• Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2478 for Friday, April 25th, 2025

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    Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2478 for Friday, April 25th, 2025 Amateur
    Radio Newsline Report Number 2478 with a release date of Friday, April
    25th, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1

    The following is a QST. The IARU has proposed restructuring. The
    Fram2Ham contest announces its winners -- and hams go to bat for
    endangered bats. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report
    Number 2478 comes your way right now.

    **
    BILLBOARD CART

    **
    INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR RADIO UNION EYES RESTRUCTURING

    PAUL/ANCHOR: Our top story is the International Amateur Radio Union
    which has just marked the 100th anniversary of its founding in Paris.
    It's using the occasion to look within - and to consider a way it can
    be restructured. The IARU's administrative council has released a
    consultation containing an overview and a number of proposals. Region
    2, which covers North, Central and South America, will be hosting two informational meetings on the Zoom platform where Region 2 societies
    can discuss the document, ask questions or recommend changes.

    One Zoom session will be conducted in SPANISH on Monday, May 5, 2025 at
    2359 UTC moderated by Ramón Santoyo XE1KK, former Region 2 president,
    Region 2 president, George Gorsline VE3YV, will moderate a session on Wednesday, May 7th in English at 2359 UTC.

    Links to both meetings can be found in the text version of this week's
    newscast at arnewsline.org You will also find a link to the homepage of
    IARU Region 2 where you can download the document in PDF format.

    SPANISH LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82609444630?pwd=i1NEHoR1VqfylfbKFpGDUmfYD88mV
    S.1

    ENGLISH LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86183716447?pwd=7fr0dZEkI2j9n64paDMKwy7Xc7DGn
    O.1

    IARU REGION 2: https://www.iaru-r2.org/en/consultation-on-the-restructuring-of-iaru/

    (IARU REGION 2)

    **
    HAMS ACTIVATE IRAN'S FIRST SPECIAL EVENT STATION FOR IARU

    PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, as special event stations around the world
    marked the 100th year of the IARU, there was a new voice calling CQ
    this year for the occasion. We have those details from John Williams
    VK4JJW.

    JOHN: If you happened to hear the callsign EP100IARU on April 18th and
    you got in the log, you are among the more than 500 contacts made by
    eight amateur radio operators in Iran using CW, SSB and FT8. This was
    the first activation in celebration of the IARU's anniversary organised
    by the Naghsh e Jahan Radio-Amateur Society. World Amateur Radio Day
    marks the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union in 1925
    inParis.

    In Iran, the special event station coordinator, Amir, EP3ISF [E P THREE
    EYE S F], told Newsline that the group's participation marked a
    "significant milestone" for everyone. Meanwhile, be patient: He said
    that QSL cards are being mailed directly.

    This is John Williams VK4JJW.

    (AMIR EP3ISF)

    **
    PANCREATIC CANCER SPECIAL EVENT HONORS ITS FOUNDER'S MEMORY

    PAUL/ANCHOR: In Pennsylvania, radio ops activating a special event
    callsign are feeling the absence of the ham with whom it all began. We
    hear more from Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

    KEVIN: This is the first year that special event station N3P is going
    on the air without Rich Ryba [pron: REE-BAH] WQ3Q. Rich conceived of
    the event three years ago to call attention to the work of the
    Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, or PanCAN, an organization that
    serves patients and families of patients suffering from pancreatic
    cancer.

    Rich had lost his younger brother, Tom, to the disease years earlier
    and became a Silent Key from it himself last year. Bill Samek, W3BUW,
    said that he knew it was time for the Skyview Amateur Radio Society,
    the club Rich had belonged to, to fulfill the mission for him this
    year. Operators are putting N3P on the air on 25th, 26th and 27th of
    April, coordinated as always to the Purple Stride Walk benefit that
    takes place on Saturday, April 26th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - one
    of several such walk-a-thons around the nation.

    Yes, there will be QSL cards but these are not typical QSOs. As Rich
    himself told Newsline in an interview in 2023: [quote] "People want to
    talk, want to share their experiences with their family. We told our
    operators to sit and listen. It doesn't matter how long the contact
    takes if it serves a purpose of helping." [Endquote]

    This is Kevin Trotman, N5PRE.

    (BILL SAMEK, W3BUW)

    **
    WRTC BIDDING DEADLINE FOR SPONSORED TEAMS IS APRIL 30TH

    PAUL/ANCHOR: The World Radiosport Team Championship is one year away
    and yes, you too can qualify to compete - for a price. Jeremy Boot
    G4NJH explains how.

    JEREMY: If you're interested in competing in the World Radiosport Team Championship in the UK in 2026, you have until the 30th of April to
    submit your sealed bid in US currency. Two sponsored team positions are available. The two highest bidders will be selected for WRTC2026 after
    an auction of two rounds. The minimum bid is 20,000 US dollars.

    Sponsored teams have participated in previous WRTC events and differ
    from qualifying teams in that they purchase their place in the
    competition.WRTC organisers consider this arrangement provides a
    valuable contribution to the event's budget. All teams are bound by the
    same operational rules.

    Bidders will be notified by the 6th of May as to their standing in the
    first round and will become eligible to submit their final bid no later
    than the 31st of May.

    For more details about the process, see the link in the text version of
    this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

    This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

    [DO NOT READ:
    https://www.wrtc2026.org/selection-criteria/sponsored-teams/ ]

    (WRTC)

    **
    REGISTRATION OPENS FOR HAM RADIO BOOTCAMP

    JIM/ANCHOR: An amateur radio society in New Hampshire has a message for
    radio amateurs regardless of whether they are Technician, General or
    Extra class: If you want to get on the air more, start by getting
    online -- especially on one particular day next month. Patrick Clark
    K8TAC explains.

    PATRICK: On the 10th of May, the Nashua Area Radio Society is hosting
    its free Ham Bootcamp on the Zoom platform from 10 am to 6 pm Eastern
    Time. Demonstrations and tutorials will cover emergency communications, satellite operations, FT 8 and equipment for VHF/UHF operating.

    Hams will also learn how to build a station so they can get on the air.
    In fact, one of the main purposes of the bootcamp is to help hams
    overcome many of the most common obstacles that keep them off the air -everything from how to select the right HT to participating in
    foxhunting or contesting.

    For more details, visit the link in the text version of this week's
    newscast at arnewsline.org

    [DO NOT READ: https://www.n1fd.org/ham-bootcamp/ ]

    (QRZ.COM, AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)

    **
    HAM RADIO FRIEDRICHSHAFEN SELECTS "REMOTE" THEME

    PAUL/ANCHOR: If you are planning to attend Ham Radio in Friedrichshafen
    this June, you'll be asked to consider some remote possibilities. In
    this case "remote" refers to "remote radio," which is the theme of the international amateur radio exhibition this year. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has
    those details.

    JEREMY: The weekend of June 27th will be devoted to the usual in-person contacts between old friends, with plenty of workshops, seminars and new-product displays in the mix of activities. The motto for this
    year's exhibition in Germany, however, is all about NOT being there.
    The theme of "Remote Radio - Connecting the World" focuses on how radio operators are no longer required to be in the same place as their
    equipment in order to transmit successfully. This kind of remote
    operation has already been demonstrated in a number of high-profile
    DXpeditions using the Radio-in-a-Box. These stations are controlled
    remotely over the Internet, opening up more opportunities for those who
    wish to experiment and allowing DXpeditions to take place in
    environmentally sensitive areas where human presence is forbidden or restricted.

    Last year's event attracted more than 11,300 attendees from 58 nations.
    For full details about the programme and accommodation for Europe's
    largest ham radio trade fair, see the link in the text version of this
    week's newscast at arnewsline.org

    I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

    [DO NOT READ: https://www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.com/ ]

    (HAM RADIO FRIEDRICHSHAFEN)

    **

    NOMINATE OUR NEXT YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR

    PAUL/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. Consider someone who has talent, promise
    and a commitment to the spirit of ham radio. Find application forms on
    our website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab. We are accepting
    nominations through May 31st.

    **

    BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
    Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
    the AH6LE repeater in Clackamas County Oregon on Sundays at 6 p.m.
    local time.


    **
    HAMS GO WITH THE FLOW FOR "CANOE CHALLENGE" FUNDRAISER

    PAUL/ANCHOR: Hams in Pennsylvania will be on the riverfront following
    the progress of canoes for a special charity challenge, as we hear from
    Travis Lisk N3ILS.

    TRAVIS: The Northbrook Canoe Challenge taking place on May 3rd on Pennsylvania's Brandywine River is actually three challenges in one.
    The first challenge is to help support the Cerebral Palsy Association
    of Chester County. The second is for the boaters to enjoy navigating
    the at-times challenging 9.5 miles of waterway, taking special care
    around a dam that they encounter midway through the course.

    The third challenge is the one that will be facing amateur radio
    operators from the Chester County ARES/RACES group - to help ensure
    everyone's safety. The hams have provided communications for this
    charitable event for 23 of its 47 years. Like oars guiding the canoes
    through the challenging waters, the radio operators are guided by a net
    control station as they check in with real-time reports throughout the
    two-hour challenge using a system of four linked UHF repeaters with
    simplex backup.

    While the hams pass traffic from the shore, the Chester County Dive
    Team keeps closer watch from the water itself. Jim Harris, WA3NOA, the
    hams' technical lead and coordinator, is in touch with the head of the
    dive team, who communicates with him and the divers using the county's
    extra rugged handheld P25 radios.

    Jim told Newsline that it's not over until the final canoe - piloted by
    someone from the canoe company itself - comes by. Then everyone can be
    certain that no one has been left behind. He said that canoeing is
    popular in the county -- and on May 3rd, canoeing to raise funds is
    certain to keep the local Cerebral Palsy Association buoyant too.

    This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

    (JIM HARRIS, WA3NOA)

    **
    SOUTH AFRICAN HAMS FOSTER RADIO'S GROWTH IN SUB-SAHARA

    JIM/ANCHOR: As it marks the completion of its first 100 years, the
    South African Radio League has set an ambitious goal for itself - one
    that takes its efforts beyond South Africa. We hear more from Jim
    Meachen ZL2BHF.

    JIM M: With age comes wisdom - or so it's said - so as it prepares to
    mark its centenary in May, the South African Radio League has decided
    that it would be an especially wise move to nurture amateur radio's
    growth throughout sub-Saharan Africa. SARL president Nico van Rensburg,
    ZS6QL, told the website TechCentral that amateur radio is almost
    nonexistent outside of Egypt and Nigeria in the northern part of the
    continent and Namibia and South Africa in the south.

    He said [quote] : "You have this middle part of Africa where there is
    nothing, absolutely nothing." [endquote]

    Finding a foothold for amateur radio in less-developed parts of the
    continent will be an ambitious agenda and SARL acknowledges that this
    kind of expansion will need political and financial support. SARL's
    Chris Turner ZS6GM, who has been active in amateur radio instruction
    and mentoring, has already had success with efforts in Mozambique. In
    that nation, ham radio operators are seen as an asset, especially when
    floods or other natural disasters require emergency communications.

    SARL has already kicked off its next 100 years with a Centenary
    Marathon QSO Party that began on the 1st of January and will continue
    through to the 31st of December. Special event callsigns will include ZS100SARL.

    This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

    (TECH CENTRAL CO, DX WORLD.NET)

    **
    ASTRONAUT ANNOUNCES FRAM2HAM SSTV CONTEST WINNERS

    PAUL/ANCHOR: Congratulations to the three highest-scoring student teams
    in the Fram2Ham SSTV competition. We hear about the winners from Andy
    Morrison K9AWM.

    ANDY: The Fram2Ham SSTV competition was all about the
    successfulreception of a number of different SSTV images that
    astronauts sent from the SpaceX capsule in early April during the Fram2 mission. The transmissions were sent over 2-metres, puzzle-style, by
    astronaut Rabea Rogge, LB9NJ/KD3AID as the 3-day mission undertook the
    first human spaceflight to orbit the planet over the North and South
    poles. When pieced together, the images formed a complete picture.

    First-place winner was the Team ARISStocats with students in Lithuania,
    Italy, Switzerland and here in the US, California and Pennsylvania.
    Second place was awarded to Team W1HLO-LA1K!, comprising students in
    Norway, Germany and, here in the US, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
    Finally, third-place winner was the team known as GuufyFram! ["GOOFY
    FRAM"] with students from France, Greece and, here in the US,
    Pennsylvania, Kentucky and New York.

    The astronaut said, in a statement: [quote] "Well done everyone - we
    loved to see that all the teams were very international. My hope is
    that some friendships have formed, the passion for technology has been
    kindled and that most of all everyone had fun." [endquote]

    This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

    (AMSAT-UK)

    **
    WORLD OF DX

    In the World of DX, the Guernsey Amateur Radio Society will operate
    special event station GU 80 LIB from the 9th through to the 11th of
    May to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Channel
    Islands at the end of World War II. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

    The Radio Club Pierre Coulon, F5KMB, continues with its celebration of
    the centenary of the International Amateur Radio Union. Club members
    are activating four callsigns: TM100I [T M ONE HUNDRED EYE], TM100A,
    TM100R and TM100U. which will be on the air through to the 13th of
    July. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

    David, M0YBC will be active as MD0YBC from the Isle of Man., IOTA
    number EU-116, from the 25th through to the 28th of April and again
    from the 1st through to the 4th of August. David plans to operate from
    eight POTA locations on the island. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

    The Japan Amateur Radio League will has a special event station on the
    air until the 13th of October at the premises of the 2025 Expo in
    Osaka-city. Listen for the callsign 8K3EXPO. See QRZ.com for QSL
    details.

    (425 DX BULLETIN)

    **
    KICKER: HAMS GO TO BAT FOR VANISHING BATS

    PAUL/ANCHOR: For our final story, we look at bats -- flying mammals
    known for the biological sonar transmissions used for echolocation to
    help them navigate and find food. Well, meet some bats in northern New
    York State who recently began transmitting on VHF too - and meet the
    hams who are tuning in to copy them. Kent Peterson KC0DGY has
    thatstory.

    KENT: Tricolored bats are tiny -- but the transmitters they are wearing
    so conservationists can track them, are even smaller. Ashley Meyer from
    the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is tracking
    the bats because of the appearance of an invasive fungal disease known
    as White Nose Syndrome. White Nose Syndrome has caused the bats'
    population to decline by 98 percent, making them candidates for the
    endangered species listing.

    That's why some hams in the Adirondack [ADDA-RON-DACK] Mountains are
    going to bat - for the bats. The state sent out a request to ham clubs
    asking for help in tracking the bats' signals being transmitted in 1
    kHz steps between 150 and 151 MHz. Ashley said the Champlain
    [SHAM-PLANE] Valley Amateur Radio Club responded. Club president Mark
    KD2RJP said that a dozen or so hams will be participating. Their job,
    according to Ashley, is to track where the bats spend the summer and
    record the distance they migrate.

    Ashley said the bat tracking squad will also include agency staffers
    and bat specialists using ground telemetry. Ashley herself will be
    tracking bats from a plane during the night of the bats' release.

    Everyone is motivated and excited but remember - since the bats aren't transmitting on the amateur frequencies, don't expect any QSL cards.

    This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

    (425 DX BULLETIN, DX WORLD)

    **
    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 Amateur News Daily; AMSAT-UK; Amir
    EP3ISF; Bill Samek, W3BUW; David Behar K7DB; DX World; 425 DX Bulletin;
    Ham Radio Friedrichshafen; IARU Region 2; QRZ.com; shortwaveradio.de;
    Wireless Institute of Australia; World Radiosport Team Championship;
    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 2025. All
    rights reserved.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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