2m Propagation 05/06/2016 (Wouxun KG-UV9D)

A Bobtail Antenna For 432 MHz

Video: YouTube/VK3YE

An interesting and easy to build antenna for 70cm.

Wouxun KG-UV9D 70cm Receive

Wouxun KG-UV9D Unboxing

Tim Peake's Next School Amateur Radio Contact Confirmed

Tim Peake's Next School Amateur Radio Contact Confirmed

Following on from Tim's recent Amateur Radio contact with Sandringham School in St.Albans it has been announced that the next such contact will be with The Royal Masonic School For Girls in Rickmansworth on 11th February 2016 at 18:11 hours GMT.

Furthermore another 8 schools will hopefully get the chance to speak to Tim on board the International Space Station. 

"After the original competition to find schools that could demonstrate a commitment to Space, STEM and outreach was launched by ARISS in the UK and the UK Space Agency, we announced that ten schools had been shortlisted but that not all of those school would have an opportunity to talk to Tim Peake on the ISS.  In fact Tim himself announced at the UK Space Conference in July 2015 that there would be at least three such contacts and that he was hopeful of more.

The ARISS UK team, working with the ARISS International community, are now pleased to announce that after a number of discussions, all ten schools selected for the UK shortlist have now been scheduled. The proposed scheduled is as follows:-

Feb 11 @1811GMT : Royal Masonic School for Girls, Rickmansworth
Feb 15 – Feb 21 : Oasis Academy Brightstowe, Bristol
Feb 22 – Feb 28 : Central Norwich Schools, Norwich
Feb 29 – Mar 06 : Powys Combined Schools, Powys, Wales
Apr 18 – Apr 24 : St Richards Catholic College, Bexhill on Sea
Apr 18 – Apr 24 : Wellesley House Schools, Broadstairs,  Kent
Apr 25 – May 01 : The Derby High School, Bury Lancashire
May 02 – May 08 : Ashfield Primary School, Otley, West Yorkshire
May 09 – May 15 : The Kings School, Ottery St Mary, Devon

These dates correspond to the predicted orbits of the International Space Station visible during the school day (typically 08:00 – 18:00hrs) and when it is orbiting over the UK.  A significant amount of planning remains to be carried out to turn these proposals into confirmed events – Tim’s on-orbit work schedule also has to be such that he is able to carry out the contact at the same time as the ISS is orbiting over the UK and the schools are available to make the call.  Not a simple task!

We will update this site with more information as it becomes available so make sure you keep checking here, on Twitter (@m0xtd) or on the UK Space Agency website.

In the meantime, make sure you join us for the next ARISS Contact at the Royal Masonic School for Girls on Feb 11th at 1811UTC.

73s
Ciaran – M0XTD ARISS Operations Lead in the UK"

  
Full Information: CLICK HERE

Shack In A Box!

Video: YouTube/Wow Sly

An interesting project for sure.....!

Yaesu FT-991 - Programming the Memory Channels (ML&S)

Video:Youtube/ML&S

5 MHz (60M Band) - No Agreement On Proposals For WRC-15

With the World Radio Conference only 2 months away there is still no agreement as to what if anything will be proposed for the 5 MHZ (60M Band).

As you may know, at present there are a set of strict spot frequencies in this band. Many feel it is time for a proper allocation of 5.275 - 5.450 MHz, but it appears that agreement on this matter is far from certain.

Full article on the ARRL website: CLICK HERE

M0UKD/P Working GB0HL Happisborough Lighthouse on 70MHz 4m

Nice to see some 4m activity!

Video: YouTube/M0UKD

New PMR446 Analogue And Digital Specifications!

CEPT ECC Decision (15)05 regarding 446 MHz PMR was approved on July 3rd 2015 repealing the earlier ERC/DEC/(98)25 and ECC/DEC/(05)12.

The changes which are expected to come into force next year will make changes to radios which operate in the band 446.000 - 446.200 using Analogue or Digital.

Analogue radios will have up to 16 channels with 12.5 KHz spacing.

Digital radios will have up to 32 channels with 6.5 KHz spacing.

It is also specifically mentioned that REPEATER use is not allowed! - This is a big change as internet linking/repeater use has been widespread on PMR446 and up to now has not been illegal.

d) that analogue and digital PMR 446 radio equipment is hand portable (no base station or repeater use) and uses integral antennas only in order to maximise sharing and minimise interference;

9. that all PMR 446 equipment is hand portable and shall use only integral antenna and an effective radiated power not exceeding 500 mW, while any base station, repeater or fixed infrastructure use is excluded;

MAIN POINTS:

1. that the purpose of this ECC Decision is to harmonise the usage conditions for analogue and digital PMR 446 radio equipment throughout Europe;

2. that CEPT administrations shall designate the band 446.0-446.2 MHz for the use of analogue PMR 446 with a channel plan based on 12.5 kHz spacing where the lowest carrier frequency is 446.00625 MHz;

3. that CEPT administrations shall designate the band 446.1-446.2 MHz for the use of digital PMR 446 with a channel plan based on 6.25 kHz and 12.5 kHz spacing where the lowest carrier frequencies are 446.103125 MHz and 446.10625 MHz respectively;

4. that CEPT administrations shall designate the band 446.0-446.2 MHz for the use of digital PMR 446 with a channel plan based on 6.25 kHz and 12.5 kHz spacing where the lowest carrier frequencies are 446.003125 MHz and 446.00625 MHz respectively as of 1 January 2018;

5. that analogue PMR446 equipment operating in the frequency range 446.1-446.2 MHz should use more robust receivers, as specified in ETSI TS 103 236 or equivalent technical specifications;

6. that analogue PMR446 equipment operating in the frequency range 446.0-446.1 MHz should use more robust receivers, as specified in ETSI TS 103 236 or equivalent technical specifications when placed on the market as of 1 January 2017;

7. that subject to decides 8, 9 and 10 below, CEPT administrations shall permit free carriage and use of all analogue and digital PMR 446 radio equipment;

8. that CEPT administrations shall exempt analogue and digital PMR 446 radio equipment covered by the present Decision from individual licensing;

9. that all PMR 446 equipment is hand portable and shall use only integral antenna and an effective radiated power not exceeding 500 mW, while any base station, repeater or fixed infrastructure use is excluded;

10. that the following technical characteristics shall be applied for PMR 446 applications in order to reduce the risk of harmful interference: a) all PMR 446 radio equipment shall have reception capability;

b) PMR 446 radio equipment having Push-To-Talk (PTT) functionality capable of being latched ‘on’ shall apply a 180 seconds maximum transmitter time-out;

c) PMR 446 radio equipment having no Push-To-Talk (PTT) functionality shall apply a 180 seconds maximum transmitter time-out and VOX (Voice activation exchange) control;

11. that compliance of PMR 446 radio equipment with all technical requirements shall be demonstrated with the applicable Harmonised European Standards ETSI EN 300 113-2, EN 301 166-2, or EN 300 296-2;

12. that the definitions in the Annex 1 apply for the purpose of this Decision;

13. that this Decision replaces ERC/DEC/(98)25 and ECC/DEC/(05)12 which are withdrawn;

14. that this Decision enters into force by 3 July 2015;

15. that the preferred date for implementation of this ECC Decision shall be 3 January 2016;

16. that CEPT administrations shall communicate the national measures implementing this Decision to the ECC Chairman and the ECO when the Decision is nationally implemented."

    

FULL DETAILS: CLICK HERE (PDF)