years. So we decided to make a special event for that."

    PAUL: Gallo started to plan the event, and then his girlfriend came up
    with a great idea:

    GALLO: "And then as I'm putting it together, my girlfriend, who's my muse
    in radio business, said, ''Why don't you invite other operators - you'll
    get a bunch of operators from around the country.'' And then I thought,
    "Well, it's considered 'World Autism Awareness Day', so let me reach out
    to a few friends globally that I've met over the years, and see if
    they're interested." And it started to grow.

    PAUL: And grow it did. The event was a big success, and drew in a large
    number of participants:

    GALLO: "I think we had 80-something volunteers across 26 states and 24 countries."

    PAUL: Gallo is planning on running the event again next year, so keep an
    eye out for an announcement if you wish to participate or even just
    chase. It's all for a good cause.

    This is Paul Braun, WD9GCO.

    **

    RSGB SEEKS TECHNICAL EDITOR FOR RADCOM MAGAZINE

    DON/ANCHOR: The Radio Society of Great Britain is looking to hire a new technical editor, as we hear from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

    JEREMY: RadCom, the magazine of the Radio Society of Great Britain, is
    saying goodbye to Matthew Smith, M0VWS, who is leaving his role as
    technical editor. The team is looking for a new technical editor with a
    strong background in electronics and the technical side of amateur radio.
    The ideal candidate should also be capable of writing and editing
    articles and working with authors from whom articles have been
    commissioned. The technical editor will also read and edit copy from contributors and columnists and assist volunteers with the RSGB Technical Forum. This is a salaried staff position.

    For a full description of other responsibilities visit rsgb.org/careers.

    Although there is an opportunity to occasionally work from home, the
    technical editor will be based at RSGB's headquarters which is near
    Bedford. For queries or to submit a CV, contact the managing editor
    Edward O'Neill at edward.oneill@rsgb.org.uk.

    This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

    (RSGB)

    **

    MARYLAND SCIENTIST HONORED FOR EMERGENCY PREP WORK

    DON/ANCHOR: A scientist and radio amateur in Howard County, Maryland, has
    been recognized for his many hours of helping others prepare for
    disaster. Sel Embee, KB3TZD, tells us more about him.

    SEL: Congratulations to Dan Wilt, WB6FLL, who has been named Emergency Management Volunteer of the Year from officials in Howard County,
    Maryland. Dan leads the Howard County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency
    Service and is a member of the Columbia Amateur Radio Association.

    Dan is a device physicist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
    in Laurel, Maryland. According to a press release on the webpage of Johns Hopkins lab, Wilt spent more than 150 volunteer hours supporting RACES
    events and activities last year at public service events and during
    snowstorms and hurricanes. He has also assisted RACES in the creation of guides to help fellow operators during emergencies so communication can
    become easier for first responders. As a member of the Columbia Amateur
    Radio Association, K3CUJ, he has coordinated exercises to help prepare
    his fellow club members for future incidents.

    During the awards ceremony, Mike Hinson, director of the county's Office
    of Emergency Management, praised Dan for [quote] "a willingness to help
    others learn and a desire to serve whenever and however possible."
    [endquote]

    This is Sel Embee, KB3TZD.

    (JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, PATCH.COM)
    --- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (316:36/20)
  • From Daryl Stout@316:36/9 to All on Thu Apr 27 22:08:35 2023
    NETS OF NOTE: THE HOUSTON AMSAT NET

    PAUL/ANCHOR: A devoted group of satellite enthusiasts in Houston, Texas,
    has something to celebrate. Their weekly 2-meter net, has surpassed the
    1500 mark. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, tells us more about the group.

    NEIL: On the Houston AMSAT Net, talk usually centers around satellites
    and balloons but soon migrates to other topics. It's a long-running conversation that dates back to before the 1990s. In recent years the net
    has gained even more participants by being carried on Echolink on the
    AMSAT Conference Node. It is also available as a livestream while the net
    is in progress at amsatnet.com. There is also a link to nets recorded
    during the previous four weeks. You have even more ways to listen than
    that: the net is available as a podcast on popular services such as Apple Podcast and on 1860 kHz AM.

    The AMSAT News Service recently recognized the group for having held its 1,506th net. Keep the conversation going!

    This is Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

    (AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)

    **

    BOOK REVIEW: "THE CW WAY OF LIFE," BY CHRIS RUTKOWSKI, NW6V

    PAUL/ANCHOR: Sometimes, the only thing that comes close to being on the
    air is ... reading about being on the air. Here's one of our occasional
    book reviews -- it's from Randy Sly, W4XJ, and it's all about CW.

    RANDY: Whatever your level of CW proficiency, Chris Rutkowski, NW6V has something for you. Chris recently released a great book about Morse Code called "The CW Way of Life." He provides 232 pages full of meaningful and entertaining content that is well written. With each page, all I could
    think about was that familiar phrase, "and there's more!"

    Chris first takes us through the basics of CW and operating with a
    straight key...and there’s more! He talks about how we approach process
    and understand Morse Code. Do you want to explore a unique approach to strengthening your copy skills, try his chapter on Code Talking...and
    there's more! He gives us a special way to notate code, some drills, and
    a whole section on Morse Code lingo, including standard exchanges,
    protocols, and operating etiquette...and still there's more! Finally, he
    leads us through advanced key training, looking at bugs, paddles and the
    rest.

    Available through Amazon, this is a great book for hams or non-hams
    interested in the original digital. I give it a 5 9 9.

    This is Randy Sly, W4XJ.

    **

    HAMS WORLDWIDE MARK WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY

    PAUL/ANCHOR: This year's World Amateur Radio Day celebrated the 98th anniversary of the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union,
    using the theme Human Security for all. Around the world, hams in every nation marked the day in their own way. John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us
    more.

    JOHN: For hams in South Africa, World Amateur Radio Day - officially the
    18th of April - turned into a month-long celebration. Amateurs in the
    South African Radio League activated the special event callsign ZS9WARD
    from the first day of April and will continue to do so until the last. In Canada, the theme was "Get on the Air on World Amateur Radio Day" and
    Radio Amateurs of Canada's official stations operated from one coast to
    the other with numerous callsigns such as VA2RAC, VE4RAC, VO1RAC, and
    VY1RAC.

    The IARU webpage acknowledged the participation of stations around the
    world on the big day itself. Hams in Denmark used the callsign 5PØWARD,
    in the United States the calls were NU1AW, W1W, W4A, K4A, and N4A, Belgium
    had OT23WARD and Slovenia had S50ARD.

    In India, the celebration took on an added level of meaning as one ham,
    Hari, VU3UCR, announced that on World Amateur Radio Day he accomplished
    the first-time activation of Bandipur National Park in Karnataka for
    Parks on the Air India. He announced on Facebook this also makes him the
    third person in India to activate a national park in POTA, an awards
    scheme that is still new and growing in popularity in that nation.

    This is John Williams, VK4JJW.

    (FACEBOOK, IARU, SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO LEAGUE)

    **

    NOMINATE NEXT 'YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR'

    PAUL/ANCHOR: There is only a month left 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 (316:36/9)
  • From Daryl Stout@316:36/9 to All on Thu May 4 18:06:04 2023
    MILLING ABOUT ON THE AIR FOR A SPECIAL RADIO EVENT

    JIM/ANCHOR: In Australia and in the UK, hams will be milling about -
    literally - for this outdoor special event. We learn the details from John Williams, VK4JJW.

    JOHN: There's more to mills than wheat, corn or flour. Some mills can
    produce QSOs. Well, at least that's going to be the case in Australia
    during the Mills on the Air radio event being held in conjunction with the Mills on the Air taking place at the same time in the UK. That would be
    the 13th and 14th of May. Hams are on the air activating the mills and
    also hoping to score points at the same time for SOTA, POTA and World Wide Flora and Fauna. The Bendigo Amateur Radio and Electronics Club is proud
    to be the first to get things started in 2017 with the activation of
    Andersons Mill in Smeaton, Victoria - but now mill activation are grinding along quite nicely throughout Australia.

    They will be joining more than 300 windmills and watermills being
    activated throughout the UK to celebrate its industrial heritage. If you
    wish to receive a certificate from the Denby Dale Amateur Radio Society,
    which organises the event in the UK, be sure to register there at the link
    in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

    [DO NOT READ: www.ddars.net/register.html ]

    This is John Williams, VK4JJW.

    (DDARS.NET, MILLS ON THE AIR)

    **

    CELLPHONE USERS LOG DIRECT CONTACT VIA SATELLITE

    JIM/ANCHOR: A space-based cellular phone network that relies on satellites instead of towers may not be so far off as you think. Kent Peterson,
    KC0DGY, has that story.

    KENT: Imagine being able to have a cellphone signal delivered directly to
    your mobile device from space instead of from a cell tower. Two smartphone users reported recently that they had just that experience. A call between
    a phone user in Texas, and another in Japan was reportedly routed through
    a low Earth orbit satellite manufactured by AST SpaceMobile. These were standard, unmodified smartphones: a Samsung Galaxy S22 in Texas and an
    iPhone in Japan. The BlueWalker3 satellite that made the call possible is powerful enough to pick up cellphone signals from over 1,000 miles away
    thanks to an array of 100,000 individual antenna elements on board.

    Smartphones and satellites typically do not share the same part of the spectrum for direct communication, leaving phones to rely on local cell
    towers instead. According to an article in The Verge, AST SpaceMobile was
    able to adapt its network architecture so it was similar to 3rd Generation Partnership Project, or 3GPP, standard that cell networks use.

    Some smartphones are already capable of message-based satellite routing solutions in emergencies but a full-service call with a voice connection
    like this is said to be breaking new ground. The article said there will
    be further testing.

    This is Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

    (THE VERGE)

    **

    UK HAMS MARK ANNIVERSARY OF 'DAM BUSTERS RAID'

    JIM/ANCHOR: Hams in the UK are marking the 80th anniversary of the famous World War II "Dam Busters Raid," and Jeremy Boot ,G4NJH, tells us what's involved.

    JEREMY: The Royal Air Force sent a squadron of bombers into the night to complete a mission known as Operation Chastise, but better known as the
    Dam Busters Raid. Its targets, in the heart of industrial Nazi Germany’s Ruhr Valley, were three dams for destruction, but which were heavily
    protected from any underwater or air assault.

    The successful mission, which set off on the 16th of May in 1943, is being commemorated from the 14th to 16th of May this year by the Stockport Radio Society with the callsign GB0DBA.

    Stockport is an industrial town in Greater Manchester, a region with
    strong ties to the mission that employed the now-famous "bouncing bombs."
    The planes, modified to carry the bombs, were manufactured at Chadderton
    and assembled at Woodford. The aircrew trained over the Derwent Reservoir.

    Manchester University has a building dedicated to Barnes Wallis, the
    creator of the bouncing bomb -- and to Wing Commander Guy Gibson, who was later proposed as a candidate for the UK Parliament.

    Listen on the HF bands, with a focus on 20 and 40 metres, for operators
    using SSB, CW and RTTY. There will also be radio activity on VHF using FM, C4FM and FT8 on 2 metres, and SSB and CW using the QO-100 satellite.

    Please visit the QRZ.com page of GB0DBA for QSL details.

    This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

    (QRZ.COM)
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (316:36/9)
  • From Daryl Stout@316:36/9 to All on Thu May 18 19:01:58 2023
    NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR AMSAT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    DON/ANCHOR: If you're active in AMSAT, and know someone who shows promise
    in the organization's leadership, consider nominating them for a spot on
    the board of directors. Four incumbent seats will soon expire and voting
    will be held in the third quarter of this year. Terms are for two years.

    As many as two alternate directors may be chosen to serve one-year terms.

    For nominations to be considered, they must be in writing and should be submitted by either one member society or five individual members who are
    in good standing. The nominee's name, callsign and contact information
    should be provided along with the same information for those individuals submitting the candidate. Email nominations are acceptable when sent to jdavis@amsat.org - otherwise postal mail may be used. Send to Jeff Davis, KE9VPO, Post Office Box 11, Yorktown, Indiana 47396.

    The nomination deadline is the end of the day on June 15th. The four incumbents leaving behind vacancies are Jerry Buxton, N0JY (En Zero Jay
    Why), Joseph Armbruster, KJ4JIO, Robert Bankston, KE4AL, and Zach
    Metzinger, N0ZGO (En Zero Zed Gee Oh).

    (AMSAT NEWS)

    **

    KEEP LISTENING FOR CORONATION STATIONS

    DON/ANCHOR: If you're still feeling festive after the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, offers some ways to keep celebrating.

    JEREMY: Coronation weekend has come and gone in the UK, but the Radio
    Society of Great Britain believes in keeping a good moment alive. Special event callsigns are still on the air through to the end of June.
    Individual radio amateurs and clubs are eligible to use the GB23C
    callsign which was used first by the Cray Valley Radio Society which
    activated it in Greenwich. Information on how to obtain and use the call
    on the RSGB website.

    Hams are also being encouraged to use one of hundreds of callsigns Ofcom
    is making available to celebrate the historic fire beacon network
    throughout the UK. Callsigns such as GB23BIR was activated by the Furness Amateur Radio Society and according to RSGB district representative
    Martyn, M0TEB, it was quite popular as a contact.

    Visit rsgb.org/coronation for other details and to find out more about
    getting a Coronation QSL card or one of three RSGB Coronation awards.

    This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

    (RSGB)

    **

    AUSTRALIAN HAMS OFFER A QSO WITH A 'VAMPIRE'

    DON/ANCHOR: Ever have a QSO with a vampire? It's not so hard as you might think. Richard, VK2SKY, brings us this story about an Australian warship
    that makes it possible.

    RICHARD: G'day, Amateur Radio Newsline listeners, this is Richard,
    VK2SKY, in Sydney, Australia, with a little vampire story for you. Yes, I know, Halloween is months away, but I think you'll like this story
    anyway.

    A team of amateurs, led by Colin VK2JCC, has set up shop in the radio
    room aboard HMAS Vampire. "HMAS" stands for His Majesty's Australian
    Ship, and the Vampire is located at the Australian National Maritime
    Museum here in Sydney. The radio room is part of the museum, and thus
    open for visitors to learn about the importance of radio communications,
    both in wartime and in peace.

    The Vampire team has been active for a few weeks now, using the callsign Victor Kilo Two Victor Mike Papa (VMP - Vampire, get it?). If you've
    never worked a warship before, now is a great time to start!

    So far, eight amateurs are on the roster to keep Vampire on the air,
    using CW and Sideband on 20 and 40 metres, and the station is now a
    permanent fixture on the ship.

    But wait, there's more! Over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th June, the
    Vampire will be active for 24 hours for a special event, Museum Ships on
    the Air. You’ll find the station on or near 14.250 MHz. Vampire will join many other ships around the world for this fun event.

    So, listen out for Victor Kilo Two Victor Mike Papa on board HMAS Vampire
    in Sydney, Australia. And check out the VK2VMP page on qrz.com. Hope to
    catch you on the air!

    (AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM, MANLY WARRINGAH RADIO SOCIETY)

    **

    NOMINATE OUR NEXT 'YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR'

    DON/ANCHOR: We remind our listeners that you still have an opportunity to nominate a promising young radio amateur - but time runs out at the end
    of this month. Young hams who live in the continental United States have
    an opportunity to make news of their own in the world, 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. Think of an amateur radio operator 18 years of age or younger -- someone who has
    talent, promise and a commitment to the spirit of ham radio. This is your chance to help honor and acknowledge that person who will, no doubt, go
    on to teach and inspire others. Find the nomination form on our website arnewsline.org under the "AWARDS" tab. Nominations close on May 31st.
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (316:36/9)
  • From Daryl Stout@316:36/9 to All on Fri Apr 21 08:34:34 2023
    BREAK HERE:

    Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the N0LAR repeater,
    of the Lamar Area Amateur Radio Club in southeast Colorado, or on FM radio station KRHJ on 88.3 MHz on Fridays at 5 p.m.

    **

    HUNGARIAN HAMS' SURVEY EXPLORES YOUTH, OTHER ISSUES

    NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams in Hungary's national ham radio society want to hear
    from you. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us why.

    JEREMY: Hams around the world are being invited to provide their views
    and share their experiences about amateur radio through an online survey
    from the Hungarian Amateur Radio Society. The short survey asks questions about your personal preferences and radio history but also wants to know
    what your priorities are -- whether it is your operating preferences,
    your expectations from membership in a national society or the roles you
    think a local club should have. There are also questions about whether
    you know very many active younger operators. The society is interested in having the survey responses in time for the Youngsters on the Air Region
    1 camp which it is hosting from the 5th to the 12th of August in Hungary.
    The group would also like to present the survey results at the IARU
    general conference in November.

    A link to the survey appears in the text version of this week's Newsline script at arnewsline.org

    [DO NOT READ: https://mrasz.org/state-of-hamradio ]

    This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

    (HUNGARIAN AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY)

    NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams in the US may notice when they take the survey that the question about license class does not include the option to select the
    level of FCC license. The creators of the survey recommend that US hams
    use HAREC for Extra, NOVICE for General and other classes and ENTRY for Technician.

    **

    NATIONAL VOA MUSEUM EXPANDS HOURS FOR HAMVENTION

    NEIL/ANCHOR: One of the biggest ham radio weekends in the United States
    is about to get a little bigger. Here's Jack Parker, W8ISH, with that
    update.

    JACK: If Hamvention doesn't give you a big enough dose of amateur radio
    when you're in Xenia next month, take a side trip to the National Voice
    of America Museum of Broadcasting in nearby West Chester, Ohio. The
    museum expands their hours for visitors during Hamvention and features
    new exhibits including a dedicated room for shortwave equipment and
    amateur radio. Other exhibits include a complete collection of R.L. Drake
    Ham Radio equipment that was originally in the lobby of the R.L. Drake
    Corp. in Miamisburg, Ohio.

    The on-site WC8VOA ham shack has new, updated equipment and yes, the
    station will be on the air for guest operators. The museum's expanded
    hours are Thursday May 18th and Friday May 19th from 1 to 9 p.m.;
    Saturday May 20th from noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday, May 21st from noon to 5
    p.m. so that you can plan on a weekend of total radio immersion.

    You can find more details on the museum website at voamuseum.org

    This is Jack Parker, W8ISH.

    (JOCELYN BRAULT, KD8VRX/VA2VRX; VOICE OF AMERICA MUSEUM)

    **

    GRIDTRACKER TEAM WINS SOFTWARE AWARD

    NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams who are fans of Gridtracker will be happy to learn
    they're not alone: Its development team just won a major award. Here's
    Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, with the details.

    RALPH: Congratulations to Stephen Loomis, N0TTL, and the team that
    produced Gridtracker.org, for becoming recipients of the fourth annual
    Amateur Radio Software Award. This international honor recognizes free,
    open projects developed in the spirit of sharing to enhance amateur radio operations everywhere. According to the award website, Gridtracker was
    chosen for its ability to focus on visualizing radio traffic on FT8 and
    other modes, simplifying the process of tracking contacts, especially in contests.

    In the same spirit of sharing that helped create Gridtracker, Stephen,
    who lives in Oregon, has asked the awards committee to provide a $300
    grant to the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Oregon. The nonprofit advocacy, resource and educational organization works to help those who
    have mental illness and assists their families.

    This is Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.

    (AMATEUR RADIO SOFTWARE AWARD, AMATEUR RADIO WEEKLY, GRIDTRACKER)

    **

    BOUVET DXPEDITION VETERAN TO ACTIVATE IN FIJI

    NEIL/ANCHOR: One member of the team is back home from the recent Bouvet
    Island 3Y0J DXpedition but not for long. John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us
    what he's got planned next.

    JOHN: Cezar, VE3LYC, is getting ready to put one of the Fiji islands back
    on the air after too many years of things being quiet there. Yanuca
    Island, IOTA Number OC-189, was activated first in 1993 and again in 2007
    - but there's been no radio operation there since then. Cezar will be on
    the air May 1st through the 5th using the callsign 3D2LYC. DX World.net reports that his goal is to log 4,000 QSOs with 2,500 unique stations on
    six continents. He will be on most of the HF bands and will operate both
    CW and SSB.

    While not as harsh an environment as the one found on remote Bouvet
    Island, Yanuca does not have any visitor accommodation. Cezar said he has
    been able to locate a generator and gas as well as food and water to use during his stay.

    This is John Willliams, VK4JJW.

    (DX WORLD.NET)
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (316:36/9)
  • From Daryl Stout@316:36/9 to All on Fri May 12 00:02:12 2023
    BREAK HERE:

    Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K3PSG repeater
    in Butler, Pennsylvania, at 2 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesdays.

    **

    DIGITAL LIBRARY OF HAM RADIO EXPANDS COLLECTION

    STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The numbers just keep growing into the tens of thousands
    in the Internet Archive's Digital Library of Amateur Radio And
    Communications. Jack Parker, W8ISH, gives us those details.

    JACK: It's a virtual bookshelf of radio that seems to go on into infinity:
    The addition of new documents from the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club in
    Alaska, the Worldwide TV-FM DX Association, the Irish Radio Transmitters Society and the Pikes Peak Radio Amateur Association in Colorado has
    expanded a digital collection of shortwave and amateur radio history to
    more than 75,000 items. This is the work-in-progress known as the DLARC
    Radio Library. The library also contains more than two dozen episodes of
    the RAIN Report that were believed to have been lost. Yes, you will also
    find archived newscasts from Amateur Radio Newsline.

    Program manager of special collections Kay Savetz, K6KJN, said the most
    recent additions include recorded presentations and talks, including those from the MicroHams Digital Conference and the Radio Amateur Training
    Planning and Activities Committee, known as RATPAC. The library is
    especially pleased to have added episodes of International Radio Report
    dating back 23 years. The collection also features Continent of Media,
    which focuses on the range of media throughout the American Continent.

    Many amateur clubs' newsletters which were never posted online before are
    now available and are full text-searchable and available for download. The library, which was created with a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications, is always looking for new material to add to the
    collection. See the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

    This is Jack Parker, W8ISH.

    (KAY SAVETZ, K6KJN)

    [DO NOT READ: https://archive.org/details/dlarc ]

    **

    NEW HAM RADIO MUSEUM OPENS IN OHIO

    STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Congratulations to Ohio's new amateur radio museum. It's
    the Waller-McMunn Museum in Cambridge that has opened to visitors in a restored radio station building after years of work by volunteers
    assembling the collection of ham radio gear and related items. The museum
    is the pride of the Cambridge Amateur Radio Association, W8VP. The name of
    the museum honors Homer McMunn who built the first radio receiver in
    Cambridge in 1912; it also pays tribute to his brother-in-law, Roy Waller
    who is credited with being the first to copy signals from a US Navy
    station operating in Arlington, Virginia that year. The two men were known
    as experimenters who built receivers and transmitters and operated a
    wireless station in town. Their enthusiasm eventually led to the creation
    of the Wireless Association of Cambridge.

    (THE DAILY JEFFERSONIAN, GYPSY ROAD TRIP.COM)

    **

    RESEARCHERS CREATE THINNER, DENSER COMPUTER CHIPS

    STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Researchers in the United States have created thinner,
    denser computer chips with big possibilities. We learn more from Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

    KENT: Denser and more powerful computer chips may soon be possible thanks
    to findings in a laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Researchers there have developed a means of working with 2D materials so slender that they are no more than three atoms thick. By layering them
    atop a fully fabricated silicon chip, they are able to create a denser integration.

    According to the MIT news website, this low-temperature growth and
    fabrication technology does not result in damage to the chip. Damage was a major concern during previous attempts to achieve this integration atop a silicon CMOS wafer because the process customarily requires temperatures
    of 600 degrees Celsius. Temperatures above 400 degrees Celsius could cause
    the transisitors and circuits to break down.

    The news website also reported that this technology reduces the growth and integration process on an 8-inch wafer from more than a day to less than
    an hour. A shortened growth time is seen by researchers as particularly attractive for industrial fabrications because of its efficiency.

    Researchers also said they want to explore use of this process for such flexible surfaces as textiles, polymers or papers, raising the prospect of integrating semiconductors into clothing, paper notebooks and other
    everyday items.

    This is Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

    (MIT)
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (316:36/9)
  • From Daryl Stout@316:36/9 to All on Thu May 25 21:52:37 2023
    BREAK HERE:

    Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the KJ3LR repeater
    in Bradenton, Florida, on Fridays at 10 p.m.

    **

    SILENT KEY: CONTESTER, DXER, BERNHARD "BEN" BUETTNER, DL6RAI

    NEIL/ANCHOR: An antenna accident has claimed the life of another ham - a well-known DXer and contester. We have those details from Jeremy Boot,
    G4NJH.

    JEREMY: A noted DXer, contester and CW enthusiast from Germany has become
    a Silent Key. Bernhard Buettner, DL6RAI, who was known to everyone as Ben,
    was killed following an accident while doing antenna work at his QTH in
    Aruba. Writing about his friend's death, Martin DL5RMH, said that they
    were working together to prepare to change one of the antenna masts when
    the mast Ben was tending to buckled unexpectedly and Ben fell to the
    ground. He could not be revived despite immediate first aid and the work
    of an ambulance rescue crew.

    Ben's own account of his ham radio life reflects a long and enduring love
    for active radio operation around the world. He fell in love with CW as a shortwave listener in 1978 after decoding a message he copied from a local ham. He worked to gain proficiency in Morse and by March of 1980, the 16- year-old radio enthusiast passed his license test, qualifying at 12 words
    per minute.

    An avid traveler, he operated from at least 45 countries around the globe
    and became a serious contester using CW, RTTY and the digital modes.
    Between 2002 and 2005, he was the WAE DX contest manager for the DARC.
    From 2007 to 2019 he was president of the prestigious Bavarian Contest
    Club.

    He purchased the QTH in Aruba in 2014 from another ham and was operating
    from there intermittently as P4/DL6RAI or P44X. His widow, Luise, is also
    an amateur, with the callsign DL2MLU.

    This is Jeremy, Boot G4NJH.

    NEIL/ANCHOR: Newsline takes this opportunity to remind listeners to please follow safety precautions always when doing antenna work, or any other
    radio activity, that presents a potential hazard such as this.

    (SOTA REFLECTOR, QRZ.COM)

    **

    MASSACHUSETTS HAMS STEP UP FOR 'RELAY FOR LIFE'

    NEIL/ANCHOR: In one Massachusetts community, amateur radio is helping
    shine a brighter spotlight on a public event for cancer-awareness. We have those details from Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

    ANDY: While participants in the annual Relay for Life take thousands of
    steps around a college athletics track during a two-day fundraiser for
    cancer research, the Mohawk Amateur Radio Club will be taking steps too:
    These Massachusetts amateurs will be on the air as the two-day event steps
    off on Friday, June 9th, at 6 p.m. local time. They will be on the campus
    of the Mount Wachusett Community College, reaching out globally over the airwaves to raise awareness of the lifesaving work of the American Cancer Society.

    The hams will be on 20 and 40 meters during the day and will switch to 80 meters at night.

    As in the past, many of those answering the call of station N1WW are
    likely to have cancer survival stories of their own -- and some of the operators, such as Jack Burgoyne, W1PFZ, will be sharing theirs.

    Jack, and club president Kevin Erickson, N1ERS, spoke to the Gardner News website recently about the event and the club's history of providing
    support to it.

    With a big turnout of spectators expected as individuals and teams in the relay make their rounds on the track, the ham club will also be raising
    its own profile. Kevin said the club hopes people will take a moment to
    visit the club trailer and check out the radios that are carrying that important message around the world.

    This is Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

    (AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, THE GARDNER NEWS)

    **

    QRP DAY COMES TO IARU REGION 3

    NEIL/ANCHOR: The power of QRP isn't always measured in watts or even milliwatts. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, explains.

    JIM M: It started as a long-ago suggestion from the New Zealand
    Association of Radio Transmitters, which suggested to IARU Region 3 in
    1997 that QRP operation be given its day in the sun - literally. Since
    then, Region 3 societies have helped advance involvement in such QRP activities as QRP field days, QRP contests, instructions for QRP kit-
    building and publication of articles about QRP operating. That's all
    about to get even more intense on June 17th, which will once again be
    QRP Day throughout IARU Region 3.

    Writing to IARU member societies' directors and liaison officers, Yuki
    JH1NBN, Region 3 secretary, encouraged promotion of QRP operation, particularly when it is highlighted on that day. He wrote in his letter
    that QRP [quote] "offers advantages concerning, among others, the
    reduction of QRM on the amateur bands." [endquote]

    The day promises a powerful outcome.

    This is Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

    (IARU REGION 3)
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (316:36/9)
  • From Daryl Stout@316:36/9 to All on Thu Jun 1 20:29:06 2023
    TRY NEWSLINE'S HAIKU CHALLENGE

    JIM/ANCHOR: What's almost as good as perfect propagation? How about....a
    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.

    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.

    **

    CALIFORNIA AMATEUR FACES $24,000 FINE

    JIM/ANCHOR: A California amateur is facing a $24,000 fine from the FCC,
    which has charged him with deliberate interference with a regularly
    scheduled 80 meter net, held by the Western Amateur Radio Friendship Association. Philip J. Beaudet, N6PJB, is said to have repeatedly
    interfered with the net, and failed to identify himself by his callsign.
    They released a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture on May 30th, outlining the case against him. The agency said that last November and December, an agent from the San Francisco Field Office used direction
    finding on 3.908 MHz, and on both occasions, was able to identify the
    ham's Burney, California, home as the source of the interference cited
    in repeated complaints to the agency.

    The notice states that Beaudet has 30 days to respond, either with payment,
    or a written statement seeking a reduction or cancellation of the proposed forfeiture.

    (FCC, RADIO WORLD)

    **

    BELGIAN HAMS GAINING 8M BAND ACCESS

    JIM/ANCHOR: Some new space on the spectrum awaits amateurs in Belgium,
    and Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has that story.

    JEREMY: Hams in Belgium will soon be enjoying the privileges enjoyed
    by those in South Africa, Slovenia, and Ireland, by gaining access to
    the 8-metre band. The UBA, the Royal Belgian Amateur Radio Union, has
    proposed giving hams with a Class A operating certificate, a HAREC full licence, the ability to get on the air with as much as 5 watts ERP, and
    a bandwidth limit of 3 kHz. Permission is to be granted to individuals following approval from the Belgian regulator BIPT.

    The frequency range being authorised is between 40.660 and 40.690 MHz.

    This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

    (AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)

    **

    HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN HAVE ARISS QSO WITH SPACE STATION

    JIM/ANCHOR: Hospitalized children outside Washington, D.C., were given
    a chance to talk with an ISS astronaut recently on amateur radio.
    Patrick Clark, K8TAC, tells us how things went.

    PATRICK: Having fulfilled the first part of his space mission a few
    days earlier - to arrive on board the ISS - astronaut John Shoffner,
    KO4MJC, got under way with one of his next goals: to share the joys
    and opportunities of STEM studies as an educator. On May 26th, he
    shared that view from space through a QSO with youngsters at the
    Children's Inn in Bethesda, Maryland. It was a telebridge contact that
    made use of a ground station in Belgium with the callsign ON4ISS. The youngsters at the Children's Inn learned about life in space, and got
    a closer look too, at the way amateur radio can connect people. The
    Children's Inn provides a free residential environment to children and
    young adults who are patients at the National Institutes of Health as a
    means of reducing stress on the young patients, and furthering the
    institutes' clinical research. With the help of ARISS and amateur radio,
    the youngsters also got a view of the great things that can happen beyond
    the bounds of planet Earth.

    This is Patrick Clark, K8TAC.

    (ARISS, FACEBOOK)

    **

    NEW SITE CONSOLIDATES HAM CLUBS' NEWS

    JIM/ANCHOR: We were saddened some time ago by the passing of Richard,
    G4TUT, whose Southgate Amateur Radio News website served as a reliable
    global bulletin board for many, including amateur radio podcast teams.
    This badly missed resource is now being revived, and provided by Cale,
    K4HCK, through his new "Amateur Radio Daily" website. Once the domain
    name is transferred from Southgatearc, its URL will also route you there.
    This is a new resource available for hams and clubs looking to get word
    out about their activities. So, if you want other hams to see what your
    club is up to, visit Amateur Radio Daily at daily.hamweekly.com or simply
    send the story directly to Cale via email to K4HCK (at) hamweekly (dot)
    com. Cale's new website will display the submitted stories, and provide
    an RSS feed to receive daily updates automatically as they arrive, and
    are posted.

    (CALE, K4HCK)
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (316:36/9)
  • From Daryl Stout@316:36/9 to All on Thu Jun 8 22:22:38 2023
    TRY NEWSLINE'S HAIKU CHALLENGE

    STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Whether you find sunspots to inspire you or whether Morse
    Code lifts your spirits, you might enjoy trying your hand at a 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.

    **

    BREAK HERE:

    Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the Utah Amateur
    Radio Club's 2-meter repeater on Sunday nights at 9 p.m., as part of the club's weekly Information Net.

    **

    HAM RADIO CELEBRATES THE LEWIS & CLARK TRAIL

    STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you've always wanted to combine amateur radio with a journey on a trail, but you're not the outdoorsy type, here's your
    chance. Patrick Clark, K8TAC, tells us how.

    PATRICK: You don't need to do one single bit of hiking along the historic Lewis and Clark trail in the United States to make some interesting radio contacts there anyway. The 4900-mile trail covers the route taken by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, the 19th century expeditioners who traveled into the new western territory of the still-growing United
    States.

    To honor the explorers, ham radio clubs in 16 states along the path of
    that trail are on the air, and will remain active through to the 18th of
    June, using CW, SSB, FM and FT8 with the hope of helping chasers contact
    a club in each of the 16 states. The special event is in its second year
    and is organized by the Clark County Amateur Radio Club. Stations
    contacting all of the states will receive an Expedition Partner
    certificate. Stations working 1 through 15 states may request a Trail Companion certificate. Chasers need not submit logs; activating stations
    are keeping track of each of the contacts.

    All requests for certificates are due by the 31st of August.

    For details visit the event website at lctota dot org (lctota.org)

    This is Patrick Clark, K8TAC.

    **

    RADIO PROTECTION COMES TO IMPERILED FOREST

    STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In India, an important cyclone-prone forest is getting
    extra protection - from radio! John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us how.

    JOHN: India's Sunderbans forest region, a heavily populated area near the
    Bay of Bengal, is now home to a permanent amateur radio station that can
    be activated during times of disaster. India's Meteorological Department
    has noted that the region, which has numerous inhabited islands and is
    home to a number of endangered species, is also prone to cyclone
    activity. A civil defence volunteer, Debobroto Mondal, VU3FAE, will be
    the main operator at the station. He received his disaster-response
    training through the Indian Academy of Communication and Disaster
    Management. The station equipment was donated and installed by members of
    the West Bengal Radio Club. Communication has historically been
    challenging in the Sunderbans when cyclones strike, leaving many of the inhabitants cut off from communication for extended periods of time.

    This is John Williams, VK4JJW.

    (AMBARISH NAG BISWAS, VU2JFA, THE HINDU)

    **

    ORGANIZERS CHOOSE SITE IN GUJARAT FOR HAMFEST INDIA

    STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The big national convention known as Hamfest India has
    chosen its location for this year's event. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, gives us
    the details.

    JIM: Hamfest India, the largest gathering of amateur radio operators in
    that nation, has selected Ahmedabad Science City in the state of Gujarat
    for the convention, which is taking place on the 25th and 26th of
    November. Organisers consider the venue to be an ideal site for Hamfest
    India because the facility is rich with science-related exhibits, virtual reality activity centres, an energy park, robotics gallery and an IMAX 3D theatre. The hosting organisation is the Gujarat Institute of Amateur
    Radio. Registration has already begun.

    Hamfest India has taken place since 1991 and its programme of events also includes a trade show and flea market. It was held virtually in 2021 and
    last year it took place in Karnataka. An estimated 600 ham radio
    operators from around India are expected to attend this year.

    For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

    (AMATEUR RADIO DAILY, FACEBOOK, HAMFEST INDIA WEBSITE)
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (316:36/9)
  • From Daryl Stout@316:36/9 to All on Fri Jun 16 02:36:11 2023
    BREAK HERE:

    Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the 2-meter
    repeater of the Bluegrass Amateur Radio Society in Lexington, Kentucky
    every Friday at 9 p.m.

    **

    RADIO CONTESTER TAKES TOP FOOTBALL COACHING JOB

    PAUL/ANCHOR: A prominent radio contester is taking a top spot in another competitive field - European football. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, gives us the details.

    JEREMY: You may not find Serhiy Rebrov, 5B4AMM, on the field of any high- profile radiosport event this year, but the former Tottenham football
    striker does have his eyes set on next year's European Championship - as
    the first permanent head coach of Ukraine's team.

    The active radio contester is well-known throughout Europe for his career
    with West Ham, Tottenham and Dynamo Kyiv and he also coached in the Saudi Arabian, Ukrainian and Hungarian leagues.

    He recently signed a three-year contract with Ukraine's team, keeping his
    eye on the European Championship qualifiers against North Macedonia and
    Malta.

    As a licensed ham and contester, he has also been heard on the air as
    UT5UDX, M0SDX, TA2ZF and UT0U.

    This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

    (QRZ.COM, ASSOCIATED PRESS)

    **

    RSGB TO RECEIVE UK STATION USED BY KING HUSSEIN JY1

    PAUL/ANCHOR: Any ham who remembers hearing - or perhaps working the
    callsign JY1 - King Hussein of Jordan - will enjoy hearing this next
    story. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us more.

    JEREMY: The UK radio equipment once used by King Hussein of Jordan, JY1,
    is being donated to the Radio Society of Great Britain by Her Majesty
    Queen Noor of Jordan. King Hussein became a Silent Key in 1999 at the age
    of 63. The RSGB said the collection will be on permanent display at the
    RSGB's National Radio Centre to inspire others and promote friendship and understanding across cultures. They said in a statement [quote]: "His
    Majesty was a great ambassador for amateur radio and, whenever his
    official duties allowed him, his radio call sign JY1 could be heard on
    the amateur bands. His Majesty always operated modestly, never announcing himself as King Hussein, always just 'Hussein from Jordan'". [endquote]

    This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

    (RSGB)

    **

    PRESENTERS NEEDED FOR GRCON23 IN ARIZONA

    PAUL/ANCHOR: Organizers are looking for presenters for the next GNU Radio Conference, known as GRCon23. This is the 13th annual conference for the community, which unites users and developers in the field of software
    radio. Presenters and attendees are typically members of the academic community, government, industry and of course hobbyists.

    The deadline for submission of abstracts to present at the conference is
    June 23rd. The conference itself will take place from September 5th
    through to the 9th. It is being held at Arizona State University's Center
    for Wireless Information Systems and Computational Architectures in
    Tempe, Arizona.

    Details can be found on the website gnuradio.org

    (GNURADIO.ORG, AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)

    **

    BILL CHALLENGES PRIVATE LAND RESTRICTIONS ON ANTENNAS

    PAUL/ANCHOR: Lawmakers in two US states have reintroduced a bill to
    protect hams from private land-use restrictions that keep them from
    installing antennas at home. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, brings us up to date.

    KEVIN: The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act is back for
    consideration on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. The measure, first
    introduced by Congressmen Bill Johnson of Ohio and Joe Courtney of
    Connecticut last December, is designed to ensure that hams everywhere can
    get on the air, especially in instances where there is a need for
    emergency communications, such as in natural disasters.

    No votes were taken when the bill was introduced toward the end of the
    last session of Congress. It is being reintroduced in response to the
    rapid growth of private residential areas that have these restrictions on
    the use of land. The bill would amend the Communications Act of 1934 by prohibiting land-use restrictions from halting the installation and use
    of amateur radio antennas.

    This is Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

    (REP. BILL JOHNSON WEBSITE, GOVTRACK.US., ARRL)
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (316:36/9)