Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (C)
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Thu Jan 19 2023 20:33:32

WEST BENGAL HAMS ENSURE PILGRIMS' SAFETY

JIM/ANCHOR: A massive religious pilgrimage in India has just 
concluded, and as always the safety of the thousands attending was 
assured with the help of amateur radio as we hear from Jim 
Meachen, ZL2BHF.

JIM: A record number of pilgrims turned out this year for the 
largest religious gathering in India, the Gangasagar Mela, and the 
West Bengal Radio Club was there as always to assist with public 
safety, communications and coordination for individuals who fell 
ill, and needed airlifting from the island to area hospitals. More 
than a dozen people were reported missing at the massive gathering 
and the hams assisted in reuniting them with their families on the 
island. Officials told the Hindu newspaper that they had the 
support of about 42 amateur radio operators. 

The mela began on the 5th of January and ended on the 17th.

While they were there, the hams were also able to make contacts as 
part of Islands on the Air from the island, which is in the Bay of 
Bengal and has the designation of AS-153. They used the callsign 
AT2WBRC.

This is Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(AMBARISH NAG BISWAS, VU2JFA, THE HINDU)

***

BBC FEATURES THE LEADING VOICES OF CW EDUCATORS

JIM/ANCHOR: In the UK, broadcast radio isn't about to start getting
rid of its voice programming and replacing it with CW but this month,
the BBC embraced the mode gladly. Twice, in fact. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH,
tells us about it.

JEREMY: The BBC has run programming before that examined Morse Code
as a form of communication but this month the broadcaster revisited
the subject with one ham from the United States who is a leading CW
educator. On the afternoon current affairs programme, PM on BBC Radio
4, Howard Bernstein, WB2UZE, cofounder of the Long Island CW Club,
spoke with presenter Evan Davis about the mode's growing popularity
in the United States and people's efforts to learn it. The LICW has
membership around the world availing themselves of the club's free
instruction. 

Meanwhile, the voice of CW enthusiast Mervyn Foster, G4KLE, can be 
heard on BBC Three Counties Radio. Mervyn, a volunteer at the 
National Radio Centre, appeared on the breakfast programme of Andy 
Collins on the 13th of January. A lifelong fan of CW, Mervyn told 
Andy about its resurgence in the UK and its usefulness even 
outside amateur radio. 

To hear either or both of these interview, visit the links that 
appear in the text version of this week's newscast at 
arnewsline.org

I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

[Howard interview: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001h638 ]

[Mervyn interview: https://tinyurl.com/h9ny9dsp ]

**

RADIO RELAY INTERNATIONAL EXPANDS ITS REACH

JIM/ANCHOR: Puerto Rico just got another safety net to protect the 
island when disaster strikes, as we hear from Christian Cudnik, 
K0STH.

CHRISTIAN: The global ham radio emergency-response network known 
as Radio Relay International has expanded to provide crisis 
communications in Puerto Rico. RRI announced that the expansion of 
its Digital Traffic Network infrastructure into the island comes 
after a year of working with volunteers there to upgrade emergency 
preparedness through training courses. The area digital coordinators
for RRI have also been giving the volunteers one-on-one assistance
and technical support.

RRI's Digital Traffic Network is a modified hybrid mesh network 
that uses primarily HF but is also involved in creating VHF and 
UHF gateways for local support. The system has the advantage of 
universal interoperability between voice and CW and digital 
platforms. RRI handles traffic as radiograms in voice, CW and 
digital modes via the Digital Traffic Station function. Message 
traffic can also be routed between Winlink and RRI's own system.

James Wades, WB8SIW, RRI's emergency management director, credited 
Victor Rivera, WP4QZH, and Emmanuel Cruz, NP4D, for their work in 
Puerto Rico, along with numerous other team members. Puerto Rico 
becomes part of a larger service of RRI's Digital Traffic Network 
connections that also include Asia, Oceania and Europe.

This is Christian Cudnik, K0STH.

(JAMES WADES, WB8SIW)

**

YOUTH DX ADVENTURE GROUP RETURNING TO CURACAO

JIM/ANCHOR: Is there a trip to Cura‡ao in the future for a young 
hopeful DX adventurer you may know? If so, you will want to hear 
this report from Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

ANDY: The Dave Kalter Memorial Youth DX Adventure group is 
returning to Cura‡ao this year, and is inviting young amateurs to 
be part of the operation. The application period has opened. The 
trip will take place between July 13th and 18th with the goal of 
forming a DX team of amateurs between the ages of 12 and 17. 

This year, the timing of the trip has an added bonus: Because this 
year's DX adventure overlaps somewhat with the Youth on the Air 
Camp taking place in Canada in July, the young hams in Cura‡ao can 
expect to have some scheduled contacts with the YOTA campers as 
well. The PJ2T site in Cura‡ao will once again be the QTH for the 
Caribbean activation. According to the Youth DX Adventure website, 
the team is applying to once again use the call sign PJ2Y

Application forms can be downloaded from the website that appears 
in this week's text version of Newsline.

This is Andy Morrison, K9AWM.

[DO NOT READ: qsl.net/n6jrl ]

[JIM STORMS, AB8YK]
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

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