Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2433 for Friday June 14th, 2024 Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2433 with a release date of Friday, June 14th, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a QST. Germany simplifies its remote-operations requirements. A deadly cyclone brings a man home after four years -- and Newsline's tribute to Field Day. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2433 comes your way right now. ** BILLBOARD CART ** GERMANY'S DARC DEVELOPING REMOTE-OPERATIONS NETWORK NEIL/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to Germany where the arrival of June 24th will herald much-anticipated changes for some hams. On that day, revisions to the Amateur Radio Ordinance take effect, granting simplified remote-operating privileges to holders of a Class A license, the highest of the country's now-three licenses. The ability to operate remotely has been a sought-after opportunity for many hams who want to stay active on the air but are not permitted to install antennas at their residence or suffer from a significant amount of electromagnetic interference there. A project being undertaken by the D-A-R-C, Germany's national amateur radio organization, is bringing remote operation home, so to speak, by building a network of remote stations around the country that will be accessible to Class A hams in these situations. The development of the stations was funded from D-A-R-C PLUS membership funds. As reported recently by Radio D-A-R-C, 13 projects are going forward. Visitors to the ham radio fair in Friedrichshafen later this month will be present as the first of those stations is unveiled. (RADIO DARC) ** CLASS N LICENSE EXAMS TO BE GIVEN AT FRIEDRICHSHAFEN NEIL/ANCHOR: There are other big plans in Germany during a busy ham radio weekend this month. Jeremy Boot G4NJH fills us in. JEREMY: As Ham Radio Friedrichshafen prepares to welcome visitors from the 28th to the 30th of June, Germany itself is preparing to welcome the first amateur radio operators to hold the country's new Class N licence. Candidates who have been studying for the big day can sit the Class N licence exam at Friedrichshafen where two of the earliest tests are being given on the 28th and 29th. A passing grade will give Germany's newest amateurs access to 70cm, 2m and 10m at a maximum power of 10 watts. The 47th edition of the international radio trade fair - Europe's largest - takes its inspiration this year from the Islands on the Air awards scheme, which is marking its 60th anniversary. The Youth "Ham-camp" and "Ham Rally" are both returning, following their absence during the COVID pandemic. More than 300 commercial exhibitors and associations are expected to be on hand as well. This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH. (HAM RADIO FRIEDRICHSHAFEN) ** BROADCAST ENGINEERS: MALWARE TOOK DOWN WEBSITE NEIL/ANCHOR: The ARRL is not the only membership organization to have suffered an attack on its website recently. On May 30, the Society of Broadcast Engineers had its website content and pages removed by malware, according to an earlier SBE announcement. On June 5th, an updated article posted on Radioworld.com said that the malware has since been removed and the SBE's website is back up and running. The SBE said it was able to restore its website content from a backup. The society assured members that none of their data had been compromised and they are now running scans to verify that any remnants from the attack have been eradicated. The SBE comprises 116 chapters and more than 4,500 members who work in the broadcast and multimedia technology fields. (RADIOWORLD) ** AMID A DEADLY CYCLONE, A REUNION NEIL/ANCHOR: Cyclone Remal devastated homes and destroyed lives as it swept through parts of India and Bangladesh in May, but no one expected the deadly storm to help one family find wholeness amid the wreckage. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF has that story. JIM: Believed to be dead after he had gone missing four years ago, a fish merchant from Bangladesh was reunited with his family even as Cyclone Remal was poised to destroy thousands of others' lives. While evacuating a district in West Bengal to shelters to prepare for the coming storm, a civil defence worker, Anup Sasmal, noticed a man who was sitting alone at an embankment, talking quietly to himself incoherently. According to media reports, authorities recognised that the man was a Bangladeshi who had somehow become displaced. They contacted the West Bengal Radio Club, which has expertise in assisting in missing persons cases. The club had already sent many of its members to Sagar Island to assist with emergency communications during the cyclone but the hams remaining reached out to amateur radio operators in Bangladesh. Radio operators there were able to locate the man's village and ultimately his family by providing a physical description and other details. The man and his family were immediately reunited via an emotional video call and arrangements were made to have him return home after the storm. It is not known how or how long ago the Bangladeshi national ended up across the border from his home country or what happened to him in the years in between. This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF. (NDTV, TBS NEWS) ** NOTED AUTHOR AND YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER, 2 SILENT KEYS IN INDIA NEIL/ANCHOR: The amateur radio community in India recently suffered the loss of two accomplished hams. We hear about them both from Graham Kemp VK4BB. GRAHAM: Hams in India gathered on the 5th of June - on what would have been the 70th birthday of Ronald Sequeira, VU2RLS - to celebrate his life as a respected, widely known author whose passions also extended into amateur radio, where he showed great skill and a generous heart. Ronald belonged to the Mangalore Amateur Radio Club and was a life member of the Amateur Radio Society of India. Ronald was president of the Konkari Writers and Artists Association and was widely known in India's literary circles for his essays and other writings. He died on the 6th of May after a long illness. His longtime friend, Sri Bhat, VU2SBJ, told Newsline that Ronald always brought a personal touch to the many local VHF nets he conducted and he used his writing skills to craft the right words for the moment. Sri told Newsline: [quote] "Unfortunately we have lost his lively presence and are left with only fond memories." [endquote] Meanwhile, amateurs in Hyderabad and Vijayawada are grieving for a young promising radio amateur who died on the 8th of June after succumbing to injuries from an earlier automobile accident. According to news reports, 27-year-old Pavan Kumar, VU3LFZ, was well-known as an active amateur in Andhra Pradesh and was also an accomplished photographer. He received serious head injuries from the accident three weeks earlier and had been in a coma. Pavan was active in the amateur community and had served as a delegate last November at Hamfest India in Ahmedabad. This is Graham Kemp VK4BB. (TELANGANA TODAY, NEWS KARNATAKA) ** NY AMATEURS FIND A HOME, PARTNERSHIP AT NONPROFIT OBSERVATORY NEIL/ANCHOR: There's amateur radio - there's amateur astronomy - and there's amateur radio astronomy. All of that is about to come together under one roof in upstate New York, and Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us how. ANDY: The Chautauqua Amateur Radio Service has quite a few things in common with the Martz-Kohl Observatory in Frewburg, New York, a nonprofit facility focusing on citizen science, science education and outreach. What they have most in common are the names on their respective membership rosters. In fact, so many club members belong to the observatory that the next step was a natural progression of their relationship. Club treasurer Bob Swanson, KD2PZV, told the Post Journal that the hams had been looking for a permanent home and the observatory seemed to be just the right spot. He told the website: [quote] "There is a lot in common with what radio services do and astronomy. Radio astronomy has become a big deal.” [endquote] He said the observatory has a busy calendar of events that can incorporate ham radio participation. In fact, the next event most certainly will be all about amateur radio: It's ARRL Field Day on June 22nd and 23rd, when the Chautauqua amateurs will be calling "CQ Field Day" on the observatory property, not far from the county's highest point. Bob expressed hope that the observatory and the hams can craft an agreement that also makes them partners in science education initiatives there. That will help visitors keep an eye on the stars and the planets as well as on the radio waves everywhere. This is Andy Morrison K9AWM. (POST JOURNAL, MARTZ-KOHL OBSERVATORY) ** BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station, we are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the K7EFZ repeater in Idaho Falls, Idaho on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. local time after Eagle Rock Emergency Practice Net. ** RUSSIA WITHDRAWS FROM WORLD WIDE FLORA & FAUNA NEIL/ANCHOR: The Russian Flora and Fauna organization has severed ties with World Wide Flora and Fauna and will no longer participate in its awards program. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has an update. JEREMY: The coordinator of the Russian Flora and Fauna awards programme announced on the RFF website that it is withdrawing from World Wide Flora and Fauna activities effective immediately. Vitaly, RN3ANT, wrote that the decision was made with regret because of recent actions by the WWFF Committee, including the elimination in April of Crimean RRF park references. Vitaly said in the June 7th posting that award applications that have already been approved will be completed but new RFF-H applications through WWFF will not. He said that Russia's own Flora and Fauna programme will continue to operate and issue awards. This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH. (WWW.OUTDOOR.QRP) ** NEW NET FOR NEW AMATEURS NEIL/ANCHOR: You don't have to live in the Chicago area to check into this new net for newly licensed hams - but you do have to be a newcomer! On Wednesdays at 0500 UTC, local amateurs can check in on 145.230 MHz, with an offset of -600 kHz and a PL tone of 107.2 Hz. Everyone else is welcome to check in via Echolink Node K9IIK-R or Allstar Node 27833. This is a startup net for startup amateurs and it meets courtesy of the Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club Repeater Association. This is a place where hams can share knowledge and offer encouragement to anyone in any country who wants some hints or a little boost to their morale. The net's creation was announced on the QRZ.com forums by Kirk K9MSG, who added: "ALL WELCOME." (QRZ.COM) ** PRIDE RADIO GROUP CALLS CQ TO CELEBRATE INCLUSION NEIL/ANCHOR: Four US callsigns are taking on a special meaning this month during Pride Month. Dave Parks WB8ODF tells us how -- and why -- to contact them. DAVE: Founded in Australia, the Pride Radio Group has become an LGBTQ+ virtual radio club whose members around the globe enjoy shared values. Their latest event is called CQ Pride, a special event being held in connection with Pride Month. The on-air activity celebrates inclusion and diversity in amateur radio. Listen for the callsigns N6L, N6G, N6B and N6T operating on all bands and all modes. Operators have been on the air since the 6th of June and will continue through to the 17th of June at 0100 UTC. Hams who collect QSL cards from all four stations will be able to make a poster out of them. The popular event was first launched by Pride Radio Group in 2022. This is Dave Parks WB8ODF. (PRIDE RADIO GROUP) *** HOMEBREWING A RELATIONSHIP THROUGH 3D PRINTER DONATION NEIL/ANCHOR: Who is better at building things than some amateur radio operators? One ham club in Mississippi has been building a partnership with a local library and just took a new step in keeping those bonds strong. Sel Embee KB3TZD gives us those details. SEL: The Jackson Amateur Radio Club has already shown its Mississippi community the power of amateur radio thanks to a newly formed partnership with the public library system in suburban Madison County. Now the library has a pair of 3D printers - gifts to the library from the hams to encourage library patrons to engage in "maker" activities that might be useful to amateur radio or other electronics-related activities. Frank Howell, K4FMH, described the gift in a recent blog post, explaining that the printers, which have a combined retail value of $3,000, will be free for the patrons to use provided they cover the cost of the resin used to print any files. A June 7th press release from the club, Frank, assistant director for the ARRL's Delta Division, praised the club as a "national leader" in creating this kind relationship with public libraries, calling libraries [quote] "the most common cultural crossroad in the US." [endquote] Earlier this year the club hosted the first of what will be quarterly events for the library system, introducing patrons to the process by which they can get their ham radio license. The library system has also committed to having at least one staff member at each branch get their license too and to have a basic radio shack on the premises. This is Sel Embee KB3TZD. (FRANK HOWELL K4FMH BLOG) ** WORLD OF DX In the world of DX, you have until the 16th of June to work members of the Radio Club de la Sarthe. They are on the air as TM24H, celebrating the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Be listening on all bands, where hams will be using CW, SSB, RTTY, PSK and FT8. They are also looking for contacts via the QO-100 geostationary satellite. See QRZ.com for QSL details. Chas, NK8O, will be active again as 5H3DX from near Dodoma, Tanzania between the 18th and 30th of June, operating CW, FT8 in fox and hound mode and FT4. Listen for him on 30 through 10 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details. Listen for Felix, DL6JF, operating holiday style as 8Q7JF from the Maldives, IOTA Number AS-013, until the 29th of June. He is using CW and some FT8 in fox and hound mode, on 30-6 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details. A team of operators using the callsign 9M1Z (Nine Em One Zed) are active from the western tip of Malaysian Borneo, Sarawak, until the 30th of June. Listen on 80-6 metres for operators calling on SSB, CW and FT8. QSL information can be found at QRZ.com (425 DXBULLETIN) ** KICKER: TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE FIELD DAY NEIL/ANCHOR: Six months ago, during the holiday season, you no doubt heard Newsline end a December report with a poem that was adapted from the Clement Clarke Moore classic "Night Before Christmas." It's June now, and the ham radio holiday is Field Day, so our own Randy Sly W4XJ, has offered to help us celebrate the season with an adaptation he wrote to end this week's report. Happy Field Day everyone. Randy? RANDY: Twas the night before Field Day and all through the shack there were boxes and cables and lawn chairs to pack Most ops were all home, each snuggled in bed But the chairman of Field Day was dealing with dread. The 20 phone op was at home with the mumps Propagation for 80 was down in the dumps The chili was burned so the noon meal was lost and the tower for 10 was still broke due to cost. But then at the door his old dog gave a yelp and three brand new hams stood there ready to help. “We love our new hobby,” they said with delight, “and want to be part of our Field Day tonight.” One cooked some new chili, while the others pitched in to look at the tower and their fix was a win. Together, the three with the chair made things right, So the following day could begin with delight. When Field Day was launched and the ops went to work, all the bands were quite active and the new hams could lurk, To see how these vets could make contacts galore, but the OMs called out to the three, “hey, there’s more!” Come sit here beside us and learn how to send, to check for all dupes and our logs to amend. We too love this hobby and want to pass on all the skill that we’ve gathered before we’re all gone. This Field Day was more than a contest or art, but a chance for these new hams to now be a part. With points quickly coming from stations still bright, the chairman, so happy, wished all ops a good night. This is Randy Sly W4XJ ** DO YOU HAIKU? If a good day of radio is like poetry to you, pick up a pencil and join the Amateur Radio Newsline haiku challenge. Share your experience by sending an original haiku to us here at Newsline. Use the entry form on our website, arnewsline.org and please follow the rules for writing your three-line haiku -- sorry but we cannot accept any entries that aren't written in traditional haiku form. Share with fellow listeners the poetry that is inspired by your ham radio experience! NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily; ARRL; Blog of Frank Howell, K4FMH; CQ Magazine; David Behar K7DB; 425DXNews; Martz-Kohl Observatory; OutdoorQRP.com; Post Journal; PrideRadioGroup; QRZ.com; shortwaveradio.de; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. We remind our listeners that Amateur Radio Newsline is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that incurs expenses for its continued operation. If you wish to support us, please visit our website at arnewsline.org and know that we appreciate you all. We also remind our listeners that if you like our newscast, please leave us a 5-star rating wherever you subscribe to us. 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 Union Kentucky saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.