Scout Jamboree Ham Radio Balloon Crosses Atlantic

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An APRS Amateur Radio balloon, call sign NA1WJ-5, launched from the recent World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia, has floated across the Atlantic Ocean.

“You can reach practically any corner of the globe via Amateur Radio. That’s the message K2BSA wanted to show Scouts at the World Scout Jamboree. Those in the Amateur Radio association launched four Mylar balloons from the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia, in hopes that one would catch the jet stream and end up on the other side of the world. One did.”
— Scouting Magazine

Each balloon, approximately 3 feet in diameter, was equipped with GPS and a ham radio transmitter and solar panels. The combination of devices could relay weather, movement, and location information. Each helium-filled balloon was capable of attaining an altitude of between 28,000 and 32,000 feet — nearly as high as most commercial planes fly.

District Representatives Wanted in Scotland

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UK Region 1, Scotland South and Western Isles, has a number of vacancies for district representatives.

District 13, Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, District 16, the Borders, and District 17, Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire, are all vacant.

If you would like to know more about the role and what it entails, contact the Regional Manager for Region 1, Tony Miles, MM0TMZ by email to rr1@rsgb.org.uk.

Ofcom Release Propagation Measurement Data

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UK communications regulator Ofcom has released UK radiowave propagation measurement data for frequencies between 449 MHz and 5850 MHz

This radiowave propagation measurement data was collected by Ofcom in seven areas of the UK between 2015 and 2018. It is representative of the UK’s diverse topography. Measurements were made at six frequencies between 449 MHz and 5850 MHz. All equipment was carefully calibrated allowing the basic transmission loss to be calculated.

Ofcom is using the data to assess and improve UK specific performance and applicable frequency ranges of propagation prediction methods, including ITU-R P-series Recommendations.

PDF doc - UK radiowave propagation measurement data for frequencies below 6 GHz - provides information on the technical parameters and describes the format of the measurement data files - https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/158148/sub-6ghz-propagation-measurement-data.pdf

Spectrum Open Data CSV files - https://www.ofcom.org.uk/research-and-data/data/opendata#accordion__target-92004