50 Watts for Australian Foundation?

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Director of the WIA Roger Harrison in a recent submission to the ACMA has reviewed the future of the Australian Foundation Licence, including an increase in power.

The WIA board, as part of a recent review, are seeking to increase the power for all licence grades, with the hope to increase the foundation level to 50 watts.

The proposed increase will bring amateur / ham radio operators in Australia in line with other countires.

Other proposed changes include

  • Use of digital modes
  • Access to more bands
  • Increased power
  • Relaxation of the restriction to commercially made rigs
  • More permitted bandwidths 
  • A review of the Foundation callsign

With the growth of digital modes, the WIA is pushing the inclusion of access at foundation level as a priority, to allow early entrants to the hobby access to digital services.

Amateurs in Argentina, Canada, Japan, UK and the USA all have access to digital modes at foundation level.

In relation to the increase in power, whilst the WIA group admit that contacts are achievable using 10 watts, it is noted that, for stations in urban areas, Foundation operators frequently struggle making contacts battling against the prevailing RF noise levels experienced both locally and overseas.

Read more of the WIA Submission - 
http://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2016/20160413-4/index.php

JOTA in Ireland 2016

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The Scout Jamboree on the Air, JOTA, takes place on the weekend of 15th and 16th October.

Scouting Ireland and IRTS are making a special effort to increase activity and a number of radio clubs and individual operators have already indicated their intention to take part.

Activity can be for the whole weekend, just one day or even a few hours. This is a really worthwhile activity for both Scouting and Amateur Radio and will help promote the hobby particularly among teenagers and young adults.

If you can help out either by hosting some scouts at your station or giving a hand at the local club station please contact Paul EI2CA QTHR. 

There is a particularly active and enthusiastic scout group in Ashbourne County Meath who want to team up with a club or individual operators. They are well resourced and have a premises in the town complete with a mobile antenna tower. Let us know if you can help.

Hams Honoured for Emergency Preparedness

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Radio amateurs in the Tukwila Emergency Communications Team (TEC) have received recognition for their role in preparing the city for an emergency 

King County Executive Dow Constantine awarded the TEC Team the sixth annual Executive's Award for Community Preparedness at the Tukwila Fire Department's headquarters, given each fall to a volunteer organization that trains for and responds to emergencies.

“When we began planning for this year’s award my staff brought me no small number of very worthy nominees, one of which will probably win next year. But this group rose above all of them. It is tremendously gratifying to be at the head of a county where people are not simply sitting and waiting for the government to come help, but they are pulling together as a community to help one another and join together with their local government to provide a safer place for all.”
— Dow Constantine, King County Executive

The team consists of 20 volunteer emergency communications responders who work or live in Tukwila and provide the city with ham radio communication in an emergency.

Media Story - http://www.tukwilareporter.com/news/393789551.html