Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2241, for Friday, October 9th, 2020
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2241, with a release date of Friday,
October 9th, 2020, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Orlando Hamcation is cancelled. Scouts prep for
Jamboree on the Air -- and radio ambassadors reach out to kids in
California. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number
2241, comes your way right now.
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BILLBOARD CART
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ORLANDO HAMCATION 2021 CANCELLED
JIM/ANCHOR: We begin this week with word that Orlando HamCation has become
the latest in a long line of cancelled amateur radio events around the
world. The news came in a joint statement from the ARRL and HamCation
organizers on the ARRL website and on Twitter on Monday, October 5th. The
annual event, which was also to be the ARRL National Convention, has been moved
to February 2022. Tickets already purchased can be used for
HamCation 2022, can be donated to the Orlando Amateur Radio Club or can be
refunded. Meanwhile, the in-person event is being replaced by a variety of
webinars, a QSO party and some prize drawings for 2021. The event in
central Florida is among the nation's largest gathering points for hams.
Reported attendance for this year was 24,200 over the course of the three days.
(HAMCATION, ARRL)
**
FCC REMOVES AMATEUR ACCESS TO 3.4 GHz BAND'S FREQUENCIES
JIM/ANCHOR: In a move that was not unexpected, the U.S. Federal
Communications Commission has eliminated amateur radio use on the 3.4 GHz band.
Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, has that report.
KENT: Amateur radio will no longer have use of the frequencies between 3.3
and 3.55 GHz. The FCC has acted to reallocate that portion of the spectrum
for use of 5G services. Its action during the meeting on September 30th is part
of the broader plan to make more of the spectrum available to
commercial users by eliminating secondary user allocations such as ham
radio operators. Hams and other users are being relocated to a band
between 2.9 and 3.0 GHz on a secondary basis to federal government service
operators.
The FCC is now seeking comment on how to sunset amateur use on 3.3 to 3.55
GHz and proceed with the relocation. The agency noted in a press release
that its action is another move toward fulfilling a directive from
Congress to free up spectrum for commercial and other purposes. The ARRL
and AMSAT were among those who had spoken up against the move.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Kent Peterson, KC0DGY.
(SOUTHGATE, FCC)
**
IARU REGION 2 ANNOUNCES PROCEDURAL CHANGES
JIM/ANCHOR: The IARU Region 2 has made changes in how it will be handling
band plan changes, approving a process that lets the plan be updated more
efficiently. Changes can now be made in response to adjustments in
operating practice - in consultation with member societies. Previously,
all band-plan changes required approval at a General Assembly, which is
held only once every three years.
The new plan also includes the addition of an amateur satellite uplink sub-band
between 21.125 MHz and 21.450 MHz on a non-exclusive basis,
matching the band plans in IARU Region 1 and 3.
Finally, the revised band plan added wording to make it clear to national
regulators that compliance with the document is voluntary and some nations
may adjust their practices based on their nation's requirements.
(SOUTHGATE, IARU REGION 2)
**
AUSTRALIAN SCOUTS ACTIVATE FOR SPECIAL EVENT
JIM/ANCHOR: The Jamboree on the Air is coming up fast but some Scouts
living Down Under got a head start on the excitement. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, tells
us about them.
GRAHAM: Scouts in Australia who were growing a bit impatient for the start
of the worldwide Jamboree on the Air this month received a sampling a few weeks
early of the friendship and communications ham radio is known for. Scouts in
Australia who were enjoying school holidays were able to connect across the
country as part of a special Echolink event held from Sunday
the 27th of September to Sunday the 4th of October.
The JOTA special event took place on the SCOUT-VK conference server which
was established earlier this year by the Victorian Scout Radio &
Electronics Service Unit. The conference server has also been a place for
Scouts to host nets.
Now with the special event concluded, Scouts await the Jamboree on the Air
and Jamboree on the Internet. That's coming up fast: It takes place from
the 16th to the 18th of October.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(WIA, SCOUTS AUSTRALIA)
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* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (57:57/10)
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