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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2476 for Friday, April 11th,
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2476 for Friday, April 11th, 2025
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2476 with a release date of Friday, April 11th, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-
1.
The following is a QST. Mt. Athos contacts will be honored for the DXCC awards program. Meteor scatter exercise
provides a dress rehearsal for 2 later this year -- and get ready for World Amateur Radio Day.. All this and
more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2476 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
MOUNT ATHOS CONTACTS DEEMED VALID TOWARD DXCC
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Our top story brings us the resolution of a question that had been simmering since the Mt.
Athos DXpedition team terminated its activation suddenly this past January amid controversy. If you contacted
the team, there is some good news for you, as we hear from Jim Damron N8TMW.
JIM: The DXCC Desk of the ARRL has determined that contacts made with the SV1GA/A team at Mt. Athos this past
January meet the criteria for counting toward the DXCC award program. The ARRL made the announcement on its
website on Friday, the 4th of April. DX chasers had been waiting to hear whether their QSOs counted ever since
the team's planned 10-day operation was quickly and unexpectedly halted amid controversy. Local authorities
challenged whether the hams had obtained the appropriate permission to be there.
Mt. Athos, an autonomous region governed by the monastic community in northeastern Greece, is a World Heritage
Site and 28th on the ClubLog Most Wanted List.
The ARRL ended its announcement by saying: [quote] "Any future operations by this team from Mt. Athos will
require additional documentation for securing accreditation for DXCC credit." [endquote]
This is Jim Damron N8TMW.
(ARRL)
**
HAMS INVITED TO MONITOR METEOR SCATTER EVENTS
SKEETER/ANCHOR: There will be April showers - meteor showers, that is - and volunteers are needed to monitor an
event this month that is known as the Lyrids shower. Andy Morrison K9AWM has the details
ANDY: This is a big year for meteor-scatter experiments to be conducted by HamSCI during the Perseids showers
in August and the Geminids showers in December. For hams who are hoping to participate in either or both of the
Meteor Scatter QSO Parties taking place during those events, there is important work to be done this month.
The citizen science research group is encouraging operators to get ready by setting up your equipment now in
time for the Lyrids shower, which will be peaking on the 21st and 22nd of April. The days before and after
those dates are also expected to provide good opportunities to take advantage of meteor scatter. Radio
operators may participate either actively by calling CQ or passively, by monitoring and reporting.
Operators may use MSK144 within the WSJT-X software on both 10 and 6 metres. SWLs and hams may also participate
passively by monitoring via PSK Reporter to send in their findings.
Details about HamSCI’s plans for the meteor-scatter investigations can be found at the link that appears in the
text version of this week’s newscast at arnewsline.org
This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.
DO NOT READ hamsci.org/msqp-poster
(HAMSCI)
**
HAMS WEIGH IN ON FCC INVITATION FOR REGULATION COMMENTS
SKEETER/ANCHOR: With Friday, April 11th, as its deadline for initial comments, the US Federal Communications
Commission will begin reviewing public suggestions on what regulations to cut to reduce unnecessary agency
burdens - regulations covering everything from commercial broadcasting to consumer wireless devices to
satellite operation. Outside the commercial sector, ham radio operators have weighed in too, as we hear from
Paul Braun WD9GCO.
PAUL: Suggestions varied widely among hams who responded to the FCC’s invitation – but for the most part there
appeared to be a strong call for continued regulation of amateur radio with no changes to the three-tier
license system or testing. Some hams did request changes - either that the license system be streamlined - or
simply be eliminated.
The spectrum appeared to be a major concern, as some hams pressed the FCC to retain amateur privileges on the
current bands. The FCC has set April 28th as the deadline for reply comments. All filings on the FCC website
should be made in reference to Docket Number 25-133.
This is Paul Braun WD9GCO.
(FCC, RADIO WORLD)
**
'MUD MOSEY' IS A RAIN OR SHINE EVENT
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Using the communications style of a tactical net, a team of hams in Pennsylvania has become a
reliable source of reassurance at an event known as a "Mud Mosey." Travis Lisk N3ILS explains.
TRAVIS: The forecast for Saturday, April 12th is irrelevant. Under gray skies or sun, the second annual Great
Marsh Mud Mosey and Mud Walk moves forward in Pennsylvania.
As Tom Costello, KC3TMT, told Newsline: [quote] “It’s rain or shine, that’s why they call it the Mud Mosey.ö
[endquote]
Tom is at the helm of a collection of hams from Remote Communications and Command – or RCOMM for short. This is
the second year they are serving as communications support for this fundraiser, which benefits the Great Marsh
Institute, a 700-acre natural and scientific environment and ChesCo Search Dogs, a nonprofit group that works
with search and rescue operations.
The job for the team of 15 amateurs at the Mud Mosey is to keep the line of communications open on 2-meter
simplex through a modified tactical net for the benefit of the 80 to 100 runners or walkers on the 5-kilometer
path. The trail – like the event name suggests – can get more than a little bit down and dirty, even for the
more mellow participants who tackle their shorter route as a 1-mile walk. Tom said that next year's operations
may be conducted with the addition of a mobile repeater.
The day is serious business but in a light, family-friendly party atmosphere. The Mud Mosey hour passes quickly
and then the focus turns to the search-dog demonstrations, the DJ and the food and beverage trucks. That makes
it all – hopefully – more fun-packed than mud-packed.
This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.
(TOM COSTELLO, KC3TMT)
**
HAM RADIO NEWS PRESENTER RETIRES AT 101
SKEETER/ANCHOR: From time to time, we here at Newsline like to acknowledge some of our colleagues in amateur
radio media, people who - like us - work to keep hams around the world informed. One of them is retiring from
the GB2RS newscast in the UK at the age of 101 - and we are about to learn more about him from Jeremy Boot
G4NJH.
JEREMY: Happy birthday and happy retirement to Peter Valentine, GØNQZ, who upon reaching the age of 101 on the
12th of April, has decided to take things a little easier…..but only just a little. Peter is still an active
radio ham and participant in regular nets, including the HF nets of the International Short Wave League and the
Radio Amateurs Old Timers’ Association. Peter has to his credit an enviable record as a presenter for the Radio
Society of Great Britain’s GB2RS report. Best wishes and see you on the air, Peter!
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
(RSGB)
**
NOMINATE OUR NEXT YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Each year, the Amateur Radio Newsline Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award
receives nominations of promising young hams who truly impress our judges. It is time once again to give them
an opportunity at the recognition they deserve. Consider nominating an amateur radio operator 18 years of age
or younger here in the continental United States. Consider someone who has talent, promise and a commitment to
the spirit of ham radio. Find application forms on our website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab. We are
accepting nominations through May 31st.
**
THE WORLD IS MARKING WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Hams around the globe are marking World Amateur Radio Day on April 18th and ham radio clubs and
other groups have been devoting a day - or even the whole month - to a variety of activities to celebrate the
100th year since the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union in Paris, France.
The IARU has declared the theme of this year's celebration - "Entering the Next Century of Amateur Radio
Communications and Innovation."
Although the theme of the anniversary is forward-looking the IARU urged hams to appreciate the gains made in
previous decades too. A message on its webpage noted that this is [quote] "a time to reflect on our
achievements." [endquote]
Member societies in each region of the IARU will be marking the occasion in a variety of ways. Some are hosting
open houses to demonstrate amateur radio to the public; others have already been on the air this month
activating special event stations with callsigns ending in the suffix "W A R D." In Canada, the mayor of the
capital city of Ottawa has issued the first municipal proclamation ever of Amateur Radio Day, as the Ottawa
Amateur Radio Club and West Carleton Disaster Relief present demonstrations for the public at several
locations.
(IARU, QRZ.COM)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin
stations around the world, including the W4HPL repeater in Cookeville, Tennessee on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. local
time.
**
MONTANA CLUB GIVES HAM RADIO BOOKS TO REGIONAL LIBRARIES
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Avid readers might argue that the best books are the ones with a happy, or at least a
pleasantly unexpected ending. A number of public libraries in Montana just received a new collection of donated
books that contain no endings at all - just beginnings that hold promise. Ralph Squillace KK6ITB picks up the
story from here.
RALPH: The possibilities are endless in amateur radio and so are the new books in the newest collection on the
shelves of the Great Falls Public Library and other public libraries in Montana. The books were donated by the
Great Falls Masonic Amateur Radio Club, which received a grant from the ARRL to provide library patrons with
study guides for the Technician, General and Amateur Extra exams administered by the FCC.
John Ross, KD7HKF, the club's vice president, said the Great Falls library's bookmobile will also carry a set
of the books. The ARRL grant has also funded collections of books for Montana's Cascade Library, Fairfield
Library and the library at the Malmstrom Air Force Base. Meanwhile, the library and the club have agreed that
ham radio orientation sessions will be held at the Great Falls library if enough community members are inspired
to learn even more.
The relationship between amateur radio clubs and libraries in the US is a strong one. Previous such gifts of
books have occurred at other libraries around the US, including the Jackson Amateur Radio Club, which donated
books last year to the Madison County Library System in Mississippi and the Cowley County Amateur Radio Club,
which made a similar donation earlier this year to the Arkansas City Public Library.
This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.
(GREAT FALLS MASONIC RADIO CLUB, ARRL)
**
THIS BATTERY LOOKS GOOD ON PAPER BECAUSE IT'S PAPER
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Whoever said that in this electronic age we are becoming a paperless world obviously hasn't
been introduced to some of the newest technology in batteries. Several of these highly portable sources of
energy are still experimental. They do boast of being environmentally friendly -- and all make use of paper as
a key ingredient. Kent Peterson KCØDGY tells us about them.
KENT: Researchers are developing batteries that are made partially of paper and the results have been showing
varying degrees of promise, though none of them appear ready yet for portable ham radio. In France, a company
called BeFC is pioneering what it considers to be a single-use, eco-friendly alternative to the small button
battery that is fully compostable when the user is done with it. More of a paper-based bioenzymatic fuel cell
than an actual battery, it releases energy when moisture is released and comes into contact with the sugar and
enzymes that are infused into a layer of paper between the unit's carbon electrodes. Generating only .75 (point
seven five) volts, it still has a long way to go before it can power more than perhaps a sensor or medical
device someday.
In Singapore, researchers at the startup company, Flint, claim that they have a rechargeable battery-in-the-
works that will ultimately replace lithium batteries for use in grid storage and electric-vehicle power. Like
the French battery, it too is designed to be compostable and it makes use of the cellulose in paper for the
transfer of ions.
Ten years ago, researchers in the US, at Binghamton University in upstate New York, developed what they called
"microbial paper-based batteries," that is, they derive their power from bacteria's metabolism. Like its French
counterpart, however, the output has been deemed too low for practical use.
So the research continues. To scientists, for now, it all looks good on paper.
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(YOUTUBE, NEWATLAS.COM, BINGHAMTON.EDU)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, Nobu,JAØJHQ, is on the air as T88PB from Koror, IOTA number OC-ØØ9, Palau on the 11th
through to the 13th of April. Nobu is also participating in the CW portion of the Japan International DX
Contest that weekend. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
Two special callsigns are being activated to mark special occasions for hams in Cyprus. The callsigns 5B5ØCARS
and 5B100IARU will be on the air to mark the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Amateur Radio Society and the
Centenary of the International Amateur Radio Society, respectively. Activity is expected on the 15th and the
18th of April and again on the 25th and 26th of April. The hams are also celebrating the 75th anniversary of
IARU Region 1. See QRZ.com for QSL and certificate details.
Listen for Luke, ZS6LUK, using the callsign A25LUK on the air from Botswana until the 30th of April. Luke is
operating SSB, FT8 and JS8Call on 40, 30, 20 and 10 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
Markus, DJ4EL, is on the air holiday style as IF9/DJ4EL, from the Egadi Islands, IOTA number EU-Ø54, from the
13th through to the 23rd of April. Markus will operate SSB on 40-10 metres from SOTA and POTA sites on the
islands of Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo. See QRZ.com for QSL details.
(425 DX BULLETIN)
**
KICKER: HAMS' STEADY CLIMB TO SUCCESS FOR FM RADIO STATION
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Who understands the pain of not being able to get on the air better than an amateur radio
operator? So when a small community broadcast station in Australia developed an issue that hampered their
ability to transmit, some local hams came in to help them troubleshoot. Graham Kemp VK4BB has our final story
for this week.
GRAHAM: The friendly voice of WAY-FM, along with its news and music, had been silent for too long. The
Christian-based, listener-supported community station needed even more support - in this case, amateur radio
support - to get back on the air. The problem was twofold, both with the 10 metre high base link antenna and at
the broadcaster's remote transmitter station. The cause wasn't completely clear though until Hayden, VK7HH, and
his friend Nicholas hiked up a rugged mountain 1100 metres above sea level in Tasmania on the 29th of March,
repaired the solar powered, FM-Band transmitter station by installing a temporary, self-built, antenna and got
the station back on the air.
Hayden told Newsline in an email that all they had to do was swap the feed lines over to another set of
antennas for the studio-transmitter link to the remote site and install the temporary main transmitter antenna.
The existing antennas were showing a bad SWR resulting in the transmitter folding back the power to protect
itself.
The two-hour drive up - and another 1.5-hours back - plus the 3-km hike afterward up steep slopes was well
worth the effort.
Happy to have been helpful, the friends documented their adventure in two installments on Hayden's YouTube
Channel, hamradiodx. Like the radio station they assisted, they are hoping it will provide a little bit of
inspiration.
This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(YOUTUBE, HAYDEN HONEYWOOD, VK7HH)
**
Have you sent in your amateur radio haiku to Newsline's haiku challenge yet? It's as easy as writing a QSL
card. Set your thoughts down using traditional haiku format - a three-line verse with five syllables in the
first line, seven in the second and five in the third. Submit your work on our website at arnewsline.org - each
week's winner gets a shout-out on our website, where everyone can find the winning haiku.
NEWSCAST CLOSE
With thanks to Amateur News Daily; ARRL; Binghamton,edu; David Behar K7DB; FCCs; Great Falls Masonic Amateur
Radio Club; Hayden Honeywood, VK7HH; HamSCI; IARU; NewAtlas; QRZ.com; Radio Society of Great Britain; Radio
World; shortwaveradio.de; Tom Costello, KC3TMT; 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 Skeeter Nash N5ASH
in Jonesboro Arkansas saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright
2025. All rights reserved.
73 de Bill, PY2BIL
PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
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BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 11-Apr-2025 16:20 E. South America Standard Time
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