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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2400 for Friday October 27th, 2023

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2400 with a release date of Friday
October 27th, 2023 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. The FCC takes a fresh look at wireless
emergency alerts. Russian amateurs make contacts on the 6m band -- and
a radio signal arrives after 8 billion years. All this and more as
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2400 comes your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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FCC EYES NEW APPROACH TO WIRELESS ALERTS

PAUL/ANCHOR: We begin this week's newscast with a look at the
lifesaving communication known as the wireless emergency alert system.
Here in the US, the FCC has begun rethinking exactly how these alerts
should be transmitted. We have those details from Sel Embee KB3TZD.

SEL: The FCC is looking for alternative ways for delivery of wireless
emergency alerts that do not rely on functioning cell towers. Calling
cell networks unreliable, the commission's Public Safety and Homeland
Security Bureau is seeking ways to get messages to the public that do
not run the risk of cell towers being knocked out of service or having
coverage dead zones. In a public notice released October 19th, the FCC
said it was looking for partners to test alternative technologies for emergency-alert use.

According to a report in Radio World, the FCC is willing to consider satellites, high-altitude balloons, drones or similar technology to
make up for gaps in wireless coverage. The FCC recalled one of the most
recent incidents of cell coverage failing when in August, 21 cell sites
failed to function in Hawaii during the deadly wildfires in that state.

The commission is asking interested parties to use the Electronic
Comment Filing System to contact the FCC within 60 days of the notice's publication.

This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.

(FCC, RADIO WORLD)


PAUL/ANCHOR: The FCC has also announced that the agenda for its next
open meeting on November 15th will include a vote that will modernize
and bring more flexibility for amateur radio operators who use the
digital modes. The FCC website says the commissioners plan to remove
[quote] "outdated restrictions" [endquote] and allow for more
innovation.

(FCC, AMATEUR NEWS DAILY)

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GRANT TO AID MISSOURI REPEATER SYSTEM UPGRADE

PAUL/ANCHOR: Residents in southwestern Missouri are about to benefit
from an amateur radio repeater system upgrade that will assist in times
of bad weather -- and in other instances. We hear about those changes
from Randy Sly W4XJ.

RANDY: A crucial weather-emergency communications system in southwest
Missouri will receive an upgrade to expand its reach as a result of a
grant of nearly $70,000. The Southwest Missouri Regional SKYWARN Ham
Radio Repeater System allows storm spotters to reach the National
Weather Service forecast office in Springfield, Missouri, providing
up-to-date eyewitness accounts. Funding for the improvements will come
from Amateur Radio Digital Communications which will channel the grant
through the Southern Missouri Emergency Communications Fund.

The 10-month-long overhaul of the linked repeater system, known as the
49 Repeater Group, will add new repeaters and replace aging equipment.
In the meantime, local amateur radio clubs will be learning more from
the group's Michael Blake, N0NWS, who will encourage radio operators to
become active in the project as well.

This is Randy Sly W4XJ.

(KRMS RADIO)

**

REPEATER SYSTEM DISABLED BY TENNESSEE WILDFIRES

PAUL/ANCHOR: A repeater system elsewhere is trying to recover. Although wildfires near Chattanooga, Tennessee have been brought under control,
the region's High Point Repeater site has been left disabled by cable
damage left behind by the blaze. The 220MHz repeater, the Wires-X
repeater and the APRS digipeater and iGate system of the Lookout
Mountain Amateur Radio Community, N4LMC, will not return to use until
further notice, according to the club's website. The damage also
temporarily knocked a broadcast FM station off the air. The Lookout
Mountain amateurs' website said the group will need to replace all
cables at the site. They are also awaiting word from the tower owners
about possible damage to the tower, guy wires and anchor points.

(AMATEUR RADIO DAILY, LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY)

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RUSSIAN AMATEUR QSOs ON 6-METRE BAND DEEMED LEGAL

PAUL/ANCHOR: If you happen to hear an amateur with a Russian callsign
while you're listening on the band between 50 and 52 MHz, you're not
imagining things - and no, that ham is not violating any regulations.
Ed Durrant DD5LP tells us what's happening.

ED: Russian amateurs holding that country's highest class of radio
licence are now being permitted to use the 6-metre band with up to 1
kilowatt under a verbal agreement with the Russian regulator. According
to a report in the November 2023 issue of Funk Telegramm, hams are
working to secure written permission for 6 meters which is not
officially defined as an amateur band in Russia. Hams with Russian
callsigns have been using the band since 2014 from Crimea when that
territory was annexed. This was a privilege carried over from the time
when 6-metre operation was permitted in Crimea when it was part of
Ukraine.

Funk Telegramm quotes Alexander Kozlov, RW5C, an active amateur who is
on the air from Moscow, as confirming to the magazine that a number of
amateurs like him are now being heard regularly on the band and are
making contacts. Russian amateurs have long contended that if
authorities recognise 6-metre operation from Crimea, the privilege
should be extended to all Russian hams.

This is Ed Durrant DD5LP.

(FUNK TELEGRAMM, NOVEMBER 2023)

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BROADCAST CELEBRATES 80 YEARS FOR UK SHORTWAVE SITE

PAUL/ANCHOR: Radio enthusiasts in the UK turned on their shortwave sets
for an on-air celebration - and Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us about it.

JEREMY: One hundred people turned out on Tuesday, the 17th of October,
for an 80th anniversary celebration at the UK's last remaining
shortwave radio transmitting site. Countless others attended the party
from a distance -- as shortwave listeners who later sent in reception
reports.

The Woofferton Transmitting Station, which was built by the BBC during
the Second World War, is owned by Encompass Digital Media. Its
celebration broadcast was transmitted to listeners in Europe as an
analogue broadcast on 17.785 MHz and as a DRM broadcast on 11.725 MHz.

In a rare turn at programming, the station also used its oldest
transmitter - a Marconi BD272 built in Britain in 1963, to send
programming to North America on 15.245 MHz.

To hear the anniversary broadcast, click on the link that you can find
in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: https://www.mixcloud.com/EDMRadioOnline/woofferton80/ ]

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(RADIO WORLD, ENCOMPASS DIGITAL MEDIA)

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YLS PREPARE FOR NOVEMBER ALARA MEETUP

PAUL/ANCHOR: YLs throughout Australia and beyond are getting ready for
a few days of socializing and talking about one of their favorite
topics: amateur radio. Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us what's on the agenda.

GRAHAM: It's been a tradition every few years since 1984: a national get-together of the members of ALARA, the Australian Ladies Amateur
Radio Association. Next month, the in-person contacts will be made in
Hobart where YLs from the organisation will meet up - some for the
first time - without having to call CQ.

ALARAmeet, as it is known, is now held every three years. It features a
busy agenda on the 4th and 5th of November, a mix of amateur radio
activities and social outings, including a tour of historic sites and
an optional cruise. It's not unexpected to have an international
attendance: many of the 200 or so ALARA members live overseas and have
their membership sponsored by YLs living Down Under. Created in 1975,
ALARA works to nurture women's participation and enthusiasm for all
things amateur radio.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(ALARA)

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NEWSLINE TO PRESENT INTERNATIONAL NEWSMAKER AWARD

PAUL/ANCHOR: Once again, Newsline is preparing to select the recipient
for its International Newsmaker of the Year award. We launched this
award in 2019 with our editorial staff recognizing the individuals,
groups or formal clubs who have spent the previous year bringing
amateur radio into the spotlight showing its positive values and
contributions to the community. We are broadening the award's scope
this year by acknowledging that the dissemination of information to the
public about amateur radio's positive influence no longer relies solely
on mainstream media. This year, and going forward, the award will be
presented to a recipient who has illuminated amateur radio's role in
mainstream media or via internet channels. Stay tuned in the weeks
ahead. We will select a winner - to be announced in early December.

**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the Utah Amateur Radio Club's W7SP repeater on Sundays as part of the
club's 9 p.m. net.

**
MERIT BADGES HIGHLIGHT FOR WISCONSIN JOTA WEEKEND

PAUL/ANCHOR: The Scouting organization recognizes Jamboree on the Air
as the largest Scouting event in the world -- but for one group
participating in Wisconsin, the global amateur radio activity created
some personal and very local triumphs. Patrick Clark K8TAC gives us
those details.

PATRICK: In a small village just east of Wausau, Wisconsin, scouts were
making QSOs as part of the Jamboree on the Air weekend on Saturday,
October 21st. They were using the callsign of the Wisconsin Valley
Radio Association, W9SM. Eight volunteer operators from the club helped
the scouts get on the air. These radio contacts weren't about the
pursuit of QSL cards but the chase for one of three merit badges: the
Radio Merit Badge; the Signs, Signals and Codes Merit Badge and the Communications Merit Badge. The activity attracted scouts from other
parts of Wisconsin and some from as far away as Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to Nicholas Schilling, KC9FEM, all 22 Scouts who had enrolled
to get the Radio Merit Badge succeeded in that effort and many of the
others completed part of the requirements toward the other two badges.
Perhaps the biggest challenge of the day was faced by Gary Harrison,
W9CPY, an Eagle Scout who is also president of the Wisconsin Valley
club. Gary said that one scout who lives on a farm locally made radio
contact with a scout in Canada - who also happens to live on a farm.
The two got on quite well -- almost to the point of an extended
ragchew. Gary later told Newsline: [quote] "I couldn't get the
microphone back!" [endquote]

This is Patrick Clark K8TAC

(NICHOLAS SCHILLING, KC9FEM)

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HISTORIC SWEDISH STATION SAQ MARKS UN DAY

PAUL/ANCHOR: On Tuesday, October 24th, the 100-year-old Grimeton Radio
Station transmitted a message of peace to the world from Sweden in a celebration that was also livestreamed on YouTube and accompanied by a
ham radio activation. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has that story.

JEREMY: The broadcast hosted by the Alexander Grimeton Friendship
Association in Sweden marked UN Day by sending its station callsign,
SAQ, followed by a message of peace in CW. The 200-kilowatt
Alexanderson alternator began its transmission at 1500 UTC on 17.2 kHz.
Those who could not be present at the World Heritage site were able to
watch it live on the YouTube channel of the friendship association.
Amateur radio operators also participated using the callsign SK6SAQ for contacts using CW and SSB on 80, 40 and 20 metres.

It's all over now but the waiting: The operators of the historic
transmitter are expecting QSL reports from listeners who received the
longwave transmission. The Grimeton amateurs are also awaiting too -for
those who made their contacts on HF.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(YOUTUBE, THE ALEXANDERSON GRIMETON FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION)

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TAIWANESE STATION HOLDING SHORTWAVE EVENT

PAUL/ANCHOR: Hams and shortwave listeners alike are invited to
participate in a radio event that celebrates the reach of shortwave and
its powers to send music and other programming around the world. Here's
Jim Meachen ZL2BHF with the details.

JIM: If you thought the days of short wave broadcast listening were
long gone you may be wrong as a broadcast station in Taiwan is reaching
out to the global amateur radio community for assistance with its
international short wave event that continues until the 14th of
November. The Fu-Hsin (FOO SHIN) Broadcasting Station is asking
listeners to send reception reports that include such details as
favourite music being heard or favourite programme. The listening
frequencies are 9.410 MHz, 9.774 MHz and 15.375 MHz. Listeners who
provide reception details will be sent a QSL card. The station also
broadcasts locally on AM and FM but that programming is not involved in
this activity. Reception report forms can be downloaded from the
station's website, which appears in the text version of this week's
newscast.

[DO NOT READ:https://fhbs.com.tw/ ]

If you have questions about the shortwave event, send an email to F H B
S T P at F H B S dot com dot tw

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(FU-HSIN BROADCASTING)
--

SWAINS ISLAND W8S DXPEDITION RELEASES QSO DATA

PAUL/ANCHOR: If you are in the log for a successful contact with the Swains Island W8S DXpedition, you're in plenty of good company. The team reports that they made 89,530 QSOs with 21,471 unique callsigns. Contacts were evenly distributed across three
largest global regions: Europe accounted for 35.1 percent, North America, 30.8 percent and Asia 29 percent. More details and other statistics can be found on ClubLog using the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: https://clublog.org/charts/?c=W8S#r ]

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WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, be listening for Jun OE1JUN/JH4RHF operating as H44RH from Honiara in the Solomon Islands, IOTA Number OC-047. He is on the air until the 31st of October. After that, he has tentative plans to operate as H40RH from Pigeon Island, IOTA
Number OC-065, in Temotu Province, between the 1st and 9th of November. Check QRZ.com for updates. QSL to OE1JUN.

Ed, N2HX is active as V4/N2HX from St. Kitts, IOTA Number NA-104, until the 18th of November. Listen for him in the CQWW DX SSB contest using the callsign V49R. QSL via home call, direct or bureau.

Listen for Pierre, VE3KTB and Alexey VE1RUS operating as VY0ERC from the Eureka Amateur Radio Club station on Ellesmere Island, IOTA Number NA-008, through the 22nd of November. See QRZ.com for details.

Tom, VK2WN/SP7WT, is on the air until the 30th of November as AX37EUDXF to celebrate the 37th anniversary of the European DX Foundation. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

(425DX BULLETIN)

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KICKER: FAST RADIO BURST TAKES A "LONG PATH"

PAUL/ANCHOR: If you've ever waited for what seems like forever for a DXpedition's QSL card to arrive, imagine waiting a really long time - we mean a really long time - for the signal itself. Kent Peterson KC0DGY tells us about one radio signal that has
finally arrived after 8 billion years.

KENT: You might call it "long path" taken to the extreme: A fast radio burst from a galaxy far, far away that has only arrived on Earth now - after 8 billion years. The signal apparently is none the worse for the effort: Scientists say this mystery blast
of waves is likely the most energetic they've ever seen, releasing the same amount of energetic emissions as the sun is capable of doing over a 30-year period.

It's the latest example of what astronomers call FRB - which stands for fast radio burst. The radio signals last barely a millisecond. Scientists have been receiving and watching them since 2007. This latest reception of the universe's remarkable
operating mode even inspired a name, FRB 20220610A. Astronomers wrote about it in the journal Science, which published it on Thursday, October 19th. The team of researchers believes this latest burst may be the result of a small cluster of galaxies
attempting to merge, which results in explosions that create new stars. One theory suggests the FRBs are a means of gauging the amount of matter between galaxies.

While all this rapid, fancy flashing seems remarkable, scientists assure us that FRBs are quite commonplace. Radio telescopes are being built in Australia and South Africa with the goal of detecting more of them - from even more distant places in the
cosmos. In this case, the sky is NOT the limit anymore.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

(CNN)

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DO YOU HAVE NEWS?

If you have a piece of Amateur Radio News that you think Newsline would be interested in, send it on! We are not talking about advertising your club's upcoming hamfest or field day participation, but something that is out of the ordinary. If so, send us
a brief overview via the contact page at arnewsline.org. If it's newsworthy and we would like to cover it, we'll get back to you for more details. Meanwhile, visit our website to learn more about the Amateur Radio Newsline haiku challenge. Use the entry
form on our website and please follow the rules for writing your three-line haiku -- and be sure to check out our previous winners!

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to ALARA; Amateur Radio Daily; ARRL; the BBC; CQ Magazine; CNN; David Behar K7DB; Encompass Digital Media; FCC; 425DXNews; Funk Telegramm; Nicholas Schilling, KC9FEM; KRMS Radio; Radio World; shortwaveradio.de; Wireless
Institute of Australia; YouTube; 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 2023. All rights reserved.

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