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The workload of the Board and the number of remaining members is such that we thought it prudent to ask Ian Shepherd, G4EVK to re-join the Board as a co-opted Director until the AGM.

After the AGM and the elections the Board will look at its membership and will likely make further co-options.

Liam Robbins, G5LDR has been appointed as the new Youth Champion for the RSGB.

The next RSGB Tonight @ 8 live webinar takes place on Monday, 6 March when RSGB Microwave Manager Barry Lewis, G4SJH will talk about contesting in the microwave and millimetre wave bands at 23cm and above.

Sunday 2 Apr 2023 – Hack Green Military Surplus & Military Radio Hangar Sale

Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 8AL. Sale of electronic equipment, amateur gear, components, military radio items and vehicle spares.

Sunday 23 Apr 2023 – NARSA – Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association Exhibition (Blackpool Rally)

The Rochdale & District Amateur Radio Summer Rally will take place on Saturday 10 June 2023 at St Vincent de Paul’s Hall, Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7QR. Doors open at 10am with entry still only £3. Refreshments available, plenty of free parking. For further information or to book a stall, please contact either Roz Worrall via rozallin@gmail.com or Dave Carden via dave@cardens.me.uk

Saturday 2 Sep 2023 – G-QRP Club and Telford & District ARS jointly organised Convention

Harper Adams University campus near Telford, Shropshire, TF10 8NB. Featuring the famous G-QRP ‘Buildathon’. Further details at: www.gqrp.com/convention.htm and www.telfordhamfest.org.uk Contact: Martyn, G3UKV on 01952 255416 or John, M0JZH on 07824 737716.

Sunday 3 Sep 2023 – Annual Telford HamFest and continued G-QRP Convention

Harper Adams University campus near Telford, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, continuing the G-QRP Convention and Buildathon the previous day. More information and email details may be found on the Telford HamFest website: www.telfordhamfest.org.uk and www.gqrp.com/convention.htm or by contacting Martyn, G3UKV on 01952 255416, or John, M0JZH 07824 737716.

Friday 24th February 2023

The following is a QST. A national emergency brings hams to the scene in New Zealand. Amateur radio puts the spotlight on autism awareness -- and a repeater system gets an upgrade in Southern Maryland. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2365 comes your way right now.

BILLBOARD CART

Our top story takes us to New Zealand, which is trying to recover after Cyclone Gabrielle touched off a national state of emergency. On the North Island at least 11 people were killed and thousands were reported missing. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF brings us up to date.

Radio operators with Amateur Radio Emergency Communications, or AREC, were put to the test after Cyclone Gabrielle swept through the North Island, bringing floods and damage to infrastructure. AREC volunteer members and other licensed hams had braced themselves in advance of the storm's landfall on Sunday the 12th of February. Don Robertson, ZL2TYR/ZK6EX, the CEO of AREC, told Newsline that in Auckland, AREC began providing radio support across the region for field teams and maintained VHF contact with the region's 14 civil defence centres plus local community response groups. Volunteers logged contacts, handled logistics, phone calls, communications and used their PC skills as needed until AREC was stood down at midday on Thursday the 16th of February. Meanwhile in hard-hit Hawkes Bay, amid rising rivers and power outages, only three AREC members were able to respond, each working 12-hour shifts.

Don told Newsline: [quote] "There are many more stories of the heroic efforts by AREC members and licensed amateur radio operators and the details will come out in due course." [endquote] He said that many recovery efforts have got underway and are expected to continue for years. As Newsline went to production search and rescue workers were also arriving from Australia.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(DON ROBERTSON, ZL2TYR/ZK6EX, REUTERS, CNN)

Hours after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake rocked the already-stricken region of Turkey and Syria on Monday, February 20th, mainstream media turned its attention to the critical role that amateur radio is playing there. Jeremy Boot G4NJH picks up the story from here.

With communications taken down in much of the region of Turkey and northern Syria, amateur radio repeaters on VHF and UHF frequencies kept communications open for rescue work and other aid. That dramatic story was told on the BBC programme, "Digital Planet," on Tuesday, February 21st, by Aziz Şasa, TA1E, president of the Turkish Amateur Radio Association. The retired engineer was interviewed by show host, Gareth Mitchell, an amateur radio operator himself, with the call sign M7GJM.

Aziz said that following the disaster, VHF and UHF repeaters throughout the region were the only means of communication for seven days, as rescuers and agencies shared frequencies and information. He said that the longer-distance capabilities of HF were not as essential because most of the issues being handled were local and could be handled via shorter-range frequencies.

Asked what the greatest contribution of the hams has been so far, Aziz said simply: [quote] "We helped in saving lives. I believe that's quite a nice thing for us." [endquote]

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(BBC, GREG MOSSOP, GØDUB)

A call has gone out worldwide for hams to get on the air to bring greater attention to the needs of individuals who have autism. We have more details from Paul Braun WD9GCO.

Amateurs throughout the world whose lives have been touched by autism are going to be getting on the air to help raise awareness of autism spectrum disorder during World Autism Awareness Week. Between March 25th and April 2nd, operators will be looking to log stations using any mode of their choice with the goal of directing successful contacts to the event's page on QRZ.com. This is all about education.

Amateurs in the United States will be using the call W2A. Hams in other countries may want to secure local special event calls but they will be able to use their home call instead if a special call is not available. All participating hams will be calling "CQ Special Event, Autism Awareness Week."

The organizer James, KB2FMH, will also be setting up a Discord chat group channel to help operators coordinate their bands and modes to make the most of propagation and traffic. Operators outside the United States should also let James know what callsign they will be using.

Hams have already expressed interest from around the world but more operators are still needed.

This is Paul Braun WD9GO.

Organizers of the 18th annual Salmoncon in Washington state have changes in their plans this year and they're shouting those changes from the summits - for good reason - as we hear from Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

The Salmoncon gathering in Washington state is sharing its celebration of QRP operators this year with SOTA operators by adding some Pacific Northwest summits to their annual campout.

Hams will start to gather on Friday, July 7th and activation of the peaks will begin early on Saturday, July 8th. Through Sunday, low-power operators in the Pacific Northwest will enjoy the fellowship of QRP and activities such as transmitter hunts. They will also activate the Salmoncon special event callsign K7S. This year, organizers are hoping to get as many activations as possible on Saturday at noon local time from peaks with the SOTA designation W7W. Salmoncom is promoting summit-to-summit and chaser contacts on 60, 40 and 30m HF bands along with 2m simplex. There will be a special emphasis on peaks in the W7W/KG and W7W/CW areas.

Visit the Salmoncon website for more details.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(SOTA REFLECTOR, SALMONCON.COM)

Engineers with an interest in satellites and satellite operation may want to consider helping out AMSAT North America as volunteers. Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us what they're looking for.

If you're a satellite enthusiast with an engineering background and want to become more involved in AMSAT North America, you may want to consider one of these volunteer opportunities. AMSAT's FOX-PLUS team needs a volunteer electrical engineer with RF experience and a working knowledge of analog and digital communications protocols. The right candidate will be involved in designing and building the RF communications subsystems for low-earth-orbit 1U-3U CubSats. This position will help provide digitally synthesized audio for FM modulated VHF/UHF/SHF voice and telemetry channels.

AMSAT's FOX and GOLF CubeSat teams also need mechanical engineers to join its all-volunteer team of a dozen or so electrical, mechanical, software and systems engineers. The team is developing a series of low-earth-orbit and highly elliptical orbit 1U-3U CubeSats for AMSAT's engineering and educational goals.

Candidates should be US citizens or permanent residents of the US. Volunteers can expect to spend about five hours a week on the project they're assigned to and will attend a weekly meeting online to provide updates.

Resumes can be sent to volunteer@amsat.org.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)

We remind our listeners that young hams who live in the continental United States have an opportunity to make news, if they aren't already doing so, by being a recipient of this year's Amateur Radio Newsline Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award. Consider nominating an amateur radio operator 18 years of age or younger -- someone who has talent, promise and a commitment to the spirit of ham radio. Find application forms on our website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab. Nominations open on the 1st of May and close on May 31st.

Residents in southern Maryland can be reassured that emergency communications just got a little easier, thanks to the efforts of local hams. Here's Sel Embee KB3TZD with those details.

A newly installed radio repeater system has given Calvert County, Maryland, and the surrounding region an upgrade in the emergency-communications system. Licensed as K3CAL, the system was a project of the Calvert Amateur Radio Association and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service, or RACES. The RACES officer for Calvert County, William Hackett Sr., N3XMZ, told the website BayNet.com that the new system was a huge improvement over its predecessor. It will provide enhanced coverage for handheld radios throughout Calvert County, into the Chesapeake Bay region and parts of Patuxent River. The system includes UHF capability on 444.950 MHz from a tower in the southern end of the county and a VHF system on 146.985 MHz from a tower in the northern part of the county. The two sites are also capable of being linked. Brian Kress, KB3WFV, vice president of the Calvert Amateur Radio Association, called it [quote] "a win for Calvert County citizens as another layer of protection from a communication blackout." [endquote]

This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.

(BAYNET.COM)

If the lights were shining a little brighter over lighthouses in Latin America and elsewhere in the Southern Hemisphere, it was likely because of the American Lighthouses weekend on the air from February 17th through to the 19th. Graham Kemp VK4BB brings the illuminating details.

Perhaps no one will remember this year's American Lighthouses weekend better than hams with the Amateur Radio Alliance of Puerto Rico, KP4ARA. Operators accomplished a first-time double activation from two lighthouses on the island - the Punta Borinquen lighthouses, one historic and one relatively new. Working several bands and using digital modes, the lighthouse hams Emilio, WP4KEY, and Wanda, KP4NYC, logged QSOs with a total of 42 DXCC entities, including Asiatic Russia, Venezuela, the Philippines, England, Switzerland and Japan.

The weekend was marked by another dramatic first: participation by radio operators at the Esperanza Base in Antarctica. According to the organizing committee of Argentina, the Radio Club Grupo DX Bahia Blanca of Argentina, this established a new record for the total number of DXCC entities and countries involved in the event. The general coordinator of the event was Carlos Almirón, LU7DSY, who said in a public statement how pleased he was with the enthusiasm and collaboration that helped create pride and new accomplishments during this 15th year of the February lighthouse festival.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(EMILIO ORTIZ JR., WP4KEY)

A ham in Australia has been honored for having copied the final signals of an important-but-aging satellite as it was dying. We hear that story from Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

Congratulations to Mark Jessop, VK5QI, of South Australia for being the recipient of the FS3 Award from the Mauritius Amateur Radio Society. The nonprofit amateur group created the honour to recognise the last formal reported signals from the FalconSat-3 micro-satellite. The 50kg satellite, launched in 2007 from Cape Canaveral in Florida, went into decay in January.

The amateur radio society sent the Australian satellite enthusiast his certificate along with some stamps commemorating MO-112, the Mauritian Infra-Red Satellite, which was that nation's first satellite.

FalconSat-3 was developed by cadets and faculty at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado but control of the satellite was transferred to amateur radio operators in April of 2017. A notice in AMSAT News Service thanked Mark Hammond N8MH for his years of work as a command station for FalconSat-3.

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)

In the World of DX, listen for Dave, YC5YC/7, and Arli, YC7UDD/p operating on Teluk Harapan Beach on Maratua Island, IOTA number OC-166, from the 25th through to the 27th of February. They will operate SSB, FT8 and RTTY on HF. They will upload logs to LoTW and Club Log. There will be 10 other operators with YB7, YC7 and YD7 calls operating near them doing a Beaches on the Air operation.

Eight special callsigns are being activated to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of the 1980 referendum for autonomy and representing the provinces of Andalusia. They are on the air through the 28th of February. The callsigns are AN43AL (Almeria), AN43CA (Cadiz), AN43CO (Cordoba), AN43GR (Granada), AN43HU (Huelva), AN43JA (Jaen), AN43MA (Malaga), AN43SE (Sevilla). Be listening as well on the 28th of February for AN43AND, which is Andalusia Day. QSL via LoTW and eQSL.

Be listening for David, F4FKT, active as FT4YM from Dumont d'Urville Station, IOTA number AN-Ø17 from Ile des Petrels. He is on the air until the 27th of February. He will also operate as FT4YM/mm from the icebreaker "L'Astrolabe" from the 28th of February to the 5th of March. QSL via F5PFP.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

For our final story, we visit with a group of hams in Minnesota on a wintertime fishing expedition. Kent Peterson KCØDGY tells us what they caught while at the lake. Here's a hint: It wasn't fish.

In Minnesota, it's considered a winter tradition for some people to go out on the frozen lakes for fishing. One group that took to the frozen waters in the Twin Cities region of the state were hoping for a very different kind of catch: They set up their equipment on White Bear Lake at Mahtomedi Beach in the hopes of reeling in some QSOs while operating portable. This was the February 11th "Hams on the Ice" event where antennas took the place of fishing rods and the waves being plumbed were radio waves.

The four-hour event drew 20 or so amateurs. Some brought portable heaters. Others simply were warmed by the idea of working some DX -- and many did. This was the amateurs' winter equivalent of a monthly group gathering known as Hams in the Park held during warmer months.

According to a video on the YouTube channel of Matthew, KØLWC, the hams were also there to provide an opportunity for some of the regions' youngest licensees: With a little help, some of the newer hams got their first contacts on HF radio.

With mic fright being a big concern for a lot of newcomers, you might even say they broke the ice.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(QRZ.COM, MINNESOTA HAM RADIO, YOUTUBE)

Do you have a piece of Amateur Radio News that you think Newsline would be interested in? We are not talking about advertising your club's upcoming hamfest or field day participation, but something that is out of the ordinary. If so, send us a brief overview via the contact page at arnewsline.org. If it's newsworthy and we would like to cover it, we'll get back to you for more details.

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Weekly; AMSAT News Service; Baynet.com; the BBC; CNN; CQ magazine; David Behar K7DB; Don Robertson, ZL2TYR/ZK6EX; DX-World.net; Emilio Ortez Jr., WP4KEY; FCC; 425 DX News; Greg Mossop, GØDUB; QRZ.com; Reuters; Minnesota Ham Radio; SOTA Reflector; shortwaveradio.de; Wireless Institute of Australia; YouTube; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. We remind our listeners that Amateur Radio Newsline is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that incurs expenses for its continued operation. If you wish to support us, please visit our website at arnewsline.org and know that we appreciate you all. We also remind our listeners that if you like our newscast, please leave us a 5-star rating wherever you subscribe to us. For now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and our news team worldwide, I'm Jim Damron N8TMW in Charleston West Virginia saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

Keplerian Bulletin 14 ARLK014
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT February 21, 2023
To all radio amateurs

Special thanks to Space-Track.org for the following Keplerian data.

Decode 2-line elsets with the following key:
1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ
2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ
KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN
G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM

AO-07
1 07530U 74089B   23052.56810370 -.00000041 00000-0 34514-4 0 9992
2 07530 101.9379 38.5077 0011958 285.4729 188.2350 12.53661429208688
ISS
1 25544U 98067A   23052.59112363 .00013830 00000-0 25703-3 0 9997
2 25544 51.6383 181.0981 0005163 12.6559 96.4790 15.49183904383866
SO-50
1 27607U 02058C   23052.59472086 .00001608 00000-0 23785-3 0 9993
2 27607 64.5530 259.1987 0077797 247.1458 112.1417 14.76777287 85158
AO-73
1 39444U 13066AE 23052.37958180 .00006722 00000-0 77068-3 0 9991
2 39444 97.6583 20.7595 0052691 295.5937 63.9839 14.85212560498446
XW-2A
1 40903U 15049E   23052.65194265 .00118726 00000-0 75756-3 0 9993
2 40903 97.1381 118.7023 0005351 252.3600 269.5437 15.76019420418139
IO-86
1 40931U 15052B   23052.16282134 .00001695 00000-0 14550-3 0 9998
2 40931   5.9987 194.6908 0012914 87.3467 272.8265 14.77046181400179
CAS-4B
1 42759U 17034B   23052.41068399 .00012400 00000-0 66640-3 0 9996
2 42759 43.0171 38.1516 0009070 67.6618 92.7696 15.14804605314066
CAS-4A
1 42761U 17034D   23052.35585751 .00011958 00000-0 64097-3 0 9999
2 42761 43.0170 37.0400 0009997 68.5679 42.5185 15.14915812314062
AO-91
1 43017U 17073E   23052.23782407 .00007510 00000-0 53862-3 0 9998
2 43017 97.6481 301.1961 0241767 91.5398 271.3523 14.83982191283973
PO-101
1 43678U 18084H   23052.39190523 .00002718 00000-0 26803-3 0 9993
2 43678 98.0003 194.2042 0009414 178.1600 181.9621 14.92853224234987
QO-100
1 43700U 18090A   23052.32827189 .00000129 00000-0 00000-0 0 9996
2 43700   0.0275 245.4458 0002399 119.6362 289.8340 1.00270606 15522
JO-97
1 43803U 18099AX 23052.44856349 .00006637 00000-0 54980-3 0 9991
2 43803 97.5861 118.0395 0015439 148.1850 212.0309 14.99083542230346
CAS-6
1 44881U 19093C   23052.53358287 .00002006 00000-0 25786-3 0 9999
2 44881 97.8712 132.9425 0016182 94.3632 265.9401 14.82173752171660
RS-44
1 44909U 19096E   23052.51413597 .00000011 00000-0 -67048-5 0 9991
2 44909 82.5175 64.8033 0218603 97.3897 265.2102 12.79718478147366
XW-3
1 50466U 21131B   23052.59219504 .00000642 00000-0 22388-3 0 9994
2 50466 98.5590 134.4916 0005619 123.7332 236.4391 14.38692285 60731
IO-117
1 53106U 22080B   23034.19933790 -.00000003 00000-0 00000-0 0 9994
2 53106 70.1777   6.2677 0008922 216.5435 143.4616 6.42557193 13147
FO-118
1 54684U 22167C   23052.44308633 .00016587 00000-0 10066-2 0 9990
2 54684 97.5425 191.2224 0014115 16.4670 55.9259 15.10512628 11185

Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW.

The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Friday, February 24, 2023, at 2330z on Baudot and BPSK31.

DX Bulletin 8 ARLD008
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT February 23, 2023
To all radio amateurs

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by LU4AAO, OK6DJ, The Daily DX, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.

AGALEGA AND ST. BRANDON ISLANDS, 3B6. A group of operators are QRV as 3B7M from Saint Brandon Island, IOTA AF-015, until March 5. Activity is on the HF bands using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8 with four stations. This includes being active on Satellite QO-100. QSL via OK6DJ.

PHILIPPINES, DU. David, VE3OI is QRV as DU2WAA near Currimao, Ilocos Norte. Activity is on 20 to 10 meters. QSL via LoTW.

KYRGYZSTAN, EX. Bob, DU7ET is QRV as EX0ET from Bishkek until the end of March. QSL direct to home call.

GUINEA-BISSAU, J5. Livio, IZ3BUR is QRV as J52EC. Activity is on 15 and 10 meters using mostly SSB. His length of stay is unknown. QSL direct to home call.

ST. VINCENT, J8. Sandro, VE7NY, Allan, VE7SZ and Rob, N7QT are QRV as J8NY from the main island of St. Vincent, IOTA NA-109, until March 7. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8. This includes being a M/2 entry in the upcoming ARRL International SSB DX contest. QSL via LoTW.

WAKE ISLAND, KH9. Tom, NL7RR is QRV as NL7RR/KH9 for two weeks. Activity is generally around 0630z on 20 to 6 meters using SSB. QSL direct to home call.

ARGENTINA, LU. Members of the Radio Club QRM Belgrano will celebrate their 55th anniversary on the air from February 25 to March 5. Activity is on the HF, and V/UHF bands using QRS CW, SSB, SSTV, and FT8. QSL via LU4AAO.

PALAU, T8. Operators JH7IPR and JF6CHA are QRV as T88UW and T88CH, respectively, from Koror Island, IOTA OC-009, until March 2. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using mainly FT8 with CW and SSB if operating conditions permit. QSL to home calls.

BELIZE, V3. Walt, W0CP and Mary, K0ZV are QRV as V31DJ and V31DK, respectively, from Placencia until March 11. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8. QSL via LoTW.

NAMIBIA, V5. Wynand, V51WW will activate Etosha National Park, V5-0001, on February 26 from 1100 to 1400 UTC. Activity will be on 20, 15, and 10 meters using SSB. QSL direct to home call.

MICRONESIA, V6. John, V63JB is QRV from Ulithi Atoll, IOTA OC-078. He is a staff member at a local school here. Activity is currently on 30 meters using FT8 but hopes to expand to 20 meters, and use SSB. QSL via operator's instructions.

AUSTRALIA, VK. Special event station VI100MB will be QRV from February 26 to February 25, 2024 to celebrate 100 years of the Manly-Warringah Radio Society. QSL via LoTW.

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS, VU4. Gopan, VU3HPF and Ram, VU2JXN will be QRV as VU4T from Port Blair, South Andaman Island, IOTA AS-001, from March 2 to 5. Activity will be holiday style on 40 to 10 meters using CW and maybe some SSB. They may also be active on Satellite QO-100. QSL via LoTW.

MYANMAR, XZ. Akio, JE2QIZ is QRV as XZ2B from Yangon. He is active in his spare time on 15, 12, 10, and 6 meters using CW. QSL via JH3SIF.

SOUTH SUDAN, Z8. Diya, YI1DZ is again QRV as Z81D. QSL via OM3JW. CHATHAM ISLANDS, ZL7. Volker, ZL1VV is QRV as ZL7/ZL1VV from Te One
until March 2. Activity is in his spare time on 20, 17, 15, and 10 meters using SSB. QSL via LoTW.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The CQ 160-Meter SSB Contest, North American RTTY QSO Party, NCCC RTTY Sprint, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC Sprint CW Ladder, K1USN Slow Speed CW Test, REF SSB Contest, UBA DX CW Contest, South Carolina QSO Party, North America Collegiate RTTY Championship, High Speed Club CW Contest and the North Carolina QSO Party are all on tap for this upcoming weekend.

The QCX CW Challenge, ICWC Medium Speed CW Test, OK1WC Memorial, RSGB FT4 Contest, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, QRP 40-Meter CW Fox Hunt, Phone Weekly Test, A1Club AWT, CWops Test, VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Mini-Test 40, Mini-Test 80 and the UKEICC 80-Meter Contest are scheduled for February 27 to March 1.

The AWA John Rollins Memorial DX CW Contest runs from March 1 to 5.

Please see February QST, page 69, and the ARRL and WA7BNM Contest web sites for details.

It is with regret that I report that Richard Horton, G4AOJ has tendered his resignation as an RSGB Board Director and the Board Chair, and Stan Lee, G4XXI has tendered his resignation as RSGB Company Secretary.

There are just over three weeks left to register to participate in the annual Saint Patrick’s Day Award.

You can register to be a participating station by completing the short registration form at stpatricksaward.com.

Friday 17th February 2023

The following is a QST. Goodbye, Bouvet Island. A wake-up call for weather preparedness in Texas -- and Brazil says goodbye to a noted DXer and DXpeditioner. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2364 comes your way right now.

BILLBOARD CART

We begin this week with the latest chapter in the story of mystery balloons being shot down over North America by US military planes. The first and most famous, of course, was a suspected Chinese spy balloon. The audio of the Air Force pilots' communications was recorded successfully by an aviation enthusiast and radio buff during the downing of the balloon.

However, as Newsline went to production, questions were being raised about the whereabouts of an amateur radio balloon with the callsign K9YO-15 launched last October by a group known as the Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade. Unconfirmed reports say the 32-inch sphere carrying a 10-gram payload may be the same one that was shot down over the Canadian Yukon. Lightweight and relatively inexpensive to build, its payload, with a solar panel package and a tracker in the middle, transmitted APRS telemetry on HF at very low power.

Cary Willis, KD9ITO, a member of the group, said the balloon has been declared missing in action and is considered lost.

According to a post on the website RTL-SDR.COM, a memo from the US Pentagon said an object was shot down over Canada that appeared to be a "small metallic balloon with a tethered payload." [endquote] The description closely fits that of K9YO-15.

Cary told Newsline in an email: [quote] "I suppose anything is possible." [endquote] He said FBI agents visited the balloon program's website and spent time with members of the group on a conference call. Cary said: [quote] "I shared that besides having fun, we're here to teach others how to build and launch Pico Balloons legally, following the Code of Federal Regulations relating to balloons." [endquote] He said he told others on the balloon team that they should be proud of the project and what it has accomplished.

He added [quote] "Personally, I believe that if we were shot down, what a wonderful way to end our flight." [endquote]

(RTL-SDR.COM, CARY WILLIS, KD9ITO)

We move next to Bouvet Island where the 3YØJ)DXpedition is history, as we hear from Graham Kemp VK4BB.

Goodbye-Bouvet Island. Goodbye from the DXpedition team Three Why Zero Jay, which departed on Tuesday, February 14th after striking down camp. Goodbye too to the chasers who, whether they were disappointed or not, have turned to other pursuits. As Newsline went to production, team leader Ken LA7GIA announced that with all equipment and team members on board, the sail would commence onwards to Cape Town, South Africa, where they expected to arrive on or about the 23rd of February. There was a possibility of /MM operation while enroute. Team members do not have access to the log, which will be handled by QSL Manager MØOXO.

I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB

(DX-WORLD.NET)

The tragic death of an older man in fast-moving flood waters prompted emergency responders in Texas to review their weather spotting and communications strategies. Randy Sly W4XJ explains what they did.

In late January, Hunt and Rockwell counties in North Texas received a “wake-up call” when an elderly man died after his SUV was swept away by flood waters. In the wake of that deadly flooding, Bianca Garcia, from the National Weather Service, held Skywarn training in the city of Greenville, at the invitation of the Hunt County Office of Homeland Security/Emergency Management and the Greenville Fire-Rescue Department. The seminar covered the various threats posed by severe thunderstorms, severe weather safety and storm reporting. Even with radar and satellite imaging, Garcia emphasized the import role spotters play. She told the audience, “You guys are presenting that special set of human eyes for us on the ground.”

Many of the attendees were members of the Sabine Valley Amateur Radio Association, which provides trained spotters to the National Weather Service and emergency management agencies. Following the meeting, a three-night course was also offered on how to become an amateur radio operator. The wake-up call was heeded and those North Texas counties are now more storm ready.

This is Randy Sly, W4XJ

A call has gone out for operators across the United States to participate in a one-day special event, carrying a message of hope and support on behalf of pancreatic cancer patients. Jim Damron N8TMW tells us how to get involved.

When supporters in 30 US cities step off for a Walk-a-thon on Saturday, April 29th to support the nonprofit Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the event will be gaining some added momentum: Just as the walkers take strides on the ground, special event station N3P will be taking strides on the air.

Hams for PanCan, as the event is known, is an expansion of last year's first effort with a dozen or so members of the Skyview Radio Society near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, according to organizer Rich Ryba, WQ3Q. Rich hopes that news about resources available to pancreatic cancer patients and their families can go an even greater distance this year -- coast to coast. The event has special significance for Rich. He lost his younger brother to the disease and is a pancreatic cancer patient himself.

Speaking to Newsline on the phone, he said that the QSOs aren't typical special-event exchanges: [quote] "People want to talk, want to share their experiences with their family. We told our operators to sit and listen. It doesn't matter how long the contact takes if it serves a purpose of helping." [endquote]

Operators are needed in all 50 states. Rich can be contacted directly at his email address r-y-b-a-r at nb dot net (rybar@nb.net).

The QRZ.com page for N3P has additional details for clubs or individual operators who want to participate. QSL cards and certificates will be made available for successful contacts.

This is Jim Damron N8TMW.

(RICH RYBA, WQ3Q)

There is cause for celebration in Sydney, Australia, where one amateur radio club is marking a milestone. Here's Richard VK2SKY, a member of that club, with his special report.
G'day Amateur Radio Newsline listeners, this is Richard VK2SKY, for the Manly-Warringah Radio Society in Sydney, Australia. February 26 this year is a big day for us.
That date marks 100 years since the first meeting of the Manly and District Radio Club, in 1923. That club eventually became the Manly-Warringah Radio Society.
To celebrate, we'll be activating the Special Event Station V I 100 MB, on the day, and throughout 2023.
To find out more, check out Victor India One Hundred Mike Bravo on qrz.com, and visit the Society's web site at mwrs.org.au, that's Mike Whiskey Romeo Sierra dot org dot au.
Hope to catch you on the bands!

For Amateur Radio Newsline and the Manly-Warringah Radio Society in Sydney, Australia, I'm Richard VK2SKY

A respected DXer and noted DXpeditioner from Brazil has become a Silent Key, as we learn from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

Mamiro Yoshizawa PY2DM was well-known among Brazilian amateurs as a radio operator with an enthusiasm for DX and a special affinity for using the 50 MHz band. He was a familiar presence in national and international contests and had been a key operator during the T3ØPY and T3ØSIX DXpedition to Western Kiribati in 2012. Mamiro became a Silent Key on the 5th of February. According to a report that appears on QRZ.com, Mamiro's home QTH in the Brazilian city of Mogi das Cruzes had one of the best-equipped stations for DXing in the nation

Mamiro Yoshizawa was 83.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(QRZ.COM)

In the UK, Ofcom has added two more DX contests to its list of events qualifying for special call signs. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has that report.

Two UK and Ireland DX contests have been added to the list of events that qualify for special contest callsigns from Ofcom. The callsigns are administered by the Radio Society of Great Britain on behalf of the regulator and hams are advised to visit the RSGB website if they wish to apply. They are available to any holder of a UK Amateur Radio Full Licence or Full Club Licence and the contests can last no longer than 48 hours. The list of qualifying contests can be seen on the RSGB website. Calls will begin with the letter "G" or "M" followed by a numeral and a one-letter suffix. See the link in the text version of this week's Newsline script to learn more and to see the contest list.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

[FOR PRINT ONLY: tinyurl.com/b6srkkhu

If the evolution of radio gear interests you - and if you own and operate some of the earliest rigs - you might want to plan for a big operating event next month. Kevin Trotman N5PRE tells us what's involved.

Age matters. It's even worth points if you're a ham taking part in the John Rollins Memorial CW/AM DX event in March. The event is organized by the Antique Wireless Association and you don't have to be a member to participate. If you are using a transmitter and receiver manufactured before 1970, you can score big points. Likewise, any homebrew gear using tubes that were available before 1970 is also in the running.

The activity takes place on 80, 40 and 20 meters on Wednesday March 1st and Thursday March 2nd, and again on Saturday March 4th and Sunday March 5th. Power is limited to 100 watts for CW and 100 watts carrier level for AM.

For details on scoring, visit the association website at the link provided in the text version of this week's newscast script at arnewsline.org

The event is named for association member John Rollins, W1FPZ, who was a well-known home-brewer of radio equipment. John became a Silent Key in March of 2008.

This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

The FCC has made room for 16 new broadcast stations on FM and expects there will be competition for the spots on the spectrum. Here's that report from Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

There could be a handful of new FM radio stations on the air in small rural communities from Minnesota and Missouri to Texas and Vermont: the FCC has opened up 16 FM allotments in areas eligible for a new service. The FM table is updated by the FCC after its staff engineers determine that the vacant allotments comply with the agency's minimum distance separation requirements and city-grade coverage requirements.

The areas that are eligible for a new FM service include Grand Portage, Minnesota; Bunker, Missouri; Junction and Sonora in Texas; and Barton, Vermont.

The FCC says all new FM commercial allotments are subject to an auction process, and competing applications may be filed once the commission decides it is ready to accept applications.

When competing applications are filed, an auction may need to occur before the allotments are decided.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(FCC, RADIOWORLD)

A major world radio event, postponed from last year, suddenly got more real with the start of hotel bookings. John Williams VK4JJW tells us about it.

Competitors and referees received the earliest access to hotel bookings for the World Radiosport Team Championship which is to be held this July in Bologna, Italy. The online booking system opened on February 1st. The next round of reservations began on February 7th for visitors and others. According to details on the WRTC Reflector message list hotels throughout the surrounding area will be providing support for competitors, referees, judges, sponsors and the contest committee.

To see details about the WRTC and who its competitors are, visit wrtc2022 dot it (wrtc2022.it)

The World Radiosport Team Championship is held every four years in a different host country. This year's event is a postponement from last year when health concerns during the pandemic caused it to be called off. Two-member teams whose members have qualified for the event will arrive from every continent to compete in this 24-hour nonstop competition, which is often referred to as the Olympics of amateur radio.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(WRTC REFLECTOR)

In the World of DX, listen for Antonio, CT1FFU, operating holiday style as D4T from Ilha do Sal, IOTA number AF-086, Cape Verde, until the 22nd of February. He is using SSB, CW and digital modes on the HF bands and 6 metres. He will also make contacts via QO-100. QSL via his home call direct or by the bureau. He will upload his log to Club Log.

Philippe, F1DUZ is using the callsign FG4KH from Guadeloupe, IOTA number NA-102, from February 15th through to March 8th. He will also participate in the SSB portion of the "Coupe du REF" contest on the 25th and 26th of February as well as the ARRL DX SSB contest on the 4th and 5th of March. QSL via LoTW, eQSL, or direct to F1DUZ.

Saudi Arabia's Founding Day are being commemorated by special event stations 7Z3FD, 8Z3FD and HZ3FD until the 22nd of February, which is the actual date of the celebration. QSL via HZ1SAR; the logs will be uploaded to Club Log.

Eric, F5LCX, is on the air holiday style from Togo as 5V23LE until the 25th of February. QSL via LoTW.

Listen for Dom, VK2HJ, using the call sign VK2HJ/VK9 from Norfolk Island, IOTA number OC-005, from the 17th through to the 20th of February. He is using SSB on 40 through 10 metres. QSL via eQSL.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

Our final story comes from Ralph Squillace KK6ITB. Prepare to get a real charge out of it. A real charge.

OK, so here's a real yarn for you. Yes - a real yarn, the kind of which sweaters are made. These are high-tech fibers known as twistrons, which scientists developed about five years ago. Unlike conventional knitting yarns, twistrons are spun from carbon nanotubes, resulting in lightweight material that increases in density whenever it is twisted or stretched. The result from all that stretching isn't necessarily a better-fitting sweater, however -- it's voltage that can drive an electric current. To researchers like Ray Baughman at the University of Texas at Dallas, twistrons present a promising way to make use of the motion of the body to power an electronic device because it taps into the wearer's mechanical energy. Scientists say the energy conversion efficiency of twistrons has improved over the years, up from 17.4 percent from twisting to an impressive 22.4 percent.

Researchers recently used an array of twistrons weighing 3.2 milligrams to charge a supercapacitor capable of powering a small device such as an electronic watch or five small LEDs.

While the researchers aren't quite at the point of releasing their own clothing line, they do have their eye on harnessing the motion of ocean waves using twistrons to create electric power. We hams can only imagine dressing for success like this, going out for a summit activation or for Field Day. The possibility is electrifying.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(IEEE SPECTRUM)

Do you have a piece of Amateur Radio News that you think Newsline would be interested in? We are not talking about advertising your club's upcoming hamfest or field day participation, but something that is out of the ordinary. If so, send us a brief overview via the contact page at arnewsline.org. If it's newsworthy and we would like to cover it, we'll get back to you for more details.

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Weekly; AMSAT News Service; Baynet.com; CQ magazine; David Behar K7DB; DX-World.net; FCC; 425 DX News; IEEE Spectrum; QRZ.com; Radio World; Radio Society of Great Britain; Rich Ryba, WQ3Q, shortwaveradio.de; Wireless Institute of Australia; WRTC Reflector; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. We remind our listeners that Amateur Radio Newsline is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that incurs expenses for its continued operation. If you wish to support us, please visit our website at arnewsline.org and know that we appreciate you all. We also remind our listeners that if you like our newscast, please leave us a 5-star rating wherever you subscribe to us. 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. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

Keplerian Bulletin 12 ARLK012
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT February 14, 2023
To all radio amateurs

Special thanks to AMSAT-NA (AMSAT.ORG) for the following Keplerian data.

Decode 2-line elsets with the following key:
1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ
2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ
KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN
G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM

0 AO-07
1 07530U 74089B   23045.47437512 -.00000010 00000-0 22620-3 0 99NV
2 07530 101.9367 31.3742 0012019 299.2710 212.7264 12.53661180207799
0 ISS
1 25544U 98067A   23045.69151348 .00024581 00000-0 43647-3 0 9998
2 25544 51.6410 215.2713 0009138 349.1629 116.3348 15.50018653382794
0 SO-50
1 27607U 02058C   23045.61964319 .00002546 00000-0 3NV56-3 0 9994
2 27607 64.5553 280.5659 0078147 248.5250 110.7507 14.76747286 84128
0 AO-73
1 39444U 13066AE 23045.37269078 .00010654 00000-0 12198-2 0 9995
2 39444 97.6562 14.0233 0053330 319.3220 40.4017 14.85095561497402
0 XW-2A
1 40903U 15049E   23045.46685166 .00143422 00000-0 98775-3 0 9996
2 40903 97.1389 111.3154 0004860 285.1409 201.0489 15.74183798417007
0 IO-86
1 40931U 15052B   NV045.41045388 .00001691 00000-0 14488-3 0 9992
2 40931   5.9962 242.8882 0013708 352.8348 NV7.1809 14.77030460399172
0 CANV4B
1 42759U 17034B   23045.54NV3804 .00014908 00000-0 8022NV3 0 9996
2 42759 43.0169 76.1466 0010168 18.5891 112.6866 15.14624865313021
0 CAS-4A
1 42761U 17034D   23045.50577218 .00013455 00000-0 72304-3 0 9991
2 42761 43.0166 74.9692 0010972 21.6036 129.8943 15.14736088313024
0 AO-91
1 43017U 17073E   23045.49477160 .00009934 00000-0 71238-3 0 9994
2 43NV7 97.6488 294.7259 0242005 113.5804 249.1028 14.83865009282970
0 PO-101
1 43678U 18084H   23045.55506004 .00003987 00000-0 39081-3 0 9999
2 43678 97.9998 187.2537 0009237 200.6011 159.4865 14.92814435233967
0 QO-100
1 43700U 18090A   23045.276NV897 .00000153 00000-0 00000-0 0 9993
2 43700   0.0129 115.7593 0002423 249.4874 263.9791 1.00270329 15454
0 JO-97
1 43803U 18099AX 23045.43965041 .00010178 00000-0 84301-3 0 9997
2 43803 97.5878 111.2160 0014648 172.8757 187.2677 14.98963396229296
0 CAS-6
1 44881U 19093C   23045.51250511 .00002279 00000-0 29226-3 0 9995
2 44881 97.8717 126.0364 0016054 115.7315 244.5566 14.82144030170622
0 RS-44
1 44909U 19096E   23045.47772855 .00000025 00000-0 NV513-4 0 9992
2 44909 82.5174 69.4816 0218516 113.7649 248.6534 12.79718318146463
0 XW-3
1 50466U 21131B   23045.28966416 .00001268 00000-0 42808-3 0 NV997
2 50466 98.5603 127.2081 0005425 141.4297 218.7279 14.38679198 59689
0 IO-117
1 53106U 22080B   23034.19933790 -.00000003 00000-0 00000-0 0 9994
2 53106 70.1777   6.2677 0008922 216.5435 143.4616 6.42557193 13147
0 FO-118
1 54684U 22167C   23045.48980435 .00019379 00000-0 11824-2 0 9997
2 54684 97.5418 184.3698 0014923 38.9685 49.3147 15.10272926 10138
0 NVTSAT
1 55124U 98067UR 23045.44673382 .00234804 00000-0 25NV4-2 0 9994
2 55124 51.6369 214.6162 0005141 301.7047 58.3445 15.62182940 7378

Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW.

The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Friday, February 17, 2023, at 2330z on Baudot and BPSK31.

DX Bulletin 7 ARLD007
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT February 16, 2023
To all radio amateurs

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by W2GD, The Daily DX, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.

TIMOR-LESTE, 4W. Satoshi, JH2EUV is QRV as 4W/JH2EUV until March 3. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using FT8. QSL to home call.

TOGO, 5V. Eric, F5LCX is QRV as 5V23LE until February 25. Activity is holiday style on the HF bands. QSL to home call.

CHINA, BY. Look for BD1KV to be either a Multi/2 or Multi/Multi entry in the ARRL International DX CW contest. QSL direct to home call.

CAPE VERDE, D4. Tony, CT1FFU is QRV as D4T from Sal Island, IOTA AF-086, until February 22. Activity is holiday style on 80 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8. QSL to home call.

MARTINIQUE, FM. Yuri, VE3DZ is QRV as FM/VE3DZ until February 21. He will be active as TO4A in the ARRL International DX CW contest.
QSL to home call.

JERSEY, GJ. Matt, MJ0ASP will be QRV as GJ2A as a Single Op/Single Band on 15 meters entry in the ARRL International DX CW contest. QSL via LoTW.

SAUDI ARABIA, HZ. Special event stations 7Z3FD, 8Z3FD, and HZ3FD are QRV until February 22 to celebrate Saudi Arabia's Founding Day.
QSL via HZ1SAR.

GUINEA-BISSAU, J5. Livio, IZ3BUR is QRV as J52EC. Activity is on 15 and 10 meters using mostly SSB. His length of stay is unknown.
QSL direct to home call.

AUSTRIA. OE. Members of the 4U1A Radio Club are QRV as 4UNR until the end of February to commemorate World Radio Day. QSL via UA3DX.

ARUBA, P4. John, W2GD is QRV as P44W until February 20. Activity is on the HF bands using CW. He will be a Single Op/All Band/Low Power entry in the ARRL International DX CW contest. QSL via N2MM.

BANABA ISLAND, T33. Norbert, DF6FK and Judith, DL2ZAD will soon be QRV as T33BB and T33BA, respectively, until March 1. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW and SSB with two stations. QSL to DF6FK.

COSTA RICA, TI. Nathan, N4YDU is QRV as TI5/N4YDU from Guanacaste. Activity is on the HF bands. He will be active as TI7W in the ARRL International DX CW contest. QSL direct to home call.

MICRONESIA, V6. John, V63JB is QRV from Ulithi Atoll, IOTA OC-078. He is a staff member at a local school here. Activity is currently on 30 meters using FT8 but hopes to expand to 20 meters, and use SSB. QSL via operator's instructions.

BRUNEI, V8.   Hajime, JO1RUR is QRV as V85RH until February 21. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, and FT4. He will be a Single Op/All Band/High Power entry in the ARRL International DX CW contest. QSL via LoTW.

COCOS (KEELING) ISLAND, VK9C. Nobby, G0VJG plans to be QRV as VK9CVG until February 24. Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters using mostly SSB with some CW and FT8. This includes a possible entry in the ARRL International DX CW contest. QSL via M0OXO.

NORFOLK ISLAND, VK9N. Dom, VK2HJ is QRV as VK9/VK2HJ until February 10 meters using SSB. QSL via eQSL.

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, VP2V. Steve, AA7V is QRV as VP2V/AA7V from Tortola, IOTA NA-023, until February 20. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW. QSL direct to home call.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5. Bill, AC0W and Pat, K0PC are QRV as VP5/AC0W and VP5/K0PC, respectively, until February 20. Activity is on the HF bands. They will be QRV as VP5K in the ARRL International DX CW contest. QSL via home calls, and VP5K via K0PC.

MYANMAR, XZ. Akio, JE2QIZ is QRV as XZ2B from Yangon. He is active in his spare time on 15, 12, 10, and 6 meters using CW. QSL via JH3SIF.

INDONESIA, YB. Jozef, ON6HX is QRV as YB9/ON6HX from Lombok Island, IOTA OC-150, until March 8. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using all modes. QSL direct to home call.

NEW HEBRIDES, YJ. Bob, W7YAQ and Al, K7AR are QRV as YJ0A from Efate Island, IOTA OC-035, until February 23. This includes an entry in the ARRL International DX CW contest. QSL via K7AR.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The ARRL International DX CW Contest, NCCC RTTY Sprint, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC Sprint CW Ladder, K1USN Slow Speed CW Test, YLRL YL-OM Contest, 0000Z, Russian PSK World Wide Contest, Feld Hell Sprint, FISTS Sunday CW Sprint and the Run for the Bacon QRP CW Contest will certainly keep contesters busy this upcoming weekend.

The ICWC Medium Speed CW Test, OK1WC Memorial, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, ICWC Medium Speed CW Test, SKCC CW Sprint, QRP 40-Meter CW Fox Hunt, Phone Weekly Test, A1Club AWT, CWops Test, Mini-Test 40, Mini-Test 80 and the UKEICC 80-Meter Contest are on tap for February 20 to 22.

Please see February QST, page 69, and the ARRL and WA7BNM Contest web sites for details.

The 'DXCC Most Wanted' Top 20 entities list has been updated on Clublog as of Thursday 16th February 2023.

Rank	Prefix	Entity Name
1.	P5	DPRK (NORTH KOREA)
2.	3Y/B	BOUVET ISLAND
3.	FT5/W	CROZET ISLAND
4.	BS7H	SCARBOROUGH REEF
5.	CE0X	SAN FELIX ISLANDS
6.	BV9P	PRATAS ISLAND
7.	KH7K	KURE ISLAND
8.	KH3	JOHNSTON ISLAND
9.	3Y/P	PETER 1 ISLAND
10.	FT/G	GLORIOSO ISLAND
11.	FT5/X	KERGUELEN ISLAND
12.	YV0	AVES ISLAND
13.	VK0M	MACQUARIE ISLAND
14.	ZS8	PRINCE EDWARD & MARION ISLANDS
15.	KH4	MIDWAY ISLAND
16.	PY0S	SAINT PETER AND PAUL ROCKS
17.	PY0T	TRINDADE & MARTIM VAZ ISLANDS
18.	KP5	DESECHEO ISLAND
19.	VP8S	SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS
20.	KH5	PALMYRA & JARVIS ISLANDS

Ofcom has recently authorised an expansion of the list of Special Contest Callsign qualification contests to include two UK and Ireland DX Contests.

On 6 February 2023, RSGB District Representative Andy Jenner, G7KNA spoke to the BBC’s Simon Parkin about his passion for amateur radio.

The second presentation is by James Stevens, M0JCQ co-author of the RadCom VHF/UHF column. In VHF Equipment to Get You Going, he explains how newcomers to amateur radio or even the most ardent HF enthusiast can get started on the VHF bands.

These are being released as a benefit of RSGB membership and can be seen in the RSGB 2022 Convention video section of the website.

Friday 10th February 2023
The following is a QST. Hams step in as tremors rock Turkey and Syria. A tough beginning on Bouvet Island -- and one radio repeater devotes itself to America's big football weekend. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2363 comes your way right now.

Friday 10th February 2023
We begin this week with a developing story. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook southern Turkey, northern Syria and neighboring regions on Monday, February 6th. As the death and casualty counts continued to rise amid aftershocks, hams deepened their involvement in emergency response. Jeremy Boot G4NJH gives us the details Newsline had at production time:

With the death toll well into the thousands and many more injured in the massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake that shook the region along the borders of Syria and Turkey, Aziz Sasa, TA1E, president of IARU member society TRAC, arrived at the disaster area shortly after 6th February. He assisted with frequency coordination for the teams carrying out search operations. Aziz has been in touch with the IARU region's emergency communications coordinator Greg Mossop, GØDUB, who provided additional details to Newsline. Radio has played a pivotal role here on many levels.

Other nations have also responded. Search and rescue teams from Georgia and Bosnia-Herzegovina arrived with hams among the group. Romania's team had no amateurs in theirs but was making use of communications equipment supplied by one of its amateur radio emergency groups. The Turkish emergency communications group was on VHF and UHF frequencies but also making use of 3.777 and 7.092 MHz as needed.

Little was known at the time of writing about the level of response in Syria. Newsline will continue to follow this developing story.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(IARU, GREG MOSSOP, GØDUB)

Friday 10th February 2023
Troublesome weather conditions plagued the Bouvet Island DXpedition 3YØJ (Three Why Zero Jay) during its first days on the air, but the camp came through the high winds of February 8th without issues after it was secured. One member wrote on dx-world.net that it was [quote] "the most extreme expedition I've been to." [endquote]. There were also reports of the callsign being pirated so those who believe they have worked the island will only know for sure from the team's uploaded logs on the weekend of February 10th. While doing the uploads on the boat, they will re-stock their essential food to enable them to continue the DXpedition for another week. The team has added two streams of FT8 in fox-hound mode. Chasers were advised to not work the team on FT8 if they already logged a contact on CW or SSB. The West Coast pilot station, Rich KE1B, said that the team has scaled back its expectations in response to its current challenges. Operators had intended to log 200,000 QSOs from the island but according to Rich [quote] "the team will be lucky to get 20,000 QSOs instead." [endquote]

(DX-WORLD.NET, 3YØJ.NO)

Friday 10th February 2023
As Orlando Hamcation was about to get under way in Florida on Friday, Feb. 10th, the ham radio community there was grieving one of its leaders and top organizers. We hear those details from Jack Parker W8ISH.

Raymond Paul Richard, W4RPR, of Ocala, Florida, grew up in Michigan where he became an active amateur radio operator at the age of 14. A generous donor and life member of the ARRL, he belonged to its Maxim Society, a group whose membership comprises ARRL benefactors. At the time of his death on January 30th at age 65, Ray was serving as advance ticket chairman for Hamcation, which is also the ARRL's Southeastern Division Convention.

He was active in the Orlando Amateur Radio Club and had previously served as its membership chairman. His range of work on behalf of the club earned him the group's KB4UT Wayne Nelson Amateur of the Year award in 2019. The award is named for the club's former president who became a Silent Key in 2001.

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(ORLANDO SENTINEL, ARRL NEWSLETTER)

Friday 10th February 2023
Imagine being able to transmit without having to rely on a battery or some other external power source. Well, a group of researchers in Washington State did more than imagine it. We hear the details from Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

A research team in Washington state has developed a prototype of wireless communication that enables a signal to be transmitted by relying on a byproduct of its circuitry's electrical resistance instead of any external source of power. This new system differs from previous so-called passive wireless and backscatter communication systems because unlike its predecessors, it does not need to make use of sunlight, broadcast TV signals or ambient temperature differences to provide it with power. The electrical resistance it uses instead is known as "Johnson noise," the name given to the charge that electrically conductive materials generate within themselves. The University of Washington prototype, like its predecessors, can function on very little power. The wireless - and power-free - transmission occurs through the opening and closing of a switch - a transistor - that connects the antenna to a resistor.

Findings by the university development team were released by the university and published as well on the Hackaday website and by the news organization known as The Conversation. The researchers write on the university website: [quote] "Our system, combined with techniques for harvesting energy from the environment, could lead to all manner of devices that transmit data, including tiny sensors and implanted medical devices, without needing batteries or other power sources. These include sensors for smart agriculture, electronics implanted in the body that never need battery changes, better contactless credit cards and maybe even new ways for satellites to communicate." [endquote]

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, THE CONVERSATION.COM)

Friday 10th February 2023
Grant money helped amateur radio grow in new directions last year. Here's a short accounting from Sel Embee, K B 3 T Zed D.

The private foundation known as Amateur Radio Digital Communications continued to spread its support for ham radio and broader communication science and technology during 2022. According to the annual report released at its community meeting on January 21st, ARDC distributed 101 grants totaling $8 million last year. It expanded support across international borders, with 13 percent of that grant money going to programs outside the United States. Meanwhile, ARDC's plans for the year ahead include providing funds for 95 scholarships; thirteen of those will be going to support women who are pursuing degrees in STEM studies.

ARDC's 2022 survey of 44Net usage drew a response that exceeded its expectations, more than 1700 replies. The system, also known as the AMPRNet or Amateur Packet Radio Network, is an internet network often used for scientific and digital purposes.

ARDC also introduced its new technical director. Jon Kemper K-A-6-N-V-Y came on board at the ARDC in October of 2022. The California amateur brings a strong background of engineering management experience.

This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.

(ARDC)

Friday 10th February 2023
In Western Pennsylvania, some emergency responders are in for a big surprise - and that's the whole idea behind their next exercise. We find out why from Randy Sly W4XJ.

As amateur radio operators. we are supposed to plan for emergencies, but we can never plan on emergencies. That’s why such events as the ARRL Simulated Emergency Tests, or SETs, are good, but participants still know ahead of time when and where an activity will take place.

So, the Southwest District Skywarn Team Of Western Pennsylvania is building the element of surprise into their upcoming training exercise. Sometime before the next SET on April 1st, they will have an unexpected weather exercise initiated by the Pittsburgh National Weather Service Office. When SKYWARN is activated, they will then be told how serious the weather event is, whether there is internet or cell service and the status of power. From then on, spotters will be deployed and begin their work just as in an actual emergency. Eddie Misiewicz (Mi-shé-vitz - short e), KB3YRU, president of the group, told AR Newsline that the unexpected is always part of a normal activation and that hams will be better prepared for an actual emergency when their training begins with “Surprise! This is a test.”

This is Randy Sly, W4XJ

Friday 10th February 2023
Hams in South Africa who activate summits throughout that country are planning to celebration 20 years of those activations. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF tells us what they have in mind.

Activators of Summits On the Air in South Africa are marking 20 years in the programme by urging all participants to either hunt or activate a summit on the 18th of February. Activators will be posting their proposed times on the WhatsApp group and Facebook page of ZS-SOTA. South Africa became part of SOTA on January 1st, 2003 when the first two summits were activated by Andrew Roos, then using the callsign ZS1AN. On that day, Andrew, now callsign ZS5U, operated CW from Lion's Head, SOTA number ZS/WC-058, and MacLear's Beacon, SOTA number ZS/WC-043.

All hams who participate in the 20th anniversary activity will receive a commemorative certificate.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(SARL)

Friday 10th February 2023
Young amateurs hoping to spend part of their summer in Hungary at YOTA camp have until the end of the month to apply, as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

Young amateurs who live in IARU Region 1 have until the 28trh of February to apply for Youth on the Air summer camp. The camp will take place from the 5th to the 12th of August in northwest Hungary, near the border with Austria and Slovakia. Organisers are advising prospective campers to get in touch with their local IARU youth coordinator to learn how to apply. There are spots open for 100 campers. Guest teams will be able to attend from Regions 2 and 3. One of the main goals of the camp is to train young amateurs to arrange for youth activities in their home countries and get other young people interested in amateur radio.

This year is the 11th edition of the camp and it is being operated with the help of the Hungarian Amateur Radio Society, MRASZ. The IARU Youth Working Group works closely with youth coordinators to arrange for the camp to be held. Previous years' camps have been hosted by Bulgaria, Croatia and South Africa.

Anyone who has questions may write to the organisers at youth at iaru hyphen r1 dot org. (youth@iaru-r1.org).

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(YOUNGSTERS ON THE AIR, IARU REGION 1)

Friday 10th February 2023
Hams in India who specialize in helping lost family members get back home recently assisted with just such a reunion. Here's Graham Kemp VK4BB with that report.

In India, a man with hearing and speech impairments and a history of wandering from home when under stress was reunited with his family with the help of amateur radio operators. The involvement of amateur radio operators from Kolkata ended a long search by the family of the 58-year-old man, who turned up at the religious pilgrimage known as the Gangasagar Mela last month. The mela was held about 100 km south of Kolkata, which is headquarters to the West Bengal Radio Club whose hams assist every year to ensure safety and communications at the pilgrimage. The hams noticed the man was in distress but because of his challenges, they could not communicate successfully with him.

According to local media, he turned out to be from Khammam in the Indian state of Telangana. Members of the club receive special training in helping communicate with individuals who may be unable to speak or in cases where there is a language barrier. The club's secretary, Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, said that the man's responses to certain photographs helped them determine the region where he resides. By late January, the mystery was solved. The man, who had been moved to living quarters at a local mission, was successfully identified and his family was contacted by the police. Ambarish Nag Biswas was able to then communicate with the man with the help of Ram Mohan Suri, VU2MYH, director of the National Institute of Amateur Radio, who can speak the man's language, Telugu. Arrangements were made for his son to retrieve him and return him home.

Dibas Mondal, VU3ZII, assisted in his transfer back to his family with the help of the police.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(TELANGANA TODAY, TIMES OF INDIA)

Friday 10th February 2023
In the World of DX, be listening for the UN Global Service Center Amateur Radio club, 4U1GSC, using the call sign 4U13FEB for the month of February. The special call is on the air to promote World Radio Day, which is marked on the 13th of February. The club is based in Brindisi, Italy. QSL via 9A2AA, either direct or by the bureau.

Be listening for Alex, K6VHF, who is using the call sign K6VHF/HR9 from Roatan Island, IOTA number NA-057 until the 15th of February. Alex is operating FT8, RTTY and some SSB and CW on 80-10 metres. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, LoTW, or direct to his home call.

Francois, F8DVD, is on the air as TM2ØAAW from the 10th to the 24th of February and will participate in the 20th Antarctic Activity Week, which takes place from the 19th to the 26th of the month. He is operating from France. QSL via LoTW, or via home call, direct or by the bureau.

Listen for Bernhard, DL2GAC, who is on the air from the Solomon Islands until the 8th of May. His call sign is H44MS and he is operating from Malaita, IOTA number OC-047, until late April. Listen for him on 80-6 metres where he will be using SSB and some FT8. QSL to his home call, direct or via the bureau. He will upload his log to Club Log and LoTW when he returns home.

(425 DX NEWS BULLETIN)

Friday 10th February 2023
You don't have to be a fan of American football to appreciate our final story this week. You just need to be a fan of radio. Here's Ralph Squillace KK6ITB to explain.

If you're a fan of American football, you might think all the excitement would be centered around State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. for the big game on Sunday, February 12th. If you're a fan of radio, however, you know that the Super Bowl isn't the only spot where the action is. This is the year the NFL - the National Football League - meets GMRS. The Arizona GMRS Repeater Club decided to open up access to its General Mobile Radio Service repeater for Super Bowl weekend, from Friday, February 10th through to Sunday, February 12th. Any and all licensed GMRS operators who've come to town may use the repeater on 462.550 MHz, which is Channel 15 on many radio models. The tone is 141.3 Hz and the mode is narrow band FM.

President Gary Hefley, whose GMRS call is WQUZ645, told Newsline in an email that on the weekends the repeater is not customarily open to non-members. It's where the club holds its general and training nets. When one of the club's members came up with the idea to open it up for Super Bowl visitors, the board agreed.

Like more than half of the more than 380 club members, Gary is also an amateur radio operator. his call sign is K7AZL. Everyone knows that in GMRS, like amateur radio and football, there are rules. As the club said in a recent press release: [quote] "This is a family friendly repeater, so use your best judgment. Even if your team loses." [endquote]

This is Ralph Squillace KK2ITB.

(GARY HEFLEY, K7AZL; LLOYD COLSTON, KC5FM)

Friday 10th February 2023
Do you have a piece of Amateur Radio News that you think Newsline would be interested in? We are not talking about advertising your club's upcoming hamfest or field day participation, but something that is out of the ordinary. If so, send us a brief overview via the contact page at arnewsline.org. If it's newsworthy and we would like to cover it, we'll get back to you for more details.

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Weekly; Amateur Radio Digital Communications; the ARRL; the Austin Chronicle; CQ magazine; David Behar K7DB; DX-World.net; Eddie Misiewicz, KB3YRU; FCC; 425 DX News; Gary Hefley, K7AZL; Greg Mossop, GØDUB; Hackaday; IARU Region 1; John VE1CWJ; Lloyd Colston, KC5FM; the Quarter Century Wireless Association; Radio World; shortwaveradio.de; Steve Wright, EI5DD; William Franzin, VE4VR; Wireless Institute of Australia; WPSD Local 6; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. We remind our listeners that Amateur Radio Newsline is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that incurs expenses for its continued operation. If you wish to support us, please visit our website at arnewsline.org and know that we appreciate you all. We also remind our listeners that if you like our newscast, please leave us a 5-star rating wherever you subscribe to us. For now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and our news team worldwide, I'm Stephen Kinford N8WB in Wadsworth Ohio saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

Keplerian Bulletin 10 ARLK010
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT February 7, 2023
To all radio amateurs

Special thanks to AMSAT-NA (AMSAT.ORG) for the following Keplerian data.

Decode 2-line elsets with the following key:
1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ
2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ
KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN
G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM

0 AO-07
1 07530U 74089B   23038.52371604 -.00000038 00000-0 48072-4 0 9994
2 07530 101.9356 24.3853 0012069 312.7593 162.9631 12.53660896206928
0 ISS
1 25544U 98067A   23038.87321759 .00017137 00000-0 31070-3 0 9991
2 25544 51.6427 249.0437 0007982 324.7575 233.2015 15.49687977381736
0 SO-50
1 27607U 02058C   23038.23805907 .00001751 00000-0 25735-3 0 9996
2 27607 64.5554 303.1759 0078582 249.9277 109.3356 14.76705320 83037
0 AO-73
1 39444U 13066AE 23038.49991107 .00008209 00000-0 94427-3 0 9994
2 39444 97.6563   7.4173 0054231 342.2720 17.6601 14.84947488496387
0 XW-2A
1 40903U 15049E   23038.46999275 .00088118 00000-0 66269-3 0 9990
2 40903 97.1423 104.1383 0004892 318.6608 166.6614 15.72276282415900
0 IO-86
1 40931U 15052B   23038.38791140 .00001158 00000-0 71315-4 0 9995
2 40931   6.0009 292.9978 0013635 259.2103 100.6492 14.77013533398130
0 CAS-4B
1 42759U 17034B   23038.48854061 .00008484 00000-0 46499-3 0 9993
2 42759 43.0172 115.2114 0011510 335.9960 144.1593 15.14406613311951
0 CAS-4A
1 42761U 17034D   23038.51116634 .00007574 00000-0 41490-3 0 9992
2 42761 43.0162 113.6866 0011743 338.6253 149.0643 15.14539018311969
0 AO-91
1 43017U 17073E   23038.61616924 .00007404 00000-0 53447-3 0 9995
2 43017 97.6495 288.1268 0242041 136.1004 225.9727 14.83728077281956
0 PO-101
1 43678U 18084H   23038.44986953 .00001403 00000-0 14151-3 0 9996
2 43678 97.9982 180.0297 0008734 226.2231 133.8262 14.92755070232902
0 QO-100
1 43700U 18090A   23038.74179198 .00000151 00000-0 00000+0 0 9990
2 43700   0.0130 133.5913 0002641 222.6813 74.1899 1.00271488 15636
0 JO-97
1 43803U 18099AX 23038.16303281 .00006524 00000-0 54464-3 0 9998
2 43803 97.5898 104.1317 0013890 197.9184 162.1551 14.98812307228201
0 CAS-6
1 44881U 19093C   23038.49127148 .00001050 00000-0 13838-3 0 9991
2 44881 97.8734 119.1304 0015713 137.2314 223.0132 14.82108887169581
0 RS-44
1 44909U 19096E   23038.59764459 .00000032 00000-0 76109-4 0 9998
2 44909 82.5177 74.0558 0218362 129.7880 232.2676 12.79718227145581
0 XW-3
1 50466U 21131B   23038.61298801 .00000693 00000-0 24061-3 0 9994
2 50466 98.5613 120.5482 0005188 158.3455 201.7953 14.38662057 58721
0 IO-117
1 53106U 22080B   23034.19933790 -.00000003 00000-0 00000-0 0 9994
2 53106 70.1777   6.2677 0008922 216.5435 143.4616 6.42557193 13147
0 FO-118
1 54684U 22167C   23038.52836119 .00010585 00000-0 65336-3 0 9991
2 54684 97.5403 177.5128 0014999 62.0914   4.1894 15.09991231 9085
0 NUTSAT
1 55124U 98067UR 23038.46719629 .00166291 00000-0 20394-2 0 9992
2 55124 51.6372 249.7548 0003201 251.7831 108.2813 15.59249411 6285

Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW.

The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Friday, February 10, 2023, at 2330z on Baudot and BPSK31.

DX Bulletin 6 ARLD006
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT February 9, 2023
To all radio amateurs

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by F8DVD, The Daily DX, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.

BOUVET, 3Y. A large group of operators are QRV as 3Y0J. Activity is on 30 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8 in F/H mode. QSL via M0OXO.

TIMOR-LESTE, 4W. Satoshi, JH2EUV is QRV as 4W/JH2EUV until March 3. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using FT8. QSL to home call.

BURUNDI, 9U. Elvira, IV3FSG and Vladimir, OK2WX are QRV as 9U5R and 9U4WX, respectively, until February 27. Activity is on 80 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and various digital modes. QSL 9U5R via IK2DUW and 9U4WX via IZ8CCW.

THE GAMBIA, C5. Gerard, F5NVF and Luc, F5RAV will be QRV as C5C from February 14 to March 14. Activity will be on 80 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8.
QSL via LoTW.

FRANCE, F. Francois, F8DVD is QRV as TM20AAW from Macon until February 24 in celebration of the 20th Antarctic Week. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters.
QSL to home call.

SOLOMON ISLANDS, H4. Bernhard, DL2GAC will be QRV as H44MS from Honiara, IOTA OC-047, from February 10 to May 8. Activity will be on 80 to 6 meters using SSB and some FT8. QSL to home call.

HONDURAS, HR. Alex, K6VHF is QRV as K6VHF/HR9 from Roatan Island, IOTA NA-057, until February 15. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8. This includes being an entry in the CQ World Wide WPX RTTY contest. QSL to home call.

ST. VINCENT, J8. Gert, PA2LO will be QRV as J8/AJ4YX from February 11 to 21. Activity will be in his spare time on 80 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8. This includes an entry in the upcoming Dutch PACC contest. QSL direct to home call.

DENMARK, OZ. Special event station OZ625E will be QRV from February 14 to 28 to commemorate the opening of the new Enigma Museum of Communications in Copenhagen. Look for other OZ625E/xx stations to be active as well. QSL via operators' instructions.

BONAIRE, PJ4. Scott, NE9U will be QRV as PJ4/NE9U from February 11 to 26. QSL via LoTW.

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, V2. Greg, N9GB is QRV as V26DX from Antigua, IOTA NA-100, until February 16. Activity is holiday style on 40 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and possibly FT8. QSL via EB7DX.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5. Bill, AC0W and Pat, K0PC will be QRV as VP5/AC0W and VP5/K0PC, respectively, from February 14 to 20. Activity will be on the HF bands. They will be QRV as VP5K in the upcoming ARRL International DX CW contest. QSL via home calls, and VP5K via K0PC.

NEW HEBRIDES, YJ. Bob, W7YAQ and Al, K7AR are QRV as YJ0A from Efate Island, IOTA OC-035, until February 23. This includes an entry in the CQ World Wide WPX RTTY and the upcoming ARRL International DX CW contests. QSL via K7AR.

ST. HELENA, ZD7. Andy, DK7MG will be QRV as ZD7MG from February 11 to 25. Activity will be holiday style on 17 and 15 meters using CW. This includes activating SOTA references Diana's Peak, SOTA ZD/SH-001, White Point, SOTA ZD/SH-002, Flagstaff Hill, SOTA ZD/SH-003, and The Haystack, SOTA ZD/SH-004. He may be accompanied by Derek, ZD7CTO. QSL to home call.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. CQ World Wide RTTY WPX Contest, NCCC RTTY Sprint, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC Sprint Ladder, K1USN Slow Speed CW Test, Asia-Pacific Spring CW Sprint, SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, KCJ Topband CW Contest, Dutch PACC Contest, OMISS QSO Party, FISTS Saturday CW Sprint, RSGB 1.8 MHz CW Contest, Balkan HF Contest and the CQC Winter CW QSO Party will certainly keep contesters busy this upcoming weekend.

The 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint, ICWC Medium Speed Test, OK1WC CW Memorial, PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, QRP 40 Meter CW Fox Hunt, Phone Weekly Test, A1Club AWT, CWops Test, VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Mini-Test 40, Mini-Test 80, AGCW Semi-Automatic Key 80-Meter Evening and the RSGB 80 Meter Club Data Championship are on tap for February 13 to 15.

The ARRL School Club Roundup runs from February 13 to 17.

Please see February QST, page 69, and the ARRL and WA7BNM Contest web sites for details.

Rob - M0ORA tells us he has renewed the NOV so it remains on air for DStar and Fusion users.

We are delighted to see the feature in The Times this morning about amateur radio.

We thank all the nominees for standing, and everyone who took the time to submit a nomination.

The following is a QST. A ham club honors a combat casualty from the Vietnam War. Artificial intelligence gets on the air -- and it's time at last to chase the Bouvet Island DXpedition! All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2362 comes your way right now.

Our top story takes us to Bouvet Island. DX chasers - your ship has come in. That would be the sailing yacht known as the Marama, which inspite of windy, rainy conditions, stood by while a Zodiac made a difficult but successful landing on Bouvet Island with the 3YØJ team. As Newsline went to production, the team was setting up. Now it's time to start listening for signals from the second most wanted DXCC entity. In addition to the main 3YØJ station, you may want to listen for limited operation of four additional callsigns - 3Y7GIA, 3Y7THA, 3Y/LB5GI and 3Y/LB1Q. For updates, see QR-Zed dot com and DX-world.net.

(DX-WORLD.NET, 3YØJ WEBSITE)

In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission has finally put a piracy enforcement resource online that the agency says is late because of delays in funding. Kent Peterson KCØDGY brings us that story.

A database and map displaying pirate radio enforcement actions taken by the FCC has gone live as part of an overall response to the Pirate Act passed by Congress.

The database shows the agency's actions over the past three years following the act's passage and includes consent decrees, landlord notice letters and the $10,000 forfeiture associated with pirate operations. The FCC said that it was delayed until now in implementing the Pirate Act because of funding delays and challeges posed by the pandemic. The funding covers the cost of other actions, including enforcement sweeps and in-person investigations. To comply with that mandate, the agency needs to hire additional field agents and buy a half-dozen mobile direction-finding vehicles . Although the FCC has already posted openings for five agents and a field counsel, its purchase of six mobile-direction-finding vehicles has been delayed, because much of the funding remains delayed.

Implementation of the Pirate Act was expected to cost $11-million, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Funds were not provided until last March and only $5-million was available to the FCC at the time. The Pirate Act mandates enforcement sweeps in the top five markets. The act also strengthened the agency's enforcement abillity, permitting it to take action against those landlords and managers who permit pirate operations on their properties.

For a link to the map and database, see the text version of this newscast at arnewsline.org

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(RADIO WORLD, FCC)

A ham radio club in one South Carolina town is honoring a Vietnam War combat casualty by ensuring his name is never forgotten. We hear those details from Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

In the combat jungles of Vietnam, he was a link to the outside world for his fellow Marine infantrymen. William Hunter Kilburn of Aiken, South Carolina, was a radio telephone operator carrying a radio and an antenna for vital communications. In May of 1970 another Marine tripped a wire attached to a Viet Cong booby trap and the Aiken High School graduate, who had been walking behind him, was killed.

His hometown remembers him well but even more than that the American Legion Radio Club, W4RTO, has chosen to honor him. The ham club, established at the post less than a year ago, now carries the Marine's name. There is a plaque at the post's headquarters identifying the site as the home of Private First Class William H. Kilburn Post 26 American Legion Radio Club. On January 24th, the club members also approved William Kilburn as an honorary member. The military had earlier awarded him a medal posthumously for combat valor. Now he serves as an inspiration in his home community where club members help youngsters study to get their radio license and where many members are looking for ways to deepen their own commitment to service in their own way.

From Aiken, South Carolina, this is Kevin Trotman N5PRE

(NEWSBREAK AIKEN)

A construction and software contest in the UK is opening its door a little wider to give special attention to new and young radio amateurs. We have those details from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

New Foundation licence holders and young amateurs under the age of 24 are being given special recognition in the Construction Competition organised by the Radio Society of Great Britain. Competitors have until the 1st of March to submit their entries in four categories: beginners, construction excellence, innovation and software. This competition is being held over the internet and the judging is taking place online. The RSGB states on its website that the challenges posed are in recognition of the vital role construction plays in amateur radio.

Details on how to enter can be found on the website that appears in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

Cash prizes will be awarded in each category and the overall winner will be presented with the bonus of the Pat Hawker G3VA Trophy. The trophy is named in honour of Pat, who became a Silent Key in 2013 at the age of 90. Pat had been the author of the "Technical Topics" column in the RSGB's RadComm magazine.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

Young amateurs are a priority for one club in Kentucky which is helping young candidates make use of a relatively new financial benefit from the FCC. Jack Parker W8ISH tells us what this means.

One amateur radio club in Kentucky is making full use of an FCC measure that helps cover costs for amateur radio candidates under the age of 18. The Paducah Amateur Radio Association is encouraging local youngsters between 8 and 13 to join the club's program, which it calls "Pre-teen Talkers." The goal is to help them take the FCC licensing exam and get on the air. Last April, the FCC and the American Radio Relay League announced a negotiated agreement permitting Volunteer Examiners at amateur radio club to waive the $35 license fee for applicants under the age of 18 and to reduce the $15 ham radio testing fee to $5.

Club secretary Michael Durr, KN4TIP, told local TV station WPSD that those who pass the entry level Technician Exam will become eligible for a free handheld radio to be given to them by the club.

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(WPSD LOCAL 6, ARRL)

In the Texas amateur radio community and beyond, hams are grieving the loss of an influential colleague of many talents: professor emeritus of linguistics, country-and-bluegrass radio host, recording artist and performer and, not least of all, active radio amateur. Rodney Moag, W5NDS, was a ragchewer and a popular presence on 10 meters and elsewhere. He became a Silent Key on Thursday, January 19th at his home in Austin, Texas.

Born with juvenile glaucoma, he became blind at the age of 7. He was first licensed in 1951 as W2KUV when he was a 14 year old student at the New York State School for the Blind. Rod operated almost exclusively on AM and CW for more than 10 years before expanding into other modes. According to his bio on the Quarter Century Wireless Association webpage, he was the only active ham in his high school ham club and continued being active even in college. He remained an active ham throughout most of his 86 years.

His talent in music and his academic work in linguistics took him to many places around the world, either touring as a musician or studying languages. In the late 1970s, while teaching at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, he operated as 3D2RM.

He was a former vice-president of the Austin Amateur Radio Club, a longtime member of the Texas VHF FM Society and a life member of ARRL and the QCWA.

(QCWA, QRZ.COM, AUSTIN CHRONICLE)

Two years after its launch as a free resource for Irish amateurs, an online magazine is still going strong. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us about it.

The only free monthly amateur radio e-magazine in Ireland is preparing to mark its second year of publication. The Connacht Regional News Magazine is seen as the voice of ham radio experimenters, innovators and homebrew-builders. It has gained a following in Europe, the United States and a number of Pacific nations. The latest edition features a worldwide news roundup as well as articles about various antennas, the 5 MHz band and awards from the National Radio Society of Ireland.

A number of clubs have also written updates on their activities, from fundraising walks to annual general meetings.

The editor, Steve Wright, EI5DD, told Newsline that the goal from the start has been to promote radio activities by various clubs and societies from both sides of the border in Ireland. The independent publication also reports on the Irish Radio Transmitter Society and the NRSI, the two national societies in Ireland.

Steve told Newsline that the magazine is distributed free and is easy to access from the QRZ.com page of EIØCL or EI5DD. It also appears on the Galway VHF Group Blog and on the magazine's own Facebook page.

Best of all, over the last two years, the magazine has grown from a six-page publication in its earliest days to a full 30-page offering.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(STEVE WRIGHT, EI5DD)

Get ready for a special symposium that focuses on the needs of amateurs in maritime Canada. Andy Morrison K9AWM helps us take a look at what's in store.

Planning is getting underway for organizers of this year's Symposium for Maritime Amateur Radio Technology, which is being hosted by the WestCumb Amateur Radio Club in Nova Scotia on May 6th. Ham clubs throughout Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and elsewhere play an active role in this annual event, which features a series of one-hour classes throughout the day and a variety of social gatherings.

This is the sixth annual event and its focus is on the technical and procedural aspects of ham radio as it relates to operating in the maritime region. John VE1CWJ, will present a class on amateur radio use of satellites; Gordon, VE9GC, will discuss remote station operation; and Bill, VE1YY, Glenn, VE9GJ, and Jason, VE1PYE, will talk about making successful contacts on the 630m band. There will also be classes on the use of the WINLINK radio messaging system and WSPR, or Weak Signal Propagation Reporter.

Additional details about the event, known as SMART23, can be found on the website that appears in this week's text version of the newscast at arnewsline.org

[FOR PRINT ONLY, DO NOT READ: westcumb.ca/smart23 ]

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(JOHN VE1CWJ)

If you want to work a DXpedition that isn't quite so remote as Bouvet Island, this story from John Williams VK4JJW might interest you.

DX chasers who have their calendars marked for the Vanuatu DXpedition in December 2024 need to turn their calendar pages back by two months. The eight-member team has announced they will instead be heading to the South Pacific island for their two-week activation in October of 2024. The operators are hoping to capitalize on the springtime propagation in the Southern Hemisphere and plan to participate in the CQ WW DX Phone Contest.

The activation site will be on the island of Efate, which is the most populated in the nation's archipelago. Efate boasts a robust tourism industry. Spouses and partners will be accompanying the team members, whose average age is 70. The operators have said they expect to log more than 40,000 QSOs.

Vanuatu is 1,500 miles from Sydney, Australia and 3,000 miles from Honolulu, Hawaii.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(DX-WORLD.NET)

In the World of DX, be listening for Willy, ON4AVT operating as 6W7/ON4AVT from Warang, Senegal from the 6th of February to the 31st of March. He is expected to be on 80 through 10 metres using mainly FT8 with some SSB and CW. He will also be making contacts via the QO-100 satellite. QSL via Club Log's OQRS or his home call.

Listen for the call sign JD1YCC from Chichijima, Japan, IOTA number AS-031. A group of Japanese operators will be active there from the 7th to the 13th of February. They will operate EME on 2m, 70cm and 23cm. QSL via LoTW, or direct to JH3AZC.

Listen for Gene, W8NET, using the call sign N8V from St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, IOTA number NA-106, from the 6th to the 10th of February. Gene will be using SSB and FT8 on 80, 40, 20, 17 and 10 metres. He will also be activating three Parks on the Air locations. QSL via LoTW, Club Log's OQRS, eQSL, or direct to W8NET.

Peter, G4HSO is active holiday style as S79/G4HSO from the Seychelles until the 21st of February, concentrating on CW and VarAC. QSL via LoTW, no paper QSLs.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

For our final story, we take a look at ChatGPT, the intensely popular chatbot launched late last year by Open AI. It has quite literally become the talk of more than quite a few towns, if not the world. Now, it seems, it is also the talk of amateur radio. Ralph Squillace KK6ITB explains.

An enterprising ham in Manitoba, Canada, has found a way to use a voice recognition engine and a text-to-speech engine to give ChatGPT its own voice -- via a transmission that occurs over D-STAR.

William Franzin, VE4VR, has been a ham since the 1990s, long before the age of today's modern digital modes, but he has almost always tinkered with voice repeater controllers. He told Newsline that those early projects really didn't take off for him. It was only after Amazon released its Alexa voice assistant that the project gained real traction. Five years ago he successfully integrated voice-assistant products with popular ham radio platforms. His recent addition of ChatGPT simply meant including it as one more platform.

An article on the Hackaday website describes the process: A DSTAR digital voice transmission is received and transcoded to regular digital audio. A voice recognition engine delivers the question for ChatGPT's AI. The AI’s output then enters a text-to-speech engine which delivers the question's reply over D-STAR. William has registered the VE4AVS callsign just for these applications. He stressed that all of this is still in the experimental phase.

However, he posed one question that might prove too tough even for ChatGPT itself to tackle: Could the AI answer enough questions to qualify for a license and an upgrade on its own?

We're listening for that answer.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(WILLIAM FRANZIN, VE4VR, HACKADAY)

Do you have a piece of Amateur Radio News that you think Newsline would be interested in? We are not talking about advertising your club's upcoming hamfest or field day participation, but something that is out of the ordinary. If so, send us a brief overview via the contact page at arnewsline.org. If it's newsworthy and we would like to cover it, we'll get back to you for more details.

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Weekly; Amateur Radio Digital Communications; the ARRL; Austin Chronicle; CQ magazine; David Behar K7DB; Eddie Misiewicz, KB3YRU; FCC; 425 DX News; Hackaday; John VE1CWJ; the Quarter Century Wireless Association; Radio World; shortwaveradio.de; Steve Wright, EI5DD; William Franzin, VE4VR; Wireless Institute of Australia; WPSD Local 6; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. We remind our listeners that Amateur Radio Newsline is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that incurs expenses for its continued operation. If you wish to support us, please visit our website at arnewsline.org and know that we appreciate you all. We also remind our listeners that if you like our newscast, please leave us a 5-star rating wherever you subscribe to us. 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. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

Keplerian Bulletin 8 ARLK008
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT January 31, 2023
To all radio amateurs

Special thanks to AMSAT-NA (AMSAT.ORG) for the following Keplerian data.

Decode 2-line elsets with the following key:
1 AAAAAU 00 0 0 BBBBB.BBBBBBBB .CCCCCCCC 00000-0 00000-0 0 DDDZ
2 AAAAA EEE.EEEE FFF.FFFF GGGGGGG HHH.HHHH III.IIII JJ.JJJJJJJJKKKKKZ
KEY: A-CATALOGNUM B-EPOCHTIME C-DECAY D-ELSETNUM E-INCLINATION F-RAAN
G-ECCENTRICITY H-ARGPERIGEE I-MNANOM J-MNMOTION K-ORBITNUM Z-CHECKSUM

0 AO-07
1 07530U 74089B   23031.50115300 -.00000026 00000-0 12662-3 0 9996
2 07530 101.9343 17.3250 0012129 326.3141 148.7595 12.53660687206046
0 ISS
1 25544U 98067A   23031.89406853 .00012191 00000-0 21874-3 0 9991
2 25544 51.6433 283.6121 0004719 296.3673 175.1106 15.50320722380654
0 SO-50
1 27607U 02058C   23031.19491878 .00001315 00000-0 19838-3 0 9995
2 27607 64.5559 324.7469 0078955 251.2840 107.9682 14.76680318 81993
0 AO-73
1 39444U 13066AE 23031.35703816 .00004268 00000-0 49480-3 0 9990
2 39444 97.6540   0.5551 0055086   5.8305 354.3540 14.84861522495326
0 XW-2A
1 40903U 15049E   23031.84604432 .00072467 00000-0 57169-3 0 9992
2 40903 97.1429 97.3590 0005464 349.6061 121.4765 15.71181248414868
0 IO-86
1 40931U 15052B   23030.28496773 .00001467 00000-0 11411-3 0 9993
2 40931   5.9946 350.7253 0012479 140.9567 219.1614 14.77006457396937
0 CAS-4B
1 42759U 17034B   23031.56111439 .00007882 00000-0 43430-3 0 9993
2 42759 43.0162 153.5352 0011831 297.4208 173.0391 15.14289282310904
0 CAS-4A
1 42761U 17034D   23031.45235117 .00008479 00000-0 46422-3 0 9991
2 42761 43.0162 152.7508 0012067 296.9029 180.4867 15.14438527310894
0 AO-91
1 43017U 17073E   23031.12998204 .00003685 00000-0 26984-3 0 9991
2 43017 97.6505 280.9442 0241719 160.6293 200.4308 14.83642939280847
0 PO-101
1 43678U 18084H   23031.41152108 .00002131 00000-0 21205-3 0 9990
2 43678 97.9979 172.8779 0008537 251.0374 108.9938 14.92733933231857
0 QO-100
1 43700U 18090A   23031.49826764 .00000147 00000-0 00000-0 0 9999
2 43700   0.0166 84.7793 0002367 260.2011 350.5953 1.00272642 15311
0 JO-97
1 43803U 18099AX 23031.41998236 .00003360 00000-0 28345-3 0 9993
2 43803 97.5932 97.5662 0013076 219.9023 140.1240 14.98745265227197
0 CAS-6
1 44881U 19093C   23031.53742093 .00001291 00000-0 16870-3 0 9997
2 44881 97.8740 112.2889 0015247 158.6644 201.5202 14.82095731168553
0 RS-44
1 44909U 19096E   23031.48297562 .00000011 00000-0 -66793-5 0 9992
2 44909 82.5187 78.7856 0218148 146.3703 215.1465 12.79717957144679
0 XW-3
1 50466U 21131B   23031.58849904 .00000350 00000-0 12858-3 0 9990
2 50466 98.5626 113.5408 0004834 177.1391 182.9825 14.38650840 57713
0 IO-117
1 53106U 22080B   22354.08419093 -.00000003 00000-0 00000+0 0 9990
2 53106 70.1702 21.9397 0008914 226.9685 182.2049 6.42557326 10248
0 FO-118
1 54684U 22167C   23031.63617108 .00011141 00000-0 68970-3 0 9997
2 54684 97.5408 170.7291 0015661 84.9474 341.1078 15.09862241 8048
0 NUTSAT
1 55124U 98067UR 23031.02807948 .00094766 00000-0 12587-2 0 9991
2 55124 51.6403 287.0689 0002237 207.0221 153.0655 15.57430633 5126

Keplerian bulletins are transmitted twice weekly from W1AW.

The next scheduled transmission of these data will be Friday, February 3, 2023, at 2330z on Baudot and BPSK31.

DX Bulletin 5 ARLD005
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT February 2, 2023
To all radio amateurs

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by The Daily DX, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.

BOUVET, 3Y. A large group of operators will be QRV as 3Y0J. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8 F/H. QSL via M0OXO.

TIMOR-LESTE, 4W. Satoshi, JH2EUV is QRV as 4W/JH2EUV until March 3. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using FT8. QSL to home call.

SENEGAL, 6W. Willy, ON4AVT will be QRV as 6W7/ON4AVT from Warang from February 6 to March 31. Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters using SSB and various digital modes. This includes being active on Satellite QO-100. QSL to home call.

KUWAIT, 9K. Special event station 9K9NLD is QRV until February 28 to commemorate Kuwait's National Liberation Day. QSL via operators' instructions.

EAST MALAYSIA, 9M6. Operators 9M8LJW, 9W8VYY, 9W8AKN, 9W8ZAL, 9W8ERY, 9W8EDY and 9W8AAZ are QRV as 9M8SOTA from the mountains in Sarawak. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters, including 60 meters, using CW, SSB, and FT8. Their length of stay is unknown. QSL via LoTW.

NEPAL, 9N. Robert, S53R is QRV as 9N7AA from Kathmandu and is active on 30, 12, and 10 meters. He has been active using FT8 on 30 meters between 1100 to 1400z. QSL direct to S57DX.

BURUNDI, 9U. Elvira, IV3FSG and Vladimir, OK2WX will be QRV as 9U5R and 9U4WX, respectively, from February 4 to 27. Activity will be on 80 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and various digital modes. QSL 9U5R via IK2DUW and 9U4WX via IZ8CCW.

THE GAMBIA, C5. Andre, ON7YK is QRV as C5YK from Bijilo until February 24. Activity is on 20 to 10 meters using all modes. QSL direct to home call.

WALLIS AND FUTUNA ISLANDS, FW. Jean-Gabriel, F4CIX, is QRV as FW1JG and expects to be here until January 2024. He is active on 40 to 6 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL via LoTW.

PANAMA, HP. Members of the Panama Radio Club are QRV with special event callsign 3E30PCARA during February to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
QSL to address on QRZ.com.

OGASAWARA, JD1. A group of operators will be QRV as JD1YCC from Chichijima, IOTA AS-031, from February 7 to 13. Activity will be on 2 meters, 70 centimeters, and 23 centimeters with EME. QSL via LoTW.

US VIRGIN ISLANDS, KP2. Gene, W8NET, will be QRV as N8N from St. Croix, IOTA NA-106, from February 6 to 10. Activity will be on 80, 40, 20, 17, and 10 meters using SSB and FT8. He plans to activate three POTA locations while there. QSL direct to home call.

BRAZIL, PY. A number of operators are QRV as ZX89L until February 15 to celebrate the 89th anniversary of the founding of LABRE. QSL via LoTW.

SEYCHELLES, S7. Peter, G4HSO is QRV as S79/G4HSO until February 21. He is active from 3 different locations. Activity is holiday style on the HF bands using CW, and the mode VarAC. QSL via LoTW.

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, V2. Greg. N9GB will be QRV as V26DX from Antigua, IOTA NA-100, from February 9 to 16. Activity will be holiday style during his evenings on 40 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and some FT8. QSL via EB7DX.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. Mexico RTTY International Contest, North American CW Sprint, 10-10 International SSB Winter Contest, 2023 AM Rally, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC Sprint CW Ladder, K1USN Slow Speed CW Test, Vermont QSO Party, European Union DX Contest, F9AA CW Cup, Minnesota QSO Party, FYBO Winter QRP Sprint, AGCW Straight Key CW Party and British Columbia QSO Party are all on tap for this upcoming weekend.

The K1USN Slow Speed CW Test, ICWC Medium Speed CW Test, OK1WC Memorial, RSGB 80-Meter SSSB Club Championship, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, ARS Spartan CW Sprint, NAQCC CW Sprint, QRP 40-Meter CW Fox Hunt, Phone Weekly Test, A1Club AWT, CWops Test, VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Mini-Test 40 and Mini-Test 80 are scheduled for February 6 to 8.

Please see February QST, page 69, and the ARRL and WA7BNM Contest web sites for details.

This page will be regularly updated to reflect Club News and Activities and both UK and World News Items deemed to be of interest to members. If you have an announcement which you think would interest Club members and would like it mentioned here, please send details to:- webmaster@wadarc.com