From Southgate AR News, original post here.

Radio amateur Dave Akerman M0RPI has published his guide to High Altitude Ballooning, From The Ground Up (and back again).

High Altitude Ballooning makes for a challenging project that sometimes turns into an engrossing hobby.  Whilst it’s not “rocket science” it does encompass a wide range of fields (sometimes literally) and there’s a lot to learn before you send your first flight up into the sky.

Read his guide here.

From Southgate AR News, original post here.

CIA reports about amateur (ham) radio in the former Soviet Union (including the Baltic States) and Warsaw Pact member countries have been declassified to a new online search engine.

The website is here.

The documents include translations and assessments of amateur radio clubs, including DOSAAF; training; monitoring sputniks; technology and equipment; and even QSL cards.

All the documents have been de-classified and made available to the public for the first time in this internet archive; some were previously available in a closed system at the US national archives.

From Radioworld, original post here.  By Marguerite Clark, 26/1/17.

The European Broadcasting Union is launching a new top-level domain name —.radio — for the radio community.  The EBU will manage .radio, which it says can be used for web and email addresses, with the support of other world broadcasting unions, including ABU, AER, AIB, AMARC, ASBU, AUB, CBU, EGTA, IAB, NABA, OTI and URTI.

According to the organization, this project is a community TLD and is run for the benefit of the whole radio industry and amateur enthusiast and reserved for people and companies with active interest in the radio sector.

“We are proposing that the radio community may like to consider securing the integrity of their web presence by requesting appropriate .radio domains for defensive reasons initially,” explained EBU’s .radio TLD Manager, Alain Artero.

“The TLD will be focused on content and matters specific to radio and we want to prevent speculators and cybersquatting in this TLD; this extension will therefore rapidly become a high-value internet space for websites, mail systems and other internet applications,” he said.

Categories that will be accepted for the use of a .radio domain include radio broadcasting stations, broadcaster unions; internet radios; radio amateurs; radio professionals (journalists, radio hosts, DJs) and radio-related companies selling radio goods and services.

The pre-launch phase, which the EBU points out is exclusively reserved for radio stations, will run from May 3 to July 5.  All other categories of applications will be managed during the launch phase within a similar period of 60 days.

Those interested in requesting a .radio domain should contact an authorized registrar or the EBU directly.  Prices will run between €200 and €250 per domain each year for companies, but are expected to be “much lower” for individuals.

From the Guardian, original post here.  By Helen Davidson, 18/1/17.

For some living and working in Australia’s outback, shortwave radio is the only way they can listen to the ABC – and their main daily contact with the rest of the world. But the ABC will end the service in two weeks

People that live out in contracting camps or mustering stock camps or outstations, and even a lot of the people who live in the bush on cattle stations, spend probably 100% of their waking hours out on the land and have very minimal contact with other human beings,” says Tracey Hayes, the chief executive of the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association.

“You can imagine how isolating that would be without having access to the outside world via radio during the day while you’re out in the workplace.  But I don’t think they took that into consideration.”

Hayes is referring to a recent announcement by the ABC that, at the end of January, it would terminate its shortwave radio service, which broadcasts to the NT, Papua New Guinea and some parts of the Pacific region.

It said the move was “in line with the national broadcaster’s commitment to dispense with outdated technology and to expand its digital content offerings”.

For some people living and working in the outback, shortwave is the only way they can listen to the ABC. Continue reading →

Via Stuart VK2FSTU, who adds:

Perhaps this is a way we could think beside JOTA of gaining more young bods into Amateur Radio ranks?  Bears thinking more about me thinks.

The RSGB Youth Committee is delighted to announce that the bid to host the IARU Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) 2017 summer camp was successful.

We are proud to be hosting this prestigious international event at Gilwell Park, the UK Scouting HQ, from 5-12 August 2017.

What is it?

It’s a fantastic chance for young people to build relationships with like-minded people from other countries and develop international friendships through amateur radio.

Around 100 young people under the age of 26 from all over IARU Region 1 will come to the UK to take part.

There will be a week-long range of wireless technology activities including a special event station, a buildathon, antenna building, an Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) contest and a Summits on the Air (SOTA) activation.

There will also be an opportunity to visit Bletchley Park—including the National Radio Centre—and the Science Museum, and to take part in some other non-radio activities such as kayaking, raft building and assault courses.