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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2462 for Friday, January 3rd, 2025
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2462 with a release date of
Friday, January 3rd, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. A solar probe touches the untouchable in space.
The CQ DX Marathon is back - and hear the winning entry in the 2024
Amateur Radio Newsline Haiku Challenge. All this and more as Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2462 comes your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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PARKER SOLAR PROBE 'TOUCHES' THE SUN

JIM/ANCHOR: The Parker Solar Probe, launched by NASA in 2018, ended
2024 by nearly touching the untouchable - the sun. We hear more from
Travis Lisk N3ILS.

TRAVIS: On Christmas Eve - December 24th - NASA's solar probe set a
record by flying 3.86 million miles, or 6.1 million kilometres, from
the sun. That approach made the small probe the first - and fastest
-object created by humans to come that close to the sun, according to a
report in Forbes magazine. Its speed was clocked at 430,000 miles per
hour, the equivalent of 692,000 kilometres per hour.

Nicola Fox, NASA's associate administrator for science missions, said
in a Christmas Eve video that the probe had achieved the very mission
it was intended for with its unprecedented flight so close to the sun.

This solar pass came as the probe made its 22nd approach since its
launch more than six years ago. The probe is well-shielded for this
latest plunge into the sun: More than four years ago it entered one of
the most powerful coronal mass ejections ever recorded, according
toNASA.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(FORBES.COM, NASA)

**
HANDIHAM PROGRAM LOOKS BACK ON GAINS, SUCCESSES

JIM/ANCHOR: In the US, the Handiham Program ended 2024 by reporting on
gains and successes in its services and initiatives to disabled amateur
radio operators. We hear about them from Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

KENT: The Handiham Program, which has served the disabled ham community
since 1967, ended 2024 with a progress report to its supporters and on
its website, outlining gains in its journey. The year included a number
of new classes held virtually, including one in basic Morse Code and
another for Technician Class candidates. Handiham said that its radio
club also achieved gains, reaching a milestone membership level of 158.
The Handiham program itself welcomed 65 new participants.

Program coordinator Lucinda Moody, AB8WF, summed the year up by calling
it [quote] "a year of achievement and expansion." [endquote]

For more details about the program, visit handiham.org.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

(HANDIHAM)

**
STRAIGHT KEY MONTH IS HERE

JIM/ANCHOR: It isn't just January - it's Straight Key Month - and Randy
Sly W4XJ is here to tell us what that means.

RANDY: Calling all CW operators! January is the month to put your
paddle in the drawer and dust off your straight key. If you have
cooties or bugs in your ham shack, you can use them, too! It's time
for the 19th annual Straight Key Month, hosted by the Straight Key
Century Club.

Throughout the month, you'll be able to work K3Y stations in all the US
call areas, including Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. In addition,
stations from regions within the IARU membership in Africa, Asia,
Europe, North America, Oceania and South America will also be on
theair.

Taking their cue from the ARRL's long-running Straight Key Night every
January 1, the SKCC extends the event from the 2nd to the 31st of the
month. Whether you're a seasoned operator or just beginning your CW
journey, you'll find Straight Key Month to be a great deal of fun while increasing your skills. Information for this event can be found at skccgroup.com/k3y.

This is Randy Sly, W4XJ

(SKCC)

**

SILENT KEY: JOSEPH HENRY STORMER, W3TL, EMERGENCY COMMUNICATOR

JIM/ANCHOR: An influential ham in the amateur radio community in
Delaware has become a Silent Key. We hear more about him from Sel
Embee KB3TZD.

SEL: In 2005, Joseph Henry Stormer, W-3-T-L, returned to amateur radio,
the hobby he had loved as a teenager. He quickly deepened his
involvement in both ham radio and the community. Joe joined the Sussex
Amateur Radio Association in 2006 and became its president a year
later. He also belonged to the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society, the OM International Sideband Society, and served as an assistant emergency coordinator for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service of the ARRL. He was
a team leader for the Beebe Bee Hospital's amateur radio
operators'room.

As a Volunteer Examiner, Joe was also a team leader of the Delaware
Amateur Radio Testing Team and certified volunteer examiner with the
Laurel Amateur Radio Club. He let hams and prospective hams throughout
Delaware know they were always welcome to contact him to arrange for a licensing exam.

According to his online obituary, he became ill last year. Joe died on
December 22nd. He was 80.

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

(CAPE GAZETTE, QRZ.COM)

**
GEORGIA CLUB DONATES RADIO BOOKS TO LOCAL LIBRARY

JIM/ANCHOR: The Jackson-Butts County Public Library in Georgia is QRV.
A collection of 11 amateur radio books donated a month ago by the
Amateur Radio Club of Butts County has been entered into the library's
system and was placed on the shelves recently for circulation.

This is the latest partnership in the US of amateur radio clubs and
their local libraries. Library manager, Cathy Kelly, told Newsline that
the donation was made through the efforts of Buzz Kutcher, K3GWK and
Nancy Phillips, K4NEP, from the club. The volumes include technical
books, licensing guides and regulations from the Federal Communications Commission.

Cathy told Newsline: [quote] "We are hoping they will be useful to
many. They're ready to go!" [endquote]

(THE JACKSON PROGRESS, CATHY KELLY)

**
CQ DX MARATHON RETURNS FOR YEAR-LONG RUN

JIM/ANCHOR: Lace up your running shoes and sit down in your shack - and
get ready for an on-the-air marathon that encourages operators to go
the distance through December 2025. Jack Parker W8ISH shares the
details.

JACK: The CQ DX Marathon is back - and just as the marathon for 2024
comes to an end, the new one has begun. Avid DXers are already on the
hunt through the end of December, hoping to work as many countries and
CQ zones as possible. The idea, of course, is to see who can work the
most countries, or DX entities, and CQ zones by the time 23:59 rolls
around on December 31st. Keep in mind that contacts through repeaters
and satellites do not count, nor do contacts with aeronautical mobile
or maritime stations. Only the use of amateur radio frequencies is
permitted.

Organizers made some changes in mid-December to rules that affect the
awards, operating class and youth participation. For a full description
of the rules and who is affected, see the link in the text version of
this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

[DO NOT READ: https://dxmarathon.com/rules/2025/ ]

(CQ DX MARATHON)

**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the Tryon Amateur Radio Club's K2JJI 2-metre repeater in Gloversville
New York on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.

**
HAM CLUB AT DEUTSCHES MUSEUM CALLS QRZ FOR CENTENNIAL

JIM/ANCHOR: Amateur radio station DL0DM recently finished celebrating
two anniversaries in December: the club's 75th year as a radio licensee
and its 35th year of operating from its home at the Deutsches Museum in
Munich. Now the ham radio station is getting ready for another
celebration: the centennial of the museum, one of the world's major
showcases of science and technology. Jeremy Boot G4NJH gives us the
details.

JEREMY: The amateur radio club at Munich's Deutsches Museum is putting
the callsign DL100DM on the air throughout 2025.

The museum is marking its 100th anniversary, a time particularly for
amateurs to remember its longstanding connection to radio. Even before
the ham radio club had established a permanent presence there, the
museum was proudly featuring a 100-watt shortwave transmitter, that had
been built by a student in 1938, which CW operators would occasionally
put it on the air. The transmitter is still at the museum and it is on
view in the electronics exhibition area.

The club station however isn't simply a part of the museum's exhibits
and its daily demonstrations - it is a major part of the centennial celebration. Listen out all this year for their special call.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(DEUTSCHES MUSEUM, 425 DX BULLETIN)

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CONVENTION TACKLES TOPIC OF DXPEDITION CHALLENGES

JIM/ANCHOR: The changing nature of challenges facing DXpeditioners is
getting a closer look at the upcoming International DX Convention, as
we hear from Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

RALPH: Organizers of the International DX Convention are calling the opening-day program on Friday, April 11th, a "first of its kind" event:
It's a full day of discussions devoted to solving problems that have
emerged as some top DX entities grow more expensive, more restrictive
and more risky. Although new approaches, such as remotely controlled
stations, have been employed for successful activations, DXers are
seeking even more creative solutions.

The one-day program will take place on the first day of the three-day convention at the Visalia Conference Center in Visalia, California and
will bring demonstrations and guest speakers into the spotlight. The
topics will be of particular interest to DXers, DXpeditioners and
contest station designers -- and any other hams hoping to sharpen their
DXCC scores.

Registration for the conference has already opened. The conference
itself concludes on the 13th of April.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(DXCONVENTION.COM)

**
YEAR-LONG SPECIAL EVENT CELEBRATES BRITAIN'S RAILWAYS

JIM/ANCHOR: A year-long special event is under way to celebrate the
railways that serve Britain. Jeremy Boot G4NJH gives us the details.

JEREMY: Train enthusiasts credit the modern railways with helping
Britain's identity take shape over the decades. The British Railways
Amateur Radio Society G4LMR has amplified that message on the air since
it was formed in 1966 by a handful of railwaymen who were also amateur
radio operators. Now its membership includes any amateurs with an
interest in the railways.

A busy and active society with a full event calendar, the group is
hosting a year-long special event station GB0LMR, to promote the
message of celebration and mark 200 years of modern railway service.
The station is on the air from January through to the end of 2025.

If you have an interest in trains, or just in history, this is just the
ticket.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(QRZ.COM, BRARS.INFO)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, special event station CS2025HNY is on the air from
Portugal through to the 7th of January. Be listening on various HF
bands for operators from the National Association of Portuguese Radio
Amateurs. QSL via CT1REP.

Terry, GM3WUX will be marking the bicentenary of the development of
the Braille system for the blind and vision-impaired by activating the
special callsign GB200LB. Find Terry on the air from the 4th through to
the 31st of January using mainly CW. See QRZ.com for more details.

The South African Radio League is marking its 100 years anniversary
with a special event callsign ZS100SARL, for its marathon QSO Party
that began on the 1st of January and runs through to the 31st of
December. See QRZ.com for details.

Harald DF2WO will return to Rwanda as 9X2AW and be on the air from the
27th of January through to the 15th of February. Listen for him
operating holiday style on 10 through 160 metres. He will also be
making contacts VIA the QO-100 satellite. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

Listen for Singapore radio amateurs callsigns featuring the special
prefix "S60" in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Singapore
becoming an independent republic. Members of the Singapore Amateur
Radio Transmitting Society are using the special prefix instead of the
standard 9V1 prefix through the 9th of August, which is the actual
anniversary date.

The Czech DXpedition Group will be using the callsign C8K from
Mozambique from the 17th of January through to the 2nd of February.
Find them on 160 through 6 metres and via the QO-100 satellite. They
will be using CW, SSB, FT8 and RTTY. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: WINNING NEWSLINE HAIKU CELEBRATES LIFE-SAVING RADIO

JIM/ANCHOR: Newsline marked 2024 as its second year of the Ham Radio
Haiku Challenge. We've been impressed with what our listeners have come
up with. Kevin Trotman N5PRE is here to tell us about this year's
winner whose haiku was featured earlier this year on our website. He
will share it now to close out this week's newscast.

KEVIN: The haiku submitted by Ray Chiste, KB2ZOB, of Cream Ridge, New
Jersey, was featured on our website on the 18th of October. The haiku
addresses the life-saving role ham radio often plays. Here's what
hewrote:

Muddy nighttime search Head lamped men with radios Finally rescued

We congratulate Ray for his winning haiku and encourage our listeners
anywhere in the world to submit their own creations at the website,
following traditional haiku form. Visit arnewsline.org and look for the
"Ham Radio Haiku" link at the right-hand end of the title bar. We look
forward to another year of you exercising your poetic license as well
as your ham radio license.

This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to the Amateur Radio Daily; AMSAT News
Service; British Railways Amateur Radio Society; Cape Gazette; CQ DX
Marathon; David Behar K7DB; Deutsches Museum; Forbes.com; 425DXNews; DXConvention.com; Handiham; NASA; QRZ.com; RadioWorld.com;
shortwaveradio.de; 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
Jim Damron N8TMW in Charleston West Virginia saying 73. As always we
thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2025.
All rights reserved.

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