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Ärende: ARNewsline Report 2516 - 16JAN2026
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2516 for Friday, January 16th, 2026
  
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2516 with a release date of Friday,
January 16th, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST.  US financial traders renew their call to use the HF
bands. RF noise grounds flights in Greece -- and California hams have extra
large plans for Winter Field Day. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline
Report Number 2516 comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART

**
FINANCIAL TRADERS RENEW PLEA FOR USE OF HF BANDS

JIM/ANCHOR: In our top story, A group representing seven financial trading
firms is pressing the US Federal Communications Commission to respond to their
petition, submitted almost three years ago, asking for permanent allocation of
HF frequencies for data transmissions. Kent Peterson KCØDGY has those details.

KENT: The Shortwave Modernization Coalition is pressing the FCC for an answer
to its petition, which was filed in the spring of 2023. The group is seeking
the authorization to transmit on the bands between 2 MHz and 25 MHz under Part
90 of the FCC rules. A number of the bands being sought either include or are
adjacent to amateur radio bands. 

The coalition's original filing drew substantial opposition from amateur radio
operators and the ARRL, citing the potential for interference. The ARRL said
that in 2024, the IARU's monitoring system detected what was believed to be HF
trading interference on the amateur portion of 20 meters.

The US Coast Guard also objected to the petition, saying additional traffic
would raise the noise floor for everyone.

Last year, three of the firms were given FCC approval as experimental
licensees. They were prohibited from charging fees or receiving payments for
anything related to their on-the-air operations. The coalition believes that
granting permanency will solidify their status in business and will not create
interference, as feared, because the technology exists to locate open channels.


This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(RADIOWORLD, FCC)

**
RADIO NOISE CANCELS, DIVERTS FLIGHTS IN GREECE

JIM/ANCHOR: Noise on the frequency is bothersome enough when you're attempting
to contact a much-wanted DX -- but noise on frequencies used by commercial
aircraft can shut commercial airspace down, as it did earlier this month in
Greece. Graham Kemp VK4BB has that report.

GRAHAM: Flights into Greece were temporarily grounded, delayed or diverted this
month after an unexplained noise was heard over radio frequencies that are used
to communicate with aircraft. The air-traffic radio blackout caused a loss of
all frequencies, according to reports from the Association of Greek Air Traffic
Controllers. The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority told the media that the
cause was a [quote] "continuous involuntary emission" [endquote] disrupting
communications on the 4th of January.

Authorities said they were able to rule out any likelihood of a deliberate
attack but they were continuing their investigation into what they called an
unprecedented outage. It was suspected that the two-hour standstill was the
result of some unknown technical issue. A report by the BBC said that one
theory reported was that a station in the mountains near Athens had failed.

Greece's Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport said that there are plans to
upgrade the country's aging air navigation systems and have the modernization
in place by 2028.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(REUTERS, BBC, ABC)

**
SILENT KEY: ADOLF SHEPHERD, VU2AF, HELPED GROW HAMFEST INDIA

JIM/ANCHOR: The ham who helped grow and shape the national event, HamFest
India, has become a Silent Key. We have those details from John Williams
VK4JJW.

JOHN: An enthusiastic CW operator who was also widely known for having a warm
and dignified voice on the air, Adolf Shepherd, VU2AF, believed in extending
friendship through the airwaves. Those who joined him on the evening HF net,
AIRNET India, looked forward to the welcome they always received from him as
net control. One radio operator, Sandeep Baruah VU2MUE, wrote in a Facebook
post that Adolf had a strong and positive presence on the net. He said [Quote]
"To countless listeners, it felt as though he was attempting to unite the
entire nation of India through a single, thirty-minute radio transmission,
binding distant operators together in a shared moment of communication and
purpose." [endquote]

Adolf's enthusiasm and hard work is also credited with having transformed a
modest regional hamfest into what is now known as HamFest India, a popular
national event.

Adolf, who was first licenced in 1966, was reported to be a Silent Key on the
7th of January. No other details were given. On his page on QRZ.com, he
described himself as [quote] "one of the few oldtimers still on the air."
[endquote]

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(QRZ.COM, FACEBOOK)

**
SILENT KEY:  "LINUX IN THE HAMSHACK" HOST RUSS WOODMAN, K5TUX

JIM/ANCHOR:  Family, friends, and followers of the popular "Linux in the
Hamshack" podcast are grieving the loss of its host Russ Woodman, K5TUX.  Russ
became a Silent Key on the 14th of January.  His death came 16 days after
hospitalization for complications from influenza.

His wife, Cheryl, W5MOO, who posted daily updates on his condition on Facebook,
announced his death.   

The news hit family, friends, and his followers hard.  On his YouTube channel,
Russ tells viewers that although he first began Linux in the Hamshack to give
amateurs options beyond using closed-source software, his efforts gained
momentum and expanded into podcasts, video tutorials, and other activities.  
As his constituency grew, he proudly called Linux in the Hamshack (quote) "a
podcast, a state of mind, and a phenomenon" (endquote)

For more than 15 years, his podcast has been co-hosted by numerous fellow
amateurs, including his wife, Cheryl.

Russ, who was first licensed in 1993, was 56.

(FACEBOOK, QRZ.COM, YOUTUBE)


**
UK REGULATOR EYES FREQUENCY-SHARING BY DEVICES

JIM/ANCHOR: Changes are proposed in the UK that would allow frequency-sharing
by certain devices, as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: In the UK, the regulator Ofcom has proposed changes in radio-spectrum
that would make it Europes first country to implement the sharing of the same
frequencies between two different technologies. The proposal looks specifically
at the upper portion of the 6 GHz band, where priority usage would be given in 
one portion to Wi-Fi devices such a routers and another to mobile devices, such
as cell masts.

Ofcom said the move to this so-called prioritised spectrum would most directly
benefit businesses, households and the UK economy in general.  The change would
affect indoor and lower-power Wi-Fi, and any higher-power Wi-Fi under the
control of an Automated Frequency Control system as protection against
interference.

The regulator will be accepting comments on the proposal no later than 20
March.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(OFCOM)

**
FCC SET TO OK NEW UNLICENSED DEVICE CATEGORY ON 6 GHz

JIM/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, in the US, the 6 GHz band is getting new users. They are
a new category of unlicensed devices, as we hear from Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

KENT: The Federal Communications Commission intends to approve unlicensed
operation on 6 GHz by a new category of devices known as "GVP" devices - which
stands for geofenced variable power. The devices are commonly used with
short-range hotspots, indoor navigation, automation and augmented or virtual
reality devices. A number of tech companies, such as Apple, Microsoft and
Qualcomm, have been advocating for the move. 

The FCC will grant the devices a higher power than previously permitted for
other unlicensed devices, and require them to use geofencing systems so they do
not interfere with radio astronomers and fixed microwave links

The FCC's vote is set for the 29th of January.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(RADIOWORLD, ARS TECHNICA)

**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world. This week, we welcome
the Caribbean Amateur Radio News Network, which carries our newscast on
Thursdays at 1030 UTC on 7.139 MHz.

**
CALIFORNIA HAMS BROADEN WINTER FIELD DAY PARTICIPATION

JIM/ANCHOR: While some amateur radio groups in North America are getting ready
for Winter Field Day  the cold-weather equivalent of the ARRLs annual emergency
preparedness event in the summer  one club in California is taking the exercise
a few steps further. Ralph Squillace KK6ITB has those details.

RALPH: The Tehachapi Amateur Radio Association, AC6EE, is calling the event the
inaugural Wintertide Disaster Outreach. This years exercise on January 24th is
combining all the basics of this important amateur-radio  preparedness drill
with roles for the public safety and disaster response agencies that they
customarily work with during crises. That means the Salvation Army, local
search and rescue and representatives from the city of Tehachapi will be among
those on hand.

The groups Field Day coordinator Theresa Scott, W5ILP, and its public affairs
officer, Micah Martin, KN6VUT,  told the Tehachapi News that including the
community partners simply made sense this year since they are part of the
realtime response team with the hams when calamity strikes.

The group is also hoping that bringing this expanded public visibility to
Winter Field Day might also inspire more people, including spectators who come
to learn more, to pursue their amateur radio licenses.

Micah told the newspaper that the Winter Field Day Association, which supports
this exercise every January, was not aware of any other Winter Field Day events
that had planned such a wide-ranging involvement this year.

Its being done for a good purpose, according to Theresa, who told the newspaper
[quote]: We really want to encourage people to get on board with thisIt can be
a lifesaving tool. [endquote]

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(TEHACHAPI NEWS)

**
APRS DIGIPEATER TO BE FEATURED AT HAMCATION

JIM/ANCHOR: One of the many things visitors can look forward to at Hamcation
next month in Orlando, Florida, is using a digipeater dedicated to users of
APRS. Jack Parker W8ISH gives us the details.

JACK: If youre visiting the Hamcation fairgrounds between the 13th and 15th of
February and youre bringing along an APRS-enabled device, tune it to 147.585,
using a path of TEMP1-1. That will get you into the digipeater being set up by
the Daytona Beach Amateur Radio Association, enabling you to connect with
others at Hamcation, sending and receiving messages.

The Dayton group is sponsoring the digipeater activity and calling it APRS Day
Out, allowing radio operators to practice the kind of networking skills that
would come in handy during events like Hamcation - or during a crisis.

Once youre connected, your first message should, of course, be CQ, to let
everyone know youve arrived on the network.

See more details about APRS Day Out by following the link in the text version
of this weeks newscast at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ:   https://www.aprs.org/APRS-day-out.html  ]

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, Ji, DS1TUW is operating holiday style as 8Q7JI  from the
Maldives, IOTA Number AS-013 from the 18th through to the 24th of January. He
will be using mostly FT8, with some CW and SSB. Listen for him on 80-10 metres.

Jacek, SP5APW, is on the air holiday style as CE7/SP5APW until the 18th of
January from Chiloe Island, IOTA Number SA-018. He will be on the air on the
23rd and 24th of January as CE8/SP5APW from Tierra del Fuego, IOTA Number
SA-008. Jacek will be using FT8 and SSB on 20-10 metres. He will also be on 6
metres using FT8.

SOTA chasers may want to listen for Brian, VK3BCM, who has FT8 activations
coming up in Chile and the Falklands. He will use the callsign CE/VK3BCM on
Cerro San Cristobel, SOTA summit CE3/SA-019, on the 25th of January. In the
Falklands, listen for the callsign VP8EBY on the Two Sisters Summit, SOTA
Number VP8/EF-013, the site of the 1982 war with Argentina. Check SOTAWatch for
the activation date, between 21st & 23rd of January. If possible, he will add
phone to these activations.
 
Listen for the special event callsign DA2Ø26SKI being used by a D A R C Team.
Operators are on the air from the 15th of January through to the 15th of
February. This event celebrates the FIS Ski-Flying World Championships to be
held in Oberstdorf.

See QRZ.com for QSL details of all stations.

(425 DX BULLETIN, SOTA REFLECTOR)

**
KICKER: STUDENTS IN RURAL INDIA WITNESS QSOS VIA ISS REPEATER

JIM/ANCHOR: Imagine more than 12,000 young people gathered, wide-eyed and
eager, awaiting an unprecedented superstar event. There was no movie headliner
or rock band on stage but - in the sky, the International Space Station where
an FM repeater was allowing a ham on the ground to make connections via amateur
radio. Jason Daniels VK2LAW tells us about it.

JASON: The outdoor assembly of young people may well have been the largest of
its kind - more than 12,000 students on hand to watch ham radio contacts being
made via the International Space Station's repeater -- during a science and
space program in Gujarat, India.

The two-way contacts, arranged with support from AMSAT-India and the Indian
Space Research Organisation, was demonstrated by Rajesh Vagadia, VU2EXP,
AMSAT-India's regional coordinator. It happened in late December as the ISS
passed overhead. Using a portable satellite ground station, Rajesh began
calling CQ using the space station's crossband FM repeater. The first
successful contact - with VU2MZT in Maharashtra - was heard by the students as
the downlink audio was amplified through a PA system. The young crowd erupted
in applause. Two other contacts followed during the space station's brief
overhead pass.

Writing in one of the forums on QRZ.com, Rajesh noted the significance of the
moment, saying that many of the students were  hearing live signals being
transmitted via the space station for the first time in their lives. Rajesh,
who called the size of the outdoor ham radio demonstration unprecedented,
wrote: [quote] "The event stands as a testament to careful planning, technical
expertise, teamwork, and unwavering commitment." [endquote]

To watch the contacts being made, see the short YouTube clip on his channel.
The link appears in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSIoRCAPbJg&t=4s  ]

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW

(YOUTUBE, QRZ.COM FORUMS)

**
Are you ready to write a ham radio haiku? It's easy - even if you've never
written a single line of poetry in your life. 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 ABC News; Amateur News Daily; Ars Technica; BBC; David Behar,
K7DB; DX News; 425DX Bulletin; Ofcom; QRZ.com Forums; RadioWorld; Reuters; SOTA
Reflector; shortwaveradio.de; Tehachapi News; Wireless Institute of Australia';
Facebook; 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 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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