Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1998, February 12, 2016

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1998 with a release date of Friday, 
February 12, 2016 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Tragedy strikes Taiwan - and hams are ready! The 
ARRL renews its long relationship with the American Red Cross. A 
hospital in Brazil, Indiana, prepares to go on the air. And World Radio 
Day is coming: what are YOUR plans? All this and more in Amateur Radio 
Newsline Report 1998 coming your way right now.

(Billboard Cart Here and Intro)

**

AMATEUR RADIO RESPONDS TO TAIWAN EARTHQUAKE

SKEETER: This week's newscast opens with yet another reminder of the 
life-saving work that radio amateurs can do by stepping in to assist in 
natural disasters. We hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Graham Kemp, on 
the latest following the deadly earthquake in Taiwan.


GRAHAM: Sitting on what is known as the "Pacific Rim of Fire," another 
earthquake - this one, with a magnitude of 6.4 - has rocked the island 
of Taiwan on Saturday, Feb. 6, It set off the collapse of several 
buildings, a signal went out from the Chinese Taipei Amateur Radio 
League, asking that several voice frequencies be kept clear.

The Hong Kong Amateur Radio Transmitting Society reported that they 
heard it - as a weak transmission - but it was nonetheless heard. 
Locally, hams were responding to the arduous rescue that would follow, 
amid the rubble, in the southwest coastal city of Tainan. Frequencies in 
Taiwan were to be kept clear on 7.060 MHz with backup 7.050 MHz and 
3.560 MHz. Short range frequencies were being used as well on VHF and UHF.

And then came the aftershocks, and tremors were felt even in the capital 
city of Taipei, on the other side of the island from the stricken city.

Ultimately more than 350 people were rescued in the aftermath, but more 
than 500 were reported injured, according to the state-owned Central 
News Agency in Taiwan. Numerous individuals remained trapped inside 
buildings and rescuers searched for them in the ruins, often by hand. 
The death toll, by midweek, had risen to nearly 20, and the developers 
of one residential building in the city were facing charges of 
professional negligence for alleged shoddy construction.


For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp. VK4BB, on the East Coast of 
Australia, part of the Pacific Rim of Fire.

(CNN, SOUTHGATE, BBC)

**

ARRL RENEWS PARTNERSHIP WITH RED CROSS

SKEETER: Because emergency preparedness is vital every place disaster 
strikes, the ARRL and the American Red Cross have a working relationship 
here in the U.S. It's a relationship they recently reaffirmed, as 
Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Damron, N8TMW, reports:

JIM: The ARRL and the American Red Cross have signed a new memorandum of 
understanding that spells out their relationship when disaster strikes 
and when radio operators are called up for emergency response. The 
document succeeds the agreement the two organizations signed in 2010 and 
renews their cooperative relationship.

According to the memorandum, ARES personnal are to be deployed in 
keeping with a pre-arranged plan in order to keep communications open 
during emergencies. The document also encourages both organizations to 
communicate with state and local agencies and to share information 
regarding disasters and disaster operations.

The ARRL commits to a role encouraging ARES units to work with Red Cross 
chapters to create plans for disaster relief and emergency response. 
And, likewise, the Red Cross field units are being encouraged to 
communicate in planning with ARRL's field units.

The new document also makes it clear that for ARES volunteers to assist 
the Red Cross, they do not need to undergo a prior background check even 
if they are not registered Red Cross volunteers. However, hams who are 
registered Red Cross volunteers must abide by the background check

The document was signed on Jan. 22 and is place for another five years.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW, in Charleston, West 
Virginia.

(ARRL)

**

A MONUMENTAL ACTIVATION IN A PARK

Washington State amateur Clark Johnson, K7LRK, plans to be at the Casa 
Grande Ruins National Monument on Wednesday, Feb. 17. In fact, you will 
find him in the parkland's picnic area. But you will also find him on 
the amateur bands, running 10 watts out of an 18-ounce portable rig. 
Because Johnson isn't there for a picnic. He's there to activate the 
site as part of the ARRL's year-long National Parks on the Air event.

There's one other way to communicate with Johnson, however: Non-hams and 
hopeful hams can observe him and learn more about amateur radio. He will 
be there with the Center for Amateur Radio Learning and the Arizona 
Science Center, and they'll be doing public education and outreach 
during the event, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time.

Come to think of it, that might just make for a nice picnic, after all.

(NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE)

**

A RUNNING NEED FOR HAMS

It's not too early to think "marathon." OK, so the Boston Marathon is 
still several months away but marathon preparation is going on now - and 
hams in the Boston area are needed to help with communication for a 
runners' event, a 13.1-mile race called the Marathon Park Prep. It will 
be held on Saturday, March 19, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The race follows a 
Figure 8 course through the Town of Ashland, Massachusetts, about 25 
miles west of Boston. Runners consider it good training for the big 
event in the fall.

For more information, email David Wolfe, KG1H, at dkwolfe@comcast.net

(DAVID WOLFE, KG1H)


**

CAROLINA ON THEIR MINDS

The weekend of Feb. 27 and Feb. 28 has been renamed The Carolina 
Weekend, with the north and the south getting into the act. The South 
Carolina QSO Party kicks off on Saturday, Feb. 27, followed by the North 
Carolina QSO Party the next day. The North Carolina Party will feature a 
new bonus station, W1VOA, The Voice of America, as well as two new bonus 
counties, Swain and Warren.

There's a free barbecue dinner riding on it, as well, with log entries 
to be put in a random drawing for a dinner featuring the famous flavors 
of both states. Let's get this party started. In fact, let's get them 
both started.

(ARRL, RALEIGH AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY)


**

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS AT INDIANA HOSPITAL

SKEETER: In one Indiana community, a hospital isn't just helping people 
respond with an ambulance. Now they'll have radios. Amateur Radio 
Newsline's Paul Braun, WD9GCO, explains:


PAUL: The newest operating room inside St. Vincent Clay Hospital in 
Brazil, Indiana will only be used for emergency operations - but no one 
will need to scrub up before stepping inside.

The operating equipment here will consist of two-way radios and other 
components, and the operations will be conducted by the hams who belong 
to the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service.

The hospital-based radio center is being underwritten by a grant of 
nearly $2,000 from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Clay 
County's Emergency Management Director, Bryan Husband, applied for the 
grant, with the support of the Clay County Commissioners. The volunteers 
are to provide assistance during natural disasters and extreme weather 
events.

Husband was quoted in a recent article in the Brazil Times as saying 
that the radio shack would be able to communicate, during these 
emergencies, with other radio operators outside the county, on behalf of 
the emergency management office. Seems it's just what the doctor 
ordered, after all.

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

(THE BRAZIL TIMES)

**
BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio 
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the 
WR9ARC repeater of the Riverland Amateur Radio Club in LaCrosse, 
Wisconsin on Sundays.

***

WELL-GROUNDED GROUNDHOG

SKEETER: Punxsutawney Phil will never be a ham radio operator. He's a 
groundhog, after all. But then, he doesn't need a license. He has a 
devoted group of local hams who go on the air for him. Here's that story 
from Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD.

HEATHER'S REPORT:

While a certain famous groundhog may have put Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania 
on the map, it took a special event station to put Punxsutawney on the air.

While weather-watchers everywhere sat tight for the arrival of Tuesday, 
Feb. 2, when the legendary rodent emerged from his burrow, hams got a 
jump on things a few days earlier with QSOs celebrating the time-honored 
tradition that takes place at Gobblers Knob.

On Saturday, Jan. 30, six members of the Punxsutawney Area Amateur Radio 
Club and three of their guests, went deep into their own burrow - in 
this case, the radio shack at the Punxsutawney Airport. But the hams 
there did anything but hibernate: The operators of K-3-H-W-J worked busy 
conditions on three bands; 20, 40 and 2 meters.

Club President Steve Waltman, K-B-3-F-P-N told Amateur Radio Newsline 
that, although lots of activity on the bands made for challenging 
contacts this year, there were about 100 QSOs by day's end - a 
respectable number.

Waltman said this is a longstanding annual tradition for the club - 
though clearly the annual gig by Punxsutawney Phil predates this one by 
a couple of decades, and predates the age of radio itself by two years. 
Still, as even the groundhog would tell you - assuming you even asked - 
there's nothing wrong with working in the shadow of a celebrity, 
especially a weathercaster like Punxsutawney Phil.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD in Berwick, 
Pennsylvania.

**

HAM RADIO MOVIE GETS TV PILOT

The hottest thing on TV these days might just turn out to be radio - ham 
radio, to be exact. Just as TV's "Last Man Standing" has given viewers a 
sampling of what goes on inside a ham shack, the CW Network has 
announced it plans a pilot for the 2000 movie, "Frequency," from New 
Line Cinema. In that sci-fi thriller, the son of a deceased New York 
City firefighter, makes radio contact with his dad over the father's old 
ham radio equipment after an aurora borealis alters band conditions 
across time.

The TV pilot recasts things with a new twist. It follows a female 
detective who uses her ham radio to communicate with her detective 
father, who'd died 20 years earlier. If all goes well, the producers may 
end up being more concerned about RSTs than Nielsens.

(TVLINE.COM, The CW TELEVISION NETWORK)

**
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

We also note some recent changes in the lives of some notable amateurs:

Randy Thompson, K5ZD, is stepping down as the director of the CQ WW 
Contest, and the search is on for his replacement. Thompson has been 
director since September 2012, taking on the responsibilities of 
appointing the contest committee and organizing work that involves 
log-checking, creating the rules and producing the results, Interested 
candidates should apply by email to questions@cqww.com. Or send related 
inquiries directly to CQ Amateur Radio's publisher, Dick Ross, K2MGA, at 
k2mga@cq-amateur-radio.com. Thompson will stay on until he is replaced.

ARRL President Emeritus Harry Dannals, W2HD, of Charlottesville, 
Virginia, was recently honored by the Quarter Century Wireless 
Association for his 70 years as a ham. The association's chapter in his 
hometown held a luncheon for him on Feb. 3. Dannals, who is in his late 
80s, is the oldest living former president of the ARRL and the only 
person to have been president of both the ARRL and the Quarter Century 
Wireless Association, which he served from 1989 to 1994.

And finally, Matt Holden, K-ZERO-B-B-C (K0BBC), has been appointed as 
the ARRL's Dakota Division Vice Director as of Feb. 4. The Minnesota 
resident, an ARRL Life Member, succeeds Kent Olson, K-A-ZERO-L-D-G 
(KA0LDG). Among his other many amateur radio activities, Holden is ARES 
Emergency Coordinator for the City of Bloomington and a Minnesota 
Section Public Information Officer. He will serve out the remaining term 
of the current office, which concludes on Jan. 1, 2017.

(ARRL)

**

ANTIQUE WiRELESS IN ACTION

It's all over but the counting! The Antique Wireless Association of 
Southern Africa, Z-S-ZERO-A-W-A (ZS0AWA) is giving participants in its 
recent CW Activity Day, held on Feb. 7, until Tuesday, March 1, to 
submit their logs, either by email or postal service. Certificates will 
be sent to those who are in first, second and third place, and to the 
amateur with the highest single band score. Email logs to 
andy.cairns@xsinet.co.za or mail to the association at Post Office Box 
12320, Benoryn, 1504.

(SOUTHGATE)

**
SK: VIRGIN ISLANDS WEATHER NET FOUNDER

In 1994, George B. Cline, KP2G, of St John, Virgin Islands, began an 
effort to provide critical weather details and updates for the greater 
Virgin Islands community via amateur radio. The Virgin Islands Weather 
Net was born. Cline had a longtime interest in the weather, and often 
responded during hurricane disasters as a member of the Amateur Radio 
Emergency Service.

The New York native died on Jan. 11 at the age of 79. He had been a 
member of the St. John Amateur Radio Club and had served as a radio 
dispatcher for St. John Rescue. His many efforts also included leading a 
team that placed repeaters on St. John Island and throughout the 
Caribbean for emergency radio communications.

(ARRL)

**
GET READY FOR WORLD RADIO DAY

Informally, the theme for this year's World Radio Day on Feb. 13 might 
be "radio to the rescue." But formally, this international event is 
called "Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster." Indeed, the need for 
communications certainly keeps hams busy.

Created by the UN's Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, 
known as UNESCO, the event recognizes that the immediate access to radio 
frequencies is essential in saving lives, and should be protected so 
they are available in times of emergency. World Radio Day began in 1946.

A number of amateur radio clubs will be marking the occasion in their 
own way. In the UK, the Phoenix Amateur Radio Club will be on the air on 
Feb. 13 and Feb. 14 helping honor British Scientists, a commemoration 
that is part of the official World Radio Day program. UNESCO has asked 
that groups in all countries mark the day by planning activities in 
partnership with regional, national and international broadcasters, 
non-governmental organizations, national authorities, the media and the 
public.

So while it isn't a real holiday, it is certainly reason to celebrate.

(UNESCO)

**

THE WORLD OF DX

Michael, DF8AN, will be active from Iceland from Feb. 26 to March 1 as 
TF/DF8AN. QSL via his home call sign.

Gildas, F6HMQ, and Michel, F6GWV, will be active again from Guadeloupe 
Island, beginning Feb. 26 to March 14 as TO66R, FG/F6HMQ and FG/F6GWV. 
Send QSL cards via F6HMQ/

In a special event marking the visit of Pope Francis to Mexico, members 
of the Federacion Mexicana de Radio Experimentadores (FMRE) are using 
the special callsign 6D0F through Feb. 18. Send QSL cards via XE1LM.

Masato, JA0RQV, will be active as 6Y5/JA0RQV mainly from the Hotel in 
Kingston, Jamaica, starting Feb. 21 through April 17. Activity will be 
mostly on the weekend and spare time. He will work 160-10 meters using 
CW and SSB. QSL via M0OXO (ORQS) or LoTW.

(OHIO PENN DX BULLETIN, DXCOFFEE)


**

KICKER: THE RADIO VOICE OF A CENTURY

Fred Crockford, who lives in the Borough of Brentwood, recently told his 
local newspaper in the UK, "I have been retired longer than some people 
have been at work."

In fact, Fred, G6YUY, has also likely been on the air longer than many 
people have been on the planet.

The retired trolley bus driver first went on the amateur bands in the 
1920s, when radio operations were governed, he said, by the post office. 
Now he's not just a licensed ham but a centenarian ham, having just 
celebrated his 100th birthday.

He said radio has made every one of his many days an adventure. And he 
told the newspaper the fun is in the surprise discovery of who is 
available to talk from anywhere in the world. He said: "We talk to 
whoever happens to be out there on that particular spot and at that 
particular moment." A 70-foot-long-horizontal aerial carries his voice 
everywhere - even to Australia.

Fred told the newspaper he still sets aside about two hours every 
evening to reach out, via radio, to the world. And whether he lands in 
the United States, New Zealand or Australia, the thrill of DXing is no 
less a thrill to him at 100 than it was when he was a young man.

It seems that, at 100 years of age, his most treasured birthday gift of 
all has been the gift of time.


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


(THE BRENTWOOD GAZETTE)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Labs; the ARRL; The Brazil Times; 
The Brentwood Gazette; the BBC; CNN; CQ Magazine; the CW TV Network; 
David Wolfe, KG1H; DXCoffee; Hap Holly and the Rain Report; the India 
Times; the Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin; the Punxsutawney Area Amateur Radio 
Club; QRZ.COM.the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society; Southgate Amateur Radio 
News; TVLine,com; TWiT TV; UNESCO; and you our listeners, that's all 
from the Amateur Radio Newsline. Our email address is 
newsline@arnewsline.org. More information is available at Amateur Radio 
Newsline's only official website located at www.arnewsline.org.

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

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.

***

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