Subj : Newsline Part 3
To : ALL
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Thu Jun 23 2016 08:47 pm
KOSOVO HAMS ARE UP TO THE CHALLENGE
JIM/ANCHOR: For a long time, hams in Kosovo had their eyes on membership
in the International Amateur Radio Union. Now they've got their eyes on
the prize. Newsline's John Williams, VK4JJW, tells us what's next.
JOHN'S REPORT: Admitted just this past December into the International
Amateur Radio Union, the Amateur Radio Society of Kosovo is busy preparing
for its first IARU HF Championship event. Station Z60A will be jumping
into the mix from its home station in the capital city of Pristina between
6 July and 11 July.
Callsign Z60A represents a new HQ multiplier in the international event.
In going for the big score, the Kosovo operators will have plenty of help
from a team of visiting hams, including Kim Ostman, OH6KZP, who will be in
town to lecture at the local university on RF microelectronics circuit
development. The competitors plan to make use of equipment donated by
Force-12 and the Chiltern UK DX Foundation: a Force-12 XR6 beam antenna
with a Yaesu G1000DXC rotator mounted high atop the university building.
The Kosovo radio society, or SHRAK, is based on the campus of the
Technical University of Pristina where most of the SHRAK members are also
located.
For these championship newcomers, however, this exercise promises to be
anything but academic.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW.
(IARU REGION 1)
**
THE WORLD OF DX
In other DX operations, be listening for Vladimir/RV1CC and Mike/UA1QV
who are active as RV1CC/P and UA1QV/P, respectively from Kashin Island
until June 27th, They will be on 40 meters through 15 meters, also
making use of the Russian St. Petersburg University club callsign --
RC1M/p. QSL via their home call signs.
You have until June 29 to catch Dave/W9DR and Tom/W9AEB as FJ/W9DR and
FJ/W9AEB operating from Saint Barthelemy Island. Be listening for Dave
as FJ/W9DR on 6 meters only, doing CW/SSB with a 6m Beacon. Tom is
working as FJ/W9AEB on 40 through 10 meters CW/SSB. QSL via their home
callsigns.
Martin, DL5RMH, is working holiday style through June 25th as LA/DL5RMH
from Lofoten Island. Listen for him on various HF bands using CW and
SSB. QSL via his home callsign, direct, by the Bureau or LoTW.
(OHIO PENN DX BULLETIN)
**
KICKER: MEN'S SHEDS HAVE THEIR WATERSHED MOMENT
JIM/ANCHOR: And finally, this week's newscast closes with a story about
men's sheds in the UK. They're not exactly garden sheds, but they are
definitely places for cultivating something important. Here's Amateur
Radio Newsline's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
JEREMY'S REPORT: Most everyone has heard of a ham shack. But how about
a ham SHED?
While not unheard-of, it's not exactly commonplace either -- at least
not yet. One ham in Scotland, David Searle, GM8WNY, is hoping to change
all that. The shed movement itself, which has evolved over the years in
Australia, New Zealand and the UK, typically concerns itself with groups
who gather to share information about woodworking, metalworking,
gardening and engineering. David, whose New Zealand call sign had been
ZL3DWS, and in Australia, VK2DWS, was a part of the movement, even
starting a shed of his own in New Zealand, with a diverse group ranging
in age of 5 to 83. When he and his wife relocated a few years ago to her
native Scotland, David decided to keep the movement going. He's now
trying to assemble a project called Electronics in Men's Sheds.
He wants to see amateur radio and electronics get more of a foothold
under the roof of sheds such as those in the UK. These nonprofit sheds
resemble gardening sheds but are somewhat larger. What David hopes will
grow and flourish inside them is the kind of innovation and enthusiasm
that has kept amateur radio buoyant. David not only wants to find
like-minded hams - or electronics enthusiasts - but individuals who have
some of the electronic components or hand tools to help everyone get
their projects started. He asks that interested amateurs contact him by
email at
[email protected]
Typically, these sheds are the domain of older men, but in some locales,
they are actually not limited by age or gender. Taking what he calls
"small steps" for now, David is counting on enthusiastic amateurs to
provide the spark for this small project to grow among older men.
David told Amateur Radio Newsline, in an email, he considers it QUOTE
"a sort of skills transfer. It might even create new hams and more
voices on the bands one day. I do hope so!" ENDQUOTE
The goal is, after all, to build not just a knowledge base but a
community.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, in Nottingham, the
UK.
(SOUTHGATE, UK MEN'S SHEDS ASSOCIATION, DAVID SEARLE, GM8WNY)
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