Amateur radio operators in Iowa have won an exemption to the state's new distracted-driving law that takes effect on the 1st of July. The governor signed the bill into law on the 2nd of April after both the state House and Senate passed it overwhelmingly. It bans drivers from using mobile phones or any wireless device while behind the wheel unless it is in hands-free or voice-activated mode. The bill, which was five years in the making, exempts licensed hams who are using two-way radios. Iowa joins 30 other states, including New York, Arizona and Minnesota, in granting hams permission to operate their radios while driving.
MOUNT ATHOS CONTACTS DEEMED VALID TOWARD DXCC
The DXCC Desk of the ARRL has determined that contacts made with the SV1GA/A team at Mt. Athos this past January meet the criteria for counting toward the DXCC award program. The ARRL made the announcement on its website on Friday, the 4th of April. DX chasers had been waiting to hear whether their QSOs counted ever since the team's planned 10-day operation was quickly and unexpectedly halted amid controversy. Local authorities challenged whether the hams had obtained the appropriate permission to be there.
Mt. Athos, an autonomous region governed by the monastic community in northeastern Greece, is a World Heritage Site and 28th on the ClubLog Most Wanted List.
The ARRL ended its announcement by saying: [quote] "Any future operations by this team from Mt. Athos will require additional documentation for securing accreditation for DXCC credit." [endquote]
HAMS INVITED TO MONITOR METEOR SCATTER EVENTS
This is a big year for meteor-scatter experiments to be conducted by HamSCI during the Perseids showers in August and the Geminids showers in December. For hams who are hoping to participate in either or both of the Meteor Scatter QSO Parties taking place during those events, there is important work to be done this month.
The citizen science research group is encouraging operators to get ready by setting up your equipment now in time for the Lyrids shower, which will be peaking on the 21st and 22nd of April. The days before and after those dates are also expected to provide good opportunities to take advantage of meteor scatter. Radio operators may participate either actively by calling CQ or passively, by monitoring and reporting.
Operators may use MSK144 within the WSJT-X software on both 10 and 6 metres. SWLs and hams may also participate passively by monitoring via PSK Reporter to send in their findings.
Details about HamSCI’s plans for the meteor-scatter investigations can be found at the link that appears in the text version of this week’s newscast at arnewsline.org
HAMS WEIGH IN ON FCC INVITATION FOR REGULATION COMMENTS
Suggestions varied widely among hams who responded to the FCC’s invitation – but for the most part there appeared to be a strong call for continued regulation of amateur radio with no changes to the three-tier license system or testing. Some hams did request changes - either that the license system be streamlined - or simply be eliminated.
The spectrum appeared to be a major concern, as some hams pressed the FCC to retain amateur privileges on the current bands. The FCC has set April 28th as the deadline for reply comments. All filings on the FCC website should be made in reference to Docket Number 25-133.
HAM RADIO NEWS PRESENTER RETIRES AT 101
Happy birthday and happy retirement to Peter Valentine, GØNQZ, who upon reaching the age of 101 on the 12th of April, has decided to take things a little easier…..but only just a little. Peter is still an active radio ham and participant in regular nets, including the HF nets of the International Short Wave League and the Radio Amateurs Old Timers’ Association. Peter has to his credit an enviable record as a presenter for the Radio Society of Great Britain’s GB2RS report. Best wishes and see you on the air, Peter!
THE WORLD IS MARKING WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY
Hams around the globe are marking World Amateur Radio Day on April 18th and ham radio clubs and other groups have been devoting a day - or even the whole month - to a variety of activities to celebrate the 100th year since the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union in Paris, France.
The IARU has declared the theme of this year's celebration - "Entering the Next Century of Amateur Radio Communications and Innovation."
Although the theme of the anniversary is forward-looking the IARU urged hams to appreciate the gains made in previous decades too. A message on its webpage noted that this is [quote] "a time to reflect on our achievements." [endquote]
Member societies in each region of the IARU will be marking the occasion in a variety of ways. Some are hosting open houses to demonstrate amateur radio to the public; others have already been on the air this month activating special event stations with callsigns ending in the suffix "W A R D." In Canada, the mayor of the capital city of Ottawa has issued the first municipal proclamation ever of Amateur Radio Day, as the Ottawa Amateur Radio Club and West Carleton Disaster Relief present demonstrations for the public at several locations.
MONTANA CLUB GIVES HAM RADIO BOOKS TO REGIONAL LIBRARIES
The possibilities are endless in amateur radio and so are the new books in the newest collection on the shelves of the Great Falls Public Library and other public libraries in Montana. The books were donated by the Great Falls Masonic Amateur Radio Club, which received a grant from the ARRL to provide library patrons with study guides for the Technician, General and Amateur Extra exams administered by the FCC.
John Ross, KD7HKF, the club's vice president, said the Great Falls library's bookmobile will also carry a set of the books. The ARRL grant has also funded collections of books for Montana's Cascade Library, Fairfield Library and the library at the Malmstrom Air Force Base. Meanwhile, the library and the club have agreed that ham radio orientation sessions will be held at the Great Falls library if enough community members are inspired to learn even more.
The relationship between amateur radio clubs and libraries in the US is a strong one. Previous such gifts of books have occurred at other libraries around the US, including the Jackson Amateur Radio Club, which donated books last year to the Madison County Library System in Mississippi and the Cowley County Amateur Radio Club, which made a similar donation earlier this year to the Arkansas City Public Library.
THIS BATTERY LOOKS GOOD ON PAPER BECAUSE IT'S PAPER
Researchers are developing batteries that are made partially of paper and the results have been showing varying degrees of promise, though none of them appear ready yet for portable ham radio. In France, a company called BeFC is pioneering what it considers to be a single-use, eco-friendly alternative to the small button battery that is fully compostable when the user is done with it. More of a paper-based bioenzymatic fuel cell than an actual battery, it releases energy when moisture is released and comes into contact with the sugar and enzymes that are infused into a layer of paper between the unit's carbon electrodes. Generating only .75 (point seven five) volts, it still has a long way to go before it can power more than perhaps a sensor or medical device someday.
In Singapore, researchers at the startup company, Flint, claim that they have a rechargeable battery-in-the-works that will ultimately replace lithium batteries for use in grid storage and electric-vehicle power. Like the French battery, it too is designed to be compostable and it makes use of the cellulose in paper for the transfer of ions.
Ten years ago, researchers in the US, at Binghamton University in upstate New York, developed what they called "microbial paper-based batteries," that is, they derive their power from bacteria's metabolism. Like its French counterpart, however, the output has been deemed too low for practical use.
So the research continues. To scientists, for now, it all looks good on paper.
HAMS' STEADY CLIMB TO SUCCESS FOR FM RADIO STATION
The friendly voice of WAY-FM, along with its news and music, had been silent for too long. The Christian-based, listener-supported community station needed even more support - in this case, amateur radio support - to get back on the air. The problem was twofold, both with the 10 metre high base link antenna and at the broadcaster's remote transmitter station. The cause wasn't completely clear though until Hayden, VK7HH, and his friend Nicholas hiked up a rugged mountain 1100 metres above sea level in Tasmania on the 29th of March, repaired the solar powered, FM-Band transmitter station by installing a temporary, self-built, antenna and got the station back on the air.
Hayden told Newsline in an email that all they had to do was swap the feed lines over to another set of antennas for the studio-transmitter link to the remote site and install the temporary main transmitter antenna.
The existing antennas were showing a bad SWR resulting in the transmitter folding back the power to protect itself.
The two-hour drive up - and another 1.5-hours back - plus the 3-km hike afterward up steep slopes was well worth the effort.
Happy to have been helpful, the friends documented their adventure in two installments on Hayden's YouTube Channel, hamradiodx. Like the radio station they assisted, they are hoping it will provide a little bit of inspiration.
HAMS RESPOND AS DEADLY QUAKE ROCKS THAILAND, MYANMAR
As the death toll climbed in a number of countries, emergency communication took on paramount importance in the South Asian nations hit by the earthquake. Its strength was felt in Bangkok, Thailand, affecting that city's high-rise buildings. The search for survivors continued beneath the wreckage of one prominent tower that had been toppled while under construction in the city. Jakkree Hantongkom, HS1FVL, emergency communications director of IARU Region 3, told IARU Region 1's Greg Mossop, GØDUB, that members of the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand have been assisting the government with emergency communications in the city and in the surrounding area utilising VHF.
The death toll in the region itself was climbing well into the thousands as search and rescue efforts continued.
COURT HALTS WHITE HOUSE ACTION AGAINST VOICE OF AMERICA
We begin this week with a developing story. Its long run of disseminating news to overseas countries under restrictive regimes may not be all over after all for the Voice of America. VOA has succeeded in its court challenge to the US government's decision to dismantle the international news service. Workers at the VOA were among a number of international news services within the US Agency for Global Media who were told they were being taken off the air and put on administrative leave.
Responding to a lawsuit by a group of VOA employees, a Manhattan federal judge acted on March 28th to halt the order that originated from the White House. The US District Court judge called the agency's action "a classic case of arbitrary policymaking." Radio Free Asia, another international news organization, is also seeking court action to halt its shutdown.
Meanwhile, the news service Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was spared its own announced shutdown after a different US District Court judge ruled that the continued operation of these news services was in the public interest. Funding has since been restored through the end of the current federal fiscal year. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has been on the air since the beginning of the Cold War.
SKYWARN YOUTH NET PREPARES NEXT GENERATION
RANDY: If you worked NØA during the last half of March, you were talking with a member of the SKYWARN Youth Net, which meets weekly to encourage severe weather monitoring by young hams across the United States. As most hams who are active during severe weather are beginning to age out, groups like this can help encourage a new generation of SKYWARN supporters.
The net was founded in 2016 by Jim Sellers, NØUAM, who is now a silent key, to encourage youth participation in reporting severe weather. Net manager Caleb Sfair, KEØFOE, got his license in 2015 at age 11 and joined the net two years later at the encouragement of his father, George, KJ6TQ. Caleb told ARNewsline about the beginnings of the SKYWARN Youth Net by Sellers.
CALEB: “He was the Deputy Director of SkyWarn in Southwest Missouri. Simply put, he just wanted to have a simple check-in net that young hams would run to give them a chance to practice passing traffic and to try to encourage other youths to participate and then share and learn about basic weather information.”
RANDY: The SKYWARN Youth Net uses a system of linked repeaters from various parts of the United States along with AllStarLink, Echolink, DMR and Yaesu Fusion. Meeting on Sunday evenings at 7:30pm Central time, the Net gives young hams an opportunity to share weather reports and learn more about participating in severe weather activations. Anyone, young or old, is invited to check in. For more information, you can visit skywarnyouth.net.
SUCCESSFUL AMATEUR CONTACTS FOR FRAM2 SPACECRAFT
Hours after the launch of the private Fram2 spacecraft from the US on March 31st, astronaut Rabea [ROBBIA] Rogge [RAGGA], LB9NJ/KD3AID, began the space team's scheduled transmissions of SSTV imagery, an exercise conducted as part of a high school and university competition for students. It was, however, a voice contact with the DKØTU amateur radio club at the Technical University of Berlin that was among the Fram2's earliest QSOs. The brief question-and-answer session from space took place at the university where the German-born astronaut had been a student herself once.
Much of the Fram2's ham radio activity was designed to be SSTV transmissions from space, carrying the four astronauts' views of the polar regions. They were transmitted in fragments, puzzle-style, challenging students around the world to piece them together to form a complete picture.
The Fram2 mission is named to honour the Norwegian-built ship, Fram, that carried researchers on polar explorations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This amateur contact -- and all transmissions that were to follow - engaged in another form of exploration. In anticipation of the decommissioning of the International Space Station by 2030, hams have been in search of other possible sources for radio contacts from space.
To hear the QSO between the astronaut and the students in Berlin, see the link in the text version of this week's script at arnewsline.org
SILENT KEY: LONGTIME PITTSBURGH-AREA DJ, RADIO HOST JIM QUINN, W3VEX
Jim Quinn, W3VEX got his start on the professional side of radio at KQV-AM as a Top-40 DJ and later with the giant WTAE. In the years that followed, his broadcast career delivered roles as a morning DJ on other music stations during the rise of FM TOP 40 radio. Moving later to WPGB-FM, Jim became cohost of a conservative radio talk show. He was a well-known voice on the air, particularly among Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania listeners.
Jim became a Silent Key on Sunday, March 30th. No cause of death was immediately given.
In all, he had more than four decades in commercial radio, from Pennsylvania to Cleveland to New York City and upstate Buffalo, New York. His amateur radio career lasted even longer, according to his page on QRZ.com. Jim was first licensed as a teenager while living in his native New Jersey.
He was 82.
SILENT KEY: DAN CROUCH, KF7DC, MINGUS MOUNTAIN ROUNDTABLE MODERATOR
It took very little time for Dan Crouch, KF7DC, to find a home with the Mingus Mountain Repeater Group in Arizona. Not long after he got his license in 2012, he found his way there and soon became part of the Mingus Mountain Round Table. He served as a moderator of the roundtable for many years..
Dan became a Silent Key during the weekend of March 15th.
He was a fulltime minister for more than 50 years, serving for 20 years at the Fountain of Life Community Church in Prescott Valley.
In announcing his death on Facebook, Patrick Brower, N7ATG, vice president of the Mingus Mountain Repeater Group, recalled the prayers and strength Dan was able to provide for others, especially when members of the ham radio community or their families experienced a loss.
ANTARCTIC RESEARCH BEACON GOES SILENT AFTER 46 YEARS
There are no more signals from VP8ADE from Adelaide Island, the ice-covered island off the Antarctic peninsula's west coast. The last day on the air for the 28-MHz low-power research beacon was the 21st of February. It was put into service in the summer of 1979 at the British Antarctic survey base of Rothera. Its tour of duty was originally supposed to have lasted only 3 years as one part of a research programme, according to Laurence Howell KL7L, who was the base radio operator at the time. The beacon's collection of critical data on global ionospheric propagation at the F2 layer proved so invaluable that it continued operating for another four decades. The beacon shared a small wooden hut with a 1950-era aircraft navigation beacon and with research equipment used for ionospheric D-layer scintillation research used by students of ionospheric researcher Dr. Roy Piggott. VP8ADE was proposed by the Radio Society of Great Britain. It was coordinated with the British Antarctic Survey and the Falkland Island radio regulator.
IOTA SEEKS VOLUNTEER TO SERVE AS CHECKPOINT FOR BRAZIL
The Islands on the Air awards scheme is in need of an experienced amateur who can serve in the voluntary position of checkpoint for Brazil, a post filled since 2009 by Luciáno Sampaio de Souza, PT7WA.
However he has recently informed the board that he now needs to step down. The ham who fills this post must demonstrate knowledge of the IOTA programme and rules, have good English proficiency, and possess the ability to process online applications.
Interested applicants should send details of the skills they would bring to the task. Email Roger Balister, G3KMA, at the address that appears in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
Applications are due no later than the 21st of April.
NOMINATION DEADLINE NEARS FOR CQ AMATEUR RADIO HALL OF FAME
The names included in the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame represent the best of the best that ham radio has had to offer through the years. Originated by CQ magazine, the Hall of Fame is now overseen by Hamgallery which selects amateurs with impressive personal operating records as well as achievements that have enhanced the lives and experiences of their fellow amateur radio operators.
Inductees may be living or Silent Keys and they are chosen via nomination. The nominating window is drawing to a close. You have until the 15th of April to submit the names of your nominees to Tom Roscoe, K8CX using email address K8CX at ham gallery dot com. That’s k8cx at ham gallery - that’s one word - dot com (k8cx@hamgallery.com)
Notifications will be sent out by the 30th of April as to whether the nomination was accepted or not.
See the website hamgallery dot com (hamgallery.com) for more details.
COMMUNITY'S FONDNESS FOR TOWER IS A TALL ORDE
American science fiction writer Stephen King is author of, among many things, the "Dark Tower" series of books. Now another tower that used to be his - an AM radio tower more than 400 feet tall - has gone dark. It was formerly used by WZON 620 AM in Maine, one of three of the region's radio stations that used to be owned by the writer. The tower had stood since 1937 when it was first used by WLBZ, the radio station's callsign in its earliest days.
Citing the financial struggles of three area radio stations he owned in Maine, King announced last year they were going to end their run. WKIT, known for its classic rock format, is still on the air, having been saved at the last minute after being bought by a media partnership known as the Rock Lobster Radio Group.
WZON-AM and WZLO-FM went silent on the 31st of December. However, recent local news reports say that both stations will return under new ownership: A company called Mix Maine Media was buying them from King along with an FM translator.
WZON's tower, however, still had to go. Local residents' affection for this longtime familiar sight drew them out to the scene of the demolition on Wednesday, March 26th. The prospect of the station's return, however, did cheer them -- and so when WZON played its final song last December before turning off its transmitter, its words rang true, but only for the tower.
The song was REM's "The End of the World As We Know It."
SPECIAL EVENT IS TRIBUTE TO DXPEDITIONER ZORRO, JH1AJT/SK
The DXer, DXpeditioner and humanitarian known as Zorro, JH1AJT, left enduring footprints on the planet where so many entities in Asia and Africa spelled adventure for him on his activations. His legacy reflects his commitment beyond merely calling QRZ from those locales. His many humanitarian works include the establishment of the Foundation for Global Children in 2010. He also gave an endowment to the INDEXA’s Humanitarian Aid Fund. Zorro sought to improve the lives of people wherever his travels took him, especially children.
When he became a Silent Key in March of 2022 at the age of 72, his death from cancer left a void that his friends continue to fill in the same spirit with which Zorro lived his life. The special event station, 3D2AJT, has been on the air from Fiji since the 16th of March to honor Zorro and will continue through the end of April, with operators using CW, SSB, FT4, FT8 and VARAC. Four-page QSL cards will be available after the activation, featuring a collection of photos from Zorro’s life, and the statement from him: [quote] “I shall go wherever I am needed and I shall do whatever needs to be done.” [Endquote]
Three years after his passing, Zorro - Yasuo Miyazawa - continues to be remembered with this memorial activation, even as his other good works carry on as well.
For more details, see the QRZ.com page for 3D2AJT.
