THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK
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WIANEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING OCT 3 2010.
The Super Springtime racks up the contacts
VK6NE - SK - Announce
LIGHTS GO OUT IN A CALIFORNIA TOWN
SOME FIREFLIES DO GLOW TO MATE
AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHICAL RADIO FREQUENCY MAP.
A look at Amateur Radio magazine for October
ALL UP AND COMING IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF
AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING OCTOBER 03 2010
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WIA Centenary
The Super Springtime racks up the contacts
What a wonderful celebration of the Centenary of Organised Amateur Radio
has been the VK6 Super Springtime over 12 days, a collaborative effort of
seven groups in the west.
It put on air and public display of amateur radio through the special
callsign VK100WIA at two very high profile locations.
The Wireless Hill Telecommunications Museum at Apple Cross has plenty of
visitors who were shown amateur radio enthusiastically in action.
Plus the Perth Royal Show from Saturday the 26th of September through to
yesterday, Saturday the 2nd of October.
The visitors to both locations had the opportunity to see and learn about
amateur radio.
There are plans for amateur radio to return to Wireless Hill's centenary
in 2012, and also be a regular at the annual Perth Show.
During the show on Wednesday, VK100WIA made its 20,000th contact.
And while talking about contacts, the total made by the Super Springtime
is expected to have exceeded 2,000. Well done to WICEN, the Scout Tech
Group, West Australia Repeater Group, and West Australia VHF Group, and
others involved.
We are certain to hear more about it in the future, and look forward to
the story in words and photographs in Amateur Radio magazine.
Amateur radio expo comes to Sydney.
The St George Amateur Radio Society will be celebrating 100 years of amateur
radio in Australia with an amateur radio expo at Sutherland, south of Sydney.
The special event call sign station VK100WIA will be operating for the 3 day
event on most HF bands, VHF and UHF.
The expo will be open to the public from 10 am to 10 PM daily with displays of
the various aspects of amateur radio. On Wednesday evening there will be a
sausage sizzle followed by a special club meeting.
The EXPO runs from Tuesday 5th to Thursday 7th October at 38 Kurrajong Street,
Sutherland, a short walk from the railway station.
Tell your friends and come along to this exciting, once in a life time event.
For more information go to www.sgars.org/expo or email expo@sgars.org
This bulletin has been brought to from the news desk at St George Amateur
Radio Society
PAUL, VK2GX was interviewed by The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader
newspaper about the centenary celebrations of amateur radio in Australia.
Paul, president of The St George Amateur Radio Society said "Amateur radio
is primarily a hobby that encompasses all of the different aspects of
radio communication, everything from old radio equipment through to
satellite communication.''
To read the full interview and see the photo shoot, a link has been
provided at www.sgars.org/expo
Have you marked your calendar?
Maryborough Electronics and Radio Group, MERG, are throwing open the doors to
the Scout Hall corner of Ariadne and Ward Streets, Maryborough next Saturday
and Sunday to celebrate and demonstrate 100 years of organised amateur radio
in Australia. The commemorative radio station VK100WIA will be operated by MERG
over 8th, 9th and 10th October.
Remember that the times are UTC or for us grey hairs GMT.
You are invited to join us over the two days and see VK100WIA in operation.
We'd love to eyeball you for a rag chew. For MERG, I'm Geoff, VK4ZPP.
Tune-In To The World - amateur radio gets people talking
The WIA National Field Day - Saturday the 23rd of October
With less than three weeks to go this day of promotion for amateur radio
has 11 clubs all set to engage with members of their communities.
Clubs, groups and individual radio amateurs will be getting on air on the
day to give their support to the unified effort of attracting new members
and new radio amateurs. And that's got to be a good thing.
The 11 clubs who have so far registered will be running a Public Station
in the event, and this category is also open to a group of three or more
radio amateurs operating on a single callsign from a public place.
The other category is called a Private Station, with an individual operating
portable, mobile or from a private residence. One of those has been registered
so far.
Highly important is that Public Stations actually engage members of the public
rather than just having them look on, and then walk away.
Why? Remember this is not a contest, but a marketing exercise to promote
amateur radio.
Check out the WIA website for some promotional and display material that
is available to clubs registered for the event.
And we recommend that orders for the range Tune-In To The World - amateur
radio gets people talking brand clothing be submitted online immediately.
Will you or your radio club be involved? Check out www.wia.org.au
for more information including the rules of the WIA National Field Day
all happening on Saturday the 23rd of October, and join the:
Eastern And Mountain District Radio Club, Lower Murray Amateur Radio Club,
Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society, Scout Radio and Electronics Service
Unit, Peel Amateur Radio Group, WICEN South Australia, Amateur Radio Victoria,
Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club, Whyalla Amateur Radio Club, the Redcliffe
and Districts Radio Club, and Midland Amateur Radio Club.
WIA
President Michael Owen VK3KI president@wia.org.au
Vice President Phil Wait VK2ASD vk2asd@wia.org.au
Secretary Geoff Atkinson VK3AFA secretary@wia.org.au
Treasurer John Longayroux VK3PZ vk3pz@wia.org.au
VK6NE - SK - Announce
VK6FIVE in Perth, with some sad news
Around 6am this past Tuesday morning, in St. John of Gods Hospital, Subiaco.
After a number of years valiantly fighting Cancer.
WIA Life Member, and past Federal President, Neil Penfold VK6NE, past beyond
the veil.
Neil had been a long time member of the Amateur Radio fraternity and had
served in many capacities at both a State and Federal/National level.
He was a Federal Contest Manager from 1965-1970, a WA Division Secretary
from 1965-1978, a Federal Councillor from 1968 to 1993, the Federal and now
National QSL Bureau Manager from 1980 until now, along with VK9/0.
Neil served as Federal President from 1994-1998
Neil was granted honorary Life Membership of the WIA in 2001 and this year
was honoured with the naming of the Neil Penfold State Amateur Radio Centre
at Whiteman Park, home of the Northern Corridor Radio Group.
Amateur radio has lost a true gentleman, a loyal and dedicated member of the
WIA, and a friend and mentor to many. The WIA extends condolences to Neil's
family and friends.
Remember to Tune in Next Week when the Northern Corridor's Radio Group plans
to present a Radio Eulogy for one of Western Australia's Amateur Radio Giants.
(Geoff Atkinson VK3AFA, Secretary WIA:- VK6FIVE:- VK6POP Bob Bristow WIA
Director)
HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
VK2
web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm
VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news
Mathew VK2YAP, Vice-president of Amateur Radio New South Wales tells us that
at Septembers Council meeting, they regretfully accepted the resignation of
Beth Langley VK2AO, due to work commitments taking her interstate.
Beth served on Council for three and a half years, including twelve months as
president.
In accordance with the Articles of Association, ARNSW have filled the vacated
Council position with the next eligible person from the election held for the
last AGM. So, pleas welcome Bob Yorston VK2CAN, to council.
VK3
web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/
VKC Roundup http://www.police
Sunday 24th October is the date for the Annual Ballarat Hamvention. It is
held at the Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club in Rubicon st, REDAN with doors
opening at 1000AM. Pre sale of entry admission and door prize tickets will
occur before that time.
Traders will be admitted from 0800 till 0945.
Costs of a table is $15 [1.8M] same as last year and includes ONE entry person.
All others admissions cost $6.00 [same asl last year also] Children under
15yrs will be admitted free. Light lunch meals will be available from the
in-house catering bar. Tea & coffee from 0800 all day.
To book a table[s] ring Bill Wells VK3PAL on 03 5352 3662 or Email to
wilton@netconnect.com.au or using snail mail P.O. Box 1261 Mail Centre
Ballarat Vic 3354
Please allow for delay using the PO box though. See insert to October AR
magazine.
Also the BARG is conducting its annual HOMEBREW CONSTRUCTION COMPETITION.
Look up the BARG website for details and prizes. www.barg.org.au
The club also has a set of coloured graphics [cartoon style] limited numbers
for sale from its Club Sales table . These were drawn by a club member now SK
and are very collectable. Make sure you have a look and purchase a set.
Cheers
Craig VK3CMC
BARG President.
Feb 13 VK3 Centre Victoria RadioFest No.4 Kyneton Racecourse
(http://amateurradio.com.au/node/865/)
VK4 - QNEWS
web service local audio news:- www.wiaq.com/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3
local news email qnews-vk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
VKR Roundup http://www.police.qld.gov.au/News+and+Alerts/Media+Releases/
Welcome to QNews from VK4WIA. I'm Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP and I've been
reflecting....
In the time when we measured in feet and inches and valued in shillings and
pence, I was receiving my first lessons in club organisation. This was with
a national youth organisation with a long history, even then.
It was probably before the terms such as teen peer pressure had entered the
pages of news reporting but one issue was very important to avoid. This was
and is the growth of cliques in an organisation. The self grouping of a
segment of members to assume effective control of the body to benefit that
self appointed group has long been a poison to the cohesiveness and growth
of all kinds of clubs.
Our hobby of amateur radio with its lofty ideals as set out in the Amateurs
Code is certainly not immune to this problem.
Practically we need to tread the line of accommodating the wide interests of
all our club members and providing activities, within our resources, which
involve all our club members. Ignoring members, inviting a selected few to
undertake special activities ( pre-qualifying) and allowing things to run as
a dictatorship is hardly in the spirit of the Amateurs Code.
Our WIA is encouraging us to recruit. Old hobbyists and the newly interested,
we invite you all.... and as the CB craze brought us many recruits, computing
and other electronic interests should be a source of new members now.
Have you told anyone about amateur radio, this week?
For QNews, I'm Geoff Emery and that's what I think.....what about you?
CONTEST NEWS FOR VK4
Peter Harding VK4OD the RD Contest Manager, advises that on the WIA Website
in the RD Contest page, he has placed the provisional Scores from this year's
contest, these will remain here unless they require any changes before being
published in the December/ January AR Magazine.
If you have any queries with the scores please contact Peter at
vk4od@wia.org.au
before the end of October.
CLUBBING -
MARYBOROUGH RADIO AND ELECTRONICS CLUB
For more info, call Secretary Kathy Johns 040-939-8853
Email: kathy.johns@bigpond.com
Channel 14 UHF CB call "CQ MERG"
Have you marked your calendar?
Maryborough Electronics and Radio Group, MERG, are throwing open the doors to
the Scout Hall corner of Ariadne and Ward Streets, Maryborough next Saturday
and Sunday to celebrate and demonstrate 100 years of organised amateur radio
in Australia. The commemorative radio station VK100WIA will be operated by MERG
over 8th, 9th and 10th October.
Remember that the times are UTC or for us grey hairs GMT.
Entry to the Mini Ham Fest and Radio Expo is $5.00 (once only for the 2 days)
and you get a useful gift as a memento.
This is the chance to enjoy some ham hospitality in the Wide Bay and catch up
with old friends.
The catering is being done by the local Variety Club to support their charity
work and a selection of new and pre-loved goods will be available. If you wish
to have a shack clear out and raise some funds, come along and take a table
for 1 or both days. Tables are free!
You are invited to join us over the two days and see VK100WIA in operation.
Next week's news will be relayed from the site by Kathy, VK4KJ, and the
VK4MB broadcast team.
We'd love to eyeball you for a rag chew. For MERG, I'm Geoff, VK4ZPP.
ROCKHAMPTON
IRLP NODE 6973 ;
e-mail vk4acc@wia.org.au
Secretary Clive 4928 1173
http://www.radarc.cjb.net/
Greetings from the Rockhampton and District Amateur Radio Club,
I'm Les VK4VIL reporting.
Well, it's official! The President is coming to Rockhampton!
The Radar club is ecstatic to advise that Michael Owen VK3KI, WIA National
President is visiting Rockhampton on 14th and 15th of November to meet
State radio club representatives at the Queensland President Luncheon as well
as inspecting RADAR club facilities, all part of the WIA Centennial
celebrations.
At this time, plans are already well advanced and invitations to amateurs
from clubs will be forwarded shortly, when the agenda is finalized.
Michael will have a busy schedule, arriving at Rockhampton at 11am on Sunday
and immediately inspecting the radio club facility, including the radio
museum, at the Regional Council's Heritage Village.
Amateurs and families will gather at the Village about 9am for the WIA News
and QNEWS broadcast on 146.700 Megahertz. The RADAR club will provide morning
tea for visitors.
All are welcome to visit the radio museum and also many of the village's other
attractions if desired.
Michael will then be attending the Queensland President's Lunch commencing at
1pm, with social gathering expected to last well into the afternoon.
Arrangements are being made for Michael to meet with local dignitaries,
particularly those associated with the Village on Monday morning prior to
leaving Rockhampton for Melbourne, mid afternoon.
A visit to nearby Mount Archer, where VK4RAR repeater resides, a mere 15
minute drive, will be arranged if time permits. Magnificent views if the
weather is kind.
For Queensland members keen to attend the President's lunch and perhaps use
the opportunity to take in what the region has to offer, RADAR Club Secretary,
Clive VK4ACC is keen to assist with information.
Note. November is a great time for a holiday here.
Please contact Clive by email, 4kvacc@wia.org.au or phone on 0429632815.
If you've missed the contact details, check out web site radarclub.org.au
or VK4WIR on QRZ.com
We'd love to have you attend.
I'm Les, VK4VIL, on behalf or the Rockhampton and District Amateur Radio Club.
TABLELANDS RADIO AND ELECTRONICS CLUB
vk4wat@wia.org.au
www.treclub.org.au
G'day this is Dale VK4DMC for the Tablelands Radio and Electronics Club,
TREC, in Far North Queensland.
Last weekend saw six TREC members provide checkpoint control and
communication support for the Far North Equestrian Riders Association. The 3
day event was staged at Wondecla on the southern Atherton Tablelands in
reasonably fine weather. The event went off well and there were no serious
incidents.
Two metres (Ch.50) was the main frequency used with the VK4RTA repeater being
available for a secondary frequency if needed.
TREC has a social morning (show and tell) followed by a management committee
meeting on Saturday the 23rd October starting at 1000 hrs.
This has been Dale VK4DMC and you are listening to the WIA news.
EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO
www.hamcollege.com.au
FOUNDATION COURSE - NEW LICENSES.
Congrats to these successful candidates.
James Duff and Rejane Belanger, presently in the Coffs Harbour area.
Lyle VK2FCVI and Josh VK2FJDH who have been issued their callsigns.
Would you like YOUR name called out as a new ham?
Well if you are listening in Central West VK2, next Weekend around 9 October
there are to be exam assessments conducted at Dunedoo, that's NEXT weekend!.
The Orana Region Amateur Radio Club, in conjunction with ARNSW are providing
the exams.
Dunedoo is about an hours drive north east from Dubbo or an hour north of
Mudgee or a couple of hours south of Gunnedah.
To register or obtain more details contact Ken Westerman VK2AGW at Dunedoo
02 63 75 13 47, Reg Hawkins VK2TRH Dubbo on 02 68 82 43 54
or Brain Kelly VK2WBK from Tamworth on 0400 445 829.
If you missed the phone numbers they can be obtained from the text edition of
this bulletin best read at wia.org.au
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
New Zealand's Government has announced that the switchover to digital
television will be completed by 2013. The switchover will follow a phased four
step process,
beginning with Hawkes Bay and the West Coast, followed by the remainder of the
South Island, the lower North Island, and finally the remainder of the
North Island.
The ZL Government is also in discussion with the television broadcasting
industry and transmission providers regarding an extension to the digital
terrestrial television coverage area, to support the switchover process.
The switchover to digital TV will free up the radio spectrum in the 700 MHz
band for new uses, most likely to be new mobile broadband services.
MED is working on the planning and allocation issues for this band, and expects
to release a consultation document in mid 2011.
Where have South African technologists gone?
That's a question being put by Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, a technologist and a
member of the Board of Trustees of SAARDT. Hannes was one of the principle
architects of the Amateur Radio payload on SumbandilaSat.
Hannes finds it difficult to believe that only overseas entries have been
received in South Africa for their Innovation in Radio Competition.
'Innovation in Amateur Radio' is an eighteen-month, South African project,
aimed at promoting innovation in Amateur Radio. "While Amateur Radio is one
of the oldest and still the most rewarding of all the scientific hobbies,
there comes a time when one has to look at innovation, new ideas and new
technologies to keep the activities relevant and exciting".
Read more about it on www.amateurradio.org.za
CALIFORNIA STATION LOOSES GROUND!
For the second time in two years copper thieves have kicked the Butte
Broadcasting Company's KKXX AM transmitter site in California.
According to the Oroville Mercury Register, this time the thieves made of
with about 22,000 feet of Number 10 wire from the ground system, which was
apparently bundled into lengths of 10 to 20 feet and then carted away.
The Station manager said the transmitter was able to remain on the air.
Thieves left just enough wire for the ground system to allow the station to
continue to broadcast.
After the first wire theft in 2008, copper grounding wires were replaced and
a concrete footing was poured about every 10 to 15 feet along the length of
the wire in hopes of discouraging future thefts. However this time, thieves
cut and removed the wires between the concrete.
According to a scrap copper website, with the worlds economy still not very
stable, that kind of wire is only is fetching between $1.00 and $3.00 a pound.
So the thieves went to a lot of work and risked their lives to get very little
in return.
LIGHTS GO OUT AS GE CLOSE ITS LAST INCANDESCENT US LAMP FACTORY
The General Electric Company is closing its last incandescent light bulb
factory in the United States, this, to comply with the US Energy Independence
and Security Act of 2007.
According to news reports, the resulting savings in energy and greenhouse-gas
emissions are expected to be immense.
But the move also had unintended consequences.
Rather than setting off a long predicted surge in the domestic manufacture of
replacement lights such as Compact Fluorescents, many are already being
manufactured overseas. Most come from China and are assembled at a low cost
that domestic manufacturers both here and in the US cannot match.
NEWS FROM ARNEWSLINE
SBE FINDS ARCO COMMERCIAL TRIPS
EAS DECODERS AT RADIO STATIONS
British Petroleum has pulled an ad for
subsidiary Arco that used what sounded like
Emergency Activation or EAS tones. This, after
members of the Society of Broadcast Engineers
EAS Committee and participants in SBE's EAS
Exchange identified a radio commercial as the
source of unexpected triggering of EAS alert receivers.
The commercial started with effects that sounded
like a shortened EAS header tone followed by the
spoken phrase, "The following alert is from
ARCO." The EAS like headers were partial, but
contained enough information to mimic the start
of an real EAS header, because it used the
proper frequencies and data rate. When this
commercial was played by a station that is being
monitored as a local EAS source, it may cause some
decoder equipment to un-mute and print a partial message.
For those not aware of how EAS messages work
while the internal monitor speaker is un-muted,
the alert is not relayed by the EAS unit on the
monitoring station. Although the problem will
only affect stations that both monitor a station
that airs the ARCO commercial material and that have a
particular type of EAS equipment, the SBE had
recommended fpr stations check the affected commercial material.
It should be noted that the existence of EAS
header data in this commercial might be
considered an FCC violation when aired.
Regulation 11.45 says that no person may
transmit or cause to transmit the EAS codes or
Attention Signal, or a recording or simulation
thereof, in any circumstance other than in an
actual National, State or Local Area emergency
or authorized test of the EAS system.
Though the spot did not use actual EAS tones ad
agency Ogilvy and Mather Worldwide which created
the commercial stated it regretted confusion the
spot may have caused. F
WEIRD AND WONDERFUL
SOME FIREFLIES DO GLOW TO MATE
For decades, scientists have speculated about why some fireflies
exhibit synchronous flashing in which large groups produce rhythmic,
repeated flashes in unison. At times enough to light up an entire
forest at once. Now, the first experiments on the function of this
phenomenon suggest that synchronous flashing preserves female
fireflies' recognition of suitable mates.
To reach this conclusion, researchers collected females of the
synchronous species from the Smoky Mountains National Park in
Tennessee. In the laboratory, they exposed the females to groups of
light-emitting diodes meant to mimic male fireflies. Each individual
LED produced the species-specific pattern of flashes for type of fly
but the experimenters varied the degree to which the flashes were in
synch with one another.
Their conclusion is that Fireflies which are actually a type of beetle
produce bioluminescence as a mating tool. One in which males display a
species-specific pattern of flashes while cruising" through the air
looking for females. These patterns consist of one or more flashes
followed by a characteristic pause, during which female fireflies,
perched on leaves or branches, will produce a single response flash if
they spot a suitable male.
Of the roughly 2,000 species of fireflies around the world, scientists
estimate that only about 1 percent synchronize their flashes over large
areas.
(Adapted from Science Daily)
OPERATIONAL NEWS -
SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2010
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 WIA National Field Day
nfd@wia.org.au
NOV 20-21 WIA Spring VHF-UHF Field Day
John Martin VK3KM tac@wia.org.au
Peter Harding VK4OD the RD Contest Manager, advises that on the WIA Website
in the RD Contest page, he has placed the provisional Scores from this year's
contest, these will remain here unless they require any changes before being
published in the December/ January AR Magazine.
If you have any queries with the scores please contact Peter at
vk4od@wia.org.au
before the end of October.
NZART Straight Key Night.
Polish and lubricate that old Morse key and enjoy an evening of old time radio
fun. This is an activity night in which everyone can be a winner with a
certificate to prove it. Don't miss it on Sunday 7 November 2010,
2000-2300 NZDT.
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, REPEATER BEACON DX AND NET ADVICE
hf nets ON the net, www.timroberts-vk4yeh.id.au/
Saturday 25th September 2010 bought the 1111th edition of the Stone the Crows
net. The net was run by Ted VK2UI and had 11 operators on the net which went
from 0600 till 0700.
(Richard Osborne. O.A.M. VK2FRKO)
Countdown to The Spratlys
With 100 days to go before DX0DX hits the ham radio bands there is
mounting interest in making contact with the DX Special Entity, The
Spratlys, over three weeks 6-24 January 2011.
DXpedition Team Leader, Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY - DU8/VK3FY said with
equipment starting to arrive in the Philippines including the Titanex
V160E vertical the excitement is mounting.
Currently 31 operators are confirmed while a number of positions are still
available should any DX operator wish to join the team.
The authority given to the DXpedition permits a maximum of 30
operators on the island at the same time.
With the DXpeditioners assigned to three separate groups for different
durations, the total number can exceed 30.
The DXpedition medical doctors are making a humanitarian contribution
to the island.
This is acknowledged in a 'Certificate of prior approval and consent' from
the Municipality of Kalayaan.
The Mayor Eugenio B. Bito-Onon Jr, who is very welcoming of the
DXpedition and states on the Certificate "The Municipality of Kalayaan is
also in favour of the humanitarian medical mission, to provide medical
check-up of all the island's inhabitants."
Beach survey for The Spratlys DXpedition
The destination of Thitu Island for DX0DX for the three weeks 6-24
January 2011 has changed shape in recent years under the ravages of sea erosion.
The Station Layout Coordinator David Collingham K3LP, is awaiting the
results of a new photographic high-tide survey of the latest beach
conditions where the various operating camps are to be relocated.
The DX0DX.Net website online survey has 160m as the most desired
band for this top forty wanted DX entity.
A TITANEX V160E vertical with a minimum of 32 radials will be erected
for that band right on the beach.
The 80m band is also highly sought after and two independent 4-square
antenna arrays will be used.
The survey also has CW remaining in the highest demand, with SSB and
RTTY a steady in second and third place respectively.
PSK31 has 7% of the votes which although low will still yield thousands of
contacts.
The recently announced addition of moon bounce to DX0DX also has the
EME exponents thinking about the possibilities.
(Jim Linton VK3PC - Public Affairs DX0DX www.dx0dx.net)
ARRL AWARDS COMMITTEE STATEMENT ON DISSOLUTION OF THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
To clarify the administrative process by which the anticipated changes to the
two existing Netherlands Antilles DXCC entities will be made, the ARRL Awards
Committee has determined that at 04:00 Z (12:00 a.m. local time in the islands)
on 10 October 2010, the two Netherland Antilles DXCC entities will be deleted.
Commencing at 04:00 Z (12:00 a.m. local time) on 10 October 2010, operation
from islands of Curacao, Bonaire, St Maarten, Saba, and St Eustatius will count
for a yet to be determined number of new entities under the DXCC List Criteria,
and Political Entities, Rule 1 and/or Rule 2 Geographic Separation Entities.
When the Awards Committee determines what Rule 1 or Rule 2 actions apply, it
will announce the final disposition of the entities on the DXCC list.
The DXCC desk will not accept confirmations for these new entities until after
1 January 2011.
Due to the passing of my friend & QSL Manager Neil VK6NE who will be sadly
missed I now have a new QSL Manager who is Tim M0URX.
Stuart
VK8NSB
WIRELESS WEATHER
NEW EUROPEAN SYSTEM GIVES WARNING OF SOLAR STORMS
Researchers at the University of Bradford located in the United Kingdom say
that a new method of predicting solar storms that could help to avoid
widespread power and communications blackouts has been launched. Amateur Radio
Newslines Norm Seeley, KI7UP, says that up to now, solar weather prediction
has been done manually with experts looking at 2 dimensional satellite images
of the sun and assessing the likelihood of future activity.
But a team from the university's Centre for Visual Computing has created the
first online automated prediction system using 3D images generated from the
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory or SOHO satellite.
Already in use by both NASA and the European Space Agency, the Bradford
Automated Solar Activity Prediction system also known by the acronym ASAP
identifies and classifies sun spots and then feeds this information through a
model which can predict the likelihood of solar flares. The system is able to
accurately predict a solar flare six hours in advance and the team is working
to achieve a similar accuracy for the prediction of major solar eruptions in
the near future.
Solar storms involve the release of huge amounts of hot gas and magnetic forces
from the surface of the sun into space at around a million miles an hour.
The next major solar storms are expected in 2012-13 as part of the sun's
11-year weather cycle. A 2008 US National Academy of Sciences report estimated
that modern reliance on electronics and satellite communications means a major
storm could cause twenty times more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina.
Although major solar eruptions and coronal mass ejections normally take several
days to reach the Earth, the largest recorded in 1859 took only eighteen hours.
Solar flares which can also cause significant disruption to communications
systems take just a few minutes. Because of this, advance warning is of vital
importance to enable steps to be taken to avoid the worst effects of such
solar activity.
Data recovered from the system is on-line at the European Spaceweather website
tinyurl.com/2ud62yo
BROADCAST MONITORING SWL AND SCANNER NEWS
aus_scanner@yahoogroups.com
http://www.scanaustralia.bigpondhosting.com
www.tinyurl.com/BITS-026 (A receiver located in NY USA)
http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/
HTTP://www.ei7dar.com/hf.html
AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHICAL RADIO FREQUENCY MAP.
http://spench.net/drupal/software/rfmap
The Australian Geographical Radio Frequency Map (RF Map) is a site that
overlays all registered RF transmitters on top of Google Maps.
It is still under development, but works as a proof-of-concept.
Currently generic antenna sites are shown with the red RF icon, while
mobile base stations are represented by the carrier that operates from the site
(often multiple carriers do, but currently the first is chosen when determining
the icon). A mouse-over will give you the site's description, and a click will
tell you who broadcasts from there, and at what frequencies.
Much more is to come...
Although people by-and-large won't be terribly interested in the positions of
every antenna in the country, they might be interested in checking how close
they are to their nearest mobile base station, how good a carrier's coverage is
in a particular area, and for prospective spectrum purchasers to assess
possible interference, etc. However, having said all that, it is primarily in
the ham spirit.
Here is every transmitter site cached in the database, which is fully
searchable from the web interface by location, site name, client details,
frequency range, emission designator and callsign:
MEDIA WATCH
www.wiaq.com/admin/uploads/weeklytally.rtf
www.cq-amateur-radio.com/WorldRadio.html
A look at Amateur Radio magazine for October
There's plenty of interesting reading, including wonderful coverage of this
Year's record breaking International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend.
Turning to page 10 now, a good discussion article by Ted Thrift VK2ARA on
how to prepare for the written theory assessment, plus tips on how to answer
questions. This is ideal both for Foundation Licensees wishing to upgrade,
and class instructors.
The cover story: 'Our inaugural national day of amateur radio
Promotion? which is written by Jim Linton VK3PC who sets the scene for the
Tune-In To The World - amateur radio gets people talking, public relations
field day event.
Bob Bristow VK6POP has a timely article about the Jamboree On The Air. We
have the ALARA 35th Birthday, plus the regular columns on DX, Short Wave
Listening, VHF/UHF and Microwave ...including a new distance record
achievement.
Amateur Radio magazine, a WIA membership service, with copies also available
at selected newsagents.
(Barry Robinson VK3PV
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ATV (Every pixel tells a story) - Video
arvideonews.com
hamradiotube.com
youtube.com
qdg.com.au
Helmet Cam Footage Shows What It's Like To Repair a Broadcast Tower
I have been know to do some stupid jobs but this would never be one of them
but since its only changing a light bulb its probably a minimum paying job
do you think!
Helmet Cam Footage Shows What It's Like To Repair a Broadcast Tower
THIS IS TOUGH TO WATCH IF YOU HAVE TENDENCY FOR MOTION SICKNESS
Climbing a 1700 ft tower just to change a bulb!!!!
So, if you want to see it go to
http://www.viddler.com/explore/yuemci/videos/12
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- NAVAL
Special Event GB50RN - reminder
The Royal Naval Amateur Radio Society continues to celebrate its 50th
anniversary this year. The special event callsign GB50RN is operational
now until the 9th October 2010.
CW and SSB on the HF and WARC bands from 80 metres to 10 metres.
HF Frequencies used will be the Society's meeting frequencies:
CW: 3520, 7020, 10118, 14052, 18087, 21052, 24897, 28052
SSB: 3740, 7055, 14335 (or 14294), 18150, 21360, 28940
GB50RNARS continues to be aired by members of the Society from various
locations in the UK.
A special Anniversary award is available to listeners and licensed amateurs
who hear or contact RNARS members and the special event stations during 2010.
Full details can be found on the society web site at: www.rnars.org.uk
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
http://www.scouts.com.au
http://www.scout.org/jota
http://www.international.scouts.com.au
CALLING FREQUENCIES
Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing communication.
Australian voice calling frequencies:
3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160
World CW calling frequencies:
3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160
World voice calling frequencies:
3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
24.960, 28.390, 50.160
Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
3.630, 7.033, 14.227
Calling Frequencies for PSK31
14.070
Special JOTA-cluster
One of the issues when supporting scouting groups, is finding another JOTA
station on the amateur radio bands even though the frequencies are available
on the scout web pages (and here when you read this weeks news at wia.org.au
BUT now you can also triple check on the cluster
at pi4raz.nl port 7300
The cluster will be available for scouting purposes all year round.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO
EMERGENCY FREQUENCIES IARU REGION 3
3.600, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz
WICEN NSW reminds us that the Bush Walkers Rescue Service is running a
4 day Comprehensive Remote Area First Aid course over the weekends
of the 9th & 10th AND the 23rd & 24th of October.
It is VETAB accredited, so can be used in the workplace, as well as WICEN
and rescue situations.
Details can be found at: www.bwrs.org.au
The Burlingame Neighbourhood Network has invited those interested in emergency
preparedness in the USA to hear from some of the first emergency responders
to the San Bruno pipeline explosion at the next quarterly meeting.
(9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 9)
The meeting will highlight the role that amateur radio operators play during
disasters.
Three local amateur radio experts who responded to the crisis within an hour
will explain the role they played in the San Bruno incident. Dan Bennett of
the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office and Gary Vielbaum, who leads
the Sheriff's Communications Unit, will give an overview of what amateur radio
is and how it fits into CERT, Red Cross and local government during a disaster.
Ross Peterson, assistant leader of the Sheriff's Communications Unit, will
explain how you can become certified as an amateur radio operator at a
one-day course.
REWIND
SARC WEBPAGE - PAST COMMITTEES?
SARC have posted on the SARC Committee page a pdf file of past Committees
from 1933 onwards but there are some gaps.
Have a look at it.
If you can fill in any spaces, please email the info to VK3JWA
SOCIAL SCENE
Oct 9 VK4 Wide Bay Mini Hamfest 9.00a.m.
Scout Hall, Ariadne Street, Maryborough.
Oct 10 VK3 Sunraysia Radio Group agm at Mildura Workingman's Club.
Keynote speaker is Jim Linton VK3PC, member of the WIA
Centenary Committee and Amateur Radio Victoria President.
Oct 23 WIA WIA National Field Day
nfd@wia.org.au
Oct 24 VK3 Ballarat Hamvention at Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club
NOV 7 VK5 Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society Hamfest Rosa St Goodwood
NOV 14 VK4 Presidents Lunch at Rockhampton
vk4by@wia.org.au
2011
Jan 31 vk2 Mid North Coast Radio Expo 2011 at St Johns Church Hall
McLean Street, Coffs Harbour at 8:30am, vk2cjc@wia.org.au
Feb 13 VK3 Centre Victoria RadioFest No.4 Kyneton Racecourse
(http://amateurradio.com.au/node/865/)
May 27-29 WIA AGM Weekend in Darwin
secretary@wia.org.au
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)
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