NOTE
Website maintenance - Saturday October 10
The WIA website will have maintenance work, and be off-line during the time
window 4.30pm - Midnight, October 10.
So make sure rebroadcasters that you download the news for Sunday 11th
well before 4pm on that Saturday Tenth.
The WIA regrets any interruption this may cause, but will keep it to a
minimum.
Oct 11 - VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA
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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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NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING OCT 11 2015.
IN OUR 20TH YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS
WIA VK3PF Peter the editor of our Amateur Radio Magazine loses car during SOTA
WIA Stalwart VK4DO Wally becomes Silent Key.
All JOTA frequencies listed for next weekend's event.
THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE
OF AUSTRALIA 2015 AND FOR WEEK OF OCTOBER 11
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University of Melbourne - past and future satellites
Australis OSCAR-5 built by University of Melbourne student engineers was
launched in January 1970 - a project that began 50 years ago and has not
been repeated since by any other Australian university.
That is set to change - but more about it later.
OSCAR-5 was put into low earth orbit sending telemetry on both 2-metre and
10-metre bands, and received by more than 200 listeners in 27 countries.
Congratulating the students, from the Wireless Institute of Australia was
Michael Owen VK3KI - now a silent key. He noted how the students used passive
magnetic attitude stabilisation to achieve a favourable antenna footprint on
earth.
It was the subject of a lot of pride, talk, and hope for the future.
Now we hear about the recently formed University of Melbourne Space Program.
It is developing Australia's second student-built satellite, of the CubeSat
design. Future missions may even put a satellite in orbit around the Moon and
other planets.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
Satellites beam down on Australia
The use of new satellite technology will deliver enormous benefits, and in
another case it is being blamed for leading a car into the path of a train.
The Bureau of Meteorology is now able to use high definition colour pictures
every 10-minutes including the movement of bushfires and cyclones.
Broadband will be available to rural and remote areas next year with the
launch of the new National Broadband Network, Sky Muster satellite.
And a hapless motorist, following GPS ended up struck on train tracks at
Coburg in suburban Melbourne, only to see his vehicle hit by a train.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
Cooperation and teamwork
Cooperation and teamwork this "hot" on the heels of our 'teaser' at the start
of LAST week's WIA National News.
Here is Peter VK3PF in Churchill Victoria.
Two weeks ago I was out in the hills aiming to activate several SOTA summits.
On the day in question, it happened that Tony VK3CAT was activating a similar
combination of summits, so I would be following him. This was unlikely to be
an issue, as Tony was planning on activating primarily on CW and I would be
mainly using voice, with some CW when chasing Summit to Summit contacts.
Early in the afternoon I decided to omit one planned summit, thereby saving at
least 90 minutes. I communicated this change to Tony via 2 m FM simplex. I
ended up 10 minutes in front of Tony, with us both heading towards Mt Useful.
The road was in reasonable condition, especially compared to an earlier
section of road. I hit yet another pothole, but heard a pop in addition to the
usual thump of the wheel hitting the edge of the pothole. Things then happened
quickly: the engine sound changed and then became louder. The oil warning
light came on and I noticed smoke behind the car.
I was slowing down and looking for a spot to pull over without blocking the
road. Then the engine cut out - all this inside a couple of minutes at most.
Once stopped, I pulled on the handbrake and jumped out to attempt to assess
the situation. I saw fire under the engine!
I grabbed the microphone to the VHF/UHF dualbander and called Tony, advising
that I had issues. I then started emptying my belongings from the vehicle. By
time Tony arrived, I had as much out of the car as possible, with the cabin
now filled with black acrid smoke.
Tony deployed his extinguisher with little effect: the fire had grown rapidly.
No one was injured, so all one could do was be thankful, smile and watch from
a safe distance as the fire engulfed the whole vehicle.
With no mobile phone coverage, Tony called from his car on 7.090 MHz for
assistance. The only person willing to help was another amateur out activating
a Park, but with good mobile coverage. Thus began the teamwork in
communicating our location to the emergency services.
After about 40 minutes, a home-based amateur called in to assist. Phone numbers
were exchanged and instructions given to pass on the home-based amateur's
number to the emergency services if they called back. Together we pinpointed
our location more accurately, which was passed on to the emergency services.
Between us, Tony and I kept a listening watch on the frequency, answering some
later calls confirming details.
The CFA truck finally arrived almost two hours after the incident began. They
dowsed the vehicle, which by now was simply a slowly smouldering burnt-out
shell. Tony had already packed all of my salvaged gear into his car.
Eventually, we set off together towards civilisation and our respective homes,
but we both completed quick SOTA activations of Mount Useful on our way!
Tony dropped me at home, only a short diversion off his route back to
Melbourne.
Many thanks to all involved: especially Tony, but also Johnno and Col, and to
the amateurs who assisted in keeping the frequency clear and maintaining a
listening watch.
You can read a more detailed account on my blog - just search for VK3PF and
you should find it. My blog has a link to Tony's blog for a slightly different
account of events.
I'm Peter VK3PF in Churchill Victoria.
Staying in VK3 and 'Calling CQ FunFlight!'
An opportunity exists to promote your radio club and amateur radio through
the national FunFlight day, to be held on Sunday November 8th.
FunFlight is volunteer-run, and established to provide children touched by
adversity, with joy and inspiration through the exhilaration of flight.
Flying clubs and pilots nationwide donate their facilities and flight time,
to help provide a memorable day for thousands of children.
Bendigo Amateur Radio and Electronics Club will be once again setting up an
amateur radio station at the Bendigo Flying club, to provide an extra activity
for the children while they wait for their flights. The FunFlight organisers
are supportive of the concept, so perhaps your club may be interested in
contacting your local Flying club, to see if they are interested in an amateur
radio station on FunFlight day.
Radio clubs participating on the day will be liaising on forty metres,
providing a link for the children to talk with each other and share their
experiences. This will be an exciting event, and BAREC look forward to
connecting with other flying clubs via amateur radio, as they call
'CQ FunFlight' on Sunday November 8th!
For more information on FunFlight, go to www.funflight.org
(Graeme Knight. BAREC Media and Communications)
WIA BOARD TALK
President Phil Wait VK2ASD vk2asd@wia.org.au
V President Fred Swainston VK3DAC vk3dac@wia.org.au
Secretary David Williams VK3RU vk3ru@wia.org.au
Treasurer John Longayroux VK3PZ vk3pz@wia.org.au
WIA at IARU Conference in Bali
The Wireless Institute of Australia has submitted a paper on its main
activities to the IARU Region 3 Conference, held from Monday, October 12-16
in Bali Indonesia.
The WIA conference delegate is Peter Young VK3MV, with Phil Wait VK2ASD the
Observer.
Both are funded through member subscriptions for international representation
that includes this regional conference held every three years.
The WIA in its paper, talks about major challenges faced that include future
spectrum management arrangements proposed by a Department of Communications
review.
The WIA delivers some administrative functions on behalf of the Australian
Communications and Media Authority in the assessment and licensing area, and
is ready for further roles that may arise.
On the issue of growth, the WIA has noticed a small but steady decline in
membership and it's asking other IARU member societies comment on the factors
behind the situation.
Very recently, Maker groups have started to form in high schools. In all cases
the catalyst appears to be a teacher who has a personal interest in technology,
particularly hobbyist electronics.
Again, the WIA believes this creates a future opportunity, if it can be
coupled with licence and regulation reform.
The WIA also has a representative at the World Radiocommunications Conference
in Geneva (November 2-27) that will consider a possible new secondary
allocation around 5300 kHz, while sharing is sought between 77.5 and 78 GHz
with short range vehicle radar systems.
Public callsign list restored
Prospective radio amateurs and those looking at their callsign choices are now
able to do that online at the 'Public List Of Available Callsigns' on the
WIA website.
This follows the resolution of teething problems with the ACMA's new SPECTRA
licensing system.
The text edition of this broadcast has the URL you need for the WIA website
comprehensive callsign information.
SILENT KEY
This is WIA Director Roger Harrison VK2ZRH with a rare silent key announcement.
It is with a heavy heart that I regret to inform listeners of the passing of
Wally Watkins VK4DO, late of Townsville.
Wally stamped his name on many fields of amateur radio endeavour across some
five decades. First as VK5 zed double-U double-U, he established himself as
one of the stalwarts of six metres. With a 10-element Yagi and quote -
adequate power - unquote, Wally ran single sideband on six metres in that era
when AM still held sway.
Such was his signal, the band didn't need to be open for you to hear him in
Sydney - or Brisbane. VK5 zed double-U double-U could be heard via ionospheric
scatter alone. Wally became one of the mainstays on six metre meteor scatter
skeds during the 1970s. He gently badgered all and sundry to give it a go -
myself included.
And he worked his fair share of long-haul DX on six metres over the years.
When Wally moved to Orange in New South Wales in the late 1970s, he upgraded
to VK2DEW and added chasing DX on the HF bands, focusing particularly on
40 metres and 10 metres, pursuing both CW and voice contacts.
No matter what interest Wally took up, he pursued it to the hilt, leaving no
detail undiscovered or unexamined.
So it was when he took up amateur radio contesting in the 1970s. Wally became
WIA Federal Contest Manager and wrote the Contests Column for Amateur Radio
magazine over 1980-81.
In the sport of Amateur Radio directing finding - a combination of foxhunting
and orienteering - Wally gained global notoriety. He developed simple,
practical kits for ARDF receivers and many enthusiasts built them.
He applied himself to promoting ARDF in Australia and in the Asian countries
of Region 3, becoming a widely recognised mainstay competitor in events in the
Region, particularly the People's Republic of China.
Along the way, Wally became a Sinophile - a person having an interest in and
love for Chinese culture and its people. In characteristic fashion, Wally and
his wife Dorothy travelled often to, and around, China.
Naturally, Wally became fluent in Mandarin and quite knowledgeable about
Chinese history, politics and society - and amateur radio in China. He
produced VHS videos of his China travels, and gave talks at amateur radio
clubs over the 1980s and 90s.
Hence, he was a valuable delegate on the WIA team that attended the IARU
Region 3 Conference in Beijing in 1997. Naturally, he was our ARDF specialist.
Wally was involved in WIA affairs from his time in VK5. In NSW, he took up the
role of Alternate Federal Councillor for the NSW Division, as well as joining
WICEN.
Later, having moved to VK4 and changed callsign to VK4DO, he organised the
10th Region 3 ARDF Championships in Townsville, attracting participants from
some far-flung corners of the world.
Wally was a consummate and engaging presenter, giving many talks on his
favourite pursuits at amateur radio clubs across the years.
Regrettably, it's not possible here to adequately cover all that Wally pursued
and achieved in amateur radio, let alone his life apart from it.
He was a warm, engaging person, with an unfailing interest in the lives and
ideas of others, and who would not hesitate to help out someone who needed a
hand, in whatever way was within his abilities.
He could be truly described as a renaissance man; a rare being.
Vale Wally Watkins VK4DO.
(Roger Harrison VK2ZRH)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
IARU interim meeting consultation
In preparation for the 2016 Region 1 Interim Meeting, the RSGB has reopened
its IARU forums so that UK amateurs can suggest topics on matters such as
operating or technical recommendations, band plans, contests and EMC.
The initial phase is an open call and will be followed by further opportunities
as UK papers are developed, or subsequently when all meeting papers are
available.
There are separate discussion forums covering HF, VHF/Microwave and EMC
matters.
IOTA Database hacked
At 0448UTC on 27 September, an automatic bot gained access to the IOTA website
database and was able to exploit a bug in the IOTA code in order to reset the
password for every user on the site.
There is no sign in the system logs that any data was read or that personal
data was compromised.
Once the IT team was aware of the issue, they immediately took the database
offline for analysis and corrected the bug.
User passwords are stored in a hashed format in the database, not in plain
text. In accordance with best practice, however, the team would like to
encourage all users of the IOTA website to change their passwords.
Additionally, if you have used your IOTA password on other websites, you
should also change the passwords on those sites. If you have any further
questions or concerns, please contact iota.online@rsgb.org.uk
The man who could be called the father of single sideband on amateur radio is
a silent key. Wes Schum, W 9 D Y V passed away last month at the age of 94.
Wes Schum founded Central Electronics (CE) in 1949, the first product that CE
manufactured was a hearing aid device.
But radio was what Wes envisioned for CE. He had a budding interest in
single sideband during World War II. He and colleague Joe Batchelor
began development of amateur SSB transmitters for use on 75 meters. The
Central Electronics 10-A exciter, the company's first amateur product,
is credited for being amateur radio's first practical SSB transmitter.
Wes Schum, W9DYV. The next time you call CQ on single sideband send up
a little thank you in memory of this unsung amateur radio pioneer.
YOU THINK YOU HAD A BAD DAY?
As radio amateurs, many of us all understand all too well the challenges
of putting up and maintaining a tower. But as our good friends at the
Amateur Radio Newsline tell us, some listeners to a professional FMer
in Oklahoma USA got a rude reception on Sept. 23 when the tower of radio
station KGUY took a tumble.
Not on its own, thankfully - but at the hands of a tower crew which took the
broadcaster's tower down without first notifying the station it had arrived
to do the work.
Dale Bolton, the public radio station's director of programming and
operations, said a crew had been hired because the 418-foot tower had
been standing at an odd angle and was in need of repairs for safety
reasons. But, Bolton adds, the timing came as a total surprise. He said
QUOTE "it would have been nice if we were able to give our listeners
notice."ENDQUOTE
Instead, the tower came down, crashing into the satellite dish and
brushing the station building before landing in an open field -- right
in the middle of a classical music program. It knocked the station off
the air, sending anxious listeners to the phones.
Perhaps, though, the listeners should not have been so shocked.
According to an online account from Wireless Estimator, music fans might
have been tipped off by the playlist, saying the tower's dismantling was
QUOTE "perhaps timed perfectly by the tower techs for it to pancake upon
the earth a t the end of Siegfried's funeral march blasting from their
crew cab."ENDQUOTE
This time it's Monkey business that stops a radio broadcast
A pack of baboons raided a radio station transmission tower recently chewing
through cabling putting the station off air.
The new Ya FM station at Zvishavane, a mining town 385km south of capital
Harare, was amid its breakfast program when five monkeys began to eat fibre
optic cables.
The gang had to be frighten off, but not before disabling the station for an
hour, costing more than one thousand dollars.
As the baboons are likely to attack again, and measures are being taken to
protect its tower.
Later in the VK1WIA National News we'll move from Monkeys to Pigs In Space!
Stay tuned!!
A guy who may have felt a kinship with these PIGS in Space is one Mark Meltzer
AF6IM.
Last month AF6IM was in freefall 13,500 feet above California after launching
himself from a King Air 90.
He then activated two important pieces of equipment: he deployed a
210-square-foot rectangular ram air canopy, and turned on his chest-mounted
Yaesu FT-817 - and probably in that order of priority.
With the help of a trailing wire end fed dipole antenna, Mark began calling on
10 meters. He made a total of 12 contacts while enroute back to earth, but not
before switching to 2 meters on FM and grabbing a few more QSOs enroute to the
dropzone.
Who and Where are our broadcast stations?
http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
OPERATIONAL NEWS 2015
Oceania DX contest Continuous Wave this weekend October 10-11
WIA Spring VHF-UHF Field Day the weekend of 14th and 15th November.
2016
Harry Angel 80 mtr sprint (WIA) provisional date Saturday 7th May.
10-10 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CONTEST Aug 6 - 7
The Remembrance Day Contest Manager, Alan Shannon VK4SN, reports that by now
the certificates for the top 3 section winners have been sent to the lucky
winners.
The WIA prints and sends out the handsome paper certificates printed on
special parchment paper for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place-getters of each
section.
These certificates would have been a good surprise, and many now adorn shacks,
prior to the release of the actual participant rankings. A full list of
participants and their placings is now available for download on the RD page
of the WIA website.
As is tradition, November Amateur Radio magazine will announce the overall
winning state, along with a few words from Alan VK4SN the RD Contest Manager.
Once the edition of Amateur Radio is released, a 16 page report that also
contains statistics, records, soapbox comments, and pictures, will also be
available as a WIA website download.
(wia/vk3pc/vk7wi news)
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, DX, BEACON REPEATER AND NET ADVICE
GB 0 RWC celebrates Rugby World Cup
Worked All Britain is commemorating the Rugby World Cup 2015 with a period of
activity until the 31 October. GB 0 RWC is being used by the nine radio clubs
taking part.
QSL cards for GB 0 RWC are available from eQSL.
(sourced to RSGB)
N 7 QT and N 7 BX will operate from Manihiki Island, OC-014, in the North Cook
Islands until 27 October. The callsign will be E 51 MQT and activity will be
all bands 10m to 160m.
QSLs go via N7BX.
Ulrich, DL 2 AH will be on the air as NH 0 / DL 2 AH from Rota Island, OC-086,
in the Mariana Islands until 16 October.
QSLs to DL 2 AH.
Be listening for Andrey, RK 7 A, who will be active from Morocco beginning
Oct. 20 through the 27th, operating as CN 2 BGB. He will be on single sideband
between 160 meters and 10 meters.
QSL via UA 6 GG.
A group of seven operators from Poland have activated S 79 SP from Mahe Island,
AF-024, in the Seychelles till 18th October.
They will be on all bands 160m to 6m on SSB, CW and RTTY.
QSL Manager is SP 6 FXY.
Willi, DJ 7 RJ is signing 3 B 8 / DJ 7 RJ from Mauritius, AF-049, to
30 October. Willi will be active on all bands SSB and CW and in particular
on 160m.
AWARDS
IARU 90 Award
To celebrate the 90th anniversary of the International Amateur Radio Union
(IARU) founding in 1925, a very nice IARU award is being issued this year.
Administered by Soyuz Radiolyubitelei Rossii [SRR], the Russian Amateur Radio
Union, on behalf of the IARU the diploma is for QSOs with callsigns ending
with 90IARU, by 10 different IARU member societies.
Under the rules the 160m, 80m, 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, 10m, 6m, 2m and
70cm bands may be used, in any mode that can be Mixed, CW, Phone or Digital.
Valid contacts January 1 to December 31, can be confirmed online, and so are
the rules.
The URLs are in the text edition of this broadcast.
Award inquiries to ua6yw@mail.ru
Award details at iaru90.hamlogs.net/iaru/
QSO checks at iaru90.hamlogs.net
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
MEDIA WATCH
www.cq-amateur-radio.com/WorldRadio.html
VK Club Bulletins http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aarnie/
VK2 CCARC news ccarc.org.au/wp/2012/09/ccarc-news-12-31/
RSL newsletters and Amateur Radio
A closer relationship has developed between some RSL Sub-Branches and the
activity of Amateur Radio.
A number of favourable items have been printed in local RSL newsletters, these
about ANZAC 100 events marking the Centenary of Gallipoli and the Remembrance
Day Contest - both organised by the Wireless Institute of Australia.
The RSL newsletters, newspapers, TV and radio are ways to publicise what
radio amateurs do, and how to be involved in our diverse activity.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
Influential magazine picks up Aussie pico ballooning
A story on the exploits by Andy VK3YT with his pico party type foil balloons
has just been reported by HACKADAY magazine.
The article 'Pico Space Balloon Circumnavigates the Globe, Twice', written by
Elliot Williams, talks about the smaller and lighter balloons with very
low power ham radio payloads.
It looks at Andy VK3YT's pico balloons fitted with GPS, radio, solar cell, and
batteries, that stay afloat for weeks. It shows the path taken by PS-46 in
July from Australia, and around the Southern Hemisphere more than twice.
The article gives details of the two different encoding schemes WSPR and JT9,
used to help trackers using the 20m and 30m bands. The pico balloon transmits
on 20 mW power a few times an hour, allowing movement to be followed as
receivers tease the low, slow signal out from the noise.
HACKSAY describes going twice around the world as incredible.
But the author notes that Andy's first called PS-2, only stayed up for
15 hours and made it under 800km away. As with many human endeavours -
practice makes perfect.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL
Here is a call out to all stations currently playing with Yaesu Fusion around
the world.
Art VK4GO has setup a Yaesu Fusion Wires-X system analogue/digital C4FM station.
The station is located at Art's home QTH in Atherton Far North Queensland,
438.975MHz simplex.
To access Art's node station via Wires-X, dial DTMF #14024
or Art's room #24024
The main USA Worldwide room is #21080
Art has set up a webpage with lots of info and links
http://vk4go.net/fusion.htm
If you want to pick Art's brain about Yaesu Fusion then drop him an email to
vk4go1@tpg.com.au
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FEMALES IN RADIO
ALARA - AUSTRALIAN LADIES AR ASSOCIATION
http://alara.org.au
Net is held each Mondays on 3.570 MHz, commencing at 1030 UTC.
(1000utc during daylight saving)
geencee@picknowl.com.au
Kaye, VK3FKDW in a note to ALARA members reminds the Ladies
Constitution Voting is due immediately if voting by mail BUT
the Monday Net on November 2nd will operate on both 80m and Echo link
for voting purposes only.
At least 70% of membership has to vote to enable Constitution upgrade
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER
PIGS IN SPACE
In his blog about the UK's National HamFest, Dave, M0TAZ says "The highlight
for me was the launch of Pinky"
On Saturday, September 26, Andrew Garratt M 0 NRD launched a High Altitude
Balloon from the HamFest. It carried one of his pigs "Pinky" and reached an
altitude of almost 26 km.
During the flight Slow Scan Digital Video (SSDV) images were transmitted
on 434 MHz showing Pinky Pig and the view from the balloon. The pictures could
be received across most of the British Isles as well as northern France,
Belgium and The Netherlands.
(SouthGate)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING
http://www.scouts.com.au
http://www.scout.org/jota
http://www.international.scouts.com.au
CALLING FREQUENCIES
Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing communication.
Australian voice calling frequencies:
3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160
World CW calling frequencies:
3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160
World voice calling frequencies:
3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360,
24.960, 28.390, 50.160
Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV):
3.630, 7.033, 14.227
Calling Frequencies for PSK31
14.070
JOTA 2015 a big affair
Throughout the world on the weekend of October 16-18 the annual Jamboree On
The Air (JOTA) sees Scouts and Girl Guides take to the air via Amateur Radio.
It involved more than a million youngsters in 157 countries last year, and
event organisers expect increased figures this time.
The youngsters will make friends, exchange stories, and those making
international contacts may experience different cultures.
JOTA also gives an awareness that the movements to which they belong are
world-wide.
Events are to be held throughout Australia with many Scouts and Girl Guides
looking forward to them.
One such JOTA event is at the 9th Caulfield Scout Hall in Ricourt Avenue,
Murrumbeena, in south-east suburban Melbourne. Cub Scout Commissioner for the
Melbourne Region, Murray Taylor VK3MJT is planning radio direction finding,
emergency communications, and the working of DX stations and is inviting radio
amateurs to help - contact details are in the text edition of this broadcast.
Email: cubs.comm.melbourne@vicscouts.asn.au
please put JOTA in the subject line or phone 0417 319 256.
In VK7, NTARCs JOTA effort will take place in their Rocherlea clubrooms and
the surrounding grounds over the JOTA weekend 17-18 October.
JOTA Co-ordinator VK7KPC reports substantial interest from local scouts and
guides this year. As we go to air, the 4th Launceston Scouts (2 sessions),
Carrick Guides, Bridport Guides, Exeter Guides and the Cormiston Tassie Devil
Guides all booked in for the Saturday. The Sunday will see participation by
the Evandale Scouts, Summerhill Cubs and Scouts, and two sessions each by the
Cataract Guides and the 4th Launceston Cubs - and there is still a week to go!
(Jim Linton VK3PC and VK7WI news)
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
Solar disruption as emergency communication training exercise
A major coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun hurling huge explosions of
gas, plasma, and electromagnetic radiation, are a threat to the digital age.
These cause geomagnetic storms, and in extreme cases can disrupt communications,
satellites and power generation infrastructure.
The CME impacts scenario next month will be run by US Military Auxiliary Radio
System (MARS), teaming up with the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and
the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES).
Army MARS Program Manager Paul English WD8DBY said the exercise. November 8-10
will simulate a three hour radio blackout as well as infrastructure damage.
The essential training aims to raise awareness of the CME phenomenon, the
forecast lead time expected, and precautions radio operators can take to
protect their equipment.
(Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee.)
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - VHF AND ABOVE
New VK2 76 GHz record
VK2 record for 76 GHz between VK2DAG to VK2CU on the 26th September 2015
a distance of 39.7km.
Congratulations to Matt and Justin.
The list of current records, and a list of all Australian VHF-UHF records since
1947, are available for download on the WIA web site:
(vk7wi news)
And a new UK Record on 76 GHz
G 8 KQW, G 8 ACE and G 8 BKE have achieved an FM contact over a distance of
102 km on 76 GHz. The G8KQW / G8ACE contact was completed duplex.
SOCIAL SCENE 2015
Oct 22-25 VK4 NOEL'S NUTTY CAMPERS POONA PALMS CARAVAN PK 0413958216 (vk4nl)
Oct 25 VK3 Ballarat Amateur Radio Group Hamvention Greyhound Track
Nov 14 VK4 Gold Coast HamFest Broadbeach (vk4py)
Nov 14 VK3 QRP By the Bay details from VK3YE held 2nd Saturday (vk3ye)
NOV 29 VK3 ROSEBUD RADIOFEST 9am in Allambi Avenue Rosebud (vk3pdg)
2016
Jan 22-26 VK4 TARC Australia Day Long Week Family Radio Camp
Girl Guides Campsite, Bluewater (vk4zz)
Feb 13 VK3 MERC HamFest 10am at Werribee Masonic Centre
Feb 28 VK2 Central Coast Field Day (vk2ztm)
Feb 28 VK3 EMDRC HamFest Great Ryrie Primary School Heathmont.
Ap-May 29- 2 VK4 Clairview Gathering check Mackay ARS website. (theTARCinc)
June 11-13 VK5 VK Foxhunting Championship & SERG convention Mt Gambier (VK5HCF)
July 19 VK3 GippsTech 2016 Churchill (vk3pf@wia.org.au)
Sep 23-25 VK4 Central Highlands Amateur Radio Club AGM weekend at
Lake Maraboon Holiday Village, near Emerald. (theTARCinc)
Submitting news items
A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't plug commercial
traders "on air", but we at the WIA will put your supporters in this text
edition "no worries."
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
and don't JUST send url's links but take the time to pen YOUR contribution.
To submit audio read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on
http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/
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.
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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.
Who and where are they? http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
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...
Who listens to radio? A weekly 'tally sheet' is sent to all rebroadcasters
and interested listeners, to get your free copy send a blank email to:-
wiabroadcasters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Put the word subscribe in the title or subject field
How do I join this National News List? (subscribe for an automatic weekly feed.)
Email to vk1wia-news-join@lists.wia.org.au
from the email account that you wish the emails to go to.
How do I leave this National News List? (unsubscribe your weekly feed)
Open mail program which sends mail from the address you want to unsubscribe.
Send mail to the list unsubscribe address vk1wia-news-leave@lists.wia.org.au
You will be sent a confirmation mail and must follow the instructions given
in that mail to complete the unsubscription.
Once your unsubscription has been processed, you will probably
receive another message confirming your unsubscription from the list,
and at that point you should stop receiving messages.
National News compiled by VK4BB on behalf of the National WIA.
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