SILENT KEY: DXPEDITIONER, CONTESTER DIEGO THOBIE, F4HAU

Diego Thobie, F4HAU, loved to operate portable from the islands and added to the team spirit of many of those DXpeditions over the years.

Diego, a member of the Radio Club de Provins F6KOP, was killed in a motorcycle accident on the 23rd of August. According to a social media post from his friend Patrick F2DX, he was killed in a head-on collision with a truck on a small rural road and died on the scene. His 13-year-old son is reported to have survived but was taken for hospital treatment..

In social media posts, Diego's friends and fellow amateurs recalled him as an adventurer and a proud member of many DXpedition teams, including last year's FP5KE trip to St. Pierre & Miquelon.

A licensed amateur since 2012, he had also been part of the teams in such major DXpeditions as 9L5A to Sierra Leone in 2024, XW4DX to Laos in 2023, 3B7A to St. Brandon in 2018 and FT4JA to Juan de Nova in 2016.

Diego was 48.

SUCCESS IN EARTH-MOON COMMUNICATION BY LASER

Chinese researchers have announced the successful completion of two-way communications between the moon and the Earth using laser.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences believes this could signal the beginning of a so-called "information highway" for high-speed data transmission that can eventually serve missions to the moon.

The distance covered was 400,000 km or more than 248,000 miles. The move from near-Earth orbit testing to deep space was a milestone for researchers in the academy's Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization. The scientists had previously used only in-orbit tests.

The greater bandwidth, faster speed and increased security offered by laser communication have all been viewed as great benefits but they were offset by such obstacles as the need for precise beam alignment, weakness of the signal and speed of transmission.

To get improved results researchers developed high-speed superconducting single-photon detection technology to assist with copying the signals; they also made use of high-bandwidth signal processing technology, reporting transmission rates of 1.25 Mbps uplink and 100 Mbps downlink.

CAVE RESCUE SUCCEEDS USING RADIO THAT PENETRATES ROCK

Low-frequency radio waves with the ability to penetrate rock are being credited in the dramatic rescue of an explorer who was trapped for nine hours in a cave in Alberta, Canada in August.

The solution uses QDX-M radios from QRP Labs.

Volunteers with the Alberta/British Columbia Cave Rescue, part of Search and Rescue Alberta, have been working with these digital radios for their light weight since 2003.

According to a press release from the rescue group, the volunteers who built the kit radios are caving enthusiasts with electrical engineering and amateur radio backgrounds. The release said that the radio waves are capable of carrying messages through more than 500 meters of solid rock.

Christian Stenner, Alberta coordinator for the rescue team, said the radio system works underground and does not need line-of-sight to the sky as cell phones and GPS do. The system was deployed in the August 15th rescue for the first time, enabling team members who entered the cave on Grotto Mountain to communicate via text messages to their colleagues. They gave progress reports and made requests for any supplies they needed.

The trapped person, who was not identified in any media reports, had become stuck in a tight point inside what is known as the Rat's Nest Cave. That section of the limestone cave is vertical and pitches downward.

It was midnight when the man was freed. Paramedics in the cave aided him through his exhaustion, risk of hypothermia and the compression of the body during the rescue process.

The rescue agency issued a statement afterward, praising the technology and the team.

JUDGES OVERTURN WRTC-UK SCORES, CITING FRAUDULENT SCHEMES

Acting on what it called "extraordinary information" from members of the public after the awards ceremony for WRTC 2026 in July, organizers have thrown out some of the competition's scores which they believe were achieved as the result of an elaborate fraudulent strategy. The strategy made use of bogus multiplier stations and introduced frequency hand-offs and release of team identity - all prohibited practices.

Most prominent were the declared victories of the top team MB2M, and team MB2A, which the committee said were achieved in violation of competition rules. The organizers said that the scheme included the use of pirate stations posing as multiplier-producing stations which favored contact with those two stations. Other teams were disqualified after the probe also unearthed the frequency hand-offs and release of team identity.

Organizers said they were making the announcement on September 1st "with sadness and disappointment." They added that [quote]: "WRTC has strived to be a competition where the outcome is based on the competitors’ performance, and is not a function of offsite helpers assisting their competitor friends." [endquote]

Furthermore, reviewing logs for the WRTC-2023 held in Italy, the WRTC organizers detected the same fraud scheme and raised the possibility that the Bologna event would be rescored too.

Releasing the organizers' announcement, Mark Haynes, MØDXR, the chairman of WRTC-UK, said "the integrity of WRTC is of prime priority and in order to path its future in a positive light, it is our conclusion that these steps are absolutely necessary." [endquote]

MEET CARSTEN GLASBRENER, KQ4SJM, NEWSLINE'S YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR

DON: The third weekend in August is the culminaton of a lot of what Amateur Radio Newsline does besides produce a weekly newscast. It's the Huntsville Hamfest and our Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year award presentation. Bill was a huge believer in promoting youth in amateur radio and created the award back in 1986, 40 years ago now, to promote and celebrate the amazing things youth are doing in and with the hobby. Our 2026 recipient, Carsten Glasbrener KQ4SJM is a perfect reflection of that. Licensed at age 11, now 14 and a General, Carsten has over 100 satellite contacts and is an AMSAT ambassador, thanks in large part to his father, Drew Glasbrenner KO4MA, AMSAT-NA president.

Here are Carsten's remarks:

"Thank you. Ever since a young age I've always been around radios with my dad, couldn't have done it without him. I also want to thank Mark Hammond N8MH for nominating me for the award. Really grateful for everything."

Next up is John Kruk N9UPC of Yaesu USA:

"When I started with Yaesu back in 2017 Dennis Motschenbacher K7BV, who is now a Silent Key, said one of the most important things about the Huntsville Hamfest was ham radio youth on there, and each year we did this award and Yaesu USA is always proud to be part of it. This year and each year we do we try to find out what would be a good donation to, or a prize I should say for the winner of it and by default, your dad helped us pick this one out. We are more than happy to give him an FTM-510D mobile radio, which has the ability to work satellites. We thought how fitting to do that. On behalf of Yaesu USA, congratulations and here's your gift."

In addition to the radio, Heil Ham Radio presented Carsten a BM-17 dual sided headset, the proper Yaesu adapter for the headset and a foot switch. We could not do this without our friends at Yaesu USA and Heil Ham Radio.

Now we rest until March 2027 when the nominating period opens for next year. Until then, congratulations to Carsten, you're now part of the Newsline family, and we could not be more proud.

I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW.

RSGB'S "CODING WEEK" BLENDS RADIO WITH PROGRAMMING SKILLS

The days between the 14th and 20th of September are being set aside as National Coding Week. The Outreach Team of the Radio Society of Great Britain is devoting the week to providing hams with activities that will sharpen their digital skills and familiarise them with the kind of programming needed in amateur radio. The emphasis is on problem-solving - something basic to amateur radio. Worksheets are available on the RSGB website that can help hams get started. There are two challenges involving micro:bits, including one that can be used to send CW wirelessly or via a telegraph wire. Another small project makes use of the language of the Arduino with the Raspberry Pi Pico.

Follow the link that appears in the text version of this week's newscast for more details.

MARYLAND HAMS SUPPORT 6th ANNUAL HACKATHON FOR TEENS

The sixth annual Hackathon for teenagers, hosted by the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade in Maryland, will focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics - with amateur radio in the mix. The event at the Odenton Regional Library on the 29th of September is a project of the civilians and soldiers at Fort Meade, who will showcase Python programming challenges, cybersecurity issues, reverse engineering and logic games.

Members of the Maryland Mobileers Amateur Radio Club will be joining the event to demonstrate different methods of wireless communication to the teens. The ham club's commitment to nurturing youthful interest in ham radio is evident on its website, which explains how the Maryland Mobileers Youth Amateur Radio Club shares the radio experience with children and teens, including through Parks on the Air activations.

REGISTRATION OPENS FOR ZERO RETRIES DIGITAL CONFERENCE

Registration has opened for the Zero Retries Digital Conference in San Ramon, California, where

technology enthusiasts, experimenters, engineers and ham radio operators will explore emerging technologies and digital communications. The conference will be held on Friday the 16th of October at the Roundhouse Conference Center. This is its second year.

For programming details or to register, visit the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

BANGLADESH RADIO SOCIETY ASKS HAMS TO SUPPORT TRANSPONDER REQUEST

The Amateur Radio Society of Bangladesh hopes to add the voices of satellite enthusiasts around the globe to their own call for an amateur radio transponder aboard the nation's second satellite.

While the Bangladesh Satellite-2 is still in the planning stages, the radio society has applied to the Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited for the dedicated amateur radio payload. A petition is currently being circulated, asking for others to stress the importance of getting it approved. The transponder could be used for ham radio communication, emergency and disaster communication and technical education and experimentation.

The satellite is intended to be an Earth observation satellite and it would be the nation's second satellite to be launched. The radio society believes that a petition, adding the voices of the international ham radio community, would underscore the need for the transponder.

To see the petition, visit the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ: https://s21arsb.com/international-petiton-support

COUNCIL DENIES SCOTTISH AMATEUR'S REQUEST FOR MAST

Calling it "unacceptable" and "overbearing," local councillors have denied a Kirkcaldy homeowner's proposal for a ham radio mast standing 11-meters, or 36 feet, tall.

Krzysztof Swierczynski MMØIMU had applied for authorisation several months ago, telling the Council that he would only raise the mast to its full height when he needed to use it. He said in a statement: [quote] “Amateur radio is a nationally and internationally recognised technical hobby which promotes engineering skills, experimentation and international communication, and can provide valuable emergency communications when required.” [endquote]

Councillors rejected the mast as unsuitable for a residential area, saying its impact on neighbouring homes and rear gardens would be "overbearing" and beyond the character of the area.

The ham defended his application, saying it supports lawful ham radio activity. The website, Fife Today, quoted him as saying: [quote] "These roles are acknowledged in the Scottish Government’s national planning guidance which supports reasonable development by licensed radio amateurs." [endquote]

SOUTH AFRICAN REGULATOR TRACKS REPEATER INTERFERENCE.

An investigation by South Africa's communications regulator has identified a business that authorities believe disrupted a number of amateur radio repeaters throughout the province of Gauteng. According to media reports, the illegal interference on the band between 430 MHz and 440 MHz was determined to have come from commercial radio equipment.

The nation's regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, said it has traced the interference to a business in the city of Germiston in the East Rand region of Gauteng.

News reports said that the regulator received help from volunteers of the South African Radio League's HAMNET Gauteng division. According to various reports, the HAMNET operators began tracking the transmissions in response to reports from amateurs trying to use the repeaters in the East Rand.

The regulator has not released the name of the company publicly due to legal proceedings under way.

GRANT WILL FUND PENNSYLVANIA STUDENT CLUB'S EXPANSION

This school project isn't one for the books. It's one for the radios! As students prepare for the start of the academic year, plans are moving forward to expand the amateur radio program at Harbor Creek High School near the city of Erie. The student ham radio club, KC3SGV, has received a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications to outfit a new radio center that will be the gathering spot for the after-school club. During the day, the center will serve as a laboratory for wireless technology classes where students can experiment with digital modes, test antennas and engage in ham radio contests. The station is designed to operate on-site as well as remotely.

This is only the latest project for this active ham radio group. In December of 2023, the students had a direct QSO with astronaut Andreas Mogensen KG5GCZ aboard the International Space Station using antennas and radio systems that they developed, built, and installed themselves.

Club members and leaders are hoping to spread the excitement about the radio lab by documenting everything they do, while establishing this new resource so other schools in the area can see how to set up or expand their own amateur radio programs.

AST SPACEMOBILE'S TESTS ON 800 MHz END ON SEPT. 12

The Federal Communications Commission has given a Texas satellite communications company until the 12th of September to complete its trial use of the 800 MHz spectrum for direct-to-device cellular broadband service. AST SpaceMobile has been operating under a 30-day permit for delivery to mobile phones in Lanham [LANNUM], Maryland and near its own Midland, Texas headquarters. The direct-to-device trial is being run with consumers' everyday phones.

The regulator granted the approval in April for AST to use frequencies between 817MHz and 824MHz for uplink and between 862MHz and 869MHz for downlink. AST SpaceMobile has strategic partnerships with cellular providers Verizon and AT&T.

The Texas startup company is a rival of SpaceX, which operates the StarLink satellite constellation, which is also involved in direct-to-device operations. AST SpaceMobile stirred controversy earlier this year after the FCC granted it limited use of part of the secondary amateur band between 430 and 440 MHz for emergency telemetry, tracking and control of its satellites. The FCC has said in the past that interference with ham radio was “unlikely.”

AMATEURS RECALL 9/11 TERROR ATTACKS ON 25th ANNIVERSARY

The heroes will be celebrated while the victims will be mourned and remembered as members of the Alabama Contest Group return with special event station K4A and the message, "9/11, We Do Remember."

The group has organized this year’s event, as it has every year, since those are memories meant to be shared as a community. From the 9th through the 13th of September, volunteer operators will be calling CQ and will be listening for stories and memories of that day, the heroism and the heartbreak.

There will be a commemorative QSL card and a full-color certificate at the end of the event. The Smoke Signals newsletter will also be publishing many of the stories that operators hear during their contacts as K4A operators.

Operators will be on all bands using SSB, CW, RTTY, and FT8.

If this date has a special meaning for you, consider joining the team of activators. You can send an email to Bob WA1FCN at wa1fcn@charter.net

For other details, visit the K4A page on QRZ.com

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE SON - OR NOT

April 21, 2023 was a proud day for Margie Anderson and David Boynton of Phoenix, Arizona. Mother and son received their ham radio licenses that day after studying together and testing successfully together. Now they were no longer just a family; they were an amateur radio team. Togetherness prevailed once more a short time later as they studied and upgraded from Technician Class to General.

Then, Margie, KK7MGK, and David, KK7MGJ, discovered DXing the same way they discovered amateur radio - together. That's when things changed - and the race was on. Her HF rig and a flagpole antenna was putting her on the map of the world, news she shared with her son who, is working hard to keep up with his mom's DX record."

While many mothers like to promise their sons and daughters the world, it soon became apparent that David was going to have to work hard to get his own piece of the planet.

For now, however, David can take comfort in one thing. Their FCC licenses put him in front of mom in one respect. His callsign ends in "J." Mom's ends in "K." So he will always be one letter ahead.

AMSAT CANADA BEGINS MEMBERSHIP EFFORTS

AMSAT-Canada has begun offering memberships to help promote amateur radio in space. The organisation recently celebrated the designation of MARMOTSat, a university-built CubeSat, as Canada's first official OSCAR designated satellite.

AMSAT-Canada hopes to continue its development and promotion of satellites and amateur radio and is preparing for a major role in the futureGEO project. The European Space Agency initiative is intended to provide digital and multi-mode satellite coverage for amateur radio in Europe and parts of North America.

Full membership and affiliate membership are both available on an annual basis. For membership benefit details and other information, visit the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

DISASTER DRILL TRAINS INDIA'S NEWEST HAMS

Some of the newest licensed hams in West Bengal, India, got to put their privileges to the test recently during a disaster management communication drill in Kolkata.

Although this was a mock disaster, the exercise placed the same demands on the radio operators that they would face during a real crisis. They had to quickly set up 10 temporary stations and establish communication with one another.

Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA, secretary of the West Bengal Radio Club. said that classes had been held before the drill so that the hams could be confident in knowing every procedure necessary - from checking the radios, cables and antennas, to measuring and ensuring an acceptable SWR.

The August 9th drill was was attended by officers from the National Disaster Response Force of the Indian government; the Disaster Management Officers from the state of West Bengal; Civil Defence volunteers; and the local municipality - all of whom, no doubt, may one day need the skills of these new hams if disaster strikes.

TIME RUNS OUT FOR SPACE STATION ANTENNA SWAP

Astronauts Anil Menon and Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN teamed up outside the ISS for some lengthy and delicate antenna work early on Tuesday the 18th of August. Their spacewalk focused on swapping out a space-to-ground antenna, a task that was covered live on NASA's website and the European Space Agency's YouTube channel.

Like its predecessor, the new high-speed data and communications antenna was to provide a vital connection between the ISS and NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston. However, the pair ran out of time: Removing the failed antenna took longer than expected. Fortunately, the ISS has two of these antennas so communication can proceed normally even though the replacement is not in place. Another spacewalk is on the schedule for Tuesday, August 25th but it's not clear whether the new antenna will be installed then.

CHRISTMAS ISLAND YOUTH DXPEDITION GETS GRANT

The VK9XY Youth DXpedition to Christmas Island in November has gained support from the Northern California DX Foundation. The foundation announced in early August that it was giving a grant for the 18-day activation, which is being planned, led and operated by young operators. Eight of the DXpeditioners will be on the island and another 30 or 40 will operate remotely from around the world using two radio-in-a-box stations paid for by the foundation.

The team expects to be calling CW around the 16th of November.

DXPEDITIONERS SHARE PREVIEW OF CAMBODIA 2027

The action behind the scenes is already very intense for the 20 DXpeditioners from Brazil, Ecuador, Japan, the United States and Bosnia & Herzegovina. They plan to activate Koh Rong Island, off the Cambodian coast, operating all the major modes around the clock for 10 days in November of 2027.

Providing a preview on the YouTube channel of the Sao Paulo chapter of the Liga de Amadores Brasileiros de Rádio Emissão, the DXpedition's leadership confirmed said that things are moving forward. They learned in June from the Cambodian telecommunications regulator that their licence would be granted soon. Although they have found the bureaucracy challenging, access to the site itself is expected to be simple: They will navigate to the island by water taxi. The team's HF antennas will benefit from being near the salt water.

Expectations are high. Both Mario PY2DV and Alex, PY2WAS, said they expected to surpass the QSO count of 50,000 from last year's Galapagos HD8G activation,

The interview, in Portuguese, can be found on the YouTube channel of LABRE-SP.