Counterfeit Icom exploding battery alert

Icom America acknowledges that counterfeit Icom products are in circulation and is diligently taking measures to eliminate illegal counterfeiting activity.

Fake Icom products do not meet regulatory or technical compliance, offer faulty performance and may cause extreme safety hazards (e.g. explosive battery packs). Icom urges customers to purchase Icom radios from an Authorized Icom Dealer or an Authorized Icom Distributor. Locate an Authorized Dealer.

Counterfeiters are relying on Icom's excellent reputation for quality to manufacture, sell and distribute unauthorized products bearing the Icom ("ICOM") trademark. Counterfeit items are illegal and may physically resemble genuine Icom products. Counterfeit radios also include Icom-branded products with similar product names and model numbers, but do not exist in Icom's current product range.

Icom values its customers and ask that they verify sellers as Authorized Icom Dealers before purchasing. Customers can also refer to the following webpages for instructions on how to identify counterfeit radios:

• Counterfeit Product Alert
• Alert for Unauthorized Icom Trademark Use Products

Consumers are advised that Icom is not responsible and will not be liable for any damages, loss or injury resulting from the purchase or use of fake Icom radios, batteries and other counterfeit products. Icom is not obligated to offer any technical support of counterfeit products.

If customers suspect that a product is counterfeit, please contact a local Authorized Icom Dealer or email Icom America at support@icomamerica.com

APRS iGate built using a Raspberry Pi

Hack-A-Day reports that a Raspberry Pi computer board has been used to implement a ham radio APRS iGate.

An APRS iGate is an Internet gateway that gates packets from the radio/RF side to the APRS-IS on the Internet (and vice-versa).

Read the Hack-A-Day story - http://hackaday.com/2012/10/19/aprs-igate-built-using-a-raspberry-pi/

Read the Ultra Techie story - http://www.ultratechie.com/2012/10/pigate/

ACMA warning about non-compliant goods

The Australian Consumer and Media Authority is looking for devices that pose a high a high risk to the orderly use of the radio spectrum and public safety.

ACMA Field Staff, particularly in West Australia, are looking for mobile phone jammers and GPS jammers, both prohibited in this country, mobile phone repeaters, and non-compliant devices such as cordless phones and headsets.

The campaign will include education, traditional enforcement measures and also focus on improving the supply compliance of online, or over the internet purchased devices.

A comment by a radio amateur to the ACMA claimed there was concern about non-compliant imported goods that are stamped to be compliant.

He wants the ACMA to clamp down on switch mode power supplies through to plasma TV sets that don't meet the standards and cause much interference.

Hopefully the ACMA will include all offending devices when checking installations and sellers.