Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution

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Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs.

Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites.

More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.

Thanks to Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager for forwarding the above information.

Amateur Radio to Participate in DoD Armed Forces Day Crossband Test

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Amateur Radio to Participate in DoD Armed Forces Day Crossband Test

Amateur radio operators will participate in the Department of Defence’s Armed Forces Day (AFD) Crossband Test on 9th May 2026. The annual event will not impact any public or private communications.

For more than 50 years, military and amateur stations have participated in this interoperability exercise between the amateur and government radio services. The AFD Crossband Test provides a unique opportunity to conduct two-way communication between military communicators and stations in the Amateur Radio Service (ARS), as authorised in 47 CFR 97.111. These tests present both opportunities and challenges for radio operators to demonstrate individual technical skills in a tightly controlled exercise scenario.

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ITU Corporation Re-purposes Linton Armoury Facility to House Iconic Amateur Radio Manufacturing

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ITU Corporation Re-purposes Linton Armoury Facility to House Iconic Amateur Radio Manufacturing

In a major expansion of its Indiana footprint, ITU Corporation has purchased the former Linton National Guard Armoury to serve as the new manufacturing hub for Hy-gain and Cushcraft. By acquiring these legendary brands from MFJ Enterprises, ITU is centralising production at the 15-acre Linton site. This new endeavour will bring between 20 and 50 new jobs to Linton.

Martin F. Jue, President and founder of MFJ Enterprises, Inc., is pleased to announce the sale of the renowned Hy-gain and Cushcraft antenna, rotator, and communication product lines to ITU Corporation, a 25-year-old Indiana engineering and manufacturing company.

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