Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2014, June 3, 2016

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 2014 with a release date of
Friday, June 3, 2016 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Amateur radio climbs to the mountaintops of
Nepal and beyond. Hams carry on a Memorial Day tradition. A $29,000
gift to DXers honors the memory of one pioneering California DXer. And
hams in Canada prepare for the 150th anniversary of the Canadian
Confederation. All this and more in Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2014,
coming your way right now.

(Billboard Cart Here and Intro)

**

PUTTING SUMMITS ON THE AIR FOR SAFETY

STEPHEN: We begin this week's newscast with word of a life-changing and
perhaps even life-saving change that is coming to mountain peaks such
as the Himalayas, via amateur radio. Up there, climbers often know that
the hardest summits they may ever face are the heights of safety.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Graham Kemp, VK4BB, has the story.

GRAHAM's REPORT: In what's being called an unprecedented move, nearly
two dozen Bengalese mountaineers earned their amateur radio licenses in
late May and will soon be using portable radios to provide climber
safety, emergency rescues and, if need be, help with searches for
missing and fallen climbers.

A report in the Hindustan Times identifies two of the new hams as
Dipankar Ghosh and Subrata Dey, both well-known veteran mountaineers.
According to Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, of the West Bengal Radio
Club, the climbers' license are likely the first ever to be issued to
any mountaineer. He said that in addition to carrying HF radios in
their backpacks with an antenna, the guides will also be outfitted with
transmitters that automatically send their position to base camp for
tracking purposes in case of an emergency. The West Bengal Club's
founder helped train and prepare the climbers for the recent licensing
examination in late May.

Dey told the Hindustan Times that the licenses were a long time coming,
and that such capability might have saved the life of his friend who
collapsed and died on Mount Dhaulagiri in Nepal, the world's
seventh-highest peak, just this past 19 May. Earlier that same day, a
Nepalese sherpa guide fell to his death from the world's fourth largest
peak, Lhotse Face, while fixing ropes for an expedition of soldiers
from India.

And just a day later, May 20, Melbourne University lecturer Marisa
Strydom died while descending Everest. In her case, it had been feared
her body would remain in Nepal but it has now been retrieved and
returned to Australia.

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

(THE HINDU, THE HINDUSTAN TIMES)

**

A MEMORIAL DAY WITH EXTRA MEANING

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: This past Memorial Day Weekend, one group of hams in
Fort Wayne, Indiana hosted an event that made the word "memorial" into
"memorable" for the military. Amateur Radio Newsline's Paul Braun,
WD9GCO, explains.

PAUL: Honoring America's military members, whether they are veterans or
those in active service, is a treasured tradition on a number of
national holidays. But how do you publicly express the nation's
gratitude to the men and women who died in service to their country?
When you're a ham radio operator, you honor those sacrifices by
organizing a tribute to those who are still serving today. That notion
is what inspired Emery McClendon, KB9IBW, of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, to
create an event called "A Salute to Those Who Served" 13 years ago, as
part of Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day, or ARMAD.

This past Memorial Day weekend, that was the message these hams carried
-- and from all reports, signals were clearly copied. For just a few
hours outside the Praise Lutheran Church in Ft. Wayne, ARMAD saluted
past and present military members, and even heard from a number of them
personally. Two veterans were among the guest speakers during the brief
ceremonies - one from World War Two and another from the conflicts in
Afghanistan and Iraq.

According to his profile in QRZ, McClendon is a veteran himself and
knows the hard work of the military first-hand: A Life Member of
Disabled American Veterans, he served in the U.S. Air Force for four
years, and the Indiana Air National Guard for two years. He is also a
strong proponent of promoting amateur radio by connecting it, whenever
possible, to military-related special events.

As for this past weekend's event, the connection was strong - and it
showed that sometimes the clearest and most heartfelt message any ham
can deliver is this phrase: "THANK YOU FOR GIVING ALL YOU HAD."

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


(WANE-TV, ARMAD.NET, QRZ.COM)

**

$29,000 GIFT GOES THE DISTANCE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A radio museum that was to rise on land once used by a
notable California DXer won't be built after all. But a generous gift
from the foundation behind the museum project will end up helping
DXpeditioners elsewhere. Here's more from Amateur Radio Newsline's Neil
Rapp, WB9VPG.

NEIL'S REPORT: THe Northern California DX Foundation has received a
$29,000 gift from the Don Wallace Museum Foundation, which is shutting
its Rancho Palos Verdes, California site after nearly three decades.
The museum site was named for Don Wallace, W6AM, a radio pioneer and
premier DXer, who became a Silent Key in 1985. The land, which the
board of directors had hoped would one day house a museum and radio
shack, is now being developed for residential use. It was formerly used
for Wallace's noted "antenna ranch."

Museum board chairman Joe Locascio, K5KT, said there are no
restrictions on use of the funds by the DX Foundation, a private,
donor-supported organization created in 1972 to support amateur radio
projects and related scientific undertakings. He said the gift to the
DX Foundation is being given in the spirit of the same DXing goals
cherished by Wallace himself. The Northern California group assured
museum officials that the donation will go toward helping making top
DXpeditions happen.

But Locascio noted that the site itself will retain one remnant of its
former use: An 18 by 24 bronze plaque visible at the entrance to
Wallace's former ranch. It serves as a permanent marker of the
property's former glory days in amateur radio.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

**

YASME FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES GRANTS, EXCELLENCE AWARDS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Other gifts to amateur radio - these ones benefiting
young amateurs - have been announced by the not-for-profit Yasme
Foundation. Three supporting grants are being given out. The Foundation
for Amateur Radio is receiving support for its 2017-2018 scholarship
program; the ARRL Foundation will be helped with funds for its Yasme
Foundation scholarship. A third grant will assist two young hams in
Ethiopia who will participate in the Youth Contesting Program in
Estonia.

The Yasme Foundation is organized to support scientific and educational
projects related to Amateur Radio, including DXing and the introduction
and promotion of Amateur Radio in developing countries. Supporting
grants were also given to other recipients to specifically support
global HF operations.

The foundation also announced three recipients of its Excellence Award,
which recognizes achievement in technical, organizational or
operational areas: They are longtime educator Carole Perry, WB2MGP; Tim
Duffy, the ARRL's Western Pennsvylania section manager; and longtime
amateur radio mentor and trainer, Tom Rauch, W8JI.

(YASME FOUNDATION)


**

BREAK HE

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
Lakes Area Amateur Radio Club's W5JAS repeater in Jasper, Texas, on
Monday nights.

***

NORFOLK ISLAND REPORT

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Norfolk Island, off the east coast of Australia,
normally doesn't have a lot of amateur radio activity. That changed
during the last weekend in May. We hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's
John Williams, VK4JJW.

JOHN WILLIAMS' REPORT: You've probably heard of " The Thornbirds," a
world best seller novel, and then, TV series, written by long time
resident of Norfolk Island, Australian Colleen McCulloch who passed
away last year and now rests on this verdant rock in the middle of the
South Pacific. Now, the Wireless Institute of Australia has put
Colleen's home on the map again by holding its Annual General Meeting
over the last weekend of May in the 35-square-kilometer -- or
14-square-mile island paradise with almost 100 hams and their partners
making the bit-over-2-hour-flight from the mainland and staying there
for at least the three-day occasion. Some hams have made it a real
break and stayed for a week! Flying is the easiest way to get there
because ships sometimes have to anchor offshore for weeks, waiting for
calm seas to transfer goods and people.

In recent years, the WIA AGM has been held in different places all
around Australia and so it was fitting that we journey to a
soon-to-be-made official part of the country.

Norfolk Island is an Australian External Territory just 1300 Km or 900
miles off the east coast. With a resident population of around 1500, it
has very few hams, and with the passing several years ago of avid
Norfolk Island resident Dxer, "Island Chaser" Jim Smith VK9NS, there
have been very few opportunities since to work this rare location.

Some of the latest visitors even went to the trouble and expense of
arranging their very own VK9 call, expressly to activate the island
again, if only for a short time. But then, that makes it even more
desirable for the DX hound doesn't it!

When the formalities and socialising of the AGM weekend didn't get in
the way, there was a fair amount of "CQ DX" happening from the land of
Norfolk Pine trees - I was there too!

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW

**

O CANADA! 150 YEARS OF CANADA!

Hams participating in the events marking Canada's sesquicentennial in
2017 have been given permission to use special call sign prefixes to
mark the occasion.

For those Canadian amateurs wishing to change their prefix, VA becomes
CF; VE becomes CG; VO becomes CH; and VY, CI.

The announcement was made by Radio Amateurs of Canada during the recent
Dayton Hamvention. Radio Amateurs of Canada notes that use of the
prefixes is optional -- but a nice way to mark 150 years, nonetheless.

(RADIO AMATEURS OF CANADA)

**

PROGRESS ON PARITY

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Trying to hammer out acceptable language for the
Amateur Radio Parity Act hasn't been easy. But the ARRL and the
organization representing homeowners associations have helped fashion
an amended bill with input from congressional staffers that would
permit outdoor antennas to be installed in communities with
deed-restricted residential properties.

The homeowners group, called the Community Associations Institute,
issued a statement expressing support for the amended language in the
legislation, also known as HR 1301. And Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, the ARRL
Hudson Division Director and Legislative Affairs Committee Chairman,
also noted he was pleased with the agreement - but stressed that some
matters still need to be worked on.

Congress is expected to act on the bill sometime this year.

(ARRL)

**

THE WORLD OF DX

Waldi, SP7IDX, is active from Vannoya Island as LA/SP7IDX between June
1 and June 10th. Send QSLs to his home callsign, via the Bureau,
direct, LoTW or ClubLog.

Be listening for Gerard, F6CKD, who is working the bands from French
Guiana until June 15th as FY/F6CKD. He is mainly on 20/17 meters. Send
QSLs via F6CKD.

Also on the air through June 15 is Kevin, K6TOP, who will be in the
British Virgin Islands with the call sign VP2V/K6TOP. Find him on 40
through 10m working CW in his spare time. Send QSLs via Logbook of the
World.

John, 2M0JMN, is in the Cayman Islands operating as ZF2MN through June
17th. Hear him on the HF bands, working holiday style. Send QSL cards
via M0OXO.


(IRISH RADIO TRANSMITTER SOCIETY, OHIO PENN DX BULLETIN)

**

KICKER: NORTHERN IRELAND'S NEWEST ACHIEVER ON THE AIR

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We wrap up this week's report with the story of a YL in
Ireland who's a nonstop achiever. We hear more from Amateur Radio
Newsline's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

JEREMY: Summer McCormick, a radio amateur in County Armagh, isn't just
known as MI0YLT. She recently became known as the youngest amateur in
Northern Ireland to hold an Advanced license.

It's only the latest achievement for the 15-year-old. Summer was 12 the
year she passed her Foundation exam, and was only one year older when
she achieved Intermediate Level. She has participated in Youngsters on
the Air, working 317 stations during that event; she's worked
Lighthouses on the Air from Rathlin, and was part of the Radio Society
of Great Britain's VHF Field Day.

Her parents note that Summer takes her amateur radio studies as
seriously as those she tackles as a student at St. Patrick's Academy in
Lisburn. And now her hometown radio club, the Lagan Valley Amateur
Radio Society, in Lisburn, can boast having the youngest advanced
licensee in Region Eight, Northern Ireland, among their ranks.

As for Summer, she can boast having a new call sign that her next
contacts won't forget so easily: MI0YLT reminds everyone she is indeed
a YLT - which stands for Young Lady Transmitting.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, from Nottingham,
the UK.

(THE LISBURN TODAY NEWSPAPER)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Labs; ARMAD.NET; the ARRL; CQ
Magazine; Dayton Hamvention; Hap Holly and the Rain Report; Irish Radio
Transmitter Society; Lisburn Today newspaper; Radio Amateurs of Canada;
Southgate Amateur Radio News; Ted Randall's QSO Radio Show; WANE-TV;
Wireless Institute of Australia; WTWW Shortwave; the Yasme Foundation;
and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline.
Please send emails to our address at . More
information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's only official
website located at www.arnewsline.org.

We also remind you that time is running out to submit your nominations
for our Bill Pasternak Young Ham of the Year Award. The deadline is
June 30 -- and it's coming up fast -- so think of a promising young ham
you'd like to nominate. This honor recognizes licensed amateurs no
older than 19 and living in the U.S., Puerto Rico or Canada, and who
have made significant contributions to ham radio and their community.
Visit our website, www.arnewsline.org, and click on the tab for
"Y-H-O-T-Y" for an application. Send completed applications to: The
Young Ham of the Year Award, in care of Amateur Radio Newsline Inc.,
Editorial Office, P.O. Box 451, Huntington Station, New York 11746.
Remember you have only until June 30.

For now, with Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT, at the news desk in New York,
and our news team worldwide, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, in Topeka, Kansas
saying 73 and as always we thank you for listening.



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