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The Wirral & District Amateur Radio Club

Twice Winner of the RSGB Region 3

'Club of the Year' Trophy for 2013 & 2014

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The RSGB are pleased to announce the March 2023 edition of RadCom Basics is now available on the RSGB website

In this edition, Tony Molloy, M6CIH finds another great source of amateur radio applications and provides step-by-step guidance and plenty of links Also in this edition;

The resignation of Richard Horton, G4AOJ has left an RSGB Board vacancy for a Nominated Director.

The Society needs to embrace new methods of working to help meet the changing needs of the amateur community.

To find out more, go to the volunteer vacancies section of the RSGB website at rsgb.org/volunteers or, for an informal discussion, please email Nominations Committee Chair Stephen Purser, GW4SHF at nominations.chair@rsgb.org.uk.

If you are an RSGB Member, don’t forget to vote for the two candidates that you would like to see as Board Directors for the next two years.

The decision about who to vote for is entirely yours, but please do vote—it only takes a few minutes and will help to ensure that the RSGB Board reflects your views.

The following is a QST. Hams step up for storms in the US Southeast. The first 3-D printed rocket crashes after launch -- and our once-a-year correspondent Piere Pullinmyleg has some news about Bouvet Island. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2370 comes your way right now.

BILLBOARD CART

We begin this week with the deadly storms and tornadoes that pounded southeastern states in the US. Randy Sly W4XJ tells us that If hams could get to their radios, they did. Here's his report.

At least 26 people have died in the wake of powerful storms and tornadoes that swept through the southeastern United States on Friday evening, March 24. Mississippi was hardest hit as an EF-4 tornado carved a 100-mile path of deadly destruction, leaving the towns of Rolling Fork and Silver City in ruins, along with several others.

Robert Hayes, KC5IMN, Amateur Radio Emergency Service section emergency coordinator for Mississippi, told Amateur Radio Newsline that the Jackson Amateur Radio club activated a SKYWARN net early in the afternoon as did the Central Mississippi ARES Group with their linked repeaters covering the periphery of the Jackson metro area. In addition, Vicksburg/Warren County ARES was also up and running as were several non-ARES affiliated nets across the state. He summarized the weather event by saying that after the initial reports of the three major impacts, almost every operator who could get on the air was on the air if they were in a coverage area.

Hayes noted that just prior to the storm, the section was about to initiate a request from the three NWS offices that cover the state to talk about SKYWARN requirements and standards in order to be more effective as spotters. This storm, he believes, provides even greater motivation to accomplish this.

This is Randy Sly W4XJ.

(AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE)

The launch of the first 3-D printed rocket didn't result in the successful flight that was envisioned by the company that created it but they are still encouraged. Paul Braun WD9GCO has those details.

When the first rocket to be created by 3D printing lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on March 22nd it was a successful launch but a failed flight. The creators of Terran 1, however, are encouraged by the late March blastoff, which was intended to send the rocket 200 kilometers, or 125 miles, into orbit for a few days. The California company known as Relativity Space had printed 85 percent of the rocket's metal components, including its engines, as a means of making the costs of space travel less prohibitive.

After three minutes of flight, however, the uncrewed Terran 1 crashed into the ocean after one of its nine engines appeared to lose ignition. In an interview with National Public Radio conducted prior to the launch, the company's CEO Tim Ellis had said that he would still consider the mission a success if the rocket were simply capable of surviving the rigors of a launch. A company executive said during the launch webcast that she believed enough data had been gathered to demonstrate that 3D-printed rockets can be viable in space.

According to the NPR report, yet another rocket is already in the design stages for launch next year and the company ultimately hopes to create a rocket in which 95 percent of its parts are created through 3D printing. The startup venture has entered the market hoping to be able to help send even more satellites into orbit around the Earth.

This is Paul Braun WD9GCO.

(SPACE.COM, NPR)

It's not yet cyclone season in India but for amateurs on the east coast of that nation, it's always a good season to be prepared. As you'll hear in this story from Graham Kemp VK4BB, the West Bengal Radio Club was prepared.

The tropical cyclones that have struck eastern India over the years have been deadly. However, none of those cyclones could compare to the one that hams responded to on March 23rd in the state of West Bengal. This was a mock cyclone and so at 9 'clock that morning, when the region went into high alert and hams responded, it was only a drill. The drill had been organised by the National Disaster Management Agency and arranged by the government of West Bengal's Disaster Management Department. The club station quickly established communications throughout the villages and 25 licenced hams from the club kept the lines of communication open.

This kind of readiness remains critical in India but especially in the eastern coastal area, where states like West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha feel the brunt of the damage and share the difficult cyclone season with nearby Bangladesh.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(WEST BENGAL RADIO CLUB, AMBARISH NAG BISWAS, VU2JFA)

The long-awaited new amateur license class is coming to Australia - but not as quickly as many had hoped. John Williams VK4JJW brings us up to date.

Hams in Australia who have been waiting for the introduction of the new amateur class licence on July 1st are going to have to wait a little longer. The Australian Communications and Media Authority has announced that it must make certain determinations concerning the licence's operational policy arrangements and to further clarify the implementation of higher power authorisation.
According to the ACMA website, that includes call sign administration, public register options, amateur operating procedures, arrangements for amateur club and international reciprocity for Advanced amateurs traveling overseas.

The ACMA's review also includes, among other things, its proposed access for standard-level amateur licensees for the 50–52 MHz band.

The ACMA said it will provide an update in the second quarter of this year.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(AMCA)

Another voice has weighed in on the battle to keep AM radio in cars used in the United States. Kent Peterson KCØDGY has that update.

A New Jersey lawmaker has added his voice to the growing call in the United States asking that AM radio become a required safety feature for all automakers including electric cars being manufactured in the US market.

Congressman Josh Gottheimer said he believes that some carmakers' plans to discontinue AM radio in cars and trucks will post an unnecessary danger during national emergencies when many alerts are transmitted over broadcast AM frequencies. He compared AM radio to other minimum safety requirements provided in cars, including seatbelts, airbags and brakes.

The lawmaker said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has an obligation to put AM radio on that list of minimum standards. He spoke at a press conference in late March in New Jersey, accompanied by Jordan Walton, the executive director of the New Jersey Broadcasters Association.

A number of carmakers have said that AM radio transmissions are disrupted by noise generated by electric vehicles, making signal reception poor.

There has been a growing call recently to keep AM radio for motorists in the US. The most recent voices have been those of seven former officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(RADIO WORLD)

Hams and firefighters alike are mourning the death of a colleague in Caribou, Maine. Daniel Raymond, KC1PGR, became a Silent Key on March 23rd following an automobile accident. Dan had been involved in rescue and firefighting for much of his adult life. In 1995, he became a career firefighter for the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department, eventually attaining the rank of captain. A devoted public servant on many levels, Dan was active in community life and taught public-safety education. He was charter member of the Caribou Emergency Amateur Radio Service and an active operator with the Caribou Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service.

Dan was 57.

(T.H. MERRITT, KL5YJ)

Imagine an antenna that stands seven stories tall, is 30 feet wide and contains 110 tons of stainless steel, bronze and steel. Well, it's not really an antenna - it's a sculpture on the campus of a university in New York State - but for just one day in March, it helped log a contact on 20 meters. Sel Embee KB3T Zed D explains.

The sculpture is called "The Sentinel" and by all accounts it is the largest sculpture to stand on any university campus in the United States. It recently morphed into a 20m antenna that helped log a successful contact using FT8 on 5 watts. Experiments are a way of life at the Rochester Institute of Technology in upstate New York and so members of the amateur radio club, K2GXT, couldn't resist giving in to their long-simmering temptation to turn "The Sentinel" from a symbolic campus guardian into a somewhat artful messenger. The hams first checked the setup with a NanoVNA and then let those 5 watts loose, keeping onlookers at a safe distance while they transmitted. A report by one of the club members on Reddit said: [quote] "With help from our university's health and safety team, we did this today.....We were able to be heard almost across the entire eastern half ot the US, at least according to PSKReporter, despite some less-than-amazing band conditions." [endquote]

While this is the first such attempt by the club - and happily a successful one - the story doesn't end here. The club members wrote: [quote] "We're really impressed with the results and we hope to do this again with better band conditions." [endquote]

The sculpture cost $800,000 when it was installed 20 years ago. It might be more cost-effective next time to just toss a wire into the trees,

This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.

(HACKADAY, AMATEUR NEWS WEEKLY, RIT, REDDIT)

If you're heading to Hamvention in Xenia, Ohio, here's something to put on your calendar for that weekend: The Amateur Radio Newsline Town Hall Forum is back. This popular and lively 90-minute session was discontinued after the death of Newsline co-founder Bill Pasternak WA6ITF in 2015. It returns on Friday May 19th from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time with Mark Smith, N6MTS, cohost of the Ham Radio Workbench podcast who will discuss the proposed Open Headset Interface Standard; Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, former FCC amateur radio enforcement director who oversees the ARRL's Volunteer Monitor Program. We will also be hosting IARU president Timothy Ellam, VE6SH, who will give an overview of issues the IARU is reviewing that affect hams worldwide. See you there!

Hams in the UK have already planned a variety of events to mark the King's coronation in May. They've just received approval for yet another way to mark the occasion. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has those details.

Ofcom has approved the use of the letter "R": as a regional secondary locator prefix for callsigns used during the Coronation of the King and the Queen Consort. Hams will need to apply for a Notice of Variation, known as an NoV, and can do so through the Radio Society of Great Britain website. Use of this special prefix is approved for use during May and June. To apply, hams must provide their callsign and their email address as well as the number of their amateur radio licence. The application form is available at rsgb dot org. The Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday the 6th of May.

(RSGB)

New Zealand's Secretary Island is traditionally a haven for native wildlife, especially birds, and is prized for having a splendid ecosystem. One amateur radio operator recently combined his work as a conservationist there with his pursuit of QSOs. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF tells us of his adventures.

For five days, Matt Briggs, ZL4NVW, was both the hunter and the hunted. He spent five days on Secretary Island, helping the Department of Conservation trap stoats, predators that made it across the sound to invade this pristine island ecosystem. But Secretary also carries the island designation of ZLI/SL-253, (Pronounced: Zed Ell Eye Slash Ess Ell 253) in the ZL-On-The-Air_scheme, so not all of the gear Matt carried was used for trapping these carnivorous mammals. He was looking to catch some QSOs -- and he did, on several SOTA summits. He started with SOTA summit ZL3/FL-728, known as The Hub and went on to hut, Mount Grono Biv, designated ZLH/SL-142. He wrote on the SOTA Reflector that his first day on the island was a productive one: He brought in 10 SOTA contacts and - oh yes - four stoats.
It was a good beginning.
Later he was to tackle SOTA summit Mount Grono, ZL3/FL-616. In between checking the stoat traps, he made good contacts from this 4-point summit, which is the island's highest. Despite some weather challenges, his good fortune continued right up to the final day on the island.
Matt didn't just leave with a log; he has pictures too. You can share his experience virtually by going to the SOTA Reflector. The link appears in the text version of this week's script at arnewsline.org

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(SOTA REFLECTOR)

In the World of DX, a DARC team has activated the special event callsign DA23WARD in celebration of World Amateur Radio Day. The station will be on the air through to the 18th of April. The bureau will automatically confirm all contacts. Direct QSLs should be sent via DL2VFR. Another station marking World Amateur Radio Day is the UBA special event station in Belgium using the callsign OT23WARD. This station will be on the air from the 1st through to the 30th of April. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, LoTW, eQSL. A certificate will be available.

Be listening for 3A8AB from Monaco between April the 1st and the 30th. The activation commemorates the 100th anniversary of the first transatlantic two-way contact via amateur radio between Leon Deloy, F8AB, and Fred Schnell, 1MO. Leon became a Silent Key in 1969 in Monaco and bequeathed his fortune to a variety of philanthropic organizations. QSL via LoTW.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

Our final story of this week tells about a very new club. In fact, it's one of the most remarkable clubs to ever come into being. It's based in a most unlikely - and very remote - location: Bouvet Island. Our April Fool's Day correspondent, Pierre Pullinmyleg, tells Newsline listeners about the new Bouvet Island Amateur Radio Club and its highly unusual members. Remember you heard this story first on Amateur Radio Newsline. Pierre?

After saying goodbye to ze 3YØJ DXpedition only a few weeks earlier, ze local residents were inspired. They knew it was time for Bouvet Island to have its own amateur radio club. So one was hatched, just like so many of its members. Yes, hatched - because zeese members you see, zay are zee penguins native to this South Atlantic Island. Zese birds are so very intelligent and zey had very carefully watched from afar as ze team of operators called CQ. Zey learned just enough CW along the way to try and operate! AHA! So just maybe did you bust one of zose pileups? Maybe you ended up working a penguin -- and you didn't know it? Well, now zese birds, zay have developed zere own digital mode of operating to make things easier. It is called Pen-Gweeno. Pen-Gweeno is good because ze birds found zat CW, she is nice enough but is too hard: ham radio operators with wings, mes amis, cannot possibly hope to have a good fist.

So be listening for low-power, highly efficient transmissions of Pen-Gweeno on ze HF bands. Listen for ze club callsign 3Y2PENG. Please remember too that just because zese birds cannot fly, it does not mean they can't get on zee air.

Zis has been Pierre Pullinmyleg saying "au revoir, mes amis."

We remind our listeners that young hams who live in the continental United States have an opportunity to make news, if they aren't already doing so, by being a recipient of this year's Amateur Radio Newsline Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award. Consider nominating an amateur radio operator 18 years of age or younger -- someone who has talent, promise and a commitment to the spirit of ham radio. Find application forms on our website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab. Nominations are now open and close on May 31st.

Do you have a piece of Amateur Radio News that you think Newsline would be interested in? 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.

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur News Weekly; ARRL; Australia Communications and Media Authority; CQ Magazine; David Behar K7DB; DX-World.net; FCC; 425 DX News; Hackaday; National Public Radio; QRZ.COM; Radio Society of Great Britain; Radio World; Reddit; Rochester Institute of Technology; SOTA Reflector; shortwaveradio.de; Space.com; West Bengal Radio Club; Wireless Institute of Australia; World Wide Flora & Fauna; 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 Stephen Kinford N8TMW in Wadsworth Ohio saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

Keplerian Bulletin 23 ARLK023
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT March 31, 2023
To all radio amateurs

Special thanks to AMSAT-NA (AMSAT.ORG) for the following Keplerian data.

Decode 2-line elsets with the following key:
1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ
2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ
KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN
G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM

0 AO-07
1 07530U 74089B   23089.83548939 -.00000013 00000-0 20541-3 0 9994
2 07530 101.9432 75.9975 0011996 212.3192 264.6596 12.53662796213354
0 ISS
1 25544U 98067A   23090.76183388 .00017229 00000-0 31641-3 0 9997
2 25544 51.6406 352.1611 0006947 137.2277 261.3232 15.49324580389783
0 SO-50
1 27607U 02058C   23089.63360238 .00002835 00000-0 40226-3 0 9995
2 27607 64.5548 145.7159 0075309 240.3359 119.0232 14.77034623 90620
0 AO-73
1 39444U 13066AE 23090.16753551 .00008021 00000-0 90337-3 0 9993
2 39444 97.6637 57.1307 0054204 168.0330 192.2187 14.85809909504645
0 XW-2A
1 40903U 15049E   23090.38322942 .00384213 58721-4 11215-2 0 9992
2 40903 97.1224 157.9125 0005488 165.9393 322.8242 15.92790838424100
0 IO-86
1 40931U 15052B   23089.90713231 .00001634 00000-0 13668-3 0 9999
2 40931   5.9985 285.3459 0013481 268.0751 91.8016 14.77129644405769
0 CAS-4B
1 42759U 17034B   23090.63800919 .00014688 00000-0 76236-3 0 9996
2 42759 43.0160 186.3223 0011586 318.8748 182.6992 15.15900200319865
0 CAS-4A
1 42761U 17034D   23090.65708269 .00012850 00000-0 66737-3 0 9990
2 42761 43.0165 184.7740 0012249 318.8557 188.7457 15.15963075319877
0 AO-91
1 43017U 17073E   23089.85038293 .00013384 00000-0 95176-3 0 9993
2 43017 97.6419 337.2955 0236318 328.1183 30.5908 14.84935704289555
0 PO-101
1 43678U 18084H   23090.52704722 .00002569 00000-0 25201-3 0 9997
2 43678 98.0078 233.0044 0010713 61.4777 298.7521 14.93104227240678
0 QO-100
1 43700U 18090A   23090.51458882 .00000138 00000-0 00000+0 0 9998
2 43700   0.0151 150.4138 0001124 218.8285 30.4132 1.00272981 16153
0 JO-97
1 43803U 18099AX 23089.88538874 .00009905 00000-0 80263-3 0 9993
2 43803 97.5801 154.5053 0014194 23.7223 336.4652 14.99821275235952
0 CAS-6
1 44881U 19093C   23090.53958331 .00001934 00000-0 24812-3 0 9995
2 44881 97.8643 170.3128 0014294 336.5583 23.4979 14.82327198177294
0 RS-44
1 44909U 19096E   23090.35368900 .00000018 00000-0 28686-4 0 9992
2 44909 82.5241 39.6552 0217802   9.2639 351.2380 12.79719548152259
0 XW-3
1 50466U 21131B   23090.70303245 .00001609 00000-0 53787-3 0 9996
2 50466 98.5536 172.4921 0004514 29.2030 330.9409 14.38794537 66219
0 IO-117
1 53106U 22080B   23088.05176028 -.00000003 00000-0 00000-0 0 9991
2 53106 70.1795 347.5677 0008286 204.3079 155.7190 6.42557135 16603
0 FO-118
1 54684U 22167C   23090.65954021 .00018166 00000-0 10602-2 0 9994
2 54684 97.5490 228.9364 0013956 238.8402 249.8908 15.11912188 16956

Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW.

The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 2330z on Baudot and BPSK31.

DX Bulletin 13 ARLD013
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT March 30, 2023
To all radio amateurs

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by The Daily DX, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.

MONACO, 3A. Special event station 3A8AB is QRV during April to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first transatlantic contact between F8AB in Nice, France, and U1MO located in Hartford, Connecticut. QSL via LoTW.

MALDIVES, 8Q. Dejan, OE7MOP is QRV as 8Q7MO from Summer Island until April 10. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and with an emphasis on RTTY. This includes being an entry in the EA RTTY contest. QSL via bureau.

CAPE VERDE, D4. Timo, OH1NOA is QRV as D4NA from Sal Island, IOTA AF-086, until April 6. Activity is in his spare time on 40 to 10 meters using mainly CW with some SSB. He plans to be active from World Wide Flora and Fauna sites D4FF-002 and D4FF-0003. QSL via LoTW.

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, DA. Special event station DA23WARD is QRV until April 18 to commemorate World Amateur Radio Day. QSL via bureau.

NIUE, E6. Janusz, SP9FIH and Leszek, SP6CIK are QRV as E6AF and E6CI, respectively, until April 9. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8. QSL via Club Log.

KYRGYZSTAN, EX. Archie, EX0QKT is QRV with a limited license and is active from Bishkek on the shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. Activity is in his spare time on the HF bands using CW, SSB, and FT8. QSL via R3TKT.

MAYOTTE, FH. Dom, F4IFF will be QRV as FH/F4IFF from Boueni from April 1 to 9. Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL via EB7DX.

FRENCH POLYNESIA, FO. George, AA7JV and Mike, KN4EEI are QRV as FO/AA7JV from the Tuamotus Archipelago, IOTA OC-066, until April 5. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8 on 6 meters. QSL via HA7RY.

SOLOMON ISLANDS, H4. Michael, DL2GMI plans to be QRV as H44MI beginning April 2 and active for 7 to 10 days. Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters using some CW, SSB, and RTTY. This may include 5 meter EME from Grid Square RI01hp. QSL direct to home call.

PANAMA, HP. Josep, EA3BT and Nuria, EA3WL will be QRV as H31W and H31B, respectively, from Contadora Island from April 3 to 8. Activity will be on 40 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8. QSL via Club Log.

BELGIUM, ON. Special event station OT23WARD will be QRV from April 1 to 30 from various locations to commemorate World Amateur Radio Day. QSL via LoTW.

SEYCHELLES, S7. Ravi, S79VU is QRV as S76A until April 2 from the Inner Islands as part of World Autism Week. QSL direct to W2MTR.

WEST KIRIBATI, T30. Members of the Rebel DX Group, including Kam, T33KC, will be QRV as T30UN from North Tarawa, IOTA OC-017, for about five weeks the beginning of April. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8 in DXpedition mode with multiple stations active. QSL via Club Log.

INDIA, VU. Special event station AU40NRO will be QRV from April 1 to June 30 to celebrate The 40th anniversary of the National Institute of Amateur Radio.
QSL via VU2NRO.

MEXICO, XE. Enrique, XE2AA will be QRV as XF2A from Tamalcab Island, IOTA NA-200, from April 2 to 7. QSL via IT9EJW.

SOUTH SUDAN, Z8. Diya, YI1DZ is QRV as Z81D from Juba until April 22. Activity is in his spare time on the HF bands using FT8. QSL via OM3JW.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC RTTY Sprint, NCCC CW Sprint, Sasquatch CW Stomp, K1USN Slow Speed CW Test, RSGB FT4 International Activity Day, PODXS 070 Club PSK 31 Flavors Contest, EA RTTY Contest, Georgia State Parks on the Air, Louisiana QSO Party, Mississippi QSO Party, Missouri QSO Party, Florida State Parks on the Air and the SP DX Contest are all scheduled for this upcoming weekend.

The K1USN Slow Speed CW Test, ICWC Medium Speed CW Test, OK1WC Memorial, RSGB 80-Meter Club CW Championship, ARS Spartan CW Sprint, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, ZL CW Sprint, Phone Weekly Test, A1Club AWT, CWops Test, VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Mini-Test 40, Mini-Test 80 and the UKEICC 80-Meter SSB Contest are on tap for April 3 to 5.

Please see March QST, page 71, April QST, page 69, and the ARRL and WA7BNM Contest web sites for details.

The 46-foot asteroid named FF7 will make its closest approach to planet Earth today at a distance of just 3.3mn Kilometers. The rock is travelling at a rapdid speed of 38,844 kilometers per hour. However, this house size rock is not a threat to planet Earth as it will simply pass by it, if it keeps on travelling in the trajectory it is currently in.

If you are an RSGB Member, don’t forget to vote for the two candidates that you would like to see as Board Directors for the next two years.

The decision about who to vote for is entirely yours, but please do vote—it only takes a few minutes and will help to ensure that the RSGB Board reflects your views.

As part of our Coronation celebration activities, Ofcom approved R as the optional Coronation regional secondary locator prefix for all radio amateurs to use during May and June 2023.

The following is a QST. Fire destroys an important lifesaving repeater in Oklahoma. The Dayton amateur radio community loses a leader -- and a victory atop an Australian summit for one young operator. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2369 comes your way right now.
BILLBOARD CART

A vital repeater in southern Oklahoma has literally gone up in smoke, leaving a region without an important emergency communications resource. Ralph Squillace KK6ITB has that story.

Fire has destroyed the W5BLW repeater in southern Oklahoma, taking down a critically important resource for SKYWARN, the Red Cross and local emergency operations in five counties of the region. According to Vance Smith, KE5BAL, of the Ardmore Amateur Radio Club, it will be a slow road back for the repeater, which stood for more than 16 years.

Vance told Newsline that the repeater was consumed by a controlled burn that went the wrong way on the private ranch property where the repeater stood. By the time the damage was noticed on the mountaintop, it was too late.

Now the scrambling - and the hard work - begins so that emergency communications can resume when needed.

Vance said he has an old repeater that can be put up temporarily on another site but it will be a while before a full power repeater will be back in action at the site on top of Arbuckle Mountain. He told Newsline [quote] "We have a lot of work to do up at the site. We are going to need a tower climber to do work up top and along the side of the tower." [endquote]

The Ardmore Amateur Radio Club repeater bears the name and callsign of Ardmore club member Charles M. Dibrell who became a Silent Key in 1998. He had been a licensed ham since 1929.

Vance told Newsline: [quote] "This is a very important piece of radio equipment for southern Oklahoma."[endquote]

This is Ralph Squilllace KK6ITB.

(VANCE SMITH, KE5BAL; QRZ: LLOYD COLSTON, KC5FM)

A recent move by the FCC means that increasing numbers of smartphone users may discover what hams already know: that when there's no terrestrial service, additional coverage is readily available from satellites. Dave Parks WB8ODF has the details.

Smartphones may soon have a direct connection to satellites when necessary, following a move by the US Federal Communications Commission to set out guidelines for such service. While space-based connections are already a reality on a limited basis with Apple phones and are in the works for T-Mobile, SpaceX, Qualcomm and Iridium, guidelines are still needed to sort out the rules for broader implementation. A recent draft document by the FCC seeks to explore this kind of supplemental service and how it would work.

The FCC said in a news release that this would require agency authorization for terrestrial-based providers so they could provide licensed operation on a part of the spectrum reserved for them. Phones would switch to the satellite signal when no other signal is available.

This is Dave Parks WB8ODF.

(TECH CRUNCH)

A leader in the Dayton, Ohio amateur radio community and a force in the annual Dayton Hamvention has become a Silent Key. We hear more from Patrick Clark K8TAC.

Amateurs in Dayton, Ohio and beyond often looked to Ron Cramer, KD8ENJ, for leadership. He was the vice president of the Dayton Amateur Radio Association, which he had one time serve as president, and he was general chairman of Dayton Hamvention. Ron became a Silent Key on Saturday, March 11th, after a brief illness.

His skills at organizing and leading especially came to the forefront as part of the group that worked to provide Hamvention with a smooth transition to the Greene County Fairgrounds after more than five decades at Hara Arena.

In a message on the ARRL website, DARA president Jack Gerbs, WB8SCT, described Ron as [quote] "a hardworking, dedicated, wonderful person who had a positive impact on everyone he encountered. His only fault was, he would never say no." [endquote]

Ron Cramer was 75.

This is Patrick Clark K8TAC.

(DAYTON DAILY NEWS, ARRL)

Congratulations to George Dewar, VY2GF, of Prince Edward Island, Canada, on being chosen Activator of the Year for 2022 by the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society. George is being celebrated for his numerous activations at the region's lighthouses and for promoting the activity in the media. Society president John Huggins, KX4O and Tim Hijazi, KB3K, said that George was selected for having [quote] "set a high bar not just with quantity of lighthouse activations and logged QSOs but equally with quality." [endquote]. All the best, George!

Amateur radio communication is just one part of the outer-space experience one ISS astronaut is sharing through a new website. Here's John Williams VK2JJW with that report.

The website is known as ELF in Space, and it has been created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai and the Emirates Literature Foundation as a communications tool about technology and the space programme. It features Sultan Al Neyadi, KI5VTV, the second astronaut from the United Arab Emirates. The communications engineer is on board the ISS for the longest Arab space mission to date. The website's debut was announced on March 10th. Al Neyadi is giving its visitors a window into his six-month experience on board the International Space station. His is not the only voice to be heard. There will be input from some very terrestrial voices, such as authors and space experts. Other UAE astronauts such as Hazzaa Al Mansoori and Nora Al Matrooshi will join him.

The website has a strong tie-in to the classroom experience and each week new topics will be released discussing the challenges and discoveries of space travel. There are also classrooom-based activities for educators to download for their students.

As part of a 20-week learning programme, students around the world will watch each episode as it is released with subtitles

A link to the first episode is in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(GULF NEWS, WIA, MOHAMMED BIN RASHID SPACE CENTRE)

Just a reminder that the worldwide special event for Autism Awareness is on the air March 25th through April 2nd, sponsored by the Ten Mile River Scout Camp Amateur Radio Club. Listen for call signs from an international team of operators including W2A, GB2AA, GB2AAW, GBØAAW, 8AØRARI, 4XØAAW, HIØAUT, S76A and VC2AA.

(QRZ.COM)

Friday 24th March 2023

Scientists have found the source of a mysterious radio signal from the sun that sounds curiously like a heartbeat. Kent Peterson KCØDGY takes the pulse of this remarkable research.

When a recent C-class solar flare more than 5,000 kilometers above the sun sent out a radio signal in a heartbeat-like pattern, scientists began work to unlock the reason behind it. The international team went in search of the origin of this pattern, known as a quasi-periodic pulsation, or QPP.

Studying observations captured in 2017 by a radio telescope in California that detects microwave frequencies, the researchers began studying a heartbeat-like pattern that repeated every 10 to 20 seconds. Then they unearthed something unexpected: a secondary signal, which was weaker and could be discerned every 30 to 60 seconds.

According to their recently published study, they have been able to determine that the so-called heartbeats are triggered by disruptions known as "magnetic islands" which form in sheets of rapidly moving plasma from the sun.

At the heart of the matter is what this research may ultimately reveal: Writing in the journal Nature Communications, one researcher said the answer was key to a fuller understanding of the scope of the damage that solar storms can do when their energy is released.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, SCI TECH DAILY)

The Northern Illinois DX Association hosted the first presentation by a Three Y Zero Jay team member on what it was like to live on and activate Bouvet Island. DXpeditioner Adrian KO8SCA provided a one-hour talk, complete with dramatic photographs, on the Zoom platform earlier this month. He described the team's 10-day effort to maintain a delicate balance of food and fuel supplies as they scheduled precious time to operate on the air - at first using CW and SSB and later FT8. They also kept an eye on storm systems. As Adrian told his viewers [quote] "Mother Nature is never doing things in your favor." [endquote] The DXpedition left the island on February 14th after making more than 19,000 QSOs.

Whether you worked Bouvet Island or not, you can still view Adrian's talk which is now available to everyone on YouTube on the Northern Illinois DX Association channel. You can also find a link to it through the Northern Illinois DX Association website at nidxa dot org (nidxa.org).

(YOUTUBE, AMATEUR RADIO WEEKLY)

A very young amateur in Australia has completed a summit activation that he's likely never to forget. Graham Kemp VK4BB shares his victory with us.

First-time summit activator Emile, VK5WWW, has now earned one point in the SOTA awards scheme for each year of his life: The 10-year-old Australian amateur successfully activated Mount Wellington in Tasmania with an HT and a lot of hope on Tuesday, March 21st shortly before 9:30 am local time.

The summit is 1,270-metres, or 4,167 feet, high.

Operating at VK5WWW/7 he logged six contacts in the Hobart area on 2m. One-half hour later, it was a done deal. Emile's first solo act was a success.

His proud father, John VK5HAA, who is also an activator, reported his son's SOTA success on the Australian SOTA activators' groups.io email list.

Congratulations on reaching new heights, Emile. Good on ya!

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(GROUPS.IO)

In the World of DX, the Sable Island DXpedition CYØS is under way in Nova Scotia, Canada until the 30th of March and will include 2M EME operation. Operators will also use the HF bands plus 6 metres. Modes will include CW, SSB and FT8 in fox-hound mode. Contacts also count for Parks on the Air, for Park VE-0210, the ARLHS Lighthouse Award, for Lighthouse SAB-002, and IOTA for Island Number NA-063. QSL via WA4DAN.

Listen for Miguel, CT1EBM, who is using the callsign CN2EBM from the 26th of March to the 9th of April during a 5,000-kilometre tour through Morocco. He is using SSB and FT8 on the HF bands. He will be operating via the QO-100 satellite on SSB. For details, see QRZ.com.

Philippe FK4QX, Yves FK4RD and Michel FK8IK are using the callsign TX5L from Lifou Island, IOTA Number OC-033, in New Caledonia from the 27th through to the 31st of March. They are operating CW and SSB on 40-10 metres, QSL via F4FTV.

Pista, HA5AO, will be on the air as 5X2I on the shores of Lake Victoria in Uganda from the 24th of April to the 10th of May. He will operate CW, SSB and FT8 in fox/hound mode on 40-10 metres. QSL request to OQRS or send your card direct or via the bureau to HA5AO. The complete log will be uploaded to LoTW six months after the expedition.

Be listening for Janusz, SP9FIH, who is operating as E51WEG and for Leszek, SP6CIK, operating as E51CIK from Rarotonga, IOTA number OC-013, in the South Cook Islands. They will be there from the 13th to the 28th of April, operating CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8 on 40-10 metres. QSL via Club Log's OQRS.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

For our final story we ask: Can you imagine being 101 years old and still on the air, sending and copying CW? We visit with one man in Iowa who doesn't have to imagine it because he is living it! Jim Damron N8TMW tells us about him.

Just like the Morse Code he loves to send, the 101 years of Lowell Dibble, WØTER, have been a continuous wave.

The lowa man turned 101 years old on St. Patrick's Day and according to several press reports and a video on YouTube his longevity and enthusiasm - like his ability to send CW - transmit a powerful message on a daily basis.

Lowell has a long history on the air. He served as a radio officer with the Merchant Marine during World War II. An Amateur Extra Class operator, he has regular QSOs with his friends using CW and keeps active at the retirement community where he lives. His mental workouts with Code are complemented by his daily routine of physical workouts that start his day.

His son Mark told TV station KCRG in an interview just days before his father's birthday that what keeps him going is [quote]: “the excitement of just wanting to do things, get up in the morning...It’s not 'what am I going to do??' It’s 'What of all of these things am I going to do today?'” [endquote]

Dibble told the TV station that although he credits good genes, having a positive outlook is also a definite plus -- and he plans to keep riding the excitement of that continuous wave.

This is Jim Damron N8TMW.

(KCRG TV)

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur News Weekly; ARRL; CQ Magazine; David Behar K7DB; Dayton Daily News; DX-World.net; FCC; 425 DX News; Groups.IO; Gulf News; KCRG.TV; Lloyd Colston, KC5FM; Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre; New Jersey Institute of Technology; QRZ.COM; Sci-Tech Daily; shortwaveradio.de; Tech Crunch; Vance Smith, KE5BAL; Wireless Institute of Australia; 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 Neil Rapp WB9VPG in Union Kentucky saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

Keplerian Bulletin 20 ARLK020
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT March 21, 2023
To all radio amateurs

Special thanks to AMSAT-NA (AMSAT.ORG) for the following Keplerian data.

Decode 2-line elsets with the following key:
1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ
2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ
KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN
G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM

0 AO-07
1 07530U 74089B   23080.49784385 -.00000042 00000-0 23204-4 0 9996
2 07530 101.9421 66.6020 0011938 230.6160 241.6965 12.53662469212186
0 ISS
1 25544U 98067A   23080.70512120 .00015280 00000-0 28135-3 0 9999
2 25544 51.6417 41.9472 0006129 116.4287 305.1642 15.49355675388224
0 SO-50
1 27607U 02058C   23080.49301349 .00002571 00000-0 36692-3 0 9997
2 27607 64.5559 173.7253 0075961 242.0440 117.2960 14.76976031 89276
0 AO-73
1 39444U 13066AE 23080.46936506 .00005837 00000-0 66225-3 0 9999
2 39444 97.6625 47.7898 0053221 200.0608 159.8517 14.85668710502619
0 XW-2A
1 40903U 15049E   23080.43618387 .00237942 00000-0 92128-3 0 9990
2 40903 97.1270 147.4845 0007052 172.2968 315.6995 15.86584905422520
0 IO-86
1 40931U 15052B   23080.45441447 .00001622 00000-0 13517-3 0 9997
2 40931   6.0002 352.7876 0012521 129.4180 230.7021 14.77108954404369
0 CAS-4B
1 42759U 17034B   23080.55021808 .00011237 00000-0 59154-3 0 9995
2 42759 43.0170 242.2571 0011465 259.1903 212.4745 15.15589813318332
0 CAS-4A
1 42761U 17034D   23080.50134755 .00011861 00000-0 62194-3 0 9990
2 42761 43.0164 241.0973 0012336 259.4702 204.1974 15.15678368318335
0 AO-91
1 43017U 17073E   23080.21382519 .00012219 00000-0 86944-3 0 9996
2 43017 97.6437 328.0439 0238092 359.8962   0.2164 14.84672245288125
0 PO-101
1 43678U 18084H   23080.40748625 .00002855 00000-0 27982-3 0 9999
2 43678 98.0046 222.7030 0010757 92.3325 267.9144 14.93041411239169
0 QO-100
1 43700U 18090A   23080.31021727 .00000127 00000-0 00000-0 0 9998
2 43700   0.0175 242.0328 0000932 128.5244 305.4870 1.00272489 15804
0 JO-97
1 43803U 18099AX 23080.14427343 .00007202 00000-0 58749-3 0 9993
2 43803 97.5852 145.0161 0015524 57.8706 302.4021 14.99647425234499
0 CAS-6
1 44881U 19093C   23080.48155746 .00001779 00000-0 22888-3 0 9995
2 44881 97.8658 160.4247 0015032   9.4499 350.6988 14.82287571175805
0 RS-44
1 44909U 19096E   23080.42480003 .00000020 00000-0 32083-4 0 9997
2 44909 82.5220 46.2515 0218190 32.4234 329.0058 12.79719280150930
0 XW-3
1 50466U 21131B   23080.54969140 .00000895 00000-0 30575-3 0 9995
2 50466 98.5548 162.3697 0005099 56.2777 303.8896 14.38761786 64753
0 IO-117
1 53106U 22080B   23080.11397462 -.00000003 00000-0 00000-0 0 9997
2 53106 70.1803 350.3243 0008309 206.6105 153.4129 6.42557126 16095
0 FO-119
1 54684U 22167C   23080.45914873 .00016803 00000-0 99173-3 0 9999
2 54684 97.5457 218.8566 0013686 275.2614 175.9906 15.11526631 15412

Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW.

The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Friday, March 24, 2023, at 2330z on Baudot and BPSK31.

DX Bulletin 12 ARLD012
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT March 23, 2023
To all radio amateurs

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by AA3B, IK1TTD, TA3J, The Daily DX, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.

MONACO, 3A. Gianpi, IK1TTD is QRV as 3A/IK1TTD until March 26.This includes being an entry in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL to home call.

CYPRUS, 5B. Zoltan, HA5PP will be QRV as 5B/HA5PP in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL to home call.

GHANA, 9G. Members of the Accra Amateur Radio Club and others are QRV as 9G4X until March 30. Activity is on the HF bands and 6 meters, including Satellite QO-100, with three stations active. This includes being an entry in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL via K4NHW.

RWANDA, 9X. A large group of operators are QRV as 9X5RU near Kigali until April 7. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8 with several stations. This includes being active on Satellite QO-100. QSL via LoTW.

CUBA, CO. A large group of operators will be QRV as CL0C from the Maya Lighthouse in Matanzas Province as a Low Power/Multi 2 entry in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. Activity is on 160 to 40 meters. QSL via operators' instructions.

SABLE ISLAND, CY0. A group of operators are QRV as CY0S until March 30. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters, including 60 meters and 2 meter EME using Q65, using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8 with three stations active. QSL via WA4DAN.

CAPE VERDE, D4. Emir, E77DX is QRV as D4DX from Sao Vicente Island, IOTA AS-086, until March 31. He will be active as D4Z in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest as an All Band entry. QSL D4DX via E73Y, and D4Z via IK2NCJ.

NIUE, E6. Janusz, SP9FIH and Leszek, SP6CIK plan to be QRV as E6AF and E6CI, respectively, from March 26 to April 9. Activity will be on 40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8. QSL via Club Log.

NEW CALEDONIA, FK. Operators Philippe, FK4QX, Yves, FK4RD and Michel, FK8IK will be QRV as TX5L from Lifou Island, IOTA OC-033, from March 27 to 31. Activity will be on 40 to 10 meters using CW and SSB with two stations. QSL via F4FTV.

COLOMBIA, HK. Francisco, HK3EA will be QRV as 5K300EA in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL to home call.

HONDURAS, HR. Look for Uli, DM5EE to be QRV as HQ2E from San Pedro Sula in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL via M0OXO.

SURINAME, PZ. Harrie, PA3EHS is QRV as PZ5HS from Para until March 25. Activity is on the HF bands using SSB, JT6, and FT8. QSL via PA3EHS.

WEST KIRIBATI, T30. Members of the Rebel DX Group, including Kam, T33KC, are QRV as T30UN from North Tarawa, IOTA OC-017, for about five weeks. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8 in DXpedition mode with multiple stations active. QSL via Club Log.

TURKEY, TA. Berkin, TA3J will be QRV as TC3J in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest as a Single Op/Single Band on 80 meters entry. QSL to home call.

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, V2. Bud, AA3B is QRV as V26K from Antigua until March 27. Activity is on the HF bands using mostly CW. He will be a Single Op/All Band/High Power entry in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL to home call.

NORFOLK ISLAND, VK9N. A group of operators are QRV as VK9NT until March 31. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8. They will be active as VJ9N in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL both calls via M0OXO.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5. John AF3K, Ross, W2TT and Diane, KA3FCE are QRV as VP5/AF3K, VP5/W2TT, and VP5/KA3FCE, respectively, from Providenciales, IOTA NA 002, until March 29. Activity is on the HF bands using CW, SSB, and various digital modes. They will be active as VP5P in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL VP5/AF3K, VP5/W2TT, and VP5P via N2OO, and VP5/KA3FCE direct via W2TT.

INDIA, VU. A large group of operators are QRV with special contest call AT3K until May 31. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters. This includes being active in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL via VU2XE.

SOUTH SUDAN, Z8. Diya, YI1DZ is QRV as Z81D from Juba. Activity is in his spare time on the HF bands using FT8. QSL via OM3JW.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The CQ World Wide WPX SSB Contest, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC RTTY Sprint, NCCC CW Sprint, K1USN Slow Speed CW Test, FOC CW QSO Party and the UBA 6-Meter Spring Contest will certainly keep contesters busy this upcoming weekend.

The QCX CW Challenge, ICWC Medium Speed CW Test, OK1WC CW Memorial, RSGB FT4 Contest, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, QRP 40-Meter CW Fox Hunt, Phone Weekly Test, A1Club AWT, CWops Test, Mini-Test CW 40, Mini-Test CW 80 and the UKEICC 80-Meter CW Contest are on tap for March 27 to 29.

Please see March QST, page 71, and the ARRL and WA7BNM Contest web sites for details.

NASA is actively monitoring a strange anomaly in Earth's magnetic field: a giant region of lower magnetic intensity in the skies above the planet, stretching out between South America and southwest Africa.

This vast, developing phenomenon, called the South Atlantic Anomaly, has intrigued and concerned scientists for years, and perhaps none more so than NASA researchers.

Voting for the RSGB elections is now open. On our AGM and election web pages you will find:

The interviews were pre-recorded separately, and each candidate was asked the same set of questions. They were not told the questions in advance, other than the first one which asked about their amateur radio experience and interests. Each video interview is about 30mins long.

The RSGB will be holding its AGM online this year on Saturday 15 April and will livestream the event.

This year RSGB members have the opportunity to submit written questions in advance or to ask questions via the live chat on YouTube during the live AGM.

All these details are also in the April RadCom which members will be receiving this week.

The resignation of Richard Horton, G4AOJ has left a Board vacancy for a Nominated Director. In accordance with the Society’s usual policy, we are requesting expressions of interest in this role.

Our Tonight @ 8 live webinar series continues on Monday, 3 April 2023 with Sheep Worrier: A High Altitude Balloon Flight and Recovery System by Heather Nickalls, M0HMO.

As we continue to expand the use of our new membership and management systems, we will make greater use of electronic communications to advise members of important changes to their fees, benefits and offers as well as to send notifications for important publications and events.

Please remember to keep your preferences and personal information up to date, including your call sign and email address, by logging into the membership portal or by contacting membership@rsgb.org.uk

The following is a QST. Severe weather strikes the US on both coasts. A two-year DXpedition sets sail with two missions -- and when line-of-sight communication can serve as a lifeline. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2368 comes your way right now.

Our top story brings us tales of extreme weather on both coasts of the United States.
These severe conditions have served as a reminder of hams' vital roles during these challenging times. Randy Sly W4XJ brings us up to date.

With life-threatening floods, heavy rain and snow in California and severe winter storms barreling through the Northeast, amateurs involved in emergency communications in the United States were hard at work recently providing support to emergency management officials and other organizations such as the Red Cross.

While offering assistance to served agencies, these hams were also bringing about an additional benefit: increasing confidence in the amateur radio service. For example, in the San Joaquin Valley area of California, the Tuolumne County Amateur Radio Emergency Services was asked to assist in passing traffic via ham radio in the Emergency Operations Center. Daniel Sohn, WL7COO, San Joaquin Valley Section Emergency Coordinator, told AR Newsline that the group was invited to assist as a “work in progress” training exercise to distribute announcements on the air and solicit Situational Awareness as eyes and ears of the EOC. He also reported that Amateur Radio Service volunteers have been alerted for potential deployment by either the Sheriff’s Office or County OES Officers in other counties as well.

In addition, hams across the Northeast, if not working in SKYWARN nets, were self-activating in order to provide reports of strong winds, snow fall and damage reports to the National Weather Service.

Remembering the health and safety of “Self and Family First,” amateurs on both coasts are proving their worth now and for the future during severe weather events.

This is Randy Sly W4XJ.

(DANIEL SOHN, WL7COO, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE)

A two-year journey is well under way for two hams from the US on board a catamaran crossing the South Pacific Ocean.
They have two missions to accomplish and Kevin Trotman N5PRE tells us what they are.

George Wallner, AA7JV, and Michael Snow, KN4EEI, left Costa Rica in late February, setting sail and getting on the air as KH7Z/MM - the callsign for the Dateline DX Association. They are on board George's yacht, Magnet. Using their personal calls as well as the DX association call, the two are active on HF as well as 6m. They will be on the Marquesas islands through to the end of the month, then head to the Tuamotu Archipelago, IOTA number OC-066, where they hope to be on the air from late March to the 5th of April.

This is a two-year journey with two goals: The hams are activating grids on their journey in the Pacific and they are testing out the possibility of remote operations for DXpeditions. Their stops include various rare or semi-rare DXCC entities as the opportunity allows They also have three stations. Two of them are 100-watt remotely operated Radios in a Box, or RIBS, that will be operating FT8. A Radio in a Box contains a transceiver and amplifier, along with cooling and control systems, all inside a waterproof case. Using their third station, the two are operating on HF using CW and SSB.,

This is the latest remote-operation test undertaken by George and Michael on their travels. George writes on his page on QRZ: [quote] "The goal is to develop the capability for future DXpedtions to have remote operators, working from home or wherever."

This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

(QRZ.COM)

If you're interested in exploring the microwave part of the spectrum, you're about to get your chance.
Jack Parker W8ISH tells us about an international conference devoted to just that.

In less than a month, microwave enthusiasts will be getting together in Connecticut to share ideas, equipment design and operating stories at the first Microwave Update Conference to be held since the pandemic was declared in 2020. The international conference at the Hilton Garden Inn at Bradley Airport in Windsor, Connecticut will include the 46th Eastern VHF/UHF/Microwave Conference. It will be held on April 14th and 15th and will be hosted by the North East Weak Signal Group, a regional group in Massachusetts devoted to operations on 50 MHz and above.

Although speakers and activities will focus on operations on the microwave bands, discussions are not limited to that part of the radio spectrum. Talks will center on circuit design, the latest microwave devices, software-defined radios, small-dish EME and microwave propagation, among other topics.

At the Eastern VHF/UHF/Microwave Conference, speakers will discuss antennas, propagation, roving, SDRs, digital modes and activity nights. Additional activities are planned for this conference on April 13th and 16th.

For details, visit the website microwaveupdate - that's one word - dot org. (microwaveupdate.org)

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(MICROWAVEUPDATE.ORG)

Congratulations to our friends at CQ magazine, where a new associate editor has been hired. Sabrina Herman, KB3UJW, has joined the staff, succeeding longtime managing editor Jason Feldman, KD2IWM. Sabrina had previously been managing editor and promotional coordinator for Hermes Press, a small publisher of books in Pennsylvania. She has been a ham for 13 years. We wish everyone at the CQ office well.

(CQ MAGAZINE)

Welcome home to the four astronauts comprising Crew 5 aboard the ISS.
They splashed down safely just off the coast of Florida. Andy Morrison K9AWM has that story.

Having finished their five-month stay aboard the International Space Station, two astronauts from the US, one from Japan and a cosmonaut from the Russian Space Agency returned to Earth in the Gulf of Mexico just after 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 10th. Two of the four are amateur radio operators.

NASA astronauts Josh A. Cassada, KI5CRH, Nicole Aunapu Mann, JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata, KC5ZTA, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina are now safely home following a mission that began last October when they arrived on the ISS inside a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The replacement team - Crew 6 - arrived on March 3rd to continue the work that includes a number of scientific experiments.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(CNN.COM)

A leader in the Quarter Century Wireless Association has become a Silent Key. We have that story from Sel Embee KB3TZD.

Gary J. Kimball was known throughout New England and central New York for his company, National Audio, which he cofounded in 1977 with his business partner Mark Gummer N2IQ. The business provided sound and lighting systems for music events ranging from the Syracuse Jazz Fest to the New York State Fair. On the air he was known as WB2SER and locally many knew him as a mentor in the central New York ham community. He was an officer of the Quarter Century Wireless Association Chapter 29 covering the local Finger Lakes region of New York. QCWA members first received their licenses at least 25 years ago. He was a member of Radio Amateurs of Greater Syracuse and a member of the Liverpool Amateur Repeater Club. His voice was a familiar one to hams who heard his regular on-air roundups of local hamfests. At the time of his death in late February, Gary had been retired from his company for about five years, according to his online obituary.

Gary Kimball was 72.

This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.

(LEGACY.COM. RON PANETTA, WB2WGH)

A New York City broadcaster charged with piracy has become the first of two stations to be targeted under a law passed three years ago enabling larger and, until now, unprecedented penalties. The FCC has proposed a record fine of more than $2.3-million against Radio Impacto 2, which the agency said was still on the air at the time the commission made its announcement on Wednesday, March 15th. According to a report in Radio World, the radio signals are being transmitted from the New York City borough of Queens. Radio Impacto's website calls it "The Official Radio of Ecuadorians in New York.” According to the Radio World report, the FCC issued a $20,000 forfeiture against the station in 2015 and a year later its broadcast equipment was seized by US Marshals.

The second station was identified in the Radio World report as "Pirate Radio Eastern Oregon," and its operator faces an $80,000 forfeiture.

The FCC is awaiting response from both stations.

(RADIO WORLD)

The UK National Hamfest, the well-known rally previously held annually at the Newark Showground in the UK, has been cancelled. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has the details.

Organisers of the 2023 UK National Hamfest have announced that the rally, which was to have taken place in October in Peterborough, has been called off by the venue. A statement on the hamfest website said that at such short notice, organisers cannot find a replacement venue or a new date. Directors considered a July event back at the Newark venue but ultimately it was decided that there were too many obstacles for the attendees, traders and to financial benefits.

The directors wrote: [quote] "We can assure you, we haven't made this decision lightly." [endquote] They committed to what they called "a bigger and better event" in September 2024 at the Newark Showground.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(UK NATIONAL HAMFEST)

A longtime leader in amateur radio in India has just completed a book that examines the untapped promises that ham radio holds for the future. We hear more about him and his book from Graham Kemp VK4BB.

World Science Day was also book launch day for S. Suri, VU2MY, the founder of the National Institute of Amateur Radio in Hyderabad, India.

Ham enthusiasts, engineers and Indian communications officials arrived at the NIAR campus for the author's introduction of his book, "The Untapped Potential of Amateur Radio."

Suri told those in attendance that his book underscores the vital role amateur radio plays in disaster response. He said he hoped that by writing the book he was also making it clear that ham radio is relevant in other areas of society. He said he favoured its increased inclusion as a tool by universities, law enforcement and the armed forces and he urged policymakers to rethink radio's role. According to a book blurb on amazon.in, the book also traces amateur radio's growth from an activity among experimenters to its emergence as a resource in a number of nations.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(TELANGANA TODAY, AMAZON.IN)

In Victoria, Australia, the annual event known as Antennapalooza isn't just about antennas. Jason Daniels VK2LAW, explains.

Station efficiency is the theme of this year's Antennapalooza event in Victoria, Australia and the organisers are looking for presenters. The range of topics can encompass the best ways to make your antenna efficient or cover a broader subject area, such as recommended ways to set up your shack. Presentations will take place on Saturday, April 15th or Sunday, April 16th. If you have a proposal to submit, send it to Ian Jackson VK3BUF at sparky at dcsi dot net dot au. (sparky@dcsi.net.au) In keeping with the theme of the three-day camping weekend, presentations should focus more on practical application and less on theory. Talks will be held in the Pavilion at Drouin West, about 100 kilometers east of Melbourne. This free popular outdoor event, now in its eighth year, is a gathering of various area clubs to learn, socialize and get on the air and of course, try out some new antennas.

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(ANTENNAPALOOZA WEBSITE)

A longwave radio transmitter in Iceland has been shut down and demolished, as Iceland phases out that form of broadcast. Jeremy Boot G4NJH brings us that story. (Right:- Picture of RUV's Eastern Iceland long wave transmitter now switched off and the mast taken down)

A team of police stood nearby to oversee safety concerns as a longwave transmitter in East Iceland was switched off and demolished.

Destruction of the mast, standing 218 metres, Iceland's third tallest structure, took place in late February, the result of a decline in the number of listeners to longwave radio broadcasts. The transmitter had been operated on 207 kHz by the Icelandic broadcaster RUV, which is now giving priority to FM. Another RUV transmitter will continue operating for a little longer in West Iceland on 189 kHz. This is Iceland's tallest structure at 412 metres. There are plans also for that transmitter to close, once FM broadcasts replace all of its functions.

The impetus for the change is being driven in part by Iceland's Civil Defence and other organisations looking to improve emergency notification capabilities. That role is going to be transferred to FM, which is slowly being upgraded throughout Iceland.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(AMATEUR NEWS WEEKLY, RUV ICELAND)

In the World of DX, listen for the Russian DXpedition Team using the callsign 9X5RU in Rwanda from March 22nd to April 7th. You will hear them on 160-6m and they will also be using the QO-100 satellite. They will operate CW, SSB and FT8. QSL via Club Log's OQRS and LoTW.

Listen for the special event callsign A60AP, which is on the air until the 31st of August. The suffix stands for the Emirates "Astronaut Program," which prepares crews of UAE astronauts for missions that include the International Space Station. QSL via EA7FTR.

Be listening for CT9/DD8ZX, CT9/DF7EE and CT9/DJ9KM operating from Madeira, IOTA Number AF-014 from the 22nd to the
28th of March. Helmut, DF7EE, will also participate in the CQ WW WPX SSB Contest as CQ3W. QSL CT9/DD8ZX and CT9/DJ9KM via LoTW or the operators' home calls; QSL CQ3W and CT9/DF7EE via LoTW or Club Log's OQRS.

Miguel, EA1BP, will be active as FM/EA1BP from Martinique, IOTA Number NA-107, from the 21st to the 28th of March. He will be focusing on 17m and 12m and operating SSB. Listen for him in the CQ WW WPX SSB Contest where he will be using the callsign TO7O (TEE OH SEVEN OH). QSL via LoTW, or via home call.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

Most of us have heard the phrase "when all else fails, ham radio." Well, our final story for this week carries an alternative thought: "when all else fails, aerial drones." Here's Ralph Squillace KK6ITB with that story.

Deep snow in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon left two motorists trapped earlier this year in the Willamette National Forest. One of them was a woman who had become stranded in her minivan. The other was a man traveling not far from there. There was rarely any traffic or even maintenance workers on this little-traveled road but they were able to spot one another and try to find a way out of their predicament. However, the road's remote location put it out of range for cellphone service.

The snow grew higher and the temperatures dropped lower.

As the two tried to find a way to get word out that they were in danger, the man realized he might in fact have a way out for the both of them, after all. He would use line-of-sight communications, the same principle employed by ham radio operators on VHF/UHF and microwave frequencies, as well as those using satellites. He realized that if he could get his cellphone up high enough - say, several hundred feet above the thick treetops - its signal would reach a cell tower, enabling it to send a text message that could carry the details of his distress to a friend.

He had the cellphone and, as luck would have it, he happened to have an aerial drone in his car and the drone had enough power to make that successful flight.

It worked. The man's friend received the text with his location and the details of what had happened and the sheriff's search and rescue team did the rest. The two motorists - and the drone - were brought to safety.

This is Ralph Squilllace KK6ITB.

(THE DRIVE.COM, KRNV NEWS 4)

Do you have a piece of Amateur Radio News that you think Newsline would be interested in? 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.

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur News Weekly; Amazon India; Antennapalooza; CQ Magazine; CNN.COM; Daniel Sohn, WL7COO; David Behar K7DB; DX-World.net; FCC; 425 DX News; National Weather Service; QRZ.COM; Radio World: RUV Iceland; shortwaveradio.de; Telangana Today; UK National Hamfest; 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.

Keplerian Bulletin 19 ARLK019
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT March 17, 2023
To all radio amateurs

Special thanks to AMSAT-NA (AMSAT.ORG) for the following Keplerian data.

Decode 2-line elsets with the following key:
1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ
2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ
KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN
G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM

0 AO-07
1 07530U 74089B   23076.59926613 -.00000019 00000-0 16727-3 0 9999
2 07530 101.9415 62.6796 0011923 238.2288 286.5377 12.53662329211699
0 ISS
1 25544U 98067A   23076.72542369 .00020495 00000-0 37587-3 0 9999
2 25544 51.6408 61.6449 0006044 101.8633 68.4944 15.49238954387601
0 SO-50
1 27607U 02058C   23076.56583353 .00002794 00000-0 39708-3 0 9995
2 27607 64.5558 185.7581 0076245 242.7767 116.5553 14.76953649 88692
0 AO-73
1 39444U 13066AE 23076.42819944 .00005343 00000-0 60766-3 0 9992
2 39444 97.6614 43.8988 0052896 213.6450 146.1404 14.85620003502017
0 XW-2A
1 40903U 15049E   23076.52191950 .00263512 00000-0 10997-2 0 9992
2 40903 97.1290 143.4017 0006501 180.2037 298.4014 15.84967475421909
0 IO-86
1 40931U 15052B   23076.53823518 .00001856 00000-0 16738-3 0 9991
2 40931   5.9981 20.7038 0012982 72.7664 287.4033 14.77102342403785
0 CAS-4B
1 42759U 17034B   23076.52602418 .00012884 00000-0 67799-3 0 9992
2 42759 43.0171 264.5661 0011420 234.2237 216.1243 15.15504048317728
0 CAS-4A
1 42761U 17034D   23076.60329479 .00014113 00000-0 73952-3 0 9992
2 42761 43.0171 262.7034 0011628 237.4373 172.6879 15.15589751317748
0 AO-91
1 43017U 17073E   23076.43961949 .00010731 00000-0 76410-3 0 9999
2 43017 97.6447 324.4203 0238715 12.3295 348.3622 14.84585622287561
0 PO-101
1 43678U 18084H   23076.45335905 .00003272 00000-0 32001-3 0 9994
2 43678 98.0045 218.6783 0010736 102.8514 257.3891 14.93020887238571
0 QO-100
1 43700U 18090A   23076.52427834 .00000132 00000-0 00000-0 0 9991
2 43700   0.0169 146.3551 0001061 230.0575 12.9398 1.00273271 15761
0 JO-97
1 43803U 18099AX 23076.40766506 .00007017 00000-0 57327-3 0 9999
2 43803 97.5867 141.3754 0015916 69.9114 290.3820 14.99593142233930
0 CAS-6
1 44881U 19093C   23076.49877708 .00002280 00000-0 29159-3 0 9996
2 44881 97.8663 156.5082 0015332 22.0000 338.1856 14.82275801175219
0 RS-44
1 44909U 19096E   23076.43759733 .00000043 00000-0 12438-3 0 9998
2 44909 82.5211 48.9009 0218327 41.7124 320.0395 12.79719154150429
0 XW-3
1 50466U 21131B   23076.58565985 .00001095 00000-0 37083-3 0 9997
2 50466 98.5554 158.4175 0005294 66.1983 293.9759 14.38754075 64180
0 IO-117
1 53106U 22080B   23075.13340333 -.00000003 00000-0 00000+0 0 9997
2 53106 70.1817 352.0525 0008319 207.8404 152.1811 6.42557089 15774
0 FO-118
1 54684U 22167C   23076.48654454 .00019587 00000-0 11589-2 0 9999
2 54684 97.5450 214.9341 0013799 290.5374 158.4326 15.11402766 14818

Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW.

The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Tuesday, March 21, 2023, 2023, at 2330z on Baudot and BPSK31.

DX Bulletin 11 ARLD011
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT March 16, 2023
To all radio amateurs

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by AA3B, KK9A, The Daily DX, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.

GEORGIA, 4L. Rene, DL2JRM is QRV as 4L/DL2JRM until March 20. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW. QSL to home call.

RWANDA, 9X. A large group of operators will be QRV as 9X5RU near Kigali from March 22 to April 7. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8 with several stations. This includes being active in Satellite QO-100. QSL via LoTW.

SABLE ISLAND, CY0. A group of operators will be QRV as CY0S from March 20 to 30. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters, including 60 meters and 2 meter EME, using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8 with three stations active. QSL via WA4DAN.

CAPE VERDE, D4. Luca, HB9OBD is QRV as D44KIT from Sal Island, IOTA AF-086, until April 5. Activity is holiday style on 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL via EB7DX.

COMOROS, D6. Hiro, JF1OCQ is QRV as D67AA until March 22. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, FT8, and FT4. QSL direct to home call.

PHILIPPINES, DU. Jacek, SP5APW will be QRV as DU1/SP5APW from the Babuyan Islands, IOTA OC-092, from March 18 to 26. Activity will be on 40 to 10 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL to home call.

SAN ANDRES AND PROVIDENCIA, HK0. Alex, DK8FD will be QRV as HK0/DK8FD from Providencia, IOTA NA-033, from March 20 to 25.
QSL to home call.

OGASAWARA, JD1. Stations JD1BOI and JD1BON are QRV from Chichijima, IOTA AS-031, until March 24. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using RTTY, FT8, and FT4. QSL via LoTW.

BONAIRE, PJ4. John, KK9A will be QRV as PJ4/KK9A from March 21 to 27. Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. This includes being active as PJ4R in the upcoming CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL via WD9DZV.

SURINAME, PZ. Harrie, PA3EHS is QRV as PZ5HS from Para until March 25. Activity is on the HF bands using SSB, JT6, and FT8. QSL via PA3EHS.

SEYCHELLES, S7. Dieter, AE0BF is QRV as S79/AE0BF until March 19. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters. He has currently been active on 12 and 10 meters.
QSL via DJ2EH.

EGYPT, SU. Ahmed, 9K2QA is QRV as SU9GA from Cairo. He is active on 80 to 10 meters. QSL via 9K2QA.

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, V2. Bud, AA3B will be QRV as V26K from Antigua from March 21 to 27. Activity will be on the HF bands using mostly CW. He will be a Single Op/All Band/High Power entry in the upcoming CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL to home call.

CANADA, VE. Pierre, VE3KTB is QRV as VY0ERC from Eureka station on Ellesmere Island, IOTA NA-008, until April 13. Activity is in his spare time on 20 to 12 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8, and possibly on some of the FM Satellites. QSL via M0OXO.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5. John AF3K, Ross, W2TT and Diane, KA3FCE will be QRV as VP5/AF3K, VP5/W2TT, and VP5/KA3FCE, respectively, from Providenciales, IOTA NA-002, from March 22 to 29. Activity will be on the HF bands using CW, SSB, and various digital modes. They will be active as VP5P in the upcoming CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL VP5/AF3K, VP5/W2TT, and VP5P via N2OO,and VP5/KA3FCE direct via W2TT.

VANUATU, YJ. Chris, VK2YUS should be back on Efate Island, IOTA OC-035, and plans to be active as YJ0CA from March 18 to 28. Activity will be on 40 to 10 meters using SSB. QSL direct to home call.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. All Africa International DX Contest, BARTG HF RTTY Contest, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC RTTY Sprint, NCCC CW Sprint, K1USN Slow Speed CW Test, Maidenhead Mayhem Sprint, SARL VHF/UHF Analogue Contest, Russian DX Contest, F9AA SSB Cup, AGCW VHF/UHF Contest, Virginia QSO Party, Feld Hell Sprint, UBA Spring SSB Contest, Classic Phone Exchange and the Run for the Bacon QRP CW Contest are all on tap for this upcoming weekend.

The K1USN Slow Speed CW Test, ICWC Medium Speed CW Test, OK1WC Memorial, Bucharest Digital Contest, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, SKCC CW Sprint, QRP 40-Meter CW Fox Hunt, Phone Weekly Test, A1Club CW AWT, CWops Test, Mini-Test 40 and the Mini-Test 80 are scheduled for March 20 to 22.

Please see March QST, page 71, and the ARRL and WA7BNM Contest web sites for details

See the New Moonwalk Spacesuit Designed for NASA’s Artemis Program

The first astronauts to walk on the moon since the 1970s will do so wearing sleek, new spacesuits. Axiom Space, the private company NASA tapped to design moonwalk suits for the Artemis 3 mission, unveiled its prototype on Wednesday at NASA’s Space Center Houston.

The modern suits, which are called Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Units, or AxEMUs, build on work that NASA staffers have already been doing to develop advanced spacesuit designs. They’re tailored to offer astronauts more flexibility and mobility when they set foot on the lunar South Pole, which is scheduled to take place as soon as 2025.

For more information and the application form, either head over to our website or email the Youth Champion Liam Robbins, G5LDR via youth.champion@rsgb.org.uk.

The annual Saint Patrick’s Day Award event takes place over a 48 hour period from 1200UTC on 16 March 2023 to 1200UTC on 18 March 2023 to allow worldwide participation in all time zones.

You can register to be a participating station by completing a short registration form on the St Patrick’s Day Award website.

The RSGB is looking to recruit an RSGB Member to the voluntary position of Company Secretary.

If you feel you have the necessary skills to fulfil this important role, or would like more information, email the General Manager’s department via gm.dept@rsgb.org.uk.

Many congratulations to Andy Warren, M0KGZ, who became the first candidate to pass the Direct to Full licence exam, which was available from late January 2023.

Andy is currently enjoying SDR and is looking forward to trying out some of his own design ideas, particularly with low power.

The following is a QST. A trio of hams arrives aboard the ISS. Digital Voice technology gains big financial support -- and get ready for the "Nervous Novices Net." All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2367 comes your way right now.

BILLBOARD CART

Our top story this week is about a boost for cutting-edge amateur radio. A major open-source ham radio technology for HF digital voice has received a major grant to advance its development. Kevin Trotman N5PRE has that report.

The FreeDV Project, an open-source software initiative created by an international team of hams, has received $420,000 from Amateur Radio Digital Communications. The team plans to use that money to help bring FreeDV into the mainstream.

According to an ARDC press release, the goal is to [quote] "open the path to widespread adoption of a truly open-source, next-generation digital voice system for HF radio." [endquote]

Some of the funds will go towards the hiring of digital signal processing developers to work alongside FreeDV volunteers to improve the readability of digital voice carried over SSB under poor HF conditions. The plan is to improve low signal-to-noise ratio operation and improve speech quality. The team also hopes FreeDV can also be embedded in some more commercial radios. Towards that end, specialists will work alongside some commercial HF radio engineers.

The FreeDV website mentions some versions of the technology that are already in use, including the special version in use over the QO-100 geostationary satellite. FreeDV is also being employed to overcome poor propagation through experimental combinations of internet and HF radio. FreeDV encompasses the Codec 2 speech codec/modem and all are open source.

This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

(ARDC, Dan Romanchik, KB6NU)

Hams in Region 1 of the IARU are being asked to brainstorm in a competition envisioning amateur radio's future, as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

Hams in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Northern Asia are being asked to take the challenge of seeing into the future. Region 1 of the International Amateur Radio Union is inviting teams and individuals to engage in two types of brainstorming as part of the region's HamChallenge competition. Both challenges are designed to inspire projects that increase awareness of amateur radio's vitality and relevance today.

The first challenge asks hams to create projects that reach out to people who do not have a radio licence. The project could be a social media campaign, a video, a storyboard or some other creative venture that showcases the power ham radio has in building friendships and expanding scientific knowledge.

The second challenge focuses on a project that reaches out to other hams showing the way amateur radio might look in 10 years. Entries in this part of the challenge can be a technology project, an experiment or something else.

All ideas should be sent to the IARU Region 1 by July. Proposals should be sent by email to hamchallenge at iaru hyphen r1 dot org. (hamchallenge@iaru-r1.org) There are monetary prizes and a chance for the winners to carry their message to a wider audience.

I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(IARU REGION 1)

Four astronauts are now on board the International Space Station.
The crew includes the first astronaut from the United Arab Emirates to fly aboard a commercial mission. He also happens to be an amateur radio operator. Paul Braun WD9GCO has that story.

Four astronauts, three of them licensed amateur radio operators, arrived on the ISS on Friday, March 3rd, for a six-month stay in orbit. One of them, astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, KI5VTV, is also making his first trip into space.

The Crew-6 launch took place a day earlier from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The other members of the team are mission commander Stephen Bowen, KI5BKB, pilot Warren "Woody" Hoburg, KB3HTZ, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, who - like Al Neyadi - is making his first space flight. The crew will conduct a variety of experiments including a study of the way certain materials burn in microgravity and an examination of microbial samples collected from outside the spacecraft.

This is NASA's sixth crew to use the commercial SpaceX transport system.

I'm Paul Braun WD9GCO.

(CNBC)

Fast-moving amateurs in Delaware recently responded to a surprise emergency weather drill. Randy Sly W4XJ tells us what happened next.

SKYWARN and emergency managers in Sussex County on the Delaware Peninsula, hold quarterly exercises they call “Pop Ups,” recognizing that unexpected emergencies pop up. The latest exercise, called “Pops in the Dark,” began on Saturday, March 4. It called for “all hams on deck” in Sussex and Kent Counties. Amateurs were mobilized without commercial power and throughout the activation were limited to only whatever fuel and battery capacity they had at the time.

The exercise was a severe winter storm, with reported ice accumulations and 10-12” of snow. The event had two parts. On Day 1, the Emergency Operations Center nets worked simultaneously with SKYWARN and then remained active through the remainder of the exercise. On Days 1 and 2, repeaters were reported down and only simplex frequencies were used. Barbara Dean, KC3LGE, public information officer Sussex, told AR Newsline that, in addition to coordinating various communications tasks, the nets also included suggestions on getting the most out of their available power. Pops in the Dark concluded on March 8 followed by the collection of after-action reports.

This is Randy Sly, W4XJ

In Ireland, hams who love Morse Code but are nervous about getting on the air now have a welcoming on-air spot to try out their new skills. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us about it.

The newest net in Ireland is called "Nervous Novices." Organised by Eamo, EI7LC, the 80 metre net is designed to encourage CW newcomers to get on the air without feeling as if they needed to be proficient enough for a full ragchew.

Check-in begins from 20:30 local time, meeting somewhere between 3.550 and 3.555 MHz. Amateurs are encouraged to operate QRS to accommodate the slowest participants. The emphasis is on good operating practices, not speed.

Get on the air and listen for the call “CQ NNCW”

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(IRTS)

The search is on for a new nominee to join the US Federal Communications Commission following a decision by President Joe Biden's nominee to withdraw. Gigi Sohn had been nominated for the vacant FCC seat but announced on Tuesday, March 7th, that she would not seek the appointment because of what she characterized as personal attacks.

The attorney is best known as a veteran public interest advocate. Her confirmation as commissioner would have given the Democratic Party a 3-2 majority on the FCC.

(WASHINGTON POST)

The fight to keep AM radio in new electric vehicles just gained a few more prominent voices in the US, as we learn from Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington, who has been an outspoken opponent of carmakers' plans to remove AM broadcast radio from electric vehicles, has been joined by seven former officials in the US emergency management agency. In a letter to US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg the seven praised AM radio's capacity for long-distance communications, making this broadcast mode [quote] "a vital public safety system." [endquote]

Commissioner Simington spoke late last year at a convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters and for much the same reasons, described AM radio as "the essential spine" of the Emergency Alert System. Simington said he agreed with the letter written to the transportation secretary and called the push to keep AM radio in electric cars a matter for urgent attention.

A number of automakers have stopped including AM radios in their vehicles claiming the cars cause electromagnetic interference with AM signals. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts recently asked a number of carmakers, including American Honda, Jaguar, General Motors, Kia and BMW, to declare their intentions regarding AM and FM radio.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(RADIO WORLD)

A communications tower serving fire and emergency services in Nebraska was found toppled and destroyed in Nebraska, the apparent result of having had one of its guy wire anchors damaged. According to a report on the website ruralradio.com, the tower suffered structural failure and toppled, causing an estimated $575,000 in damage to the tower and its equipment. The local sheriff's office, fire and EMS service, Verizon wireless and the school district were among those making use of the tower. Cellphone service was re-established on a temporary tower and the emergency service and fire channels were moved to another location. The Nebraska State Patrol's forensic evidence team is studying the evidence at its crime lab and has contacted the FBI which may pursue the case as an act of domestic terrorism.

A new category is being added to the Virginia QSO Party, which kicks off later this month. Sel Embee KB3T Zed Dee tells us what's behind this decision.

SEL: This year's Virginia QSO Party includes a bit of an experiment. Organizers are adding a new category - "Rover" - which raises the number of categories for non-fixed stations to three. The inclusion of the rover category, which now joins "mobile" and "expedition," is being done to accommodate hams who, for various reasons, cannot be included in the other classes of mobile operator. That may mean they make use of commercial power, retractable antenna masts or non-mobile support structures. Rover operators must still identify with their callsign followed by /M. Rovers are permitted to make contacts while moving or stationary. A non-operating driver is required for rover and mobile operators who plan to be on the air while the vehicle is in motion.

The QSO Party is being organized by the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club and will be held on March 18th and 19th.

This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.

(QRZ.COM)

The shape of CB radios is changing: An increasing number of them are now capable of FM, as we hear from Jack Parker W8ISH.

JACK: Little more than 18 months after the FCC approved the use of FM for Citizens Band on 27 MHz, manufacturers have responded to the demand for the mode. Companies now in the market include President Electronics USA, Uniden, RadioOddity, QYT and Cobra. It was Cobra's original petition that pushed the need to the forefront of the agency, with support from the other companies. When the FCC granted the request in July 2021, the move was called the biggest change for Citizens Band since the expansion of CB channels from 23 to 40 in 1977.

FM is now used on the CB radio spectrum from 26.965 MHz to 27.405 MHz, enabling a higher-quality audio for radio users who do not need the distance capabilities offered by radios with the SSB mode.

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(RADIO WORLD, CCJDIGITAL.COM, FCC)

In the World of DX, Jim WB2REM, John K4LT, and Bob KE2D are using the call sign HD8M from Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands, IOTA SA-004, until the 11th of March. , They are using CW, SSB and FT8 in fox-hound mode on 160-6 metres. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, or direct to WB2REM; They will upload to LoTW after six months.

From Norfolk Island, IOTA number OC-005, listen for Tom, VK3FTOM, who is joining the VK9NT team that will be on the air there from the 17th to the 31st of March. Tom will also be using his own personal callsign, VK9TOM, starting on or around the 13th of March for "some QRP operating" while on the island.

Luca, HB9OBD is active holiday style as D44KIT from Sal Island, IOTA number AF-086, Cape Verde until the 5th of April. Listen for him on SSB and FT8 on 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres. QSL via LoTW, eQSL, or via EB7DX.

Hiro, JF1OCQ, is in the Comoro Islands, IOTA number AF-007, where he is on the air as D67AA until the 22nd of March. He is using CW, SSB, and the digital modes on 160 - 10 metres. QSL via LoTW or direct to his home call. He will upload his log to Club Log and other platforms.

(DX-WORLD.NET)

We finish this week's report with one family's story. Nearly eight decades after fleeing Bangladesh during turbulent political times, a woman in northern India has reconnected with the family she left behind. It happened all because of ham radio. Graham Kemp VK4BB has that story.

GRAHAM: Nearly eight decades of silence and loss ended on Tuesday, March 7th, when 85-year-old Maya Chakraborty finally spoke with the nephew she'd been seeking for so long - the son of her deceased older sister. The call was via internet video but the human connection here was because of ham radio. She was a young girl when her family left their native village in Sylhet in Bangladesh and lost contact with her much older sister. The Times of India newspaper reported that she had lost much hope of finding the rest of her family but asked her son Suvendu to help track them down. Suvendu contacted the West Bengal Radio Club, which has expertise in reuniting missing persons. The club's secretary contacted the Amateur Radio Society of Bangladesh and the hams were able to find Ranjit Chakraborty, Maya's nephew, who is nearly 80 years old himself. His mother - Maya's sister - had long since died.

Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, secretary of the West Bengal club, told the newspaper [quote] "It was difficult to find a person among millions." [endquote] He told Newsline that on March 7th, the aunt and her nephew were reconnected during an emotional video call. He said that both are now applying for visas to take that reunion to its logical next step.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(TIMES OF INDIA, AMBARISH NAG BISWAS VU2JFA)

We remind our listeners that young hams who live in the continental United States have an opportunity to make news, if they aren't already doing so, by being a recipient of this year's Amateur Radio Newsline Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award. Consider nominating an amateur radio operator 18 years of age or younger -- someone who has talent, promise and a commitment to the spirit of ham radio. Find more details along with application forms on our website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab. The nomination period closes on May 31st.

Do you have a piece of Amateur Radio News that you think Newsline would be interested in? 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.

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Digital Communications; Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA; CQ Magazine; Dan Romanchik, KB6NU; David Behar K7DB; DX-World.net; FCC; Free DV Project; 425 DX News; IARU Region 1; Irish Radio Transmitters Society; RadioWorld; RuralRadio.com; shortwaveradio.de; the Times of India; the Washington Post; 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 Stephen Kinford N8WB in Wadsworth Ohio saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

Keplerian Bulletin 17 ARLK017
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT March 7, 2023
To all radio amateurs

Special thanks to AMSAT-NA (AMSAT.ORG) for the following Keplerian data.

Decode 2-line elsets with the following key:
1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ
2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ
KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN
G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM

0 AO-07
1 7530U 74089B   23066.19125828 -.00000034 00000-0 77149-4 0 9996
2 7530 101.9400 52.2095 0011920 258.7727 112.6513 12.53661907210637
0 ISS
1 25544U 98067A   23066.65796090 .00063326 00000-0 11315-2 0 9992
2 25544 51.6402 111.4629 0006757 46.8215 99.0592 15.49401145386044
0 SO-50
1 27607U 02058C   23065.73183101 .00004248 00000-0 59383-3 0 9996
2 27607 64.5545 218.9518 0076995 244.7496 114.5614 14.76857949 87095
0 AO-07
1 39444U 13066AE 23065.71833176 .00009876 00000-0 11233-2 0 9994
2 39444 97.6600 33.5904 0052323 250.0314 109.5262 14.85425546500428
0 XW-2A
1 40903U 15049E   23066.39501450 .00209111 00000-0 10860-2 0 9990
2 40903 97.1328 132.8864 0007123 203.8594 216.6350 15.80390318420304
0 IO-86
1 40931U 15052B   23065.12710424 .00007244 00000-0 91033-3 0 9993
2 40931   5.9959 102.1517 0013628 274.4751 85.4148 14.77079588402094
0 CAS-4B
1 42759U 17034B   23066.18583800 .00015666 00000-0 82925-3 0 9995
2 42759 43.0181 321.8623 0009679 168.3808 327.6523 15.15183876316155
0 CAS-4A
1 42761U 17034D   23066.20606339 .00014356 00000-0 75926-3 0 9992
2 42761 43.0185 320.3262 0010310 168.0435 333.3063 15.15262547316169
0 AO-91
1 43017U 17073E   23066.26141707 .00015294 00000-0 10875-2 0 9992
2 43017 97.6461 314.6519 0240465 45.6889 316.3769 14.84283051286052
0 P0-101
1 43678U 18084H   23066.33317552 .00003102 00000-0 30441-3 0 9996
2 43678 98.0022 208.3829 0010294 134.6898 225.5247 14.92935146237067
0 QO-100
1 43700U 18090A   23066.01124437 .00000143 00000-0 00000+0 0 9998
2 43700   0.0272 252.1647 0001097 79.9310 222.2006 1.00270430 15906
0 JO-97
1 43803U 18099AX 23066.13105543 .00013272 00000-0 10856-2 0 9991
2 43803 97.5863 131.3625 0016473 102.9351 257.3713 14.99355704232395
0 CAS-6
1 44881U 19093C   23066.44038073 .00002127 00000-0 27277-3 0 9993
2 44881 97.8680 146.6176 0015821 52.7783 307.4879 14.82223331173722
0 RS-44
1 44909U 19096E   23066.35227368 .00000019 00000-0 25955-4 0 9994
2 44909 82.5190 55.6039 0218543 65.1946 297.1716 12.79718791149183
0 XW-3
1 50466U 21131B   23066.50159256 .00001418 00000-0 47630-3 0 9996
2 50466 98.5567 148.3625 0005594 90.6461 269.5367 14.38723188 62732
0 IO-117
1 53106U 22080B   23066.10611744 -.00000003 00000-0 00000+0 0 9991
2 53106 70.1818 355.1858 0008360 210.1011 149.9169 6.42557127 15194
0 FO-118
1 54684U 22167C   23066.48791475 .00018929 00000-0 11340-2 0 9997
2 54684 97.5448 205.0687 0013737 325.3216 122.2071 15.10958798 1330

Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW.

The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Friday, March 10, 2023, at 2330z on Baudot and BPSK31.

DX Bulletin 10 ARLD010
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT March 9, 2023
To all radio amateurs

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by The Daily DX, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.

MONACO, 3A. Lorenzo, 3A2OG is a new amateur radio operator and has been active while testing various HF antennas. He is interested in using QRP and in portable operations. QSL direct.

GHANA, 9G. Alan, G3XAQ is QRV as 9G5XA until March 14. Activity is on the HF bands using only CW. This includes being an entry in the RSGB Commonwealth Contest. QSL direct to home call.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, A6. Special event station A60AP is QRV until August 31 to commemorate the Astronaut Program. Look for special event stations A60AP/0 to A60AP/14 to also be active during the event. QSL via operators' instructions.

CAPE VERDE, D4. Luca, HB9OBD is QRV as D44KIT from Sal Island, IOTA AF-086, until April 5. Activity is holiday style on 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL via EB7DX.

COMOROS, D6. Hiro, JF1OCQ is QRV as D67AA until March 22. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, FT8, and FT4. QSL direct to home call.

PHILIPPINES, DU. Jacek, SP5APW is QRV as DU1/SP5APW until March 14 from the Luzon Coastal Islands, IOTA OC-244. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL to home call.

CROZET ISLAND, FT/W. Thierry, FT8WW will be QRV from March 13 to 16. Activity will be on the HF bands. QSL via F6EXV.

GUERNSEY, GU. Operators M0UNN and G4DIY are QRV as MP7DX until March 13. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via G4DIY.

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, HC8. Operators WB2REM, KE2D, VO1IDX, and K4LT are QRV as HD8M from Santa Cruz, IOTA SA-004, until March 11. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, FT8, and FT4. QSL direct to WB2REM.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, HI. Members of the Loma del Toro DX Club will be QRV as HI0LT from Isla Cabras, IOTA NA-122, from March 12 to 19. Activity will be on 160 to 2 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, and FT4. QSL via EB7DX.

MINAMI TORISHIMA, JD1. Take, JG8NQJ will be QRV as JG8NQJ/JD1 beginning March 15, and expects to be here for two months while on work assignment. Activity will be in his spare time on the HF bands using mainly CW with some FT8. QSL direct to JA8CJY.

OGASAWARA, JD1. Stations JD1BOI and JD1BON are QRV from Chichijima Island, IOTA AS-031, until March 24. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using RTTY, FT8, and FT4. QSL via LoTW.

SURINAME, PZ. Harrie, PA3EHS is QRV as PZ5HS from Para until March 25. Activity is on the HF bands using SSB, JT6, and FT8. QSL via PA3EHS.

MALI, TZ. Ulmar, DK1CE is QRV as TZ1CE until March 16. Activity is on the HF bands using SSB and FT8 in DXpedition mode. QSL via DK1CE.

ST. KITTS AND NEVIS, V4. Pete, G0TLE is QRV as V4/G0TLE from St. Kitts, IOTA NA-104, until March 17. Activity is holiday style on 40 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL direct to home call.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5. John, N9EAJ is QRV as VP5/N9EAJ from Grand Turk, IOTA NA-003, until March 22. Activity is on the HF bands using mostly SSB with some CW. He will make a side trip to the Columbus Landfall National Park for a Parks on The Air activation. QSL to home call.

INDIA, VU. Special event station AT2G20 is QRV from Gurugram until June 2 to promote greater international cooperation through amateur radio in conjunction with the G20 summit being held in New Delhi on September 9 and 10. QSL via operator's instructions.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The Stew Perry Topband CW Challenge, North American RTTY Sprint, NCCC RTTY Sprint, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC Sprint CW Ladder, K1USN Slow Speed CW Test, YB DX RTTY Contest, SARL Field Day Contest, RSGB Commonwealth Contest, SKCC Weekend CW Sprintathon, EA PSK63 Contest, South America 10 Meter Contest, DIG QSO Party, AGCW QRP CW Contest, Oklahoma QSO Party, TESLA Memorial HF CW Contest, Idaho QSO Party, UBA Spring 2-Meter Contest and the FIRAC HF Contest are all scheduled for this upcoming weekend.

The Wisconsin QSO Party, 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint, K1USN Slow Speed Test, OK1WC Memorial, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, ICWC Medium Speed Test, QRP 40-Meter CW Fox Hunt, Phone Weekly Test, A1Club AWT, CWops Test, VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Mini-Test 40, Mini-Test 80 and the RSGB 80-Meter Club CW Championship are on tap for March 13 to 15.

Please see March QST, page 71, and the ARRL and WA7BNM Contest web sites for details.

The RSGB are pleased to announce a new West Midlands GB2RS broadcast on the 4m band.

Don’t forget the RSGB’s next Tonight @ 8 live webinar on Monday, 6 March 2023.

The Train the Trainers course is designed to help amateur radio trainers deliver interesting and engaging courses.

As we all adjusted to more normal levels of activity after the restrictions of Covid, we were delighted that during 2022, radio amateurs and clubs started meeting more frequently and enjoying amateur radio together.

We held our first hybrid Convention last year, which saw hundreds of radio amateurs meeting in person and thousands enjoying a snapshot of the lectures via two days of livestreaming. The Convention brought together a fantastic line-up of speakers who, between them, provided expert technical presentations as well as clear explanations about how to get started in different aspects of amateur radio. The Special Interest Groups who joined us also put on a great display and chatted to hundreds of people during the weekend.

A strong team of technical volunteers and HQ staff produced 15 hours of livestream content, including live and pre-recorded interviews and presentations for the online attendees to enjoy. Preparing this level of engaging content both for those attending the Convention and those watching online took months of preparation.

Our livestreams have now been viewed 6.7k times and the individual presentations we have released in the weeks since the Convention have had over 9,000 views.

We have also begun to release some Convention presentations into our Members’ portal as a benefit of membership, so Members can see the presentations before everyone else on YouTube.

Our viewers come from a wide range of countries across the world, including the UK and the USA, Canada, South Korea, Mauritius, Malaysia, South Africa, Japan and many countries across Europe.

Our YouTube channel continues to grow both in content and subscribers. We are delighted that in 2022 we started reaching new audiences with our videos – our analytics show that between 2021 and 2022, there was a 130% increase in female viewers and a 252% increase in 13-44-year-olds viewing our videos.

All of our social media platforms gained new followers in 2022 and we saw a lot of lively discussions and information sharing. Our Facebook group for new and returning licensees now has 1.1k members and continues to be a supportive environment for people who are starting out or getting back into amateur radio. Our tweets in 2022 had nearly 1.5 million impressions, the number of people who looked at our Facebook page increased by 45.2% whilst the number who saw any of our posts, photos and videos on Facebook rose by 32.4%.

Last year saw a significant number of articles, interviews and TV programmes where amateur radio was mentioned. We were approached by the BBC to help with amateur radio content for programmes such as “The Secret Genius of Modern Life” and “Countryfile”, and we also helped the BBC Data Team to translate a Morse Code message in relation to the war in Ukraine.

The RSGB Communications Manager wrote a three-page feature in the February edition of RadCom that outlined just some of these examples and suggested how we can all work together to raise the profile of amateur radio in the mainstream media even more. You can read that on page 52 of the February edition.

Our popular monthly webinar series, which began during lockdown, continues to inspire people about different aspects of amateur radio. Topics covered in 2022 were as varied as the story of Jodrell Bank, through to HF on holiday, Log4OM and 100 years of BBC technology and innovation. The availability of the presentations on our YouTube channel means that even if people aren’t able to watch on the night, they can catch up afterwards – and thousands do just that every week.

Over the year, RadCom magazine went from strength to strength. Together, our authors and contributors wrote over 160 separate articles on various subjects related to amateur radio. We reviewed 38 individual items in detail, published 72 technical articles and 55 special feature articles. The magazine is popular around the world and is enjoyed by readers in over 110 different countries. Many of those members wrote letters to us and we printed 135 of them in The Last Word during the 2022 year. We also helped the Membership find new homes for their old equipment by publishing 313 Members’ ads.

RadCom Plus continued to provide high-level technical material while RadCom Basics was enjoyed by those who are seeking to broaden their knowledge of the fundamentals of amateur radio. During 2022, RadCom Basics included nine technical articles, five features and two reviews. RadCom Plus included four technical articles and three features and gained over 800 new subscribers.

GB2RS news is read on ten different amateur bands and eight different modes. Each Sunday, 108 volunteer newsreaders deliver 73 separate broadcasts, as well as web versions. In one year, that’s approximately 2,000 hours of unique RSGB news shared with the amateur radio community. Over 3,500 people subscribe to the email version
of the GB2RS news script to ensure they don’t miss out each week.

After the unprecedented numbers taking amateur radio exams in 2020 and 2021 things returned to more normal levels in 2022 with a total of 2,548 candidates taking an exam either online or on paper. Of those, 2,111 were successful.

A team of 27 remote invigilators handled just under 1,200 remote exam sessions which was extraordinary work on their part. Slightly over 32% of those that sat the Foundation level exam went on to sit the Intermediate exam with 68% of those taking the Full level exam. Fifty unique clubs offered exams for 203 candidates in 2022 with the majority opting for paper exams rather than online. The total number of club exam sessions was 58 at Foundation level, 20 at Intermediate and nine at Full level.

Many radio amateurs still enjoy aiming for awards and it is notable that of the general RSGB awards, 27% were issued to non-UK stations last year. As part of the RSGB’s Jubilee celebrations, the Awards Manager issued 197 certificates for ‘Award70’ whilst 41 were issued as part of the Commonwealth Games 2022 awards.

As the amateur radio licence now requires all amateurs to check compliance with EMF exposure limits, the EMF team continued to be busy answering questions and providing guidance material to help radio amateurs to comply. In 2022 the EMF helpdesk team handled 100 cases and answered thousands of emails whilst the online EMF calculator received 21,425 hits on the website.

It is important to keep updating our products and services and last year we produced over 20 new RSGB products. The RSGB sales department processed over 11,500 book and product orders, sending them to around 50
different countries. We also reopened sales to the EU in May after changes to EU VAT rules had stopped us shipping there. We have now delivered to over 20 of the 28 countries in the EU.

Whilst numbers have stabilised a little after the peaks during the pandemic, we are delighted that over 1,400 new people joined the RSGB in 2022 whist a further 400 rejoined. The Society’s total membership is now higher than it was back in 2011.

The RSGB National Radio Centre (NRC) based at Bletchley Park saw good visitor numbers, despite being closed throughout January due to Covid and some additional periods of closure for maintenance. NRC volunteers welcomed 72,797 visitors over the 326 days the Centre was open.

The RSGB National Radio Centre continued to offer interested amateur radio clubs the opportunity to enjoy, by prior arrangement, a private evening visit.

Making much of this happen has been our very busy, but small, staff of just 18 people (eight full time and ten part time). They made and received 44,111 phone calls, sent and received more emails than we can count, and have been the friendly voice to thousands of new and existing Members, as well as radio amateurs seeking help and advice.

Hundreds of volunteers were also crucial to the success of the Society, helping in their areas of expertise to enable us to cover the breadth of amateur radio. We recognised their valuable contribution by sending out badges to 662 volunteers at the end of the year.

As life becomes more familiar and we can meet with fewer restrictions, we are all still finding a way of connecting that feels comfortable and achievable. We are certainly seeing many clubs move towards a hybrid way of meeting, as we did as a Society for our Convention in October. The current cost-of-living concerns are also leading us all to continue meeting more online than we might perhaps like.

However, amateur radio is still thriving, and I know that there will be some great opportunities for all of us to discover more about amateur radio in the coming year. The RSGB is committed to supporting new and existing radio amateurs, and to introducing amateur radio to a wider audience via the mainstream media whenever we can. Let’s make 2023 the year in which we try something new, support other radio amateurs and decide to share the benefits of amateur radio with the people in our local communities.

The following is a QST. Caribbean island communities strengthen their emergency networks. Hams are asked to join a solar-eclipse study -- and Hamvention organizers announce this year's award winners. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2366 comes your way right now.

BILLBOARD CART

An Australian company's donation of HF radios and antennas is moving amateurs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines closer to the development of improved islandwide HF emergency response -- an important element in an area often battered by hurricanes. Graham Kemp VK4BB brings us that report.

When emergency radio equipment from Barrett Communications arrived from Australia on the 14th of February, the director of the Rainbow Radio League/Youlou (YOO LOO) Radio Movement noted that the date was Valentine's Day and declared the delivery [quote] "a gift of love." [endquote] Donald DeRiggs, J88CD, said he was grateful for the donation - the third of its kind provided by Barrett for emergency use in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The equipment is not only a useful way to bolster communications during hurricane season but a way to safeguard areas such as those that were left vulnerable during the eruption of the volcano, La Soufriere in 2021.

The Australian company has taken an active role in helping the island communities. Previous donations by Barrett were used to assist the island of Dominica in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017. Donald said that as soon as this new equipment can be programmed and deployed there will be drills in May or early June to prepare for the coming hurricane season.

The latest shipment was transported to Kingstown from the air cargo facility by Leslie Edwards J88LE. It included HF radios, portable solar panels, spare microphones, a portable antenna mast and broadband dipoles.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(DONALD DE RIGGS, J88CD)

The US military is getting ready to do some intense testing on the ionosphere, via the ISS. We have those details from Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

Two ionospheric sensors will be tested on board the International Space Station this spring in an experiment designed to ultimately improve HF radio communications for the US Department of Defense. The website, Breaking Defense, reported that the sensors are to be sent to the ISS in March. The US military has been revisiting the importance of HF radio as an alternative to satellites, having realized that US satellites could become compromised or destroyed by enemy attack. HF bands are already being used by the three branches of the US military for some long-range communications.

Andrew Nicholas, one of the lead researchers on the sensor project, told the Breaking Defense website that the sensors will be measuring ionospheric particle density and its impact on the radio waves passing through it.

He said the data from the tests will help in the development of better ionspheric monitoring models. Eventually the military might even consider creating satellites that would constantly monitor such important ionospheric changes to assist in the performance of HF communication.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(BREAKING DEFENSE.COM)

As any ham knows, signal reports matter. Well, they're about to matter even more for those radio enthusiasts who are participating in a citizen science project taking place during two solar eclipses, this year and next year. For that story, we turn to our newest correspondent Patrick Clark, K8TAC, who was also Newsline's Young Ham of the Year in 2001.

There will be a little bit of competition and a whole lot of research going on later this year for participants in a QSO party organized by Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation, or HamSci. Volunteer radio operators and shortwave listeners will join researchers at a number of US universities sending, receiving and recording signals during the October 14th solar eclipse. The data will be collected and used for testing computer models of the ionosphere to assess its variability. This is the first of two eclipses over North America that HamSci will be studying. The second one is on April 8, 2024.

Both Solar Eclipse QSO Parties encourage the use of CW, SSB and digital modes on 160-6 meters. At the same time, hams who operate CW and digital beacons, WSPR and FST4W, will be able to take part in the Gladstone Signal Spotting Challenge.

Registration starts in July. Organizers stress the importance of this opportunity. As they say on the project's website [quote]: "If we miss the chance to collect meaningful data in 2023 and 2024, it will be decades before North American hams and researchers get another opportunity." [endquote] For details, visit hamsci dot org [hamsci.org]

This is Patrick Clark K8TAC.

(HAMSCI)

A noted contester and DXer who had once been the chief engineer for the Federal Communications Commission has become a Silent Key. We learn more about him from Jim Damron N8TMW.

Raymond Spence, W4QAW, was so devoted to contesting and DXing that a 1984 newspaper interview with him described the traffic-stopping view his collection of towers provided to motorists who would see them from a nearby highway. The Washington Post article noted that much of the six and a half acres of Raymond's property in Virginia served him well. Raymond, who was retired from the post as chief engineer for the FCC in nearby Washington, DC, became a Silent Key on February 18th, due to heart failure.

Born in 1929, he was an active ham for much of his life. His basement radio room served as his main contest station and he was a top performer in many major contests. He is listed on the DXCC Honor Roll and was a member of the National Capitol DX Association and the Potomac Valley Radio Club.

This is Jim Damron N8TMW.

(WASHINGTON POST, DX NEWS.COM, QRZ.COM)

If you want to know who's REALLY looking forward to Hamvention this year, consider this list of amateurs who'll be coming to Dayton to receive some awards. Paul Braun WD9GCO has the details.

Hamvention has announced this year's award recipients. I spoke with awards committee chair Michael Kalter, W8CI, about them.

KALTER: First is the special achievement winner, Dr. Jason McDonald, N2TPA. He’s just been instrumental in promoting international friendship and community through amateur radio by forming scouting clubs in Canada, Philippines, and Florida. Right now there are more than 500 youth in these clubs that have been licensed and are on the air.

KALTER: This year’s Technical Achievement Award goes to Dr. James Breakall, WA3FET, and his work’s been so instrumental in amateur radio antenna technology development for decades. He’s teamed with experts in the field to develop state-of-the-art advancements with a wide range of applications including the Numeric Electromagnetic Code, NEC.

KALTER: Amateur of the Year goes to Carsten Dauer, DM9EE. He’s been active in European amateur radio through WRTC and YOTA for 30 years. But more recently, he has spearheaded a group called DM9EE-Helping Hands, a movement to provide amateur radio equipment to war-torn Ukraine by collecting donations and delivering them personally to communities in Ukraine.

PAUL: Amateur Radio Club of the Year goes to The Delaware Valley Radio Association, formed in 1930 to serve the Trenton, New Jersey metropolitan area.

To read more, visit Hamvention’s website, hamvention.org. Congratulations to the winners from all of us at Amateur Radio Newsline.

Congratulations to Ambarish Nag Biswas VU2JFA, secretary of the West Bengal Radio Club in India, who were Newsline's International Newsmaker of the Year for 2019 and 2022. At a recent ceremony in Kolkata, he was given the Ananya Samman award from Zee News, a Hindi broadcast channel that is part of one of India's largest media companies. He told Newsline this was a special honor for him as the first amateur radio recipient. The award is in recognition of the club's life-saving work during cyclones, the pandemic and in other areas of public concern. Newsline joins him in celebrating this achievement.

(YOUTUBE)

The theme of World Amateur Radio Day this year is a recognition of the vital role ham radio has played in a number of world crises. John Williams VK4JJW tells us what's planned.

In an unprecedented partnership, the International Amateur Radio Union is being joined by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security and the World Academy of Art and Science to mark World Amateur Radio Day on the 18th of April. The organisations have declared the theme of the day to be Human Security for All, or HS4A.

The theme arises out of the partners' shared belief that hams have a unique means to fulfill the United Nations' mission of providing human security for individuals around the world. The campaign the partnering groups have launched together honours ham radio's proven track record in responding to natural disasters, the pandemic, climate change and even armed conflicts - the many things that undermine individual security without regard to national boundaries. This important concept was declared a priority by the United Nations in 1994.

Ham radio gains its advantage as a responder by providing technical knowledge, practical skills and backup systems that provide a security net in times of crisis.

The IARU, which has membership societies in more than 150 nations around the world, made the announcement on its webpage for Region 1. A two-week event will be held on the air from April 11th through to the 25th highlighting the HS4A campaign for World Amateur Radio Day.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(IARU REGION 1)

Operating portable in the park just gained a little more of a competitive edge. Dave Parks WB8ODF explains.

A new activity being introduced this June by the Parks on the Air organizers is going to be different from the casual portable outdoor operating experience activators and hunters enjoy. This is a contest. For 48 hours, hams will collect contacts and points as part of the new Parks on the Air Plaque Event, which is intended to become an annual competition. In a YouTube interview with Kevin Thomas W1DED, POTA president Jason Johnston, W3AAX, explained the different categories available to both hunters and activators and explained that anyone who made their first POTA contact after June 2, 2022, is eligible for the additional category of rookie. Participants must be registered with POTA and can use CW, SSB and the digital modes. Hams will not be permitted to use the WARC bands.

As for multipliers, there are none. This keeps the playing field level so that everything - even multiple reference areas - will be worth a single point.

This is Dave Parks WB8ODF.

NEIL/ANCHOR: The contest will be held on HF, VHF, UHF and SHF. For a look at the rules and other details for the event, see the link in the text version of this week's Newsline report at arnewsline.org

One of the oldest nets held among radio amateurs in India has begun a live stream. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF has those details.

The origins of the Belgaum Hambel Net predate the internet by several decades, when a group of young shortwave enthusiasts in the city of Belgaum would get together to study for their ASOC examination in the physics lab of a local college where Pal, VU2PAL, was a professor. By 1973, the group - now licensed hams - had grown. In 1973 they formed the Hambel Amateur Radio Club. By 1988, the hams had agreed to have regularly scheduled QSOs with one another on 7.052.5 MHz - and little by little the on-air circle of friends grew to include those living outside the immediate area. The net was formally launched by Professor Pal in November 1989. He moved it to 7.050 MHz and gave it a name - the Hambel Belgaum Net. He was also its first and most active net control. According to the club's website, by the time he became a Silent Key in 2016, he had logged tens of thousands of QSOs via the net alone.

The group's well-established 40-metre net tradition continues today from 7 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Indian Standard Time, but the world has recently begun listening in. The net now uses YouTube to livestream its check-ins, with net controllers Bebu, VU2PNU, Omprakash, VU2KOC, Joshi, VU2BRJ, and Yaseen, VU3PMY.

You can listen too. See the link to one of the more recent nets in the text version of this week's script at arnewsline.org

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(HAMBEL NET WEBSITE, YOUTUBE)

In the World of DX, Phil, VA3QR, is operating from Panama throughout March, using various call signs depending upon his location. Those call signs include HP1/VA3QR, HP3/VA3QR and HP8/VA3QR. He will be using SSB and the digital modes. QSL to his home call.

Listen for Matt, ZL4NVW, who will be activating several SOTA summits on Secretary Island off the Fiordland coast from the 7th
to the 13th of March. He will be on 40m through 10m, SSB only. Secretary Island uses the IOTA designation OC-203 for the South Coastal Islands of New Zealand. QSL to his home call.

Listen for Robert, OK2PYA, operating as EA6/OK2PYA from various World Wide Flora & Fauna areas on Mallorca in the Balearic Islands, IOTA EU-004 until the 7th of March. He is using CW on 40-10 metres. QSL via Club Log's OQRS and LoTW.

(425 DX BULLETIN, DX-WORLD.NET)

For our final story, we visit with a SOTA activator who is recovering from serious injuries after a fall on a summit. While he is healing, he plans to active a campaign of gratitude for his rescuers. Here's Jeremy Boot G4NJH with that story.

It was just a few weeks ago that Alan 2EØJWA had hopes of scoring 4 points plus a 3-point winter bonus for activating the largest summit in his immediate area, G/SP-001 Kinder Scout in the Peak District National Park.

His goal on that day in January came crashing down with him when he fell on a piece of black ice on the well-marked summit path, shattering his left leg. He expects that after two surgeries, he will be back on his feet by mid-May - perhaps even back on the air for a summit by summer.

As he tells colleagues on the SOTA Reflector, however, he might not be making those plans at all were it not for the kind souls who first rushed to his aid on the trail to stabilise him -- and then for the welcome arrival of the volunteer team he describes in his blog as "angels in red coats," the Glossop Mountain Rescue Team. It was a complicated rescue but they moved him safely off the hill just as snow showers were threatening to arrive.

Alan is now asking others on the SOTA Reflector and the ham community to help inspire some kind of special event or thank-you gesture for helping to keep this SOTA activator alive. To Alan, the winter bonus for that summit truly belongs to the angels in red coats.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(SOTA REFLECTOR, 2EØJWA BLOG)

Do you have a piece of Amateur Radio News that you think Newsline would be interested in? 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.

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Breaking Defense.com; CQ magazine; David Behar K7DB; Donald De Riggs, J88CD; DX-World.net; FCC; 425 DX News; Hambel Net; HamSCI; Parks on the Air; RadioWorld SOTA Reflector; the 2EØJWA Blog; shortwaveradio.de; Washington Post; 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. We also wish a happy 21st anniversary to the Summits on the Air awards scheme, created March 2nd, 2002. For now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and our news team worldwide, I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG in Union Kentucky saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

Keplerian Bulletin 16 ARLK016
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT March 3, 2023
To all radio amateurs

Special thanks to AMSAT-NA (AMSAT.ORG) for the following Keplerian data.

Decode 2-line elsets with the following key:
1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ
2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ
KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN
G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM

0 AO-07
1 07530U 74089B   23062.46434751 -.00000027 00000-0 12102-3 0 9999
2 07530 101.9393 48.4607 0011918 266.0839 212.2388 12.53661736209924
0 ISS
1 25544U 98067A   23062.65702307 .00022568 00000-0 40746-3 0 9990
2 25544 51.6415 131.2703 0006062 51.6021 80.1973 15.49621529385424
0 SO-50
1 27607U 02058C   23062.48148340 .00003223 00000-0 45566-3 0 9991
2 27607 64.5539 228.9099 0077200 245.3319 113.9731 14.76830299 86613
0 AO-73
1 39444U 13066AE 23062.48486840 .00007943 00000-0 90635-3 0 9994
2 39444 97.6589 30.4792 0052277 261.1101 98.4194 14.85362832499942
0 XW-2A
1 40903U 15049E   23062.27945804 .00156729 00000-0 88139-3 0 9999
2 40903 97.1338 128.6303 0005684 218.8037 214.6028 15.78773285419655
0 IO-86
1 40931U 15052B   23062.42620067 .00001549 00000-0 12520-3 0 9992
2 40931   5.9955 121.4298 0013136 238.5586 121.2231 14.77063085401693
0 CAS-4B
1 42759U 17034B   23062.29847028 .00014941 00000-0 79439-3 0 9999
2 42759 43.0187 343.3950 0009399 141.1158   6.8839 15.15057915315563
0 CAS-4A
1 42761U 17034D   23062.25002659 .00013067 00000-0 69475-3 0 9998
2 42761 43.0186 342.2384 0009713 141.4013 355.7590 15.15144627315564
0 AO-91
1 43017U 17073E   23062.21648036 .00011939 00000-0 85134-3 0 9993
2 43017 97.6469 310.7699 0240963 58.9196 303.5426 14.84167852285458
0 PO-101
1 43678U 18084H   23062.44578558 .00002849 00000-0 28022-3 0 9998
2 43678 98.0024 204.4292 0010183 145.4434 214.7437 14.92909753236484
0 QO-100
1 43700U 18090A   23062.52670792 .00000138 00000-0 00000-0 0 9995
2 43700   0.0136 129.0795 0001309 195.2694 52.0658 1.00273145 15621
0 JO-97
1 43803U 18099AX 23062.12669174 .00008861 00000-0 72880-3 0 9995
2 43803 97.5864 127.4633 0016415 115.7680 244.5239 14.99251184231795
0 CAS-6
1 44881U 19093C   23062.52493235 .00001783 00000-0 22973-3 0 9998
2 44881 97.8687 142.7679 0016003 64.7578 295.5319 14.82204324173145
0 RS-44
1 44909U 19096E   23062.44321266 .00000045 00000-0 12780-3 0 9992
2 44909 82.5184 58.2023 0218609 74.2901 288.2197 12.79718710148637
0 XW-3
1 50466U 21131B   23062.53744675 .00000951 00000-0 32419-3 0 9990
2 50466 98.5575 144.4097 0005642 99.9974 260.1850 14.38710991 62165
0 IO-117
1 53106U 22080B   23059.10218779 -.00000003 00000-0 00000-0 0 9995
2 53106 70.1827 357.6158 0008468 211.9521 148.0626 6.42557162 14745
0 FO-118
1 54684U 22167C   23062.44854862 .00017033 00000-0 10255-2 0 9998
2 54684 97.5442 201.0851 0013858 339.7324 110.8489 15.10800318 12699

Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW. The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at 2330z on Baudot and BPSK31.

DX Bulletin 9 ARLD009
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT March 2, 2023
To all radio amateurs

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by G0TLE, WB2REM, The Daily DX, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.

AZERBAIJAN, 4K. Dirk, DK1DKE is QRV as 4K7DK near Baku City until March 13. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL to home call.

LESOTHO, 7P. Schalk, ZS4Z is QRV as 7P8LL. Activity is on 80 to 2 meters, including 70 and 23 centimeters. QSL via EA7FTR.

BARBADOS, 8P. Tom, W2SC is QRV as 8P5A until March 5. He will be a Single Op/All Band/High Power entry in the ARRL International SSB DX contest.
QSL via HA1AG.

GHANA, 9G. Alan, G3XAQ is QRV as 9G5XA until March 14. Activity is on the HF bands using CW. This includes being an entry in the upcoming BERU contest. QSL direct to G3SWH.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, A6. Thomas, DL2RMC is QRV as A65CW until the end of September. He is active on 80 to 6 meters using CW and FT8. This includes activity on Satellite QO-100. QSL via LoTW.

COMOROS, D6. Hiro, JF1OCQ will be QRV as D67AA from March 9 to 22. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, FT8, and FT4. QSL to home call.

BALEARIC ISLANDS, EA6. Robert, OK2PYA is QRV as EA6/OK2PYA from Mallorca Island, IOTA EU-004, until March 10. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW. QSL to home call.

GUADELOUPE, FG. Gildas, F6HMQ and Michel, F6GWV are QRV as FG/home calls until March 26. They will be active as TO3Z in the ARRL International SSB DX contest and the upcoming CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL to home calls, and TO3Z via F6HMQ.

SAINT MARTIN, FS. A large group of operators will be QRV as TO5M in the ARRL International SSB DX contest. QSL via LoTW.

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, HC8. Operators WB2REM, KE2D, VO1IDX, and K4LT are QRV as HD8M from Santa Cruz, IOTA SA-004, until March 11. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, FT8, and FT4. This includes being an entry in the ARRL International SSB DX contest. QSL direct to WB2REM.

ST. VINCENT, J8. Sandro, VE7NY, Allan, VE7SZ and Rob, N7QT are QRV as J8NY from the main island of St. Vincent, IOTA NA-109, until March 7. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8. This includes being a M/2 entry in the ARRL International SSB DX contest. QSL via LoTW.

CURACAO, PJ2. Operators N1ZZ, AF4Z, K5LD, N0OK, KE3VV, AD4ES, AK4R and K4JC are QRV as PJ2/home calls. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW and FT8. They will be active as PJ2T in the ARRL International SSB DX contest. QSL via operators' instructions.

MALI, TZ. Ulmar, DK1CE is QRV as TZ1CE and here for three weeks. Activity is on the HF bands using CW with some SSB and FT8. QSL via LoTW.

ST. KITTS AND NEVIS, V4. Pete, G0TLE will be QRV as V4/G0TLE from St. Kitts, IOTA NA-104, from March 5 to 17. Activity will be holiday style on 40 to 10 meters using CW. QSL via LoTW.

WILLIS ISLAND, VK9W. Sands, VK9WX is here until April. Activity is in his spare time on 80 to 10 meters. QSL via M0OXO.

BERMUDA, VP9. Les, N1SV is QRV as VP9/N1SV until March 6. He will be active as VP9I in the ARRL International SSB DX contest. QSL to home call.

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS, VU4. Gopan, VU3HPF and Ram, VU2JXN are QRV as VU4T from Port Blair, South Andaman Island, IOTA AS-001, until March 5. Activity is holiday style on 40 to 10 meters using CW and maybe some SSB. They may also be active on Satellite QO-100. QSL via LoTW.

CAMBODIA, XU. Thomas, DL7BO is QRV as XU7GNY until March 9. Activity is on 80 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8. QSL direct to DJ6TF.

CAYMAN ISLANDS, ZF. Look for ZF5T to be a High Power entry, and ZF1A to be a Multi/Single entry in the ARRL International SSB DX contest.
QSL ZF5T via operators' instructions, and ZF1A via K7ZO.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The ARRL International SSB DX Contest, Novice Rig Roundup, NCCC RTTY Sprint, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC Sprint CW Ladder, K1USN Slow Speed Test, Wake-Up QRP CW Sprint, UBA Spring CW Contest, NSARA Contest, SARL Hamnet 40-Meter Simulated Emergency SSB Contest, Classic CW Exchange and the WAB 3.5 MHz Phone will certainly keep contesters busy this upcoming weekend.

The ICWC Medium Speed CW Test, OK1WC Memorial, RSGB 80-Meter Club Data Championship, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, ARS Spartan CW Sprint, AGCW YL-CW Party, QRP 40-Meter CW Fox Hunt, Phone Weekly Test, A1Club AWT, CWops Test, VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Mini-Test 40 and the Mini-Test 80 are on tap for March 6 to 8.

Please see March QST, page 71, and the ARRL and WA7BNM Contest web sites for details.

Island activities:

IOTA QRGs
CW: 28040 24920 21040 18098 14040 10114 7030 3530 kHz
SSB: 28560 28460 24950 21260 18128 14260 7055 3760 kHz

T33BA T33BB Banaba Island - T33BA and T33BB will be active from Banaba Island, former Ocean Island, IOTA OC - 018, Kiribati, February - March 2023.

V26EI Team will be active from Antigua island - IOTA NA - 100, 24th March - 2 April 2023

NASA confirms humanity can deflect killer asteroids with rockets
but only if we have years to prepare

Four new studies confirm that NASA's DART mission, which crashed a rocket into the asteroid Dimorphos, changed the asteroid's trajectory and could potentially save Earth one day, given enough time to prepare.

This page will be regularly updated to reflect Club News and Activities and both UK and World News Items deemed to be of interest to members. If you have an announcement which you think would interest Club members and would like it mentioned here, please send details to:- webmaster@wadarc.com