|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 NOV 21 2010.
Curse OF 882 kHz
RSGB Board Election invalid
A whole new meaning behind "on a piece of wet string".
SOUTH AFRICAN HAM HELPS RESCUE STRANDED YACHT
"Hound Dog" SILENT KEY
Chilean hams celebrates mine rescue with XR33M
ALL UP AND COMING IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF
AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING NOVEMBER 21 2010
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
THIS WEEKEND THE SPRING VHF/UHF FIELD DAY
VHF-UHF Field Days provide operators with the opportunity to "head for the
hills" and see how far they can work.
Field Days have separate sections for single and multiple operator stations.
The duration of the Field Day is 24 hours, but there are also 8 hour sections
for operators who may not be able to camp overnight.
Most club stations prefer to operate for the full 24 hours.
Field Days also generate plenty of activity from home stations, so there is
also a separate Home Station section.
The scoring is based on grid locator squares. Each new square worked gives
quite a boost to the score, and this encourages the entrants to operate from
locations in grid squares that normally don't have a great amount of amateur
activity.
There are no mode restrictions, except that all contacts must be simplex -
contacts through repeaters or satellites are not allowed. There is plenty of
FM activity, but one feature of the Field Days is a high level of SSB.
It is possible to do very well with only modest antennas if you pick a good
hilltop. Another option, if your station is easily transportable, is to
operate from more than one grid square during the contest period.
Field Day scoring is simple - one point per contact. But entrants also score
10 points for each different locator square worked, and each locator square
they have operated from, on each band. There are also band multipliers to
encourage activity on the higher UHF and microwave bands.
Logs must be accompanied by a cover sheet including a scoring table as
described in the rules. A sample scoring sheet is available for download at
wiaorg.au look in members area under contests.
Logs can be submitted either on paper or as email attachments.
Paper logs can be mailed to The Manager
VHF-UHF Field Day
3 Vernal Avenue
Mitcham
Vic 3132.
Electronic logs can be e-mailed to vhf-contests@wia.org.au
FREE EMAIL ADDRESS
Your WIA though it's email server allows you to establish
"yourcallsign@wia.org.au"
All emails sent to this address automatically forwarded to either your home
or work email account.
This provides YOU with ONE consistent email address. And should you ever
change ISP, then having a WIA address means your friends and colleagues
will still be able to email you without the need for individually providing
them with your new address. All YOU need to do is to simply advise the WIA
of your new address, through da form on our website and we do the rest.
It couldn't be easier!!
A further benefit of having a WIA address, is in receiving informative Amateur
Radio news as it breaks, sent directly to YOUR inbox..
A new phone app is being developed to help people survive natural disasters.
The application will provide people with access to emergency information
including details about a natural disaster at their location and assist
emergency services in locating people in trouble, very similar in fact to the
ABC Radio emergency information web.
Researchers at the University of Queensland are developing the technology,
with project manager Anthony Frangi saying the app will be targeted at
young people.
"While radio and television is a traditional method for getting information
out to people about emergency situations, young people aged under 25 do not
listen to radio extensively and so are at risk of not being informed if an
emergency situation develops," Mr Frangi said in a statement.
The application, which will be compatible with popular smart phones, is due
to be released in November NEXT year.
Those listening in VK4 in particular may be aware of the name Anthony Frangi
as he was on ABC Radio across Queensland and also was at 4BC.
Telstra Wednesday launched Telstra Plus Premium Support
a new service designed to help we Australians repair, set-up or install a
wide range of home technologies over the phone or in person.
Telstra Executive Director Consumer, Ms Rebekah O'Flaherty, said the launch
of Telstra Plus Premium Support was timely in light of new Telstra research
which revealed more than a third of Australians have given up installing a
new home gadget because the process seemed too hard.
"From wireless laptops to game consoles and internet-enabled TVs, in the past
12 months alone approximately one-third of Aussies have spent between $1,000
and $3,000 on new gadgets for their home, with one in five investing between
$3,000 and $7,000.
"However while we have the latest and greatest multimedia technologies at our
fingertips, it seems only a quarter of us feel like we've got to grips with
their more advanced features - leaving a wealth of useful and entertaining
features undiscovered.
Prices for the new service will vary upwards from $59, depending on the level
of technical support required and whether the job can be done remotely or
requires a home visit.
Customers can visit www.telstra.com.au/telstra-plus for more information.
Digital radio technologies to be reviewed in regional Australia
The minister for broadband, communications and the digital economy, Senator
Stephen Conroy, has called for public comment on which technologies might be
suitable for the provision of digital radio services in regional Australia.
The Government has released a paper called 'Technologies for digital radio
servcies in regional Australia', which calls for submissions on whether the
technologies used in metropolitan areas are suitable for regional areas.
(Ad News)
HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
VK1
Results of Saturday's Standard & Advanced Licence examinations / assessments.
There were 2 candidates and results were that Murray De Plater VK1FMDP and
Shane Talbot VK1FOOT successfully completed their upgrade to standard licence
level.
Congratulations to you both.
Thanks to Alan VK1WX and Glenn VK1NUT for giving their time to run these
exams.
The next scheduled Foundation Licence Course and Examinations / Assessments
will be held in March 2011.
VK2
web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm
VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news
Next Sunday the 28th will be last Dural based Trash and Treasure for the year
at the VK2WI site in Quarry Road. The Trash and Treasure event is in the
morning, then the afternoon has the Home Brew and Experimenters Group.
The lecture will be on photography.
The first Trash and Treasure event at VK2WI next year will be at the end of
January 2011.
Also in the morning - assessments for all levels of licence are conducted.
Waverley Amateur Radio Society Training weekends provide the opportunity for
those new to amateur radio to obtain a foundation licence over a single
weekend and for others to be assessed for higher grades.
The next is planned for the 12th & 13th of February next year.
Interested? contact education@vk2bv.org
VK3
web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/
VKC Roundup http://www.police
The final Foundation Licence Training and Assessment Weekend held by
Amateur Radio Victoria this year will be on the 5th and 6th of December.
Enrolments for this quality training session held at Ashburton will close
soon.
Also just announced is a Standard Bridging Course to help Foundation
Licence fill their theory knowledge gap to the Standard Licence Syllabus
level.
This high successful Bridging Course is held over a number of Wednesday
evenings in February, plus a Saturday revision session.
For inquiries or enrolments in either the Foundation Licence or Bridging
Course, please contact Barry Robinson VK3PV phone 0428 516 001 or email
foundation@amateurradio.com.au
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/
VK4 SILENT KEYS @ 2010 - 2011 QAC YEAR
VK4MWT Tom Bowden November 14 2010 Advised by Gavin VK4ZZ
Sad news in that Tom Bowden VK4MWT went Silent Key during the early hours of
Sunday morning November 14th. He was being treated in hospital for a coronary
condition at the time.
Tom is a former TARCadian and was Class Manager of the club during the 1980s.
Tom was also an active member of the SES and the Rural Fire Brigade in the
Saunders Beach and Deeragun areas and was in business for some years along
with Jean VK4MUJ running the General Store at Saunders Beach.
Tom always tried to help his fellow ham or community member when they asked
for assistance with technical or operational matters and was one of the
hobbys true gentlemen.
Tom moved to Strathpine in later years to be closer to family and medical care
and although was restricted in what he could do radio-wise still participated
in the hobby through the CQ100 network as well as occasional operation on
Echolink and IRLP.
Tom will be missed and our heartfelt commiserations go out to Jean VK4MUJ
and family
Vale Tom Bowden VK4MWT SK
Welcome to QNews from VK4WIA. I'm Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP and I've been thinking.
Recently I have been drawing attention to allowing for the normal business of
personal life when we are planning our club events. Well just as if to prove
a point, Murphy seems to have intervened for me,too.
Last Sunday, as every one was sitting down to eat at the Presidents Lunch, in
Rockhampton, I was enjoying an air-conditioned trip to hospital. Until
Thursday, I had been planning to be with my club delegates at the lunch and
then I was told I was in for an enforced holiday at the local hospital.
What this has meant is that, at late notice, two of our delegates were struck
off the list and by Friday because of other health issues, the whole trip was
off. This is a disappointment as this meeting of club delegates and WIA
representatives tends to fill in gaps in knowing what is happening in our
hobby and provides direct feedback to the Institute.
Had this been a field day or another competitive event, what happened last
week would have been a disaster for our club. The good part this situation is
that should I not bounce as well as I hope, our club has a group of
experienced members who can continue to keep the bases covered.
It is important to train our club members in running the organisation by
rotating people at annual elections.
I'm Geoff Emery and that's what I think....how about you?
CLUBBING -
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, the RADAR
Club. This is Les VK4VIL reporting.
From all reports, last weekend's visit to Rockhampton by WIA President
Michael Owen VK3KI and the Presidents Queensland Luncheon could be considered
a success all round.
The visit to the Club's radio museum and communications room at the
Rockhampton Heritage Village by Michael offered just reward for all involved
and the luncheon and other functions resulted in a great social time for
those who attended. More importantly, the focal point of the visit and the
luncheon, a chance to exchange ideas regarding the path of amateur radio in
the State and elsewhere, proved the real winner.
Topics included the regionalisation of local authorities in Queensland and
the varying support by local authorities to different clubs, the requirement
to produce attractive displays for recruitment and information purposes,
delay period between submission and publication with AR Magazine, the
considerable cost of examinations and the hardships of clubs having small
membership.
While Michael was quick to point out the role of the WIA and particularly its
requirement to efficiently utilise monies sourced from membership, he did not
attempt to conceal issues of concern which required attention. His pen was
certainly working overtime and he was obviously preparing for further work on
his return to HQ.
On completion of the luncheon, it was also interesting and positive to hear
a couple of comments from the "non-hams" including some XYLs who confessed
to being lost in the lingo, but nevertheless had gained some idea of what
amateur radio was all about, not just time in front of a microphone.
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.
As this news goes to air TREC members are in the last stages of the Spring
VHF/UHF Field Day event. We are operating VK4WAT from Hallorans Hill just
on the edge of Atherton in Far North Queensland. Band conditions have not
been as good as previous years but we have still managed to put together a
respectable score.
Due to the tyranny of distance it is hard to compete with the southern
stations, many of whom have many other stations located close to their area
of operations, hey, but we still have a great time Hi Hi! And the beer's cold.
We will be dismantling our station and packing up after 0100 zulu.
Thank you to all the stations who gave us valuable contacts throughout the
24 hour period.
We are looking forward to the Summer VHF/UHF Field day where hopefully the
band conditions will be better.
theTARCinc 2010 Christmas Party and Monster Auction happens on Sunday
afternoon December 12th from 2-00pm at the VK4TJS Satellite Dish City.
From 2-30pm the Monster Auction will get underway.
From 4-30pm the BBQ will light up.
VK7
local area news :- http://reast.asn.au/news.php
vk7 local news, email vk7regionalnews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
North West Tasmanian Amateur Television Group's Christmas bash will be at
the Bass & Flinders Restaurant, Ulverstone Wednesday 15th December.
An open invitation is extended to everyone to attend.
Please advise the Club of your intention to attend as final numbers will be
required for booking purposes.
www.vk7ax.id.au/atvgroup
VK9
VK9NA Norfolk Island DXpedition 2011
The trio of Michael Coleman VK3KH, Kevin Johnston VK4UH and Alan Devlin VK3XPD
is returning to Norfolk Island after their inaugural VHF/UHF and Microwave
band DXpedition of last summer.
The dates are 7-21 January, with more output power on several bands and this
time it includes the VK VHF-UHF Summer Field Day Contest on 15-16 January.
Alan VK3XPD advises that the prime focus this time are the elusive microwave
QSO's on 2.4 GHz thru 10 GHz back to VK, and across the "pond" to ZL.
However the team will again have 6 meters, 2 meters, 70 cm & 1296 MHz. A
team of serious microwavers, Colin Hutchesson VK5DK, Trevor Niven VK5NC and
Les Janes VK5JL, will set up at Port Macquarie on the VK2 coastline.
Alan VK3XPD says because of the sizable distances involved and the finicky
nature of the propagation, the WSJT digital modes will more than likely offer
us the best possible chance of success.
However, 2m, 70cm & 23cm via tropospheric ducting will be used as propagation
indicators for the microwave bands.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
SILENT KEYS
Bernard Clancy has written a great piece in the Age on a guy many who served
in Vietnam will remember as "Hound Dog" John Hounslow.
JOHN Hounslow, (Hound Dog) delivered daily news from home to Australian troops
in Vietnam in 1968-69, and who later won both Logie and Penguin awards as a
television journalist, has died of cancer at Cabrini Hospital.
He was only 63.
Hounslow's early career was defined by the army. He was conscripted in 1967
and arrived in Vietnam about 12 months later, where he served in army public
relations in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City). His most important task was to
read a five-minute bulletin of news from Australia on the American Forces
Vietnam Network (AFVN) radio station at 10am each day, probably the first time
any of us had heard FM broadcasting!
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
The SARL (South African Radio League) representation to ICASA re: the draft
Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations is now available on the web.
The document was sent to ICASA Monday last, when it then became a public
document.
The final document includes many of the suggestions received from SARL members.
It should be noted that members have submitted opposing views on various
aspects of the regulations which all had to be considered. SARL believes that
it has produced a document that is balanced and serves the best interest of
amateur radio.
The next step will be the operating frequency table which will specify the
frequencies and power levels permitted on various bands.
Details can be found in the SA Government Gazette.
US ATTORNEYS OFFICE GOES TO COURT TO COLLECT $21000 FINE ISSUED AGAINST K1MAN
It has taken almost five years, but the United States Department of Justice
has gone to court to collect a $21,000 fine issued back in March of 2006
by the FCC to Glenn, Baxter, K1MAN.
This, as two US Attorneys file a Complaint in the US District Court in Maine
against Baxter for not responding appropriately to an order that he pay the
fine that was issued for his alleged violating of several sections of the
Part 97 rules.
Baxter had also been cited for wilful violation of Sections which
deal with exercising proper control over his amateur station and a prohibition
against "broadcasting" in the Ham bands.
W8ROG NAMED KNIGHT OF THE LEGION OF HONOR
Ken Kott, W8ROG, has recently been named Knight of the Legion of Honour
for his actions during World War Two.
The award notification issued by Consul General of France, Graham Paul,
reads in part: "This outstanding distinction is the highest honour that
France can bestow upon those who have achieved remarkable deeds for France.
It is also a sign of true gratitude for your invaluable contribution to the
liberation of France during these difficult times in the History of our
nation."
In addition to radioman and reconnaissance duty with the 3rd Armoured Division
in Europe during WW2, Kott also taught Morse code in the Army.
Ken Kott, W8ROG who at age 90 is still an ardent C-W operator is also
the father of former Worldrado editor Nancy Kott, WZ8C.
Curse OF 882 kHz
Vandalism to transmitter forces radio station off-air.
Vandals who attacked a radio transmitter caused BBC Radio Wales on medium wave
882 off-air for a time.
The transmitter in north Somerset, broadcasts across much of Wales was off-air
for around three hours on Tuesday afternoon.
The damage also hit services from other broadcasters who share the site.
Several years ago here in VK Radio 4BH in Brisbane was also vandalised, their
tower toppled. Their frequency? 882 KHz
=============================================================================
RSGB NEWS FROM G4NJH
RSGB Board Election invalid
Governance of the RSGB is regulated by the Memorandum and Articles of
Association of the Society, or M&A, a copy of which may be found on
the Members-only section of the website.
An irregularity has been identified in the nomination of the two
candidates standing for election as nationally elected members of the
Board. Unfortunately, it was not noticed until after RadCom had gone to press
that both candidates shared two nominators. This is not in accordance with the
M&A and therefore the candidates were not properly nominated.
The Board has considered its options under the M&A and has determined
that the only course of action open to it is to declare the election
for nationally elected members of the Board invalid. Given other
requirements of the M&A, the Board will now co-opt both candidates as
Board members for a twelve month period until the next election late
in 2011, when the candidates may stand for election again. The
Society very much regrets this error, but believes that the best
interests of the membership are served by acting as set out above.
The regional election for Region 4 is unaffected and closes midday December 2.
=============================================================================
WEIRD AND WONDERFUL
If ever EVER you have a queasy feeling about climbing your 10 metre ham tower
THIS should fix it!
http://www.liveleak.com/e/f2d_1284588370
OPERATIONAL NEWS -
SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2010
NOV 20-21 WIA Spring VHF-UHF Field Day
John Martin VK3KM tac@wia.org.au
Dec 10 ARRL 2010 ARRL 10 Meter Contest 0000 U-T-C through Sunday evening
December 12th at 2359 U-T-C.
Jan 15/16 WIA Summer VHF-UHF Field Day
Includes "Microwave Challenge", with special certificates to
be awarded to the participants on microwave bands.
John Martin VK3KM tac@wia.org.au
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, REPEATER BEACON DX AND NET ADVICE
hf nets ON the net, www.timroberts-vk4yeh.id.au/
Christmas in Bethlehem - amateur radio special event
Members of the Barrow Amateur Radio Club will activate special event Christmas
station WR4BC from Bethlehem, Georgia, between December 4 and 5.
Suggested frequencies are (-/+ QRM):
CW/Digital/RTTY - 3575, 7065, 14065, 21065 and 28065 kHz
SSB - 3875, 7265, 14265, 21365 and 28465 kHz
A Limited-edition collectable QSL will be issued, complete with the Bethlehem
Christmas Postmark.
For more information, please visit the club Web site at:
www.barrowhamradio.org
Antarctic
Karel, ON5TN will be staying at the Belgian Antarctic base Princess Elisabeth,
until February 2011. He plans to operate as OR4TN in his spare time, starting
in December. Updates will be posted on QRZ.com under OR4TN. QSL via ON5TN.
South Korea
For those who like working unusual callsigns the special event call D7G20
(that is D-seven-G-twenty) is on the air till 28th November. This is in
connection with the Seoul G20 Summit.
Tristan da Cunha
This quite rare DXCC entity is available till early December as ZD9AH.
Operation is mainly SSB with some RTTY expected later.
Uganda
5X1XA from now till 1st December. A single band entry in the CQ WW DX CW
Contest (27-28 November) will probably be on 20 metres.
QSL info is via G3SWH.
Kermadec
ZL8X from the Kermadec Islands till 5th December. This is a rare one for the
DX fraternity so listen for the pile-ups!!
Up to date info can be found on www.kermadec.de
Gambia
A team of amateur radio operators from the Czech and Slovak OM0C Contest Crew
are on another DXpedition to The Gambia to take place now until November 30.
Activity 160-10 meters using CW and SSB.
6 full time stations simultaneously in order to take advantage of all band
openings.
QSL Manager is Brani, OM2FY.
QSL by the Bureau
For more details and updates, visit their Web at:
www.om0c.com/?Gambia_2010_-_C5A
Chilean hams celebrates mine rescue
Members of the Radio Club de Copiapo are now active as XR33M until the end
of December with the callsign celebrating the rescue of 33 trapped miners
at San Jose in Chile.
XR33M is using on the HF bands including during the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest
the 27th and 28th of November, and the ARRL 10 Meter Contest the 11th and
12th of December.
The club members responded to offer their support to the rescue effort by
providing communications in the desert region where the copper mine is located.
That support enabled links for various authorities with emergency equipment
inside the San Jose site and also with family and authorities in the City
Of Copiapo.
INTRUDER WATCH - ENFORCEMENT ZONE
Region III IARUMS Coordinator Peter Young VK3MV
VK IARUMS reflector email to subscribe intruders@wia.org.au
INTRUDER NETS
Friday 0730 UTC 7.065.5 with VK4CEU David.
Amateur exclusive frequencies where any non-amateur signal is definitely an
intruder.
Amateur HF Spectrum world wide
7.050 to 7.100
14.000 to 14.250
14.250 to 14.350 No broadcasters
21.000 to 21.450
24.890 to 24.990
28.000 to 29.700
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER
AMSAT-VK UNOFFICIAL HF Net.
2nd Sunday each month.
April through October 1000 UTC 3.685 MHz
November through March 0900 UTC 7.068 MHz
ASTRONAUTS TAKE PART IN GROUND BASED ARISS TRAINING EXERCISE
Turning to ham radio space related news, word that astronauts Joe Acaba,
KE5DAR and Aki Hoshide, KE5DNI participated in a simulated ARISS school
contact with students attending Ralph McCall School in Alberta, Canada.
The simulated contacts are training sessions for the astronaut hams using
ARISS equivalent equipment to make terrestrial-based amateur radio contacts.
Acaba, who is slated to fly with Expedition 31, also had an ARISS refresher
course for his upcoming mission in 2012.
Out Of This World: A Paper Plane In Space
A group of British space buffs is celebrating the successful launch of a
paper plane into space.
Amateur space enthusiasts, John Oates, Lester Haines, Radio Amateur
Steve Daniels G6UIM (who designed the radio tracking system) made the
plane out of paper straws covered with paper.
They attached the aircraft - which has a 3ft wingspan - and a camera to a
helium balloon and released it into the air, soaring an astonishing 23 miles
above the ground, taking dozens of photographs, before gliding back to earth.
After months of planning, they put operation Paris - Paper Aircraft Released
Into Space - into action, travelling to Spain to send the plane on its journey.
(As you do!)
The balloon climbed to 90,000 ft where the helium expanded to a point that
caused the balloon to burst and the plane was released, gliding down to earth
100 miles from where it set off.
It's a world first, but we are led to believe a group from VK are going to
challenge!
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- NAVAL
The Antenna Made Out of Sea Water
A whole new meaning behind "on a piece of wet string".
You'd think that with all the leaps we've made in wireless communication that
we wouldn't need a new antenna. Daniel Tam disagrees. This engineer at SPAWAR
Systems Center has to solve the daunting task of jamming as many antennas
possible onto a Navy ship.
His brilliant solution?
Use the one material there's plenty of near a boat: seawater.
The prototype antenna consists of a water pump, a nozzle and a large magnetic
coil with a coax jack for input and output. Reception is achieved by blasting
a stream of seawater through the magnet. It's rated for 2 to 400MHz, meaning
it can send and receive signals in the UHF, VHF and HF ranges.
Although the device was primarily designed for on seaborne craft, Dan hopes
to see it used in other applications, such as for emergency radio broadcasts.
He even envisions the antenna used on land.
Where you'd find the seawater, only Tam knows.
[ source: Southgate Amateur Radio Club via Electronics Lab and tomsguide.com ]
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO
IARU REGION 3
Emergency Centre of Activity (CoA) frequencies
3.600, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz
SOUTH AFRICAN HAM HELPS RESCUE STRANDED YACHT
A real time rescue at sea with the aid of a South African sailor and
ham radio operator.
Hamnet's Francois Botha, ZS5BUU is here with the details:
Roy Cook, ZS5CB was instrumental earlier this week in the rescue of 2
yachtsmen aboard a yacht called Houbo that ran into difficulties off the
coast of Mozambique. Roy had intercepted a call for assistance, via a
Ham Radio marine VHF monitoring frequency, and contacted NSRI Richards Bay
on Saturday afternoon the 30th of October.
He reported that the yacht Philigic had by chance come across the yacht with
two Frenchmen, on board and in a desperate state of disrepair, some 200
nautical miles off-shore from the Mozambique coast. The yacht Houbo
unfortunately had been caught up in severe tropical weather out at sea and
had not only capsized and corrected itself but that the two yachtsmen had
lost most of their food, drinking water, and that the boat had been severely
damaged. Their radio equipment and antenna system was non functional with
result they could not radio for help.
Richards Bay NSRI under the control of Dorian Robertson indicated that the
yacht was out of range for a rescue operation but the team were placed on
alert to monitor the situation. Roy, in the meantime had been able to
maintain contact with the other yacht and kept the Richards Bay NSRI up to
date with information on the progress of the two yachts.
Once the yachts were in South African waters by Monday afternoon around 16h00,
the Richards Bay NSRI launched the rescue craft and rendezvoused with the
Houbo 12 nautical miles off-shore in a 25 knot North Easterly wind and a
1 to 2 meter swell. A towline was attached to the yacht and safely brought to
the safety of Richards Bay harbor.
Both the yachtsmen were unhurt but will spend quite a while repairing the
yacht before they continue on their journey.
Reporting for Hamnet this is Francois Botha, ZS6BUU.
The final destination of the damaged yacht is at this stage is unknown, but
it may be a long time before its back at sea. (ARMI)
LOWDOWN
A great VLF Pioneer has passed. William R. Butler, W6BFA. Born in 1919, Bill
was a pioneer of VLF communications, for use with the submariner fleet,
a veteran of WWII, United States Navy, and an avid designer and builder of
antenna arrays.
SOCIAL SCENE
DEC 4 VK7 Central Highlands Hamfest at Miena
2011
Jan 30 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/)
Feb 27 vk2 Central Coast Amateur Radio Club Field Day at Wyong
Start Time : Gates open 6.30 am
Apr 18 WW "Amateur Radio: The first technology-based social network"
World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, 2011.
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)
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 VK4BB on behalf of the National WIA.
|
|
