2026-08-01, 07:55:55
This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with
this week's bulletin.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. Inside the WRTC 2026 Multiplier Investigation
Public log analysis has raised serious questions about suspected pirate
callsigns, disputed multipliers, and how the world’s premier radiosport
competition should respond.
The discussion began with observations from Alex Avramov LZ4AX who
published an analysis of ten callsigns that appeared throughout the WRTC
logs under circumstances he believed were sufficiently unusual to warrant
closer examination. Those callsigns were YV1LBB, 4F3OM, 4S7KM, HZ1TT,
4K6FO, TI1W, HC5AI, HL2CFY, 9M8YY and 9M2LAN. Examining publicly available
contest logs, LZ4AX noted several characteristics they appeared to share.
All operated CW only. None submitted a log to the IARU HF World Championship.
None appeared to establish and hold a running frequency. Instead, they seemed
to move through the WRTC field making relatively few contacts, and providing
somewhat rare multipliers. Two more callsigns ZP5KO and ZS6WAR were
subsequently identified as being troublesome.
Full article at:
https://q5hamradio.substack.com/p/the-integrity-question-inside-the
-- via amateurradio.com (and Q5 magazine)
ONTARIO SECTION NEWS
ITEMS OF INTEREST
2. FIRESATS LAUNCHED TO TRACK WILDFIRES FROM THE SKY
A trio of microsatellites described as "fire towers in the sky" have been
launched. As planned, Firesat-1, -2 and -3 were launched on the 7th of July.
The project is supported by the Earth Fire Alliance and its goal is to track
various types of wildfires across five continents. As reported earlier on
Newsline, the satellites have received support from a $26 million grant from
the Bezos Earth Fund and have the support of Google. The nonprofit Earth Fire
Alliance is hoping to have enough satellites in place eventually so that every
point on the planet will be seen every 20 minutes.
-- via (AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)
3. UK'S LEADING OBSERVATORY EARMARKED FOR SHUTDOWN
The Jodrell Bank Observatory, which gathers data about the galaxy from seven
radio telescopes across England, has lost government funding for the project
and faces closure. The network, known as e-Merlin, is earmarked for shutdown
following an announcement by UK Research and Innovation that it was ending
financial support for the research and that all scientific work at Jodrell
will be halted on the 1st of April 2028.
The observatory in Cheshire has also been home for seven decades to the massive
76-metre Lovell radio telescope. Jodrell Bank has been a foremost figure among
astronomy centres worldwide and was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
-- Jeremy Boot G4NJH. (via amateur radio newsline)
4. INTERNATIONAL DOG DAY AND CAT DAY TEAM UP
Ham radio teams in Latvia, the UK, the US, the Netherlands, India and Germany
will be calling CQ on behalf of abandoned, abused and homeless pets around the
world and to advocate for adoption and humane treatment. In the spirit of
friendship and the shared love of animals, they will be looking to raise
awareness and hear one another’s stories.
The hams calling CQ are animal-lovers themselves who know the power of rescue
because many have been deeply involved in organized animal-welfare efforts or
have included a rescued dog or cat in their family.
All operators will be on the HF bands using CW and SSB to encourage conversational
exchanges. Dog-station callsigns will include YL1DOG, GB4DOG, VU2MGS, DLØDOG,
PDØØDOG and KØDOG. Cat stations will be calling CQ as DLØCAT, GB4CAT and DAØCAT.
For operating details and information about award certificates, you can
check out QRZ.com YL1DOG.
-- Randy Sly W4XJ (via amateur radio newsline)
This concludes this week's bulletin. Does anyone require repeats or
clarifications?
Hearing none, This is V_3___ returning the frequency to net control.
Bulletin sent from Official Bulletin Manager VA3PC
this week's bulletin.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. Inside the WRTC 2026 Multiplier Investigation
Public log analysis has raised serious questions about suspected pirate
callsigns, disputed multipliers, and how the world’s premier radiosport
competition should respond.
The discussion began with observations from Alex Avramov LZ4AX who
published an analysis of ten callsigns that appeared throughout the WRTC
logs under circumstances he believed were sufficiently unusual to warrant
closer examination. Those callsigns were YV1LBB, 4F3OM, 4S7KM, HZ1TT,
4K6FO, TI1W, HC5AI, HL2CFY, 9M8YY and 9M2LAN. Examining publicly available
contest logs, LZ4AX noted several characteristics they appeared to share.
All operated CW only. None submitted a log to the IARU HF World Championship.
None appeared to establish and hold a running frequency. Instead, they seemed
to move through the WRTC field making relatively few contacts, and providing
somewhat rare multipliers. Two more callsigns ZP5KO and ZS6WAR were
subsequently identified as being troublesome.
Full article at:
https://q5hamradio.substack.com/p/the-integrity-question-inside-the
-- via amateurradio.com (and Q5 magazine)
ONTARIO SECTION NEWS
ITEMS OF INTEREST
2. FIRESATS LAUNCHED TO TRACK WILDFIRES FROM THE SKY
A trio of microsatellites described as "fire towers in the sky" have been
launched. As planned, Firesat-1, -2 and -3 were launched on the 7th of July.
The project is supported by the Earth Fire Alliance and its goal is to track
various types of wildfires across five continents. As reported earlier on
Newsline, the satellites have received support from a $26 million grant from
the Bezos Earth Fund and have the support of Google. The nonprofit Earth Fire
Alliance is hoping to have enough satellites in place eventually so that every
point on the planet will be seen every 20 minutes.
-- via (AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)
3. UK'S LEADING OBSERVATORY EARMARKED FOR SHUTDOWN
The Jodrell Bank Observatory, which gathers data about the galaxy from seven
radio telescopes across England, has lost government funding for the project
and faces closure. The network, known as e-Merlin, is earmarked for shutdown
following an announcement by UK Research and Innovation that it was ending
financial support for the research and that all scientific work at Jodrell
will be halted on the 1st of April 2028.
The observatory in Cheshire has also been home for seven decades to the massive
76-metre Lovell radio telescope. Jodrell Bank has been a foremost figure among
astronomy centres worldwide and was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
-- Jeremy Boot G4NJH. (via amateur radio newsline)
4. INTERNATIONAL DOG DAY AND CAT DAY TEAM UP
Ham radio teams in Latvia, the UK, the US, the Netherlands, India and Germany
will be calling CQ on behalf of abandoned, abused and homeless pets around the
world and to advocate for adoption and humane treatment. In the spirit of
friendship and the shared love of animals, they will be looking to raise
awareness and hear one another’s stories.
The hams calling CQ are animal-lovers themselves who know the power of rescue
because many have been deeply involved in organized animal-welfare efforts or
have included a rescued dog or cat in their family.
All operators will be on the HF bands using CW and SSB to encourage conversational
exchanges. Dog-station callsigns will include YL1DOG, GB4DOG, VU2MGS, DLØDOG,
PDØØDOG and KØDOG. Cat stations will be calling CQ as DLØCAT, GB4CAT and DAØCAT.
For operating details and information about award certificates, you can
check out QRZ.com YL1DOG.
-- Randy Sly W4XJ (via amateur radio newsline)
This concludes this week's bulletin. Does anyone require repeats or
clarifications?
Hearing none, This is V_3___ returning the frequency to net control.
Bulletin sent from Official Bulletin Manager VA3PC