Also in GB2RS this week…
The next stage of proposed changes to microwave spectrum in Australia has now started with a draft direction from the Canberra government to licence spectrum overlapping the 3.4GHz amateur band for mobile broadband. This follows a previous consultation and other proposed changes in the 2.3GHz band in which the Wireless Institute of Australia been actively involved. The latest changes pose a particularly serious threat on the harmonised use of 3400-3410 by the Amateur Service and Amateur Satellite Service as one of the proposed new commercial bands is 3400-3425MHz.
The International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 reports that Moldova has signed the pan-European CEPT Novice and Class 1 amateur radio licence agreement. The prefix to be used is ER.
The RSGB Convention takes place between the 10 and 12 October and will be held at the Kent’s Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes. The provisional lecture schedule is available on the RSGB website. On Saturday from 9am until 1pm, G3VKW, GM3WOJ and G4BWP will have a number of vintage transceivers on display from the 1960s to 1980s. These will be connected to a receive antenna, so visitors can try listening on one of these radios. In the full lecture programme, Nick Henwood, G3RWF, also known by his overseas callsigns of 5X1NH and 9X0NH, has made over 120,000 QSOs using lightweight antennas, hand-carried on each trip. He will talk about his experiences and experiments in Uganda and Rwanda. Useful information for travellers, but also for UK operators trying to put out a good signal with a quite simple antenna. The RSGB has extended the Early Bird discount until the 1 September so there’s still just time to get a bargain. Go to www.rsgbevents.org to book your place.
The annual RSGB Construction Competition is to encourage home construction, experimentation, design and innovation. Any member of the RSGB is eligible to enter and, with many clubs having held their own construction competitions throughout the year, it could be a well-contested event. The closing date for entries is 30 September and judging will take place at the RSGB Convention. This year the competition is being sponsored by Martin Lynch and Sons with prizes of £50 of vouchers for each category winner and £100 for the winner of the prestigious Pat Hawker G3VA Trophy, which will be awarded to the best overall entry. The RSGB website has full details of the rules and conditions, which also appeared in the August edition of RadCom.
The BBC World War One At Home live events reflect on the dramatic impact the war had on families and communities, as well as helping people to explore their own relatives’ links to the war. Several amateur radio clubs are taking part in these events with special event stations or hands-on Morse demonstrations for visitors. The next event is on the 6 and 7 September at Air Waves in Portrush, Co. Antrim.
Category: GB2RS Headlines
