Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2514 for Friday, January 2nd, 2026

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2514 with a release date of Friday, January 2nd, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. The largest commercial satellite enters Earth orbit. The 14th most-wanted DX entity is activated for the 1st time since 2009 -- and helping blind hams operate using the digital modes. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2514 comes your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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TEXAS FIRM LAUNCHES LARGEST COMMERCIAL SATELLITE

SKEETER/ANCHOR: In our top story, the largest commercial satellite to ever be in Earth orbit has been launched. It's the first of a planned constellation by AST SpaceMobile, a Starlink rival that was recently granted use of amateur radio frequencies by the FCC. Travis Lisk N3ILS gives us the details.

TRAVIS: The huge satellite is called BlueBird6 and it was launched on the 23rd of December from Indias Satish Dhawan Space Center, blazing the path to the so-called next-generation constellation of space-based cellular broadband satellites by AST SpaceMobile. The satellite features an array of antennas which, when deployed, compares in size to the dimensions of a tennis court: 693 square feet, or about 64 square metres.

The project by the Texas-based startup is considered a direct rival to SpaceXs Starlink constellation.

Last September, the FCCs Space Bureau granted AST SpaceMobile limited use of frequencies in the amateur band between 430 and 440 MHz.

Permission was given on an emergency basis only after overwhelming objections raised by ham radio operators and amateur radio societies worldwide. They argued that alternate UHF frequencies are available for the satellites telemetry, tracking and command functions.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(GIZMODO)

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FIRST DESECHEO ISLAND ACTIVATION SINCE 2009

SKEETER/ANCHOR: The first activation since 2009 of an uninhabited island off Puerto Rico is set to begin this month. Graham Kemp VK4BB has the details.

GRAHAM: There has been no amateur activity from Desecheo Island, 13 miles off the Puerto Rican coast, since 2009 but now the first Puerto Rican-led DXpedition in 48 years to KP5 is preparing for that moment. The organisers, the Manyana DX Foundation and the Vieques Island Amateur Radio Club, are calling the activation of this small uninhabited island a landmark DXpedition.

It is a protected nature reserve with strict limits to access, so two self-contained remote deployable units, or RDUs, will be set out in the second week of January. Operators have undergone training specific to the remote activation. They expect to be on the air within 24 hours of RDUs deployment, operating around the clock for about 30 days on 160-6 metres, CW, SSB and FT8. A live stream will be available from Club Log.

Of course, expect pileups. The island is the 14th most wanted entity on the DXCC list.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(QRZ.COM, 425 DX BULLETIN)

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IT'S GROWING SEASON FOR NEW HAM CLUB IN MONTANA

SKEETER/ANCHOR: In the Northern Hemisphere where it's winter, the growing season for plants is over -- but for a new ham radio club in Montana, the growing season has just begun. Andy Morrison K9AWM has the details.

ANDY: The newly-formed Headwaters Amateur Radio Club of Montana is growing strong: Members are preparing to hold their first meeting on the 19th of January at the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce office -- and making plans to participate in Winter Field Day a week later. According to their publicity director, Carol Flaherty, KA7ROL, the club was formed recently in Belgrade and has already had some success holding a net using 2-meters simplex. They are hoping soon to establish a repeater.

The biggest priority will be to provide emergency communications to the various communities in this snowstorm- and windstorm-prone region in Montana's Gallatin Valley. For now, the club continues in growth mode. Carol said members expect to welcome area university students and some of the Scouts who received their ham licenses after last summer's Camporee.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(CAROL FLAHERTY, KA7ROL, BELGRADE NEWS)

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LOCAL GOVT., CHILEAN HAMS SIGN EMCOMM CONTRACT

SKEETER/ANCHOR: An important relationship has been formalized by a contract between hams and the local government in one village in Chile. Jason Daniels VK2LAW has those details.

JASON: Almost a year ago, 90 percent of Chile was plunged into darkness during a national blackout, causing the government to declare a state of emergency. Recalling that disaster recently, the mayor of the municipality of Villa Alemana, Nelson Estay, said that [quote] "the only ones who were functioning and available were the amateur radio operators." [endquote]

If anything of that magnitude should ever happen again - or, for that matter, should almost any emergency occur at all - the municipality knows that the radio operators are there. Now, however, it has been formalized. The Los Molinos Amateur Radio Club has signed an agreement with Villa Alemana in support of the Communal Emergency Operations Committee

The club's president, Lorenzo Passalacqua, CA2PJP, said the agreement strengthens an already healthy working relationship established some time ago. He said [quote] "All that was missing was the official signing of this agreement." [endquote]

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(KY9A TELEGRAPH, MUNICIPALITY OF VILLA ALEMANA]

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EASING THE WAY FOR BLIND HAMS TO USE DIGITAL MODES

SKEETER/ANCHOR: Software builders and tinkerers are being sent a special message from a fellow ham on behalf of radio operators like him who are blind or have low vision, keeping them from enjoying some digital modes. We hear more from Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

RALPH: One of the gifts that Darrell Hilliker, NU7I, has provided to users of contemporary technology is his blog, Blind Access Journal. As an advocate for people who are blind like Darrell - or perhaps challenged by low vision or obstacles posed by aging - he has developed his blog to provide resources to developers, decision-makers and other consumers of technology so they can make the modern world more accessible to everyone.

The Arizona radio amateur has now issued a call - a QST in every sense - asking fellow hams to turn their efforts toward making digital mode software such as WSJT-X more accessible too.

Darrell said in a press release that the increasing popularity of digital modes has made it harder for hams with disabilities to participate fully because an accessible user interface is missing from the software. He wrote: [quote] A month doesnt go by where I dont hear at least one conversation on the bands where an older ham is contemplating giving up or curtailing their activities due to a physical disability like arthritis or a visual impairment. We can do better as a communityand we can do it together.

He told Newsline in an email that he is issuing a call, through his blog, [quote] "to inspire and engage members of the amateur radio community." [endquote] He said that because WSJT-X is open source, it provides an opportunity for collaboration for improvements in keyboard navigation, screen reader support and overall usability. He hopes his blog can be a place where advocates, developers and users can brainstorm.

To volunteer or simply to learn more, contact Darrell at editor at blindaccessjournal - that's one word - dot com. (editor@blindaccessjournal.com)

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(DARRELL HILLIKER, NU7I)

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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 NØLAR repeater of the Lamar Area Amateur Radio Club in southeast Colorado or on FM radio station KRHJ on 88.3 MHz on Fridays at 5 p.m.

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AMSAT YOUTH INITIATIVE TAKES CLOSER LOOK AT CLIMATE CHANGE

SKEETER/ANCHOR: As students return to school after the holiday break, the AMSAT Youth Initiative has released the second installment in its free online series about satellites and their impact on life here on Earth.

The course is called "Satellites and Climate Change" and was written by Eric Sonnenwald, N2XSE, a retired educator in New Jersey. Eric was also the author of the first installment, released in late 2025: "Satellites and Meteorology."

Anyone wanting to help students learn more in the fields of science, technology, engineering art and mathematics will have access to material in the Youth Initiatives program, which will have 14 installments in all.

The program has received two grants from Amateur Radio Digital Communications. Two more courses will be launched online shortly: "Satellites and Pollution Control" and "Satellites and Preservation of Natural Resources." Visit the website buzzsat dot com (buzzsat.com) for more details.

(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)

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NEW ZEALAND HAMS USE "ZM" PREFIX FOR CENTENARY YEAR

SKEETER/ANCHOR: The New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters was created for the country's ham radio operators 100 years ago in Auckland on the 16th of August. Not looking to miss out on a full-scale celebration this year, hams ave already begun marking the occasion with modified callsigns. John Williams VK4JJW explains.

JOHN: How do you show pride in the group that has come to represent and advocate for amateur radio in New Zealand? One way is to drop the "ZL" prefix and swap it out with "ZM" during the centenary year of 2026. So be listening! The "ZM" prefix is a recognised special-event callsign in New Zealand and has been used before. This occasion is a far happier one than the previous authorisation by Radio Spectrum Management, which allowed the use of "ZM" during the period of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Don't worry, the "ZL" prefix isn't going away for the year. You'll see be hearing for special event callsigns such as ZL100MVL and ZL100AM, which have been approved for use until 31 March.

Here's to the next 100 years for New Zealand's hams!

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(NZART, 425 DX BULLETIN)

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FCC READY TO ELIMINATE FOUR HAM-RELATED REGULATIONS

SKEETER/ANCHOR: You have until Friday, January 2nd if you wish to file a comment on the FCC's plan to eliminate four amateur radio related regulations that it has deemed unnecessary. We hear more from Sel Embee K-B-3-T-Zed-D.

SEL: Four rules covering the amateur radio service in the United States are marked for elimination by the Federal Communications Commission unless the agency receives objections filed no later than the 2nd of January -- objections that it considers worthy of consideration. The FCC plans to otherwise remove the four rules, three of which it called obsolete, and one that it says duplicates an existing provision.

The FCC published its intention in the Federal Register and identified the rules. They are provisions 97.27, 97.29, 97.315 (b)(2), considered out of date by the FCC. The fourth provision is 97.521 (b), which relates to Volunteer Examiner Coordinators.

The FCC has scheduled the removal of the four rules on the 10th of February. The agencys action is part of its broader 2025 initiative to remove regulations that it considers burdensome or no longer necessary.

To see each of the rules relevant to ham radio in depth, visit federalregister-dot-gov (federalregister.gov). There you will also find information on how to file a comment, if you wish to do so.

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

(FEDERAL REGISTER)

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WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, listen for Thomas, DL7BO [DEE EL SEVEN BEE OH] on the air as XU7GNY from Cambodia until the 18th of January. He is operating on 160 - 6m, using CW, SSB, FT8 with a focus on the low bands.

Christoph, DF3TJ, is on the air in Colombia as HK4/DF3TJ until an unspecified date in January. He is including activations of San Andres, IOTA Number NA-033, as KØ/DF3TJ and Providencia, IOTA Number NA-049.

Rikk, WE9G, is on the air from Grenada, IOTA Number NA 024, as J38WG until the 16th of January. He will be doing mostly FT8 on 160-6 metres, with some CW and SSB.

See QRZ.com for details about how to QSL each station.

(DX NEWS, 425 DX BULLETIN)

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KICKER: WEATHERING A LONG LIFETIME OF STORMS

SKEETER/ANCHOR: The meteorologist who built a lasting bridge between amateur radio and the National Hurricane Center has died. Our final story this week celebrates his vision that began 4 decades ago and still guides us into the new year. Here's Jim Davis W2JKD to tell us more.

JIM DAVIS: Well-respected, kind and personable, Neil Frank understood how storm preparedness could be vital for lifesaving communication during hurricane season. He particularly valued amateur radio for its resiliency when disaster cut conventional means of getting the word out. The meteorologist's long tenure at the helm of the National Hurricane Center, part of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, changed everything -- especially in 1980, when he established an amateur radio station at the NHC in Florida to stay connected to vulnerable areas in the Caribbean.

Julio Ripoll, WD4R, was a university student pursuing architecture studies at the time -- and was president of his school's ham radio club -- when Neil Frank tapped him for the role of cofounder and the first amateur radio coordinator of station WX4NHC. What was to have been a two-year assignment lasted for more than 45 years and more than 100 hurricanes, encouraged by his friend and mentor. Julio, who remains active as assistant coordinator, told Newsline in an email: [quote] "Dr. Frank showed this young ham kindness and understanding from Day 1 and for many years after. His support and pep talks helped my confidence and inspired me in many ways." [endquote]

Neil Frank's own tenure at the NHC lasted from 1974 to 1987, the longest term any director has held. He eventually moved on to KHOU-TV in Houston, Texas where, affectionately given the nickname "Doc," he was chief meteorologist until 2008.

Neil Frank died December 24th, 2025 - Christmas Eve Day - at the age of 94.

(JULIO RIPOLL, WD4R; KHOU-TV)

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HAIKU AND CLOSE

It's a new year - how about some new ham radio haikus from our Newsline listeners? Visit our website at arnewsline.org and as you compose your ode to your favorite on-the-air 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 your inspired haiku will be highlighted on our website, where everyone can read it.

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Amateur News Daily; AMSAT News Service; ARRL; Belgrade News; Carol Flaherty, KA7ROL; Darrell Hilliker, NU7I; David Behar, K7DB; DX News; Federal Register; FCC; 425DX Bulletin; Gizmodo; Julio Ripoll, WD4R; KHOU-TV; KY9A Telegraph; Municipality of Villa Alemana; New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters; shortwaveradio.de; Wireless Institute of Australia; 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. We wish all our listeners the very best for the year ahead in 2026. 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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