Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2271 for Friday May 7, 2021

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2271 with a release date of Friday
May 7, 2021 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. A pre-eminent ham convention gets a virtual
replacement. Fences get good shortwave reception -- and were microwaves
used as weapons in Washington, DC? All this and more as Amateur Radio
Newsline Report Number 2271 comes your way right now.

***

BILLBOARD CART

**
FRIEDRICHSHAFEN TRADE SHOW TO BE VIRTUAL

PAUL/ANCHOR: In Germany, hams are getting a virtual event as a
substitute for Ham Radio Friedrichshafen, which was called off for the
second year in a row. Ed Durrant DD5LP tells us about its digital
replacement.

ED: Hams disappointed by the cancellation of Ham Radio Friedrichshafen
are being offered Ham Radio World, an industry trade show, as a virtual
meeting place from Friday June 25th to Sunday June 27th. The CEO of
Messe Friedrichshafen, Klaus Wellmann, called the event "a digital
version of Europe's leading amateur radio trade show." The three-day
replacement event is free and is being coordinated with the DARC to
schedule a variety of ham radio topics presented on the virtual stage
and a showcase of cutting-edge products. Simulating an in-person
environment as much as possible on the platform, the event will feature
opportunities for video chat and customizable avatars representing
visitors.

For additional details, visit the website in the Newsline script for
this week's report.

[FOR PRINT ONLY: DO NOT READ: www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.de]

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.


PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile in the US, Virtual Contest University and the
2021 Virtual Hamvention FOrums are accepting registration for sessions
being held live through Zoom. Separate registration is required for
each event. Visit contestuniversity dot com and hamvention dot org for
more details or to register.

**
MICROWAVE ATTACKS REPORTED IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

PAUL/ANCHOR: A probe in the United States is studying the latest in a
series of reported attacks transmitting high-powered microwavesâ-"with
one such incident occurring on the south side of the White House late
last year. US lawmakers heard recently about that incident and another
one in a nearby Virginia suburb, according to news reports. The
suspected attacks on American soil appear to be similar to incidents
reported by US personnel in China and Cuba, who reported an array of
symptoms later termed "Havana Syndrome." The agencies are particularly
disturbed about the more recent microwave-related incident reported on
the south side of the White House across the oval lawn known as the
Ellipse.

According to CNN, probes by the Pentagon and other agencies have
reached no conclusions. Lawmakers in Washington were briefed recently
on the progress of the investigation.

(CBS, CNN)

**
SPECIAL EVENT RECALLS DOOMED US SUBMARINE

PAUL/ANCHOR: In Maine, hams are getting ready for a special event this
month that will share the tragedy of an American submarine and honor
those who died. Kevin Trotman N5PRE brings us the details.

KEVIN: Eighty-two years after the submarine USS Squalus sank during a
test dive in the Gulf of Maine, a group of amateur radio operators is
devoting the anniversary date to remembering the tragedy. Although 33
survived the accident on May 23, 1939, 26 died.

Members of the Maine Ham Radio Society will be calling QRZ as special
event station W1S and a certificate will be awarded to hams making
successful contacts with them. According to the Naval History and
Heritage Command website, the sinking was attributed to a mechanical
failure within the engine that caused the state-of-the-art submarine to
begin taking on water. It took until the 13th of September of that same
year for the Squalus to be raised. It was brought to the Portsmouth
Navy Yard and decommissioned that November. In May of the following
year it was recommissioned as the USS Sailfish.

The hams are hoping the special event will help everyone remember the
Squalus, its crew and the civilians on board.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

(MAINE HAM RADIO SOCIETY, NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND)

**
WIA PRESSES ACMA for GREATER SPECTRUM ACCESS

PAUL/ANCHOR: The Wireless Institute of Australia wants to see hams gain
greater access to more frequencies. Graham Kemp VK4BB explains.

GRAHAM: The Wireless Institute of Australia is pressing for increased
amateur access to the spectrum in the range between 3 and 10 MHz,
saying the expansion will enhance what it calls "frequency agility."
That's an option the WIA says amateurs need as they battle congestion,
high-power HF radar systems and overwhelming interference. The WIA is
also advocating study of the bands between 2300-2302MHz and
3300-4200MHz. This recommendation comes in the wake of the WIA's
attendance at the ACMA's Technical Liaison Group meetings for
frequencies between 3400-3475MHz. The WIA committed itself to be
involved in all other groups relevant to UHF and SHF bands as needed.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Graham Kemp VK4BB.

PAUL/ANCHOR: The WIA has made the request to the Australian
Communications and Media Authority in its Five Year Spectrum Outlook.

(WIA)

**
'FENCE-TENNA' PROJECT GETS GOOD RECEPTION

PAUL/ANCHOR: If you've been on the fence about what kind of antenna is
best for your operations, you might want to have a talk with Hanna
Kemp-Welch M7HKW. The London YL is on the fence too; in fact, she and a
group of fellow artists recently connected their shortwave radios to
some fences with some interesting results. Here's Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: There are dipoles, Yagis, delta loops and multi-band verticals
but Hanna Kemp-Welch prefers to connect her radio to a fence. She and a
group of like-minded artists demonstrated recently how good fences can
make good connections. On Saturday, May 1st, the women went to various
locations in the UK and France as part of a virtual performance by
their year-old group, the Shortwave Collective.

The project was called Fencetenna. Its goal was to use the receiving
properties of their chosen fence to scan the shortwave bands. Whether
it was a fence at a former railway station in London or part of a
sheepfold fence in France, they obtained respectable reception. As seen
and heard in a video posted on YouTube, in one demonstration, they
picked up everything from a 2-metre beacon to a variety of voices from
China, Russia and Spain. One member of the video audience remarked in
the accompanying chat: [quote] "If someone could pick up the Wednesday
game for me, that would be great." [endquote]

To watch the video, see the link in this week's Newsline script on our
website arnewsline.org

Although it's often said that fences can divide, it's clear these
fences succeeded in making a series of new connectionsâ-" and all
through the power of radio.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(YOUTUBE, SOUTHGATE)

**
NEW FORMAT UNVEILED FOR YOTA ONLINE

PAUL/ANCHOR: The youngest hams in IARU Region 1 are taking their online
format to a new level by introducing an interactive environment. Ed
Durrant DD5LP fills in the details.

ED: The shape of YOTA Online, the virtual gathering spot for young
amateurs in IARU Region 1, is changing: It's making the move from
livestream to interactive forum. The format, which goes into effect in
July, was outlined in late April by Region 1 Youth Working Group
leaders during an online meeting. The April 29th session was, in fact,
identified as the last such meeting under the old format, which was
streamed live on YouTube, Facebook and Twitch.

Claudia Grober DC2CL, a member of the public relations team, said the
simple livestream meetings are giving way to interactive sessions with
voice and chat capability. She said the experience will be more like a
BarCamp style, referring to the fluid, open environment often called
the "un-conference." The point of shifting to a new format is, in true
ham radio spirit, better communication.

She said to young viewers who tuned in: "See you in July."

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.

(YOTA ONLINE)

**
'RADIO WATCH' STIRS INTEREST AT EARTH DAY EVENT

PAUL/ANCHOR: A recent Earth Day event in California became a showcase
for the public safety role radio can play and one group of hams made
the most of it. Here's Jack Parker W8ISH with more.

JACK: As residents in Pollock Pines, California celebrated the spirit
of Earth Day at a four-hour community event, the El Dorado County
Amateur Radio Club joined in to celebrate the spirit of communications.
The club showcased its Neighborhood Radio Watch program, which gives
non-hams an important public safety role in emergencies through their
use of affordable General Mobile Radio Service handhelds as well as
pagers and scanners. According to the club's public information
officer, Alan Thompson W6WN, this technology is especially important in
a region so prone to deadly wildfires. He said the club started three
such programs in northern California last year and is preparing to
launch three more before wildfire season takes hold this year.

Alan said residents clearly got the club's message during the Earth Day
event and a few former radio amateurs stopped by, expressing interest
in becoming active in radio again and joining the club. Alan said
everyone â-" even the club itself â-" benefits from partnering with
non-hams in Neighborhood Watch. He said: [quote] "These Neighborhood
Radio Watch programs have had the unexpected benefit of generating
tremendous local good will and PR for our club, expanded our
membership, and dramatically increased donations. Community radio
programs like these could be key in helping ensure the future of many
clubs, and even amateur radio itself." [endquote]

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

(ALAN THOMPSON W6WN, BOB RINGWALD K6YBV)

**

BREAK HE Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the W3NTT repeater in Palmerton Pennsylvania at 9 p.m. on Sundays.

**
'SHORTWAVE RADIOGRAM' MARKS 200th BROADCAST

PAUL/ANCHOR: If you enjoy sending â-" or simply receiving â-" in the
digital modes, there's a radio show you might want to tune into. Benn
Kobb AK4AV brings us this report.

BENN: You've probably heard the sound of MFSK32 in the ham bands. But
if you hear it in the shortwave broadcast bands, chances are you're
hearing Shortwave Radiogram.

It's a radio show that transmits text and images using digital modes
familiar to radio amateurs, but the digital sounds are broadcast in AM.
The weekly half-hour show airs on shortwave stations WRMI in Florida
and WINB in Pennsylvania.

Shortwave Radiogram just celebrated its 200th episode with broadcasts
April 15 through 18. The project began in 2012 on the Voice of America,
as VOA Radiogram. Producer Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB, explained why he
created this unique program:

KIM: With more and more countries finding more and more ways to block
the internet, we can use radio to get uncensored news into denied
areas. Digital text modes via old analog shortwave radio transmitters
can do this job. The content gets through even in reception conditions
where voice content is difficult to understand.

BENN: When Kim retired from VOA in 2017, he moved the show to WRMI and
WINB, and changed the name to Shortwave Radiogram.

Every week, listeners from all over the US and the world decode the
text and images and post them on social media for discussion.

Kim posts information and the show schedule online at swradiogram dot
net. That's swradiogram dot net.

I'm Benn Kobb, AK4AV for Newsline.

**
DEADLINE SET FOR NON-RESIDENTS' VP8 CALLSIGN VALIDATION

PAUL/ANCHOR: The regulator in the Falkland Islands has set a deadline
for non-residents seeking revalidation of their VP8 callsigns.
Here's Robert Broomhead VK3DN with that story.

ROBERT: Hams holding a non-resident lifetime licence in the Falkland
Islands, a VP8 callsign, need to have those callsigns revalidated by
the Falkland Islands Communications Regulator.

In making the announcement on the 27th of April, the regulator said the
revalidation is also open to hams who previously held such a licence.
This is the third and final opportunity hams will have at revalidation
and any licence not properly revalidated will be considered terminated
as of the 1st of September.

The regulator has set a deadline of August 13th for all applications.
The form is available as a download from the regulator's website, which
appears in the print version of this week's newscast script at
arnewsline.org.

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

[PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ: http://www.regulatorfi.org.fk]

**

RSGB SURVEY ASKS HAMS TO WEIGH IN

PAUL/ANCHOR: Amateurs in the UK are getting a chance to have input with
planners of a workshop this fall on ham radio's future. Jeremy Boot
G4NJH is following that story.

JEREMY: To assist the IARU Region 1 with the strategic workshop it has
planned on the future of amateur radio, the Radio Society of Great
Britain is asking hams in the UK-and even UK radio enthusiasts who do
not have a licence-to participate in a short survey.

The questions ask for views on threats to amateur radio, opportunities
that exist in amateur radio and any strengths and weaknesses they see
in amateur radio. The information will be provided to Region 1
organisers of the workshop who have asked the region's national
societies to provide this input.

The workshop, which will be held in the autumn, hopes to address how
national societies can increase their memberships and how the IARU can
improve its services to the ham radio community.

If you're interested in sharing your views you have until the 23rd of
May. Visit the website at rsgb dot org slash survey (rsgb.org/survey).

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(RSGB)

**

SILENT KEY: LONGTIME MARS MEMBER LARRY TRISTAN WALKER K4LLQ

PAUL/ANCHOR: A decorated military veteran and a longtime member of the
Military Auxiliary Radio System has become a Silent Key. Larry Tristan
Walker K4LLQ died at home in Ogden, Utah on the 25th of April.
According to his obituary, Larry was an Army career officer and
recipient of many medals during his 23 years of military service. He
received the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service
Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross.

His career in amateur radio began as a youngster in Georgia where he
got his license and became the state's youngest ham at the time. Larry
later became active in MARS which he served for 58 years. He was also a
member and past president of the Fauquier [pronounced FAWK-ee-yer]
Amateur Radio Association in Warrenton Virginia.

Larry was 83.

(LEAVENWORTH TIMES, ECHOVITA)

**
VIDEO CELEBRATES UK HAM RADIO DURING PANDEMIC YEAR

PAUL/ANCHOR: A new video highlights ways that the Radio Society of
Great Britain kept amateur radio vibrant during the 2020 pandemic and
lockdown. Newsline is especially proud that we were able to honor the
"Get on the Air to Care" campaign by presenting it with our
International Newsmaker of the Year Award. The GOTA2C campaign was
conceived of by Paul Devlin G1SMP and put into action by the RSGB and
the UK's National Health Service. For a look at the various initiatives
the RSGB accomplished in spite of pandemic conditions, watch the
five-minute video on YouTube. We have provided a link in the script of
this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

[FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s6xXgStSCc]

(RSGB)

**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, be listening for Ed, ES2TT, operating as ES2TT/8
from Kihnu Island in the Baltic Sea between the 29th and 30th of May.
Listen on 40, 30 and 20 meters where he will be using CW and SSB. QSL
via his home callsign, direct or via the Bureau.

(OHIO PENN DX)

**
KICKER: SHARING THE RAGCHEWS OF A LIFETIME

PAUL/ANCHOR: In a Newsline report that aired in October of 2019, we
told the story of two older hams and an enduring friendship between
them: an American heart surgeon in his 80s and a retired TV engineer in
his 90s. The engineer became a Silent Key last month. Kent Peterson
KC0DGY has that story, which concludes this week's report for Newsline.

KENT: In the logbook of a radio amateur's life, there are endless
contacts, but perhaps few more valid than the ones logged by Ted
Trowell G2HKU during his 98 years. The retired TV engineer, who became
a Silent Key on April 13th, was a respected member of the UK's ham
radio community for his long lifetime on the air. He'd been a ham since
before the Second World War, using the callsign 2HKU. Two years ago he
received the highest honor from the First Class Radio Operators Club,
presented to him personally by American heart surgeon, Bill Maxson
N4AR, who flew from the US to hand it personally to Ted, a cherished
friend he'd first met on the air in the late 1950s. The occasion marked
their second eyeball QSO during the pair's seven decades of countless
ragchews.

Edward Harry "Ted" Trowell was described in one UK newspaper as one of
Britain's oldest and longest-serving radio amateurs. He had been a
member of the FOC and the CDXC. He died just weeks after marking his
98th birthday.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

(KENT ONLINE, DX NEWS)

**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Thompson W6WN; Amateur News Weekly;
the ARRL; Bob Ringwald K6YBV; CBS; CNN; CQ Magazine; David Behar K7DB;
DX News; Ham Radio Friedrichshafen; Kent Online; the Leavenworth Times;
Maine Ham Radio Society; Naval History and Heritage Command; Ohio Penn
DX newsletter; QRZ.com; Radio Society of Great Britain; Southgate
Amateur Radio News; shortwaveradio.de; Ted Randall's QSO Radio Show;
WTWW Shortwave; Wireless Institute of Australia; YouTube; YOTA Online;
and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline.
Please send emails to our address at . More
information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's only official
website at arnewsline.org. Be sure to follow some of these stories as
they get a more indepth look on the YouTube Channel of 100 Watts and a
Wire. Search for the video segment with the title "Two Stories."

For now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and
our news team worldwide, I'm Paul Braun WD9GCO in Valparaiso Indiana
saying 73. As always we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.