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DECEMBER 25 2016 - 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
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NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING DECEMBER 25 2016.
IN OUR 21st YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS
WIA - We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. -
WIA - THE SENSIBLE WAY TO MAKE A CHANGE TO BOARD. -
WIA - Licence assessment system complies. -
WIA - Claims society in trouble with ASIC and ACMA without foundation. -
WIA - VK5KC reports on latest plans for AGM. -
WIA - Leading the blind, a GOOD news story in VK2. -
WIA Director Roger Harrison VK2ZRH and the VHF-UHF Field Day coming up.
THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE
OF AUSTRALIA 2016 AND FOR WEEK OF DEC 25
We at the WIA start with Happy and Holy Christmas greetings to all WIANews
listeners and particularly our rebroadcasters, some 64 scatterred across the
globe and not forgetting viewers of the ATV rebroadcast broadcast, by Tony
VK7AX which is available via several Tassierepeaters and kindly streamed via
BATC.TV website.
Although our WIA office has closed for the holidays, (Dec 22) and reopen
Monday, January 23 this WIA NATIONAL NEWS WILL BE PRODUCED RIGHT THROUGH
THE NEW YEAR, CHRISTMAS PERIOD.
CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL REBROADCASTER AS TO RETRANSMISSIONS IN YOUR AREA.
REMEMBER NEWS IS AVAILABLE IN A FREE PODCAST BY FOLLOWING THE PROMPTS ON
http://www.wia.org.au
WIA BUSINESS CLASS - Advocacy. Education. Support. That's what we do.
Changes on the WIA Board
It's been a big week at the WIA.
WIA treasurer Chris Hendry VK3PAT resigned last Sunday, followed by Directors
Andrew Smith VK6AS and Paul Simmons VK5PAS, and assistant Treasurer
Jeff Tubbenhauer VK5IU.
This left five WIA Directors which is the minimum required number on the Board
of the WIA. The remaining directors are Phil Wait VK2ASD, Fred Swainston VK3DAC,
Ewan McLeod VK4ERM, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH, and Robert Broomhead VK3DN.
The WIA Board has decided to continue to operate with five directors up to the
time of the AGM in May, when all members will get a chance to choose the entire
WIA Board in a proper democratic process.
So, the five Remaining directors will vacate their positions on the Board at
the next AGM and members will decide the entire composition of the next board.
Members can be confident that the WIA will continue to do the things it
normally does, such as publish Amateur Radio magazine and the other
publications in progress, deliver the exam service and continue with the
day-to-day running of the national office and member services, including
callsign recommendations, the weekly broadcasts, contests support, repeater
and beacon applications, the club insurance scheme, and so on.
The AGM, to be held in Hahndorf, South Australia, will proceed as planned.
Finally, Board acknowledges the valuable work carried out by Chris Hendry as
Treasurer resolving many of the financial issues during his tenure, and will
complete the annual financial review using qualified contractors. The Board
has committed that the financial review for 2016 is to be upgraded to a full
audit by the WIA's appointed Auditor.
In the period up to the AGM in May when a new board will take control, the
current Board will not be making policy decisions that may affect the future
operation of the WIA.
The current election process has already commenced as normal with nominations
called for in the December copy of AR Magazine.
If you have the skills and desire to lead the WIA into the future, we would
encourage you to submit your nomination in writing and send it to the Returning
Officer at the WIA Office.
Finally, season's greetings. Have a great Christmas and happy new year and
please get on air and do what this great hobby is supposed to be all about.
This is Phil Wait, VK2ASD for the WIA.
WIA licence assessment system complies
The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) continues with its successful
Amateur Radio accredited assessors program of licence assessments and
callsign recommendations under a Deed with the Australian Communications
and Media Authority (ACMA).
However, a lot of mis-information is circulating about the WIA Assessors and
Learning Facilitators, and even the validity of the Australian amateur licence
exams. Recently, the ACMA Deed that underpins the WIA Exam Service has been
wrongly interpreted by some, although it had been explained earlier by the WIA.
The Deed with the Commonwealth sets out the conditions of how the WIA manages
examinations, the issue of certificates of proficiency and callsign
recommendations. Periodic reports on it include key performance indicators,
which measure the performance of the WIA along with its meeting of the
Commonwealth's cost recovery guidelines and the maintenance of standards.
The Deed requirements have been met, the WIA assessments are valid, and will
continue while the current structure is in place.
Now, let us look at the history of how it began.
The WIA, led by then-President Michael Owen VK3KI (SK), signed a Deed of
arrangement with the ACMA in 2009 to formalise the contractual arrangement,
which included that the WIA would later also give callsign recommendations.
After running successfully for some time, it became evident that maintaining
a Registered Training Organisation for the WIA was not realistic due to the
high cost. The WIA brought the issue to discussion meetings with ACMA and the
exam instructions were changed to allow for flexibility in the WIA's Amateur
Exam Service.
This means that the WIA training is compliant as long as the Assessors and
Learning Facilitators continue to meet the ACMA and WIA agreed standards.
The WIA is not in breach of the Deed, as has been claimed.
(Fred Swainston VK3DAC, Trainsafe Australia, WIA Nominated Training
Organisation)
Claims WIA in trouble with ASIC and ACMA without foundation
Some members have commented that the Australian Securities and Investment
Commission (ASIC) has issues with the WIA's financial processes and is
investigating the WIA.
The WIA President has discussed the matter with ASIC and referred several
queries to the WIA's Auditor for clarification. The queries were in relation
to building depreciation, treatment of subscriptions in advance, and the
independence of the Auditor.
The Auditor subsequently contacted ASIC and has advised that its
representations were fully accepted and no further correspondence is required
on the matters raised.
Suggestions have been made that the WIA incurred ASIC fines. To our knowledge,
the WIA has never incurred an ASIC fine or late payment fee.
However, a company known as Amateur Radio Pty Ltd was registered in 1970
in order to protect the name "Amateur Radio" from possible use by other
organisations. The directors of Amateur Radio Pty Ltd were past WIA directors
and at least one past secretary, but the current WIA directors were not made
aware of its existence.
This company had not paid recent registration fees, but as the name was
important to the WIA (being the name of our hobby and of our journal),
the WIA Board made a decision to pay the late payment fee of several hundred
dollars in order to prevent Amateur Radio Pty Ltd being deregistered.
ACMA relations
The relationship between the ACMA and the WIA, through the relevant
sub-committee, is extremely good.
Regular discussions take place with ACMA staff on a number of topics related
to WIA operations and functions.
These include regulatory and licensing, repeaters and beacons, licence
conditions, etc.
Current discussions with the ACMA include the outcome of WRC-15, the WIA's
response to the draft update of the Radio Frequency Spectrum Plan, future
changes to the Amateur Licence Conditions Determination (the LCD), changes to
the procedure for the licensing of repeaters and beacons, and other operational
issues that arise very regularly.
Under the Deed with the ACMA, the WIA is required to make regular callsign
and assessment service reports.
Owing to the lack of a Treasurer at critical times, and the need to embark
on a mission of discovery following the resignation of a previous treasurer,
a couple of these deadlines were missed.
The 2015 financial report to the ACMA was prepared by the President in early
2016. Strategies are now in place to improve the timing of ACMA reporting.
WIA AGM
Good Morning. This is David VK5KC on behalf of the Group organising the
2017 WIA AGM. The venue is Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills, about 30 minutes
drive from Adelaide and will be held on the weekend of 19th to 21st May 2017.
All are invited the attend the weekend, although only financial members may
vote.
Friday night will be an informal gathering. Saturday morning will be the
AGM and open forum. The afternoon will focus on a series of technical
presentations highlighting the best of the Amateur Service in VK5. Followed by
a discussion on enthusing new and old Amateurs alike.
Two partners tours will be offered on the Saturday to showcase the Adelaide
Hills.
Saturday night will be a Gala dinner with guest speaker.
On Sunday we offer a visit to the National Motor Museum at Birdwood, or a
hosted trip to operate Parks and Peaks, or you may just spend the day
visiting the large range of shops in Hahndorf.
Sunday night will be a BBQ at the local football club fully supplied by the
Adelaide hills amateur Radio Society.
All details and registration are on the WIA website. Details of presenters
will be released soon.
So mark the 19th to 21st May 2017 in your diary, come along and renew old
friendships and make some new ones.
73 David for the WIA AGM organising group.
WIA Callbook 2017 available
The 2017 WIA Callbook is now available from the WIA online book store, or
direct from some clubs.
The annual but updated publication that becomes a resource in most shacks
can be ordered online under the "WIA Publications" category of the bookshop.
The printed callbook does not include a CD ROM this year, but those who buy it
through the WIA online bookshop will also be able to get a downloadable PDF
version of the callbook.
WIA affiliated clubs are invited to purchase the Callbook in bulk for sale at
club functions, Hamfests, other events, or to their members.
See the WIA website for more details.
http://www.wia.org.au
WIA - Home of the Good Guys
Special exams part of the WIA Exam Service
A teenage boy who is legally blind has been successful at a special assessment
for the Foundation Licence.
The Wireless Institute of Australia, through its Nominated Assessors, makes
Amateur Radio licence assessments available to people who have a disability.
Nominated Assessor Eric van de Weyer VK2VE said the 13-year old sat the
Foundation Licence assessment on Saturday December 17, and was found to be
competent. Eric VK2VE said he had the help of two other assessors, Graheme
O'Brien VK2FA and Adam Gardiner VK2YK.
The assessment included the use of several model antennae made by Adam VK2YK
especially for the occasion. It also had Braille text and audio measurement
devices to supplement the assessment.
He said: "We did the assessment for the candidate and he was successful in
both parts. He managed fine with the practical test, was quite confident on air,
and also with the written paper."
Eric VK2VE explained that the same level of knowledge under the relevant
syllabus had to be demonstrated and assessed.
Any candidate seeking a special assessment due to a disability, needs first
to produce a medical certificate that the normal assessment process poses a
problem. Provided to the WIA Office, it does not have to specify the exact
nature of the problem, but must come from a qualified medical practitioner.
Inquiries about these assessments may be made to the WIA Exam Service or a
WIA Nominated Assessor.
Eric VK2VE has posted all of the assessment paperwork and we will have a new
'white cane' operator with his Foundation Licence in early 2017.
DISCUSSION POINT
Foundations of Amateur Radio
Last week over dinner I was chatting with a friend about Amateur Radio
in a discussion about things that take your fancy. I was attempting to
explain what it specifically was about this hobby that keeps me coming back.
I talked about invention, about exploration, about fishing and catching that
elusive station, but looking back over that discussion it occurred to me
that none of that is what "does it" for me.
Sure, those things are part of it, but it's not what makes me turn on my radio,
what has my face light up in delight or allows me to get out of bed in the
middle of the night to explore the bands.
A brief phone call with another Amateur to wish him Happy Birthday twigged me
to what's going on. He asked me: "What's new in your world?", and my answer,
innocuous at best was: "Well, last weekend I heard a Japanese station from my
QTH."
In the past I've mentioned that I've made many contacts with Japan, looking
at my log, 63 of them, on 10m and 15m, so the fact that I heard Japan wasn't
particularly special. I don't recall the band on which I heard the station,
so that's not it either.
What was different was that I heard it at home, my QTH. The place where there
is S7 or higher noise all the time, where I cannot put up a full antenna and
make do with a dipole in the garage and a single band vertical on the roof.
Looking back at the conversation it occurred to me that what I like about
Amateur Radio is the unexpectedness of it, the surprises that come your way,
like little gifts waiting to be unpacked. It reminded me of a journey coming
back from a club meeting last year when I spent the time going through the
entire frequency range of my radio.
There's quite a bit to visit. The radio in the car does 100 kHz through to
56 MHz as a single range, then has several other ranges. My hand-held is
capable of 500 kHz through 999 MHz. Between the two I have the ability to pick
up most of the stuff that's around.
If that's not enough, there are many online radio receivers to connect to using
all manner of different tools, the simplest to get running is probably WebSDR,
where you visit a web-page and pick out the frequency you want to hear.
websdr.mwrs.org.au:8901/
All this RF activity is happening all around us all the time. There's the local
Top-40 radio station, the talk back shows, the local community stations,
single frequency specialist broadcasters, the local public transit authority,
etc. etc. You never know what you're going to find and what you're going to
hear.
Many Amateurs I speak to started off as short-wave listeners. I had a
short-wave radio when I was growing up, but it never much did anything for me.
Now that I'm an Amateur and I understand what's happening to make those distant
signals arrive at my ear, I'm becoming the short-wave listener I never was.
That's what I like about Amateur Radio.
Unexpected gifts being shared across the globe from people, cultures and
experiences that bring us all together.
For me, Amateur Radio is about the thirst for curiosity, the never ending
supply of wonder and the joy in hearing them arrive un-announced at my doorstep.
I'm Onno VK6FLAB
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL,
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART, VK7WI News VK3PC and the WW sources of the WIA.
UK 434 MHz balloon over North America
An Around-The-World balloon carrying 434 MHz and APRS that was built by
Bristol students has successfully crossed the Pacific and reached Alaska
The UBSEDS21 balloon was built from 50 micron thick PA-EVOH-PE multilayer film
and is about 1.9 meters in diameter, the payload weight was 34.2 grams.
After launch on December 11, 2016 the balloon achieved a stable altitude of
15.2 km flying in an easterly direction on its potential circumnavigation
of the globe.
The initial plan was to use UBSEDS21 to contact the International Space
Station via APRS on 145.825 MHz. However, the VHF radio on the ISS is out of
order.
The winter launch in the northern hemisphere means the payload needs to deal
with the sun staying low above the horizon during the day. For this reason,
sideways facing solar panels were used.
See the UBSEDS21 track at
https://tracker.habhub.org/#!mt=roadmap&mz=2&qm=All&f=UBSEDS21&q=UBSEDS21
Another "hi-flyer" is WB 8 ELK and this Balloon has now Completed its
Second Lap Around the World
After flying for over 41,000 miles, the WB8ELK HF WSPR Skytracker balloon has
completed its second lap after crossing over into Indiana on 12 Dec 2016.
For those of you capable of listening to 20m WSPR mode, it transmits at the
4-minute and 6-minute marks every 10 minutes on 14.09560 MHz USB during
daylight.
Blur drummer passes Advanced
Essex-born radio amateur Dave Rowntree 2 E 0 DVR has passed his Advanced exam
and is now M 0 IEG.
David, who is drummer with the rock band Blur, earned his first amateur radio
Foundation licence M 6 DRQ in March 2012 and from there progressed to
Intermediate and now Advanced.
In 2003, he handled the PR for Professor Colin Pillinger, who led the Beagle 2
mission to the red planet.
Amateur Radio satellites is one aspect of the hobby that interests David.
In August he gave the presentation "A hacker's guide to satellites" at the
Electromagnetic Field event EMF 2016 in Guildford, the video of his talk
can be seen at the link we like in this weeks news for Australian Radio Amateurs
on wia.org.au
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/08/07/emf-ham-radio-satellites/
Breakthrough claimed in battery technology
A new electric storage method is claimed to be a make batteries redundant.
The supercapacitors with a new plastic electrolyte could be up to 10,000 times
more powerful than existing batteries. For example, they could fully charge a
mobile phone or laptop in seconds.
British scientists at the Surrey and Bristol universities claim to have
developed high density supercapacitors to replace batteries.
It could also make popular electric cars overcoming their current low appeal
of limited range and long recharging times.
HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT
This is WIA Director Roger Harrison VK2ZRH with news about the VHF-UHF
Field Day coming up.
Yes, folks ! No sooner have we finished the 2016 Spring event, but the 2017
Summer VHF-UHF Field Day follows hot on its heels.
It's over Saturday the 14th and Sunday the 15th of January.
That means it will be right in the middle of the annual Ross Hull Memorial
VHF-UHF Contest. So, two events for the price of one !
The general idea is to take your gear out to some suitable location and
operate portable. The fun comes in making contacts and accumulating points.
Not to mention reducing the weight you have to carry back by consuming all
the food and beverages you took with you. Responsibly, of course.
Home stations are just as welcome to participate, too.
The rules are the same as for the Spring contest just passed.
There are still two Divisions:-
Division 1 based on grid-square scoring.
Division 2 for distance-based scoring.
Operators can enter a log for either 24-hour operations, or 8-hour operations.
You need to decide your strategy beforehand.
Of course, Murphy and the weather might curtail what was to be your
24-hour operation, in which case you can recover something by submitting
a log for 8-hour operations!
The four contest Sub-sections continue the new approach, with Single-band,
Four-band, All-bands and Digital operations. Part of the purpose of this
is to provide something for newcomers to amateur radio as well Field Day
newbies and to cater specifically for Foundation and Standard licensees.
Marshalling the requirements for a single-band operation, or perhaps two,
three or four bands, is not a daunting task. A founding principle of the
Field Days is to go out and have fun, so these categories can provide a
taste of that.
To up the pace of contacts, the repeat contact period is two hours.
There has been more spectacular DX on the VHF-UHF bands in the past week, and
- hopefully - that will return in mid-January for the Field Day.
You'll find all the details on wia.org.au under the For Members drop-down menu,
select Contests, then click on the VHF/UHF Field Days link in the left hand
menu.
Don't forget that the special event callsign VI 2 SYD 75 will be on the air
through to 31st December. Time slots for using it are still available.
Check out the St George club website sgars.org
Best wishes for the season and great DX for 2017.
Advocacy. Education. Support. That's what we do.
This is WIA Director Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News.
All major Australian contests, rules and results, are on the
Contest Section of the WIA website.
wia.org.au/members/contests/about
Dec 1 - 31 Annual Youngsters on the Air (YOTA)
2017
Jan 1 - Dec 31 The Victorian Local Government Award 2017 Challenge
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.
WIA Summer VHF-UHF Field Day Saturday 14 and Sunday the 15th of January.
Ham Radio On The 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
A look at more Northern VK4- Regional Nets
Saturday Evening - Darling Downs Net - VK4WID Net Control - 3587kHz from 0930Z
Sunday Morning - WICEN QLD Net - VK4IQ Net Control - 7075kHz from 2230Z
Sunday Evening - North Queensland Net - VK4WIT Net Control - 3605.4kHz from 0930Z
Sunday Evening - Dalby and Districts Net - VK4BAD Net Control - 3585kHz from 1000Z
(tarc)
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Over the past few weeks we have told you of the Santa Operations and in
particular the ELF HUNT
The Elves at OF9X have captured over more than 20,000 QSOs.
When Santa arrives on American soil, activating W1/OF9X from New Hampshire he
then will be boarding his sleigh, say goodbye to America as W7/OF9X from
Tacoma, Washington State. Working Santa from these two U.S. locations adds
25 points each to the Santa Award program, as compensation for Mother Nature's
poor propagation.
Please check QRZ.com for the latest details at www.qrz.com/db/of9x
Oh and Santa can talk to you and your children daily, starting at 20:00 UTC,
via video/audio streaming at the link we like in this weeks text edition of
Australian Amateur Radio News on wia.org.au
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChAyOCitjGNMyHf6hJTXZBQ/live
The popular Elf-Hunt has put hundreds of DXers in arms, going for all band
slots on a variety of bands; see Clublog for the current scoring situation
https://secure.clublog.org/charts/?c=OF9X#r
As an interest point here in OCEANIA:
First place is VK2KJJ and 2nd is VK3EW
(Sourced to SouthGate)
Matt, VK1MA will be active as VK9NM from Norfolk Island, IOTA reference OC-005,
until the 26th December. Unforunately you can't QSL via the bureau but can
use Logbook of The World.
The Treaty of the Danish West Indies
A special event throughout 2017 celebrates the 100th anniversary of the
United States Virgin Islands.
The EDR HAM Radio Club of Skanderborg will use the callsign OZ100DVI
from January 1 until December 31.
In marks the centenary the Treaty of the Danish West Indies, sold to the
USA and renamed the Virgin Islands.
OZ100DVI will be on all bands and include SOTA activity from Saint
Thomas Island on the Lake Skanderborg.
Further information is on the website qrz.com
The Holy Land DX Group will be active as 4X07W from around 07.00 GMT on
23rd December until 12.00 on the 24th. They will operate SSB and CW with
two stations from the Israel National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site
of Beit Guvrin. QSL via 4Z5LA.
Robert, DU7ET operates as 4F7OC from Negros Island, WLOTA 3568, between
15th December and 15th January. QSL via DU7ET.
During the weekends in December and January, members of the radio clubs
PueblaDX and AREPAC plan to activate IOTA groups NA-221 and NA-224 with
the call XF2L. QSL via XE1SOV.
LAST CALL GENTLEMEN
The Liechtenstein Radio Amateur Society, AFVL has been celebrating its 30th
anniversary during 2016. The special event station HB 0 AFVL is available
on the air until the end December and contacts will be confirmed by a special
QSL card.
The Wild Atlantic Way
Irish radio amateurs will be on the air in 2017 with special callsigns
along a west coast tourism route that passes through nine counties and
three provinces.
The Wild Atlantic Way is 2,500 km long on the rugged coast overlooking
the Atlantic Ocean.
Some nine callsigns EI 11WAW through to EI 99 WAW will be tied to an
Irish county, each offer a special QSL card and award.
Information on the year-long event that starts on January 1, is on the
websites qrz.com and the Irish Radio Transmitters Society.
MEDIA WATCH
Who and Where are our broadcast stations?
http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
Remember VK2WI News will be a morning only transmission with the usual
morning line up - VK1WIA followed by VK2 News plus the ARRL DX News.
The transmissions will be at 10 am EDST being Xmas Day, New Years Day and the
8 th January. The evening transmissions resume on Sunday the 15 th January .
RAOTC MEDIA ADVICE:-
Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW
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 !
73 from Clive VK6CSW.
EXTRACTED FROM VK4s QNEWS:-
"We wish you a Merry Christmas from the team at the QNews Desk.
Hello, I'm Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I've been thinking.
Mid summer in Australia and we celebrate one of the great cultural
festivals of the Western cultures. Christmas has a symbolism that sets
out to marvel at the miracle of birth. Some how, it is also time for people
to indulge in practices that are part of the seven deadly sins.
The commercialism that used to ring the cash register bells has been
sustained by the tap and go selling of items given to show relationships
and love. The feasting that brings people to the table suggests a bonhomie
that is some times missing and suggests a world of plenty to celebrate.
Sadly, the festive spirit tempts some people into behaviour that is dangerous
and there will be empty chairs at the table and presents left beside the tree.
We want all listeners to have the warmth of the wishes that Christmas carries,
friendship and companionship and a sense of belonging. We wish you all the
good things that you wish for yourself but above all we want you and yours
to be safe this holiday period.
When the table is cleared, may the DX roll in and the bands be filled with
sounds of happy amateurs. May the gifts of this season last for another year
and more and let us all meet again for the New Year.
I'm Geoff Emery and that's what I think....how about you?
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS:-
CW
FISTS Club - East Asia www.feacw.net
FISTS Club - Australasia www.fistsdownunder.org
FISTS Club - UK & Europe www.fists.co.uk
FISTS Club - Americas www.fists.org
Morse code club lifts its profile
The callsign VK2FDU for FISTS Down Under has been on the air for six months
with it operated portable by members who had a lot of fun.
So far it has been activated in VK2, VK3, VK4 and VK5 on a roster basis of
usually a week with nine taking up the offer.
The same VK2FDU callsign program will be used in 2017 and roster slots are
available. Maybe the club's other callsign ZL6FF in New Zealand will join the
move.
The FISTS Down Under club runs two evening nets, the CW Net on Tuesday by
Arthur VK2ASB and the QRS Net (Slow Morse) on Wednesday from Garry VK2GAZ.
The FISTS CodeMate initiative is available to help anyone learn or improve
their CW skills.
The URLs for more information is in the text edition of this broadcast.
New FISTS website: http://www.fdu.org.au
VK member volunteers for VK2FDU: http://www.fdu.org.au/contact_committee.php
VK2FDU log: http://fdu.org.au/vk2fdu_log.php
Club net details: http://www.fdu.org.au/club_nets.php
FISTS CodeMate: http://www.fdu.org.au/codemate.php
(Jim Linton VK3PC)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER
AO-73/FUNcube Holiday Transponder Operation
The AO-73/FUNcube plan for the Holidays is to switch to continuous transponder
mode on Wed 22 Dec pm UTC, and revert back to auto transponder switching on
Sunday 8 Jan 2017 ppm UTC.
Have FUN with the transponder.
(AMSAT NA)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS
A Youth Net meets Saturdays at 0100 UTC on IRLP Reflector #2.
Young Hams Net 3.590 - 7:30pm Victorian time.
http://www.ham-yota.eu/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/youngstersontheair
http://www.arrl.org/youth-nets
The special callsign GB 16 YOTA is on the air to introduce and promote amateur
radio to young people throughout December.
If you hear GB16YOTA on the air please give them a call, as you might well be
giving a young person their first-ever taste of amateur radio.
(rsgb)
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - LOW DOWN
Sub 9 kHz Yahoo Group:- https://groups.yahoo.com/group/sub9khz/
The Alexander Association has announced that it plans to have Alexanderson
alternator transmitter SAQ on the air for its traditional Christmas Eve
transmission.
The 200 kW Alexanderson alternator will transmit on 17.2 kHz on the morning
of Christmas Eve, December 24, starting with transmitter tune-up at around
0730 UTC.
The message transmission will take place at 0800 UTC.
"Since the plant is old, there is always the risk that the transmission
will be cancelled on short notice," the Association said in an announcement.
Repairs following an early October fire in the longwave antenna, attributed
to arcing, had put the Christmas Eve transmission in jeopardy this year.
Dating from the 1900s, the Alexanderson alternator essentially an
ac generator run at extremely high speed can put out 200 kW but typically
is operated at less than one-half that power level. Once providing reliable
transatlantic communication, it is now a museum piece and only put on the air
on special occasions. It was built in the 1920s.
Christmas Eve activity will also take place on Amateur Radio frequencies
from SK6SAQ on or about 7.035 and 14.035 MHz (CW).
(arrl)
Still low down but not as far as 17.2 kHz is a spot on 486 kHz worth trying for.
Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, of Virginia, will once again put his 600-meter
experimental station on the air for a Christmas Eve commemorative transmission.
The transmissions from WI 2 XLQ on 486 kHz will mark the 110th anniversary
of Reginald Fessenden's first audio broadcast on the airwaves. Historic
accounts say Fessenden played the violin or a recording of violin music and
read a brief Bible verse. It's been reported that other radio experimenters
and shipboard operators who heard Fessenden's broadcast were astounded.
A run-up to the event starting at around mid-day Eastern Time on Friday,
December 23. The "official" Christmas event will begin on Christmas Eve,
Saturday, December 24, at 0001 UTC and will continue for at least 24 hours.
For his transmitter in 1906, Fessenden usedan ac alternator modulated by
placing carbon microphones in series with the antenna feed line.
Justin's WI2XLQ on-air operations coincide with dates in early radio history
as a way to recognize and honor some of the earliest wireless pioneers and
their achievements.
Send listener reports directly to Brian Justin, WA1ZMS.
(arrl)
SOCIAL SCENE 2017
Feb 26th Central Coast Field Day, WYONG enter at 8:30am (dd5lp)
What's special, that's happening in February on the Central Coast of New South
Wales, Australia? Not only is it the largest gathering of Radio Amateurs in
the southern hemisphere it's also the fieldday celebrating SIXTY years of the
Central Coast ARC!
Yes you heard right, the CCARC has been going for 60 years providing services
for amateurs north of Sydney and for those passing through, with it's VHF,
UHF and TV repeaters, as well as all of the usual welcoming events at the
club nights and contest participation.
The CCARC will celebrate its anniversary later in the year, but as always the
first priority in the new year is the Fieldday at Wyong. This year the times
have changed a little, so please make a note that gates open to the Public at
8:30am with traders and exhibitors allowed in from 7 am to set-up.
Entry to the Field day costs $10 per person with those under 17 getting free
access to the event.
Something special in this anniversary year - Flea market sellers only need to
pay the general admission fee of $10 per head, with no additional fees. So if
you want to finally sell all that radio and electronics gear that has been
cluttering up the shack for ages, load up the car or truck and head to Wyong
on the 26th. February 2017.
There will be the usual raffle with some great prizes again this year and
we've even ordered some great weather - so make sure your plans include a trip
to the largest radio rally in the southern hemisphere on Sunday the 26th. of
February 2017 at Wyong Racecourse.
You can drive easily to Wyong, or take the train. If you have difficulties
walking there's even a free shuttle bus from the railway station to the event.
Plan to come - you'll regret it if you miss this one!
Full details and under cover trader and exhibitor application forms are
available at the usual website - FIELDDAY.ORG.AU.
This is Ed DD5LP/VK2JI for the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club.
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)
Nov 12 VK5 Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society Hamfest 8am (vk5kc)
AHARS Hamfest Goodwood Community Centre, Rosa St, Goodwood
Trading tables for secondhand goods. Sellers $10 a table.
Entry for buyers $5.
Commercial traders, door prizes, food and drinks.
Contact Roy vk5nrg@wia.org.au or David vk5kc@wia.org.au
'TWAS THE END OF THIS WEEK'S NEWSCAST
We thank Amateur Radio Newsline for this little gift to our listeners,
and we preface this gift with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, author
of the classic "Night Before Christmas."
We hope you enjoy it and give it a good signal report.
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the shack
The rig was turned off and the mic cord lay slack
The antenna rotor had made its last turn, the tubes in the linear had
long ceased to burn.
I sat there relaxing and took off my specs, preparing to daydream of
Armchair DX
When suddenly outside I heard such a sound, I dashed out the door to see
what was around.
The moon shone down brightly and lighted the night. For sure propagation
for the low bands was right.
I peered toward the roof where I heard all the racket and there was some
guy in a red, fur-trimmed jacket!
I stood there perplexed in a manner quite giddy: Just who WAS this
stranger? di di dah dah di dit?
He looked very much like an FCC guy who'd come to check up on some bad TVI.
I shouted to him: "OM! QRZ?"
"Hey you by the chimney all dressed up in red!"
I suddenly knew when I heard sleigh bells jingle
The guy on the rooftop was Jolly Kris Kringle
He had a big sack full of amateur gear which was a big load for his
prancing reindeer.
Transmitters, receivers, for cabinets and racks
Some meters and scopes and a lot of co-ax.
He said not a word 'cause he'd finished his work.
He picked up his sack and he turned with a jerk.
As he leaped to his sleigh, he shouted with glee
And I knew in a moment he'd be QRT.
I heard him transmit as he flew o'er the trees
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all seven-three."
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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Thanks to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who utilize their time
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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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National News compiled by VK4BB on behalf of the National WIA.
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