Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (C
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Apr 05 2019 09:35 am
AN AGREEMENT TO HELP FLORIDA WHEN STORMS HIT
NEIL/ANCHOR: The draft of an agreement between the state of Florida, and
Florida Amateur Radio Emergency Services, is now in the works in the
aftermath of Hurricane Michael. A Memorandum of Understanding was drafted,
and has been under discussion following a recent meeting of various ARES
section emergency coordinators, and the state's Emergency Management
Communication leaders. According to a press release, the hurricane's
impact drove home the point that amateur radio was the sole reliable
communications mode during emergency response, following the storm late
last year. West Central Section Emergency Coordinator Ben Henley, KI4IGX,
(K-Eye-Four-Eye-G-X) said the memorandum would allow for the first time,
the formal integration of ARES into the state's communications team. The
team said this will help prepare the hams and the state to better work
together in time for the next storm.
**
NET DEVOTES 24 HOURS TO DIGITAL MARATHON
NEIL/ANCHOR: Digital modes, which are gaining rapidly in popularity, are
converging in a special net this month, devoted to the good old-fashioned
ragchew. It's a marathon of sorts, as we learn from Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
GRAHAM: On April 20, hams from around the world, using a variety of modes
are being invited to celebrate the one thing they may all have in common:
they all love a good ragchew. The 420 Ham Radio Network is hosting a
24-hour Net that is accessible via DMR TG 302024, Yaesu Fusion 36037,
D-STAR reflector 420A, All-Star 49447, and on Echolink 66420. Martin
Swinimer, VE1KLR, who will serve as net control, said that the net has
been scheduled to call attention to the need for more good ragchews. He
told Newsline [quote] "that part of the hobby is in need of attention."
[endquote]
On April 20, it will be in the spotlight for 24 hours. Find access
information by visiting 4-2-0 reflector dot net (420reflector.net)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(MARTIN SWINIMER VE1KLR)
**
NEW WEAK SIGNAL MODE RELEASED
NEIL/ANCHOR: It looks like JS8Call, a new conversational weak signal
mode, is ready for prime time. The developer, Jordan KN4CRD, has
announced that the build of Version 1.0 is complete, and it is being
released publicly. The application is a derivative of WSJT-X that
mimics Fldigi or FSQ, by being based on keyboard-to-keyboard
communication. Jordan has announced that he completed some final fixes,
and has added a feature to check, by default, for updates upon each
startup.
The current and all future downloads are available at the web page files
dot js8call dot com slash latest dot html
files.js8call.com/latest.html
Jordan, a QRP enthusiast, says he will be listening for your QSOs.
**
MORE DIGITAL: VHF 'SUPER' CONFERENCE NEAR WASHINGTON D.C.
NEIL/ANCHOR: Even more discussion on all things in the digital realm
can be expected at a major regional conference outside Washington, D.C.,
this month. Stephen Kinford, N8WB, has the agenda.
STEPHEN: The newest modes in digital operation are expected to provide
much of the buzz at the second VHF Super Conference, taking place outside
Washington, D.C., on the weekend of April 26th through the 28th. Amateur
radio operators involved in VHF and UHF, and enthusiasts of microwave
weak-signal operations are expected as well as non-ham DXers. According
to Andrew, K1RA, most of the nearly 300 attendees are from east of the
Mississippi River, and eastern Canada, but attendees also come from the
western states and overseas. This is the second conference of its kind,
and is sponsored by the Southeastern VHF Society, North East Weak Signal
Group, and the Mt. Airy VHF Radio Club. It is being hosted by the Grid
Pirates Contest Group, with Directive Systems and Engineering. Phil,
K3TUF, said the first conference was held in 2016, and was a huge success.
He said it was at that conference where Joe Taylor, K1JT, a member of the
Pack Rats at the Mt. Airy club, announced his plans for FT8. He said Joe
will be at this year's conference as well, with a look into the future of
digital modes. The conference will be at the Holiday Inn Washington-Dulles
Intl Airport in Sterling, Virginia. The website can be found in the script
of this week's report at arnewsline dot org.
https://vhfsuperconference.com/?fbclid=IwAR1h5scfX6N_zWcc
08BNDOaU0VV60elEkhW5GblrMDvd4LYdt15xxHaQsng
(above URL all on one line)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB.
**
EVEN MORE DIGITAL: A 'NEXT GENERATION' QSO PARTY
NEIL/ANCHOR: The last weekend in April is also devoted to digital, with
a QSO party weekend on FreeDV HF Digital Voice. John Williams, VK4JJW,
explains.
JOHN: The next generation in digital amateur radio is celebrating its
arrival on the bands, with a QSO Party in April. The FreeDV HF Digital
Voice QSO Party is taking place for 24 hours, beginning at 0300 UTC on
the 27th of April. The South Australia-based Amateur Radio Experimenters
Group says on its website, that the purpose of the event, is get the
word out about this new digital mode, and its software available without
cost to licensed amateurs. Organizers want to encourage hams using FreeDV
to work as many other FreeDV stations as possible. This new digital voice
transmission mode for the HF bands was created by South Australian amateur
David, VK5DGR, who developed the software based on open source principles.
The experimenters group's website says: [quote] "If you can use WSJT-X
for FT8, or any other digital modes software, then, with the addition of
headphones and a microphone on your PC, you can switch to digital voice
transmission in an instant! It's that easy! So why not give it a try?"
[endquote]
AREG also notes that its own club station will be on the air around the
clock, ready for DX, especially on 40, 20, and 15m. For more details,
visit W W W dot areg dot org dot au (www.areg.org.au)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
(AMATEUR RADIO EXPERIMENTERS GROUP)
--- SBBSecho 3.07-Win32
* Origin: RadioWxNet: The Thunderbolt BBS tbolt.synchro.net (801:1/2)
� Synchronet � Temple of Doom BBS - tod.eothnet.com
