From Southgate Amateur Radio News

Source: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2018/june/ham-radio-helps-maintain-cognitive-skills.htm

ABC News reports Amateur Radio is helping lifelong hobbyists stay mentally fit in old age

It comes with all the benefits of social media but without “any of the downsides” — and one of Australia’s oldest ham radio enthusiasts says it is also the perfect hobby for retirees looking to stay mentally sharp.

West Australian-based Norman Gomm VK6GOM took to ham radio over forty years ago and now aged 82 has no intention of signing off just yet.

As one of Australia’s estimated 10,500 licensed ham radio operators, Mr Gomm, is also the president of the Bunbury Radio Club.

He says it is rare that a day goes by without him spending at least a couple of hours in his purpose-built ‘ham shack’.

“I find it’s very good for me,” Mr Gomm told the ABC amid a dazzling display of flashing lights and crackling radio static.

“I’m 82 years of age and you need to keep your mind working actively all the time,” he said.

“Ham radio requires a lot of cognitive skills and a lot of understanding technology, so I find that’s very good for keeping me active.”

Watch the video and read the full story at
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-27/ham-radio-helping-older-hobbyists-stay-mentally-fit/9908468

Submitted by KD4WX

From ARRL News

Source: http://www.arrl.org/news/space-station-digital-amateur-radio-tv-system-transmitter-determined-to-be-defective

06/14/2018

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) “Ham Video” digital Amateur Radio TV (DATV) transmitter on the International Space Station (ISS) is reported to be defective, with onboard repair not possible. Also known as HamTV, the DATV system stopped working in mid-April, and a subsequent test on June 1 using a second L/S band patch antenna on the Columbus module had failed. ARISS-EU Mentor Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, said ARISS plans to return the transmitter to Earth to repair, pending space agency approvals and availability of ARISS funds.

“Schools and crew members performing educational ARISS school contacts are delighted to use Ham Video,” Bertels said. “We will do the best we can to restart this service as soon as possible.”

Following extensive testing, the Ham TV system was first used for an ARISS school contact in February 2016. — Thanks to ARISS

Submitted by KD4WX

From ARRL News

Source: http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-denies-petition-aimed-at-preventing-interference-from-digital-repeaters-to-analog-repeaters

FCC Denies Petition Aimed at Preventing Interference from Digital Repeaters to Analog Repeaters

06/01/2018

The FCC has turned away a Petition for Rulemaking from a Michigan radio amateur that asked the Commission to amend Section 97.205 of the Amateur Service rules to ensure that repeaters using digital communication protocols do not interfere with analog repeaters. Charles P. Adkins, K8CPA, of Lincoln Park, had specifically requested that discrete analog and digital repeaters be separated either by distance or frequency and that digital repeaters be limited to 10 W output, the FCC recounted in its June 1 denial letter, released over the signature of Scot Stone, the deputy chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau’s Mobility Division. According to the letter, Adkins had characterized digital repeaters as “a major annoyance” to analog repeater operators.

“In 2008, we rejected a suggestion to amend Section 97.205(b) to designate separate spectrum for digital repeaters in order to segregate digital and analog communications,” the FCC said in its letter to Adkins. “We noted that when the Commission has previously addressed the issue of interference between amateur stations engaging in different operating activities, it has declined to revise the rules to limit a frequency segment to one emission type in order to prevent interference to the operating activities of other Amateur Radio Service licensees.”

The FCC told Adkins that current Part 97 rules already address the subject of interference between amateur stations, prohibiting, among other things, willful or malicious interference to any radio communication or signal, and spelling out how interference disputes between repeaters should be handled.

“You have not demonstrated any changed circumstances or other reason that would warrant revisiting this decision,” the FCC concluded. “Consequently, we dismiss your petition.”

The FCC did not assign a rulemaking petition (RM) number to Adkins’ petition nor invite public comments.

Submitted by KD4WX

From ARRL News
Source: http://www.arrl.org/news/international-amateur-radio-regulatory-developments-announced

04/25/2018

Several countries recently have proposed or instituted changes or announced developments with respect to Amateur Radio regulation.

In China, according to the Chinese Radio Amateurs Club (CRAC), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in Beijing has announced that radio amateurs will gain access to a 60-meter band starting on July 1. The latest edition of PRC Radio Frequency Division Regulations — released on April 18, World Amateur Radio Day — indicates that radio amateurs in China have been allocated the band 5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz on a secondary basis, and in accordance with the decisions made at World Radiocommunication Conference 2015.
Continue reading ““International Amateur Radio Regulatory Developments Announced”” →

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From ARRL (source)

ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees

02/28/2018

ARRL has asked the FCC to expand HF privileges for Technician licensees to include limited phone privileges on 75, 40, and 15 meters, plus RTTY and digital mode privileges on 80, 40, 15, and 10 meters. The FCC has not yet invited public comment on the proposals, which stem from recommendations put forth by the ARRL Board of Directors’ Entry-Level License Committee, which explored various initiatives and gauged member opinions in 2016 and 2017.
Continue reading ““ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees”” →

From ARRL (source)

Wireless Institute of Australia Seeks Amateur Radio Power Increase

02/02/2018

The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) is seeking a power increase for radio amateurs. WIA is pushing telecommunications regulator the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to bump up maximum power levels for all three licenses classes to 50 W for Foundation licensees, 200 W for Standard licensees, and 1,500 W for Advanced licensees.

WIA Board member Justin Giles-Clark, VK7TW, said comments would be solicited from the membership before the request goes to the ACMA.

For some time the WIA has pushed for higher power limits for Advanced licensees, who feel the current 400 W HF power limit (120 W on constant-carrier modes) puts them at a disadvantage, especially in contests, while other countries permit 1 kW or more.

In 2013, ACMA ended an 18-month trial that allowed participating Advanced licensees to run up to 1 kW on HF. Currently, Foundation licensees on HF may run up to 10 W PEP on SSB (or 3 W on CW, AM, or FM), while Standard licensees have a 100-W PEP HF power limit (SSB) or 30 W for constant-carrier modes.

Submitted by KD4WX