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PY2BIL > ARNR 14.08.26 11:40z 340 Lines 15309 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2546 for Friday, August 14th
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Sent: 260814/1119Z 53505@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM LinBPQ6.0.25
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2546 for Friday, August 14th, 2026
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2546 with a release date of Friday,
August 14th, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Hams respond to a deadly earthquake in Colombia.
The FCC charges a sprawling GMRS repeater network with violations --
and a software update for a space probe that really goes the distance.
All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2546 comes
your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
AMATEUR RADIO RESPONDS TO COLOMBIAN EARTHQUAKE
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Our top story this week is the deadly earthquake in Colombia,
South America. Graham Kemp VK4BB gives us a status report on ham radio
involvement as Newsline went to production.
GRAHAM: The death toll continued to rise past 200 in western Colombia
after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake shook towns and cities on Monday the
10th of August, causing nearly 2,000 buildings to collapse and injuring
nearly 3,000. It was the strongest earthquake to strike Colombia in 100
years and came only weeks after two earthquakes shattered Venezuela in
June.
Updates were provided to Newsline by Greg Mossop GØDUB, emergency communications
coordinator for IARU Region 1 and posted on the Region 1 website.
Members of the Colombian Amateur Radio League Amateur activated in support
of the Colombia Red Cross. Carlos Alberto Santamaria Gonzalez, CO2JC,
the IARU's Region 2 emergency coordinator said that Faber Mosquera, HK6F,
the league's emergency coordinator was coordinating operations with the
National Disaster Risk Management System. Faber Mosquera also joined
the Urban Search and Rescue unit of the Colombian Red Cross which was
headed to the city of Cali.
IARU Region 2 asked hams to monitor league frequencies on 80, 40, 20,
17 and 15 metres as well as 2 metres simplex and to keep those frequencies
clear of transmissions.
In Risaraldo, the Radio Amateurs from the Coffee Axis Amateur Radio Association,
HK6REC, made their repeaters and other resources available to support
the hard-hit city of Pereira. Association president Nahir Rios, HK6JSP,
was directing his volunteer radio operators to assist where needed. There
had been assistance from the LRM, the Liga Radio Manizales, HK6RM, as
early as Monday evening, following the quake, The group added their Echolink
system to the national frequency to provide more communication resources.
This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.
(REUTERS, CNN, IARU REGION 1)
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: On the morning of our newscast's production, Region 2
reported great progress: The proactive and sustained work by hams throughout
the region had already made a difference, providing repeater access to
the Fire Department after the collapse of their digital system. Hams
were also restoring power to strategically located club repeaters 3,600
metres above sea level by installing solar panels and batteries. At one
site, as work continued on repeaters used by amateurs and various institutions
in the Coffee Axis region, the public cultural FM radio station, RAC,
supplied generator power to support the effort. We will continue to watch
this story for other developments.
**
FCC CHARGES GMRS NETWORK FOUNDER WITH VIOLATIONS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: In the US, the founder of a wide-reaching network of
GMRS repeaters based in Georgia has been charged with violating FCC regulations.
We have an update from Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
KENT: The FCC has taken action against the operator of a GMRS repeater
network serving Georgia and Tennessee, saying his internet-linked system
violated regulations that ban the simultaneous retransmission of voice
messages across numerous repeaters.
The founder of the North Georgia GMRS radio network, Gary Beckstedt,
holds the GMRS license WQYU407. An amateur radio operator with the callsign
WB4GMB, he says on his QRZ page that more than half of the members of
his GMRS network are also licensed hams and that its paid membership
is rapidly growing. With more than 30 repeaters in the system, it is
"the largest GMRS network in the US," according to the website.
FCC rules permit GMRS repeaters to be connected to other networks solely
for remote-control operation. According to a Notice of Violation on the
FCC website, on February 11th of this year, agents documented the violation,
confirming that the UHF repeaters' Internet connections were being used
to carry the same message to several repeaters for transmission over
the air. The Notice of Violation released on August 5 states that such
use of so many linked repeaters over a wide area is not in the public
interest because it monopolizes a limited spectrum resource and increases
the potential for interference.
The network's website, which promotes annual membership starting at $90
a year, said that it is encouraging radio growth and education, adding:
[quote] "We have built a reputation of fostering our membership and guiding
them towards the Amateur Radio Community. After all, radio is radio and
it offers so much for those who choose to expand and grow in the knowledge
of radio communications." [endquote]
Beckstedt was given 20 days to respond to the FCC.
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(FCC, QRZ.COM, NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS MAGAZINE)
**
'FOUR DAYS IN AUGUST' RETURNS TO HUNTSVILLE
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: If the "Four Days in May" event that precedes Dayton
Hamvention wasn't enough for you, get ready for "Four Days in August,"
which leads right up to the Huntsville Hamfest in Alabama. Andy Morrison
K9AWM has those details.
ANDY: The temperature is a little warmer than it was in Dayton, the venue
is a bit farther south and the format is as informal as it can be, befitting
an Alabama State Park. Four Days in August is coming back to Monte Sano
State Park in Huntsville, opening to RV'ers, campers and other visitors
who are coming to town a few days before the big hamfest and ARRL convention.
The organizer of Four Days in August, Steve KM9G, describes on his YouTube
channel how the customary informality of the activities is part of its
big draw. It's part camp-out, part POTA, part SOTA -- a little bit of
astrophotography - and lots of hands-on building under the guidance of
an Elmer or two.
Steve said that not every activity will take place under the trees or
on a park summit. Trips are also being scheduled to the US Space and
Rocketry Center and the Planetarium there as well as the Signals Museum,
where the group is hoping to host a soldering class.
In short, there will be plenty of amateur radio "rabbit holes" to disappear
down - but be sure to emerge in time for the Huntsville Hamfest, which
opens on Saturday the 22nd of August.
To hear Steve give all the details, and to learn of any updates, visit
his YouTube Channel, which is called Temporarily Offline..
This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.
(TEMPORARILY OFFLINE)
**
CUBESAT RECEIVES CANADA'S FIRST OSCAR DESIGNATION
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: MARMOTSat, the satellite launched last month aboard a
SpaceX rideshare mission, has received Canada's first official OSCAR
designation. This comes at an important time as Canada gains a higher
profile in the world of satellites. John Williams VK4JJW tells us more.
JOHN: MARMOTSat, a CubeSat built by students and researchers at the University
of Victoria's Centre for Aerospace Research in British Columbia, was
launched in early July. It is now known as Canada OSCAR 128. OSCAR is
an acronym for Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio. Its mission
is to study the ionosphere to gain deeper knowledge of how people's actions
affect climate change. It will take measurements using transionospheric
sounding.
The OSCAR designation is a significant one. It comes as AMSAT Canada
takes its place as an AMSAT affiliate and begins inviting members to
help grow the organisation. AMSAT Canada was incorporated as a nonprofit
in late 2023 and is the 28th affiliate of the Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation. More details can be found on its official website. Find
a link in the text version of this week's newscast script at arnewsline.org
This is John Williams VK4JJW.
[DO NOT READ: www.amsat-ca.org. ]
(AMSAT-CA, CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including
the W3BN repeater of the Reading Radio Club in Reading, Pennsylvania
on Fridays at 8 pm local time.
**
SILENT KEY: AUTHOR, ANTENNA INNOVATOR JOHN PORTUNE, W6NBC
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: An advisor and mentor to many, and a widely respected
expert on antennas, has become a Silent Key. We hear more about him from
Paul Braun WD9GCO.
PAUL: Many hams who have wanted to get more out of their antennas - or
simply learn more about them - no doubt turned to the words and writings
of John Portune, W6NBC. The retired KNBC TV broadcast engineer, an experimenter
and an innovator, was always generous with his time and wisdom on the
subject.
John became a Silent Key on the 6th of July. Born in 1938, he had been
a ham since 1965.
The Los Angeles, California native was a frequent presence - either via
Zoom or in person - at club meetings and ham expos needing his expertise
on everything from mag loop antennas to stealth antennas that went undetected
by homeowner associations.
He was a prolific writer, with bylines in QST and On the Air magazine
to his credit. He was also the author of a number of books, including
"Slot Antennas for Ham Radio: the Forgotten Antenna." Many hams turned
to John for his advice on how to get on the air from homes in communities
governed by home owner associations' antenna restrictions. He was also
known for hosting informal Monday morning chats on Zoom, open sessions
where friends gathered to compare notes and, of course, ask questions.
Or, as John wrote on his website: "Just fun."
John was 88.
This is Paul Braun WD9GCO.
(W6NBC.COM WEBSITE, QRZ.COM)
**
PENNSYLVANIA AMATEURS ADD STRENGTH TO RED CROSS EFFORTS
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: The season has been a busy one for public events in southeastern
Pennsylvania and the American Red Cross found itself leaning a little
more heavily on assistance from amateur radio operators. Travis Lisk
N3ILS has those details.
TRAVIS: Emergency response and emergency preparedness go hand-in-hand
when it comes to public events, and facing a busy calendar of sports
matches, celebrations and public events throughout the region, Red Cross
Southeastern Pennsylvania disaster operators reached out to even more
local hams than ever. Members of the Philadelphia Amateur Radio Emergency
Service were, of course, there as always, serving as partners in communication,
but the Red Cross extended its call for assistance to other ARES groups.
According to a recent blog on the American Red Cross website, the call
for help cast an even wider net and hams from the nearby counties of
Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Bucks answered that call. The Red Cross
and the ARES teams gained additional support from the many amateurs who
belong to the Red Cross Disaster Services Technology team, led by Cliff
Hotchkiss KC3PGT.
This was especially critical on the 22nd of June when the FIFA World
Cup came to the Philadelphia Stadium - and it was true for the five matches
that followed in that host city. Cliff said that there were concerns
that the size of the crowd at the stadium could overload and interrupt
cellular communication.
As the Red Cross noted in its blog: [quote]: "Their mission was simple
but important: ensure reliable communications remained available if emergency
responders and Red Cross teams needed them." [endquote]
This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.
(AMERICAN RED CROSS)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, listen for John, W5JON operating as V47JA from St.
Kitts, IOTA Number NA-104, on the 24th through to the 31st of August.
John will be using SSB and FT8 on various bands.
Mike N4XTT, will be active as J68TT from St. Lucia, IOTA Number NA-108,
from the 15th through to the 21st of August, operating on 40 through
10 metres. He may also be heard on 80 metres. He plans to operate alongside
J69Z at a number of POTA sites.
Henri, OH3JR and Anne, OH2YL will be on the air as OJØJR and OJØYL,
respectively, from Market Reef, IOTA Number EU-053, from the 15th through
to the 22nd of August. They will be on 80 through 10 metres using CW,
SSB and FT8.
Listen for special event station ER35RM celebrating the 35th anniversary
of the independence of the Republic of Moldova. Operators are using various
modes on the HF bands until the 31st of August. The actual independence
date is the 27th of August.
For QSL information or other operating details for any of these stations,
visit QRZ.com
(425 DX BULLETIN)
**
KICKER: WHEN SOFTWARE GOES THE DISTANCE
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: We end this week's newscast by asking - and let's be
honest - how often do you update the software in your computer - or even
your radio? Well, here's a recent update on some instruments that were
installed nearly half a century ago. Kent Peterson KCØDGY has our final
story.
KENT: The upload wasn't simple: The update had to travel 13 billion miles
through deep space. When it reached its destination at NASA's Voyager
2, it went to work, deactivating some of the probe's higher-powered scientific
instruments and substituting methods that consume less power. NASA said
in a statement that conserving power means Voyager 2's instruments can
continue operating for another year, if not longer. The probe has been
on the job since its launch in 1977. NASA estimates that Voyager 2 and
its twin, Voyager 1, now have about two-thirds of their original reserves
of power which is drawn from radioisotope thermoelectric generators.
The software update mission, which NASA calls "Big Bang," isn't quite
over yet. Voyager 1 is up next, and it's even farther away from Earth.
In fact, in November it will have traveled the distance of one light-day.
That means the update will need to travel 16 billion miles, or 26 billion
kilometres, and hopefully won't need on-site tech support.
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, POPULAR SCIENCE, NASA)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE
With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily, AMSAT-Canada; AMSAT News; Bill, PY2BIL;
Canadian Space Agency; CNN; David Behar, K7DB; FCC; Greg Mossop, GØDUB;
IARU Region 1; NASA; National Communications magazine; Popular Science;
QRZ.com; Reuters; Scientific American; shortwaveradio.de; SpaceNews;
W6NBC.com; 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 Stephen Kinford N8WB in Wadsworth Ohio 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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