Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2507 for Friday, November 14th, 2025

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2507 with a release date of Friday, November 14th, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. The Philippine government seeks hams' help during a super typhoon. Sri Lanka tests its radio readiness for a tsunami response -- and a college makes a special gift to a Wisconsin ham club. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2507 comes your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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HAMS ASSIST GOVT. RESPONDERS DURING PHILIPPINE SUPER TYPHOON

NEIL/ANCHOR: We begin this week with a report of disaster preparedness that rallied quickly as a super typhoon in the South China Sea was bearing down on the Philippines on the 8th of November. Emergency amateur frequencies in the region were cleared for the Philippine Amateur Radio Association and others to use for traffic. The association's operators were among those engaged by the Philippine National Telecommunications Commission to help government responders, especially in those regions where communication connections had been destroyed by the powerful storm, known internationally as Fung-wong.

The death toll kept rising and more than a million people were displaced in the archipelago nation as floods and landslides took over much of the landscape in the northern provinces. Sustained winds were reported at up to 185 km/h, or 115 mph, with gusts of as much as 230 km/h or 143 mph.

Amateur radio has traditionally been a part of disaster response and the recovery process.

(BBC, MARTS, ABC NEWS)

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SIMULATED TSUNAMI TESTS READINESS OF HAMS IN SRI LANKA

NEIL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka, amateurs have just completed a successful national readiness exercise which simulated a tsunami, recalling the one that struck the region in December of 2004. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF has those details.

JIM: It was a magnitude 9.2 undersea earthquake happening off Northern Sumatra on the 5th of November - but fortunately, it was simulated. The Disaster Management Centre and the Radio Society of Sri Lanka responded as if it were happening for real, sending traffic designed to coordinate evacuations and respond to health emergencies and other critical situations.

A statement from the radio society's management council, posted on their Facebook page, said that the hams' field operations on VHF from Colombo, Galle and Kalutara provided uninterrupted data relay across the island. The scenario called for disaster response from a variety of agencies where such coordination was crucial. The field operators had strong support from home-based listening stations.

Frequencies were also monitored by the Amateur Radio Society of India and member societies of IARU Region 3.

The council statement said: [quote] "This exercise not only demonstrated the vital role and effectiveness of Amateur Radio in emergency response, but also reaffirmed the importance of strong collaboration between the RSSL and the Disaster Management Centre in building national communication resilience and public awareness." [endquote]

Sri Lanka was among the many nations struck by the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in late 2004 that killed tens of thousands.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(RADIO SOCIETY OF SRI LANKA, FACEBOOK)

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SILENT KEY: POPULAR BANGALORE NET CONTROl OP SUBBU, VU2ZUB

NEIL/ANCHOR: An active and prominent ham from Bangalore, India has become a Silent Key. We hear more about him from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: He was known on the air as Subbu and his callsign, VU2ZUB, could be heard on any number of nets - especially when serving as the net control operator. A member of the Bangalore Amateur Radio Club, he was active on HF, VHF, UHF, Echolink and satellite.

Subbu was reported as having become a Silent Key on the 10th of November. There were no other details.

His commitment to public service through radio extended into his off-the-air activities: A longtime member of Rotary Bangalore East, he was recognised by Rotary International as a Paul Harris Fellow for his long record of work benefitting the community. Subbu had also belonged to Rotarians on Amateur Radio, or R O A R.

A post by the Institute of Amateur Radio in Kerala recalled him as [quote]: "a dedicated radio amateur, ever helpful and kind-hearted, he will be remembered for his passion for communication and his warm camaraderie on and off the air." [endquote]

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH

(QRZ.COM, INSTITUTE OF AMATEUR RADIO IN KERALA)

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?INTREPID-DX LAUNCHES 'AMATEUR RADIO FOR THE GREATER GOOD'

NEIL/ANCHOR: Although many remember this annual competition as the Intrepid-DX Group's Youth "Dream Rig" Essay Contest, there have been some changes - some very big changes -- as the sixth annual challenge begins. Ralph Squillace KK6ITB tells us what has happened.

RALPH: For the past five years, licensed hams 25 and younger were challenged to write an essay on a topic relevant to ham radio's place in the world. It's part of the Intrepid-DX Group's mission to encourage the growth of amateur radio in all nations around the world, especially in areas that are still developing.

This year's challenge focuses not just on words but action - the contest is being called "Amateur Radio for the Greater Good." In a departure from previous contests, this one asks the young hams to submit proposals to establish a public-access radio station somewhere in the US. The station can be intended for any public building - a school, a house of worship, a fire station, a hospital or a community center.

The winner will receive a complete HF, VHF/UHF station, including coax and antennas, to make their proposal a reality where it can be used for club use, mentoring, training and emergency communication. The winner will also receive an own HF radio for personal use.

The deadline for submission of proposals is the 10th of December, with the awardee's name announced on the 15th. They will be required to provide written permission from the facility that they have chosen, authorizing the installation of the station and antenna. The awardee may become the station's trustee.

See the text version of this week's newscast script at arnewsline.org for the email or US mail address where inquiries or submissions may be sent.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

[DO NOT READ: By email to intrepiddxgroup@gmail.com or via US Mail to The Intrepid-DX Group, 3052 Wetmore Drive, San Jose, California 95148 ]

(INTREPID DX GROUP)

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ARDC GRANTS SUPPORT STUDENTS' SATELLITE COURSES

NEIL/ANCHOR: A pair of AMSAT courses to teach students about satellites have gained support from Amateur Radio Digital Communications, as we hear from Jack Parker W8ISH.

JACK: In 2022, AMSAT rolled out its community-based Youth Initiative Program which provides age-appropriate lessons about satellites for youngsters in two age groups, grades 5-7 and grades 8-12. In that first year, a grant from the Quarter Century Wireless Association helped get things going.

Three years later, as the initiative gathers even more momentum, Amateur Radio Digital Communication has announced that it is providing the initiative with two grants designed to enhance both of the student groups' learning experiences. One grant will allow production of a coloring book for the younger students, who are of elementary school age. The pages will depict satellites being used to aid in pollution control, wildfire fighting, broadcasting and navigation.

The other grant will help secure more software licenses for online courses for the older students, who are of high school age. The first course is called "Introduction to Satellite Meteorology," and visitors to Hamvention this past spring got a preview of its contents.

Central to the initiative are its two websites, KidzSat and BuzzSat, which contain age-appropriate activities for the younger and older students, respectively. The students also have access to a network of online software-defined radios they can use as ground stations for receiving images and telemetry from satellites making passes overhead.

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)

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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 in Doylestown, Ohio on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. local time, right before the weekly SARA net at 8 p.m.

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BRISBANE HAMS HOST INAUGURAL QTECH CONFERENCE

NEIL/ANCHOR: The weekend of November 1st and 2nd ushered in an inaugural amateur radio conference in Australia organised by the Brisbane VHF Group. John Williams VK4JJW brings us up to date.

JOHN: Known as QTech2025, the conference in Brisbane suburb of Chermside it focused on the next generation of radio operators who will become stewards of the airwaves. Their varied voices were heard throughout the two-day programme, both as presenters and guests.

Two university students, Otto VK4OTZ and Finn VK4II sparked dialogue with a talk on their theme, "Young Hams: YES We Do Exist." Young amateurs' voices were also well-heard during a town hall style meeting to discuss ways to attract new hams and ensure amateur radio's future.

According to a report by Kevin VK4UH, the Brisbane VHF Group's president, more than 70 registered delegates attended and although a handful did participate remotely, most of them were present in person.

Kevin's report, which appeared first in a Wireless Institute of Australia newscast, said one of the high points of the conference was perhaps one of its briefest: an 11-minute contact between 15 students and astronaut Jonny Kim KJ5HFP at the moment the ISS orbit passed over Queensland.

Like amateur radio itself, the conference is expected to have a bright future: Kevin said organisers are already working on QTech2027.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(WIA)

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COLLEGE DONATES LAPTOPS WISCONSIN HAM CLUB

NEIL/ANCHOR: Community generosity works in both directions, as one amateur radio club in Wisconsin found out recently. Andy Morrison K9AWM has the details.

ANDY: Hams are accustomed to being the ones providing community service -- and so it was a special privilege for the Fond du Lac Amateur Radio Club in Wisconsin to be on the receiving end recently. The Moraine Park Technical College donated five laptops to assist the club with its work in amateur radio education, license testing and emergency communications, including its Field Day operations.

The donations kept club member Lloyd Vandervort N9RPU hard at work setting up the club logging programs,

Dave McCumber, N9WQ, club president, issued a statement saying that the additional computing power will [quote] "strengthen our ability to teach, train and support both new and experienced radio operators throughout the region." [endquote]

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(FDL REPORTER, FOND DU LAC ARC FACEBOOK PAGE)

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INSIGHTS INTO LOSS OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY

NEIL/ANCHOR: What happens when a material loses its ability to conduct electricity -- seemingly for no reason? Researchers have been working to solve that mystery and they think they've figured it out, as we hear from Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

KENT: It's uncommon but when it happens, as it does in the quantum realm, scientists have previously been left shrugging their shoulders. Now when material that had been capable of conducting electricity loses that property, becoming an insulator, they're nodding their heads in recognition instead.

As explained in a recent paper published in Physical Review Letters, an international team of researchers working at the DESY Institute in Germany made their discovery while working with a compound of the rare earth metals: tellurium, selenium and thulium. They found that the compound lost its inherent conductivity because of what researchers described as a "particle dance" involving a group of particles called polarons (POLE A RONS) -- quasiparticles which can combine and behave as one particle instead of several. The polarons can spur activity between electrons and the nearby atoms, impeding the flow of electricity by slowing it down and eventually halting it altogether.

The researchers wrote that their findings show "that the properties of a material cannot be explained by its chemical composition alone."

The scientists concluded that their findings about polarons may ultimately lead to development of new types of matter or the ability to alter some materials' optical, magnetic or electrical properties.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(GIZMODO, AZO QUANTUM.COM)

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STUDENTS' SATELLITE HAS NEWEST MICROWAVE LINEAR TRANSPONDER

NEIL/ANCHOR: There's a new microwave-band linear transponder in the sky - and it was put there by university students, as we hear from Sel Embee KB3TZD.

SEL: A student-built CubeSat from the University of Arizona is providing the latest microwave-band linear transponder for use by amateur radio operators.

After entering orbit more than a year ago, the spacecraft known as CatSat began the earliest parts of its mission: taking images of the Earth, monitoring the ionosphere via HF radio measurements and demonstrating inflatable-antenna technology. CatSat completes a full circle of the earth every 90 minutes in a polar orbit that is nearly sun-synchronous.

The linear transponder was commissioned successfully during the past few weeks. It listens on an uplink of 5.663 GHz and transmits on a downlink of 10.47 GHz, with an estimated bandwidth of 200 kHz. For more details or to follow its operation, visit the CatSat mission website at catsat - that's C-A-T-S-A-T - dot arizona dot edu (catsat.arizona.edu)

This is Sel Embee, K-B-3-T-Zed-D.

(AMSAT NEWS)

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WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, members of the Wingles Radio Club, F4KLR, are marking the 60th anniversary of the first French satellite, known as Asterix, which was launched on the 26th of November, 1965. The operators will be using the callsign TM6ØATX on Fridays and Saturdays between the 14th of November and the 13th of December and again on the 19th through to the 23rd of December.

Listen for Red, DL1BUG, operating as TY5FR from Cotonou, Benin from the 15th of November through to the 11th of December. Red will be using CW and SSB on 80-10 metres and will participate in the CQ WW DX CW Contest.

For all contacts listed in World of DX, please see QRZ.com for QSL details, frequencies, or other operating information.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

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KICKER: ROYAL TREATMENT FOR YL WHO'S A TOP SOTA OP

NEIL/ANCHOR: Finally, we introduce - NOT the "King of the Hill" but one of the Queens of the Mountains. There may not be a crown on her head - at least not yet - but this South African amateur is getting a royal treatment from the international community of YL SOTA activators. Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us why.

GRAHAM: The event known as Queens of the Mountains ascended to the summits again this past June for its second year -- and YL SOTA activators around the world did their best during two days of activating. The highest achievement this year belongs to Adele Tyler, ZS5APT, who has been chosen to receive the K1LIZ Memorial Achievement Award for having achieved most of the goals set.

Announcing Adele's achievement on the SOTA Reflector, Paula K9IR and Amy AG7GP, said that she activated two summits jointly with other YLs, logged a minimum of two QSOs with YL stations and completed at least five QSOs with YL chasers. They said, however, her most prominent accomplishment was her recruitment of six YL operators from South Africa as well as 22 YL and OM chasers from South Africa and Namibia to participate.

The K1LIZ award carries the callsign, the name and the memory of Liz Burns, a top-achieving SOTA activator who became a Silent Key in February of 2022. Liz became a symbol of determination and devotion to SOTA because she did not let her blindness deter her from tackling the challenge of activating.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(SOTA REFLECTOR)

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HAIKU AND CLOSE

If you haven't sent in your ham radio haiku yet, what's been stopping you? Visit our website at arnewsline.org and as you compose your ode to your favorite online activity, we will help you use the correct number of syllables to make an authentic haiku. Submit your work and then sit back and wait to hear whether you are the winner of this week's challenge. The winner gets a shout-out on our website, where everyone can find the winning haiku.

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to ABC News; Amateur News Daily; AMSAT News Service; BBC; David Behar; 425DX Bulletin; FDL Reporter; Fond du Lac Amateur Radio Club; Institute of Amateur Radio in Kerala; Intrepid DX Group; QRZ.com; Radio Society of Sri Lanka; shortwaveradio.de; SOTA Reflector; Wireless Institute of Australia; YouTube; 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 2025. Amateur Radio Newsline retains ownership of its material even when retransmitted elsewhere. All rights are reserved.

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