By theDoc, on December 13th, 2007%
Ofcom has issued a statement setting out what it describes as one of the most important decisions we have ever made: how to award the spectrum freed up by digital switchover, the digital dividend, for new users. The decision matters because the spectrum to be freed up is exceptional in that it can readily be used to provide high bandwidth services over long distances and into buildings, and because the opportunity to put this spectrum to new use does not arise often.
Ofcom favours a market led, service and technology neutral approach, arguing that giving spectrum to one use will tend to reduce flexibility and blunt incentives. The one exception to this market led approach is programme making and special events (PMSE) which already uses interleaved spectrum on a large scale. This is an extremely diverse community, and Ofcom considers that it would not be able to take part effectively in an auction. They will therefore award a package of interleaved spectrum to meet PMSE users needs.
Licence exempt use of interleaved spectrum will be allowed for Continue reading Digital Dividend Review statement
By theDoc, on December 5th, 2007%
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
By theDoc, on December 5th, 2007%
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
By theDoc, on November 23rd, 2007%
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
By theDoc, on November 15th, 2007%
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
By theDoc, on November 6th, 2007%
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)
