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Subject: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2429 for Friday May 17th, 2024
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2429 for Friday May 17th, 2024

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2429 with a release date of
Friday, May 17th, 2024 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. The sun erupts in the biggest solar storm in
two decades. In India, hams in the north east stage their first
disaster drill -- and a broadcast documentary looks at military
illusionists, including Morse Code mimics. All this and more as Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2429 comes your way right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART

**
POWERFUL SOLAR STORM BRINGS AURORAS, SHUTS HF COMMUNICATION

JIM/ANCHOR: We begin this week's newscast with a look at the monumental
solar flares that struck us here on Earth -- a storm with a magnitude
not seen in more than 20 years. We have details from Randy Sly, W4XJ.

RANDY: The sun erupted in a series of powerful geomagnetic storms that
began on Friday the 10th of May and continued into the following week,
generating spectacular auroras seen around the world and all but
shutting down HF radio communications. Satellite systems, including the
massive Starlink constellation, reported degraded operating conditions
and space scientists told satellite operators that their orbits could
be unexpectedly altered. At the outset of the storm, the US National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expressed concern over the
impact the magnetic disturbances would have on power grids and
navigation systems.

This was the first solar burst of its kind in more than two decades,
emerging as the first G5-level solar storm since 2003. Curtains of
light could be seen shimmering from the aurora borealis to the north
and the aurora australis to the south as the Earth's magnetic field
became charged with overwhelming infusions of the sun's energy.

While the visuals were dazzling, HF propagation was anything but -- and
it challenged amateur radio operators who, in spite of it all, managed
to still get on the air, with some finding the 6-metre band more
hospitable.

National Public Radio quoted scientists as saying that the storm's
radiation could disrupt some low-altitude satellites' orbit by adding
to atmospheric drag and cause direct damage to satellites at higher
altitudes. NOAA space scientist Rob Steenburgh told NPR that the
International Space Station's position inside the magnetosphere would
keep it largely protected.

The storm also had a personal impact on Tamitha Skov, WX6SWW, the Space
Weather Woman, to whom many hams turn regularly for solar predictions.
On Sunday, May 12, en route to co-directing a space weather school in
Italy, she witnessed the aurora as a steady view outside her airplane
window. She posted on social media: [quote] "It's my first time seeing
it with my own eyes. Words do not do justice." [endquote]

This is Randy Sly W4XJ. (AP, NPR, CNN, SPACEWEATHERWOMAN)

**
NORTHEAST INDIAN HAMS HOLD FIRST DISASTER DRILL

JIM/ANCHOR: Hams in one state in northeast India took a big step
recently by staging their first disaster drill. Jason Daniels VK2LAW
has those details.

JASON: Amateur radio operators in the northeast Indian state of
Nagaland participated in an unprecedented and comprehensive mock
disaster exercise in cooperation with state authorities.

The May 9th drill was designed to sharpen disaster-management skills
and create greater resiliency in the state, especially in regions where
conventional communications, such as cell service, can be disrupted by
disaster.

The exercise was the result of a collaboration between the Nagaland
State Disaster Management Authority and Open Source Classes for Amateur
Radio India, also known as OSCAR India. OSCAR India is a programme of
the All India School of Management and Information Technology. OSCAR
India had worked in late April with the Nagaland disaster management
officials to prepare as many candidates as possible to sit the ham
radio exam being offered by the Ministry of Telecommunications later
this year.

Johnny Ruangmei (ROO ANG MAY), the state disaster authority's joint
chief executive officer, told the media that Nagaland can now count
itself as one of the first states in India to formalize a robust system
of disaster communications.

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(NAGALAND POST, AKASHVANI NEWS)

****
EARHART SPECIAL EVENT HONORS SILENT KEY IN IRELAND

JIM/ANCHOR: A special event station held each year in May in Northern
Ireland is paying tribute to two people this year: the famed pilot,
Amelia Earhart and a local radio amateur who recently became a Silent
Key. We hear more from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: The activation of special event station GB0AEL this month is
linked to two dates that are significant for the North West Amateur
Radio Group in Northern Ireland. The first is May 21, 1932. the day
that aviator Amelia Earhart began her transatlantic flight - one that
would end hours later in Ballyarnett Village, Northern Ireland. The
club marks the occasion every year with the activation - with AEL
standing for "Amelia Earhart Legacy." The club states on its page on
QRZ.com that it will be operating from the field where the pilot made
her historic landing - and will make an extra effort to operate this
year on frequencies that are open to General Class operators in the
United States. For other information and QSL details, see QRZ.com

The other meaningful date is a personal one for the club. It is May
7th, 2024, the date a beloved friend and club member Gerard Radcliffe,
GI7VZW, became a Silent Key. The special event is dedicated to him. The
club writes on its QRZ.com page: [quote] "Good DX Gerard from your club
mates and friends at MN0NWG." [endquote]

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(QRZ.COM)

**
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE URGES PREPAREDNESS

JIM/ANCHOR: In the United States, the Eastern Pacific hurricane season
officially began on Wednesday, May 15th and the Atlantic hurricane
season begins June 1st. It's time for radio operators to prepare, as we
hear from Randy Sly W4XJ.

RANDY: The National Weather Service designated May 5th through the 11th
as Hurricane Preparedness Week in the United States, reminding
vulnerable areas of the country that tropical cyclones are among
nature's most powerful and destructive phenomena. Just one storm can
permanently change a community.

During the week, daily public information statements, along with
educational and preparedness information, were posted on websites as
well as social media. Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, Net Manager for the
Hurricane Watch Net, told AR Newsline that they used Zoom for
meet-and-greet times where all members, new and veteran, were able to
get to know one-another better. The group also discussed the various
challenges they might face during activations. One of the more recent
concerns they talked about was - you guessed it - solar storms and
communications blackouts.

The number of hurricanes predicted this year is far above average.

This is Randy Sly, W4XJ.

(NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE)

**
DEADLINE SOON FOR AMSAT DIRECTOR NOMINEES

JIM/ANCHOR: The deadline is fast approaching for you to submit the
names of candidates to fill seats on AMSAT's Board of Directors, as we
hear from Neil Rapp WB9VPG.

NEIL: Amateur satellite enthusiasts who belong to AMSAT have until the
15th of June to submit their nominees to fill the three seats of
incumbents on the AMSAT Board of Directors. The two-year terms are
expiring this year for Mark Hammond, N8MH; Bruce Paige, KK5DO and Paul
Stoetzer, N8HM. The election will be held in the third quarter of this
year. Written nominations must contain the name and callsign of the
nominee as well as their contact information. As nominator, you must
include your own name and callsign as well as your contact information.
The written nominations can be sent by email or postal mail to the
AMSAT secretary, Jeff Davis, KE9V, at Post Office Box 11, Yorktown,
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