[continued from previous message]   
      
   radio equipment being manufactured in Asian countries.   
      
   Given the wildly fluctuating statements the US President-elect has   
   made, ranging from 20% to 100%, import tariffs will undoubtedly make   
   millions of products go up in cost to the American consumer and   
   Amateur Radio will be no exception.   
      
   Bart Jahnke, W 9 JJ, ARRL Director of Regulatory Affairs, has stated   
   that "All manufacturing brands will be affected and the long list of   
   items includes much more than radios, it will touch things like   
   Raspberry Pi computers and Hot Spots.   
      
   Expected big winners will be Canadian retailers along border states,   
   US Hams are expected to just drive up North to such places as Toronto   
   and buy gear there, thus avoiding the import tariff that Trump says   
   he will impose.  Jahnke said.   
      
   Actually I'd take that story with a grain of salt, sourced to the   
   online ham news service "The Dipole" out of Canada, a satirical blog at   
   best. HiHi.   
      
   The FCC has intensified its focus on the 5.9 GHz band where new rules   
   are being finalized for the use of cellular delivery of communications   
   to and from cars and trucks on the road.   
      
   Intelligent Transportation Systems, or ITS, scored a big gain late   
   November as the FCC voted on a proposal enabling the use of   
   "cellular vehicle-to-everything" or C-V2X, on the 5.9 GHz band.   
   This would establish new rules for the use of ITS within 30 MHz of that   
   spectrum.   
      
   The system is already in use by many automakers, sending and receiving   
   messages over existing 5G cellular networks with alerts about traffic   
   issues, weather conditions, road hazards or speeding cars.   
      
   The FCC measure also sets out the technical parameters for the use of   
   C-V2X, including power and emission limits. The system permits vehicles   
   to communicate with roadside infrastructure and the cell phones of   
   pedestrians, cyclists and road workers, enabling safety communications   
   even when there are no line-of-sight warnings.   
      
   In the heart of the Amazon, amidst the dense foliage and the symphony   
   of nature's whispers, a silent revolution unfoldsone that transcends   
   borders, defies regulations, and challenges the very essence of   
   communication.   
      
   At the centre of this enigma lies the tale of the South American   
   satellite pirates, a clandestine network of individuals who have   
   ingeniously tapped into retired UHF MilSat bands to extend their   
   radio range deep into the heart of the rainforest.   
      
   vapor95.com say for decades, Brazilian loggers have employed 2m radios   
   modified with frequency doublers and directional antennas, turning the   
   once-secret communication channels of the U.S. Navy Satcom uplink   
   frequencies (280-310MHz) into conduits for their own purposes.   
      
   Dubbed "Bolinha" or "little ball" by its users, the FLTSATCOM geo-sync   
   satellites, once a pinnacle of military communication prowess, now find   
   themselves unwitting accomplices in this subversive endeavour.   
      
   What began as a means for Brazilian loggers to enhance their radio   
   range has evolved into a phenomenon that spans the breadth of Brazilian   
   society. Truck drivers, seeking superior communication capabilities in   
   remote regions beyond the reach of traditional infrastructure, flock to   
   these satellites. Rogue loggers, wary of authorities encroaching on   
   their illicit activities, deploy them as covert communication channels   
   to evade detection. Drug dealers, organized crime factions, and   
   ordinary citizens alike have found utility in this illicit network,   
   transforming it into an integral part of the Brazilian communication   
   landscape.   
      
   tinyurl.com/4sz6596n   
      
   820 WNYC(AM) plans to conduct an all-digital MA3 test of AM HD Radio   
   TODAY, December 8.   
      
   On the day of the test, New Yorks Public Radio's engineering team   
   plan to drive around New York Citys perimeter in what is described   
   as a corkscrew route. They will assess the digital signals   
   performance in the outer boroughs of the city and then turn inward to   
   areas like downtown Brooklyn, Manhattans Wall Street and   
   Lower Broadway.  The trip will conclude by going directly north   
   through midtown.   
      
   Representatives from the HD Radio developer will provide a vehicle   
   and equipment to measure and record observations during the test.   
      
   820 WNYC runs 10 kW directional daytime and 1 kW directional at night.   
   Under the test, WNYC will turn OFF its analogue transmitter and run the   
   IBOC digital standard exclusively.   
   Due to an ongoing Canada Post strike, mail services have been disrupted   
   nationwide, delaying the delivery of letters, packages, magazines and   
   other materials to and from Radio Amateurs of Canada.   
   Delay in delivery of The Canadian Amateur (TCA) magazine is but one   
   service effected.   
      
   In a recent episode of This Week in Tech, the panel explored what is   
   being called the worst hack in US history  China's "Salt Typhoon."   
      
   twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech/episodes/1007?autostart=false   
      
   This massive cyber espionage campaign has compromised US   
   telecommunications infrastructure, leaving officials increasingly   
   concerned about the far-reaching implications for national security.   
      
   The "Salt Typhoon" hack, first reported in October, has been ongoing   
   for months, with some instances dating back a full year. Chinese   
   hackers have exploited vulnerabilities in the outdated US telecom   
   system, gaining access to the communications of high-profile   
   individuals, including those in politics, intelligence, and   
   law enforcement.   
      
   During the discussion, the panel highlighted the challenges of securing   
   aging infrastructure against sophisticated cyber threats. They noted   
   that the US telecom system is built on a patchwork of older   
   technologies, making it difficult to implement modern cybersecurity   
   measures.   
      
   This has left the nation vulnerable to attacks like "Salt Typhoon,"   
   which has allowed Chinese hackers to surveil targeted individuals with   
   ease.   
   -------------------------------------------------------------------   
   OPERATIONAL NEWS - A FELIX VK4FUQ PRESENTATION   
      
   --------------   
   --------------   
   NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024   
   --------------   
   --------------   
      
   RSGB HF CONTEST CHANGES.   
   Not only as we have previously noted are there changes to the popular   
   Commonwealth Contest where one change is you are encouraged to use   
   CC rather than BERU when calling, but changes also in their   
   FT4 series contests where there will be 12 (one per month) run,   
   with the best nine results contributing to each entrants final score   
   for the year.   
      
   Other changes are in the 1.8MHz Contests   
   along with Self-spotting   
      
   Self-spotting will be permitted on a trial basis in 2025, for both   
   assisted and unassisted entrants in all RSGB HF Contests and using   
   all modes.   
      
   I suggest if you do participate in RSGB contests to visit rsgb.org and   
   brush up on the 2025 rules of engagement.   
      
   tinyurl.com/2tm4tdbf   
      
   (rsgb)   
   SOUTH AFRICA   
      
   Still looking at changes in world-wide activity although the SARL has   
   five VHF/UHF operating trophies they have but ONE HF operating trophy.   
   At their Council meeting on 22 and 23 November, it was decided to add   
   TWO new HF operating awards - Council is now busy finalising the   
   criteria for these awards.   
      
   (sarl)   
   -------------------   
      
   ARRL 160 METER CW ON NOW   
      
   It is ALWAYS the first full weekend of December.   
      
   Beginning 2200 UTC Friday, ending 1559 UTC Sunday.   
      
   This is a forty-two hour period with no time limitation.   
      
   Logs MUST be returned within seven days   
      
   (arrl)   
      
   ------------------------   
      
   10 METER ARRL CONTEST   
      
   For Amateurs worldwide to exchange QSO information with as many   
   stations as possible on the 10 meter band.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)