Subj : Newsline Part 2 To : ALL USERS From : DARYL STOUT Date : Fri Feb 05 2016 10:46 am RADIO? WHO NEEDS A RADIO ANYWAY? [DON/ANCHOR:] Flint, Michigan, isn't the only community struggling lately with the crisis of lead-contaminated water. In one Ohio community, radio amateurs stepped up to assist in a similar situation in a very effective manner. All without even getting on the air. We hear the details from Amateur Radio Newsline's Paul Braun, WD9GC0: [PAUL'S REPORT]: A group of amateur radio volunteers responded recently to a water emergency in one Ohio community by showing up without their radios. But that's exactly what they were supposed to do: They needed their hands free instead to help distribute bottled water - safe, drinkable water for more than 8,000 residents of Sebring, Ohio, who'd learned on Jan. 18 that their drinking water had become tainted with a high lead content. By Jan. 22, Mahoning County ARES Emergency Coordinator Wes Boyd, W8IZC, had activated ARES to assist the Ohio and Mahoning County emergency management agencies in distributing the water in Sebring. The timing, however, made it a bit of challenge initially. Ohio Section Emergency Coordinator Stan Broadway, N8BHL, told the ARRL, QUOTE "Response on the workday was low, but a handful of ARES volunteers were able to respond." ENDQUOTE The radio-less radio operators were welcomed by the Red Cross and the Emergency Management Agency personnel, who put them to work immediately, distributing pallets of the bottled water. When the weekend came, another call went out for help, and this time, even more ARES volunteers showed up from neighoring counties. Officials report that the volunteers were able to move more than 166 pallets of water over a six-day period. Sometimes, that's the best kind of signal report a ham can hope to hear. Especially without even having a radio. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO, in Valparaiso, Indiana. (ARRL) ** KEYING IN ON HISTORIC PLANE'S RESTORATION DON: When it comes to giving to their communities, radio amateurs are no strangers to such gestures. But in Arkansas, some hams are making a very special gesture for an even more special recipient. We hear more from Amateur Radio Newsline's Skeeter Nash, N5ASH. [SKEETER's REPORT] What better way to celebrate your 100th birthday than to give a gift to someone else - perhaps a somewhat younger but distinguished military veteran? In this case, the centenarian is the Amateur Radio Club of the University of Arkansas, W5YM. And the gift recipient is "Fifi," the noted B-29 Flying Fortress that served the nation honorably during World War II. The historic aircraft is in the process of being restored, and members of the Rockwell-Collins Amateur Radio Club are setting up a radio operator's position on board. The gift from the hams at the University of Arkansas should fit right in: They're presenting Fifi with a J-37 telegraph key, also known as the "Mae West" key - named in tribute to the shapely entertainer so popular during the war years. The key itself was notable in its own right for the remarkably curvy indentations on its base. Fifi, by the way, is still flightworthy. And now, with the Smith-Erwin Memorial Radio Operator position nicely equipped with the J-37 telegraph key, the aircraft will be taking to the skies carrying just a little more history on board. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, in Topeka, Kansas. (ARRL) ** LEARNING THE LANGUAGE OF MORSE The tie between the Navy and Morse Code also remains strong these days. At the Naval Air Station Pensacola Corry Station in Florida, Morse Code training has been a continuous effort since 2005, when the coursework was moved to the learning center there for easy delivery with training in cryptology, intelligence and other disciplines. Corry Station is where students train as CTRs - cryptologic technicians. The last class of CTRs has just finished their program as of late January, and these students were the first to make use of a new revised Basic Manual Morse Trainer and updated software used by the Department of Defense. Military trainers say Morse is one of many tools to stand the test of time, which is why the Department of Defense has once again renewed its commitment to Morse training, investing in it now, more than ever. That, of course, is no secret to hams. But it's no military secret either. The course supervisor, Gabriel Albarran, a Cryptologic Technician (Collection) First Class, said, QUOTE "Morse code is not only used in military operations, but also in commercial navigation. Search and rescue, science navigations and weather status are frequently passed in automated Morse code." ENDQUOTE Cryptologic Technician Mary Kaitlin McKeeby adds: QUOTE "It's a language. If you have a knack for languages, Morse Code is going to be easier to pick up." ENDQUOTE She should know about that: She beat the course record during the pilot program by two days, completing the self-paced instruction in 39 days. (U.S. NAVY, DEFENSE VIDEO AND IMAGERY) ** BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including W8VPV in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Monday nights at 8. ** SOUTH AFRICA'S NEXT GENERATION OF 'HAMMIES' DON: Is it ever too early to start cultivating the love of radio in kids? The South African Radio League doesn't think so, and so its popular Hammie Program, which kicked off in May of 2015, is back. We hear more from Amateur Radio Newsline's Graham Kemp, VK4BB. GRAHAM: Now here's a concept that would make almost any OM wish to be young again: The Hammies Amateur Radio Club has begun another season of teaching young children radio science, helping them get licensed and on the air. Working with the South African Radio League, they've opened the classroom doors again to youngsters aged 10 to 15. Classes began on the 30th of January with an eye toward getting the young hopefuls prepped for their Amateur Radio B-class exam at the conclusion of the 10-week program. But first things first, there's a bit of ground to cover here: Classes meet Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon, combining a lecture, some practical experience, and then getting on the air. The youngsters learn basic electronics, how to troubleshoot and fix things and then, of course, how to do those all-important QSOs. Created by Graham Busse, ZS6GL, and Noel Hammond, ZR6DX, the Hammies instruction was designed to accommodate the schedules and priorities of young children. And if those priorities include going one day from being a Hammie to a Ham, they too can aspire to eventually become an OM. Yes, even the girls. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB. --- BgNet 1.0a12 - The Thunderbolt BBS wx1der.dyndns.org Little Rock, AR .