SA Amateur Radio Licence Fee Increases

The Amateur Radio licence fee in South Africa will increase from 1 April 2016 to R126 (€8 / £6 / $9) per annum - A 5 year licence is also available to R525.

South African Radio League will start their billing process in March 2016,  meaning licensees should receive their bill in the next few weeks.

When making payment please ensure that you include your licence number which can be found on your current licence and your call sign. If you decide to opt for a 5 year licence, please send an email with your payment details and a request to convert to a 5-year licence to
DKuhrau@icasa.org.za.

Marconi Exhibition and Talks

Building The Wireless Age, a Marconi exhibition, will take place in Chelmsford on Saturdays and Sundays from March 11 to May 29. 

There will also be talks by Tim Wander G6GUX on the Hall Street works, Dave Monk on his career at BBC Essex and Ray Clark on offshore radio. Other events planned in May.

More information - http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/chelmsford-civic-society-8321670768

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/MarconiScienceWorX/photos/
a.466903880129952.1073741828.466485366838470/581105548709784/

Google use 71-76 and 81-86 GHz Amateur Bands

Google has told the FCC its secret airborne network is “nothing to worry about” 

Google has told the US government that it believes its secret airborne network won't interfere with any existing networks and won't harm any people or animals. Google has been hoping to perform a "two-year nationwide test" of the network and recently addressed some concerns people had raised about it.

In the filing, Google only calls the project a "nationwide testing of airborne and terrestrial transmitters in the 71-76 and 81-86 GHz bands (collectively, the E-band)." It wants to keep the project a secret, but all signs point to it being for Project Loon, Google's airborne network of balloons which it has primarily tested in New Zealand. The application is signed by Astro Teller, the head of Google's "X" division, which houses Project Loon.

Full Story -  
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/01/google-tells-the-fcc-its-secret-airborne-network-is-nothing-to-worry-about/

Google Project Loon - https://www.google.com/loon/how/ 

Google's letter to FCC regarding 0747-EX-PL-2015 - https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=171957&x