Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B)
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Nov 13 2020 09:00 am
SILENT KEY: NOTED LOW-BAND DXER JOHN DEVOLDERE ON4UN
JIM/ANCHOR: A noted DXer, a leader in low-band operations, and a friend to
amateurs worldwide, has become a Silent Key. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, tells us
about him.
ED: Many amateurs in the DXing world are grieving the loss of a friend, a
mentor and a guiding spirit: John Devoldere, ON4UN, became a Silent Key on
the 9th of November. According to a post from his daughter Marleen on DX-
World, John had been in poor health for sometime. His daughter said he died
peacefully at his home in Belgium.
A prominent figure in low-band communications, he was celebrated by many for
his friendship, his enthusiasm and his willingness to share what he knew.
Known for his extensive writing, his popular book, "Low-Band Dxing," was the
guide for many amateurs. He was elected to the CQ magazine Contest Hall of
Fame in 1997 and the CQ DXing Hall of Fame in 2008.
John wrote on his QRZ page that he was a proud amateur for 59 years, having
first been licenced in 1961 at the age of 20.
His daughter said a digital farewell ceremony was being planned for Saturday
the 21st of November, and that details would follow. She said anyone with
questions can email her directly at ON4UN dot SK at gmail.com
(
[email protected])
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(DX-WORLD, QRZ)
**
HAMS HELP CHILDHOOD FRIENDS HAVE ONLINE REUNION
JIM/ANCHOR: Amateur radio is all about making connections -- and in India,
two long-lost childhood friends who aren't hams learned they could rely on
radio to bring them together, at least virtually. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, tells
us how it happened.
GRAHAM: It is said that amateur radio is one of the best places to meet new
friends. But a ham radio club in the northeastern state of Tripura recently
showed that amateur radio is also one of the best ways to meet up with old
friends.
Just ask Chandana Basu and Sabita Roy. The two women were schoolmates 40
years ago in northern India, but after Chandana's family moved to West
Bengal in 1981, the friends lost touch. They both kept their childhood
memories but also held onto hope they might see one another again someday.
That "someday" happened recently after Chandana acted upon her long-held
wish to see her friend. She learned that the Tripura Ham Radio Club had
members who might be willing to assist.
She gave them her friend's old address, and club members eventually tracked
Sabito to the city of Udaipur in Rajasthan, another northern state in India.
This isn't the end of the story, however.
The two women finally had the first face-to-face communications in four
decades, arranged by the Tripura Ham Radio Club and the Calcutta Ham Radio
Club. The reunion took place over a video conference which, at least for
non-hams, is the closest thing to a meaningful QSO as one can get.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(NORTHEAST NOW)
**
NEW MARIANAS ISLANDS CLUB HAS AMBITIOUS AGENDA
JIM/ANCHOR: One of the newest clubs in the Marianas Islands is small - but
it hopes to be mighty. Here's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, with the details.
JIM: The Radio Amateur Marianas DX Club has only had its licence since
September but they are making up for lost time. Cris Francisco Jr., club
president, told the Saipan Tribune in a recent news article that the club
expects to be busy in this disaster-prone Pacific island commonwealth which
was devastated after Super Typhoon Yutu struck in 2018 with rebuilding work
continuing for months afterward.
Cris told the newspaper that a ham radio club would also enable better
communications with the American Red Cross and other humanitarian aid
groups.
The 20 or so members also hope to be available for larger-scale events that
are more upbeat, such as triathlons and other public events.
Cris said that ham radio is nothing new in the region and said many of the
club members had belonged to organisations that are now gone. The club
recently bought a repeater, which has the call sign WH0ACH.
He said there hasn't been an operating repeater in the Marianas since the
typhoon destroyed the single repeater serving the region at that time.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
(SAIPAN TRIBUNE)
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