Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Dec 27 2019 09:23 am
GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR AUSTRALIAN YLs
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The cost of becoming licensed in Australia has become
a little easier for some YLs, thanks to one amateur radio group down
under. John Williams, VK4JJW, has the details.
JOHN: If you live in Australia, and you're a YL hoping for a licence
upgrade - or simply to get your Foundation level - the Australian Ladies
Amateur Radio Association, or ALARA, can help. ALARA provides grants to
qualifying YLs in an amount that is equal to about half the cost of fees
for assessment, licence, and callsign. The grant also provides YLs will
a complimentary one-year membership.
According to the ALARA website, applicants need to submit their receipts
and any other relevant documentation once they have completed the
qualification process. They should be submitted to the ALARA secretary
Jean, VK5TSX. Application forms and additional details about the timetable
for applications are available on the website alara dot org dot au
(alara.org.au)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
(ALARA)
**
AMATEUR RADIO EXHIBIT CLOSING IN LOS ALTOS, CALIFORNIA
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If you're in the Los Altos, California area, you have only
a few more days to visit the Los Altos History Museum's exhibit on amateur
radio, which opened on December 3rd. "Ham for the Holidays: Amateur Radio
Operators Then and Now" is set to close on January 5th. The free exhibit
in the J. Gilbert Smith House, is a history lesson on amateur radio's
public service role, and also highlights various types of amateur radio
equipment. The display also shares archival photos of radio operators, and
explains how hams communicate with one another.
The amateur radio exhibit is complemented by a larger exhibit the museum
is hosting in its main gallery on community preparedness. That exhibit,
which is also free, will remain open until January 19th.
(LOS ALTOS MUSEUM WEBSITE)
**
HISTORIC UK CONTROL TOWER NOW HOME TO AMATEUR CLUB STATION
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A control tower in the UK, with an established place in
history, is now home to a local radio society. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has
that story.
JEREMY: At one time, the Greenham Control Tower was a focal point for
troops during the English Civil War in the 17th century, as well as a
significant military establishment in the 18th and 19th centuries. Now
the tower, which is owned and restored by the Greenham Parish Council,
is a regular assembly spot for amateurs calling QRZ.
It officially went on the air on Saturday, 14th December, with the
president of the Radio Society of Great Britain, David Wilson, M0OBW,
and Newbury's deputy mayor Billy Drummond in attendance. NADARS - The
Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society, G5XV - had worked on
establishing the station, which will also be able to work the QO-100
geostationary satellite. The club also has access to a Yaesu Fusion
combined digital and analogue FM repeater.
The club's chairman Jeremy Willis, G4DOQ, told the newspaper [quote]:
"NADARS has been looking for somewhere to set up a permanent station
for some time, and the location of Greenham Control Tower exactly fits
our criteria." [endquote]
The tower is also a visitors' centre and community gathering spot,
which opened in 2018, to draw the local public's attention to the
tower's military legacy. Now with a ham shack on the premises, that
story can now be heard around the world.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(GREENHAMTOWERORG.UK, NEWBURY TODAY)
**
NEIGHBORS TRY TO BLOCK AMATEUR'S TOWER IN MASSACHUSETTS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: It's a familiar scene to more than a few hams: The plan
for a tower stirs the angry neighbors. Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, catches
up with the latest case in New England.
KENT: Neighbors in Framingham, Massachusetts, filled the hearing room
at City Hall on December 11th, hoping their opposition would kill plans
for the 80-foot radio tower, being built by local amateur Mikhail
Filippov, KD1MF. Mikhail was granted a building permit for the project,
but residents have challenged the city's action, taking their case to
the local Zoning Board of Appeals. They claim the tower is an eyesore,
and will hurt property values.
Neighbors believe the city issued the permit improperly, and that the
tower doesn't comply with city zoning. The building commissioner has
rejected that argument, calling amateur towers exempt from local laws
that apply to so-called wireless communication facilities.
The case, however, has not gone forward. Mikhail's attorney Fred
Hopengarten, notified the zoning board that he was going to be out
of town. The board members voted to continue the hearing, and rehear t
he case after reviewing material submitted by both sides. Hopengarten
previously argued to officials that amateur radio operators have the
protection of state and federal laws, because their presence provides
an important public service.
In the meantime, even with his attorney absent, Mikhail chose to speak
directly to his neighbors at the hearing. He told them he would agree
to halt construction of the tower, until zoning officials reconvene
next month. The next hearing is January 8th.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.
