FCC REOPENS AFTER HISTORIC US GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

After a 43-day shutdown that left 80 percent of the staff furloughed at the FCC, the agency has reopened and begun tackling a serious backlog. As a result, the commission has announced new deadlines for many of its filings, including amateur radio licenses.

In a public notice released on November 17th, the FCC said that renewal filings for amateur radio, GMRS and other personal radio licenses now have a deadline of March 5th, 2026. This deadline relates to all renewal filings that were due on the 1st of October through - and including - the 5th of March, 2026. Holders of expired licenses who now have their renewal-filing deadlines extended will be able to continue operating meanwhile, as per FCC rules.

The nation's longest government shutdown ended with lawmakers' agreement on a bill that maintains funding for federal agencies and programs -- at least until January 30th, 2026, when the country could face a replay of the closure.

HUNGARIAN AMATEURS CELEBRATE BROADCAST CENTENNIAL

The transmission of radio signals of any kind was merely an experimental pursuit in Hungary until late 1925 - and listening to radio over the air, or having privately owned amateur equipment - was forbidden. All of that was to change later that year with the start of the first Hungarian public radio broadcast on 1st December. One hundred years later, amateurs in Hungary are celebrating Hungarian Radio Day, when radio was permitted there.

Nine special callsigns - all beginning with "HG100" - are on the air throughout December until 31st, operated by amateurs from the Hungarian Radio Amateur Society and the Honfy Jozsef Radioclub. Contacts have been made since the 15th of November on CW, SSB and the digital modes on 160 to 10 metres. The operators are also making use of the QO-100 satellite.

The Hungarian Radio Amateur Society website has a full list of the nine callsigns and more details about how to receive a commemorative certificate.

INDIAN AMATEURS STUDY IMPACT OF SEASON'S TRANSITION

As surely as autumn turns to winter in some parts of the world, radio operators are curious about the impact that seasonal changes are going to have on propagation. A recent extended field operation by a group of 17 hams from the West Bengal Radio Club tracked those changes by getting on the air near the Earth’s Tropic of Cancer. This was as much an academic exercise as a radio exercise, as two professors from nearby universities collected data over the 30-hour period to be used in their research.

Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, the club’s secretary, said that Suman Patra from Jhargram University and Ambika Ghosh from the Heritage Group of Institutions in Kolkata are both studying disaster communications at the Indian Academy of Communication and Disaster Management. The pair hope that analysis of the data will show ways to improve the quality of emergency communication at this challenging time of seasonal change. The Tropic of Cancer was chosen because when it is summer in the northern hemisphere, the sun’s rays are directly overhead. With the approach of winter, the sun is lower in the sky.

NEURAL CODEC CALLED 'MILESTONE' FOR DIGITAL VOICE

A digital voice milestone was announced at the recent acoustics and speech conference in Caliornia when the Free DV Project's David Rowe VK5DGR copresented a paper describing a neural network that replaces traditional signal processing with machine learning.

In a recent post on the FreeDV website, David called the development: [quote] "the first known real-world deployment of a neural codec – an important milestone that the Ham community can be proud of." [endquote] He and programmer Jean-Marc Valin presented the details to attendees at the IEEE Signal Processing Society conference where David said it was well-received.

Instead of using the fixed algorithms of traditional digital voice, the FreeDV Radio Encoder, known as RADE V1, employs fully adaptive machine learning, producing a higher-quality result, developed using open source software.

Writing as a guest contributor to the Amateur Radio Digital Communications website in October, David noted that the technology [quote] "provides unprecedented speech quality and robustness for VHF/UHF land mobile radio applications." [endquote] The FreeDV project has been doing t his work with grant support from ARDC.

NASA STUDIES DISABLED DEEP-SPACE NETWORK ANTENNA

The US space agency NASA is taking a close look at the serious damage that disabled the largest antenna at its Deep Space Network site in California two months ago. The 230-foot antenna, which tracks near-Earth asteroids and communicates with NASA's interplanetary spacecraft, has been out of service since the 16th of September. The antenna suffered an excessive rotation that strained its cabling and piping and damaged its fire-suppression system, which led to water damage and flooding, according to a report on the Gizmodo website.

The damaged antenna, prized for its sensitivity, received its first signal in 1966 from NASA’s Mariner 4 mission. In preparation for Voyager 2's mission toward Neptune, NASA upgraded the antenna's width from 210 feet, or 64 meters, to 230 feet, or 70 meters. It communicated as well with Voyager 1 in 2012 following the spacecraft's entry into interstellar space.

Meanwhile, NASA relies on two other deep-space communication antennas. They are located in Madrid, Spain and near Canberra, Australia.

HAMS PREP FOR PERSEIDS METEOR SCATTER EXPERIMENTS

Hams who played a part in the meteor scatter experiments conducted by HamSCI, Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation, during the Perseids show this past August get another chance at action in the sky next month.

The Geminids are coming! HamSCI's experiments for these meteor showers will take place on the 12th and 13th of December, from 0000 to 2400 UTC. Operators are being asked to use MSK144 on 50.260 MHz and 28.145 MHz.

HamSCI reports that the Perseids show produced more than 70 logs and files for study and the research group is hoping for similar results this time around. Hams are being invited to participate in the QSO Party in what is once again described as a combination of a contest and a special event. Rules for the activity can be found on the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

As the HamSCI website says: "Work the rocks! Decode the pings."

2 NEW REPEATERS CREATE CRUCIAL NETWORK IN KANSAS

A network of repeaters is being created to expand digital amateur radio services in the state of Kansas with the help of a $13,950 grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications.

The network will be accessible to hams in nine counties. The repeaters will operate on VHF and UHF and provide linkage over the Internet through Yaesu Wires-X, a system that provides even wider coverage. The network callsign will be KØHYS.

Two new repeaters will be established to connect with a repeater that is already in operation in Ellis County. The grant has been given to the Ellis County Amateur Radio Emergency Service Group and STEM Harvest Inc., an educational resource that focuses on helping people develop skills in technology.

FOR GOOGLE, A RAY OF AI HOPE FROM THE SUN

Picture groups of satellites in a low-Earth orbit that is synchronized with the sun, the very source of the energy that powers them. Then imagine each satellite outfitted with AI chips doing the business of machine-learning high above our planet. The satellites are between 100 and 200 metres apart within a cluster that is no more than 1 kilometer wide but they have optical connections that enable them to serve as a single data center.

This is Project Suncatcher, a vision announced by Google earlier this month. It exists only in theory - at least for now. Google has teamed up with Planet, an Earth-imaging company, in the hopes that the partnership can launch a so-called "learning mission" into space in 2027 using two prototype satellites to test the technology and the hardware.

Meanwhile, Google is working out the costs of Project Suncatcher when it ultimately deploys: The launch alone is considered to have a prohibitive price tag. There are also issues of aerospace engineering that need to be resolved to keep the satellite cluster in good repair.

With AI's established reputation as a voracious consumer of energy, the company says it was only logical to look beyond the horizon - way beyond the horizon - to get closer to a source of power. Just what is the prospect for the success of Project Suncatcher? Right now, you won't find that answer, even if you google it.

ROYAL TREATMENT FOR YL WHO'S A TOP SOTA OP

The event known as Queens of the Mountains ascended to the summits again this past June for its second year -- and YL SOTA activators around the world did their best during two days of activating. The highest achievement this year belongs to Adele Tyler, ZS5APT, who has been chosen to receive the K1LIZ Memorial Achievement Award for having achieved most of the goals set.

Announcing Adele's achievement on the SOTA Reflector, Paula K9IR and Amy AG7GP, said that she activated two summits jointly with other YLs, logged a minimum of two QSOs with YL stations and completed at least five QSOs with YL chasers. They said, however, her most prominent accomplishment was her recruitment of six YL operators from South Africa as well as 22 YL and OM chasers from South Africa and Namibia to participate.

The K1LIZ award carries the callsign, the name and the memory of Liz Burns, a top-achieving SOTA activator who became a Silent Key in February of 2022. Liz became a symbol of determination and devotion to SOTA because she did not let her blindness deter her from tackling the challenge of activating.

STUDENTS' SATELLITE HAS NEWEST MICROWAVE LINEAR TRANSPONDER

A student-built CubeSat from the University of Arizona is providing the latest microwave-band linear transponder for use by amateur radio operators.

After entering orbit more than a year ago, the spacecraft known as CatSat began the earliest parts of its mission: taking images of the Earth, monitoring the ionosphere via HF radio measurements and demonstrating inflatable-antenna technology. CatSat completes a full circle of the earth every 90 minutes in a polar orbit that is nearly sun-synchronous.

The linear transponder was commissioned successfully during the past few weeks. It listens on an uplink of 5.663 GHz and transmits on a downlink of 10.47 GHz, with an estimated bandwidth of 200 kHz. For more details or to follow its operation, visit the CatSat mission website at catsat - that's C-A-T-S-A-T - dot arizona dot edu (catsat.arizona.edu)

INSIGHTS INTO LOSS OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY

It's uncommon but when it happens, as it does in the quantum realm, scientists have previously been left shrugging their shoulders. Now when material that had been capable of conducting electricity loses that property, becoming an insulator, they're nodding their heads in recognition instead.

As explained in a recent paper published in Physical Review Letters, an international team of researchers working at the DESY Institute in Germany made their discovery while working with a compound of the rare earth metals: tellurium, selenium and thulium. They found that the compound lost its inherent conductivity because of what researchers described as a "particle dance" involving a group of particles called polarons (POLE A RONS) -- quasiparticles which can combine and behave as one particle instead of several. The polarons can spur activity between electrons and the nearby atoms, impeding the flow of electricity by slowing it down and eventually halting it altogether.

The researchers wrote that their findings show "that the properties of a material cannot be explained by its chemical composition alone."

The scientists concluded that their findings about polarons may ultimately lead to development of new types of matter or the ability to alter some materials' optical, magnetic or electrical properties.

COLLEGE DONATES LAPTOPS WISCONSIN HAM CLUB

Hams are accustomed to being the ones providing community service -- and so it was a special privilege for the Fond du Lac Amateur Radio Club in Wisconsin to be on the receiving end recently. The Moraine Park Technical College donated five laptops to assist the club with its work in amateur radio education, license testing and emergency communications, including its Field Day operations.

The donations kept club member Lloyd Vandervort N9RPU hard at work setting up the club logging programs,

Dave McCumber, N9WQ, club president, issued a statement saying that the additional computing power will [quote] "strengthen our ability to teach, train and support both new and experienced radio operators throughout the region." [endquote]

BRISBANE HAMS HOST INAUGURAL QTECH CONFERENCE

Known as QTech2025, the conference in Brisbane suburb of Chermside it focused on the next generation of radio operators who will become stewards of the airwaves. Their varied voices were heard throughout the two-day programme, both as presenters and guests.

Two university students, Otto VK4OTZ and Finn VK4II sparked dialogue with a talk on their theme, "Young Hams: YES We Do Exist." Young amateurs' voices were also well-heard during a town hall style meeting to discuss ways to attract new hams and ensure amateur radio's future.

According to a report by Kevin VK4UH, the Brisbane VHF Group's president, more than 70 registered delegates attended and although a handful did participate remotely, most of them were present in person.

Kevin's report, which appeared first in a Wireless Institute of Australia newscast, said one of the high points of the conference was perhaps one of its briefest: an 11-minute contact between 15 students and astronaut Jonny Kim KJ5HFP at the moment the ISS orbit passed over Queensland.

Like amateur radio itself, the conference is expected to have a bright future: Kevin said organisers are already working on QTech2027.

ARDC GRANTS SUPPORT STUDENTS' SATELLITE COURSES

In 2022, AMSAT rolled out its community-based Youth Initiative Program which provides age-appropriate lessons about satellites for youngsters in two age groups, grades 5-7 and grades 8-12. In that first year, a grant from the Quarter Century Wireless Association helped get things going.

Three years later, as the initiative gathers even more momentum, Amateur Radio Digital Communication has announced that it is providing the initiative with two grants designed to enhance both of the student groups' learning experiences. One grant will allow production of a coloring book for the younger students, who are of elementary school age. The pages will depict satellites being used to aid in pollution control, wildfire fighting, broadcasting and navigation.

The other grant will help secure more software licenses for online courses for the older students, who are of high school age. The first course is called "Introduction to Satellite Meteorology," and visitors to Hamvention this past spring got a preview of its contents.

Central to the initiative are its two websites, KidzSat and BuzzSat, which contain age-appropriate activities for the younger and older students, respectively. The students also have access to a network of online software-defined radios they can use as ground stations for receiving images and telemetry from satellites making passes overhead.

INTREPID-DX LAUNCHES 'AMATEUR RADIO FOR THE GREATER GOOD'

For the past five years, licensed hams 25 and younger were challenged to write an essay on a topic relevant to ham radio's place in the world. It's part of the Intrepid-DX Group's mission to encourage the growth of amateur radio in all nations around the world, especially in areas that are still developing.

This year's challenge focuses not just on words but action - the contest is being called "Amateur Radio for the Greater Good." In a departure from previous contests, this one asks the young hams to submit proposals to establish a public-access radio station somewhere in the US. The station can be intended for any public building - a school, a house of worship, a fire station, a hospital or a community center.

The winner will receive a complete HF, VHF/UHF station, including coax and antennas, to make their proposal a reality where it can be used for club use, mentoring, training and emergency communication. The winner will also receive an own HF radio for personal use.

The deadline for submission of proposals is the 10th of December, with the awardee's name announced on the 15th. They will be required to provide written permission from the facility that they have chosen, authorizing the installation of the station and antenna. The awardee may become the station's trustee.

See the text version of this week's newscast script at arnewsline.org for the email or US mail address where inquiries or submissions may be sent.

SILENT KEY: POPULAR BANGALORE NET CONTROl OP SUBBU, VU2ZUB

He was known on the air as Subbu and his callsign, VU2ZUB, could be heard on any number of nets - especially when serving as the net control operator. A member of the Bangalore Amateur Radio Club, he was active on HF, VHF, UHF, Echolink and satellite.

Subbu was reported as having become a Silent Key on the 10th of November. There were no other details.

His commitment to public service through radio extended into his off-the-air activities: A longtime member of Rotary Bangalore East, he was recognised by Rotary International as a Paul Harris Fellow for his long record of work benefitting the community. Subbu had also belonged to Rotarians on Amateur Radio, or R O A R.

A post by the Institute of Amateur Radio in Kerala recalled him as [quote]: "a dedicated radio amateur, ever helpful and kind-hearted, he will be remembered for his passion for communication and his warm camaraderie on and off the air." [endquote]

SIMULATED TSUNAMI TESTS READINESS OF HAMS IN SRI LANKA

It was a magnitude 9.2 undersea earthquake happening off Northern Sumatra on the 5th of November - but fortunately, it was simulated. The Disaster Management Centre and the Radio Society of Sri Lanka responded as if it were happening for real, sending traffic designed to coordinate evacuations and respond to health emergencies and other critical situations.

A statement from the radio society's management council, posted on their Facebook page, said that the hams' field operations on VHF from Colombo, Galle and Kalutara provided uninterrupted data relay across the island. The scenario called for disaster response from a variety of agencies where such coordination was crucial. The field operators had strong support from home-based listening stations.

Frequencies were also monitored by the Amateur Radio Society of India and member societies of IARU Region 3.

The council statement said: [quote] "This exercise not only demonstrated the vital role and effectiveness of Amateur Radio in emergency response, but also reaffirmed the importance of strong collaboration between the RSSL and the Disaster Management Centre in building national communication resilience and public awareness." [endquote]

Sri Lanka was among the many nations struck by the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in late 2004 that killed tens of thousands.

HAMS ASSIST GOVT. RESPONDERS DURING PHILIPPINE SUPER TYPHOON

We begin this week with a report of disaster preparedness that rallied quickly as a super typhoon in the South China Sea was bearing down on the Philippines on the 8th of November. Emergency amateur frequencies in the region were cleared for the Philippine Amateur Radio Association and others to use for traffic. The association's operators were among those engaged by the Philippine National Telecommunications Commission to help government responders, especially in those regions where communication connections had been destroyed by the powerful storm, known internationally as Fung-wong.

The death toll kept rising and more than a million people were displaced in the archipelago nation as floods and landslides took over much of the landscape in the northern provinces. Sustained winds were reported at up to 185 km/h, or 115 mph, with gusts of as much as 230 km/h or 143 mph.

Amateur radio has traditionally been a part of disaster response and the recovery process.

PRIEST'S OTHER FAITH WAS IN RADIO WAVES

Father Jozef Murgas, the scientist, painter and priest born in what is now known as Slovakia, was a man of enduring curiosity and deep faith. Ordained in 1888, he served the church in what was then the Kingdom of Hungary until he answered a call to service in the United States. In 1896, he arrived in the mining community of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, which has a strong Slovak population.

The priest, whose many studies included astronomy, botany and electrotechnology, held another cherished faith -- a strong belief in his experiments in radiotelegraphy. Some historians say that his development of a wireless transmission method known as "The Tone Method," which he patented, paved the way for the development of Morse Code. In 1905 he publicly tested it, successfully sending signals between towers in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, about 20 miles, or 32 kilometers, away.

That historic transmission will be recreated on the 15th of November by the Murgas Amateur Radio Club K3YTL at King's College and amateur radio station W3USR at the University of Scranton. The event, organized in partnership with the Slovak Heritage Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania, will be live streamed on YouTube and Facebook and will be available for viewing later on the club's YouTube Page.

The day will also mark the 50th anniversary of the club that honored the pioneering priest by adopting his name as their own.

SILENT KEY'S GIFT ENDOWS LIBRARY DEAN CHAIR AT ALMA MATER

A native of Iowa, Gary Swenson, KA2HAN, served in the US Army for 30 years before retiring as a colonel in 2005. Before entering the military, he had earned his master's and doctoral degrees in economics from Iowa State University.

His lifelong love of learning and reading carried through into his amateur radio career -- and now prominently into his legacy. Gary became a Silent Key this past June unexpectedly when he had a heart attack at the age of 75. His estate is funding the establishment of a Dean of Library Services on the university campus. The library is a cornerstone of the university, with more than 2.3 million physical items in its collections and another 2 million e-books as well as access to online publications in various disciplines. According to the university website, more than 1.5 million downloads of the campus' scholarship and research projects are completed each year from its digital repository

The library services' inaugural dean, Hilary Seo, said the gift would [quote] "benefit future generations of students well into our next century of service." [endquote] That educational mission is consistent with much of what Gary did after retiring from the military: he tutored at a community action center near his home in the state of Virginia and was active with the Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club.