SSTV Scheduled from International Space Station

ARISS has announced that the MAI-75 Slow-Scan (SSTV) system in the Russian Service Module of the International Space Station (ISS) will be on the air starting on 5th December 2017 at around 1500 UTC and continuing until 6th December 2017 at 0900 UTC, transmitting test images on 145.800 MHz FM that should be available worldwide.

SSTV activity on 7-8th December 2017 is scheduled to occur at times when the ISS is above Moscow. In the past images have been sent in PD180 mode, with a 3-minute off time between each image.

Michigan Section Manager Appointment Begins on 1st January 2018

Jim Kvochick, K8JK, of Brighton, Michigan, has been appointed as Michigan Section Manager for the first half of next year. His appointment will begin on 1st January 2018, and will continue through 30th June 2018.

Kvochick was appointed by ARRL Radiosport Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, in consultation with ARRL Great Lakes Division Director Dale Williams, WA8EFK, and outgoing Michigan Section Manager Larry Camp, WB8R. Camp, who has served as SM since 2012, intends to step down from the volunteer position on December 31, when his term of office concludes.

An ARRL Life Member, Kvochick was licensed in 1968. He has been active in many facets of Amateur Radio, including public service, experimenting, and equipment restoration. He currently serves as an Assistant Emergency Coordinator and a Volunteer Examiner. He is president, newsletter editor, and technical director for the Livingston Amateur Radio Klub.

Kvochick’s appointment will bridge the gap until a Section Manager is elected in Michigan. According to the Rules and Regulations of the Field Organization, when a Section Manager vacancy occurs between elections, the position is filled by appointment.

The Michigan appointment was necessary because no candidate was nominated to succeed Camp by the time the deadline for Section Manager nominations arrived in September.

New Premises for SOTABeams

As a result of expansion, UK amateur radio manufacturer SOTABEAMS has relocated.

SOTABeam Staff outside their new premises

SOTABeam Staff outside their new premises

I explains “for the last few years we have operated out of a historic 19th century silk mill in the centre of Macclesfield, However the growing needs of our business has required new premises. Our new unit is a modern two-storey office block which gives us a much improved lab area for product development and more space. Most importantly for our five staff, it’s actually warm in the winter too!”
— Richard G3CW, SOTABeam CEO