Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (C)
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Oct 26 2018 09:06 am
SUBMARINE ACTIVATION REACHES NEW HEIGHTS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: More than a dozen YLs spent a recent weekend on a
drydocked submarine in Oklahoma calling QRZ. It was a first for some of
them, but it won't be the last, as Jim Damron, N8TMW, tells us.
JIM: There's nothing like calling QRZ from a drydocked submarine in
Oklahoma, to make for a successful weekend. A group of 14 YLs from
Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma, climbed aboard the USS Batfish in Muskogee,
where they operated on the HF bands for three days, beginning October
12th, and even slept on board as guests of the USS Batfish Radio Club
WW2SUB. With the help of the club's host Wade Harris, KF5IF, they hung
antennas, and made use of the club's portable tower, and one of its
three radio systems, and even set up satellite systems.
According to a post, the South Canadian Amateur Radio website, the
submarine experience marked the first time some of the YLs got on the
HF bands.
By the end of the weekend, the team had logged 350 contacts, while
honoring two lost subs, the USS Wahoo, and the USS Dorado.
One highlight of the YLs' experience, however, was something perhaps a
bit more terrestrial: Virginia, NV5F, played her bagpipes for the team.
According to Mark Kleine, N5HZR, the YLs are ready to take another dive
on the submarine next October, but meanwhile are looking for a similar
site for a weekend operation in Dallas, Texas.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW.
(MARK KLEINE N5HZR)
**
FT8 TO BE INCLUDED IN JANUARY'S RTTY ROUNDUP
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Are you preparing for the ARRL's RTTY Roundup in January?
Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, tells us why FT8 enthusiasts are excited, too.
KEVIN: If you're looking forward to the 2019 ARRL RTTY Roundup, and
you're also a fan of FT 8, you'll be glad to know that the new FT8
protocol is being permitted in the contest to be held in January. FT8
had been excluded from this year's contest, because it was unable to
manage the required exchanges, according to the ARRL. The latest version
of the software, which is part of the WSJT-X software suite, has fixed
that. So, if you're hoping to get in on the action, just be sure you are
running version 2.0 or later, so that you can transmit and receive the
mandatory exchanges. The RTTY Roundup, which is scheduled for January 5th
and 6th, is considered by the ARRL to be a good opportunity for beginners
to get started in digital mode contesting, which the RTTY Roundup has
permitted for three decades.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.
(ARRL)
**
SOTA ACTIVATOR SCALES NEW HEIGHTS IN UK
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In the UK, one SOTA activator has scaled to new heights
in the international awards scheme. Here's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, with
those details.
JEREMY: Worthwhile achievements take time, and David Stansfield, G0EVV,
would likely agree. The amateur, who is from Morpeth in Northern England,
is an activator in the Summits on the Air awards scheme. After six years
of activations, mostly in Scotland and Northern England, he has achieved
the coveted status of Mountain Goat, the title activators receive after
reaching 1,000 points. It's been a long and intense journey for David,
since his first SOTA activation Place Fell G/LD-027 in the Lake District
in May of 2012. He achieved the pinnacle of Mountain Goat on September
11th of this year, when he activated Ben Macdui, GM/ES-001, in the
Cairngorms. According to his profile on QRZ, David is from an amateur
radio family - his son and daughter are both licensed, as was his father,
now a Silent Key.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
