The ARDF Working Group published a new version of the ARDF Rules, Part B (competition). Most prominent addition are rules for foxoring competitions.

• ARDF Rules Part B - Competition, version 2.10 (valid from January 1st, 2012)
• List of Changes

New version of the IARU Region 1 HF Manager Handbook V.8.0 is now available for download.

As part of the NEW LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK (NLF) ALIGNMENT PACKAGE the European Commission is reworking some directives. One of the affected directives is the EMC directive including some major changes. Most of them are neutral or even good from an amateur radio operators perspective. However there is one slight change pickaback carried, which very much affects us.

In detail:

The definition of the term ‘electromagnetic disturbance’ will include the wanted signal of a radio as a possible source. This is not in line with the radio regulation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and not in line with the vocabulary of the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC).

IARU Region 1 will respond to it with a letter soon.

However we strongly suggest, that you contact your local MEPs and tell them about this change in the EMCD, that is neither in line with the reasoning of the New Legislative Framework, nor does it help to improve protection of radio services or equipment.

Congratulation to the winners of the IARU Region 1 - 145Mhz September Contest 2011. Many thank's to all participating stations. It was a pleasure to evaluate the IARU region 1 vhf contest. The quality of the logs was really good - particularly those from OK and OM. Results are now posted online.

In Romania there are some active youth radio clubs. One of them is Radioclub YO9KAG, this is a section of “Sport Club Petrolul Ploiesti”. This club has a great tradition in Romanian sports. In the radio club are radio amateurs of all classes trained and they are participating in competitions that covers all branches of amateur radio. During contests they mostly are using the callsign YR9R.

At the club youngsters are taught by coaches to get their radio license. They learn about amateur radio, radio operating techniques, CW, electronics and they are also being trained about how to compete in a contest. Club members have obtained remarkable results in HF, VHF and HST competitions.

All young amateurs with a callsign have attended at least one national competition and received very nice prizes.  We can mention YO9JOC, YO9JOK, YO9HPJ, YO9HQW, YO9HP, YO9FNP, YO9WF and many others… who managed at their first participation in a national championship to rank in the top three.

The young radio amateurs of this club are really fanatic in CW and contesting. It is remarkably to see how controlled they make QSO’s. Also the older youngsters, like Razvan YO9HPJ 20 years’ old, knows a lot about radio theory. Their coach Michael YO9BPX, supports the youth and help them as a teacher. With mentoring the youth they become really experienced radio amateurs.

The Lithuanian Amateur Radio Society has the pleasure to invite all IARU Member Societies to participate in the 13th IARU Region 1 (European) Youth ARDF Championships to be held in 2012 in Lithuania.

Date: July 11 - 14, 2012
Venue: Siauliai
Bulletin 1

The SUOMEN RADIOAMATOORILIITTO ry (SRAL) of Finland just released an extra issue of RADIOAMATÖÖRI Journal promoting Amateur Radio. With this demonstration journal of Amateur Radio, SRAL reaches out to all those who are interested in electronics and radio. The target of the journal also includes those who are interested in languages, cultures and peoples with no regard to their age or sex.

SRAL have made an attempt to tell the readers about the most interesting aspects of Amateur Radio.  Even though, it is not possible to create a report with full coverage in view of the vast scope of the subject,  SRAL did a great job introducing the readers to the most significant sectors of activity.

Amateur Radio is a sum of many hobbies. Someone can freely choose your own ”mix” with a suitable amount of building, operating, contesting and club activities. Whatever the choice is, someone is just as good a ham as anybody else. Hams are connected by the fact that the word ‘radio’ has for every ham a very special, exciting meaning.

It is believed that building has always been the primary choice of all youth interested in radio. The joy is overwhelming, when a self-made device is working properly. And if someone's whole amateur radio station, be it even a modest one, is self-made and giving out good contacts, the self-esteem is rising high – you can do it!

Morse code is cool, when it is no more a compulsory requirement. Someone can learn Morse just the way he or she wants and as long as you are comfortable with it. It starts with studying Morse without a radio, and when skills are developing then it could be done with a friend on the radio. The happiest moments are those when you feel that you are improving your skills and the speed is getting higher slowly but surely.

A computer fan will add radio as a versatile accessory making contacts around the world an easy task. Any knowledge so far acquired will be a handy asset when bringing the computer and radio set into a seamlessly united circuitry.

Earning an amateur radio certificate and station license is achievable. Just a week-long training camp in the summer, a ham radio course organised by your local club or remote studying under supervision of an experienced teacher will give you quick results for your studies. You will receive an own call sign and an official license to be engaged in Amateur Radio. Please feel free to get in touch when your interest in Amateur Radio has kindled – I and many other hams are ready to help you to reach your goal!

Full version of the extra issue of RADIOAMATÖÖRI Journal is now available for Download (10MB)