Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B)
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Thu Mar 09 2023 21:07:20

HAMS IN DELAWARE MOBILIZE FOR SURPRISE WEATHER DRILL

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Fast-moving amateurs in Delaware recently responded to a 
surprise emergency weather drill. Randy Sly W4XJ tells us what happened 
next.

RANDY: SKYWARN and emergency managers in Sussex County on the Delaware 
Peninsula, hold quarterly exercises they call “Pop Ups,” recognizing
that unexpected emergencies pop up. The latest exercise, called "Pops
in the Dark", began on Saturday, March 4. It called for "all hams on deck"
in Sussex and Kent Counties. Amateurs were mobilized without commercial
power, and throughout the activation, were limited to only whatever fuel
and battery capacity they had at the time.

The exercise was a severe winter storm, with reported ice accumulations 
and 10-12" of snow. The event had two parts. On Day 1, the Emergency 
Operations Center nets worked simultaneously with SKYWARN and then 
remained active through the remainder of the exercise. On Days 1 and 2, 
repeaters were reported down and only simplex frequencies were used. 
Barbara Dean, KC3LGE, public information officer Sussex, told AR Newsline 
that, in addition to coordinating various communications tasks, the nets 
also included suggestions on getting the most out of their available 
power. Pops in the Dark concluded on March 8, followed by the collection 
of after-action reports.

This is Randy Sly, W4XJ.

**

NEW CW NET IN IRELAND ATTRACTS 'NERVOUS NOVICES'

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In Ireland, hams who love Morse Code but are nervous about
getting on the air now have a welcoming on-air spot to try out their new
skills. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us about it.

JEREMY: The newest net in Ireland is called "Nervous Novices." Organised 
by Eamo, EI7LC, the 80 metre net is designed to encourage CW newcomers to 
get on the air without feeling as if they needed to be proficient enough 
for a full ragchew.

Check-in begins from 20:30 local time, meeting somewhere between 3.550 and 
3.555 MHz. Amateurs are encouraged to operate QRS to accommodate the 
slowest participants. The emphasis is on good operating practices, not 
speed.

Get on the air and listen for the call "CQ NNCW"

This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

(IRTS)

**

FCC NOMINEE WON'T PURSUE CONFIRMATION

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The search is on for a new nominee to join the US Federal 
Communications Commission following a decision by President Joe Biden's 
nominee to withdraw. Gigi Sohn had been nominated for the vacant FCC seat 
but announced on Tuesday, March 7th, that she would not seek the 
appointment because of what she characterized as personal attacks.

The attorney is best known as a veteran public interest advocate. Her 
confirmation as commissioner would have given the Democratic Party a 3-2 
majority on the FCC.

(WASHINGTON POST)

**

EX-AGENCY OFFICIALS PRESS TO KEEP AM RADIO IN CARS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The fight to keep AM radio in new electric vehicles just 
gained a few more prominent voices in the US, as we learn from Kent 
Peterson, KC0DGY.

KENT: FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington, who has been an outspoken 
opponent of carmakers' plans to remove AM broadcast radio from electric 
vehicles, has been joined by seven former officials in the US emergency 
management agency. In a letter to US Transportation Secretary Pete 
Buttigieg the seven praised AM radio's capacity for long-distance 
communications, making this broadcast mode [quote] "a vital public
safety system." [endquote]

Commissioner Simington spoke late last year at a convention of the 
National Association of Farm Broadcasters and for much the same reasons, 
described AM radio as "the essential spine" of the Emergency Alert System. 
Simington said he agreed with the letter written to the transportation 
secretary and called the push to keep AM radio in electric cars a matter 
for urgent attention.

A number of automakers have stopped including AM radios in their vehicles 
claiming the cars cause electromagnetic interference with AM signals. 
Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts recently asked a number of carmakers, 
including American Honda, Jaguar, General Motors, Kia and BMW, to declare 
their intentions regarding AM and FM radio.

This is Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.

(RADIO WORLD)

**

BREAK HERE: 

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, 
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the K6TZ repeater,
in Santa Barbara, California, on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Pacific Time.
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 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

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