Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2068 for Friday, June 16, 2017

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2068 with a release date of Friday, 
June 16, 2017 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. South Africa's hams mobilize as deadly wildfires 
knock out communications. An amateur radio club in Minnesota marks a 
milestone. Morse Code is history for hams in Jamaica -- and the FCC 
gives an ultimatum to manufacturers causing RF interference.  All this 
and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2068 comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**
HAMS MOBILIZE AMID SOUTH AFRICA'S WILDFIRES

NEIL/ANCHOR: Our top story comes to us from a fire-stricken region of 
South Africa, where hams were recently called in to assist as flames 
swept through a coastal resort community. For more on that, here's 
Amateur Radio Newsline's Graham Kemp VK4BB.

GRAHAM: In South Africa's Southern Cape area, the region exploded with 
fierce wildfires, prompting the activation of area radio amateurs to 
assist with communications after landlines and cellphones were disabled 
along with internet services. On the 8th of June, hams reported to the 
Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network: Mossel Bay Mesh Network working 
around the clock on the emergency network as well as on HF and VHF/UHF. 
Strong winds from a storm kicked the flames yet higher, sweeping through 
an estimated 20 suburbs. Hams remained engaged until June 11th when 
conventional means of communications returned. The deadly fires claimed 
at least four lives. Especially hard hit was the coastal resort 
community of Knysna, where more than ten thousand were evacuated as 
humanitarian support was summoned. Homes were also destroyed in nearby 
Pletternberg Bay. The bush wildfires came as the region was struggling 
with a severe drought. It was unclear what ignited the fires.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(SOUTHGATE AMATEUR RADIO NEWS, REUTERS, NEW YORK TIMES)

**

HAMS ACTIVATED AFTER GUATEMALA QUAKE

NEIL/ANCHOR: As Amateur Radio Newsline went to production, news broke 
that a magnitude 6.9 earthquake had struck Guatemala. Radio Amateurs 
Club of Guatemala said an amateur radio net was monitoring 7.090 MHz and 
the net frequency on 146.88 MHz.

As of June 14, there were no reports on damage or victims. We will be 
following the aftermath of this story into next week.

(ARRL)

**

AT FIRE DEPT., HAM RADIO TO THE RESCUE

NEIL/ANCHOR: Emergency response is so much a part of being a ham that 
one community in Texas decided to help give that life-saving effort 
greater communication access. Amateur Radio Newsline's Paul Braun WD9GCO 
has those details.

PAUL: In Texas, the Gun Barrel City Fire Department is celebrating its 
newest piece of life-saving equipment: a Hexbeam antenna and rotor 
giving the firefighting QTH access to the HF bands. The antenna was 
installed with the help of the Cedar Creek Amateur Radio Club, and the 
new HF station uses the club's call sign K5CCL.

The club station's new Hexbeam has access to 20 through 10 meters, with 
a long wire for the lower bands.

The fire department has had basic radio service on site as part of its 
emergency operations center but adding a ham radio club station provides 
what Cedar Creek club president Ed Busch K8MKN calls "another layer of 
protection for area residents."

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Paul Braun WD9GCO.

(THE MONITOR.NET, CEDAR CREEK AMATEUR RADIO CLUB)


**

FCC GETS TOUGH ON RF TESTING

NEIL/ANCHOR: Manufacturers and marketers of products that generate RF 
interference in the U.S. could be facing an ultimatum from the FCC. 
Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephen Kinford N8WB has that story.

STEPHEN: The FCC has announced that overseas manufacturers who are not 
in compliance with RF equipment testing could be barred from selling 
their products in the U.S. The products could range from lighting to 
devices for the Internet of Things. Any devices that generate RF energy, 
including those using wireless connections, are subject to FCC 
authorization.

The communications agency's action comes on the heels of the most recent 
FCC enforcement action - this one announced in May against AFX Inc., a 
manfacturer whose lighting fixtures were reported last year to be 
interfering with AM/FM radio signals. The negotiated settlement produced 
a $90,000 civil penalty and the company's agreement to institute tougher 
compliance procedures.

The agency's announcement this month formally puts IOT manfacturers and 
other producers on notice that their equipment must adhere to FCC rules 
before they can be permitted into the U.S. marketplace.

Manufacturers and marketers of unauthorized devices are subject to 
various sanctions including substantial monetary fines.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford N8WB.

**
IN JAMAICA, NO REMORSE OVER MORSE

NEIL/ANCHOR: It's goodbye dits and dahs for amateurs in Jamaica, as the 
island's regulators give a nod to modern technology. Here's Amateur 
Radio Newsline's Jeremy Boot G4NJH with that story.

JEREMY'S REPORT: Jamaica has joined the ranks of many nations that has 
done away with the requirement of Morse Code for amateur radio licenses. 
The Regulations Committee of Parliament was told that Morse Code is no 
longer relied upon, as it once was, for emergency transmissions, 
especially with the development of more modern modes of communication.

The argument was made to the committee by Ida-Gaye Warburton, director 
of legal affairs for Jamaica's Spectrum Management Authority. She said 
the Jamaica Amateur Radio Association can expect to see a boost in 
membership as a result of these changes and there are hopes this will 
also result in greater support for Office of Disaster Preparedness and 
Emergency Management, especially with the start of 2017's Atlantic 
hurricane season underway. The Jamaica radio group has a memorandum of 
understanding with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and the 
government to respond in times of crisis.

The Jamaica amateur radio group's president, Nigel Hoyow, 6Y5HN, told 
the Jamaica Observer newspaper that although older amateurs do use Morse 
Code, he has found that younger hams lack the patience to learn. He said 
[QUOTE] "Morse Code is not dead but we need to get rid of it here." [END 
QUOTE]

The licensing changes also include a modification of the format of the 
exams, which presently follow that of the UK test. The Spectrum 
Management Authority is also looking at the test given in the U.S. to 
make adjustments accordingly.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(THE JAMAICA OBSERVER)

NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams in Jamaica will soon discover that sometimes when you 
lose something - in this case, the Morse Code requirement - you gain 
something - in this case access to a new band. The Jamaica Spectrum 
Management Authority recently granted a secondary allocation on 60 
meters to hams in Jamaica operating with a maximum power of 25 watts 
EIRP. The allocation covers 5351.5 kHz to 5366.5 kHz.

**

STILLWATER HAMS MARK 25 YEARS

NEIL: A quarter of a century may not seem like a long time, but for one 
club in Stillwater, Minnesota, it's a lifetime - and a very productive 
one at that. Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee KB3TZD tells us 
about the Minnesota club that's celebrating this milestone.

HEATHER: It's been 25 years since the Stillwater Amateur Radio 
Association emerged from nothing but an idea in the mind of Hans Wald, a 
ham who came to Stillwater, Minnesota regularly to spend his summers. He 
was one of three local amateurs who, in 1992, formed a club where once 
there was none. Now as it reaches the quarter-century mark, the club has 
grown to 80 members and among them are some who've been there since the 
start, including Shel Mann N0DRX and Mary Mann N0DXH.

In the years since its long-ago founding, the club has stepped up in its 
public service efforts, providing communications at major events, 
including fundraising walks and a 2004 visit by President George W. 
Bush. The club is also at the ready to provide disaster communications 
in case of an emergency at the Prairie Island Nuclear Plant in Welch, 
Minnesota.

The group is involved with the Minnesota-based Courage Kenny HandiHams 
program, which mentors disabled would-be hams and assists them in 
getting their licenses and then on the air.

Perhaps operators nationwide, however, are most familiar with the club's 
annual tradition - Ice Station W0JH - its challenging portable operation 
from the frozen surface of Lake Elmo every winter.

While the Stillwater club looks forward to its next 25 years, it 
continues to meet every Thursday night and has more ambitious events on 
its agenda - including its notable Radio in the Park gathering on 
Thursday, June 29 at Valley View Park in Oak Park Heights, starting at 6 
p.m.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Heather Embee KB3TZD.

**

BREAK HERE:


Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio 
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the 
WW8GM General Motors Amateur Radio Club in Michigan on the club's 70cm 
RenCen Repeater at 443.075 MHz every Saturday at 9pm.

**

K2BSA GETS BUSY AS SUMMER STARTS

NEIL/ANCHOR: School's out - and that means the K2BSA callsign is keeping 
busy on the bands. There's a lot of activity to report this week, along 
with plans for the scouts' National Jamboree - so let's hear the details 
from Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Stearns NE4RD.

BILL: This week in Radio Scouting you can tell it's summertime, we have 
5 activations of the K2BSA Callsign, 5 activations from Scout Camps on 
the Air, and we hear from the Amateur Radio Direction Finding Lead at 
the National Jamboree.

William Coverdell, WD0BC, will be activating K2BSA/0 for the summer at 
Camp Geiger in St. Joseph, MO, from June 14 through July 14.  This 
station will be giving scouts their on-air component of their radio 
merit badge.

Jay Leeper, W4TFX, will be activating K2BSA/4 for the Order of the Arrow 
Friday Nets at Camp Barstow in Batesburg, SC on June 16, 23, and 30, and 
July 14.  Camp Barstow will be conducting a two meter net on 146.715, at 
1900 local with linked repeaters across South Carolina, during summer 
camp as part of the intro to ham radio.

Chris Clark, W6CBC, will be activating K2BSA/6 for Scout Field Day at 
the J.C. Penney Parking Lot in Temecula, CA on June 24.  We hope that 
other clubs are considering inviting their local districts and troops 
out to field day!

Richard Zarczynski, AC8FJ, will be activating K2BSA/8 for the Trail to 
Eagle at D-Bar-A Scout Ranch in Metamora, MI on June 25th through the 
28th. This program is  specifically designed for older Boy Scouts to 
give them the opportunity to work on their merit badges they need to 
complete Eagle Scout requirements.

John Baddour, KC8KI, will be activating K2BSA/8 at the Beaumont Summer 
Camp in Rock Creek, OH on June 29.  John will be giving a Radio Merit 
Badge class at camp.

Russ Bush, N3YD, will be activating KB3BSA at Camp Olmsted in Scandia, 
PA from June 24th through the 30th.  Russ will be operating from the 
Crew 73 Communications shed. Operations will include: 80m-6m SSB,CW,Dig. 
2m FM,SSB 70cm FM and the KB3BSA Camp Repeater 145.250, negative offset, 
186.2 CTCSS or PL tone.

Keith Kaiser, WA0TJT, will be activating NR0AD for the ARRL Field Day in 
Platte City, MO on June 24th with the Platte County Amateur Radio Group.

David Gibbons, KC3AFR, will be activating KC3HNB this summer at Resica 
Falls Scout Reservation in East Stroudsburg, PA from June 25 through 
Sept. 19th.   The Scout Camp will be running a KX3 with 100W amplifier 
and a G5RV, look for this group throughout the summer looking to get 
camp goers on the air.

Darryl Frasier, N3AOI, will be activating W3TSR at the Trexler Scout 
Reservation in JONAS, PA starting on June 26th.  This station operates 
for the Summer camping season as well as JOTA. They have a TS 950 with a 
TH7 multi-band beam at 40 feet, wire antennas for 40 meters and 80 
meters and a packet node at 145.010.

The National Jamboree is the Boy Scouts of America's flagship event, and 
the K2BSA station is there to promote Amateur Radio in Scouting.  I had 
a chance to speak with Keith Kaiser, WA0TJT, about his leadership role 
this summer.

KEITH: My name is Keith Kaiser WA0TJT, I live in Kansas City, Missouri 
and this will be my second year, second time at the National Jamboree.  
2013 I was there in pretty much the same role in which I'll be in this 
year which is the team leader for the ARDF/Foxhunting.  I have a 
tendency to put both terms together ARDF, Amateur Radio Direction 
Finding, and Foxhunting because the program we do is kind of a hybrid of 
the two.  It's not a true ARDF in the sense that you're not running 
through the woods as fast as you can with a Yagi tape measure antenna 
trying to find your hidden fox, so much as it is that foxes have been 
put out there, in this case in the Summit Center, and the goal is to 
find 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 of them, however many you feel like finding. 
Just getting an introduction to how the sport is done.  We're using a 
little different equipment this year than we did last time.  But the end 
result should be pretty much the same.

BILL: We're looking forward to an exciting event starting July 15th 
through the 28th.

For more information on K2BSA and radio scouting, please visit 
http://www.k2bsa.net

For Amateur Radio Newsline and the K2BSA Amateur Radio Association, this 
is Bill Stearns NE4RD.


**

WORLD OF DX

In the world of DX, David, NK5G will be active as NK5G/6Y5 from Montego 
Bay in Jamaica between the 25th of June and the first of July. You may 
also find him on APRS. QSL via LoTW and eQSL. David does not accept or 
send cards by mail.

Listen for the call sign DL0DFF from Hallig Hooge Island between the 
22nd and 24th of June. Operators there will be on 80 through 10 meters, 
as well as 2 meters, using CW, SSB and various digital modes. A WSPR 
beacon will be running as well.  QSL via DL3HBZ, direct, by the Bureau 
or ClubLog's OQRS.

Several special event stations will be active as Azerbaijan hosts the 
Formula One Grand Prix in the capital city of Baku from the 23rd to 25th 
of June. Be listening for 4JF1EU, 4JF1BAKU, 4KF0NE and 4KF1BAKU. QSL 
info can be found on their respective pages on QRZ.COM.

**

KICKER: THIS CHICKEN SANDWICH IS OUT TO LAUNCH

NEIL/ANCHOR: And, finally... You've heard about high altitude balloon 
launches carrying APRS equipment and sending data back to Earth.  But we 
leave you this week with this sizzling question: "Why did the chicken 
sandwich cross the launching pad?" The answer: "To get into space, of 
course."

This isn't just any sandwich -- and this isn't just any chicken. This is 
the main ingredient for a promotional stunt by KFC for its sizzling 
spicy Zinger sandwich. The space antics are playing off an advertising 
campaign that features Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Col. Harland 
Sanders, played by actor Rob Lowe, in a space suit. KFC is introducing 
the sandwich in the U.S., and decided to mark that launch with........a 
real launch. Talk about fast food!

Sometime after June 21, the sandwich will be dispatched to the edge of 
the atmosphere via high-altitude balloon known as a stratollite, 
courtesy of World View Enterprises of Arizona. This will be poultry in 
motion at very high altitudes indeed. KFC is betting its lunch that this 
flight constitutes the longest controlled stratospheric balloon flight 
carrying a commercial payload.

When it comes back to earth - at least four days later -- it will bring 
back telemetry data - but sorry, there's no dessert.

Riding aboard the stratollite, it's not likely the sandwich will make it 
as high as 62 miles up, which is considered the edge of space. But 
perhaps that honor will someday be reserved, not for chicken, but some 
high-flying ham instead.


(ASSOCIATED PRESS, NEW YORK TIMES)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Labs; Amateur News Weekly; the ARRL; 
the Associated Press; CQ Magazine; the FCC; Hap Holly and the Rain 
Report; Irish Radio Transmitters Society; the Jamaica Observer; K2BSA; 
The New York Times; Ohio Penn DX Bulletin; Reuters; the Stillwater 
Amateur Radio Association; Southgate Amateur Radio News; Ted Randall's 
QSO Radio Show; WMUK Public Radio; 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 Neil Rapp WB9VPG saying 73 and as 
always we thank you for listening.

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

***

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