Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2113 for Friday, April 27, 2018 Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2113 with a release date of Friday, April 27 2018, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a QST. Tragedy in Missouri reminds us all of tower safety. Hams in Lebanon get access to 6 meters -- and DXing reaches new heights! All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2113 comes your way right now. ** BILLBOARD CART ** CREW MEMBER DIES IN MISSOURI BROADCAST TOWER COLLAPSE PAUL/ANCHOR: We begin this week with a cautionary tale about towers and tower safety - this one from a tragedy outside a TV station in Missouri. Here's Christian Cudnik K0STH with more. CHRISTIAN: The 2,000-foot tall tower of a local public TV station in Webster County, Missouri collapsed on the 19th of April, killing one worker and injuring three others. The crew was conducting maintenance outside Ozarks Public Television station KOZK when the structure toppled. Several members of the crew were on the tower, about 105 feet off the ground, when the collapse occurred. The worker who was killed had been trapped beneath the tower's debris. The station is a Public Broadcasting System affiliate operated by Missouri State University. Stations in the region have assisted by helping restore service to the station. Local authorities are investigating to determine the cause. For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Christian Cudnik K0STH. PAUL/ANCHOR: This story is a reminder as well to all of our listeners to please follow safety precautions when doing any tower work. Whether commercial broadcast or amateur, you can't be careful enough! (KYTV-Springfield) ** WRTC CHAIRMAN TO SPEAK AT HAMVENTION PAUL/ANCHOR: The worlds of Dayton Hamvention and the World Radio Team Championships in Germany are about to converge in a little less than a month, as we hear from Ed Durrant DD5LP. ED'S REPORT: Things are getting really busy as we approach WRTC 2018. All is on schedule but we've heard there are a couple of contesters who haven't heard about WRTC, so we're sending Chris, DL1MGB, the chairman of WRTC 2018 to Dayton Hamvention to make sure all those at the Dayton Hamvention Contest Dinner are fully informed. Chris was kindly invited to be the key speaker. The dinner takes place on the evening of May 9th at the Crowne Plaza hotel in down-town Dayton. If you can't get to Germany in July, we're planning to keep you all up to date with proceedings at this internationally acclaimed event, considered by many Contesters as the highlight of the season. During the WRTC a lot of photo and video material will be created, processed and distributed over TV, internet and in print media often on the same day or even in real time. The event's media team consists of still and video photographers, Interviewers and editors who will create multiple articles as well as a video magazine. Streamed Internet video will be provided from the opening ceremony, the site allocation announcements and the closing event. Neil Rapp's Ham Talk Live podcast programme will be live from the WRTC on the Thursday afternoon, giving everyone the opportunity to ask questions about the WRTC before it kicks-off. Videos from previous WRTC events are available on-line on the WRTC2018.de website - see Amateur Radio Newsline's printed script for the direct URL. SITE: http://wrtc2018.de/index.php/en/presse-2/wrtc-the-movies Whether attending in person as a contestant, visitor or helper or just watching from afar we hope that the WRTC 2018 will be of interest to all and achieve or exceed the high standards set by previous events. For the WRTC 2018 Publicity team and AR Newsline this is Ed Durrant DD5LP. ** SILENT KEY: FRANK VICTOR TARKINGTON W3KLQ PAUL/ANCHOR: The amateur radio operator who brought television to the White House has become a Silent Key, as we hear from Heather Embee KB3TZD. HEATHER: Frank Victor Tarkington, W-3-K-L-Q, the amateur radio operator who installed the first White House TV set for President Harry S. Truman in 1948, has become a Silent Key. Those who worked the Navy veteran's station in Silver Spring, Maryland were making contact with a slice of history. The World War II vet had witnessed the arming of the Enola Gay while he was on the island of Tinian operating the radar station. By the time he left the service, he had been advanced to Chief Radioman. After the war, he worked for RCA and in 1948 it was his job to install a 10-inch screen in the White House Oval Office so President Truman could watch the opening of Congress that year. Frank was an avid CW enthusiast according to John Creel, W-B-3-G-X-W. John and Frank - and many others - could be heard on the W-B-3-G-X-W 2-meter repeater in Silver Spring, Maryland, up until a few years ago. The Oakland, California native died on April 19th, at the age of 102. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, K-B-3-T-Zed-D. (JOHN CREEL WB3GXW, COLLINS FUNERAL HOME) ** LOW-FREQUENCY TRANSMITTER TO RETURN TO THE AIR PAUL/ANCHOR: In Sweden, a much-loved sound is returning to the low-frequency bands after a two-year absence. Here's Jeremy Boot G4NJH with the details. JEREMY: It's almost time to listen in again for transmissions from Sweden's SAQ low-frequency transmitter. The Alexander alternator station is going on the air beginning at 1000 UTC on May 1 to mark the "Work It Out" observance of the European Route of Industrial Heritage. The transmission will be on 17.2 kHz in CW. This will be its first time on the air since 2016, according to Lars Kalland SM6NM. The vintage station, which harks back to the 1920s, is perhaps best known for its annual transmissions on Christmas Eve. While there will be no QSL cards sent or reports listed online for the May 1 event, SAQ is hoping to get listener reports by email sent to info at alexander dot n dot se (info@alexander.n.se) For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH. (SOUTHGATE) ** SIX METER BAND IS NOW OPEN IN LEBANON PAUL/ANCHOR: If you're listening on 6 meters, you can now hear some amateurs transmitting for the first time from Lebanon. The hams got some good news on World Amateur Radio Day, as we hear from John Williams VK4JJW. JOHN'S REPORT: World Amateur Radio Day, which hams mark annually on April 18th, celebrates the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union in 1925. Hams in Lebanon, however, now have a second reason to consider this day an occasion for festivities. The Ministry of Telecommunications announced it was granting licensed amateurs access to the 6-meter band between 50 MHz and 51.975 MHz. The letter of permission was signed on the 19th of April and sent to the national society Radio Amateurs of Lebanon. The RAL's leadership, president Hani Raad OD5TE and vice president Elie Kadi OD5KU had lobbied hard for the access. RAL's website noted: [quote] "This is a true recognition from the Ministry of the Amateur Radio values." [endquote] Six meters itself is not just a valued band but is known as the so-called magic band because the VHF frequency can sometimes behave like HF waves and suddenly local communications turn global. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams VK4JJW. (QRZ) ** 4 METER BAND OPENS TO GERMAN RADIO OPERATORS PAUL/ANCHOR: There's good news in Germany too: Hams have got temporary access to 4 meters. Here's Ed Durrant DD5LP. ED'S REPORT: A new ruling has been issued from the German regulator "BNetza" for the German amateur radio service. Temporary admission will be granted in the 4 metre band to 70.150 - 70.180 MHz, from 2 May to 31 August 2018. This ruling will be will be published on the second of May in the Official Journal No 8/2018, under Notice 93/2018. It is expected that the same restrictions will apply as in previous years - 25W maximum power, no portable operation, mandatory logging of ALL transmissions and horizontal polarised antennas only. For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Ed Durrant DD5LP. ** YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS ARE DUE PAUL/ANCHOR: We remind all listeners that we are accepting nominations for the 2018 Bill Pasternak Young Ham of the Year award. If you know a promising young amateur who is 18 or younger and lives in the U.S., its possessions or Canada, please download a nomination form from our website, arnewsline dot org, under the YHOTY tab. Nominations are due May 31. ** BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the WB3GXW repeater in Silver Spring, Maryland and simultaneously on EchoLink Conference Server Node 6154 on Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 7:00 PM Eastern time. ** SKYDIVING HAM LEAPS TO NEW DX RECORD PAUL/ANCHOR: In California, DXing just reached a new record height, as we hear from Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT. CARYN: So what exactly does a QSO sound like when it's eight to 12 thousand feet in the air? [SHORT AUDIO OF PILEUP] CARYN: That was the pileup on 20 meters greeting ham-skydiver Mark Meltzer AF6IM,on his Yaesu FT-817 on March 31. One of a team of Parachute Mobile hams, Mark had just stepped out of a plane over Byron, California picking his way through the local pileup when this happened: [AUDIO CLIP OF QSO] "W3IUU.....W3IUU........W3IUU Thanks for the QSO." CARYN: That was Lloyd Rasmussen W3IUU in the Kensington, Maryland just outside Washington, D.C.. Yes, Maryland. When you're on the air and IN the air in California that counts as DX and a record for this team. Lloyd, a blind amateur radio operator in Maryland accustomed to pileups in contests and DXing, said he'd heard about the Calfornia jump in an online group of other blind amateurs - and decided to go for it. LLOYD: "So I quickly cranked my FT-950 up to that frequency, turned my beam to the west and listened and right away the frequency was pretty quiet except there was a pileup of California stations trying to work him." (SkydiveLloyd2) CARYN: Then, as Mark tells it, success! MARK: SKYDIVE 2 "I heard Lloyd. Lloyd heard me...we exchanged call signs so we got a real contact." But Mark couldn't get too excited at the moment. MARK: "You really have to watch what you're doing because if you pay too much attention t ham radio and not enough to aerial navigation, you coudl end up over a body of water or over a freeway or someplace that isn't pleasant to land." (SKYDIVE 5) But later? MARK: Very very pleased and surprised to make the contact with Lloyd, I was just thrilled." (SKYDIVE 6) As for Lloyd.... LLOYD: "Yeah it's pretty amazing. I've worked a lot of DX and I do a lot of contesting. I was running 100 watts on a Yaesu FT-950. It was quite an interesting and fun QSO." (skydiveLloyd End) DX, says Mark, is what you make it. MARK: (Skydive 4) "It's not like working Antarctica or Christmas Island but for us it was a huge thrill because we made it all the way across the country on three watts. Not a bad way to mark your 50th year as a skydiver and your 10th year as a ham, says Mark. You might just say this record's got him walking...on air. For news about the team and their next jump visit parachutemobile dot wordpress dot com. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT. ** BICYCLING HAMS ARE 'PEDALING' A NEW IDEA PAUL/ANCHOR: For bicycle enthusiasts in Australia, operating mobile was perhaps never this much fun, as Graham Kemp VK4BB explains: GRAHAM: Amateur Radio is on a roll in Australia - and when we say "roll" we do mean roll. Hams are rolling out their bicycles, their trikes and even their velomobiles and going places. Of course they're not going anywhere without their trusty rigs. Members of a month-old online group called Pedal Radio have been promoting the combination of push power and foot power with the idea that fitness leads to fellowship - and probably more than a few good QSOs. There is even a homebrew aspect to the group, as some members share their tips for building your own trike. Most of the members right now are in VK3. If you want to try talking coast-to-coast while you're....coasting.....this group wouldn't mind if you rolled on in. Send a post to group's address at pedalradio at groups dot io. (pedalradio@groups.io) For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp VK4BB. (PEDAL RADIO) ** WEST VIRGINIA NET NEEDS NEW NET CONTROL PAUL/ANCHOR: A West Virginia CW Net has gone QRT for now, at least until it finds a net control, as we hear from Jim Damron N8TMW. JIM DAMRON: The North American QRP club is all about CW -- but for now, the club's West Virginia QRS Net is also all about finding a new net control so it can get back on the air. The net has had to suspend operation because of family obligations on the part of its present net control and is hoping to find someone to step into the role. The net had formerly met on the air Wednesday evenings at 9 local time at 3556 kHz but the time and date can be adjusted if necessary to suit the new net control. Hams in the West Virginia area can contact Wayne NQ0RP if they're interested. His email is wayne dot dillon at gmail dot com (wayne.dillon@gmail.com) For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron N8TMW. ** IF PIGS COULD FLY.....OR AT LEAST RUN PAUL/ANCHOR: The Queen City Emergency Net in the Cincinnati area is looking for some well-grounded hams to help out some flying pigs. Runners in the 20th annual Flying Pig Marathon will step off on May 6 and backup communication is needed. If you live in the area and want to help, contact Steve N8TFD via email at n8tfd at fusenet dot com (n8tfd@fusenet.com) ** THE WORLD OF DX In the world of DX be listening for Jan, PA4JJ operating holiday style as 9A/PA4JJ from mainland Croatia between the 27th of April and the 8th of June. Expect him to operate mainly FT8 on 40-10 metres. QSL via LoTW, Club Log's OQRS or direct via home call. Armin DK9PY, will be active as 6Y6N from St. Elizabeth, Jamaica between May 23rd and June 6th. Listen for Armin on 160 meters through 10 meters, where he will be working holiday style using CW only. You can count on hearing him during the CQWW WPX CW Contest on May 26th and 27th, where he will be a single-Op entry. QSL via his home callsign. Be listening for two YL operators -- Kay/WA0WOF/A52YLE and Mio/JR3MVF/A52YLM. They will be on the air from Bhutan as A52YL between 29th of April and the 5th of May. Listen for them on 80 meters through 6 meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. Visit QRZ for QSL details. In Malta, Thomas SV2CLJ, will be active as 9H3SV between the 24th and 31st of May. Thomas will be operating holiday style on 80-2 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, PSK and FT8. QSL via his home callsign direct. (OHIO PENN DX) ** KICKER: SHOPPING FOR SOME QSOS? PAUL/ANCHOR: Finally, if you're shopping for a bargain in QSOs, try Walmart - not the stores but the parking lots Neil Rapp WB9VPG assures us this is a real - and real unusual - event. NEIL: Some satellite operators, who often go to lines between grid squares so that contacts will count for both grids, noticed that many of these gridlines across the country run though WalMart parking lots. Suddenly, the idea sparked to host an operating event among some members of the satellite community on Twitter, so they ran with it. They’ve decided that the weekend of April 28 and 29th will be a special WalMart Parking Lots on the Air weekend. Adam Witney, K0FFY tells us how the parking lots became popular. ADAM: The other thing about Walmart parking lots is they make acutally a pretty decent portable operating location. I think the other thing that's kinda nice about the location... you park in the parking lot even long term... I know the stores are known to be friendly with that. I think Walmart shoppers are kind of a diverse group, and there's kinda been some jokes on, you know, people aren't going to look twice if you're in a WalMart parking lot if you're in any sort of strange, unconventional dress or if you have accessories like you're strapping radios on yourself or waving a purple antenna at they sky... for some reason at WalMart you're just not going to be seen as inconspicous. NEIL: There’s a scoring system, with certificates as well as special WMPLOTA QSL cards. But don't forget to mark your QSL card with a highlighter before it checks out. Chasers will be referred to as shoppers, and bonus point categories may include the "People of Walmart" award, for tweeting a picture of your operation; the "'Ol Roy" award for tweeting pictures of your dog at your operation; and the Sam Walton Award for the most activity. Shoppers can work up to the level of "greeter" or "district manager" and for making a late night QSO, you can shelve away the "overnight stocker" bonus. The final set of rules and scoring information is on their web site,www.wmplota.org. So put on your PJs, and bag some contacts. If you're hearing this report after the fact, have no fear! The next WMPLOTA weekend is scheduled for July 2... the birthday of WalMart and World UFO Day. Remember that when you’re working satellites, running too much power can actually be bad for the satellite itself. So when you're operating WMPLOTA, be sure to ROLL BACK the power. ALWAYS. Reporting from the parking lot at WalMart store number 1991, this is Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. (WMPLOTA) ** NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to Alan Labs; the ARRL; CQ Magazine; Hap Holly and the Rain Report; KYTV-Springfield; Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin; North American QRP Club; Pedal Radio; the Queen City Emergency Net; Southgate Amateur Radio News; Ted Randall's QSO Radio Show; Walmart Parking Lots on the Air; WTWW Shortwave; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. Please send emails to our address at newsline@arnewsline.org. More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's only official website at www.arnewsline.org. For now, with Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT, at the news desk in New York, and our news team worldwide, I'm Paul Braun WD9GCO in Valparaiso, Indiana saying 73 and as always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.