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THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK
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WIANEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING AUGUST 15 2010.
ALL UP AND COMING IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF
AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING AUGUST 15 2010
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-Top of the news-
HIGH FIVES AT VK100WIA CONTACT 10,000
Members of the Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Club (SPARC) in Victoria
Australia are thrilled at having logged the 10,000 contact for the special
callsign VK100WIA.
Club Secretary John Ross VK3BJR reports that at 10.26am local time (0026
UTC) last Sunday the club activating VK100WIA at the Rosebud Scout Hall
put the online log of QSO's into five figures, by contacting Rob Tilbury
VK2LOZ at North Nowra in New South Wales.
There was an air of anticipation among club members leading up to the
milestone achieved by the contact on the 40m band with 59 signal reports
being exchanged both ways.
John VK3BJR said, "High fives were the order of the day as the goal of
taking the tally beyond 10,000 had been set at the start of our three days
of operation.
"SPARC has forwarded a Special Certificate to Rob prepared by the Club to
acknowledge him being logged as contact number 10,000."
The club knew that the 10,000th contact was within its grasp but that it
required 274 contacts to be made to achieve the milestone.
Setting up the station at the Scout Hall helped take the activity to the
public as the location is right beside the beach for which Rosebud is so
famous.
Over the three day period, SPARC logged more than 500 contacts working
from its clubrooms, members' homes and the scout hall.
John VK3BJR said it was a most enjoyable activity for the Club and the
level of activity encountered on the bands demonstrated the popularity of the
Centenary of Organised Amateur Radio in Australia celebration.
Most stations contacting VK100WIA indicated they either had, or were
working towards the WIA Centenary Award.
(Jlinton)
A STATISTICAL LOOK AT VK100WIA
An analysis of the online log shows that more than 20% of the contacts
made so far were with stations outside Australia.
David Park VK3JDA has made an analytical examination of the highly
successfully special callsign VK100WIA.
Some 2,000 DX contacts having already been made, and another ten weeks
before the roster of WIA affiliated clubs ends, even more will be logged.
The initial hope of the WIA Centenary Committee that VK100WIA callsign
will itself qualify for the DXCC, is now certain to be achieved.
About a third of the online log is for amateur stations who have made a
single contact.
Many of those making multiple contacts will be doing do with the intention
of qualifying for the WIA Centenary Award.
The top band used for the special callsign is 40m recording 4,500
contacts, 80m around 2,200, 20m 1,500 and 2m accounting for 1,300.
Thank you David VK3JDA for his statistical insight on the VK100WIA log.
(jlinton)
WIA CENTENARY AWARD UPDATE
So far more than 50 award applications have been received, verified and issued with an award certificate. These include the first awards being issued to New Zealand Gavin Reid ZL1TBA, Vladimir Medvedev RW0LIF Russia and Pehr Hending OH6IU Finland. Awards have also been issued to radio amateurs in all VK states, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
If the VK100WIA online log is any guide there are many more who have already qualified but not yet claim the award.
(Jlinton)
VK100WIA GETS EU PILE-UP
The Hills Amateur Radio Group (HARG) in Perth Western Australia has
created a YouTube video clip of a frantic dogpile on 20m chasing a contact
with the special callsign VK100WIA.
Operating VK100WIA was Marty Martin VK6FDX, who is seen in the video
dealing with what sounded like dozens of stations calling at once during
the opening to Europe that lasted 180 minutes.
Marty VK6FDX said afterwards "It was a fantastic weekend and the most fun
I've ever had on HF".
He was joined in the shack with HARG President Martin Stretton VK6ZMS and
club member Craig Lamb VK6FLAM.
HARG was successful in obtaining good local media coverage of its part in
the world-wide celebration of the Centenary of Organised Amateur Radio in
Australia.
Martin VK6ZMS said the Hills Amateur Radio Group was "excited and proud to
be taking part in such a historical celebration."
He added that during the weekend about a dozen people who visited the
club's radio shack asked about the hobby, had their questions answered and
informed about the training courses and licence assessments provided by
the Ham College.
ILLAWARRA CLUB ACTIVATION REPORT
The Illawarra Amateur Radio Society is today operating VK100WIA from the
world renowned - Wollongong Science Centre.
Club President Tony Stone VK2TS says it's part of a practical
demonstration day to celebrate the Centenary of Organised Amateur Radio in
Australia.
In a statement issued to local news media he explains how amateur radio
has provided emergency communications on many occasions such as the
Cyclone Tracy disaster in Darwin, the Indian Ocean Tsunami, Earthquakes in
China and Haiti and the Victorian Bush Fires to name a few.
Tony VK2TS invites the public to attend the display, pick up a microphone
and with some simple coaching, and have a radio conversation under the
guidance of experienced operators.
(jlinton)
EVEN MORE PUBLICITY FOR AMATEUR RADIO
ABC Ballarat in Victoria has carried a lengthy interview in relation to
the Centenary of Organised Amateur Radio in Australia.
Let's now listen to part of the session then went to air last week. The
first voice we hear is the breakfast program presenter Janine McKenzie.
Take note how the Central Goldfields Amateur Radio Club's Peter Rafferty
effectively took on the role of a regional spokesman for amateur radio.
(Play audio).
The interview also had Peter VK3CC explain the various aspects of the
hobby and provide details how listeners could contact either his club, the
Ballarat Amateur Radio Group or the Midland Amateur Radio Club.
As a result of the radio session and local newspaper articles there are
now five people who had learnt about amateur radio and now ready to join
the next Foundation Licence class.
CLUB THANKS THE WIA FOR ITS SUPPORT
The Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club has acknowledged the support it
received from the WIA for its 35th annual field day weekend held at Port
Macquartie in June.
Club President Henry Lundell VK2ZHE in a letter to the WIA President
Michael Owen VK3KI said it was most appreciative of the great honour in
having him attend this annual event.
The Field Day held on the 12th and 13th of June was recognised as a WIA
Support Centenary Activity which added to the occasion.
Henry VK2ZHE said that the WIA Media Kit enabled the club to produce a
professional media release which resulted in valueable press, radio and
television publicity.
He continued by saying 'the effort in producing this kit paid a handsome
dividend in the hands of our club and I am pleased to see that other clubs
are continuing to reap similar rewards for our hobby.'
The Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club believes that the personal involvement
of the WIA President left a lasting impression, resulting in support of
the Institute as it moves into its second century.
A LOOK AHEAD AT THE VK100WIA ROSTER
Illawarra Amateur Radio Society began its three-day roster slot today and
will be heard during the Remembrance Day Contest, using HF and 2-metres.
Listen for VK100WIA and give it a call.
The Macedon Ranges Amateur Radio Club takes over at 10am local time
Wednesday through to 10am on Saturday, with plans to put VK100WIA on air
initially from the homes of members and then the Woodend Scout Hall in
Forest Street, Woodend on Friday.
That will be a public event with free tea and coffee, display of amateur
and general radio and electronics equipment. The club will also involved
local scouts and will be operating right up until the end of its rostered
slot at 10am local time on Saturday.
The Macedon Ranges Amateur Radio Club has also contacted its local
newspapers and community radio station seeking publicity for the Centenary
of Organised Amateur Radio in Australia.
Next Saturday the Lockyer Valley Radio Electronics Club, the most western
group in the Brisbane area, adopts the special callsign with rostered club
members putting it on the HF bands, Phone, CW, PSK31, SSTV and ATV.
Its club rooms at the Laidley Youth Centre will be open to the public 8am
to 5pm, where computer displays and PowerPoint presentations will show off
satellite tracking, DX Clusters and past ATV activity.
Lockyer Valley Radio Electronics Club members will be available to answer
any questions about the hobby, have the Foundation Licence Manual for sale
and taking booking for a Foundation Licence training course.
A good attendance by the public is expected following plenty of publicity
in the local news media.
And rounding out the roster for the month of August there will be the Mid
South Coast Amateur Radio Club in VK2, the North East Radio Club from the
Ardtornish School in St Agnes, South Australia, then VK100WIA is taken up
by the Redcliffe And District Radio Club in Queensland.
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
The 2010 RD speech is available online at the WIA website and here is Peter Harding VK4OD with more on the event.
AMATEUR RADIO GETS PEOPLE TALKING
The WIA, as part of its Centenary Celebrations, is encouraging clubs,
groups and individual radio amateurs to get on air on Saturday the 23rd of
October to help promote amateur radio to the public.
The object of the event is to introduce potential operators to amateur
radio, while also working as many stations as possible on any and all
amateur bands using a variety of modes.
There will be two categories:
A Public Station is a station run by three or more radio amateurs
operating on a single callsign from a public place, or clubrooms open to
the public for the duration of the event.
And a Private Station is a station, which is an individual operating
portable, mobile or from a private residence.
All contacts require a serial number consisting of familiar contest
exchange of signal report and contact number, plus a suffix, Public
Stations use the letter F for general contacts or G when a guest
non-licensed operator makes their first contact.
Private Stations should use a suffix of H for a home, P for portable or M
for mobile stations.
A scoring system has bonus points which can be gained through a range of
options which include:
<.> When member of the public makes their first contact via amateur radio,
for a station set up at a prominent public location
<.> The use of renewable energy
<.> Gaining of media publicity
<.> And the attendance of a local, state of federal politician
Amateur Radio Gets People Talking requires all stations to pre-register,
and each will receive a participation certificate.
Award certificates will go to the three highest scoring Public Stations
and Private Stations.
Prepare now for your participation in the event will be held on Saturday
the 23rd of October.
Full details and the rules will be appearing in the September edition of
Amateur Radio magazine and the WIA website.
CALLBOOK 2011 CLUBS INFORMATION DEADLINE
The data for 2011 Call Book will be taken from your clubs' detail page on the WIA website, _ON_ the 1st of September.
Please ensure that your club details are up to date becuase whatever is on the website will be published in the next callbook.
If you are having difficulties updating your details or you need help with the password for your page, please contact the WIA office.
HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA
VK0
VK1
VK2
Friday, 6th August 2010 ODARC had its Annual General Meeting, and the associated club elections.
The club members would like to put out a special thanks to the 2009/2010 club management team, and would like to also welcome in the new team. The new team is as follows;
Club President - Robert VK2ZRJ
Vice President - Bob VK2ABP
Secretary - Ross VK2ER
Treasurer - John VK2TUV
And the 3 Committee Members - Bruce VK2DEQ, Lez VK2SON and Lindsay VK2AMV
Recently the club has been having some great local media coverage on tv, radio and in the local newspapers. The media coverage has been for various things the club has been doing, notably the involvement in Glenroi Heights Public School in Orange, teaching the kids there some electronics and morse. Lez and Ross have been doing a great job with this each Thursday during school term. Additionally, the club had great exposure with the activation of the VK100WIA callsign and the open day held at the club rooms. From this we have gained some additional members, and people wanting to get licensed and on the air. One of the new members from the open day is now studying to get his foundation licence has already been involved at the weekly school event at Glenroi Heights.
It really is great to see so much positive exposure for our hobby in the local area.
This has been submitted by Bob VK2ABP
VK3
VK4 - QNEWS
TREC NEWS FROM Dale VK4DMC
As this news goes to air TREC members and other military radio enthusiasts are operating from the Rocky Creek War Memorial near Atherton for 65th anniversary of VP (Victory in the Pacific) Day.
On display are working WW2 radios including a WS-108 Mk2, a BC-611/SCR-536 and Korean War vintage VRC-10, a PRC6 and an AN/GRC-9 along with more up to date amateur radio transceivers.
Nick VK4YT, Chris VK4YCG, John VK4TL, Mike VK4MIK and Dale VK4DMC are demonstrating the equipment to a very interested public. They're are also making contacts for the Remembrance Day contest.
Next weekend will see TREC members operating from the Archer Point Lighthouse for the International Lighthouse/Lightship weekend. Archer Point is around 20 kms south of Cooktown in Far North Queensland and has been a lighthouse location since 1883. We are looking forward to contacting many other lighthouse stations both within VK and overseas. Listen out for VK4WAT on the bands and give them a cooee.
VK5
Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society Technical Symposium
September 19th 2010 9am -5pm
Key speakers are Drew Diamond Home construction, Phil Harman HPSDR, Keith Gooley
and Iain Crawford on Microwave techniques, Graham Dicker for front panel construction,
Rob Gurr on early SSB construction techniques. Hans Smit will demonstrate his
HPSDR.
Venue: Belair Community Centre. Doors open 9am for 9.30 start. $20 at the door will get you entry, which includes morning and afternoon tea and lunch. Bona fide students $5
VK6 - NEWS WEST
VK7
VK8
VK9
ACMA NEWS
EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO
SILENT KEYS
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
EGYPT FORMS NATIONAL HAM RADIO SOCIETY
The Egyptian Radio Amateurs Society for Development or ERASD has been
established as the new national official representative body for radio
amateurs in Egypt. According to the IARU Region One website, even though
amateur radio has been present in Egypt since the early 1920's, there was
no officially recognized society to represent radio amateurs in that nation
for nearly the past eight decades. Now, thanks to the earnest efforts by a
steering group composed of SU1GS, SU1SK, SU1AO, SU1HM and SU1SA, such a
body has been formed. More about it is on-line at www.qsl.net/eara (IARU)
WEIRD AND WONDERFUL
Giant Morse Key
The amateur radio group of the Norman Lockyer Observatory, Sidmouth has unveiled its new morse key, designed and engineered by Nick, 2E0DIT.
The key was first used at the group's special event station GB2NLO at Astrofair 7th August,
Nick has no plans to start making kits but is open to offers. His next project could be a microphone!
Watch the video on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew31Kyy6IEA
OPERATIONAL NEWS
SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2010
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 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
Oct 23 WIA Tune Into The World -
Amateur Radio Gets People Talking
nfd@wia.org.au
NOV 20-21 WIA Spring VHF-UHF Field Day
John Martin VK3KM tac@wia.org.au
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, REPEATER BEACON DX AND NET ADVICE
Asia Pacific DX Convention 2010, November 5-7
In addition to the usual presentations on recent DX-peditions, technical
sessions, DX dinners, and so forth, this convention offers something
special. Japan is where most of the amateur radio equipment is developed,
and you will have the opportunity to join a tour to the Icom factory,
participate in a technical session led by the Icom HF radio design team,
and more.
And don't forget, all of the programs at APDXC are conducted in English!
For the non-ham members of your party, activities providing a chance to
experience Japanese culture, such as tea ceremony and flower arranging,
are being prepared.
For more details, please visit the APDXC website at:http://www.apdxc.org/
[Audio uploaded]
THE BIG DXPEDITION HAS SPARKED GLOBAL INTEREST
The multi-operator DX0DX DXpedition to The Spratlys in the South China Sea
is a much anticipated event for 2011 that has been 18 months in the planning.
The licence has been issued and government approvals received for the 19-day
activation of this much sought after DXCC entity from the 6th to the 24th
of January.
A multi-national team of 30 radio amateurs, including a contingent of eight
Australians, is set to operate from four dedicated operating camps for SSB,
CW, RTTY and 2m & 6m operation.
Within weeks of the DXpedition being announced major corporate sponsors gave
their endorsement (Icom America) by supplying ten top-line Icom IC7600 transceivers
plus one IC9100 transceiver, Amplifiers (from Acom International, OM Power
and THAMWAY Corp); Antennas ( SteppIR, Spiderbeam and Mosley- Electronics);
Bandpass Filters (WX0B Array Solutions); Masts (Rohn Products); Head-sets
(Heil Sound); and Feeders (The RF Connection) (plus Ham Radio Outlet).
Adding credibility to the exercise has been Bob Schenck N2OO agreeing to
be the DX0DX QSL manager. So far 15 individual radio amateurs have given
online to give financial support.
Experienced DXpeditioners (Charles Spetnagel W6KK and David Collingham K3LP)
on the team have taken on the tasks of shipping the needed equipment and
designing the station layout.
The team's medical doctors are ready to assist should anyone become unwell,
and to also outreach to the island's residents as part of the DXpedition's
humanitarian, health and welfare contribution.
Want to know more of to give the DXpedition your support, check out the DX0DX.net
website
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ATV (Every pixel tells a story) - Video
[arrlnewsline audio]
CHANGING TECHNOLOGY: NZ ATV TO BE FORCED TO GO DIGITAL
Digital Amateur Television is coming to New Zealand, but not necessarily
because the Kiwi ham community wants to make the change. Jim Meachen,
ZL2BHF, is here with the details:
--
Hams down here in New Zealand will soon be forced to go digital if they
wish to continue Amateur Fast Scan Television operations. This after our
nations government regulators announce that all analogue modulated TV
transmissions in the VHF and UHF broadcast bands, which include Channel 39
used by ham
radio, will close down in March 2015, or at some earlier date. At that time
the upper end of the New Zealand UHF television allocation will be cleared
of television, so that the vacated spectrum can be used for next-generation
mobile communications.
One consequence of these decisions is that the existing television
transmissions will need to convert to digital so as to fit into about half
of the present spectrum, requiring that their transmission parameters need
to be more closely defined than at present. For the Amateur Television
service this means that each Radio License for analogue-modulated TV needs
to be replaced by a Spectrum License for analogue-modulated TV. As part of
the process, our government telecommunications regulator has cancelled all
of the existing Radio Licenses for Channel 39 TV Repeaters. Operators of
Channel 39 TV Repeaters need to close them down to avoid receiving an
Infringement Notices from the regulatory agency.
Those wishing to operate their analogue-modulated Channel 39 ATV repeaters
between now and the 2015 Digital TV Switch-Over, will be required to apply
for a Spectrum License. However this Spectrum License for analog ATV
transmitters will only exist until the Analogue shut down date. Ham Radio
access to New Zealand Channel 39 which runs from 614 to 622 MHz was made by
footnote to the nations telecommunications regulations many years ago when
a chunk of the 432 MHz band was taken from the amateur radio service.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, in Auckland
--
At airtime, its not known how many of the nations Amateur Television
Repeaters will apply for a new Spectrum License to at least temporarily
keep their analog systems operational and on the air. (NZART, ZL2BHF)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER
----
73 Trevor M5AKA
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
"Deal Island IOTA OC -195
John VK3DQ , Lino VK3EI and Les VK3MLM will lead a ten strong team of 
amateurs on a week long dxpedetion to Deal Island in March 2011

Deal Island is part of the Kent group of Islands in the middle of Bass 
Strait almost midway between Wilson's Promontory and the coast of Tasmania.
Travel to the island will be by sea on VK3MLM's ocean going ketch 
"Wanderlust II "

They intend to take a full quota of equipment with them so to be 
able to operate on most frequency bands and modes.
A search on google shows us that Deal Island is a granite island with 
high cliffs and a lighthouse and a number of sandy coves so some effort 
will be required to move their supplies from Wanderlust to the radio site 
which will be located near the settlement (Deal Island has a population 
of two persons)

So on of the first requirements is to ensure that the level of fitness 
is up to scratch which is going to come as a shock to some members of 
the team.

Jean VK3VIP has offered to conduct a fitness program to ensure they are 
able to conduct the trip without too much huffing and puffing.
Ohh the things we do for the hobby!! hihi
More details of the trip will be on the web in due course.
(John VK3DQ)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- LIGHTHOUSES AND LIGHTSHIPS
[Audio uploaded]
Only days to go before the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend
Australia remains leader in terms of the number of registrations this year
currently at 58 and setting a new record for that country.
The very latest VK registration was made by the Summerland Amateur Radio
Club VK2SRC that will activate the Richmond Head lighthouse at Ballina.
Just before that registration, Trevor Close VK3ATX advised he will operate
from Gabo Island in far eastern Victoria Australia, while intrepid
portable QRP operator Peter Parker VK3YE has chosen the inner-suburban
Port Melbourne lighthouse which is at the end of a tram line.
Germany which has always strong support the weekend now has 55 registrations.
Australia and Germany combined account for one third of this year's nearly
390 registrations from 40 countries.
Geoff Crowley MM5AHO is adding even more interest to the weekend by
sailing to at least or possibly more of the rock mounted lighthouse on the
west coast of Scotland.
It's all happening on the weekend of the 21st and 22nd of August. To see
the full registration list or to register a lighthouse visit the website
www.illw.net
(Jlinton)
SOCIAL BITS N BOBS
JULY 25 VK2-3
Riverina Field Day
JULY 25 VK7
Sorell Men's Shed Winter Ham Fest
AUGUST 1 VK6
Northern Corridor Group Hamfest Cyril Jackson Sports Centre Ashfield
NOV 7 VK5
2010 Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society Hamfest Rosa St Goodwood
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