In a community 60 miles east of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the disaster has come to be known as the Great Flood of 1889. What began on May 31st of that year ultimately claimed more than 2,200 lives in the western part of the state. The deadliest dam burst in US history followed several days of heavy rainfall, as more than 20 million tons of water rushed uncontrollably into the heavily populated valley. Johnstown, in Cambria County, had the misfortune to be just 14 miles downstream from the dam.
It had 30,000 residents, many of whom were crushed by the sudden, unexpected rush of flood waters.
This is history that is personal to many in the region and amateur radio operators are no exception. They will be on the air starting on Saturday the 24th of May through to the 6th of June, operating from the Johnstown Pennsylvania Flood Museum calling CQ. They are using the callsign N3N and will be on HF and 2 meters. The special event is taking place in cooperation with the Cambria County Pennsylvania Emergency Services and Skywarn Storm Spotters of Western Pennsylvania. Emergency responders know well: Tragic flooding revisited the region again in 1936 and 1977 but neither of those floods compared to this one, which is considered the kind of storm that happens once every 1,000 years.
LUXEMBOURG ISSUES POSTAGE STAMP FOR IARU's CENTENARY
One hundred years ago, Radioamateurs du Luxembourg was among the organisations representing radio amateurs from 23 nations at the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union in Paris, France.
Celebrating the centenary and showing pride in Luxembourg's role, the Post Philately of Luxembourg has issued a postage stamp and a matching postal card marking the anniversary. The stamp will be released in the weeks ahead and will be available for purchase at the Radioamateurs du Luxembourg booth at Ham Radio Friedrichshafen in June. Until then, pre-orders can be sent via email to the address that appears in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org.
SPECIAL EVENT FOLLOWS TRAIL OF 19TH CENTURY EXPLORERS
Just as the American explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark tied the landscape of the early North American West together via their travels in the early 19th century, more than 30 ham radio clubs in 16 states are carving out a trail of communications along that same route. Radio operators are calling CQ from May 31st through to June 15th in the Dakotas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky and other states that were eventually established within the explored territory.
The special event, Lewis & Clark Trail On the Air, has expanded since its launch in 2022 with the Clark County Amateur Radio Club in Vancouver, Washington state. Now it encourages chasers to try for contacts of one club in each of the 16 states - or one of two bonus stations who are representing the Jefferson Indian Peace Medal. The explorers handed these medals out to the chiefs of tribes they encountered during their expedition. For information about certificates or participating clubs, visit the website L C T O T A dot org for details (LCTOTA.org)
LONGTIME ELECTRONICS SUPPLIER SHUTS DOORS IN US
Since it was founded in Florida in January of 1972, Marlin P. Jones & Associates gained a loyal following among amateur radio operators looking for everything from power supplies to electronic switches and other components.
The family-owned business closed its doors on the 9th of May and announced on its website that it would no longer be taking phone calls after the 23rd of the month. Its remaining inventory was purchased by another company in Florida - Skycraft Surplus.
Positive reviews of the company’s customer service and the quality of its products reflect the satisfaction that hams and other purchasers of electronic components received after doing business repeatedly with the company, which was also known as MPJ & Associates.
The company's website gave no reason for the closure. A statement said simply: “It has been an honor to have done business with you.”
STUDENTS GET FREE ONLINE LESSONS ABOUT WEATHER SATELLITES
Even as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is halting support for a number of its weather satellites, the importance of these collectors of data and imagery from space remains key to understanding our changing climate. Students in grades 8 through 12 here in the US are getting an opportunity to learn more about these satellites and their contributions to the study of long-term climate behavior through a free online series offered by the AMSAT Youth Initiative.
The coursework is designed to let students progress through the material independently. The first installment is called "An Introduction to Satellite Meteorology," and will be followed by the next release in June. Future topics include Wildlife and Natural Resources, Navigation, Climate Change and Pollution Control.
Visit buzzsat-dot-com to see more details about the course.
ANTENNA AUCTION RAISES FUNDS FOR SCHOLARSHIP
You might say that this was one high-profile antenna that got some great reception: The remaining 16 elements of the Empire State Building's 32 element Alford Antenna attracted lively and profitable bidding at a charity benefit auction in April. According to a report on the Radio World website, a total of $7,549 was raised for the Society of Broadcast Engineers' Ennes scholarship fund.
The antenna, which was installed on the Manhattan skyscraper in 1965, was decommissioned in 2019. At one time it served as many as 16 FM broadcast stations. The individual elements weigh about 100 pounds, or 45 kilograms, each but thanks to this successful auction, they will carry even more weight in helping support the careers of future broadcast engineers.
ON-LOAN DMR KIT STARTS YOUNG UK HAMS ON THEIR JOURNEYS
The DMR project launched recently by the Radio Society of Great Britain is a way to provide opportunity - and radio equipment - for young new amateurs to become accustomed to making QSOs on a regular basis. The Outreach Team’s new DMR kit contains DMR handheld transceivers and hotspots to borrow for as long as three months at no cost. Accompanying the equipment, of course, is the opportunity to use it - and the RSGB’s team will also be hosting regularly scheduled youth nets to give as many participants as possible a good start. Licensed hams or school groups with at least one licensee are eligible to apply to use the kits.
Meanwhile, the society is also encouraging teachers to establish school clubs and to become amateurs themselves. Funding from the Radio Communications Foundation will cover the cost of up to nine teachers’ exams.
Additional details are available at rsgb dot org dot UK (rsgb.org.uk)
REPORT: US UNPREPARED TO HANDLE MAJOR SOLAR STORM
A US government task force established 11 years ago to handle space weather emergencies has demonstrated that it is incapable of successfully managing such a crisis, according to a recent report task force members released earlier this month. Several critical failures came to light at the conclusion of a two-day drill conducted in early May to assess US agencies' readiness in such a crisis. The drill staged a simulated crisis of several CMEs hurtling toward earth, creating widespread power and communications outages, radio blackouts and radiation hazards for NASA astronauts on a lunar mission.
This was the first exercise of its kind for the task force, which is known by the acronym SWORM, which stands for Space Weather Operations Research and Mitigation. Member agencies include the US Department of Homeland Security and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. According to the report, government agency protocols were shown to be weak and without effective interoffice coordination. Those challenges were called especially critical because warning for the impact of an incoming coronal mass ejection can be as long as a few days or as short as half an hour.
The report praised the exercise for identifying these issues and called for, among other things, development of an advanced warning system and sophisticated space-weather satellite systems. A link to the report is in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
WHEN THE "STATION IDENTIFICATION" IS A BINARY STAR SYSTEM
Think of them as the dynamic duo of the universe: No, they're not caped crusaders but a red dwarf star and a white dwarf, a dead star. Together, they have been sending a steady radio pulse every two hours for at least 10 years.
Scientists have heard their transmission but until recently no one knew the source of the sounds, which appeared to emanate from the direction of the Big Dipper. This past spring, the signals were found to come from a binary system - two stars - that send the pulse by repeated contact between their magnetic fields. Researchers cracked the mystery with the help of a low-frequency array radio telescope. The discovery debunks the long-held belief that only highly magnetized neutron stars known as magnetars, can emit such pulses.
This challenge to the old way of thinking opens up the chance to explore other mysteries and binary systems.
Researchers call this binary star system ILTJ1101. Although it sounds like a very large and exotic callsign for this long-distance transmitter, it's not. Still, with all those steady, regular signals over the years, this pair surely deserves some kind of operating award.
AWARD RECOGNIZES WSPR RADIO "DETECTIVES"
The international ham radio magazine for enthusiasts operating VHF and up has announced it will award a prize this year to a radio operator studying the scientific validity of global passive WSPR radar in locating aircraft. The theory came to prominence following the use of WSPR log data in the search for the doomed Malaysian flight MH370, which disappeared in 2014 en route to Beijing.
The journal, which publishes four times a year in English and German, has created this award to mark the 75th anniversary of the DARC and the 100th anniversary of the International Amateur Radio Union. The total prize award is 7,500 euros - the equivalent of $8,450 US - and is in three categories: 1,500 Euros, or $1,600, for proof involving large passenger or cargo aircraft; 2,500 Euros, or $2,800, for proof involving smaller aircraft; 3,500 Euros, almost $4,000 for proof involving helicopters.
Studies should be submitted in either English or German and in PDF format to the email address that appears in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org by the entry deadline of 31st of December.
AMSAT SETS OCTOBER DATE FOR SYMPOSIUM, MEETING
October seems like a long way off but to planners of the 43rd Annual AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting, it's just around the corner. Organizers have already sent out a "save the date" notice for the weekend of October 16th and have published a general schedule that runs for four days. Meetings and presentations will be hosted at the Holiday Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport North in Arizona, convenient to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
The board of directors will meet on Thursday the 16th of October and again on Friday the 17th of October, the same day that the symposium presentations will begin. The annual general meeting will be on Saturday, the 18th of October. The morning of Sunday, the 19th of October - the closing day - has been set aside for the members' breakfast. More specific details will be made public as soon as they become available.
PROJECT KUIPER LAUNCHES ITS FIRST SATELLITES
The broadband internet constellation known as Project Kuiper is on its way at last, following the launch on Monday, April 28th of its first 27 satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Amazon envisions its long-anticipated $10-billion project as a direct challenge to the massive SpaceX Starlink network, which dominates the market, as well as Eutelsat OneWeb, AT&T and T-Mobile. Ultimately Project Kuiper will send 3,236 satellites into low-Earth orbit, making its global broadband service accessible to rural and underserved regions.
A mandate by the US Federal Communications Commission requires Amazon to deploy 1,618 - or half - of its satellites by the middle of next year. Analysts speculate that the company may seek an extension on that date as a result of the delays.
HAMS EXEMPT FROM DISTRACTED-DRIVING LAW THAT BEGINS JUNE 5
A similar law takes effect on the 5th of June in Pennsylvania, where drivers will be banned from using handheld mobile devices while behind the wheel of a moving car. As with many distracted-driving laws passed recently, this law also exempts amateur radio operators and emergency responders. The measure is known as Paul Miller’s Law, bearing the name of the 21-year-old man struck and killed by a motorist distracted by a phone in 2010.
HAMS EXEMPT FROM SOUTH CAROLINA LAW BANNING HANDHELDS
South Carolina is about to become the 32nd state in the US to exempt amateur radio operators from a law that bans drivers of motor vehicles from using hand-held devices.
After it is signed into law by Gov. Henry McMaster, the measure is to take effect on September 1st. Although it prohibits drivers from using portable computers, GPS receives, mobile phones, electronic games or other communication devices, the bill exempts operators of amateur, citizens bad, commercial and emergency radios.
Members of the state Senate and House of Representatives passed different versions of the Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act earlier this year - overwhelmingly. They recently agreed to resolve the differences in both versions and send it in its final form, to the governor.
A similar law in Iowa - also with a ham radio exemption - is set to take effect on the 1st of July, joining a growing number of states around the US.
ARRL'S RENEWED CALLS TO FCC INCLUDE PLEA FOR TECHNICIANS' HF PRIVILEGES
The ARRL has renewed an earlier plea that the FCC grant HF privileges to Technician class radio amateurs. The revival of this proposed change is prominent on a long list the league has drawn up for the commission, responding to the federal government's goal to eliminate certain FCC regulations or guidelines. The league is asking that Technicians gain phone privileges on 80 metres, 40 metres and 15 metres along with RTTY and digital privileges. This is not the only previous petition the league is pressing for as part of the commission's announced changes. It is also asking that sub-band boundaries be adjusted on 80 and 75 metres to correct what it calls an "imbalance" that doesn't reflect the increased presence of digital operations. The ARRL is also underscoring its belief that baud rate and bandwidth limitations should be eliminated on certain amateur LF and VHF/UHF bands. This FCC initiative was announced in its Further Notice of Proposed Rule making in 2023.
The FCC initiative was contained in its Docket Number 25-133 which has been referred to as the "Delete, Delete, Delete" docket.
SILENT KEY: THE QSO RADIO SHOW'S TED RANDALL, WB8PUM
Ted Randall, WB8PUM, host and founder of the QSO Radio Show heard on shortwave stations WTWW and WRMI passed away on Sunday, May 11th after a long illness. Born Ted Randall Klimkowski in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, Ted graduated from Robichaud High School in 1969. Ted was a broadcast engineer in Detroit and, later, Nashville. His sons, David and Matt, are also engineers.
Ted was known for his deep voice and velvety delivery on the QSO Radio Show. If it was of interest to amateurs, Ted covered it. He also covered the paranormal. He said "if it flies over your head and can't be identified or goes bump in the night, we talk about it." He did several live shows from just outside the gates of Area 51 in Nevada.
Ted was a huge supporter of the Amateur Radio Newsline Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Young Ham of the Year award. During his live broadcasts from the Huntsville Hamfest, the QSO Radio Show was usually the first stop after the presentation for a sit down on air with Ted. He also did live broadcasts from the Dayton Hamvention.
For several years, the Ham Nation television audio was simulcast by Ted on WTWW.
He is survived by his wife Holly and two sons. Fittingly, he was 73 years of age.
HISTORIC TURNOUT FOR BANGLADESH HAM RADIO EXAM
A record number of candidates showed up to take Bangladesh's amateur radio exam on Friday, May 9th, a total estimated at more than 900 participants. The Amateur Radio Society of Bangladesh said on its website that "this remarkable figure represents the highest number of participants ever recorded for an amateur radio exam in Bangladesh's history."
Weeks of preparation had gone into preparing candidates for the exam by offering online seminars as well as in-person training and workshops. There was also a field day as well as classes in basic electronics and antenna-building. The amateur radio society said there was great support from the Bangladesh Vespa Community, a community-service group of motorised-scooter enthusiasts - many of whom also took the exam, which was organised by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.
It was not yet known how many of the candidates were successful in getting their licence.
UNIVERSITY IN ROME LOGS QSOs TO WELCOME NEW POPE
Two days after the conclave of cardinals had elected Pope Leo XIV, amateur radio station HV5PUL - the Pontifical Lateran University - was on the air in the Vatican City State in the heart of Rome, celebrating. The station's administrator, Luca Della Giovampaola, IWØDJB, reported that traffic was lively on 20 metres SSB and 17 metres FT8. He said that the simple 100-watt station logged an estimated 400 contacts in four hours. Propagation was challenging and so, with the exception of one Japanese station , all the contacts were within Europe.
It's not often a new pope is chosen nor that HV5PUL is put on the air. Luca said the callsign is active mainly on Saturdays in connection with special occasions, such as the opening day of the university's academic year -- and of course, the election of a new pope.
IARU OUTLINES RE-ENGINEERED VISION, ELIMINATING REGIONAL ENTITIES
Imagine, for a moment, an IARU without separate entities known as Region 1, Region, 2 and Region 3. Imagine a total restructuring that would create a single global entity, erasing the discrete regions separated by oceans, languages and cultures.
The IARU has announced that it is considering just that and has released a proposal to unite the independent regions as one, combined with the International Secretariat, to streamline decision-making, to better coordinate shared concerns and to bolster membership in regions where it is declining. The IARU's administrative headquarters is presently based at the ARRL in the United States.
The IARU has released guidance on potential restructuring to help the organization meet modern challenges. The proposed changes would combine the 3 separate regional organizations into a single global entity.
The proposal (PDF) outlines a number of areas where the currently independent, regional organizations struggle. Problem areas include declining membership, duplication of resources, lack of coordination, and other various inefficiencies. The changes are designed to establish a number of benefits:
This overwhelming change would not happen overnight, of course. The IARU will be asking member societies to vote after they have reviewed the consultation on restructuring, which is available on the IARU website. Any changes that are approved would not take place before next year.
A PULSAR PACKS A PUNCH INTO OUR GALAXY
It's known as the Snake, the nickname by which astronomers identify one dense, elongated filament in the center of our Milky Way galaxy. It apparently has suffered fractures in two places. As best as scientists can tell, a fast-rotating neutron star known as a pulsar collided with the Snake at a not-too-shabby 1–2 million miles per hour and caused a fracture that disrupted the Snake's magnetic field, releasing radio emissions from the site of the impact.
NASA's Chandra X-ray observatory and the MeerKAT radio array in South Africa studied the Snake, which is 230-light-years long, to get a better picture of what scientists compare to fractures in bones. Radio astronomers combined their findings with those of an observatory in San Agustin, Mexico and recently released a paper in the Monthly Notices of the London-based Royal Astronomical Society describing the event. Scientists study filaments such as the Snake to understand their roles in how stars are formed.
Whether the Snake can heal is another question altogether. Cosmic veterinarians don't make long-distance house calls.
Meanwhile, patient-privacy rules do not apply here - so you can see images of the injury on the CHANDRA X-Ray Observatory website. The link is in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org,
