Amateur Radio Newsline 2161 for Friday, March 29, 2019

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2161 with a release date of Friday, March 29th, 2019 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. The Bouvet Island DXpedition is postponed! South African shortwave goes silent - and April Fool! Pierre Pullinmyleg has news for us....maybe. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Number 2161 comes your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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BOUVET ISLAND DXPEDITION POSTPONED

PAUL: We begin this week's report with word that the long-awaited 3Y0I DXPedition to Bouvet Island has been postponed. The decision was made to turn back to South Africa after a fierce cyclonal storm stirred waves that hit their vessel, the Atlantic Tuna, tilting it as much as 45 degrees with ocean waters sweeping important navigational tools overboard. In a press release issued on the 27th of March, the team announced all members are fine but are heeding the captain's decision to postpone going further for safety reasons.

The 3Y0I team vows that this saga is not over and they plan to return - in their words - "as soon as possible." They noted in their press release: "We don't give up."

Newsline, of course, will provide updates when they become available.

(STAN STRZYZEWSKI SP8S)

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SHORTWAVE STATION GOES SILENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

PAUL/ANCHOR: Another shortwave station is going silent. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF has details.

JIM: The end of March also marks the end of shortwave radio broadcasts from Bloemendal, South Africa. The shortwave station near Meyerton began as Radio RSA which went on the air in May of 1966. Its service was discontinued in 1992 when Radio RSA was shut. Sentech of South Africa, which distributes signals for the nation's broadcast sector, picked up its operation that same year. 

The last programme to be transmitted on 7 MHz and 17 MHz from the station will be "Amateur Radio Today," which Sentech had sponsored. "Amateur Radio Today" will still be available on the home page of the South African Radio League at sarl dot org dot za and on 7082 kHz from Durban and on many repeaters around South Africa.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(THE SWLING POST)	

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AMATEUR RADIO RETURNS TO SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

PAUL/ANCHOR: Amateur radio is back on the air at the Smithsonian Institution. Kevin Trotman N5PRE has that story.

KEVIN: The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C, the world's world's largest museum and research complex, has 9 research centers, 19 museums and an array of affiliates worldwide. What it did not have lately - at least not until now - was an amateur radio club. While it still has no shack to call its own, it does have a call sign: Its old call sign NN3SI was renewed this year in April and the new Smithsonian Institution Amateur Radio Group is returning to the air. The club isn't just a gathering spot for staffers with the radio hobby bug but also functions as a STEM educational resource and a player in emergency management when needed. The call sign dates back to 1976 when it was issued during the United States bicentennial. The station was active until 2008. It plans now to operate portable and mobile and participate in a number of big events including the Rookie Roundup, Field Day and the ARRL June VHF contest.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

(ARRL, QRZ.COM)

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BEFORE HAMVENTION, TRY AMSAT ACADEMY

PAUL/ANCHOR: Satellite enthusiasts who arrive a day early for Hamvention can devote that day to AMSAT. Here's Jack Parker W8ISH.

JACK: If you can't wait for Hamvention to start, welcome to the club. Actually, welcome to the Dayton Amateur Radio Association **Clubhouse**. That's where AMSAT Academy will be held the day before the big event opens the gates in nearby Xenia, Ohio. Registration is open now for the academy where you can learn about the digital satellites orbiting the earth and ways to work them. The all-day session is taking place on Thursday the 16th of May from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. right there in Dayton. The $85 registration fee includes one year's basic membership in AMSAT, a $44 value, as well as lunch and an invitation to attend that night's AMSAT gathering at a nearby restaurant in Fairborn, Ohio. Registration is not refundable and there is no sign-up at the door. Registration deadline is May 10th. Visit amsat dot org for more details. It's a good year to attend - AMSAT is marking its 50th anniversary this year.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker W8ISH.

(AMSAT.ORG)

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GERMAN AMATEURS CHOSEN TO COORDINATE IN CRISIS

PAUL/ANCHOR: When disaster strikes in Germany, officials have two more resources to turn to - and they're hams, as we hear from Ed Durrant DD5LP.

ED: Disaster Relief officials in the Hanover region of Germany are turning to the expertise of two amateur radio operators who have been named consultants to their office. 

The hams chosen are Frank Brinkmann, DO1FRK, and Andreas Kleiner, DG4OAE. Frank is a volunteer member of the German Red Cross and works in the disaster relief unit for communication and technical support in the local Hanover branch in Lower Saxony. The two are to coordinate support with the region's crisis staff when disaster strikes. Amateur radio operators have had a formal arrangement with officials since 1981 to provide such assistance.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.

(SOUTHGATE)

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FOR ARIZONA CAMPERS, A RADIO SAFETY NET

PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile in the western United States, visitors who stay in Senator Wash, a popular but remote long-term camping region outside Yuma Arizona, are watched over by a radio safety net. On the air, it sounds like a ham net but this net is on 27.105 MHz, Citizens Band Channel 12. A look inside the workings of this group of first responders is now on the YouTube Channel of Kevin KB9RWL. Kevin spent time with the all-volunteer crew to learn why Citizens Band works so well for this 20-year-old team, which includes hams. You can see more on his channel "The Old Tech Guy."

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NCOs NEEDED BY CENTRAL GULF COAST HURRICANE NET

PAUL/ANCHOR: One more net - this one serving the American Gulf Coast - could use some help, as we hear from Geri Goodrich KF5KRN.

GERI: The Central Gulf Coast Hurricane Net is in need of net control operators. The net meets every day on 3935 kHz at 0100 UTC. According to its mission statement the net is a directed net with the main purpose of handling of emergency traffic. Daily net operations help hams identify who is available for communications and how strong their station is. The net operates secondarily to handle routine traffic in liaison with the Interstate SSB Net on 3985 KHz.

The net's main geographic target areas are Central Gulf Coast states in the U.S. that are impacted by storm or flood.

For more details, contact the net scribe John N5JHF at n5jhf dot john at gmail dot com (n5jhf.john@gmail.com).

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Geri Goodrich KF5KRN

(QRZ.COM FORUM)

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NOMINATE OUR NEXT YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR

PAUL/ANCHOR: We remind listeners again to think of promising young hams they know. Amateur Radio Newsline honors outstanding youthful amateurs with its Young Ham of the Year Award named in memory of Newsline's Bill Pasternak WA6ITF. We are accepting nominations of candidates for this year. Award recipients offer the amateur community and the community-at-large the best of their talents. Information about eligibility is available on our website, arnewsline.org, under the YHOTY tab. You can download a nomination form which is due back to us before midnight on May 31st. The award will be presented on August 18th at the Huntsville Hamfest in Huntsville Alabama. 

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BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline heard on bulletin stations around the world including the W4GSO repeater in Greensboro North Carolina following the 8:30 Sunday evening net.

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HAMS HAVE WINNING MOMENT AT MARATHON IN HAWAII

PAUL/ANCHOR: Amateur radio operators in Hawaii had some winning moments at a major marathon there, and Skeeter Nash N5ASH has the details.

SKEETER: The Big Island International Marathon is considered memorable for a number of reasons, some of those reasons being the scenic waterfalls, beaches and bridges along the race's course. It's also memorable for the Puna Emergency Radio Club, which assisted at the marathon for the 5th year on March 17th, providing communications between runner aid stations and keeping tabs on the first and the final runners. The club even deployed a mobile ham unit that was able to transfer supplies, such as water, from one site to another or to retrieve any runners who could not complete the course.

Led by Sean Fendt KH6SF and his wife Kim WH6KIM, club members have gained increasing responsibilities at the race over the years. Despite this year's reported shortage of volunteers, there was no shortage of volunteer hours donated. According to an account on the QRZ forum, a group of 14 hams worked an estimated 145 volunteer hours between the Friday and Monday and amateurs devoted more than 24 volunteer-hours to the planning process and preparations during the months leading up to the race.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Skeeter Nash N5ASH.

(QRZ HILOMARATHON.ORG)

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HAMS NEEDED TO ASSIST AT OKLAHOMA CITY MARATHON

PAUL/ANCHOR: In Oklahoma, hams are needed for another marathon - one with ties to history. Don Wilbanks AE5DW brings us that story.

DON: One of the darkest days in U.S. history has a silver lining. The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995 changed America forever. It also galvanized Oklahoma City and the entire country into making something positive out of that horrific event.The Oklahoma City Memorial is, along with Ground Zero in New York, a place every American should visit. There is a way you can visit the Memorial and help celebrate the Oklahoma spirit and resiliency. The OKC Memorial Marathon Run to Remember is not only looking for runners,they are looking for volunteers, including hams to assist in communication and logistics. The date for the marathon is Sunday, April 28. First time volunteers will be teamed with a seasoned volunteer to help with assigned duties. Of course, you need to register as soon as possible. That is easily done online. The URL is a bit complex so look for it in the printed edition of this week’s Newsline report. By using that URL the registration code of PSC19 will automatically be filled in for you, adding you to the Public Service Communications team.The run starts on the grounds of the OKC Memorial and features a full marathon, half marathon and 5K. Details on the marathon can be found at okcmarathon.com. Look for the URL to the special registration page with the code PSC19 filled in on our website, arnewsline.org in the print edition of this report.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I’m Don Wilbanks AE5DW.


https://www.cuetoems.com/ocmm_2019/Volunteer.aspx?code=psc19  

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IRISH RADIO TRANSMITTERS SOCIETY HOLDING ANNUAL MEETING

PAUL/ANCHOR: The Irish Radio Transmitters Society has an ambitious agenda this month, as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: The Shannon Basin Radio Club has the honour this year of hosting the annual general meeting of the Irish Radio Transmitters Society, which is being paired with a Radio and Electronics Fair. This major gathering of Ireland's amateurs is taking place on the weekend of April 13th and 14th at the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone County Roscommon.

Brian Canning EI8IU, secretary of the Shannon club, told Newsline that much of Saturday's programme will be devoted to the EI DX Group's recently completed DXpedition to Togo, QSLing, operating awards and proper operation and usage of drones. The day will conclude with the IRTS dinner, followed by an all-day Radio and Electronics Fair on Sunday.

Tickets are available for the dinner. For further details about the weekend activities, visit shannonbasinradioclub dot com (shannonbasinradioclub.com) or IRTS dot ie (IRTS.ie)

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(IRTS)

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WORLD OF DX

In the world of DX, be listening for special event station, EM75FA, between the 6th and 14th of April. This station is commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of city of Odesa from the Nazi invaders during World War II. That took place on the 10th of April in 1944. QSL via UT7FA. A free electronic award is available. Additional details are on the EM75FA page on QRZ.com.

There's another special event - this one in England, celebrating Maritime Radio Day 2019. Listen for GB0GKA operated by Tony, G3ZRJ and GB0GKB operated by Larry, G4HLN to be active between 1200 UTC on the 14th of April and 2200 UTC on the 15th. They will be operating mainly CW on various HF bands. The stations are remembering Portishead Radio/GKA, the UK's long-range maritime radio station. The station closed in 2000. QSL to GB0GKA and GB0GKB via G4HLN. For more details, check their QRZ.com pages.

Remember too that April is SOTA-DX month. There will be two summit-to-summit contacting events. The first is on April 6th targeting activations in Europe, Australasia and Japan. The second on April 20th targets Europe and both North and South America. Ed DD5LP, ARN's SOTA correspondent, tells us that stations will be working to make the best contacts possible from their mountain and hill tops despite the radio propagation. We wish them all good luck.

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KICKER: APRIL FOOL! NEWSLINE'S PIERRE PULLINMYLEG ATTRACTS EXPEDITIONERS

PAUL/ANCHOR: We close this week's report hearing from Newsline's roving correspondent Pierre Pullinmyleg. His amazing story befits the spirit of April Fool's Day. Pierre?

PIERRE's REPORT: DXpedition fans, you are perhaps upset to have lost a chance at a Bouvet Island contact??? Ah, not so fast mes amis {mays amee}. The truth is, mai oui {may wee}, that zee reason the Atlantic Tuna has turned back is - because of me, Pierre Pullinmyleg!!! You see I myself have just become zee most rare DX on zee planet. I, Pierre Pullinmyleg, recently gave my body over to amateur radio, donated my very flesh and bones to the ham world's first Biological Expedition. ZOOT ALLORS!!!!!! I have swallowed three nano-transceivers and as they make their way through my system, three BioExpedition team members will be operating remotely - QRP of course - calling QR Zed from my solar plexus, my abdominal cavity, my.....well, my "other regions!" The fillings in my teeth are even tuned to 20 meters. As an added bonus, if you have a successful QSO with certain parts of my body, you can even get points for Summits on the Air and Islands on the Air....Please don't ask which parts. So let's concentrate on the CQ WPX SSB contest and be sure to have that rare QSO with the insides of ME, Pierre Pullinmyleg.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, this is me, Pierre Pullinmyleg saying "I feel a really big contact coming on."

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NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Labs; Amateur News Weekly; AMSAT; the ARRL; CQ Magazine; Hap Holly and the Rain Report; HiloMarathon.org; Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin; QRZ.COM; Southgate Amateur Radio News; Ted Randall's QSO Radio Show; the IRTS; Stan Strzyzewski SP8S; the SWLing POST; 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 arnewsline.org.
For now, with Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT, at the news desk in New York, and our news team worldwide, I'm Paul Braun WD9GCO in Valparaiso Indiana saying 73 and as always we thank you for listening.

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