Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (A) To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Fri Feb 26 2021 10:14:21 Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2261, for Friday, February 26, 2021 Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2261, with a release date of Friday, February 26, 2021, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a QST. Earthquake researchers partner with hams. Australian hams weigh in on a proposed license change - and it's time to think about nominating the Young Ham of the Year for 2021. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2261, comes your way right now. *** BILLBOARD CART ** EARTHQUAKE STUDIES EMPLOY AMATEURS' WINLINK DON/ANCHOR: In our top story for this week, a United States government agency is relying increasingly on amateur radio operators to further their understanding of devastating earthquakes. Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, gives us the details. RALPH: Ham radio operators are partnering with the U.S. Geological Survey in helping to report realtime details about seismic activity and earthquake damage, especially when other means of communication have gone offline: They're using the radio email platform Winlink to carry data from the survey's questionnaire-based system known as DYFI, for "Did You Feel It?" ARES members transmit the DYFI reports even if an earthquake has knocked down the region's internet. Receiving stations outside the earthquake region receive the data contained in the Winlink transmission and forward it to the USGS via their own internet access. The DYFI system gathers macroseismic intensity data, allowing scientists to more accurately pinpoint where people felt the earthquake and at what intensity. Researchers also rely on the reports' data to further their general study of earthquakes. According to an article on the website EOS, an estimated 90 percent of DYFI reports are sent by observers within the first hour of an earthquake. Hams can transmit the reports over VHF, HF and even local high-speed mesh networks, many of which have the ability to interface with satellite- connected cells-on-wheels. Cells-on-wheels have proven useful in emergency response already during the California wildfires of 2017 and 2018. ARES is now promoting the DYFI protocol and training hams in California, Washington, Arizona, Hawaii, and Mexico. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB. (EOS) ** WIA POLLS AUSTRALIAN HAMS ABOUT ACMA'S LICENSE PROPOSAL DON/ANCHOR: Hams throughout Australia are being asked to weigh in on a fundamental license change being contemplated. John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us what will happen next. JOHN: As the Australian Communications and Media Authority seeks input on whether to replace amateur radio operators' apparatus licence with a class licence, the Wireless Institute of Australia has asked for feedback from members and other interested amateurs. The WIA's formal polling opens this week. The ACMA has stated that it would like to see the Class Licence established. The licence would be available without a fee and would not change any amateur privileges but it would no longer ensure protection against interference. WIA president Greg Kelly, VK2GPK, wrote members calling the proposal [quote] "a non-trivial change" saying it had long-range impact on amateur radio in Australia. In 2004, the ACMA's predecessor, the ACA, did not implement a proposed move to such a licence. The ACMA supports the change, however, saying it hopes to reduce its regulatory burden and make costs more bearable for licensees. The WIA poll is available to all radio amateurs in Australia. A link to the online registration is available in the script of this newscast on the AR Newsline website, arnewsline.org Hams who register will receive their copy of the poll in their email. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW. FOR PRINT, DO NOT READ: tinyurl.com/wiapoll (ACMA, WIA) ** MAJOR ELECTRONICS RETAILER SHUTTING IN U.S. DON/ANCHOR: In the United States, another major retailer that was a mainstay for amateur radio operators is shutting its doors. Fry's Electronics, which did business online and at retail centers through the western U.S., announced that online competition and the effects of the pandemic were too much to overcome. The 36-year-old chain had 31 stores in nine states, with seven of them in California. (KCAL LOS ANGELES) --- SBBSecho 3.13-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33) .