REVERSE BEACON NETWORK ADDS NODE IN FINLAND
JIM/ANCHOR: Researchers whose studies focus on propagation have gained
a new tool in their arsenal. It's in Finland - and Ed Durrant, DD5LP,
tells us about it.
ED: A new node has become active in northern Finland as part of the
Reverse Beacon Network, thanks to the support of the Yasme Foundation.
The new node was set-up at Radio Arcala OH8X, near the Lapland border
to help in the study of a propagation mode known as the Polar Path.
This propagation occurs in northern Europe during winter. At night,
the Polar Path provides several hours' worth of coverage over North
America.
Radio Arcala's node will become one of the research tools being used
by the researchers in that part of the world. The Yasme Foundation's
grant programme was announced last year, providing grants to regions
studying reception reports and conducting geophysical research. A
Yasme-funded node was installed last October in Tunisia, bolstering
the Reverse Beacon Network's presence in northern Africa.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(WIA, EHAM.NET)
**
POPULAR TV PERSONALITY GETS HAM RADIO LICENSE
JIM/ANCHOR: It seems that "Last Man Standing" actor Tim Allen isn't
the only main player on a TV show to get a ham radio ticket. Meet
Donna Snow, who has been a fixture on a popular DIY Network program in
the U.S. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, introduces her to us.
KEVIN: Donna Snow of the long-running reality show "Texas Flip 'N
Move" recently became Donna Snow, W5SML. Although her call sign is a
lot newer than the name she made for herself on the popular home-
makeover series, she is hoping for changes in her own shack soon.
Inspired by her ham radio mentor Rex King, W5EAK, a Vietnam veteran
and a former Navy radioman and officer, Donna is exploring ways to use
ham radio as a tool to connect veterans struggling with life after
military service. She has already accomplished that through renovation projects
that included making a bathroom safer for a Vietnam vet, and repairing a
flood-damaged American Legion Post. She is presently
redoing the yard outside the home of a widow of a veteran who fought
at Iwo Jima.
While studying to upgrade to General class, she is also making plans
for a TV show featuring amateur radio and, of course, the veterans
themselves. Her progress reports appear every week on her QRZ page.
Donna told Newsline in an email: [quote] "I am on a mission to tell
everyone about ham radio and the benefits it offers to all, no matter
their age." [endquote] She said she is living the spirit of her vanity
call sign W5SML - SML for "Snow Much Love."
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
**
LAUNCH OF SPAIN'S HAM RADIO SATELLITE POSTPONED TO MARCH
JIM/ANCHOR: Two ham radio satellites from Spain have had their
launches put off for a few more weeks. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, explains.
JEREMY: A delay by SpaceX has postponed Spain's scheduled amateur
radio satellite launch on January 14th. The departure of the EASAT-2
and Hades satellites is now on the calendar for sometime in March to
coincide with the Starlink mission.
According to the AMSAT-EA website, both satellites are carrying an FM
/ FSK repeater and are capable of voice and digital communications.
EASAT-2 is assigned the callsign AM5SAT and Hades is assigned AM6SAT.
SpaceX is to launch the satellites via the in-space transportation
provider Momentus aboard the Falcon 9 Launcher.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(AMSAT-EA, SOUTHGATE)
**
SPACECRAFT COPIES FM SIGNAL NEAR JUPITER'S MOON
JIM/ANCHOR: Think of this as perhaps the world's tiniest space QSO.
NASA reports that its Juno spacecraft which is orbiting Jupiter copied
an FM radio signal from its largest moon, Ganymede (GANNY-MEED). It
turns out that the radio emissions were the result of electrons
oscillating at a lower rate than they were spinning, causing them to
amplify radio waves. Juno picked it up as it was passing by a polar
region of Jupiter where the magnetic field lines connect to Ganymede.
It's called "cyclotron maser instability" and it's a natural
occurrence. The excitement only lasted 5 seconds -- but it was a
first.
(EOS.ORG)
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (57:57/10)
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