Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2123 for Friday, July 6, 2018   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2123 with a release date of Friday,    
   July 6, 2018 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a QST. The World Radiosport Team Championship is almost    
   here. The U.S. Technician license exam arrives - and the FCC settles a    
   four-year-old case with a Pennsylvania amateur. All this and more as    
   Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2123 comes your way right now.   
      
   **   
      
   BILLBOARD CART   
      
   **   
      
   GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT WITH PENNSYLVANIA AMATEUR   
      
   DON/ANCHOR: We open this week's report with word from the government    
   that it has settled a four-year-old interference case with a ham in    
   Pennsylvania. He's paying a hefty fine and losing some privileges, as we    
   hear from Andy Morrison K9AWM.   
      
   ANDY: A North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania ham radio operator has agreed to    
   pay a $7,000 fine for creating interference on the amateur radio bands,    
   according to the U.S. attorney's office. The government announced a    
   settlement on July 3 with Brian Crow K3VR dating back to the    
   government's charges that on March 14, 2014 he interfered with other    
   radio amateurs and failed to identify himself by call sign. A press    
   release from the U.S. attorney's office also noted that the settlement    
   reduces his operating class to Technician for the next six months.    
   According to the FCC, if no new violations occur, his Amateur Extra    
   operating privileges will be restored.   
      
   An FCC press release called the fine "a substantial payment for an    
   amateur operator."   
      
   Brian Crow has held an amateur radio license since 1976.   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison K9AWM   
      
   (U.S. Attorney's Office, FCC)   
      
   **   
   ONE WEEK TO GO UNTIL WRTC KICKS OFF   
      
   DON/ANCHOR: Are you ready for the biggest global radio challenge of the    
   year? It's almost here. Ed Durrant DD5LP has this report on how you can    
   be involved in this championship contest without having to travel to    
   Germany.   
      
   ED'S REPORT: It's less than a week to go to the World Championships of    
   Amateur Radio and the Organisers need YOUR help. In order to    
   test-the-metal of the 63, two person teams during the IARU HF contest on    
   the 14th & 15th of July, they need you to call as many of the WRTC    
   stations as possible. In return, there are awards to be won, along with    
   the respect and thanks of the organisers.   
      
   Once you've worked all the stations, do you want to stay involved in the    
   competition? Well you can through watching the real-time on-line    
   scoreboard, the daily video news programs and the live-streamed opening    
   and closing ceremonies, but please, just get on the bands and keep    
   calling until you get through to the stations.   
      
   The call signs of the stations will be announced during the    
   live-streamed opening ceremony on Thursday as well as being posted to    
   the event web site in plenty of time for the contest start on Saturday    
   at 12:00 UTC.   
      
   To those coming to Wittenberg, whether competitors, judges, volunteers    
   or visitors, the organisers look forward to welcoming you, for those    
   can't attend, all the competitors look forward to working you on the HF    
   bands.   
      
   Full details are at the www.wrtc2018.de website (this including links to    
   the live-streaming videos, daily TV info programs and the on-line    
   scoreboard).   
      
   Getting packed to go up to Wittenberg this has been Ed Durrant DD5LP.   
      
   **   
   NORTH AMERICAN HOLIDAYS KEEP THE BANDS BUSY   
      
   DON/ANCHOR: There's nothing like patriotism to get hams on the air and    
   keep them there. Kevin Trotman N5PRE tells us why hams in the U.S. and    
   Canada started July with a full calendar.   
      
   KEVIN: The bands over North America seem to be getting no rest, not even    
   after Field Day. Radio Amateurs of Canada brought the annual Canada Day    
   contest to the air on Sunday, July 1. Hams found the action on HF as    
   well as 6 and 2 meters and everyone wanted to score big. It was, after    
   all, Canada's birthday celebrating the Constitution Act which turned    
   three provinces into one country solidifying the Canadian identity.   
      
   South of its shared border with the U.S., an American Independence Day    
   tradition kicked off on the air that same day. The tenth annual 13    
   Colonies Event began with hams chasing contacts in states that comprised    
   the 13 original colonies. They chased two bonus stations as well:    
   WM3PEN, the Holmesburg Amateur Radio Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania    
   and GB13COL operated by the Durham and District Amateur Radio Society in    
   England where, of course, the colonies all began. If you're hearing this    
   after 0400UTC on Friday - or midnight Eastern Time - that event is all    
   over but the counting of the contacts.   
      
   Finally, a less competitive event brought Canada and the U.S. together    
   on DMR - also on July 1. This was the Sunday night Midnight Hour Net on    
   TAC 310. Hams checking in here from both sides of the border simply    
   reported traffic, if there was any, and wished one another well for    
   their respective holidays.   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Kevin Trotman N5PRE.   
      
   **   
      
   A LIGHTHOUSE ACTIVATION AND A TRIBUTE   
      
   DON/ANCHOR: Nova Scotia's Port Bickerton Lighthouse has a story that's    
   about to get a new chapter -- as we hear from Kent Peterson KC0DGY.   
      
   KENT'S REPORT: Canadian radio amateur Billy Budge VE1AAO created his    
   first tribute to his father a number of years ago with the publication    
   of a book that tells his family's story when they lived on St. Paul    
   Island. Fred Budge was the lighthouse-keeper there starting in 1955 and    
   the book "Memoirs of a Lightkeeper's Son" recalls those years. There's    
   now a second tribute planned for Billy's father. On July 13th through    
   15th, the Pictou County Amateur Radio Club and the Maritime Lighthouse    
   Amateur Radio Group are activating the Port Bickerton Lighthouse on Nova    
   Scotia's Eastern Shore. Fred Budge had been a lighthouse-keeper there as    
   well from 1960 to 1977.   
      
   Using the callsign VE1UW, the hams will be on the air for 48 hours,    
   dedicating their activation to Fred Budge. They will honor him from a    
   lighthouse that has remained a beacon of safety for more than a century    
   for those sailing the North Atlantic.   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Kent Peterson KC0DGY.   
      
   (GEORGE DEWAR, VY2GF)   
      
   **   
      
   IN THE MARKET FOR A CHALLENGE AT MARKET REEF   
      
   DON/ANCHOR: On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean another lighthouse    
   is about to see a different kind of action. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us    
   more.   
      
   JEREMY: The lighthouse on a small reef between Sweden and Finland is    
   about to provide an unprecedented opportunity for an international group    
   of young radio amateurs. They will be on the air at the Market Reef    
   Lighthouse, a DXCC entity. operating as OJ-0C from 21st to 28th July.   
      
   Their activities are being sponsored by the Finnish Lighthouse Society    
   and the Amateur Radio League of Finland, in conjunction with    
   OH-DX-Foundation (OHDXF) and DX University. The organizers are calling    
   this activity “International Youth at Sea.”   
      
   Their operations on the air will be supplemented by instruction in    
   operating the radio equipment, managing pileups, an introduction to    
   digital modes and, just as importantly, safety and survival. That fact    
   is not insignificant: The Market Reef lighthouse is anything but a safe    
   haven: set at sea level, waves cover it at times and it has no jetty, so    
   landings must be accomplished via small inflatable boats.   
      
   The operators, all of whom are between 16 and 25 years of age, are also    
   part of a cultural exchange that is to be repeated sometime in August.   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH   
      
   (DXWORLD)   
      
   **   
   FIRST TO TAKE U.S. TECH TEST ARE IN AUSTRALIA   
      
   DON/ANCHOR: The new exam for the U.S. Technician license made its debut    
   - but not where you might think. John Williams VK4JJW has that story.   
      
   JOHN: In case you were wondering where in the United States the first    
   new Technician exam was given with the new set of questions - well, keep    
   wondering. It wasn't in the U.S at all but in Australia. Two candidates,    
   Ward and John, sat for the test at a hangar in Bankstown Airport in    
   Sydney at 8 a.m. local time on Sunday, July 1. But wait - it was still    
   Saturday afternoon in the States! Getting a jump on things nonetheless    
   were VEs Julian AG6LE, Bob AC1CZ and Brad AK2QQ as part of Oz-VE, which    
   gives the U.S. licensing tests across eastern Australia. Better still,    
   Julian tells us, both candidates passed the test. The early bird gets    
   the ... license.   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams VK4JJW.   
      
   DON/ANCHOR: Newsline would like to add its congratulations to Ward    
   Havens VK2FWLH  and John Vetters VK2JV.   
      
   (JULIAN SORTLAND VK2YJS/AG6LE)   
      
   **   
   BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur    
   Radio Newsline heard on bulletin stations around the world including the    
   K2ADA 2 meter repeater in Ocala Florida on Friday and Saturday nights at 7.   
      
   **   
      
   UP, UP AND AWAY IN NOVA SCOTIA   
      
   DON/ANCHOR: Some Canadian students let their dreams take flight recently    
   with a radio and a balloon. Here's Neil Rapp WB9VPG.   
      
   NEIL: There's NASA in the United States, and the European Space Agency    
   in Europe. But now, a town of 20,000 people in Nova Scotia has their own    
   space agency... of sorts. The Annapolis Royal Space Agency, or ARSA, is    
   a high school group at the Annapolis West Education Center that launches    
   high altitude balloons into near space. Like many others, the group    
   gathers data and video, and sends it back to Earth using ham radio. The    
   Annapolis Valley Amateur Radio Club joined in to provide the know how    
   for APRS tracking. Their latest flight was on June 27th, and went    
   amazingly well. They reached a peak altitude of 31,567 meters (or    
   103,566 feet) before landing in just 3 hours. The group feared an ocean    
   landing like their last launch, but luckily they missed the Atlantic by    
   about 300 meters (or 984 feet). VA1AVR-11 tracked the entire flight    
   using APRS, and the payload was retrieved the same day as the launch...    
   which was immediately after the school's graduation ceremony. Now these    
   students can truly say that graduating high school was out of this    
   world, and tell their parents, "I need my space!"   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG.   
      
   **   
   RADIO SCOUTS ACTIVATE SUMMER STATIONS FOR K2BSA   
      
   DON/ANCHOR: It's summer and radio scouts are keeping busy. Bill Stearns    
   NE4RD tells us where to be listening.   
      
   BILL: This week in Radio Scouting we're in the midst of summer camps on    
   the air with two activations of the K2BSA callsign, 2 activations from    
   our SCOTA site, and Jamboree on the Air Patches available.   
      
   William Coverdell, WD0BC, is continuing to activate K2BSA/0 at Camp    
   Geiger in St Joseph, MO, through July 21st.  The camp will be offering    
   radio merit badge classes throughout the six week period.  Scouts will    
   be getting on the air with a generous station that is completely    
   scout-owned through 100 percent donations.   
      
   Garland Eubanks, KB4RTM, is activating K2BSA/4 at Skymount Scout    
   Reservation in Alatamont, TN, through July 14th.  During this time    
   period on the Fridays there might be activities when scouts might also    
   attempt to contact other summer camps operating under K2BSA.   
      
   Brian McDaniel, N4AE, will be activating his callsign at Camp Freeland    
   Leslie in Naperville, Illinois, from July 8th through the 13th.  Brian    
   will be attending Summer Camp with his Troop and running Holiday Style    
   with a FT-817ND into a Double Bazooka Coaxial Dipole. Running on 80, 60,    
   40, and 20. Phone and some CW.   
      
   Thomas Barker, WA1HRH, will be activating a special event callsign K1A    
   at Moses Scout Reservation in Russell, MA, from July 9th through the    
   27th.  A short three week summer camp season for a new activation.    
   Radios will include Yaesu FT 897, FT 817, home made dipole for 40. Will    
   operate as time allows only on 40 meters using recommended SCOTA    
   frequencies of 7.030 and 7.090. They'll be running commercial power and    
   paper logging will be used.   
      
   Jamboree on the Air and Internet are just 3 months away now. Hopefully    
   most groups had a chance to test their gear and recruit some volunteers    
   at Field Day.  Now is the time to start ordering up your patches and    
   printing out literature in preparation for your event.  The patches are    
   now available at the ScoutStuff.org site.   
      
   For more information on JOTA and Radio Scouting, please visit our    
   website at www.K2BSA.net.   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline and the K2BSA Amateur Radio Association, this    
   is Bill Stearns, NE4RD.   
      
   **   
      
   WORLD OF DX   
      
   In the world of DX, there is still time to work Peter/VE3IKV and    
   Bill/W4TAA/VE3MMQ operating as VQ5Z on the Turks and Caicos Islands.    
   They are on the air through the 10th of July. Listen on the HF bands and    
   6 meters (with a focus on 6m) using CW, SSB, FT8, MSK144 and JT65A. They    
   also have a 6m beacon running on 50.107 MHz. Monitor the ON4KST 6 meter    
   chat page. QSL via VE3IKV direct.   
      
   Members of the Amateur Radio Club SP3PET will be active from July 18th    
   to 31st as JW100PUT from Spitsbergen in the Svalbard island group. The    
   Norwegian archipelago is between the North Pole and Norway. The    
   operators are marking the 100th anniversary of the Academic Ham Radio    
   Club of the Poznan University of Technology. Activity will be on    
   80/40/20 meters as well as 2m and 70cm using SSB and FM. QSL via SP3PET.   
      
   Be listening for Karel, OK2ZI, operating as 3B8/OK2ZI from Pointe aux    
   Sables, Mauritius starting on July 26th until August 4th. Karel will be    
   on 80-10 meters and possibly 160m, depending on local conditions. He    
   will be using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. QSL via his home callsign,    
   direct, by the Bureau, ClubLog's OQRS or LoTW six months after his    
   expedition has ended.   
      
      
   **   
      
   KICKER: AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE'S MILESTONE   
      
   DON/ANCHOR: I’d like to share a personal moment with  you. Amateur     
   Radio  Newsline  is  celebrating  a  birthday. A milestone,  if  you     
   will. It was June 29th, 1976 that  Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, Jim    
   Hendershot, WA6VQP and  Robert  Sudock, WB6FDF produced and presented    
   the  very first Westlink Report, later rechristened as Amateur Radio     
   Newsline.From that day until Bill’s sudden admittance to the hospital in    
   December of 2014, Newsline had not missed a single weekly deadline.    
   Ever. 1,946 consecutive weeks  of  newscasts.  After  his  passing  on    
   June 11th, 2015 we took some time to regroup. Now, 42  years after that     
   inaugural  Westlink  Report, Newsline  is  continuing.  We begin  our     
   42nd  year  with  report  #2123  and  this  promise. We  will  remain     
   as  we  began:  totally unbiased and independent, 100 percent     
   voluntary. I joined the  Newsline staff in 1995, just a few months after    
   getting my license. Bill was a friend and a mentor to me. I'm by no    
   means the head of Amateur Radio  Newsline, I’m  just  the  most     
   visible  due to my role on Ham Nation. Newsline is a total team  effort.    
   Newsline has always set itself apart from other bulletin services    
   because Bill modeled it after a network radio newscast with professional    
   broadcasters behind the mic and the  typewriter, now the word processor.    
   A lot of our current staff came along following Bill’s passing. We are    
   all committed to continuing the path Bill set us out on.  Our mantra     
   is  "WWBD: What  Would  Bill  Do?" We  ask  that question  every     
   day.    I  know  the  current  Newsline  staff and  product  would     
   please  Bill  because  we’re  doing  it like  Bill  would. A  large     
   part  of  his  legacy  is  the Young  Ham  Of  The  Year  award,  now     
   named  in  his  honor. Bill loved kids and loved sharing this  hobby     
   and  service  with everyone,  particularly  kids. In  closing,  I’d     
   like  to  thank you,  our  listeners, for  supporting  us  for  these     
   4  decades and counting, and for  your  continued  support  as  we    
   soldier on as if  Bill is  still  here. In  a  sense, he  is. His     
   memory and  example are always with us. With great appreciation to  you,    
   our listeners, supporters and our  staff,  I’m  Don  Wilbanks, AE5DW.   
      
   **   
      
   NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Labs; Amateur News Weekly; ARISS:    
   the ARRL; the U.S. Attorney's Office; CQ Magazine; the FCC George Dewar    
   VY2GF; Hap Holly and the Rain Report; Irish Radio Transmitters Society;    
   Julian Sortland VK2YJS/AG6LE; K2BSA; Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin; QRZNOW.COM,    
   Southgate Amateur Radio News; Ted Randall's QSO Radio Show; 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 Don Wilbanks AE5DW in Picayune,    
   Mississippi 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   
      
      
      
      
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