Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (A)
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Feb 17 2023 14:00:36

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2364, for Friday, February 17th, 2023

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2364, with a release date of Friday,
February 17th, 2023, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Goodbye, Bouvet Island. A wake-up call for 
weather preparedness in Texas -- and Brazil says goodbye to a noted DXer 
and DXpeditioner. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report 
Number 2364, comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**

BREAKING NEWS: AMATEUR BALLOON'S FATE A MYSTERY

PAUL/ANCHOR: We begin this week with the latest chapter in the story of 
mystery balloons being shot down over North America by US military 
planes. The first and most famous, of course, was a suspected Chinese spy 
balloon. The audio of the Air Force pilots' communications was recorded 
successfully by an aviation enthusiast and radio buff during the downing 
of the balloon.

However, as Newsline went to production, questions were being raised 
about the whereabouts of an amateur radio balloon with the callsign 
K9YO-15 launched last October by a group known as the Northern Illinois 
Bottlecap Balloon Brigade. Unconfirmed reports say the 32-inch sphere 
carrying a 10-gram payload may be the same one that was shot down over 
the Canadian Yukon. Lightweight and relatively inexpensive to build, its 
payload, with a solar panel package and a tracker in the middle, 
transmitted APRS telemetry on HF at very low power.

Cary Willis, KD9ITO, a member of the group, said the balloon has been 
declared missing in action and is considered lost.

According to a post on the website RTL-SDR.COM, a memo from the US 
Pentagon said an object was shot down over Canada that appeared to be a 
"small metallic balloon with a tethered payload." [endquote] The 
description closely fits that of K9YO-15.

Cary told Newsline in an email: [quote] "I suppose anything is possible." 
[endquote] He said FBI agents visited the balloon program's website and 
spent time with members of the group on a conference call. Cary said: 
[quote] "I shared that besides having fun, we're here to teach others how 
to build and launch Pico Balloons legally, following the Code of Federal 
Regulations relating to balloons." [endquote] He said he told others on 
the balloon team that they should be proud of the project and what it has 
accomplished.

He added [quote] "Personally, I believe that if we were shot down, what a 
wonderful way to end our flight." [endquote]

(RTL-SDR.COM, CARY WILLIS, KD9ITO)

**

DXPEDITIONERS LEAVE BOUVET ISLAND

PAUL/ANCHOR: We move next to Bouvet Island, where the 3Y0J DXpedition is 
history, as we hear from Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

GRAHAM: Goodbye-Bouvet Island. Goodbye from the DXpedition team Three Why 
Zero Jay, which departed on Tuesday, February 14th after striking down 
camp. Goodbye too to the chasers who, whether they were disappointed or 
not, have turned to other pursuits. As Newsline went to production, team 
leader Ken LA7GIA announced that with all equipment and team members on 
board, the sail would commence onwards to Cape Town, South Africa, where 
they expected to arrive on or about the 23rd of February. There was a 
possibility of /MM operation while enroute. Team members do not have 
access to the log, which will be handled by QSL Manager M0OXO.

I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(DX-WORLD.NET)

**

WAKE-UP CALL FOR WEATHER PREPAREDNESS

PAUL/ANCHOR: The tragic death of an older man in fast-moving flood waters 
prompted emergency responders in Texas to review their weather spotting 
and communications strategies. Randy Sly, W4XJ, explains what they did.

RANDY: In late January, Hunt and Rockwell counties in North Texas 
received a "wake-up call", when an elderly man died after his SUV was 
swept away by flood waters. In the wake of that deadly flooding, Bianca 
Garcia, from the National Weather Service, held Skywarn training in the 
city of Greenville, at the invitation of the Hunt County Office of 
Homeland Security/Emergency Management and the Greenville Fire-Rescue 
Department. The seminar covered the various threats posed by severe 
thunderstorms, severe weather safety and storm reporting. Even with radar 
and satellite imaging, Garcia emphasized the import role spotters play. 
She told the audience, "You guys are presenting that special set of human 
eyes for us on the ground."

Many of the attendees were members of the Sabine Valley Amateur Radio 
Association, which provides trained spotters to the National Weather 
Service and emergency management agencies. Following the meeting, a 
three-night course was also offered on how to become an amateur radio 
operator. The wake-up call was heeded and those North Texas counties are 
now more storm ready.

This is Randy Sly, W4XJ.
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

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