July 6, 2007 by kb3ljm.

The WIA has applied to the ACMA for experimental access to a small band of frequencies near 500 kHz.
Amateur radio operators in the United States, Sweden and Germany have recently been granted experimental access to frequencies just above 500 kHz. Applications for access to this band have also been lodged by the NZART and the RSGB.
“We conducted a poll last year of Australian radio amateurs to ascertain if there was an interest in a similar allocation in Australia”. WIA Director, Glenn Dunstan VK4DU said. “We received numerous enthusiastic responses”.
The WIA submission requests a temporary/experimental MF amateur allocation be made for the frequency range 505-515 kHz.
“This proposed allocation places us above the guard band around the distress and safety channel at 500 kHz, and lines up with the current amateur MF allocations in Europe and the US”, Glenn said.
The WIA recognises that the former marine distress and calling frequency of 500 kHz remains so designated in the International Radio Regulations (guard band 495-505 kHz), and that this status will not be changed until WRC-11 at the earliest.
“The WIA requested a temporary amateur allocation, rather than an experimental (non-amateur) licence, as it is our view that this represents the most suitable access mechanism”, Glenn said.
“Many administrations forbid communications between amateur and non-amateur stations, and an Australian non-amateur experimental licence would thus preclude many weak signal propagation opportunities with overseas stations.”
The limited spectrum available precludes the use of wide band telephony type modes. The WIA submission proposes a maximum necessary bandwidth of 200 Hz, to limit operation to CW and slow speed robust data modes, such as PSK31. This is the practice adopted in the current experimental MF amateur band in Europe and the US.
The WIA also proposed that because of the technical challenges involved, the MF band be only made available to Advanced class amateur stations.
It is also proposed that normal amateur output power limits be used.

http://www.wia.org.au/news/2007/20070214-01.php

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July 6, 2007 by kb3ljm.

AFGHANISTAN, YA.

Dejan, 9A4ZD has been active as YA/9A4ZD on 20 meter SSB. Watch around 14300 kHz at various times. He was also spotted on 18130 kHz after 1130z. QSL via his home callsign.

SRI LANKA, 4S.

Look for Nelson, 4S7NE on or near 18069 between 1100 and 1300z.

http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/dx/2007-arld027.html

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July 6, 2007 by kb3ljm.

Women don’t talk more than men. Really, they don’t.
Really.
Popular wisdom would have it that women are much chattier than men, speaking 20,000 words a day, vs. the average man’s 7,000.
But a study being published Friday debunks that stereotype. Both men and women use about 16,000 words a day, says the new research, in Science magazine.
“It’s been a common belief, but it just didn’t fit,” says James Pennebaker, chairman of the psychology department at the University of Texas at Austin and co-author of the seven-year study.

Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-07-05-women-men-talking_N.htm?csp=34

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