Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2539 for Friday, June 26th, 2026 Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2539 with a release date of Friday, June
26th, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. NASA faces a huge antenna-repair bill. South
Korea marks a quarter-century of fox-hunting championships -- and, in
breaking news, an earthquake rocks Venezuela. All this and more as
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2539 comes your way right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART

**
BREAKING NEWS: HAMS ON ALERT AFTER EARTHQUAKE IN VENEZUELA

NEIL/ANCHOR: As Newsline went to production, a state of emergency was
declared in Venezuela following a pair of closely spaced earthquakes
measuring a magnitude of 7.2 and 7.5. Injuries and deaths were reported
across the South American nation, where amateur radio operators began
receiving reports via Domingo L. Hern ndez Lima, YV5IZE of the
Venezuelan Radio Club, that the capital city of Caracas was among those
areas that had lost power. Using batteries, hams were already
activating voice and digital emergency nets on HF. A global call went
out for amateurs to keep the frequency at 7.135 MHz clear. Emergency communication coordinators for hams in Cuba, Colombia, Honduras,
Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and others in the region were asked
to remain on standby. Newsline will be following this story as it
unfolds.

(IARU)

**
COSTLY ANTENNA REPAIRS FOR NASA'S DEEP SPACE STATION

NEIL/ANCHOR: We turn next to NASA which is facing antenna troubles
which, as many of us know, are not only a bother but can be downright
costly in certain cases. Kent Peterson KC0DGY tells us about the
particularly high cost of a set of antenna woes facing the Deep Space
Station right now.

KENT: The US Space Agency NASA is facing a repair bill of between $4.1
and $4.6 million for Deep Space Station 14, its 70-meter RF antenna
near Barstow, California - all because of what it has found to be
inadequate procedures and inadequate training of workers A report
recently released by the agency said that its investigation found a
number of primary causes, including human error, weaknesses in software
and an undetected failure in the antenna's hydraulic limit system,
which is its final mechanical safeguard.

The incident that took the antenna out of service occurred last
September as it was tracking the Juno mission for deep-space
exploration focused on Jupiter. The antenna over-rotated, adding stress
to structural supports and cables and damaging water lines feeding the antenna's fire-suppression system. An article on NASA's website states
that investigators concluded that operators felt compelled by
"workplace culture" to work as quickly and efficiently as possible
[quote] "often stretching beyond their usual roles, expertise and
training to keep the antenna operating." [endquote]

NASA considers these findings to be its final report. The antenna, a
key part of the Deep Space Network, is expected to be out of service
until October of 2028.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

(NASA, SPACENEWS)

**
A WEEKEND OF FIELD DAY AND FRIEDRICHSHAFEN

NEIL/ANCHOR: As Newsline went to production, hams were arriving at
Messe Friedrichshafen [PRON: Freed Ricks Harr Fenn] to attend Europe's
top amateur radio event and in North America, hams in Canada and the US
were getting on the air for Field Day. In Huntsville, Alabama,
registration is already under way for the Huntsville Hamfest, which
opens on the 22nd of August. It's going to be another busy season - but
not before one more event, which begins on July 1st at 1300 UTC - the
annual 13 Colonies special event which is celebrating America's 250th
birthday. It concludes on July 8th at 0400 UTC.

Now in its 18th year of operation, the event is featuring downloadable certificates for the first time. As always, stations will represent the
13 original colonies and there will be bonus contacts with GB13COL,
TM13COL and WM3PEN. This year's event is dedicated to Ken Villone,
KU2US, the founder of the 13 Colonies event, who became a Silent Key
last year.

Visit 13colonies dot us (13colonies.us) for more details. Be sure to
use numerals "one" and "three" for "thirteen"

**
THREE SATELLITES TO BE 'FIRE TOWERS IN THE SKY"

NEIL/ANCHOR: The trio of satellites are called FireSats and they are
set to launch this summer with a special mission, as we hear from
Daniel Garcia W2DIY.

DANIEL: This summer, three new satellites are expected to be launched
to serve as the equivalent of fire towers in the sky, Three FireSat
satellites are being readied by the nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance and
its wildfire-detection program, which is satellite-based. The three
FireSats have received support from a $26 million grant from the Bezos
Earth Fund. The initiative also has the support of Google.

The FireSats are expected to monitor for wildfires in critical and
sensitive areas at least twice a day, with a special emphasis on the
Amazon Basin, which is known to be particularly vulnerable.

The Earth Fire Alliance released a statement saying that it hopes to
have more satellites in place to assist with such monitoring so that
every point on the planet will be seen every 20 minutes.

This is Daniel Garcia W2DIY.

(AXIOS, AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)

**
GRANT SUPPORTS REPAIR OF REVERSE BEACON NODE

NEIL/ANCHOR: Funding from the Yasme Foundation is helping restore an
important reverse-beacon node - and Jim Meachen ZL2BHF has the details.

JIM: The Reverse Beacon Node serving Mauritius is undergoing necessary
repairs with the help of a grant announced by the Yasme Foundation. The worldwide foundation's board of directors approved the grant in
February but it was only recently announced. The funds are being given
to Ashwin Mandary 3B8GL, who will repair his node on the RBN. The move
was praised by the Mauritius Amateur Radio Society, whose active hams
rely on the network. An RBN station monitors signal propagation,
listening specifically for CW and digital modes. Ashwin is treasurer of
the Mauritius Amateur Radio Society.

In a separate move, the Yasme Foundation is also providing a grant to
the Korean Amateur Radio League to support its involvement in the
activities of the Youth on the Air programme. The program is
well-respected by young amateurs in South Korea, who used the callsign
HL0YOTA during the December 2025 YOTA Month event.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(WIA, YASME FOUNDATION, MAURITIUS AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY)

**
SOUTH KOREAN AMATEURS CONCLUDE NATIONAL FOX-HUNTING EVENT

NEIL/ANCHOR: In Korea, the national championship for fox-hunting has
just finished its 25th year and it's as popular as ever, as we hear
from John Williams VK4JJW.

JOHN: Amateur radio direction finding - or fox hunting - is a big
priority among hams in South Korea, where the 19th *direction-finding
world championships were held in 2018 hosted by the Korean Amateur
Radio League. That was the same year a commemorative postage stamp was
issued by the Korea Post Office

This organised pursuit of hidden transmitters continues in Korea as its
own national championship recently marked its first quarter-century as
a formal event. The 25th Korean Amateur Radio Direction Finding
National Championship was held in Wanju (won-Joo) on the 13th of June.

Navigating fields and forests with the help of maps, compasses and
radio receivers, hams worked as both teams and individuals, with
sections created by gender and age.

Korea's Central Radio Management Service, the agency that oversees
radio spectrum and amateur radio, looks favourably upon the development
of direction-finding techniques to sharpen communication technology
skills useful in emergency-response situations.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(ASIA BUSINESS DAILY, WIA, eHam, ARRL)

**
UK'S INTRUDER WATCH TEAM NEEDS MORE VOLUNTEERS

NEIL/ANCHOR: In the UK, the Intruder Watch Team is looking for
volunteers who can monitor the amateur bands for harmful interference.
Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us how to get involved.

JEREMY: Although the International Amateur Radio Union says its
Intruder Watch Service is not "the band police," it places a big
emphasis on the difference that volunteer monitors can make in keeping
the amateur bands free from harmful interference. Watch Service
participants identify unauthorised transmissions and report them to
their relevant national coordinator.

In the UK, the Intruder Watch Team of the Radio Society of Great
Britain is looking to add more volunteers. It plays an important part
in finding and disclosing the harmful interference by non-amateur
stations. These often include broadcast signals and over-the-horizon
radar. The IARU notes on its website that such intrusions appear to be
growing rapidly.

Ian Suart GM4AUP, RSGB coordinator, asks that anyone wanting to learn
more - or to offer help - should contact him at iw at rsgb dot org dot
uk (iw@rsgb.org.uk)

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(RSGB, IARU)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the WA2EHL repeater in Burlington New Jersey on Fridays at 7 p.m.
localtime.


**

YOTA AMERICAS CAMPERS WRAP UP HUNTSVILLE ADVENTURES

NEIL/ANCHOR: The YOTA Americas Regional camp in Huntsville, Alabama
blasted off on Sunday, June 14th, immediately launching campers into
ham radio and space-related adventures. Andy Morrison K9AWM tells
usmore.

ANDY: Thirty-five campers arrived in Huntsville, Alabama from 17 states
and 3 countries - the US, Mexico, and Argentina - but their focus
quickly turned to matters high above the earth. They enjoyed an ARISS
contact with astronaut Chris Williams, KJ5GEW, and a surprise visit
from Penny Pettigrew, payload communications manager and others from
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center Payload Operations team. Closer to
Planet Earth, campers sent up a balloon to near-space, topping out at
93,500 feet as it signaled as W4Y-11 on APRS. The balloon carried a
successful biological experiment from Xavier University and a radiation experiment using Polaroid film. Two pico balloons - W9EAR-12 and
KM4ZIA-1 - were also launched.

In between sharpening their kit-building skills and getting acquainted
with how to work DXpeditions and use the DX clusters, they operated
special event station W4Y, visited the US Space & Rocket Center and the
SIGNALS museum. The week ended with an intercultural evening which
brought everyone back down to earth.

Want to sample some of the fun vicariously? Visit the Youth on the Air
channel on YouTube. Bring your own refreshments.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(YOUTH ON THE AIR)

**
WRTC LAUNCHES PLATFORM FOR REAL-TIME CHASING

NEIL/ANCHOR: Let's face it: Sporting events of all kinds are the most
fun when fans and supporters can watch as the action unfolds in the
moment. The World Radiosport Team Championship, which begins in UK from
the 8th through to the 13th of July, is no different. Now, keeping
track during the contest in realtime is possible, as we hear from Dave
Lee, M9TLB.

DAVE: A live scoreboard created by World Radio League in collaboration
with WRTC 2026 will make its debut at the competition next month,
allowing thousands of viewers to follow the action as it happens. The
platform will feature integrated spotting and will offer updated live
rankings, a leaderboard, pages for each team and a list of top
countries and top contacts. Chasers will be able to track how many QSOs
they've had with the teams on individual bands and in what modes.

The platform is still a work in progress, subject to refinement.
Viewers can get a look at what's planned by visiting the YouTube
channel for Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio, which is hosting a demonstration by
James Cribbs N0WRL, CEO and founder of World Radio League. See the link
the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: https://youtu.be/RzjKQBGUeAc ]

Meanwhile, the WRTC 2026 Committee has approved the operation of six
remote operating positions at the competition's headquarters in
Wyboston, UK. All the remote stations are considered world-class
contest stations. Their callsigns are ZW5B in Brazil; 7Q6M in Malawi;
VK6SJ in Australia; ZF5T in the Cayman Islands and two US stations
-K6RO in Maine and KH7M in Hawaii. Individual operators who would like
to sign up can visit the link that appears in the text version of this
week's newscast.

[DO NOT READ: https://wrtc.remote.radio]

This is Dave Lee M9TLB.

(WRTC, WRTC REFLECTOR)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, a three-member team of hams will be using the
callsign PQ1I [PEA QUE WON EYE] from Espirito Santo State, Brazil, IOTA
group SA-067, on the 24th through to the 26th of July. Their main
activity will occur during the RSGB IOTA contest. Listen for them using
CW, SSB and FT8/FT4 on 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres. The hams are Renato
PY8WW, Renner PY7RP and Alex PP1DX.

Red, DL1BUG will be using the callsign TY5FR from Benin from the 7th of
July through to the 4th of August. He will be on 160-10 metres where he
will be operating CW and SSB.

July will be off to a busy start for members of the Russian Robinson
Club, who will spend the 4th through to the 9th of July operating as
RI1ZR [ARR EYE WON ZED ARR] from four or more of the islands off the
coast of the Murmansk region. The team will be using CW, SSB and
possibly digital modes on 40-10 metres.

Pierre, VE3KTB, is back on the air with the callsign VY0ERC from the
Eureka Amateur Radio Club station on Ellesmere Island, IOTA Number
NA-008, through to the 22nd of July. Listen for him on the HF bands
operating CW, SSB and FT8.

Listen for the callsign CS5AIRA which will be active from the Barra
Lighthouse in Portugal on July 18th from 0900 to 1700 UTC. Hams will be
calling CQ on 20 and 40 metres as well as VHF and UHF frequencies.
There will be activity as well via Echolink-LUSOFONA, the QO-100
satellite, and DMR via Brandmeister Talkgroups 268 and 91.

For other operating details or QSL information, visit the QRZ.com pages
for each of these stations.

(425 DX BULLETIN, AMATEUR NEWS DAILY)

**
KICKER: HAM RADIO, FOR OLD TIMES' SAKE

NEIL/ANCHOR: Now they're older, wiser -- and soon on the air as we hear
from Graham Kemp, VK4BB

GRAHAM: The push for youngsters' involvement, education and adventure
in amateur radio seems everywhere, from courses in STEM to intensive
camps that promise a bit of work and a bit of play. Now into the mix
comes the Wireless Institute of Australia, which has released a new
publicity brochure that focuses on bringing new hams into the hobby.
These are prospective hams who are a little bit - well, OK, maybe a
whole lot MORE than a little bit - older.

In other words, this is recruitment for the grown-ups, the parents
whose kids have moved out and moved away. It's for the retirees who
want a challenge but not another job. It's for anyone who's come of age
at a time when it's exciting to discover the ever-increasing options
that come with having an amateur radio licence. It might even be for grandmothers and grandfathers who want to operate portable with their
ham-radio operator grandkids.

The brochure, unveiled at the recent WIA annual general meeting in
Albury, Australia targets them all - those non-amateurs who may want to consider becoming older and wiser in the ways of radio science. It's
something we can all grow into.

For details, or if you wish copies of the brochure to distribute at
club meetings, contact the administrative office of the WIA.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(WIA)

**
NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily, AMSAT News; ARRL; Asia Business
Daily; Axios; David Behar, K7DB; eHam.com; 425DX News; IARU; Mauritius
Amateur Radio Society; NASA.gov; QRZ.com; Radio Society of Great
Britain; shortwaveradio.de; SpaceNews; Wireless Institute of Australia;
World Radiosport Team Championship; Yasme Foundation; Youth on the Air Americas; 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 Neil Rapp WB9VPG in Union Kentucky 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.


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.18
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)