Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B) To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Thu May 19 2022 21:12:59 SILENT KEY: PHILANTHROPIST, QUALCOMM FOUNDER FRANKLIN ANTONIO, N6NKF SKEETER: The founder of chipmaker Qualcomm and a longtime AMSAT supporter has become a Silent Key. We hear more about him from Andy Morrison, K9AWM. ANDY: Franklin Antonio, N6NKF, cofounded Qualcomm, a company whose chips helped spur the success of wearable medical equipment, cellphones and other tech devices. The lifelong engineer and amateur radio operator was also a generous and enthusiastic supporter of AMSAT. Franklin became a Silent Key recently and, according to several reports, his death was unexpected. His passing was announced on May 13th by Qualcomm, where he had been a leading force in their engineering departments. Qualcomm did not release the date or cause of his death. A philanthropist, Franklin recently gave a gift of $30-million to his alma mater, the University of California San Diego. He also made a $3-mllion donation to the Allen Telescope Array for a new broadband antenna feed for its work for the SETI Institute, which studies deep space for life beyond Earth. Franklin wrote AMSAT's popular Instant Track orbital software. He was 69 years old. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM. (AMSAT, UC SAN DIEGO, SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE) ** RSGB OFFERS NEW INCENTIVES FOR FOUNDATION LICENSE HOLDERS SKEETER/ANCHOR: New hams in the UK have a whole array of new reasons to get involved, get on the air and get even more enjoyment out of amateur radio. A series of award certificates will be issued to help them mark each achievement they make in their new journey. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, explains how it works. JEREMY: Foundation licence holders in the UK can earn certificates that encourage them to move forward in their on-air activities and progress toward Intermediate and Full licence level. The Radio Society of Great Britain is calling the incentive program "Brickworks," because its goal is to build on the Foundation. Its national release two years ago was slowed by the pandemic and subsequent lockdown so the Society is breathing new life into it by actively encouraging clubs and individuals to sign up. With the assistance of local clubs, newcomers can mark their achievements by attending club meetings, writing software, undertaking construction projects, logging QSOs and getting involved in contests. Yes, even making a cup of tea for the next club meeting counts toward points. Certificates are available at the silver, gold, platinum and diamond level. If you're interested in joining the programme, contact your nearest Brickworks club. There is a searchable map that serves as a Brickworks Club Finder, showing locations throughout the UK. Clubs are also being encouraged to contact the RSGB to register and become accredited for the Brickworks programme. Previously registered clubs do not need to re-register. Find the map and other details at rsgb dot org stroke brickworks (rsgb.org/brickworks) For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH. (RSGB, ESSEX HAM) ** NORTH CAROLINA AMATEURS TAKE ON MARATHON CHALLENGE SKEETER/ANCHOR: There's more than one way to run a marathon, and as hams in North Carolina found out recently, some of the biggest winners in the race cross the finish line with their radios. George Zafiropoulos, KJ6VU, brings us that report. GEORGE: Spectators watching the New River Marathon on Saturday, May 14th applauded the winners as they crossed the finish line but some of the biggest honors went to the Ashe County Amateur Radio Club. Operating at the North Carolina race for the first time, club members provided realtime status of the racers and kept a close watch on competitors in distress. Paul Raiche (pronounced RAYSH), N1XI (N One Ex Eye), club president, said 11 amateurs covered nine support stops, operated two roving vehicles along the race routes and maintained a base station at the finish line. Operators used mobile radios on 2 meters simplex, with at least 50 watts of power. The base station had a vertical antenna raised 20 feet high. Because this was the first time the club was responsible for coverage of the race, everything had to be just right. Paul said that even when something went wrong -- and one runner could not finish the course -- the hams were able to get to her within minutes after being notified that she needed help. Paul said the race director, Ken Sevensky, told him afterward he heard [quote] "nothing but great things from both runners and volunteers about the job our club did." [end quote] For this group of enthusiastic first- time marathon supporters, it was good to be in the running even without lacing up those sneakers. Paul told Newsline: [quote] "We are hopeful that we will be invited back next year and our goal then will be to do an even better job than we did this year." [endquote] For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm George Zafiropoulos, KJ6VU. (ASHE POST AND TIMES, PAUL RAICHE, N1XI) --- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33) .