Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (C) To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Fri Mar 05 2021 09:18:52 SARL PARTNERSHIP TO ASSIST KENYA'S NEWEST HAMS DON/ANCHOR: Hams in South Africa are partnering with hams in Kenya to help that nation's newest amateurs. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, brings us that story. JIM: The Communication Authority of Kenya has approved a memorandum of understanding that will allow the South African Radio League to assist the Radio Society of Kenya by administering the technical parts of the amateur licence exam. Regulator approval of the agreement was announced in late February. The memorandum outlines how the Kenyan radio society will continue to administer the regulations and operating procedure portions but states that the South African group will conduct online courses for training of the Kenyan amateurs and provide the training manuals and presentation material as well. The arrangement, which had been worked out during the past six months, can now go forward. SARL has similar agreements in place with Namibia and Botswana. For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF. (SARL NEWS BULLETIN) ** AMSAT-DL TRACKS MARS SPACE PROBE DON/ANCHOR: When it copied signals recently from two space probes near Mars, AMSAT Germany was listening for a special reason. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, explains. ED: AMSAT-DL, which has a long-term goal to launch a space probe to Mars, has been listening meanwhile to probes from China and the Emirates that are in orbit around the planet. Using the Bochum Observatory dish at the Sternwarte Bochum Institute, the German AMSAT organisation has copied signals from Tianwen-1 and EMM/Hope, both of which are transmitting on 8.4 GHz. AMSAT-DL makes use of the dish on a regular basis to receive transmission from the NASA/NOAA weather satellites. Built in 1965 to provide ground support for the Apollo missions, the dish was renovated in 2003 with the help of amateur radio operators who added phase-locked receivers in the 2.3 GHz, 5.8 GHz and 10.4 GHz amateur bands, along with the 8.4 GHz receiver. The dish also has an S-band, 2.4 GHz amateur transmitter with 250 watts PEP output. The dish, which is 20 -metres, or 65.6 feet, in diameter, copied signals from Voyager 1 in 2006. AMSAT Germany's plan for a probe of its own dates to 2002, when preparations began for a way to circle Mars, conduct experiments and leave a payload on the planet's surface. Scientists hope the German P5-A probe will be capable of transmitting on amateur radio frequencies receivable on Earth using a 2- to 3-metre parabolic antenna. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP. (AMSAT-DL) ** HAMS IN BRAZIL CHALLENGE REGULATOR'S LACK OF RESPONSE DON/ANCHOR: Hams in Brazil have challenged the nation's regulator, saying its lack of response is keeping hams off the air. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has that story. JEREMY: Brazil's amateur radio society LABRE has told the nation's communications regulator ANATEL that problems communicating with them and their website have been standing in the way of many who wish to operate legally on the ham bands. In a letter dated the 23rd February, the radio organisation LABRE acknowledged that the recent introduction of online licence testing had eased some of the difficulties in getting on the air but hams are now thwarted by the bureaucracy they face in order to complete the process. The letter cited excessive days waiting and a lack of communication from ANATEL. LABRE said that these difficulties have been reported by newly licensed amateurs as well as those qualifying for upgrades. In a report of the letter, which appeared on Southgate Amateur Radio News, there had been no immediate response from the Brazilian regulator. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH. (SOUTHGATE) ** OPEN REGISTRATION BEGINS FOR YOUTH ON THE AIR CAMP DON/ANCHOR: It's time to think about amateur radio camp - and the application period is now open for young hams throughout North, Central, and South America. The Youth on the Air camp will take place from July 11th through July 16th at the National Voice of America Museum in West Chester, Ohio and will welcome as many as 30 campers ages 15 through 25. Scholarships are available for those who cannot afford the $100 camp fee. The window to apply closes on March 21st at 2359 UTC. For details or to download a brochure visit YouthOnTheAir.org Organizers will announce in April whether camp needs to be rescheduled in response to COVID-19 restrictions but for now the plans are going forward. ** NOMINATE A YOUNG HAM FOR NEWSLINE'S AWARD DON/ANCHOR: Speaking of young hams, we have opened the nomination period for our annual Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year award. Think of a young amateur whose commitment to community and whose enthusiasm for radio has inspired you and others and submit their name. Nominees must 18 or younger living in the United States, its possessions or any Canadian province. Downloadable nomination forms can be found on our website arnewsline.org --- SBBSecho 3.13-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33) .