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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2472 for Friday, March 14, 202
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2472 for Friday, March 14, 2025
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2472 with a release date of Friday,
March 14, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. The official US climate agency faces an uncertain
future. Ham radio becomes a tool to handle rampaging wildlife -- and a
triumph for navigation systems on the moon. All this and more as Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2472 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
QUESTIONS LOOM AFTER CUTS AT US WEATHER AGENCY
JIM/ANCHOR: We begin with a developing story here in the US. With the
Atlantic hurricane season on the horizon, ongoing job cuts at the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, are throwing the agency's
future into question among forecasters, scientists, SKYWARN spotters and
other hams responding to weather disasters around the nation. Randy Sly W4XJ
brings us up to date.
RANDY: Published reports about the downsizing of a number of US federal
agencies indicate that NOAA, the government's climate and weather agency, is
bracing for another 1,000 job cuts on top of its recent loss of an estimated
1,300 staffers. The National Weather Service, which is part of NOAA,
announced earlier this month that it was temporarily halting launches of
some of its weather balloons because of staffing shortages. Data gathered by
the weather balloons have been, among other things, an important source of
data used by hams and others who regularly track the solar cycle.
Sources told the Washington Post that the government may not renew the
leases for NOAA's weather and climate center in Maryland and for its radar
operations center in Oklahoma.
According to a report in the New York Times, additional cuts will mean a
reduction in NOAA's staffing by 20 percent. The Washington Post said that
the National Weather Service now has fewer than 4,000 on staff, the smallest
roster in recent history.
A number of amateur radio nets, including the Hurricane Watch Net and the
Maritime Mobile Service Net, interact with the National Weather Service
during storms and other emergencies, passing traffic and transmitting
critical bulletins. It was unclear what impact these staffing cuts will
ultimately have on amateur radio's role in safety communications during
times of crisis.
This is Randy Sly W4XJ.
(WASHINGTON POST, ABC NEWS, NY TIMES)
**
RADIO EYED AS ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION AGAINST WILDLIFE RAMPAGE
JIM/ANCHOR: Amateur radio emergency response varies from location to
location but the need for effective communication remains the same
everywhere – whether a region is dealing with a wildfire, a cyclone or
something else. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF tells us about a response team in India
that recently started up to deal with rampaging wildlife.
JIM: A handful of villages on the edge of the Buxa Tiger Reserve now have
additional assurance that they will be better informed about dangers posed
by wildlife on the move. The North Bengal Amateur Radio Society has assisted
a group of youths from five villages near the tiger reserve so, as licensed
hams, they can watch out for potential deadly encounters between humans and
animals.
The young amateurs began this effort after the last monsoon in which two
young villagers were attacked and killed by elephants in a remote village of
Chepani, according to a report on the website of the Indian publication, the
Telegram. The young team received guidance from Swarup Saha, VU3KOX,
secretary of the North Bengal ham society. Mobile connectivity is unreliable
in remote areas of the region and villagers were often unable to warn one
another about dangers to their homes, their crops and their lives.
Three months after the small team of hams was formed, radios have been set
up in each small village near the tiger reserve. Villagers told the Telegram
they were much more confident now that they will be better able to protect
themselves and their homes.
This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.
(THE TELEGRAM)
**
HAM RADIO BECOMES TOOL FOR FARMERS, FISHERMEN IN INDIA
JIM/ANCHOR: Farmers and fishermen in India are also learning how ham radio
can assist them, as we hear from Jason Daniels VK2LAW.
JASON: In West Bengal, India, hams responding to natural disasters in the
coastal region of that state have long witnessed the struggle of farmers and
fishermen in the aftermath of each of these cyclones and other disturbances.
While the radio operators’ response has traditionally been to initially step
in and assist with emergency communications, the West Bengal Radio Club knew
its members had to do something more - and could.
At a one-day seminar this month at Neotia University in cooperation with
agriculture and communications department officials, three speakers from the
club gave insights and instruction to those who work the land and the sea.
They learned how they might use radio to better prepare in protecting their
livelihoods in this difficult climate.
Club secretary Ambarish Nag Biswas VU2JFA told Newsline that after
conducting the awareness program and instruction, the hams will assist with
the installation of community radios, with the support of government
officials. More than 350 students from eight states and 17 districts
attended the one-day seminar and workshop.
This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.
(AMBARISH NAG BISWAS, VU2JFA)
**
NEWSLINE'S NEIL RAPP, WB9VPG, AND 3 OTHERS ARE HAMVENTION HONOREES
JIM/ANCHOR: In bringing you this next story, Newsline indulges in a bit of
personal pride. The Hamvention Awards committee has chosen our own Neil Rapp
WB9VPG, as Amateur of the Year. You may know him as a Newsline anchor and
correspondent -- and as creator and host of the former HamTalk Live! webcast
- but the ham world first heard from Neil at the age of 5 when he became one
of the youngest licensed hams ever in 1976.
A visiting professor of chemistry at Xavier University and a former high
school chemistry teacher, Neil has a long commitment of bringing ham radio
to kids - first as a school ham club sponsor and as cofounder and camp
director of Youth On The Air Americas. Neil is a contributing editor at the
National Contest Journal and a member of the ARISS USA Education Committee
We are so proud of you, Neil!
Neil will share the stage in May during the Hamvention Awards in Xenia,
Ohio, with three other recipients: One of them, Dr. Kristina Collins,
KD8OXT, is chief operations scientist for the HamSCI Personal Space Weather
Station Network. She is being given the Technical Achievement Award. Julio
Ripoll, WD4R, is being given the Special Achievement Award. Julio is co-
founder of amateur radio operations at the National Hurricane Center and is
assistant coordinator. He has managed emergency communications during
Caribbean hurricanes and the Haiti earthquake of 2010. The Club of the Year
award recipient is the RV Radio Network, which has more than 450 members who
combine amateur radio with the joy of travel in recreational vehicles,
hosting educational forums, rallies and seminars along their journeys.
(MICHAEL KALTER, W8CI)
**
STATION IN AUSTRIA ADDS RADIO DARC PROGRAM
JIM/ANCHOR: A station in Austria has been the latest shortwave broadcaster
to air a program by Germany's national amateur radio society, as we learn
from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
JEREMY: If you've been listening to Radio D A R C’s shortwave programmes
broadcast on the 31-metre band from Woofferton, England or from Ingolstadt,
Germany on Radio Channel 292 – a ham-owned AM broadcast station - you now
have another option. The programme produced by Germany's national amateur
radio society is now being carried on a test basis by the "Museums Radio
Plattenkiste" transmitter in Bad Ischl, Austria run by OE5TPM. During the
month of March you can listen from 1900 to 2000 CET on Saturdays on 1476
kHz. The D A R C welcomes reception reports for the 1 kW station, and these
should be emailed directly to radio at D A R C dot de.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(D A R C)
**
FCC RULE OPENS UP 6 GHz BAND TO MORE UNLICENSED VLP DEVICES
JIM/ANCHOR: In the US, the entire 6 GHz band will be opened up to a greater
operation of unlicensed VLP, or very low power, devices under an FCC final
rule that takes effect on May 5th.The band, which comprises frequencies
between 5.925.7 and 7.125 GHz, is used by mobile service, fixed service and
fixed satellite service across four sub-bands. VLPs, which include wearable
devices, augmented-reality devices and health-care monitors, typically have
an integrated antenna and cover short distances.
This latest action by the commission, published in the Federal Register on
March 6th, provides greater spectrum for various portable devices operating
with the same power levels and operational requirements of other VLP
devices.
(FEDERAL REGISTER)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the KD2SL
repeater in Syracuse, New York on Mondays at 8 p.m. after the Fireside Chat
Net.
**
NAVIGATION SYSTEM TRACKS LANDER ON LUNAR SURFACE
JIM/ANCHOR: Navigation systems based on Earth have achieved something that
has scientists literally over the moon with pride, as we hear from Paul
Braun WD9GCO.
PAUL: When an Earth-based navigation system successfully tracked a lander on
the surface of the moon on March 3rd, the interaction was hailed as a
triumph. It was a "first" for the Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment, known as
LuGRE, a joint project of NASA and the Italian Space Agency. This
unprecedented ability to have Earth-based navigation track movements on the
moon bodes well for high-altitude explorations such as NASA's planned
Artemis missions. Observers view it as a gateway to even more advanced
navigation systems which could be applicable to missions headed for Mars.
The contacts between LuGRE and the two navigation systems - GPS and Galileo
- achieved success some 225,000 miles from Earth, determining position,
velocity, and time autonomously.
This is a first for the Italian Space Agency and a nod to the work of Frank
Bauer, KA3HDO, who was a consultant on the LuGRE moon lander package. Frank,
the executive director of ARISS, had experimented more than 20 years ago
with using the satellite AO-40 to measure the signal strength of the GPS
satellite constellation at high altitudes. That experiment was credited with
helping improve GPS and its applications -- and experts note that it
ultimately led to the ability for such navigation at even higher-earth
orbits.
This is Paul Braun WD9GCO.
***
NOMINATE THE NEXT "YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR"
JIM/ANCHOR: We remind our listeners that young hams who live in the
continental United States have an opportunity to make news, if they aren't
already doing so, by being a recipient of this year's Amateur Radio Newsline
Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award. Consider nominating an
amateur radio operator 18 years of age or younger -- someone who has talent,
promise and a commitment to the spirit of ham radio. Newsline was proud last
year to honor Grace Papay, K8LG, of Holland, Michigan, with this special
award. Do you know someone who might qualify to receive this year's honor?
Find application forms on our website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab.
Nominations are now open. We are accepting nominations through May 31st.
**
HAMS UNITE TO MARK 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF ERIE CANAL
JIM/ANCHOR: New York State’s Erie Canal was completed 200 years ago,
providing a waterway connection between the East Coast and the Midwest by
linking New York’s Hudson River with Lake Erie. Now the Erie Canal is
getting ready to be a source of connection for amateur radio operators who
will be on the air in September at various points including the 524 miles
known as the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. If you’d like to be
one of them, this report from Andy Morrison K9AWM should be helpful
ANDY: September can’t come soon enough for the Warren County Radio Club
W2WCR, whose members are planning a club picnic and POTA activation to mark
the bicentennial of the Erie Canal. The club’s president Bernie N1NDN told
Matt K2EAG and Mike N2MAK that the POTA event the two have organized from
the 16th through to the 25th of September provides a perfect opportunity for
everyone to try operating a portable station while celebrating the historic
canal.
While most of the portable stations are likely to be at various points along
the route known as the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, not all the
activations are likely to be on dry land. Matt said that the Radio
Association of Western New York W2PE hopes to operate aboard the museum ship
USS Little Rock CLG4 in Buffalo while, at the opposite end of the canal in
Albany, hams are hoping to activate another museum ship, the USS Slater
WW2DEM. Matt and Mike are looking for as many individual hams and clubs as
possible to sign up.
Meanwhile, there’s plenty of room along the corridor, which has the POTA
designation of US-6532. The radio event is timed to coincide with the World
Canal Conference that kicks off on the 21st of September in Buffalo.
If you’d like to help honor the canal’s history, contact Matt at the email
address in the text version of this week’s newscast script at arnewsline.org
- or look for him on the Facebook page of Upstate New York Parks on the Air.
This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.
[EMAIL ADDRESS, DO NOT READ: K2EAG@arrl.net ]
(MATT K2EAG)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, Pierre, VE3KTB, is using the callsign VYØERC from the
Eureka Amateur Radio Club station on Ellesmere Island, IOTA Number NA-ØØ8
until the 2nd of April. He is operating CW, SSB and FT8 on various bands.
For QSL details, see QRZ.com.
The D A R C’s special event callsign DA25WARD is active until the 27th of
April in recognition of World Amateur Radio Day. Hams around the world
celebrate April 18th, 1925, the day of the founding of the International
Amateur Radio Union. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
Members of the EI DX Group are using the callsign 6Y7EI from Jamaica, IOTA
Number NA-Ø97, through to the 24th of March. Listen for them on 160-6 metres
where they will be operating using all modes. QSL via MØOXO [EM ZERO Oh EXX
Oh].
Adrian, HJ4ADR, is operating holiday style from the 20th through to the 26th
of March using the callsign HJ4ADR/Ø. He is operating from Providencia
Island, IOTA Number NA-Ø49, using low power. He will be on 40 and 10 metres
using SSB and FT8. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
(425 DX BULLETIN)
**
KICKER: HELLO, MOON TO EARTH? ANYBODY HOME?
JIM/ANCHOR: Finally, if you've ever waited for a phone call that just never
came, you might appreciate our final story this week -- especially if your
caller happened to be on the moon. Kent Peterson KCØDGY explains.
KENT: That much-awaited wireless call from the Moon to the Earth will just
have to be put on hold - for now. Nokia's 4G LTE network was expected to be
put through its paces from the south pole of the lunar surface following the
March 6th landing of the Athena Lander, built by the private Houston, Texas-
based company, Intuitive Machines.
Athena arrived with Nokia's Network in a Box, or NIB, on board. Like its
predecessor lander - also built by Intuitive Machines - the lander tipped
over upon arrival and, with its solar panels blocked from receiving the
necessary recharge from the sun, the mission was quickly declared over.
Undaunted, Nokia pointed out that the company did successfully deliver the
moon's first cellular network and powered it up for 25 minutes to transmit
data and receive commands from the Earth. Hopes were high, though, that
there would be more to report. After all, this mission was supposed to help
facilitate communications in 2027 aboard Artemis III. That mission is to be
NASA's first human spaceflight to the moon since 1972 and astronauts are
expected to be wearing spacesuits that have integrated 4G LTE capabilities
courtesy of Nokia and Axiom Space.
Of course that's still two years away so....until then, hold all calls,
please.
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(WIRED.COM)
**
You don't need to be a literary giant of the amateur radio world to send
your amateur radio haiku to Newsline's haiku challenge. You just need to be
inspired. Set your ham radio poetry 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 ABC; Amateur News Daily; Ambarish Nag Biswas,
VU2JFA; David Behar K7DB; the D A R C; Federal Register; Hackaday; Matt
Brown, K2EAG; Michael Kalter, W8CI; New York Times; NASA.gov; QRZ.com; Radio
World; shortwaveradio.de; The Telegram; Washington Post; Wired.com; Wireless
Institute of Australia; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur
Radio Newsline. We remind our listeners that Amateur Radio Newsline is an
all-volunteer non-profit organization that incurs expenses for its continued
operation. If you wish to support us, please visit our website at
arnewsline.org and know that we appreciate you all. We also remind our
listeners that if you like our newscast, please leave us a 5-star rating
wherever you subscribe to us. For now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the
news desk in New York, and our news team worldwide, I'm Jim Damron N8TMW in
Charleston West Virginia saying 73. As always we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.
73 de Bill, PY2BIL
PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
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BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 15-mar-2025 10:30 E. South America Standard Time
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