|
|
2020 MAY 10 - VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA
---------------------------------------------------------------------*
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
wia.org.au click news in member area & submit your audio
Please... If you are only submitting text and not audio, NEVER send
just links & url's but write your story as you would expect to hear
it being read back.
Click the links below to download the most recent edition of
National News, BUT this is ONLY the backup site!
wiaq.org.au/ftp/wianews_128.mp3 (28 megs)
wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/ (This is the link
to the original text version and original audio on wia site)
THIS LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN
tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
---------------------------------------------------------------------*
NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING MAY 10 - 2020
IN OUR 25th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS
This week comes from Tasmania yes, VK7 who are social disctancing like the rest
Australia although it's a little easier here given we have a natural moat around
this island HIHI!
If COVID-19 hadn't struck then you would have all been down here in VK7 enjoying
the WIA Annual Conference weekend - with the theme of Antarctic Gateway, Oh well!
It is a very different world we are living in at the moment and it will more than
likely be a very different world going forward. Rest assured that amateur radio seems
to be one of the hobbies that has been able to flourish in these "iso" times.
The airways are a buzz with activity and clubs are using online resources like zoom and
skype to provide services to their members and the WIA has been providing to clubs
conference facilities via the Google Meet and Hangouts platform.
The ARRL also reports that demand for amateur radio assessment services has risen 700% since
the start of the pandemic.
Many National societies have been promoting different campaigns during the pandemic like
the Radio Society of Great Britain.
The RSGB as part of their "Get on the air to care" campaign, the
May edition of RadCom has been made available to radio amateurs
around the world to read online as a sample edition.
A number of IARU national societies have taken a similar step and
the RSGB is happy to join those societies in supporting the
worldwide amateur radio community during these difficult times.
You can find it on rsgb.org/sampleradcom
WIA Board
Not a WIA Member? details email nationaloffice@wia.org.au
OR the link on bottom right of wia.org.au
wia.memnet.com.au/MemberSelfService/NewMemberForm/WIA/NewMemberForm.aspx
WIA board minutes can be found on wia.org.au click
WIA Information.
Directors follow
Greg VK2GPK (President), Peter VK8ZZ (Secretary),
Aidan VK4APN (VP Retires coming AGM)
Lee Moyle VK3GK
Philip Shields VK2CPR
Oscar Reyes VK3TX
A reminder that the revised date for the WIA Annual General Meeting for
2020 will be a hybrid meeting to be held on 25th July 2020 at the National
Office in BAYSWATER VIC with due restraint as to the COVID-19 restrictions.
And more details will be made available soon
(WIA Secretary)
---------------------------------------------------------------------*
WIA Annual Conference 2021
Whilst on postponements and revised dates we can now announce the dates for the
WIA Annual Conference in 2021.
The dates will be April 30th to May 2nd 2021 and as announced earlier the
conference will be held in Hobart Tasmania - second time lucky!
This will allow for rebooking of airfares within the 12 month rebooking limit
that most airlines have imposed. This also applies to the bookings made on the
Spirit of Tasmania ferries.
We are currently revising the format of the conference to bring the technical
presentations all into one stream so no-one misses out on a presentation. This will
involve some revision of the when things occur on the Saturday so, watch this space.
Do you have some ideas or would like to see something at the 2021 WIA Annual Conference,
then please get in contact with the Organising committee at email:
wia2021conference@gmail.com
(WIA Annual Conference Organising Committee)
---------------------------------------------------------------------*
INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club,
ARRL, RAC, NZART AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE & the World Wide sources of
the WIA.
NORWAY
Amateur Radio Exams 'Al-fresco'
Local radio amateur club LA3F, south of Oslo, had just completed its
annual course for would-be radio-amateurs. The latest 3 participants
were just ready for their exam when the corona virus struck.
Norway started to shut down activities and meetings for an
indefinite period.
A normal exam was not possible due to the strict rules of physical
distance and limitations on the number of people who could meet.
So in order to get these 3 new amateurs on board, LA2RR, Ole, agreed
with the Norwegian regulator to hold an outdoor exam where all
guidelines could be obeyed, after all 2 meters matters.
Armed with all the necessary paperwork and with Antibac for hand
disinfection, he meet with the three candidates in the forest
outside the local scout cottage. Here, in the open air, there are
tables a minimum of 5 m apart, so with just the four of them, it was
“corona safe” to hold the written exam.
Although early spring in Norway, the temperature was around
10 degrees Celsius and everybody had dressed warmly so that the
temperature out in the forest could not be used as an excuse should
any of them fail. Ole is happy to report that all 3 candidates
passed and we can all welcome LA5EUA, LB8QI and LB8RI to the
wonderful world of wireless.
IRELAND
Last Wednesday week, EI 4 GNB in Ireland managed to complete a
digital FT8 contact with LY 2 YR on 40.220 MHz on the new
8-metre band.
Not only was this an EI-LY first but it was also the very first
contact made between any two countries on the band.
The distance was approximately 2,039 kms and propagation was
Sporadic-E.
It should be noted that while Lithuania does not have an official
allocation at 40 MHz, the licensing authorities in the country have
kindly given LY 2 YR special permission to carry out experiments on
the spot frequencies.
Continuing with International News from the USA
WHAT GOES UP - SOMETIMES CAN'T GET DOWN.
66-year-old man rescued from ham radio tower
Firefighters were called to rescue a 66-year-old man who was stuck
on a friend's amateur radio mast in South Dakota
The man, was stuck about 20-feet above ground and the Sheriff’s
office says his arm was pinned under a retractable part of the tower.
A high angle rescue was performed and the jaws of life were then
used on the tower to free the man’s arm. He was NOT wearing safety
equipment and he was there helping a friend do some work on the
hobbyists tall 'tower of power.'
Watch a short video of the news report on the link in the
text edition.
newscenter1.tv/66-year-old-man-rescued-from-ham-radio-tow
Contest University, a staple of Dayton Hamvention, will take place
online this year through the Zoom video platform, and all sessions
will be free.
You can register on contestuniversity.com
Live Contest University sessions via Zoom will get under way on the
14th of May at 1245 UTC; these will also be recorded and archived.
--------------------------------------------------------------------*
HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT
The VK SHIRES the June long weekend, which is the weekend
June 6 - 7
Trent VK4TS has sent the WIA National News some
COVID 19 RULES VARIATIONS
NO MULTI OP
NO ROVER
REPEAT QSOS EVERY 4 HOURS
8 HOUR CATEGORY (MUST NOMINATE 2X 4 HR)
START TIME 00:00 UTC 24 Hours
ALL HF CONTEST BANDS 160,80,40,20,15,10
wia.org.au/members/contests/wavks/
--------------
IARU HF World Championship July 13-14
--------------
TRANS TASMAN LOWBAND CONTEST
Next contest - 17 JUL - and has the aim of encouraging
Low Band activity between VK and ZL on 160 80 and 40M using
SSB, CW and RTTY OR PSK
--------------
RD or Remembrance Day Contest will be August 15 - 16
--------------
OCEANA CONTEST
VOICE from 0800 UTC Saturday October 3 to 0800 UTC Sunday October 4
CW from 0800 UTC Saturday October 10 to 0800 UTC Sunday October 11
--------------
Continuing with Ham Radio Operational News
WIA DX Awards Leaderboard competition concludes for 2019.
This annual VK-only competition is designed as a friendly competition
to determine how well participants are performing compared to their
peers. It is intended to encourage participation in DX’ing and
hopefully inspire operators to improve their knowledge of propagation,
try new techniques, build better stations, and improve their
operating skills…..in other words - to become a better DX’er.
Congratulations to all winners and place getters, who are entitled
to a Certificate. First-place winners are also entitled to purchase
a crystal plaque.
First place getters in some 12 possible categories were shared
between just 4 operators:-
VK3BDX
VK2DX
VK2FBAG
VK7CW and any wonder with a call like that Steve VK7CW did take out
the CW section!
The chase now re-starts for 2020. Good luck!
(Graham Alston, VK3GA, WIA DX Awards Manager)
wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2020/20200430-1/index.php
--------------
All major AUSTRALIAN contests, rules and results, are on the
Contest Section of the WIA website.
***********************
AUSTRALIA, Station VI 250 COOK commemorates Captain James Cook's
voyage on HMS Endeavour along Australia's east coast with activity
to August 31. For QSL information see qrz.com.
--------------
Members and operators of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition
team will be active as 8 J 1 RL from Showa Research Station,
Queen Maud Land (AN-015), until January 2021.
Activity will be on various HF bands using CW and the Digital modes.
QSL via JG 2 MLI or by the JARL Bureau.
--------------
CHILE, Stay-At-Home station 3 G 2 HOME is now QRV.
Activity has been mainly on 20 meter CW. QSL via LoTW only.
--------------
AFRICA, 5 Z 4 STAYHOME
--------------
ISRAEL, Stay-At-Home station 4 X 2 BESAFE until August 12.
Activity will be on various HF bands.
QSL via 4Z1TL.
--------------
JAMAICA, is supporting the COVID-19 Stay-At-Home event as
6 Y 6 STAYHOME and activity has been heard on 40 meters.
QSL via EA 5 GL.
--------------
THAILAND, E 2 STAYHOME
---------------------------------------------------------------------*
Continuing with Ham Radio Operational News
Summer VHF/UHF Field Day Result Released
Roger Harrison VK2ZRH the "interim" manager of the VHF/UHF Field Day contest lets
us know about thes results.
The overriding aim of this contest is to get away for the weekend and have fun!
But next after that, the aims are to encourage more activity on VHF and microwave
bands; to encourage people to work greater distances than usual by operating portable,
and to provide opportunities for people to activate or work into new grid squares.
In the contest there were 95 logs from 92 stations from all states and territories
except VK8.
There were eight multi-operator portable stations and all bands were activated from
50MHz through 122GHz.
Congratulation to all who participated and put in the effort to go portable and
operate on these challenging bands.
Given this broadcast is coming from VK7 today I have to mention the longest contact was
on 6m over a distance of 1881 Km betweeen VK4WIS and VK7OTC/P, on ya guys!
Last weekend was the Harry Angel Memorial SPrint contest and from the numbers being handed
out there was some great participation in this short fire 80m contest.
73 from Justin for the WIA National News.
---------------------------------------------------------------------*
HAM RADIO HISTORICAL NEWS
The fascinating history of the Oceania DX Contest.
A reminder that the 2020 Oceania DX Contest will be held on 3 & 4 October for
phone and 10 & 11 October for CW between 0600z Saturday and 0600z Sunday see
the full rules at the link on the email edition of this broadcast.
http://www.oceaniadxcontest.com/
We can be proud that this is one of the oldest contests in Amateur Radio. In 1934
the Victorian Division of the WIA organized an international radio contest to celebrate
the Centenary of the founding of Melbourne. It was organized under the leadership of
Bob Cunningham, VK3ML.
Prizes were more than plaques and certificates. First prize was an RCA 852 tube!
Other prizes included more tubes and some meters.
The following are some great quotes from AR Magazine of the time......
"The enthusiasm of VK3ML is contagious!"
“My " the ether just reeks of DX " take a large breath and sample it! Taste those G’s
( they go well for breakfast as one author once said), those F’s, W’s, YI’s etc? They
are our meat for October, so go to it and polish up that gear and start working DX just to
get the “atmosphere” prior to the big event,”
The event was held over four Saturdays in October.
It was such a success that the WIA was encouraged to join with the NZART to create the
VK/ZL International DX contest in 1935. This new contest was again organized by VK3ML
and a committee. They created a serial number system similar to those in some sprint
contests now.
In those days’ contacts were not usually on the same frequency. That rather stops the
technique of listening to the number given out by the CQ’ing station on the previous
contact and just adding one! It is also pre-computer!
The contest was again held over four weekends in October - Saturday 1700gmt to
Sunday 1700gmt! Contacts could only be made once on each weekend but could repeat up
to four times over the month.
Only one mistake was made in the rules. They wanted to encourage 28MHz activity so
offered a 500 point bonus for 28MHz contacts. However, they were unclear whether this
was a one-off bonus for just the first contact on the band or was a bonus of 500 for
each and every 28MHz contact made. This was made even more critical as the band opened
very well and some stations made a lot of contacts all over the world. VK4BB made 61
contacts on 28 and in that were W,J,F,ON and G callsigns.
The largest number of receiving logs came from Germany. I wonder if this was part of
radio training for the developing military!
The goal of the contest was achieved. It is the same as our current goal for the Oceania
Contest. Get the rest of the world to look for stations down this way so that we can
make more contacts over long distances.
Everything then was hand keyed CW, homemade equipment and limited antennas. All logging
was done by hand with possibly the odd typewriter in use. Mostly you called CQ for a
while then tuned the band to see if anyone was calling you.
Compare that to today where even cheap secondhand transceivers are capable of performance
the boys and girls in 1935 could not even dream would happen. We can connect our equipment
to a computer so that the frequency is automatically logged. There are a number of support
logging programmes to make operating in the Oceania contest a pleasure not a chore.
http://www.oceaniadxcontest.com/software.htm
Motivation for operating a contest is as varied as the human beings that enter! Some try
to work new DX, new countries, new islands, and so on. Others are just happy to make
contacts; contests make sure that a lot of people are on at the same time. This often
creates the magic of bands opening that had seemed to be closed. Some want to win.
To win overall, to win their section, to win their state or beat last year’s score.
Join us in October, handing out serial numbers and making contacts.
How you get on is less important than having fun! This is a hobby that has many facets
there is always something you can do.
and that came from Martin Luther VK7GN, thanks Martin.
--------------------------------------------------
WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS ATV
arvideonews.com
hamradiotube.com
youtube.com
qdg.org.au
tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN
New SSTV software
Eugenio EA 1 ADA reports that YONIQ, a modern version of the popular
Slow Scan TV software MMSSTV, is now available and just some of the
improvements include:
• Both English and Spanish languages supported
• Equipment control through the Omni-Rig system
• Independent memory system
• Download data directly from QRZ.com
• Improved image reception settings
Download from the link in our text edition of WIA National News.
radiogalena.es/yoniq/
( look for "Descarga de MMSSTV 1.13 YONIQ" )
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - WOMEN IN RADIO.
The Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association held their AGM
last Monday night, and it was well attended. It was pleasing
to welcome back a couple of members who we haven't heard on air
for a while.
A special vote of thanks was given to Jean VK 5 TSX, who was
stepping down from the position of Secretary after eight years.
She will continue in the role of 24 years as VK5 State Rep.
President Linda Luther VK7QP presented Jean with a "virtual"
certificate of appreciation, and the real thing will be presented
to her as soon as the monthly lunches can start again.
The following Nominations were accepted, and will form the
ALARA Committee for 2020/2021
President: Yours truly Linda Luther VK7QP
Vice President: Shirley Tregellas VK5YL
Secretary/Minute Secretary: Tina VK5TMC
Treasurer/Souvenir Custodian: Catherine VK7GH
Editor & Sponsorship Secretary: Tina VK5TMC
Award Custodian: Marilyn VK5DMS
Contest Manager: Sue Southcott VK5AYL
Web mistress Lyn VK4SWE
Publicity Officer: Jenny Wardrop VK3WQ
State Reps:
VK1/2: Dot VK2DB,
VK3: Jean VK3VIP,
VK4: Lyn VK4SWE,
VK5/8 Jean VK5TSX,
VK6: Bev Hebiton VK6DE, and in
VK7: Myself Linda Luther VK7QP.
The Positions of Historian and Librarian are still vacant.
Volunteers welcome
73/33 from Linda VK7QP President of ALARA
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
RS-44 amateur radio transponder activated almost 4 months after being
launched into orbit
This is an amateur radio linear transponder (SSB/CW) payload on-board
Russian satellite DOSAAF-85 (RS-44).
It's a small scientific satellite named after the 85th anniversary
of the Voluntary Society for the Assistance to the Army, Aviation
and Navy, the organization responsible for the military training of
Soviet youth.
It features a hexagonal prism structure with body mounted solar
cells.
Transmitter power - 5 watts
Beacon: 435.605 MHz - transmits call sign RS44
Inverting transponder:
Earth-to-Space: 145.965 MHz +/- 30 kHz
Space-to-Earth: 435.640 MHz +/- 30 kHz
(Southgate)
Redesigned AMSAT CubeSat Simulator "Launched."
A new design for the CubeSatSim, the AMSAT CubeSat Simulator is now
available.
cubesatsim.org/code
The CubeSatSim is a Raspberry Pi Zero W-based functional model of a
“1U” CubeSat nano-satellite for demonstrations and educational
outreach. It has a 3D-printed frame structure and is designed to act,
as reasonably as possible, as one flying in Low Earth Orbit.
The simulator runs on rechargeable battery power and solar panels
and transmits its authentic voltage, current, and temperature
telemetry on our UHF band.
The CubeSatSim has been presented at the AMSAT Space Symposium the
past two years and at Hamvention last year.
(ANA)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA
www.iota-world.org
IOTA Contest 2020
RSGB have announced that the annual Islands on the Air Contest, which
takes place the weekend of July 25 / 26, will go ahead this year,
however, in line with 'Stay at Home' guidance to minimise the impact
of Covid-19, the 2020 contest will be exclusively for Single Operators
using their home stations.
Also, RSGB will not be awarding trophies this year, but downloadable
certificates will be available to winners. Another rules amendment
for 2020 is that the sending of a signal report in every QSO is
mandatory, a change from the 2019 rules which indicated that a
signal report was optional.
(IRTS)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO
IARU REGION 3
Emergency Centre of Activity (CoA) frequencies
3.600, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz
IARU Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz
IARU Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360 kHz
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ROAR
ROTARIANS OF AMATEUR RADIO
website: www.ifroar.org
email: webmaster@ifroar.org
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/RotariansROAR/
0645z - 0730z ANZO Net 7.118 (varies due to propagation)
0730z - 0830z International net 14.293 (varies due to propagation)
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ROTA
ROTA Recipes On The Air
ROTA is the one and only World Wide Recipe Swapping Net.
To start cooking, tune your radio to the Twenty Meter Band and
14.183 MHz, 0630 UTC Mondays straight after the ANZA Net.
Fun on the air swapping information about recipes or favourite
ingredients, listen for the gastronomic cue from Lyn VK4SWE.
( theTARCinc via SouthGate )
--------------------------------------------------------------------*
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- MEDICAL
Does contesting and searching for special event calls raise your
blood pressure?
World Pulmonary Hypertension Day went live on ham radio this past week.
Special event station W2H was active to promote World PH Day taking
place May 5 and although World PH Day fell on May 5 in North America,
the station went live May 4 through May 6 so people could tune in
from every time zone.
phassociation.org/when-old-technology-is-new-again-world-ph-day-goes-live-on-ham-radio/
(SouthGate)
--------------------------------------------------------------------*
FINAL FINAL
Reception Reports
WIA News rebroadcasters often give Short Wave Listeners a
welcome to the broadcast as they commence call-backs
straight after the Local News. Local news follows the National news
in all states. It would be great if those SWL's would email their
reception reports and location to callbacks@wia.org.au
2020 Social Scene
KEEP ONE WAVELENGTH AWAY AT 144 Megacycles
#2MetersMatters
Due to the COVID-19 situation, please check these events'
direct for up-to-date status information.
2020
VK7 - VK7 biennial HamFest November (vk7tw)
VK4 - Rockhampton Amateur Radio Annual Dinner Sat Nov 21 (tarc)
VK4 - TARC Xmas Party - Sun 13th December from 2pm (tarc)
VK4 - TARC Xmas Lights Tour - Fri 18th December from 7pm (tarc)
2021
VK2 - WYONG FIELD DAY (tentative) February 28 (vk4zz)
VK - WIA Annual Conference Hobart April 30 - May 2 (vk7tw)
VK - ALARAMEET 2021 Bendigo October 1 - 4 (vk5yl)
And this has been Justin VK7TW and the VK7 National News team wishing you 73
for the coming week and remember stay safe and keep one wavelength apart at
144 MHz.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
KEEP ONE WAVELENGTH AWAY AT 144 Megacycles
Submitting news items
If you would like to submit news items for possible inclusion in the
VK1WIA broadcasts, please email your item in text to
nationalnews@wia.org.au and don't JUST send url's links or posters,
but take the time to pen YOUR contribution.
To submit audio email nationalnews@wia.org.au and ask for the current
password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on
wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/
We would appreciate items certainly no longer than 1.5 minutes in
length as we only have a half hour.
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 it in the 3rd person. (First if YOU are reading your own item)
A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't plug
DEALS from commercial traders "on air", but we at the WIA will put
your supporters 'goods' in this text edition "no worries."
We cannot give blatant 'plugs' to raffles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------*
=====================================================================
WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide.
TWITTER 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?
wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/
The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of interest to
WIA affiliated clubs and 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 IF broadcast, are done so 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...
If you have call-backs to contribute to the National News call back
tally then please send through your call-backs to
callbacks@wia.org.au
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 from. Send unsubscribe 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------*
|
|
