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WIANEWS - JUNE 22 - 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. When you upload audio email us the txt version.
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WIANEWS WEEK COMMENCING JUNE 22 2014.
HEADING TOWARDS OUR 20TH YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS
WIA ANZAC 100 a series of articles is to appear in Amateur Radio
magazine by WIA Historian, Peter Wolfenden VK3RV
WIA Amateur Radio magazine the digital edition is coming !
WIA Increases EMR knowledge in our syllabus
THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE
OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING JUN 22 2014.
TRENDING ON VK1WIA TWITTER ACCOUNT
http://twitter.com/VK1WIA
#WIA AR GOES DIGITAL
#WIA ANZAC100
#WIAemr
THIS NEWS IS HAPPENING NOW
In a note from Fred VK3ADC sent to VK7REAST he says
Good morning all
ACMA have advised that the Amateur Radio Licence fee
has been increased to $74.00. Variation to licence fee
remains at $49.00.
Regards
Fred.
Amateur Radio magazine the digital edition is coming !
This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH.
As foreshadowed a few months ago, AR magazine will be available in digital
format from the July issue.
From the 26th of June - that's next week - you will be able to view or
download the July 2014 edition of AR Magazine in PDF format from the WIA
website, http://www.wia.org.au
Here's how you collect your digital edition. First, you need to be registered
for Memnet.
Haven't done that yet? Never mind. It's easy. On the WIA website, under the
"For Members" menu, you will see - right at the top - "Log into Memnet". This
opens a page where you can register by clicking on the "Register" link.
Obvious, isn't it? This will get you a Memnet password once you have entered
your WIA Member Number, name and callsign. You will find your member number
on the address flysheet that came with your previous print editions of AR
magazine.
Armed with your Memnet password - on or after the 26th of June, go to the WIA
website. Look under the "For Members" menu and select "AR Magazine". Look just
below the page headline for "Digital Edition" and click the link there.
Once you have downloaded your July AR digital edition, you will see that it
has been personalized with your Name, WIA member number and date you
downloaded it. That will happen for each digital edition of AR you download
in future.
The WIA Board decided to synchronise the release date for the digital edition
with the expected date that the print edition will be available in member's
letterboxes in the eastern states.
AR digital edition - another of the many growing benefits of WIA membership.
This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News
TRAINING
Melbourne Rail commuters travelling the City Loop will soon suffer fewer
dropped calls when mobile coverage is switched on in the tunnel later this
year.
Optus, Telstra and Vodafone Hutchison Australia have announced a partnership
with the Victorian Government and VicTrack to turn on 3G and 4G mobile
coverage at the Flagstaff, Melbourne Central and Parliament underground
stations and through the tunnels between them.
ANZAC 100
To commemorate ANZAC 100 a series of articles is to appear in Amateur Radio
magazine by the WIA Historian, Peter Wolfenden VK3RV. Here's a summary of
one of them.
Air Marshall Sir Richard Williams was born in South Australia in 1890 and
the first pilot to graduate from the Point Cook Military Flying Course in
1914.
During 1916, Williams commanded the No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
in Palestine. In 1921, the RAAF was formed and he became its first Chief
of Air Staff.
A little like George A. Taylor, the WIA founder and others back in 1910,
Williams felt that Australia's threat was from the air than by sea, and sought
a strong, independent Air Force.
Controversy continued to surround Williams and his "threat theorems", but
he was eventually proved right when on the 19th February, 1942, Darwin was
attacked from the air.
Ironically he was in Darwin to see the devastation unfold and filmed some
of it from his hotel using a home cine camera.
He retired from the RAAF in 1946. Then he became Australia's Director General
of Civil Aviation for 10 years, coinciding with the government's two-airline
policy.
In 1971, Sir Richard Williams, the 'Father of the RAAF' provided the
Remembrance Day Contest Opening Address, on the 50th anniversary of the RAAF.
He recalled active service with Number 1 Squadron of the Australian Flying
Corp. At its very early stage only two experienced men had been ship wireless
operators.
The rest expressed an interest but knew nothing about it. After being taught
Morse code they did very well. Williams described it as his first experience
with amateur operators.
Wireless in aircraft was limited. Aircraft sent messages by a spark transmitter
to crystal receivers on the ground. Aircraft engine noise prevented messages
being received in the air.
During World War I progress had been made increasing the distance of signals
from aircraft.
The 1971 Remembrance Day Opening Address showed a man of great integrity
and foresight. He died on the 7th February, 1980.
In 2005, Sir Richard William's Australian Flying Corps wings were on board
the space shuttle Discovery with Australian-born astronaut Dr Andy Thomas
VK5MIR.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
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
Increased EMR knowledge in our syllabus
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has amended the
Amateur Radio regulations syllabus, to expand the demonstrated knowledge
of Electromagnetic Radiation or EMR.
Safety has been on ACMA's agenda for a considerable time, and it is seeking
to minimise risk and promote safety across all its operations, including
Amateur Radio.
The process to include EMR in the existing Amateur Radio Syllabus at all
three licence levels, commenced about 18 months ago.
One of the outcomes of the high-power trial for Advance Licence holders,
the ACMA in consultation with the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA),
found that EMR knowledge could be increased.
The teaching of prospective radio amateurs already includes the importance
to keep all persons (and animals) a safe distance from antennas, their
orientation, the role of Effective Radiated Power, and radio wave danger with
higher frequencies and power levels.
The ACMA has gone further with its amended syllabus to spell out that
knowledge of EMR is a condition for all classes of amateur licence, and
recall where to locate the ACMA document titled "EMR Assessment Guide for
Amateur Radio".
It also wants known that the "Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear
Safety Agency" ARPANSA sets the standard for Maximum Exposure Levels, 100
kHz to 300 GHz, its principles and methods of measurement.
New licence assessment papers from the WIA Exam Service issued to assessors
from June 2014 will reflect the new EMR provisions.
The additional teaching time should be minor, but it will reflect knowledge
of the licence requirements and community concern about radiation from
transmitters.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
VK2
web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm
The next ARNSW Foundation course and assessments is over the weekend of the
19th and 20th of July. Bookings are required by an email to
education@arnsw.org.au
The next Trash and Treasure is on Sunday the 27th of July.
CCARC club meeting June will have a lecture on "Electricity in the Home"
by Bruce Holland VK2ZAD. This will take place on Saturday the 28th of June
at 1300 hrs. at the CCARC Club rooms. All are welcome.
Waverly club in Sydney is now able to offer scholarships valued at over $200
to enable a number of young people under 25 and not in full time employment
to obtain their first licence and be supplied with a radio at no cost.
The scholarships have been funded by the sale of radio equipment from the
estate of the late Colin Marks, VK2LV.
For more information please contact education@vk2bv.org
Waverley's training weekends occur regularly, with the next one on the
weekend commencing 13th September at clubhouse in the Scout Hall at
Vickery Avenue, Rose Bay with parking available in the grounds.
Visitors are always welcome at club's functions.
Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club meets in the SES Building in Central Road,
Port Macquarie.
The very successful ORARC 2014 Field Day was held in Port Macquarie over
our Queens Birthday weekend in fine sunny weather.
There were 95 registrations and 41 people enjoyed the Saturday night Field
Day dinner at the Golf club.
Between the traders and disposals there were bargains for all tastes.
FOX HUNT CHAMPION? Chris Williams VK2YMW from Hornsby.
Jeff Pages VK2BYY was the runner-up Fox hunt champion.
The 40th annual Field Day will be on the June long weekend 2015, next year
venue the same as this year, Tacking Point Surf Life Saving Hall.
Mark your 2015 diary now.
Summerland Amateur Radio Club
The club's email address is now
vk2src@gmail.com
Thanks
Chris Meagher
VK2ACD
Club Treasurer
VK3
web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/
North East Victoria Amateur Radio Club
Are you from the north eastern region of Victoria?
Are you looking for a club in the area that will suit your needs as an Amateur?
The newly formed North East Victoria Amateur radio club may be the place for
you.
Come along on the 29th of June to the inaugural meeting and Bar B Q to hear
what activities and benefits the club has to offer you.
There will also be a fund raising raffle on the day with many prizes including
a New LG 55 inch 3D Television.
The meeting will be held at Brenton VK3CMe's QTH 102 Hogan Lane Tangambalanga.
A map to help you find the place will be on the club website www.nevarc.net.au
Feel free to register on the website which is freely available to all amateurs
and short wave listeners.
(Frank VK2HFS publicity officer.)
All VK3BWI broadcasts are now broadcast over VK3RPL - Portland on 146.825
offset with 91.5.
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 news www.wiaq.org.au/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3
get local news emailed qnews-vk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
The 2014 HAMFEST on the Gold Coast is October 25.
Albert Waterways Hall Cnr Hooker Blvd. & Sunshine Blvd. Broadbeach Waters
Qld Australia
Table holders can set up from 07:00
Doors open to the public at 08:30
Entrance fee: $7:00 single person / $10 Family
Table bookings, please contact: hamfest@gcars.com.au
Or Bryn VK4GF on 04 222 76830
VK7
NTARC has been given the job of providing Communications for the Lebrina
Equine Endurance ride Saturday 28 June.
NTARC need radio operators to assist in manning the base station as well as
checkpoints.
If anyone can assist then please contact Rick VK7RI, NTARC Assistant
Community Communications Coordinator be email rick.polden@bigpond.com.au
(Yvonne Maxwell Secretary, NTARC Inc. text edtion only)
DISCUSSION POINT
What use is an F-call? 20130630
Last week I was reading a report from another Amateur, a QRP station who has
made it his aim to have a DX contact every day. John N8ZYA, living in
Charleston West Virginia, wrote on his blog that he'd made a contact with Japan.
Initially that made me laugh, since for him, that contact was noteworthy, for
me, it's one of six Japanese contacts I've made while QRP, in fact my very
first QSO on HF was with Japan, sadly the information about what station that
was is not recorded by me.
After I stopped laughing I had a look at what the implications were. For John,
getting to the rest of the US is perhaps not trivial, but at least about as
hard as it is to get across Australia for me. I then realised that for John,
Japan was on the other side of the planet, for me it was next door.
I joked with John that one day I'd be reporting that I'd worked all states - in
the USA, and that he had probably already achieved that, to which he responded
that he still had to work Alaska.
So my learning for the week was to grok for the first time that my contact with
Japan is not the same as your contact with Japan. Every station and location
is different, all the time.
So when you next hear someone share their latest contact, perhaps it's a great
opportunity to reflect on how hard that might be for you to achieve.
I'm Onno VK6FLAB
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
HEARD ABOUT HEARD?
June 14th, it was announced about the proposed Heard DXpedition on vk0ek.org
"Unfortunately, in the past two months five team members withdrew, including
the team leader, citing conflicts or the desire to participate in a shorter,
less challenging DXpedition.
This circumstance has relatively suddenly left the DXpedition short of a
team leader and committed operators, and therefore have decided to completely
re-organize the radio team.
The new team leader will have the authority and responsibility for
re-building the radio team and for managing the amateur radio operations on
Heard Island."
More on Heard as we hear it.
SOCKETS FOR SOCCER.
Ghana is buying 50 megawatts of electricity from the Cote D'Ivoire so its
citizens can watch their team play in the World Cup.
"These plans are put in place for consumers to watch uninterruptible football
matches during the World Cup," said Ghana's Public Utilities Regulatory
Commission.
The nation has been suffering from a power shortage due to low water levels
in the Volta River, which supplies most of Ghana's power through
hydroelectric dams.
The IARU honours long-time volunteer
Timothy Ellam VE6SH/G4HUA, President of the International Amateur Radio Union,
has formally presented Dr David Wardlaw with the IARU's inaugural Michael
J Owen Award.
The presentation at the Wireless Institute of Australia's headquarters in
Melbourne on Friday June the 13th was before a small gathering of those involved
with the IARU, WIA, family and friends.
Tim Ellam thanked those who organised the morning tea, later followed by
a city luncheon joined by Nan Owen and daughter Jen.
Tim said that the WIA remains one of the most important IARU member societies
and is valued for its participation.
He acknowledged the presence of IARU Region 3's President Gopal Madhavan
VU2GMN and Director Geoff Atkinson VK3TL as well as Monitoring System Coordinator
Peter Young VK3MV, and the Chairman of the Disaster Communications Committee
Jim Linton VK3PC.
Speaking of the Michael J Owen Award, Tim said the IARU was of course immensely
saddened with Michael's sudden passing in 2012.
The IARU Administrative Council (AC) felt that no other radio amateur better
exemplified the IARU volunteer, and introduced the Michael J Owen Award.
The IARU AC appointed two radio amateurs for their dedication and work for
the IARU.
Wojciech Nietyksza SP5FM was presented with the award by IARU Vice President
Ole Garpestad LA2RR, in Warsaw in May, for decades of exceptional service.
Now Dr David Wardlaw VK3ADW has received the same award. He became involved
with the IARU in 1968 as part of the Secretariat provided by the WIA for
the inaugural conference of the IARU Region 3 in Sydney.
His dedication over many years with the IARU is well known. In presenting
the Michael J. Owen Award, the IARU President said he could think of no one
more fitting to be presented with this award.
A humble Dr David Wardlaw received the accolade describing it a deep privilege.
He quipped that ITU committee chairman would refer to him by his name, rather
than a country like other delegates, giving him some added importance.
David is known for his quiet and diplomatic approach to important matters,
but his truly thoughtful effectiveness on them can never be challenged.
In other IARU News, the IARU Region 3 Directors have met in Brisbane.
The recent annual gathering of the Directors followed the important Asia
Telecommunity or APT meeting of delegates to consider a bloc view on agenda
matters at next year's World Radio Conference in Geneva.
All six IARU Region 3 Directors met - Shizuo Endo JE1MUI, Peter Lake ZL2AZ,
Professor Rhee HL1AQQ, Geoff Atkinson VK3TL, Wisnu Widjaja YB0AZ and Chairman
Gopal Madhavan VU2GMN.
They were assisted by Secretary Ken Yamamoto JA1CJP and joined by IARU President
Tim Ellam VE6SH, and Region 1 President Hans Blondeel Timmerman PB2T.
They reviewed progress on a number of tasks identified at their last meeting
in August 2013 in Tokyo.
Directors reported on their various responsibilities, with coordinators and
other reports read. In addition reports were tabled from the IARU in Region
1 and 2 which broadly outlined their activities.
A special report from the IARU Region 3 Directors Peter Lake ZL2AZ and Shizuo
Endo JE1MUI was received on their participation at the Asia Telecommunity
meeting.
Two items of special interest to Amateur Radio were considered including
the possible secondary allocation near 5 MHz.
The pair reported on Memorandum of Understanding between the IARU and APT
being agreed in principle that was anticipated to be signed at the APT Plenary
in November this year.
Amateur Radio in some of the Pacific Islands had become inactive due to the
departure of expatriate operators, but the Directors noted with pleasure
that some are now wanting to revive activities there, and offers of assistance
are being developed.
The Region 3 Conference in Yogjakarta in October 2015 was discussed, with
the venue to be decided in November 2014.
Two directors, Gopal Madhavan VU2GMN and Wisnu Widjaja YB0AZ will represent
IARU Region 3 at the next IARU Administrative Council meeting and IARU Region
1 Conference in Varna, Bulgaria in September.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
Ofcom amateur radio licence FAQ
Ian G3ZHI has been looking through Ofcom's 'Frequently asked questions' and,
under the sub-heading 'I have more than one licence. Must I revalidate all
of them?', he found this rather interesting answer.
IN PART IT READS:
If you have more than one personal licence, it is likely that we shall be
contacting you in the future to ask you which one you wish to keep and we
may require you to relinquish all but one of your licences.
Read the Ofcom FAQs here
http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/amateur-radio/faq/?a=0
13 cm band threatened in Netherlands
It appears that Dutch radio amateurs may lose a substantial segment of the
2300 MHz (13 cm) band
In the Netherlands, from Monday, June 23 the segment between 2330-2400 MHz
was not to be used in a radius of 35 km around Assen.
Dutch radio amateurs outside this area may not point their antennas to Assen.
This is because these frequencies are used for the Dutch TT.
A prelude to a permanent ban.
http://tinyurl.com/BelgiumUBA
=============================================================================
WEIRD AND WONDERFUL
POT GROWERS LIGHTS VS. THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
Marijuana growing operations using what are called indoor
grow lights are making life miserable for hams and S-W-L's.
That's because many of these units emit wide-band
interference all across the High Frequency radio spectrum.
Some can even wreak havoc on the bands from 6 meters and above.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, has more:
--
A recent story picked up by USA TODAY and the Associated
Press from the pages of The Coloradan newspaper reports on
this new source of interference for amateur radio operators.
The story tracks the problems faced by Thomas Thompson,
W0IVJ, of Boulder, Colorado, who discovered RF interference
which he traced to the ballasts of the grow lights being
used by some of his neighbours. Thompson reported his
findings to the ARRL and also posted a page about the
problem on the web.
http://tomthompson.com/radio/GrowLight/GrowLightBallastFilter.html
He notes the interference problem is significant on 40 meters.
Thompson, a retired electrical engineer, was able to find
the source of the interference with direction-finding
equipment, according to the news stories. He then decided
that the best way to address the problem was to build
filters for his neighbours to take care of the interference.
The ARRL, according to the Coloradan, filed a complaint with
the FCC about the grow lamps.
The Coloradan says the FCC told its reporter that agency is
aware of the interference, but didn't say what it was going
to do about it.
The ARRL has produced information about the problem at a
link on its website.
www.arrl.org/grow-light-rfi
It recommends filters and choke to alleviate the problem,
if you know the neighbour where you've identified the source.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V.
--
One word of caution to any ham thinking of confronting a
suspected Marijuana grower, especially if it's someone you
do not know. In three words: "don't do it." While there
may be some people out there who are growing these plants
for medical use, you could easily run into a large scale
cultivating operation being run by members of the underworld
who are armed and dangerous. Instead, if you T-Hunt down
such a location just file a report of the interference and
where you believe it's coming from with your closest FCC
office and let the professionals handle it from there.
(The Coloradian, FaceBook and others via ARNewsLine )
OPERATIONAL NEWS - DATELINE 2014
June 21-22 - Winter VHF-UHF Field Day weekend (thanks to NERG in VK3)
SGARS 80 METRE TROPHY CONTEST July 26
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 20.
Amateur Radios International Air-ambulance Week, 9 days from Sep 28.
The IARU HF Championship takes place on the second full weekend of July.
The contest begins on Saturday 12 July at 12:00 UTC and ends on
Sunday 13 July at 12:00 UTC.
The objective of the IARU HF Championships is to contact as many other
amateurs, especially IARU member society HQ stations, around the world as
possible using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 metre bands.
No contest QSOs on 12, 17, 30 or 60 metres are allowed.
On any band, a station may be worked once on Phone and once on CW.
Both Single and Multi operator stations may operate the entire 24-hour period.
(sarl)
WRTC2014 Chase
Everyone is encouraged to work the World Radiosport Team Championship teams
on as many bands and modes as possible.
All contacts with WRTC2014 stations will be confirmed by QSL card via the
bureau for DX stations.
All contacts will also be confirmed through ARRL's Logbook of the World.
The "WRTC2014 Chase" will run concurrently with the IARU HF Championship
beginning on July 12 at 1200Z.
Complete rules for the WRTC2014 activity award program are available at
http://www.wrtc2014.org/competition/participation-awards/
(irts)
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, DX, BEACON REPEATER AND NET ADVICE
New mode trial for the Mildura medium wave beacon
After being heard in all Australian states and New Zealand identifying in
CW that resulted in 95 reports, the VK3FI beacon on 473 kHz has changed to
the QRSS-3 a very slow CW mode.
It will be on this weekend, go QRT Monday and Tuesday, but back on air
Wednesday June 25 for a few weeks and hopefully attracting new and further
afield reports with the new mode.
Some antenna improvements are planned later and the VK3FI beacon will resume
then with 12-words-per-minute CW transmissions. All reception reports please
to vk3fi@wia.org.au
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
An unusual callsign is airing 19 - 22 June.
Look out for VX 9 MOSKVA which commemorates the 75th anniversary of the
forced landing on Miscou Island of an Iluyushin bomber which was attempting
a non-stop flight from Moscow to New York in connection with the 1939
World's Fair.
QSL manager for this special event station is VE 9 GFD.
VK 3 VTH will be active stroke 7 from King Island between
August 14th to the17th. His operation will be on 40 and 20
meters using SSB only.
QSL VK 3 VTH via the bureau.
VK 3 ATX will be operational stroke P from Gabo Island on
August 16th and 17th. Activity will be on the High
Frequency bands.
QSL via VK 3 ATX home callsign, direct only.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police amateur radio Group in Ottawa will be
operating Special Event Station VE 3 RCMP during the Field Day contest
weekend, June 28-29, 2014.
They plan also to activate the call sign during the RAC Canada Day Contest
July 1st.
The Special Event Amateur Station will be commemorating the 75th anniversary
of the first RCMP owned and operated radio-to-patrol-car dispatch system that
was commissioned in the fall of 1939
(rac)
Lastly, AF 1 G is reported operational from Andros Island on
the weekends, U.S. holidays and some contests. His activity
is on 80 through 6 meters using SSB and the digital modes.
QSL Logbook of the World or direct with a self-addressed
stamped envelope direct only.
AWARDS
Lining up to activate the parks
The 4th Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award weekend may be five months
away, but some of those into portable operation are getting ready now.
Victoria's National Parks will be on air Friday the 14th to Sunday the 16th
of November. These include the Alfred, Lind, Erinunderra, Coopracambra and
Wilson's Promontory National Parks.
Just in is that Paul VK5PAS will cross the border in the Cobboboonee, Lower
Glenelg River, Mount Richmond and Mount Eccles National Parks in south-west
Victoria.
There has not been such an early activation commitment indicating that this
annual activity is off to a good start.
The free Master Class - Portable session to be held by Amateur Radio Victoria
in July for would-be portable operators, is also proving very popular and will
be an enormous help in obtaining your KR Award..
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
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
Intruding radar mysteriously disappears
Peter VK3MV says our IARU Monitoring System was alerted recently to a
radar-like signal on the 20-metre band and gathered potential evidence
of the intrusion.
Suspected, but by no means confirmed, was a southern hemisphere source.
The intrusion resulted in inquiries to the Australian Communications and
Media Authority.
No-one has officially claimed the radar-like signal, but it quickly
disappeared after its presence was questioned.
It is suspected the errant transmission on 14.050 MHz was an inadvertent
mishap, resulting from a mistuning of frequency.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL
Matt Robert VK2LK tells us Australian, New Zealand and Hawaiian APCO P25
Digital repeaters are linked via the Internet.
P25 was originally a public safety grade commercial digital voice mode that
has recently gained popularity within the Amateur radio community.
As equipment has become cheaper and more readily available on the used market
interest in this mode has started to increase. There are several repeaters
located around the Sydney area that support P25, in particular the
VK2RCG P25 repeater located on Governor Phillip Tower in the Sydney CBD.
VK2LK, has added this repeater in Sydney to an internationally linked
repeater network that has repeaters in New Zealand, Hawaii and Australia.
The linking is particularly interesting as traditionally, P25 repeaters
have been difficult to link and have required expensive telco grade equipment
or specialised microwave links to connect them together.
This linked network has been implemented in true HAM radio fashion and uses
very cheap and commonly available second hand networking equipment that costs
well under $100 each and also provides an extremely solid and reliable
commercial grade link. The network uses a star topology with Hawaii as the
central site, this means that all traffic is received, sent across the link
to Hawaii and then sent back to the remote repeaters for transmission.
All appropriately licensed operators with P25 equipment are more than welcome
to hop on anytime. This network is permanently linked, so all P25 capable
hams are more than welcome to put out a call, Matt would love to see more
activity on this excellent system and says you will be pleasantly surprised
at the audio quality of the overseas stations!
The GPT repeater has an output frequency of 438.200 MHz., input of 432.800 MHz.
(note the -5.4mhz split) and uses the default P25 NAC of 0x293
(that is 293 hexadecimal)
Finally, Matt, VK2LK would like to express thanks and gratitude to
Justin Lavery, VK2CU, and Keith from Metwide Communications for their
generous contributions towards 70cm in Sydney.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- INTERNET --- THE HAMS DOMAIN
TWITTER http://twitter.com/VK1WIA
www.HamRadioNation.com
websdr.org
Another Facebook page for Ham Radio has emerged and is a work by
one of our F calls, VK3FVKI
The (Facebook) group is called, VK amateur radio.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/vkhamradio/
(Epoch Xenomania, vk3fvki)
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - VHF AND ABOVE
New microwave distance records set in Australia
Using both digital and SSB on 78 GHz or the 4-millimetre band in the Super
High Frequency allocation, Alan Devlin VK3XPD and David Smith VK3HZ have
been busy setting record distances.
To show how much further the latest contact is, the record on that band VK3XPD
to Russell Lemke VK3ZQB was about 32 kilometres in December last year.
The new records on May 15, had VK3XPD Mt William in Western Victoria and
VK3HZ on Melbourne's Mt Dandenong Observatory, extending their efforts over
two days to notch up a path of 139.8 kilometres.
A warm, bright and sunny sky and high-ish humidity, not really ideal for
78 GHz propagation, the record contact was first on digital WSJT/JT65C with
-10 to -12 reports, then SSB had a 4 by 1 report.
The microwave exponent Alan VK3XPD points out that it not only sets a record
SSB distance, but also the inaugural digital record on that band. That distance
of 139.8 kilometres has been officially confirmed.
The lack of accessible high spots makes it very hard to find line-of-sight
paths greater than 150 km, so Alan VK3XPD believes the current world record
of 252 kilometres is unlikely to be challenged by Australians.
Alan VK3XPD and VK3HZ used 10 GHz as their liaison frequency to guide their
very sharp 78 GHz dish antennas measuring 300 millimetres, which have a gain
of about 45 dBi, feed with a mere 1 Milliwatt.
VK3XPD has also worked David Minchin VK5KK on 47 GHz and 78 GHz, over a
distance of 10 kilometres. The 47 GHz contact is claimed to extend the
VK5 Record on that band.
Additionally, VK3XPD has claimed VK5 records on 78 GHz with Iain Crawford
VK5ZD of 114 kilometres, on both SSB and digital modes. The three claims
of VK5 distances are still to be officially verified.
Alan VK3XPD now at HamRadio in Friedrichshafen Germany, is expected to further
talk about his exploits at the GippsTech conference in Churchill east of
Melbourne on July the 12th and the 13th.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
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