Amateur Radio Daily

NASA Highlights Ham Radio on International Space Station

The first and longest running educational outreach program on the space station is ISS Ham Radio. An organization known as Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, or ARISS, helps run the program. ARISS is a partnership between NASA, the American Radio Relay League, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, amateur radio organizations, and multiple international space agencies.

Read the full article on NASA.gov.

Source: NASA open_in_new

Mini Digital Communications Conference December 9th

TAPR will host a Mini Digital Communications Conference (DCC) on December 9th. The online conference will feature several presentations including Open Source wideband HF receiver design, Open Source digital voice, FreeDV ESP32 based radio, and more.

Keep an eye on tapr.org for links to join the online presentations.

Source: TAPR open_in_new

Ham Radio WorkBenches On The Air Special Event

The popular Ham Radio Workbench podcast will be hosting a special event this weekend, December 3rd from 1pm to 5pm Eastern time.

Ham Radio Workbenches On The Air encourages listeners to get on the air and make contacts with the podcast's hosts. Certificates and prizes will be announced on the 200th episode of the podcast.

More details including points and schedule details are available on the HRWBOTA website.

Source: Ham Radio Workbench open_in_new

My Radio My Life Documentary Screening in Washington DC

From VU2RBI, featured in My Radio My Life documentary film:

Exciting news for Hams in Washington DC and nearby areas! 📢

My documentary film, 'My Radio My Life,' will be screening at the South Asian Film Festival on December 2nd at 3:00 pm EST, hosted at AMC Montgomery 16 in Bethesda. Reach out to VU2DTR Mahathi Devulapalli in Virginia for more details; she's active on social media. Free tickets if you contact Mahathi! Radio hams in the area, let's plan get-togethers during this time. 73s and namaste! 📻🎥

Source: My Radio My Life open_in_new

FOSDEM Seeks Amateur Radio Related Presentations

The Free and Open Source Developer’s Meeting (FOSDEM) is calling for amateur radio related presentations. FOSDEM 2024 will take place in Brussels February 3 - 4 featuring a track on FOSS-powered Radio.

Recommended topics include:

• SDR frameworks and the tools that make them useful
• New SDR-based developments in ham radio modes
• Amateur radio operator software tooling
• Free / Open radio hardware
• Entertaining wireless hacks
• SDR & ham radio in mass and higher education
• Satellite, spacecraft and interplanetary communication

The submission deadline is December 1, 2023.

Source: GNURadio open_in_new

3916 Santa Net Active Through Christmas Eve

The 3916 Santa Net continues for the 16th year and will be active each evening now through Christmas Eve on 3.916 MHz at 7PM Central time.

Pete Thomson (KE5GGY), of The 3916 Nets, commented on The 3916 Santa Net. He said, "Christmastime is a very special time for our nets every year. We enjoy helping young people and their families have a shared Christmas experience that they'll always remember. And we're thrilled to introduce young people to the excitement of amateur radio."

Pre-net check-ins are encouraged at https://www.cqsanta.com/check-in

Source: Santa Net open_in_new

NASA Launches Spot the Station App

...NASA launched a new app to make it easier than ever to spot the International Space Station in the night sky. NASA has long operated the Spot the Station website, but its new app, available on both iPhone and Android, brings augmented reality features and a handy interface to learn more about the orbiting laboratory. Find the app at the Apple App Store or at Google Play.

The app will send notifications each time the station passes over your location, both day and night. A great utility reminder to jump on the APRS or voice repeater.

Source: AMSAT open_in_new

SKYWARN Recognition Day December 2

SKYWARN Recognition Day returns December 2nd, 2023. For 24 hours, participants are encouraged to make contact with as many Weather Service offices and SKYWARN spotters as possible. This event is designed to call out the service that amateur radio operators provide when relaying critical weather information back to the National Weather Service when severe weather strikes.

Visit the National Weather Service for details on how to participate.

Learn more about SKYWARN and how to become a storm spotter.

Source: National Weather Service open_in_new

Disruption of SOTA Services Possible from Volcanic Eruption

Andy (MM0FMF), a member of the SOTA Management Team, communicated the potential for disruption of SOTA services such as the SOTA Cluster and SMS services should a volcanic eruption occur in Grindavik, Iceland. The data center containing SOTA services is located just outside the town of Grindavik.

With thousands of small earthquakes occurring and large cracks appearing on roads over the past few days, experts warn that a volcanic eruption is possible.

Source: SOTA open_in_new

FCC Adopts New Rules for Amateur Radio, Drops Symbol Rate for HF

The Report and Order adopted today eliminates the baud rate limitation—the rate at which the carrier waveform amplitude, frequency, and/or phase is varied to transmit information—in certain amateur radio bands. Instead, the Commission establishes a 2.8 kHz bandwidth limitation in the applicable amateur radio bands. The changes will enable the amateur radio community to operate more efficiently, including in support of emergency situations when appropriate, and foster experimentation, which is a core principle of the amateur radio service.

The FCC also adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which proposes and seeks comment on the removal of the baud rate – sometimes called the symbol rate—limitation in the VHF and UHF bands and in the 2200 meter and 630 meter band...

The full Report and Order is available for viewing in PDF format.

Source: FCC open_in_new