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   /// Break - Begin Newsline content ///   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2520 for Friday, February 13th, 2026   
        
   Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2520 with a release date of Friday,   
   February 13th, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a QST.  Kenya becomes the only African nation hosting   
   astronaut ham radio contacts. Shortwave service delivers news to Iran -- and   
   transmitter-wearing birds in Australia give lessons in survival. All this and   
   more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2520 comes your way right now.   
      
   **   
      
   BILLBOARD CART   
      
   **   
   KENYA JOINS ARISS AS ITS SOLE AFRICAN NATION   
      
   JIM/ANCHOR: In this week's top story, the African nation of Kenya takes a big   
   leap forward, as amateur radio and space converge formally in the months   
   ahead: Kenya has become part of ARISS, Amateur Radio on the International   
   Space Station. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF brings us the details.   
      
   JIM: The Kenya Space Agency has announced that students, professionals and   
   others will have an opportunity to communicate live over amateur radio with   
   astronauts aboard the ISS. Kenya has become the only African nation chosen to   
   participate in the program. Astronaut contacts are expected to take place   
   between July and December.   
      
   The country's selection comes as it deepens its commitment to providing   
   greater STEM education. The nation has been encouraging space science studies   
   and innovation through efforts such as the Kenya National Science Technology   
   Engineering and Mathematics Learning Ecosystem. This national emphasis is a   
   major part of Vision 2030, a development initiative to industrialize and raise   
   the quality of life in Kenya.   
      
   In preparation for ARISS participation, Kenya's space agency and the   
   Pan-African Citizen Science e-Laboratory will collaborate on public outreach   
   technical coordination and of course, the selection of schools and other   
   educational institutions.   
      
   This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.   
      
   (KENYA SPACE AGENCY, AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)   
      
   **   
   IRAN RECEIVES BBC SHORTWAVE RADIO PROGRAMMING   
      
   JIM/ANCHOR: Shortwave radio, so valued as a carrier of critical information at   
   various times in the world's history, has been declining. The BBC, however,   
   has brought back an emergency shortwave radio service to deliver programming   
   to Iran. Graham Kemp VK4BB has the details.   
      
   GRAHAM: The turmoil in Iran that led to an information blackout in that nation   
   has prompted the BBC to launch a temporary shortwave radio service for   
   listeners there. Medium and shortwave frequencies have been carrying   
   programmes each day starting at 1630 UTC. The content includes news and   
   analysis relevant to Iran and provides a global perspective. In announcing the   
   service, the BBC said this was part of its tradition of providing crisis   
   broadcasting, adding that the broadcasts will remain on the air until the end   
   of March.   
      
   Half-hour programming is broadcast starting at 16:30 UTC on both 702 kHz and   
   9465 kHz and repeated starting at 1800 UTC on both 702 kHz and 5935 kHz.   
      
   This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.   
      
   (BBC, RADIOTODAY)   
      
   **   
   VICTORY IN SCOTLAND FOR AMATEUR'S TOWER INSTALLATION   
      
   JIM/ANCHOR: Victory was never sweeter for a ham in Scotland who has   
   successfully appealed the local planners' rejection of his tower plans. We   
   learn more from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.   
      
   JEREMY: The foundations dug and the concrete base with anchor bolts installed,   
   the greatest obstacle facing John Grieve, GM3RTIs tower project, has been the   
   Scottish winter weather, so John needs to proceed slowly with pulleys, wire   
   ropes and other work;  but it was only a few months ago that he could not   
   proceed at all.   
      
   Despite supporting statements from neighbours and the Radio Society of Great   
   Britain, the local Perth and Kinross Council rejected Johns planning   
   application for the tilt-over, telescoping structure in the garden behind his   
   home in the village of Inchture. It was to have had an operating height of 15   
   metres, or 50 feet. John told Newsline that hed had little opportunity to   
   communicate directly with the Council beforehand. The rejection stated that   
   the project would [quote] have a detrimental impact on the character and   
   environmental quality of the application property and the surrounding area.   
      
   John, who is also an RSGB Region 2 representative, contacted the RSGB Planning   
   Advisory Committee for an appeal in October. In mid-December 2025, he received   
   a 10-year approval. John also gained enthusiastic support on social media: an   
   update on the RSGBs Facebook page reached more than 35,000 supporters in just   
   a few days, according to society spokeswoman Heather Parsons M7OWS.   
      
   Now if only John could similarly appeal against the Scottish winter   
   weather...     
      
   This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.   
      
   (RSGB, JOHN GRIEVE, GM3RTI)   
      
   **   
   NEW HAMPSHIRE POISED TO OK HAM RADIO LICENSE PLATES   
      
   JIM/ANCHOR: In the US, the state of New Hampshire is poised to approve amateur   
   radio license plates for vehicles registered to hams. Sel Embee KB3TZD has   
   that story.   
      
   SEL: Amateur radio operators in New Hampshire are eagerly awaiting the passage   
   of a measure by their state lawmakers to create a new vanity license plate   
   type for motor vehicles that clearly identifies the owner of the vehicle to be   
   an amateur radio operator.   
      
   A public hearing was held last month on the House Bill which would authorize   
   the creation of vanity license plates and decals that identify amateur radio   
   operators by their Federal Communications Commission call sign. If the owner   
   chooses not to display their call sign they may use a standard issue plate   
   featuring a lightning bolt symbol to indicate their status as a licensed   
   amateur radio operator.   
      
   If lawmakers approve the bill, it would still need the signature of Gov. Kelly   
   Ayotte (AY-ott) before becoming law. Gov. Ayotte (AY-ott) has shown support of   
   ham radio, proclaiming June of last year "Amateur Radio Month" in recognition   
   of radio operators' important roles in public service and emergency   
   communications.   
      
   This is Sel Embee, K-B-3-T-Zed-D.   
      
   (QRZ.COM, STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE)   
      
   **   
   GPS INTERFERENCE WARNING IN CENTRAL TEXAS   
      
   JIM/ANCHOR: People in or near central Texas who rely on GPS received a warning   
   from the US military base at Fort Hood that wide-ranging GPS tests there might   
   cause interference with their own personal devices. Kevin Trotman N5PRE picks   
   up the story from here.   
      
   KEVIN: Farmers, pilots and smartphone-users and anyone else who relies on GPS   
   to get from here to there have been paying close attention to an alert from   
   the US military base at Fort Hood in Texas. The announcement said that   
   throughout February, the region that includes Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and   
   even Oklahoma City could experience interference and disruptions. The final   
   rounds of testing are to be held on February 13th and 14th from 3 to 5 a.m.   
   local time and resuming nightly from February 15th through to the 22nd. The   
   final testing period is February 23rd through to the 27th.   
      
   This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.   
      
   (FAA, KXXV-TV)   
       
   **   
   BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio   
   Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the W3FDK   
   repeater in Frederick, Maryland and the Echolink node N3RO-L on Thursdays at 7   
   pm local time, followed by the weekly Weather Net.   
      
   **   
   US ADVANCED CLASS OPERATORS HOST POPULAR NET   
      
   JIM/ANCHOR: Proud to have operating licenses as Advanced Class hams, a   
   friendly group meets a few times a week on 20 meters. Others are welcome too,   
   as we hear from Travis Lisk N3ILS.   
      
   TRAVIS: The A13 Advanced Class Preservation Society is more than a gathering   
   of friends - it is a circle of amateur radio operators who celebrate their   
   status as the last holders of a class of license the Federal Communications   
   Commission stopped granting nearly 26 years ago. The  holders of these   
   licenses, which are still renewable indefinitely, created the society in 2020   
   as a welcoming place. It became the home of a ragchew net that operates on   
   Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on 14.213 MHz at 1700 UTC, with Scott Endsley,   
   W5HVO, as primary net control.   
      
   Although 445 hams hold numbered certificates of membership in this group, they   
   extend a welcome to any Advanced and Extra Class operators, as well as DX    
   hams who would like to check in.   
      
   The elimination of the Advanced Class license was undertaken as a streamlining   
   move - an action that created a three-license system that also removed the   
   entry-level Novice Class.   
      
   This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.   
        
   (QRZ.COM FORUMS, FCC)   
      
   **   
   CONSTRUCTION COMPETITION IN UK EYES MAKER COMMUNITY   
      
   JIM/ANCHOR: Some new elements have been introduced into the Radio Society of   
   Great Britains annual Construction Competition. Jeremy Boot G4NJH explains   
   whats different.   
      
   JEREMY: As in previous years, the RSGBs Construction Competition has six   
   categories which emphasize the hands-on building and designing of projects -   
   activities that are rooted deeply in ham radio. Organisers have introduced a   
   new category this year - Reimagination - which still draws its challenges from   
   radio but produces projects with an appeal to non-amateurs, such as   
   individuals in the Maker community. The society hopes that these innovative   
   entries will shine even more of a spotlight on what ham radio is all about.   
      
   This is an international competition. Entries can be from anywhere in the   
   world but competitors must belong to the RSGB.    
      
   The deadline for entries is the 1st of March. For details on how to enter and   
   for a list of the other six categories, visit rsgb.org and search for   
   construction competition.   
      
   This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.   
      
   (RSGB)   
      
   **   
   WORLD OF DX   
      
   In the World of DX, Hide, JO1CRA/JR6 will be on the air from the Yaeyama   
   Islands, IOTA Number AS-024, from the 17th through to the 21st of February. He   
   will be operating mainly CW and FT8  on 40, 30, 20, 17, 10 and 6 metres.    
      
   Listen for a team of operators with the callsign T45FM, on the air using CW,   
   SSB, FT8 and FT4  from the lighthouse at  Punta Maya, Cuba, IOTA Number    
   NA-015. They will be active from the 20th to the 22nd of February during the   
   American Lighthouses Weekend.   
      
   Three special callsigns will be on the air for several weeks marking a   
   half-century of German research in  Antarctica. Listen for DAØANT, DM5ØANT and   
   DP5ØANT from  the 15th of February through to the 30th of April.   
      
   Ulmar, DK1CE is calling QRZ as TZ1CE  from Bamako, Mali until the 1st of   
   March. Listen for him operating mainly SSB and FT8. His main focus will be FT8   
   on 160m, 80m and 6m.   
      
   See QRZ.com for QSL information and other operating details for these stations.   
      
   (425 DX BULLETIN)   
      
   **   
   KICKER: TINY BIRDS TRANSMIT THE SECRET OF THEIR SURVIVAL   
      
   JIM/ANCHOR: As anyone who has ever worked a satellite - or does so regularly -   
   working these birds, as they are known, has its rewards. A group of   
   researchers in Australia has also been working the birds, a species known as a   
   white-backed swallow, using temperature-sensing radio transmitters. Theyve   
   received some great results, as we hear from John Williams VK4JJW.   
      
   JOHN: No matter which hemisphere you live in, no doubt this year has already   
   shaped up to be a time of weather extremes. Wherever you are, you have a lot   
   in common with the white-backed swallow, a prevalent species here in Australia   
   with the very uncommon ability to survive despite freezing temperatures to   
   blasting heat. Were talking about as much as 50 degrees Celsius - thats 122   
   degrees Fahrenheit - and we Australians especially can relate!   
      
   To learn how the birds survive, researchers in central Australias Sturt   
   National Park outfitted some of them with tiny transmitters. This was not an   
   avian Parks on the Air; this was a research project to monitor the birds   
   physiological responses through biologging - a way to record and transmit   
   their body temperatures changes as the birds slept in their burrows at night.   
      
   The result? A highly successful Worked All States of Bird Physiology. The   
   collected data confirmed the scientists theory that a deep torpor - an   
   essential near-shutdown of metabolism, heart rate and breathing - was   
   essential for these birds, just as for some other bird species, such as the   
   tiny hummingbirds in some regions of the world.   
      
   The results were recently published in the journal Current Biology. The   
   scientists called the transmitters key to their findings because data could be   
   gathered in the wild instead of an artificial setting, such as a laboratory.   
   Hams, of course, would not be surprised at radios reliability. After all, the   
   researchers HAD created a Reverse Beak Network.     
      
   This is John Williams VK4JJW.   
      
   (THE CONVERSATION.COM)   
      
   **   
   Newsline wishes to thank all the listeners who did their creative best to meet   
   our haiku challenge each week. We are taking a break now and hope you'll use   
   the extra time to check your SWR, chase a DXpedition or install new logging   
   software. Thanks for making it fun - and don't forget to visit our website at   
   arnewsline.org to see some of the past winners.   
      
   NEWSCAST CLOSE   
      
   With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily, AMSAT News Service; The Conversation.com;   
   David Behar, K7DB; FAA; FCC; 425DX Bulletin; John Grieve, GM3RTI; Kenya Space   
   Agency; KXXV-TV; QRZ.com Forums; Radio Society of Great Britain;   
   shortwaveradio.de; Space.com; 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 Jim Damron N8TMW in Charleston West Virginia 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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