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PY2BIL > ARNR 26.06.26 13:30l 379 Lines 16739 Bytes #299 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2539 for Friday, June 26th
Path: IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<JH4XSY<N3HYM<N5MDT<W0ARP<VE2PKT<PY2BIL
Sent: 260626/1117Z 45655@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM LinBPQ6.0.25
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2539 for Friday, June 26th, 2026
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2539 with a release date of Friday,
June 26th, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. NASA faces a huge antenna-repair bill. South
Korea marks a quarter-century of fox-hunting championships -- and, in
breaking news, an earthquake rocks Venezuela. All this and more as Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2539 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
BREAKING NEWS: HAMS ON ALERT AFTER EARTHQUAKE IN VENEZUELA
NEIL/ANCHOR: As Newsline went to production, a state of emergency was
declared in Venezuela following a pair of closely spaced earthquakes
measuring a magnitude of 7.2 and 7.5. Injuries and deaths were reported
across the South American nation, where amateur radio operators began
receiving reports via Domingo L. Hernández Lima, YV5IZE of the Venezuelan
Radio Club, that the capital city of Caracas was among those areas that
had lost power. Using batteries, hams were already activating voice and
digital emergency nets on HF. A global call went out for amateurs to
keep the frequency at 7.135 MHz clear. Emergency communication coordinators
for hams in Cuba, Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador
and others in the region were asked to remain on standby. Newsline will
be following this story as it unfolds.
(IARU)
**
COSTLY ANTENNA REPAIRS FOR NASA'S DEEP SPACE STATION
NEIL/ANCHOR: We turn next to NASA which is facing antenna troubles which,
as many of us know, are not only a bother but can be downright costly
in certain cases. Kent Peterson KCØDGY tells us about the particularly
high cost of a set of antenna woes facing the Deep Space Station right
now.
KENT: The US Space Agency NASA is facing a repair bill of between $4.1
and $4.6 million for Deep Space Station 14, its 70-meter RF antenna near
Barstow, California - all because of what it has found to be inadequate
procedures and inadequate training of workers A report recently released
by the agency said that its investigation found a number of primary causes,
including human error, weaknesses in software and an undetected failure
in the antenna's hydraulic limit system, which is its final mechanical
safeguard.
The incident that took the antenna out of service occurred last September
as it was tracking the Juno mission for deep-space exploration focused
on Jupiter. The antenna over-rotated, adding stress to structural supports
and cables and damaging water lines feeding the antenna's fire-suppression
system. An article on NASA's website states that investigators concluded
that operators felt compelled by "workplace culture" to work as quickly
and efficiently as possible [quote] "often stretching beyond their usual
roles, expertise and training to keep the antenna operating." [endquote]
NASA considers these findings to be its final report. The antenna, a
key part of the Deep Space Network, is expected to be out of service
until October of 2028.
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(NASA, SPACENEWS)
**
A WEEKEND OF FIELD DAY AND FRIEDRICHSHAFEN
NEIL/ANCHOR: As Newsline went to production, hams were arriving at Messe
Friedrichshafen [PRON: Freed Ricks Harr Fenn] to attend Europe's top
amateur radio event and in North America, hams in Canada and the US were
getting on the air for Field Day. In Huntsville, Alabama, registration
is already under way for the Huntsville Hamfest, which opens on the 22nd
of August. It's going to be another busy season - but not before one
more event, which begins on July 1st at 1300 UTC - the annual 13 Colonies
special event which is celebrating America's 250th birthday. It concludes
on July 8th at 0400 UTC.
Now in its 18th year of operation, the event is featuring downloadable
certificates for the first time. As always, stations will represent the
13 original colonies and there will be bonus contacts with GB13COL, TM13COL
and WM3PEN. This year's event is dedicated to Ken Villone, KU2US, the
founder of the 13 Colonies event, who became a Silent Key last year.
Visit 13colonies dot us (13colonies.us) for more details. Be sure to
use numerals "one" and "three" for "thirteen"
**
THREE SATELLITES TO BE 'FIRE TOWERS IN THE SKY"
NEIL/ANCHOR: The trio of satellites are called FireSats and they are
set to launch this summer with a special mission, as we hear from Daniel
Garcia W2DIY.
DANIEL: This summer, three new satellites are expected to be launched
to serve as the equivalent of fire towers in the sky, Three FireSat satellites
are being readied by the nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance and its wildfire-detection
program, which is satellite-based. The three FireSats have received support
from a $26 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund. The initiative also
has the support of Google.
The FireSats are expected to monitor for wildfires in critical and sensitive
areas at least twice a day, with a special emphasis on the Amazon Basin,
which is known to be particularly vulnerable.
The Earth Fire Alliance released a statement saying that it hopes to
have more satellites in place to assist with such monitoring so that
every point on the planet will be seen every 20 minutes.
This is Daniel Garcia W2DIY.
(AXIOS, AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)
**
GRANT SUPPORTS REPAIR OF REVERSE BEACON NODE
NEIL/ANCHOR: Funding from the Yasme Foundation is helping restore an
important reverse-beacon node - and Jim Meachen ZL2BHF has the details.
JIM: The Reverse Beacon Node serving Mauritius is undergoing necessary
repairs with the help of a grant announced by the Yasme Foundation. The
worldwide foundation's board of directors approved the grant in February
but it was only recently announced. The funds are being given to Ashwin
Mandary 3B8GL, who will repair his node on the RBN. The move was praised
by the Mauritius Amateur Radio Society, whose active hams rely on the
network. An RBN station monitors signal propagation, listening specifically
for CW and digital modes. Ashwin is treasurer of the Mauritius Amateur
Radio Society.
In a separate move, the Yasme Foundation is also providing a grant to
the Korean Amateur Radio League to support its involvement in the activities
of the Youth on the Air programme. The program is well-respected by young
amateurs in South Korea, who used the callsign HLØYOTA during the December
2025 YOTA Month event.
This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.
(WIA, YASME FOUNDATION, MAURITIUS AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY)
**
SOUTH KOREAN AMATEURS CONCLUDE NATIONAL FOX-HUNTING EVENT
NEIL/ANCHOR: In Korea, the national championship for fox-hunting has
just finished its 25th year and it's as popular as ever, as we hear from
John Williams VK4JJW.
JOHN: Amateur radio direction finding - or fox hunting - is a big priority
among hams in South Korea, where the 19th *direction-finding world championships
were held in 2018 hosted by the Korean Amateur Radio League. That was
the same year a commemorative postage stamp was issued by the Korea Post
Office
This organised pursuit of hidden transmitters continues in Korea as its
own national championship recently marked its first quarter-century as
a formal event. The 25th Korean Amateur Radio Direction Finding National
Championship was held in Wanju (won-Joo) on the 13th of June.
Navigating fields and forests with the help of maps, compasses and radio
receivers, hams worked as both teams and individuals, with sections created
by gender and age.
Korea's Central Radio Management Service, the agency that oversees radio
spectrum and amateur radio, looks favourably upon the development of
direction-finding techniques to sharpen communication technology skills
useful in emergency-response situations.
This is John Williams VK4JJW.
(ASIA BUSINESS DAILY, WIA, eHam, ARRL)
**
UK'S INTRUDER WATCH TEAM NEEDS MORE VOLUNTEERS
NEIL/ANCHOR: In the UK, the Intruder Watch Team is looking for volunteers
who can monitor the amateur bands for harmful interference. Jeremy Boot
G4NJH tells us how to get involved.
JEREMY: Although the International Amateur Radio Union says its Intruder
Watch Service is not "the band police," it places a big emphasis on the
difference that volunteer monitors can make in keeping the amateur bands
free from harmful interference. Watch Service participants identify unauthorised
transmissions and report them to their relevant national coordinator.
In the UK, the Intruder Watch Team of the Radio Society of Great Britain
is looking to add more volunteers. It plays an important part in finding
and disclosing the harmful interference by non-amateur stations. These
often include broadcast signals and over-the-horizon radar. The IARU
notes on its website that such intrusions appear to be growing rapidly.
Ian Suart GM4AUP, RSGB coordinator, asks that anyone wanting to learn
more - or to offer help - should contact him at iw at rsgb dot org dot
uk (iw@rsgb.org.uk)
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(RSGB, IARU)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the WA2EHL repeater in Burlington New Jersey on Fridays at 7 p.m. local
time.
**
YOTA AMERICAS CAMPERS WRAP UP HUNTSVILLE ADVENTURES
NEIL/ANCHOR: The YOTA Americas Regional camp in Huntsville, Alabama blasted
off on Sunday, June 14th, immediately launching campers into ham radio
and space-related adventures. Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us more.
ANDY: Thirty-five campers arrived in Huntsville, Alabama from 17 states
and 3 countries - the US, Mexico, and Argentina - but their focus quickly
turned to matters high above the earth. They enjoyed an ARISS contact
with astronaut Chris Williams, KJ5GEW, and a surprise visit from Penny
Pettigrew, payload communications manager and others from NASA's Marshall
Space Flight Center Payload Operations team. Closer to Planet Earth,
campers sent up a balloon to near-space, topping out at 93,500 feet as
it signaled as W4Y-11 on APRS. The balloon carried a successful biological
experiment from Xavier University and a radiation experiment using Polaroid
film. Two pico balloons - W9EAR-12 and KM4ZIA-1 - were also launched.
In between sharpening their kit-building skills and getting acquainted
with how to work DXpeditions and use the DX clusters, they operated special
event station W4Y, visited the US Space & Rocket Center and the SIGNALS
museum. The week ended with an intercultural evening which brought everyone
back down to earth.
Want to sample some of the fun vicariously? Visit the Youth on the Air
channel on YouTube. Bring your own refreshments.
This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.
(YOUTH ON THE AIR)
**
WRTC LAUNCHES PLATFORM FOR REAL-TIME CHASING
NEIL/ANCHOR: Let's face it: Sporting events of all kinds are the most
fun when fans and supporters can watch as the action unfolds in the moment.
The World Radiosport Team Championship, which begins in UK from the 8th
through to the 13th of July, is no different. Now, keeping track during
the contest in realtime is possible, as we hear from Dave Lee, M9TLB.
DAVE: A live scoreboard created by World Radio League in collaboration
with WRTC 2026 will make its debut at the competition next month, allowing
thousands of viewers to follow the action as it happens. The platform
will feature integrated spotting and will offer updated live rankings,
a leaderboard, pages for each team and a list of top countries and top
contacts. Chasers will be able to track how many QSOs they've had with
the teams on individual bands and in what modes.
The platform is still a work in progress, subject to refinement. Viewers
can get a look at what's planned by visiting the YouTube channel for
Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio, which is hosting a demonstration by James Cribbs
NØWRL, CEO and founder of World Radio League. See the link the text version
of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
[DO NOT READ: https://youtu.be/RzjKQBGUeAc ]
Meanwhile, the WRTC 2026 Committee has approved the operation of six
remote operating positions at the competition's headquarters in Wyboston,
UK. All the remote stations are considered world-class contest stations.
Their callsigns are ZW5B in Brazil; 7Q6M in Malawi; VK6SJ in Australia;
ZF5T in the Cayman Islands and two US stations - K6RO in Maine and KH7M
in Hawaii. Individual operators who would like to sign up can visit
the link that appears in the text version of this week's newscast.
[DO NOT READ: https://wrtc.remote.radio]
This is Dave Lee M9TLB.
(WRTC, WRTC REFLECTOR)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, a three-member team of hams will be using the callsign
PQ1I [PEA QUE WON EYE] from Espirito Santo State, Brazil, IOTA group
SA-067, on the 24th through to the 26th of July. Their main activity
will occur during the RSGB IOTA contest. Listen for them using CW, SSB
and FT8/FT4 on 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres. The hams are Renato PY8WW, Renner
PY7RP and Alex PP1DX.
Red, DL1BUG will be using the callsign TY5FR from Benin from the 7th
of July through to the 4th of August. He will be on 160-10 metres where
he will be operating CW and SSB.
July will be off to a busy start for members of the Russian Robinson
Club, who will spend the 4th through to the 9th of July operating as
RI1ZR [ARR EYE WON ZED ARR] from four or more of the islands off the
coast of the Murmansk region. The team will be using CW, SSB and possibly
digital modes on 40-10 metres.
Pierre, VE3KTB, is back on the air with the callsign VYØERC from the
Eureka Amateur Radio Club station on Ellesmere Island, IOTA Number NA-008,
through to the 22nd of July. Listen for him on the HF bands operating
CW, SSB and FT8.
Listen for the callsign CS5AIRA which will be active from the Barra Lighthouse
in Portugal on July 18th from 0900 to 1700 UTC. Hams will be calling
CQ on 20 and 40 metres as well as VHF and UHF frequencies. There will
be activity as well via Echolink-LUSOFONA, the QO-100 satellite, and
DMR via Brandmeister Talkgroups 268 and 91.
For other operating details or QSL information, visit the QRZ.com pages
for each of these stations.
(425 DX BULLETIN, AMATEUR NEWS DAILY)
**
KICKER: HAM RADIO, FOR OLD TIMES' SAKE
NEIL/ANCHOR: Now they're older, wiser -- and soon on the air as we hear
from Graham Kemp, VK4BB
GRAHAM: The push for youngsters' involvement, education and adventure
in amateur radio seems everywhere, from courses in STEM to intensive
camps that promise a bit of work and a bit of play. Now into the mix
comes the Wireless Institute of Australia, which has released a new publicity
brochure that focuses on bringing new hams into the hobby. These are
prospective hams who are a little bit - well, OK, maybe a whole lot MORE
than a little bit - older.
In other words, this is recruitment for the grown-ups, the parents whose
kids have moved out and moved away. It's for the retirees who want a
challenge but not another job. It's for anyone who's come of age at a
time when it's exciting to discover the ever-increasing options that
come with having an amateur radio licence. It might even be for grandmothers
and grandfathers who want to operate portable with their ham-radio operator
grandkids.
The brochure, unveiled at the recent WIA annual general meeting in Albury,
Australia targets them all - those non-amateurs who may want to consider
becoming older and wiser in the ways of radio science. It's something
we can all grow into.
For details, or if you wish copies of the brochure to distribute at club
meetings, contact the administrative office of the WIA.
This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(WIA)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE
With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily, AMSAT News; ARRL; Asia Business Daily;
Axios; David Behar, K7DB; eHam.com; 425DX News; IARU; Mauritius Amateur
Radio Society; NASA.gov; QRZ.com; Radio Society of Great Britain; shortwaveradio.de;
SpaceNews; Wireless Institute of Australia; World Radiosport Team Championship;
Yasme Foundation; Youth on the Air Americas; and you our listeners, that's
all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. We remind our listeners that Amateur
Radio Newsline is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that incurs
expenses for its continued operation. If you wish to support us, please
visit our website at arnewsline.org and know that we appreciate you all.
We also remind our listeners that if you like our newscast, please leave
us a 5-star rating wherever you subscribe to us.
For now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and
our news team worldwide, I'm Neil Rapp WB9VPG in Union Kentucky saying
73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm)
is Copyright 2026. Amateur Radio Newsline retains ownership of its material
even when retransmitted elsewhere. All rights are reserved.
73 de Bill, PY2BIL
PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
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