[continued from previous message]   
      
   But [QRadioLink] decided to tackle a homebrew and open source DMR modem.   
      
   The setup uses a LimeSDR, GNU Radio, and Codec2.   
      
   There are some other open DMR projects, such as OpenRTX. So it's hopeful   
   there are going to be more choices. The DMR modem, however, is only a   
   proof-of-concept and reuses the MMDVMHost code to do the data link layer.   
      
   [QRadioLink] found several receiver implementations available, but only one   
   other DMR transmitter  actually, a transceiver. Rather than use an   
   AMBE hardware device or the potentially encumbered mbelib codec, the project   
   uses Codec2 which is entirely open source.   
      
   Theres a lot of explanation about the data collection to prepare for the   
   project, and then a deep dive into the nuts and bolts of the implementation.   
      
   BUT   
      
   You might enjoy a video, the link is shown in the te3xt edition of this the   
   WIA NATIONAL NEWS SERVICE.   
      
   hackaday.com/2025/04/19/open-source-dmr-radio/   
      
   WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - BALLOONS   
      
   Dr Hank Prunckun VK5XB penned us a note through the week, and given the   
   overlap with interests in amateur radio  especially where GPS tracking,   
   high-altitude ballooning, and environmental sustainability intersect,   
   he believes this will interest WIA NATIONAL NEWS viewers and listeners.   
      
   The original ABC article is available here:   
   tinyurl.com/5buk9kkv   
      
   Researchers Seek Sustainable Solutions as Weather Balloon Waste Emerges.   
      
   Recent beach clean-up efforts in Warrnambool, on Victorias southwest coast,   
   have revealed an unexpected environmental issue: debris from weather   
   balloons washing ashore. Volunteers have discovered remnants, including   
   foam boxes with GPS and battery packs, launched from the Kennaook/Cape Grim   
   Baseline Air Pollution Station in Tasmania as part of an international   
   climate research initiative.   
      
   Though these weather balloons are crucial for atmospheric data collection,   
   their leftover components pose risks to marine ecosystems. Colleen Hughson   
   of Warrnambool Beach Patrol noted increased sightings, prompting concerns   
   about environmental sustainability. Scientists are testing more eco-friendly   
   alternatives to reduce ecological impact without compromising research.   
      
   The incident underlines the need to balance essential climate science with   
   responsible environmental practices.   
   WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER   
   AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org   
      
   NASAs annual Student Launch challenge will bring middle school,   
   high school, and college students from around the US together to launch   
   high-powered rockets and payloads Saturday, May 3.   
      
   This will go all day OR until the last rocket launches, student teams will   
   convene for the agencys 25th annual challenge at Bragg Farms, Alabama,   
   near NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.   
      
   Live streaming will begin at 11:20 p.m. AEST (8:20 a.m. CDT) on   
   NASA Marshall YouTube.   
   youtube.com/user/NASAMarshallTV/featured   
      
   (NASA)   
      
   WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS   
   qcwa.org   
   raotc.org.au   
      
   Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW reminding you that tomorrow is the   
   first Monday of the month, time for the Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club of   
   Australia's May bulletin to go to air.   
      
   Perth members and Friends are advised that this months monthly luncheon   
   will be held at the new venue of the Seven Mile Bar and Bistro, 501 Wanneroo   
   Road, Balcatta. Full details can be found by visiting the new and much   
   improved RAOTC website. Just put RAOTC in your favourite search engine and   
   then navigate to Lunches. Be sure to check the Club website for booking   
   and travel information.   
      
   This month we are offering another historic item from Alan Doble VK3AMD.   
   The latest Club news will be included in the June bulletin.   
      
   Everyone, RAOTC members and non-members alike, is most welcome to listen in   
   and join in the call backs afterwards. Full details of all transmissions   
   times, frequencies and modes can be found on the RAOTC website. Please note   
   that the 10 metre transmission from VK8MA now starts at 0400Z.   
   If none of the transmission times suit you, you can download the audio file   
   at any time from today, Sunday, from the clubs website.   
      
   Once again, tune in tomorrow for the May RAOTC bulletin, enjoy the program   
   and please join in the call backs afterwards.   
      
   73 from Clive VK6CSW.   
      
   WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA   
   (Youngsters On The Air)   
   WIA committee:- Steve VK6SJ, Alec VK2MV and Pete VK2LP.   
   ham-yota.com/category/yota-region-3/   
   facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/   
   youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA   
   Kairi State School in Queensland has their own radio club!   
      
   Stuart Dunk VK4SDD wrote to the WIA Nation News to tell us about this   
   exciting news.   
      
      
   In October 2019 David VK4DNF and Stuart, were involved with the Tablelands   
   Regional Council get ready Queensland program.   
      
      
   This program runs workshops for year five and six students to help them   
   understand what emergency services do in a disaster.   
      
      
   The program also teaches the children what they and their families can do to   
   prepare for and to help minimise the impact disasters can have on them.   
      
      
   David and Stuart ran a session on introducing the idea of two-way radios as a   
   way to get help when traditional methods such as mobile phones and land line   
   are unavailable.   
      
      
   It was at one of these sessions that a teacher expressed an interest in   
   amateur radio   
      
      
   When told of the technical nature of the amateur service, the discussion   
   turned to STEM and benefits to the Kairi State School year five and six   
   enrichment program.   
      
      
   A plan then evolved to run amateur radio training sessions as part of the   
   enrichment program.   
      
      
   The goal was to bring the students and teacher up to a high enough level to   
   attempt a foundation license assessment.   
      
      
   Stuart ran training sessions as an advisor to the teacher for 1 hour a week   
   in term one 2022.   
      
      
   Very quickly the students became interested in the technical and practical   
   aspects of amateur radio.   
      
      
   >From those beginnings the Kairi State School radio club VK4KSS was born.   
   Thanks to Tablelands Regional Councils Senior Disaster management adviser,   
   Sarah Dean VK4SLD, the council donated fifteen UV-5R hand held radios, an   
   Icom IC 7300 transceiver, power supply, broadband dipole and mast, all paid   
   for with grant funding from resilience Queensland.   
      
      
   For more on the Kairi State School radio club and their achievements, you   
   will have to read about it in a future edition of AR Magazine!   
      
      
   Please keep those VK YOTA stories coming in!   
      
   For WIA National News, I am Alec VK2MV and for this weekend only in Bendigo.   
   Now back to you Bruce.   
      
      
   WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO   
      
   Over 280 amateur radio operators volunteered during the 129th running of the   
   Boston Marathon last month.   
      
   Operators were working at virtually every location connected with the race,   
   including the starting line, the entire course, the finish line,   
   transportation, and various operations centres including the Massachusetts   
   Emergency Management Agency, the State EOC Unified Command Centre, and the   
   BAA Race Operations Centre in Boston. Combined, they performed   
   communications duties that included logistics support as a primary function   
   and backup support for medical and other public safety requests for the   
   race as needed.   
      
   This is one of the largest public service events amateur radio supports in   
   the United States and planning started over 6 months in advance, said   
   Rob Macedo, KD 1 CY, of the Boston Athletic Association Communications   
   Committee.   
      
   (arrl)   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)