September, 2006

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PA-5 AMPS
Subject: FWD: PA5 amps
From: TOMSMB@aol.com
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 15:15:43 EDT
I came across a box with 2 of the PA5-10 amplifier modules and one PA5-30. All 3 tested good when driven by one of our TXA5-70 ATV exciter/modulators. They were engineering prototypes so they aint prurdy but they work. See photos on our Specials and Surplus web page.The PA5-10's use the Toshiba SAU-4 power module and got over 12 watts pep output on the bench. The PA5-30 uses the Mitsubishi M57745 power module and gets over 30 watts pep. When we were designing the current TC70 transceiver, we had an idea to make it a 30-40 watt unit but found that the cost of having to add a fan and a much more expensive RF T/R relay that would handle the power would price the unit too high. We opt for the 20 watt brick and made the TC70-20 series instead.
Tom O'Hara W6ORG, P. C. Electronics www.hamtv.com 626-447-4565 m-th 8am-5:30pm Pacific time

Irish radio amateurs seek 500 kHz allocation
According to the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), the Irish Radio Transmitters Society has applied to Irish communications regulator ComReg for a small allocation in the region of 500 kHz for Amateur Radio experimentation. The move follows a similar proposal made by the RSGB to UK regulator Ofcom in 2004. Ofcom has not yet made a decision on the RSGB proposal, but the society is hopeful of an allocation between 501 and 504 kHz. There is also a possibility that Ofcom might designate the spot frequency of 500 kHz as a maritime memorial frequency. In recent years, there has been little traffic on the band 415 to 526.6 kHz, after most countries stopped using it as a Morse emergency maritime frequency in the 1990s.

Amateur breaks UK 10GHz distance record
Ian Lamb, G8KQW, has broken the record for the longest distance terrestrial contact on 10GHz from the UK. At around 0520UTC on Sunday 16 July, he exchanged reports with Lars-Bertil, SM4DHN, on 10,368.2MHz using CW at a never-before achieved distance of 1,347km. Ian said: "This was an unbelievable contact for me, not only because of the sheer distance involved but also because both Lars-Bertil and I are located several hundred kilometres inland at either end of the path." Soon after the record breaking contact, he also worked SM6AFV at a distance of 1,192km and SM6HYG at a distance of 1,118km. All the contacts took place during a period of strong tropospheric ducting between the UK and Europe. What makes these QSOs particularly impressive is that Ian was only using 2W of power. According to Ian, his success was down to "being in the right place at the right time". [GB2RS]

UK 5 MHz experiment extended to 2010, gains two new channels
UK telecommunications regulator Ofcom and the Ministry of Defence okayed extending the 5 MHz Amateur Radio experiment until June 30, 2010, and adding two new channels -- 5368 and 5373 kHz (center frequencies). Under the expanded plan, the UK and the US now will enjoy three center-frequency channels in common -- the two new channels and 5405 kHz. The UK experiment, which began in 2002, was to have concluded July 31. The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) says the extension followed discussions between Ofcom and the RSGB. Current notices of variation (NoVs) issued by the Radiocommunications Agency -- the former telecoms regulator -- still expire July 31, 2006, however, and Full license holders in the UK who want to continue using the 5 MHz frequencies will have to file a new NoV application, available online from the Ofcom and RSGB Spectrum Web sites. Applicants must explain how they plan to experiment on the 5 MHz channels, which can include participation in the 5MHz Working Group's 5MHz Experiment. The RSGB document 5MHz Operating Practice provides information on using the 5 MHz channels in the UK.

September, 2006

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