From The Register, 3/1/17 by Shaun Nichols, original post here.  Via Stuart VK2FSTU.

Cofounder ejects over blacklist for bad reviews.

The developer of Ham Radio Deluxe – a popular app used by thousands of hams – has restructured its management following claims it punished users who wrote critical reviews.

HRD Software said in a statement on Friday that co-founder Rick Ruhl will step down to pursue other interests.  Ruhl, along with co-owners Mike Carper and Randy Gawtry, ran the radio software company after buying the rights to the code in 2011.

The reshuffle comes after HRD found itself under scrutiny after it remotely disabled copies of the software belonging to users who spoke out against the company on various amateur radio websites and forums.

“Ham Radio Deluxe software would have been abandoned in 2011 without Rick’s partnership,” said HRD co-owner Dr Michael Carper.

“Rick’s day-to-day leadership in running the business has contributed to the vitality and functionality of Ham Radio Deluxe.”

Ruhl was, essentially, blamed by customers for his organization’s poor handling of complaints and bad reviews.  After one user went public about how his copy was blackballed in revenge for posting a negative review, it was followed by further claims that HRD had similarly retaliated against others – and had maintained a “blacklist” of radio handles that had been blocked from using the software.

Though HRD at first pinned the balls-up on a rogue “contracted support employee,” Ruhl eventually accepted responsibility for the blackballing and said HRD Software would remove the blacklisting of the call signs.

“No one is going to be sued.  I made a serious mistake and error of judgement in this and many cases and I am truly sorry,” said Ruhl.  He had earlier left an angry message on one blacklisted person’s voicemail, threatening legal action for speaking out against his company.

“I apologize publicly…  I do have diabetes and sometimes this affects my judgement and it did in that voicemail.  I truly regret it.  I’m talking to my doctor about changing my medications so I won’t have any more low sugar.”

“[HRD’s cofounder] Randy, Mike and I are discussing my future with HRD.”

In addition to shifting Ruhl out of the company, HRD said it will be updating its end-user license agreement to “modernize and renew” its customer support policies.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 14 / 01 / 2017 
Author : WIA Board

The election of the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) Board of Directors by postal ballot will happen in March; the nomination of candidates closes with the Returning Officer on January 31. 

The nomination requirements are in the Wireless Institute of Australia Regulation Postal Ballot for the Election of Directors, that is on the WIA website via this Link and available on request.

That regulation sets out the formalities of nominations, and the conduct of the election by ballot that closes on the 27th of March. Official notification of the call for nominations was in the December edition of Amateur Radio magazine.

Nominations are sought from WIA members to be a Director of the company, the Wireless Institute of Australia.

This year all seven positions on the WIA Board are open.

If you consider your skills and experience can add to the requirements of being a voluntary director of a modern not-for-profit organisation, then please consider nominating.

The Returning Officer will send out candidate information and a ballot paper in March.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 14 / 01 / 2017 
Author : Phil Wait – VK2ASD

The Wireless Institute of Australia is reviewing the digital segment in its band plan for the 80 metre band and for several other HF bands where the Australian band plan does not correspond to the plans applying in other countries.  It is also making other proposals for the narrow 30 metre band, and wants your feedback.

Activity on a band can include various modes.  The best way of avoiding clashes is to set aside different band segments for each of these activities.  That is what the WIA does.  Apart from avoiding interference, band plans which are voluntary agreements, make it easier for us to find other radio amateurs with the same interests.

The WIA Technical Advisory Committee, led by John Martin VK3KM, reports that for many years our 80 metre band plan has included a digital segment at 3620 – 3640 kHz.  The original reason for adopting this segment was the licensing restrictions that applied at the time to Novice operators.  These restrictions no longer apply; so the band plan should be updated to bring it into line with accepted operating practices, which include a greater use of digital modes.

John VK3KM sets out a reasoned argument for that change on the WIA website and in the January/February edition on Amateur Radio magazine.  The proposal is to align our digimode segment with the rest of the world, by moving it to 3570 – 3600 kHz.  Please have a read of the article whether you use digital modes, CW or SSB; because it contains a proposed change to the 80 metre band plan.  It also includes proposed band plan changes for several other HF bands, to bring their digital mode segments into line with international practice.

Now turning our attention to 30 metres; there has been some discussion of interference problems that can occur on that narrow band.  This band is only 50 kHz wide, and most countries have restricted it to CW and narrow band digital modes.

Australia is a little different because the ACMA permits a mode if the spectrum of a particular band allows.  Again, John VK3KM discusses the matter, and with his depth of experience, proposes a band planning solution.

The Technical Advisory Committee wants your feedback on band planning on the HF bands, from both WIA members and the Amateur Radio community generally.  Your ideas have equal weight whether you are a WIA member or not.  Please read the article, and any thoughts or comments you have would be appreciated.

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 12 / 01 / 2017 
Author : WIA Board

Some WIA members noting accusations and criticisms on social media and elsewhere, have sought a response from the WIA Board to those claims.

In answer to the WIA membership, the WIA Board has issued a series of Fact Sheets to give all WIA members the relevant facts and explanations.

[Content below is from the webpage linked to from the WIA news post – Paul, VK2ICQ]

Why this is necessary?

Some WIA members have noted accusations and criticisms on social media and elsewhere, and asked that the WIA Board make detailed responses to these issues.  The Board has decided to produce this series of Fact Sheets to address the various issues raised.

In the Board’s view, many issues are either exaggerated, misrepresented, or without foundation.  Some statements are totally inaccurate.  When reiterated in the echo-chambers of social media, such misinformation tends to be taken as “fact”.

This unprecedented action has become necessary to ensure that all WIA members have the relevant facts and explanations.

The WIA continues to be an effective advocate for Amateur Radio, and is in the process of developing strategies to address the current and future needs of the hobby.  It is essential that radio amateurs continue to support the hobby by joining or renewing your membership to ensure a strong and effective WIA.  That is not to say that there isn’t room for improvement..  A primary function of the Board of any company is to periodically review its services and operations with a view to positive improvement.  The digital edition of Amateur Radio magazine is an example.  Restructuring of the National Office to improve customer service was driven by this principle.  Other positive innovations are in progress: the STEM initiative, the Volunteer Charter, and others to follow.

The following Fact Sheets are not all of the issues that some have raised, and more may be added later:

Fact Sheet – Foundation Licence Manual into profit

Fact Sheet – Claims WIA in trouble with ASIC and ACMA without foundation

Fact Sheet – WIA licence assessment system complies

Fact Sheet – WIA Directors undergo training

Fact Sheet – The WIA Club Insurance Scheme

From the WIA, original post here.

Date : 08 / 01 / 2017 
Author : Roger Harrison – VK2ZRH

The latest Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan – ARSP 2017 – was published on the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) website on 3 January 2017.  It was registered by the ACMA on 20 December 2016 and came into effect the next day, with a commencement date of 1 January 2017.

Only minimal changes have been made to the previous Spectrum Plan, principally those arising from the outcomes of the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference – WRC-15.  Most of the updates involve changes to Footnotes relating to specific allocations, while relatively few comprise changes to allocations.

Of chief interest to Australian amateurs is the addition of the allocation of a 15 kHz band for the Amateur Service at 5351.5-5366.5 kHz, now widely known as the 60 metre band.  This was approved at WRC-15 as a word-wide Amateur band.  The WRC set different maximum radiated power specifications applying in different regions and countries, ranging from 15 watts effective isotropic radiated power (eirp) to 25 W eirp.  Specifying ‘eirp’ takes account of the efficiency of different antenna systems, which can be rather inefficient at these frequencies.  In Australia, Footnote 133B in the Spectrum Plan specifies 15 W eirp.  The only other update to the Spectrum Plan of interest to amateurs is the addition of Radiolocation as a primary service in the 77.5-78 GHz band.  The Amateur and Amateur-satellite services are also primary in this band.  The new primary service is limited to short-range radar for ground-based applications, including automotive radar, according to the updated Footnote, no. 559B.  Sharing studies conducted for the ITU over recent years demonstrated that the two services could reasonably co-exist as primary allocations.

The purpose of the Spectrum Plan is to guide the ACMA in making decisions on the use of radiofrequency spectrum.  The key feature of the ARSP is its Table of Frequency Allocations from 8.3 kHz to 420 terahertz (THz) that divides-up the spectrum to show the general purpose of each band, to which services the bands are allocated, and associated footnotes relevant to particular allocations.  The ACMA updates the ARSP following each WRC, which are held about every three years. Continue reading →