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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
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
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WIANEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING JUNE 13 2010.
Two-way contact achieved on 8.97 kHz
Radio ghost mystery at former RAF station
ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman recording of his speech at 100th WIA AGM
FRENCH COMPANY TO MARKET NEW SDR TRANSCEIVER
VK8NSB SSTV Repeater operational on 28:700
D-STAR AUDIO STREAM NOW ON THE WWW
ALL UP AND COMING IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF
AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING JUNE 13 2010
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WIA
President Michael Owen VK3KI president(AT)wia.org.au
Vice President Ewan McLeod VK4ERM vk4erm(AT)wia.org.au
Secretary Geoff Atkinson VK3AFA secretary(AT)wia.org.au
Treasurer John Longayroux VK3PZ vk3pz(AT)wia.org.au
WIA ON PARADE
This weekend 2 events on the VK Social Calender will be attended by WIA Officers.
Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club 35th Annual Field Day
New South Wales
This will be the 35th Field Day ORARC. Ha run on the June long Weekend and is
expected to attract a large gathering of Hams from around the area and
interstate travellers. The club will also be highlighting the 100 year
celebrations of the WIA. As usual there will be trade stalls, second-hand items
and items of interest.
South East Radio Group Convention and Australian Fox Hunting Championships
South Australia
Radio Convention, Home Brew Contest, Fox Hunting.
Give aways. All at the Margaret Street scout hall
(behind the Mount Gambier Police Station)
WIA President Michael will attend Oxley region and WIA Secretary Geoff the
South Australian event.
Two-way contact achieved on 8.97 kHz
What is believed to be the first Amateur Radio two-way contact on 8.97 kHz
using truly radiated fields took place on Friday, June 4, 2010 between
DJ2LF and DF6NM.
Markus DF6NM has written this report on the historic contact:
This morning, June 4th between 6 and 8 UT, Walter (DJ2LF) and myself (DF6NM)
were able to successfully conduct a two-way contact (aka "QSO") on 8.97 kHz.
The distance between us is 20.2 km, well outside the reactive near field zone
(lamda / 2pi = 5.3 km).
Both of us were using our small backyard Marconi antennas at home, for transmit
and receive. Walter's antenna has 260 pF at an estimated effective height of
about 5 m. He achieved about 370 mA current, resulting in a radiated power of
about 5 uW (EMRP). I also got 5 uW from 270 mA into 240 pF at about 7 m.
DF6NM started by transmitting a carrier on his lower frequency, from
4:00 to 4:30 UT. This was indeed seen by DJ2LF, who replied on his upper
frequency from 4:45 to 5:15, reporting positive reception.
Then DF6NM confirmed reception on the upper frequency from 5:30 to 6:00.
The whole procedure took two hours.
Walter's signal can actually still be seen between my own dashes on my VLF
grabber.
http://www.mydarc.de/df6nm/vlf/vlfgrabber.htm
As far as we know, this was probably the first two-way amateur QSO on VLF,
using truly radiated fields. Another dream came true...
Best regards,
Markus DF6NM
(thanks to Southgate for this)
We contacted WIA Director Peter Young on how we VK's may operate on 8 kHz
"I have check the ITU allocations table and find there is no allocation for
any service below 9 kHz and this is reflected in the Australian
Radiocommunications Spectrum Plan.
Accordingly, any person may apply to the ACMA for a Scientific Licence
Apparatus Licence.
There is no mechanism to assign a 8,97 kHz frequency to an Amateur Service
Licence in Australia."
Radio ghost mystery at former RAF station
World War Two radio continues to pick up vintage broadcasts despite not having
any power
A 70-year-old radio at a Scottish heritage centre has been picking up vintage
broadcasts featuring Winston Churchill and the music of Glen Miller.
The Pye valve wireless at Montrose Air Station, a heritage centre that tells
the story of the men and women who served there, has no power and is not
connected to any source of electricity.
The aerodrome has been a source of paranormal sightings and sounds for almost
a century, with reports of ghostly figures, eerie footsteps and door handles
turning, but the mysterious wireless broadcasts have had even the most sceptical
staff at the station searching for a rational explanation.
The vintage radio set is kept in a recreation of a 1940s room. Several people
have heard Second World War era broadcasts including the big band sound of the
Glenn Miller orchestra and speeches by Winston Churchill. The broadcasts come
on at random and can last for up to half an hour.
Technicians who examined it removed the back, but found "nothing but cobwebs
and spiders".
Bob Sutherland, a trustee of the air station heritage centre and its treasurer,
said: "I have heard it playing Glenn Miller and recognised the song as At Last.
"The volume was very low but the music was quite identifiable.
"Graham Phillip, another volunteer, has heard what he was sure was Winston
Churchill and others, including centre curator Dan Paton and his wife, have
heard it.
"I was a wireless operator with the RAF and know a bit about them. We have also
had our resident radio expert, Ewan Cameron, look at it.
"If we had a powerful transmitter in the area the radio might pick up something,
but we don't.
"It is an old Pye radio which would probably explode if it was switched on."
Mr Phillip said: "We have all heard the footsteps and seen door handles turn but
the wireless is something new and unexplainable.
Read the full story at:
http://news.stv.tv/scotland/tayside/181127-radio-ghost-mystery-at-former-raf-station/
WIA Centenary Update
It seems that everyone who attended the WIA Centenary Convention in Canberra,
two weekends ago now, is still talking about the marvellous three day program.
Today we return, this time to the WIA Centenary Dinner and in particular
the speech given by the ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman. Here is an edited
version of that important speech.
(audio ends with audience clapping and Robert Broomhead saying
“Thanks very much, Chris Chapman”).
A news release which expands on that that speech, plus an audio recording
and text of the full speech, can be found on
www.wia.org.au
A report will appear in the July edition of Amateur Radio magazine.
VK100WIA reaches another milestone
The Midland Amateur Radio Club in Central Victoria last Monday logged QSO
number 2,000 with Laurie Davidson VK7ZE at Spalford in Northern Tasmania
on the 80m band. Reports for the SSB contact exchanged were five by nine
both ways.
Laurie VK7ZE has also worked the WIA Centenary callsign on at least the 40m
and 160m bands.
In news from the WIA Office a test run of laser printing the QSL details
on the VK100WIA QSL cards was successful. The first batch of cards will be
submitted to the QSL bureau by the end of the end of this month.
If you're looking for contacts with VK100WIA then check out the online logging
on the WIA website www.wia.org.au
Two Thousand calls is great going from the clubs and WIA, and the first QSO
of course kicked of with our own WIA President VK3KI
(AUDIO CUT OF VK100WIA FIRST CONTACT)
As a part of the WIA Centenary celebrations, in the spirit of celebrating early
radio in Australia, on June 16th to 18th 2010 the Gippsland Gate Radio and
Electronics Club will re-enact the historically important reception of the
very first direct press message sent from the UK to Australia, which was
received at 5am on the 5th December 1921 by Mr. T. W. Bearup at an AWA
experimental receiving station established at Koo Wee Rup.
The GGREC will be operating out of the rooms of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical
Society located at 325 Rossiter Rd Koo Wee Rup using the VK100WIA call sign.
GGREC has organised a plaque commemorating the experimental station.
The Mayor will be unveiling the plaque on Friday afternoon at 3pm.
Any amateur or any member of the public is welcome to go along to the
activities.
The President of GGREC, Chris Chapman, is scheduled to be interviewed
on Melbourne ABC 774 at 6.35am on Tuesday 15th June, specifically about the
WIA Centenary activities in general, and the GGREC activities in particular.
DISCUSSION POINT
Danger, Beware of Ham Radio
The YouTube is a fabulous video sharing facility. There are plenty of good
and informative videos about many aspects of amateur radio.
But theres one – the Truth about Ham Radio by Bert Fisher K1OIK – that
interestingly gives one mans opinion about whats wrong with our hobby
and some within it.
Talking from his radio shack during a ten minute pay out on the amateur
radio community, he stereotypes hams in a series of over generalisations
that could have many of his ill-informed viewers believe we are mostly all
fat, engaging in meaningless activity, intellectual deficient, elitist and
gutless when not behind a microphone.
Bert K1OIK obviously does not like contests and contesters. He claims they
go nuts, abandon their families and even withdraw from important social
occasions.
He likens packet clusters that list all active DX stations during a contest, to
a hunter going into a zoo and killing a whole lot of caged animals.
The video ends with an industrial-style sign that states: Danger, Beware
of Ham Radio.
Bert Fisher K1OIK, obviously a great character. He has other videos
including ‘Ham Radio, a critical evaluation, and ‘The Real World of Ham
Radio, that make interesting viewing.
He obviously has enjoyed amateur radio most of his life, and shares the
hobby with his daughter Erin KB1LOQ.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
ACROSS VK
Spud VK8ZWM will do the all state whip around in just a 'tic' but REALLY
across Australia soon will be Sherbrooke Community Radio Club's, VK3KID.
In the Aussie Outback June 19 until 4 July they'll 'be on air' HF VHF and on
CB.
As part of this trip, they'll be officially visiting three Aboriginal schools
and will introduce amateur radio to those schools. As Sherbrooke Community
School had the privilege of participating in an ARISS contact last year,
They'll offer their expertise and know-how.
But here's the 'neat' bit, working HF from most camp sites, the Club will be
making a QSL card of each camp site and each card will be a one and only QSL
card.
Any contact which result in them receiving a QSL card with a self-addressed
stamped envelope will be replied to with one of their special QSL cards.
Please refer to the running sheet on http://vk3kid.cloud.prohosting.com
Listen out on 14.180 MHz and 7.080.
Generators are NOT allowed to be used after 17:00 local area time so,
as long as the batteries last they'll be on air.
HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
VK2
web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm
VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news
St George Amateur Radio Society - Coming Events
July 2010 Meeting - Radio Direction Finding Technical Presentation by
John Thyrd VK2BBC, on VHF radio direction finding by
technical staff within the aviation industry.
Summerland ARC - Coming Events
20 June - Committee Meeting and Sale Day at Clubrooms
27 June - WICEN(NR) Field gear day at Clubrooms.
10-11 July - Horse Enduro, Eden Creek. Operators needed.
18 July - SARC Committee Meeting at Clubrooms.
8 Aug - SARCFEST, at Clubrooms, 414 Richmond Hill Rd.
(John Alcorn, VK2JWA Treasurer, Summerland ARC)
VK3
web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/
VKC Roundup http://www.police
Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club, 17th July, will conduct their
Hamfest Sale at the Cranbourne Community Hall the corner of Clarendon
and High streets, Cranbourne.
High Street is part of the South Gippsland Highway.
Reservations for stall holders may be made by contacting Chris VK3QB
0429 187 593
hamfest(AT)ggrec.org.au .
Doors open at 10:00am for buyers.
For further details please visit
http://www.ggrec.org.au/hamfest
VK4 - QNEWS
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/
Welcome to QNEWS from VK4WIA. I'm Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP and this one is
for you mate!
One of the things that brings most of us together in a recreational pastime is
feeling part of the big picture, knowing what is happening and sharing our
interest with others. As part of the WIA efforts to keep us abreast of
happenings, Graham, VK4BakerBaker, puts together National News and QNEWS.
With QNEWS, we depend on the audio feeds that come from our clubs and
listeners. The ease of anyone that has a multimedia computer to write,
record and submit items for QNEWS has never been as great as it is now.
There are 30 Qld clubs affiliated with the WIA and listed in the
Centenary Edition Callbook. We know that things happen to suit local
needs, and a friendly voice speaking about a local event can let your
club members as well as the other listeners know what is happening. When
you think that about half to 2/3 of a page of typing is all you need to
fill 1&1/2 to 2 minutes of recording then here is a painless way of
getting the news out.
Think about this, if most clubs worked on sending about 4 news items
each year, this would guarantee at least two club items each week. Our
friends at Townsville keep their flag flying every week. With other
regular contributors, this is not a big ask to spread the word.
We have listeners who depend on what they hear in the weekly news
broadcast to keep up with their hobby. There are others who appreciate
knowing that other amateurs are enjoying the hobby too. When news that
can benefit us all, such as a grant scheme, a special event station or
award, is announced, don't be shy....do what you do with your other
friends....spread the word.
Think about some-one you would like to know about your news item,
some-one you can't eyeball or 'phone and picture them in your mind's eye
as you email QNEWS and say, "This one is for you mate".
Im Geoff Emery VK4ZPP and Thats What I think... how about you.............?
BUNDABERG
The exciting news from Bundaberg is that our new club repeater site on
Double Sloping Hummock, better known as Mt Watalgan is on air, having been
officially opened by the Mayor on Sunday 16th of May.
The completed project has cost over $6500 and the club was very pleased that
Bundaberg Regional Council saw the value in effective emergency
communications and supported our project with a Community Grant.
Weve installed an Icom FR6000 repeater and ARCOM Controller which are
currently putting out tremendous signals heard way to the south of Bundy.
Were waiting to hear from folks in the north and out west about just how far
this repeater can be heard.
VK4RBW is the third unit in the clubs repeater backbone and it complements
the units in Bundaberg and on Mt Goonaneman. Our WICEN group can now
effectively cover the entire Bundaberg Regional Council area which doubled
in size following Local Government amalgamation.
So if youre a nearby neighbour or just passing through switch over and try
out the new VK4RBW on 439.775 [four three nine decimal seven seven five].
This has been VK4UD with the Bundaberg news
GYMPIE
www.gceginc.org.au
Im Roger, VK4BNQ with the news from the Gympie Communications & Electronics
Group:
2 metre repeater update: The Clubs 2m repeater, VK4RCM, is currently running
on test at Chatsworth just north of town on a new solar powered system. All is
working well including the APRS reporting of battery voltage and shack
temperature. Thanks to Bob, VK4MR for his construction of the new, very secure
solar panel brackets and to Barry, VK4KKN for the wiring. Application has been
made and is currently with the WIA and ACMA to alter the repeater site location
to Mt. Boulder. As soon as approval is received, the device will be moved to
the mountain top for initial testing. Recently the site was visited by a group
of Club members to install the antenna to the tower. The shack was cleaned and
the site made ready and secure for the repeater.
The Gympie group has a new location for regular Club meetings. They are now
being held in the old church building within the grounds of the Gold Mining and
Historical Museum at 215 Brisbane Road. Many thanks go to Paul, VK4YPM for
allowing us to use his basement at Leading Edge Electronics for the first
couple of years of our meetings.
Club meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month. Visitors are
always welcome.
For Gympie Area News, Im Roger, VK4BNQ.
ROCKHAMPTON AND DISTRICT
RADAR CLUB Monthly Meetings third Wednesday of each month,
SES Building Charles and Randwick St 7.30pm.
Another major car rally is planned for Byfield 17TH JUNE. RADAR CLUB comms will
be required again so stay tuned for further info. Comms assist will also be
needed in the event around the show grounds Rockhampton the following weekend.
Contact Secretary Clive on vk4acc(AT)wia.org.au
TOWNSVILLE
vk4wit(AT)wia.org.au
4773 1196 or 0408 001142
po box 333 Garbutt East, QLD 4814
www.tarc.org.au
GREETINGS FROM "CALDWELL BY THE SEA" ! THIS IS DON VK4FNQA,
WITH NEWS FROM NORTH QUEENSLAND, BEAMING TO YOU TODAY FROM
THE TWENTY SEVENTH FAR NORTH AND NORTH QUEENSLAND AMATEUR RADIO GATHERING.
THIS STELLAR EVENT HAS BEEN UNDERWAY SINCE FRIDAY AT THE
CARDWELL VILLAGE BEACHCOMBER MOTEL AND TOURIST PARK
ON ONE OF THE LOVELIEST PARTS OF THE CASSOWARY COAST.
SO FAR ATTENDEES HAVE SOAKED UP SOME NICE WEATHER,
EXCELLENT CONVERSATION, BITS OF EXTREME LOAFING, DONE A
BIT OF SKYLARKING WITH RADIO BEAMS, VISITED THE LOCAL
TELEGRAPH MUSEUM FOR A GUIDED TOUR AND WRESTLED WITH
ELUSIVE QUESTIONS AT THE TREC 'TRIVIA CHALLENGE'.
THERES BEEN A BIT OF SELLING OUT OF THE BOOT, SOME HF
CONTACTS FROM CHARLIE CHARLIE FOUR AND AFTER THIS NEWS
THE GROUP ARE HEADING OVER TO THE CAREFULLY MANICURED
PARKLAND SET ASIDE FOR THE TRADITIONAL NORTH QUEENSLAND
VERSUS FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND CRICKET MATCH.
THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE GROUP PHOTOGRAPH SESSION
AND, YOU GUESSED IT, MORE SERIOUS LOAFING AND MAYBE
RENDERING ASUNDER; SOMEONE ELSE'S CAR BOOT CONTENT.
IF YOU ARE HEADING IN TO THE GATHERING AFTER THE NEWS
YOU MIGHT BE LUCKY AND STILL GET A CHANCE TO TURN YOUR
CHANGE INTO FORTUNE WITH RAY AND WENDY'S LUCKY CLUB.
THE GATHERING CONTINUES UNTIL MID MONDAY MORNING.
NOW A BIT FURTHER SOUTH FROM HERE, SOME HAMS THAT
WERE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TO CARDWELL HAVE BEEN
OPERATING RADIOS TO THE SOUND OF BURNING RUBBER
AT THIS WEEKENDS MOUNT STUART SPRINT, PUT TOGETHER
BY THE TOWNSVILLE CITY AUTOSPORTS CLUB.
SATURDAY SAW A HEAP OF HECTIC OPERATING WITH
COMPETING VEHICLES INVOLVED IN FAST BLASTS ALONG
PART OF THE REID PARK V8 SUPERCAR TRACK, WHILST THE
OPERATORS TRACKED, TIMED AND KEPT A SAFETY WATCH ON THEM.
TODAY THE PACE IS NOT SO HECTIC, WITH OPERATORS AT
THEIR CHECKPOINTS ALONG THE MOUNT STUART ROAD
SINCE 7AM PROVIDING TIME CONTROL, COMPETITOR
TRACKING AND SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE EVENT.
YET AGAIN THE OPERATORS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE FREE AUTOBURGER WHICH WILL BE DELIVERED TO
THEIR DOOR AT THEIR CHECKPOINTS, AND A SAFE
CONCLUSION TO THE EVENT BY ABOUT 4PM.
FINALLY, THE TARC INC HAS THE SOCIAL EVENING
HAPPENING THIS TUESDAY JUNE 15TH FROM SEVEN
THIRTY PM AT THE CLUB ROOMS, PERCHED ON TOP OF
SES HEADQUARTERS IN GREEN STREET WEST END.
EVERYONE WELCOME TO ATTEND AND PUT THE MAGAZINE
OF RENOWN BACK-SCATTER TOGETHER AND TO MINGLE
AND SOCIALISE A BIT.
SO, I LEAVE YOU BRIMMING WITH ENVY AS I SOAK UP
SOME EXTREME LOAFING AMBIENCE WHILE THIS EDITION
OF QNEWS FOR SUNDAY THIRTEENTH OF JUNE IS BROUGHT TO A CLOSE.
THIS HAS BEEN DON VK4FNQA IN CASSOWARY COAST
TROPICAL PARADISE FOR THE TOWNSVILLE AMATEUR
RADIO CLUB INC, AND YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO,
AND ENJOYING QNEWS FROM VK4WIA.
VK6
VK6 has a Top Town – literally. It is a place called Tom Price and is
747 metres above sea level. Overlooking Tom Price is a mountain called
Mount Nameless. From its top you can overlook the town, and the Tom Price
pit which is one of the earliest Iron Ore Mines in the Pilbarra.
Tom Price was a hot bed of Amateur (and CB) activity in the 70s and the
early 80s. Sadly it faded away. But now it is back, and now there are plans
to establish a 2 metre repeater there. It will have an antenna 1100 metres
above sea level, will identify as VK6RTP, and will be around 146.625 if
the licence is accepted. There are plans to link it via IRLP/Echolink.
Once established it will be the highest repeater in VK6. It is almost
impossible to build one at a higher elevation. Known advocates of this
repeater are VK6NDT Jono, VK6HV Steve, VK6BHY Mike, and VK6FLAM Craig.
VK7
local area news :- http://reast.asn.au/news.php
vk7 local news, email vk7regionalnews-subscribe(AT)yahoogroups.com
The latest meeting of the CCARC held an antenna construction session, with the
main project being a 2m end fed dipole suitable for portable or base use. These
simple, low budget antennas were constructed under the guidance of David, VK7DC.
Once the antennas were constructed, tuning was quickly and easily done outside
the rooms, thanks to Bill VK7MX with his antenna analyser.
For those that missed out, basic construction details can be found on the
project page of the club website.
The next meeting will be on the 27th of June, and will feature Vernon VK7VF
giving a talk on using the HP8924 RF test set, and afterwards, the RF tools
software package.
(David, VK7DC, Secretary, CCARC)
VK8
In Darwin club news,
The exams team are hard at it at the moment with up to thirty candidates for
foundation licences being trained and examined.
throw in a couple of standard licence exams and you can see why.
the next meeting of the Darwin amateur radio club is at sports house Waratah
crescent Fannie bay at 7pm on the 7th of July and of course the clubrooms are
open Thursdays between 10 am and noon for the weekly cuppa morning.
relays of this broadcast are on the following frequencies from the Darwin
clubrooms at 0900am cst Sundays. vhf repeater 146.900 and on hf on 3.555mhz,
7.193mhz,10.137mhz and 14.337mhz.
Broadbanding the Top End - Laying fibre optic cable through Arnhem Land
A remote Australian telecommunications project won at the Global Telecoms
Business Innovation Awards in London this week.
Telstra and its partners are celebrating after winning a second international
award for their Arnhem Land Fibre Project – a $34m joint venture between
Telstra, the Northern Territory Government and Rio Tinto Alcan and achieved
with valuable support from the Northern Land Council.
This winning project has seen the laying of over 800km of fibre optic backbone
through tropical savannah terrain from Jabiru to Nhulunbuy. Further works in
mean a number of island communities also have broadband access.
Life-changing technology associated with high-speed broadband is now being used
to deliver services across this region of Australia, significantly improving
access to education, health, justice and business services and contributes to
regional growth.
(Telstra Press)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
Abandoned distress beacon triggers search
An old distress beacon dumped in NZ's Bay of Plenty rubbish tip wasted time
and resources, police say.
Tauranga Search and Rescue were called out after aircraft flying into
Tauranga and Rotorua (New Zealand) reported receiving a signal from an
emergency beacon within the greater Tauranga area.
It was assumed the beacon was an old 121 MHz model, which was no longer
monitored, as the signal was not being picked up by satellite.
The Tauranga Coastguard spent more than two hours sweeping the harbour, the
signal stopped and it is presumed the beacon was disabled as garbage was
being crushed at the time.
The NZ Sun
sunlive.co.nz/14924a1.page
FRENCH COMPANY TO MARKET NEW SDR TRANSCEIVER
France is the latest nation to enter the ham radio marketplace. This with
the announcement of the new TransFox is Software Definable Radio
transceiver designed and built in that nation.
According to a press release from the manufacturer RFPA-RFham, the new
radio is available in receiver only or receiver/transmitter
configuration. Its stock coverage is 1 MHz to 1100 MHz. but it can be
extended beyond existing frequency range upon request. Because of this the
TransFox brings what RFPA calls unique Software Definable Radio to the VHF,
UHF and SHF bands.
Other features include Software Definable Radio demodulation and modulation
over a 50, 100 or 200 KHz baseband, compatibility with existing Windows or
Linux software in addition to specific SigFox software, spectrum analysis
and 1 Hz tuning resolution.
First delivery of this new radio is slated for mid July. More information
on the TransFox transceiver in the French language is on line at
www.rfham.com
HAM RADIO 2010 IN GERMANY JUNE 25 - 27
With Dayton 2010 now history, the next truly big social event will be the
61st Lake Constance Convention and Ham Radio 2010 gathering.
Both of these events are organized by DARC which is Germany's national ham radio society,
and will take place from June 25th to the 27th in the city of Friedrichshafen. They are the largest on the European continent.
Mitch Wolfson DJ0QN is a member of the DARC Executive Board. He tells us
that Ham Radio 2010 is different than conventions and hamfests in the
United States:
DJ0QN: "We have a section where clubs from all over the world -- mainly
from Europe but also from other parts of the world like the U.S. have
booths to basically meet other people from those clubs and countries and
perhaps (get them to) join a club. So there's a lot of international good
will with a whole lot of people getting together and meeting.
"Its basically a very easygoing show and does not have a high stress
level. You can sit between the halls in this beer garden area and talk to
people all day if you choose to do that. Or you can hang around the flea
market or go to the main booths or go to talks most of which are in German
but there are some in the English language as well."
More about this exciting European ham radio gathering in English is on line
at http://www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.de/ham-en/index.php
=============================================================================
WEIRD AND WONDERFUL
From the weird and wonderful file, hello Im Jim Linton VK3PC with two
tales of bees and radio.
In India theres a belief that radiation from mobile phones is harming
bees, while in the US scientists are actually attaching radio transmitters
to the backs of bees to track them.
Researchers at the Punjab University in Chandigarh did a controlled
experiment using a real mobile phone in one hive, a placebo or fake phone
in another, and no phone in a third hive.
The results found that the hive with the real phone had a bee population
decline, poor yield of honey and the queen bee was far less productive.
Meantime from New York comes reports of Smithsonian Tropical Research
Institute scientists attaching 300-milligram radio transmitters to the
backs of male orchid bees, to track their movements.
A photo of a hapless bee with a transmitter complete with a horizontal
whip antenna stuck on its back using a combination of eyelash adhesive and
super glue, is simply amazing.
A fleet of 14 bees were tracked, five giving good travel itineraries over
the 10-day battery life of their transmitter, four were found dead,
perhaps with exhaustion and the others were lost, or dare we say, simply
buzzed off.
OPERATIONAL NEWS -
SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2010
Jun 12 WIA VK Trans Tasman 160m Phone
Bruce Renn vk3jwz(AT)wia.org.au
Jun 12-13 WIA Worked All VK Shires
contest(AT)vkshires.info
Jun 19-20 WIA WINTER VHF-UHF Field Day
John Martin VK3KM tac(AT)wia.org.au
Jul 3- 4 NZART MEMORIAL CONTEST
http://www.nzart.org.nz/contests/index.html
Jul 10tbc WIA Jack Files Contest
John Spooner vk4ajs(AT)wia.org.au
Aug 14-15 WIA Remembrance Day Contest
Peter Harding vk4od(AT)wia.org.au
This weekend :- June 12th, 0800 to 1400 UTC, 80 metres, SSB only.
Contest runs for 6 hours, in 1 hour stages - long enough to be
interesting without being too arduous, with stations being
reworked each hour. The main emphasis is on contacts
between VK and ZL stations, with the scoring structured to
give all stations an equal chance.
Rules are far to complex to reproduce here – best to use
VKCL logger for this one! Or see:
www.wia.org.au/members/contests/transtasman/
(nerg news)
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, REPEATER BEACON DX AND NET ADVICE
hf nets ON the net, www.timroberts-vk4yeh.id.au/
VK3SN advises that the annual trip to the Bogong High Plains is on again.
This year the team will include a number of newly licensed amateurs. We
will be skiing and camping across the snowy wilderness of the Victorian
Alps from 9-13 August 2010. Operation will focus on HF SSB and VHF
repeaters using solar powered QRP gear. We also plan to try PSK31 if the
gear holds up. Listen out each evening and make a contact with them as
they operate from snow caves and igloos.
The 70 centimetre repeater of City Of Brisbane Radio Society is off the
air for some period due to maintenance.
BUNDABERG
VK4RBW is the third unit in the clubs repeater backbone and it complements
the units in Bundaberg and on Mt Goonaneman. Our WICEN group can now
effectively cover the entire Bundaberg Regional Council area which doubled
in size following Local Government amalgamation.
So if youre a nearby neighbour or just passing through switch over and try
out the new VK4RBW on 439.775 [four three nine decimal seven seven five].
This has been VK4UD
MEDIA WATCH
www.wiaq.com/admin/uploads/weeklytally.rtf
www.cq-amateur-radio.com/WorldRadio.html
Discontinued Ham Mag free download.
Launched in January 2009 Ham Mag was an electronic download that at first was
free and then required a subscription. Uptakes for subscriptions ware very poor
and with no commercial sponsors onboard the organizers have decided to
discontinue production.
All issues are now available as free individual PDF downloads and are available
from
ham-mag.com
Please adhere to best practice when downloading files from any source.
(irts)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ARDF
WIA ARDF COORDINATOR VK3WWW Jack vk3www(AT)alphalink.com.au
http://users.mackay.net.au/~ron/
http://www.homingin.com
http://www.ardf.org.au
FOXY VK2
St George Amateur Radio Society - Coming July a 2m Fox Hunt and Family Picnic.
Mobile and Pedestrian Hidden Transmitter Hunts for beginners and experienced
alike. Check the web site sgars.org
Fox Hunt Equipment - SGARS has a limited number of 2m direction finding
antenna kits available. If you would like to purchase a kit or would like
assistance with being equipped for fox hunting (attenuators, receivers, etc),
VK4 TROPICAL FOX
If you are in the vicinity of the Townsville Region on Saturday
June 26th and want to get involved in a Foxhunt which includes
a really neat prize for first place then Tony VK4TJS wants to hear from you.
You have until 22nd June to get your attendance numbers in for the
Foxhunt, starting in the vicinity of Loam Island boat ramp from 2pm
and finishing where your equipment leads you.
Who do you have to call ?
Tony VK4TJS of course, on 47740582
starting point co-ordinates
datum WGS84 lat 19deg 20.940min South long 146deg 43.866min East
( the boat ramp, not the community centre )
VK5 STILL FOXY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.
Fox hunting minus the fox
This story originated by ABC South East SA news and picked up in the UK
by SouthGate Amateur Radio Club.
Over one hundred amateur radio enthusiasts have travelled to Mount Gambier
this weekend for the 47th Radio Convention
Every year on the June long weekend ham radio enthusiasts get together for the
Australian Fox Hunting Championships.
Competitors travel from all over Australia to claim the coveted champion's
trophy.
Wayne Kilpatrick is the South East Radio Group Convention Coordinator and said
this has nothing to do with 'eliminating foxes from the countryside'.
The game involves using direction finding radio equipment to look for people
and collect points.
Contestants usually compete in teams and all squeeze into the one vehicle.
"Most operate from four wheel drives and they might have a team of four people
in a four wheel drive, but the equipment in that car is absolutely
mind boggling," he said.
The antenna formations are an art.
"You couldn't believe that you could put this much equipment on a vehicle."
Read the full ABC South East SA news story (with pictures and audio interview
with Wayne Kilpatrick) at:
abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/06/08/2921737.htm?site=southeastsa
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ATV (Every pixel tells a story) - Video
arvideonews.com
hamradiotube.com
youtube.com
qdg.com.au
Stuart VK8NSB has now got a SSTV Repeater operational on 28:700 with a
1750Hz tone, currently running 10 watts into a Multiband vertical the
SSTV Repeater is currently in test mode and transmits a picture every
30 minutes on the hour.
Stuart reports that the power output will be increased in time and the
system placed on its proper antenna, a 10m Vertical at about 12 meters high
as soon as the first stage of testing is complete.
Stuart requests reports e-mailed
vk8nsb(AT)hotmail.com
1949 Royal Signals Corps recruitment video
A 1949 recruitment video for the Royal Corps of Signals aimed at
Radio Amateurs is available on the British Pathe website.
Watch '(RADIO SIGNALS TRAILER) video newsreel film' at
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=27252
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
RSS Morse Feed Free Program
Bob Denny has developed a free open source Windows application called
"RSS Morse" that reads RSS news feeds and outputs Morse Code on your
computer's speaker or on a physical telegraph sounder via serial cable.
For a peek at the help file for the program take a look at the weblink that
can be found on the email and internet editions of this broadcast:
http://morse-rss-news.sourceforge.net/
Enjoy!
(FIST DownunderNewsletter)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL
Australian Coordinator for TCPIP domains is Indy vk2xb(AT)wia.org.au
- THIS NEWS POSTING TO PACKET ENDS JUNE 28 2010-
D-STAR NEWS: D-STAR AUDIO STREAM NOW ON THE WWW
KF4ZW says that anyone can now listen to D-Star ham radio contacts
without purchasing any equipment for the mode. This, as a D-Star audio
feed is now available via the radioreference.com website.
The audio usually originates from Reflector 1c which is generally the
busiest feed. A direct link is in this weeks printed Newsline report.
After you find the correct radioreference page just scroll to the
bottom, look for the D-Star link and click on the "speaker" icon to
start listening.
KF4ZW adds that you can also listen to any of these feeds via your
iphone or blackberry as long as you have the unlimited data plan.
The direct link is: www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?ctid=321
(ARNEWSLINE)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- INTERNET --- THE HAMS DOMAIN
Probably one of the silliest 'blockages' to important emails is a
service/program called spamarest
So if you are a subscriber to this service but only hearing and not
receiving email scripts may we suggest u divorce yourself
from this "blocking" program.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY
Bletchley Park WWII archive to go online
Millions of documents stored at UK World War II code-breaking centre,
Bletchley Park, are to be made available online.
Electronics company Hewlett-Packard has donated a number of scanners to the
centre in Milton Keynes so volunteers can begin the ground-breaking task which
is expected to take over 3 years.
Read the BBC news story at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/10239623.stm
Bletchley Park
http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/
(SouthGate)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO
EMERGENCY FREQUENCIES IARU REGION 3
3.600, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz
WICEN BRING 'N' SHOW FIELD GEAR AT SUMERLAND 27 June.
Go and see the set ups you'd use to work in the field or mobile.
Set up in the grounds at the Summerland Clubrooms, show what you can do.
For anyone, not only WICEN members welcome.
Learn from others, suggest your ideas to others.
Demo your ideas for the Squid Poles.
SOCIAL SCENE
2010
JUNE 12-13 VK2
Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club's 35th Annual Field Day (2 days).
VK5
QUEENS BIRTHDAY WEEKEND SERG MT GAMBIER CONVENTION
JULY 17 VK3
GGREC Hamfest Start Time : 10:00
AUGUST 1 VK6
Northern Corridor Group Hamfest Cyril Jackson Sports Centre Ashfield
Oct 23 WIA WIA National Field Day
nfd(AT)wia.org.au
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
=============================================================================
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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.
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- THIS NEWS POSTING TO PACKET ENDS JUNE 28 2010-
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*************************************************
- NEWS POSTING TO PACKET -
Courtesy Tony VK7AX VK7AX(AT)VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC
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