[Attachment(s) from James KB7TBT included below]

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2108 for Friday, March 23, 2018

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2108 with a release date of Friday, 
March 23, 2018 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Alabama hams take to repeaters as tornadoes 
touch down. A ham in Colombia helps a German amateur in distress -- and 
does your pet know Morse Code? All this and more as Amateur Radio 
Newsline Report 2108 comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**
HAMS RESPOND AS TORNADOES TOUCH DOWN IN ALABAMA

NEIL/ANCHOR: In our top story this week, tornadoes swept through Alabama 
here in the U.S. on Monday, March 19th, the night before the start of 
spring. Hams were on the air delivering information and assisting in 
rescue efforts, as we hear from Bobby Best WX4ALA.

BOBBY: Ham radio operators across north and east Alabama assisted in 
passing ground truth storm reports to both the National Weather Service 
offices in Huntsville and Birmingham. Amateur radio operators and 
members of the North Alabama and Southern Middle Tennessee SKYWARN 
groups linked up multiple repeaters to cover that entire region and 
assisted the Huntsville NWS office with reports on multiple tornadoes 
that struck north Alabama. Amateur radio operators in east Alabama on 
the WB4GNA repeater atop Mount Cheaha, the tallest peak in the state, 
assisted not only with passing storm reports but also volunteer efforts 
in the wake of a major tornado that struck the city of Jacksonville 
Alabama as well as other portions of east Alabama late Monday night. As 
of last report late Monday night, volunteers were headed to Jacksonville 
from as far away as Anniston, Oxford and Birmingham Alabama to assist in 
rescue efforts. All in all, though, considering the fact that the storm 
prediction center had much of Alabama under a marginal risk for severe 
weather, things could have been much worse. For Amateur Radio Newsline 
reporting from Jacksonville Alabama I'm Bobby Best WX4ALA.

***

AMSAT's HAMVENTION TEAM NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

NEIL/ANCHOR: Here's another opportunity for hams to be helpful - and 
it's even easier if you happen to be going to Hamvention this year. 
Stephen Kinford N8WB explains.

STEPHEN: What are you doing May 17th through May 20th? If Hamvention is 
included in any of your plans on those days, you may want to think about 
helping out the AMSAT Hamvention Team, which is looking for help in 
setting up or staffing the AMSAT booth during the big event at the 
Greene County Fairground and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio.

If you aren't sure how to assist at the booth when visitors stop by, 
AMSAT has plenty of Elmers to train you. If you just want to help with 
setup or tear-down, that's OK too.

Contact Phil Smith W1EME if you're interested in being a part of the 
AMSAT presence in Ohio this year. Email him at w1eme at amsat dot org.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Stephen Kinford N8WB.

(SOUTHGATE, AMSAT)

**

GERMAN AMATEUR'S CALL FOR HELP GOES GLOBAL

NEIL/ANCHOR: This next story is about a disabled radio operator and his 
cries for help that were heard - quite literally - around the world. 
Here's Ed Durrant DD5LP.

ED'S REPORT: Erding Radio Club member Lothar Fr”hlich, whose call signs 
are DK8LRF and HK3JCL, was on the air from his QTH in Colombia, South 
America recently talking to friends in New York and Germany, when he 
heard a voice call out repeatedly. At first he thought it was someone 
was trying to break into the QSO but then he realized it was a ham in 
distress. He recognized the voice - this was an amateur in Dingden on 
the German-Dutch border, a ham with whom he enjoys ragchews often.

The ham, who is disabled and relies on a wheelchair, had fallen and was 
home alone. His radio was on, fortunately with the transmitter in "VOX" 
mode so his cries activated the microphone Lothar called for any German 
hams who could copy him, asking them to please notify local police. 
Then, using EchoLink, he reached a repeater in Isen, east of Munich. A 
ham in Eichst„tt in Bavaria responded and also called police who 
responded immediately.

Ham radio had made distance vanish. The ham in distress was 5 metres 
from the microphone but his call went through anyway -- and those who 
assisted astounded the police by the fact that the call was started by a 
ham in Colombia on the other side of the world.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.

**
STANDING WHERE WARTIME HISTORY WAS MADE

NEIL/ANCHOR: Any ham radio operator can appreciate the power of code, 
even if they themselves have never touched a straight key. One exhibit 
in the UK has taken the appeal of code several steps further, as we hear 
from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: A new exhibit at Bletchley Park doesn't just show an important 
part of World War Two history the way it happened - the exhibit has been 
established on the very site WHERE that history took place. Stepping 
inside the Bletchley Park building known as Hut 11A, visitors will be 
able to learn the story of the Bombe machines located there to help 
Allied intelligence crack the mysteries of the Enigma code and decrypt 
Nazi messages during the Second World War. The now-historic team behind 
that effort comprised Alan Turing, Gordon Welchman and serveral others. 
The exhibit invites museum visitors to [quote] "discover the truth and 
stand where they stood." [endquote]. The exhibit is a permanent one and 
so hopefully there will be plenty of time for that.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(RSGB)

**

NETS OF NOTE: THE COLORADO ASTRONOMY NET

NEIL/ANCHOR: Our occasional series, Nets of Note, looks at how and why 
hams gather on the air to share viewpoints and interests. This week 
we're introduced to the Colorado Astronomy Net by Paul Braun WD9GCO.

PAUL: As the Newsline office space nerd, this week's Net of Note 
combines two of my favorite things - space and ham radio. Burness 
Ansell, KI0AR, has been hosting the weekly Colorado Astronomy Net for 
over 20 years now. Ansell explains how it started:

ANSELL: I've always been interested in astronomy and I started this net 
back in 1996. I just wanted to combine radio with astronomy and share my 
love of astronomy and looking at the night skies and how it could also 
relate to amateur radio.

PAUL: The net covers basically anything having to do with astronomy, 
according to Ansell:

ANSELL: I usually start off with phases of the moon and stuff like that 
- where the planets are through the week, rise and set times, any other 
planetary special events like conjunctions or photo ops. And then do 
some JPL bulletins or whatever sources I can find about what's up with 
the night skies, what's going on in the world of astronomy or cosmology 
- things like that. Radio astronomy, especially. If I can find clips of 
stellar noise or pulsars, I've done that before.

PAUL: The hams that check into the net are from all over the country and 
have varied interests. Ansell explained:

ANSELL: We have one member that's doing observational astronomy looking 
at galaxies. We have one teacher who lives up in Berthoud who does radio 
astronomy with his students at the Little Thompson Observatory up there 
and he's tracking meteor scatter. He's got students now pointing their 
dishes at the center of our galaxy and trying to record radio waves from 
there.

PAUL: If you'd like to join in, you can find the schedule, repeater 
information, and the Echolink and Allstar nodes at Ansell's website at 
www.KI0AR.com/astro.html. You can also subscribe to his monthly 
astronomy newsletter from the site.

So, keep one hand on the mic, and your eyes on the stars and check out 
the Colorado Astronomy Net every Tuesday night. For Amateur Radio 
Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.


NEIL/ANCHOR: If you have an interesting Net to share with us, write us 
at newsline at arnewsline dot org (newsline@arnewsline.org)


**
NOMINATE THE NEXT 'YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR'

NEIL/ANCHOR: We remind you again that the Bill Pasternak/Amateur Radio 
Newsline Young Ham of the Year award is an honor for radio operators 18 
and younger who hold licenses in the U.S. or Canada. We are accepting 
nominations until May 31. If you know of a deserving candidate who has 
been of service to the community or helped improve amateur radio for 
those in the hobby, submit his or her name for consideration. You can 
find the nomination forms on our website at arnewsline dot org 
(arnewsline.org) under the YHOTY tab. The award is named in memory of 
Amateur Radio Newsline founder Bill Pasternak WA6ITF.

Candidates for the award must be 18 or younger and reside in the US (or 
its possessions) or Canada. Nominees must hold a valid Amateur Radio 
license issued by the US or Canada. The award will be presented at the 
Huntsville Hamfest in Huntsville Alabama in August.

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio 
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the 
N2JDW repeater in New York City on Monday nights at 8 local time, just 
before the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Service Net.


**

INDONESIAN HAMS ARE ON BOARD FOR ON-LINE TESTING

NEIL/ANCHOR: Big news for license applicants in Indonesia. Tests are 
being given differently now, as we hear from Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

JASON'S REPORT: When it comes down to doing things online, more and more 
countries appear to be climbing on board - particularly with respect to 
conducting ham radio license exams.

Indonesian hams in the Bulukumba district of South Sulawesi province are 
now taking their test - which was to be March 24th and 25th - and the 
move was credited by officials there are showing authorities' commitment 
to making things easier and more transparent. This is a "first" for the 
nation and has been a change welcomed by the Amateur Radio Organization 
of Indonesia, known as ORARI, as well as those sitting for the test.

According to authorities, the move to e-Licensing will allow for greater 
automation in the process and provide great savings by making the 
process paperless. The ORARI said that following the March testing, 
other regions are expected to follow suit, including the province of 
South Sumatra.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

NEIL/ANCHOR: We received word late that two nine-year-olds were among 
those to sit for the exam and they successfully answered the questions. 
Ordinarily that would make them eligible for their licenses. In 
Indonesia, however, youngsters under the age of 14 are not permitted to 
hold an amateur license. Are other reforms in the works? Newsline will 
let you know what we learn.

(SOUTHGATE, ORARI)

**

THELMA SOUPER MEMORIAL CONTEST CANCELLED

NEIL/ANCHOR: A annual popular contest hosted by YLs in New Zealand has 
had to be scrapped this year, as we hear from Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

JIM'S REPORT: There's disappointing news for fans of the annual Thelma 
Souper Memorial Contest held annually in April. This year's event has 
been cancelled, as reported by the New Zealand Association of Radio 
Transmitters. The popular competition, which typically runs for two 
evenings, honors Thelma Souper ZL2JO, who became a Silent Key in 
December of 1977. Thelma was a founder of the New Zealand Women Amateur 
Radio Operators and served as its secretary. The contest was begun in 
1976 as the WARO contest but it was renamed in 1978 at the group's 
annual general meeting. No additional details were given about the 
cancellation or its prospects for next year.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jim  Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(NZART)

**
RADIO'S WORLD CUP COINCIDES WITH 'THAT OTHER ONE'

NEIL/ANCHOR: If you're a good sport about radio and you also happen to 
be a good sport about soccer, you'll want to give extra attention to the 
World Radio Team Championships in Germany, as we hear from Ed Durrant 
DD5LP.

ED'S REPORT: It's all coming together, they're all coming together! What 
are we talking about? - Well the World Cup of Amateur Radio - the World 
Radio Team Championships in Wittenberg, Germany this year from July 11th 
through 17th.

There's a full program surrounding the 24 hours of actual competition on 
the Saturday and Sunday. The opening ceremony on Thursday has the 
Introduction of all competitors, referees and sponsors and the closing 
ceremony on Monday has the award presentations. Both take place in the 
historic Exerzierhalle hall from the 19th. Century, with dancing late 
into the night after the closing ceremony at the nearby "Stadthaus." Six 
hundred attendees are expected at the opening and 900 at the closing 
ceremony.

If Germany wins that "other World Cup" - the soccer one, on Sunday the 
15th of July - there could be dancing in the streets!

YASME is sponsoring the "Ham Widows Ball" on the Wednesday evening which 
brings together spouses of competitors and referees.

To book a place at the opening or closing ceremony or to book a trip 
around the region the website booking.wrtc2018.de/en/ is now available. 
For those not able to get to Wittenberg in July as a competitor, judge, 
helper or visitor, there are several on-air award schemes that will run 
during the event.

WAWRTC - Worked all WRTC stations.

WRTC Sprint - work all of the WRTC stations in the shortest time you can 
- in less than 24 hours.

Most QSOs - up to 630 QSOs are possible - how many can you manage?

WRTC Distance challenge - based not only on the number of QSOs but also 
the total of all the distances.

One competition that is already running is VOTA or Volunteers on the 
air. Collect the Volunteers allocated numbers to enter this award 
scheme. There are about 300 current volunteers worldwide so they 
shouldn't be too difficult to find on the air!

To find details on anything to do with WRTC 2018 and to keep up-to-date 
with what's happening go to the WRTC2018.de website where you can also 
still donate to help support the event.

For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP.

**

WORLD OF DX

NEIL/ANCHOR: In the world of DX, be listening for Sergio, IZ3NXC, 
operating as 9A8NXC from Pag Island from March 30th through April 2nd. 
You can find him on 80/40/20/15/10 meters using SSB and the Digital 
modes. QSL via ClubLog's OQRS or via IK3GES direct.

Members of the Curva do Rio Group will be using the call sign PR2CI from 
Couves Island between April 6th to 8th. Find them on 80-10 meters using 
CW, SSB and the Digital modes. QSL via the Bureau, ClubLog's OQRS or 
LoTW. For direct, via PY2AE with self-addressed envelope and two dollars 
in U.S. currency.

In Belize, find Victor, WB0TEV, active as V31VP until the 27th of March 
on 80-10 meters. He plans to operate some RTTY with a special session 
focusing on Asia starting around 2200z on March 26th. Send QSLs to V31VP 
via WB0TEV, direct, by the Bureau or ClubLog's OQRS. No LoTW or eQSL.

(OHIO PENN DX)

**
KICKER: PUTTING THE 'HAM' IN HAMSTER

NEIL/ANCHOR: Our last story this week is about a talented and tiny pet - 
and it may at long last shed light on why it's no coincidence that the 
first three letters of "hamster" spell "ham." With that story, here's 
Paul Braun WD9GCO.

PAUL: Some people enjoy the sound of Morse code. Some don't. But what 
about our little furry friends? Has anyone asked them?  Kurt Zoglmann, 
AD0WE, had wanted to learn Morse as a child, but didn't really pursue it 
until recently. He then discovered something strange during his practice 
sessions.

ZOGLMANN: You know, I noticed after a while that our little hamster, 
Waffles, she'd normally wake up around 11 o'clock at night but she would 
wake up early whenever I would start practicing. I didn't really think 
too much of it. I noticed that when they're happy or excited that they 
have a tendency to chirp, so I started putting two and two together that 
the frequency of the chirp was not too far away from my preferred 
frequency on practicing with Morse code. (1:05)

PAUL: Zoglmann couldn't actually ask Waffles what she was thinking, but 
has a theory: (:05)

ZOGLMANN: From little Waffles' perspective, I think she probably was 
mistaking it for a nearby hamster that was just extraordinarily happy 
and she wanted to know what all that was about.

PAUL: Zoglmann would have been tempted to just write it off as a strange 
behavioral quirk in Waffles. However:

ZOGLMANN: After her passing, we decided to get another hamster. Because 
the same behavior started to happen, I was like, "This is just so weird 
to be a coincidence!" so that inspired me to write a cute story to try 
to capture the call of hamster being Morse code.

PAUL: Zoglmann figured that he should have some illustrations to go with 
the story, so he asked his husband, an artist, to draw a few. He ended 
up with a painting of a hamster working a straight key.

Who knows? Given enough training, perhaps the new hamster can help out 
during contests. Will probably need a much smaller key, though. Or a 
teeny-tiny paddle. How would that be logged? AD0WE/H for "hamster"?

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.

NEIL/ANCHOR: Just a postscript here -- next time you're in a QSO with 
another ham using CW, before you accuse their station of having a 
"chirp" in the signal, it pays to ask first if their hamster needs 
adjusting.

**
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Labs; the ARRL; the Amateur Radio 
Organization of Indonesia; the BBC; CQ Magazine; Hap Holly and the Rain 
Report; the IARU; the Irish Radio Transmitters Society; New Zealand 
Association of Radio Transmitters; Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin; Radio Society 
of Great Britain; 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 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 in Bloomington Indiana 
saying 73 and as always we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.


***

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