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VK7AX > NEWS 18.10.09 06:04l 513 Lines 25656 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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VK7 REGIONAL NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 18th OCTOBER 2009
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JAMBOREE ON THE AIR
As this broadcast goes to air the 52nd JOTA and the 13th JOTI (Jamboree on the Internet) is happening.
So, what is JOTA for those who don't know……
The JOTA is an annual event in which Scouts and Guides all over the world speak to each other by means of amateur radio contacts. Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared, via the radio waves.
When Scouts want to meet young people from another country they usually think of attending a World Jamboree or another international gathering. But few people realize that each year about half-a-million Scouts and Guides "get together" over the airwaves for the annual Jamboree-on-the--Air (JOTA). Modern communication technology offers Scouts the exciting opportunity to make friends in other countries without even leaving home.....
Since 1958 when the first jamboree-on-the-Air was held, thousands of Scouts and Guides have "met" each other through this event. Not only is it fun to talk to Scouts from other parts of the world but it provides also a chance to find out about other countries and about Scouting elsewhere. Many contacts made during the JOTA have resulted in penpals and links between scout troops that have lasted for many years.
With no restrictions on age, on the number that can participate and at little or no expense, the JOTA provides an opportunity for Scouts and Guides to contact each other by amateur radio. The radio stations are operated by licensed amateur radio operators. Many Scouts and leaders hold licences and have their own stations, but the majority participates in the JOTA through stations operated by local radio clubs and individual radio amateurs. Today some operators even use television or computer linked communications.
The JOTA 2009 Theme is Climate Change Challenge or "C3"
World Scouting's communication theme for this year is environment, given our work and the worldwide focus on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in Copenhagen 7 - 18 December.
Therefore the "C3" is an excellent opportunity to show to the world the efforts of millions of Scouts to protect the environment and take positive action against climate change. JOTA is a real testimony to the international dimension of Scouting, where young people not only learn about new technologies, they can understand that there are millions of Scouts all over the world sharing the same vision: creating a better world!
In Tasmania in the North there are two stations operating, Peter VK7KPC is manning the one at Perth and Tony VK7YBG will be wielding the microphone at Carnacoo near Paper Beach.
In the North West it is taking place at Camps at Burnie Scout Hall, Paton Park, Ulverstone and Camp Boomerang Port Sorell these JOTA stations are being support by the NW Tasmania Amateur Television Group.
In the South there are also a number of JOTA station operating.
So, if you hear a scout and/or guide on the air calling why not go back to them and have a chat.
http://www.scout.org/en/information_events/events/jota/all_about_jota
http://www.scout.org/jota
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VK7 Regional Broadcast
Would you like to be involved?
Do you listen to the broadcast each Sunday morning on anything from 160m through to 10m or a repeater or on HF or UHF CB and you have thought to yourself…"I could do this once a month and help out every so often"…..then the Regional News Coordinator would love to hear from you.
There are always gaps in the broadcast roster and the coordinator is currently putting together the 2010 roster and it would great if we can get a few more people involved and take the load off our team even if it's only once a month.
All you need to do is put the broadcasts to air on the relevant frequency and take some callbacks at the end of proceedings and send them through to the broadcast reader either on air or email.
The Regional News Coordinator even has patch boxes, PCBs, kits and components for a very small cost if you would like to give it a go and connect the output of your VHF rig to your HF rig and do a broadcast once in a while.
If you are interested then either contact the Regional News Coordinator Justin VK7TW or let the rebroadcaster know who you are currently listening to and they will let the Coordinator know.
http://reast.asn.au/news.php#rebroadcaster
(73, Justin, VK7TW, VK7 Regional News Broadcast and News Coordinator)
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VK7 EVENTS CALENDAR
A summary of the events across VK7 over the coming months:
REAST - October 21, & 28 – ATV experimenter's nights – Queen's Domain Clubrooms – around 7:30pm.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#ATVnights
REAST – November 4 – The fun of portable HF antennas, theory and practice with Phil VK7JJ – Queen's Domain Clubrooms – 8pm
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#PortableHFAntennas
VK7SMS – November 8 – Sorell Men's Shed Tasmania Day Science Celebration – starts 9am.
http://www.sorellmensshed.org/
NTARC – November 11 – Optical Communications Talk by 7MO and 7TW – Allenvale Polytechnic Block B – 7:30pm
CCARC – December 5 – Inaugural Christmas Style Dinner / Social Evening at the Best Western Bass & Flinders Convention Room, Eastland's Drive East Ulverstone. 6.00 – 6.45 for 7.00 pm.
http://www.my-x15.net/ccarc
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Northern News
Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club
Jamboree on the Air is, well, on the air, right now! Today there are two stations operating, one at Perth where Peter VK7KPC will be in control of everything between 9am and 4pm, and Tony VK7YBG will be wielding the microphone at Carnacoo near Paper Beach between 9am and 1.30pm. Why not get on air and have a chat to a Scout or Venturer and help introduce them to the wonder of radio?
Our dinner meeting at Tranquillity Gardens was most enjoyable, where some very tasty lasagne and salad was eaten, some wine was drunk and our special guest presenter Brendan McMahon from the Bureau of Meteorology gave an excellent and fascinating presentation on all things weather – we even created an instant cloud in a bottle! Shirley VK7HSC was the winner of the basket of goodies from Lollydale, with thanks to David VK7YUM and Norma VK7FOOD for the donation.
In November, we'll have a very special presentation by Rex VK7MO and Justin VK7TW with the latest developments with their optical communications equipment. The latest development of this equipment is right at the cutting edge in this field, and looks like it will soon be able to make a contact across Bass Strait.
There has been an idea raised that we make a regular informal gathering at VK7YUM David's café at Lilydale on the last Monday of each month. What do members think about this? Have a think about it and let us know at the dinner meeting.
Also don't forget the NTARC informal gatherings at Café Lo Ena, Jimmys shopping plaza in Charles Street, on Mondays and Fridays starting around 11am. Come share a coffee and a yarn or two with us there.
Thanks from
(Jason VK7ZJA NTARC Secretary)
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NORTH WEST News
Cradle Coast Amateur Radio Club (CCARC)
CCARC News
http://www.my-x15.net/ccarc
From the President's desk,
A very good morning to all state Amateurs, I would like to take this opportunity to advise all Northern, Northwest and West Coast Amateurs and club members that I have finalized the bookings for the Cradle Coast Amateur Radio Clubs Inaugural Christmas Dinner/ Social evening at the Best Western Bass & Flinders Convention Room, Eastland's Drive East Ulverstone.
It is set for Saturday the 5th of December with a roll up time of about 6.00 – 6.45 and a sit down at 7.00 pm, the menu will be A La Cart rather than a set Christmas Style Dinner at Set prices which from all reports is favoured by most who have already put their hands up to attend.
Now, this Social gathering is open to all members of the club and anyone else that would like to come along and enjoy an evening with people interested in Radio and Electronics in general, so if there are any Northern or Southern Hams out there that would like to attend and see what we are all about by all means get in touch with me or one of our committee members and put you name down, we would really like to see you there and that goes for any Short-wave listener or CB operator that is thinking that they might like to give Amateur Radio a try, we would be only to happy to have you come along and see all the UGLY faces that you here on our frequencies.
We have chosen this venue because of passed experience when the Northwest Branch of the WIA always held their Christmas Dinner there with good reports, the Convention or Private Dinning Room allows us the make speeches, present awards, talk loudly about Radio and generally have a good time without disturbing the general public and house quests in the main dinning room, it has an a joining Bar for those who like liquid refreshments, there is quite a lot of off street parking as well.
I am hoping to organize a radio related prize to raffle off at the dinner to help raise some funds for the club and allow one lucky person to go home with something for the Shack, more info on this later, we have two more club meeting between now and the dinner so please make an effort and decide to come along to our first club Christmas dinner and make it a booming success, there are also big things in the wind as to the Joan Fudge Memorial Award which was presented each year at our Christmas dinner or last meeting for the year to the person who we considered that had contributed or put the most effort into the then Branch of the WIA, well, hopefully next year it will be put back into activity under the banner of the Cradle Coast Amateur Radio Club, it is at present being updated, more on this later.
There is a BIG year in Amateur Radio coming up in 2010, lets get active and start organizing now, if you don't you will get left at the post.
Cheers for with much more to come.
http://www.my-x15.net/ccarc
(David, VK7EX, President, CCARC)
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Southern News
Sorell Men's Shed - Tasmania Day Celebration
As heard on the National News on Sunday the 8th November the Sorell Men's Shed will be hosting a Tasmania Day Celebration and there will be many many happening at the shed throughout the day.
Some of the activities include:
- Science demonstrations..By Men and Boys by VK7MO, 7TW and 7MJ to name a few.
- Men's shed open day
- Working displays
- Wood working, metal cold bending and welding demonstrations.
- The VK7SMS station will be on the air.
- Men's shed products with show and tell.
- Old farm Machinery and
- Pre - loved items
Check out the website on the email and internet editions of this broadcast for more details as they come to hand.
www.sorellmensshed.org
(Ken VK7DY, SMS Coordinator)
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WICEN Tasmania (South) Inc
http://tas.wicen.org.au/
A Celebratory Lunch
Quick reminder of the celebratory lunch for WICEN South, Inc. and supporters, a.k.a. XYLs and other friends be they Amateurs or listeners.
The venue this time is the RIVERVIEW INN in Lower Sandy Bay, just a kilometre or so south of Blinking Billy Point.
They are not normally open at this time. So come on, help us make it a feast.
When? Saturday 28 November, 12:00 for 12:30.
However, we would like to know if you are coming, so please contact any WICEN member by 18th of November, or earlier so that we can notify the Inn.
http://tas.wicen.org.au/
(Rod, VK7TRF)
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Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania
November Presentation
REAST's November the 4th presentation is titled - The fun of portable HF antennas, theory and practice and this presentation will be from Phil Barnard VK7JJ.
Phil and Lyn (VK7FLYN) have travelled all over the place and operated mobile most of the time so, Phil will be bringing his vast experience to us.
In Phil's words the presentation....
"will cover a lot of ground, it will be fast moving and it will be fun, and it would include a squid pole but because lots of people have already done their squid poles I suggest not getting too boring with that."
Wednesday November 4 starting at 8pm – Queen's Domain clubrooms.
See you there.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#PortableHFAntennas
(REAST Committee)
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Information/Item Wanted
We are missing the hand microphone from the Kenwood TS-930 of VK7OTC.
Can the person who has it please return it, no questions asked.
Or any information about it.
Many thanks
(Gavin O'Shea, VK7HGO, REAST President)
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REAST ATV Experimenters Night
We had a great roll-up last Wednesday night with a very special quest that Ken VK7DY brought along. Gary Briant VK3KYF who is the President of the VK3 Sunraysia Radio Group based in Mildura.
Ken VK7TW and Justin VK7TW interviewed Garry on air and we found out what make Garry tick and what the Sunraysia Radio club gets up to.
Thanks to Garry and Ken. It was also great to see Reg VK7KK along for the night.
Justin VK7TW then took the audience through a show and tell and demonstration of what other functions a Grid Dip oscillator could be used for which included:
- Resonance Testing of circuits
- Calculating an unknown L or C value with know component values and finding the resonant frequency
- Q Factor measurements for inductors
- Absorption wave meter testing of tank circuits
- Field strength meter
- Signal generator
- Measuring the length of a coax using the open circuit ¼ wavelength or shorted ½ wavelength method; and,
- A crystal oscillator
Paul VK7FPAH was then interviewed about his construction of a Quadrifiliar 137MHz satellite antenna and we checked it's resonance and discussed on air the problems Paul was having with the performance of the antenna. Watch this space as there case is certainly not closed….HIHI.
We finished up with some great videos from the STEREO Heliospheric satellites which showed real solar flare activity and Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) events that have been captured by the satellites that are currently monitoring the sun.
We will have another cram packed session this Wednesday night so why not come along and see what we get up to.
We will be continuing to prepare the new ATV studio and hanging some of the conduit to provide structured cabling paths around the studio.
STOP PRESS - We have taken delivery of the new DVB-T DATV transmitter components and this is currently being housed in a suitable rack box along with the power amplifier.
See you on Wednesday around 7:30pm for another night of great experimenting and ATV.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#ATVnights
(73, Justin, VK7TW)
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Amateur Satellite News
IRLP Reflector Change for future AMSAT-VK nets
Tony VK3JED let's us know via the AMSAT-VK mailing list that the Australian IRLP and EchoLink infrastructure is in the middle of some major changes.
A new IRLP reflector has been established in Adelaide, to complement the existing system in Sydney. As a result of these changes, *VK3JED* has now permanently become integrated with IRLP reflector 9558, so IRLP users should connect directly to reflector 9558.
I will be maintaining a link to 9509 for a few months, to give time for publicity to propagate through AR magazine and other information outlets, but 9509 will eventually be dropped, so other people can use that channel.
So, for future AMSAT-VK nets, IRLP users should connect to reflector 9558. EchoLink users continue to connect to *VK3JED* or *AMSAT*.
(73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL via the AMSAT-VK Mailing List)
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TEchnology News
A serving of digital soup
In 2009 we're all familiar with the term `digital'. We now have digital TV, digital set-top boxes, digital radio, our music library is stored in digital format and so on. We look at the 50-inch LCD in the lounge room, pause for a second, take a look at the picture and think, well that was five grand well spent.
If John Laws was still broadcasting, we may have found it difficult to recognise those familiar dulcet tones broadcast in crystal clear digital audio. But digital technologies bring huge improvements in what we see and hear and it is truly a case of a very exact science manifesting itself in beautiful and simple sound and vision.
In the commercial digital two-way radio business, it's not so simple.
The same benefits that digital technologies bring to our TV and audio equipment, while still inherent in commercial two-way technologies, are drowned in a soup of commercially driven options and benefits that often confuse the user.
The simplicity of clean, clear audio has been muddied in a fiercely competitive commercial market with manufacturers bending the RF delivery medium with a bunch of different protocols.
Of course, the nuances are just enough to force the consumer into a brand choice. So let the games begin!
Taste testing the digital soup reveals a vast array of protocols offering an even vaster array of only slightly different benefits. The problem is that most of the benefits are inherent and fundamental to the digital technology so it's a case of which spices are added to make it more appealing?
Sadly, many of the key benefits of digital technology are wrapped in proprietary protocols that offer no interoperability (the ability to seamlessly communicate with different digital protocols).
The radio industry abounds with these divisive formats, that seem to spring up under strange pseudonyms at an ever-increasing rate.
Gilded with that `future of communications' slogan, they offer all of the benefits of digital technology but push interoperability to the back of the bus.
On the one hand we can enjoy the many benefits and features offered by these protocols but we could also find ourselves locked out of interoperability with other user groups who have chosen a different manufacturer's base infrastructure.
Way back in 1967 when Captain Kirk uttered those immortal words "beam me up Scotty", by all definitions he was using a digital communications device. In fact, his communicator boasted all the features inherent in today's digital two-way communications.
It had a very low noise floor, probably operating on FDMA or TDMA platforms, it had interoperability with every civilisation the Enterprise encountered, so it could have been one of the more well-known open protocols, it was IP compatible, which allowed communications directly over the ship's onboard computer and it had very wide area coverage over the subspace medium like digital trunked radio.
Kirk's communicator also had many of the features of today's digital communications such as high-speed data and voice messaging, GPS and AVL, lone worker and man-down functionality, and all of this in a small device.
We've come a long way since the early days of bouncing radio waves off the ionosphere and those noisy AM voice transmitters that needed a car boot space to mount them, but have we headed down the track of a universal communications platform?
It seems not, at least not in the commercial two-way radio business.
For some reason it seems that we need to take a great technology like digital, which offers naturally inherent benefits and features, and convolute it with branding distortions that seem at odds with the greater opportunity to facilitate a truly interoperable communications network.
The author Steve Newell has worked in the radio business for 40 years and is currently with GME as the commercial radio product manager and wrote this article for Radio Comms E-Magzine.
Online: www.gme.net.au
http://www.radiocomms.com.au/articles/35919
(Sourced from Radio Comms Online E-Mag)
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Humour to Finish
Longevity
The Horse and Mule live 30 years
And nothing know of Wines and Beers,
The Goat and Sheep at 20 die.
And never touch a Scotch or Rye,
The Cow drinks water by the Ton
And at 18 Years is almost done,
Without the aid of Rum or Gin
The Dog at 15 cashes in,
The Cat in milk and water soaks
And then in 12 short years it croaks,
The modest, sober, bone dry Hen
Lays eggs for nogs then dies at 10.
All animals are strictly dry
They sinless live, then swiftly die,
But Sinful, Ginful, Rum soaked Men
Survive for Three Score Years and 10,
And some of us, the Mighty Few
Keep drinking till we're 92!
(Sourced from "The Clubman" August 1982)
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Web & Email Edition Extra Bits!!
Some great desktop wallpapers from the Hubble telescope (Link courtesy of Roger VK7ARN):
http://hubblesite.org/gallery/wallpaper/
Think Social Media can be ignored?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIFYPQjYhv8
GDO Uses
http://www.qsl.net/m3msm/gdo/gdo.htm
http://www.ae7q.net/doc/public/dm81/Dm81.html
http://home.att.net/~w4cwg/ngdip.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dip_meter
http://www.qsl.net/yo4rlp/wshp/gdo.html
http://www.qsl.net/n4xy/gdos.html
For that high voltage experience…HIHI
http://www.ultravolt.com/
Optical Communications in Slovakia using Lasers
http://www.foton.sk/
Frequency Synthesis Circuits and Ideas
http://www.wenzel.com/documents/circuits1.htm
Greek Maths Comic is a Surprise Best Seller
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/3070/greek-maths-comic-surprise-bestseller
Juggling Re-wires Your Brain!
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/3068/how-juggling-rewires-your-brain
Googling is Good For Your Brain!!!
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/2257/googling-good-your-brain
== IN THE SKY THIS WEEK ==
(Courtesy of the ABC Science Mailing List)
The New Moon is Sunday October 18. Jupiter is easily seen as the brightest object in the evening sky. Jupiter's Moons are readily visible in binoculars or a small telescope. In the morning, Mars, Venus and Saturn are visible in the eastern sky. Red Mars is in the constellation of Gemini and forms a line with the bright stars Castor and Pollux. Bright white Venus is close to the horizon, but is still readily visible in the dawn twilight if you have a clear, unobstructed horizon. Saturn is a challenging object in the morning twilight, but becomes easier during the week as it rises. Saturn, Venus and the crescent Moon are close on Saturday October 17. This is will require a clear, level horizon to see, and probably binoculars to see faint Saturn in the twilight.
On the morning of the Thursday October 22 the Orionid meteor shower is at its peak. The meteors are best seen between 3-5 am (daylight saving time), the radiant being just under Betelgueuse, the bright red star in Orion. This year the best viewing is the morning of the 22nd, when between 4-5 am you should see a meteor every 3 minutes or so.
http://abcmail.net.au/t/662424/957242/11560/0/
Do you have some interesting internet 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
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: VK7IR
160m: VK7DM
80m: VK7TW
40m: VK7RO
20m: VK7IL
10m: VK7ZGK
UHF CB: NB
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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