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VK7AX > NEWS 13.07.08 04:54l 1205 Lines 41253 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK
Oh... and to contact us with your news because
If It Matters To You It Matters To Us!
email nationalnews(AT)wia.org.au
Please.. write your story as you would expect to hear it being read back
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WIANews 24/7 with the following bulletin in Audio
when you visit the MEMBERS AREA on www.wia.org.au
This weeks WIANews available in Audio after 0100hrs UTC Saturday.
http://www.wiaq.com/ftp/wianews_64.mp3 FM Radio quality
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http://www.wiaq.com and click the QNEWS link to see weekly news stats
free emailed script http://lists.wia.org.au/mailman/listinfo/vk1wia-news
Now you can dial this WIANews wherever you are on the
"gateway dot net dot au" 1300 phone service.
Dial 1300 558 592 and at the prompt type W.I.A.N. (That's 9426).
"Standard call rate from fixed home phone, higher from mobiles".
This is WIANEWS for week commencing July 13 2008
This from Melbourne club NERG.
Reading their latest "associates" newsletter we see that their member VK3VT
has joined the WIA Callbook team as editor.
Greg Williams VK3VT not only offered to assist this year, but is willing to
take on the role of Callbook Editor next year, with Brenda VK3KT having
announced earlier this year that this next Callbook would be her last!
So a big thank you to Greg VK3VT.
QRP-expedition in the Victorian alps
From 30 July to August 4, a group of Victorian amateurs will be headed
'back country' on cross country skis
The party will be spending nearly a week far from civilization, camping in
the snow with only amateur radio to keep in touch with the outside world.
Three radio amateurs and a number of friends are making final plans for their
annual cross country skiing in the wilderness of the Bogong High Plains in
north-east Victoria.
They are to spend the 30th of July to the 4th of August camping in the snow,
and during rest periods play amateur radio.
Matt VK3HFI, Gerard VK3JPA and Stephen VK3SN will use several repeaters in
VK1, VK2 and VK3 as well as 160-metres through to 20-metres in the afternoons
and evenings.
Their QRP stations, powered by solar panels and batteries will radiate from
simple wire antennas, plus hand-held VHF/UHF transceivers. Listen for the trio
and give them a call.
While on the subject of portable operation, Amateur Radio Victoria has announced
two operating awards to encourage more radio amateurs to go portable.
The first is the Victoria LGA Award that requires contacts with the 79 local
government areas in the state.
The other is a revival of the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award that
existed up until the mid-1980s. More details on those in coming weeks.
I’m Jim Linton VK3PC and you’re listening to VK1WIA.
AMATEUR RADIO - HOME OF THE GOOD GUYS
Maybe we change home of the good guys to "guys and dolls".
Marg Baxter VK3VOJ has been awarded life membership to the N.E.R.G. in
recognition for her work as long standing treasurer and committee member.
The award was presented at the NERG winter dinner by President Greg Williams.
Marg gained her license after attending the first ever NERG novice course.
Although she rarely has time to talk on air she still finds time to keep up
the book work and attend committee meetings. Marg’s cooking talents are always
appreciated by the “Gainfully Unemployed Groupö members and by the NERG
committee.
Congratulations Marg!
Central Queensland's Wally Douglas Memorial Charity Ride is set!
The Breakaway Horse Riders Club Inc in conjunction with Nurse of the Year
entrant Katie Edwards have announced that the Wally Douglas Memorial Charity
Ride will be held in support of the Call to Arms campaign for Men’s Cancer on
Saturday 23 August, 2008.
The ride will start from Mia Mia Creek and end at Denison Creek Station near
the Retreat Hotel with an evening BBQ dinner from 6pm to help Katie's fund
raising efforts.
Wally Douglas VK4AIV sadly passed away this year from cancer.
Wally was one of the true "Good Guys Of Amateur Radio" and had been a member
of the Mackay Amateur Radio Club since 1979.
In 1989 Wally and members of the radio club joined forces with Breakaway
Horse Riders club to provide radio communications for the first endurance ride
held by the club at Oakdale Station. This partnership proved to be long term
with Wally thoroughly enjoying going out in the bush where he enjoyed the
quietness.
So this is a call to all Riders and Radio Amateurs who can make the
event to attend, remember Wally and help with fund raising to aid the fight
against cancer.
More information can be provided by George Glendinning VK4AJL.
HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
VK2
web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm
VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news
Central Coast Amateur Radio Club say the next Wyong Field Day will be
Sunday, the 8th of Feb. 2009 with some changes made to the program on the day.
The Traders will commence their selling at 0900 hours, the "Flea Market" stall
holders will commence at 0800 hours and to encourage younger members of the
community all children and young people aged 17 and under will be admitted
free on the day.
More Field Day info from Ray VK2HAY phone (02) 43 40 2500.
VK3
web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/
VKC Roundup http://www.police
Only one week to go for the GGREC Hamfest. All sellers’ tables have been
booked and the organizers are predicting another great event. The BBQ has been
tuned and the silverware polished ready to feed the hungry patrons.
Six dollars will get you into the sale with free Tea and Coffee served all day.
Your door prize ticket could win you a soldering station, a digital multi-meter
or one of several other prizes.
The venue as usual is the Cranbourne Public Hall on the corner of High and
Cameron Streets in Cranbourne. To be the first through the door, better be
there before 10am.
(Albert VK3BQO)
The Annual General Meeting of the North East Radio Group and elections of NERG
executive and committee positions are scheduled for 8pm Thursday 14th August.
Nominations for office and committee positions will be accepted from financial
members but must be made in writing and signed by two members of the
Association and accompanied by the written consent of the candidate.
More details from nerg.asn.au
VK5
www.qsl.net/vk5bar/
The South Coast Amateur Radio Club has been very busy installing a new repeater
on 439.825. It is a new machine with excellent coverage and available right
out to the northern suburbs.
Barry, VK5KBJ, Stef, VK5HSX, and Sam VK5KSA were very pleased with the initial
testing and the excellent reports on audio quality and reception. If in
Adelaide on your travels, give 439.825 a try.
VK8
Coming up the Beer Can Regatta today Sunday 13th July, communications provided
by WICEN NT members.
EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO
Liverpool & Districts ARC together with Fishers Ghost ARC will be running a
Foundation Licence Course at Campbelltown on 26 & 27 July.
Details are available from Wal Kelly VK2ZWK on Tel: 46 26 8423 (h) or
Garry Barker VK2TSR on Tel: 9896 5763 (h).
(Robert Demkiw VK2TG)
The silent achievers were once again active yesterday. This time in the
classroom where the room received its final coats of paint Thank you both
Warren VK2UWP and Allan VK2JED. Your efforts were and are appreciated.
All that remains if for the light fittings to be set in place, carpet laid and
seats arranged.
It won't be too long before Westlake’s classes will be on the move again.
Fourteen students from the Australian Film Television and Radio School will be
the first to broadcast from the new multi-million dollar building at
Fox Studios.
“We’re lucky because we’re the last and the first - the last class to use the
North Ryde Campus and the first at Moore Park. We’ve been itching to get into
the new studios all yearö, says Graduate Diploma in Commercial Radio Student
Kelly Glover.
With a tag line “Looks like Radioö the students are savvy to the movement
towards multi platform delivery.
Director of Radio, Steve Ahern speaking to radio info dot com, is looking
forward to seeing the students be the first to use the new studios, which he
designed in conjunction with the building’s architects and engineering
consultant Richard Fleming. soon.
Sci-Bono runs various projects aimed at the promotion of amateur radio in
schools promoting amateur radio to the youth in Gauteng South Africa.
Over the next few years many teachers and learners, particularly those from
economically disadvantaged communities, will be learning about and using
amateur radio. The projects range from training teachers and learners to
become radio amateurs, to developing an amateur radio project that will be
taught in schools as part of a new electronics curriculum.
During 2007, over 56 000 school children visited the centre and were exposed
to amateur radio.
(sarl)
NEW BROCHURE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO NOW ON THE WEB
The S.A.R.L. has published a new brochure about amateur radio which is
available for download from www.sarl.org.za
The brochure is in full colour and has been formatted in PDF for easy printing
on a colour printer.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
Smart Metering by Power Companies
Smart Metering could become a serious threat for amateur radio world wide, when
wide band is used.
The EUROCOM Working Group chaired by Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, produce the
EUROCOM Newsletter which can be downloaded from the web at
http://www.darc.de/ausland/iaru/eurocom/
At the EUROCOM WG meeting in Friedrichshafen, member Societies were invited
to forward information concerning power companies planning power line
communications for collecting metering data, and possibly the frequencies under
consideration.
Thilo Kootz, DL9KCE provided input which has been published in the 07.07.2008
issue of the newsletter.
The report mentions that IBM are already using frequencies up to 1.5 MHz and
the concern is that over time frequencies will rise.
The PDF of the newsletter containing the report by Thilo Kootz, DL9KCE can be
downloaded from:
http://www.darc.de/ausland/iaru/eurocom/News0308.pdf
Google Translation of article [1] referenced in the report
http://tinyurl.com/55fqsj
ComReg Spectrum Strategy
On the 1st July ComReg Published its Spectrum Management Strategy Statement
for 2008 to 2010. It is available as document No 08/50 on the ComReg
website at www.comreg.ie
In March last a draft of this strategy was published and public responses were
sought.
The I.R.T.S. submitted a detailed response at the time.
As a result of this, the final version just published now includes mention of
the self-training and technical investigations aspects of experimental and
amateur radio. The Irish Society also succeeded in having included in the
Strategy the upgrading of the amateur allocation at 7100 to 7200 kHz from
secondary to primary status from March 2009 as agreed at WRC'03 as well as the
general release of the 70 MHz band and access to channels in the region of
5 MHz.
These latter two issues were agreed between ComReg and the Irish Society quite
some time ago and have been held up pending the settling of some administrative
details by ComReg.
=======================================================================
NEWS FROM SOUTHGATE
Algerian radio hams lose privileges.
Mustapha, DL1BDF, is reporting some bad news for radio amateurs in Algeria.
According to Mokthar, 7X5JF, the Algerian authorities have revoked/cancelled
operating privileges (for unknown reasons) for the use of the 80 and 17 meters
bands as well as VHF and UHF.
Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF in the Amateur Radio Newsroom told his listeners this
week that "Telecommunications regulators in Algeria gave no reason for their
action. Interestingly, 7Y46ND had previously announced that he would be on the
air during July in commemoration of 46 years of independence in Algeria. His
activity was to have included both 80 and 17 meters as well as the other High
Frequency bands. No word on how the government action will impact on plans for
7Y46ND's in the air schedule."
Hopefully, there will be a quick return of privileges on these bands for our
Algerian friends.
Still in Africa, be it a little further South, Clockwork radio inventor
has slammed Mugabe’s radio ban.
Inventor Trevor Baylis has hit out at the 'horrible cruelty' of Robert Mugabe
in banning Zimbabweans from using his wind-up radio.
The man credited with changing the lives of thousands of Africans with the
clockwork radio said he only found out about the Zimbabwean President’s
crackdown on independent media from a friend.
“I was absolutely shocked and appalled,ö said the 71-year-old from Twickenham
FROM THE SOUTHGATE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB,
I'M Richard Brunton - g4tut - You're tuned to VK1WIA
=======================================================================
NEWS FROM ARNEWSLINE
FLORIDA HAM HELPS IN RESCUE AT SEA
A Florida ham is being credited with helping to save those on-board a
sailboat stranded in a raging storm.
Dorrain Sawyer, KB4UUA, of Bonifay, tells the N-W-F Daily News that she was
recently monitoring the bands when a distress call came in. It was about
9:30 am in the morning when she learned that a vessel sailing off the
coast of Costa Rica had run into stormy weather and its passengers were
calling for help.
The vessel in trouble was the Stravaig, a 42-foot sailboat from Great
Britain, was caught in 60-mph winds of what would become Tropical Storm
Arthur. The Stravaig was low on fuel and had ripped sails when it began
taking on water in its engine room.
Sawyer did not receive a call directly from the Stravaig. Rather the
message was relayed to her from a nearby vessel. When she got it, she
promptly called the Coast Guard. A lengthy rescue mission ensued and the
Stravaig and its passengers finally reached shore at about 10 p.m.
Sawyer said that she spent about four hours on the phone with the Coast
Guard, and it took them nearly 12 hours to bring the Stravaig to
shore. Although Sawyer was the first to react to the Stravaig's call, she
tells the on-line newspaper that she knows there were other radio operators
listening and waiting to help.
SUNSPOTS ARE UNSPOTS
Mr. Sun is going longer than normal without producing sunspots. So say
those attending the International Solar Conference held at Montana State
University from 1st to the 6th of June.
About 100 scientists from around the world attended the conference to talk
about Solar Variability, Earth's Climate and the Space
Environment. According to an article on the event by the Montana State
University news service, scientists say periods of inactivity are normal
for the sun, but this period has gone on a lot longer than usual.
You can read the full article at
www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=5982
FIELD DAY PLANE CRASH AND FIRE IN NEVADA
Members of the Frontier Amateur Radio Society and guest hams operating
the N7V Field Day station on Mt. Charleston, Nevada likely will not
receive any bonus points for what they experienced. But it was a
real-life lesson in why we do Field Day in the first place.
Just hours after Field Day began last Saturday, in a canyon near the
station site a singe engine Piper Cherokee en route to California,
crashed. All for people on board were killed. The crash sparked a
fire, which quickly spread in the wilderness area. Neither crash site
nor the flames were visible at the nearby Toiyabe National Forest
campground where N7V was on air.
Soon the N7V operators and other campers began receiving conflicting
information as to whether they had to evacuate. With spotty cell phone
coverage in the national forest, ham radio was the quickest way to
ascertain whether everyone needed to leave. .
Field Day operations were suspended as Steve Herman, W7VOA, contacted
Dudley Emer, KK7IF on two meters. He telephoned the park service
emergency operator to get more information. At the same time, John
Bigley, N7UR, headed down the mountain to get direct word from police.
The remaining hams and campers began packing, preparing for a quick
departure in case they had to make a quick retreat. But word soon
reached them that the evacuation order had been lifted. Operations
resumed for N7V after the equipment was connected for a second time.
And here’s the kicker. Steve Herman, W7VOA, is an international newsman.
He also holds the call VU3USJ and currently lives in New Delhi, India.
He was on a trip home when this incident occurred.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: STEREO TV INVENTOR CARL EILERS - SK
The electronic engineer who helped develop production of high-fidelity
stereo sound over the airwaves has died. 83 year old Carl G. Eilers,
Friday at his home in River Forest, Illinois, on June 26th of an
apparent of a heart attack.
A 50-year employee of Zenith Electronics, Eilers joined Zenith in 1948
as an engineer in the research department working on a subscription
television system called Phonevision. In 1977, he became manager of
research and development and led the team that in 1961developed FM
stereo broadcasting. Eilers was also co-developer of another key
industry standard known as MTS or multi-channel television sound for
stereo TV. Zenith's MTS system was adopted by the industry in 1984.
Eilers also worked on development of remote controls, laser-disc
recording and supplemental audio programming. He also contributed
significantly to high-definition television and was granted 21 U.S.
patents.
=======================================================================
OPERATIONAL NEWS -
ON AIR CONTEST AND EVENT COLUMN - D A T E L I N E
2008
July 12 VK JACK FILES CONTEST.
12-13 WW IARU contest
26 OC Waitakere Sprints Phone
August 2 OC Waitakere Sprints CW
16-17 VK Remembrance Day Contest
16-17 WW International Lighthouse Weekend
30-31 VK A.L.A.R.A Contest
October 4- 5 OC Oceania Contests - Phone 0800 UTC Sat until 0800 UTC Sun.
11-12 OC Oceania Contests - CW 0800 UTC Sat until 0800 UTC Sun.
November 15-16 (Weekend) Spring VHF/UHF Field Day
WAITAKERE SPRINTS 2008
The Western Suburbs Radio Club is pleased to advise that the Waitakere
Sprint Phone section will be on the last Saturday in July and the Sprint
CW section will be on the first Saturday in August.
The Sprints are of one-hour duration on 80m, and are open to all licensed
amateurs in ZL, VK and Oceania call areas.
Eligibility
The Waitakere Sprints are open to all licensed amateurs anywhere in the
ZL, VK and Oceania call areas. SWL logs will also be welcome.
2008 Contest Periods
Phone 1000 to 1100 UTC, on Saturday 26th July
CW 1000 to 1100 UTC, on Saturday 2nd August
David zl1dk(AT)nzart.org.nz
JACK FILES CONTEST 2008
This contest honours the late Jack Files, a long-serving VK4 WIA councillor.
It is coordinated by the Queensland Advisory Committee and is sponsored by the
WIA.
This contest is a national remembrance of an amateur who gave long service not
only to benefit Queensland amateurs but to all amateurs within Australia.
The object is to work as many different stations in different Queensland
Council areas for the purpose of multipliers but in addition to this all
participant will be able to count the first of each VK state or territory
worked in each one hour block of the contest to be counted as a multiplier.
If you operate mobile or portable and you cross over to another shire you may
work any station that you have already worked in that 1 hour block again and
count the multipliers.
It is very important that VK4 stations give their shire codes with the report
and number given . An example is an amateur in Rockhampton Regional Council area
would give out 59001RR. Shire Codes have changed from previous years and are
available from vk4dmc(AT)wia.org.au or vk4ajs(AT)wia.org.au
Object is for amateurs to work as many other amateur stations, and particularly
as many different VK4 Council areas and as many different states and territories
as possible within each one hour block of the contest.
Date: Saturday, 12th of July, 2008
Time: 0800UTC – 1400UTC in six one-hour blocks for the purpose of duplicate
contacts.
Band: 80 metres only. Use 3.5MHZ – 3.7MHz to put all licence grades on an
equal footing.
Modes: Either CW,SSB or All Modes
Categories: Single Operator;
Club Station (each category can be a mobile or portable station)
Exchange: Non-VK4 stations will send RS(T) plus serial number starting at
001 and incrementing by one for each contact. VK4 stations will send
RS(T), serial number and two-letter shire or town code for purposes
of multipliers.
Score: One point per contact
Multipliers: Each VK4 Council area counts as a multiplier only once over the
entire duration of the contest. ( Unless station mobile or
portable) All participants may also count the first contact in
each state or territory as a multiplier and these may be counted
within each hour block during the contest.
Final Score is total QSO points X total number of multipliers.
Repeat Contacts: In order to make best use of the band, stations may be
contacted once in each hour on each mode. Repeat contacts
with stations may be counted within the same one hour block
only if the station is mobile and crosses from different
shires, towns, states or territories to another. All repeat
contacts must not be consecutive.
Logs must show full details of all QSOs and must be accompanied by a Summary
Sheet showing operator’s name; address; callsign; category and mode entered;
claimed score and a declaration that the rules and spirit of the contest were
observed.
Send logs by mail to Jack Files Contest Manager, 26 Kerr St. Park Avenue Nth.
Rockhampton QLD 4701. Logs may be sent by e-mail in text format to:
vk4ajs(AT)wia.org.au
Closing date for all entries is 31st of August, 2008
Certificates will be awarded to the top scorers in each mode in each VK State,
ZL, P29 and any DX country (i.e. country outside VK, ZL or P29). As well there
will be a certificate awarded to the overall highest scorer who will be declared
overall contest winner. The only stipulation is that the overall winning
operator must be a VK amateur.
The annual IARU HF World Championship will be held on the weekend of July 12
and 13, 2008.
The complete rules can be found at www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2008/iaru.html
The IARU HF Championships is on the air from 12:00 UTC on Saturday 12 July and
ending at 12:00 UTC today Sunday 13 July. It is phone and CW activity on the
contest bands from 160 to 10 metres. The exchange is a RS or RST report.
In South Africa the Sandton A.R.C. will be operating as ZS0HQ from the
National Amateur Radio Centre and will be giving a RS or RST report and SARL
as their exchange.
The Japan Amateur Radio League have establish 10 "headquarters" stations in
various regions of Japan during the 2008 IARU H-F Championship.
All QSOs will be QSL'ed automatically via the bureau.
Unfortunately no WIA HQ station has been reported this year.
SPECIAL EVENTS, BEACON AND NET ADVICE
hf nets ON the net, www.timroberts-vk4yeh.id.au/
9M1CS* 18 Scouting stations (* Apart from 9M1CSS in 9M6 all
others are 9M2 stations.
QSL via 9m2 bureau) Until Dec 31
BT1OB, BT1OJ, BT1OH, BT1OY and BT1ON. Beijing Olympic Games
The last letter of the callsign corresponds to the Chinese
name for the colour of each of the rings of the Olympic flag Until Sep 17
C 4 EURO E-Day, 1st of January currency changes to Euro. Until Dec 31
EI 100 S Jamboree 2008 Punchestown race course in Ireland. Aug 2-10
PY 100 JA Centenary of first Japanese immigration to Brazil. Until Dec 31
Amateur Radio Special Event to Commemorate Polar Transit Anniversary:
The USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear-powered vessel, is today a public
museum, visited by more than 250,000 annually at its berth at the Submarine
Force Library and Museum in Groton, Connecticut.
The ship (along with Old Ironsides in Boston) is one of only two vessels
designated as “Historic Ships.ö
Now, amateur radio operators worldwide will be able to participate in the
recognition of the ship’s most notable and historic accomplishment.
Amateur radio operator Don Keith, N4KC, is spearheading a special amateur radio
on-air operating event commemorating the 50th anniversary of Nautilus reaching
the North Pole on its first-ever run through the fabled Northwest Passage.
In co-operation with the Southern New England Region of the Navy/Marine Corps
Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) and the Submarine Base Amateur Radio
Club (K1SSN), stations will be operating from the grounds of Historic Ship
Nautilus and the Submarine Force Museum and Library in Groton during the
weekend of August 2 and 3.
Nautilus actually reached the North Pole at 11:15 PM EDST on August 3, 1958.
Plans are for the event to continue until at least that time so one lucky
amateur operator will have a QSO at the precise moment Nautilus “pierced the
poleö fifty years before.
The on-air operation will use special events call sign N9N for “Nautilus 90
North,ö recalling the historic radio message sent to President Eisenhower when
the ship emerged from beneath the ice pack to announce the mission’s success.
The North Pole is at 90 degrees north latitude.
Tentative operating frequencies will be 7.279 MHz on 40 meters and 14.243 and
14.343 MHz on 20 meters, depending on prior use and QRM, using SSB.
Other bands, modes, and frequencies may also be activated depending on response
and demand. MARS members have been issued a special invitation to come by and
assist with the operation. Special commemorative QSLs will be sent to those who
confirm contact and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
QSLs should be sent to:
Don Keith N4KC
40 Red Stick Road
Indian Springs Village, AL 35124
Event info is available at QRZ.com under N9N, http://www.n4kc.com/
or by emailing N4KC(AT)bellsouth.net
DX ACTIVITY AND DATES
http://www.dxsummit.fi
Extreme Tourism:
Team of Russian and American Amateur radio operators going to extreme
DXpedition to Mt. Cleveland volcano, located in Aleutian chain in Alaska.
The Russian Robinson Club members will mount Amateur Radio Expedition to the
Chuginadak island, located 800 nm SE from Anchorage, Alaska, from July 21st to
July 27th 2008.
The expedition team will fly from Seattle, Washington July 17th to Dutch Harbor
Alaska, sail to Chuginadak island and setup camp with Amateur radio equipment.
Operations will continue for one week weather permitting.
The idea is to give radio operators all over the world the chance to contact
very rare territory, place where no one operated before.
Mt. Cleveland is a 1,730 m active stratovolcano on the west side of Chuginadak
Island. Mt. Cleveland is almost perfectly symmetrical and 8 km wide at its
base. It is also one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutians.
http://www.na-234.com
QSL BUREAU
Countries with no QSL Bureau
Tony Baldwin EI8JK, the Irish Outwards QSL Manager, reports that every week he
gets several cards for countries that do not have a QSL Bureau.
There are a total of 63 DXCC entities without a Bureau, and Tony has now
arranged for these to be listed on the I.R.T.S. web site.
Click on the "QSL Service" link that is on the left-hand side of irts.ie
to see which countries have no bureau.
MEDIA WATCH
MISSED THE VK7 REGIONAL NEWS BROADCAST?
Don't worry it's available along with much more either via email and
on the web each week.
Via email it comes from the VK7 Regional News email list courtesy of
Yahoo Groups.
This mailing list allows anyone to register their email address and
receive the VK7 Regional news broadcast text, WIA News, relevant ACMA
media releases and other AR news delivered free via email.
The emailed and internet versions of the Regional news also gives you
all those internet and email addresses that are not read out when it
goes to air and a special segment called Web & Email Edition Extra Bits.
The easiest way to subscribe to the mailing list is to send a blank
email to: vk7regionalnews-subscribe(AT)yahoogroups.com
Once you become a member of the group and there are currently about
90 members you can view and search the archived broadcasts and
information emails currently numbering over 490.
OK, OK is your email mailbox too full?
Then fear not, you can also read the broadcast online at reast.asn.au
and head to the VK7 Regional News page.
http://reast.asn.au/news.php
Further details can be found in the email and internet editions of
this broadcast.
Post message: vk7regionalnews(AT)yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: vk7regionalnews-subscribe(AT)yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: vk7regionalnews-unsubscribe(AT)yahoogroups.com
Email List owner: vk7regionalnews-owner(AT)yahoogroups.com
(VK7 Regional Mailing List Moderator)
How Do You Tune in
This is a question posed by ABC Radio in Northern Queensland.
Maybe it's a portable one sitting on the kitchen window sill .. maybe you
listen on the stereo in the lounge .. maybe you have a portable one that you
slip in your pockets when you go walking .. maybe you only listen to the radio
in the car? Well ABC Radio were answered by WIA News rebroadcaster and
reporter VK4FUQ.
Bet ABC were surprised when Felix dropped them a photo and letter,
I don't think there'd be too many people listening on the sort of set-up that
Felix from Ingham uses each day.
He designed it himself and built it himself.
"It's essentially a crystal set with 'double input tuning' to improve
selectivity followed with a high performance 'biased diode' detector of his own
design. It's a bit of passion of Felix's, one could say!"
Those that download and playback the local QNEWS news from wiaq.com will see
the picture on the D-Star ready MP3 file this week.
Amateur Radio Previews
July 2008
Watch out for Amateur Radio magazine. The July issue will be at your newsagents
NOW. Don’t forget to drop in and collect your copy.
The front cover is devoted to the ladies of amateur radio. On the occasion of
the recent WIA AGM, and against a backdrop featuring the history of Broken Hill,
here are ten ALARA members in convention mode.
Read how our audio contributor and rebroadcaster Felix VK4FUQ improved his
reception on 40 metres by no less than 10 dB.
Last month the magazine featured a topical article on amateur radio in China.
This month, is a report from the Czech Republic an article full of local
colour, including the Mayor, and a reminder that amateur radio is truly an
international passion.
If you are into home-brew and the latest technology, you will be keen to
construct the class-E amplifier described by Phil Wait VK2DKN.
For LF enthusiasts, Drew Diamond VK3XU tells how to build a converter which
will take the LF signal up to 3 or 4 MHz, so you can feed it into a normal
HF receiver.
(Sourced to Tom Potter)
a PLEA for VK4 ham help.
We desperately need back up for HF news transmissions.
Currently we have Ivan backing up for Terry on 160 MF.
BUT who can help out on 80/40/20 meters?? Helping Wayne, Paul, Felix and Ken?
This is not full time, just that when one of our regulars takes a well earned
break often you are left with no news on that particular channel for the week.
Easy email address to make first offer of help:-
QNEWS at WIA dot ORG dot AU
Also in the South East if you can access 147.000 Nye Needs Help in the form
of someone who can log the number of checkins received on that Brisbane
Repeater.
Again an easy task, usually less than 30 checkins so you won't be run off your
feet like the Adelaide and Perth call-back operators who get between 50 and
96 checkins each week!!! Yep 96 in Adelaide and try as they might they
just can't get past the magic 100 figure... RSI maybe? hihi
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL
D-tar User Survey Now Online
To assist the WIA with network planning of the D-STAR Repeater Network an
online survey is now available and we'd like your input.
www.wia.org.au is the address
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
This web site specialises in up to date news and information for Australian
D-Star operators. The site contains all you need to know about D-Star and how
to set up your radios.
Information includes recommended simplex frequencies, repeater details and
digital radio configuration guides.
ICOM ICF files can be found on this site to help configure radios for all the
Australian repeaters, saving a fair amount of manual data entry.
Information on each D-Star repeater in Australia is listed, often including
links to a live repeater status page showing most recent callsigns heard and a
Google Map showing the repeater location. Repeater coverage maps are also
shown for some repeaters.
(sourced to nerg)
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 --- FINAL FRONTIER
AMSAT-VK UNOFFICIAL HF Net.
2nd Sunday each month.
November through March 0900 UTC 7.068 MHz
April through October 1000 UTC 3.685 MHz
Auke de Jong VE6PWN has reported hearing signals on 10 metres from the RS-15
Amateur Radio satellite.
RS-15 was launched over 13 and a half years ago on 26th December 1994.
It's 145 to 29 MHz linear transponder has long since ceased operation, however,
from time to time the beacon, nominally on 29.3525 MHz +/- doppler, can still
be heard.
On the AMSAT Bulletin Board (AMSAT-BB) Auke de Jong VE6PWN, in Edmonton
Alberta, has posted this reception report of RS-15 on 29.351 MHz:
"I just copied the beacon on 29.351, after not hearing anything for a long
time. It's sending relatively short duration pulses today ... 1 second on
2 seconds off, give or take... later in the ascending pass (as I write this),
times are up to greater-than 4 seconds off /.75 seconds on.
Does that mean the spacecraft is warm?"
RS-15 information http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/rs15.html
(via southgate)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO
EMERGENCY FREQUENCIES REGION ONE
21.360 - 18.160 - 14.300 - 7.060 - 3.760 MHz.
Life is said to begin at 40 – but not if you’re up the creek without a
paddle
The Red Cross Murray River Canoe Marathon in Australia run over five days is
arguably the world’s longest and most arduous marathon paddle race.
It attracts 700 competitors from Australia and around the world who travel
along a 400 kilometre route in a variety of water craft, backed up by 300
volunteers and 3,000 support crew.
The theme for this year’s event is ‘Everybody can do it - You'll never forget
it!’ which is rather ironic because the Red Cross has decided that this year’s
event is the last it will support.
Not good news for WICEN, the emergency communications service of amateur radio
which provides the event safety and logistics support both on land and water.
It has been a major WICEN emergency training exercise for around 35 years on
the last five days of each year.
This year on New Year’s Eve there will be a gala celebration of the Murray
River Canoe Marathon 40th anniversary, and the Red Cross citing financial,
volunteer support and safety concerns for the ending of its involvement.
Without the substantial Red Cross administrative and health support for the
event, it’s very doubtful that it can continue.
I’m Jim Linton VK3PC and you’re listening to VK1WIA.
SOCIAL SCENE
Jul 12th, (Sat)
ANNUAL AUCTION - Waverley Amateur Radio Society Auction at the club premises,
Rose Bay Scout Hall, in Vickery Avenue Rose Bay, Sydney's eastern suburbs.
Gates open 08:30 and auction commencing 10:30.
For more info see the club website www.vk2bv.org
Jul 19th, 2008 (Sat)
Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club Hamfest 10am Cranbourne Public Hall
56252545 or www.ggrec.org.au
Michael Wain vk3hau from the East Gippsland Amateur Radio Club reminds members
of their AGM 27TH July 1:30pm
E.G.A.R.C. AGM on the 27th is at Bairnsdale RSL.
Aug 3
WA's Hamfest Cyril Jackson Community Hall, Fisher St, Ashfield
details from Keith VK6XH
Sept 13 -14
The Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio club Sunfest at Woombye hall .
contact Harry VK4TK at vk4tk(AT)dodo.com.au
or 0 40 94 880 25
Sept 13 -14
Alarameet 2008 in Ulverstone Tasmania
Susan Brain VK7LUV 0400-173280 or
vk7luv_susan(AT)yahoo.com.au
Sept 19-21
Central Highland Amateur Radio Club AGM, Monster Auction and Gathering at
Camp Fairbairn near Emerald. Gordon VK4KAL telephone 07 4985 4168
Oct 11 & 12
Dalby and Sunshine coast October Camp, Lake Dyer near Laidley.
Neil VK4NF holmzie(AT)bigpond.com 07 4662 4950
Oct 26
B.A.R.G. Hamvention Ballarat held at the Great Southern Woolshed approx 3kms
from Ballarat CDB, located on the Melbourne side of Ballarat on the western
highway. General public admitted at 10-00am.
Door prizes,raffles good food and fellowship
dougr(AT)ncable.net.au
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.
2009
International Telecommunication Union's Telecom World 2009.
Feb 8 2009
WYONG FIELD DAY
June 5 - 8 2009
FNNQARG at Cardwell Village Beachcomber Resort book on 1800 005633
Contact FNNQARG co-ordinator Gavin VK4ZZ for site booking guidance.
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/
=========================================================================
WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide.
Societies and Club News Letter Editors can EXCHANGE a feed prior to
the actual broadcast date, e-mail nationalnews(AT)wia.org.au
Call-backs follow the RF editions, but also for text readers you may
lodge a quick reply to let us know you read it, who knows, you might
even get a "cheerio call".
Thanks to to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who utilize
their time and equipment in bringing you this weekly broadcast.
The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of interest to
active amateurs residing in Australia and the globe.
We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of Australia
and participation in the activities of local clubs.
Opinions expressed in "WIANews" are those of the writers who submit
material and do not necessarily reflect those of the rebroadcasters,
nor the National WIA, but are broadcast in the spirit in which they were
submitted.
Material may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, a credit to
WIANews wouldn't go astray...
Compiled by VK4BB on behalf of the National WIA.
**************************************************
- NEWS POSTING TO PACKET -
Courtesy Tony VK7AX VK7AX(AT)VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC
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