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PY2BIL > ARNR 07.06.25 23:07z 333 Lines 18637 Bytes #1 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2484 for Friday, June 6th, 202
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From: PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2484 for Friday, June 6th, 2025
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2484 with a release date of Friday, June 6th, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1
2 FCC COMMISSIONERS LEAVING AGENCY
PAUL/ANCHOR: We begin this week with a developing story. As Newsline went to production, the FCC prepared for
the departure of two commissioners. Commissioner Nathan Simington announced on Wednesday, June 4th, that he was
leaving the post he has held since 2020 following his appointment by President Donald Trump. His announcement
follows an earlier one from Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, a Democrat, that he would leave the FCC. Both
departures were scheduled to happen by June 6th, meaning that with one other seat already left vacant, the
president and US Senate must now fill three spots. Until then, the FCC will temporarily have one Republican and
one Democratic commissioner each. Neither man's statement gave reasons for the departure.
(REUTERS, FCC) The following is a QST. A major antenna maker discontinues its production for ham radio. NOAA's
Weather Radio stations go off the air for upgrades -- and new leadership for the popular 13 Colonies special
event in the US. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2484 comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
STEPP-IR TO END AMATEUR ANTENNA PRODUCTION
PAUL/ANCHOR: The popular amateur radio antennas manufactured by SteppIR are being discontinued. The company
announced that it is halting their production this summer. Jim Damron N8TMW has the details.
JIM: SteppIR has announced that it is stopping production of all amateur radio and other consumer antennas
starting in August. The company's statement, which appears on its website, said that it would continue to honor
all product warranties and provide technical support as needed.
The company said: [quote] "Given our long history of impact and innovation we don't take this decision lightly
but have decided that it is necessary for our ongoing operations and to make sure we can continue to
efficiently provide our existing customers with product support services." [endquote]
All antenna and spare-parts orders will be fulfilled by the company through to the end of August. After the
31st of the month, SteppIR will sell spare parts as long as the inventory permits.
Based in Washington state, the company has been well-known in the amateur radio community since 2001. SteppIR
produces a variety of mechanically adjusted, remotely tuned, frequency optimized HF/VHF Yagi, Vertical and
Dipole antenna systems which serve military, commercial, emergency communications and consumer markets.
This is Jim Damron N8TMW.
(STEPP-IR)
**
WEATHER RADIO STATIONS GO OFF AIR FOR UPDATES
PAUL/ANCHOR: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is in the process of temporarily taking its
radio stations off the air for scheduled updates - and Randy Sly W4XJ tells us what to expect.
RANDY: As some parts of the United States enter hurricane season, which officially began on June 1st, the
National Weather Service is continuing with its nationwide update of their Advanced Weather Interactive
Processing System. The system is used for weather data processing and communications, two functions that are
especially critical during storms and other weather-related emergencies.
The upgrades will be taking more than 1,000 radio stations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration off the air, on a rolling basis, for 2 to 3 days in a scheduled roll-out for their 122 Weather
Forecast Offices. Broadcasters and ham radio groups have expressed concern about not having access to these
emergency stations during those periods.
NOAA Weather Radio, known as the “Voice of the National Weather Service,ö is a nationwide network of radio
stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest Weather Forecast office. These
stations broadcast official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week.
The NWS is using social media and other means to inform citizens in the affected areas when their stations will
be out of service. They are also encouraging citizens to rely on alternate sources for weather warnings during
the outage, including local TV and radio, weather apps, and NWS websites.
This is Randy Sly, W4XJ
**
DXPEDITION TEAM RETURNS TO SABLE ISLAND
PAUL/ANCHOR: The Sable Island DXpedition team is heading back there next year - and they'll have company. John
Williams VK4JJW has that report.
JOHN: The CYØS team of DXpeditioners will be returning to Sable Island in 2026. The operators announced in a
press release that Parks Canada - Sable Island has invited them to return next March and has approved their
plans for a 10- to 12-day DXpedition. As they set up to operate on this remote island in Atlantic Canada,
they'll have some welcome company: operators from the CY9C DXpedition team who had activated St. Paul Island in
2024. The CY9C operators knew that year that their successful activation on St. Paul was likely to be the last
for a long time on that challenging, environmentally sensitive landscape. Like Sable Island, St. Paul Island is
considered one of the more difficult DXpedition destinations in North America. Windswept Sable Island is
perhaps best known for its population of wild horses.
Team leaders for Sable Island will be Murray WA4DAN and Glenn WØGJ. A website has already been set up at
CYØS.com by webmaster Chaz W4GKF.
This is John Williams VK4JJW.
(425 DX BULLETIN, DX WORLD)
**
FCC PROPOSES 5,000 FINE AGAINST CB OPERATOR
PAUL/ANCHOR: A Citizens Band operator is facing a fine after the FCC charged him with a series of operating
violations. We hear more from Kevin Trotman N5PRE.
KEVIN: An Illinois man faces a 5,000 penalty from the FCC for unauthorized operation of a Citizens Band
radio. The agency announced its decision on May 30th, 2025, two years to the day after it issued a Notice of
Apparent Liability against Jayme John Leon. The agency's Enforcement Bureau said that he repeatedly voided his
operating authority by sending [quote] "nonverbal, indecipherable sound effects over long periods" [endquote],
causing malicious interference and engaging in one-way transmissions. According to the FCC document, Leon did
not file a response to the 2023 Notice of Liability.
Citizens Band radio is not a licensed service in the United States. Operators retain the privilege of using CB
by agreeing to comply with relevant regulations stipulated in the Communications Act of 1934.
This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE.
(FCC, THE ROCKFORD SCANNER)
PAUL/ANCHOR: Meanwhile, the Australian Communications and Media Authority has proposed that reported abuses of
Citizens Band regulations that are deemed serious should be referred to the police for further investigation.
Citizens Band operators are covered by a class license in Australia under the Radiocommunications Act. The
current regulations are set to sunset on the 1st of October. Public comment is being accepted through the 15th
of July.
(ACMA)
**
NASA's 'SPOT THE STATION' WEBSITE BEING DISCONTINUED
PAUL/ANCHOR: NASA will no longer operate its "Spot the Station" website for fans of the International Space
Station. Sel Embee KB3TZD explains.
SEL: If you like to keep tabs on the International Space Station and you’ve been doing so via NASA's Spot the
Station website, you will need to change your space-station viewing strategy starting the 12th of June. NASA
will be discontinuing the website as of that date and will no longer display opportunities for sightings on
their site. Subscribed users who have been receiving text and email notifications linking them to the website
will no longer have this option either.
The announcement on the website now directs ISS watchers to instead download NASA’s official “Spot the Stationö
mobile app onto their Apple or Android smartphones. The “Spot the Stationö app expands notification of viewing
opportunities in the United States and across the globe, as well as providing additional capabilities to
improve user experiences.
This is Sel Embee, K-B-3-T-Zed-D.
(NASA.GOV)
**
SPECIAL EVENT STATION MARKS 65th ANNIVERSARY OF CANADIAN TRAIL
PAUL/ANCHOR; Throughout the month of June, hams are celebrating an important hiking trail in New Brunswick,
Canada. Travis Lisk N3ILS has those details.
TRAVIS: There's a lot of history stretching along the distance of nearly 60-kilometres, or 36 miles, that
define Canada's Dobson Trail, a pre-eminent hiking trail in New Brunswick. The nation's longest trail to be
maintained by volunteers, it is amply populated with a number of sites in the World Wide Flora & Fauna
programme. The trail is the first part of the Fundy Footpath in Atlantic Canada.
Named for the outdoorsman Art Dobson who led the volunteers as they carved out and built the trail by hand, it
marks its 65th anniversary this year. Throughout June, special event station VC9DT will be on the air
celebrating by calling CQ. The Atlantic Coast DX and Contest Group, VE9ACC, and the Canadian chapter of World
Wide Flora & Fauna will be activating the special callsign on different locations along the trail and on
various bands using SSB and FT8/FT4.
Details - and more about the trail's history - can be found on the QRZ.com page for VC9DT.
This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.
(QRZ.COM)
**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin
stations around the world including the N9IAA repeater system from Southern Michigan through Northern Indiana
to the South Side of Chicago, on 146.685 on Thursday evenings at 8:30PM Central.
**
BROADCAST HONORS ARMSTRONG'S DEMO OF FM RADIO
PAUL/ANCHOR: Be listening on June 19th for a special FM radio broadcast celebrating Edwin Armstrong's
development of FM radio. Kent Peterson KCØDGY tells us about the special programming that's planned.
KENT: The callsign W2XMN is etched in cement atop the doorway of the small brick transmitter building in New
Jersey, not far from the radio tower where history's first FM broadcasts began in 1938. Those steady
transmissions became a reality only three years after engineer and inventor Edwin Armstrong had given a public
demonstration at an engineering conference, showing that frequency modulation radio could deliver static-free
sound, graced with a remarkable fidelity that was previously unheard of.
FM broadcasting will return temporarily to W2XMN's original VHF low-band frequency, 42.8 MHz, beginning at noon
on Thursday the 19th of June. The northern New Jersey tower once used by W2XMN will broadcast a repeat of
programming first aired in 2005 to commemorate Armstrong's successful FM demonstration in 1935. The content
includes interviews wth Armstrong's niece, Jeanne Hammond, and with Tom Lewis, author of the book, "Empire of
the Air: The Men Who Made Radio."
According to a report on the RadioWorld.com website, a restored Phasitron transmitter will be running 250 watts
of power into a vertical antenna.
The structure known as the Alpine Tower is still in use today. Radio station WFDU, the public radio station
licensed to Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, is on the air at 89.1 -- FM, of course.
This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.
(RADIO WORLD)
**
LEADERSHIP CHANGE FOR 13 COLONIES SPECIAL EVENT
PAUL/ANCHOR: One of the season's most popular HF operating events here in the US is honoring its founder as he
steps away from 16 years at its helm. Mark Abramowicz NT3V has the details…
MARK: If you haven’t heard of the 13 Colonies Special Event or heard stations calling in the annual activity
between July 1 and July 8, you have missed a unique opportunity to celebrate the history of the US and mark the
American Revolution.
Ken Villone, KU2US, who conceived the idea of activating stations in the 13 original colonies, is going into
semi-retirement.
Villone is passing on the responsibility for event coordination to Tony James N4ATJ, of McAdenville, North
Carolina, long-time 13 Colonies coordinator for his home state's K2J station, Villone will remain involved as
the New York state coordinator for K2A.
Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, who joined Villone more than a dozen years ago in his passion to promote American history
via an amateur radio special event, is helping to ensure a smooth transition.
Josuweit is coordinator for WM3PEN, a bonus station that recognizes Philadelphia’s role as the birthplace of
the Declaration of Independence.
Josuweit said that in its first year, the event recorded some 12,000 QSOs. That grew to a breathtaking 292,426
contacts in 2024. It also attracted operators who now run bonus stations in Great Britain GB13COL and France
TM13COL, recognizing the role the two countries played in America's war for independence.
This year’s 13 Colonies certificate will recognize the work Villone has done to make the event so popular.
Villone, however, shared a different perspective on why the event is such a success. In an email sent recently
to all hams involved, he wrote: [quote] “I just only started this event and I tried to keep it going. But it
was you folks who also through your participation and dedication managing your states and special bonus
stations (Philadelphia, England and France) that made this whole thing work!ö [endquote]
To find out more about the 13 Colonies Special Event, go to the text version of this story at arnewsline-dot-o-
r-g and click on the link there.
This is Mark Abramowicz NT3V
[DO NOT READ: http://www.13colonies.us/ ]
(13 COLONIES SPECIAL EVENT)
**
JUNE IS AMATEUR RADIO MONTH IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
PAUL/ANCHOR: It has been a productive year so far for amateur radio operators in New Hampshire. A memorandum of
understanding between the state and New Hampshire-ARES has designated emergency operators as the sole providers
of ham radio communication support to the state's Department of Safety, Division of Emergency Services and
Communication. Ham radio's important role to the community has since been underscored by a recent proclamation
from the governor's office declaring June as Amateur Radio Month in New Hampshire. New Hampshire joins Hawaii
in this formal gesture of appreciation for the hams in their state.
(QRZ.COM)
**
WORLD OF DX
In the World of DX, Emil, DL8JJ will be using the callsign EA5/DL8JJ from Penyeta del Moro, IOTA number EU-
151, between the 7th and 9th of June. Listen for him on 40 through 10 metres where he will be using CW and SSB.
QSL via MØOXO's OQRS.
Listen for Bo, OZ1DJJ using the callsign OX3LX from Greenland, IOTA number NA-018, where he will operate
holiday style from two locations. He will be at gridsquare GP47pa from the 5th through to the 9th of June and
at gridsquare GP44de from the 10th through to the 22nd. See QRZ.com for other details.
Special callsign PA2025NATO is on the air throughout June to mark the NATO Summit being hosted by the
Netherlands for the first time on the weekend of June 24th. QSL details and other information is on QRZ.com
Domenico, IK1MNF, is using the callsign IK1MNF/IA5 from Isola d'Elba, IOTA Number EU-028 from early June until
the end of September. Listen for Domenico on 20-6 metres where he will be using SSB most of the time. See
QRZ.com for QSL details.
(425 DX BULLETIN)
**
KICKER: KOSOVO DXPEDITION DID NOT GO UN-"HERD"
PAUL/ANCHOR: A recent joint DXPedition to Kosovo was much anticipated - after a series of postponements and
delays. What was NOT anticipated, however, were some of the contacts the two operators had toward the
activation's end. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF wraps up this week's newscast by giving us those details.
JIM: Anne OH2YL and Marko OH2LG were finally ready for that long-awaited 10 days of intense operating deep in
the Balkans as Z68YL and Z68OM, respectively. The contacts came in exhilarating waves as the pair operated from
May 20th through to the 30th. Then, just days before the big finish, the two operators were confronted with a
pileup like no other:
Cows. A herd of at least 50 of them, rampaging through the antennas and messing with the guy wires. A blog post
written by Jari OH6BG, said that [quote] "The guy wires were given the ride of their life," [endquote] As for
the feedlines, well, the cows' teeth took the word "feedline" quite literally. The feedlines for the end-fed
half-wave wire antenna and the 6-metre dipole were both chewed through.
With some repair work and a new vertical antenna, the operators were soon back in business. By the time they
went QRT, despite high winds, QRM and bovine intervention, they managed to work their way to a total of just
fewer than 10,000 QSOs.
Resilient, determined and resourceful, they would not be cowed.....in Kow-sovo.
This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.
(DX WORLD)
**
A good QSO can be like poetry - sometimes! So why not write a haiku about amateur radio and join the Newsline
haiku challenge? It's as easy as writing a QSL card. We can only accept the correct haiku format - that is, a
three-line verse with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second and five in the third. Submit your
work on our website at arnewsline.org - each week's 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; ARISS; David Behar K7DB; DX World; FCC; NASA.gov; NOAA;
Radio World; Radio Society of Great Britain; Rockford Scanner; Shortwaveradio.de; Stepp-IR; Thirteen Colonies
Special event; 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 Paul Braun WD9GCO in Valparaiso Indiana saying 73. As always
we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.
73 de Bill, PY2BIL
PY2BIL@PY2BIL.SP.BRA.SOAM
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BBS: PY2BIL - Timed 06-Jun-2025 21:53 E. South America Standard Time
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