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

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2074 for Friday, July 28, 2017

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2074 with a release date of Friday, 
July 28, 2017 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. K2BSA gets on the air in West Virginia at the 
largest Scouting event in the world. Hams in India welcome new licensees 
trained on a college campus -- and an amateur in Australia reflects on 
more than 20 years' involvement with the space program. All this and 
more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2074 comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**

K2BSA - THE BUSIEST CALL SIGN ON THE BANDS?

JIM/ANCHOR: We begin this week with one of the busiest call signs on the 
bands recently - K2BSA. It has been activated at the Boy Scout National 
Jamboree, the single largest event in Scouting, and will be soon at two 
other locations. As Amateur Radio Newsline went to production, the 
Jamboree was wrapping up in West Virginia but the other locations are 
ready for action. Here's a report from Bill Stearns NE4RD, who checked 
in with us earlier in the week.

BILL: This week in Radio Scouting we have 3 activations of the the K2BSA 
callsign, one activation from Scout Camps on the Air and we're starting 
day 5 at the National Jamboree.

Noel Pettit, WB0VGI, will be activating K2BSA/9 at Camp St. Croix in 
Hudson, WI from July 30th through August 12th.  Each year, his troop 
from Minneapolis, camps at their site along the St. Croix River.  Noel 
will set up a portable battery powered HF and VHF station and help get 
the radio and electronics merit badges for the scouts. Scouts spend 
significant time just listening to the radio learning about digital and 
analog signals for the many different uses of the bands.

David Hoshaw, AF7NO, will be activating K2BSA/7 at the Wilsonville Fun 
in the Park in Wilsonville, OR, on August 5th.  This is an annual 
community event. Troops 528 & 194 along with Packs 199 & 194 will be 
hosting a booth that will contain a ham radio station. A local volunteer 
group will also have their radio trailer on site. Operators with HTs 
will be roaming the event to allow anyone to talk on the radio. The main 
station will have an HF rig to allow for QSOs.

Michael Wilson, N0MO, will be activating K2BSA/0 at the Cub Scout 
Twilight Camp in Oak Brook, IL, from August 8th through August 12th.

James Gallo, KB2FMH, will be activating a special event station W2T at 
the Ten Mile River Scout Reservation in Narrowsburg, NY, from August 5th 
through August 6th.  The Special Event Station will be celebrating 90 
years of Scouting at the oldest continually operated Scout Camp in the 
country.

The K2BSA is through day 4 in its journey at the Boy Scouts of America 
National Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia as this 
report is written.  So far the demo station has processed 1228 Scouts 
and has 683 contacts, and our Radio Merit Badge team has completed 124 
radio merit badges.  The temps are hot and humid, and the bands are a 
bit dry, but we thank the many amateurs that have helped us by staying 
on the frequency to help us work through these eager Scouts.  We have 
been active on 40m through 70cm, plus Satellite, D-Star, and EchoLink.  
For QSL information, please visit our Jamboree Live page on our website.

For more information on K2BSA and radio scouting, please visit 
http://www.k2bsa.net/.

For Amateur Radio Newsline and the K2BSA Amateur Radio Association, this 
is Bill Stearns NE4RD.

**

MORE HAMS IN INDIAN STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JIM/ANCHOR: Speaking of young amateurs on the air, a whole lot of new 
young licensees are keying their mics in India. For that report, we turn 
to John Williams VK4JJW.

JOHN'S REPORT: There's nothing academic about the new amateur radio club 
that's been established on the campus of the SRR and CVR Government 
Degree College in Andhra Pradesh, India.

For one thing, there are 73 new licensed hams on campus, following a 
recent exam that followed formal lessons given there. The new amateurs 
include professors, students, lecturers and others, according to a 
report in The Hindu newspaper.

The 73 new hams are part of a growing community in the state of Andhra 
Pradesh, according to Arza Ramesh Babu VU2RDM, who also coordinates the 
Ham Radio Training Centre. To help support that expanding community in 
the state, he was also the leader of an amateur radio seminar held on 
the 12th of July and attended by about 150 hams who were hoping to learn 
more about advances in technology and its impact.

The increasing numbers in the state are seen as an encouraging sign. 
Barely three years ago, a report in the Times of India quoted the 
National Institute of Amateur Radio in Hyderabad as counting barely 
1,000 licensees in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with even fewer of 
them even possessing radio equipment.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams VK4JJW.


(THE HINDU, TIMES OF INDIA)


**

BICYCLING HAM GEARS UP FOR QSOS

JIM/ANCHOR: Imagine combining some daily Dxing with a leisurely bike 
ride. Paul Braun WD9GCO caught up with one radio amateur who doesn't 
have to imagine that at all. Here's his story.

PAUL: Fresh air and exercise can be good for you. So can ham radio. What 
about putting them all together??? John Webster, N6JW, did just that.  
He decided to combine working HF with bicycling and has been very 
successful at it. He said it started by staring at a mountain bike that 
was in the shed, and thinking:

JOHN: Let me see if it’s possible, since I had an Elecraft KX-3, to have 
a “keep it simple” setup and do a little bit of HF bicycle mobile 
operations. So what I ended up is the absolute minimum, initially using 
the internal battery with the radio mounted on the handlebars - you 
know, the trail-friendly style of the KX-3 makes it possible to put the 
whole radio right on the handlebars - put a Hamstick on the back and 
discovered that in fact the steel frame of the bike acted as an 
excellent counterpoise for 20 meters, 17 and 15, I haven’t really tried 
10, and I do throw out a wire if I’m stationary on 40 just because the 
size of things.

PAUL: Webster loves to work DX while biking, and he’s done rather well. 
In fact:

JOHN: My best DX has been a long-path contact with VK6LC, Mal, in 
Western Australia and I know it was long-path because he turned his beam 
and I lost him on the short-path. And I turned the wick down to five 
watts - and it’s actually recorded on my QRZ.com page - and worked 15, 
500 miles from a bicycle.

PAUL: If you’d like to learn more about how Webster’s setup works, or 
are interested in trying it yourself, he invites anyone to check out his 
N6JW QRZ.com page:

JOHN: Yes, you can get a couple of pictures, they’re welcome to use my 
N6JW@arrl.org email and contact me. I’m happy to try and give some 
assistance.

PAUL: Webster and his wife are avid bikers, and he’s on the air from the 
bike quite a bit. Keep an eye on the spotting sites and you may end up 
with a very interesting QSO.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Paul Braun, WD9GCO.

**

CANADA'S 'CONFEDERATION LIGHTHOUSE' SPEAKS TO THE WORLD

JIM/ANCHOR: As date for the International Lighthouse and Lightship 
Weekend gets closer, amateurs on Prince Edward Island are
especially proud to be participating from a location that's as old as 
Canada itself. Kevin Trotman N5PRE has those details.

KEVIN'S REPORT: Canada's East Point Lighthouse on Prince Edward Island 
is known as the Confederation Lighthouse, the sole survivor of the two 
built in 1867, the year Canada itself was established. Like Canada, it 
is marking its 150th year. Now the lighthouse will be gaining another 
distinction. It will be the location from which hams will operate on 
August 18th during the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend. 
It will be among as many as 500 lighthouses in 40 nations around the 
globe giving their best effort to make the most contacts possible over 
the course of 48 hours that weekend.

The lighthouse will operate with the call sign VY2PLH.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

(GEORGE DEWAR VY2GF)

**

GB3OA REPEATER BACK IN THE GAME

JIM/ANCHOR: The EchoLink and IRLP nodes for one popular repeater in the 
UK had been out of service for some time - but that's no longer the 
case, as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY'S REPORT: The big excitement just outside the Royal Birkdale golf 
course in Southport may not have been the dramatic win of the British 
Open by young American golfer Jordan Spieth. At least not for amateur 
radio operators unless they were also sports fans.

For most amateurs the better news is that the IRLP and Echolink nodes 
5302 on the nearby GB3OA repeater have returned to service.

The repeater, which is less than two miles from the golf course where 
the Open took place, had the IRLP and Echolink nodes disabled for 
several weeks. According to the GB3OA website, those repairs included 
the purchase and configuration of a new server.

With the nodes back in business, hams are encouraged to get back on the 
repeater.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH

(SOUTHGATE AMATEUR RADIO NEWS)


**

BREAK HERE
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio 
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the 
Stephens County Amateur Radio Society, N4DME repeater, in Toccoa, 
Georgia Tuesday nights at 8PM.

**

AMATEUR SERVES NASA FROM THE GROUND UP

JIM/ANCHOR: Australian amateur Tony Hutchison VK5ZAI was recently 
honored by NASA for 20 years of work with the Amateur Radio on the 
International Space Station program. He was not only there as a founding 
member of ARISS, but he's actually a veteran of space communication 
predating the program. John Williams VK4JJW has that story.

JOHN: Kingston radio operator Tony Hutchison VK5ZAI is proud to be the 
essential link that connects hundreds of schools around the world with 
astronauts aboard the International Space Station. He provides what's 
known as a telebridge from his home in South Australia which then 
connects to schools around the world through a NASA phone-line patch. He 
told us his first student connections were with cosmonauts on board the 
MIR space station starting in 1993:

TONY: "My first contact with manned space flight was with the MIR space 
station and Aleks Serebrov. Aleks and I developed quite a friendly 
friendship and this was back in 1993. I asked him if he could speak to 
the Loxton Science Club at the Loxton High School where I was living at 
the time. He said he would be delighted to and said he would do it in 
memory of [the late Shuttle astronaut] Krista McAuliffe."

JOHN: With the creation of ARISS 3 years later, Tony formed even more 
friendships in space. He also saw students become transformed - 
sometimes for life - by the ARISS  experience.

TONY: "It's a great experience. We have had numerous students from 
around the world move on to technology and doing university courses and 
of course becoming amateur radio operators as well which is a big thing. 
We always promoote the amateur radio side of things. It is great, I know 
of one student in Australia who went on to university to do space 
science and it all started from a linkup with ARISS."

JOHN: To hear Tony's first contact with Mir cosmonaut Aleksandr Serebrov 
through the MIREX program, visit the our website, arnewsline.org, and 
click on the tab that says "EXTRA." Meanwhile, we extend our 
congratulations to Tony VK5ZAI.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm John Williams VK4JJW.

**
AUSTRALIA'S SUNSHINE COAST SHINES BRIGHTLY

JIM/ANCHOR: There's more celebration going on in Australia - this time 
on the Sunshine Coast, a popular tourist destination. Turns out it's 
been VERY popular with one group of hams who have a special event 
station under way there. Jason Daniels VK2LAW has those details.

JASON: Congratulations to Australia's Sunshine Coast! Through the end of 
Sptember, the Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club is celebrating the 
half-century that's passed since the Sunshine Coast was officially named 
on the first of August in 1967. That means the club will be on the air 
with the special event call sign VI4SC50. The special event station has 
gained the support of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, which 
provided the group with a $1,250 grant to cover the cost of certificates 
and special QSL cards. Certificates will be given to hams who have 
worked three different operators or three different bands. The renaming 
is something to celebrate, says the club: the tourist destination not 
far from Brisbane was formerly known as the Near North Coast. Be 
listening on all bands from 160m to 23cm and in a number of modes.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(SUNSHINE COAST AMATEUR RADIO CLUB)

**
HAMS NEEDED FOR MEDICAL MISSION TO HONDURAS

JIM/ANCHOR: Hams are never more helpful - or more needed - than when 
their work takes them to remote parts of the world. A nonprofit group in 
the U.S. is planning its next trip to provide medical and dental help in 
Hondurus next year and hams are very definitely needed. We hear more 
from Neil Rapp WB9VPG.

NEIL's REPORT: The International Health Service is looking for amateur 
radio operators to help with its next two-week medical service mission 
to Honduras in February. While the primary purpose is to provide 
communications services for doctors treating impoverished villagers in 
remote areas, John Kirckof KB0UUP describes the radio side of the 
experience as a kind of "super Field Day," with messages being relayed 
from location to location for a variety of health care needs. Most areas 
have little or no electric, phone or internet service.

Anyone with a General class license or higher who is willing to assist 
with communications relating to surgical transport, medical supplies or 
other needs is welcome. It's recommended that radio operators bring 
their own portable HF rigs and have the ability for 2 meter 
communications as well, but John told Newsline that radios can also be 
provided for those who have none. Organizers will also assist newcomers 
in the use of the WinLink system, which is used for sending such 
messages as patient-referral forms or requests for supplies between 
remote villages and some of the surgery locations. No Spanish-language 
skills or medical background is needed.

If you're interested or need more details about what's required, contact 
John by phone at 320-634-4386 or email him at jmkkek-at-yahoo-dot-com. 
(jmkkek@yahoo.com)
For information about the nonprofit itself visit their website at 
www-dot-ihsmn-dot-org  (www.ihsmn.org)

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG

(JOHN KIRCKOF KB0UUP)

**

WORLD OF DX


In the world of DX, be listening for Tim VE6SH who is using the call 
sign V29SH until August 5th from the island of Antigua. He will be 
operating on 30 meters and 17 meters holiday style. Send QSLs via his 
home call.

A special event station marking the 40th birthday of the Swedish Crown 
Princess Victoria will be on the air with the call sign SC40VIC. Be 
listening for this station through to the end of 2017. Send QSL cards to 
SM6JSM.

Philip G4PWO is on the air through to the end of July, operating from 
the Maldives. Be listening for him using the call sign 8Q7PW. He will be 
operating on SSB and in some digital modes and will upload logs to 
Logbook of The World. Send QSLs to his home callsign.


(IRISH RADIO TRANSMITTERS SOCIETY)

**

KICKER: NOW THAT'S DX!

JIM/ANCHOR: Finally, listen up: Can you hear it? Scientists in Puerto 
Rico can and they think the sounds they've been picking up are signals 
from a red dwarf star known as Ross 128. Researchers at the Arecibo 
Observatory first detected these odd communications back in April and 
May and the news has since been making its way around the internet. 
Naturally that's led to speculation once again about alien life forms. 
But Abel Mendez, director of the Planetary Habitability Lab at the 
University of Puerto Rico notes in his blog that space aliens aren't 
high on the list of possibilities. He said the source could be a burst 
from a high-orbit satellite - or emissions like solar flares.

Scientists asked for assistance from two other radiotelescopes: the 
Allen Telescope Array in California and the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank 
Telescope in West Virgnia. The findings are still pending.

Perhaps what's really needed instead - just maybe? - is simply to send a 
QSL card.

(PHYS.ORG NEWS)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Labs; Amateur News Weekly; the ARRL; 
CQ Magazine; George Dewar VY2GF); Hap Holly and the Rain Report; the 
Hindu newspaper; Irish Radio Transmitters Society; John Kirckof KB0UUP; 
K2BSA; The New York Times; PHYS.ORG; Southgate Amateur Radio News; 
Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club; the Times of India; Ted Randall's QSO 
Radio Show; 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 Jim Damrom N8TMW in Charleston, West 
Virginia saying 73 and as always we thank you for listening.

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


***

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