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WIANEWS - MARCH 16 - VK NATIONAL NEWS
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THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK
Oh... and to contact us with your news because
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Email nationalnews@wia.org.au
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WIANEWS WEEK COMMENCING MAR 16 2014.
OUR 19TH YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS
Missing flight search involves amateur radio Emcomm
WIA JOHN MOYLE MEMORIAL FIELD DAY ANNOUNCEMENT
NEW RADIO HAM'S MUSEUM OF ANTIQUATED TECHNOLOGY
THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE
OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING MARCH 16 2014.
TRENDING ON VK1WIA TWITTER ACCOUNT
http://twitter.com/VK1WIA
#MH370andHamRadio
#ANU RayGunDevelopers
#WIA #PR4AmateurRadio
#WIA #JohnMoyleFieldDay
Missing flight search involves amateur radio Emcomm
The vanishing of the Malaysian Airline (MAS) Boeing 777-200ER jetliner with
239 passengers on board is a mystery that nine nations are trying to solve.
When flight MH370, ex-Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing, disappeared from the
air traffic control radar, the MAS Emergency Management Centre (EMC) at Kuala
Lumpur Airport provided accommodation for all next-of-kin at the Everly Hotel
at Putrajaya.
The Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitters' Society President, Mohd Aris Bernawi
9M2IR, said MARTS was asked to provide a link between the airport and the hotel.
Mohd 9M2IR said at the hotel MARTS quickly set up a station, led by Zanirul
Akhmal Zanirun 9M2PRO, and Azizi Samsuri 9W2ZZE was the MAS team leader.
NESRAC, a club from Negeri Sembilan, provided the volunteers for the station
at the airport's Emergency Management Centre.
MARTS provided a cross-band VHF/UHF link to avoid any unnecessary interference
from the public services. An HF link was later added.
During the call-out there were 11 volunteers at EMC and 23 volunteers at
the hotel, on a shift roster for the link.
Mohd 9M2IR, who oversaw the entire process, said MARTS an IARU member society,
was pleased to be able provide the link on the very tragic occasion. The
search for MH370 continues.
(Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee)
RAY GUN!
Aussie Scientists race to develop lasers to shoot down pieces of junk
dangerously speeding through space.
What may sound like science fiction is the goal of an Australian team
working to zap orbital debris with lasers from Earth to reduce the growing
amount of space junk that threatens to knock out satellites with a
"cascade of collisions".
The laser project is very realistic and likely to be working in the next
10 years, Matthew Colless, director of Australian National University's
Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, told Reuters.
Australia now has a contract with NASA to track and map space junk with a
telescope equipped with an infra-red laser at Mount Stromlo Observatory.
For more visit Reuters or Google ANU SPACE JUNK
New efficient lights can wipe out radio
As we conserve energy by the use of compact fluorescents or LED (light
emitting diodes), occasionally things go wrong with these devices also
radiating radio interference.
The old pear-shaped incandescent bulbs were very inefficient. However, some
of their replacements do not meet emission standards and are the source of
electromagnetic interference.
In the USA fluorescent lights in a Los Angeles office are causing problems
for Verizon's Long-Term Evolution or LTE network.
Among the other cases being investigated by the Federal Communications
Commission is one we told you of several months back, that of the lights in
a Texas hair salon getting into the mobile phone network.
In Australia, complaints about TV reception have come to Australian
Communications and Media Authority which has traced the problem to some
LED lights.
In England and elsewhere too there have TV interference complaints, even
spreading to set-top boxes and cable TV.
However don't blame the technology, but rather the design used in cheap
products. If lights are the problem return them to the place of purchase.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
Australian consumers spent 22 per cent more on digital video services during
2013 over the previous year, as more online retail services started to become
available.
Australia, which is already the second-biggest user of legitimate download
and streaming services for films and TV per capita, spent $143 million on
online video-on-demand services such as Quickflix, and buying television
shows and movies through online stores like iTunes.
The new figures, released by the Australian Home Entertainment Distributors
Association and reported in the Financial Revue, come among rumours of
imminent new entrants into the online video space from international players
Netflix, Hulu and Virgin.
WIA BOARD TALK
President Phil Wait VK2ASD vk2asd@wia.org.au
Vice President Chris Platt VK5CP vk5cp@wia.org.au
Secretary David Williams VK3RU vk3ru@wia.org.au
Treasurer John Longayroux VK3PZ vk3pz@wia.org.au
WIA Directors actively support the PR4AmateurRadio Expo
When the idea of a concentrated effort to publicise Amateur Radio was first
mentioned, the very busy WIA Board of Directors, eagerly embraced the concept.
Now with less than a month to go, WIA President Phil Wait VK2ASD and other
WIA Directors are set to either visit an Expo station, or get on air in support.
The WIA late last year, with a few clubs and individuals, took part in the
hobby exhibitions - Eurisko in Melbourne and the Mini Maker Faire in Sydney's
Powerhouse Museum.
It learnt a lot from those two events, including showing to many hobbyists
that modern Amateur Radio can handle telemetry for their experiments and
other practical experimentation.
Now next month, through the PR4AmateurRadio Expo, we have a concentrated
effort to show what Amateur Radio can offer the community.
This can be a club having a public event, or exercised by an individual,
to show what we do is relevant to a modern technological age, and easily
assessed through the Foundation Licence.
The Wireless Institute of Australia wants clubs, organisations and individuals
to think about how they can be involved in the PR4AmateurRadio Expo, held
during the period of April the 13 to the 15th.
Visit the 'What's On' column of the WIA website for more details on this
exciting event.
VK4ZPP THOUGHTS
A few weeks only and we have the transformed National Field Day coming to your
community as PR4AmateurRadio. I have spoken of regenerating clubs by getting new
blood into the hobby. As if by coincidence, Amateur Radio Magazine arrived in the
letter box and yes I did download the trial PDF version, too.
One article that strikes me, in this month's issue, is two pages of reading; no dot points,
cartoons or photos just old fashioned writing covering pp. 22 & 23. Written by Kevin,
VK3CKC, "Amateur Radio Promotion", should be compulsory reading for all club committee
members. I'll say it again, this article should be compulsory reading for club committees.
In a simple and forthright way Kevin explains how to get the breaks that make community -
read media - interest. It is not only the breaks but the practical features of how best to use
these opportunities. If you were selling something and wanted the best price, you would
advertise.
Now if your radio club is so cruddy that you wouldn't give it away, then I suppose you would
do nothing. If your radio club is good enough to sell to the public, then why not use the best
techniques?
I mean, we wouldn't be radio amateurs if we didn't think this was a pretty good pass time.
Maybe you don't have a club in your area. Now is the time, the opportunity to present some
good public relations. Maybe this could be the start of another radio club for you.
I'm Geoff Emery and that's what I think....how about you?
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.(SSTL) A 30th Birthday Celebration
For UoSAT-2, OSCAR-11
UoSAT-2 was launched on March 1st, 1984, from Vandenberg Air Force
Base in the USA and carried some novel payloads, including a "Digitalker".
Today, UoSAT-2 still transmits its VHF telemetry on a regular 11-day
cycle, although the satellite's batteries are exhausted after some
160,000 charge cycles and transmissions are now detectable only when
it is in sunlight. However, the telemetry continues to be tracked by
amateur radio satellite enthusiasts worldwide, using the predictable
transmissions to help calibrate their equipment
FLORIDA GOVERNOR'S HURRICANE CONFERENCE
The 28th Annual Governor's Hurricane Conference will be held May 11
to the 16th at the Rosen Center Hotel and Orange County Convention
Center in Orlando, Florida. This conference also features an
impressive presence of amateur radio and ARES members.
RADIO AMATEURS OF CANADA PARTNERS UP WITH RFINDER
Radio Amateurs of Canada and RFinder have announced a new business
agreement effective March 1st. As of that date, Radio Amateurs of
Canada has endorsed RFinder as the official Worldwide Repeater
Directory for all Canadian amateur radio operators.
RFinder is described as a steadily growing worldwide repeater
directory. In addition to single site machines RFinder also lists
IRLP, EchoLink, AllStar, D-STAR, MotoTRBO and even Winlink
information in over 175 countries.
Canadian hams purchasing the RFinder application will financially
benefit the Radio Amateurs of Canada through the terms of this new agreement.
SA AMSAT EXPANDS ITS SCHOOL'S SATELLITE PROJECT
South Africa AMSAT has expanded its call for schools to submit
proposals for small scientific projects to be included in the
KLETSkous CubeSat project. Each proposal will be evaluated and the
five most original and practical ones will be selected to build a
prototype. The school projects selected to build prototypes will be
invited to make a brief presentation at the South Africa AMSAT Space
Symposium to be held on May 23rd at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria.
The closing date for proposals is 31 March 2014. More about this
project is at amsatsa.org.za
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ARNEWSLINE
BBC WILL HOST DRM GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly of the Digital Radio
Mondiale or DRM Consortium is scheduled to meet
March 26 and 27 at the British Broadcasting
Corporation headquarters in central London.
Themed "DRM in Action," the consortium will
invite attendees to consider the benefits of
the digital radio standard and its progress
toward standardization.
The first day of the event will be open to all
Digital Radio Mondiale members and invited guests
from the UK and abroad. The morning will be
devoted to informative presentations on the
benefits of digital radio. In the afternoon
consortium members who are attending will be able
to experience of DRM while networking in the BBC's Radio Theatre.
(To register for the open events on March 26th
please contact projectoffice@drm.org
NEW RADIO HAM'S MUSEUM OF ANTIQUATED TECHNOLOGY
The Boston Globe reports on the creation of the Museum of
Antiquated Technology in Hanson, Massachusetts, founded by
Mark Vess, KC1ACF. The paper describes the museum as being
the home to a vast collection of rare antique radios that
are being displayed to the public for the first time. The
vintage gear was previously owned by Bruce D. Hayden, NI1X,
of Raynham, who bequeathed his collection to Vess at his
death last October.
You can read the entire Boston Globe story at
tinyurl.com/vintage-radio-museum
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OPERATIONAL NEWS - 2014
JOHN MOYLE MEMORIAL FIELD DAY ANNOUNCEMENT
Good Morning,
This Denis VK4AE, coordinator for the John Moyle Memorial Field Day 2014.
When you hear this news broadcast this year's contest is in progress over
this weekend 15th 16th March. The duration of the contest will be from
UTC 0100 to 0059.
While you have left your run just a bit late for this year's field day, there
is nothing to stop you from taking part as a home station. You still have a
bit of time left to go and make a few contacts, give out some numbers and
most of a complete and submit your log to verify those contacts.
Those portable stations that are still out in the field may be too busy to
hear this news service as it goes to air, as they will still be flat out
making and logging the many stations whom they have contacted during this
year's field day. While their contest activities will soon be over, the next
parts of the field day activity will soon commence. I think personally the
hardest parts.
When the contesting actually ends and the rigs are powered down, the task of
dismantling the station commences. This is not a lot of fun as everyone is
exhausted for the long effort of taking part. However careful dismantling of
all of the field day station is not desirable, but essential as done
carefully, it makes setting up for the next contest that much easier. Tying
up the ropes in a tidy fashion, bundling all of the components of the
portable antennas together, coiling up all of the leads used and carefully
tagging each of them saves so much effort later.
So once the station has been dismantled and transported safely home, put away
in a sensible fashion, aside from sleep there is not more to do.
However, you must remember that the job is not done until the paperwork is
completed. Your log is vital to your effort by recording all of the contacts
you have made during those long hours, but just as important in verifying all
of the contacts made by the other stations. So the log is a two part document
not just for you, but for everyone else you have contacted. So please do not
forget to complete you log and submit it either electronically or by snail
mail, but remember the closing date will be the 19th April 2014.
I am looking forward to receiving your logs this year. Last year there was
well over 1,000 stations taking part and only 120 took the time and effort to
bother to submit a log. This meant most contacts by most stations were not
verified, such that this year a change in the rules requiring that if you
worked any station more than 5 times on any mode or any band if you do not
submit a log any additional contacts you made will not count for the other
station. So you owe it to the other station to submit your log to verify
your hard work.
I hope everyone enjoyed the field day and as soon as the logs are all
received the results will be published as soon as possible after that date.
OTHER CONTESTS LOOMING:-
WIA VK Harry Angel Memorial Sprint May 3
10-10 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CONTEST Aug 2 - 3
WIA REMEMBRANCE DAY (THE RD) CONTEST Aug 16 - 17
Manly-Warringah Radio Society's Flagpole contest September.
Amateur Radios International Air-ambulance Week, 9 days from Sep 28.
INTRUDER WATCH - ENFORCEMENT ZONE
Region III IARUMS Coordinator Peter Young VK3MV
VK IARUMS reflector email to subscribe intruders@wia.org.au
INTRUDER NETS
Friday 0730 UTC 7.065.5 with VK4CEU David.
Amateur exclusive frequencies where any non-amateur signal is definitely an
intruder.
Amateur HF Spectrum world wide
7.050 to 7.100
14.000 to 14.250
14.250 to 14.350 No broadcasters
21.000 to 21.450
24.890 to 24.990
28.000 to 29.700
Ukraine SZRU active on 20m
The IARU Monitoring System (IARUMS) newsletter reports the Ukraine Foreign
Intelligence Service SZRU has been active every Wednesday on 14280 kHz on
A3E (AM) at 1010 UT
They say a female voice spelled numbers and encrypted messages.
Location: Rivne, Ukraine.
The newsletter also reports that REA4 (Russian Airforce Moscow) was still
active on 7018.0 kHz with FSK 100 Bd and 1000 Hz shift. Harmonics could be
measured on 14036.0, 21052.0 and 28072.0 kHz on Feb. 28th at about 1050 UT.
The International Amateur Radio Union Monitoring System (IARUMS) Region 1
February 2014 newsletter can be read at
http://www.iarums-r1.org/iarums/news2014/news1402.pdf
(via SouthGate)
THE QNEWS WORK BENCH - the nuts and volts report - Measure Twice cut Once.
MDSR V2.8 SOFTWARE NOW AVAILABLE
Modulator Demodulator Software Radio or MDSR has upgraded its
software to bring radio amateurs the best audio quality out of your
existing analogue rig. This, by turning it into an Intermediate
Frequency Software Defined Radio.
According to the MDSR team, a simple and reversible modification on
many analogue transceivers is all it takes to connect the down
converter to a sound card of the computer running Windows XP, Vista,
7, 8. MDSR works with any symmetrical HF transceiver. Best of all
the MDSR version 2.8 software is free to use for amateur radio operators.
More about it is at tinyurl.com/mdsr-2014
(MDSR Team via ARNewsLine)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ATV (Every pixel tells a story) - Video
arvideonews.com
hamradiotube.com
youtube.com
qdg.org.au
ISS HamTV Success
Just last Saturday, March 8, test transmissions were made on 2422.0 MHz
using the HamTV equipment on the International Space Station (ISS).
The Digital TV signal was successfully received and web streamed to
a global audience via the British Amateur Television Club (BATC)
The HamTV transmitter is the culmination of over ten years work by
dedicated volunteers to establish an amateur radio TV transmitter on
the ISS. Individual radio amateurs from around the world donated generously
as did several organisations including AMSAT-UK and the RSGB.
The main mission of HamTV is to perform contacts between the
astronauts on the ISS and school students, not only by voice as now,
but also by unidirectional video from the ISS to the ground.
Read the HamTV overview by Gaston Bertels ON4WF
http://tinyurl.com/HamTVoverview
Join the ISS HamTV Yahoo Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HamTV
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER
Last weekend FUNcube-1 (AO-73) reached the milestone of having been
in space for 100 days - actually that should be clarified to mean
"terrestrial" days as the spacecraft itself has been subjected to
more than 1500 day/night cycles during this time.
The FUNcube team are very grateful to the 500+ stations who have been
providing FUNcube-1 telemetry data to the Data Warehouse. They now have
more than 1GB of data in the repository - this is an amazing effort and
achievement from a spacecraft which is only transmitting at 1200bps.
All the subsystems continue to work well and are "well in the green".
(AMSAT)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY
Pigeon vs telephone: which worked best in the trenches?
A new BBC World War 1 documentary describes the various forms of
communication systems used in the trenches.
It covers:
- Telephones and telegraph
- Runners and dogs
- Visual signalling
- Radio
- Pigeons
Watch the videos at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zw6gq6f
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
Mumbai Police (Wireless) have held discussions with Amateur Radio Stations
to garner support during any emergency.
VU2JPN says 5 hams have initially met with the DCP of Wireless and introduced
to their system of wireless networking in Maharashtra by HF, VHF,
UHF Satellite & truncking method of communication.
They also require parallel support from Ham's in case of any emergency in the
state.
Mumbai Police requires Ham Radio Support from all districts of Maharashtra
using HF networks during any emergency in the state. The support will not
require mobility, but the hams to operate from their own QTH and pass emergency
related communication to Mumbai Police/State Police Officials/Other
govt.officials.
All Ham's from Maharastra have been requested to volunteer.
(via vu2jpn@yahoo.com)
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ROAR
ROTARIANS OF AMATEUR RADIO
website: www.ifroar.org
email: webmaster@ifroar.org
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/RotariansROAR/
International President 2012 -2015: Bill Main VK4ZD
secretary: Dr Elwood Anderson, AE5EA
ANZO VP: Peter Lowe, VK3KCD
0645z - 0730z Anzo Net 7.118 (varies due to propagation)
0730z - 0830z International net 14.293 (varies due to propagation)
Rotary deems 'CQ Polio' 2014 event a huge success
Most reports are now in from the Rotary stations throughout Australia, France,
Romania, Spain and the USA for 2014 - each are hoping that 'CQ Polio' will
be even bigger next year.
On the weekend of February the 22nd and 23rd, Rotarians On Amateur Radio
or the ROAR group, marked Rotary's birthday by highlighting Rotary's plan
to rid the world of polio.
Australia with four special event stations made well over 2000 contacts.
Typical was Wally VK6YS VI6POLIO, who logged 296 contacts in 46 different
countries, and had a much higher hit rate on his QRZ page.
Other Australians involved were - Noel VK2IWT VI2POLIO - Lee VK3GK, Peter
VK3KCD, and Peter VK3FSPR who shared VI3POLIO - Diane VK4KYL, Alizah VK4FOXE
and ROAR World President Bill, VK4ZD, on VI4POLIO.
From France was Jean-Pierre F1CFA battling through the French Contest. Coco
YO0BC had YO9POLIO active with others, Pertti EA7GSU in Spain was busy, and
Dan KB6NU operated as W8P, engaging about the End Polio Now campaign.
Other reports are due in, but ROAR President, Bill Main VK4ZD describes the
worldwide response as very satisfying, and predicts that 'CQ Polio' will
be bigger next year.
This is despite recent media reports of immunisation teams being attacked
by rebels. Rotary International wants to end polio by 2018.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
SOCIAL SCENE 2014
Mar 23 VK3 EMDRC White Elephant Sale 10am ( 03 9005 9251 )
Mar 28-30 VK4 Bunya Mts&District AmCom camp Somerset dam (vk4bad@wia.org.au)
Apr 13-15 VK PR4AmateurRadio Expo.
Apr 18 WW Amateur Radio Day: Your Gateway to Wireless Communications.
Apr 25 vk3 ANZAC Day event Ballarat Showgrounds (johnkarr@bigpond.net.au)
The Ballarat footy ball oval and showgrounds saw the formation
of the 39th Battalion in World War 1, and will feature in this
year's ANZAC Day on April the 25th.
The involvement of Amateur Radio in the commemoration is
driven by Johnno Karr VK3FMPB, himself formally from the
Australian Navy.
The day begins with the Ballarat RSL march at 9.30am, and then
move to the Ballarat footy oval and through a portable Amateur
Radio station with a few other radio amateurs hoping to
contact other ANZAC Day stations.
If you can assist with the portable station contact Johnno
VK3FMPB, on the phone at (03) 9372 5062.
May 2- 4 VK4 Clairview Gathering ( 0429 632 815 )
May 10 VK4 BARCFEST: Salvation Army Hall Calamvale.
May 16-18 VK4 WIA Conference presented by SCARC ( vk4ts@wia.org.au )
Nov 2 VK5 HamFest Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society
Nov 30 VK3 SPARC HamFest at Rosebud ( howardjones155@gmail.com )
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
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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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