From Newsgroup: rec.radio.amateur.misc

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2500 for Friday, September 26th, 2025
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2500 with a release date of
Friday, September 26th, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. A California club helps hams replace wildfire
losses. The Sable Island Dxpedition announces its dates - and our
special report about a nationwide push to gain federal protection for
US ham radio antennas. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline
Report Number 2500 marks nearly 50 years of ARN bringing you the
stories behind the headlines.

**
SPECIAL REPORT: AMATEUR RADIO PREPS TO DEFEND ANTENNA LEGISLATION

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We begin this week with a special report. Hams are
raising their voices in this latest - and perhaps largest - effort to
date to get a law passed in Washington, D.C. to exempt their antennas
from restrictions imposed by homeowner associations and restrictive
covenants. There is a lot at stake as lawmakers consider, once again,
the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act. Kent Peterson KC0DGY has
this special report.

KENT: Momentum has been gathering among amateur radio clubs, advocates
and influencers to muster vocal support for two measures that would
remove restrictions placed on ham radio antennas by a growing number of homeowner associations around the US. At the helm of the grassroots
campaign is the ARRL, the national amateur radio association, which
formally kicked off the nationwide push on the 17th of September to
bolster the chances of passage - at long last - this year.

The bills were introduced earlier this year in both the Senate and
House of Representatives. Previous versions have died in other
sessions. Through the years, opponents of such measures have declared
that these restrictions are vital to preserving the value of
homeowners' investments in their properties and to retaining the
aesthetics of a community.

Amateurs maintain that they are seeking the same consideration given to
TV antennas and satellite dishes under a federal law known as the Over
the Air Reception Devices rule, protecting TV, broadband and direct
satellite reception. The measures before Congress would enable hams to
provide lifesaving communication if disaster should strike. In the
meantime, many hams have resorted to attic installations, stealth
antennas and other compromises.

The measures introduced as HR 1094 and S 459 are the latest versions
under consideration. The Texas Ham Political Action Committee is
working with the ARRL to provide amateurs access with pre-written
letters addressed to the lawmakers representing each region. The
website generates the messages and delivers them electronically. ARRL newsletters, club websites, social media platforms and blogs have been directing hams to the online tool and urging them to respond.

The Texas Ham PAC says on the site [quote] "This site and the service
is provided as a donation to the ARRL and its legislative program by
Texas HAM PAC." [endquote] You can find a link in the text version of
this week's newscast at arnewsline.org.

Influencers taking high-profile advocacy roles include Thomas
Witherspoon, K4SWL, who hosts the well-read QRPer website for low-power
and portable ops. Noting that his home in western North Carolina is not
in an HOA, Thomas said this is everyone's battle, regardless. He wrote
that even in the midst of what he called an "apocalyptic communications failure" during Hurricane Helene last year, his modest home antenna was
able to connect his family to a lifesaving repeater on Mount Mitchell,
letting him talk to emergency nets and local EOCs.

Thomas wrote [quote] "Even if, like me, you're a low-profile ham who
doesn't live in an HOA or restrictive community, there's a very real
reason we should all have the right to install even modest antennas at home."[endquote]

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

[DO NOT READ: send-a-letter.org/hoa ]

(ARRL TEXAS HAM PAC)

**
WEATHERING THE STRUGGLE OF PROGRAMMING EMERGENCY RADIOS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: No, you can't always predict the weather but you can
stay ahead of any major changes by listening to the radio - and that's
just what one ham club in Kentucky is helping local residents learn to
do. Jen De Salvo W9TXJ picks up the story from here.

JEN: Autumn weather can be very tricky in the part of Kentucky that the Princeton Ham Radio Club W4KBL calls home. Area residents who rely on
weather radios - the ones that receive alerts and warnings from the
National Weather Service -- often say those receivers can be tricky
too. Sam Gray, KJ4TYE, the club's vice president and weather
coordinator, said that's what inspired members to host a weather radio
session recently. They showed local residents how to program their
radios properly so they don't miss relevant weather watches and
warnings in and around Caldwell County.

Sam told Newsline in an email [quote] "I have heard many people
complain about the weather radio going all the time for counties not
close to them." [endquote] He said those radios ultimately get
unplugged and put into storage.When a disaster strikes, they have no
warnings.

That changed on Saturday the 20th of September when club members
greeted radio owners inside the EOC to demonstrate how to properly
program those radios so that they receive alerts relevant to their
specific county. Sam said the club, which is heavily involved in weather-spotting, knows the value of these kinds of alerts - but also
knows that these radios, like many products these days, don't
necessarily come with clear programming instructions in the box.

Sam said he encourages other clubs to reach out in their own
communities to people confounded by the programming instructions and
help them to receive the right reports. He said [quote] "Receiving
alerts and warnings is key to preparing and survival." [endquote]

This is Jen DeSalvo, W9TXJ.

(SAMUEL GRAY, KJ4TYE)

**
HAMS IN SWEDEN PRESS FOR DUPLEX FM HANDHELDS

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: A dozen major manufacturers of amateur radio equipment
have just received a special request from AMSAT Sweden, on behalf of
satellite fans everywhere. Jason Daniels VK2LAW tells us what they're
looking for.

JASON: Satellite enthusiasts in Sweden are calling on a dozen makers of Japanese and Chinese handheld transceivers to produce radios that have
full duplex FM capabilities - enabling users to copy their own downlink
while transmitting.

In an open letter to the various companies -- such as AnyTone, Kenwood,
TYT, Yaesu and Alinco -- AMSAT-SM said hams are seeking equipment that
would permit an operator to transit and receive at the same time on
different bands without any desensing. According to an AMSAT News
Service report, an older Kenwood model had that ability but it has been discontinued and nothing is on the market to replace it.

The letter was signed by Lars Thunberg, SM0TGU. A copy of it is posted
on the AMSAT-SM website.

The AMSAT News Service report said that a handful of the dozen
companies responded and one company - which was not identified - said
they were discussing the request. There were no other details
available.

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)

**
CALIFORNIA CLUB HELPS AREA HAMS REPLACE WILDFIRE LOSSES

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The nightmare of last January's wildfires are still
burned quite literally into the memories of those in Altadena and the
Pacific Palisades who suffered overwhelming personal loss. Ham radio
operators in the region, however, are helping other hams restore their
shacks and the safety net of communication they provided at the time.
Ralph Squillace KK6ITB explains.

RALPH: Rebuilding doesn't always call for brick, mortar, wood or steel.
Hams in the San Fernando Valley Amateur Radio Club W6SD are using
antennas, coax, power supplies, spare HTs and base-station radios
instead. These pieces of vital equipment and others are being donated,
along with funds, to help amateurs in the region refurbish the shacks
that kept communication lines open during the Eaton and Palisades fires
last winter - the same fires that ultimately destroyed the stations
themselves.

Club president Richard Frankie, N6NCW, told the Los Angeles Times that
the hams see the donations and loans as tools to repair the
communication safety net so devastated last winter. He's been a part of
the club and the community for nearly 50 years and knows that ham radio
is about passing along the support so freely given through mentorship,
loans or outright gifts.

According to the LA Times article, hams in the region who are still in
need of equipment or assistance with their stations can contact the
club through their Facebook page or website. The club is, of course,
also offering mentorship and training for anyone wanting to join them
on the air.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(LOS ANGELES TIMES, W6SD WEBSITE)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the AA7WI repeater in Tucscon, Arizona on Fridays at 7 p.m. local time.

**
SABLE ISLAND CY0S TEAM ANNOUNCES DXPEDITION DATES

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: DXpeditioners are preparing for next year's trip to
Sable Island -- and they finally have a date. Travis Lisk N3ILS tells
us exactly when it's all happening.

TRAVIS: The Sable Island CY0S team has announced that their DXpedition
has been scheduled for March 19th through to either the 30th or 31st of
next year. The operation received its approval this past spring from
parks officials in Canada but the dates in March were not set at
thetime.

The group said that it has been fundraising to cover the higher costs
of flights between Halifax, Nova Scotia and the island - a significant increase, they said, since the 2023 DXpedition. The island is about 300
km, or 186 miles, east of Halifax.

The treeless and windy island, best known for its population of wild
horses, is expected to pose a number of challenges during the
expedition. The team leaders will be Murray WA4DAN and Glenn W0GJ.
Operators will be joined by a number of members of last year's CY9C
DXpedition to St. Paul Island, also off the coast of Nova Scotia.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(SABLE ISLAND DXPEDITION WEBSITE)

**
OFCOM REVIEWS LICENSE PROCEDURES FOR SOME SATELLITES

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The UK regulator has proposed changes in the way
licenses are granted to certain satellites. We learn more from Jeremy
Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: Ofcom is hoping to improve the licensing procedures that were introduced in 2021 covering non-geostationary satellite orbit systems
used by businesses, individuals and other entities, particularly in
remote areas. The regulator opened a consultation earlier this month
and is seeking comments up to the 18th of November.

Having issued eight such network and nine gateway licences for these
systems, Ofcom believes it is time to work towards a swifter
decision-making process while minimising the administrative burden on
system operators. Ofcom is also looking at enabling the gateways to
connect to a broader range of satellite services using both the Q and
Vbands.

The regulator intends to publish its decision early next year.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(OFCOM)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, Kasimir, DL2SBY, is on the air as S79/DL2SBY from
the Seychelles between the 28th of September and the 12th of October.
Listen for him on the HF bands and on 6 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL
details.

Gerben, PG5M, will be on the air as A52G from Bhutan, using CW and
some FT8 on 40 through 10 metres. Listen for Gerben from the 3rd
through to the 9th of October. QSL via home call, LOTW or ClubLog OQRS.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the independence of Angola, a team of
operators using the callsign D2A will be on the air from Ilha do
Mussulo, a peninsula near Luanda, between the 17th and 28th of October.
They will be calling QRZ on 160 to 6 metres using CW, SSB, RTTY and
other digital modes. QSL via EA7FTR.

The student amateur radio club LZ1KDP of the Technical University in
Sofia, Bulgaria is on the air with the special event callsign LZ80TUS
through to the 24th of December. The students are celebrating the
university's 80th anniversary. QSL via LZ2JE.

Listen for Peter, PC3M, Maarten, PA3EYC, Tijmen (TIE muhn), PA3GRM,
Mariette (MARE ee uht), PA4UUS, and Gert, PA2LO, calling QRZ as C5Y
from The Gambia from the 23rd through to the 29th of October. They will
also participate in the CQ WW DX SSB Contest. The team will operate
primarily CW and SSB with occasional use of FT8/FT4. See QRZ.com for
QSL details.

(WIA NEWS, 425 DXBULLETIN, DXWORLD)

**
KICKER: KEEPING HIS WIFE'S MEMORY CLOSE IN HIS HEART

STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Our final story this week is a love story, the tale of
how one radio amateur with a broken heart is taking steps - three miles
worth of steps - to keep so many others' hearts healthy. Here's Jim
Davis W2JKD with his story.

JIM: When it comes to making a big effort, Eddie Misiewicz, KB3YRU, is
putting his heart into this one: He's one in the crowd of many who are
stepping off on the 4th of October near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for
the American Heart Association Heart Walk. While Eddie's fellow club
members in the Skyview Amateur Radio Society, K3MJW, will be on the
air as special event station K3H - Kilo Three Heart - Eddie and his
team of hams will be putting their best feet forward in memory of his
wife of 28 years. Connie Misiewicz KB3YYC, became a Silent Key last
March as a result of congenital heart disease. She was known throughout
Skywarn as a devoted storm spotter and county net control station. She
was also a familiar voice with the Breezeshooters of Western
Pennsylvania Club, which encourages activity on 10 meters.

To Eddie, the three-mile walk he is taking to honor his late wife is
the walk of a lifetime. It is also a way to channel his grief into
something positive through a public heart-health awareness campaign,
with other area hams joining him on the trek. The American Heart
Association has designed the event to celebrate survivors of heart
disease and stroke.

Meanwhile, Eddie has also joined another team - a team of lifesavers
-to ensure there can be plenty more survivors in the years to come: He
recently became an American Heart Association certified CPR instructor.
He told Newsline it's the right thing to do. He's sure of it - in
hisheart.

See a link to the walk website in the text version of this week's
newscast at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: www2.heart.org/site/TR?fr_id=12083]

This is Jim Davis W2JKD.

(EDDIE MISIEWICZ, KB3YRU; AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION)

**
WHAT? You haven't sent in your ham radio haiku yet? Help is on the way!
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; American Heart Association; AMSAT
News Service; ARRL; David Behar K7DB; Eddie Misiewicz, KB3YRU; DXNews;
425DX Bulletin; FCC; Los Angeles Times; Ofcom; Sable Island DXpedition
website; Samuel Gray, KJ4TYE; shortwaveradio.de; Texas Ham PAC;
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 Stephen Kinford N8WB in Wadsworth Ohio
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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