SILENT KEY: KEN VILLONE, KU2US, FOUNDER OF 13 COLONIES SPECIAL EVENT

With the birth of the 13 Colonies Special event here in the US as a four-day event in 2009, Ken Villone, KU2US, began a ham radio revolution. Inspired by the fun of the ARRL Sweepstakes, the military veteran had hoped to organize a special on-the-air event that would spotlight American history and celebrate the nation's independence during the days surrounding the July 4th holiday. As Ken told the ARRL earlier this year, the 2008 Sweepstakes spurred him to try his luck [quote] “....for one year only, to see what happens and to have some fun." [end quote]

The man who made sure that the fun would continue each year afterward became a Silent Key on the 2nd of October following a lengthy illness. In the years before his death, the 13 Colonies event had become an internationally popular activity with bonus stations and chasers around the world.

Only weeks before this year's event, with his health worsening, Ken transferred the event's leadership to his friend Tony Jones N4ATJ, coordinator of North Carolina's K2J station. With the help of Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, the 13 Colonies event went forward. Ken stayed active as the state manager for the K2A operators in New York. Tony told Newsline that the event's 2025 certificate was one that Ken himself designed -- and that only one change was made to it so it reflected that the event was honoring him, as its founder, this year.

One event operator wrote on Facebook: [quote] "Ken had no idea just what he had created. What started as a small event, over the next 17 years became one of the most participated and celebrated Ham Radio events, not only in the United States, but worldwide." [endquote]

Next year's event will mark the 250th anniversary of the nation's independence and Tony will be looking for ways to mark that milestone while continuing to honor Ken. He told Newsline: [quote] "I will miss Ken and his guidance." [endquote]

FCC DENIES APPROVAL OF 4 CHINESE-OWNED ELECTRONICS LABS

Four foreign-controlled testing laboratories that evaluate electronics imported for use in the United States have been denied recognition by the Federal Communications Commission.

Just days before the shutdown that affected much of the US government, including the FCC, the commission announced that the four laboratories, like the 11 the commission denied in early September, were controlled by Chinese interests. That makes for a total of 15 such labs rejected so far by the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology, as part of the administration's goal to give US-owned companies the responsibility of certifying electronics for import and sale in the US. All approved equipment must demonstrate that it is not a threat to US national security and must comply with FCC standards.

This move is the latest following the commission's adoption in May of the order. At the time the order was announced, the FCC disclosed that about 75 percent of all electronics sold in the US are being tested by Chinese labs.

SRI LANKA'S BIRDS-X CUBESAT IS IN ORBIT

The BIRDS-X Dragonfly CubeSat has marked a milestone for Sri Lanka, becoming that nation's third nano satellite in space. Developed with help from the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies an the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan, it began its orbit last month following its launch from SpaceX-33.

Its mission is to serve as an APRS digipeater and to test a new low-cost communication system. It will also demonstrate the relay of store-and-forward data. Its callsign is JG6YOW. The APRS FM digipeater frequency is 145.825 MHZ and its CW beacon is on 437.375 MHz.

The 2U CubeSate project was funded by Amateur Radio Digital Communications. To file a reception report for the CW beacon, follow the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org.

WORLD'S LARGEST RADIO TELESCOPE GAINS RFI PROTECTION

Two Faraday cages have been put in place at the Square Kilometre Array site in Western Australia to protect the giant radio telescope from interference caused by RF leaks coming from inside the data centre. The data centre and the array are being built in Murchison, a remote location that provides a needed environment of radio quietness. Despite the radio silence at the location, the data centre's computers, which connect to the city of Perth, generate stray RF, spurring the need for Faraday cages to prevent the electromagnetic energy from escaping.

The international massive array, which will have 131,072 antennas, is still a work in progress since it was started in 2022. The site in Australia is home to the array's low-frequency antennas; South Africa is housing the mid-frequency antennas. The observatory and headquarters are at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in northwest England.

Although the array will still be a work in progress through to 2029, Philip Diamond, director of the SKA Observatory, recently told The Register website that tests may be run on the facility as early as 2027. He told The Register: [quote] "By then we will have the largest physical low-frequency telescope on the planet." [endquote]

NEXT-GENERATION DXPEDITIONER JOINS ANDAMAN ISLAND TEAM

A 17-year-old radio amateur from rural Malawi has joined the DXpedition team that is headed to Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal in October of 2026. Urgent Jere, 7Q6UJ, is not just along for the ride. Barely a year after passing his US Technician exam, he has already confirmed 168 DXCC countries as a chaser. Soon he will be on the other end of that envious pileup. He is studying to upgrade his license and sharpening his proficiency in CW.

Urgent was mentored by Don Jones, 7Q6M/K6ZO, as part of a project created by the HacDC Amateur Radio Club of Washington, D.C. and supported by the Jeffrey Dahn Memorial Foundation. Urgent hopes his efforts will inspire other young people in Africa to embrace amateur radio too.

One of Urgent's next trips after India will not be to a DXpedition but to an even longer journey that will shape the rest of his life. He plans to go to the US, where he hopes to combine academic studies with radio science at Virginia Tech University.

WRTC RELEASES COMPETITORS' NAMES

If you're planning for some extra DX in 2026, you may find some familiar names and callsigns on the website of the World Radiosport Team Championship. Competing teams' names and callsigns have been released. Are any of them in your logs yet? Follow the link in the text version of this week's newscast to see who they are. In a separate email announcement, organizers also announced that they have chosen the 50 referees.

SSTV TRANSMISSIONS PLANNED FOR WORLD SPACE WEEK

The largest celebration of space is right here on planet Earth and it's taking place from the 4th through to the 10th of October. More than 90 countries are supporting this celebration of science and technology which this year has the theme "Living in Space."

Ham radio operators, of course, keep their feet on the ground - mostly - but have at least one ear tuned into what's going on high above us. So Amateur Radio on the International Space Station will deliver its own contribution to this annual event by transmitting six unique slow-scan TV images. Right now the schedule is tentative but there will be a window for transmission on Friday the 3rd of October and a second window, with the same images, on Saturday the 4th of October. The action will be happening on 145.800 MHz where the images will be sent in PD120 encoding.

World Space Week is an educational effort that was declared by the United Nations in 1999. The observance gives nations around the world an opportunity to show how space-related initiatives have the capacity to improve life on earth.

FCC CHARGES NEWLY LICENSED HAM WITH UNAUTHORIZED OPERATION

In the US, the FCC has charged an amateur radio operator with unauthorized operation on a frequency assigned for use by public safety agencies, private mobile paging and businesses. The FCC's action against Matthew Davidson, KG7EFI, stems from a complaint its enforcement bureau received on the 10th of July, barely one month after Davidson was granted his Technician class license. Technician licensees are permitted use of VHF bands including 6 meters, 2 meters, and 1.25 meters.

According to the complaint, enforcement agents said Davidson, who lives in Utah, was questioned 18 days after the complaint and admitted that he was transmitting on 173.675 MHz, a frequency that is unauthorized under his license.

The FCC has given him 20 days to file a formal written response.

PA QSO PARTY OFFERS NEW INCENTIVES TO CHASERS

It has grown to become one of the biggest QSO parties on the annual HF operating calendar.

The PA QSO Party is held on the second weekend of October, running this year on Oct. 11 and 12 with stations found on both SSB and CW. It has the reputation as "The Friendly QSO Party" because it attracts lots of newcomers and casual operators who take their time on the QSO exchanges.

Now it's become even friendlier: The committee that oversees the PA Party has introduced a new group of awards and plaques for this contest to stimulate even more activity – especially on the 10, 15 and 20 meter bands.

That’s where those of you outside of Pennsylvania become part of the winning formula for PA stations who will be looking for you.

Even if you’re not into contesting, nearly all of us who cruise the bands on the weekends are generally willing to stop to make contact with a station calling CQ. Well, that brief stop for a PA station during this event could translate into big rewards.

While the PA party does offer plaques and awards to out-of-state stations in a variety of categories, organizers want to promote even more activity from those stations. Doing so will help operators in PA to capture awards for sweeping sections and call districts in the Northeast, Southwest, the West, Central, Canada, and some DX plus the Caribbean.

You’ll find more about the PA QSO Party and a listing of the new awards in the links in the text version of this story on our website, ARNewsline.org.

SILENT KEY: TOP CONTESTER, WRTC REFEREE FLAVIO PRECISVALLE IK1SPR

Flavio Precisvalle, IK1SPR, became a Silent Key unexpectedly on the 21st of September. A licensed amateur for nearly 40 years, he was an enthusiastic contester in all modes, but had a particular love of CW.

Various online postings credited him with playing a major role in IQ1RY the Italian Radio Association in Bra, in the province of Cuneo. Flavio's former team members posted pictures online of him enjoying various contests, where he was often among the victors.

He was adept at "all mode" contesting, using CW, SSB and RTTY. Most recently he had competed in the Islands on the Air contest as part of the IP1X team. Whenever he could, he would support others, working as a referee twice in the World Radiosport Team Championship -- in Russia in 2010 and in Italy in 2022.

Flavio was a much-loved member of the Marconi Club, which organized an on-air tribute to him in CW on 80 metres on Friday the 26th of September. Flavio was 58.

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]