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IARU R1 Conference & Workshop 2021 has started
· Events, General Conference, News · Lisa, PA2LS

On Friday the 15th of October, the IARU R1 Conference & Workshop addressing the future of amateur radio has started. Almost 140 delegates are taking part the upcoming week, till the 24th of October, in several break-out sessions where they will work as teams on defining visions and ambitions for amateur radio, strategic objectives, with as end goal, actions, milestones and deliverables. This is just a selection of what they will be doing.
During yesterday’s opening, Don Beattie G3BJ, IARU R1 President, was highlighting:
“From time to time, a number of you have expressed your concerns to me about the position of amateur radio today, views which are shared by the EC
You have said that we need to improve our public relations. You have said that we need to form alliances with other organisations in related fields and so strengthen our position. You have said that we should be recruiting into Amateur Radio people from other related interest groups. All of these are very valid comments, but they risk overlooking one important point. The amateur radio we talk about today is very often the amateur radio of the past. “ Don continues, and mentions that we need a shared vision of what amateur radio is becoming or needs to become.
“We will not have solved all our problems by next Sunday. We must see this event as the continuation of a process which we started earlier this year with the SWOT analysis (referring to the SWOT analysis session on 24 March 2021) and which will continue for several years to come. But it will help us to set the direction for work on the development of the hobby over the next ten years”

Follow the Conference & Workshop on Twitter and Facebook for regular updates.

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HF Band Plan Review
· HF, News, Spectrum · admin

Over the past 18 month a proposal for an IARU HF Digital Mode reorganization has been undertaken by representatives of all three IARU Regions. 

The objectives were to review the data modes usage of the Amateur Radio HF spectrum and propose changes that:

  • Reduce inter-mode conflict between dissimilar operating modes; and
  • Facilitate the expansion of new technologies.

In conducting the review it was realized that it was necessary to update the manner in which the IARU creates its band plans. Accordingly, the IARU’s band planning definition toolkit were redefined, and additional data mode definition characteristics has been added to help separate activities that are fundamentally incompatible within the data mode family.

With the band planning process updated, the proposal then revised the band plans of all three IARU Regions, focusing on the data sub-bands and taking into consideration:

  • Popularity and capacity requirements; and
  • Existing band users and inter-mode compatibility assessments.

The team also took the opportunity to harmonize the band plans of all three IARU Regions to the greatest extent possible of course.

The proposal is now being discussed in the relevant committees.

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UPDATE: COVID-19 Situation and YOTA Activities
· EC, News, Youth General · Mario, EA1JAY

Despite the COVID-19 situation having improved over the past few months on a global scale, the development and dynamics of the pandemic remain unpredictable. The same unpredictability goes for regulations regarding the pandemic, which in many cases severely limit the ability to hold in-person events with international participants.

To deal with the pandemic situation, an event cancellation policy was introduced earlier this year (https://​www​.iaru​-r1​.org/​2​0​2​1​/​c​o​v​i​d​-​1​9​-​s​i​t​u​a​t​i​o​n​-​a​n​d​-​y​o​t​a​-​c​a​m​ps/), which introduced a four month deadline for a go/no-go decision for in-person events. This four month deadline has however turned out to slightly too far into the future for a reliable prediction.

Accordingly, the IARU R1 Youth WG, in collaboration with the IARU R1 Executive Committee, has made the following arrangement:

Youth events scheduled within 2021 will remain in the calendar for the time being. We, the IARU R1 Youth WG, will review the forecast evolution of the pandemic sufficiently prior to each event and make an announcement about whether it will take place. Generally this will be three months prior to the scheduled date. Those planning to attend should thus have sufficient time to make the necessary bookings and travel arrangements.

IARU Region 1’s intent is to ensure that any events which take place do so in an environment which respects national requirements for pandemic control and which does not place at risk the health and well-being of those participating.

The IARU Region 1 Youth Working Group

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YOTA Contest Final Scores + Next Round 18th July 2021
· News, Youth General · Mario, EA1JAY

Press Release
by International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 – Youth Working Group

Erding, Germany – Friday, 09.07.2021

The first YOTA Contest has already taken place in May and was a big success. Over 100 YOTA logs, where operators have to be ≤ 25 years old, and over 700 logs in total were received within the deadline. Our team has worked hard to get the final scores ready before the start of the second session. The final scores and public logs can be now be viewed on the YOTA Contest website.

Congratulations to our winners of each category of this very first round of YOTA Contest!

The upcoming second session will be taking place next week already. The date will be Sunday, 18th July from 1000 – 2159 UTC.

So, are you ready to compete within the next YOTA Contest? Everyone in the ham radio community can take part, it takes place three times per year and only lasts 12 hours. Its aim is to increase the youngsters activity on the air, strengthening the reputation of the YOTA program and demonstrate the support for youngsters across the world.

We have implemented 8 different categories which also include special ones for youngsters (≤ 25 years old) only. Covering the 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m and 10m bands the competition will take place in CW and SSB modes.

The contest exchange used will be the age of the participating operators. Different ages also serve as multipliers during the contest.

Contacts between the own continent are worth 1 point, working DX is worth 3 points but the most points will be achieved by working youngsters. The younger the operator the more points one will get for the QSO.

During the past month we have received several rule translations into various languages. A big thank you to the contributors! So, if you are not that fluent in English, check them out here.

If you have any further questions after reading through the rules please go to our FAQ page to see if your question has been answered already. If you still have a question, feel free to drop the YOTA Contest Committee an email at contest@​ham-​yota.​com and we are happy to reply.

On behalf of the YOTA Contest Committee,

73 Philipp, DK6SP

Youth WG Chair
IARU Region 1

Download Area

Feel free to use the following documents to share amongst your websites, social media channels etc.

Download the press release here:
Press_Release_YOTA_Contest_20210709

Download the YOTA Contest graphics here:

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Faisal Alajmi, 9K2RR SK
· News · Sylvain, F4GKR

IARU is saddened to announce that IARU Region 1 Vice President Faisal Alajmi, 9K2RR, died today following a prolonged period of hospitalisation with COVID.

Faisal had been Region 1 Vice President since the 2014 General Conference and was an energetic and active supporter of amateur radio in the Arab world and globally. He was also an accomplished and successful contester. He represented IARU in the Arab Spectrum Management Group meetings and had attended ITU World Radio Conferences on behalf of IARU.

Speaking today, IARU Region 1 President Don Beattie, G3BJ, said “This is tragic news. Faisal was a valued member of the Executive Committee and of the Region 1 team. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this sad time” 

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