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Ärende: AR Newsline Report 2550 - 11 Sep 2026
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2550 for Friday, September 11th, 2026
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2550 with a release date of Friday,
September 11th, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. In the US, a bill to protect AM broadcast radio moves
forward. Fishermen help DXpeditioners set up camp on a remote, rugged island --
and you may have twice the luck of logging an Antarctica contact. All this and
more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2550 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
AM RADIO LEGISLATION MOVES TOWARD FULL VOTE IN US CONGRESS
SKEETER/ANCHOR: We begin our report in Washington, DC, where the week of
September 14th brings an important piece of radio-related legislation to a full
floor vote in Congress. Kent Peterson KCØDGY brings us up to date.
KENT: The previous session of Congress adjourned in late 2025 before the AM
Radio for Every Vehicle Act could be put on the calendar. Now it is there and
the date is coming up fast.
The measure, which has the support of both Democratic and Republican lawmakers,
calls for all new passenger vehicles made or sold in the United States to have
fully functioning AM broadcast radios as standard equipment, at no additional
cost to buyers.
Its cosponsors are Florida Republican Gus Bilirakis and New Jersey Democrat
Frank Pallone in the House of Representatives and Texas Republican Ted Cruz and
Massachusetts Democrat Ed Markey in the Senate. There are 61 cosponsors in the
Senate and 317 cosponsors in the House. The auto industry has spoken against
continuing to provide AM radio and says it is particularly troublesome in
electric vehicles, which interfere with the signals.
NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said in a statement that he was hopeful,
adding [quote] "AM radio is an indispensable lifeline during emergencies, a
trusted source of news and information, and a vital connection for communities
nationwide. Now is the time to finish the job." [endquote] The measure would
still require the signature of the president, who has previously expressed his
support.
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(RADIO WORLD, RADIO INK)
**
FINDING POWER IN BROADCAST PARTNERSHIP WITH AMATEURS
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Two years after the September hurricane known as Helene cut a
deadly 500 mile-long path on the United States' Atlantic coast, it is still on
the minds of those in western North Carolina who endured a frightening
communications blackout. We have more details from Jim Damron N8TMW.
JIM: Radio Asheville, WPVM, at 103.7 FM, was one of the few voices that was
not silenced by the rage of Hurricane Helene in 2024, which threw the power
grid, the internet and cell towers throughout the region into the dark. The
station has since launched an emergency alert network that includes the
cooperation of amateur radio -- and is a system that is designed to be
resilient.
According to an article on the Mountain Xpress website, households throughout
the region are now being encouraged to connect to this new system by signing up
at RadioAsheville.org/alerts (Radio Asheville dot org stroke alerts).
The partnership with hams reflects the ability during the storm for amateurs to
relay information in real time, such as wellness checks, road conditions and
water-distribution points. The partnership, along with agreements with
emergency-radio networks, makes use of Winlink peer-to-peer radio messaging,
all done wirelessly.
The website quoted the radio station's general manager, Davyne [Davv-Vine]
Dial, who said: [quote] "We wanted to build something that keeps working when
everything else stops solar power when the grid fails, ham radio when the
internet fails, and a text or satellite message when even your phone cant get a
signal." [endquote]
This is Jim Damron N8TMW.
(MOUNTAIN XPRESS)
**
HAZEL EVERETTS, N8PTL, CHOSEN AS HAMVENTION 2027 GENERAL CHAIR
SKEETER/ANCHOR: The organizers of Dayton Hamvention have chosen a longtime
leader of the annual event to shepherd it toward its milestone 75th year. Jen
DeSalvo, W9TXJ, introduces her to us.
JEN: Hazel Everetts, N8PTL, was selected as general chair for next year's
Dayton Hamvention, with Steve Keller AE8AT, serving as assistant general chair.
Both Ohio amateurs are stepping forward from many years of behind-the-scenes
work at Hamvention in time for it to mark three quarters of a century as an
epicenter for ham radio activities and education.
Hazel's Hamvention involvement dates back to her first year as a licensed
amateur in 1989. Through the years she has assisted with the coordination of
hundreds of volunteers. She was the event's assistant general chair for the
past two years. Her leadership roles have extended to DARA itself, which she
has served as vice president.
Steve is a longtime Hamvention volunteer and is a senior trustee on the DARA
board. His most recent role has been coordinating parking for the massive
Greene County Fairgrounds event. Since obtaining his license in 2018, he has
become an avid HF contester.
Michael Kalter, W8CI, announced their selection on behalf of the Dayton Amateur
Radio Association's board. Hamvention will take place on Friday the 21st of May
through to Sunday the 23rd.
This is Jen DeSalvo, W9TXJ.
(DARA)
**
SWIFT OBSERVATORY RESCUE MISSION ABANDONED
SKEETER/ANCHOR: The US space agency has scrapped its attempt to save the Swift
Observatory, whose time is running out - perhaps within weeks, as we hear from
Travis Lisk N3ILS.
TRAVIS: A private satellite's planned rescue mission of the Swift Observatory
has been abandoned. The small spacecraft that was supposed to help save Swift
could only get close enough to take photographs. The observatory, launched in
2004 by NASA to study such cosmic events as gamma-ray bursts, is experiencing
decay of its low-earth orbit as a result of solar storms and is expected to
re-enter the earth's atmosphere as early as October.
Last September, NASA awarded a $30 million contract to a company known as
Katalyst Space Technologies to deploy a three-armed robotic servicing
spacecraft known as Link to save Swift's mission and boost its orbit.
From a distance of 9 miles, or 15 kilometres, Link instead could only collect
data and take photographs because the spacecraft itself had been having its own
issues - first, with stability and later, with insufficient fuel.
Unfortunately, it wasn't the outcome that we were expecting, said NASA
Administrator Jared Isaacman.
This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.
(ABC NEWS, NASA)
**
NASA ADDS NEW DEEP SPACE NETWORK DISH IN CALIFORNIA
SKEETER/ANCHOR: With NASA's next Artemis moon mission on the horizon, the
timing is right for the Deep Space Network to add its latest antenna, as we
hear from Sel Embee KB3TZD with the details.
SEL: Increasing demands on NASA's Deep Space Network are expected to be met
more easily now that NASA has added an antenna. NASA says the dish, measuring
114 feet or 34 meters, is critical to boosting the capacity of its already
hard-working deep-space communication system, particularly after the good work
done during the Artemis 1 and Artemis 2 lunar missions.
Shortly after the antenna was put into service at the Goldstone Deep Space
Communications Complex on the 3rd of August it began tracking NASA's Chandra
X-ray Observatory. It is the fifth antenna being installed under the network's
Aperture Enhancement Project, which will add one more in 2029.
The Deep Space Network serves robotic as well as crewed missions in deep space
and was first famous for carrying communications with Apollo 11 astronaut Neil
Armstrong in 1969 as he walked on the surface of the moon.
This is Sel Embee, K-B-3-T-Zed-D
(SPACE.COM)
**
TWO CHANCES TO GET ANTARCTICA IN THE LOG
SKEETER/ANCHOR: If you still don't have a single Antarctica contact in the log,
now's your chance to get two! John Williams VK4JJW explains an unusual
coincidence in amateur radio.
JOHN: Do you want a chance to work Antarctica? How about two? A pair of hams
from Australia are getting on the air separately from two different research
stations on the frozen continent. David Scott VK2JDS is operating as VKØDS at
Davis Station, the Australian Antarctic programme's most southern station.
David will remain at the Davis Station through until the end of October.
Tom Blunt VK2TBC is on the air as VKØTBC from Casey Station until the end of
the year. The Casey station is closest to Australia and is not far from the
Windmill Islands.
Both are on the air as often as their work responsibilities, and weather
conditions permit.
Although you can listen for them primarily on HF, be aware that David's
previous stays in Antarctica have found him experimenting with some 2-metre EME
This is John Williams VK4JJW.
(WIA, EHAM, QRZ.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 K3PSG
repeater of the Butler County Amateur Radio Public Service Group in Butler,
Pennsylvania at 2 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesdays.
**
DXPEDITION GETS HELP FROM CHILEAN ISLAND'S FISHING COMMUNITY
SKEETER/ANCHOR: DXpeditioners to a remote island off Chile are getting some
welcome assistance from professional fishermen, as we hear from Jim Meachen
ZL2BHF.
JIM MEACHEN: DXpeditioners Felipe XQ7IR and Moises, CE3VTZ, have something in
common with the seasonal residents of the remote and rugged Chilean island
where they have planned a DXpedition in early October.
While they fish across the ionosphere for as many DX contacts as they can reel
in, they will be helped by the small population of temporary residents of this
South Pacific island who have come to fish too for yellowtail kingfish and
other species.
Alexander Selkirk Island, IOTA Number SA-101, has rough terrain, posing
numerous challenges for this team of two as they activate with the callsign
XRØZ. The biggest challenge, however, will not be managing the pileups.
Felipe writes: [quote] "Moving all of our equipment to Selkirk will be one of
the major logistical challenges of this expedition, given the island's remote
location and difficult terrain." [endquote] The fishermen have agreed to help
carry fuel, water, sleeping bags, radios, generators and personal belongings to
the men's shelter on the summit of the mountain where they will call CQ for 10
days, 3,468 feet - or 1,057 meters - above sea level. It is a four-hour trek
from the fishermen's village, covering more than 7 kilometres.
Goodwill and teamwork go a long way. The pair will be installing a VHF
communication system upon their arrival and plan to donate it afterward to the
fishing community for improved communication between the fishing boats and the
island base. Felipe said it will be a token of gratitude for their support.
This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.
(425 DX BULLETIN, XRØX DXPEDITION WEBSITE)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the world of DX, there is still time to work Suvarna, OMØGA, who is active
as 9N/OMØGA from Nepal until the 19th of September. He is using mainly CW on
40-10 metres.
Listen for Aldir, PY1SAD, who is operating as 8R1TM from Guyana until the 12th
of October, using CW, SSB and digital modes. Find Aldir on 160-10 metres and
watch for him operating via satellite on weekends.
Members of the Bavarian Contest Club are in Cyprus where they are on the air as
5B/DD1MAT, 5B/DJ5MO, 5B/DL7AT and 5B/DM6DX through to the 16th of September.
The operators are using CW, SSB, and RTTY on 160-10 metres. They will
participate in the WAE DX SSB Contest on the 12th and 13th of September using
the callsign P3CR.
Maurizio, IK2GZU, will be on the air as 5H3MB from Tanzania from the 18th of
October through to the 18th of November. He is there primarily for volunteer
work at a local school. He will operate in his spare time using SSB, CW and
digital modes on 80-10 metres and via QO-100.
For QSL details or other operating information, visit each station's page on
QRZ.com
(425 DX BULLETIN)
**
KICKER: ROUTE 66 TAKES A DETOUR ONTO THE HF HIGHWAY
SKEETER/ANCHOR: What does amateur radio have in common with the American
roadway known as Route 66? Ralph Squillace KK6ITB is here to tell us - travel
the road with him in our final story of the week.
RALPH: It's all about connections. Ham radio has always had the power to make
that person-to-person connection and in the US, the legendary east-west highway
known as Route 66, has been connecting motorists along the open road with small
towns, friends and adventure for 100 years. Twenty-four special event stations
are marking this centennial year for Route 66 starting on Saturday, the 12th of
September through to Sunday the 20th.
Route 66 on the Air's sponsoring organization, the Citrus Belt Amateur Radio
Club in San Bernardino, California, will be calling QRZ using the callsign W6C;
other stations will join them, using the same W6 prefix and the remaining
letters of the alphabet, from W6A through to W6Z.
With participants such as the Barstow Amateur Radio Club in California, the
Albuquerque DX Association in New Mexico, the Southwest Missouri Amateur Radio
Club and others, expect a lot of traffic on this busy main road and plenty of
stops along the journey.
This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.
(ROUTE 66 ON THE AIR WEBSITE)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE
With thanks to ABC News; Amateur Radio Daily, Dayton Amateur Radio Association;
David Behar, K7DB; eHam.net; 425 DX Bulletin; Hamvention website; Mountain
XPress website; NASA; QRZ.com; Radio Ink; Radio World; Route 66 on the Air;
Space.com, Wireless Institute of Australia; XRØX DXpedition website 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 Skeeter Nash N5ASH in Jonesboro Arkansas 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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Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
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