At This Library, Check Out Ham Radio As Well As Books

The hams who belong to the Jackson Amateur Radio Club are a veritable living library of information about getting on the air, so what better place to share their knowledge with the community than at the local library itself? On Saturday morning, 2nd March 2024, it was story time and members including Clay, AC5Z, Mike K5XU, Rick, N5ZNL and Frank, K4FMH, shared their personal narratives as CW ops, builders, satellite chasers and experimenters. There were no cloak-and-dagger mystery stories here. This session, the first in a series, was designed to demystify what amateur radio is all about. The quarterly program is called Get S.M.A.R.T. - for Saturday Morning Amateur Radio Time.

The hams' involvement with the library doesn't end with these quarterly sessions for the community. The club is also hoping to help at least one library staffer at each branch to get a license and perhaps set up a ham station as well on the premises.

“It underscores the interest by libraries to catalyze their STEM programming efforts.”

— Frank Howell K4FMH

The next Get S.M.A.R.T. session is expected to include an activation from the garden area behind the library. What better way to cultivate a hobby for newcomers?

Frank Howell K4FMH Blog - https://k4fmh.com/

FCC Sets Rules For Cellular-Satellite Coverage

Could a recent FCC action start narrowing the gap between cellular and satellite networks for mobile phone users?

The communications industry calls it "supplemental coverage from space," or SCS. It is the ability of mobile phones to seamlessly tap into satellite service in remote areas where cellular communication is not available. That capability became more of a reality on the 14th of March when the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules that will guide the industry in making this possible.

“We won’t need to think about what network, where and what services are available. Connections will just work everywhere, all the time.”

— FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel

The FCC praised the new rules as setting the stage for a potentially life-saving service and called the new regulations the first of their kind for SCS.

The move comes as wireless companies begin signing collaboration deals with satellite operators to provide this kind of expanded coverage. Although Verizon does not yet have such a deal, companies in the US, such as AT&T and T-Mobile, each have one in place.

FCC - https://www.fcc.gov/