The FCC Interference Handbook now is available on the Internet. The 22 page booklet, available from the Compliance and Information Bureau via the FCC World Wide Web home page, includes the same information and illustrations contained in the recently published Interference to Home Electronic Entertainment Equipment Handbook. It includes information about equipment installation, identifying interference sources, curing interference problems, and filters. It also contains a list of home electronic equipment manufacturers and telephone numbers. Pictures illustrate different TV interference problems, including ham or CB transmitter interference. The Interference Handbook is available on the World Wide Web.
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FCC vanity call sign application Form 610V is now available, but the FCC is not yet accepting completed forms for filing.
In response to requests by radio amateurs, the ARRL has mailed 9000 copies of the form. If you requested one from the ARRL and do not receive it by December 16, call 860-594-0300.
The FCC is expected to announce opening dates for the first vanity call sign filing gate in early 1996. You can obtain FCC Form 610V (along with FCC form 1070V and FCC vanity call sign information fact sheet PR 9000, number 206V) by writing ARRL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111. Please include an SASE.
Form 610V also is available from the FCC via the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form610V or ftp://ftp.fcc.gov/pub/Forms/Form610V, or by fax at 202-418-0177. Ask for Form 006108.
The FCC Forms Distribution Center will accept orders in about one month. Call 800-418-3676.
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Editor’s Note: The FCC is expected to announce opening dates for the first vanity call sign filing gate in early 1996. This will be delayed even further by the repeated government shutdowns.
German cosmonaut Thomas Reiter, DF4TR/DP0MIR, aboard the Mir orbital complex, reports that a power supply used for some of the spacecraft’s ham radio equipment failed on New Year’s Eve. The remaining, older power supply is only capable of powering the old ICOM 2-meter transceiver and one 1200-baud TNC. The digital voice module also has failed, so there will be no more automatic voice recordings in the near future.
Reiter reports all four fuses in the two connected transceivers have blown and only two spare fuses remain. Last month, Reiter used the digital voice recorder, built by Thomas Kieselbach, DL2MDE, to broadcast holiday messages. The primary transmitting frequency is 145.800 MHz.
Recently, the cosmonauts on Mir unpacked new Amateur Radio equipment delivered by rocket, including a 70-cm FM transceiver and 9600-baud packet gear.
Reiter was philosophical. ‘’Well, at least we can be reached and still can talk with the world,’’ he said in a message to Dave Larsen, N6JLH.
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