Episode 8: Are We Losing Ham Radio Spectrum? 70cm Band Under Threat

Published: August 7, 2025

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MguB_WF72Fg

Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2438895/episodes/17625014

Summary

Is amateur radio spectrum under attack? The crew digs into the FCC experimental license granted to AST SpaceMobile that could interfere with the 70cm amateur band (430-440 MHz), and what spectrum defense means for every ham. Plus, Jim's early feedback on his Flex 6400 ATU, and a farewell to the NOAA-15 and NOAA-19 satellites as the APT era comes to an end.

In This Episode

• The AST SpaceMobile FCC experimental license and the 70cm band

• What spectrum defense looks like and why it matters

• The value of ham radio in communities

• Jim's early impressions of the FlexRadio Flex 6400 ATU and remote capabilities

• End of an era: NOAA-15 and NOAA-19 decommissioning ends APT on August 12 and 19

• Capturing satellite imagery with SatDump before the window closes

Chapters

• 00:00 Welcome

• 09:40 FlexRadio discussion and remote capabilities

• 21:31 Spectrum defense and AST SpaceMobile license

• 32:27 The value of ham radio in communities

• 45:33 End of an era: NOAA satellites decommissioning

• 56:08 Episode wrap-up and FTX-1 request

Mentioned in This Episode

• AST SpaceMobile FCC experimental license (430-440 MHz)

• FlexRadio Flex 6400 ATU

• NOAA-15 and NOAA-19 satellites and APT (Automatic Picture Transmission)

• SatDump software: https://www.satdump.org

• Michigan POTA Meetup: https://www.michiganpotameetup.com