Fridge knocks out cell-phone network

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Radio frequency interference (RFI) from a fridge played havoc with a mobile phone network

Reports say the fridge caused interference to the 850 MHz mobile data network across several neighbourhoods of the town of Wangaratta.

A crew using special "Mr Yagi" antennas (named after their Japanese creator) tracked the interference to a rogue beer fridge in a garage.

More information - http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/fridge-fault-causes-telstra-mobile-network-blackouts/story-fni0fit3-1226655474358

Dutch ham radio trio on Jersey

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Jo MJ/PA9JO, Alex MJ/PA1AW and Ronald MJ/PA3EWP will be active from the isle of Jersey (EU-013, WLOTA 0818, WW Loc. IN89VE) between 20-24th June, 2013.

Operating CW, SSB and Digital modes on 160-6m, they will use the club station of the Jersey Amateur Radio Society at the old German signal station at La Moye.

QSL for all 3 callsigns goes to PA1AW, direct with SAE + sufficient return postage to Alex van Hengel, Bovenkruier 18, 2995CA Heerjansdam, The Netherlands.

OQRS will also be available for direct and bureau requests. Logs will be uploaded after the trip.

More information - http://www.cqfriends.com/user.asp?username=mj2013

Fox-1 has a launch date!

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NASA announced that AMSAT’s Fox-1 FM transponder spacecraft has been assigned a launch in 2014.

For details on the launch vehicle, targeted launch date, orbit specifics, and more, please attend the AMSAT Forum and visit the AMSAT booth at the Dayton Hamvention this weekend.

AMSAT’s Fox-1 CubeSat aims to provide these features:

  • Fox-1 is designed to operate in sunlight without batteries once the battery system fails. This applies lessons learned from AO-51 and ARISSat-1 operations.
  • In case of IHU failure Fox-1 aims to continue to operate its FM repeater in a basic, ‘zombie sat’ mode, so that the repeater remains on-the-air.
  • Fox-1 is designed as the immediate replacement for AO-51. Its U/V (Mode B) FM transponder will make it even easier to work with modest equipment.
  • From the ground user’s perspective, the same FM amateur radio equipment used for AO-51 may be used for Fox-1.

AMSAT Bulletin Board - AMSAT-BB - http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/maillist/

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