Southgate Amateur Radio News

AMSAT-EA On Air for AM1SAT Satellite Contest

AMSAT-EA will be on the air on all available satellites with the callsigns AM1SAT and AM2023SAT from September 4th to 17th, 2023 to celebrate the fourth edition of the AM1SAT trophy contest as part of the URE activities within the IberRadio 2023 event

More info at iberRadio.

Rules available from AMSAT-EA (PDF).

Source: AMSAT

FOSDEM Seeks Amateur Radio Related Presentations

The Free and Open Source Developer’s Meeting (FOSDEM) is calling for amateur radio related presentations. FOSDEM 2024 will take place in Brussels February 3 - 4 featuring a track on FOSS-powered Radio.

Recommended topics include:

  • SDR frameworks and the tools that make them useful
  • New SDR-based developments in ham radio modes
  • Amateur radio operator software tooling
  • Free / Open radio hardware
  • Entertaining wireless hacks
  • SDR & ham radio in mass and higher education
  • Satellite, spacecraft and interplanetary communication

The submission deadline is December 1, 2023.

Source: GNURadio

3916 Santa Net Active Through Christmas Eve

The 3916 Santa Net continues for the 16th year and will be active each evening now through Christmas Eve on 3.916 MHz at 7PM Central time.

Pete Thomson (KE5GGY), of The 3916 Nets, commented on The 3916 Santa Net. He said, "Christmastime is a very special time for our nets every year. We enjoy helping young people and their families have a shared Christmas experience that they'll always remember. And we're thrilled to introduce young people to the excitement of amateur radio."

Pre-net check-ins are encouraged at https://www.cqsanta.com/check-in

Source: Santa Net

NASA Launches Spot the Station App

...NASA launched a new app to make it easier than ever to spot the International Space Station in the night sky. NASA has long operated the Spot the Station website, but its new app, available on both iPhone and Android, brings augmented reality features and a handy interface to learn more about the orbiting laboratory. Find the app at the Apple App Store or at Google Play.

The app will send notifications each time the station passes over your location, both day and night. A great utility reminder to jump on the APRS or voice repeater.

Source: AMSAT

SKYWARN Recognition Day December 2

SKYWARN Recognition Day returns December 2nd, 2023. For 24 hours, participants are encouraged to make contact with as many Weather Service offices and SKYWARN spotters as possible. This event is designed to call out the service that amateur radio operators provide when relaying critical weather information back to the National Weather Service when severe weather strikes.

Visit the National Weather Service for details on how to participate.

Learn more about SKYWARN and how to become a storm spotter.

Source: National Weather Service

Disruption of SOTA Services Possible from Volcanic Eruption

Andy (MM0FMF), a member of the SOTA Management Team, communicated the potential for disruption of SOTA services such as the SOTA Cluster and SMS services should a volcanic eruption occur in Grindavik, Iceland. The data center containing SOTA services is located just outside the town of Grindavik.

With thousands of small earthquakes occurring and large cracks appearing on roads over the past few days, experts warn that a volcanic eruption is possible.

Source: SOTA

FCC Adopts New Rules for Amateur Radio, Drops Symbol Rate for HF

The Report and Order adopted today eliminates the baud rate limitation—the rate at which the carrier waveform amplitude, frequency, and/or phase is varied to transmit information—in certain amateur radio bands. Instead, the Commission establishes a 2.8 kHz bandwidth limitation in the applicable amateur radio bands. The changes will enable the amateur radio community to operate more efficiently, including in support of emergency situations when appropriate, and foster experimentation, which is a core principle of the amateur radio service.

The FCC also adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which proposes and seeks comment on the removal of the baud rate – sometimes called the symbol rate—limitation in the VHF and UHF bands and in the 2200 meter and 630 meter band...

The full Report and Order is available for viewing in PDF format.

Source: FCC