Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2332 for Friday July 8, 2022

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2332 with a release date of Friday July 8, 2022 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. The amateur radio world loses two prominent innovators in India. The Hawaiian islands prep for a disaster drill -- and commercial CW is revived for one special night. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2332 comes your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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HAM KNOWN AS 'INDIAN MARCONI' BECOMES SILENT KEY

DON/ANCHOR: We begin this week's newscast reporting on two major losses in the amateur radio community in India. These are losses that are being felt around the world as well. The first Silent Key is the man known to many as "The Indian Marconi." Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us about his life.

GRAHAM: Rama Mohan Rao VU2RM was a radio pioneer in India, celebrated for the many first throughout his long life. According to an announcement by the Institute of Amateur Radio in Kerala, the retired communications engineer became a Silent Key on June 29th following cardiac arrest while hospitalised with a lung infection. The institute recalled that Rama Mohan Rao was one of a handful of amateurs to hold a licence in India's earliest days of amateur radio. Although he was known for a wide array of homebrew equipment including many used in satellite communications, hams remember him best as the first Indian amateur to build a SSB tranceiver that put affordable equipment in the hands of those unable to pay for more expensive rigs. The transceiver, the RM96, was built using locally available components. Homebrew was his calling and according to his QRZ page, he was one of the first hams to work the OSCAR satellites using all homebrew equipment.

A fan of 6-metre operation, he was the first Indian amateur to operate on the band in 1959. He had also been an adventurous DXpeditioner and his travels took him to the Andaman Islands in 1960 as part of the first DXpeition there, where the team used all homebrew equipment and antennas.

The institute in Kerala recalled the nickname given him: "The Indian Marconi."

Rama Mohan Rao was 91.

(QRZ.COM, INSTITUTE OF AMATEUR RADIO IN KERALA)

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SILENT KEY: SATELLITE INNOVATOR GURUDATTA PANDA VU3GDP

DON/ANCHOR: A tragic accident has claimed the life of a young innovator in India, known for his work with satellite communications. We hear more from Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

JIM: Gurudatta Panda VU3GDP, an engineer who helped launch India into a prominent status in space communications, has become a Silent Key. According to several reports, Gurudatta was killed in a tragic traffic accident on June 26th. The young engineer was best known for constructing small satellites, many of which were deployed to assist with communications during natural disasters. Most notable was the ExseedSat CubeSat, created with an eight-member development team that included cofounder Ashhar Farhan, VU2ESE, in Hyderabad, India. The 10-centimetre satellite had an APRS digipeater and an amateur radio FM transponder and was India's first private satellite, launched in December 2018 by the US-based SpaceX company. AMSAT designated it VO-96. 

Gurudatta also advocated young people's involvement in amateur radio. Active in disaster communications and disaster drills, Gurudatta assisted with many major operations including the 2013 cyclone in the Ganjam district in India.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(FACEBOOK, ARRL, AMSAT-UK)

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EXPERIMENTAL TRANSCEIVER NEEDS NO BATTERIES

DON/ANCHOR: A laboratory in Tokyo is the scene of some innovative work on a transceiver that doesn't rely on batteries. Kent Peterson KCØDGY brings us the details.

KENT: Researchers in Japan are working on the prototype of a transceiver that is able to receive power wirelessly at the same time it sends and receives data, according to a report in the IEEE Spectrum.

Scientists at the Tokyo Institute of Technology believe the 64-element millimeter-wave-band phased-array transceiver could become the first of its kind that no longer is dependent on cables, plugs or batteries.

The IEEE Spectrum article said Atsushi Shirane delivered the research results in June at an IEEE symposium in Honolulu, Hawaii. He said that the transceiver, which has a 64-element phased array of antennas on its front side, is capable of short transmission distances and is able to receive power from a fixed direction. It also contains a circuit board on the back where four RF integrated circuit chips are wired into one of four quadrants containing the antennas.

Shirane said the initial goal is for the transceiver to be used in 5G service. He told the Spectrum [quote] “We aim to expand the technology as a batteryless 5G relay transceiver to extend the service area coverage of millimeter-wave 5G communications." [endquote] He said after DC power generation is increased, scientists hope to find a way for the transceiver to be used with battery-free devices tied to the Internet of Things.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Kent Peterson KCØDGY.


(FROM IEEE SPECTRUM)

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HAMVENTION 2023 GETS NEW GENERAL CHAIRMAN

DON/ANCHOR: With Hamvention 2022 now just a memory, planning is already under way for next year. Congratulations to Jim Storms, AB8YK, on being named general chairman of Hamvention for 2023. The Dayton Amateur Radio Association announced Jim's new responsibility on Friday, July 1st. Jim has served as vice president of DARA for three years and has been an officer for several other local amateur radio clubs. He is a co-leader for the Dave Kalter Youth DX Adventure program, which he helped found. 

Jim has been Hamvention's chairman of advance registration since 2017. The DARA board also announced that Brian Markland, N8UDQ, will serve as Hamvention's assistant general chairman.

(DARA)

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FIRST 'HAMCAMPTION' SET FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA

DON/ANCHOR: You've heard of Hamvention and Hamcation but are you ready for HamCamption?? If your QTH is Down Under, it is coming your way! Here's John Williams VK4JJW.

JOHN: Darren VK6EK has big hopes for Mayanup HamCamption, a weekend getaway for recreation and radio. It is the fruit of a discussion Darren had with Rob VK6LD, president of the Southern Electronics Group VK6SR in Western Australia and it becomes reality on September 10th and 11th at the sports ground in Mayanup. Darren said that with its dipole-friendly trees as well as bathrooms and a shed facility, it is an ideal location for this first try at a radio camping event. More of a social outing than a field day, it will present an opportunity for socialising with like-minded hams and still present plenty of opportunity for radio. There may even be a little fox hunting. Darren plans to run an FT8 station on 20 metres during the day and 40 metres at night. There is a 70cm repeater about 9 kilometres away from the grounds and it will be connected to the club's Allstar Node 42482.

Darren said the informal event is expected to be an ideal warmup for Perth Tech, a camper-friendly symposium being held in October at the Gidgegannup Sport and Recreation Centre. He told Newsline that if all goes well, HamCamption may return to the Mayanup grounds next May when the weather is still a bit warmer and drier. The club will just need to schedule their time around the horse and pony clubs who also have their own equestrian version of field day there.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams VK4JJW.

(DARREN VK6EK)

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NET IS REVIVED FOR ADVANCED CLASS HAMS

DON/ANCHOR: The A-13 Net is back on the air and it's going back - way back - to its roots. The net, which is being organizd by the Advanced Class Preservation Society, returns to 20m on Monday, July 11th. Instead of being a formal net, it's going back to being the general roundtable it had been at the very start. Be listening for Scott W5URX to kick things off at 1700 UTC on 14.213 MHz.

Participants are holders of an Advanced Class license issued by the United States FCC. The agency stopped issuing these licenses in the year 2000 but they are renewable.

Editor Paul Buescher, N8HHG, writes about the revival of the net in the most recent A-13 Newsletter, saying [quote] "We will give this a try and see how it works out.  Please consider joining in the net and listen for future net days and times." [endquote]

According to the newsletter, the preservation society has 315 members in 50 states and two US territories.

(A-13 GROUP NEWSLETTER, LLOYD COLSTON KC5FM)

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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 KD2SL repeater in Syracuse, New York on Mondays at 8 p.m. after the Fireside Chat Net.

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DISASTER EXERCISE SET FOR HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

DON/ANCHOR: Hams throughout Hawaii are getting ready for a disaster drill that needs as many participants as possible. We hear more from Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

KEVIN: To help hams in Hawaii ensure that they can be prepared when hurricanes or other disasters strike the islands, Hawaii ARES is conducting a disaster exercise on Saturday the 16th of July. Amateurs who volunteer to participate will make use of their radios as well as their computers to send messages in a variety of ways. That will include the use of Winlink to transmit emails with simulated hurricane reports. Other messages will also simulate reports from area Red Cross shelters and will provide field situation and damage reports.

Michael Miller KH6ML appeared on a recent KITV newscast in Hawaii to share the details and ask for all licensed amateurs to get involved. Hams who participate in SKYWARN, CERT and other emergency response programs are welcome, as are those who may not be involved in RACES, ARES or any club. In this statewide exercise, the hams will follow the standardized Incident Command System that is in use throughout the United States. The exercise presumes that each of the Hawaiian islands has lost internet, cell phone service and electrical power as a result of a hurricane.

For details on how to get involved visit the website hawaiiares.net

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

(HAWAIIARES.NET, KITV HAWAII)

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TRADITIONAL CW CELEBRATED DURING 'NIGHT OF NIGHTS'

DON/ANCHOR: Listen up: Commercial Morse Code is about to return to the air, if only for a night. Randy Sly W4XJ explains.

RANDY: In the early years of the 20th century, there was nothing more reassuring for a lonely radio officer on a storm-tossed ship than the response of a coastal station to their call. The last of these Morse messages was sent on July 12, 1999. On that date, the founders of the Maritime Radio Historical Society established their organization with the specific goal of returning coast station KPH to the air as a means to honor the men and women who made the profession of radiotelegrapher one of honor and skill. On July 12, 2022, the MRHS will hold its 23rd annual Night of Nights, commemorating the tradition of commercial Morse code once thought dead. 

Each July 12th, since the year 2000, transmitters are brought online for this special event from the original Marconi/RCA transmission site in Bolinas, California. KPH and KFS will be operating on assigned commercial frequencies while K6KPH will be operating on several HF amateur radio bands. For operational times, frequencies and QSL information, please check the Maritime Radio Historical Society website at radiomarine.org.

(MARITIME RADIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY)

Newsline's Randy Sly, W4XJ reporting.

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POTA OPERATORS UPLOAD OWN LOGS

DON/ANCHOR: Hams active in Parks on the Air received upbeat news on the POTA website recently: From 1200 UTC on July 1st activators have been able to upload their own logs rather than rely on regional volunteer coordinators to do so. Hams logging onto the POTA site should now see a menu option called "My Log Uploads." The feature became active on July 1st, following a period of successful beta testing. Posting on the website QRPer, Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL, said the option was a welcome change for activators.

The system update comes just in time for the POTA Annual Support Your Parks Plaque Event on the 16th and 17th of July where there will be shields to be won for various classes of operation.

(POTA)

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WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, there is still time to work Elvira, IV3FSG, on the air as 5X3R from Uganda until July 13th. She is operating on 80-10 meters using SSB, RTTY and PSK31. QSL via IK2DUW, direct, by the Bureau, ClubLog or LoTW.

Be listening for the call sign CO9GNN from Cuba, where a number of operators will be marking a special event, the 333rd anniversary of the founding of Santa Clara City, Cuba, which is IOTA NA-015. They will be on most of the HF bands and on 2 meters using SSB and the Digital modes. Digital diplomas are available. Contact Ernesto by email at ernesto c o 6 i d at gmail dot com (ernestoco6id@gmail.com)

A special event station in New Zealand is marking the 90th anniversary of the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters Southland Branch 37. They will be using the call sign ZL9ØGQ throughout July. For details about the special award available and for details on how to QSL, visit their QRZ.com page.

Listen for John, N9EAJ, operating as N9EAJ/P from Okaloosa Island, which is IOTA reference NA-142, between July 24 and 31st. John will be on 40-10 meters using SSB and a little CW. You may hear him during the Radio Society of Great Britain's IOTA Contest on July 30th and 31st. QSL via N9EAJ direct or ClubLog's OQRS.

The exact details and dates are yet to be determined by Gilbert, 4F2KWT, for a DXpedition that will be operating from the Spratly Islands with the call sign DXØNE sometime between August 1st and December 31st, 2022. There will be four operators and it will be a month-long activation on the HF bands using CW, SSB, and FT8. QSL via 4F2KWT, ClubLog or LoTW.

(OHIO PENN DX)

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'HAM TALK LIVE' MARKS 300TH EPISODE

We'd also like to take a moment to celebrate with a member of the Newsline family, Neil Rapp WB9VPG, on having completed Episode Number 300 of his podcast "Ham Talk Live," on July 5th. Neil is a Newsline anchor and correspondent and a host of this lively talk show about one of our favorite subjects. Congratulations Neil!

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KICKER: HOPING TO SPY INTEREST IN REVIVING AN OLD NET

DON/ANCHOR: Finally, a popular CW net that went silent two decades ago has found its voice in one amateur who is looking to revive it. He is looking for hams with MK 123 transceivers or any spy radio equipment - including homebrew. We end this week with Jeremy Boot G4NJH, who shares some of the intrigue.

JEREMY:  Colin F5VHZ remembers the great days of the Spy Set Net that attracted hams at the Bletchley Park Radio Club GB2BP. Back then the rig of choice was mainly the MK 123 radio. The hams held CW nets, special events and even a bit of chat. Colin recently posted on the QRZ forums that he hopes to find like-minded amateurs who will join him once again in calling "CQ, CQ CQ Spy Set Net," adding their call sign. Any CW speed is welcome. Colin's love of history and old radios dates back to his home-brewed crystal projects as a child and a memorable visit in 1964 to the British Science Museum where he saw a World War II radio transmitting text from China's Chairman Mao in RTTY. He got his licence as F1HIC when he moved to France, then returned to the UK in the 80s, becoming G1YEB. He joined the Bletchley Park radio club and after passing the CW test he became M5AET. He was part of the first Spy Set Net operating mainly on 3.514 and 7.028 MHz. The net fell silent over the years but Colin told Newsline: [quote] "I have decided to try and kickstart the old Spy Set Net back into action." [endquote]  Of course, it will be on the old frequencies.

With a nod to a little espionage history, Colin adds a final thought: "You can make up and send your own 'secret' message as in World War II, like a string of messages: Thomas's bike has a puncture, Mary has found a blue rose, there are owls in the woods tonight, etcetera." [endquote]

It's all a bit of fun and yes, even a little intrigue. Colin hopes he spies others who are interested. His email is in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

[FOR PRINT ONLY: Colin's email is f5vhz@gmail.com]

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NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to the A-13 GROUP NEWSLETTER; AMSAT-UK; ARRL; CQ Magazine; Darren VK6EK; David Behar K7DB; Facebook; HawaiiARES.net; Institute of Amateur Radio in Kerala; KITV HAWAII; Lloyd Colston KC5FM; Maritime Radio Histocial Society; Ohio Penn DX; QRZ.com; Southgate Amateur Radio News; 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.

For now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and our news team worldwide, I'm Don Wilbanks AE5DW in Picayune, Mississippi saying 73. As always we thank you for listening.

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