Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (A)
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Jun 30 2023 14:24:47

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2383, for Friday, June 30th, 2023

Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2383, with a release date of 
Friday, June 30th, 2023, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Ofcom proposes sweeping license changes in the
UK. The QSO of a lifetime makes one ham's Field Day unforgettable --
and meet Amateur Radio Newsline's Young Ham of the Year for 2023.
All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2383, comes
your way right now.

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BILLBOARD CART

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OFCOM PROPOSES SWEEPING CHANGES FOR UK LICENSES

NEIL/ANCHOR: Our top story takes us to the UK, where Ofcom is 
proposing a major overhaul of amateur radio licensing and 
operations. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, brings us those details.

JEREMY: Stating it wants to provide amateurs in the UK with greater
access to licences while delivering greater operating freedom, the
communications regulator Ofcom is proposing sweeping changes to its
ham radio licence framework.

None of these changes affects the frequencies or bands amateurs 
can use but it does increase the maximum permitted power for 
transmitting across the three classes of licence. The proposed 
maximum allowances are 20 watts for Foundation; 100 watts for 
Intermediate in most bands and 1,000 watts for Full licence 
holders who are operating where ham radio has a primary
allocation. Ofcom is also proposing low power airborne
transmission on some bands.

Beacons, repeaters and gateways would no longer require a Notice 
of Variation in most cases -- the holders of a Foundation licence 
would be permitted on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Foundation 
licence holders would also be allowed to build their own 
equipment.

In another change, hams advancing to a higher class of licence 
would be required to surrender their lower-level licence and call 
sign, holding only a single personal licence. This requirement 
would not apply to clubs.

This is just a sample of what Ofcom is suggesting. The regulator 
is seeking feedback and has set a deadline of the 4th September 
for comment. For a link to the document please see the text 
version of this week's newscast script at arnewsline.org

This is Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

[FOR PRINT ONLY: 

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-2/
updating-amateur-radio-licensing-framework ]

(above URL all on one line)

(OFCOM, AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)

**

OH BABY! WHAT A GREAT FIELD DAY!

NEIL/ANCHOR: So you think you had a great Field Day? Sorry....but 
no matter how amazing a time you had, no matter how many QSOs you 
and your club logged, it can never compare to the experience of 
one amateur in Alabama who helped organize his club's big weekend. 
Jim Damron, N8TMW, tells us more.

JIM: Patrick Nagle, N4GLE, was ready. Field Day weekend couldn't 
come soon enough for this member of the Muscle Shoals Amateur 
Radio Club. Patrick has been part of the organizing committee for 
the club's Field Day for the past three years and everyone was 
ready to put the club callsign, W4JNB, on the air.

This year, Rhett Allen Nagle was also ready. In fact, on June 23, 
2023, just as Field Day prep was under way, he was so ready that 
he was born. With the doctor's help, Rhett's mother, Kaitlyn 
Hendrix Nagle, brought him into this world, and into Patrick's 
arms.

Patrick told Newsline that he and his wife had hoped for Rhett's 
birth to take place a few days after Field Day but the doctor 
wasn't available on their chosen date of June 26th. So June 23rd 
it was going to be! Holding strong at the Field Day site was 
brand-new grandfather, Papa Roy Nagle, KI4UX, who kept things 
running smoothly, and stayed in touch with his son.

The happy new father may have been away from the club's operating 
site this year, but he told Newsline he knows he had the best QSO 
of Field Day weekend. While it may not have been made over the 
air, he said that all those eyeball QSOs with his new son included 
plenty of snuggles.

This is Jim Damron, N8TMW.

NEIL/ANCHOR: Newsline offers the Nagle family all the best. We 
can't wait to hear that Rhett has received his callsign.

(PATRICK NAGLE, N4GLE)
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33)

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