Licence-exemption framework review

The UK regulator, Ofcom, has published a statement on the framework for managing spectrum used by licence-exempt devices. The Spectrum Framework Review sets out Ofcom’s overall strategy for the management of spectrum through a market-based approach. In line with their duty to maximise the value and efficiency derived from the spectrum, the SFR suggests that spectrum use should be licence-exempt if the value that is expected to be derived from the spectrum under such an approach is predicted to be greater than if spectrum use were licenced. It also notes that, where interference is unlikely, licencing may present an unnecessary overhead.

The Licence-Exemption Framework Review extends the SFR by examining a number of specific Continue reading Licence-exemption framework review

New digital voice mode requires just 1.1kHz bandwidth

Jason Buchanan, N1SU, has announced a new digital voice mode based on WinDRM called FDMDV which claims to offer robust digital voice communication with enhanced interference rejection. The new mode requires just 1.1kHz of bandwidth and is claimed to work at signal to noise ratios as low as 3dB. It is based on 15 . . . → Read More: New digital voice mode requires just 1.1kHz bandwidth

Back o’ beyond gets a phone service

England’s most remote building Skiddaw House, described by Alfred Wainwright as being “at the back o’ beyond” has found a solution to its telecom problems. The house stands on a 1500ft high plateau between Skiddaw and Blencathra, three and a half miles from the nearest road, with no mains electricity, postal delivery, landline telephone, . . . → Read More: Back o’ beyond gets a phone service

Colossus Challenge

To celebrate the rebuilding of the WWII code breaking machine Colossus, the National Museum of Computing is running a challenge. During 15th and 16th November, historic Lorenz SZ42 ciphertext will be transmitted by radio amateurs at Heinz Nixdorf MuseumForum in Paderborn, Germany at the following times and frequencies preceded by a preamble in RTTY. The preamble message, which contains information needed to receive the SZ42 transmission is here. The ciphertext will be received by two teams of amateur codebreakers at Bletchley Park. The first will comprise members of the Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society operating amateur radio station callsign GB2BP and using modern equipment. The second team will use the same type of equipment as used in the intercept Continue reading Colossus Challenge

Motorola to acquire controlling interest in Vertex Standard (Yaesu)

Motorola announced today that it will launch a tender offer to acquire a controlling interest in Vertex Standard, the parent company of Yaesu. Upon successful completion of the tender offer and subsequent restructuring process, Motorola will own 80% of Vertex Standard and Tokogiken, a privately held Japanese company controlled by Jun Hasegawa, current president . . . → Read More: Motorola to acquire controlling interest in Vertex Standard (Yaesu)

Stat-muxing over several channels (or how HDTV might be coming to Freeview)

While we’re all eagerly awaiting OfCom’s expected announcement next month of an ambitious migration path that would transition Freeview from the current DVB-T transmission standard using MPEG-2 compression to the newer DVB-T2 and MPEG-4 standards by 2009, starting with a single multiplex, here’s some more news for those of us for whom HDTV on Freeview can’t come soon enough.
The Digital Terrestrial Television Action Group (DigiTAG) has suggested a spectrum efficiency improvement that could help ease the way for high definition to appear on the DTT platform. Continue reading Stat-muxing over several channels (or how HDTV might be coming to Freeview)

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