Rising number of pirate radio stations in China poses threat to plane safety
BEIJING – The Chinese authorities are concerned that a growing number of pirate radio stations may disrupt communications between passenger jets and air traffic controllers. The high-power stations are in Beijing and Tianjin municipalities and Hainan, Yunnan and Guangdong provinces, said the South China Morning Post. The authorities last year began cracking down on burgeoning pirate and ham radio operators. China had 2.7 million civil radio stations by the end of last year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in a report last year in the Global Times. Ham radio enthusiasts were told to register under new national regulations.
Poway – now a ham-friendly city
Poway, Calif., might become a Mecca for amateur radio operators with regulations approved in early August by the City Council. Antennas up to 65 feet can now be built with only a building permit required. In addition, a compromise was reached on requirements for neighbor notification. Tower builders will be required to apprise neighbors within a 250-foot radius of the tower.
Radio amateurs call on new recruits to tune into the world
As social media takes over, enthusiasts from North Yorkshire are calling for recruits to join a new club using historic communications technology to talk to the world. The first ever Colburn and Richmondshire Amateur Radio club has been set up by friends Colin Lyne, Chris Watkins and Craig Dennis who are desperate to encourage people to get involved to keep the hobby alive.
Isaac Holt says
Ham radio is a good hobby but I don’t need to take a test that has a lot of stuff in it that I will never use! A good thing would be for beginners is to have classes on radio etiquette and proper radio operation and how to make and take a call I think this would work to improve enthusiasm in the hobby. Then if they wanted to go farther then they could be tested for higher classes of ham radio! Just a thought !