Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B)
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Oct 26 2018 09:06 am
IN THE UK, A RARE CALLSIGN FOR M5
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A personal callsign for one ham in the UK has turned
out to be a possible "first" for the regulator issuing it. Here's
Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY: For John Gascoigne, M5ET, an amateur radio operator in the UK,
almost everything about ham radio has held special significance. He
received his foundation licence with the callsign M6XLX on 12th Dec.
2012 - or 12/12/12 - and enjoys taking note of the distinctive date.
After a number of licence upgrades, John received his most recent
callsign on the 12th again - in this case the 12th of October, just
earlier this month.
M5ET is a personalised callsign which has significance for Ofcom as
well as for him: It is believed to be the first M5-plus-two letter
callsign issued by the UK communications regulator, and John chose it
for personal reasons, he told Newsline.
John works hard to make sure others find radio significant too. He has
been active in helping create the GB2GP permanent special event station
at Gilwell Park, the UK headquarters for The Scout Association. The
station hosts five major events, giving between 10 and 20 thousand
youngsters a chance to spend time in the shack. John also helps organize
a casual contest team there.
Last year, GB2GP was host to YOTA 2017, a week-long gathering of 80
youngsters representing 26 different countries. He also manages a
UK-wide national unit to encourage more adult leaders in scouting,
especially those with an interest in amateur radio. Outside of scouting,
he belongs to the UK ground team of ARISS, RAYNET-UK and the Camb-Hams
amateur radio group. In his spare time, he is keen on AMSAT, HF SSB,
and HF data operations and the occasional contest.
So if you hear M5ET calling QRZ, that'll be John with his new
distinctive call sign. Answer his call: No doubt you'll find plenty
to talk about.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
**
NEW HAMS GET ON THE AIR IN SOUTH AFRICA
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Speaking of call signs, a few more hams were assigned
theirs this month in South Africa after great success at their Radio
Amateur Exams. Here's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, with more on that story.
JIM M: Congratulations to the newest amateur radio licence-holders in
South Africa. The results of the Oct. 13 Radio Amateurs Exam were
released on Friday, the 19th of October, and from Port Elizabeth to
Pretoria, the candidates did well. Seventy-five people passed the
Class A exam, earning the right to a ZS or ZR prefix. Class A is
equivalent to the Full licence in the UK, and allows an operating
power of up to 1 kilowatt. Four candidates passed the Class B exam,
which permits 100 watts of operation, and is equivalent to the UK
Foundation licence. The new Class B licence-holders, who must be
younger than 20, will be assigned call signs with a ZU prefix. They
will be permitted to keep that licence until their 25th birthday.
South Africa's licencing exams are only given twice a year. The next
tests will not be given until May.
We welcome the nation's newst hams to the bands.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.
(SOUTHGATE, SARL)
**
BREAK HERE:
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