Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2550 for Friday, September 11th, 2026

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2550 with a release date of Friday, September 11th, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. In the US, a bill to protect AM broadcast radio moves forward. Fishermen help DXpeditioners set up camp on a remote, rugged island -- and you may have twice the luck of logging an Antarctica contact. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2550 comes your way right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART

**
AM RADIO LEGISLATION MOVES TOWARD FULL VOTE IN US CONGRESS

SKEETER/ANCHOR: We begin our report in Washington, DC, where the week of September 14th brings an important piece of radio-related legislation to a full floor vote in Congress. Kent Peterson KCØDGY brings us up to date.

KENT: The previous session of Congress adjourned in late 2025 before the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act could be put on the calendar. Now it is there and the date is coming up fast.

The measure, which has the support of both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, calls for all new passenger vehicles made or sold in the United States to have fully functioning AM broadcast radios as standard equipment, at no additional cost to buyers.

Its cosponsors are Florida Republican Gus Bilirakis and New Jersey Democrat Frank Pallone in the House of Representatives and Texas Republican Ted Cruz and Massachusetts Democrat Ed Markey in the Senate. There are 61 cosponsors in the Senate and 317 cosponsors in the House. The auto industry has spoken against continuing to provide AM radio and says it is particularly troublesome in electric vehicles, which interfere with the signals.

NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said in a statement that he was hopeful, adding [quote] "AM radio is an indispensable lifeline during emergencies, a trusted source of news and information, and a vital connection for communities nationwide. Now is the time to finish the job." [endquote] The measure would still require the signature of the president, who has previously expressed his support.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(RADIO WORLD, RADIO INK)

**
FINDING POWER IN BROADCAST PARTNERSHIP WITH AMATEURS

SKEETER/ANCHOR: Two years after the September hurricane known as Helene cut a deadly 500 mile-long path on the United States' Atlantic coast, it is still on the minds of those in western North Carolina who endured a frightening communications blackout. We have more details from Jim Damron N8TMW.

JIM: Radio Asheville, WPVM, at 103.7 FM, was one of the few voices that was not silenced by the rage of Hurricane Helene in 2024, which threw the power grid, the internet and cell towers throughout the region into the dark. The station has since launched an emergency alert network that includes the cooperation of amateur radio -- and is a system that is designed to be resilient.

According to an article on the Mountain Xpress website, households throughout the region are now being encouraged to connect to this new system by signing up at RadioAsheville.org/alerts (Radio Asheville dot org stroke alerts).

The partnership with hams reflects the ability during the storm for amateurs to relay information in real time, such as wellness checks, road conditions and water-distribution points. The partnership, along with agreements with emergency-radio networks, makes use of Winlink peer-to-peer radio messaging, all done wirelessly.

The website quoted the radio station's general manager, Davyne [Davv-Vine] Dial, who said: [quote] "We wanted to build something that keeps working when everything else stops solar power when the grid fails, ham radio when the internet fails, and a text or satellite message when even your phone cant get a signal." [endquote]

This is Jim Damron N8TMW.

(MOUNTAIN XPRESS)

**
HAZEL EVERETTS, N8PTL, CHOSEN AS HAMVENTION 2027 GENERAL CHAIR

SKEETER/ANCHOR: The organizers of Dayton Hamvention have chosen a longtime leader of the annual event to shepherd it toward its milestone 75th year. Jen DeSalvo, W9TXJ, introduces her to us.

JEN: Hazel Everetts, N8PTL, was selected as general chair for next year's Dayton Hamvention, with Steve Keller AE8AT, serving as assistant general chair. Both Ohio amateurs are stepping forward from many years of behind-the-scenes work at Hamvention in time for it to mark three quarters of a century as an epicenter for ham radio activities and education.

Hazel's Hamvention involvement dates back to her first year as a licensed amateur in 1989. Through the years she has assisted with the coordination of hundreds of volunteers. She was the event's assistant general chair for the past two years. Her leadership roles have extended to DARA itself, which she has served as vice president.

Steve is a longtime Hamvention volunteer and is a senior trustee on the DARA board. His most recent role has been coordinating parking for the massive Greene County Fairgrounds event. Since obtaining his license in 2018, he has become an avid HF contester.

Michael Kalter, W8CI, announced their selection on behalf of the Dayton Amateur Radio Association's board. Hamvention will take place on Friday the 21st of May through to Sunday the 23rd.

This is Jen DeSalvo, W9TXJ.

(DARA)

**

SWIFT OBSERVATORY RESCUE MISSION ABANDONED

SKEETER/ANCHOR: The US space agency has scrapped its attempt to save the Swift Observatory, whose time is running out - perhaps within weeks, as we hear from Travis Lisk N3ILS.

TRAVIS: A private satellite's planned rescue mission of the Swift Observatory has been abandoned. The small spacecraft that was supposed to help save Swift could only get close enough to take photographs. The observatory, launched in 2004 by NASA to study such cosmic events as gamma-ray bursts, is experiencing decay of its low-earth orbit as a result of solar storms and is expected to re-enter the earth's atmosphere as early as October.

Last September, NASA awarded a $30 million contract to a company known as Katalyst Space Technologies to deploy a three-armed robotic servicing spacecraft known as Link to save Swift's mission and boost its orbit.

From a distance of 9 miles, or 15 kilometres, Link instead could only collect data and take photographs because the spacecraft itself had been having its own issues - first, with stability and later, with insufficient fuel.

Unfortunately, it wasn't the outcome that we were expecting, said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(ABC NEWS, NASA)

**

NASA ADDS NEW DEEP SPACE NETWORK DISH IN CALIFORNIA

SKEETER/ANCHOR: With NASA's next Artemis moon mission on the horizon, the timing is right for the Deep Space Network to add its latest antenna, as we hear from Sel Embee KB3TZD with the details.

SEL: Increasing demands on NASA's Deep Space Network are expected to be met more easily now that NASA has added an antenna. NASA says the dish, measuring 114 feet or 34 meters, is critical to boosting the capacity of its already hard-working deep-space communication system, particularly after the good work done during the Artemis 1 and Artemis 2 lunar missions.

Shortly after the antenna was put into service at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex on the 3rd of August it began tracking NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. It is the fifth antenna being installed under the network's Aperture Enhancement Project, which will add one more in 2029.

The Deep Space Network serves robotic as well as crewed missions in deep space and was first famous for carrying communications with Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong in 1969 as he walked on the surface of the moon.

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

(SPACE.COM)

**

TWO CHANCES TO GET ANTARCTICA IN THE LOG

SKEETER/ANCHOR: If you still don't have a single Antarctica contact in the log, now's your chance to get two! John Williams VK4JJW explains an unusual coincidence in amateur radio.

JOHN: Do you want a chance to work Antarctica? How about two? A pair of hams from Australia are getting on the air separately from two different research stations on the frozen continent. David Scott VK2JDS is operating as VKØDS at Davis Station, the Australian Antarctic programme's most southern station. David will remain at the Davis Station through until the end of October.

Tom Blunt VK2TBC is on the air as VKØTBC from Casey Station until the end of the year. The Casey station is closest to Australia and is not far from the Windmill Islands.

Both are on the air as often as their work responsibilities, and weather conditions permit.

Although you can listen for them primarily on HF, be aware that David's previous stays in Antarctica have found him experimenting with some 2-metre EME

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(WIA, EHAM, 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 K3PSG repeater of the Butler County Amateur Radio Public Service Group in Butler, Pennsylvania at 2 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesdays.

**
DXPEDITION GETS HELP FROM CHILEAN ISLAND'S FISHING COMMUNITY

SKEETER/ANCHOR: DXpeditioners to a remote island off Chile are getting some welcome assistance from professional fishermen, as we hear from Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

JIM MEACHEN: DXpeditioners Felipe XQ7IR and Moises, CE3VTZ, have something in common with the seasonal residents of the remote and rugged Chilean island where they have planned a DXpedition in early October.

While they fish across the ionosphere for as many DX contacts as they can reel in, they will be helped by the small population of temporary residents of this South Pacific island who have come to fish too for yellowtail kingfish and other species.

Alexander Selkirk Island, IOTA Number SA-101, has rough terrain, posing numerous challenges for this team of two as they activate with the callsign XRØZ. The biggest challenge, however, will not be managing the pileups.

Felipe writes: [quote] "Moving all of our equipment to Selkirk will be one of the major logistical challenges of this expedition, given the island's remote location and difficult terrain." [endquote] The fishermen have agreed to help carry fuel, water, sleeping bags, radios, generators and personal belongings to the men's shelter on the summit of the mountain where they will call CQ for 10 days, 3,468 feet - or 1,057 meters - above sea level. It is a four-hour trek from the fishermen's village, covering more than 7 kilometres.

Goodwill and teamwork go a long way. The pair will be installing a VHF communication system upon their arrival and plan to donate it afterward to the fishing community for improved communication between the fishing boats and the island base. Felipe said it will be a token of gratitude for their support.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(425 DX BULLETIN, XRØX DXPEDITION WEBSITE)


**
WORLD OF DX

In the world of DX, there is still time to work Suvarna, OMØGA, who is active as 9N/OMØGA from Nepal until the 19th of September. He is using mainly CW on 40-10 metres.

Listen for Aldir, PY1SAD, who is operating as 8R1TM from Guyana until the 12th of October, using CW, SSB and digital modes. Find Aldir on 160-10 metres and watch for him operating via satellite on weekends.

Members of the Bavarian Contest Club are in Cyprus where they are on the air as 5B/DD1MAT, 5B/DJ5MO, 5B/DL7AT and 5B/DM6DX through to the 16th of September. The operators are using CW, SSB, and RTTY on 160-10 metres. They will participate in the WAE DX SSB Contest on the 12th and 13th of September using the callsign P3CR.

Maurizio, IK2GZU, will be on the air as 5H3MB from Tanzania from the 18th of October through to the 18th of November. He is there primarily for volunteer work at a local school. He will operate in his spare time using SSB, CW and digital modes on 80-10 metres and via QO-100.

For QSL details or other operating information, visit each station's page on QRZ.com

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: ROUTE 66 TAKES A DETOUR ONTO THE HF HIGHWAY

SKEETER/ANCHOR: What does amateur radio have in common with the American roadway known as Route 66? Ralph Squillace KK6ITB is here to tell us - travel the road with him in our final story of the week.

RALPH: It's all about connections. Ham radio has always had the power to make that person-to-person connection and in the US, the legendary east-west highway known as Route 66, has been connecting motorists along the open road with small towns, friends and adventure for 100 years. Twenty-four special event stations are marking this centennial year for Route 66 starting on Saturday, the 12th of September through to Sunday the 20th.

Route 66 on the Air's sponsoring organization, the Citrus Belt Amateur Radio Club in San Bernardino, California, will be calling QRZ using the callsign W6C; other stations will join them, using the same W6 prefix and the remaining letters of the alphabet, from W6A through to W6Z.

With participants such as the Barstow Amateur Radio Club in California, the Albuquerque DX Association in New Mexico, the Southwest Missouri Amateur Radio Club and others, expect a lot of traffic on this busy main road and plenty of stops along the journey.

This is Ralph Squillace KK6ITB.

(ROUTE 66 ON THE AIR WEBSITE)

**
NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to ABC News; Amateur Radio Daily, Dayton Amateur Radio Association; David Behar, K7DB; eHam.net; 425 DX Bulletin; Hamvention website; Mountain XPress website; NASA; QRZ.com; Radio Ink; Radio World; Route 66 on the Air; Space.com, Wireless Institute of Australia; XRØX DXpedition website 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 Skeeter Nash N5ASH in Jonesboro Arkansas 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.


** Support BBS's, the audio version of this weeks AR Newsline report is available on The Rat's Den (Amiga) BBS.

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
Blog and Forums - www.catracing.org
IMAGE BBS! 3.0 - bbs.catracing.org 6400
C-Net Amiga BBS - bbs.catracing.org 6840
Ham's Over IP - 104196
--- CNet/5
* Origin: The Rat's Den BBS (1:135/250)