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Ärende: Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1947 - December 5 2014
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Greetings Y'all!
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1947 - December 5 2014
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1947 with a release date of December
5th 2014 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. CEPT recommends new testing procedures for people
with disabilities; the mysteries of NVIS propagation being studied
down-under; the Japan asteroid recovery mission carrying two ham radio
satellites is launched and graphene is in our future. Find out the
details are on Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1947 coming your way
right now.
**
RESTRUCTURING: NEW CEPT EXAM RECOMMENDATION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
A new recommendation adopted by the Electronic Communications Committee of
the European Conference of Postal and Telecommuncations Administrations or
CEPT seeks to ease the access of persons with disabilities to license
examinations for the Amateur Radio Service. Amateur Radio Newsline's
Heather Embee, KB3TZD has the details:
--
Electronic Communications Committee Recommendation 1405 was drafted by the
IARU Region 1 Regulatory Affairs Coordinator and was adopted by the
committee back on October 10th. This was followed a consultation process
with several administrations providing comments.
The recommendation notes that for persons with disabilities, participating
in the amateur service it is not only an important means of technical
self-qualification by setting and achieving goals, but is also a way of
integration into society by communicating with other persons of like
interests. However, license examinations designed for non-disabled
candidates can prove to be a significant impediment in obtaining the
necessary qualifications to operate a station.
Several administrations of CEPT member countries have already adopted
practices to adapt amateur radio license examinations to the specific
needs of candidates with disabilities. For other administrations E-C-C
Recommendation 1405 provides a framework for action.
The document states that the examination syllabus should be identical for
all candidates but that testing procedures take into account the
individual disability of candidates as confirmed by an official document.
Such procedures can include individual testing where appropriate and/or
providing reasonable additional examination time. Tests with diagram-free
questions for the visually impaired could be replaced questions provided
in Braille. Lastly, Examinations conducted in the home of candidates with
severely limited mobility would be instituted.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD, reporting.
--
How this procedure might be phased in not explained in the press
announcement. A link to this new recommendation in the CEPT database in
PDF format is at tinyurl.com/new-cept-testing-proposal. (IARU Region 1)
**
RADIO RESEARCH: RESEARCHING THE MYSTERIES OF NVIS
Near Vertical Incidence Skywave propagation, better known as NVIS, is
turning in some rather interesting mysteries as well as solving others as
we hear in this special report from VK2LAW of the Wireless Institute of
Australia:
--
One of the most interesting findings in the results of Near Vertical
Incidence Skywave propagation, comparing a communications path between two
amateur stations ZS6KN and ZS6KTS over a distance of 51 kilometers it is
interesting to note that on June 20 2014 there was a good communications
path from approximately 05:00 to 16:30 after which the signals
disappeared. The pattern was the same for July but the signals were
considerably stronger than August or September. Suring September a strong
dip in signal strength can be seen.
The other interesting observation from the graph is that propagation opens
earlier and closes later as we go into summer which indicates variations
in the D layer of the Ionosphere as the Sun rises earlier and sets later.
Not enough data has been collected to make any meaningful conclusions. If
the path was pure groundwave the signals would have been more or less
constant throughout the day or night.
--
Obviously its going to take a few more seasons of research to truly find
the limitations of NVIS propagation as well as to fully understand its
characteristics. (WIA News)
**
HRIS: SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF ASTEROID RETURN MISSION
Japan has successfully launched its round trip Hayabusa 2 asteroid
sample-return mission with a pair of amateur radio payloads along for part
of the ride as we hear from Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF:
--
The mission was carried into space on board a Japan Aerospace Exploration
Agency launch vehicle on December 3rd. The primary payload is the
Hayabusa 2 spacecraft on the first leg of its exploration and recovery
journey to Asteroid 1999 JU3.
Along for the ride into the final frontier are two amateur radio
satellites named Shin'en 2 and ARTSAT 2 Despatch.
The Shin'en 2 carries a one tenth of a watt CW beacon downlinking on
437.505 MHz and a telemetry downlink on 437.385 MHz. Also on board is a
digital store-and-forward transponder with an uplink of 145.942 MHz and a
micro power downlink at 435.270 MHz.
ARTSAT2:DESPATCH carries a 7 watt Morse transmitter on 437.325 MHz. Its
controllers say that they are seeking the assistance from hams here on
Earth as part of a global monitoring system that it calls a cooperative
diversity communication experiment. This effort will attempt to intercept
signals from the spacecraft by properly equipped radio amateurs around the
world in addition to those heard and recorded at the mission control
center in Tokyo. This in the hope of reconstructing the original data
transmitted from the spacecraft.
Each payload has its own website with tracking and other technical
details. Shin'en 2 is at tinyurl.com/sinen-2-online. ARTSAT2:DESPATCH
can be found at inyurl.com/artsat-2-in-space.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in Los
Angeles.
--
We will have more ham radio space related news later on in this weeks
report. (AMSAT-UK, others)
**
DX UP FRONT: COCOS ISLAND IN FEBRUARY 2015
In DX up front, 3Z9DX, K7CO and TI2HMJ will be active as TI9A from Cocos
Island between February 16th and the 23rd of 2015. It has been 6 years
since the last TI9 operation, and because of this Cocos is ranked 26th on
the most wanted list.
The boat trip to the island will begin on February 14th 2015, and it takes
30 hours from Costa Rica. Their Radio Permit is issued for 7 days only.
That means they can operate for only about 6 days but are also in
possession of the second permit, which allows them to stay on the island
overnight and there-by 24 hour a day operation. They will be using two
radios on 80 through 10 meter CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via 3Z9DX as directed
at www.nielsen.net/ti9a (OPDX)
**
DX UP FRONT: BEAR ISLAND THROUGH MAY 2015
Also, LA9JKA will be on Bear Island for a work assignment until May 2015.
In his free time he plans to operate on all HF bands and 6 meters. QSL
via LA9JKA direct only. (Facebook DX)
**
ENFORCEMENT: RADIO STATION EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH ALLEGED ARSON OF STATION
A Stafford, Arizona radio station is back on the air after an employee of
KJIK-FM allegedly set the station in early November and then stuck around
to watch it burn. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Damron, N8TMW, has more:
--
Shortly after 1 a.m. local time, Graham County Dispatch received an
anonymous call about a structure fire at the radio station. When
officers arrived, they noticed smoke pouring out of the building and a
man, later identified as Scott Louis Welbaum, standing in the parking lot
watching.
Welbaum was told to leave the area but informed officers he was an
employee of the station and there was a significant amount of expensive
equipment inside. The Safford Fire Department then responded to the scene
and extinguished the fire.
According to reports, Safford Fire Chief Clark Bingham advised the fire
was possibly arson. Officers then learned the anonymous phone call had
been placed at a pay phone at Walmart across the highway. A Thatcher
officer responded to review surveillance footage from the store and saw a
man he believed to be Welbaum approach and use a pay phone at the time of
the tip. The subject was also wearing the same clothes as Welbaum.
The suspect and two other employees who also have keys to the building
were then taken to the Safford Police Department to be interviewed.
During his interview, Welbaum allegedly became hostile toward the
officers. When presented with a warrant to search his vehicle which was
also parked at the scene, police say that Welbaum acted as though he was
going to throw a computer and had to be talked down by an officer pointing
his TASER at him. After a short struggle, Welbaum was handcuffed and
transported to the jail, where a search revealed he was in possession of
five green-tipped wood matches. He was then booked on a charge of alleged
arson. KJIK-FM was back on the air by noon the same day.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW, reporting.
--
More is on the web at tinyurl.com/radio-station-arson-ch (Eastern Arizona
Courier, Inside Radio, other published reports)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: EXPLORE 30 METER DIGITAL PARTY
The European Radio Amateurs' Organization, together with the 30 Meter
Digital Group, announce a new QSO party with the motto: 'Be digital,
explore 30 meters." The party will be held the weekend December 20th and
21st from 00:00 to 24:00 UTC. This is not a contest but rather a radio
meeting with a few simple recommendations to follow. You can find them at
tinyurl.com/explore-30-meters. (ERAO)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: NEW FT4TA TROMELIN SLIDESHOW ON LINE
F5CWU reports that a slide show covering the 2014 Tromelin Island FT4TA
operation is now available for viewing on the World Wide Web. The show is
made up from the selected photos out of the thousands that were taken
beginning with the approach by air to the island. You can see them with
either French or English captioning at tinyurl.com/tromelin-2014-photos.
A video of the expedition is being edited and will hopefully be available
in early 2015. (Press Release)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: DECEMBER IS YOTA MONTH
During the entire month of December, Youth on the Air or YOTA is growing
quickly with it being reported that every week more youngsters are asking
to participate. YOTA stations will be trying to make many contacts, so
take this opportunity to connect young amateurs in their teens and 20s
with their peers on the air. To quote the Radio Society of Great Britain,
by making YOTA popular, we can all help to get more youngsters active in
amateur radio. (GB2RS)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: M0PHI NEW CHAIR OF RSGB TRAINING AND EDUCATION
COMMITTEE
The Radio Society of Great Britain has announced the appointment of Philip
Willis, M0PHI as the new Chairman of its Training and Education Committee
Willis succeeds Steve Hartley, G0FUW.
(GB2RS)
**
SWL CORNER: GERMAN LONGWAVE TO CEASE BY YEARS END
The German national public broadcasters Deutschlandfunk and
Deutschlandradio Kultur will disappear from longwave at the end of this
year. According to Bulgarian DX Blog, the money saved will be invested in
digital terrestrial radio such as DAB+. At the end of 2015 the mediumwave
transmitters of Deutschlandfunk will also close.
Deutschlandfunk still broadcasts on longwave at 153 and 207 kHz. It also
maintains seven medium wave frequencies including 1269 and 549 kHz.
Deutschlandradio Kultur broadcasts by means of the longwave frequency 177
kHz. Their mediumwave frequency 990 kHz went off last year. (Bulgarian
DX Blog)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: QRZ.COM INSTITUTES SUBSCRIBER REWARDS PROGRAM
The QRZ.com callsign lookup and general ham radio discussion website has
announced its new Subscriber Rewards program. According to the websites
managers, Subscriber Rewards is their way of saying thanks their
subscribers upon whose support they depend to keep the site running.
Every Wednesday QRZ will choose a subscriber to win a free prize. All
current QRZ subscribers are eligible, regardless of their subscription
plan. If your callsign page has a QRZ Subscriber badge, then you're
eligible to win.
QRZ.com will announce each week's new winner on its home page, in the Ham
Radio News forum. They will also keep you posted on Facebook and Twitter.
(QRZ)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: DECEMBER 31 CUTOFF DATE FOR ARRL INTERNATIONAL AWARD
The ARRL says that the deadline to accept nominations for its 2014
International Humanitarian Award is December 31. This award is conferred
on an amateur or amateurs who demonstrate devotion to human welfare,
peace, and international understanding through Amateur Radio.
Nominations should include a summary of the nominee's qualifying actions
and statements from at least two people having first-hand knowledge of the
events warranting the nomination. These verifying statements may be from
an official of a group such as an emergency management agency that
benefited from the nominee's particular Amateur Radio contribution.
Nominations should include the names and addresses of all references.
All nominations and supporting materials must be submitted in English to
the ARRL International Humanitarian Award, 225 Main St, Newington,
Connecticut 06111.
The League says that it established this annual prize to recognize
individuals who have used Amateur Radio to provide extraordinary service
to others in times of crisis or disaster. (ARRL)
**
RADIO IN SPACE: SPINSAT SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYED FROM ISS
SpinSat was successfully deployed from the International Space Station on
the afternoon of Friday, November 28th.
Developed by the Naval Research Laboratory, SpinSat is a 56 cm sphere
weighing 57 kg that has 12 Electronically-controlled Solid Propellant
thrusters spread in pairs throughout the surface of the satellite. They
will be fired in pairs to spin the spacecraft.
SpinSat's primary mission will be to calibrate the Space Surveillance
Network. Lasers will be fired at SpinSat from the ground. The light
reflected back will be measured to determine where in time and space the
satellite is passing overhead. SpinSat will also model the density of the
atmosphere.
The IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel report that SpinSat
carries a 2 watt RF output 9600 bit per second AX.25 packet radio store
and forward system on 437.230 MHz. The Cyclops deployment system was used
to release the satellite from the airlock of the Japanese Experiment
Module. With just primary batteries for power and only 4.8 grams of fuel
the spin-up phase may last between three to six months. (Published news
reports)
**
HRIS: DHRUVA SPACE SIGNS DEAL WITH AMSAT INDIA TO DEVELOP HAMSAT II
Dhruva Space, a two-year-old startup co-founded by technologist Sanjay
Nekkanti, VU3ISS, has sealed a deal with AMSAT India to develop HAMSAT II.
This as a successor to HAMSAT VO-52 which went silent on July 11th most
likely due to the failure of it's on-board lithium ion batteries.
Dhruva's satellites are expected to be launched on Indian Space Research
Organisation Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. Nekkanti said his team are
working closely with the space organization for design approvals and
testing of the planned new satellite. (AMSAT India, Southgate)
**
HRIS: SURREY SPACE CENTRE TO DEVELOP SME-SAT
The United Kingdom's Surrey Space Centre is developing a 3 unit sized
CubeSat called SME-SAT that it expected to launch into a 550-620 km orbit
in the not to distant future. The primary objective of this project is to
involve small to medium size enterprises from the terrestrial sector on a
space project and allow them to space qualify their technology.
SME-SAT brings together one of the largest small to medium based
consortiums ever to develop advanced space technologies based on
terrestrial applications. This will enable them to fully space qualify
their technologies within 3 years of the mission start date.
This project represents a unique, unprecedented space mission, fostering a
new alliance between smaller companies, universities and a large scale
space integrator in which high risk technologies will be developed and
fully tested in space using cubesats. The satellite will provide beacons
for amateur radio satellite users worldwide to be able to receive. More
is on the web at tinyurl.com/sme-sat-uk (SME-SAT - University of Surrey)
**
RADIO FROM SPACE: GALILEO SATELLITE RECOVERED AND TRANSMITTING NAVIGATION
SIGNALS
Europe's fifth Galileo satellite, one of two delivered into a wrong orbit
by a Soyuz-Fregat launcher last August, has transmitted its first
navigation signal in space on Saturday 29 November 2014. It has reached
its new target orbit and its navigation payload has been successfully
switched on. A detailed test operation is under way now the satellite has
reached a more suitable orbit for navigation purposes. (Southgate)
**
DX
In DX, YB4IR will be active stroke 8 from Bandaneira Island between
December 22nd and the 27th. Operations will be on 80 through10 meters
using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via his home callsign direct or via the
bureau. For electronic QSL use Logbook of the World or Clublogs Oh QRS.
DG1SGW will be active stroke PJ4 from Bonaire between March 1st to the
12th. Activity will be holiday style on the 160 through 6 meters using
SSB and the digital modes. QSL via his home callsign, direct, by the
bureau or Logbook of the World.
N7XR will be active as VQ9XR for his operations in 2014 and 2015. These
were to have started on or about December 3rd for approximately 3 weeks on
160 through 10 meters with a focus on CW, SSB and RTTY. He may use the
callsign V92XR instead, which gives the prefix hunters a new one to go
after. Either way, please QSL via his home callsign direct only.
3W3B who lives in Da Nang has announced that he will be active during the
ARRL International
DX CW Contest February 21st and 22nd as a Single-Op/All-band/High-Power
entry. QSL via E21EIC or Logbook of the world.
Lastly, DL2GAN will be visiting Nepal for a short term operation as 9N7CB
from Kathmandu scheduled for end of December. His plan is to be
operational on Christmas Eve which would be 8 am to 12 noon UTC on
December 24th. Depending on propagation, bands of operation will be 14
and / or 21 MHz SSB or CW if propagation is poor. QSL via his home
callsign, direct or via the bureau.
(This weeks DX report courtesy of OPDX)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: SIMPLY GRAPHENE
And finally this week, while only a few nanometers thick, Graphine is
being touted by some in the scientific world as the new steel of the 21st
century. Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephen Kinford, N9WB, reports:
--
Introduced to the world about a decade ago, graphene is a multi-layered
material that is somewhere between 10 and 100 nanometers thick. This
makes the material more like a very thin sheet of carbon. As a matter of
fact, the material is so thin that it appears to be more like a sheet of
paper but thinner.
But even at that extreme thinness, graphene can hold weights that are 100
times heavier than steel. And graphene is an extremely good conductor of
both heat and electricity. But the most important aspect found so far is
that graphene can dissipate huge amounts of energy.
Jae-Hwang Lee, of the University of Massachusetts Department of Mechanical
and Industrial Engineering is a graphene researcher. He and his team say
that the ability of graphene to dissipate energy is due to a high degree
of stiffness combined with low density. This means that energy can move
through it very quickly.
What might this mean to those involved in emergency response work? Many
things including something as simple dropping a hand held radio onto
concrete and it not even being scratched. More important is that it
continues to work as if nothing at all had happened.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB.
--
More about this latest scientific advance is on the web at
wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphene
(University of Manchester; Electronics Weekly, New Scientist, others)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE
With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio
Penn DX Bulletin, Rain, the RSGB, the South African Radio League, the
Southgate News, TwiT-TV, Australia's WIA News and you our listeners,
that's all from the Amateur Radio NewslineT. Our e-mail address is
newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) org. More information is available at
Amateur Radio Newsline's only official website located at
www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at Amateur
Radio Newsline, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350..
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Jim Davis,
W2JKD, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.
Have a day!
R\%/itt - K5RXT
--- GoldED+/W32 1.1.5-31012
--- D'Bridge 3.99
* Origin: K 5 R X T (Really Xtra Terrific) San Antonio, TX (1:387/22)
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