eHam.net News

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Ham Radio to Link Ahmedabad Students with Sunita Williams:

Posted: 16 Jul 2012 05:20 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/28637


AHMEDABAD: If all goes well for the Gujarat Science City officials, the
institute will establish amateur radio contact with International Space
Station (ISS) where Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams will be
stationed for four months. The state students might be able to talk to
Williams directly about her experience. The science city officials have
initiated communication with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) authorities for the project.


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ACMA: The Band 420-430 MHz to be Withdrawn from Amateurs on 1 January 2013:

Posted: 16 Jul 2012 05:19 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/28636


The ACMA has advised the WIA that the 420 to 430 MHz segment of the 70 cm
amateur band will be withdrawn as a secondary allocation at least for
general amateur use from 1st January 2013. Internationally, in all three
Regions, the band 420 - 430 MHz is allocated to fixed and mobile primary
and radiolocation secondary, with a footnote allocating the band on a
secondary basis to amateur only in the USA, Jamaica, the Philippines and
Australia. Use of the band in Australia has been restricted to Advanced
licensees and further restricted by various exclusion zones in NSW, the
ACT, and the Jervis Bay area, Sydney, Perth and Melbourne. In April 2008
the WIA reported on the public consultation by the ACMA as part of its
review of the band 403 - 520 MHz. From the outset it was obvious that the
amateur band 420 - 450 MHz would be affected. Fairly early on, the bands
430 - 450 MHz was announced to be "out of scope" for the review. However,
the ACMA has indicated that segment 440-450 MHz may be used on a temporary
basis by displaced land mobile services until they are relocated during a
transition phase. In September 2008 the WIA reported on the release of the
submissions received by the ACMA, and in June 2010 the WIA further reported
on the ACMA's announcements. An examination of the WIA 70 Cm Band Plan
shows that the segment 420 - 430 MHz is largely "Restricted". The band 420
- 430 MHz is allocated in Australia to radiolocation and mobile as primary.
That primary mobile use is by government networks supporting essential and
emergency networks for police, fire and ambulance. That use commenced in
1999, and since 2009 the Council of Australian Governments has supported
the interoperability and harmonisation of those services. The only real
problem that the withdrawal of this segment creates for amateurs is that
there are a number of repeater link assignments that will need to be moved
by 1st January 2013. There are some 34 licensees affected, mainly clubs,
involving at least 73 separate assignments.


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Outdated Code Hinders Growth of Amateur Radio:

Posted: 16 Jul 2012 05:16 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/28635


Nigel Hoyow, president of the Jamaica Amateur Radio Association (JARA), has
stated that there was a deficiency in young amateur radio operators (ham)
due to the fact that the current system operates under Morse code, a method
which is long outdated. Hoyow made the comment at a handing over ceremony
at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management in Kingston
on Thursday. The Canadian International Development Agency and the Canada
Caribbean Disaster Risk Management Fund made the donation of
telecommunications equipment to JARA. "It goes without saying that the old
operators are phasing out, youngsters such as the ones from the physics
department at the University of the West Indies (UWI) are technologically
advanced and hence require more recent systems. Many of these young
operators have migrated to other countries such as Canada and the United
States due to the Morse code, it is stifling our growth," he told The
Gleaner. Morse code is a requirement from the Spectrum Management Agency
(SMA) to receive the training to attain an amateur training
licence. "Youngsters that are in the physics department at UWI, and even
sixth-form students are having difficulties in an attaining amateur radio
licence because of Morse code being a requirement. It is no longer being
used in radio communication throughout the world," he added. The SMA
regulates amateur radio operation in Jamaica and issues a licence to anyone
who sits the exam. Morse code is a requirement for this exam. Gerald
Burton, operations manager of JARA, said the SMA had sent a request to the
Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology to remove the Morse Code Act
from being a requirement to attain the amateur radio licence. It was sent
in 2005 and since then there has been no response. When contacted, Minister
Phillip Paulwell said he was not aware of the request and would seek more
information.


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Colorado 14er Event -- August 5, 2012:

Posted: 16 Jul 2012 05:21 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/28634


Amateur Radio operators from around Colorado will be climbing many of
Colorado's 14,000-foot mountains to set up amateur radio stations in an
effort to communicate with other radio amateurs across the state and around
the world. Join in on the fun on the Sunday of the first full weekend in
August and see how many of the mountaintop stations you can contact. The
prime operating hours are from approximately 9 AM to noon local time (1500
to 1800 UTC), but activity may occur at other times during the day.