March 28, 2008 by kb3ljm.

Motorola Inc. on Wednesday said its board of directors OK’d a plan to break the conglomerate into two independent, publicly-traded companies. One company will focus on its mobile devices business, and the other will specialize in broadband and mobility solutions. Based on current plans, the creation of the two stand-alone businesses is expected to take the form of a tax-free distribution to Motorola’s shareholders, subject to further financial, tax and legal analysis. “Our decision to separate our Mobile Devices and Broadband & Mobility Solutions businesses follows a review process undertaken by our management team and Board of Directors, together with independent advisors,” said Greg Brown, Motorola’s president and chief executive officer. “Creating two industry-leading companies will provide improved flexibility, more tailored capital structures, and increased management focus - as well as more targeted investment opportunities for our shareholders.”

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industries/technology/article/motorola-split-companies_534005_12.html

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March 21, 2008 by kb3ljm.

N2Y and N2J will be the Special Event call signs used for this year’s special event honoring the precious lives that were lost and giving thanks to the world that stood by us in time of need while this tragic event shattered lives throughout the globe. Let us not forget the lives that were taken during the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993. This is for them as well!
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March 21, 2008 by kb3ljm.

A mathematical mystery that has baffled the top minds in the esoteric field of symbolic dynamics for nearly four decades has recently been cracked — by a 63-year-old former security guard.

Avraham Trakhtman, a mathematician who worked as a laborer after immigrating to Israel from Russia, has succeeded where dozens have failed, solving the elusive “Road Coloring Problem.”
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March 19, 2008 by kb3ljm.

The fourth Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference, GAREC- 2008, will take place on Thursday, 26, and Friday, 27 June 2008 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, in combination with HamRadio 2008 (27-29 June).

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March 19, 2008 by kb3ljm.

One of the U.S. government’s most significant sales of wireless airwaves concluded on Tuesday, racking up nearly $19.6 billion in bids over 261 rounds.

The 700MHz spectrum, which is currently being used to air analog TV broadcasts, was put on the auction block by the Federal Communications Commission in January. It’s scheduled to be freed up by February 2009 to make way for all-digital broadcasts.

The slice of airwaves has proven attractive to potential bidders–including Google, Verizon, and others–not only because it’s one of the last remaining chunks of beachfront spectrum, but because of its inherent properties, which mean the waves can travel long distances and propagate through walls. Some say those characteristics make it ideal for offering more robust, affordable wireless broadband services.

The FCC, in a nod to requests from Google and consumer advocacy groups, dictated that about one-third of the spectrum must abide by “open access” principles, requiring whoever wins control of it to allow consumers to operate whatever mobile devices and applications they like.

Another slice of the spectrum was intended to be used to build a nationwide network for public safety operators. But that segment reportedly did not attract the reserve price that the FCC had set, which is potentially a serious setback for proponents of that plan.

It wasn’t immediately clear when the FCC would reveal the identities of the winning bidders.

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9897297-7.html

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March 18, 2008 by kb3ljm.

The South African Maritime Net operates 7 days a week, and provides weather reports from around the coast, and maintains contact with boats off the coast of South Africa and up into the Mozambique channel. There are two regular schedule times as follows:
06:30 UTC: Starts on 14316 kHz for 5-10 minutes, and then moves to 7045 kHz.
11:30 UTC: Starts on 14316 kHz for approximately 30 minutes and then moves down to 7045 kHz.

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March 18, 2008 by kb3ljm.

A UNIQUE hobby group for radio enthusiasts has secured a grant of more than £5,000.

The Worcester Radio Amateurs Association (WRAA), established in October 2006, is celebrating after being given £5,320 from the National Lottery Awards for All scheme. The group, the only amateur radio enthusiast organisation in the Worcestershire area, will use the cash to spread its wings into neighbouring towns.
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February 14, 2008 by kb3ljm.

The Czech Telecommunication Office (CTU) has announced that Czech Amateurs will soon have access to the 70 MHz band.

They plan to issue 20 special permits for 70.2-70.3 MHz with 10 Watts ERP.

The permits will be valid until 31 Dec 2008.

http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2008/czechs_get_70mhz.htm

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January 30, 2008 by kb3ljm.

German nudists will be able to start their holidays early by stripping off on the plane if they take up a new offer from an eastern German travel firm. Travel agency OssiUrlaub.de said it would start taking bookings from (today) for a trial nudist day trip from the eastern German town of Erfurt to the popular Baltic Sea resort of Usedom, planned for July 5 and costing $735. ‘It’s expensive, I know,’ managing director Enrico Hess told Reuters by phone. ‘It’s because the plane’s very small. There’s no real reason why a flight in which one flies naked should be more expensive than any other.’ The 55 passengers will have to remain clothed until they board, and dress before disembarking, said Hess. The crew will remain clothed throughout the flight for safety reasons.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2008/02/bonus.html

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January 29, 2008 by kb3ljm.

On 23 January 2008, Gilbert Restiaux, VE4GIL learned that the City of Winnipeg had dropped their objections to his tower. In 2002, Gil moved to a new neighbourhood. After checking with planning authorities in the city, he received their verbal agreement to erect a 48-foot tower and HF yagi in his back yard. Five years later, one of Gil’s neighbours complained to municipal authorities because he “did not like” the appearance of Gil’s tower.The neighbour lodged complaints by telephone twice a day every day for several months. The City of Winnipeg eventually laid two charges against Gil of violating Winnipeg’s zoning by-law. Gil hired a lawyer, did a great deal of research, and enlisted the help of Tim Ellam, VE6SH ofRAC’s Antenna Structures Committee. Tim provided Gil and his lawyer with documentary references that were of assistance to Gil’s lawyer in arguing that the city’s attempts to regulate Gil’s Amateur Radio antennas were beyond municipal jurisdiction. On 23 January, the day before Gil was scheduled to attend court on the matter of his tower, Kerri Tymchuk, a solicitor for the City of Winnipeg wrote to Gil’s lawyer informing him that the city “will not be pursuing this prosecution.” Although Not clearly stated in Tymchuk’s letter, Gil’s lawyer suggested that the City of Winnipeg understands it does not have jurisdiction over Amateur Radio antennas.

http://www.rac.ca/news

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