MSGID: 1:135/250@fidonet 68ec021f   
   PID: C-NET AMIGA BBS 5.36b   
   Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2502 for Friday, October 10th, 2025   
        
   Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2502 with a release date of Friday,   
   October 10th, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a QST. The world's largest radio telescope gets RFI   
   protection. The founder of the 13 Colonies special event becomes a Silent Key   
   -- and Sri Lanka launches its third CubeSat. All this and more as Amateur   
   Radio Newsline Report Number 2502 comes your way right now.   
      
   **   
      
   BILLBOARD CART   
      
   **   
   WORLD'S LARGEST RADIO TELESCOPE GAINS RFI PROTECTION   
      
   STEPHEN/ANCHOR: As construction continues on the world's largest radio   
   telescope - known as the Square Kilometre Array - Faraday cages have been   
   installed at the site in Australia as additional protection against RFI.   
   Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us what's happening there.   
      
   GRAHAM: Two Faraday cages have been put in place at the Square Kilometre Array   
   site in Western Australia to protect the giant radio telescope from   
   interference caused by RF leaks coming from inside the data centre. The data   
   centre and the array are being built in Murchison, a remote location that   
   provides a needed environment of radio quietness. Despite the radio silence at   
   the location, the data centre's computers, which connect to the city of Perth,   
   generate stray RF, spurring the need for Faraday cages to prevent the   
   electromagnetic energy from escaping.   
      
   The international massive array, which will have 131,072 antennas, is still a   
   work in progress since it was started in 2022. The site in Australia is home   
   to the array's low-frequency antennas; South Africa is housing the   
   mid-frequency antennas. The observatory and headquarters are at the Jodrell   
   Bank Observatory in northwest England.   
      
   Although the array will still be a work in progress through to 2029, Philip   
   Diamond, director of the SKA Observatory, recently told The Register website   
   that tests may be run on the facility as early as 2027. He told The Register:   
   [quote] "By then we will have the largest physical low-frequency telescope on   
   the planet." [endquote]   
      
   This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.   
      
   (THE REGISTER.COM)   
      
   **   
   SRI LANKA'S BIRDS-X CUBESAT IS IN ORBIT   
      
   STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Six years after launching its first nano satellite, Sri Lanka   
   has launched its third - and the ham radio CubeSat is orbiting the Earth. Jim   
   Meachen ZL2BHF tells us what to listen for.   
      
   JIM: The BIRDS-X Dragonfly CubeSat has marked a milestone for Sri Lanka,   
   becoming that nation's third nano satellite in space. Developed with help from   
   the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies an the Kyushu Institute   
   of Technology in Japan, it began its orbit last month following its launch   
   from SpaceX-33.   
      
   Its mission is to serve as an APRS digipeater and to test a new low-cost   
   communication system. It will also demonstrate the relay of store-and-forward   
   data. Its callsign is JG6YOW. The APRS FM digipeater frequency is 145.825 MHZ   
   and its CW beacon is on 437.375 MHz.   
      
   The 2U CubeSate project was funded by Amateur Radio Digital Communications. To   
   file a reception report for the CW beacon, follow the link in the text version   
   of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org.   
      
   [DO NOT READ:   https://tinyurl.com/mw35fzmc  ]   
      
   This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.   
      
      
   (THEMORNING, BIRDS-X PROJECT,COM, SATNOGS.ORG)   
      
   **   
   FCC DENIES APPROVAL OF 4 CHINESE-OWNED ELECTRONICS LABS   
      
   STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In the US, the FCC has continued its actions against   
   foreign-owned laboratories that test imported electronics for sale and use in   
   the country. Kent Peterson KCØDGY has that report.   
      
   KENT: Four foreign-controlled testing laboratories that evaluate electronics   
   imported for use in the United States have been denied recognition by the   
   Federal Communications Commission.   
      
   Just days before the shutdown that affected much of the US government,   
   including the FCC, the commission announced that the four laboratories, like   
   the 11 the commission denied in early September, were controlled by Chinese   
   interests. That makes for a total of 15 such labs rejected so far by the FCC's   
   Office of Engineering and Technology, as part of the administration's goal to   
   give US-owned companies the responsibility of certifying electronics for   
   import and sale in the US. All approved equipment must demonstrate that it is   
   not a threat to US national security and must comply with FCC standards.   
      
   This move is the latest following the commission's adoption in May of the   
   order. At the time the order was announced, the FCC disclosed that about 75   
   percent of all electronics sold in the US are being tested by Chinese labs.   
      
   This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.   
      
   (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   SILENT KEY: KEN VILLONE, KU2US, FOUNDER OF 13 COLONIES SPECIAL EVENT   
      
   STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The founder of a popular and much-loved annual tradition - the   
   13 Colonies Special Event -  has become a Silent Key. We learn more about him   
   from Travis Lisk N3ILS.   
      
   TRAVIS: With the birth of the 13 Colonies Special event here in the US as a   
   four-day event in 2009, Ken Villone, KU2US, began a ham radio revolution.   
   Inspired by the fun of the ARRL Sweepstakes, the military veteran had hoped to   
   organize a special on-the-air event that would spotlight American history and   
   celebrate the nation's independence during the days surrounding the July 4th   
   holiday. As Ken told the ARRL earlier this year, the 2008 Sweepstakes spurred   
   him to try his luck [quote]  ....for one year only, to see what happens and to   
   have some fun." [end quote]   
      
   The man who made sure that the fun would continue each year afterward became a   
   Silent Key on the 2nd of October following a lengthy illness. In the years   
   before his death, the 13 Colonies event had become an internationally popular   
   activity with bonus stations and chasers around the world.    
      
   Only weeks before this year's event, with his health worsening, Ken   
   transferred the event's leadership to his friend Tony Jones N4ATJ, coordinator   
   of North Carolina's K2J station. With the help of Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, the 13   
   Colonies event went forward. Ken stayed active as the state manager for the   
   K2A operators in New York. Tony told Newsline that the event's 2025   
   certificate was one that Ken himself designed -- and that only one change was   
   made to it so it reflected that the event was honoring him, as its founder,   
   this year.   
      
   One event operator wrote on Facebook: [quote] "Ken had no idea just what he   
   had created. What started as a small event, over the next 17 years became one   
   of the most participated and celebrated Ham Radio events, not only in the   
   United States, but worldwide." [endquote]   
      
   Next year's event will mark the 250th anniversary of the nation's independence   
   and Tony will be looking for ways to mark that milestone while continuing to   
   honor Ken. He told Newsline: [quote] "I will miss Ken and his guidance."   
   [endquote]   
      
   Ken was 76.   
      
   This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.   
      
   (TONY JONES N4ATJ, LEGACY.COM, FACEBOOK, ARRL)   
      
   **   
   FLORIDA BAPTIST CHURCHES GROW EMERGENCY RADIO NETWORK   
      
   STEPHEN/ANCHOR: People in Florida who turn to their churches in times of need   
   will soon find refuge there in another kind of storm - hurricane season - with   
   the help of amateur radio. Jack Parker W8ISH tells us about creation of a new   
   church radio network-in-progress.   
      
   JACK: His role as the associational mission strategist for the Marion Baptist   
   Association doesn't require Mark Weible, N4GPA, to have a ham license - but   
   Mark, a former pastor, took his FCC test successfully a year ago and since   
   then he has been finding ways to harness ham radio's power for churches'   
   emergency communications during hurricane season.   
      
   The Ocala, Florida Baptist association has already added a radio shack and has   
   plans for a tower. Under Mark's direction, the group is also looking to create   
   a network of hams within its 67 member churches. Pastors are helping Mark   
   locate licensees within their congregations. Meanwhile, the association has a   
   telescoping radio antenna donated after an upgrade done by the Marion   
   Emergency Radio Team, a radio group Mark belongs to which handles disaster   
   communications at the county's Emergency Operations Center.   
      
   Mark plans to give church leaders a tour of the association's radio shack in   
   the hopes it will inspire them to install a shack for their own local   
   congregations. He told the Baptist Press that church involvement makes good   
   sense. He said [quote]:  "If we were to have a hurricane, Id need to know   
   which churches have power, which churches are not damaged and which churches   
   can host disaster relief teams. Id need to know which churches need help and   
   which ones can help. [endquote] Meanwhile, he is busy being helpful even   
   without a radio in hand. His chaplaincy training assists him in helping   
   distraught families cope during or after disasters.   
      
   This is Jack Parker W8ISH.   
      
   (BAPTIST PRESS, FLBAPTIST.ORG)   
      
   **   
   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 Tucson, Arizona on Fridays at 7 pm local time.   
      
   **   
   FCC CHARGES HAM WITH ILLEGAL 40M OPERATION   
      
   STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Even with the government shutdown here in the US, the clock is   
   still ticking for the FCC to receive a response from the Florida ham charged   
   with illegal one-way communications on the air.   
      
   A notice of violation was issued in late September to Mike F. Conte; KA2FPZ,   
   for having operated last March on 7.200 MHz, engaging in apparent one-way   
   communication with a station for which there is no active amateur radio   
   callsign. According to the Notice of Violation, he confirmed to the agent from   
   the Enforcement Bureau that his transmission was a one-way communication.   
      
   The FCC has ordered him to submit a response and explanation in writing within   
   20 days of the notice, which was dated the 29th of September. According to a   
   notice on the FCC website, the shutdown has no impact on filings related to   
   enforcement matters. A statement on the website reads: [quote] "Except as   
   specified by the Enforcement Bureau, there are no extensions of deadlines   
   relating to enforcement investigations and other enforcement proceedings that   
   involve specific parties." [endquote]     
      
   (FCC)   
      
   **   
   IARU FORUM HOSTS TOP DX CONTESTER, OFFERING TIPS   
      
   STEPHEN/ANCHOR: This month, contesters who are used to hearing a familiar   
   callsign on the air from Japan will get a chance to hear him off the air - in   
   a forum designed to help them sharpen their own contest scores. We have those   
   details from John Williams VK4JJW.   
      
   JOHN: There's no guarantee that Katsuhiro Kondou, JH5GHM, will be giving away   
   any of the secrets that have made him one of Japan's top DX contesters   
   but....you never know. Don, as he is also known, is presenting a one-hour   
   virtual talk to DX contesters - or those aspiring to become one - on the 19th   
   of October. His presentation on Zoom begins at 0600 UTC.   
      
   IARU Region 3 is hosting the workshop because, according to the region's   
   website, the number of contesters in Asia has been steadily growing. Don had   
   been an avid contester as a teenager in the 1970s but after a hiatus of a   
   decade or so in the '90s, he returned to ham radio and to contesting in 2010.   
      
   To hear his tips and maybe give yourself an edge in the next big event,   
   register by following the link that appears in the text version of this week's   
   newscast at arnewsline.org   
      
   [DO NOT READ:  https://forms.gle/xL74BfWALEHoDmDD9  ]   
      
   This is John Williams VK4JJW.   
      
   (IARU REGION 3)   
      
   **   
   HURRICANE WATCH NET LAUNCHES PODCAST   
      
   STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Most of you have certainly heard the Hurricane Watch Net on   
   the air but.....have you heard it as a podcast or even seen it on YouTube? Now   
   you can do either - or both - as we hear from Randy Sly W4XJ. But first,   
   listen carefully:   
      
    [sounds of storm building, followed by voice] "Hello everyone   
   and welcome to the very first episode of HWN Report, the official podcast of   
   the Hurricane Watch Net. I'm Bobby Graves."    
      
   RANDY:  With that introduction - and some stormy sound effects - the Hurricane   
   Watch Net celebrates 60 years of service to the United States National   
   Hurricane Center by entering the world of podcasting. What you heard is the   
   introduction to this new program which brings stories, people, and the history   
   of the net to viewers and listeners. Episode 1 of The HWN Report, hosted by   
   net manager, Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, premiered in early September on YouTube,   
   featuring a tribute to Jerry Murphy, K8YUW, the founder of the net.   
      
   Graves told ARNewsline that the purpose of the podcast is to [quote] help   
   others understand the full role of amateur radio during disasters, home or   
   abroad, helping the Hurricane Center and forecasters gather more data -    
   near-real-time ground-truth weather data  and help people to be better   
   prepared before a hurricane. [endquote]   
      
   He announced later that by popular demand, in addition to YouTube, an audio   
   version of each program will be available on services such as Apple, Spotify,   
   Amazon Music and iHeart Podcasts.   
      
   This is Randy Sly, W4XJ   
      
   (BOBBY GRAVES, KB5HAV)   
      
   **   
   WORLD OF DX   
      
   In the World of DX, listen for the Radio Club d'Haiti using the callsign 4V1SB   
   through to the end of October. This is a special callsign commemorating the   
   role Haiti played in assisting the revolutionary efforts of Simon Bolivar, who   
   helped win independence from Spain for many South American countries. The   
   callsign bears his initials. QSL via N2OO.   
      
   Mitsuru, JE1HXZ, is on the air as JE1HXZ/6 from Kita-Daito Island, IOTA Number   
   AS-047, from the 8th through to the 15th of October, using CW, SSB, RTTY and   
   FT8/FT4 on 160-6 metres. QSL via LoTW.   
      
   Listen for the Mediterraneo DX Club which is sending a large multinational   
   team to Sierra Leone using the callsign 9L8MD. They will operate from the 30th   
   of October through to the 10th of November, using CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8/FT4 on   
   160-6 metres.  QSL via IK2VUC.   
      
   Six members of the DX Obsessed Group will be calling QRZ as FW5K from Wallis   
   Island, IOTA number OC-054, from the 19th through to the 31st of October.    
   Listen for them on 160-6 metres using CW, SSB, FT8/FT4 and RTTY. QSL via Club   
   Log's OQRS.   
      
      
   (425 DX BULLETIN)   
      
   **   
   KICKER: A TRIBUTE TO THE HELPING HAMS   
      
   STEPHEN/ANCHOR: For our final story, we honor our mentors, our Elmers - all   
   those more experienced hams who are there to help newcomers. This is the story   
   of one ham's THANK YOU to them all, as we hear from Paul Braun WD9GCO.   
      
   PAUL: One of the most time-honored traditions in amateur radio is that of   
   being an Elmer - a more experienced ham willing to answer questions and pass   
   on knowledge to newer hams.   
      
   The origin of the term is still up for discussion, but the impact they have on   
   the hobby is not.   
      
   On October 3rd, 4th and 5th, Rich Guerrera, KB1FGC, was on the air with a   
   special event celebrating Elmers - particularly the ones who shaped his own   
   life as a ham.   
      
   In an email to Newsline, Guerrera said that two things inspired him to do the   
   event  articles hed read on QRZ.com about hams who had helped others get into   
   the hobby and the positive impact that they had on their early years as hams.   
   He also drew from his personal experience with those hams who had given him a   
   warm response and encouragement when he first started out.   
      
   Guerrera said that operators had confirmed approximately 100 QSOs during the   
   event and received positive responses from hams they worked. Hes planning on   
   doing it again next year, and said that there might be a European team as well.   
      
   On a personal note, I was fortunate to have two exceptional Elmers as a   
   teenager - Bob Heil, K9EID and Steve Ramsey, K9SR who had been friends since   
   they were kids. Sadly, I lost Bob last March and Steve on September 26th of   
   this year. But the lessons they taught me and their memories continue to drive   
   me as a ham, and inspire me to pass along what knowledge I have when someone   
   asks a question. Elmering should continue - theres always something to learn   
   in this hobby that someone else has already tried.   
      
   I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO   
      
   **   
   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;ARRL; Baptist Press; Birds-X Project; Bobby   
   Graves, KB5HAV; David Behar K7DB; DXNews; 425DX Bulletin; Facebook; FCC;   
   FLBaptist.org; 425DXBulletin; IARU Region 3; Legacy.com; The Morning; Ofcom;   
   QRZ.com; SatNogs.org; Scottish Microwave Roundtable; TheRegister.com;   
   shortwaveradio.de; Tony Jones N4ATJ; Wireless Institute of Australia; 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.   
      
   ** Support BBS' ARNewsline AUDIO is available for download at The Rat's Den   
   (AMIGA).   
      
   Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)   
   Blog and Forums  - www.catracing.org   
   IMAGE BBS! 3.0   - bbs.catracing.org 6400   
   C-Net Amiga BBS  - bbs.catracing.org 6840   
   --- CNet/5   
    * Origin: The Rat's Den BBS (1:135/250)   
   SEEN-BY: 1/120 18/0 200 19/10 104/119 105/81 106/201 114/10 116/116   
   SEEN-BY: 120/616 123/0 25 126 180 525 755 3001 3002 128/187 129/14   
   SEEN-BY: 129/305 135/0 115 205 220 240 250 363 384 390 391 153/757   
   SEEN-BY: 153/7715 154/10 30 50 110 700 201/0 218/700 840 220/20 30   
   SEEN-BY: 220/90 221/1 6 360 222/2 226/18 30 44 50 227/114 229/110   
   SEEN-BY: 229/111 200 206 300 307 310 312 317 400 426 428 470 664 700   
   SEEN-BY: 229/705 250/1 266/512 275/1000 280/5003 291/111 292/854 8125   
   SEEN-BY: 301/1 320/219 322/757 335/364 341/66 234 342/200 396/45 423/81   
   SEEN-BY: 460/58 633/280 712/848 1321 902/26 2320/105 3634/0 12 27   
   SEEN-BY: 3634/56 57 58 60 119 5020/400 5075/35   
   PATH: 135/250 115 3634/12 154/10 221/6 1 292/854 229/426