Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (C To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Fri Jan 10 2020 01:53 pm TUNISIAN AMATEURS GAIN INDIVIDUAL LICENCES PAUL/ANCHOR: In Tunisia, getting on the air is now a much more personal experience. The government has granted three radio amateurs the first licences to operate as an individuals from the home QTH. Until now, restrictions required hams to only operate from a club station. The new call signs are 3V8HB, 3V8MN, and 3V1MB. Be listening for them soon. (IARU REGION 1) ** HAMS REGAIN ABILITY TO SEARCH FOR AVAILABLE AUSTRALIAN CALL SIGNS PAUL/ANCHOR: In Australia, the public list of available call signs is now once again accessible from an easily searchable web page. The tool is considered useful for hams who are upgrading their existing licence, or applying for a new one, and want to see if the call sign they are seeking has not yet been allocated. The resource is being provided by the Australian Maritime College at the University of Tasmania, who were allocated responsibility for amateur radio licence recommendations about a year ago, by the ACMA taking over the task from the Wireless Institute of Australia. A link to the website can be found in the printed version of this Newsline report on our website. https://csdb.utas.edu.au/Callsign/SearchUnallocated ** SILENT KEY: PACKET RADIO PIONEER DAVE EDMUNDS VK4FUY PAUL/ANCHOR: In Australia, a well-known amateur, and a leader in Packet Radio has become a Silent Key. We hear more from John Williams, VK4JJW. JOHN: A longtime amateur considered to be one of the Packet Radio pioneers in North Queensland, Australia, has become a Silent Key. Dave Edmunds, VK4FUY, died on the 1st of January, in Cooktown Hospital. According to a posting on the Townsville Amateur Radio Club website, he and David, VK4BDJ, who is also a Silent Key, took leading roles in packet radio with TSTHOST and TPK setup, and operating over Baycom modems. Dave was also active with the State Emergency Service, and became Comms Leader at one point for the Townsville division. A participant in many field operations of the Townsville club, he was also its past president. He was also known as one of the musicians in the group "Electrical Caution" that entertained frequently at Far North and North Queensland Amateur Radio Gatherings. As part of the Tableland Radio Group, he also became involved in International Lighthouse Weekends. Hams who remember him and will miss him, are expected to celebrate his life on Saturday, the 18th of January, at 9 a.m. local time, with services at the Grassy Hill lookout, and a wake at the Cooktown Returned and Services League building. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm John Williams, VK4JJW. ** PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND GETS A SECTION OF ITS OWN PAUL/ANCHOR: A decision by Radio Amateurs of Canada is putting Prince Edward Island in a section of its own this spring. Jack Parker, W8ISH, explains. JACK: Amateurs living on Prince Edward Island, and in the city of Hamilton, and the regional municipality of Niagara, are in for some changes this spring. Radio Amateurs of Canada has announced that starting April 1st, a new section will be in place for members on Prince Edward Island. The new section will be used in RAC's ARES activities and, of course, Field Day, and the ARRL sweepstakes in November. While PEI hams are departing the Maritimes Section, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, are keeping the designation. Meanwhile, hams in the city of Hamilton and the regional municipality of Niagara are moving from the Ontario South Section to the Greater Toronto Area Section. That change is also effective on the 1st of April. One thing will remain the same: The addition of the new section will not have any impact on the ARRL's 10-metre Contest. That event uses states and provinces as multipliers for the U.S. and Canada, respectively. For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jack Parker, W8ISH. (RADIO AMATEURS OF CANADA) ** DX HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS DUE SOON PAUL/ANCHOR: If you know a DXer who has gone the distance in ways that can't be measured solely in miles or kilometres, you may know someone who's eligible for the CQ DX Hall of Fame. Nominations can be submitted until the 1st of March for prospective 2020 inductees. No more than two inductees will be chosen each year. Individual hams, DX clubs, and national organizations should make their submissions. The hall of fame was created in 1967, to recognize outstanding achievement - and outstanding individuals. Find the hall of fame nomination information on the CQ Magazine website cq hyphen amateur hyphen radio dot com (cq-amateur-radio.com) under the CQ Awards tab. Be sure to specify CQ DX Hall of Fame. --- SBBSecho 3.10-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (801:1/2) þ Synchronet þ Temple of Doom BBS - tod.eothnet.com .