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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2465 for Friday, January 24th
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2465 for Friday, January 24th 2025
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2465 with a release date of Friday,
January 24th, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. An alert amateur helps locate two missing children
in India. A wireless device helps track down the body of a Colorado skier.
And in the UK Ofcom revisits operating privileges for visiting amateurs. All
this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2465 comes your way
right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
HAM HELPS MOTHER WHOSE CHILDREN LEAVE PILGRIMAGE WITHOUT HER
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Situational awareness is always key for hams doing emergency
communications - and it was never more important than at a recent religious
pilgrimage in India, where one observant radio amateur intervened to help
find two missing children. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF brings us that story.
JIM: Hams around the world who were making DX contacts with AU2WBRC, the
West Bengal Radio Club, were no doubt happy to log a QSO from the second
largest religious gathering of Hindus in India, the Gangasagar Mela in West
Bengal. They may not have realised that one member of the team made another
important contact - off the air - with the cooperation of a drone operator
in the area. A 9-year-old girl and her 3-year-old sister had boarded a
departing bus, expecting their mother and grandmother to follow, but the
adults failed to join them because the massive crowd at the bus stand had
got in their way. The bus pulled away with the unaccompanied children.
Saborni Nag Biswas, VU2JFC, was at the festival to assist with the radio
club's DXpedition and public safety work. She told Newsline she was near the
bus stand, assisting others who had lost their way in the crowd, when the
frantic mother approached her after the bus pulled away. The mother could
not recall the bus' identifying number. Knowing that there were drones
flying over the island for security purposes, Saborni telephoned the drone
operators to see if any footage captured from the air could identify the
departed vehicle. After the bus was identified, located and stopped, she
accompanied Kolkata police to the bus and the girls were returned to their
mother and grandmother.
A local newspaper credited Saborni’s actions calling them [quote] "key in
completing the search operation in such a short time." [endquote]
This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.
(SABORNI NAG BISWAS, VU2JFC; MILLENNIUM POST)
**
AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVER PINPOINTS BODY OF SKIER
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The body of an accomplished skier in Colorado was found with
the help of a personal device known as an avalanche transceiver - four hours
after he became buried in the snow. We have that story from Kent Peterson
KCŘDGY.
KENT: A wearable wireless safety device known as an avalanche transceiver
helped a woman find the body of her husband, a veteran downhill skier who
died after being buried in a Colorado mountain avalanche.
Fifty-seven-year-old Donald Moden Jr., who had once been a member of the
local mountain rescue team, was likely buried in the avalanche for more than
four hours before his body was located via transmissions from his tracking
device, according to news reports. The avalanche occurred on January 7th on
Red Mountain Pass, where he had skied for many years. News reports said the
skier's wife became concerned when he failed to check in as agreed .
Standing at the trailhead with her own avalanche transceiver, she received
transmissions being sent from her husband's device and was able to locate
where he was buried. The transceiver, sometimes known as an avalanche
beacon, transmits on 457 kHz. Newer ones have a three-antenna design for
greater accuracy. According to several backcountry ski websites, the most
modern devices have a transmitting range of 50 metres or more.
A search team was called in to assist with recovering the skier's body. News
reports said that Donald Moden was the state's first reported fatality from
an avalanche this ski season.
This is Kent Peterson KCŘDGY.
(COLORADO SUN, REI.COM)
**
HAM RADIO IRELAND BEING PUBLISHED ONLINE AGAIN
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A popular online ham radio magazine is returning for readers
in Ireland - and around the world, as we learn from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
JEREMY: Ham Radio Ireland is back. After a period of inactivity late last
year, the free independent downloadable newsletter resumed online
publication in late January.
Shortly after its creators launched its predecessor, the Connacht Regional
Newsletter, in 2022, they realised it held appeal beyond its initial
readership in western Ireland and it was renamed Ham Radio Ireland. Authors
volunteered sharing their expertise on QRP, satellite operation, VHF/UHF,
home construction, keyboard modes and other topics. According to Steve
Wright, EI5DD, editorial contributions eventually slowed to a trickle,
making continued publication a challenge. By last September, production had
stopped.
John Tubritt, EI3HQB, from Collective Communications, and Steve Wright,
EI5DD are on the editorial team to revive the magazine in a new format.
Initially the best site for downloads will be via the Facebook page of Ham
Radio Ireland. Links will soon be available on other social media platforms.
Authors anywhere in the world are welcome to send stories and pictures
relevant to ham radio and their experiences. They can be sent directly to
Steve at wright14@gmail.com - that's spelled w r i g h t at gmail dot com.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(STEVE WRIGHT, EI5DD; JOHN TUBRITT, EI3HQB)
**
AMATEUR RADIO'S GIFT TO LAKE PLACID OLYMPIC MUSEUM
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The Lake Placid Olympic Museum in northern New York State is
receiving a donation that is more than just images and memories. This gift
contains history, as we hear from Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
KEVIN: It has been 45 years since the Winter Olympics were held in New York
State's Adirondack (Ad-DEER-on-DACK) Mountains. That year, the athletes
weren't the only ones making an Olympian effort. Twenty-one amateur radio
operators followed the 1,000-mile route of the traditional Olympic Flame as
it was carried north along the East Coast of the US, starting on the 31st of
January 1980. Along the way, hams in each local community helped with safety
and logistics as the Torch Relay Team passed through.
To mark the Olympics' anniversary, one member of that team, Bob Josuweit,
WA3PZO, has donated some 100 magazine and newspaper articles documenting the
10-day run itself and amateur radio's involvement. There are also 350 35mm
slides that are being digitized so the museum can add these images to their
collection too.
The hams themselves have more than those long-ago memories. Their volunteer
work earned each a medal that keeps the memory burning as bright as that
Olympic flame.
This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.
(BOB JOSUWEIT, WA3PZO)
**
SILENT KEY: YUKON'S "RADIO RAY," RAYMOND FRED FUGARD, VY1RF
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Hams in the Yukon knew him as "Radio Ray." They said goodbye
to him recently when he became a Silent Key. Neil Rapp WB9VPG tells us more
about him.
NEIL: Raymond Fred Fugard, VY1RF, kept his radios on in his house around the
clock. Ask and he would identify the frequencies and coverage areas of every
repeater in the vicinity of his home in the Yukon territory. Ray had been a
ham since December of 2006 -- and by the time he got his license, his ever-
diminishing eyesight had left him legally blind.
Ray became a Silent Key on January 6th.
Ray moved to the Yukon more than 40 years ago from Ontario and became an
integral part of community life through his amateur radio activities with
the Yukon Amateur Radio Association. He was considered the club's "network
monitor," keeping track of the wide area network of repeaters across the
Yukon Territory, where many US travelers from the lower 48 states would make
the trip north along the Alaska Highway. Club president Ian MacDonald,
VY1IRM, told Newsline: [quote] "If anyone made a call out on the network,
Ray would respond with a hello and any information that they may need."
[endquote]
Ray also assisted in communications during emergency-preparedness exercises
and at such public service events as the Klondike Road Relay, the Kluane
Chilkat International Bike Race and the benefit walks for MS. He was known
for carrying an HT with him wherever he went. After the club changed its
bylaws, Ray also became the RACES Comms Controller.
Club vice president Michael Settle, VY1MGS, told Newsline that he was
inspired to become a ham by Ray's own activities in amateur radio.
Ray was also active in broadcasting - and Michael said he received the
nickname, "Radio Ray," because of his association with the community radio
station in Dawson City. A music lover, he helped start the station, where he
was both a DJ and station manager.
According to his online obituary, he was in declining health and was dealing
with respiratory difficulties at the time of his death. Ray was 70.
This is Neil Rapp WB9VPG.
(HERITAGE NORTH FUNERAL HOME, YUKON AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the North
Coast Amateur Radio Club's N8NC repeater in northeast Ohio on Sundays at 8
p.m. local time during the Weekly Information Net.
**
OFCOM EYES PRIVILEGES FOR MORE VISITING HAMS IN UK
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The UK regulator has proposed extending its license
exemption to give operating privileges to even more foreign hams during
their short-term visits. Jeremy Boot G4NJH explains this latest development.
JEREMY: Ofcom has issued a consultation proposing to implement application-
free short-term reciprocal licensing for amateurs visiting from non-CEPT
countries and with whom the UK has a bilateral agreement.
The regulator said on the 17th of January that this would expand a privilege
that is already afforded to hams with a full licence from CEPT-signatory
countries. It would apply to foreign hams whose stays do not exceed three
months. The privilege is currently available only to hams who hold a full
licence from non-CEPT signatory countries, including Thailand, Brazil, Sri
Lanka and Qatar, among others.
After the three-month limit has been reached, foreign amateurs may apply for
an additional six months under the existing reciprocal full temporary
licence process or apply for a full UK licence from Ofcom. The regulator
said that this change would reduce its administrative burdens and costs.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(OFCOM)
**
HAMCATION ORGANIZERS NAME AWARD RECIPIENTS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Three amateurs will be honored in Florida at HamCation this
year, as we hear from Jack Parker W8ISH.
JACK: HamCation organizers have named three award recipients whose
accomplishments will be recognized and celebrated in Orlando, Florida next
month. David Jordan AA4KN has been selected to receive the Carole Perry
Educator of the Year Award. Heather Anderson W8GEM and David Anderson K1AN
will share the Gordon West Ambassador of the Year Award.
In his various responsibilities with ARISS, Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station, David has been responsible for coordinating
QSOs with ISS astronauts for students around the world. His is a function
that includes helping select and schedule the schools as well as helping
train and assist with technical operations. He is an AMSAT member who
mentors students, giving them an opportunity to learn more about radio
contacts via satellite through so-called “Teach-Insö a the elementary and
middle-school level.
Heather and David are members of the Yavapai (Yah Vuh Pie) Amateur Radio
Club W7YRC in Arizona, where youngsters in the Youth Radio Club know them
for their leadership in training and projects. The two maintain a strong
presence at library summer programs, Youth Field Days and have an
involvement in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, also
known as STEAM.
The awards will be presented during HamCation, which takes place from the
7th to the 9th of February.
This is Jack Parker W8ISH.
(HAMCATION, AMATEUR NEWS DAILY)
**
HAMSCI HOSTING ZOOM SESSIONS FOR PERSONAL WEATHER STATION
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: With terrestrial and solar weather on almost everyone's mind
these days, HamSCI, the citizen science research group in the US, has
announced it is hosting Zoom sessions to assist with its Personal Space
Weather Station network. HamSCI hosts the sessions at 10 a.m. Eastern Time
every Thursday on Zoom. The group is hoping to expand its network and
improve data collection for additional studies. Visit hamsci dot org or more
details. (hamsci.org)
(HAMSCI)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, Ilian, LZ5KW is using the callsign 8Q7KW until sometime
in early February from the Maldives, IOTA number AS-013. He is using mainly
CW but is including some SSB and FT8. Find him on 80-10 metres. See QRZ.com
for QSL details.
Tom, 9A2AA, is marking 68 years as an active radio amateurs by using the
callsign 9A68AA. QSL via his home call.
Listen for Przemo, SP3PS, calling CQ as C5SP from the Gambia until the
middle of March. He will be using SSB and FT8 on the HF bands. QSL via his
home call.
Claudio, HB9OAU, will be active holiday style as D44OA from Sal Island, AF-
086, Cape Verde from the 5th through to the 18th of February. He will
operate CW, SSB on 40 through 6 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
(425 DX BULLETIN)
**
KICKER: INSPIRING SWEET DREAMS OF MOONBOUNCE
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Guest speakers at ham radio club meetings are supposed to
inspire - and indeed many of them do. Earlier this month, the guest speaker
at one club in California actually inspired...a lullaby. Stay awake please
as Ralph Squillace KK6ITB explains what happened.
RALPH; Helen Mahoney, KI6LQV, loves amateur radio to the moon and back.
REALLY to the surface of the moon and back. She and her husband, Doug,
K6JEY, enjoy making contacts via moonbounce, also known as Earth-Moon-Earth
contacts, or EME. Hearing Helen's recent guest presentation at the W6TRW
Amateur Radio Club meeting in Redondo Beach, California, Becky, KN6WDQ, was
left with a song in her heart.
So she wrote it, sang it, recorded it - and put it all on YouTube with
Devin, KN6PHZ and Mark, KD7DTS singing backup vocals. This ham radio lullaby
is called "I Ping the Moon" and it is set to the music of another, more
familiar lullaby, "I See the Moon and the Moon Sees Me." It also turns out
to be a love song of sorts to a mode that can surprise any ham with a world
of contacts if they use the right equipment.
For this musical performance, Becky's instruments are her piano and, of
course, her HT. It's a parody, of course, but that doesn't mean this EME fan
doesn't take her on-air efforts seriously. No doubt she's dreaming already
of her next QSOs - and now she has the right lullaby to sing herself to
sleep.
To hear the song, see the link in the text version of this week's newscast
at arnewsline.org
[DO NOT READ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6NB6L9DUak ]
This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.
(YOUTUBE)
***
Have you sent in your amateur radio haiku to Newsline's haiku challenge yet?
It's as easy as writing a QSL card. Set your thoughts down using traditional
haiku format - a three-line verse with five syllables in the first line,
seven in the second and five in the third. Submit your work on our website
at arnewsline.org - each week's winner gets a shout-out on our website,
where everyone can find the winning haiku.
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to the Amateur Radio Daily; Bob Josuweit,
WA3PZO; Colorado Sun; David Behar K7DB; Facebook; 425DXNews; GoFundMe;
Heritage North Funeral Home; John Tubritt, EI3HQB; Millennium Post; Ofcom;
QRZ.com; Saborni Nag Biswas, VU2JFC; shortwaveradio.de; Steve Wright, EI5DD;
Wireless Institute of Australia; YouTube; Yukon Amateur Radio Association;
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 Stephen Kinford N8WB in Wadsworth Ohio saying 73. As
always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright
2025. All rights reserved.
73 de Bill, PY2BIL
PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
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BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 25-jan-2025 10:41 E. South America Standard Time
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