From Newsgroup: rec.radio.amateur.misc

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2509 for Friday, November 28th, 2025
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2509 with a release date of
Friday, November 28th, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. The US government and a radio operator agree on
his fine for unlicensed broadcasting. A foundation grant helps
Bangladesh hams continue their outreach on universities -- and the
FunCube, satellite AO-73, marks 12 years in space. All this and more as
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2509 comes your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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PIRATE RADIO BROADCASTER AGREES TO $7,200 PAYMENT

JIM/ANCHOR: Our top story this week takes us to Washington, D.C. The US
Federal Communications Commission has announced that the government
will be collecting a payment from an unlicensed radio operator in Massachusetts, settling an enforcement case from last year. We have
more from Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

KENT: The operator of a pirate radio station in Cape Cod,
Massachusetts, has agreed to pay $7,200 to the US Treasury as part of a
consent decree with the FCC. According to a recent report on the
RadioWorld website, the FCC said that the radio operator, Robert
Bellinger, had been broadcasting on 93.1 FM without a license. The
payment, which is part of his consent decree, was substantially reduced
from the agency's original proposed forfeiture of $40,000 which it
sought in 2024 in a notice of apparent liability. The RadioWorld report
said that Bellinger responded to the notice at the time and told the
FCC he was not able to pay the amount.

An FCC review of his finances resulted in an alternative solution -- a
consent decree in which Bellinger admitted to his illegal broadcasts
and a commitment to make the voluntary contribution specified.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

(RADIOWORLD)

**
PROBE INTO COLLISION BETWEEN AIRLINER, WEATHER BALLOON

JIM/ANCHOR: The nation's aviation investigation agency has been busy
looking into what led to a midair collision recently between a
commercial airliner and a high-altitude weather balloon. For those
details, we turn to Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

RALPH: In the US, the National Transportation Safety Board is
investigating the midair collision in late October between a United
Airlines flight and a lightweight weather balloon over Moab, Utah that
left the pilot injured and prompted an emergency landing in Salt
LakeCity.

According to a report on the KOMO TV News website, the Boeing 737 was
flying at 36,002 feet when it crossed paths with a high-altitude
balloon from WindBorne Systems of Palo Alto, California. News reports
said that the lightweight global sounding balloon was launched a day
earlier from Spokane, Washington. Global sounding balloons use
radiosondes to transmit atmospheric conditions and other data gathered
during their flights.

A statement on the WindBorne company website said that the incident was
the only midair impact in the company's record of more than 4,000
launches. Media reports said the captain's right arm suffered minor
cuts and some of the flight crew members were hit by glass from the
first officer's shattered windshield.

No cabin pressure was lost and the plane was landed safely without
further incident.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(KOMO TV NEWS, WINDBORNE SYSTEMS)

**
YASME GRANT BOOSTS BANGLADESH AMATEURS' CAMPUS OUTREACH

JIM/ANCHOR: The Amateur Radio Association of Bangladesh has been given
a grant from the Yasme Foundation to support its university-based
campaign that has been bringing amateur radio to the next generation.
Jim Meachen ZL2BHF has that story.

JIM: It's been a busy year for the Amateur Radio Association of
Bangladesh whose members have been touring 24 university campuses as
part of a formal programme to bring the science and the spirit of ham
radio to students. The initiative recently received a grant from the
Yasme Foundation to support the ongoing educational work. In July, the association spent time with students at the University of Liberal Arts
in Bangladesh, working in collaboration with the school's Adventure
Club. Other campus visits included the Canadian University of
Bangladesh and ZNRF University, where the students were able to
experience satellite communication. In October, Stamford University
Bangladesh welcomed the amateur club. With the help of the school's
Robotics Club and the IEEE [Eye Triple E] Student Branch, the amateurs presented a workshop that showcased fundamentals of RF, satellite
communication and disaster response.

The not-for-profit, California-based Yasme Foundation supports
initiatives that bring amateur radio to young people, especially in
developing nations, by providing grants, awards and scholarships.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(425 DX BULLETIN, YASME FOUNDATION, FACEBOOK)

**
FCC EYES REALLOCATION OF UPPER C-BAND

JIM/ANCHOR: In the US, yet another part of the radio spectrum is being
prepared for auction. Jack Parker W8ISH tells us what's next.

JACK: The Federal Communications Commission is exploring reallocation
of part of the upper C-band in the US. In a unanimous vote at its
November 20th meeting, the commission studied a draft version of a
Notice of Proposed rulemaking which will guide its actions going
forward. The FCC will be asking broadcasters and satellite users for
comment on a number of options for reallocating 4.0 through 4.2 GHZ
before it moves to the competitive-bidding stage no later than July
of2027.

The FCC will also be inviting comment from other users of the C-band
who may be using frequencies near the portion being eyed for
reallocation.

When the lower half of the C-band was reallocated five years ago, its
use was assigned for wireless services. Broadcasters' satellite
services were moved from there to the upper half of the band.

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(RADIOWORLD)

**
FUNCUBE, SATELLITE AO-73, MARKS 12 YEARS IN SPACE

JIM/ANCHOR: The FunCube CubeSat known as AO-73, is not quite a teenager
- but it's getting there. It just marked 12 years in space. Launched
from Russia in November of 2013, the small satellite carries a
full-time UHF to VHF linear transponder with an output of 300 mW PEP.
Hams have been making good use of the FunCube for both CW and SSB. Its
orbit takes it over the British Isles and Europe six times a day - with
three passes each in the morning and evening.

According to AMSAT News Service, more than 11,631,536 frames of
telemetry have been collected by ground stations - in many cases,
schools - since the satellite first went into service. Happy birthday,
FunCube!

(AMSAT NEWS, AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)

**
ENSURING DISABLED AMATEURS ARE NOT EXCLUDED IN THE UK

JIM/ANCHOR: Whether you're a new ham or someone who's been on the air
for quite some time, it's still nice to have an advocate. The Radio
Society of Great Britain is looking for a just that person - a
volunteer with a special devotion to helping radio operators with
disabilities. We hear more from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: Having a disability of any kind should not keep an amateur, or
a would-be amateur, off the air. Recognising this, the RSGB is seeking
someone to fill a new volunteer role as Accessibility Champion. The
best candidate will raise public awareness of challenges for radio
operators with disabilities while connecting those amateurs with
community groups, assistive technologies and other resources. The
RSGB's move comes just a few weeks after the IARU Region 1 announced an upcoming activity by its Program for Disabled Radio Amateurs.
Organisers have declared a region wide campaign on the 3rd of December
in connection with the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Hams have been encouraged to host a special event
station, an open house or a relevant educational forum.

Meanwhile, the RSGB is interested in hearing from candidates to fill
their post. A description of the role can be found on the Society
website, rsgb dot org (rsgb.org). The contact person is board director
Nathan Nuttall, 2M0OCC

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(RSGB)

**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the K0AMA repeater in Glenwood Springs, Colorado and the linked KD0NU
repeater in Aspen, Colorado on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. local time.

**
ARRL SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE APPROACHES

JIM/ANCHOR: The deadline to apply for an ARRL scholarship to be given
in 2026 is fast approaching. Applicants have until noon on
December30th.

The ARRL Foundation makes more than 150 scholarships available in
amounts ranging from $500 to $25,000. Recipients must be active,
FCC-licensed young radio operators.

Different scholarships have different criteria, however, and some
awards, such as the Amateur Radio Digital Communications scholarships,
are available to active licensed hams outside of the US.

There are also three 10-10 Scholarships available to all radio amateurs
who are not necessarily US citizens, residents nor holders of a US
license.

For descriptions of all the scholarships and an online application
form, visit the link the text version of this week's newscast at
arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: https://www.arrl.org/scholarship-program ]

(ARRL)

**
ANNUAL 'AM NIGHT' REKINDLES HISTORY FOR CINCINNATI HAMS

JIM/ANCHOR: History itself will be getting on the air soon when the
Greater Cincinnati Amateur Radio Association hosts its annual AM night.
Paul Braun WD9GCO gives us the details - and some of the history
behindit.

PAUL: Rigs of every vintage - and quite a few new ones - will be tuned
to 1.936 MHz on December 18th for pre-net check-ins at 6:30 p.m.
Eastern Time. This will be a very special edition of the Greater
Cincinnati Amateur Radio Association 1936 Net. It was, in fact, October
of that year when the then-newly-formed association started hosting
this regular net.

The popular on-air activity came to a halt with the start of second
World War and did not resume until 1986 - the year that club members
decided to revive it and mark the association's 50th anniversary. The
net managers are Jay, K8CJY and Geoff W8GNM. Bill, NM4A, is the net
control operator and an average of 65 stations check-in each week.

This special net is expected to last two hours. After pre-net
check-ins, the net iself gets going at 9 p.m. Eastern.

Hams around the US are invited to fire up their rigs - any rigs. Tom
KD0IEL told Newsline in an email: [quote] "This is a great opportunity
to hear some classic AM rigs, heavy metal, military, broadcast AM
transmitters, state of the art software-defined radio...and virtually
any ham radio capable of AM mode." [endquote]

This is Paul Braun WD9GCO.

(GEOFF, W8GNM; TOM, KD0IEL)

**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, Lasse, DL9LU is active on the air as DP0GVN at the
Neumayer [NOY-MEYER] III Station in Antarctica, IOTA Number AN-016.
Listen for him on HF and via the QO-100 satellite. He will be in
Antarctica until shortly before Christmas of 2026.

Vlad, OK2WX and Paula, OK2YL are on the air holiday style from Panama
as HP3/OK2WX and HP3/OK2YL, respectively until the 10th of December.
They are using CW and SSB, concentrating on 160, 80 and 40 metres. Be
listening as well for Vlad in the CQ WW DX CW Contest on the 29th and
30th of November and the ARRL 160-Meter Contest, which takes place from
the 5th through to the 7th of December.

Listen throughout December for the callsign 4T95O which is on the air
to mark the 95th anniversary of the Radio Club Peruano, OA4O [OH A FOUR
OH]. Look for activity throughout December on 40-10 metres, as well as
on 6m, 2m and 70cm, CW, SSB, FM, RTTY, and FT8.

Nadia, OZ7AM is on the air as OX7AM from Greenland, IOTA Number
NA-018, through to the 3rd of December. She will be using mainly CW and
will be heard in the CQ WW DX CW Contest.

For all these stations listed, please see QRZ.com for QSL details.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: NEWS FROM A VERY JOLLY NET CONTROL STATION

JIM/ANCHOR: We are ending this week's newscast with Santa Claus. OK,
you may not believe in him but Newsline's reporters do - in fact, we've
all been very, very good this year - except, maybe, for Don Wilbanks
AE5DW. So here's Don now, on his very best behavior, talking with Big
Red about this year's 20th annual Santa Net.

DON: Starting on Friday, November 28th, Santa will be calling CQ on
3.916 MHz starting at 7 pm Central Time. Are you ready for the
pileups,Santa?

SANTA: Ho-Ho-Ho, I've been ready since December 26th of last year. It's
all about the kids, Don. You know, the hams with the 3916 Nets are the
elves who make it happen every night, right up until Christmas Eve.
Check-ins begin a half-hour before the net starts. We're giving kids
the gift of amateur radio because, as you know, radio creates the kind
of magic that even us grown-ups can believe in. There are relay
stations listening to make sure the kids get their contacts. Some of
them are kids of hams who were kids themselves during our earliest
Santa Nets. So, Don, would you tell everyone how to find out more? DON:
Sure, Santa! For details about the Santa Net, visit the website
CQSanta.com. You'll also find details on how to check in.

SANTA: Don?

DON: Yes, Santa?

SANTA: You know what? You're a good boy, after all.

DON: Gosh thanks! Now about that nice new SDR transceiver......? This
is Don Wilbanks AE5DW.

**
HAIKU AND CLOSE

If you haven't sent in your ham radio haiku yet, what's been stopping
you? Visit our website at arnewsline.org and as you compose your ode to
your favorite online 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 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; AMSAT News Service; ARRL; David
Behar; 425DX Bulletin; Geoff, W8GNM; K O M O TV News; QRZ.com; Radio
Society of Great Britain; Radioworld; shortwaveradio.de; Tom, KD0IEL;
Windborne Systems website; 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 Jim Damron N8TMW in Charleston West
Virginia 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
are reserved.

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