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   late last year into low Earth orbit. It is yet another example of   
   scientists exploring the use of optical waves as an alternative to   
   using radio. The ground station was described as a white dome 4 metres   
   in diameter with a telescope sticking out. It was able to track and   
   receive transmitted data.   
      
   The French Defence Ministry released a statement in September extolling   
   the advantages of optical communication, which include "speed,   
   discretion and independence from regulations that coordinate the use of   
   radio waves. Even if this optical link can sometimes be perturbed by   
   atmospheric turbulence, the Keraunos satellite is able to circumvent   
   them in order to achieve optimum transmission quality." The project is   
   the result of a collaboration between France's Defense Innovation   
   Agency and a small company known as Cailabs.   
      
   This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.   
      
   (BREAKING DEFENSE)   
      
   **   
   SILENT KEY: NAVAJO CODE TALKER, JOHN KINSEL SR., 107   
      
   PAUL/ANCHOR: One of the three remaining World War II veterans known as   
   Navajo Code Talkers has died. John Kinsel Sr. died in his sleep at his   
   Arizona home on Saturday, the 19th of October. He served the United   
   States military in the elite group of Marines who used their native   
   language as the basis of a code to securely transmit troop movement   
   information and other critical messages. The code was never broken by   
   the enemy.   
      
   According to various news reports, with his death only two of the   
   original Navajo Code Talkers remain.   
      
   John Kinsel Sr. was 107.   
      
   (NBC NEWS, THE GUARDIAN, THE NY TIMES)   
      
   **   
   YOUNG AMATEURS INVITED TO ENTER "DREAM RIG" ESSAY CONTEST   
      
   PAUL/ANCHOR: Using their imagination and their devotion to amateur   
   radio, young radio operators are once again being invited to enter the   
   Dream Rig contest sponsored by the Intrepid DX Group. Sel Embee KB3TZD   
   tells us what's involved.   
      
   SEL: Licensed amateurs who are 19 years of age and younger are being   
   given the challenge to describe the role and the benefits ham radio   
   brings to modern society. They're also being asked how more young   
   amateurs can be inspired to get on the air. It's not an easy question,   
   of course, but the sponsor behind the 5th annual "Dream Rig" essay   
   contest, the Intrepid DX Group, knows something about big challenges   
   itself. Through the years, the nonprofit group has been the force   
   behind major DXpeditions and other radio activities around the world.   
      
   Young amateurs with US or Canadian radio licenses - who live in either   
   country or in any of the US territories - are eligible. For details on   
   ways to submit the essay and to see rules for the competition itself,   
   visit the Facebook page of the Intrepid DX Group. Essays are due no   
   later than the 30th of November.   
      
   Winners will be announced in December.   
      
   This is Sel Embee KB3TZD.   
      
   (INTREPID-DX GROUP)   
      
   **   
   BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur   
   Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including   
   the K9JX repeater of the Jacksonville Amateur Radio Society in   
   Jacksonville Illinois on Saturdays at 9 p.m.   
      
   **   
   VOLCANOES ON THE AIR ERUPTS IN NEW ZEALAND   
      
   PAUL/ANCHOR: In New Zealand, a new awards program has erupted - and we   
   really do mean really erupted: Volcanoes on the Air. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF   
   has the details.   
      
   JIM: The city of Auckland isn't just home to the most people in New   
   Zealand; it is also where you'll find the most volcanoes - 53 to be   
   precise. The region, known as the Auckland Volcanic Field, has inspired   
   radio amateurs to launch a new programme - Volcanoes on the Air.   
   Although some hams have already had a jump start in calling CQ from the   
   volcanic region, the QSOs begin in earnest with the official kickoff of   
   the programme on the 3rd of November.   
      
   The website ontheair dot nz (ontheair.nz) has been updated to provide   
   information for the new Volcanoes on the Air awards scheme. The site   
   also contains details on a variety of other programmes such as HEMA,   
   POTA, SOTA, Lighthouses and IOTA.   
      
   An announcement on the Infoline of the New Zealand Association of Radio   
   Transmitters encourages hams to give it a try, noting that the activity   
   does not require a lot of hiking uphill. The website geo dot net   
   (geo.net) notes that the volcanic field is mostly utilised for public   
   parks and recreation and that the volcanoes are considered unlikely to   
   have any eruptions, especially since the last one on record was at   
   least 600 years ago.   
      
   So the only things active in this volcanic field are likely to be the   
   radio amateurs themselves calling CQ.   
      
   This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.   
      
   (INFOLINE NZART, WIA)   
      
   **   
   NOVEMBER SPECIAL EVENT MARKS 76 YEARS OF AIR FORCE MARS   
      
   PAUL/ANCHOR: The US Air Force Military Auxiliary Radio System will be   
   marking its 76th year with a special event from the 5th through to the   
   11th of November. Stephen Kinford N8WB tells us how to get involved.   
      
   STEPHEN: The celebration of Air Force MARS and its 76 years on the air   
   is open to licensed amateurs in all three US classes. Operators will be   
   using CW, SSB and digital modes on 80 through 6 metres in the parts of   
   the bands assigned to General and Technician Class licensees.   
   Operations are identified by 10 geographic regions called   
   Communications Wings. There will also be operators on the air from the   
   Pentagon MARS station in Washington, DC; Schriever Space Force Base in   
   Colorado; Hancock Field Air National Guard in New York and the Travis   
   Air Force Base MARS Station in California.   
      
   For a list of the special event callsigns and a description of the   
   exchanges that will be used, visit the link that appears in the text   
   version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org   
      
   [DO NOT READ:   
   https://community.apan.org/wg/afmars/air-force-mars-76th-special-event]   
      
   The Air Force MARS system was created to assist US military and   
   civilian government with communications when needed.   
      
   This is Stephen Kinford N8WB.   
      
   (ED DONNELLY, KB2UNZ)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLD OF DX   
      
   In the World of DX, listen for Neil, G0RNU, operating holiday style as   
   6Y/G0RNU from Jamaica, IOTA Number NA-097 from the 23rd of October   
   through to the 6th of November. He will operate  SSB  and digital modes   
   on 40-6 metres. QSL via eQSL.   
      
   Steve, NY3B, is on the air as J68SS from St Lucia, IOTA Number NA-108,   
   until the 29th of October. He will also be one of the J62K  operators   
   during the CQ  WW DX SSB Contest on October 26th and 27th. See QRZ.com   
   for QSL details.   
      
   Tev, TA1HZ, is operating from Tabor, Tanzania until late 2025 as 5H8HZ.   
   Listen for him on the air, holiday style on 40-10 metres. He will focus   
   on 40, 30, 12 and 10m.  See QRZ.com for QSL details.   
      
   In Uganda, Don, G3XTT, will operate as 5X1DF, using CW and some FT8;   
   and Alan, G3XAQ will operate as 5X1XA, using CW,  from the 13th through   
   to the 27th of November. Listen for them in the CQ WW DX CW Contest,   
   where they will participate as single-band entrants. See QRZ.com for   
   QSL details.   
      
   (425 DX BULLETIN)   
      
   **   
   KICKER: IN GERMAN TV DRAMA, THE BANDS WEREN'T DEAD BUT THIS HAM WAS   
      
   PAUL/ANCHOR: The American film and TV industry isn't the only creative   
   community adding amateur radio into its cast of fictional characters.   
   Amateur radio found its way recently into an episode of a popular TV   
   crime drama in Germany. While that's good news for ham radio -- it   
   didn't have the best outcome for one of the fictional TV hams. We learn   
   why from Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.   
      
   RALPH: Very early on in Season 16, Episode 2 of the ZDF German crime   
      
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)