Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2115 for Friday, May 11, 2018   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2115 with a release date of Friday,    
   May 11, 2018 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a QST. It's almost time for the Dayton Hamvention. It's    
   also almost time for a big convention of the Wireless Institute of    
   Australia - and now it's time for Pubs & Clubs On the Air. All this and    
   more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2115 comes your way right now.   
      
   **   
      
   BILLBOARD CART   
      
   **   
   TOP STORY: TIME FOR DAYTON HAMVENTION   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: We open this week's report with the question: Are you ready    
   for the Dayton Hamvention? You'll notice new rigs for your shack and old    
   friends for those eyeball QSOs but....you'll notice some changes. Hap    
   Holly KC9RP, of the RAIN Report spoke with Brian Markland N8UDQ,    
   Hamvention's Inside Exhibit chair and shares these excerpts with us    
   about what's different.   
      
   BRIAN: "The first thing people will notice this year is our traffic    
   committee has worked really hard to work out the kinks that we had last    
   year. I would encourage everyone that is able to do so to use the    
   satellite parking. It makes it easier for everybody and we have put    
   something new in place for 2018 to help with the satellite parking. We    
   now have a package pickup area. So if you go out and you buy a five    
   hundred pound amplifier out in the flea market or some other large item    
   that you don't want to carry back on the bus you can check that at the    
   package pickup. They'll give you a ticket, you can go get your vehicle    
   and our volunteers will even help you load it in your vehicle if you    
   need assistance. That is one of the more significant things we have done    
   this year."   
      
   NEIL: Brian also told Hap that it will be easier to find the prize    
   booths, the vendor sites will be beneath weatherproof shelters instead    
   of tents, the grounds will be easier to navigate and oh yes, there will    
   be a greater variety of food trucks. Improved communication will include    
   text messages to cell phone users who sign up for updates. Brian said    
   that all this better organization for visitors has not meant less stress    
   for organizers -- but it has been worth it.   
      
   BRIAN: "No we are not less stressed about the show because We have a    
   finite number of hours to get an unknown number of things ready for 25    
   plus thousand people to show up and we have to open the gates 9 a.m.    
   Friday morning. Is it a little easier this year? In some respects yes    
   and in other respects it's just as hard because we want to put on the    
   best show possible for everybody."   
      
   NEIL: The full interview between Hap and Brian can be heard at the    
   website therainreport dot com (therainreport.com). Select the May 12th    
   program -- and then we'll see you in Dayton. Our thanks again to Hap    
   Holly for this excerpt.   
      
   (THE RAIN REPORT)   
      
   **   
      
   WIA'S BIG GATHERING DOWN UNDER   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: Of course, Hamvention isn't the only game in town. It just    
   depends what town you're talking about - as we hear from Graham Kemp VK4BB.   
      
   GRAHAM:   Every good Aussie Ham knows what's on between the 18th and    
   20th of May right? For those who said Dayton Hamvention, you're only    
   partly right as it's the Wireless Institute of Australia's Radio and    
   Electronics Convention on the Gold Coast of Queensland that's on that    
   same weekend and the Aussies intend to put on a show to remember!!   
      
   The organisers started by basing themselves at the Sea World resort with    
   all of it's attractions and facilities, then they added a party at the    
   Fishermans Wharf Tavern on the Friday evening and will follow it with an    
   action packed Saturday. The AGM is followed by the keynote address    
   "Beyond 2020", then a short lunch break before the action really starts    
   with seminars by ten technology leaders, educating attendees to be    
   abreast of all that is new in Amateur Radio.   
      
   Saturday evening, a time to relax? No chance!  It's the formal meal    
   hosted by Jeff Johnston taking all attending on a walk across Australia    
   and explaining the role HF radio played in his adventure.   
      
   Sunday IS the relaxation day, that's if you call a field day with    
   demonstrations of contemporary communications equipment used by    
   Queensland's emergency services, a moon bounce demonstration, MMDVM    
   demonstrations and demonstrations of equipment from vendors including    
   Icom and Flex Radio, relaxing.   
      
   Hey this wouldn't be an Australian event without a barbecue and of    
   course there is one, Sunday afternoon hosted by the Gold Coast Amateur    
   Radio Society.   
      
   We are sorry for those who will be unable to get to Australia this year    
   we hope your "little hamfest" in Ohio goes well. Oh and by the way, the    
   weather forecast is always sunny and no rain on the gold coast! Joking    
   apart, all the best to the Dayton organisers and we wish you a second    
   successful year at your new venue in Xenia.   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline this is Graham Kemp VK4BB   
      
   **   
   FOR AMSAT, THE SKY IS THE LIMIT IN HUNTSVILLE   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: Another venue - Huntsville, Alabama - is getting some extra    
   action after this summer's hamfest is through. Here's Andy Morrison    
   K9AWM with those details.   
      
   ANDY: If you think the Huntsville Hamfest this coming August is the    
   biggest amateur radio thing in Alabama this year, think again: Just a    
   few months later AMSAT-North America will be holding its annual Space    
   Symposium in the city. Space and satellite enthusiasts will converge on    
   the U.S. Space and Rocket Center November 2nd through 4th for the 36th    
   annual general meeting and symposium. So what's the big deal? In    
   addition to business as usual, there'll be a whole lot of amateur    
   satellite presentations on the agenda along with announcements of plans    
   for the world of amateur satellites.   
      
   Details can be found on the website amsat dot org (amsat.org) as well as    
   information about local hotel accomodations. Things are looking up -    
   way, way up! - in Huntsville.   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison K9AWM.   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR, THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES GO ON   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: If you're in a sporting mood and missing the recent    
   Commonwealth Games in Australia, you can still compete - in a way - as    
   we hear from John Williams VK4JJW.   
      
   JOHN'S REPORT: So you thought the Commonwealth games were over? Well    
   yes, they ended on the 15th of April but in Australia the game of radio    
   goes on and on - at least through the 31st of May. So there's still    
   plenty of time to contact special event station VI4GAMES, the call sign    
   the ACMA has assigned to the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society. You can    
   be as victorious as the athletes from Australia, England and India were,    
   among the more than 6,600 athletes representing 71 nations. You don't    
   even need to get on your rugby uniform or do any powerlifting.    
   Ultimately, successful contacts will win the best trophy of all: a    
   commemorative QSL card. Otherwise, you'll have to wait another four    
   years, when the games are held again -- this time in Birmingham, England.   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams VK4JJW.   
      
      
   **   
      
   TIME IS RUNNING FOR YHOTY NOMINATIONS   
      
   NEIL: Don't forget to send in your nominations for this year's Bill    
   Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award. We are accepting    
   nominations through May 31 - that's just days away. Candidates must be    
   18 or younger and be a resident of the United States, its possessions or    
   any Canadian province. Application forms are available on our website    
   arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab.   
      
      
   **   
      
   BREAK HERE:   
      
   Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline    
   heard on bulletin stations around the world including the AH6LE repeater    
   on Sundays at 6 p.m. in Beavercreek and Wilsonville Oregon.   
      
   **   
   RAISING A TOAST TO PUBS & CLUBS ON THE AIR   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: For members of the South Cheshire Amateur Radio Society    
   G6TW Saturday May 12th will not be easily forgotten. You might even say    
   that some of the hams will raise a little toast to the day. Jeremy Boot    
   G4NJH tells us why:   
      
   JEREMY: What comes after National Parks on the Air, Mills on the Air,    
   Railways on the Air, Summits on the Air and even Walmart Parking Lots on    
   the Air? Try Pubs & Clubs on the Air - PACOTA - which launched for the    
   first time this year with enthusiasm through the efforts of the South    
   Cheshire Amateur Radio Society here in the UK.   
      
   Confirmed stations with special-event call signs included GB0TGI at    
   Tuckers Grave Inn in Faulkland, Somerset; GB2ROY at the Royalty, York    
   Gate, Guiseley, Leeds; and GB4TRO The Royal Oak, Harriseahead,    
   Stoke-on-Trent.   
      
   A good deal of planning and preparation went into the launch according    
   to the event's official web pages, which are part of the South Cheshire    
   society's website at (g6tw.org.uk).   
      
   The event organiser, Chris Wiseman G0RDK, writes on the website that the    
   goal of the first-time event is to show members of the public the kind    
   of fun to be had by going on the air - and perhaps convince them to get    
   licensed and join us.   
      
   Of course, there's also the hope of making an intoxicating number of    
   radio contacts - but that's only kind of intoxication organisers had in    
   mind.   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.   
      
   (SOUTH CHESHIRE AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY)   
      
      
   **   
      
   HIGH SCHOOL HAMS PREP FOR IRLP OPERATION   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: There are a few more young hams in New York State's    
   Adirondack Mountain region thanks to efforts in one local school. We    
   hear more from Stephen Kinford N8WB.   
      
   STEPHEN: Amateur Radio Station W2MCS is just about ready for prime time.    
   The finishing touches are under way on IRLP Node 4592 and that will get    
   this small high school station connected.   
      
   The node isn't the only thing that's new inside Moriah Central High    
   School. The club itself is new and it has gained the support and    
   partnership of the local Champlain Valley Amateur Radio Club.   
      
   Teacher Matthew Pray K2AJO, the amateur radio coordinator for the    
   upstate New York school, told Amateur Radio Newsline that the genesis    
   for the station was a technology club he began last September at the    
   school.   
      
   With the help of Emmett Hoops, K2ADK, another staffer at the school,    
   things started happening, including classes to prep candidates for their    
   license exam. Now there are now four new hams - a brother and sister who    
   are students at the school and two more school staffers -- and there's a    
   shack in the Educational Technology Center. There are three VHF/UHF    
   antennas atop and a whole lot of cable donated by a local company. The    
   newest development is a second shack, said Matthew: someone donated a    
   mobile radio and power supply with antenna.   
      
   Meanwhile, the IRLP is configured with a desktop computer and there's a    
   donated radio connected so once they're on the air, be listening. You    
   may not be the only one listening for long, either: Next year, Matthew    
   hopes a few other folks will be listening too: He plans to apply to the    
   ARISS program so the youngsters can talk to the astronauts on board the    
   International Space Station.   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Stephen Kinford N8WB   
      
   (MATTHEW PRAY K2AJO)   
      
   **   
      
   PROGRESS ON COSTA RICA'S WINLINK NODE NETWORK   
      
   NEIL: There's a new emergency communications network in the making - and    
   Kevin Trotman N5PRE has those details.   
      
   KEVIN: The ITU\92s plan to establish a Winlink node network in the    
   Dominican Republic and Central America recently moved ahead by    
   significant degrees with the signing of a memorandum of understanding    
   this month between the Radio Club of Costa Rica and the Fire Department    
   of Costa Rica. The MOA establishes the Winlink Node Network that is    
   expected provide enhanced capacity to respond in emergencies and natural    
   disasters when alternate communications systems are needed. The Winlink    
   network, also a form of email over radio, has been seen as a tremendous    
   asset in emergency communications, especially when local internet    
   services are cut off during natural and manmade disasters. The    
   memorandum was signed on the 2nd of May.   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman N5PRE.   
      
   (SOUTHGATE, ITU)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLD OF DX   
      
   In the World of DX, be listening for Adam, SP4CUF, in Poland. He is    
   celebrating 40 years of ham radio activity by operating on various HF    
   bands with the special callsign HF40CUF. QSL via his home callsign.   
      
   A group of operators including Doug/W6HB, Bruce/AD7MM and Marilyn/KI7DLK    
   will be active as E51DLD, E51BAS and E51MAS respectively - with other    
   team members - from Rarotonga Island until the 25th of May. You may also    
   hear Jim/E51JD and Bob/E51BQ. These operations will be holiday style on    
   various HF bands and in various modes. Two of the stations will operate    
   with 100 watts and wire antennas. QSL via their home callsigns.   
      
   In the Canary Islands, members of the Uni\F3n de Radioaficionados    
   Espa\F1oles EA8URL is operating as EG8CID through the 30th of May to    
   celebrate Canary Islands Day. Operations will be on all bands and modes.    
   QSL via LoTW or via EA8URL.   
      
   Be listening for Walter HB9XBG operating as FO/HB9XBG from Bora Bora    
   Island in French Polynesia between June 7-17th. Activity will be on 20    
   meters SSB. QSL via his home callsign.   
      
      
   (OHIO PENN DX)   
      
   **   
      
   KICKER: STRAIGHT KEY IS A SILENT KEY   
      
   NEIL: Finally, we end this week's report with a story of a reluctant    
   ending. Paul Braun WD9GCO has a story of a very special kind of Silent Key.   
      
   PAUL: We all know that empty moment when we learn of another Silent Key    
   - but what happens when the Silent Key is bigger than just one person?    
   What does it mean when a group like the Morse Telegraph Club's British    
   Columbia chapter goes silent?   
      
   The 10 remaining members of the chapter gathered for their final meeting    
   on the 26th of April in a Canadian retirement community. The gathering    
   had 21 guests in all because a few of the members brought their adult    
   children.   
      
   One member, Chris Naylor, age 87, called the moment the "closing of an    
   era." Another member, Doug Taylor, age 78, said "our ranks are thin. I'm    
   a bit sad."   
      
   As always, however, Morse Code proved once again to be a blessing to    
   them all - this time in a very literal sense. In fact, at the luncheon    
   meeting, retired Lutheran pastor Alfred Johnson, age 92, offered grace    
   over the meal by tapping out a prayer of thanks using a straight key.   
      
   Dessert followed and the icing on the cake - a festive sheet cake - had    
   the image of a small straight key and the accompanying words \93What    
   Hath God Wrought.\94 That is the Biblical text sent through the first    
   U.S. telegraph line on May 24 1844. It was the beginning of the age of    
   the telegraph and  proved the last message the chapter would send as a    
   group.   
      
   And then - silence.   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun WD9GCO   
      
   (THE SURREY NOW-LEADER NEWSPAPER)   
      
   **   
      
   NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Labs; the ARRL; CQ Magazine; Dayton    
   Hamvention; Hap Holly and the Rain Report; the ITU; Matthew Pray K2AJO;    
   Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin; the South Cheshire Amateur Radio Society;    
   Southgate Amateur Radio News; The Surrey Now-Leader Newspaper; Ted    
   Randall's QSO Radio Show; the Wireless Institute of Australia; WTWW    
   Shortwave; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio    
   Newsline. Please send emails to our address at newsline@arnewsline.org.    
   More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's only official    
   website at www.arnewsline.org.   
      
   For now, with Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT, at the news desk in New York,    
   and our news team worldwide, I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG in Bloomington,    
   Indiana saying 73 and as always we thank you for listening.   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.   
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
   --    
      
      
      
   73   
   James-KB7TBT   
   www.arnewsline.org   
   www.ylsystem.org   
      
      
      
      
   -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-   
   Groups.io Links:   
      
   You receive all messages sent to this group.   
      
   View/Reply Online (#1029): https://groups.io/g/ARNewsline/message/1029   
   View All Messages In Topic (1): https://groups.io/g/ARNewsline/topic/19175613   
   Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/19175613/929223   
   New Topic: https://groups.io/g/ARNewsline/post   
      
   Change Your Subscription: https://groups.io/g/ARNewsline/editsub/929223   
   Group Home: https://groups.io/g/ARNewsline   
   Contact Group Owner: ARNewsline+owner@groups.io   
   Terms of Service: https://groups.io/static/tos   
   Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/ARNewsline/leave/2103143/629458047/xyzzy   
   -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-   
      
      
   ***   
      
   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)