Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B)
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Nov 02 2018 12:13 pm
YOUNG SOUTH AFRICAN HAMS COACH CODE ONLINE
JIM/ANCHOR: Young hams in South Africa are helping one another embrace CW.
John Williams, VK4JJW, has that story.
JOHN: What started as a twice-weekly meetup on Google hangouts for a group
of enthusiastic young hams in South Africa, has developed into a daily
routine of confident QSOs on HF using CW. Daryl, ZS6DLL, Sean, ZS6SR, and
Mike, ZS6MSW, are among the group of about 5 newcomers to Code who were
inspired by the success of hams in the SOTA program, who have had using it
to beat bad band conditions. Although they had their initial plan to help
one another polish their skills was hatched on a local 2 meter repeater,
the group actually went off the air - and into Google Hangouts - before
things could start happening. Twice a week, they engaged in a one-hour
practice session there without having to worry about sunspots. Then, 4
months later, they decided they were ready for prime time. Now most of
them are on the air daily, says Daryl. He told Newsline [quote] "you can
switch on the rig at 1700 every day, and hear CW signals, and make a QSO,
which is something you would not have heard a year ago. In fact, the
amount of CW ops still active on the bands, you could count on one hand."
Off the air, the group is also involved in a CW group on WhatsApp that
has 24 participants, ranging from newcomers to veterans. Daryl said it
is turning out to be a great platform for questions and collaboration.
He said that with interest spreading outside South Africa - even as far
away as Korea - the group plans to return to Google Hangouts for another
learning session.
Daryl is quite pleased. Making a reference to the open grasslands found
throughout South Africa, he told Newsline [quote] "We have set the veld
on fire here in South Africa."
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
(DARYL LAMBE ZS6DLL)
**
OBSERVING AN OBSERVATORY'S BIG ANNIVERSARY
JIM/ANCHOR: How do hams help an old, established observatory mark 175
years of operation? Jack Parker, W8ISH, tells us how.
JACK: It's nowhere near as old as the stars and planets, but at 175 years
of age, the Cincinnati Observatory Center is one of the western
hemisphere's oldest observatories still in operation. To mark its
anniversary, the OH-KY-IN Amateur Radio Society is hosting special event
station K8SCH on the HF bands, from November 9th at 6 p.m. Eastern Time
through November 11th at 11:59 p.m. Club members will be working from
their home QTHs throughout the weekend, and the club itself will be on
the premises of the observatory on the 9th of November between 6 p.m. and
9 p.m. local time.
The observatory has the distinction of having had former President John
Quincy Adams preside over its dedication on Nov. 9 1843, when he helped
lay the cornerstore of the original building. Though the observatory is
now at a different location, further east, that takes it away from city
pollution, it has been designated as a National Historic Landmark, and
still uses the original 11-inch Merz and Mahler refractor telescope.
Be listening and perhaps you too can make contact from afar with what
was originally called "The Lighthouse of the Sky."
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker. W8ISH.
BELGIUM CONSIDERS INTRODUCING CEPT AT NOVICE LEVEL
JIM DAMRON/ANCHOR: Regulators in Belgium may soon be introducing a
license to ease radio operations for visiting hams. Jeremy Boot,
G4NJH, has those details.
JEREMY: Belgium's communications regulator, BIPT, has told the nation's
amateur radio associations that it wants to introduce a CEPT novice
licence.
CEPT, the European Telecommunications authority, has agreements to
allow compatible, HAREC compliant, full and novice licence-holders in
signatory countries to travel to other such nations in Europe, and go on
the air, without the need for additional permits or licences.
"The current Belgian novice licence allows 50-watts output on all modes.
The revision to the CEPT compatible novice specification would permit
100 watts output on the HF bands and 6 metres, with 50 watts on 2 metres
and 70cms. The proposed CEPT novice licensee would have access to all HF
bands except 60 metres, plus a portion of 160 metres as well as 6 metres,
2 metres and 70 cm."
BIPT is also proposing a reduction in power for the country's entry level
licensees, and similarly reducing the allowable 50-watt output on all
modes to 40 watts PEP for SSB and 10 watts for FM.
The regulator has also said that comments - or even alternative proposals -
are welcome.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
