March 12, 2010 by kb3ljm.

The New Zealand government has granted New Zealand amateurs temporary access to a slice of the 600m spectrum. The new allocation, 505 to 515kHz, was previously used for Morse code communications with ships. There are a few restrictions to the use of these frequencies. If these frequencies are allocated to other services, amateurs must not cause interference to these services but must accept any interference from them. Radiated power must not exceed 25 watts EIRP and the bandwidth of transmissions must not exceed 200Hz. It is hoped that this allocation will, eventually, be made permanent. [RSGB]

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September 9, 2009 by kb3ljm.

The IARU is encouraging amateurs to get on the air and use CW on the 7MHz band. This is because Portuguese fishermen are abusing 7000.4kHz using USB every morning from 0700 - 0900UTC and later. These fishermen are located off the North of Portugal. Use this frequency for CW traffic, says the IARU.

http://www.rsgb.org/news/

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September 5, 2009 by kb3ljm.

Well known Amateur Radio Magazine author and experimenter, Drew Diamond, VK3XU, is operating a CW beacon on 137.4 kHz every Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evening. Drew has activated a 50 Watt transmitter into an inverted wire antenna from his Wonga Park QTH. He would like to receiver signal reports, that can be sent to his email address: vk3xu@wia.org.au providing date, time, signal strength and grid locator (eb QF22ML). Due to the very low antenna efficiencies at this frequency, Drew estimates his effective radiated power is 6 milliWatts. His signal has been heard in Melbourne, Sale and Sydney.

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July 23, 2009 by kb3ljm.

Belarus has gained access to the extended 40m band. In the 7.1 - 7.2MHz frequency range it is allowed to use SSB and CW with 500W max and, as always, up to 1kW in contests under a special authorisation. In the same decision of the State Commission for Radio Frequencies that was dated May 14 but just recently released, the 160m band has also been extended for Belarus amateurs. The frequencies accessible are now 1.810 to 2.000MHz. On 27 June, the French administration announced that 7.1 - 7.2MHz will be available to the amateur service. Unfortunately another signature is needed before publication.

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July 22, 2009 by kb3ljm.

The Eighth IARU Region 3 ARDF Championships, originally scheduled for 29 October to 3 November 2009 near Bangkok, Thailand, have been cancelled due to concerns for the safety and convenience of participants. This announcement was made on June 26 by JA1HQG, chair of the IARU Region 3 ARDF Committee. In his announcement, he added that there was insufficient time to make arrangements to hold the championships in another country of Region 3 this year. [RSGB]

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July 21, 2009 by kb3ljm.

Download latest G3ZHI UK Callbook for free: http://www.qsl.net/g3zhi/cb1.html

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May 8, 2009 by kb3ljm.

Speaking about the International Amateur Radio Union, it has thanked shortwave broadcasters for achieving a high degree of migration away from the now-worldwide Amateur-exclusive band of 7100 to 7200 kHz. This, by the mandated March 29th date. IARU Secretary Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, has been quick to acknowledge the compliance by most broadcasters to QSY out of that band, as required by a decision of the World Radio Conference in 2003. In a statement, Sumner thanked the international broadcast community for its compliance with the changeover schedule. He also noted that he is certain that the few remaining broadcast transmitters operating on 7200 kHz and below will be addressed in the coming weeks. Sumner’s letter of appreciation was sent to the High Frequency Coordination Conference. That group
represents 60 organizations from more than 30 countries accounting for up to 80% of the global output of short wave broadcasting. The departure of broadcasting from this spectrum has resulted in an enormous improvement in the usefulness of 40 meters for amateur radio communication. (VK3PC)

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March 3, 2009 by kb3ljm.

On January 29, the Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) announced that Amateur Radio operators in that country will now have access to 50-52 MHz (6 meters) with a power output limit of 200 W. Before the change, Swedish amateurs were allowed on the band only with a special license at an additional cost. The Föreningen Sveriges Sandareamatorer (SSA), Sweden’s IARU Member-Society, also announced that as of April 1, Swedish amateurs will gain access to 7.0-7.2 MHz (40 meters), bringing Sweden into line with the WRC-03 decision to shift broadcasting stations in Regions 1 and 3 out of the 7100-7200 kHz band and to reallocate the band exclusively to the Amateur Service in those two regions as of March 29. Each country in Regions 1 and 3 is permitted to determine their own timeline for the amateur allocation. While the band has been vacated by commercial broadcasters, no country is required to give amateurs privileges on those frequencies.

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/02/05/10612/

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November 1, 2008 by kb3ljm.

This is WIANEWS for week commencing Nov 2 2008
New equipment prices rising soon (in Australia)
With the shifting of value in the World’s currencies it was inevitable that Ham Radio equipment sourced from overseas would eventually increase in price. Navcom Electronics, one of Queensland’s prime Ham Radio equipment dealers has just advised that prices for ICOM equipment will be rising at least 10 percent from November 1st and an announcement from Standard Vertex on price rises on Yaesu equipment is expected shortly. Whilst dealers like Navcom will sell their currently held stocks at the current prices or arrange lay-by terms, it is expected that a run on these equipment stocks will quickly force dealers to have to order in new stock at the higher prices. (via vk4zz)

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January 2, 2008 by kb3ljm.

Richard Dillman from the Maritime Radio Historical Society (MRHS) reports a new US class 1A common carrier Morse code coast station has been licensed by the FCC!

Richard said “Those in the US interested in preserving 500KHz for commercial operation should apply for a commercial coast station license - just as the MRHS did for KSM.”

Two people made applications. One of these has been granted today 24th Sept.
Read the rest of this entry »

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