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|    10 Sep 15 22:00:06    |
      Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1976 with a release date of Friday,        September 11, 2015 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.              The following is a QST. A bright young undergraduate makes sense of        solar flares and propagation. India works to grow its ham radio        community. A Texas hamfest prepares for the FCC's former top enforcer.        And a Netherlands fox hunt takes to the sky. All this and more in        Amateur Radio Newsline report 1976 coming your way right now.              (Billboard Cart Here and Intro)              **       SOLAR FLARES AND PROPAGATION              Just as many of the nation's students are returning to the classroom,        one student at Virginia Tech is still receiving accolades and high marks        for a research project he worked on last year. Carson Squibb, KM4MBQ,        looked at HF propagation during X-Class solar flares, using the Amateur        Radio Reverse Beacon Network. Amateur Radio Newsline's Kent Peterson,        K-C-ZERO-D-G-Y (KC0DGY), has this report:              [KENT'S TRACK]: Sometimes being a reporter for AR Newsline is pretty        easy when an articulate ham is on the other end of a Skype call.              "I'm Carson Squibb and I'm KM4MBQ.I am attending Virgina tech and right        now I'm a Junior in aerospace engineering. Both my parents worked        actually for NASA at Goddard space flight center in Maryland and that's        where they met and also strongly helped my interest in aerospace. I've        always really been interested in planes and aircraft its really        fascinating and I think there's a lot of cutting edge innovations in        aerospace and I wanted to be a part of that.              KENT: Squibb gathered ionospheric data during solar flare events using        the ham radio reverse beacon network and explains how it works.              "The reverse beacon network is this global series of passive receivers        and they listen to and record communications links achieved by amateur        radio operators."              KENT: In his research project Squibb also used something called the        super dual auroral radar network.              "Super DARN is this global array of high frequency radar stations, so        what they're doing is just monitoring the ionosphere, so they can       look at the motion of the ionosphere or the strength of it and how that        varies from day to day or from time of day."              "I was looking at the ground scatter band, which what that's doing the        super darn stations area broadcasting HF signal up into the ionosphere        and then that is refracting back down to the earth and during a solar        flare which I was studying that would drop out because of absorption."              KENT: Squibb has a technician class ham license, but he has managed to        get on HF.              "Not much by myself, my Dad Brian Squibb he has is general license. and        he is W4PAJ and through him I've been able to talk a bit through HF."              KENT: Squibb says this raw HF propagation data is already out there              "Most of the tools I was using are open source, so really anyone could        have been doing the research I was using and anyone can continue in the        future. I think that is one of the major takeaways in this that is not        exclusive to a university. Someone in the civilian setting could easily        do the same research this is an area which hasn't been studied as much        as it should for something that's so important when using the reverse        beacon network I mean it's amateur radio operators everyday people        creating this data and its so interesting how you can see these real        world effects in this citizen science."              KENT: Squibb plotted data from X class flares occurring in October 2014        and March 2015 and precisely documented global HF signal loss and        duration during these and other events.              For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson, K-C-ZERO-D-G-Y.              ANCHOR TAG: Carson Squibb's research study was published by Virginia        Tech and you'll find the link to his research materials in the printed        edition of this week's Amateur Radio Newsline.              (http://vt.superdarn.org/tiki-download_file.php?fileId66)              **              INDIA'S NEXT GENERATION OF HAMS              Various schools in India have been cultivating a new generation of        student hams - with potentially another Carson Squibb among them. More        than 30 youngsters from Focus High School in Hyderabad paid a visit        earlier this month to the National Institute of Amateur Radio in that        same city and spent the day learning Morse Code and phonetics. They also        watched videos and demos on transmitter fox hunting and on VHF/UHF        operations. Then, in tribute to the history of all they had learned        about in amateur radio, the students visited the Radio Museum located on        the property to learn about the history of hams in India. If all goes        well, some of the students might well find themselves back on the museum        campus in a few short years, sitting for their licensing exams.              Meanwhile, Patna University, the seventh oldest university in India,        recently trained its students in a five-day disaster responsiveness        workshop, demonstrating how ham radio plays a big role in crisis        recovery. The Indian Red Cross Society, the Bihar State Disaster        Management Authority and the National Institute of Technology-Patna        coordinated the program, which illustrated how amateur radio becomes a        key communications tool especially during such disasters as floods, when        other networks fail.              (NIAR, SOUTHGATE, THE TIMES OF INDIA)              **              NOT-SO-POETIC LICENSE              According to a recent report, the present generation of hams in India        appears to be holding its own as a somewhat stable, but steadily growing        population. The latest compilation from India's Ministry of        Communications and Information Technology notes that 244 new amateur        licenses were issued between April and September of 2014, with an        estimated 250 more expected between October 2014 and March 31 of this year.       The licensing process in India is notoriously slow, taking an average of        45 days or more.       The 494 licenses in the most recent report compare favorably with        figures from the previous year's report, which notes that 366 licenses        were issued to new stations in India between 2013 and 2014, and another        414 previously licensed stations were renewed.              Korea, by contrast, has not shown such optimistic numbers. In a recent        report submitted to the International Amateur Radio Union Region 3        conference, set to take place next month, The Korean Amateur Radio        League reports a 22 percent drop in amateur radio stations, from 45,999        in 2009 to 35,944 this year.              Korea reports that efforts have been made to boost the hobby there. A        Fourth Class Amateur Radio License was made available beginning in July        2013, giving operators permission to use the VHF/UHF bands on a maximum        10 watts output. Since that time, Korea has issued licenses in this        class to 5,669 amateurs. In addition, the establishment of a 144 MHz        repeater on a mountaintop, giving a 500 km range, is credited with        helping boost the hobby's struggling viability.              (SOUTHGATE AMATEUR RADIO NEWS)              **              THE BEST FESTS              For hams in Texas and beyond, the Greater Houston Hamfest just got a        whole lot greater: The featured speaker at the March 19, 2016 event is        going to be Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, the FCC's former top cop.       Hollingsworth had been the FCC's Special Counsel for Amateur Radio since        1998, joining the newly created Enforcement Bureau that year. The        Gettysburgh, Pennsylvania resident retired from the agency in 2008.        Hollingsworth, a ham since 1960, is a frequent speaker at amateur radio        gatherings. He recently accepted the invitation to attend the hamfest        which, last year, had more than 1,000 attendees in Houston. The Greater        Houston Hamfest is sponsored by the Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club.       Meanwhile, get ready for another supersized hamfest coming a little        sooner - the Peoria Superfest in Illinois on Sept. 18 through 20. The        region's largest hamfest will feature keynote speaker, Bob Bruninga,        WB4APR, the developer of APRS, and Chris Wilson N-ZERO-C-S-W, of Yaesu,        who will discuss Fusion Technology. FCC licensing exams will be given on        Saturday, Sept. 19.       (RON LITT, K5HM, ARRL)              **              SATELLITES: TWO THAT SIZZLE, ONE THAT FIZZLE              The August 27 QSO between a ham in Little Rock, Arkansas and Trouy,        France is being called a record-setting satellite contact. On that day,        at 17:32 Universal Time, Dave Swanson, KG5CCI, operating portable atop        an Arkansas mountain, answered a CQ from Christophe Lucas, F4CQA, in        France.              Only later did the two hams calculate the distance between them,        reaching consensus at 7,599 km - or roughly 4,712 miles. They were using        satellite FO-29.              Swanson explains the revelation that came next: QUOTE: "To the best of        our knowledge, referencing data found on AMSAT-UK's website, this breaks        the previous distance records of 7537.799 km between W5CBF and G4DOL,        and 7538.685 km between K4FEG and DK1TB" ENDQUOTE, he said.              A few days later, on Sept. 5, Swanson is said to have created yet        another record, via the OSCAR 7 satellite, in a contact with Manuel        EA5TT. Swanson was working atop an old U.S. Forest Service Fire Tower in        western Arkansas and Manuel was in Valencia, Spain. Their QSO covered a        distance of 7947 km.              Unfortunately, the so-called $50 Amateur Radio "PocketQube"        microsatellite, also known as Eagle 2, has not been enjoying the same        kind of good fortune. News reports indicate that the satellite, also        known as MO-76, went silent this summer a few days short of being in        orbit for 20 months. Although it did not carry an Amateur Radio        transponder, it transmitted on 437.505 MHz with 100 mW of power. One of        its developers, Michael Kirkhart, KD8QBA, reported in a Yahoo Groups        posting that the last time he heard the satellite was July 19.              He later told the ARRL, QUOTE: "It was fun while it lasted." ENDQUOTE              (AMSAT NEWS SERVICE, ARRL)                            BREAK HERE:              Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio        Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the        W4WVP repeater of the Arlington Amateur Radio Club of Arlington, Virginia.                     ** **              **              CRAZY LIKE A FOX HUNT              The forecast looks bright for a special weather balloon being launched        on Sunday, September 13, in the Netherlands. The balloon is carrying a        special payload: an amateur radio transponder.              The 37th annual hunt, sponsored by Radio Club Gooi, PI4RCG, will be on.        An estimated thousand or more hams will set out on an electronic chase        of this flying fox of sorts, which is expected to have radio coverage        reaching France, Germany, Belgium, the UK and of course, the Netherlands        and nations beyond. The signals will be on 2 meters at 200 milliwatts of        power and a 13cm Amateur Television transmitter at 1 watt. A special        event station will broadcast on 40 meters exchanging reception reports,        balloon data and engaging in QSOs in support of the event.              **       NO BRIDGE TOO FAR              A more earthbound form of travel - the railroad - is being celebrated on        Saturday, Sept. 12. The Historic Bridges Centennial Commemoration,        hosted by N3SRC, will honor the travel improvements made along the        Lackawanna Railroad between New York City and upstate Buffalo in the        early 1900s. Those improvements included, of course, the building of new        bridges.       The Susquehanna County Amateur Radio Club has created the two-day event        to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the bridges' opening. For        information on certificates for QSOs with N3SRC, visit the club's        Facebook page.       **              SWAPMEET FOR DAYTON AREA HAMS              You don't need to be a ham to attend the Mound Amateur Radio        Association's fourth annual swapmeet and open house on September 19 in        Miamisburg, Ohio. But you might leave there WANTING to be a ham. Anyone        can attend the event in Mound Historical Park - especially anyone        interested in studying to take their licensing exam. Hams, of course,        are especially welcome, and those wishing to sell their own personal        radios or shack-related equipment are free to do so. On the other hand,        if you can't get there but want to be there in spirit, talk in will be        on the repeater at 147.195 MHz.              (Mound Amateur Radio Society website)              **              KICKS ON ROUTE 66              Radio amateurs, start your engines - or at the very least, turn on your        rigs. The annual on-air celebration of Route 66, also known as The        Mother Road, revs up on Saturday, Sept. 12 and will go the distance        through Sunday Sept. 20. Twenty-one mobile stations and area clubs along        the route will be sharing the romance and memories of the route, which        begins in Chicago and ends in Santa Monica, California. The Citrus Belt        Amateur Radio Club in San Bernardino, California, is organizing the        event, which is in its 16th year. Operators will be using special        one-by-one call signs, aiming for as many worldwide QSOs as possible.                     NY GETS READY TO PARTY              It's not too early to plan a party, especially in New York. So the        Rochester DX Association has already equipped its website, www.nyqp.org,        with everything a successful partygoer needs to be ready for the big        weekend that starts Saturday, October 17. The modes will be Phone, CW        and RTTY/Digital. Looks like there's plenty of space for a QSO party        this big - New York State has 62 counties and every one's worth points!              (Rochester DX Association)              ** **              BOYS SCOUTS ARE PREPARED              Radio amateurs can take a lesson from the Boy Scouts and prepare now for        this event next month: The worldwide Boy Scouts Jamboree On The        Air/Jamboree On the Internet is taking place during the weekend of        October 16 through 18th. The call sign of K2BSA will be in use in nearly        every call district in the U.S. for this year's Jamboree, Scouting's        58th such event.              The Jamboree is the world's largest scouting event. According to the        World Scout Bureau, more than 1 million Scouts were involved last year,        reaching 157 countries, operating from 11,500 stations. Nearly 20,000        radio amateurs worldwide also participated, giving their support, the        bureau said.              While there are no merit badges for hams who register early for this        year's Jamboree, it's recommended. Hams are asked to contact their local        Scout councils to either work with an established special station, or        set one up using your own shack.              **       THE REAL THING: ERIKA'S STORM OF DAMAGE              The cleanup continues in Dominica, where Tropical Storm Erika was        bearing down in late August. Part of that recovery work has included        setting up emergency telecommunications equipment, deployed recently by        the International Telecommunication Union. Satellite phones, solar        chargers, laptops, and Broadband Global Area Networks are being used to        help coordinate relief efforts and keep communication lines open while        communities count their losses from flooding and landslides. Shortly        after Erika subsided, the government declared nine disaster areas in the        Caribbean island.              Kelver Darroux, Minister of Information, Science, Telecommunications and        Technology, expressed his gratitude publicly, saying: QUOTE        "Communication is vital in the aftermath of any disaster. The emergency        telecommunication equipment we have received from ITU brings us a step        closer in our recovery process."ENDQUOTE              Brahima Sanou, director of the ITU's telecommunications development        bureau, added: QUOTE"After a natural disaster, not a single life should        be lost because of the break down in telecommunication services. The        emergency communication equipment sent by ITU will provide vital links        to coordinate relief and rescue efforts in Dominica."ENDQUOTE              (ITU Press Release)              **              THE SIMULATION: 'EARTHQUAKE' IN MALTA              The "disaster" earlier this month in Malta wasn't for real - but the        response from radio amateurs certainly was. A simulated 7.6 magnitude        earthquake on Sept. 3 mobilized The Malta Amateur Radio League, working        with the Malta Civil Protection Department right up through Sept. 5.              Close to 220 emergency services messages were relayed by the hams, who        also provided mobile radio backup in areas unserved by repeaters. There        was also ham radio ATV service streaming from the site of the exercise        to where the operation was based. The hams employed digital modes for        photos and text files and aided in setting up IT and other forms of        technical support.              (Internatinoal Amateur Radio Union, Region 1)              ** **       THE WORLD OF DX              C6 BAHAMAS,              Randy, K5SL, is active as C6ASL from Freeport, Grand Bahama Island        (NA-080) through Sept. 18, with his active time on 40 meters through 17        meters holiday style. He will be using SSB and CW, concentrating on the        WARC bands. Send QSL cards via K5GS.              D4, CAPE VERDE,              Chris, DL2MDU and Heike DL3HD will be operating from Boa Vista Island        (AF-086) between Sept. 11 and 25th as D44TUK and D44TUQ respectively.        The pair will be active on 80 through 10 meters in CW and digital modes,        holiday style. Send QSL cards via DL2MDU.              FO, FRENCH POLYNESIA.              Heinz, D-F-ONE-Y-P (DF1YP), is active from Moorea Island (OC-046)        through October 1st, as FO/DF1YP. He will work SSB holiday style mostly        on 20 meters. He can receive QSL cards via his home call sign, direct or        via the German Amateur Radio Bureau.              Members of the Black Country DX and Contest Club, based in the English        West Midlands, will be operating as M-S-ZERO-OH-X-E (MS0OXE) on Fair        Isle through Sept. 15. Fair Isle is considered the most remote inhabited        island in the UK. The IOTA reference for this DXpedition is EU-012. Send        QSL cards to M0URX.              Sam, F6AML has returned to Mayotte Island in the Indian Ocean and has        reactivated the call sign TX6A. Send QSL cards to his home call.              A reminder that the international Enigma Event takes place beginning        Sept. 12 and runs through Sept. 25, with special call signs IO4ENG and        IQ4FE. Ham radio messages will be exchanged over the air but will carry        encryption with the Enigma code of World War II. For details visit the        event's official website, www.enigma-reloaded.it              (OHIO PENN DX NEWSLETTER, IRISH RADIO TRANSMITTERS SOCIETY)              ** **              KICKER: LIVE LONG AND PROPAGATE              And now for a postscript to last week's story about the honors bestowed        recently upon Charlie Hellman, W2RP, of Hastings-on-Hudson, New York,        for his longevity on the planet as well as on the air. After the Quarter        Century Wireless Association honored the 105-year-old for his amateur        radio record, California ham Marcel Stieber, AI6MS, stepped forward to        introduce a slightly older and still active radio amateur -- Harry Wolf,        W6NKT, of Morro Bay, California. Licensed since 1936, Wolf is 106 years old.              A retired educator like Hellman, Wolf has been anything BUT retiring.        Four years ago, at the age of 102, he received ample press coverage in        the San Luis Obispo Tribune for his radio demonstrations at Field Day in        Tidelands Park. Last year, California's Information Press profiled him        for his continued work teaching the public about the powers of ham radio.              The report said hams who want a QSO with Wolf should consider working 10        meters or 20 meters, the most frequent bands he visits. Although most        recently, the report said, Wolf has been sticking to CW because Morse        Code is easier for him to hear. But no matter the mode, he is always        looking to answer a call.              (San Luis Obispo Tribune, ARRL, The Information Press)              ***              NEWSCAST CLOSE              With thanks to Alan Labs, the ARRL, AMSAT News Service; CQ Magazine, DX        Coffee, DXWorld, Greg Mossop G0DUB; Hap Holly and the Rain Report; The        Information Press; IARU Region 1; the ITU; Mound Amateur Radio        Association; National Institute of Amateur Radio; the Ohio-Penn DX        Newsletter; Rochester DX Association; San Luis Obispo Tribune; Southgate        Amateur Radio News, TWiT TV, the Quarter Century Wireless Association;        QRZNOW, Virginia Tech University; and you our listeners, that's all from        the Amateur Radio Newsline. Our email address is        newsline@arnewsline.org. More information is available at Amateur Radio        Newsline's only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can        also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline, 28197 Robin        Avenue, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.              For now, with Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT, at the news desk in New York,        and our news team worldwide, I'm Don Wilbanks AE5DW in South        Mississippi, saying 73 and as always we thank you for listening.              Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2015. 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 quoted-printable)                      * Origin: (1:3634/12)    |
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