Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (A)
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Thu Nov 26 2020 22:01:47

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2248, for Friday, November 27th, 2020

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2248 with a release date of Friday, 
November 27th, 2020, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. New satellite access for emergencies in India. 
Hams in Israel plan 9 nights of special activity -- and Ham Radio 
University goes virtual. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline 
Report Number 2248, comes your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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INDIAN EMERGENCY OPERATIONS GAIN SATELLITE ACCESS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Our top story brings word of a major step forward in 
communications for eastern India, where cyclones often rip through, 
destroying communities and communications. Amateur radio operators there 
have gained access to a major asset-in-the-sky to help them with 
emergency communications. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, has the details.

GRAHAM: The West Bengal Radio Club and the Indian Academy of 
Communication and Disaster Management have installed the capability to 
communicate with amateur radio satellites from the club station in 
India. The radio club's secretary Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, reported 
that hams recently used the setup to contact many amateurs in Southern 
India as well as in more than 15 countries.

He said the capability will be especially important during natural 
disasters such as cyclones, when hams generally use VHF and HF radios 
but often face propagation issues during these emergencies.

Ambarish Nag Biswas, who is also chairman of the disaster management 
academy, writes: [quote] "It is the first satellite communication setup 
in our entire eastern India," [enquote] and he called it a success of 
the team of the two organisations working together.

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

(AMBARISH NAG BISWAS VU2JFA)

**

HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY GOING VIRTUAL

PAUL/ANCHOR: In the U.S., organizers of Ham Radio University, who have 
been preparing for the 22nd annual all-day event in January, are taking 
the program online instead. We have details from Jim Damron, N8TMW.

JIM: With COVID-19 restrictions preventing the annual gathering of 
amateur radio operators on Long Island, New York, the Ham Radio 
University organizers are adapting the agenda to take place as a virtual 
conference. Ham Radio University will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on 
the 9th of January, 2021 as a GoToWebinar video conference on the 
internet. HRU will also serve as the online convention of the NYC-Long 
Island section of the ARRL.

The agenda features 14 presentations, from the basics of remote-station 
operation over the internet, to software-defined radios, emergency 
communications and the nuts and bolts of HF operating. This year's HRU 
is being presented in memory of its founder Phil Lewis, N2MUN, who 
became a Silent Key earlier this year. 

Advance registration begins on December 15th. For additional details,
visit hamradiouniversity dot org.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.

**

UNIVERSAL RADIO CLOSING ITS DOORS

PAUL/ANCHOR: A store that was an Ohio mainstay with a specialty in 
shortwave radio equipment is closing its doors. Stephen Kinford, N8WB,
has more details.

STEPHEN: Owners Fred Osterman, N8EKU, and Barbara Osterman, KC8VWI, have 
announced their retirement, and the closing of their longtime business, 
Universal Radio, which they operated for nearly 4 decades. A report in 
the SWLing Post noted that the couple were big supporters of amateur 
radio clubs, and other nonprofit organizations over the years.

The company website posted a message from the couple, which notes that 
even though their current location in Worthington, Ohio, is closing on 
November 30th, the company will fulfill all existing orders, and 
continue to close out its inventory. The company will also maintain its 
website for the meanwhile.

The message concludes by saying that between operations at Universal 
Radio and, before that, Radio Shack: [quote] "It has been a privilege to 
have a continuous career in the fascinating field of radio since 1969." 
[endquote]

Universal was founded in 1942 by F.R. Gibb, W8IJ, in downtown Columbus, 
Ohio and was known as a specialist in shortwave and amateur equipment, 
including Millen, Drake, Collins and Hammarlund. Barbara and Fred became 
the third owners in 1982, after buying Universal from Thomas Harrington, 
W8OMV, who had acquired it after F.R. Gibb became a Silent Key.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB.

(SWLING POST, UNIVERSAL RADIO WEBSITE)
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 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33)

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