On the same launch as an Amateur Radio satellite in January from India, some tiny 0.25 U CubSats called SpaceBEEs — not to be confused with the fantasy insects in the “Futurama” TV cartoon — also went into space when they apparently should not have.
Last December, in a letter to their developer, Swarm Technologies Inc. of Los Altos, California, Anthony Serafini, the Chief of the FCC’s Experimental Licensing Branch, advised that the FCC was unable to grant the company’s application for an Experimental authorization in association with deployment and operation of “four spacecraft smaller than 10 cm in one of their three dimensions.” In dismissing the application without prejudice, the FCC said the spacecraft were below the size threshold “at which detection by the Space Surveillance Network (SSN) can be considered routine.” The FCC said the proposed addition of KU-band radar reflectors would overcome the issue only with respect to the small portion of the SSN that utilizes the KU band.
“In the absence of tracking at the same level as available for objects of 10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm, and in the event of a conjunction with an operational spacecraft, the ability of operational spacecraft to reliably assess the need for and plan effective collision avoidance maneuvers will be reduced or eliminated,” the FCC said.
Last week, the FCC e-mailed Swarm Technologies that its application for an additional experimental authorization had been set aside and was “in a pending status for further review.”
“The International Bureau requested that the grant be set aside in order to permit assessment of the impact of the applicant’s apparent unauthorized launch and operation of four satellites, and related statements and representations, on its qualifications to be a Commission licensee,” the FCC informed Swarm Technologies.
Swarm told the FCC in an appendix to its experimental radio authorization application that it was seeking to demonstrate “two-way communications satellites to serve as a cost-effective low-data rate Internet of Things (IoT) network connectivity solution for remote and mobile sensors.”
Source:ARRL
VHF
An introduction to QOscar 100
Noel Matthews, G8GTZ, Dave Crump, G8GKQ and Phil Crump, M0DNY gave a presentation at AGM 2019 on Qatar Oscar 100, the geostationary amateur transponde... Read more
IRN – International Radio Network
The IRN (International Radio Network) is a VoIP/RoIP system using Teamspeak 3 (TS3) that allows radio users to TX/RX using RF around the World using ... Read more
G3SMT works Cape Verde Islands to set new 144 MHz Tropo record
Cape Verde Islands Back on the 5th of August 2018, Mark Turner EI3KD worked D4Z in the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of Africa to set a new IARU Re... Read more
New 18W High-power Baofeng UV9R-ERA Walkie Talkie
Specifications: Dual band two way radio with build-in 9500mAh li-ion battery power supply. 128 groups channels storage, with function of voice COMP CT... Read more
ICOM IC-T10 – Released April 2022. What are its Main Features
A first look at the new Icom IC-T10. Dual Band Transceiver ICOM IC-10 PDF File https://icomuk.co.uk/files/icom/PDF/newsFile/IC-T10_A4.pdf Read more
VHF Antenna on my Hydraulic Mast!
“I put my VHF/UHF antenna on my hydraulic lighting rig and it’s amazing. 0-30 feet in 1 minute. Diamond V2000. 6m, 2m and 70cm with Triple... Read more
Review
Morse Code : Keys and Keyers
Garry Ursenbach, VE6MU / NB7T, wants to know Dave’s suggestions on morse code keys. Dave will also teach about keyers. Read more
Using the MFJ-1788 Mag Loop Antenna Horizontally
“I test the MFJ-1788 in a horizontal position on my rooftop. The performance is great on 20m. I used an MFJ Cobweb antenna as the comparison ant... Read more
Yaesu FT-450 HF and 6 Meter – QST – ARRL Product Review
Yaesu FT-450 Reviewed by Rick Lindquist, N1RL ARRL Contributing Editor The FT-450 is Yaesu’s latest entry in the HF/50 MHz transceiver field. It’s a s... Read more
New Elecraft Gear – Interview
Elecraft “Fiori Films Presents Ham Radio TV: New Elecraft Gear @ Pacificon 2018. In this video Kevin N6VLF, interviews Eric / WA6HHQ... Read more
App - Mobile
SmartSDR for iOS v3.9.12 Now Available
Marcus, DL8MRE announces that release of SmartSDR for iOS v3.9.12 is now available for download or update from the Apple App Store. SmartSDR is a full... Read more
xCluster: A Mac DXCluster Map App
xCluster is a visual display of dx cluster activity. DX spots are received via telnet or web services and displayed in a tabular form and plotted on a... Read more
Ham Radio License Exam Preparation for Iphone and IPad
Get Your Ham Radio License You are only 35 questions away from getting your Ham radio license. The questions come from a pool of questions publ... Read more
Wizkers:Radio APP
Wizkers:Radio is a controller for various Amateur Radio equipments. At the moment, it supports several Elecraft radios and amplifiers, as well as the... Read more
QTH.app version 0.8.0 released
In amateur radio, the “QTH” Q-code means “What is your position?” when used as a question or “My position is…” when used as a statement. The Automatic... Read more
Repeater Database APP ( IOS and Android ) – Now includes over 35 countries
Repeater Database “RepeaterBook – The Free Repeater Directory for the USA and Canada. Powered by the popular community database of... Read more
Review
Stellar x2 vs RE20 vs RE27ND Microphone Review
“We compare the Stellar x2 vs RE27 vs RE20 from Electrovoice. I was amazed with this Microphone and as soon as the new Mixer arrives, we’l... Read more
Stay away from cheap coax
A viewer asks about some inexpensive coax they found online. Is it any good? We talk about that and why you may want to stay away from cable that has... Read more
Unboxing Kenwood TH-D74A
Kenwood TH-D74A 144/220/430 MHz TRIBANDER. Triband Amateur radio packed with convenient features and the advantage of a digital transceiver with D-STA... Read more
Listening Outside the Ham Bands
“Listening Outside the Ham Bands” is the topic of the new (April 11) episode of the “ARRL The Doctor is In“ podcast. Listen…and learn!... Read more