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Amateur Radio Newsline, Thu Oct 29, 7:49 PM MDT (0149Z)
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2557 for Friday, October 30th, 2026 Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2557 with a release date of Friday, October 30th, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a QST. Communities throughout the US get a program of outer space and amateur radio. Amateur radio bounces a signal off Venus -- and the "leap second" says farewell. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2557 comes your way right now. BILLBOARD CART NASA FUNDS HELP HAMSCI BRING SCIENCE, RADIO TO COMMUNITIES PAUL/ANCHOR: In our top story this week, coming soon to a neighborhood near you - perhaps even your own neighborhood: outer space, solar weather and RF propagation. It's happening with the help of NASA and Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation. Kevin Trotman N5PRE has more to tell us. KEVIN: A nearly $5.5-million grant from the US space agency NASA is helping HamSCI, the citizen science group, to bring schools, museums, libraries and other community resources the experience of scientific discoveries that have previously been limited to laboratory settings. NASA calls this initiative Science Activation, or SciAct, and its collaborators include such organizations as the ARRL Teachers Institute, the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the Space Science Institute. HamSCI's founder, Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, is the principal investigator and he will oversee a program called "Discovering the SPARC: Space Physics Through Amateur Radio." Through so-called discovery stations set up at different public venues, visitors can gain a better understanding of solar activity's impact on communications. They will get to observe real-time space weather data. Separately, an estimated 85 space-weather monitors will be placed throughout the country gathering data on radio signals and the ionosphere -- another window into public education on the impact of such things as meteor showers and solar eclipses. Nathaniel called SciAct [quote] "a premier program in which NASA gives its science back to the very people who fund this work - the American people." [endquote] This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE. (ED EFCHAK, WX2R; HAMSCI) HAM RADIO COMPLETES ANOTHER EARTH-VENUS-EARTH CONTACT PAUL/ANCHOR: It took five minutes to happen - at the right time of the year -- and now another successful Earth-Venus-Earth communication has been made via amateur radio. Dave Lee M9TLB has that story. DAVE: Using the surface of Venus to send and receive a reflected signal is far more challenging than moonbounce could ever be. On the 17th of October, it happened: The Dwingeloo Radio Telescope in the Netherlands sent amateur radio microwave signals bearing the coded message "Venus Echo" toward Venus on 1299.5 MHz. Five minutes later, the reflections were reported as received by a number of radio telescopes, including the eMerlin, Astropeiler Stockert and Effelsberg, The message, modulated in a channel-specific waveform using M-FSK with forward error correction, was successfully decoded. The first amateur radio Earth-Venus-Earth signal was completed in 2009 by AMSAT-Deutschland, followed by the Dwingeloo telescope's initial success in 2025. According to the Deep Space Exploration Society's groups.io list, more E V E attempts are scheduled during the next two weeks. This is Dave Lee M9TLB. (DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION SOCIETY GROUPS.IO) FCC GRANTS SPECTRUM-LICENSE TRANSFER TO SPACEX PAUL/ANCHOR: SpaceX has received approval for its Starlink Mobile service to use frequencies that were left idle by the previous licensee, as we hear from Sel Embee KB3TZD. SEL: The FCC has granted SpaceX's request to acquire three spectrum licenses that were not being used by the Mississippi telecommunications company that held them. Tristar License Group can now directly transfer its right to use 1695 MHz to 1700 MHz without the customary need for an auction. In releasing its decision on the 21st of October, the FCC said the action was "likely to lead to public interest benefits" because the frequencies were not being used. The licenses cover 62 counties in eight US states, including North Carolina, Massachusetts and Virginia. The telecom industry website, Communications Daily, first reported the approval of the deal, which Starlink Mobile views as another boost for its planned expansion of direct-to-device satellite connectivity. This is Sel Embee KB3TZD. (FCC, PCMAG) SILENT KEY: TREVOR HUGHES, G4WKJ, FORMER RSGB VOLUNTEER PAUL/ANCHOR: The Radio Society of Great Britain and hundreds of visitors to the National Radio Centre have lost a friend, a volunteer who has become a Silent Key. We hear about him from Jeremy Boot G4NJH. JEREMY: During his time as a volunteer at the RSGB's National Radio Centre, Trevor Hughes, G4WKJ, was known for a friendly and welcoming demeanor to all who visited. His reputation and his caring spirit were recognised in 2023 when he was declared the National Radio Centre's Outstanding Volunteer of the Year. He became a Silent Key in late October although the date of his death was not reported. A skilled CW op, Trevor brought the wonders of code to countless children through his design of the popular Snail Morse key. He built and donated more than 2,000 kits at his own expense, hoping to spare children the expense of acquiring a key if they wished to learn code. The world watched in 2016 as Trevor served as the primary telegraph operator during a recreation of the historic 1858 exchange between US President James Buchanan and Queen Victoria. He operated at the RSGB flagship station with the callsign GB3RS. This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH. (RSGB) CAMPAIGN TO SEND 'AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR' INTO SPACE PAUL/ANCHOR: Earlier this year, she was one of four persons to be proclaimed Australian of the Year by the prime minister. Now the Australian government is hoping she's on her way to becoming the first astronaut to fly to the International Space Station under the Australian flag. John Williams VK4JJW introduces us to her. JOHN: Australian officials have made a bid to the European Space Agency, hoping to secure a spot on the crew for Katherine Bennell-Pegg for a 2028 mission to the ISS. The proposal on behalf of the space systems engineer has been called a cost-prohibitive one for the Australian government and has spurred private fundraising activity. The Australian Space Agency's director of space technology completed her basic astronaut training with the ESA in 2024. Australia's science minister is among those who have noted that such a trip would be costly for the Australian government. Officials are nonetheless optimistic as philanthropists and others step forward to help finance what could amount to a trip costing several million Australian dollars. Other astronauts from Australia have flown into space - two as US citizens on NASA missions and one aboard the private Blue Origin's suborbital flight - but Katherine would be the first representing Australia. She has a reputation as a visible and vocal proponent of STEM education and has been at the helm of a national education program to encourage space studies and communications. As such, her next trip is much more assured here on earth - having completed her recent orbit through schools in the Northern Territory, the STEM ambassador talks in November to students in New South Wales. This is John Williams VK4JJW. (ABC.NET.AU, AUSTRALIAN SPACE AGENCY, GUARDIAN, THE AGE) BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the W8WKY repeater of the Silvercreek Amateur Radio Association in Doylestown, Ohio on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. ANTIQUE WIRELESS 1929 QSO PARTY TURNS BACK THE CALENDAR PAUL/ANCHOR: While most parts of the world have recently changed the time on their clocks - or are about to - there's one group in New York that's getting ready to turn back the calendar. We have those details from Andy Morrison K9AWM. ANDY: The Bruce Kelley 1929 QSO Party is the pride of the Antique Wireless Association. Next month, the AWA will celebrate radio equipment built before 1930 by putting everything on the air over the course of two weekends. The AWA promotes the event by letting participants know they can expect to hear a lot of [quote] "whooping, chirping, buzzing, clicking, drifting, swishing, swaying, warbling and other interesting signals" [endquote] while it's all going on. Operators are encouraged to send CW using hand keys or Vibroplex-type keys. The dates are November 14th through to the 16th and again on November 21st through to the 23rd. The event is named for Bruce Kelley, W2ICE, a cofounder of the AWA who became a Silent Key in 1997. For rules, operating frequencies and other details, see the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org [DO NOT READ: https://www.antiquewireless.org/homepage/bk-qso-party-details ] This is Andy Morrison K9AWM. (ANTIQUE WIRELESS ASSOCIATION) NETS OF NOTE: THE NEW ENGLAND DIGITAL VOICE TRAFFIC NET PAUL/ANCHOR: In our occasional series, Nets of Note, Newsline highlights different ways hams check in with one another to share information, training or fellowship. This week we hear from Jack Parker W8ISH, who tells us about the New England Digital Voice Traffic Net, a training net for message handling. JACK: Amateurs interested in learning the protocol for message-handling are being encouraged to join a new traffic net that meets via digital voice systems on repeaters, hotspots and IP-based connections. New England Digital Voice Traffic Net was launched on the 1st of October as a welcoming environment in which operators can learn to exchange traffic and prepare written ARRL Radiograms. According to its website, the net is particularly focused on serving those operators who may not be able to get on HF or local nets via RF. Net participants often include EmComm volunteers, ARES members, digital voice operators and traffic handlers. The net focuses on standard National Traffic System and Radio Relay International message formatting and voicing for emergency as well as routine traffic. Hams who do not have traffic to pass are welcome to check in. Connections are made through the New England Digital Radio Network and the Wolf Pack Repeater System via D-Star Reflector XLX-097. The net is also accessible to operators using DMR, D-Star, P25, Fusion, NXDN and M17. Check-ins are every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday at 2045 hours local time on the East Coast. For other details, visit the net's website at NEDVTN dot net (NEDVTN.net) This is Jack Parker W8ISH. (NEW ENGLAND DIGITAL VOICE TRAFFIC NET) REVERSE BEACON NETWORK HONORED BY YASME FOUNDATION PAUL/ANCHOR: DX enthusiasts and contesters will be pleased to learn that the latest recipient of the Yasme Excellence Award is an online tool that has become integral to so much of their on-air time. We learn about this important volunteer project from Jim Meachen ZL2BHF. JIM: The Reverse Beacon Network comprises hundreds of automated receiver nodes around the world and it was born from the volunteer efforts of an international team of hams. It relies on stations listening to the bands and reporting what they hear - when they hear it - and how well. Over the years, the RBN has received grants from the Yasme Foundation to support the repair, upgrade and expansion of its nodes globally. This time, however, the foundation is celebrating the team effort, which began with Felipe PY1NB, the founder. In making its announcement, Yasme called the network [quote] "invaluable for propagation testing, antenna comparisons, contest operating, and results adjudication." [endquote] At any given time, the global network of 250 active nodes will give live reports of CW sending speed, signal-to-noise ratio, signal strength and of course, operating frequency. This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF. (YASME FOUNDATION) WORLD OF DX In the World of DX, there's still time to work a team of Japanese operators calling QRZ from Antigua, IOTA Number NA-100, as V26JJ. Their activation is from October 30th through to November 6th. They will be on the HF bands using various modes. Al, F8FUA is will be on the air from Kigali, Rwanda as 9X5KM from October 31st through to November 11th, operating holiday style on CW, SSB and the digital modes. Listen for him on HF, particularly the low bands. Listen for Chuck, KG9N, operating from Montserrat, IOTA Number NA-103, as VP2MCV from November 3rd through to November 16th. Chuck will be using all bands and all modes. The E51MWA DXpedition team is active in the North Cook Islands until November 16, 2026. Much of the on-air activity has been FT8 on 17m and 30m. Darko, E7OA will be active as 3B8/E70A from Mauritius, IOTA Number AF-049, from November 20th through to December 3rd on the HF bands. He will participate in the CQWW CW contest as part of the 3B8M team. For QSL details and other information, visit each station's page on QRZ.com (DXWORLD.NET, 425 DX BULLETIN) KICKER: TIME LEAPS TO A CONCLUSION PAUL/ANCHOR: Now, at the end of this newscast, we will leap into our final story - and we do mean leap. Kent Peterson KCODGY explains. KENT: Good-bye to the leap second. The International Bureau of Weights and Measures has declared that the leap second is about to run out of time. Literally. It could go away as soon as 2027. This small adjustment of clocks has occurred every couple of years to synchronize our earthly time with minor changes in the planet's slightly irregular rotation. Very precise atomic clocks have relied on it and its presence is evident in UTC used by amateur radio, science, satellites, financial institutions and others around the world. Bureau official Noel Dimarcq announced that reconciling these small seconds with the unpredictable changes in the planet's rotation has become too irregular a process, even raising the unprecedented prospect of introducing a negative leap second in 2029. Three years ago, the demise of leap seconds came up for discussion at the ITU's World Radiocommunications Conference in Dubai. Judah Levine of the National Institute of Standards and Technology proposed introducing "leap minutes" every 50 years or so. The leap hour, however, seems to be the favored solution in the officials' vote taken October 15th. Dimarcq said the committee for time and frequency believes it is wiser to wait until an extra hour of adjustment accumulates and take the bigger leap then. Of course, that could take years. It could even take centuries. However long it takes, it most certainly WILL take time. This is Kent Peterson KCODGY. (NEW YORK TIMES, WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM, SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN) NEWSCAST CLOSE With thanks to ABC.net.au; The Age; AMSAT News; Amateur Radio Daily, Antique Wireless Association; Australian Space Agency; David Behar, K7DB; Deep Space Exploration Society Groups.io; DXWorld; Ed Efchak, WX2R; FCC; 425 DX Bulletin; The Guardian; HamSCI; New York Times; PC Magazine; QRZ.com; Radio Society of Great Britain; Scientific American; Wireless Institute of Australia; World Economic Forum; Yasme Foundation; 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 2026. Amateur Radio Newsline retains ownership of its material even when retransmitted elsewhere. All rights are reserved.