According to an April 10 IEEE SPECTRUM report, “The FCC’s Big Problem with Small Satellites,” confusion and erratic enforcement at the FCC is sending satellite makers abroad. Earlier this year, the FCC rescinded permission for Swarm Technologies to launch another round of SpaceBEEs later this month and questioned Swarm’s suitability to be an FCC licensee. That came in the wake of the January launch from India, of Swarm’s tiny 0.25 U CubeSats after the FCC had told the California company that it was unable to grant its application for an Experimental authorization in association with the deployment and operation of “four spacecraft smaller than 10 centimeters in one of their three dimensions.” The FCC said SpaceBEEs were below the size threshold “at which detection by the Space Surveillance Network (SSN) can be considered routine.”
The IEEE SPECTRUM article by Mark Harris suggested that the FCC’s stance could doom Swarm’s plans for a constellation of Internet of Things (IoT) communication satellites and “revealed that the FCC-licensed multiple satellites smaller than 10 centimeters over the past 5 years, including some as small as 3.5 × 3.5 × 0.2 centimeters. But the commission has also changed its mind from one application to the next, refusing launch permission for satellites that were virtually identical to ones previously authorized. This uncertainty has led to at least one satellite maker exporting his technology rather than risk being denied a license in the US.”
The IEEE SPECTRUM article noted that four PocketQube satellites were launched in 2013 on a Russian vehicle, and one of the satellites — the QubeScout-S1 was a 5 × 5 × 10 centimeter sun-sensing satellite built by University of Maryland researchers. “Because of its American roots, the QubeScout is officially a US spacecraft and thus required launch permission from the FCC,” Harris said in his report.
The researchers submitted a required Orbital Debris Assessment Report (ODAR), which does not include any minimum size requirements. The FCC subsequently granted a launch license, and, IEEE SPECTRUM said, the US Air Force Space Command has been successfully tracking the QubeScout since then.
Source:ARRL
Review
My wife surprised me at the end of 2020 with a new random box of goodies from Wish and AliExpress. Today we unbox some of these ODD radios and radio accesories. Read more
VHF
AMSAT/Vanderbilt RadFXSat-2/Fox 1E Set to Launch
Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne is a go for launch on Wednesday, January 13, at 1500 UTC, carrying the AMSAT/Vanderbilt RadFXSat-2/Fox-1E CubeSat into spac... Read more
144 MHz signal from the Faroe Islands heard 3000kms away in Bulgaria during Geminid Meteor Shower – Dec 2020
Every year, the Geminid meteor shower peaks around the 14th of December and many VHF radio amateurs make contacts by bouncing signals off the meteor t... Read more
QYT KT-780 Plus 100 Watts 2 meter Mobile Radio Review and Demo
The QYT KT-780 Plus is a 100 watt mobile radio on the 2 meter Amateur Radio Band, and works on FM mode. Today we will walk through the menu of the rad... Read more
6000km TEP path on 144 MHz opens up between Buenos Aires and the Dominican Republic
Hot on the heels of the last post about the 5400km TEP opening on 144 MHz between Argentina and the island of Aruba, we have details of some more cont... Read more
Retevis RT95 Budget Dual Band Mobile Transceiver
Specifications GENERAL Frequency Range VHF:144-148MHz UHF: 430~440MHz Number of Channels 200 channels Channel Spacing 25K (Wide Band) 20K(Middle Band)... Read more
ARRL Asks FCC to Allow 3.4-GHz Operation until Spectrum is Occupied
In comments to the FCC, ARRL has argued that radio amateurs be allowed to continue shared operation in the 3.4 GHz band until 5G licensees who purchas... 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
K1JT , JOE TAYLOR HINTS AT POSSIBLE NEW MODE!
In a post to the WSJT-X email group today, Joe Taylor K1JT hinted at some ongoing experimentation of a new digital mode with sub-modes. His post was a... Read more
WWSA GACW Contest Rules.
WWSA GACW I – Dates Second weekend of June of every year. From Saturday 15.00 UTC until Sunday 15.00 UTC. 24 hours period. II – Goal To co... Read more
News
SL8SUB – 1st Submarine Flotillas official military amateur radio call sign
Here is a brief information release regarding Radio SL8SUB, the 1st Submarine Flotillas official military amateur radio call sign: The 1st Submarine F... Read more
Smoother FT8 Mode Operation with Constantly Evolving Firmware (IC-705/IC-7300/IC-9700)
Firmware update for the IC-705, IC-7300 and IC-9700* offers smoother FT8 operation. One touch FT8 mode preset, Scroll mode and other updates for each... Read more
Hamvention 2021 is Officially Cancelled
Much like last year, Hamvention 2021 has announced their cancellation of the Hamfest for 2021. Lots of us are disappointed, but I wanted to share my t... Read more
Dayton Hamvention Cancels 2021 Show
Dayton Hamvention® will not take place for the second year. “Unfortunately, several setbacks in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic make necessary... Read more
ARRL Life Member Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, is 2021 Carole Perry Educator of the Year
Orlando HamCation® has announced that ARRL Life Member Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, of Bloomington, Indiana, is the 2021 recipient of the Carole Perry... Read more
Solar Storm Graze & Red Planet Rendezvous
Solar Storm Graze & Red Planet Rendezvous Read more