Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Aug 24 2018 09:11 am
GETTING THE UNITED NATIONS HAM RADIO CLUB BACK ON THE AIR
NEIL/ANCHOR: The next big news to come out of the UN building in New
York City might not be about an international crisis, but amateur radio,
as we hear from Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
ANDY: The sounds of silence are about to end for 4U1UN. This isn't just
the amateur radio club of the United Nations, but a DXCC entity in its
own right - and it's been off the air since 2015, transmitting only
beacon signals. When the UN headquarters building in New York City was
renovated, the new layout did not provide room for the club's station,
which was formerly located on the 41st floor in the annex. Restoring a
shack to the club has been buried in red tape, the club's president
James Sarte, K2QI, told DX-World.net.
The station 4U1UN, which was formerly K2UN, is the 34th most wanted DX
entity.
Sarte said that the club is looking to restore operations on the grounds
of the UN. He told DX-World-net [quote] that equipment was recently
donated to the club that will get it back on the air, and that a
transceiver, amplifier, and networking equipment, are now in place. He
said an antenna will be installed and tested - perhaps later this month -
and things are looking optimistic.
He told DX-World.net [quote] "I promise that 4U1UN will be back on the
air soon." [endquote]
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andy Morrison, K9AWM.
(DX-WORLD.NET)
**
TEXAS CONTEST STATION PREPS FOR ITS COMEBACK
NEIL/ANCHOR: Further south in Texas, another station's about to get back
on the air - a modest but enthusiastic contest station, as Jim Damron,
N8TMW, tells us.
JIM D: Say the words "contest station", and the first thing that comes
to mind is competition - but that's not necessarily all there is to it
for contest station WR5O. This small, but devoted team of Texans, is
getting back in the contest game after a few years hiatus, and it owes
its comeback to another word: cooperation. It's that cooperative spirit
that has kept this team a team while waiting for its comeback.
BRENT: "It's very exciting. We've all been sitting around, talking about
it, and I'm an educator, and I have summers not completely off, but I
have some time in the summer. So last summer, and this summer, I spent a
lot of time just digging holes."
JIM: That's Brent Scott, WR5O. It's his call sign and his QTH - and those
holes on his property - that will provide the new home base for this
mid-level station.
BRENT: "I just got the tower bases set last week, and the hex beam is in
the middle of the backyard. It has been constructed and tuned, and ready
to go, and so everybody is getting excited."
JIM: "Everybody" in this case is that core group of fewer than a dozen
local operators, who are helping bring their modest but hard-working team
station back to life. The team's contesting days faded away after Brent
had to dismantle it, and move to a new house. The group - which is not a
club, but simply a group of radio enthusiasts - continued to spend time
together doing SOTA activations, UHF/VHF events, public service, and of
course Elmering youngsters, and even oldsters coming in later to the hobby.
Now that the holes are getting dug, and the concrete's been poured, the
50-foot Hex beam, the Inverted L, the Yaesu FT-DX 1200, and the Flex 6400M,
will have a big job to do.
BRENT: "We'll be doing a contest every weekend in November, starting with
sweepstakes. Look for us in sweepstakes for sure. I can't wait to get
back into it, I'm itching."
JIM: November will be here before you know it for WR5O - so welcome back
these comeback kids!
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.
**
NEW JERSEY HAM RECOGNIZED BY PRESIDENT
NEIL/ANCHOR: Sometimes it takes a lifetime of work to receive presidential
recognition - and one ham in New Jersey has accomplished just that, as
Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, tells us.
KEVIN: A New Jersey amateur, with more than a half-century of volunteering
with the U.S. Army's Military Auxiliary Radio System, or MARS, has been
recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Donald Trump.
Throughout his long service as a volunteer, Dave Popkin, W2CC/AAR2BU, has
been an Elmer and a trainer, as well as net control for MARS radio nets in
Region 2. Dave has also served as the New Jersey State Director for MARS.
MARS Region 2 director Carver Washburn, W2TFM/AAA2RD, said that Dave's
volunteer time has included involvement with the HQ senior staff as well.
His leadership extended into other areas of ham radio, including working
as an FCC field inspector, and ARRL Official Observer. He had been a
leader in the New Jersey Phone Net, and the Englewood Cliffs Amateur Radio
Club's operation on Field Day. Dave is also an ARRL Charter Life Member.
The president grants this prestigious civilian award to honor volunteers
who have devoted more than 4,000 hours of service. The honor was
established by President George W. Bush through executive order.
We at Newsline congratulate Dave for his lifetime of good work.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
