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Ärende: ARNewsline Report 2526 - 27 Mar 2026
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2526 for Friday, March 27th, 2026
 
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2526 with a release date of Friday, March
27th, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams respond to historic flooding in Hawaii. The Autism
Awareness special event gets underway around the world -- and get out on the
air, just by.....getting out! All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline
Report Number 2526 comes your way right now.

**
HAMS RESPOND TO HISTORIC FLOODS IN HAWAII

JIM/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to Hawaii, which was slammed with two
so-called "atmospheric river storms" that brought heavy rains and high winds,
flooding all the state's islands and sweeping many houses off their
foundations. ARES and RACES hams were activated, providing realtime ground
reports for weather and field information on Oahu and Maui. ARRL Pacific
Section Manager Alan KH6TU/AD6E told Newsline in an email that VHF linked
repeater systems carried individual voice reports sent to EOCs. Meanwhile,
federal emergency ICS-213 forms were transmitted carrying messages and incident
reports over peer-to-peer Winlink via VHF or on HF.

As emergency crews cleared landslides and repaired communications and power
lines, hams continued to update road and weather conditions, assisting with
coordinated communications. As Newsline went to production, recovery continued
after what was being called the state's worst flooding in two decades.

(STACY HOLBROOK, KH6OWL, ALAN MAENCHEN AD6E / KH6TU, MICHAEL MILLER KH6ML,
ASSOCIATED PRESS)

**
FUNDS WOULD EXPAND, UPGRADE NOAA'S WEATHER RADIO NETWORK

JIM/ANCHOR: Even as Canada moves to shut down its nationwide weather radio
services, lawmakers in the US are looking to commit funds that would modernize
and expand the radio network of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency.
Kent Peterson KCØDGY brings us up to date.

KENT: Lawmakers in Washington, DC, have moved ahead with their commitment to
invest $100 million in improved antennas and transmitter equipment to expand
coverage for the VHF weather radio service of NOAA. A bipartisan measure that
authorizes the expense was passed recently by members of the House Committee on
Science, Space and Technology.

An estimated 1,030 such weather stations hold licenses to operate on 162 MHz.
The antenna and transmitter additions and upgrades focus on NOAA's radio
service in remote areas of the US that have a higher risk of extreme weather.
Beyond VHF improvements, the bill calls for NOAA to explore options on the
microwave band to further strengthen the network's ability to communicate
warnings about hazardous conditions. Other language in the bill directs NOAA to
explore the possibility of satellite backup or partnerships with commercial
providers.

The action in Washington stands in sharp contrast to a recent announcement by
the Meteorological Service of Canada - that nation's equivalent of NOAA - that
it was ending Weatheradio, its own national VHF radio weather service/

The US lawmakers' measure moves next for a vote in the full House but is not
yet on the calendar. The action on Capitol Hill comes almost a year after the
White House announced that the administration was looking to cut NOAA's weather
research centers, particularly those focused on understanding climate change.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(RADIO WORLD)

**
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP CALLS CQ FOR AUTISM AWARENESS

JIM/ANCHOR: Amateur radio's largest international cooperative special event is
getting on the air for a week with an important message about people with
autism. Kevin Trotman N5PRE explains the commitment that unites this worldwide
team.

KEVIN: Now in its fourth year, the World Autism Awareness Week special event
will again carry the message that "it's OK to be different." It's a theme
uniting amateurs across oceans, with callsigns that include W2A here in the US
and others in participating nations such as Italy, South Africa, Russia, New
Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Israel and West Malaysia. 

This weeklong special event begins on Wednesday the 1st of April. It has gained
momentum as it brings advocacy on the air for those with autism spectrum
disorder - a developmental disorder seen among people of all races and
nationalities.

More details about the event and its callsigns - as well as useful information
about autism spectrum disorder - can be found on the QRZ.com page of W2A.

This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

(QRZ.COM) 


**
CHARTERED FLIGHT TO CARRY INTERNATIONAL TEAM TO ISS

JIM/ANCHOR: The European Space Agency has announced plans to charter a flight
to the ISS for its astronauts and some international partners. Dave Lee M7TLB
fills us in on the details.

DAVE: Just two years before the International Space Station's scheduled
retirement, it is expected to receive a crew of European astronauts delivered
via a chartered SpaceX Crew Dragon mission.

Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency, said at a
March 19 press briefing that that the ESA was chartering the flight to give the
agency's astronauts an experience aboard the ISS to conduct research before the
spacecraft is decommissioned and deorbited in 2030. The trip by the Provided
Institutional Crew is being proposed for early 2028. 

The ESA expects to include international partners in the mission but has not
named any potential partner nations - nor has it said how many non-ESA
astronauts would be included.

Both the UAE and Australian Space Agencies' websites report that agreements
were signed in recent years with the European Space Agency committing to deeper
collaboration in space-exploration initiatives.

This is Dave Lee M7TLB.

(SPACE NEWS, SPACE.GOV.AE, AUSTRALIAN SPACE AGENCY)

**

NEW NET BUILDING BRIDGE WITH HISTORICALLY BLACK CAMPUSES

JIM/ANCHOR: A weekly net has begun exploring how amateur radio can provide
mentorship at Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the US. Travis
Lisk N3ILS tells us what's being planned.

TRAVIS: The OMIK Amateur Radio Association has launched the first of its
Tuesday night nets designed to build connections with Historically Black
College and Universities throughout the US. The ham radio organization was
originally created in August of 1952 as a welcoming group for Black amateurs
seeking membership without having to face discrimination. OMIK eventually hopes
to extend its expertise and the hand of friendship to many of the more than 100
historically Black US campuses and their faculty, alumni, parents and students.

Net check-ins begin at 8 p.m. Eastern Time Tuesdays which is 0100 UTC Wednesday
on the OMIK Conference server on Echolink.

The net is one part of the group's emerging commitment to the campuses. For
OMIK members, the goal will ultimately bring opportunities to provide service
and make connections across the generations. On-campus visits - and even on-air
activations - will help students gain mentors in STEM and STEAM learning and,
of course, amateur radio.

Net controller Jesse Alexander WB2IFS, the developer of the program, said the
net is just the beginning.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(JESSE ALEXANDER, WB2IFS)

**
OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO PLUTO ANNIVERSARY EVENT 

JIM/ANCHOR: Despite equipment failures, winter weather closures and operator
illness, the W7P Pluto Discovery Anniversary Special Event concluded on
February 22nd with strong results. Randy Sly, W4XJ has the details.

RANDY: The team of amateurs for W7P, while operating portable much of the time
from the Lowell Observatory in  Flagstaff, Arizona, along with W7P/Ø and W7P/P,
made over 6500 QSOs with 81 countries. In its six-year history, this event saw
significantly higher SSB results and the second highest volume of QSL cards
ever received.

Doug Tombaugh, N3PDT, nephew of Clyde Tombaugh, the astronomer who discovered
Pluto in 1930, along with his team of operators in the Kansas City area, made
over 2200 contacts as W7P/Ø, which was a 70 percent increase over last year.

Organizers heard from the special event's chasers that they learned more about
Pluto than they ever knew and especially enjoyed being able to speak with Doug.
Bob Wertz, NF7E, event coordinator, told Newsline that despite a rocky start,
W7P was a success by every meaningful measure  strong QSO totals, excellent
public engagement, and enthusiastic feedback from operators worldwide.

This is Randy Sly, W4XJ

(BOB WERTZ, NF7E)

**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the AA9RT
repeater on Sundays at 7 pm local time in St. Clair, Illinois

**
SILENT KEY: DISASTER-RESPONSE OPERATOR S. ARUNA KUMAR, VU3VGP

JIM/ANCHOR: A respected radio operator in India who could be counted on to
provide vital support in calamities has become a Silent Key, We hear more about
him from Graham Kemp VK4BB.

GRAHAM: Radio amateurs who knew and operated their radios alongside S. Aruna
Kumar, VU3VGP, were remembering his kind and helpful nature and how it
complemented his radio skills. The National Institute of Amateur Radio, where
he was once on staff, reported that he became a Silent Key at midnight on the
17th of March in Rajasthan.

The notice said that during his work at the National Institute and later, with
the Brahma Kumaris, he was active in helping with emergency communication and
disaster relief.

S. Aruna Kumar was 57.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(FACEBOOK, NATIIONAL INSTITUTE OF AMATEUR RADIO)

**
RADIO CLUB OF AMERICA HONORS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

JIM/ANCHOR: The Radio Club of America and International Wireless Communications
Expo honored five young communications professionals, including at least one
ham radio operator, at a special breakfast on Thursday, March 19 during the
2026 IWC Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Daniel Garcia W2DIY tells us who they are.

DANIEL: The Young Professionals program of the RCA and IWCE celebrates industry
professionals who have at least two years experience in wireless communications
and who are no more than 40 years of age. The RCA website calls these young
professionals [quote] "the next generation of innovators shaping the field."
[endquote]

This year, the program recognized at least one amateur radio operator: Andy
Huynh, KA6NDY, a telecommunications systems engineer in the Interoperable Radio
Systems Division  of the County of Los Angeles' Internal Services Department.
His work on the Spectrum Management Team includes a specialty in interference
mitigation. He also supports mission-critical public safety communications

Other honorees are Precious Fodor, who serves as the National Service Manager
at Eastern Communications Ltd.;  Max Johnson, an electrical engineer at Dark
Wolf Ventures in Colorado, a firm specializing in advanced radio and satellite
communications systems; Sean Martin, a sales professional in the aerospace and
defense Industry; and Chris Vargas, whose 10-year career in sales has most
recently brought him into consumer electronics. He is presently working for
Icom.

The group was praised by attendees for their achievements and for the promise
their careers hold in shaping the field of wireless communications in new
directions.

This is Daniel Garcia W2DIY.

(AMATEUR RADIO DAILY, RCA WEBSITE)

**
SPECIAL EVENT REMEMBERS THE TITANIC

JIM/ANCHOR: A special event remembering one of history's most famous ocean
liners is approaching. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH has more details:

JEREMY: Mark the date of 14th April on your calendar. If you know your history,
you'll recall that at 23:40 ships time on that day, the RMS Titanic struck an
iceberg in the North Atlantic, bringing its inaugural sailing to a fatal end.

Mark this year's calendar, as well, from 0000 UTC on the 10th April to  2359 on
the 15th April. That time period marks the date of the luxury liner's voyage
from Southampton, which ended with its sinking. The Titanic Memorial special
event station EG-1912-T will be on the air using all modes HF, VHF, UHF and SHF
during that period, organised by the Union of Radio Amateurs of Vigo-Val Miñor.
A number of Spanish citizens were on board the ship.

The activation will focus on CW to honour Jack Phillips and Harold Bride, the
first and second telegraphers on board. The activation also honours Harold
Cottam, the telegrapher on board the Carpathia, the first ship to make a rescue
effort at the site of the doomed Titanic.

There will be a special QSL card for hams contacting EG1912T in CW. All other
QSLs will be sent via the bureau, eQSL and LoTW.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(QRZ.COM)

**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, operators are calling QRZ with the callsign S21WD from
Bangladesh until the 1st of April. They are operating from islands in the
Khulna/Barisal Region Group, IOTA Number AS-140. Listen for them on 160 - 10
metres where they are using CW, SSB and digital modes. They are also making
contacts via the QO-100 satellite.

Robert, DM7XX is on the air using SSB from Zambia as 9J2RO until the 30th of
March. He is operating at the Fountain Gate Crafts & Trades School. He will
participate in the CQ WPX SSB contest on March 28th and 29th.

Listen for Helmut, DF7EE, operating from Madeira as CT9/DF7EE until the 1st of
April. He will participate in the CQ WPX SSB contest using the callsign CQ3W.
His license permits operation on 60m, so expect to hear him on this band
outside of the contest.

A team of operators will be using the special callsign GBØOH while on the Isle
of Lewis, IOTA Number EU-010, in the Outer Hebrides, in Scotland, from the 11th
through to the 17th of April. A contact here also counts toward the Worked All
Britain Award as Square NB53. Listen on the bands between 40 to 10 metres.
Activity will be mainly SSB with some FT8.

For QSL and additional operating details about these stations, see their pages
on QRZ.com

(RSGB, DXWORLD.NET, DX NEWS)

**
KICKER: OUT ON THE AIR AND UNDER BLUE SKIES

JIM/ANCHOR: For any listeners who believe you have to be a DXpeditioner, a POTA
or SOTA activator or even a Field Day participant to find adventure, our final
story of this week is about to prove you wrong. Just hear what Ralph Squillace
KK6ITB has to say.

RALPH: The most important connections we make in amateur radio arent the ones
we solder on the workbench or fasten with a PL-259 in the field. So says
Jacques Redmond WW1ZRD, founder of Out on the Air, an amateur radio activity
that focuses on connections that are human-to-human. You can make them on a
hilltop, a sidewalk or even in your garden. Jacques created the website
outontheair dot com to encourage hams to get off their couches and out of their
houses or apartments and give it a try.

The idea is as simple as sunshine itself. Or, as he says on his website, call
CQ from a rooftop  or a beach at midnight. He writes: [quote] If you left home
and you're on the air  you're Out On The Air.

Jacques, whose preferred mode for now is SSB - at least until he learns CW -
treasures the sound of a real human voice as it rises above the noise. To him,
it [quote] captures everything I love about ham radio. He said that in the week
or so since the activity launched along with the website, radio operators have
registered from around the world and begun working toward the different awards.

Its no surprise that those awards, like the operating locations themselves, are
all registered on the honor system. Thats because Jacques believes first in
humans on the air.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(JACQUES REDMOND, WW1ZRD)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily, Associated Press; Alan Maenchen AD6E/KH6TU;
Australian Space Agency; Bob Wertz, NF7E; David Behar, K7DB; Facebook; Jacques
Redmond, WW1ZRD; Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS; Michael Miller, KH6ML; National
Institute of Amateur Radio; QRZ.com Forums; Radio Club of America; Radio World;
Radio Society of Great Britain; shortwaveradio.de; Space News; Stacy Holbrook,
KH6OWL; 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. 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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