From Newsgroup: rec.radio.amateur.misc

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2543 for Friday, July 24th, 2026 Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2543 with a release date of Friday, July
24th, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. DXpeditioners under 25 will activate Christmas
Island. Get ready for a major meteor-scatter QSO party - and meet
Newsline's Young Ham of the Year for 2026. All this and more as Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2543 comes your way right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART
**
YOUNG OPERATORS TO LEAD 'MILESTONE' DXPEDITION TO CHRISTMAS ISLAND

SKEETER/ANCHOR: Our top story is about a DXpedition that is taking an extraordinary turn, as eight operators - all under the age of 25
-prepare to lead the activation of Christmas Island later this year.
Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us about this announcement.

GRAHAM: Young radio operators will be planning, leading and operating
the VK9XY DXpedition in November and December of this year through a partnership between the Pacific Islands DXpedition Group and Youth on
the Air. Although young operators have been part of previous
activations, including 3D2Y remote from Rotuma and PJ6Y on the island
of Saba, the Pacific Islands group is calling this next operation "a milestone."

The lead operator will be Max Freedman, N4ML. Max and his team will
have veteran DXpeditioners Gregg Marco, W6IZT and Glenn Johnson, W0GJ,
as on-island advisors. Making the announcement on July 20th, the team
said the young operators will include Connor Black, W4IPC; Tyler
Schroder, NT1S; Lukas Bartkus, LY7J; and Urgent Jere, 7Q6UJ -- and that
many of them were part of the two previous DXpeditions.

They will be on the air for about 18 days, starting around the 16th of November.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(PACIFIC ISLANDS DXPEDITION GROUP)

**

'BROADCAST DATACASTING' EYED FOR DELIVERY OF US WEATHER ALERTS

SKEETER/ANCHOR: In the US, the National Weather Service has its eye on
the broadcasting spectrum as a possible avenue to ensure the delivery
of weather alerts. Kent Peterson KC0DGY brings us the details.

KENT: It's known as broadcast datacasting - the distribution of data
using digital television - and it's showing promise for the National
Weather Service as an alternative means of getting the word out.
According to a report on the tvtechnology.com website, the NWS is
working with the broadcast datacasting specialist Spectra Rep, to
evaluate how the technology can provide a redundant pathway for
delivering NOAA weather audio and other data during emergencies. The transmitted data would be undetected by viewers, according to the
SpectraRep website.

Broadcast datacasting has been around for quite some time and
originated with closed captioning that appears on many TV screens.
Broadcast datacasting is also in some European countries although
European TV employs different systems than those used in the US, such
as Digital Video Broadcasting and Digital Audio Broadcasting.

NOAA said that the research will help strengthen Weather Radio and
broaden access to its information across the country.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY (TVTECHNOLOGY.COM, SPECTRAREP)

**

SILENT KEY: JERRY LEBOW, K2SMC, BROADCAST OWNER, EMERGENCY-ALERT
ADVOCATE

SKEETER/ANCHOR: An amateur radio operator and broadcast professional
who helped the FCC make changes in its emergency-alert system has
become a Silent Key. We hear more about him from Andy Morrison K9AWM.

ANDY: Jerry LeBow, K2SMC, had a firm foothold in radio on both the
commercial and amateur side. Licensed as a ham since 1955, he made his
living in the broadcast world. He was a cofounder of the Sage Broadcast
Group of stations, which had properties in the northeastern and
Midwestern US. He was also a longtime member of the Society of
Broadcast Engineers.

Through his company, Sage Alerting Systems, he manufactured equipment
that became widely used to transmit emergency warnings for governments
and for the petrochemical industry. In 1994, he became involved in the
FCC's efforts to make the transition from its older Emergency Broadcast
System to the newer Emergency Alert System.

Jerry was 81.

(RADIO WORLD)

**
HAMSCI NEEDS OPERATORS FOR METEOR SCATTER QSO PARTIES

SKEETER/ANCHOR: What's better than a late July party? How about a
second party a few weeks later. These are meteor scatter parties and
you're invited, as Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us.

JEREMY: HamSCI is looking for radio operators to be calling CQ on 10
and 6 metres using the digital mode MSK144 or simply to serve as
passive monitors during two upcoming meteor showers. The first are the
Southern Delta Aquairiids between the 29th and 31st of July, followed
by the Perseids between the 12th and the 14th August. HamSCI is
hoping to receive data collected on 28.145 MHz and 50.260 MHz,
especially any .WAV files of de-codes and operator contact logs from
WSJT-X.

These are not the last of this year's parties, however. The meteor
scatter QSO party will be during the Geminids between the 13th and the
15th of December.

For operating hours and other details about how to help generate
propagation data during these events - which are also friendly
competitions - visit the link in the text version of this week's
newscast at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: www.hamsci.org/msqp ]

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(HAMSCI)

**
NEVADA TO GET 'WORLD'S MOST SENSITIVE' RADIO TELESCOPE

SKEETER/ANCHOR: The state of Nevada is poised to become home to what's
being called the world's most sensitive radio telescope. Travis Lisk
N3ILS tells us what's planned.

TRAVIS: Construction is about to begin for a radio telescope known as
the Deep Synoptic Array considered the most sensitive of its kind to
date. The project is being led by Caltech, the California Institute of Technology, and is planned for the Nevada desert. According to the
Caltech website, the telescope recently passed its final design review, allowing building to begin on what will ultimately be a collection of
1,650 radio dishes covering an area of 12 by 10 miles, or 20 by 16
kilometres.

Scientists expect the Deep Synoptic Array to have the ability to
collect and identify more radio sources in any given day than any radio telescopes currently in operation. The researchers said they expect its
initial survey to note nearly 1 billion objects emitting radio waves.
Its special functions will include the study of pulsars, black holes
and fast radio bursts and it raises hopes that it will detect other
transient events that have gone undetected until now.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE, CALTECH)

**
ADVOCATES FOR DISABLED ATHLETES GETS BOOST FROM AMATEURS

SKEETER/ANCHOR: In Vermont, the relationship between ham radio
operators and an advocacy group for the disabled has a long history and
it has traveled a long road - how about more than 100 miles every year?
Daniel Garcia W2DIY tells us about this enduring relationship.

DANIEL: Inside the communications trailer of the Twin State Radio Club,
a handful of hams operated at several stations, always ready for the just-in-case moments that can happen when people run or ride horses
along a long wooded trail in Vermont for 30 hours or more. As they have
done for 34 years, the hams were supporting the Vermont 100, a
fundraising challenge which drew 500 participants between the 18th and
20th of July. The runners and riders maxxed out their endurance and determination in support of Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, which
promotes accessible activities for athletes with visual and mobility impairments. The course had 10 aid stations and four horse holds - with amateurs present at each.

Rob Mather N1XSS, communications lead for the event, told Newsline that
the course was well-covered by amateur radio thanks to the Connecticut
Valley FM Associaton's 2-meter repeater high atop Mt. Ascutney. Several
hams are also part of the Green Mountain Bike Patrol, which also
provides medical support along the course. The trailer was equipped
with public service radios as well that could contact the regional
dispatch center in an emergency.

Rob told Newsline this isn't the end of the successful run - not for
the team of 60 hams or the participants out on the trail. He said:
[quote] "We do it all over again in September for the Vermont 50."
[endquote] That's another fundraiser. If you wish to be part of the
action, contact Rob via his email address at n1xss@mather1.com [PRON:
En One Ex Ess Ess at MatherOne dot com] His email address also appears
in the text version of this week's script at arnewsline.org

This is Daniel Garcia W2DIY.

(ROB MATHER N1XSS)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the N8VAA repeater, serving parts of West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland
and Pennsylvania and the Potomac Highlands Amateur Radio club from
Moorefield, West Virginia on Monday nights at 8.

**
TAKING THE CHALLENGE ON 12 METERS

SKEETER/ANCHOR: Have you operated on 12 meters yet? Have you even
thought of trying it? Well, meet a ham who is actually CHALLENGING you
to do so. We hear more about him from Dave Lee M9TLB.

DAVE: Twelve metres is typically not known as the most popular band for
most operators and so Ian, EI3LH, is posing a challenge that is rooting
for this presumed underdog of bands. He has launched an activity known
as "Midnight Runners." It's a challenge to operators to use CW or SSB
only to complete 12 contacts on the band during a single operating
session - a field activity such as a POTA, SOTA, Lighthouses or Beaches
on the Air. Likewise, chasers at home can qualify to be Midnight
Runners by logging their own dozen contacts with the portable stations.

Sorry, but there are no grand prizes. Those who succeed in the mission
do get a reason to feel grand anyway - they receive a membership
certificate declaring them one of the proud "Midnight Runners" -- and
right now there aren't many.

Ian writes in his blog that this activity is his way of raising the
profile of the 12-meter band which he believes is often forgotten among
CW and sideband operators. He said that the concept was born as a
result of a discussion about 12 metres that took place on the SOTA
Reflector.

If you complete your "twelve-on-twelve," be sure to let Ian know by
contacting him at midnight@ei3h.eu (midnight at ei3h dot EU) and send a
text list of your QSOs, with all the details.

Since this is a new venture, who knows? You may end up getting
membership number 12....as well as a virtual pat on the back from Ian.

This is Dave Lee M9TLB.

(IRTS, EI3LH.EU BLOG)

**
FOUR YLs AWARDED YLRL SCHOLARSHIPS

SKEETER/ANCHOR: Academic achievement and commitment to amateur radio
has paid off in a big way for four YLs who have been named recipients
of scholarships from the Young Ladies Radio League. Two of the YLs are
previous recipients of Newsline's Bill Pasternak Young Ham of the Year
award. Randy Sly W4XJ introduces them to us.

RANDY: Four young top achievers are receiving scholarships from the
Young Ladies Radio League to support their continued studies. The Ethel
Smith K2LMB Memorial Scholarship is being awarded to Grace Papay, K8LG,
who is being recognized for the second year in a row with this
scholarship. The third-generation ham and top contester is also a
satellite enthusiast. She was the first recipient younger than 21 to
receive the AMSAT Grid Master Award. The Michigan resident is studying electrical engineering at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio.
Amateur Radio Newsline named her its Young Ham of the Year in 2024.

Last year's Young Ham award recipient, Katie Campbell, KE8LQR, has been
chosen by YLRL for its Mary Lou Brown NM7N Memorial Scholarship. An
avid contester and CW op, Katie has been active as assistant youth
coordinator for the ARRL's Ohio Section. Her commitment to other young
people in ham radio has included roles with Youth on the Air for the
Americas and instructor for the Long Island CW Kids' program.

Sabrina Mol, WS8EMT, is receiving the Martha Wessell K0EPE Memorial Scholarship. A student at Columbia Southern University, where she is
majoring in emergency management, she credits amateur radio with
introducing her to emergency communications.

A recent high school senior from Michigan, Kanushi Desai, KE8RNA, will
be attending Johns Hopkins University to study electrical engineering
with the help of a YLRL scholarship. Kanushi serves as the ARRL
Michigan Section's youth coordinator and she is vice president of the
Midland Amateur Radio Club. She also edits their newsletter.

Congratulations, everyone!

This is Randy Sly W4XJ.

(YL HARMONICS NEWSLETTER)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, listen for Tom VK2TBC using the callsign VK0TBC
from Casey Station, Antarctica until December. He will operate SSB
andFT8.

Ishmael, 8P6PE will be active as 9Y4/8P6PE from Trinidad & Tobago,
between the 25th of July and the 9th of August. He will be active from
several POTA references.

The callsign AT90VANI is on the air until the 16th of August to mark
the 90th anniversary of All India Radio, India's state-owned public
radio broadcaster. Operators are using SSB and SSTV on 10, 12, 15 and
20 metres

A team of operators, including BA1GM, BD1RX, BG1DX and others will be
active from Changshan Island, IOTA Number AS-158, using the callsign
BY1AA during the RSGB IOTA contest on July 25th and 26th. Listen for
them on the main HF bands. They will also be on the air on the WARC
bands before the contest.

For QSL information and other operating details for these stations,
visit QRZ.com

(425 DX NEWS)

**
2026 YHOTY FINDS FUN IN OUT-OF-THIS WORLD EXPERIENCES

SKEETER/ANCHOR: Finally this week, we're proud to announce the 2026
winner of the Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline
Young Ham of the Year award. Here with the story is the award committee chairman, Mark (Abram-oh-vich) Abramowicz NT3V....

MARK: Carsten Glasbrenner KQ4SJM of Brookville in central Florida was
almost speechless when he learned in a recent phone call he had been
selected as this year's YHOTY.

CARSTEN: You're kidding! That's awesome!

MARK: Carsten, who is 14 and holds a General Class license earned in
May 2024, took his Technician test at the age of 11. He is the son of
Drew and Merete Glasbrenner. Carsten gives his dad, KO4MA, credit for
planting the seeds that sprouted into an early interest in amateur
radio - specifically, satellites and using radio to take advantage of atmospheric changes to talk to people far away.

CARSTEN: Talking through a technological box in space. But, also
2-meter e-skip, and tropo, which was really cool, and some HF. MARK:
Carsten says he was pretty nervous making his first satellite contact
just a month after earning his General and called on dad for some help.

CARSTEN: I hadn't learned completely how to point and polarize the
antenna yet. So I was more talking and he was helping me out through
what I was going to say since FM satellites are rather quick so it's
kind of hard to understand when you're first doing them. So he was
helping me out with the call signs, what to say, what to copy and what
grid square I was. I didn't know what grid square we were in yet.

MARK: Carsten says his interest in sharing his new-found hobby with
other young people led to invitations to speak at Hamcation and the
Dayton Hamvention and earned him a position as AMSAT's youngest
ambassador. This past March, Carsten's proposal to get more young hams
working satellites became a reality. It's called Students On the Air
days and they're held the first and third Tuesdays of each month.

Carsten has activated a number of rare grid squares in the short time
he's been active. Carsten has well over 100 satellite contacts in the
log and says he's looking to make many more. He begins high school this
fall and says his interest in kit-building, especially soldering
components, might set him on the path to electrical engineering.

From all of us here at Amateur Radio Newsline, Congratulations Carsten!

I'm Mark Abramowicz NT3V.

SKEETER/ANCHOR: Carsten will be presented the award at the Huntsville
Hamfest on Saturday, August 22nd in the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

**
NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily, AMSAT News Service; CalTech; David
Behar, K7DB; DXWorld.net; EI3LH.eu Blog; Facebook; FCC.gov; 425DX News;
HamSCI; IRTS; Pacific Islands DXpedition Group; QRZ.com; RadioWorld;
Rob Mather, N1XSS; shortwaveradio.de; SpectraRep; TVTechnology.com;
Wireless Institute of Australia; YL Harmonics; 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 Skeeter Nash N5ASH in Jonesboro Arkansas
saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio
Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2026. Amateur Radio Newsline retains
ownership of its material even when retransmitted elsewhere. All rights
are reserved.


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