Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2550 for Friday, September 11th, 2026
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2550 with a release date of
Friday, September 11th, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. In the US, a bill to protect AM broadcast radio
moves forward. Fishermen help DXpeditioners set up camp on a remote,
rugged island -- and you may have twice the luck of logging an
Antarctica contact. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report
Number 2550 comes your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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AM RADIO LEGISLATION MOVES TOWARD FULL VOTE IN US CONGRESS

SKEETER/ANCHOR: We begin our report in Washington, DC, where the week
of September 14th brings an important piece of radio-related
legislation to a full floor vote in Congress. Kent Peterson KC0DGY
brings us up to date.

KENT: The previous session of Congress adjourned in late 2025 before
the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act could be put on the calendar. Now it
is there and the date is coming up fast.

The measure, which has the support of both Democratic and Republican
lawmakers, calls for all new passenger vehicles made or sold in the
United States to have fully functioning AM broadcast radios as standard equipment, at no additional cost to buyers.

Its cosponsors are Florida Republican Gus Bilirakis and New Jersey
Democrat Frank Pallone in the House of Representatives and Texas
Republican Ted Cruz and Massachusetts Democrat Ed Markey in the Senate.
There are 61 cosponsors in the Senate and 317 cosponsors in the House.
The auto industry has spoken against continuing to provide AM radio and
says it is particularly troublesome in electric vehicles, which
interfere with the signals.

NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said in a statement that he was
hopeful, adding [quote] "AM radio is an indispensable lifeline during emergencies, a trusted source of news and information, and a vital
connection for communities nationwide. Now is the time to finish the
job." [endquote] The measure would still require the signature of the president, who has previously expressed his support.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

(RADIO WORLD, RADIO INK)

**
FINDING POWER IN BROADCAST PARTNERSHIP WITH AMATEURS

SKEETER/ANCHOR: Two years after the September hurricane known as Helene
cut a deadly 500 mile-long path on the United States' Atlantic coast,
it is still on the minds of those in western North Carolina who endured
a frightening communications blackout. We have more details from Jim
Damron N8TMW.

JIM: Radio Asheville, WPVM, at 103.7 FM, was one of the few voices
that was not silenced by the rage of Hurricane Helene in 2024, which
threw the power grid, the internet and cell towers throughout the
region into the dark. The station has since launched an emergency alert
network that includes the cooperation of amateur radio -- and is a
system that is designed to be resilient.

According to an article on the Mountain Xpress website, households
throughout the region are now being encouraged to connect to this new
system by signing up at RadioAsheville.org/alerts (Radio Asheville dot
org stroke alerts).

The partnership with hams reflects the ability during the storm for
amateurs to relay information in real time, such as wellness checks,
road conditions and water-distribution points. The partnership, along
with agreements with emergency-radio networks, makes use of Winlink peer-to-peer radio messaging, all done wirelessly.

The website quoted the radio station's general manager, Davyne
[Davv-Vine] Dial, who said: [quote] "We wanted to build something that
keeps working when everything else stops ?-" solar power when the grid
fails, ham radio when the internet fails, and a text or satellite
message when even your phone can't get a signal." [endquote]

This is Jim Damron N8TMW.

(MOUNTAIN XPRESS)

**
HAZEL EVERETTS, N8PTL, CHOSEN AS HAMVENTION 2027 GENERAL CHAIR

SKEETER/ANCHOR: The organizers of Dayton Hamvention have chosen a
longtime leader of the annual event to shepherd it toward its milestone
75th year. Jen DeSalvo, W9TXJ, introduces her to us.

JEN: Hazel Everetts, N8PTL, was selected as general chair for next
year's Dayton Hamvention, with Steve Keller AE8AT, serving as assistant
general chair. Both Ohio amateurs are stepping forward from many years
of behind-the-scenes work at Hamvention in time for it to mark three
quarters of a century as an epicenter for ham radio activities and
education.

Hazel's Hamvention involvement dates back to her first year as a
licensed amateur in 1989. Through the years she has assisted with the coordination of hundreds of volunteers. She was the event's assistant
general chair for the past two years. Her leadership roles have
extended to DARA itself, which she has served as vice president.

Steve is a longtime Hamvention volunteer and is a senior trustee on the
DARA board. His most recent role has been coordinating parking for the
massive Greene County Fairgrounds event. Since obtaining his license in
2018, he has become an avid HF contester.

Michael Kalter, W8CI, announced their selection on behalf of the Dayton
Amateur Radio Association's board. Hamvention will take place on Friday
the 21st of May through to Sunday the 23rd.

This is Jen DeSalvo, W9TXJ.

(DARA)

**

SWIFT OBSERVATORY RESCUE MISSION ABANDONED

SKEETER/ANCHOR: The US space agency has scrapped its attempt to save
the Swift Observatory, whose time is running out - perhaps within
weeks, as we hear from Travis Lisk N3ILS.

TRAVIS: A private satellite's planned rescue mission of the Swift
Observatory has been abandoned. The small spacecraft that was supposed
to help save Swift could only get close enough to take photographs. The observatory, launched in 2004 by NASA to study such cosmic events as
gamma-ray bursts, is experiencing decay of its low-earth orbit as a
result of solar storms and is expected to re-enter the earth's
atmosphere as early as October.

Last September, NASA awarded a $30 million contract to a company known
as Katalyst Space Technologies to deploy a three-armed robotic
servicing spacecraft known as Link to save Swift's mission and boost
its orbit.

From a distance of 9 miles, or 15 kilometres, Link instead could only

collect data and take photographs because the spacecraft itself had
been having its own issues - first, with stability and later, with
insufficient fuel.

"Unfortunately, it wasn't the outcome that we were expecting," said
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(ABC NEWS, NASA)

**

NASA ADDS NEW DEEP SPACE NETWORK DISH IN CALIFORNIA

SKEETER/ANCHOR: With NASA's next Artemis moon mission on the horizon,
the timing is right for the Deep Space Network to add its latest
antenna, as we hear from Sel Embee KB3TZD with the details.

SEL: Increasing demands on NASA's Deep Space Network are expected to be
met more easily now that NASA has added an antenna. NASA says the dish, measuring 114 feet or 34 meters, is critical to boosting the capacity
of its already hard-working deep-space communication system,
particularly after the good work done during the Artemis 1 and Artemis
2 lunar missions.

Shortly after the antenna was put into service at the Goldstone Deep
Space Communications Complex on the 3rd of August it began tracking
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. It is the fifth antenna being
installed under the network's Aperture Enhancement Project, which will
add one more in 2029.

The Deep Space Network serves robotic as well as crewed missions in
deep space and was first famous for carrying communications with Apollo
11 astronaut Neil Armstrong in 1969 as he walked on the surface of
themoon.

This is Sel Embee, K-B-3-T-Zed-D

(SPACE.COM)

**

TWO CHANCES TO GET ANTARCTICA IN THE LOG

SKEETER/ANCHOR: If you still don't have a single Antarctica contact in
the log, now's your chance to get two! John Williams VK4JJW explains an
unusual coincidence in amateur radio.

JOHN: Do you want a chance to work Antarctica? How about two? A pair of
hams from Australia are getting on the air separately from two
different research stations on the frozen continent. David Scott VK2JDS
is operating as VK0DS at Davis Station, the Australian Antarctic
programme's most southern station. David will remain at the Davis
Station through until the end of October.

Tom Blunt VK2TBC is on the air as VK0TBC from Casey Station until the
end of the year. The Casey station is closest to Australia and is not
far from the Windmill Islands.

Both are on the air as often as their work responsibilities, and
weather conditions permit.

Although you can listen for them primarily on HF, be aware that David's previous stays in Antarctica have found him experimenting with some
2-metre EME

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(WIA, EHAM, 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 K3PSG repeater of the Butler County Amateur Radio Public Service
Group in Butler, Pennsylvania at 2 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesdays.

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DXPEDITION GETS HELP FROM CHILEAN ISLAND'S FISHING COMMUNITY

SKEETER/ANCHOR: DXpeditioners to a remote island off Chile are getting
some welcome assistance from professional fishermen, as we hear from
Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

JIM MEACHEN: DXpeditioners Felipe XQ7IR and Moises, CE3VTZ, have
something in common with the seasonal residents of the remote and
rugged Chilean island where they have planned a DXpedition in early
October.

While they fish across the ionosphere for as many DX contacts as they
can reel in, they will be helped by the small population of temporary
residents of this South Pacific island who have come to fish too for
yellowtail kingfish and other species.

Alexander Selkirk Island, IOTA Number SA-101, has rough terrain, posing numerous challenges for this team of two as they activate with the
callsign XR0Z. The biggest challenge, however, will not be managing the pileups.

Felipe writes: [quote] "Moving all of our equipment to Selkirk will be
one of the major logistical challenges of this expedition, given the
island's remote location and difficult terrain." [endquote] The
fishermen have agreed to help carry fuel, water, sleeping bags, radios, generators and personal belongings to the men's shelter on the summit
of the mountain where they will call CQ for 10 days, 3,468 feet - or
1,057 meters - above sea level. It is a four-hour trek from the
fishermen's village, covering more than 7 kilometres.

Goodwill and teamwork go a long way. The pair will be installing a VHF communication system upon their arrival and plan to donate it afterward
to the fishing community for improved communication between the fishing
boats and the island base. Felipe said it will be a token of gratitude
for their support.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(425 DX BULLETIN, XR0X DXPEDITION WEBSITE)


**
WORLD OF DX

In the world of DX, there is still time to work Suvarna, OM0GA, who is
active as 9N/OM0GA from Nepal until the 19th of September. He is
using mainly CW on 40-10 metres.

Listen for Aldir, PY1SAD, who is operating as 8R1TM from Guyana until
the 12th of October, using CW, SSB and digital modes. Find Aldir on
160-10 metres and watch for him operating via satellite on weekends.

Members of the Bavarian Contest Club are in Cyprus where they are on
the air as 5B/DD1MAT, 5B/DJ5MO, 5B/DL7AT and 5B/DM6DX through to the
16th of September. The operators are using CW, SSB, and RTTY on 160-10
metres. They will participate in the WAE DX SSB Contest on the 12th
and 13th of September using the callsign P3CR.

Maurizio, IK2GZU, will be on the air as 5H3MB from Tanzania from the
18th of October through to the 18th of November. He is there primarily
for volunteer work at a local school. He will operate in his spare time
using SSB, CW and digital modes on 80-10 metres and via QO-100.

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

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: ROUTE 66 TAKES A DETOUR ONTO THE HF HIGHWAY

SKEETER/ANCHOR: What does amateur radio have in common with the
American roadway known as Route 66? Ralph Squillace KK6ITB is here to
tell us - travel the road with him in our final story of the week.

RALPH: It's all about connections. Ham radio has always had the power
to make that person-to-person connection and in the US, the legendary
east-west highway known as Route 66, has been connecting motorists
along the open road with small towns, friends and adventure for 100
years. Twenty-four special event stations are marking this centennial
year for Route 66 starting on Saturday, the 12th of September through
to Sunday the 20th.

Route 66 on the Air's sponsoring organization, the Citrus Belt Amateur
Radio Club in San Bernardino, California, will be calling QRZ using the callsign W6C; other stations will join them, using the same W6 prefix
and the remaining letters of the alphabet, from W6A through to W6Z.

With participants such as the Barstow Amateur Radio Club in California,
the Albuquerque DX Association in New Mexico, the Southwest Missouri
Amateur Radio Club and others, expect a lot of traffic on this busy
main road and plenty of stops along the journey.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(ROUTE 66 ON THE AIR WEBSITE)

**
NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to ABC News; Amateur Radio Daily, Dayton Amateur Radio
Association; David Behar, K7DB; eHam.net; 425 DX Bulletin; Hamvention
website; Mountain XPress website; NASA; QRZ.com; Radio Ink; Radio
World; Route 66 on the Air; Space.com, Wireless Institute of Australia;
XR0X DXpedition website 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 2026. Amateur Radio Newsline retains
ownership of its material even when retransmitted elsewhere. All rights
are reserved.



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