Tradition Carries on in Sweden

The World Heritage Site in Grimeton, Sweden, once again fired up its 200kW Alexanderson alternator on Christmas Eve morning for a long wave transmission of a CW message of peace.

What is important is that this 100-year-old transmitter is still functional and in this digital age, it is easy to forget where our technology comes from when everyone is obsessed with waterfalls and SDR. Sending this traditional message - as it does several times a year - is a reminder of the advances communication has made but also a reminder that some things are built to last!

This event is carried off with great devotion entirely by volunteers and those who are not fortunate enough to have a long wave receiver can listen on an SDR or watch it livestreamed on YouTube.

It was a success this year - and that is no small feat for this mammoth piece of equipment that has required maintenance and some repairs since it was put into service in 1924.

Ofcom Amateur Radio Consultation Statement

Ofcom has just released a document that sets out its “decision to update the amateur radio licensing framework to ensure the policies and licences meet the needs of today and tomorrow’s radio amateurs while streamlining the licensing process“.

Alongside the statement, it has published a Summary of the Changes which gives a high-level overview of the policy changes Ofcom has made to the amateur radio licensing framework.

Ofcom has also published its General Notice, giving notice of its proposal to vary all amateur radio licences.

More Information - https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0033/272985/Updating-the-amatuer-radio-licensing-framework-overview-of-key-changes.pdf

WRC-23: Week-3 Update – 23cm and WPT

The end of the third week of the WRC-23 World Radiocommunication Conference saw plenary approval of a new footnote to the 23cm amateur band at 1240 to 1300MHz – a major landmark after four years of hard work. Meanwhile, 40-50MHz radar sounders and future agenda items are consuming considerable time and effort – all week and weekend.

Regarding 23cm, where amateurs are secondary in any case, the full text of the allocation footnote is:

“5.A91B: Administrations authorising operation of the amateur and amateur-satellite services in the frequency band 1 240-1 300 MHz, or portions thereof, shall ensure that the amateur and amateur-satellite services do not cause harmful interference to radio navigation-satellite service (space-to-Earth) receivers in accordance with No. 5.29 (see the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.2164). The authorizing administration, upon receipt of a report of harmful interference caused by a station of the amateur or amateur satellite services, shall take all necessary steps to eliminate such interference rapidly. (WRC-23)”

Formally this does not take effect until 1st January 2025 (when the 5.A91B footnote reference will be updated), but it is likely that CEPT, pushed by the EU, may move quicker. RSGB is aware that changes by other primary users may also influence the final shape of 23cm.