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PY2BIL > ARNR     27.03.26 20:32l 384 Lines 17199 Bytes #28 (0) @ WW
BID : 100924PY2BIL
Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2526 for Friday, March 27th, 2
Path: JH4XSY<JE7YGF<LU4ECL<VK2RZ<VE3CGR<PY2BIL<PY2BIL
Sent: 260327/0823 @:PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM Sally 7.4.0  $:100924PY2BIL
From: PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2526 for Friday, March 27th, 2026
 
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2526 with a release date of Friday, 
March 27th, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams respond to historic flooding in Hawaii. The 
Autism Awareness special event gets underway around the world -- and get out 
on the air, just by.....getting out! All this and more as Amateur Radio 
Newsline Report Number 2526 comes your way right now.

**
HAMS RESPOND TO HISTORIC FLOODS IN HAWAII

JIM/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to Hawaii, which was slammed with two so-
called "atmospheric river storms" that brought heavy rains and high winds, 
flooding all the state's islands and sweeping many houses off their 
foundations. ARES and RACES hams were activated, providing realtime ground 
reports for weather and field information on Oahu and Maui. ARRL Pacific 
Section Manager Alan KH6TU/AD6E told Newsline in an email that VHF linked 
repeater systems carried individual voice reports sent to EOCs. Meanwhile, 
federal emergency ICS-213 forms were transmitted carrying messages and 
incident reports over peer-to-peer Winlink via VHF or on HF.

As emergency crews cleared landslides and repaired communications and power 
lines, hams continued to update road and weather conditions, assisting with 
coordinated communications. As Newsline went to production, recovery 
continued after what was being called the state's worst flooding in two 
decades.

(STACY HOLBROOK, KH6OWL, ALAN MAENCHEN AD6E / KH6TU, MICHAEL MILLER KH6ML, 
ASSOCIATED PRESS)

**
FUNDS WOULD EXPAND, UPGRADE NOAA'S WEATHER RADIO NETWORK

JIM/ANCHOR: Even as Canada moves to shut down its nationwide weather radio 
services, lawmakers in the US are looking to commit funds that would 
modernize and expand the radio network of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Agency. Kent Peterson KCDGY brings us up to date.

KENT: Lawmakers in Washington, DC, have moved ahead with their commitment to 
invest 000 million in improved antennas and transmitter equipment to expand 
coverage for the VHF weather radio service of NOAA. A bipartisan measure that 
authorizes the expense was passed recently by members of the House Committee 
on Science, Space and Technology.

An estimated 1,030 such weather stations hold licenses to operate on 162 MHz. 
The antenna and transmitter additions and upgrades focus on NOAA's radio 
service in remote areas of the US that have a higher risk of extreme weather. 
Beyond VHF improvements, the bill calls for NOAA to explore options on the 
microwave band to further strengthen the network's ability to communicate 
warnings about hazardous conditions. Other language in the bill directs NOAA 
to explore the possibility of satellite backup or partnerships with 
commercial providers.

The action in Washington stands in sharp contrast to a recent announcement by 
the Meteorological Service of Canada - that nation's equivalent of NOAA - 
that it was ending Weatheradio, its own national VHF radio weather service/

The US lawmakers' measure moves next for a vote in the full House but is not 
yet on the calendar. The action on Capitol Hill comes almost a year after the 
White House announced that the administration was looking to cut NOAA's 
weather research centers, particularly those focused on understanding climate 
change.

This is Kent Peterson KCDGY.

(RADIO WORLD)

**
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP CALLS CQ FOR AUTISM AWARENESS

JIM/ANCHOR: Amateur radio's largest international cooperative special event 
is getting on the air for a week with an important message about people with 
autism. Kevin Trotman N5PRE explains the commitment that unites this 
worldwide team.

KEVIN: Now in its fourth year, the World Autism Awareness Week special event 
will again carry the message that "it's OK to be different." It's a theme 
uniting amateurs across oceans, with callsigns that include W2A here in the 
US and others in participating nations such as Italy, South Africa, Russia, 
New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Israel and West Malaysia. 

This weeklong special event begins on Wednesday the 1st of April. It has 
gained momentum as it brings advocacy on the air for those with autism 
spectrum disorder - a developmental disorder seen among people of all races 
and nationalities.

More details about the event and its callsigns - as well as useful 
information about autism spectrum disorder - can be found on the QRZ.com page 
of W2A.

This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

(QRZ.COM) 


**
CHARTERED FLIGHT TO CARRY INTERNATIONAL TEAM TO ISS

JIM/ANCHOR: The European Space Agency has announced plans to charter a flight 
to the ISS for its astronauts and some international partners. Dave Lee M7TLB 
fills us in on the details.

DAVE: Just two years before the International Space Station's scheduled 
retirement, it is expected to receive a crew of European astronauts delivered 
via a chartered SpaceX Crew Dragon mission.

Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency, said at a 
March 19 press briefing that that the ESA was chartering the flight to give 
the agency's astronauts an experience aboard the ISS to conduct research 
before the spacecraft is decommissioned and deorbited in 2030. The trip by 
the Provided Institutional Crew is being proposed for early 2028. 

The ESA expects to include international partners in the mission but has not 
named any potential partner nations - nor has it said how many non-ESA 
astronauts would be included.

Both the UAE and Australian Space Agencies' websites report that agreements 
were signed in recent years with the European Space Agency committing to 
deeper collaboration in space-exploration initiatives.

This is Dave Lee M7TLB.

(SPACE NEWS, SPACE.GOV.AE, AUSTRALIAN SPACE AGENCY)

**

NEW NET BUILDING BRIDGE WITH HISTORICALLY BLACK CAMPUSES

JIM/ANCHOR: A weekly net has begun exploring how amateur radio can provide 
mentorship at Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the US. Travis 
Lisk N3ILS tells us what's being planned.

TRAVIS: The OMIK Amateur Radio Association has launched the first of its 
Tuesday night nets designed to build connections with Historically Black 
College and Universities throughout the US. The ham radio organization was 
originally created in August of 1952 as a welcoming group for Black amateurs 
seeking membership without having to face discrimination. OMIK eventually 
hopes to extend its expertise and the hand of friendship to many of the more 
than 100 historically Black US campuses and their faculty, alumni, parents 
and students.

Net check-ins begin at 8 p.m. Eastern Time Tuesdays which is 0100 UTC 
Wednesday on the OMIK Conference server on Echolink.

The net is one part of the group's emerging commitment to the campuses. For 
OMIK members, the goal will ultimately bring opportunities to provide service 
and make connections across the generations. On-campus visits - and even on-
air activations - will help students gain mentors in STEM and STEAM learning 
and, of course, amateur radio.

Net controller Jesse Alexander WB2IFS, the developer of the program, said the 
net is just the beginning.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(JESSE ALEXANDER, WB2IFS)

**
OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO PLUTO ANNIVERSARY EVENT 

JIM/ANCHOR: Despite equipment failures, winter weather closures and operator 
illness, the W7P Pluto Discovery Anniversary Special Event concluded on 
February 22nd with strong results. Randy Sly, W4XJ has the details.

RANDY: The team of amateurs for W7P, while operating portable much of the 
time from the Lowell Observatory in  Flagstaff, Arizona, along with W7P/ and 
W7P/P, made over 6500 QSOs with 81 countries. In its six-year history, this 
event saw significantly higher SSB results and the second highest volume of 
QSL cards ever received.

Doug Tombaugh, N3PDT, nephew of Clyde Tombaugh, the astronomer who discovered 
Pluto in 1930, along with his team of operators in the Kansas City area, made 
over 2200 contacts as W7P/, which was a 70 percent increase over last year.

Organizers heard from the special event's chasers that they learned more 
about Pluto than they ever knew and especially enjoyed being able to speak 
with Doug. Bob Wertz, NF7E, event coordinator, told Newsline that despite a 
rocky start, W7P was a success by every meaningful measure  strong QSO 
totals, excellent public engagement, and enthusiastic feedback from operators 
worldwide.

This is Randy Sly, W4XJ

(BOB WERTZ, NF7E)

**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio 
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the AA9RT 
repeater on Sundays at 7 pm local time in St. Clair, Illinois

**
SILENT KEY: DISASTER-RESPONSE OPERATOR S. ARUNA KUMAR, VU3VGP

JIM/ANCHOR: A respected radio operator in India who could be counted on to 
provide vital support in calamities has become a Silent Key, We hear more 
about him from Graham Kemp VK4BB.

GRAHAM: Radio amateurs who knew and operated their radios alongside S. Aruna 
Kumar, VU3VGP, were remembering his kind and helpful nature and how it 
complemented his radio skills. The National Institute of Amateur Radio, where 
he was once on staff, reported that he became a Silent Key at midnight on the 
17th of March in Rajasthan.

The notice said that during his work at the National Institute and later, 
with the Brahma Kumaris, he was active in helping with emergency 
communication and disaster relief.

S. Aruna Kumar was 57.

This is Graham Kemp VK4BB.

(FACEBOOK, NATIIONAL INSTITUTE OF AMATEUR RADIO)

**
RADIO CLUB OF AMERICA HONORS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

JIM/ANCHOR: The Radio Club of America and International Wireless 
Communications Expo honored five young communications professionals, 
including at least one ham radio operator, at a special breakfast on 
Thursday, March 19 during the 2026 IWC Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Daniel 
Garcia W2DIY tells us who they are.

DANIEL: The Young Professionals program of the RCA and IWCE celebrates 
industry professionals who have at least two years experience in wireless 
communications and who are no more than 40 years of age. The RCA website 
calls these young professionals [quote] "the next generation of innovators 
shaping the field." [endquote]

This year, the program recognized at least one amateur radio operator: Andy 
Huynh, KA6NDY, a telecommunications systems engineer in the Interoperable 
Radio Systems Division  of the County of Los Angeles' Internal Services 
Department. His work on the Spectrum Management Team includes a specialty in 
interference mitigation. He also supports mission-critical public safety 
communications

Other honorees are Precious Fodor, who serves as the National Service Manager 
at Eastern Communications Ltd.;  Max Johnson, an electrical engineer at Dark 
Wolf Ventures in Colorado, a firm specializing in advanced radio and 
satellite communications systems; Sean Martin, a sales professional in the 
aerospace and defense Industry; and Chris Vargas, whose 10-year career in 
sales has most recently brought him into consumer electronics. He is 
presently working for Icom.

The group was praised by attendees for their achievements and for the promise 
their careers hold in shaping the field of wireless communications in new 
directions.

This is Daniel Garcia W2DIY.

(AMATEUR RADIO DAILY, RCA WEBSITE)

**
SPECIAL EVENT REMEMBERS THE TITANIC

JIM/ANCHOR: A special event remembering one of history's most famous ocean 
liners is approaching. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH has more details:

JEREMY: Mark the date of 14th April on your calendar. If you know your 
history, you'll recall that at 23:40 ships time on that day, the RMS Titanic 
struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic, bringing its inaugural sailing to a 
fatal end.

Mark this year's calendar, as well, from 0000 UTC on the 10th April to  2359 
on the 15th April. That time period marks the date of the luxury liner's 
voyage from Southampton, which ended with its sinking. The Titanic Memorial 
special event station EG-1912-T will be on the air using all modes HF, VHF, 
UHF and SHF during that period, organised by the Union of Radio Amateurs of 
Vigo-Val Mior. A number of Spanish citizens were on board the ship.

The activation will focus on CW to honour Jack Phillips and Harold Bride, the 
first and second telegraphers on board. The activation also honours Harold 
Cottam, the telegrapher on board the Carpathia, the first ship to make a 
rescue effort at the site of the doomed Titanic.

There will be a special QSL card for hams contacting EG1912T in CW. All other 
QSLs will be sent via the bureau, eQSL and LoTW.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(QRZ.COM)

**

WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, operators are calling QRZ with the callsign S21WD from 
Bangladesh until the 1st of April. They are operating from islands in the 
Khulna/Barisal Region Group, IOTA Number AS-140. Listen for them on 160 - 10 
metres where they are using CW, SSB and digital modes. They are also making 
contacts via the QO-100 satellite.

Robert, DM7XX is on the air using SSB from Zambia as 9J2RO until the 30th of 
March. He is operating at the Fountain Gate Crafts & Trades School. He will 
participate in the CQ WPX SSB contest on March 28th and 29th.

Listen for Helmut, DF7EE, operating from Madeira as CT9/DF7EE until the 1st 
of April. He will participate in the CQ WPX SSB contest using the callsign 
CQ3W. His license permits operation on 60m, so expect to hear him on this 
band outside of the contest.

A team of operators will be using the special callsign GBOH while on the 
Isle of Lewis, IOTA Number EU-010, in the Outer Hebrides, in Scotland, from 
the 11th through to the 17th of April. A contact here also counts toward the 
Worked All Britain Award as Square NB53. Listen on the bands between 40 to 10 
metres. Activity will be mainly SSB with some FT8.

For QSL and additional operating details about these stations, see their 
pages on QRZ.com

(RSGB, DXWORLD.NET, DX NEWS)

**
KICKER: OUT ON THE AIR AND UNDER BLUE SKIES

JIM/ANCHOR: For any listeners who believe you have to be a DXpeditioner, a 
POTA or SOTA activator or even a Field Day participant to find adventure, our 
final story of this week is about to prove you wrong. Just hear what Ralph 
Squillace KK6ITB has to say.

RALPH: The most important connections we make in amateur radio arent the 
ones we solder on the workbench or fasten with a PL-259 in the field. So says 
Jacques Redmond WW1ZRD, founder of Out on the Air, an amateur radio activity 
that focuses on connections that are human-to-human. You can make them on a 
hilltop, a sidewalk or even in your garden. Jacques created the website 
outontheair dot com to encourage hams to get off their couches and out of 
their houses or apartments and give it a try.

The idea is as simple as sunshine itself. Or, as he says on his website, call 
CQ from a rooftop  or a beach at midnight. He writes: [quote] If you left 
home and you're on the air  you're Out On The Air.

Jacques, whose preferred mode for now is SSB - at least until he learns CW - 
treasures the sound of a real human voice as it rises above the noise. To 
him, it [quote] captures everything I love about ham radio. He said that in 
the week or so since the activity launched along with the website, radio 
operators have registered from around the world and begun working toward the 
different awards.

Its no surprise that those awards, like the operating locations themselves, 
are all registered on the honor system. Thats because Jacques believes first 
in humans on the air.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(JACQUES REDMOND, WW1ZRD)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily, Associated Press; Alan Maenchen 
AD6E/KH6TU; Australian Space Agency; Bob Wertz, NF7E; David Behar, K7DB; 
Facebook; Jacques Redmond, WW1ZRD; Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS; Michael Miller, 
KH6ML; National Institute of Amateur Radio; QRZ.com Forums; Radio Club of 
America; Radio World; Radio Society of Great Britain; shortwaveradio.de; 
Space News; Stacy Holbrook, KH6OWL; 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 Jim Damron N8TMW in Charleston, West Virginia 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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BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 27-Mar-2026 08:23 E. South America Standard Time






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