Ofcom extends validation period for amateur licences issued between November 2006 to August 2007  

Ofcom has decided this time round to automatically extend the validation period of licences issued from November 2006 to August 2007 for a further year—giving 6 years from the issue date.  This will apply only to this category of licensees who have not changed or validated their licensing details since the issue date.  After this, licence holders will need to update their licences themselves. Amateurs are encouraged to use the on-line licensing system—see below.

Ofcom has taken this decision to avoid having a large number of validations to process around the time of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.

Information applicable to all Amateur licensees and applicants:

In 2006, Ofcom introduced a new, improved online licensing system which facilitates amateur radio licensees validating their licence details as necessary, at least once every five years.

The site is now easier than ever to use with useful FAQs and tools to get you started. It only takes a few minutes to register your details and make any necessary updates to your licence.

To register, apply, update or validate your licence on-line go to www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing/olc/

RSGB confronts OFCOM over publication of the Amateur Radio Licensees Database

The RSGB has written to Ofcom raising concern at the release, in full, of the detailed amateur radio database on their web site. This, Ofcom says, follows a number of requests from radio amateurs for the details to be released under the Freedom of Information Act.

Up until Thursday afternoon 9th July, CSV files containing UK Amateur Radio callsigns, names and addresses had been available on the Ofcom website, but they now seem to have been removed. Although the database files were not directly linked from any current Ofcom webpage they had shown up when people did a Google search on their callsign.

Until now every licensed amateur had the right not to have their details published. After consultation with the Information Commissioners office, the RSGB has learned that Ofcom could be in breach of the Data Protection Act in releasing these personal details, which include the name and address of each individual radio amateur in electronic form, on their website and hence to the wider community. The RSGB's main concern is the security of the details, which can now be downloaded by any individual, radio amateur or not.

New National Hamfest announced by RSGB

The RSGB, in conjunction with the Lincoln Shortwave Club, announces a brand new national amateur radio show for the UK. The National Hamfest has the full support of the major amateur radio traders and manufacturers and will take place on the 2nd and 3rd of October 2009.

The venue for the National Hamfest is the George Stephenson hall at the Newark and Nottingham showground. Built in 2005, the spacious hall is well lit and provides great facilities for both traders and visitors. There is ample free parking and there will also be an amateur radio car boot sale and a flea market. Full details of this event will be published in the July RadCom and can also be found online at www.nationalhamfest.org.uk.

IARU thanks Broadcast stations for leaving 7MHz

The International Amateur Radio Union has thanked short wave broadcasters for achieving a high degree of migration away from the now-worldwide amateur-exclusive band of 7100 to 7200kHz by the mandated date of 29 March.

IARU Secretary Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, has been quick to acknowledge the compliance by most broadcasters to QSY out of that band, as required by a decision of the World Radio Conference in 2003. He also noted that he is certain that the few remaining broadcast transmitters operating on 7200kHz and below will be addressed in the coming weeks.

The departure of broadcasting from this spectrum has resulted in an enormous improvement in the usefulness of 40 metres for amateur radio communication.

Broadcast stations to leave 7MHz

The expanded worldwide allocation at 40 meters comes into effect on March 29, 2009. The portion of the 40 metre band from 7100 to 7200kHz becomes exclusive to the Amateur Service. Whether all the broadcasters will remove themselves remains to be seen.

The compromise marked the first time in the history of internationally coordinated radio spectrum allocation that an HF broadcasting band was shifted to accommodate the needs of another service. The compromise cuts in half the incompatibility between amateur and broadcasting use of the 7 MHz band and doubles the 40-meter spectrum available to amateurs in Regions 1 and 3.

Interfering BT Vision attracts campaigner glares

Radio users may already be aware of interference caused to short wave radio by BT Vision equipment. The problem is caused by the Power Line adaptors. These are used to set up a home network by passing signals over the mains wires of the house  carrying video and data. Known as Power Line Telecommunications (PLT)

To do this they use the almost all of the shortwave spectrum 24 hours of every day! even while no data is being passed. The result is that the mains wires being unscreened act just like antennas and broadcast the video/data far and wide outside of the house concerned!

Campaigners complaining about interference generated by BT's Vision product have financed independent tests to show that the kit BT is pushing fails to conform to the appropriate EU standards, prompting a complaint to trading standards officers.

Update: The Radio Society of Great Britain have issued a statement regarding Power Line Telecommunications (PLT) systems. http://www.rsgb.org/news/pdf/rsgb_and_plt_interference_update.pdf

If you are experiencing interference you can read more about the campaign and report interference HERE

An E-Petition has been created on the UK government website calling for such devices to be banned. Sign the E-petition

News article.

Are we missing out on a lottery grant?