Belgium to get 40 MHz allocation

May 22, 2023The UBA proposes to grant the radio amateur service access to the frequency range 40.660 – 40.690 MHz under the following conditions:

• On a secondary basis
• For holders of a class A operating certificate (HAREC licence)
• A power limit of 5 W ERP
• A bandwidth limit of 3 kHz
• On individual basis, after prior approval from BIPT
• It is mandatory to keep a logbook in which all transmissions are noted

This is an important development as Belgium now joins Ireland (EI), Slovenia (S5) and South Africa (ZS) with official amateur radio allocations on the 40 MHz band.

Source: EI7GL open_in_new

Tevel Satellites Added to ARRL Logbook of the World

May 21, 2023The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has recently added the Tevel satellites, numbers one through eight, to the list of acceptable satellites in its widely used Logbook of the World (LoTW) online system. Those who have made contacts using these satellites may now upload those QSOs to LoTW for possible confirmation, if the other station has done likewise.

More information about the Tevel Satellites is available here from AMSAT-UK.

Source: AMSAT open_in_new

New Kenwood TH-D75A Appears at Hamvention

May 19, 2023

Source: Twitter open_in_new

Special Event Station 4U100QO on QO-100

May 18, 2023DX-Adventure is proud to announce a partnership with the United Nations Amateur Radio Contest DX Club (ARCDXC). On May 18, 19, and 20 they will make the very first QO-100 connections from the United Nations – Vienna International Center.

During this activation, we will also be active on HF with the call sign 4U1A.

Source: AMSAT-UK open_in_new

Contest University Livestream from Dayton

May 18, 2023Contest University happening at the Hope Hotel in Dayton, Ohio will begin livestreaming at 8:00am EDT on Thursday 5/18/2023.

YouTube livestream and presentation schedule.

Source: Contest University open_in_new

Celebrate 100 years of Czech Radio by telling us where you listen to us

May 17, 2023“To mark Czech Radio’s centenary, Radio Prague International is preparing a special show for you on Thursday 18 May. Listen to it and write to let us know where you heard it to receive a special Czech Radio QSL card made especially for the anniversary.

Write to us at: international@czechradio.cz

In return, we’ll send you a special QSL card issued to mark the centenary, which comes from a 1933 radio exhibition and shows where the first international radio transmissions from Czechoslovakia were received.”

Source: Radio Prague International open_in_new

May 19th A Visit to the Sun and the Ionosphere

May 17, 2023This year and next will feature a solar eclipse in North America – a rare series of events not repeated in our lifetimes. Study of the Sun and the Earth will be the focus of much science that ham radio will participate, with the ionosphere of primary interest. Our collaboration with HAMSCI for the annual eclipse in October 2023 is a good example.

Our May Kawfee Tawk is a basic introduction to the sun and its effect, and how the ionosphere works. We hear a lot of terms used in our hobby, such as sunspots, CME, K index, solar flux, etc., but what do they mean, and how can we understand them?

This video program via Zoom will be held on Friday, May 19th, 2023 beginning at 7:30 PM EDT.

Source: Fair Lawn Amateur Radio Club [PDF] open_in_new

Yellowknife Amateur Radio Society Eyes Wildfire Response

May 16, 2023“Hay River and Kátł’odeeche First Nation were evacuated yesterday evening. As of 15 May at 4:00 PM, 15 buildings have been damaged by wildfire at the Kátł’odeeche First Nation. No buildings are known to have been damaged in Hay River. Evacuations for both communities are in effect.

Fires remain out of control.

Members are asked to monitor the VE8YK repeater in case evacuee amateur radio operators attempt to make contact. Members are also requested to check their equipment. The Yellowknife Amateur Radio Society is civil defence oriented as part of its mandate.”

Source: Yellowknife Amateur Radio Society open_in_new

102 Representatives Ask Carmakers to Keep AM Radio

May 16, 2023“More than 100 members of the U.S. House of Representatives now are pressuring carmakers to keep AM radio reception in cars.

These members, from both political parties, signed a letter led by Reps. Bob Latta and Greg Pence asking the car companies to retain AM radio.

They also asked the 10 companies to ‘provide the details and the value of all federal loan, grant and tax incentives your company has received in the last 15 years’ and whether those subsidies could help the companies offset the cost to mitigate interference. And they asked whether the car companies plan to charge customers for ‘subscription-like access to free AM/FM radio in any vehicles.'”

Source: Radio World open_in_new

Juice’s RIME antenna finally deploys

May 15, 2023More than three weeks after efforts began to deploy Juice’s ice-penetrating Radar for Icy Moons Exploration (RIME) antenna, the 16-metre-long boom has finally escaped its mounting bracket.

On 12 May RIME was finally jolted into life when the flight control team fired a mechanical device called a ‘non-explosive actuator’ (NEA).

Source: The European Space Agency open_in_new