Morse code at Eurovision?

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There is an early indication that morse code will be the chosen method of communication between the Heliport and the Kyiv International Exhibition Center during the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Ukraine 

A ESCKAZ website report on the success of Kyiv in beating rival cities of Dnipro and Odessa to host the contest says: 

“There is an idea to make a connection between locations using a type of Morse code. Guests of the Eurovision will be able to communicate from the roof of the heliport with flashing lights, waving flags with those who will be in IEC and in this way supporting their countries”
— IEC

 

ESCKAZ Eurovision 2017 - http://esckaz.com/2017/
ESCKAZ Eurovision 2017 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OGAE.RoW/posts/10153894867106305

Australian Club's 60th Birthday

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As the southern hemisphere enters the warmer months, Amateur / Ham Radio operators in Australia are preparing for the largest gathering of enthusiasts at the Central Coast Radio Club Field Day.

The Central Coast Radio Club, located north of Sydney, New South Wales is marking the event in February 2017 to celebrate their 60th birthday.

The group successfully raises funds to support the local repeater network and club facilities, made open to both local members and passing operators.

To make the 60th anniversary, a special callsign of VK2WFD will be on-air at the Wyong Field Day.

The Central Coast Amateur Radio Club have made an open invitation to all amateur radio operators from around the work to either join them in person or on the air to celebrate the 60th birthday event.

Central Coast Amateur Radio Club - http://www.ccarc.org.au

WIA Seek New Ham Radio Allocations

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The Wireless Institute of Australia is seeking new amateur radio spectrum at 70 MHz, 918 MHz and extensions to the 80 and 160m bands 

Promoting the additional access, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH comments that access to variety of frequency bands throughout the radiofrequency spectrum is at the heart of amateur radio and allows for the opportunity to explore, learn and experiment.

Australian amateurs are awaiting access to a to new allocation in the 60m band, and are also seeking access at 70Mhz, to coincide with Europe and Africa.

From the reported experience of European and African amateurs, the local and long-distance propagation experienced on 70 MHz has both similarities AND differences compared with the six metre and two metre amateur bands.

The WIA’s are also proposing a new band at 918-926 MHz, preferably aligned with – or overlapping – amateur allocations in other countries. New Zealand and the USA and Canada have allocations in what is named the 33 centimetre band.  In the USA and Canada, it covers 902 to 928 MHz. It is shared with short-range industrial data communications devices, RFID and the like. In New Zealand, our ZL brothers & sisters have access to 921 to 928 MHz.

In Australia, 915-928 MHz has many claimants, including defence and short-range industrial type networks similar to the USA. We share bands in the microwave spectrum with industrial – scientific – medical applications and the proposal is to mirror this in the 900 MHz – or 33 centimetre – band.

At the other end of the spectrum, the WIA is seeking to EXTEND the 160 metre and 80 metre bands. It is noted that use of the medium frequency spectrum above our current 160 metre band has declined, hence the WIA is seeking to obtain a wider band. We note that the ZLs 160 metre band covers 1800 to 1950 kHz.

The WIA is also seeking a little more spectrum on the 80 metre band above 3700 kHz. 

WIA - http://www.wia.org.au/