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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.
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WIANEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING JAN 30 2011.
VK6LA BECOMES OA
Antique Wireless Radio Transmitter found in flood debris.
AUSTRALIA'S MOST WANTED
Riverina Field Day
US 6 meter signals into Eastern Australia
Black Ops, The Aspidistra transmitter
ALL THESE STORIES UP AND COMING IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS
INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING JANUARY 30 2011.
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Lionel ALLEN - VK6LA / VK9CB has been awarded the Medal of the Order of
Australia, the citation reads "For service to the community of Cocos (Keeling)
Islands through the preservation and promotion of local history and heritage"
Lionel had worked on Cocos during the 1960's and after retiring made several
visits to Cocos to activate that rare VK9 location for fellow amateurs.
It was during one of these visits he looked for recorded history of the
Islands and finding only minimal information set about researching the
Cocos Keeling group of islands
Years of painstaking research and many visits later a more comprehensive
picture of Cocos history had evolved and for this, plus his ongoing
involvement with the promotion of Cocos history and heritage, Lionel has been
awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.
Antique Wireless Radio Transmitter found in flood debris.
Radio 4BC in Brisbane along with The Toowoomba Chronicle say that among the
tonnes of flood debris, Lockyer Valley resident Howard Reck thinks he has
stumbled across a family heirloom.
Three days after the region was hit by floodwater, Mr Reck found what he
believed to be a World War II or Korean War antique radio, 30 kilometres
downstream from Grantham.
Speaking on 4BC he explained how it looked like one of those big units seen in
the Mash TV show, but has a Polish name engraved at same stage on the rear of
the metal cabinet.
If you are the item's rightful owner, and can provide information about its
special markings, contact Chronicle reporter Anthea Gleeson, email
anthea.gleeson@thechronicle.com.au
Libraries adopt RFID system
Melbourne Library Service has celebrated a historic milestone, after
implementing technology to enhance the efficiency of user transactions.
Said to be the world's first RFID self-service solution with EFTPOS, it was
implemented in the Melbourne City and East Melbourne Libraries.
While many libraries have installed the RFID technology, this is claimed to be
the first solution that allows users to pay outstanding fines.
The RFID system's use in the Melbourne City Library, which averages 3000
visitors and 3500 loans each weekday, has produced the strongest response,
given the bulk of these transactions were previously conducted by library
staff.
http://www.radiocomms.com.au/news/44730
(Sourced from the Radio Comms E-zine)
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
Field Day Logs Due
Last week VK7 News ran in item attributed to John Martin VK3KM reminding
listeners that the logs for the Summer VHF-UHF Field Day are due by Monday 31
January. So here is VERY late reminder to the rest of Australia!
For those who wish to enter the optional Microwave Challenge, the scoring
sheet has an extra page for you to record the greatest distances worked on
1296 MHz and higher bands. Alternatively, you can include details of distances
worked in the body of your email.
Take a look at the website on the email and internet editions of the broadcast
for more details.
http://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/vhfuhf/
Speaking of logs that need be in or resubmitted, same same goes for the
2010 CQ DX Marathon.
John, K9EL, CQ DX Marathon Administrator, reports log submissions for the
Marathon must be in by 2359Z, tomorrow 31 January 2011.
Please visit http://www.dxmarathon.com for details on submitting your log.
Please note that the DX Marathon E-mail server crashed and was down from
0500Z to 2200Z on January 19th. Any logs sent during that period are
unfortunately lost and will need to be re-submitted. If you are not sure, a
complete list of all logs received is posted on the website.
If you do not see your call, please re-submit.
AUSTRALIA'S MOST WANTED
Low Power Radio Solutions (LPRS), a European supplier of short-range radio
devices, has provided a high-sensitivity, Omni directional Yagi antenna to
four amateur space enthusiasts who have now managed five successful
high-altitude balloon flights into near space.
The balloon is fitted with a computer probe and digital cameras to send
information back to Earth as live internet events.
Spacebits is the brainchild of four technology enthusiasts from Portugal who
have been inspired by recent amateur ballooning projects posted to the
internet.
http://www.radiocomms.com.au/news/44733
Now the web story, and with all items read on this national news web
details are available when you log onto wia.org.au and read the text editions,
is probably of immense interest to one VK4 ham in particular!
Steve VK4KHQ wants to hear from amateurs who have experience or dabbled with
UAV's (Unmanned Aerial Systems, particularly streaming real-time data for
video & telemetry etc.
Please contact Steve VK4KHQ on 07 3409 1135 or vk4khq2@ozemail.com.au
HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
VK1
Notice is hereby given of the annual general meeting of the members of the
Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club Incorporated to be held at Mount
Mugga Mugga Scout Hall, 17 Astrolabe Street, Red Hill, ACT on Wednesday
February 23 at 8.00PM
(Bruce Howard VK2MIB Secretary)
VK2
web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm
VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news
July 31 sees the Riverina Field Day. This is a ham day put on by the
Albury Wodonga amateur Radio Club and opens 10am at the Lavington Scout Group
Hall Lavington with admission $5.00.
Traders, second hand equipment, hot food, free tea and coffee. All welcome.
Places for exhibitors and traders still available, for more information
contact Tom vk2my.
sanders_01@bigpond.com
( Stafford Simpson vk2ast@wia.org.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/
Welcome to QNews from VK4WIA. I'm Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I've been thinking.
Have we all marked our calendars and started planning for the National Field
Day on 17th April, next? This is for amateurs to set up and work the bands in
prominent locations so that the public can meet us as ambassadors of our club
and our hobby. To move the process along, get out the media kit from last
year's Field Day and start bringing the details up to date. The pre-publicity
will pay dividends with people travelling hearing of the event on broadcast
radio, or reading a par in the local newspaper that will improve the public
attendance. If your area has an internet events calendar, ensure that your
event is listed there.
Back in the heyday of CB, there was a popular bumper sticker which stated
"CBers do it on the air." The amateurs popularised a sticker of their own,
"Amateurs talk to the World."
Times have moved on but the basic idea of people communicating still rings out
around the world. The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and our own
WIA have adopted a slogan to be used here in VK-land for the National Field
Day.
A cute combination of words recognising the history and linking with current
technology trends.
"Amateur Radio: The first technology-based social network."
What a way to theme the day.
I'm Geoff Emery and that's what I think....how about you?
Redcliffe and District Radio Club
www.redclifferadioclub.org.au/
I'm Ray, VK4CF with news from Redcliffe Amateur Radio club.
There were about 40 members at the club last Monday night with about half the
members there to participate in the regular monthly fox hunt. Shaun, VK4FY
and his daughter, took the role of planting the fox as the usual fox planter,
Ken, VK4FKEN and his wife Wendy, VK4FWEN were enjoying the delights of the
Great Barrier Reef. Shaun found some new locations to place the fox which
drove both, Charlie, VK4YZ and Peter, VK4TAA, to distraction before finally
finding the elusive quarry.
Ken has been able to maintain contact with the club via echo link and has been
working as a maritime mobile station and completely enjoying himself.
Meanwhile back at the club house, Kev, VK4UH, was sharing the success of his
latest DXpedition to Norfolk Island and told club members that there were many
contacts to both Australia and New Zealand with some 12 yet to be confirmed
records in the 2 metre, UHF and higher bands.
Kev told the group of a possible new record for Australia with a successful
moon bounce contact on 2 metres from Norfolk to Spain. Kev has promised that
he will provide more details of the whole expedition in the form of a
technical talk in a few months time. That is something not to be missed.
Club President, David, VK4DC, showed off his, what he called his United
Nations 2 metre linear amplifier. He calls the linear that name as he had to
source parts from some 15 different suppliers in 12 countries around the
world. The quality of the homebrew construction was excellent and it has been
tested with excellent results. This project took over 4 months to build due
the slow delivery of parts but it is now ready to hit the airwaves very soon.
Many club members were involved with either flood work in the Moreton Bay
District and assisting with the clean-up in the Brisbane area. Well Done Guys,
you should be very proud of your fine work.
It was also pleasing to catch up with Mal, VK4UMS, after his extended holiday
in the US and looking at the photos of the cruise ship and his adventure in
the lap of luxury he spent on his 4 week cruise from LA to the Caribbean and
back. Mal is back off the US again soon to the Dayton Hamfest and we all
hope that the Aussie dollar remains high so he will be able to bring back some
real goodies.
Next Monday night is a general chit chat night and all amateurs are welcome to
visit the club house. It is usually open about 6.30 pm local time and there
is some interesting banter on the Redcliffe Repeater as members make their
way to the clubhouse.
So now it's 73 from Ray, VK4CF and you are listening to QNEWS.
theTARCinc Management Meeting this Tuesday
The Management Meeting of the Townsville Amateur Radio Club happens this
Tuesday 1st of February from 7-30pm at the Club Rooms perched atop the
SES HQ Green Street West End. Make sure you bring along something for the
Show and Tell session, all welcome !
VK7
local area news :- http://reast.asn.au/news.php
vk7 local news, email vk7regionalnews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
The next meetings of the NWT-ATV Group are scheduled for Saturday February 5
at the QTH of Ursula VK7FROO, 24 Malonga Drive, Burnie.
Please note this will be the Club's AGM with a General Meeting following the
AGM.
IF any member would like to try his/her hand at being involved at managing the
Club, here is your chance, Nomination forms are available from the Club.
Amateur Television Activity is percolating along quite well and in recent
times, Ulverstone has been fortunate in having two Coastal Amateurs relocate
to its town.
We are talking about Steve VK7ZSJ and Ross VK7WP, and because they are in
relatively close proximity to Tony VK7AX, a renewed interest in ATV activity
is taking place. Regular ATV transmissions on 70CM. are taking place with all
the daily Amateur Radio Broadcasts from VK7AX being transmitted on 70CM ATV.
(Tony VK7AX, News Officer - North West Tas. ATV Group)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
D-STAR ACTIVE IN JOHANNESBURG
The first digital repeater in Johannesburg is active on the air. The repeater
is on loan for demonstration purposes and is offering amateurs an opportunity
to experiment with D-Star.
While there are other digital on-air technologies being used by amateurs,
D-Star is one of the first on-air and packet-based standards.
D-STAR offer clearer signals and uses less bandwidth than its non-digital
counterparts. As long as the signal strength is above a minimum threshold and
no multi-path is occurring, the quality of the data received is better than
an analogue signal at the same strength.
GB1OOD is issued for the year 2011 by Ofcom as a Special event callsign.
It will be used through out the year to celebrate the 100 years of the Derby
Wireless Club.
They lay claim to being the oldest continually active local wireless club in
the WORLD!
Until 25th of march GB1OOD is operating from the "Silk Mill Museum" in the
City Centre of Derby.
OVER THE HORIZON RADAR ON 7 AND 10 MHZ
The latest issue of the free IARU Monitoring System newsletter reports on
Russian radar in 7 MHz.
The newsletter says that the Over the Horizon Radar from Russia was active
between 7000 and 7200 kHz with burst transmissions on 5 different frequencies
on December 30th of 2010.
The pulse rate was, as always 66.66 pulses per second.
Meantime another Over the Horizon Radar that is based in Cyprus has been
destroying communications on the 10 MHz band every afternoon.
=============================================================================
NEWS FROM ARNEWSLINE USA
QSLING: ARRL LoTW NOW AVAILABLE TO VHF AND UHF OPERATORS
The ARRL has announced that its very popular Logbook of the World has been
upgraded to support awards based on Maidenhead grid squares, such as VUCC and
the Fred Fish Memorial Award.
Logbook of the World ins an online system for hams to use to confirm two-way
contacts. It can also be utilized that can be used for various ARRL awards.
Until now it has been limited to confirming contacts on the high frequency
bands. Now members of the ham community who enjoy operation on 50 MHz and
above can utilize its services as well.
To take advantage of the new features, you need to log in to your Logbook of
the World has account or create one if you are not already as user of the
service. After that, just follow the outlined procedures found on the Logbook
of the World pages. More information on how to do this is at the ARRL website.
Use www.tinyurl.com/5vw4nkd to take you directly there.
ICOM ASKS HELP IN STOPPING COUNTERFEIT IC-V8 HT'S
Icom is out to stop whoever is supplying counterfeit copies of its popular
IC-V8 2 meter hand-held radio. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP,
has the details:
Fake transceivers, battery packs and chargers began being reported in 2010.
Icom says that the difference between a real model IC-V8 handheld and the
knock-off phoney radios are so small that a blind user might not know they are
using a fake radio.
For example, the number 2 key on the real IC-V8 is for the "P Beep" function.
On the fake radio number 2 is "VOX". Also, on the back of the real Icom
product the serial number tag is black while it is white on the fake radio.
Even accessories are being cloned. The F21 Battery Pack looks like an Icom but
there are two differences. The fake does not have the ICOM logo, and carries
the Part Number BP-208 instead of BP209N as found on the real Icom battery.
Lastly, the optional factory remote microphone is designated by Icom as the
HM-133 while the counterfeit is HM-133V. Icom says that a real HM-133V is for
other radios in their product line.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale,
Arizona.
Icom asks that if you find a product that you may suspect is counterfeit,
please report it to the company's support centre. You can contact Icom at
2380 116th Avenue NE, Bellevue, Washington, 98004 in the United States.
Or by phone to area code 425-454-8155.
More about the products mentioned in this story is on-line:
IC-V8 Handheld Radio - http://www.icom.co.jp/world/notice/pdf/V8.pdf
F21 Battery Pack - http://www.icom.co.jp/world/notice/pdf/F21.pdf
HM133 Microphone - http://www.icom.co.jp/world/notice/pdf/2720H.pdf
LISTENER DRIVEN RADIO ADDS NEW FEATURES
Listener Driven Radio, an interactive audio software platform for broadcasters
is adding several new features. The company's SMS text messaging capabilities
now make it possible for listeners to sign up for a text message to their
mobile device when their favourite songs play. Listeners can also receive
alerts via e-mail, AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger,
Jabber and Google Talk.
For those not aware, Listener Driven Radio is a new model for radio, shifting
stations from broadcasts to what it calls crowdcasts. That's where listeners
vote, and a stations programming is affected in real-time. More is on-line at
www.ldrradio.com
GLOBAL TUNES REACHES 55 RECEIVERS WORLD WIDE
You can now access 55 receivers world wide on the Global Tuners dot com
website. Receivers on-line operate a variety of modes including the AM and FM
broadcast bands, the shortwave spectrum, HF and UHF bands in various modes.
Countries currently on-line include the USA, Australia , Finland, France,
Germany , Greece , Italy , Hong Kong , the Netherlands, the Slovak Republic,
Sweden and the United Kingdom to mention only a few. So far there are 33,777
registered members and you will have to sign up for an account if you wish to
control a receiver.
For more information take your web browser to www.globaltuners.com and
global tuners is spelled as one word.
RUSSIA TO RESUME SPACE TOURIST FLIGHTS IN 2013
Listen out for space tourists to once again operating on-orbit from the
International Space Station sometime in or after 2013. This after Russia
announces that it will start selling multimillion-dollar tourist tickets to
the International Space Station after a four-year hiatus.
Virginia-based Space Adventures has had no seats to sell for the zero-gravity
voyage since billionaire Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte flew to the
orbiting outpost back in October 2009. But according to recent news reports,
beginning in 2013 it will again offer three 10 day trips per year to the space
station aboard Russian Soyuz spacecraft. This, thanks to a deal between
itself, the Russian space agency Roskosmos and Soyuz manufacturer R-S-C
Energia.
Russia has again found room for paying private customers aboard the cramped
three-seat Soyuz due to plans to increase annual production of the single-use
craft from four to five in 2013. The Soyuz is carried to orbit by Russian
rockets that are launched from the Bikenour Cosmodrome in Kazikstan.
=============================================================================
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
Feb 26-27 ZL Jock White Field Day
Mar 19-20 WIA John Moyle Field Day weekend
Apr 30 WW Marconi Day 2011 www.gb4imd.org.uk in due
Jock White Field Day 26th and 27th February, stations in ZL it's time to get
your team together for Field Day. Get those antennas sorted and give the
generator set a test run.
The single station 80/40 section will be continued on for 2011 after being a
success last year.
Rule changes are available from Stuart ZL2TW but included in the changes is
the number of CW contacts per band have been reduced from 25 to 20.
(Stuart Watchman)
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, REPEATER BEACON DX AND NET ADVICE
hf nets ON the net, www.timroberts-vk4yeh.id.au/
logging programs try:-
The first reports of US 6 meter signals into Eastern Australia occurred on
January 11th at the turn of the UT Day.
Steve VK3ZAZ says that for several weeks amateurs in ZL1 and ZL3 had made
infrequent contacts with K6MYC, N5JEH and Bob K6QXY who runs a 44 element
array but nothing had extended to Australia.
But on the morning of the 11th Norm VK3DUT logged the K6FV beacon in
California on 50.068 MHZ Grid CM87. This beacon runs 100 watts and a
yagi antenna which at the time was directed towards the South Pacific.
Then Steve VK3OT on tuning the 6M band at 0035 UTC heard CW signals from N5JEH
in New Mexico USA on 50.105 running at around 579. He then tuned up to the
US call channel on 50.125 and encountered W0OGH in DM 43 ii calling CQ on
CW and a two way occurred, the first into USA from VK3 since Cycle 23 in the
year 2000/01!
Other stations active on 6M this month included VK5CP/9L Lord Howe island,
H44DA Solomon's, H40FN Temotu heard by many VK3s who could not break his keyer,
the DU1EV/beacon on 50.006 the AH2G/Beacon on 50.004, KG6DX Joe in Guam,
several VK8s from Darwin, FK8CP and FK8IA and VK0KEV Macquarie Island.
(73 from Steve VK3ZAZ Wannon Victoria).
Blackrock Castle Observatory Cork
North Cork Radio Group will be active EI1NC/P on February 19 and 20 from
Blackrock Castle Observatory a 16th century Castle located 4km from the
heart of Cork city on the banks of the river Lee.
The Castle has seen many uses in its vast history and now houses the cutting
edge of space and observation technology.
( www.bco.ie and www.ei1nc.com)
Mats SM6LRR is QRV from Sri Lanka as 4S7LRG mainly on 160, 80 and 40m till
4th February. He hopes to take part in the CQ WW 160m CW Contest at the end
of the month so anyone needing 4S7 on Top Band should keep a look out for him.
QSL's go via SM6LRR.
Three Swedish amateurs are active from Madagascar until early February.
They are signing 5R8HL and are located on the mainland IOTA AF-013 and on
Nosy Be Island IOTA AF-057.
( * )
For the Island chasers quite a rare one is due February with CN2LWL being
operated by a group of Italian amateurs from Herne Island IOTA AF-068.
Dates are 1 - 5 February and QSL info is via I8LWL.
( * )
Gerd DJ4KW and Gisela DK9GG will operate from V31YN and V31GW respectively in
Belize until the end of February. During the period 2 - 8 February they hope
to go to Southwater Caye (IOTA NA-180) using the call V31YN/P.
( * )
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of independence, stations in Kuwait will be
using the 9K50 prefix from now until the end of February.
( * )
For those of you who enjoy collecting new prefixes look for TC 2011 EWU from
now until 6 February. This station is active during the World University Games
in Erzurum in Turkey.
( * )
The Microlight Penguins Group are off on another trip down south where they
will activate VP8ORK from the South Orkney Islands.
This is a rare one for DXCC purposes and should be on the air till February 8.
( * thanks to irts news)
The Porthmadog and District Amateur Radio Society are supporting SOS Radio
week operating today, 30th January from the Porthmadog Yacht club.
The society will be using the callsign GB0PLB.
(rsgb)
Crewe Heritage Centre Amateur Radio Club will also be taking part in SOS Radio
week using GB4CHC today, Sunday 30th January. The Club will have two stations
on HF, one on SSB and one on Digimodes. They are being sponsored at 10p per
country contacted and money raised will go to the RNLI.
(rsgb)
IT'S A PUZZLEMENT!
With a callsign that LOOKS like "Siam" the original country name for Thailand
comes word of a Thai operation from Sweden with Belgium Operators !
Special event station SI9AM from the King Chulalongkorn Memorial in Sweden,
the largest Thai Pavilion in the world outside Thailand, will be active
until January 31st.
Operators will be Raf/ON5RZ, Dirk/ON7DS and Fons/ON4AWT.
Activity will be on 160-10 meters using CW, SSB and FM.
But to QSL, use SM 3 CVM direct or by the Bureau.
For more information, visit the SI9AM Web page:
www.si9am.se
INTRUDER WATCH - ENFORCEMENT ZONE
We mentioned this last week, that "that" pirate is active again in the
CW section of 40 Meters
A station has been heard over the last 2 or 3 weeks, 7008 to 7010 last worked
14th Jan @ 1442z 7010.
Please report any unusual activity or better capture a 20 second MP3 audio
file and post it to IntruderWatch@googlegroups.com
We need to catch this person so please help us out
Phillip ZL2TZE (ZLDXC List Owner)
DJ9KR PUBLISHES 40 METER BROADCAST INTRUDER LIST
Ulrich Bihlmayer, DJ9KR, of Tuebingen, Germany, has published a list of
broadcast stations still operating in the 7.0 to 7.2MHz amateur service
radio band. The list can be downloaded from in Adobe PDF format at
tinyurl.com/4c8ootr.
The latest version was published on January 11th. Using it as a handy
reference you should be able to determine what station might be interfering
with a QSO and where that station is located.
Excellent graphics concerning the intruder situation in Region 1 / Europe
during 2010, see http://www.iarums-r1.org/iarums/int2010
Visit also the powerpoint presentation on the IARU Region 1 Monitoring System
homepage, see http://www.iarums-r1.org/iarums/bw-2010.pps
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ARDF
WIA ARDF COORDINATOR VK3WWW Jack vk3www@wia.org.au
http://users.mackay.net.au/~ron/
http://www.homingin.com
http://www.ardf.org.au
Sep 23-28 R3 Region 3 ARDF Championship Bendigo VK3
http://r3.ardf.org.au/
At this stage teams from the Region 3 Societies attending are :-
China (CRSA), Korea (KARL), New Zealand (NZART), Japan (JARL),
Malaysia {MARTS).
Non Region 3 teams to attending the event are from Czech Radio Club (CRC)
and Kazakhstan Federation of Radio Sport. (KFRR)
For more information regarding the event please email VK3WWW Jack Bramham
Chairman of the Organizing Committee. vk3www@wia.org.au
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
Host required for the High Speed Telegraphy World Championships 2011
Following the decision made at the last HSTWC, the IARU Region 1 HST Working
Group is looking for an IARU Region 3 Member Society to host the next (9th)
IARU High Speed Telegraphy World Championship in 2011.
Details of requirements from:
HST WG Chairman Oliver Tabakovski Z32TO
Bul. Partizanski odredi 74/41
1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia or
E-mail: oliver.z32to@gmail.com
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
Researchers at the University of Surrey and Surrey Satellite Technology
Limited (SSTL) have developed 'STRaND-1', a satellite containing a smartphone
payload that will be launched into orbit around the Earth later this year.
STRaND-1 (Surrey Training, Research and Nanosatellite Demonstrator) is being
developed by the Surrey team to demonstrate the advanced capabilities of a
satellite built quickly using advanced commercial off-the-shelf components.
Smartphones pack lots of components - such as sensors, video cameras, GPS
systems and WiFi radios that are technologically advanced but a fraction of
the size, weight and cost of components used in existing satellite systems and
because many smartphones also run on free operating systems that lend
themselves to online software developers, creators of applications ('apps')
for smartphones could feasibly develop apps for sats.
If a smartphone can be proved to work in space, it opens up lots of new
technologies to a multitude of people and companies for space who usually
can't afford it.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY
Aspidistra transmitter site on BBC TV
On Monday last BBC South East broadcast an item about the Aspidistra
transmitter site near Crowborough and Radio Amateur Les Rawlings G3FET was
interviewed.
In the "Inside Out" show Kaddy Lee-Preston explores a secret weapon hidden
deep beneath the Ashdown Forest - Aspidistra - a 500 MW medium wave
transmitter used for black propaganda against Nazi occupied Europe during
World War II.
The item included an interview with Radio Amateur Les Rawlings, G3FET, who was
an engineer at the station.
Series 19. Episode 3/9 of "Inside Out" was broadcast at 7:30pm on Monday
January 24 and was available nationwide on SKY channel 983.
It can be watched again on the web at
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00xztmk/Inside_Out_South_East_24_01_2011/
Pictures of Aspidistra including one of G3FET:-
www.qsl.net/g0crw/Special%20Events/Aspidistra3pics.htm
BBC web broadcasts to viewers who are outside of the UK are censored.
It is understood these restrictions can be circumvented by using a UK based
Proxy Server or a product such as the Expat Shield
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
Amateur Radio overseas helps rescue co-ordination
Radio Amateurs in Brazilian have received high praise from Brazilian civil
defence authorities during their recent flooding. Lt Col Roberto Robadey said,
"without their help, we couldn't have done anything in those first two days,"
Radio amateurs took their radio equipment to key points across the town to
provide a communication link between rescue groups.
(irts)
REWIND
The Australian Newspaper site (theaustralian.com.au) have an interesting
article on a plan to dig for the remains of a world war 2 tunnel at
Stalag Luft III called 'George'
The movie "The Great Escape", with Steve McQueen, made Stalag Luft III and
its tunnels Tom and Harry infamous. Now it's George's turn.
George, which was built after the breakout of 76 British and Commonwealth
airmen in March 1944, will soon be celebrated when a team of British engineers
travel to the remains of the camp to excavate it.
The team, who have already identified the entrance to George, hope to find
evidence of the preparations that imprisoned airmen made in anticipation of
their German captors turning on them when Soviet forces pushed back the German
lines.
The tunnel entrance was in the theatre.
Now - five rows back from where the stage was and three seats across. was
found what you might call a hollow, a depression in the ground.
George is obviously still there.
Some former PoWs believe that there will be escape equipment and items
including radio receivers that were stashed there before the march.
Air Commodore Charles Clarke, who went into George while he was held in
Stalag Luft III and is now president of the Ex-Prisoner of War Association,
said that some prisoners left more personal items in the tunnels including
art work.
Read the full story at
www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/great-escape-ii-dig-to-shine-light-on-stalag-luft-iii-tunnel-george/story-e6frg6so-1225977798080
SOCIAL SCENE
2011
Feb 13 VK3 Centre Victoria RadioFest No.4 Kyneton Racecourse
( http://amateurradio.com.au/node/865/ )
Feb 27 vk2 Central Coast Amateur Radio Club Ham Fest 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)
Mar 13 vk3 EMDRC White Elephant Sale Heathmont.
Apr 9 vk6 Hills Amateur Radio Group HARGFEST at club rooms Lesmurdie.
(HARGFEST. ie, hamfest run by HARG)
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.
Jul 31 VK2/3 Riverina Field Day 10am at Lavington Scout Group Hall.
Aug 7 VK2 Lismore region - SARCFEST
Sep 23-28 R3 Region 3 ARDF Championship Bendigo VK3
http://r3.ardf.org.au/
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)
FINAL FINAL
Last week we made mention of the eBay auction of the AMSAT-UK SDR Dongle serial
number 200.
A great success - it sold for 430.
The FUNcube SDR dongle usually sells for 125 and the price fetched exceeded
all expectations. The purchaser of the dongle will also have their name or
callsign sent into space on FUNcube.
Speaking of "da dongle' our WIA website last week called for hams to help
NASA try and track NanoSail-D.
Well, operating from batteries, the Amateur Radio satellite NanoSail-D had a
short but successful mission life and Henk PA3GUO has produced a HD video
of reception using his AMSAT-UK FUNcube SDR Dongle to receive NanoSail-D.
Dean Alhorn, NanoSail-D principal investigator said "To get to this point is
an incredible accomplishment for our small team and I can't thank the amateur
ham operator community enough for their help in tracking NanoSail-D,"
"Their assistance was invaluable. In particular, the Marshall Amateur Radio
Club was the very first to hear the radio beacon. It was exciting!"
Read the full MSNBC story at
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41200759/ns/technology_and_science-space/
Marshall Amateur Radio Club receives NanoSail-D signals
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/january2011/nanosail_beacon_heard.htm
FUNcube Yahoo Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FUNcube/
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