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VK7AX > NEWS 22.06.08 02:36l 646 Lines 22343 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: VK7 Regional News Broadcast for 22 June 2008
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From: VK7AX@VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC
To : NEWS@WW
VK7 REGIONAL NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 22ND JUNE 2008
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2008 WIA CLUB GRANT SCHEME
As heard on the WIA National News - applications are now being
invited from affiliated WIA Clubs for the 2008 Club Grant Scheme
awards. Two categories of projects will be supported.
One category will be for useful but not innovative projects or
activities, including projects involving repeaters or associated
links. The WIA will support up to three projects in this category,
with grants up to a total of $3,000.
The other category will be for projects or activities that are
innovative. The WIA will support up to three projects in this
category, with grants up to a total of $3,000.
The Grant Committee will decide how much of the money available
will be recommended for each category.
The Rules can be found on the WIA website, as can a useful template
setting out the suggested application headings for an executive
summary identifying how the club seeks to meet the objectives of
the scheme in the category the club has selected.
Clubs are urged to carefully read both documents and ensure all
requested information is provided.
The WIA Board decided that the closing date for applications for
grants this year will be Monday 28 July 2008. Applications
received after this date will not be considered.
http://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2008/20080612-1/index.php
(Geoff Atkinson VK3AFA via the WIA website)
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VK7 EVENTS CALENDAR
And a quick reminder of the events and broadcasts across VK7:
REAST June 23 & 30th Foundation Licence Training Domain
clubrooms from around 7pm.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#FoundationLicenceCourse
REAST July 2 Telecommunications Installation in Kiribati Domain
Clubrooms 8pm
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#telecominpacific
NTARC July 9 BBQ Mt Barrow Interpretation Centre.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ntarc/
NWTARIG July 26 General Meeting - Lions Club facility, Show
Ground, West Ulverstone.
http://www2.vk7ax.id.au/nwtarig/
Sewing Circle Net Every day from 5pm on 3.59MHz
http://reast.asn.au/awards.php#sewingnet
CHARCT Quiz Net Every Thursday night from 8:30pm on 3.585MHz.
http://www.qsl.net/charct/
NWTARIG broadcasts in the South, North and NW during the week. Check
the website for details.
http://www2.vk7ax.id.au/spectrum/
REAST Every Wednesday evening from 7:30pm is the ATV Experimenter's
Night so, why not come up and see what we get up to. Check the
website for details.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#ATVnights
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MISSED THE VK7 REGIONAL NEWS BROADCAST?
Don't worry it's available along with much more either via email and
on the web each week.
Via email it comes from the VK7 Regional News email list courtesy of
Yahoo Groups.
This mailing list allows anyone to register their email address and
receive the VK7 Regional news broadcast text, WIA News, relevant ACMA
media releases and other AR news delivered free via email.
The emailed and internet versions of the Regional news also gives you
all those internet and email addresses that are not read out when it
goes to air and a special segment called Web & Email Edition Extra
Bits.
The easiest way to subscribe to the mailing list is to send a blank
email to: vk7regionalnews-subscribe(AT)yahoogroups.com
Once you become a member of the group and there are currently about
90 members you can view and search the archived broadcasts and
information emails currently numbering over 490.
OK, OK is your email mailbox too full?
Then fear not, you can also read the broadcast online at reast.asn.au
and head to the VK7 Regional News page.
http://reast.asn.au/news.php
Further details can be found in the email and internet editions of
this broadcast.
Post message: vk7regionalnews(AT)yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: vk7regionalnews-subscribe(AT)yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: vk7regionalnews-unsubscribe(AT)yahoogroups.com
Email List owner: vk7regionalnews-owner(AT)yahoogroups.com
(VK7 Regional Mailing List Moderator)
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NORTH WEST NEWS
http://www2.vk7ax.id.au/nwtarig/
Next general meeting of NWTARIG
Members in the N/West are asked to note there is NO Club Meeting in
June.
The Next General Meeting of NWTARIG is scheduled for Saturday 26th.
July at the usual Venue of the Lions Club facility, Show Ground, West
Ulverstone.
Suggest you check the Club information on the WIA Web Site under
Clubs for information.
http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk7/
Further info on the meeting will be announced closer to the meeting
date.
---------------------------------
Nightly Broadcasts From VK7AX
http://www2.vk7ax.id.au/spectrum/
As of Monday 23rd. June, the Nightly Broadcasts produced by VK7AX
will return to the 2M. Repeater VK7RAA, commencing initially with the
Q5 Education Hour program.
There is also the possibility of the program Tech Talk Radio being
aired on Friday Nights. Other programs may also follow if required by
listeners in the North.
Listeners please note that the airing times for ALL the Nightly
Broadcasts will move from 1930 Hrs. (7.30PM) to 2000 Hrs (8.00PM) as
of Monday Night 23rd.
This change in times is a result of listeners advising that the later
time slot of 2000 Hrs. would be more suitable for most, given late
meal times etc.
73's until next time.
(Tony VK7AX, President, NWTARIG)
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NORTHERN NEWS
Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club News
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ntarc/
Junes monthly meeting just recently held at Alanvale TAFE had Norm
VK7AC showing his very impressive collection of QSL cards, as well as
his HF equipment which included an Icom IC-7800 and a linear
amplifier that wouldn't look out of place in a small broadcasting
facility. I can tell you there were several amateurs who left the
meeting quite envious of the items on display. Thanks for bringing
along your station to show us, Norm.
NTARC is offering some coffee mugs personalised with an amateur radio
theme. The mugs feature several befitting radio scenes as a
background, and is a great way to show the pride you have in your
hobby. They're available in two colour schemes, and cost $20 each.
If you're interested, come take a look at a sample coffee mug made up
for David VK7YUM at the Hunga Munga cafι. If you like the look of
them, and we're sure you will, leave your name with David, or email
club secretary Jason VK7ZJA on vk7zja(AT)wia.org.au and we will put
together an order for your own personalised coffee mug.
Jason, VK7ZJA has been having a bit of fun with a cheap but
surprisingly capable portable HF communications receiver. Mike VK7
triple-V first started the trend by taking a chance on a little Degen
DE1103 receiver and made mention that they were a very good little
radio. Intrigued, Jason also recently acquired one and took it to a
working trip to King Island recently where the results were quite
impressive. Small as a paperback novel, quite sensitive, SSB
reception capable with digital PLL tuning, and much more capable than
its size or price tag would suggest, it provided many hours of very
enjoyable impromptu DX'ing. If you're looking for a small HF
portable receiver perhaps as a backup to your main communications
receiver, or you're just starting out in HF and want something to
casually tune the bands, Jason thinks you could do a lot worse than
one of these little receivers.
Thanks from
(Jason VK7ZJA, NTARC Secretary)
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SOUTHERN NEWS
WICEN Tasmania (South) - Field Weekend
http://tas.wicen.org.au/
Members gathered at The Lea Scout Camp, between Hobart and Kingston,
for a social weekend interspaced with various activities. VK7s ARN,
FCDW, FTWS, JGD, MAX, NXX, TPE, TRF and ZZ were the mainstays with
visits by FREK, FTAZ, RO, and TAS. It was great to have Peter VK7KPC
also join us on both days with interesting gear to show.
The weekend was centred at the Storm Hut at the top of The Lea with
accommodation within and around. A 10:00 kick off saw HF, 2m. 70cm,
APRS and NVIS stations established, before a general meeting leading
up to lunch centred on a spit roast by grand chef Chris FCDW.
Saturday afternoon included dual band dipole construction led by
Garry VK7JGD and show and tell of back packable APRS trackers by
Roger VK7ARN and Peter VK7KPC.
Take-away kebabs fed the majority for dinner with the more fastidious
campervan folk preferring their own culinary delights. After dinner
entertainment started with John VK7ZZ (locally known as ZZinbad for
all sorts of reasons well captured by the name) showing electronic
slides and telling us of his recent voyage from Chile to ports
Antarctic. Apparently, he didn't endear himself to some of the
expeditioners at one of the stations visited when he asked if they
had any good penguin recipes! More penguins followed with a showing
of the excellent DVD from James Brooks 9V1YC on the Kerguelen 2005
FT5XO DXpedition. Those over fond of their own beds departed for the
night, to return in the morning, leaving the stayers to yarn on until
bed time.
Sunday morning included some repeater trouble shooting during the
regional broadcast and HF maritime contacts until the stay at homers
returned for a showing of JGD's video of the extraction of the rare
grid square team from Cape Hauy, a look at an NVIS PowerPoint
presentation, some on screen APRS and an introduction to Radio Mobile
propagation mapping software. Show and tells included Stu VK7NXX
with his newly built DFing yagi. John VK7ZZ amazed all with his golf
ball shooting compressed air canon. We didn't see the golf ball
again but we did recover Rod VK7TRF who disappeared in far off places
whilst seeking it. Home work is to devise a way to attach the string
to the ball. Peter VK7KPC showed off his squid pole HF vertical
before departing for the north of the state.
After a quick lunch, the station was dismantled, the Storm Hut
cleaned up and all had departed by mid afternoon. The general
consensus being that it was an enjoyable weekend and the open log
fire a life saver.
(Roger VK7ARN)
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Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania
A Reminder
To Un-Financial REAST members.
REAST is now providing financial support for most of the Southern
Repeaters and your membership will help in keeping this support on
going.
So just think next time you use a repeater that they do cost money to
maintain for your use.
Please consider your membership and your support for the club is most
appreciated.
Many Thanks
(Gavin, VK7HGO, Vice President)
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The Pacific Solution - Telecommunications - Pacific Islander Style
As heard on the WIA National News - REAST's July presentation will be
by Phil Tompson VK7SS and Malcolm Crosse from Novaris and Powercom
and they have agreed to give a talk on the installation of
telecommunications, radio and TV on the islands of Kiribati.
There are many interesting stories of the challenges encountered when
providing these modern services to a small Pacific country.
This should be another fascinating talk on July 2, 2008 at 8pm in the
Queen's Domain clubrooms.
See you there.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#telecominpacific
(REAST Committee)
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Southern JOTA 2008 Help
Due to a clash of events this year the WICEN South team will be
involved with an Endurance Ride for most of the week end.
I am after people to help out with this years JOTA which is a very
special event this year marking 100 Years of Scouting in Australia.
If you would like to be part of this special event please let me know
ASAP so we can get it all set up, yes it is 4 months away but you
know how time gets away with us.
Contact me on phone 62724437 or mobile 0407 724 431 or on repeater
2/5 or VK7RAF.
(Gavin, VK7HGO, REAST Vice President, JOTA Co-ordinator)
----------------------------------------------------------
REAST Education & Training
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#TrainingCourses
This Monday night the 23rd and the 30th will be Foundation Licence
training sessions starting at 7pm in the clubrooms. If you are
wanting to sit the Foundation Licence assessment then grab a
Foundation Licence Manual from McCann's Model World and start
reading.
The Sessions will be running through the manual using the training
powerpoint slides and covering the areas that need clarification and
additional training. It will be assumed that you have read the manual.
At the end of the night of 23rd Ian and Justin will assess whether
another night on the 30th will be needed. An assessment date will
then be set.
See you there.
And remember, Foundation Licence Manuals and CD's are available for
purchase at McCann's Model World in Elizabeth St. Hobart at $20.
(Only the first edition is available at this stage).
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#FoundationLicenceCourse
(Ian VK7QF, REAST Assessor)
----------------------------------------------------------
ATV Experimenters Night
Last Wednesday night was another great night at the ATV studio with
many amateurs coming along to see what we get up to.
Thanks to Richard VK7RO we had a presentation from the 2006 NZART
conference in Christ Church on Radio Astronomy by Clive Rowe.
This presentation covered many aspects of Radio Astronomy along with
many examples and beautiful pictures of galaxies and astronomical
phenomenon using different radio astronomy techniques.
Thanks to Ric VK7RO for the DVD of this presentation.
This week's ATV session will be something a little different. Our ATV
transmitter is having some TLC so whilst that is happening we will be
providing an information/training session for prospective foundation
and standard licensees to give you a chance to ask questions and run
through some of the areas that need some additional material to help
them pass their assessment.
See you there.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#ATVnights
(Justin, VK7TW)
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AMATEUR SATELLITE NEWS
PreSat and NanoSail-D CubeSats Launch on June 23
Santa Clara University students invite amateur radio operators
worldwide to participate with them by receiving beacon signals from
PreSat and NanoSail-D, two pioneering cubesat missions that were
expected to be launched from the Reagan Test Site on June 23, 2008.
Both spacecraft will go into Low Earth Orbit as secondary payloads
aboard a SpaceX Falcon-1 launch vehicle into a 685x330 km, 9 degree
inclination orbit.
PreSat is a 10 x 10 x 30 cm. spacecraft, operating at 437.318 MHz FM,
will send an AX.25 packet every 5 seconds. The mission will evaluate
the performance of a generic biofluidic sample management and
handling system for future advanced in situ spaceborne biology
experiments.
NanoSail-D is a 10 x 10x 30 cm. spacecraft, operating at 437.269 MHz
FM, sending an AX.25 packet every 10 seconds, will deploy a solar
sail that also will be used as a drag sail to demonstrate orbital
debris mitigation technology.
Amateur radio operators are encouraged to submit received beacon
packets through the mission websites in order to receive a web-based
QSL card.
Web links are available on the email and internet editions of this
broadcast.
PreSat - http://www.presat.org
NanoSail-D - http://www.nanosaild.org
And a reminder that the CUTE-1.7 + APD-II Satellite Camera has been
activated and there are some special photographs starting to appear
from the satellite.
http://lss.mes.titech.ac.jp/ssp/cute1.7/blog/080601_Picture_180degRota
ted.jpg
JA1GDE created a diagram showing the area captured in the photograph:
http://lss.mes.titech.ac.jp/ssp/cute1.7/blog/080601_Picture_JA1GDE.jpg
Additional photos from the satellite camera can be seen at:
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/cut17apd.htm#bottom
And most of the Keplerian Element sources have now been updated with
the keps for these satellites.
(AMSAT News Service and Mike Miller, KE7EGC)
----------------------------------------------------------
MORSE NEWS
The Garden Fence
The following small segment is sourced from the FISTS UK newsletter
for June 2008 and is dedicated to the un-sung heroes of FISTS (dare I
say all radio amateurs). The XYL's (or OM's) that let us play radio.
Lets face it some times we can get a little carried away with our
hobby. Here's a example, one of FISTS admin staff who will remain
nameless waited for his wife to go to work one morning and then got
friends around to put up a 40ft vertical pole in the middle of their
garden with another pole at the bottom to allow a 80m Windom to be
put up, he didn't have nice neat guy wires but instead used thick
white rope, and lots of it, it was guyed to fences, sheds and
anything that was in the right place. To say his wife was not
impressed on her return was an understatement.
Never the less he got way with it for about a year or so. I don't
think it impressed the neighbours to much either as soon after he got
a visit from the council planning dept. But since the chap that
called was interested in "ham" radio our man got away with it. It
took a full year before the nagging level persuaded Him that it may
be a better plan to take down the "ships mast" as the neighbours
called it and replace it with a simple and much more discreet end fed
long wire. I'm not so sure that he would be so understanding if his
wife had decided to convert the living room into a pottery studio or
the like to satisfy her hobbies!
It's probably a good idea to say thanks to your partner every so
often for their understanding. It's nice to say thanks.
The editor of FISTS UK newsletter is even brave enough to invite
feedback from disgruntled partners, inviting advice for other "Morse
Wives".
The editor comments that at rallies/hamfests we meet many wives of
members that have been dragged to the show for the day. To these
women I am very grateful for allowing their partners to come over and
say hello. I know I'm lucky, my wife, Anne, has allowed me to get
away with all sorts of radio antics over the years and doesn't seem
to mind me spending days at rallies promoting FISTS.
To all those radio amateur wives and partners who get dragged along
we salute you.
http://www.fists.co.uk/
(FISTS UK Newsletter KeyNote - June 2008 Edition)
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TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Nike Sportsband
The following is a summary of a review of small piece of technology
to assist those runners in our midst. We have all seen and some have
probably used the walking computers that show you distance and some
show energy burnt, etc.
Well Nike have taken it one step further and produced the SportsBand.
The SportBand straps on your arm or wrist and has a wireless sensor
that plugs into your Nike or other training shoes.
This sensor transmits a signal and there can be upto eight sensors
signalling the one SportsBand.
When you have finished your run you pop the face of the watch out and
straight into your computer's USB port and download the stats from
your run. The small batteries are charged from the USB port and last
about 14 hours for 2 hours of charging.
The device needs to be calibrated and the two button interface is
easy to use to start and stop the recording of the run and switch
back to a watch function.
The product sells for about 40 UK pounds.
http://stuff.tv/blogs/sport/archive/2008/04/16/nike-sportband-
review.aspx
(Stuff.tv website)
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WEB & EMAIL EDITION EXTRA BITS!!
AR Crosswords
http://www.arrl.org/news/puzzles/2008/06/13/?nc=1
Something for Nothing Thanks to VK7FCDW
http://www.greenenergywatch.com.au/freelightbulbs.php
Morse Key Restoration
http://www.wrsmithclocks.com/books.htm
National Science Week in August
http://www.scienceweek.info.au/Pages/index.aspx
Southern Skywatch
http://home.mira.net/~reynella/skywatch/ssky.htm
The father of radio astronomy Grote Reber
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/inconversation/stories/2008/2272907.htm
CatV Wedding Set
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10501732
Video Game Cufflinks!!
http://www.cufflinks.com/vigacu.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
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?
----------------------------------------------------------
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
----------------------------------------------------------
Finally today, a reminder to those people rostered for next week's
broadcasts:
Newsreader: VK7IR
160m: VK7DM
80m: VK7TW
40m: VK7RO
20m: VK7PP
10m: VK7ZGK
UHF CB: VK7FTAZ
HF CB: VK7TED
Thanks to all people and organisations who assisted with this
broadcast.
----------------------------------------------------------
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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