New EMC Rules for Electronic Devices to Benefit Radio Hams

/
New EMC Rules for Electronic Devices to Benefit Radio Hams

All electrical and electronic devices in South Africa that do not have radio frequency modules must now have valid electromagnetic compatibility certificates recognised by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)

The new rules should go a long way to take electronics off the market that cause radio interference, electronics like switch-mode power supplies, LEDs and electronic equipment where noise suppression circuitry has been omitted to save cost. The new rule comes after the SABS and Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) were met with criticism after they tried to implement a new compliance regime in 2017.

Read More

Dick Fijlstra (PA0DFN) Awarded 2022 Carole Perry Educator of the Year

/
Dick Fijlstra (PA0DFN) Awarded 2022 Carole Perry Educator of the Year

Orlando HamCation has announced that Dick Fijlstra, PA0DFN, is the 2022 recipient of the Carole Perry Educator of the Year Award. The award recognizes an outstanding contribution to education and advancing youth in amateur radio. It was first awarded in 2018 to its namesake, Carole Perry, WB2MGP, to recognize her work in teaching students about ham radio. Orlando HamCation and ARRL are sponsoring the 2022 ARRL National Convention 10-13th February 2022.

Perry is a past Dayton Hamvention® Amateur of the Year and a recipient of the ARRL Instructor of the Year Award. She has moderated the Hamvention® Youth Forum for more than 3 decades.

Fijlstra is the first international winner of the Carole Perry Educator of the Year Award. A retired school principal, he has worked for years to reach out to youth with the latest technology to ham radio. At ham radio events, he helps groups of youngsters in building electronic projects, guiding groups of other hams to assist them to finish the projects correctly.

Read More

WSJT-X Version 2.5.4 with Bug Fixes Released

/

The WSJT development group has released an updated version of WSJT-X — version 2.5.4 — which it’s calling a “bug fix.” The primary fix repairs a defect that caused occasional crashes when contacting stations with non-standard call signs. It also allows MAP65’s “best-fit Delta Phi (Dphi)” solution to be displayed to the user.

The WSJT development group also has welcomed new members Chet Fennell, KG4IYS, and Dr. Uwe Risse, DG2YCB. “Each brings important skills and experience[s] to the project, after the loss of Bill Somerville, G4WJS,” said Joe Taylor, K1JT, on behalf of the group. “The newly constituted group has been working to redefine standard operating procedures for new releases.”

Installation packages for WSJT-X are available for Windows and Linux. An installation package for macOS will be added soon - http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html