Ria's Ham Shack News - May 29, 2023 - Memorial Day
K7JA SK, Ford brings back AM radio, FCC citation for interference to cell towers, Biden's new FCC nominee, Amsat Board nominations, and more!
Got a hot news tip? Send it to ria@n2rj.com.
Memorial Day (USA)
All gave some, some gave all. We remember the fallen and honor their memory.
In this issue
Health and Welfare - Chip Margelli, K7JA SK
Hamvention broadcast by WRMI Legends
Ford brings back AM radios in cars
FCC citation for interference by security cameras to T-Mobile
Anna Gomez nominated to the FCC
Amsat Board nominations
Australia’s Government takes back amateur licensing
H&W - Chip Margelli, K7JA SK
Charles “Chip” Margelli passed away on May 25, 2023. Chip was well known and loved in the community. Chip loved ham radio but particularly contesting, field day and morse code. In 2005, Chip appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The appearance featured a competition between text messaging (SMS) and Morse Code, to see which one could deliver a message faster. Surprisingly, or not surprisingly, Morse Code won.
You can see the clip here.
Chip had also worked at a number of ham radio companies in his career including Yaesu, Heil, Force 12 and Ham Radio Outlet. Chip knew Japanese, hence his callsign K7JA. He was inducted into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame in 2008. We will miss you, Chip! We also send our deepest condolences to his wife Janet, KL7MF.
Janet is requesting that Chip’s friends and ham radio operators in general to send QSL cards to her. Her address can be found in QRZ.
Hamvention broadcast by WRMI Legends
WRMI Legends, the shortwave radio programming service run by Ted Randall (WB8PUM), his wife Holly (KG4WXV), their family, and a slew of other experienced radio DJs, ran “Hamvention live” from Dayton Hamvention this year.
The broadcast has been a longstanding tradition and invites attendees to get “on air” and broadcast on shortwave with Ted. This year the broadcast was carried on a special frequency on WRMI radio during the day.
Jeff Laurence, one of the DJs on WRMI also ran a special “live remote” broadcast featuring WRMI Legends personalities from the fictional “Ohio Dance-a-thorium.” This form of radio theater entertained audiences and brought back memories of live radio remote broadcasts of days past.
Ford brings back AM radios in cars
After discussions with regulators, Ford Motor Company has reversed its decision to remove AM radio from its future vehicles and will enable AM radio via software update in some vehicles. In a tweet from CEO Jim Farley, Ford will include AM radio in every 2024 Ford vehicle.
Auto manufacturers have been under fire by members of Congress including my own, Josh Gottheimer, (D, NJ-05) for removing AM radio from vehicles, particularly electric vehicles. I made a video on the topic:
And here is a news report on Rep. Gottheimer’s press event on AM radio. (ABC7 NY)
FCC citation for interference by security cameras to T-Mobile
The FCC has issued a citation to a Luis Martinez, a Pennsylvania man for interfering with T-Mobile wireless service on 2500MHz. The interference came from security cameras that were tuned to frequencies not authorized for unlicensed use, and which were in fact in use by wireless carrier T-Mobile. In May 2022, after a complaint by T-Mobile, the FCC sent field agents from the Columbia, Maryland field office to Martinez’s home and warned him about the interference. The agents also provided instructions on to change the frequencies to alleviate the interfence.
Martinez claimed to have followed T-Mobile’s instructions and changed the remaining two cameras’ settings in an attempt to end the interference. However, the interference persisted, and subsequent tests by the field agents determined that the cameras were in fact still causing interference.
As such, a citation and order were issued, threatening fines for noncompliance.
Anna Gomez nominated to the FCC
President Joe Biden has nominated telecommunications attorney Anna Gomez to serve as FCC commissioner.
Gomez has served at the FCC for over 12 years and as a Deputy Administrator at the NTIA. She is currently senior advisor at the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the US State Department. The previous nominee, Gigi Sohn, withdrew her nomination after opposition from Senate Republicans and Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV).
What impact this will have for amateur radio is yet unclear. However, fresh faces at the FCC have the potential for a fresh look at pending amateur radio matters. ARRL’s legislative advocacy committee also currently has a bill pending before Congress direct the FCC to unrestrict the symbol rate for amateur radio data transmissions on HF, which has been a key policy goal of the ARRL.
Amsat Board nominations
Nominations are being solicited for the 2023 AMSAT Board of Directors election. The election will be held in Q3 2023.
More details at the Amsat News Service Weekly bulletin.
Australia’s Government takes back amateur licensing
Australian Maritime College (AMC) will withdraw from providing services for amateur licensing, with the functions being returned to the Australian Communications and Media Authority. The arrangement with AMC had allegedly resulted in slow processing and some fee increases.
Previously, AMC had administered the exams and recommended callsigns. Under the new scheme, examiners will be accredited directly by ACMA. ACMA will directly issue callsigns.
Full details here.
Best 73’s
That’s what Hiram Percy Maxim said… until next time. See you down the log.