| November, 2007 |  |
< Prev Page 6 Next > |
OFCOM publishes proposals for 10GHz
OFCOM (The British equivalent of the FCC) have recently published proposals with relevance to the 3cm band. The proposals concern the award and auction of spectrum at 10GHz to 40GHz. One range of frequencies under consideration coincides with the 3cm Amateur Satellite Service allocation. Details are on the Ofcom web site at:
www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/10ghz
www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/10-40notice/
DFCWi used for EME contact
Last week we reported that 10GHz beacon GB3SCX was running an experimental mode, Dual Frequency CW with ident, or DFCWi.
The world’s first 10GHz EME contact using this mode has now been achieved. On 27 September, members of the Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society worked UK Microwave Group Chairman Brian, G4NNS, via DFCWi.
Conventional CW was used to make initial contact. The DFCWi experiment took place using PC generated tones fed via a mic to a 2m SSB radio connected to a 3cm transverter.
Both stations were using 12ft prime focus parabolic dish antennas, with 13W at G4RFR and 18W at G4NNS.
The Incredible Shrinking Radio
A new wireless radio receiver thousands of time slimmer than a human hair could lead to radios far smaller than those of today.
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, created a carbon nanotube “demodulator” that can translate AM radio waves into sound waves. In a recent demonstration, the researchers used it to transmit classical music wirelessly from an iPod to a speaker several feet away.
Carbon nanotubes are man-made microscopic mesh rods composed entirely of carbon atoms. Their incredible strength and other unique properties have led scientists to investigate them for use in everything from nano-electronics and space elevators to scaffolds for growing customized bone.
A demodulator converts an AM radio signals into electrical signals that can be fed into a speaker to produce sounds. The new device is about 100 times smaller than similar technology used in commercial wireless radio receivers, said study team member Peter Burke.
The device marks an important step in the evolution of nano-electronics and could lead to the production of the world’s smallest radio, the scientists say.
The researchers are also investigating other possible uses of their device. “We are currently researching what the advantages would be for such a small component,” Burke told LiveScience. “The significance of the work here is that it shows a systems application of nanotubes.”
The device, created by Burke and graduate student Chris Rutherglen, will be detailed in the Nov. 14 issue of Nano Letters, a publication of the American Chemical Society.
(Thanks Ian, N3CVA for forwarding us this article from Live Science)
Famous BRATS members attend our September meeting!
| November, 2007 | |
< Prev Page 6 Next > |