Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (A)
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Mar 16 2018 09:39 am
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2107, for Friday, March 16, 2018
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2107, with a release date of
Friday, March 16, 2018, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. The FCC halts the planned launch of four
satellites. A ham in the UK connects with the QSL card of an uncle
who inspired him -- and wait, are those ZOMBIES on the air? All
this, and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2107, comes your
way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
FCC RESCINDS PERMISSION FOR SATELLITES
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We open this week's newscast with the story of a
setback for a Silicon Valley company that builds communications
satellites. The FCC has rescinded permission for the firm's launch
next month - citing serious reasons, as we hear from Kevin Trotman,
N5PRE.
KEVIN'S REPORT: The Federal Communications Commission has raised
concerns about four small experimental satellites that were sent
into space from India on Jan. 12. The four so-called SpaceBees are
said to have been among the array of secondary CubeSats aboard the
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. The FCC says these four satellites
were unauthorized by the agency.
The four communications satellites are a project of Swarm Technologies,
a Silicon Valley startup manufacturer. They were designed to test out
an Internet-of-Things communications network from space by communicating
with ground stations, and swapping data for as long as eight years.
Swarm's application to operate them from space, however, was rejected
by the FCC in December, with the agency citing concerns about their
possible collision with other craft in space. The FCC noted that the
miniature nature of the SpaceBees' technology would make them difficult
to track to prevent such collisions.
In an apparent move against the company, the FCC has since revoked
permission it previously gave Swarm for its next four satellites,
according to a CNBC report. Those satellites were to have been launched
in just a few weeks in April.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
(IEEE, CNBC)
**
AT 8, SHE'S LICENSED TO LOVE RADIO
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Radio has a role in our lives, whether we're very young
and discovering it, or older and REdiscovering it. Jim Damron, N8TMW,
introduces us to a YL in the throes of discovery.
JIM: Seeing a pony-tailed second grader holding a directional antenna
towards the sky is not exactly what you'd expect. But then, Lacy Beckett,
W4LCY, is not what you'd expect in a ham, either. This eight year old
resident of Blacksburg, Virginia, was shown demonstrating
satellite-antenna-technique, in an article in the Radford, Virginia News
Journal, shortly after she acquired her Technician license this past
January. But if you think that's an accomplishment; wait! Lacy just
upgraded to General two weeks ago. Her aunt and uncle drove her to
Charleston, West Virginia; a 2 and a half hour ride - for the VE test
session. I was honored to be a part of that VE team. Let me tell you,
we were all cheering her on - quietly, of course. I talked to Lacy, and
she told me how her uncle Malcolm, NB3T, and Aunt Jessica, KW4GH, both
Extra Class operators, helped her get interested in ham radio.
Lacy: We were going out, and we were working the satellites, and I
wanted to do it by myself, so I decided that I wanted to go and get
my license; and I just wanted to use my own call sign and do it myself.
I wanted to go on the ISS when I grow up, and I thought it would be
cool to talk to the ISS now.
Jim: And why did you decide to upgrade to General so quickly?
Lacy: If I got my General, I could just be on the big radio!
Jim: I understand you're now studying Morse Code?
Lacy: Morse Code is really fun. It's just pressing buttons. I probably
shouldn't be pressing buttons, but who cares!
Jim: So Lacy, how would you explain ham radio to someone?
Lacy: The way I would explain it, is you have hard work at first, but
then after you pass the test, you get your license, and then you can
talk on the radio. It's just like that!
Jim: So are you going to upgrade to Extra soon?
Lacy: I might do it later.
Jim: But not next month?
Lacy: Probably not!
Jim: And what's your favorite part of ham radio?
Lacy: Field Day. That's what's my favorite part of the summer. Well,
maybe the pool is!
Jim: We can tell you, Lacy, pool or not; you've made a big splash in
ham radio! Eight year old Lacy Beckett, W4LCY. For Amateur Radio
Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.
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