Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2536 for Friday, June 5th, 2026
 
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2536 with a release date of Friday, June 5th, 2026 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. A plea to halt Canada's shutdown of its shortwave time service. There's a new crew aboard China's space station -- and the FCC once again warns a repeat offender about jamming.  All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2536 comes your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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HAMSCI ASKS CANADA TO RECONSIDER SHORTWAVE SHUTDOWN

JIM/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to Canada, where the popular shortwave time service, CHU, has been marked to go off the air later this month. A major citizen-science organization has asked officials to change their minds, as we hear from Travis Lisk N3ILS.

TRAVIS: The citizen science investigation organization HamSCI has asked Canadian officials to halt their planned shutdown later this month of its shortwave time-signal station CHU, saying it has unique and irreplaceable value to researchers and the international scientific community.

A statement on HamSCI's website praises CHU for its longstanding role as a resource in auroral research. Its unprecedented citizen-science study of the 2024 solar eclipse over North America also relied heavily on CHU's capabilities.

The statement says, in part: [quote] "The use of time standard beacons as ionospheric signals of opportunity dates back more than a century to the earliest days of radio science. Today, this time-tested approach is supercharged by inexpensive single-board computers, software defined radios, and the participation of the global amateur radio and shortwave listener community, who have built a growing meta-instrument that spans the continent of North America and points beyond." [endquote]

HamSCI’s flagship project, the Personal Space Weather Station Network, is also closely intertwined with CHU and its remote-sensing capabilities.

There was no statement released in response by the recipient, Dr. Marina Gertsvoff of the NRC.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(HAMSCI)

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NEW CREW BOARDS CHINA'S SPACE STATION

JIM/ANCHOR: Astronauts from one mission have returned to Earth and a new crew has arrived on board China's space station. We hear more from Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

JASON: Astronauts from China's Shenzhou-21 mission have returned to earth just days after the three-member Shenzhou 23 crew's arrival at the Tiangong Space Station. The Shenzhou-23 mission feature a first for any Chinese astronaut: one of the crew members is scheduled for an extended stay on board - remaining there for a year. In six months, the Tiangong station crew will also welcome an astronaut from Pakistan with the launch of the Shenzhou-24 mission. The Beijing-trained crew member will be the first international astronaut to visit the Chinese space station.

Tiangong is considered an important steppingstone in China's goal to land astronauts on the moon by 2030. The US space program is in a race with China's in the hopes of returning astronauts to the lunar surface in 2028.

Meanwhile, amateur radio is already there: In 2024, Japan's ham radio station, JS1YMG, became the world's first licensed ham radio station on the lunar surface.

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(SPACE NEWS, NPR, NASA)

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UNLICENSED RADIO OPERATOR GETS NEWEST WARNING FROM FCC

JIM/ANCHOR: An unlicensed radio operator who has been convicted of jamming a local repeater several times has just been issued yet another FCC warning, as we hear from Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

KENT: Acting on several interference complaints from amateur radio operators in California, the US Federal Communications Commission has issued a warning to a radio operator who has a long history of unlicensed, disruptive and illegal transmissions on a local repeater.

The FCC sent a notice of unlicensed operation in late May to Jack Gerritsen of Bell, California, saying that in March, agents with direction-finding equipment had verified reports of his 2-meter transmissions on a local repeater. The FCC said that agents heard him make statements over the air, using the phrase "Jack is back," identifying himself. 

Over the past two decades, Gerritsen's encounters with the the legal system and FCC have landed in him court -- and prison. He received a one-year sentence in 2000 following  his conviction in state court of interfering with the highway patrol's radio system. Upon his release, he took and passed his Technician level exam, receiving the amateur radio callsign, KG6IRO. The FCC revoked the license grant days later, in November 2001, after realizing Gerritsen had been convicted of public safety interference and that the license was granted mistakenly. According to various reports, he remained an on-air presence despite that. FCC records show he was later sent a forfeiture order of $21,000 for interfering with Coast Guard Auxiliary Communications with a sailing vessel in distress.

He was convicted in September of 2006, at the age of 70, for malicious interference with radio and unlicensed transmissions. He was fined and sentenced to seven years in prison. 

The latest notice from the FCC, dated the 28th of May, gives him 10 days to respond and orders him to immediately halt all transmissions.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(ARRL LETTER, SEPT. 22 2006, FCC)

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NEW QUESTION POOL FOR TECHNICIAN CLASS EXAM

JIM/ANCHOR: This is a reminder to any candidates studying for the Technician Class Exam: A new pool of questions takes effect on the 1st of July. The question pool is to be used for any Technician exams being given after that date. The ARRL and the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators reports that all major study materials have been updated to reflect the content of the new questions, which were released earlier this year.

(ARRL, NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF VECS)

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DOUBLE CENTENNIAL FOR HAM RADIO IN JAPAN

JIM/ANCHOR: There's a lot to be said about being 100 years old and in Japan, amateur radio operators plan to say plenty on behalf of amateur radio, which is about to reach its centennial. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF tells us about plans for the celebration.

JIM: This year and next year are milestone years for ham radio operators in Japan. The Japan Amateur Radio League marks its 100th anniversary this month. The issuing of the callsign JXAX to Japan's first licensed amateur radio station marks its own centennial next year. In September of 1927, JXAX went on the air as an experimental shortwave radio telegraph and telephone station.

Now hams are setting aside the next 16 months to mark both moments in history. A full range of commemorative activities are planned from this month through to the 30th of September 2027. Operating events, awards and both the 2026 and 2027 Tokyo Ham Fairs, the world's largest ham radio event, are part of the plans, along with a commemorative publication and an opening ceremony.

So turn your attention, and maybe your antennas, toward Japan. Things are about to start happening.

This is Jim Meachen ZL2BHF.

(JARL)

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BREAK HERE:

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the Northeast Arkansas Radio Club K5NEA repeater in Jonesboro, Arkansas on Tuesday nights at 6 p.m. Central Time, just before the 6:30 p.m. weekly net.

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REGISTRATION OPENS FOR MICROWAVE UPDATE CONFERENCE

JIM/ANCHOR: Many consider DXpeditioners to be the ultimate in radio adventurers and while that may be true in terms of geography, there is another landscape where radio adventurers are active and thriving - and welcoming newcomers.  Andy Morrison K9AWM introduces them.

ANDY: The radio adventure that awaits beyond the realm of VHF and UHF can be found at 900 MHz and above -- on the microwave bands. Later this year, it will find a home off the air, for a few days, in Rochester, New York, where the Rochester VHF group is hosting Microwave Update, an international conference that draws 100 or more attendees. Registration began recently for the conference, which will be held on the weekend of October 23rd in a spacious state-of-the-art facility being made available at the L3Harris Conference Center in Rochester, New York.

Dave Hallidy, K2DH, one of the organizers, said that if you've had your eye on that higher part of the spectrum, now's the time to plan to attend the conference, which is hosted every year in a different city. He told Newsline [quote]  "It's a friendly atmosphere. Everyone there are buddies." [endquote] Bill Rogers, K2TER, head of the committee, said there is also a lot of expertise and support among microwave veterans. In fact, in Rochester, many of them are current or former employees of L3Harris.

In addition to talks, there will be a tune-up clinic, and representatives from Keysight Technologies will be on site with their test equipment.

This is the Rochester VHF Group's third year hosting the conference, said another organizer, Ron Panetta, WB2WGH, and guests can take advantage of what the region has to offer. Less technical activities will take place at the nearby Doubletree by Hlton Hotel for a banquet and a flea market - and there will be a sidetrip on Thursday, October 22nd, to the Antique Wireless Museum.

To register, visit microwaveupdate dot org. That's microwaveupdate - one word - dot org. (microwaveupdate.org)

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(ROCHESTER VHF GROUP)

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YOUNGSTERS PREPARE FOR IARU REGION 1 CAMP

JIM/ANCHOR: Young operators are getting ready for Youngsters on the Air summer camp in Region 1 of the IARU. Jeremy Boot G4NJH has an update.

JEREMY: Applications in the UK increased by 200 percent this year for a place in the Youngsters on the Air Summer Camp to be held in the Austrian Alps, according to the Radio Society of Great Britain. This year's session, organised by IARU Region 1's Youth Committee and the Austrian Amateur Radio Society ÖVSV [pron: "uhe fow ess fow"], will be held from the 25th of July through to the 1st of August. It is the 14th annual such camp, designed to build radio skills, foster international friendships and ensure a robust future for the next generation of hams. The RSGB has announced that it will be sending three campers: Tom, M1TJM, the 25-year-old team leader, with team members Filip, M7SZW and Milo, M9ILO, who are 16 and 17 respectively. 
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Last year, the camp was held in August just outside Paris.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(RSGB, YOUNGSTERS ON THE AIR)

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WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, the Radio Club Dominicano is marking its 100th anniversary with the callsign HI100RDC until the 15th of June. A team of operators will be on the air on 80-10 metres using CW, SSB and the digital modes. The club was founded on June 12th, 1926.

Olafur, TF1OL [Tee Eff Won Oh Ell] will be QRV from the island of Boa Vista as D4OL [Dee Four Oh Ell] from the 12th through to the 22nd of June. Listen for Olafur on the HF bands where he will be using FT8 and FT4.

Listen for Bo, OX3LX / OZ1DJJ, operating from south Greenland from the 12th through to the 24th of June. Bo will be focusing on 4m and 6m but may be found occasionally on HF.

Kasimir, DL2SBY is using the callsign 5H1KB until June 12th from Zanzibar Island, IOTA Number AF-032. He is using CW, SSB and FT8 on the HF bands and on 6 metres.

Listen for John, K9EL using the callsign FS/K9EL from St. Martin, IOTA Number NA-105, from the 10th through to the 24th of June. He will be using CW and FT8 on 80-10 metres. When 6 metres is open, you may find him there as well. 

For QSL information and other operating details, please see each station's page on QRZ.com

(425 DX BULLETIN, DX WORLD)

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KICKER: GOING EYEBALL-TO-EYEBALL, OFF THE AIR

JIM/ANCHOR: One of the best things to emerge out of the pandemic was proof that the ham radio community had resiliency as a social network. The pandemic has ended but one social network born during those years of isolation has remained strong. It’s called the Eyeball QSO Party, as Kevin Trotman N5PRE tells us in this week's final story.

KEVIN: It’s not a net. It’s not a ragchew. It’s not even on the air. The Eyeball QSO Party is a welcoming room on Zoom where hams from different countries simply show up. Once a week, they share their opinions, their experiences and even images on their computer screens. It could be a view of their treasured vintage rigs, their radio-controlled planes, astronomy gear or websites about the events in the news.

The QSO Party's host, Hugh Owen, KA3TTW, said he created the room during the pandemic to help ease isolation brought on by cancellation of club meetings, hamfests and even social morning coffees. The concept is simple, he said: People show up. Some are as local as the Washington, D.C. area where Hugh lives. Sometimes they're dropping by from Canada, Luxembourg, Great Britain or even Argentina.

Although getting on the air is why so many hams got their licenses to begin with, this off-air QSO Party still fills a need. Hugh told Newsline [quote] “This does have the big advantage of people being face-to-face and people can share things on their screens.” [Endquote] So every Monday, it happens starting at 1700 UTC between March 9th and November 2nd; and at 1600 UTC the rest of the year. :

Best of all, propagation is never an issue. Everyone gets a Five-Nine.

To join the party, send an email to eyeballqsoparty - that’s one word - at gmail.com. (eyeballqsoparty@gmail.com) There is also a groups.io reflector where you can visit and subscribe. Find the link in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

[DO NOT READ:   https://groups.io/g/EyeballQSOParty   ]

This is Kevin Trotman N5PRE

(HUGH OWEN, KA3TTW)

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NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Amateur Radio Daily, AMSAT News; ARRL Letter; David Behar, K7DB; DX World; 425DX News; HamSCI; Hugh Owen, KA3TTW; Japan Amateur Radio League NPR; QRZ.com; Rochester VHF Group; RSGB; shortwaveradio.de; SpaceNews; Wireless Institute of Australia; Youngsters on the Air; 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.