Antenna Manufacture Ceases Production

Polar Electronic Industries of Australia, who have designed and manufactured antennas for 41 years have ceased trading, ending the supply of antenna to amatauers in 51 countries. The company specialised in producing none standard antennas outside the usual commercial frequency range. 

Among the Polar products covering 2 MHz to 2.9 GHz were communications antennas, multicouplers, duplexers and accessories. Retirement of its two engineers and owners is given for the closure. Based at Moorabbin in Melbourne’s south, it had extensive engineering and test facilities, including computer-aided radiation measuring equipment. Through research and development it remained an industry leader. 

The directors Ben Czerniewicz and Neville Sleep, were always ready to provide special product for mountain top repeaters, using the heavy duty methods of standard commercial frequency antennas. WIA Repeater & Beacon Coordinator, Peter Mill VK3APO said he had found nothing matches the ruggedness and longevity of Polar antennas, and loss of that source with its excellent customer service has come as a surprise and shock. The decision affects lots of repeater owners throughout Australia and beyond. 

Sweden Releases Amateur Radio Training Guide

Sweden's National Amateur Radio Society SSA has released a preliminary version of their 599 page (PDF format) training book KonCEPT for the country's CEPT HAREC compatible amateur radio exam 

The update of SSA educational materials has taken over a year to achieve by a small group, whose main focus has been on updating the booklet KonCEPT for Amateur Radio Certificates to a new second edition.

Sweden Releases Amateur Radio Training Guide

The purpose has been to cover the requirements of CEPT HAREC, and to reflect changes in regulations, standards and recommendations in the 20 years since the first edition was published.

Material previously supplied in separate supplements has now been included in the book and several completely new chapters have been added.

SSA Training Guide (PDF in Swedish) - http://akademin.ssa.se/files/koncept-pdf/koncept.pdf

FEDI-EA launches Expat Club

Following on from the 2014 campaign "Yes, we speak English", the FEDI-EA have expanded the campaign to the new members by developing an Expat's Club.

An English language forum will be developed, to allow for the exchange and flow of ideas between the members, to accompany others services such as how to obtain a Spanish Licence, for both full-time residents and temporary visitors.

FEDI-EA - http://www.fediea.org