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NOVEMBER 27 - 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!
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NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING NOVEMBER 27 2016.
IN OUR 21st YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS
WIA DIRECTORS IN FURTHER VISITS TO HAM CLUBS. -
WIA Spectrum Strategy Committee on the value of 70 MHz band. -
WIA Amateur Radio magazine contents for December 2016. -
THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE
OF AUSTRALIA 2016 AND FOR WEEK OF NOV 27
Aussie HAM to make an impact on Mars
On a salt lake in Central Australia early next year a radio amateur will
conduct tests of a wide area radio network destined for the planet Mars.
Robert Brand VK2URB, of Thunderstruck Aerospace, reports that it is an
essential part of a project to develop the Mars Nano-Lander and Methane
detection system called MEDIAN, set to land in 2025.
Approval will be sought from the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority
for use of the air space for the test.
The project calls for 10 separate penetrators to be ejected from the jettisoned
heat shield at about 6km from the surface of Mars. They are to spear into the
surface of Mars and form a ring about 8km wide. The radio systems will begin
measuring distance between the other landers and map the network.
Robert VK2URB says they will then switch to a random packet mode and begin
sending messages to an orbiting craft.
Even the orientation of each probe covering an area around the size of a small
city, will be detected and used to calculate the direction that wind, and
hopefully any methane, on the thin Martian atmosphere.
Robert VK2URB says that the audacious mission is a joint project with the
UK Methane detection group at the University of Central Lancashire, and
the Australian Thunderstruck Aerospace team.
Robert is the design architect of the landing system, the mapping, orientation,
communications, data relay, and the on-going non-methane science package. He
says that never before has a network of probes been landed anywhere outside of
earth and have impactors with the intention of surviving the process.
The possibility of microbial life on Mars has been discussed by scientists
since the presence of methane gas on the red planet was found several years ago.
MEDIAN will map possible methane vent locations for a rover to investigate. If
the rover fails to land, the project will still relay local weather and
subsoil information back to earth.
It's expected that the tests in Central Australia will demonstrate the
essential role that radio will play in mapping, locating, orienting the network
and then relaying data around the network. The tests will involve dropping a
simulated heat shied from 3km altitude and having the impactors fire at 2.5km
feet to simulate the impact that each would have on Mars.
Even the orientation of each probe will be detected and used to calculate the
direction that wind is coming from in the thin Martian atmosphere. The
penetrators will stay vertical and elevate the science and radio package about
a metre off the surface allowing for better radio connectivity and clear
wind profile.
A metre diameter solar panel will provide adequate power and the network is
expected to survive for at least six months on Mars relaying weather and
sub-surface information. An expected seven of the 10 spikes will survive
the impact.
Ham radio will provide essential communications for the tests and for the event.
It is hoped a special event around the testing will attract the interests of
ham operators worldwide, and focus attention of the role that Australia is
playing in Space Missions.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
Two jails silence mobile phones
A two-year trial of phone-jamming equipment at Goulburn Jail in New South Wales
will thwart inmates using them.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) approved the trial of
the jammers, that otherwise are illegal to use or possess. Goulburn trial
follows the successful use of the technology at the Lithgow Jail also in
New South Wales.
There are dozens of antennas that emit a very low power signal to block
mobile phones, but the signal is not strong enough to affect any other
externally based phone services.
(vk3pc)
A 19-year old man from Rockbank northwest of Melbourne faces offences related
to the alleged unlawful interference with air traffic control and endangering
the safety of aircraft.
He is alleged to have made 16 separate unauthorised radio transmissions at
Melbourne Airport and Avalon Airport near Geelong between September and
November this year (2016).
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) laid four counts of endangering the safety
of aircraft contrary to Crimes (Aviation) Act, while the Australian
Communications and Media Authority had a count of 'interference likely to
endanger safety or cause loss or damage contrary to the Radiocommunications
Act. '
Briefly in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on November 22, defence lawyer
Pern Chaya told the court the accused had been diagnosed with autism and
depression. He was remanded in custody to reappear on Monday, and then
expected to apply for bail. Outside the court the AFP's Head of Crime
Operations, acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Sheehan said the arrest
followed an investigation involving Air Services Australia, ACMA, and in the
early stages Qantas and the Virgin Australia Group. He said if the offences
were proven they could have a maximum penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
abc.net.au/news/2016-11-22/man-accused-of-making-hoax-calls-to-melbourne-airport-arrested/8047598?WT.ac=statenews_vic
Footage of the arrest can be downloaded via this link:
https://www.hightail.com/download/cUJXSkhhV3JqY29LSk1UQw
Footage of AFP's head of Crime Operations, acting Assistant Commissioner
Chris Sheehan commenting on the arrest can be downloaded via this link:
https://www.hightail.com/download/cUJXSkhjR3NOQnlFTmNUQw
(Written by vk3pc also advised by vk4fuq vk3ll and ACMA)
STEM ACTIVITY IN CANBERRA GO TO WIA FRONT PAGE NEWS:-
http://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2016/20161124-1/index.php
WIA BOARD TALK
This is WIA Director Andrew Smith VK6AS with some news on my recent visits to
a number of a not-so-local ( to my QTH) amateur radio clubs in VK3 with
attendees also from VK2.
I'm back from my trip around VK3. I travelled in excess of 7500Km, whilst my
colleague and also WIA Director Paul Simmonds VK5PAS clocked up around 2,500 km,
all at no cost to the WIA.
During our travels we delivered four presentations in VK3.
The clubs we were invited to and attended, ranged from inner suburban to
outer rural. The clubs have been in existence for many years one beginning
in June 1948, another in 1966 and a third in 1975. The fact they are still
going strong and growing is a tribute to the service they provide to their
communities especially in regard to encouraging and training the next wave
of Amateur Radio operators.
There some interesting common threads we found in our meetings. These being:
concern but continuing support of the proud Wireless Institute of Australia.
The warmth and genuine camaraderie displayed by all present.
The excitement of having two directors visiting their club and displaying an
interest in and seeking feedback on how the WIA can best serve the needs of
the members.
Thank you to everyone who attended.
On behalf of the WIA I congratulated the attendees at these meetings for their
continuing interest in the future of our shared hobby. The people providing
sustenance at all venues did their respective organisations proud. I look
forward to further invitations to meet and share with more of our members.
Videos of the presentations are available on the internet, why don't you check
them out.
It was a tiring exercise, but very invigorating.
This has been WIA Director Andrew Smith for VK1WIA News.
This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH from the WIA Spectrum Strategy Committee with
further details concerning proposed new amateur bands included in the
WIA submission to the A C M A's update of the Australian Radiofrequency
Spectrum Plan.
This week, I'd like to expand on the WIA's application for an allocation at
70 MHz.
Back in July 2014, the WIA had signified interest in a 70 MHz amateur
allocation in a submission invited by the ACMA, which flagged the amateur radio
community's interest.
Historically, in Australia, the 70.0-87.5 MHz band has been used by commercial,
community, government and defence communications services. There is also a
Low Interference Potential (LIPD) band at 70-70.24375 MHz, with a maximum
permitted power of 100 milliwatts.
The WIA has been aware for some time that interest in, and use of,
70.0-70.5 MHz has declined across Australia.
The WIA is pitching for use of an amateur allocation between 70 and 70.5 MHz
that aligns with amateur allocations across Region 1, which covers Europe,
Russia, the Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa. These Region 1 allocations
are widely known as the four metre band.
Let me digress for a moment.
Spectrum was divided into convenient bands back when technical nomenclature for
the new technology was still being worked out. The bands were based on
wavelength. So wavelengths of 100m to 10m - that is 3 MHz to 30 MHz - was
nominated as the high frequency band, 10m to 1m - 30 MHz to 300 MHz - was the
very high frequency band, 1m to 10cm was the ultra-high frequency band, and
so on.
There was - and is - no other particular technical reason based on
characteristic properties of radio waves for the band divisions - they are just
a convenient reference, an arbitrary name.
So. Back to the WIA's efforts to obtain a 4m allocation.
The band 69.9 MHz - 70.5 MHz is listed in the "European Table of Frequency
Allocations and Applications" as a secondary amateur allocation. Around 30
countries across Region 1 have granted an amateur allocation between 69.9 and
70.5 MHz.
The International Amateur Radio Union - the IARU - the WIA is a member - notes
that, and I quote - "Nowadays, with the widespread closure of broadcasting
below 87.5 MHz, the advent of cost effective globally available public mobile
telecommunications networks and dedicated networks for emergency services
operating above 400 MHz, the relatively large antennas required on hand-held
devices, impulsive noise susceptibility and interference arising from sporadic
E events in the summer months, the use of spectrum below 100 MHz has become
increasingly unattractive for private / professional / business mobile
communications." End quote.
70 MHz is subject to over-the-horizon propagation - a fact known since the
early days of radiocommunications and television broadcasting. Ionospheric
sporadic E will carry 70 MHz signals by single-hop propagation up to 2000 km or
so, and up to 5000 km or so by multi-hop, as experience from radio amateur
contacts in Region 1 has shown.
70 MHz signals can propagate between the hemispheres via trans equatorial
propagation, too. Experience in Region 1 with amateur contacts over distances
greater than 7500 km between stations in Africa and the Mediterranean have
demonstrated this.
Not so well known, perhaps, is the propagation research work carried out by
Australian defence scientists back in the late-1960s, with a 72 MHz beacon
located near Darwin being recorded in Southern Japan. Similarly, in that era,
point to point links on 70 MHz and above in South Korea were recorded by
university researchers in Queensland.
So. An amateur allocation at 70 MHz in Australia offers some pretty exciting
possibilities for propagation and intercommunication - locally and over the
horizon. The band would seem to share some propagation characteristics similar
to 6m, on one hand, and 2m on the other hand - but not really the same as
either.
There's one good way to find out, and that's to have an amateur allocation
that enables and encourages experiment and experience, which is subsequently
reported in the literature - which increasingly these days means online as much
as in-print.
Advocacy. Education. Support. That's what we do.
This has been Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.
Increase in the noise-floor
Everyone has experienced a rise in the noise-floor levels on the high-frequency
and very-high frequency bands.
The noise-floor has been measured in rural, urban and city environments,
24 hours a day and in the four seasons of the year.
The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) is the latest to express concerns
about it. A recent RSGB report was that there was an initial threat to HF from
broadband over powerlines or BPL technology. But this has been superseded by
noisy electronics, switch-mode power supplies, and broadband Internet delivery
systems such as very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line or VDSL2.
A further potential threat from wireless power transfer systems is being
closely monitored at the International Telecommunication Union.
Unfortunately while the radio users are aware of the rising noise-floor, the
same concerns seem not to be shared by the electromagnetic compatibility regime.
In other words, protection of the radio spectrum against the harmful emissions
of electronic devices.
Earlier this year, the UK regulator Ofcom revised the noise-floor criteria by
12 dB for its business radio users of the VHF bands. The new Ofcom noise-floor
level means 150 watts is needed to achieve the coverage once obtained with a
10 watt transmitter.
This recognises the increase in man-made noise in that part of the spectrum,
which should be no surprise to radio amateurs who use the VHF bands. The
Wireless Institute of Australia has included the rising noise-floor argument as
part of the request for higher transmit power when the Licence Condition
Determinations are reviewed next year.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
MORE POPULAR THAN SANTA AT THE PRE-SCHOOL CHRISTMAS BREAKUP
Have you had an influx of exotically named girls emailing you?
Have you had an email from WIANews suggesting you are in line for a free Kenwood?
How about a free diabetes check-up? (How that works on line one only wonders).
Well with our interweb now in its 20th year..plus or minus a few..it should
come as no surprise you've got a "dose of SPAM."
It's a fine line our WIA email system ISP treads, do I stop lots of email and
run the risk of someone saying "WIA NEWS IS CENSORED" because it didn't
arrive? OR have every Tamilia, Becky and Harriett send out emails with
malware or worse?
As with ALL EMAIL appearing in your inbox... don't open suspicious or
unsolicited mail....
As our Meerkat friends would say..."easyies."
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA.
Shortwave Signals on SDR Spectrum Grabber
A wideband Software Defined Radio may be the answer to capture large swaths
of spectrum for later retrieval from a Secure Digital memory card.
Hacker magazine reports that the London Shortwave Listening group has such a
device with an HF up-converter, a Windows tablet, a dipole antenna, and a few
bits and bobs. The briefcase-sized SDR Spectrum Grabber can be set up in the
low-noise environment of a local park.
On a waterfall display has been stations in New Zealand, the Philippines and
Brazil.
WIAs Jim Linton VK3PC tells us that the whole lot was designed and built by a
16-year old.
Idea to broadband blanket the earth's surface
The SpaceX program wants to have a satellite based internet service from the
next decade.
The market is long-distance traffic now carried by undersea cables, and a
share of local and consumer business traffic. SpaceX has asked the US Federal
Communications Commission for an initial 800 satellites...YES 800 !!
The ITU has found that about half of the world's population still isn't
using the internet, but there's a strong possibility of increased
connectivity in the next several years.
KM4IPF makes a BIG announcement!
10 year-old Hope KM4IPF has announced that she will be operating a special
event amateur radio station from the set of the USAs ABC TV show
Last Man Standing
Hope earned her amateur license at the age of 8 and her first contact was via
the amateur radio satellite FO-29. She achieved her Extra class license in
June 2016 aged 9.
The Last Man Standing show stars Tim Allen who plays radio amateur
Mike Baxter KA 0 XTT. First aired in 2011 the sixth series is currently being
broadcast in the USA
Indian Medium-Short Wave Broadcasts 'must be scrapped'
DNA India - Laying out an action plan for AIR, an IIT-Bombay report says
short wave and medium wave services have few takers and must be scrapped
On the Indian Daily News & Analysis site Amrita Nayak Dutta writes:
Barely 10 per cent of people, mostly the elderly, in urban localities
listen to short wave or medium wave services, Girish Kumar, professor
in IIT-B's electrical engineering department who headed the team
conducting the audit for AIR's parent body Prasar Bharati, told DNA.
Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) receivers, pegged by AIR as a technology
replacement for Soviet-era worn-out short and medium wave transmitters, are
just too expensive, the report says. Though a DRM transmitter can give higher
range than others, installing a larger number of FM transmitters can help cover
the entire country.
DRM transmitters, Kumar explained, can offer good range but listeners have to
buy a receiver that is super expensive. "Why would people buy a DRM receiver
to listen to radio when they can do the same on their mobile phones or their
cars?" he asked.
"Even for the newly installed DRM transmitter in Malad, there are barely
any takers, both because of expensive receivers and lack of awareness about it,"
he said.
Read the full story at
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-go-fm-way-digital-drm-too-expensive-air-told-2272264
WEIRD AND WONDERFUL
Radiation fear reaches the Reg Grundys
No scientific proof links the use of mobile phones and Wi-Fi to health issues,
but that hasn't stopped marketers producing underpants that block radiation.
On sale in New York the pair of boxers has an electromagnetic shield made
possible by a high-tech fabric. They are claimed to stop over 99 per cent of
the radiation, however these underpants aren't a safeguard against any
confirmed threats, but they do give sceptic consumers a "comfortable option."
I'm Felix VK4FUQ and today we remind all rebroadcasters to check the
"where do you hear us" page on wia.org.au
This is the official list of stations sending us there weekly call-back
numbers each week and is the primary source of where our WIA Call Book
would be getting the yearly list of stations broadcasting the news.
Who and Where are our broadcast stations?
http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
OPERATIONAL NEWS 2016 AND ON AIR THIS WEEKEND
November 26-27 is our WIA VHF/UHF Spring Field Day
This weekend is also the CQ WW DX / CW Contest
Then to next year, 2017:-
January it's the WIA's Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF Contest
Jan 1 AMSAT CW Activity Day 24 hours. All forms of CW are welcome.
Ham Radio On The Sydney Ferries 12th of March
WIA's John Moyle Memorial Field Day 18th-19th March 2017
WIA's Harry Angel Memorial 80 meter sprint Saturday May 6 10:00 -11:46 UTC
May 13-15 Mills On The Air
VK SHIRES June 10 and 11.
Trans-Tasman Low-Band Contest 160/80/40 Saturday night July 15 and Start Time
is 08:00 UTC and finish time is 14:00 UTC
10-10 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CONTEST Aug 5 - 6
WIA's Flagship contest the Remembrance Day Contest 12th & 13th August
Aug 19-20 ILLW the 3rd full weekend in August since 1998
October CQ WW DX / SSB CONTEST (always Octobers Last full weekend)
Running ALL year 'til Dec 31 Victorian Local Government Award 2017 Challenge
DX news from the North Pole
A busy Santa will be active from Santa Claus Land in the Arctic Circle again
this year bringing the magic of Christmas.
Santa's own Amateur Radio station OH 9 SCL will be activated in December.
And also there will be at least one callsign with the suffix of X M A S coming
out of Holland.
'Adopt-A-Mill' campaign across Australia
Following Anderson's Mill at Smeaton in Victoria joining the 'Mills on The Air'
event in May 2017 as the first Australian registration, comes a second interest
from South Australia.
UK Denby Dale Club has only had European mills registered so far in the annual
event, but want Australians to join and so already is Anderson's Mill with the
Goldfields Amateur Radio Club VK3BI.
Now the Lower Murray Amateur Radio Club VK5ALM, has chosen Dunns Mill, a
former a steam flour mill and the oldest building in Mt Barker.
Both mills have their history posted on the website
adopt a mill across australia .com.au
More inquiries are welcome from Australian flour, wool, sugar or timber mills.
Although six months away, the prospect of adopting a mill and putting it on air
May 13 to 15, may be ideal for a number of clubs and individual radio amateurs.
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
Russian intruder leaves 20m
The International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 Monitoring System reports that
the Russian military apparently responded positively to a complaint from German
telecommunications authorities to eliminate an intruding signal on 20 metres.
The Russian Navy RDL signal from Crimea had been transmitting on 14.180MHz,
using F1B at 50 baud and 200Hz shift for several days.
IARUMS said the transmissions were heard for the last time on the 31st October.
MEDIA WATCH
Who and Where are our broadcast stations?
http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
The WIA Amateur Radio magazine contents
The December edition has on its cover a shelter trailer and tower set up for
the recent Jamboree on The Air, and an insert image of Niamh Wilson from
Ellenbrook Guides.
Inside, the Editor Peter Freeman VK3PF notes that a new WIA publication,
"Wireless Men and Women at War", is on pre-order from the WIA Bookshop. It has
many articles on radio communications development and makes an excellent gift.
The Editor also refers to the 'rumour mill' about the WIA, but personally, he
will wait until the newly appointed Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer report
their findings.
WIA President Phil Wait VK2ASD, in an end of year message, thanks all who have
supported the WIA over the past year. He has more to say about the new
Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, and echoes that both are very capable people
looking after the WIA's financial systems. Although there are obviously some
serious issues to work through, real progress is being made.
Remember, the national WIA is only 13 years old, and it's time to review
operations and how best to meet member's diverse needs.
The WIA represents all radio amateurs, whether a member or not, and there are
external forces that do not see the value of Ham Radio to society.
The WIA Publications Committee and contributors have plenty for the readers
this month. An interesting analysis of Amateur Radio and the social network
comes from Liz Billiau VK2XSE.
Tune for maximum brightness with an LED antenna current indicator, perhaps a
modern day version of the old soup-loop found in shacks, is an article by
Peter Parker VK3YE.
Part 1 of how to use an 'Arduino Slow Scan TV generator' comes from Dale Hughes
VK1DSH.
The IARU Liaison Report talks about the televised meeting of the IARU President
Reinaldo YV5AM explanation to the Chile Senate of the Amateur Radio role during
natural disasters.
The December edition also has a formal notice about the Election of Directors
and a Call for Nominations from the Returning Officer.
There are also a number of other fine articles, and the informative regular
columns too.
Posted to WIA members this week, it's also available by request to those only
want it in an online digital format.
I am Barry Robinson VK3PV and you are listening to VK1WIA.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ARDF
WIA ARDF COORDINATOR VK3WWW Jack vk3www@wia.org.au
http://users.mackay.net.au/~ron/
http://www.homingin.com
http://www.ardf.org.au
World Radiosport Team Championship
The official rules for World Radiosport Team Championship 2018, to be held
in Germany, are now available.
Noteworthy among the WRTC 2018 rules is permitting the use of spectrum or
waterfall displays, and a prohibition on the use of second or sub-receivers.
It will continue the two-operator, two-transmitter format of the earlier WRTCs
so both stations will be permitted to transmit at any time to maximise their
scoring.
Also, only one computer is permitted to be attached to each radio, and PCs
used in the effort must connect via wired Ethernet.
See wrtc2018.de for full details of this event.
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)
ALARA Meet 2017 will be in tropical Cairns from Sept 8th to 10th 2017
with some optional activities planned for Monday 11th Sept.
YL's can now register their interest in attending the Meet online at
www.alara.org.au/alarameet so we can provide estimated numbers to the
venue and the preferred accommodation.
Accommodation discounts are being negotiated dependent on the numbers
and will be available in the new year as will the programme. Please
don't try to book directly with the venue.
Once you have registered you will be added to our dedicated ALARAmeet
mailing list and will be advised of discounts and proposed activities
etc. as they are finalised
We also have a dedicated ALARAmeet Facebook page (Alara-Meet-2017)
The Meet is aimed at all levels of license and all ages.
If you need any information please email Diane VK4DI, publicity@alara.org.au
Diane VK4DI
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER
HF satellite is planned
A small CubeSat that is dubbed HFSAT will have a linear uplink at 21.4 MHz
and a downlink at 29.42 MHz.
Planned by US Naval academy students it will have HF transponder as a primary
payload as well as 2-metre APRS as a secondary mission.
Bob Bruninga WB4APR says HFSAT will similar to the 1990s-era RS 11 and 12
Russian Amateur Radio satellites.
No launch date has been set, but it sounds like an interesting plan worth
watching.
(vk3pc)
The EO-79/FUNcube-3 satellite has transitioned to amateur radio service,
now that its primary mission has been completed.
AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL have announced that the FUNcube U/V transponder has
been activated with a regular schedule. Due to power budget constraints,
the transponder cannot operate continuously, so an orbit-specific schedule
has been developed. The transponder will commence operation 27 minutes
after the spacecraft enters sunlight and remain active for 25 minutes.
This schedule may be modified in the weeks ahead, as experience dictates.
The transponder uplink is 435.047 to 435.077MHz LSB; the downlink is
145.935 to 145.965MHz USB. The output power of the amateur radio payload
is about 400mW.
And last Monday, November 21, 2016, marked the third birthday in space for the
985 gram spacecraft FUNcube-1 / AO73
FUNcube-1 was launched and its first signals were received over the
Indian Ocean by amateurs in South Africa. Since then it has been operating
continuously in either its education mode or, with the transponder active,
in amateur mode when in eclipse and at weekends.
The FUNcube team are very grateful to everyone who has been contributing
their telemetry records to the Data Warehouse and also to those who are using
FUNcube-1 for educational outreach to schools and colleges around the world.
This important part of the mission is intended to encourage young people to
develop an interest and passion in all STEM subjects for their future.
The spacecraft is operating nominally - the telemetry indicates that all the
sub-systems are fine. The battery voltages, solar panel charge currents and
on board temperatures are virtually unchanged since launch.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
http://rsgbiota.org
Frank VK7BC is on Fire in the Arctic!
Coming on the heels of his Antarctic award Frank has been active on IOTA.
Frank has just received his RSGB IOTA Arctic islands award. His award is the
first to be claimed by any station in Australia, and in fact Oceania.
The total of 75 IOTA island groups North of the Arctic circle took Frank
almost thirty years to achieve.
(vk7wi)
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- SUMMITS ON THE AIR
www.sotawatch.org
www.sota.org.uk
Summit to Summit super activation November 19th. 2016 and with a short report
here is Ed Durrant DD5LP.
"The Summits on the Air "Summit to Summit" event between Europe and North
America on Saturday the 19th of November was a great success. Despite cold
and rainy weather across several parts of Europe, band conditions being
average and interference from contestants in the LZ-DX contest, all activators
who were out reported a successful and enjoyable day.
Some stations racked up multiple S2S (Summit to Summit) contacts across the
three continents involved -- as well as Europe and North America - there was
one activator on holiday in the Canary Islands, which counts geographically
as Africa. The event was also an opportunity for others to try out new rigs
and other equipment, especially antennas. Several activators had their
first-ever inter-continental summit to summit contact and were really happy
about that.
Others went in small teams and enjoyed working together. Some had tents to
protect them from the weather. Others were really lucky with the weather, while
others got soaked.
Three bands were used for inter-continental contacts - 21, 18 and 14MHz. Most
contacts were made on 20 metres; however those with multiple band capability
moved away from the contest traffic on 20 metres to the more peaceful 17 and 15
metres. The consensus seems to be that from a propagation point of view
17 metres was the best; however inter-continental QSOs were made on all three
bands.
We even have some reports of chasers from VK catching some of the EU activators
via short path in the very early hours of the Australian Sunday morning!
Sixty-six summits had been announced, but 77 were actually activated, an
increase on the 51 summits alerted and 73 stations taking part in the VK-EU
event a month earlier. It'll be interesting to see what the numbers are for
the North America-VK event. This may only now take place in 2017 when the
weather in the Northern Hemisphere improves.
The general feeling around the SOTA community is that having these S2S events
is both enjoyable and useful and many are looking forward to more of them.
For VK1WIA this is Ed Durrant DD5LP / VK2JI.
SOCIAL SCENE 2017
Feb 26th Central Coast Field Day, WYONG enter at 8:30am (vk2dls)
March 26 VK3 EMDRC HamFest, Great Ryrie Primary School, Heathmont (VK3BQ)
Ap 28- May 1 VK4 Clairview Gathering between Rockhampton and Mackay (TARC)
May 19 VK WIA AGM Hahndorf some 25km from Adelaide (vk5kc)
Sep 9-10 ALARAMEET 2017 in Cairns (vk4swe)
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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