Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (A)
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Feb 17 2023 02:00 pm
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2364, for Friday, February 17th, 2023
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2364, with a release date of Friday,
February 17th, 2023, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Goodbye, Bouvet Island. A wake-up call for
weather preparedness in Texas -- and Brazil says goodbye to a noted DXer
and DXpeditioner. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report
Number 2364, comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
BREAKING NEWS: AMATEUR BALLOON'S FATE A MYSTERY
PAUL/ANCHOR: We begin this week with the latest chapter in the story of
mystery balloons being shot down over North America by US military
planes. The first and most famous, of course, was a suspected Chinese spy
balloon. The audio of the Air Force pilots' communications was recorded
successfully by an aviation enthusiast and radio buff during the downing
of the balloon.
However, as Newsline went to production, questions were being raised
about the whereabouts of an amateur radio balloon with the callsign
K9YO-15 launched last October by a group known as the Northern Illinois
Bottlecap Balloon Brigade. Unconfirmed reports say the 32-inch sphere
carrying a 10-gram payload may be the same one that was shot down over
the Canadian Yukon. Lightweight and relatively inexpensive to build, its
payload, with a solar panel package and a tracker in the middle,
transmitted APRS telemetry on HF at very low power.
Cary Willis, KD9ITO, a member of the group, said the balloon has been
declared missing in action and is considered lost.
According to a post on the website RTL-SDR.COM, a memo from the US
Pentagon said an object was shot down over Canada that appeared to be a
"small metallic balloon with a tethered payload." [endquote] The
description closely fits that of K9YO-15.
Cary told Newsline in an email: [quote] "I suppose anything is possible."
[endquote] He said FBI agents visited the balloon program's website and
spent time with members of the group on a conference call. Cary said:
[quote] "I shared that besides having fun, we're here to teach others how
to build and launch Pico Balloons legally, following the Code of Federal
Regulations relating to balloons." [endquote] He said he told others on
the balloon team that they should be proud of the project and what it has
accomplished.
He added [quote] "Personally, I believe that if we were shot down, what a
wonderful way to end our flight." [endquote]
(RTL-SDR.COM, CARY WILLIS, KD9ITO)
**
DXPEDITIONERS LEAVE BOUVET ISLAND
PAUL/ANCHOR: We move next to Bouvet Island, where the 3Y0J DXpedition is
history, as we hear from Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
GRAHAM: Goodbye-Bouvet Island. Goodbye from the DXpedition team Three Why
Zero Jay, which departed on Tuesday, February 14th after striking down
camp. Goodbye too to the chasers who, whether they were disappointed or
not, have turned to other pursuits. As Newsline went to production, team
leader Ken LA7GIA announced that with all equipment and team members on
board, the sail would commence onwards to Cape Town, South Africa, where
they expected to arrive on or about the 23rd of February. There was a
possibility of /MM operation while enroute. Team members do not have
access to the log, which will be handled by QSL Manager M0OXO.
I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(DX-WORLD.NET)
**
WAKE-UP CALL FOR WEATHER PREPAREDNESS
PAUL/ANCHOR: The tragic death of an older man in fast-moving flood waters
prompted emergency responders in Texas to review their weather spotting
and communications strategies. Randy Sly, W4XJ, explains what they did.
RANDY: In late January, Hunt and Rockwell counties in North Texas
received a "wake-up call", when an elderly man died after his SUV was
swept away by flood waters. In the wake of that deadly flooding, Bianca
Garcia, from the National Weather Service, held Skywarn training in the
city of Greenville, at the invitation of the Hunt County Office of
Homeland Security/Emergency Management and the Greenville Fire-Rescue
Department. The seminar covered the various threats posed by severe
thunderstorms, severe weather safety and storm reporting. Even with radar
and satellite imaging, Garcia emphasized the import role spotters play.
She told the audience, "You guys are presenting that special set of human
eyes for us on the ground."
Many of the attendees were members of the Sabine Valley Amateur Radio
Association, which provides trained spotters to the National Weather
Service and emergency management agencies. Following the meeting, a
three-night course was also offered on how to become an amateur radio
operator. The wake-up call was heeded and those North Texas counties are
now more storm ready.
This is Randy Sly, W4XJ.
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (432:1/112)
