WIANEWS - JUNE 29 - VK NATIONAL NEWS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WIANEWS WEEK COMMENCING JUNE 29 2014.
HEADING TOWARDS OUR 20TH YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS
ACMA INCREASE LICENSE FEE FOR VK HAMS
ACMA and review of 3300-3600 MHz band
IPS Review of free services.
WIA AR MAGAZINE NOW DIGITAL (hard copy still exists)
THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE
OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING JUN 29 2014.
TRENDING ON VK1WIA TWITTER ACCOUNT
http://twitter.com/VK1WIA
#WIAacma
#WIAips
#WIAarmagazine
In a note from Fred VK3ADC :-
Good morning all
ACMA have advised that the Amateur Radio Licence fee
has been increased to $74.00.
The fee increase is indexed. And rises by about $1 every year or so.
Variation to licence fee remains at $49.00.
Regards
Fred.
War-time secret Communications Bunker on television news
7News TV report a secret World War 2 base in northern Victoria, here in
Australia, has resumed Morse code radio communication with the world after
more than 70 silent years
The restored Flying Boat Museum at Lake Boga near Swan Hill in northwest
Victoria was the home of the No. 1 Flying Boat Repair Depot during World
War II.
Now a Lions Club project it's a fitting memorial to the 1,000 who made a
sterling contribution at the repair and radio base that kept the Catalina
Aircraft serving.
Hidden from aerial view with bomb-proof walls is a Communications Bunker.
It has been restored and put on air by Thomas Brownstein VK3EO, complete
with war-time receivers and smaller transmitters.
The latest media coverage of the Flying Boat Museum has been on the Channel
7 network news that featured a radio amateur and his realised efforts to
put it back on air.
Thomas VK3EO was interviewed while on the key in contact with the former
enemy - a QSO with a JA station near Tokyo. Among his other CW contacts he
has spoken to Europe, America and New Zealand.
Dropping in at the time of the recent TV news interview was Jean Willox,
a war-time radio operator who tried the key for the first time since the
war, and described it really amazing.
Thomas VK3EO also teaches youngsters about Morse code and what went on in
secrecy, describes the whole experience as being like magic.
Regular listeners to VK1WIA will remember that the Communications Bunker
at Lake Boga took part in this year's ANZAC Day activity, and is very much
part of the museum.
Watch the 7News report at
https://au.news.yahoo.com/video/watch/24277448/morse-code-station-revived/
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
WHALE RADIO
Port Fairy in VK3 are about to have a radio station on FM devoted entirely
to the areas Whale population. Seems a local businessman is anchoring a
microphone under water in the bay to bring the sounds LIVE to riveted
listeners!
Master Class - Portable filling quickly
The level of interest in portable operation from would-be operators has seen
them register for the free Master Class - Portable, that will be run by
Amateur Radio Victoria in less than three weeks.
The interest is equally split between relatively new licence holders and
those with Advance licences - but all desire to learn how easy it can be
to go portable.
To attend the Saturday July the 19th Master Class - Portable, aimed strictly
at would-be portable operators, requires a RSVP to attend.
There you will hear expert mini-lectures, see displays, and question the
experts when they form a panel.
To learn more please contact Tony Hambling vk3vth@amateurradio.com.au
Meantime next Sunday, July the 6th, the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks
Award 'Grand Slam' plaque is due to be presented to Peter Freeman VK3PF at
Churchill in Victoria.
On the same day, Tony VK3VTH will activate the nearby Tarra-Bulga National
Park.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
Homebrewers to meet in VK3
The next meeting of the Homebrew Constructor's Group is Saturday July 5 at
the Amateur Radio Victoria rooms, 40g Victory Boulevard, Ashburton.
The monthly meeting on July the 5th starts at 2pm and all are welcome.
Inquiries can be sent to homebrew@amateurradio.com.au
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News
The 9 cm amateur band at 3300-3600 MHz may be in danger of losing some
segments following a review of arrangements in the 3400-3600 MHz band
just announced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
The ACMA is seeking comments on possible future licensing arrangements in the
3.5 GHz band, set out in its consultation paper titled "Transitioning the
3.5 GHz band for future opportunities".
At present, 3400-3600 MHz has various segments allocated to primary users
through a mix of apparatus and spectrum licences. Amateur use of 3300-3600 MHz
is on a secondary basis.
The ACMA says that use of the 3400-3600 MHz band overseas appears to be
changing, and this is starting to put pressure on current Australian
allocations. As applications for microwave communications technology is
changing, a clear picture is yet to emerge of future applications in
Australia.
According to its website, "the ACMA's response to the complexity and growing
pressures associated with the 3.5 GHz band is to look at implementing new
arrangements that will maximise the band's future flexibility."
The WIA is compiling a submission to respond to the ACMA's consultation paper
and, to that end, is seeking input from all interested Australian amateurs,
which can be mailed or faxed to the National Office, or emailed to:
nationaloffice@wia.org.au to reach us by or before close of business Monday,
21 July.
The WIA also encourages all interested Australian amateurs to send your own
submissions to the ACMA, which need to reach it by Wednesday, 30 July.
We have a news item on http://www.wia.org.au the WIA website where you can
download the ACMA's Consultation paper.
(vk2zrh Roger Harrison)
The Ionospheric Prediction Service is being reviewed
A discussion paper has been released by the Ionospheric Prediction Service as
the first step in what could be a wide-ranging review of the service.
The Ionospheric Prediction Service - or, I-P-S as it is more commonly
referred to - is a division of Australia's Bureau of Meteorology - the
weather bureau.
Being part of the Bureau makes sense, because much of the work of IPS has
to do with "space weather" - the activity of the Sun, the solar wind and
its interactions with the Earth's magnetic field and the ionosphere.
The Terms of Reference for the review include the following
# A review the policy basis for the Bureau's space weather services.
# An analysis and international benchmarking comparison of the Bureau's
Space Weather services, and use of observations and infrastructure,
including:
- their current status;
- performance and impact;
- scope;
- manner of delivery; and
- adequacy of capabilities and resourcing to deliver the service.
# Evaluation of the extent to which the Bureau's Space Weather services meet
user needs - especially those of significant user groups and high-impact
users.
# Assessment of the strategic outlook - over 5 to10 years - for space
weather services in Australian, regional and global settings - and, in
light of the first three items - provide advice on the capabilities
required to meet the future challenges;
# Comment on the potential for cost-recovery of space weather services; AND
# Provide recommendations based on the above analyses, assessments and
evaluations.
The WIA encourages radio amateurs to lodge a submission to the review,
especially if you use IPS services, explaining how the free IPS service
provided to public radio users aids your communications activities.
You can download a copy of the discussion paper from the home page of
http://www.ips.gov.au, or via the news item on http://www.wia.org.au
the WIA website home page.
Get cracking ! Responses are required by the fourth of July !
(roger harrison vk2zrh)
DISCUSSION POINT
What use is an F-call?
Today I was unable to run my weekly net from my QTH, so I planned to run my
station portable. Last night I put my battery pack in the boot of my car, put
the mag-mount on the roof, screwed in the antenna and folded it over so I
wouldn't damage it when I drove out of the garage in the morning. I also put
my radio, a Yaesu 857d on the passenger seat, ran the power cord from the
boot to the front-seat, plugged the antenna lead in and added my log book.
This morning I drove out of the garage, stuck my antenna up, plugged in the
power and made a test transmission, only to see the SWR go through the roof.
I wasn't sure what was going on, so I checked the antenna connector, all
solid, checked the mag-mount on the roof, unscrewed the antenna and then
screwed it back in again. Another test transmission, another high SWR and no
repeater beep acknowledging my existence.
I checked on the local aviation beacon but couldn't hear it.
I went back into the garage, pulled out another mag-mount, plugged that in,
had to hunt for an adapter cable to get from BNC to PL259, and tested that.
Still no go.
I'd moved my radio to another location during the week, wondered if I had
damaged it in transit. Pulled out my second radio, another 857d, and plugged
that in its place. Still no luck.
I reversed back into the garage, 10 minutes before my net was due, getting
pretty frantic, then plugged in my QTH base station antenna, still no go, on
either radio.
I then remembered that I had a hand-held, so packed up the other radios,
wound up the antenna leads, pulled off the mag-mounts and went to find a
nearby hill capable of elevating me to the point where my hand-held could
make it into the local repeater.
I started the 'net on time, but lots of stress and hurry was involved.
While doing the 'net, an 857d still sitting on the passenger seat, I turned
it over to look at the antenna connectors, there's two, one for HF and 6m and
one for UHF and VHF. The HF antenna has a PL259 connector on it, the
VHF/UHF one has an N-type connector.
If you've been paying attention, you now know what I did wrong.
If not, the high SWR was the reading where the antenna length is close to 0,
that is, the state where you don't have an antenna plugged in at all.
Doh. In my haste I'd plugged my UHF/VHF antenna into the HF port, no workies.
I did the 'net on my hand-held, not ideal, but workable.
Next time I'll take a little more time in preparation. I'm also going to have
a think about making the terminations of my antenna leads correct for the
radio, that is, PL259 for HF and N-type for 2m and 70cm.
You live and learn.
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.
27 MHz SSB CB legal from June 27
Ofcom in the UK have announced amendments to Wireless Telegraphy licence
regulations that will enable 27 MHz SSB Citizens Band operation with
12 watt PEP from June 27, 2014
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/wireless-telegraphy-fees-notice/statement/
Auckland Unitary Plan Submission
Auckland Council's 'Plan' basically stipulates all amateur radio aerials
would be subjected to a Restricted Discretionary resource consent.
This is upwards of $5000 every time an antenna change is contemplated!
But check this fact out, For instance, if I am a Kiwi yachty and want to
mount a VHF marine whip on the barge board of my house, I can do it as of
right, but if as a radio amateur I want to put an almost identical 2m whip
on my bargeboard, I have to get a resource consent.
NZART has consequently put in a rather comprehensive submission to try to
achieve "Permitted Status" for a range of "amateur configurations".
Auckland, with nearly a third of all amateurs in NZ, if it wins this case,
it is probable that it will become the template for most other districts
as they review their district plans in the future.
Good luck NZART.
VK5's Astronaut Andy Thomas has retired to his Texas ranch after 22 years
with NASA and 4 months living in zero gravity on the Mir space station.
Recently Dr Thomas VK5MIR has been leading design teams whose projects
included a return visit to the moon, and a first visit to Mars.
His 40 acre ranch property in central Texas is where he would eventually live
with his astronaut wife, Shannon Walker, who is still in the NASA program
and hoping for at least one more flight.
Chinese site in signal-jammer sting could pay record $34.9M FCC fine
NetworkWorld report that a Chinese electronics vendor accused of selling
signal jammers to U.S. consumers could end up leading the market in one
dubious measure: the largest fine ever imposed by the Federal Communications
Commission.
The agency wants to fine CTS Technology US$34,912,500 for allegedly marketing
jammers.
The proposed fine, which would be bigger than any the FCC has levied for
anti-competitive behaviour, non airing of children's shows, or a wardrobe
malfunction, comes from adding up the maximum fines for each model of
jammer the company allegedly sold in the U.S.
The agency also ordered CTS, based in Shenzhen, China, to identify the buyer
of each jammer it sold in the U.S.
=============================================================================
ARNEWSLINE
HAM RADIO OPERATORS ASSIST IN REACTIVATION OF ABANDONED NASA SPACE PROBE
Ham radio has assisted in reactivating an over three decade old NASA
satellite. Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD reports:
-
The U-K newspaper the Daily Mail says that several radio
amateurs were involved with Project Reboot in regaining
control of the 35 year old abandoned International Sun-Earth
Explorer 3 spacecraft. Hams named in the article include
Dennis Wingo, KD4ETA; Achim Vollhardt, DH2VA, and Mario Lorenz DL5MLO.
The International Sun-Earth Explorer was launched in 1978 to
study Earth's magnetosphere. It carries thirteen scientific
instruments to measure plasmas, energetic particles, waves,
and fields. As of this past May, all but one is thought to
be functional. An on-board data handling system gathers the
scientific and engineering information from all systems in
the spacecraft. It then formats this information into a
serial stream for transmission back to Earth by an on-board
5 watt transmitter.
After completing its main mission, the satellite was
repurposed in 1983 to study two comets. At that time it was
renamed the International Cometary Explorer and has been in
a heliocentric orbit since then, traveling just slightly
faster than Earth. It's finally catching up to our planet
from behind, and will be closest to Earth this August.
Now, KD4ETA has released an update on the attempts by the
projects volunteers, including the radio amateurs, to gain
control of the spacecraft. According to Wingo, the probe
has been successfully commanded into engineering telemetry
mode. He noted the job done by DH2VA and also Phil Karn,
KA9Q, to make this happen. Karn is well known in the
amateur radio community for his work on the KA9Q Network
Operating System, the early 9600 bit FSK radio modems, and
more recently, the introduction of forward error
correction into the Amateur Satellite Service.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD,
in Berwick, Pennsylvania.
--
The actual first command to the revived International Sun-
Earth Explorer 3 spacecraft was successfully sent from the
Arecibo Radio Observatory in Puerto Rico using the
facilities 305 meter dish. This after the volunteer team
installed the needed modulator, demodulator and power
amplifier to make contact and control of the satellite
possible. More is on the web at tinyurl.com/reboot-project
(AMSAT-UK, Daily Mail, Southgate)
MORSE STATIONS CLAIM TO BE OPERATING FROM NON NATION
As the conflict between the Ukraine and Russia continues,
the Southgate News reports that a pair of CW stations have
appeared on the higher HF bands, claiming to operate from
Donetsk, and promoting a separatist Peoples Republic of
Donetsk or Novo Rossiya.
The callsigns, D0A and 1C4M are believed to be two operators
on the same transmitter however the callsigns are invalid
and do not count for anything in ham radio terms. And there
is also some doubt that the stations are really in Donetsk
but instead may be operating from somewhere in Kazakhstan.
(Southgate, G0SFJ)
============================================================================
RSGB's G4NJH
No change to Crimea DXCC status
The ARRL has announced that there is to be no change to the
DXCC status of the Crimea area and the annexation does not
lend Crimea status as a new DXCC entity.
The Awards Committee concluded that a QSL with a callsign
issued by Ukraine and showing the entity name as Ukraine
counts as Ukraine, while a QSL with a callsign issued by
Russia and showing the entity name as Russia counts as Russia.
A QSL that satisfies neither condition does not count for
either entity, the committee said.
OPERATIONAL NEWS - DATELINE 2014
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.
2015
Tablelands Radio Group will again hold AM and CW on ANZA Day 25 April
10-10 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CONTEST Aug 1 - 2
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, DX, BEACON REPEATER AND NET ADVICE
Victoria's annual Bogong High Plains Winter mini-expedition will occur from
31 July to 4 August this year. The team will include VK3GT, VK3FMAW and VK3SN
who will operate from 160m to 70cm and everything in between using solar
powered QRP gear.
Each day we will ski across snowy plains situated 1700m above sea level and
set up camp by evening for radio operation. Listen out for us, especially on
40m during the late afternoon and 80m each evening. Local VHF & UHF repeaters
will be utilised while we traverse back-country mobile.
Here's now hoping for decent snow!
(VK3SN)
Staying with hams 'out and about' this time it's to Paul VK5PAS, the
co-ordinator in Australia for the WWFF program.
"Do you enjoy the great outdoors and travelling to beautiful locations around
Australia, whilst combing the hobby of amateur radio?
If you answered yes, then the World Wide Flora and Fauna program will
certainly be of interest to you.
The World Wide Flora and Fauna program, abbreviated as WWFF, is an
international award program which encourages portable operation from
designated nature parks and protected nature areas around the world.
There are currently 39 participating countries from Europe, North America,
South America, Africa, Asia, & Oceania.
In Australia, the program is known as VKFF (Australian Flora Fauna).
The qualifying parks for the VKFF program are National Parks.
And there is certainly no shortage of options, with over 730 National Parks
on the VKFF list.
Award certificates are issued to Activators (those operating portable from
National Parks), Hunters (those making contact with Activators), and
Short wave listeners.
Two recent VKFF awards have been created. The VKFF DX Hunter certificate
encourages Australian operators to make contact with overseas activators.
Whilst the VKFF Worked All Australia certificate is offered to amateurs
who make contact with WWFF activators from all Australian States and
Territories.
The WWFF program is extremely popular in Europe, as some VK operators have
recently found out. Tony VK3VTH and Peter VK3ZPF have been working many a
pile up into Europe from Victorian National Parks. And it is also pleasing
to see that many Summits on the Air operators are now combing SOTA activations
with WWFF activations.
For more information on the WWFF program, please have a look at the
Australian WWFF website which can be located at..
http://www.wwffaustralia.com
Thanks for listening, I'm Paul VK5PAS, the co-ordinator in Australia
for the WWFF program.
Six metre enthusiasts who need Grenada for their DXCC should keep a look out
for J 38 DR between now and 1 July. The operator is W 9 DR and he will be QRV
on 50115 SSB and 50115.6 CW.
INTRUDER WATCH - ENFORCEMENT ZONE
Region III IARUMS Coordinator Peter Young VK3MV
VK IARUMS reflector email to subscribe intruders@wia.org.au
INTRUDER NETS
Disputes increase amateur band intrusions
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has spilled over into the high
frequency allocations assigned by the International Telecommunications Union
to Amateur Radio, with many military signals being reported.
The International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 Monitoring System has detected
encrypted messages on 20-metres from the Ukraine, while military type
transmissions on 40-metres are Russian.
Another conflict area is Iraq and surrounding nations. The on-going military
activity in the South China Sea and associated broadcast jamming is a further
hot spot.
More intrusions on our bands may be observed by military communications
including cluster beacons, number or letter stations, and long-range radar.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
USA Lightship is this year's ILLW 300
The prestigious 300th registration in the annual International Lighthouse
and Lightship Weekend held in August, goes to the Lightship Columbia WLV-604,
operated by the Sunset Empire Amateur Radio Club W7BU.
The club puts the lightship on air because of the close link between radio
communication and the history of navigational aids for ships.
W7BU will be heard from the lightship's radio room. Now at Astoria in the
State of Oregon, it used to guard the Columbia River Bar in Columbia, before
being replaced by a lighthouse in 1979.
The last operational US West Coast lightship, the Columbia WLV-604 is on
the National Register of Historic Places and has guided tours.
The 100th was South Australia's Point Lowly VK5BWR and number 200 Spain's
Faro de Cabo de Silleiro Lighthouse activated by EA1/DK6EA.
Registrations have come so far from 36 countries in the annual fun-event.
The USA is in the lead with 53 including 14 first-time registrations, ahead
of Germany 52 and Australia on 51.
There are simple guidelines and registration available online for the International
Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend on August the 16th and 17th, see the website
www.illw.net
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER
Send Your Name to the Asteroid Bennu!
NASA is inviting people around the world to submit their names to be etched
on a microchip aboard a spacecraft headed to the asteroid Bennu in 2016.
The "Messages to Bennu!" microchip will travel to the asteroid aboard
the Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security
Regolith Explorer, or OSIRIS-REx, spacecraft. The robotic mission will
spend more than two years at the asteroid, which has a width of
approximately 500 meters. The spacecraft will collect a sample of Bennu's
surface and return it to Earth in a return capsule.
The deadline to submit names online is Sept. 30, 2014.
Participants who submit their names to the "Messages to Bennu!" campaign will
be able to print a certificate of appreciation to document their involvement.
For more information and to submit your name, visit
http://planetary.org/bennu
Participants who "follow" or "like" the mission on Facebook will receive
updates on the location of their names in space from launch time until the
asteroid samples return to Earth in 2023.
http://www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex and http://osiris-rex.lpl.arizona.edu
Possible ISS Voice Contacts on ARRL Field Day THIS weekend.
Current discussions between the ARISS team and NASA suggest the
possibility of voice contacts with the International Space Station
(ISS) during Saturday's ARRL Field Day activities this weekend.
Astronaut Wiseman that he is willing to try and work some stations on
Saturday under the call sign, NA 1 SS. Should Alex Gerst also participate,
he would use the call sign, DP 0 ISS.
If voice operation does occur, It will likely take place from the
Columbus module using uplink frequency of 144.49 MHz and 145.800 MHz downlink.
If Russian crew participate they would be directed to use 437.550 MHz for
any contacts using the call sign RS 0 ISS.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- MEDICAL
IHS = www.groups.Yahoo.com/group/IHSradio/
IHS = www.IHSOFMN.org
PHARMACISTS = www.malpensa.it/iphg
Medical Amateur Radio Council www.marco-ltd.org/
MIT perfects cheap, accurate through-wall movement and heartbeat detection
with Wi-Fi
MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory after using
humble Wi-Fi___33 waves to sense movement behind a wall, has now improved its
technology to the point that it can remotely - from behind a wall in another
room - can detect heart rate and respiration.
MIT has successfully used this technology to non-invasively check a sleeping
baby's breathing and pulse, and even to track the breathing of two adults
simultaneously.
Read the full story with videos at:
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/184347-mit-perfects-cheap-accurate-through-wall-movement-and-heartbeat-detection-with-wifi
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
The WICEN NSW 2014 AGM has been held with following office bearers appointed.
President : Steven Heimann VK2BOS
Vice President: John Harper VK2LJ
Secretary : Steve Diekman VK2MCA
Emergency Communications by hams praised
The role of radio amateurs in one of Canada's greatest natural disasters,
the Alberta floods last year, has been honoured, and Thailand's worst flooding
in 2011 was recalled as the famed HS0AC Amateur Radio station is restored.
In June of 2013, the town of High River experienced its greatest natural
disaster when the river overflowed and destroyed businesses, homes, infrastructure
and lives.
The Foothills Amateur Radio Club and radio amateurs across the region responded
working closely with hospitals and emergency and support services, to augment
or replace communications that had been damaged or destroyed in the torrent.
On the first anniversary of the disaster, officials, the club and the Radio
Amateurs Canada gathered to honour 59 radio amateurs who were involved with
presentation of certificates, letters of thanks, and formal acknowledgements.
Meanwhile the Radio Amateurs of Thailand (RAST) remembered the 2011 flood
that killed 800 people, affected nearly 14 million and disrupted the economy,
as it completed the HS0AC Amateur Radio station at the Asian Institute of
Technology.
During the flood Thai radio amateurs stepped in to help with emergency
communications and hand out supplies. Working with the Ministry of Public
Health they saved almost 1,000 lives.
Among the many areas inundated was the RAST facility. Now help of professionals
the repair and refurbishment work of HS0AC under the guidance of RAST President
Jack Hantongkom HS1FVL is complete.
Look out for a big HS0AC signal during special event activities and contests.
RAST, a member society of the IARU Region 3, is expected to be particularly
active during its 50th anniversary year.
(Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee)
MEDIA WATCH
D-DAY
Did anybody notice what happened last Thursday, the 26th of June ?
The sky fell in !
There was thunder and lightning all over the land !
Dark clouds filled the sky and when they parted, a bright light shone through
and an ENORMOUS letter D appeared, seemingly chiselled from some
out-of-this-world substance !
Yes folks ! The first digital edition of Amateur Radio magazine - the July
2014 issue - was released for download on the WIA website.
The world will never be the same again !
Well - at least the world of amateur radio as we know it in Australia.
(Roger Harrison VK2ZRH)
SOCIAL SCENE 2014
Jul 12-13 VK3 GippsTech Conference GippsTech 2013
Now is the time to register:
You only have a few days to register for the 2013 edition of GippsTech.
This technical conference discusses weak signal communications, especially
on the VHF, UHF and microwave bands. Held at the Churchill campus of
Federation University Australia, the event presents opportunities to learn
more about your hobby and to interact with around one hundred like-minded
amateurs.
Bring your partner as well! We run a social partners' tour which visits sites
of interest in the local region, with participants having a major role in
determining their itinerary.
Everyone gathers for a conference dinner on Saturday night, this year at the
well-respected Waratah Restaurant in Morwell.
If you plan to attend NOW is the time to act. Visit the VK3BEZ.org web site
and complete your registration form. Registrations close this Friday, July 4!
This is Peter VK3PF for the Eastern Zone Amateur Radio Club for WIA News.
Jul 19 VK3 GGREC 2014 HAMFEST Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club.
Jul 19 VK4 Caboolture Radio Club HAMFEST at Scout Ground, 169 Smiths Rd.
Jul 27 VK4 GOLD COAST AR SOCIETY 11am Social at Logan Central Gardens
Aug 3 VK6 Northern Corridor Radio Group Hamfest.
Sep 13 VK4 Sunshine Coast AR Club's SUNFest, Woombye School of Arts
Oct 25 VK4 HAMFEST on the Gold Coast.
Nov 2 VK5 HamFest Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society
Nov 15 VK7 Miena Hamfest (My-enah)
Nov 30 VK3 SPARC HamFest at Rosebud ( howardjones155@gmail.com )
2015
June, Queens Birthday weekend 40th annual Oxley Region Field Day
Tacking Point Surf Life Saving Hall.
FINAL FINAL
DX stations note:-
The phrase "Spending a Penny" is not to be used after 31 December 2014.
From this date onwards, the correct term will be:
"Euronating".
It is hoped that this will be a great relief to everyone
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 'and always if the news room is to read your
item write in the 3rd person.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=============================================================================
WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide.
TWITTER http://twitter.com/VK1WIA
Societies and Club News Letter Editors can EXCHANGE a feed prior to
the actual broadcast date, e-mail nationalnews@wia.org.au
Call-backs follow the RF editions, but also for text readers you may
lodge a quick reply to let us know you read it, who knows, you might
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
active amateurs residing in Australia and the globe.
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 material and do not necessarily
reflect those of the rebroadcasters, nor the National WIA, but are broadcast
in the spirit in which they were submitted."
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.
.
-------------
|