On November 22nd, the Radio Club of America (RCA) celebrated it’s 2025 award recipients at its awards banquet in Washington, DC. The following is a press release from RCA announcing the award and fellowship recipients.

The Radio Club of America (RCA) proudly announces its 2025 annual award recipients and its incoming class of
2025 Fellows. Since 1935, RCA has recognized through its awards program major contributors to wireless
communications. This year, fourteen awards are being bestowed, and eight RCA members are being elevated to
Fellow status.

RCA’s Awards Program

Award recipients are announced each year. Nominations are accepted from anyone in the wireless industry. Two broad
categories of awards include: (i) public awards for anyone involved in wireless, and (ii) member awards that are
restricted to RCA members. RCA elevates members to Fellow status at the same event by invitation based on the
individual’s contributions to RCA and to the art and sciences of wireless or broadcast communications.
Past award recipients include dozens of legends who created the wireless industry, including Edwin Armstrong, Martin
Cooper, Jay Kitchen, Fred Link, Ted Rappaport, Henry Richter, Ulrich Rohde, and Joseph Taylor.

2025 Award Recipients

RCA’s 2025 award recipients join a proud tradition of wireless legends. Each practitioner has dedicated significant time
and talent toward the advancement or preservation of skills that advance the wireless industry. The 2024 awards are
listed in award name alphabetic order.

Dr. Robert Wilson, Armstrong Medal
RCA’s first award was presented to Major Edward H. Armstrong for his invention of circuits that made AM and FM
radio possible and for Major Armstrong’s lifetime of championing work that established the foundation for modern radio
technology. The award, now known as the Armstrong Medal, is only bestowed when an individual has demonstrated
excellence and made lasting contributions to the arts and sciences of radio.

Victor Lawrence, Lifetime Achievement Award
Established in 2015, RCA’s Board of Directors recognizes very significant achievements, and a major body of work
accomplished over a lifetime, that has advanced the art and science of wireless technology.

Kinuko Masaki, Vivian Carr Award
Vivian A. Carr was a senior executive at Bell Labs and is a Senior Lifetime Member of IEEE. She was the first female
member of the Radio Club of America and president of the organization from 2011-2012. The Vivian A. Carr Award,
established in 2014, recognizes outstanding women for their achievements in the wireless industry.

Julio Ripoll Architect, Barry Goldwater Amateur Radio Award
Established in 1994, the Barry Goldwater Amateur Radio Award is given in recognition of unique contributions to the
field of amateur radio.

Dr. Kristina Collins KD8OXT, Carole Perry Young Professional Award
Established in 2023, the Carole Perry Young Professional Award was established to honor a Young Professional who
was part of the RCA Youth Activities Program in their formative years and who has gone on to a career in wireless
science.

Donald Cox, Dr. Arno Penzias Award for Contributions to Basic Research in the Radio Sciences
Established in 2023, this award recognizes significant contributions to basic research involving RF and related subjects to
inspire future generations of scientific professionals.

Peter Wasily Wolniansky, Dr. Ulrich Rohde Award for Innovation in Applied Radio Science and Engineering
Established in 2023, this award recognizes significant contributions to innovation in applied radio science and
engineering in the wireless industry to inspire future generations of wireless professionals.

Timothy Duffy, Edgar F. Johnson Pioneer Citation
Established in 1975, this award recognizes long-time RCA members who have either made noteworthy contributions to
the success of RCA or to the radio industry.

David Bart, Jay Kitchen Leadership Award
Established in 2019, this award recognizes an individual whose leadership embodies energetic advocacy, cooperation,
avid interest and respect for all, and humor, and who has achieved a high level of success leading a wireless association,
government agency, or commercial enterprise.

Margaret Lyons, RCA President’s Award
In 1974, the Board of Directors directed the president to select an individual who has, in the opinion of the President,
demonstrated unselfish dedication to the work of the Radio Club of America.

Chester “Barney” Scholl, RCA Special Services Award
The Special Services Award was established in 1975 to recognize those RCA members who have performed significant
work to advance the goals and objectives of the Radio Club of America.

Roy Lamberton, USN Captain George P McGinnis Memorial Award
This award recognizes service and dedication to the advancement and preservation of U.S. Naval Cryptology, as
nominated by the U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association (NCVA).

Larry Weber, Excellence in Sales and Marketing Award
This Award is to recognize an individual who exhibits the “Esprit de Corps” of sales, marketing and promoting in the
Wireless Industry. The ideal candidate should have been in the wireless industry for a minimum of 10 years. The
nominee should not be judged on sales volume, but on their dedication to the wireless industry. They should demonstrate
a professional and ethical approach to their business relationships. They should display integrity when representing the
wireless industry and they should work for the betterment of the Radio Club of America.

Robert Orban, Jack Poppele Award
Jack Poppele launched radio broadcasting in New Jersey. He was a director of the Voice of America. He developed the
first directional radio signal and the first portable radio and made stereo available on AM radio. In recognition of his long
and varied career, this award, first given in 1989, recognizes individuals who have made important and long-term
contributions to the field of radio broadcasting.

2025 RCA Fellows

Elevation to Fellow is made by invitation only to RCA members who are in good standing for at least five years, in
recognition of their contributions to the art and science of radio communications, broadcast, or to RCA are deemed
outstanding by RCA’s Board of Directors. The following RCA members are elevated to Fellow status in 2025:

• Brian Daly
• Nathaniel Frissell
• Roman Kaluta
• Felicia Kreuzer
• Stephen Martini
• Edward Ryan
• Monte Simpson
• Angel Vazquez

Further Information

A complete listing of RCA Awards and previous recipients can be found at this link.

Founded in 1909, the Radio Club of America is the oldest, most prestigious group of wireless communications
professionals in the world. Members are dedicated to the wireless arts and sciences for the betterment of society. The
Radio Club of America is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit www.radioclubofamerica.org.

Source: Radio Club of America

Santa Net on 3.916 MHz returns for its 20th consecutive year. Part of The 3916 Nets, Santa Net will kick-off on November 28th and run through December 23rd. The net will be active Thursday through Saturday night until December 18th at which point the net will run nightly.

Pete Thomson (KE5GGY), of The 3916 Nets, commented on The Santa Net. He said, “We’re excited to be back on the air for another year of spreading holiday cheer on the ham bands.”

Pre-net check-ins can be made online at http://www.cqsanta.com/.

Source: The 3916 Nets

AMSAT reports that AO-73, also known as FUNcube-1, has reached its 12th birthday.

On November 21, 2013 FUNcube-1 (AO-73) was launched from the Yasny launch base located in the Orenburg Region, Russia on a Dnepr Launch Vehicle into a 600 km, 97.8º inclination sun-synchronous orbit.

The satellite is a 1U cubesat featuring an SDR receiver, transponder, and telemetry system all of which continue to function for amateur operators today.

Hams can interact with AO-73 on the following frequencies:

• 145.935 MHz BPSK Telemetry 30mW (eclipse) or 300 mW (illuminated)
• Inverting SSB/CW transponder 300 mW PEP (eclipse)
• 435.150 – 435.130 MHz Uplink
• 145.950 – 145.970 MHz Downlink

Source: AMSAT

By Cale Mooth K4HCK

You might not know it, but plans are currently in progress to launch a geostationary amateur radio satellite that would provide multi-mode communications coverage to Europe and most of North America. Led by ESA and AMSAT, the project is currently called futureGEO and would be the pinnacle of achievement for the amateur radio hobby.

futureGEO is likely to be very similar to the QO-100 satellite that covers Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and a large portion of Asia. The major difference of course would be the inclusion of North America within FutureGEO’s footprint, opening up geostationary satellite ops to one of the largest ham radio populations in the world.

What makes futureGEO so compelling is the showcase of modern radio and software technology, as well as the relatively low barrier to entry to satellite communication. Like QO-100, futureGEO may feature analog and digital transponders as well as a fully integrated software defined radio stack. What that opens up is every existing ham radio mode, analog and digital, utilized through an easily accessible stationary satellite.

Beyond typical ham radio activities, QO-100 supports high-definition video nets through the use of amateur digital television. Wideband digital transponders open up the possibility of great experimentation from hams with a strong technical and especially software focused background. Imagine receiving amateur radio television with similar ease to that of DirecTV or Starlink.

Access to this technology is achievable. Everything required to access futureGEO from your own backyard can be possible for about the same cost as an entry level HF rig. Cheaper for those willing to build their own components. Very obtainable by the vast majority of hams. This is a technical achievement that would be out of reach for most hams just a couple decades ago due to cost.

Redefining the perception of amateur radio

Read just about any mainstream news article about amateur radio and it’s inevitably framed as an old technology that’s kept alive by a dedicated few. Maybe satellite based video conferencing or high-speed data transfers without the use of the internet begins to change that old narrative.

futureGEO also opens up entirely new educational outreach opportunities. Think ARISS but focused on satellite communications instead of the ISS.

Based on current progress and the pace at which QO-100 was implemented, we could see futureGEO become reality within the next 4-5 years.

So why is no one talking about this project?

Why are most of the major ham radio organizations in North America absent from the conversation? Based on a presentation from ESA in 2023, the futureGEO concept was sparked by the IARU and supported by ESA, AMSAT-UK, and AMSAT-DL. For a proposed footprint that could cover most of North America, North American entities have largely been quiet. The exception being the formation of AMSAT-CA (Canada). (But even their website features only two sentences related to futureGEO and has yet to make public the referenced paper.)

AMSAT-NA has relayed updates from AMSAT-DL and contributed to a proposal in 2023, but very little promotion has been published to their website. Earlier this year I asked about futureGEO updates at the AMSAT booth at both Hamvention and Huntsville but they weren’t able to relay even basic talking points. IARU is credited with starting the conversation, but there’s no mention of the project on their website.

Personally, I find this the most exciting active development in ham radio. To show my support I’ve become a member of AMSAT-UK and will continue to promote this project through both Amateur Radio Daily and Amateur Radio Weekly. If this project interests you, I’d highly encourage you to find a way to help promote it. Present about it at an upcoming club meeting. Mention it on the air on the local repeater. Post to your favorite Facebook Group. It’s up to us.

futureGEO Resources

• 2023 ESA futureGEO presentation
• 2023 AMSAT-UK & BATC payload proposal (PDF)
• 2024 ESA futureGEO presentation at FOSDEM
• 2024 AMSAT-DL payload proposal (PDF)
• AMSAT-DL futureGEO GitLab space
• AMSAT-DL futureGEO forum
• futureGEO Workshop Memo from ORI

Source: Amateur Radio Daily

The following is a press release from the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program:

The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) will be conducting a research
campaign November 17-22 UTC, with operating times specified in the table below. Operating
frequencies will vary, but all HAARP transmissions will be between 2.75 MHz and 10 MHz. Actual
transmit days and times are highly variable based on real-time ionospheric and/or geomagnetic
conditions. All information is subject to change.

This campaign is being conducted in support of research proposals from the University of Alaska
Fairbanks, Aerospace Corporation, the University of Colorado-Denver, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University, the University of Florida, Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory, the
Naval Research Laboratory, and the University of Texas-San Antonio. This research is supported
by the Subauroral Geophysical Observatory award (#2054361) from the National Science
Foundation. Scientific goals of these experiments include studies on the effects of ionospheric
conditions on high-frequency radio wave propagation and generation and propagation of
extremely low frequency/very low frequency (ELF/VLF) waves. This campaign will also introduce a
Rayleigh LIDAR system as a new diagnostic tool for measuring temperature and density at an
altitude of 11-85 km. More information on the LIDAR is available here:
https://www.gi.alaska.edu/news/new-lidar-advances-atmospheric-science-uaf-research-site

The table below contains some of the frequencies that are expected to be used for these
experiments. Note that these are subject to change based on real-time conditions in the
ionosphere. The included transmission notice supplement contains information on the
frequencies HAARP is authorized to transmit. HAARP transmissions will only occur on our
authorized frequencies. There are no specific data collection requests from funded investigators,
but reception reports are appreciated and may be submitted to our online form at
https://haarp.gi.alaska.edu/form/reception-reports.

November 17

• 1800-2400 UTC
• 2.75, 4.3 MHz

November 18

• 0000-0330 UTC
• 4.29, 5.25, 5.8, foF2 MHz

November 19

• 0030-0530 UTC
• 4.3, 5.25, 9.6, foF2 MHz

November 20

• 0130-0800 UTC
• 3.25, 4.3, 5.25, 9.6, foF2 MHz

November 21

• 0000-0800 UTC
• 3.25, 4.3, 5.25, 9.6, foF2 MHz

November 22

• 0400-1100 UTC
• 3.089, 9.6 MHz

Additional Resources for Reading Ionograms

Understanding HF Propagation and Reading Ionograms from Bootstrap Workbench:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTFKNCo3Cl8

Reading Your Ionogram-Keeping It Simple from John (VE6EY):
https://play.fallows.ca/wp/radio/shortwave-radio/reading-your-ionogram-keeping-it-simple/

Source: HAARP