May 12, 2008 by kb3ljm.

In two separate decisions released today, the Federal Communications Commission denied two Petitions for Rulemaking (PRM) having to do with Amateur Radio. These two PRMs, one filed by Mark Miller, N5RFX, of Arlington, Texas, concerning digital spectrum issues, and the other filed jointly by Ken Chafin, W6CPA, of La Crescenta, California, and Leon Brown, KC6JAR, of Los Angeles, California, concerning additional spectrum for more repeaters, including digital systems. Miller’s PRM was assigned RM-11392, while the Chafin and Brown petition was not afforded an RM number by the FCC. According to ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, the ARRL filed no comments on either petition in accordance with the League’s standard policy on bare petitions for rule making that do not deal with spectrum allocations.

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/05/07/10087/?nc=1

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May 12, 2008 by kb3ljm.

The Dallas Morning News has reported that “an ambitious plan for using power lines to deliver fast Internet service to 2 million Dallas-area homes collapsed Thursday.” Current Group, LLC has announced plans to sell its Dallas BPL network to Oncor, a regulated electric distribution and transmission business, for $90 million. Oncor reportedly has no plans to offer Internet service but will use the network to detect distribution network issues. While Current originally touted the network as a way to offer Internet service to consumers and had entered into a marketing arrangement with DirecTV, the Houston Chronicle quotes Oncor spokesman Chris Schein as confirming that Oncor will use the network only for monitoring the power grid: “Our business is delivering electricity, not being an Internet provider or a television provider.”

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/05/02/10078/?nc=1

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May 12, 2008 by kb3ljm.

The RSGB has completed its relocation to Bedford and is fully operational. The new mailing address
is 3 Abbey Court, Priory Business Park, Bedford, MK44 3WH. The phone number is unchanged,
0870 904 7373. Email addresses also remain the same. For the time being, QSL Bureau cards should continue to be sent to PO Box 1773, Potters Bar, EN6 3DP. They are being forwarded to the new QSL handler, Norcomm Services. The Bedford office is purely administrative and will not be open to visitors. A purpose-built visitors’ centre, the RSGB Pavilion, will be set up at Bletchley Park. It will include the National Amateur Radio Library and Museum and the GB3RS shack. Details will be published in RadCom and on GB2RS as they become available. [GB2RS]

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May 12, 2008 by kb3ljm.

Again this week, we saw a new, but brief sunspot, sunspot 993. Judging from the polarity of the spot, it looks to be from new Solar Cycle 24; this spot was south of the solar equator, so it has the same polarity as any Cycle 23 spot that was north of the equator. After two days it was gone, not from drifting over the edge of the visible solar disk — it just disappeared.

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/05/09/10090/?nc=1

Posted in K7RA Solar Update, ARRL Web Extra | Comments Off

May 12, 2008 by kb3ljm.

Ronald A. Parise, PhD, WA4SIR, passed away Friday May 9, 2008 after a very long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 57. Parise flew as a payload specialist on two space shuttle missions: STS-35 on Columbia in December 1990 and STS-67 on the Endeavour in March 1995. These two missions, ASTRO-1 and ASTRO-2 respectively, carried out ultraviolet and x-ray astronomical observations, logging more than 614 hours and 10.6 million miles in space. Parise was one of the first astronomers to operate a telescope from space, making hundreds of observations during the mission. Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Chairman Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO, said Parise’s personal contributions to these two missions provided scientists with “an unprecedented view of our universe, expanding our understanding of the birth, life and death of stars and galaxies.”

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/05/10/10092/?nc=1

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May 12, 2008 by kb3ljm.

UGANDA, 5X.

Michael, PA5M is QRV as 5X1DX while working for the UN World Food Programme. He is active in his spare time mainly in the evenings or on the weekends. QSL via PA7FM.

CROATIA, 9A.

Special event station 9A08P is QRV until December 31 in celebration of the city of Djurdjevac. Activity is on all bands and modes. QSL via bureau.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, 9Q.

Georges, 9Q1EK and Philippe, 9Q1TB are active at various times. QSL both calls via SM5DJZ.

PORTUGAL, CT.

In celebration of the 4th International Polar Year, special event station CQ4IPY is QRV at various times throughout the year. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, SSTV andPSK31. QSL via CT1BWW.

PHILIPPINES, DU.

Ram, DV8AIK is QRV as 4D75D from Mindanao Island, IOTA OC-130, until the end of 2008 in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Philippine Amateur Radio Association. Activity is on 20 and 15 meters using SSB. QSL via bureau.

TAJIKISTAN, EY.

Jean is QRV as EY8/F4EOH from Dushanbe until the end of August. Activity is on 20 meters using SSB. QSL via operator’s instructions.

BRAZIL, PY.

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the first Japanese immigration to Brazil, special event station PY100JA is active until December, 2008. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using all modes. QSL via PY2PA.

CHRISTMAS ISLAND, VK9X.

James, N1YC and Bert, PE7T are QRV as homecalls/VK9X. Activity is mostly on 40 to 15 meters using CW and SSB. Their length of stay is unknown. QSL N1YC/VK9X via N5ID and PE7T/VK9X to home call.

http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/dx/2008-arld018.html

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