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WIANEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING JAN 09 2011.
Rockhampton Flood 2011.
WIA has a new membership brochure.
2011 WIA National Field Day.
Public Safety Communications Training in Townsville postponed
HUNTING LIONS IN THE AIR
WIA NEWS 53.575FM ORIGIN UNKNOWN
ALL UP AND COMING IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF
AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING JANUARY 9 2011.
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Rockhampton Flood 2011.
Following widespread rains over the past several weeks, Queensland's Fitzroy
River is currently in full flood, with water inundating towns on its movement
downstream.
The Fitzroy basin, covering some 53,000 square kilometres is Australia's
second largest river system.
After completely drowning some towns such as Theodore in its more western
tributaries, then devastating the larger town of Emerald of 12,000 people,
Rockhampton, population 75000, is now facing what could be its second largest
flood in recorded history.
The city is already totally isolated with airport, all feeder highways and
rail links underwater . Sadly, several lives have been lost as a result of
flood related incidents..
As well as the obvious effect on agriculture and tourism which are major
industries in the area, 75% the Fitzroy Basin's coalfields which supply 50% of
the world's coking coal are looking at relatively long term inactivity.
January 4th, I spoke with Rockhampton Regional Mayor, Brad Carter who
was satisfied that water supply, and sewage would be maintained, as would
electricity supply, except in inundated sectors. In excess of 400 homes under
threat and a total of 4000 properties may be affected.
The Mayor's advisors had indicated that the flood peak may be close, but due
to the many factors involved, could give no assurances. At this time his
greatest concerns were follow on effects from the flood, including health and
hygiene issues and the cost to property and utilities, which may run into
billions of dollars.
Rockhampton and District Amateur Radio Club President, Jack Chomley VK4JRC has
a good number of club members on standby and registered with State Emergency
Service and the Disaster Management Committee , with suitable equipment
available for activation if the situation worsens, for relief of emergency
workers or particularly in the case of power failure.
Fortunately, amateur radio operators contacted in upstream areas have also not
been called upon for assistance at this time.
The River is expected to take several weeks to return to its normal level.
( vk4vil audio )
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
WIA has a new membership brochure.
The new DL size brochure carefully sets out the many valuable benefits of
WIA membership in an easy to read, easy to understand format.
WIA Emergency Comms Training - Registrations Filling Quickly
The first WIA Emergency Communications Operators courses, received over 20
registrations in the first week alone.
Centenary Merchandise - Last Chance
Limited Edition WIA Centenary Merchandise and memorabilia is available until
Monday the 31st of January the day the final order will be placed with the
suppliers.
Read the details in full at our only official website, wia.org.au
2011 WIA National Field Day.
The date for the 2011 WIA NFD has been set as Sunday the 17th of April 2011.
As we previously reported here on WIA National News, feedback from operators
was received, requesting a change from the October date of the 2010 event.
The WIA also wished not to clash with major VK related contests.
Several ideas were offered and the suggestion to have the event close to the
IARU World Amateur Radio Day, April 18th, seemed to provide a news worthy
story. The IARU have set the theme for the next World Amateur Radio Day
as "Amateur Radio: The first technology-based social network"
The WIA has now also adopted "Amateur Radio: The first technology-based social
network" as the theme for the WIA national Field Day 2011, to align with the
IARU celebration.
Clubs are encouraged to highlight the 17th of April on their calendars and
start to consider their eye-catching locations during the seasonal holiday
period.
Remember this event is primarily a Public Relations activity aimed at the
maximum exposure of your club and the hobby of Amateur Radio to the public.
HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
VK2
web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm
VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news
Amateur Radio New South Wales has been issuing certificates to those members
with 40 or more years of membership, first with the NSW Division and then with
ARNSW.
If you have not received a certificate and would like one please contact ARNSW
Email to office@arnsw.org.au
Leave a voice message on 02 9651 1490
VK3
web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/
VKC Roundup http://www.police
Jan 16 vk3 Western & Northern Suburbs Amateur Radio Club Family Day
Bundoora Park
www.wansarc.org.au/downloads/FILES/Family%20Day%202011.pdf
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/
Public Safety Communications Training in Townsville postponed
The sessions of Public Safety Communications Training that were proposed to be
held in Townsville on the weekends of 29-30 January and 26-27 February have
been postponed due in part to only half the number of registrations of
interest required being received.
VK4 SILENT KEYS @ 2010 - 2011 QAC YEAR
VK4MWT Tom Bowden November 14 2010 Advised by Gavin VK4ZZ
VK4SS Alan Shawsmith November 23 2010 Advised by Stephen VK4JSS
VK4CK Colin King December 30 2010 Advised by Gary vk4ar
VK4AMO Mike O'Callaghan January 02 2011 advised by Dale vk4dmc
It is with deep regret that we report another Silent Key.
Colin King, VK4CK, late of Keperra in Brisbane, passed away peacefully after
a short illness on 30th December, 2010, aged 88 years.
Col graduated from the Australian Radio College in Sydney and started work in
his home town at the Wagga Wireless Distributors. He enrolled in the
RAAF Reserve in 1941, and like many others of that era, Col signed up to the
Air Force in April 1942.
He trained as a "wireless operator / air-gunner" and served with 14 Squadron
based at Pearce, Western Australia, conducting submarine patrols and convoy
duties over the Indian Ocean and with 100 Squadron operating Beaufort Bombers
in the South West Pacific where he survived 87 strike missions and was
promoted to flying officer.
After the war Col worked as a technician for broadcast station 2CO,
ABC Riverina at Corowa NSW and as an aeradio operator for the Department of
Civil Aviation at Mascot airport in Sydney.
Following further studies, Col was admitted into membership of the Institution
of Radio and Electronics Engineers, Australia. He served in various positions,
including secretary and Chairman of the Brisbane Division, and was later
awarded honorary membership.
Col joined the Postmaster General's Department (PMG) and moved to Queensland
to work as a radio inspector, initially in Townsville in 1960 and then in
Brisbane from 1962. On his retirement in 1982, he held the executive position
of Superintendent of the Radio Branch in Queensland for the then Department of
Communications.
It was during the late 1960's that Col's interest in amateur radio grew and he
was licensed as VK4CK. He also had an interest in astronomy and received an
award from the American Smithsonian Institute for tracking artificial
satellites.
Col was a very energetic man, and apart from his involvement with many clubs
and associations, he found time to write and publish some books. One such
book is the "Song of the Beauforts" that records the exploits of the airmen
of the first Australian Beaufort squadron in action in World War II. It is
now in its second print. Col's passion for the Australian made Beaufort bomber
drew him to the group that is currently restoring a famous war-bird (A9-141)
to flight status in a hanger at the Caboolture Air Field, just north of
Brisbane. He was instrumental in restoring the radio equipment that will go
back into the aircraft.
During an interview with Kerry O'Brien on the ABC's "The 7.30 Report" in 2002,
Col explained that "Australians can look upon a Beaufort as a symbol of what
Australia can do".
Col's funeral was held on Thursday, 6th January, 2011.
( Written by Gary Ryan VK4AR )
It is with sadness that I have to inform you that TREC Member Mike O'Callaghan
VK4AMO became a silent key on 2 January 2011 in Cairns at the age of 74
following a long illness.
Mike was first licensed in 1968 in Cairns and held the call VK4ZMO.
A long term member of the Tablelands Radio and Electronics Club and one of the
founding members of the Cairns Amateur Radio Club Mike will be sadly missed by
his many friends both here in FNQ and around the world.
He was laid to rest in Cairns on Friday 6 January at a private family service.
Vale Mike O'Callaghan VK4AMO - SK "Rest in Peace"
( Written by Dale McCarthy VK4DMC )
Welcome to QNews from VK4WIA. I'm Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP and I've been thinking.
Just to restate a point that I have made before; it has been the capacity of
the radio amateurs that I have known, over the years, to share their interest
in this hobby. This is the point that I have made that we will grow our
membership more by the enthusiasm of individuals than by any other means.
To step back a little - it is the skills and experience of many people that
bring the web pages, the magazines and news broadcasts to us. It is the
capacity of individuals to work together that builds our clubs and interest
groups. It is the enjoyment of the activities that stimulate our grey cells
that enables us all to tell the story which will engage a budding enthusiast
to join the hobby.
Just remember that many of us manage to do some jobs well but each of us is
an individual who has strengths that we can share. It can be as important to
exhibit proper operating procedure as it is knowing how to mark out the lines
that allow cutting material for a home brew project. It can be as important
to bring some-one into a working shack and demonstrating how to do certain
things as it is to take a photo for the club newsletter.
In other words, each of us have the opportunity to do what those who preceded
us did for us, share our hobby. Have you told some one about amateur radio,
this week?
I'm Geoff Emery and that is what I think......how about you?
CLUBBING -
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.
TREC members are gearing up for the Summer VHF/UHF Field Day to be held next
weekend. We will be operating again from Hallorans Hill near Atherton (QH22rr)
on the 6M, 2M, 70 cm, 23 cm and 3cm bands. Listen out for VK4WAT & say G'day.
TREC members would like to wish listeners a Happy and Safe New year with good
DX.
Visit the TREC website at www.treclub.org.au for club information - you can
also download the latest monthly news in TREC-NEWS.
This has been Dale VK4DMC and you are listening to the WIA news.
VK5
Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society's Hamfest: November 20th 2011
Commercial vendors and second hand sellers in attendance. Displays and
demonstrations. Goodwood Community Centre, Rosa St Goodwood. Entry for sellers
0730 and trading commences at 0930. Tea, coffee, snacks and BBQ available.
Visit www.ahars.com.au for contact details
ACMA NEWS
Emergency services win from new spectrum plan
State and Federal Emergency Services will be able to better interoperate as a
result of new arrangements to harmonise government spectrum use.
After a comprehensive review of spectrum arrangements in the 400 MHz band,
the Australian Communications and Media Authority has released implementation
plans and timeframes to facilitate to new arrangements in the band.
'The harmonisation of government spectrum use in the 400 MHz band provides an
unprecedented opportunity for significant gains in essential and emergency
service interoperability between and amongst state and federal government
agencies,' said ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman.
It is intended to finalise transition to these arrangements by end of 2015
in congested areas, and by end of 2018 in others.
Follow the ACMA online
ACMA - See www.acma.gov.au for updates and other social media activities
Twitter - at acmadotgov
Facebook - at acmadotgov
SILENT KEY
VK4CK Colin King December 30 2010
Col aged 88 will be remebered by many an old timer as a Queensland Radio
Inspector, initially in Townsville in 1960 and then in Brisbane from 1962.
On his retirement in 1982, he held the executive position of Superintendant
of the Radio Branch in Queensland for the then Department of Communications.
In the QNEWS section of todays news (http://www.wiaq.com/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3)
Gary Ryan VK4AR ( from the ACMA ) writes a glowing tribute to Silent Key VK4CK.
Col's funeral was held on Thursday, 6th January.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
Major effort to 'clean' SARL database underway
A team of volunteers under the leadership of the SARL Database Administrator,
Colin de Villiers, ZS6COL, are working on the SARL database in order to update
the call book and free-up many amateur radio call signs that appear not to
have been in use for many years.
It is a rather complex database that takes into account duplicate call signs
held by members, Special Event call signs and also retains details of
Silent Keys for a number of years in order to handle QSL cards that have been
known to arrive as much as 10 years after the contact was made.
SARL PREPARING DOCUMENTATION TO INCREASE 160 METRE ALLOCATION
The SARL is preparing documentation to have access to more of the 160 metre
band for amateur communication in South Africa. ZS hams have been asked to
make input by sending their views why it is necessary to expand the very
narrow allocation currently available to South African amateurs.
The SARL proposal will be presented at the next SARL/ICASA liaison meeting
planned February.
Broadband Powerline Communications making a comeback?
Polluting Broadband Powerline Communications (PLC) - the technology that ruins
peoples' enjoyment of radio - is to be trialled in Liverpool in 2011, 5 years
after the technology was last used in the UK.
It's understood that the trial is being run by Scottish Power and Plus Dane
Homes.
Read the full story at
www.ukfast.co.uk/internet-news/broadband-powerline-communications-making-a-comeback.html
STAR LINE
When visitors to Grand Central Terminal look up, the stars will be shining
once again. That's because the backwards-painted zodiac on the green-hued
ceiling has new LED lights!
These energy efficient LED lights replaced fibre optic ones installed 14 years
ago but burned out a year ago. The original incandescent bulbs were equally
groundbreaking when they were installed in 1913, but they were difficult to
replace, being on the ceiling of the station's main concourse, 125 feet
above the platforms.
=============================================================================
NEWS FROM ARNEWSLINE USA
DUB CHARMAN G6CJ AERIAL CIRCUS NOW ON VIDEO
If you are in need of an interesting program for your next radio club meeting,
listen up. The British Amateur Television Club has made available on-line a
historic video of Dud Charman, G6CJ, and his world famous Aerial Circus.
Dud Charman G6CJ was the United Kingdom's antenna guru for amateur radio
aerials. There was nothing Dud did not know about the subject and it was this
knowledge that was used to bring the subject to life in a lecture known as
The Aerial Circus.
The very last time G6CJ performed this lecture was in 1981. The Bristol ATV
group recorded it using an early Ampex video recorder. Later, with a little
help from broadcaster HTV, it was copied and edited to 1" Type C and then
vaulted to preserve its historic value
This very interesting piece of ham radio history has been in the British
Amateur Television Club archive since the 1980's. Now it has been made
available for public showing. To watch it online go to www.batc.tv
and click on the "Archive" icon. Then select Dud Charman which is near the
bottom of the drop down list.
A copy of the video in Adobe Flash format can also be downloaded at
tinyurl.com/22q5pvc
FIRST MEASUREMENTS MADE OF MAGNETIC FIELD IN EARTHS CORE
A University of California at Berkeley geophysicist has made the first-ever
measurement of the strength of the magnetic field inside Earth's core at
1,800 miles underground.
Bruce A. Buffett, professor of earth and planetary science at UC Berkeley is
the study's author. He found that the magnetic field strength is 25 Gauss, or
50 times stronger than the magnetic field at the surface that makes compass
needles align north-south. Though this number is in the middle of the range
geophysicists predict, it puts constraints on the identity of the heat sources
in the core that keep the planets internal dynamo running to maintain this
magnetic field.
Professor Buffett indicates that the result is not controversial, but do rule
out a very weak magnetic field and argues against a very strong one. Buffett
says that a weak field of 5 Gauss or so would imply that little heat is being
supplied by radioactive decay. On the other hand a strong field on the order
of 100 Gauss, would imply a large contribution from radioactive decay.
The results are published in the December 16th issue of the journal Nature
with excerpts in Science Daily. More on this fascinating research can be found
at tinyurl.com/2eh9n42
THE AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY VS ALL INDIA RADIO
Telecommunications interests in India, including ham radio have been meeting
to decide who should be allotted what frequency bands in that nation.
According to an article in India's Daily News & Analysis on-line technical
newspaper, the meetings are a part of the ongoing talks on the revised
National Frequency Allocation Plan or N-F-A-P for the next decade.
Among those crossing each others' path are Amateur Radio Society of India and
state-owned All India Radio. In a meeting held in November, it was decided
that the proposal of the Amateur Radio Society of India for some frequency
bands shall be examined as per the International Telecommunications Union
Regulations, and that views of All India Radio must be considered as well.
Exactly what issues exist between the two was not spelled out in the news
article.
India's Department of Telecommunications is targeting sometime in 2012 to put
in place the new National Frequency Allocation Plan. This, as per the
requirements of the industry and technological developments. Currently,
government agencies and companies across all sectors are following a national
plan that was put into place back in 2008.
IBM DEVELOPS NEW CMOS TECHNOLOGY
Researchers at IBM have unveiled a chip technology called CMOS Integrated
Silicon Nanophotonics, integrating electrical and optical devices on the
same piece of silicon.
According to IBM, this means computer chips will be able to communicate using
pulses of light instead of electrical signals, boosting power efficiency and
speed, while miniaturizing the chips themselves. IBM claims this new CMOS
technology provides at least a ten fold improvement in integration density
than is feasible with current manufacturing techniques.
For more information please take your web browser to
tinyurl.com/29tr3na
SA AMSAT TO LAUNCH TWO NEW BIRDS
South Africa AMSAT announced on their web page that they plan to launch
two satellite projects with totally different design approaches and time lines.
Both of these birds will be of the CubeSat design. The first will focus on
providing a FM transponder that will be available on most passes over
South Africa and will have a short time line to launch. This FM Transponder
CubeSat which has yet to be named, will be based on a standard available space
frame and sub system with a locally designed payload. The project will be
coordinated by Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BPZ.
The second bird called SAiSAT focuses on an innovative approach to the
deployment of fold-out solar panels. The project is aimed at getting Master
and PhD students involved in the development and design of various payloads
and substructures.
A detailed paper on SAiSAT will be released in the next two weeks on
www.amsatsa.org.za
Both satellite projects will the subject of papers to be presented at the
South African AMSAT Space Symposium to be held on 26 March.
=============================================================================
WEIRD AND WONDERFUL
We are indebted to http://blogs.marketwatch.com/cody/ for this list of the ten
dumbest tech predictions from past years, read the full list at blogs.marketwatch.com/cody/
BUT here are a few:-
"The 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a
means of communication." Western Union internal memo, 1876.
"Do not bother to sell your gas shares. The electric light has no future."
Professor John Pepper, Victorian-era celebrity scientist sometime in the 1870s.
"Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value." Marechal
Ferdinand Foch, a Professor of Strategy.
"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for
a message sent to no one in particular?" Associates of David Sarnoff
responding to the latter's call for investment in the radio in 1921
OPERATIONAL NEWS -
SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2011
Jan 1-31 WIA ROSS HULL MEMORIAL VHF/UHF
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
Mar 19-20 WIA John Moyle Field Day weekend
HUNTING LIONS IN THE AIR
The radio amateurs and Lions Clubs are planning to observe Saturday 15 January
as an opportunity for Lions Clubs to exchange greetings on the air via
Amateur Radio. The birthday of the founder of Lionism, Melvin Jones, born in
1879 at Ft. Thomas, Arizona USA is commemorated on 13 January.
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, REPEATER BEACON DX AND NET ADVICE
hf nets ON the net, www.timroberts-vk4yeh.id.au/
'Twas the week after Christmas and a huge opening on 6 meters from Sydney VK2
as far a field as Atherton in Far North Queensland VK4 some 1900 kms.
Not to miss out points between from northern NSW and southern VK4 with 53MHz
repeaters in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast easily
accessed in Sydney from around 0100z.
( sourced to vk2wi )
The Central Highlands Amateur Radio Club of Tasmania run a quiz net Thursday
nights on 3.585MHz at 20:30 local Tasmanian time).
This quiz net involves a quizmaster asking a range of questions and each
person contributing an answer and then a tally of correct answers determines
the winner who runs the quiz for the next week.
All amateurs world wide are welcome.
http://www.qsl.net/charct/quiz.htm
UP 2011 Special Event Stations
Members of the Almaty Amateur Radio League in Kazakhstan are organizing the
activation of special event stations that include UN 2011 G and 8 stations
with UP 2011 prefix during the 7th Asian Winter Games between Jan 30 - Feb 6
The suffix of UP2011 stations will imply the abbreviation of the 8 winter
types of sports to be featured during the Games in Kazakhstan.
Some 30 Asian countries are expected to compete in the Games which includes
competitions in 11 different sports for 65 sets of medals.
Look for stations to be active on all HF bands including 30/17/12m using
CW, SSB and the Digital modes
QRV from the Democratic Republic of the Congo is 9Q0HQ/6 on 40/20/15/10/6m.
Until January 11
QSL's go via K3IRV.
A special event station commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of the
Brazilian scientist, inventor and radio pioneer Roberto Landell de Moura
is on air during the month of January.
The call to look for is PS150PLM and QSL's will be sent automatically via the
bureau.
QRV is Senegal until 21st Januarys 6W7SK.
QSL's via F6BLP his home call and also via Logbook of the World.
Eddy ON4AFU will be in Thailand for the next 3 months and will activate HS0ZJF.
HS0ZJF/8 from IOTA AS-101 and as HS0ZJF/9 from IOTA AS-126.
Still on operational news, to Sweers Island now and Lyn, VK4SWE/VK4EI, is on
the air after an upgrade to her antenna farm. Lyn is the only active ham on
IOTA OC-227, Sweers Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria as well as being the
VK4 State Representative for ALARA.
Following pressure from many IOTA chasers, mostly from Europe, Lyn is now
operating 20m-10m using a 3 element triband yagi on a 50' tower. Col, VK4CC
donated the yagi while Harold, VK4ANR donated the tower, his expertise and
labour in erecting the crank up, tilt over tower.
Initial reports from the Asia/Pacific region are extremely encouraging and Lyn
is now looking to take advantage of Sweers Island's low noise floor to share
OC-227 with IOTA chasers worldwide.
Lyn and Harold worked hard to get the upgrade done amidst storms, wind and
rain from the monsoon trough that had brought severe flooding to Qld and parts
of NSW.
So what is next on the agenda?
It has been rumoured that Lyn has been talking to husband Tex about amplifiers
and 6m gear. Keep up the good work Lyn.
THE QNEWS WORK BENCH - the nuts and volts report -
(Measure twice - Cut once!)
Antenna Gantry Made Easy
Ever thought of this as an idea? Well Bob VK4DA has.. and its a 'breeze'.
A kiddies swing set for radio purposes!
Are you wishing to set up additional facilities for your radio shack and need
a gantry to mount some antennae on?
Try a swing set people often throw out when the kids get to old!
Yes a swing frame to mount antennae on.
( sourced to theTARCinc )
MEDIA WATCH
www.cq-amateur-radio.com/WorldRadio.html
VK Club Bulletins http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aarnie/
WIA NEWS 53.575FM # ORIGIN UNKNOWN
If you know of the originating station on 53.575 let us know
by emailing nationalnews@wia.org.au
The news on this 53.575 frequency, which is not listed as a rebroadcaster has
been heard in Townsville at 2300UTC Saturdays (9am local vk4 time).
If you are wondering where to tune to pick up our newscasts, wia.org.au
on the 'weekly broadcast page' shows a list of the stations that transmit
vk1wia and regularly send in reports.
Speaking of tuning, make sure you do have the correct frequency, not like
the pilot of a passenger plane in the USA which lost radio contact
with air traffic controllers in Washington last Saturday week!
FAA officials found the pilot had tuned to the wrong frequency as he
approached Washington, leading to the scrambling of fighter jets and also
led officials to evacuate all House and Senate office buildings.
For some 15 minutes radio contact with air traffic controllers was lost, all
because he appears to have dialled up the wrong frequency!
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- APRS (AVRS)
The VK7HSE-1/VK7HSE-JS IGATE has been migrated to now serve as a Tier2 service.
This will not affect users packets being gated into the APRS-IS as the IGATE
function is still active.
However this service can now be used for Internet connections into the
APRS-IS by your favourite client.
The Tier2 identifier is T2TAS and the on air IGATE callsign is still VK7HSE-1.
Status pages can be viewed on the links available on the email and internet
editions of this broadcast.
Status page can be viewed at http://tasmania.aprs2.net:14501/
or http://150.101.108.109:14501/
(if DNS doesn't resolve) site location map can be viewed at
http://f5vag.nerim.net/php/map_t2.php?server=T2TAS
(Scott VK7HSE, APRS IGATE Guru for Southern VK7)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
FISTS Club - East Asia www.feacw.net
FISTS Club - Australasia www.fistsdownunder.org
FISTS Club - UK & Europe www.fists.co.uk
FISTS Club - Americas www.fists.org
G4FON Morse Trainer
This is free Morse software developed by Ray Goff.
G4FON Koch CW Trainer is now at version 9 and features improved visual style
and integration of a range of different Word, QSO and Test files.
It can be downloaded from
www.g4fon.net
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
OUTGOING
Vietnam CubeSat to launch in 2011
A far cry from "incoming" to now outgoing as Vietnamese Amateur Radio CubeSat
F-1, is being prepared for launch towards the end of 2011.
The F-1 CubeSat will carry 2 independent transceivers using amateur radio
145 and 437 MHz bands. The transmission speed will be 1200bps and higher
using FM AFSK & GMSK modulation, AX.25, KISS protocol.
It will carry a low resolution C328 camera with 640x480 resolution.
The IARU satellite frequency coordination committee have agreed a downlink
frequency of 437.485MHz and it is hoped to launch in the 4th quarter of 2011.
Vietnam F-1 CubeSat on Facebook
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=116436068290
The odometer on the Mars rover Spirit has been stuck at 4.8 miles for more
than 1 1/2 years and has been incommunicado since March.
NASA doesn't know if the Spirit is dead or alive, but it's diligently
listening for any peep as the rover remains mired in a sand trap.
It suddenly stopped talking with Earth last March and is presumed to be in
hibernation to conserve power. During this deep sleep, communications and
other activities are suspended so that energy can go to heating and battery
recharging.
Spirit is designed to try to wake up when its battery gets enough charge.
( read the full story at www.sci-tech-today.com/news/ )
The UFO Traffic Report for January includes selected cases from the Mutual UFO
Network (MUFON) witness reporting database.
UFO ALERT National Ratings Update:
California, Florida, and Texas, ALERT 3, with high concentration of reports;
Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Colorado, ALERT 4, with higher than national
average sightings during the past month.
All other states remain at UFO ALERT 5, with lower numbers of sightings.
You can read more details about other recently reported cases at the UFO
Examiner home page. The most up-to-date UFO information can be heard at
web radio showUFO Traffic Report every Wednesday, 9 - 10:30 p.m. EST,
which includes a UFO Witness Testimony Program segment, and an update of the
UFO ALERT national rating system.
Past shows are available at the Archive page.
Please report UFOs at MUFON.com
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
http://rsgbiota.org
Stuart VK8NSB is interested in hearing from Amateur radio operators who are
interested in going up to Darwin to join him in doing a IOTA DXpedition.
Stuart is planning on doing a couple of IOTA weekends to Islands around the
Northern Territory this year. These will be fly-in-fly-out operations into
Aboriginal communities, so no lugging of Generators or Water onto beach's in
the middle of no where.
If you are interested having a holiday to the Top End in 2011 why not join
Stuart on one of his IOTA DXpedition.
e-mail him, vk8nsb@hotmail.com
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- STAMP COLLECTING AMATEURS
radiostamps@yahoogroups.com
Qatar Amateur Radio Society has issued a commemorative postal stamp.
The December 2010 stamp issued represents the most important achievement of
the society - hosting of the regional conference on amateur radio in April
2010 in the Middle East.
This special postal stamp carries the QARS logo and the logo of the INTERNATIONAL Federation of
Amateur Radio to mark the event.
The membership of QARS has reached more than 500 and is expected to increase
steadily during the coming years.
( radiostamps@yahoogroups.com )
SOCIAL SCENE
2011
Jan 16 vk3 Western & Northern Suburbs Amateur Radio Club Family Day
Bundoora Park
www.wansarc.org.au/downloads/FILES/Family%20Day%202011.pdf
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
Jun 10-12 VK4 Far North and North Queensland Amateur Radio Gathering at
King Reef Resort Kurrimine Beach.
Nov 20 vk5 Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society Hamfest
Goodwood Community Centre, Rosa St Goodwood at 0930.
Visit www.ahars.com.au for contact details
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 3-18 2012 VK5
YL International 2012 Australia (vk5tmc@bigpond.com)
=============================================================================
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Thanks to to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who utilize
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The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of interest to
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We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of Australia
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Opinions expressed in "WIANews" are those of the writers who submit
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WIANews wouldn't go astray...
Compiled by VK4BB on behalf of the National WIA.
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