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PY2BIL > ARNR 29.05.26 11:27z 371 Lines 15639 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2535 for Friday, May 29th
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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2535 for Friday, May 29th, 2026
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2535 with a release date of Friday,
May 29th, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Canada's time-keeping shortwave station is going
silent. Hams in Gibraltar have double the celebration -- and there's
a new way to play bingo while working satellites. All this and more
as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2535 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
CANADA TAKES TIME-KEEPING SHORTWAVE STATION OFF THE AIR
SKEETER/ANCHOR: In our top story this week, time has run out - literally
- in Canada. Barely three months after silencing its national Weatheradio
forecast service on VHF, Canada is shutting down shortwave station CHU,
its official time service. Kent Peterson KCØDGY tells us what's happening.
KENT: Canadian shortwave station CHU is scheduled to go off the air on
the 22nd of June. The station delivers the nation's official time from
a transmitter site southwest of Ottawa, broadcasting on 3.33, 7.85 and
14.67 MHz, allowing listeners in Canada and around the world to synchronize
their clocks on Coordinated Universal Time. The service is run by the
National Research Council and transmits the time via digital voice in
English and French.
The time-signal radio station makes use of atomic clocks on the premises,
which are checked against atomic clocks based at the council headquarters.
Canada first began transmitting the time under the CHU callsign in 1938.
The station began its transmissions earlier in the decade as VE9OB. Its
announcements are in Coordinated Universal Time, a change made in 1990
after decades of transmitting in Eastern Standard Time.
In making the announcement of the station's shutdown, the NRC said that
official time-keeping will be delivered instead by three more modern
methods - via its telephone talking clock and, using the Internet via
its Network Time Protocol and its web clock.
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(NRC CANADA, SWLing POST)
**
BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SABLE ISLAND QSL CARDS
SKEETER/ANCHOR: The long-awaited QSL cards from the Sable Island DXpedition
will soon be on their way, as we hear from Sel Embee KB3TZD.
SEL: If you are one of the 103,145 contacts made by the CYØS team in
March from Canada's Sable Island and you're waiting for your QSL card,
your wait is almost over.
Team member Murray WA4DAN announced on the DX World website that printing
is about to begin on the elaborate double-fold, six-panel cards. Mailings
are expected to begin sometime in early June.
Contacts were made with 169 DXCC entities from the Sable Island station,
which was 100 percent solar-powered. The team went QRT on the 31st of
March.
This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.
(DX WORLD, FACEBOOK)
**
DOUBLE THE CELEBRATION FOR AMATEURS IN GIBRALTAR
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Amateur radio's earliest beginnings in Gibraltar were
experimental in the years following World War II. Now the British overseas
territory - and the Gibraltar Amateur Radio Society - are marking a double
anniversary. As Dave Lee M7TLB tells us, radio is central to both celebrations.
DAVE: The ZB2 prefix made its appearance with the first amateur radio
licence issued in 1946 by officials in Gibraltar. Ham radio was born.
Thirty years later, an organisation took shape for the growing community
of hams there: The Gibraltar Amateur Radio Society.
The society is marking its 50th anniversary by hosting an exhibit, "Echoes
from the Rock," at a local cultural center, John MacKintosh Hall. The
exhibit tells of ham radio's awakening in the post-war years on the rocky
Iberian peninsula. What had begun with tinkering and experimentation
in those early radio years became a blessing to families in Gibraltar
cut off from their relatives on the other side of the border in Spain
during the years when the border, and conventional communication, was
closed. During this era, in 1976, the Gibraltar Amateur Radio Society,
ZB2BU, was founded after two smaller clubs merged to create a larger,
more powerful group. The newly formed society gave Gibraltar a voice
as a member of the International Amateur Radio Union.
The history exhibit will showcase old and modern-day radio in Gibraltar,
celebrating 50 years of the club with a special event station, ZB2FTY
operating from the exhibit itself and from club headquarters. The exhibit
closes on the 29th of May.
This is Dave Lee M7TLB.
(YOUR GIBRALTAR TV)
**
13 COLONIES EVENT RETURNS WITH CHANGES
SKEETER/ANCHOR: The 13 Colonies Special Event held annually during the
first week of July has been undergoing significant changes. One of them
will make it a lot easier to get the coveted, colorful certificate awarded
to chasers. We get the story from Mark Abramowicz (Abram-oh-vich) NT3V.
MARK: Ahead of its 18th year of operation, the 13 Colonies Event organizers
will change distribution methods for certificates for making contacts
with stations in the original colonies, as well as England, France, and
Philadelphia.
Bob Josuweit WA3PZO, is managing director of the newly formed 501c3 charitable
organization, 13 Colonies Amateur Radio Association
He says the group has decided to simplify and speed-up the process: the
certificates can now be downloaded, once ordered on the 13 Colonies website
or sent by traditional mail to a US Post Office box.
You'll still have to prove you made the contacts. Josuweit says a database
will be available on the website to help you to verify those contacts.
If you prefer, you can continue to fill out a paper log or print out
your individual log from your computer and mail it.
Bob told Newsline that this years QSL cards will pay tribute to the
250th anniversary of Americas birth and the Declaration of Independence.
BOB: “This year were featuring on most cards a theme of where the Declaration
of Independence was first read in their particular state.”
MARK: He says Philadelphia played a huge role as the birthplace of American
liberty, and that city's WM3PEN station QSL card will honor that history.
BOB: “Since the Declaration was created here, were actually showing
a picture of the assembly room in Independence Hall where the Declaration
was written and voted upon.”
MARK: There is more for stations contacting WM3PEN in Philadelphia. He
says the city is among major US cities hosting a series of World Cup
soccer tournament matches through July and there will be on-the-air recognition
of that event as well.
BOB WA3PZO: “Those stations working WM3PEN in Philadelphia will be able
to get two QSL cards – one for the soccer event and one for 13 Colonies.
So, two cards for the price of one contact.”
Check out all the latest developments at the 13 Colonies website available
in the text version of this story on our website, A-R Newsline-dot-O-R-G.
[DO NOT READ: https:/www.13colonies.us ]
Im Mark Abramowicz (Abram-oh-vich) NT3V.
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the WB3GXW repeater in Silver Spring, Maryland and simultaneously on
EchoLink Conference Server Node 6154 on Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays
at 7 PM Eastern time.
**
HALL OF FAME INDUCTS NEWSLINE'S JIM DAMRON N8TMW
SKEETER/ANCHOR: We here at Amateur Radio Newsline would like to share
a proud moment - truly an honor for one of our own. Anchor and correspondent
Jim Damron N8TMW, is one of seven broadcast professionals being inducted
into the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Jim, who has also been
a stage and movie actor, has served in a variety of roles in broadcast
radio, including DJ, program director and station manager. He is also
known for his voice-over work. The induction ceremony will be in October.
Jim, congratulations from all of your teammates here at Amateur Radio
Newsline who know how deserving you are.
**
LICW CLUB OFFERS FREE CW TRAINING FOR FIELD DAY
SKEETER/ANCHOR: So you've checked your antennas, your equipment, your
generators, your logging software and yes, even your coffee pot, and
you think you're ready for Field Day? If you are a CW op and a little
unsure about what all of this means for you, the Long Island CW Club
is offering a free way to prepare, as we hear from Randy Sly W4XJ.
RANDY: Field Day will bring the single largest on-air event for ham radio
operators in the US and Canada on the weekend of June 27th and 28th.
It is a weekend for training, preparedness and practice for all hams
- and for some CW operators it can be a little bit daunting. Free Field
Day CW prep classes are being offered throughout the month by the Long
Island CW Club, which hopes the sessions will put more confident CW operators
into the mix.
The free sessions are open to all CW operators at all levels of proficiency,
not just members of the LICW club. The sessions will explain ways to
listen and send, common abbreviations used, the Field Day exchange itself
and - perhaps just as importantly - how to operate with confidence.
The instructor-led sessions begin on the 1st of June and will be held
live in the club's public Zoom meeting room.
To see the schedule of classes and read more details about the instruction,
visit the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org
This is Randy Sly W4XJ.
[DO NOT READ: https://longislandcwclub.org/2026fieldday/ ]
**
HAMVENTION CELEBRATES ATTENDANCE BY 38,000 GUESTS
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Hamvention organizers are calling it a record. Nearly
38,000 guests turned the Greene County Fairgrounds & Expo Center in Ohio
into Ham Radio Central for one weekend. Stephen Kinford N8WB has that
report.
STEPHEN: The official count: 37,924 visitors to Hamvention and more than
600 volunteers. That's what made the weekend the success it was, along
with the exhibitors and the flea market vendors, according to Brian Markland,
general chairman, who made the announcement just days after closing day
on May 17th. He said in a statement: [quote] "I could not be more proud
of what we accomplished together." [endquote]
Get ready for Hamvention 2027. Opening day is May 21st and that's less
than a year away!
This is Stephen Kinford N8WB.
(HAMVENTION)
**
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD FESTIVAL SEEKS PRESENTERS
SKEETER/ANCHOR: Electromagnetism is a force of nature that is fundamental
to ham radio. It also has the power of attraction that draws artists,
tinkerers, hackers and others who are perpetually curious - and takes
them this summer to a field in England. Jeremy Boot G4NJH explains.
JEREMY: The Electromagnetic Field festival is sold out. The nonprofit
community camping event will turn a field in Eastnor Castle Deer Park,
Herefordshire, into a true field day between the 16th and the 19th of
July. Already the scientists, engineers, blacksmiths and crafters have
been making their plans.
So too have the amateur radio operators in the field and on the air throughout
the event as special event station GB26EMF based in the AMSAT-UK/British
Amateur Television Club Village. Among the 4,000 on site, any licensed
hams will be welcome to get on the air.
Despite the sold-out tickets, organisers still have room for adventurous
presenters wanting to provide entertainment by singing, showing films
or providing music on their own homemade instruments. Clever installations
are also welcome. Previous years have featured a robotic spider, a radioactive
xylophone and an upside-down campfire. If your proposals for entertainment,
workshops or installations are accepted, you are welcome to enjoy the
rest of the festival. See the links in the text version of this week's
newscast at arnewsline.org to submit a proposal or to get more information
about the AMSAT Village.
This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.
[DO NOT READ: https://www.emfcamp.org/cfp ]
[DO NOT READ: https://www.emfcamp.org/villages/2026/30 ]
(SOTA REFLECTOR, ELECTROMAGNETIC CAMP WEBSITE)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, listen for four special callsigns activated by the
Radio Society of Great Britain and the BBC Amateur Radio Group, marking
the June 27th shutdown of BBC's long-wave stations at Droitwich in Worcestershire,
Westerglen near Stirling and Burghead overlooking the Moray Firth. Listen
for GB1500M, GB198LW, GB198END and GB198KHZ.
In the Maldives, IOTA Number AS-013, Yosuke, JJ1DQR is on the air holiday
style as 8Q7QR from the 28th of May through to the 1st of June and will
participate in the CQ WW WPX CW Contest.
Alain, F8FUA, will be on the air holiday style as 9X5KM from Kigali,
Rwanda from the 4th through to the 13th of June, operating CW, SSB and
digital modes on various HF bands.
Oliver, W6NV, is on the air as A31WW on Tongatapu Island, Tonga, IOTA
Number OC-049, until the 2nd of June, operating CW on the HF bands. He
will be very active in the CQ WW WPX CW Contest on the 30th and 31st
of May.
For QSL and other operating information, visit each station's page on
QRZ.com.
(425 DX BULLETIN)
**
KICKER: THINK THIS IS FOR THE BIRDS? BINGO!
SKEETER/ANCHOR: In the Northern Hemisphere, where summer will dawn in
just a few weeks, hams are engaged in the seasonal pursuit of bird-watching
and they've combined it with the game of bingo. No, they're not crazy;
they're just crazy about chasing satellites, as we hear from Jim Davis
W2JKD.
JIM: OK, bird-watchers, it's time to wing it. There is no real competition
here, no sponsors or rules and no entry fees. You just need an antenna
and a bingo card. Yes, a bingo card.
Thanks to Sean Borgerson, KK7OVF, creator of Bird Chaser Bingo, hams
began their sky-high pursuit in May and expect to continue through to
the 31st of August. Each participant registers and receives a bingo card
filled with squares that they need to complete by fulfilling their summer-themed
operating tasks and satellite-related objectives. There are opportunities
to score big at this game in different ways and--by the way--it's not
cheating if you use social media to help other players find activity.
Complete your bingo card and submit it no later than the 15th of September.
The website for cards and all information is borgersons.com - spelled
"b o r g e r s o n s dot com"
Now, every operator who submits a completed card will get a certificate
and will be acknowledged for different levels of bingo achievements.
So if you think birding is only for wildlife enthusiasts, think again
-- but if you think this is the season for bird-chasing........Bingo!!
I'm Jim Davis W2JKD.
(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE
With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily, AMSAT News; David Behar K7DB; DX
World; Electromagnetic Camp; 425DX News; Hamvention; Long Island CW Club;
NRC; QRZ.com; shortwaveradio.de; SOTA Reflector; SWLing Post; Wireless
Institute of Australia; and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur
Radio Newsline. We remind our listeners that Amateur Radio Newsline is
an all-volunteer non-profit organization that incurs expenses for its
continued operation. If you wish to support us, please visit our website
at arnewsline.org and know that we appreciate you all. We also remind
our listeners that if you like our newscast, please leave us a 5-star
rating wherever you subscribe to us.
For now, with Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT at the news desk in New York, and
our news team worldwide, I'm Skeeter Nash N5ASH in Jonesboro, Arkansas
saying 73. As always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm)
is Copyright 2026. Amateur Radio Newsline retains ownership of its material
even when retransmitted elsewhere. All rights are reserved.
73 de Bill, PY2BIL
PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
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