MSGID: 1:135/250@fidonet 69621406   
   PID: C-NET AMIGA BBS 5.36b   
   Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2515 for Friday, January 9th, 2026   
        
   Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2515 with a release date of Friday,   
   January 9th, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a QST. The FCC bans the sale of foreign-made drones in the   
   US. Montenegro launches its first satellite -- and an HF net to take care of   
   family caregivers.  All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number   
   2515 comes your way right now.   
      
   **   
      
   BILLBOARD CART   
      
   **   
   FCC BANS IMPORT, SALE OF FOREIGN-MADE DRONES   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: Our top story is of particular interest to drone-users. A ban on   
   imports into the US now means that only American-made drones with   
   American-made parts may be sold here. Kent Peterson KCØDGY picks up the story   
   from here.   
      
   KENT: The import and sale of foreign-made drones and components are now banned   
   in the US, following action by the Federal Communications Commission, citing   
   the potential of national security risks. The agency's move follows an   
   executive order from the White House in June, banning unmanned aircraft   
   systems and their parts.   
      
   The executive order, known as "Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty,"   
   stated that the move also has the goal of boosting drone manufacture in the US   
   for use here and for export to the global marketplace.   
      
   The ban is expected to have far-reaching effects on drone sellers as well as   
   their customers. Drones are widely used by first responders, farmers, business   
   owners and hobbyists. The ban affects only new products that are not already   
   here in the US.   
      
   This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.   
      
   (FCC)   
      
   **   
   SWEEPING REGULATION CHANGES FOR UK DRONES   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: As of January 1st, the landscape for drone operators has also   
   changed in the UK, under new Civil Aviation Authority regulations. Each drone   
   to be sold must carry Class Marks that reflect compliance with that particular   
   aircraft's technical and safety standards. The Class Marks are similar to   
   those used in the EU and cover where and how the drone can be flown.   
       
   There is also an array of new regulations covering different weights of drones   
   and their permitted proximity to people - or crowds of people. Drones carrying   
   cameras, and weighing at least 100 grams, are also required to have a Flyer   
   ID. A Remote ID is also required to transmit the drone's identification and   
   its location while airborne.   
      
   The new regulations apply to drone use by hobbyists as well as professionals.   
   The class-based regulations do not apply to drones purchased before the first   
   of this year. They will instead operate under the weight-based rules.   
      
   For specific rules, visit c a a dot c o dot uk stroke drones (caa.co.uk/drones)   
      
   (YOUTUBE, TECHRADAR, UK CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY)   
      
   **   
   MONTENEGRO LAUNCHES FIRST SATELLITE   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: There's a bit of celebration in Montenegro, which recently marked   
   a satellite "first," as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.   
      
   JEREMY: The small Balkan nation of Montenegro finished 2025 by taking a   
   history-making step into space with the launch of its first satellite.   
      
   Weighing just under 2 kilogrammes, the 1U CubeSat began its journey on the   
   28th of December aboard a Soyuz carrier rocket from Russia's new cosmodrome   
   near the border with China. A project of Montenegro Space Research, it is   
   designed to collect data for transmission back to Earth. On board are a   
   high-resolution camera, solar panels and a variety of sensors - all designed   
   to function throughout the satellite's three-year mission in low-earth orbit.   
      
   Montenegro's amateur radio association announced that it received its first   
   telemetry signals from the satellite on the 31st of December, adding that it   
   planned to donate an antenna to the space research organisation for everyday   
   reception.   
      
   The satellite has been named Luca [pronounced: LOO CHA], which is Montenegrin   
   for "light."   
      
   This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.   
      
   (SPACEWATCH GLOBAL, MONTENEGRO SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION)   
      
   **   
   NEW HOLLAND RADIO SHACK ACQUIRES QUICKSILVER RADIO   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: A well-regarded electronics supply business in Connecticut is not   
   closing its doors after the death of its founder last year. Instead, the   
   company is moving, as we hear from Sel Embee KB3TZD.   
      
   SEL: Quicksilver Radio Products, the popular Connecticut-based business   
   established by John Bartscherer, N1GNV, two decades ago, is relocating to   
   Pennsylvania as a division of the New Holland Radio Shack.   
      
   John, who was widely known as John Bee, became a Silent Key in October of 2025   
   while he was hospitalized. The death of the popular and personable radio   
   amateur also drew concerns among loyal longtime customers that his business   
   would permanently close its doors. In a late December announcement that   
   appeared in the QRZ.com forums and on Facebook, the company said it was in the   
   process of moving its inventory to its new location. Quicksilver said that the   
   company also planned to have a presence at Hamcation in Orlando, Florida in   
   February.   
      
   The business' website, qsradio.com, is also operating again.   
      
   This is Sel Embee, KB3TZD.   
      
   (QRZ.COM FORUMS, FACEBOOK)   
      
   **   
   EXPERIMENTAL HF STATIONS LOSE CALLSIGN-ID WAIVER   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: Experimental HF stations that had previously held waivers   
   exempting them from station identification are now being required to transmit   
   their assigned callsigns at least once every half-hour. The FCC sent letters   
   in December to those stations who held the temporary waivers saying it was   
   dropping the exemptions following complaints of interference from other   
   spectrum users. The experimental licenses are for stations operating on the   
   band between 2 and 25 MHz.   
      
   A posting on Radio World reported the change, which first appeared in   
   Experimental Radio News from Bennett Kobb, AK4AV   
       
   The FCC has said that the identification must be in either by voice or Morse   
   Code and that digital encoding and digital modulation must be disabled during   
   the ID.   
      
   (RADIO WORLD)   
      
   **   
      
   HALL OF FAME NOMINATION PERIOD OPENS   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: Do you know any hams who are potential Hall of Famers? Listen up!   
   Here's Jack Parker W8ISH.   
      
   JACK: Nominations are open now through to the 31st of March for candidates to   
   be nominated for entry to the Heritage CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. Licensed   
   hams and any individuals whose actions have an impact on amateur radio are   
   eligible.   
      
   The Heritage CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame continues the tradition established   
   in 2001 by CQ magazine, which has ceased publication. Hamgallery oversees the   
   hall of fame and is accepting nominations sent to the attention of Tom Roscoe   
   K8CX at k8cx@hamgallery.com   
      
   A diverse group of licensed amateurs will review the nominations. Please   
   ensure that the words "CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame" appear in your email's   
   subject line.    
      
   There will be a maximum of three inductees.   
      
   This is Jack Parker W8ISH.   
      
   (QRZ.COM FORUMS)   
      
   **   
   NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR CONTEST HALL OF FAME   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: The nomination period is also open through to the 1st of March   
   for the Contest Hall of Fame, which is being managed by the World Wide Radio   
   Operators Foundation. Originally established by CQ magazine in 1986,   
   candidates for inclusion are those who have personal operating achievements   
   but also provided meaningful support to others in pursuit of contesting   
   excellence.  Recent inductees include Uli Weiss, DJ2YA and Pat Barkey, N9RV.   
   The hall of fame also includes Silent Key Dick Ross, K2MGA, president of CQ   
   publishing.   
      
   For details visit the website contest h o f - that's one word - dot com   
   (contesthof.com)   
      
   (CONTEST HALL OF FAME)   
      
   **   
   MINNESOTA AMATEURS HONOR WW2 MILITARY CHAPLAIN   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: A Minnesota amateur radio club is honoring the US Army chaplain   
   whose prayers provided courage and faith to Gen. George Patton's troops during   
   World War 2. He also happened to be a licensed ham who became a Silent Key in   
   1995. Kent Peterson KCØDGY brings us the details.   
      
   KENT: Father George Metcalf, who held the callsign WØJH, also held faith in   
   the troops he served under Gen. George Patton -- and that favorable weather   
   would aid the Allies' efforts during the Battle of the Bulge. With the help of   
   a fellow military chaplain, the priest offered a prayer for the Allies to   
   enter the key battle under fair skies.   
      
   In the decade following the war's end, the Episcopal priest made his home at   
   what is now the Belwin Conservancys Savanna Center in Afton, Minnesota. On   
   January 9th, 10th and 11th, the Stillwater Amateur Radio Association will be   
   on the air from the priest's former home to honor him and will be using his   
   original callsign. They will be joined by Father Brian K. Burgess, KD4UTL, an   
   Episcopal bishop who will be visiting from Illinois to operate with the hams   
   and officiate on Sunday at a local service.   
      
   This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.   
      
   (PIONEER PRESS, SARA)   
      
   **   
   GERMAN AMATEURS' ACCESS TO 70 MHz BAND IN LIMBO   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: In Germany, amateurs' use of the 70 MHz band appears to be in   
   limbo as of January 1st. The annual temporary-use permit that had been in   
   place expired on the 31st of December. The regulator has taken no action to   
   renew it.   
      
   The Novice-level -- the middle licence class in Germany -- amateur radio   
   licenses have had temporary permission to use the 6-metre band. The nation's   
   regulator, BNETzA a Federal Agency, has not extended these operating   
   privileges for Class E license holders. Any amateurs wishing to transmit on 50   
   MHz in Germany must hold a Class A, full license, which has had permanent   
   access to the band since June 2024.   
      
   (D A R C)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio   
   Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the Midstate   
   Hams WA9RDF repeater in Greenwood Indiana on Sundays at 7 p.m. local time.   
      
   **   
   UK TELEGRAPHY STATION MARKS 125th ANNIVERSARY   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: One hundred twenty-five years have passed since commercial   
   telegraphy began at the Lizard Wireless Station in the UK, where operators   
   discovered that radio waves could follow the curve of the earth. This month,   
   hams are at that same clifftop site in Cornwall marking the occasion - and the   
   role the station played in the shaping communications forever. We hear more   
   from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.   
      
   JEREMY: The commercial telegraphy station that opened in 1901 at the Lizard   
   Wireless Station captured the imagination of the pioneer Guglielmo Marconi. He   
   used it as a test site while planning what was to become part of his historic   
   transatlantic transmissions from nearby Poldhu in December of that year. By   
   then, radio had already emerged as a prominent communication force: Just 23   
   days after the Lizard station opened, its operators received the first   
   over-the-horizon wireless signals sent from St Catherines Point on the Isle of   
   Wight. It was a record-setting moment.   
      
   The station's historic callsign, GB4LWS, is back on the air throughout the   
   month of January. Ham radio operators from the Cornish Radio Amateur Club join   
   Geoff GØFHT and Tim MØAFJ of the National Trust to mark the anniversary.   
      
   Geoff, who is the Lizard's amateur radio operations manager, told Newsline   
   that the celebration recognises the station's role in creating the foundation   
   for our modern connected world.   
      
   This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.   
      
   (WIA, NATIONAL TRUST, GEOFF GØFHT)   
      
   **   
   DX REBEL GROUP EXPEDITES CONWAY REEF PLANS   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: It's a race against the clock - or at least the calendar - for   
   members of the Rebel DX Group, as they step up their plans to activate a very   
   environmentally sensitive DX location: Conway Reef, 300 miles south of Fiji.   
   John Williams VK4JJW has those details.   
      
   JOHN: The Rebel DX Group has announced that they expect to face fully   
   restricted physical access to Conway Reef but are nonetheless hoping to   
   activate the site before the new limitations begin. The team posted a notice   
   on various DX news sites saying [quote] "We are quickly organizing a trip to   
   3D2/C before the new restrictions take place." [endquote] The team reports   
   that Fiji's Ministry of Fisheries will soon designate the site as a   
   restricted-access zone. No specific dates were provided in their announcement   
   -- either for the activation plans or the start of the restrictions.   
      
   A trip to Conway Reef would mark a fourth return there. The Rebel DX group   
   activated it in May of 2024 as 3D2CCC, facing numerous challenges, including   
   very windy conditions and issues with birds interfering with the equipment.   
      
   This is John Williams VK4JJW   
      
   (DX WORLD.NET, FACEBOOK)   
      
   **   
   HAM CLUB CW ACTIVITY BUILDS NEWCOMERS' CONFIDENCE   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: The letter "X" is often used to symbolize a crossing and one ham   
   club based in Japan is putting that symbol to good use, helping new CW   
   operators cross the barrier of fear. Jason Daniels VK2LAW gives us the details.   
      
   JASON: The activity is called "CQ XING," or "CQ Crossing," and it was launched   
   on the 1st of January by the A1Club to help new CW operators overcome their   
   fear of having QSOs longer than the customary short exchange. Described as a   
   "crossing to meet more CW friends," the activity centers around 7.030 MHz,   
   particularly on Fridays from 1300 to 1500 UTC. The international club, which   
   is based in Japan, said in its announcement that while a simple exchange of   
   RSTs is often fine, amateurs engaging in "CQ XING" (SEE CUE EXXING} are   
   leaving the opportunity open for something a bit longer - even a ragchew. The   
   club said that calling CQ in this manner conveys [quote] "our shared desire to   
   operate with consideration and respect, making it easier for CW beginners to   
   participate...." [endquote]   
      
   Any ham hearing the message "CQ A1C XING" is  welcome to reply. A speed of   
   between 10 and 20 wpm is suggested.   
      
   To find out more about the A1 club, visit the link in the text version of this   
   week's newscast at arnewsline.org   
      
   [DO NOT READ:      https://a1club.org/A1_club_e.htm ]   
      
   This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW   
      
   (NZ NET NEWS)   
      
   **   
   WORLD OF DX   
      
   In the World of DX, listen for Giovanni IZ2DPX operating as PJ7/IZ2DPX, and   
   Flavio IW2NEF, operating as PJ7/IW2NEF as they activate Sint Maarten, IOTA   
   Number NA-105. They will be on the air from the 13th through to the 21st of   
   January, using SSB and FT8/FT4 on various bands.   
      
   The D A R C Team SES will be active as DH2026EM between the 10th of January   
   and the 10th of February during the Men's European Handball Championship being   
   cohosted by  Denmark, Sweden and Norway.   
      
   Mathias, DL4MM is on the air as P4ØAA from Aruba, IOTA number SA-036, from the   
   11th through to the 29th of January and his operations will include the CQ WW   
   160-Meter CW Contest. Outside the contest, listen for him using CW, SSB and   
   FT8 on 160-10 metres.   
      
   A group of radio operators from the Palau Radio Club are on Koror Island, IOTA   
   number OC-009, operating from the 7th through to the 15th of January. Listen   
   for T88HS, T88SM and T88XE. The three wlil be using various bands and modes.   
      
   See QRZ.com for all QSL details about these activations.   
      
   (425 DX BULLETIN)   
      
   **   
   KICKER:  WHEN HAMS CARE TO TAKE CARE   
      
   NEIL/ANCHOR: Hams, by many definitions, are caretakers. Through public   
   service, they care for their communities. Through fellowship, they mentor and   
   care for one another. There is also another level of caretaking - one that has   
   less visibility but carries perhaps the greatest commitment of all. In our   
   final story for this week, Jim Davis, W2JKD, explains.   
      
   JIM: Forty-eight Novembers have come and gone since Doug KC2YME and his wife,   
   Linda, were married and they have rarely been apart. The couple raised three   
   sons and even as Doug pursued his career, he found joy in his off-hours as a   
   ham radio operator. Those off-hours are precious to him now since he retired   
   to become fulltime caregiver to his wife, who has dementia and requires kidney   
   dialysis. Being deaf, she either reads his lips or increasingly relies on   
   messages being written down.   
      
   Still, amateur radio is there for him and, at times, Dougs ragchews have put   
   him in touch with any number of amateurs who, like him, are devoting time    
   sometimes fulltime  to a family members complex needs. He is now hoping to   
   bring together these kindred spirits to gather on 40 metres to share insights,   
   stories and ultimately friendship. He is looking for suggestions as to the   
   date and time for such a net. Anyone wishing to join to or learn more can   
   contact him at k c 2 y me ham @ gmail.com   
      
   This is Jim Davis W2JKD.   
      
   (DOUG BACKER, KC2YME)   
      
   **   
      
   HAIKU AND CLOSE   
      
   It's a new year - how about some new ham radio haikus from our Newsline   
   listeners? Visit our website at arnewsline.org and as you compose your ode to   
   your favorite on-the-air 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 your inspired haiku will be highlighted on our website,   
   where everyone can read it.   
      
   NEWSCAST CLOSE   
      
   With thanks to Amateur News Daily;  AMSAT News Service; ARRL; Bennett Kobb   
   AK4AV; David Behar, K7DB; D A R C; DX News; Doug Backer, KC2YME; FCC; 425DX   
   Bulletin; Geoff GØFHT; Montenegro Space Research Organisation; National Trust;   
   NZNet News; Pioneer Press; RadioWorld; shortwaveradio.de; SpaceWatch Global;   
   Stillwater Amateur Radio Association; 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 Neil Rapp WB9VPG in Union, Kentucky saying 73. As   
   always we thank you for listening. We wish all our listeners the very best for   
   the year ahead in 2026. 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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