Hams Honour Retired Search and Rescue Planes

Four aircraft used by Canada’s Air Force for S&R work were retired during the pandemic without much fanfare. Those four planes are now getting their retirement party thanks to amateurs who love aviation as much as they love ham radio. Using the antennas on board the planes (which will be grounded as museum pieces now in four provinces) they will be calling QRZ on July 22nd and will be open to attract visitors from the region and they will even attempt a 2m net between all four planes. This event is called Buffalos on the Air, so named for the RCAF’s CC115 Buffalo aircraft. It was organised mainly by aircraft technician Phil Tanner VA7XOZ, who worked on the planes.

This is a way to mark history, to educate the public about the S&R function of the planes and, of course, to show people what amateur radio can do. The antennas on the planes are indeed capable of using HF frequencies reserved for amateurs because the planes in their S&R functions often had to make contact on the civilian frequencies.

Study: Commercial Satellite Constellations EMIT RFI

According to a new study, those tiny low-earth orbit satellites in those big commercial constellations may be delivering more broadband internet access and images of the Earth below. The electronics on board SpaceX and other constellations satellites may well be generating unintended electromagnetic radiation thwarting radioastronomers' research. This word comes from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany, where researchers say they made this discovery while using the facility’s Low Frequency Array telescope.

More Information - https://events.ecmwf.int/event/258/contributions/2871/attachments/1537/2776/RFI2022_Di_Vruno.pdf

Commercial Interests Petition FCC for High Power Allocation on Shortwave Spectrum

The ad hoc group "Shortwave Modernization Coalition" petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow data communications on multiple bands within the HF 2 - 25 MHz range with up to 20 KW, including in bands immediately adjacent to spectrum allocated to the Amateur Radio Service. This group appears to represent high-speed stock trading interests.

The FCC has assigned it RM-11953. Comments are due by 31 July 2023, and reply comments by 15th August 2023.

While the petitioners exclude the amateur bands, high power operations on immediately adjacent bands are proposed.  The ARRL is reviewing the petition.

A copy of the petition can be found (PDF format) - https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1042840187330/1.