OpenBCM V1.08-5-g2f4a (Linux)

Packet Radio Mailbox

IZ3LSV

[San Dona' di P. JN]

 Login: GUEST





  
VK7AX  > NEWS     24.10.09 09:27l 1039 Lines 35044 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : VK1WIA091025
Read: GUEST
Subj: WIANEWS - Oct 25 - VK NATIONAL NEWS
Path: IZ3LSV<IK6ZDE<IW0GPS<CX2SA<VK7AX
Sent: 091024/0821Z @:VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC #:13773 [Ulverstone] FBB7.00g $:VK1W
From: VK7AX@VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC
To  : NEWS@WW


 ALWAYS ENSURE ORIGINAL BID # AND TITLE ARE  USED.
 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 OCT 25 2009.
 
 
 FOUR DX HAMS KILLED IN PLANE CRASH

 THREE ELECTROCUTED INSTALLING HAM ANTENNA IN FLORIDA

 WIA PRESIDENT VK3KI REPORTS ON IARU R3 CONFERENCE

 JOTA A SUCCESS

 G5RV's Logbook sells

 Sunspots and tree rings

 ALL UP AND COMING IN THIS EDITION OF WIANEWS WEEK COMMENCING OCT 25 2009
 
   


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

  
 FOUR DX HAMS KILLED IN PLANE CRASH

 It is with great sadness we have to inform the Amateur community of a tragic
 accident Thursday morning at 6:30am EST.

 The C6APR team, consisting of Pete, W2GJ, Ed, K3IXD, Randy K4QO and
 Dallas W3PP were all killed as their aircraft crashed on take-off from
 Summerville Airport, SC on their way to Crooked Island, Bahamas.

 The Hams were flying to Fort Pierce, Fla., and then on to the Bahamas
 to operate in the CQWW contest this weekend.

 The plane had only climbed to about 150 feet before something caused it
 to make a sharp U-turn and then crash into a wooded area near the Summerville
 airport.
 
 The twin-engine Piper PA-23, which seats six and was built in 1976, was
 engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at the scene.

 Our thoughts are with their families in this tragic time.
 
 (vk3fz/vk3frs)





 THREE ELECTROCUTED INSTALLING HAM ANTENNA IN FLORIDA

 Three people trying to help a Florida ham by installing an antenna for her 
 have been electrocuted in a bizarre accident that happened after 
 dark.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the details:

 A mother, father and their 15-year-old son died on Monday, October 12th. 
 This, after being electrocuted while attempting to erect a ham radio antenna.

 The Palm Bay Florida Police Department identified the victims as Melville 
 Braham, 55, Anna Braham, 49, and their 15 year old son Anthony. None were 
 licensed radio amateurs but they appeared to have been assisting an area 
 ham with an antenna installation.

 Authorities say the family was attempting to raise the antenna mast when 
 they lost control and it struck an overhead power line. It made contact 
 with the overhead wiring and sent 13,000 volts down through the antenna 
 mast the three were holding,

 When paramedics arrived, they found all three on the ground not breathing. 
 Rescue crews immediately tried to resuscitate them. Anna Braham was 
 pronounced dead at the scene. The father and son were taken to a local 
 hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.

 Florida Power & Light Co. crews also responded to the scene. They shut off 
 power in the area while authorities collected evidence and documented the 
 scene.

 According to news reports, Anthony Barham attended Southwest Middle School. 
 Grief counsellors were available at the school on Tuesday October 13th to 
 help students deal with the tragic loss of their friend.

 Federal Communications Commission records do not show that any of the 
 victims were licensed amateur radio amateurs. They do, however, show a 
 license issued to a Barbara V. Tenn, KJ4KFF, at the address where the 
 electrocutions occurred.

 For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.

 This appears to be yet another case of those trying to put up an antenna 
 not realizing the potential danger of nearby overhead high tension electric 
 distribution, and the fact that these wires are all but invisible at 
 night.

 (Published news reports fox orlando)





 VK4 Counter terrorism exercise Operation Hotel Taunt

 A joint operation aimed at testing a coordinated response to an emergency
 situation was held Wednesday at the Port of Brisbane.

 The counter terrorism exercise involved several government and private
 authorities working together to resolve a potentially dangerous situation. 

 The exercise involved a suspicious package being located on a wharf at the
 Port of Brisbane. 

 Authorities then went about planning and participating in every aspect that
 would be necessary if this was a real situation.

 Wynnum District Superintendent Tony Rand was happy with the exercise and the
 way the situation was successfully handled.

 “This type of exercise is extremely important for everyone involved to hone
 their skills and learn best practice methods.

 “We will assess the exercise and educate ourselves on any areas that may need
 improvement. Everything done here can be taken away and used in a real life
 situation,ö Superintendent Rand said.

 (QPS Media and Public Affairs Branch).





 JOTA A SUCCESS

 Lots of good reports coming in of JOTA last weekend.

 Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of Australia,
 Chief Scout and Patron of Girl Guides Australia addressed Scouts and Guides
 in a message which opened the annual Jamboree On The Air. 

 JOTA-JOTI involved some 10,000 Scouts and Guides in Australia, and about
 500,000 worldwide and gave young people an opportunity to meet and learn
 about Scouts and Guides in other parts of the world.  
   
 The amateur radio station of the World Scout Bureau was active from Geneva
 on all short-wave and VHF bands during the JOTA weekend with the Bureau’s
 call sign HE8S.

 On the Sunday afternoon, Secretary General Luc Panissod gave the closing
 speech that was transmitted over shortwave and entered into a live contact
 with J5S at the Scout HQ in Guinea Bissau.


 HE8S - World Scout Bureau





 NERG'S latest club newsletter has pointed out that from 9 November, there will
 be some important changes to the Victorian road safety rules about using
 mobile phones and visual display units.

 While these don’t appear to affect any rules regarding the legal use of
 two-way radios whilst driving, some amateur radio equipment is starting to
 look a lot like a mobile phones or GPS navigator, so it’s probably best
 NOT to use them whilst mobile and avoid attracting too much attention.

 Notes regarding phones and visual display devices and other rule changes can
 be found on the Vic Roads web site:

 www.roadrules.vicroads.vic.gov.au





 WIA PRESIDENT VK3KI REPORTS ON IARU R3 CONFERENCE

 Last Friday week saw the conclusion of the IARU Region 3 triennial conference
 in Christchurch, New Zealand.

 Each of the three International Amateur Radio Union regional organisations,
 with the regions matching the ITU regions, holds a conference every three
 years.

 The conference becomes the meeting for the national amateur societies, such as
 the WIA, and the representatives of the other two regions as well as the IARU
 officers.

 The WIA participates in the IARU Region 3 conferences, because it is the way
 that the WIA can participate in the formulation of the policy of the IARU, the
 representative of the amateur service at the regional telecommunication
 organisations and at the ITU.

 In a broadcast I cannot go through all the many matters discussed over the
 4 working days of the conference.  I can give you an indication of the breadth
 of the discussion by telling you that the focus of the Conference was the
 protection of our bands through the IARU Monitoring System, what we call in
 Australia Intruder Watch, and emergency communications.

 Why is Intruder Watch important?  Because without complaints about an intruder
 causing harmful interference, it may be claimed that there is no breach of the
 ITU Radio Regulations, which allow a station to be placed anywhere so long as
 it does not cause harmful interference to a station operating in accordance
 with the ITU’s Radio Regulations.

 It was agreed that there was a need to update and modernise the Monitoring
 System to effectively deal with intruders causing harmful interference in the
 amateur radio bands.

 The other major matter was the role of amateur radio in emergency
 communications.  The conference commended the Indonesian society (ORARI)
 and its amateurs and the Chinese society (CSRA) and its amateurs on the role
 that they had played in Indonesia and China after major natural disasters.

 The Conference considered the concept of emergency centre of activity (CoA)
 frequencies worthwhile, and adopted 3.600, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160 & 21.360 MHz.

 Among the many other matters considered were the matters affecting amateurs on
 the agenda for the next ITU World Radiocommunication Conference, the WRC in 
 2012, particularly the agenda item dealing with the allocation of a small
 secondary segment to amateurs around 500 kHz.  In addition the matters
 included ARDF, better utilisation of all allocated amateur bands, BPL/PLT,
 EMC, visitor licensing including the Australian class licence, liaison between
 societies and their radio administrations, operating standards, various
 projects, together with support, for the development of amateur radio in the 
 region, the New Zealand KiwiSAT satellite project, the beacon project,
 various matters affecting the 7 MHz band, including the footnotes to that
 band, future financial implications and the budget for the next triennium.

 The NZART was praised for its hospitality and efficiency as the host society.
 
 The next IARU Region 3 Conference will be in Ho-Chi-Minh City, Vietnam in
 late 2012.





 October 2005 VK9 Callsigns

 The headlines for this item are, I think, no more restrictions on retaining a
 VK9 callsign and location indications in VK9 callsigns abandoned.

 Earlier this year, after it had taken over the responsibility of recommending
 callsigns, the WIA raised the question whether the conditions imposed by the
 ACMA on the issue of VK9 callsigns for Australia’s External Territories
 continued to be appropriate.

 In particular, the policies of requiring the callsign to include a letter as a
 location identifier and the bar on retaining a callsign were questioned.

 The WIA consulted widely, seeking submissions on the issue, and ultimately
 submitted to ACMA a report on its investigations and its recommendations.

 ACMA has now announced new arrangements for the issue of VK9 callsigns for the
 Australian External Territories that represent a significant simplification.

 From 1 November 2009 the arrangements for the issue of a licence for the VK9 
 call area will be the same as for the other Australian call areas.
 In particular, all licences issued to authorise operation in the External
 Territories (VK9), other than those issued to visiting overseas Amateurs, will
 be issued for the period requested by the applicant.  Unless a short term
 licence is specifically requested, the licence will not be subject to a
 renewal bar.  This provision applies regardless of whether the applicant is a
 visitor or permanent resident or does not provide a 'station address'.  Where
 a station address cannot be provided, for example on an uninhabited island,
 the station location will be the name of the island.

 All licences issued to visiting overseas Amateurs will be issued for a period
 of one year unless a short term licence is specifically requested. Short term
 licences will continue to be subject to a renewal bar and licences issued to
 visiting overseas amateurs will not be automatically renewed.

 As with these provisions, there will be no differentiation between visitors
 or permanent residents, all VK9 licensees, including overseas visitors, will
 be able to operate under the portable provisions of the Amateur Licence
 Conditions Determination in any External Territory or mainland state or
 territory

 The other issue, the question of the callsign identifying the location,
 attracted the most interest.

 Callsigns allocated to Amateur licences authorising operation in the External
 Territories will no longer contain a letter indicating a specific operating
 location.

 VK9 callsigns will continue to reflect the licence category (Advanced,
 Standard or Foundation).





 HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA. 

 VK1
 G'day all, could all persons holding keys for the Farrer shack please return
 them to the committee as soon as possible.. The Farrer shack will no longer
 be used from the 31st of October 09..
 (Peter VK1NPW Pres.)





 VK2    
 web service:-  http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm   
 VKG Roundup    http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news 
   
 
 NORTHERN vk2
 PRETTY GULLY REPEATER  VK2RBR REPAIRS.

 The wind associated with recent dust storms brought down antennas and made a
 bit of a mess of them besides one coax getting wrapped around the blades
 and shaft of the wind generator. 

 They have been rebuilt and put up again and it is now working on a single
 dipole on each of Tx and Rx instead of the phased pair for each.

 At the antenna phasing box on each antenna the sealant had failed and the
 internals were severely corroded, now all is good.
 
 (Ewan VK4ERM / VK4TA via Summerland News)





 VK3 
 web service:-  http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/      
 VKC Roundup    http://www.police   
      
 Sherbrooke Community Radio Club would like to thank all the amateurs who
 helped out over JOTA. Scouts from 3 troops and a one group of Guides attended
 their shack over the two days.  From this introduction to amateur radio there
 will be a number of kids who will get into ham radio.

 Without the older radio amateurs helping youth into the hobby, it would remain
 an older person’s activity.

 Sherbrooke Community Radio Club's ARISS contact takes place at Sherbrooke
 Community School 28th at 07:13UTC. As the link will not be in Australia
 you will not be able to hear the downlink or uplink but if you tune to
 VK3RBY, VK3RML or EchoLink Amsat server G7EVY you will be able to hear em.   

 (Jim VK3AMN)





 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/

 TARCadians on the High Seas

 Townsville Hams currently at sea and sending position data by WinLink which
 eventually ends up in the APRS ..

 VK4HBV David onboard Sahula northbound

 last report had David in Kokova, Greece - near the Lycian Way. He is cruising
 the Aegean Isles until late 2011 and if you are visiting the region, call
 David on 0539 503 95 32 and arrange to have a little friendly cruise.

 view sailing blog at   http://www.sailblogs.com/member/sahula/

 VK4FUU Ashley and Brenda onboard Ashymakaihken currently at last report
 at anchor at Breakwater Marina, Townsville


 Finally in VK4 Wally VK4DO is after a Telecine for 8mm movies, suitable brands
 include Panasonic, Sony or other. If you can help Wally out please contact him
 on email

 vk4do(AT)internode.on.net





 NEWS FROM THE TOP END VK8 
 
 The Darwin Amateur Radio Club had two stations active during JOTA last weekend.
 Guides from around Darwin were at the clubrooms on VK8DA and had a good time
 with quite a few good contacts. The Scouts gathered at Howard springs in
 Darwin’s rural area where VK8BP was set up. HF conditions were a little poor
 but some useful contacts were made. Thank goodness for EchoLink during this
 period of no sunspots.

 87 Joeys Cubs Venturers and Rovers were there doing all manner of
 communications related activities.

 The next club meeting of the Darwin Amateur Radio Club is at the clubrooms in
 Sports House Waratah Crescent Fannie Bay on Wednesday  4th of November 7pm.
 Don't forget the AGM is on the 2nd of December.  Nominate now for a position
 on the club committee.

 the club Christmas dinner is at the Hidden Valley Tavern at 7 pm on Thursday
 December the 3rd.





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

 G5RV's Logbook sells

 On October 1st, the 1932 logbook of Louis Varney, G5RV, was put up for auction
 on eBay. Within a couple of days the price reached £77 where it stayed until
 after some intense bidding the logbook finally sold for £227.

 The logbook shows that G5RV's final QSOs were on January 11 2000.

 Varney was, of course using a G5RV antenna that he designed for those final
 contacts. 

 Ironically, the final entries appeared on page 73 of the logbook.

 (irts)





 12th Ham Fair in Lisbon

 If you are off to Portugal on holiday next month, you may be interested to
 know that 15th November sees a major Ham Fair in Lisbon. 

 This is one of the biggest events in Portugal and aims to be more than just a
 show with new and second hand goods as visitors enjoy meeting new and old
 amateur friends and from around the globe.

 arvm.org/index.fr2009.html





 Researchers say they have created a special kind of paint which can block out
 wireless signals.                                                                                                                  
 
 It means security-conscious wireless users could block their neighbours from
 being able to access their home network - without having to set up encryption.
 
 The paint contains an aluminium-iron oxide which resonates at the same
 frequency as wi-fi - or other radio waves - meaning the airborne data is
 absorbed and blocked.   
 
 By coating an entire room, signals can't get in and, crucially, can't get out.
       
 Developed at the University of Tokyo, the paint could cost as little as 
 10 DOLLARS per kilogram, researchers say.                                                                                                 
 
 (vk2fjl)





 D-STAR REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

 Here is the story of a ham who has taken D-Star to a new height.

 New height as in 13,000 feet in the sky.

 Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in a recent Amateur Radio Newsline bulletin says that
 Mark Meltzer, AF6IM, of Palo Alto California went sky-diving and brought 
 along an Icom IC 91AD D-Star enabled handy talkie.

 Meltzer says that on his first jump he opened his chute at about 13,000 
 feet and worked numerous 2 meter analogue FM simplex contacts.  He also held 
 a couple of analogue FM QSOs on 1.2 GHz through the W6CYX and W6LRW linked 
 repeater system on 1282.225.

 At about 8000 ft he decided to try D-Star but heard only a garbled R2D2 
 sounding reply.  At the time Mark says that he was flying his canopy away 
 from Mt. Diablo which placed my body between the repeater and the IC 91AD's 
 antenna.  So he  turned towards Mt. Diablo and the distortion went away and 
 he was able to work Rick Mc Cusker, WF6O, in Sacramento clearly through the 
 machine.

 AF6IM notes that he was also carrying analogue APRS gear that not only 
 reported GPS derived data that not only included his altitude heading and 
 speed but also his blood oxygen level and pulse rate.  He also thanks WF6O 
 for being the other half of the D-Star parachute mobile contact and 
 especially to Tim Barrett, K6BIV for making it all possible with his D-Star 
 repeater system.





 OPERATIONAL NEWS -  
 
 ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN -  D A T E  L I N E   2009 
     
   
 OCT 24 - 25   CQ WORLD WIDE SSB

 NOV       1   ZL STRAIGHT KEY NIGHT 
 NOV 28 - 29   VK SPRING VHF-UHF FIELD DAY
 NOV 28 - 29   CQ WORLD WIDE CW

 SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN -  D A T E  L I N E   2010

 March 21-22  John Moyle Field Day 
  

  
 Time to get ready for this year’s VHF-UHF field day, held on the weekend
 28/29 November.

 Some details have come to light courtesy of the NERG club in VK3 which we
 share here.

 The VHF-UHF Field Days provide VHF-UHF operators with the opportunity to
 "head for the hills" and see how far they can work.

 The Field Days has sections for single and multiple operators, with 24 (AT) 8 hr
 sections. There is also a separate Home Station section.


 The scoring is based on grid locator squares. Each new square worked gives
 quite a boost to the score, and this encourages the entrants to operate from
 locations in grid squares that normally don't have a great amount of amateur
 activity.

 There are no mode restrictions, except that all contacts must be simplex – no
 repeaters, Internet, or satellites allowed. There is plenty of FM activity, but
 one feature of the Field Days is a high level of SSB activity.


 Stations can do very well with modest antennas and equipment from a good
 hilltop. Operating mobile from more than one grid square can also improve
 scores.


 See the WIA web Contests page for more details:
 www.wia.org.au/members/contests/vhfuhf/





 Getting very serious with ham radio contests 

 Every major sport has at some time or another suffered from cheating.

 Whether it be athletes using illegal substances to enhance performance, taking
 a risk that the officials won’t notice that rules are being flouted or just 
 falsifying the score-sheet.

 So it should come as no surprise that amateur radio contests can be subject
 to cheating too.

 The issue is gaining greater publicity through the disqualifications to be
 handed out by the CQ World Wide Contest Committee.

 It has introduced a Yellow card and a Red card system, just like a soccer
 referee. Under the CQ World Wide Contest rules all entrants agree that the use
 of the card system and other decisions of the Contest Committee are official
 and final. 

 For a low level indiscretion a Yellow card will be issued making the entrant 
 ineligible for an award. But two Yellow cards in three consecutive contests
 means a two year ban.  

 For higher level matters, a Red card means the submitted log is rejected or
 no score recorded, the entrant or operator is banned for 12 months and listed
 at the end of the contest results for all to see. Get two Red cards and there 
 is a three year ban.   

 Cards are issued for breaches of contest rules or the operating requirements
 of a country, unsportsmanlike conduct such as using non-amateur radio means
 to pre-arrange contacts contrary to the rules, or taking credit for excessive
 unverifiable QSOs or multipliers. 

 Hopefully this innovation will discourage those who don’t abide by the rules
 or are outright cheats.

 (Jim Linton VK3PC)    





 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 
     
 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


 Another DXCluster for mobile phones

 The GB7MBC DXCluster is now available for those with mobile smartphones.

 Web pages have been created to make it simple to use the cluster when mobile.

 Although designed for iPhone, they have been tested on Blackberry, Android and
 the Nokia N95. It should work with most smartphones. 

 The pages feature filtering and the capability to click on a DX callsign to
 get the QRZ information for it. 

 The cluster is available at 

 www.gb7mbc.net/webcluster/iPhone.php


 (irts)





 JU75BSI will work from Oct 23- Nov 20, 2009.

 This is special event station for the 75 years anniversary Mongolian Border
 Service Institute. JU75BIS will participate also WW DX PHONE CONTEST.
 Special QSL for SASE. LOTW will accept. QSL via JT1CH
 (Khos JT1CD)





 BROADCAST  MONITORING SWL AND SCANNER NEWS
 aus_scanner(AT)yahoogroups.com 
 http://www.scanaustralia.bigpondhosting.com 
 www.scanvictoria.com
 www.tinyurl.com/BITS-026 (A receiver located in NY USA)  
     

 Radio Sweden to stop issuing QSL cards

 With the start of the new transmission period for shortwave and medium wave, as
 well as satellite, on October 25, Radio Sweden will only be publishing its
 broadcast schedule on the Web. 

 At the same time Radio Sweden is discontinuing mailing QSL cards to listeners
 in response to reception reports.

 (irts)





 WIRELESS WEATHER   
  
 Peter Ellis VK1PE has spotted an odd story about the sunspot cycle.

 Sunspots and tree rings

 Some of us just know that daylight saving fades the curtains. But, now, 
 it has been proved that sunspots affect the growth of tree rings.

 Ms Sigrid Dengel, a postgraduate researcher at the Institute of 
 Atmospheric and Environmental Science at the University of Edinburgh, 
 has "investigated the interannual variation in the growth rings formed 
 by Sitka spruce (/Picea sitchensis/) trees in northern Britain (55°N, 
 3°W) over the period 1961–-2005" finding that "there was a consistent 
 and statistically significant relationship between growth of the trees 
 and the flux density of galactic cosmic radiation.

 Moreover, there was an underlying periodicity in growth, with four minima
 since 1961, resembling the period cycle of galactic cosmic radiation"
 corresponding to the 11 year cycle of sunspots. The more sunspots, the greater
 the flux of the solar wind and the lesser the flux of the galactic cosmic 
 radiation. She has said, "the relation of the rings to the solar cycle was
 much stronger than it was to any of the climatological factors we had looked
 at." Does this also explain why my cherry tree is flowering so well this year?

 Reporter: Peter Ellis VK1PE
 
 References:
 
 Paper abstract: 
 http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122597017/abstract
 
 BBC article: 
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8311000/8311373.stm





 THE QNEWS WORK BENCH - the nuts and volts report -
 (Measure twice - Cut once!)   
 
 Wi-Fi signals used to see through walls

 Monday's edition of the UK Telegraph reports that scientists at the University
 of Utah in the United States have found a way to harness Wi-Fi signals to
 'see' through solid walls.
 
 The researchers say that the variation of radio signals in a wireless network 
 can reveal the movements of people behind closed doors or even a wall. 

 Joey Wilson and Neal Patwari, from the University of Utah, have used the
 principle of variance-based radio tomographic imaging. The system works by
 measuring interference between the nodes of wireless devices. If someone
 passes through that field, the device registers a change in the levels of
 resistance, and feeds that information back to a computer. 

 The system can currently see about three feet through a wall, and is so far
 only capable of sensing motion. At this stage, it is not sophisticated enough
 to generate an actual image of what lies beyond the wall, but the research
 team is confident that this feature could be developed in time.

 You can read the full article 'Wi-Fi signals used to see through walls' at: 
 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/6254646/Wi-Fi-signals-used-to-see-through-walls.html





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ATV (Every pixel tells a story) - Video  
 arvideonews.com
 hamradiotube.com
 youtube.com

 REAST ATV Experimenters Night 

 We had a great roll-up last Wednesday night with a very special quest that
 Ken VK7DY brought along. Gary Briant VK3KYF who is the President of the VK3 
 Sunraysia Radio Group based in Mildura.

 Ken VK7TW and Justin VK7TW interviewed Garry on air and we found out what
 makes Garry tick and what the Sunraysia Radio club gets up to.

 Thanks to Garry and Ken. It was also great to see Reg VK7KK along for the
 night.

 Justin VK7TW then took the audience through a show and tell and demonstration
 of what other functions a Grid Dip oscillator could be used for which
 included:

 - Resonance Testing of circuits
 
 - Calculating an unknown L or C value with know component values and finding
   the resonant frequency

 - Q Factor measurements for inductors

 - Absorption wave meter testing of tank circuits

 - Field strength meter

 - Signal generator

 - Measuring the length of a coax using the open circuit ¼ wavelength or
   shorted ½ wavelength method; and,

 - A crystal oscillator

 Paul VK7FPAH was then interviewed about his construction of a Quadrifiliar
 137MHz satellite antenna and we checked it's resonance and discussed on air
 the problems Paul was having with the performance of the antenna. Watch this
 space as there case is certainly not closed….HIHI.

 We finished up with some great videos from the STEREO Heliospheric satellites
 which showed real solar flare activity and Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) events
 that have been captured by the satellites that are currently monitoring the
 sun.

 We will have another cram packed session this Wednesday night so why not come 
 along and see what we get up to.

 We will be continuing to prepare the new ATV studio and hanging some of the
 conduit to provide structured cabling paths around the studio.

 STOP PRESS - We have taken delivery of the new DVB-T DATV transmitter
 components and this is currently being housed in a suitable rack box along
 with the power amplifier.

 http://reast.asn.au/events.php#ATVnights

 (73, Justin, VK7TW)





 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FEMALES IN RADIO
 ALARA - AUSTRALIAN LADIES AR ASSOCIATION
 http://alara.org.au
 Net is held each Mondays on 3.580 MHz, commencing at 1030 UTC.
 (1000utc during daylight saving)
 geencee(AT)picknowl.com.au  
  
 ALARA had a great turnout for the VK5 September lunch with visitors from
 interstate and overseas.

 Marilyn VK3DMS and her OM Geoff VK3ACZ were there for the Adelaide Hills
 Buy and Sell and Pat VK3OZ was there with Sharon ZL3AE and Glenn who were
 visiting from New Zealand.

 Everyone in South Australia knew that Marilyn would be presented with a
 Certificate of Appreciation for her 27 years of service on the committee.
 
 (ALARA newsletter)





 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 
   
 
 AMSAT-NA ANNOUNCES NEW FM CUBESAT

 AMSAT North America says that its once again headed back into space.  This 
 time with a brand new CubeSat that will be like no other before it.

 During the board meeting held Oct. 8 in conjunction with the Annual Space 
 Symposium the AMSAT Board of Directors adopted the Engineering Task Force 
 recommendation that low-cost launch options be pursued immediately.  This 
 means that the AMSAT engineering team will develop a 1U CubeSat design 
 effective immediately.

 The new AMSAT CubeSat's initial capability is planned to add to the popular 
 low-earth orbit FM transponder fleet allowing hams to continue to use their 
 existing handheld and portable antenna systems. Such a satellite also 
 continues the accessible entry path for new satellite operators to get started.

 Meantime, word that the flight version of ARISSat-1 replacement for SuitSat 2
 has been developed to be adaptable into the CubeSat model. This will allow a
 modular approach to mission design using proven subsystems and components.


 The ARISSat-1 mission planned in 2010 and will be the initial flight test 
 of AMSAT's modular satellite.  According to Tony Monteiro, AA2TX, who is 
 AMSAT North America's Vice-President of Engineering, this approach to 
 building flight hardware gets AMSAT back up in space with new satellites by 
 leveraging the skills and technology it has today.

 AMSAT says that there's another reason for this fast track approach.  This 
 is because the existing FM satellites are starting to show their age.

 (ARNewsLine)





 SOCIAL SCENE        


 2009
 
 International Telecommunication Union's Telecom World 2009.



 OCT 25 VK3
 Ballarat Amateur Radio Group Annual Hamvention 

 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".

 
 NOV 15 VK4
 QUEENSLAND CLUBS "PRESIDENTS LUNCH" GEEBUNG RSL


 NOV 29 VK2
 Final Trash & Treasure at VK2WI for the year.




 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.

 JAN 30 VK4
 Bunya Mts & Dist AmCom host "HAM AND WINE FEST 2010" at Maclagan.



 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.

 
 JULY 17 VK3
 GGREC Hamfest Start Time : 10:00 





 Oct 29 - 31
 VK1OOWIA Westlakes ARC during our WIA centenary celebrations. 


 NOV 7 VK5 
 2010 Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society Hamfest Rosa St Goodwood



 2012
 
 15TH IARU REGION 3 CONFERENCE hosted by V.A.R.C. in Ho-Chi-Minh City, Vietnam.



 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) 
 

 




 

 
 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 

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




Read previous mail | Read next mail


 04.02.2026 20:49:08lGo back Go up