Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Sep 20 2019 05:53 pm

YLs HELP CULTIVATE CROP OF NEW OPERATORS IN JAPAN

PAUL/ANCHOR: In Japan, a dedicated group of YLs is helping cultivate a
new group of operators. For that story, we turn to Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

JIM M: Members of the Japan Ladies Radio Society believe that meaningful
contacts on the air often start with meaningful contacts in person.
That's exactly what happened at the Tokyo Ham Fair in late August, when
newly licensed YLs stopped by the group's booth for guidance on their
shacks, or getting started on the air. The group's DX chair, Yukiko Maki,
7K4TKB, told Newsline that the radio society had introduced a mentoring
program for newcomers last year, so they were more than ready to help.

She told Newsline {quote}: "The objective is to help them enjoy amateur
radio together, because we realize there are many YLs who do not know
what to do next after obtaining their operator licenses, and sometimes,
they hesitate to ask for help in the male-dominated world of amateur
radio." {endquote} There is now a manual for beginners on how to make
their first QSO, and members follow up with contacts, and give signal
reports.

Yukiko told Newsline that the mentoring program is called "Wakaba
{WAH-kah-bah} Support," because "wakaba" {WAH-ka-ba} in Japanese means
both "young leaf" and "newcomer." With hard work, and the support of
this new mentoring program, many of these young leaves can soon hope to
blossom into active operators.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(YUKIKO MAKI 7K4TKB)

**

PROGRAM SCHEDULES 4 MONTHS OF BALLOON LAUNCHES

PAUL/ANCHOR: One Florida group of hams and teachers has an ambitious
schedule of balloon launches - and it's anything but inflated. Dave
Parks, WB8ODF, tells us more.

DAVE: Educators and radio amateurs in Florida are teaming up for four
months of balloon launches, that combine HF radio, telemetry, physics,
coding, and other disciplines, in an effort called the Miami High
Altitude Circumnavigating Balloon Project. Teachers and university
students involved in science, technology, engineering, or math programs,
are invited to get on board with these launches, which will send
balloons up to a maximum altitude of 10,000 meters, or 32,800 feet.
The launch dates have been set for November and December of this year,
and January and February in 2020.

The project is receiving technical assistance from German amateur Stefan,
DK3SB, who will be giving input on payload design and assembly, launch
planning, tracking, and the balloons themselves. The balloons are, of
course, being designed to be trackable following their launch, and their
light payload will be powered by solar cells. During daylight hours, GPS
and Hybrid WSPR mode signals will transmit ID, altitude, location,
voltage, and temperature every two minutes.

Organizers are hoping to get participants on board in time for the
startup of the first launch. Interested amateurs are being asked to
send emails to miamihab at gmail dot com ([email protected])

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Dave Parks, WB8ODF.

(MIAMIHAB WEBSITE)

**

CUBESAT PROJECT LAUNCHES NEW HAMS AT VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

PAUL/ANCHOR: One college campus has a new group of radio amateurs,
thanks to a CubeSat project they collaborated on. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG,
has been following this story.

NEIL: What began as a campus CubeSat Club at a Pennsylvania university
has become a launch pad for the group of engineering undergraduates,
who form its core membership. The Villanova CubeSat Club has become
home to newly licensed radio amateurs Dawson Duckworth, KC3NNB, Lauren
Hurley, KD2RHC, and Kaixuan Ji, AC3EN. They have had a busy year since
the club was founded in 2018, under the direction of faculty advisor
Alan Johnston, KU2Y, who is a volunteer with AMSAT, and serves as its
vice president for education outreach.

This year's ambitious agenda includes new challenges for the club.
Members hope to launch weather balloons with CubeSats attached to
conduct low-orbit testing, and they plan to build a permanent SatNOGs
station on the roof of one of the campus buildings. One of SatNOGs'
functions as part of an open satellite ground-station network is to
provide interoperability - not just with current systems, but any that
would be created in the future.

The club recently appeared at a Robotstock robotics/STEAM event,
sponsored by the Eastern Pennsylvania Robotics Alliance. While there,
they demonstrated an AMSAT CubeSat simulator developed by their faculty
advisor, and treated visitors to a viewing of a live low-earth orbit
satellite tracking screen.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Neil Rapp, WB9VPG.

(VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY)
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