Welcome to the Delaney.rocks Web site.

This site provides resources to those interested in amateur radio, as well as post files and information for those who have inquired about more detailed information.

Keep an eye on the local page for repeater changes, as well as other local activities such as hamfests and local meeting information.

Also, helps to always know the rules (Part 97) – FCC Part 97 has been amended as of January 8, 2024, specifically Part 97.305 and Part 97.307. Click here to view the latest FCC Part 97 rules.

Know someone studying for their license? Check out Amateur Radio Study Buddy at https://study.affirmatech.com– a great tool on your PC or phone. More information about getting your amateur radio license can be found on the Getting Started/Links tab.

Be sure to check out the local events tab for amateur radio happenings in our area.

HOT Topics – see the News section for more

Yaesu launches 3 new mobile radios with new evolving Super-DX and Audio Digital Signal Processor!

11/14/2024 – Yaesu has launched 3 new exciting mobile radios featuring Super-DX and a Audio Digital Signal Processor to improve audio quality!

The Super-DX function increases the receiver sensitivity and improves weak signal reception. The new ASP: Audio Digital Signal Processing Unit is also activated when the Super-DX key is pressed. The Super-DX with the ASP ensures reliable audio quality for weak signals and expands the communication range.The Yaesu FTM-150RASP is a 55W (VHF) / 50W (UHF) FM Dual-Band Mobile Transceiver With the New Evolving Super-DX and Audio Digital Signal Processor. Learn more about it by clicking here.

The Yaesu FT-3185RASP is a 85W 144MHz FM Mobile Transceiver With the New Evolving Super-DX and Audio Digital Signal Processor. Learn more about it by clicking here.

The Yaesu FT-3165RASP is a 65W 144MHz FM Mobile Transceiver With the New Evolving Super-DX and Audio Digital Signal Processor. Learn more about it by clicking here.

These 3 new radios are expected to be available before the end of November 2024!

Do you know when your Amateur Radio or GMRS license expires?

From time to time I glance at a QRZ page of an active ham, only to find out that a ham that is currently operating is close to having their license expire. I have chatted with some who have had their license expire and they were unaware that it expired.

When is the last time you checked your license in the FCC ULS system? Even without logging on, you could click here and go to the FCC license search to pull up your record. There you will find any FCC licenses you have (Ham, GMRS, etc.) and see their details including the expiration date. You can search by individual call sign, or change to your FRN number to see all licenses under your FRN number.

If it’s getting close to your license expiration, make sure you can get logged into the FCC ULS system. It’s not a bad idea to log in from time to time and make sure your login works. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to renew and then realize you cannot get logged in to renew your license.

For those that have not renewed their amateur radio license, remember that there is now a $35 fee to renew your license for ten (10) years. The GMRS license fee is the same and is also $35 for a ten (10) year period.

There are services from organizations like W5YI (click here) and others who will reach out by mail to some and offer, for an extra fee, a way to renew your amateur radio license. For someone having difficulty logging into their FCC ULS account this could be a good alternative to renew until you can get those issues worked out. ARRL members may manually file an application for free (via mail, email, or FAX) to the ARRL VEC using the NCVEC Form 605. Non-members will be charged a processing fee to use this member service.

So, don’t let your amateur radio (or other licenses) that you worked hard for expire without your notice. Take note of when your licenses expire and don’t get caught off guard.

If your license does expire, you must cease operating as your license privileges are suspended. There is a grace period of two (2) years where you can re-instate your license and keep your call sign and license class. After two years, your call sign is removed and you’ll have to start all over again.

ARRL Issues First Release Update to the ARES Taskbook in Several Years

ARRL Emergency Management is pleased to release the first update to the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Emergency Communicator Individual Task Book in several years. You can read the story about these new Task Book changes in the ARRL “On The Air” magazine Sep/Oct 2024 edition.

To view the new ARES Standardized Training Plan – ARES Emergency Communicator Individual Task Book, click here.

To watch the video (released 10/10/24) about the Task Book changes from the “On The Air” podcast, click here.

New ARRL EmComm training courses available

ARRL has released two new courses to train emergency communications (EmComm) operators for volunteering within the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®). Both courses are within the ARRL Learning Center.

The Basic EmComm course is designed to get a new volunteer started. It provides basic knowledge and tools for any emergency communications volunteer and contains three modules and 11 topics, including required prerequisites. It’s expected to take approximately 10 – 20 hours to complete.

The Intermediate EmComm course builds on the lessons learned in the first course and equips volunteer radio amateurs with the tools needed to thrive in the fast-paced environment of public service communications and to understand the legal rights and responsibilities of working with a served agency, as well as teach them and how ham radio fits into the broader incident command (IC) structure.

The Basic and Intermediate EmComm courses are available to anyone with a free www.arrl.org account. Users must log in to the ARRL Learning Center with this account, and functionality of the site relies on cookies being enabled.

New DMR Network – AmComm DMR Network

A new, well at least as of October 2023, DMR network is now available called AMCOMM. Some talkgroups (such as America Link and Alabama Link) that were previously on the popular Brandmeister network have left that network and are now part of the AMCOMM DMR network.

You can find information on this new network at https://www.amcomm.network/

So, with all of the DMR networks already available, why AMCOMM?

1. Fast, Friendly, Helpful Support.
2. No time limits on talkgroups.
3. Local Support.
4. Multiple Servers with multiple available server admins.
5. Shared Amcomm only APRS Mapping with APRS. fi reporting.
6. Redundant system of interconnected servers.
7. A phone number to call when you need something (can you believe that!)
8. Need a Talkgroup, no problem.
9. Proven software that’s both reliable and scalable.
10. Enjoy and have fun

A new guide is available online for new and veteran Amateur Radio operators in the Tampa Bay Area

The Tampa Bay Amateur Radio Guide is designed to help both new and veteran amateur radio users. Check it out at http://bit.ly/tbarg

Keep up with the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act

S.3690 – Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act – Keep up on this bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the application of certain private land use restrictions to amateur station antennas, and for other purposes. This bill was introduced on January 30, 2024. Click here to see it’s status.

Did You Know?

Many are aware of FCC Part 97.101(D), General Standards, which states “no amateur operator shall willfully or maliciously interfere with or cause interference to any radio communication or signal.” You’ll hear this rule mentioned in some net preambles.

But… did you know that Florida itself has a rule regarding interfering with radio communications? You can click here for a link to Florida Statute Chapter 877, Section 27, which states unauthorized transmissions to, or interference with, a public or commercial radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission is prohibited.

Did You Know #2?

Living in Florida, or one of the areas affected, you need to know this rule when operating on UHF. Specifically, FCC Part 97.313 as we have some different power standards here in Florida.

Part 97.313 states “(f) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceeding 50 W PEP on the UHF 70 cm band from an area specified in paragraph (a) of footnote US270 in § 2.106, unless expressly authorized by the FCC after mutual agreement, on a case-by-case basis, between the Regional Director of the applicable field facility and the military area frequency coordinator at the applicable military base.”

To follow those guidelines, you need to pull up that footnote US270. The portion that affects us in Florida states that “

US270 In the band 420-450 MHz, the following provisions shall apply to the amateur service:

(i) The peak envelope power of an amateur station shall not exceed 50 watts in the following areas, unless expressly authorized by the FCC after mutual agreement, on a case-by-case basis, between the Regional Director of the applicable field office and the military area frequency coordinator at the applicable military base.

(A) Arizona, Florida and New Mexico.”

US270 goes on further with specific military bases in other states and restrictions in operating in those areas. For us in Florida though, just know that we have a 50 watt UHF power limitation.

Learn more about radio technologies at Tait Radio Academy

If you’d like to learn more about various radio technologies such as DMR, P25, etc., check out some of the free courses offered by Tait Radio Academy. Click here to check out these free courses.

My email is good on qrz.com, so if you wish to reach me directly, check out my QRZ page by clicking here.

Be sure to click on my social media icons on the home page, especially my YouTube channel, Spurious Emissions.

73 de Russ N4RTD

Are you a member of the ARRL, the National Association for Amateur Radio? If not, why? It’s a great organization that provides education, supports growth, advocates for spectrum, and much more. Learn more about joining the ARRL by clicking here.

Amateur Radio and Electronics Dealers