The IARUMS Region 1 Newsletter April 2020 is now available.
Click on the link to read it!

The Federal Network Agency made a preliminary provisional implementation of the WRC-19 results for the 6‑m band in MItteilung 111 from Amtsblatt 08/2020.

German radio amateurs have now access to the frequency range 50,000 MHz – 52,000 MHz, on a secondary basis with a max. the bandwidth of 12 kHz with all types of transmission using Antennas with horizontal polarization.

Now also Contest operations are permitted.

In addition to the — based on the result of the WRC-19 — extended frequency range from 50 to 52 MHz, above all a significantly improved power control for the 50,000−50,400 MHz subband has been ordered. Holders of Class A (“A license”) can now transmit with a maximum of 750 W PEP, holders of an “E license” with 100 W PEP.

This new regulation is the result of a series of meetings between the Bundeswehr primary user and the DARC’s Frequency Management Unit (DK4VW and DF2ZC) that started in late 2018. In the meantime, a very factual and trustworthy basis of cooperation with the military frequency management has been established. 

More on DARC website (German)

An article has appeared on the BBC News website describing amateur radio’s role during social distancing. 

The local radio amateur club LA3F, south of Oslo, had just completed its annual course for would-be radio-amateurs. The latest 3 participants were just ready for their exam when the corona virus struck. We can all imagine their frustration when Norway started to shut down activities and meetings for an indefinite period. 

A normal exam was not possible due to the strict rules of physical distance and limitations on the number of people who could meet. At that time Norway had strict rules of not more than 5 people together, minimum 2m physical distance and frequent hand wash. 

So in order to get these 3 new amateurs on board, LA2RR, Ole, agreed with the Norwegian regulator to hold an outdoor exam where all these guidelines were obeyed. Armed with all the necessary paperwork and with Antibac for hand disinfection, he meet with the three candidates in the forest outside the local scout cottage. Here, in the open air, there are tables a minimum of 5 m apart, so with just the four of them, it was “corona safe” to hold the written exam. 

Although early spring in Norway, the temperature was around 10 degrees Celsius and everybody had dressed warmly so that the temperature out in the forest could not be used as an excuse should any of them fail. Ole is happy to report that all 3 candidates passed and we can all welcome LA5EUA, LB8QI and LB8RI to the world of amateur radio. 

The photo shows the three new amateurs at their tables and with their own thermos with coffee!