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Ärende: AR Newsline Report 2539 - 26 June 2026
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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.

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