Radio Sri Lanka to stop using 7190 kHz

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) have ceased operating on the 7190kHz amateur radio frequency from 1st June 2013.

As per the latest schedules, this 10 kW transmitter was used at 0645 to 0900 IST for broadcasts to South India.

7190 kHz has been used for decades by SLBC for broadcasts to South India in various languages and at various times.The old timers may remember that at one time Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation was the most powerful station in Asia and very popular in India (no TV then!) and this 7190 kHz was their best frequency for listeners in South India..

7100 to 7200 kHz was issued to broadcasting stations in Region III till a few years back and then re-issued to Radio Amateurs. While the other broadcasting stations vacated that frequency segment, Sri Lanka Corporation continued to broadcast on 7190 kHz till yesterday.

In fact, SLBC is closing down that old Short Wave transmitter site at Ekala and has transferred their services to another transmitter site at Trincomalle using other frequencies from today June 1, 2013.

The new schedule of SLBC to India from June 2013 is

• 0645-0743  IST  11905 kHz (Bengali/Tamil/Hindi)
• 0745-0900  IST 9770 kHz (English)
• 1645-1745  IST 9770 kHz  (Malayalam etc.)

VHF Radio Hams missing

The South African Relay League (SARL) reports that amateur radio VHF operation is on the decline.

There was a time when there were many reports about VHF activities on the SARL VHF Forum and more than a hundred amateurs would read a new post, or interesting news could appear on the VHF Mailman list.

Ever since the heavy rains last year there was a noticeable drop in VHF activity. Is this another "Mayan" prediction of the end of the radio amateur world and it disappearing like the dodo? Hopefully not!

There are many dedicated and highly experienced VHF old-timers out there and we need your input to encourage the younger generation to carry on where you left off, and advance amateur radio into the future world of SDR type equipment, digital data/voice modes and space communications.

There is an exciting new world of amateur radio waiting out there for the computer literate young radio amateurs, and many new discoveries to be made in the VHF, UHF and Microwave spectrum.

SARL - http://www.sarl.org.za/

Israel on 5 MHz with 8 channels

The Israeli regulator - the Ministry of Communications - (IMOC) has decided to grant 5 MHz/60m temporary permission on an individual application basis.

8 Channels are available to General and Extra Class licence holders.

The channels are as per the list below (the number represents USB dial frequency) - for CW 1.5 kHz above. There is some flexibility on Digi modes with 2500 Hz out of the 3kHz channel width. No split operation

Channel 1    5298.5    USB CW RTTY PSK
Channel 2    5330.5    USB CW
Channel 3    5357.0    RTTY PSK CW USB
Channel 4    5366.5    USB CW RTTY PSK
Channel 5    5371.5    USB
Channel 6    5398.5    CW USB RTTY PSK
Channel 7    5403.5    USB RTTY PSK CW
Channel 8    5407.0    USB RTTY PSK CW

Power - 100W PEP measured at the TX (not EIRP)

The Israel Amateur Radio Club's main goal is as always to experiment for local short range emergency communication readiness and the long distance activity is a side product of this.

The validity is from application approval date until mid March 2014 but it appears this could be extended. Operation is on a secondary status of course and was coordinated with the spectrum committee of the IMOC representing some other relevant organizations.

The IARC have had some flexibility in the choice of frequencies and in doing so have endeavoured to coordinate these with 5 MHz/60m amateur frequencies and activities already in existence. It is hoped that as IMOC gain confidence in 5 MHz/60m activity by Israeli amateurs as Secondary status users, then further frequencies may be made available

“We are all excited to work 60 metres with the ham community - wishing all 73 and ‘Shalom’ from the Holy Land”

— Amos, 4Z1AB, the President of the Israel Amateur Radio Club