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

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2080 for Friday, September 8, 2017

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2080 with a release date of Friday, 
September 8, 2017 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. For hams, it's all eyes as Hurricane Irma storms 
through the Caribbean. Radio operators in India help with monsoon safety 
and supplies -- and RadioGrams surface as an important resource in the 
aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in the Houston, Texas region. All this and 
more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2080 comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART
**

PAUL/ANCHOR: This has been a season of challenging weather worldwide. 
Our top story this week is Hurricane Irma which, at the time Newsline 
went to production, was sweeping through the Caribbean and taking aim 
squarely at Florida in the U.S. Kent Peterson KC0DGY talked to Bobby 
Best WX4ALA about this historic weather system.

KENT'S REPORT:

BOBBY: Hurricane Irma is the second strongest hurricane ever in the 
Atlantic basin second only to hurricane Allen in 1980.

KENT: Newsline reporter Bobby Best WX4ALA is also a broadcast 
meteorologist who says there are some similarities in this hurricane 
season to ones from the past.

BOBBY: It's mindful of 2005 but but if you look at Jose right behind 
Irma, it makes you wonder

KENT: Best says a lot was learned from all the storms of 2005.

BOBBY: We learned a tremendous amount not only from Katrina but from 
that entire year 2005. We ran out of names we went into alpha beta 
naming hurricanes we had so many. And we did learn a tremendous account 
And I want to give credit April 27th of 2011, the largest super outbreak 
of of tornadoes. We learned a lot about ham radio operators coming in 
and providing emergency communication assistance to law enforcement, 
rescue personal etc.

KENT:  Best thinks hams in the surrounding area will be in a good 
position to help.

BOBBY: Hams in the panhandle are not likely be affected by Irma. 
Additionally Alabama hams have been placed on standby to assist Florida 
if necessary.

KENT:  When this report was being prepared on Wednesday afternoon Best 
said the National Hurricane HF network was up and running.

As Irma slowly moves to the west, the HF net should be getting a lot of 
good info in and get some good info out to hopefully save some lives. By 
Friday the latest models are predicting a right hand turn for Irma 
sometime between Friday night.  Just how far a turn could make all the 
difference in the world for people in Florida.  If it makes enough of a 
turn it would mean the east coast of Florida would be on the east side 
of Irma which is the least powerful side. At that time we would be 
relying on local VHF and UHF nets along with the 75 meter with the 
Florida State Net.

With thanks to Newsline's Bobby Best WX4ALA, I'm Kent Peterson KC0DGY 
reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline.


**
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO MONSOONS IN INDIA

PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, South Asia has been struggling with the effects 
of powerful monsoons - but just like their counterparts in the U.S. and 
the Caribbean, the monsoon victims were able to rely on ham radio, as we 
hear from Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF

JIM's REPORT: As the United States continued to count the toll from 
Hurricane Harvey's assault on the Houston, Texas area, India, Nepal, 
Pakistan and Bangladesh were struggling with brutal monsoons that 
brought the subcontinent its worst rain in decades. In India, amateur 
radio operators were dispatched in Pune and Mumbai where public 
transportation was immobilized by flooding and electricity was cut off. 
Amateurs Satish Shah VU2SVS and Ankur Puranik VU2AXN were among those in 
Mumbai bringing food and resources to a local school where children were 
stranded. Even with VHF equipment in short supply, amateurs were able to 
make connections using an app that turns a smartphone or tablet into a 
walkie-talkie - Zello, the same app that proved useful to U.S. rescuers 
during Hurricane Harvey.
Communications in the affected region in India were being overseen by 
Jayu S. Bhide VU2JAU, the national coordinator for disaster 
communication in India. He reported that hams in East Bengal and Patna 
were involved in getting emergency traffic passed. There were no reports 
of ham involvement in Bangladesh but the big challenge remains the same 
now as in many other storm-hit areas: the need for safe, fresh drinking 
water and available food.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jim Meachen ZL2BHF

(SOUTHGATE AMATEUR RADIO NEWS)

**
RADIO-GRAMS TO THE RESCUE

PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, back in the U.S., hams continued to help Harvey 
victims get what they needed. Sometimes it was just a comforting note 
from home, as we hear from Christian Cudnik K0STH.

CHRISTIAN'S REPORT: Even though the emergency in Houston, Texas was far 
away from his home in western New York, Luke Calianno N2GDU of Lancaster 
was able to assist people struggling in the hurricane's aftermath. As 
the emergency coordinator for the Lancaster ARES Emergency Alert System, 
Luke was connecting worried relatives with family members affected, 
perhaps even stranded, in the Gulf region after Harvey.

Luke told WIVB television that he has been able to send messages through 
Radio-Grams. These are not unlike the ones deployed locally right there 
in the Buffalo, New York area when a major snowstorm takes down the 
communications infrastructure, affecting even the cell towers. He said 
the Radio-Grams, which provide written versions of the messages phoned 
in to the ham operators, have successfully made it to shelters in 
Louisiana and Mississippi too. The Radio-Grams not only got the word 
through but in most cases also delivered a whole lot of reassurance.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik K0STH

(WIVB-TV)

**

SPEAK UP: FCC REVIEWING ITS REGULATIONS

PAUL/ANCHOR: The FCC is looking to change some of its technical 
regulations and wants to hear from you. Jim Damron N8TMW has more on that.

JIM'S REPORT: If you have suggestions or an opinion on technical 
regulation reform for radio, you have until October 30th to let the 
FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology know about it. The FCC's 
Technical Advisory Council has opened a public inquiry, looking to 
either update existing regulations or adopt new ones. The FCC wants the 
council to single out any rules that are obsolete or in need of being 
brought up-to-date. The Council also wants comments on how the agency's 
regulatory process on specific technical rules could become more 
efficient. The agency stresses that the issues being considered are 
those of a technical nature.
If you have an opinion on this or want to share thoughts, file your 
comments in ET Docket 17-215 using the agency's Electronic Comment 
Filing System. You can get additional information from Walter Johnston, 
the TAC working group's FCC liaison or Greg Lapin N9GL, who chairs the 
ARRL RF Safety Committee and represents the ARRL on the Council.

Again, keep in mind that deadline of October 30th.

Meanwhile, the FCC has updated its regulations as they affect wireless 
devices, radio-controlled models, medical implant devices and personal 
locator beacons. At the same time, the agency moved to allow new digital 
applications for the General Mobile Radio Service, setting up 
intervening channels and extending licenses from 5-year terms to 10 
years. The agency also gave additional channels to the FRS, allowing 
greater power on certain channels, up to 2 watts as well as CB radio 
operators being given permission to use hands-free headsets.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron N8TMW

(FCC, ARRL)

**

BREAK HERE

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio 
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the 
WI9HF repeater sponsored by the Capital City Repeater Association in 
Madison Wisconsin, which airs our report at 7:30 on Tuesday nights.

**
NO FLAGGING INTEREST IN THIS AUSTRALIAN EVENT

PAUL/ANCHOR: There are serious contests and then there, well, contests 
like this one in southeastern Australia. It involves flagpoles, as we 
hear from Jason Daniels VK2LAW

JASON'S REPORT: If you like to take your radio contests seriously, well, 
think again: The Flagpole Challenge of Australia's Manly-Warringah Radio 
Society invites radio operators to bring their rig, their flagpole, an 
antenna for the flagpole and - oh yes - a sense of humor to this 
competition. It's taking place on the 16th of September starting at 0000 
UTC and will run for 14 hours -- locally that's 10 a.m. to midnight in 
southeastern Australia.

Interested amateurs can even bring a flag for the flagpole; in fact, it 
will score you some bonus points. You get bonus points for portable or 
maritime operation. All amateur frequencies, including those utilizing 
repeaters, may be used for the contest. The winner is simply the radio 
operator who scores the most points. It's that easy.

The hardest thing may well be selecting what kind of flag to fly. But 
remember, any flag at all gains you 10 extra points.

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

(MANLY-WARRINGAH RADIO SOCIETY)


**
KENTUCKY NET MAKES DEBUT ON 220 MHz

PAUL/ANCHOR: Who doesn't love trying out a new net? Hams in Kentucky 
just got one to look forward to on Sundays. For those details we hear 
from Jack Prindle AB4WS, who shares this report from Amateur News Weekly.

JACK: A new net is being held on East Kentucky 220 link system every 
Sunday night at 8:50 p.m. Eastern Time. The system includes a 224.720 
repeater with a PL of 203.5 in Perry County, the 224.980 machine in Clay 
County, the 224.520 repeater in Pike County, the 224.960 repeater with a 
PL of 203.5 in Letcher County and the 224.820 with a PL of 100 Hertz in 
Knox County.  All the repeaters are linked and they invite all hams to 
join in and blow the dust off your 220 gear. Covering your amateur radio 
news in the greater Cincinnati area and the Commonwealth of Kentucky 
this is Jack Prindle AB4WS in Big Bone, Kentucky.

PAUL/ANCHOR: For more news of the Cincinnati-Ohio-Kentucky area you can 
hear the Amateur News Weekly podcast at amateurnewsweekly.com

**

REMEMBERING A SILENT KEY'S LOVE OF CODE

PAUL/ANCHOR: At the end of September, amateurs will polish up their best 
Code for an event that honors a ham who was likely one of CW's biggest 
proponents until her death: Nancy Kott WZ8C. Heather Embee KB3TZD has 
the details.

HEATHER'S REPORT: When Nancy Kott WZ8C became a Silent Key in 2014 at 
the age of 58, she left behind a legacy of good work in the ham 
community and most especially her years of devotion to promoting Code on 
the air. The Nancy Kott Memorial KN-ZERO-WCW (KN0WCW) event honors her 
each year, as it will this year during the last weekend of September.

The on-air celebration is not a contest, say organizers, but a communal 
recognition of her work with the FISTS CW club. The Michigan radio 
operator was head of what became the Americas Chapter of FIST. She had 
also been editor of the magazines WorldRadio and WorldRadio Online. Her 
advocacy for learning Code made Nancy an inductee in the CQ Amateur 
Radio Hall of Fame in 2014.

A special QSL card honoring Nancy will be available to hams who work the 
Americas Club callsign KN-ZERO-WCW. The event will be held on all HF 
amateur bands, between 0001UTC Saturday the 30th of September and 
0600UTC on Monday the 2nd of October. For more details, visit the 
website fistsna dot org (fistsna.org)

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee KB3TZD.


(THE YL BEAM)


**

THE WORLD OF DX

Tev TA1HZ and Golkem TA7AZC are in Morocco until the 13th of September 
as CN2HZ and CN2ZC respectively. They will participate in WAE DX - SSB 
Contest with their CN callsigns. Their logs will be uploaded to LoTW. 
The QSL manager for CN2HZ is LZ3HI. For CN2ZC please send directly to 
TA7AZC.

Be listening for Hans PA3HGT operating as 3B8/PA3HGT from Mauritius 
through the 22nd of September. He is on the air holiday style on 
40/20/10 meters using SSB and possibly some digital modes. Send QSLs via 
his home callsign, direct or by the Bureau.

If you're a fan of Special Events, you can contact a group of Colombian 
operators using the special callsign 5K300PF through the 15th of 
September. The hams are commemorating the visit of Pope Francis. They 
are operating on all modes and bands. Send QSLs via HK1X.

Be listening too for Bodo DF8DX active from Algeria as 7Y0A from the 
11th of September to the 22nd. Bodo will be on the HF bands using SSB as 
well as CW. QSL via info on QRZ.com.

(OHIO PENN DX BULLETIN)

**

KICKER: SUMMITS IN THE SKY??

PAUL/ANCHOR: Our last story redefines the concept of going on the air - 
largely because it involves amateur radio operators wearing parachutes. 
And using them! With this story, we hear from Mike Askins KE5CXP.

MIKE's REPORT: If you remember the time you took that big leap into ham 
radio, perhaps you can relate, even a little, to Rob KC6TYD, Troy W7BIG 
and Mark AF6IM. When these three took their leap as amateurs just a few 
weeks ago, it was out of an airplane flying at an altitude of twelve 
thousand feet over Tracy, California.

Parachute Mobile Mission 28 in late August marked the team's latest try 
as Parachute Mobile operators, activating a piece of the sky for their 
very own twist on Summits on the  Air.

Rob said the four jumps made at Skydive California consisted of three 
operations on 2 meters with the last one being an HF activation on 20 
meters. The team logged a total of 62 contacts, 12 of them on HF. 
Although almost all the stations they logged were in and around central 
California, the team did score a contact in Florida which -- yes -- 
counts as DX.

Rob told Newsline that the hard part wasn't the jump itself but getting 
ready to go on - and in - the air.

Setting up the gear and completing the safety checklist and manifest can 
take up to 30 minutes, with another 30- to 40-minute wait for an airplane.

Then - the pressure is on! "Keep in mind," he told us, "the jumper only 
has about a ten to fifteen minute window to make as many QSOs as possible."

The team isn't quite done yet. Mission 29 is is next on the agenda, and 
that's in a few short weeks. It's scheduled for October 21st. Visit 
their website parachutemobile.wordpress.com for more details. As Rob 
noted, plans for that are anything but up in the air.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, with my feet definitely planted on the 
ground, I'm Mike Askins KE5CXP.

(PARACHUTE MOBILE, ROB FENN KC6TYD)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Labs; Amateur News Weekly; the ARRL; 
CQ Magazine; the FCC; Hap Holly and the Rain Report; Irish Radio 
Transmitters Society; the Manly-Warringah Radio Society; Ohio Penn DX 
Bulletin; Parachute Mobile; Rob Fenn KC6TYD; Southgate Amateur Radio 
News; Ted Randall's QSO Radio Show; the Times of India; Victoria News; 
WIVB-TV; WTWW Shortwave; the YL Beam; 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 Paul Braun WD9GCO in Valparaiso Indiana 
saying 73 and as always we thank you for listening.

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

***

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