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VK6WIA NewsWest for Sunday, 30 September 2018 - Amateur Radio News Edition

Discussion in 'Amateur Radio News' started by VK6FLAB, Sep 29, 2018.

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  1. VK6FLAB

    VK6FLAB Ham Member QRZ Page

    newswest.png
    In the news this week, the FCC appears to ban the operation by amateurs of all unlicensed radios that are capable of being used outside amateur bands, closer to home we have an update from the Ham Feast, the Platinum VKFF Hunter Award, an update on the Golden Globe Yacht Race where radio amateurs are providing weather and net control services to sailors traversing the globe.

    Foundations of Amateur Radio looks at the idea of man-made noise being vertical, the Oceania DX contest, an update from the WA VHF group, the Radio Amateur Society of Australia, the Helpline, the Radio Amateur Old Timers Club of Australia, Bob looks at privacy and we sneak in some other news and updates along the way.

    On Monday September 24th the FCC issued a Public Notice Enforcement Advisory that sent the Amateur community into a tail spin. The notice specifically targets two-way VHF/UHF radios that are not authorized in accordance with the Commision's rules.

    The notice states that "Equipment that does not comply with the technical requirements cannot be certified and thus cannot be imported, advertised, sold, or used."

    It goes on to say, and I quote: "There is one exception to this certification requirement: if a device is capable of operating only on frequencies that the FCC has allocated for use by Amateur Radio Service licensees, it does not require FCC equipment authorization, and an amateur licensee may use his or her license to operate such radios."

    "However, many two-way radios that purport to operate on amateur frequencies also operate on frequencies that extend beyond the designated amateur frequency bands. If a two-way VHF/UHF radio is capable of operating outside of the amateur frequency bands, it cannot be imported, advertised, sold, or operated within the United States without an FCC equipment certification."

    Various amateurs have been in direct contact with the FCC and responses appear to be inconsistent. One statement appears to allow radios that can be used within the amateur bands by amateurs, regardless of its ability to transmit outside of amateur bands, another, from a different FCC representative states that this is incorrect.

    Further discussion around building, homebrew kits and modifications appear to have been caught in this same notice, either intentionally, or not.

    If you want to read the notice you can find it on the VK6.net website. There is a lively debate on social media including the amateurradio subgroup of reddit regarding this. Suffice to say, this is developing news and time will tell how this plays out and what, if any, impact this has across the rest of the global amateur community.

    If you have questions or comments, feedback, good or bad, the address is newswest@vk6.net.

    You'll find links to resources on the vk6.net website where you'll also find information on where to hear the news, where to download it, how to rebroadcast this news and how to register your callbacks.

    If you want to join in, you can. Send an email to newswest@vk6.net and we'll be happy to respond. Send your stories, tall or true, audio production, scripts, events, updates, membership information, meeting announcements, AGM alerts, contests, swap-meets and more to us and we'll happily present your contribution on-air.

    Please register your callback, either on-air, or on-line. Visit vk6.net and click on the callback button. You can also subscribe to our announcement list and we'll let you know when the news is hot off the press.

    Originating in Perth Western Australia NewsWest is produced by WA Amateur Radio News for listeners on-air, on-line and on-demand.

    You can tune into this news on-air across many amateur frequencies, download the show from vk6.net or subscribe via your favourite podcast application, whichever way you're listening, whether you're a licensed radio amateur or not, experienced or just a beginner, old or young, thanks for being here and thanks for joining us.

    Get your copy: http://vk6.net/news/

    NewsWest is broadcast and relayed across VK6 and far beyond by many transmitters and operators. Details can be found on vk6.net.

    The main VK6 NewsWest broadcast occurs at 09:30 WST (01:30 UTC).

    If you'd like to broadcast this news in your local area, you can. There are no restrictions on broadcasting NewsWest, other than that you must broadcast it as supplied without any modification.

    We ask that broadcasters advise us that they're transmitting the news.

    We look forward to hearing callbacks from the new network when it goes live!

    Our address is newswest@vk6.net

    Producer: Onno VK6FLAB
     

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