LIGHTNING DESTROYS MAJOR NEW ZEALAND RADAR DOME

For New Zealand's meteorologists, the Westland Rain Radar is transmitting only silence, following a lightning strike of 156 kiloamps on the 18th of September. A statement from MetService New Zealand, the nation's weather service, said that the powerful surge was about five times greater than a typical strike and had sufficient power to run a residence for about two years. Various news reports said the power not only destroyed the weatherproof cover designed to protect the radar but "fried" the electronics and overpowered the grounding systems at the site.

The strike's destructive force has disabled the radar dome to the point that MetService expects it to be out of service for [quote] "an extended period" [endquote] while repairs are done. The radar is a critical forecasting tool for New Zealand's severe weather warnings and plays an especially important role for communities on the West Coast.

Meteorologists in the meantime will be observing high-resolution computer models, satellite images, weather stations and neighbouring radar sites. According to a report on the AccuWeather website, this is not the first time the radar dome has been hit by lightning. A hit in 2022 left it with only minor damage.

NUCLEAR-CLEANUP DRILL INCORPORATES HAM RADIO FOR 1ST TIME

It was a first for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service in Paducah [PUH-DUKE-KUH], Kentucky: responding to a mock emergency at a government-owned site that conducts nuclear deactivations and spent-fuel cleanup. Paducah is one of more than 100 government sites across the country handled by the energy department's Emergency Management program, which conducts nuclear remediation.

The hams, first-responders at numerous natural disasters throughout Kentucky, were now providing backup in a nuclear scenario.

According to a report on the department website, the hams got the word out, successfully transmitting emails over the radio from their mobile station inside a truck, reaching department headquarters in Washington, DC, as well as the project office in nearby Kentucky.

Myrna Redfield, program manager of the Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership, said that the first-time inclusion of ham radio meant that such scenarios gave an extra layer of resiliency to keep communication uninterrupted. She said: [quote] "Exercises like this not only enhance our preparedness but also strengthen ties with local responders who share our commitment to protecting people and the environment." [endquote]

FCC VOTES TO ALLOW CELL PHONE JAMMING NEAR PRISONS

In a move applauded by a number of lawmakers, the Federal Communications Commission has given prisons and other correctional facilities the authorization to use cell phone jamming technology to disable devices smuggled into inmates. Federal law prohibits the sale and operation of equipment that interferes with the operation of authorized radio communications, including GPS and cellular phones.

According to the FCC,the September 30th vote was taken to halt what authorities say are criminal activities, such as drug dealing or killings, being conducted by persons who are incarcerated.

The FCC said that its action would coordinate efforts between corrections officials and wireless carriers and is not designed to interfere with wireless services of cellular customers in the vicinity of the prisons.

The move drew praise from a number of lawmakers such as David Kustoff, a Republican congressman who in March had introduced the Cell Phone Jamming Reform Act of 2025.

US GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HALTS FCC OPERATIONS

This developing story unfolded as Newsline went to production: the FCC was among numerous government agencies suspending operations as the result of a US government shutdown. The commission advised amateur radio operators and others that this would have an impact on processing of licenses, exams and any other communications as of October 1st. The FCC website cautioned visitors that information displayed might not be up to date. Newsline is following this story.

KEEPING HIS WIFE'S MEMORY CLOSE IN HIS HEART

When it comes to making a big effort, Eddie Misiewicz, KB3YRU, is putting his heart into this one: He's one in the crowd of many who are stepping off on the 4th of October near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the American Heart Association Heart Walk. While Eddie's fellow club members in the Skyview Amateur Radio Society, K3MJW, will be on

the air as special event station K3H - Kilo Three Heart - Eddie and his team of hams will be putting their best feet forward in memory of his wife of 28 years. Connie Misiewicz KB3YYC, became a Silent Key last March as a result of congenital heart disease. She was known throughout Skywarn as a devoted storm spotter and county net control station. She was also a familiar voice with the Breezeshooters of Western Pennsylvania Club, which encourages activity on 10 meters.

To Eddie, the three-mile walk he is taking to honor his late wife is the walk of a lifetime. It is also a way to channel his grief into something positive through a public heart-health awareness campaign, with other area hams joining him on the trek. The American Heart Association has designed the event to celebrate survivors of heart disease and stroke.

Meanwhile, Eddie has also joined another team - a team of lifesavers - to ensure there can be plenty more survivors in the years to come: He recently became an American Heart Association certified CPR instructor. He told Newsline it's the right thing to do. He's sure of it - in his heart.

See a link to the walk website in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

OFCOM REVIEWS LICENSE PROCEDURES FOR SOME SATELLITES

Ofcom is hoping to improve the licensing procedures that were introduced in 2021 covering non-geostationary satellite orbit systems used by businesses, individuals and other entities, particularly in remote areas. The regulator opened a consultation earlier this month and is seeking comments up to the 18th of November.

Having issued eight such network and nine gateway licences for these systems, Ofcom believes it is time to work towards a swifter decision-making process while minimising the administrative burden on system operators. Ofcom is also looking at enabling the gateways to connect to a broader range of satellite services using both the Q and V bands.

The regulator intends to publish its decision early next year.

SABLE ISLAND CYØS TEAM ANNOUNCES DXPEDITION DATES

The Sable Island CYØS team has announced that their DXpedition has been scheduled for March 19th through to either the 30th or 31st of next year. The operation received its approval this past spring from parks officials in Canada but the dates in March were not set at the time.

The group said that it has been fundraising to cover the higher costs of flights between Halifax, Nova Scotia and the island - a significant increase, they said, since the 2023 DXpedition. The island is about 300 km, or 186 miles, east of Halifax.

The treeless and windy island, best known for its population of wild horses, is expected to pose a number of challenges during the expedition. The team leaders will be Murray WA4DAN and Glenn WØGJ. Operators will be joined by a number of members of last year's CY9C DXpedition to St. Paul Island, also off the coast of Nova Scotia.

CALIFORNIA CLUB HELPS AREA HAMS REPLACE WILDFIRE LOSSES

Rebuilding doesn't always call for brick, mortar, wood or steel. Hams in the San Fernando Valley Amateur Radio Club W6SD are using antennas, coax, power supplies, spare HTs and base-station radios instead. These pieces of vital equipment and others are being donated, along with funds, to help amateurs in the region refurbish the shacks that kept communication lines open during the Eaton and Palisades fires last winter - the same fires that ultimately destroyed the stations themselves.

Club president Richard Frankie, N6NCW, told the Los Angeles Times that the hams see the donations and loans as tools to repair the communication safety net so devastated last winter. He's been a part of the club and the community for nearly 50 years and knows that ham radio is about passing along the support so freely given through mentorship, loans or outright gifts.

According to the LA Times article, hams in the region who are still in need of equipment or assistance with their stations can contact the club through their Facebook page or website. The club is, of course, also offering mentorship and training for anyone wanting to join them on the air.

HAMS IN SWEDEN PRESS FOR DUPLEX FM HANDHELDS

Satellite enthusiasts in Sweden are calling on a dozen makers of Japanese and Chinese handheld transceivers to produce radios that have full duplex FM capabilities - enabling users to copy their own downlink while transmitting.

In an open letter to the various companies -- such as AnyTone, Kenwood, TYT, Yaesu and Alinco -- AMSAT-SM said hams are seeking equipment that would permit an operator to transit and receive at the same time on different bands without any desensing. According to an AMSAT News Service report, an older Kenwood model had that ability but it has been discontinued and nothing is on the market to replace it.

The letter was signed by Lars Thunberg, SMØTGU. A copy of it is posted on the AMSAT-SM website.

The AMSAT News Service report said that a handful of the dozen companies responded and one company - which was not identified - said they were discussing the request. There were no other details available.

WEATHERING THE STRUGGLE OF PROGRAMMING EMERGENCY RADIOS

Autumn weather can be very tricky in the part of Kentucky that the Princeton Ham Radio Club W4KBL calls home. Area residents who rely on weather radios - the ones that receive alerts and warnings from the National Weather Service -- often say those receivers can be tricky too. Sam Gray, KJ4TYE, the club's vice president and weather coordinator, said that's what inspired members to host a weather radio session recently. They showed local residents how to program their radios properly so they don't miss relevant weather watches and warnings in and around Caldwell County.

Sam told Newsline in an email [quote] "I have heard many people complain about the weather radio going all the time for counties not close to them." [endquote] He said those radios ultimately get unplugged and put into storage.When a disaster strikes, they have no warnings.

That changed on Saturday the 20th of September when club members greeted radio owners inside the EOC to demonstrate how to properly program those radios so that they receive alerts relevant to their specific county. Sam said the club, which is heavily involved in weather-spotting, knows the value of these kinds of alerts - but also knows that these radios, like many products these days, don't necessarily come with clear programming instructions in the box.

Sam said he encourages other clubs to reach out in their own communities to people confounded by the programming instructions and help them to receive the right reports. He said [quote] "Receiving alerts and warnings is key to preparing and survival." [endquote]

SPECIAL REPORT: AMATEUR RADIO PREPS TO DEFEND ANTENNA LEGISLATION

Momentum has been gathering among amateur radio clubs, advocates and influencers to muster vocal support for two measures that would remove restrictions placed on ham radio antennas by a growing number of homeowner associations around the US. At the helm of the grassroots campaign is the ARRL, the national amateur radio association, which formally kicked off the nationwide push on the 17th of September to bolster the chances of passage - at long last - this year.

The bills were introduced earlier this year in both the Senate and House of Representatives. Previous versions have died in other sessions. Through the years, opponents of such measures have declared that these restrictions are vital to preserving the value of homeowners' investments in their properties and to retaining the aesthetics of a community.

Amateurs maintain that they are seeking the same consideration given to TV antennas and satellite dishes under a federal law known as the Over the Air Reception Devices rule, protecting TV, broadband and direct satellite reception. The measures before Congress would enable hams to provide lifesaving communication if disaster should strike. In the meantime, many hams have resorted to attic installations, stealth antennas and other compromises.

The measures introduced as HR 1094 and S 459 are the latest versions under consideration. The Texas Ham Political Action Committee is working with the ARRL to provide amateurs access with pre-written letters addressed to the lawmakers representing each region. The website generates the messages and delivers them electronically. ARRL newsletters, club websites, social media platforms and blogs have been directing hams to the online tool and urging them to respond.

The Texas Ham PAC says on the site [quote] "This site and the service is provided as a donation to the ARRL and its legislative program by Texas HAM PAC." [endquote] You can find a link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org.

Influencers taking high-profile advocacy roles include Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL, who hosts the well-read QRPer website for low-power and portable ops. Noting that his home in western North Carolina is not in an HOA, Thomas said this is everyone's battle, regardless. He wrote that even in the midst of what he called an "apocalyptic communications failure" during Hurricane Helene last year, his modest home antenna was able to connect his family to a lifesaving repeater on Mount Mitchell, letting him talk to emergency nets and local EOCs.

Thomas wrote [quote] "Even if, like me, you’re a low-profile ham who doesn’t live in an HOA or restrictive community, there’s a very real reason we should all have the right to install even modest antennas at home."[endquote]

GETTING A READ ON AMATEUR RADIO IN NEW ZEALAND

Greg Dirk Van Der Reis, ZL1GUD, doesn't just have a good read on amateur radio in New Zealand - he produces a good read too: As of this month, his free independent e-zine, the New Zealand and Australian Amateur Radio Magazine, has published its third edition electronically. Although it was originally intended primarily for amateur radio readership in New Zealand and Australia, it is now being downloaded in parts of Europe and in Greg's native South Africa, where he began his radio life in 1979 as a CB'er and later a licensed amateur.

A prolific writer as well as a reader, Greg recognised early on that hams benefit from good communication in between time at the workbench or making contacts. He told Newsline that his electronic magazine is the outgrowth of work he first did for a local club's magazine after moving to New Zealand two years ago. His daytime business, The Ham Shack, sells amateur radio equipment for the home, portable and disaster preparedness while keeping him in touch with what hams need and the direction trends are going. He sees POTA and SOTA as big growth areas and his pages provide coverage on those topics, as well as personal profiles, DXpeditions and international events.

Greg told Newsline that the next edition will have a subscription button but until then, anyone reading this month's issue, can email him directly to be added to the distribution list. See the link to the magazine in the text version of this week's Newsline script at arnewsline.org

In an email to Newsline, he wrote: [quote] "This fills a gap and I would like it to bridge the amateur radio communities in New Zealand and Australia. I hope to create joint radio events between the two countries. We are only 3 hours apart by air." [endquote] Now the two countries are barely a few downloads apart -- and the same is true for the rest of the world beyond.

RSGB'S DMR PROJECT BEGINS AGAIN IN UK SCHOOLS

Just as the schools are back throughout the UK, so is the DMR Project launched by the Radio Society of Great Britain.

The initiative was introduced last May to loan equipment to schools to enable students to feel comfortable with making QSOs.

Now it is back as the schools and colleges reopen in September. The society's Outreach Team is working with teachers and, in partnership with the Radio Communications Foundation, they will pay licence exam fees for nine teachers who wish to set up ham radio clubs at their schools. Additional details are available from Chris Aitken MMØWIC, the youth chair, who can be reached at youthchampion dot school at rsgb dot org dot uk.

AUSTRALIAN REGULATOR MAKES CHANGES TO CB RULES

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is making changes to the Citizens Band Radio Station Class Licence Rules of 2015, which are about to sunset. The regulator is remaking the rules, with minor changes, saying that they reflect new developments in technology in the ensuing years. The ACMA characterised the changes as "minor."

They include permission to use FM now 27 MHz which was previously restricted to AM or SSB. This aligns CB in Australia with operations in much of the rest of the world. The rules also remove the requirement that calls be initiated only on specific call channels, giving operators the freedom to begin contacts on channels they customarily use. The ACMA also declared it would no longer be responsible for taking action against such on-air behaviour as harassment and threats, leaving enforcement issues instead to police and other authorities.

For details about these and other changes, see the Federal Register using the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

MINNESOTA'S STATEWIDE POTA GROUP GROWS AMONG THE TREES

During the pandemic, Minnesota's parks provided amateur radio operators with welcoming places to get on the air with friends or just gather in a safe social setting. Many of those parks have since evolved into the birthplace of an organization that encourages POTA activations throughout the state by hosting activities, awards and formal events with the help of a group known as MNPOTA [pron: "MIN POTA."] Supported by the Stillwater Amateur Radio Association and a coalition of other clubs, MNPOTA has spent two years hosting year-round meetups and POTA activity days - including a Minnesota POTA Day in June. There is also an awards scheme that recognizes activators and hunters in different categories and different modes each spring.

Collin O'Connor, KEØIYN, a board member of the Stillwater club, said that all of this activity has nurtured and expanded Minnesota's population of POTA participants. He said that in the Stillwater club alone, between one-third and one-half of the more than 180 club members have become active in POTA.

Next year MNPOTA will add a new focus to its activities, encouraging Technician class license holders to get involved. Multi- and single stationary activations will be scheduled specifically on 6m and 10m, enabling the Techs to put their privileges to good use.

In the meantime, Collin encourages other POTA enthusasts in different states to consider a similar effort, even if they start small. He told Newsline: [quote] "Even 15 to 20 people is successful. Everything can grow from there. So let's spread POTA and keep POTA growing." [endquote]

ARDC SEEKS VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Amateur Radio Digital Communications is looking for volunteers to serve on one of four committees. They include the Grants Advisory Committee, which helps identify potential grant-making opportunities; the Technical Advisory Committee, which provides input on policies and technologies for 44Net, amateur radio's Internet IP address space; the Grants Evaluation Team, whose responsibilities include reporting on the results of funded grants; and the Conduct Review Committee, which oversees compliance with the Code of Conduct.

The ARDC also needs 44Net Portal Ticket Handlers, who help verify callsigns and other information for 44Net address space requests; and help on its Grants Communications Team, whose members write summaries to share with the public about the results of ARDC-funded grants.

Details about the application process, volunteer qualifications and time commitments for any of these posts can be found on the ARDC's blog. A link to the relevant post appears in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

FCC LEVIES $920,000 PIRACY PENALTY AGAINST FM STATION

The US Federal Communications Commission has given the operator of a New Jersey FM radio station 30 days to pay a penalty of nearly $1 million, for what the regulator says is unlicensed operation of a radio station on 91.7 MHz. The commission identified the station as Radio Leve Kanpe which is described on a number of websites online as having Haitian Creole programming.

The station's operator, Masner Beauplan of Middletown, New York, has been assessed a forfeiture of $920,000 for what the commission says were illegal broadcasts between November 16th, 2023, and January 8, 2024. The FCC said that Beauplan had been sent a Notice of Apparent Liability in September of 2024 but never responded. Failure to pay means that the regulator refers the case to the US Justice Department, which is responsible for collecting the fines.

The Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act, or PIRATE Act, of 2020 permitted the FCC to raise its fines when going after unlicensed broadcasters. Violating the PIRATE Act carries a maximum penalty of approximately $2.4 million.

CRYPTOLOGY, SPACE OFFER SIDE TRIPS AT TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM

Attendees at the Radio Club of America's Technical Symposium and awards banquet can expect more from the experience by taking a sidetrip the day before to such nearby sites as the Goddard Space Center and the Cryptologic Museum of the US National Security Agency. Motorcoach tours will be available for both on Friday the 21st of November. The symposium and banquet take place on the 22nd of November at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The banquet is held every year to celebrate achievements in every area of wireless innovation.

For details about the tours or the RCA event itself, visit radioclubofamerica dot org. That's "radioclubofamerica" - one word - dot org

WRTC ANNOUNCES HQ SITE IN ENGLAND

The market town of St. Neots in Cambridge has been chosen as the headquarters site for the World Radiosport Team Championship next year. Organisers have identified the three hotels close to the event where activities will take place from the 8th through to the 14th of July. There is also a renewed call for volunteers in various roles at either the headquarters site or one of the clusters. For additional details or to volunteer, visit the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

SILENT KEY AMONG THOSE IN RADIO HALL OF FAME

An amateur radio operator with a flair for and a following in late-night broadcast radio is one of eight inductees into the Radio Hall of Fame for 2025. Dale Sommers, WB6OM, who became a Silent Key in 2012 at the age of 68, gained popularity as the so-called "Trucking Bozo," on AM Radio - a nickname the radio personality garnered during his highly rated overnight program that was a hit with the nation's truck drivers. The show originated on WLW-AM in Cincinnati before moving to SiriusXM Radio.

The Museum of Broadcast Communications has inducted Dale and seven other broadcast notables who have passed away, as Legends. They include late on-air personalities Amos Brown, Jed the Fish and the Big 89’s WLS-AM’s, Don Wade.

Also honored, the late broadcast engineer Richard Burden, research executive Joanne Church, scriptwriter and producer Irna Phillips and programming executive Steve Smith.