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VK7AX > NEWS 26.04.09 10:50l 647 Lines 22992 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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VK7 REGIONAL NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 26TH APRIL 2009
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WINNIE THE WAR WINNER
A VK7 ANZAC Tribute
When World War II broke out there was a need for skilled radio people
to operate and maintain defence radio equipment. Amateurs filled this
need and also instructed others on operating and maintaining this
equipment.
This group of mainly self-trained practitioners made themselves
available for the task of creating a communications infrastructure
for the Australian Defence Forces.
One such person was Signalman Max (Joe) Loveless VK7ML SK.
He was an amateur before WWII and became involved in the war as a
signals operator with "Sparrowforce" on Dutch Timor with the AIF.
After resistance by the main part of Sparrow Force had ceased in
Dutch Timor on the 23rd February 1942, the forces commander began to
reorganise and redeploy his troops in the Southern half of Portuguese
Timor about the middle of March.
Fighting as guerillas against overwhelming odds, deficient in supplies
and out of touch with Australia, it was imperative for the small force
to re-establish communications with the mainland.
It was for this purpose that men of the 2/2nd Australian Independent
Company, the fortress signals section on the island, and members of
Signals, 8th Division, pooled their resources to build a set capable
of raising Darwin.
The most expert and tireless of these was Signalman Loveless.
His work was later advanced by the arrival of Captain G.E. Parker from
Dutch Timor.
A radio was devised from pieces of other sets and from parts scrounged
among the troops or stolen from the enemy. The bulk of the work on this
lifeline for the men of Timor was undertaken by Signallers Max Loveless
and Keith Richards, assisted by Jack Sargent and John Donovan.
After many trials and much revision, Australia was contacted on the
20th April 1942, and Darwin was made aware that the Australians in Timor
were alive and well.
The set was affectionately named "Winnie the War Winner", named after
Winston Churchill. After several days of communication using
"Winnie" – and the answering of some personal questions – headquarters
was convinced of the authenticity of the signals, and was able to arrange
for much-needed supplies to be delivered to the isolated troops.
Fortunately someone had the foresight to take the transmitter with them
when they evacuated Dutch Timor and it now is held in the National War
Memorial in Canberra.
See the web links on the email and internet edition of this broadcast to
see pictures of Winnie. There is also a replica of Winnie held in the
Anglesea Barracks Military Museum that was made by Barry VK7RS who was
one of the many who knew and worked with Max Loveless 7ML.
The Remembrance Day Contest commemorates the amateurs who died during WWII
and is designed to encourage friendly participation and help improve the
operating skills of participants. It is held close to 15 August,
the date when hostilities ceased in the south-west Pacific area.
This year it runs from 0800 UTC Saturday, August 15, until 0759 UTC on
the Sunday. A perpetual trophy is awarded annually to the WIA Division
with the best performance. The name of the winning state is inscribed on
the trophy, and that state then holds the trophy for 12 months.
http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/winnie.asp
http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/timor.asp
http://www.awm.gov.au/exhibitions/alliesinadversity/japanese/winnie.asp
http://reast.asn.au/images/WinnetheWarWinner.jpg
Take a look at the WIA website contest page for more details about this
year's RD Contest.
http://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/rdcontest/
(Australian War Memorial Website, Barry VK7RS and the WIA Website)
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VK7 EVENTS CALENDAR
A summary of the events across VK7 in the next month:
TARGA TASMANIA – April 28th to May 3rd.
http://targatasmania.com.au/
REAST – April 29th – ATV Experimenter's Nights – 7:30pm Queens Domain
Club rooms.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#ATVnights
NWTARIG – May 2nd – General Meeting - Penguin Lions club rooms
REAST – May 6th – Presentation on Landline Telegraphy
– 8pm Queen's Domain Clubrooms.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#duplexlandline
NTARC – May 13th - Royal Flying Doctor Service depot
– Launceston Airport at 7:30pm with Ian VK7KIH.
NWT-ATVG – June 6th - General Meeting and discussion on radio history.
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NORTHERN NEWS
Northern Tasmania Amateur Radio Club
Alf Traeger pioneered the use of cheap to produce, rugged and reliable
HF transmitters for use with the Royal Flying Doctor Service… and if
you come along to the next NTARC meeting at the special time of
6.30pm at Launceston Airports RFDS depot on Wednesday night 13th of May,
you'll get to see one of these historic and life-saving one-watt wonders.
There will be a sandwich and cake light dinner available for a donation
of $2, courtesy of Ann VK7FYBG.
Quansheng has given many hams an affordable handheld for 2 metres with
the TG25AT, and its 70 centimetre sister the TG45AT. Bill VK7MX hints
that Quanshengs next handheld, the TG-UV, will be even better.
This time they've come out with a dual band radio, with PC programming
capabilities, built-in sub-tone and a lithium ion battery, and all this
comes at less than twice the price of it's single-band grandparents.
We'll hopefully get our hands on one and wring out some real-world
impressions of how well they go on air.
Hope you also got to use your AX callsign prefix yesterday – one of
only three days where we are permitted to do so.
Lest we forget.
Thanks from
(Jason VK7ZJA, NTARC Secretary)
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NORTH WEST News
North West Tasmania Amateur Television Group
http://www2.vk7ax.id.au/atvgroup
Member Only Services
The Club has introduced some services intended for MEMBERS ONLY use.
The first of these is an email list server which is available for the
use of Financial Members Only who should, by now, have received
notification of same. Members who have not received this notification
should communicate this to the Club ASAP.
Pages will be added to the Club Web Site which will be labelled
"members only'. Access to these pages will be by password only.
For further information on these facilities, please contact the Club.
People interested in general information about The North West Tasmania
Amateur Television Group, are invited to visit the Club's WIA web Page
under VK7 Clubs.
http://www.wia.org/clubs/vk7/NorthWestTasmaniaAmateurTelevisionGroup
73's until next time
(Tony VK7AX, President & News Officer NWT-ATV Group)
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North West Tasmanian Amateur Radio Interest Group
General Meeting
The next general meeting of NWTARIG has been brought forward to the
2nd of May 2009 to consider proposals on a possible name change,
and to make the club an incorporated body. This allow members time to
consider the options before voting at a Special General meeting called
for 30th May 2009. The meeting venue is at the Penguin Lions club rooms.
(David Cleland, VK7DC, Secretary, NWTARIG)
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Southern News
Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania
REAST's May Presentation
On May 6th our historian Richard VK7RO will be presenting a talk on -
Landline Telegraphy or "How to Send Signals Both Ways At Once"!
Many of you may have seen last year the ABC TV special – A wire through
the Heart which traced the history around Charles Todd putting a telegraph
line from Adelaide to Darwin. This was a fascinating historical look at
landline telegraphy that connected Australia to the rest of the world.
Richard will give a presentation using his vast historical knowledge and
skill on how Landline Telegraphy work and how they send signals both ways
at once.
This should be a fascinating and humorous talk by our leading historian
and avid CW operator.
As Richard commented …it will be "A little bit of technical history".
See you there.
(REAST Committee)
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#duplexlandline
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Education and Training
If you would like to participate in a future training and/or assessment
and it could be for any assessment (foundation, standard, advanced or
practical) then let Reg VK7KK know on mobile: 0417 391 607 or
email: regemm(AT)ozemail.com.au
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#FoundationLicenceCourse
(Reg, VK7KK, REAST Education Officer and Assessor)
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ATV Experimenters Night
Last Wednesday night saw a whole bunch of people converge on the Domain
clubrooms for the ATV night and we welcomed special guest Wayne who is
a VK4 amateur from the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Club.
We went out on both analog 70cm and digital 23cm ATV and started with
a presentation by Graham VK7ZGK on the innards of a Blue-Ray/DVD player.
The close-up camera was working overtime as Graham then took a look at
a Sony five DVD carrier and the complex mechanism that goes along with
loading, unloading and storing the DVDs within a piece of equipment.
As Graham mused, someone had to actually sit down and design this piece
of mechanical wizardry then manufacture it. Graham is still working out
how the thing actually works…HIHI.
Justin VK7TW then went on to demonstrate the testing and how to tell
the difference between ferrites and powdered iron cores for use with
RF applications. Justin demonstrated the use of a dip oscillator and a
resonant circuit to tell if the core would be useful for the RF
application in mind. Experimentation is continuing on the GNAT one
transistor QRP transceivers and there will be more in future nights.
Justin then went through a 1924 book called "The Boys Wireless Book"
which was a wonderful look at radio and it's uses in 1924 when it was
still a novelty. There was some great passages read out and pictures
displayed of marine mobile and fox hunting applications.
Anders VK7FAJM showed the group a modern LED based flood light which
they are testing at the moment using a matrix of high intensity LEDs
sub-panels which reputedly output 60000lux. They were certainly bright!
Our main presentation was of Gavin VK7HGO's talk on the Communications
behind Targa Tasmania for those who missed it.
All in all another great night of experimenting.
Next week the working GNAT and more Mitchell and Kenyon just to name
up a few things we will be doing.
How do you receive analogue ATV on an ATV night well, ATV goes out
on 444.25MHz (Channel 16) – just below SBS on the UHF TV Band.
You will need an antenna with some gain pointed toward the Domain to
receive our signal so, why not try tuning down the low end of the
UHF TV band and give us a call on what you are seeing and hearing.
See you there this week.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#ATVnights
(73, Justin, VK7TW)
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ACMA News
ACMA releases proposals to set prices for 400 MHz spectrum based on
opportunity cost methods
On the 23 April the Australian Communications and Media Authority is
seeking public and industry comment on proposals to set prices for
administratively allocated spectrum in the 400 MHz spectrum band based
on opportunity cost pricing methods.
The consultation paper, Opportunity Cost Pricing of Spectrum: Public
consultation on administrative pricing of spectrum based on opportunity
cost, released today, reflects ACMA's intention to promote increased
consultation, transparency and accountability in its planning and
management of spectrum in Australia.
`Spectrum is vital to many services used by Australian businesses and
consumers and we need to make sure it is used efficiently so new
technologies and services can be made available to Australians, and that
congestion in specific spectrum bands can be addressed,' said
Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman.
`The economic and technical planning tools applied by ACMA are useful
in ensuring that the use of spectrum is allocated to its highest value,
' Mr Chapman added. `This discussion paper is the final in a series of
recent announcements relating to spectrum management leading up to
ACMA's Radcomms09 conference to be held on 29 and 30 April. One of these
announcements concerned proposals for future arrangements and new
measures in the 400MHz band.'
Opportunity cost pricing is one of a suite of economic tools to achieve
efficient allocation and use of spectrum. This pricing model is already
used by regulators in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand.
`The opportunity cost of spectrum is based on the highest value of the
alternative use that would be denied by granting access to one party
rather than another,' Mr Chapman said. `Past use by ACMA of opportunity
cost pricing has been limited to the use of market proxies in related
markets. This new discussion paper explains the utility of new opportunity
cost direct calculation methods.'
Other allocation tools that are under review by ACMA include trading in
spectrum and auction design and methodology.
The consultation paper is available on the ACMA website. The deadline
for submissions is 5 June 2009.
http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311707
http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311708
(ACMA Media Release)
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Satellite News
Good DX via AO-7
This week AO-7 continued to surprise and delight amateur radio
satellite operators with opportunities for good DX. On April 12 Tim,
N3TL reported, "At 21:33 UTC today G1WPR answered my "CQ DX" on
AO-7 Mode B. I was sending CW with the straight key I picked up for
Straight Key Night on AO-51, and Terry called me in SSB so we
completed a cross-mode QSO of more than a minute with a few exchanges.
I am thrilled!"
Tim also logged more trans-Atlantic AO-7 QSOs on April 16, "PH7PCF in
the Netherlands answered my CW "CQ DX" with a hello in SSB. Then, a
couple of minutes later, F2IL returned my CW in some CW from France.
What a hoot!"
The equipment at N3TL consists of a Yaesu FT-857D for TX and a Yaesu
FT-817ND for RX (both used radios). He uses a Diamond MX-72H duplexer
to connect them to a dual-band Elk log periodic, which is hand-held,
manually tracking the satellites. Computer doppler control was done
with Simon's HRD Satellite Tracker. Of the CW operation Tim described
his setup, "I have the "CQ DX" call set up in a memory buffer on my
FT-857D. But when somebody responds, the straight key takes over."
Turning 35 years old on November 15, 2009 AO-7 still carries lots of
amateur satellite traffic. Joe, K3SZH says Igor UA9CS Igor has now
logged over 6000 QSOs via the bird. Also, this month Mike, KC9ELU has
reached his 1000th QSO via AO-7.
(Sourced from the AMSAT Mailing List via Tim, N3TL and Joe, K3SZH)
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CONTEST NEWS
Don't Be Fooled!
Kevin VK2CE alters us that apparently there has been a mail out
emanating from ARLHS headquarters advising the date of this year's
ILLW event as taking place from 2 to 9 August 2009 alongside a contest
being conducted by the ARLHS. This information is totally misleading
and incorrect.
The International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (ILLW) has and will
always be held on the 3rd full weekend in August, this year it on
the 15-16 August.
The sponsors of the event are and have always been the Ayr Amateur
Radio Group of Scotland. Amateurs are quite at liberty to participate
in the ARLHS sponsored contest if they so wish but bear in mind that
it is NOT the ILLW.
http://illw.net
(Kevin, VK2CE via the CHARCT Mailing List)
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Technology News
Portable E-Bomb to Be Tested Wind Farm QRM
The IEEE Spectrum website reported recently that defence researchers at
Huntsville Alabama are testing a new high-power microwave (HPM) bomb—one
that creates an electromagnetic pulse capable of disabling electronics,
vehicles, guided missiles, and communications while leaving people and
structures unharmed.
The tests mark the first time such a device has been shrunk to dimensions
that could make it portable enough to fit in a missile or carried in a
Humvee or unmanned aerial vehicle.
Microwave weapons have been sought for decades, but the problem until
now has been the portability issue. The bomb to be tested, developed at
Texas Tech University, in Lubbock, with U.S. Army funding, is a 1.5-meter
cylinder with a diameter of about 15 centimeters. The bomb also had to
operate under its own power and, of course, generate lots of microwaves.
The amount of damage the bomb would do depends on three things: the
frequency, the peak power, and its ability to couple to a system
(that is, for the microwaves to find a way in). The microwaves enter
communication systems through wiring, piping, vents, and other
infrastructure. Once inside, they create destructive standing waves
in the wiring.
The HPM frequency can vary anywhere from hundreds of megahertz
(the bandwidth range that includes FM and television transmissions) to
several gigahertz (the bandwidth range that includes radar,
wireless LAN, and Bluetooth).
Different frequencies have different effects on electronics.
Lower frequencies can jam communications, which is the most
delicate effect. Higher frequencies tend to have more crude effects,
such as burning out the electronics.
The HPM should produce a peak power of 35 MW with a pulse length of
100 to 150 nanoseconds, emitting a narrowband microwave beam in
the 2- to 6-GHz range.
The 1.5-meter Texas Tech HPM contains three main components:
a power generator in the form of a flux compression generator (FCG),
a microwave source called a vircator (for virtual cathode oscillator),
and an antenna that radiates the resultant high-power microwave radiation.
It has been described as a battery that runs on a stick of dynamite.
It all runs on a 12-volt lead acid battery!
For more information take a look at the email and internet editions
of this website.
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/apr09/8647
(Sourced via CG Communicator and the IEE Spectrum Website)
[ED – And this is only the stuff they are able to tell us about….Scary!]
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Web & Email Edition Extra Bits!!
Please, Please can I go??
http://fdim.qrparci.org/
For The Time Nuts!!!
http://www.qsl.net/zl1bpu/PRECISION/ANZAC/
The Sun's Gone Quiet – (Thanks to Steve VK7OO)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8008473.stm
Radio Mobile Application
http://www.cplus.org/rmw/english1.html
Free Multisimulation SPICE Software
http://www.analog.com/en/design-tools/dt-multisim-spice-program-download/
design-center/index.html
The URL says it all!
http://www.ledmuseum.org/
Amidon Toroid Specs
https://www.amidoncorp.com/pages/specifications
Softrock SDR
http://www.wb5rvz.com/sdr/index.html
Mains Ferrites Information from Jaycar (these are all ferrites not
powdered iron)
http://www.jaycar.com.au/images_uploaded/ferrites.pdf
Great VK2 Resource
http://www.vk2zay.net/
Great QRP Homebrewers Site
http://mjrainey.googlepages.com/radio
ARISS
http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm
VK3HZ's Site
http://home.exetel.com.au/dwsmith/
Is that a Train or What?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eptqTii74s&feature=related
Is that a Ferry or What?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjR5K_Fb6r4&NR=1
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik_wtq6UE8M&feature=PlayList&p=E52A2ED1CFB210B7&index=4
The following links courtesy of CG Communicator:
Removing the glass envelope around an electron tube will of course
destroy the vacuum and render the tube useless, but this poor chap
apparently didn't know that. He just wanted to see the filament glow
without any intervening glass (there's one born everyday!!!):
http://hardocp.com/images/news/1237476767fPYMHIsYVF_1_1_l.gif
Now THIS is an amateur radio station (URL intermittent):
http://www.ne7x.com/New_Shack_2008.htm
Unusually pleasing aurora borealis photos:
http://tinyurl.com/PleasingAurora
This 4-minute video will leave most folks with a nice wide smile
-- another gem discovered by Red Blanchard:
http://www.silverbearcafe.com:80/private/04.09/antwerp.html
Do you have some interesting amateur related sites you have some
across in the last week – send them in to justingc(AT)ozemail.com.au
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VK7 Regional News Group Email Addresses
Post message: vk7regionalnews(AT)yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: vk7regionalnews-subscribe(AT)yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: vk7regionalnews-unsubscribe(AT)yahoogroups.com
List owner: vk7regionalnews-owner(AT)yahoogroups.com
VK7 Virtual BPL Tours Update
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdcY0Eetvsw - Mt Nelson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gsxpya3CnQ - North Hobart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7DfdxjRkpU - RU ready for BPL?
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If you are interested in becoming an amateur radio operator or
upgrading your licence then we suggest you contact your local club
for details and/or take a look at what the Radio and Electronics
School has to offer. They have a range of courses that can be
delivered through a variety of methods.
They can be found at: www.radioelectronicschool.com
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Finally today, a reminder to those people rostered for next
week's broadcasts:
Newsreader: VK7FB
160m: VK7DM
80m: VK7ZK
40m: VK7JGD
20m: VK7IL
10m: VK7ZGK
UHF CB: VK7FTAZ
HF CB: VK7TED
Thanks to all people and organisations who assisted with this broadcast.
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THAT CONCLUDES OUR VK7 REGIONAL NEWS BROADCAST FOR THIS WEEK.
YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO OR JUST MISSED VK7WI.
NEXT WEEK THE NATIONAL WIA NEWS CAN BE HEARD AT 0900 FOLLOWED BY THE
VK7 REGIONAL NEWS AT 0930 HOURS.
DETAILS TO SEND NEWS FOR THIS BROADCAST CAN BE FOUND AT REAST.ASN.AU
AND THE DEADLINE FOR ITEMS IS 21:00 ON FRIDAY PRIOR TO THE SUNDAY OF THE BROADCAST.
VK7 Regional Broadcast & News Coordinator
Justin Giles-Clark, VK7TW
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- NEWS POSTING TO PACKET -
Courtesy Tony VK7AX VK7AX(AT)VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC
*************************************************
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