IARU Considers Consolidation

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The IARU has released guidance on potential restructuring to help the organisation meet modern challenges. The proposed changes would combine the 3 separate regional organisations into a single global entity.

The proposal (PDF) outlines several areas where the currently independent, regional organisations struggle. Problem areas include declining membership, duplication of resources, lack of coordination, and other inefficiencies. The changes are designed to establish several benefits:

  • Global representation

  • Streamlined decision making

  • Better allocation of resources

  • Improved communication

  • Long-term sustainability

  • Centralised finances

  • Greater influence

Member societies will vote on the restructuring with the potential for a transition as early as next year.

IARU Consultation on Restructuring - https://www.iaru-r2.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IARU-Consultation-on-Proposed-Restructuring_march_2025.pdf

Weather-Watching Satellites Entering End-of-Life Stage

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In a little more than a month, the US will stop supporting three satellites in its important group of weather observers. 

Three US government weather-watching satellites have been scheduled to formally enter the end-of-life stage on 16th June 2025 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA has announced that the satellites - 15, 18 and 19 - which are part of the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites, or POES system, will no longer be updated or repaired.

As quoted in the blog USradioguy.com, NOAA said that this means signals will continue to be transmitted but should not be used by anyone for purposes involving safety or other critical matters. Hobbyists will still be able to download weather satellite imagery either via Automatic Picture Transmission on 137 MHz with a V-dipole antenna or via High Resolution Picture Transmission on 1.7 GHz with a tracking dish antenna.

Like the other POES satellites, this trio had provided data that was used in monitoring the environment, forest fires, volcanic eruptions and global vegetation.

University Station Activates to Welcome New Pope

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Two days after the conclave of cardinals had elected Pope Leo XIV, amateur radio station HV5PUL - the Pontifical Lateran University - was on the air in the Vatican City State in the heart of Rome, celebrating. The station's administrator, Luca Della Giovampaola, IWØDJB, reported that traffic was lively on 20 metres SSB and 17 metres FT8. He said that the simple 100-watt station logged an estimated 400 contacts in four hours. Propagation was challenging and so, with the exception of one Japanese station, all the contacts were within Europe.

It's not often a new pope is chosen, nor that HV5PUL is put on the air. Luca said the callsign is active mainly on Saturdays in connection with special occasions, such as the opening day of the university's academic year -- and of course, the election of a new pope.