NRAO Program to Educate Emerging Generation of Scientists using Amateur Radio

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A new National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) program aims to educate emerging generations about the electromagnetic spectrum through an interactive, substantive experience with amateur radio. Funded by a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), the program Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum (and Why Amateur Radio Matters) will focus on broadening the excitement of amateur radio among BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students.

Bringing together the expertise of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), amateur radio enthusiasts, and subject matter experts (SMEs), the two-year program will:

  1. Introduce two cohorts of students to radio technologies,

  2. Engage these students in hands-on activities that will deepen their knowledge of astronomy, particularly radio astronomy,

  3. Support them in attaining their Technician Class and General Class amateur radio licences, and

  4. Develop a scalable curriculum to be shared nationwide (and internationally) through Superknova, NRAO’s online learning platform.

“Amateur radio continues to be incredibly important to the nation and global communications, and NRAO is excited to be working with ARDC to bring a new generation and diverse communities to the field.”
— Dr. Tony Beasley, Director of the NRAO

Students will learn about the very real ways in which the electromagnetic spectrum is a natural resource, every bit as limited and precious as the oceans and forests. They will also learn how amateur radio is an essential part of our national emergency infrastructure, and a critical resource in times of climate change and pandemics. The program is expected to start January 2023, initially serving 10 students.


Traffic Messages in APRS Map Service

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The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has an extensive system for, among other things, road messages. This is information about road closures, accidents, roadworks as well. This is open data that is published in a perhaps slightly difficult format, DATEX. Now we have finally integrated this into the NRRL's map service.

The map service has a menu with different display modes. Here it is possible to select "Road announcements (Datex)". The position of road signs of all types is then displayed. Click on the icon to see more information about time slots and text that has been posted. Messages have three levels of severity: low, high and highest. If you select the display mode "Tracking", only "high" and "highest" are displayed together with other information from APRS as well as AIS information from Hurtigruta and the like. The system also allows you to view images from the road authorities' webcam.

NRRL members can, if they wish, get a user account at https://aprs.no/

It gives access to a little more info (including AIS from the Coastal Administration), and the possibility to edit and save some information about map layers and the like. The map service is an advanced tool and although APRS is the main function, it can do much more.

144/430 MHz bands to be used for PMR during 2024 Olympics

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144/430 MHz bands to be used for PMR during 2024 Olympics

France is preparing to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games (OLYMPIC Games) in Paris in 2024.

The National Frequency Agency is in charge of drawing up the frequency plan and allocating frequencies for the Games.

To this end, it worked with all the assignees to assess the amount of spectrum needed for the organization and global dissemination of the Games. In this context, bands not primarily devoted to PMR, PMSE audio and video uses and to score and time management have been identified, as in previous editions of the summer JOP, in order to meet the consequent need for spectral resources.

ARCEP, assignee of the band 144 – 146 MHz has thus authorized, during the JOP which will take place from 26 July to 11 August and then from 28 August to 8 September 2024, that it can be used by the official broadcaster of the Games and its service providers, among other stakeholders. The band will thus accommodate the PMR voice service (walkie-talkie) in simplex pipes of 6.25 and 12.5 kHz, up to 1 W. This use of the strip by the Paris JOP has been authorized on the sites of competitions and non-competitions, about forty sites located mainly in metropolitan France, on the Territory of the Paris region (Paris, Elancourt, Versailles, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Saint Denis, Le Bourget, La Courneuve, Clichy Sous-Bois, Villepinte, Vaires-sur-Marne), but also in the provinces of Lille, Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux, Châteauroux and Nantes. Events will also take place in French Polynesia at the Teahupoo site.

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