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RESTRUCTURING: AUSTRALIA TO GET NEW FREQUENCY ALLOCATION PLAN
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released a draft of a new Spectrum Plan for public comment. When completed, the new Spectrum Plan is intended to replace the current Spectrum Plan developed in January 2005.
Go to the ACMA web page to "read all about it", but in brief proposed changes to the plan will provide: Protection of space research activities while allowing the use of new high data-rate meteorology satellite services; Upgrade of the radiolocation service to primary and allocating additional spectrum to the existing space research activities; Sharing between the mobile-satellite service and space research services and between the mobile-satellite service and mobile service; Improvements to the satellite coordination and notification procedures; Spectrum harmonization between space services and future terrestrial services. Sharing arrangements between the fixed service and satellite systems using highly inclined orbits; and Spectrum compatibility between the radio astronomy service and the active space services.
The proposed changes are scheduled to take effect on January 1st 2009. (WIA News)
NOAA Website
For those participating in SKYWARN or have an interest in severe weather:
Sarah Ragowski at the National Weather Service’s Baltimore/Washington Forecast Office announced that the
Fall 2008 edition of the Sterling Reporter (newsletter of NOAA’s Baltimore/Washington National Weather
Service Weather Forecast Office) is available at their website at:
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/lwx/reporter/fall_2008.pdf
This issue covers the Forecast Office Move at Dulles Airport and an Open House on October 18th and 19th.
AO-51
AO-51 continues to wow the satellite community. It is now
being used as a test bed for Earth stations.
Since it is being commanded into S downlinks and L uplinks, it's your chance to test out the downconverters and upconverters you've been planning to set up.
"Recently, AO-51 was off the air due to a software glitch. The command team has succesfully reloaded its operational software and as of 8/30/08 has been back in service.
Gould, WA4SXM for the A0-51 Command team
Kevin, WA6FWF
Drew, KO4MA"
You can check the current mode of AO-51 at
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php
If you think a certain mode should be used, contact the command team and make a suggestion. They are always looking for input as well as feedback about satellite ops.
The September/October QEX Is Here
The September/October issue of QEX is out, and it is full of theoretical and practical technical articles that you don't want to miss.
In this issue, Mark Spencer, WA8SME, describes a VLF receiver system that automatically logs received signal data so we can learn about some propagation conditions such as sudden ionospheric disturbances during Solar Cycle 24 in "SID: Study Cycle 24, Don't Just Use It." Phil Anderson, W0XI, gives us a detailed analysis of crystal set receiver circuitry in "A Great Teacher: The Crystal Set." Bertrand Zauhar, VE2ZAZ, brings us another great project that goes well beyond a simple battery charger with his "Rechargeable Battery 'Cycler.'"
Jim Kocsis, WA9PYH, presents "Press-n-Peel Circuit Boards," a simple, reliable way to make your own circuit boards using Techniks, Inc Press-n-Peel Blue etch-resist material. Henry J. Rech offers some thoughts about, "Receiver Performance Measurement and Front End Selectivity," and Frank Witt, AI1H, describes "Optimum Lossy Broadband Matching Networks for Resonant Antennas," in this reprint of an April 1990 RF Design article.
Would you like to write for QEX? It pays $50 per printed page. Be sure to check out the Authors Guide for more information. If you prefer postal mail, please send a business-size self-addressed, stamped envelope to QEX Authors Guide, c/o Maty Weinberg, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111-1494.
| October, 2008 | |
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