SBE Urges FCC to Improve MW Noise Environment

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Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) has advised the FCC that the regulatory agency needs to reevaluate in its efforts to tackle AM revitalization

 

If the FCC takes the SBE’s advice, the result could be less noise in the MF and HF Amateur Radio bands. In comments the SBE filed in response to an FCC Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Inquiry (MB 13-249) proposing ways to enhance the viability of the AM broadcast service, the SBE said the Commission must “commit to a regulatory plan which, over time, will reduce the levels of man-made noise in the MF bands, and more broadly in the bands below 30 MHz.”

In comments filed earlier in the proceeding, the SBE pointed out that “AM radio in particular is susceptible to interference from electronic devices of all types,” and that ambient noise on the AM band is only bound to get worse with further proliferation of noise-generating electronic devices, including certain lighting devices regulated under FCC Part 15 and Part 18 rules.

“There are literally dozens of complaints from Amateur Radio operators of severe interference from power line noise annually,” the SBE said. “Power line radiation in the HF and MF amateur allocations will, in most cases, directly translate to preclusive noise in the AM broadcast band.”

ARRL story - http://www.arrl.org/news/sbe-urges-fcc-to-improve-medium-wave-noise-environment

SBE submission - http://sbe.org/sections/documents/FNPRM_AM_Improvement_13-249_20160321.pdf

UK Host for YOTA 2017

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Lisa Leenders, PA2LS, Youth Working Group Chair for IARU Region 1, has confirmed  that the Youngsters On The Air (YOTA) 2017 summer camp will be held in the UK.

The RSGB will be organising the event

RSGB - 
http://rsgb.org/main/blog/news/gb2rs/headlines/2016/03/26/youngsters-on-the-air-2017/

Youngsters On The Air - http://www.ham-yota.com/

17 June 2016 - QRP Day

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IARU Region Three will be promoting and celebrating Amateur / Ham Radio QRP activity on 17 June 2016.

The day will promote QRP radio communications testifying the high skill and ability of radio amateurs, along with highlighting concerning, among others, the reduction of QRM on the amateur bands.

The groundwork for the creation of QRP Day in Region Three was conducted at the 10th IARU Region 3 Conference held in September 1997 in Beijing.

A resolution was passed (Document 97/X/14 submitted by NZART), which states "That Region 3 Societies help to promote the IARU objectives for QRP operation, specifically:

  1. to support QRP operation on June 17 each year;
  2. to foster QRP activities by their members;
  3. to encourage regular publication of QRP articles in their national magazines;
  4. to provide QRP sections in any national contests; and
  5. to assist other Societies with the promotion and development of QRP."

Accordingly, member Societies are requested to note the above resolution and take appropriate actions with reference to the holdings of the following events, for example, in order to contribute to more effective use of radio spectrum:

  1. QRP Field Day;
  2. QRP Contest;
  3. Distribution of QRP Transmitter Kits and Reference Book; and
  4. Workshop of QRP Operation.