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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2454 for Friday November 8th,
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2454 for Friday November 8th, 2024
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2454 with a release date of Friday,
November 8th, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Radio amateurs respond to deadly floods in Spain.
Another major tower collapses in the US -- and a once-sleepy satellite marks
50 years in space. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number
2454 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
RADIO AMATEURS RESPOND TO DEADLY FLOODS IN SPAIN
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to Spain, where hams are among the
many volunteers helping vital messages get through in a region where
people's lives have been swept away by floodwaters. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has
those details.
JEREMY: As parts of Spain were overtaken by historic flooding, two groups
provided emergency radio communications through VHF/UHF repeaters in the
hard-hit region. Greg Mossop, GØDUB, the IARU Region 1 emergency
communications coordinator, told Newsline that much of the response came
from R.E.M.E.R., the government's Civil Protection Radio Network, which
draws membership from the amateur community. Other hams were deployed from
Emcom-Espana, the emergency communications group of the URE, the Spanish
national amateur radio society, whose messages proved vital as flash floods
pounded eastern Spain, trapping and killing people in the unrelenting
weather conditions.
Greg told Newsline that the regions most affected included the communities
near Valencia, Murcia and Andalusia. The IARU received its reports from Jose
Antonio Mendez Rios, EA9E, the emergency spokesman for URE and the national
coordinator of Emcom Espana.
Meanwhile, as officials assessed the flood damage, search parties were
dispatched to seek out those reported missing.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(GREG MOSSOP, GØDUB, IARU REGION 1)
**
AWARD FOR USE OF WIRELESS IN WEATHER PREDICTION
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A prominent educator in Israel has achieved international
recognition for her work in using wireless signals to aid in prediction of
extreme weather, such as flash floods. We hear about her from Graham Kemp
VK4BB.
GRAHAM: Hagit Messer-Yaron has been honoured by the IEEE for her work in
harnessing wireless signals to collect weather data -- to serve as a
reliable predictor of floods. She was inspired to assist meteorologists who
had told her, years ago, that predictions are not always possible or
consistent when using radar, satellites and other tools. Working with a
research team, she found a more reliable method using wireless
communication. The process involves use of algorithms developed by her and
her team and applied to data collected from communication networks. This
technique, which was tested first in Israel, can predict flash floods by
extracting the data from measurements in the difference between the
amplitude of the signals transmitted and those received. She is hoping to
apply it to communication networks globally. Her hope is that people would
be alerted well in advance of the storm and could be evacuated from affected
areas sooner.
For her work, she has received the Medal for Environmental and Safety
Technologies from the IEEE, where she is also a Life Fellow.
This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(IEEE SPECTRUM)
**
THIRD BROADCAST TOWER COLLAPSES IN US
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In the US, another broadcast tower has collapsed - this one
in the state of Missouri -- marking the third such incident in October.
Randy Sly W4XJ has that story.
RANDY: The tower of Missouri AM radio station KRMO, 990 kHz, collapsed on
the 24th of October after one of its guy wires snapped, according to
industry media reports. The incident marked the third destruction of a US
broadcast tower in October. Local media reports said that one of the co-
owners, Dewayne Gandy of Eagle Broadcasting, witnessed the collapse as he
was mowing nearby. The tower was 75 years old and maintenance work had
recently been performed. While the owners make plans to restore a tower to
the site, the station is transmitting via sharing access on the KSWM-AM 940
kHz tower in Aurora, Missouri. Earlier in October, a broadcast tower
collapsed in Houston, Texas, after a helicopter crashed into it, leaving
four dead. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, station KKOB-AM was knocked off the
air after its tower was destroyed by the impact of a hot-air balloon. The
three passengers were reported safe after that incident.
This Randy Sly W4XJ.
(WIA, RADIO & TELEVISION BUSINESS REPORT; RADIOINK.COM)
**
DELAYED OPENING AT ARECIBO SCIENCE EDUCATION CENTER
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A science education center at the site of the former Arecibo
radio telescope is delaying its much-awaited opening to the public, as we
hear from Travis Lisk N3ILS.
TRAVIS: Following a pilot program held this summer that opened its doors to
students and educators by invitation only, the scientific education and
research center at the site of the former Arecibo Observatory has had its
opening delayed until the new year. The National Science Foundation facility
in Puerto Rico is known as the Arecibo Center for Culturally Relevant and
Inclusive Science Education, Computational Skills and Community Engagement,
or NCF Arecibo C3. It was originally scheduled to open in November.
Center administrators said the delay would provide more time for the
transport of essential equipment and preparation to make the facility more
accessible. One of C3's orginal collaborators, Universidad del Sagrado
Corazon, recently ended its involvement with the center, expressing pride in
its first year of work with others on the team. The university's provost
and VP for academic affairs said in a statement: [quote] "These partnerships
and structures have now been successfully initiated, and the remaining
institutions involved in the project will continue this important work."
[endquote]
The National Science Foundation announcement said the delayed opening to the
public will also allow adjustments in C3's organizational structure. Opening
day is expected to coincide with the National Science Foundation's 75th
anniversary. The goal of the center is to provide a place for STEM education
and research that honors the historic Arecibo Observatory, which was
dismantled after its collapse in 2020.
This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.
(NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, C3 WEBSITE)
**
INVESTIGATORS PINPOINT POSSIBLE ROOT OF ARECIBO COLLAPSE
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, a draft report about the 2020 collapse that led
to the dismantling of the Arecibo Observatory's 305-metre telescope has
pinpointed what is believed to be the root cause. A pre-publication document
from the National Academies, made available to the public online, said that
investigators found [quote] "unprecedented and accelerated long-term zinc
creep induced failure." [endquote] In other words, the failure occurred in
the radio telescope's cable sockets, vital components that were designed to
support the 900-ton platform that was above the dish. The data analysis was
conducted by the University of Central Florida and the National Science
Foundation.
The telescope's construction occurred between 1960 and 1963. Investigators
believe that the sequence of events leading to the collapse may have begun
with Hurricane Maria, which hit the telescope as a Category 4 in 2017. The
report noted that inspections before the storm found the zinc leading edge
to be intact - but in late 2018 and early 2019 cable slippage was detected.
(ENGINEERING NEWS RECORD, GIZMODO, NATIONAL ACADEMIES)
**
OLDER S-BAND TECHNOLOGY KEEPS VOYAGER 1 TRANSMITTING
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Another crisis was resolved aboard the Voyager 1 deep space
probe by turning back the clock on technology. Kent Peterson KCØDGY tells us
what happened.
KENT: For Voyager 1, there was another disturbing incidence of radio silence
all over again. A shutdown in October of the X-band radio transmitter left
the space probe unable to communicate with the Deep Space Network. The
mission team linked the problem to a command that had been sent to turn on
one of Voyager's heaters. The team believes the command somehow activated
the spacecraft's fault-protection system which conserves its power That
lowered the rate of data transmission and shut off the X-band transmitter,
instead engaging the S-band transmitter.
Recounting the sequence of events in the Voyager Blog, NASA's Tony Greicius
wrote that S-band transmission, which has a fainter signal than X-band and
consumes less power, had not been used by the space team since 1981. S-band
operates on frequencies between 2 and 4 GHz whereas X-band uses frequencies
in the range between 8 and 12 GHz. The NASA blogger wrote: [quote] "The
flight team was not certain the S-band could be detected at Earth due to the
spacecraft’s distance, but engineers with the Deep Space Network were able
to find it.ö [endquote] The old S-band transmitter has turned in a reliable
performance since October 24th, even from the distance of more than 15
billion miles, or 24 billion kilometres, from Earth, and will remain in use
while the team continues its troubleshooting.
According to the blog, [quote] "it may take days to weeks before the team
can identify the underlying issue that triggered the fault protection
system." [endquote]
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(GIZMODO, NASA)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the WD8IIJ
repeater of the Steubenville-Weirton Amateur Radio Club on Fridays at 8 p.m.
local time in Steubenville, Ohio.
**
JAPAN LAUNCHES SPACE SATELLITE MADE OF WOOD
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: NASA has launched LignoSat, a wooden satellite built by
Japanese researchers. It was successfully sent to the International Space
Station on Tuesday, November 5th, headed to the International Space
Station. Newsline first reported on its development in 2021 as a partnership
between Kyoto University and a Japanese home-building company, Sumitomo
Forestry. It is expected to be released into orbit about 250 miles, or 400
km, above the Earth. LignoSat is an experiment using space-grade wood to
build environmentally friendly satellites. Meanwhile, New Zealand has been
busy with its WISA Woodsat, a 1-kilogram amateur radio satellite built in
Finland. When launched by a rocket, it is expected to reach an orbit about
310 to 340 miles - or between 500 and 550 km above Earth. The microsatellite
has already completed a test flight in the stratosphere, 30 km above Earth,
aboard a weather balloon.
(REUTERS, NASA)
**
HAMSCI RECEIVES 0.8M GRANT FOR IONOSPHERIC STUDIES
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A 0.8 million grant has been given to HamSCI for it
continued work studying the ionosphere. Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us what's
planned next.
ANDY: The citizen science investigators of HamSCI have received 0.8 million
in additional support from the National Science Foundation to support their
ongoing studies of the ionosphere. The announcement was made by HamSCI
founder Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, who said the funding would be used for
various kinds of equipment to measure different aspects of the ionosphere's
behavior. They include 10 WSPRSonde transmitters to be a source of GPS-
stabilized HF beacon signals. The funding will also support a network - now
in development - comprising 30 standardized receive stations that can
observe HF Doppler shifts, WSPR transmissions, VLF transmissions, the
geomagnetic field and natural radio emissions. Nathaniel said the network
being established will be [quote] "the only wide-spread, coordinated high
frequency, very low frequency and ground magnetometer measurement network
that is distributed primarily across the midlatitude region." [endquote]
According to an announcement by the University of Scranton, where Nathaniel
is an associate professor in physics and engineering, he will be the lead
principal investigator of the collaborative work done under the grant with
researchers at Case Western Reserve University, the University of Alabama
and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
These projects are a continuation of the ongoing work by HamSCI which
involved amateur radio participation in Solar Eclipse QSO Parties this year
and last year. Hams were able to contribute data that helped researchers
better understand the impact the annular solar eclipse and the total eclipse
had on the ionosphere.
This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.
(HAM RADIO DAILY, UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON)
**
HAM RADIO TO GIVE ALASKAN ISLAND GREATER CONNECTION
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In Alaska, an island community off the coast of the mainland
has become a little bit less of an island now because of amateur radio.
George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU has that story.
GEORGE: Members of the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department have always been
ready to respond from their fire hall if an emergency strikes their island
overlooking Frederick Sound. The hard work and generosity of one local ham
has just made the fire hall a whole lot more ready. Gary Treffry WL7LV, has
donated two transceivers, tuners and antennas, along with wires, power
supplies and an amplifier and established an amateur radio station there.
The goal isn't just enhanced emergency response but the creation of a new
local ham radio club based at the fire hall.
Communication is key in this part of the northernmost state of the US.
Emergency Services Director Aaron Hankins told the local paper, The Pilot:
[quote] "We are islands ... there's no one we can just drive down the road
and get communications from but we hope to have that added capability."
[endquote]
There are already some resources locally. Alaskan hams are part of the
Amateur Radio Emergency Service, or ARES. More than 100 hams also
participate in the Alaska-Pacific emergency preparedness net, or A-P Net,
where Gary is a member. Aaron Hankins said he is hoping to see more hams get
involved at the fire hall after the project is completed. He added: [quote]
"I hope that we never have to use his contribution in an emergency fashion,
but we'll definitely be very glad to have this capability if the need
arises." [endquote]
This is George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU.
(THE PETERSBURG PILOT)
**
HAMVENTION ANNOUNCES THEME: "RADIO INDEPENDENCE"
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: With Hamvention 2025 set for the weekend of May 16th, the
organizers are asking prospective attendees to ponder the question of what
"radio independence" means to them. That is, in fact, the theme for the
convention in Xenia, Ohio. In announcing the theme, the Hamvention team says
[quote] "In the course of history radio has been heavily regulated and, in
some instances, banned altogether. We are fortunate to enjoy these freedoms,
and for us at Hamvention we are proud of our Radio Independence. What does
Radio Independence mean to you?" [endquote]
Hopefully there will be many answers found in the workshops, seminars and
eyeball QSOs at the Greene County Fairgrounds.
(HAMVENTION)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, listen for Theo, PA3CBH, on the air as 3D2TP from Viti
Levu, IOTA Number OC-016, in Fiji, from the 8th of November to the 12th of
December. He is operating QRP on SSB and QRS CW. QSL via his home call.
Andriy, W9KM, is active holiday style as ZF2KM from Grand Cayman Island,
IOTA Number NA-016, until the 12th of November. He is operating CW and the
digital modes with a focus on 30, 17 and 12 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL
details.
(425 DX BULLETIN)
**
KICKER: A ONCE-SLEEPY SATELLITE MARKS 50 YEARS IN SPACE
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We end this week's report with a story, one that could be
called Sleeping Beauty - or perhaps more correctly, Rip Van Winkle. Either
way, this story really is a sleeper - as you'll hear from Neil Rapp WB9VPG.
NEIL: This is no fairy tale. It's a story that begins on November 15th of
1974 with the launch of a little satellite, a SmallSat called AO-7. For six
and a half years it delighted amateur radio operators who made use of it
worldwide. As time went on, however, AMSAT knew that it would soon be time
to say good-bye: By 1980, the cells in the satellite's NiCad battery began
to fail over a period of weeks into 1981. Thus began the Big Sleep of
SmallSat AO-7. That is, until its sudden awakening, which AMSAT said could
only have been possible if the battery developed an open circuit.
Still, there was no mistaking this wakeful voyager. In 2002, Perry Klein,
W3PK, AMSAT's first president, received a phone call from satellite
enthusiast Pat Gowain, G3IOR [G Three EYE OH Arr], alerting him to the fact
that he'd just picked up Morse Code telemetry on AO-7's former beacon
frequency. It was confirmed. Soon other hams heard it too. Like Rip Van
Winkle - in the classic short story by Washington Irving - satellite AO-7
had officially ended a slumber that was two decades long.
Throughout November, AMSAT News Service will be honoring this oldest active
amateur radio satellite with articles retelling its exciting story. Visit
the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org. We
promise - you'll have no trouble staying awake.
This is Neil Rapp WB9VPG.
[DO NOT READ: https://www.amsat.org/amsat-ao-7-a-fifty-year-anniversary/
]
[AMSAT NEWS SERVICE]
**
JUST SAY 'HI' TO HAIKU
If a good day of radio is like poetry to you, pick up a pencil and join the
Amateur Radio Newsline haiku challenge. Share your experience by sending an
original haiku to us here at Newsline. Use the entry form on our website,
arnewsline.org and please follow the rules for writing your three-line haiku
-- sorry but we cannot accept any entries that aren't written in traditional
haiku form. Share with fellow listeners the poetry that is inspired by your
ham radio experience!
NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily; AMSAT News Service; C3
Website; David Behar K7DB; Engineering News Record; 425DXNews; Greg Mossop,
GØDUB; Gizmodo; Hamvention; IARU Region 1; IEEE Spectrum; National
Academies; National Science Foundation; Petersburg Pilot; QRZ.com; Radio &
TV Business Report; Radioink; Reuters; shortwaveradio.de; University of
Scranton; Wireless Institute of Australia; and you our listeners, that's all
from the Amateur Radio Newsline. We remind our listeners that Amateur Radio
Newsline is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that incurs expenses
for its continued operation. If you wish to support us, please visit our
website at arnewsline.org and know that we appreciate you all. We also
remind our listeners that if you like our newscast, please leave us a 5-star
rating wherever you subscribe to us. 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. As always we thank you for
listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2024. All rights
reserved.
73 de Bill, PY2BIL
PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 08-nov-2024 08:03 E. South America Standard Time
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