New Icom ID-52 D-STAR Digital Handheld Transceiver

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Icom has announced details of the ID-52 D-STAR Digital Handheld Transceiver. The ID-52 VHF/UHF dual-band digital transceiver is the latest in a long line of D-STAR hand portables from Icom and succeeds the popular ID-51EPLUS2.

Two versions will be available globally, the ID-52A for the USA and ID-52E for Europe.

The radio features a large transflective colour display that makes it easy to see outdoors, even in bright sunlight. The size of the display has also been increased to 2.3 inches from 1.7 inches which were adopted on the ID-51E.

The ID-52 supports Bluetooth communication as standard. You can wirelessly connect to Android devices with the ST-4001A/ST-4001I Picture Utility Software when the RS-MS1A Remote Control Software installed. The optional VS-3 Bluetooth headset is also available, for hands-free operation.

Licence for the Supply of Transmitting Equipment to NZ

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Licence for the Supply of Transmitting Equipment to NZ

RSM has released details of how to apply for a licence to supply Radio Transmitters and obligations for a permitted person to supply unrestricted two-way radios

Amateur radio operators or suppliers that want to supply radios transmitters in NZ must apply for a Licence to Supply Radio Transmitters either as an individual or organisation. Suppliers are defined as – persons in NZ that import, manufacture, distribute, sell or install.

If the supplier also wants to supply unrestricted two-way radios as described under the Prohibition Notice, then they too must apply to become a permitted person. Unrestricted radios can only be sold to qualified radio amateurs. Applying for a Licence to Supply and a permitted person is a two-step process.

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Raspberry Pi FUNcube Satellite Telemetry Decoder Now Available

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Raspberry Pi FUNcube Satellite Telemetry Decoder Now Available

The FUNcube Team has announced the availability of FUNcube CubeSat satellite telemetry decoder software for the popular Raspberry Pi computer board.

The original FUNcube telemetry decoder and Dashboard was designed to run on Windows devices and the FUNcube team did publish the telemetry format in accordance with the Amateur Satellite Service traditions and requirements. The Team had planned to opensource the Telemetry Decoder and provide an implementation on Linux, but several new missions after the original FUNcube-1 delayed their plans somewhat.

Late 2019, the Team had the opportunity to develop a low power/low impact ground station, based on Docker containers, for use at the Neumayer III Antarctic base at DP0GVN. This led us to evolve the code such that it would run on a Raspberry Pi. Duncan, 2E0GTV, has been able to produce this variant of the code and allow us to fully realize our Open Source commitment to the FUNcube project.

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