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At the beginning of March 2021, Ofcom put forward draft proposals to vary the vast majority of Wireless Telegraphy Act licences. This is in order to formally require licensees to comply with the ICNIRP (International Commission for Non-Ionising Radiation Protection) general public limits and thereby ensure spectrum users continue to operate services which will not adversely affect peoples’ health.
Whilst the main thrust of these measures is undoubtedly aimed at high-power wide-coverage transmissions by broadcasters, mobile phone networks and other large scale RF facilities and utilities, amateur radio licensees as well as maritime radio licensees have been caught up in the scope of the implementation. As much as we may disagree with the new requirements, you can see why we've not been granted an exemption even if it does seem like overkill.
These are still early days, and the proposals as well as the guidance notes are still all in draft format, but this is coming and coming fast. It's likely to be fully applied and enforceable before the end of the year, so it's time to take an interest and start your planning.
The RSGB are currently working with the ARRL (who are also facing the challenge of ICNIRP compliance) to provide both practical tools and advice to help to minimise the impact on amateurs whilst allowing each licensee to be able to demonstrate individual compliance with the new licencing condition.
General information from Ofcom can be found here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/emf
whilst guidance on compliance can be downloaded in .pdf form here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/214459/guidance-emf-compliance-enforcement.pdf
and information including the above flowchart specifically prepared for the amateur can be downloaded here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/215657/What-you-need-to-know-as-an-amateur-radio-licensee-Draft-version.pdf - UPDATE the above document has been removed by Ofcom awaiting revision.
The RSGB support page is here: https://rsgb.org/main/technical/emc/emf-exposure
Everyone should be mindful that the EMF calculator spreadsheet that both Ofcom and the RSGB have been working on is NOT APPLICABLE for transmissions below 10MHz. That's not to say that you don't have to bother, rather that you must use alternative methods to demonstrate that your station is in compliance at those frequencies.
UPDATE
The most recent update from Ofcom is that licensees will have the following time periods to make sure they have up-to-date records in place:
a) Until 18 November 2021 for any equipment which operates on frequencies at or above 110 MHz.
b) Until 18 May 2022 for any equipment which operates on frequencies above 10 MHz but below 110 MHz.
c) Until 18 November 2022 for any equipment which operates on frequencies at or below 10 MHz.
Further updates on these changes will be posted on the MSARS website as new articles, so please search the website for those - including an updated version of the above flowchart.
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Phil Brown M5BTB has had a fair amount of ex-GB3HY repeater equipment stored in his garage of late.
That was until today, when it was collected by Gavin G6DGK.
I believe that the intention is that if enough of it can be restored to working order (some of it has suffered from sitting around) then it will be donated to the Hastings Repeater Group.
Gordon King G3XTH writes:
"Just a report from Ian G0TJH relating to the Tait equipment. As I expected the storage over many years would possibly have caused problems.
Interesting to note that GB7ZE is both an analogue and a DMR repeater. As it uses only half the channel's bandwidth, it will support both at the same time. It's well worth looking at the GB7ZE Facebook page for more information.
The TX is working but none of the RX`s worked (not tested the second TX yet). All have suffered from the common fault of leaking caps on the CTCSS board. Replaced these and got two RX's working.
One set of filters re-tuned to RB2 with no problem. The second set need stripping down and the finger stock requires cleaning...... a job for another day. The Callsign of the repeater is GB7ZE - Hastings, and the keeper is Jamie Somerville
M0JBR"
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Bringing this subject right up to date, Steve Nichols looks at the new tools available like Predtest, Proppy and Propquest and how we can use these. He also covers how they assist in preparing the propagation reports in RadCom and in general.
Catch it on the live-streamed 'Tonight @ 8' presentation on the 1st March via the RSGB's Youtube channel. Should be a decent watch, and you'll be able to submit questions to Steve via the Youtube chat. Also available on the special RSGB Tonight @ 8 BATC channel.
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The RSGB has released a draft syllabus today for an additional exam type, allowing unlicenced newcomers to attain a full amateur radio licence in a single exam sitting - that is ONE exam, not a combination of the three existing exams.
Known currently as 'Direct-to-Full' it will allow an additional pathway into the hobby for those individuals that perhaps already have plenty of RF engineering experience and want a fast-path to the highest level qualification. This is reminiscent of the old Radio Amateurs Exam (RAE) in the last few years of that regime.
Key bullet points
- A single 75-question multiple-choice exam (2.5 hours)
- Available online only, not via clubs
- Theory-only, no practicals
- Pass mark 50/75 (67%)
- As per existing online exams, instant results at the end of the exam, and if passed, callsign typically within a week
- This is in addition to the existing Foundation > Intermediate > Full route
The Consultation
The background to this consultation and a link to the proposed syllabus can be found on the RSGB website: www.rsgb.org/direct-to-full
