Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (A) To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Thu Mar 03 2022 21:11:54 Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2314, for Friday, March 4th, 2022 Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2314, with a release date of Friday, March 4th, 2022, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a QST. Medium and shortwave carry messages into embattled Ukraine. A transatlantic triumph for a replica transmitter - and what lengths would you go to with a portable antenna? All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2314, comes your way right now. ** BILLBOARD CART HERE ** MEDIUM and SHORTWAVE CARRY MESSAGES TO EMBATTLED UKRAINE STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Our top story this week takes us to the medium wave and shortwave bands, where broadcasters are responding to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, brings us those details. KEVIN: With amateur radio banned in Ukraine following the Russian invasion, broadcasts on the medium wave radio frequencies have taken on increasing importance in the past week. In the US, the Miami, Florida commercial shortwave station WRMI has been carrying broadcasts six days a week of Radio Ukraine International, the official overseas service of Ukraine radio on 510 kHz. There are no Friday broadcasts. The schedule can be found on the website at wrmi dot net. There are also reports that the BBC World Service has begun carrying shortwave broadcasts directed towards Ukraine. According to the website hfunderground dot com, those broadcasts began on February 24th, covering news events. In Italy, the NEXUS International Broadcasting Association, an apolitical, global organization, announced on its website that it has increased its transmitter power on 1323 kHz medium wave into Central and Southern Europe and has a good reach into the area of conflict as well as Poland, Romania, Belarus and Western Russia. A note on the website says: [quote] "We have increased our special news coverage, adding repeats of the most informative and inspirational programs in English to support displaced people and cover the latest events in Ukraine and nearby countries." [endquote] For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE. (WRMI, HFUNDERGROUND, SWLING POST, NEXUS-IBA) ** IARU REGION 1 EMERGENCY TEST TAPS INTO SATELLITE STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In an environment of global challenges, emergency communication becomes even more critical. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us about an international exercise that succeeded recently in sharpening ham radio's preparedness. JEREMY: IARU Region 1 conducted its first test of the newest tool in its emergency communications toolbox on the 26th of February. Stations representing 14 countries around the region included use of the geostationary satellite QO-100 as part of their response to a simulated global emergency. There were 22 stations in all demonstrating how the amateur radio community can be effective, passing messages despite the inevitable language barriers and equipment failures. According to Greg Mossop, G0DUB, the IARU's emergency communications coordinator, the exercise was a success, underscoring how amateur radio stations can respond across a region that stretches from South Africa north through to Europe and into the United Kingdom. The next test is planned for October. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH. (GREG MOSSOP, G0DUB) ** HAMS IN EMCOMM GROUP FEAR NEW FEE WILL HAMPER OPERATION STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A proposed fee to be levied on communications equipment in federal forests is a major concern for one group of hams in Michigan. Christian Cudnik, K0STH, has that story. CHRISTIAN: Hams in Michigan who provide emergency communications have told local officials that because they rely on the use of a tower located inside a national forest, they may now face a new fee of $1,400 to operate. According to a report in the Manistee News, the Manistee County Amateur Radio Operators Club received notice from the US Forest Service that there might be a fee for their use of the tower. Forest Service officials announced in December that they have proposed such fees for any communications users, including cellular phone providers, maintaining permanent equipment on Forest Service land. The agency has reopened the public comment period on the proposal through March 31st. Comments can be posted online at federalregister dot gov (federalregister.gov) The American Radio Relay League has filed comments asking for hams radio operators to be exempt from the fee. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik, K0STH. (MANISTEE NEWS) --- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7) .