Ham Radio Clubs Embrace 'Hour of Circuits' Program?

Dan Romanchik KB6NU shares his thoughts on what an amateur radio club might do as part of its public service remit

“Another idea that I’m going to be working on is an “Hour of Circuits” program. This idea is still only partly-baked, but the idea would be to come up with a program, loosely based on the Hour of Code program, that introduces kids (and adults) to computer science and computer programming.

The “Hour of Circuits” would introduce kids (and adults) to electronic circuits and amateur radio. I’m thinking that I could possibly get some money from the ARRL Foundation to get this program off the ground.”

Read Dan Romanchik KB6NU post - http://www.kb6nu.com/a-couple-of-thoughts-about-public-service/

"Hour of Code" Program - https://hourofcode.com/uk

Experimental Homebrew Equipment Does Not Require Type Approval

Experimental home brew equipment developed and built by South African radio amateurs for their own use in terms of the conditions of their license will not require type approval, ICASA agreed at the quarterly SARL/ICASA liaison meeting held on Thursday last week.

The exemption of the type approval process is ongoing and will only be finalised in ICASA's 2018/2019 financial year which starts on 1 April 2018.

The approval and publication of the band plan was again discussed. The SARL expressed its dissatisfaction and asked that the amateur radio frequency table be unlocked form the overall band plan as it is now being unnecessarily delayed due to ongoing disagreements between the Department of Telecommunication and Postal Service and ICASA over other issues in the National Frequency Plan. ICASA responded by confirming that they are doing everything possible to expedite the matter and indicated that they and DTPS would meet soon to finalise the plan. The final approval lies with the DTPS Minster Dr Cwele.

The proposal that CRASA, the body of SADC regulators, accept the CEPT guest licensing arrangement will be discussed at the CRASA AGM scheduled for early April 2018. ICASA said they will support the proposal. Radio amateurs in SADC countries could assist by talking to their regulators and explain the benefits of the CEPT agreement.

New BT broadband service to transmit across VHF

BT's Openreach plans to use the polluting technology G.fast, that transmits across the VHF spectrum as well as HF, to deliver new broadband services

Two new broadband services are being offered providing 152 Mbps and 314 Mbps. BT has chosen to deliver these by G.fast over legacy copper wires rather than adopting the modern approach of Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) which causes no RF pollution issues.

BT Openreach currently uses VDSL-2 which transmits across the HF spectrum up to 17.660 MHz and has caused considerable interference to radio amateurs. G.fast will dramatically increase the RF spectrum affected by transmitting all the way up to 106 MHz.

Media Report - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-42703466

2015 - G.fast broadband across HF and VHF - http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2015/november/g_fast_broadband.htm