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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2475 for Friday, April 4th, 2025 Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2475 with a release date of Friday, April
4th, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams respond as a deadly earthquake rocks
Thailand and Myanmar. In the US, Voice of America gets a reprieve --and
a Fram2 spacecraft astronaut enjoys a QSO with her former school. All
this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2475 comes your
way right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART

**
HAMS RESPOND AS DEADLY QUAKE ROCKS THAILAND, MYANMAR

NEIL/ANCHOR: We begin this week with a developing story. A 7.7
magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay, the second-largest city in
Myanmar, and rocked the region on Friday the 28th of March. Hams in
Thailand were among those who were called up to help with
communications, particularly amid the wreckage in Bangkok. Jason
Daniels VK2LAW has the latest.

JASON: As the death toll climbed in a number of countries, emergency communication took on paramount importance in the South Asian nations
hit by the earthquake. Its strength was felt in Bangkok, Thailand,
affecting that city's high-rise buildings. The search for survivors
continued beneath the wreckage of one prominent tower that had been
toppled while under construction in the city. Jakkree Hantongkom,
HS1FVL, emergency communications director of IARU Region 3, told IARU
Region 1's Greg Mossop, G0DUB, that members of the Radio Amateur
Society of Thailand have been assisting the government with emergency communications in the city and in the surrounding area utilising VHF.

The death toll in the region itself was climbing well into the
thousands as search and rescue efforts continued.

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(ABC.AU NEWS, JAKKREE HANTONGKOM, HS1FVL; GREG MOSSOP, G0DUB)

**
COURT HALTS WHITE HOUSE ACTION AGAINST VOICE OF AMERICA

NEIL/ANCHOR: We also begin this week with another developing story. Its
long run of disseminating news to overseas countries under restrictive
regimes may not be all over after all for the Voice of America. VOA has succeeded in its court challenge to the US government's decision to
dismantle the international news service. Workers at the VOA were among
a number of international news services within the US Agency for Global
Media who were told they were being taken off the air and put on
administrative leave.

Responding to a lawsuit by a group of VOA employees, a Manhattan
federal judge acted on March 28th to halt the order that originated
from the White House. The US District Court judge called the agency's
action "a classic case of arbitrary policymaking." Radio Free Asia,
another international news organization, is also seeking court action
to halt its shutdown.

Meanwhile, the news service Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was spared
its own announced shutdown after a different US District Court judge
ruled that the continued operation of these news services was in the
public interest. Funding has since been restored through the end of the
current federal fiscal year. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has been
on the air since the beginning of the Cold War.

(RADIO WORLD, ASSOCIATED PRESS)

**
SKYWARN YOUTH NET PREPARES NEXT GENERATION

NEIL/ANCHOR: Even as White House cuts to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration leave the agency's future operations in
question, the next generation of amateurs has been training well to
keep an eye on dangerous weather for the public. Randy Sly W4XJ has
that story for us.

"This is N0A, November Zero Alpha calling CQ CQ. Special Event Station
for severe weather awareness calling CQ"

RANDY: If you worked N0A during the last half of March, you were
talking with a member of the SKYWARN Youth Net, which meets weekly to
encourage severe weather monitoring by young hams across the United
States. As most hams who are active during severe weather are beginning
to age out, groups like this can help encourage a new generation of
SKYWARN supporters.

The net was founded in 2016 by Jim Sellers, N0UAM, who is now a silent
key, to encourage youth participation in reporting severe weather. Net
manager Caleb Sfair, KE0FOE, got his license in 2015 at age 11 and
joined the net two years later at the encouragement of his father,
George, KJ6TQ. Caleb told ARNewsline about the beginnings of the
SKYWARN Youth Net by Sellers.

CALEB: "He was the Deputy Director of SkyWarn in Southwest Missouri.
Simply put, he just wanted to have a simple check-in net that young
hams would run to give them a chance to practice passing traffic and to
try to encourage other youths to participate and then share and learn
about basic weather information."

RANDY: The SKYWARN Youth Net uses a system of linked repeaters from
various parts of the United States along with AllStarLink, Echolink,
DMR and Yaesu Fusion. Meeting on Sunday evenings at 7:30pm Central
time, the Net gives young hams an opportunity to share weather reports
and learn more about participating in severe weather activations.
Anyone, young or old, is invited to check in. For more information, you
can visit skywarnyouth.net.

This is Randy Sly, W4XJ.


**
SUCCESSFUL AMATEUR CONTACTS FOR FRAM2 SPACECRAFT

NEIL/ANCHOR: The first spacecraft to orbit the earth via the North and
South poles, the Fram2 has offered some unprecedented views of both
poles - and some high-flying ham radio transmissions, just as promised.
John Williams VK4JJW brings us up to date.

JOHN: Hours after the launch of the private Fram2 spacecraft from the
US on March 31st, astronaut Rabea [ROBBIA] Rogge [RAGGA], LB9NJ/KD3AID,
began the space team's scheduled transmissions of SSTV imagery, an
exercise conducted as part of a high school and university competition
for students. It was, however, a voice contact with the DK0TU amateur
radio club at the Technical University of Berlin that was among the
Fram2's earliest QSOs. The brief question-and-answer session from space
took place at the university where the German-born astronaut had been a
student herself once.

Much of the Fram2's ham radio activity was designed to be SSTV
transmissions from space, carrying the four astronauts' views of the
polar regions. They were transmitted in fragments, puzzle-style,
challenging students around the world to piece them together to form a
complete picture.

The Fram2 mission is named to honour the Norwegian-built ship, Fram,
that carried researchers on polar explorations in the late 19th and
early 20th centuries. This amateur contact -- and all transmissions
that were to follow - engaged in another form of exploration. In
anticipation of the decommissioning of the International Space Station
by 2030, hams have been in search of other possible sources for radio
contacts from space.

To hear the QSO between the astronaut and the students in Berlin, see
the link in the text version of this week's script at arnewsline.org

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

[DO NOT READ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmyXfmfhTJE ]


(YOUTUBE, AMATEUR NEWS WEEKLY)

**
SILENT KEY: LONGTIME PITTSBURGH-AREA DJ, RADIO HOST JIM QUINN, W3VEX

NEIL/ANCHOR: An amateur radio operator who gained a following in
western Pennsylvania as a DJ and later the host of conservative talk
radio, has become a Silent Key. We hear more about him Travis
Lisk,N3ILS.

TRAVIS: Jim Quinn, W3VEX got his start on the professional side of
radio at KQV-AM as a Top-40 DJ and later with the giant WTAE. In the
years that followed, his broadcast career delivered roles as a morning
DJ on other music stations during the rise of FM TOP 40 radio. Moving
later to WPGB-FM, Jim became cohost of a conservative radio talk show.
He was a well-known voice on the air, particularly among Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania listeners.

Jim became a Silent Key on Sunday, March 30th. No cause of death was immediately given.

In all, he had more than four decades in commercial radio, from
Pennsylvania to Cleveland to New York City and upstate Buffalo, New
York. His amateur radio career lasted even longer, according to his
page on QRZ.com. Jim was first licensed as a teenager while living in
his native New Jersey.

He was 82.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(RADIO INK, TRIB LIVE, FACEBOOK)

**
SILENT KEY: DAN CROUCH, KF7DC, MINGUS MOUNTAIN ROUNDTABLE MODERATOR

NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams in Arizona are grieving the loss of one of their own,
a well-regarded member of the Mingus Mountain Repeater Group. We hear
more about him from Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

RALPH: It took very little time for Dan Crouch, KF7DC, to find a home
with the Mingus Mountain Repeater Group in Arizona. Not long after he
got his license in 2012, he found his way there and soon became part of
the Mingus Mountain Round Table. He served as a moderator of the
roundtable for many years..

Dan became a Silent Key during the weekend of March 15th.

He was a fulltime minister for more than 50 years, serving for 20 years
at the Fountain of Life Community Church in Prescott Valley.

In announcing his death on Facebook, Patrick Brower, N7ATG, vice
president of the Mingus Mountain Repeater Group, recalled the prayers
and strength Dan was able to provide for others, especially when
members of the ham radio community or their families experienced aloss.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(PATRICK BROWER, N7ATG)

**

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.


**
NOMINATE NEXT YEAR'S YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR

NEIL/ANCHOR: Each year, the Amateur Radio Newsline Bill Pasternak
Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award receives nominations of promising
young hams who truly impress our judges. It is time once again to give
them an opportunity at the recognition they deserve. Consider
nominating an amateur radio operator 18 years of age or younger here in
the continental United States -- someone who has talent, promise and a commitment to the spirit of ham radio. Do you know someone who might
qualify to receive this year's honor? Find application forms on our
website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab. Nominations are now open.
We are accepting nominations through May 31st.

**
ANTARCTIC RESEARCH BEACON GOES SILENT AFTER 46 YEARS

NEIL/ANCHOR: The Antarctic beacon, VP8ADE, has gone silent after 46
years. Graham Kemp VK4BB gives us those details.

GRAHAM: There are no more signals from VP8ADE from Adelaide Island, the ice-covered island off the Antarctic peninsula's west coast. The last
day on the air for the 28-MHz low-power research beacon was the 21st of February. It was put into service in the summer of 1979 at the British Antarctic survey base of Rothera. Its tour of duty was originally
supposed to have lasted only 3 years as one part of a research
programme, according to Laurence Howell KL7L, who was the base radio
operator at the time. The beacon's collection of critical data on
global ionospheric propagation at the F2 layer proved so invaluable
that it continued operating for another four decades. The beacon shared
a small wooden hut with a 1950-era aircraft navigation beacon and with
research equipment used for ionospheric D-layer scintillation research
used by students of ionospheric researcher Dr. Roy Piggott. VP8ADE was
proposed by the Radio Society of Great Britain. It was coordinated with
the British Antarctic Survey and the Falkland Island radio regulator.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(LAURENCE HOWELL, KL7L)

**
IOTA SEEKS VOLUNTEER TO SERVE AS CHECKPOINT FOR BRAZIL

NEIL/ANCHOR: There's a vacancy to be filled in the popular Islands on
the Air program and hams who are knowledgeable about IOTA are being
encouraged to apply for the volunteer position. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells
us more.

JEREMY: The Islands on the Air awards scheme is in need of an
experienced amateur who can serve in the voluntary position of
checkpoint for Brazil, a post filled since 2009 by Luciáno Sampaio de
Souza, PT7WA.

However he has recently informed the board that he now needs to step
down. The ham who fills this post must demonstrate knowledge of the
IOTA programme and rules, have good English proficiency, and possess
the ability to process online applications.

Interested applicants should send details of the skills they would
bring to the task. Email Roger Balister, G3KMA, at the address that
appears in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

Applications are due no later than the 21st of April.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

[DO NOT READ: g3kma@outlook.com ]

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
NOMINATION DEADLINE NEARS FOR CQ AMATEUR RADIO HALL OF FAME

NEIL/ANCHOR: The names included in the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame
represent the best of the best that ham radio has had to offer through
the years. Originated by CQ magazine, the Hall of Fame is now overseen
by Hamgallery which selects amateurs with impressive personal operating
records as well as achievements that have enhanced the lives and
experiences of their fellow amateur radio operators.

Inductees may be living or Silent Keys and they are chosen via
nomination. The nominating window is drawing to a close. You have until
the 15th of April to submit the names of your nominees to Tom Roscoe,
K8CX using email address K8CX at ham gallery dot com. That's k8cx at
ham gallery - that's one word - dot com (k8cx@hamgallery.com)

Notifications will be sent out by the 30th of April as to whether the nomination was accepted or not.

See the website hamgallery dot com (hamgallery.com) for more details.

(AMATEUR RADIO DAILY, CQ AMATEUR RADIO HALL OF FAME)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, Flavio, IW2NEF, is operating holiday style as 8Q7EF
from the Maldives, IOTA number AS-013, until the 10th of April. He is
using digital modes and SSB on 40-6 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL
details.

Koji, JI1LET [Jay Eye One Ell EE Tee] and Takeshi, JA1UII [Jay Aye One
You Eye Eye] will be on the air as JD1BOI [Jay Dee One Bee Oh Eye] and
JD1BON [Jay Dee One Bee Oh En], respectively, from Chichijima [CHEE
CHEE JEE MUH], IOTA number AS-031, and Ogasawara from the 8th through
to the 17th of April. They will be using CW, SSB and FT8/FT4 on 160-6
metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

The Amateur Radio Society of Moldova is using the callsign ER100IARU to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the IARU and can be heard on the air
through to the 30th of April See QRZ.com for QSL details. Jim, K6EI,
and Scott, KK6IK, are on the air as FJ/K6EI and FJ/KK6IK from St.
Barthelmy, IOTA number NA-146, until the 12th of April. They will be
using CW, FT8 and FT4 on 80-6 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

Amateur Radio Newsline's own Ed Durrant DD5LP will be active as
5B/VK2JI/P from Cyprus, IOTA Number AS-004, holiday style, between
April 6th and 20th. He plans to activate HEMA (Pron: Heee Ma), POTA and
SOTA sites with even the chance of a BOTA (Beaches on the air)
activation. Ed will be using 20 watts of power, SSB, on 40 through 10
metres but expects contacts into Europe, North America and Oceania.
Watch each of the scheme's spotting pages to see when Ed is on. If you
work Ed, let him know that you are an AR Newsline listener.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: COMMUNITY'S FONDNESS FOR TOWER IS A TALL ORDER

NEIL/ANCHOR: Community protests against unwanted towers are often in
the news. In this week's final story, however, we visit a community in
the state of Maine that has been very sorry indeed to say goodbye to
one particular radio tower. Kent Peterson KC0DGY tells us why.

KENT: American science fiction writer Stephen King is author of, among
many things, the "Dark Tower" series of books. Now another tower that
used to be his - an AM radio tower more than 400 feet tall - has gone
dark. It was formerly used by WZON 620 AM in Maine, one of three of the region's radio stations that used to be owned by the writer. The tower
had stood since 1937 when it was first used by WLBZ, the radio
station's callsign in its earliest days.

Citing the financial struggles of three area radio stations he owned in
Maine, King announced last year they were going to end their run. WKIT,
known for its classic rock format, is still on the air, having been
saved at the last minute after being bought by a media partnership
known as the Rock Lobster Radio Group.

WZON-AM and WZLO-FM went silent on the 31st of December. However,
recent local news reports say that both stations will return under new ownership: A company called Mix Maine Media was buying them from King
along with an FM translator.

WZON's tower, however, still had to go. Local residents' affection for
this longtime familiar sight drew them out to the scene of the
demolition on Wednesday, March 26th. The prospect of the station's
return, however, did cheer them -- and so when WZON played its song
last December before turning off its transmitter, its words rang true,
but only for the tower.

The song was REM's "The End of the World As We Know It."

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

(WABI, FACEBOOK, INSIDE RADIO, ASSOCIATED PRESS)

**
Have you sent in your amateur radio haiku to Newsline's haiku challenge
yet? It's as easy as writing a QSL card. Set your thoughts down using traditional haiku format - a three-line verse with five syllables in
the first line, seven in the second and five in the third. Submit your
work on our website at arnewsline.org - each week's winner gets a
shout-out on our website, where everyone can find the winning haiku.

NEWSCAST CLOSE: With thanks to ABC.AU News; Amateur News Daily;
Associated Press; David Behar, K7DB; Facebook; 425 DX Bulletin; Greg
Mossop, G0DUB; Inside Radio; Jakkree Hantongkom, HS1FVL; Laurence
Howell, KL7L; Patrick Brower, N7ATG; QRZ.com; Radio Amateur Society of Thailand; Radio Ink; Radio World; shortwaveradio.de; Space.com;
TribLive; WABI; 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 Neil Rapp WB9VPG in Union Kentucky saying
73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.

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