From ARRL News

Source: http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-applications-piling-up-as-partial-government-shutdown-continues

01/23/2019

Volunteer Examiner Coordinators across the US are continuing to receive paperwork from Amateur Radio exam sessions held during the partial government shutdown. While it’s still possible to access the Universal Licensing System (ULS) and file applications, the FCC is not processing individual, club, and exam session — new and upgrade — Amateur Radio applications. The FCC closed most operations on January 3, when available funding ran out. According to the FCC public notice, aside from a few emergency and auction-filing systems, all other Commission electronic filing systems will be unavailable to the public until normal agency operations resume.
Continue reading “Article – “Amateur Radio Applications Piling Up as Partial Government Shutdown Continues”” →

From WTVF News Channel 5 Nashville:

https://www.newschannel5.com/news/bill-could-make-using-your-phone-while-driving-illegal

Submitted by KD4WX

From ARRL

Source: http://www.arrl.org/news/court-rules-excessive-antenna-application-fees-violated-reasonable-accommodation

01/15/2019

Long-pending Amateur Radio antenna litigation that ARRL helped to fund has finally borne fruit. The Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department has ruled in the case of Myles Landstein, N2EHG, that the Town of LaGrange, New York, not only overstepped its state-granted authority by assessing excessive fees, but violated the limited federal preemption PRB-1 in the process. PRB-1 requires municipalities and states to “reasonably” accommodate Amateur Radio antennas and to apply the “minimum practicable regulation” in handling Amateur Radio antenna applications. The ruling is slated to be published as a case decision. Landstein had wanted to erect a 70-foot antenna support structure; the Town of LaGrange has a 35-foot height limit.
Continue reading “From ARRL – “Court Rules Excessive Antenna Application Fees Violated Reasonable Accommodation”” →

From hamradio.me:

When an N connector isn’t

Submitted by KD4WX

From ARRL News
Source: http://www.arrl.org/news/faa-reauthorization-act-of-2018-overhauls-marking-requirements-for-short-rural-towers

10/09/2018

Thanks to ARRL efforts on Capitol Hill, language in the 2018 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act, just signed by President Donald Trump, resolves the issue of problematic or preclusive rules affecting some rural Amateur Radio towers. The previous FAA Reauthorization Act of 2016 had instructed the FAA to enact tower-marking requirements, similar to those in some state statutes, aimed at improving aircraft safety in the vicinity of meteorological evaluation towers (METs). These towers are typically between 50 and 200 feet and set up in rural areas, often on short notice.

In the wake of fatal crop-dusting aircraft collisions with METs, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had recommended that states institute laws, sometimes called “crop duster” statutes, requiring marking and registration of METs. While some state crop-duster laws exempted ham radio towers, federal regulations dating to the 1996 FAA Reauthorization Act did not, and ARRL had expressed its concerns since. Continue reading ““FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 Overhauls Marking Requirements for Short Rural Towers”” →

From ARRL News
Source: http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-fcc-discussing-issue-of-uncertified-imported-vhf-uhf-transceivers

10/03/2018

ARRL has taken a minor exception to the wording of a September 24 FCC Enforcement Advisory pertaining to the importation, marketing and sale of VHF and UHF transceivers and is in discussion with FCC personnel to resolve the matter. The Enforcement Advisory was in response to the importation into the US of certain radio products that are not FCC certified for use in any radio service, but identified as Amateur Radio equipment.

“While much of this equipment is actually usable on Amateur bands, the radios are also capable of operation on non-amateur frequencies allocated to radio services that require the use of equipment that has been FCC-certified,” ARRL said. “Such equipment is being marketed principally to the general public via mass e-marketers and not to Amateur Radio licensees.” Continue reading ““ARRL, FCC Discussing Issue of Uncertified Imported VHF/UHF Transceivers”” →

A special thank you to Dale, KC2CBD, for taking the time to visit the club and give a terrific presentation on DMR at our September meeting. Below is a link to the slides:

https://sites.google.com/site/cookevillerepeater/announcements/whitecountydigitalpresentation

For more information about the Cookeville Repeater Association, and the new 145.110 MMDVM repeater, visit http://www.cookevillerepeater.org.

Interesting article about sunspot cycles from Scientific American:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-sunspot-cycle-is-more-intricate-than-previously-thought/

Submitted by KD4WX

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