2025 JANUARY 12 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 and shown on all good ATV outlets
around the globe.
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AUSTRALIANA
In VK6, utility company Western Power is looking to expand its use of
drone technology, with its arsenal of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
playing a critical role in monitoring network faults and maintaining
reliability this summer.
Western Powers network in WA is among the largest in Australia, with
several rural distribution feeders that are more than 100 km in length
and pass through areas of bushfire risk. Drone technology already plays
a significant role for the network operator, with 24 UAVs used for asset
inspections, patrols, powerline stringing, fault finding and reporting.
Now, through these new trial, Western Power is exploring whether UAVs
can be used to:
remotely apply silicone to live insulators to reduce the risk of
pole top fires;
map powerlines to accelerate decision-making; and
install attachments to powerlines to deter wildlife and increase
visibility.
UAVs are of particular importance over these summer months,
the WA Government said, as drone monitoring is quicker than vehicle
or foot patrols in reducing the duration of power outages.
Having sweltered through record-breaking heat last summer, Im glad to
see Western Power is on the front foot in investigating whether these
drones could be used to reduce the risk of fires or faults and ensure
power supply in the states south-west is as reliable as possible,
said WA Energy Minister Reece Whitby.
The drone technology complements Western Powers annual $1 billion network
investment, which covers regular insulator replacement and treatment,
as well as vegetation pruning near wires.
Our network is large and complicated, and these investments will ensure
we can make it as reliable as possible, Whitby said.
(critical comms)
SERVICE UPGRADES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
South Australia Ambulance Service is to implement its own cloud-based
electronic records system, replacing handwritten documentation.
The electronic patient care record (ePCR) system is to be built and
managed by health IT specialist Dedalus as part of a 10-year,
$16.2 million contract, the system, which will run on Microsoft Azure,
is currently being developed and tested for clinical requirements and
governance. However, the roll-out to the service's 500-vehicle fleet is
not expected to commence until the middle of 2026.
Upon deployment, ambulance crews will be able to electronically record
patients' data on the road rather than hand-write clinical case cards
that need to be later uploaded. The SA Government said that "in time"
the ePCR will be integrated with hospitals' electronic medical records.
(itnews.com.au)
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS is with thanks to ARRL, eHam, IARU, NEWSLINE,
RSGB, SARL and the World Wide sources of the WIA.
A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
April 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the International Amateur Radio
Union. To commemorate this milestone, a ceremony will be held in Paris on
25 and 26 April, where delegates from IARU Member Societies will hold a
formal reception. During 2025, there will be two on-the-air celebrations.
The IARU 100th Anniversary Centennial QSO Party.
The IARU CQP will be held for nine days, beginning Saturday 12 April and
ending Sunday 20 April. This event will celebrate 100 years of the IARU
promoting the interests of amateur radio worldwide, seeking to protect and
enhance our spectrum privileges. Amateur radio operators worldwide are
encouraged to be active on the air. A website will track participants'
accumulated contact points and provide participation certificates for
download. The CQP also encompasses World Amateur Radio Day Friday,
18 April.
IARU HF World Championship. The 24-hour IARU HF World Championship
Saturday 12 July and Sunday 13 July. This annual contest supports
amateur self-training in radio communications, improving operating skills,
conducting technical investigations and inter-communicating with other
amateurs around the world using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 metre
bands.
iaru.org for updates on IARU activities planned for 2025.
SECURITY!
Cybersecurity experts have seen a significant increase in sophisticated
phishing scams using AI to generate hyper-personalized messages mimicking
people's communication styles, with over 90% of successful cyberattacks
now beginning with phishing emails.
Tech news weekly say many cybersecurity training and email filtering is
being used by companies to combat this.
Also 'passkeys', that new login technology which is aiming to replace
passwords, have seen increasing adoption but face usability challenges
and inconsistent implementation across sites and devices. The
recommendation for now is to just use password managers for now, as
maybe passkeys aren't quite ready for mainstream adoption yet.
https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly.
ARE YOU READY FOR A $20US WINDFALL?
Depending how many users in the class action against Apple have filed
the $20 may be all each gets from the US$95 million in cash to settle
a proposed class action lawsuit claiming that APPLE's voice activated
Siri assistant violated users' privacy.
Mobile device owners had complained that Apple routinely recorded their
private conversations after they activated Siri unintentionally, and
disclosed these conversations to third parties such as advertisers.
Two plaintiffs said their mentions of Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden
restaurants triggered ads for those products. Another said he got ads for
a brand name surgical treatment after discussing it, he thought privately,
with his doctor.
The class period ran from September 17, 2014 to December 31, 2024. It
began when Siri incorporated the "Hey, Siri" feature that allegedly led to
the unauthorised recordings.
Class members, estimated in the tens of millions, may receive up to US$20
per Siri enabled device, such as iPhones and Apple Watches.
Apple denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle.
CQ DX MARATHON RETURNS FOR YEAR-LONG RUN
Lace up your running shoes and sit down in your shack - and get ready for
an on-the-air marathon that encourages operators to go the distance
through December 2025.
From Amateur Radio Newsline we 'share the we share the details.
Just as the marathon for 2024 comes to an end, the new one has begun.
Avid DXers are already on the hunt through until the end of the end of
December 2025, hoping to work as many countries and CQ zones as possible.
The idea, of course, is to see who can work the most countries, or DX
entities, and CQ zones by the time 23:59 rolls around on December 31st.
Keep in mind that contacts through repeaters and satellites do not count,
nor do contacts with aeronautical mobile or maritime stations. Only the
use of amateur radio frequencies is permitted.
Organizers made some changes in mid-December to rules that affect the
awards, operating class and youth participation. For a full description of
the rules and who is affected, see the link in the text version of this
week's wia national news service
(wia.org.au)
HAM CLUB AT DEUTSCHES MUSEUM CALLS QRZ FOR CENTENNIAL
Amateur radio station DL DM recently finished celebrating two
anniversaries in December: the club's 75th year as a radio licensee and
its 35th year of operating from its home at the Deutsches Museum in
Munich.
Now the ham radio station is getting ready for another celebration:
the centennial of the museum, one of the world's major showcases of
science and technology by putting the callsign DL 100 DM on the air
throughout 2025.
The museum is marking its 100th anniversary, a time particularly for
amateurs to remember its longstanding connection to radio. Even before the
ham radio club had established a permanent presence there, the museum was
proudly featuring a 100-watt shortwave transmitter, that had been built by
a student in 1938, which CW operators would occasionally put on the air.
The transmitter is still at the museum and it is on view in the
electronics exhibition area.
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OPERATIONAL NEWS - A FELIX VK4FUQ PRESENTATION
DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD.
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VI 2025 AJ is on air from the Australian Scout Jamboree in Queensland
until January 15.
(wia news)
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The Czech DXpedition Group will be using the callsign C 8 K from
Mozambique the 17th of January through to the 2nd of February. Find them
on 160 through 6 metres and via the QO-100 satellite for our overseas
viewers. C8K will be using CW, SSB, FT8 and RTTY.
(newsline 2462)
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Rwanda 9 X 2 AW and be on the air from the 27th of January through to the
15th of February, holiday style on 10 through 160 metres.
(newsline 2462)
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PC 80 TT is the special callsign for members of VERON Leiden to celebrate
the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands during
World War II (5 May 1945).
Look for activity now until June One
QSL PC80TT via the bureau to PI4LDN.
The special call sign honours the memory of Rudolf Tappenbeck (PCTT),
a pioneer of Dutch amateur radio who died in Neuengamme concentration
camp 1944.
(425dxn)
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y
Our I.A.R.U. celebrates its centenary this year (2025).
Since its founding in Paris, France, IARU has worked tirelessly to
promote innovation in amateur radio and to encourage the growth of
the service in communities throughout the world.
VI 100 IARU is a special event callsign transmitting from VK3 to help
celebrate the IARU Centennial.
qsl via MO 0 OXO
(qrz.com)
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y
During 2025 the SARL will be on the air with special event callsign
ZS 100 SARL, as well as the permanent callsigns ZS6SRL and ZS9HQ and
possibly other special event callsigns.
(sarl)
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y
Callsign 6W1RD
Senegal on the 11th and 12th will be using callsign 6 W 1 RD.
SSB and FT8/FT4 on 80-10 metres and all QSLs are via EA7FTR.
(newsline 2461)
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y
8 R 1 TM from Georgetown, Guyana, now until the 8th of February.
CW, SSB and digital modes on all bands.
(newsline 2461)
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REPEATING>
OXLEY REGION AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Between Tare and Port Macquarie in VK2 lies MIDDLE BROTHER
VK2News are reporting that ALL of the Middle Brother VK2RPM repeaters
are still off air following the damage to the site hosts power
distribution system during the severe storms on the night of Wednesday
the 13th of December last year.
Mainly due to lightning damage to the hosts mains power distribution
system.
The repeaters will remain out of service until later this month when
site works should be completed and power will again be available for
the VK2RPM repeaters.
This is the first major interruption in 52 years at the site
NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2025
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VHF UHF Field Day
Upcoming Contest Date & Time
Summer 2025 - 0100 UTC Saturday 18 January through 0059 UTC Sunday 19
January (0400 / 0359 in VK6).
wia.org.au/members/contests/vhfuhf/
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CQ 160 METER CONTEST
CW January 24 - 2200Z January 26.
SSB February 21 - 2200Z February 23.
(cq)
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AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST JANUARY 26.
Amateurs in VK will endeavour to contact other amateurs around the
world. Some VK operators will be using the AX prefix to celebrate
Australia day, as its wanted by many amateurs around the world.
Scoring is distance based and calculated using 4-character grid
squares.
Contest Manager Alan Shannon VK4SN
It is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday that being 26 of
January.
wia.org.au/members/contests/australiaday/
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CQ 160 METER CONTEST
SSB February 21 - 2200Z February 23.
(cq)
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The IARU 100th Anniversary Centennial QSO Party.
The IARU CQP will be held for nine days, beginning Saturday 12 April and
ending Sunday 20 April. This event will celebrate 100 years of the IARU
(sarl)
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HARRY ANGEL MEMORIAL 80 Meter Sprint, Saturday May 3. (vk4uh)
wia.org.au/members/contests/harryangel/
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VK Shires Contest 7th - 8th June 2025
wia.org.au/members/contests/wavks/
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NZ Straight Key Night
Next New Zealand Straight Key Night will be held Sunday 8 June
from 9pm to 10pm NZDT (0800 to 0900 UTC) on 80 metres.
Polish and lubricate that old morse key and enjoy an evening of
old-time radio fun.
Straight Key Night is an informal event which honours the roots of
amateur radio: Morse Code sent with a straight key (no bugs,
sideswipers, keyers or keyboards).
When.
Winter SKN is the second Sunday in June, 8-9pm NZ time.
Summer SKN is always the first Sunday in December, 9-10pm NZ time.
SKN honours the original amateur radio mode in an easy-going style.
Operators send signal report, name, location, type of key, type of
transmitter and power output. Stations are limited to 100W output
power.
SKN is not a contest - but the operator who gets the most votes for the
quality of their sending will win the Bruce Scahill Best Fist Award.
This certificate honours Bruce ZL1BWG (SK), who was a dedicated
supporter of SKN. Please email your nomination to ZL1NZ within one week
following the event.
(Neil ZL1NZ, SKN Manager)
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WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS
SUMMITS ON THE AIR, WORLD WIDE FLORA, FAUNA PROGRAM,
PARKS ON THE AIR and other ADVENTURE GROUPS.
hema.org.uk/index.jsp
minesontheair.com/about-mota
parksontheair.com/
sota.org.uk
sotawatch.sota.org.uk/en/
facebook.com/SotaAustralia/
wwffaustralia.com/
ADVENTURE ISLAND - SAGAR.
A Team of West Bengal Radio Club members are active from Sagar Island,
West Bengal now until the 20th of January.
Special Event Callsign is AU 2 WBRC
The adventure schemes being participated in are:-
Islands On the Air AS-153;
Beaches On the Air, Gangasagar Island Beach 60572
World Lighthouse on the Air Sagar Island WLOTA 2262
.qrz.com/db/AU2WBRC
Check details for AU2WBRC are
ITU Zone 41, CQ Zone 22, Grid NL41ap
All contacts will be verified through QRZ.com only
(ard)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY (and Wireless Weather)
The Parker Solar Probe, launched by NASA in 2018, ended 2024 by nearly
touching the untouchable - the sun.
It was Christmas Eve - NASA's solar probe set a record by flying
6.1 million kilometres, from the sun. That approach made the small probe
the first - and fastest - object created by humans to come that close to
the sun, according to a report in Forbes magazine. Its speed was clocked
at 692,000 kilometres per hour.
Nicola Fox, NASA's associate administrator for science missions, said
that the probe had achieved the very mission it was intended for with
its unprecedented flight so close to the sun.
This solar pass came as the probe made its 22nd approach since its launch
more than six years ago. The probe is well-shielded for this latest plunge
into the sun.
(newsline 2462)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW
www.morsecodeclassnet.com
CWops Announces 2024 Advancing the Art of CW Award
Each year, CWops, the international organization that promotes and
advances Morse code in amateur radio communications, accepts nominations
for individuals, groups, and organizations for the CWops Award for
Advancing the Art of CW.
The Radio Officer's Association (ROA) is the recipient of the 2024
CWops Award. ROA honours and preserves the history and accomplishments
of radio professionals from across the Merchant Navy, Coast Station
Service, and Civil Aeronautical industry. Its membership includes nearly
400 former professional radio officers, half of whom hold amateur radio
licenses.
The 2024 award was recently accepted by ROAs Bill Cross, G0ELZ, at the
organizations annual meeting in Liverpool, England, presented by
CWops President Stew Rolfe, GW0ETF.
(arrl)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - DIGITAL
SCAMP Digital Mode Available in Fldigi
Simple Conversational Amateur Message Protocol (SCAMP) is a weak signal
digital mode developed by KW4TI. Originally integrated with the
RFBitBanger transceiver, SCAMP is now available for broader use through
the Fldigi software suite.
Like other weak signal propagation modes such as the popular FT8,
SCAMP is an orthogonal frequency shift keying mode with a low symbol rate,
forward error correction, and synchronous signalling.
Unlike FT8 which has been designed to exchange signal reports, SCAMP must
be able to communicate arbitrary messages that may be required in an
emergency situation.
For additional information, view KW4TI's video presentation on the
RFBitBanger and SCAMP.
(ARD)
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA
(Youngsters On The Air)
WIA committee:- Steve VK6SJ, Alec VK2MV and Pete VK2LP.
ham-yota.com/category/yota-region-3/
facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/
youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA
Alan VK2COD:-
As you may know, Alec VK2MV is in Maryborough attending the 26th Australian Jamboree in Queensland.
AJ2025 is on until 15 January.
Keep your radio on and listen for their callsign VI2025AJ.
The amateur station will be running from 8:30 until late afternoons each day until the end of AJ2025
The frequencies they are on are listed in the QRZ page for VI2025AJ
Even though AJ2025 is happening, this week has been quiet, especially with VK YOTA news.
As Alec has asked, please send in your YOTA news to Alec or myself and the news team so we can spread the word about VK YOTA activity to the amateur radio community.
Help make our hobby a lifelong journey for YOTAs rather than just getting a callsign or participating in Jota-Joti once a year.
For VK1WIA National News, I am Alan VK2COD in Sydney. Now back to you Bruce.
aj2025.com.au/
qrz.com/db/VI2025AJ
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER
AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org
WHAT'S "UP" IN 2025?
From the on line podcast "This Week In Space" comes a list of upcoming
'things to look out for".
That list includes things like:-
25 Starship launches and landings, if they can secure FAA approval,
with flight 7 featuring Starlink satellite deployment tests coming
within weeks.
Several commercial and international robotic missions to the Moon are
planned, some of which will help fill the void left by NASA's cancelled
VIPER rover.
NASA's expensive and long-delayed Mars sample return mission is in doubt
as China aims to complete its own by 2027.
The company "Vast Space" aims to be the first to launch a private space
station module in 2025 without NASA funding, providing a potential
ISS replacement.
and Rocket Lab plans to launch a small, privately financed probe to Venus
to look for signs of life and organic molecules in the atmosphere
This Week in Space
twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space
WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MEDICAL
In the US, the Handiham Program ended 2024 by reporting on gains and
successes in its services and initiatives to disabled amateur radio
operators.
The Handiham Program has served the disabled ham community since 1967.
The year just passed included a number of new classes held virtually,
including one in basic Morse Code and another for Technician Class
candidates. Handiham said that its radio club also achieved gains,
reaching a milestone membership level of 158. The Handiham program itself
welcomed 65 new participants.
For more details about the program, visit handiham.org.
(newsline 2462)
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IT'S A DATE
Clubs are welcome to email text with audio for this section
Details of all WIA affiliated clubs and societies can be found
on the WIA website, including email addresses and website links.
----------------------------
2025
VK7 - REAST CAR BOOT SALE January 19 @ 11 am (vk7news)
VK3 - BARG HamFest the 2nd of February ate Ballarat Polo-Crosse Pavilion
next door to the BARG clubrooms at Ballarat Airport. (wiacal)
VK6 - PARGFEST PEEL AMATEUR RADIO GROUP held February 15 9AM at
Mandurah Bowling Club 89 Allnutt Street ( parg.org.au/ )
VK4 - Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club REDFEST April 12 (wiacal)
Greetings from the Redcliffe Radio Club VK4RC.
Robert Thomson VK4TFN here.
We hope you're a happy New Year.
REDFEST 2025 will be held on the 12th April 2025
The Theme will be "Fun on HF"
We have a new venue.
REDFEST 2025 will be held at the
Deception Bay North State School in
Old Bay Road Deception Bay.
We will Raffle a very nice ICOM radio TxRx.
Go to redclifferadioclub.org.au for more information.
73's and bye for now from the Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club VK4RC.
VK - WIA AGM May 3 - 4. Hosted by Bendigo Amateur Radio & Electronics
Club and their Technology Expo (vk3gtv/wiacal)
VK - Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association 50th anniversary
Glen Waverly July 26 president@alara.org (vk2ayl)
VK4 - GOLD COAST AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY 2025 HAMFEST NOV 9 (vk4dmh)
Country Paradise Parklands 231 Beaudesert Nerang Road.
VK3- Rosebud RadioFest, Eastbourne Primary School, Rosebud (wiacal)
November Sixteen.
final final
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Oh... and to contact us with your news because
If It Matters To You It Matters To Us!
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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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