TWIAR News Feed

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Amateur radio fans drop the ham-mer on HRD's license key 'blacklist'

Posted: 22 Dec 2016 11:13 PM PST
http://bit.ly/2iiSlyl

On Monday, The Register reported on the story of Jim Giercyk, an amateur
radio enthusiast who had his copy of the popular Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD)
software revoked after posting a negative review.

Since our story was published, a number of Reg readers, including Giercyk
himself and HRD's makers, have followed up with us regarding claims that
this was not an isolated incident and others may have had their license
keys blacklisted for being publicly critical of the company. And just to be
clear: by blackballing keys, installed copies of the software stop working.

Giercyk, a professional musician in South Carolina, US, says that after his
dealings with HRD Software (which has since reinstated his software key)
and the statement made by the developer's co-owner Dr Michael Carper, he
takes issue with claims made by the company. Giercyk, aka N2SUB, told us on
Tuesday:

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Student ham radio satellite returns to life (India)

Posted: 22 Dec 2016 11:13 PM PST
http://bit.ly/2hODWcg

The 10-kg satellite returned to life after ‘disappearing’.

After one month of radio silence, the ground station at the Indian
Institute of Technology, Bombay, received a signal from Pratham satellite
on the morning of December 17, suggesting that it was still alive and
kicking. Pratham is the first satellite to be sent into space by an IIT.

The satellite had received signals in the first few weeks after its launch
on September 26, this year, but had gone quiet in November, due to
technical difficulties, causing team members to worry if it was still
operational.

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National Parks on the Air Contact Tally Tops 1 Million

Posted: 22 Dec 2016 11:13 PM PST
http://bit.ly/2hOtKAx

Participants in the ARRL’s National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) program have
completed more than 1 million contacts! Activators operating from National
Park Service units across the US and Chasers around the world pushed the
contact tally over its goal this week. ARRL sponsored NPOTA to help the
National Park Service celebrate its centennial.

“National Parks on the Air has become one of the most popular events in the
history of the League,” NPOTA Administrator Sean Kutzko, KX9X, said. “It’s
been fun seeing so many hams take part.”

Kutzko said the NPOTA Facebook group really helped drive participation,
especially in the last 3 months, when it became clear that the 1
million-QSO goal was within reach. “Some 25,000 NPOTA contacts were
uploaded to Logbook of The World (LoTW) every week since October,” he
noted. “The entire group came together and simply willed the 1
million-contact mark to be broken. It was incredible to watch!” He said
some real friendships developed among those who frequented the NPOTA
Facebook page.

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German Radio Amateurs Gain Access to 60 Meter Band

Posted: 22 Dec 2016 11:13 PM PST
http://bit.ly/2hxvnj0

On December 21, Amateur Radio operators in Germany gained access to the
band 5.351.5 to 5.366.5 MHz with 15 W EIRP, and a maximum bandwidth of 2.7
kHz. Access applies to Class A licensees. Amateur Radio is secondary on 60
meters in all countries where it is available to Amateur Radio.

The Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC) called users’ attention to the IARU
Region 1 band plan for 60 meters, which recommends CW and digital modes,
maximum bandwidth of 200 Hz, from 5.351.5 to 5.354.0 MHz; all modes,
maximum bandwidth of 2. 7 kHz (use USB for SSB), from 5.354.0 to 5.366.0
MHz, and all modes, maximum bandwidth of 20 Hz “with the least power,” from
5.366.0 to 5.366.5 MHz.

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Donald MacLean: the tech polymath who tried to buy Apple for EMI

Posted: 22 Dec 2016 11:10 PM PST
http://on.ft.com/2hYZktl

In a column earlier this year, I mentioned ham radio as my early
introduction to technology. I received a nice email from a radio amateur
reader in Chorleywood, north of London.

His sign-off intrigued me: “Donald MacLean, 90 yrs old, FT subscriber 50
yrs since Mgt College, Wartime REME cipher-equip engineer @ Bletchley Park
etc, BBC producer (started Come Dancing) then Dep Chairman, New Media @ EMI
in heyday.

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Patients at St. Josephs Childrens hospital get special signal from Santa
Claus (Florida)

Posted: 22 Dec 2016 11:10 PM PST
http://bit.ly/2imikkD

On Tuesday, Santa’s helpers from the hospital and the Bay Area Emergency
Amateur Radio Service helped give patients a direct link from the hospital
to the North Pole.

For years, Christopher Perry and members of the Bay Area Emergency Amateur
Radio Service have turned their station into the “Santa Net Control Center”
where they’re able to connect patients to Santa and Mrs. Claus.

"Even though you're still in the hospital, Santa still knows where you're
located and Santa knows all," Perry said. "You just can't help but smile
when you hear the happiness or reassurance from the children that even
though they're in the hospital that somebody's thinking about them," Perry
said.