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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@wia.org.au
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is WIANEWS for week commencing May 11 2008
NATIONAL NEWS
THE HILL BECKONS
Only two weeks to go before the WIA AGM this annual exciting event
is again attracting a major amount of enthusiasm, if you intend on
coming and haven't already done so, could you please send your
registration form to the WIA National office. Registration forms can
be downloaded from the home page on the WIA website"
ARRIS Featured On The Channel 7 Today Tonight Show
Tony Hutchison VK5ZAI recently appeared in an interview on the Channel 7
Today Tonight show. The show provided some great insights as to how Tony
and others over the years have provided support to Nasa and how amateur
radio helps to promote public awareness of the NASA space program through
school contacts with the astronauts aboard the ISS.
Read the full story and view the video at
www.wia.org.au
TELSTRA CALLED UP
Telstra has been chosen as the sole supplier of its extensive and critical
fixed voice, mobile and broadband requirements.
Telstra Enterprise and Government, Group Managing Director, Mr David Thodey,
said this is a major win for Telstra as it represents the first time the
Department of Defence has awarded all of its voice, mobiles and broadband
communications requirements to a single supplier since the competitive market
in telecommunications was established in 1997.
(Telstra Media: Martin Barr)
Sydney's free WiFi plans scrapped
Canoe dot com reported this week that the NSW government has scrapped plans to
offer free WiFi in Sydney, citing spiralling costs and overseas failures
for killing the project.
NSW Minister for Commerce Eric Roozendaal said the project would be scrapped
after repeated delays with the Expression of Interest process and the closure
of a number of city-wide WiFi networks overseas.
The market believes the delivery of free wireless broadband is not practical
for the Government at this current time - based on technical and financial
grounds," said Roozendaal in a statement.
AMATEUR RADIO - HOME OF THE GOOD GUYS
Kinsmen 'Ham' radio event raises $13,500 for Cystic Fibrosis in Canada
This was during the 35th annual Kinsmen Radio Day held recently at CJKL.
"All morning it's been pretty crazy," says Kinsmen Jason MacDonald who lives
a full life with his wife and daughters, and with Cystic Fibrosis.
"I think by lunch, we were well past half of our goal of $9,000. I think we
were probably between 5 and 6 thousand dollars at noon."
At 32 years of age, MacDonald is one of many adults living with CF, a disease
once exclusive to children. As many children now survive through adulthood,
the adult numbers are higher says MacDonald, a testament to the success of
ongoing CF research, and to the millions of dollars raised through Kinsmen
Canada over the past 35 years.
"In Kirkland Lake, we're not a very big club, but one thing we can always count
on is that the guys that are in the club either as card carrying members or
others that are just past Kinsmen, they always seem to throw themselves into
the fray for Radio Day. Everybody wants to do their share."
HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
VK1
vk1 local news email broadcast@vk1.wia.ampr.org and ask for subscription.
WICEN ACTIVITIES
Rally of Canberra is on this weekend, 10th 11th May no doubt a busy time in
our National Capitol for CRARC.
VK2
web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm
VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news
Central Coast Amateur Club has started planning for the 2009 The Field Day to
be held again at the Wyong Race Course on the 22nd. February 2009.
Ray vk2hay SAYS "We hope that this event will be a great day for all so mark it
up on your new years calendar.
VK3
web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/
VKC Roundup http://www.police
Are you going to the WIA AGM at Broken Hill?
If you are travelling south on the way home, you must stop at Mildura for the
Sunraysia Radio Group Mini Hamfest. An evening bistro meal, top guest speakers,
sales of pre-loved radio equipment - and much, much more will be included.
That's Monday the 26th of May - at Mildura - following the WIA AGM in
Broken Hill.
VK4
web service local news:- www.wiaq.com/qnews/upload/qnewsbcast.htm
local news email qnews-vk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com subscribe in subject field.
VKR Roundup http://www.police.qld.gov.au/News+and+Alerts/Media+Releases/
The word is out ! One of the most popular events in the Radio Amateur cosmos
is happening again.
The Central Highland Amateur Radio Club Annual General Meeting, Monster Auction
and Gathering is to take place at Camp Fairbairn near Emerald from late Friday
afternoon 19th to Sunday Morning 21st September.
For further information contact Secretary Gordon Loveday VK4KAL email
vk4kal@wia.org.au
VK7
local area news :- http://reast.asn.au/news.php
your copy of vk7 local news, email vk7regionalnews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
ATV Experimenters Night
Reminder; the ATV nights happen again from Wednesday 14th May starting 7:30pm
and ATV goes out on 444.25MHz - just below SBS on the UHF TV Band.
If you have an antenna pointed somewhere toward the Domain why not
try tuning down the low end of the UHF TV band on a Wednesday night
and give em a call on what you are seeing and hearing.
EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO
Winter Project
Winter project session continue next Saturday afternoon and over the
next few weeks there will be other guests tutors and a focus on the:
Technical Basics including Voltage, Current, Resistance, Ohm's Law and Power
in DC circuits, Capacitance, Inductance, AC circuits, Impedance & Reactance.
Also Mathematics, Transformers and tuned circuits, Solid state devices,
Mains power and Mains power supplies just to name a few.
So if you would like to go along you will need to be there by 2pm Saturday in
the Domain Clubrooms for the informal information section.
(Regards from Ken VK7XDY)
Scouts Offer a National School
scouts Australia is offering a school in Amateur Radio for youth and adult
members of Scouting.
The school will be conducted in Melbourne over 5 days during the September
school holidays, and hopes to attract Scouts from around Australia.
The school is modeled on a successful activity conducted in Perth last January,
at which three Scouts earned their Foundation Amateur Radio License. Scouts of
all ages who hold an Amateur Radio license may wear a special insignia on the
sleeve of their Scout Uniform.
The idea of the school is to bring together Scouts from far and wide to learn
new skills. The School aims to give participants a wide range of practical
experience and on-air time as well as gaining the knowledge needed to pass the
exam.
One example of the practical application of theory at the January School was
where each participant calculated lengths, cut and constructed a half wave
dipole for 10 metres, then tested and tuned it using two methods, using a
Transmitter and SWR meter, and by using an Antenna Analyser.
The course is being hosted by the Scout Radio and Electronics Service Unit in
Melbourne, the same team who brought us the amazing ARISS contact during the
Australian Jamboree in January 2007.
We’ve something to look forward to from the team that took Amateur Radio to the
Jamboree.
We’ll keep you informed as the detail of the school is finalized.
(Bob Bristow VK6POP JOTA-JOTI Coordinator, Scouts Australia)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
ZL - NEW ZEALAND
The Radio Spectrum Management group of the Ministry of Economic Development
administers the radio spectrum in New Zealand.
Their responsibilities include granting licences to use the radio spectrum and
investigating interference complaints. They also conduct audits of
Radiocommunications facilities and electrical and radio products to ensure they
do not pose a risk of interference to the radio spectrum.
Now for our ZL cousins, they invite them to complete an on line survey to
provide RSM with comments and ideas so that they can continue to develop
initiatives that best meet the ZL's needs.
To have a look at the survey, read the link in this weeks text editions of this
news cast, best read at wia.org.au
www.gofetch.net.nz
4-D MAPPING
NASA-funded researchers have released to the general public a new "4D" live
model of the Earth's ionosphere. Called Earth Space 4-D, this new online tool
visualizes the ionosphere using Google Earth and an Internet connection.
"This is an exciting development," says a solar physicist of NASA headquarters
in Washington, DC. "The ionosphere is important to pilots, ham radio operators,
earth scientists and even soldiers. Using this new 4D tool, they can monitor
and study the ionosphere as if they're actually inside it."
NASA's Explore the Ionosphere (from the safety of your own home) Web page
announced the news about the tool and includes a video demo highlighting its
features as well as a link to instructions on how to launch it.
In order to use Earth Space 4-D, you first must install Google Earth.
MARINE ONE CALLING MARINE ONE.
A Sub and a Battleship share historic radio call.
W WAY NewsChannel 3 in Wilmington, USA was on hand for us for this story and
Paul Paolicelli from W WAY3 has given the "all clear" to rebroadcast on VK1WIA.
(Audio Intensive Report)
=======================================================================
NEWS FROM ARNEWSLINE
FCC SAYS NO TO COMMERCIAL HAM FREQ USE REQUEST
The FCC has told Utah-based Miller Motorsports Park that it cannot use
frequencies in the 70 centimetre ham band for business purposes. Miller
had requested the use of frequencies in the 448 MHz ham band at 4 watts
output. This, for use by 100 mobile for a race event scheduled for May
26th to June 1st.
The application by Miller said that the radios would be used for
security, medical and maintenance for the entire event. It claimed that
this communications network was vital to the life and safety of the
spectators and drivers of this race. It even went so far as to imply
that the National Telecommunications and Information Agency had approved
the use of these 448 MHz channels.
But on Thursday, April 24, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, filed
an Informal Objection with the FCC regarding a pending application. One
day after filing the objection, the FCC agreed with the ARRL, saying
that due to the possibility of interference to Amateur operators and
also the race teams utilizing the proposed frequencies, it felt that it
was not in the public interest to grant the Miller Motorsports Park's
request. The FCC also advised Miller Motorsports that if it wished to
pursue other frequencies, that it should coordinate with the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration and the American Radio
Relay League.
DARC RETURNING TO DAYTON
After several years of absence the Germany's national ham radio society,
the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club will again be at the Dayton Hamvention.
Better known world-wide simply as the DARC, the Deutscher Amateur Radio
Club will be represented at Hamvention by Joerg Jaehrig, DJ3HW, who is
its IARU Liaison Officer. Also on hand to answer questions regarding ham
radio in Germany will be Dennis Haertig, DL7RBI, who is the D-A-R-C
Secretary of International Affairs. The two will be bringing with them a
15 minute video presentation titled "60 years of WAE Award" that will be
presented in the ARRL sponsored movie room.
Information on the participation in Hamvention by the Deutscher Amateur
Radio Club in German can be found on-line at www.darc.de. More on what's
planned for this years Dayton gathering is on line at the Hamvention
website. Its in cyberspace at www.hamvention.org
BRUNEI: ON THE AIR ONCE AGAIN
The Brunei Darussalam Amateur Radio Association has announced that it
will be back on air. At a recent press conference held at R-A-C
Technologies the groups president announced that the association, which
has been inactive for six years, will be holding its reactivation
ceremony on Sunday, May 4th at the h National Stadium. Amateur Radio in
Brunei really got started in the late 1970's by a number of local hams
who formed the Askar Muda radio club. In 1999, the 27th SEANET
Convention was successfully held in Brunei. (Borneo Bulletin On-Line)
MUSEUM SHIPS WEEKEND
On the air, the 2008 Museum Ships Event will be sponsored by The
Battleship New Jersey Amateur Radio Station will take place during the
period of on June 7th from 0001 to 2359z on June 8th. Ships wishing to
participate should send a note to museum@nj2bb.org with the name of
ship, callsign, location, QSL information and contact information for
person responsible. During this event there is participation of naval
ships, lightships, steamships, research vessels and merchant ships. A
list of participating ships is available at www.nj2bb.org
AN SDR RECEIVER ON THE WWW
And finally this week, a kind of rhetorical question. What does a web
based software defined radio sound like and what will it do? Well here's
part of the answer. Take a listen:
--
Actual web audio
--
That's audio from the latest web-based software defined or S-D-R
radio located at the University of Twente's amateur radio club in the
Netherlands. The system allows visitors to tune over parts of either the
40 or 80 meter bands. When we tuned in 80 was dead but there was
activity on 40:
--
Actual web audio
--
What makes this system different from other web-based receivers is, that
thanks to the use of Software-Defined Radio technology, this receiver
can be tuned simultaneously by multiple users. And when tuning around a
band, you can either enter a frequency directly, or click-drag on the
frequency scale. Bandwidth can also be controlled, either by the button
options, or by click-dragging on the passband edges of the frequency
scale. Listen again:
--
Actual web audio
--
The web page also features a log book, a list of connected users and a
chat facility. Additional bands are planned for the future. Its all
available to experiment with on line at
http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/
=======================================================================
RSGB NEWS G4NJH
ARRL wins over FCC in PLT case
The ARRL has scored a significant victory in its fight to minimise
the impact of broadband over power line systems, known as PLT in
the UK.
The US court of Appeals ruled that that the US licensing
authority, the FCC, had not fully disclosed for public comment the
technical studies on which it relied, and which the ARRL's
technical team refuted. The FCC must now revisit the technical
basis on which it set the rules for BPL.
A detailed report is available on the ARRL's web site at
www.arrl.org.
Italy gets 4m band
Italy's Ministry of Communications has authorised Italian amateurs
to use three spot frequencies on the 70MHz band.
This experimental allocation runs until 31st December 2008.
All modes are authorised at a maximum of 25W EIRP on 70.100,
70.200 and 70.300MHz, plus or minus 25kHz. Further information can
be found at www.space.it/70MHz.
New DXpedition to Christmas Island
A major DXpedition to Christmas Island has been announced for 8th
to 20th July 2008.
The team includes CT1BWW, EA3GHZ, EA5EOR and EC5BME. Three
stations will be active on 160 to 6 metres, using CW, SSB, RTTY,
PSK31 and SSTV. Callsigns will be VK9XWW, VK9XHZ, VK9XOR and
VK9XME.
More information can be found at www.dxciting.com/vk9x.
Japanese amateurs permitted additional frequencies
Japanese amateurs have been permitted additional frequencies on
the 80 metre band.
They may now operate CW between 3,500 and 3,575kHz, digital modes
between 3,520 and 3,525kHz, and voice in six slots between 3,680 and 3,805kHz.
OPERATIONAL NEWS -
ON AIR CONTEST AND EVENT COLUMN - D A T E L I N E
2008
May 17-18 ZL SANGSTER SHIELD QRP CW CONTESTS
June 7- 8 WW SEANET CONTEST
July 5- 6 ZL NZART MEMORIAL CONTEST
12 VK JACK FILES CONTEST.
August 16-17 VK Remembrance Day Contest
16-17 WW International Lighthouse Weekend
November 15-16 (Weekend) Spring VHF/UHF Field Day
SANGSTER SHIELD QRP CW CONTESTS
NZART's oldest Contest established in 1927 to reward the excellence of
efficiency of low power operation. This is a friendly contest and your support
would be most welcome - don't be put of by it being a CW only activity, most
operators will adjust their CW sending speeds to match those of your speed..
Give it a go, you never will know the mysteries of CW contesting until you try
it.
When :- Saturday, 17th May 2008 and Sunday, 18th May 2008
Time :- 2000 NZST until 2300 NZST each evening
Band :- 80m
Mode :- CW only
Refer to NZART 2006/7 Callbook, Page 5-4, or NZART Website -
www.nzart.org.nz/contests
AWARDS'
Dale VK4DMC reports that he has set up a Worked all Queensland Shires Award
Group.
This Group site is set-up as a support site to allow amateur radio operators
inform others of their plans to travel to and activate any particular
Queensland Shire.
The WAQ award is sponsored by the Queensland Advisory Committee of the Wireless
Institute of Australia. The aim of the award is to encourage Amateur Radio
Operation throughout Queensland and to allow Amateur Radio Operators to work
into as many Queensland City and Shire areas as possible. Another aspect of the
award is that it may be worked by all levels of license and will help
Foundation License holders get experience in the contesting side of the hobby.
The WIA conducts a net on Monday evenings from Brisbane on 3.605 MHz starting
after the WIA news rebroadcast which goes to air at 1930 hours local. Check in
to this net and you will find many other stations there looking to work
Queensland Shires.
The award manager is John Spooner VK4AJS
Here are the details on waqsa:
Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/waqsa
Group email address: waqsa@yahoogroups.com
If you would like a copy of the rules and a log sheet showing all the cities
and shires please contact Dale VK4DMC at vk4dmc@wia.org.au or go to
wiaq.com
THE QNEWS WORK BENCH - the nuts and volts report -
(Measure twice - Cut once!)
Rob - W1AEX has passed on to us via Peter, VK4OD, a neat way of tracking down
noisy power pole insulators.
He uses his Yaesu FT-8900 as a mobile line noise detector
The FT-8900 can detect AM on its left side because of its aircraft band
capability. What dawned on Rob was that it can detect AM on any band on the
left side.
This makes it an ideal mobile line noise detector.
He programmed in, in AM mode, 29.000 MHz, 50.400 MHz, 121.000 MHz,
144.250 MHz, and 446.000 MHz.
Sure enough, he found the sputtering pole about half a mile away from his home
location, singing away loudly on all four bands. As expected, as he got closer,
it was loudly detectable on all the bands.
Hopefully, you never have to deal with line noise, but if you have an 8900 in
your car, it can be a real useful tool for easily tracking this stuff down.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL
The re-formed Queensland Digital Group is now international.
Not only do they have members all over Australia but now France as well.
Brissy listeners or visitors to the River City are invited to the May QDG
meeting, 7:30pm, Friday May 16, Wavell Heights State School, Minore Street.
"Brisbane Australia that is" says Alan VK4YAR.
Are you interested in learning more about DStar and what this exciting new
digital radio mode has to offer then visit the website
www.dstar.org.au
And there is also a well established Australian DStar news group, you can join
the group from the link provided on the DStar website or by going directly to
http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/dstar
If you are in Melbourne why not join in the DStar net, every
Thursday evening at 8:00pm on the VK3RWN repeater.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
http://www.scouts.com.au
http://www.scout.org/jota
http://www.wiaq.com/nationalnews/jotahead.htm
SCOUT JOTA HF Voice Calling Frequencies
3590 primary, 3.650 secondary, 7090, 14190, 21190, 28590 kHz
14290, 18140, 21360, 24960, 28390 kHz (DX)
EI100S will be the special Scout Station from Jamboree 2008 at Punchestown
race course in Ireland from 2nd to 10th August this year.
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ROAR
ROTARIANS OF AMATEUR RADIO
bill.learmonth@lineone.net
rotmem@yahoogroups.com
nmclaren3@juno.com VK2IWT Secretary
Guglielmo Marconi inventor of the wireless, it is said, was an
active member of the Rotary Club of Bologna, Italy.
AMATEUR RADIO TO THE ROTARIANS.
Eric- VK2TRD has given a talk to members of the Rotary, West Lismore Club.
The talk lasted for around half and hour and then went on to question and
answer time, which was centred around the growth of Amateur Radio.
Eric spoke about such topics as Morse Code, how radios have changed from the
1930's until the present time, valves, crystals IRLP and EchoLink.
Eric also spoke about WICEN Northern Rivers as well as his Summerland Amateur
Radio Club.
About 50 Rotary members seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves and were full
of questions. The night was enjoyed by all.
SOCIAL SCENE
JUNE 6-9
The 25th Anniversary Far North and North Queensland Amateur Radio Get-together
(FNNQARG!) takes place from Friday 6th to Monday 9th June at
Cardwell Village Beachcomber Motel and Van Resort.
June 7 - 8
South East Radio Group Convention Australian Fox Hunting Championship
in Mount Gambier.
Sept 13
Alarameet 2008 will be held in Ulverstone Tasmania on Saturday
13th and Sunday 14th September. Susan VK7LUV for details.
Nov 9 VK5
Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society will hold their Bigger Better Buy and
sell day Sunday November 9 at Goodwood community centre, Rosa St. right near
the Tram stop.
2009
February 22 2009
WYONG FIELD DAY
2009
International Telecommunication Union's Telecom World 2009.
OCT 12 - 16 2009
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/
THE FINAL FINAL
LESSONS FROM THE FIELD DAY
The recent Westlakes Field Day made it very clear to the Management Committee
that the modern amateur does not want domestic video recorders, DVD players,
domestic appliances, computer equipment and old stereo amplifiers that do not
work.
27 Mhz CB radios, even working, excite little interest.
The modern amateur seems to be interested in any type of amateur radio
equipment and aerial hardware and cables or part thereof, working or not.
Items that can obviously be used in the amateur service are snapped up along
with items that have an amateur use which can be explained by the auctioneer.
Bee Sullivan VK2BZ says "Modern amateurs are apparently not 'fiddlers".
Moral of the story is, your visitors at your next ham gathering will appreciate
you more if you "Junk the Junk".
=========================================================================
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Thanks to to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who utilize
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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.
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WIANews wouldn't go astray...
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