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WIANEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING DEC 12 2010.
Sable Island, that ON again OFF again ON again OFF again DXpedition has
AGAIN been postponed!
WIA announces the 2011 WIA National Field Day
Automatic Voice Relay System: AVRS
ZL Hams multiplex four video and audio streams
ALL UP AND COMING IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF
AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING DECEMBER 12 2010
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Sable Island, that ON again OFF again ON again OFF again DXpedition has
AGAIN been postponed!
The following from Randy N0TG and published on the Southgate News pages.
"BAD News!
We have just been advised that the Sable Island beach will not be suitable
for landing this week NOR next week. Then after next week, that puts us
into the holiday period.
Thus, we have no choice but to return home, re-group and come up with a new
re-schedule".
This press release unlike the earlier November ones, does not mention anything
about options for the refund of donations.
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
All set for AR PR day 2011
The WIA has announced that the 2011 WIA National Field Day will be held on
Sunday the 17th of April.
Feedback from operators was received, requesting a change from the October
date of the 2010 event and the WIA decided to have the event close to the
IARU World Amateur Radio Day on April 18th.
The IARU's theme for the next World Amateur Radio Day as "Amateur Radio:
The first technology-based social network", which has also been adopted by
the National Field Day 2011.
Rules and guidelines will be announced early next year.
DECEMBER BIRTHDAY
Yes we really did have long wave broadcasters in Australia.
This month sees the 87 th anniversary of the establishment of VK's second
radio broadcaster, a long waver, way back in 1923.
2FC Sydney was the first to be licensed, from July '23but first ON air
was 2SB Sydney which went to air November.
2FC was 5,000 watts transmitted via a squirrel type cage antenna supported
from two 60 metre high steel lattice towers, spaced 180 metres apart.
The station operated on the long wave frequency of 1100 metres, 171 kilohertz.
(sourced to vk2wi)
Summerland Council "off their trolleys".
Northern Star news in the Lismore/Ballina area served by the Summerland Amateur
Radio Club, has reported on an innovative shopping trolley management system
which 'locks down' trolleys to stop them being taken outside a certain area.
Ballina Shire Council's been debating the best way to control wayward trolleys.
Cr Keith Johnson has recently become aware of Trolleyguard, a system used
extensively in ZL, which uses a buried perimeter antenna and an RF transmitter
to generate a low frequency signal to define the limit of trolley travel.
When a trolley rolls near the antenna line, its brakes lock on to the wheels
and the trolley is stopped in its tracks.
"The basic concept is great," he said. "BUT we'd probably need hundreds of
metres of buried transmission lines, so it could become quite expensive".
MEDICAL experts have cast doubt on a Danish study that found pregnant mothers
who regularly use mobile phones were more likely to have children with
behavioural problems.
The survey tracked the long-term health of the children.
Mothers supplied detailed information about their lifestyles, diet and habits
during and after pregnancy, including mobile phone use.
The researchers found that kids who had been exposed to mobile phones both
before and after birth were 50 per cent more likely to have behavioural
problems.
But Professor Rodney Croft, Executive Director of the Australian Centre for
Radio Frequency Bioeffects Research and a Professor of Health Psychology at
the University of Wollongong said that mothers' remembering their phone usage
in a survey does not provide a good estimate of exposure.
"I do not believe that this study provides evidence of a negative effect of
maternal mobile phone use on childhood development, nor for the need for
added caution (relative to that already provided by the Australian Standards)".
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/technology/experts-dismiss-a-study-that-links-mobiles-and-behavioural-problems-in-children/story-e6frfrnr-1225967040880#ixzz17OpxlAan
The Australian Centre for Radiofrequency Bioeffects Research (ACRBR) is a
consortium consisting of RMIT University, Swinburne University of Technology,
Telstra Research Laboratories and DEPM in Melbourne, and in Adelaide - the
Institute of Medical and Veterinary Sciences.
ACRBR brings together basic sciences, clinical and public health disciplines.
The Centre conducts a broad program of research into possible biological or
health effects of exposure to radio waves, particularly from mobile telephones.
For more information, contact ACRBR by email: acrbr2006@gmail.com
mail: 400 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia 3122
or fax: (03) 9214 5525
Read more:
www.news.com.au/technology/experts-dismiss-a-study-that-links-mobiles-and-behavioural-problems-in-children/story-e6frfrnr-1225967040880#ixzz17OpxlAan
(SOURCED TO NEWS.COM AND ACMA)
HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
VK2
web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm
VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news
WICEN RECEIVES $500 GRANT.
WICEN(NR) received the grant by Advantage Salary Packaging, a company which
provides salary packaging services to the VK2 North Coast Area Health Service.
Advantage invited employees of NCAHS to apply for a community grant.
They supported 20 local organisations along the North Coast and donated a
total of $10,000.
Next meeting of Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club, will be 2pm Saturday, the 8th
of January in the SES Building in Central Road, Port Macquarie.
Visitors will be made particularly welcome at this meeting so if you are
planning to be in the "Port" area January 8 make it along.
VK3
web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/
VKC Roundup http://www.police
If you only attend one radio event in 2011, then it must be the Centre
Victoria RadioFest No. 4 at the Kyneton Racecourse on Sunday the 13th of
February, just an hour from Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo.
It has been described by a leading electronics publication as one of
Australia's largest and best known amateur radio communications field
days.
The biggest of its type in Victoria and the only one that has been
supported by all the major commercial traders since it began in 2007.
The Centre Victoria RadioFest also offers three different ways people can
sell second-hand radio equipment and accessories, non-commercial lots,
bits and pieces.
The traditional table sales continue to be popular. The other options are
car-boot sales or trailer and van loads. It's your choice!
Add to this interesting program including the mini-lecture series and this
is truly a major event and great social occasion for anyone with an
interest in radio.
See you at the Centre Victoria RadioFest, Kyneton Racecourse on Sunday the
13th of February.
I'm Bruce Lees and you're listening to VK1WIA.
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 and I've been thinking.
Time is running fast towards the season of gifts and bonhomie and have you
filled your shopping list yet? If not you may just be able to sneak an order
for some amateur radio reading material from the WIA Bookshop. Perhaps the
gift is for you or maybe it is for some-one you know is interested in this
great hobby. Don't delay - log onto http.wia.org.au/bookshop and feast your
imagination on the goodies.
I have been raising the issues of what being a club member and running a club
can be. I will use this personal anecdote to further illustrate these points.
As I mentioned, last month, I won a chauffeur driven trip to our local health
resort. This was not without personal difficulties for the rest of the family
as I am the family driver. It has been tremendously rewarding and humbling to
appreciate the great efforts made by various members of our radio club in
supporting my family and me. So it is that I give some public recognition for
these private acts.
But this is as much a reflection of the wealth of generosity within the amateur
radio community and living proof of people living the Amateurs Code as it is a
reflection of the personal values of those concerned.
You reckon I'm counting my lucky stars......you "betcha, mate."
I'm Geoff Emery and that's what I think.......how about you?
CLUBBING -
Redcliffe and District Radio Club
www.redclifferadioclub.org.au/
I'm Ray, VK4CF with news from Redcliffe Amateur Radio club.
The club held its Christmas party last Saturday. Due to the rain the party
was held at the club house. Despite the rain, many members were there
including John, VK4WX, who had just beat the rain on his way south from Mackay.
Club members were treated to a wide range of nibblies, so many in fact there
were very few cooking on the BBQ. It was also surprising that there was
little talk about amateur radio, as the main topic was the rain.
In the latest AR magazine that arrived today it was pleasing to see that the
Redcliffe club with its competition callsign, VK4IZ, had won the multioperator
section of the RD contest. Well done to all the team who put up with the rain
and mud at the campsite to achieve a great result.
As Christmas falls on a Saturday this year, the club will be open throughout
the Christmas period and just in case please call on the repeater to ensure
the club house is open as many members will be taking their holidays.
Charles, VK4BTC, has just completed the building of his K3 radio and is
extremely pleased with the result despite a small technical hitch that was
corrected very quickly with a rapid email from the States.
Peter, VK4EA, is in the process of raising a new tower at his QTH and
club President David, is closer to the completion of his 2 metre homebrew
amplifier. Meanwhile if the rain goes away for a couple of days, Charlie,
VK4YZ will be increasing the size of his doublet antenna to almost twice its
old size.
Well that is the news for this week and until next time its 73 from Ray, VK4CF.
TABLELANDS RADIO AND ELECTRONICS CLUB
vk4wat@wia.org.au
www.treclub.org.au
G'day again, this is Dale VK4DMC for the Tablelands Radio and Electronics
Club, TREC, in Far North Queensland.
It's that time of year here in the Far North where we spend time disconnecting
and reconnecting antennas and feedlines from our shack due to the wet season
build up and accompanying lightning activity. Damned annoying when the 6 metre
band is just starting to fire-up.
TREC members spent a few hours last Saturday, the fourth, at our annual
breakup/Christmas party at the Tolga Hotel. Around 20 members and family
enjoyed a great feed followed by yet another "TREC TRIVIA CHALLENGE"
The winning team was the "Pathetics" a truly magnificent two man team,
Ron VK4ZJR and Gary VK4FD who, with a great wealth of trivia knowledge
between them, clinched the winners prize.
TREC has one more meeting for the year which will happen on Saturday the 18th
December at the clubrooms in Atherton.
Visit the TREC website at www.treclub.org.au for further information and you
can also download the latest monthly news in TREC-NEWS.
This has been Dale VK4DMC.
TARC does Australia Day
Get out your corked hats and throwing thongs - TARC will be out in the field
for Australia Day (provided the venue does not get too aquatic) at the famous
Loam Island ARDF Grounds and Shelter from 11-30am Wednesday January 26th.
BYO everything and engage in aussie fun and mirth - and even do some radio
things too ! Bring the family, bring the lagerphone, bring the esky but don't
bring the mozzies!
VK5
New digital commercial television licences for Riverland, Mount Gambier
and the Spencer Gulf region of South Australia.
14th of October saw the Gulf come up digital only, the 2 new WIN licences
for Mt Gambier and the Riverland will see, under the government's digital
television switchover timetable, all analogue TV services in the Riverland and
Mount Gambier/South East licence areas switched off 15 December 2010.
The Broadcasting Services Act 1992 provides for the allocation of an
additional commercial television broadcasting licence in markets where only
two commercial television broadcasting licences are in force. The services
to be broadcast under the licences are to operate in a digital mode only.
VK6
Western Australian Amateurs will be gathering for a BBQ next Sunday December 19
at lunch time at Synergy Parkland on May Drive in Kings Park.
Guest at the BBQ will be the President of the Wireless Institute of Australia,
Michael Owen VK3KI who has been looking for an opportunity to visit VK6 and
was pleased to accept this invitation.
He's looking forward to talking with you and will no doubt address the group.
This venue has free electric BBQs, parking, a kiosk and a caf, and playground
and adventure stuff for kids.
So, mark the date in your calendar - Sunday 19th December, lunchtime, Synergy
Parkland, Kings Park. BYO everything.
While in Perth, Michael will be meeting with Club representatives and the
VK6 Advisory Group at the Neil Penfold State Amateur Radio Centre on
the Saturday prior, 18th December, at 2pm.
VK7
local area news :- http://reast.asn.au/news.php
vk7 local news, email vk7regionalnews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
North West Tasmanian Amateur Television Group
Slow Scan TV Gateway Upgrade.
The Club's SSTV Gateway (VK7RTV) is currently undergoing a software upgrade.
This is completely revised software running SlowScan TV.net and is written to
run on windows employing XP and above, utilising .NET 4 Framework
The advantages or otherwise of this revised operating system has still to be
evaluated, with on air testing and adjustments etc. being refined.
It is anticipated that the gateway will soon be back on air using 145.625 for
local sstv users.
(Tony VK7AX, News Officer - NWTATVG)
EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO
www.hamcollege.com.au
VK3 Group NERG will run a licence upgrade course in the New Year with the aim
of getting all participants to the advanced level.
The course will run one night per week for several weeks and those interested
should contact Greg VK3VT via e-mail or phone.
vk3vt@nerg.asn.au
94 32 05 63.
Congratulations to the following people who recently passed assessments.
Scott VK7FRRT standard assessment,
Tony VK7FTCL also passed his standard assessment,
Roger VK7FRJS advanced assessment,
Roger VK7HMH also passed his advanced assessment and Leigh passed his
foundation licence and is looking for VK7FLAR as a callsign.
Congratulations to all who have upgraded and Leigh who has entered this great
hobby of amateur radio.
If you are interested in an amateur radio assessment in the Hobart region
then please contact Reg VK7KK on 0417 391 607, or email
regemm@ozemail.com.au
(Reg VK7KK, REAST Education Officer and Assessor)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
HABEX 3 FLYs SATURDAY 18 DECEMBER 2010
18 December the HABEX team launch a third high altitude balloon.
Carrying various payloads in preparation for a schools launch in 2011
consisting of about 8 schools, this payload is made up of 4 separate
modular units. The primary part of the payload is the controller board which
has been locally designed and built and contains an APRS unit which will
provide the balloon location during the flight.
Also on the board are 8 inputs and outputs that can be configured for
analogue or digital operation. All data will be transferred via the
APRS packets.
Also in the payload will be a beacon transmitting a message in CW on 7023 kHz.
Listeners are encouraged to send QSL cards to ZS6SCI if the beacon was heard.
The Habex team is finalising the data sheet and listeners are encouraged to
visit the HABEX web site.
www.habex.za.net
The RAC (Radio Amateurs of Canada) Board is currently looking at the RAC
membership rate structure.
Among the changes to be made is the introduction of a new membership class
and the adjustment of international rates.
Many members have told RAC that they place a high value on RAC activities
and have asked for a premium membership. RAC is pleased to announce the new
Radio Amateurs of Canada Maple Leaf Operators Membership.
Members in the first year will receive a signed RAC Maple Leaf Operators
Certificate, be listed in TCA, be recognized on the RAC website, and receive
a RAC pin with their call sign and more.
The RAC Maple Leaf Operators Membership is $100 per year and is available on
automatic renewal.
Neutron bomb inventor Sam Cohen, who in 1958 designed the nuclear weapon
intended to kill people but do minimal damage to cities, has died in
Los Angeles at 89 of stomach cancer.
The neutron bomb used tiny particles that could whiz through objects with
little damage but still kill we humans.
Cohen also helped build the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan in WW2.
=============================================================================
NEWS FROM ARNEWSLINE
FCC GOES AFTER MAINLAND CHINA CELLULAR JAMMER SUPPLIER
The FCC has issued an Official Citation to the mainland China based company
Jammer World and its on-line subsidiary TheJammerStore dot com. This, for
marketing unauthorized radio frequency devices in the United States in
violation of the Communications Act and Section 2.803(a)(1) of the Commission's
rules.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, has the details:
According to the FCC Citation, this past July 20th an agent
from the Enforcement Bureau's Columbia Office viewed Jammer
World's web site. There he observed an advertisement for a
device listed as a "Handheld GPS and Cell Phone Jammer Mini GPJ."
On July 21, 2010, the agent made an undercover buy on-line,
and received the device through the mail from New Century
Technology Limited. The agent conducted tests and confirmed
that the device jams signals in the Cellular Telephone Band
from 845 to 975 MHz, the PCS Band from 1800 to1996 MHz and G-P-S
frequency of 1575.42 MHz.
Based on this and other findings, the FCC Citation tells
Jammer World that if it continues to violate the
Communications Act or the Rules by engaging in sales to
customers in the United States, the Commission may impose
monetary forfeitures of up to $16,000 for each such
violation or each day of a continuing violation and up to
$112,500 for any single act or failure to act. In addition,
violations of the Communications Act or the Rules can result
in seizure of equipment through forfeiture actions, as well
as criminal sanctions, including imprisonment.
The only problem with this citation is that the company is
located in Shenzhen China and the Chinese government has a
long record of not cooperating with the United States in
matters involving on-line sales by mainland China based
companies. Without the Chinese governments cooperation,
collecting a fine or forcing the company to not sell mail
order to customers in the United States may be an impossible task.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
As we go to air, TheJammerStore dot com was still offering cell phone and
GPS jamming devices for sale, worldwide.
TWO HAMS IN NEW ISS CREW SOON TO LAUNCH
Meantime, replacements for the now returned space
adventurers will soon be on their way to orbit. On December
17th a new trio of flight engineers are expected to arrive
at the I-S-S following a December 15th launch. They are
identified U.S. astronaut Catherine Coleman, KC5ZTH, the
European Space Agency's Paolo Nespoli, whose call is IZ0JPA
and Russian cosmonaut Dmitry Kondratyev.
OPERATIONAL NEWS -
SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2010-11
Dec 10 ARRL 2010 ARRL 10 Meter Contest 0000 U-T-C through Sunday evening
December 12th at 2359 U-T-C.
Jan 1-31 WIA ROSS HULL MEMORIAL VHF/UHF
Jan 1 AMSAT 2011 Straight Key Night (SKN)
Straight Key Night on OSCAR, 2011 is conducted by AMSAT for radio amateurs
throughout the world.
This year's event is dedicated to the memory of Dick Peacock, W2GFF, who died
this year aged 91. Dick was an active satellite operator in the 1970s and 80s,
mostly on CW and usually with a straight key and could always be counted on
for a kind word and a friendly QSO.
There are no rules, no scoring and no logs required. Just operate CW on any
OSCAR satellite, using a straight hand key, from 0000 UTC to 2400 UTC on 1 Jan
working as many SKN stations as you can..
In keeping with the friendly nature of this event, each participant is asked
to nominate one of the operators worked for "Best Fist." It is not necessary
that your nominee have the best fist of anyone you heard, just of those you
worked.
Please send your nomination to w2rs@amsat.org
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
TARC JMFD 2011
theTARCinc will be participating in the John Moyle Field Day weekend
from Friday afternoon 18th to Sunday afternoon 20th March 2011 at
the Girl Guides Association of Queensland Baden Powell Campsite and
Training Centre, Toolakea Beach Road, Bluewater.
(newsreader help - Toolakea pronounced Tool - a - kia :-) )
Camp under the trees or in the mobile shack/chariot at Possum Valley
Emu Parade Pioneers Reach Wallaby Park Bowers Crest or Lanos Ridge Campsites
or Sleep in the dorm at Bluewater House.
Portable operation is the go so make sure you bring plenty of batteries
and whisper quiet
JMFD 2011, its only a half hour drive from the Thuringowa Central CBD!
(newsreader help - Thuringowa pronounced Thur - ing - gaw - wa :-) )
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, REPEATER BEACON DX AND NET ADVICE
hf nets ON the net, www.timroberts-vk4yeh.id.au/
Heath VK6TWO the Western Australian Repeater Group President says that
the group has been providing Amateur Repeater services to WA for several
decades and has recently had a significant injection of enthusiasm.
the W.A.R.G. has been VERY busy this year with several projects and activities
taking place. Probably the most significant of the activities was the
WIA's Centenary Celebrations through use of the VK100WIA callsign throughout
the event called "Super Springtime" as detailed on the front cover of the
November edition of AR Magazine.
Super Springtime also saw two simultaneous public displays of AR at Wireless
Hill and the Perth Royal Show for the duration of the event.
YouTube footage can be found
www.youtube.com/user/VK3TWO
If you're in WA, and want to know what's going on around you, check out the
WAHAMS Google group
http://groups.google.com/group/wahams
WARG currently has over a dozen sites hosting X repeaters, x APRS Digipeaters,
X Packet Digipeaters, and 2 beacons including the DXCF International DX beacon.
The groups extensive repeater footprint is made good use of regularly by the
WIA News Broadcast Team with their world acclaimed WIA national news service.
Listen here now
http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- APRS (AVRS)
Automatic Voice Relay System: AVRS
The major initiative that has been driving just about everything new in APRS
since the 2001 time-frame has been making sure that APRS can support the
signalling and information system needed so that hams can TEXT or VOICE to
any other ham anywhere at any time using any device and any VOIP system
knowing only a callsign.
The TEXT version of Universal hamradio Text Messaging is covered on
www.aprs.org/aprs-messaging.html and a Sep 09 QST article.
The VOICE version, called Automatic Voice Relay System is on:
www.aprs.org/avrs.html
D-STAR is another part of this global AVRS initiative. D-Star can already
connect voice using call-to-call addressing. Echolink, IRLP and WIRES can do
it also using APRS as the callsign, and node locator.
Bob Bruniga WB4APR and his team have been working on this for now a decade and
are making progress.
There are still lots more little interfaces and gateways that are needed to
connect everything together. For example, a D-STAR user could establish or
receive an Echolink or IRLP voice link if someone simply wrote the gateway
interface. APRS then extends this to the mobile analogue user via the APRS object
and FREQ QSY system to get him on the right RF frequency.
After 9 years, the hardware and mechanisms are now in place.
Now to get all the smart programmers and egos in the same room and get them
cross connected.
(Bob, WB4APR)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ATV (Every pixel tells a story) - Video
arvideonews.com
hamradiotube.com
youtube.com
qdg.com.au
ZL Hams multiplex four video and audio streams
The data compression, inherent in all forms of digital television, permits the
simultaneous transmission of many video and audio streams in the bandwidth
previously occupied by one analogue television transmission.
This technique is a feature of Broadcast digital television.
On Saturday, the 4th of December, a group of Wellington and Hutt Valley
Radio Amateurs simultaneously multiplexed four video and audio streams into
one digital television transmission, using low cost equipment.
The transmission was centred on 1282 MHz, in accordance with the NZART
bandplan and occupied 1274 to 1290 MHz, the same bandwidth as one analogue
FM television transmission.
DVB-S modulation format was used, receivable on an unmodified satellite
TV set-top box.
Further development and testing is planned, with the aim of transmitting the
four video and audio streams within an 8 MHz bandwidth, half that used by the
above tests, using the DVB-T modulation format, receivable on an ordinary
Digital Terrestrial television receiver.
Team leader was led by Doug, ZL2TAR.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL
Australian Coordinator for TCPIP domains is Indy vk2xb@wia.org.au
New Amateur Radio digital mode - V4
V4 is a new data mode optimized for amateur radio keyboard contacts using
Viterbi FEC and 4FSK modulation.
It is designed to provide good copy even in weak signal or poor propagation
conditions.
V4 can be implemented on most computers using standard PC sound cards with
radio interfaces.
An Alpha version of the software can be downloaded from the files section of
their V4 Protocol Yahoo Group.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/V4Protocol/
V4 Protocol and V4 Chat document
http://www.winlink.org/webfm_send/169
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
French concerns over 1.2 GHz band
French ATV Association (ANTA) have raised concern regarding the use of the
Amateur Radio 23cm band by the Galileo and Glosnass satellite navigation
systems. The EU Galileo system will use 1260-1300 MHz while the Russian
Federation Glosnass system will be on 1240-1260 MHz. Both system are expected
to be operational by 2015.
www.anta-asso.fr
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
WICEN - DATES FOR EDEN CREEK HORSE ENDUROS 2011
5 - 6 March
28 - 29 May
13 - 14 August
Mark down and plan for these as Summerland Amateur Radio Club need
plenty more operators.
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- STAMP COLLECTING AMATEURS
radiostamps@yahoogroups.com
CUBA 2010 - Television stamp
The Cuban Postal Administration has issued a stamp to commemorate the 60th
anniversary of Television in Cuba, of course a First Day Cover is also
avalable.
(FABIO FLOSI.radiostampsman@yahoo.com.br)
LOWDOWN
8.970 kHz - DK7FC's latest tests
received signals are visible (live) on VLF grabber at
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/15047843/xbm_grab.jpg
Continuing the magical exploits of Roger G3XBM.
G3XBM has received the latest VLF transmissions by DK7FC on 8.970kHz at a
distance of 669km, the signal was also received by 4X1RF in Israel at 2873km!
Reception was on his 20m spaced earth electrode antenna (!) into a small
FET tuned preamp and Spectrum Lab software.
The signal was weak but correlates well with the signals also received by
others across Europe and, amazingly, by 4X1RF in Israel at some 2873kms!
DK7FC's 100mW ERP VLF signal was copied and recorded by 4X1RF at this
astounding distance of 2873km, signal levels suggest that transatlantic
amateur VLF reception may indeed be possible in the near future.
Several other stations across Europe (4X counts as Asia!) also copied Stefan's
signals.
This is indeed a whole new frontier for amateur radio.
REWIND
THAT FINAL ITEM: THE SONY WALKMAN - SK
And finally this week, as the holiday gift giving season
approaches we are kind of sad to report that the famed Sony
Walkman will likely be on dealer shelves for the last time
this year. This is because Sony has announced that the
thirty-one year old cassette tape based unit is being phased
out of production. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant,
K6PZW, is here with our final goodbye:
The Sony Walkman -- the cassette tape player that forever
changed music listening habits before becoming outdated by
digital MP3 players -- has become a sort of silent key,
this after Sony announced on October 25th that it has
stopped production of the cassette tape player in Japan -
effectively sounding the death knell of the now-obsolete
portable audio device.
If you're looking to put a date in the Walkman's tombstone,
then October 25, 2010, is as good as any. Perhaps October
23, 2001, the day the Apple iPod was launched, is the better
date. But none of the success of Apple's portable music
players and those of other manufacturers would have ever
happened without the Sony cassette tape Walkman.
Some 220 million Walkman players were sold since the first
model, the TPS-L2, debuted in July 1979. It was developed
under the stewardship of Sony founders Akio Morita and
Masaru Ibuka. Morita insisted the device be focused on high
quality mobile playback which was considered a relatively
odd idea at the time.
Originally called the "Soundabout" in the U.S., Sony quickly
replaced the Soundabout name with the Walkman designation.
It retailed for around $200 was an immediate sensation. In
fact, it was quickly hailed by supporters as a total
revolution in mobile music listening.
But more than just portability, the Walkman fostered a
personalization of one's music. In fact, the Walkman was
also the father of the so-called mixtape. For the first
time, music listening was something you could make very
personal by arranging songs in the order you wanted to hear
to them. It was also a way of courting a future spouse or
love interest during the 1980's and 1990's.
For those of you too young or simply unfamiliar with this
process, making a mixtape typically entailed gathering
songs, putting them all on a cassette in the order you
wanted them played, labelling the tape with care and giving
it to a love interest in school or elsewhere.
The Walkman didn't disappear as much as it was improved upon
by its creators and others. Sony continued to use it as a
brand, but the company long ago surrendered style to Apple
and the ubiquitous iPod. But one day the iPod will likely go
the way of the 45 RPM record, the L.P. and the Walkman. When
that happens in some far distant time, that generation will
be waxing nostalgic about its passing just as we are today
about the Walkman as it becomes a part of electronic
history.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW,
looking for my earphones and cassette tapes in Los Angeles.
The Walkman is survived by the CD-based Sony Discman and
hundreds of Chinese-made knock-off tape based players. It's
also revered by those music listeners who think using a
Walkman in this day-and-age is charmingly out-of-touch.
(Compiled from various published news reports)
SOCIAL SCENE
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
Feb 27 vk3 YARRA VALLEY HAMFEST at Gary Cooper Pavilion 16 Anzac Av
Yarra Glen. Opens 10am-2pm.
( www//yarravalley.ar.org.au)
Apr 9 vk6 Hills Amateur Radio Group Swapmeet at club rooms Lesmurdie.
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)
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