Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B)
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Thu Sep 17 2020 22:10:31

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON HAM RADIO DISCUSSED AT MINI-CONFERENCE

PAUL/ANCHOR: In Canada, organizers have added a mini-conference to 
the RAC's annual general meeting and one of the bigggest topics is 
COVID-19.

JOHN: The COVID-19 pandemic itself will be a kind of headliner when 
Radio Amateurs of Canada hosts a mini-conference just before its 
annual general meeting on the 20th of September. In addition to 
talks about satellite, engaging more youth, remote operations and a 
recap of the St. Paul Island DXpedition, the day's programme will 
feature what's being billed as "a fireside chat" on amateur radio 
during the global pandemic. Panelists will be Tim Ellam, VE6SH: 
president of the International Amateur Radio Union; Rick Roderick, 
K5UR, president of the American Radio Relay League; and Steve Thomas 
M1ACB, general manager of the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB)

Moderator will be Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA, president of the Radio 
Amateurs of Canada.

This is to be the first time the annual general meeting will be held 
virtually, and the RAC has opted to add the interactive mini-
conference to round out the day. The annual general meeting will 
begin at 4 p.m., at the conclusion of the mini-conference.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.

(RAC)

** 

TWO HAMS IN INDIA SCORE A 'PERSONAL BEST'

PAUL/ANCHOR: The recent AMSAT-UK OSCAR QSO Party has given 2 hams in 
India reason to celebrate, as Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, tells us.

JASON: Marathon runners aren't the only enthusiasts who are proud of 
achieving what's called their "personal best." Ham radio operators 
have their big moments too. Two hams in India -- Rajesh VU2EXP and 
Lucky VU2LBW -- reported recently that during the AMSAT-UK OSCAR QSO 
Party they worked six different FM satellites in one day, September 
9th.

Rajesh is the regional coordinator for the West India Zone of 
AMSAT-India. He writes: [quote] "It's a personal record for us for 
such satellite activities in the region." [endquote] The satellites 
included AO-27, a 27-year-old satellite and SO-50, launched 18 years 
ago.

To add to the thrill, said Rajesh, it should be noted that he 
achieved the contacts using a portable setup from his terrace in 
Gujarat (Goo-Juh-Rott), using a pair of HTs and a homebrew antenna.

He added: "What a memorable day!"

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jason Daniels, VK2LAW.

(SOUTHGATE)

**

SILENT KEY: BILL SEXTON N1AN, PROMINENT MEMBER OF MARS

PAUL/ANCHOR: A New York ham who achieved distinction - both as a 
journalist and in ARMY MARS - has become a Silent Key. Caryn Eve 
Murray, KD2GUT, has that report.

CARYN: An amateur radio operator with a prominent role in the Army 
Military Auxiliary Radio System has become a Silent Key. Bill Sexton,
N1AN, devoted himself to serving MARS following a long, prominent 
career in journalism that included reporting from foreign bureaus in 
Tokyo and Beijing for the Long Island daily newspaper, Newsday. 

A Korean War veteran, he retired from the paper in 1991 and served as 
the public affairs officer for MARS for 13 years. During the 9/11 
terror attacks in the U.S. - and later during Hurricane Katrina - 
Bill assisted with emergency radio communications, earning him the 
Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. Bill was also the 
author of "Army MARS at 90: Helping Protect the Homeland," a 100-page 
study of the organization's role in national security. Bill held the 
Army MARS callsigns AAR1FP, and AAA9PC.

Bill had suffered a stroke one week before his death on September 
6th. He was 91.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT.

(NEWSDAY)

**

SILENT KEY: AVUTU NAGI REDDY VU2ANI, LEADER IN INDIAN AMATEUR RADIO

PAUL/ANCHOR: A leader in amateur radio in southeastern India has 
become a Silent Key. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, tells us more.

GRAHAM: Avutu Nagi Reddy, VU2ANI, was a homebrew enthusiast, a 
helping hand at antenna installations and an all-around guide who 
shared the science of ham radio with others. Avutu became a Silent 
Key on Thursday the 10th of September at home in the Indian state of 
Andhra Pradesh. He was heard often on the HF bands, and was a 
familiar voice particularly on 40 meters. He was also a leader, 
serving as secretary of the Coastal Amateur Radio Society. His love 
of radios extended to his impressive collection of radios and 
amplifiers.

Avutu was 64.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

(NEWS TRACK LIVE)
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32
 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33)

.