Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (A)
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Jan 26 2018 03:46 pm

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2100, for Friday, January 26, 2018

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2100, with a release date of
Friday, January 26, 2018, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams in Germany get the green light to
stay on 6 meters. Kosovo becomes the newest DXCC entity -- and
citizen scientists get an invitation to a ham radio conference
in New Jersey. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline
Report 2100, comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**

GERMANY KEEPS 6 METERS - AND KOSOVO'S A NEW DXCC

CHRISTIAN/ANCHOR: We begin this week's newscast with a look at
some change and growth that continues in our hobby. In our first
report, hams in one country get the hoped-for green light to
continue using 6 meters -- and in our second report, the world
of radio gains a whole new entity for DXCC. We start with this
report from Ed Durrant, DD5LP, in Germany.

ED'S REPORT: While some amateur bands are permanently allocated
to amateur radio enthusiasts in Germany, others are bands where
amateurs are "geduldet" (put up with). These authorizations are
for set periods of time, and if not renewed, amateurs can no
longer use the band. One case in point is 6 meters, and in the
December, 2017 issue of memos from BNetZa (the government regulator),
the authorization for amateur use of 6 meters has been extended.
 
Another change in the memos is the authorization for Class E (Novice)
licensees now to be able to use the 13 and 6 centimeter bands at a
maximum of 5 watts PEP until the end of 2018. At the other end of the
scale, Top Band (160 meters) has had the permitted power that can be
used between 1850 and 1890KHz in the band increased from 75 to 100
watts PEP. Contests are also now allowed on weekends, but only in the
frequency range of 1890 to 2000 KHz.

As yet, there is no news as to whether German hams may get access to
the 4 meter band for further tests during the sporadic-E season later
in the year  - we wait in hope.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Ed Durrant, DD5LP.

CHRISTIAN/ANCHOR: Add to that some good news for DXers. There's one
more good reason now to call "CQ DX." A new DXCC entity has been added
to the radio map: Inclusion of the Republic of Kosovo (Z6) raises the
number of DXCC locations to 340. The change is effective as of the 21st
of January. The ARRL Board of Directors made the announcement after
approving a motion to amend the DXCC rules to include entities that
have a separate IARU member society, and are included on the U.S. State
Department Independent States in the World list, at their meeting held
January 19th and 20th. Kosovo, formerly part of Yugoslavia, was admitted
to the International Amateur Radio Union in 2015. The Kosovo Amateur
Radio Association is known by the initials SHRAK.

(ARRL)

**

RADIO ATHLETES GETTING FIT FOR WRTC 2018

CHRISTIAN/ANCHOR: This year brings big things to Jessen/Wittenberg
(YESSEN/Wittenberg), Germany, as some of the world's top contesters
converge for the contest-of-all-contests. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, spoke to
a ham and published author, who has sized up the challenge ahead.

NEIL: In our continuing coverage leading up to the World Radiosport
Team Championship 2018 in July, one thing stands out. Preparing for
the competition, and being selected takes an amazing amount of effort.
Jim George, N3BB, author of the book (and soon to be released Audible
book) "Contact Sport," shares his perspective on the competitors'
endurance from WRTC 2014 in Boston.

JIM: All in all, to qualify for this contest, and to do it really well,
is an amazing personal commitment. It almost takes 4 years from your
life......three of the four to qualify, and then one to get ready to
get ready, and then to do it, and then to recover from it. So, it's
quite an adventure.

NEIL: There are also the challenges in the moment of the contest
itself - and they can be formidable, from equipment not working, to
bands, such as 10 meters, opening at an inconvenient time.

JIM: A lot of things have to go right. The gear had to work, you had
to catch the openings, you had to stay awake, you had to have
considerable personal endurance! Wow. All in all, that's the pinnacle.

NEIL: Yes, there are some physical considerations too. Hams are, after
all, only human.

JIM: Believe me, to keep concentration for 24 hours with the thing
running at, you know, 200 contacts an hour for the most part, is
really tough for both operators. In New England, very few teams even
went to the bathroom. This is a straight through thing. It was
complicated, or assisted, by the fact that the weather was very hot.
So people were drinking a lot, but they were sweating a lot. And,
many teams didn't go take a nature break whatsoever.

NEIL: For Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, in
Bloomington, Indiana.
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