From Newsgroup: rec.radio.amateur.misc

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2512 for Friday, December 19th, 2025
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2512 with a release date of
Friday, December 19th, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Researchers say radio will be affected by a
cooling ionosphere. A new NASA video gives a closeup look at ham radio
on the ISS -- and our traditional holiday gift to you, "The Night
Before Christmas, Ham Radio Style." All this and more as Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2512 comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**
REPORT: COOLING IONOSPHERE COULD DISRUPT, RESHAPE RADIO COMMUNICATION

PAUL/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to Japan, where researchers
studying the ionosphere have discovered that the cooling of
temperatures up there may cause major shifts in our ability to
communicate by radio. Jason Daniels VK2LAW brings us up to date.

JASON: The continued cooling of the ionosphere 100 km above sea level
may someday disrupt and reshape shortwave communications, according to scientists at Kyushu University in Japan. The drop in ionospheric
temperatures is the result of rising CO2 levels - the same phenomenon identified as the source of global warming down here on Earth.

The researchers' study, published in Geophysical Research Letters,
found that the cooling ionosphere lowers the air density and speeds up
wind circulation - two factors that have an impact on satellite orbits
and space debris. In addition, the ability to communicate by radio also
changes as a result of small-scale plasma irregularities. Shortwave
radio, radio broadcasting, air traffic control and maritime
communication could all experience a variety of major changes, the
scientists said.

The study leader, Huixin Liu of Kyushu's Faculty of Science, told the
Physics World website: [quote] "This may be good news for ham radio
amateurs, as you will likely receive more signals from faraway
countries more often. For radio communications, however, especially at
HF and VHF frequencies employed for aviation, ships and rescue
operations, it means more noise and frequent disruption in
communication and hence safety." [endquote]

She said that in the long term, the telecommunications industry may
need to respond to these changes by either adjusting their frequencies
or changing the design of their equipment.

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(PHYS.ORG, WIA, eHam)

**
ISS EXPEDITION 73 CREW RETURNS TO EARTH

PAUL/ANCHOR ISS Expedition 73 has ended with the return to Earth of a
NASA astronaut and two Roscosmos cosmonauts. Graham Kemp VK4BB has that
update.

GRAHAM: Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky
returned to Earth with US astronaut Jonny Kim, KJ5HKP, after 245 days
in space aboard the International Space Station. Their landing in
Kazahstan via Soyuz MS-27 on the 9th of December, ended Kim's tenure,
which included both Expedition 72 and 73. It was the first trip to the
space station for both Kim and Zubritsky. Kim received his amateur
radio operator's license in July of 2024. While in space, Kim
accomplished a number of important milestones, including participation
in the 2025 ARRL Field Day in the US with fellow astronaut Nichole
Ayers KJ5GWI. He was also part of the space station's first
transmission since 2018 of HamTV since its repairs and return to
service. That took place in October with a Scout group in the UK.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(AMSAT NEWS, ARISS)

**

NEW NASA VIDEO GIVES A WINDOW INTO ARISS EXPERIENCE

PAUL/ANCHOR: A new video from NASA is giving viewers a window into the experience of Amateur Radio on the International Space Station. Neil
Rapp WB9VPG tells us more.

NEIL: Schools and other educational institutions who've enjoyed student contacts with astronauts on board the International Space Station
already know the value of this respected program: It places an emphasis
on science and radio education and gives a window into how ham radio
works as a powerful educational tool.

Now everyone can experience communication - at least one-way
communication - with a NASA astronaut in a new video released by NASA,
the US space agency. In a little less than four-minutes, the NASA video features astronaut Nichole Ayers, KJ5GWI, explaining to viewers how
school contacts are made with the help of ham radio operators around
the world. Addressing students directly, she says that the contacts
are meaningful but necessarily brief because the ISS is moving around
the earth at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour.

The video was recorded - appropriately- during Expedition 73 which
launched in the spring of this year.

To see the video, click on the link that appears in the text version of
this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

This is Neil Rapp WB9VPG.

[DO NOT READ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egnzgGG3wwE ]

(ARISS)

**
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS EVENT IN ITS 7TH YEAR

PAUL/ANCHOR: If you haven't already worked any of the stations for the
special 12 Days of Christmas Event, you still have time. This year's
lineup of Swans-a-Swimming, Geese-a-Laying and Calling Birds have been
joined by a new bonus station based in Puerto Rico with the callsign
WP3S/DOC. QSOs are being made on the HF bands using CW and SSB through
to Christmas Day, December 25th.

Everyone who works at least one station will be entitled to a
downloadable certificate. Work all of the 12 Days stations and you'll
get a Clean Sweep. If your log includes the station in Puerto Rico,
that will earn you a "Clean Sweep Plus." Certificates will be available
after the 31st of January. See the QRZ.com page for K2RYD for more
details.

Remember, operators are not accepting or sending QSL cards - but they
ARE sending their very best for the season.

(12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS EVENT)

**

SABLE ISLAND DXPEDITION GETS $25,000 GRANT

PAUL/ANCHOR: Next year's DXpedition to Sable Island has just received a
boost in funding to support the team, as we hear from Andy
MorrisonK9AWM.

ANDY: A $25,000 grant from the Northern California DX Foundation is
being provided to the team heading to Sable Island in March for the
CY0S activation.

According to the team's website, the dates have been set for March 19
-31.

The team leaders are Murray, WA4DAN and Glenn, W0GJ, who will operate
alongside veteran DXpeditioners Pat N2IEN, Lee WW2DX, Ralph K0IR, Jay
K4ZLE, Mike K9NW, and Scott NE9U. In a comment on the DXNews.com
website, Murray acknowledged the Northern California DX Foundation's
ongoing support for various DXpeditions like this one -- support that
spans a period of more than 33 years.

Sable Island weather is expected to be a challenge at the time the
team's airplane arrives. It is usually a cold and snowy time, sometimes
with gale-force winds. The island is about 300 km, or 186 miles, east
of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(DX-WORLD.NET)

**
SILENT KEY: BOB WHELAN, G3PJT, FORMER RSGB PRESIDENT

PAUL/ANCHOR: In the UK, the Commonwealth Contest Community and the
Radio Society of Great Britain are grieving the loss of an advocate and
a friend -- an active ham who twice served the radio society as its
president. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us about him.

JEREMY: Although he made his living in the world of high-tech as a
solid-state physicist, Bob Whelan, G3PJT, was, in so many ways, a full
time radio amateur. He received his licence in 1961, focusing on CW
operating on HF and LF. As his enthusiasm grew for contesting, he made
a name for himself as a supporter of the Commonwealth Contest, a CW
contest for operators in British Commonwealth countries such as
Australia, New Zealand, Canada and, of course, the UK. He also built an
online presence for its widely scattered participants, eventually
writing a book about the contest's evolution.

Bob had also been actively involved in the IARU and the First Class
Operators Club, with a growing involvement in the Radio Society of
Great Britain over the years. His participation grew from being a
volunteer on the society's HF Committee to becoming president, serving
from 2002 to 2003 and again from 2013 to 2014.

Bob became a Silent Key on 4 December.

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 AH6LE repeater in Beavercreek and Wilsonville, Oregon, on Sundays
at 6 p.m. local time.

**

ARRL TO HOST HAMSCI WORKSHOP AT NEARBY COLLEGE

PAUL/ANCHOR: If you are looking to attend the next workshop of HamSCI,
you will find yourself right in the backyard of the ARRL headquarters.
We have more details from Jack Parker W8ISH.

JACK: Through the years, the annual workshop of HamSCI, the citizen
science investigation organization, has been hosted at a number of
locations in a number of US states. Next year it moves to Connecticut
for the 9th annual event, which will take place on March 14th and 15th.
It's being hosted by the ARRL on the campus of Central Connecticut
State University. ARRL's headquarters is located in nearby Newington, Connecticut, which means the league will be welcoming workshop visitors
to headquarters and encouraging many to get on the air from W1AW, the
Hiram P. Maxim Memorial Station.

The workshop theme is "Discovering Science through Ham Radio." The
varied presentations will showcase how HamSCI's cooperative
relationships between researchers, ham radio operators, citizen
scientists and students have brought about notable advances in weather
studies, propagation sensing and ionospheric research.

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

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

[DO NOT READ: https://hamsci.org/hamsci2026 ]

(ARRL, HAMSCI)

**
VERMONT MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS WELCOMES FORMER RACES HAMS

PAUL/ANCHOR: Our next story takes us to Vermont where former members of
the newly dismantled RACES program are learning new skills as part of a
new team. Randy Sly W4XJ has the details.

RANDY: Hams in Vermont who had been members of the recently dismantled
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service - or RACES - have begun joining
the team at the Medical Reserve Corps of the state's Department of
Health.

According to Kate Hammond, KC1DUY, manager of the Medical Reserve
Corps' communications section, Vermont's shift in deployment of radio volunteers is part of a changeover going on in many states. She told
Newsline in an email that [quote]: "...emergency communications is
emerging as a Medical Reserve Corps mission in more states, but the
creation of the mission set in Vermont is a work that is specific to
us." [endquote] She said that toward that end, John Colt NV1Y, the
hospital net coordinator for the Medical Reserve Corps, and Heather
Rigney KC1PMR, the corps statewide coordinator, are overseeing the
creation of documents for the newly configured team. Former RACES
materials are being used to help guide future practices of Medical
Reserve Corps operators, who will attend orientation meetings soon. The
Vermont Healthcare Net has also become more active. Kate said that
members will be affiliated with one of the eight local Medical Reserve
Corps Units for any drill or event -- and could be deployed as well to
shelters when a communications outage occurs.

Although Josh Cohen, KB1NIJ, a longtime RACES member and an experienced
net control operator, told Newsline that he is sorry to see the RACES
program go, he is preparing to join the Medical Reserve Corps team.
Josh is among many hams eager to continue using their skills.

This is Randy Sly W4XJ.

(KATE HAMMOND, KC1DUY; JOSH COHEN, KB1NIJ).
**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, there are some more holiday stations to add to the
on-air festivities. The YO3KRM Radio Club of Romania is putting three
Christmas Special Callsigns on the air through to the 31st of December.
Listen for the Santa callsign YO0HOHO [WHY OH ZERO HO HO], the
Christmas spirit callsign YO0XMAS [WHY OH ZERO X MAS] and the Rudolph
callsign YR0UDOLPH [WHY R ZERO YOU DOLPH]. Certificates are available
for successful contacts.

The annual Russian New Year radio marathon will be on the air from the
29th throuh to the 11th of January. The Miller DX Club and the Rostov
Oblast branch of the Russian Amateur Radio Union will be putting a
number of special callsigns on the air, including R2026A, R2026C,
R2026L, R2026N, UE26HNY and UE26NY, among others.

Listen for the special event callsign HB70IPA marking the 70th
anniversary of the International Police Association's Swiss branch.
They will be on the air until the 31st of December on various HF bands
and via the QO-100 satellite.

Jan, DL4XT will be active holiday style as 4K/DL4XT from Azerbaijan
between the 26th of December and the 3rd of January, using CW, SSB and
FT8. Find Jan on 40 metres as well as bands from 20 through 10 metres.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HAM RADIO STYLE

PAUL/ANCHOR: We end this newscast with a Newsline holiday tradition - a
ham log instead of a yule log. Listen to this much-loved adaptation of
the Clement Clarke Moore classic - proof that there is still magic in
the season and even moreso on the amateur bands this time of year. It
was written anonymously - but is delivered beautifully by our own Jim
Damron N8TMW.

JIM: Twas the night before Christmas and all through the shack The rig
was turned off and the mic cord lay slack

The antenna rotor had made its last turn, the tubes in the linear had
long ceased to burn.

I sat there relaxing and took off my specs, preparing to daydream of
Armchair DX-- When suddenly outside I heard such a sound, I dashed out
the door to see what was around.

The moon shone down brightly and lighted the night. For sure
propagation for the low bands was right.

I peered toward the roof where I heard all the racket and there was
some guy in a red, fur-trimmed jacket!

I stood there perplexed in a manner quite giddy: Just who WAS this
stranger? di di dah dah di dit?

He looked very much like an FCC guy who'd come to check up on some
badTVI.

I shouted to him: "Old man...QR-Zed?" "Hey you by the chimney all
dressed up in red!"

I suddenly knew when I heard sleigh bells jingle The guy on the rooftop
was Jolly Kris Kringle

He had a big sack full of amateur gear which was a big load for his
prancing reindeer. Transmitters, receivers, for cabinets and racks Some
meters and scopes and a lot of coax.

He said not a word 'cause he'd finished his work. He picked up his sack
and he turned with a jerk. As he leaped to his sleigh, he shouted with
glee And I knew in a moment he'd be QRT.

I heard him transmit as he flew o'er the trees "Merry Christmas to all,
and to all seventy-three."

"Ho Ho Ho"

(AUTHOR UNKNOWN)

**

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; ARISS;
David Behar, K7DB; Facebook; 425DX Bulletin; Josh Cohen, KB1NIJ, Kate
Hammond, KC1DUY; QRZ.com; Radio Society of Great Britain;
shortwaveradio.de; 12 Days of Christmas event; 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 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
are reserved.



--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2