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Ärende: ARNEWSLINE 27 June 2025
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2487 for Friday, June 27th, 2025
 
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2487 with a release date of Friday, June
27th, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1

The following is a QST. A mobile cellular service provider applies to use ham
radio frequencies for its satellites. LogBook of the World goes offline for
upgrades - and mystery signals are heard from The Great Beyond.  All this and
more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2487 comes your way right now.

** 
BILLBOARD CART

**
MOBILE BROADBAND PROVIDER SEEKS AMATEUR FREQUENCIES FOR SATELLITES

PAUL/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us this week to Washington, D.C. where the
Federal Communications Commission has received a request from the 5G broadband
service provider AST SpaceMobile to modify its license so that it can transmit
on the portion of the 70cm band used by amateur radio. The Texas-based company
is seeking the frequencies between 430 and 440 MHz for telemetry, tracking, and
telecommand between ground stations and its satellites. At the same time, the
company is seeking FCC approval for its operation of 248 low-earth orbit,
non-geostationary satellites. It is presently licensed for five.

The company's request to use the 70cm band is not insignificant: In 2023, the
German regulator, BNetzA [pronounced: BEE NETS EH] ordered AST SpaceMobile to
shut its operations when in range of the country, citing harmful interference
that violated ITU regulations. In March of 2024, the company said it had
"updated" its constellation's filings with the ITU and the FCC. It also reduced
some of its power levels and changed the heights of its orbits, according to
the Advanced Television website.

AST SpaceMobile is a rival of SpaceX, which operates the StarLink satellite
constellation, which is testing direct-to-cell with T-Mobile.
 
Earlier this year AT&T and AST SpaceMobile received FCC permission to test
direct-to-cellular satellite connectivity. 

Public comments are due by July 21st.

For a link to the filing, see the text version of this week's newscast at
arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-532A1.pdf   ]

(FCC, ADVANCED TELEVISION, ZERO RETRIES NEWSLETTER)

**
LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD GOES OFFLINE FOR UPGRADES

PAUL/ANCHOR: The ARRL has been busy with much more than Field Day. In fact,
just as Field Day gets under way, Logbook of the World will be moving to a
cloud-computing platform and getting some technical upgrades. Jack Parker W8ISH
has those details.

JACK: Just as hams were making their final preparations for ARRL Field Day here
in the US and in Canada, the ARRL was scheduling downtime for Logbook of the
World, beginning on June 27th. The ARRL called the process part of the [quote]
"ongoing modernization of the ARRL systems infrastructure." [endquote] When
completed, the system is to be fully operational on the cloud. The ARRL said
the move will ensure that users are protected from physical and network-based
security risks.

The last major service disruption for LoTW was last year, when it was one of
several ARRL services that were compromised by a ransomware attack. The ARRL
announced its return to service not quite two months later, on July 1st.
 
In making the announcement of this year's upgrade, CEO David Minster, NA2AA
said on the ARRL website that LoTW would return to full online operations on
the 2nd of July -- or sooner, if possible.

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(ARRL)

**

SATELLITE PAINT EXPERIMENT TACKLES 'LIGHT POLLUTION'

PAUL/ANCHOR: The paint that BMW used six years ago on one of its cars as an
experiment, is now being looked at as a way to reduce light-pollution from
satellites that has been plaguing radioastronomers. Randy Sly W4XJ has the
details.

RANDY: What is blacker than black? It's the super black paint known as
Vantablack and its creator, Surrey NanoSystems, designed it to absorb 98
percent of light. BMW tested it out on one of its crossover model X6 cars just
as an experiment in 2019. According to Space.com, the paint reflects only 2
percent of visible and infrared light.

Now AMSAT-UK is preparing to launch Vantablack on its Jovian-1 CubeSat mission
to test its ability to avoid interference with space telescopes. The Jovian-1
goes into space sometime next year. Attendees at this year's AMSAT-UK
Colloquium in October can expect to learn more about this adventure in
light-pollution reduction.

Meanwhile if things work out, Vantablack might provide a solution for the
private satellite constellations that researchers say have been interfering
with ground-based astronomical research. As more satellites are being sent into
space, that's not insignificant to observatories here on the ground

This is Randy Sly W4XJ.

(LIVESCIENCE, SPACE.COM, AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)

**
UNHEARD-OF DATA SPEED REPORTED FROM CHINESE SATELLITES

PAUL/ANCHOR: Scientists in China are claiming they have achieved unprecedented
speed in sending data from satellites - using low-power laser. Jim Meachen
ZL2BHF has that story.

JIM: In a development that some observers say could someday replace satellites'
reliance on RF, scientists in China are claiming that they have developed a
transmission method using minimal laser power. The method is known as "AO-MDR
synergy" and utilises a 2-watt laser. Scientists at Peking University and the
Chinese Academy of Sciences have said that by employing this technique, they
recently accomplished a 1 Gigabit-per-second data transmission to Earth from a
geostationary satellite.

Researchers praise the development, adding that it addresses a common challenge
for satellite downlinks - the distortion caused by atmospheric turbulence. The
developers of the process said that "AO-MDR" addresses this by stabilizing the
laser signal even when it faces atmospheric turbulence. The technique combines 
Adaptive Optics and Mode Diversity Reception.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(MSN, INTERESTING ENGINEERING)

**
FROM THE BBC, FOR ANTARCTICA'S EARS ONLY

PAUL/ANCHOR: Scientists on the frozen Antarctic continent got a good warm
feeling listening to the shortwave radio recently. Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us
why.

GRAHAM: The shortwave broadcast wasn't aiming for big global listenership.
Indeed, there were perhaps only a few dozen pairs of ears for whom the special
programme was intended. Still, the BBC's Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast is a
shortwave tradition Down Under. This year, its 70th anniversary year, was no
different. Scientists and support staff of the British Antarctic Survey Team
were tuned in on the 21st of June to hear welcoming messages from home -
including a pre-recorded greeting from King Charles, the first monarch to
participate in the tradition.

The show only lasted a half-hour but has been a big part of a midwinter at
British research stations on the frozen continent for decades.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(BBC, SWLING POST)

**
YOUNGSTERS ON THE AIR CAMP GEARS UP IN EUROPE

ANCHOR: Here in the US, the Youth on the Air Americas Camp has just wrapped up
in suburban Denver, Colorado. Soon, it will be France's turn to host eager
young amateurs. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has the details.

JEREMY: Youngsters on the Air - also known this year as YOTA France - is
getting ready for its 13th edition. The camp will be taking place at the
Chateau de Jambville near Paris from the 18th through to the 25th of August. It
is being hosted by the French national amateur radio society, Rseau des
metteurs Franais or REF.

Although the camp serves primarily youngsters from throughout IARU Region 1,
guest campers will be welcomed from Regions 2 and 3. About 100 young amateurs
attend these camps each year, participating as teams representing their
countries. Previous YOTA summer camps have been held in such countries as
Czechia,  Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, South Africa and Great Britain.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(YOTA.COM)

**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the CQ?UARS
UHF and CQ?EARS VHF repeaters in Portugal on Saturdays and Sundays at 12 noon
local time.

**
SWEDEN'S GRIMETON RADIO STATION TO SEND JUBILEE MESSAGE

PAUL/ANCHOR: In Sweden, the Grimeton Radio Station is marking its jubilee year
in the most appropriate way possible - can you guess how? Jeremy Boot  G4NJH
has some answers.

JEREMY: The Jubilee Year for the Grimeton Radio Station in Sweden is well under
way, having begun last December. The highest point of the year, however, will
come on the 2nd of July - the exact date, 100 years ago, that the station's
200kW alternator sent a message across the Atlantic Ocean for receipt by the US
president, Calvin Coolidge. The message reached the receiving station in
Riverhead, New York - on Long Island - and the president had a reply sent,
praising the new broadcaster and sharing his hopes for good relations between
Sweden and the US.

July 2nd is nearly here and the 100-year anniversary of that historic message
is being celebrated with a telegram to be transmitted from the station on 17.2
kHz using CW at 0900 UTC. The station will be using the original callsign, SAQ,
.

The broadcast can be heard on a receiver with VLF capability and will also be
live streamed on YouTube.

In the meantime, hams wishing to make contact with the amateur radio station
SK6SAQ in CW or SSB should be listening on 80, 40 and 20 metres. 

Details are available at alexander dot n dot se (alexander.n.se)

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(THE ALEXANDER ASSOCIATION, AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)

**
BE LISTENING FOR 13 COLONIES SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Just a reminder that the popular 13 Colonies Special Event runs
from the 1st of July through to the 8th, UTC. Certificates are available at all
levels of achievement. Shortwave listeners and hunters outside the US are
welcome, Operators will be using all modes on all HF bands except for 60
metres. Be listening as well on 2 and 6 metres.

See the link in the text version of this week's Newsline script at
arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ:   13colonies.us ]

**
LIFESAVING SKILLS LEARNED ATOP SOME SOTA SUMMITS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Being a SOTA activator has given one ham in Australia much more
than memorable QSOs, spectacular summit views and some outdoor adventures. It
has provided him with some lifesaving skills, as we hear from Jason Daniels
VK2LAW.

JASON: As record-breaking fires consumed huge sections of the Canadian province
of Alberta, Wade Smith VK1MIC, was preparing for an activation that would take
him into the heart of the destruction. As captain of the communications brigade
in the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, Wade responded to Canada's request
by traveling from Sydney with the Australian contingent. Wade added his
specialised skills in air radio and dispatch to assist the joint
Australian-Albertan Incident Management Team operating in the remote northern
region of Alberta.

Facing the challenge of several large fires raging, Wade and his team handled
more than 500 radio calls daily. The fire-fighting effort mustered more than 20
aircraft involved in operations across several large fires,

Wade, who is also the VK1 SOTA Association Manager, said his years of SOTA
experience have served as great practice for staying focused, handling several
stations at once and managing fast-moving communications pile-ups. He said
[quote]" "These same skills are directly transferable to coordinating air
operations under pressure." [endquote]

The fires posed hazards on the ground locally as well as for the air quality in
much of North America. Weather experts attribute the conditions in the region
to an ongoing trend of dry, warm conditions that have been worsened by the
global climate crisis.

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(WADE SMITH, VK1MIC, CBC)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, Laurent, FM5BH will be on the air as J79BH from  Dominica,
IOTA Number NA-101, from the 25th through to the 29th of June. Listen for him
on 80 through 10 metres where he will operate CW and SSB. See QRZ.com for QSL
details.

Harry, JG7PSJ, is using the callsign JD1BMH from Chichijima [CHEE CHEE JEE
MUH], IOTA Number AS-031, Ogasawara [OH-GAH-SAH-WARRA] from the 26th of June
through to the 4th of July. Harry is using CW, SSB and RTTY on 40-10m. See
QRZ.com for QSL details.

Listen for the callsign KP4NET from Vieques Island, also known as Isla Nena,
IOTA Number NA-249. A team of operators will be on the air with that callsign
on the 27th through to the 29th of June, mainly on 40, 20 and 10 metres, using 
SSB and CW.  See QRZ.com for QSL details.

Kimmo, OH3DJP, is operating holiday style as OH?/OH3DJP from the Aland Islands,
IOTA Number EU-002, until the 1st of July. Kimmo is on various HF bands - also
listen on 6 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: MYSTERY SIGNALS FROM THE GREAT BEYOND?

PAUL/ANCHOR: It?s pretty well-known that some scientists study outer space in
search of extraterrestrial life ? but what happens when researchers believe
they have instead stumbled upon...the afterlife? Kent Peterson KC?DGY tells us
what did - and didn?t -- really happen in this week?s final story.

KENT: Rest in peace, NASA Relay 2 satellite. The spacecraft was one of two
launched at different times in the 1960s by the US space agency to serve as
experimental communication satellites. Unlike NASA?s Relay 1, which transmitted
American TV signals into Japan and Europe, Relay 2 was used for barely a year.
It stopped operations in 1965 and its transponders were believed to have died
in 1967 

The key word here is ?believed? - because one year ago this month, researchers
in Australia were certain they'd heard Relay 2 returning radio pulses to earth
in much the same way some so-called "zombie" satellites, like the famous AMSAT
OSCAR-7, have been known to do.

In this case, no seances or Ouija boards were necessary to understand this
message from The Great Beyond. Some scientists theorize that the pulses came
from the discharge of electrostatic energy, or ESD, that had built up on Relay
2 over time. Another theory is that its impact with a micrometeoroid released a
cloud of plasma capable of sending such a signal.

Researchers plan to study both ESD and the micrometeoroid effect in the hope of
a better understanding in the future. It's not about alien life or afterlife,
then: Just breathing new life into solving more mysteries of space.

This is Kent Peterson KC?DGY.

(NEW SCIENTIST)

**
A good QSO can be like poetry - sometimes! So why not write a haiku about
amateur radio and join the Newsline haiku challenge? It's as easy as writing a
QSL card. We can only accept the correct haiku format - that is, a three-line
verse with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second and five in
the third. Submit your work on our website at arnewsline.org - each week's
winner gets a shout-out on our website, where everyone can find the winning
haiku.

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Advanced Television; Alexanderson Association; Amateur News
Daily; AMSAT; ARRL; BBC; CBC; David Behar K7DB; DX World; 425DX Bulletin; FCC;
Interesting Engineering; LiveScience; MSN; New Scientist; QRZ.com; Radio
Society of Great Britain; Radio World; Shortwaveradio.de; Space.com; SWLing
Post; Wade Smith, VK1MIC; Wireless Institute of Australia; YOTA.com; Zero
Retries Newsletter; 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 Paul Braun WD9GCO in
Valparaiso Indiana saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur
Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.

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