DELAYED LAUNCH OF 2 CHINESE AMATEUR RADIO SATELLITES

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, if you were awaiting the scheduled launch
of the latest two Chinese Amateur Radio satellites, it looks like
you'll be waiting until spring of next year. CAMSAT, the Chinese
Amateur Satellite Group, has announced that CAS-7A has been postponed
until May and CAS-5A won't launch until June. The delay is the latest
in a series for CAS-7A.

(SOUTHGATE)

**

TELEPHONE PIONEERS DIAL UP ENTHUSIASM FOR QSO PARTY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: This month you'll get an opportunity to operate by
phone - but it's not what you think. Jack Parker, W8ISH, explains.

JACK: It pays to be an amateur radio operator who has also worked for
one of the telephone-related businesses in the United States. These
hams get to operate phone while celebrating phones. On Monday, the
19th of October, the Telephone Pioneer QSO Party will be getting on
the air for eight hours, beginning at 1800 UTC for their 56th annual
event.

You don't need to be affiliated with any of the phone companies to
score a contact. Operators will be using all modes, including the
digital modes. In fact, for the first hour, the only contacts
happening will be on FT-8, with that hour reserved exclusively for
this digital mode.

For more details, visit the website tpqso dot com (tpqso.com). Whether
you once worked for the phone company - or still do - and even if you
never have, listen for someone calling QRZ and with any luck, you
won't hear a pileup or a busy signal.

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

(TELEPHONE PIONEERS)

**

WISCONSIN HAM CLUB's MOBILE UNIT GOES PUBLIC

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In LaCrosse, Wisconsin, one ham club was inviting
everyone to "get on the bus" by rolling out their new emcomm unit.
Here's Dave Parks, WB8ODF, with that report.

DAVE: When does an open house party become an open BUS party? When the location is a new mobile communications unit for a ham radio group and
the vehicle happens to be a bus. The Mississippi Valley Amateur Radio Association, W9MVA, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin welcomed visitors to its
new shack on wheels, which serves as an emergency communications unit.
It also functions as a kind of school bus because it demonstrates
radio technology to youngsters.

Although the mobile unit was active in June when some of the hams
participated in Field Day, it received hams and other visitors
formally during its more low-key public rollout at the open house held
by the club on Saturday September 26th.

The custom-made bus has UHF, VHF and HF beam antennas, as well as
dipoles and can also operate in conjunction with two portable antenna
towers.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Dave Parks, WB8ODF.

(WKBT)

**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, Adrien, F4IHM, is using the call sign 5U4IHM, from
Niger where he is on a mission assignment. He will be mainly on 40 and
20 metres, using CW and FT8. Send QSLs to his home call, direct or via
the REF Bureau.

From Kuwait, be listening for Abdallah, 9K2GS, who will use the call
sign 9K2K during the CQWW DX SSB Contest on October 24th and 25th.
Send QSLs to EC6DX or by LoTW.

Listen for the special event call sign EN100LT, being used by hams in
Ukraine to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Kharkiv Theater for
Children and Youth. The special event began in September, and will
continue until March 31st of 2021. Send QSLs to UT5LU. There is an
award available. For details see QR Zed.com

(OHIO PENN DX)
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Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K2ADA repeater
in Ocala, Florida, on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. local time.

**

RSGB VIDEOS GO BACK TO BASICS FOR NEWCOMERS

JIM/ANCHOR: Newly licensed hams in the UK are finding videos to be an increasingly valuable tool in shack lately. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has more
on that story.

JEREMY: The Radio Society of Great Britain is taking amateur radio back to basics in the hopes of helping beginners. The society has produced a six-
part series of videos for the thousands of new Foundation licence-holders
who were successfully tested via remote invigilation but were not required
to take practical assessments.

That's where the videos come in with their practical advice and a look at
how to do things, hands-on.

Amateurs such as Rob, M0VFC, Bob, G0FGX, and Dan, M0WUT, take the
beginners through the basics of setting up a station, and making that
first contact on FM and on SSB. Other videos show how to adjust an
antenna's length for the lowest SWR and how to use an antenna matching
unit or tuner. Another video introduces the digital modes.

For hams who would prefer to view all the basics in one sitting, the
society has also produced a full 30-minute video highlighting all six
skills. All the videos can be seen at rsgb.org/foundation-practicals.

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

(HEATHER PARSONS, RSGB)

**

HAM'S CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE MARTIAN KIND

JIM/ANCHOR: There's something to be said for proximity. The planet Mars is approximately 38.59 million miles from Earth, according to NASA, its
closest approach until 2035. That means NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
is close by too - relatively speaking. The orbiter, which flies just 274
km, or 170 miles, above the surface of the planet, communicates with Deep Space Network antennas on the earth via radio. Recently, however Scott
Tilley, VE7TIL, reported he picked up its signal too, using a 60 cm dish
in his backyard in British Columbia.

Tilley, who is also a satellite radio enthusiast who hunts lost "zombie" satellites and spy satellites, is calling it a close encounter of the best kind.

(SOUTHGATE)

**

THAILAND'S KING GETS LICENSE, SHACK AND ON THE AIR

JIM/ANCHOR: If you find yourself feeling a bit like royalty when you're in your shack, consider the king of Thailand. He *is* royalty - and now he's feeling like an amateur radio operator - because he is one! Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, has that story.

JASON: Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn, officially known as King Rama
X, received his crown in May of 2019. Now he's also got an amateur radio callsign. On the air, His Majesty is known as HS10A.

At a ceremony held recently in Bangkok in the Dusit Palace, the king
received donations of an ICOM IC-7300 transceiver for HF and an Icom-9700
for VHF/UHF. He also received a variety of antennas and other equipment
for the royal shack.

The advanced class licence and the callsign became his on Sept. 24 at a ceremony attended by the nation's communications regulator, the NBTC Secretariat, represented by General Sukit Khamasundara, and the Radio
Amateur Society of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the
King, led by its president, Jakkree Hantongkom, HS1FVL.

Be listening on the air for the callsign HS10A. That's not just the king
of Thailand, but the patron of the nation's radio society.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(SOUTHGATE)

**

CALIFORNIA CLUB SERVES AS RADIO AMBASSADORS

JIM/ANCHOR: Sometimes the best introduction to ham radio is....non-ham
radio! One club in California is counting on that, as Ralph Squillace,
KK6ITB, explains.

RALPH: The El Dorado County Amateur Radio Club hopes that having a booth
at the recent National Night Out in Pollock Pines, California was
compelling enough to give people a good impression about ham radio. But
just in case, the club brought along something perhaps even more
compelling: some radios to give away. No, these weren't amateur radios.
They were the low-power, license-free Family Radio Service, or FRS,
handhelds used often by hikers and campers and - the club hopes - kids. Youngsters won the radios in drawings the club held at the October 3rd
event and were soon on the air, spelling out their names in the
International Phonetic Alphabet. These are the same kind of handhelds used
in combination with GMRS radios in the local Neighborhood Radio Watch
public safety program the club implemented.

The club's public information officer Alan Thompson, W6WN, told Newsline
that its Neighborhood Watch has - quite unexpectedly - become a potent recruiting tool for new hams. Sometimes, after all, starting with low
power can make a high-power impression, especially with the youngest
future radio operators.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.

(ALAN THOMPSON W6WN)
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HISTORIC TRANSMITTER TO MARK UNITED NATIONS DAY

PAUL/ANCHOR: If you're interested in history, you might want to tune in to 17.2 kHz a little later this month. There's a special international
message headed your way from Sweden. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, picks up the story from here.

ED: If you're capable of receiving 17.2 kHz and you know CW, there's a
message waiting for you on October 24th. It's being transmitted from the Alexanderson Alternator SAQ in Grimeton, Sweden and it's being sent in
honour of United Nations Day. UN Day marks the creation in 1945 of this international body to promote world peace.

The very low frequency transmitter is far older than the UN. It was built starting in 1922 and is the last surviving example of Anderson Alternator technology that works. The transmitted message will begin at 1500 UTC. QSL reports can be made online using a form that will be open from October
24th until November 6th.

Meanwhile, if you'd rather make contact on the HF bands, listen for
amateur radio station SK6SAQ which will be on the air sending CW on 7.035
MHz and 14.035 MHz. Of course if you don't know CW you can make contact on
SSB on 3.755 MHz. QSLs can be sent via email to info at alexander dot n
dot se (info@alexander.n.se), via the bureau or by mail to the address on their QRZ page.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(SOUTHGATE)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the WR6AAC repeater
in Lake Forest, California, on Tuesdays at 6:45 p.m. local time.

**

HAMS IN AUSTRALIA MARK POLIO'S END IN AFRICA

PAUL/ANCHOR: A successful public health initiative is something to
celebrate - especially now - and hams in Australia are doing just that.
Here's Graham Kemp, VK4BB, with the details.

GRAHAM: In Australia, amateur radio operators are marking an
accomplishment that takes on special meaning in these pandemic times: the eradication of the polio virus throughout Africa. The World Health Organisation declared Africa's 25 nations, states and territorities to be polio-free as of August 25th.

Lee Moyle, director of the Wireless Institute of Australia, said the activation will begin on the 24th of October, marking World Polio Day. The special event station VK65PFA, will continue until the 24th of November.

For Lee, this takes on special significance because he is also a member of Rotary International which has given high priority to the campaign to wipe
out polio. Rotary members who are also amateur radio operators are also invited to join ROAR, Rotarians of Amateur Radio.

Meanwhile, visit the QRZ page of VK65PFA, for operating and QSL details.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, past president of Brisbane's Mid-City Rotary Club, and VK4BB.

(WIA)

**

AUSTRALIA MAKES CHANGES IN AMATEUR RADIO SYLLABUS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Australia is also making some notable changes in its amateur radio syllabus. Robert Broomhead, VK3DN, shares that report.

ROBERT: As part of its latest update to the amateur radio syllabus, the Australian Communications and Media Authority is now giving amateurs the ability to transfer their call sign to another licensee simply by
completing a call sign transfer form online. This permission is granted to
any amateur of any licence class who holds a three-letter call sign. The change is expected to give hams more options and flexibility in managing
call signs and would clearly be useful within families where more than one member is a ham. The application form needs the signature of both parties, however, before it goes to the ACMA. The syllabus changes also remove some
of the historical restrictions on the Foundation licensees from the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Robert Broomhead, VK3DN.
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Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K8SCH repeater of the OH-KY-IN Amateur Radio Society, in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. local time. Newsline has played during the TechTalk net for more than
35 years!

**

ASSAULT IN UK AMATEUR OPERATING PORTABLE

NEIL/ANCHOR: In the UK, authorities are looking for four men who assaulted
an amateur operating portable. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has that story.

JEREMY: Police in Gloucestershire are looking for information about the assault on a ham who was operating portable last month near Cheltenham. The amateur, whose name and call sign were not made public, was attacked by four men who accused him of spying on them and recording them. A report in the Gloucester Echo said the ham was operating portable from Cleeve Common near Cheltenham at 9:20 on the evening of September 8th.

The report did not say whether the man, who is in his fifties, required medical attention. Police said the assailants left the scene in a Land
Rover.

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

(SOUTHGATE, GLOUCESTER ECHO)

**

NO RESISTANCE TO THIS NEWFOUND SUPERCONDUCTOR

NEIL/ANCHOR: Most of us know about electrical conductors, such as cables and electrical lines. They carry electricity but, of course, it comes at a
price: some of that energy is lost due to resistance. Now a group of New
York researchers is saying things don't necessarily have to be that way. Scientists at the University of Rochester say they have created a superconductor that has no resistance - and unlike most other
superconductors, can operate at room temperature instead of needing to be cooled.

According to an October 15th article posted on the Popular Mechanics
website, this superconductor combines the right amount of pressure with the elements that bond readily. The scientists have squeezed sulphur, carbon,
and hydrogen�carbonaceous sulphur hydride in a diamond anvil, which exerts nearly 300 gigapascals of pressure. Therein lies the catch: that pressure is the equivalent of about 3 million times the Earth's ambient air pressure.

The researchers next task, then, is to tinker with the chemical mix and see
if they can take some of that pressure off.

(POPULAR MECHANICS)

**

AN ECHOLINK NET CELEBRATES ACTRESS HEDY LAMARR

NEIL/ANCHOR: Actress Hedy Lamarr was as noted for her performances as her penchant for inventing in the realm of radio. There's a party for her on Echolink - and Jim Damron, N8TMW, tells us about it.

JIM: Among radio enthusiasts and fellow tinkerers, the late actress Hedy Lamarr deserved her name up in lights for reasons that had nothing to do
with Hollywood. An inventor with a penchant for technology the star is credited with helping develop a patented radio signaling device used during the Second World War that years later led to GPS, Bluetooth, increased security on mobile phones and Wi-Fi. In 1997 - just three years before her death at the age of 85 - she was given the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Pioneer Award.

On Monday, November 9th, which would have been her 106th birthday, the Echolink ROC-HAM Conference Server is hosting Hedy Lamarr Day with a four-
hour net. Four YL net controllers will be taking check-ins and celebrating
her accomplishments. The net will also be accessible on the DODROPIN Conference Server Node 355800.

For just a short while, Hedy Lamarr will also be back on the screen - the small screen in this case. Organizer John DeRycke, W2JLD, told Newsline that the event will be streamed on YouTube's World Amateur Radio Day channel. It will also be heard on Broadcastify.

Be watching Netlogger - and be listening on EchoLink -- for the call sign
N9H, and visit the QRZ page for details about a special event QSL card.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.

**

RSGB ANNOUNCES NEW UK HAMS, UPGRADES ACHIEVED REMOTELY

NEIL/ANCHOR: Congratulations to the newest hams across the Pond in the UK. A Twitter announcement by the Radio Society of Great Britain reports that
2,000 hams have passed their Foundation exams via remote invigilation. Big congrats as well to the 268 amateurs who were able to upgrade to
Intermediate level in the same manner. The remote exams were put in place in April in response to the pandemic.

(SOUTHGATE, TWITTER)
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GERMAN TOWN PREPARES FOR 'GOLDEN ANTENNA' HUMANITARIAN AWARD

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: One town in Germany is preparing to recognize an amateur
radio operator for extraordinary humanitarian efforts. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, brings us that story.

ED: Who wouldn't wish for a golden antenna? In this case, it's the name
of an award, not the description of a high-end Yagi or beam atop some
lucky ham's tower. The town of Bad Bentheim in Germany has a 50-year
tradition of recognizing the great public service ham radio provides
to the community, and in the past, it has hosted Deutsch-Niederländische Amateurfunker Tage (DNAT), or German-Dutch Amateur Radio Days.

This year, the mayor is taking things a step further because of the extra challenges posed by COVID-19. The Golden Antenna Award, a humanitarian
award known locally as Gouden Antenne, will be presented by the mayor,
and awards committee to the ham or hams who have answered amateur radio's highest calling.

In 2018, Mayor Volker Pannen presented it to Johan Jongbloed, PA3JEM, recognising his rescue work as part of an international amateur radio
team assisting after the devastating Nepal earthquake.

Nominations can be made until April 1, 2021. The award will be presented
in August, and the winner will be invited to Bad Bentheim. As Johan said
during the 2018 ceremony "when the going gets tough, hams get going."

Links and addresses for submissions appear in the printed version of this script on our website and arnewsline.org.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

[FOR PRINT ONLY: Mail nominations to Stadt Bad Bentheim, P.O. Box 1452,
D-48445 Bad Bentheim, Germany. Email nominations to juerriens@stadt-badbentheim.de]

(SOUTHGATE, TWITTER, ARRL)

**

TIME FOR HAMVENTION AWARD NOMINATIONS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Speaking of awards, if you've already got Hamvention 2021
on your mind - and who doesn't? - it's OK to start thinking about
Hamvention awards right now. Phil Thomas, W8RMJ, explains.

PHIL: Nominations for awards at Hamvention 2021 are set to open this
Sunday, November the 1st.

The awards committee will be accepting nominations for "Club of the Year," "Technical Achievement,"Special Achievement," and the prestigious "Amateur
of the Year Award."

The nomination period for each award will be open until Monday, February
the 15th, 2021.

Hamvention awards have been held since 1956.

Of note, the Dayton Hamvention was first held in 1952.

Entry forms are available on the Hamvention website at: hamvention.org

Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Phil Thomas, W8RMJ.

**

YL CONTEST HONORS MEMORY OF BELOVED SILENT KEY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In the spirit of friendship and remembrance, an
international group of YLs is running a contest in memory of the
Silent Key, who died before she could see it come to fruition.
Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has that story.

JEREMY: November 3rd will mark one year since the death of Carine DuBois, F5ISY, who was part of a circle of YLs around the world, who were close
despite geographical distance. On the weekend of November 7th and 8th,
Carine's friends are running a contest, The Day of the YLs, on the HF
and VHF bands, to promote the kind of YL activity Carine herself
encouraged. Operating modes will be CW, SSB, FT8, and RTTY. YLs, OMs, and shortwave listeners are encouraged to participate. Logs must be submitted
no later than the 16th of November. Awards will be given to all
participants who collect at least 33 points for contacts with YLs.

For details, visit the Day of the YLs Facebook page.

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

(JENNI JONES M0HZT)

**

PENNSYLVANIA AMATEURS CELEBRATE PROFESSIONALS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: It's time for radio amateurs to celebrate radio
professionals. In the U.S., hams are marking the 100th anniversary
of commercial broadcast station KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, tells us more.

KEVIN: Pennsylvania AM radio station KDKA has been on the air
continuously since reporting the presidential election results of
the 1920 contest between Warren G. Harding and James Middleton Cox.
Ham clubs in the Pittsburgh area are marking the occasion, with a
full month of special-event activations. There's an especially good
reason hams take a special interest in KDKA. It first went on the air
as an amateur radio station in 1916, using the call sign 8XK, and was
operated by Frank Conrad, assistant chief engineer of Westinghouse
Electric and Manufacturing Company.

Be listening all month for special-event stations from Pittsburgh area
clubs such as the North Hills Amateur Radio Club, the Panther Amateur
Radio Club, the Steel City Amateur Radio Club and the Wireless
Association of South Hills. Beyond Pittsburgh, hams will be
participating from the Skyview Radio Society, the Butler County
Amateur Radio Public Service Group, and the Washington Amateur
Communications Radio Club. Be listening for such call signs as K3A,
K3D, K3K, and W8XK.

A full schedule and other details can be found on the QRZ.COM page for
W8XK or at kdka100.org.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
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Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K3ALG repeater
in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, on Sundays at 4:30 p.m. local time.

**

PERU SELLING AMATEUR RADIO FREQUENCIES

NEIL/ANCHOR: Peru has become one more nation to sell off part of the
spectrum used by radio amateurs so it can be used for 5G mobile technology. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the details.

JIM: Amateur radio operators and other users of the 3.5 GHz spectrum in
Peru are losing access to the frequencies in the range between 3.3 GHz and
3.8 GHZ.

The MTC, Peru’s transport and communications ministry, will instead permit
the frequencies to be used by telecom operators who want to provide such mobile broadband services as 5G. The decsion was made in October but the spectrum sale for 5G technology is not expected until the first half of
2021. Frequencies between 24.2 GHz and 25.5 GHz will also be tendered.

José Aguilar, MTC’s general director of communications policies and regulation, issued a statement saying: [quote] “Now there is a possibility
of making better use of this band, which will benefit more Peruvians with modern services and will encourage private investment in the sector." [endquote]

The 3.5 GHz frequencies presently used by Peruvian hams is the frequency 5G services are being assigned by regulators worldwide.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(WIA, BNAMERICAS)

**

HAM RADIO CYCLING ENTHUSIASTS RAISE FUNDS FOR RESEARCH

NEIL/ANCHOR: A group of Austrailian hams went bicycle mobile for a worthy cause. Robert Broomhead, VK3DN, has that story.

ROBERT: Members of the Bendigo Amateur Radio and Electronics Group VK3CMZ
are counting the dollars raised last month when the BAREC Pedal Radio Group took on the challenge to raise money to help the Children's Medical
Research Insitute fight childhood cancer. The hams' participation in the
Great Cycle Challenge in October brought in about $700 and covered more
than 250 kilometres.

Graeme Knight, VK3GRK, said that the Pedal Radio Group grew out of club members who share another great interest beyond radio: cycling for health, fitness and social activity. Graeme said that the group is also a great way
to increase awareness about amateur radio because the cyclists are out and about in the community and are highly visible.

Ah, but don't forget radio here: During the October event, in between their rides, the hams had QSOs on some of the local nets to let listeners and
other club members know that they were on their cycles - and they were on a roll!

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Robert Broomhead, VK3DN.

(BAREC)

**

FLYING PIGS QRP CLUB HOSTS 'RUN FOR THE BACON' CONTEST

NEIL/ANCHOR: Every month a group of CW operators engage in some friendly competition. Some might say they're....pig-headed about it. Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, explains.

SKEETER: With the arrival of November, it's almost time again for what CW enthusiasts are calling PIG-nacious fun: It's the monthly "run for the
bacon" QRP contest. Held on the third Sunday night of each month, it's a source of pride for its organizer, the appropriately named Flying Pigs QRP Club International W8PIG. This high-energy contest has a low-power requirement: Contacts must be made using 5 watts or less. Competitors are encouraged to go whole hog: Working 50 or more piggies qualifies you for a multiplier of two. That's not so difficult, really: It's OK to work the
same contact on different bands for credit toward the multiplier. The two-
hour contest begins at 2300 UTC. For more details visit
qrpcontest.com/pigrun/

Pigs may not be able to fly yet, but at least they can get on the air.

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

(FLYING PIGS QRP CLUB)
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**

FLORIDA CLUB'S HOMEBREW PROJECT IS ITS TRAILER

JIM/ANCHOR: If an emergency trailer is considered home to amateurs who
belong to ARES, then this next story is surely about a home-improvement project. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, explains.

KEVIN: The latest homebrew project by members of Clay County Amateur Radio Emergency Services isn't a custom rig or a special antenna. The Florida ARES group is busy refurbishing its radio shack on wheels, a communications
trailer that was donated to them after it was retired from service by the county's Emergency Operations Center.

Clay ARES members have been spending time outfitting the trailer with their own state-of-the-art communications equipment, and transforming it into a command center that will also accommodate hams' overnight stays in extreme emergencies.

Scott Roberts, KK4ECR, the public information officer for Clay ARES, told
Clay Today Online that while the trailer can be deployed if necessary to
help in emergencies, the hams want to enhance its capabilities in voice, satellite, digital communications, email and texting over the air. The
trailer will also be used to train new and future hams.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

(CLAY TODAY ONLINE)

**

NETS OF NOTE: THE AUSTRALIAN CULTURE NET, 'DINKY DI'

JIM/ANCHOR: In our occasional series, Nets of Note, which looks at
interesting and creative ways amateurs gather on the air, we visit a group
of radio operators in Australia whose thoughts - and words - have been
turning to poetry lately. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, picks up the story from
here.

JASON: Sunday nights will never be the same in VK2. For the past two months, amateurs have been getting on the air at 1900 hours Australian Eastern Standard Time to read poetry to one another. It's not just a Sunday night poetry fest but a time for jokes, yarns, quizzes, and memorable stories from history. The inspiring force behind this so-called Dinky Di (pronounced:
DIE) or Culture Net is Peter O'Brien, VK2DIE, a fan of Australian Bush
Poetry who one night shared the classic work, "The Man from Snowy River," by poet Banjo Paterson, during a Snowy Mountains Amateur Radio Club net. That
got things rolling.

Angelo, VK2NWT, told Newsline that poetry has now been happening on the air regularly -- with rhyme and with reason: The net has begun to grow in popularity in the New South Wales Far South Coast and Monaro region. It
lasts about an hour, and Peter coordinates the discussion. So if you're not averse to a little verse, consider joining the net on VK2RSE at 147.375 MHz, VK2RFS 146.760 MHz or VK3RDH at 146.625 MHz. None of the repeaters require a tone. If you're not local but have access to IRLP, join in via Node 6211.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(WIA, ANGELO GIUFFRE VK2NWT)

***

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, a disappointment for DX chasers. The KX0X DXpedition to Jan Mayen Island in the Arctic Ocean has been cancelled. Clublog lists the Norwegian volcanic island as the 75th most wanted DX in its recently updated list. The team announced on DX-World that it will be refunding donors' contributions shortly.

However, Erik, LA2US, who has been active on Jan Mayen Island as JX2US since mid-October, has logged more than 6,200 QSOs. He is operating CW and some
FT8 in F/H submode through March 2021. QSL only via ClubLog OQRS. He will upload to LoTW after his return home in April.

Be listening for the callsign DP0GVN from the German Antarctic research station Neumayer-III, where Theresa, DC1TH, will soon be on the air. Theresa will be making QSOs via the amateur radio transponder on board the QO-100 geostationary satellite. The ground station for the satellite was provided last year by AMSAT-DL. QSL to DL5EBE, direct or via the DARC QSL bureau.
Logs are also uploaded to LotW intermittently.

Finally, in case you had plans to listen for David, F8AAN, operating as FS/F8AAN from St. Martin Island starting November 18th, be advised he has cancelled his plans because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

(SOUTHGATE, DX-WORLD)
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UK 'CARE' CAMPAIGN ADDS FOCUS FOR HOLIDAY SEASON

DON/ANCHOR: What's the best gift you can give a ham for Christmas this
year? A campaign in the UK called "Get on the Air To Care," has a
suggestion. It's "Get on the Air for Christmas" -- and Jeremy Boot, G4NJH,
has the details.

JEREMY: Organisers are calling it "Get on the Air for Christmas" and the campaign is an offshoot of the highly successful "Get on the Air to Care" joint programme of the National Health Service and the Radio Society of
Great Britain.

While "Get on the Air to Care" was a special plea to amateurs to step up
their on-air activities during the first pandemic lockdown to ease the situation for lonely amateurs, the focus during the holiday period will
be to bring some good cheer if the lockdown is extended, as it will
surely curtail celebrations between friends and family. Organisers want
hams to be extra active during the holiday period between Saturday, the
19th of December, and Saturday, the 9th of January. The radio society's website will be posting the schedules and information about special nets
being held on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in particular - or at any
other time during the season - and is asking for clubs to email their
details as soon as possible. The nets will also be publicised in the next issue of RadCom and in the GB2RS news broadcasts.

The email address is radcom at rsgb dot org dot uk (radcom@rsgb.org.uk).

Get on the Air for Christmas has also launched two Christmas Hope QSO
Parties, one that begins on Monday the 21st of December and another that begins on Monday the 4th of January. Look online for hashtag G O T A 4 C
to follow this campaign.

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

(SOUTHGATE, RSGB)

**

COLORADO HAM CLUB HOSTS FIVE DAYS OF SANTA

DON/ANCHOR: In Colorado, one radio operator who has as much heart as
holiday spirit is reprising a role he played once - many years ago --
only this time he's going on the air to make it happen. Jack Parker,
W8ISH, tells us about him.

JACK: It's been a long time since Chuck K0ITP (K ZERO I T P) put on a
Santa suit. That was years ago at an event at a country club in Peoria, Illinois. This year, however, the president of the Longmont Amateur Radio
Club in Colorado is hopping back on the sleigh to bring Santa to children
via amateur radio. He plans to be on the air on the club repeaters
between 6 and 7 p.m. Mountain Time on December 1st through 5th. Licensed
hams are invited to share their shack with a youngster - perhaps a child
or grandchild - who will likely be missing out on some of the traditional events or seeing Santa in person because of the COVID-19 precautions.
Chuck said he will make sure they still have a chance to talk to Santa by getting on the air with a licensed amateur.

Chuck told the local newspaper, the Times-Call, that the club is hosting
this event for the first time because members are also hoping to give
children an early holiday gift: the gift of an interest in amateur radio.
He said it will give parents a chance to hear what their kids want to
find under the tree.

Local hams can visit the club website for repeater information at W Zero
E N O dot org (w0eno.org) The repeaters are also on EchoLink Node 8305.

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

(CHUCK POCH K0ITP, THE TIMES-CALL NEWSPAPER)

**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, it seems the world's most remote island will remain inaccessible for a bit longer to amateur radio. The Rebel DX Group had
hoped to activate Bouvet Island as Three-Y-Zero-Eye (3Y0I) by the end of
this year but operators are unable to travel because of COVID-19
restrictions. The group said on its website that their equipment remains
in South Africa, and if restrictions are lifted before the conclusion of
the Antarctic summer they hope to be ready. For updates visit the website bouvetoya.org

Time is running out to work Mike, VK4DX, as VK4DX/P on Russell Island.
His activation ends on November 24th. Be listening on 40-15 metres where
he will be operating SSB and CW using 100 watts and wire antennas. Send
QSLs via the bureau, ClubLog, Logbook of the World or direct mail.

Be listening for special event stations 7Z20G, 8Z20G, and HZ20G, being activated by members of the Saudi Amateur Radio Society during the G20
Riyadh summit in the capital city of Saudi Arabia. The summit began Nov.
13th and will conclude on the 23rd. QSL via LoTW or direct to the Saudi Amateur Radio Society.

In Indonesia, listen on various HF bands and modes for special event
station 8A10N to celebrate that nation's "National Heroes Day 2020." The station is being operated by YH3BHL through December 10th. Send QSLs via
LoTW or eQSL.

(OHIO PENN DX, REBEL DX GROUP, VK4DX website)
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IOWA STUDENTS TRACK BALLOON'S GLOBAL TREK

PAUL/ANCHOR: Youngsters in Iowa got a lesson in world travel and amateur
radio recently, thanks to an adventurous balloon they launched as a
science project. Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, has that story.

RALPH: A group of science students in Pella, Iowa feel like they've been around the world - and in a way, they have. It took 13 days, 2 hours and
8 minutes for the 150 fifth-graders from the Jefferson Intermediate
School to complete the journey on November 18th that involved crossings
over the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Yellow Sea and the
Pacific Ocean.

The students stayed home, of course, but their hearts and minds traveled
with a helium-filled scientific balloon they'd launched with support
from the Pella Amateur Radio Club. It was launched carrying a SkyTracker
with APRS that had been designed and built by Bill Brown, WB8ELK. The
Near Space balloon transmitted on 2 metres as it carried the callsign
WB0URW-8 around the world as the students kept tabs on it on their
computers and smartphones.

Jim Emmert, WB0URW, said that with financing from local foundations, the
Pella club has been working with students at the school for a while now, presenting various lessons in the fields of earth science and amateur
radio technology. The balloon - the latest such venture - was a success.

Not one to rest on its helium-filled laurels, the balloon returned home, according to Jim, only to embark on its second such journey.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.

(JIM EMMERT WB0URW)

**

ISS PREPS FOR SLOW-SCAN TV TRANSMISSION

PAUL/ANCHOR: Get ready for some Slow-Scan TV. The International Space
Station is scheduled to have an SSTV transmission on Tuesday, December
1st starting at 12:30 UTC until 18:25 UTC. There will be a second
transmission on Wednesday, December 2nd from 11:50 UTC until 18:25 UTC.
Listen for SSTV signals to be downlinked at 145.800 MHz +/- Doppler
shift. The mode of transmission is expected to be PD 120.

You will be able to post your images in the online ARISS SSTV gallery.
For updates on this event, follow the Twitter account with the handle at-symbol ARISS underscore status (@ARISS_status).

(AMSAT)

**

AM ENTHUSIASTS IN EUROPE SET DATE FOR QSO PARTY

PAUL/ANCHOR: Organizers of this next event in Europe aren't calling it a contest but a celebration. It's all about AM, as Jeremy Boot, G4NJH,
explains.

JEREMY: The coming winter just become a little warmer in Europe. The
Facebook group known as AM Amateur Radio Europe is putting the final
touches to plans for its Winter 2021 AM QSO Party. It will run from
Friday the 22nd of January at 1800 UTC until Sunday the 24th of January
at 1759 UTC. Organisers stress that although points and certificates
will be awarded, this is not a contest; it is designed to encourage conversation between amateurs using the original ham radio voice mode.

Points are awarded for each QSO, and each new DXCC worked, and there are
power categories that accommodate each level of the UK licence.

For details, visit the AM Amateur Radio Europe group's Facebook page.

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

(FACEBOOK)

**

SOTA ACTIVATION, WYONG FIELD DAY ON AUSTRALIA'S HAM CALENDAR

PAUL/ANCHOR: It looks like 2021 is almost here - and with it, two big
events in Australia. Robert Broomhead, VK3DN, has those details.

ROBERT: There's good reason hams in Australia can't wait to put 2020
behind them: Plans are already in the works for a SOTA summit activating
event in the Mount Hotham Ski region. This would be the fifth such event
and organisers are looking for expressions of interest from SOTA
members. The event would take place between the 5th and the 8th of
February 2021. No event was held this year because of the bush fires in
the North East and Gippsland. Brian, VK3BCM, asks that interested SOTA activators email him at bcmcdermott at tpg dot com dot au (bcmcdermott@tpg.com.au)

It will be a big month as the Wyong Field Day is happening on Sunday the
28th of February. The 62nd annual event in New South Wales is the
Southern Hemisphere's largest amateur radio event. Radio enthusiasts
from around Australia and from overseas are expected to be there.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Robert Broomhead, VK3DN.

(SOTA REFLECTOR, CENTRAL COAST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB)
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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
K6SOA Repeater in Laguna Beach, California, on Tuesdays at 8 p.m.
local time.

**

MEET ARN'S INTERNATIONAL NEWSMAKER AWARD WINNER FOR 2020

JIM/ANCHOR: Last year, Newsline conferred its inaugural International Newsmaker of the Year Award with great pride to the West Bengal Radio
Club in India. This year, we are pleased to present it to a team
comprising health service workers and amateur radio operators in the
UK, all responding together to the COVID-19 crisis. Here's Ed Durrant,
DD5LP, who shares our pride in making this announcement.

ED: The winner of Newsline's second annual International Newsmaker of
the Year Award is the Get on the Air to Care project, conceived of by
Paul Devlin G1SMP and operated jointly by the UK's National Health
Service and the Radio Society of Great Britain. Created in response to
the COVID-19 pandemic, the campaign has decreased social isolation in
the UK and around the world by encouraging amateurs to Get On The Air 2
Care - with inactive hams returning and those who always wanted to,
becoming newly licenced amateurs. It also gave rise to this season's
Get On the Air 4 Christmas initiative. Most importantly, though,
#GOTA2C has accomplished something amateurs work so hard to achieve:
the campaign has placed amateur radio front and centre in such
mainstream media channels as the BBC, ITV Wales and major newspapers,
raising amateur radio's profile and attracting new licence-holders even
in this era of remote-testing.

Congratulations to Paul Devlin, G1SMP, who conceived of the idea as
part of the NHS England Emergency Care Improvement Support Team and to
the Radio Society of Great Britain and the National Health Service who
have implemented it. You'll be hearing more from Paul Devlin next week
when Newsline chats with him.

Meanwhile, the RSGB and the NHS have added yet another element to their campaign: an NHS Charity auction beginning December 9th and ending
December 19th at the start of the Get on the Air for Christmas
campaign. One item for auction should surely help amateurs get on the
air to care, even after the holidays. It is a Morse Code key
handcrafted and donated by Roy Bailey, G0VFS, of Trowbridge and
District Amateur Radio Club. Having based his design on the noted semi-automatic Vibroplex, he has dubbed his creation the Virus-
PerpleXed Bug and an engraved decal bears its name. If you wish to participate, visit the Society's website for details. The URL appears
in the printed version of this script on the arnewsline website.

[DO NOT READ, FOR PRINT ONLY: rsgb.org/gota4c]

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(RSGB)

**

IN LONDON, A TOWER OF GRATITUDE

JIM/ANCHOR: How do you say "thank you?" Try sending Morse Code, as
London's tallest building is doing. Here's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, to tell
us more.

JEREMY: The Shard building, which defines the London skyline, has been
the symbol of the city since its completion seven years ago. It
recently became transformed into a symbol of gratitude - in a way that
ham radio operators, more than most people, can comprehend. At 306-
metres in height, it is the UK's tallest building, which makes its
important message - flashing in blue and white LED lights at the very
top - hard to miss. That message is in Morse Code.

The 575 lights flash, spelling "Thank You," two words directed to the
National Health Service workers whose efforts have helped protect the
British public since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. City dwellers
and visitors have stopped to marvel at the light show since it began on
the night of Thursday, November 26th.

But even London's tallest building isn't above needing a little help.
That help came from the Radio Society of Great Britain. The RSGB
stepped in to verify that all those high profile dits and dahs were
indeed being sent correctly, ensuring that the message's delivery
enjoyed a towering triumph.

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

(SOUTHGATE)
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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
VK8MA repeater in Australia's Northern Territory on Sundays at 7 p.m.
local time.

**

AMSAT IRELAND SEEKING MEMBERS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: With a new callsign and an ambitious agenda, AMSAT
Ireland has launched itself. Here's more from Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

JEREMY: After years of planning and waiting, AMSAT Ireland has
announced that its organisation is complete and it has become active
with a callsign of EI2SAT. AMSAT Ireland is now seeking ham radio
operators and other enthusiasts to become members. The organisation is
part of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, or AMSAT, which was
created in the United States in 1969 to support ham radio's
involvement in space research and communication.

The emergence of AMSAT Ireland comes as Ireland prepares for the
launch of its first satellite, EIRSAT-1, the Educational Irish
Research Satellite 1. It is being designed by a team of students in
University College Dublin and academic staff is designing the 2U
CubeSat as part of the European Space Agency's Fly Your Satellite
programme.

Interested hams are asked to visit the website at www amsat dot ie (www.amsat.ie)

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

(SOUTHGATE)

**

CALIFORNIA CLUB NURTURES NEW, RETURNING AMATEURS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Because all hams need mentors, including those
returning to the hobby after many years, one club in California has
devoted itself to the task. Paul Braun, WD9GCO, tells us about them.

PAUL: One of the hot topics in any discussion today about the future
of amateur radio is always, "How do we get more people interested?"
Another is, "Once we get them licensed, how do we keep them
interested?"

One club in California was formed specifically to find some answers to
those questions. Called GOTA Hams, they're a fairly new organization
but they are very active and growing.

I spoke with Vice President Mark Arlotti, KM6AHY, about what the
club’s goals were:

ARLOTTI: GOTA Hams Amateur Radio Club is an active club. We wanted to
put together a group that would be able to put new hams on the air and
even get other hams that maybe had their callsign a while back active
again.

PAUL: Arlotti spoke about club activities. One thing is a regular
“Radio in The Park” event to raise public awareness. Their other
activities are more challenging:

ARLOTTI: We also like to do field ops which is kind of like "Radio in
the Park" but a little more distance. Like we'll go out to the desert
or up to the mountains - we'll do a camping trip and set up a mobile
station totally with batteries and solar panels. Next month in January
we plan on going out to Quartzfest in Arizona.

PAUL: The club also has a very active net on a local repeater:

ARLOTTI: On a nightly basis, we do a ham net at 8PM on the WA6FZH
repeater here in Southern California, and we do a roundtable where we
answer questions and we talk about other things besides ham radio just
to keep people together. We always ask for first-time callers, you
know, and it’s a good opportunity for them to feel free to get on the
air and talk and practice their skills.

PAUL: The club's website is at gotahams dot com - that's G O T A hams
dot com.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.

**

WORLD OF DX

In the world of DX, be listening for members of the ARI Club of
Grosseto, IQ5GR, on the air as IO5CNPP, until the 20th of December.
They are activating in remembrance of the Heroes of the 1986 Chernobyl
Nuclear Power Plant disaster. QSL direct to the address on Q R Zed
.com or by the Bureau to IZ5RHU. A "Heroes of Chernobyl Diploma" is
available. For more details, see Q R Zed .com.

Listen for a group of Senegalese operators on the air as 6V1A from
Goree Island between December the 18th and 20th. They will be on CW
and SSB on all HF bands. QSL using LoTW. If you want a direct QSL
card, you can cover the costs via PayPal at 6 v 1 a dot a r a s at
gmail dot com. (6v1a.aras@gmail.com)

In Bolivia, Antonio, EA5RM, will be active as CP1XRM, between January
9th and 26th, working as a Solidaridad Medica and Radio-amateurs
Without Frontiers NGO volunteer. He will be on the air on SSB and in
the digital modes during his spare time. QSL via LoTW.

(OHIO PENN DX)
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SILENT KEY: COLIN HORRABIN G3SBI

NEIL/ANCHOR: A well-known innovator, and the creator of a low-noise receive mixer known as the H-Mode mixer, has become a Silent Key. Jeremy Boot,
G4NJH, tells us about him.

JEREMY: Colin Horrabin, G3SBI, an amateur radio operator known for his development of the H-Mode mixer used in many HF radios, died in late
November at his home in the UK, one month after being diagnosed with
cancer. Colin, who was employed by the Daresbury Nuclear Physics Laboratory before retiring, had been a licenced ham since the age of 16. He held his current call sign since 1963. He notes on his profile page on QRZ.com that although he was enthusiastic about operating mobile SSB, his bigger
interest was in CW, particularly on the LF bands.

The board of the Radio Society of Great Britain awarded him the Bennett
Prize in 1994 for his innovative contributions to the art of radio.

According to the RSGB, his H-Mode mixer formed the core of the CDG2000 high-performance transceiver he co-designed with Dave, G8KBB, and George, G3OGQ. That design was recognised with the Ostermeyer Trophy from the RSGB
in 2003.

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

(RSGB, ARRL, QRZ.COM)

**

REMEMBERING FIRST HAM RADIO SATELLITE

NEIL/ANCHOR: Happy 59th birthday OSCAR 1! OSCAR, which stands for Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio, became the first ham radio satellite following its launch on December 12th, 1961. Its orbit was a brief one, lasting only 22 days, but it was embraced by hams around the world. Though
its orbit decayed quickly, more than 570 hams in 28 nations still had time
to report their observations to AMSAT's predecessor, known as Project
OSCAR.

(AMSAT)

**

NEW VHF HANDBOOK AVAILABLE FROM IARU

NEIL/ANCHOR: A new edition of the International Amateur Radio Union's VHF Handbook has recently been published, and it's downloadable as a PDF. This
is version 9 of the handbook and it is based on the actions taken at the
2020 IARU Region 1 virtual General Conference. It contains all the
decisions made regarding the bands at VHF and higher. The handbook's band
plan also shows changes made to 436-438 MHz and covers 145 MHz satellite allocations.

You can find the link for downloading the handbook in this newscast's
printed script at arnewsline.org

[FOR PRINT ONLY: DO NOT READ] https://tinyurl.com/ANS-341-Handbook

(AMSAT-UK)

**

BRAZILIAN REGULATOR CLARIFIES EQUIPMENT APPROVALS

NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams in Brazil who enjoy operating with vintage equipment are likely to breathe a sigh of relief at the latest government announcement. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, explains.

JASON: Regulators in Brazil have assured amateur radio operators that an approval process is in place to permit the continued use of older radio equipment past the end-of-year deadline. ANATEL, the national regulator,
had been asked by Brazil's amateur radio organisation, LABRE, to ensure
that an approval process will still continue after this year's December
31st deadline. Hams were concerned that no time period had been identified
for that process. The fate of such equipment became unclear because in some cases, such radios and other devices lack an FCC-ID and are not included on the government's approved list.

In a translation provided on Southgate News, LABRE wrote: [quote] "We now
have the guarantee that old equipment will continue to be type approved in
the current way indefinitely." [endquote] The approval process includes presentation of the manual for any equipment that lacks international certification.

In making the announcement, LABRE reminded all operators that effective January 1st, everyone must still receive approval for continued use of
older equipment.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(SOUTHGATE, LABRE)
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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
K3ALG repeater in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, on Sundays at 4:30 p.m.
local time.

**

JAPAN'S HAM COMMUNITY SHRINKS BUT SOUTH AFRICA GAINS NEWCOMERS

PAUL/ANCHOR: It's been a discouraging year for amateur radio in Japan
-- but in South Africa, new amateur radio operators are celebrating
their new privileges. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, reports on both stories.

JASON: The number of licenced amateur radio stations has decreased once
again in Japan, according to Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. There were 389,343 licenced hams this past December, a
drop of 12,837 from December 2019 figures. In that month, there were
402,180 licensed stations but that number as well signified a drop of
about 15,000 from the previous year.

The majority of Japanese radio operators hold a Class 4 licence, which
was introduced as an entry level licence in the 1950s.

Meanwhile, a new group of licenced amateurs is ready to get on the air
in South Africa. Test results are in and the South African Radio League reports there was a 95 percent pass rate for those who sat for the
exam. That means 81 new hams. Two of the candidates took the exam for a
Class B licence, which is the entry level license and is assigned a ZU
prefix.

The next radio amateur exam will be given on May 22, 2021.

Congratulations to all the new hams.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(SARL, HIDEO KAMBAYASHI JH3XCU)

**

SWISS REGULATOR CHANGES LICENSE PROCEDURES

PAUL/ANCHOR: The new year brings some changes for amateur radio
operators in Switzerland but it's mostly procedural. Ed Durrant, DD5LP,
has that story.

ED: In Switzerland, changes have been made under the new
Telecommunications Act affecting the administration of amateur radio operations and related costs. The Swiss regulator Ofcom is moving to a licence-exempt model that will require hams to have a certificate of
ability after passing a qualifying examination. Hams will be charged
110 Swiss francs, or about $122 in US dollars for call sign issuance.
Swiss hams will be required to pay an reduced annual fee of 50 Swiss
francs, or $55 in US dollars, down from 96 Swiss francs for their
annual license. Repeater and remotely operated stations continue to
need to be registered and they will pay a one-time fee of 70 Swiss
francs, or nearly $78 dollars. The same one-time registration fee
applies to systems operating above 1 GHz such as those hams wishing to
use the QO-100 satellite system.

In short, many procedures remain largely unchanged, according to
Switzerland's national amateur radio society. The USKA said in an announcement: [quote] "The path to amateur radio is still the same and
for the already active radio amateurs everything remains as it was.
Only the management of frequencies and the associated terms have been rearranged." [end quote] The changes are in effect beginning January
1st, 2021.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(SOUTHGATE, USKA)

**

SWLs AND HAMS AWAIT YOTA AWARDS

PAUL/ANCHOR: December YOTA Month is over and now the wait begins for
the awards. Andy Morrison, K9AWM, picks up the story from here.

ANDY: Youngsters on the Air closed out a very active December YOTA
Month by announcing some good news for hams and shortwave listeners who
chase YOTA stations. YOTA is now providing awards for SWLs as well as transmitting hams. SWLs need to register on the YOTA event website
where they can log QSOs they heard on the air, qualifying them for
awards at bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels. SWLs are also able
to use the website to request QSL cards after entering data about the
QSO they heard. To receive these cards, listeners must have an SWL
callsign and belong to a national society to use its QSL service.

Meanwhile, as December YOTA Month wrapped up its activity, organizers announced that award plaques were going to be presented in seven
categories: Most Stations Contacted in CW; Most Stations Contacted in
SSB; Most Stations Contacted in Digital and Most Stations Contacted.
Awards will also be given to Best Overall Score OM; Best Overall Score
YL and Best Overall Score Youngster for operators younger than 26.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

(YOTA)
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SOMETIMES SATELLITES GROW ON TREES TOO

SKEETER: Another Christmas tree - this one in Canada - is sending its
holiday message via satellite. Well, sort of. It was a project of one
amateur radio club in British Columbia. For that report, we turn to
Newsline's newest team member, Randy Sly, W4XJ.

RANDY: The Gulf of Georgia Cannery is a museum in a 19th century
building that highlights the history of the fishing industry on
Canada's West Coast. Inside the building, one of the Christmas trees on display for the cannery's holiday festival puts a spotlight on amateur
radio, using ornament designs that represent CubeSats, transmitted
signals and amateur radio operators themselves. The Richmond Amateur
Radio Club calls its tree "Communicating to One World" and its message
is that amateur radio is a universal experience that uses high tech to
connect people. In keeping with ham ingenuity, many of the ornaments
were homebrew. Club members created them from coasters, printer
cartridges, parts of ballpoint pens, pull tabs from canned food and
other household items.

Although the festival and display ended on December 24th, the interest
in the trees will continue through to the end of the holiday season.
Visitors to the cannery as well as people viewing the trees on Facebook
and Instagram, were encouraged to vote for their favourite tree. The
club is, of course hoping its tree will get a good signal report.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ.

(RICHMOND NEWS)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station, we are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
K7EFZ repeater in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. local time,
after Eagle Rock Emergency Practice Net.

**

EUROPE PREPS FOR SATELLITE CONSTELLATION

SKEETER: Will the new year bring Europe its own system of low-earth
orbit satellites? Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, explores that possibility.

RALPH: With 2021 about to get underway, officials in a number of
European Union nations will begin a feasibility study for a
constellation of low-earth orbit satellites similar to the Starlink
project under way by Elon Musk's SpaceX. Europe's version of the U.S. satellite constellation is envisioned as being able to give people in
isolated areas access to the internet and permit more secure
communications for governments. It would reportedly cost $7.3 billion
in U.S. currency or 6 billion euros.

The development could lead to a rivalry in space broadband coverage as SpaceX's own beta version is said to begin service to Europe by
February or March of 2021. Starlink's goal has been to deploy as many
as 42,000 satellites to bring high-speed internet to different parts of
the globe. Its public beta service presently serves only the northern
U.S. and southern Canada.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.

(BUSINESS INSIDER, YAHOO)

**

CHINA'S RADIOTELESCOPE WELCOMES THE WORLD

SKEETER: With the Arecibo Observatory gone following its tragic
collapse, China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope, or
FAST, is quickly opening its doors to the world's astronomers. FAST is
the world's largest radiotelescope, taking that status from Arecibo
after its construction was completed in 2016.

According to the French news agency AFP, China's giant telescope is
taking on another role once associated with Arecibo. It is giving the international community of astronomers access to its antennas and radio receivers so they can study radio waves emitted from black holes,
galaxies and stars and even transmit and reflect signals to see what
bounces back.

(AFP, SPACE.COM)

**

RADIO EQUIPMENT STOLEN FROM RUSSIAN 'DOOMSDAY' PLANE

SKEETER/ANCHOR: As hams, we can sympathize with anyone who's got a
serious craving for good radio equipment, but there are times when that craving can go to extremes. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, explains.

ED: The disappearance of military radio equipment at an airfield in the southern region of Rostov, Russia, remains a mystery. All that is known
is that thieves broke into an airplane that was there undergoing
repairs and stole electronics, that included five radio boards and
other equipment.

Perhaps more significantly, the aircraft was a highly classified
Ilyushin Il-80, known as the "doomsday plane." It is one of four such
planes designed to be used in the event of nuclear war. That means that
it would serve as an airborne post for the Russian president who could
get on the air and order the launch of intercontinental ballistic
missiles or issue other orders.

The theft is believed to have occurred sometime between the 26th of
November during the plane's last inspection, and the 4th of December
when the theft was reported to local police.

Further details have not been publicly disclosed about the stolen
equipment but investigators collected shoeprints and fingerprints from
the plane's interior for a possible criminal investigation.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.

(BBC, SOUTHGATE)
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SILENT KEY: JAMES GOLDEN KD0AES

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A popular net control operator with the Handiham Program
for disabled amateurs has become a Silent Key. Christian Cudnik, K0STH,
tells us about him.

CHRISTIAN: James Golden, KD0AES, a Life Member of the Handiham Program,
was perhaps best known as net control for the Tuesday Handiham Radio
Club net, a busy gathering place for disabled amateurs like him.
According to his obituary in the Nevada Daily Mail, the Nevada, Missouri
radio operator, who had cerebral palsy, brought such enthusiasm to his
on-air responsibilities that at one point he served as net control for
three nets a week. Grateful for his skill in handling busy traffic in an always-polite manner, a number of amateurs pooled their money to
purchase a Handiham Life Membership for him.

James continued with his activity until two weeks before his death on
December 9th. James Golden, who was 46, died of COVID-19.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik, K0STH.

(HANDIHAM, NEVADA DAILY MAIL)

**

SILENT KEY: LOGGING SOFTWARE DEVELOPER DAVE PRUETT K8CC

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We also report the death of NA Contest Logging Software Developer Dave Pruett, K8CC. Dave became a Silent Key on the 29th of
December. A chairman of the Michigan QSO Party and a log-checker for the ARRL's 10-meter and 160-meter contests, Dave's most widely known
contributions were perhaps in the area of contest log development. Early
on, he was the developer of a program for RadioShack computers that
checked logs for duplicate contacts. He also created the NA contest
logging software which is capable of handling a number of contests. He
was also a former editor of the National Contest Journal.

Dave was 66.

(ARRL)

**

SILENT KEY: FORMER RAC PRESIDENT FARRELL (HOPPY) HOPWOOD VE7RD

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: An influential member of the Canadian Amateur Radio
Community has become a Silent Key. John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us about
his long career.

JOHN: Farrell Hopwood, VE7RD, who had been president of RAC, and a
member of the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame, has become a Silent
Key. Known as Hoppy, he died on December 8th. The son of a telegrapher
father and a Teletype-operator mother, Hoppy began his long career in telecommunications in his native British Columbia in 1948. In 1955,
Hoppy became an amateur radio operator with the call sign VE7AHB. Those
who attended Expo 86 in Vancouver saw the amateur radio station and
exhibit there that was created by Hoppy and his team. An avid DXer, he
was also involved in VHF/UHF linking and packet.

Hoppy became an early member of the Canadian Radio Relay League and the Canadian Amateur Radio Federation, rising through its ranks into
leadership. He also became involved in key discussions to merge the two organisations into the RAC. Hoppy later became president of the RAC,
retiring from the post in 1998 after serving three terms.

He was inducted into the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame in 2015.

Hoppy was 91.

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

(RAC)

**

NOVA SCOTIA CONTEST WEATHERS THE STORM

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A recent winter contest hosted by one Canadian amateur
radio club turned out to be a disaster -- and the members couldn't have
been happier. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, has those details.

KEVIN: The Halifax Amateur Radio Club called their contest the "2-Meter
Get on the Air Winter Event," and it was designed to challenge the hams' ability to stay connected in the face of an emergency. For four hours on January 2nd, it was a dry run for disaster for John Bignell, VE1JMB, the club's director-at-large, and 50 or so other club members. It also
turned out to be a frozen run: the contest went forward despite a heavy snowfall that covered much of Nova Scotia. John, who is also an EHS
Advance Care Paramedic, said the contest underscored the need for hams
to have a reliable communications network when disaster strikes, as it
did in 2017 when Bell Aliant suffered a connection outage of landlines
and cellphones in Eastern Canada.

John told the Saltwire Network website that the contest was also about
having fun but it's important to remember too that when the Red Cross,
rescue teams or ground-search personnel need communications backup, hams should be there and ready. That makes everyone a winner in every
contest.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

(JOHN BIGNELL VE1JMB)
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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
N2XPM repeater in Cedarhurst, New York, on Saturdays, at noon local
time.

**

HAMCATION NAMES NEIL RAPP WB9VPG 'EDUCATOR OF YEAR'

JIM/ANCHOR: This next story is a personal one, celebrating one member
of our Newsline family. Our anchor and correspondent, Neil Rapp,
WB9VPG, who teaches high school chemistry in Indiana, has been named
Carole Perry Educator of the Year by Orlando HamCation. Newsline
editor Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT, spoke to Neil about his commmitment
to amateur radio education.

CARYN: Licensed since the age of 5, Neil Rapp knows better than most
of us that ham radio is the best teacher.

NEIL: Especially when I got into high school, ham radio helped me
understand science. When I got to Chemistry, when everybody else was
having a hard time, I already knew my metric system, when I got to
Physics, I already knew Ohm's law -- because I did all of that when I
was 5.

CARYN: Those early lessons became the foundation for the path his life
took as sponsor of school ham clubs, in the ARRL Teacher Institute and
as one of the founders and camp director of Youth on the Air for IARU
Region 2. For Neil, ham radio doesn't get old -- it gets YOUNG.

NEIL: Yeah, we do have youth in ham radio, and we do have kids doing
great things with it. There are some opportunities to make sure this continues. It amazes me that the kids that are really into CW at a
time when a lot of people didn't want to learn CW and that's what kept
them out of the hobby. They're also into all these cool new digital
modes that are becoming more efficient and setting the pace for the
commercial radio industry and cell phones and public service and all
the digital stuff. A lot of that came from ham radio.

CARYN: His next project? A Youth on the Air mini-camp that mixes
science with the science of socializing.

NEIL: What we are trying to do is build some of those social
connections between the kids and that's why there is a lot of YOTA
time that's at an amusement park, at Dave & Buster's, at this place
and that place that may not have a thing to do with ham radio because
it's social interaction time. The whole YOTA thing isn't just learning
about radio and learning about technology; it's getting the social
aspect there so that kids know other kids. We have seen in Europe that perpetuates the hobby. That keeps the kids in the hobby.

CARYN: So congratulations Neil. Your well-deserved Carole Perry trophy
will now sit beside your autographed oscillator from Carole's Youth
Forum at Hamvention.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT.

**

COUNTDOWN TO PLUTO'S BIG ANNIVERSARY

JIM/ANCHOR: Whether or not you still think of Pluto as a planet, its
discovery is still something to celebrate. Randy Sly, W4XJ, tells us
why.

RANDY: The Northern Arizona DX Association is about to launch the
first event in its 10-year special event countdown to the 100th
anniversary of its discovery in the Kuiper (KY-PURR) Belt. Be
listening for club members operating between February 13th and the
21st as W7P. They'll be at the Lowell Observatory from which Pluto was
first spotted and their home QTHs. One of the operators will be Doug
Tombaugh, N3PDT, nephew of Pluto's discoverer, Clyde Tombaugh. He will
operate as W7P/0.

There will be special QSL cards each year leading up to the 100th
anniversary event. A certificate with endorsement stickers for each of
the 10 years of the special event and for a contact with Doug and his
team will be available later as well, Visit the QRZ.COM page for more
details.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Randy Sly, W4XJ.

(QRZ)
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UK TV CHANNEL RECOUNTS AMATEUR'S NOTORIOUS, BRUTAL KILLING

NEIL/ANCHOR: The notorious killing of an amateur radio operator in the
UK was revisited recently, for TV viewers of a special three-part series. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us about it.

JEREMY: The brutal murder story, broadcast over a three-day period on the
UK's ITV channel, was no fictional drama. The episodes, which were
transmitted between Monday 11th and Wednesday 13th January, recount the
killing in June 1989 of Oxfordshire radio amateur Peter Dixon, G0HFQ,
and his wife, Gwenda. The couple were on holiday in Pembrokeshire, South
West Wales, where Peter had been operating as GW0HFO/M.

The two were found dead, shot at point-blank range within half a mile of
their campsite on 5th July. The Radio Society of Great Britain was asked
by police to put out a QST, asking amateurs to check their logbooks
between the 29th June, and the 5th July, police believing that Peter had
made a contact with another mobile station on 28 MHz on the morning of Wednesday 28th June. They were looking for clues, any clues at all.

Still, it took years of detective work, before the case ended with an
arrest and conviction: John Cooper, a former farm labourer, was found
guilty of the killings in 2011. In an odd twist to the story, Cooper
himself had appeared on ITV on a popular game show - just days before
robbing and shooting the ham radio operator and his wife.

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

(ITV WEBSITE, 73 MAGAZINE/OCTOBER 1989)

**

CALIFORNIA HAMS DEDICATE COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY

NEIL/ANCHOR: In California, one amateur radio club gave a big thank-you
to one of their own, in the form of a special honor. Ralph Squillace,
KK6ITB, tells us what happened.

RALPH: The Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club values its resources: They
include a state-of-the-art communications facility atop a reservoir in
Santa Barbara County, California - and they include Bill Talanian, W1UUQ,
the ham who helped secure funding to make it a reality. Bill, a former
trustee of the 150-member club, has been doing that kind of volunteer
work for more than four decades.

Earlier this month, the club held a formal dedication of the facility,
naming it the Talanian Communications Facility. Such a facility provides
the kind of ability club members need to respond to communities in
crisis, as they did in 2017, when the Thomas Fire ripped through Ventura
and Santa Barbara Counties. Club members helped pass traffic for
emergency responders. The club also has a mobile rover vehicle, as well
as emergency radio communications stations at the Santa Barbara chapter
of the American Red Cross, and the Santa Barbara County Office of
Emergency Management.

Club members told the website Noozhawk that Bill played a key role in
securing funds for the facility atop the Vic Trace Reservoir. Hams have considered it the hub of their communications network since 2011.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB.

(NOOZHAWK)

**

HAMS SUPPORT COMMUNICATIONS AT INDIAN RELIGIOUS PILGRIMAGE

NEIL/ANCHOR: An annual religious pilgrimage in India once again had the
support of a local amateur radio club which, this year, also made use
of a satellite. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, gives us that report.

JIM: The callsign AT2GSI wasn't your average DX. It was being used
between the 9th and the 19th of January, by members of the West Bengal
Radio Club in India, where hams were calling QRZ from Sagar Island,
designated IOTA AS-153. There was a lot more to this activation,
however. The hams were also present on the island, as they always are
during the annual Hindu pilgrimage, to where the Bay of Bengal meets the
river Ganges. Using HTs and a ground station for the Qatar OSCAR 100
satellite, made them even more capable this year of keeping emergency
support communications open. More than 700,000 pilgrims had already
arrived there by January 14th.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(MILLENIUM POST)

**

RSGB NOMINATIONS DUE BY JAN. 31

NEIL/ANCHOR: Time is running out for nominations for the Radio Society
of Great Britain's elections. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has that story.

JEREMY: Changes are ahead for the Radio Society of Great Britain, which
is accepting nominations for its elections. The society is seeking
candidates for president, one elected board director, and one
representative each, in Regions 2, 6, and 12. Results will be announced
at the annual general meeting on April 24th, where President Dave Wilson,
M ZERO OBW (M0OBW) is to retire, following three years in that post
during his current tenure, which is his second term. That meeting will
be held virtually.

The RSGB positions are voluntary. Interested amateurs can learn more
about these positions, or how to nominate a candidate, by visiting the
website rsgb dot org stroke election (rsgb.org/election). Nominations
are due no later than January 31st.

Meanwhile, the RSGB board has appointed veteran BBC broadcaster Steve
Richards, G4HPE, to fill the vacant post of GB2RS News Broadcast
manager. Steve's voice is familiar to many listeners as a newsreader on
the GB2RS report.

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

(RSGB)
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FRENCH MILITARY SEEKS RADIO RECEIVERS, JAMMERS

PAUL/ANCHOR: When is jamming a signal actually desirable? When it's The
French military. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, has more on the story:

ED: The French Defence Ministry has a tender out for radio jammers that
can be drone-mounted The government's Defence Innovation Agency has put
out a request for proposals in search of a small, low-power warfare
device that can find radio communication transmitters while mounted on a
fixed or rotary-wing drone and possibly disable the signals through
jamming. Proposals were due no later than the 18th of January and demonstrations of prototypes will follow over the course of the next
seven months.

The devices are expected to be capable of detecting any number of
transmitters operating between 30 MHz and 6 GHz and able to transmit
their findings in real-time to a receiving station on the ground.
Bidding is being limited to companies within the European Union.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

(UPI, THE DEFENSE POST)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
KB3AWQ repeater in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on Thursdays at 9 p.m.
local time.

**

YOTA MONTH ACTIVATIONS TOP TOTALS FROM PREVIOUS YEAR

PAUL/ANCHOR: The numbers are in: The total contacts made by young
amateurs during December YOTA month outpaced those made the previous
year. Sel Embee, KB3TZD, tells us more.

SEL: For the 24 young amateur radio operators in the Western Hemisphere
who were part of December YOTA Month, the numbers added up in a big way.
The Youth on the Air operators logged 14,699 QSOs while calling QRZ with special event callsigns. The contacts, made using SSB, CW, digital modes
and satellites, dramatically topped the previous year's total of 12,487.
Some of the operators, such as Michael, W3MLJ, said his favorite part of
the activation was being able to run five radios at the same time, all
logging contacts on digital modes such as FT-8. Calin K8MTJ got a
special kick out of working ZR1ADI in South Africa using FT8.

The hams, all younger than 26, had their efforts coordinated by Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO, who worked with YOTA month manager Tomi, HA8RT. The
event was a prelude to the first YOTA camp to be held in the Western Hemisphere this summer. That's planned for July 11th through 16th.

Meanwhile, more than 2,100 operators of all ages received awards based
on the number of YOTA Month contacts they'd made. Unclaimed awards can
be downloaded at events dot ham hyphen yota dot com. (events.ham-
yota.com)

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Sel Embee, KB3TZD.

(YOTA)

**

MICHIGAN AMATEUR ISSUES PLEA FOR KIDNEY

PAUL/ANCHOR: A longtime radio amateur in Michigan has been reaching out
on social media for a life-saving donation. Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, tells
us about him.

DON: Philip Ross, AB8PR, who has been a licensed ham since 1971, has
been looking lately for something a whole lot more than some rare DX or
a good signal report. The Michigan grandfather learned recently he has end-stage kidney disease and needs a living donor to make a transplant possible. He tells his story on various social media sites and his own
website papaphilcan dot com (papaphilcan.com) in the hopes that someone
will come forward to help him. He notes that dialysis - his only other
option - is not a cure but a form of disease management that leads to a shorter life with greatly lessened quality. His website reads: Papa Phil
Can; His Kidneys Can't. Even if AB8PR is not in your logbook, if you
think you can include him in your own plans to help, visit his website
to learn more. That's papaphilcan dot com.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.
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CLUB OFFERS MICROWAVE NETWORK TO BOOST BRITISH COLUMBIA EMCOMM

JIM/ANCHOR: For one ham club in Canada, emergency response doesn't just consist of HTs, repeaters and HF radios. Radio operators there are hoping
they can soon assist local responders by getting their microwave network
in the game. Christian Cudnik, K0STH, has that story.

CHRISTIAN: The Kamloops Amateur Radio Club, which already provides
emergency support on the ground throughout its region in British Columbia, sees even more potential in their mountaintop-to-mountaintop broadband network. They're offering to open its use to the TNRD, the regional
governing body, in the hopes that the microwave links' internet
connectivity and large data bandwidth can provide an additional resource
for local Emergency Operations Centres in the case of wildfires or other calamities.

Club president Myles, VE7FSR, said the idea of providing the TNRD, or Thompson-Nicola Regional District, with a higher level of assistance was inspired by a 2017 wildfire in the region. He and some friends in the
British Columbia Wireless Amateur Radio Network recalled how the blaze had hampered the Emergency Operations Centers' abilities to communicate vital information.

Myles told Newsline that for the region's various municipalities to
utilize the club's high speed microwave system, they'd need to first
establish that they have line-of-sight with the mountaintops and then
install dishes there to connect with the EOCs below. Myles said this sort
of operation has come of age. EOCS, he said, are more dependent than ever
on internet access because the data bandwidth is so much greater there
than on VHF, UHF and especially HF.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik, K0STH.

(MYLES BRUNS VE7FSR)

**

GEORGIA AMATEURS DEMONSTRATE RADIO SCIENCE ON FIELD DAY

JIM/ANCHOR: Winter Field Day was a little bit different this year for some hams in Georgia. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, tells us how they spent it.

KEVIN: The Macon, Georgia shopping mall known as the Shoppes at River
Crossing became part of a Winter Field Day activity — and even the mall's security department got in on the action. Hams were using the occasion to demonstrate analog and digital HF operations as well as UHF/VHF and D-
STAR. According to David Johnson, KF4ALH, emergency coordinator for Macon-
Bibb ARES, this field day activity was more about scoring big points on education and public relations instead of points in a contest. Hams from Macon-Bibb County ARES were joined by the Macon-Bibb County EMA Volunteer Group, Macon Amateur Radio Club, the Monroe County ARES Group and the
Monroe County Amateur Radio Society.

The hams gave science lessons and history lessons, along with a basic look
at how amateur radio works and the role it plays when hurricanes sweep through.

David said a few visitors seemed interested in learning more and doing
more. He added: "If even one new person gets the Amateur Radio bug from
our event, I consider that a bonus."

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

(DAVID JOHNSON KF4ALH)

**

SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS MARK ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE CENTENARY

JIM/ANCHOR: A special event is celebrating 100 years since the creation of
the Royal Australian Air Force. Robert Broomhead has that story.

ROBERT: A call has been put out for enthusiastic recruits to serve the
Royal Australian Air Force -- no, not for military duty but to become
airborne nonetheless via the radio as part of one of two special event stations marking the 100th anniversary of the RAAF.

Hams will be using the call signs VI100AF and VK100AF from the 1st of
March to the 29th of May, for 100 days. The Air Force's actual birthday is March 31st. On that date in 1921, the RAAF became an independent service
from the Army. It is the world's second-oldest air force. Its roots are
with the Australian Flying Corps, which sent troops during World War I to serve in the Middle East and European theatres.

Activations can be done at the home QTH, at a club or even a park or SOTA location. There are plans to operate from four Air Force Bases as well.

Time for Aussie hams to register is short. Organisers are hoping to
release the roster for both call signs sometime around the 5th of
February.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Robert Broomhead, VK3DN.

(CENTRAL COAST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, AIRFORCE.GOV.AU)

**

OFCOM CLARIFIES LICENSE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR VP8 HAMS

JIM/ANCHOR: Word from Ofcom in the UK has clarified some longstanding confusion over licensing responsibilities in the British Antarctic
territory region. Hams seeking new VP8 licences to operate in the
Antarctic and South Georgia have learned they will only be able to use
those licences on the Falkland Islands. On the other hand, hams with
existing VP8 calls may use them temporarily in the British Atlantic Territories, South Sandwich and South Georgia as well as in the Falklands until the licensing responsibilities are better defined.

Ofcom noted that the British Atlantic Territories, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands cannot lissue their own licences or assign call signs.

Ofcom left the option open for those locales to ask the Falkland Islands
to administer licensing and call signs on their behalf as had been the
case up until early 2020.

(OPENFALKLANDS.COM)
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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 Utah Amateur
Radio Club's W7SP repeater, on Sundays as part of the club's 9 p.m. net.

**

HAMSCI PROPOSAL DEADLINE APPROACHES

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Organizers are still looking for amateurs' ideas for presentations at next month's HamSCI Workshop – but the deadline is
almost here. Sel Embee, KB3TZD, explains.

SEL: With this year's HamSCI Workshop coming up on March 19th and 20th,
the deadline is approaching fast for hams, scientists and other experts to submit presentation abstract proposals. This year's theme is midlatitude ionospheric sensing but presentations are not required on that subject.
The workshop will again be held virtually on Zoom, as it was last year, in cooperation with the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania and sponsored
by the National Science Foundation.

A team meeting will also be held for HamSCI's Personal Space Weather
Station project. This project's goal is the creation of a citizen science instrument that enables space weather to be studied right from your QTH.

Abstracts for presentations are due by the 15th of February. They can be
sent via the conference webpage at hamsci dot org (hamsci.org), that's ham-s-c-i-dot-org.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Sel Embee, KB3TZD.

(HAMSCI)

**

AUSTRALIA'S WYONG FIELD DAY REPLACED BY 'MAYHAM' EVENT

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The popular Wyong Field Day in Australia has been
cancelled due to COVID precautions, but Ed Durrant, VK2JI, tells us what
will be happening in its place.

ED: In light of the recent new COVID events across Australia and the situation's changeable nature at present, the executive committee of the Central Coast ARC, with input from a survey of club members, has decided
not to run the Wyong Field Day 2021 which was planned for Sunday the 28th
of February. This is a decision that was not easy, and was taken
considering the safety of the club members, traders and those who attend
the day.

However, open your calendar's as the club wishes to announce the Central
Coast Amateur Radio Club "Mayham" event which will be held on Sunday the
30th of May 2021 at the Wyong Race Course. We would like to see this one-
time event attract as many visitors as the Field Day does every year, who knows, this could be the largest gathering of radio amateurs in the
Southern Hemisphere this year!

Traders have already been contacted and informed of the new date and we
expect the exhibitor and lecturer variety to be just as broad as was
planned for the 2021 Field Day.

Full details and information regarding this event will be updated on the
clubs website at ccarc (dot) org (dot) au and through social media as it becomes available.

Looking forward to NO MAYHEM at the MayHam event, For the Central Coast
ARC, this was Ed, VK2JI.

(CCARC)

**

CANADIAN SATELLITE CONSTELLATION WOULD PROVIDE NEW INTERNET ACCESS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A Canadian satellite operator has become the latest player
to join the low-earth orbit action over Earth's skies. The company Telesat announced on February 9th that it intends to build a constellation of 300 satellites in order to deliver high-speed internet worldwide in the next
two years. Known as Lightspeed, it will be designed to serve fixed and
mobile network operators, aeronautical and maritime users, enterprise customers, and governments. Consumers wishing to use Lightspeed's services would purchase their service from one of Lightspeed's direct customers.

The company said financing still needed to be finalized. If Telesat is successful, that would make the company the latest seeking to offer satellite-based internet services. The most well-known one perhaps is
SpaceX's Starlink service which is already serving parts of North America. Project Kuiper (KIE-PURR) has also announced it is moving forward but has
had no launches yet.

(FORTUNE MAGAZINE)

**

RSBG ANNOUNCES AWARD-WINNERS

STEPHEN:/ANCHOR: The Radio Society of Great Britain has announced the
winners of its construction competition held during lockdown and Jeremy
Boot, G4NJH, has the results.

JEREMY: The Radio Society of Great Britain has announced the winners of
the construction competition held for projects created during the autumn
2020 lockdown, the Christmas and New Year holiday period and the early
part of this year.

Response exceeded the society's expectations and the decision was made to
name four winners instead of one.

Congratulations to: first-prize winner Gordon Lean, G3WJG ; runner-up Paul Graham, M0PGX; third-prize winner Laurence Fletcher, G4SXH, and to Robert Lynch, M0NVQ, who was chosen as highly commended.

Learn more about their projects in the April RadCom, and on the RSGB
website at the URL given in the written text on the arnewsline.org
website.

[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ:

www.rsgb.services/gota2c-construction-competition].

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