Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (A) To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Thu Jan 12 2023 20:39:20 Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2359 for Friday, January 13th, 2023 Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2359, with a release date of Friday, January 13th, 2023, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a QST. An Indonesian ham satellite scores a first for the nation. The FCC studies spectrum space for drones -- and hams in Australia prepare to pay higher fees. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2359, comes your way right now. ** BILLBOARD CART ** INDONESIAN SATELLITE IS NATION'S FIRST BY STUDENTS DON/ANCHOR: An achievement by Indonesian students is being celebrated as a "first" for that nation. Jason Daniels, VK2LAW, has those details. JASON: Congratulations to the students of Surya University in Indonesia following the deployment of their first satellite from the International Space Station. Known as SS-1, for Surya Satellite 1, the CubeSat was sent into space on its own successfully on Friday, January 6th. SS-1 is also Indonesia's first student-built satellite. The university undergraduates undertook the project with the support of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, which recognised it in a design competition in 2018. That achievement awarded it the chance to be deployed from the ISS. The CubeSat's mission is to test communication between an Automatic Package Reporting System payload and the ground using the amateur radio frequency 145.825 MHz. The university students were inspired to undertake the project after seeing a presentation on amateur radio by the Indonesian Radio Amateurs Organization, known as ORARI. This is Jason Daniels, VK2LAW. (AMSAT News Service) ** FCC EYES 5GHz BAND FOR AERIAL VEHICLES DON/ANCHOR: In the US, the FCC is taking yet another look at spectrum allocation, this time in the 5GHz band. Kent Peterson, KC0DGY, tells us what they have in mind. KENT: A portion of the 5GHz spectrum could become available to unmanned aerial vehicles, such as drones, under a proposal being considered by the US Federal Communications Commission. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel issued a statement saying that an assessment of spectrum resources dedicated to remote-piloted aircraft was long overdue. The FCC is studying the range between 5.03GHz and 5.091GHz - frequencies that are below the range typically used in the US and other countries for other low-power, unlicensed wireless devices using frequencies that start at 5.15GHz. In the US, the FCC limits the maximum channel width used by unlicensed devices to prevent interference with users on the licensed portion of the spectrum. The frequencies being looked at by the FCC are not within the amateur band between 5.65 and 5.85 GHz. The agency is seeking input on the proposal, which takes on added importance as the commercial use of drones continues to surge in the United States. The chairwoman said that the FCC also acknowledges that unmanned aircraft are also vital to first responders and in disaster-recovery and wildfire situations. She said the proposal was developed with input from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration. This is Kent Peterson, KC0DGY. (THE REGISTER, FCC) ** LEND YOUR VOICE TO THE AM RALLY DON/ANCHOR: It's time to get on the air and celebrate the first voice mode used by amateur radio. Here's Andy Morrison, K9AWM, to tell us how. ANDY: Anyone who uses Amplitude Modulation on the bands knows the warm sound it brings to casual conversation and the historical importance of keeping alive the first amateur voice mode. The AM Rally, an annual celebration of this mode, is returning to HF and 6 meters from February 3rd through to the 6th. It's not necessary to have a boat anchor for full carrier amplitude modulation. Modern radios, including software-defined rigs, as well as military radios, modified broadcast radios and home brew models are capable of helping operators take part in this event. Information about logging your contacts and noting your rig and your output power class, can be found on the website amrally dot com (amrally.com). There are suggestions on how to prepare as well as a guide to where and when you can find the most active AM action going on, from 6 to 160 meters. AM cannot be used on 60 meters in the United States, however. As organizer Clark, N1BCG, says: [quote] "It's a great opportunity for newcomers to try the first phone mode and for experienced ops to be AM Ambassadors." [endquote] This is Andy Morrison, K9AWM. ** AUSTRALIAN AMATEURS FACING HIGHER FEES DON/ANCHOR: A fee increase is about to have an impact on amateur radio operators Down Under. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, explains what's happening. GRAHAM: Hams in Australia will begin paying higher fees for amateur radio services from the Australian Maritime College starting on Monday, February 6th. The Australian Communications and Media Authority approved a fee increase of 5 percent to cover callsign services and amateur qualification procedures. The fees have been implemented in keeping with the government's Cost Recovery Guidelines, which permit authorities to charge nongovernment entities for part or all of the costs involved in certain government activities, such as regulation or services. The Australian Maritime College manages amateur radio exam services for the ACMA at the proficiency levels of Foundation, Standard and Advanced licence classes. This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB. (WIA) --- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (454:1/33) .