Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (C) To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Fri Jul 29 2022 10:59:41 BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the WD8IIJ repeater of the Steubenville-Weirton Amateur Radio Club on Fridays at 8 p.m. local time in the hometown of the late great Dean Martin, Steubenville, Ohio. ** HAMS IN BELGIUM TAKE QSO PARTY TO THE AIR STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In Belgium, a group of hams will be taking their next QSO party to the air. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us what they've got planned. ED: When is a QSO party more than just a QSO party? When it gets an extra lift from a hot air balloon operating on 2 metres, 2,500 feet above the Belgian province of East Flanders. It's a club-wide project overseen by Jurgen, ON8VC, Niels, ON3NSB, and Bernard, ON5MB, members of the radio club Zottegem, ON6ZT. The launch for the flight, which will last about an hour and a half, is scheduled for August 10th at about 6 p.m. local time. It is of course weather-dependent. Jurgen said there will be two pilot ground stations. Erwin, ON7XF, and Theo, ON4CLF, will handle logging for all stations worked. Dominique, ON3DDH, and Chris, ON6ME, will be documenting the event in photos by following the balloon by car. The QSL cards will feature many of the photos. Jurgen told Newsline in an email that the club has a QSO party each month on VHF, mostly with local stations operating on 145.550. The hams decided a few months ago to try and incorporate a hot air balloon into the activity. Stations are expected to spot their contacts on dxsummit.fi but amateurs outside the region of this very local event can still follow the action on APRS. Club manager Benard ON5MB will run an APRS tracker that can be followed at APRS.fi. Jurgen said this QSO Party is a kind of test flight: He said there are already plans in the works to try this on HF in 2023. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP. (JURGEN ON8VC) ** SPANISH MAGAZINE SPONSORS INTERNATIONAL YL EVENT STEPHEN/ANCHOR: An amateur radio magazine published in Spain has announced a YL Diploma contest that's going to be a worldwide event. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, brings us up to date. NEIL: Every month, a Spanish magazine known as Selvamar Noticias transmits friendship, goodwill and radio education - not over the amateur bands, but through the pages of its free publication. Created by Manel, EA3IAZ, and Juan Jos‚, EA3IEW, it has devoted itself to environmental issues, and to celebrating the achievements of the youngest members of the amateur radio community. The magazine also supports YLs deeply involved in the hobby. The August edition of the magazine shines the spotlight on those YLs by devoting one third of its articles to YLs and their accomplishments. The magazine is also sponsoring a YL Diploma contest that runs from August 15th through to the 21st. Citizens Band stations and SWLs are also able to participate. Stations will also be using Echolink and the digital modes. Manel and Juan Jos‚ told Newsline in an email that the event is open to operators in all countries. The diploma will be presented as a downloadable PDF. A link to additional details about the event can be found in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org. Although since starting publishing two years ago, the magazine has been translated into several languages including an accessible version for the disabled, the August edition will only be available in Spanish. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. (Note: Due to the long URL's, they won't fit into the lines for the BBS ham radio echoes. Please go to www.arnewsline.org -- click on SCRIPT, then open the file in Notepad or a similar utility to read it. DS). ** PROGRAM OFFERS HANDS-ON LEARNING TO FOUNDATION LEVEL HAMS STEPHEN/ANCHOR: One amateur club in the UK is providing hands-on learning to newcomers now that those lessons are no longer required by the license exam. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, brings us the details. JEREMY: Although the practical exam is no longer a requirement for a Foundation licence in the UK, practical experience is still a vital part of getting started on the air. Members of the Sutton and Cheam Radio Society in Surrey are providing that to newcomers with a hands-on session on the 11th of September in Surrey. New licence-holders will learn how to adjust an aerial for various frequencies, make contacts on VHF and HF and learn how to set up a station. They will also get a chance to hear - and learn more about - Morse Code. Many of these demonstrations were once elements in the formerly mandated practical exam. The practical proficiency test requirement was removed so that online testing could take place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Practicals for the Intermediate exam were eliminated the previous year. Those attending will be asked to pay a ś10 fee which is to cover use of the headquarters of the 7th Banstead Scouts. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH. (SUTTON AND CHEAM RADIO SOCIETY) --- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33) .