Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2386 for Friday July 21st, 2023

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2386 with a release date of Friday July 21st, 2023 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Changes in band access await hams in Australia. A much-loved electronics supplier is closing after 50 years -- and a ham marks a DXCC achievement of two lifetimes.  All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2386 comes your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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BAND-ACCESS CHANGES AWAIT AUSTRALIAN AMATEURS 

JIM/ANCHOR: There are gains and losses for amateurs in Australia as the nation's regulator moves ahead with proposed changes to spectrum access. Graham Kemp VK4BB has that story.

GRAHAM: Advanced amateurs in Australia and overseas equivalents will be losing their access to frequencies between 3.4 and 3.6 GHz, which have been identified for reallocation to commercial interests and for use by earth station protection zones. While proposing those changes, the Australian Communications and Media Authority is expanding standard amateurs and overseas equivalents access to frequencies between 50 and 52 MHz, in addition to the current 52 to 54 MHz. These modifications are contained in the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions Omnibus Amendment Instrument 2023, Number 1.
 
The ACMA took its action following the submission of public comments to the consultation. The regulator said it received only six such comments, with the majority supporting the changes.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(ACMA)

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RSGB VIDEO EXPLAINS SWEEPING CHANGES AT OFCOM

JIM/ANCHOR: Meanwhile in the UK, hams are getting some help in understanding the changes that Ofcom has in the works. We have those details from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: As Ofcom undertakes the first sweeping changes in ham radio licensing and call sign policy in 25 years, the Radio Society of Great Britain has been hoping to make things simpler. The society is offering guidance on this consultation through a variety of materials that include a newly released video by Murray Niman, G6JYB, the society's spectrum and licensing expert.

The RSGB is hoping that clubs will share the video at their meetings and assist hams in understanding the work underway. The video can be found on the RSGB's YouTube channel or on the consultation web page of the society at the link found in the text version of this week's newscast.

The regulator is seeking feedback and has set a deadline of the 4th September for comment.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

[DO NOT READ: rsgb.org/licencereview ]

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SILENT KEY: COMPUTER HACKER KEVIN MITNICK, N6NHG

JIM/ANCHOR: A computer hacker who was once on the FBI's "most-wanted" list - and who described himself as possessing the world's most expensive amateur radio license, has become a Silent Key. Here's Sel Embee KB3TZD to tell us about him.

SEL: Kevin Mitnick, N6NHG, whose computer-hacking skills landed him a federal prison term with hundreds of supporters pressing for his freedom, has become a Silent Key. Kevin died on Sunday, July 16th, of pancreatic cancer.  

According to several online obituaries, by the time he was 16 years old, Kevin had already sharpened his software skills, gaining unauthorized access to computer systems. Ultimately, it was his illegal download of software from Digital Equipment Corporation in the 1980s that led to a massive manhunt, his conviction and five-year prison term.

Having become a ham radio operator at the age of 13, he wished to return to the air once he was released from prison and spent more than $16,000 in legal fees to petition the FCC for a license renewal. He succeeded, saying afterward that, as a result, he possessed the most expensive amateur radio license in the world.

Kevin was 59.

This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.


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INDIA'S MOON LANDER MAKES SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH

JIM/ANCHOR: India is hoping to become the fourth nation to achieve a controlled moon landing and, at last reports, its spacecraft was well on its way. John Williams VK4JJW has that report.

JOHN: The launch of the Chandrayaan-3 mission was a historic one for India, which is aiming to achieve a soft lunar landing after the previous mission in 2019 failed. The Indian Space Research Organization declared its trajectory a "precise orbit" shortly after its launch on Friday, the 14th of July. The name of the spacecraft is Sanskrit for "moon craft." It is expected to live up to that name when it makes its intended arrival on the south pole of the lunar surface in late August.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(CNN, ISRO)

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ELECTRONICS SELLER, A FAVORITE OF HAMS, CLOSING DOORS

JIM/ANCHOR: Another much-loved source of electronics supplies for radio amateurs is about to join the growing list of companies shutting down. It's scheduled to happen next month. We have those details from Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

RALPH: All Electronics in Van Nuys California, has provided at least two generations of hobbyists, radio amateurs and tinkerers with a variety of surplus electronics parts and manufacturers' overruns for their projects. The legendary seller will be closing its doors in the next few weeks - likely by the end of August. When All Electronics announced earlier this year that it was calling it quits, the business had already scaled back its previous seven-day-a-week operation for walk-in customers, keeping its doors open on weekdays only. The company notes on its website that its mail-order business has been brisk lately as the 56-year-old enterprise attempts to close out its warehouse in time for final shutdown.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(QRZ.COM, ALL ELECTRONICS)

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HAMS TO PLAY ROLE IN WW2 DRILL RE-ENACTMENT

JIM/ANCHOR: To ensure they are prepared for emergencies and extreme weather, many hams are accustomed to sharpening their responses through regularly scheduled drills. But the drill that's taking place next month in Mobile, Alabama is for a major event that actually happened more than 70 years ago: It was World War II. Jack Parker W8ISH fills in the details.

JACK: There will be a "Call to Battle Stations" sounded on Saturday, August 12th, and those aboard the battleship USS Alabama and submarine USS Drum will be ready for what is to follow in Battleship Memorial Park. Vintage enemy aircraft will do a flyover in a mock attack. The crew on board the ships will fire the vessels' 20mm guns. Meanwhile, radio communications will go forward with members of the Deep South Amateur Radio Club, also on board, calling QRZ on 20m and 40m. They will be using the club callsign K4DSR and the callsign K5LDA.
 
Unlike the radio amateurs, the crewmen are all re-enactors. Dressed in WWII-era Navy uniforms, they will conduct weapons briefings and demonstrations while reliving some of the stories of that time. This is a Living History Crew Drill designed to show the public just how things were in the heat of war so many years ago.

What the members of the Living History Crew share with the hams is that they are all volunteers. They show that they appreciate the spirit of volunteerism and education by conducting these drills, to bring history to life again, a few times each year.

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(WPMI, FACEBOOK, QRZ)

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GRANT WILL UPGRADE AMATEUR STATION AT RADIO MUSEUM

JIM/ANCHOR: An infusion of money is helping an all-volunteer museum in New England upgrade its on-site ham radio station. Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us what changes are in store.

ANDY: The Amateur Radio Club of the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut is about to expand its reach with the help of a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications. The on-site club, which has the callsign, W1VCM, intends to add new antennas as well as earth-space capability to its operations. The club plans to have a high-gain antenna system, a satellite transceiver and computer-controlled tracking giving better access to QSOs through the International Space Station and several low-earth orbit amateur satellites.

Bob Allison, WB1GCM, president of the amateur radio club, said in a press release that the club's demonstrations of amateur radio have provided encouragement to visitors, some of whom decide they want to become hams too.

This all adds up to a big plus for the museum as well, according to its director John Ellsworth. He said that the availability of a working radio station complements the museum's role in telling the story of communication. The museum, which has showcased communications history for 33 years, is run entirely by volunteers, providing opportunities for children to build crystal radio sets and attend other hands-on classes that bring history - as well as more modern-day technology - into their lives.

Bob told Newsline in an email: [quote] "The spirit of amateur radio is live and well at the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut."

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(BOB ALLISON, WB1GCM)

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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 K4EX repeater in Dade City Florida on Tuesdays after the 7 p.m. net.

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OFCOM SEEKS COMMENT ON 'HYBRID SHARING' FOR UPPER 6 GHZ BAND

PAUL/ANCHOR: If you have a UK amateur license, you may want to weigh in on this issue affecting the 6 GHz band. Jeremy Boot G4NJH explains the proposed changes.

JEREMY: Ofcom is exploring a system of what it calls "hybrid sharing" of the upper portion of the 6 GHz band to accommodate both licenced mobile use and low-power licence-exempt Wi-Fi in the UK. The regulator wants to find an appropriate system that would increase capacity successfully because of industry interest in supporting an ongoing growth in traffic.

Ofcom believes that because Wi-Fi routers are based indoors and mobile transmitters are mostly outdoors, hybrid-sharing mechanisms can and should be developed that allow the users to coexist. The regulator also believes there is also potential for what it calls international harmonisation of hybrid sharing on the band.

Industry members or others with a stake in the use of this band can submit comments to Ofcom no later than the 15th of September.

See a link to the full article in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/news-centre/2023/sharing-6-ghz-spectrum-for-wi-fi-and-mobile  ]


This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(OFCOM)

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FCC TO VOTE ON POWER INCREASE FOR DIGITAL FM

JIM/ANCHOR: In the US, the Federal Communications Commission is getting ready to consider a request from broadcasters to permit the highest allowable power for digital FM stations. Kent Peterson KCØDGY has that story.

KENT: The FCC is preparing to vote early next month on permitting some digital FM stations to broadcast using the highest allowable power levels by adopting a change in the way such levels are determined on the upper and lower digital sidebands.

The request for change is being made by the National Association of Broadcasters, a trade group representing radio and TV entities and Xperi, the company that developed and licenses HD Radio technology. Xperi estimates that there are 2,600 stations in the US that use HD Radio technology.

Both the NAB and Xperi say their goal is to improve the digital signals' quality and coverage. They are petitioning for the acceptance of a new formula that would permit an increase over the present level, currently authorized at a digital ERP of -14 dBc, or decibels relative to carrier. The approved increase would not require prior FCC authorization.

Although a number of major media groups support the petition, saying it is good for businesses as well as listeners, Press Communications LLC in New Jersey has told the FCC that a power increase could pose difficulties for smaller FM stations and LPFM, low-power FM service.

The vote is expected to take place on August 3rd.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(RADIOWORLD)

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WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, Giuseppe, IK5WWA, is on the air as IMØC [pronounce: EYE EMM ZERO SEA] from San Pietro Island, IOTA number EU-165, until the 30th of July. Listen for him on 40-2 metres and perhaps on 80m. QSL via his home call.

Jarno, OH6NJ, will be active as OH6NJ/8 from  Hailuoto Island, IOTA number EU-184 between the 24th and 31st of July. He will be using CW, SSB and FT8 mainly on the higher bands. QSL via his home call.

In Guatemala, Dennis, KT8X, will be active holiday style as TG4/KT8X from the 23rd of July to the 4th of  August. He will be using CW, FT8 and possibly some SSB on 40-6 metres. QSL via LoTW only.

Listen for Ron, DL1RNW, operating as OZ/DL1RNW from Sandkas, Maidenhead Square JO75jg on Bornholm Island, IOTA number EU-030. He will be on the air from the 23rd of July to the 5th of August on 6 metres and the HF bands. QSL via eQSL.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

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KICKER: A DXCC ACHIEVEMENT OF TWO LIFETIMES

JIM/ANCHOR: Our final story isn't just about the DX achievement of a lifetime; it's about a personal tribute. Patrick Clark K8TAC brings us that story now.

PATRICK: For some, a contact with Bouvet Island - considered the most remote island on earth - is like winning the lottery but for Bob Wertz, NF7E, it means so much more in the amateur radio lexicon. The QSO he logged earlier this year with the 3YØJ DXpedition ended his 47-year journey to log all 340 independent DXCC entities. The ARRL requires contact with only 331 such entities for any ham to be included on its DXCC honor roll. Clearly, Bob had his sights set on a higher mountain - his personal challenge begun nearly a half-century ago.

Speaking of mountains, the impressive log he amassed toward that end includes another remote contact - Mount Athos in Greece - where the operator was Monk Apollo. Their QSO, using CW, took place in 2016. Monk Apollo, who is now a Silent Key, was viewed by DXers as one of the most sought-after contacts. Bob at one point thought it might end up being the most difficult contact since he became a ham in 1976.

Bouvet, however, filled that role nicely. It also allowed him to fulfill a very personal - and perhaps most meaningful - goal. In an interview with Flagstaff Business News, he said he considers his completion of the challenge to be a tribute to his father, who held the callsign KA9ACS, and is now a Silent Key.

This is Patrick Clark K8TAC.

(FLAGSTAFF BUSINESS NEWS, QRZ.COM)

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TRY YOUR HAND AT OUR HAIKU CHALLENGE

JIM/ANCHOR: We hope our listeners have been enjoying the Amateur Radio Newsline haiku challenge. We certainly have! In the spirit of fun and perhaps a little bit of literary adventure, we've been inviting listeners to channel their most creative selves and share the joy of ham radio in the form of a haiku. On our website, arnewsline.org, you will find a submission form for sending your most poetic offering. To qualify, you need to follow traditional haiku form: The first line is five syllables, the second line is seven syllables and the finishing third line has another five syllables. We cannot accept any other formats.

Our team will pick from the best submissions that follow the 5/7/5 syllable rule and represent the love of amateur radio. Your prize? For now, bragging rights -- and a featured spot for your haiku on the Amateur Radio Newsline website. We may have a surprise for you at the end of the year, however. So visit our website at arnewsline.org and take a look at this week's winning ham radio haiku.


DO YOU HAVE NEWS?

Do you have a piece of Amateur Radio News that you think Newsline would be interested in? We are not talking about advertising your club's upcoming hamfest or field day participation, but something that is out of the ordinary. If so, send us a brief overview via the contact page at arnewsline.org. If it's newsworthy and we would like to cover it, we'll get back to you for more details.

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily; AMSAT News Service; ARRL; the Australian Communications and Media Authority; Bob Allison WB1GCM; CNN; CQ Magazine; David Behar K7DB; DX-World.net; Facebook; Flagstaff Business News; FCC; 425DXNews; Indian Space Research Organization; Ofcom; QRZ.COM; Radio World; shortwaveradio.de; Wireless Institute of Australia; WPMI; 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. We also remind our listeners that if you like our newscast, please leave us a 5-star rating wherever you subscribe to us. For now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and our news team worldwide, I'm Jim Damron N8TMW in Charleston West Virginia saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.