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VK7AX > NEWS 28.02.09 00:20l 1038 Lines 36223 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK
Oh... and to contact us with your news because
If It Matters To You It Matters To Us!
email nationalnews(AT)wia.org.au
Please.. write your story as you would expect to hear it being read back
do NOT send us links and url's!!
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WIANews 24/7 with the following bulletin in Audio
when you visit the MEMBERS AREA on www.wia.org.au
This weeks WIANews available in Audio after 0100hrs UTC Saturday.
http://www.wiaq.com/ftp/wianews_128.mp3 HD Radio quality
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http://www.wia.org.au (click news in member area) Submit your audio news
http://www.wiaq.com and click the QNEWS link to see weekly news stats
free emailed script http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news
Now you can dial this WIANews wherever you are on the
"gateway dot net dot au" 1300 phone service.
Dial 1300 558 592 and at the prompt type W.I.A.N. (That's 9426).
"Standard call rate from fixed home phone, higher from mobiles".
This is WIANEWS for week commencing March 01 2009
Desecheo DXpedition
February 26, 2009 it was finally over!
The K5D 2009 Desecheo Island DXpedition is in the history books.
Every one of their goals was exceeded - most significantly, the number of
QSOs: 115,728.
Because their Special Use Permit (SUP) expired Thursday, and because of the
size/complexity of the infrastructure to dismantle, the crew decided to use
helicopters to clear the island.
Flights began at 1100Z and continued until all gear and personnel were safely
back in Puerto Rico.
www.kp5.us for final photos and operations statistics.
The WIA HD FEATURE CHANNEL this week has an 8 minute interview
by Wolf OE1WHC with Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, co-expedition leader,
audio file recorded via Sat phone on February 23rd,
http://wiaq.com/ftp/kp5_feb26_2009.mp3
This is from the "Documentary Archive Radio Communication" KP5 special
Web page at: http://www.dokufunk.org/desecheo
Glenn brings us up-to-update on what had taken place during their stay on
Desecheo and on what was planned the final week, now passed... Give a listen!
KP5 Desecheo now driven to near the bottom of the 'most wanted' list!
(sourced to southgate)
WICEN - Call For More Operators
WICEN Victoria has been asked to provide operators for three outer
metropolitan Melbourne Incident Control Centres (ICCs). WICEN does
not have sufficient operators for all the shifts they have been asked
to fill, and so are looking for volunteers from the wider Amateur Radio
community.
HOWEVER, this type of deployment is not for every Amateur Operator!
The ICCs are extremely noisy, busy environments where multiple radios are
going simultaneously. Headphones are not an option as the DSE/CFA Controllers
want to be able to listen in if they feel the need. Despite all this,
accurate message handling and concise voice procedure are absolutely
required! Shifts are 12 hours long with shift changes at 7am and 7pm.
If you feel you can be an effective operator in the environment described,
then WICEN has need of you. Please be aware that there will be some
volunteers who will not be able to be sent into an ICC. Indeed some WICEN
members have made themselves unavailable for ICC deployment because they
feel they cannot operate there effectively.
Offers of help from interstate have been greatly appreciated, however
WICEN do not at present have authorisation to fund interstate travel.
If you are willing to travel to Melbourne at your own expense as some have
offered, then Wicen could use you. Please talk to WICEN before travelling
however, so they can ascertain whether you are suitable for deployment.
Offers to assist should be made to Mark Dods VK3XMU by email to :
secretary(AT)vic.wicen.org.au
or by phone to 0409 214 834.
ECHOecholink
Due to the considerable interest Nationally and Internationally, WICEN has
enlisted the assistance of Tony, VK3JED, the moderator of the VKECOMM
EchoLink conference, to provide a live broadcast of the WICEN net.
To listen to the net via EchoLink, go to the Conference Node and connect to
VKEMCOMM. Stations will be muted for listen only and cannot login to the net
via EchoLink at this stage.
BUSHFIRE HALTS WHITE ELEPHANT
As most amateurs are aware, the Healesville/ Warburton area has current and
ongoing Bushfire activity. Because of this the Yarra Valley Amateur Radio
Group have postponed the annual White Elephant Sale until a date sometime
towards the middle of the year.
Contact Gavin VK3GH on 5968 8482 or Steve VK3TSR on 0418 103 487 to amend
your booking if you can't wait or your contact details have changed.
Please note, Do not send any more booking forms without first phoning.
E-Mail: vk3tsr(AT)wia.org.au
For those making inquiries.
The fire came within 19 meters of the club rooms, several amateurs have lost
house and radio equipment, several others have lost outbuildings or
equipment. The clubs mobile communications trailer has been burnt out and is
a total loss along with it's equipment. Several amateurs properties are still
under threat.
2m Repeater, IRLP, and packet BBS, all still operational
Status of Amateurs in the Area is available via the clubs website.
The site was not provided so just Google Yarra Valley Amateur Radio Group
Email all status updates to vk3api(AT)hotmail.com
The situation changes by the minute and the website will updated to reflect
the as information it comes to hand .
WIA PRESIDENT
The tragedy of the bushfires that erupted in Victoria 3 weeks ago has been
chronicled in the VK1WIA broadcasts.
In particular, our thanks to Jim Linton, Robert Broomhead and Mark Dodds
and the others who have shared their stories with us.
May I, today, for myself and for all the directors of the WIA record our
sympathy for those who have suffered grievously as a result of the fires.
We know of a number of amateurs who have lost much and they are particularly
in our thoughts.
But may I also record our pride and our gratitude to those many amateurs who
have contributed to the community response to this disaster. Our interest
is communications, and many have been able to apply that interest for the
benefit of our community. The many have been involved in WICEN and the
Red Cross Recom and in other voluntary organisations have worked long hours
in difficult conditions.
To all of those people, using their special skills to be a vital part of the
community's response to this tragedy, we say simply thank you.
FINAL FRONTIER
Last week we told you of the ARISS contact arranged by VK4SSB
and broadcast on the "super network".
The radio link between the ISS and Earth for this was handled by
the Amateur Radio telebridge station K6DUE at the Goddard Space Flight Centre
in Maryland, USA
ARISS will be linking up two other Australian schools in weeks to come
as well, they are Padthaway Primary School in the SE of South Australia
and the Kalori Catholic School in Wallaroo also in Sth Australia.
Dates for these have not been scheduled yet but it's expected
to be mid March.
Several members of the ISS crew have been having a competition to see
who can speak to the greatest number of schools during their mission.
It looks like Mike Fincke may come out on top when he returns to Earth
in April. He has been averaging around 3 schools per week on this mission;
as well as setting the SSTV up at times, along with activating the ISS
cross band repeater on many occasions.
The repeater has had a lot of Australian traffic on it over the last week but
you must use doppler correction on the 70cm uplink to be successful.
WIA emails and Internet Spam
Each week we all receive spam mail from unwanted sources, Spam can often
have a fake email address for the sender or the sending address may be
obscured, this in order that the email looks genuine and that people will
believe it has originated from a legitimate source.
Be particularly aware or emails you may receive where the sender is asking
for you to confirm personal details such as your name, address or date of
birth. This types of spam is call phising (pronounced fishing), and what
they collect is often used in conjunction with fraudulent credit card
activity.
Of course, if we here at the WIA, ever needed to confirm personal details
of members we would do that through the usual channels, using our staff at
National office and not via email..
Keeping a watch the 40-metre band
With four weeks to go before broadcast stations are due to have migrated from
the band 7100-7200kHz as that band is restored to the Amateur Service, a
scan watch has begun to identify stations still currently using that segment.
IARU Region 3 Monitoring Systems Coordinator, B.L. (Arasu) Manohar VU2UR has
been scanning the segment.
He did this for four days recently to identify 58 broadcast transmissions,
their frequencies, times and signal strengths. The broadcasters use 5kHz
channel spacing.
The worthwhile yet painstaking task also notes the languages of the
transmissions including Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, English, French, German,
Indian, Japanese, Russian and Turkish.
Adding to the complexity of the task are jamming stations, heterodynes,
low powered regional or domestic stations and many powerful broadcasters
using relays to cover their audience target area.
Arasu VU2UR says similar scanning and monitoring work may be necessary in
other parts of the world to get a fuller picture of broadcast activity and
he's prepared to share the spreadsheet result of his work.
Mapping of broadcasters on the 40-metre band will be important should the
IARU need to mount a case to fight any continued occupancy of the
7100-7200kHz after 29 March.
That is the departure date set by the World Radio Conference 2003 and
coincides with the new broadcasting schedule for 2009.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
WIA PRESIDENT VK3KI
First of all, congratulations to Amateur Radio Editor Peter Freeman and his
team on the Publications Committee, as my March issue arrived on 25 February.
In this issue you will see that I have written a "Comment" about the callsign
management role of the WIA and there is also a page with some details about
obtaining a WIA Callsign Recommendation, now necessary before ACMA will
issue a licence or vary a licence.
Yes, now you will need a WIA Callsign Recommendation.
We will have on the WIA website a Public List of Available Callsigns, which
will be updated daily.
There you can search by licence class and by state.
It will show all available callsigns.
While all the details are on the WIA website, under the tab "Become a Radio
Amateur", then callsigns and certificates, there is one detail I would
mention in this broadcast.
We have recognised that something can go wrong with callsigns, and the
embargo on two letter callsigns and the concern that caused so many people,
has led us to a safety net for everyone.
We will not issue a callsign recommendation for any callsign until seven
Working Days have elapsed from when it was first put on the Public list.
During that time, if something has gone wrong, it can be returned to its
rightful owner. But someone must let the WIA office know there is a problem
during those seven working days. So, if you see a callsign that you don't
think should be there, let the person who should be concerned know and get
him or her to contact us immediately, if there is a problem.
Oh, and by the way, I got it wrong in AR. There I referred to 5 days; it
really is 7 working days - that is 7 days not including weekends or public
holidays.
And, as is explained in the latest Assessment Instructions, there is a
special form that can be used in association with an assessment, so that all
the personal information on the Assessment Sheet may be also used for a
callsign recommendation.
We have made special arrangements for two letter callsigns in New South Wales
Victoria and Queensland, where the supply is likely to exceed the demand.
To give everybody an equal chance, we will only accept applications by mail.
There is no point in sleeping outside the door, as was suggested the other
day.
I have little doubt we will find the odd problem or two!
Dianne and Margaret are working very hard.
In a very short space of time we have done our best to set up all the
procedures to issue certificates of proficiency and now manage callsigns.
I promise you were are doing our best, but just occasionally, a little
patience may be required.
So, please go to http://www.wia.org.au and see it all explained.
Thank you
HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
VK1
vk1 local news email broadcast(AT)vk1.wia.ampr.org and ask for subscription.
Some March events to take a note of.
Saturday 7th WICEN - Rally of Canberra (Day 1)
Sunday 8th WICEN - Rally of Canberra (Day 2)
Monday 9th CANBERRA DAY and that evening the CRARC Committee Meeting
Tuesday 10th Shack Open Night
Saturday 14th Foundation Licence Course
Sunday 15th Foundation Licence Course / Examinations
Monday 23rd General Meeting, Rod VK1ACE - Home Brewing radio equipment.
Tuesday 24th Shack Open Night
VK2
web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm
VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news
70cm REPEATER AT PARROTS NEST
A new repeater has been installed at Parrots Nest Northern VK2 for testing
on 70cm 439.950Mhz WITH THE vk STANDARD 123hz tone access.
This rpt has NO tail so you need to call if you want a response as (BUTTON
PUSHING) achieves no result!.
At present is has no ident, timeout is standard and it maybe linked to Nardi
UHF rpt if needed.
VK4
web service local news:- www.wiaq.com/qnews/upload/qnewsbcast.htm
local news email qnews-vk-subscribe(AT)yahoogroups.com
VKR Roundup http://www.police.qld.gov.au/News+and+Alerts/Media+Releases/
Invitation to a Technical Seminar
The IEEE Northern Australia Section and the James Cook University
Power Engineering Group invite you to a technical seminar about
Power Quality - How it affects your equipment, this to be delivered by
by Vic Gosbell, Honorary Professorial Fellow, University of Wollongong.
Tuesday 10th March from 12-30pm to 2pm in Room DD014-001, Ground Floor of
the Electrical Engineering Building, James Cook University Douglas North
Queensland Campus.
For further information please contact
A/Prof C J Kikkert, Chairman IEEE NQ Section on 07-47814219
VK6
The Hills Amateur Radio Group or HARG is having a Car Boot Sale....
All Radio Hams, Short Wave Listeners & Radio Hobbyists are most welcome.
When: Saturday, 14th March 2009
Where: Paxhill Girl Guide Hall, on the corner of Sanderson & Brady Streets
Lesmurdie WA.
Sellers admitted from 1pm at $5 per table/boot to book a table contact
Mick VK6YXL on email address: crowley-ent(AT)eon.net.au
Visitors from 2pm should bring a $2 entry fee.
Don't miss a great afternoon
VK7
local area news :- http://reast.asn.au/news.php
vk7 local news, email vk7regionalnews-subscribe(AT)yahoogroups.com
Bargain Boot Bonanza
On March 22nd at the Meet the Voice/Sewing Circle BBQ there will be a bargain
boot bonanza.
This is a great opportunity for you to sell your pre-loved amateur radio
related equipment that is surplus to requirements.
Ray VK7VKV is the coordinator and if you are interested in going along to
the BBQ and selling your pre-loved gear then get in touch with Ray via the
Sewing Circle net on the weekend at 5pm on 3.59MHz.
Participation is covered in your registration fee, the only condition is that
you provide your own car boot or table on which to display the treasures, and
that you don't begin offering the bargains for sale until 12.00 midday so as
not to detract from the other organised events on the day.
Hams are always looking for a bargain so this is a great opportunity to do a
deal.
( http://reast.asn.au/events.php#meetthevoice Ray VK7VKV)
EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO
www.hamcollege.com.au
If you have an interest in any aspect of Amateur Radio communications or
would like to get a licence in the Gold Coast region of VK4 the club
has a clubroom phone, 5564 9028
or send an email to:-
secretary(AT)goldcoastamateurradio.com
The Society runs classes to prepare would-be amateurs and also holds
examinations conducted under the auspices of the Wireless Institute of
Australia and they proudly boast on their home splash page that the Society
has been responsible in recent years for inducting more people into the
hobby than any other organisation in Australia.
Again the clubroom phone number is: 5564 9028
Want to learn Morse Code or wish to hone your already acquired skill.
If enough interest is shown in becoming proficient in this means of
communication Westlake's ARC are proposing to start tutoring classes.
Leave your name with a committee member or leave a message on the
24 hour voice mail box on 02 4958 1588.
HAM COLLEGE Foundation Course
If you want to attend the next Ham College Foundation course scheduled for
the 21st & 22nd of March or you want to attend the next open exam day scheduled
for Saturday the 28th of March please contact Ham College by selecting the "contact Ham College"
menu button from the Ham college website which is www.hamcollege.com.au or you can ring me (Kylea)
on 0412 704 226.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
IARU REGION 1 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
The Executive Committee of IARU Region 1 have been holding their first
meeting this weekend until Monday 2 March at a hotel at Heathrow Airport
in London.
Apart from the various reports to be dealt with, the EC will look at a
strategy plan for the Region for the next three years.
Irish Lifetime Licences
The necessary revisions to the Regulations to give effect to lifetime
licences in EI have been completed and the target commencement date is
20 April next. Renewals after that date will be invoiced with lifetime
licence fee and a lifetime licence will be issued.
New applicants after that date, including those who have let their call signs
lapse, will pay a SLIGHTLY higher fee.
Consideration is being given to accepting renewal applications under the
existing arrangements up to a date in the relatively near future. This
would also allow those who have lost their original call signs a once off
opportunity to apply for their re-instatement.
The wireless room on board the Queen Mary Ocean Liner attraction in Long
Beach California was recently renamed the Nate Brightman Radio Room, this
in honour of Nate Brightman, K6OSC, who helped to make a radio station on
board the retired luxury liner a reality many years ago.
Mellish Reef DXpedition
Operators George AA7JV and Tomi HA7RY will be active as VK9GMW in what they
call 'another low-key, simple DXpedition', from Mellish Reef between
March 22nd and April 6th.
Please note that the dates are approximate and may change due to weather.
The operation will have a strong low-band focus, although VK9WMW will operate
on all HF bands.
QSL will be via HA7RY, by the Bureau or LoTW or direct to:
Tamas Pekarik, Alagi ut 15, H-2151 Fot, HUNGARY.
After VK9GMW has gone QRT, they will launch an "Online QSL Request Service"
(OQRS) on their Web site. If you want to receive your QSL via the Bureau,
please use that form to request the card. They will check your QSOs against
the log and send your card to you via the Bureau. This method will allow them
faster processing, helps them protect the environment, and you will receive
your VK9GMW card faster.
For more information, please visit the VK9GMW Web page at:
www.vk9gmw.com
OPERATIONAL NEWS -
SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2009
FEB 28 - Mar 1 JOCK WHITE MEMORIAL FIELD DAY
MAR 7 - 8 ARRL Int DX PHONE CONTEST
MAR 14 - 15 JOHN MOYLE FIELD DAY
MAR 14 - 15 BERU
MAR 28 - 29 WPX SSB (Worked All Prefixes)
MAY 01 - 08 VK CQ REPEATER CONTEST (Westlakes Club)
JUN 6 - 8 WORKED ALL VK SHIRES LONG WEEKEND CONTEST
JUN 20 - 21 MUSEUMS WEEKEND PART a
JUN 27 - 28 MUSEUMS WEEKEND PART b
AUG 15 - 16 WIA Remembrance Day Contest
Running till Dec 31 2009 is the 4th CQ DX Marathon
JOHN MOYLE FIELD DAY
A gentle reminder that the John Moyle Field Day is only 2 weekends away
on the 14th - 15th March and this date is fast approaching. The time for
planning where you are going to go to set up your field station is getting
a lot shorter.
Just to make it a little interesting, the range of weather extremes being
experienced throughout Australia at the moment provide you with so many
uncertainties as to what the weather is going to do. This makes another
great variable in the planning process.
Also with the fire damage so widespread in the southern states many of the
great contest locations are no longer accessible, particularly as there is a
slight risk of fire warning weather still possible even as late mid March.
Perhaps the opportunity by Club Stations could set up in a local park, or
some other contest less ideal location, but nonetheless public area so that
the general public can see that there are people who can put a fully
equipped station into operation anywhere?
Just a thought, as isn't this what we have these contests for anyway?
Rule changes.
There are a few changes to the rules this year. You are well advised to
consult the latest rules at www.wia.org.au/members/contests/johnmoyle/
Continuing with the review of the rule changes.
Logging
Mike Subocz VK3AVV has released a revised version of his popular contest
logging program VKCL. This revision incorporates all of the scoring and
rule changes as announced in AR for Jan/Feb 2009. It is strongly recommended
that you down download the latest version 2.16 as it also incorporate a few
nice refinements. The download can be found at the address
http:\\web.aanet.com.au/mnds
In addition there is a copy of a typical Excel file that can be used to
convert a paper log into an electronic format. This can be downloaded from
wia.org.au/members/contest/johnmoyle/
This file is only an example and can be freely downloaded and modified your
own or your club's application.
Submitting your Log
Next there is the somewhat controversial topic of submitting your log.
We would prefer that you submit your log electronically, though paper logs
are fully acceptable, though not preferred as there is a lot of work involved
in checking them, confirming their scoring, and then integrating them with
other logs.
Then there is the question of confirming that your log has actually been
received. With snail mail there is no sensible way of sending a receipt.
When I receive an e-mail with a log attached I send a receipt to the sender
to notify that I have got their log.
However, this relies on a manual process and is no guarantee that I have
actually got the e-mail. In the past a number of logs have been lost,
despite all of the systems and care taken.
However, there is something you can do to assist. When you are sending the
e-mail select from the options that you wish to receive a Read Receipt.
This is a selection in your e-mail program and as soon as the e-mail is
opened mye-mail program sends to you a receipt. This provides you with a
receipt against the unlikely loss of your log at this end and proof of
submission in good time.
We strongly suggest that you make this choice when you send your log.
Finally there is the change in the closing date for submission of your logs.
In the past the closing date was at the end of April. However this does not
leave enough time to review the logs, analyse them and prepare the results
and report on the contest in time for publication in June AR. Hence the
results were often published in July.
This year the closing dates for logs will the 17th April. So don't get
caught out on this one. Late submission of logs is not allowed.
Do not forget that the written form of all of the rules are on the WIA
website and there is also a downloadable written version also available
on the WIA website.
So keep on getting your efforts planned and ready for the big event.
2009 RSGB COMMONWEALTH CONTEST
When:- 14 and 15 March 2009
Time:- 1000Z (14th) to 1000Z (15th) - All Bands - CW Only
Considered to be one of the more gentlemanly contests that has been in
existence since the mid-1930's. Apart from the individual performances
there is a Team's event, based on individual nation's participation.
Although we at the WIA have not been told of any VK activity planned, our
friends across the 'ditch' have a team under the astute leadership of
Frank Hunt, ZL2BR who won this event in 2007 and finished third last year.
Frank is looking for ZL Team participants to make up the NZ Team.
Interested -contact Frank by "snail mail" at:-
8 Manu Crescent, New Plymouth. 4310.
Contests Rules and other operating information is, or will be available at:-
www.vhfcc.org/hfcc/rules/2009/beru.shtml
STILL On the contest front, this years westlakes CQ Repeater contest will be
on for one week commencing midnight Friday 1st May 2009 and finishing at
12 midnight Friday 8th May.
The aim of the contest is to encourage more activity on what are
becoming little used VK repeaters.
The frequencies will be 70cm, 2m, and 6m and mode is FM.
All amateurs, members or not are invited to join in.
The rules are simple.
Make as many contacts as you can on the repeaters over the week commencing
May One.
However a station can only be logged as a contact once on any given day on
any of the chosen repeaters.
All your log needs to show is the date , repeater frequency, and station
contacted. It's as simple as that.
This is a fun contest so make the effort to take part. There will be
certificates for the winning stations on each of the nominated bands.
IRLP / EchoLink contact not valid.
Logs to be in by Friday 29th May sent to W.A.R.C. Inc. PO Box 3001
Teralba NSW 2284 C/- Contest Manager
Whatever repeater's VK's can access are eligible.
BEACON DX AND NET ADVICE
hf nets ON the net, www.timroberts-vk4yeh.id.au/
GB 40 WAB 40th anniversary of the WAB Till Dec 31
GB 50 BH (Death of Buddy Holly) Until March 3
HA 130 HALLO Hungary 130 yrs of Telephone Until March 31
International Museums Weekend(s) 20 and 21 plus 27 and June 28
LY 1000 ** Millennium of Lithuania, QRV til March 1
OZ 1658 ROS 350th anniversary of the Treaty of Roskilde Till Dec 31
VARIOUS SM STATIONS USING 1658 (Treaty of Roskilde) Till Dec 31
VP 9 400 /home call 400th Anniversary of Bermuda Till Dec 31
MEDIA WATCH
http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/WorldRadio.html
BBC's secret war with the pirates
The UK newspaper The Telegraph reports on documents which apparently show
the BBC launched a secret 'dirty tricks' campaign to have offshore radio
stations shut down.
The article says that previously unseen documents from the BBC archives
disclose how the corporation was so alarmed at the rise of the stations
that it launched a secret "dirty tricks" campaign to have them shut down.
Read the full article at
www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/4741298/BBCs-secret-war-with-the-pirates.html
Amateur Radio Magazine Previews
March 2009
Amateur Radio, the March issue, hit the newsstands last week. All the
details for the Annual General Meeting of the WIA are inside, so don't miss
it. Nip down the street and get your copy now, before they are all gone.
On the front cover you will see the handheld with the lot!! This compact
digital radio for 2 metres and 70 centimetres, is from Icom. It does not
include the kitchen sink, but it surely has everything else. Read the review
by our Editor, Peter VK3KAI, on page 27.
The WIA will hold its AGM this year at the Monash University campus at
Churchill, in Gippsland, Victoria. It will run over the weekend 1st to 3rd
of May, with all the usual mix of social activities and business, both formal
and informal. Plus, a special edition of the well-respected GippsTech
conference will be running at the same venue. A real smorgasbord of amateur
radio - like Amateur Radio magazine: something for everyone! For details,
see page 53 and the lift-outs included in this issue.
Amateur radio operators have always lent a hand (or two) when emergencies
arise. Disasters don't come much worse than the February bush fires in
Victoria. Many amateurs were out there providing emergency communications
through WICEN and the Red Cross RECOM. A few amateurs suffered losses -
houses, shacks, equipment. Peter VK3KAI was keeping in touch with events and
people during the height of this catastrophe and you can read his first-hand
reports in the Editorial, on pages 2 & 5.
There was a time when amateurs often built their own transmitter and/or
receiver. Today, with digital signal processing and surface mount components,
etc., that is rare. But one way is to buy and assemble a kit radio, and one
or two kits are now available. Chris Meagher VK2LCD has done it, and he
provides a detailed report on page 6 of how it all went.
All amateur examinations, the issue of certificates of proficiency and
callsign recommendations will be managed by the WIA from 2 March. These
responsibilities have been delegated by ACMA under a formal Deed signed on
28 January. In preparation for the handover, WIA has carried out a thorough
review of the Assessment Instructions under which applicants for an amateur
licence are examined. President Michael Owen VK3KI explains the background
and the outcomes of these new arrangements on pages 3 and 19. This is
important stuff and explains how the WIA will bring a new fairness and
transparency to the vexed issue of callsigns.
As always, the regular columns in Amateur Radio will keep you up to date,
whatever your special interest. Read about the VHF/UHF scene on page 49
(thanks to David Smith VK3HZ) and the latest news on satellite communications
in the AMSAT column on page 45 (written by Peter Paradigm VK2TXT). There are
also columns for the ALARA members (page 39) for those interested in
short-wave listening (page 44) and contests (page 40).
Copies of the 2009 Callbook are still available. Order your copy from the
WIA Bookshop, on-line or by phone - see details on page 11.
(Tom Potter VK3UBS)
News in VK6 - Support Recognized
We in VK6 are indebted to the Scout Association of Australia, Western
Australian Branch for the free use of The Peter Hughes Scout Communications
Centre in order to get the WIA National news and the VK6 local news to air.
Without this valuable support the WIA national News and the VK6 Local news
would most likely not be broadcast, we the Amateurs of VK6 would like to
give a huge thanks to the Scout Association and Bob Bristow (VK6POP) for
their support.
There are may be many more that help get the WIA national news to air, we
would like to hear about these.
Eddie vk6zse
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
http://www.raotc.org.au
OLD TIMERS
Members and friends of the Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club Australia are
reminded that the next news and information broadcast will take place on the
2nd of March, Monday using the RAOTC callsign of VK3OTN.
10.00 am Victorian time on 7.060 and 3.650 MHz plus 1.843 MHz AM, and
145.700.
On 14.150 MHz at 01.00 UTC beaming north and 02:00 UTC west from Melbourne
For those not yet retired, 8.30 PM Victorian time tune 80 mtrs 3.650 MHz
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO
EMERGENCY FREQUENCIES ALL REGIONS
21.360 - 18.160 - 14.300 - 7.060 - 3.760 MHz.
REGION 2 TRY ALSO 3.985 - 7.240 - 7.290
This Sunday, 1 March, the popular SARL Hamnet 40 metre Simulated Emergency
is taking place, 14:00 to 16:00 CAT.
South African Hams have been asked to set up field stations or go mobile
and take part in the contest. A good test of their emergency readiness.
SOCIAL SCENE 2009
International Telecommunication Union's Telecom World 2009.
March 14 vk6
Hills Amateur Radio group swap meet Lesmurdie, 2pm for buyers.
March 22 vk3
EMDRC Annual White Elephant Sale, 10am-4pm.Great Ryrie School, Heathmont.
March 22 vk7
MEET THE VOICE SEWING CIRCLE BBQ Held at Ross in Tasmania
April 4-5 vk4
Bunya Mts & District Amcom weekend get together at Somerset Dam
Details Contact Neil VK4NF 07 4662 4950 Email holmzie(AT)bigpond.com
April 11-12 vk2
Urunga Radio Convention held at the Senior Citizens hall Bowra street Urunga.
April 18 WW
World Amateur Radio Day
April 19 vk2
Westlake clubs Mini Field Day.
June 5 - 8 VK4
FNNQARG at Cardwell Village Beachcomber Resort book on 1800 005633
Contact FNNQARG co-ordinator Gavin VK4ZZ for site booking guidance.
June 6-7
South East Radio Group Convention
Margret Street Scout Hall in Mount Gambier behind the Police Station.
July 11 - 12 VK3
GippsTech 2009, the technical conference with a VHF, UHF & microwave focus.
August 2 vk6
Northern Corridor Radio Group's WA Hamfest. Cyril Jackson Rec Centre
Fisher st Ashfield, WA email vk6xh(AT)wia.org.au
SEP 13
Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society Hamfest 9:30am.
Goodwood Community Centre, Rosa St Goodwood.
OCT 12 - 16 ZL
14th IARU R3 Conference Christchurch 12 ? 16 October 2009.
Details at www.christchurch.org.nz/
The Region 3 Web Site: www.jarl.or.jp/iaru-r3/
Please think of the environment before printing this email
=============================================================================
WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide.
Societies and Club News Letter Editors can EXCHANGE a feed prior to
the actual broadcast date, e-mail nationalnews(AT)wia.org.au
Call-backs follow the RF editions, but also for text readers you may
lodge a quick reply to let us know you read it, who knows, you might
even get a "cheerio call".
Thanks to to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who utilize
their time and equipment in bringing you this weekly broadcast.
The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of interest to
active amateurs residing in Australia and the globe.
We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of Australia
and participation in the activities of local clubs.
Opinions expressed in "WIANews" are those of the writers who submit
material and do not necessarily reflect those of the rebroadcasters,
nor the National WIA, but are broadcast in the spirit in which they were
submitted.
Material may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, a credit to
WIANews wouldn't go astray...
Compiled by VK4BB on behalf of the National WIA.
**********************************************************************
- NEWS POSTING TO PACKET -
Courtesy Tony VK7AX VK7AX(AT)VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC
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