SP9FIH, 3DA0RU, Win 2021 Cass Awards

Janusz Wegrzyn, SP9FIH, has been named the single-op winner of the 2021 Cass Award, presented by ClubLog, DXLab and the Northern California DX Club to the DXpeditions that work the greatest number of different amateurs. 

Wegrzyn was honored for contacting 9684 unique stations during his two-week one-man DXpedition to Sint Maarten, where he operated as PJ7P. This is his fifth consecutive Cass Single-Op award.

The 2021 Unlimited Cass Award, which goes to DXpedition groups, was awarded to 3DA0ARU for its October operation from Eswatini. The group of eight Russian, Czech and Polish hams made contact with 24,985 separate stations during the operation, a new record for this award category. Complete rules are available at <www.cassaward.com>.

Radio Fallout from Ukraine Invasion Expands

Newsline reports that Russia and Belarus have been indefinitely suspended from the CEPT, the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations, in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. This affects amateur radio operation in Europe, as CEPT members accept amateur licenses from other member countries. 

This action suspends the automatic authority of hams from Russia and Belarus to operate in other parts of Europe, and of hams from other CEPT signatories (including the U.S.) to operate in Russia and Belarus.

Spratlys Get Even More Dangerous for Hams

The Spratly Islands
(Map courtesy CIA World Factbook)

The Spratly Islands in the South China Sea have long been on ham radio DXers' most-wanted lists, and getting there to operate has always been dangerous because of competing claims to the islands by various countries. Now, the Associated Press reports that China has "fully militarized" at least three of the islands in the region, quoting a top U.S. military commander as saying the islands have been equipped with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, fighter jets and laser and jamming equipment. According to U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Adm. John C. Aquilino, this is part of what he describes as China's largest military buildup since World War II. DXpeditions to the area are strongly discouraged…

There's Gotta Be a Ham on This Team!

SEAQUE will be hosted on the International Space
Station by the Nanoracks Bishop airlock. The blue-and-
gold brackets attached to the side of the airlock are for
external payloads. The technology demonstration will
be installed at one of those sites. (NASA photo)

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is coordinating a project involving scientists from three universities and two commercial companies to test a device that JPL says could set the stage for a future global quantum network …and we're pretty sure there's at least one ham on the team that's developing it. The milk-carton-sized technology demonstration experiment, scheduled for launch to the International Space Station later this year, is named the Space Entanglement and Annealing Quantum Experiment, abbreviated by the acronym SEAQUE (say it out loud and you'll understand the connection!).

Quantum computers have the potential of operating millions of times faster than conventional computers, according to JPL, and SEAQUE will test two new communication technologies to create quantum networks in the space environment. Building such a network would require the use of space-based nodes – essentially quantum repeaters – to securely receive and transmit quantum data from and to the ground using free-space optical communications. This experiment would test a technique for producing and detecting pairs of entangled photons which would carry the quantum data. The photon source on SEAQUE would split individual photons into entangled "daughter photons," according to JPL, and measuring one of them immediately results in changes in the measurement of the other, even if they are widely separated from each other. The photon source would use a waveguide – familiar to microwave-active hams – to split and transmit the entangled photons.

The second experiment would involve the use of an internal laser to repair damage caused by high-energy radiation in the space environment. It will use a process known as annealing to "bubble away" radiation-caused defects and reduce unwanted noise in the detector.

The SEAQUE module will be attached to the outside of the ISS, mounted on brackets already installed on the Bishop airlock, which is owned and operated by Nanoracks, a commercial participant in this experiment. The earliest possible launch date for SEAQUE is this coming August.

For more information, see <https://tinyurl.com/yek9smtk>.

 

Milestones: JH1AJT, W2RS, Silent Keys

CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame member "Zorro" Miyazawa, JH1AJT, became a Silent Key in late March, according to DXNews.com. In addition to his DXing activities around the world, which included bringing along groups of other operators to be on the air while he conducted business in various locations, Zorro was the founder of the Foundation for Global Children, an international humanitarian organization focused on helping provide basic supplies and educational opportunities for children around the world.

Also leaving us in March was amateur satellite pioneer Ray Soifer, W2RS. In 1960, he was on one end of the first known amateur radio contact via satellite ionization trail reflection, according to the AMSAT News Service. In addition, Ray was at one end of the first-ever intersatellite relay communication between two earth stations – using OSCARs 6 and 7 – in any radio service. Soifer held many positions in the AMSAT organization, including Executive Vice President and acting President. He also served as chair of the IARU (International Amateur Radio Union) satellite forum and the IARU Region 2 VHF/UHF Committee.

EmComm Exercise on QO-100

Amateur radio emergency communications exercises don't typically include satellites, but QO-100 isn't your typical amateur satellire. It is geostationary, appearing to remain in the same spot overhead at all times, meaning that access from all stations within its "footprint" is continuous. That footprint covers much of Europe, all of Africa and parts of Asia and South America.

In late February, according to the AMSAT News Service, 22 amateurs from 14 countries in IARU Region 1 (Europe, Africa and the Middle East) took part in a short-notice EmComm exercise using the QO-100 satellite. The coverage area extended from South Africa to the United Kingdom, providing an avenue for communication in a wide-ranging disaster situation without dependence on either the internet or the ionosphere. A follow-up exercise is planned for this fall.

MARS and RRI to Conduct Monthlong Drill

Radio Relay International (RRI), in cooperation with U.S. Army MARS Region 2, will be conducting a joint interoperability exercise from April 15 to May 15, 2022. According to RRI Director of Emergency Management Jim Wades, WB8SIW, the exercise will consist of two phases, starting with a limited infrastructure test and training phase, followed by a test utilizing RRI/NTS (ARRL National Traffic System) assets through the last mile in selected states.

Messages addressed to various emergency service organizations will originate within the Army MARS Region 2 network from which they will be transferred to the RRI Digital Traffic Network for routing to their destinations. Replies will return via a similar path.

RRI operates an international infrastructure of layered communications networks including both manual mode systems and a hybrid mesh network utilizing high frequency resources. More information regarding the exercise and the organization may be found at the RRI website, <www.radio-relay.org>.

AMSAT Receives Major Grant for Spaceframe Development

The AMSAT News Service reports that the amateur satellite group has been awarded a grant of close to $100,000 by ARDC (Amateur Radio Digital Communications) for development of a "3U" spaceframe with deployable solar panels. This structure – the size of three standard cubesats – will serve as the mechanical platform for AMSAT's GOLF series of high-altitude satellites and a new generation of low-orbit FM satellites, according to ANS. 

The GOLF satellites are intended for higher elliptical orbits, providing longer access times and greater coverage areas for hams here on the planet. AMSAT stressed, though, that as generous as the ARDC grant is, another $231,000 is needed to cover additional hardware development and launch preparation costs for just one GOLF satellite.

CQ to Limit Contest Participation by Stations in Russia, Belarus and Donbas Region of Ukraine

STATEMENT OF CQ COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,
REGARDING CQ CONTESTS AND THE RUSSIAN
INVASION OF UKRAINE

          (Northport, NY 17 March, 2022) – CQ Communications, Inc., publishers of CQ Amateur Radio magazine and sponsor of the CQ World Wide DX and WPX Contests, announced today that in light of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and Belarus, it will not accept competitive entries in any of its sponsored contests by amateur radio stations in Russia, Belarus or the separatist Donbas region of Ukraine (unofficial D1 prefix). Logs submitted by these stations will be accepted only as checklogs. In addition, contacts with these stations by other participants will have zero point value and will not count as multipliers.

This is in line with a similar action taken by the Radio Society of Great Britain, following the lead of other international sports federations around the world.

"We regret the need to take this action," said CQ Publisher Richard Ross, K2MGA, "and recognize that the vast majority of our fellow amateurs who are affected by it are innocent bystanders who had no role in their government's decision to invade another sovereign country. However, in light of the great suffering being inflicted without cause on the people of Ukraine by Russia's leaders, we cannot in good conscience stand by and do nothing."

The CQ policy will take effect with the 2022 CQ WPX SSB Contest on March 26 and 27. Future events will be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the situation at that time.

 

BBC Brings Back Shortwave for Ukraine

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is reviving its European shortwave service in order to provide news and information to listeners in Ukraine who may be cut off from internet service but have access to portable shortwave receivers. 

According to the New York Times, the BBC decided to reinstate its shortwave broadcasts to Europe following Russia's attack on Kyiv's main radio and TV transmission tower. "In a conflict where disinformation and propaganda is rife," BBC Director-General Tim Davie said in a statement, "there is a clear need for factual and independent news people can trust." The BBC had ended its European shortwave service in 2008.

The Huffington Post reports that the BBC will broadcast World Service News in English for four hours each day on 5875 and 15735 kHz, frequencies that can be received easily in both Ukraine and Russia. The BBC reports that Russia has limited internet access to several international broadcasters, including the BBC, Radio Liberty and Deutsche Welle.

DX Summit Blocking Cluster Spots From Warring European Nations/Regions

DX Summit has announced that it is blocking posts from all countries and regions involved in the current war in Ukraine, partially at the request of the Ukrainian government and partially of its own accord. The following statement was released today:

A message from the operators of the DX Summit http://www.dxsummit.fi/

A state of emergency was declared in Ukraine just prior to the Russian military invasion. Among other things, the February 24 decree from President Volodymyr Zelensky will remain in effect for at least 30 days and may be extended. The state of emergency includes “a ban of amateur radio transmissions”.

As per Ukrainian presidential office request, we will be removing the Ukrainian callsigns from the DX Summit.

DX Summit wants to avoid being an advertising medium for war and war related messages of any kind. As a result, we see it reasonable to block out all cluster posted messages related to this unfortunate event.

In addition, as of this moment, we are also blocking callsigns and messages posted by hams from the invading countries and regions such as Russia, Belarus and Donetsk (D1).

Ham Radio in Ukraine Shut Down in Face of Russian Invasion

An emergency declaration by the government of Ukraine enacted as Russian forces began their invasion in late February included "a ban on the operation of amateur radio transmitters for personal and collective use," according to the ARRL Letter. 

The initial emergency order was issued for a 30-day period on February 24 and could be extended as circumstances require. Nonetheless, CQ has heard reports of amateurs sending out information via Echolink and of Polish hams sending messages to relatives on behalf of Ukrainian refugees who sought shelter in Poland.

ARRL Seeks Ham Exemption from New Forest Service Fees

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing a $1400 annual "communication facility fee" to be collected from any individual or entity maintaining a communication facility on Forest Service lands. 

The ARRL has filed comments requesting that amateur radio facilities be exempted from the fees, which it says are being proposed in response to a 2018 law requiring it to collect fees for issuing communications use authorizations "based on the cost to the agency for processing the applications, maintenance and other related activities." This fee would be on top of rental fees already collected. 

The League asked that amateur radio facilities be exempted on the basis of the service's statutory non-commercial status, the fact that amateurs maintain their own facilities and the public service provided by amateur radio during fires, search-and-rescue operations and other critical activities on Forest Service lands. The comment period extends through March 31.

3Y0J Bouvet DXpedition Shaping Up for Next January

The organizers of the much-anticipated 3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet Island have set January 6, 2023, as the date on which they will set sail for the second-most-wanted DX entity. According to the ARRL Letter, the trip will last 44 days, including 22 on Bouvet itself. The port of departure is still undecided. 

The group is planning to operate up to 12 stations simultaneously, eight on CW and/or SSB, and four dedicated to FT8. Interested DXers may keep track of progress on the expedition's Facebook page, and donations are being accepted via PayPal on the group's support page at <https://www.3y0j.no/funding>.

Plans Firming Up for Solo DXpedition to Crozet

Thierry Mazel, F6CUK, says he expects to arrive on Crozet Island for his one-man DXpedition around Christmas, after making stops at other rare islands, including Tromelin. The ARRL Letter entity, which was last activated on the ham bands in 2009. No call sign has yet been announced for the operation, and the Letter says it won't be announced publicly until just prior to the operation in order to minimize potential problems with pirates. More information is available at <http://crozet2022.r-e-f.org/home.html>.

Paging Arnold Schwarzenegger…

Photo: Scott McIntosh via Twitter @swmcintosh

"The Terminator" has arrived on the Sun, giving another notch in the belt to the two solar scientists who have been predicting that Cycle 25 "could have a magnitude that rivals the top few since record-keeping began." Spaceweather.com reports that Drs. Scott McIntosh and Bob Leamon say that the "termination event" they have been predicting has occurred, marking the complete end of Cycle 24 and allowing Cycle 25 to move ahead without interference from remnants of the old cycle. "Solar Cycle 24 was cramping Solar Cycle 25's style," Leamon told Spaceweather. 

According to McIntosh and Leamon, the termination event occurred in December 2021, two years after the start of Cycle 25 but more importantly, just a little less than 11 years after the previous terminator event in February 2011. The researchers say these events range in time from 10 to 15 years, and that shorter durations, such as this one, indicate that the new sunspot cycle will be stronger than average. The "official" forecast for Cycle 25 predicts a relatively weak cycle, similar to the just-concluded Cycle 24. McIntosh and Leamon think it will be much stronger and early activity suggests that the sunspot numbers are tracking closer to their predictions than to the "official" one.

 

Having a Blast on the Sun!

This photo by the ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter
spacecraft on February 15, 2022, is the largest
solar prominence eruption ever observed in a
single image together with the full disc of the sun.
(European Space Agency photo)

A huge solar flare extending millions of miles into space was photographed by the NASA/European Space Agency (ESA) Solar Orbiter spacecraft on February 15. According to ESA, the photo represents the largest solar flare ever observed in a single image together with the full disc of the sun. A flare consists of a dense concentration of solar plasma that is released into space by the breakdown of a "solar prominence," which ESA describes as a large structure "made of tangled magnetic field lines that keep dense concentrations of solar plasma suspended above the Sun’s surface and often take the form of arching loops."

If directed toward Earth, the plasma blast can disrupt radio communications and – if strong enough – damage satellites and even damage electrical grids on the surface. (A flare can also result in stronger than usual auroras, a boon to weak-signal VHF enthusiasts.) This flare, fortunately, was directed away from the Earth, but the rising sunspot cycle is likely to result in more flares as solar activity "heats up" over the next few years.