Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2020, July 15, 2016

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2020 with a release date of Friday, July
15, 2016 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST.  BREAKING NEWS: Amateur Electronic Supply's Milwaukee
location is reopening -- as a Ham Radio Outlet. American Indian tribes
prepare for an emergency earthquake drill. Hams celebrate U.S. Route 52 with
- what else? - a mobile station, and Portugal hams get a mountaintop
repeater. All this and more in Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2020
coming your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART HERE


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BREAKING NEWS: HRO BUYS AMATEUR ELECTRONIC SUPPLY'S MILWAUKEE STORE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We begin this week with an announcement that the Milwaukee
location of Amateur Electronic Supply is reopening - as the newest Ham Radio
Outlet. We hear more from Paul Braun, WD9GCO. 

PAUL BRAUN: U.S. amateur radio operators were shocked last week to hear the
news that Amateur Electronic Supply had decided to close its doors at the end
of July after 59 years in business.

Many were equally surprised, however, to hear the news mid-week that Ham
Radio Outlet had come to an agreement to purchase the Milwaukee store and
take on many of AESÕs employees.

According to Steve Gilmore, W4SHG, National Sales Manager for HRO, the
decision to discuss acquisition of some AES personnel was made as soon as the
news broke that they were going to close at the end of July. "The most
important thing to us was to acquire that knowledge and experience in
customer service," said Gilmore.

Gilmore said that they had approval of AESÕs senior management to conduct the
interviews, and while they were onsite in Milwaukee, they came to the
conclusion that having a centralized location would not only serve an area
where they previously had no presence, but would also allow them to have much
quicker shipping times to more of the country. That brought about the
agreement to purchase the facility after the end of the month.

The company's plan is to completely remodel the Milwaukee store, at which
time they believe they will have the largest physical amateur radio store in
the country, possibly the world, with merchandise from every major
manufacturer in the field.

ItÕs a big job, Gilmore said, since they are also relocating their Portland,
Oregon location to a newer and much larger facility at the same time. The
logistics of relocating a lot of personnel and merchandise are challenging.
But, he added, theyÕre up to the challenge. Once both locations are finished,
they plan on having month-long grand opening celebrations in both cities.
Dates and details will be announced at a later date.

When I asked Gilmore about the other AES locations, he said that
mathematically, the Milwaukee location was the only one that made sense right
now. He stated that the decisions are made based on customer/population
density, and also tax rates.

Ham Radio Outlet has been in business since 1971, and currently has 13
locations across the United States.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, IÕm Paul Braun, WD9GCO in Valparaiso, Indiana.

(HAM RADIO OUTLET)

**
EARTHQUAKE EXERCISE INVOLVES AMERICAN TRIBES

STEPHEN: Emergency preparedness is important no matter where you are, but
it's even more critical for American Indians living on often-remote tribal
lands. There's an emergency drill coming up for the tribes, and organizers
need your help. Here's Amateur Radio Newsline's Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, with more.

NEIL'S REPORT: The National Tribal Emergency Management Council and the
National Tribal Amateur Radio Association are calling Wednesday, September 21
the Day of the Quake. And they're hoping to get some of the ham radio
stations in American Indian Country involved in an important exercise that
day. Working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, the groups will collaborate on an emergency
communications drill, passing messages from the Tachi Nation in Leemore,
California to New York about a simulated West Coast earthquake and its
aftermath, a well-scripted scenario which will include a building collapse,
evacuations and a search-and-rescue operation for those missing.

For the exercise to work best, however, it will need the involvement of
amateur radio relay stations and, in this case, the relays should be stations
based in tribal communities or tribal members who are hams wanting to
participate. The involvement of hams in Indian country is a key component of
this drill.

Any tribal Amateur Radio clubs or individuals within Tribal communities
wanting a role in this event should contact Nathan Nixon at
nathan.nixon@itcaonline.com for details. The Day of the Quake will be here
before you know it.

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

(NATIONAL TRIBAL AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION)

**

US ROUTE 52 TAKES ITS PARTY ON THE ROAD

STEPHEN: Special event station W4A started in South Carolina earlier this
month but is really going places. You can find those places throughout July
along historic U.S. Route 52. Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD,
has this story about the hams' 2,000-mile journey.

HEATHER'S REPORT: U.S. Route 52 has been called "America's Other Great
Highway" and in many ways, the route has been greatly eclipsed by its more
famous - and perhaps more romantic - east-west counterpart, Route 66. Still,
this lesser-known route has much to celebrate too along its more than 2,000
miles between Portal, North Dakota on the Saskatchewan border and White Point
Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina.

What better way to celebrate its 90th anniversary than with amateur radio,
which pays similar homage along historic Route 66. This year, the mobile
celebration of Route 52 began on July 7, and is now continuing west,
traveling through 84 counties and 11 states, working CW and SSB. The party
goes on until July 22.

Hams who work the station in a minimum of three states or at least ten
counties, can earn a certificate. Working seven through eleven states earns
special recognition, as does working 20 or more counties, up to the full 84.
There is a special QSL card in addition to the certificates.

Listen for the call sign, W-4-A. The partygoers will be running about 400
watts as they move east to west in their pickup truck and then again on the
return trip. For more details, visit the W4A page on QRZ.COM 

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

**

LESSONS FROM HURRICANE SEASON

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Storm preparedness means more than just stocking up the
fridge and keeping batteries in the flashlights. For hams, preparedness comes
from education, and the ARRL is providing that later this month as we hear
from Amateur Radio Newsline's Bobby Best, WX4ALA.

BOBBY'S REPORT: Storm season is upon us, and if last year's hurricane season
can be considered history, then the ARRL webinar on Thursday, July 21 might
be considered a history lesson. The 90-minute program is a guide to preparing
for this year's Atlantic hurricane season and emergency response, and will
include a look back at the roles amateur radio played during last year's
season.

The overview will touch on the Hurricane Watch Net, the VoIP Hurricane Net,
the Canadian Hurricane Centre and the ARRL's coordination. Registration is
open. If you have questions, contact Mike Corey, KI1U, the ARRL's emergency
preparedness manager, at mcorey@arrl.org If you plan to register, do it now.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bobby Best, WX4ALA

(ARRL)

**

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the SPARC club
repeater for the Sportsman's Paradise Amateur Radio Club, K4WAK, in Wakulla
County, Florida in time for the Friday afternoon commute.

**

IN PORTUGAL, REPEATER REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If it's  height you're after for your new repeater, look to
the highest mountain. That's what a group of hams did in Portugal. Here's
Amateur Radio Newsline's Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

JASON'S REPORT: The highest mountain in Portugal has gained another
distinction, thanks to some ambitious amateur radio operators there. Members
of the Azores Amateur Radio Union, or URA, have assembled and installed a 
cross-band repeater on Mount Pico on Pico Island, in the Azores west of the
Portuguese mainland. It is designed to work cross-band on 144.550 MHz and
439.550 MHz. The call sign for the station is CQ1EPIX.

It's been a long way up for the two ambitious amateurs, Paulo Gomes CR8ABI
and Antonio Paz CU3AJ. The challenging radio work began with an especially
challenging ascent on Saturday July 2: The mountain rises 2,351 meters - or
7,713 feet - above the North Atlantic Ocean. They were clearly *in* the air
before getting *on* the air.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.


(SOUTHGATE, AMATEUR RADIO EUROPE)


**

REMEMBERING NIKOLA TESLA

STEPHEN: Where would we be without Nikola Tesla? Well, for one thing, we
might not be on the air. Things would surely be very different without the
work of the 20th century inventor, who was born 160 years ago in Croatia. It
seems only fitting, then, that the weekends of July and August be devoted to
honoring him in the venue that suits his memory best - radio. The Union des
Radioclubs, F8URC, is using the special callsign, TM160NT, for just that
purpose. Nikola Tesla, who died in 1943, might appreciate the inventiveness
of that.

(ARRL)




**
IN THE UK, ONE RADIO ENTHUSIAST'S LASTING LEGACY

STEPHEN: An amateur radio club in the UK has helped fulfill a radio
enthusiast's dying wish to benefit charity. Here's Amateur Radio Newsline's
Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

JEREMY: As any amateur knows, the power of radio to accomplish great things
doesn't end when the set is turned off. That was certainly no secret to
Adrian Aylward of Highclere. Although Adrian wasn't a ham himself, his love
of radio and electronics in general made him a kindred spirit to amateurs.
Diagnosed two years ago with cancer, Adrian died last April, expressing the
wish that the electronics equipment, and certainly the radios he used for so
much enjoyable listening, might go on to benefit others. His family contacted
the Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society, which helped fulfill Adrian's
final wishes.  The equipment was sold through a silent auction among club
members, with the remaining unsold items offered for purchase in June at the
Newbury Radio Rally. Adrian got his final wish: The equipment found the good
homes he'd hoped for, and the sales generated a gift of œ1,000 to be given to
Cancer Research UK. A portion of the money raised also went to the Newbury
Club.

Jonathan Smithers, representing Adrian's family, said: QUOTE "Adrian would
have been happy that we have helped to improve the lives of those still
living with cancer and also encouraged those with a curiosity about what can
be achieved through electronics." ENDQUOTE

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

(THE NEWBURY TODAY NEWSPAPER)

**

SOUTH AFRICAN HAMS ROAD TEST NEW WEBSITE

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Hams with the Kempton Park Amateur Radio Technical Society
are asking for a radio check. Sort of. The club, which uses the call sign,
ZS6KTS, has just launched a new website and is looking for feedback. They're
inviting amateurs from everywhere to visit them, read about their activities
or post a comment.

The club operates repeaters on 2 meters and 70 cm and is also active on
EchoLink Node 8041. Visit their website at zs6kts.co.za

(KEMPTON PARK AMATEUR RADIO TECHNICAL SOCIETY)

**

THE WORLD OF DX:

In the world of DX, be listening for a number of stations working during the
Radio Society of Great Britain's IOTA Contest, July 30 and 31st.

They include Tibor, OM3RM, working as IS0/OM8A from Sardinia, as a
Single-Op/All-Band/High-Power entry. Send QSL cards via OM2VL.

There is also Joe, IT9RZU, who will be active from the island of Sicily
during the contest as a Single-Op/All-Band/Low-Power entry. Send QSLs via his
home callsign, by the Bureau or LoTW.

Mike, IF9ZWA, will be active from Favignana Island during the contest as a
Single-Op entry. QSLs should be sent to his home callsign via the Bureau only.

And finally, Theodoros, SV1EJD, will be active in the contest as well, but
will also be working as SV8/SV1EJD from Syros Island between July 23rd and
August 11th. Listen for him on 80-6 meters where he'll be using SSB and RTTY.
QSL via his home callsign or LoTW.

**

MORSE, A CODE FOR THE COSMOS

STEPHEN: And finally, we close this week's report with a look at Mars. Ham
radio operators will especially enjoy knowing about the surprise the Red
Planet revealed recently through the lens of NASA's Mars Reconnaissance
Orbiter. Here's that story from Amateur Radio Newsline's Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

GRAHAM: Lest any detractors of Morse Code hold firm in their belief that
there is nothing at all natural about Samuel Morse's form of telegraphy -
well, think again.

CW apparently is as natural as the universe itself. In fact, scientists have
recently discovered dots and dashes growing in the wild. That's right, wild,
organically grown Code. It's not even cultivated with a paddle or a straight
key.

The messages were spotted recently on Mars by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance
Orbiter, carved into the dark dunes of a field lying just below the north
pole.

Were Martians perhaps having their own version of Field Day? Were the hams
there trying for their Worked All Planets award?

Well, geophysicists do have an explanation - as scientists often do. In a
press release, the agency explained the patterns that sculpted the sand in
such a meaningful way. Bi-directional winds are what carved the long dashes,
and the dots, well, those are still something of a mystery, though they have
a name: barchanoid dunes.

The decoded message turns out to be sheer nonsense - at least for Earthlings'
ears - beginning with the phrase: "NEE NED Z-B 6-T-N-N" and so forth.

What does it all mean? Good question. We'll keep our ears tuned to the sky.
Perhaps the Reconnaissance Orbiter may next happen upon some hams in the
dunes engaging in Single Side Band or .....even another kind of Mars Code.

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

(NASA, GIZMODO)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Labs; the ARRL; Amateur Radio Europe; CQ
Magazine; Gizmodo; Hap Holly and the Rain Report; the IARU; Irish Radio
Transmitter Society; Kempton Park Amateur Radio Society; NASA; Newbury Today
newspaper; Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin; The Province newspaper; QRZ; Southgate
Amateur Radio News; Ted Randall's QSO Radio Show; Wireless Institute of
Australia; WTWW Shortwave; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur
Radio Newsline. Please send emails to our address at newsline@arnewsline.org.
More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's only official
website 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 Stephen Kinford, N8WB, in Wadsworth, Ohio saying 73
and as always we thank you for listening.

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


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