Amateurs in Sweden have been able to apply for temporary permits to allow operation in 2.3GHz and 3.4GHz bands. Their regulator, the PTS, has announced these temporary permits will no longer be issued from 1 January 2020. The reason is 5G. Swedish amateurs are presently permitted by their regulations to run a maximum of 100mW […]
For anyone that’s ever been broken down along a remote stretch of highway and desperately searched for a cell signal, knowing that a constellation of communications satellites is zipping by overhead is cold comfort indeed. One needs specialized gear to tap into the satphone network, few of us can justify the expense of satellite phone […]
If the great Samuel Clemens were alive today, he might modify the famous meteorological quip often attributed to him to read, “Everyone complains about weather forecasts, but I can’t for the life of me see why!” In his day, weather forecasting was as much guesswork as anything else, reading the clouds and the winds to […]
5G is gearing up to be the most extensive implementation of mesh networking ever, and that could mean antennas will not need to broadcast for miles, just far enough to reach some devices. That unsightly cell infrastructure stuck on water towers and church steeples could soon be hidden under low-profile hunks of metal we are […]
A post-hurricane disaster needs assessment published this past fall by the Government of Dominica points up the significance of Amateur Radio’s role in the relief and recovery effort on the tiny Caribbean island nation in the wake of Hurricane Maria last September. It also calls for expanding the pool of radio amateurs on the island […]
This Week in Amateur Radio #985 Here is a summary of the news trending the week of January 13, 2018. This weeks edition is anchored by, George B, W2XBS, Fred Fitte, NF2F, and Jessica Bowen, KB2VWX. Produced and edited by W2XBS. Running Time: 1:12:25 Download here: http://bit.ly/TWIAR985 Trending stories in this weeks bulletin service: 1. […]
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated that quantum physics might enable communication and mapping in locations where GPS, cell phones, and radio is not reliable or don’t work at all, such as indoors, in urban canyons, underwater, and underground. NIST announced the technology advance on January 2. The technology may have marine, military, […]
The FCC has granted an experimental license for “Project Loon,” led by Google’s parent company Alphabet, to help provide emergency cellular service in Puerto Rico. “More than 2 weeks after Hurricane Maria struck, millions of Puerto Ricans are still without access to much-needed communications services,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement. He explained […]
Cell phone towers are something we miss when we’re out of range, but imagine how we’d miss them if they had been destroyed by disastrous weather. In such emergencies it is more important than ever to call loved ones, and tell them we’re safe. [Matthew May] and [Brendan Harlow] aimed to make their own secure […]
The Washington state House approved a measure Wednesday that would ban holding hand-held devices while driving. The measure passed the Democratic-controlled chamber on a 63-35 vote. It now heads back to the Republican-controlled Senate for agreement on changes made in the House. The bill’s sponsor, Republican Sen. Ann Rivers of La Center, told the Associated […]
FCC Boss Ajit Pai says he’s doing something many consumers may actually agree with for a change: making it harder to talk on the phone while on an airplane. The FCC today announced that it’s killing an FCC proceeding that would have opened the door to allowing phone calls during commercial flights. In late 2013 […]
The FCC has decided to modernise its cellular licensing and power rules in the 800MHz cellular band to provide millions of wireless customers with greater access to networks at faster speeds By updating various technical and service rules applicable to the 800MHz cellular service band, carriers should now be better enabled to transition cellular spectrum […]
Back in January, it became illegal to hold your cell phone while driving. But now some drivers say the law unfairly targets radio users as well and they want that to change. “I’m driving down the road and talking on this radio,” said Norm Lucas, holding his high frequency radio microphone. “Doing that simple act […]
The 90s were a wonderful time for portable communications devices. Cell phones had mass, real buttons, and thick batteries – everything you want in next year’s flagship phone. Unfortunately, Zach Morris’ phone hasn’t been able to find a tower for the last decade, but that doesn’t mean these phones are dead. This weekend at Shmoocon, […]
The 1970s called and they want their rotary dial cell phone back. Looking for all the world like something assembled from the Radio Shack parts department – remember when Radio Shack sold parts? – [Mr_Volt]’s build is a celebration of the look and feel of a hobbyist build from way back when. Looking a little […]
Verizon has told its field technicians in Pennsylvania that they can be fired if they try to fix broken copper phone lines. Instead, employees must try to replace copper lines with a device that connects to Verizon Wireless’s cell phone network. This directive came in a memo from Verizon to workers on September 20. “Failure […]
A new legal complaint filed by a Georgetown Law professor claims that law enforcement agencies using Stingray cell-site spoofing devices are in violation of standard FCC rules because they don’t have the proper spectrum licenses to operate the equipment. The complaint, filed by professor Laura Moy on behalf of three different advocacy groups, specifically calls […]
Software defined radios are getting better and better all the time. The balaclava-wearing hackers know it, too. From what we saw at HOPE in New York a few weeks ago, we’re just months away from being able to put a femtocell in a desktop computer for under $3,000. In less than a year, evil, bad […]
A lot has been said and written about ham radio equipments over the years. However, that has not helped in demystifying the numerous misconceptions about ham radio components. The perfect and well selected DX amateur radio equipment offers more to any particular user than any of the other radio signals transmitting device within the same […]
There’s a problem with software defined radio. It’s not that everyone needs to re-learn what TEMPEST shielding is, and it’s not that Bluetooth is horribly broken. SDR’s biggest problem is one of bandwidth and processing. With a simple USB TV Tuner, you can listen in on aircraft, grab Landsat images from hundreds of miles up, […]