Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (C) To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Thu May 26 2022 19:45:46 AMATEURS RECEIVE TRANSMISSIONS FROM CHINA'S MARS MISSION STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Almost a year after its launch, China's Mars mission has made contact with hams here on Earth. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, has those details. ED: AMSAT-DL reports that it has successfully received transmissions from Tianwen-1, the Chinese Mars mission. According to a recently published report, this took place at Bochum Observatory in Germany using a 20-meter antenna and GNU radio. GNU radio is free open-source software used to create software-defined radios. The report, written by Daniel EstŠvez, EA4GPZ, Mario Lorenz, DL5MLO, and Peter Glzow, DB2OS, said that the Chinese spacecraft has been successfully tracked using a real-time GNU radio decoder that has stored 10 months' worth of transmitted telemetry information. By interpreting the telemetry variables, the GNU radio was able to track the mission, which began with its launch on July 23rd of last year. The paper was first published for GNU Radio Conference 2021 held last September in North Carolina. The radio conference for 2022 is scheduled for September in Washington, D.C. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP. (SOUTHGATE) ** SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO LEAGUE HISTORY PROJECT NEEDS HELP STEPHEN/ANCHOR: History isn't always what it seems and so the South African Radio League is reaching out to amateurs there who may have documents and artifacts that better tell the story of how the league was created. John Williams, VK4JJW, brings us that story. JOHN: Amateur radio forever looks forward to the next generation to ensure its survival but the South African Radio League has begun looking back - way back - to better discover its identity. Sorting through the scrapbooks in the garage of a Silent Key has led some league members to conclude there's more to its history than was previously known. That has led to a project at the National Amateur Radio Centre, the league's headquarters, involving a bit of a treasure hunt. Amateurs in South Africa are asked to sort through old magazines and other materials they have that contain insights into the league and its predecessor organisations. Hams are also being asked to look at programmes from past years' annual general meetings as well as photos taken there. The project would welcome original material or anything that can be scanned or photographed or perhaps brought to the National Amateur Radio Centre. If you have anything to share, please contact the centre. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW. (WIA) ** SOUTH AFRICAN CLUB SCHEDULES YOUNGSTERS' FOX HUNT STEPHEN/ANCHOR: While some hams in South Africa may be hot on the trail of radio history, members of the Sandton Amateur Radio Club ZS6STN have been more concerned with tracking two radio foxes named Fred and Fiona. The club has organized a fox-hunting event for amateurs and their families scheduled for Sunday the 29th of May. The foxes are carrying VHF emergency rescue beacons but according to the club's scenario, will be lost in the park and in need for the youngsters to be their rescuers. Participants are asked to bring their HTs, an antenna and oh yes, their appetites for lunch afterward. Hopefully, Fred and Fiona will be found in time to share in the menu too. (SOUTHGATE) ** PRIDE RADIO GROUP PREPS FOR INTERNATIONAL CONTEST STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Get ready for the first international contest being organized by the Pride Radio Group. It's a big moment for this still- young Australia-based organization, as Graham Kemp, VK4BB, tells us. GRAHAM: Barely two years after its founding, the Pride Radio Group is hosting its first contest for hams worldwide during pride month, which begins in June. The contest, CQ Pride, will be held from June 4th to June 6th. It is open to amateurs in single and multi-operator categories on all HF non WARC, VHF and UHF bands and using all usual modes. Organiser Michaela, VK3FUR, said that the Pride Radio Group event is a celebration of diversity within the amateur radio community. Michaela said that small clubs and individual newcomers are especially welcome. Contacts can be on CW, phone and digital and may be made using satellites, repeaters, hotspots and internet links provided RF is involved in at least one hop. Participants may spot other stations but not themselves. Additional details are available at the link provided in the text version of this week's newscast script at arnewsline.org. [FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ: https://prideradio.group/contest ] For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB. (PRIDE RADIO GROUP) --- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33) .