Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (C) To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Thu Aug 04 2022 20:59:30 DV SCOTLAND, PHOENIX UK MERGE DMR NETWORKS DON/ANCHOR: A merger between two popular DMR networks has promised users the best of both. Jeremy Boot G4NJH brings us that update. JEREMY: The DV Scotland and Phoenix UK DMR networks have merged, simplifying integration with other networks - both digital and analogue. With both networks having a wide array of repeaters, reflectors and servers, the two were considered complimentary and a natural for such a merger. This had been a work in progress for many weeks. The new network now benefits from a variety of DMR, D-Star and Yaesu System Fusion repeaters as well as Allstar hubs and analogue simplex gateways. Eric, G6FGY, told Newsline in an email that current users will not notice any changes and the new network DVScotland-Phoenix will continue hosting a variety of nets accessible by various modes each week. Eric said the merger reflects rather a change in the management structure to operate the network. A list of the nets hosted on this newly merged network can be seen using the link that appears in the text version of this week's newscast. The multimode network also supports Peanut, Echolink and HamShack Hotline. Computer and mobile users can also listen in by using the link asl dot dvscotland dot uk (asl.dvscotland.uk) This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH. [FOR PRINT ONLY: https://www.dvscotland.net/multimode-nets ] (DVSCOTLAND, ERIC G6FGY) ** ALARA CONTEST ENCOURAGES INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP DON/ANCHOR: For more than 40 years, YLs in Australia have been hosting a contest that doesn't just involve scorekeeping - it also encourages international communication. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, explains how it works. GRAHAM: Yes there are awards to be had in the 42nd contest sponsored by the Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association. There are even certificates and trophies - but organisers want participants around the world to know that the real goal of the 42nd annual ALARA Contest on the 27th and 28th of August is to get all licensed ham radio operators around the world - OMs and YLs alike - talking to one another. By spotting on the clusters and even on Facebook, all the competitors actually work together to make it easier to make those important contacts. Competition? Yes! But friendly competition. Be listening too for some of the newest licenced YLs as well as Girl Guides and Scouts. Some contacts are expected to be made on Echolink as well. Visit the ALARA contest page for more details. The link is in this week's text version of the newscast script. You'll find the rules and any other details you need to know to get into the contest. I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB. [FOR PRINT ONLY: alara.org.au/contests/index.html ] ** CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TRIP TO WARM UP THE BANDS DON/ANCHOR: It's time to strap on those cross-country skis -- if you're in Australia, that is -- and grab your radio equipment. Hams are set for high adventure in the Victorian Alps, as we hear from Jason Daniels, VK2LAW. JASON: There's nothing like a winter trip through the snow-filled Victorian Alps to bring some Winter warmth to the bands. That's what a team of cross-country skiing radio amateurs in Australia is hoping for as they call QRZ between Friday August 5th and Tuesday August 9th. The activators include Stephen, VK3SN, Gerard, VK3GT, Bronwen, VK3FIRH, and others and they will be on the HF bands, 80 through 10m, using SSB and FT8. They will also be on 2m and 70 CM simplex and on repeaters. They'll be using lithium batteries and light solar panels for power. This isn't the first time many of these hams have been making this kind of winter trip. Past travels have been quite an adventure, involving operations from igloos and a number of remote peaks. Listening for them promises to be quite an adventure too. This is Jason Daniels, VK2LAW. (STEPHEN, VK3SN) ** INDIAN SCHOOLGIRLS' SATELLITE LAUNCHED WITH 75 EXPERIMENTS DON/ANCHOR: A satellite built by girls in India has been stirring some excitement. John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us why. JOHN: A small satellite built by 750 schoolgirls in India, will be on board for the maiden flight of the Indian Space Research Organization's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle this month. The students were mentored by SpaceKidz India in the construction of this 8-kilogram satellite. It carries 75 small experiments, a camera to study solar panels in space and a variety of long range communications transponder experiments. The satellite also has a messaging system for amateur radio operators. Although this is not the first student satellite built with the help of SpaceKidz India, this one is dfferent because it carries its own power systems and batteries to power an anticipated six- month-long orbit. This satellite is not, of course, the main payload for the launch vehicle. The rocket will also be carrying the Microsat 2A, which is designed to assist in the mapping of parcels of land. At the time Newsline went to production, the launch was scheduled for August the 7th. This is John Williams, VK4JJW. (SPACE KIDZ INDIA, REPUBLICWORLD.COM) --- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33) .