New South African HF Beacons

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The South African Radio League have announced three new HF beacons in the country

Bradley Glen, ZS5BG, started to beacon regularly on 250 mW using an Off-Centre Fed Dipole and he is getting many spots on 40 metres as well as 20 and 10 metres. 

The Jeugland Radio Club, ZR6JRC, beacon also became live pushing 250 mW into a 40 metres inverted Vee and it has already reached as far as Cape Town and Durban. 

A third beacon, built with donated kit by Nic van Duffelen, ZR6AEZ, and it is currently active using the callsign ZS6ZU on 5 MHz using a centre fed folded dipole.

SARL News - http://www.sarl.org.za/public/_news/read_arch.asp?file=../../bulletins/sarlnews%2020170429.txt

Temporary 4m Allocation for Germany

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From Tuesday 16th May 2017, the German Regulator has issued an announcement that allows German Full licensees to operate any mode up to 12.5KHz wide between 70.150 - 70.180 at up to 25w ERP in horizontal polarisation from their registered home location (no portable or mobile operation allowed).

Full station log information to be kept for ALL transmissions made, including tests with no contacts. Log is also to contain all the usual items plus beam direction.

This is a limited allocation similar to the one issues in 2014 and 2015 and ends on 31st August 2017. The time period corresponds with the Sporadic E season on the band, so it is expected that those squares in Germany will be sought after by 4m stations around Europe.

Announcement - http://tinyurl.com/BNetza-70MHz-2017

Chinese Takeover Raises Fear for Police Radio Security

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An attempted Chinese takeover of a firm which makes radio equipment for Scotland Yard has prompted fears the deal could compromise national security.

The Chinese government has a stake in a firm which is bidding to take over 120-year-old Cambridge-based company Sepura.

Business Secretary Greg Clark was understood to have been handed a report by the UK competition regulator outlining possible national security issues.

Germany is one of Sepura’s largest markets and its government is also reviewing the deal ‘on public policy and/or national security concerns’.

Sepura makes walkie-talkies for the Metropolitan Police and other emergency services. 

The company, which was founded in 1896 and made radios and radars in the Second World War, is in the middle of a takeover bid from Hytera.

It is seen as hugely important to public safety due to its contracts with law enforcement agencies. It also supplies oil, gas and mining companies. 

Shares in the company slumped by 26 per cent in London, as bosses fought to save the deal.

Hytera is 52 per cent owned by its chairman Chen Qingzhou, a self-made billionaire who started his career as a sales manager in a mobile communications factory. 

Business Secretary Greg Clark was understood to have been handed a report by the UK competition regulator outlining possible national security issue China’s National Social Security Fund, a sovereign wealth fund, owns 1.79 per cent of its shares.

Prime Minister Theresa May has been under increasing pressure to intervene in foreign takeovers that threaten key British industries.

In July 2016, May postponed a decision on a new £18 billion nuclear power station which was backed by the Chinese.

The new plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset is being financed by the French and Chinese governments. 

It was eventually approved in September with ‘safeguards’ to protect national security.

Responding to the German intervention, Sepura and Hytera said they were in the process of ‘assessing any potential impact on the completion of the acquisition and will be engaging with the ministry’.