[continued from previous message]   
      
   According to Jónas Bjarnason, TF3JB, president of Icelandic Radio   
   Amateurs, Odinn had been in poor health for the past 30 years or so,   
   following an accident on a fishing boat. Jonas told Newsline by email   
   that "ham radio was his life" almost 24 hours a day. In addition to   
   being active locally on 2 metres, he was an enthusiastic participant in   
   numerous events held by Icelandic Radio Amateurs, including Field Day.   
      
   Odinn was 62.   
      
   This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.   
      
   (JONAS BJARNASON, TF3JB; DX-WORLD-NET)   
      
   **   
   SILENT KEY: LOU DIETRICH, DXER, PAST CHAIRMAN OF INDEXA   
      
   DON/ANCHOR: Another noted DXer and leader in the radio community has   
   become a Silent Key, as Stephen Kinford N8WB, tells us.   
      
   STEPHEN: Lou Dietrich, N2TU, gave priority to building community across   
   the globe through radio - and he was a prominent advocate of that in   
   his former role as chairman of the board of directors of the   
   International DX Association.   
      
   Lou became a Silent Key on the 15th of August.   
      
   He had been a DXpeditioner as well as a DXer, knowing that the thrill   
   of the chase is only half of the challenge. He was part of the K1N   
   activation of Navassa Island in 2015 and a team co-leader for the K5P   
   Palmyra DXpedition in 2016. He was also part of the Sable Island CY0S   
   DXpedition in 2023 and the St. Paul Island DXpedition CY9C in 2024.   
      
   Lou was originally licensed as WV2RNW as a teenager in high school in   
   the 1960s and after his license lapsed, became relicensed in 1981.   
      
   His obituary on the ARRL website noted that he had been part of the   
   league's DX Advisory Committee. His awards from the league include   
   Ten-Band DXCC and the DXCC Top of the Honor Roll. He belonged to the   
   Carolina DX Association   
      
   Lou was 78.   
      
   This is Stephen Kinford N8WB.   
      
   (425 DX BULLETIN, ARRL)   
      
   **   
   HURRICANE WATCH NET MARKS 60 YEARS OF SERVICE   
      
   DON/ANCHOR: No one celebrates hurricane season, of course, but there IS   
   something to celebrate at this time of the year at the US National   
   Hurricane Center. Randy Sly W4XJ explains.   
      
   RANDY: On the weekend of August 30th, the Hurricane Watch Net   
   celebrates 60 years of service to the U.S. National Hurricane Center   
   and communities impacted by the storms.   
      
   The HWN began in 1965 when amateur radio operator Jerry Murphy, K8YUW,   
   heard calls from hams in the Bahamas asking for information about   
   Hurricane Betsy. Seeing the need for an organized net, Murphy began   
   coordinating and relaying reports from hams in the Bahamas, Florida and   
   across the affected region. The current net manager, Bobby Graves,   
   stated [quote] "when information is scarce and lives are at stake,   
   amateur radio can be a lifeline."   
      
   Today, nearly 60 volunteers across the United States, Canada, Bermuda,   
   Honduras, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and Aruba relay real-time weather   
   data and storm damage reports directly to NHC's amateur station,   
   WX4NHC. Since its founding, the Net has supported 156 landfalling   
   hurricanes, including 60 major hurricanes and 12 Category 5 storms.   
      
   A special operating event commemorating the anniversary was held in   
   early June, since the actual date fell during the peak hurricane   
   season.   
      
   This is Randy Sly, W4XJ   
      
   (HURRICANE WATCH NET)   
      
   **   
   BREAK HERE:   
      
   Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio   
   Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the   
   W0CRA repeater system in Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs on   
   Sundays at 9 a.m. local time.   
      
   **   
   HAMS HELP SONOMA SPRINGS RESIDENTS WITH GMRS   
      
   DON/ANCHOR: In one California county, radios are becoming more and more   
   of a safety net, as we learn from Ralph Squillace KK6ITB. RALPH: In   
   Sonoma County, California, floods, wildfires and earthquakes are among   
   the best reasons for becoming a radio operator. With that in mind the   
   county's Department of Emergency Management has entered the second year   
   of a three-year program that includes helping more Sonoma Springs area   
   residents to get licensed and get on the air. The initiative has been   
   funded through a $70,000 federal grant.   
      
   Emergency management officials are now preparing for training sessions   
   in October that will prepare area residents for an exam leading toward   
   a license to use handheld radios, especially at times when cellular   
   telephone networks fail. The radios are part of General Mobile Radio   
   Services, or GMRS, a licensed service operating between 462 MHz and 467   
   MHz. The county is coordinating with amateur radio operators in the   
   North Bay Communications Cooperative and its Auxiliary Communications   
   System. The goal is to coordinate frequencies so that the GMRS users   
   can work seamlessly within the broader emergency communications system.   
      
   The focus is on residents in the community of Sonoma Springs, which is   
   classified as an evacuation zone when there are wildlfires, but   
   participants who live outside the area are also welcome to enroll.   
      
   The county's program can supply as many as 175 of the radios to   
   participants who successfully complete the program. The grant also   
   covers fees for the license exam.   
      
   Emergency management specialist Nancy Brown told the Sonoma News that   
   radio is seen as the ultimate and most resilient backup plan. She said:   
   [quote] "No matter what happens, you have something that will work."   
   [endquote]   
      
   This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.   
      
   (SONOMA NEWS)   
      
   **   
   ANDAMAN ISLAND DXPEDITION RECRUITING YOUNG REMOTE OPS   
      
   DON/ANCHOR: Next Year's Andaman Island DXpedition is looking for remote   
   operators - and giving special priority to young operators. Jim Meachen   
   ZL2BHF has that story.   
      
   JIM: The team planning the Andaman Island DXpedition in 2026 has an   
   ambitious agenda: the goal is to log at least 100,000 QSOs while the   
   team is on the air from the Indian archipelago in the Bay of Bengal.   
      
   Contacts from around the world are expected to keep the on-site crew of   
   18 busy but organisers plan to add to the team by bringing remote   
   operators, especially young licensed amateurs, on board.   
      
   The remote team lead, Gerry, W1VE, is a veteran of remote operations   
   for the VP6A, E51D and other DXPeditions, and is hoping to replicate   
   those successes with the Andaman Island DXpedition. Hams who   
   participate in the remote operation will be required to have an Indian   
   visa and an amateur radio license from India even though they will not   
   be physically present. Operators are to be selected by the 1st of   
   April, 2026.   
      
   It promises to be a busy time once the activation gets under way on   
   Oct. 19, 2026. The operators expect to participate in the 2026 CQ WW   
   SSB Contest representing India They will also be activating three POTA   
   sites between the 27th and the 29th of October. The entity is also IOTA   
   AS-001.   
      
   Gerry asks that interested amateurs contact him directly via email at   
   gerry at remote dot radio. That's "Gerry" spelled "G E R R Y" at remote   
   dot radio (gerry@remote.radio).   
      
   This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.   
      
   (DX-WORLD)   
      
   **   
   WORLD OF DX   
      
   In the World of DX, listen for Maxim OH7O [OH H SEVEN OH] operating as   
   XW4YY from Laos from the 29th of August through to the 11th of   
   September. Maxim will be on most of the HF bands, starting with 40m,   
   using SSB and FT8. See QRZ.com for QSL details.   
      
   Adrian, M1LCR, will be on the air holiday style as SV8/M1LCR/p from   
   Paxos Island, IOTA Number EU-052, from the 2nd through to the 13th of   
   September. Listen for him on 80-6m using SSB and RTTY, with his main   
   activity to take place during the IARU Region 1 Field Day. See QRZ.com   
   for QSL details.   
      
   The 12th Borneo Amateur Radio Festival will be celebrated by members of   
      
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)