SARL change beacon frequency

The South African Radio League (SARL) has requested ICASA to change the beacon frequency of 5250 to 5290 kHz to line up with the same allocation in Europe and other countries. This will greatly enhance the coverage of beacons.

ICASA has agreed and this week we will change the 5250 kHz frequency for 5290 kHz.

To receive WSPR beacons set your radio to SSB and tune 1, 5 kHz lower to 5288,5 kHz.

To learn more about the WSPR software, download a tutorial by Stewart Moss, ZS6SGM from the SARL web. Click on Propagation Research on the left hand side of the home page and follow the link.

WSPR stations operating on 5250 kHz are requested to move frequency on 4 October to 5290 kHz

Melbourne man guilty of Radiocommunications Act offences

A Melbourne man who deliberately disrupted a taxi company’s radio communications system using a non-standard radio transmitter, has been fined $3,500 and ordered to pay costs after pleading guilty to three offences under the Radio-communications Act 1992 (the Act).

The court finding follows an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority into allegations of radio interference at West Gippsland Taxis Pty Ltd. ACMA Inspectors found the defendant using a transmitter that he had modified to disrupt taxi operations and make frivolous calls to Triple Zero and the RACV using the taxi service’s frequency.

The defendant pleaded guilty to three breaches under the Act:

• operating a radio-communications device without a licence (subsection 46(1) of the Act)

• causing a radio emission to be made by a transmitter knowing that it was a non-standard transmitter (section 157 of the Act)

• causing substantial disruption or disturbance of radio-communications (section 197 of the Act).

“In this case, the offender programmed a device to overcome security functions to deliberately disrupt radio-communications services, Radio-communications provide access to critical emergency and community services and the ACMA will not tolerate intentional non-compliance”

— ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman

Non-standard radio-communications devices were an ACMA Priority Compliance Area for 2013-14. The public should be aware that operating modified or non-standard radio transmitters can cause interference to radio-communications, and the operator may incur significant penalties. More information is available here.

This case follows recent enforcement action taken against two security companies found operating radio-communications devices without a licence.

New RSGB Youth Committee

The RSGB Board has approved the formation of a new committee to provide a focus for its young members and to help promote amateur radio amongst the younger sections of society interested in the amateur / ham radio hobby.

The new committee will be known as the Youth Committee.

Members of the Youth Committee must be under 26 years of age and be members of the Society (which includes Junior and Student members) and applications for membership of the committee are now invited.

Apply to the Amateur / Ham Radio Youth Committee -  http://rsgb.org/main/about-us/volunteering-for-the-rsgb/youth-committee-2/

Youth Committee - http://rsgb.org/main/about-us/committees/youth-committee