The IARU Region 3 Newsletter Issue 2/2005, June 2005 The IARU continues to represent amateur radio interests at the ITU in Geneva. Even though WRC-07 may be some time in the future, intensive preparatory work has already begun. This Newsletter refers to one such session. Improvements in HF technology have increased the importance of HF radio communications for a variety of users. The demand for HF spectrum for fixed and mobile applications is increasing. New technologies now make HF communications viable and affordable for many applications such as data exchange, etc. These are just some of the many issues the IARU representatives have to grapple with in their work in promoting and defending amateur radio at the ITU. K C Selvadurai 9V1UV Director IARU Region 3 >>> Meetings at ITU Geneva <<< Meetings were held in Geneva 31 March to 7 April in preparation for WRC-07. Ken Pulfer VE3PU represented the IARU. Several other amateurs were present on national delegations, but not all participated in the work of interest to the IARU. The major item of interest for the IARU in Working Party 6E is WRC-07 Agenda item 1.13 which relates to the review of allocations to all services in the HF bands between 4 MHz and 10 MHz, excluding those allocations to services in the frequency range 7 000-7 200 kHz. The sub-working group on this subject based its draft text on that prepared in the previous session. A few changes were made to ensure that it was not inconsistent with certain other interests. The paragraphs on the needs of the amateur service were retained. A delegate from Korea showed determination to ensure that Amateur Services do not obtain any more spectrum at WRC-07. As a follow up, R 3 Chairman Park HL1IFM, has contacted the Ministry of Information and Communications of Korea. Their position is that they have already agreed at the WRC-03 to allocate 100 kHz for amateurs at 7 MHz and there will be no problem to implement it before March of 2009. But before that implementation, an additional request of allocation will be difficult to accept. Continued IARU attendance at the ITU meetings will be important as the CPM text for agenda item 1.13 is developed. Although no immediate threat to 7 200-7 300 kHz is evident, things may change if fixed and mobile services develop a strong case for retention of their existing spectrum. >>> FCC Licensees Outside Region 2 to Gain Early Access to 7 100-7 200 kHz <<< The FCC has given licensees operating in FCC-administered territories in Regions 1 and 3 early access to 7 100-7 200 kHz. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said "This will make it easier for amateurs throughout the world to use the very popular and crowded 40-meter band and will facilitate disaster communications" He added that ARRL joins the FCC in cautioning Commission-licensed amateurs outside of Region 2 to avoid interfering with broadcast stations in the 7 100-7200 kHz band during the transition period, which ends in 2009 as per an agreement reached at WRC-03. The R3 countries to benefit from this include American Samoa. >>> Visitors to New Zealand (NZ) <<< Prospective visitors to NZ will be interested in a report by the NZART Administration Liaison Officer Fred Johnson ZL2AMJ that appeared in the March/April issue of "Break In". It says:- "Visitors to New Zealand from any country who hold a current amateur licence in their home country may operate in New Zealand under conditions shown in a "General User Radio Licence". This licence and conditions are on the MED RSM web page for all to see. Again the maximum possible facility has been adopted by New Zealand. New arrivals becoming permanent residents and having overseas qualifications are treated on a case-by-case basis". See www.med.govt.nz >>> HAMSAT is now VO-52 <<< VO-52 is India's first Amateur Radio satellite. Its transponders were turned on shortly after its May 5 launch, and AMSAT-India Secretary "Pop" Kumar, VU2POP, has invited the global amateur community to use the satellite. Ground controllers have activated one of the two linear transponders aboard VO-52, which operates in Mode U/V, with passband centre frequencies of 435.25 MHz for the uplink and 145.90 MHz for the downlink. Passbands are 50 kHz wide. For SSB, uplink is LSB and downlink is USB. >>> IARU Region 1 Executive Committee Meeting <<< This meeting was held in Davos, Switzerland in April 2005. Region 3 was represented at the meeting by Director K C Selvadurai 9V1UV. A minute of silence was observed at the meeting commencement as a tribute to the late Chairman of Region 3, Peter Naish VK2BPN. Discussions were primarily focussed on the papers and arrangements for the Region 1 Conference, which will be held in September. Region 1 is unfortunately experiencing a decline in membership numbers. Changes made to the R 1 Constitution now provide for 'electronic' voting. Also, only a Member Society can hold a proxy to vote at a Conference, individuals cannot. In regard to gaining access to 7.2 to 7.3 MHz, the CEPT has so far indicated little prospects for this. However, the unfulfilled requirement for amateurs has been recognized and they have noted there is a lot of time ahead before WRC 2007. >>> IARU Region 3 Constitution <<< All Member Societies would have received by mail a copy of the proposals by SARTS for changes to the Region 3 Constitution. They focus on some principles and objectives. It will be noted that SARTS has not offered specific wording of particular clauses. They believe that a small specialist group, under the supervision of the R 3 Directors, is best to do this task. Member Societies may submit any proposal for amendment to Region 3 Constitution with specific words, directly to the Conference. If however, there are other Societies which wish the specialist group to develop the specific words for their proposals, it will be helpful if these could be submitted very quickly so that they could considered at one go. >>> Region 3 EMC Coordinator's Report <<< A CISPR Meeting was held from 6 ? 16 September 2004 in Shanghai, China. There were 229 participants from 25 countries from all over the world. Some of the organizations were CIGRE, EBU, ETSI, EURELECTRIC, IARU, ICAO, ITU-R, UIC, UIE, & UITP. For the IARU, Mr C M Verholt (Project Manager, Dansk Standard) was at the meeting, and Dr. Joong Geun Rhee HL1AQQ also attended as the Head of the Korean National Delegation. He also serves as the EMC Coordinator for IARU R3. During the overall meeting period, many sub committee meetings were held. These included: SC-A: Radio-Interference Measurement and Statistical Methods SC-B: Interference Relating to Industrial, Scientific and Medical Radio-frequency Apparatus SC-D: Electromagnetic Disturbances related to Electric/Electronic Equipment on Vehicles SC-F: Interference relating to Household Appliances, Tools, and Similar Apparatus SC-H: Limits for the Protection of Radio Services SC-I: Electromagnetic Compatibility of Information Technology Equipment, Multimedia Equipment and Receivers For amateurs, PLC (Power Line Communications) issues were of most interest. Submitted by HL1AQQ, IARU R3 EMC Coordinator >>> IARU/NCDXF Region 3 Beacon Report <<< Status of the NCDXF/IARU International Beacons in Region 3 as at 23 May 2005 was: Call -- City/Town -- Operator -- Status ZL6B, Masterton, NZART, OK VK6RBP, Perth, WIA, OFF JA2IGY, Nagoya, JARL, OK VR2B, Hong Kong, CRSA/HARTS, OFF 4S7B, Colombo, RSSL, OK HF Beacons Mailing List: A very valuable source of 28 MHz Beacons logging information is at the hfbeacons mailing list.(To subscribe: hfbeacons-subscribe@explore.plus.com) Submitted by ZL2SJ, IARU R3 Beacon Coordinator >>> News from NZART, New Zealand <<< The members of NZART recently held their two yearly elections for the President and Councillors of the Association. Numbers of candidates offered to serve for the positions of President and to represent the "ZL1, ZL2 and ZL3" geographical areas. Elections were held for all positions, except in ZL4. Bruce Douglas ZL2WP, the previous Vice President, was elected President. Some new Councillors and some sitting Councillors were elected. John Lochhead ZL4QS will be Vice President. The new appointees took office in early June 2005 at the NZART Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting held in New Plymouth. The Region 3 Web Site Go to: http://www.iaru-r3.org/ Newsletter Editor: K C Selvadurai 9V1UV, Director IARU Region 3, kcselva@starhub.net.sg Publisher: The International Amateur Radio Union Region 3, P.O. Box 73, Toshima, Tokyo 170-8691, Japan. Tel: +81 3 3944 3322 Fax: +81 3943 8282 E-mail: iaru-r3@jarl.or.jp The statements or opinions in this Newsletter do not, unless otherwise stated, necessarily reflect the views of IARU Region 3, the Directors or the Secretariat. Items from this Newsletter may be freely copied for publication by member societies of IARU. MS Word version of this newsletter is available at http://www.iaru-r3.org/news/r3nl-05-06.doc