Florida AMS plans church ham radio network for disaster communication

OCALA, Fla. – With plans for its own ham radio room and new radio tower, Marion Baptist Association in Ocala will soon be taking part in emergency communications to help local churches and their membership during statewide disaster relief efforts.

The updates are coming at a great time, as Florida’s hurricane season is underway, said Mark Weible, associational mission strategist, who only got his ham radio license about a year ago. Since then, he has discovered the many applications of this technology and a new community of people who are practitioners.

“A year ago when I started studying for my ham radio license, I had no idea that I would get this far deep into it. Or that it would be this practical,” he said.

Establishing a network

Weible is hoping to establish a network of ham radio operators among all 67 churches in the association. The idea is for each church to have its own ham radio operator so that churches can communicate with one another and relay information in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster.

“My No. 1 reason for doing this was simply to reach out to our churches,” Weible said. “If we were to have a hurricane, I’d need to know which churches have power, which churches are not damaged and which churches can host disaster relief teams. I’d need to know which churches need help and which ones can help.”

He has asked local pastors to help find ham radio operators in their congregations, but they’re not always so identifiable or forthcoming about their hobby. It’s not something a pastor would typically know about members of his congregation. So far he has about 13.

After passing the test to become licensed, Weible joined the Silver Springs Radio Club to get to know more ham radio operators. The club has about 160 active members, including three from local Baptist churches.

He also joined the Marion Emergency Radio Team to help him understand how to use ham radio for emergency purposes. The team operates the radio at the county’s Emergency Operations Center during disaster situations. Joining the team resulted in the donation of a telescoping shortwave radio antenna – it goes from 7 feet to 30 feet – to Marion Baptist Association. It was being replaced at the Marion County Division of Emergency Management, and Weible asked if he could have it for the association.

Volunteering with that team led him to develop an Emergency Communications Plan for the association using the letters PSA. P is for “Primary,” such as the cell phone and office phone. S is for “Secondary,” such as the Starlink satellite internet service, which allows you to text and call from your cell phone via Wi-Fi calling. A is for “Auxiliary,” or amateur radio.

“If the phones are not working, if Starlink isn’t working, then we have amateur radio we can turn to,” he said. “Cell phones, land lines and Starlink depend on infrastructure that you can’t control. Ham radio is just two people with radios. There is no required infrastructure.”

Serving alongside Florida Baptist Disaster Relief

Weible plans to combine his newfound radio skills with the chaplaincy training he completed last year with Florida Baptist Disaster Relief. As he’s checking on people impacted by storms and engaging in spiritual conversations, he can also help them get messages to friends and loved ones in other areas. That type of communication can be vital during a crisis.

If some are emotionally distraught because they have not heard from their family members or vice versa, they may be so upset that they can’t eat,” he said. “As a chaplain I can take that message and get it to our communications team right away with my radio. This can have immediate impact and an immediate benefit because communication is a basic human need.”

That’s the type of service churches could be providing to the public after disaster hits if they have a radio room set up with a communications team of volunteer radio operators.

Many ham radio operators enjoy this as a hobby or sport, Weible said. They compete in contests and win certificates and awards for things such as making contact with someone from around the world.

“Some people do it purely for fun, just like some people watch college football all day on Saturday,” he said. “There’s science in it; there’s math in it. There’s the sense of adventure and exploring. There’s the sense of problem solving. That’s why it’s a hobby that once people get into it, it kind of becomes consuming.”

Sometimes these enthusiasts may just need a little direction, Weible said, an invite or a push in the right direction to see how they could be using their talents to help others.

“They have all the knowledge; they have the equipment but no one saying, ‘Hey, why don’t you use this for emergency communications?’”

Now that the association has its radio room set up, Weible plans to show it off to local churches and ask them to consider setting up their own rooms.

Getting his ham radio license and joining the local radio clubs has exposed him to a whole new community of people. When they ask why he got into radio, he tells them about his role at Marion Baptist Association and how he wants to help churches communicate with one another and help each other during times of disaster. He even keeps a radio in his car now.

“Now they know about Florida Baptist Disaster Relief and now they know there are Christians who live out their faith by serving others as volunteers during times of disaster,” he said. “It helps them to see the very positive side of what it means to be a believer, what it means to be a follower of Jesus and what it means to be a church member. This has allowed me to have a positive witness with a group pf people that I would never have had access to before.”

 

MONDAY EDITION: Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) is taking place between 17 and 19 October 2025. The event promotes friendship and global citizenship, and is a brilliant celebration of amateur radio among the groups within the Scout Association....

Zombie Satellites Sometimes Come Back To Life, Surprising Even NASA

There are thousands of satellites out in space, orbiting the Earth. In most cases, these satellites are put in their proper place to serve a specific mission, and then after the mission, they shut down and continue to orbit until they eventually get sucked into the Earth’s atmosphere, where they burn up.

Depending on how high of an orbit the satellite is in, it can take many years before its orbit decays enough to be pulled back through the atmosphere. In addition, many satellites have positioning thrusters on them to help keep them in place longer than would otherwise be possible.

Satellites go offline for a number of reasons, including a shutdown command from Earth, damage to key systems, batteries dying, and more. Once the satellites are offline, they are expected to stay offline until they burn up, but that isn’t always what happens.

Recently, the NASA Relay 2 satellite, which was in operation back in the 1960s, sent a brief radio pulse back to Earth. This was very unexpected since it had been offline for a very long time. This satellite, along with Relay 1, were experimental communication satellite. Relay 2 was offline as of 1965, with its transponders fully failing by 1967.

So, it is not a mystery why NASA was quite surprised to receive a 30-nanosecond transmission from it on June 13, 2024. Experts have been looking into the signal to try to figure out what happened. They have come up with a couple of options:

• Accumulated Electrostatic Charge – Over time, the satellite systems may have slowly accumulated electrostatic charges until they reached a point where a discharge could occur, which happened in the form of the signal received.
• Micrometeroids – If a micrometeoroid struck the satellite, it is possible that it would have created a cloud of plasma at impact. This could have generated the signal that was sent back to Earth.

The experts looking into these options published a paper on the possibilities, which has been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal.

Read more – Twisted Sifter: http://bit.ly/4gSJGwW

Ham Sticks, Damn Sticks, by Wayne Robertson, K4WK

 

WEEKEND EDITION: Not a lot of pictures yet of inside the hamfest yet. Weather looks great and I heard the attendance was great on Friday...

Joe- K1JEK representing Cobra Antenna and the Marine Corps

Mr. Mike

Some Assembly Required

by AA3JE

The people who renovated our house in New Hampshire, the last owners, raised show dogs, so they put up fences all around the property. Very pretty fences (about 1000 linear feet of fences). This was no problem for them as they hired a local to cut the grass. So in addition to cutting the 5 acres of lawn, bumping my poor back all the way on the tractor, I have to weed whack the fence lines. This is painful, but possible as my Mighty Max fifteen-year old weed whacker had plenty of power.

Then one day I pulled the cord and the top of the machine exploded. The top pulled off, and what seemed like fifty feet of tangled recoil spring leaped out and began doing the Macarena down the driveway, accompanied by bits of the recoil starter mechanism. “No Problem” I thought and gathered up all the bits and began reassembly. DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS AT HOME. After several hours of untangling, cramming and prying, I realized that getting it all back in was beyond my skill. So I put it all in a box and went to the nearest Max dealer. To my horror, they were out of business, having sold the business to a container company that made a decent offer and retired to Florida.

Calling Max Corporation was a non-starter. No, they did not have a local dealer anymore. No they did not offer a mail in repair service. Did I want to buy a new one? I said yes, was directed to their website, and found that my model was no longer made, having fallen victim to EPA noise and emission regulations. My old one was a 52 cc four horsepower model, and the biggest they made these days was a 28 cc 1.4 horsepower model. I knew that this would not work (the weeds would just laugh) and started searching. I finally discovered that no one made the old, high-power ones for the US market.

Such is progress.

I finally found out that a company in China made one for use in the far east, where local grasses are really tough, and an importer who was a bit casual about US import requirements. I think they also provide fentanyl, but I am not sure. So I ordered it. It came in a rather small box, and a sticker on the outside saying, “Some assembly required”. I cleared the workbench, opened the box, and discovered it was a “Do It Yourself” assembly kit. There was a manual, written in what might be considered English in China, and a series of photos taken with someone’s cell phone. In bad light, while shaking badly from withdrawal.

Fortunately, there are only so many ways a weed whacker can go together, and to my delight it was one of the very old “backpack” units where the motor assembly is in a shoulder harness, and a heavy cable transfers power to the wand. I was familiar with these from my days on Okinawa in the Navy, forty years ago, where they were called “Habus” and responsible for a series of fascinating injuries to the Marines I took care of.

Four hours later I had it assembled. It started first pull, sounded like a 1940s hot rod with straight pipes, and came with a line head, a brush head and a really evil looking circular saw. Thankfully I have chainsaw chaps, armored gloves, and a helmet. When my back feels better I look forward to seeing if it works as good as it sounds.

My wife says I need to look for some battery powered units, but they will never get the job done.

Meanwhile she is looking at local lawn services. Such is life.

FRIDAY EDITION: Nearfest begins and I am hoping Joe-K1JEK sends a few photos....Wait until next year again for the Red Sox....

Amateur Radio Licensing Update During US Government Shutdown

A bulletin sent to members of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® included information about the impact of the US Government shutdown on licensing for the Amateur Radio Service.

The government shutdown began at 12:01 Eastern time on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, when Congress had not passed an appropriations bill or other plan to keep the government funded for the new fiscal year (begins October 1).

The Federal Communications Commission, which issues Amateur Radio Service licenses, issued a Public Notice on Tuesday, September 30, indicating that it would suspend most operations following a shutdown. “Aside from a few emergency and auction filing systems, all other Commission electronic filing systems will be unavailable to the public until normal agency operations resume,” said the FCC Notice.

ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, said the FCC systems appeared to go off-line around 1 PM Eastern time on Wednesday, and are redirecting to the Public Notice. This means the FCC will not be processing any amateur radio license applications during the shutdown, which includes individual, club, and exam session (new and upgrade) applications.

“But ARRL Volunteer Examiners should continue giving exam sessions,” said Somma. “Keep doing what you’re doing. Keep serving new and upgrade candidates for amateur radio licenses.” Somma also urged that Volunteer Examiners continue to promptly forward session results from their exams to the ARRL VEC.

“Please do not hold your session results. Send your sessions to us, and ARRL VEC will continue to queue all applications as they are received. Once the federal government reopens, ARRL VEC will promptly resume submitting applications to the FCC for processing. So, keep sending sessions to the ARRL VEC.”

Although the FCC’s shutdown notice indicated that CORES registration system would remain available, New Registrations are currently not being accepted due to the government shutdown. This means that new applicants cannot register for an FRN. This has created a temporary barrier for individuals who wish to take an amateur radio exam but do not yet have an FRN. Existing users can still log in and access their accounts and applicants who already have an FRN can test without issue.

Given the current situation, there is active discussion within the testing community about temporarily allowing testing without an FRN, with the understanding that:

1. The applicant would take the exam and receive a CSCE (Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination).

2. Once CORES resumes issuing new registrations, the applicant would:

• Register for an FRN.
• Contact the coordinating VEC with their FRN.
• Have their application submitted retroactively.

This approach would preserve momentum for new licensees and avoid delays in testing.

Please continue to check the ARRL website for updates as they become available.

The FCC's Universal Licensing System (ULS) databases are also currently unavailable to the public. ULS and related systems (like the License Manager, License Search, Application Search, etc.) are not accessible during the shutdown. Users cannot file applications with the FCC, or access license data, including address information.

To find an amateur radio exam session, please visit www.arrl.org/find-an-exam. For a list of VE Teams that offer Online Exam Sessions, go to www.arrl.org/online-exam-session.

 

 

THURSDAY EDITION: The big weekend has arrived and Nearfest in New Boston, NH starts tomorrow thru Saturday. Joe- K1JEK will be going up tonight camping and overseeing the arriving campers. The gates open for business Friday morning around 8am. The weather looks good and I hope they have a great turnout.....

Radio Apocalypse: America’s Doomsday Rocket Radios

Even in the early days of the Cold War, it quickly became apparent that simply having hundreds or even thousands of nuclear weapons would never be a sufficient deterrent to atomic attack. For nuclear weapons to be anything other than expensive ornaments, they have to be part of an engineered system that guarantees that they’ll work when they’re called upon to do so, and only then. And more importantly, your adversaries need to know that you’ve made every effort to make sure they go boom, and that they can’t interfere with that process.

In practical terms, nuclear deterrence is all about redundancy. There can be no single point of failure anywhere along the nuclear chain of command, and every system has to have a backup with multiple backups. That’s true inside every component of the system, from the warheads that form the sharp point of the spear to the systems that control and command those weapons, and especially in the systems that relay the orders that will send the missiles and bombers on their way.

When the fateful decision to push the button is made, Cold War planners had to ensure that the message got through. Even though they had a continent-wide system of radios and telephone lines that stitched together every missile launch facility and bomber base at their disposal, planners knew how fragile all that infrastructure could be, especially during a nuclear exchange. When the message absolutely, positively has to get through, you need a way to get above all that destruction, and so they came up with the Emergency Rocket Communication System, or ERCS.

Above It All

The ERCS concept was brutally simple. In the event of receiving an Emergency Action Message (EAM) with a valid launch order, US Air Force missile launch commanders would send a copy of the EAM to a special warhead aboard their ERCS missiles. The missiles would be launched along with the other missiles in the sortie, but with flight paths to the east and west, compared to over-the-pole trajectories for the nuclear-tipped missiles. The ERCS trajectories were designed to provide line-of-sight coverage to all of Strategic Air Command’s missile fields and bomber bases in North America, and also to SAC bases in Europe. Once the third stage of the missile was at apogee, the payload would detach from the launch vehicle and start transmitting the EAM on a continuous loop over one of ten pre-programmed UHF frequencies, ensuring that all strategic assets within sight of the transmitter would get the message even if every other means of communication had failed.

Even by Cold War standards, ERCS went from operational concept to fielded system in a remarkably short time. The SAC directive for what would become ERCS was published in September of 1961, and a contract was quickly awarded to Allied Signal Aerospace Communications to build the thing. In just four months, Allied had a prototype ready for testing. Granted, the design of the payload was simplified considerably by the fact that it was on a one-way trip, but still, the AN/DRC-9, as it was designated, was developed remarkably quickly.

The 875-pound (397-kg) payload, which was to be carried to the edge of space at the tip of an ICBM, contained a complete “store and forward” communications system with redundant UHF transmitters, along with everything needed to control the deployment of the package into space, to manage the thermal conditions inside the spacecraft, and to keep it on a stable trajectory after release. In addition, the entire package was hardened against the effects of electromagnetic pulse, ensuring its ability to relay launch orders no matter what.

The forward section of the package, just aft of the nose cone, mainly contained the equipment to activate the payload’s batteries. As was common in spacecraft of the day, the payload was powered by silver-zinc batteries, which were kept in a non-activated state until needed. To activate them, a gas generator in the forward section would be started about 45 seconds prior to launch. This would provide the pressure needed to force about seven liters of potassium hydroxide electrolyte solution from a reservoir in the forward section through tubes to the pair of batteries in the aft section of the payload. The batteries would immediately supply the 45 VDC needed by the payload’s power converters, which provided both the regulated 28 VDC supply for powering most of the comms equipment, plus the low-voltage, high-current AC supplies needed for the filaments of the tubes used in the RF power amplifiers. In the interest of redundancy, there were two separate power converters, one for each battery.

Also for redundancy and reliability, the payload used a pair of identical transmitters, located in the aft section. These were capable of operating on ten different channels in the UHF band, with the frequency controlled by a solid-state crystal-controlled oscillator. The specific channel was selected at the time of launch and fixed for the duration of the mission. The oscillators fed an exciter circuit, also solid state, that amplified and modulated the carrier signal for the driver amplifiers, before sending them to a series of RF cavity amps that used vapor-cooled tetrodes to boost the signal to about a kilowatt.

Both transmitters were connected to a passive diplexer to couple the two signals together into a common feed line for the payload’s single antenna, which sat behind a fiberglass radome, which was pressurized to reduce the risk of corona discharge, at the very aft of the vehicle. The antenna was an Archimedian spiral design, which is essentially a dipole antenna wound into a spiral with the two legs nested together. This resulted in a right-hand circularly polarized signal that covered the entire frequency range of the transmitter.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Since the business of all this hardware was to transmit EAMs, the AN/DRC-9 was equipped with a recorder-processor system. This was shockingly simple — essentially just a continuous-loop tape deck with its associated amplifiers and controllers. The tape deck had separate playback and record/erase heads, over which the tape moved at a nominal 5 inches per second, or 40 ips when it needed to rapidly cycle back to the beginning of the message. The loop was long enough to record an EAM up to 90 seconds long, which was recorded by the missile combat crew commander (MCCC) over a standard telephone handset on a dedicated ERCS console in the launch complex. The EAM, a long series of NATO phonetic alphabet characters, was dictated verbatim and checked by the deputy MCCC for accuracy; if the MCCC flubbed his lines, the message was recorded over until it was perfect.

The recorder-processor was activated in playback mode once the transmitter was activated, which occurred about 31 seconds after thrust termination of the third stage of the rocket and after spin motors had fired to spin-stabilize the payload during the ballistic phase of its flight. Test flights over the Pacific launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California showed that transmissions were readable for anywhere from 14 to 22 minutes, more than enough to transmit a complete EAM multiple times.

As was common with many Cold War projects, work on ERCS started before the launch vehicle it was intended for, the Minuteman II, was even constructed. As an interim solution, the Air Force mounted the payloads to their Blue Scout launch vehicles, a rocket that had only been used for satellites and scientific payloads. But it performed well enough in a series of tests through the end of 1963 that the Air Force certified the Blue Scout version of ERCS as operational and deployed it to three sites in Nebraska on mobile trailer launchers. The Blue Scout ERCS would serve until the Minuteman version was certified as operational in 1968, greatly improving readiness by putting the system in a hardened silo rather than in vulnerable above-ground launch trailers.

By the mid-70s, ten Minuteman II ERCS sorties were operational across ten different launch facilities at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Luckily, they and their spicier cousins all stayed in their silos through even the hottest days of the Cold War, only emerging in 1991 when the entire Minuteman II force was ordered to stand down by President George H.W. Bush. By that point, global military communications had advanced considerably, and the redundancy offered by ERCS was deemed no longer worth the expense of maintaining the 1960s technology that provided it. All ERCS payloads were removed from their missiles and deactivated by the end of 1991.

 

WEDNESDAY EDITION: The government shutdown, lets take a closer look. All non-essential workers will get a complimentary vacation and retro pay....they lose nothing! Essential workers not getting paid will also get retro pay, everyone calm down!...On  a lighter note, The Red Sox beat the Yanks in game one of the series.....

TUESDAY EDITION: 10 and 15 meters have been very open the last few days, get on and catch a few new countries, just dont talk about tariffs....

2 Car Colors Hurt Resale Value — Steer Clear of These Shades

A study by NexusMedia, using insights from EasySearch, compared depreciation across ten best-selling models, from sedans to SUVs to EVs. Average five-year depreciation has surged to 45.6% in 2025, up from 38.8% in 2023, with electric vehicles losing nearly 60% of their value. Within that, color stands out as a key factor.

Blue cars rank as the worst performers for resale, coming with the steepest average drop among popular colors. According to Kelley Blue Book, blue vehicles are also harder to keep clean since water spots, scratches and swirl marks show quickly. That extra upkeep doesn’t help their resale prospects. 

Despite being one of the most common shades on the road — coming second on Edmunds’ list with 22% of market share — the study found black vehicles depreciate more than most other colors. 

Other Popular Colors

The study also tracked depreciation on red, silver and white vehicles. Unlike black and blue, these shades are easier to care for in terms of maintaining their look. Red cars fall 21.6% on average, costing $8,700. Silver drops 21.3%, losing $8,200. White proves the most stable on the list, dropping 18% or about $7,000, and it tops the list of most popular colors at 25% of market share. The gap between white and blue is more than $5,000 — a reminder that, surprisingly, paint choice can carry real financial consequences.

This Pocket Multitool Weighs less than a Penny

A multitool that weighs less than a penny? Yes, it exists. This video by [ToolTechGeek] shows his titanium flat-cut design tipping the scales at only 1.9 grams—lighter than the 2.5-gram copper penny jingling in your pocket. His reasoning: where most everyday carry (EDC) tools are bulky, overpriced, or simply too much, this hack flips the equation: reduce it to the absolute minimum, yet keep it useful.

You might have seen this before. This second attempt is done by laser-cutting titanium instead of stainless steel. Thinner, tougher, and rust-proof, titanium slashes the weight dramatically, while still keeping edges functional without sharpening. Despite the size, this tool manages to pack in a Phillips and flathead screwdriver, a makeshift saw, a paint-lid opener, a wire bender (yes, tested on a paperclip), and even a 1/4″ wrench doubling as a bit driver. High-torque screwdriving by using the long edges is a clever exploit, and yes—it scrapes wood, snaps zip ties, and even forces a bottle cap open, albeit a bit roughly.

It’s not about replacing your Leatherman; it’s about carrying something instead of nothing. Ultra-minimalist, featherlight, pocket-slip friendly—bet you can’t find a reason not to just have it in your pocket.

Map reveals US blackout after powerful solar flare

Large parts of the USA suffered a radio blackout due to major activity in space this week.

On June 15, North America found itself under a shortwave radio blackout, leading to a loss of signal at frequencies below 20 Megahertz (MHz).

Amateur radio operators may have been affected by the signal loss, with commercial radio usually operating at a higher MHz rate.

The blackout was caused by a solar flare from the sun, following a growing active region of a sunspot.

Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation or light on the sun. They are the most powerful explosions in the solar system, and can contain as much energy as a billion hydrogen bombs, according to NASA. Solar flares are classified according to their intensity, with an M being the second-highest on the scale.

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the moment of eruption, which has been classed as an M8.3 solar flare—and which almost reached an X-class on the scale.

Solar flares can affect us on Earth, and radiation from this flare caused a shortwave radio blackout. A map released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows the entirety of the United States was affected by the blackout, for MHz at around and under a rate of 20.

Much of South America was affected on a lower scale, while Canada and Greenland were affected at the same rate as the US.

As well as the radio blackout, the solar flare also hurled a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) into space. These clouds of solar material expand as they sweep through space, and the flank of this CME will hit Earth in the coming days, bringing a chance of geomagnetic storms.

Geomagnetic storms caused by CMEs can lead to Aurora Borealis, or the northern lights, lighting up our skies.

A previous recent geomagnetic storm prompted the NOAA to forecast a likelihood of Aurora over much of the US on June 13, with Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin predicted to be directly underneath the phenomenon.

The northern lights are easiest to spot in clear weather and away from bright lights and light pollution of cities, however stargazers do not need to be directly underneath the phenomenon to view it.

As NOAA explains on its website: "The aurora does not need to be directly overhead but can be observed from as much as a 1,000 km [621 miles] away when the aurora is bright and if conditions are right."

MONDAY EDITION: It's feeling like fall this morning, 63 an sunny....I feel great, The Red Sox will be playing the Yanks in the playoffs, NE Patriots won and looked pretty darn good, the Indianna Fever won, and big shot BC football lost...what more can you ask for?

 A Ham-Adjacent Portable Radio Repeater

Although ham radio offers a wide array of bands to transmit on, not to mention plenty of modes to communicate with, not everyone wants or needs to use all of this capability. For those needing simple two-way communication services like FRS or GMRS are available (in North America) with much less stringent licensing requirements, and GMRS even allows repeaters to be used to extend their range beyond the typical mile or so. [Dave] aka [N8DAV] has built an off-grid simplex repeater that can travel around with him wherever he goes.

The repeater itself is based on a pre-built simplex repeater module, which means that it has to record an incoming signal and then play it back on the same frequency. Compared to a split frequency repeater which uses different frequencies for transmit and receive this can be a bit cumbersome but simplifies the design and the use. A Baofeng UV-5R is used to perform the actual radio duties paired to a 40 watt amplifier to extend the range as much as possible. It’s all packed into a Pelican-like case and set up with a large battery that could power it for a number of days, making it useful for camping, rescue, or other off-grid activities.

For those wondering why [Dave] is using his ham call sign instead of his GMRS one, all of the equipment in this build will work in either the UHF ham bands or the channels reserved for GMRS with minor adjustments, so it’s perfectly possible to use the setup for one’s preferred license. And, for those in other parts of the world without GMRS there’s a similar class of radio called UHF CB which might be able to support similar builds, but be sure to check your local jurisdiction’s laws before hooking something like this up. For an even longer-range radio repeater using similar equipment we’d recommend looking to the skies.

How’s the Weather? (Satellite Edition)

When [Tom Nardi] reported on NOAA’s statement that many of its polar birds were no longer recommended for use, he mentioned that when the satellites do give up, there are other options if you want to pull up your own satellite weather imagery. [Jacopo] explains those other options in great detail.

For example, the Russian Meteor-M satellites are available with almost the same hardware and software stack, although [Jacopo] mentions you might need an extra filter since it is a little less tolerant of interference than the NOAA bird. On the plus side, Meteor-M is stronger than the NOAA satellite on 1.7 GHz, and you can even use a handheld antenna to pick it up. There are new, improved satellites of this series on their way, too.

Another possibility is Metop-B and -C. These do require a wide bandwidth but that’s not hard to do with a modern SDR. Apparently, these satellites will operate until 2027 and beyond.

Even the US GOES satellites are still operational and should continue working for the foreseeable future. There are plenty more choices. Weather not your thing? Jason-3 sends data on radiation and humidity. There are even solar images you can pluck out of the airwaves.

If you’re interested, read on to the bottom, where you’ll find coverage of what you need and how to get started. Of course, you can still get the last gasp of some of the classic satellites, at least for now. You can even print your own antennas.

Blog – Hackaday Read More

The Sound of Earth's Flipping Magnetic Field Is an Unnerving Horror

Earth's magnetic field dramatically flipped roughly 41,000 years ago. Now you can actually 'hear' this epic upheaval, thanks to a clever interpretation of information collected by the European Space Agency's Swarm satellite mission.

Combining the satellite data with evidence of magnetic field line movements on Earth, geoscientists mapped the Laschamps event and represented it using natural noises like the creaking of wood and the crashing of colliding rocks.

The result – unveiled in 2024 by the Technical University of Denmark and the German Research Center for Geosciences – is is an eerie, otherworldly audio track unlike anything you've heard before.

WEEKEND EDITION: I am going to a fox hunt today. The fox is sending a sign in morse code every minute or so in Ipswich, MA between 11-2 pm. If you find it, your earn a fox pin.....something to do!     Good article to read

ISS SSTV Event Celebrates World Space Week

ARISS has announced an slow scan television (SSTV) event to coincide with World Space Week October 3-6. The International Space Station (ISS) will transmit 6 unique images via SSTV.

The usual frequency of 145.800 MHz will be in use transmitting SSTV images in PD120 mode. The current schedule is tentative:

October 3-4

• Start Friday October 3 at 14:00 UTC
• End Saturday October 4 at 10:00 UTC

Confirmation of Record 220 PeV Cosmic Neutrino Hit on Earth

Neutrinos are exceedingly common in the Universe, with billions of them zipping around us throughout the day from a variety of sources. Due to their extremely low mass and no electric charge they barely ever interact with other particles, making these so-called ‘ghost particles’ very hard to detect. That said, when they do interact the result is rather spectacular as they impart significant kinetic energy. The resulting flash of energy is used by neutrino detectors, with most neutrinos generally pegging out at around 10 petaelectronvolt (PeV), except for a 2023 event.

This neutrino event which occurred on February 13th back in 2023 was detected by the KM3NeT/ARCA detector and has now been classified as an ultra-high energy neutrino event at 220 PeV, suggesting that it was likely a cosmogenic neutrinos. When we originally reported on this KM3-230213A event, the data was still being analyzed based on a detected muon from the neutrino interaction even, with the researchers also having to exclude the possibility of it being a sensor glitch.

By comparing the KM3-230213A event data with data from other events at other detectors, it was possible to deduce that the most likely explanation was one of these ultra-high energy neutrinos. Since these are relatively rare compared to neutrinos that originate within or near Earth’s solar system, it’ll likely take a while for more of these detection events. As the KM3NeT/ARCA detector grid is still being expanded, we may see many more of them in Earth’s oceans. After all, if a neutrino hits a particle but there’s no sensor around to detect it, we’d never know it happened.

TOP 50 DX WANTED COUNTRIES

1. P5 DPRK (NORTH KOREA)
2. BS7H SCARBOROUGH REEF
3. CE0X SAN FELIX ISLANDS
4. BV9P PRATAS ISLAND
5. KH7K KURE ISLAND
6. KH3 JOHNSTON ISLAND
7. 3Y/P PETER 1 ISLAND
8. FT5/X KERGUELEN ISLAND
9. YV0 AVES ISLAND
10. 3Y/B BOUVET ISLAND
11. VK0M MACQUARIE ISLAND
12. KH4 MIDWAY ISLAND
13. PY0S SAINT PETER AND PAUL ROCKS
14. KP5 DESECHEO ISLAND
15. VP0S SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS
16. ZL9 NEW ZEALAND SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS ✅
17. FK/C CHESTERFIELD ISLANDS
18. VK0H HEARD ISLAND
19. FT/T TROMELIN ISLAND
20. EZ TURKMENISTAN
21. ZL8 KERMADEC ISLAND
22. YK SYRIA
23. VP0G SOUTH GEORGIA ISLAND
24. XF4 REVILLAGIGEDO
25. KH1 BAKER HOWLAND ISLANDS
26. ZS8 PRINCE EDWARD & MARION ISLANDS
27. FT5/W CROZET ISLAND
28. VK9M MELLISH REEF
29. FT/J JUAN DE NOVA, EUROPA
30. SV/A MOUNT ATHOS
31. HK0/M MALPELO ISLAND
32. PY0T TRINDADE & MARTIM VAZ ISLANDS
33. JD/M MINAMI TORISHIMA
34. KP1 NAVASSA ISLAND
35. KH9 WAKE ISLAND
36. TI9 COCOS ISLAND
37. FT/G GLORIOSO ISLAND
38. VK9W WILLIS ISLAND
39. FT5Z AMSTERDAM & ST PAUL ISLANDS
40. VP8O SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS
41. XZ MYANMAR
42. ZK3 TOKELAU ISLANDS
43. 3C0 ANNOBON
44. 1S SPRATLY ISLANDS
45. T5 SOMALIA
46. R1F FRANZ JOSEF LAND
47. KH5 PALMYRA & JARVIS ISLANDS
48. T31 CENTRAL KIRIBATI
49. T33 BANABA ISLAND
50. H40 TEMOTU PROVINCE

FRIDAY EDITION: PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Open-carry is now legal in the state of Florida....

Florida law still bans firearms in many locations, like schools, bars, government buildings, and private businesses unless allowed by owner.

Shoplifters could soon be chased down by drones

NCVEC Question Pool Committee Removes Extra-Class Question E6D07 From Use

Radio Shack Rebirth May Have Gone Awry in Alleged Ponzi-Like Scheme

Oh, Radio Shack. What a beautiful place you once were, a commercial haven for those seeking RC cars, resistors, and universal remotes. Then, the downfall, as you veered away from your origins, only to lead to an ultimate collapse. More recently, the brand was supposed to return to new heights online… only to fall afoul of the Securities and Exchange Commission. (via Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg)

The Radio Shack brand was picked up a few years ago by a company known as Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV). The company’s modus operandi was to take well-known but beleaguered brands and relaunch them as online-only operations. Beyond Radio Shack, REV also owned a number of other notable brand names, like Pier 1, Modell’s Sporting Goods, and Dress Barn.

Unfortunately, the Radio Shack rebirth probably won’t reach the stellar heights of the past. Namely, because REV has been accused of operating a Ponzi-like scheme by the SEC. Despite huge boasts allegedly made to investors, none of REV’s portfolio of brands were actually making profits, and the SEC has charged that the company was paying investor returns with cash raised from other investors — unsustainable, and a major no-no, legally speaking.

We were cautiously optimistic when we heard about the REV buyout back in 2020, but at this point, it’s probably best to come to terms with the fact that Radio Shack won’t be coming back. The name will linger in our hearts for some time to come, but the business we knew is long gone. Sometimes it’s better to look to the future than to try and recreate the magic of the past, especially if you’re doing inappropriate things with other people’s money in the process.

Blog – Hackaday Read More

THURSDAY EDITION: Rainy day here on the rock, we are planning a handicap bathroom and access for the radio club. I need to draw up a set of plans for the building inspector, historic commission (we are a historic building unfortunately), and for a variance application. .....

Engineers propose massive airbags for airplanes

An Air India flight from Ahmedabad bound for London spent just 30 seconds in the air before disaster struck earlier this year. Preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft’s fuel control switches were inexplicably turned off shortly after takeoff, cutting fuel to the engines and causing total power loss. Frantic cockpit recordings reveal the two pilots questioning each other in confusion over who made the fatal decision. Amid the chaos, the plane plummeted and crash-landed, killing all but one person on board. It was the deadliest aviation disaster in a decade.

A pair of aviation engineers from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in India believe they have developed a design that could help prevent similar crashes—a design that involves massive, AI-controlled external airbags. Called Project REBIRTH, the multi-layered safety system would retrofit aircraft with a suite of sensors that constantly monitor flight conditions. If the system determines a crash below 3,000 feet is unavoidable, giant airbags would deploy, forming a protective cocoon designed to absorb impact energy and reduce damage. An infrared beacon and flashing lights would also be activated during the crash with the goal of making the cushioned wreckage easier for emergency responders to locate.

The engineers are calling their design, which is nominated for 2025 James Dyson Award, the world’s first “AI-powered crash survival system.” Though still in its early testing phases, they say computer simulations show the system can reduce crash forces by more than 60 percent. In theory, a softer landing, combined with faster, AI-driven emergency response decisions, could mean the difference between passengers surviving or dying in a crash. An aviation expert speaking with Popular Science said the concept shows promise but cautioned that many unanswered questions remain, particularly regarding the added weight of the airbags.

“This sounds like an interesting idea BUT airline disasters that this airbag system is intended to mitigate would mean that future aircraft would all be carrying the additional weight and other compromises to mitigate one accident in 20 years,” Jeff Edwards, a retired US Navy 1-6 Intruder bombardier and founder of aviation safety consulting firm  AVSafe, told Popular Science.

REBIRTH emerged as a “response to grief”

Eshel Wasim and Dharsan Srinivasan, the brains behind REBIRTH, say the concept was a direct response to the Air India crash, which left them and their family members reeling. 

“My mother couldn’t sleep,” Wasim writes. “She kept thinking about the fear the passengers and pilots must have felt, knowing there was no way out. That helplessness haunted us.” 

The pair began scouring academic research on airline safety measures and discovered a notable gap. Most air safety systems are designed to prevent crashes, with comparatively little focus on improving survivability when a crash is unavoidable. With that in mind, they set out to develop a method targeting three specific goals: slowing an aircraft before impact, absorbing the force of the crash, and helping rescuers locate and respond to the site more quickly.

“REBIRTH is more than engineering—it’s a response to grief,” the engineers write. “A promise that survival can be planned, and that even after failure, there can be a second chance.”

 

WEDNESDAY EDITION: TODAY'S DUMBASS: S.C. Teaching Assistant Arrested for Allegedly Releasing Fart Spray, Causing $55K Damage and Making Students 'Physically Sick'.....October 3 & 4, 2025, are just around the corner! Join us for two incredible days of ham radio, camaraderie, and fun against the backdrop of crisp autumn air and breathtaking New England fall foliage. Explore the legendary NEAR-Fest flea market, where the thrill of the hunt is half the fun, and you’re bound to discover treasures (and parts you didn’t even know you needed). With the weather forecast shaping up beautifully, the fairgrounds are the perfect place to experience it all.

SVG Amateur radio operators master emergency communication (St. Vincent and the Grenadines)

Sunday, September 14, 2025 was a special day for new radio operators recently trained by the Youlou Amateur Radio Association – YARA, as they converged on the Chatoyer National Park at Rabacca for a ‘field day’ exercise.

The field day took the form of antenna orientation and erection for HF (High Frequency) radio using a multi-band broad band antenna donated by Barrett Communications as well as deploying a VHF/UHF antenna and radio from the temporary base set up at the park. The field day operation gave the new radio operators ‘hands on’ experience in communicating with both local and regional radio operators. These skills are important and especially useful in disaster scenarios.

Read more – St. Vincent Times: http://bit.ly/4pBZA2I

Thermal Batteries for Lower Carbon Industrial Processes

Heating things up is one of the biggest sources of cost and emissions for many industrial processes we take for granted. Most of these factories are running around the clock so they don’t have to waste energy cooling off and heating things back up, so how can you match this 24/7 cycle to the intermittent energy provided by renewables? This MIT spin-off thinks one solution is thermal storage refractory bricks.

Electrified Thermal Solutions takes the relatively simple technology of refractory brick to the next level. For the uninitiated, refractory bricks are typically ceramics with a huge amount of porosity to give them a combination of high thermal tolerance and very good insulating properties. A number of materials processes use them to maximize the use of the available heat energy.

While the exact composition is likely proprietary, the founder’s Ph.D. thesis tells us the bricks are likely a doped chromia (chrome oxide) composition that creates heat in the brick when electrical energy is applied. Stacked bricks can conduct enough current for the whole stack to heat up without need for additional connections. Since these bricks are thermally insulating, they can time shift the energy from solar or wind energy and even out the load. This will reduce emissions and cost as well. If factories need to pipe additional grid power, it would happen at off-peak hours instead of relying on the fluctuating and increasing costs associated with fossil fuels.

If you want to implement thermal storage on a smaller scale, we’ve seen sand batteries and storing heat from wind with water or other fluids.

 

TUESDAY EDITION: Another day in paradise, time to get the final ton of biobricks in the basement and stacked with the help of my grandson.....

Yarm amateur radio enthusiast loses planning battle

A disabled amateur radio enthusiast says his local council has “taken away my life” by telling him to take down poles which allow him to pursue his cherished hobby.

Ray Pratt, 92, has made friends with fellow radio users all over the world for more than four decades. But the wheelchair user says this vital link could now be severed as Stockton Council would not let him keep the two poles supporting an antenna in his back garden.

No neighbours put objections in to the widower and great-grandfather’s planning application. But the council rejected it, saying the slim metal 10m and 7.5m “masts” outside his bungalow were clearly visible over fences, from gardens and above rooftops.

Planning officers argued the structures were “lightweight and slender” but 3.7m taller than the bungalows. They said the poles “would dominate the rear gardens harming their enjoyment for the neighbouring residents”.

Ray, a former fisherman and tanker driver who has served in the Merchant Navy, said: “They’ve told me to take it down. It’s my life. I think it’s disastrous. It’s taken away my life.

“I’m 92, I probably haven’t got long to go and they’re going to deny me the little bit I’ve got left.”

Ray has his radio equipment set up in a back room and logs all his contacts on the airwaves each day. He said: “I can be here for hours, if the conditions are good, just talking to people.

“I’ve been doing the amateur radio for 45 years, I’ve had it for such a long time. I’ve spoken to people from Australia, Brazil, Japan and New Zealand.

“It’s the excitement of who you’re going to get. I was first interested in radio about 1959 to 1960, I had a little walkie-talkie on my fishing boat, we used them to talk to each other.

“I sat a City & Guilds in 1982, 1983, and had my set-up for about 40 years. I switch it on every morning, see who’s there.”

He said he had no problems with the set-up in his former home of King’s Lynn. He retired following an industrial accident when he fell from a gantry when he was 60, had to have ulcerated right leg amputated three years ago, and moved to Teesside in 2023 to be closer to family.

He put the poles in the garden of his adapted home on Sefton Way, Yarm to carry on his hobby, with the antenna running from the back of the house to the longer pole. The council says it was “alerted to the unauthorised masts”, and Ray applied for retrospective planning consent last year.

He sent a letter explaining his situation, and the council delivered its decision this month. They said in a report they were sympathetic to Ray’s personal circumstances, but the poles but were “visually intrusive”, “overbearing” and “not sympathetic” to the area’s character.

The council said the poles did not have power, carry noise or cause interference, merely supported wires carrying the radio signal. It said the poles were permanent and the tallest was fixed “not retractable and is fixed into the ground”, while the shorter one appeared “affixed to the house”, but Ray said they were collapsible.

The bungalow sits with pylons visible on one side, telegraph poles nearby on the other. But the council said these were “necessary elements of public infrastructure with a clear community benefit”.

Ray’s friend Jon Pilling, 69, a fellow radio enthusiast, described the poles: “It’s a glorified TV aerial, where you can transmit as well.

“These are not permanent, they’re telescopic poles that can be retracted at any time. It’s a fibreglass pole like a glorified fishing rod and a bit of wire no thicker than the wire you have your telephone on.

“It’s lower than any of the poles which are 20ft away, it’s lower than the TV aerial opposite. The house is surrounded by utility poles and electric pylons with more wires than you can shake a stick at.

“I’m an amateur as well, I’ve been licensed since the early 80s. You can talk to the world,” said the retired business analyst and adult social care worker from Stainton.

“You can put a call out on the airwaves and there’ll be like-minded amateurs in any country. Every amateur radio enthusiast has a unique call sign, someone may hear it and respond, then you can start to have a dialogue.

“You form relationships with people and regularly talk to your friends around the world. Ray’s unable to get out and this is his only way of having company.

“I don’t think any consideration was made to the person. Everything was policy.”

ARRL Grassroots Campaign to Codify US Hams Antenna Rights

ARRL has launched a campaign to promote the passage of US legislation that would prevent antenna restrictions often imposed by homeowners' associations.

The bipartisan bills -- H.R.1094 in the House and S.459 in the Senate -- are designed to prevent restrictive homeowners’ association (HOA) rules that currently prohibit or severely limit the installation of amateur radio antennas, even when such antennas are hidden in trees, placed in attics, mounted on vehicles, or look like flagpoles.

ARRL is asking all US based hams to take part in a letter writing campaign to their congressional representatives in both the House and Senate. Tools are available to assist with the campaign which includes pre-written letters.

More information is available on the ARRL website.

 

MONDAY EDITION: NE Patriots could have, would have, and should have won if they could hold on to the ball. On a bright note the Indianna fever won the first game of the WNBA series. You would be surprised how well these young ladies play basketball, fun to watch....Ham bands on 10-20 have been pretty open and you can make some gret dx contacts, get on the air!

Why does electricity make a humming noise?

You may have heard it when flipping on a light, switching on your TV or walking near power lines — that unmistakable hum of electricity. But what, exactly, is that hum? And more important, is it ever a sign of danger? 

The sound electricity makes is known as the "mains hum," and it happens because of the way electricity is produced. The electricity that comes from power plants uses alternating current (AC), so named because the current changes direction, or alternates, many times per second. 

The number of times per second the current alternates depends on the standard of the particular country. In places such as the United States, Canada and several Central and South American countries, AC power alternates at 60 hertz, or 60 times per second. In much of the rest of the world, it alternates at 50 hertz, or 50 times per second.

The hum you hear is usually about twice the frequency of the AC power being used, according to Gary Woods, a professor in the practice in the electrical and computer and engineering department at Rice University in Texas. That means that in the U.S., electricity hums at 120 hertz, or between a B and B-flat two octaves below middle C. In Europe, it hums at 100 hertz, or between an A-flat and G two octaves below middle C. 

But what, exactly, is vibrating to create that hum? It's usually a magnetic element inside the device. For example, when you're near power lines, you might hear an electric hum coming from an electromagnetic device called a transformer, which is used to decrease the voltage of the power as it travels from the power plant to people's homes, so the high voltage from the power plant doesn't overload household electronics. 

"A transformer has an inductor inside it, which is just a magnetic element — it's an electromagnet," Woods told Live Science. "It's a piece of iron that has a coil of wire wrapped around it. That's inside every transformer. 

"For reasons of electrical engineering, you need to have an electromagnet inside the electronics to get the function that you want," Woods told Live Science. "And so you can think of these magnetic elements as being like little magnets, and they're being energized by the electric power. And so they're turning on and off [reversing their polarity] 60 times a second. So they're actually vibrating a little bit."

The same thing happens in all sorts of electronics, from fluorescent bulbs to toaster ovens, Woods said.

The reason power lines themselves might hum is due to a different phenomenon called corona discharge. This hum, or discharge of energy, happens when the electrical field around the power lines is greater than what is needed to start a flow of electric current from the power line to the surrounding air. The likelihood of that happening can depend on the weather, as water increases the conductivity of air. Most modern power lines are designed to avoid this problem, at least during dry conditions. If corona discharge does occur, it can be dangerous; there's evidence that corona discharge can produce toxic gases like ozone, which can harm human lungs if inhaled. 

 

A Navajo weaving of an integrated circuit: the 555 timer

Ham Radio Club Invites Wildfire Survivors to Rebuild Stations With Donated Gear

When wildfires tore through parts of Altadena and the Palisades in January, many amateur radio operators lost more than their homes. They also lost the equipment that kept them connected during power and phone outages — and pieces of a hobby that brought them community.

Now, the San Fernando Valley Amateur Radio Club (W6SD) is stepping in to help those hams rebuild their stations.

“We’re probably the oldest Amateur Radio Club in Southern California,” Richard Frankie, president of W6SD, said. “We’re 70-plus years old.”

Why They Are Donating

Frankie said that he first joined the club as a teenager nearly 50 years ago and that he benefited from its mentoring and community. Today, he sees the donation drive as a way of extending that same helping hand to others.

The club maintains an inventory of radios, antennas, and accessories. Much of it comes from families of late members who donate equipment to the club. Over the years, W6SD has lent gear to newly licensed operators as they saved up the money to invest in their own stations. The wildfire donations, Frankie said, are an extension of that tradition.

“We’re a helping hand,” he explained. “We’re here to help everybody that needs assistance. The fact is ... if we’re capable of doing it, why not?”

The goal with this drive is to identify licensed amateur radio operators in Altadena and the Palisades who have lost equipment and match them with radios and antennas that can get them back on the air. Frankie noted that even a simple wire antenna can be built with modest materials, but radios are harder to replace. That is where the club’s lending and donation program comes in.

Firsthand Lessons From Disaster Zones

Roozy Moabery, call sign W1EH, is the District Emergency Coordinator for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Northwest, and has seen firsthand why ham radios matter. He spent 13 years in the Marine Corps working in communications and now designs systems for police, firefighters, and hospitals.

“You just can’t get on a ham radio and use it without a license,” Moabery said, emphasizing that the first step for newcomers is passing the Federal Communications Commission exam. But once licensed, operators gain access to a system that does not rely on cell towers or internet infrastructure.

“The good thing about ham radio, and radio in general, is that it can work with or without infrastructure. Where your cell phones and some other communications products need infrastructure, such as cell towers,” Moabery said.

With radio, “all you need to do is, you know, turn on your radio, and if you could see it, you can hit it,” he continued.

Moabery recalled being near the Palisades fire when cell phones failed.

“My cell phone would not work. I did use my ham radio calling outside the area just to get directions, because the maps would not work on my iPhone,” he said. “I did on a couple of occasions during the fire, use my radio to call back into the San Fernando Valley, just so I could figure out how to get around the Palisades.”

Ham radio has filled gaps in emergencies worldwide. Moabery pointed to the Paradise fire in Northern California, when hams relayed information after infrastructure was destroyed, and to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, when operators from the mainland flew in with radios to send health and welfare messages back to families.

“Any way you can get information in or out is very, very important, and they can save lives,” he said.

 

WEEKEND EDITION: New radio priced at 900+, I am not sure why anyone would spend this much for a Chinese radio with no service center in USA.....

Amateur Radio Newsline Report

EQUATORIAL GUINEA SUSPENDS HAM RADIO LICENSES

NEIL/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to Equatorial Guinea where the government has suspended ham radio licenses after what it called unauthorized operations of a DXpedition. We have more from John Williams VK4JJW.

JOHN: As DXpeditioners called off the 3CØW and 3C3W activations in Equatorial Guinea, the government suspended all amateur radio licences in the country. Authorities made the announcement saying that a visiting ham radio operator gained access to sensitive areas in the country with radio equipment that was unauthorised. The government announcement did not identify the radio operators but various DX sites online listed Yuris, YL2GM and Eugene, EA5EL, as DXpeditioners operating from Annobon Island in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Both callsigns were seen on the spotting clusters, with 3CØW's last spot made on the 11th of September, accompanied by the comment that there was bad news reported on the DX-World.net.

That report said the operation had gone forward [quote] "without properly verifying the legality of the equipment or the compliance of the assigned frequencies with national regulations."

In its announcement, the Malabo government did not identify the callsigns but said that the hams had applied for licenses in 2018 and this year but had not verified that the equipment to be used was in legal compliance.

Yuris posted an update on DX-World, confirming that the team had not yet managed to get the local permit to operate as 3CØW in Annobon Island and that they were returning to the mainland where they had previously had a successful activation as 3C3W.

Meanwhile, authorities said that the suspension of licences will enable the government to develop a new regulatory framework with respect to legal frequencies and equipment - an action it said also aligns with national security requirements. A government statement said: [quote] "The goal is to ensure that no high-frequency equipment enters the country without proper approval and review of the license." [endquote]

The news comes one month before the scheduled 3C2MD DXpedition of the Mediterraneo DX Club International, which is to operate from the 30th of October through to the 11th of November. It is unclear what impact this move by the government will have on the planned DXpedition.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(DX-WORLD, DXHEAT)

**
SILENT KEY AMONG THOSE IN RADIO HALL OF FAME

NEIL/ANCHOR: A popular radio personality who was also a ham radio operator has been honored posthumously by the Museum of Broadcast Communications. Jen DeSalvo W9TXJ tells us more about him.

JEN: 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.

This is Jen DeSalvo, W9TXJ

(RADIO HALL OF FAME)

**
WRTC ANNOUNCES HQ SITE IN ENGLAND

NEIL/ANCHOR: Organizers of next year's World Radiosport Team Championship have announced the location of the event's headquarters in England, as we learn from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: 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

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

[DO NOT READ: www.wrtc2026.org/contact-volunteers ]

(WRTC 2026)

**
CRYPTOLOGY, SPACE OFFER SIDE TRIPS AT TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM

NEIL/ANCHOR: 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

(RADIO CLUB OF AMERICA, AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)

**

FCC LEVIES $920,000 PIRACY PENALTY AGAINST FM STATION

NEIL/ANCHOR: In the US, the FCC has taken action against a radio operator who the agency has charged with piracy. The fine is nearly $1-million, as we hear from Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

KENT: 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.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(RADIOWORLD, RADIO ONLINE)

**
ARDC SEEKS VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE MEMBERS

NEIL/ANCHOR: 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

[DO NOT READ: https://www.ardc.net/join-ardcs-2026-volunteer-team/ ]

**
MINNESOTA'S STATEWIDE POTA GROUP GROWS AMONG THE TREES

NEIL/ANCHOR: Out of all the things that can grow in parks - from trees and shrubs to wildlife - perhaps the one that is most meaningful to many hams is a sense of community. Lately, a group in Minnesota has been encouraging that to grow even more, as we hear from Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

KENT: 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]

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(COLLIN O'CONNOR, KEØIYN)

**
AUSTRALIAN REGULATOR MAKES CHANGES TO CB RULES

NEIL/ANCHOR: There are some updated rules for citizens band radio operators in Australia starting on the 1st of October. Graham Kemp VK4BB picks up the story from here.

GRAHAM: 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

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

[DO NOT READ: https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L01088/latest/text ]

(ACMA, FEDERAL REGISTER)

NEIL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, the Australian regulator has updated its Licence Conditions Determination that covers amateur radio for repeaters, operators in external territories and those hams who could not switch over to the Class license system that was introduced in February of 2024.

Beginning on the 30th of September, changes affecting amateur radio assigned and non-assigned licences include removal of such restrictions on licensees transmitting messages with entertainment, commercial or financial content. The update also requires that a qualified person be on site when an amateur station is located in an isolated area. The ACMA said that its purpose in making these and other minor changes was to fine-tune that language so it aligns more closely with the amateur Class license.

(ACMA)

**
RSGB'S DMR PROJECT BEGINS AGAIN IN UK SCHOOLS

NEIL/ANCHOR: It's back-to-school season in the UK for a DMR project supported by the Radio Society of Great Britain. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us what that means.

JEREMY: 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.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(RSGB)

**

WORLD OF DX

Members of the DXHams Amateur Radio Group, 9Y4Y, are marking the 49th anniversary of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago by activating the callsign 9Y49R from the 24th through to the 28th of September. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

A team of operators will be on Great Blasket Island, IOTA Number EU-ØØ7, calling QRZ with the callsign EJ1K, from the 26th through to the 28th of September. See QRZ.com for QSL information.

Members of the Inverness and District Amateur Radio Society will be on the air as GSØRIV from the island of North Uist, IOTA Number EU-Ø1Ø from the 21st through to the 26th of September. Modes will be CW, SSB and FT8/FT4. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: GETTING A READ ON AMATEUR RADIO IN NEW ZEALAND

NEIL/ANCHOR: We hams know that there are many ways to make contact across an ocean. One radio operator in New Zealand, however, has succeeded in getting the job done without even going on the air. We hear about him from Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

JIM: 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.

 

FRIDAY EDITION; I just got back from picking up another ton of BioBricks in Epping, NH. Nice ride, used several repeaters on the roundtrip for the hell of it.....

Grassroots Campaign to Pass Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act

ARRL has launched a nationwide grassroots campaign aimed at securing the passage of federal legislation that would grant Amateur Radio Operators the same rights to install antennas on their property as those enjoyed by users of TV antennas, wireless internet, and flagpoles.

The campaign, announced in an ARRL Member Bulletin on September 17, 2025, follows the reintroduction of the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act in February 2025 (see ARRL News 02/07/2025). The bipartisan bills — H.R.1094 in the House and S.459 in the Senate — are designed to prevent restrictive homeowners’ association (HOA) rules that currently prohibit or severely limit the installation of amateur radio antennas, even when such antennas are hidden in trees, placed in attics, mounted on vehicles, or look like flagpoles.

“This legislation is about restoring equal rights to licensed Amateur Radio operators,” said ARRL President Rick Roderick. “These restrictions hinder not only the enjoyment of Amateur Radio, but also its vital role in emergency communication during disasters.”

Public Support Needed for Passage

To advance the legislation, ARRL is calling on its members and all licensees of the US Amateur Radio Service to take action by sending letters to their congressional representatives. Through a dedicated online tool at https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/, hams can easily generate and submit pre-drafted letters with a few clicks.

Go to — https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ — and help us by sending your letters to your Representative and Senators.

ARRL has emphasized that every letter matters. “Your Representative and Senators need to know that the passage of this legislation is important to you.”

Read more – ARRL: https://www.arrl.org/current-legislation

Gear Packed for 3YØK DXpedition to Bouvet in February 2026

National Preparedness Month: Know Your Risk

 

THURSDAY EDITION: It is a sad time for this country when we argue whether the assassination of a political figure is a bad or good thing. .....Through 2018, there have been more transistors manufactured—13 sextillion—than there are galaxies in the observable universe.

Commodore is Back Selling New C64s, but Should You Buy them?

It’s hard to argue with nostalgia, but you can toss a bucket of cold facts over it. In the case of the recent rescuing of the Commodore brand from the clutches of relabeling of generic electronics by [Perifractic] of Retro Recipes, we got [The Retro Shack] doing the proverbial bucket dumping in a new video. Basically the question is whether the fresh Commodore 64 offerings by the new-and-improved Commodore are what you really want, or need.

The thing is that over the decades many people have created all the bits that you need to build your own classical C64, or even buy one off-the-shelf, with people like [bwack] having reverse-engineered the various C64 mainboards. These can be populated with drop-in replacements for chips like the SID, VIC-II, CIAs and others that are readily available, along with replica cases and keyboards. If you crave something less bulky and complex you can run a bare metal C64 emulator like BMC64 on a Raspberry Pi, or just run the VICE emulator on your platform of choice. There’re also options like the full-sized TheC64 and Ultimate 64 Elite II systems that you can buy ready to go.

Basically, there is a whole gamut of ways to get some part of the C64 experience, ranging from emulator-only to a full hardware DIY or pre-assembled format. Each of which come with their own price tag, starting at $0 for running VICE on your existing system. With so much choice we can only hope that the renewed Commodore company will become something more than Yet Another C64 Experience.

American Science and Surplus Ends Online Sales

For nearly 90 years, American Science and Surplus has been shipping out weird and wonderful stuff to customers far and wide. In the pre-Internet days, getting their latest catalog in the mail — notable for its hand-drawn illustrations and whimsical style — was always exciting. From Romanian gas masks to odd-ball components, there was no telling what new wonders each issue would bring. In time, the printed catalog gave way to a website, but the eclectic offerings and hand-drawn images remained.

Unfortunately, those days are officially no more. Earlier this week, American Science and Surplus had to make the difficult decision to shutter their entire mail order division. It’s no secret that the company as a whole had been struggling over the last few years. Like many small businesses they were hit hard during the COVID-19 years, and while they made it through that particular storm, they faced skyrocketing operational costs.

Earlier this year, the company turned to crowd funding to help stay afloat. That they were able to raise almost $200,000 speaks to how much support they had from their community of customers, but while it put the company in a better position, the writing was on the wall. The warehouse space required to support their mail order operations was simply too expensive to remain viable.

But it’s not all bad news. At least two of the company’s physical storefronts, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Geneva, Illinois will remain open and operate under the ownership of the employees themselves. The fate of the third store in Park Ridge, Illinois is less clear. They currently don’t have a buyer, but it sounds like they haven’t given up hope of selling it yet.

Anyone in the Illinois area feel like getting some buddies together and buying a turn-key surplus business?

DXLook Launches VHF Propagation Map

The following is a press release from DXLook:

September 2025 — DXLook is proud to announce the launch of vhf.dxlook.com, a brand-new platform dedicated to real-time visualization of VHF propagation activity.

The VHF map provides radio amateurs with an easy way to see where signals are being heard, using live APRS-IS data to display paths, hops, and coverage contours. Stations appear dynamically on the map, and their reception footprints are grouped into distance-based lobes, helping operators identify openings and better understand local propagation.

Key features include:

• Real-time APRS reception data from thousands of reporting stations worldwide.
• Dynamic lobes/contours showing actual reception range in distance bins (50 km, 150 km, 250 km, 500 km, 750 km).
• Interactive map controls to explore coverage by time.
• Fast, lightweight interface designed for both desktop and mobile users.

DXLook’s new VHF view is especially useful for operators interested in FM repeaters, APRS, contesting, and portable operations, providing a clear picture of when and where propagation extends beyond the usual line of sight.

With the addition of VHF, DXLook now offers radio amateurs a complementary pair of tools:

• vhf.dxlook.com for real-time local and regional propagation, and
• dxlook.com for global HF propagation, including WSPR, PSK Reporter, DX Cluster, RBN, and POTA data.

Together, they give operators a unified, real-time picture of the amateur bands — from short-range hops to worldwide contacts.

WEDNESDAY EDITION: The plan is to put together an endfed antenna this morning at the club for the Hammond Castle special events radio event. They have given us access to a second floor room overlooking the ocean which is not open to the public, should be interesting.....

Adjustable Allen Key After All These Years

The Allen key turns 115 this year. It’s strange to believe that in all that time, no one has come up with an adjustable version, but apparently true. Luckily [Chronova Engineering] has taken up the challenge in his latest video.

The video is a fascinating glimpse at the toolmaker’s art–manual machining and careful human judgement. Humans being the fallable creatures we are, the design goes through a few iterations. After the first failure in metal, [Chronova] falls back on 3D printing to rapidly prototype the next six iterations. Given how much work goes into manually machining the designs, we can only imagine the time savings that represents.

The final version is has classic hexagonal rod split in two, so that a chisel-shaped rod can spread the two prongs out to engage the sides of the Allen bolt. Even with that settled, the prongs and wedge had to be redesigned several times to find exact shape and heat-treatment that would work. At this point the range is anything between 4 mm and 6 mm, which is admittedly narrow, but [Chronova Engineering] believes the mechanism has the potential to go wider.

The design is not being patented, but the drawings are available via the [Chronova Engineering] Patreon if you really need an adjustable Allen key and don’t feel like reverse-engineering the mechanism from video. It’s a much larger project than we’ve featured from this channel before– enormous, really, compared to steam engines that fit on pencil erasers or electric motors that squeeze through the eye of a needle.

Our thanks hall-of-fame tipster [Keith Olson] for letting us know about this one. If you want a slice of that fame for yourself, the tips line is always open.

Always Be Ready

It was a cool sun shiny day up on the Continental Divide, Cottonwood Pass. Colorado.  12,326 feet, with a little snow on the north sides.

I was trying to work someone 20 meters with my PRC319 but had no luck.

All of a sudden, this guy comes running down off the ridge, saw my radio and said his wife just broke her leg. He needed medical help.

I had no contact on HF and I had forgotten where I was and what the local repeater frequency was on VHF. There was no cell phone service so no one could help him. He had to drive down the mountain to get help. I am not a medic, so I stayed at the Divide to point rescuers to the correct trail.

The Divide is the boundary for Chaffee and Gunnison Counties, The East side is Chaffee and the nearest town is Buena Vista. 146.745 probably would have worked.

I failed Boy Scout #101.

Now I have a repeater directory and a first aid book in my vehicle.

Paul  w0rw

TUESDAY EDITION: I guess I need to take a road trip to Epping, NH later this week and pick up another ton of Bio Bricks, first load is in the basement all stacked....

Dragon is the Latest, and Final, Craft to Reboost ISS

The International Space Station has been in orbit around the Earth, at least in some form, since November of 1998 — but not without help. In the vacuum of space, an object in orbit can generally be counted on to remain zipping around more or less forever, but the Station is low enough to experience a bit of atmospheric drag. It isn’t much, but it saps enough velocity from the Station that without regular “reboosts” to speed it back up , the orbiting complex would eventually come crashing down.

Naturally, the United States and Russia were aware of this when they set out to assemble the Station. That’s why early core modules such as Zarya and Zvezda came equipped with thrusters that could be used to not only rotate the complex about all axes, but accelerate it to counteract the impact of drag. Eventually the thrusters on Zarya were disabled, and its propellant tanks were plumbed into Zvezda’s fuel system to provide additional capacity.

Visiting spacecraft attached to the Russian side of the ISS can transfer propellant into these combined tanks, and they’ve been topped off regularly over the years. In fact, the NASA paper A Review of In-Space Propellant Transfer Capabilities and Challenges for Missions Involving Propellant Resupply, notes this as one of the most significant examples of practical propellant transfer between orbital vehicles, with more than 40,000 kgs of propellants pumped into the ISS as of 2019.

But while the thrusters on Zvezda are still available for use, it turns out there’s an easier way to accelerate the Station; visiting spacecraft can literally push the orbital complex with their own maneuvering thrusters. Of course this is somewhat easier said than done, and not all vehicles have been able to accomplish the feat, but over the decades several craft have taken on the burden of lifting the ISS into a higher orbit.

Earlier this month, a specially modified SpaceX Cargo Dragon became the newest addition to the list of spacecraft that can perform a reboost. The craft will boost the Station several times over the rest of the year, which will provide valuable data for when it comes time to reverse the process and de-orbit the ISS in the future.

Reboosting the Russian Way

By far the easiest way for a visiting spacecraft to reboost the ISS is to dock with the rear of the Zvezda module. This not only places the docked spacecraft at what would be considered the “rear” of the Station given its normal flight orientation, but puts the craft as close as possible to the Station’s own thrusters. This makes it relatively easy to compute the necessary parameters for the thruster burn.

Historically, reboosts from this position have been performed by the Russian Progress spacecraft. Introduced in 1978, Progress is essentially an uncrewed version of the Soyuz spacecraft, and like most of Russia’s space hardware, has received various upgrades and changes over the decades. Progress vehicles are designed specifically for serving long-duration space stations, and were used to bring food, water, propellants, and cargo to the Salyut and Mir stations long before the ISS was even on the drawing board.

Reboosts could also be performed by the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV). Built by the European Space Agency (ESA), the ATV was essentially the European counterpart to Progress, and flew similar resupply missions. The ATV had considerably greater cargo capacity, with the ability to bring approximately 7,500 kg of materials to the ISS compared to 2,400 kg for Progress.

Only five ATVs were flown, from 2008 to 2014. There were several proposals to build more ATVs, including modified versions that could potentially even carry crew. None of these versions ever materialized, although it should be noted that  the design of the Orion spacecraft’s Service Module is based on the ATV.

American Muscle

Reboosting the ISS from the American side of the Station is possible, but involves a bit more work. For one thing, the entire Station needs to flip over, as the complex’s normal orientation would have the American docking ports facing fowards. Of course, there’s really no such thing as up or down in space, so this maneuver doesn’t impact the astronauts’ work. There are however various experiments and devices aboard the Station that are designed to point down towards Earth, so this reorientation can still be disruptive.

Depending on the spacecraft, simply flipping the Station over might not be sufficient. In the case of the Space Shuttle, which of the American vehicles performed the most reboost maneuvers by far, the entire complex had to be rotated into just the right position so that the thrusters on the spaceplane would be properly aligned with the Stations’ center of mass.

As described in the “AUTO REBOOST” section of the STS-129 Orbit Operations Checklist, the Shuttle’s computer would actually be given control of the maneuvering systems of the ISS so the entire linked structure can be rotated into the correct position. A diagram in the Checklist even shows the approximate angle the vehicle’s should be at for the Shuttle’s maneuvering thrusters to line up properly.

With the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011, maintaining the Station’s orbit became the sole domain of the Russians until 2018, when the Cygnus became the first commercial spacecraft to perform a reboost. The cargo spacecraft had a swiveling engine which helped get the direction of thrust aligned, but the Station did still need to rotate to get into the proper position.

After performing a second reboost in 2022, the Cygnus spacecraft was retired. It’s replacement, the upgraded Cygnus XL — is currently scheduled to launch its first mission to the ISS no earlier than September 14th.

Preparing for the Final Push

That brings us to the present day, and the Cargo Dragon. SpaceX had never designed the spacecraft to perform a reboost, and indeed, it would at first seem uniquely unsuited for the task as its “Draco” maneuvering thrusters are actually located on the front and sides of the capsule. When docked, the primary thrusters used for raising and lowering the Dragon’s own orbit are essentially pressed up against the structure of the ISS, and obviously can’t be activated.

To make reboosting with the Dragon possible, SpaceX added additional propellant tanks and a pair of rear-firing Draco thrusters within the spacecraft’s un-pressurized “trunk” module. This hollow structure is usually empty, but occasionally will hold large or bulky cargo that can’t fit inside the spacecraft itself. It’s also occasionally been used to deliver components destined to be mounted to the outside of the ISS, such as the for the outside of the ISS, such as the International Docking Adapter (IDA) and the roll-out solar panels.

While the ability to have the Dragon raise the orbit of the International Space Station obviously has value to NASA, the implications of this experiment go a bit farther.

SpaceX has already been awarded the contract to develop and operate the “Deorbit Vehicle” which will ultimately be used to slow down the ISS and put it on a targeted reentry trajectory sometime after 2030. Now that the company has demonstrated the ability to add additional thrusters and propellant to a standard Dragon spacecraft via a module installed in the trunk, it’s likely that the Deorbit Vehicle will take a similar form.

So while the development of this new capability is exciting from an operational standpoint, especially given deteriorating relations with Russia, it’s also a reminder that the orbiting laboratory is entering its final days.

The Browser Wasn’t Enough, Google Wants to Control All Your Software

A few days ago we brought you word that Google was looking to crack down on “sideloaded” Android applications. That is, software packages installed from outside of the mobile operating system’s official repository. Unsurprisingly, a number of readers were outraged at the proposed changes. Android’s open nature, at least in comparison to other mobile operating systems, is what attracted many users to it in the first place. Seeing the platform slowly move towards its own walled garden approach is concerning, especially as it leaves the fate of popular services such as the F-Droid free and open source software (FOSS) repository in question.

But for those who’ve been keeping and eye out for such things, this latest move by Google to throw their weight around isn’t exactly unexpected. They had the goodwill of the community when they decided to develop an open source browser engine to keep the likes of Microsoft from taking over the Internet and dictating the rules, but now Google has arguably become exactly what they once set out to destroy.

Today they essentially control the Internet, at least as the average person sees it, they control 72% of the mobile phone OS market, and now they want to firm up their already outsized control which apps get installed on your phone. The only question is whether or not we let them get away with it.

Must be This High to Ride

First, “sideloading”. The way you’re supposed to install apps on your Android device is through the Google Play store, and maybe your phone manufacturer’s equivalent. All other sources are, by default, untrusted. What used to be refreshing about the Android ecosystem, at least in comparison, was how easy it was to sideload an application that didn’t come directly from, and profit, Big G. That is what’s changing.

Of course, the apologists will be quick to point out that Google isn’t taking away the ability to sideload applications on Android. At least, not on paper. What they’re actually doing is making it so sideloaded applications need to be from a verified developer. According to their blog post on the subject, they have no interest in the actual content of the apps in question, they just want to confirm a malicious actor didn’t develop it.

The blog post attempts to make a somewhat ill-conceived comparison between verifying developer identities with having your ID checked at the airport. They go on to say that they’re only interested in verifying each “passenger” is who they say they are for security purposes, and won’t be checking their “bags” to make sure there’s nothing troubling within. But in making this analogy Google surely realizes — though perhaps they hope the audience doesn’t pick up on — the fact that the people checking ID at the airport happen to wear the same uniforms as the ones who x-ray your bags and run you through the metal detector. The implication being that they believe checking the contents of each sideloaded package is within their authority, they have simply decided not to exercise that right. For now.

Conceptually, this initiative is not unlike another program Google announced this summer: OSS Rebuild. Citing the growing risk of supply chain attacks, where malicious code sneaks into a system thanks to the relatively lax security of online library repositories, the search giant offers a solution. They propose setting up a system by which they not only verify the authors of these open source libraries, but scan them to make sure the versions being installed match the published source code. In this way, you can tell that not only are you installing the authentic library, but that no rogue code has been added to your specific copy.

Google the Gatekeeper

Much like verifying the developer of sideloaded applications, OSS Rebuild might seem like something that would benefit users at first glance. Indeed, there’s a case to be made that both programs will likely identify some low-hanging digital fruit before it has the chance to cause problems. An event that you can be sure Google will publicize for all it’s worth.

But in both cases, the real concern is that of authority. If Google gets to decide who a verified developer is for Android, then they ultimately have the power to block whatever packages they don’t like. To go back to their own airport security comparison, it would be like if the people doing the ID checks weren’t an independent security force, but instead representatives of a rival airline. Sure they would do their duty most of the time, but could they be trusted to do the right thing when it might be in their financial interests not to? Will Google be able to avoid the temptation to say that the developers of alternative software repositories are persona non grata?

Even more concerning, who do you appeal to if Google has decided they don’t want you in their ecosystem? We’ve seen how they treat YouTube users that have earned their ire for some reason or another. Can developers expect the same treatment should they make some operational faux pas?

Let us further imagine that verification through OSS Rebuild becomes a necessary “Seal of Approval” to be taken seriously in the open source world — at least in the eyes of the bean counters and decision makers. Given Google’s clout, it’s not hard to picture such an eventuality. All Google would have to do to keep a particular service or library down is elect not to include them in the verification process.

Life Finds a Way

If we’ve learned anything about Google over the years, it’s that they can be exceptionally mercurial. They’re quick to drop a project and change course if it seems like it isn’t taking them where they want to go. Even projects that at one time seemed like they were going to be a pivotal part of the company’s future — such as Google+ — can be kicked to the curb unceremoniously if the math doesn’t look right to them. Indeed, the graveyard of failed Google initiatives has far more headstones than the company’s current roster of offerings.

Which is so say, that there’s every possibility that user reaction to this news might be enough to get Google to take a different tack. Verified sideloading isn’t slated to go live until 2027 for most of the world, although some territories will get it earlier, and a lot can happen between now and then.

Even if Google goes through with it, they’ve already offered something of an olive branch. The blog post mentions that they intend to develop a carve out in the system that will allow students and hobbyists to install their own self-developed applications. Depending on what that looks like, this whole debate could be moot, at least for folks like us.

In either event, the path would seem clear. If we want to make sure there’s choice when it comes to Android software, the community needs to make noise about the issue and keep the pressure on. Google’s big, but we’re bigger.

Blog – Hackaday Read More

 

If your truck looks like this, you may have too many radios hooked up...

​MONDAY EDITION: Our radio club will be activating the famous Hammond Castle on the water in Gloucester, MA soon, I will post the dates. This Thursday we will be doing a test run and trying a few different antennas at the castle....

Hammond Castle

DOVER-FOXCROFT, ME — The Piscataquis Amateur Radio Club  is excited to attend this year’s Radio Rodeo on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds.

Prior to this event we will be hosting a license test at 48 Morton Ave. in Dover-Foxcroft at 8 a.m. Prior registration is required for the license testing.  

PARC has been the amateur radio club of Piscataquis County since 1994; assisting with communications at local events such as the Piscataquis River Race.

Amateur radio is a hobby licensed by the FCC and consists of using different types of radios in order to communicate on specified frequencies. Communications which can carry locally, across continents and even into space. HAM radios are a tried-and-true technology that continues to be utilized in emergency planning due to the reliability, portability, and reach of these radio set ups. 

The Radio Rodeo will be a fun filled event showcasing radios live on the air, demonstrations, and equipment for sale. We are very excited about attending our second event to showcase how HAM operators and the county’s EMA work together to enhance communications “when all else fails.”

We look forward to meeting you at this family friendly event!

The ARRL Solar Update

The Terminal Demise of Consumer Electronics Through Subscription Services

Open any consumer electronics catalog from around the 1980s to the early 2000s and you are overwhelmed by a smörgåsbord of devices, covering any audio-visual and similar entertainment and hobby needs one might have. Depending on the era you can find the camcorders, point-and-shoot film and digital cameras right next to portable music players, cellphones, HiFi sets and tower components, televisions and devices like DVD players and VCRs, all of them in a dizzying amount of brands, shapes and colors that are sure to fit anyone’s needs, desires and budget.

When by the late 2000s cellphones began to absorb more and more of the features of these devices alongside much improved cellular Internet access, these newly minted ‘smartphones’ were hailed as a technological revolution that combined so many consumer electronics into a single device. Unlike the relatively niche feature phones, smartphones absolutely took off.

Fast-forward more than a decade and the same catalogs now feature black rectangles identified respectively as smart phones, smart TVs and tablets, alongside evenly colored geometric shapes that identify as smart speakers and other devices. While previously the onus for this change was laid by this author primarily on the death of industrial design, the elephant in the room would seem to be that consumer electronics are suffering from a terminal disease: subscription services.

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WEEKEND EDITION: The annual meeting for the radio club is this morning , election of officers and a catered BBQ lunch. It doesn't get much better than that....

National Preparedness Month – Ham Radio Supply List

Fire Prevention Week Special Event

The following is a message from VE3KGK:

October 5th through October 11th, a special annual event will take place promoting fire safety during Fire Prevention Week, with the theme being Lithium-ion battery fire safety where we mention a safety tip with the contacts.

The following stations usually participate: KF2IRE, N1F through N9F, and VA3FIRE from Ontario and a printable certificate is available from hamfire.com where the event information is.

The lead station is N4F in Gainesville FL. VA3FIRE is a wildcard station that can help with earning that certificate. The various stations spot themselves on DX Summit and as it is not a contest stations can be found on most HF bands working SSB and some FT-8.

Amateur Radio Newsline Report

FCC GRANTS LIMITED USE OF AMATEUR BANDS TO AST SPACEMOBILE

JIM/ANCHOR: As Newsline went to production, the Federal Communications Commission approved limited use of amateur frequencies for 20 satellites to be deployed by a Texas broadband company. Travis Lisk N3ILS has the details.

TRAVIS: The FCC's Space Bureau said in a statement that it was giving permission to AST SpaceMobile to use frequencies between 430 and 440 MHz on an emergency basis only, The regulator said its move was in direct response to overwhelming concerns raised by amateur radio operators.

Citing potential interference among their issues, member societies of the International Amateur Radio Union, AMSAT, the ARRL and individual amateurs worldwide also argued that alternate UHF allocations exist for the satellites' telemetry, tracking and command functions. More than 2,500 comments were submitted to the FCC .

The FCC's action gives use of the amateur frequencies to the satellites for no more than a 24-hour period. The amateur radio 70cm band is used by hams worldwide for such applications as mobile FM voice, analogue and digital TV, digital data transmission, amateur radio satellites and weak-signal communications on SSB and CW.

AST SpaceMobile ultimately plans a full constellation of 248 satellites for broadband service from space.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(AMATEUR NEWS DAILY, FCC, IARU)

**

FCC EYES GIVING OK TO MOBILE PHONE JAMMING AT PRISONS

JIM/ANCHOR: Jamming is illegal in the United States but the FCC is considering whether to give prisons permission to jam cell phones of inmates. Kent Peterson KCØDGY has more details.

KENT: The Federal Communications Commission hopes to grant federal and state prisons the right to jam mobile phones that have been smuggled in to inmates.

The commission has scheduled a vote this month to remove a restriction that keeps the prisons from such jamming. The inmates are not authorized to have the phones, which the commission said are being used to assist them in conducting criminal activity while behind bars.

US law prohibits the use - and even the sale or distribution - of any equipment that can jam authorized signals such as radio communication, police radar, GPS devices and cell phones. Jamming is forbidden under the Communications Act of 1934, which has been amended and updated since its original drafting.

The vote is scheduled for September 30th.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(ASSOCIATED PRESS, FCC)

**
MANDATE FOR INDIAN HAMS TO CONVERT TO DIGITAL LICENSES

JIM/ANCHOR: In India, amateurs have been facing a deadline to migrate their licenses from the old paper-based format to digital via a web portal, as we hear from Graham Kemp VK4BB.

GRAHAM: Hams in India who received amateur radio licences in paper form are being required to replace those certificates with a digital licence no later than the 15th of September by logging into the Saral Sanchar, a web-based portal of the Department of Telecommunications.

There is no application fee for the process, which provides amateurs with a QR code-authenticated certificate. This is the equivalent of the amateur radio booklets that had been issued manually with paper certificates until December 31st, 2019.

In early 2020, India began issuing all new and renewed amateur radio certificates digitally. The Telecommunication Rules of 2024 now require the holders of the older paper certificates to use the digital web-based portal as well. Failure to migrate will mean that when the licence expires, it cannot be renewed.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY OF INDIA, INSTITUTE OF AMATEUR RADIO IN KERALA)

**
DOUBTS ABOUT SOLAR CYCLE PREDICTION METHODOLOGY

JIM/ANCHOR: Like a solar storm itself, a controversy over solar cycle predictions is heating up. Andy Morrison K9AWM tells us more.

ANDY: As this year brings the solar maximum of Cycle 25, a different kind of solar storm has been raging - one that challenges the longstanding and prevailing paradigm scientists use to help arrive at forecasts. Sociologist and statistician Frank Howell K4FMH has done an extensive study of this so-called NASA-NOAA-ISED prediction formula, which utilizes a consensus methodology, pitting it against the work of solar physicist Scott McIntosh of Lynker Space.

In this busy, high-profile year for the sun and its activity, Frank has written extensively and presented a series of virtual talks on the subject in the US and overseas. He has also discussed the competing models extensively in his blog, K4FMH.com. Frank's most recent talk, "Progress in the Revolution: Sunspot Cycle Forecast Accuracy at Cycle 25," was given to Pennine [PEN-NINE] Ham in the UK, and can be seen on their YouTube channel.

Whether the NASA team or the McIntosh team prevails, one thing is certain: Like CMEs themselves, this scientific competition over solar predictions promises to rage for some time to come.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(YOUTUBE, PENNINE HAM, FRANK HOWELL, K4FMH)

**
UK REGULATOR MULLS SATELLITE-TO-CELL PHONE SERVICE

JIM/ANCHOR: Following in the path of countries such as the US that permit some mobile phones to use satellite connectivity, the UK is opting to move ahead to allow such services too. Jeremy Boot G4NJH explains.

JEREMY: The UK is poised to become Europe's first country offering legal satellite connectivity for smartphones. The regulator Ofcom has released a consultation authorising the move and is requesting comments no later than the 10th of October.

Making this service available to standard mobile phones would provide the most remote parts of the UK with the access needed to send texts, make phone calls or even connect to the Internet - functions presently not possible in areas without mobile phone coverage.

This is known as "direct-to-device" and operation would be permitted after Ofcom has provided a variation to the licences of Mobile Network Operators. The change would also grant such use to mobile handsets and any other devices that make use of SIM cards.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(OFCOM)

**
PORTABLE-OP CELEBRATION ACTIVATES NY'S ERIE CANAL

JIM/ANCHOR: The massive Erie Canal in New York State is the scene of a massive anniversary celebration - on the air, of course. Sel Embee KB3TZD tells us what to expect.

SEL: Ten days on the air. Fourteen clubs in NY State. Six months of planning. It all adds up to two hundred years of the Erie Canal - the celebrated public-works project that sparked economic growth by providing a connection between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes in the early 1800s. It ultimately earned the nickname, the "Mother of Cities," because its connections fostered the development of towns, villages and cities.

Ham radio operators will light up the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor with an operating event that runs from the 16th through to the 25th of September. Many of them will be doing Parks on the Air activations, including a notable two-fer that also includes the Empire State Trail.

Organizers Matt K2EAG, Angela N3ARB and Mike N2MAK are encouraging clubs to create their own commemorative QSL cards for the event. The organizers aren't just looking to collect QSOs, though; they also want to gather stories from operators about their experiences during the event. They can be emailed directly to Matt at k 2 e a g at arrl dot net (k2eag@arrl.net) or posted on social media with the hashtag symbol and one of these three words: ErieCanal200, Erie Canalway or parksontheair.

This Sel Embee KB3TZD.

**
WILD CARD TEAM MEMBERS CHOSEN FOR WRTC 2026

JIM/ANCHOR: Two more competitors have been named for the World Radiosport Team Championship next year in England, as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: The excitement continues to build during these remaining months of planning for the World Radiosport Team Championship to be held next year in England.

Event chairman Mark MØDXR, has announced that members of the Wild Card team have been chosen by the Organising Committee. The lead position will be held by Diego, LW5HR, who showed much promise in the qualifications both as a single operator and as part of a number of multi-op teams. His teammate will be Manu, LU9ESD.

Mark said that given the strong representation of the US and Europe in the other teams, the make-up of the Wild Card team from South American amateurs has satisfied the organisers' goals for the field to achieve international diversity.

Wild Card teams are created to recognise candidates with exceptional competitive skills but who were not chosen during the selection process for the other teams.

The preparations and 24-hour contest take place from 8th to the 13th July showcasing the skills of 50 teams of two-person operators. Like the Olympic Games, it is held every four years.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(WRTC 2026)

**
SIX RECIPIENTS SELECTED FOR YLRL SCHOLARSHIPS

JIM/ANCHOR: Six YLs who combine amateur radio with academic excellence and leadership have been awarded scholarships from the Young Ladies Radio League, as we hear from Jack Parker W8ISH.

JACK: The Young Ladies Radio League has announced six scholarship recipients for this year - two each for the Ethel Smith K2LMB Memorial Scholarship, the Mary Lou Brown NM7N Memorial Scholarship, and The Martha Wessel KØEPE Memorial Scholarship.

Congratulations to Grace Papay, K8LG and Neeti Sonth, KN6ØJJ for their selection as recipients of the Ethel Smith scholarship. Grace, who was Amateur Radio Newsline's Young Ham of the Year in 2024, is a top contester and youth mentor. She is studying electrical engineering at Cedarville University in Ohio. Neeti is a PhD student at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she is studying toward her PhD in aerospace engineering sciences. She is the communications officer for the school's amateur radio club.

Madison Clogher, KC1KJT, and Camrynne Ellis WX5CAM, have been chosen for the Martha Wessel scholarship. Madison is active in public service and emergency communications and worked recently with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in its office of planning and preparedness. She has a bachelor's degree in emergency management and is pursuing her master's in cybersecurity. Camrynne is entering her final year at Texas A&M University where she is studying meteorology and atmospheric sciences. She became involved in ham radio through the school's Texas Aggie Storm Chasers organization.

Rachel Jones KO4HLC, and Katherine Forson, KT5KMF are receiving the Mary Lou Brown scholarship. Rachel, a PhD candidate in aerospace sciences at the University of North Dakota, has been a presenter on radio space science for students and is currently the winter manager of KC4USV at McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Katherine is a senior meteorology student at Texas A&M University and active as an officer in the campus radio club W5AC. She is also a liaison between the club and the Texas Aggie Storm Chasers, where she serves as radio and licensing director. Katherine received the ARRL's Hiram Percy Maxim Award in 2021.

Newsline extends its congratulations to these six promising young talents.

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(YL HARMONICS)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, there is still time to work Bo, OZ1DJJ who is on the air as OX3LX from Nuuk, Greenland, IOTA number NA-018, until the 16th of September. He may be taking day trips to IOTA group
NA-220. He is on the air, holiday style, since this is also a working trip. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

Listen for Claudio, HB9OAU, operating as SV5/HB9OAU from Karpathos Island in the Dodecanese Islands, IOTA number EU-001, from the 13th through to the 25th of September. He will operate SSB and CW on 40-6 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

Paul, G4PVM will be active holiday style as GM4PVM from Isle of West Burra in the Shetland Islands, IOTA number EU-012, from the 13th through to the 18th of September. He will be using CW and SSB on 40-10 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details.


(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
LETTING YOUNG READERS SEE A NEW DIMENSION TO RADIO

JIM D/ANCHOR: Our final story this week takes us inside the pages of a new fiction book for young readers. As we hear from Jim Davis, W2JKD, the story delivers its message thanks, in part, to amateur radio.

JIM: There are many dimensions to Lorilyn Roberts, KO4LBS. The Florida resident is an educator, a storyteller and a ham -- something she has wanted to be since childhood. Although she enjoys CW, one of her preferred modes when she is off the air is fiction. In many of the books she has authored, she uses that mode to communicate with faith and passion, reaching out most especially to young adult readers.

In her latest book, released September 5th, Lorilyn shows yet another dimension of her work, one that is reflected in its title "Eighth Dimension - Frequency." This is a work of fantasy fiction. It's the story of a teenager who gains fluency as an amateur radio operator but off the air, struggles to communicate as a caregiver for her mother who has dementia. The young girl, named Chumana, believes that her faith and her future have been shattered and she questions why things happen as they do in this universe.

Like Lorilyn, the protagonist at the core of this tale is a communicator - a gift that serves her well as she begins to make some unusual and unexpected connections via the digital modes.

Lorilyn told Newsline in an email that her hope is that young readers will discover amateur radio - and something more - by hearing Chumana's story. In fact, perhaps they will end up on the same frequency.

This is Jim Davis, W2JKD.

FRIDAY EDITION:Trump on Fox live says they have suspect in Charlie Kirk shooting in custody....  I installed a new primer bub and fuel line in my chainsaw, all is well. It's time to cut up some limbs in the yard and clear space for another antenna...

A Cold War-Era Russian Radio Transmitter Just Broadcast a New Encrypted Message, No One’s Been Able to Decipher

A mysterious shortwave radio signal that has puzzled intelligence agencies and amateur radio enthusiasts for decades has once again broadcast a new coded message—one that experts and hobbyists alike are struggling to decipher. The broadcast came from UVB-76, also known as “The Buzzer”, a Soviet-era radio station that has never publicly explained its purpose, yet continues to transmit from deep within Russia.

The message, heard on 8 September 2025, featured a bizarre combination of Russian names, random numbers, and cryptic phrases—sparking fresh speculation about whether this station is still part of Russia’s military infrastructure, or something far more enigmatic.

A Signal With a Past Rooted in the Cold War

Operating continuously since at least the mid-1970s, UVB-76 transmits on the 4625 kHz shortwave frequency, emitting a persistent buzzing sound interspersed with occasional voice messages. These spoken broadcasts often include lists of names, numerals, or coded phrases, delivered in a flat, mechanical tone by both male and female voices.

According to Priyom.org, a respected monitoring group of radio observers, UVB-76 is believed to be part of a military communications network linked to Russia’s Western Military District. Its messages have been categorized into three general types—Monolith, Uzor, and Command—each believed to correspond to different levels or types of military operations.

Despite countless analyses and decades of recordings, the precise purpose of these transmissions remains unknown. In a 2011 investigation published by The Guardian, researchers suggested the station could be tied to Russia’s “dead hand” nuclear deterrent system, although no direct evidence has ever confirmed this theory. Officially, the Russian government has never acknowledged the station’s existence.

A New Broadcast Triggers Fresh Theories

This latest transmission, recorded on 8 September and shared by Russian media outlet RT, included the Russian names Nikolai, Zhenya, Tatiana, Ivan, Olga, Elena, and Leonid, along with a sequence of numbers: 38, 965, 78, 58, 88, and 37. Also embedded were phrases such as “soft signal”, “five signs”, and “reception”.

RT noted that these could correspond to the code NZHTI, a callsign previously associated with UVB-76 transmissions. While RT published the broadcast on its X (formerly Twitter) account, the post was inaccessible within the EU due to regulatory restrictions on Russian state media.

The timing of the message has drawn attention as well. In 2024 and 2025, UVB-76 has been mostly silent, with only sporadic voice transmissions. This particular message is the first in months to include such a variety of personal names and apparent instructions, and it was broadcast twice in a single day—an uncommon pattern that has historically accompanied periods of military or geopolitical tension.

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About The Manhattan Project (But Were Afraid To Ask)

There have been plenty of books and movies about how the Manhattan Project brought together scientists and engineers to create the nuclear bomb. Most of them don’t have a lot of technical substance, though. You know — military finds genius, genius recruits other geniuses, bomb! But if you want to hear the story of the engineering, [Brian Potter] tells it all. We mean, like, all of it.

If you’re looking for a quick three-minute read, you’ll want to give this a pass. Save it for a rainy afternoon when you can settle in. Even then, he skips past a lot of what is well known. Instead, he spends quite a bit of time discussing how the project addressed the technical challenges, like separating out U235.

Four methods were considered for that task. Creating sufficient amounts of plutonium was also a problem. Producing a pound of plutonium took 4,000 pounds of uranium. When you had enough material, there was the added problem of getting it together fast enough to explode instead of just having a radioactive fizzle.

There are some fascinating tidbits in the write-up. For example, building what would become the Oak Ridge facility required conductors for electromagnets. Copper, however, was in short supply. It was wartime, after all. So the program borrowed another good conductor, silver, from the Treasury Department. Presumably, they eventually returned it, but [Brian] doesn’t say.

There’s the old story that they weren’t entirely sure they wouldn’t ignite the entire atmosphere but, of course, they didn’t.  Not that the nuclear program didn’t have its share of bad luck.

Roll Your Own SSB Receiver

[Paul Maine] was experimenting with GNU Radio and an RTL-SDR dongle. He created an SSB receiver and, lucky for us, he documented it all in a video you can see below. He walks through how to generate SSB, too. If videos aren’t your thing, you can go back to the blog post from [Gary Schafer] that inspired him to make the video, which is also a wealth of information.

There is a little math — you almost can’t avoid it when talking about this topic. But [Paul] does a good job of explaining it all as painlessly as possible. The intuitive part is simple: An AM signal has most of its power in the carrier and half of what’s left in a redundant sideband. So if you can strip all those parts out and amplify just one sideband, you get better performance

We love to play with GNU Radio. Sure, the GNU Radio Companion is just a fancy shell over some Python code, but we like how it maps software to blocks like you might use to design a traditional receiver.

If you want to try any of this out and don’t have a sufficient HF antenna or even an HF-capable SDR, no worries. [Paul] thoughtfully recorded some IQ samples off the air into a file. You can play back through your design to test how it works.

If you have never used GNU Radio, starting with audio isn’t a bad way to get your feet wet. That’s how we started our tutorial a decade ago. Still worth working through it if you are trying to get started.

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