RAE Backgrounder 2025-02-13

Some additional notes and musings about the content on the RAE course. 

Resistors 

Resistors nowadays don't have coloured bands or markings. SMDs come on a long tape. They are placed by a numerical controlled XY machine onto printed circuit boards. [Pick and Place machine] Then soldered into place.

Q So why do we make you learn the 'colour code'?

A Well the code values gets used elsewhere. e.g. Cables denoting the number of the wire. Pins 1 to 9. 

A Also you will be able to re-use old resistors for your projects. Most constructors these days re-use or re-purpose old equipment for their projects.

A lot of radio amateurs re-use older equipment to save cost etc. In doing this they need to identify components etc. One example is the conversion of a CB radio to use on the 10 metre band. 

 

Resistor Failings

• Inductive value [VHF/UHF] - they are measurably inductive.
• Carbon Composition [very rare] - for non-inductive types.
  
• Capacitive value or self-capacitance [VHF/UHF]
• Power dissipation - heating. [Capacitors do NOT dissipate power]
• Radiative heat - some resistors come with a heat sink mounting.
• Volume/Potentiometers - variable resistors used to control the sound output. Log (logarithmic) types are used to vary sound level. But linear types are used for adjustment of voltages or currents. Some are multi-turn for precision setting of voltages/currents.
• Hair Dryer and Electric Blankets - heat dissipating at high or low levels.
• FUSES - Where the resistor melts to 'open circuit' and stop the current. This has its own 'issues' as the time to melt has an impact. Higher the current the faster it melts! 

For more information find the informative article "Resistors" in Wireless World 1975-10-01 by R.A. Fairs, B. Sc.

 

Capacitors [Condensers in old docs]

Capacitors have a multitude of uses. "Super Caps" have a very large capacity value and can discharge high currents. Such that some trucks use them to start the engine. Charging from the normal truck battery when not needed.

At radio frequency they provide tuning for resonant circuits or parts of filters.

In pulse circuits they provide delay networks. [Differentiation and Integration]

They can also be used to "tune" an antenna. A "Capacity Hat" on the top of an antenna will reduce the frequency of resonance. Usually used on a short antenna to bring the resonant frequency down.

The majority of electrolytic capacitors get used as "decoupling" capacitors. Or as "coupling" capacitors. But at higher frequencies the ones used are generally ceramic. For filters and resonant circuits mica and air types are used. Being of higher quality and Q value.

For more information find the informative article "Capacitors" in Wireless World 1974-12-01 by R.A. Fairs, B. Sc.

 Both are available on:- https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Wireless_World_Magazine.htm

 

 

YL Beam #137 Feb 2025

Contents

• First International Meeting of YLs, Mar del Plata, Argentina
• Out-and-About: Elsie KB1IFZ & Eric KB1EHE (USA) Antarctica DXpedition
• Polish YL celebrates 50 years of Amateur Radio 2025
• DL3KWR Rosel Zenker - In Memory of:
• From Gertrud, DK8LQ; SYLRA; MVP; WRTC ; BYLARA OCT 2021
• Silent Keys G8KWD Glenys Bettley; Carol Lynn Boehler, KF4TJJ
• CONTACT

First International Meeting of Yls at Mar del Plata , Argentina
March 6, 7 and 8, 2025. to celebrate International Women's Day
There will be talks, workshops and activities designed for all levels of experience, as well as moments of recreation and camaraderie. It will be an ideal opportunity to meet other radio enthusiasts and create bonds that will last over time. Be part of this historic event!
We look forward to seeing you in Mar del Plata to celebrate women in amateur radio together!
Pre-register before February 14, 2025 at https://forms.gle/u2BkxJLQfoR5VQRC9
For more info. Contact Marina LU1VYL
Radio Club Argentino 25 Jan 2025
*****
eric-kb1ehe-and-elsie-kb1ifz-antarctica-testing-1-1536x1026.jpg

Out-and-About
Elsie KB1IFZ & Eric KB1EHE (USA) on an Antarctica DXpedition
28 January - 2 February. 2025. Operating 20m SSB and FT8.

Fly from Puerto Natales, Chile to King George Island (the largest of the South Shetland Islands, lying 120 km off the coast of Antarctica in the Southern Ocean. They will be taking a Zodiac (inflatable boat) to the National Geographic Explorer ship which is their floating lodging as they explore the Antarctic Peninsula.
 Due to recent avian bird flu (H5N1) concerns, and potential impact to wildlife and the fragile Antarctica ecosystem overall, visitors to Antarctica have to take significant precautions. For instance, to prevent the transmission of pathogens, the bottoms of boots and tips of hiking poles are disinfected prior to any excursion. Only boots and poles can touch the walking surface, complicating remote radio-station setup.

Eric and Elsie, in collaboration with their Connecticut-U.S.-based colleagues, have created an entirely portable (nothing touching the ground) 20m station, comprised of a Xiegu G90, laptop, and battery power supply that’s connected by a short piece of coax to a homebrew 5.6m / 18.4 ft. telescopic vertical antenna system with two substantially shortened counterpoise elements.
The couple report to DX-World that they have extensively rehearsed “donning and doffing” their backpack-stowed gear and have had successful worldwide QSOs from their home QTH in Connecticut. They said they “feel like astronauts” suiting up each other in an airlock prior to a spacewalk! The couple said they analyzed the 20-watt output of the G90 and their portable configuration’s SAR / RF exposure, and they are well within safe operating limits.

The Captain of the ship has also provided approval for Eric and Elsie to operate on the ship with their G90. As the ship is registered in the Bahamas, the couple needed to get their Bahamas reciprocal license, which they did. The ship’s Captain will also allow them to temporarily install a separate telescopic antenna to one of the ship’s outdoor masts and has indicated that the crew will help them run coax to an inside operating position.
While on the ship, the operating callsigns will be KB1EHE/C6A/MM and KB1IFZ/C6A/MM.
While physically hiking the Antarctic Peninsula, they will be operating with the callsigns KC4/KB1EHE and KC4/KB1IFZ.

The current long-range weather for the Antarctic Peninsula looks to be snowy and windy, so hiking and operating will certainly be a challenge for Eric and Elsie.
They will update LOTW when they have reliable connectivity.
*****

Polish YL celebrates 50 years of Amateur Radio 2025
Wanda Jakubowska, SP7IWA, SP5IWA will be active using special call sign SN50IWA from Pruszkow, Poland, celebrating 50th Anniversary of the Ham Radio activity.
She will operate on HF Bands.
Qrz.com: This photo (above) shows my first DX-pedition - student camp in the Polish mountains, in Magura, south of Poland. I went there with my radio and simple antenna dipole for 80 m band.
*****

Rosel Zenker DL3KWR became Silent Key early morning on January 15th, 2025
Go to her qrz.com page to read about this remarkable German Amateur Radio operator. RIP

From Gertrud, DK8LQ: On January 15, 2025 at 7:30 a.m. OM Hardy, DL3KWF was the first to report in the 80m YL round: "Rosel, DL3KWR passed away this morning at 4:00 a.m." We were all shocked and deeply sad. Rosel was the most active CW-ist of all of us.
She acquired her amateur radio license in 1975, DM2AEA. After that, she was heard on the bands under her home calls DT2AEA, Y21EA and from 1991, DL3KWR, also under 70 call signs from 22 different countries.
In the period from 1975 to 2025, Rosel has worked on 232000 QSO's and 270 countries. She has received 800 awards and participated in 945 competitions, 98.4% of which were on CW. She was a member of 3 CW clubs and 6 international YL clubs worldwide.
Right after the fall of the Berlin Wall we met Rosel and her OM Hardy, DL3KWF, at the INTERRADIO in Hanover. What a pleasant surprise.
A great experience for her was the WRTC 2018, where she met many CW-ists from all over the world.
Since 1993, Rosel has competed in the 80m YL Net on Wednesday mornings . She activated many club call signs for us, including DL0SOP, DL0YLV. In the group, she always reported enthusiastically on her activities and who she had met.
She personally handed over a large part of her extensive QSL card collection to the archive during a visit to Vienna. https://www.dokufunk.org/index.php?lang=EN
Rosel attended almost all YL meetings worldwide. Afterwards, at our annual 80-m-YL meeting, she showed us beautiful video shows from the events and the SYLRA meetings.
Rosel, we thank you for our many years of friendship and will never forget you.
We receive tremendous sympathy from SYLRA, DL88YLF and worldwide.
Our condolences go out to the family. On behalf of the 80-m-YL round on Wednesday morning. Gertrud Szyza, DK8LQ

SYLRA (Scandinavian Young Ladies Radio Amateurs). - Ingrid Kleveland 24/1/2025
In memory of Rosel DL3KWR
She meant a lot to SYLRA. Rosel was the first YL to become a SYLRA member outside the Scandinavian countries and she attended every SYLRA meeting from 2005 to the 20 years Anniversary dinner in Copenhagen 2023. She was always among the first YL to register for the meetings and several times the first YL. Rosel did a lot to make SYLRA known out in the world. One of them was when she visited Denmark every autumn and participated SAC (Scandinavian activity Contest CW) with SYLRAs special callsign in Denmark OZ6SYL. Rosel was an excellent representative to make the SYLRA-callsign known worldwide. She was a keen and active radio amateur, who had operated in 22 countries.
Rosel had a beautiful smile and was so relaxed all the time…. Except when she had a morse key in front of her! She was a lovely and friendly person who laughed often.
She will be deeply missed. Our deepest condolences to Rosel’s OM, Hardy, and family.
On behalf of the SYLRA Board Ingrid LA8FOA, Chairwoman

Anna Henriksdóttir TF3VB, from Iceland: I met Rosel and her OM Hardy Zenker often at SYLRA meetings in Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. We had fun times on an island in France and our last meeting was in Tivoli Copenhagen 2023. Thanks for your friendship for 20 years. She will be sorely missed.

MVP: Rosel Zenker DL3KWR silent key
On January 15th, Rosel DL3KWR from the OV Greifswald (V11) passed away. Alongside her OM Hardy DL3KWF, she left behind an impressive log of around 232,000 QSOs, of which she conducted around 50,000 from her holiday QTHs in CT3 and CT9 (Madeira Island), . She was mostly QRV in CW - as it says on her homepage DL3KWR.de : "Actually, I just wanted to be able to understand telegraphy and so I became a radio amateur." She obtained her amateur radio license in 1975, initially under the then GDR call sign DM2AEA, later Y21EA. Since then, she has activated 70 different call signs from 22 countries during countless stays abroad and participated in a total of 945 contests. She conducted her last contest QSO on January 3rd of this year.
For over 30 years she sorted and distributed the incoming and outgoing QSL cards for the OV Greifswald (V11). Her services to amateur radio in Germany were recognised in 2023 with the award of the DARC Silver Badge of Honor.

yl.beam#57april 2018 (Repeat)
DF5A is on the air operated by DL3KWR Pictures from DL6MHW

Rosel Zenker DL3KWR – being part of WRTC test day in 2017
WRTC test day in 2017 – I was present Rosel Zenker DL3KWR
The WORLD RADIOSPORT TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP offers the unique chance to experience this sporty climax on the amateur radio directly - if not as competitor, then as assistant. In 2018 this big event should take place for the first time in Germany. My OM Hardy, DL3KWF, and I are enthusiastic CW Contesters and so it was clear for us: there we help with it.
At first a small anecdote: in preparation for the WRTC in 2000 the Slovenes had distributed at the contest meeting to HAM radio in Friedrichshafen small bottles which were declared as "HAMSPIRIT". We both got such bottles which has stood for years in our Shack beside the transceiver (we filled it then with Madeira wine again). One day I had a QSO with a OM who has looked on my QRZ.com page and had discovered on my photo this small bottle. Of course he would know which circumstance it has with this one, hi.
Since Moscow in 2010 the WRTC take place as a Field day. This meant for the first time same location terms for all participants: on level area for every team a tent with generator and an absolutely same aerial arrangement. So that to the WRTC 2018 everything functions so perfectly as possible, was built up and also tested by the test days at the end of June, 15 sites of the needed 65 sites in the next year. 100 assistants (OMs and YLs) met at the camping place near Jessen in the region Brandenburg.
The organiser team had performed extensive preliminary work: equipment selected/ordered/stored, the locations defined and approvals for their use caught up, the logistics planned and also one more a grill party prepared. The site managers and aerial bosses had been sent before in their duties. On Saturday 5 LKWs drove the material which stored in Jessen to the sites. The delivery contained aerials, radio mast, rotor, 2 step-ladders, Honda generator, fire extinguisher and the tent as well as tools and other materials inclusive garbage bags. DIXI looes marked already the locations. There was not shortage of nothing – not yet of nice weather
This could be begun with establishing the radio locations. For mounting the Spider beams and establishing the 15-metre mast, as well as for putting up the tent all hands were used, particularly it was not windless. Although we have met in the group (2 YLs and 4 OMs) for the first time, we worked purposefully hand in hand. Besides, all conspicuities were documented by the logistics up to the measuring of the aerials conscientiously. The SWR minimum must lie, finally, in the respective band. And the operating time of the generator per tank filling is for the contest expiry also not quite insignificant.
Now the self-brought Transceiver was put into operation and, besides, was checked the QRM-freedom of the location. Whoever wanted to operate, could do it up to the dismantling on Sunday morning. Under the contest call DF5A we distributed the Special-DOK WTTØ3 to incorporate also all those at home in the test day events. The test day was a great success. We have learnt a lot, worked in the team, have met in the grill party radio friends with whom we had 25 years ago or more QSO and we have got to know new Yls/OMs. Anyway Hardy and I want to be present in 2018. And we look forward to meet the best contesters and referees from all over the world. Especially we look forward to the New Zealand team: Holger ZL3IO and daughter Xenia ZL4YL. We have known Holger for a long time. Rosel Zenker DL3KWR
WARO BULLETIN September 2017 (Womens Amateur Radio Org.) New Zealand.}

Rosel, DL3KWR BYLARA AUTUMN NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2021
OM Hardy, DL3KWF, and I started in June, a holiday trip to Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance. Our first trip since September 2020. We had planned to visit the HAM Radio, but it was cancelled again. But a group of six radio amateurs had a lovely spontaneous meet-up with Zita, DL4GA. Her team was for many years the ‘good spirit’ of the YL meeting point of the HAM Radio. We hope now that the HAM Radio will happen in 2022.

July is activity month in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern for the “Sea Of Peace” diploma (Baltic Sea). For this reason the special call sign DL0SOP was on the air. So we both operated on each of the four days.
Our university and Hanseatic town Greifswald celebrated in August the 70th birthday of its sail training ship (SSS) “GREIF”. The ship was christened Wilhelm Pieck, the first president of GDR, and was commissioned on August 2nd 1951 as a training ship for maritime youth education. Since 1954
Greifswald-Wieck has been the port of registry and since 1991 the new name of the ship is “GREIF”. Its longest journey was in 1957 to Odessa with stops in Albania, Bulgaria and Romania. On-board operator Heinz, DM2ACB, was QRV on sea as DM5MM/mm and in Albania as ZA2ACB.
We radio amateurs of Greifswald this jubilee worldwide with the special call sign DL70GREIF and the certificate “70 YEARS OF SCHOOL SHIP”, for which one needed 3 QSOs on different days and/ or modes in the month of August. With the award #161 and 354 QSOs in telegraphy as operator I was involved.

To my great surprise right into a pile-up, Lindy, G0GZN, my new BYLARA sponsor, called me. So I could have only a short QSO.
In September, at the time of the Scandinavian Activity Contest in telegraphy, we were on holiday again in Denmark near Faxe. From Inger, OZ7AGR, I had permission to activate OZ6SYL, the callsign of SYLRA. OZ6 is quite a rare prefix. The conditions were difficult through QSB. So I collected a total of only 843 QSOs in my log. But I was very glad that six YLs had called me. One of them was Linda, G0AJJ, to my great pleasure. We had seen her at several SYLRA meetings. Rosel, DL3KWR
*****

Silent Key
G8KWD Glenys Bettley, UK
1 Jan 2025, Hi Heather, I have been taking the newsletter on behalf of my wife, Glenys, G8KWD but sadly she became SK in September 2024 as the result of a brain tumour.
Whilst she was licenced for many years, she was never particularly active; other than helping with the local RAYNET from time to time; as she was busy doing many other things such as Girl Guiding, Scouting, family history, English Folk Dancing and Handbell Ringing.. She did however take part in a couple of small DXpeditions, to Mozambique in 2014 with C91WW and to the second trip to Botswana with the A25UK team in 2017.
73, Tony, G4LDL/G4L/G8KWC
*****
Silent Key
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Carol Lynn Boehler, KF4TJJ, on December 28, 2024. Carol was a long-time member of YLRL, and enjoyed coming to our Conventions. Her husband Denny reported today by telephone. At the Oklahoma City Convention, Carol gave us an acorn necklace as a gift, made by her husband Denny. He said he also donated some handmade gifts to us as prizes. Carol and Denny had lived in Leesburg, VA, but in recent years moved to Morton, IL.
YLRL - Carol Fraley Laferty 20 Jan 2025
https://www.csmico.com/obitua.../Carol-Lynn-Hiter-Boehler
*****
CONTACT yl.beam news: Editor Eda (Heather) zs6ye.yl@gmail.com
newsletters can be found: https://wrarc-anode.blogspot.com/
Italian Radio Amateurs Union: QTC U.R.I.
https://www.unionradio.it/qtc-la-rivista-della-unione-radioamatori-italiani/
West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society https://wosars.club/category/yl-news/
https://www.facebook.com/CT2ISX YLs-Amateur Radio Ladies-Portugal

Unsubscribe: If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please email: zs6ye.yl@gmail.com

The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the YL Group, or the editor.
All contributions, comments and suggestions are welcome.
*****
Calendar
Feb 1 – 2 Fourth edition of the American Parks Weekend.
Feb 7 – 9 Orlando Hamcation (USA)
Feb 11 International Day of Women and Girls in Science
Feb 13 World Radio Day Thursday
Feb 14 -16 17th "American Lighthouse Weekend",
Feb 15 Girlguiding World Thinking Day on the Air
Feb 18 – 25 TI1RRC Cano Island
March 8 International Women’s Day

yl.beam #136 jan 2025

Contents

• Editorial New Year 2025
• SYLRA 2025 Cancelled  
• Dutch YLs at HF day 2024  
• Raisa R1BIG DXpedition
• Out-and-About: N6KLS Vicki Zumwalt YLRL
• Passion for Satellites  Leticia Alonso LU5ILA
• Silent Keys  - ZS6EM  Elmarie Mccash LW1DGW. Maria del Carmen Romeo 

Editorial: Hello Ladies – so grateful that we have made it together to another year.
Thank-you to those who shared and responded to the news-letters, it is much appreciated.
I love hearing from our lady operators across the world.
What do I wish for 2025? More On-the-Air time for all of us!
As technology continues to evolve we will need to continue networking, sharing and helping each other. Please keep your editor updated.
Best wishes for 2025 – see you down the log. 33 / 88 ZS5YH Heather (Eda)
*****
SYLRA 2025 Cancelled
Dear SYLRA friends,
unfortunately we have received an insufficient number of registrations for SYLRA 2025 and we must therefore cancel the event we were planning at lake Úlfljótsvatn, Iceland. The registration was very far from the minimum 15 persons we required.
We are looking at other options for hosting an event on the air and/or online and so on.
We will announce that at a later date. Our best regards to you all.
· Dec 1, 2024: Anna de TF3VB, Vala de TF3VD, Elín de TF2EQ, Guðrún de TF3GD
*****

L > R: Anne-Sophie NL13798, Marjolein PD2MDR, Mariëtte PA1ENG, Anneke  PA3DGF en Lisa PA2LS. After lunch we took this picture. Proud!
 

Dutch YLs at HF day 2024           Posted on 22/09/2024 by pa1eng
Did you know that the Dutch Young Ladies Club is part of the VERON Traffic Bureau? From the moment that there is no longer a separate VERON YL committee, PI4YLC falls under the committee that deals with HF matters. And that committee organized the annual HF day again yesterday. A number of Young Ladies from the contest team were there. It was a beautiful sunny day full of ideas about what you can do on the bands.
At the HF day in Hoevelaken there were again interesting lectures about DX-peditions and Websdr, prizes for contests were awarded and there was enough space to meet acquaintances and strangers. There we also met other YLs who are active in our radio hobby. It was great to see Anne-Sophie NL13798 and Anneke PA3DGF again, just like last year, and to meet Marjolein PD2MDR.
******
Raisa R1BIG’s First DXpedition
She will head to Cano Island in Costa Rica, Central America. (callsign TI1RRC) the only yl in the Team with 7 OM.  Estimated dates of operation February 19th-25th, 2025
Watch an interview with Raisa on YouTube ·(click on link below) ·19 Dec 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo08QEywohY
******

Out-and-About
N6KLS Vicki Zumwalt Young Ladies' Radio League 20 Dec 2024
My son in law, Ahmed A. Ella who lives in Egypt, was able to set up a meeting with the The Egyptian Radio Amateurs Society For Development (ERASD) for me to meet their amateur radio operators.  My thanks to  (ERASD) for hosting myself and Ahmed A. Ella when I was in Cairo, Egypt.  
The President, Mr Said Kamel, SU1SK, warmly welcomed us to their official meeting place where I presented 2 copies of Tom Schiller, N6BT’s book Array of Light.  They were most appreciative and agreement was made for Tom to do a presentation to their club via zoom in the future.
Conditions were such that I was not able to make contacts from Egypt, however I was presented with 2 buttons from their club and their hospitality to us could not have been more pleasant.  We shared several hours talking with them about amateur radio in their country and we felt fortunate for the generous amount of time these gentlemen spent with us.
We exchanged information and before leaving an invitation was extended for them to visit us in the U.S.A.
Of course my visit would not have been complete as the President of the Young Ladies Radio League had I not inquired about YL’s in Egypt?  I was told that women in Egypt who are not hams resent their husbands hobby and present it as their husband’s other wife!  It seems a reoccurring theme I hear.  YL’s are very rare in Egypt.  They were very interested to know about the YLRL, numbers of members and many other questions which I was more than happy to answer.  I was treated in every respect as an amateur radio operator and never felt any difference because I was a YL and I look forward to going back!
*****

Leticia Alonso LU5ILA of Missions, Argentina, who in January 2023 reached the Crater Corona of the Inca in the Riojana range at 5.550 msnm, from where she made several contacts via satellite  (see yl.beam #115 feb 2023)
Passion for Satellites
Leticia Alonso LU5ILA does not hide her passion for this mode of radio activation that amazed her. Here she tells us about her beginnings and how her husband Victor LU8IEZ and her children Veronica LU9IVN and Leandro LU1IAB accompany her on this journey.
Could you tell us how you were introduced to amateur radio and what motivated you to enter this world?
Since I was a child I wanted to be a radio amateur, I saw it in movies and I wanted to have my globe marked with pins from the countries I communicated with. In 2007 I had the opportunity to take the course and in 2009 I got my license, we traveled a lot and carrying a radio could be helpful, especially as we like extreme tourism.

Regarding satellite operations, when did you decide to make the transition and what were the main reasons behind this decision?
In 2019, while participating in Women's Day activities, I approached a large group of YLs united by Radio Club La Rioja, where several were doing various modes, including satellites. I began to collaborate with the Radio Club in organizing the activities and Blas LU8SAN insisted that I go out on satellite from Misiones, my home province. My husband gave me an antenna and I began to listen, encouraged by Patricia LU3FCA, who sent me material and information about it so that I could advance in satellites. That end of the year I got my first contact, which was with Patricia, my Satellite God-mother.
I never made a transition, rather I added one more mode, since I do Phones, Digital and Satellites. What is true is that satellites allowed me to channel my addiction to radio. I call it “15 minutes of glory,” which is the time it takes me to set up my antenna where I am and go out for the pass and I cut it off behind the pass, I finish and I can continue working, traveling or whatever I have to do, which doesn't happen to me when I do HF.  I don't want to stop, I want to continue. In this way, I am able to operate a little radio, which gives me pleasure and I have a limit, which is the duration of the satellite pass.

What sensations did you experience when you made your first contact through satellites? How would you describe that experience?
It was night time and it was in AO 91, which could still be used in eclipse, LU3FCA Patricia came out and congratulated me, she kept jumping around the yard, she looked like a creature that had been given a treat.
I never thought that I would take my handy (talkie) and my antenna as my traveling companions.

Activating 100 grid locators is a considerable achievement. Could you share with us the key steps and challenges you faced to reach this milestone?
On my first vacation trip after leaving, I took my equipment to put it into practice,
when a satellite passed by, my husband would stop at the side of the road wherever he went and I would set up my antenna.
Totally naive, I bought a compass, but I trusted in my skills acquired with the scouts, that I would have no problems finding the north. Well at the first stop I lost the compass which I forgot on the hood of the truck. However the sun rises in the east and sets in the west; looking at the shadows, the mosses are always on the south on the trees and at night if you interpolate the Southern Cross with Canopus (it is the star Alpha Carinae) in between is the exact south, as long as it is not cloudy.
Well I bought another compass (just in case I bought two), but they did not last 1,000 km because I also lost them! It is clear to me that in this life I do not have my own north, hahaha. In the mountains, the mosses are to the west and the further south you go during summer, the sun is always to the north and has a slight movement from east to west, which I didn't notice either, and when I went into the mountains I didn't have internet so all the satellite passes in the app were deleted. Over time I solved these problems.
I also travel with two handys (hand-held radios) and three antennas, because I broke several. I capture the passes in images and I install apps that don't need internet, I synchronize them again when I reconnect. I'm not the one who plans, because when I plan that I want to leave a certain place the satellite is off, hahaha.
As for challenges, I have gone out in storms, cold (-10°) and without equipment because in the north it is hot; altitudes that I am not used to, making it is difficult to breathe; extreme heat, at night, with so much wind that I could not open the door of the van.
 I have gone out to the most incredible places in Argentina and when I got my international permit (IARP) I added southern Brazil and Paraguay.

One of my epic outings was going out last year (2023) from Corona del Inca (La Rioja) at 5,400 meters high, obtaining at that time the record for satellite transmission at altitude. Later a colleague went out from Aconcagua at a higher altitude, but I still hold the female record.
But the funniest thing was that I was on the side of the road doing satellites and a truck with animals passed by and I was bathed in urine and cow feces. I was angry and shouting on the side of the road. I approached our truck and my family looked at me and said, "You're not getting in like that, dirty!" hahaha. I changed between two doors and cleaned myself as much as I could, but the smell was horrible and we still had 600 km to go home, hahaha.
The worst thing of all is to go back and sit down to confirm the contacts. It is an important administrative task. You have to request aliases on the platforms, since there's no point in activating a grid if you're not going to confirm the contacts.

At any point in your career did you imagine that you would become the only woman recognized worldwide among the top twenty positions in the AMSAT ranking? What does this achievement mean to you?
I didn't think about it, but a friend Claudio LU7DW insisted that I apply for the ROVER certificate (activator). When I submitted my application, they asked me if I had really activated those grid locators and not done them from my house? I sent photos with signs from where I left and the reports that Google sent me of the places I visited during that period.They congratulated me and explained that I was halfway to obtaining the AR-wardVUCC  www.amsat.org/reverse-vucc-or-vucc-r-award/  and that they expected me to achieve it. At that time I had 52 grids and then I thought that I wanted to reach 100 grids to apply for it; there were only a few awarded in the world and I wanted to get on the list and  I worked hard for it.
I was awarded number 17 (first awarded to YL and first awarded to South America) and behind me another YL applied for it, today there are 18 awarded in the world.
I also had help from my family who accompanied me on this crazy adventure and my Godmother LU3FCA, great hunter of grid locators, who was always on the other side accompanying me on each trip notifying me from where I was leaving, giving me information about whether the satellites were active as I did not have internet in many places, and every so often, if we were alone, she would go out so I could continue the journey encouraging me to call and all my travel companions that I call who always accompany me on my satellite trips and with whom I always share a photo of where I am.

What message would you like to convey to women interested in exploring the field of amateur radio? What are, in your opinion, the main benefits and challenges of this field?
To the women who are interested, I can say that everything is possible if you want it, if you are determined to do everything for it, not only in amateur radio but also in life itself. There is no achievement without sacrifice, which makes us feel great emotions, if there is no effort behind each achievement, there is no satisfaction in having achieved it and the driving force is the passion of doing what you like.
The main benefits are knowledge, experience, and countless friends around the world. I think Roberto Carlos fell short in wanting to have a million friends, radio makes it possible. The challenges in this field? They are big, you have to build stations, antennas, dare to go out, start with what you have and what you can achieve, and step by step, with time you become more skilled in radio, you gain  knowledge and experience.

How have your family reacted regarding your dedication and achievements in amateur radio?
My family are also radio amateurs, but without their support and collaboration I could not do what I enjoy. According to them when I activate satellites they say that I am "ET phone home", ET calling home and that at any moment they are going to abduct me, haha. They encourage me to continue, they follow my travel routes, they accompany me to grids that I have not activated, they sit on the side of the road to wait, sometimes for hours, for the satellite to pass over so as not to miss the grid. Or they go 70 km on a trail because there is a grid. On the last trip, my husband accelerated to get to the grid in time for the next pass; we were talking and we went too far and there were only minutes left... and I am saying “come back, come back because we went too far,” hahaha. I call them my heroes (LU8IEZ, LU9IVN and LU1IAB)
Finally, could I say a few words to the YLs of Chile and Argentina, encouraging them to continue on the path of amateur radio? Be passionate about what you do in your life and if it is radio, even more so. Involve your loved ones in this, so that it is not a burden for them and it is a way of life. Share it with your partners and children, who you know and even if they are not radio amateurs, join us and do not feel excluded, that way you will achieve great goals.
As we say in my family, let's go out and drink maté on the road and why not activate a new grid...  Email: leticiara29@hotmail.com
By Jorge Tisera LU9OTA
Selvamar News - Publication No. 58 December 2024 p28, p29,30
https://download.frcuba.cu/REVISTAS/REVISTA%20SELVAMAR/Selvamar_58%20diciembre%202024.pdf
VUCC/r Award (VHF/UHF Century Club for Rovers)
maté is an Argentine herbal tea
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Silent Keys
ZS6EM  Elmarie Mccash  S/k 12/12/2024
From Vanderbijlpark (South Africa) she was licensed in October 2021, She was the  secretary of the Sasolburg ARC and was often heard reading the Club's weekly.  Her hamburgers were very popular at club events.  She bequeathed her radio equipment to the club. She will be missed.

LW1DGW. Maria del Carmen Romeo (Argentina)
The news of the death of colleague María del Carmen Romeo LW1DGW caused deep sorrow.
Originally from Tandil, she settled in the sea-side city to study at the University of Mar del Plata, where she settled permanently.
She was a life member of the Mar del Plata Radio Club LU2DT, which counted her for years as a collaborator and as a member of boards of directors in different periods. Her husband Luis Alberto López LU4ECO, came to serve as president of the institution.
María del Carmen was also linked to the cultural and artistic environment of the city of Mar del Plata.     10/12/2024 by Carlos Almirón LU7DSY

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