Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B)
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Aug 07 2020 09:03 am
AMAZON'S KUIPER SYSTEM GETS FCC'S OK
NEIL/ANCHOR: Amazon's ambitious plan for its satellite constellation is
moving ahead. Paul Braun, WD9GCO, gives us that update.
PAUL: The FCC has approved the deployment plan of Amazon's Kuiper
satellite system, which is designed to provide high-speed broadband
internet service to government, business, and consumers, using 3,236
satellites. The system is to include customer terminals, gateway earth
stations, software-defined network, and satellite control functionality,
among other components. Kuiper has stated that it can commence service
after the first 578 satellites are launched. There will be five phases
of deployment. For space-to-Earth communications, Kuiper plans to operate
on 17.7-18.6 GHz and 18.8-20.2 GHz. For Earth-to-space communications, it
will use 27.5-30.0 GHz.
Amazon has already posted 104 new job openings in support of the
low-earth-orbit project. Many of the jobs are in various parts of the
engineering field, and in wireless communications, and are based in the
states of Washington, Virginia, and Georgia.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Braun, WD9GCO.
(FCC, AMAZON)
**
SILENT KEY: BOB REYNOLDS WB3DYE
NEIL/ANCHOR: The amateur radio and commercial broadcast communities are
both grieving the loss of a seasoned professional. Bob Reynolds, WB3DYE,
became a Silent Key on the 2nd of August. In addition to being an
enthusiastic amateur radio operator, and a ragchewer on all the bands,
Bob was perhaps best known to non-hams in northeast and central
Pennsylvania as a longtime reporter for Newswatch 16 on WNEP-TV. Before
his retirement in 2014, he had long since established a reputation as an
investigative reporter.
Bob was 67.
(WNEP, QRZ.COM)
**
EXTRA ONLINE SUPPORT FOR NEW HAMS IN THE UK
NEIL/ANCHOR: New hams in the UK are getting extra support that's
personal - even if it's from a distance. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, tells us
how.
JEREMY: New licence-holders, especially those who took their exams via
remote invigilation, now have a place to call their own, even if it is
only in the virtual universe. The Radio Society of Great Britain has
established a group on Facebook, to provide guidance to new hams, as
well as those who are returnees to radio. The group provides guidance
on establishing a home station, and a connection to a number of
experienced hams, who can advise on a range of issues.
The Facebook page is one of several resources the society is making
available at this challenging time of social distancing. New hams
interested in exploring this, and other resources, should visit the
website at rsgb dot org slash beyond hyphen exams
(rsgb.org/beyond-exams.)
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.
(RADIO SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN)
NEIL/ANCHOR: It is also worth noting that OFCOM has also made changes
in testing for the Intermediate Level license, elimimating the practical
test, as it did with the Foundation level. This means Intermediate Level
exams can now be given over the internet via remote invigilation.
**
AMSAT OF SOUTH AFRICA HOSTING SPACE SYMPOSIUM
NEIL/ANCHOR: Amateur satellite enthusiasts in South Africa are getting
ready for their annual space symposium, as we hear from Graham Kemp,
VK4BB.
GRAHAM: There's still time to register for the annual space symposium
of AMSAT of South Africa, which is taking place as a live event online,
on Saturday, the 22nd of August.
The programme will feature discussions about using simple hardware and
software to track and decode small satellites in orbit; SATNOGS, and of
course, AMSAT OSCAR 7, the longest operating amateur radio satellite.
Software engineer Burns Fisher, WB1JF, a prominent volunteer in the
creation of the Fox1 series of satellites, will deliver two presentations -
one on satellite telemetry collection, and another on a simple telemetry
station called Fox-in-a-Box.
Visit amsatsa dot org dot za (amsatsa.org.za) for details on how to
register, and an explanation of costs. The event will begin at 0800 UTC
and conclude at 1700 UTC. It will include a lunch break -- but you'll
have to provide your own sandwiches.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB.
(SARL, AMSAT)
**
BREAK HERE:
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the Reading
(REDDING) Radio Club's W3BN repeater, in Reading (REDDING), Pennsylvania
on Fridays at 8 p.m. local time.
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (432:1/112)
