A SYMPHONY OF SIGNALS IN TIME FOR APRIL FOOL'S DAY

Responding to pressure from a dozen American symphony orchestras and a group of internationally celebrated virtuosos, the FCC is setting aside part of the 20 metre band to let licensed amateur radio operators play their violins, flutes, bassoons and other instruments -- or to sing opera. In fact, opera-singing hams in search of DX contacts will be encouraged call Q-R-Zed by singing compositions by Mozart, Verdi or Strauss.

To prepare for these repurposed frequencies, the FCC will now require music recitals to be part of the VE sessions. After completing the written part of the test, each candidate must present a 10-minute performance on the instrument of their choice - or they may sing. Starting in June, all FCC license-preparation classes will include six months of music lessons. Knowing your harmonics is, after all, so very important, mes amis.

Ah, but NO drummers are welcome on this new part of 20-metres. Percussion instruments will be sent to the CW portion!!!

Already there has been protest from some amateur radio clubs around the US who are asking why violinists and opera singers are being allowed on 20 metres but no rock 'n rollers, no banjo players and not even a single hip-hop artist. The FCC has taken up the question and is reportedly considering part of the 2 metre band next.....or perhaps 7200.

This is Pierre Pullinmyleg with a song in my heart -- and on the radio too.

'QUEENS OF THE MOUNTAINS' ACTIVITY BACK FOR 3RD YEAR

Activators in the third annual Queens of the Mountains YL SOTA special event will be competing for the same certificates as before - but this year, chasers are getting a new chance for recognition. The new award is designed for chasers who contact at least three YL activators in different countries or different US states.

This is the second year the activity has drawn global participation, so once again, YL to YL DX QSOs will be recognized with a WWW-World Wide Women's certificate.

The organizers, Amy AG7GP, and Paula, K9IR [KAY NINE EYE ARR], announced the event's return on the SOTA Reflector and have set the event to start at 0000 UTC on June 13th and end at 2359 UTC on June 14th.

NEW ENTRY LEVEL LICENSES FOR NORWEGIAN AMATEURS

The Norwegian Communications Authority has approved an entry-level licence for amateurs in that country as one of several changes taking effect. The entry-level, or "limited" 10-watt licence covers the 80, 40, 20, 17, 15, 10, 6 and 2-metre bands as well as the 70-centimetre band. Other changes include the removal of limitations to hams wishing to operate stations remotely, especially in Norway's overseas territories. The changes also affect the 23cm band, which will now follow IARU recommendations more directly.

VOICE OF AMERICA MUSEUM TO EXTEND HOURS FOR HAMVENTION

The National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting is welcoming Hamvention guests by offering extended hours from Thursday May 14th through to Sunday May 17th. The museum and the West Chester Amateur Radio Association, which is headquartered there, will be sharing a wide variety of exhibits that include a disc jockey's setup from a vintage radio station, vintage ham and shortwave equipment and the Voice of America's first transmitter, dating from 1942. The club's ham radio station, WC8VOA, will be sharing access to its shack - so come with your license and be prepared to get on the air. Admission is $10 at the door. For each day's extended hours and for directions on how to find the museum from Xenia, visit the website voamuseum.org or wc8voa.org

The independent, nonprofit museum in West Chester, Ohio, is not affiliated with the US government's Voice of America service.

IRELAND'S SOLE 10M REPEATER IN SERVICE AGAIN

The repeater in Carndonagh, County Conegal - EIØIPG - is no longer silent. Storms had taken the nation's only 10-metre repeater out of service until recently. According to a report by the Irish Radio Transmitters Society, the repeater, which is maintained by the Carndonagh Amateur Radio Club, is receiving an especially hearty welcome among experimenters because an increase in solar activity promises a greater likelihood of trans-Atlantic and continental FM communication.

Its frequencies are 29.580 MHz input and 29.680 MHz output, with a 67 Hz CTCSS tone.

The repeater also offers access via Echolink Node 29007.

AZORES AMATEURS HOSTING THEIR FIRST 10M REPEATER

On São Miguel Island, the largest island in the Azores off the coast of Portugal, a new 10-metre FM repeater stands ready for QSOs. This is the first 10-metre repeater for the association, which is marking the 50th year since its founding.

The 50-watt repeater transmits on 29.630 MHz, with a -100 kHz shift, giving it a receive frequency of 29.530 MHz. It has a CTCSS tone of 88.5 Hz.

Bruno, CS8ABG, told Newsline that challenges in installation prompted the group to install the receiver and transmitter separately. The transmitter is located in the center of the island and the receiver is about 20 km away on the western side. Both are at an altitude of 900 metres.The sites are connected using 5 GHz Wi-Fi links.

The site holds promise for other connections too, according to Bruno. There is a Raspberry Pi system with a private AllStarLink connection that may someday provide a link to the group's VHF repeaters that are part of the Azores AllStarLink network.

Bruno told Newsline that the east-west radiation pattern of the dipoles favour propagation between Europe and North America so DXers, of course, are very welcome.

SSTV FROM ISS MARKING MAJOR MOMENTS IN SPACE

The 65th anniversary of the first human space flight by cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the 45th anniversary of the first Space Shuttle flight and the 100th anniversary of the world's first liquid-propelled rocket launch by Robert Goddard. These are three of several space achievements being commemorated by Amateur Radio on the International Space Station through its selection of images to be transmitted as part of SSTV Series 31. The SSTV Mode will be Robot 36 and there will be two minutes between transmissions. Transmissions will begin on the 10th of April and continue through to the 14th of April. The frequency will be 437.55, plus or minus Doppler shift.

FCC CHARGES AMATEUR WITH EMERGENCY-SERVICE INTERFERENCE

The FCC's Enforcement Bureau has charged a ham radio operator in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania with interfering with UHF frequencies used by 9-1-1 emergency services.

The FCC identified the ham as David Knudtson, KD3ASC. According to the agency, the Pittsburgh amateur was transmitting on 470.4375 MHz from a handheld transceiver last July, prompting a complaint from the county's Emergency Services that there was interference on its dispatch channel. Using direction-finding, the bureau's enforcement agents tracked the signal to Knudtson's home where, they said, he showed them a Baofeng BTech UV-Pro HT - which he surrendered to them.

The handheld radio is capable of transmitting on VHF and UHF amateur radio bands as well as private land mobile radio bands. The FCC said that the radio had been programmed to monitor the EMS channel and that the "audio relay” was enabled, permitting traffic from one channel to be retransmitted on another.

The FCC notice is dated March 25th. Knudtson must respond to the Enforcement Bureau within 10 days of that date.

AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS ON MOON MISSION ABOARD ARTEMIS 2

Our top story takes us into space - specifically, looking toward the moon. Delayed weeks ago due to technical issues, NASA's Artemis 2 mission lifted off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on the 1st of April, carrying a crew of four astronauts - three of whom have amateur radio licenses. Astronauts Reid Wiseman, KF5LKT; Victor Glover, KI5BKC, Jeremy Hansen, KF5LKU, and Christina Koch, now embark on a test flight that will pave the way for an eventual return of a human presence on the moon.

Meanwhile, four amateur radio operators here on Earth are among the group of 34 volunteers chosen by NASA to track transmissions from the Orion spacecraft during its 10-day journey.

OUT ON THE AIR AND UNDER BLUE SKIES

The most important connections we make in amateur radio aren’t the ones we solder on the workbench or fasten with a PL-259 in the field. So says Jacques Redmond WW1ZRD, founder of Out on the Air, an amateur radio activity that focuses on connections that are human-to-human. You can make them on a hilltop, a sidewalk or even in your garden. Jacques created the website outontheair dot com to encourage hams to get off their couches and out of their houses or apartments and give it a try.

The idea is as simple as sunshine itself. Or, as he says on his website, call CQ from a rooftop or a beach at midnight. He writes: [quote] ‘If you left home and you're on the air — you're Out On The Air.”

Jacques, whose preferred mode for now is SSB - at least until he learns CW - treasures the sound of a real human voice as it rises above the noise. To him, it [quote] “captures everything I love about ham radio.” He said that in the week or so since the activity launched along with the website, radio operators have registered from around the world and begun working toward the different awards.

It’s no surprise that those awards, like the operating locations themselves, are all registered on the honor system. That’s because Jacques believes first in humans on the air.

SPECIAL EVENT REMEMBERS THE TITANIC

Mark the date of 14th April on your calendar. If you know your history, you'll recall that at 23:40 ship’s time on that day, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic, bringing its inaugural sailing to a fatal end.

Mark this year's calendar, as well, from 0000 UTC on the 10th April to 2359 on the 15th April. That time period marks the date of the luxury liner's voyage from Southampton, which ended with its sinking. The Titanic Memorial special event station EG-1912-T will be on the air using all modes HF, VHF, UHF and SHF during that period, organised by the Union of Radio Amateurs of Vigo-Val Miñor. A number of Spanish citizens were on board the ship.

The activation will focus on CW to honour Jack Phillips and Harold Bride, the first and second telegraphers on board. The activation also honours Harold Cottam, the telegrapher on board the Carpathia, the first ship to make a rescue effort at the site of the doomed Titanic.

There will be a special QSL card for hams contacting EG1912T in CW. All other QSLs will be sent via the bureau, eQSL and LoTW.

RADIO CLUB OF AMERICA HONORS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

The Young Professionals program of the RCA and IWCE celebrates industry professionals who have at least two years experience in wireless communications and who are no more than 40 years of age. The RCA website calls these young professionals [quote] "the next generation of innovators shaping the field." [endquote]

This year, the program recognized at least one amateur radio operator: Andy Huynh, KA6NDY, a telecommunications systems engineer in the Interoperable Radio Systems Division of the County of Los Angeles' Internal Services Department. His work on the Spectrum Management Team includes a specialty in interference mitigation. He also supports mission-critical public safety communications

Other honorees are Precious Fodor, who serves as the National Service Manager at Eastern Communications Ltd.; Max Johnson, an electrical engineer at Dark Wolf Ventures in Colorado, a firm specializing in advanced radio and satellite communications systems; Sean Martin, a sales professional in the aerospace and defense Industry; and Chris Vargas, whose 10-year career in sales has most recently brought him into consumer electronics. He is presently working for Icom.

The group was praised by attendees for their achievements and for the promise their careers hold in shaping the field of wireless communications in new directions.

SILENT KEY: DISASTER-RESPONSE OPERATOR S. ARUNA KUMAR, VU3VGP

Radio amateurs who knew and operated their radios alongside S. Aruna Kumar, VU3VGP, were remembering his kind and helpful nature and how it complemented his radio skills. The National Institute of Amateur Radio, where he was once on staff, reported that he became a Silent Key at midnight on the 17th of March in Rajasthan.

The notice said that during his work at the National Institute and later, with the Brahma Kumaris, he was active in helping with emergency communication and disaster relief.

S. Aruna Kumar was 57.

OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO PLUTO ANNIVERSARY EVENT

The team of amateurs for W7P, while operating portable much of the time from the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, along with W7P/Ø and W7P/P, made over 6500 QSOs with 81 countries. In its six-year history, this event saw significantly higher SSB results and the second highest volume of QSL cards ever received.

Doug Tombaugh, N3PDT, nephew of Clyde Tombaugh, the astronomer who discovered Pluto in 1930, along with his team of operators in the Kansas City area, made over 2200 contacts as W7P/Ø, which was a 70 percent increase over last year.

Organizers heard from the special event's chasers that they learned more about Pluto than they ever knew and especially enjoyed being able to speak with Doug. Bob Wertz, NF7E, event coordinator, told Newsline that despite a rocky start, W7P was a success by every meaningful measure — strong QSO totals, excellent public engagement, and enthusiastic feedback from operators worldwide.

NEW NET BUILDING BRIDGE WITH HISTORICALLY BLACK CAMPUSES

The OMIK Amateur Radio Association has launched the first of its Tuesday night nets designed to build connections with Historically Black College and Universities throughout the US. The ham radio organization was originally created in August of 1952 as a welcoming group for Black amateurs seeking membership without having to face discrimination. OMIK eventually hopes to extend its expertise and the hand of friendship to many of the more than 100 historically Black US campuses and their faculty, alumni, parents and students.

Net check-ins begin at 8 p.m. Eastern Time Tuesdays which is 0100 UTC Wednesday on the OMIK Conference server on Echolink.

The net is one part of the group's emerging commitment to the campuses. For OMIK members, the goal will ultimately bring opportunities to provide service and make connections across the generations. On-campus visits - and even on-air activations - will help students gain mentors in STEM and STEAM learning and, of course, amateur radio.

Net controller Jesse Alexander WB2IFS, the developer of the program, said the net is just the beginning.

CHARTERED FLIGHT TO CARRY INTERNATIONAL TEAM TO ISS

Just two years before the International Space Station's scheduled retirement, it is expected to receive a crew of European astronauts delivered via a chartered SpaceX Crew Dragon mission.

Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency, said at a March 19 press briefing that that the ESA was chartering the flight to give the agency's astronauts an experience aboard the ISS to conduct research before the spacecraft is decommissioned and deorbited in 2030. The trip by the Provided Institutional Crew is being proposed for early 2028.

The ESA expects to include international partners in the mission but has not named any potential partner nations - nor has it said how many non-ESA astronauts would be included.

Both the UAE and Australian Space Agencies' websites report that agreements were signed in recent years with the European Space Agency committing to deeper collaboration in space-exploration initiatives.

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP CALLS CQ FOR AUTISM AWARENESS

Now in its fourth year, the World Autism Awareness Week special event will again carry the message that "it's OK to be different." It's a theme uniting amateurs across oceans, with callsigns that include W2A here in the US and others in participating nations such as Italy, South Africa, Russia, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Israel and West Malaysia.

This weeklong special event begins on Wednesday the 1st of April. It has gained momentum as it brings advocacy on the air for those with autism spectrum disorder - a developmental disorder seen among people of all races and nationalities.

More details about the event and its callsigns - as well as useful information about autism spectrum disorder - can be found on the QRZ.com page of W2A.

FUNDS WOULD EXPAND, UPGRADE NOAA'S WEATHER RADIO NETWORK

Lawmakers in Washington, DC, have moved ahead with their commitment to invest $100 million in improved antennas and transmitter equipment to expand coverage for the VHF weather radio service of NOAA. A bipartisan measure that authorizes the expense was passed recently by members of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

An estimated 1,030 such weather stations hold licenses to operate on 162 MHz. The antenna and transmitter additions and upgrades focus on NOAA's radio service in remote areas of the US that have a higher risk of extreme weather. Beyond VHF improvements, the bill calls for NOAA to explore options on the microwave band to further strengthen the network's ability to communicate warnings about hazardous conditions. Other language in the bill directs NOAA to explore the possibility of satellite backup or partnerships with commercial providers.

The action in Washington stands in sharp contrast to a recent announcement by the Meteorological Service of Canada - that nation's equivalent of NOAA - that it was ending Weatheradio, its own national VHF radio weather service/

The US lawmakers' measure moves next for a vote in the full House but is not yet on the calendar. The action on Capitol Hill comes almost a year after the White House announced that the administration was looking to cut NOAA's weather research centers, particularly those focused on understanding climate change.

HAMS RESPOND TO HISTORIC FLOODS IN HAWAII

Our top story takes us to Hawaii, which was slammed with two so-called "atmospheric river storms" that brought heavy rains and high winds, flooding all the state's islands and sweeping many houses off their foundations. ARES and RACES hams were activated, providing realtime ground reports for weather and field information on Oahu and Maui. ARRL Pacific Section Manager Alan KH6TU/AD6E told Newsline in an email that VHF linked repeater systems carried individual voice reports sent to EOCs. Meanwhile, federal emergency ICS-213 forms were transmitted carrying messages and incident reports over peer-to-peer Winlink via VHF or on HF.

As emergency crews cleared landslides and repaired communications and power lines, hams continued to update road and weather conditions, assisting with coordinated communications. As Newsline went to production, recovery continued after what was being called the state's worst flooding in two decades.

TAKE THE "FIVE TWO" SIMPLEX CHALLENGE

If you grab your HT, tune to 146.52 MHz and call out for a contact, you are already rising to the challenge being posed by Mike N2MAK. Mike launched a project called the Five Two Simplex Challenge at the beginning of March and it runs through to the end of April. He is hoping to focus attention on 2m FM simplex for 52 days,

Mike told Newsline in an email [quote]: "I often hear from other hams that there isn't much 2m simplex activity and they wish there was more." [endquote]

Now, he hopes, there is: He chose this commonly monitored frequency because, he said, plenty of people listen but few people call out. He doesn't expect 52 days of nonstop activity but, as a portable operator himself, he is hopeful that there are many others like him.

He intends for this to be a learning experience: Operators may get a better idea of what their stations can do and perhaps consider upgrades or changes. Depending on where they live, they may even get to experience tropospheric ducting at this time of the year.

Mike said one of his most memorable contacts was on 2m simplex right right after a POTA activation. He told Newsline: "It was a brand new Technician who had been licensed for less than 2 weeks and it was his first ever simplex contact! You don't forget contacts like that, no matter which side of the radio you are on. Surprises like that are what can make 2m simplex contacts so special and fun." [endquote]

To see Mike's YouTube video about the event, see the link in the text version of this week's script at arnewsline.org