BRATS MEETINGS SET FOR 2005-2006
The BRATS will continue to meet at the Pikesville Library, 1301 Reisterstown Rd in Pikeville on the
second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 PM. The JULY meeting will be one week earlier, on July 5
due to a library scheduling conflict. Meetings dates are as follows: For 2005: July 5, August 9,
September 13, October 11, November 15, and December 13. For 2006: January 10, February 14,
March 14, April 11, May 9 and June 13. Mark your calendars now and plan to join us !
FCC Adopts Rule Changes for "Smart Radios"
The FCC has released a Report and Order (R&O) on cognitive or "smart radio" systems. In its 42-
page R&O, "Facilitating Opportunities for Flexible, Efficient, and Reliable Spectrum Use Employing
Cognitive Radio Technologies" (ET Docket 03-108), the Commission declined to adopt any new
regulations for Amateur Radio transceivers or for digital-to-analog (D/A) converters "at this time."
The ARRL and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council had commented earlier on
the impracticality of incorporating hardware features to prevent out-of-band transmissions. The
League and others also opposed regulating the marketing of high-speed D/A converters as
burdensome, more costly to consumers and unnecessary because the devices don't pose a risk of
interference.
New Bands for Kenya
Ted, 5Z4NU reports that the Kenyan licensing authority (CCK) has granted 2 new bands: 1810-1850 KHz and 10100-10150 KHz.
Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend
The 2004 International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend took place over the weekend 21/22 August 2004
when over 380 lighthouse stations were established in 52 countries. A full list of stations with their details
can be found at http://illw.net/2004_list.htm.
This year the event will run from 0001 UTC on the 20th of August until 2359 UTC on the 21st of August 2005.
Guidelines for the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2005 can be found at http://illw.net/index.html
So come and join the fun and let us have over 400 stations at lighthouses or lightships. [IRTS]
Radio amateur tapped to head NASA
President George W. Bush has announced his intention to nominate Michael Griffin, NR3A, to be the next
administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He'll succeed Sean O'Keefe,
who departed NASA earlier this year to become chancellor of Louisiana State University. Griffin currently
heads the Space Department at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Prior to that, he
was president and chief operating officer of In-Q-Tel Inc, served in several positions within Orbital
Sciences Corporation and was NASA's chief engineer. In 2003 testimony before the US House of
Representatives' Future of Human Space Flight Committee on Science, Griffin described himself as "an
unabashed supporter of space exploration in general, and of human space flight in particular." expressed
his belief that the human space flight program "is in the long run possibly the most significant activity in
which our nation is engaged." His academic resume is extensive and impressive. In addition to a bachelor's
degree in physics from Johns Hopkins, holds master's degrees in aerospace science, applied physics,
business administration, civil engineering and electrical engineering and a doctorate in aerospace
engineering. The US Senate must confirm Griffin's appointment, which is said to enjoy bipartisan support.
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