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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2474 for Friday, March 28th, 2025
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2474 with a release date of Friday,
March 28th, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. In the Netherlands, amateur radio signals bounce off
Venus and back to Earth. An international team of operators raises awareness
of autism spectrum disorder -- and Newsline's April Fool's Day correspondent
is back with some big news for you!! All this and more as Amateur Radio
Newsline Report Number 2474 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
EARTH-VENUS-EARTH BOUNCE A FIRST FOR NETHERLANDS
PAUL/ANCHOR: Our top story this week is a first for a radio telescope in the
Netherlands which succeeded in bouncing amateur radio signals off Venus -
the latest such achievement by scientists around the world. Stephen Kinford
N8WB brings us this update.
STEPHEN: Amateur radio signals that were bounced off Venus some 26 million
miles away, have returned to Earth where they were picked up by the
Dwingeloo Radio Telescope, PI9RD, in the Netherlands, according to news
reports on the 25th of March.
The achievement - the second of its kind in Europe - means that amateur
radio signals covered a distance that is more than 100 times greater than
those that are traveled by Earth-Moon-Earth, or moon-bounce signals.
Scientists’ fascination with using Venus-bounce dates back several decades
when radar was bounced off the planet from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology here in the United States. Much later, radar from the Arecibo
[ARRA SEE BO] Observatory in Puerto Rico was bounced off Venus and the
signal's return to Earth was picked up by the Green Bank Telescope in West
Virginia. The radar trace was used to create imagery of the planet's
surface.
It was a German observatory that achieved what is considered a first for
Europe using amateur radio waves: A team from AMSAT-DL achieved bounce and
successful reception 16 years ago at the ground station at the Bochum
observatory sending a CW signal. Until the Dwingeloo Venus-bounce, this was
the only such achievement to date of its kind.
Meanwhile, in the US, a California not-for-profit group, the Open Research
Institute, has begun a project as well involving Earth-Venus-Earth
experimentation. ORI asks interested hams to contact them via their website,
openresearch dot institute. That’s openresearch - one word - dot institute.
(openresearch.institute)
This is Stephen Kinford N8WB.
(ORI, DWINGELOO OBSERVATORY, AMATEUR RADIO DAILY, SPACE.COM, AMSAT-DL)
**
OFCOM PROPOSES DIRECT SMARTPHONE-SATELLITE CONNECTIONS
PAUL/ANCHOR: Smartphone users in the UK could soon be able to connect
wirelessly to satellites under a proposal being considered by that nation's
regulator, as we learn from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
JEREMY: The UK is poised to have the first European telecommunications
system that enables standard smartphones to send and receive signals from
space. The system, known as "direct-to-device" technology, connects
smartphones wirelessly to satellites. A similar permission was recently
authorised in the US by the Federal Communications Commission.
The UK regulator, Ofcom, is proposing to allocate radio frequencies for use
in the UK, especially for rural and other currently underserved
communication network areas and is inviting comments from the public until
20th of May. Ofcom believes that this could both facilitate sending texts
and internet connections during outages, and that access would be allowed to
the mobile airwaves for two-way communications between smartphones and
satellite operators' networks. If approved, service could begin to roll out
later this year.
There has already been a promising field test of the technology in January,
under a trial licence issued to Vodafone, who, using a standard smartphone,
completed the first satellite video call from a remote part of Wales
currently without standard mobile network coverage.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(OFCOM, YAHOO FINANCE)
**
HAMS REACH OUT TO BOOST AUTISM AWARENESS
PAUL/ANCHOR: Autism spectrum disorder is often misunderstood -- but an
international effort is going on the air starting on April 2nd to change all
that. We have those details from Jack Parker W8ISH.
JACK: The call for autism awareness will be heard around the world during
the week of April 2nd through to April 8th. Hams will be calling "CQ Special
Event Autism Awareness Week," encouraging inclusion and awareness of the
autism spectrum disorder.
This event is being organized for the third year by James Gallo, KB2FMH, who
believes the best impact the activation can have is its engagement of other
operators in ragchews or short chats about their experiences with autism.
James says that because this is not a contest, the real prize is the
experience of meaningful contact and conversation - spreading the word that
it's OK to be different.
During last year's event, that message traveled far and wide. According to
the QRZ.com page for W2A, operators around the world logged 17,129 QSOs,
with signals traveling nearly 83 million miles.
In the US, listen for the callsign W2A. Listen for other stations around the
world, including GB2AA, 8A2AAW, S76A, VO1BIG/VE3 and 7A2M.
Visit the QRZ.com page for W2A to see which callsigns are participating and
to learn more about the autism spectrum disorder, which is an often-
misunderstood diagnosis - or may go altogether undiagnosed.
This is Jack Parker W8ISH.
(QRZ.COM, JAMES GALLO, KB2FMH)
**
VOICE OF AMERICA MUSEUM REASSURES VISITORS
PAUL/ANCHOR: Although the US administration is making cuts to the parent
agency of Voice of America and other international news services, the Voice
of America Museum in West Chester, Ohio is assuring visitors that it is not
affected by these government decisions. The museum is a standalone not-for-
profit entity that relies on support from the public - not federal funding.
The museum's executive director, Jack Dominic, released a statement
reassuring concerned hams and other callers that the museum will continue to
tell the story of the Voice of America, even as the news agency itself goes
silent. As always, the museum looks forward to seeing hams from around the
world during Hamvention this coming May. Museum hours during Hamvention will
be from noon to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday - that's May 15th
through to May 17th - and on Sunday, May 18th, from noon to 5 p.m. Admission
is 00 at the door. Amateur radio station WC8VOA will be on the air so bring
a copy of your license.
(JACK DOMINIC, VOA MUSEUM)
**
COURT DELAYS DEFUNDING OF RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY
PAUL/ANCHOR: In related news, a federal court in the United States has
declared that Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, one of the government-run
news services marked for dismantling by the White House, cannot be
terminated. The US District Court said that the news services' continued
operation, serving listeners overseas, was [quote] "in the public
interest." [endquote] According to a report on the Radio Wold website, the
judge's ruling on March 26th concluded that [quote] "irreparable harm"
[endquote] would result from any shutdown.
(RADIO WORLD)
**
A CW EVENT TURNS THE CALENDAR BACK TO 1935
PAUL/ANCHOR: Many of us are familiar with the twice-a-year-ritual of turning
the clocks ahead or rolling them back but … how about turning the calendar
back, say, 90 years? Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us why some CW ops simply
can’t wait to do that.
ANDY: It’s time to put away your software-defined rig and enjoy being behind
the times - way behind the times. The George Batterson 1935 QSO Party will
devote two weekends in April to rigs that were either manufactured or home
brewed in 1935 or before. CW ops will be looking to make QSOs on the
weekends of April 5th through 7th and April 12th through 14th to honor the
Silent Key George Batterson, W2GB, who was one of the original founders of
the Antique Wireless Association based in upstate New York.
The CW ops are hoping for contacts with as many other 1935-era stations as
possible on 160, 80, 40 and 20 meters – and they expect that, like the rigs
themselves, the experience will be a classic.
This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.
**
NOMINATE THE NEXT YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR
PAUL/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. 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.
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the W8ODJ
Summit County ARES repeater on 444.550 MHz in Akron Ohio on Thursdays at 8
p.m. local time.
**
HAMS AID ELDERLY WIDOW LOST FOR 2 MONTHS
PAUL/ANCHOR: An annual religious pilgrimage in India ended with an
additional but unintended journey for an 80-year-old widow who is unable to
speak - that is, until a group of hams helped her find her way home
recently. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF has that story.
JIM: The Hindu pilgrimage known as the Gangasagar Mela left an 80-year-old
participant lost and alone at the end of the event this past January. She
had become separated from the group she had traveled with from her home
state. Unable to speak, she was eventually taken to the local police station
where officers assumed she was ill and transported her to the district
hospital.
That’s when another group - an amateur radio organisation known as the West
Bengal Radio Club - was called in by police to solve the mystery of where
she was from. The club’s members are widely known for their robust
communications network which has assisted scores of displaced persons over
the years. Using amateur radio and other means, the club circulated
information about the woman - and sent her photograph to amateur clubs
around the country. Within a few hours, the response came back that the
woman was from the state of Uttar Pradesh and had traveled to the annual
pilgrimage by train with a group from the district of Ballia. The hams
learned that during the past two months, several people from Ballia had
returned to West Bengal to look for her but without success.
The hams provided the missing pieces to the puzzle and according to Ambarish
Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, secretary of the radio club, the police in her home
district have since been directed by the local magistrate to bring her
safely home.
This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.
(SOCIAL NEWS XYZ, AMBARISH NAG BISWAS, VU2JFA)
**
2 NEW INDUCTEES INTO CANADIAN AMATEUR RADIO HALL OF FAME
PAUL/ANCHOR: Congratulations to John Schouten, VE7TI, who has been inducted
into the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame for 2024. John was a founding
member of the Vancouver Emergency Community Telecommunications Organization,
where he has also been a director. He has also served as the local emergency
coordinator for Radio Amateurs of Canada for Vancouver. Over the years, John
has been regional amateur radio representative and local municipal amateur
coordinator for the British Columbia Provincial Emergency Program. He is
active with the Surrey Emergency Program Amateur Radio group and Surrey
Amateur Radio Communications, where he serves as director and developer of
its course for the Basic amateur radio exam. He is also editor of the club's
newsletter, The Communicator.
The hall of fame honor was also given posthumously to Adam Farson, VA7OJ,
who became a Silent Key in March of 2024. A winner of the Technical
Achievement Award at Hamvention in 2022, Adam's wisdom and expertise was
much sought after on a wide range of HF transceivers and amplifiers. The
retired telecomm engineer was a longtime member of the North Shore Amateur
Radio Club.
(RAC, QRZ.COM)
**
SPECIAL EVENT IS TRIBUTE TO DXPEDITIONER ZORRO, JH1AJT/SK
PAUL/ANCHOR: In Fiji, a team of hams has been honoring a friend and fellow
DXpeditioner who left a lasting legacy. We hear more from Jason Daniels
VK2LAW.
JASON: The DXer, DXpeditioner and humanitarian known as Zorro, JH1AJT, left
enduring footprints on the planet where so many entities in Asia and Africa
spelled adventure for him on his activations. His legacy reflects his
commitment beyond merely calling QRZ from those locales. His many
humanitarian works include the establishment of the Foundation for Global
Children in 2010. He also gave an endowment to the INDEXA’s Humanitarian Aid
Fund. Zorro sought to improve the lives of people wherever his travels took
him, especially children.
When he became a Silent Key in March of 2022 at the age of 72, his death
from cancer left a void that his friends continue to fill in the same spirit
with which Zorro lived his life. The special event station, 3D2AJT, has been
on the air from Fiji since the 16th of March to honor Zorro and will
continue through the end of April, with operators using CW, SSB, FT4, FT8
and VARAC. Four-page QSL cards will be available after the activation,
featuring a collection of photos from Zorro’s life, and the statement from
him: [quote] “I shall go wherever I am needed and I shall do whatever needs
to be done.ö [Endquote]
Three years after his passing, Zorro - Yasuo Miyazawa - continues to be
remembered with this memorial activation, even as his other good works carry
on as well.
For more details, see the QRZ.com page for 3D2AJT.
This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.
(QRZ.COM, DX WORLD)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, listen for the callsign 4KØT on the air from the Khizi
Mountains of Azerbaijan on the 29th and 30th of March. The team will be
using SSB and FT8 on 80-10 meters. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
Dave, G4OSY, is using the callsign 8P9EI from Barbados, IOTA number NA-021,
through to the 6th of April. Dave can be found on CW and SSB on 40-10
metres. QSL to his home callsigns.
Listen for Alex, K6VHF, who is calling QRZ as K6VHF/HR9 from Roatan Island,
IOTA Number NA-Ø57, in Honduras from the 30th of March through to the 6th of
April. Alex is using mainly the digital modes on 80-6 metres. See QRZ.com
for QSL details.
(425 DX BULLETIN)
**
APRIL FOOL! PIERRE PULLINMYLEG HAS BIG NEWS FOR YOU - OR NOT
PAUL/ANCHOR: Our final story comes from someone who is possibly Newsline's
hardest-working correspondent of all, Pierre Pullinmyleg. Pierre works so
hard that he only has time for one story a year - on April Fool's Day. He's
back in time for this year's April 1st exclusive. Remember, you heard this
report first on Amateur Radio Newsline. In fact, this is probably the ONLY
place you'll hear it. Pierre?
PIERRE: Bonjour, mes amis. Pierre has wonderful news. Those nasty solar
storms that are messing with our QSOs - sacre bleu! - they have inspired big
changes in the popular award schemes. People can now compete in the middle
of a radio blackout. Do you do POTA, SOTA, BOTA, IOTA or any other "OTA"?
Ah, you will celebrate this! It's time for Parks OFF the Air, Summits OFF
the Air, Beaches OFF the Air, Islands OFF the Air.....well, you get zee
idea! Zee rules? You must go to a park, climb a summit or go to the beach
and STAY THERE for as long as you can, even overnight. DO ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING! FOR HOURS!! DO NOT BRING YOUR RADIO! Mes amis, you do not even need
to be licensed! This is easy, mais non?? Pierre, in fact, he does this every
day and has even won a big trophy for Couches OFF the air, Inflatable
Mattresses OFF the air, and might I add Barstools OFF the air! (Pierre is a
very big winner there, heh heh.) You will excuse me now, please....another
competition is about to begin and Pierre is so very thirsty. This is Pierre
Pullinmyleg, for Amateur Radio Newsline. Au revoir (hiccup).
**
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 Amateur News Daily; AMSAT-DL; Ambarish Nag
Biswas, VU2JFA; David Behar K7DB; Dwingeloo Observatory; DXWorld; Jack
Dominic; James Gallo, KB2FMH; Ofcom; QRZ.com; Radio Amateurs of Canada;
shortwaveradio.de; Space.com; Wireless Institute of Australia; YahooFinance;
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 Paul Braun WD9GCO in Valparaiso Indiana 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
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 28-mar-2025 09:48 E. South America Standard Time
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