| |
GB2RS > NEWS 31.05.07 22:58l 316 Lines 10926 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : GB2RS030607A
Read: GUEST
Subj: MAIN NEWS - 03 Jun 07 1/11
Path: DB0FHN<DB0FOR<DB0MRW<DK0WUE<DB0RES<ON0AR<GB7YKS<GB7SYP<GB7PFD<GB7PZT<
GB7MAX<GB7COV<GB7COV<GB2RS
Sent: 070531/2129Z @:GB2RS.GB7COV.#29.GBR.EU
From: GB2RS@GB7COV.#29.GBR.EU
To : NEWS@WW
* Amateur becomes Mayor of Cambridge
* Canadians lose 136kHz and 5MHz
* Major product launches at Dayton Hamvention
* CNN to end european analogue satellite distribution
* New DAB standard is incompatible with current receivers
* New workshop for Amateur Satellite Service
* RSGB HQ examination session - 20 July
* Ofcom put online licensing helpsheet on the web
* Amateur Radio Full Licensees - Special Research Permits
* RSGB & IARU Respond to 10GHz Auction
* Rallies and Events
* Special Event News
Amateur becomes Mayor of Cambridge
.
Jenny Bailey, G0VQH, became Mayor of Cambridge in the local council
election on 24 May.
Jenny was first elected to Cambridge City Council in 2002, serving East
Chesterton ward and becoming an executive councillor.
She has spent the past 12 months as deputy Mayor. Apart from her usual
civic duties, she hopes to bring a better understanding of amateur radio
to local and national government.
Canadians lose 136kHz and 5MHz
.
Since 2001, a number of special, time-limited authorisations have been
granted to some Canadian radio amateurs to conduct experiments on 136 kHz
and at 5 MHz.
All of these special authorisations will expire and transmissions must
cease on 30 June, 2007. Further special authorisations will depend on the
outcomes of WRC-2007, scheduled for 22 October - 16 November.
At the suggestion of Canada, the agenda includes a new, worldwide,
secondary Amateur allocation at 135.7 - 137.8 kHz. A secondary
allocation near 5 MHz may also arise at WRC-2007 as a consideration in
the review of radio services in the band 4 - 10 MHz.
Major product launches at Dayton Hamvention
A number of major companies chose last weekend's Dayton Hamvention
to launch new products.
Elecraft, FlexRadio, Icom, TenTec, Kenwood and Yaesu all announced new
transceivers. Dishtronix and Tokyo Hy-Power announced kilowatt-class
solid state linears, and other well-known names such as MFJ and Palstar
also had new offerings.
Look for news of these and other new products in forthcoming issues of
RadCom.
CNN to end european analogue satellite distribution
CNN International is to end its analogue satellite distribution in Europe
on 4 June, when its current contract with Astra expires.
CNN International is to end its analogue satellite distribution in Europe
on 4 June, when its current contract with Astra expires.
CNNI is already available free-to-air via other satellites and even
terrestrially via DVB-T in some areas. The analogue satellite
transmissions at 19.2 degrees East are still used by around half the
satellite viewers in Germany, but SES Astra wants to phase out the
analogue services and complete its transition to digital.
New DAB standard is incompatible with current receivers
Current DAB radios may be unable to receive anything in a few years time,
according to Pure Digital.
This is due to the introduction of DAB Plus, which uses the new AAC Plus
audio coding.
The new DAB standard is incompatible with existing DAB receivers, and
will render them obsolete. The new coding system is twice as efficient as
the MP2 system currently in use, meaning that the number of channels per
multiplex could double.
Manufacturers are expected to quietly switch to producing dual standard
receivers before any changeover occurs. The British DAB system is
unlikely to be affected for many years.
New workshop for Amateur Satellite Service
AMSAT UK appreciate that space communications may seem daunting to many
new amateurs so they have organised a special beginners workshop which
will show how to get started in this exciting aspect of amateur radio.
The beginners workshop will be held as part of the AMSAT UK 22nd
International Space Colloquium to be held at the University of Surrey,
Guildford, from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 July.
From 2002 until 2006 AMSAT UK campaigned to get Foundation licence
holders access to the Amateur Satellite Service. At the end of last year
the UK regulator Ofcom agreed to allow Foundation holders full access to
the Amateur Satellite Service following detailed negotiations with the
RSGB.
.
This new privilege enables Foundation holders to speak directly to
Astronauts on the International Space Station and communicate around the
world on VHF and UHF via the rapidly growing number of Amateur Radio
Satellites.
The event is open to all radio amateurs and SWL's. You do not need to be
an AMSAT-UK member. Either day passes or full packages comprising
overnight accommodation and meals at the University are available. There
is an online booking service and PayPal, Visa and Master Card payments
are accepted. For more details contact Jim Heck on G3WGM on 01258 453959.
RSGB HQ examination session - 20 July
The RSGB are happy to announce that they will be providing an examination
session at RSGB HQ on Friday 20th July 2007 to coincide with the July
Advanced Examination.
We are also able to run Foundation and Intermediate examinations on this
day but practical assessments must be completed beforehand.
If you are interested in attending then please contact
rce.dept@rsgb.org.uk no later than 22 June.
Ofcom put online licensing helpsheet on the web
.
Following the introduction of the Lifetime Licence and online licensing
system in December 2006, Ofcom have recently made available a guide on
how to use their online system.
The comprehensive document, which runs to fifteen pages, is presented as
a pdf file and has step-by-step instructions on how to use all the online
features. It includes specific instructions on the areas of the system
which have caused particular confusion to users, such as the need to
edit' your details to force the system to generate your licence.
The document, entitled "User Guide for Amateur Radio Applicants", can be
downloaded from the Help and Guidance section of the Ofcom web site at
www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing/olc/guidance/.
Amateur Radio Full Licensees - Special Research Permits
in the region of 501 kHz
.
Ofcom has decided to permit a limited number of Amateur Radio Full
licensees to operate under a Special Research Permit between 501 and 504
kHz for a 12 month period commencing from 1 March 2007.
This follows representations made by the Radio Society of Great Britain
and negotiations with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Special Research Permits under a Notice of Variation to the Licence may
be made available to holders of Full Amateur Licences on a case by case
basis to applicants who can demonstrate a genuine interest in
experimentation at these frequencies and provide adequate supporting
documentation for assessment.
Due to the usage of the spectrum around 500 kHz, applicants should pay
special attention to demonstrating technical and operational competence
in terms of transmitting within the frequency and Effective Radiated
Power (e.r.p.) parameters agreed with Ofcom. Previous experience at 73
kHz as well as 136 kHz will be considered desirable in this respect to
ensure adequate steps are taken to limit any potential interference.
Ofcom will monitor any interference reports with a view to limiting
numbers in the use of the band if necessary. In general, considerably
lower e.r.p. levels than that permitted in the 136 kHz band are likely to
be favourable and this will only be permitted where it can be
demonstrated that increased powers are necessary for research. On no
account will an e.r.p. level of greater than - 10 dBW be permitted
under any circumstance.
The standard application form (OfW306) for a Special Research Permit can
be downloaded at:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/amateur/applicatio
ns/ofw306.pdf
Form OfW306 is also available on request from the Ofcom Licensing Centre
at:
Ofcom Licensing Centre
Amateur Radio
Riverside House
2a Southwark Bridge Road
London SE1 9HA
Tel: 020 7981 3131
You can also find more information on the RSGB Spectrum Forum website at:
http://www.rsgb-spectrumforum.org.uk/mf.htm
RSGB & IARU Respond to 10GHz Auction
.
RSGB and IARU Region-1 are continuing their defence of the 10GHz band.
Their responses to the latest Ofcom consultation on the Spectrum auction
can be found on the Ofcom website at
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/10-40GHz/responses/.
The RSGB & IARU responses are the second formal submission on this topic
and continues the joint effort in conjunction with affiliated societies
including AMSAT-UK, the UK Microwave Group and the British Amateur
Television Group BATC. Ofcom plans would have potentially serious
consequences for innovative developments by the Amateur Satellite Service.
Rallies and Events
On Sunday 3 June the Red Rose QRP Festival takes place from 11am at
Formby Hall, Alder Street, Atherton, Manchester. Details form Les, G4HZJ,
on 01942 870634.
On Sunday 3 June the Spalding & DARS Annual Rally takes place from 10am
at the Sir John Gleed Technical School, Halmer Gardens, Spalding. Details
form Ambrose, M0DJA, on 07989 636 520.
On Sunday 10 June the Elvaston Castle National Radio Rally takes place
from 9am at Elvaston Castle Country Park, Elvaston, Derby. Details from
Les on 01332 559965 or on the web at www.elvastonrally.co.uk.
More details of these and future events can be found on the Rallies and
Events page.
Special Event News
GB1EPC will be active until 28 June to celebrate the European PSK Club
1st year birthday. EPC number is EPC#2000. The station will be setup at
Bridge Street in Glasgow. Anyone is welcome to operate at the station.
PSK modes only of course. QSL-cards via MM0DFV.
Roger Greengrass, G4NRG, plans to operate as GM4NRG/P from the Isle of
Lismore Scotland, EU-008, from approximately 3 to 15 June. He will try
and put a spot on the DX cluster when operational. Operation will be on
HF and 6m, holiday style, on SSB and digital modes. QSL via home call.
On 9 and 10 June several members of the Marcon section of ARI in Italy
will join the operations relevant to the Museum Ships Weekend 2007, in
coordination with A.R.M.I. (Italian Mariners Radioamateurs Association).
This weekend will see the simultaneous activation of many military and
commercial ships around the world.
The Bolsover Amateur Radio Society will be operating as GB2PF on Saturday
11 and Sunday 12 August to commemorate the birthday of local man Peter
Fidler, who was a famous surveyor in Canada in the 1790s. The club
intends to operate as many bands as possible, HF, VHF and UHF, from the
new club shack located at the Coalite Sports and Social Club, Moor Lane,
Bolsover.
.
---------------------------------------
This news item was prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain
and was downloaded from http://www.rsgb.org, converted from HTML
to plain text and uploaded at GB7COV.#29.GBR.EU by G3ZFR.
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
