Foundations of Amateur Radio
A little while ago I mentioned in passing that I was considering implementing a parrot repeater to help determine how your radio is performing. Discussion afterwards revealed that not everyone had the same picture in mind, so I thought I’d share with you some of what I’m considering and why

RSGB Construction Competition
There are just six weeks left until the deadline for entries for the RSGB Construction Competition. The Society has received entries already so don’t miss out!

Winter Field Day January 29-30
The Penobscot Bay Pilot reports radio amateurs will be taking part in the winter Field Day event on January 29-30

New RSGB Nominations Committee members
Recent changes in the Regional Team and RSGB Board have brought new members to the RSGB Nominations Committee

GB1900HA and GB1900HW – 1900th anniversary of Hadrian’s Wall
This year radio amateurs will be operating special event stations GB1900HA and GB1900HA for the 1900th anniversary of Hadrian’s wall

Sasolburg ARC repeater
On 7 January 2022, the Sasolburg ARC changed the frequency of the Club repeater from 145,600 MHz to 145,6875 MHz. This was done in collaboration and on the proposal of the SARL’s VHF/UHF Manager

China: 40th anniversary of partial resumption of ham radio
In 1982 amateur radio was partially permitted in China but it wasn’t until 1992 that permission was finally granted to establish personal amateur radio stations in the home, since then 170,000 have become radio amateurs

SARL Wednesday 80m Club Contest
The first leg of the SARL Wednesday 80 m Club Contest will run from 17:00 to 18:00 UTC on Wednesday 19 January with phone, CW, and digital activity

Propagation Report from Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP
Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the solar activity is expected to be at low levels

ARRL Foundation to create club grants program
The ARRL has long recognized that it is in the best interests of amateur radio to encourage and support amateur radio clubs. Clubs historically have recruited, licensed and trained new radio amateurs and have provided the community setting for radio amateurs to continue their education and training

Work The World On A 555
Over the years the humble 555 timer has been used in so many unexpected places, but there’s a project from [Frank Latos] which we think may be a first

Youth on the Air camp to return in June
After a successful pilot camp program in 2021, the next camp for Youth on the Air (YOTA) in the Americas has been set for June 12 – 17, 2022. The camp will return to the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in West Chester Township, Ohio

Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation launches STEM scholarship
The Santa Barbara Wireless Foundation is accepting applications for its new scholarship in support of students who intend on pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The 1,000 USD scholarship will be awarded to a college bound high school senior in May 2022

Australia Day Contest
By now you would have heard about the new WIA Australia Day Contest on the 26th of January 2022

Soviet QSL cards, Wireless Receivers and Secret Agent Transmitters
The presentation shows what the old QSL cards may reveal about the 1930s wireless technology in the Soviet Union, and describes two transmitters in use by Secret Agents in Japanese-occupied Manchuria. Was there only one Agent Sonja?

DX News from the ARRL
The American Radio Relay League’s round-up of the forthcoming week’s DX activity on the amateur radio bands