From Newsgroup: rec.radio.amateur.misc

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2506 for Friday, November 7th, 2025
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2506 with a release date of
Friday, November 7th, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. The FCC considers a request for satellite
delivery of after-hour sunlight. Australia begins a sweeping review of
their amateur band plans -- and remembering a priest who pioneered
wireless transmission at the turn of the century. All this and more as
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2506 comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**
PROPOSED SATELLITE WOULD PROVIDE 'SUNLIGHT ON DEMAND'

PAUL/ANCHOR: Our top story sheds some light on a satellite company's
plan to shed some light - some real reflected light from the sun - back
to the earth after twilight to benefit solar power users. Kent Peterson
KC0DGY gives us the details.

KENT: The FCC's Space Bureau has been asked to approve a proposed
launch next April for a satellite in non-geostationary orbit that will
deploy mirrors to provide "sunlight on demand," according to the
company's website.

Reflect Orbital, a startup company based in California, filed its
application this past summer for a license for what it hopes will be
the first of 4,000 mirrored satellites that it wants to place in
low-Earth orbit by 2030. The April launch is being eyed for a
demonstration satellite which will carry a mirror that measures
18-by-18 meters, or 60-by-60 feet. Sunlight's reflection by that
envisioned constellation would extend daylight beyond twilight by as
much as four hours, increasing solar-power production to locations
where Reflect Global has customers.

The company says that its technology supports clean-energy generation
-but astronomers, biologists and other scientists have raised questions
about the prospect of light pollution on human and animal health and
the ability to study the skies effectively.

Astronomers in particular have said that lighting up dark skies would
impede their work, which uses sensitive cameras. According to published reports, Reflect Orbital recently began working with astronomers to
minimize the mirrors' impact. on them. Meanwhile, scientists have
observed how nocturnal species' lives can be disrupted and perhaps
imperiled by artificial light during the night.

This past May, the US Air Force awarded the project a $1.25 million
Small Business Innovation Research contract to support its progress.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

(LOS ANGELES TIMES, SPACE.COM, AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY)

**
AUSTRALIAN BAND PLAN GETS SWEEPING REVIEW

PAUL/ANCHOR: The last major changes to Australia's national band plan
were put in place nearly a decade ago, prompting the Wireless Institute
of Australia to launch a sweeping review of everything, proposing
changes across almost all bands. Graham Kemp VK4BB explains this
ambitious undertaking.

GRAHAM: Regulatory changes and shifts in on-air activity are two of the
major drivers behind a wide-ranging overhaul being considered for
Australia's ham bands. The WIA's Technical Advisory Committee opened a community consultation on the 17th of October and is expecting hams who
have made requests over the years to formally weigh in on these
proposals until the deadline on the 12th of December.

The proposed changes accommodate growth in the use of new modes and new
areas of interest, particularly those involving the use of digital
technology. They include revising ATV segments based on widespread
adoption of Digital ATV modes; a review of repeater sub-bands
considering the growth of digital voice hotspots on 2m and 70cm. Band
plan data for the Microwave bands between 24 and 134 GHz are also being reviewed.

On HF, the proposal will try to achieve better alignment of band plans, including 630 metres and 160 metres.

A comprehensive list can be found at the link in the text version of
this week's newscast at arnewsline.org The WIA is seeking responses
only from licenced hams and clubs based in Australia. Revisions are
expected to be published by the end of the first quarter of next year.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

[DO NOT READ: https://tinyurl.com/489ecv44 ]

(WIA)

**
SILENT KEY: ORIGINAL SOTA ENTHUSIAST, ROBERT JOHN HANNAN, G4RQJ

PAUL/ANCHOR: He was there in the UK at the inception of Summits on the
Air -- and now he is a Silent Key, leaving many SOTA ops around the
world mourning his death. We learn more about him from Jeremy
BootG4NJH.

JEREMY: Robert John Hannan, G4RQJ, was not just one of the best-known
and longest-serving members of the SOTA community but perhaps one of
its best loved. He was there in 2002 when SOTA was a dream realised by
so many outdoor enthusiasts who believed that combining radio with a
bit of adventure would be a peak experience in every sense of the word.

Rob became a Silent Key on the 25th of September in the Risedale St
Cuthberts Nursing Home. His death was reported recently on the SOTA
Reflector.

Even as poor health began to hamper his activities, Rob's enthusiasm
remained strong. His final activation, made in 2018, was number 916.
Even away from the summits, his was a particularly familiar face at the
annual Norbreck Rally in Blackpool, where accompanied by his wife
Audrey, he staffed the SOTA stand and greeted visitors warmly.

The SOTA Reflector post noted that his cheerful and caring demeanor was
as present on the air as off the air. The post said: [quote] "Whether answering your call as a chaser or in summit-to-summit QSO, he always
sounded as though he was having the time of his life and was absolutely delighted to hear from you." [endquote]

Rob was 84.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(SOTA REFLECTOR, LITTLE & CAINE FUNERAL DIRECTORS)

**
SILENT KEY: QUICKSILVER RADIO PRODUCTS' JOHN BARTSCHERER, N1GNV

PAUL/ANCHOR: Here in the US, a well-regarded businessman who served the
amateur radio community - and was a friendly and familiar face at many
hamfests - has become a Silent Key. Jim Damron N8TMW shares his story.

JIM: Many customers in the amateur radio community knew him simply as
"John Bee," but John Bartscherer (Bart Shearer), N1GNV, was also known
for his Connecticut-based business, Quicksilver Radio Products, and his personable demeanor. He was a visible presence at hamfests and
activities with the Meriden Amateur Radio Club. Before starting
Quicksilver more than 20 years ago, John had been the advertising
manager for the ARRL's publication, QST. Licensed in 1989, John and his
club also ran the Nutmeg Ham Fest, the New England ARRL State
Convention in Hartford.

John became a Silent Key on Saturday the 25th of October while
hospitalized.

His longtime friend and part-time employee, Peter Freiler (Fry-Lurr),
W1AIR, told Newsline that the business remains open while the family
copes with its grief. He said that Quicksilver's longterm plans were
unclear.

Peter said that John found great joy in meeting with fellow amateurs at
Dayton and at New England's regional NEAR-Fest, which he particularly
loved attending. He said that he often spent more time just chatting
with visitors than trying to sell them anything --which, given his
friendly nature, was not surprising.

This is Jim Damron N8TMW.

(QRZ.COM, PETER FREILER, W1AIR)

**
2 RECEIVE YASME EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR WORK WITH YOUNG HAMS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Two amateurs involved in separate activities designed to
develop the next generation of hams have been selected to receive the
Yasme Excellence Award. We learn more about them and their work from
Jen De Salvo W9TJX.

JEN: Two US amateurs have been recognized by the Yasme Foundation for
their ongoing contributions to young amateur radio operators in helping
them develop technical and operating skills.

Ed Engleman, KG8CX, is being honored for his work with the YACHT
program, which serves young amateurs. YACHT is an acronym for the Young Amateurs Communications Ham Team, which connects young radio operators
around the world to form friendships and share their experiences.

Don Jones, K6ZO has been recognized for his ongoing work training and supporting young operators in rural Malawi. One of the teenage
operators from Don's training sessions was recently added to the team
of DXpeditioners who are going to Andaman and Nicobar islands in the
Bay of Bengal next year.

Both hams will receive the Yasme Excellence Award, which was
established in 2008 by the foundation. The announcement was made on the
30th of October.

In the same announcement, the foundation's board of directors said that
Yasme has also made a grant to support the RM Noise project, which
employs artificial intelligence to remove noise from SSB and CW
reception.

This is Jen DeSalvo W9TJX.

(YASME FOUNDATION)

**
r-?BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the
Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world,
including the linked N6USO and K6TEM repeaters in Southern California
on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. local time.

**
ISS MARKS 25 YEARS with SSTV TRANSMISSIONS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Get ready for a celebration in the sky: Amateur Radio on
the International Space Station is marking its 25th year by
transmitting 12 different images on SSTV from November 12th through to
the 20th. The images, which will honor Scouting, are to be sent on
145.800 MHz every two minutes. There will be a scheduled interruption
on the 16th of November for an educational contact with Azerbaijan.

(AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)

**

MOUNTAIN RADIO CHALLENGE TESTS SKILLS, PROPAGATION

PAUL/ANCHOR: In Australia, CB radio enthusiasts and hams are taking to
the mountains for an annual challenge, as Jason Daniels VK2LAW tellsus.

JASON: What started as an experiment between two teenagers in Australia
testing the range of their walkie-talkies later grew into a test of CB
radios' range in young drivers' cars. The activity, which began
formally in 1987, is known as the Mountain Radio Challenge and it is a
test of what a radio operator can accomplish using only line-of-sight communications.

This year's challenge is taking place on Saturday the 29th of November.
Instead of school kids on beaches, this growing challenge attracts CB
radio operators on 27 MHz and amateur radio operators on the ham
frequencies, many of whom are also activating SOTA summits.

Tony Lock, the founder and event director, told Newsline in an email
that the very challenge that began long ago between him and a
schoolmate has since expanded to several groups on hills within his
home state of Victoria and has expanded to Tasmania, South Australia
and New South Wales.

The objective is to transmit a predetermined relay message in one
direction, from one operator to the next, and a responding message back
in the reverse direction.

According to the event website, although ham radio operators will not
be participating in the message relay itself, their presence on the
mountains is still useful because the hams can help with operator
coordination and, of course, if there is a need for emergency
communications.

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

[DO NOT READ: https://mountainradiochallenge.weebly.com/ ]

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(MOUNTAIN RADIO CHALLENGE WEBSITE, TONY LOCK)

**

SILENT KEY'S GIFT ENDOWS LIBRARY DEAN CHAIR AT ALMA MATER

PAUL/ANCHOR: The estate of a Silent Key in the US has endowed the
creation of high-ranking position at his alma mater in the state of
Iowa. We learn more about him from Andy Morrison K9AWM.

ANDY: A native of Iowa, Gary Swenson, KA2HAN, served in the US Army for
30 years before retiring as a colonel in 2005. Before entering the
military, he had earned his master's and doctoral degrees in economics
from Iowa State University.

His lifelong love of learning and reading carried through into his
amateur radio career -- and now prominently into his legacy. Gary
became a Silent Key this past June unexpectedly when he had a heart
attack at the age of 75. His estate is funding the establishment of a
Dean of Library Services on the university campus. The library is a
cornerstone of the university, with more than 2.3 million physical
items in its collections and another 2 million e-books as well as
access to online publications in various disciplines. According to the university website, more than 1.5 million downloads of the campus'
scholarship and research projects are completed each year from its
digital repository

The library services' inaugural dean, Hilary Seo, said the gift would
[quote] "benefit future generations of students well into our next
century of service." [endquote] That educational mission is consistent
with much of what Gary did after retiring from the military: he tutored
at a community action center near his home in the state of Virginia and
was active with the Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(THE STORM LAKE TIMES-PILOT, IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY)

**


WORLD OF DX

Arnold, DK1VK will be active as OZ0ROM from Romo Island, IOTA Number
EU-125, on the 8th through to the 14th of November and again on the
21st through to the 28th of November. He will also be on the air from
the 16th through to the 19th of November as LA/DK1VK from Utsira
Island, IOTA Number EU-055. During his activations from both locations
he will be using SSB on 80-10 metres and possibly 160m.

Listen for Aldir, PY1SAD, using the callsign 8R1TM from Guyana until
the 7th of December. He is using CW, SSB and digital modes on 160-6
metres.

The 5J4W DXpedition to Playa Blanca Island will be on the air starting
on the 12th of November. The island is IOTA number SA-084. Be listening
for them on CW, SSB and the digital modes on 80-10 metres until either
the 16th or 17th of November.

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

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: PRIEST'S OTHER FAITH WAS IN RADIO WAVES

PAUL/ANCHOR: We end our report this week by going back in time to the
turn of the century when a priest from Europe came to the US where he
became an early pioneer of wireless communication. Travis Lisk N3ILS
introduces us to him.

TRAVIS: Father Jozef Murgas, the scientist, painter and priest born in
what is now known as Slovakia, was a man of enduring curiosity and deep
faith. Ordained in 1888, he served the church in what was then the
Kingdom of Hungary until he answered a call to service in the United
States. In 1896, he arrived in the mining community of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, which has a strong Slovak population.

The priest, whose many studies included astronomy, botany and electrotechnology, held another cherished faith -- a strong belief in
his experiments in radiotelegraphy. Some historians say that his
development of a wireless transmission method known as "The Tone
Method," which he patented, paved the way for the development of Morse
Code. In 1905 he publicly tested it, successfully sending signals
between towers in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, about 20 miles, or 32
kilometers, away.

That historic transmission will be recreated on the 15th of November by
the Murgas Amateur Radio Club K3YTL at King's College and amateur radio
station W3USR at the University of Scranton. The event, organized in partnership with the Slovak Heritage Society of Northeastern
Pennsylvania, will be live streamed on YouTube and Facebook and will be available for viewing later on the club's YouTube Page.

The day will also mark the 50th anniversary of the club that honored
the pioneering priest by adopting his name as their own.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.


PAUL/ANCHOR: Find links to the 1 p.m. live stream in the text version
of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

[YouTube stream:
https://www.youtube.com/live/TelTcuvqsLo?si=HTw0yzriKZ7HlwCS]

[Facebook Stream: https://www.facebook.com/share/17uCDnDpAq/]


(MURGAS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, SLOVAK HERITAGE SOCIETY)

**
If you haven't sent in your ham radio haiku yet, what's been stopping
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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 Amateur News Daily; American Astronomical Society; AMSAT
News Service; Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO; David Behar; 425DX Bulletin; Iowa
State University; Little & Caine Funeral Directors; Los Angeles Times;
Mountain Radio Challenge; Murgas Amateur Radio Club; Peter Freiler,
W1AIR; QRZ.com; shortwaveradio.de; Slovak Heritage Society; SOTA
Reflector; Space.com; Storm Lake Times-Pilot; Wireless Institute of
Australia; Yasme Foundation; 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 Paul Braun WD9GCO in Valparaiso Indiana
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
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