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VK7AX  > NEWS     09.08.09 08:04l 1072 Lines 34277 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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 Packet uploads with thanks to vk7ax Tony 


 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 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 

 http://www.wia.org.au  (click news in member area) Submit your audio news 

 Please.. If you are only submitting text and not audio, write your story as
 you would expect to hear it being read back and NEVER send just links & url's.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 WIANEWS for week commencing Aug 09 2009    
 
 RENEW OR LOSE!

 gathering of community broadcasting technologists
  
 BOGONG HIGH PLAINS WINTER EXPEDITION 

 aug 15 and 16 is wia remembrance day contest 
 
 RADIO COULD CHALLENGE BPL FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MONITORING
 All up and coming in this edition of
 WIANEWS for week commencing Aug 09


 -------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Timely Reminder
 
 A reminder to ensure you pay your license renewal on or before time.

 Here is Gordon VK4VP:-

 "ACMA provide  a 60 day grace period before the callsign is listed on the web
 for other amateurs to acquire.

 Generally they will send out a letter advising that your license has expired
 as a reminder to renew it.  You may have waited a long time to get a particular
 callsign and it can be gone all too quickly.
 
 Put a note on the calendar or in your computer to remind you of the date for
 renewal and if you hear nothing by that time a check of the website or a phone
 call to ACMA may prevent losing that cherished callsign."

 (Gordon VK4VP)





 CBAA

 The first formal gathering of Community Broadcasting technologists held in
 Australia.

 Technorama 2009

 VK3FFFM joins us:-

 "Skilling and technology support is a major challenge for community
 broadcasters.

 Technorama 2009 is the first step, being held from 
 Friday 4th September –Sunday 6th September in Melbourne.

 Where do I find more information?

 Download program and registration from www.cbaa.org.au, click on Technorama
 tab at the left

 Use the CBAA discussion Technorama forums for latest information or to ask
 questions.

 All station technologists, engineers, managers, sector suppliers of tech
 services and equipment.

 Anyone that contributes to technology decisions, or techs wishing to get
 involved Australia wide, are invited to attend.

 Get in Early with your registration."





 Launch your own personal DIY satellite

 Planet Earth has entered the age of the Personal Satellite with the
 introduction of Interorbital’s TubeSat Personal Satellite.

 This Kit is the low-cost alternative to the CubeSat.

 And, best of all, the $8000 price of the TubeSat kit actually includes the
 price of a launch into Low-Earth-Orbit! 
 Launches are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2010.

 Total Price of the TubeSat Kit including a Launch to Orbit is only $8,000!

 You can read more on the Space Fellowship website
 http://spacefellowship.com/2009/08/01/interorbital-
 syatems-tubesat-personal-satellite-kit/ 

 (SouthGate)





 Big hike to reach remote lighthouse 

 The International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend on the 15th and 16th of 
 August could turn out to be a record year with 355 lighthouses registered 
 so far. 

 Still in the lead on the country tally is Australia on 46, Germany 42, 
 England and the USA around 35 each, and equal pegging on 21 are Argentina, 
 Holland and Sweden. 

 Most Australian lighthouses easily accessible. An exception is the most 
 southerly lighthouse on the mainland which is at Wilsons Promontory 
 Victoria. 

 Adam Shrimpton VK3PHY is set for the 18-kilometre walk to reach the 
 lighthouse carrying a Yaesu FT817 transceiver, dipole, a quarter-wave 20m 
 vertical, 9-metre squid pole, batteries and charger, plus food and warm 
 clothes. 

 He was involved in the Lady Bay Warrnambool Lighthouse last year and says 
 this inspired him to do something out-of-the-ordinary this year. 

 There are still lighthouses available to put on air. Check out the official 
 website www.illw.net for the full list and online registration. How many 
 lighthouses will you contact? 

 (Barry Robinson VK3PV





 Hello everybody, I'm Bryan VK3HXR with a couple of words about the WIA
 National News Podcast.

 That's right _podcast_.

 A podcast is simply an audio file distributed somewhat automatically via RSS.
 And 'RSS' is a system where programs query a small summary file on websites
 rather than you, the user, loading the whole website every time you want to
 check if there's anything new.

 Think of it as "email for audio". The software checks every so often in the
 background and when there's a new episode it downloads it and notifies you
 it's ready to play.

 So, why is this so good? Well, just about every web browser, email client and
 music playing software knows how to download podcasts and if you subscribe to
 the WIA News Podcast you'll get the _freshest_ news bulletin as soon as it's
 uploaded!

 So if you want to listen to the freshest Amateur Radio news on your MP3 player
 while you're mowing the lawn, burn it to a CD and listen to it on your way
 into work or in the background between DX contacts in the wee hours of the
 morning, the WIA News Podcast is yours, any time you want it.

 Now the mp3 file _has_ been available for a while and has always been used by
 the HF, repeater and IRLP broadcasters. If you're involved with putting the
 news to air, you'll love the new system, especially if you're writing
 automation scripts.

 Every episode is now uniquely named with the date in the title and there are
 commandline podcatchers (like 'hpodder') to make your life easier. No more
 wondering if the downloaded wianews.mp3 file is the most current one - you'll
 know it is.

 So head over to the WIA.org.au website and you find the podcast link on the
 News Broadcast Page in the News and Events section. And if you're an iTunes
 user, you'll find it in the Podcast Directory by searching for
 'Wireless Institute'.

 'hpodder' commandline podcatcher (linux/posix & OSX)
 http://software.complete.org/software/projects/show/hpodder

 'Armangil's' commanline podcatcher (windows, linux/posix & OSX) 
 (requires Ruby) http://podcatcher.rubyforge.org/





 ACMA asked to jam radio broadcasts 

 Deliberate jamming has long occurred on the shortwave bands as nations want
 to deny their citizens access to foreign broadcasts, the practice is now
 being suggested within Australia, for another reason...Jim Linton VK3PC
 explains.


 "Analogue FM radio stations in Victoria's second largest city, Geelong, fear
 their listeners will be lured to tune into the new digital transmission
 stations in Melbourne. 

 Grant Broadcasters Pty Ltd which operate two FM stations in Geelong has
 called on the ACMA to jam the Melbourne signals. 

 This because there will be a considerable delay in extending digital radio
 to Geelong and other regional areas. 

 The government owned broadcasters ABC and SBS are opposed to their digital
 signals being denied to Geelong. 

 The ACMA is considering options for the introduction of coverage management
 systems to stop the fortuitous digital radio coverage. If jamming did go
 ahead it would need to be funded by broadcasters claiming market
 protection." 

 (Jim Linton VK3PC)

 Since that story was filed we have contacted the DAB+ Engineering Committee
 for CRA and a spokesman said "ACMA will not contemplate such a scheme".





 HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.  





 VK2    
 web service:-  http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm   
 VKG Roundup    http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news 

 The Next meeting and AGM of Illawarra Amateur Radio Society will be held at
 Industry World, Off Springhill Road Coniston on Tuesday the 11th of August
 2009 at 7.30pm.

 At this meeting the present committee will stand down and those that wish to
 stand again will do so.

 Please consider nominating to become a committee member to assist the club
 with the good work needed to keep the club rolling along. Please note the
 Nomination forms are available on their website.

 www.iars.org.au 

 Membership forms are also available on the website.  

 For those that don’t have internet access please call Tony VK2TS on
 0404 839465 and alternate arrangements can be made.

 The membership fees also help keep twelve repeaters and 3 APRS digipeaters on
 air.





 Westlakes club  have arranged to have Jeff Johnson VK4XJJ present a talk on 
 his trek across Australia   Now listed for  Saturday August 22nd in the
 Westlakes club Library due to a double booking by Jeff for the 29th.





 Westlakes ARC in conjunction with Port Stephens ARC have registered and will
 be activating Norah Head Lighthouse over the ILLW 15/16th August operating as
 VK2ATZ portable. 





 VK3 
 web service:-  http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/      
 VKC Roundup    http://www.police   
      
 Now until Aug Ten its the Bogong High Plains Winter Expedition, so listen out
 for NERGs VK3GT, VK3SN & VK3HFI across the HF bands and local VHF/UHF
 repeaters during their annual cross country expedition

 Then Thursday 13 August - NERG Annual General Meeting and elections.
 
 (Mark VK3BYY North East Radio Group, Briar Hill, Australia).





 VK5  
 www.qsl.net/vk5bar/
       
 Hello, this is Jade, VK5FXYL on behalf of the EARC. On the 22nd of August at
 Mawson Lakes Library we are hosting a meet and greet information demonstration
 about Amateur radio. There will be active on-air and technical displays. A
 chance to meet members of the club and ask questions about Amateur radio.
 Bring your friends, bring your family, bring your neighbours. This is a chance
 to learn about a fantastic hobby. Starts at 10 in the morning and finishs at
 4pm. We look forward to seeing you there.





 VK7   
 local area news :- http://reast.asn.au/news.php
 vk7 local news, email   vk7regionalnews-subscribe(AT)yahoogroups.com
   
 The VK7 stations that are currently registered for lighthouse participation
 are:

 Winston VK7EM who will be operating from Mersey Bluff Lighthouse and is
 number AU0040.

 Wayne VK7FWAY and Eric VK7FEJE who will be operating from Table Cape Light
 is number AU0039.

 Bill VK7MX, Duncan VK7FLAK and XYL VK7FYMX will be operating from Low Head
 Lighthouse which is number AU0048.

 Gavin VK7VTX will be operating on Flinders Island at the Pot Boil Channel
 lighthouse which is number AU0062 and IOTA number OC-195, and,

 John VK7ZZ will be operating from Cape Bruny Lighthouse which is number AU0005.

 Make sure you give these stations a special call if you here them during the
 weekend and make sure you get a number from them in the all important RD!





 EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO   
 www.hamcollege.com.au   

 Summerland, Lismore Region are running a Foundation course over the RD
 weekend., 15 & 16 August at a cost of $20 plus text book and exam fee.

 Advanced Theory course will be 22/23 & 29/30 August. The four day course $50
 plus text book and exam fee.

 WIA exam fees are currently $35 for under 18 years or $67 for adults.

 Contact Duncan vk2dlr(AT)sarc.org.au 
 Phone 66281337





 Tassies Cradle Coast Amateur Radio Club (CCARC)

 The CCARC has welcomed new members Peter VK7LCW and Chris VK7KEE .

 Members are advised that the next meeting will be a "social meeting" on the
 29th of August. It is anticipated that dey will have a guest speaker providing
 a session on radio controlled model aeroplanes.

 The Cradle Coast Amateur Radio Club offers full assessments to its members,
 and to any other person who are interested in upgrading their Amateur
 Qualifications or sitting any other of the Licence Exams.

 Details may be obtained from Keith Winkler VK7KW on telephone 6428 2185 or
 email winklerkw(AT)hotmail.com 
 
 http://my-x15.net/ccarc/





 INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL, 
 Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.   

 CHINA NOW AT 90000 HAMS

 Ham radio is growing in China.  According to the Chinese Radio Sports
 Association which oversees licensing for hobbyists in the world's most
 populous country, some 90,000 of the worlds radio amateurs live in are
 in that nation and the number has been steadily growing in recent years.
 This, despite mobile phones and the Internet becoming commonplace in
 nearly all of the country.





 US SENATE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT SPECTRUM IS IN USE

 The United States Senate Commerce Committee wants Congress to get an
 inventory of how the nation's spectrum is being used and managed.  To
 accomplish this the committee has passed a measure backed by
 Communications Subcommittee Chairman to have the Federal Communications
 Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information
 Administration report to Congress how much spectrum is used in each band
 and how.  This includes what portions require a license for use and what
 portions allow unlicensed use. 



     
 RADIO COULD CHALLENGE BPL FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MONITORING

 FM subcarriers on broadcast stations also called SCA channels could challenge
 BPL in the area of power grid monitoring. Jerry Gaul KE7GGV speaking on
 Amateur Radio Newsline said:

 B-P-L should watch out, here comes S-C-A. e-Radio and Direct Energy
 announce that they are partnering with manufacturers of smart grid devices
 such as thermostats, in-home displays, load controls and appliances to use
 broadcast RF as a way to monitor power consumption needs.

 Using FM subcarriers leased from radio stations, e-Radio transmits the
 notifications to the home-based receivers across a municipality or
 utility service area that results in significantly reduced peak energy
 demand.  The technology can also intervene on the consumer's behalf,
 cycling off appliances for set periods of time during peak periods. 





 WEIRD AND WONDERFUL
   
 Ever wondered how the French Call Sign system is derived?

 according the call sign QSO'd:

 F1 is an old call issued for only 144 MHz and up but allowed in the HF bands
    since 2003.

 F2 (two letter suffix) in an old call sign issued between the 1950 and 1955's

 F3 (two letter suffix) is an old call sign issued between the 30's and 40's

 F4 is an old FA1 or a regular without CW on 144 until 2003 and on HF after
 2003. (A licence without CW allows only automatic CW, not manual)

 F5 is a regular full licence of the 1950s (with a two letter suffix), or an
 old FB1 (with a three letter suffix) or a regular full licence from 99 to 2003

 F6 with a three letter suffix is a regular full licence from between 1968 and
 1998.

 F7 with a two letter suffix, was issued to an NATO member ham in France
 between 1949 and 1967

 F8 is and old licence from pre WW2 (with a two letter suffix) or an old FB1,
 with CW certificate (with a three letter suffix), of a new ham with a full CW
 licence issued after 2003.

 F0xxx call signs (with three letter suffixes) are novice licences for phone
 only on 144, 10 watts.

 F2, F3 or F9 are old call signs reissued to full new licensees just after WW2.

 An F8Kxx licence is issued to a Radio Club.

 Some National Ham Associations have call signs as follows:

 F6PTT - the National Postmen’s Association.

 F8UFT - the Union Française des Telegraphistes.

 F8AFH - the French national Association for Blind or Disabled Hams,

 It is worthwhile knowing that the old F2, F3, F9 licences never had a
 3 letter suffix.

 For the overseas French territories, it's the same mess.

 Need some more information? Write to f5nql(AT))aol.com
 Maurice has an interesting and extensive personal profile on www.qrz.com





 OPERATIONAL NEWS -  

 Hello I'm Peter Harding VK4OD the RD Contest Manage.

 Next Saturday is the 15th August, and that heralds in this years RD Contest.

 I have a VERY special line up of special Guest Speakers, due to the line up
 this year, we will present an extended broadcast that will run for 30 Minutes,
 and as Prior to the Contest commencing we will present this years Opening
 Speech, we such it will commence at 07:30 utc, and NOT at 07:45 as in the
 past.

 So we would ask that any of the club stations that would normally air the
 address, that their Broadcast officers be made aware of the time change.

 Following on from Last week where Lt Chris Megaw on Active Service in 
 East Timor spoke about the WWII Radio Operator in Timor Here now is
 Justin VK7TWwith some more on that story.

 "World War II saw the need for skilled radio people to operate and maintain
 defence radio equipment. Amateurs filled this need and many helped in the
 creation of a communications infrastructure for the Australian Defence Forces.

 One such person was Signalman Max Loveless VK7ML SK. He was an amateur before
 WWII and became involved as a signals operator with "Sparrowforce" on
 Dutch Timor with the AIF.

 Members of the 2/2nd Australian Independent Company, fortress signals section
 and members of 8th Division Signals, pooled their resources to build a
 set capable of raising Darwin.

 After many trials and much revision a radio was devised from pieces of other 
 sets and from parts scrounged among the troops or stolen from the enemy and
 on the 20th April 1942, Darwin was made aware that the Australians in Timor
 were alive and well. The bulk of the work was undertaken by Signallers 
 Max Loveless and Keith Richards, assisted by Jack Sargent and John Donovan.

 The set was affectionately named "Winnie the War Winner" after
 Winston Churchill and after several days of answering some personal questions
 Darwin was convinced of the authenticity of the signals, and was able to
 arrange for much-needed supplies to be delivered to the isolated troops.

 A wonderful story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

 I’m Justin VKTW."
 
 http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/winnie.asp

 Please be sure to post or Email your logs as soon as possible before the
 closing date.

 In all cases, logs must be received by last mail on Monday 15th September,
 2009. Late entries will not be eligible. Electronically sent logs will be
 returned with a courtesy note, also Snail Mail will be returned unopened.

 See you in the contest.





 Let me introduce myself, I am Lesley, VK5HLS, the new ALARA Contest Manager.
 I am looking forward to hearing lots of you, YL'S and OM'S on the air during
 the last weekend of August Saturday August 29 to Sunday 30th at 0600 UTC
 Saturday until 1159 UTC Sunday - that is 0600 utc Saturday August 29th until
 1159 utc Sunday August 30th.

 The rules of the contest are on the alara website: www.alara.org.au; in your
 August AR and also in your last Alara newsletter. No excuses for not getting
 on the air and having a go.

 I look forward to speaking with some of you on the radio waves and then being
 inundated with logs before the 30th September."

 73, Lesley VK5HLS





 SPECIAL EVENT CALLS, 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 
     
 OZ 1658  ROS  350th anniversary of the Treaty of Roskilde        Till Dec 31  
 
 VARIOUS  SM STATIONS USING 1658 (Treaty of Roskilde)             Till Dec 31 
    

 VI 2 SRC 50 Summerland Clubs 50th Anniversary (VK2)              Till Aug 31

 VP 9 400 /home call 400th Anniversary of Bermuda                 Till Dec 31    

 VR 2009 EAG  The 5th East Asian Games Hong Kong                  Till Dec 31

 YL 90 AIR   90yrs of Latvian Air Force                           Till Dec 31





 Spanish Grand Prix - special callsigns.

 The Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix will take place in Valencia. Look for
 special callsigns to be active until August 23rd: 

 AM5FUV (Op Juan, EC5BZR),
 AO5FUV (Op Pepe, EA5UB),
 AN5FUV (Op Vincent, EB5GGB),
 EG5FUV (Op Jose, EA5FL)
 and EH5FUV (Op Nando, EA5GVZ). 

 A special award will be issued to those who will make at last 3 QSO's with
 3 different stations. 

 QSL Manager will be Jose, EA5FL direct or bureau.

 Further information can be found at QRZ.com 





 GB111, ENGLAND (Special Event). Viv, G4PLY, will activate special event
 station GB111HP on the air during the month of August. This is a tribute
 to Harry Patch (GB9ØWWI) who sadly passed away on Saturday, July 25th,
 5 weeks after celebrating his 111th birthday. He was the oldest surviving
 combatant living in the UK who fought in World War I. QSL via G4PLY,
 direct or by the Bureau.





 DX GOES TO TWITTER

 GB7MBC, one of Europe's busiest DX Clusters, is now on the Twitter
 social networking system.  Postings provide such things as DX news,
 contests news and solar information.  To follow GB7MBC on Twitter, just
 go to twitter.com/GB7MBC and add it to your list of 'tweets' you follow.

 With the growing popularity of ham radio on Twitter its very likely that
 lots of other activities like radio club bulletins and the like will be
 soon showing up there as tweets as well.  Maybe even a synopses of
 important National News stories will show up sometime soon.

 If your a Twitter interested in doing this contact nationalnews(AT)wia.org.au
 
 More information on Twitter is at www dot twitter dot com.   





 INTRUDER WATCH - ENFORCEMENT ZONE

 Region III IARUMS Coordinator B.L.Manohar (Arasu) VU2UR
 r3msc_iaru(AT)rediffmail.com 


 IARUMS NETS
 Friday 0730 UTC 7.065.5 with VK4CEU David.  
 

 REPEATER PROBLEMS CONTINUE IN THE UK

 Malicious interference and other firms of on the air abuse are still
 plaguing repeaters in London, England.  Because of this at least one
 system is considering some drastic action with support of government
 regulators.  Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, says

 Repeater users in the London area will be aware that abuse continues to
 mar the network with a minority making it unpleasant for those who
 simply wish to enjoy the hobby.  The East London 2m repeater, GB3EL, has
 been suffering from abuse recently and the Keeper has instigated a
 curfew between the 6pm and 6am to reduce the instances of abuse.

 This action has proven effective in the past and the RSGB Emerging
 Technologies Committee and Ofcom support the Keeper's actions.  The ETCC
 encourages proactive measures by all Keepers to manage their repeaters
 in accordance with the terms of their NoVs.  Users are especially asked
 to consider their own actions and not to react when abuse is heard, as
 this is just what abusers are hoping will happen.
 
 The Term NOV used in that report stands for Notice of Variation to a UK
 ham license that permits one to put up a repeater.  Unlike the United
 States where anyone install a temporary repeater to replace one that's
 gone dark to fight user abuse, in the UK it's the national society
 that holds all of the repeater operators licenses.  An individual who
 decides to put one up without it being licensed could wind up doing some
 serious time in the old gray bar hotel. 





 MEDIA WATCH 
 www.wiaq.com/admin/uploads/weeklytally.rtf 
 www.cq-amateur-radio.com/WorldRadio.html  

 Amateur Radio Previews
 August  2009

 Nip down to your newsagent and get the August issue of Amateur Radio.
 It’s already out, sharp on the first of the month. Look for the dramatic
 photo of a huge 26 metre dish on the front cover. That’s 85 feet if you
 are still tuned to imperial measure, which is far wider than most residential
 blocks.

 EME stands for earth-moon-earth, and there is a dedicated group of amateurs
 who bounce their signals off our big natural satellite to communicate around
 the globe. Two of these EME buffs are Rex Moncur VK7MO and Justin Giles-Clark
 VK7TW, and if you turn to page 22 you can read all about some of their recent
 achievements. Yes, they were using that monster dish shown on the front
 cover, and only three milli-watts of transmitter power – what a difference
 a bit of antenna gain makes!! And there are more big-dish colour photos inside
 the back cover.

 Just imagine a group of school kids in Switzerland chatting to Doug McArthur
 VK3UM in Victoria, but via a transmission path of 750,000 kilometres – yes,
 by bouncing the signal off the moon. This was on sideband voice, and Doug
 was using his 8.6 metre dish on 23 centi-metres (that’s about 1,296 Megahertz)
 and around 500 watts of transmitter power. The kids called Doug “the man in
 the moonö, but he seems not to mind too much. Read his account of this most
 successful adventure on page 24, and see “Doug’s dishö pictured inside the
 back cover. Check the Editorial, too.

 Contests are great fun, and there are plenty of them coming up this month and
 next. Make sure you are up to speed on the rules by reading pages 42 to 46.
 Peter Harding VK4OD has a full coverage for the Remembrance Day Contest
 and there is also the ALARA Contest plus the Westlakes Cup. Plus the regular
 Contests column, courtesy of Craig Edwards VK8PDX who is now in Alice Springs,
 on page 41.  

 (Tom Potter VK3UBS)





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
 FISTS Club - East Asia             www.feacw.net
 FISTS Club - Australasia           www.fistsdownunder.org
 FISTS Club - UK & Europe           www.fists.co.uk
 FISTS Club - Americas              www.fists.org
  
  
 NEW FISTS DOWNUNDER MEMBER

 Fists are proudly announcing their latest new member, VK3KS-Mavis #14110.
 Last month FISTS featured the exceptional achievement of Mavis Stafford VK3KS,
 CW operator, who recently celebrated completing 70 years as a radio amateur.
 The suggestion was made that, in recognition of this outstanding achievement,
 FISTS should invite Mavis to be an honorary member of FISTS Down Under.
 Delighted they are that she has accepted. Mavis’s career is covered in
 last month’s FISTS Down Under.





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL
 Australian Coordinator for TCPIP domains is Indy   vk2xb(AT)wia.org.au  

 W1AW BULLETINS TO ADD DIGITAL

 Word that the ARRL's W1AW bulletin station will add new digital modes to its
 transmitting schedule in mid-August.
 
 This following a survey of listeners who say that they want the digital
 transmissions.

 On August 17th  W1AW will replace its AMTOR and ASCII transmissions with
 PSK31 and MFSK16, respectively.  RTTY will continue to be the first
 digital mode used in the transmission schedule.  The frequencies used by
 W1AW for all its digital transmissions will remain the same.

 The W1AW operating schedule complete with times and frequencies can be
 found on the ARRLWeb page .

 arrl.org/w1aw.html#w1awsked

 (ARRL)





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER 

 AMSAT-VK UNOFFICIAL HF Net.
 2nd Sunday each month.
 April through October  1000 UTC 3.685 MHz   
 November through March 0900 UTC 7.068 MHz 

 THE PERSEIDS ARE COMING 

 Earth is entering a stream of dusty debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, the source
 of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Although the shower will not peak until
 11 and 12 August, the show is already under way.

 We are just on the outskirts of the debris stream now. If you go out at night
 and watch the sky, you will probably only see a few Perseids per hour.

 According to Science at NASA, the Earth passes through the densest part of the
 debris stream sometime on 12 August when dozens of meteors can be seen
 per hour.

 Perseids can appear in any part of the sky, their tails all pointing back to
 the shower's radiant in the Perseus constellation.

 For radio amateurs, meteor showers provide increased opportunities for meteor
 scatter communication. Since 2000, several digital modes implemented by 
 computer programs have replaced voice and Morse code communications in
 popularity.

 The most popular program is "Weak Signal Communication, by K1JT" (WSJT) which
 offers specific digital protocols optimised for meteor scatter, ionospheric
 scatter, EME at VHF/UHF, as well as HF sky wave propagation. The programme
 can decode fraction-of-a-second signals reflected from ionised meteor trails
 and steady signals 10 dB below the audible threshold.

 (sarl)





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY    
 
 Government recognises work of Bletchley Park veterans

 The UK Government has decided to recognise the vital contribution 
 made by members of the Government Code and Cipher School at Bletchley 
 Park during the Second World War. 
 Surviving military and civilian veterans who served at Bletchley Park and its
 outstations during the Second World War are eligible for a commemorative
 badge.  The award of the commemorative badge is a fitting recognition of the
 vital role played by the Government Code and Cipher School during the war. 





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
 http://www.scouts.com.au
 http://www.scout.org/jota
 http://www.international.scouts.com.au 
 
    
 CALLING FREQUENCIES 
 Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing communication.

 Australian voice calling frequencies:
 3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160

 World CW calling frequencies: 
 3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160

 World voice calling frequencies: 
 3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
 24.960, 28.390, 50.160


 Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
 3.630, 7.033, 14.227

 Calling Frequencies for PSK31
 14.070



 North West Tasmania Amateur Television Group has as one of their goals to
 assist with communications and AR Promotion at the forthcoming JOTA/JOTI in
 OCT. 2009, initial arrangements and contact has been made with
 District Commissioners, Scout Leaders and Groups in the North West to have a
 more structured approach to this year's events.

 A meeting will be convened within the next few days to begin coordinating what
 is hoped to be a successful event this year. 

 (Tony VK7AX, News Officer NWT-ATV Group)





 THE LOWDOWN COLUMN INCLUDING PRECISION BEACON TRANSMISSIONS
 Join the DownUnder LF Group's Mailing List:  
 http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/lofexp/
 Subscribe:         lofexp-subscribe(AT)yahoogroups.com.au
 BEACONS www.qsl.net/zl1bpu/micro/Precision 
 
 
 FCC Expands ARRL's 500 kHz Experimental License:

 On July 28, the FCC approved a modification that expands the ARRL's 500 kHz
 experimental license WD2XSH.

 According to Experiment Coordinator Fritz Raab, W1FR, the expansion allows for
 more frequencies, more stations and portable operations.

 "We can now operate between 495-510 kHz," Raab said.

 "We will not be using 500 kHz itself so as to ensure that there is no conflict
 with the heritage stations on that frequency. 

 (arrl)





 SOCIAL SCENE        

 2009
 
 International Telecommunication Union's Telecom World 2009.
  

 August 9
 SARCFEST from 0800K at the Clubrooms, Richmond Hill. 

 August 22 vk2
 Blue Mountains Amateur Radio Club's Winterfest 18 Simeon Road, Orchard Hills.
   



 SEPT 12 VK4
 Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio club Sunfest, The Woombye School of Arts 
 Blackall Street Woombye. 


 SEP 13 VK5
 Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society Hamfest 9:30am.
 Goodwood Community Centre, Rosa St Goodwood.


 SEP 18-20 VK4
 North Queensland Amateur Radio Convention, James Cook University,
 Douglas Campus. Surf to theTARCinc website http://www.tarc.org.au
 for event and registration information


 SEP 25 - 27 VK4
 The Central Highland Amateur Radio Club Annual General Meeting at
 Camp Fairbairn near Emerald.






 OCT 11 VK3
 Shepparton and District Amateur Radio Club’s communications and display day
 (Hamfest), St Augustine’s Hall Orr Street Shepparton.
 


 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/


 Oct 31 - Nov 1
 
 Qld Sunshine Coast’s October Camp Catch-up Maidenwell Observatory
 Brisbane valley west of Yarraman. 


 NOV 1  VK2
 Westlakes Amateur Radio Club's "Westlakes Field Day".

 




 2010
 
 JAN 24 VK2
 Mid North Coast Amateur Radio Group's Radio Expo 2010  8.30am St Johns Church
 Hall, Mc Lean Street Coffs Harbour.





 FEBRUARY 14 VK3
 WIA 100 Centre Victoria RadioFest No. 3.


 FEBRUARY 28
 Wyong Field Day,  Wyong Race Course. 





 APRIL 2 VK3
 Midland Amateur Radio Club's Radio, Electronic & Astronomy Expo.
 Venue to be advised.


 JUNE 5 VK2
 Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club's 35th Annual Field Day.



 2012

 JAN 23-FEB 17 YEAR 2012
 World Radio Conference WRC-11 Geneva 23rd January TO 17th February 2012


 MAY 4-7 2012 VK5
 YL International 2012 Australia  (vk5tmc(AT)bigpond.com) 
 



 REWIND - A LOOK BACK IN HISTORY
 (Will McGhie  VK6UU is WIA National Historian)    
  

 

 

 
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 ************************************************************************
 
                       - NEWS POSTING TO PACKET - 

            Courtesy Tony VK7AX  VK7AX(AT)VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC 

 ************************************************************************




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