<*>[Attachment(s) from James KB7TBT included below]


Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2073 for Friday, July 21, 2017

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2073 with a release date of Friday, 
July 21, 2017 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Remember Dayton Hamvention? We offer you a tour 
of Germany's Ham Radio Friedrichshafen. In Australia, a beacon is back 
in business -- and we talk to Brian Lloyd WB6RQN, who's been recreating 
Amelia Earhart's historic flight.All this and more as Amateur Radio 
Newsline Report 2073 comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**
AMELIA EARHART TRIBUTE FLIGHT: SUCCESS AND SETBACKS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We open this week's report with an update on an American 
pilot's tribute to famed flyer Amelia Earhart. Brian Lloyd WB6RQN was 
about to begin the final leg of his journey when he turned back recently 
to New Zealand where Kent Peterson KC0DGY was able to connect with him.

KENT'S REPORT: On June first Brian Lloyd WB6RQN departed Florida on a 
flight to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Amelia Earhart's famous 
attempt at circumnavigating the world.  I caught up with Brian for an 
update on his flight.

BRIAN Greetings from Hamilton NZ where its 10 degrees Celsius that is 
and it looks like another beautiful day.  I wish I were flying.

KENT That's right, Brian can explain why he's on the ground

BRIAN A couple days ago I departed from new Zealand heading to Pago Pago 
and got 50 miles north and my engine began to have problems I got the 
airplane turned around but the engine quit several times and it wasn't 
clear I was going to make it back and I stood a chance that I was going 
to go swimming.

KENT By adjusting the throttle the mixture control and the electric fuel 
pump Brian was able to make it back to New Zealand.

BRIAN   There were some moments there where I was a little concerned but 
it all turned out OK.

BRIAN It has been an amazing experience. I've gone through some 20 
countries now.  Everyone everywhere  has been supportive and helpful . 
Everywhere I've gone either a ham or an aviation person has  put me up 
in their home, its just been great.

KENT Using his on board HF rig, Brian was able to make ham contacts 
during the first part of his flight.

BRIAN I'd say I've made a hundred or 150 contacts and there have been a 
lot of times when I've gone  out there and called and no one has 
responded. Its been a little hit and miss.  When I'm making contacts its 
a bit interesting on the receiving end of a pile up. That's not 
something  I"m used to.  I am not a big gun, I have wire antennas and 
100 watts.  Flying an airplane with a note pad on your lap while taking 
down calls and writing down the time is a bit of a challenge. Not being 
a contester I can't run a contact in 6 seconds or 10 seconds. I just 
plug along taking each call as it comes until I have to do something 
else like fly the airplane or talk to air traffic control.

KENT But he had some problems with his HF radio and ended up getting the 
radio replaced so he's once again on the air and hopes to make ham 
contacts on his Pacific leg of the trip.

BRIAN If I can get the fuel pump fixed in the next three days there is a 
good chance I can make it to Oshkosh. Not on the first day but chances 
are good I can make it. The bottom line is safety security and 
schedule.  I do care if I"m able to safely and security complete this trip

BRIAN It's all about completing Amelia Earhart's flight and it would be 
nice icing on the cake if I can make it to Oshkosh but just completing 
it all is a significant achievement from my point of view.  I've had a a 
few road blocks thrown up but all I can do is put one foot in front of 
the the other and eventually I'll get to my destination and that 's my 
goal.

Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

**
LOTTERY WINDFALL FOR DX GROUP IN UK

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: When a group of DXers in the UK got a grant for ten 
thousand pounds - approximately 13,000 U.S. dollars - they didn't shout 
it from the rooftops - they shot it right up into space, via satellite. 
Here's Jeremy Boot G4NJH with that story.

JEREMY: The Bittern DXers have won big as recipients of a National 
Lottery grant in the UK. The grant they've received for ten thousand 
pounds is already earmarked for them to continue work on their 
Educational Outreach initiatives. The DXers make it a priority to teach 
the public about radio science and getting on the air by taking 
equipment to community events. Their radio demonstrations have enabled 
members of the public to listen in as the hams receive signals from 
weather satellites and even the International Space Station.

The North Norfolk-based DXers had a message of their own however, 
shortly after receiving the good news: They announced their big lottery 
gift by transmitting the announcement via the FunCube1 satellite. The 
FunCube1 has been in orbit since November of 2013 when it was launched 
by the ham radio community that also built it.

The Bittern DX group also celebrated by posting a message a little 
closer to Earth - on their website. That message says, in part: [QUOTE] 
"Our priorities are to get out in the field, to get on the air and to 
spread the word about amateur radio without the restraints of lectures 
and evening meetings. There are a number of very good clubs in Norfolk 
offering that kind of club environment and we work with them wherever 
possible." [ENDQUOTE] The group's message encourages anyone wanting the 
Bittern DXers to set up a station at their next event to contact them at 
info-at-bittern-hyphen-dxers-dot-org-dot-uk. (info@bittern-dxers.org.uk)

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(EASTERN DAILY PRESS)

**

BUILDING A BETTER BEACON

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you want to take the pulse of HF propagation, you 
can't beat using a beacon -- but what happens when older hard-working 
beacons need refurbishing? Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us.

GRAHAM: Can you build a better beacon? The West Australian Repeater 
Group did, and now the international HF beacon, VK6RBP, is better than 
ever - or so it's hoped.

This is one of 18 beacons around the world that operates as part of the 
International Beacon project established as a propagation tool in 1995 
by the Northern California DX Foundation. Time has passed, however, and 
with the equipment's advancing age, the repeaters have been growing less 
and less reliable.

Enter "Beacon Version 2.0," which completed its successful installation 
on Sunday the 9th of July, after a safe shipment from the California 
group to VK6. The rollout has begun! The beacon operates by transmitting 
CW in 10-second blocks across five bands, repeating the process every 
three minutes.

The West Australian group asks that amateurs listen for the beacon and 
send signal reports along. You can email secretary@warg-dot-org-dot-au 
(secretary@warg.org.au). Of course, if your QTH is right there in VK6, 
send your report by joining the group's technical and general net. They 
meet on Sundays at 02:30 UTC using the local VK6RLM repeater on 146.750 
MHz.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp VK4BB.

**
NEWSCAST BREAK:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio 
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the 
Silvercreek Amateur Radio Association's 2 meter repeater, W8WKY, 
Tuesdays at 7:30 PM local time in Doylestown, Ohio, celebrating their 
fortieth year as an amateur radio club.


**

DELBERT RAPP WB9UKG BECOMES SILENT KEY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We deliver our next report with a heavy heart as we 
report that Delbert Rapp WB9UKG of Vincennes Indiana has become a Silent 
Key. He is the father of Newsline's own Neil Rapp WB9VPG. We'll let Don 
Wilbanks AE5DW tells us about this devoted radio operator who served as 
his son's inspiration.

DON: Delbert Rapp's love of anything and everything electronic began in 
high school, where he was introduced to ham radio. He did not get his 
license right away, however. Instead, his studies led to a job after 
graduation with Thordarson Meissner in Mount Carmel, Illinois, a company 
that assembled and manufactured electronics parts. Delbert had also 
served as a field radio technician in the U.S. Army during the Korean 
conflict. Much later, a job at Good Samaritan hospital found him fixing 
radios, pagers, heart monitors and other devices as a staff biomedical 
electronic technician. It was his tinkering with an old Morse Code 
oscillator given to him by one of the doctors there that rekindled for 
Delbert the magic of the amateur radio world. He was soon studyiing for 
his license and took along his 5-year-old son, Neil, when it was time 
for the exam. The rest, as his son says, is history, as father and son 
gained their licenses together - with Neil becoming the nation's 
youngest ham, inspired by his father's faith and encouragement.

Delbert was a member of the Old Post Amateur Radio Society, the American 
Radio Relay League. He was also instrumental in starting the Good 
Samaritan Employees Investors Club. He was a Certified Electronic 
Technician, and an avid genealogist. He was an Extra class licensee and 
held a First Class Radiotelephone license as well. He spent a lot of his 
time helping with the local 2 meter repeater, and improving the station 
at his home QTH to be able to reach missionary friends in Africa.

Delbert Rapp WB9UKG died of acute leukemia. He was 84. We extend to our 
colleague and our friend Neil our sympathies on this profound loss.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks AE5DW.


**
A TASTE OF HAM RADIO FRIEDRICHSHAFEN

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: So you didn't get to Ham Radio Friedrichshafen this 
year? It's one of the world's largest hamfests - not to be missed - and 
thanks to Ed Durrant DD5LP, we here at Newsline didn't miss it either. 
Sit back and listen for just a few minutes as Ed gives you a tour of the 
best of this year's event, which took place July 14th, 15th and 16th.

ED'S REPORT: In this report, I don't intend to give a list of the new 
equipment releases, I'd like to just bring a little bit of the sounds 
and my commentary of what I saw going on at this, the worlds third 
largest ham-fest after Tokyo and Dayton.

Being indoors the rain on Friday had no impact on the event. Indeed the 
only presentation outside was that of an example station for next years 
World Radio Team Championship and they have to be able to work in a 
little rain HI.

So here we go with my audio blog of HAM RADIO Friedrichshafen 2017.

(Friday).

The first shuttle bus has just arrived from the ferry so a few people 
are waiting to collect their tickets and get in, but it'll be another 
hour almost before they can do that. All are waiting to see what's new 
at Friedrichshafen.

And now we are inside the hall, got in very early so it's just as the 
people are coming in. I'm down at the end of the hall A-1 at the moment 
and looking at the DARC and WRTC2018 exhibits. There are still people 
setting up. As always at Friedrichshafen, we are amazed at the size of 
things.

It's now half past ten, the hall has filled up, as you can hear from the 
background noise, there are quite a few people walking around. There's 
work going on. I'm actually stood next to somebody who is embroidering 
t-Shirts and hats. Across from me is the Lupo tower site with the masts 
and the two young ladies in Japanese Kimonos. Looking across we have the 
Austrian radio amateur group to the left and behind them, the German one 
in the biggest space of course. Next to me is actually an English 
company, Total Mast solutions they've been here the last few years and 
they seem to be doing quite a lot of business a lot of people 
interested, they've got some special offers on some pneumatic towers 
here. I can see the Thailand Amateur radio Society, the YL groups and 
then all the other different societies around here so things are buzzing 
along. It's still Friday morning, it's still early in the event but 
everything's working. There's people walking around selling tombola 
tickets for the WRTC and generally lots of room between the stands and 
smiling faces or confused faces going past a mixture of the two. So I'll 
get on and see what else I can find, I've already spent some money � 
I've bought myself a mobile antenna and hopefully not spend too much 
more but who knows at this place?

(Sunday)

Today we intend to have a look around the maker faire from the Bodensee 
group, so the regional Maker Faire here.

Well as you can hear, nobody would say that the maker faire was quiet. 
They've got a children's play area here, with cycling go-karts, that 
they cycle around. a beer garden of course and a play castle and they've 
even got a band up on a stage at the end here. These are actually 
robotic players, metal characters that they've built up, playing 
different things - quite crazy.

OK after that robotics show outside, we are inside and things have 
calmed down a little. Looking through the maker faire here, there are 
the things you expect electronics and modding of computers and such like 
but we've also got things like laser cutting, 3D printing and then we 
have quite a few people dressed up in sort of medieval like costumes 
walking around and there's also costume making here. There's jewelry 
making and all other kinds of crafts, so all very interesting. Parts and 
bits you need for making things are for sale as well so actually quite a 
parallel to the amateur radio side. Oh, there's actually somebody here 
with his mini-bakery baking fresh bread. We've also got the gardeners 
with their strimmers and then around the corner we're straight into the 
shalls and the belts and the jewelry, hats and a bit of everything 
that's like a crafty kind of thing here at the Bodensee makers faire. A 
nice refreshing expansion to the HAM RADIO.

OK so that was Friedrichshafen for another year. A successful visit. If 
any of you are thinking about getting over to Germany, see if you can 
time it with the HAM RADIO in Friedrichshafen. Next year it'll be June 
the first to the third but well worth the visit if you can get here.

What did I find of most interesting? Not the new ICOM IC-7610 which was 
there to actually touch and try although still awaiting some software 
changes before a rumored Tokyo ham show release date. Not the new Yaesu 
DR-2X repeater using it's new infrastructure technology. Not even all 
the displays around the World Radio Team Championship whose tombola 
raised over 19,000 Euros for the event. I'd have to say I found the 
robotic Rock Band at the Maker Faire on Sunday impressed me the most. 
It's really interesting what these maker groups are doing technically 
and that combining both the Hamfest and the regional maker faire into 
one event was a good idea.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, this was Ed Durrant DD5LP on-site at Ham 
Radio Friedrichshafen.

**
KICKER: RADIO RENEWS FAMILY TIES FOR ABANDONED ELDERLY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Our final story looks at what may well be the highest 
and best use of amateur radio - helping people in distress. One amateur 
radio club in India has begun serving the community under especially 
poignant circumstances: they are helping elderly men and women who've 
been abandoned to find their way back home. Jason Daniels VK2LAW has 
those details.

JASON: For amateur radio to help save lives, as it often does, sometimes 
even a transceiver and an antenna alone prove insufficient. In India, 
the best equipment for this task now comes in the form of something 
called an Aadhaar card. It's a government-issued card that uses the 
biometrics of fingerprints and iris scans to identify people, linking 
them as well to a unique 12-digit ID number.

The West Bengal Amateur Radio Club is finding that card even more useful 
than a linear amplifier or digital signal processor for their latest 
project - assisting the abandoned elderly. Media reports in India show 
that, tragically, such cases are on the rise in a nation of more than 90 
million older adults.

Ambarish Nag Biswas VU2JFA told the News 18 India newspaper that 
fingerprinting the elderly and finding a residential address in the 
records helps make reunions easier. The club has been assisting police 
with these reunions.

The West Bengal hams have helped bring about other reunions, including 
one earlier this year in which a 35-year-old woman who'd spent four 
years in a psychiatric hospital was returned to her family 900 miles away.

With abandonment of elderly family members on the rise however, Ambarish 
Nag Biswas said working with the police has proven especially satisfying 
work in helping bring the very oldest family members back home, often 
across state borders. He told News 18 India that two of the most 
memorable cases involved older women abandoned by their families two 
years earlier.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels VK2LAW

(NEWS18 INDIA)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Labs; Amateur News Weekly; the ARRL; 
CQ Magazine; the Eastern Daily Press; Hap Holly and the Rain Report; the 
Hindu newspaper; Irish Radio Transmitters Society; News 18 India; Ohio 
Penn DX Bulletin; Southgate Amateur Radio News; Ted Randall's QSO Radio 
Show; the Times of India; Wireless Institute of Australia; WTWW 
Shortwave; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio 
Newsline. Please send emails to our address at newsline@arnewsline.org. 
More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's only official 
website located at www.arnewsline.org.

For now, with Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT, at the news desk in New York, 
and our news team worldwide, I'm Stephen Kinford N8WB in Wadsworth, Ohio 
saying 73 and as always we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.


***

As a Service to the HAM Radio Community and HAM Operators all over the world,
this Amateur Radio Newline(tm) message has been gated from the internet and
posted to you by Waldo's Place USA, fidonet node 1:3634/12. We hope you
enjoyed it!

Please address all comments and questions to the ARNewsletter editor as
described in this posting. If you have any specific questions related to the
actual posting of this message, you may address them to
hamfdn(at)wpusa.dynip.com.

Thank you and good day!

-73- ARNTE-0.1.0-OS2 build 42
(text/plain utf-8 quoted-printable)


 * Origin: (1:3634/12)