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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2452 for Friday October 25th,
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2452 for Friday October 25th, 2024
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2452 with a release date of Friday,
October 25th, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. A shortwave radio giant in Austria is poised to shut
down. One of the last remaining Navajo Code Talkers becomes a Silent Key --
and a TV crime drama in Germany probes a ham radio murder mystery. All this
and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2452 comes your way right
now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
AUSTRIA'S SHORTWAVE GIANT FACES SHUTDOWN
PAUL/ANCHOR: Our top story this week takes us to Austria where a giant among
the world's shortwave stations is poised to go off the air at the end of the
year. Graham Kemp VK4BB has those details.
GRAHAM: After weeks of speculation, Austria's ORS Shortwave radio station
confirmed that its shutdown date will be December 31st. The news came to the
German national ham radio society's weekly Radio D A R C programme on
October 14th as was reported in their October 20th programme.
The station recently lost its major broadcast client, Adventist World Radio,
which will end its transmissions this month. That leaves only a handful of
customers for the ORS station, including Radio D A R C, for whom it carried
a special worldwide broadcast of the World Radiosport Team Championship in
2018.
The shortwave site was formerly the Radio Austria International broadcast
station and is well-known for having had Europe's largest directional
antenna system for shortwave broadcasts.
Various news reports, including those from Radio D A R C in Germany and the
British DX Club, had said that the Moosbrunn site was likely to be shut down
by the 31st of December.
ORS is among the few remaining shortwave broadcasters in Europe and has
provided programming for listeners in the Near East, the Middle East and
Africa.
(RADIO DARC, BRITISH DX CLUB)
**
FOUR DIE IN HELICOPTER CRASH INTO RADIO TOWER
PAUL/ANCHOR: A helicopter crashed into a communications tower near downtown
Houston, Texas on Sunday, October 20th, Kent Peterson KCØDGY brings us up to
date.
KENT: Four people on board a helicopter died after it crashed into a radio
tower in Houston, scattering debris for miles and setting off a grass fire
in the immediate area.
Various media reports said that no one on the ground was injured, either
from the fiery crash or the subsequent collapse of the tower on Sunday,
October 20th. The city's mayor, John Whitmire, told local media that it was
fortunate that the tower, which had guy wires, collapsed instead of toppling
over. The mayor said that the explosion set off by the crash was like
[quote] "a fireball out of the air." [endquote] The crash victims reportedly
included a child.
Houston's ABC 13 news said that the tower was equipped with red flashing
lights designed to make it visible to aircraft but the lights had a history
of malfunctioning. KHOU Channel 11 said that the lights were reported as not
working on the 16th of October.
SBA Communications, which acquired the tower on September 6th, released a
statement on Monday, the 21st of October, addressing the issue of the failed
lights. The company said that it had filed a Notice to Air Missions with the
FAA, as is required when a tower presents potentially hazardous conditions
that may have an effect on aircraft. The statement said the notice was
filed while the new ownership began work to integrate the tower into its
Network Operations Center. Antennas on the tower included those of three
Houston area radio stations.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation.
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(RADIO WORLD, CNN.COM, ABC 13)
**
TUNISIAN HAM CAMP FOR YOUNGSTERS GETS YASME GRANT
PAUL/ANCHOR: Good fortune smiled upon the recent Youngsters on the Air
subregional camp in Tunisia. For one thing, the camp coincided with the
major worldwide scouting event, Jamboree on the Air. For another thing, they
received some important monetary support. We have those details from Jeremy
Boot G4NJH.
JEREMY: Young radio amateurs throughout the north of Africa enjoyed the
weekend subregional camp of Youngsters on the Air with the support of a
grant from the Yasme Foundation. The grant to the Association of Tunisian
Radio Amateurs was announced on the foundation website five days before the
camp itself got underway on the 18th of October. This is the second year
that IARU Region 1 YOTA has been able to organise an African subregional
camp.
This year's participants included two youngsters each from Mauritania,
Morocco, Egypt, Libya and Algeria. Young hams were also joined by members of
the Tunisian Scouts who were very familiar with the location as a well-used
international scout camp facility. Organisers said that the inclusion of
scouts this year will allow the hams to expand their own network even more.
Camp activities include building antennas, fox hunting, solving problems
and, of course, getting on the air.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(DX-NEWS, YOTA REGION 1)
**
SUCCESS FOR FRENCH EXPERIMENT IN LASER COMMUNICATION
PAUL/ANCHOR: Yet another experiment in the use of laser communication to
send data has been declared a success. We hear about it from Jeremy Boot
G4NJH.
JEREMY: Defence officials in France have publicly praised an experiment in
high-speed optical satellite communication that they hope will eventually
become useful in the nation's military space strategy. The experiment
resulted in successful space-to-earth laser communication between a small
ground station and Keraunos, a nanosatellite launched late last year into
low Earth orbit. It is yet another example of scientists exploring the use
of optical waves as an alternative to using radio. The ground station was
described as a white dome 4 metres in diameter with a telescope sticking
out. It was able to track and receive transmitted data.
The French Defence Ministry released a statement in September extolling the
advantages of optical communication, which include "speed, discretion and
independence from regulations that coordinate the use of radio waves. Even
if this optical link can sometimes be perturbed by atmospheric turbulence,
the Keraunos satellite is able to circumvent them in order to achieve
optimum transmission quality." The project is the result of a collaboration
between France's Defense Innovation Agency and a small company known as
Cailabs.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(BREAKING DEFENSE)
**
SILENT KEY: NAVAJO CODE TALKER, JOHN KINSEL SR., 107
PAUL/ANCHOR: One of the three remaining World War II veterans known as
Navajo Code Talkers has died. John Kinsel Sr. died in his sleep at his
Arizona home on Saturday, the 19th of October. He served the United States
military in the elite group of Marines who used their native language as the
basis of a code to securely transmit troop movement information and other
critical messages. The code was never broken by the enemy.
According to various news reports, with his death only two of the original
Navajo Code Talkers remain.
John Kinsel Sr. was 107.
(NBC NEWS, THE GUARDIAN, THE NY TIMES)
**
YOUNG AMATEURS INVITED TO ENTER "DREAM RIG" ESSAY CONTEST
PAUL/ANCHOR: Using their imagination and their devotion to amateur radio,
young radio operators are once again being invited to enter the Dream Rig
contest sponsored by the Intrepid DX Group. Sel Embee KB3TZD tells us what's
involved.
SEL: Licensed amateurs who are 19 years of age and younger are being given
the challenge to describe the role and the benefits ham radio brings to
modern society. They're also being asked how more young amateurs can be
inspired to get on the air. It's not an easy question, of course, but the
sponsor behind the 5th annual "Dream Rig" essay contest, the Intrepid DX
Group, knows something about big challenges itself. Through the years, the
nonprofit group has been the force behind major DXpeditions and other radio
activities around the world.
Young amateurs with US or Canadian radio licenses - who live in either
country or in any of the US territories - are eligible. For details on ways
to submit the essay and to see rules for the competition itself, visit the
Facebook page of the Intrepid DX Group. Essays are due no later than the
30th of November.
Winners will be announced in December.
This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.
(INTREPID-DX GROUP)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the K9JX
repeater of the Jacksonville Amateur Radio Society in Jacksonville Illinois
on Saturdays at 9 p.m.
**
VOLCANOES ON THE AIR ERUPTS IN NEW ZEALAND
PAUL/ANCHOR: In New Zealand, a new awards program has erupted - and we
really do mean really erupted: Volcanoes on the Air. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF has
the details.
JIM: The city of Auckland isn't just home to the most people in New Zealand;
it is also where you'll find the most volcanoes - 53 to be precise. The
region, known as the Auckland Volcanic Field, has inspired radio amateurs to
launch a new programme - Volcanoes on the Air. Although some hams have
already had a jump start in calling CQ from the volcanic region, the QSOs
begin in earnest with the official kickoff of the programme on the 3rd of
November.
The website ontheair dot nz (ontheair.nz) has been updated to provide
information for the new Volcanoes on the Air awards scheme. The site also
contains details on a variety of other programmes such as HEMA, POTA, SOTA,
Lighthouses and IOTA.
An announcement on the Infoline of the New Zealand Association of Radio
Transmitters encourages hams to give it a try, noting that the activity does
not require a lot of hiking uphill. The website geo dot net (geo.net) notes
that the volcanic field is mostly utilised for public parks and recreation
and that the volcanoes are considered unlikely to have any eruptions,
especially since the last one on record was at least 600 years ago.
So the only things active in this volcanic field are likely to be the radio
amateurs themselves calling CQ.
This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.
(INFOLINE NZART, WIA)
**
NOVEMBER SPECIAL EVENT MARKS 76 YEARS OF AIR FORCE MARS
PAUL/ANCHOR: The US Air Force Military Auxiliary Radio System will be
marking its 76th year with a special event from the 5th through to the 11th
of November. Stephen Kinford N8WB tells us how to get involved.
STEPHEN: The celebration of Air Force MARS and its 76 years on the air is
open to licensed amateurs in all three US classes. Operators will be using
CW, SSB and digital modes on 80 through 6 metres in the parts of the bands
assigned to General and Technician Class licensees. Operations are
identified by 10 geographic regions called Communications Wings. There will
also be operators on the air from the Pentagon MARS station in Washington,
DC; Schriever Space Force Base in Colorado; Hancock Field Air National Guard
in New York and the Travis Air Force Base MARS Station in California.
For a list of the special event callsigns and a description of the exchanges
that will be used, visit the link that appears in the text version of this
week's newscast at arnewsline.org
[DO NOT READ: https://community.apan.org/wg/afmars/air-force-mars-76th-
special-event ]
The Air Force MARS system was created to assist US military and civilian
government with communications when needed.
This is Stephen Kinford N8WB.
(ED DONNELLY, KB2UNZ)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, listen for Neil, GØRNU, operating holiday style as
6Y/GØRNU from Jamaica, IOTA Number NA-097 from the 23rd of October through
to the 6th of November. He will operate SSB and digital modes on 40-6
metres. QSL via eQSL.
Steve, NY3B, is on the air as J68SS from St Lucia, IOTA Number NA-108, until
the 29th of October. He will also be one of the J62K operators during the
CQ WW DX SSB Contest on October 26th and 27th. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
Tev, TA1HZ, is operating from Tabor, Tanzania until late 2025 as 5H8HZ.
Listen for him on the air, holiday style on 40-10 metres. He will focus on
40, 30, 12 and 10m. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
In Uganda, Don, G3XTT, will operate as 5X1DF, using CW and some FT8; and
Alan, G3XAQ will operate as 5X1XA, using CW, from the 13th through to the
27th of November. Listen for them in the CQ WW DX CW Contest, where they
will participate as single-band entrants. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
(425 DX BULLETIN)
**
KICKER: IN GERMAN TV DRAMA, THE BANDS WEREN'T DEAD BUT THIS HAM WAS
PAUL/ANCHOR: The American film and TV industry isn't the only creative
community adding amateur radio into its cast of fictional characters.
Amateur radio found its way recently into an episode of a popular TV crime
drama in Germany. While that's good news for ham radio -- it didn't have the
best outcome for one of the fictional TV hams. We learn why from Ralph
Squillace KK6ITB.
RALPH: Very early on in Season 16, Episode 2 of the ZDF German crime drama,
"SOKO Stuttgart," Hartmut, DH4NO, becomes a Silent Key rather quickly,
rather violently and quite mysteriously. It happens in the middle of a 2-
metre QSO he is having with a friend as both are playing the two-person
board game, Battleship. The friend, Schrotti, a new ham with the callsign
DR5TI, hears the contact go dead - quite literally. He summons police and
that sets the SOKO team - the team of the series title - into action. SOKO
is the acronym in German for the regional special police task force.
As the crime squad focuses its probe on the amateur radio club the men
belonged to, any hams viewing the show can immediately recognise the rigs,
which were supplied by the DARC Stuttgart radio club. There are also
familiar lessons in propagation and, of course, that important call, "CQ."
It's a bit unclear as to why some unlicensed operators in this prime-time
drama are seen transmitting on some of the ham equipment -- but this is,
after all, fiction, and unlike this particular story, not all mysteries were
meant to be solved.
For those who want to practice their German, the show can be seen in the ZDF
video store at the address given in the text version of this script on our
website, arnewsline.org
[DO NOT READ: https://www.zdf.de/serien/soko-stuttgart/schrotti-funkt-
100.html ]
This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.
(ZDF)
**
JUST SAY 'HI' TO HAIKU
If a good day of radio is like poetry to you, pick up a pencil and join the
Amateur Radio Newsline haiku challenge. Share your experience by sending an
original haiku to us here at Newsline. Use the entry form on our website,
arnewsline.org and please follow the rules for writing your three-line haiku
-- sorry but we cannot accept any entries that aren't written in traditional
haiku form. Share with fellow listeners the poetry that is inspired by your
ham radio experience!
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to ABC-13; Amateur Radio Daily; Breaking
Defense; British DX Club; CNN.com; David Behar K7DB; Ed Donnelly, KB2UNZ;
425DXNews; FCC; the Guardian; InfoLine NZART; Intrepid DX Group; NBC News;
QRZ.com; Radio D. A. R. C.; Radio World; shortwaveradio.de; Wireless
Institute of Australia; YOTA Region 1; ZDF [Zed Dee Eff]; 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
2024. All rights reserved.
73 de Bill, PY2BIL
PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
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BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 25-out-2024 08:32 E. South America Standard Time
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