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VK7AX > NEWS 24.05.09 03:45l 746 Lines 26699 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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VK7 REGIONAL NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 24TH MAy 2009
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GippsTech Special Edition
The Wrap
A ripper event! I got a lot out of it…says Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.
oger posted a great wrap-up of proceedings of the weekend to the
VK-Logger Discussion Group in the last few days and the broadcast
editor has summarised for this broadcast.
GippsTech Special Edition was the event "wrapped around" the WIA's
statutory Annual General Meeting (AGM). And this year's AGM, you'd
have to say, was the most amateur radio-oriented event so far. Top
marks for that.
Much thought and effort by the organisers went into making best use
of every available opportunity to cover topics of interest to amateurs,
and subjects that were broader than the VHF/UHF/microwave focus of the
annual GippsTech events held each July.
On the Friday Night the attendees were treated to two indoor
presentations followed by two outdoor demonstrations
- both involving lightwaves.
Amateur Astronomy was a presentation by the Latrobe Valley Astronomical
Society.
The presentation readily held the audience's interest, ranging over the
history of astronomy; telescope technologies past, present and future;
and the activities and achievements of amateur astronomers.
Impressive stuff. The next presentation was Lightwave Communications,
technical presentation by Rex Moncur VK7MO & Justin VK7TW
Abbott and Costello were back in town. The avalanche of tantalising
technical details from Rex and Justin was leavened with a series of
hilarious (but true!) anecdotes . . . like explaining to a policeman
from a patrol car blocking your drive why you were shining a bright red
light across the roofs of Hobart . . . or, how to confound rangers in
remote parks seeking the source of a mysterious red light, etc. If you
want to take up lightwave communications, be prepared for some
"interesting" encounters!
Rex and Justin's talk was not just a re-run of their GippsTech 2008 one,
but a lot of the same ground was covered to suit a wider/different
audience, along with details on recent experiments. Their goal is to
extend terrestrial "cloudbounce" lightwave DX to around 300 km
(the "theoretical" limit ?). They're two-thirds of the way there.
Inspiring!
After the talks, the audience was able to see some telescopes and
lightwave rigs in action (with help from Ralph VK3WRE
- lightwave DX record holder, VK3).
May the second saw some great presentations in the morning from Phil
Harman VK6APH on Software Defined Radio - Principles and Practice
and behold the future of amateur radio technology! Roger finishes
his great description with "I want one!"
Tropospheric Ducting: From Ross Hull to present understanding, by
Andrew Martin VK3OE was the next presentation and this talk was pitched
to a broad amateur radio audience and linked the seminal work of the
famous Australian amateur, Ross Hull, with VHF DX experiences of
amateurs in the 1950s-60s through recent decades and the last year.
136 kHz an introduction to amateur LF communications, by Drew Diamond
VK3XU. in his distinctive style.
Am I really on frequency? Locking our radios to GPS references,
by David Smith VK3HZ was the next talk.
Whilst these talks were happening Roger was giving his talk on the
Solar Cycle and also assisting with the Beyond the Foundation
Licence forum with Phil Wait VK2DKN – in place of a sick and
grounded Ron Bertrand VK2DQ. Roger commented that…we had a very
mixed audience, ranging across teenaged F-calls to, er, senior F-calls,
women, assessors, long-time Advanced licensees, Standard licensees,
to dilettantes like myself. With educators and assessors in the room,
naturally, discussion ranged over many issues, but the examination
system was particularly scrutinised. Verdict? Working well
- within the ACMA constraints - but possible room for improvement.
A Victorian schoolteacher, Ed VK3FEET, attended in company with two of
his young - licensed - students. The enthusiasm displayed by Ed and his
students was remarkable and a testament to what can be done within a
school club program.
In summary - the coming solar peak will be a contest between "Kiss Your
Last Big Solar Maximum Goodbye" (to the strains of Chopin's Funeral
March) and "Let the Good Times Roll" (accompanied by a chorus of that
title from Linda Hopkins).
Whatever, watch the daily 10.7cm solar flux, keep your eye out for
sudden commencements and make intelligent use of the A and K indices.
Simple, really. [Yeah. Right].
The WIA AGM on Saturday afternoon, well, it was all over in 16 minutes
- I didn't even have a chance to nod off! There were no cabals of
"concerned amateurs" catcalling from the bleachers, motley miscreants
clapping and foot-stomping as the chairperson and directors spoke,
or scuffles between protagonists across the aisles. Not even a single
"point of order, Mr Chairman!" At least, not that I heard.
I guess one has to congratulate President Michael Obama (whoops)
Owen VK3KI.
The WIA Open Forum after the AGM -
With potential for contentious issues to get an emotional airing,
the Open Forum proved a model of gentlepersonly decorum. Extraordinary!
Commonwealth and state government Community Cabinet meetings,
so popular these days, have rather more life in the audience.
Lastly, the "mystery" after-dinner speaker on Saturday night was a cracker
- one of the founders from TechTalk Radio (http://www.techtalkradio.com.au).
We all learned some new things and had a good laugh on the way through.
Thought-provoking, to say the least.
The Sunday 3rd of May started with a presentation on Aircraft enhancement
– how to exploit it, by Barry Miller VK3BJM.
Barry is an AE Practioner Extraordinaire, willing to travel to remote
grid squares to pick up and give out a few elusive contacts (or not,
as sometimes happened).
AE demystified. Well done, Barry. The next talk was on Microwave
Communications, by Peter Freeman VK3KAI and members of the EZARC.
This could have been titled "Plumbing and the Hollowmen"
(with apologies to the ABC). Peter went through the broad gamut of the
fascinating technologies and techniques available to play with on the
bands from 23cm up. Mechanically quite simple antennas with gain and
directivity unheard-of on HF (or even VHF, for that matter) were
explained and demonstrated.
The last talk was a Back to the Future - Broadcast Quality AM, by Phil
Wait VK2DKN. Behold another future of amateur radio technology! Phil's
first love was 40m AM. It was a lot of fun, he said. Then he got his
licence. 40m AM still holds a special place in Phil's heart.
You can understand why.
His presentation took the audience on an illustrated tour of AM
broadcasting history, AM ham transmitters of the past and a photo
shack-crawl of present day AM enthusiasts and their gear. Magic stuff!
The technology presented has distinct advantages over conventional AM
in terms of efficiency and ruggedness. OK, enthusiasts admit that
it's not that spectrum efficient. But, like a 1957 Chevy convertible,
it's fun to play with!
As an amateur radio weekend: value for money. Congratulations to all
involved in its conception, development and execution, with special
mention to Robert Broomhead VK3KRB/VK3DN and Peter Freeman VK3KAI.
Posted in the interests of letting everyone know.
73, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH
Take a look at the email and internet editions of this broadcast for
the link to the full version of this wrap-up as it is very entertaining.
http://www.vklogger.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=8547
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VK7 EVENTS CALENDAR
A summary of the events across VK7 over the coming months:
REAST – May 27th – ATV Experimenter's Nights
– 7:30pm Queens Domain Club rooms.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#ATVnights
NWTARIG – May 30th - Special General Meeting at Penguin Lions club Rooms
– 2pm
http://www.my-x15.net/nwtarig/
REAST – June 3rd - Presentation on Landline Telegraphy
– 8pm Queen's Domain Clubrooms.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#duplexlandline
SMS – June 6 & 7th - Great Southern Winter Ham fest - Sorell Men's Shed,
Station Lane, Sorell.
http://www.sorellmensshed.org/
NWT-ATVG – June 6th - General Meeting and discussion on radio history.
http://www2.vk7ax.id.au/atvgroup
REAST – June 10, 17 & 24th – ATV Experimenter's Nights
– 7:30pm Queens Domain Club rooms.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#ATVnights
REAST – June 16th – Advanced/Standard Assessment Session.
http://reast.asn.au/amateurradio.php#exams
REAST – June 23rd – Foundation Licence Course and Assessments Session.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#FoundationLicenceCourse
WMBD – June 27th – World Moon Bounce Day celebrating the Echoes of
Apollo 40th Anniversary of the first Moon landing.
http://echoesofapollo.com/
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NORTHERN NEWS
Northern Tasmania Amateur Radio Club
Ian Hart VK7KIH treated a huge number of NTARC members to a most
interesting and enjoyable evening at the Royal Flying Doctor Service at
Launceston Airport, including showing off an original Alf Traeger radio.
Thank you Ian, everyone had a wonderful time, even our pretend casualties
Kerry and Duncan VK7s FKEK and FLAK respectively.
How's the knee coming along Duncan?
Winston VK7EM has also offered to restore the Alf Traeger radio to full
working condition, which no doubt the RFDS would be most appreciative of,
as they're in the process of creating a display of items from
their heritage.
The next meeting for NTARC is at Alanvale Polytechnic, on Wednesday the
10th of June, where a very important issue for the club will be discussed
and debated upon. We hope to see you there.
Lastly, NTARC needs to know how many of its members are also WIA members…
could you let Ann VK7FYBG know if you've not already done so.
Thanks from
(Jason VK7ZJA, NTARC Secretary)
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NORTH WEST News
North West Tasmania Amateur Radio Interest Group
http://www.my-x15.net/nwtarig/
On Saturday 30th of May, 2pm, the North West Tasmania Amateur Radio
Interest Group will be holding a Special General Meeting.
The proposed motions to be considered are as follows:
- Vote on a Motion to change club name
- Vote on a Motion to accept new rules
- Vote on a Motion to incorporate
I urge all members to attend and have your say on the future of your
club.
The venue will be the Penguin Lions club rooms at 19 Ironcliffe Road,
Penguin.
Once again that is Saturday, 30th of May. All members and visitors
welcome.
(David Cleland, VK7DC, Secretary, NWTARIG)
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North West Tasmania Amateur Television Group
http://www2.vk7ax.id.au/atvgroup
General Meeting
The next general meeting will be held on Saturday 6 June 2009, at 2.00PM.
Venue is the QTH of Ivan VK7XL, 9 McNaughton Drive, Gawler.
Guest speaker will be Barry VK7FR discussing his experiences as a former
ABC News Presenter in Papua New Guinea and many States of Australia
including Tasmania.
This promises to be a very interesting talk from a very well known
and respected announcer and amateur in Barry VK7FR.
All members and friends are cordially invited to attend.
The club reminds listeners that if you should miss either the WIA
National or VK7 Regional News, that it is available for download OR
audio stream on demand at the conclusion of the broadcasts,
when the Regional News is recorded as an mp3 file. When the Regional
Broadcast is delivered "live" it is recorded, then encoded as an mp3
audio file and should be available at the latest by 12.00 hrs mid day
on the day of the broadcast.
For links to the all the Spectrum Broadcast files including those just
mentioned, please visit the Club's WIA pages.
People interested in general information about The North West Tasmania
Amateur Television Group, and broadcast information are invited to visit
the Club's WIA web Page under VK7 Clubs for links to Club services.
http://www.wia.org/clubs/vk7/NorthWestTasmaniaAmateurTelevisionGroup
73's until next time
(Tony VK7AX, President and News Officer NWT-ATV Gp)
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Southern News
Great Southern Winter Hamfest
A Sorell Men's Shed Event "Community Project"
A Great Southern winter Ham fest will be held at the Sorell Men's Shed,
Station Lane, Sorell.
It will be on the first weekend in June which will be June 6th and 7th
and will be a 2 day event.
Saturday starting at 9am there will be workshops and bookings are now
being taken for the special work shop activities.
Antenna Construction, winding baluns, making dipoles and yagis,
field strength, satellite dishes and optical communication.
These are just some of the activities planed
Saturday Night the Men's Shed station - VK7SMS will be conducting an on
air award from 6pm till 12pm on HF,VHF and UHF.
Sunday will be a show and tell day with trade and pre-loved tables,
home brew competition and awards for first, second and third.
There will be a BBQ lunch and a few raffles.
All proceeds will go to the Men's Shed.
There will be camping and toilet facilities on site for those who want
to bring their campers and trucks down for the weekend.
More info as time draws near so, start making your plans to be in the
South for this great event.
If you are interest in being involved and/or helping out.
Please email or contact Ken VK7DY for more details or express your
interest in being involved.
windmill(AT)southcom.com.au
http://www.sorellmensshed.org/
(Ken, VK7DY, SMS Coordinator)
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Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania
Callbooks and Foundation Licence Manuals
Gavin VK7HGO lets us know that Foundation Licence Manuals and 2009 Call
Books can be obtained from the Caltex Service Station which is 133 Main
Road Moonah on the corner of Amy St.
You might even get some driveway service from Clayton VK7ZCR…HIHI.
Gavin also has some of these items so just give him a call on the
repeaters or on mobile 0407 724 431.
(Gavin, VK7HGO, President)
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REAST's June Presentation
Richard VK7RO lets us know that on Wednesday June 3rd he will be
presenting the talk titled -
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 works 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.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#duplexlandline
(Richard, VK7RO)
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REAST Education and Training
There will be on Tuesday 16th June an examination session for the
Advanced and Standard licenses at 7:30 pm in the Queens Domain Clubrooms.
There will also be a foundation training and practical assessment
session on Saturday June 20th starting at 9 am.
Anyone interested in participating in a Standard training course for
about 10 weeks starting around the end of June please let me know.
It could be on a Tuesday or Friday night. Please indicate if either
of these nights is unsuitable.
Reg VK7KK can be contacted 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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REAST ATV Experimenters Night
Another cram-packed night of interesting stuff is the best way to
describe last Wednesday night!
We got underway with Justin VK7TW doing a show and tell of a xenon
discharge tube fresh from a data projector. These replacement modules
are worth a fortune and involve an integrated xenon discharge lamp,
elliptical reflector and collimating lens along with an air path
through the whole assembly as they run HOT!
We then moved to an interview with Mike Groth VK7MJ and this covered
his very interesting life as a physicist and focusing on the radiation
and nuclear physics area that Mike was involved in.
Mike started with his experience in the Highways Dept in South Australia
using radiation densitometers for road compaction. Mike then moved into
medical physics involving a stint at a major Brisbane Hospital and
manufacturing and supplying radio isotopes for a wide variety of medical
scanners. Mike was also the Medical Physicist at the Royal Hobart
Hospital for a while and this involved amongst other things the
calibration of radiation delivering machinery for the radiation therapists.
Mike took our watchers and listeners through a day in the life of a
medical physicist which was appreciated by all present.
Mike is still a member of the Radiation Council in Tasmania and was
quizzed on the recent media reports about sun-tanning beds and the
lack of regulation. A fascinating interview, thanks Mike.
Our main ATV presentation went out on 444.25MHz Analogue ATV and 23cm
Digital ADB-S ATV and was the first of three one hour presentations on
the HPSDR project by Phil Harman VK6APH. These lectures where given at
the 2008 Digital Communications Conference held jointly by the ARRL
and TAPR.
Phil is one of the designers of the Software Defined Radio project
– Mercury. We continue with episode two this week.
This presentation honestly shows the future of radio with Digital
Down Conversion techniques.
This is a not to be missed presentation.
http://www.tapr.org/kits_merc.html
We will be going out on both analog 70cm and digital 23cm ATV.
It should be another great night of experimenting and ATV.
See you there.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#ATVnights
(73, Justin, VK7TW)
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SPACE News
PharmaSat Launch and Beacon Alert
Santa Clara University invites amateur radio operators to receive
beacon signals from the PharmaSat spacecraft, a pioneering cubesat
mission that is currently scheduled to launch from the Wallops Flight
Facility on May 19, 2009 at about 7:35 pm EDT. This spacecraft will go
into Low Earth Orbit as a secondary payload aboard an Air Force Minotaur
I launch vehicle. The vehicle will be launched into a circular,
40.5 degree inclination orbit.
PharmaSat is a 10 x 10 x 30 cm. spacecraft that houses an advanced
biological laboratory as its payload. This laboratory will measure
the influence of microgravity upon yeast resistance to an antifungal agent.
Of particular interest to the amateur radio satellite community is the
PharmaSat 70cm radio beacon. This beacon will operate at 437.465 MHz FM,
sending an AX.25 packet every 5 seconds. This packet will include data
about the spacecraft system's operation. The beacon will initiate
transmission as soon as the spacecraft is deployed from its carrier.
Amateur radio operators are encouraged to submit received beacon packets
through the mission websites in order to receive a web-based QSL card.
Submitted data will be available to the public via a web-accessible
public database.
The PharmaSat mission website can be found on the email and internet
editions of this broadcast.
www.pharmasat.org.
This site provides general mission and spacecraft information,
instructions on how to contact the Santa Clara University PharmaSat
Mission Operations teams, and other information required to receive
and decode the beacon signal. PharmaSat orbit elements will be available
via the space-track.org (and other) distribution services.
(From Mike, KE7EGC, via the AMSAT Mailing list)
Space News For Note:
Astronaut Nicole Stott, KE5GJN, will receive training on the Amateur
Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) radio equipment on
Monday, May 18. She is scheduled to fly as part of the ISS
Expeditions 20 and 21 crews.
(Lee McLamb, KU4OS)
When space shuttle Atlantis blasted off on the final flight to Hubble,
the astronauts were carrying 180 special tools, and 116 of them were
designed just for this mission, which involves tricky repairs to two
science instruments that were never intended to be fixed in space.
Take a look at the email and internet editions for some interesting pics.
http://www.dailyicon.net/2009/05/nasa-space-tools-designed-for-hubble/
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EME News
VK3UM EMECalc Version Update
Doug VK3UM lets us know he has update the popular VK3UM EMECalc which
is now Version: 6.01 and it is now available. Doug comments that he
has jumped to Ver 6.xx from the 5.xx series because of the notable
changes implemented in this release.
Doug lets us know that during the past month or so Peter G3LTF and I
have been investigating the discrepancy between the theoretical feed
efficiency measurements and those that are obtained in 'real world'
situations. Our focus was on the actual realised values of dish
efficiency, spillover and feed through. Given the reference data from
Paul W1GHZ we have been able to ascertain, through practical
measurements, what the realised values of efficiency are for the
dish feed types provided in the program.
In addition, and again with the considerable assistance of Peter G3LTF,
we have also refined the calculations of Effective ground temperature
and C/S - Ground. Results now reflect actual measurements (to a very
high degree) efficiency, spill over, feed through, sky, and the
ground noise interaction. A significant, although seemingly minor
at first glance, improvement in accuracy.
This revision also includes another VE4MA 'standard option feed'
and now caters for both flush and 0.15L (normal) ring configurations.
The EIA Dual Dipole feed has also been included which fills the gap for
those with 70cm feeds. RA3AQ feed types will be added later when time
permits.
Finally I have included a Planet 'reality check' calculation option
for those that believe EVE is feasible from your back yard!
A demonstration station file Venus-EVE.cal, based on known
(and assumed)
values of the Bochum Dish, has been included for your interest.
The integral Help file has been updated and includes a detailed
explanation with respect the changes and additions.
The software in a zip format may be obtained from the links on the
email and internet editions of this broadcast:
http://sm2cew.com/download.htm (available soon)
http://www.ve1alq.com/vk3um/
http://www.vk3bez.org/vk3um_software.htm
(73 Doug VK3UM via the VK-VHF Mailing List)
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Web & Email Edition Extra Bits!!
NASA Tools used on Hubble
http://www.dailyicon.net/2009/05/nasa-space-tools-designed-for-hubble/
Speccy Shuttle and Hubble Pics
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/05/hubbles_final_servicing_missio.html
OneHD for Southern Cross viewers Petition (Thanks to Tony VK7VAC)
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/1HD4SC10/
Scroungers Guide to Satellite TV
http://www.nmia.com/~roberts/scrounge
Search For Extraterrestrials Websites
http://www.setileague.org/software/index.html
Microwave Handbook
http://www.qsl.net/n1bwt/contents.htm
Malted Whiskey Ratings
http://www.w1ghz.org/10g/malts.htm
Resources for Metal Work
http://www.w1ghz.org/10g/metal.htm
Coffee Maker on the Moon using Fission Surface Power!
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/15may_stirling.htm?list1098418
OpenHPSDR Site
http://openhpsdr.org/
Jetpack addons for Firefox
https://jetpack.mozillalabs.com/
1.6TB on a DVD Sized Disk!
http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/21/
aussie-whiz-kids-can-cram-1-6tb-on-a-dvd-sized-disc-go-outback/
The 10 Year Satellite Forecast
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/05/21/037240&from=rss
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: VK7RS
160m: VK7DM
80m: VK7ZK
40m: VK7TW
20m: VK7IL
10m: VK7ZGK
UHF CB: VK7ZCR
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
*************************************************
- NEWS POSTING TO PACKET -
Courtesy Tony VK7AX VK7AX(AT)VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC
*************************************************
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