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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2482 for Friday, May 23rd, 2025 Amateur
Radio Newsline Report Number 2482 with a release date of Friday, May
23rd, 2025 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1

The following is a QST. A report shows that solar storms leave the US unprepared. Another electronics-supply business closes its doors -- and
a reminder that our Young Ham of the Year nomination deadline draws
near. All this and more as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2482
comes your way right now.

**
BILLBOARD CART

**
REPORT: US UNPREPARED TO HANDLE MAJOR SOLAR STORM

JIM/ANCHOR: We begin this week with word that a US task force, by its
own admission, is ill prepared to cope with the wide-ranging impact of
a solar storm. This news comes on the anniversary of the Gannon Storm
-the most powerful geomagnetic storm to hit the earth in two decades.
Here's Randy Sly W4XJ.

RANDY: A US government task force established 11 years ago to handle
space weather emergencies has demonstrated that it is incapable of
successfully managing such a crisis, according to a recent report task
force members released earlier this month. Several critical failures
came to light at the conclusion of a two-day drill conducted in early
May to assess US agencies' readiness in such a crisis. The drill staged
a simulated crisis of several CMEs hurtling toward earth, creating
widespread power and communications outages, radio blackouts and
radiation hazards for NASA astronauts on a lunar mission.

This was the first exercise of its kind for the task force, which is
known by the acronym SWORM, which stands for Space Weather Operations
Research and Mitigation. Member agencies include the US Department of
Homeland Security and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration. According to the report, government agency protocols
were shown to be weak and without effective interoffice coordination.
Those challenges were called especially critical because warning for
the impact of an incoming coronal mass ejection can be as long as a few
days or as short as half an hour.

The report praised the exercise for identifying these issues and called
for, among other things, development of an advanced warning system and sophisticated space-weather satellite systems. A link to the report is
in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

This is Randy Sly W4XJ.

[DO NOT READ: https://www.jhuapl.edu/sites/default/files/2025-04/Space-Weather-TTX-Re port-Summary-v3-FINAL.pdf ]

(SPACE WEATHER OPERATIONS RESEARCH & MITIGATION; POPULAR SCIENCE, LIVE
SCIENCE)

**
ON-LOAN DMR KIT STARTS YOUNG UK HAMS ON THEIR JOURNEYS

JIM/ANCHOR: When you're first starting out in amateur radio, you can't
borrow confidence in getting on the air but now in the UK you can
borrow something that's almost just as helpful. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells
us about a new program created especially to help hams under the age of
18 who are just starting their radio journeys.

JEREMY: The DMR project launched recently by the Radio Society of
Great Britain is a way to provide opportunity - and radio equipment
-for young new amateurs to become accustomed to making QSOs on a
regular basis. The Outreach Team's new DMR kit contains DMR handheld transceivers and hotspots to borrow for as long as three months at no
cost. Accompanying the equipment, of course, is the opportunity to use
it - and the RSGB's team will also be hosting regularly scheduled youth
nets to give as many participants as possible a good start. Licensed
hams or school groups with at least one licensee are eligible to apply
to use the kits.

Meanwhile, the society is also encouraging teachers to establish school
clubs and to become amateurs themselves. Funding from the Radio
Communications Foundation will cover the cost of up to nine teachers'
exams.

Additional details are available at rsgb dot org dot UK (rsgb.org.uk)

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(RSGB)

**
ANTENNA AUCTION RAISES FUNDS FOR SCHOLARSHIP

JIM/ANCHOR: Pieces of an antenna once atop New York City's Empire State Building have found new homes - and the auction held for them has done
a lot of good, as we hear from Jen DeSalvo, W9TXJ.

JEN: You might say that this was one high-profile antenna that got some
great reception: The remaining 16 elements of the Empire State
Building's 32 element Alford Antenna attracted lively and profitable
bidding at a charity benefit auction in April. According to a report on
the Radio World website, a total of $7,549 was raised for the Society
of Broadcast Engineers' Ennes scholarship fund.

The antenna, which was installed on the Manhattan skyscraper in 1965,
was decommissioned in 2019. At one time it served as many as 16 FM
broadcast stations. The individual elements weigh about 100 pounds, or
45 kilograms, each but thanks to this successful auction, they will
carry even more weight in helping support the careers of future
broadcast engineers.

This is Jen DeSalvo, W9TXJ

(RADIO WORLD)

**
STUDENTS GET FREE ONLINE LESSONS ABOUT WEATHER SATELLITES

JIM/ANCHOR: A free online course is teaching students why weather
satellites remain an important resource to preserve our quality of
life. Sel Embee KB3TZD tells us about those lessons.

SEL: Even as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is
halting support for a number of its weather satellites, the importance
of these collectors of data and imagery from space remains key to
understanding our changing climate. Students in grades 8 through 12
here in the US are getting an opportunity to learn more about these
satellites and their contributions to the study of long-term climate
behavior through a free online series offered by the AMSAT Youth
Initiative.

The coursework is designed to let students progress through the
material independently. The first installment is called "An
Introduction to Satellite Meteorology," and will be followed by the
next release in June. Future topics include Wildlife and Natural
Resources, Navigation, Climate Change and Pollution Control.

Visit buzzsat-dot-com, that is b-u-z-z-s-a-t-dot-com (buzzsat.com), to
see more details about the course.

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

(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)

**
LONGTIME ELECTRONICS SUPPLIER SHUTS DOORS IN US

JIM/ANCHOR: Another business that was a reliable supplier of
electronics for ham radio operators has closed its doors. We have those
details from Jack Parker W8ISH.

JACK; Since it was founded in Florida in January of 1972, Marlin P.
Jones & Associates gained a loyal following among amateur radio
operators looking for everything from power supplies to electronic
switches and other components.

The family-owned business closed its doors on the 9th of May and
announced on its website that it would no longer be taking phone calls
after the 23rd of the month. Its remaining inventory was purchased by
another company in Florida - Skycraft Surplus.

Positive reviews of the company's customer service and the quality of
its products reflect the satisfaction that hams and other purchasers of electronic components received after doing business repeatedly with the company, which was also known as MPJ & Associates.

The company's website gave no reason for the closure. A statement said
simply: [quote] "It has been an honor to have done business with you." [Endquote]

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(MPJ & ASSOCIATES, EHAM.NET)

**
SPECIAL EVENT FOLLOWS TRAIL OF 19TH CENTURY EXPLORERS

JIM/ANCHOR: Just as the American explorers Meriwether Lewis and William
Clark tied the landscape of the early North American West together via
their travels in the early 19th century, more than 30 ham radio clubs
in 16 states are carving out a trail of communications along that same
route. Radio operators are calling CQ from May 31st through to June
15th in the Dakotas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky and other states that
were eventually established within the explored territory.

The special event, Lewis & Clark Trail On the Air, has expanded since
its launch in 2022 with the Clark County Amateur Radio Club in
Vancouver, Washington state. Now it encourages chasers to try for
contacts of one club in each of the 16 states - or one of two bonus
stations who are representing the Jefferson Indian Peace Medal. The
explorers handed these medals out to the chiefs of tribes they
encountered during their expedition. For information about
certificates or participating clubs, visit the website L C T O T A dot
org for details (LCTOTA.org)

(LCTOTA.ORG)

**
BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including
the WB ZERO YLE (WB0YLE) repeater on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., through
Allstar, in Morrisville Pennsylvania and Fall River Massachusetts.
**

LUXEMBOURG ISSUES POSTAGE STAMP FOR IARU's CENTENARY

JIM/ANCHOR: Luxembourg's postal service is joining the celebration of
the IARU's 100th birthday, as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: One hundred years ago, Radioamateurs du Luxembourg was among
the organisations representing radio amateurs from 23 nations at the
founding of the International Amateur Radio Union in Paris, France.

Celebrating the centenary and showing pride in Luxembourg's role, the
Post Philately of Luxembourg has issued a postage stamp and a matching
postal card marking the anniversary. The stamp will be released in the
weeks ahead and will be available for purchase at the Radioamateurs du Luxembourg booth at Ham Radio Friedrichshafen in June. Until then,
pre-orders can be sent via email to the address that appears in the
text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

[DO NOT READ: Email is dx@pt.lu ]

(RADIOAMATEURS DU LUXEMBOURG, POST PHILATELY)



**
SPECIAL EVENT OPERATORS RECALL HISTORIC JOHNSTOWN FLOOD OF 1889

JIM/ANCHOR: A devastating flood in the late 19th century left its mark
on western Pennsylvania. Amateur radio operators are on the air as a
reminder of this painful history of the Johnstown Flood. Here's Travis
Lisk N3ILS with details.

TRAVIS: In a community 60 miles east of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the
disaster has come to be known as the Great Flood of 1889. What began on
May 31st of that year ultimately claimed more than 2,200 lives in the
western part of the state. The deadliest dam burst in US history
followed several days of heavy rainfall, as more than 20 million tons
of water rushed uncontrollably into the heavily populated valley.
Johnstown, in Cambria County, had the misfortune to be just 14 miles
downstream from the dam.

It had 30,000 residents, many of whom were crushed by the sudden,
unexpected rush of flood waters.

This is history that is personal to many in the region and amateur
radio operators are no exception. They will be on the air starting on
Saturday the 24th of May through to the 6th of June, operating from the Johnstown Pennsylvania Flood Museum calling CQ. They are using the
callsign N3N and will be on HF and 2 meters. The special event is
taking place in cooperation with the Cambria County Pennsylvania
Emergency Services and Skywarn Storm Spotters of Western Pennsylvania. Emergency responders know well: Tragic flooding revisited the region
again in 1936 and 1977 but neither of those floods compared to this
one, which is considered the kind of storm that happens once every
1,000 years.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(EDDIE MISIEWICZ, KB3YRU; HISTORY.COM)

**
DEADLINE NEARS FOR 'YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR' NOMINEES

JIM/ANCHOR: If you have delayed nominating a candidate for the Bill
Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award, don't wait much longer.
The deadline for nominations is the 31st of May. If you know a
promising young amateur who is 18 years of age or younger here in the continental United States, let us know. If they have talent, promise
and a commitment to the spirit of ham radio they might just be this
year's award winner. Find application forms on our website
arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab.

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, Dave, G4WXJ, will be on the air as ZC4RH from the
British Sovereign Area on Cyprus, IOTA number AS - 004, from the 14th
through to the 20th of June. Dave will be using CW, SSB, FT8 and FT4 on
40 through 6 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

Emir, OE1EMS, is using the callsign E77DX from Sao Vicente Island, IOTA
number AF - 086, in Cape Verde. He will be participating in the CQ WW
WPX CW contest on the 24th and the 25th of May. See QRZ.com for QSL
details.

A team of operators using the callsign VU7T can be heard from
Lakshadweep Islands, IOTA number AS - 011, in the Arabian Sea. They
will remain active through to the 28th of May on the HF bands. They
will also be using the QO - 100 satellite. QSL via M0XUU.

JS6RRR, JI3DST/6, JJ5RBH/6, JR8YLY/6 are on the air from the Miyako
Islands, IOTA number AS - 079, until the 18th of June, using CW, SSB
and digital modes on 80 through 6m. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

(DX NEWS, DX WORLD)

**

KICKER: TIME FLOWS ON, THANKS TO 'FOUNTAIN" OF UNPRECEDENTED ACCURACY

JIM/ANCHOR: Have you got a second? Well, it only takes a second
-actually, a few minutes - for our final story, which introduces an
important new atomic clock that's been put to work at the official US headquarters of timekeeping in Colorado. Here's Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

KENT: Keep your eye on the clock, especially if you've been recording
your QSOs like the rest of us, in Coordinated Universal Time. A new
atomic clock at the National Institute of Standards and Technology has
been operating since April at NIST's Boulder, Colorado offices. It will
soon have a bigger job as part of a group of timekeepers around the
world that assists with the calibration of UTC. Known as NIST-F4, the
clock is still awaiting certification by the International Bureau of
Weights and Measures before that can happen.

Until then, its unprecedented precision is already hard at work
defining the official time here in the United States.

Its creators call it a "fountain" of precision because the cloud of
cesium atoms inside the clock oscillate at a rate of more than 9
billion times per second, rising and falling in the same way water does
in a fountain. Its resonant frequency is 9 billion, 192 million, 631
thousand 770 hertz - to be precise. That is the frequency that sets the standards for all other clocks.

If you want to see just how NIST-F4 works, see the link to a YouTube
video in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

Watching it will take only three minutes and three seconds of your time
- more or less.

This is Kent Peterson KC0DGY.

[DO NOT READ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IrbreXO6x8 ]

(NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, WASHINGTON POST)

**
Have you sent in your amateur radio haiku to Newsline's haiku challenge
yet? It's as easy as writing a QSL card. Set your thoughts down using traditional haiku format - 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; Dale Scott, W7HLO; David
Behar K7DB; DX News; DX World; Eddie Misiewicz, KB3YRU; eham.net;
History.com; IARU; LiveScience; QRZ.com; MPJ & Associates; NASA;
National Institute of Standards & Technology; Popular Science; Post
Philately; Radio World; Radioamateurs du Luxembourg;
shortwaveradio.de; Washington Post; 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 2025.
All rights reserved.

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