Changes to Amateur Service Part 97 Rules

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The FCC's recently announced revisions to the Part 97 Amateur Radio rules governing exam credit to former licensees, test administration, and emission types will go into effect on Monday, 21 July 2014. .

In a wide-ranging Report and Order (R&O) released 9 June 2014, the Commission announced that it would grant examination credit for written elements 3 (General) and 4 (Amateur Extra) to holders of "expired licenses that required passage of those elements." The FCC will require former licensees falling outside the 2-year grace period to pass Element 2 (Technician) in order to be re-licensed.

The Commission declined to give exam credit to holders of expired Certificates of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCEs) or to extend lifetime validity to CSCEs.

FCC Report and Order - http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2014/db0609/FCC-14-74A1.pdf

 

Queen Shown Radio Ham’s Raspberry Pi Balloon Payload

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More than 350 of the UK’s most successful and most promising technologists were invited to Buckingham Palace by the Queen and the Duke of York for Tech at the Palace event, held in early June 2014.

Among the exhibits, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was shown the Raspberry Pi High Altitude Balloon payload developed by licensed UK Amateur Radio operator David Akerman M6RPI (now M0RPI) which transmitted Slow Scan Digital Video (SSDV) signals on 434 MHz from the first “Pi in the Sky“ in 2012.

Her Majesty also saw the TARDIS that was flown by David and Anthony Stirk M0UPU.

Giant leap for radio amateur's Pi-powered teddy bear - http://amsat-uk.org/2013/08/26/giant-leap-for-radio-hams-pi-powered-teddy-bear/

M6RPI Balloon PIE1 – Raspberry Pi Sends Live Images from Near Space - http://amsat-uk.org/2012/07/17/pie1-raspberry-pi-sends-live-images-from-near-space/

Dave Akerman M0RPI - http://www.daveakerman.com/

 

Amateur Radio Week proclaimed in Atlanta

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Amateur Radio operators in the US state city of Atlanta are celebrating Amateur Radio Week as proclaimed by Mayor Keith Crow.

Members of the local chapter of Amateur Radio and Relay League (ARRL), the Radio Amateurs of Cass County (RACC) attended a meeting at Atlanta City Hall on Wednesday 18 June 2014, when Mayor Keith Crow signed a proclamation acknowledging Amateur / Ham Radio week starting from Sunday 22 June  through to Sunday 29 June 2014.

“I’m delighted to sign the proclamation honoring the dedicated men and women who take to the airwaves to help their communities in good times and bad, through community events, disaster response and various programs. He commended the members of the local chapter for their help in the past. ”
— Mayor Keith Crow