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Hams are fond of shortwave because it allows people to communicate around the globe (not only line-of-sight).

BPL would actually cost more to implement, have a lower speed, royally screw up 1.7-80 MHz (AM radio, shortwave, amateur, police/fire/disaster communication networks, and the bottom of the FM broadcast band) and overall be little better than dialup. Besides, BPL is a Part 15 service- and with (effectively) huge antennas all over the neighborhood, you'd be interfered with on a massive scale. See: http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/bpl-deployme nt.html

You're talking rubbish. If your boat is US registered they certainly can and do regulate your use of spectrum in International Waters.

http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/io/ma ritime.html

Well if you're US registered, they still have a hold of you in International Waters.

http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/io/ma ritime.html

They haven't solved the horrible interference problems caused by BPL yet, have they?

Everyone always blames the HAMs for trying to block BPL from coming, but even if the infastructure is built, the interference from HAMs, CB, and HF Police could make parts of the system dead anyway.

On top of that, it has been shown that BPL is messed up by radio transmitters (to the point where its unusable), and because radio operators have rights to that part of the spectrum, and BPL bleeds over, that interference is not going anywhere.

Ignorant and arrogant, just what I have come to expect from people who irrationally hate amateur radio for no real reason and are uninformed enough to understand the first thing about BPL other than what marketing drones have told them.

(1) The Amercian Radio Relay League (primary amateur radio group) supports this. http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2005/08/01/1/

(2) There has been SIGNIFICANT proof in almost every BPL trial that it corrupts the HF space. Thus the complaints registered to the FCC by the military, air traffic people, civil air patrol, coast guard, and amateur radio operators. The ham guys just happen to be the loudest on the net, the others carry much more weight and they don't like it either. Many BPL trials have failed for this reason.

we think that BPL is more important than HAM radio.

Yes, ignorant people who are mislead into thinking that BPL will somehow provide inexpensive broadband (it will not, it has proven to be more expensive than cable and dsl) to rural areas (again, harder to do than cable and dsl). Suprisingly, these people are not interested in technical arguments about frequencies and RF radiation becasue they don't understand the concepts.

So to recap, (1) Motorola's BPL technology mostly solves the technical problems that just about ALL HF spectrum operators have complained about, and has the support of amateur radio, and (2) it is still broadband "fools gold", but there are plenty of fools out there.

Finkployd

The Motorola BPL system, the Powerline LV Solution, entirely avoids transmitting data over medium-voltage (MV) lines (the ones commonly seen along roads). It uses the Motorola Canopy wireless system for this link. The Powerline LV Solution only sends data over the neighborhood low-voltage (LV) lines, after the transformer, using HomePlug. This greatly reduces the potential for interference. Further, the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL), the organization of amateur radio operators in the U.S., was consulted during its development, had its interference issues addressed, and supports the Motorola Powerline LV Solution.

The Motorola BPL system, the Powerline LV Solution, entirely avoids transmitting data over medium-voltage (MV) lines (the ones commonly seen along roads). It uses the Motorola Canopy wireless system for this link. The Powerline LV Solution only sends data over the neighborhood low-voltage (LV) lines, after the transformer, using HomePlug. This greatly reduces the potential for interference. Further, the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL), the organization of amateur radio operators in the U.S., was consulted during its development, had its interference issues addressed, and supports the Motorola Powerline LV Solution.

I also listened to the shuttle mission live on my VX2R handheld (about the size of an iPod), courtesy of NA6MF, the NASA Ames amateur radio club retransmitting their internal audio feed on 145.585 MHz.

And just for funsies, I made a sample PodCast RSS of W1AW Morse code practice.

So, go check out QRZ.com for the Technician (no morse code required) test

Alright, how high do I have to score? I got a 60% on the practice test, and that apparently wasn't high enough.

Then, assuming I read up on a few things, and can get a passing score, all I have to do is go to one of the places listed at http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml?State =FL , give them $14, and take the test? I guess that isn't too bad. Not sure how useful it'll be, though, especially since I live in an apartment and can't access the roof.

"--and hopefully IP over power lines and WiMax down the road."

We definitely don't want IP over power lines. It's a major source of RFI (radio frequency interference) in the short wave (HF & VHF) bands. Emergency and other licensed radio services may be impaired by the spectrum pollution caused by BPL.

Because it's a VHF satellite, and on the Earth, VHF communications are limited to line of sight, and a couple of hundred miles is considered DX (a long-distance communication) for VHF, usually only possible with a) tropospheric ducting (weird form of radio propagation where temperature inversions bend radio waves) 2) bouncing the signal off a meteor trail (woo, ionization!) or 3) using a satellite... or a really tall directional antenna which can peek over the curvature of the Earth. What you're thinking of of routine conversations between Pensacola and Kew West are HF communications which operate at a different frequency and get around the line-of-sight problem by bouncing off ionized layers of atmosphere, specifially the ionosphere, which VHF signals go right through. So.. different communications band, different technical challenge, plus... it's SPACE! If you can talk to this satellite, you can also talk to the astronauts aboard the ISS who are quite often hams themselves http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/arissfaq.html

And note that
Eileen Collins KD5EDS, Charles Camarda KC5ZSY, James Kelley KC5ZSW, Wendy Lawrence KC5KII, Soichi Noguchi KD5TVP, and Andrew Thomas KD5CHF are all licensed amateur radio operators.

How about this:

If one is already an amateur radio operator, then a pringles wave guide is simply another antenna in the collection of other home made antennas. Could be used for work on 2300-2310 and 2390-2450 MHz alocated to amateur radio. See band plan here:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/bandp lan.html

Absolutely not!! There's a bunch of different modes you can use - - morse code (classic) - voice (at least four different voice modes: LSB, USB, AM, and FM) - 10295812059182059 different digital modes lotsa more stuff Check out http://www.arrl.org/ for more info =)

Will they go after copies of the ARRL Handbook next?

I don't think the FCC is ready for it. There has been a lot of talk about restructuring already, some even by the ARRL, but it never seems to make it the way the amateur community intended. Have a look at http://www.arrl.org/news/restructuring2/restrux2-p etition.pdf. It says a lot of the same words I do, and the intent is the same as my view. In fact, it is much more liberal with the entry level license than what I propose. The FCC addressed it in this new NPRM and denied keeping the code requirement for Extra class. Their discussion of the restructuring indicated that they felt comfortable with what now exists, that they simply want to eliminate Morse code because it is no longer required by ITU and they have no good arguments, in their opinion, to keep it.

If we take a look at the ARRL petition, I believe the difference between what the ARRL proposed and my opinion is that I propose eliminating Citizen Band and making it part of the Amateur Radio service, that we introduce endorsements that may carry incremental privilege gains, and that emergency operations and homeland security become a focus path to satisfy the service intent that underlies amateur radio. Clearly, the FCC does not want to get involved with the community service aspect, but stays focused on "advancement of the radio art," a phrase that is used several times in the NPRM. Also, I feel comfortable in saying that the FCC would prefer certificates issued by organizations such as the ARRL instead of endorsements and remain a regulatory and rule making body.

I exceptionally doubt that they would agree to the introduction of a new class and band. I also think they would not like the idea of endorsements. However, it wouldn't hurt for me to write a petition for rule making, and may do so even if I do feel that the probability of success would be very low. I will be addressing the NPRM in the mean time, specifically regarding the license class restructuring.

WB2GBF

Which specific emission type are you thinking you're not allowed to use?

There's specific rules about certain types, but I think you're wrong that you can't use others.

Give the emission type identifier of this mystery emission type you claim you can't transmit, please.

FCC 97.309 clearly states that digital modes not listed in that section of Part 97 may be used as long as there is no overriding agreement signed with a foreign country to not use it to talk to them, and the only requirement is that you log your digital contacts and make the protocol public. Very GPL'ish, almost.

In addition, no encryption or other means of obscuring the message may be used. As long as your protocol is published somewhere, and not employing encryption, you're fine.

Federal, legislative support of NASA is refreshing given the saddening decline over the past decade. What I, however, would most like to see, is a collaborative effort between NASA and the fledgeling private sector space initiatives. Scaled Composities of X-Prize fame has some wonderful, far-sighted ideas. A collaborative effort might truly be the impetus for progress.

On another note, who here feels that there is a place for community-based, (OSS??) space projects? Precedent shows that grassroots efforts can and do work.

I am truly interested: what do slashdotters think?

Anyone who wants to can get a radio

Yes, but in the amateur bands, they'll get caught.

"Written examinations? Nobody has to type the Morse anymore? Anyone here who got his license recently care to shed some light on this one?"

If you consider five years ago 'recent,' that's when I upgraded to Extra class after 22 years of being a Tech class licensee. I would be happy to comment.

The Morse code requirements have been fading for some time. At one point, you needed to be able to send/receive at 13WPM to get a General or Advanced class license (the Advanced no longer exists), and 20WPM to get an Extra class.

The FCC eventually dropped the speed requirement to 5WPM (that originally required to get a Novice or Tech class license), so all those who had originally taken the 5WPM Morse Code element (I had, back in 1977, when I was first licensed) were eligible to upgrade simply by passing the higher-level written exam.

I had, as you might imagine, gained quite a bit of experience with electronics and radio after 22 years of being a hamateur, and fixing commercial 2-way radios, so taking the Extra-class exam was the next logical step for me. It's just that I never liked communicating via Morse, so I never practiced it beyond one on-air contact.

The written exams I keep referring to are multiple-choice 50 or 100-question exams which cover basic electronics and radio theory, operating practices, and FCC regs as they pertain to the amateur radio service. They get progressively more difficult as you go up the ladder of the various license levels, making greater knowledge and experience in the radio field a requirement as you try to advance through General to Extra.

Amateur radio is, I think, a fun hobby, despite the naysayers. It is especially useful during natural disasters, as I found out directly during the Bay Area's 'Quake of 89,' the East Bay Hills firestorm of 1991, and the Nisqually earthquake in Washington in 2001.

If you're interested, now that the Morse requirement is close to being eliminated, you should check in with whatever ham radio club(s) are local to you for license classes. You can find such clubs in your area by searching at this link.

You can find further information on amateur radio, and how to get your license, from this link (RealPlayer or similar required).

Keep the peace(es).

The written

"Written examinations? Nobody has to type the Morse anymore? Anyone here who got his license recently care to shed some light on this one?"

If you consider five years ago 'recent,' that's when I upgraded to Extra class after 22 years of being a Tech class licensee. I would be happy to comment.

The Morse code requirements have been fading for some time. At one point, you needed to be able to send/receive at 13WPM to get a General or Advanced class license (the Advanced no longer exists), and 20WPM to get an Extra class.

The FCC eventually dropped the speed requirement to 5WPM (that originally required to get a Novice or Tech class license), so all those who had originally taken the 5WPM Morse Code element (I had, back in 1977, when I was first licensed) were eligible to upgrade simply by passing the higher-level written exam.

I had, as you might imagine, gained quite a bit of experience with electronics and radio after 22 years of being a hamateur, and fixing commercial 2-way radios, so taking the Extra-class exam was the next logical step for me. It's just that I never liked communicating via Morse, so I never practiced it beyond one on-air contact.

The written exams I keep referring to are multiple-choice 50 or 100-question exams which cover basic electronics and radio theory, operating practices, and FCC regs as they pertain to the amateur radio service. They get progressively more difficult as you go up the ladder of the various license levels, making greater knowledge and experience in the radio field a requirement as you try to advance through General to Extra.

Amateur radio is, I think, a fun hobby, despite the naysayers. It is especially useful during natural disasters, as I found out directly during the Bay Area's 'Quake of 89,' the East Bay Hills firestorm of 1991, and the Nisqually earthquake in Washington in 2001.

If you're interested, now that the Morse requirement is close to being eliminated, you should check in with whatever ham radio club(s) are local to you for license classes. You can find such clubs in your area by searching at this link.

You can find further information on amateur radio, and how to get your license, from this link (RealPlayer or similar required).

Keep the peace(es).

The written

I'm a general class, and actually making most contacts now via CW, PSK31, and Hellschrieber (check out THAT mode for a bit of history).

It turns out the jammers and freaks on HF and VHF present a representative sample of both old and new licensees (with more freaks on VHF just because there are so many more VHF-only licensees). Dropping the code to 5 WPM hasn't made one bit of difference one way of the other. Plenty of these jerks are advanced and extra class.

The real controversies that are worth fighting for because they will really make a difference are regulation by bandwidth (http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/07/19/3/?nc =1) and getting rid of BPL.

-Wiley KF6IIU

The hams were most likely in complete compliance with FCC regulations. The fault is in your appliances that were poorly designed so as to be susceptible to external interference. Most hams are more than willing to work with interference complaints and help you install proper filters on your equipment. See the ARRL information about interference here .

This is also one of the reason that I use code in conjunction with low power so as to avoid this sort of problem. The other reason is that it's so much fun.

I am in agreement with the other poster who proposed that the code requirement be lifted except for the Extra class license. That way the majority of licensees would have HF (Shortwave) privileges without having to learn code.

Is there much point, all in all, in going for the higher level licenses, or should I just stick with the low-band entry level ones?

That all depends on what you plan to do on the air. If you're interested in mostly local communication with other hams in the area on VHF/UHF frequencies, the Technician license will allow you to do that. The local repeaters (and non-repeater simplex channels) are also most commonly used for local emergency communications, since most emergencies are of a local nature (severe weather is the most common). As a Technician you'd have no privileges on frequencies below 50 MHz unless you passed the code test, while it's still in effect, but even then you'd have limited privileges (mostly CW) on a few bands. You could still take part in HF emergency communications as a member of a team that had other operators with higher-class licenses as long as they are the control operators.

The Technician exam isn't difficult. You can learn all you need to know to pass the exam from books and other learning aids, or by taking classes from a local club. You can even take practice tests online using the actual FCC question pool.

The General Class license would give you at least some frequency privileges on every amateur band, including the MF and HF spectrum (ten frequency bands ranging from 1.8-29.7 MHz), where worldwide communication is commonplace. You could use voice, Morse Code, image (slow-scan television), data (PSK31, radioteletype, etc) and newer modes like digital voice. But as was mentioned earlier, most of the choice DX (stations in rare foreign countries) is found in the band segments reserved for Extra Class operators only. And a lot of hams in those countries are nowhere nearly as well-off as most of us are in the US, so their stations tend to be limited in capability and many only operate CW, so there's where knowing the code comes in handy. As an Extra, you don't have to remember which frequencies you can and can't use. And if you're interested in the thrilling aspect of radio known as "contesting", an Extra Class license is desirable.

Go for the Technician license as a starting point. Then, join a club (or just meet other local hams on the air) and get a taste of other areas of the hobby you'd like to explore. The club members can probably help you learn what you need to know to upgrade. 73 es hpe CU on the air soon!

"they should not automatically upgrade techs to generals"

They're not - http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/07/20/100/?n c=1

See this webpage: it explains the restructuring of the license classes back in 2000, and the options to upgrade:

http://www.arrl.org/news/restructuring/faq.html

The nice thing about ham is it's long range with little power and equipment requirements. In the event of a real emergency, it's nice to know that there are some extraordinary geeks with the ability to communicate quickly and clearly. In an emergency, things don't always work correctly. Microphones get lost or broken. Injuries result in a loss of the ability to speak. Who knows what might go wrong? Particularly due to the fact that Morse Code operators beat out the most popular method of handheld text-based communcation (short of e-mail or IM, anyway), I think this skill is highly undervalued. Personally, I like the idea of a bunch of knowledgable nerds out there, who can communicate almost as fast (or faster) with only pulses of noise than most of us could communicate with a microphone.

"On the other hand, maybe with the development of the digital technologies, the analog radio technology potential members are just not bothering looking into it."

Ya think?

I do a bunch of radio-related research, and hold a Novice license. I have easily passed the technical portion of Tech Plus and General practice tests. However, I haven't the time to devote to learning Morse, and I haven't the slightest inclination to memorize a bunch of frequency bands that are readily available in tabular form. As a result, I must rely on my colleagues with more time and energy for key portions of my work. This is a pain for them, and accomplishes nothing positive for society as far as I can see.

I also can't use reasonable (digital) modulation schemes in any amateur band. Sending high-speed data would be really nice, and sending voice as digital data is way more spectrum-efficient than any allowed analog modulation method, but no...

By all means, let's get rid of the Morse requirement, and change the test to cover more meaningful material. Let's make room for reasonable digital amateur transmissions. Either that, or give the valuable and currently mostly-dead amateur bands to someone who will make more sensible use of them.

I believe that the Morse Code should not be a requirement just to to operate on the HF bands. At one time it made sense, but with today's digital encoding methods, you can have reliable low bandwidth communication on the HF band. Even the ARRL plans to file a petition with the FCC seeking the regulation of amateur subbands by bandwidth rather than by mode of emission. http://www.arrl.org/announce/bandwidth.html

And for all you old timer hams, eliminating element 1 as a requirement for General and Extra Classes does not mean that they are abolishing Morse code. It will still probably be used for decades to come, it just will not be a requirement for those who just want to do SSB or digital contacts.

76 KH2YF

It is here.

The FCC have *not* "been keeping an eye" on this at all; on the contrary they have been extremely reluctant to take action against the existing BPL schemes even though they are knowingly and actually interfering with licensed radio users.

Have a look here for some information on the effects to radio amateurs:

http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/aud-vid.html

Bear in mind it's not just hams, but also the aviation industry, public safety, the military, and thousands of other licensed HF spectrum users who have now been deemed less important than the political objective of widely available broadband.

"Your made a statement, but not a point. Did the Federal Government depend upon your HAM radio to get the word out about 9/11?"

Actually the answer is yes, HAM radio volunteers where one of the main line of communications after 9/11. They provided nearly 100% of the comunications for the Red Cross as well as a large chunk of traffic for the government.

Here is an article about what they did: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/WTC.pdf

Here is an article in which the state of New Jersey Thanks them: http://www.eham.net/articles/4572

There are many more articles like this out there.

-KI4HLW

"I see, so how is one going to practice this? Guess keep the equipment and the antennas up and invest 1000s of dollars into a hobby on the off chance that maybe you'll be able to help one day...but until that day it just sits there unused..."

Personally, I use my radios every day. When I'm in my home area, I use them to chat with other hams during my commute. When I'm in an unfamiliar area, especially Canada, having amateur radio handy has saved my arse more than once, especially when it comes to getting driving directions and traffic advisories from the locals.

I'm proud to say I've been active in ham radio since 1977, and I've learned an awful lot from it, electronics-wise. In fact, I would not be in my current job had it not been for the experience I gained from the hobby.

When the Nisqually Earthquake hit in Feb. 2001, here in the Puget Sound region, the entire cellphone network was overloaded within minutes after the shaking stopped, and landlines were quick to follow.

What kept on working? That's right. Ham radio VHF and UHF repeaters. Emergency-response nets went active in record time, insuring that areas without any other type of communication at that moment suddenly had a way to contact the rest of the area, and to ask for help if it was needed.

When the East Bay Area hills in California suffered a crippling firestorm in 1991, guess what kept on working when cell sites and landlines were overloaded? Right again. Amateur radio.

And let's not forget the now-famous Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989. Once again, amateur radio equipment kept right on working while cellular and landlines were overcrowded or knocked out entirely.

Want to know something else? I'm a survivor of all three of those disasters. In each and every case, my radio gear and my fellow hams held the only reliable means I had to keep informed on what was happening, and to keep in touch with my family.

I can also tell, by your comments, that you've never taken a serious look at ham radio. You don't need "1000s of dollars" to get started. You can get a simple handheld transceiver for less than $100, and many ham radio clubs offer license classes for free.

Now, is it POSSIBLE to invest thousands into the hobby? Of course it is. I've done it, but I also provide technical services to other hams as part of my side business.

Spending thousands is possible with ANY hobby (just ask a coin or stamp collector). Like any other hobby, you can choose to put as little or as much as you want to into it.

Also, like any other hobby, it gives back exactly what you choose to put into it.

So, before you go assuming that a typical ham's radio gear and antennas just "sits there unused" most of the time, I suggest you go talk to an active hamateur, or perhaps attend a local radio club meeting. You can find listings for clubs at the ARRL's site. You can also find info on how to get started in the hobby if you so choose.

And yes, BPL is most definitely "evil." You'd understand why if you had your ham license.

Happy hunting.

Not to mention the Hurricane Watch Net, which just activated today because of Dennis's approach

ARRL story, HWN homepage.

Any linkage to back that claim up? Or is this perhaps another case where the power company did their homework first, and deployed BPL in an area with nobody around to complain?

I do have a few links that say otherwise though: here, here, and this one which actually looks like a company trying to do it right.

Any linkage to back that claim up? Or is this perhaps another case where the power company did their homework first, and deployed BPL in an area with nobody around to complain?

I do have a few links that say otherwise though: here, here, and this one which actually looks like a company trying to do it right.

Any linkage to back that claim up? Or is this perhaps another case where the power company did their homework first, and deployed BPL in an area with nobody around to complain?

I do have a few links that say otherwise though: here, here, and this one which actually looks like a company trying to do it right.

For those who are looking for data on BPL and its effects on radio transmissions, this is a good place to start:

http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/aud-vid.html

There is more than ample evidence to show that turning power lines into radiating antennae is a bad idea. Need evidence? Start here:

http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/aud-vid.html

Yes, See:

http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/

(Sorry to the ARRL for the /.ing)

Well on Leno they said they were

Electronic morse keyers are very simple. All you need is one relatively simple integrated circuit (see The History of Curtis Keyers) and a switch or two. For a cell phone, the IC could be modified to generate ASCII characters for the SMS message while sending dots and dashes to the phone's speaker. If the phone could be attached to the user's arm or leg, it would provide a base for the keyer. The user could then use his free hand to operate the keyer. A pair of pressure sensitive panels on the left and right sides of the phone, near the bottom, would be ideal.

Other great DIY 'tinkering' sites I like are AX84.com, 18watt.com, and Byonics.

I'd post a link to my site with pictures/notes on my own hand-built tube amp project or my mini-GPS/APRS project (not yet out of planning), but I'm afraid of the /.-ing I'd take. :)

< Cool! So instead of pounding out morse code, you can instead send pictures of dots and dashes!

The original post has some questionable legality issues; I'm showing you a way to do it legally, and get peer support. It's still bog-standard TV modulation, not morse code. And you don't need to learn morse code to get a license to do ATV.

Probably the biggest problem is the use of harmonics -- the proposed system uses the 5th harmonic of a VGA output, which happens to fall in the VHF TV band. What about the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, (and higher?) Doing this with the support of other people who know what they're doing will help you avoid these problems:

Let's see:

• Fundamental: 25.71Mhz
  25.550-25.670Mhz is assigned for radio astronomy. So you'd be interfering with SETI research (slightly away from the band but close enough to interfere if the signal isn't clean, which it won't be).
• 2nd harmonic mixed with 76.5: 178.71MHz
  The article said TV channel 5, but it's not so in the US. See this chart.
• 3rd harmonic mixed with 76.5: 153.64MHz
  Police and fire VHF radio frequencies, in the US.

The list goes on, since mixing both adds and subtracts the frequencies and their harmonics.

And who can forget the plasma TV transmitting the 121.5 MHz international distress signal?

Bottom line: don't hook this thing to an antenna.

< Cool! So instead of pounding out morse code, you can instead send pictures of dots and dashes!

The original post has some questionable legality issues; I'm showing you a way to do it legally, and get peer support. It's still bog-standard TV modulation, not morse code. And you don't need to learn morse code to get a license to do ATV.

Probably the biggest problem is the use of harmonics -- the proposed system uses the 5th harmonic of a VGA output, which happens to fall in the VHF TV band. What about the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, (and higher?) Doing this with the support of other people who know what they're doing will help you avoid these problems:

Let's see:

• Fundamental: 25.71Mhz
  25.550-25.670Mhz is assigned for radio astronomy. So you'd be interfering with SETI research (slightly away from the band but close enough to interfere if the signal isn't clean, which it won't be).
• 2nd harmonic mixed with 76.5: 178.71MHz
  The article said TV channel 5, but it's not so in the US. See this chart.
• 3rd harmonic mixed with 76.5: 153.64MHz
  Police and fire VHF radio frequencies, in the US.

The list goes on, since mixing both adds and subtracts the frequencies and their harmonics.

And who can forget the plasma TV transmitting the 121.5 MHz international distress signal?

Bottom line: don't hook this thing to an antenna.

At least, they're granted callsigns, which in return would infer that they have a license.

5 astro/cosmonauts and their callsigns

I wouldn't be surprised if they were granted license sans examination.

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/10/19/1/?nc= 1
Basically they are trying to dump trash out the window and thought they could reuse the suit.