Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2420 for Friday March 15th, 2024

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2420 with a release date of Friday
March 15th, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Space junk from the ISS lands safely.
Hamvention announces its award winners for 2024 -- and the architect of
an important repeater network becomes a Silent Key. All this and more
as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2420 comes your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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DISCARDED "SPACE JUNK" FROM ISS FALLS TO EARTH WITHOUT INCIDENT

JIM/ANCHOR: Our top story concerns debris from a massive package of
batteries discarded by the International Space Station. It had been
projected to hit parts of Europe. Thankfully it didn't. Here's Travis
Lisk N3ILS with a more detailed report.

TRAVIS: Tossed from the International Space Station in 2021, nine
batteries weighing a total of 2.6 metric tonnes re-entered Earth's
atmosphere on Friday, the 8th of March, in free-fall, crashing into the
Atlantic Ocean between Guatemala and Florida.

In the days and weeks prior, the impending arrival of the so-called
"space junk" set off alarms in various parts of Europe, including
Germany and Luxembourg, with predictions being made of the damage the
debris might do if any of it arrived in populated areas there.

The European Space Agency's Space Debris and Independent Safety Offices
provided updates to its member states throughout the day. In Bonn,
Germany, the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief,
National Warning Center alerted the public to the possibility of
hearing a sonic boom or seeing luminous phenomena overhead.

At the time of the battery pack's release, it was considered the
largest object to be tossed from the ISS.

This is Travis Lisk, N3ILS.

(ESA, SPACE.COM)

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ULTRA-SMALL SATELLITE HAS AMATEUR RADIO CAPABILITY

JIM/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, just a few days earlier, a few dozen satellite
were sent into space and among them was an ultra small CubeSat
available for amateur radio use. Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us about it.

ANDY: Weighing just 1.3 kg, the small satellite known as Ectobius was
launched on the 4th of March in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 to
conduct radar detection of the Earth. It will also provide amateur
radio access. The creators, Care Weather and the Brigham Young
University Spacecraft Club, are calling this the smallest satellite
radar system ever in orbit. CareWeather said it is the first in its
fledgling series of weather satellite precursors. Ectobius, a 1U
CubeSat, was among 53 payloads on board SpaceX's Transporter-10.

The university club will be coordinating the sharing of amateur radio
activity. Hams will be able to use the CubeSat as a mailbox, digipeater
and telemetering station if they wish to study CubeSat thermals.

According to the CareWeather and BYU club website, Ectobius is expected
to have an orbital life of three years, although the duration of its
scientific mission is only two months.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(SATNEWS.COM, CAREWEATHER.COM)

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GERMANY'S N-CLASS LICENSE HOLDERS TO GET "DN9" CALLSIGNS

JIM/ANCHOR: The German regulator has announced that the callsign
designation for the new, entry level "N" class license that takes
effect on the 21st of June will be DN9 - which adds a numeral to the
previously announced "DN" prefix. This is expected to have a capacity
of more than 18,000 callsign assignments available. The first
examinations the "N" class license will take place on the weekend of
June 28th at "Ham Radio Friedrichshafen." The license conforms to CEPT
specifications for an entry level licence.

(FUNK TELEGRAMM)

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SILENT KEY: ENGINEER DANNY HAMPTON, K4ITL, 2009 HAMVENTION AMATEUR OF
THE YEAR

JIM/ANCHOR: A North Carolina amateur who was named Hamvention Amateur
of the Year in 2009, has become a Silent Key. Danny Hampton, K4ITL, was
considered an old-school radio operator who was the architect of the
Piedmont Coastal Repeater Network created in the early 1970s.

Danny had been a longtime engineering contractor for the Capitol
Broadcasting Company where, for WRAL-TV in North Carolina, he would
often climb a TV tower to troubleshoot or conduct repairs. According to
his obituary, he made his last climb in October of 2023. Danny, who was
legally blind, was honored at Hamvention in 2009 as a driving force
behind the Southeastern Repeater Association and the Piedmont Coastal
Repeater Network. Licensed at the age of 12, he was described in his
obituary as a keen problem-solver with a talent for fixing two-way
radios, HF radios and repeater systems.

In a YouTube video, members of the Piedmont Coastal Repeater Network 2
meter net can be heard during a tribute to him. According to net
control Charles Murray, KI4DCR, "there will be no final call because we
will never forget him." [endquote} Danny, who died on February 28th,
was 79.

(WRAL TV, NORTH CAROLINA AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS GROUP)

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HAMVENTION ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS FOR 2024

JIM/ANCHOR: The awards chairman of Hamvention has announced the names
of those chosen to receive awards this coming May in Xenia, Ohio. We
learn who they are from Mark Abramowicz N3TV.

MARK: Three prominent US radio operators and an international club for
YLs are being honored during Hamvention for their achievements and
contributions to amateur radio. Their names were announced recently in
a press release and on social media by awards chair Michael
Kalter,W8CI.

The special achievement award is being given to top contester, QRP
operator and ham radio educator Anthony Luscre, K8ZT. The Ohio ham has
shared his expertise with countless other hams, leading numerous
workshops at Contest University, the QSO Today Expo and at Dayton
Hamvention itself. His achievements include numerous first-place
finishes at the world and US levels in the CQ Worldwide SSB and CW QRP
contests.

ARRL license manual author Ward Silver, N0AX, is to receive the
Technical Achievement Award. Trained as an electrical engineer, Ward
has been the lead editor for the ARRL Handbook and the Antenna Book and
has written numerous study guides. A two-time recipient of the Bill Orr
Technical Writing Award, Ward's long-running monthly column that once
appeared in QST magazine is now in book format. A cofounder of the
World Radiosport Team Championship, Ward was inducted into the CQ
Contest Hall of Fame in 2015.

Michigan amateur Edward Engleman, KG8CX, is Dayton's Amateur of the
Year. A cofounder of the Young Amateurs Communications Ham Team, or
YACHT, Ed is a strong advocate for youth in amateur radio. With a
background in public school education, Ed has helped young amateurs get
involved in presentation to other youth at events such as Hamcation and
Hamvention. According to the press release [quote] "Ed is proud to be
part of the future of amateur radio by paying forward his interest in
amateur radio by developing the next generation of hams." [endquote]

The Young Ladies' Radio League, the YLRL, has been chosen Club of the
Year. The honor comes during the 85th anniversary of this international
group that fosters friendships, assists in helping newcomers and
organizes contests. The group has also provided assistance in
emergencies.

Congratulations everyone. Hamvention will be held in Xenia, Ohio, from
May 17th to May 19th.

This is Mark Abramowicz N3TV.

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YASME FOUNDATION PRESENTS SUPPORTING GRANTS, AWARDS

JIM/ANCHOR: The Yasme Foundation has announced the latest round of
grants and awards. Kevin Trotman N5PRE brings us up to date on the
deserving recipients.

KEVIN: Two ham operators have been named recipients of the Yasme
Foundation's Excellence Award, which honors groups or individuals for
their significant contributions at the technical, operating or
organizational level. The latest awards are being given to Philip
Gladstone, N1DQ, and Paul Schreier, HB9DST. Philip maintains the
PSKReporter.info website, also known as the Digimode Automatic
Propagation Reporter, which he created. His work has contributed much
to ionospheric research through citizen science. "The Gladstone Signal
Spotting Challenge" bears his name.

Paul Schreier is a steadfast promoter of Summits on the Air and CW
operations. He is a board member of the Helvetia Telegraphy Club for CW
enthusiasts in Switzerland and an organizer of various amateur radio
events.

The foundation's board also announced a $5,000 grant each to the
Foundation for Amateur Radio and ARRL Foundation scholarship programs.

Supporting grants of undisclosed amounts were given to Contest
University at Dayton; the YOTA/HamSci Hamvention activities.

The Yasme Foundation also provided a grant of an undisclosed amount to
Merzuke Gediktas, TA7YLY. The foundation has provided the funds to help
her promote amateur radio in Turkey, particularly to women and girls.

Earlier this year, the foundation gave a $7.500 supporting grant to the
organizing committee of the World Radiosport Team Championship which
will take place in 2026 in England.

This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

(YASME FOUNDATION, DX NEWS)