Ria’s Ham Shack News - June 5, 2023
Summer E-skip, $24,000 fine, Belgium wants access to 8 meters, Rockall expedition success, Central States VHF, OSCAR India conference shapes up, ARDC makes website accessible, Mars calling, and more…
Summer is hot but you know what’s hotter? Your News tips! Send them to ria@n2rj.com and you’ll be the coolest ham on the bands!
In this issue:
6 meter E skip season well underway
$24,000 fine for interference to the WARFA net
Health and Welfare
Belgium likely to gain access to the 8 meter band
Rockall success
Central States VHF Conference
OSCAR India conference shapes up
ARDC makes website accessible and modern
“Aliens” on Mars are calling, what are they saying?
6 meter E skip season well underway
The 6 meter sporadic E season is well underway with the bands open for some hot DX. Watching the website dxmaps.com shows some terrific US, European, transatlantic and transequatorial openings. Below is a sample of what you can see on the website.
Much of the 6 meter activity is dominated by FT8 but some users on social media have been reporting SSB (voice) and CW (morse code) activity. With the ARRL VHF contest next weekend, expect there to be more “openings” for SSB and CW.
$24,000 fine for interference to the WARFA net
The FCC has proposed a $24,000 fine to Philip Beaudet, N6PJB, for alleged interference to the Western Amateur Radio Friendship Association (WARFA) net. In November 2022, in response to a complaint about the alleged interference, the FCC sent field agents from the San Francisco office and pinpointed Beaudet’s home as the source.
After several instances of recording and documenting Beaudet allegedly playing recordings and interfering with the net, the FCC proposed the fine.
WARFA started as an RV owning fishing group based in California. It is comprised of many hams from different backgrounds.
Health and Welfare
George Sabbi, KC2GLG - SK
From Joyce Birmingham, KA2ANF
George Sabbi passed away on Saturday, June 3rd after a brief illness. George was active as Bergen/Passaic County Coordinator for the National Weather Service SKYWARN Program (Upton, NY).
He was a retired lighting designer for the Philadelphia/New York Metro area having worked in Film, Stage and Theatrical Productions. George was also a Photographer and loved "capturing the light." He also loved sharing his knowledge of Amateur Radio and communications, as well as his passion for cooking. He will be missed by his many friends and family as we lay him to rest. Services are private.
Bill Hudzik, W2UDT update
My friend and former ARRL Hudson Division Vice-Director, Bill Hudzik, W2UDT is now at a VA nursing home. As you may know, Bill was diagnosed with Parkinsons a couple of years ago.
He is taking visitors, so if you are in the area and want to visit him, here is the info:
Community Living Center (CLC) - Building 15
Lyons VA Medical Center
151 Knollcroft Road
Lyons, NJ 07939
Belgium likely to gain access to the 8 meter band
The Royal Belgian Amateur Radio Union, UBA, submitted a proposal to BIPT to gain access to the 8 meter band, or more specifically a small band segment around 40 MHz.
The proposal would be for 40.660 to 40.690MHz. It would on a secondary basis, with a power limit of 5 Watts ERP (Effective Radiated Power), a bandwidth limit of 3kHz. It would also be individually authorized by the Belgian regulator, BIPT and the allocation would be authorized on a secondary basis. Additionally, all operations are required to be logged.
The chairman of the BIPT Council has indicated that BIPT is in favor of the proposal. Consultations will be held soon, and this will last approximately one month, with a decision being made thereafter. It will be a few months at minimum before Belgians can use the band. UBA cautions that any use of the band by radio amateurs before then is illegal.
Other countries such as South Africa, Slovenia and Ireland have 8 meter band allocations. Experimental licenses issued by the FCC in the US have allowed a small group of experimenters to use the band for testing purposes.
Rockall success
MM0UKI, the IOTA (Islands On The Air) expedition to Rockall, EU-189, has completed after 7,227 contacts (QSOs). The team has made a world record of top score, all bands. They spent 4 days and 3 nights.
Emil Bergmann, DL8KK was the second German on the island and the first to stay overnight on the rock. He was also the first German radio amateur to operate from there.
The team was the 6th human team worldwide to stay overnight on Rockall.
Cam Cameron remains on the rock and will attempt to stay 60 days, in order to break the record for staying on Rockall, and raise £50,000 for charity.
Central States VHF Conference
The 2023 Central States VHF Conference will take place on July 27-30 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Registration is available at the website.
OSCAR India conference shapes up
Meanwhile, in India, OSCAR India is getting everyone excited about their conference. Check out their new promo spot for it:
ARDC makes website accessible and modern
Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) has updated its website. The most important update is that the website is now responsive and accessible, allowing better access on a variety of screen sizes, mobile devices and with assistive software such as screen readers.
Check it out at www.ardc.net
“Aliens” on Mars are calling, what are they saying?
On May 24, the European Trace Gas Orbiter probe, which orbits Mars, sent a coded message toward Earth. The message was received by several radio telescopes including Green Bank, Allen and Medicina telescopes. Now, the signal needs to be decoded. SETI, the institute that searches for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence, is behind the effort. Now that the signals have been received, it has to be decoded.
The project is called “A Sign in Space” and led by Daniela de Paulis from SETI. The goal is to prepare us to decode a message sent by extra terrestrials, in the event that it does happen.
You can follow along here.
CUL.