MSGID: 1:135/250@fidonet 693deca7
PID: C-NET AMIGA BBS 5.36b
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2511 for Friday, December 12th, 2025
  
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2511 with a release date of Friday,
December 12th, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Vermont discontinues the RACES emergency response
program. The FCC grants a new 60M band for amateurs -- and we visit an
"antenna racing" event in New Zealand that's all in good sport. All this and
more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2511 comes your way right now.

**

BILLBOARD CART


**
VERMONT ENDS AMATEUR RADIO RACES SERVICE

PAUL/ANCHOR: In our top story this week, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency
Service, or RACES program, has ended in Vermont. Kent Peterson KCØDGY has the
details.

KENT: Vermont state officials have ended the RACES program, calling the action
taken November 1st [quote] "a move toward streamlining and modernizing our
communications systems and volunteer programs to improve coordination and
efficiency." [endquote]

Vermont RACES volunteers learned of the decision in a letter to them from
Brett La Rose of the state's emergency management office. Hams were instead
encouraged to join the state's Medical Reserve Corps program, which is part of
the Vermont Department of Health. A number of Medical Reserve Units across the
US have a communications component that engages hams in passing emergency
radio traffic on behalf of hospitals and other healthcare institutions.

In a letter shared on Facebook by the Green Mountain Wireless Society and
other Vermont ham clubs, La Rose wrote that the decision does not reflect on
the quality of volunteers but was a move toward greater efficiency.

He added: [quote] "Your contributions to our state have been invaluable."
[endquote]

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(VERMONT PUBLIC SAFETY, GREEN MOUNTAIN WIRELESS SOCIETY)

**
FCC GRANTS HAMS NON-CHANNELIZED USE ON 60M

PAUL/ANCHOR: Hams in the US are getting expanded, non-channelized use of parts
of the 60m band under a recent decision by the Federal Communications
Commission. The new access applies to General and Extra Class license-holders
who, until now, were granted use on a secondary basis of four discrete
channels:  5332, 5348, 5373, and 5405 kHz. In a decision released on December
9th, the FCC reaffirmed the continued amateur use of these existing four
channels at 100 watts of power, saying there have been no interference issues
with federal operations.

The FCC said, that in-line with the international WRC15 allocation, contiguous
use between 5351.5 and 5366.5 kHz with a limited emission bandwidth of 2.8 kHz
and power of no more than 15 watts EIRP is being granted.

To see the FCC decision and other announcements, see the link in the text
version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-adopts-final-rules-implementing-wrc-15


(FCC)

**

JORDANIAN AMATEURS APPROVED FOR NEW CLUB STATION

PAUL/ANCHOR: There's a new club station - and a new callsign - on the air in
Jordan. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us about it.

JEREMY: The Royal Jordanian Radio Amateur Society has established a new club
station with the callsign JY6SC - one of many stations to be established at
schools, universities and within Jordan's Armed Forces, to promote amateur
radio. It recently received permission to set up the station from the
Jordanian Special Communications Commission, the governmental agency that
oversees the nation's communications network.

The Royal Jordanian Radio Amateur Society was created in 1971 by the
celebrated radio amateur King Hussein, JY1. The amateur group enjoys the
involvement of the royal family, including Prince Hussein, JY2A, who in 2018
supported the society's launch of the nation's first amateur satellite. The
student-built CubeSat bears the callsign JY1SAT, in memory of King Hussein,
who became a Silent Key in 1999.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(ROYAL JORDANIAN RADIO AMATEUR SOCIETY, 425 DX BULLETIN)

**
APPLICATION PERIOD OPENS FOR YOUTH ON THE AIR CAMP

PAUL/ANCHOR: It's almost winter here in the Northern Hemisphere but the
application period has already opened for the Americas' Youth on the Air
summer camp to be held next June. This next session of camp has an extra
special theme - and Sel Embee KB3TZD is here to tell us about it.

SEL: The application period has begun for young amateurs living in North
Central or South America who want to attend Youth on the Air summer camp next
June. To be eligible, hams must be between the ages of 15 and 25, and have a
current amateur radio license.

The camp will be held in Huntsville, Alabama, with a focus on STEM activities
that relate to space travel and space exploration. Here on Earth, the camp
will take place from the 14th through the 19th of June.

For details, or to find an online application, visit youthontheair dot org
(youthontheair.org). That's youth-on-the-air, all one word, dot-org.

This is Sel Embee, K-B-3-T-Zed-D.

(YOUTH ON THE AIR)

**
BELGIAN EVENT MARKS BATTLE OF THE BULGE ANNIVERSARY

PAUL/ANCHOR: History has marked the Battle of the Bulge as the turning point
in World War II. Amateur radio is marking it too - as a special event noting
its 81st anniversary this year. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has those details.

JEREMY: The Battle of the Bulge was Adolf Hitler's final major offensive on
the Western Front. His attempt to repel the Allies from German-held territory
did not succeed. On the 22nd December 1944, the Germans delivered an ultimatum
to surrender to the Allies in Bastogne, Belgium -- and the single-word
response from US Gen. Anthony McAuliffe became one for the history books.

His reply was "NUTS!"

That word forms the suffix of the special event station callsign being used by
members of the Brussels Radio Club BXE. Station OR81NUTS will be on the air
from the Bastogne Barracks using CW and SSB on the HF bands until the 31st of
December.

For details, visit the station's QRZ.com page.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MUSEUM, ARMY.MIL, 425 DX BULLETIN)

**

SILENT KEY: QSL.NET/QTH.NET FOUNDER ALAN L. WALLER, K3TKJ

PAUL/ANCHOR: The founder of the QSL.net and QTH.net websites -- a ham
well-known for his technical expertise -- has become a Silent Key. We hear
more about him from Travis Lisk N3ILS.

TRAVIS:  When Alan Waller, K3TKJ, created the QSL.net and QTH.net websites in
1996, he succeeded in expanding the universe of online information for his
fellow amateurs. Al, who got his license in 1962, made a name for himself over
the years as a top contester, as someone well-versed in technical matters and
as a big fan of DXing on 6 metres.

Diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, he became a Silent Key on the 30th of
November.

In 2002, Al's contributions to amateur radio earned him the Dayton Hamvention
Technical Excellence Award. In 2008, he retired from running his two websites,
entrusting them to Scott KA9FOX so the resources could remain available.

A statement on the QSL.net home page recalled his lifetime of work, adding
that [quote] "Al's pioneering spirit and technical achievements will be fondly
remembered by friends and colleagues alike." [endquote]

Al was 80.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOME, QSL.NET WEBSITE)

**

UK SMARTPHONES OK'D FOR "DIRECT TO DEVICE" SATELLITE SERVICE

PAUL/ANCHOR: Mobile phone companies in the UK wishing to provide
direct-to-device services from satellites are being told to request a license
change from Ofcom. The regulator has approved the rollout of satellites for
delivery of phone calls, texts and Internet in areas of the UK lacking mobile
coverage.This shift brings the UK in line with a number of other countries,
including the US, where direct-to-device was also approved by the Federal
Communications Commission. In the UK, the earliest adopters are the mobile
network operator O2, working with Starlink, and Vodafone, working with AST.
Smartphone users themselves will not be required to apply for a license.

(OFCOM)

**

BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the W9BCC
repeater in Wausau Wisconsin on Sundays at 9 p.m. during the Rib Mountain
Repeater Association's Sunday Night Swapnet.

**

HISTORIC STATION TO SEND CHRISTMAS EVE MESSAGE IN CW

PAUL/ANCHOR: The World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station in Sweden is no
stranger to celebrations - certainly not this year, as it marks its 100th year
as a treasured communicator. Before its Jubilee year activities conclude on
the 31st of December, the radio station will once again engage in one of its
most popular traditions, its Christmas Eve message, a longwave transmission in
CW. Graham Kemp VK4BB tells us more.

GRAHAM: One hundred Christmas Eves will have come and gone when the callsign
SAQ transmits the Christmas Eve message from the Grimeton Radio Station in
Sweden on the morning of December 24th. The operator will again be using the
much-loved transmitter, which utilises an alternating-current generator
developed by the pioneering Swedish engineer Ernst Alexanderson.

The Christmas Eve morning transmission will be sent on 17.2 kHz about a
half-hour after the transmitter has been started up. It is a festive occasion
on the radio station site itself but for those who cannot be there personally,
the message can be heard on the air, of course, and seen on the YouTube
channel of the Alexander SAQ Grimeton Friendship Association.

It is a Christmas gift to the world, as the association notes on its channel,
pointing out that this is the [quote] "only remaining electromechanical radio
transmitter." [endquote]" Indeed, its continued operation is a holiday gift
worth celebrating.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.


(YOUTUBE, GRIMETON RADIO STATION WEBSITE)

**
DUTCH RADIO GROUP PUTS SIX "SANTA" STATIONS ON AIR

PAUL/ANCHOR: Who's working harder than Santa himself? Probably the Dutch Radio
Group, whose operators have been on the air since the 10th of December and
will be calling CQ with six special callsigns through to the 2nd of January.
Listen for PD25HOLLY,  PD25HOHOHO, PD25REDNOSE, PD25SANTA, PD25XMAS and
PD26HNWY. There is a special award for anyone who works all six stations. If
you want to see who is on the air right now and on what frequency - if you
want to see what chasers they have already worked, visit the QRZ.com page for
any of the callsigns listed.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
HAMCATION ANNOUNCES 3 TO RECEIVE HONORS

PAUL/ANCHOR: When hams gather in Orlando, Florida in two months for HamCation,
they will be celebrating the achievement of three notable amateurs. Kevin
Trotman N5PRE tells us about them.

KEVIN: Newsline congratulates three award recipients to be honored at
HamCation 2026 in February in Orlando, Florida. Kansas amateur Tony Milluzzi,
KD8RTT, has been named the 2026 Gordon West Ham Ambassador of the Year for his
support of the Collegiate Amateur Radio Program. The Carole Perry Educator of
the Year award is being given to Nathaniel Frissel, W2NAF for his ongoing work
with the HamSCI citizen science education program which he founded and
continues to grow. The recipient of the new Amateur Radio Hero Award, is a
name well-known to Newsline and our listeners: Ambarish Nag Biswas, VU2JFA.
The West Bengal, India, amateur has been chosen for [quote]  "his outstanding
support of local and national emergency operations and law enforcement during
life-threatening events where lives were saved by his actions." [endquote] He
and his club are two-time winners of the former Amateur Radio Newsline
International Newsmaker Award.

Congratulations to everyone. Hamcation will take place on the 13th through to
the 15th of February.

This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

(HAMCATION)

**

WORLD OF DX

In the world of DX, special event stations 4X8NER and 4Z8NER will be
celebrating Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, from the 14th through to
the 22nd of December, as members of the Israel Association of Radio
Communication call CQ on the HF bands. A certificate will be available.

Earl, WA3DX will be active as 9Y9DX  from Arouca, Trinidad, IOTA number
SA-011, from the 17th through to the 29th of December, operating mostly FT8
and FT4. Listen for Earl on 40 through 10 metres.

Andre, ON7YK is using the callsign C5YK from The Gambia  until the 25th of
January 2026.  Andre is using SSB, FT8, FT4, RTTY and PSK on the HF bands. He
is also operating on 20 through 10 metres using CW. 

Listen for the callsign CN25JIM until the 21st of December,  but especially on
the 13th of December. The callsign is being activated from the Middle Atlas
mountain range in the Moroccan Sahara to mark International Mountain Day,
which is observed on the 11th of December. 


For all these stations listed, please see QRZ.com for QSL details.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
AN "ANTENNA RACING" EVENT THAT'S ALL IN GOOD SPORT

PAUL/ANCHOR: We end this week with a sports story. Recently, as elite drivers
of motorsport were causing the world's hearts to race alongside them on the
Formula 1 track in Abu Dhabi, a quiet field in New Zealand erupted with the
nail-biting action of the 2025 Antenna Racing World Championship. Of course,
only this small part of the immediate world was participating. Just ask John
Williams VK4JJW, who has this report.

JOHN: The quartet of contenders were locked in what one on-site moderator
called [quote] "a battle of pure technical fury."[endquote] Their telescoping
masts, their coax and their antenna analysers were ready for action.
 Introducing this world-class portable antenna-building competition was
Amateur Radio Newsline's own Jim Meachen ZL2BHF, a commentator on the
sidelines along with event organiser, Nick ZL2NEB.

There were more than a few tense moments in this Kaikoura park -- and there
was no room for cheating: Speed of deployment and low SWR were everything.
This event showcased what Jim called [quote] "high-octane engineering
athletics." [endquote] It was all up to Malcolm, ZL4MWB, Nick, ZL2NEB, Graeme,
ZL1BDS and Stewart, ZL2STR, each taking turns, one by one, to show that their
antennas could resonate with the best of them.
Nick, who had jokingly suggested creating the competition, was pleased to see
POTA/SOTA activators embrace this chance to rev their engines. Like Formula 1
cars, competitors had to stay on track.
So who won the coveted 40m dipole that had been donated by Greg ZL1GUD from
the HamShack? Tune in to find out, sports fans: We're providing the YouTube
link to the recorded action in the text version of this newscast at
arnewsline.org

Nick, meanwhile, believes that it might be time for these antenna athletes to
go for the gold. He told Newsline in an email: [quote] "I think that we really
have a good chance of it being included in an upcoming Olympics at some
point." [endquote]

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

[DO NOT READ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtUNJS8X2ts  ]

(YOUTUBE, NICK, ZL2NEB)

**
HAIKU AND CLOSE

If you haven't sent in your ham radio haiku yet, what's been stopping you?
Visit our website at arnewsline.org and as you compose your ode to your
favorite online activity, we will help you use the correct number of syllables
to make an authentic haiku. Submit your work and then sit back and wait to
hear whether you are the winner of this week's challenge. The winner gets a
shout-out on our website, where everyone can find the winning haiku.

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Amateur News Daily;  AMSAT News Service; ARRL; Army.mil; David
Behar, K7DB; Facebook; FCC; 425DX Bulletin; Green Mountain Wireless Society;
Grimeton Radio Station; HamCation; Holloway Funeral Home; Josh Cohen, KB1NIJ,
Nick, ZL2NEB; National World War II Museum; QRZ.com; Royal Jordanian Amateur
Radio Society; shortwaveradio.de; Vermont Public Safety; Wireless Institute of
Australia; YouTube; 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 Paul Braun WD9GCO in Valparaiso Indiana saying 73. As
always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright
2025. Amateur Radio Newsline retains ownership of its material even when
retransmitted elsewhere. All rights are reserved.

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