Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2383, for Friday, June 30th, 2023
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2383, with a release date of
Friday, June 30th, 2023, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Ofcom proposes sweeping license changes in the
UK. The QSO of a lifetime makes one ham's Field Day unforgettable --
and meet Amateur Radio Newsline's Young Ham of the Year for 2023.
All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2383, comes
your way right now.
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BILLBOARD CART
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OFCOM PROPOSES SWEEPING CHANGES FOR UK LICENSES
NEIL/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to the UK, where Ofcom is
proposing a major overhaul of amateur radio licensing and
operations. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, brings us those details.
JEREMY: Stating it wants to provide amateurs in the UK with greater
access to licences while delivering greater operating freedom, the communications regulator Ofcom is proposing sweeping changes to its
ham radio licence framework.
None of these changes affects the frequencies or bands amateurs
can use but it does increase the maximum permitted power for
transmitting across the three classes of licence. The proposed
maximum allowances are 20 watts for Foundation; 100 watts for
Intermediate in most bands and 1,000 watts for Full licence
holders who are operating where ham radio has a primary
allocation. Ofcom is also proposing low power airborne
transmission on some bands.
Beacons, repeaters and gateways would no longer require a Notice
of Variation in most cases -- the holders of a Foundation licence
would be permitted on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Foundation
licence holders would also be allowed to build their own
equipment.
In another change, hams advancing to a higher class of licence
would be required to surrender their lower-level licence and call
sign, holding only a single personal licence. This requirement
would not apply to clubs.
This is just a sample of what Ofcom is suggesting. The regulator
is seeking feedback and has set a deadline of the 4th September
for comment. For a link to the document please see the text
version of this week's newscast script at arnewsline.org
This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
[FOR PRINT ONLY:
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-2/ updating-amateur-radio-licensing-framework ]
(above URL all on one line)
(OFCOM, AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)
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OH BABY! WHAT A GREAT FIELD DAY!
NEIL/ANCHOR: So you think you had a great Field Day? Sorry....but
no matter how amazing a time you had, no matter how many QSOs you
and your club logged, it can never compare to the experience of
one amateur in Alabama who helped organize his club's big weekend.
Jim Damron, N8TMW, tells us more.
JIM: Patrick Nagle, N4GLE, was ready. Field Day weekend couldn't
come soon enough for this member of the Muscle Shoals Amateur
Radio Club. Patrick has been part of the organizing committee for
the club's Field Day for the past three years and everyone was
ready to put the club callsign, W4JNB, on the air.
This year, Rhett Allen Nagle was also ready. In fact, on June 23,
2023, just as Field Day prep was under way, he was so ready that
he was born. With the doctor's help, Rhett's mother, Kaitlyn
Hendrix Nagle, brought him into this world, and into Patrick's
arms.
Patrick told Newsline that he and his wife had hoped for Rhett's
birth to take place a few days after Field Day but the doctor
wasn't available on their chosen date of June 26th. So June 23rd
it was going to be! Holding strong at the Field Day site was
brand-new grandfather, Papa Roy Nagle, KI4UX, who kept things
running smoothly, and stayed in touch with his son.
The happy new father may have been away from the club's operating
site this year, but he told Newsline he knows he had the best QSO
of Field Day weekend. While it may not have been made over the
air, he said that all those eyeball QSOs with his new son included
plenty of snuggles.
This is Jim Damron, N8TMW.
NEIL/ANCHOR: Newsline offers the Nagle family all the best. We
can't wait to hear that Rhett has received his callsign.
(PATRICK NAGLE, N4GLE)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)