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.
HOT Topics – see the News section for more
ARRL Volunteers Obtain Ham Exemption to Pennsylvania Handsfree Law
05/09/2024
Member-volunteers of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® in Pennsylvania have successfully protected the legal right to use amateur radio while operating mobile within the state. For more on this story click here.
WXMsg Update 1.5.5.0 Now Available
The latest version 1.5.5.0 of WXMsg, the next generation of amateur radio messaging software is now available at https://ni4ce.org/nxdn-digital-communications/
This new version supports standard messaging, a SKYWARN TEL template, as well as NTS messaging using an NTS messaging form.
Chinese walkie-talkie maker Hytera resumes sales of two-way radio products after US court suspends global ban
- The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on Tuesday suspended the global sales injunction against Hytera’s two-way radio products
- That temporary stay included the further accumulation of US$1-million-per-day fines against Hytera that was earlier ordered by a US District Court
- Read more on this story by clicking here.
Propagation alert as Sporadic-E season begins – April 2024
If you have an interest in propagation or DX on the 50 MHz band, this is an important time of year.
Sporadic-E… At the end of April, we should see the start of the Sporadic-E season in the northern hemisphere. The initial openings should be on the 28 MHz band with stations about 1500-2000kms away being heard and worked.
It’s only a matter of time before the openings extend up to the 40 MHz, 50 MHz and 70 MHz bands.
Trans-Equatorial Propagation (TEP)… The TEP season peaks around the Equinox but it extends until early May. The important thing to note here is that there is an overlap between the Sporadic-E season and the TEP season.
Normally stations in the norther part of Europe or the USA are too far north to reach the TEP zones which are roughly shown above. All that is needed is just one Sporadic-E hop for more northerly stations to reach this TEP zone.
What to look out for over the next few weeks…
The key point is to look to the south for the next few weeks to make the most of this overlap. Once the TEP season ends in early May, the Sporadic-E season will continue until August.
Posted by John, EI7GL at Sunday, April 21, 2024
https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2024/04/propagation-alert-as-sporadic-e-season.html
Interested in GMRS?
I have added a section on the Web site you can reach from the menu above titled GMRS. You can click here to visit that page where you will learn everything you need to know on how to get your GMRS license, where to look for places to talk (repeaters), as well as a good radio to get started with in GMRS.
GMRS is a good place to start as well if you believe that somewhere down the road you would like to become a licensed Amateur Radio operator.
The new ARRL Field Day 2024 Poster is out!
The 2024 ARRL Field Day Poster has been released. Click here to read about it. If you’re looking for other 2024 Field Day resources, click here.
Find a Field Day site near you by visiting https://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator
FCC to Require Two Factor Authentication for CORES Users
03/22/2024 – from the ARRL
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced an upcoming change to the Commission Registration System (CORES) that licensees use to pay any application or regulatory fees, manage or reset a password on an existing FRN, or request a new FRN. Beginning March 29, 2024, multifactor authentication will be implemented. Users will be prompted to request a six-digit secondary verification code, which will be sent to the email address(es) associated with each username. The user will then need to enter the code into CORES before they can continue.
In a public notice, the FCC said this change will make the system more secure. “This additional layer of security will further safeguard against unauthorized access, thereby enhancing the overall integrity of information contained within the CORES system and improving the security of user data,” it read.
The FCC recommends that users confirm they have access to their username account email and to add a secondary email address, if need be.
Resources are available for those who need assistance with the system. For inquiries or assistance regarding the implementation of multifactor authentication on CORES, submit a help request at https://www.fcc.gov/wtbhelp, or call the FCC at 877-480-3201 (Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM ET).
Lakeland NXDN Repeater Off-the-Air
As of 02/26/2024, the Lakeland NXDN repeater, 444.6625, is currently off-the-air. This repeater is an affiliate repeater that was also connected to the NI4CE NXDN repeater system. It is possible that the repeater could be offline for an extended period of time. The best option available, that covers the footprint of this repeater, is to use the Bartow NI4CE NXDN repeater on 442.1375.
*** Update *** As of 04/06/2024, the Lakeland NXDN repeater on 444.6625, is back on the air. However, it does not appear to be Internet connected and is operating as a local NXDN repeater only.
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.
2024 – 2028 Amateur Extra-Class Question Pool Released
The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) Question Pool Committee (QPC) has released errata for the new 2024 – 2028 Element 4 Extra Class Question Pool, which goes into effect on July 1. The errata includes minor question changes, the removal of one question, and one modified graphic. These updates are reflected in the new downloadable files, dated January 31, 2024. The ARRL VEC advises the community to regularly check the NCVEC website at https://www.ncvec.org/ for updates to the question pools. Submit feedback or questions to the Question Pool Committee.
ARRL Board Votes to Offer Free ARRL Membership for Students – 01/21/2024
FREE ARRL Membership for Students. For decades, ARRL has offered a reduced dues rate for young hams, currently priced at $30 per year. At this meeting, the Board established a new option for a no-cost Associate membership for full-time students of age 21 and younger.
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