Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1986 November 20 2015 Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1986 with a release date of Friday, November 20, 2015 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a QST. The FCC suffers another temporary outage of its Universal Licensing System. The amateur community gets ready to recognize hard-working SKYWARN volunteers. And a special station operating in the Antarctic refuses to let blizzards get in the way of QSOs. All this and more in Amateur Radio Newsline report 1986 coming your way right now. (Billboard Cart Here and Intro) ** BAD LUCK (AGAIN) AT THE FCC We begin with news of yet another obstacle for the FCC’s beleaguered Universal Licensing System, which suffered a second, and then third shutdown of its Electronic Batch Filing system. One stoppage occurred, appropriately perhaps, on Friday the 13th, and shortly after the system was restored on Wednesday, Nov. 18, it once again stopped working. And just as bad propagation can pretty much close the bands, the FCC outages have brought processing of VEC license and examination files to a screeching halt. The ARRL’s VEC Manager, Maria Somma, AB1FM, said she hoped volunteer examiners and applicants would try to be patient, especially since the FCC has indicated there is not yet a long-term fix for the problem. The agency did acknowledge, however, that the on-again, off-again ability to process files stems from the same issue each time. According to Somma, the ARRL VEC had an estimated 400 applications and nearly 150 exam sessions awaiting FCC processing. A few files did manage to make their way through the system on Wednesday, however, before the system went off line again. The scenario is reminiscent of the shutdown that occurred in early September, frustrating license applicants and examiners, while the FCC website underwent maintenance and a system upgrade. At the time of this newscast's production, however, it seemed that the amateur radio community was once again in for a bit of a waiting game. (ARRL) ** BOBBY BEST SKYWARN STORY [ANCHOR/DON:] There's no question about the forecast for Dec. 5, 2015 -- the bands will be partly crowded, with 100 percent chance of participation. That's the date the National Weather Service and the ARRL have set for the 17th annual SKYWARN Recognition Day, a 24-hour opportunity for hams to acknowledge colleagues who serve as trained volunteers assisting the weather service. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bobby Best, WX4ALA, has the details: [BOBBY:] Ham radio operators aren't just fair-weather friends to local offices of the National Weather Service. They're integral parts of the wireless communication channel that passes along critical information, often during the most severe weather. That's why, on SKYWARN Recognition Day, when those hams set up operation at NWS offices around the country, they'll look forward to making contact with other hams nationwide on the HF bands, in various modes, and also on 2 meter and 440 repeaters. The stations will exchange call signs, signal reports, location and, of course indicate it's rainy, cloudy, snowing, hailing or perhaps even sunny. The National Weather Service and ARRL created SKYWARN Recognition Day in 1999. It's going to be a big day for amateurs everywhere who reach out, make contact and yes, even say thank-you. And it'll be an even bigger day for the nearly 300,000 trained severe weather spotters on the receiving end. After all, Dec. 5 will be their day to shine, like the sun itself. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bobby Best, WX4ALA in Jasper, Alabama. ** 100 YEARS AND GOING STRONG [ANCHOR/DON:] A lot has happened in history and ham radio since the South Jersey Radio Association, K2AA, incorporated in June of 1916. And since a centennial event only comes along once every 100 years, the club is marking the milestone of its continuous operation with hats, T-shirts, coffee mugs, certificates and something even more special - a Centennial Membership, open to any radio amateur who'd like to be part of the celebration. Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, has more: [MARK'S REPORT] [ANCHOR/DON:] While you do need a valid amateur radio license to join the South Jersey celebration, you don't need to have a New Jersey home address. And perhaps best of all, you don't need to be 100 years old. ** NO SECRECY OVER NATIONAL PARKS EVENT During World War II, the kind of activations that took place inside government facilities in Hanford, Washington; Los Alamos, New Mexico and Oak Ridge, Tennessee were of the scientific sort, top secret components of the Manhattan Project, which developed America’s first atomic weapon. Those sites are about to be activated again – this time for amateur radio. The U.S. Departments of Energy and the Interior have declared the locations National Historic Sites, making them eligible for next year’s National Parks on the Air event, marking the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary. But the agencies caution, these sites are not just another place to set up your rig and entenna; they are considered sensitive locations and are being treated as such. So when the event kicks off next year, it’s likely the kind of radio activity this time around won’t have the same mission as that during the second World War. But it’s bound to create a powerful reaction, nonetheless – this time, on the HF bands. ** NO CONTEST, N1MM’S A WINNER Like so many of the ham radio contesters who rely on it, the popular logging software, N1MM, has scored an award-winning contact. The Yasme Foundation’s board of directors has announced that the development team behind the logging program, N1MM, has been given the Yasme Excellence Award. The team includes Tom Wagner, N1MM; Rick Ellison, N2AMG; Steve London, N2IC; and a number of others. The classic version of the program is a free offering used by contesters worldwide. N1MM Plus was then developed as a rewritten, revised version of the original software. The California-based nonprofit foundation gives its Excellence Award – a plaque and monetary gift - recognizing those who make significant contributions to ham radio from an operational, organizational or technical standpoint. And they found N1MM deserving – no contest. (YASME FOUNDATION) ** BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the SPARC club repeater for the Sportsman’s Paradise Amateur Radio Club, K4WAK, in Wakulla County, Florida in time for the Friday afternoon commute. ** TRYING TIMES IN THE ANTARCTIC [ANCHOR/DON:] Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the World War I landing at Gallipoli has been something of a battle itself for the ham radio station operating out of the Antarctic. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Graham Kemp, VK4BB, reports: [GRAHAM’S REPORT]: Sunday, November 22 could be the day – or maybe not the day – for the return to the air of V-I-ZERO-ANZAC from Casey Base in the Antarctic. The station’s plan to get on the air has been, like the weather itself, highly changeable. In fact, blame the weather for an earlier postponement that kept the station silent until the weekend of Aug. 29 and 30. V-I-ZERO-ANZAC, part of the ANZAC 100 program of the Wireless Institute of Australia, is marking the centennial of the landing at Gallipoli, Turkey of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. But four generations later, the greater battle has been with blizzard conditions and poor propagation that has challenged operator Doug McVeigh, VK-ZERO-DMV. Getting on the air in August with a 50-watt transceiver, a dipole and a lot of ambition and hope, McVeigh logged only 56 contacts. Still, the station intends to prove itself to be a stormtrooper of quite another sort, especially in this kind of storm. So at 0200 UTC on Sunday, Nov. 22, he intends try again, beginning on 14.250 MHz. Or perhaps on some other band. Or then again, not at all. But anything is possible, including contact with hams around the world. If you happen to be one of them, send QSL cards via the bureau or using eQSL. McVeigh is hoping this time for a blizzard of contacts instead. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Graham Kemp, VK4BB, of the WIA News in Australia. (SOUTHGATE ARC, ARRL, QRZ) ** WINTER FIELD DAY: GETTING IT DOWN COLD The snow is expected to be somewhat gentler and less of a problem in other parts of the world for participants in Winter Field Day, which is just weeks away. The Winter Field Day Association has announced the annual event will be held the weekend of Jan. 30 and Jan. 31, 2016. The event’s website says it all, declaring: QUOTE“We believe, as do those entities of ARRL Organizations like ARES and RACES that maintaining your operational skills should not be limited to fair weather scenarios.”ENDQUOTE As with the annual summer Field Day, the outreach on the air will be a worldwide effort. The goal is to encourage emergency preparedness under winter conditions. All modes may be used and all bands, except for 12, 17, 30 and 60. For additional details on how to prepare for the event, visit the website, www.winterfieldday.com And dress warmly. ** OREGON ARES OUSTER Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management has severed its ties with the head of the Oregon Amateur Radio Emergency Service – but not the emergency group itself. According to published reports, the ARES chief, Vince Van Der Hyde, K7VV, had asked that the group’s volunteers not take part in a Nov. 12 emergency drill the state had planned because he found the state’s equipment, and its advance notice to volunteers, insufficient. That action apparently is what caused the split. Despite the rift between Van Der Hyde and the state, the ARRL’s Oregon Section Manager, Everett Curry, W6ABM, has since confirmed that Oregon ARES/RACES will still work with the state’s Office of Emergency Management. On Nov. 16, a statement from the OOEM/ARRL Oregon Section stressed that emergency management’s relationship with Oregon ARES/RACES continues. (ARRL) ** THE WORLD OF DX If all you want for Christmas DXing this year is a Special Event holiday QSL card from the Netherlands, Dutch amateur Raymond Smit, PD7DX can help. He’s working Special Event Station PD15XMAS from December 5 through January 1, in the spirit of the holiday. He will be active on 7, 14 and 28 MHz on HF as well as 2 meters and 440 MHz. Elsewhere, Daniel, DL5YWM, is working in Crete as SV9/DL5YWM until November 25. QSL to his home call sign. In Liberia, Donald, EL2DW is working from Monrovia until December 17 and can be found on 20, 15 and 10 meters using SSB. QSL via KD4UDU in Florida Peter, DL1RPL, and Soren, DL3RKS, are activating two Indian Ocean islands. They will be on Mayotte Island through Nov. 25, working as FH/DL1RPL and FH/DL3RKS, respectively. Beginning Nov. 27 and through Dec. 3, they will be on Reunion Island, active as FR/DL1RPL and FR/DL3RKS. They will operate on the HF bands, 20 through 10 meters, mostly on CW, with some SSB. Peter will also operate on 2m and 440 bands EME using WSJT65 and CW. Send QSL cards via DL1RPL. And a few stations will be marking the 90th anniversary of the IARU with special stations: Special event station JT90IARU will be working from Mongolia until the end of 2015. QSL via JT1KAA. Likewise, members of the Malta Amateur Radio League are working as 9H90IARU. QSL via 9H1SP. And special event station EV90IARU is in Belarus. QSL direct via EW1I. Finally, members of the Radio Club D'Haiti are working as HH90IARU. QSL via operators' instructions. ** KICKER: We close this newscast with the words of a radio pioneer, speaking eloquently to us from the past: Nobel-prize winner Guglielmo Marconi was visiting Sydney, Australia on Dec. 14, 1935, when he said at a public ceremony: QUOTE “It is indeed gratifying to me to know that the people of Australia appreciate the extent to which wireless has figured in their prosperity, for I firmly believe that without economical and efficient long-distance communications, no country can make much headway.”ENDQUOTE Marconi, of course, had made headway himself in 1901, sending radio waves across the Atlantic, shaping the future of communications. Then in 1918, he oversaw the first direct wireless message from England to Australia – a message received in Sydney by wireless engineer Ernest Fisk. Marconi ultimately came to Australia in 1935 when a monument was unveiled there, and that is where he made his speech. Now you can hear Marconi for yourself. The Essex Record Office in the UK obtained a recording of Marconi and recently released it on the website, soundcloud.com Marconi’s message, of course, is now being carried by another form of communication – and not the kind he originally had in mind. But the visionary, who believed in making headway and progress, likely wouldn’t be put off by the Internet because, like radio itself, it still delivers. (SOUTHGATE, BIOGRAPHY.COM, ARRL) ** NEWSCAST CLOSE With thanks to Alan Labs; AMSAT; the ARRL; Biography.com; CQ Magazine; Hap Holly and the Rain Report; The Irish Radio Transmitter Society; the Ohio-Penn DX Newsletter; QRZNOW; Southgate Amateur Radio News; TWiT TV; Winter Field Day; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. Our email address is newsline@arnewsline.org. More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita, CA 91350. For now, with Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT, at the news desk in New York, and our news team worldwide, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW in Picayune, Mississippi, saying 73 and as always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1986 November 20 2015 - AUDIO http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/audio/2015/Report1986.mp3
