JOTA will be celebrating its golden jubilee over the weekend of 20 and 21
October. The theme for scouts this year is 'around the world in 50 hours'.
Many special event stations are planned in the UK and worldwide. Around 130
UK special event callsigns have been issued.
JOTA is the largest official scouting event in the world, with an
expected 500,000 participants. Open to both boy and girl Scouts, it is one
of the few joint events between the two organisations, and one which
attracts international sponsorship.
An example of a station activated for JOTA is GB50TYN. This will be
operated by the Tynemouth Amateur Radio Club at the 3rd Tynemouth Scout
Headquarters. The station will be operational on HF and 2m using CW, SSB and
PSK. For more information on your nearest station log onto
www.scout.org/jota/.
GB5OSO active for 50th
Anniversary of Sputnik One launch
GB50SO will be on the air for a month starting on the 4th
of October. to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the launch of the first
earth orbiting satellite Sputnik One on the 4th October
1957 by the former USSR.
t is anticipated that all of the available analogue satellites will be
used as time permits, but there will certainly be a flurry of activity
starting on the 4th October for the first few days, then at other times as
and when.
A special QSL card will be available after the event, so shake the dust
off your satellite gear and join in the fun!
Online Satellite Pass Predictions:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/predict/
August 14 2007: International
Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2007
This coming weekend, 17th and 18th August, more than 380 lighthouses in
more than 48 countries - from Argentina to Wales - will be on the air for
2007 International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (ILLW) organized by the Ayr
Amateur Radio Group, Scotland.
The event, held for the ninth year in a row, takes place from Saturday,
August 18 00:01 UTC until Sunday, August 19 23:59 UTC.
While not a contest, the ILLW is more of a QSO Party and Amateur Radio
demonstration. The ILLW aims to raise public awareness of lighthouses and
lightships and the need for their preservation and restoration, promote
Amateur Radio and foster international goodwill.
More information about the event, including a registration form, is
available on the ILLW Web site.
May 12 2007: New UK DX
Forum
A new website, www.RadioDXer.co.uk,
has been launched to create an online community for UK based amateurs and
other radio enthusiasts where they can participate in discussion on anything
to do with radio as a hobby.
Graeme Stoker, M0EUK, the man behind
the website believes that there are a number of similar American-based
forums, but nothing really with a UK focus. He is also trying to foster a
community and collaborative spirit, which can hopefully become
self-perpetuating in terms of supporting fellow enthusiasts.
February 28 2007: Amateur Radio in
Vehicles
With the recent changes in penalties for the use of mobile phones in
vehicles, some Amateurs have been concerned regarding Amateur Radio mobile
operation in the UK.
The following statement was issued by RSGB HQ on Wednesday:
For your information - There has been no change to the existing law
regarding mobile amateur radio operation in motor vehicles. Please see below
for further details.
Use of Two-Way Radio in Motor Vehicles
Mobile Amateur Radio Operation – Mobile
Phones and the New Laws
The use of 2-way radio equipment (unless the device can also be used as a
phone) when driving is not included in the new offence.
It must be remembered that there is still a risk of distraction and
prosecution under other laws should an accident occur.
If stopped by the police for operating mobile amateur radio, the
reference to quote is:
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No.4)
Regulations 2003 Statutory Instrument 2003 No 2695.
This lays out clearly the exemptions under the new law.
Statutory Instrument No. 2695 can be viewed at:
http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2003/20032695.htm
Road Safety Bill - Mobile phones and driving - new penalties
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2007/
road_safety_bill.htm
January 20 2007: International Museums
Weekend
The seventh International Museums Weekend special event
will take place on
16 and 17 June 2007. Radio amateurs are encouraged to participate in this
event by setting up stations in their local museums.
Harry, M1BYT,
who is organising the event, asks that all those intending to join in should
please register their museum via the International Museums Weekend website -
www.ukradioamateur.co.uk/imw.
He also requests that they send their details to him at
harry.m1byt@tiscali.co.uk.
Source: GB2RS News
January 9 2007: The Centenary of Scouting
Radio Award
The Scouting 100 Radio Award is awarded for contacting
Scout stations during 2007, the Centenary year of Scouting. This is an
International award - it is also available on a listener basis, with the
same requirements as the operator award.
Objective: To help celebrate the centenary of
Scouting through the medium of radio. To help publicise the Centenary, and
to provide radio amateurs the opportunity of gaining another Award. Although
not intended for profit, any surplus made will go to support Radio Scouting
in developing countries.
Duration: The Award will
begin at 00:00:01 on January 1st 2007 and finish at 23:59:59 December 31st
2007.
For further information go to
www.scouting100award.org
It is understood that while the new Terms and Conditions will apply to
all licensees from 1 December, it is planned to send out over 60,000 paper
copies over the next few months. These licences will then remain valid for
an initial period of five years or until personal circumstances such as
address changes need to be notified.
Ofcom has advised the RSGB that it is not intending to send out licence
reminders when the five year period is drawing to a close and the
responsibility will lie with the licensee to notify Ofcom that the details
held on record are correct. The RSGB however are hoping to come to an
agreement with Ofcom to enable the Society to offer a reminder service to
their members.
The online licensing website can be found at:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing/olc/
November 23 2006: Radio Licensing Centre
Closes Down
It has been reported that the Radio Licensing Centre (RLC) closed down on
Wednesday 22nd November 2006. Apparently any applications RLC receive up
until 1st December will be forwarded to Ofcom.
The first phase of Ofcom's new Online Licensing system is currently
scheduled to go live on 1st December. Anyone planning to renew or apply for
a licence is advised to wait until after December 1st and apply online in
order to receive their free lifetime license.
November 13 2006: Wireless Telegraphy Act
2006 receives Royal Assent
The Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 was passed by Parliament on 25 October
2006. It received Royal Assent on 8 November and will come into force in the
United Kingdom in three months time.
Preparations are in hand to extend the Act to the Channel Islands and the
Isle of Man, subject to the Privy Council making the necessary Orders in
Council.
This act permits Ofcom and persons authorised by Ofcom to impose Fixed
Penalty Fines for breaches of the Wireless Telegraphy Act.
The Ofcom statement issued Tuesday 9th November says:
Ofcom has today published details of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006.
This consolidates the legislation under which Ofcom manages radio spectrum
into a single statute.
The Act makes no changes to the law and existing wireless telegraphy
licenses and regulations continue to be valid. Licensees need take no
further action as a result of the consolidation.
Further information about the Act can be found here:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/wtact2006/
November 10 2006: Amateurs provide
assistance to space station
When Russian flight
controllers encountered difficulties during a recent International Space
Station cargo rocket docking, NASA called on a special - although
little-known - amateur radio team to stand by. On receiving a call from the
Johnson Space Center in the US, volunteers from the ISS Ham Contingency
Network immediately swung into action and within just 15 minutes were ready
to provide any necessary communication support.
The ISS Ham Contingency Network is a special group within the Amateur
Radio on the International Space Station organisation. Its purpose is to
respond rapidly in order to provide communication assistance to the
International Space Station.
Its services were called upon on 26 October while Russian supply ship
Progress was docking with the space station. The Russian flight controllers
were unable to confirm whether an automated antenna on the rocket had
retracted as commanded. If still extended, the antenna could interfere with
the final latching of the supply ship to the ISS. To avoid disturbing the
softly docked cargo ship and to aid the crew with docking manoeuvres, the
ISS orientation was allowed to drift freely.
During free-drift mode, however, the tracking and data relay satellite
system - which handles communication between the crew and Mission Control in
Houston - can be lost. That's because the station's solar arrays may not
directly face the sun, causing a drop in onboard power. The ISS Ham
Contingency Network was therefore contacted to provide communications in
case of such an event. The call-up was the first time that NASA had asked
for such amateur radio assistance since the initial crew came aboard the ISS
in November 2000.
October 19 2006: Jamboree on the Air 2006
The 2006
Jamboree on the Air is taking place over the weekend of 21 and 22 October.
Jamboree on the Air – or JOTA as it is more commonly called – is a
worldwide event during which radio amateurs help thousands of
Scouts,
Guides and Brownies
to get on the air.
The youngsters are given the chance to chat with fellow Scouts, Guides
and Brownies throughout the world thanks to the wonders of amateur radio.
They are also taught about Morse code and encouraged to send messages using
this mode.
A list of UK Jamboree on the Air stations taking part in the event has
been published on the
Radio Scouting UK website
October
17 2006: SSTV from space
The radio amateurs on board
the international space station are currently commissioning a new SSTV
system which operates on the 145.800 MHz FM downlink. The initial trials
took place in July and August and Earth station operators were
thrilled to receive several pictures transmitted manually on 2 meters (the
system has been using 144.490 and 145.800 MHz) using the RS0ISS call sign.
Initial tests were run over Moscow, and then the system was left on for a
few orbits. There should be further details
appearing soon in RadCom and the BBC's Sky At Night magazine.
Ofcom have supplied the figures for the number of Amateur
Radio Licences issued as at 31st August 2006.
| Grade |
Licenses issued |
| Foundation |
7823
|
| Intermediate |
3600
|
| Full |
52922
|
| Club Stations |
1073
|
September 18 2006: 20th North Wales Amateur Radio Show -
Cancelled!
For commercial reasons, the Rally to be held in Llandudno this November,
is now cancelled, as the event is no longer viable. This is due to the very high cost of the venue, falling visitor numbers
and lack of support from many of our traders. It is with the deepest regrets that after 20 years, this very successful
Rally will close for 2006.
We would like to thank all traders for their support and encouragement
over the years; thanks also to our many visitors in the UK and overseas for
supporting us - for the last 20 years!.
The cost of the venue hire alone has increased this year to a whopping
£9000, and the Society feel that this burden alone makes the event
untenable. Also, lower membership numbers with which to organize the event, loss of
traders dealing with Amateur radio Equipment, (due to other marketing
trends), has all contributed to the loss.
The Society is looking for another venue that is more in keeping with the
hobby, with substantial reductions in our cost. Also the Society feel that
we would like to revert to a one day event, thereby lowering costs to us,
and more importantly to our many traders. We will keep you all informed as
to our deliberation.
All Deposits and payments will be refunded in full to those that have
already paid.
May we say thank you to all who have supported us and given their time freely
for the last 20 years.
Edward Shipton GW0DSJ
Rally Secretary
North Wales Radio Society:
http://www.nwrs.org.uk/
September 9 2006: OFCOM
announces a delay to lifetime licenses
Ofcom has announced that lifetime licenses and the
reviewed license terms and conditions have been postponed until December
2006. However, amateur radio licenses will be issued free after 1 October,
in accordance with the regulator’s earlier promise.
Ofcom originally planned to allow Foundation licensees
access to the 10m band and the Amateur Satellite Service from 1 October.
However, the date for this has now been put back to 1 December to coincide
with the introduction of the lifetime licence.
If your license is due for renewal after 1 October, you
will receive a one year license validation document as usual from the Radio
Licensing Centre, but no charge will be made. Ofcom will issue a lifetime
license and the revised licensing terms and conditions in December, again
without charge.
Free lifetime licenses will be subject to validation at
least every five years via the Ofcom web site. For those unable or unwilling
to validate their details electronically, it will be possible to send the
details by traditional means but a £20 administration fee will be levied.
As previously reported, Ofcom has substantially revised
the amateur radio license terms and conditions. Changes include abolishing
the need to maintain a log book, allowing amateurs to operate a station by
remote control, substantial alterations to emergency operations and the
recognition of a number of additional user services. It will also no longer
be mandatory to identify operation with /P, /M or /MM, but the alternative
address suffix /A has been re-introduced.
August 29 2006: OFCOM
releases Amateur Radio BR68 Statement
Tuesday’s announcement by OFCOM represents the
most radical shake-up of BR68 since it was first introduced and is sure to
generate considerable discussion.
A major surprise is that it is a statement rather than a
full consultation as is usually the case. I believe it is a mistake not to
hold a consultation on such an important document.
The statement is on the Ofcom website at
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/aradio/lifetimelicence/
August 13, 2006: Receiving SSTV pictures from
the space station
New software has been developed to help radio amateurs view slow scan
television images transmitted from the International Space Station. Called
SpaceCam1, the software will be used by future International Space Station
crews for SSTV communications with radio amateurs.
SpaceCam1 transmits and receives images on amateur radio frequencies, using
standard SSTV formats. One of the key features of the software is that it
allows two-way interactive operation. The software also fully automates the
transmission of images at set intervals, operation of an SSTV beacon,
generation of slide show transmissions and use of SSTV repeaters.
Initial trials of SpaceCam1 took place at the end of July. The system is
expected to become fully operational in the coming weeks. Transmissions will
take place on the International Space Station amateur radio frequency
145.800MHz FM. To communicate with the International Space Station crew
using the software, radio amateurs will need at minimum a 2m radio receiver
with an omni-directional outdoor antenna and a PC to run SSTV software.
Satellite tracking software would also be helpful.
Further information about SpaceCam1 and how to receive SSTV transmissions
can be found on the web at
www.marexmg.org
July 27, 2006: Amateur
Satellites Lost
What was to have been the largest ever launch of Amateur
Satellites has ended in failure. There were 14
Amateur satellites onboard the DNEPR-1LV rocket which was launched on
Wednesday evening - July 26th.
Tragically it seems all of them have been lost due to a
failure in the second stage of the rocket. It is rumoured that two of the
other satellites on the launch may also have contained payloads operating on
Amateur frequencies.
You can read more
about CubeSat here
July 16th 2006: Remote
operation and the new licence
Remote operation will be a standard feature of the new UK
licence due to come into force on 1 October.
Full licence holders will be allowed to remotely control
an unattended station for their personal use.
For example, they could run a home station from elsewhere
(eg from work or when travelling) or operate a purpose built remote site.
The remote link can be any publicly available system (eg dial-up, ISDN,
internet, wi-fi). Systems using amateur frequencies can also be used. In
addition, all licensed amateurs are allowed to remotely control their
station within a range of 100m. Under the new licence, this will not be
regarded as unattended operation.
However, when operating a remote controlled station,
licence holders must still stay within the general terms of their licence.
They should ensure that both unattended equipment and the communications
link are secure and cannot be used by others.
They must also prevent uncontrolled transmissions in the
event of the communications link failing. Shared use systems are still not
permitted under the new licence, but it might be possible to obtain NoVs for
this purpose
May 17, 2006: RSGB responds to license fee consultation
The RSGB has made an official response to the OFCOM
Licence Fee Consultation which closed on Tuesday 16th May. The response can
be seen at
RSGB response
Are we missing out on a lottery grant?
Many amateur radio clubs in the UK are missing out on
thousands of pounds in grants because they fail to put in bids for Lottery
money.
Although it can take some time to organise a lottery bid,
the benefits of doing so can be huge. Barnsley-based South Yorkshire Amateur
Radio Society, for example, recently received £4,913 in grants through the
Lottery's Awards for All programme.
The club is using the money to expand its educational
programme and raise interest in amateur radio and science in general in the
local community. It will be running a series of presentations and workshops
on radio-related subjects for local schools and community groups.
Thanks to the lottery grant, the club has been able to
invest in modern teaching aids, including a number of networked laptop
computers.
Other clubs are encouraged to follow South Yorkshire
Amateur Radio Society's lead and put in lottery bids.
The rewards can be immense.
Source: GB2RS News
May 5, 2006: Foundation License holders
to get 10 metres from 1st October
Ofcom have announced on their web site that
they plan to allow amateur radio Foundation licence holders to use to the 10
metre band with effect from 1st October 2006.
The document IR-2028 can be seen at:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/
tech/interface_req/ir_2028.pdf
10 metres was originally left out of BR-68F
due to concerns that were raised about the bands proximity to 27 MHz. Since
investigating the validity of these concerns would have delayed the launch
of the Foundation licence it was decided
at the time to remove the band completely from BR-68F.
One surprising omission from the document
is that Foundation holders are not yet being given access to the Amateur
Satellite Service. The major anomaly is that
Foundation holders are allowed to transmit on the Satellite frequencies but
they can't actually use the satellites for communication.
Over two years ago the regulator agreed to
allow Foundation holders access to part of the Amateur Satellite Service in
that communication was permitted with Astronauts on the ISS or Space
Shuttle. (Amateur operation by Astronauts comes under the Amateur Satellite
Service). There is no reference to this in IR-2028 so it is unclear if Ofcom
are proposing to withdraw this facility.
The UK is the only country that prevents
it's Foundation licensees using the Amateur Satellites. AMSAT-UK has been
campaigning for past 4 years for the inclusion of the Amateur Satellite
Service in BR-68F.
April 21, 2006: German World Cup special
events
German radio amateurs plan to celebrate the
2006 Football World Cup being held in their country by putting on a number
of special event stations. From 13 May to 16 July, no less than 26 special
district stations (with callsigns in the DQ2006A to DQ2006Z range) will be
on the air. There will also be 12 special stadium stations with callsigns
DR2006B, DR2006C, etc. The special callsign WFC06 will also be in operation
throughout the World Cup.
Amateurs or short wave listeners who log
these special event stations could be eligible for a series of awards
sponsored by the Deutsche Amateur Radio Club. There will be three awards
available: bronze, silver and gold. To achieve the bronze award, an amateur
must log four stadium special event stations, six district stations and 25
DL stations. The silver award requires the operator to log 10 stadium
stations, 20 district stations and 100 DL stations. For the gold award, an
amateur or short wave listener must log 12 stadium stations, 24 district
stations and 200 DL stations.
All the logs must take place between 1 May
and 31 July. There are no band limitations. Participants can use any mode of
operation except packet radio or Echo Link. For further information about
the awards, contact Otto Cecetka at e-mail address DK6CQ@<no spam>darc.de.
April 14, 2006: Proposed NEW licence fees announced
The main change is that the licenses, which will be valid
for life, will be free if they are obtained over the internet. There will
however be a charge of £20 if the licence is obtained by a method other than
the internet , for example by writing to Ofcom. This is to replace the
current arrangement whereby amateurs pay £15 each year to renew their
licence unless they are under 21 or over 75 years of age, in which case they
get their licence for free.
