Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (A)
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Thu Jul 30 2020 22:15:48

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2231, for Friday, July 31, 2020

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2231, with a release date of
Friday, July 31, 2020, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams activate as Hanna takes Texas by storm.
Indian radio operators staff a COVID "war room" - and some call sign
changes in Australia.

All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2231, comes
your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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ACTIVATIONS ASSIST AS HURRICANE HANNA STRIKES

JIM/ANCHOR: In our top story this week, Atlantic hurricane season once
again signals the time for extra amateur radio alertness. Christian
Cudnik, K0STH, gives us the details about Hurricane Hanna, and the
latest amateur activation.

CHRISTIAN: By the time Hurricane Hanna was downgraded to a tropical
depression near the border of the United States and Mexico, at least
four people were dead, and four others were missing. Amateur radio
operators were emerging from several tense hours of communications,
that began on the morning of Saturday, the 25th of July. Southeast
Texas, and the barrier islands, braced for the storm, where reports
said Hanna was to make landfall. The amateur radio station at the
National Hurricane Center, WX4NHC, activated, and had the support of
the VoIP Hurricane Net, where hams activated to provide ground truth
data, including surface and damage reports. Hams in the Corpus Christi
and Brownsville areas, or those with relays into those areas, called
in to the VoIP Hurricane Net using SKYWARN reporting criteria. Hams
used modes including EchoLink, IRLP, and Allstar, with two other hams
using the private telephone network Hamshack Hotline.

Lloyd Colston, KC5FM, told Newsline that the net stood down at 8 p.m.
central, although some hams monitored the situation, because of
flooding conditions, and storms inland. He said that stations wishing
to become involved as a net control station should view voipwx dot net
(voipwx.net), or email Rob, KD1CY, at kd1cy at voipwx dot net
(kd1cy@voipwx.net).

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik, K0STH.

(LLOYD COLSTON KC5FM)

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AMATEURS IN INDIA STAFF A COVID-19 'WAR ROOM'

JIM/ANCHOR: In India, amateur radio operators have been staffing a
COVID-19 "war room", carrying critical information for public health
and safety. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, explains.

JASON: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a busy season for hams in
India, especially those working closely with the Indian Institute
of Hams, VU2IIH, in Bengaluru. The institute coordinated the response
of more than 260 hams across Bengaluru city, to keep information
flowing continuously, on such matters as arrivals and departures
into the city, statistics on infections, mapping the regions infected,
and monitoring families on home quarantine. The civil preparedness
effort included establishment of a COVID-19 "War Room", created by the
government of Karnataka, providing both HF and VHF stations, which were
on the air around the clock. The HF station was provided by the National
Institute of Amateur Radio, and an ongoing net permitted hams to check
in, and exchange information from all over. The Indian Space Research
Organisation, and the Ham Action Force also sent hams and resources
for the massive effort. Hams provided radio connections as well for
government agencies at the airport, and communicated with hams in Pune
(Poo-Nay), who assisted doctors and nurses returning from the shifts
treating COVID-19 patients.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AMATEUR RADIO)

**

ANTIQUE WIRELESS GROUP PRESENTATIONS GO VIRTUAL

JIM/ANCHOR: Although the Antique Wireless Association had to call off
its annual conference in Rochester, New York, because of COVID-19
precautions, the program itself is still being made available as a
series of online video conferences. Starting on August 11th, various
presentations will become available on the AWA's YouTube channel, and
details will be posted on the AWA's website, antiquewireless dot org.
(antiquewireless.org)

(ANTIQUE WIRELESS ASSOCIATION)
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