Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2259, for Friday, February 12, 2021
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2259, with a release date of Friday,
February 12, 2021 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. A local EmComm conference goes virtual and
possibly global. Hams in Austria challenge proposed rule changes -- and
can spinach transmit wirelessly? All this and more, as Amateur Radio
Newsline Report Number 2259, comes your way right now.
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BILLBOARD CART
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PANDEMIC GIVES LOCAL EMCOMM CONFERENCE INTERNATIONAL REACH
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Regrouping to accommodate the pandemic, a respected
emergency communications event has been able to extend its reach far
beyond the Pacific Northwest. Christian Cudnik, K0STH, tells us what's
happening.
CHRISTIAN: For the first time in its 20 years, Communications Academy is
going global. The pandemic has turned the two-day emergency preparedness
conference in Pacific Northwest into a live online event with
possibilities for international participation. It's being held this year
on April 10th and 11th. Although it attracts a sizable number of hams,
attendees needn't be amateur radio operators. In fact many of the
presenters are hams, including Tom Cox, VE6TOX, ICS Consultant for Alberta
Emergency Management Agency; Jason Biermann, KI7KVP, director of
Snohomish, Washington's Department of Emergency Management; and Ward
Silver, N0AX, who will present on station grounding and bonding.
If you're anywhere in the world and want to sharpen your emergency
communications skills, this is a free opportunity to receive training
while getting realtime access to presenters. Although the presentations
will be recorded, the experts will be available for live chat with
attendees in question-and-answer sessions.
Tim Helming, WT1IM, told Newsline in an email that Comm Academy is the
only surviving significant event in Washington state and was made possible
by switching to a virtual event. He said: [quote] "It promises to be a
great training Opportunity for all of us in Washington state and perhaps
beyond." [endquote] Tim said graduates of the two-day academy often go on
to do good work, putting their knowledge into action - which is of course
what it's all about.
For details or to register, visit commacademy dot org (commacademy.org)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Christian Cudnik, K0STH.
(TIM HELMING WT1IM)
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HAMS SEE THREAT IN PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO AUSTRIAN TELCOM LAW
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: Austria's main amateur radio society is fighting back
against proposed laws it considers unfriendly to hams. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, brings
us that story.
ED: The Austrian Amateur Radio Society, OVSV, is challenging proposed
regulation changes by Parliament that the amateurs say would diminish
privileges and spectrum allocations. Society president Mike Zwingl,
OE3MZC, told Newsline that a pending amendment to the Telecommunications
Act of 2020 contains language that would erode previous gains made by
radio amateurs, and fail to protect their licences.
Mike said that the new law's language institutes measures which would
impede hams' roles in emergency communications and passing welfare
traffic. The change would also raise costs for licences and impose larger fines
for violations. The amendment also would leave amateurs with no protection
against harmful interference. With lifetime licences abolished,
all new licences being issued would expire after 10 years. The radio
society would also lose the ability to administer license exams.
Mike told Newsline that hams enjoyed robust activity following the passage
in 2003 and 2007 of amateur radio laws favouring experimentation and new
technologies.
He said a change in government in 2018 led to a new more complex Telecomms
Law that took over the administration of amateur radio laws as well.
The Austrian ham organisation is encouraging amateurs to contact the
ministry and telecommunications authority indicating their support for the
group's position. Mike said the society had filed its comments earlier
with Parliament.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP.
(MIKE ZWINGL OE3MZC)
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FIELD DAY RULES MODIFIED AGAIN THIS YEAR FOR PANDEMIC
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: To ensure that clubs and individuals have adequate
planning time for Field Day this year, the ARRL has announced that the
same modified rules from last year's pandemic plan will be in place this
year, along with new power limits for Class D and Class E stations. Both
are home stations, with Class E operating on emergency power. Both will
have a limit of 150 watts PEP. As with last year's scoring, club scores
will be a sum of all individual entries attributing their points to a
club.
Field Day will be held on June 26th and 27th. Additional updates are
available on the Facebook page of the ARRL and the ARRL's own Field Day
page on its website arrl.org.
(ARRL)
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (57:57/10)
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