Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1903 - January 31, 2014   
      
   Please note that as of this week we will include most references to website   
   URL's only in the print edition of the newscast.  It's been pointed out to us   
   that when read, they fly by so fast as to make copying them difficult.  What   
   we would like to know from you is if deleting most URL's from the audio   
   version of the newscast makes listening to more enjoyable for you, or if you   
   would like us to put them back in.  Please listen for a few weeks before   
   making up your mind and let us know.  Our e-mail is newsline at arnewsline   
   dot org or you can message us on our page on Facebook.  We look forward to   
   hearing from you.  Now on to this week's newscast.   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1903 with a release date of January 31,   
   2014 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T.  Two hams in Europe monitor the Rosetta spacecraft   
   from 500 million miles away; blizzard conditions forces the  cancellation of   
   ARISS contact; some new propagation forecasts for the current solar cycle;   
   Cuba gives hams access to 5 MHz but with strings attached; ham radio and   
   social networking team up to find a sailor out of touch with his family and a   
   permanent makeover for the FCC's home website page.  All this and more on   
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1903 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO FROM SPACE:  RADIO AMATEURS RECEIVE ROSETTA SIGNALS   
      
   An out of this world DX receiving milestone for two ham radio operators in   
   Europe.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   Two hams have successfully heard signals from the European Space Agency's   
   Rosetta comet seeking probe.  The first was James Miller, G3RUH.  He reports   
   reception of Rosetta as it was at a distance of some 500 million miles from   
   Earth.   
      
   Miller accomplished this feat using the 20 meter dish at the United Kingdoms   
   Bochum amateur radio facility.  His receiving of the Rosetta signal took   
   place on Tuesday, January 21st at 09:34 UTC.   
      
   Also successful in hearing Rosetta was Bertrand Pinel, F5PL, located near   
   Castelnaudary, France.  He tracked Rosetta also on January 21st at 10:00 UTC.   
   In his case F5PL accomplished this amazing space listening DX using only a   
   3.5 meter dish.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD, in Berwick,   
   Pennsylvania.   
      
   --   
      
   As reported last week, Rosetta's mission will be to first fly a series of   
   observational maneuvers of comet 67P before dropping a probe onto its icy   
   surface in November. That lander will dig up samples and analyze them with   
   its on-board instruments and radio the results back to the researchers here   
   on Earth.   
      
   More is on the web at   
   http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/01/22/radio-amateur-diy-rosetta-tracking   
   http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/01/22/radio-amateur-diy-rosetta-tracking.   
   (AMSAT-UK)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  BLIZZARD FORCES POSTPONEMENT OF ARISS CONTACT   
      
   The severe weather outbreak cross the United States had a negative effect on   
   ham radio in space related functions.  An ARISS contact with the Indiana Area   
   School District, in Indiana, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, January 24th had to be   
   postponed due to weather conditions at the school.  A new contact time and   
   date has yet to be determined.  (ARISS)   
      
   **   
      
   PROPAGATION:  NEW PROPAGATION PREDICTIONS FOR FIRST QUARTER 2014   
      
   The strange cat and mouse propagation of the current solar cycle continues   
   and now there is some important new information available for those on a DX   
   quest.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   Steve Nichols, G0KYA, who is the Chairman, RSGB Propagation Studies   
   Committee has now updated his High Frequency propagation prediction charts   
   for the first quarter of 2014.  This to take into account the latest   
   predicted smoothed sunspot numbers.   
      
   It is generally thought that we may now be at or past the second hump of   
   this sunspot maximum, but according to Nichols the sun continues to throw   
   some surprises.  For example, the observed sunspot numbers for the last six   
   months of 2013 were 57.0, 66.0, 36.9, 85.6, 77.6 and 90.3, which shows the   
   great variation.   
      
   The current predicted smoothed sunspot number is about 61 to 62 for the next   
   three months. This equates to a 10.7cm solar flux index of about 110.   A   
   flux over 100 suggests that 10 meters will continue to open on a fairly   
   regular basis and the next few months should throw up some good opportunities   
   for DX on the higher bands.  However, the longer-term trend may be downwards.   
      
   G0KYA notes that on the downward side of the cycle we may also experience   
   more unsettled geomagnetic conditions due to flares and coronal mass   
   ejections.  These may cause short-term D-layer absorption especially on   
   routes over the poles or depletion of the F layer with corresponding poor   
   conditions on the upper High Frequency bands.  Looking on the bright side it   
   may also give raise to some good aurora propagation.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale,   
   Arizona.   
   --   
      
   If you want to produce your own detailed point-to-point propagation   
   calculations G0KYA recommends you try voacap.com/prediction.html  (G0KYA via   
   Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING:  CUBA GIVES HAMS ACCESS TO 60 METERS   
      
   Cuba's the Ministry of Communications of Cuba has given hams in that island   
   nation what amounts to strictly controlled access to the 5 MHz or 60 meter   
   band.  The rules change was approved on January 20th gives Cuban Novice class   
   operators a power limit of 50 watts while high class license holders can run   
   up to 100 watts maximum power out in emergency conditions as needed for a   
   reliable link establishment.  That seems to mean once any Cuban official   
   declares any sort of a crisis situation exists that all other operations must   
   cease immediately and the spectrum will be restricted for emergency   
   communications only.   
      
   But access to the new allocation by Cuban hams will not be immediate.    
   According to Pavel Costa, CO7WT, as reported in the Southgate News, getting   
   on the new allocation will require a request to the related authority and the   
   agency's approval before hams in Cuba will be able to fire up in the new   
   spectrum.  As to whether this will be a spot frequency or continuous   
   allocation was not mentioned in the CO7WT report.  (CO7WT, Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING:  PORTUGUESE RADIO HAMS GET 1850 TO 2000 KHZ ACCESS   
      
   Portuguese telecommunications regulator ANACOM has granted that nations ham   
   radio community the temporary use of the 1850 to 2000 kilohertz band.    
   According to the announcement as posted on Portugal's national amateur radio   
   society website this will permit Portuguese radio amateurs the ability to   
   participate in more radiosports competitions during 2014.  (REP)   
      
   **   
      
   DX UP FRONT:  D8A TO OPERATE FROM NEW KOREAN ANTARCTIC STATION   
      
   In DX up front, word that DS4NMJ is part of a scientific team that was   
   expected to leave on January 25th for the new Korean research station   
   currently under construction at Terra Nova Bay in Antarctica.   
      
   The new base is near the Italian Zucchelli Station and is scheduled to open   
   February 12th.  Look for operation by DS4NMJ using the call D8A to begin on   
   he air operations sometime in mid-February.  He plans to use 160 through 10   
   meters mostly on CW with some SSB and RTTY and says that he will be in   
   Antarctica until the end of January 2015.  QSL via HL2FDW.  (OPDX)   
      
   **   
      
   DX UP FRONT:  TE6U APPROVED FOR DXCC CREDIT   
      
   Also word from Bill Moore, NC1L at the ARRL Awards Desk that the  current   
   TE6U operation from Afghanistan has been approved for DXCC credit.  That   
   operation will continue through May 3rd of this year.   
      
   Also from NC1L is word that the 7Z1ES operation from Saudi Arabia has also   
   been approved for DXCC.  NC1L says that if you had this rejected in a recent   
   application send a note to him to bmoore (at) arrl (dot) org to be placed on   
   the list for an update to your account.   
      
   We will have more DX news later on in this weeks report. (ARRL, NC1L)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   Time for you to identify your station.  We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,   
   heard on bulletin stations around the world including the DoDropIn conference   
   server on Echolink.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO:  HAM RADIO AND FACEBOOK JOIN TOGETHER TO LOCATE HAM SAILING   
   AROUND THE WORLD   
      
   A woman in Tennessee recently took to the Ham Radio pages on Facebook to   
   seek assistance in locating her father who is sailing single handed around   
   the world.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the   
   newsroom with the rest of the story:   
      
   --   
      
   We won't hold you in suspense.  This is a story with a very happy ending.    
   It also shows how ham radio and social media can combine forces to provide   
   assistance to someone who was thought possibly to be in harms way.   
      
   The story begins on Tuesday, January 21st.  That's when Rachel Carmichael of   
   Mount Juliet, Tennessee took to the Facebook Ham Radio Operators forum with a   
   request for assistance in locating her father, Bill Carmichael, KK4UOR.  Bill   
   Carmichael was reported to be at sea and headed towards Belize on his   
   sailboat the Kairos.  Rachel Carmichael said the family had not heard from   
   her dad in 36 hours and that she could not reach him by satellite telephone.    
   She added that the family was very concerned about him.   
      
   Within minutes of her posting, numerous hams replied to her suggesting a   
   number of ways to help to find KK4UOR.  Among them were to notify the Coast   
   Guard, to post information on yachttrack.org and to enlist the help of the 20   
   Meter Maritime Mobile Services Net on 14 dot 300 MHz.   
      
   While we do not have all the details, it was the latter that seemed to be   
   the magic charm.  Within only a few hours word was past back to Rachel   
   Carmichael via Facebook from various ham radio operators monitoring the   
   situation that KK4UOR had been heard in contact with the Maritime Mobile   
   Services Net.  Most important that all was O-K on-board the Kairos.   
      
   As it turned out there was no emergency, but simply poor radio conditions   
   from where KK4UOR was and some unconfirmed satellite telephone interruption.    
   A bit later it was posted on Facebook that Bill Carmichael was back in   
   contact with his family via satellite telephone.  Later on, Rachel Carmichael   
   posted a thank you to all the hams that helped out.   
      
   In the Newsroom, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   Perhaps Michael Walker, VA3MW, summed it all up best when he posted a   
   comment that said - quote - "nicely done all.  As usual, ham radio comes   
   through as a very reliable technology that does not require help from   
   something high tech other than the Sun.  It does work when all else fails."   
      
   (KG6YTZ, VA3MW and others from the Facebook Ham Radio Operators Forum)   
      
   **   
      
   RESOURCES:  FCC WEBSITE FRONT PAGE TO MAKE PERMANENT CHANGE   
      
   The old FCC website entry port will soon be completely gone to be replaced   
   by a new front page at fcc.gov.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephen Kinford,   
   N8WB, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   For almost three years the Federal Communications Commission has maintained   
   a hybrid of both its old and new domains on its website.  Beginning Monday,   
   February 3rd, the transition front page will redirect automatically to the   
   new FCC.gov homepage.   
      
   As we go to air, the old front page can still be reached by a click to link   
   on the new front page but that will likely have disappeared by the time many   
   of you hear this.   
      
   But the good news is that the structure of the new front page is such that   
   all of your personal bookmarks to items once featured on the old page should   
   continue to work.  That should make the transition easier for everyone.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB, reporting.   
      
   --   
      
   The FCC says that only the front page is affected and the commission still   
   has many of the former bureau pages still in use.  (FCC, RW)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO HAPPENINGS:  BBC WILL HOST DRM GENERAL ASSEMBLY   
      
   The General Assembly of the Digital Radio Mondiale or DRM Consortium is   
   scheduled to meet March 26 and 27 at the British Broadcasting Corporation   
   headquarters in central London.  Themed "DRM in Action," the consortium will   
   invite attendees to consider the benefits of the digital radio standard and   
   its progress toward standardization.   
      
   The first day of the event will be open to all Digital Radio Mondiale   
   members and invited guests from the UK and abroad.  The morning will be   
   devoted to informative presentations on the benefits of digital radio.  In   
   the afternoon consortium members who are attending will be able to experience   
   of DRM while networking in the BBC's Radio Theatre.   
      
   (To register for the open events on March 26th please contact projectoffice   
   (at) drm (dot) org.)  (RW)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS:  W5KUB LOOKING FOR VIDEO BUMPERS FOR HAMVENTION WEBCAST   
      
   Turning to the ham radio social scene, how would you like to be on the   
   w5kub.com webcast from the 2014 Dayton Hamvention even if you can't be there   
   in person? Tom Medlin, W5KUB, says that he and his production team have   
   already started the planning for this year's Hamvention webcast and would   
   like to have you as a part of it.   
      
   According to Tom, his group is looking for short video greetings that can be   
   played during his time at Hamvention.  The video should be no more than  8 to   
   15 second long and should sound something like this:   
      
   --   
      
   Audio demonstration   
      
   --   
      
   There are loads of variations possible and you can make yours look and sound   
   as you might like.  Once completed, simply e-mail your video clip to Tom to   
   videos (at) w5kub.com.  Who knows:  You might find yours seen world wide this   
   Hamvention weekend over w5kub.com.  (W5KUB)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS:  YOUNGSTERS ON THE AIR 2014 IN FINLAND THIS SUMMER   
      
   Youngsters on the Air 2014 ham radio camp will take place July 15th to the   
   22nd in Finland.  This with 15 teams attending from different IARU Region 1   
   European member associations.   
      
   During the week teams will be participating in radio related activities   
   including radio-based competitions, visiting stations, taking part in   
   workshops, and the like.  As the three previous events in Romania, Belgium,   
   Netherlands and Estonia have shown, for young radio amateurs Youth in Amateur   
   Radio will be a great experience they will never forget.  More on this one is   
   at ham-yota.eu.  (IARU-R1)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS:  SOUTH AFRICA YOUTH WEEK   
      
   The South African Radio League will celebrate its youth week from February   
   10th to the 15th with a whole series of events that involve young hams in   
   that nation.  David Conradie, ZR6DHC reports:   
      
   --   
      
   Besides encouraging young radio amateurs to get on the air and make contact   
   during this week the SARL also hosts a youth week debate during which   
   amateurs under 20 years of age get the opportunity to show of their debating   
   skills. The topic of discussion is: "What does amateur radio offer young   
   people?"   
      
   There will also be a youth sprint to celebrate the Youth and to promote   
   contacts between young radio amateurs in Southern African countries.   
   Young amateurs are encouraged to call "CQ Youth Day" on Saturday 15 February   
   2014 from 10:00 to 12:00 South African Standard time, that is 08:00 and 10:00   
   UTC. The exchange is a RS report and the operator's age. The activity will be   
   on 40meters phone between 7 063 and  7 100 as well as 7 130 to 7 200 kHz   
      
   As part of Youth in Amateur Radio Week the SARL is hosting an essay   
   competition with the title "Amateur Radio your gateway to a career in   
   engineering and science. Young people under the age of 20 are invited to   
   explore how amateur radio has shaped the development of radio science and how   
   today amateur radio can be a gateway into an engineering, electronic and   
   science career.  Research the subject on the internet, talk to radio amateurs   
   and people in industry who came into the field through their amateur radio   
   activity,   
      
   For the amateur radio Newsline I am David Conradie, ZR6DHC, in Sunny South   
   Africa.   
      
   --   
      
   For more information on the South African Radio League's Youth Week Activity   
   please visitwww.hamradio.org.za http://visitwww.hamradio.org.za/  (ZR6DHC,   
   SARL)   
      
   **   
      
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS:  EASTERN VHF/UHF/MICROWAVE CONFERENCE IN APRIL   
      
   The 40th annual Eastern VHF-UHF and Microwave Conference will be held April   
   11th to the 13th.  The event is sponsored by the East Weak Signal Group and   
   will again will be held at the Baymount Inn and Suites in Manchester,   
   Connecticut.  For more information take your web browser to www.newsvhf.com   
   http://www.newsvhf.com/.  (Via press release)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  KC5FM / NNN0LAC NEW PIC FOR NAVY - MARINE MARS   
      
   Some names in the news.  First up is our good friend Lloyd Colston, KC5FM,   
   of Altus, Oklahoma.  Lloyd, who also holds the MARS call NNN0LAC has been   
   selected as the new Public Affairs Officer for the Navy and Marine Corp   
   Military Auxiliary Radio System.   
      
   Colston, an experienced journalist and also services the City of Altus as   
   their emergency management director.  He received his bachelor's degree in   
   journalism and speech from Northeastern Oklahoma State University and has   
   print and broadcast media experience.   
      
   In addition to this post, Colston also serves as the Oklahoma Section Public   
   Information Officer with the ARRL and holds membership with a number of   
   amateur radio groups including the Quarter Century Wireless Association.    
   (MARS)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  KY HAM TO SHAVE BEARD TO SUPPORT SPECIAL OLYMPICS   
      
   On a lighter note, the Murray Ledger & Times reports that Farmington,   
   Kentucky, ham radio operator John Piper, WB4ZZT, says that he is planning to   
   shave off his foot long beard to raise money for the Special Olympics.   
      
   The newspaper says that Piper hopes to raise $1500 or more through a   
   fundraising campaign on Facebook that would result in a public shaving on   
   February 15th.  That's the day of the fifth annual Polar Plunge in Marshall   
   County. The Special Olympics is to be the beneficiary of the event in which   
   participants jump into the frigid waters of this Kentucky Lake.   
      
   As an aside, Piper reportedly patterned the beard after those worn by   
   members of his favorite musical act the famed rock group ZZ Top. You can read   
   the full story at http://tinyurl.com/beard-special-olympics-shave)   
   http://tinyurl.com/beard-special-olympics-shave)  (Murray Ledger, Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  GET WELL QUICK TO DAVE BOOTH K6WFS   
      
   And wishes for a speedy recovery to our longtime friend Dave Booth, KC6WFS,   
   who is one of the moderators of Newsline's page on Facebook.  Dave underwent   
   back surgery on Wednesday January 29th.  According to the latest reports from   
   his family, Dave is now in recovery but may not be available on-line for a   
   while.  Get well wishes can be sent to Dave by e-mail to newsline (at)   
   arnewsline (dot) org or posted on the Amateur Radio Newsline Facebook page.    
   (ARNewsline)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 2   
      
   This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur.  We are the Amateur Radio   
   Newsline with links to the world from our only official website at   
   www.arnewsline.org http://www.arnewsline.org/ and being relayed by the   
   volunteer services of the following radio amateur:   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
   **   
      
   STRANGE TECHNOLOGY:  FTC SAYS FREE SMARTPHONE FLASHLIGHT APP GAVE AWAY   
   PHONES LOCATION   
      
   If you have ever wanted proof that you never get anything for nothing, then   
   here's the evidence.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Davis, W2JKD, tells us   
   about an app that secretly told marketers where you were:   
      
   --   
      
   The maker of a popular Android mobile app that turns a smartphone into a   
   flashlight has agreed to settle the Federal Trade Commission's charges that   
   the software secretly supplied cellphone locations to marketers.  This even   
   when consumers rejected its terms of service.   
      
   According to the FTC, the Brightest Flashlight Free app made note of a   
   phone's precise location and its unique code that identifies every such   
   device.  The company would automatically pass that information along to third   
   parties, including advertising networks, even though its privacy policy   
   stated initially that information would not be shared outside the company.   
      
   The FTC says it didn't seek financial restitution because the app was free.    
   A key part of the settlement is a requirement that, if the developer wants to   
   collect and share geolocation data, it must send a prominent disclosure   
   notice when the app launches. The company also has agreed to get a consumer's   
   consent before collecting or sharing the information.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Davis, W2JKD.   
      
   --   
      
   This particular case came to light because of the diligence of tech savvy   
   customers who questioned why a flashlight app would be interested in a   
   phone's geolocation.  The Federal Trade Commission said consumer concerns   
   posted online helped to tip off the agency.  (FTC)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT:  80 YEARS OF LABRE COMMEMORATIVE OPERATION   
      
   The Brazilian Amateur Radio League says that it will be celebrating its 80th   
   anniversary throughout the month of February by conducting a special on the   
   air operation.  During this period Brazilian Amateur Radio League stations   
   operating in various states will use special ZZ 80 prefix callsigns.  The   
   operation will be on all of the High Frequency bands plus 2 meters using   
   various modes.  All QSOs will be confirmed by commemorative QSL card from the   
   Brazilian Amateur Radio League.  (LABRE)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT:  HOMECOMING SCOTLAND EVENT SPECIAL CALL MODIFICATION   
      
   UK telecommunications regulator Ofcom has announced that it will allow radio   
   amateurs based in Scotland to apply for a special Regional Secondary Locator.   
   This to help them take part in the Homecoming Scotland event.   
      
   Based on a Notice of Variation, Ofcom will allow the inclusion of A for Alba   
   in their callsigns instead of the letter M.  Amateur radio licensees whose   
   main station address is in Scotland may apply for permission by visiting   
   www.rsgb.org/homescotland http://www.rsgb.org/homescotland. The Notice of   
   Variation is valid from January 25th to November 30th November of this year.    
   A Notice of Variation in the United Kingdom is similar to an FCC granted   
   Special Temporary Authority or STA here in the United States.   
   (RSGB)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  UNSA-SAT1 to be the first 3.4 GHz CubeSat   
      
   UNSA-SAT1 hopes to be the first CubeSat to make use of the 3400 MHz   
   Amateur-Satellite Service allocation.  The aims of this CubeSat include a   
   study of the upper atmosphere; radio communication experimentation;   
   technology demonstrations; education and outreach.   
      
   The design team is currently proposing that the tiny bird carry a 435 MHz   
   transceiver using BPSK modulation and additional transmitters at  2.4 GHz and   
   5.8 GHz. They also hope to have a BPSK downlink on 3.4 GHz that will only   
   operate in Region 2 when the spacecraft is over the ground station in Peru.    
   The ITU Amateur-Satellite allocation from 3400 to 3410 MHz is available in   
   ITU Regions 2 and 3 but not currently all across Region 1.  (AMSAT)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO IN SPACE:  TDRS-L SUCCESSFULLY ORBITED   
      
   NASA has announced the successful launch of its latest Tracking and Data   
   Relay Satellite called TDRS L.   
      
   This is the latest in a satellite network located that is some 22,000 miles   
   above the equator and allows continuous two-way contact with the space   
   station and its crew and other spacecraft like the Hubble Space Telescope.   
      
   While NASA is the primary user of the multi satellite TDRS system, it   
   occasionally assists other nations space agencies and the U.S. military.  And   
   back in 2002, a TDRS satellite allowed doctors in Massachusetts to oversee a   
   knee surgery performed at the South Pole.   
   (NASA)   
      
   **   
      
   SPACE TOURISM:  VIRGIN GALACTIC SPACE SHIP TWO SOARS TO MACH 1.4   
      
   Visiting space has taken another leap toward becoming a reality as we hear   
   from Amateur Radio Newsline's Hal Rogers, K8CMD:   
      
   --   
      
   Space tourism company Virgin Galactic sent its Space Ship Two reusable space   
   vehicle to new heights on Friday, January 10th.  This by rocketing the craft   
   nearly thirteen and a half miles in altitude and reaching a speed of Mach 1.4.   
      
   The craft left Mojave Air and Space Port at approximately 7:22 a.m. Pacific   
   Standard Time strapped to the White Knight Two carrier aircraft, which took   
   the space plane to around 46,000 feet. White Knight Two then dropped Space   
   Ship Two which used its own rocket motor to roar to 71,000 feet and setting a   
   new record for the craft.   
      
   This flight was the third supersonic, rocket-powered test of the Virgin   
   Galactic system after dozens of subsonic flights.  To date, the company has   
   accepted more than $80 million in deposits from approximately 680 people who   
   want to be among the first of those seeking rides on the tourist vehicle to   
   the edge of space.   
      
   I'm Hal Rogers, K8CND.   
      
   --   
      
   Virgin Galactic is a company within Sir. Richard Branson's Virgin Group   
   which plans to provide suborbital spaceflights for space tourists, suborbital   
   launches for space science missions, and orbital launches of small   
   satellites.  (Published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR:  CELEBRATING COSMONAUT YURI GAGARIN'S 80th BIRTHDAY   
      
   On the air, keep an ear open during the entire month of March for Russian   
   special event station UE80HS.  This operation is being held to celebrate the   
   80th anniversary of Russia's first astronaut Yuri Gagarin who was born on   
   March 9th 1934.  Gagarin was the first human to journey into space when his   
   Vostok spacecraft completed an orbit of he Earth on  April 12th, 1961.  If   
   you work UE80HS, please QSL via RW6HS.  (OPDX)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR:  THE BOSCH GROUP CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF HAM RADIO   
      
   Also, listen out for German special event station DK40BOSCH that will be   
   operational until December 31st.  This activity is to celebrate 40 years of   
   ham radio operations within the Bosch group.  QSL direct, via the bureau or   
   electronically using Logbook of the World.  (OPDX)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR:  CELEBRATING 400 YEARS OF NETHERLANDS AND SWEDEN FRIENDSHIP   
      
   From February 8th through March 7th, PA0FAW will be using the special   
   callsign PA400SM to help celebrate the 400 years of friendship between The   
   Netherlands and Sweden.  Most of this operation will be on CW, with some SSB   
   and digital modes when a suitable location is available.  QSL's and SWL   
   reports go via PA0FAW at his information on QRZ.com.  (OPDX)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, JF1CCH will be active as 8Q7TS from Hulhumale Island in the Maldives   
   from March 20th to the 31st.  Operations will be on 40 through 10 meters   
   using CW, SSB and RTTY. There's also a chance he may show up on 160 and 80m   
   meters as well.  QSL via his home callsign.   
      
   K1ZE, W1EQ and W1UJ will be on the air stroke KP2 from the rental Mountain   
   Breeze Villa on St. Croix between February 10th to the 17th.  Activity will   
   be on all HF bands using CW, SSB and RTTY.  QSL via their home callsigns.   
      
   WA2NHA will be active March 2nd to the 17th stroke P4 from Aruba.  His   
   operating will be on 80 through 10 meters mainly using CW. QSL via his home   
   callsign.   
      
   WS5K will be operational as PJ4F from the island of Bonaire between February   
   7th and March 9th.  Activity will probably be on the H-F bands, but no other   
   information was provided. If you work him QSL via direct to WS5K or   
   electronically using Logbook of the World.   
      
   W5JON who also holds the call V47JA will be on the air between February 19th   
   and March 25th from his vacation home in Calypso Bay on St. Kitts.  His   
   operation will be on 160 through 6 meters using SSB.  He will also be active   
   during the ARRL International DX SSB Contest that takes place March 1st and   
   2nd as a Single-Operator All-Band entry.  Also his wife  W5HAM will   
   occasionally operate as V47HAM. All QSLs go to W5JON direct or via LoTW. No   
   bureau QSLs for this one.   
      
   (Above from OPDX and other DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM:  NEWSLINE ANCHOR TO APPEAR ON ABC'S HIT TV SHOW NASHVILLE   
      
   And finally this week, word that one of the Newsline family -- anchor Jim   
   Damron, N8TMW -- will be appearing in an upcoming episode of the TV series   
   "Nashville."  In the show, Jim plays the part of a minister presiding over   
   the funeral of one of the show's characters.  His scene was shot mid-January   
   in the city of Nashville.  He tells us that it was a great experience for him:   
      
   --   
      
   N8TMW:  "It was a fun experience. The cast and crew were wonderful.  This   
   show is a top-notch production and I did get to work with most of the shows   
   regulars.  Really, really nice people."   
      
   --   
      
   Jim Damron is by profession an actor and voiceover artist who operates his   
   own audio production business in Charleston, West Virginia.  He also does   
   legal videography of depositions for attorneys.  His movie credits include   
   "Forrest Gump" and he recently finished a supporting role in the independent   
   film "The Tribunal."  N8TMW has also appeared in and voiced numerous   
   commercials, industrial and training videos and has also done numerous plays   
   on stage.   
      
   Nashville airs Wednesdays at 10 PM Eastern on the ABC Television Network.    
   As to when his episode will air, Jim says it should be soon.  He tells us   
   that his is Episode 215.  Jim also suggests that the best way to be certain   
   is to do a Google search for "Nashville TV Show Episodes List" to keep up   
   with the latest broadcast schedule.   
   (ARNewsline)   
      
   **   
      
   NEWSCAST CLOSE   
      
   With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio   
   Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB, the Southgate News,   
   TWiT-TV and Australia's WIA News, that's all from the Amateur Radio   
   Newsline(tm).  Our e-mail address is newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) org.    
   More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's(tm) only official   
   website located at www.arnewsline.org http://www.arnewsline.org/.  You can   
   also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), 28197 Robin   
   Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350   
      
   Before we go, we want to take a moment to welcome John Cerbus, W8CER, as the   
   3000th subscriber to this Amateur Radio Newsline page on Facebook.  John   
   joined us on Monday, January 21st.  If you are ham radio operator on Facebook   
   and wish to join our ever growing cyberspace ham radio family, just put   
   Amateur Radio Newsline into the Facebook search bar and that should take you   
   to our page.  We'll see you there.   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Don   
   Wilbanks, AE5DW, in Southern Mississippi saying 73 and we thank you for   
   listening.   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2014.  All rights reserved   
      
   ***   
      
   As a Service to the HAM Radio Community and HAM Operators all over the   
   world, this Amateur Radio Newline(tm) message has been gated from the   
   internet and posted to you by Waldo's Place USA, fidonet node 1:3634/12.   
   We hope you enjoyed it!   
      
   Please address all comments and questions to the ARNewsletter editor as   
   described in this posting. If you have any specific questions related   
   to the actual posting of this message, you may address them to   
   hamfdn(at)wpusa.dynip.com.   
      
   Thank you and good day!   
      
   -73- ARNTE-0.1.0-OS2 build 42   
   (text/plain utf-8 base64)   
      
      
    * Origin: (1:3634/12)