|
|
WIANEWS - AUG 01 - VK NATIONAL NEWS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WIANEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING AUGUST 1 2010.
ALL UP AND COMING IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF
AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING AUGUST 1 2010
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top of the news
-------------
Powder coating referred to during Robert & Bryans intro banter.
Make Magazine Website
http://makezine.com/
Make Powder Coating Oven
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/01/diy_powder_coating_oven.html
Make Powder Coating Rig
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/07/diy_powder_coating_rig.html
--------------
VK100WIA ROUNDUP
(For broadcast 1 August)
The Moorabbin and District Radio Club has thanked the amateur radio community
for helping to make its recent VK100WIA roster slot a success with over 600
contacts being logged.
The members of the Victoria?s oldest established radio club worked hard
concentrating
on air activity through the special callsign to support the Centenary of
Organised Amateur Radio in Australia.
Looking ahead at the VK100WIA roster
This weekend the Hills Amateur Radio Group in Western Australia is in full
swing operating VK100WIA from its club rooms in Sanderson Road, Lesmurdie.
It has opened its radio shack to the public and there has been interest shown
by the local newspaper, the Hills Gazette.
On Tuesday the Central Goldfields Amateur Radio Club will be launching its
three day slot and going all out to Centenary of Organised Amateur Radio
in Australia by operating from the Talbot Radio Arts Museum.
The club which is based in Maryborough Central Victoria has an interesting
story to tell its local media about one of the earlier amateur wireless
experimenters
who lived in Maryborough.
On Tuesday special guest at the Talbot Museum in Camp Street Talbot will
be the President of the Wireless Institute of Australia, Michael Owen VK3KI
who will give a brief speech at 11.30am just before the BBQ is fired up.
So do listen out for VK100WIA at 0001 UTC on Tuesday the 3rd of August emanating
from Talbot.
The special callsign roster moves to Victoria?s Mornington Peninsula on Friday
the 6th, Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th of August where it will be put
to air by the Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Club.
Most of the operating will be from the Scout Hall, Point Nepean Road, Rosebud,
a high public profile location in the centre of Rosebud, with a display to
include software defined radio.
The members of SPARC are very enthusiastic about promoting amateur radio
and have contact their local news media seeking publicity.
Looking even further ahead at the roster we see the Newcastle-based VK2AWA
Contest Group, the Illawarra Amateur Radio Society, and Australia?s youngest
club, the Macedon Ranges Amateur Radio Club in Victoria, all set to play
a part in the centenary celebrations.
Doubled-headed promotion
A large article in the Hastings Independent newspaper in Victoria has
promoted both the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula ARC and the Southern
Peninsula ARC.
This excellent story not only gives readers both detail of the VK100WIA
activity but how to follow-up each club for more information.
While including the history of amateur radio and its role in providing
emergency communications, it also features a photo of 9-year old Callum
Seymour operating on air, a radio amateur of the future.
Now to VK6, where the Hills Amateur Radio Group has had two newspaper
article published drawing attention to the club and creating interest.
The first in Echo News is headlined ë100 years and still going strongì.
The other article, ëRadio buffs mark milestoneì which included a photo of
the HARG President Martin Streeton VK6ZMS, who is quoted talking about
amateur radio and gets in a good plug for the club.
In an email received, Martin said club members were delighted in being
part of the centenary celebration, and added, ëthanks for the WIA Media
Kit, it did the job nicelyì.
And a reminder for all clubs to file their media hits so these can be
include in the WIA Club Media Feedback section of the WIA website, and
mentioned right here on the broadcast.
- North Queensland Net VK100WIA Report
The Townsville Amateur Radio Club, as part of its 3 day block
provided by the WIA,
utilised VK100WIA during the running of the Sunday July 25th evening
North Queensland
Net on 3605.4kHz along with relay and callbacks on 146.7MHZ.
38 stations called in on 80metres with most staying on for the second
round of the net
run by Gavin VK4ZZ while 10 operators called in on 2metres with most
staying on for
the second round of the net run by Richard VK4FRJG.
Propagation was good on 80metres with stations worked in VK3, VK6,
VK2 and VK4 call
areas.
NEWS FROM THE NORTH
WOW - Women on Wireless celebrate the centenary
The Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association, ALARA, threw itself into
the task for putting the WIA special callsign VK100WIA on air and did an
outstanding job.
Jean Fisher VK3VIP, the Victorian ALARA representative led the way, duly
facilitated by OM John VK3DQ who was the designated ëtea-boyì, with
operating being shared by Margaret Blight VK3FMAB and Michele Grant
VK3FEAT.
Among the highlights reported by Jean VK3VIP was making contact with Dick
GI3OUR in Northern Ireland, and VK100WIA being net control of the 160
metre band coffee break net.
ALARA was active on the 160m, 80m, 40m and 20m bands, mostly SSB but also
some CW contacts were had, plus 2m including IRLP and transmissions
through the Melbourne digital amateur television repeater VK3RTV.
The log for the three days shows DX contacts with Brunei, Chile, Costa
Rica, Croatia, Honduras, Japan, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, New
Caledonia, Russia and the United States.
Well done to ALARA members Jean, Margaret and Michele, and others who made
it such a success.
ADD to the WOW item
While thereìs no contest for rostered clubs in terms of the number of
contacts they make, itìs interesting to note ALARA tallied up 660 contacts
in three days.
Now thatìs second behind Amateur Radio Victoria, which had 798 contacts
when four of its members put VK100WIA on air on behalf of the WIA during
the month of May.
ALARA is now thinking of how it can top off its effort with VK100WIA and
celebrating the Centenary of Organised Amateur Radio in Australia, by
seeking some media publicity for ALARA in its 30th anniversary year.
- Ann Renton Memorial Ladies Net VK100WIA Report
It was time to focus on the YLs with VK100WIA during the Townsville
Amateur Radio Club Inc
activation of the WIA 100th Birthday special call during the Ann
Renton Memorial Ladies Net
on Tuesday evening 27th July.
A special linking operation enabled the net, which usually only runs
on the Townsville
2metre repeater, to also run on the Townsville 70cm repeater, link
via IRLP to the Rockhampton
VHF Repeater and also link in 3605.4kHz with net control by Lyndall
VK4ZM in Vincent
and all the behind the scenes interlinking done by Gavin VK4ZZ at the
TARC Club Rooms
at West End.
The net was blessed with the attendance of YLs Evie VK4EQ and Denise VK4FCDB
in Townsville and Mary VK4PZ and Meryll VK4HAJ in Rockhampton. Alas
no contacts were
made on 80metres, however Jeff VK4NJB in Rockhampton and 5 OMs in
Townsville were also
able to join in the special edition of the net and share in the warm
glow of the VK100WIA
callsign.
"Hi this is Dick Smith
... ..promoting the hobby"
WIA
President Michael Owen VK3KI president@wia.org.au
Vice President Ewan McLeod VK4ERM vk4erm@wia.org.au
Secretary Geoff Atkinson VK3AFA secretary@wia.org.au
Treasurer John Longayroux VK3PZ vk3pz@wia.org.au
HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA
VK2
TEXT OF ANNOUNCEMENT FOR WIA NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST
FOR WEEK COMMENCING SUNDAY 1ST AUGUST 2010
SUBMITTED BY CHRIS MEAGHER VK2ACD
FOR SUMMERLAND AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Coming up next weekend, the Summerland Amateur Radio club presents the
2010 SARCFEST. Its on Sunday the eigth of August, at the clubrooms, 414 Richmond
Hill Road,
Goonellabah, just 10 kilometres from Lismore.
There will be displays, traders, tucker, talks, raffles, refreshments and best of
all lots of,
as they say, "pre-loved" ham gear for sale.
And for those keen on building radio euipment, there's a big stock of parts to
clear,
including a big selection of hard-to-get butterfly, beehive and compression
trimmer capacitors.
The gates open at 9am. To get a location map and an information flyer,
send an email with the title "HAMFEST" to VK2ACD @ dodo.com.au.
Theres plenty of parking space and no need to book to sell from a table or your
car boot.
See you at SARCFEST next Sunday.
Pronunciation:
Goonellabah = Goo-"nella"-bar
VK4 - QNEWS
News from TREC
G'day I'm Dale VK4DMC for the Tablelands Radio and Electronics Club with news from TREC.
Last Sunday TREC members and friends helped the TREC President John VK4TL celebrate his eightieth birthday. The party was a huge success with lots of food and drinks and, of course a guided tour of John's shack where he proudly demonstrated his new Elecraft K3 transceiver.
We also got to see his nearly completed home-brew linear amplifier - truly a work of art.
Things are happening here in Far North Queensland with many activities planned for the next few months. Coming up, communications support for the Far North Horse Endurance Riders events. On the 14th/15th August TREC will be setting up a public display for V.P. Day at the Rocky Creek War Memorial. Using restored 2nd World War transmitting equipment we hope to work stations for the RD Contest.
The following weekend will see TREC members activating the Archer Point Lighthouse just south of Cooktown for the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend.
A club meeting is planned towards the end of the month and on the last weekend of August another Communications Support event for the endurance riders.
All in all a busy month ahead for TREC members.
This has been Dale VK4DMC 73
VK8
VK8NSB SSTV Repeater has been on air now for over 6 weeks from Darwin with stations in VK2,3,4 and a couple of JA operators submitting reports. Stuie VK8NSB reports that the repeater as off Sunday the 25 Jul is now fully operational thanks to good mate Gary doing the honors of placing the 10m Vertical 12m high on tower No 2 at Stuies QTH. The repeater now operates 30 watts into a half wave Vertical for 10m on 28700 USB. Stuie advises that there are currently 8 pictures on the system and a different picture will beacon every 30 min. Amateurs wishing to use the repeater only have to tone the system with a 1750khz tone for 2 seconds which will activate the repeater. If anyone has any problems or is interested in learning more about SSTV please drop stuie a e-mail at vk8nsb@hotmail.com.
VK9
ELECTRONIC LAW: CEASE AND DECIST ORDER ON LIGHT SABER SOLD ON EBAY
Now here's a strange story involving electronics law. It seems that
LucasFilm Ltd. recently served a manufacturer of a handheld laser with a
cease-and-desist letter. This, for selling an item it claimed was too
close in resemblance to its trademark light sabers from "Star Wars."
But the Hong Kong firm decided to use the force of eBay to score some
revenge. This by putting the cease-and-desist letter up for auction.
According the Hollywood Reporter entertainment industry newspaper, the
letter was not signed by George Lucas himself. Rather the company marketed
the legal document as an opportunity for those to win a piece of LucasFilm
history as well as contribute to the company's battle with the giant film
maker. (HR)
arrl
OPERATIONAL NEWS
SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2010
Aug 07 ZL Waitakere Sprint CW 1000 - 1100utc
Waitakere Sprint Contest <zl1dk@nzart.org.nz>
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 23 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
Hello Listeners. I am peter Harding, VK4OD the WIA RD Contest Manager.
Today being the 1ST August and, you have about 3 weeks to the commencement of this year's RD Contest.
I have not asked in the past so I would ask if when you send your log in either by Electronic or postal means please ensure that you have you correct postal address.
Anybody requiring any of the forms posted to them please contact me ASAP.
In the coming week I will finalize the Opening speech, which at this point it will run for exactly 30 minutes, and will finish with a series of beeps indicating it is 08:00utc, I will send out a special email via the usual weekly news server.
The opening speech will be available via the wia website.
For those people that are hand writing their logs, " PLEASE" try to write your logs in a legible manner, as in the past some logs have been VERY HARD to decipher.
Until next week.
Good Morning Trent Vk4ti here.. (cut 5 august 1)
If you are planning a multi op station for the RD remember to make up some
bandpass filters to reduce inter station interference.
For the classic VHF UHF bandpass filters can be simply made from coaxial
T pieces and these also work well at HF.
For my HF setup I use auto switched band pass filters on both rigs that cover
160 through ten metres - this allows me to monitor
40M while working on 80M without any intereference. Certainly worth checking
out if you are planning multi op stations
Back to the news desk
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, REPEATER BEACON DX AND NET ADVICE
MEDIA WATCH
TV series inviting amateur radio enthusiasts
Described as a sort of Blind Date on a bus, the producers of a forthcoming TV series are inviting amateur radio
enthusiasts and others to take part.
The show revolves around a souped-up double decker bus which is
touring cities around Britain. Producers are looking for single
people aged between 18 and 30 to take part and are particularly keen
to hear from people with any sort of talent to show off.
(RSGB News)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- APRS
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- INTERNET, THE HAM'S DOMAIN
Amateur Radio makes waves on the 'net
Last Sunday 25 July, Ham Radio hit the big-time on the 'net with a
specific request for advice listed on the international geek news site
http://SlashDot.org. The person wants to go long distance trail walking
in the wilds of Colorado's mountains, and wanted to know whether it was
sensible to use a satellite phone or whether Amateur Radio could help
out. "I'm only interested in acquiring a radio and license if it is a
lot more effective and reliable than the cell phone I already carry."
Lots of advice was forthcoming, including VHF/UHF handhelds through
repeaters (including a suggestion to put a personal repeater in his car
at the trail-head), Amateur satellite options were extensively
discussed, lots of other people discussed the relative merits of mobile
phone technology versus Globalstar versus SPOT versus Iridium satellite
phones, personal emergency locater beacons (PLB's) versus EPIRBS, and so
on. Someone made the mistake of saying that "Amateur Radio is dying" and
was quickly told that 2009 was a bumper year for new licenses in the
USA, and 2010 is already well ahead of last year. With good 'net
publicity like this, that goes all over the world, Amateur Radio will be
looking up everywhere.
Reference:
http://ask.slashdot.org/story/10/07/24/1823252/Amateur-Radio-In-the-Backcountry
For National Radio News,
Peter Ellis VK1PE
MAKE MAGAZINE BLOG PRESENTS $8,000 DIY HAM SATELLITE KIT
If you have ever wanted your own personal ham radio satellite but thought
it was financially out of reach, the Make Magazine blog carries a short
item on a satellite that can be yours for just $8,000.
Called a TubeSat, the magazine says that the kit for a tiny bird from
Interorbital Systems that is designed to function as a basic satellite bus
or as a simple stand-alone satellite. Included are the satellite's
structural components, printed circuit board. electronic components, solar
cells, and everything needed to build the satellite. Also included are the
required programming tools.
Make's blog says that with these components alone, the builder can
construct a satellite that puts out enough power to be picked up on the
ground by a hand-held amateur radio receiver. It says that simple
applications include broadcasting a repeating message from orbit or
programming the satellite to function as a private orbital amateur radio
relay station.
Interorbital Systems says it can deploy 32 of these tiny satellites
simultaneously on a Neptune 30 launcher from the Pacific island of
Tonga. The first launch is slated for the end of the year. These
satellite will go into a very low Earth orbit and would probably have a
lifetime of only a few months.
If you have an extra $8000 and want to be the first with his or her own
personal ham radio satellite you can read more about the concept on line in
the MAKE magazine blog at tinyurl.com/personalbird.
We will have more ham radio space related news later on in this weeks
Amateur Radio Newsline report.
(Southgate, MAKE Blog)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS -- HOMEBREW
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: TWISTING CRYSTALS
Chemists in the United States and Russia have created crystals that can
twist and untwist. This they say points to a much more varied process of
crystal growth than previously thought and could pave the way for new
electronic products. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the newsroom with the
details:
--
Crystal growth has traditionally been viewed as a collection of individual
atoms, molecules, or small clusters adding to a larger block that remains
in a fixed translational relationship to the rest. But the New York
University and St. Petersburg State University chemists have discovered a
wholly new phenomenon for growth in a crystal structure that continually
changes its shape as it grows.
To do this, the researchers focused on crystals from hippuric acid which is
a derivative of the amino acid glycine. As molecules were added to the end
of fine crystalline needles, stresses built up at the tips of the crystals
and resulted in a helical twist. The process was reversed when crystals
thickened from the opposite end of the growing tip thereby undoing the
twisted formations.
The researchers work, which appears in the latest issue of the Journal of
the American Chemical Society, may explain some of the properties of
high-polymers These are used in clothing and liquid crystal displays,
among other consumer and telecommunications products.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in Los Angeles.
You can read more on this fascinating scientific breakthrough on-line at
tinyurl.com/crystaltwist. (Science Daily)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
VK4SWE on Sweers Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Lyn is the only ham on
Sweers, IOTA OC-227 and is in Mornington Shire. She currently runs 100w into
a vertical but is soon to enjoy 400w, a triband yagi and a 50' tower.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- QRP and WEAK SIGNAL COMMUNICATION
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO
New callsigns for Ireland's Amateur Radio Emergency Network
Ireland's regulator ComReg has issued a new set of callsigns for use by the
Amateur Radio Emergency Network (AREN)
The callsigns are available for use during training and emergency nets as
directed by the National Coordinator.
The three callsigns are EI0AC, EI0EC, and EI0NC and supersede any callsigns
issued in the past
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- LIGHTHOUSES AND LIGHTSHIPS
A tide of registrations for the International Lighthouse and Lightship
Weekend
The 300th registration this year is from Rainer Kledtke DO7RKL for the
Westerheversand lighthouse in the northernmost part of Germany, on a
peninsula between the North and the Baltic seas.
A most famous landmark it stands 41-metre tall on a peninsula between the
North and the Baltic seas.
There are 340 lighthouses, some lightships and one time-ball tower
registered so far for the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend
on the 21st and 22nd of August.
Australia has been a strong supporter of this fun event celebrating the
history of lighthouses. It has 53 registrations, just ahead of Germany on
50 and the United States some 40 lighthouses.
Thereìs still lots of lonely lighthouses looking for the company of
friendly radio hams. To learn more or register a lighthouse visit the
website www.illw.net
The event now in its 11th year was begun by the Ayr Radio Club of Scotland
GM0AYR and has radio amateurs and lighthouses in some 30 countries
involved.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
SOCIAL BITS N BOBS
AUGUST 1 VK6
Northern Corridor Group Hamfest Cyril Jackson Sports Centre Ashfield
Oct 23 WIA WIA National Field Day
nfd@wia.org.au
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)
THE FINAL FINAL
Please think of the environment before printing this email
=============================================================================
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@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 VK3HXR on behalf of the National WIA.
*****************************************************************************
|
|
