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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
http://www.wia.org.au (click news in member area) Submit your audio news
Please.. If you are only submitting text and not audio, write your story as
you would expect to hear it being read back and NEVER send just links & url's.
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WIANEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING NOV 29 2009.
ALL UP AND COMING IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF
AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING NOV 29 2009
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TRIPLE ZERO
A man lying in a hospital bed phoned triple zero to get urgent medical help
when no one responded to the nurse call button.
The man was in the Hobart Private Hospital's high-dependency unit here in
VK7 after an operation and woke to find he was bleeding.
He rang his bell to obtain help from nursing staff, said the Health
Complaints Commissioner annual report released yesterday.
Finally, the man called the emergency triple-zero telephone number before
he was treated.
Commissioner Allston's report says a night duty supervisor arrived at the
man's bedside at the same time as two nurses who had been attending other
patients in the ward.
MORE ON THE QANTAS STORY
Did space radiation nearly down a jetliner?
Cosmic rays are the latest theory as to the cause of a Qantas flight in
October last year that gave its passengers and crew a roller-coaster ride, as
the aircraft's nose pitched violently downward twice in rapid succession.
The Australian Transport Safety Board is now seriously considering whether
cosmic radiation corrupted the aircraft's flight control systems throwing
passengers and in-cabin luggage around.
Eleven passengers and a flight attendant were seriously injured. The jet
made an emergency landing rather than continue after plunging 650 feet,
leveling out only to drop a further 400 feet.
A stream of high-energy galactic and solar radiation constantly interacts
with the Earth's upper atmosphere. This can create neutrons with the
potential to affect aircraft avionics systems.
Earlier thoughts that electromagnetic radiation from passenger laptop
computers, or powerful radio signals from a military base near the flight
path, have both been ruled out as a cause of the malfunction.
The International Space Station experiences cosmic rays interactions and
special precautions are taken to protect the space-craft and its crews.
I'm Barry Robinson VK3PV and you're listening to VK1WIA.
HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
VK4
web service local news:- www.wiaq.com/qnews/upload/qnewsbcast.htm
local news email qnews-vk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
VKR Roundup http://www.police.qld.gov.au/News+and+Alerts/Media+Releases/
Last weekend, Nov 22 Townsville Amateur Radio Club held her 2009 AGM
amongst the shady trees and well maintained gardens of
Rossiter Park in Aitkenvale.
An eager throng of attendees were at the venue from 7am when
Ken VK4QZ cranked up his BBQ with wheels and proceeded
to turn out yummy pancakes made to Lex's modified recipe by
Richard VK4FRJG.
Not ONLY pancakes, but a true "ham and eggs" feast!
The AGM proceedings got underway from 8-30am and, with a
lot of local hams present at the meeting! Details from "MATMAN" in
the local QUEENSLAND QNEWS thismorning.
EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO
www.hamcollege.com.au
NOW YOU KNOW!: IT'S ALL GREEK TO ME
Ask any high school physics student and they'll tell you that electrons
govern pretty much everything we do. We call electrons in motion an
electrical current, and those radio waves that we hams are so fond of
are the result of high frequency electrons traveling in our antenna
conductors. Think of a 40 meter wave as an accidental tourist who wants
to go somewhere (somewhere nice and warm, maybe a rare DX station). But
how to get there? It needs some mode of transport -- think of electrons
as the transport providers.
We use our transmitters to move the electrons in our antennas
to-and-fro to produce radio waves, hopefully to that rare DX
destination. When the radio waves get there, they set electrons in
another antenna in motion. That current -- electrons in motion -- is
amplified and detected at the receiving location and a QSO is made.
But why do we call them electrons? The ancient Greeks noticed that
amber attracted small objects when rubbed with fur; apart from
lightning, this phenomenon is thought to be man's earliest known
experience of electricity. Back in the year 1600, the English physician
William Gilbert -- in his treatise De Magnete -- coined the New Latin
term electricus to refer to this property of attracting small objects after
being rubbed.
(sourced to arrl)
Donation to Irish Society
The IRTS has received a very generous donation from one of its members,
John EI6IJ. For health reasons, John has been forced to cease driving
and has presented the Society with his 2008 Kia Rio hatchback automatic!
The car has been converted for disabled use and professionally fitted out
with a FT857.
It is intended that the proceeds from the sale of the car would be used to
assist members who for reasons of changed circumstances such as ill health
or change of accommodation are finding it difficult to practice and enjoy
their hobby.
The fund would also support the promotion of Amateur Radio in schools and
other youth organisations.
Well done John EI6IJ!
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Icom IC706 has ceased production
News has filtered through from ICOM Japan that the very popular
IC-706 Mark 2 G HF VHF UHF Transceiver has ceased production.
Advice has also been received from ICOM premium dealer
Navcom Electronics that there are only 14 units currently held in
stock in Australia and that this stock is expected to deplete rapidly.
There is good news as well though, as from 16 November 2009 all ICOM
amateur radio equipment is being backed with a 5 year warranty.
Thanks to Bazz VK4TBD at Navcom Electronics for most of this
information.
E-VOTING COMES TO THE RSGB
Electronic voting has come to Radio Society Great Britain's elections. This
with word that a new electronic voting system administered by the Electoral
Reform Society is now up and running for voting in the RSGB 2009 balloting.
There are four Board places to be filled and Region 9 also has an election
for the Regional Representative position. RSGB members have until noon on
December 10 to register their vote.
(arnewsline)
FAMED INVENTOR LOUIS KING PASSES AWAY
Louis Arthur King, 94, the founder of Kintronic Labs has passed away.
Considered to be one of the nations finest consulting engineers, Louis King
started his engineering career as a professor in the electrical engineering
department at Clemson College, now Clemson University. That's where he
instituted the teaching of radio engineering courses. He later went on to
help design the first air-cooled 50 kilowatt AM transmitter at RCA and
received the patent for the bistable multi-vibrator, better known as the
flip-flop circuit.
Louis King was recognized by the National Association of Broadcasters in
2007 as the recipient of the NAB Lifetime Radio Engineering Achievement Award.
(arnewsline)
G8KW Silent Key
Rowley Shears G8KW who established KW Electronics has passed away at the age
of 90
Those UK Radio Amateurs who joined the hobby in the 1950's or 60's will be
familiar with the range of Amateur rigs that KW Electronics produced at the
Vanguard Works in Dartford, Kent. During this period KW Electronics was the
UK's leading Amateur Radio manufacturer.
Rowley G8KW will be fondly remembered by users of rigs such as the
KW Vanguard, KW Valiant, KW Viceroy, KW Vespa, and KW 2000.
(SOUTHGATE)
COMMUNICATIONS IN A SHRIMPS EYE
From the technology page comes the story of the remarkable eyes of a
marine crustacean could inspire the next generation of DVD, CD players and
possibly telecommunications gear. This, according to a new study from the
University of Bristol published in Nature Photonics. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in a recent 'cast said that the mantis
shrimps used in the study are found on the Great Barrier Reef here in
Australia and have the most complex vision systems known to science. They
can see in twelve colours while humans see in only three. Also, it can
distinguish between different forms of polarized light.
Special light-sensitive cells in mantis shrimp eyes act as quarter wave
plates which can rotate the plane of the polarization of a light wave as it
travels through it. This capability makes it possible for mantis shrimps
to convert linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light and vice
versa.
Manmade quarter-wave plates perform this essential function in CD and DVD
players and in circular polarizing filters for cameras. However, these
artificial devices only tend to work well for one colour of light while the
natural mechanism in the mantis shrimp's eyes works almost perfectly across
the whole visible spectrum from near-ultra violet to infra-red.
This would not be the first time humans have looked to the natural world
for new ideas. In another bit of research the lobster's compound eye
recently inspired the design of an X-ray detector for an astronomical
telescope.
This new research into the amazing vision capabilities of the mantis shrimp
and how it might one day improve communications in the human world was
conducted at the University of Bristol's School of Biological Sciences in
collaboration with colleagues the University of Queensland here in VK.
OPERATIONAL NEWS -
ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2009
NOV 28 - 29 VK SPRING VHF-UHF FIELD DAY
NOV 28 - 29 CQ WORLD WIDE CW
March 21-22 John Moyle Field Day
DECEMBER 6 BROADCAST thats a week away will feature a special RD expose'
by Peter Harding the Contest manager these past couple of years.
As this IS an important report he trusts you will tune in!
SPECIAL EVENT CALLS, BEACON DX AND NET ADVICE
hf nets ON the net, www.timroberts-vk4yeh.id.au/
GB 40 WAB 40th anniversary of the WAB Till Dec 31
OZ 1658 ROS 350th anniversary of the Treaty of Roskilde Till Dec 31
VARIOUS SM STATIONS USING 1658 (Treaty of Roskilde) Till Dec 31
VP 9 400 /home call 400th Anniversary of Bermuda Till Dec 31
VR 2009 EAG The 5th East Asian Games Hong Kong Till Dec 31
YL 90 AIR 90yrs of Latvian Air Force Till Dec 31
The 29th Indian Antarctic Expedition
vU3BPZ will be in Antarctica with the 29th IAE. The crew has finished
the pre Antarctic training & medical checks. The overwintering Team will
start a long term operation till March 2011.
VU3BPZ will be on the air from Maitri Base (WAP IND-03, IOTA AN-016) using
his personal call VU3BPZ and also a special call AT1OBP on the way to be
issued by Ministry of Communication & IT for the event.
QSL via VU3MKE.
Daniel EI9FHB should be active from the Kish lighthouse until Wednesday 9
December. The Kish lighthouse is located about 10 miles east of Dun Laoghaire
and marks a sandbank on the route to Wales.
It's a 'newish' light, built in '65 and is undergoing a major overhaul of
power systems and navigational aids.
Daniel will be operational on HF voice.
WIRELESS WEATHER
Solar Cycle 24 continues to ramp up
Cycle 24 sunspot group has been numbered 11033 by the NOAA/SWPC.
It is located near N17E20 and contains a beta magnetic signature capable of
producing very small B class solar flares. SIDC Belgium assigned it
Catania #28.
The old solar cycle 24 sunspot group #11029 has produced new sunspots and has
been re-numbered 11033 by NOAA/SWPC. SIDC Belgium has given the sunspot group
Catania 30.
It is located near N21E47 and contains a beta magnetic signature capable of
producing very small B class solar flares.
The NOAA/SWPC sunspot number is 29 (the second highest so far for cycle 24)
and the SIDC Belgium sunspot number is 30. The solar flux index (SFI) is
77.4
The new sunspot groups could push the SFI above 80 in coming days. This would
raise the maximum usable frequency (MUF) of the F layer high enough to
improve propagation conditions on 20, 17 and 15 meters.
Solar cycle 24 continues to ramp up this month!
(Thomas F. Giella, NZ4O via southgate news)
THE QNEWS WORK BENCH - the nuts and volts report -
(Measure twice - Cut once!)
BOSE INTRODUCES WIRELESS STREAMING AUDIO SPEAKER
Audio equipment maker Bose has introduced its new SoundLink wireless music
system. This is a one-piece portable speaker system that allows users to
play streaming audio from their computer wirelessly in and around the home.
The new SoundLink system was designed as a simple solution for people who
listen to sound stored on their computer, but do not necessarily want to be
at their computer to hear it. No software or Wi-Fi connection is required.
Just plug the included USB key into the computer, select the sound from any
Internet source and the audio will stream to the SoundLink system via a
long-range wireless link that works through most walls and floors.
The included infrared remote control operates the power and volume.
It can also send transport control commands to most applications, allowing
users to skip tracks or play/pause from a distance. More information about
this novel product is on-line at www.Bose.com
(ARNewsLine)
PL-259 CONNECTOR TOOL FOR COAX CABLES
Tired of using pliers to screw on the PL-259 connectors when you are
preparing cables?
This work bench tip from the pages of the ARRL Letter.
Pliers always seem to do some damage by the amount of force this task
requires.
I use an inexpensive 1/2 inch PVC female to male coupler.
Simply use a step drill and ream out the female end. This works for most
half inch coaxial cables.
PL-259s do vary in diameter.
Be sure to measure yours before you ream out the PVC adapter.
It will not take a lot of reaming for the connector to fit snugly. The outer
part of the PL-259 that fits into the connector is 0.55 inch diameter. This
makes a secure fit.
If you wear out the adapter, purchase another, as they are inexpensive.
This works for Paul K4AVU.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
http://www.raotc.org.au
OLD TIMERS
Members and friends of the Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club Australia are
reminded that the next news and information broadcast will take place on the
first Monday of the Month.
using the RAOTC callsign of VK3OTN.
10.00 am Victorian time on 7.060 and 3.650 MHz plus 1.843 MHz AM, and
145.700.
On 14.150 MHz at 01.00 UTC beaming north and 02:00 UTC west from Melbourne
For those not yet retired, 8.30 PM Victorian time tune 80 metres 3.650 MHz
and in Tasmania, but at Victorian time, 8:30 on the Mount Duncan repeater
146.625.
With the objective to maintain interest and good fellowship among those who
qualify for membership, full membership of the RAOTC is available to any
person who has held, or has been qualified to hold, an Amateur Licence for
a minimum of 25 years.
Associate membership is available to any person who has held, or has been
qualified to hold, an Amateur Licence for a minimum of 10 years.
Associate members are entitled to all the privileges of Full Membership
except the right to vote or to hold office.
Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club
P.O. Box 107
Mentone Vic 3194
www.raotc.org.au
Phone : 03 9579 5600
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- INTERNET --- THE HAMS DOMAIN
Become a Martian
NASA and Microsoft Corp. have collaborated to create a Web site where
Internet users can have fun while advancing their knowledge of Mars.
Drawing on observations from NASA's Mars missions, the 'Be a Martian' Web site
will enable the public to participate as citizen scientists to improve Martian
maps, take part in research tasks, and assist Mars science teams studying data
about the Red Planet.
"We're at a point in history where everyone can be an explorer,"
said Doug McCuistion, director of the Mars Exploration Program at
NASA Headquarters in Washington. "With so much data coming back from
Mars missions that are accessible by all, exploring Mars has become a shared
human endeavor. People worldwide can expand the specialized efforts of a few
hundred Mars mission team members and make authentic contributions of their
own."
Participants will be able to explore details of the solar system's grandest
canyon, which resides on Mars. Users can call up images in the
Valles Marineris canyon before moving on to chart the entire Red Planet.
The collaboration of thousands of participants could assist scientists in
producing far better maps, smoother zoom-in views, and make for easier
interpretation of Martian surface changes.
To enroll as a virtual Martian citizen and start exploring, visit the url
typed up in this weeks text editions of WIA National News.
http://beamartian.jpl.nasa.gov
(SouthGate)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- QRP
Version 2.0 of WSPR released
Joe Taylor K1JT has released a new version of his Weak Signal Propagation
Reporter software WSPR
WSPR (pronounced "whisper") stands for "Weak Signal Propagation Reporter."
This program is designed for sending and receiving low-power transmissions
to test propagation paths on the MF and HF bands. Users with internet access
can watch results in real time at WSPRnet.
WSPR 2.0 introduces a number of new features including a user-friendly setup
screen with drop-down selection of audio devices and rig-control parameters,
support for compound callsigns, fine selection of the fractional time for
transmitting, and a Tune button.
A new Advanced setup screen offers optional CW identification and tools for
frequency calibration and automated frequency corrections for your radio.
Full details are presented in the WSPR 2.0 User's Guide, which you will need
to read in order to use the new features.
WSPR 2.0 can be downloaded from
http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wspr.html
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO
EMERGENCY FREQUENCIES IARU REGION 3
3.600, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz
Disaster Communications on Facebook
Members of TCSWAT - The Turkish Special Wireless Activity Team - have set up
a new platform for the 'Disaster Communications' on Facebook.
You can click the link in the text edition this week.
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=339153870400
to be the member of Disaster Communication ....
(TA0U via southgate)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ATV (Every pixel tells a story) - Video
arvideonews.com
hamradiotube.com
youtube.com
VK3RTV DATV update
The digital amateur television VK3RTV on Mt Dandenong east of Melbourne is
now operational with analogue inputs on 1250MHz and 10.41GHz, and now
DVB-S on 1276MHz.
A new downlink antenna is being built for DVB-S on 1250MHz.
Repeater custodian Peter Cossins VK3BFG advises that it is resulting in
very good quality and no pixellation on fast moving objects.
VK3RTV operates on 446.5MHz with a multiplexed output providing VK3RTV1 and
VK3RTV2. Each channel runs at 5.5 Megabits.
There are many Set Top Boxes, and some USB digital receivers with manual
tune capability that will receive the signal.
Further developments with the VK3RTV project include touch tone selected
signal and quality reports.
A number of radio amateurs are receiving VK3RTV on a domestic television
antenna. Others need a good 70cm yagi.
The digitisation of VK3RTV is funded by Amateur Radio Victoria with
additional support of $1,000 from the WIA Club Grants Program, plus
volunteer out of pocket and in-kind donations.
I'm Barry Robinson VK3PV and you're listening to VK1WIA
REWIND - A LOOK BACK IN HISTORY
THE WORLDS FIRST RADIO STATION
What is the world's first radio station? Although AM radio broadcasts were
tested in 1906 and used for voice and music broadcasts up until WW1 it
wasn't until 1916 in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania when 8XK began regularly
scheduled broadcasts. 8XK would receive the first official broadcasting
license in 1920 with the call sign KDKA.
But there's more to this story. At 6:00 PM on November 2, 1920 the US
presidential election returns were announced from a shack in East
Pittsburgh by Leo Rosenberg and KDKA became the world's first commercial
radio station.
More on this story is at the National Museum of Broadcasting website at the
U-R-L found in this weeks printed report.
http://nmbpgh.org/conrad_project/historical_background/commercial.htm
SOCIAL SCENE
2010
JAN 4 - 14 VK2
AUSTRALIAN SCOUT JAMBOREE Cataract Scout Park south of Sydney.
JAN 24 VK2
Mid North Coast Amateur Radio Group's Radio Expo 2010 8.30am St Johns Church
Hall, Mc Lean Street Coffs Harbour.
JAN 30 VK4
Bunya Mts & Dist AmCom host "HAM AND WINE FEST 2010" at Maclagan.
FEBRUARY 14 VK3
WIA 100 Centre Victoria RadioFest No. 3.
FEBRUARY 28
Wyong Field Day, Wyong Race Course.
APRIL 2 VK3
Midland Amateur Radio Club's Radio, Electronic & Astronomy Expo.
Venue to be advised.
JUNE 5 VK2
Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club's 35th Annual Field Day.
JULY 17 VK3
GGREC Hamfest Start Time : 10:00
Oct 29 - 31
VK1OOWIA Westlakes ARC during our WIA centenary celebrations.
NOV 7 VK5
2010 Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society Hamfest Rosa St Goodwood
2012
15TH IARU REGION 3 CONFERENCE hosted by V.A.R.C. in Ho-Chi-Minh City, Vietnam.
JAN 23-FEB 17 YEAR 2012
World Radio Conference WRC-11 Geneva 23rd January TO 17th February 2012
MAY 4-7 2012 VK5
YL International 2012 Australia (vk5tmc@bigpond.com)
WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide.
Societies and Club News Letter Editors can EXCHANGE a feed prior to
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Call-backs follow the RF editions, but also for text readers you may
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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.
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