FO-29 Enters Full Sunlight: Veteran Satellite Sees Renewed Activity in 2026

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FO-29 Enters Full Sunlight: Veteran Satellite Sees Renewed Activity in 2026

Fuji-OSCAR 29 (FO-29), also known as JAS-2, the Japanese amateur radio satellite launched in August 1996, has entered a new operational phase as of early March 2026. Now approaching its 30th anniversary in orbit, the satellite—long limited by failed batteries—relies entirely on solar panel illumination for power, meaning it only functions during sunlight periods and shuts down in eclipse.

In February 2026, the FO-29 control team (operated from Japan) continued scheduled activations of the linear transponder, with commands sent on specific dates to turn it on for limited windows. Operators noted the unstable situation due to the satellite’s age, with activations sometimes failing if the onboard voltage didn’t respond quickly enough. The transponder operates in Mode V/u (inverting SSB/CW): uplink LSB 145.900–146.000 MHz, downlink USB 435.800–435.900 MHz, with a CW beacon on 435.795 MHz.

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New Indiana Law Protects Ham Radio Antennas, Towers

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Starting on the 1st July 2026, amateur radio antennas, towers and feedlines cannot be restricted by homeowners' associations in residential communities in Indiana. A new law signed by Gov. Mike Braun will afford hams such protection on any property they rent, lease or own within the association’s purview.

This is not a green light for all amateurs, however. According to the measure’s language on the Indiana General Assembly website, House Bill number 1152 will only apply to homeowner’s associations that are formed or create documents containing such restrictions after 30th June 2026.

Meanwhile, at the federal level, the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act, which would create protection nationwide, remains stalled in Washington, D.C. According to the website GovTrack.us, the bill was introduced into committee on the 6th of February, where it must be considered and voted on before it can move along to either of the two main houses of Congress.

Radio Interference Has Landed U.S. Airlines With an $8 Million Bill to Fix Faulty Equipment on Boeing 787s

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Radio Interference Has Landed U.S. Airlines With an $8 Million Bill to Fix Faulty Equipment on Boeing 787s

Radio interference has resulted in U.S. airlines being landed with an $8 million bill to fix faulty equipment on Boeing 787 Dreamliner aeroplanes after it was discovered that simple radio signals can knock out a faulty transponder on the popular widebody plane used by American, United, and Alaska Airlines.

The issue came to light after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported “multiple instances of loss of transponder for aeroplanes entering airspace in the presence of CW interference.”

CW interference refers to continuous-wave radio signals like Morse code and military transmitters, which could interfere with the transponder on some Boeing 787s.

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