OFCOM have issued new guidance for UK licensed Amateurs.

OFCOM licence guidance

Has 5MHz band become a "chat band"

The 5MHz band is now available to many areas of the World, but there seems to be no international co-ordination about it's use. Listening to it's daytime use in the UK it does seem to have become a regular chat band for many Amateurs.

The German Amateur Radio Society (DARC) is presenting a paper to the next IARU meeting , reminding Amateurs that allocation to this band was intended to develop emergency communications facilities and not to be used for regular long chats.
The paper may be of interest.

(Click on the above for a larger image)

OFCOM New draft UK syllabus for Amateur Radio examinations after 1st July 2018

This 86 page document proposes new examinations syllabus for Amateur Radio licences to be taken in 2018. You can send comment to RSGB (before 21st July 2017).

Examination review

5 MHz news letter (most of Europe now able to use the band)

The latest 5 MHz news letter is now available to read. Many more countries have now been allocated access to this band.

5MHz newsletter

NJ7H to operate from the Isle of Man

Crown Dependencies on the satellites

Gabriel 'Gabe' Zeifman NJ7H arrived in Jersey (MJ) on May 6 and will be active on the satellites from there as well as from Guernsey (MU) and Isle of Man (MD) in the following days

On the AMSAT Bulletin Board he writes:

I will be on the 0142Z pass of FO-29 as my first North America bound pass. Today (May 7) I will be on whatever AO-7 (if it somehow manages to be in mode B or C) and FO-29 passes that will work for NA and other passes for EU. 

On the 8th (around 1100Z) I will be heading to Guernsey, and on the 10th to Isle of Man, with similar goals from all three. I should have a great horizon to the west from all these places, sea cliffs over the ocean.