Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (C
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Feb 14 2020 01:28 pm
WITH THANKS FROM WA6ITF - REMEMBERING BILL PASTERNAK
PAUL/ANCHOR: We the members of the Amateur Radio Newsline Amateur
Radio Club, have a special message for listeners. Speaking for all
of us, here's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.
DON: The weekend of February 7th, 8th, and 9th, was very special for
those of us at Amateur Radio Newsline. It was 5 years ago that
Newsline founder Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, became a silent key. Not
long after, the Newsline staff started kicking around the idea of a
club station.
In 2019, the Amateur Radio Newsline Amateur Radio Club was formed,
and we knew that there was only one callsign that would do. WA6ITF.
As Bill's license was still current, it was with the help of his
daughter, Kelly Lenhert, N6PNY, that we got that call.
Friday, February 7th, would have been Bill's 78th birthday, and that
was the perfect occasion to reactivate WA6ITF, and get that call back
on the air where it belongs. I know I speak for the current and
former Newsline staffers, who were calling CQ during our little
informal special event, when I say it was a bit surreal and emotional
to be able to use that call. Collectively, we made hundreds of
contacts on HF, VHF, UHF, D-Star, Allstar, DMR, and Echolink. All to
honor our dear friend and mentor, Bill Pasternak.
Hearing the kind words from those who answered our calls, was
gratifying and uplifting. Many of the contacts were long time
listeners or friends of Bill. Some had never heard of Newsline.
For all, it was a time to reminisce about old times, and to spread
the word, and continue what Bill started over 4 decades ago. We hope
to make Bill's Birthday Party an annual event. Thank you to all who
took the time to chat, and help us celebrate Bill's life. For everyone
here at Amateur Radio Newsline, we thank you. I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.
**
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the WA6TTL
repeater in Simi Valley, California, on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. local time.
**
BAND PLAN COMMENTS DUE BY FEB. 19th
PAUL/ANCHOR: Hams in the U.S. have only a few days left to submit
comments and suggestions to the ARRL's HF Band Planning Committee.
The panel presented its report on band allocations late last month
to the league's board. The committee told the board it favors
providing more space for the digital modes, and for
automatically-controlled digital stations, as the popularity of
both continues to surge. The recommendations also suggest ways CW
and digital modes can coexist. The full report, which the panel
hopes to present to the FCC, is available via "click-here" links
on the league's webpage at arrl dot org slash bandplan
(arrl.org/bandplan), where you will also find the feedback form.
The ARRL has created an online HF band plan discussion group at
groups dot arrl dot org (groups.arrl.org) Comments can be submitted
until the 19th of February.
(ARRL)
**
A NEW VOYAGE (ON LAND) FOR RECORD-SETTING YL
PAUL/ANCHOR: Newsline has followed the solo travels of Jeanne
(pronounced: JAN) Socrates, VE0JS (V-E-ZERO-J-S) before, but now,
the record-setting sailor is taking another trip - by motor home.
Andrew Smelt, VK5MAS, has that story.
ANDREW: Solo sailor Jeanne (pronounced "JAN") Socrates, VE0JS,
completed a solo unassisted circumnavigation of the world last
year aboard the Nereida, becoming the oldest person to sail
around the world alone, non-stop, and unassisted. She was 77
when she completed the voyage in 11 months, 4 months longer
than she'd expected, due to some extreme challenges. An earlier
trip, in 2013, won Jeanne the honour of being the oldest woman
to make the trip -- another record.
Boy, has she got a story to tell. Jeanne has been very giving of
her time to amateur radio operators, and I was one of the lucky
ones. She is now travelling around Australia for 4 months in a
motor home, where I'll be paying her forward and hosting Jeanne.
She'll be departing Sydney mid-February, enroute to Adelaide,
where she will be giving a presentation about her voyage at the
Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron at Outer Harbour.
We can't wait to hear it.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Andrew Smelt, VK5MAS.
PAUL/ANCHOR: If you're in New South Wales, Australia, and want to
meet Jeanne (pronounced: JAN), she's having a meet-and-greet at
the largest Ham event in the Southern Hemisphere, the Wyong Field
Day on February 23rd. Full details at FIELDDAY (dot) ORG (dot) AU
