Subj : Newsline Part 3
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Sat Jul 16 2016 01:48 pm
IN THE UK, ONE RADIO ENTHUSIAST'S LASTING LEGACY
STEPHEN: An amateur radio club in the UK has helped fulfill a radio
enthusiast's dying wish to benefit charity. Here's Amateur Radio
Newsline's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: As any amateur knows, the power of radio to accomplish great
things doesn't end when the set is turned off. That was certainly no
secret to Adrian Aylward of Highclere. Although Adrian wasn't a ham
himself, his love of radio and electronics in general, made him a
kindred spirit to amateurs. Diagnosed two years ago with cancer, Adrian
died last April, expressing the wish that the electronics equipment, and
certainly the radios he used for so much enjoyable listening, might go
on to benefit others. His family contacted the Newbury and District
Amateur Radio Society, which helped fulfill Adrian's final wishes.
The equipment was sold through a silent auction among club members, with
the remaining unsold items offered for purchase in June at the Newbury
Radio Rally. Adrian got his final wish: The equipment found the good
homes he'd hoped for, and the sales generated a gift of �1,000 to be
given to Cancer Research UK. A portion of the money raised also went to
the Newbury Club.
Jonathan Smithers, representing Adrian's family, said: QUOTE "Adrian
would have been happy that we have helped to improve the lives of those
still living with cancer, and also encouraged those with a curiosity
about what can be achieved through electronics." ENDQUOTE
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, in Nottingham, the UK.
(THE NEWBURY TODAY NEWSPAPER)
**
SOUTH AFRICAN HAMS ROAD TEST NEW WEBSITE
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Hams with the Kempton Park Amateur Radio Technical Society
are asking for a radio check. Sort of. The club, which uses the call sign,
ZS6KTS, has just launched a new website and is looking for feedback.
They're inviting amateurs from everywhere to visit them, read about their
activities or post a comment.
The club operates repeaters on 2 meters and 70 cm, and is also active on
EchoLink Node 8041. Visit their website at zs6kts.co.za
(KEMPTON PARK AMATEUR RADIO TECHNICAL SOCIETY)
**
THE WORLD OF DX:
In the world of DX, be listening for a number of stations working during
the Radio Society of Great Britain's IOTA Contest, July 30 and 31st.
They include Tibor, OM3RM, working as IS0/OM8A from Sardinia, as a
Single-Op/All-Band/High-Power entry. Send QSL cards via OM2VL.
There is also Joe, IT9RZU, who will be active from the island of Sicily
during the contest as a Single-Op/All-Band/Low-Power entry. Send QSLs via
his home callsign, by the Bureau or LoTW.
Mike, IF9ZWA, will be active from Favignana Island during the contest as
a Single-Op entry. QSLs should be sent to his home callsign via the Bureau
only.
And finally, Theodoros, SV1EJD, will be active in the contest as well, but
will also be working as SV8/SV1EJD from Syros Island between July 23rd and
August 11th. Listen for him on 80-6 meters, where he'll be using SSB and
RTTY. QSL via his home callsign or LoTW.
**
MORSE, A CODE FOR THE COSMOS
STEPHEN: And finally, we close this week's report with a look at Mars. Ham
radio operators will especially enjoy knowing about the surprise the Red
Planet revealed recently through the lens of NASA's Mars Reconnaissance
Orbiter. Here's that story from Amateur Radio Newsline's Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
GRAHAM: Lest any detractors of Morse Code hold firm in their belief that
there is nothing at all natural about Samuel Morse's form of telegraphy -
well, think again.
CW apparently is as natural as the universe itself. In fact, scientists
have recently discovered dots and dashes growing in the wild. That's right,
wild, organically grown Code. It's not even cultivated with a paddle or a
straight key.
The messages were spotted recently on Mars by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance
Orbiter, carved into the dark dunes of a field lying just below the north
pole.
Were Martians perhaps having their own version of Field Day? Were the hams
there trying for their Worked All Planets award?
Well, geophysicists do have an explanation - as scientists often do. In a
press release, the agency explained the patterns that sculpted the sand in
such a meaningful way. Bi-directional winds are what carved the long
dashes, and the dots, well, those are still something of a mystery, though
they have a name: barchanoid dunes.
The decoded message turns out to be sheer nonsense - at least for
Earthlings' ears - beginning with the phrase: "NEE NED Z-B 6-T-N-N" and so
forth.
What does it all mean? Good question. We'll keep our ears tuned to the sky.
Perhaps the Reconnaissance Orbiter may next happen upon some hams in the
dunes engaging in Single Side Band or .....even another kind of Mars Code.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(NASA, GIZMODO)
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