These Ham Links are provided by John Woodstock, K1DWU. The news items are updated daily.
DX News -- ARRL DX Bulletin #11:
eHam.net News - This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
NC1L, The Daily DX, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, LNDX, Contest
Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites.
Thanks to all.
FCC Releases National Broadband Plan:
eHam.net News - On Tuesday, March 16,
the FCC held an Open Meeting to introduce its report Connecting
America: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) that was delivered to
Congress that afternoon.
ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration:
eHam.net News - Registration remains open through Sunday, April 25, 2010, for these
online course sessions beginning on
Friday, May 7, 2010:
This Week on the Radio:
eHam.net News - This Week on the Radio:
Companion Bill Introduced in US House to Provide Technical Resources to FCC
eHam.net News - Following the Senate's lead, Representatives Jerry McNerny (D-CA-11)
and Tom Petri (R-WI-6), introduced HR 4809 -- the FCC Commissioners'
Technical Resource Enhancement Act -- in the House of Representatives
on March 10.
ARRL Requests Support for S. 1755:
eHam.net News - Senate Bill 1755 -- The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
Enhancement Act of 2009 introduced in October 2009 by Senators Joe
Lieberman (ID-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) -- has unanimously passed
the US Senate and has been sent to the US House of Representatives for
consideration and now sits in the House Committee on Energy and
Commerce.
FCC Proposes to Eliminate Spread Spectrum APC Requirement:
eHam.net News - In response to a 2006 ARRL Petition regarding spread spectrum
issues, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) on
March 16 (WT Docket No 10-62), proposing to amend Part 97 to facilitate
the use of spread spectrum communications technologies by eliminating
the requirement that amateur stations use automatic power control (APC)
to reduce transmitter power when the station transmits a spread
spectrum (SS) emission and reducing the maximum transmitter power
output when transmitting a SS emission.
Baby Blindness Pioneer Arnall Patz, Ex-WA3EVC (SK):
eHam.net News - Dr Arnall Patz, ex-WA3EVC -- an ophthalmologist who discovered and
eliminated a major cause of blindness in premature infants -- passed
away from heart disease on March 11. He was 89.
FCC Proposes to Eliminate Spread Spectrum APC Requirement, Reduce Spread Spectrum Power Limit; Cleans Up Portions of Part 97
ARRL - In response to a 2006 ARRL Petition regarding spread spectrum issues, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) on March 16 (WT Docket No 10-62), proposing to amend Part 97 to facilitate the use of spread spectrum communications technologies by eliminating the requirement that amateur stations use automatic power control (APC) to reduce transmitter power when the station transmits a spread spectrum (SS) emission and reducing the maximum transmitter power output when transmitting a SS emission. Through an Order attached to the NPRM, the Commission also made "certain non-substantive revisions" to the Amateur Service rules.
Amateur Radio Society celebrates 50th anniversary in style
Southgate ARC - The Royal Naval Amateur Radio Society was formed in 1960 and to celebrate the 50th anniversary, a special callsign GB50RNARS is being aired by members of the Society throughout the year
IARU Region 2 assists member society with earthquake damage
Southgate ARC - The March edition of the IARU E-Letter reports on assistance given to Radio Club de Chile following the earthquake
TC2010PSG QRV for the Istanbul 2010 Award
Southgate ARC - For the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Award, TCSWAT will be QRV from istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport with the callsign TC2010PSG between 20-22 March 2010
R1ANF beacon operational
Southgate ARC - After a long odyssey from Germany to the Vostok base (R1ANC) in Antarctica, including a failed start connected with huge logistic problems, the beacon finally was put into operation at the Russian Antarctic base Bellinghausen, R1ANF, on King George Island on March 8
Tony's 10-metre band report
Southgate ARC - A phenomenal Sunday! 1455 reported contacts. Actually from Wednesday onwards, the week was pretty good, lots of very varied DX, ZP6DYA, LU7FSM, ST2AR, C56KR, Z21BB to name but a few who were top dogs each day
Radio Sweden ends Medium and Short Wave
Southgate ARC - Radio Sweden will terminate its medium and short wave broadcasts this October 31st in favour of web services - with Swedish Radio management stating that is the best use of resources and in line with international trends
Installing transceivers in vehicles
Southgate ARC - FCS1362 is the UK code of practice for the installation of mobile radio equipment in land-based vehicles
Wind power on KT4 Dxpedition
Southgate ARC - The successful K4T Dry Tortugas operation may have been the first-ever major DXpedition to use only wind power
Southern Line Islands IOTA DXpedition
Southgate ARC - A team of four operators are heading for the Southern Line Islands where they plan to activate every island with four stations for five days
Amateur Radio Tutors' March Newsletter
Southgate ARC - The March edition of the RSGB Amateur Radio tutors' newsletter is now available
YouTube Video of Me Working KJ4PSU Via Satellite
K1DWU - MyHamShack.com - Very cool to hear myself working Will:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq4tcZ2iO3U&feature=related
Thanks, Will! [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-18]
Baby Blindness Pioneer Dr Arnall Patz, ex-W3ECV, ex-WA3ECV (SK)
ARRL - Dr Arnall Patz, ex-W3ECV, ex-WA3ECV -- an ophthalmologist who discovered and eliminated a major cause of blindness in premature infants -- passed away from heart disease on March 11. He was 89. In 1954, Patz proved that treating premature babies with pure oxygen could destroy their eyesight. At the time, this was the most common cause of blindness in premature infants.
ARRL Introduces Understanding Basic Electronics, second edition
ARRL - ARRL's Understanding Basic Electronics, second edition -- your gateway into the exciting world of electricity and electronics -- is written in a friendly, easy-to-understand style that beginners and nontechnical readers will enjoy. This introductory guide is ideal for students with basic math skills, as well as radio amateurs and experimenters interested in gaining a more complete understanding of basic electronic principles -- anyone eager to unlock the mysteries of electronic circuits.
ARRL Continuing Education Online Course Registration
ARRL - Registration remains open through Sunday, April 25, 2010, for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, May 7, 2010: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1; Antenna Modeling; Radio Frequency Interference; Antenna Design and Construction; Propagation; Analog Electronics, and Digital Electronics.
New 8.97kHz Amateur Radio DX record
Southgate ARC - On Monday, March 15 Stefan Schaefer DK7FC achieved an Amateur Radio world record on 8.97 kHz
Zevs - the Russian 82 Hz ELF transmitter
Southgate ARC - How low in frequency can transmitters go? Well the Russian Federation operates a transmitter on the Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) of 82 Hz
ARRL seeks input for new IARU Region 2 Band Plan
Southgate ARC - The International Amateur Radio Region 2 (IARU R2) conference - to be held later this year in El Salvador - brings together delegations from the national Amateur Radio Societies in the Western Hemisphere
Cam Hartford, N6GA, named CQ Magazine QRP Editor
Southgate ARC - Cam Hartford, N6GA, of Claremont, California, has been named QRP Editor of CQ Amateur Radio magazine
Coastal communities test tsunami preparedness
Southgate ARC - A report by broadcaster KPLU highlights the importance of Amateur Radio for Emergency Communications
South Yorkshire Microwave Weekend
Southgate ARC - The UK Microwave Group and the Finningley Amateur Radio Society are pleased to announce that this popular event will take place over the weekend of 10-11 July 2010
K4T DXpedition success
Southgate ARC - The K4T DXpedition to Dry Tortugas proved a great success. They ran two amateur radio satellite stations. Hopefully other DXpeditions will now consider running a satellite station too
Successful ARISS contact with school in Peristeri, Greece
Southgate ARC - The ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) school contact with participants at 18 Dimotiko Scholeio Peristeriou, Peristeri (Athens), Greece was successful. US astronaut Timothy J. Creamer KC5WKI answered 19 questions
IOTA news from the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club
Southgate ARC - Weekly IOTA News - compiled by Fredy, DE0MST of the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club
Where will the hams of the future come from; maybe the answer will be a surprise
Southgate ARC - An Examiner.com article describes the history of Amateur Radio and asks were new radio hams will come from
SSTV Net Night
Southgate ARC - There is now an amateur radio SSTV (slow scan television) net night being held every Monday evening at 19.00 hrs
Ham radio: Nerdy until there's an emergency
Southgate ARC - The Oakland Tribune carries an article about the Tri-City area ham radio emergency response team
2010 RSGB AGM to be webcast
Southgate ARC - It is planned to live webcast the RSGB AGM over the internet via the BATC Streamer website. For those unable to travel to the venue, you will be able to watch the proceedings via the live stream
RAC Section Manager Election Results - Manitoba
Southgate ARC - Congratulations are extended to Jan Schippers VE4JS who was recently returned as Section Manager for Manitoba
Ham Radio essential for emergency communication
Southgate ARC - An article in the Skagit Valley Herald newspaper describes the importance of Amateur Radio for disaster communications and Homeland Security
Simple Antenna Demos Antenna Polarization
K1DWU - KB6NU - I'm always amazed when things actually work. So you can imagine my amazement when I actually got the demo shown in the Make: Magazine video below to work.
Diana, KC2UHB, used her lightbulb/antenna combo to demonstrate the principle of directional ante... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-17]
Across the pond mobile
K1DWU - G4ILO - With rain being forecast for the rest of the week I thought I would take the opportunity to make a few more mobile contacts. Before I did I decided to make a modification to the antenna that I hoped might improve the SWR of the MP-1 on the magnetic mou... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-17]
Special contests call signs for certain Amateur Full/Reciprocal licensees
K1DWU - Ofcom [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-17]
Special contests call signs
K1DWU - Ofcom [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-17]
FCC Releases National Broadband Plan
ARRL - This morning, the FCC held an Open Meeting to introduce its report Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) that will be delivered to Congress today. Calling it "an ambitious agenda for connecting all corners of the nation while transforming the economy and society with the communications network of the future -- robust, affordable Internet," the Commission found the nearly 100 million Americans lack broadband at home today and 14 million Americans do not have access to broadband.
Cam Hartford, N6GA, Named CQ Magazine QRP Editor:
eHam.net News - (Hicksville, NY March 16, 2010) - Cam Hartford, N6GA, of Claremont, California, has been named QRP Editor of CQ Amateur Radio magazine, Editor Rich
Moseson, W2VU, announced today. Hartford succeeds Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, who passed away in January. Ingram's final bi-monthly QRP column appears in the
April issue of CQ. Hartford's first column will be in the June issue.
Companion Bill Introduced in US House to Provide Technical Resources to FCC Commissioners
ARRL - Following the Senate's lead, Representative Jerry McNerny (D-CA-11), introduced HR 4809 -- the FCC Commissioners' Technical Resource Enhancement Act -- in the House of Representatives on March 10. Copying the exact language from S 2881 (a bill with the same name) introduced by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) in December 2009, the bill seeks to provide greater technical resources to FCC Commissioners.
The Radio Amateur's Hand Book by Archie Frederick Collins
ARRL - In his 1923 review, S. Kruse, 1OA, has some harsh words for this book. It “is written down to the small boy, the absolute beginner...” It has “well-conceived diagrams and figures,” but “weak draughtsmanship.” “In these pages are preserved the well-nigh forgotten ...spark sending sets that have wholly disappeared.” Kruse thought Collins was woefully behind the times.
World War II Wireless Intercept and Secret Stations
Southgate ARC - On Tuesday April 6, Stan Ames, G4OAV, will give a talk to the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) on World War II Wireless Intercept and Secret Stations and he’s set a puzzle
MultiPSK 4.17 released
Southgate ARC - Patrick F6CTE has released a new version of the popular Amateur Radio digital modes software MultiPSK
60 meters in Czech Republic
Southgate ARC - A Czech Radio Amateur, Milan OK1IF, has received permission to use 5258,5 to 5261,5 kHz for CW and SSB experimental operation
Morse code beeps back into business
Southgate ARC - New Zealand's Radio Amateurs got some good publicity on TV news after they were allocated a new band from 505-515 KHz
Amateur Radio in The Times of India
Southgate ARC - The Times of India newspaper reports on digital HAMSAT centers being set up in Kolkata and Barasat to assist in emergency communications
HABEX 2010 needs radio hams
Southgate ARC - South Africa's High Altitude Balloon Experiment 2010, also called HABEX, is being hosted by Sci Bono Discovery Centre. This project aims at launching a series of balloons to high altitudes carrying payloads constructed by school learners
Ham Radio on Czech TV
Southgate ARC - The Czech TV show 'Hotel Insomnia', aimed at young people, interviewed Michal OK1SGI about Amateur Radio
Projecto NavPT
Southgate ARC - The system monitors civil aviation, (airplanes), maritime boats (boats) and meteorological radiosondes in real time in Lisbon - Portugal
Annobon Island DXpedition delay
Southgate ARC - There has been a delay to the Annobon Island DXpedition planned for April
Changes to South African amateur radio regulations
Southgate ARC - It appears that South Africa's regulator, ICASA, is ready to publish the draft radio regulations in the Government Gazette - it could even be early next week
Podcast Signals and Noise
K1DWU - K0NR - I've posted before about being a fan of podcasts (those mp3 file radio shows that don't use radio). There are so many decent podcasts out there to choose from, I keep my iPod Touch loaded up with all kinds of mp3 content. Actually, my taste includes top... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-16]
CQ SERENADE
K1DWU - Hamslife.com - It is not often you hear a song written about ham radio but here is one that I found recently that I thought the readers of this blog might enjoy. You will find it on www.youtube.com . After going to youtube just enter the words CQ Sere... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-16]
Teen Radio Journey v16.2
K1DWU - Teen Radio Journey - Yet another episode of the Teen Radio Journey Podcast has been released. This episode is the start of volume 2. I am starting a new volume every 15 episodes. March is Emergency Preparedness Month and the first week in March is Tornado Pre... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-16]
Thinking Different
K1DWU - KE9V - When Amazon brought the Kindle to market I was one of those early adopters who jumped on that bandwagon. The notion that my entire library could be digital was very seductive to my way of thinking. I travel a lot and having lots of good books at my fing... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-16]
***EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES PLACED ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF MOBILIZATION ***
K1DWU - Eastern MA ARRL - Hello to all..
***EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES PLACED ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF MOBILIZATION STARTING AT 8 PM ET SUNDAY LASTING THROUGH AT LEAST 9 AM TUESDAY MORNING DUE TO MAJOR STORM THAT IS ONGOING AND CAUSING SIG... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-16]
More news on the latest MA State Cell Bill
K1DWU - ARRL - WMA - The following is an update from State Government Liaison Shawn O'Donnell-K3HI on the Cell Phone Bill Legislation: Everyone-- The representatives from the House on the conference committee, as confirmed in the House Journal for Monday, are Joseph W... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-16]
ARRL International DX -- Antarctic Edition
K1DWU - Sands Contest Group - Hello from Adelaide Island! Coming from an active contesting group, one of the things I'd looked forward to trying out while down South was getting involved in a contest, and being that rare DX! The summer season at Rothera is very busy ... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-16]
Wanted: High School Students Willing to Give Their Opinions
K1DWU - Teen Radio Journey - This is an urgent message from Paul Shirey. Paul Shirey - KC9QYB, is working on an eBook that he plans to release in a couple of months. He is looking for High School students who would be willing to answer some questions about how they fi... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-16]
Disaster management: 2 HAM radio units in state (India)
This Week in Amateur Radio - If conventional communication networks fail when nature unleashes her fury in the form of Aila-like cyclones, extensive floods and earthquakes, governments can execute rescue and relief operations through satellite-based low-cost HAM radios.
Morse code beeps back into business (New Zealand)
This Week in Amateur Radio - Forget Facebook and Twitter, morse code is on a comeback.
A law change has opened up a radio frequency band so that hobby operators around the country can again communicate in dashes and dots.
Fire kills Conn. ham trying to rescue dog
This Week in Amateur Radio - As the flames roared and the black smoke billowed around them, David Kostrey pulled his sister, Joann, from their burning house early Wednesday.
They made it outside, but then David Kostrey (KD1BD) stopped and turned around. Someone was missing; his dog was still inside.
Kostrey, 57, rushed back into the burning house. It was last time anyone saw him alive.
Cigarette May Have Caused Deadly Derby Fire
This Week in Amateur Radio - A lit cigarette is thought to have caused the fire Wednesday morning that killed a well-respected Derby man.
David Kostrey, (KD1BD) 56, the deputy director of the city's Office of Emergency Management, died from smoke inhalation as he tried to rescue his dog as his apartment on the second floor of 196 Derby Ave. burned.
Amateur Radio Operators (Florida)
This Week in Amateur Radio - The Walton County Sheriff's Office and the Emergency Management and Public Safety Communications Division is offering the local amateur radio operators (HAM) the opportunity to be a part of the agencies Auxiliary Communications Service.
Ham radio: Nerdy until there's an emergency
This Week in Amateur Radio - The first Saturday of every month, Bernhard Hailer and his ham radio buddies go on a hunt.
With antennas made mostly of plastic pipes and metal tape measurers pointing out of car windows, they set off from Warren Avenue in Fremont and traverse Tri-City area streets trying to locate the signal emitted by a hidden transmitter the size of an envelope box.
FCC releases Internet speed test tool
This Week in Amateur Radio - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Thursday launched a broadband test service to help consumers clock the speed of their Internet.
South Carolina EMS, others team up for backup emergency communication system
This Week in Amateur Radio - Stephens County EMS, Stephens County Hospital and the Toccoa Amateur Radio Society are teaming up to provide an extra layer of security for emergency medical services.
Those organizations have worked together to join the Amateur Radio Emergency Service program.
ARRL Requests Support for Senate Bill 1755
This Week in Amateur Radio - Senate Bill 1755 -- The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009 introduced in October 2009 by Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) -- has unanimously passed the US Senate and has been sent to the US House of Representatives for consideration and now sits in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Student-built spacecraft will be launched at Wallops
This Week in Amateur Radio - Not much bigger than a child's toy block, two spacecraft designed and built by university students in Kentucky and California will fly in space for a short period this month to gather information that may be applied to future small Earth orbiting space vehicles.
Tower of steel supports city communications (Alabama)
This Week in Amateur Radio - Two hundred and fifty feet of steel now loom over Enterprise that will upgrade communications for emergency responders and bring numerous benefits to area residents.
The communications tower, located behind Enterprise City Hall, will combine all emergency responder communication systems onto one self-sustaining, 150 mph wind resistant antenna, said Police Chief T.D. Jones.
W1AW 2010 Spring/Summer Operating Schedule:
eHam.net News - W1AW 2010 Spring/Summer Operating Schedule:
Study May Explain the Extended Solar Minimum:
eHam.net News - The solar minimum at the end of each 11-year solar cycle is characterized by a reduction in the number of sunspots, flares, and other solar activity. The most recent, from 2008 to the beginning of 2009, lasted fifteen months longer than expected. The study used 13 years' worth of results from SOHO, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, which was launched jointly by the European Space Angency and NASA. Among the data gathered by SOHO are measurements of the ionized gases moving from the sun's equator to the poles in what is known as the meridional flow. The scientists then tried to correlate the flow with variations in the sunspot cycle. The researchers, Lisa Rightmire of the University of Memphis, Tennessee, and David Hathaway of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, found the normally slow meridional flows started to speed up a few years before 2008, when the number of sunspots declined. In the previous solar minimum the speed was around 30 kph, but in 2008-9 was about 47 kph. The scientists suggest the solar minimum was longer than usual because the magnetic fields produced by the gas flows at the poles were weaker, but it is not known why the speed of the meridional flow increased.
Iraq DXpedition
Southgate ARC - A group of multi-national ham radio operators are planning to operate from Northern Iraq (Kurdistan) and will be active between April 2-12th. The team has received a ten day visa issued by the Government of Kurdistan
KP4WK and KP4TR work K4T via AO-51
Southgate ARC - A YouTube video shows KP4WK and KP4TR working the K4T DXpedition in Dry Tortugas using just 5 watts FM via the Amateur Radio satellite AO-51
2010 Visalia DX Convention Contest Dinner
Southgate ARC - The Mother Lode DX and Contest Club is pleased to host the 11th Annual Contest Dinner on Friday, April 16th, at the International DX Convention in Visalia, CA
Amateur Radio enthusiasts get organised
Southgate ARC - On 11 March, 1910 a meeting of like-minded people in the Hotel Australia, Martin Place, Sydney, formed the Institute of Wireless Telegraphy of Australia, and soon after dropped the word 'telegraphy' from its name
Dayton Hamvention events
Southgate ARC - The North Coast Contesters are pleased to announce that Joel Harrison, W5ZN, will be the main speaker at the 2010 Dayton Contest Dinner
520-day simulated mission to Mars
Southgate ARC - A crew of six, including two Europeans, will soon begin a simulated mission to Mars in a mockup that includes an interplanetary spaceship, a Mars lander and a martian landscape
The Bottle Shop Net
Southgate ARC - The Bottle Shop Net was formed in recognition of the large number of older valve radios still in use around Australia
Echolink at Lough Erne Amateur Radio rally
Southgate ARC - A YouTube video shows KP4WK and KP4TR working the K4T DXpedition in Dry Tortugas using just 5 watts FM via the Amateur Radio satellite AO-51
IOTA news from OPDX
Southgate ARC - Weekly IOTA News - compiled by Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Loss of Southgate Amateur Radio News feed
Southgate ARC - Those of you taking our Amateur Radio News Feed for your website may have noticed that it has disappeared
History This Week
Southgate ARC - A look back at events that made history this week - compiled by the Summerland Amateur Radio Club of Lismore, NSW
Well YES, actually, this IS rocket science...
K1DWU - VE8EV - OK, maybe not exactly rocket science but close enough. Ever since I started working satellites back in the early nineties I've dreamed of having a fully automated setup. A computer aims the antennas and tunes the radio to compensate for the doppler shi... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-15]
Oskaloosa Swapmeet is Saturday, March 20th!
K1DWU - 73s.org - Oskaloosa Swapmeet is Saturday, March 20th!
The Mahaska Hams will be hosting their 22nd Annual Amateur Radio Swapmeet on Saturday, March 20th from 8:00am to 11:30am at the American Legion Hall, 302 High Avenue East in Oskaloosa, Iowa. (One block Sout... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-15]
Before turning in
K1DWU - W2LJ - I just had to go down to the basement to hook up the PFR3A to the antenna again, just to listen to 40 Meters for a while. I am so happy that it is working now .... you have no idea! It's going to take a bit of getting used to using push buttons for tun... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-15]
First Activation Of TX062 Goat Island :
K1DWU - VU2SGW - On Saturday March 20, 2010 1400utc to 2200utc. First ever activation and Qualification of Goat Island TX062 on Caddo Lake by club WC5C. Members will Kayak, canoe, motor boat out to the Island after staying at a beautiful resort nearby on the lake. Co... [Source: Planet-Ham.com / 03-15]
New Zealand Amateurs Gain Access to 600m Band:
eHam.net News - The New Zealand government has granted New Zealand amateurs temporary access to a slice of the 600m spectrum. The new allocation, 505 to 515kHz, was previously used for Morse code communications with ships. There are a few restrictions to the use of these frequencies. If these frequencies are allocated to other services, amateurs must not cause interference to these services but must accept any interference from them. Radiated power must not exceed 25 watts EIRP and the bandwidth of transmissions must not exceed 200Hz. It is hoped that this allocation will, eventually, be made permanent.
Disaster Management: 2 Ham Radio Units in State:
eHam.net News - KOLKATA: If conventional communication networks fail when nature unleashes her fury in the form of Aila-like cyclones, extensive floods and earthquakes, governments can execute rescue and relief operations through satellite-based low-cost HAM radios. Hyderabad's National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR) sent a three-member team that made extensive use of HAM radios to reach remote and cut-off areas when Aila struck the Sunderbans last May. NIAR director Ram Mohan Suri said his organisation has tied up with the Union ministry of communication and information technology to set up the two advanced digital HAMSAT centres, one in Kolkata and the other in Barasat. These two will be among 30 such centres to be called digital communication amateur radio centres that will come up in cities and towns across the country over the next two years, said Suri.