Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2025, August 19, 2016
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2025 with a release date of Friday,
August 19,2016 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. The FCC prepares to study the radio spectrum's noise
floor. Radio Caroline returns triumphantly as a Special Event station in the UK.
Australian hams celebrate innovation. These stories and an extended
special report on amateur response to Louisiana's flooding crisis -- now in
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2025.
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BILLBOARD CART HERE
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SPECIAL REPORT: HAMS RESPOND TO LOUISIANA FLOODING
PAUL: We open this week's newscast with a special expanded report, an indepth
look at what's being called the worst natural disaster in the U.S. since
superstorm Sandy: Louisiana's floods. Amateur Radio Newsline's Skeeter Nash,
N5ASH, has been following that story closely.
SKEETER'S REPORT: The National Weather Service is now calling it, “The One
Thousand Year Rain.”
BOBBY: At this point, according to reports from Louisiana Governor John Bel
Edwards, 30,000 people and 1,000 pets have already been rescued. Forty
thousand people have registered with FEMA for disaster assistance and at
least 11 people have died in the floods thus far.
SKEETER: That’s Alabama meteorologist Bobby Best WX4ALA. Amateur Radio
volunteers are springing into action in the wake of flooding of historic
proportions that inundated parts of Louisiana and Mississippi the weekend of
August 13th and 14th.
BOBBY: Louisiana ARES was requested to be activated by the Louisiana office
of the American Red Cross. There are shelters set up across the region. There
are at least, as of last word, 40 additional shelters that are needing
communications to be connected. Everything is being run out of headquarters
at the Red Cross office in Baton Rouge. That, according to Louisiana ARES
assistant section emergency coordinator John Mark Robertson, K5JMR.
SKEETER: Louisiana ARES Section Emergency Coordinator Adam Tamplain KD5LEH tells
Amateur Radio Newsline how many residents displaced by the flood waters are in
the shelters.
ADAM: The latest number I had heard was between 12,000 and 13,000 in
shelters. That may be off by 1,000 or 2,000. Flooding is still affecting some
newer areas as conditions change with some of the backwaters coming down in
the river basin.
SKEETER: Tamplain outlines the initial response by ham operators in the Bayou
State, and surrounding region…
ADAM: We activated the Louisiana section late Sunday evening and
unfortunately the response has not been nearly what we were hoping for. Right
now we actively have around 15 or so hams at various shelters. Some are
affiliated with ARES, some are not, and they are handling tactical communication
beween the shelters and the Red Cross headquarters in Baton Rouge. Mississippi
called and offered their support to us. We also had
Alabama call and offer their support to us, and we are coordinating with
those sections to see if we can get some help from them or not.
SKEETER: And what is the current state of communications in the affected
areas?
[Adam Tamplain cut 02 Q: “…those issues are improving.”]
SKEETER: Tamplain says in addition to localized repeater and simplex frequencies
in Louisiana, 2 HF frequencies may be utilized for urgent amateur radio traffic
related to this disaster.
[Adam Tamplain cut 05 Q: “…regional offices for the Red Cross.”]
SKEETER: Bobby Best says, even though the storms have moved out of the area, the
effects have been far-reaching, and residents who have lost their homes need to
be prepared for a long road ahead.
[Bobby Best cut 03 Q: “…could have to be deployed long-term.”]
SKEETER: Hams outside of Louisiana are being asked to not self-deploy. Those who
would like to make their availability known should coordinate through the
Louisiana ARES headquarters by contacting Steve Irvin WA5FKF at area code
225-933-4993.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Skeeter Nash N5ASH, reporting from Topeka,
Kansas.
PAUL/ANCHOR: Amateur Radio Newsline will continue to follow the radio
response to this crisis.
**
FCC EMBARKS ON NOISE FLOOR STUDY
PAUL: Having trouble hearing that other station? Sometimes it's the signal
but sometimes it's also the noise. The FCC, at long last, is moving ahead
with a look at noise, as we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Damron,
N8TMW.
JIM: When it comes to managing the electromagnetic spectrum, the FCC is
hoping to hear the right kind of noise -- and plenty of it. The FCC's
Technological Advisory Council plans a comprehensive study of the noise floor
and until earlier this month, had been receiving input on how to conduct the
study - and what to look for along the way. Hams and other interested parties
were invited to comment on where the problem exists, what devices make it worse,
what bands are most affected and how natural propagation effects can
be accounted for when undertaking such a study. The agency was also looking
for suggestions on the study's methodology, and ways to take meaningful
measurements
When the study was announced earlier this year, the ARRL responded to the
news by calling it encouraging, adding that the league hopes the findings
will provide guidelines for decisions on band allocations, enforcement and other
spectrum-management matters.
The amateur radio community has been anticipating such a study since the FCC
first requested one in 1999. The comment period closed August 11 and the amateur
community now awaits the agency's next move.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.
(FCC)
**
TWO NEW MEMBERS JOIN EURAO
PAUL/ANCHOR: The global radio community just welcomed two relative newcomers.
Here's Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: The European Radio Amateurs' Organization has added two organizations to
its roster that are also fairly new to the world of amateur radio. They
are the Ukrainian Amateur Radio League and the Romanian radio club known as
Clubul Sportiv Cafe Gratis. The Romanian club was founded in 2015 and the
Ukrainian group was created just this year as an effort by 13 regional clubs.
According to the EURAO website, about 1,500 members belong to this radio
league in the Ukraine.
The European organization itself comprises independent radio amateurs'
associations globally for collaboration on projects, sharing activities and when
necessary, lobbying public officials on common interests.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH
(EURAO WEBSITE)
**
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including W5AW, the Big Springs
Amateur Radio Club Repeater in Big Springs, Texas, on Thursdays at 8 p.m.
**
THE RETURN OF RADIO CAROLINE, SORT OF
PAUL: It's been a long time since Radio Caroline's offshore broadcasts were
heard in the UK. But special event station GB5RC recently brought back the
memory, it not the actual sound. Here's Amateur Radio *Newsline's Ed Durrant,
DD5LP.
ED'S REPORT: In the radio operators' own words, it wasn't the Radio Caroline
of old, but hams devoted to the spirit of offshore broadcasting in the UK
still had an authentic thrill participating in the GB5RC special event on Friday
the 5th of August through Monday the 8th of August. Amateur radio organizers
reported about 2,500 QSOs with 80 countries, all successfully breaking through
what were, at times, some massive waves of calls.
The ship was a busy place as described by Keith G6NHU, writing on the
Martello Tower Group's website. He wrote QUOTE: "We heard many tales of how
people used to listen to Caroline back in the 60s and 70s and we also spoke
to a lot of people who had worked on the Ross Revenge, both in her offshore
radio days and also in her days as a trawler." ENDQUOTE
Keith added: QUOTE "It was a great feeling for all of us to know that for the
first time in many years, a lot of RF was being transmitted from the ship."
According to the blog, amateur radio stations have worked on board the Ross
Revenge before but not on this scale. Indeed, Keith proclaimed the event
historic.
There was no 1960s rock and roll played, of course, but the station itself
became the biggest hit of the weekend.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(SOUTHGATE, MARTELLO TOWER GROUP)
**
IN TASMANIA, WHAT'S THE BRIGHT IDEA?
PAUL: At a recent celebration in Australia marking National Science Week,
amateur radio not surprisingly took center stage. Here's more from Amateur Radio
Newsline's Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
GRAHAM: What's the Bright Idea? Well, in Tasmania, organizers like to think it's
the Festival of Bright Ideas, part of the annual National Science Week. Not
surprisingly, amateur radio played a big role in this celebration of all things
scientific and the Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania
enjoyed particularly active traffic at its stand at the festival,
with student groups stopping by throughout the day on Friday, August 14th.
According to Justin, VK7TW, writing on the group's Facebook page, the youngsters
took a crack at Morse Code decoders, tried out an SDR receiver,
had hands-on experience with microwave transceivers and got some information
on school amateur radio clubs that they could take back to their classrooms.
Last year, the first such festival attracted more than 5,000 visitors in
search of creativity and a little bit of science magic on subjects ranging
from space exploration to chemistry. The event serves as a showcase for the
nation's science sector in general and the spirit of innovation that drives
it - even beyond that brightest of ideas, amateur radio.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(VK7WI NEWS, REAST FACEBOOK)
**
IN INDIA, A DAY OF PRACTICAL RADIO
PAUL: There's nothing like a full day's immersion in amateur radio to help
create the next generation of hams. Students in India recently got to sample the
full range of the amateur experience. We hear again from Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
GRAHAM'S REPORT: Some 250 engineering students in the Indian state of Gujarat
ended the month of July with a practical lesson in radio science like no
other: It was a one-day session at the prestigious Marwadi Education
Foundation Rajkot, conducted by Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP, a regional coordinator in
the West India Zone for AMSAT-India and a life member of the Radio Society of
India.
Beyond the day's introductory sessions, the students got a full day's
experience, which also included a look at SatCom, live demonstrations of SSTV
and Morse code, SDR and various events that round out the varied ham radio
experience on July 30
Rajesh's wife, Kiran, a short-wave listener, assisted him, as did several
other amateurs, including Shailesh Nadiapara VU3HNT.
A member of a noted ham radio family in Gujarat, Rajesh is a radio educator
and lifelong ham who put his best efforts that day into helping inspire a few
more.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(AMSAT INDIA, QRZ)
**
FOR WORLD OF DX
In the world of DX, it's worth noting that the website for the planned Bouvet
3Y0Z DXpedition has gone live. Even though the activation in this second
most-wanted DXCC entity won't set out until early 2018, you can learn more about
the team members and their detailed plans for three weeks on what they are
calling QUOTE "the most remote island on Earth." ENDQUOTE The island was last
activated as 3Y0E during the winter of 2007 to 2008. Visit www.bouvetdx.org
In Brazil, special event station ZY157CAT will be on the air until the end of
August to celebrate the founding of the city of Catalao 157 years ago.
Listen for the station on the HF bands using CW, SSB and various digital
modes. Send QSLs directly to PP2BO.
The CY9C St. Paul Island DXpedition is under way, as of August 19th, and will
continue through August 29th. Log data will be posted live, using ClubLog and
OQRS. They will be working the HF bands using CW, SSB and RTTY and will also
work 6m, 2m EME and Satellite. Send QSL cards directly to WA4DAN. For more
details, visit their website at www.cy9dxpedition.com
(OHIO PENN DX, ARRL)
**
KICKER: SMALL POSTAGE STAMPS GO A LONG WAY
PAUL: And finally, in closing, we ask ALL of our listeners: Do you have a couple
of stamps laying around from collecting all those QSL cards? A radio club in the
Philadelphia area can put them to good use. Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark
Abramowicz (pronouncer - A-Brom-o-vich) NT3V has the story....
MARK: The Holmesburg Amateur Radio Club is ramping up a drive to get hams across
the country and around the world to contribute to the "Stamps for the Wounded"
program supported by the Lions International Stamp Club.
Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, president of the Holmesburg club says it's easy...
BOB: "Canceled stamps are collected and then distributed to local V-A
hospitals and other convalescent facilities where our wounded warriors can
receive occupational therapy using the stamps either to put into albums or to
make decorative items," Josuweit says. "It's a good way of passing their
time."
Josuweit says somebody brought the program to the attention of the Holmesburg
club a couple of years ago...
BOB: "Each year, the club participates in several special events," Josuweit
says. "The most notable one is the 13 Colonies Special Event which is held
over the Fourth of July. We get literally thousands of QSL cards coming in to
the club and we're looking for what could we do with all these envelopes that
we're essentially throwing out.
"And we learned about the 'Stamps for the Wounded' program. And that we've
now been collecting the stamps from those cards and are collecting them and
shippping them down to the program which is actually located in Viriginia."
MARK: Josuweit says if you'd like to help out, send an email to
WM3PEN@arrl.net and someone from the club will respond with where to send the
stamps.
If you're thinking maybe this is project your club might want to undertake,
Josuweit says get in touch...
BOB: "Send it to us or if they want to start their own program, there are
many special event stations around the country or QSL managers," Josuweit
says. "Just drop us an email and we'll tell them where the actual address is and
they can start their own little program."
MARK: Again, that email address is WM3PEN@arrl.net.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, in Philadelphia.
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Labs; AMSAT India; the ARRL; CQ Magazine; DX
Coffee; European Radio Amateurs Association; the Holmesburg Amateur Radio Club;
Hap Holly and the Rain Report; the IARU; Irish Radio Transmitter
Society; Martello Tower Group; Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin; QRZ; Southgate Amateur
Radio News; Ted Randall's QSO Radio Show; Wireless Institute of Australia;
WTWW Shortwave; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio
Newsline. Please send emails to our address at newsline@arnewsline.org. More
information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's only official website
located at www.arnewsline.org.
For now, with Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT, at the news desk in New York, and our
news team worldwide, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO in Valparaiso, Indiana, saying 73
and as always we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline (tm) is copyright 2016. All rights reserved.
--
73
James
KB7TBT
www.arnewsline.org
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