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2020 DECEMBER 13 VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA
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THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK
THIS LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN
tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
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NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING DECEMBER 13 2020
IN OUR 25th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS.
60 METERS A BIG NO FOR VK AMATEURS.
THIS & MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE
WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
WIA
JOIN THE WIA
tinyurl.com/yyj87b9y
WIA BOARD MINUTES
wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/minutes/
WIA BOARD NEWSLETTERS (older)
Giving members to have a better awareness of Board activities.
wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/newsletters/
NO LONGER DEE-FENCE
No longer are we sitting "on de fence" awaiting an outcome as
to wether we get to use all or channelised access to the
5 MHz band.
NEITHER !
On 7th December 2020, ACMA released their decision and I quote.
Submissions supporting Option 4, which opposed amateur use
of the band, were received from the Department of Defence
and 2 others. Defences public submission did not support
an allocation, on the basis that:
'this frequency band is already experiencing spectrum
congestion, which adversely affects critical Defence
capabilities. Therefore, Defence cannot accept further
increase of spectrum congestion by the introduction of
Amateur services.
The Department of Defence also provided NON-PUBLIC information
to the ACMA to further support their position.
In considering spectrum use, the ACMA considers the objects
of the Radiocommunications Act 1992. This includes
making adequate provision for use by agencies involved in
the defence or national security of Australia. "
"In balancing the existing uses of the 5351.55366.5 kHz band
against the impacts of introducing use by the amateur service,
the ACMA has decided not to support amateur use in the band.
When asking WIA Secretary and President for a comment for this
weeks WIA news and how it may effect VKE 850, VK2GK Greg Kelly
President wrote " No effect on existing relay channels on 5MHz
These are commercial channels. Regards Greg. "
The WIA news transmission using the callsign VKE580 has been
added to provide linking for manual relay stations. Callbacks
cannot be taken on this frequency as it is currently a
Commercial frequency allocation.
5425 KHztransmission is Upper Sideband (contrary to normal
amateur practice below 10MHz)
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate
AR Club, ARRL, RAC, NZART AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE & the
World Wide sources of the WIA.
NEW ZEALAND
Radiocommunications Regulations, General User Radio Licence
for Short Range Devices, Notice 2020 is in force in ZL.
The General user radio licence for short range devices
notice has been updated and includes:
A new provision to permit the use of the frequency range
0.1485 30 MHz for wireless power transfer systems and
induction loop systems used to detect foreign objects.
A new provision to permit the use of the frequency range
13.553 13.567 MHz for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
transmitters.
JAPAN
An inferno that raged recently at a major audio-semiconductor
factory in Japan is expected to have a stifling effect on the
supply chain for both professional audio and upscale consumer
audio components, including amateur radio equipment as you'll
hear in this report from our editor Graham, VK4BB who filed
this story originally for Amateur Radio NewsLine
"The three-day blaze consumed the AKM factory over an 82-hour
period in late October. By the time firefighters got it under
control, the building was so damaged that operations had to
be shut.
AKM is known for its DACs and ADCs - the digital-to-analogue
converter chips and analogue-to-digital converter chips - used
in the music and film industries and in radios.
SemiMedia, a news source for the semiconductor industry,
reported that production of the chips is not likely to
resume for at least six months, prompting companies reliant
on AKM to anticipate being caught short. In November however
AKM issued a statement saying it plans to work with
cooperating manufacturers and will prepare to outsource its
production of the chips. A report in SemiMedia noted that
despite this: [quote] "Industry insiders said that the
shortage will be difficult to solve in the short term, which
will become the biggest chip supply difficulty encountered by
the audio industry over the years." [endquote]
AFRICA
The South African Radio League, the S.A.R.L. has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Radio Society of Kenya
(RSK) regarding the radio amateur examination.
This to make use of the technical part of the South African
radio amateur examination by Kenyan hopefuls. RSK will look
after the Regulations part of the exam.
CROATIA
This is the latest country to grant access to the new 40 MHz
band.
Croatia (9A) joins the small number of countries that has
allowed operation on the 8-metre amateur band.
Dragan, 9 A 6 W reports that the national telecom authorities
in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia have given him a one-year
experimental licence to operate from 40.660 MHz to 40.700 MHz
in a slice of spectrum referred to as the Industrial,
Scientific & Medical band.
Croatia is now the fifth country in which it is possible to
operate legally on 40 MHz. Ireland, Slovenia & South Africa
already have allocations on the band while Lithuania is
willing to allocate spot frequencies for experimental purposes
It is hoped that other Croatian stations will follow Dragan's
example and apply for permission to operate on 40 MHz.
ei7gl.blogspot.com/2020/12/new-activity-fr
BELGIUM
'CREDIT' Goes to Belgium Ham Operators and their regulator.
The Ham radio operator licence/certificate is now in the
format of a bank or credit card.
Belgium's communications regulator the BIPT announced
the card will soon be sent to all radio amateurs
tinyurl.com/yh4w8xe
UNITED KINDOM
RSGB AWARDED
We're delighted that this year's Amateur Radio NewsLine's
International Newsmaker of the Year Award has been presented
to the 'Get on the Air to Care' project operated jointly by
the Radio Society of Great Britain and the UK's National
Health Service.
UNITED STATES
FCC Chairman ( Ajit Pai ) intends to leave the Commission
January 20, as the Biden Administration comes into office.
The FCC chairman is appointed by the President.
It has been the honour of a lifetime to serve at the Federal
Communications Commission, including as Chairman of the FCC
over the past 4 years, Pai said. I am grateful to President
Trump for giving me the opportunity to lead the agency in
2017 and to President Obama for appointing me as Commissioner
in 2012, to be the first Asian-American to chair the FCC has
been a particular privilege. As I often say: only in America.
The FCC has five members, typically three from the party in
power in the White House.
CUBA
Havana Syndrome
The mysterious neurological symptoms experienced by American
diplomats in China and Cuba are consistent with the effects
of directed microwave energy, according to a long-awaited
report by the National Academies of Sciences that cites
medical evidence to support the long-held conviction of
American intelligence officials.
Havana syndrome is a set of medical signs and symptoms
experienced by United States and Canadian embassy staff in
Cuba. Beginning in August 2017, reports surfaced that
diplomatic personnel in Cuba had suffered a variety of health
problems, dating back to late 2016.
The U.S. government accused Cuba of perpetrating unspecified
attacks causing these symptoms. The U.S. reduced staff at
their embassy to a minimum in response.
Subsequent studies of the affected diplomats in Cuba,
published in the journal JAMA in 2018, found evidence that
the diplomats experienced some form of brain injury, but did
not determine the cause of the injuries.
Just this week, in December 2020, a study by an expert
committee of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering, and Medicine, commissioned by the State
Department, released its report, concluding that "directed"
microwave radiation was the likely cause of illnesses among
American diplomats in Cuba and China.
youtube.com/watch?v=hmIkaTo5r9c
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HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT
----2020 ----------
For the ARRL 160-Meter Contest which took place last weekend,
December 4 6 UTC, the ARRL Programs and Services Committee
on behalf of the ARRL Board of Directors will award a
new John Devoldere, ON4UN, Memorial Plaque (each year) to
the Single-Operator, High-Power winner.
A giant in the field of low-band DXing and contesting,
ON4UN died November 9. He may be best known outside of his
160-meter activity as the author of the popular ON4UNs
Low-Band DXing.
The initial award will be made for the 2020 edition of the
ARRL 160-Meter CW event.
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DECEMBER 14 - 15 10 Mtr World Wide
----2021-------
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Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF Contest takes place ALL of
January 2021
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VHF-UHF SUMMER FIELD DAY - Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 January.
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CQWW 160M CW CONTEST January 29 - 31.
CQWW 160M SSB CONTEST February 26 - 28.
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CQ World Wide RTTY WPX Contest February 13-14
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International DX CW Contest February 20-21
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International DX Phone Contest March 6 - 7
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WIA John Moyle Field Day 2021
March from UTC 0100 on Saturday 20 to 0059 Sunday 21nd.
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the CQ World Wide SSB WPX Contest March 27-28
the CQ World Wide CW WPX Contest May 29-30
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April 25 AM / CW ANZAC Day, Mon 25th from 9am on 7125kHz AM.
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Harry Angel Sprint will be May First 2021. 10:00 - 11:46 UTC.
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The VK SHIRES the June long weekend, which is the weekend
prior to the second Monday of June each year.. making it
June 12-13 in 2021
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WINTER VHF-UHF Field Days - June 26 - 27
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IARU HF World Championship July 10-11
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TRANS TASMAN LOWBAND CONTEST
Next contest - JUL 17 2021 - 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
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RD or Remembrance Day Contest will be August 14-15.
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OCEANA CONTEST
VOICE from 0800 UTC Saturday 2 October to
0800 UTC Sunday October 3
CW from 0800 UTC Saturday 9 October to
0800 UTC Sunday October 10
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SPRING VHF - UHF FIELD DAYS November 27-28
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December 4-5 160 Meter WW
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DECEMBER 11 - 12 10 Mtr World Wide
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All major AUSTRALIAN contests, rules and results, are on the
Contest Section of the WIA website and looking ahead to
next year 2021 The first Major Aussie test is slated for
January.
That contest is of course the Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF
Contest
The Ross Hull is a DX contest, with points awarded for
distances worked. There are also band multipliers to
encourage activity on the higher bands with the aim of the
contest to encourage and to reward achievement in working
the greatest possible distances on the VHF, UHF and microwave
bands.
The contest was established in 1950 to honour the memory of
the late Ross A. Hull and his pioneering achievements in the
study of tropospheric propagation and the development of new
equipment techniques for the higher bands.
Upcoming Contest Date & Time is the month of January.
Rob Heyer VK2XIC is Contest Manager for the Ross Hull.
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DX WINDOW
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HONOURING RADIO'S FIRST VOICE TRANSMISSION
If you prefer your mic to a straight key or some other device
in your shack, you owe it to inventor Reginald Fessenden to
work this next special event, which celebrates the human
voice.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Kevin Trotman N5PRE lends his 'voice'
to this report.
"When special event station W4F gets on the air later this
month, you can expect to hear operators calling QRZ from their
home stations on all bands and in all modes - but if you can
hear them on AM, that's especially significant.
The Vienna Wireless Society in Virginia is operating in
honour of Reginald Fessenden whose experiments in wireless
telegraphy in the early 20th century led to his development
of a way to transmit the human voice by modulating the radio
wave's amplitude into the shape of a sound wave. That's the
very principle behind AM.
On December 23rd, 1900, the inventor used this technique to
transmit a brief voice message between two stations about a
mile apart on Cobb Island in the Potomac River in Maryland.
Club member Bill Mims W2WCM said that the location is just
south of the club's QTH and the time seemed right to mark
the 120th anniversary of the transmission. He said the idea
was inspired by a recent Monday night VHF net in which the
net control Nancy N1GFV posed a question about the first
wireless voice transmission.
The idea grew from there.
Station W4F will be on the air between the 18th and 24th of
December. There will be a special QSL card for all confirmed
contacts.
HONG KONG
Special call sign VR 2 HK 9O is QRV until May 31, 2021 to celebrate
the 90th anniversary of the Hong Kong Amateur Radio Transmitting
Society. QSL via VR 2 HK.
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UNITED NATIONS, 4U.
Special event station 4U 75 UN is QRV until the end of 2020
celebrating the United Nation's 75th anniversary.
QSL via HB 9 BOU.
(arrl)
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PORTUGAL, CT.
CQ 750 RSI throughout 2021 commemorates the 750th anniversary
of the birth of Elizabeth of Aragon, the queen consort of
Portugal and patron saint of their city of Coimbra.
QSL to home call CT 7 AQD.
--------------
CUBA, CO.
Members of the Radio Club de Caibarien are QRV as T 46 W
until December 29 to commemorate the first transmissions
100 years ago by Cuban radio pioneer Manolin Alvarez.
Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and
various digital modes.
QSL via LoTW.
(SOUTHGATE)
BEACONS
60th Year for GB3VHF
I wonder if this is the world's oldest running beacon?
2m beacon GB3VHF will start its 60th year of operation this
month. ( December) . Located at Fairseat on the North Downs
in Kent, the beacon is on 144.430MHz at a height of 205m ASL.
It provides a propagation monitoring source that can reach
across several countries.
gb3vhf.co.uk
NET ADVICE
North West Tassie 2m DX Net
The N.W. Tassie 2m DX Net operates weekly and is aimed at
encouraging more activity on the 2m band from N.W. VK7
and to encourage stations interstate to listen for Tasmania
on the band.
The net is held every Thursday commencing at 09:30 UTC
on 144.120 USB.
They also have a Facebook group which can be found at the
link we like on the text version of this WIA broadcast.
facebook.com/groups/nwtas2mnet
(VK7WI News)
SANTA ALERT
CANCELL CHRISTMAS !
SAQ Christmas Transmission cancelled
As a result of the prevailing circumstances in our society,
Grimeton World Heritage Foundation & Alexander GVV Friends
Association unfortunately have informed 'SantaAlert' that the
traditional VLF Christmas Eve transmission with SAQ is
cancelled.
They find it sad to have to have made this decision, but see
it as a necessary measure to protect everyone involved. While
waiting for the next transmission with SAQ, there are several
YouTube clips from previous transmissions that you can watch.
They went on to tell us, and I quote "We hope that our old
lady can soon be heard on the air again!"
(SouthGate)
BULGARIA.
LZ 2020 XMAS is QRV until January 1, 2021.
QSL via LZ 1 VKI.
(arrl)
On air Contests and QSO parties etc. often have a particular
type of call, a CQ if you like. CQ - RD Contest or
CQ John Moyle.
This month the "call to call" is "CQ EURAO Party Ho-Ho-Hooo"
The European Radio Amateurs' Organization announces a new
party on the air, this time with the motto:
"catching Christmas stations".
This is not a contest, it is just a radio meeting with a
few simple 'rules', better to call them recommendations.
The tradition of Santa Claus and the spirit of Christmas have
reached the waves in recent years. At this season some
stations with special suffix go on air, like YP 2 XMAS.
Also others with their regular suffix join the event.
Pay attention to their unusual call! And do not miss the
opportunity to participate with children.
December 1st to 31st all modes and frequencies.
That call? : "CQ EURAO Party Ho-Ho-Hooo".
(eura)
Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society are running special
callsigns:-
GB1 XMS
GB2 XMS,
GB5 XMS and
GB9 XMS celebrating Christmas and saying farewell to 2020.
QSL via eQSL and Logbook of The World.
(rsgb)
TM 63 SC, Santa Claus, will be operated by F8DZU until the
30th of December to celebrate this year's Christmas Season.
QSL via home call, direct or bureau.
(rsgb)
Celebrating Christmas and the New Year,
TM 20 XMAS and
TM 21 HNY
QSL via eQSL only
(sourced to rsgb)
Members of the Holy land DX Group will operate 4 X 7 T from
0800 UTC on the 25th ending 1300 UTC the 26th of December.
They will have three running stations on the 80 to 10m bands
using CW, SSB and FT-8.
The QSL Manager is Ros, 4Z5LA.
WICEN Tasmania (South) hold their Christmas BBQ Meeting TODAY
December 13th from Noon at the QTH of VK7TPE in Snug.
Hope QSO parties over Christmas
The first starts Monday week, 21 December.
Second Monday, 4 January 2021.
Each series has two phone, two CW, two RTTY and two FT4 events
For more informationincluding a link to the rulesvisit the
Get on the air for Christmas page at rsgb.org/gota4c.
As part of this RSGB and NHS campaign Get On the Air for
Christmas the NHS amateur radio station GB 1 NHS will be on
air on Sunday, 20 December and Wednesday, 30 December 2020.
The Society is also delighted that Ofcom is supporting the
use of /NHS as a suffix to call signs during the campaign,
which runs from Saturday, 19 December 2020 through to
Saturday, 9 January 2021.
Members of the Finish Market Reef Christmas DX Association
(OH9A gang) will be operating special event station OG1XMAS
on all bands and modes from November 29 to December 26.
(SouthGate)
3 special calls celebrate Christmas BUT no QSL cards.
PA 20 XMAS, PD 20 SANTA and PD20ELF during the Christmas
holiday season NO cards BUT an award for working 2 or more.
( qrz.com/db/PA20XMAS )
theTARCinc 2020 Christmas Party and Monster Auction happens
in just about an hour - 10-30am at the Big Shed,
Girl Guides Camping and Training Centre Bluewater.
Day admission to the centre is $10 per head
A COVID-19 sanitation point and sign-in point will be active
VKCC Christmas Get-Together Norman Hotel Dec 27 (vk4ts)
Here is a heads up for a tropical paradise on-air party for
New Years Eve
theTARCinc will be counting down the minutes and seconds
until 2021 utilising the original Talking Clock and beaming
out on the Townsville VHF Repeater, the Victor Kilo Four Papa
Quebec AllStarLink and Echolink Nodes at Kelso North
Queensland, and the Victor Kilo Four Mike Sierra Sierra
AllStar Link node at Charters Towers North Queensland.
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WIRELESS WEATHER
Sunspot Cycle 25 Strongest Ever
A research paper, "Overlapping Magnetic Activity Cycles and
the Sunspot Number: Forecasting Sunspot Cycle 25 Amplitude,"
by Scott W. McIntosh, Deputy Director of the National Centre
for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, et al., has concluded
that Solar Cycle 25 could be among the strongest sunspot
cycles ever observed, and will almost certainly be stronger
than the just-ended Solar Cycle 24 (sunspot number of 116).
The scientists say it will also most likely be stronger than
Solar Cycle 23 (sunspot number of 180).
(arrl)
MEDIA WATCH
DSTAR & DMR Rebroadcasts Continuing Popularity
WIA National News and VK7 Amateur Radio News are broadcast
on the Tasmania hosted DSTAR Reflector 91 C and regularly get
8-10 call-backs each week from all over the place.
On DMR Talk Group regularly 10-15 call-backs each week.
Clayton VK7ZCR says these numbers are consistent and
demonstrate the strong take-up of the digital modes.
(vk7wi news)
THE QNEWS WORK BENCH - the nuts and volts report
Measure Twice cut Once.
Today on the bench a new Wi-Fi
Let's check out Wi-Fi 6 and the 6-GHz band.
It's important not to confuse Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi in the 6-GHz
band as these are two separate, but interconnected, topics.
Wi-Fi 6 is the Wi-Fi Alliances new consumer-friendly name
for the IEEE 802.11ax standard.
The 802.11ac standard has also been renamed Wi-Fi 5;
802.11n is now Wi-Fi 4.
The purpose of this new naming scheme is to make it easier
for we mere mortals to identify device generations without
remembering the complex 802.11 alphabet soup.
So again Wi-Fi 6 signifies the 802.11ax standard.
Now The Band Plays On. - the 6 GHz band that is
The introduction of the 6-GHz band for Wi-Fi use provides
instant gratification for all Wi-Fi 6 users. With enough
spectrum to safely deploy 80-MHz or 160-MHz-wide channels
and green-field deployments alleviating concerns of
backward compatibility, the 6-GHz frequency band could
become the VIP Lounge for Wi-Fi 6 users, where high throughput
rates and congestion-free network access can be instantly
achieved.
The 6-GHz frequency band, also called mid-band spectrum,
spans 5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz and is divided into four bands.
All in all, Wi-Fi in the 6-GHz band means instant performance
increases for Wi-Fi 6 users. While there are still interference
issues to be resolved, opening up 6-GHz frequency bands for
Wi-Fi seems to be the move to ensure this widely used
wireless technology can deliver the performance needed for
future applications and networks.
( testandmeasurementtips.com )
BTW Wi-Fi 6 is ready for carrier network deployment
The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) has announced the
conclusion of five trial deployments of Wi-Fi 6 across
diverse markets, showing that with wider channels up to
160 MHz and capacity up to 9.6 Gbps it can enable data rates
nearly three times faster than Wi-Fi 5.
Read more:
tinyurl.com/y2cxot3z
(criticalcomms.com.au)
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WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS
ATV (Every pixel tells a story) -
tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos
THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD
BEVAN
BALLOONING
That helium balloon with a GPS tracker launched by the
Pella Amateur Radio Club for Jefferson Intermediate 5th Grade
Science students has just been around the world a second time.
At last report received from KNIA-KRLS radio, the total
flight was at greater than 27 days and still going, which is
by far the longest track for the Pella Exploring Near Space
project, which has featured members of the Pella Amateur Radio
Club interacting with local science classes for several years.
(KNIA)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FEMALES IN RADIO.
Linda, VK7QP the President of ALARA has let us know herself,
along with Shirley VK5YL and other ALARA Ladies are set to
join us NEXT Sunday for the "Just Before Christmas" edition
of this your WIA National News.
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org
Virgin Orbit has announced that the launch window for their
LauncherOne Launch Demo 2 mission opens NEXT Saturday,
December 19.
This launch will carry AMSAT's RadFxSat-2/Fox-1E to orbit.
RadFxSat-2, like RadFxSat/Fox-1B, now AMSAT-OSCAR 91, is a
partnership opportunity between Vanderbilt University and
AMSAT and carries a similar radiation effects experiment,
studying new FinFET technology.
[ANS]
D3 is a mission involving a 2U CubeSat to demonstrate the
performance of a novel drag-based targeted point re-entry
algorithm using repeatedly deployable/retractable drag
surfaces to perform orbital manoeuvres that guarantee
spacecraft re-entry at a pre-defined location.
If successful, the D3 module can be adapted to other Amateur
Radio satellites to ensure consistent re-entry and help reduce
the concentration of space debris.
The mission is run solely by Amateurs with the purpose of
helping future Amateur missions.
A launch to the ISS in September 2021 is hoped for.
adamus-d3-website.herokuapp.com/
(ANS)
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
Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz
Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360 kHz
Neil Fallshaw VK2XNF, tells us how WICEN ACT provided
administration and emergency communications for the
National Capital Car Rally held the last weekend in November.
UHF & VHF repeaters were setup to allow communications from
the forests around Canberra to Rally HQ in Woden. More than
30 amateur radio operators, including two from WICEN NSW,
operated in very challenging weather conditions over 2 days
in the forests as well as Rally HQ.
Events such as this give WICEN operators vital field
experience and training, making them ready when called
upon during emergencies.
For more information go to wicen.org.au
( neil.fallshaw@vrarescue.org )
FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is seeking
telecommunications operator reservists to assist in emergency
recovery efforts on an intermittent, on-call basis.
FEMA will not take any applications beyond the first 200,
which no doubt be filled 'soonest.'
These FEMA reservist positions seem well suited to radio
amateurs. Duties include sending, receiving, and distributing
HF radio messages between first responders using the phonetic
alphabet, Morse code, call signs, continuous wave, and
proper frequencies based on network requirements, as well as
setting up, establishing, and maintaining an HF radio site in
an austere environment and performing site analysis to
determine an optimal location.
Among other requirements, candidates should have an
understanding of radio wave propagation for day, night, and
transitional period frequency use, and be able to maintain
station message logs and compile communication reports.
(arrl)
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- SDR
AirSpy the new SDR on the block
The Airspy HF+ Discovery touted as being "The Most Refined
HF/VHF SDR available, setting a new standard in terms of
reception performance with extra pre-selectors for all the
supported bands and a New DSP Core to optimize the gain
distribution and the filtering parameters in real-time and
dig deeper in the noise.
HF coverage is between 0.5 kHz .. 31 MHz
VHF coverage between 60 .. 260 MHz
All the major SDR software is said to be supported.
(qrz.com)
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- SOFTWARE DEVELOPEMENT
HamAlert is a system that makes it possible for we radio
amateurs to receive notifications when a certain pre-selected
station appears on the Reverse Beacon Network, the SOTAwatch,
the DX cluster or on PSK Reporter.
See:
hamalert.org/triggers
The HamAlert app notifies you in a flash of special callsigns
without having to constantly keep an eye on the DX-Cluster.
Thanks to the HamAlert app, you get the spots on your
smartphone while you are busy with other things.
(SouthGate)
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - VHF AND ABOVE (The Plumbers Delight)
6000km TEP path on 144 MHz opens up between Buenos Aires and
the Dominican Republic
Hot on the heels of last weeks news item Bruce VK3FFF brought
us about the 5400km TEP opening on 144 MHz between Argentina
and the island of Aruba, we have details of some more contacts
that reached in excess of 6000kms!
David, HI8DL reports that on the night of the 29th of November
both he and Edgar, HI8PLE contacted LU2EPO on 144.300 MHz SSB
at 23:57 UTC and the distance was 6102kms.
It is believed that this remarkable contact again was possible
due to Trans-Equatorial Propagation.
ei7gl.blogspot.com/2020/12/6000km-tep-path-on-144-mhz-opens-up.html
(SouthGate)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- YOTA
(Youngsters On The Air)
youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
twitter.com/hamyota
Neil Rapp, WB9VPG tells us how YOTA Month Continues to Expand
into the Americas
*Youth-operated stations around the world will be part of a
special event celebrating youth in amateur radio during the
month of December.
Amateur radio operators age 25 and younger are on the air as
special event stations around the world this month in
celebration of youth in amateur radio. YOTA Month stations
are on all bands and modes at various times.
QSL and award information is at events.ham-yota.com
In the United States the callsigns to listen for are
K8Y, K8O, K8T, and K8A. Notice how the suffixes spell YOTA.
Amateur radio operators world-wide are encouraged to listen
for and contact these stations as well as all callsigns
ending in the letters YOTA across the globe and one not to
miss is TF3YOTA on the air now.
Iceland's national amateur radio society IRA reports
TF 3 YOTA is active now for Youngsters On The Air month.
tinyurl.com/IcelandIRA
------------------------------------------------------------*
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 and even without
Covid dates have an uncanny knack of being changed at last
moment.
2020
VK4 - TARC Xmas Lights Tour - Fri 18th December (tarc)
VK4 - VKCC Christmas Get-Together Norman Hotel Dec 27 (vk4ts)
Here is a heads up for a tropical paradise on-air party for
New Years Eve
theTARCinc will be counting down the minutes and seconds
until 2021 utilising the original Talking Clock and beaming
out on the Townsville VHF Repeater, the Victor Kilo Four Papa
Quebec AllStarLink and Echolink Nodes at Kelso North
Queensland, and the Victor Kilo Four Mike Sierra Sierra
AllStar Link node at Charters Towers North Queensland.
2021
VK4 - TARC Australia Day Long Week Family Radio Camp
Thursday afternoon 21st to Tuesday afternoon 26th
January at Girl Guides Association of Queensland
Campsite and Training Centre Bluewater. (vk4zz)
VK2 - WYONG FIELD DAY February 28 ( vk4zz)
VK4 - REDFEST 2021 April Ten (vk4tfn)
VK - ALARAMEET 2021 Bendigo VK3 October 1 - 4 (vk5yl)
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 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
Thanks for the text edition of wia news,
read 5*9 , cheers Barry, vk2fp
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 mts 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.
vk1wia-broadcasters@lists.wia.org.au
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Oh... and to contact us with your news because
If It Matters To You It Matters To Us!
Click the links below to download the most recent edition of
National News, BUT this is ONLY the backup site!
WIANEWS backup thanks to Brendan VK4BLP can be found on
wiaq.org.au
BACKUPS OF THE BACKUP!! thanks to Tony VK7AX
www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/
wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/ (This is the link
to the original text version and original audio on wia site)
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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 would like to see the call-backs reported each
broadcast, OR 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 a message confirming your unsubscription
from the list and at that point you should stop receiving
messages.
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