Subj : Newsline Part 1
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Apr 21 2017 11:28 am
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2060 for Friday, April 21, 2017
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2060, with a release date of Friday,
April 21, 2017, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. VHF's back on board the International Space Station.
Australia prepares for a new shortwave service -- and YLs in Japan are
marking a milestone event. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline
Report 2060, comes your way right now.
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BILLBOARD CART HERE
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VHF PACKET DELIVERS ON THE SPACE STATION
PAUL/ANCHOR: We open this week's report with cause for rejoicing to the
skies. So if you follow the International Space Station - or are hoping
for a contact someday with one of its astronauts - listen carefully to
this report from Amateur Radio Newsline's Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.
NEIL: There's good news from outer space! The International Space Station
is back on the air on VHF from the Columbus module! After a failure of a
VHF handheld in October, a UHF replacement was retrieved from storage,
and put into use temporarily. Because failure is not an option, the ARISS
team began the process of getting the 17-year-old replacement handheld
radio up to the space station until the new mobile radio is ready and
certified. At the end of February, the SpaceX 10 launch vehicle, Dragon,
flew to the ISS with the HT on board. On Friday, April 14th, it was
finally unpacked. Rosalie White, K1STO, ARISS International Secretary,
shared the good news with us the day it happened.
ROSALIE: The ARISS team was notified this morning that the radio was set
up and turned on to 145.825 as the crew just found time finally after
unpacking that 5,500 pounds of cargo that got delivered. So, we're back
in business again!
NEIL: Followers of ISS Fan Club have already posted that they've heard
and used VHF packet, and are thrilled to have it again! Rosalie reminds
us that they don't know how long the radio will last, and work is still
progressing on a permanent replacement.
ROSALIE: The Ericsson that we sent up was the very last one that was in
storage at Houston. It's only 6 watts, and our new system that we're
developing is 25 watts. It's going to make it so much nicer. The audio
will be so much better for the school kids. And that system is in the
works. We've got the Kenwoods, but the power supplies are in the process
of being built, and because they have to be space-certified parts inside,
they are extremely expensive. So, if anyone is interested in helping out
with some of those costs, they can go to the AMSAT website www.amsat.org
or the ARISS www.ariss.org site and contribute. If you are enjoying the
use of the packet, we hope to be able to continue that for you and could
sure use a hand.
NEIL: So if you need your space... consider donating to the cause.
Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.
**
IN CORNWALL, FROM TITANIC TO MARCONI
PAUL/ANCHOR: As hams in Cornwall, England prepared for International
Marconi Day on Saturday, April 22nd, they were already deeply involved
in operating for another on-air commemoration: the 105th anniversary of
the sinking of the Titanic, the ill-fated ocean liner that had a Marconi
station on board. Amateur Radio Newsline's Ed Durrant, DD5LP, worked
Cornwall special event station GB2GM, and shares this report.
ED'S REPORT: April 22nd is a very special day in the world of radio. It's
the day that we celebrate the birth of the great inventor, Marconi,
without whom radio communications would not be what it is today.
There are many stations around the world who will take part in
INTERNATIONAL MARCONI DAY. One of those stations I happened to come
across on Good Friday commemorating another historical event where
Marconi radio operators were involved. The sinking of the Titanic
happened when it hit an iceberg 105 years ago. GB2GM is the special
event station run by the Poldhu Radio Club from the Marconi Centre in
Poldhu, Cornwall, England. Here's my short conversation with Malcolm,
GM0DBW, while he was operating the club station.
------ Audio clip from IC-7300 of QSO in here------
ED: So, when tuning around on April 22nd if you hear GB2GM GB2 Golf Mike
on the bands, give them a call, and you'll be talking to the museum
located in the old Marconi station hut in Poldhu, Cornwall, the site of
the first ever transatlantic wireless communication! Full information
about the Poldhu Radio Club can be found on their web site at GB2GM.ORG.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
