Sun 31st July  2011

The world's newest country and DXCC entity continues to be active on the air until August 10th, as ST0R.

Updates from their Web page indicate that they now have five stations running and the 6 meters beacon (on 50.105 MHz).

As this was being typed, activity has been on all bands (except 160m) on CW. SSB operations have been on 40/20/17/15/12/
10/6 meters, while RTTY operations have been on 30/17/15
meters.

Totals as of 1318z July 29th, are 47011/QSOs with 14235/Unique
callsigns. The breakdown is: 24364/CW, 16417/SSB and 6230/RTTY.

Currently, there are 10 operators there: Paul/N6PSE, Dmitri/RA9USU, Valery/RG8K, Jun/JH4RHF, Andreas/DH8WR, Fabrizio/IN3ZNR, Manuel/EA7AJR, Jose/EA7KW and Antonio/EA5RM. Hrane/YT1AD returned home on June 27th, and was replaced by David/AH6HY. Others U.S. team members will arrive there around August 2nd.

They report that the pile-ups are very heavy and they have to work by numbers to handle the pile-ups. They state, "Main target still is to give the new country to as many people as possible and we'll start to work others bands during upcoming days."

For more details and updates watch:
http://www.dxfriends.com/SouthernSudan2011

QSL via EA5RM direct. Their OQRS will be activated after the DXpedition. Online log is available on the Web page at:
http://www.dxfriends.com/SouthernSudan2011/log.php
To see which actual operator you worked, hover your cursor
over the green check mark and their picture and callsign comes up. Cool!

OPDX

The Daily Mail revealed today (so it must be true) that Digital radio switchover plans are facing a new crisis after it was revealed that three analogue sets are still being sold for every one which has the new technology.

The true scale of public apathy emerged in a report from communications regulator Ofcom which revealed that only 1.9million digital radios were sold in the year to the end of March 2011. This compares with 6.6million analogue sets.

Read the full Daily Mail article

Ofcom July 2011 "Digital Radio" Report :-
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/
radio-research/digital-radio-reports02/report280711.pdf

Fri  29th July 2011

The AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium takes place in Guildford, this weekend, July 30-31.

BATC and AMSAT-UK volunteers will be streaming video of the event live, enabling it to be seen around the world.

Clearly a webcast cannot match actually being there, with the opportunity to chat to satellite builders and inspect space hardware, but if you can’t get to Guildford then the webcast provides the next best thing.

Watch live at http://www.batc.tv/ch_live.php?ch=3
(view stream AMSAT 2011)

There’s also a Chat facility available which can be used to ask the presenters questions, set your chat ID by entering: /nick “your callsign”

The schedule, times in BST (GMT+1), is at
http://tinyurl.com/2011ColloquiumSchedule

The event is being held at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ and is open to all. Either day passes or full packages comprising overnight accomodation and meals are available. For futher information see http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium-2011/

AMSAT-UK http://www.uk.amsat.org/

Fri  29th July 2011

Paul Breed of Unreasonable Rocket talks about his aim to develop a low-cost Nanosat launch facility in this interview with Moonandback Media.

Watch Moonandback Interview with Paul Breed, part 1 --
Printing Rocket Motors

Watch Moonandback Interview with Paul Breed, part 2 --
A Mouse Designed by Committee

Unreasonable Rocket Blog
http://unreasonablerocket.blogspot.com/

Paul Breed (unrocket) on Twitter
http://twitter.com/unrocket

Google XPrize Lunar Lander Challenge
http://space.xprize.org/ng-lunar-lander-challenge/
2008/teams/unreasonable-rocket

Thur  28th July 2011

Two videos showing vibration testing of the AMSAT-UK FUNcube satellite have been released.

This video shows the general layout of the RAL vibration testing facility, and includes interviews with Graham G3VZV and David G0MRF at the conclusion of testing.

This is a short video showing what happens during a 'high sine' test. The test is being performed in the Z axis.
Hold your breath!!

The AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium is being held July 30-31 at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ, England.
The event is open to all and among the presentations will be one on the FUNcube 435/145MHz linear transponder satelite.

Either day passes or full packages comprising overnight accommodation and meals are available.
For futher information see
http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium-2011/

The Colloquium schedule, times in BST (GMT+1), is at
http://tinyurl.com/2011ColloquiumSchedule

There will be a live webstream at
http://www.batc.tv/ch_live.php?ch=3

Join the FUNcube Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FUNcube/

The Spring issue of the AMSAT-UK newsletter OSCAR News can be downloaded free at
http://www.uk.amsat.org/on_193_final.pdf

Join AMSAT-UK at
http://tinyurl.com/JoinAMSAT-UK/

Thur  28th July 2011

29 members of the Group for Earth Observation (GEO) recently visited the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT).

A report on the EUMETSAT website says group had the opportunity to experience EUMETSAT’s extensive facilities and to learn about current and future EUMETSAT programmes.

The day began with a welcome address by Mikael Rattenborg, Director of Operations, and was followed by presentations on Meteosat, Metop, MTG, NPP, enhancements to the User Notification Service and the evolution of EUMETCast given by expert members of staff. The group was also taken on guided tours of both the Data Centre and the Control Centres during the course of the day.

EUMETSAT report on the visit with picture
http://www.eumetsat.int/Home/Main/News/
CorporateNews/808635

GEO - The Independent Organisation for Weather Satellite and Earth Observation Enthusiasts
http://www.geo-web.org.uk/

Thur  28th July 2011

It's a mystery that presented itself unexpectedly:
The radioactive decay of some elements sitting quietly in laboratories on Earth seemed to be influenced by activities inside the sun, 93 million miles away.

Is this possible?

Read the Stanford University news at
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2010/august/sun-082310.html

Thur  28th July 2011

A stiff wind and occasional drizzle did not put off the large attendance of QRP and home building enthusiasts who attended QRP in the Country on July 17th.

Hundreds of people from all over England and Holland found their way to Upton Bridge Farm, Somerset where the farm barns provided cover.

About 25 stalls and displays showed off or sold everything from components to large construction projects. Apart from a few traders selling components, most displays were from Clubs publicising their activities or of ancient domestic and wartime radios, with a few individuals selling items to make space for new projects!

There were also practical construction projects to be seen as ‘students’ built their Cary RXs with occasional help from the Bath Buildathon team led by Steve G0FUW. The catering team led by Tony G0GFL cooked a prodigious amount of special local burgers and sausages from the host Tim G3PCJ’s farm served in rolls baked locally that very morning, and washed down by village beer and cider, under the careful eye of Robert PA9RZ!

A raffle raised £200 for those suffering in East Africa; the main prize being a year’s subscription to PW kindly donated by Rob G3XFD which was won by Graham G4DPH. George G3RJV was asked to select a couple of displays that ‘appealed’ to him for two other prizes. The GQRP Club had kindly donated a special edition of Drew VK3XU’s latest project book which was also won by G4DPH for his PW Sprat project; a Walford Electronics Radlet CW TCVR kit went to Colin G3YHU for his valved superhet.
A years subscription to BYLARA was won by SWL Mike Jones who is about to take his Foundation licence course.

After the event Tim G3PCJ said he was said delighted with the increased attendance and wished to thank everybody whose hard work had made the event so successful. He urged all Clubs within reasonable distance to plan their displays for next year! Watch the press for announcements of the date!

Photo : George G3RJV (pictured right) presenting the prize to Graham G4DPH

Thur  28th July 2011

After more than a week of quiet, solar activity is picking up with the emergence of two large sunspot groups on the sun's northeastern limb.

The active regions are crackling with C- and M-class solar flares. So far none of the eruptions has been squarely Earth directed, but that could change in the days ahead as solar rotation turns the sunspots to face our planet.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for images and more information.

Wed 27th July 2011

Members of the Barry Amateur Radio Society (B.A.R.S.) will be on Flat Holm Island (EU-124) for the RSGB IOTA Contest (July 30-31st).

The B.A.R.S. group will on the island Thursday, July 28th, for 5 days. Prior to the contest, the callsign will be GB5FI. During the IOTA Contest they will use GW8K. QSL via GW0ANA.

Historical note: Glyn, GW0ANA, Chairman of B.A.R.S., says that it was this island that Marconi came to in May 1897.  He successfully transmitted a CW signal between Flat Holm in Wales to Brean Down in Somerset, England. Thus making this transmission the world's first DX and first IOTA DXpedition (as Marconi came from Italy to Wales).

Mon  25th July 2011

AMSAT-UK have released a number of videos showing the Assembly, Integration and Verification (AIV) testing of the FUNcube satellite at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories:

Wouter removes the stack from the Thermo Vac chamber after nearly 5 hot/cold cycles over a period of two and a half days in the chamber. The GOOD news is that the stack was still working after these tests!

Graham and Wouter return to the lab with the stack after removal from the Thermo Vac chamber. They both make comments on how the test have gone so far.

Applying 'Space Glue' to the screws holding the side panels in place, ready for Vibration Testing on July 25.

Further FUNcube videos can be seen at
http://vimeo.com/user3575668

FUNcube Yahoo Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FUNcube/

There will be presentation on the FUNcube satellite and FUNcube Dongle SDR at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium to be held July 30-31 at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ, England. The event is open to all.

Either day passes or full packages comprising overnight accommodation and meals are available.
For futher information see
http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium-2011/

The Colloquium schedule, times in BST (GMT+1), is at
http://tinyurl.com/2011ColloquiumSchedule

Live webstream at
http://www.batc.tv/ch_live.php?ch=3

The Spring issue of the AMSAT-UK newsletter OSCAR News can be downloaded free at http://www.uk.amsat.org/on_193_final.pdf

Join AMSAT-UK at
http://tinyurl.com/JoinAMSAT-UK/

Mon  25th July 2011

Radiowaves is a short film about Amateur Radio in Ireland.

Filmed by Tony Flynn, it features Thos EI2JD and Anthony EI2KC operating Dundalk Amateur Radio Society callsign EI0W.

The film can be viewed on the following links below

DARS - http://ei7dar.com/video985.html

EI2KC Blog - http://hamradioireland.blogspot.com/

Mon  25th July 2011

It is expected to take three or four weeks for all debris from the collapsed transmission tower in Hoogersmilde to be cleared, according to a spokesman for the contractor.  (Collapse Video reported here 16th July 2011)

The dismantling of the mast, which partially collapsed on 15 July following a fire, commenced yesterday. The cleanup is being carried out with cranes and from within the tower itself. Because there are many cables and debris that could come down, the operation is proceeding with great care.

It is still unclear what will happen to the mast at Hoogersmilde once everything has been tidied up. Removing all the debris is the first priority for now, said the spokesman.

Reception of the public radio stations in various locations in the north of the country is still not satisfactory. The emergency mast in Assen has gone into service, but at least for the the next few days it will not provide an optimum signal. Meanwhile the tower in Lopik is only providing a limited signal for safety reasons, say the public broadcasters. Several other transmission sites are operating at reduced power until the cause(s) of the fires at Lopik and Hoogersmilde can be ascertained.

Source: Media Network, RadioWereld.NL

Mon  25th July 2011

A video is available of a broadcast, in the shared 30m Amateur Radio band, from Commando Solo, the US airborne radio station operating above Libya on behalf of NATO.

Watch Nato transmission warning to Gaddafi troop's and Supporter's in Libya 30m Band.

Commando Solo, the US airborne radio station operating above Libya on behalf of NATO, was heard on 1 June using a new shortwave frequency, 10125 kHz, USB mode, to transmit messages intended for Gaddafi’s forces.

This frequency is in the 30 metre amateur band, but is also used by the Libyan army.

Commando Solo has previously used 6877 kHz and 10404 kHz. The change in frequency is probably due to the jamming by the Libyan army noted on 10404 kHz the previous day.

Monitor the short wave bands on-line with a web based SDR receiver
http://www.websdr.org/

Mon  25th July 2011

The August 2011 edition of WorldRadio Online magazine is now available for free download.

In this month's issue:
* Kurt's Plan for Keeping Our Poise about the Counterpoise
* Tips on Helping Disabled Hams Choose the Right Radio
* Update: 70cm Seems Safe for Amateur Radio Satellite Communications
* DXing the Hamvention - and a Dayton Photo Essay

In addition, you'll find regular columns including: Morse Code, Pounding Brass, Amateur Satellites, Promotion and Recruitment, With the Handihams, Looking West, MARS, Propagation, DX World, Rules and Regulations, Hamfests and Special Events, Contest Calendar, DX Predictions and more.

The entire edition can be downloaded by clicking on the photo of the cover on the WRO Welcome page at
http://www.worldradiomagazine.com/

Mon  25th July 2011

The RSGB Board minutes for March 2011 are now available, the sharp fall in recruitment of new members is mentioned.

Also discussed were

- £15k contingency to cover additional legal fees

- Italian 2m Repeater allocations

- Memorandum of Understanding from Ofcom. (transfer of work from Ofcom)

- Re-issuing of old callsigns.

The minutes for the RSGB March Board Meeting can be seen at
http://www.rsgb.org/membersonly/information/minutes/
minutes-2011/march-2011.pdf

Previous RSGB Board minutes
http://www.rsgb.org/membersonly/information/minutes/

You can join the RSGB online at
http://www.rsgbshop.org/acatalog/
Online_Catalogue_Join_the_RSGB_22.html

Sun  24th July 2011

The 5th Annual Report of the RCE Standards Committee reports the number of candidates for Amateur Radio exams is falling.

In 2010 the numbers passing the Radio Communication exams were:
Advanced - 222
Intermediate - 596
Foundation - 1605

The Standards Committee noted that there had been a fall in numbers of candidates for all three examinations in 2010.

Merit and Distinction grades at Advanced level will be introduced in the summer once the new optical marking software is in use.

The report says that the next syllabus review incorporate digital signal processing and analogue TV switch off.

Industry advice on connections to vehicle batteries has changed following the issue of FCS1362 to replace MPT1362 and some bank questions have been altered as a result.

There remains a shortfall in the exam question bank, hundreds more questions are needed. £20 RSGB book token are now being offered to encourge more to be submitted and it is planned to set up training seminars for potential authors.

Read the report at
http://www.commsfoundation.org/rce/pdf/
annualreport_2011.pdf

Reports from previous years are available at
http://www.commsfoundation.org/rce/committees/

Radio Communications Foundation RCF
http://www.commsfoundation.org/

Sat  23rd July 2011

On Sunday, 24 July, at 0900UTC, a balloon called Aisekom will be launched from Bilbao in northern Spain with APRS equipment attached.

This will transmit an APRS beacon on 144.800MHz FM at 1200 bps. The callsign will be EG2EE-11.

It should be possible to hear it in the UK because it will rise up to 30,000 metres and then come down on a parachute.

There is more information at www.aisekom.com but it is only available in Spanish.

Fri 22nd July 2011

Since Monday, July 18, members of AMSAT-UK have been performing temperature testing and thermo vac testing of the FUNcube amateur radio satellite.

The facilities to do this were very kindly offered by the Assembly, Integration and Verification (AIV) facility at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories, at Harwell, near Oxford. AMSAT-UK are extremely grateful to them for their help and advice.

The boards tested were the Engineering Models (EMs) which are just about identical to those that will fly.

As of Wednesday, July 20, it had been determined that the stack operates down to a temp of minus 10 degs C and up to +60 degs C and survived storage at -30 and +70. These results were obtained by the use of a temperature controlled oven in air. On Tuesday, the stack was transferred to a thermo vacuum chamber for further testing.

AMSAT-UK is aiming to complete the thermo vac testing by Friday morning, leaving the rest of Friday to apply glue to the structure, and mount it in its ‘POD’ ready for vibration testing on Monday.

For more information on FUNcube see
http://www.FUNcube.org.uk/

Join the FUNcube Yahoo Group at
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/FUNcube/

AMSAT-UK publishes a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, which is full of Amateur Satellite information.
Join online at http://tinyurl.com/JoinAMSAT-UK

A sample edition of the newsletter can be seen at
http://www.uk.amsat.org/on_193_final.pdf

Fri 22nd July 2011

The National Communications Authority of Portugal (ICP-ANACOM) welcomes the proposal of 2 amateur radio colleagues, José Carlos (CT1DHM) and João Costa (CT1FBF), in order to amend the upper range limit of 50.5 MHz on the 6 metres band, from next April 4th 2012; the date of the complete switch-off of the analogue TV broadcasting transmissions to digital terrestrial television.

The new limits of the band allocation for Portugal will be from 50 MHz to 52 MHz.

Such opening, regarding the new upper limit for Portuguese ham radio 6 metres band, was possible thanks to the end of the old analogue signal TV broadcasting transmissions, on the lower VHF band (channels 2 to 4) after that date.

Thur 21st July 2011

SJ22S will be active from the 22nd World Scout Jamboree, Rinkaby, Sweden, July 27 to August 7, 2011.

The 22nd World Scout Jamboree will bring together 40,000 young Scouts from over 160 different countries around the world. The Scouts will live, have fun and learn together in one big tent city. They will make contacts crossing both cultural and geographical borders. A World Scout Jamboree is held in a different country every four years by the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM).

The location of the 22nd World Scout Jamboree is on the Rinkaby fields outside of Kristianstad in the south of Sweden in JO76DA. There will also be “camp in camp” activities in a radius of 100 km around Kristianstad. These are traditional Swedish Scout camps that the international Scouts can visit during an overnight stay.

Of course, this World Scout Jamboree will have an amateur radio station; to connect Scouts to brothers and sisters around the globe and to offer an exciting radio-scouting project. The staff of SJ22S counts over 20 international Scout radio amateurs together with another 20 Swedish radio Scouts.

During the camp the Scouts can test fox hunting, kit building, Morse code and of course they will have the opportunity to operate radio.

Using PMR 446MHz radio’s we offer all the Scouts the opportunity to learn how to use a radio as a complement in the traditional Scout work.

You will find us at the international scout frequencies:
CW: 3570 7030 14060 18080 21140 24910 28180 kHz
SSB: 3690 7090 14290 18140 21360 24960 28390 kHz

The actual operating frequency and an electronic plot chart will be available live at http://www.worldscoutjamboree.se/radioscouting/

Skeds can be arranged beforehand by sending an email to
SJ22S@worldscoutjamboree.se

History:

In 1957 the 9th World Scout Jamboree celebrated the 50th anniversary of Scouting in Sutton Coldfield, England. For the first time, the World Scout Jamboree was equipped with an amateur radio station, GB3SP. A thought occurred amongst those present: “why not gather all the Scouts to an on-air meeting at a special time each year”. And the annual JOTA (Jamboree On The Air) was born. Each World Scout Jamboree ever since has been equipped with an amateur radio station to link the camp to the rest of the world.

More information:
Please contact: Per-Olof Hansson SM6SMY,
Per-Olof.Hansson@worldscoutjamboree.se

22nd World Scout Jamboree
http://www.worldscoutjamboree.se/

Wed 20th July 2011

As a group of South Dakota hams were dismantling a 110 foot tower outside of Hot Springs on Saturday, July 16, a gust of wind toppled the final section, trapping two local hams underneath.

The ARRL reports that Tim Anderson, K0OR, 54, and Tom Embree, NC0K, were transported to Rapid City Regional Hospital via helicopter, where Anderson died of his injuries. Embree underwent surgery on Sunday and is expected to have more on Wednesday; he remains in serious condition.

Both are members of the Hot Springs Amateur Radio Club; Anderson was the club’s president.

Hot Springs is located about 57 miles south of Rapid City.

Read the full ARRL story at
http://www.arrl.org/news/one-ham-killed-another-seriously-
injured-in-tower-accident

Mon 18th July 2011

The BBC is conducting a major survey into the state of mobile phone coverage in the UK.

Over the course of the next month, the project will attempt to chart the availability of 3G and 2G services up and down the country.

Mobile operators offer their own coverage maps but no independent survey has yet been carried out.

Measurements will be made using an app developed by network analysis firm Epitiro.

Read more here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13874818

Epitiro
http://www.epitiro.com/

Thanks to Simon G6XHF for spotting the news item.

Mon 18th July 2011

On Wednesday, July 13, the FCC announced that its Enforcement Bureau and ReconRobotics have entered into a Consent Decree.

This resolves an FCC investigation in response to a complaint filed by the ARRL. In 2010, the ARRL alleged that ReconRobotics had violated Section 302a(b) of the Communications Act of 1934 as amended and Section 2.803 of the Commission's rules regarding the manufacturing, marketing, distributing and selling of radio frequency transmitters.

In the complaint the ARRL alleged that ReconRobotics had unlawfully marketed the Recon Scout -- a remote-controlled, maneuverable surveillance robot operating in the 430-448 MHz band -- to public safety agencies and certain security personnel prior to the grant of a necessary waiver. The FCC granted a waiver to ReconRobotics in 2010 allowing public safety licensees to operate the device in a portion of the 70 cm band. To date, no license applications have been granted by the Commission for the device and the ARRL has petitioned to deny all applications filed.

Read more here
http://www.arrl.org/news/reconrobotics-pays-17-500-to-
end-fcc-investigation-of-rules-violations

Source: ARRL Letter

Sun 17th July 2011

The Amateur Radio functions of the PRISM satellite have been tested and it is hoped it will be generally available soon.

Built by students at Tokyo university PRISM stands for Pico-satellite for Remote-sensing and Innovative Space Missions.
It was launched Jan 23, 2009 and has the callsign JQ1YCX.

It carries a beacon on 437.250 MHz and a data downlink on 437.425 MHz. It is understood the power of the downlink can be up to 3 watts.

On the AMSAT bulletin board Mineo Wakita JE9PEL writes:

The test of HAM service of PRISM was worked today, 16 Jul 2011 05:16-05:29UTC over Japan. The frequency was 437.425MHz AFSK.

The HAM service of PRISM will open soon.

PRISM
http://www.space.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/prism/en/main.html

PRISM in the Japanese version of Make: magazine
http://jp.makezine.com/blog/2011/04/make_vol11.html

Snapshot of decoding screen
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/10716pri.png

Amateur radio stations have been set up at each World Scout Jamboree since 1957. They provide live-links from the Jamboree to the home countries of the participants over short-wave radio as well as being interesting stations for other radio amateurs to contact.

From 27 July till 7 August 2011, the 22nd World Scout Jamboree at Rinkaby in Sweden will be on the air with call sign SJ22S (Scout Jamboree No 22 Sweden). This is a special event call sign.

The station will offer an exciting radio-scouting programme including kit building and fox hunting to the Jamboree participants.

Jim, ZL2APE, who is the NZ National Organiser for the Scout Jamborees on the Air, will be one of the station operators.

Google "SJ22S", and go first to the QRZ listing for details of frequencies etc.

Thanks,

Jim Parnell, ZL2APE

NZART

Sat 16th July 2011

Two broadcast masts in different parts of the Netherlands have caught fire, one has collapsed.

On July 15 a fire caused a broadcast tower 303.5 metres high to collapse in Hoogersmilde NE Netherlands. On the night of July 14 a fire occured at a similar 366.8 metre high tower in Lopik central Netherlands resulting in that tower being shut down.

It has been reported that terrestrial FM and Digital TV signals to 80% of the Netherlands were lost.

Watch the YouTube video of the Smilde collapse

Read a Blog commenting on the events
http://tinyurl.com/MastsOnFire

Read the BBC report at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14168281

Wiki - Zendstation Smilde
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zendstation_Smilde

Wiki - Gerbrandy Tower
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerbrandy_Tower

Sat 16th July 2011

Recently, an amateur forgot to renew his amateur radio licence because he failed to advise the ACMA of his new address, and was upset when his two letter callsign was allocated to someone else.

The "Comment" in the June 2009 issue of Amateur Radio addressed this problem in some detail, and further information can be found on the WIA website www.wia.org.au under the tab "Australian amateur licensing and callsigns" under the button "Get your Amateur Radio Licence".

The Radiocommunications Act does not impose on ACMA an obligation to issue a renewal notice. ACMA does so, but failure to receive a renewal notice is no excuse for not renewing a licence.

Obviously, failing to notify the ACMA of a change of address will mean that even if the ACMA does send a renewal notice, it will go the wrong address.

But the Act does provide that a licence can be renewed from 6 months before and 60 days after its expiry date. It is the licensee’s responsibility to ensure that the licence is renewed in that time.

A callsign is only a condition of a licence, and if the licence is not renewed, after 60 days from the expiry date the callsign will be placed on the Public List, (the list of available callsigns on the WIA website) and after 7 days the WIA will issue a Callsign Recommendation to whoever wants that callsign.
 

Michael Owen VK3KI
WIA President

Sat 16th July 2011

The DRM Consortium will have its strongest presence ever at the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC), being held in Amsterdam from 8 -13 September 2011. IBC is considered the leading global tradeshow for professionals engaged in the creation, management and delivery of broadcasting media and entertainment.

In Amsterdam, DRM will be showcasing developments, highlighting the potential of the DRM standard, as well as presenting new receiver options. Three key Consortium members (Transradio, Nautel and Fraunhofer IIS) will host events on 10, 11 and 12 September taking participants on a digital journey of discovery. On these three days there will updates on the latest market developments and demonstration on how DRM (either as DRM30 or as DRM+) can get multi-platform, rich, digital content direct to users. Videos and new receiver solutions will give these events a “hands-on”, unique feel.

Ruxandra Obreja, DRM Consortium Chairman, says: “Our presence at IBC will show that DRM is a complete digital radio solution, is very efficient and is making real progress in important global markets which, in turn, is stimulating chipset and receiver manufacturers to develop new solutions and products”.

Source: Media Network, DRM Consortium

Fri 15th July 2011

The Republic of South Sudan is the newest addition to the CQ DX Award Countries List, CQ DX Awards Manager Billy Williams, N4UF, announced today. It is #342.

Verifications confirming contacts after July 14, 2011 (the date of its admission to the United Nations) are acceptable for credit. No award credit is available for southern Sudan contacts made during the 1980s and 90s.
 
The new addition will be reflected in CQ DX Honor Roll totals to be compiled near the end of September. The July listings will not include the new addition and will be based on 341 active countries. (See paragraphs 21 through 24 on the CQ DX web page. Note in paragraph 24 that "the Award Manager will allow at least 30 days between the date of his announcement and any Honor Roll revisions that reflect the new maximum count.")
 
Verifications may be checked by a CQ Checkpoint or sent to the Award Manager. Include return postage or SASE with updates if you send cards or desire a reply. Updates are accepted only via postal mail.
 
The CQ DX Award Countries List contains 342 entities including Kosova. Endorsement stickers for 340 are not yet available. When stickers are available, an announcement will be posted on the CQ DX web page (see URL above). As of this time, the International Telecommunication Union has not yet issued a callsign prefix block for South Sudan.
 
For purposes of the CQ DX Field Award, most of South Sudan is in field KJ; small northern portions (above 10 degrees north latitude) are in field KK. More information on the CQ DX Field Award is available here and at DX FIELD AWARD RULES.
 
In addition, South Sudan will count as a country (entity) multiplier for the CQ DX Marathon, the CQ World Wide DX Contest and any other CQ contests that use country multipliers.

Fri 15th July 2011

The RSGB have released the letter they sent on May 25 regarding the serious inaccuracies made by Minister of State, Mark Prisk MP, in the Parliamentary debate on polluting PLT devices

Read the letter to Mark Lancaster MP regarding Parliamentary Adjournment debate on PLT
http://www.rsgb.org/emc/docs/pdf/letter-mark-lancaster-
adjournment-plt.pdf

Fri 15th July 2011

Wolf DK2OM reports on the IARU-R1 site that a Codar ocean wave radar is disturbing 24920 - 24990 kHz daily and all day.

The location is believed to be Venice, Italy and Wolf asks - if you get the signals, please inform your national PTT.

Listen to a recording of the interference
http://www.iarums-r1.org/iarums/sound/codarhf.wav

Please log your reports of Amateur Band intruders online at
http://peditio.net/intruder/bluechat.cgi

Monitor the short wave bands on-line with a web based SDR receiver
http://www.websdr.org/

Latest IARU Monitoring System News
http://www.iarums-r1.org/iarums/latest.pdf

Fri 15th July 2011

ScienceDaily reports on the use of Wireless power for heart pumps.

The report says:
Mechanical pumps to give failing hearts a boost were originally developed as temporary measures for patients awaiting a heart transplant. But as the technology has improved, these ventricular assist devices commonly operate in patients for years.

Prolonged use, however, has its own problems. The power cord that protrudes through the patient's belly is cumbersome and prone to infection over time.

Researchers at the University of Washington and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have tested a wireless power system for ventricular assist devices.

Using the wireless system means no power cord poking through the skin, dramatically reducing the risk of infection and improving the patient's quality of life. Researchers envision a vest that could hold an external transmitter coil connected to a power cord or battery. A small receiver coil implanted under the patient's skin would connect to a battery that holds enough power for about two hours, meaning the patient could be completely free for short periods of time to take a bath or go for a swim (current users of heart pumps cannot do either).

Read the ScienceDaily article Wireless Power Could Cut Cord for Patients With Implanted Heart Pumps
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/
110712162826.htm

Fri 15th July 2011

Stuart Heathcock reports hearing WWZN Revolution Boston on 1510 kHz and weak carriers all over the US AM extension band 1610-1700 kHz.

He writes

NA MX DX season has started here in London. WWZN Revolution Boston heard this morning at 0300 GMT on 1510 with reasonable signal strength on SDR-IQ and 10x3m Flag antenna.

TCR moving from 1512 has made it easier to hear WWZN and the station is arguably the easiest to hear of the NA regulars.

Carriers were noted all over the x-band [1610-1700 kHz] but just too weak for audio. MW conditions are now very different to those pertaining late April/May/June.

Besides 1510 I would say 590, 1390 and 1010 kHz are the best bets to listen on. I would expect the x-band to start showing audio in next few weeks as well.

Wiki - AM expanded band 1610-1700 kHz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_AM_broadcast_band

Medium Wave Circle - Europe's Premier Medium Wave DX Club
http://www.mwcircle.org/

Fri 15th July 2011

Five representatives from the RSGB met with Ofcom on July 6 to discuss issues concerning amateur radio in the UK - the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games featured prominently.

Read the report of the meeting at
http://www.rsgb.org/news/articlelinks.php?id=0178

Thur 14th July 2011

In just 9 months the AMSAT-UK FUNcube Yahoo Group has achieved 1,500 members.

The group was created by Rob Styles M0TFO at the end of October 2010 to provide support for the AMSAT-UK FUNcube satellite and the Software Defined Radio (SDR) FUNcube Dongle (FCD).

The FUNcube satellite project is an educational CubeSat project with the goal of enthusing and educating young people about radio, space, physics and electronics. It will support the educational Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) initiatives and provide an additional resource for the RSGB GB4FUN Radio Communications Demonstration Module.

The target audience is school pupils in the 8-18 age range.
As well as providing a strong 145 MHz telemetry beacon for the pupils to receive FUNcube will also have a 435/145 MHz linear transponder for Amateur Radio SSB/CW use.

The SDR FUNcube Dongle was originally developed for educational outreach as part of the ground segment for the FUNcube satellite.

However, it was realised it can be used for many other applications as well, so AMSAT-UK developed a Pro version which has a frequency range of 64-1700 MHz.

Similar to a USB TV Dongle, the FCD simply fits into a computer USB port and can be used with freely available Software Defined Radio software. The FCD is all-mode which this means that as well as data, it will also receive many other signals including AM, FM, SSB and CW. It will even receive analog TV sound channels !

More information on the FUNcube satellite project is at
http://FUNcube.org.uk/overview/

To purchase a SDR FUNcube Dongle see
http://www.FUNcubeDongle.com/?page_id=286

Join the FUNcube Yahoo Group at
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/FUNcube/

AMSAT-UK publishes a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, which is full of Amateur Satellite information.
Join online at http://tinyurl.com/JoinAMSAT-UK

A sample edition of the newsletter can be seen at
http://www.uk.amsat.org/on_193_final.pdf

Thur 14th July 2011

The results of the RSGB Amateur Radio survey are now available. It shows the Amateur population is continuing to age with a typical RSGB member now being about 65.

The survey also shows that just 1.97% are women and only 0.88% classify themselves as being from an ethnic group other than White or White British a figure closer to 13% might have been expected.

Read the RSGB Survey at
http://www.rsgb.org/survey/docs/questionnaire-analysis-
advisory-group-radcom.pdf

Thur 14th July 2011

AMSAT-UK have made available a free PDF of the Spring 2011 edition of their newletter OSCAR News.

It contains reports on four UK CubeSat projects currently being developed. News of new South African CubeSats and details of the telemetry on ARISsat-1 currently scheduled to be deployed from the International Space Station in August.

A printed copy of OSCAR News is posted to members each quarter.

Membership of AMSAT-UK is open to anyone who has an interest in Amateur Radio satellites/space activities, including the ISS. You do not have to have an amateur radio licence to join, many of our members are interested in listening to satellites and decoding the telemetry.

Read the OSCAR News PDF at
http://www.uk.amsat.org/on_193_final.pdf

Join AMSAT-UK at
http://tinyurl.com/JoinAMSAT-UK/

AMSAT-UK Colloquium July 30-31 Guildford
http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium-2011/

AMSAT-UK: http://www.uk.amsat.org/

Thur 14th July 2011

Press release
Airwave, the leading provider of critical voice and data communications to public service organisations in the UK, has announced that the private mobile radio (PMR) service infrastructure for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is ready for service.

The PMR network, named Apollo, will provide voice communications for over 18,000 staff and volunteers from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) during the 2012 Games.

Apollo has been purpose-built to provide mobile radio to all London 2012 competition venues from the Olympic Park itself to sites across the country from Glasgow and Manchester to Coventry and Weymouth. The stand-alone network is now ready for operation and will be used by Games staff and volunteers, from stewards and security personnel to anti-doping officials, from now until December 2012.

Apollo has already gone through rigorous testing by Airwave. It will now take part in several test events with LOCOG, many of which will be at London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic venues for the first time, as part of preparations to test key aspects of operational readiness for the Games.

Apollo is standalone network constructed for London 2012. Airwave’s provision of PMR infrastructure will not impact on the Airwave Network which provides critical communications to public service organisations. The existing Airwave network is undergoing upgrades to cope with the increased traffic for emergency services during the Games.

According to David Sangster, UK services director at Airwave: “We are incredibly proud to be an official supplier to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. A coordinated and safe event is a top priority for the organising committee and a secure and effective radio communications system is a critical piece of infrastructure required to deliver it. At a time when thousands of people will be flocking to London, Apollo will help to make sure London 2012 goes without a hitch.”

Gerry Pennell, chief information officer for LOCOG, went on to say: “Now that Airwave have delivered the private mobile radio service using the Apollo network, our staff are using it operationally in the run up to and during test events. This will ensure they have sufficient time to understand the system and get the best out of the equipment and network. We look forward to working with Airwave to ensure the successful delivery of the London 2012 Games

Tue 12th July 2011

A new free sample edition of RadCom is now available to read on-line or download from the RSGB website.

The sample RadCom is available in digital magazine format for reading on-line (Flash plug-in required) or for those who would like to save the magazine to their computer, or do not have Flash installed, a 24MB PDF version is available.

The new sample edition is the March 2011 edition which replaces the September 2009 issue and can be read at
http://www.rsgb.org/sampleRadCom/

Tue 12th July 2011

The ECC Decision (11)03 of June 24, 2011 paves the way for the use of 27 MHz SSB CB across the British Isles and Europe.

It permits the use of SSB equipment running 12 watts PEP output in the frequency band 26.960 - 27.410 MHz.

The ECC Decision came into force on June 24, 2011 and the preferred date for implementation of this ECC Decision by national administrations is October 1, 2011.

Read the ECC Decision ECC/DEC/(11)03 - The harmonised use of frequencies for Citizens’ Band (CB) radio equipment
http://www.erodocdb.dk/Docs/doc98/official/pdf/
ECCDEC1103.PDF

Sun 10th July 2011

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has started preparing for the 12th International Conference on Ionospheric Radio Systems and Techniques (IRST 2012) to be held in York.

Chaired by Professor Les Barclay G3HTF from Barclay Associates Ltd and bringing together researchers, industrialists, policy makers and service providers within the area of Ionospheric Radio Systems and Techniques, the event aims to review recent innovations and developments within ionospheric science as well as related radio systems and networks and to report on the latest research findings.

It should take place in York on May 15-17, 2012.

For further information see
http://www.theiet.org/events/2012/irst.cfm

Sun 10th July 2011

There are too few radio rallies these days so...
the Mold and District Amateur Radio Club would like to invite all radio amateurs and short wave listeners to a silent key, shack surplus, bring and buy, junk swap and sell evening to be held at 8pm in the Mold Rugby Club Mold in Flintshire, North Wales on Wednesday 14th September 2011.

What we hope makes this sale a little different is the quality of some of the silent key items in the sale, which includes an Elecraft K3 and the fact that there is no charge for private sellers.

If required a limited number of commercial sellers would be welcomed but please contact Steve GW7AAV (email correct on QRZ.com) in advance for a table reservation. Again no charge for commercial sellers but a small donation to be split 50/50 with the Rugby and Radio clubs would be welcomed.

There should be some very tempting high quality gear on sale as well as some real bargains.

There is a bar too, so team up with your mates and organize a designate driver. Let’s make this a great social evening too and it will be a chance to put faces to callsigns.

In the meantime the club has a lecture on 13th July by Keith GW4OKT on the building, maintenance and use of the Elecraft K series and on the 3rd August Phil VK5SRP will tell us about radio restoration and Ham Radio ‘Down Under’ (http://www.philipstorr.id.au/).

For directions see – http://www.madarc.org.uk/location.html

Thanks
Steve GW7AAV
Chairman

http://www.madarc.org.uk/

Sun 10th July 2011

Railways on the Air 2011 will take place on the weekend of 24 and 25 September.

As last year, the suggested frequencies for the event are 3.65, 7.12 and 14.12MHz, but participants are requested to avoid any interference with RSGB news reading.

Anyone is encouraged to register if they are working an historic railway site, it doesn't have to be a famous one or indeed one operating trains, just a site that has a railway heritage.

Registration and general enquiries may be made through the website www.rota.m0php.net.

Sun 10th July 2011

The High Altitude Balloon Experiment (HABEX) launched from the Klerksdorp Airfield, South Africa on 2 July was a great success.

The balloon lifted off shortly after 08:00 CAT and headed in an easterly direction. All payload systems operated successfully with all the chase vehicles being able to track the APRS packets being transmitted from the respective units.

During the early part of the lift, the balloon averaged an ascent rate of 16,2 km/h slowing to a more pedestrian speed of 11 km/h for the remainder of the flight. Horizontal ground speeds peaked at 183,59 km/h with a final altitude recorded on ZS6ERB-9 of 33 661 m.

Overall the launch was a success with the team very happy with the results. There are some issues to be rectified and the team will be back in the not too distant future to test those. The launch was part of the Klerksdorp Hamfest activities.

The payload consisted of 4 independent units. First in line was a controller board which was specifically designed and built by the HABEX group. The controller is able to accept a combination of either 8 inputs or outputs in either digital or analogue mode. Also built onto the board is its own APRS tracking unit and PIC unit which can communicate with ground stations via an on board VHF radio.

Next in the payload string was a second APRS tracking unit and Cross Band repeater which was used extensively during the flight for both team contact as well as general contacts. Below the repeater was a CW beacon transmitting on 7,020 and lastly a video camera with a third APRS unit.

The main objective of the 2 July launch was to establish that the APRS components being used on the controller board functioned properly at altitude. In previous flights, the GPS unit stopped operating around 12 000 m due to restrictions in its operating altitude.

Once the controller has proven itself, various experiments can be taken to altitude without the additional weight of back up APRS units which have been used in the past.

More information, photographs and a video can be found on www.habex.za.net.

Sat 9th July 2011

The National Hamfest will take place at the Newark & Notts Showground again this year on 30 September and 1 October.

The RSGB & Lincoln Short Wave Club are pleased that the ARRL are attending from the USA again this year.

Joining them will be the German companies Spiderbeam, Tecadi and Czech company Mastrant as well as all the major manufacturers and dealers in the UK.

Advance tickets are available from the National Hamfest website, www.nationalhamfest.org.uk.

Sat 9th July 2011

The first provisional programme for the RSGB Convention is now available on the RSGB website.

Taking place at Horwood House near Milton Keynes over the weekend 7 to 9 October, the lecture programme is well underway.

You can see the confirmed lectures on a wide range of subjects from low frequency to light communications, which will be updated as more talks are confirmed.
Check out www.rsgb.org/rsgbconvention.

Sat 9th July 2011

Nige Coleman G7CNF has made availabe videos which explore the history, installation, setup and operation of the radio digital transmission mode, JT6m, part of the WSJT suite.

Watch An Introduction to JT6m, Part 1 by Nige Coleman G7CNF

There are five videos in the series, the others are:

Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFv6ukWJM-o
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hETc5D-z9r0
Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI7hJQ7i77w
Part 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hflsB-gZWQQ

50 MHz Meteor Scatter Mode JT6M
http://www.jt6m.org/

2011 6M JT6M Challenge
http://www.jt6m.org/jt6m-challenge.php

WSJT Meteor Scatter Software
http://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/

Fri 8th July 2011

The UK headquaters station GB2HQ will be active during July 9/10 for the IARU HF Championship and special Award Certificates are available for those working the station.

Individual stations that contact GR2HQ on up to 12 band/mode slots will also be eligible for a special certificate (Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum) issued by the GR2HQ team.

There is also a UK HQ Club Challenge where members of radio clubs produce a Combined Club score by working the UK headquarters station GR2HQ on as many bands/modes as possible during the IARU HF Championship 2011 contest. Stations wishing to enter the IARU contest can add their score to the overall club score.

GB2HQ UK Headquarters team
http://www.gr2hq.com/

Fri 8th July 2011

This weekend the Finningley Microwave Round Table takes place. This is at the local club, see: http://www.g0ghk.co.uk/

Peter, G3PYB, will be operational from the site with 70cm DATV. He will be active on Saturday afternoon and part of Sunday.

The club is providing a 70cm yagi on their lattice mast.

The location is between Scunthorpe and Doncaster in North Lincolnshire. Nearest postcode DN8 5SX

Watch the G3PYB members stream on www.batc.tv during the weekend.

This will provide further detail and text talkback.

Equipment:
Transmission: 100W, 2MS/s, FEC=1/2, 436 or 437 MHz as required.
Reception: Usual up converter to satellite receiver.
Antenna: 70cm Yagi at 70 ft, no local trees, no hills for many miles.
Talkback: 144.750 MHz and G3PYB personal stream on www.batc.tv

I hope that you manage to contact Peter, this is a good opportunity to encourage interest in DATV.

David, G8ADM

Fri 8th July 2011

Devices using so-called TV white spaces are currently being trialled and now the BBC report that Ofcom believes they would work equally well in the FM spectrum.

White spaces exist between used channels, since assigning nearby transmissions to immediately adjacent channels will cause destructive interference to both.

The UK Government plans to shutdown national FM broadcast stations in 2015.

Read the BBC story at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14052944

Fri 8th July 2011

A recent change of the National Allocation Table in the Netherlands shows that Dutch amateurs will get a secondary allocation from 501-505 kHz until 1 January 2014 and a secondary allocation from 70.0-70.5 MHz.

There is one more burocratic hurdle to overcome: The start date is not until an update of the so called "Regeling gebruik van frequentieruimte zonder vergunning 2008".

IARU R1

Thur 7th July 2011

Ofcom has launched the UK’s first interactive map of fixed broadband, using actual data provided by communications providers about the UK’s broadband infrastructure.

Ofcom is required to submit a report on the UK’s communications infrastructure to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport every three years.

As the first stage of meeting our infrastructure duty, Ofcom is publishing the online map, which allows users to zoom in and out of administrative authorities of the UK and provides a range of data to offer a picture of broadband provision in each area.

The map, available at http://maps.ofcom.org.uk/broadband/, was compiled using data provided by communications providers and covers 200 administrative authorities.

Specifically it covers:

- availability of superfast broadband (the percentage of addresses which are within the coverage area of superfast broadband networks);

- average broadband take-up (excluding superfast broadband connections);

- average maximum speed for ADSL and cable services (excluding superfast broadband); and

- the percentage of homes with broadband currently not receiving 2Mbit/s speeds.

The report which accompanies the map can be found here:
http://maps.ofcom.org.uk/broadband/downloads/
ofcom-uk-broadband-speed-report-2011.pdf

Thur 7th July 2011

Ofcom has published the results of a study to assess the potential for interference from Long Term Evolution user equipment operating in the 832 – 862 MHz band into Short Range Devices operating in the adjacent 863 – 870 MHz band.

Using worst case assumptions, the research identified that some SRDs could suffer interference. However the initial study suggests it is unlikely they will suffer significantly more interference in real-life situations than already exists in this unprotected band.

The update can be found here:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/
technical-licence-conditions/

PDF Investigation on the receiver characteristics of SRD equipment in the 863 - 870 MHz band
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/
tlc/annexes/SRD-Study.pdf

Sat 2nd July 2011

In April 2011, the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) informed the public that as of September 6, 2011, it would no longer broadcast its geophysical alert message on WWV and WWVH.

The ARRL has now learned that the SWPC has changed its mind and will keep broadcasting these messages that inform listeners of the solar flux, the mid-latitude A and K indices and space weather storms, both current and predicted.

Due to listener feedback, the SWPC is considering updating the broadcast; in addition to providing the current daily solar flux at 2800 MHz, the SWPC is evaluating adding more frequent observations at 2695 MHz.

According to the SWPC website, other improvements to the message content will also be evaluated.

Sat 2nd July 2011

It began in 1998 with 40 countries represented by 158 registrations. Around 50 countries will join this annual amateur radio fun event when it occurs on August 20 and 21 this year.

With the 14th annual ILLW less than two months away, entries are up 10% up on last year, with top numbers being Australia in the lead on 44, followed by the USA with 41 and Germany at 37.

From the beginning and still running strong are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Northern Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Sweden, USA and Wales.

New countries this year are Azerbaijan and Thailand. Other smaller countries such as the Isle of Man, Lebanon, Namibia and St Lucia are in the mix.

Organiser Kevin Mulcahy VK2CE says he’s hoping to have close to 500 entries this year as the unique event continues to grow in popularity.

It is not a contest, runs for one weekend only and there are no strict rules just guidelines.

Check out the website ILLW.NET for more information
 

Jim Linton VK3PC

Sat 2nd July 2011

The RSGB announced recently that the South of England news reading on 3640kHz would have to terminate due to a lack of newsreaders. However, according to a report in this week's RSGB news, some members have now come forward offering to read for the 0900 LSB schedule.

One of the volunteers is Alison, G8ROG, who is the RSGB Regional Manager for London and the Thames Valley.

Accordingly, Alison will set up a net on 3640kHz, plus or minus QRM, this Sunday, 3 July, at 0900 local time and invite volunteers to call in. She will hold a second net at 0900 on the following Sunday, 10 July. Volunteers are asked to join one of the nets, when propagation can be checked out and a news reading rota drawn up.

Full details of the GB2RS News Service can be found in the Members' Only section of the RSGB website. RSGB members who wish to offer their services are asked to complete the form at the Volunteers tab and send it to the GB2RS News Manager, Gordon Adams, G3LEQ, whose details appear on the document.

Hopefully, we may soon be able to announce a re-instatement of this service for 80 metres listeners in the South.

Sat 2nd July 2011

In the past ten days, the Radio Society of Great Britain has responded to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on a consultation seeking opinion on the release of 500MHz of spectrum by 2020 and an open letter that seeks to review communications for the digital age.

Both responses from the Society can be seen at www.rsgb.org/spectrumforum/consultations/index.php.

Sat 2nd July 2011

The UK Government appears to be committed to the 2015 date for the switch-off of all national analog AM and FM broadcast stations.

In the recently released Digital Radio Action Plan they say:

The Government recognises the industry desire to reduce the burden of dual-transmission through an early switchover. There are also benefits to consumers of a quicker transition to digital radio and the certainty this can bring, including a reduction in the price of digital receivers through greater economies of scale. Therefore, the timetable for the delivery of the Action Plan supports a switchover date of 2015 as a target which all parts of the industry can work towards.

Read the Digital Radio Action Plan version 4 at
http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/8218.aspx

Sat 2nd July 2011

Bill Ray writes on The Register about the RSGB's response to plans by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to sell-off vast chunks of the radio spectrum.

Read The Register article at
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/30/rsgb_response/

See also:
Spectrum Management responses to DCMS

Fri 1st July 2011

Portuguese Radio Amateurs have been allocated an additional frequency at 5 MHz (60m).

In June 2011 the Portuguese administration Anacom assigned 5288.5 kHz in addition to the already authorized frequencies of 5371.5 kHz and 5403.5 kHz on a secondary / non interference basis.

The special propagation study permits are being issued for a year.

Source - IARU Region 1
http://www.iaru-r1.org/

Fri 1st July 2011

Malta is the latest country to allocate an Amateur Radio band at 500 kHz (600m).

The latest version of the Maltese National Frequency Plan contains an entry for 501-504 kHz with the following footnote (MLT03): The allocation of the band 501-504 kHz to the amateur service is valid until 31 December 2011. Stations in the amateur service using this frequency band shall not exceed a maximum effective radiated power of 10 Watts (10dBW) and shall not cause harmful interference to services operating in the same or adjacent frequency bands. Transmissions in this band shall be limited to experimental or research.

Source - IARU Region 1
http://www.iaru-r1.org/

Malta Amateur Radio League (MARL)
http://www.9h1mrl.org/

Fri 1st July 2011

ScienceDaily report on a pen that can be used to create flexible electronic circuits.

University of Illinois engineers have developed a silver-inked rollerball pen capable of writing electrical circuits and interconnects on paper, wood and other surfaces. The pen is writing whole new chapters in low-cost, flexible and disposable electronics.

Read the ScienceDaily report at
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/
110628151632.htm