Holiday Operation from Maya

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Robert, DL7VOA, and his XYL will be following the tracks of the Maya in Central America with their final recreational stay in Belize.

Robert has written permission to use the special callsign V34AO from Hopkins in Belize between 18-30th November 2017.

The QTH will be directly on the beach of Hopkins with every QSO made viewing over the Caribbean Sea.

“The contest weekend will be (mostly) mine, but during the rest of the time please understand that during daytime there are other important holiday activities to be undertaken with my wife like relaxing, snorkeling, flying my drone, etc. instead of conducting a 100% DXpedition (which does not mean that I never show up on the bands during daytime).”
— Robert DL7VOA

As usual, operating will take place in "holiday style" mainly on CW during the local evening and night hours (maybe some SSB, no digital).

Robert will be using an Elecraft K2, running 100 watts into a 10m fiberglass pole with vertical dipoles on 10/12/15/17/20m, ground-planes for 30m/40m or an Inverted L for 80m.

Robert plans to join the  CQWW DX CW Contest, taking place on 25/26th November 2017 as a Single-Op/All-Band/Low-Power, with the only focus on having fun in pile-ups.

More Information - http://www.qrz.com/db/dl7voa

Narrowband Market Review Draft Statement

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Ofcom has today notified the European Commission of draft decisions relating to the Narrowband Market Review, following a consultation in December 2016.

The review covers the wholesale markets that underpin fixed voice services in the UK, and is designed to ensure effective competition and further the interests of residential and business customers.

The review has looked at the following markets:

  • Wholesale exchange lines – the traditional lines used by residential and business consumers;
  • ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) – digital lines primarily used by businesses;
  • Call origination – a service that enables people to make calls over these lines; and
  • Call termination – the service used by a telecoms provider to connect their customers’ incoming calls.

The review considered the level of competition in each of these wholesale markets, finding that BT and KCOM have significant market power in all such markets and 283 other telecoms providers in wholesale call termination only.

Draft decisions mean that where competition is not working effectively, regulation should apply for the period 1 December 2017 to 31 March 2021.

Draft Statement (PDF) - https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/107320/nmr-draft-statement.pdf

 

Ofcom 3.6–3.8 GHz Spectrum Access Statement

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Ofcom has confirmed its approach to expanding spectrum access for mobile services in the 3.6 GHz to 3.8 GHz band.

This band has been identified by the UK and EU as the primary band for the rollout of 5G services, due to the large amount of spectrum available and its propagation characteristics.

At present, the band is used by point to point fixed links, for a range of applications, and also provides satellite services for space to Earth reception. UK Broadband provides wireless broadband services using part of the band.

Ofcom is today starting the formal process to propose to remove current authorisations for fixed links and vary licences and grants of recognised spectrum access for satellite earth stations, to remove any receive frequencies in the band, following appropriate notice periods.

The effect of this approach would be to enable future mobile services in the 3.6 GHz to 3.8 GHz band to be deployed in many areas from around 2020, but not necessarily nationwide before 2022.

We will now write to affected licensees and grant-holders setting out these proposals. They will have a further opportunity to make representations before final decisions are taken on individual licences and grants

More Information - https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/future-use-at-3.6-3.8-ghz