February 1, 2008 by kb3ljm.

Investigators are trying to find out why a huge tower in Arkansas collapsed. At 2000 feet high it was once the second highest structure in the world. No one was seriously injured when the tower fell but crews working to strengthen the tower had been just minutes away from climbing it to replace cable. Initial reports suggest that work on high level guy wires caused the top section to fail, which then damaged other guy wires on its descent. Built in 1965, the tower held transmitting antennas for local TV and radio stations. [RSGB]

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January 28, 2008 by kb3ljm.

The Belgian national society UBA has received notice from their licensing authority BIPT that Belgian amateurs can use the segment 501-504kHz on a secondary basis. Only CW is permitted but this can be at any speed, so it includes QRSS. The power limit is 5 watts ERP. [RSGB]

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January 28, 2008 by kb3ljm.

In two spectacular openings on the two metre band, a new Australia to New Zealand record was set. On 29 December, VK4DMC worked ZL1CN at a distance of 3549 kilometres. VK4DMC was running 200 watts into an 11 element Yagi just 8 meters above ground. Then on 9 January, there was an opening to ZL from VK5 resulting in several contacts, the best being between VK5BC and ZL1TWR over a distance of 3482km. [RSGB]

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January 27, 2008 by kb3ljm.

Following in the switching off of the last two German analogue TV-transmitters on VHF channel 2, German telecommunications regulators have now officially lifted the 200km six metre protection zones around these stations. This gives all German class A licensee holders free and undisturbed access to the 6 meter band.

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January 15, 2008 by kb3ljm.

A Macedonian radio amateur has claimed the largest number of QSOs as a single operator in
the 21st century. Vladimir Kovacesci, Z35M has submitted a proposal to Guinness World
Records to add a new category of ‘Largest number of contacts for 5 years in a row’. He claims
140,000 QSOs in the period 2001 to 2005. His all-time total since 1984 is a massive 320,000
contacts. His best year was 2001, when he made 43,300 QSOs, a European single year record.
[RSGB via QRZ]

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January 11, 2008 by kb3ljm.

There are a bewildering number of digital modes on the air these days. While decoders are readily available, it can take a practiced ear to work out what mode is in use. Recognising this issue, the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group has put downloadable samples of around two dozen modes on its web site. The idea is that by listening to the samples you can more easily identify modes you hear on the bands. You can get the files from www.bartg.org.uk by following the Datacom link on the site. [RSGB]

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December 18, 2007 by kb3ljm.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has issued what might be the longest special event callsign in the history of amateur radio. The Blue Mountains Amateur Radio Club has been granted the callsign VI 2 B M A R C 50, to commemorate the club’s 50th anniversary. VI2BMARC50 will be on-air from 18 to 28 January 2008.

Details of the operating schedule and QSL information will be posted on the club’s website at http://www.bmarc.org/.

http://www.rsgb.org/news/hl4.php.

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November 26, 2007 by kb3ljm.

Despite the sunspot minimum, Blackpool amateur Dave Starkie, G4AKC, has managed two way pedestrian mobile contact with G7LPW/ZL3 in Christchurch, New Zealand. On 15 November they completed the 21,100km contact on 20 metres SSB. This was the result of two years work to improve and develop a high performance HF backpack which was used at both ends of the contact. [RSGB]

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November 13, 2007 by kb3ljm.

A new Portuguese propagation beacon on the 6 metre band uses the call CS1RLA/B and is located about 92 kilometres south of Lisbon. It runs about 2.5 watts into a half-wave dipole antenna on 50.076MHz.

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November 9, 2007 by kb3ljm.

Guinea-Bissau DXpedition by F6KOP
11-21 January, 2008. http://www.j5c.eu
Emphasis on 40-160 meters…..
(Thanks, RSGB)

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