Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (C
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Thu Feb 27 2020 10:18 pm

BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the
WM3PEN repeater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Wednesdays at 8 p.m.
local time.

**

NZART LOOKING FOR HISTORIAN FOR NEW ZEALAND'S RADIO STORY

JIM/ANCHOR: Every ham radio contact - and every ham - has a story to
tell. New Zealand's amateur radio association is looking for someone
to help tell those stories, as we hear from Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

JIM MEACHEN: Although you can't unearth radio history in any kind of
archaeological dig, the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters
is looking for someone who can perform the equivalent task, radio-style.
The group needs a historian, who can study periodicals, such as
newspapers, as well as interviews, diaries, letters, and other records,
and find radio-relevant stories there. The historian will also collect
information about individuals that can be used in their biographies, or
after they have become Silent Keys. A good candidate for the job, would
be someone who is also able to prepare exhibits with historical
relevance, and verify the historical accuracy of materials. Yes, it's
a tall order, but it's one that will make history - quite literally -
if such a devoted candidate can be found. If you are a history-loving
ham, and wish to be considered for the post, send your resume', and a
letter of interest to Debby, at the association headquarters. Send the
email to nzart at nzart dot org dot nz (nzart@nzart.org.nz)

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.

(NZART)

**

MAINE EMERGENCY NETWORK EXPANDS

JIM/ANCHOR: A mainstay of northern New England safety is on the move,
expanding its reach. Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, has more about this vital
network.

KEVIN: It's called the Maine Emergency Communications Packet Network,
and it has grown well beyond its beginnings several years ago in the
mid-coast region of that New England state. In those formative days,
Steve Hansen, KB1TCE, former Section Emergency Coordinator, and
Richard Bates, WD1O, were behind the effort that served Knox and Waldo
counties. A year ago, the remainder of the state's southern tier was
added. Through the efforts of Jimmy White, KC1ETT, Dave Johnson, AA1LO,
Brad Brown Jr., KC1JWH, and Tim Watson, the network has deepened its
reach in the mid-coast region, and extended its reach into New Hampshire.
It also gained the ability to connect into the Canadian Maritimes at the
northeastern end.

This emergency network relies mainly on John Wiseman G8BPQ's BPQ32
packet node software for operations, and has two nodes interconnected
via HF. A third node will be added soon.

Meanwhile, there is more expansion to come: Although the network
serves the coastal corridor along Interstate Route 95, which is more
populated, it has now begun making its way toward parts of north and
western Maine, where the population is more sparse.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

(JIMMY WHITE KC1ETT)

**

FINDING (AND RESCUING) NEMO

JIM/ANCHOR: Hams from AMSAT-ARGENTINA are undertaking a different kind
of rescue and recovery, to give new life to an important tool, that
aids maritime navigation, and assists in the study of propagation.
Graham Kemp, VK4BB, has those details.

GRAHAM: Just like the American animated movie "Finding Nemo," hams from
AMSAT-ARGENTINA are taking on an adventure. But this "Nemo" is actually
"NEMO-1", and it's the name of an amateur radio buoy, launched on the
30th of January, into the south Atlantic, with the call sign LU7AA. It
was designed to transmit in WSPR mode at 14095.6 kHz, and APRS on 2
metres. NEMO ran into trouble less than a month after launch, however.
On February 11th, a tuna vessel spotted it, and noticed it appeared to
be sinking - so it was pulled out of the water, and contact made with
AMSAT. The buoy was brought to the Mar del Plata Radio Club.

AMSAT team member Pedro Converso, LU7ABF, told Newsline in an email
AMSAT-ARGENTINA will assess the damage to the buoy, and spend about a
month refurbishing NEMO, before it is returned to its ocean home,
some 150 miles from the coast of Mar del Plata, using a fishing vessel.

Pedro said NEMO will be outfitted with a large visible "X," the
international symbol for a scientific buoy. Its label will read: "I
am NEMO-1, I like the ocean, please don't take me out."

Hopefully, things will go well again onwards.

For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
 
(PEDRO CONVERSO LU7ABF, SOUTHGATE)
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