(From the ARRL) The FCC has issued a Citation and Order (Citation) to Amcrest Industries, LLC (formerly Foscam Digital Technologies, LLC), an importer and marketer of popular and inexpensive Baofeng handheld transceivers, alleging that the company violated FCC rules and the Communications Act by illegally marketing unauthorized RF devices. The FCC asserts that Amcrest marketed Baofeng model UV-5R-series FM handheld radios capable of transmitting on “restricted frequencies.” The Baofeng models UV-5R and UV-5R V2+ were granted an FCC equipment authorization in 2012 to operate under Part 90 Private Land Mobile Radio Service (Land Mobile) rules.
Removing old KPBS channel 15 analog slot antenna. Photo by Leon Messenie
KPBS-TV atop Mt. San Miguel tackled their antenna work last week as part of their TV spectrum repack project. They must move from UHF channel 30 to channel 19 while KSWB-TV moves from channel 19 to 26 and KNSD (TV) from 40 to 17. These full-power TV stations, all in Phase 2 of the FCC Broadcast Incentive Auction, must switch to the new channel alignment by April 12, 2019.
The FCC announced last week that all radio and television stations must file their Emergency Alert System Test Reporting System Form One before August 27, 2018. The only exceptions are translators and boosters that do not originate EAS alerts. You need to file for each EAS unit your station owns. The FCC ETRS portal is here.
The 70 cm band ham radio repeater atop Mt. Soledad and associated with SBE Chapter 36 was updated on June 30th by Chris Durso and Matt Anderson. The site, licensed as KI6KHB/F, assumed a new channel at 447.28- transmit, PL 91.5, NAC 858. We’re now on an omni-directional antenna. The previous directional antenna and line-of-sight reception of a co-channel repeater near Los Angeles limited the site’s utility. The station is capable of P25 mode digital and FM analog, and switches automatically in response to your signal.
Local broadcast engineers are encouraged to use the new repeater. We’ll have a remake of our local broadcast engineer net beginning Wednesday, July 11th at 7 PM.
Many thanks to Chris Durso, Matt Anderson, and host KGTV for making this repeater possible.
The FCC Granted KRSA-LP El Cajon on 101.1 MHz a license to cover their construction permit on June 20, 2018. The 19 watt non-directional station granted to La Maestra Family Clinic in San Diego was set to operate from Rattlesnake Mountain. However, the station apparently ran for just a day before leaving air. It’s not known when, where or if the station intends to operate full-time.
