The Biomass probe that has been put into space by ESA is looking to log trees - but it's not the kind of logging commonly associated with forests. During the next five years, this antenna will be using P-band radar transmissions to collect data on how much carbon is stored in trees on a number of continents -- and thus gauge climate change as a result of deforestation According to a report by the BBC, this kind of satellite, with an antenna that is 12m in diameter, is he first of its kind for such a mission. The band's relatively long wavelength is an asset because it permits the signals to see deeply inside forests in a manner scientists have compared to how a CT-scan operates..
The idea was proposed by the National Centre for Earth Observation whose director, John Remedios, told the BBC that the goal is to [quote] "interrogate these forests." [endquote]
HAMS GO TO BAT FOR VANISHING BATS
Tricolored bats are tiny -- but the transmitters they are wearing so conservationists can track them, are even smaller.
Ashley Meyer from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is tracking the bats because of the appearance of an invasive fungal disease known as White Nose Syndrome. White Nose Syndrome has caused the bats' population to decline by 98 percent, making them candidates for the endangered species listing.
That's why some hams in the Adirondack Mountains are going to bat - for the bats. The state sent out a request to ham clubs asking for help in tracking the bats' signals being transmitted in 1 kHz steps between 150 and 151 MHz. Ashley said the Champlain Valley Amateur Radio Club responded. Club president Mark KD2RJP said that a dozen or so hams will be participating. Their job, according to Ashley, is to track where the bats spend the summer and record the distance they migrate.
Ashley said the bat tracking squad will also include agency staffers and bat specialists using ground telemetry. Ashley herself will be tracking bats from a plane during the night of the bats' release.
Everyone is motivated and excited but remember - since the bats aren't transmitting on the amateur frequencies, don't expect any QSL cards.
ASTRONAUT ANNOUNCES FRAM2HAM SSTV CONTEST WINNERS
The Fram2Ham SSTV competition was all about the successful reception of a number of different SSTV images that astronauts sent from the SpaceX capsule in early April during the Fram2 mission. The transmissions were sent over 2-metres, puzzle-style, by astronaut Rabea Rogge, LB9NJ/KD3AID as the 3-day mission undertook the first human spaceflight to orbit the planet over the North and South poles. When pieced together, the images formed a complete picture.
First-place winner was the Team ARISStocats with students in Lithuania, Italy, Switzerland and here in the US, California and Pennsylvania. Second place was awarded to Team W1HLO-LA1K!, comprising students in Norway, Germany and, here in the US, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Finally, third-place winner was the team known as GuufyFram! ["GOOFY FRAM"] with students from France, Greece and, here in the US, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and New York.
The astronaut said, in a statement: [quote] "Well done everyone – we loved to see that all the teams were very international. My hope is that some friendships have formed, the passion for technology has been kindled and that most of all everyone had fun." [endquote]
SOUTH AFRICAN HAMS FOSTER RADIO'S GROWTH IN SUB-SAHARA
With age comes wisdom - or so it's said - so as it prepares to mark its centenary in May, the South African Radio League has decided that it would be an especially wise move to nurture amateur radio's growth throughout sub-Saharan Africa. SARL president Nico van Rensburg, ZS6QL, told the website TechCentral that amateur radio is almost nonexistent outside of Egypt and Nigeria in the northern part of the continent and Namibia and South Africa in the south.
He said [quote] : "You have this middle part of Africa where there is nothing, absolutely nothing.” [endquote]
Finding a foothold for amateur radio in less-developed parts of the continent will be an ambitious agenda and SARL acknowledges that this kind of expansion will need political and financial support. SARL's Chris Turner ZS6GM, who has been active in amateur radio instruction and mentoring, has already had success with efforts in Mozambique. In that nation, ham radio operators are seen as an asset, especially when floods or other natural disasters require emergency communications.
SARL has already kicked off its next 100 years with a Centenary Marathon QSO Party that began on the 1st of January and will continue through to the 31st of December. Special event callsigns will include ZS100SARL.
HAMS GO WITH THE FLOW FOR "CANOE CHALLENGE" FUNDRAISER
The Northbrook Canoe Challenge taking place on May 3rd on Pennsylvania’s Brandywine River is actually three challenges in one. The first challenge is to help support the Cerebral Palsy Association of Chester County. The second is for the boaters to enjoy navigating the at-times challenging 9.5 miles of waterway, taking special care around a dam that they encounter midway through the course.
The third challenge is the one that will be facing amateur radio operators from the Chester County ARES/RACES group - to help ensure everyone's safety. The hams have provided communications for this charitable event for 23 of its 47 years. Like oars guiding the canoes through the challenging waters, the radio operators are guided by a net control station as they check in with real-time reports throughout the two-hour challenge using a system of four linked UHF repeaters with simplex backup.
While the hams pass traffic from the shore, the Chester County Dive Team keeps closer watch from the water itself. Jim Harris, WA3NOA, the hams’ technical lead and coordinator, is in touch with the head of the dive team, who communicates with him and the divers using the county’s extra rugged handheld P25 radios.
Jim told Newsline that it's not over until the final canoe - piloted by someone from the canoe company itself - comes by. Then everyone can be certain that no one has been left behind. He said that canoeing is popular in the county -- and on May 3rd, canoeing to raise funds is certain to keep the local Cerebral Palsy Association buoyant too.
HAM RADIO FRIEDRICHSHAFEN SELECTS "REMOTE" THEME
The weekend of June 27th will be devoted to the usual in-person contacts between old friends, with plenty of workshops, seminars and new-product displays in the mix of activities. The motto for this year's exhibition in Germany, however, is all about NOT being there. The theme of "Remote Radio - Connecting the World" focuses on how radio operators are no longer required to be in the same place as their equipment in order to transmit successfully. This kind of remote operation has already been demonstrated in a number of high-profile DXpeditions using the Radio-in-a-Box. These stations are controlled remotely over the Internet, opening up more opportunities for those who wish to experiment and allowing DXpeditions to take place in environmentally sensitive areas where human presence is forbidden or restricted.
Last year's event attracted more than 11,300 attendees from 58 nations. For full details about the programme and accommodation for Europe's largest ham radio trade fair, see the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
REGISTRATION OPENS FOR HAM RADIO BOOTCAMP
On the 10th of May, the Nashua Area Radio Society is hosting its free Ham Bootcamp on the Zoom platform from 10 am to 6 pm Eastern Time. Demonstrations and tutorials will cover emergency communications, satellite operations, FT 8 and equipment for VHF/UHF operating.
Hams will also learn how to build a station so they can get on the air. In fact, one of the main purposes of the bootcamp is to help hams overcome many of the most common obstacles that keep them off the air - everything from how to select the right HT to participating in foxhunting or contesting.
For more details, visit the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
WRTC BIDDING DEADLINE FOR SPONSORED TEAMS IS APRIL 30TH
If you're interested in competing in the World Radiosport Team Championship in the UK in 2026, you have until the 30th of April to submit your sealed bid in US currency. Two sponsored team positions are available. The two highest bidders will be selected for WRTC2026 after an auction of two rounds. The minimum bid is 20,000 US dollars.
Sponsored teams have participated in previous WRTC events and differ from qualifying teams in that they purchase their place in the competition.WRTC organisers consider this arrangement provides a valuable contribution to the event's budget. All teams are bound by the same operational rules.
Bidders will be notified by the 6th of May as to their standing in the first round and will become eligible to submit their final bid no later than the 31st of May.
For more details about the process, see the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
PANCREATIC CANCER SPECIAL EVENT HONORS ITS FOUNDER'S MEMORY
This is the first year that special event station N3P is going on the air without Rich Ryba [pron: REE-BAH] WQ3Q. Rich conceived of the event three years ago to call attention to the work of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, or PanCAN, an organization that serves patients and families of patients suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Rich had lost his younger brother, Tom, to the disease years earlier and became a Silent Key from it himself last year. Bill Samek, W3BUW, said that he knew it was time for the Skyview Amateur Radio Society, the club Rich had belonged to, to fulfill the mission for him this year. Operators are putting N3P on the air on 25th, 26th and 27th of April, coordinated as always to the Purple Stride Walk benefit that takes place on Saturday, April 26th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - one of several such walk-a-thons around the nation.
Yes, there will be QSL cards but these are not typical QSOs. As Rich himself told Newsline in an interview in 2023: [quote] “People want to talk, want to share their experiences with their family. We told our operators to sit and listen. It doesn't matter how long the contact takes if it serves a purpose of helping." [Endquote]
HAMS ACTIVATE IRAN'S FIRST SPECIAL EVENT STATION FOR IARU
If you happened to hear the callsign EP100IARU on April 18th and you got in the log, you are among the more than 500 contacts made by eight amateur radio operators in Iran using CW, SSB and FT8. This was the first activation in celebration of the IARU's anniversary organised by the Naghsh e Jahan Radio-Amateur Society. World Amateur Radio Day marks the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union in 1925 in Paris.
In Iran, the special event station coordinator, Amir, EP3ISF [E P THREE EYE S F], told Newsline that the group's participation marked a "significant milestone" for everyone. Meanwhile, be patient: He said that QSL cards are being mailed directly.
INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR RADIO UNION EYES RESTRUCTURING
Our top story is the International Amateur Radio Union which has just marked the 100th anniversary of its founding in Paris. It's using the occasion to look within - and to consider a way it can be restructured. The IARU's administrative council has released a consultation containing an overview and a number of proposals. Region 2, which covers North, Central and South America, will be hosting two informational meetings on the Zoom platform where Region 2 societies can discuss the document, ask questions or recommend changes.
One Zoom session will be conducted in SPANISH on Monday, May 5, 2025 at 2359 UTC moderated by
Ramón Santoyo XE1KK, former Region 2 president, Region 2 president, George Gorsline VE3YV, will moderate a session on Wednesday, May 7th in English at 2359 UTC.
Links to both meetings can be found in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
You will also find a link to the homepage of IARU Region 2 where you can download the document in PDF format.
THE SUMMIT OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Greg Davidson, KF6CNS, recalls sitting in his garage with a friend in late March when a call for help came over on the 2-meter simplex calling frequency. Vincent LeVeque KF6FLJ had been hoping for a day of SOTA on Mt. Williamson in the Angeles National Forest when his hike ended in a 150-foot slide down the hillside and a bone-breaking crash into a tree. Vincent had dropped his mobile phone; his emergency beacon had little power remaining - but he was able to call for help on his handy talkie. Greg received that call 50 miles away thanks to a large commercial antenna at home. His immediate telephone outreach eventually led him to Will Richards KJ6JJB, operations leader of county sheriff's Montrose Search & Rescue. Will dispatched a helicopter and stayed on the phone with Greg who was maintaining radio contact with Vincent. Pinning down the location's coordinates precisely posed a challenge for the helicopter but Vincent was soon spotted, his bright orange windbreaker standing out against the snow.
Vincent told Newsline he was airlifted to the nearest trauma center for surgery on his femur and he is now recovering. He said Greg's attentiveness to the calling frequency that day may well have saved his life. Will quickly noted, however, that Vincent himself did some emergency preparedness too: the dashboard of his parked car held a map of his intended hiking route -- and another option to track him down. He said that both Vincent and Greg "did everything right."
RSGB HONORS 2 FROM HAMSCI FOR PROPAGATION STUDIES
Congratulations to Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, and Gwyn Griffiths, G3ZIL, whose studies of ionospheric propagation with Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation, or HamSCI, has been honoured by the Radio Society of Great Britain.
The Les Barclay Memorial Award has been given to Nathaniel for HamSCI's contributions in elevating amateur radio-based citizen science to a higher profile. The award is being given to him by the RSGB Propagation Studies Committee. He is the founder of HamSCI.
Gwyn is the author of a series of articles published in several issues of the RSGB magazine, RadCom, in 2024. She has been recognised through the society's Wortley-Talbot Trophy which recognises in particular her article, "Height of Reflections at HF," that appeared in the August 2024 magazine issue. She is a longtime member of the HamSCI community.
HAM RADIO TAKES 1ST JOURNEY ON FLORIDA TRAIL EVENT
A group known as the Tropical Trekkers has been celebrating the anniversary of a 10-mile stretch of the Florida Scenic Trail since it was opened to hikers 7 years ago. With mobile phones in hand, the organizers have traditionally tracked the celebration's hikers with as much accuracy as intermittent cellular service would allow. That is, until this year.
In late March, seven amateur radio operators were dispatched to checkpoints every 3 or so miles along the trail and used VHF simplex to ensure that no hikers became lost, injured or in need of assistance during this annual event. Mike Gormley, WA8VEC, a longtime trail supporter, told Newsline that the presence of radio was a natural for the trail event - and he was relieved when his offer to bring a team of volunteers was accepted.
Mike has known the needs of trail life well. For years he has been known as “Water Boy” for his regular placement and replenishment of fresh water jugs along a 30-mile stretch of trail during hiking season. So far this year, he has already distributed 195 gallons.
He also volunteers with the Tropical Trekkers, his chapter of the Florida Trail Association, to help with the physical maintenance of 70 miles of trail.
Nine months before this year's event, Mike and his team of radio volunteers - some of whom are also part of ARES or activate POTA - started developing written forms and a protocol for tracking the hikers’ whereabouts. On the day of the hike, they even provided return shuttle service for those who finished at the far end of the trail.
This is not the journey's end, however. The team has been invited back and is already planning for next year. Mike said that perhaps next time they’ll make use of Winlink too.
FIRST YOTA JUNIOR CAMP
The application period is open for Youth on the Air Junior Camp, which is makiNg its debut this year for amateur radio operators under the age of 15. Applicants must have a valid US ham radio license and will be expected to attend with a parent or guardian who needn't have a license themselves. This is a three-day version of the YOTA region wide camps for older youngsters and is modeled after the Kids on the Air program in IARU Region 1. It will take place in July at the Voice of America Museum in West Chester, Ohio. For details visit yota.org.
BIG WELCOME FOR YOUNGSTERS AT HAMVENTION ON MAY 17TH
If you are a high school student, or even younger, the easiest way to attend Hamvention is to simply show up on Saturday the 17th of May at the Greene County Fair and Expo Center. Admission is free that day for youngsters. Young visitors who want an experience that's designed just for them are also able to attend the Youth Rally, a special day-long program designed to offer students a variety of hands-on experiences in amateur radio. It is led by Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, the ARRL's education and learning manager. Students get to take part in a short on-air sprint, contact a parachute mobile radio operator and learn about satellite communications. Youngsters are encouraged to bring a 2-meter HT if they have one.
Unlike admission to the fairgrounds, advance registration is recommended for the Youth Rally and costs $20.
ZERO RETRIES NEWSLETTER HOSTING INAUGURAL CONFERENCE
September will be a big month for technology and innovation in amateur radio – and at the inaugural Zero Retries Digital Conference, many of the articles readers have enjoyed in the newsletter will come to life: Those attending can expect to hear about the IP400 Networking Project, and see demonstrations of the M17 Digital Voice/Data system and the MMDVM-TNC data system. Conference manager Tina Stroh KD7WSF expects to put out requests for presenters very soon and will make a sign-up sheet available online.
The conference will be held on the 13th of September at the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center in Everett, Washington.
The Hansen conference center will be transformed into a kind of epicenter of digital innovation at that time. The Zero Retries conference is taking place just as GRCon 2025 wraps up. GRCon is the annual conference for the GNU Radio project and community, That conference runs from Monday September 8th through to Friday September 12th. Although the two events share the same venue, they are not connected to one another.
Invitations to the Zero Retries conference are expected to be sent out shortly.
SILENT KEY: SHIRLEY HARDSTAFF, VK7HSC, INNOVATOR AND ADVOCATE
Remembered for her leadership and her personal touch as president of the North West Tasmania Amateur Radio Club, Shirley Hardstaff VK7HSC, had been immersed in amateur radio since the first day she got her licence.
A familiar face to many in the Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association, or ALARA, and at many gatherings in Tasmania, Shirley became a Silent Key on the 5th of April.
Her friends recalled her as someone with a leadership style that brought a personal touch to YL meet-ups, placing less of an emphasis on business and committee formalities and more focus on social interaction. In 2019, she organised and funded the Bi-Monthly Chat and Show which was held at the Penguin Rec Centre and later the Ulverstone Rec Centre, until 2021.
Her on-air presence embraced traditional HF as well as other modes, including Echolink, DMR, IRLP and SSTV. She often served as stand-in net control for the Mount Duncan Net and a big supporter of the Scouting event Jamboree on the Air.
Shirley, who was the VK7 representative to ALARA from 2010 to 2014, was elected president of the North West Tasmania Amateur Radio Club in 2010. She stepped down in 2023. She and her late husband, Max, VK7KY, were widely known for their travels and were familiar faces at ham radio events around Tasmania.
Shirley was 83.
SILENT KEY: BOB FAY, WBØNPN, EMERGENCY RESPONDER AND MENTOR
If you've ever been to the Voice of America Museum in West Chester, Ohio, it's possible you met Bob Fay, WBØNPN. He was an active member and past officer of the West Chester Amateur Radio Association which has its shack inside the museum.
Bob became a Silent Key on the 5th of April.
First licensed in 1973, Bob was especially devoted to public service and emergency communications in different states through the years. He had been active in Hamilton County Ohio ARES as well as Lake County Illinois RACES and was a special deputy sheriff for the Hennepin County, Minnesota Mobile Amateur Radio Corps. He had also been deeply involved in emergency communications in Riverside and Los Angeles counties in California.
His long tenure as a ham deepened his appreciation for radio and he especially loved sharing his enthusiasm and expertise with the next generation. A proud moment for him was his receipt of an Elmer Award in 2016 from Christopher Brault, KD8YVJ - now KK8C -- after Chris became the 2015 recipient of the Hiram Percy Maxim Award from the ARRL.
Bob was 89.
REGULATOR SEEKS COMMENT ON AUSTRALIA'S CLASS-LICENSE CONDITIONS
The Radiocommunications Licence Conditions Determination 2015, which provides conditions on the use of amateur radio assigned and non-assigned licences, is being reviewed by The Australian Communications and Media Authority before it expires on 1 October 2025. While many amateurs now operate under the Radiocommunications Class Licence 2023, existing non-assigned amateur licences will continue to exist and operate under the conditions of the 2015 Amateur LCD until they expire. The authority's goal is to fine-tune the language of the LCD so it aligns with the new amateur Class Licence. Although the ACMA is seeking comments from the public, the authority stresses that this review is not considering major changes, such as amateur access to bands, but a list of simple recommendations that are now available for viewing in draft form.
Comments are due no later than Monday the 26th of May at 5 p.m. AEST.
To see the draft document, follow the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
