October 15, 2017

Symbol Rate Restrictions - FCC Grants Temporary Waiver

October 15, 2017/ Colin Butler

The FCC has granted an ARRL request to waive current Amateur Radio rules to permit data transmissions at a higher symbol rate than currently permitted, in order to facilitate hurricane relief communications between the continental US and Puerto Rico

The temporary waiver is limited to Amateur Radio operators in Puerto Rico using PACTOR 3 and PACTOR 4 emissions, and to those radio amateurs in the continental US who are directly involved with HF hurricane relief communications involving Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands, the Commission said.

“We conclude that granting the requested waiver is in the public interest. Hurricane Maria caused massive destruction in Puerto Rico, and communication services continue to be disrupted. Thus, to accommodate Amateur Radio operators assisting in the recovery efforts, we grant the ARRL’s waiver request for the period of 60 days from the date of this Order.”

— FCC 5th October 2017 Order

ARRL Story - http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-grants-temporary-waiver-to-permit-higher-symbol-rate-data-transmissions

Pactor 4 Technical Info - http://www.scs-ptc.com/en/PACTOR-4.html

October 13, 2017

US DX Group Donate to Ham Aid

October 13, 2017/ Colin Butler

The Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) has contributed $2,500 to the ARRL Ham Aid Fund.

“Ham Aid equipment will be needed for future requests. NCDXF encourages all amateurs to consider a donation to Ham Aid.”

— NCDXF President John Miller, K6MM

Ham Aid was created in 2005 in response to the need for equipment and resources to support the Amateur Radio response to hurricanes in the US and Caribbean. ARRL has supplied Ham Aid kits for the hurricane emergency response efforts in Puerto Rico and elsewhere, where the equipment helps to support necessary communication in the disaster’s wake.

With donations from the DX community, NCDXF helps to fund well-organized DXpeditions to “rare, difficult, and expensive entities.” NCDXF also provides scholarships to Contest University for those 25 years old and younger, partners with IARU to operate the NCDXF Beacon System worldwide, and oversees the Cycle 25 Project — an endowment fund created from estate planning.