The IARU Region 3 Newsletter Issue 2/2002, June 2002 In the opening paragraph of the article 'Spectrum, the Life Blood of Amateur Radio' carried in the March 2002 issue of this Newsletter, David Sumner K1ZZ, Secretary IARU, summed up the key role of IARU when he said: "To exist, Amateur Radio must have access to the radio frequency spectrum. Without it, our radio equipment is like an automobile without a road or a boat without water - interesting to look at, perhaps, but utterly useless." As we get immersed in amateur radio activities, we could to a greater or lesser degree take things for granted and forget the effort being put in to preserve the amateur radio frequency bands. All amateur radio operators, whether member of a member-society or non member, benefit from the safeguarding of these bands for our use and it may be timely to remind ourselves of the valuable contribution by IARU. K C Selvadurai 9V1UV Director IARU Region 3 >>> WRC 2003 <<< This very important Conference is scheduled for 9 June to 4 July 2003 in Caracas. As well as working on the preparatory issues, the IARU is considering supplementing the named core delegation, either for the duration of the conference or for critical periods. Attendance at the whole of the Conference will require significant scheduling of their time. Many will be called to make personal sacrifices for the cause of amateur radio. Member-societies should seek to place radio amateurs on their national delegations provided that they will be permitted to participate fully in the work of their delegations. >>> Morse as Qualification Criteria <<< As reported in the December 2001 issue of this Newsletter, IARU policy is to support the removal of Morse code testing as an ITU requirement for an amateur license to operate on frequencies below 30 MHz. IARU is not advocating the abolition of Morse Code as a mode of communication. What IARU has advocated is the elimination of Morse as a mandatory subject for examination. The ITU, has in August last year, adopted the recommendation on amateur qualifications. In consideration that certain minimum operational and technical qualifications are necessary for the proper operation of an amateur or amateur-satellite station, any person seeking an amateur license should demonstrate theoretical knowledge of specific topics in the areas of radio regulations, methods of radiocommunication, radio system theory, radio emission safety, electromagnetic compatibility, and avoidance and resolution of radio frequency interference. David Sumner, K1ZZ. Secretary IARU mentioned "The international Radio Regulations have long required that administrations take such measures as they judge necessary to verify the operational and technical qualifications of any person wishing to operate an amateur station. In anticipation of changes that are likely to be made in the amateur and amateur-satellite service regulations at the next World Radiocommunication Conference, the new Recommendation provides additional definition to these qualifications without reducing the prerogative of an administration to set its own standards." Amateurs have over the years, adopted other modes of radio communication. With advancement in technology modes such as SSTV, RTTY, PSK31, PacTor etc have become commonly available. Specific examinations are not required for use of these modes. Meanwhile, similar changes in technology has made it possible to receive and send Morse code with electronic driven devices even without acquiring the proficiency level required for a Morse code examination. It is possible that some national administrations may wish to retain Morse as an examination subject and they are free to do that. Thus societies may if they so wish, urge their authorities to retain the Morse examination. That is a decision for each society and its members to make. Those societies wishing to retain Morse as an examination subject will no doubt make a valued and wise decision recognizing their current environment. >>> Digital HF Radio <<< Radio amateurs are the leading developers of new digital techniques for high-frequency (HF) data and text communication. For example, PacTor combines the strengths of packet radio and the mode known commercially as SITOR to offer reliable and essentially error-free data communication. Disaster relief agencies have adopted it for use from remote locations where no telecommunications infrastructure is available. PSK31 is a user-friendly mode that provides live keyboard communication at low transmitter power levels when error correction is not required. An implementation of PSK31 using computer sound cards has made this the most popular digital mode for radio amateurs in less than two years. Other developers, building on the success of PSK31, are using sound cards to explore a wide range of other digital modes tailored for the challenging HF environment (IARU News release Feb 2002) >>> WRTC 2002 <<< Amateur radio comprises a wide range of activities that cater for diverse interest groups. Home brew, QRP, digital modes etc are commonly known. Contesting is an activity that is growing in popularity so much so that a world championship in amateur radio is conducted periodically. The World Radiosport Team Championship, WRTC, is also referred to as the "Olympics" of international Amateur Radio contesting. These periodic WRTC events bring together teams comprised of the "Best of the Best" contest operators from around the world for super-charged operating skills competitions. The WRTC is organized around an on-the-air competition among two-person teams. This year, it will take place in Finland in July 2002 and will be run within the IARU 2002 HF Championship: Starting: Saturday 13-July-2002 1200 UTC and ending: Sunday 14-July-2002 1200 UTC By bringing the competitors together in one geographic area and providing equal operating conditions (antennas, power, etc), the variables normally associated with radio contesting are minimized, and the individual team's operating skills are emphasized. In keeping with the original WRTC concept, every effort will be made to provide the more than 50 teams with operating conditions that are very similar. The operators are not allowed to identify who they personally are or which team they are. Efforts to make the 'playing field' equal even go to the extent of allocation of call signs by the organizing committee. The two co-chairmen of the judging committee are Mr. Pekka Lansman of Finland. (Chairman of the CEPT Project Team that is responsible for preparing European Common Proposals on key agenda items for WRC 2003, including amateur and amateur-satellite regulatory issues and HF allocations) and Mr. David Sumner K1ZZ (Secretary IARU). Despite the intensity of the competition, the amateur radio attributes of friendship and camaraderie are already being demonstrated. Certain contestants, apart from bearing their own expenses, are contributing towards the organizational costs as well as travel costs of other contestants from countries adversely affected by financial market upheavals. The December 2001 issue of this Newsletter reported that AC had noted the growing popularity of the IARU HF World Championship and urged HQ Stations of member-societies to participate. Members of IARU member-societies are also encouraged to participate in the Championship. It will help the WRTC contestants to pick up additional multiplier points and give members a flavor of contesting. The rules to the IARU HF Contest can be found at the following web site: http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2002/rules-iaru.html An article by Dave Patton NT1N in the May issue of QST gives a more detailed WRTC and a look at Finland 2002. >>> Director Park HL1IFM visits China <<< Director Park HL1IFM had a discussion with senior officials of the Radio Regulatory Authority in Bejing China in April. Since he had met some of them previously at APT and WRC Conferences, the meeting was facilitated because it was amongst known persons. Despite the rapid spread of Internet amongst the youth, the authorities in China are desirous of promoting amateur radio activities. Emergency and disaster mitigation communication was of special interest to them. The discussion also covered WRC 2003 and APG matters. >-< The Region 3 Web site >-< Go to: http://www.iaru-r3.org/ Newsletter Editor: K C Selvadurai 9V1UV, Director IARU Region 3, 9v1uv@sarts.org.sg Publisher: The International Amateur Radio Union Region 3, P.O. Box 73, Toshima, Tokyo 170-8691, Japan. E-Mail: iaru-r3@jarl.or.jp Tel: +81 3 3944 3322 Fax: +81 3 3943 8282 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.