Ham radio goes around the Moon

Towards the end of the year, radio amateurs will have the opportunity to receive what must be the ultimate DX from a ham radio payload transmitting the data mode JT65B as it flies around the Moon

Beijing plans to send a lunar orbiter around the Moon carrying a 14 kg battery powered payload known as 4M-LXS which was developed at LuxSpace. The amateur radio payload will transmit a JT65B signal on 145.990 MHz which can be decoded by radio amateurs using the free WJST software.

The orbiter is one of the test models for Beijing's new lunar probe Chang'e-5, which will be tasked with landing on the moon, collecting samples and returning to Earth. The launch, planned for 4th qtr 2014, is aimed at testing the technologies that are vital for the success of Chang'e-5. The orbiter will be launched into Lunar Transfer Orbit (LTO) then will perform a flyby around the Moon and re-enter the Earth's atmosphere after 9 days.

The orbiter arrived in Xichang, Sichuan on Sunday, August 10 and was then transported to the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

Beijing to test recoverable moon orbiter - http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-08/10/c_133546027.htm

IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination Pages - http://amsat.org.uk/iaru

Free WSJT Software - http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/

False health scare over radio ham's mast

Kent radio amateur Armando Martins M0PAM, who speaks six languages, is having to fight completely unfounded allegations that his short 30ft mast causes health and other problems

Armando Martins, who also holds the Portuguese callsign CT1JSP, has operated a radio since 1962 and has been using his 30ft mast in Belinge, Herne Bay since 2012. He uses his radio equipment to communicate with other operators across the globe and help in disaster zones if other communication systems have been knocked out.

Residents at a Thornhurst retirement/sheltered housing complex in Beltinge are reported to have made unfounded claims against the mast.

East Kent Housing Association runs the complex and says mediation with the neighbours has broken down. The Association's manager, Michelle Simmonds, confirmed that tests carried out by Ofcom have not revealed evidence of any interference from the mast.

Full Story - http://www.kentonline.co.uk/herne-bay/news/radio-enthusiast-denies-90ft-mast-21621/

Updated Worldwide Amateur 5 MHz Allocation Chart

A new version of the Worldwide Amateur 5 MHz Allocations Chart has appeared.

Updated Worldwide Amateur 5 MHz Allocation Chart

Due to the increasing amount of allocations and in terms of readability and accommodation it has no longer proved possible to retain it in an A4 pdf-type format.

Consequently it has become necessary to re-configure it into an alternative (excel file) format. Apologies that the information is not available in as 'at-a-glance' format that was previously possible, but it is hoped it is as comprehensive.

The current updated Worldwide Amateur 5 MHz Allocations Chart can be found at http://tinyurl.com/oofmemh