The FCC has granted an ARRL request to waive current Amateur Radio rules to permit data transmissions at a higher symbol rate than currently permitted, in order to facilitate hurricane relief communications between the continental US and Puerto Rico. The temporary waiver is limited to Amateur Radio operators in Puerto Rico using PACTOR 3 and PACTOR 4 emissions, and to those radio amateurs in the continental US who are directly involved with HF hurricane relief communications involving Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands, the Commission said.
“We conclude that granting the requested waiver is in the public interest,” the FCC said in its October 5 Order. “Hurricane Maria caused massive destruction in Puerto Rico, and communication services continue to be disrupted. Thus, to accommodate Amateur Radio operators assisting in the recovery efforts, we grant the ARRL’s waiver request for the period of 60 days from the date of this Order.”
ARRL explained in its waiver petition that it’s shipping five PACTOR radio modems to Puerto Rico for use in connection with Hurricane Maria disaster relief communications. The League asked the FCC to temporarily allow PACTOR 3 and PACTOR 4 transmissions that exceed the current symbol rate limitations under § 97.307(f) of the Amateur Service rules.
Under the current rules, “specified digital codes” in Part 97 may be used with a symbol rate that does not exceed 300 baud for frequencies below 28 MHz, with the exception of 60 meters, and 1200 baud in the 10 meter band. The baud rate limits were adopted in 1980, when the FCC amended Part 97 to specify ASCII as a permissible digital code.
Antenna
Ham Radio experiment – End fed half wave antenna sloper vs flat horizontal orientation
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British Columbia Radio Amateur Copies Signal from Mars-Orbiting Satellite
As reported on Spaceweather.com, Canadian radio amateur Scott Tilley, VE7TIL, has snagged another signal from deep space. His latest conquest has been... Read more
Wideband Desktop Discone Antenna – 25 MHZ – 2000 MHz Coverage
“Here we take a look at the Skyscan Desktop antenna with a rated frequency range of between 25 Mhz up to 2 Ghz. We test the antenna indoor and o... Read more
Where Can I Put My HF Antenna?
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Review
Ham Radio vs CB
Ham Radio vs CB, Citizen’s Band Radio – Ham Radio compared to CB frequencies and modes – which ones is better? Today let’s tal... Read more
Ham Radio Forms a Planet-Sized Space Weather Sensor Network
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SCU-LAN10 with FTdx101 / FTdx10 Overview
SCU-LAN10 with FTdx101 / FTdx10 Overview Read more
RFI NOISELOOP Portable Receive Antenna
RFI NOISELOOP Portable Receive Antenna 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
SignalID – Automatic Radio Signal Identification for Android
There’s an incredible amount of radio signals. It’s impossible to know them all, let alone recognize them. So why not get help from Signal... Read more
EchoHam version v2.10 has been released
EchoHam allows Amateur Radio operators to use the Echolink network from their Mac. You must be a licensed Amateur Radio operator to use this software.... Read more
SatSat for IOS version 1.4.11 has been released
SatSat, by Fabrice Aneche is a satellite tracking software, for radio amateurs, scientists or hobbyists. It displays current and next passes for any s... Read more
Equipment
Radioddity Raddy RW3 Go-Kit-Type Radio AM/FM/WX, Phone Charger and More
Radioddity Raddy RW3 Go-Kit-Type Radio AM/FM/WX, Phone Charger and More [Small Size But All-Purpose] Unlike other FM/AM/NOAA radios, the RW3 is a Blue... Read more
PANADAPTER For Any Radio DC – 160 MHz SDR Antenna Switch
PANADAPTER For Any Radio DC – 160 MHz SDR Antenna Switch Read more
Yaesu M-70 | Desktop Microphone
The Yaesu M-70 is a new desk top microphone from Yaesu, it is ideal for the new FT-DX10 model but will function with other Yaesu Models. More info so... Read more
New! Wattmeter HF/50 MHz FX773 3/5 kWatt
Technical Features VECTOR SWR/POWER METER METROPWR FX773Coverage 1.8/55 MHz 160/6mtHF/55MHz Measure Power AVG, PeP, dBm, R, Z, |X| , SWR, FrequencyWid... Read more
Software
Paper Logging and Using Fast Log Entry for POTA – Ham Radio Q&A
“I typically paper log my Parks on the Air contacts during an activation. After I get home I will transcribe and edit the log with Fast Log Entr... Read more
New WSJT mode Q65
WSJT-X 2.4.0 will introduce Q65, a digital protocol designed for minimal two-way QSOs over especially difficult propagation paths On paths with D... Read more
Ham Radio Deluxe
Read this BEFORE you download and install this software. Keys formatted like “ASDF-QWER-ZXCV-ASDF” will NOT work. That software license se... Read more
Gqrx 2.13 is out!
Gqrx SDR 2.13 argilo released this 15 hours ago Stereo option for UDP streaming. Script to generate AppImage. Allow scroll wheel direction to be inve... Read more
Digital Modes
FT8DMC 3rd Anniversary-Activity Days 2020
To commemorate our 3rd anniversary, special event stations will be on air during the FT8DMC Activity Days from 1. to 31. July 2020. All stations will... Read more