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IARU Region 1 Announces G2BVN Memorial Trophy Winners
· News, Spectrum · Sylvain, F4GKR

At the final plenary meeting of the IARU Region 1 Conference and Workshop, which closed 24th October 2021, Ole Garpestad, LA2RR and Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T were announced as recipients of the Roy Stevens, G2BVN, Memorial Trophy. The trophy is awarded to a radio amateur who has best exemplified the work and dedication of Roy Stevens, G2BVN in international amateur radio.

Decisions on nominations submitted by member societies are made by an independent panel which this year was chaired by SARL Secretary Dennis Green, ZS4BS

Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, served on the Region 1 Executive Committee from 1999 and was President of IARU Region 1 from 2002 to 2008. Since 2009 he has been IARU global Vice President. Ole has worked extensively for IARU for over 30 years. His current role also carries responsibility for the development and implementation of IARU’s strategy for each World Radio Conference.

At the Administrative Council level Ole has contributed actively to the strategic agenda, supporting the need for change in IARU. He is well-known globally in amateur radio circles for his enormous contribution to the hobby and its standing in regulatory forums.

Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T was President of IARU Region 1 from 2008 to 2014 and more latterly its Secretary for the last four years. Prior to that, Hans was an EC member from 2002 and Chair of the Region 1 External Relations Committee. Hans has been IARU Satellite Advisor since 2016 and chairs the global IARU panel which coordinates frequency allocations for satellites in amateur frequencies. 

Hans has been extensively involved in ITU and CEPT matters and has led activity on critical amateur service agenda items in CEPT in preparation for World Radio Conferences. He is also a Director of the YASME Foundation.

Speaking after the announcement, retiring IARU Region 1 President, Don Beattie, G3BJ said “This is a much-deserved recognition for two exceptional IARU volunteers who have devoted a huge amount of time and energy working for the future of amateur radio. In Region 1 we are delighted that their commitment has been recognised in this way”. 

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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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IARU Region 1 announces award of Region 1 Medals
· Spectrum · Sylvain, F4GKR

With the decision to hold the planned October 2021 workshop event virtually, Region 1 is now not able to make planned in-person announcements and presentations of Medals to recognise exceptional support for the Region’s work.

The Executive Committee has therefore decided to move ahead now with the announcement, deferred from the 2020 Virtual General Conference, of the award of Medals to the following six people.

Dave Court, EI3IO: recently retired as SRLC Chair and EC member, who led the SRLC through the period of WRC 19 which resulted in the Region-wide allocation to the amateur service of a 2 MHz segment at 50 MHz.

Dave led the IARU work on this 6 metre allocation and also played a role as a member of the extended EC group. He remains a member of the SRLC.

Hilary Claytonsmith G4JKS, EMC Committee member and until recently its Secretary for nearly 25 years and IARU representative in ETSI during discussions on PLT. The EMC Committee is a forum for progressing the Region’s work on EMC matters and much of its success is due to Hilary’s early work. Hilary remains a member of the EMC Committee.

Peter Jost, HB9CET: Acting IARUMS coordinator for a period until October 2020 and deputy coordinator for many years, Peter continues in this deputy role. Peter has made a major contribution to the IARU MS Newsletters and has developed excellent professional presentation material on the IARUMS work. The IARUMS is internationally recognised for the quality of its work.

Tore Worren, LA9QL: Recently retired as Region 1 EMC Committee Chair and IARU global EMC coordinator, Tore has successfully represented IARU in CISPR and built a core team of around 20 – 25 country EMC specialists who meet regularly to review progress. His foundation work in CISPR has built a strong basis of credibility for IARU in EMC matters. He also played a role as part of the extended EC group. Tore remains a member of the EMC Committee.

Jacques Verleijen, ON4AVJ: Recently retired VHF+ Committee Chair, a post he held since 2014. In that time he has coordinated the work on VHF+ areas, revised the VHF Handbook, developed the Contest Working Group and surveyed MS on VHF+ activity levels. He also played a role as part of the extended EC group. He remains a member of the PRC and Secretary to the VHF+ Committee.

Hans Welens, ON6WQ: Hans built the concept of STARS from 1990, acting as STARS Chairman until 2011. He returned to the role in 2019 on a short-term basis to refocus the work. Hans believes passionately in the need to support the development of smaller societies and through his personal efforts has energetically enabled the development of a number of African societies. Without Hans, STARS would likely not have had the impact it has had.

I hope you will join with me in congratulating these six people who have each made a very significant contribution to IARU Region 1’s work over the years.

Don Beattie, G3BJ, President IARU Region 1

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