FCC Rejects Amplifier Waiver Request

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FCC has denied a request from Expert Linears for an exception waiver of 15 dB gain restriction on linear amplifiers 

The waiver request, filed in June 2016, would have allowed Expert Linears to import an amplifier capable of exceeding the current 15 dB gain limitation as it awaits FCC action on its April petition (RM-11767) to revise the same Amateur Service rules. That petition remains pending.

““In light of the conflicting comments regarding the desirability of eliminating the 15 dB limitation, we conclude that waiving the limitation at this stage of the rulemaking proceeding would prejudice the rulemaking proceeding and prematurely dispose of commenters’ concerns. Moreover, we agree with FlexRadio that granting Expert’s waiver request while the rulemaking petition remains pending would provide an unfair market advantage for one equipment model over other manufacturers’ RF power amplifiers that would still be limited by [the existing rules].””
— FCC

WSPRLite First Impressions

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ICQ Amateur / Ham Radio Presenter Edmund Spicer M0MNG has made a TouTube video providing a 'first impressions' review of the new WSPRlite from SOTAbeams. 

Included in the video is an example of how you might be able to press an 80-metre dipole into service on 30 metres, and information about potential power supplies and their drawbacks.

HF Antenna Tester

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SOTABeams have launched a new product to help with testing, locating and monitoring antenna propagation.

WSPRlite Antenna Performance Analysis System consists of two parts, WSPRlite a WSPR beacon and DXplorer a data analysis website. WSPRlite sends a test transmission which is received by hundreds of stations across the world. DXplorer is a web based system that gathers these reports and presents them in a whole new way, allowing the user to check the DX performance of their antenna system. 

SOTABeam claim the real break-though is the ability to compare systems in real time and all over the world. DXplorer does this in a simple and intuitive way enabling you to see what difference changes to your antenna system really make to its DX performance.

WSPRlite Antenna Performance Analysis System - http://www.sotabeams.co.uk/wsprlite