Dec 06 - VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA
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NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING DEC 06 2015.
IN OUR 20TH YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS
WIA reviewing the WRC-15 outcomes
WIA Callbook 2016 is now available
WIA BOARD TALK
WIA VHF/UHF Ross Hull Contest runs 1st to 31 January
THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE
OF AUSTRALIA 2015 AND FOR WEEK OF DECEMBER 6
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The WIA reviewing the WRC-15 outcomes
The ITU World Radiocommunications Conference recently held in Geneva Switzerland
has resulted in modified Radio Regulations that will become an international
treaty in January 2017.
Dale Hughes VK1DSH, who chaired a key working group, and was jointly funded by
the WIA and IARU, says there was a lot of interest in the new amateur service
secondary allocation at 5 MHz.
Dale's task wasn't easy as, in the beginning, there was a strong push for no
such allocation from countries such as Russia, France, Iran and the RCC - which
roughly was a grouping of former Soviet Union states. Joining them was Romania,
Japan, Korea, Egypt and one African country.
After lengthy talks a 15 kHz-wide allocation with a power limit began to emerge.
Although the opposition slowly changed, it was not until very late in the
process that the final no-change position was withdrawn.
Dale VK1DSH then had final negotiations with the Australian Department of
Defence and the ACMA, originally seeking only a 10 kHz-wide allocation, but that
too was resolved.
Countries that already have a 60m allocation under domestic arrangements may
continue with their 5 MHz access, which will now dovetail into the new global
frequency allocation. However, for Australia it will be some time before Amateur
Radio gets the new band as that spectrum is already heavily used by others.
The WIA and the ACMA will be discussing how it can be achieved.
Irrespective of the specific Australian situation, achieving a new global
HF allocation for the amateur service is a remarkable outcome.
Dale Hughes VK1DSH said the amateur service has presented a united, professional
front to the world community and the views of the amateur service are taken into
account.
"All radio amateurs should be proud of this fact. Our success in obtaining a new
high frequency allocation at 5 MHz was a result of a very good team effort," he
said.
Other items of interest to Amateur Radio are a new allocation in the 77.5 - 78 GHz
frequency band for the radio location service. Radio amateurs have a primary
allocation in the same band, but sharing studies indicate that there will be
minimal impact to and from short range vehicle radar systems.
There is a new allocation to the Earth Exploration Satellite Service that could
cause interference to amateur activities in the 3cm band, though sharing studies
show that typical amateur activities would not be affected by signals from the
earth exploration satellites.
Another agenda item sought to obtain up to 500 MHz of spectrum for International
Mobile Telecommunications, posing a possible threat to a number of microwave
amateur bands.
The future issue of more bandwidth for IMT remains a threat to amateur
allocations, and the WIA expects several items of interest to the amateur
service to be on the agenda for the next WRC conference in 2019.
Dale said the role of being a Sub Working Chairman was challenging in every way.
However he said: "Win-lose-or-draw the most important part of events in the past
few weeks is that the amateur service has presented a united, professional front
to the world community, and the views of the amateur service continue to be
taken into account when significant decisions are made.
"All radio amateurs should be proud of this fact.
Our success in obtaining a new high frequency allocation for the amateur service
was a result of a very good team effort by all involved.
A big thank you to Dale Hughes, VK1DSH.
(Phil Wait VK2ASD)
ACMA not informed of proposed Radio Adelaide changes
As the University of Adelaide considers whether to cut its funding of
Radio Adelaide, the University has failed to keep the ACMA informed of
its intentions.
The review of the station was triggered by the sale of the high profile
Adelaide Terrace shopfront university building where the station was located.
The licensee of 5UV is the University of Adelaide, which is licensed to
represent the educational community interest in the Adelaide RA1 licence area,
according to the ACMA. The service commenced in June 1972 and the current expiry
date for the current licence is 10 September 2019.
A spokesperson for the ACMA has told trade journal radioinfo, "the licensee
has not brought the discussion paper to the ACMA's attention."
Would the ACMA expect to be consulted in what could be a significant change in
control of the station?
"Section 91A of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 provides for a licensee to
apply to the ACMA for approval to transfer a community broadcasting licence to
another entity. The ACMA is not aware of any consultation [with ACMA] in advance
of the release of the licensee's discussion paper."
Radio Adelaide was a foundation community radio station, and today continues as
a cornerstone in training for the sector and the production of popular and
innovative content.
Read more at:
radioinfo.com.au/news/acma-not-informed-proposed-radio-adelaide-changes Radioinfo.com.au
What do EPIRBs and Christmas share?
One of the duties of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is
to find the source of signals that cause interference.
At this time of the year the ACMA field staff are certain to be called to
interference to television reception, caused by cheap LED Christmas lights.
Unsuspecting consumers buy poorly designed LEDs for a festive display or to
illuminate an area, but these can also emit interfering radio signals, and
disrupt television viewing and digital radio reception.
Such interference may mean a sudden loss of signal or picture quality in a
neighbourhood, often during evening hours when the lights are in use.
Another reoccurring problem is thrown-away emergency position indicating radio
beacons (EPIRBs).
From the Melbourne ACMA office Andy Brachmanis found himself deep in a tip
looking for an errant EPIRB.
Improperly stored EPIRBs can activate if they fall or are knocked, while other
irresponsible people discard old EPIRBs as rubbish instead of returning it to a
retailer for recycling.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
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 (Position Vacant)
A note has gone out to WIA Members, but it's worth sharing as it does show yet
once again how the WIA Volunteers work for ALL VK Amateurs.
"Please find attached a very important notice concerning the
election of Directors for your WIA Board.
On this rotation cycle three positions become available to take effect from
28 May 2016 and 2 of our retiring Directors, President Phil Wait and Director
Rowan Dollar being eligible have offered themselves for re-election.
This email is to alert you to the Call for Nominations. "
It comes from Geoffrey Atkinson VK3AFA Returning Officer WIA.
Our Directors are dedicated and committed to doing their best for the Australian
Amateur Radio community as a whole, and for WIA members too.
If you believe you have the capacity, desire and commitment to volunteer and
serve your fellow members, please consider submitting a nomination in accordance
with the instructions from Geoff.
If know someone who would be a suitable candidate, consider asking them.
Nominations close on the 31st January 2016, so there is plenty of time to
consider this important notice.
Callbook 2016 is now available
This annual publication which contains a list of VK callsigns including those
assigned to repeaters, packet systems and propagation beacons, is now available.
All WIA affiliated radio clubs have been advised to place orders and news about
it is also on the WIA website.
It has the latest WIA band plans, QSLing requirements, other operator guidelines,
awards, and WIA contests.
The WIA Exam Service information includes visitor or reciprocal licences, the
broadcast times and frequencies are listed, and Electromagnetic Radiation
requirement are outlined.
Each Callbook has a CD that contains a host of other information like copies of
Amateur Radio magazine for 2014, Great Circle Maps, material for the vision
impaired, and the New Zealand Callbook.
The Callbook 2016, with its striking cover shot of the Sun setting behind
two microwave dishes owned by Damian Ayers VK3KQ, is now available.
ANZAC 100 - drawing to a close
The 'last hurrah' campaign of the WIA ANZAC 100 campaign begins on Saturday
December 12 and runs until the following weekend, December 19 and 20.
A special address will be heard from VK100ANZAC on December 20, with the
WIA President Phil Wait VK2ASD reflecting on the significance of the ANZAC
legacy, and the 8-month long commemoration of its Centenary.
The nation has been behind the legend of ANZAC at Gallipoli in World War I.
That 1914-1918 war to end all wars, saw Australia in immediate action that
started with the stopping of a German boat fleeing Port Phillip Bay, the naval
actions in German New Guinea and the oceans, and ANZAC troops leaving for, and
doing battle at Gallipoli.
As major events of 100 years ago unfolded, ANZAC-suffixed callsigns were there,
and they also remembered all wars and conflicts involving Australians.
If you would like to see more details on the 'last hurrah' campaign activities,
check out the WIA website.
The closure speech is to be aired on Sunday, December 20, the day in 1915 when
ANZAC quietly retreated from Gallipoli.
Resumption of Amateur Radio 70 years ago
The return of Amateur Radio after WWII took place slowly and soon international
contacts were made on the airwaves.
The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) Historian Peter Wolfenden VK3RV has
found that Australia's Post Master General's Department began re-issuing
licences in December 1945.
Many radio amateurs were keen to get back on air reactivating their pre-war
licences, and were to be joined by other returned servicemen who had been
exposed to communications in the war. The impact and developments of radio
communications during that war were to reshape, in many ways, the destiny of
Amateur Radio between then and now.
Research of the WIA Historical Archive found that the first allocations released
were 28-29MHz, 50-54MHz, 166-170MHz and 1345-1425MHz. In July 1946 this was
extended, with the partial release to Australian radio amateurs of 7150-7200kHz
on 40m and 14100-14300kHz at 20m - although they were kilocycles in those days.
Amateur Radio resumed in many countries at about that time.
It had been firstly banned by the British Commonwealth and Europe, and then most
countries during the war.
The Post Master General's callbook in July 1946 listed some 1590 radio amateurs,
then still called Experimental Wireless Station licences.
By December 1948 the number was over 2640, or a 66% increase in the PMG's call
book, but they were now called, Amateur Wireless Station Licences.
DISCUSSION POINT
What use is an F-call?
Yesterday I learned an interesting lesson. It wasn't a simple lesson to learn,
but I'm guessing it's going to take me some years to come to grips with what I
experienced.
Said plainly, "Small Changes can have a Big Effect."
That's pretty straight forward as a lesson, but when you actually experience
it head on, it tends to make more impact.
As you've heard in the past, I operate my radio mostly from my car. I recently
purchased some antennas that I want to mount on my car and want to use without
an antenna tuner. Don't get me wrong, my antenna coupling unit has done some
amazing things. It continues to work well with my 12m squid pole and I'll
continue to take it with me when I go camping.
With a friend and fellow amateur we spent most of yesterday fiddling with my
antennas on my car. I have to say, doing this with someone else makes life a
lot better. You can bounce ideas off each other, prod the other into action
with a calculator, argue about the merits of your idea and figure out what's
going on. In my experience, nothing beats having someone with you to figure
stuff out.
Originally I mounted my antenna on the centre of my boot lid, between the front
of the boot and the back window. I set the mount to be parallel with the boot,
about a 4 degree angle. So, one of the silly ideas we had, and really the
credit goes to my friend Allen VK6XL, was to make my mount more vertical. I
looked at him, he looked at me, I shook my head and called him silly names.
We were getting all manner of responses from the antenna analyser and nothing
made sense. I undid the bolt and adjusted the angle by less than 4 degrees.
When you look at it from the side, the antenna started with a slight lean, now
it was standing straight up.
All of a sudden the recalcitrant antenna started playing ball. It was finally
resonant within the band and finally had an SWR that wasn't embarrassing.
I am still working through what I saw, capacitance between the antenna and the
car, between the antenna and the ground, between the various parts of the car,
but somehow this minute change made all the difference.
Suffice to say, I owe Allen a beer.
I'm Onno VK6FLAB
SILENT KEY
http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/about/
Silent Keys are best sent to AR Magazine and your local state or club news
rather than this WIA National News Service.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
Flight MH17 - QSL Cards
Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down July 17, 2014 killing all 298 people
on-board. VERON has reported on amateur radio QSL cards which were on the flight.
The Dutch QSL Bureau say the QSL cards were on their way to Indonesia and the
465 cards which have been recovered are now at Schiphol in the Netherlands.
A lawyer for Malaysia Airlines has reportedly said it would cost about 15,000
excluding VAT to clean the cards.
Read the VERON story in Google English at
http://tinyurl.com/MH17-QSL-Cards
Jamaica Amateur Radio 75th Anniversary
In order to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Jamaica
Amateur Radio Association, a special prefix was issued to recognize this
historic milestone in amateur radio in Jamaica.
QSO's will only be valid for the period from December 1, 2015 to Dec 31, 2015
with the special prefix 6 Y 75
HAM-strung by high-rises
The Times of India reports new skyscrapers in Kolkataare blocking crucial radio
waves that come in handy during natural disasters when regular communication
channels are disrupted.
Ham radio enthusiasts have warned that the vulnerability caused by the
fast-changing topography of Kolkataare needs to be immediately addressed to
ensure the city is prepared for emergencies.
As high-rises mushroom at a rapid pace, ham radio operators will increasingly
find it difficult to communicate within the city. This problem can only be
resolved by setting up a strong repeater atop a tall building to relay the
signals generated in the 60km-70 km aerial radius, say experts.
"A repeater will lift the signal above tall buildings and retransmit it. Most
large cities have repeater stations to overcome the hurdle," said Amateur Radio
Society of India general-secretary Gopal Madhavan VU2GMN.
"We will request the government for help to fund a repeater station and a small
office, which will help the unique radio sport and vital communication channel
during emergencies," said Ghosh, a key member and the former secretary of
Bengal Amateur Radio Society.
Temporary 5 MHz QRT for Spanish Amateurs
Mike, EA7JVZ/G4HOL, reminds us that the current Spanish 5 MHz temporary
permission expire on Monday 30th November 2015.
"Spanish 5MHz users went QRT at 23:00 GMT on November 30th. The Spanish
regulator will decide the future allocations of frequencies in the wake of the
WRC at Geneva and indeed look into permissible power levels.
Until Spain have the new structure in place, just expect 5MHz SWL activity here".
=============================================================================
ARNEWSLINE
SANTA AT THE NORTH DIPOLE?
[ANCHOR/DON:] Here is a Christmas story that begins, as all good Christmas
stories must, with the wish of a child.
What started as a staged report from Santa's Sleigh during an amateur
radio Net on 80 meters nine years ago has grown. And grown. More from
Amateur Radio Newsline's Kent Peterson, KC0DGY:
[KENT]:
If you take an 80 meter rag chew net, add a bit of holiday cheer and
Pete Thompson, KE5GGY, explains what comes next.
{PETE]: It really goes back to a year where I had a young child at home
I was checked into one of the 3916 nets on Christmas Eve A number of us
were looking for a way for our kids to talk to Santa. So we pieced
together something for a couple of us that one night and it worked
really well. I could be a Santa net relay for a station in Kansas City
then he could facilitate the contact with Santa for me and my son, so we
had sort of a primitive dress rehearsal and I think it occurred to a
number of us that hey this really is neat and it has grown from there. I
think we had five people that first year now in 2015 we are expecting
250 and 300 kids to talk to Santa
[KENT]: Thompson fired up his ham rig to demonstrate the quality of the Santa
connection.
[PETE]: Right now I've got a connection with Santa so we could close this
interview with a couple comments from Santa. Let me see if i can get him
on my phone patch in Dallas. Santa Santa, this is KE5GGY from Denton County
calling, Santa can you come on and give a couple of comments to the Amateur
Radio Newsline. Calling Santa.
["SANTA"]: HO HO HO Hello There Merry Christmas to everyone listening to the
amateur radio newsline. And ho ho ho and I know you've all been very good boys
and girls this year and I just want to invite you to join the hams on 3916
every night at 7:30 for the Santa net. And yes I could talk to you so we'll
see you then. And until then 73 from Santa Ho Ho Ho!
(Of course we in VK can't join in other than as an SWL due to the out of band
frequency (for we VKers))
Who and Where are our broadcast stations?
http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
OPERATIONAL NEWS
2016
Jan Fri 1st to Sun 31st WIA Ross Hull Memorial VHF-UHF Contest
This on "The Hull" comes from Ted VK2ARA.
Hello to All Clubs,
Do your members really know about the *VHF/UHF Ross Hull Contest* which
runs from 1st January to 31 January,
But you can pick your best two days, or best seven days.
Do your *Standard Call* members know that in addition to 2M and 70 CM,
they can get on the magic 6 metres.
All you need to do is join and support the DX Logger and make it known
that you are there on 6 metres.
We use what is called the 2 MHz split. If you are heard on 52.050, an
advanced station may call you there, OR because of antenna limitations
he may call you
briefly on 50.050, and ask you to go up. Usually to 52.150/50.150,
52.160/50/160, or 52/170/50.170.
*Totally legal and lets you into the fun*.
NOW THE VERY GOOD BIT!
To give Standard AND Foundation stations a bit of a leg up, *This year
the highest scoring station for each licence level
will receive a Certificate of Achievement.* You do have 2 metres and
70cm, and Yes you can work SSB.
No repeaters for the contest but YOU CAN use the repeater to set up a
simplex contact using SSB or FM,
or for that matter, AM or CW. Read your licence and the LCD because that
is what it says!
Anybody needing Info about Ross Hull, look up the WIA website, contests,
or email me,
Merry Christmas and hope to see you in my log in January.
To all of us other, now crotchety old Advanced amateur buggers who need
a stick or a walker, we too can dust off the
Pye Mk3 Taxiphone, or the transverter and have a go.
Do you remember how good it was on six metres, when you had your call
(crystal) frequency and tuned everywhere to see if you were being called?
The old days are for us and today/tomorrow are for those who are yet to
be bitten by the bug!!
Cheers all please pass on to members.
Merry Christmas.
*Ted Thrift VK2ARA / XA Assessor 2-068 WIA Clubs Liaison Officer 02
42729521 tthrift@iprimus.com.au vk2ara@wia.org.au*
We Continue Dateline 2016 Contests
Jan Sat 9th and Sun 10th WIA VHF/UHF Summer Field Day
"All aboard" the Sydney Ferries. VHF/UHF 'contest' Sunday March 13.
WIA John Moyle Field Day 19-20 March 2016
Harry Angel 80 mtr sprint (WIA) provisional date Saturday 7th May.
SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, DX, BEACON REPEATER AND NET ADVICE
Haru from the South Cook Islands as E 51 XGI from 3rd to 10th December.
Operation will be on all bands 160m to 10m, CW, SSB and digital.
QSL via the home call JA 1 XGI
Martin W8AKS will be active as 8 P 9 EZ from Barbados from 5th to 12th December.
He will operate on 40m to 10m and logs will be uploaded to Logbook of The World.
MADAGASCAR, 5R.
Eric, is QRV as 5R8IC from Sainte-Marie Island, IOTA AF-090, till December 12.
Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW with some SSB, RTTY and PSK.
QSL to F 6 ICX his home call.
Francois, F 8 DVD is on air with special event call sign TM 21 COP to 13 December
during the 21st session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Activity will be on 40 to 10 metres using SSB.
QSL via operator's instructions.
In Liberia, Donald, EL 2 DW is working from Monrovia until 17 December and
can be found on 20, 15 and 10 metres using SSB. QSL via KD 4 UDU in Florida
Until December 20 The WIA program ANZAC 100 ends timed with the departure of
ANZAC troops at Gallipoli in 1915. To commemorate the occasion will be at
least VK100ANZAC, VI3ANZAC & VI6ANZAC.
IARU is 90!
To celebrate the 90th anniversary of IARU several countries have special
event stations running to the end of the year.
Contacts with these stations go towards a diploma celebrating this IARU
milestone where you need to contact 10 special IARU call signs before the
end of 2015.
Members of the Malta Amateur Radio League are using 9 H 90 IARU, QSL 9 H 1SP.
EV 90 IARU is on the air from Belarus and you QSL via EW 1 I.
The Radio Club of Haiti will be using HH 90 IARU and the QSL manager is W 3 HNK.
Sicilian station, II 9 IARU, is 'on the wireless' now until 31 December.
The Mongolian national society is putting JT 90 IARU on air, QSL via JT 1 KAA.
UP 90 IARU is from Kazakhstan with RW 6 HS acting as QSL manager.
And of course your WIA is now active with its VI 90 IARU callsign under a
roster of its members.
Special Event Station PD 15 XMAS is on air December 5 to January 1 and SACT
(Santa Claus Artic Circle Team) will be active from Santa Claus Land (OH 9 SCL)
during this December as it has been for 30 years from Artic Circle!!
QSL via OH 9 AB.
For more information check: http://www.oh9ab.com/oh9scl
EGYPT, SU.
Ivan is active as SU 9 IG from Cairo until June 15 2016.
Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY.
QSL to home call, OM 3 CGN
AWARDS
Portable radio amateurs in VK3 National Parks
Their still talking about the Keith Roget Memorial National Park Award 5th
annual activity period in November that saw a total of 28 National Parks,
put on air by 19 operators, in 4 days.
The event has become so popular that many VK2 and VK5 operators crossed the
border as portable activators in 11 VK3 National Parks.
The remaining 16 were activated by an equally keen group from VK3, including
Terry VK3UP as control station VK3WI at Brisbane Ranges.
During the period of November 13 to 16, Mick VK3PMG completed his 45 Park Merit
Award, and claims from other Hunters and Activators are expected in the coming
months.
Award Manager Tony Hambling VK3VTH has this week mailed out the inaugural
Participation Certificate - and what fine wallpaper it is.
20 qualified by making at least five contacts.
Typical of the Hunters was Brett Churchyard VK2VW who worked 18 VK3 National
Parks over the weekend.
The next KRMNPA activity period is Friday November 11 to Monday November 14,
2016.
Please put this date in your diary now.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- APRS (AVRS)
APRS Cave-Link uses amateur radio's Automatic Packet Reporting System, or APRS,
inside caves to get their position data and other messages out of the caves it
has been reported on hackaday.com
Digipeaters and battery packs are dropped, in Hansel and Gretel fashion, as the
cavers work their way through the cave. The trick is to make sure to place one
repeater before they've entirely lost the radio signal from the previous one.
But a test of the APRS Cave-Link project got a full mile's worth of transmission
in Mammoth Cave UK without using wires at all.
(RSGB)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ATV (Every pixel tells a story) - Video
arvideonews.com
hamradiotube.com
youtube.com
qdg.org.au
Are you interested in DATV News?
DVB-T using the HiDes modules
DATV-Express Project
Do you know the difference between DVB-T, DVB-S and DVB-C and that DVB-T2 HEVC
is at the door?
Well a FREE ATV magazine exists and is ready for download
CQ-DATV 30 free download now available
cq-datv.mobi/ebooks.php
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL
Radio hams commemorate '200th Birthday' of Ada Lovelace
The 200th Anniversary of the birth of Ada Lovelace on December 10, 1815 will be
commemorated with amateur radio Special Event Station GB 200 ADA
Ada Lovelace, daughter of Lord Byron, is internationally recognised as the
author of the first 'computer algorithm' which was written for the
'Analytical Engine' designed by Charles Babbage to improve the accuracy of
astronomical calculations. In 1847, Ada Lovelace also predicted that the use of
algorithms and computers would someday have far wider applications in science.
The station will be located at Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire and operate
during Dec 10-13 around 7.175 MHz and 14.275 MHz
https://sites.google.com/site/phoenixradiogroup/gb200ada-1
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER
Over the next couple of months, ARISS will be celebrating its 15th anniversary
of continuous operations on the ISS.
November 13, 2000 the crew conducted their first ham radio contacts on ISS and
on December 21, 2000 ARISS conducted their first school contact with the Burbank
School in Illinois.
An SSTV commemoration of these historic events is tentatively planned for
mid to late December. It is possible that the transmission mode will be P120
instead of the P180 mode used in the past. This would allow for more pictures
to be transmitted per pass.
Because preparations are not final it is suggested that you keep an eye on
the AMSAT-BB and the AMSAT and ARISS web site for the latest information on this
event and others that ARISS plans to conduct over the next few months
(SouthGate)
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - VHF AND ABOVE
Sporadic-E season opens in the southern hemisphere
The South African Radio League is asking that ZS ops with 50 MHz beacons
to please turn their beacon antennas South for the duration of the Sporadic-E
season.
Unlike Australia and New Zealand, openings on 50 MHz in the RSA have been very
sparse in recent years and this can be traced to the fact that 50 MHz beacons
are all pointing North for TEP, and amateurs therefore would miss any Es
openings.
VK and ZL stations have made many long distance contacts on 144 MHz too, during
the 2014/2015 Es season. Since Sporadic-E is unpredictable, an early alert can
only come from a 50 MHz beacon outside the skip distance of 500-600 km, which is
increased to 800-900 km on 144 MHz.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS
http://www.raotc.org.au
Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW with a reminder that tomorrow, Monday
December 7th, the Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club of Australia's monthly
bulletin goes to air.
The principal HF transmission will be on 20 metres on 14.150 MHz upper side band
at 0100 UTC beamed north from Melbourne for the eastern states. An hour later at
0200 UTC there will be a 40 metre transmission from Perth on 7088 kHz lower
sideband with a simultaneous transmission via all linked NewsWest repeaters.
In addition, numerous local transmissions also take place. To find the times and
frequencies for your particular area please visit the RAOTC website at
www.raotc.org.au and remember as from Tuesday you can download the audio file
from this website.
Our features this month are A potted History of Broadcasting plus a
light-hearted piece on Picowatts or I Wonder Where the Watts Went?, plus of
course all the latest RAOTC news. Everyone, RAOTC members and non-members alike,
is cordially invited to listen in tomorrow to this half hour bulletin and to
participate in the call backs afterwards.
Once again, the RAOTC bulletin is scheduled for tomorrow Monday December 7th.
Just a reminder too that as usual there will be no bulletin in January - the
first RAOTC broadcast for 2016 will be on Monday, February 1st. On behalf of
the RAOTC broadcast team may I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy,
healthy New Year, and remember at this time of year never admit that you are a
ham. It could have unintended consequences!
73 from Clive VK6CSW.
REWIND
History of electronics in Australia
An online documentary about electronics in Australia over the past 50 years is
a good start at recording history, but it has further development possibilities
Called "State of Electronics" it features interviews of some industry
professionals.
It starts in the telegraphy era, then the Lee De Forest's 'triode' development,
radio broadcasting and later television.
Transistors transformed things to 'solid state', followed by integrated
circuits, miniaturisation and the 'space race' of the late 60's and 70's.
The digital era is all around us now, but it began with electronic calculators,
computers and microcontrollers.
Whether you want a look at history, or may like to contribute information,
then visit www.stateofelectronics.com or search YouTube for 'State of
Electronics'.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
SOCIAL SCENE 2015
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 (wia)
Feb 28 VK2 Central Coast Field Day (vk2ztm)
Feb 28 VK3 EMDRC HamFest Great Ryrie Primary School Heathmont. (wia)
Ap-May 29- 2 VK4 Clairview Gathering check Mackay ARS website. (theTARCinc)
June 3- 5 VK4 Central Highlands Social Gathering Theresa Creek dam (wia)
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)
Nov 6 VK5 Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society HamFest 8am! (VK5KC)
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.
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The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of interest to
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We strongly encourage membership in the Wireless Institute of Australia
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reflect those of the rebroadcasters, nor the National WIA, but are broadcast
in the spirit in which they were submitted."
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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
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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
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Once your unsubscription has been processed, you will probably
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and at that point you should stop receiving messages.
National News compiled by VK4BB on behalf of the National WIA.
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