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Ärende: AR Newsline Report 2557 - 30 Oct 2026
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2557 for Friday, October 30th, 2026
 
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2557 with a release date of Friday,
October 30th, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Communities throughout the US get a program of outer
space and amateur radio. Amateur radio bounces a signal off Venus -- and the
"leap second" says farewell. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report
Number 2557 comes your way right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART

**
NASA FUNDS HELP HAMSCI BRING SCIENCE, RADIO TO COMMUNITIES

PAUL/ANCHOR: In our top story this week, coming soon to a neighborhood near you
- perhaps even your own neighborhood: outer space, solar weather and RF
propagation. It's happening with the help of NASA and Ham Radio Science Citizen
Investigation. Kevin Trotman N5PRE has more to tell us.

KEVIN: A nearly $5.5-million grant from the US space agency NASA is helping
HamSCI, the citizen science group, to bring schools, museums, libraries and
other community resources the experience of scientific discoveries that have
previously been limited to laboratory settings.

NASA calls this initiative Science Activation, or SciAct, and its collaborators
include such organizations as the ARRL Teachers Institute, the New Jersey
Institute of Technology and the Space Science Institute.

HamSCI's founder, Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, is the principal investigator and
he will oversee a program called "Discovering the SPARC: Space Physics Through
Amateur Radio."

Through so-called discovery stations set up at different public venues,
visitors can gain a better understanding of solar activity's impact on
communications. They will get to observe real-time space weather data.
Separately, an estimated 85 space-weather monitors will be placed throughout
the country gathering data on radio signals and the ionosphere -- another
window into public education on the impact of such things as meteor showers and
solar eclipses.

Nathaniel called SciAct [quote] "a premier program in which NASA gives its
science back to the very people who fund this work - the American people."
[endquote]

This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

(ED EFCHAK, WX2R; HAMSCI)

**
HAM RADIO COMPLETES ANOTHER EARTH-VENUS-EARTH CONTACT

PAUL/ANCHOR: It took five minutes to happen - at the right time of the year --
and now another successful Earth-Venus-Earth communication has been made via
amateur radio. Dave Lee M9TLB has that story.

DAVE: Using the surface of Venus to send and receive a reflected signal is far
more challenging than moonbounce could ever be. On the 17th of October, it
happened: The Dwingeloo Radio Telescope in the Netherlands sent amateur radio
microwave signals bearing the coded message "Venus Echo" toward Venus on 1299.5
MHz. Five minutes later, the reflections were reported as received by a number
of radio telescopes, including the eMerlin, Astropeiler Stockert and
Effelsberg, The message, modulated in a channel-specific waveform using M-FSK
with forward error correction, was successfully decoded. 

The first amateur radio Earth-Venus-Earth signal was completed in 2009 by
AMSAT-Deutschland, followed by the Dwingeloo telescope's initial success in
2025. According to the Deep Space Exploration Society's groups.io list, more E
V E attempts are scheduled during the next two weeks.

This is Dave Lee M9TLB.

(DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION SOCIETY GROUPS.IO)

**
FCC GRANTS SPECTRUM-LICENSE TRANSFER TO SPACEX

PAUL/ANCHOR: SpaceX has received approval for its Starlink Mobile service to
use frequencies that were left idle by the previous licensee, as we hear from
Sel Embee KB3TZD.

SEL: The FCC has granted SpaceX's request to acquire three spectrum licenses
that were not being used by the Mississippi telecommunications company that
held them. Tristar License Group can now directly transfer its right to use
1695 MHz to 1700 MHz without the customary need for an auction.

In releasing its decision on the 21st of October, the FCC said the action was
"likely to lead to public interest benefits" because the frequencies were not
being used. The licenses cover 62 counties in eight US states, including North
Carolina, Massachusetts and Virginia.

The telecom industry website, Communications Daily, first reported the approval
of the deal, which Starlink Mobile views as another boost for its planned
expansion of direct-to-device satellite connectivity.

This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.

(FCC, PCMAG)

**
SILENT KEY: TREVOR HUGHES, G4WKJ, FORMER RSGB VOLUNTEER

PAUL/ANCHOR: The Radio Society of Great Britain and hundreds of visitors to the
National Radio Centre have lost a friend, a volunteer who has become a Silent
Key. We hear about him from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: During his time as a volunteer at the RSGB's National Radio Centre,
Trevor Hughes, G4WKJ, was known for a friendly and welcoming demeanor to all
who visited. His reputation and his caring spirit were recognised in 2023 when
he was declared the National Radio Centre's Outstanding Volunteer of the Year.

He became a Silent Key in late October although the date of his death was not
reported.

A skilled CW op, Trevor brought the wonders of code to countless children
through his design of the popular Snail Morse key. He built and donated more
than 2,000 kits at his own expense, hoping to spare children the expense of
acquiring a key if they wished to learn code.

The world watched in 2016 as Trevor served as the primary telegraph operator
during a recreation of the historic 1858 exchange between US President James
Buchanan and Queen Victoria. He operated at the RSGB flagship station with the
callsign GB3RS.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(RSGB)

**
CAMPAIGN TO SEND 'AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR' INTO SPACE

PAUL/ANCHOR: Earlier this year, she was one of four persons to be proclaimed
Australian of the Year by the prime minister. Now the Australian government is
hoping she's on her way to becoming the first astronaut to fly to the
International Space Station under the Australian flag. John Williams VK4JJW
introduces us to her.

JOHN: Australian officials have made a bid to the European Space Agency, hoping
to secure a spot on the crew for Katherine Bennell-Pegg for a 2028 mission to
the ISS. The proposal on behalf of the space systems engineer has been called a
cost-prohibitive one for the Australian government and has spurred private
fundraising activity. The Australian Space Agency's director of space
technology completed her basic astronaut training with the ESA in 2024.

Australia's science minister is among those who have noted that such a trip
would be costly for the Australian government. Officials are nonetheless
optimistic as philanthropists and others step forward to help finance what
could amount to a trip costing several million Australian dollars.

Other astronauts from Australia have flown into space - two as US citizens on
NASA missions and one aboard the private Blue Origin's suborbital flight - but
Katherine would be the first representing Australia.

She has a reputation as a visible and vocal proponent of STEM education and has
been at the helm of a national education program to encourage space studies and
communications.

As such, her next trip is much more assured here on earth - having completed
her recent orbit through schools in the Northern Territory, the STEM ambassador
talks in November to students in New South Wales.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(ABC.NET.AU, AUSTRALIAN SPACE AGENCY, GUARDIAN, THE AGE)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the W8WKY
repeater of the Silvercreek Amateur Radio Association in Doylestown, Ohio on
Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.

**
ANTIQUE WIRELESS 1929 QSO PARTY TURNS BACK THE CALENDAR

PAUL/ANCHOR: While most parts of the world have recently changed the time on
their clocks - or are about to - there's one group in New York that's getting
ready to turn back the calendar. We have those details from Andy Morrison
K9AWM.

ANDY: The Bruce Kelley 1929 QSO Party is the pride of the Antique Wireless
Association. Next month, the AWA will celebrate radio equipment built before
1930 by putting everything on the air over the course of two weekends. The AWA
promotes the event by letting participants know they can expect to hear a lot
of [quote] "whooping, chirping, buzzing, clicking, drifting, swishing, swaying,
warbling and other interesting signals" [endquote] while it's all going on.
Operators are encouraged to send CW using hand keys or Vibroplex-type keys.

The dates are November 14th through to the 16th and again on November 21st
through to the 23rd.

The event is named for Bruce Kelley, W2ICE, a cofounder of the AWA who became a
Silent Key in 1997.

For rules, operating frequencies and other details, see the link in the text
version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: https://www.antiquewireless.org/homepage/bk-qso-party-details ]

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(ANTIQUE WIRELESS ASSOCIATION)

**
NETS OF NOTE: THE NEW ENGLAND DIGITAL VOICE TRAFFIC NET

PAUL/ANCHOR: In our occasional series, Nets of Note, Newsline highlights
different ways hams check in with one another to share information, training or
fellowship. This week we hear from Jack Parker W8ISH, who tells us about the
New England Digital Voice Traffic Net, a training net for message handling.

JACK: Amateurs interested in learning the protocol for message-handling are
being encouraged to join a new traffic net that meets via digital voice systems
on repeaters, hotspots and IP-based connections.

New England Digital Voice Traffic Net was launched on the 1st of October as a
welcoming environment in which operators can learn to exchange traffic and
prepare written ARRL Radiograms. According to its website, the net is
particularly focused on serving those operators who may not be able to get on
HF or local nets via RF.

Net participants often include EmComm volunteers, ARES members, digital voice
operators and traffic handlers. The net focuses on standard National Traffic
System and Radio Relay International message formatting and voicing for
emergency as well as routine traffic. Hams who do not have traffic to pass are
welcome to check in.

Connections are made through the New England Digital Radio Network and the Wolf
Pack Repeater System via D-Star Reflector XLX-097. The net is also accessible
to operators using DMR, D-Star, P25, Fusion, NXDN and M17.

Check-ins are every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday at 2045 hours local time on
the East Coast.

For other details, visit the net's website at NEDVTN dot net (NEDVTN.net)

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(NEW ENGLAND DIGITAL VOICE TRAFFIC NET)

**

REVERSE BEACON NETWORK HONORED BY YASME FOUNDATION

PAUL/ANCHOR: DX enthusiasts and contesters will be pleased to learn that the
latest recipient of the Yasme Excellence Award is an online tool that has
become integral to so much of their on-air time. We learn about this important
volunteer project from Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

JIM: The Reverse Beacon Network comprises hundreds of automated receiver nodes
around the world and it was born from the volunteer efforts of an international
team of hams. It relies on stations listening to the bands and reporting what
they hear - when they hear it - and how well.

Over the years, the RBN has received grants from the Yasme Foundation to
support the repair, upgrade and expansion of its nodes globally. This time,
however, the foundation is celebrating the team effort, which began with Felipe
PY1NB, the founder. In making its announcement, Yasme called the network
[quote] "invaluable for propagation testing, antenna comparisons, contest
operating,  and results adjudication." [endquote]

At any given time, the global network of 250 active nodes will give live
reports of CW sending speed, signal-to-noise ratio, signal strength and of
course, operating frequency.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(YASME FOUNDATION)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, there's still time to work a team of Japanese operators
calling QRZ from Antigua, IOTA Number NA-100, as V26JJ. Their activation is
from October 30th through to November 6th. They will be on the HF bands using
various modes.

Al, F8FUA is will be on the air from Kigali, Rwanda as 9X5KM from October 31st
through to November 11th, operating holiday style on CW, SSB and the digital
modes. Listen for him on HF, particularly the low bands.

Listen for Chuck, KG9N, operating from Montserrat, IOTA Number NA-103, as
VP2MCV from November 3rd through to November 16th. Chuck will be using all
bands and all modes.

The E51MWA DXpedition team is active in the North Cook Islands until November
16, 2026. Much of the on-air activity has been FT8 on 17m and 30m.

Darko, E7OA will be active as 3B8/E70A from Mauritius, IOTA Number AF-049, from
November 20th through to December 3rd on the HF bands. He will participate in
the CQWW CW contest as part of the 3B8M team.

For QSL details and other information, visit each station's page on QRZ.com

(DXWORLD.NET, 425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: TIME LEAPS TO A CONCLUSION

PAUL/ANCHOR: Now, at the end of this newscast, we will leap into our final
story - and we do mean leap. Kent Peterson KCODGY explains.

KENT: Good-bye to the leap second. The International Bureau of Weights and
Measures has declared that the leap second is about to run out of time.
Literally. It could go away as soon as 2027. This small adjustment of clocks
has occurred every couple of years to synchronize our earthly time with minor
changes in the planet's slightly irregular rotation. Very precise atomic clocks
have relied on it and its presence is evident in UTC used by amateur radio,
science, satellites, financial institutions and others around the world.

Bureau official Nol Dimarcq announced that reconciling these small seconds with
the unpredictable changes in the planet's rotation has become too irregular a
process, even raising the unprecedented prospect of introducing a negative leap
second in 2029. Three years ago, the demise of leap seconds came up for
discussion at the ITU's World Radiocommunications Conference in Dubai. Judah
Levine of the National Institute of Standards and Technology proposed
introducing "leap minutes" every 50 years or so.

The leap hour, however, seems to be the favored solution in the officials' vote
taken October 15th. Dimarcq said the committee for time and frequency believes
it is wiser to wait until an extra hour of adjustment accumulates and take the
bigger leap then.

Of course, that could take years. It could even take centuries. However long it
takes, it most certainly WILL take time.

This is Kent Peterson KCODGY.

(NEW YORK TIMES, WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM, SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN)

**
NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to ABC.net.au; The Age; AMSAT News; Amateur Radio Daily, Antique
Wireless Association; Australian Space Agency; David Behar, K7DB; Deep Space
Exploration Society Groups.io; DXWorld; Ed Efchak, WX2R; FCC; 425 DX Bulletin;
The Guardian; HamSCI; New York Times; PC Magazine; QRZ.com; Radio Society of
Great Britain; Scientific American; Wireless Institute of Australia; World
Economic Forum; Yasme Foundation; Zero Retries newsletter; 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 Paul Braun WD9GCO in Valparaiso Indiana 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.

 Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
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