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WIANEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING MAY 23 2010.
The broadcast today is being presented by the Canberra Region Amateur Radio
Club. Your hosts are Peter VK1PE and Alan VK1WX from the studios of Canberra's
1RPH, Good Morning as we bring you THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS
INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING MAY 23 2010
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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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WIA Centenary Update
Wow, the WIA Centenary callsign is red hot
The special callsign VK100WIA for the Centenary of Organised Amateur Radio
in Australia and the foundation of the WIA, logged its first 1,000 contacts
by last Wednesday.
Among them were some 25 DX different countries. Stations have also been
worked in all VK states, the Northern Territory and Norfolk Island.
The callsign was launched by the WIA President Michael Owen VK3KI, next to
operate was WIA Director Bob Bristow VK6POP and then WIA Centenary Committee
member Jim Linton VK3PC.
The WIA had invited Amateur Radio Victoria to operate the callsign on its
behalf last Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
A roster of four of its members, Keith Proctor VK3FT, Terry Murphy VK3UP,
David McAuley VK3EW and Noel Ferguson VK3FI, did their best to keep up with
the on air demand for contacts.
Then it was Amateur Radio New South Wales turn on Thursday Friday & Yesterday
Saturday with its members helping to push the contact tally even further.
Another measure of worldwide interest in this special callsign is the well
over 2,000 hits received for its listing on the qrz.com callsign database.
VK100WIA will be active from Canberra during the WIA Centenary Convention.
Check out wia.org.au for more details about the callsign roster, the
online logging, and the associated WIA Centenary Award
Remember that registration close on Monday 0900 for the WIA anniversary
weekend and AGM.
If you are not registered two things will happen you won't have a pass for
the event and the caterers will have trouble feeding you as they have to have
the numbers on Monday evening. Jump on line and register now.
WIA NATIONAL NEWS AT 100th AGM
The proposed timetable is as follows
6:30am tent is set up courtesy of CRARC
7:00am microphones & recording equipment setup
8:00am Broadcast simulcast recording and live transmission over
Canberra's 2m & 70cm repeaters courtesy of CRARC
8:30am Broadcast concludes and MP3 file is saved
8:40am wianews_64 uploaded to both the WIA website and the Qnews backup
FTP server
8:45am wianews_64 ready for download (and wianews_32 & wianews_128 are
uploaded to the backup server)
9:00am broadcast equipment packed up and the tent will be used for a
public display of Amateir Radio courtesy of CRARC
All broadcasters, reporters and callback ops SHOULD be subscribed to
the yahoogroup for wiabroadcasters.
A blank email with word subscribe in title or subject field and posted to
wiabroadcasters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
WIA receives well wishes from around the globe
A number of IARU radio societies have written to the Wireless Institute of
Australia to extending their best wishes and congratulating in on its
Centenary.
These are being received by the WIA President Michael Owen VK3KI and will
be progressively posted on the WIA website.
Here are a few of them.
The IARU Liaison Officer for the Finnish Amateur Radio League SRAL - Jukka
Heikinheimo OH2BR said the WIA is one of the worlds most respected national
amateur radio associations.
It has developed into a modern organisation representing the radio amateurs
of Australia.
RSGB General Manager Peter Kirby G0TWW on behalf of the RSGB President,
Board and Members said the Centenary is a wonderful achievement.
He commented that it would not have been reached without the outstanding
commitment of many thousands of volunteers who have worked tirelessly for
the WIA over the past 100 years.
Irish Radio Transmitters Society President, Paul Martin EI2CA extended best
wishes to all on the occasion of the Centenary celebrations and acknowledged
the work of the Wireless Institute of Australia.
He added that the IRTS will be raising a glass to toast the WIA during its
celebrations in Canberra.
Now joining us with Centenary News is Mike VK4QS, President of the
Ipswich & District Radio Club.
Today I would like to let you know about the W.I.A. Centenary Medallion our
club produced to celebrate 100 years of the Wireless Institute of Australia.
This medallion is available from our club website
www.ipswichdistrictradioclub.webnode.com
Now for just $10.00 plus $5.00 postage around Australia, International of
course would be a little extra, you too could have one of these fantastic
commemorative medallions.
If your club would like to produce something similar, then all the details
are on our website front page.
73's, I'm Mike VK4QS.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority is issuing licences which
will allow the Nine Network and the SBS to conduct scientific trials of 3D TV
in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and Wollongong.
The licences allow the trial operators to test new radiocommunications
technologies now until 19 July 2010 by broadcasting 3D high definition
television to viewers with access to 3D-enabled digital television receivers.
The trials will include live telecasts of the three State of Origin
rugby league matches.
'The ACMA supports the development and demonstration of new broadcasting
technologies and is pleased to be able to assist with the trialling of 3D TV,'
said ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman. 'It is important people are aware that
these trials have only been approved for this two month period,' said
Mr Chapman.
HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
Macquarie Island, VK0.
Denis, ZL4DB is QRV as VK0/homecall for the next three months while on work
assignment. He is active in his spare time using SSB. QSL via ZL4PW.
VK1
Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club members and amateurs in the ACT region
welcome fellow amateurs for the celebration of 100 years of organised amateur
activity in Australia. We will be assisting with the activation of the
VK100WIA special event callsign over the WIA AGM three day event and
demonstration of amateur radio commencing at 0800 Sunday morning right
opposite the entrance to Questacon in the Parliamentary triangle.
VK2
If you are a Westlake's club member and want to learn what is happening at
your club in the coming weeks join the group each Saturday at 8am for the
EZB net on 146.775 MHz where those joining in have a round table discussion
of what they have been doing during the past week and what is ahead for the
next one. Early risers are reminded to tune to 3.588MHz each Saturday
morning at 6am for the Stone the Crows Net with Ted VK2UI as Master of
Ceremonies.
Henry Lundell VK2ZHE President, Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club reminds us
it's now only 3 weeks to the Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Inc 35th annual
field day at Port Macquarie on Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th of June
2010. Full details are available on the club's website
VK4 - QNEWS
http://www.wiaq.com/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3
Welcome to QNews from VK4WIA. I'm Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I've been
thinking....... but first..
Gwen VK4CB is looking for details on the Exicom 70-340B (RT85C) Midland
Any information would useful, manual, CTSS info would be even better.
07 3202 7137
A few years ago, when the radio bug first bit, hearing the first radio
signals from a space satellite augured a massive change in the hobby of
amateur radio. Thermionic devices had been the mainstay of electronics for
near 50 years but the newly announced transistor was in the throws of
commercial development. The semiconductor revolution changed the face of
amateur radio as technology produced more and more developments and as the
vinyl disk was supplanted, now the CD is ready to be archived itself. The
computer has evolved from a mansion full of electronics to the common place
tool in the shack.
This has been an interesting journey with discovery and frustration and awe
and joy along the way. As the official commencement of the centenary of
organised amateur radio is about to take place in Canberra, we can all
reflect on this journey and where it will take us .
One invention in waiting is the Murphy Flush. Our News Editor, VK4BB, is
most interested in an effective way of not succumbing to Murphy's Law
especially during the anniversary events in Canberra. Please forward your
prototype device to Graham for his assessment and be tuned next week for
WIA News, live from the national capital.
I'm, Geoff Emery and that's what I think....how about you?
Ipswich and District Radio Club
Hi, I'm Mike VK4QS, President of the Ipswich & District Radio Club again,
Our club will be first club in Queensland to host the VK100WIA callsign.
We'll kick off operations on Thursday July 1st through to Saturday July 3rd
2010.
We are looking to operate 24 hours a day from our clubhouse at Denmark Hill,
Ipswich.
The club will host a sausage sizzle on Saturday July 3rd for all members and
guests at the clubhouse from 11am.
So on behalf of everybody at the Ipswich & District Radio Club, we look
forward to working you.
73's, I'm Mike VK4QS.
TOWNSVILLE
vk4wit@wia.org.au
4773 1196 or 0408 001142
po box 333 Garbutt East, QLD 4814
www.tarc.org.au
GREETINGS ! THIS IS DON VK4FNQA, WITH NEWS FROM NORTH QUEENSLAND
WHERE THE CURRENT CLIMATE HAS TO BE THE BEST AROUND THE GLOBE !
THE FAR NORTH AND NORTH QUEENSLAND AMATEUR RADIO GATHERING IS NOW
ONLY THREE WEEKS AWAY.
APART FROM LOTS OF SERIOUS LOAFING AND GREAT SOCIALISING THAT WILL
HAPPEN AT THE CARDWELL VILLAGE BEACHCOMBER MOTEL AND TOURIST PARK
FROM FRIDAY 11TH TO MONDAY 14TH OF JUNE, A FEW SCHEDULED EVENTS
WILL ALSO TAKE PLACE.
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TRY AND WIN YOUR FORTUNE AND GET RID OF ALL
THAT PESKY SMALL CHANGE WITH THE 25 AND 50 CLUBS THAT RAY VK4NET
AND WENDY WILL BE RUNNING FROM COMFY CHAIRS.
YOU WILL HAVE A TONNE OF FUNNE AND EXERCISE THE BRAIN CELLS AT THE
FAMOUS TREC TRIVIA CHALLENGE AS QUIZ MASTER DALE VK4DMC CONDUCTS
AN EVENING OF MIRTH AND FACTS.
YOU WILL GET TO DEFEND THE HONOUR OF YOUR REGION, OR HAVE HEAPS OF
GIGGLES AT SOME OF THE ANTICS THAT HAPPEN AT THE TRADITIONAL NORTH
QUEENSLAND VERSUS FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND CRICKET MATCH - AND THEN
TEAM UP WITH EVERYONE ELSE FOR THE CLASSIC GROUP PHOTO SESSION.
YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO OBTAIN VK100WIA COMMEMORATIVE PLATES
AND MUGS THAT CHERYL VK4FRYL WILL HAVE ON DISPLAY AND WILL BE
SELLING FOR A SHORT WHILE DURING THE WEEKEND.
PUT UP AN AERIAL AND ACTIVATE THE CASSOWARY COAST REGION FOR THE
VK SHIRES CONTEST !
GET CRACKING AND ARRANGE YOUR ACCOMMODATION AS IT IS ALL RUNNING
OUT FAST !
RING RECEPTION AT THE PARK RIGHT NOW ON 1800 005633.
I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.
NOW HERE IS A CHANCE TO INVOLVE THE FAMILY IN AN OUTDOOR EVENT
WHICH INVOLVES RELAXING, EXERCISING, SOCIALISING AND EVEN
SOME RADIO OPERATING.
KAYAK ON THE RIVER IS HAPPENING TODAY FROM 11-30AM.
IT IS BASED NEAR THE RIVERSIDE GARDENS COMMUNITY CENTRE,
55 RIVERSIDE BOULEVARD, DOUGLAS AND USES A VERY QUIET PART
OF THE ROSS RIVER.
IN THE TOWNSVILLE REGION THE NEWS TRANSMISSION IS BEING DONE
LIVE FROM THE VENUE. BE SURE TO ASK GAVIN FOR A WEATHER REPORT
DURING CALLBACKS !
OFF STREET PARKING IS AVAILABLE AND THE RIVER AND FACILITIES
ARE IN EASY REACH.
BRING YOUR OWN CHAIRS, HATS, DRINKS AND THINGS TO COOK ON
THE ELECTRIC BARBEQUES FOR LUNCH.
EVERYONE WELCOME INCLUDING FAMILIES AND GRANDCHILDREN.
BRING YOUR OWN KAYAK OR CANOE OR RUBBER TYRE IF YOU HAVE ONE
TO JOIN IN THE FUN.
THERE WILL BE A FEW SPARE CRAFT AT THE PARK WITH SAFETY GEAR
IF YOU WANT TO TRY A KAYAK FOR THE FIRST TIME.
REMEMBER TO TAKE A RADIO IN A PLASTIC BAG WITH YOU AS THOSE
ON SHORE WILL WANT TO TRY AND TALK TO YOU.
FINALLY, HERE IS A REMINDER THAT ONE OF THE FRIENDLIEST RADIO NETS
IN THE LAND HAPPENS THIS TUESDAY EVENING FROM 7-30PM ON THE
TOWNSVILLE VHF REPEATER.
THE ANN RENTON MEMORIAL LADIES NET IS OPEN TO YOUNG AND OLD,
YL OR OM OR EVEN SECOND OPERATORS GETTING ON AIR FOR THE
VERY FIRST TIME !
SO JOIN IN THIS TUESDAY EVENING NET AND LETS SEE IF THE YL'S
CAN OUT-NUMBER THE OM'S !
TIME FLIES WHILE YOU ARE HAVING FUN AND THAT'S ALL THE TIME
WE HAVE FOR QNEWS THIS SUNDAY TWENTY THIRD OF MAY....
THIS HAS BEEN DON VK4FNQA IN TROPICAL PARADISE MODE
FOR THE TOWNSVILLE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB INC, AND YOU HAVE
BEEN LISTENING TO, AND ENJOYING QNEWS FROM VK4WIA..
VK7
The Hobart Vintage Machinery Society will be conducting a working display at
the Sorell Men's Shed today Sunday the 23rd of May 9am till 2 pm.
See these old machines running and also the static displays of memorabilia.
Mostly all displays will be under cover in case of bad weather.
Men's Shed Shop will be open with lots of pre loved items for sale.
VK7SMS Radio Station will be on air call on 146.700 if you get lost.
REAST June Presentation
Dr Graham Denyer VK7JN who is currently working at the Australian Antarctic
Division will be presenting his experiences of operating amateur radio and
telemedicine in Antarctica.
Starts 8pm in the Queen's Domain Clubrooms
NORTH WEST NEWS
North West Tasmania Amateur Television Group
http://www2.vk7ax.id.au/atvgroup
NEXT CLUB GENERAL MEETING
The next General Meeting of the North West Tasmania Amateur Television Group
is scheduled for Saturday 5th June 2010 commencing around 2.00PM. The venue
for this meeting will be confirmed shortly.
As usual all persons are invited and welcome to attend.
(Tony VK7AX, News Officer NWT-ATV Group)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
Final Report on the Qinghai Earthquake
The 7.1 Richter scale earthquake that struck China's Qinghai province on
the 14th of April killed more than 2,000 people and relief efforts are
continuing for those left homeless.
Amateur radio operators from within Qinghai and others who travelled from
other areas to the disaster centre did a fine job.
There in poor weather conditions they helped in the transportation of
medicines, tents, food and clothes to the disaster area.
The amateur radio operators were even directly involved in disaster rescue
activities. One Beijing amateur radio rescue team saved 6 people.
The high altitude caused 90% of the amateur radio rescue team members to
have Plateau Reaction (altitude sickness), but no one was injured during
their efforts to help others affected by the disaster.
The Chinese Radio Sports Association reports that the experience and lessons
learnt from the Sichuan earthquake in 2008, resulted in amateur radio disaster
relief evolving into a practical level.
The radio hams were connected to government disaster relief organisations,
the Red Cross and volunteer rescue teams.
All amateur radio teams brought relief supplies. The Sichuan amateur radio
rescue team arrived very quickly, and set up a 70cm repeater to help provide
communication and coordinate all amateur radio operators coming into the
area. HF was also used during the disaster relief.
Now, all of the amateur radio operators have returned to their daily life,
we will never forget their contributions in the disaster relief.
(Report provided by Fan Bin BA1RB, CRSA Coordinator IARU Region 3 Disaster
Communications Committee and Chairman Jim Linton VK3PC)
Visitors to South Africa during the Soccer World Cup event may operate
amateur radio while in South Africa using the prefix ZS10 in front of their
own callsign for example ZS10/VK1ABC
The South African Radio League negotiated an agreement with the Independent
Communications Authority of South Africa to allow all licensed Radio Amateurs
visiting South Africa during June and July 2010 to operate while in
South Africa on condition that they register with the South African Radio
League prior to arrival in the country.
Extension of amateur radio 40-metre band in Kenya
The Communications Commission of Kenya has just approved the use by radio
amateurs in Kenya of the sub-band 7100 kHz to 7200 kHz.
CELLPHONE RADIATION IMPROVES THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF MICE
From the science page comes this interesting story regarding radiation
from cellular telephones that claims it can improve your intelligence,
but only if you are a mouse.
According to Gary Arendash of the University of South Florida in Tampa
and colleagues, research being conducted using mice prone to an animal
form of Alzheimer's disease showed that long-term exposure to
electromagnetic radiation typical of cell phones slowed and reversed
the course of the illness. Moreover, a similar exposure in normal
mice for two hours a day over seven to nine months improved their
cognitive abilities compared with control specimens.
Arendash and colleagues provided their data in a recent issue of the
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. They also say that the findings
provide striking evidence for both protective and disease-reversing
effects of long-term exposure to radiation at cell phone level.
NEW PRODUCTS: CUBA UNVEILS FIRST DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED TRANSCEIVER
Cuba is going into the ham radio transceiver business. At least domestically.
This as a prototype of A low cost 1.8 MHz transceiver
presented at the 8th Congress of the Cuban Ham Radio Federation.
The Chair of the Cuban Ham Radio Federation is Pedro CO2RP. He
told the Cuban News Agency that the first 600 units are ready for delivery
to Cuban amateur radio operators. The radios primary purpose is to help to
support emergency communication in Cuba.
WEIRD AND WONDERFUL
Enigma cracked again
An Enigma message sent over 65 years ago and thought to have been unbroken to
this day has been cracked by a group of volunteer computer enthusiasts.
The 2,700+ strong group Enigmaathome.net has been using nearly 4,500
individual computers in a massive international effort to decode surviving
unbroken messages.
The interface uses the standard BOINC distributed computing client software,
and anyone can take part in the project.
To carry out the work of the project so far, a single computer would have to
be left running for over 4000 years, such is the complexity of the Enigma
system - a true testament to it's original design.
There is no truth to the rumour the decoded message from mid-atlantic IN 1943
read, "in the year 2010 all WIA Directors will deliver their reports
live on air, in the new modes of FM and SSB, to their members from the
Canberra AGM when the WIA is 100 YEARS OF AGE".
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@wia.org.au
Jun 12-13 WIA Worked All VK Shires
contest@vkshires.info
Jun 19-20 WIA WINTER VHF-UHF Field Day
John Martin VK3KM tac@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@wia.org.au
Aug 14-15 WIA Remembrance Day Contest
Peter Harding vk4od@wia.org.au
Aug 21-22 International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend.
register on website illw.net
Oct 2TBC WIA WIA National Field Day
nfd@wia.org.au
Oct 2- 3 WIA Oceania DX Contest Phone
Tony Burt vk3tz@wia.org.au
Oct 9-10 WIA Oceania DX Contest CW
Tony Burt vk3tz@wia.org.au
NOV 20-21 WIA Spring VHF-UHF Field Day
John Martin VK3KM tac@wia.org.au
World Fauna and Flora (WFF44) DX-pedition.
What is believed to be the first WFF44 activation of a National Park in
VK is taking place until 23 May at Undara Volcanic National Park which is
located to the east of Mount Surprise in Far North Queensland.
Grid locator QH21
The DX-pedition is in support of the World Fauna and Flora (WFF44)
organisation and full details can be found at www.wff44.com/en
DX-pedition call-sign is VK4YN/P and will be operating on the
80/40/20/15/10M bands.
Operators will be: Gary VK4FD, Jeff VK4BOF and Dale VK4DMC.
Further information including operating frequencies are available at
VK4FD's website at www.qsl.net/vk4fd/
(Dale - VK4DMC)
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, REPEATER BEACON DX AND NET ADVICE
Larry, W6NWS will be in Vietnam until 9th June. He expects to be
active as XV2W when time permits, mainly around the CQ WPX CW and
SEANET contests. QSL via home call, direct or via the bureau and
Logbook of The World.
Westlake's club news say that the popular internet site "DX Summit" is rolling
out a newly personalized web site, calling it "My DX Summit," giving amateur
radio operators of all interests the chance to improve DX alerts and the way
that spots are delivered to users around the world. And some of the future
changes could be targeted to contesters.
On the air, keep an ear open for special event stations 3H100TW,
3T100TW and 3T0TW. All are operational from the capital city of
Taipei, Taiwan, through December 31st. QSL's for all three stations
should be sent via the BV bureau.
MEDIA WATCH
UK PREPARES FOR DIGITAL RADIO SWITCHOVER
The United Kingdom's Digital Economy Bill which will force all analogue radio
off the air in coming years has become law. The move came barely a week
after a British Parliament's House of Lords report questioned the wisdom of
moving all national and regional radio broadcasting to Digital Audio
Broadcasting. It echoed many criticisms voiced over the bill, which is
likely to consign all FM and AM radios to landfill in five years, except
for listening to ultra-local FM stations.
But digital radio switch-over arguments are unlikely to cease for long
time. This is because the new law constructs a framework of conditions
rather than fixing a date. It requires Digital Audio Broadcasting coverage
and listening-share to reach a certain level before FM switch-off can be
initiated. This in turn will be followed by a delay before the
transmitters are actually turned off.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL
Australian Coordinator for TCPIP domains is Indy vk2xb@wia.org.au
VK3 STATE D-STAR WORKSHOP DAY
June 19, the Macedon Ranges Amateur Radio Club is hosting
a State D-Star workshop. A full day of training for new
users, advanced users and system administrators. A great
opportunity for networking and fun. The event will be fully
catered by MRARC. Cost is $30 per participant inc Lunch
etc. Participants are encouraged to bring their D-Star
equipment.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER
Vietnamese CubeSat under development
News of a Vietnamese Amateur Radio 2U CubeSat under development.
They hope to complete a F-1 satellite by the end of 2010 and launch it to
Sun-synchronous, 98 deg inclination LEO.
At the moment they are negotiating with several launch providers to find a
way into orbit but the high launch cost is really an issue.
Project goals for the F-1 satellite include:
Students to learn about aerospace engineering.
Survive in space environment for at least a year.
The satellite will use amateur VHF and UHF frequencies. The IARU has
coordinated at downlink frequency of 437.485 MHz to support a 1200 baud AX.25
telemetry link. The F-1 satellite will also transmit a beacon using a
modulated Morse code audio signal on FM carrier when it is not in range of
the earth station in Hanoi. In case of emergency, DTMF tones can be used to
control the satellite to some extent.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
GI4FUM FUN DXPEDITION TO MOZAMBIQUE
David Hutchinson, GI4FUM who is also known as 3DA0DJ is sponsoring a
DXpedition to Bilene, Mozambique this coming October.
He says that plans are to run a station for Jamboree on the Air with local
scouts on the weekend of October 16th and 17th and that they will also enter
a station for CQWW SSB over the weekend of the 30thth and 31st.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO
Emergency Communications in Brunei
The May 10 issue of The Brunei Times newspaper reported on the vital role of
Radio Amateurs in emergency communications.
The newspaper says "Amateur radio operators in the country could provide
assistance in times of disaster by providing communications support and
situational updates."
The national society is the Brunei Darussalam Amateur Radio Association
(BDARA) and they have always worked closely with the National Disaster
Management Centre (NDMC). During the 2009 flood disaster Radio Amateurs
were instrumental in helping the government.
Rewind a look back at our history through the serialised written history
by WIA Centenary Committee member Peter Wolfenden VK3RV with assistance of
others, that is being published in the WIA journal Amateur Radio magazine.
WIA federal representation formed
A Wireless Exhibition organised in May 1924 by the Victorian Division of
the WIA in the Melbourne Town Hall not only was a wonderful showcase of
wireless, it also resulted in even closer ties with the various state
branches of the Institute.
The Exhibition's souvenir program said: ?It will come as a surprise to many
people to learn that the Wireless Institute of Australia is a very old
established organisation, and was formed in 1910.?
The program went on to state for nearly a decade before the start of the
WIA there had been individual members of the community carrying out valuable
experiments and assisting to disclose the fundamental principles of one of
the most wonderful and useful sciences which have been offered to mankind.
The Exhibition included a convention, convened by the Victorian Division
of the WIA, that resulted in establishing a representative body for the entire
Commonwealth of Australia.
New South Wales and Tasmania sent representatives, while Queensland, South
Australia and Western Australia relied on proxies supplied by Victoria.
The formation of a Federal Executive by the WIA was instantly welcomed as
facilitating Australia-wide representation which had long been desired by
the Postmaster General.
SOCIAL SCENE
2010
Julian Sortland, VK2YJS tells us that with the theme of "Access all areas",
this coming week, May 25 to 30 is Library and Information Week. It is a good
opportunity to check out what radio and electronics material your local
library holds, or maybe to suggest they update what they hold in this area.
A number of libraries are also taking part in Australia's Biggest Morning Tea
on Thursday.
JUNE 12-13 VK2
Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club's 35th Annual Field Day.
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 TBC
nfd@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@bigpond.com)
At the end of the month we celebrate the 100th anniversary of organised
amateur radio activity in Australia. We should take a moment to remember one
of the original radio Amateurs, Marconi.
Marconi established the world's first equipped and functioning wireless
telegraphy station in November 1897 on the Isle of Wight.
In the summer of 1900 a station was established at Plodhu Cornwell from where
Marconi hoped to archive communications across the Atlantic.
In the summer of 1901 the spark generated by the transmitter produced a
thunder clap which echoed around the hill and coves. The sparks generated
were a foot long and as thick as a man's wrist.
The sending of Morse using their equipment was defiantly not a speed event,
the keying contact was at the far end of a 6ft length of timber and the
operators stuffed cotton wool in their ears to reduce the effects of the
thunder claps generated by the spark.
Can you imagine using such equipment and the effects on the neighbours today?
But it was the beginning of radio a hobby which we enjoy today.
Remember that registration close on Monday 0900 for the WIA anniversary
weekend and AGM.
If you are not registered two things will happen you won't have a pass for
the event and the caterers will have trouble feeding you as they have to have
the numbers on Monday evening.
Jump on line and register now.
On behalf of the Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club and the WIA
this has been Peter VK1PE technical producer and Alan VK1WX, with thanks
to the studios of Canberra's 1RPH Good Morning!
kkk
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