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WIANEWS - Jan 15 - VK NATIONAL NEWS
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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
TWITTER http://twitter.com/VK1WIA
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 WEEK COMMENCING JANUARY 15 2012.
FOUNDATION COURCES DATES FOR VK2, VK3, VK4
looking for et with seti
HAMFEST SEASON IN VK2 / 3 / 4
THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE
OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING JANUARY 15 2012.
I'm Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I've been thinking.
It has been great to listen to the discussion points in WIA National News,
given by Onno, VK6FLAB, who as a broadcaster is a radio old timer but as an
amateur is new to our ranks.
Onno's short stories demonstrate that every person brings something to this
hobby other than the "ticket" to operate. The fact that some-one starting their
journey in AR has such enthusiasm and wishes to share what he has found is a
real shot in the arm for those of us who flounder in finding ways to get the
message across.
The life experience of a primary school student sitting for a foundation licence
is something to be expanded and the life experience of all is to be recognised
as being as valid as our own personal opinions.
I'm Geoff Emery and that's what I think....how about you?
WIA
President Michael Owen VK3KI president@wia.org.au
Vice President Phil Wait VK2ASD vk2asd@wia.org.au
Secretary Sarah Thompson VK3AUD secretary@wia.org.au
Treasurer John Longayroux VK3PZ vk3pz@wia.org.au
This is Mal VK3FDSL
I wish to advise that the National Office of the WIA will re-open at 10am
Melbourne time Tomorrow Monday 16th January 2012.
The Wireless Institute Of Australia extends to all radio amateurs very best
wishes for the year ahead.
HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
VK2
web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm
VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news
Email Address : r_demkiw@yahoo.com.au
NO RADIO EXPO AT COFFS HARBOUR.
Oxley Region ARC newsletter, Oxtales advises the Mid North Coast Amateur Radio
Group will NOT hold their Radio Expo in Coffs Harbour in January this year.
VK3
web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/
Police Roundup http://www.vicpolicenews.com.au/
All roads lead to the Centre Victoria RadioFest at the Kyneton Racecourse, an
hour from Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo on Sunday the 12th of February.
The major commercial traders will be there in the bustling Traders Hall.
Look for their specials!
Pick up a bargain or two in the second-hand market areas - components, bits and
pieces, connectors, cable, sealed lead acid batteries or antennas?
Want to make a sales table or car-boot space booking? Then be quick and obtain
an application form via the home page of the Amateur Radio Victoria website.
Make it something you don't miss! The Centre Victoria RadioFest at Kyneton
Racecourse on Sunday the 12th of February.
Points are contact are:
Commercial Traders Liaison, Barry Robinson VK3PV 0428 516 001
Second hand tables are space, Ross Pittard VK3CE 0408 533 107
Club Corner Precinct, Tony Hambling VK3VTH 0423 635 152
(Bruce Lees VK3FFF)
VK4 - QNEWS
Send your stories for news. SCRIPT to qnews@wia.org.au
send audio to http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/upload/
get local audio qnews www.wiaq.com/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3
get local qnews emailed qnews-vk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Welcome to QNews from VK4WIA. I'm Geoff Emery, Vk4ZPP and I've been thinking again.
dxcoffee.com/eng/2011/12/26/interview-kevin-white-operator-vk0kev-macquarie-island/
At the link given in the text edition, on the dxcoffee.com website is a follow
up interview with Kevin, VK4KEV, on his operations as VK0KEV Macquarie Island.
This is not unusual as the wider DX fraternity are very collegial and supportive
of people who have gone to exotic climes and given the opportunity of rare calls
in the log.
For as long as I have been associated with AR, there have been an infestation of
pests who ignore their licence conditions and wouldn't recognize the Amateur's
Code if it were tattooed on their chests. These have been the self opinionated
and self appointed "big guns" who run excess power and ignore normal operating
procedures just to snare the rare one. These operators call over the top of
stations and often the DX station acknowledges them just to clear the air waves
for the courteous op's.
I mention this because one point that Kevin makes in this interview is the use
of a new technique to clear this garbage from the air. To count for awards, a
valid QSL must be given by each station.
I know we hear a lot of 5/9 reports these days when signal strength may be
marginal with multiple repeats but at least these are valid contacts.
What does the "big gun" operator do with a logged signal report of 0/0?
No good for DXCC and no good for further pestering the DX operator for another
useless report. It seems that this method is being used more frequently and more
of the "big guns" are falling silent.
For behaviour that spoils the hobby, putting these individuals on the naughty
chair seems only fair.
I'm Geoff Emery and that's what I think....how about you?
Neil VK4NF from the Bunya Mts & District Amcom reminds all visitors as
well as locals Saturday the 4th February is their Ham & wine hamfest
in the Maclagan hall in down town Maclagan from 0900 to 1400hrs.
" Table bookings are just $10 each and stall holders will be allowed in after
0700hrs to set up.
For more info, or to receive a flyer with the details, please send an Email to
myself at holmzie@bigpond.com or Ricky, vk4nrl@wia.org.au
Be there or be square we would love to see you there.
The proceeds from the day will be put towards promoting Amateur radio, IRLP,
APRS, etc, and recruiting new amateurs to the great hobby.
So put the date in your diaries, Saturday the 4th February doors open at
0900hrs. Remember it is towards the west, and not way out west, being about
a 50 minute drive north west of Toowoomba."
I'm Ray, VK4CF with news from Redcliffe & Districts Radio club.
Padre John, VK4BZ, who has spent the last 7 months in Afghanistan with 2RAR will
be returning back to Australia in the next 3 weeks. John said, "Thank you for
your support over the last seven months and for the emails and letters of
encouragement - even the Padre needs encouragement sometimes, and your words have
been just that for me. Blessings to all and we'll see you back in the Land Down
Under - with green grass, fresh milk, amber fluid, bitumen roads and amateur
radio!"
It will be good to see you back safe and sound John.
Last week's news had a story about by Darren, VK4DJH, who made a QRP contact to
Italy, using 5 watts. The contact was placed on Utube at 1900DAZZA. Darren has
now been informed that the ARRL has entered the contact into a competition and we
are all hoping for the best for Darren.
The next technical talk will be on 16 Jan 2012 and will be by Steve, VK4CZ, and
will cover the topic of 6 metre DX. In February, John VK4CJC, will discuss
Calibrating SWR and Power meters, in March, Kevin VK4UH, Meteor Scatter,
April, Phil, VK4FIL, Digital Modes and in May, Peter VK4EA, Software Defined Radio.
Remember, Club technical talks are the third Monday of the month and all amateurs
and anyone interested in the hobby of amateur radio is invited to attend.
The next Club Working Bee will most likely be the 4th Saturday 9.00am (21st)
February. This working bee will to repair and replace guttering that was to be
completed last year but unfortunately time ran out. Club members, who meet each
Wednesday morning, have completed the movement of the kitchen bench and now the
dishwasher can be installed.
If you are free any Wednesday morning in the Redcliffe area and want a quick chat
and a cuppa, call in to the club rooms and you will be made welcome.
Wednesday night trivia is back for 2012 on the Redcliffe 70 cm repeater starting at
about 7.30 pm local time.
The club's ATV System nearing almost at completion. Peter, VK4EA, demonstrated
the capability of the system last Monday night and a few small calibration tweaks
yet required before it goes on air.
There is a new starting date for all licence training courses conducted at the
club. Training courses will start second weekend of February 2012. Foundation,
Standard and Advanced courses will be held subject to the number of applicants.
Anyone interested should contact Roger, VK4ZLQ, via the club's web site,
www.redclifferadioclub.org.au/.
You do not have to be a club member to participate in the course.
Well this is about all at the moment and so it's 73 until next time from
Ray, VK4CF, from the Redcliffe club.
SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2012
January 1-31 VK Ross Hull Memorial VHF UHF Contest
January 14-15 VK Summer VHF-UGF Field Day
March 17-18 VK JOHN MOYLE MEMORIAL FIELD DAY
May 5 VK/trans Tasman Contest 80metres SSB
June 9-10 VK Shires Contest.
June 25 VK/trans Tasman Contest 160metres SSB
July First full weekend NZART Memorial Contest
August 11-12 VK Remembrance Day Contest
August 18-19 WW International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend.
Prefix hunters will be interested to know that Croatia is marking the 20th
Anniversary of the allocation of the 9A prefix. Operators there are permitted
to insert the figures '20' into their callsigns.
For example 9A2AA will become 9A202AA, 9A1MM becomes 9A201MM etc.
These prefixes are available throughout 2012.
(irts)
PA8A will be active as PJ4B from the island of Bonaire.
Listen out for him until 22 January.
His operation will be holiday style on the high frequency bands only.
QSL direct only via PA8A.
VE2XB will be active as J79XB from Dominica for several weeks.
His operation will be holiday style on all bands from 10 to 160m and possibly
6 metres if there are openings.
QSL via VE2XB as listed on QRZ.com
The VP6T team have started the journey to French Polynesia, with the first stop
in Tahiti, which is IOTA OC-046, for three days.
They will then take a small airplane to Mangareva Island, OC-063.
They plan to be active from Tahiti and, if time permits, also from Mangareva as
TX6T.
QSL via G3TXF.
Denmark has the Presidency of European Union until 30 June and the callsign
5 P 12 EU will be activated during this period.
QSL cards will be available and there is an award scheme for working or hearing
this callsign.
For all details on QSLing, the award scheme and logs, check out www.5p12eu.dk
2012 is the 75th anniversary of the ARRL's DXCC Award, the world's
preeminent DXing award. To celebrate this important milestone, the ARRL
has gone back to the beginning -- the 1937 DXCC List.The Diamond DXCC
Challenge will test DXers ability to contact all the 231 entities on
the original DXCC List.
ARRL tried to find corresponding entities today that would represent
the places listed in 1937, and they were mostly successful. There are a
couple of places that were merged, like French and British New
Hebrides, and the Papua and New Guinea Territories. In those places,
for 2012 if you work a YJ or a P29 (on the main island of New Guinea)
you will get credit for working two entities! Many other oddities are
sprinkled throughout the list, too. Returning to the air in 2012 will
be the Canal Zone (any HP operating within 8 kilometers of the Panama
Canal), the Cities of Gdansk, Poland, as well as Ifni, Morocco and
Balochistan.
For some entities that now consist of multiple countries, you may work
any of today's entities to qualify for that single 1937 country. For
example, French Equatorial Africa will be considered worked if you log
a station in TL, TN, TR or TT in 2012. The Diamond DXCC country tables
show the current entity names and prefixes that qualify for the 1937
countries.
Read more here
http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-diamond-dxcc-challenge
EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO
www.hamcollege.com.au
In VK3 and interested in getting your licence?
The entry level Foundation Licence continues to be the most popular way of
getting into amateur radio. It is attracting those who have had some previous
hobby radio communications interest (CB, 4WD, Scanner Listener) and others who
are attracted to ham radio for the first time.
2012 Weekend Foundation Courses:-
March 24th & 25th
April 28th & 29th
July 21st & 22nd
Septr 22nd & 23rd
Nov 17th & 18th
VK4's Redcliffe Radio Club advise classes for Foundation, Standard and Advanced
licences will commence in early March and the Advanced licence course will run
until September.
Those interested read the club's web site, www.redclifferadioclub.org.au/
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART, ARVictoria and the WW sources of the WIA.
British Villagers were left unable to use their showers, doorbells and even
car key fobs for several days in the latest case of suspected wireless
interference.
Families in Kingsclere on the Hampshire-Berkshire border, spent much of the
festive season without heating after the failure of household systems which rely
on digital technology.
Ofcom the UK regulator claims often these problems can be caused by a video
sender that transmits a television signal to other sets in the house.
The heating system failed, and a neighbour experienced other difficulties.
People living in Southampton had reported earlier that their remote car key fobs
had stopped working. That problem was tracked down to a faulty video sender which
was leaking a frequency which interfered with the fobs.
Residents in Windermere, Cumbria, had similar problems in March which were
eventually traced back to a wireless device used to take orders at a nearby
restaurant.
CAN I HAVE "AMATEUR RADIO" FOR $800, ALEX?
Popular television game show Jeopardy, where contestants have to answer in the
form of a question had a question featuring Amateur Radio.
Playing the category "Pastimes" the contestant encountered this "answer" worth
$800: "The FCC assigns call signs, like N8DNR, to use in this hobby."
N8DNR is call sign of Debbie Dorfman the mother of Stephen Dorfman N6DIW (SK).
Stephen was Jeopardy!'s longest serving and most prolific writer, with
more than 50,000 clues to his credit. As part of a team of writers, he
won six Daytime Emmy Awards for special-class writing, given for shows
that do not fit into traditional categories!
SETI is at it again manning the Allen Telescope Array of 42 dishes northest of
San Francisco in search for life from outer space.
Researchers were scanning the heavens for the presence of an intelligent alien
civilisation back in 2007, but last year ceased due to budget restraints.
The Allen Telescope has begun using Kepler satellite data which includes the
hunt for hunt for planets.
The Allen array is scouring the 54 planet candidates Kepler had detected and
what is described by astronomers as the first habitable zone to date
SETI and ham radio have had a long association with one another going back
several decades.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Butera-Howell, KB3TZD, is here with the details:
=============================================================================
NEWS FROM ARNEWSLINE AND RSGB
S-E-T-I or SETI is an acronym that stands for the Search for Extraterrestrial
Intelligence. On Monday December 5th, Jill Tarter, who is the director of the
Center for SETI Research at the SETI Institute announced that the group has
begun re-observing the Kepler worlds using a ground-based radio telescope system.
SETI's Allen Telescope Array or A-T-A is a set of 42 dish type antennas located
about 300 miles northeast of San Francisco, California. It began scanning the
heavens for electromagnetic signals that could betray the presence of an
intelligent alien civilization back in 2007. In January of 2011 the SETI team
started training the Allen array on the 54 planet candidates Kepler had detected
what is described by astronomers as the first habitable zone to date. Then it
was shut down due to budgetary constraints.
Once funds became available, SETI researchers reactivated the Allen Telescope and
have begun using Kepler's discoveries to guide its activities. The Kepler space
telescope was placed on-orbit in March 2009. Its mission is to hunt for
Earth-size planets in their parent stars' habitable zone. That would position
such planets at just the right range of distances from their home star where
liquid water and perhaps life as we know could exist.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Butera-Howell, KB3TZD, near
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Prestigious award for IOTA heads
Roger Ballister, G3KMA and Martin Atherton, G3ZAY are recipients
of the Yasme Excellence Award for 2011, for their dedicated work
for the Islands on the Air programme.
The Yasme Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation organized to
conduct scientific and educational projects related to amateur
radio, including DXing and the introduction and promotion of
amateur radio in underdeveloped countries. Everyone at the RSGB would
like to congratulate both Roger and Martin on this well deserved award.
NO 40 METER CONTACTS POSSIBLE WITH THE ISS
According to a note from the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
team, rumors that the ISS was having direct contacts on the 40 meter band are
false. The reason that this is not possible is that there is no high frequency
radio gear on board the orbiting outpost.
What is likely being heard is space station audio being retransmitted by an
amateur station on the ground. ARISS notes that WA3NAN which is the club station
at the Goddard Spaceflight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is among those that
retransmit shuttle audio.
Signal travels 2,200 miles with OPERA
Using the new OPERA datamode, Gary, G4WGT successfully transmitted
a signal to Joe, VO1NA on 137.5kHz, a distance of 3,500km.
Gary transmitted six full callsigns in a two hour period, which is
a big time saving over modes like QRSS.
The OPERA mode was envisaged by Graham, G0NBD and coded by Jose
Ros, EA5HVK, as a way of providing data operations for stations
who only had the CW capability.
Andy K3UK has written a guide on how to get started with the new amateur radio
digital mode OPERA.
OPERA was initially developed for the 500 and 136 kHz bands but radio amateurs
have also been using it on 10 MHz (30m) and other HF bands.
Read the Quick Guide to OPERA at
http://www.obriensweb.com/operaguide.html
The most up to date information on this mode can be found at the OFFICIAL site:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/O_P_E_R_A_/.
HONORING FESSENDEN AND HEISING NEAR 500 KC
Finally this week, in honor of inventors Reginald Fessenden and Raymond Heising,
a special operation is taking place on 472.5 kHz. Amateur Radio Newsline's
Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the rest of the details:
As early as 1900 Reginald Fessenden was experimenting with the direct
transmission of human speech. A bit later, during WW1, Raymond Heising was
developing a method of constant-current modulation that was one of the earliest
forms of Amplitude Modulation.
Brian Justin, WA1ZMS/4 is part of the ARRL's Low Frequency WD2XSH Experimental
License. With the cooperation of commercial coastal CW station WNE and the FCC's
Office of Engineering Technology Justin has received a Special Temporary
Authority with call sign WF9XIH. This to permit AM transmissions with a center
carrier frequency of 472.5kHz until March 1st.
Reginald Fessenden is best remembered for his Christmas Eve 1906 transmission.
It was comprised of him playing the violin, playing a recording and him reading
a Bible verse. Justin began his operation the week of December 18th of 2011 with
a special recreation of that 1906 Christmas Eve transmission:
Actual transmission audio.
According to Justin, WF9XIH is licensed for up to 20 watts Effective Radiated
Power and he says that every effort is being made to run as close to that ERP
as possible. The antenna is a 160 meter dipole that tends to be very lossy when
fed by a 600 meter signal. This is the same antenna that he has been using for
his WD2XSH/31 operation.
WF9XIH transmissions are being coordinated with W-N-E and any changes to the
WNE schedule will alter the WF9XIH operating times. The current plan is to make
at least one Heising modulated AM transmission most evenings at 02:00 UTC. Audio
loops of speech and a series of stepped audio tones will be used most of the time
The stepped audio tones should make it easier for DX listeners to demodulate them
in CW or SSB mode even when they are well beyond the range of the AM signal.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.
If you happen to copy a WF9XIH transmission, WA1ZMS requests that you log it at
www.500kc.com
Information about the ongoing WD2XSH/31 operation can be found at
tinyurl.com/wd2xsh31
International Museums Weekend
The International Museums Weekend special event will this year
take place on the double weekends of 16th & 17th and 23rd & 24th June.
Radio amateurs are encouraged to participate in this event by
setting up stations in their local museums. Organiser Harry, M1BYT
asks that all those intending to take part in the event should
register their museum via the from on the International Museums
Weekend website, www.ukradioamateur.co.uk/imw
THE QNEWS WORK BENCH - the nuts and volts report - Measure Twice cut Once.
New Amateur Radio Home Construction List
Electronic home construction (DIY) is undergoing a boom at the moment with
Maker and Hacker groups springing up everywhere. A new amateur Radio builder
list has started to cater for the growing interest in building simple projects.
If you are currently a ham radio builder, or interested in becoming one, the
Hamradio-builder mailing list has been created with you in mind.
Diane Bruce, VA3DB says of the list, "A recent look at some old 73 Magazines
brought to mind the simple projects this magazine produced.
So my thought was to do something similar, but meant for the web instead of
dead tree. I am not talking a full fledged magazine, but a website where we
can put simple beginner type articles, with copious photos and good instructions.
We hope it will become a bit like Maker Magazine but for the radio amateur."
The project is just getting started. If you are interested in joining this
community you can sign up for the list at:
http://diana.db.net/mailman/listinfo/hamradio-builder
If you ARE an avid DIY 'selfer' particularly if you also are going to attend the
Wyong Field Day to pick up some 'pre-loved' bits n pieces, have YOU thought
about getting your Ham Licence?
wELL, Amateur Radio NSW will again be providing exam assessments at the
Central Coast Field day at Wyong at the end of February.
Then in March the upgrade course for Standard and Advanced licenses in VK2
commences Monday evenings at VK2WI Dural and runs for several months.
Details are to be found on the WIA web site calandar of events.
Full details are to be found in the text edition of this bulletin .....
education@arnsw.org.au or
telephone on either 02 9651 1490 or 0400 445 829 and leave contact details.
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
Amsat draws your attention to a collection of interseting audio recordings.
The "Sounds from Space" collection on www.dd1us.de is a collection which has
also a section dedicated to recordings of amateur radio satellite signals.
The idea is to give older radio amateurs the chance, to listen to signals of
satellites which are already gone and the might have worked in the past, and
to younger people interested in ham radio, to get them more excited in satellite
communication.
In spite of the fact that the collection now gets close to 1000 recordings
there are still missing recordings from some amateur radio satellites.
(vk7tw)
In order to certify the University of New South Wales BLUEsat safe for launch,
the satellite needs to undergo vibration and shock testing.
BLUEsat is a basic low earth orbiting experimental digital amateur radio
satellite being designed and built solely by students over at at the University
of NSW.
Their immediate aim is to accurately recreate the conditions that BLUEsat will
experience during launch.
BLUEsat members have designed and overseen manufacture of a mock interface that
simulates the real manner in which the satellite will be secured to D.N.E.P.R's
Space Head Module.
This new interface will be used to test the vibrational performance of the
BLUEsat structure and, importantly, the integrity of the onboard electronics.
Once in orbit BLUEsat will be a digital amateur radio satellite, which means
voice and data files can be uploaded to it by any amateur radio operator in
the world over which the satellite passes.
Students from UNSW will continue to be the primary operators of the satellite
while it is in orbit and continue the educational focus throughout the full
satellite lifecycle.
A launch date is yet to be decided.
(arv)
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 Victoria has completed another very successful training exercise in
conjunction with the "VicSuper" Murray Marathon conducted over 5 days from
26th - 31st December 2011.
The Marathon is a 404 Km Canoe race on the Murray River between Yarrawonga and
Swan Hill on the New South Wales and Victoria border.
WICEN provided safety communications and logistical support during the progress
of the event by establishing seven HF stations at the checkpoints on the
riverbank amongst the red gums each day. The HF operations were conducted on
80 & 40 Meters as a controlled net managed by VK3AWI, while the remote stations
used special call signs approved by the ACMA.
There were 120 canoes entered the event this year. Twenty-five amateurs attended
the event and shared great camaraderie as they camped together each night.
The event will be on again this coming December 2012 between Christmas and
New Year. If any one would like to be involved you can contact Graham Mason
VK3KMG by telephoning (03) 59720704 and he will put your name on the list.
DISCUSSION POINT
What use is an f-call?
When I passed my Foundation License test I spent some months researching what
equipment to buy, where to buy it from and how to configure it after I bought it.
In case you're wondering, I ended up with a Yaesu 857D with a Diamond SG-7200
dual band antenna and an SGC SG-237 antenna tuner for HF. I'm not mentioning
those things as a recommendation, nor am I telling you about them because I think
that's the best solution. I'm telling you about them to indicate that I purchased
all my gear, straight from retailers, and now use the resulting kit as my
station.
Last week I was at a club meeting where an Amateur of many, many years experience
was holding a talk about VHF and UHF antennas that you can build in your kitchen
with parts from your local hardware store. The excitement that this amateur had
for making all manner of antennas was clearly evident and I came to realise that
my path of buying all my gear, while successful in terms of making it on-air also
left something behind, experimentation.
For months I've experimented with cables, connectors, batteries and locations. At
a certain level I was "experimenting", making audio interfaces, battery leads,
RF cables, etc. but this talk highlighted something for me personally that showed
that until now I've not scratched the surface of experimentation.
My foundation license allows me to only use commercially produced transceivers,
but it says nothing about anything connected to it. The talk showed that there is
an infinite variety of antenna technology available and being produced and
invented new each day. Some amateurs talk about a shed full of failed attempts
and a little corner with some successes.
After being introduced to the beginnings of making my own antenna, I'm hooked.
I'm sure I'll be spending at least some of my Amateur Radio time building
antennas and learning from the experience. Perhaps one day I'll inspire the next
person to build their own antenna too.
In the mean time I'm looking forward to learning from the Amateurs that went
before me.
I'm Onno - VK6FLAB
SOCIAL SCENE 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 Geneva 23rd January TO 17th February 2012
FEB 4 VK4 Bunya Mts & District AmCom Inc. Ham & Wine Fest 2012.
FEB 12 VK3 CentreVictoria Hamfest, Kyneton Racecourse
FEB 26 VK2 CCARC WYONG FIELD DAY
MAR 18 VK7 Sewing Circle Nets "Meet the Voice BBQ" at Ross.
APR 14-15 VK WIA National Field Day.
MAY 3-18 VK5 YL International 2012 Australia (vk5tmc@bigpond.com)
MAY 5- 6 VK4 RADAR and MARC Clairview Gathering
MAY 25-27 VK3 WIA Annual Conference Mildura
JUN 8-11 VK4 FNNQARG! QLD Cassowary Coast
JULY 14 VK4 Wide Bay Hamfest. West Maryborough Scout Hall
NOV 12 VK3 SPARC HAMFEST (ROSEBUD BY THE BAY)
WIA Annual Conference Mildura
May 25th, 26th and 27th 2012
Details for the WIA 2012 Annual Conference being held in Mildura are on
wia.org.au
Host club is Sunraysia Radio Group, led by Garry Briant VK3KYF and
Noel Ferguson VK3FI.
WIA Members who register for the event will be able to participate in a
range of fascinating and memorable activities.
australias most wanted
WANTED
MODULATION TRANSFORMER
PLATE MODULATED
2:1 RATIO C/- tapped
Needed for 100W FM valve Tx
Innisfail Community radio
email VK4JKL "John"
gielisj@westnet.com.au
(January 10 2012)
MODULATION TRANSFORMER
PLATE LOAD 3.5K TO 5K @ 125WATT
PHONE BILL VK4CBS ON 0740642791
EMAIL billandloz@bigpond.com
(January 11 2012)
Submitting news items
If you would like to submit news items for inclusion in the
VK1WIA broadcasts, please email your item in text to nationalnews@wia.org.au
to submit audio read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on
wia.org.au
Remember the sooner you submit material the more the likelihood of it being
broadcast in the very next edition of WIA National News. Each item will only
be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please submit different
slants to keep your event 'fresh'.
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WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide.
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Call-backs follow the RF editions, but also for text readers you may
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even get a "cheerio call".
Thanks to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who utilize
their time and equipment in bringing you this weekly broadcast.
The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of interest to
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We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of Australia
and participation in the activities of local clubs.
Opinions expressed in "WIANews" are those of the writers who submit
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nor the National WIA, but are broadcast in the spirit in which they were
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Material may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, a credit to
WIANews wouldn't go astray...
Compiled by VK4BB on behalf of the National WIA.
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