Icom UK Blog

Icom Announces D-STAR QSO Party 2013 Information May 17, 2013

Icom has announced information for the 2013 D-STAR QSO Party, an annual contest that promotes the amateur (ham) radio hobby around the world through D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio.)

This year’s global event will take place over three days starting Friday, September 20 (00:00 UTC) to Sunday, September 22 (24:00 UTC). Official rules and party details for the D-STAR QSO Party 2013 will be available at a later date and posted to to the Icom Inc. D-STAR QSO Party microsite.

For more information about D-STAR please visit our microsite http://www.d-staruk.co.uk/

Icom UK Marketing: marketing@icomuk.co.uk

Radio Society of Great Britain Centenary Day May 16, 2013

2013 marks the Centenary of the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) the 20,000 strong body that represents Britain’s radio amateurs. The RSGB is pleased to announce that its Patron, HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KT will be joining the Society for Centenary Day at the National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park on 5 July 2013. He will meet with Members and invited guests before unveiling a plaque to commemorate the Centenary.

A number of activities, talks and displays are planned in which RSGB Members and members of the public can take part during the day.

Background
Starting life as the London Wireless Club in 1913, the RSGB has since its inception brought together people with an interest in radio communication. The Society provided the framework within which the pioneers and experimenters of radio technology have thrived.

RSGB members have been at the forefront of many of the major contributions made to radio technology. For example, the development of Radio intelligence, television, radar development, re-designing the Iron lung and the discovery of Pulsars all involved radio amateurs. The influence of amateurs across science, technology, medicine and the communications industry has been huge.

One hundred years later, the RSGB still provides a platform for the exchange of ideas amongst experimenters and, although the technologies may have changed, the amateur spirit has not. With this background the many thousands of radio amateurs in the UK are proud to celebrate the Centenary of their organisation, the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB).

The Future
Whilst Centenary celebrations are a time to reflect on our past achievements, there can be no question of “resting on our laurels”. Amateur radio today is as relevant and vibrant as it has ever been and the RSGB takes very seriously its responsibility to work with partners around the world in providing leadership to safeguard and develop amateur radio over the next 100 years.

Worldwide
There are around 4 million amateur radio callsigns worldwide, with 78,000 on issue in the UK. Radio amateurs around the world are required to pass an examination before gaining their licence. There is an international body governing amateur radio called the International Amateur Radio Union. The RSGB is a founder member of the IARU, which was formed in 1925.

Congratulations
The Icom family offers its congratulations to the Radio Society of Great Britain reaching 100 years in representing the interests of the Amateur Radio Community in the Great Britain.

This wonderful achievement would not have been reached without the outstanding commitment of so many volunteers who have worked tirelessly for the RSGB over the past 100 years.

Further details from Elaine Richards : elaine.richards@rsgb.org.uk
Icom UK Marketing marketing@icomuk.co.uk

Icom UK at the RSGB Amateur Radio Convention 2012 October 11, 2012

Icom UK Ltd will again be attending the RSGB HF Convention and showcasing its very latest range of Amateur radio and D-STAR equipment.

The IC-7100, an exciting, innovative multiband transceiver was unveiled recently at the Tokyo Ham Fair. Icom UK are hoping to have the first one in Europe at this show!! The IC-7100 offers many exciting features including touch screen control and a first for an Icom rig…the addition of the 70 MHz band. To maintain its commitment to D-STAR, all versions of the IC-7100 will come with standard D-STAR DV mode.

Following the D-STAR theme, Icom UK plan to show a prototype of a new D-STAR handheld radio. The ID-51A/E D-STAR handheld radio is a dualband, an evolution of Icom’s popular ID-31A/E UHF D-STAR Handheld. It will be capable of both VV / UU 144MHz + 430MHz dual band operation. The ID-51A/E will also include the much praised menu-driven user interface of the ID-31A/E series with a much bigger LCD screen. The ID-51A/E will also feature integrated GPS & D-STAR as well as IPx7 waterproofing, SD-Card slot and slim body as found on the ID-31A/E.

The RSGB convention takes place at Horwood House near Milton Keynes for three days between 12-14 October 2012 and will include many lectures on subjects such as HF, DX and contesting.

A full range of UK exams will be available over the weekend as well as the chance to get tickets to the world famous RSGB raffle.

Our team looks forward to meeting you there!

Icom UK Marketing: marketing@icomuk.co.uk