SO-50 Suffers 2m Interference

/

Amateur Radio satellite, SO-50, operating over North America, has suffered communication issues due to a terrestrial station operating on 145.850 Mhz, the same as the uplink frequency for SO-50.

The interfering station appears to be located in South-Eastern United States

As per US Band Plan, the segment between 145.800 - 146.00 MHZ is allocated for amateur satellite communication.

Interference to satellites can be caused by simplex communications, repeater links, or Echolink/IRLP nodes

Wild Atlantic Way

/

Throughout 2017 from the 1st January 2017, Irish Radio Amateurs will be on air with nine special callsigns - EI11WAW through to EI99WAW.

Each call will be associated with one of the counties making up the 'Wild Atlantic Way'.

Each callsign will have its own distinctive QSL card depicting a highlight of the county linked to the callsign.

QSL requests via ClubLog or the Bureau. For requests for a direct QSL via ClubLog or to EI6AL enclose $2, or €2 via paypal to payments@irts.ie.

A Certificate will be made available for download to any station that works all nine calls, any band any mode. Apply by email to QSL manager EI6AL giving name and call. A certificate can also be sent by post - send €5 ($5) to cover postage either through ClubLog, direct to EI6AL or via paypal to payments@irts.ie.

For more info, see QRZ.com under each special callsign.

Wild Atlantic Way - http://www.wildatlanticway.com/

Vanity Call Sign Rule Changes Petition

/

The FCC is inviting comments on a Petition for Rule Making (RM-11775) from a Nevada radio amateur that seeks changes to the rules governing the Amateur Radio Vanity Call Sign Program.

Christopher LaRue, W4ADL, of North Las Vegas, is proposing that any licensee obtaining a vanity call sign be required to keep it for the full license term. LaRue contends in his petition that excessive and frequent vanity call sign filings are hampering the ability of other qualified licensees to obtain vanity call signs in one of the more desirable 1 x 2 or 2 x 1 formats.

“Some are changing call signs almost monthly, just to keep the newer code-free Extra class operators from obtaining a shorter call sign. I’ve even seen an older operator that said he does it all the time and has not even owned a radio in over 6 years.

When I looked him up, he has had 16 different [call signs] in 18 months.””
— Christopher LaRue, W4ADL

LaRue said that since the FCC dropped the fee to file for a vanity call sign, some applicants are taking advantage by regularly obtaining new call signs, thereby keeping them out of circulation.

LaRue said his proposed minor rule change would require any licensee applying for and obtaining an Amateur Radio vanity call sign "be required to keep it for the duration of the license, which is currently 10 years."

The petition can be found on the web in PDF format - https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1004220986407/Petition%20.pdf .