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VK National News 11Augl24
Text edition:
Weekly news from the WIA:
MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2024-08-11.mp3
Text edition:
2024 AUGUST 11 VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA
------------------------------------------------------------*
THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK
THIS LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN
tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
------------------------------------------------------------*
NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING AUGUT 11 2024
IN OUR 29th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS
THIS WEEK:-
WIA Director Lee Moyle VK3GK
PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA.
I'M EDITOR GRAHAM VK4BB
WIA
JOIN THE WIA
tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y
This is WIA Director Lee Moyle VK3GK
Tokyo Hamfair is nearly upon us in two weeks and the WIA will be well represented. Travelling in our VK group is about 10 VK hams. IARU region 3 Director Oscar Reyes VK3TX and ex WIA director Chris Platt VK5CP are joining with several North East Radio Group members. WIA directors Chris VK3FY and Myself VK3GK are planning to meet with a number of the attending IARU representatives including JARL, RAST, MARTS, PARA and other Region 3 Societies. Discussion topics will include the harmonization of the 40m band plan, youth in amateur radio and dealing with intruders in our amateur bands.
The IARU plays an important role within amateur radio strategizing and representing our needs for keeping the amateur radio bands allocated to us as Commercial interests continue to encroach on our allocations especially in the VHF and UHF segments.
Peter Young VK3MV has accepted to represent the WIA and its members at the IARU Region 3 conference in Thailand in early November 2024. We are very lucky to have such a knowledgeable and dedicated person at our disposal to attend. Peter was the IARU Region 3 Director for many years.
The WIA allocates funding for IARU representation as it is very important for the future of amateur radio to have a voice at these meetings.
While on the topic of IARU and 40m band plans, dont forget that the WIA is seeking feedback from all amateurs on a number of issues relating to the band to then use as input to the IARU Region 3 conference in November 2024.
The main problems affecting the basic 40m band plan alignment can be summarised as:
1) inconsistent IARU member society band plans.
2) specific national regulatory conditions/constraints (e.g. the FCC in the USA)
3) legacy band plan allocations that havent been revised following the band expansion granted at WRC2003 (prior to which the 40m band was only 100 kHz wide)
4) The wider use and uptake of data modes such as FT8 and FT4 also has also called into question whether sufficient band space has been defined to support this level of data mode activity on the 40m band.
The consultation paper is now available below and members and general amateur radio operators are both invited to respond via the tac(at)wia.org.au email address no later than the 6th of September with your feedback.
The paper is available to read on the WIA website via a link provided in the text version: IARU Region 3 - HF 40m Band Plan Challenges & Proposals 2024_3.1.pdf
Thats all for this week, for now, 73 From Lee VK3GK
AUSTRALIANA
Defence is set to run a feasibility trial of four containerised
computer rooms that could make life easier for IT teams that support
joint land force operations.
itnews.com.au say "currently, the equipment is rack-mounted in
ruggedized transportable transit cases. These transit cases must be
packed, unloaded, the hardware assembled, then wired and configured in
the deployed environment (typically inside tents) which involves
lengthy set up and pack up times, constraining the ADFs ability to
quickly establish and reconstitute as needed to meet the required
operational tempo.
Hosting the systems in small shipping containers would reduce setup
times and better protect IT equipment in a range of operating
conditions.
The feasibility trial forms part of works associated with the
Commonwealth Land Command, Control, Communications and Computing (LC4)
program.
The program is intended to modernise and enhance LC4 systems in order
to deliver decision-making superiority and improve the command and
control, intelligence, sensors, and weapon system effectors, essential
for the conduct of joint land force operations, Australian Defence
said.
------------------------------------------------------------*
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to ARRL, DX-WORLD, eHam, Hackaday,
IARU, ICQPodcast, IRTS, NEWSLINE, NZART, RAC, Radioworld.com, RSGB,
SARL and the World Wide sources of the WIA.
CANADA
There have been several recent reports from RAC members of phishing
attempts by someone purporting to be from Radio Amateurs of Canada
or who is forwarding a message on their behalf.
Phishing attacks come from scammers disguised as trustworthy sources
and can facilitate access to all types of sensitive data. As
technologies evolve, so do cyberattacks. Microsoft
Phishing attempts use publicly available information to fake
legitimacy. In some cases they use the names and contact information
of RAC officials to gain your trust. For example, a recent phishing
attempt used the fake heading Minutes and Announcements 8/2/2024
and states: Youve received an secure message from Phil A McBride
from Radio Amateurs of Canada. It then instructs recipients to save
and open an attachment and then sign in using their own email address.
IN THESE CASES Please do not follow the instructions!
IRELAND
ComReg Radio Spectrum Management Operating Plan Consultation.
ComReg has announced an open consultation regarding a Radio Spectrum
Management Operating Plan for 2025 to 2028.
Amateur radio is a part of this consultation.
They note several areas of focus affecting the 2,216 radio amateurs
currently licensed by them. They welcome responses from all
stakeholders and will review and consider all responses received.
Once this process is complete, ComReg will issue a final decision.
They have set a deadline of 5 p.m. on the 30th of August 2024 for
submissions.
Further information including the consultation document itself may be
found via the news section of ComReg's website which is available at
comreg.ie
BOUVET
Possible return to Bouvet Island in January 2026
Plans are afoot for another DX-pedition to Bouvet Island at the end of
next year or early 2026.
The 3 Y 0 K team will consist of up to 20 or more operators with
extensive experience in DX-pedition and contesting. The current plan
for their 1.6-million-dollar budget adventure is to stay for three
weeks around Bouvet Island using a large vessel and helicopter to get
to the island itself.
NEW YORK USA
Pay up, Johnny Peralta.
Thats the message from the Federal Communications Commission, which
has confirmed a penalty of more than $2.3 million against Peralta for
allegedly operating a pirate station on 105.7 MHz in the Bronx in
New York City.
The word flagrant does not appear in the text of the forfeiture
order, but perhaps it should have.
Peralta has engaged in the longstanding illicit operation of an
unauthorized radio station, known as La Mia Radio, the FCC wrote
in its forfeiture order.
Some of the most egregious pirate radio operations are run by
individuals who have ignored prior enforcement actions by the
commission. This is one such case. As such, it merits the strongest
possible enforcement measures to the fullest extent of the law.
The FCC said then that the station has continually identified itself
on the air as La Mia Radio since at least 2018. It said its
enforcement activity over several years included multiple field
strength readings, photos of antenna equipment and a notice of
unauthorized operation left at the site. The antenna appears to have
moved between a couple of locations.
NW ZEALAD
While some international broadcasters are switching off their
shortwave transmitters, Radio New Zealand Pacific is investing
in the medium.
On August 1, the broadcaster put online a brand-new 100 kW
shortwave transmitter. The new transmitter replaces a 33-year-old
RNZ Pacific Transmitter 1 installed in 1989 near Taup in
central North Island.
Part of a NZ$4.4 million project to improve RNZ Pacifics
capabilities, the new transmitter supports both DRM digital
and analogue operation.
The switch-on was observed by NZ's Foreign Affairs Minister
Winston Peters and dignitaries from Kiribati, the Cook Islands,
Samoa, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands from RNZ House
in Wellington, while another RNZ delegation was at the
Rangitaiki transmitter site.
It [shortwave] was very important back then [when the then New
Zealand Broadcasting Service launched in 1948], but its still
seriously important now, said the Minister. Shortwave is the most
certain system there is to make sure that in a crisis, tsunami or
cyclone, we can get through to them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATIONAL NEWS - A FELIX VK4FUQ PRESENTATION
--------------
--------------
NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2024
--------------
--------------
This weekend you can participate in the second leg of the SARL Youth
QSO Party to celebrate International Youth Day on 12 August.
This South African QSO Party is CW and PHONE on 40 metres
The exchange is a RS or RST report and the operators age.
A little later we'll have more youth orientated news when Alec joins
us with his YOTA segment.
-----------------
AUGUST 17 - 18
Remembrance Day Contest.
Amateurs will endeavour to contact amateurs in VK call areas,
ZL and P29 on all bands except WARC bands. Modes allowed are PHONE,
CW and RTTY as per the era remembered
Again the 2024 contest is 17th & 18th August.
-----------------------------
44th A.L.A.R.A. CONTEST AND this ALARA contest is ALWAYS held on the
last FULL weekend of August.
YLs work everyone; OMs work YLs only.
STARTS: Saturday 25th August 2024 at 0600 hours UTC
ENDS: Sunday 26th August 2024 at 0559 hours UTC
SUGGESTED FREQUENCIES: All HF Bands except 160m & WARC Bands.
Contacts made on ECHOLINK will also be accepted.
(alara web page)
-------------
Oceania DX Contest
This years contest will be held on October 5th and 12th
-------------------
YOTA CONTEST
Youth on the air test 3 of 3 will be from 10:00 to 21:59 UTC on
29 December on the five classic bands CW and SSB.
(yota)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.
----------
NEW ZEALAND
NZART has a special event call sign for the upcoming America's Cup to
be held in Spain later this year. ZL 6 AMCUP has been allocated to
celebrate this event with Phil Garside ZL2RO as the trustee of the
callsign. November 30 is when ZLCAMCUP goes off air.
(NZART)
--------------
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Radio Belgrade, the Belgrade
Amateur Radio Club is active as YT 100 RB and YU 1924 RB until
November 30. For details of a certificate that is available, see
yu1ano.org
(rsgb)
--------------
OL 80 C.A.R.B.O.N. is active until the 30th of November to mark the
80th anniversary of Operation Carbon during World War Two. This
operation involved the dropping of paratroopers in the Protectorate of
Bohemia and Moravia.
The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was a partially-annexed
territory of Nazi Germany that was established in 1939 after the
German occupation of the Czech lands
A team of operators is active using call OL 80 CARBON on CW, SSB and
digital modes on the HF bands.
More information is available on QRZ.com
--------
In the World of DX, be listening for members of the Zurich City
Police Radio Amateur Club throughout the year, operating as HB 2 SP
the club is marking its 20th anniversary. Unfortunately no Bureau
QSL's but you can use Logbook Of The World, and HB20SP runs until
December 31.
(sourced to ARNewsLine 2410)
--------------
Listen throughout the year for the special callsign 9 A 1 RKZ
marking the 100th anniversary of the Radioklub Zagreb which was
founded the 24th of March 1924 in Croatia
QSL via 9A1ADE.
(ARNewsLine 2410)
----------------------------
Y
Listen for TM 24 JOL until 11th of August, and also TM 24 JPO between
the 28th of August and the 8th of September.
TM24JOL will be for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, followed by the
call for the Paralympic Games, TM24JPO
QSL these 2 stations by the operators home station F 8 GGZ
(dx net)
-----------
Y
DOGDAY AFTERNOON
The global efforts of amateur radio operators are calling attention to
the urgent needs of abandoned, abused, neglected and homeless dogs by
operating special event stations in Europe and the US to mark
International Dog Day.
This year will be the largest such activation among hams as Hanz,
YL3JD, who originated the special event, will be on the air as YL1DOG
for all of August and September. Chris G5VZ and David G4YVM will be on
the air as GB0DOG and GB4DOG, respectively. Listen for Chris on air
now until the 26th of August and for David till the 27th of August.
In the US, a team coordinated by Caryn KD2GUT, will be calling QRZ
with the special event callsign K2D from the 21st to the 26th of
August.
International Dog Day is August 26th. The hams are hoping to spotlight
the need for rescue, assistance, adoption and donation around the
world.
Visit the website dogdayradio.org
As I said, National Dog Day is celebrated on August 26 each year BUT
other 'dog' days include National Walking the Dog Day on Feb 22,
National Hug Your Hound Day on September 11, and National Puppy Day
March 23 oh meanwhile, Cat Day will begin with special event
operations on August 8th listen for YL1CAT, GB4CAT and GB9CAT.
(daily ham weekly - days of the year)
----------
Y
Special callsign HF 25 NATO is active until the 31st of August,
marking the 25th anniversary of Poland joining the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization. Certificates and limited-edition QSL cards are
available. Visit QRZ.com for details.
(ARNewsLine 2428)
--------------
--------------
Y
NEW ZEALAND - Wireless and Wool ZM 100 DX
Celebrating Historic 100 Year Trans World Radio Contact
This contact was by Morse and was the first ever, trans-world two-way
radio communication of any type. It was from Shag Valley Station,
Otago and the contact was with Cecil Goyder G2SZ at Mill Hill School,
London.
ZM100DX as well as ZL4AA will be on air on site in Shag Valley Sheep
Station.
The main planned contact is between Shag Valley sheep Station and
Mill Hill School 18th October and other celebration events are
planned for the following day or two.
NZART Branch 30 sincerely invites all amateurs to take part in this
celebration and join in marking the 100th year since the original
qso.
zl4aa.org.nz/zl4aa/history/z4aa-transworld-contact
(sourced to NZART Infoline)
------------------------------------------------------------*
WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS
SUMMITS ON THE AIR, WORLD WIDE FLORA, FAUNA PROGRAM,
PARKS ON THE AIR and other ADVENTURE GROUPS.
hema.org.uk/index.jsp
minesontheair.com/about-mota
parksontheair.com/
sota.org.uk
sotawatch.sota.org.uk/en/
facebook.com/SotaAustralia/
wwffaustralia.com/
https://bunkersontheair.wixsite.com/october23
No no mountain tops, no trekking through parks or beaches this week,
instead we are taking it easy.
MOTORHOMEING
An Amateur Radio Facebook group for those of us who like getting out
and about in our Motorhomes, Campervans and caravans. Seeing the world
whilst enjoying our radio hobby. All radio enthusiasts from anywhere
in the world are welcome to join this FaceBook group set up initially
in Great Britain.
facebook.com/groups/3560414757562226/?ref=share_group_link
(arnewsline)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY (and Wireless Weather)
SUNSPOT COUNTS HIT A 23-YEAR HIGH:
The sun is partying like it's 2001. That's the last time sunspot
counts were as high as they are now. The monthly average sunspot
number for July 2024 was 196.5, according to the Royal Observatory
of Belgium's Solar Influences Data Analysis Centre. This eclipses
every month since Dec. 2001:
Solar Cycle 25 wasn't expected to be this strong. When it began in
Dec. 2019, experts predicted it would be a weak cycle like its
immediate predecessor Solar Cycle 24. If that forecast had panned out,
Solar Cycle 25 would be one of the weakest solar cycles in a century.
Instead, Solar Cycle 25 has shot past Solar Cycle 24 and may be on
track to rival some of the stronger cycles of the 20th century.
Already in May 2024 we have experienced a century-class geomagnetic
storm with auroras sighted here in Australia, the South Pacific,
central America and south Africa.
The last time sunspot numbers were this high, the sun was on the verge
of launching the Great Halloween Storms of 2003, which included the
strongest X-ray solar flare ever recorded (X45) and a CME so powerful
it was ultimately detected by the Voyager spacecraft at the edge of
the solar system.
Is this Solar Max?
The jury is still out
(eHam)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MARITIME
INCLUDING ILLW NEWS - ILLW 17th August 2024 to 18th August 2024
EI 2 WRC will activate Hook Lighthouse ILLW reference IE 0003 on
Saturday and Sunday the 17th and 18th of August for the 27th
International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend.
The present structure at Hook is about 800 years old and is the oldest
intact operational lighthouse in the world.
This makes it the most sought-after lighthouse for this great event!
(irts)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
(Youngsters On The Air)
facebook.com/yotaregion2
facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
twitter.com/hamyota
ham-yota.com
Elmer Special Event Honours Mentors
I came across this notification from Rich, KB1FGC, the other day and
I think it's well worth sharing so, I'll read his email.>
"Hello, KB1FGC here and I am hosting my 3rd Elmer special event on
October 18 to October 20.
This year we have 3 calls signs, W1E, W3E and W4E. It is in honour of
many hams who have mentored new hams over the years. We have about
12 operators this year.
This Elmer event started 3 years ago when I found out that a single
operator could host their own special event.
I realized that I had never seen an event held for honouring all the
amateurs who helped out new hams entering the hobby. So the idea was
born and the first one was 2022. This year, 2024, I have 3 webpages on
QRZ.com that tell about the event.
The calls signs are:
W1E/Elmer
W3E/Elmer
W4E/Elmer "
Great work Rich and of course great work all those who have helped we
"newbies" join the wonderful World of Ham Radio.
(ard)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO
INDIA
In the aftermath of the devastating landslides that struck Wayanad,
ham radio enthusiasts have stepped up establishing a vital
communication network that has been crucial for rescue efforts and
saving lives.
The amateur radio system, set up by volunteer operators at the
District Collector's office in Kalpetta, has been providing
essential information to both affected communities and authorities.
This system has proven indispensable as mobile phone services were
available only to s select few.
District Collector D R Meghashree reached out to the ham radio
operators, and they have been instrumental in keeping the lines of
communication open.
tinyurl.com/nhkwxbvm
MALAYSIA
Hams took part in a mass disaster communication simulation exercise
to transmit messages across 30 hills and mountain peaks in their
Nation recently.
The event was organised by the Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitters
Society (MARTS) that was set up in 1952.
Its president Mohd Aris Bernawi, said the exercise was to establish
the locations where two-way radio communication can be carried in the
event landlines, Internet and mobile phone communication had to be
shut down due to large-scale disasters.
The floods in Pahang and Selangor in 2014 and 2021, respectively,
rendered landlines and other digital networks unusable due to the
need to shut off electricity.
The Malaysian Newspaper THE STAR in reporting on this said Radio
communication can also be useful when there are large-scale forest
fires where electricity and communication cable lines are located.
Among peaks chosen for the exercise was at the National Planetarium
in Kuala Lumpur, using the call sign 9 M 2 RPN.
Marts member Hamdan Abu, who coordinated the locations, chose the
planetarium because it was located more than 150m above sea level.
(eHam)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- VHF AND ABOVE.
Monday the 5th of August 2024, Andrew VK3CV and Noel VK3NH completed a
QSO on the 241GHz (1mm) band. This is the highest frequency allocated
Amateur band here in VK.
The QSO was completed over a path of 10.8 km from the Skyhigh
restaurant on Mount Dandenong to an elevated location in Ringwood
with both stations operating portable. Signal reports were 5x5 from
VK3NH and 4x8 from VK3CV, Some QSB was evident but it was quite slow
and not deep.
Atmospheric conditions were definitely not ideal with the barometer
reading 1022 and a temperature of 13.4 degrees at Ringwood and
10 degrees at Mount Dandenong, the relative humidity was 72%. These
figures are very detrimental to long range communication at 241 GHz
due to added atmospheric losses of, in this case, around 30dB.
Note that this atmospheric loss is in addition to the normal free
space path loss.
The home brew equipment used is based on a single integrated RF
millimetre wave chip, the TRA_240_091. The chip is made by Indie
semiconductor (Formerly Silicon Radar) from Germany. The chips are
designed for use in materials inspection and automotive collision
avoidance and cabin passenger detection. The chips have been
re-purposed for use as an FM or CW transmitter and as a down converter
to a two meter I.F. (144.100 MHz). The TRA_240_091 covers the entire
Amateur primary and secondary allocations in this band from 241 to 250
GHz. TX power is around 1 milliwatt and the RX noise floor is
around -120dBm in a 3KHz bandwidth. The equipment design is similar to
that used previously on the 122GHz and 134GHz Amateur bands.
Further work needs to be done with the antenna system which consists
currently of discarded satellite TV dishes which are meant for use at
up to 15GHz, so using the dishes at 241GHz results in very poor
efficiency due to dish shape inaccuracies.
More results will be reported once they occur.
Some of the activities are shown on the VK3CV YouTube channel :
youtu.be/BsZi0sKwFNM
(Andrew Anderson VK3CV)
------------------------------------------------------------*
2024 IT'S A DATE
Clubs are welcome to email text with audio for this section
Details of all WIA affiliated clubs and societies can be found
on the WIA website, including email addresses and website links.
----------------------------
VK3 - Bendigo AR & Electronics Club RadioFest August 18 (vk3gtv)
VK4 - Redcliffe Club Car Boot Sale Saturday 24 August at the
club house, MacFarlane Park, Kippa Ring. (vk4tn)
VK4 - SUNFEST Saturday September 14 at Coolum Civic Centre. (vk4vp)
VK6 - PerthTech 2024 Sept 21 for 2 days at Gidgegannup (vk6pop)
VK4 - GOLD COAST HAMFEST OCTOBER 13 at Nerang Country Paradise
Parklands 231 Beaudesert-Nerang Road Nerang. (vk4DMH)
VK5 - Amateur Radio Experiments Group Radio & Electronics Sale
Saturday 26th October 10AM David Roche Park Kilburn (vk5qi)
VK7 - Tasmanian Ham Conference November 2 and 3 Hobart. (vk7news)
Held at the Sandy Bay Campus of UTAS.
VK3 - SPARC Rosebud RadioFest November 17 at Eastbourne Primary
School, Allambi Ave. Rosebud. (vk3pdg)
final final
Reception Reports
WIA News rebroadcasters often give Short Wave Listeners a
welcome to the broadcast as they commence call-backs
straight after the Local News. Local news follows National
news in all states. It would be great if those SWL's would
email their reception reports and location to
callbacks(at)wia.org.au
---------------------------------------------------------------*
(Posted to the packet network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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