ARNewsline 1834 -- October 5 2012:
Bill Pasternak (WA6ITF)
on
October 7, 2012
Add a comment about this article!
Note: My thanks to Dave Booth, KC6WFS, who
went to my home to complete distribution of
this weeks newscast while I am hospitalized
in Los Angeles.
de
Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF
Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1834 – October 5
2012
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1834
with a release date of October 5 2012 to
follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. 200 micro sized ham-
sats to be orbited in a single launch; Radio
Amateurs of Canada wins a 5 year exemption
for Ontario hams in distracted driving
legislation; the European Parliament gets
involved in the BPL controversary and the
2012 Scouting Jamboree on the Air is almost
here. Find out the details are on Amateur
Radio Newsline™ report number 1834 coming your
way right now.
(Billboard Cart Here)
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: 200 MICRO HAM BIRDS TO BE
LAUNCHED IN ONE MISSION
Two hundred tiny ham radio satellites will be
going into space in the not to distant
future. The project is called KickSat and we
have more in this report.
KickSat is an amateur radio CubeSat
technology mission designed to demonstrate
the deployment and operation of prototype
Sprite or tiny ChipSats developed at Cornell
University. The KickSat spaceframe is a
CubeSat being built to carry and deploy 200
Sprites that will provide an avionics bus
that will provide power, communications,
command and data handling functions. It will
be mated with a 2 unit deployer that has been
developed to house the Sprites.
Approximately 200 Sprites will be stacked
atop a spring-loaded pusher and secured by a
nichrome burn wire system. Once on-orbit, the
wire burns away the Sprites will spring out
into space.
As to the Sprites, these are tiny spacecraft
that includes power, sensor, and
communication systems. Its built on a printed
circuit board measuring 3.5 by 3.5 cm with a
thickness of 2.5 mm and a mass of about 5
grams. The Sprite is intended as a general
purpose sensor platform for micro-electro-
mechanical or other chip-scale sensors with
the ability to downlink data to ground
stations from Low Earth Orbit.
After deployment, telemetry and sensor
measurements from the individual Sprites will
be received through Cornell's ground station
in Ithaca, New York, as well as several other
amateur radio ground stations around the
world. The Sprites are expected to re-enter
the atmosphere and burn up within a few days
or weeks depending on atmospheric conditions.
Their best case maximum orbital lifetime is
estimated at 6 weeks.
The development team is currently
investigating uses for the KickSat spaceframe
after the Sprite deployment and is seeking
collaborators who could make use of its
capabilities as part of another extended
mission.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Bill
Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the Studio in Los
Angeles.
ChipSats like these Sprites represent a new
technology that will both open space access
to hobbyists and students and enable new
types of science missions. A significant
portion of KickSat has been financed by over
300 individual sponsors through a funding
website. More is on-line at
www.spacecraftresearch.com/KickSat. (KickSat)
WORLDBEAT: RAC WINS 5 YEAR EXTENSION FOR HAM
RADIO FROM ONTARIO DISTRACTED DRIVING LAW
Some good news for hams living north of the
United States and Canadaian border. Radio
Amateurs of Canada says that it has received
written confirmation from Minister Bob
Chiarelli of the Ontario Provincial
Government regarding a five year extension of
exemption for radio amateurs to the Ontario
province distracted driving law.
In his letter, Minister Chiarelli explains
that the current exemptions for both Amateur
Radio and Two Way Commercial Radios will be
extended until January 1st, 2018. He also
expresses his hope that in that time
commercial hands free alternatives will be
found for two way radios.
While Radio Amateurs of Canada says that it
finds victory in the five year extension, it
also says that a permanent solution is
desired. As such it will continue to pursue a
permanent exemption for amateur radio
operators in Ontario provance.
Similar exemptions already exist in many
other provincial jurisdictions in Canada.
This, thanks in part to the efforts of local
amateurs and Radio Amateurs of Canada's
national strategy to address distracted
driving legislation. (RAC, VE4WO)
THE BPL FIGHT: EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT MEMBERS
QUESTION INTERFERENCE FROM PROPOSED OPLT
STANDARD
Ham radio operators in the UK have some new
allies in their fight against a proposed pan-
European Power Line Technology or PLT
standard and the interference it could cause
to broadcast as well as shortwave radio
reception. This as questions are raised by
two legislators it in the European Parliament
about it. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim
Meachen, ZL2BHF, reports:
Syed Kamall is a Member of the European
Parliament or MEP representing the city of
London in the UK. He says that he has been
contacted by several of his constituents who
are concerned about a proposed standard for
power line transmission devices. According to
MEP Kamall, these constituents believe that
if this standard is approved, the level of
interference to all broadcast radio reception
would increase to a level making it
impossible to listen to a radio.
Those concerned explained to him that in 2011
a power line telecommunications
electromagnetic compatibility standard was
proposed by the European Committee for
Electrotechnical Standardization. Kamall's
constituents allege that the proposed
standard was rejected by a majority of the
National Standards Committees while many
suggested improvements to the proposed
standard. Some comments reaching him
questioned the very high radio pollution
levels that would be permitted from these
devices, while other suggestions were aimed
at improving the test methodology.
MEP Kamall goes on to note that while a
revised version of the PLT standard is about
to be circulated, his constituents believe it
to be identical to the previously rejected
standard, and that it rejects the suggestions
from the National Standards Committees. Also
that his constituents claim that
representatives of PLT equipment
manufacturers dominate the Working Group that
wrote the proposed standard and are lobbying
National Standards Committees to support that
standard. This is because it would provide a
legal basis for high PLT emission levels.
MEP Kamall is joined in his concern by Sir
Graham Watson who is the Member of the
European Parliament for South West England
and Gibraltar. MEP Watson notes that his
constituents also tell him that even though
the Commission's Electromechanical Committee
advisor has been notified that the proposed
PLT standard does not meet the essential
requirements of the EMC Directive, that the
European Committee for Electrotechnical
Standardization has ignored this advice. Also
that it will continue to push the proposed
PLT standard to be voted by the National
Standards Committees. He then notes that
concerns have been expressed that the
possible new PLT standard may not be
compliant with European Commission law.
Both legislators want to know if the
Commission shares the concerns of their
respective constituents over the proposed PLT
Electromagnetic Compatibility standard. MEP
Syed Kamall is even more direct. He asks that
if the European Committee for
Electrotechnical Standardization approves the
proposed standard, is the Commission able to
block it, and will it do so until it is
deemed to meet the requirements of the EMC
Directive?
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim
Meachen, ZL2BHF, down-under in Nelson, New
Zealand.
In his questions to the European Parliament
Sir Graham Watson asks if the Commission
confident that the new standard will
satisfactorily comply with the European Union
rules as set out in the EMC Directive? He
also wants to know what dialogues have
Commission officials held with European
Committee for Electrotechnical
Standardization to ensure compliance.
Meantime the UK ham radio community awaits
replies to both of these inquiries. PLT in
the Europe is very similar to what we call
in-home access BPL here in the United States.
(Southgate, UKQRM, others)
WORLDBEAT: ACMA ISSUES SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO
MICHAEL OWEN, VK3KI – S.K.
The Australian Communications and Media
Authority has issued a special tribute to
Wireless Institute of Australia President and
IARU Region 3 Chairman, Michael Owen VK3KI,
who died unexpectedly Saturday, September
22nd.
According to the news release, the Australian
Communications and Media Authority was
saddened to hear of the death of Michael
Owen. He was responsible for significant
reform of the Wireless Institute of
Australia, was well known across the A-C-M-A
and had worked closely with many staff on a
range of issues, including several meetings
and discussions in recent weeks.
The release ends by stating that the
Australian Communications and Media Authority
extends its condolences to the amateur
community that Michael so tirelessly and
effectively represented, as well as to his
friends and family. (ACMA)
From the United States of America, We are the
Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin
stations around the world including the N0DRC
repeater serving Trinidad, Colorado.
RESCUE RADIO: NTIA ASKS FOR COMMENT ON
CREATION OF FIRSTNET
The National Telecommunications and
Information Administration, better known by
the acronym NTIA has issued a notice of
inquiry. This, seeking comment on how it
should set up a nationwide, interoperable
public safety broadband network that it calls
FirstNet. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm
Seeley, KI7UP, has the details:
By way of background, this past February
Congress enacted The Middle Class Tax Relief
and Job Creation Act of 2012. One of its
provisions was to create a nationwide
interoperable broadband network that will
help police, firefighters, emergency medical
service professionals and other public safety
officials to keep in contact with one another
during extreme emergency or disaster
situations.
The law's governing framework for the
deployment and operation of this network,
which is to be based on a single, national
network architecture, is the new "First
Responder Network Authority" or FirstNet.
This is an independent authority within NTIA.
FirstNet will hold the spectrum license for
the network. It will also be charged with
taking all actions necessary to build,
deploy, and operate the network. This, in
consultation with Federal, State, tribal and
local public safety entities, and other key
stakeholders.
The NTIA has given the public until November
1st to comment on the conceptual architecture
of such a network as outlined at the first
FirstNet board of directors meeting that was
held on September 25th. It also is seeking
input on a business plan and on developing
applications for public safety users.
Comments to the NTIA on this proposed first
responder system can be e-mailed to
firstnetnoi (at) ntia (dot) doc (dot) gov.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Norm
Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
More about the proposed FirstNet system is on
line at www.ntia.doc.gov/category/public-
safety. (NTIA, B&C)
COMMUNICATIONS HAPPENINGS: NAB PUTS OUT CALL
FOR NAB 2013 PAPERS
The 2013 National Association of Broadcasters
convention is accepting technical paper or
session proposals until October 19th. This
for presentation at its gathering slated for
next April 6th to the 11th at the Las Vegas
Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Submissions must relate to the creation and
distribution of media and filmed
entertainment. Conferences scheduled so far
include Broadcast Engineering, Broadcast
Management, Cloud Computing, Creative Master
Series, Disruptive Media and Military and a
Government Summit.
If you have a presentation that you feel
might qualify, take your web browser to
tinyurl.com/nab-presentations-2013 and read
the page titled Speaking Opportunities. (NAB)
HAM HAPPENINGS: AA7BQ ANNOUNCES SERVER
UPGRADES AT QRZ.COM
Some improvements at QRZ.com. Fred Lloyd,
AA7BQ, reports that he has added an
additional server to the QRZ system and moved
a few things around to improve performance
for all users. Among the changes are that all
servers have been upgraded to the latest
Ubuntu Linux Edition 12.04. Also, various
functions have been interchanged between the
various cloud servers that host QRZ.com at
Amazon Web Services.
AA7BQ says that so far the performance looks
really great on all parts of the system. He
notes that the callsign server, which was
routinely at 90% busy now loafs along at
around 50%.
You can read about all the changes made by
taking your web browser to tinyurl.com/qrz-
improved-service. (QRZ.com)
HAM HAPPENINGS: ARRL INTERNATIONAL
HUMANITARIAN AWARD NOMINATIONS SOUGHT
Nominations are open for the 2012 ARRL
International Humanitarian Award. The award
is presented to an amateur or group of
amateurs who
demonstrate devotion to human welfare, peace
and international understanding through
amateur radio. Full details on the nomination
process can be found at
www.arrl.org/international-humanitarian-
award.
(ARRL)
NAMES IN THE NEWS: SUNITA WILLIAMS KD5PLB IS
NEW COMMANDER OF THE ISS
Turning to names in the news. NASA astronaut
Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, who holds the record
for the longest spaceflight by a woman, is
the new Commander of the International Space
Station. Williams took over the leadership
role on Saturday September 15th becoming only
the second female commander in the orbiting
lab's 14-year history.
Sunita Williams is a captain in the U.S. Navy
and flying on her second long-duration space
mission. She first launched into space in
2007 and spent 195 consecutive day's on-orbit
and setting a record for the longest single
spaceflight by a female astronaut.
Williams launched to the station in July. She
will command its Expedition 33 crew before
returning to Earth in November. (NASA)
NAMES IN THE NEWS: K5ZD APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF
CQ WORLD WIDE DX CONTEST
CQ Contest Hall of Fame member and WPX
Contest Director Randy Thompson, K5ZD, has
been named Director of the CQ World Wide DX
Contest, effective immediately. Thompson
succeeds Bob Cox, K3EST, who retired in
September after 35 years at the helm of the
world's most popular amateur radio contest.
Thompson, 53, has been a ham since age 13. He
is an accomplished contester, having multiple
wins in the CQ World Wide DX Contest and the
CQ WPX Contest, among others. He has also
competed in four World Radiosport Team
Championships. In addition, Randy is a past
editor of the "National Contest Journal" and
a co-founder of the eHam.net website. He is a
longtime member of the Yankee Clipper Contest
Club and an instructor at K3LR's Contest
University.
Thompson has been Director of the CQ WPX
Contest since 2008 and his appointment to the
directorship of the CQ World Wide DX Contest
creates a vacancy for director of the CQ WPX
Contests. Anyone interested in taking on the
challenge of leading a major contest should
contact Thompson by e-mail to k5zd (at) cqwpx
(dot) com. (CQ)
PUBLIC SERVICE: HAM OWNED INTERNET ONLY RADIO
STATION TO HOLD RADIOTHON TO COMBAT BREST
CANCER
A ham that operates an on-line only radio
station will be holding a three-day radiothon
later this month. This, to raise awareness
of, and funding to combat of Brest Cancer.
According to Bill Bergadano, KA2EMZ, of Radio
Scooter International, the event will be held
on October 19, 20 and 21 and will honor Jeri
James who passed away from the disease last
December. Bergadano says that James father
was a ham radio operator.
More about this very special humanitarian
event is on-line at
radioscooterinternational.net/id130.html.
(KA2EMZ)
HAM HAPPENINGS: LA GRANGE GA. 6 METER NET
CELEBRATES 1ST BIRTHDAY
A word of congratulations to the LaGrange,
Georgia, 6 meter Buzzard Net that celebrated
its first anniversary session on Monday,
October 1st. According to Bob Yates, W4GCB,
this is an informal net, created one year ago
with the goal of promoting activity on 6
meters in the LaGrange area.
LaGrange, Georgia, is located 60 miles
southwest of Atlanta near the southern
boundary between Grid Squares EM72 and EM73.
The net control is Ed Ekkebus, KE4EE, with
assistance from Rob Momon, N4VPI. The net
meets every Monday evening on 50.155 Mhz at
00:30 UTC.
W4GCB says that during its first 12 months of
operation the net has garnered close to 1,500
check in's, with a handful coming from E-skip
contacts. (W4GCBL)
HAM HAPPENINGS: HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY TO THE
HUNTSVILLE ARC
And congratulations also to the Huntsville
Alabama Amateur Radio Club on its 50th
Anniversary.
The first Huntsville Amateur Radio Club was
organized on October 6, 1947, with Bill Neal,
W4FZD, as the first President. The
constitution was approved March 22, 1948.
There were twenty-two members of this initial
organization but due to a lack of interest,
the club was disbanded in the spring of 1949.
The second Huntsville Amateur Radio Club also
known as HARC was organized April 18, 1952,
at the WFUN Studio. John Garrison, W4FOG,
elected as the first President.
The constitution and by-laws were adopted
June 20, 1952. 16 members were on the first
club roster and the club participated in its
first Field Day event on June 21 and 22,
1952. HARC became affiliated with the
American Radio Relay League on September 26,
1952, and remains so to this day.
The first club call, K4DTV, was obtained in
July of 1954. The club's current callsign
K4BFT, in honor of Hammond Carpenter, K4BFT
was voted in by the club members on April 3,
1964. More about the history of the
Huntsville group is on-line at harc.net.
(HARC)
This is ham radio news for today's radio
amateur. From the United States of America,
We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links
to the world from our only official website
at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by
the volunteer services of the following radio
amateur:
WORLDBEAT: FATHER AND SON AWARDED DOCTORATES
IN ENGINEERING
It is not often that a father and son obtain
doctorates in engineering during the same
week. But it has happened and the latest
involves two hams in South Africa. Amateur
Radio Newsline's Hewather Butera-Howell,
KB3TZD, reports:
Dr. Gary Immelman. ZS6YI, and his son Dr.
Quintin Immelman, ZS6IY, both acquired
doctorates in engineering during the same
week, but from different universities.
Gary Immelman obtained a Doctorite is
Technologiae Engineering and Technology from
the Vaal University of Technology. Quintin
acquired his Ph.D. in Mechanical-Nuclear
Engineering from South Africas North West
University. The two graduation ceremonies
were not originally planned to fall within
the same time frame, so chance made it at
remarkable week to remember.
It should be noted that last year at this
time ZS6YI was recovering from gunshot wounds
that he suffered as a result of a brutal
attack at his home on July 25 of 2011. Late
word is that hes almost fully back to good
health but still has pain in his right arm
and abdomen. That said, the incident has not
slowed him down in any way.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Heather
Butera-Howell, KB3TZD, near Berwick
Pennsylvania.
Our congratulations to both ZS6YI and ZS6IY
and their achievements. (SARL)
WORLDBEAT: SOUTH AFRICA REVITALIZES HAMNET
DOMAIN
South Africa's Hamnet website was reactivated
on October 1st. Hamnet is a voluntary group
of radio amateurs who, like ARES in the
United States, volunteer their communication
skills to assist others during and after
disasters.
Their Hamnet domain has been dormant for many
years. Now thanks to the efforts of Dawie
Conradie, ZR6DHC, an initial site has been
put together and will grow with time.
The revitalized Hamnet website is described
as filling the gap between the South African
Radio League website and the well established
Hamnet Facebook page.
All links have been incorporated in the
website, including some that are
international. Its located in cyberspace at
www.hamnet.co.za,
(SARL)
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: UKCUBE TO LAUNCH IN MARCH
2013
Turning to ham radio space related news, word
that UKube-1, the United Kingdom Space
Agency's first CubeSat mission, has booked
its journey into space on board a Russian
Soyuz-2 rocket. The launch from Kazakhstan is
expected to take place sometime in March of
2013. The tiny satellite carries an amateur
radio 435 to 145 MHz linear transponder built
by members of AMSAT-UK. (AMSAT UK)
RADIO NEAR SPACE: HIGHEST AND FASTEST EVER
SKY DIVE ATTEMPT OCTOBER 8
A high altitude sky-diver plans to leap from
nearly 23 miles above the Earth on October
8th. This, in a high sped plunge that, if
successful, will be the world's highest ever
skydive. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Damron,
N8TMW, has the details:
If all goes according to plan, a helium-
filled balloon will lift off from Roswell,
New Mexico on that date carrying Felix
Baumgartner to an altitude of 120,000 feet in
a custom built capsule that will keep him in
radio contact with the personnel at his
mission control center on the ground. Once at
altitude, Baumgartner will step out of the
capsule and jump back toward Earth in his
attempt to break a skydiving record that has
stood for 52 years.
The current record for world's highest
skydive stands at 102,800 feet. It was set in
1960 by U.S. Air Force Captain Joe Kittinger,
who serves as an adviser for Baumgartner's
mission. If Baumgartner succeeds, he will
break not only that mark but also the sound
barrier, becoming the first skydiver ever to
fall at supersonic speeds. During a July 25th
jump, Baumgartner's top freefall speed was
540 mph which is about as fast as a
commercial airliner flies.
According to Baumgartner's launch team, this
is more than a simple attempt at setting a
world's record. If successful it will prove
the viability of the next generation of space
suits that can be worn by astronauts and
cosmonauts working in the near space
environment.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim
Damron, N8TMW, reporting.
A video of July 25th practice jump is on-line
at tinyurl.com/high-jump-one. The mission's
own website is at www.redbullstratos.com.
(Published news reports)
RADIO IN SPACE: ISS SPACE DEBRIS AVOIDANCE
MANUVER CALLED OFF
Plans to move the International Space Station
to a slightly different orbit were called off
on Thursday, September 27th. This after
controllers determined that two pieces of
orbital debris would not pose a collision
risk.
According to NASA, Mission controllers had
been monitoring debris from an old Russian
Cosmos satellite and a fragment from an
Indian rocket. Some scientists had said there
was a chance that the debris could come close
enough to require an adjustment in the
station's orbit.
But NASA said additional tracking of the
debris resulted in a high degree of
confidence that neither object would pose any
possibility of a collision with the ISS. As a
result, Mission Control in Houston canceled
the debris avoidance maneuver with
concurrence of Russian flight controllers.
Space debris moves at a high orbital velocity
rate and has the ability to cause damage to
various operational on-orbit birds including
the ISS. As such, flight engineers and
spacecraft controllers try to give such space
junk a wide berth whenever something might
come close.
(NASA)
ON THE AIR: CELEBRATING JAPANS HEALTH AND
WELFARE FESTIVAL
On the air listen out for special event
station 8J7NPMG. It will be operational
through October 16th from Miyagi prefecture
on Honshu Island to celebrate the 25th All
Japan Health and Welfare Festival. QSL only
via bureau. (DXNL)
ON THE AIR: NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WEEK
SPECIAL EVENT
Also, the National Wildlife Refuge Special
Event is slated for October 14th to the 20th
and ham radio will again be helping to mark
the occasion. The goal is to combine the
communication skills of amateur radio
operators with their enjoyment of the
outdoors as a way to help others learn about
the National Wildlife Refuge System. Only
authorized, safe, responsible access to
refuges are sanctioned by this event. For
more information please contact the events
coordinator at info (at) nwrweek-radio (dot)
info. (Arizona ARRL Newsletter)
This is ham radio news for today's radio
amateur. From the United States of America,
We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links
to the world from our only official website
at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by
the volunteer services of the following radio
amateur:
(5 sec pause here)
DX
In DX, OD5RW is on the air from Lebanon
operating on 80 meters through 70 centimeters
using CW, SSB, RTTY, SSTV and other digital
modes. He also has D-Star capability on VHF
and UHF. QSL via K8NA.
F6EXV and DJ8NK will be active from Niger
through October 15th as 5U6E and 5U8NK
respectively. Operation will be on the High
Frequency bands though modes have not been
announced. QSL 5U6E via F6EXV and 5U8NK via
DJ8NK.
F6AML will be active from Mayotte Island
through October 19th as T-Oh-2-M. He will be
operational on 80 through 10 meter CW and
SSB. QSL via home call.
N6XT and N7CQQ currently active portable KH8
from American Samoa. They are reported to be
operational on all of the High Frequency
bands using various modes. QSL via home calls.
DJ7RJ will be on the air from Reunion Island
signing stroke FR until October 21st. He
plans to be active on all bands 10 to 160
meters using CW and SSB. QSL as directed on
the air.
LZ1CNN has received his Afghan callsign and
plans to be active as T6LG until next
February. He'll be on all bands, CW and SSB.
QSL via L-Zed-1-Zed-F and all QSO's will be
uploaded to Logbook of The World.
Lastly, and down the DX road a bit word that
K2TTT will be operational as C6ATT from New
Providence Island between June 8th to the
15th, 2013. Activity will be on 40 through 10
meters. QSL via K2TTT.
THAT FINAL ITEM: JOTA 2012 – OCTOBER 20-21
And finally this week, the biggest event of
the scouting season involving ham radio is
drawing near. Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark
Abramovich, NT3V, is here with the details:
It's the largest Scouting event in the world.
Last year, it drew more than 750,000 Scouts
in 150 countries to the ham radio frequencies
manned by 6,000 amateur radio operators.
It's the 55th annual Jamboree on the Air
which which runs the weekend of Oct. 20-21.
Jim Wilson, K5ND, national Jamboree on the
Air organizer for the United States as well
as chairman of the national Radio Scouting
committee, says it's a chance for amateur
radio to introduce young men and women to the
adventure and fun of the hobby...
"It's not a contest, it's a conversation,"
Wilson says. "And, there's no prizes handed
out for the number of contacts that you make.
Instead, it's about talking with Scouts, and,
ideally, Scouts talking with other Scouts -
either across town, across the state, across
the nation, or across the world."
Wilson says in the United States, many Scout
councils will be conducting camporees on JOTA
weekend and amateurs will set up stations and
put the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturers
on the air.
He says the neatest thrill for operators
taking part in the event is facilitating a
Scout working a DX contact, and ideally
talking with a Scout overseas...
"The real excitement is seeing a Scout's eyes
light up as they realize that they're
communicating over such a long distance and
how all this gear comes into play," says
Wilson.
Wilson says he's already spoken with a few
JOTA station organizers who are planning
something special for the Scouts...
"They like to have the Scouts build their own
antenna, test the antenna to see what the
Standing Wave Ratio is and all that sort of
stuff and then put it on the air and make a
contact," Wilson says. "So, it's a simple
dipole, a very easy way for them to do hands
on and then watch as the result of their work
makes a contact. It can be a very exciting
experience for that Scout."
Wilson says there will be lots of activity on
the air that weekend, including a scheduled
contact from the BSA's Scouting museum in
Texas with the International Space Station.
But he cautions amateurs need to make sure
they brush up on those third-party agreements
to ensure everyone stays legal.
Wilson says there's another very important
reason to roll out the welcome mat for the
Scouts...
"Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and Venturers that
will be participating in Jamboree on the Air
are the same people that are going to be
writing the regulations for your antennas at
your neighborhood level, at the city level,
at the state level, at the federal level,"
Wilson says. "And now is a good time to reach
out to them to say amateur radio has real
value, it's making a difference in the world.
This is the time to reach them.
"And JOTA is a great way to do that not only
to grow the ranks of amateur radio, but to
just introduce kids who may never participate
in amateur radio so that they understand that
it's magic, it's fun, and it contributes to
our communities in a very positive way."
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark
Abramowicz, NT3V, in Philadelphia.
More information on JOTA 2012 is on-line at
www.scouting.org/jota.aspx. The scouts say
that they hope to make contact with you on
the air.
(NT3V)
NEWSCAST CLOSE
With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL,
the CGC Communicator, CQ Magazine, the FCC,
the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands,
Rain, the RSGB, the Southgate News, the South
African Radio League, TWiT-TV and Australia's
WIA News, that's all from the Amateur Radio
Newsline™. Our e-mail address is newsline (at)
arnewsline (dot) org. More information is
available at Amateur Radio Newsline's™ only
official website located at
www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us
or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline™,
28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California,
91350
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the
editors' desk, I'm Jim Davis, W2JKD, saying
73 from Vero Beach, Florida, and we thank you
for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline™ is Copyright 2012. All
rights reserved.
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