From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 22 / 08 / 2017
Author : Spectrum Strategy Committee

Stakeholder responses to the draft radiocommunications legislation, released in late May, have been made available for download on the Department of Communication and the Arts website.  Thirty one stakeholders, including the WIA, made submissions on the Radiocommunications Bill 2017 and its accompanying package of information papers.

Industry associations, federal and state government agencies, telcos, broadcasters, consultants, not-for-profits and some individuals make up the profile of submitters.  The Department has not revealed if, or how many, submissions were requested not to be published.  Five organisations made several submissions addressing different aspects of the proposed legislative arrangements.  The Bureau of Meteorology, the CSIRO and Optus each sent two submissions, while Vodafone sent three and Telstra, five.

Of note is a submission by Michael Hammer VK3GMH on the societal benefits of Amateur Radio, in which he provides eloquent coverage of the range of Amateur Radio activities that have had, and still have, benefits for society.

All available submissions can be downloaded here.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 11 / 08 / 2017
Author : Spectrum Strategy Committee

The WIA has lodged a submission responding to the ACMA’s Options paper on the “Future approach to the 3.6 GHz band”, published in June, which would see another 25 MHz carved out of the 9 cm amateur band if plans proceed.

The ACMA’s Options paper identifies a range of possible replanning options to facilitate moving licensing of the 3.575-3.7 GHz band (dubbed the “3.6 GHz band”) to its highest value use.  The ACMA’s preferred option “. . is to establish arrangements optimised for wide-area broadband deployments (be they mobile or fixed) over the entire 125 MHz of the 3.6 GHz band available in metro and regional areas.  The expected licensing regime under this approach would be spectrum licences allocated via auction.”

The current amateur allocation is listed in the Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan (ARSP) as 3300-3600 MHz, known to us as the 9 cm band.  Amateurs are a secondary service in this band, which Advanced licensees are permitted to use, with substantial geographic restrictions set out in the current licence conditions affecting 3400-3575 MHz.  Outside the restricted areas, amateurs are still able to use that 175 MHz.  Currently, the Fixed, Mobile and Radiolocation services have primary access between 3400 and 3600 MHz.

From 2015, the segment 3400-3575 MHz (designated by the ACMA as the “3.4 GHz band”), became restricted for amateur access across substantial geographical areas around state and territory capital cities (except for the Northern Territory), along with major regional cities in the four eastern states, arising from Apparatus licensing of fixed wireless access systems for the NBN, as primary users (co-primary with Radiolocation and Mobile).  The amateur allocation throughout the most-populated areas of Australia contracted to 3300-3400 MHz and 3575-3600 MHz.

The WIA expressed concern that spectrum licensing will effectively embargo secondary users, in particular the Amateur Service, from access to 3575-3600 MHz across the most populous metropolitan and regional areas, where radio amateurs predominantly live and conduct their activities.

In keeping with established policy, the WIA seeks retention of amateur access to 3575-3600 MHz outside the specific geographic areas where future licensed services are deployed.  This is in line with current conditions applying to 3400-3575 MHz.

The submission was prepared by the WIA Spectrum Strategy Committee. The WIA submission can be downloaded here and the ACMA Options paper can be downloaded here.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 06 / 08 / 2017
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

The digital mode FT8 although still in Beta testing has caught on, luring many using the popular JT65 weak signal mode.  The WSJT-X 1.8.0 beta software has the FT8 mode described as fast with an entire QSO taking about a minute, which is four times faster than JT65.

Developed by Steven K9AN and Joe K1JT – the name FT8 stands for its creators Franke and Taylor and 8-Frequency Shift Keying modulation.  Using a 15-second transmit and receive sequences it provides 50 per cent or better decoding probability down to minus-20 dB.  Like JT65 it requires accurate time synchronisation.

An auto-sequencing option can also respond automatically to a CQ call decoded reply.  An excellent HF DXing mode and multi-hop sporadic-E propagation on 6 metres where deep fading may make fast and reliable QSO completion desirable.  Some are comparing FT8 use to that of JT65, and believe more are on air trying the new one.  Experimenters have a Facebook page available here.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 04 / 08 / 2017
Author : WIA Spectrum Strategy Committee

Arguing for no reduction in current conditions enjoyed by amateur licensees, coupled with advocacy for less burdensome administrative arrangements and ongoing engagement with regulatory processes, are strong themes running through the Wireless Institute of Australia’s (WIA) submission on the draft radiocommunications legislation.

The Radiocommunications Bill 2017, released publically in late May, followed with a raft of supporting papers and fact sheets, has set the scene for a new era in spectrum management in Australia, intended to simplify the regulatory framework and support new and innovative technologies and services.

The Department of Communications and the Arts sought stakeholder feedback, with a closing date for submissions of 30 June 2017, which was later extended to 30 July in response to requests from the industry.  The Department gave the WIA an extension to 4 August.

Emailed on the morning of the due date, the more than 3000-word submission provides comment on most parts of the 21-part Bill.  A three-page attachment with the submission explains about amateur radio, its role in the community context, and the benefits to society.  Although one of the Government’s prime objectives for the new act was simplification to remove unnecessary burdens on spectrum users, the WIA submission points out that the number of pages in the draft Bill compared to the current Act suggests that this simplification was not achieved.

Overall, the WIA expressed the view that the Bill appears to meet all the existing challenges to spectrum management.  Noting that the amateur service in Australia has formally existed since 1912, following passing of the original Wireless Telegraphy Act, the WIA does not want to see any reduction of amateurs’ existing conditions.

That said, the WIA added that it also wishes to work with any future regulatory bodies in developing subordinate regulations – such as licence conditions documents – to ensure that the basic principles of the amateur and amateur satellite services are addressed in a sensible manner, adding that, as technologies move forward, the rules that affect development must be fit for purpose.

The Department of Communications and the Arts now has its work cut out to analyse the responses from all stakeholders.  The Minister advised in May, with the release of the Bill, that the Government intends to present a further Exposure Draft to stakeholders for comment before finalising the legislation for introduction to Parliament.  This subsequent Exposure Draft will be informed by stakeholder feedback from the consultation just concluded.

The submission was prepared by the WIA Spectrum Strategy Committee. It can be downloaded here.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 30 / 07 / 2017
Author : Jim Linton – VK3PC

The WIA trial theory assessments available online since May this year requires a simple registration process, and the feedback has been that they exceeded the expectations of those who have used the exams.  Organised by WIA Trainer Fred Swainston VK4FE/VK3DAC and following feedback and comments, the trial exams these will be converted to tutorials and left online.

The trial theory papers at the Foundation, Standard and Advance level are similar to those used in the actual multi-choice exams.  These were a ‘proof-of-concept’ exercise and a move closer by the WIA towards enabling WIA Nominated Assessors to use online exams for candidates needing a remote assessment.

Fred VK4FE / VK3DAC says a test of their use in remote assessments has been greatly helped by the feedback received.  Quite a few requests were made to provide some additional material and answers to these trial examinations.  Two Standard licence trial papers are being converted to tutorials where the answers are provided.  Then will come the Regulations trial papers.

To access the trials you need the latest version of the flash player, then log on to the Silvertrain website and click the Amateur Radio tab.