CE marking now (phasing out ?) to become Radio Equipment Directive (RE-D) what happens in UK ?

Wow, I kind of assumed that the internet had made amateur radio obsolete.  Do you still use the 2m band?

Hi Rob, 


Yes 2m is still there, just about. 


There is still a love of RF out there, although it is harder to capture the interest of the younger age group, but that said if your interest is in radio and signal processing, producing the RF then the internet doesn’t always cut it, the sense of achievement when you have gotten a signal from your back yard to somewhere else in the world without the use of fixed infrastructure, you can’t get by using teams.

that said I’m a firm believer that there is a place for the internet in the hobby, and it should be be used to its full potential.

Hi Paul, 


Yes I think that you are right in the fact that CE will be down to change through local certification, even if it is at a wording level. However I think initially we will see very little change other that the regulation or certification number. Over time I think we will see a pull away from the CE regulation for something more suitable to the UK’s own specific needs. 

Again as you say, the problem then sits with who will be responsible for the changes to the regulations and certification, this is where I can see a grey area, you have on one hand the supply of the ‘blue book’ which will need to be produced by a technical body such as the IET, but this will also require input from the BSI much the same as the BS7671, but as specifically with EMC issues and RF interference you will then need input by Ofcom, who would also be required to police and issues, you could then question if it wasn’t the responsibility of Customs to monitor imported goods. 

In all honesty I personally can see changes made to the current regulations to benefit the country’s requirements, but in reality I do question if it will make any difference to the real world living. As specific problems like this cause a very big problem for a very small number, and those that are oblivious to is effects will still only look at the price of the equipment, and unless it is removed from the market this will not stop. 


on another note, yes I am active on air but not as much as I would like but will look you up when I get chance and see it we can get a contact. 


Matt 

73’s M1CID

Ooh Rob,  you don't want to rouse the radio Hams, we are like the Mafia, you may not realise who we are...


There are a modest number of hams doing really clever stuff with digital modulation and digital TV  so on, and in other places internet control gateways for real radios in remote locations with low background noise.  There are amateur funded satellites we can use, as well as competitions for direction finding and "fox hunting"  for the more athletic.... Or for some folk, an excuse to natter.


The internet and radio are not really in competition - even in the old days if you just wanted reliable communications, there was always the post - the radio  thing is the technical challenge, and for me the fact you can park  up in a field, and using the power of the car battery, and an antenna you can put up in an hour you can talk to folk around the world, picking your time and frequency accordingly, with no dependancy on national networks of base stations, telecommunication links, power stations etc,


Mostly it is just fun and educational, occasionally it is useful , and rarely it actually saves lives,


Friends all over the world, but none round here, as Tony Hancock would have said...


73 de G7VZY.

Yep we're everywhere!


It was amateur radio that led me away from a career in Geology to one in Avionics and eventually IT.


It's never been easier in fact to become a licenced Radio Amateur, especially with the tiered licence system and is helping many young people get in to the hobby and retain an interest. It was quite a challenge as a youngster to study the C&G syllabus and then pass the Maritime Agency morse exam for the full licence.

Andy GM0BZS (ex G6BYP and ZR1HF)

You still have to learn Morse?

Hi Rob,


Only if you want too now, it’s no longer a requirement for the licence. You just have to know what it is.