----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 http://www.wia.org.au (click news in member area) Submit your audio news Please.. If you are only submitting text and not audio, write your story as you would expect to hear it being read back and NEVER send just links & url's. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ WIANEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING FEB 07 2010. This weeks episode is presented by Amateur Radio Victoria and it's ALL UP AND COMING IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING FEB 7 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for contacting VK1WIA - all of our operators are busy at the moment. Want to hear about the Black Saturday bushfire disaster first anniversary, Press 1 For the latest details on the Centre Victoria RadioFest, Press 2 Interested in the WIA Centenary celebrations, Press 3 Concerned about intruders on the amateur bands, Press 4 Do you have a photo of the Australian who put man on the moon? Press 5 To hear all of those options again, Press 9, or just sit back, relax and listen to the entire broadcast. Hello I'm Jim Linton VK3PC and Barry Robinson VK3PV and we're presenting the WIA NATIONAL NEWS produced by Amateur Radio Victoria for the week commencing Sunday the 7th of February 2010. VI3KIAH special station on air today First up we welcome Fred Swainston VK3DAC from the Yarra Valley Amateur Radio Group, with an update on today's special event station VI3KIAH, good morning Fred. (Fred) Good morning Jim and thanks for the opportunity talks about the special station we're operating today at Kinglake. The station recognises the efforts of radio amateurs and others who during the February 2009 fires were radio operators for all sorts of emergency communications on the 7th of February and for a number of weeks. (Jim) Where and when can we listen for it? (Fred) The radio station is operating out of the Frank Thompson Reserve in Kinglake between 2pm and 8pm, because on the 7th of February that was when the major damage occurred in Kinglake. We wish the Yarra Valley Amateur Radio Group all the best for VI3KIAH. Want know more about VI3KIAH? Then check out the operating schedule, frequencies and its special QSL card that will be available. Visit the Yarra Valley Amateur Group's website www.yarravalley.ar.org.au Centre Victoria RadioFest The theme this year is 'Reach for the skies'. Why? Because there will be aeronautical amateur television - we will hear more about this soon on this broadcast from Peter Cossins VK3BFG, astronomical telegazing and hunting scarce sunspots on the photosphere. And its family friendliness includes a playground, free children's face-painting, hot and cold food and drinks or bring your own lunch to enjoy in picnic style. Free tea and coffee all day. The Mini-lecture program: Topping the bill is the VK9NA DXpedition by the VK Microwave Group. The other lectures being - Amateur Radio goes to school presented by the Sherbrooke Radio Club, Peter Wolfenden VK3RV with an interesting illustrated talk on Victoria's radio heritage, and a thought-provoking presentation on the end of Amateur Radio. These are in addition to the Club Corner Precinct displays, F-Troop photo call and entry ticket draw for door prizes. And oh, don't forget the bustling Traders Hall and the second-hand tables and car-boot style sales? See you at the Centre Victoria RadioFest, Kyneton Racecourse Sunday the 14th of February, I'm Bruce Lees VK3FFF. Home security system QRM Reports are starting to appear about a security and home control system that uses the spread spectrum protocol at 100 milliwatt, and at a distance of 100 metres its emissions make the 40 metre band unusable. The system has its signal at a two to five second rate, from 7.1 to 8.5 MHz. Hey, that's not only 40 metres but also the spectrum used by broadcasting, aeronautical and marine radio. Be alarmed and alert for this system arriving in your neighbourhood. (Spectrum Digest) The IARU Region 3 Operating Award This is available for contacts made since the 5th of April 1982 with countries which have IARU member societies in the Asia Pacific region. The countries are: Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Burma, China, Fiji, French Polynesia (FO8 only), Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu and Vietnam. One country credit is also permitted with a US Territory of Guam, Northern Marianas, American Samoa, Wake Island, Baker Howland Group, or from the Chago Archipelago VQ9. QSL cards NOT required, but a certified log sheet with country claims list needs to be supplied. A basic award requires seven qualifying contacts. Silver endorsement is 15 with gold 20 and awards can be open or for any mode or band. Applications need to be made to the Award Manager, Alan Chapman ZL3GX - check your log book to see if you already qualify for the IARU Region 3 Award or go on line for more details about the rules. http://www.iaru-r3.org/r3award.htm (Jim Linton VK3PC) Changing the light bulb Unless you have tried to buy an incandescent light bulb recently it's likely you're unaware that Australia is phasing them out due to their inefficient use of electricity. Incandescent light bulbs have been around for 130 years and they took us from the candle, fuel lamp and gas-light illumination. The Australian Government, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, placed an import ban on inefficient incandescent general lighting bulbs 12 months ago. As a result, compact fluorescent lamps and extra low voltage halogen, non-reflector Lamps, that don't meet new minimum energy performance standards, can no longer be imported. Digital Radio Plus A Canadian development may be the way of the future where FM broadcast station signals are used to activate household appliances or even manage electricity supply. Appliances are now being fitted with microchip receivers with the aim of consumers being able to activate them via FM broadcast station signals using the internet or iPhone at energy-savings times of the day. Digital Amateur Television - state of play We now have on the line Peter Cossins VK3BFG, good morning Peter, how is the digital amateur television scene in Melbourne and Geelong these days? (BFG) Thanks Barry and good morning to all. A lot has happened since the launch last June of the digitised VK3RTV television repeater. We have a DVB-T downlink which is the terrestrial standard and this can be received on many standard set-top boxes. We have two analogue and two digital uplinks. These are on 1250, 1255 and 1278 MHz. And also on 10.41GHz. The digital uplinks are DVB-S standard and analogue are FM. (Barry) Peter, is the project all completed? (BFG) I think this project has a little way to go yet Barry. VK3RTV has always continued to evolve from the black and white days through to the present. Currently antennas are being built to better provide for the uplinks. Barry) From all reports it has created a lot of activity and interest in the Melbourne and Geelong area. Tell us what you have planned by the way of digital amateur television at the Centre Victoria RadioFest. (BFG) What those at Kyneton will see is digital television on a large screen with real-time vision of the RadioFest and surrounding area transmitted from a light aircraft, in other words aeronautical DATV. There will also be experienced ATVers on hand to give advice to how to get involved. (Barry) Thank you Peter, I'm very much looking forward to seeing and hearing it all. The VK3RTV digitisation project was mainly funded by Amateur Radio Victoria, with support by way of $1,000 from the WIA Club Grants Program. Now for today's small dose, or should I say 'smidgen' of trivia. Until recently no one thought a smidgen was an actual unit of measure. But kitchen supply stores in North America and elsewhere are now selling sets of "minispoons" in which the smallest spoon is labelled "smidgen". It is designed to hold exactly 1/2 pinch or 1/32 of a teaspoon, which is roughly 0.005 of a fluid ounce or 0.15 of a millilitre. And where did the word 'smidgen' come from? Well apparently it is a diminutive of "smutch" or "smudge", it originally meant a small spot. I'm John Williams VK2JJW and you're listening to VK1WIA. The hidden cost of amateur repeaters From time to time we hear about the funding difficulties experienced by clubs who run a repeater, often not for the benefit of their members but for the wider amateur radio community. In New South Wales the Lands Department is continuing on its campaign of introducing high site lease charges all in the name of cost recovery and getting a commercial return for access to sites. Similar things are happening in other parts of Australia which are making repeater operators very anxious. Amateur Radio Victoria funds and licences most of the repeaters in its state. The annual ACMA licence fees are nearly $4000. In addition to this are site fees. Take for instance the Mt William repeater VK3RWZ in Western Victoria, the site fees for this repeater are around $1,000 a year! And Recently VK3RWZ was restored to service after a major antenna failure. Rigging costs alone were in excess of $5,000 for that job. A considerable number of complaints were received when the repeater was not on air, most came from non members of Amateur Radio Victoria. Since it has been returned to service only a couple of loyal and understanding members have expressed their thanks. Another major new cost for repeater operators is the D-Star network. Amateur Radio Victoria has spent more than $10,000 to get VK3RMM D-Star Mt Macedon on air, we now find it has minimal use by a few operators, of these less than a quarter are Amateur Radio Victoria members. And with D-Star comes the monthly expense of internet access for the D-STAR internet gateway. Ongoing maintenance, replacements and upgrades to meet commercial site technical requirements are hidden costs not understood by all radio amateurs. Do you support the organisation that provides amateur radio repeaters, if not why not join today, and in VK3 that means Amateur Radio Victoria. I'm Ross Pittard VK3CE and you're listening to VK1WIA. Old club callsign being maintained. The RMIT University School of Electrical and Computer Engineering is again the custodian of the VK3MT amateur radio callsign. It was originally issued to the 'Melbourne Technical College - Radio School' which commenced classes in 1934 and as part of the 120 year evolution of RMIT University has now been reclaimed. Hopefully VK3MT will continue the tradition of helping to expose technical students to amateur radio. THE SOCIAL SCENE 2010 FEBRUARY 14 - VK3 - the WIA Centenary Supported Activity, Centre Victoria RadioFest No. 3. FEBRUARY 27 - VK6 - Hills Amateur Radio Group Swap Meet 2pm Sanderson and Brady Rds Lesmurdie. FEBRUARY 28 - VK2 - Wyong Field Day, Wyong Race Course. FEBRUARY 28 - VK3 - Yarra Valley Amateur Radio Group Hamfest at Healesville, MARCH 14 - VK3 - Eastern and Mountain District Radio Club White Elephant Sale at Heathmont. MARCH 14 - VK6 - 100 years of the WIA+Ham Heaven Official opening of the Northern Corridor Radio Group club premises, (Contact Keith vk6rk@wia.org.au) MARCH 21 - VK7 - Meet the voice BBQ at Ross in Tasmania APRIL 2, 3, 4 & 5 - VK3 - WIA Centenary Supported Activity, Midland Amateur Radio Club's Radio, Electronic & Astronomy Expo, Old Bendigo Fire Station, View Street Bendigo. JUNE 12 - VK2 - Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club's 35th Annual Field Day. JULY 17 - VK3 - Gippsland Gate Radio and Electronics Club Hamfest at Cranbourne. NOV 7 - VK5 - 2010 Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society Hamfest Rosa St Goodwood 2012 15TH IARU REGION 3 CONFERENCE hosted by V.A.R.C. in Ho-Chi-Minh City, Vietnam. JAN 23-FEB 17 World Radio Conference WRC-11 Geneva MAY 4-7 VK5 - YL International 2012 Australia (vk5tmc@bigpond.com) The Centenary of Organised Amateur Radio in Australia We now welcome to the microphone, David Wardlaw VK3ADW, Chairman of the WIA Centenary Committee, good morning David, the celebration has already begun! It actually start on the first of January and runs right through to the end of December. A year-long celebration with participation throughout the nation. The very busy WIA Centenary Committee is focusing on the Centenary Convention to be held in Canberra Friday 29 May through to Sunday 31 May. Initial details of this program are in Amateur Radio magazine, on the WIA website, and summarised later in this broadcast. The Committee met last Wednesday, and news from it was that there is a planned ARISS contact with the International Space Station, during the Centenary Dinner, involving a local school. A lot of detail of the Centenary program will be appearing on this broadcast in the months ahead. Mini-solar cells These are about the size of glitter that can be attached to clothing or tents. Developed by at Sandia National Laboratories in India, they can recharge batteries plus have potential satellite or remote sensing applications. OPERATIONAL NEWS ON VK1WIA THIS WEEK BEING PRESENTED BY AMATEUR RADIO VICTORIA AND THE CENTRE VICTORIA RADIOFEST. I'M BARRY ROBINSON VK3PV. ON AIR CONTEST AND EVENT COLUMN - DATELINE 22nd to 28 February - the 7th Antarctic Activity Week. Many more stations have indicated their intention to participate this year. Details: http://www.waponline.it/ or list of stations that will be active http://www.waponline.it/Default.aspx?tabid=113 27th to 28th February NZART Jock White Memorial Field Day Contest: Details: nzart.org.nz/contests 13th to 14th March RSGB Commonwealth Contest (BERU). Details: hfcc.org/hfcc/rule/2009/beru.shtml 20th and 21st March WIA John Moyle Memorial Field Day. 17th of April World Moon Bounce Day - Many of the world's large parabolic dish antennas along with radio amateurs in attendance will bounce radio signals of the lunar surface. 30 April to 6 May, Westlakes Amateur Radio Club's 12th annual CQ Repeater Contest - encouraging all radio amateurs to put a little life into the usually quiet FM repeaters. 1st of May through to the 31st of December the special callsign VK100WIA and the WIA Centenary Award. 8th of May, VK Trans Tasman 80 metre phone contest. 8th of June, VK Trans Tasman 160 metre phone contest. 12th and 13th June, Worked All VK Shires Contest. 19th and 20th June, WIA Winter VHF-UHF Field Day contest. 19th & 20th, and 26th and 27th June International Museums Weekend - The website ukradioamateur.org/imw has begun accepting registrations 10th of July, Jack Files Contest. 21 and 22nd of Aug International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend - So far more than 20 Australian lighthouses are registered. Check out the website illw.net 14 and 15 of August WIA Remembrance Day Contest. 2nd and 3rd October Oceania DX Contest Phone. 9th and 10th October Oceania DX Contest CW. 20 21 November WIA Spring VHF-UHF Field Day. Rewind - a look back at our history through the serialised written history by WIA Centenary Committee member Peter Wolfenden VK3RV with assistance of others, that is being published in the WIA journal Amateur Radio magazine. Early regulation of the spectrum: The original Australian Wireless Telegraphy Act (1905), vested power in the Post Master General, and the Chief Electrical Engineer for the Post Office was charged with administering it. The Act also made provision for land based Experimental Stations which enabled the establishment and authorised private amateur stations. The Marconi Company was keen to establish itself in Australia and in June 1906 it obtained the first "land station" licence for stations in Devonport Tasmania and Queenscliff in Victoria. These were used to demonstrate the Marconi equipment; however the government declined to purchase the stations at the end of the demonstration trials, perhaps still unsure of the potential of wireless. But in October 1909, tenders were called for the construction of coastal radio stations in Sydney and Perth. The accepted tender was from the Australasian Wireless Company with Telefunken German equipment at about a quarter of the price submitted by the Marconi Company, triggering legal actions and squabbles over patents. For the next 20 years or so there appears to have been much exploitation of the Commonwealth by a series of doubtful actions by some wireless companies during a cut-throat environment which saw them posture as if they were the owners of the spectrum and technology. In hindsight, the true amateur experimenter may have been amongst the select few who, over those years, were not attempting to take advantage of their knowledge for obtaining ill gotten gains from the public purse. Further, it could be argued that the altruistic attitude of amateurs has survived right up to today in the many ways they provide public service whether it be in education, emergency communications and other activities. (Extract #2 from the serialised history being published in the WIA journal Amateur Radio magazine) HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA. VK1 vk1 local news email broadcast@vk1.wia.ampr.org and ask for subscription. Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club is preparing for an radio amateur population explosion in the nation's capital in May associated with the WIA annual general meeting and Centenary celebration activities. VK2 web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news Wyong Field Day Dinner. Amateur Radio New South Wales in conjunction with the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club will hold a dinner to kick off the start of Amateur Radio New South Wales 100 years celebrations. It will be at the Wyong Bowling Club on Saturday the 27th of February from 6pm. Bookings are essential. To book or for more information contact the Secretary of Amateur Radio New South Wales Brian Kelly VK2WBK on 0400 445 829. NEW SYDNEY RADIO CLUB MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB A new amateur radio club is being formed at Macquarie University in Sydney. Students and staff are invited to form the new club, to promote amateur radio activity at Macquarie University. Enquiries from the local community are also welcome. Macquarie University is a centre of excellence in electronic, telecommunications and wireless engineering. Contact Adam VK2JSI by email. VK2JSI@MUARC.ORG or call 0415371990. See also the Facebook page of the Macquarie University Amateur Radio Club, www.muarc.org VK3 web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/ VKC Roundup http://www.police Yarra Valley Amateur Radio Group Hamfest at Healesville on February the 28th, opens at 10am and runs until 2pm. Entry fee is still $5 and the booking fees are the same as the last 10 years at $15 for an 8 foot table. Bring the family and you can perhaps visit the Healesville Sanctuary or go to Marysville for afternoon tea and check out how the regeneration of the town and bush is proceeding. Full details are on the Yarra Valley Amateur Radio Group web site http://www.yarravalley.ar.org.au Simon VK3ZNT... "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Oxfam Trailwalker is on again and I need your help. The Oxfam Trailwalker Event will be held on April 16-17-18 over the same course as last year. As you are aware this event runs continuously over three days and is one of the most hungry man hour events that WICEN is involved in. We are once again requesting your help in running the safety and logistic communications for this event as you have most generously given of your time and skills in the past. We are requesting an early indication as to whether you are able to assist as this event requires a lot of planning. We would appreciate it if you would reply by email or phone as soon as you decide one way or the other. Would you kindly indicate the days and times that you will be available? Regards, Simon VK3ZNT". (0418190637 simon@nga.net.au) VK4 - QNEWS web service local news:- www.wiaq.com/qnews/upload/qnewsbcast.htm local news email qnews-vk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com VKR Roundup http://www.police.qld.gov.au/News+and+Alerts/Media+Releases/ Welcome to QNews from VK4WIA. I'm Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP wondering are all hams the same. Saturday morning and the broadcast radio was assisting in lifting the veil off sleep. The interview was on the growth of software applications for use with the new generation of mobile phones. To emphasise a point the interviewer asked, "What type of person writes these apps.... is it like the ham radio operator in their garage .....?" (Geraldine Doogue, Radio National, 30/1/2010) This made me wonder what the general perception of our hobby is, in the wider community. Are amateurs perceived as eccentric and "geekie" or are they being misrepresented with these stereotypes? With the greater use of commercial equipment a lot of which is designed for mobile use, the size of the amateur station has physically decreased. With the use of computers, as part of the station, it is more likely that the amateur station is integrated within the family living space. But rather than the geography, it is perhaps more the reflection on us, the people. As we spread the word of the Centenary of the WIA, this year, here is a good opportunity to introduce ourselves AND our hobby. We can show this hobby is for the kid next door and his grandmother. We can show people amateur radio is for anyone not just the geeks. For QNEWS, this is Geoff, VK4ZPP and that is what I think. GYMPIE www.gceginc.org.au Trevor Taege, VK4BAT I'm Trevor Taege, VK4BAT with news from the Gympie Communications & Electronics Group: Over the past few years, the Gympie district has been well served by a 2 metre repeater - VK4RCM. It was generously set up and maintained by Jason, VK4MIH. The ownership of the property where the Repeater is sited is changing and so from February 27, the device will no longer be able to operate from Mt. Corella. The Gympie Group will build a new Repeater and it will be moved to a new location as soon as possible. Inquiries, tests and planning are underway for this to happen as soon as possible. There may be a short interruption to service from the end of February but we will keep you posted on developments. The Gympie Communications & Electronics group would once again like to thank Jason for the great service he has provided to the Wide Bay region with the 2m Repeater and IRLP service. Preparation is continuing for our weekend at Mt. Wolvi for the John Moyle Field Day Contest. At this stage the Gympie Club is planning to operate on several HF bands as well as on six metres, two metres, and 70cm. A couple of members will try their hand at cw on at least one or two bands. Would any Club members who are planning to operate or assist that did not attend the last meeting please contact one of the committee members for further planning. For Gympie Area News, I'm Trevor Taege, VK4BAT ROCKHAMPTON IRLP NODE 6973 ; e-mail vk4acc@wia.org.au Secretary Clive 4928 1173 http://www.radarc.cjb.net/ This is Doug VK4DUG from the Rockhampton and District Amateur Radio Club. Having gathered up the smaller items on a previous occasion, last Saturday about a dozen of the RADAR Club members involved them selves in a little muscle building heavy lifting exercise. The purpose of the latest exercise was to load and transport a rather large, 40 foot self supporting three legged tower (fortunately partly dismantled), and two 4 section telescopic guyed towers and sundry other bits, to a safe RADAR sponsored location. The club is rather fortunate that our president Jack VK4JRC has a suitable sturdy diesel truck (which I suspect would be the envy of many a would-be truckie) as well as all the necessary tie down gear. And if that's not enough, we had another professional truckie Dave VK4FDWN, to lend a hand. Jack has even provided a temporary storage location. The equipment has been in the secure care of The Fitzroy River Coast Guard who decided that they no longer had a need for it and past it on to the RADAR Club. Many thanks to them. It was previously installed and operating at the local site of OTC, so you can get some idea of the quality. For those of you who no longer recognize the acronym, the Overseas Telecommunications Commission as it was then in 1946, had radio stations situated at many sites around the coast. These sites were decommissioned in 1992, and the equipment sold off, or given to possible worthy users such as the local coast guard. As yet, the RADAR Club has not fully decided how it will utilize this latest acquisition, but several plans are in hand. 73 Doug TABLELANDS RADIO AND ELECTRONICS CLUB vk4wat@wia.org.au www.treclub.org.au G'day all, this is Dale VK4DMC on behalf of the Tablelands Radio and Electronics Club. As we move into a new year of club activities our President John VK4TL has penned some interesting comments for TREC members. I would like to share with you John's words. "FROM THE PRESIDENT. Hi all readers, having perused our members one by one I see most are active with something or another. This is highly commendable and to be encouraged. Building small projects or putting kits together all adds to the enjoyment of the hobby. Most of us are on the older side and some of us need glasses to see. Let's face it the gear is getting smaller. The performance is enhanced these days by the new devices obtainable at small cost. The trouble is that we often refuse to participate in miniature work because of this. Two years ago at age 77 I put together a mini-kits surface mount 1296 MHz transverter. Sitting with me was Jeff VK4BOF who everyone up here knows has eyesight problems and he completed one also. Other members of our club are conversant with surface mount construction. Do this when most alert say in the morning, use magnifying headset. Get the right tweezers and a sharp pointy bit for the soldering iron and get building. The particular kit mentioned has also been built by Ian VK4AFC, Paul VK4APN and Keith VK4BKS. It does help to do some research into getting a high quality solder about one mm thick or smaller. So if you are put off by $3000 for off the shelf 1296 then take the plunge. If you have problems there are lots of experienced builders around to help. Now for 10 GHz there are the DRO units for US$15 that have taken the place of Gunn units. More expensive about US$55 are YIG oscillator units from China and these can be modulated just the same. They tune over a wide range like 9.6 to 10.7 GHz. These are very stable like the DROs which come down into the ham band to about 10.4 GHz. With a 70 MHz IF such as a 2 way radio they should give such sensitivity that Gunn units are completely outclassed. Want some help to see what direction to take with home brew, then please feel free to contact me and I will see if I can help. You may ask why I mention the above, well it's because all else comes easily off the shelf for a low cost and these things do not. Good DX de John VK4TL - President TREC". TOWNSVILLE vk4wit@wia.org.au 4773 1196 or 0408 001142 po box 333 Garbutt East, QLD 4814 www.tarc.org.au GIDDAY AND BEST WISHES TO ALL LISTENERS.......... GREETINGS FROM NORTH QUEENSLAND, THIS IS DON VK4FNQA, WITH ALL OF THE GOOD NEWS AND HAPPENINGS , THIS TUESDAY NIGHT IS THE TARC PROJECT NIGHT AND THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENING ! A VISIT TO THE QUEENSLAND AMBULANCE SERVICE TOWNSVILLE COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE IN HUGH STREET CURRAJONG HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR MEMBERS BY PAUL VK4FOTO. THERE WILL BE A LOT TO SEE AND THANKS TO POPULAR DEMAND ADDITIONAL TOUR POSITIONS HAVE BEEN ADDED FOR THE VISIT - HOWEVER THESE POSITIONS ARE GOING FAST ! YOU NEED TO GET YOUR TOUR NUMBERS INTO PAUL BY THIS SUNDAY EVENING ! THOSE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET ON THE TOUR WILL NEED TO BE AT THE HUGH STREET COMPLEX GATHERED AT THE CONCRETED CAR PARK FROM 1915 HOURS FOR TOUR COMMENCEMENT WITH PAUL VK4FOTO BY 1930 HOURS THIS TUESDAY. TO MAKE A DEFINITE BOOKING TO BE ON THE TOUR CONTACT PAUL VK4FOTO USING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS - BY ELECTRONIC MAIL TO VK4FOTO AT WESTNET DOT COM DOT AU, OR PHONE 47731196 LEAVING A MESSAGE ON THE ROBOT IF NECESSARY, OR RESPOND TO THE TARC FACEBOOK INVITATION TO ATTEND. PAUL WILL ADVISE YOU IF YOU WERE FAST ENOUGH TO GET ON THE TOUR LIST. I SAY AGAIN...... DONT DELAY, DO IT TODAY, ELSE YOU WILL MISS OUT ! THE TARC MANAGEMENT MEETING WAS HELD LAST TUESDAY AND A SNEEK PREVIEW OF HAPPENINGS SHOW THAT - * A FOXHUNT WILL BE TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAY JUNE 26TH, * THERE ARE STILL SOME DATE CLASHES IN THE COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT CALENDAR THAT ARE BEING IRONED OUT. * A VENUE FOR THE TARC JOHN MOYLE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND OPERATIONS IN MARCH WILL BE ANNOUNCED REAL SOON NOW ! * A SPECIAL THING WILL BE HAPPENING AT THE MARCH PROJECT NIGHT .... KEEP TUNED IN FOR FURTHER DETAILS! WELL THATS ALL FOR THIS WEEK FROM TROPICAL PARADISE. THIS HAS BEEN DON VK4FNQA FOR THE TOWNSVILLE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB INC, AND YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO; AND ENJOYING QNEWS FROM VK4WIA. VK5 The South East Radio Group Convention will be held at Mt Gambier on the 12th and 13th of June, the Queen's Birthday Weekend. The club is also rostered at that time to use the special callsign VK100WIA. (http://serg.mountgambier.org/) INTRUDER WATCH - ENFORCEMENT ZONE Region III IARU-MS Coordinator Peter Young VK3MV WIA Intruder Watch Coordinator Karl Hennig VK6XW VK IARU-MS reflector email to subscribe intruders@wia.org.au IARUMS NETS Friday 0730 UTC 7.065.5 with VK4CEU David. Amateur Service exclusive frequencies where any non-amateur signal is definitely an intruder. Amateur HF Spectrum world wide 7.050 to 7.100 14.000 to 14.250 14.250 to 14.350 No broadcasters 21.000 to 21.450 24.890 to 24.990 28.000 to 29.700 Intruder Watch began 50 years ago, and is just as important, if not more so, as Region 3 IARU Monitoring Service Coordinator Peter Young VK3MV explains. The WIA is a foundation member of the International Amateur Radio Union known as the IARU. The IARU consists of member amateur radio societies around the world with the prime aim of representing and promoting amateur radio and the allocation and protection of amateur spectrum allocations in various forums. One of its important roles is to monitor the Amateur Service exclusive HF spectrum allocations for unwanted intrusions by other radiocommunications services. Why a Monitoring System? Well, the amateur service must take action to protect its bands because an administration permitting a station to operate contrary to the International Telecommunications Union Radio Regulations may assert that its operation is not in breach of the Radio Regulations because there have been no complaints of harmful interference caused by that station. Harmful interference is defined within the ITU Regulations and is the first test before the complaint is accepted. Therefore the objective of the IARU-MS is the removal of Intruders from exclusive amateur bands. How do we do this? The success of the IARU-MS depends on Member Societies acting to influence the licensees of Intruders in their country or the administrations of their country to remove Intruders from exclusive amateur bands or, if the Intruder is in another country, to request their administration to lodge a complaint to the administration of the country in which the Intruder is located. Administrations generally will undertake its own measurements before action is undertaken. Some complaints result in the removal of the intruder reasonably quickly, but unfortunately, some may take years to resolve, particularly if it involves an administration in another country. A recent example, has been the successful removal of a ionospheric over the horizon radar, located in Australia that was causing interference in the 30 meter amateur band. Although the 30 meter band is a secondary amateur service allocation, the licence conditions imposed by the ACMA requires that this radar does not cause interference to other radiocommunications services, including the amateur service. This could not have been achieved without interference reports being filed with our IW coordinator. In Australia the WIA's intruder watch coordinator is Karl Henning, VK6WX who with other observers have years of experience in identifying and logging intruders as well as coordinating all the Australian observations from other amateurs in Australia. What is an observation? This involves listening to signals and determining if they are genuine amateur QSO's. If an intruder is suspected then details are recorded. That is date, time, emission - for example upper or lower sideband AM, CW, or digital, the signal bandwidth, the bearing direction, the general nature of the signal, if some form of identification is used and any other characteristics that may assist the identification and location of the intruder. The WIA needs more IW volunteers! We always need more amateurs to undertake intruder watch to lighten the load. If you value your HF spectrum why not become a IW reporter? Want more information? The WIA's website under the "members" tab has more information - look for the intruder watch tab. (Peter Young, VK3MV Region 3 Monitoring Service Coordinator and WIA Director) Aviation network upgrade The government-owned corporation, Airservices Australia in its project to modernise the VHF radio communication network across Australia has reached a milestone. Its technicians have now upgraded air - ground - air voice communication equipment at 100 of around 150 sites nationally - the latest being on Table Mountain, Rockhampton. Airservices is replacing outmoded radios, aerials and network equipment with state-of-the-art hardware as part of an eight year, $46 million project. Ultimately, all VHF services will be changed onto digital bearers as part of a separate multi-million dollar upgrade of Airservices own national telecommunications infrastructure. The VHF System Upgrade Project is due to be completed this year. (Barry Robinson VK3PV) Very interesting Barry, and also recently announced is that the Rail Corporation New South Wales has signed a deal to replace its analogue radio network with a digital radio system from China. The Australian mains power plug octogenarian This month the familiar three pin Aussie developed plug that is also used in some other countries, is celebrating its 80th birthday. Smaller and smaller radios Perhaps some old-timers remember when they purchased a truly portable 2 metre rig, such as the IC215, about the size of two house bricks and weighing 1.9 Kg. A few years later, the smaller FT208R came on the market - this time about half the size and half the weight. With the arrival of the FT 26 however, hams were relieved that a 'small' handheld had been achieved. Measuring just 55 mm by 146 mm by 33 mm, and weighing 430 gm, this 2 metre handheld was able to carried everywhere. Today, a new generation of small handhelds are available from all the well known manufacturers - handhelds such as the Icom IC-7A. Some of these dual-band 2 metre/70 centimetre radios, which include a broad range of receiver frequencies, are only slightly larger than a credit card even though capable of nearly 2 watts on transmit. But just how small will radios become? Recently physicists at the University of California, America, announced they had constructed 'a fully functional, fully integrated radio receiver, orders-of-magnitude smaller than any previous radio'. Constructed from a single carbon nanotube, the radio is less than a micron long and only 10 nanometers wide, or 10,000 times thinner than a single human hair. A matching ultra-miniature transmitter is planned to be built soon. Go to the Nanotube Radio Website to read about the radio, view videos that were photographed through a high resolution electron microscope, and listen to the receiver in action as it plays 'Good Vibrations' by the Beach Boys. Google the website and see for yourself (www.physics.berkeley.edu/research/zettl/projects/nanoradio/radio.html) I'm Murray Lewis VK3EZM and you're listening to the Amateur Radio Victoria produced VK1WIA broadcast. MEDIA WATCH www.wiaq.com/admin/uploads/weeklytally.rtf www.cq-amateur-radio.com/WorldRadio.html Groups to present this WIA National News Service February 21 - Central Coast Amateur Radio Club (Promoting Wyong Field Day) March 7 - Amateur Radio New South Wales (Promoting the WIA Centenary) March 14 - And it is across to VK6 Denis and NEWSWEST gang March 28, April 4 and 11 - Robert Broomhead VK3DN. April 25 - Down to VK7 with the Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania (ANZAC Weekend) MAY 9 - Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club (promoting CRARC / WIA AGM) MAY 30 - VK100WIA WIA directors join a live outside broadcast from Canberra Tracking ships from space Two new receivers are soon to be tested from the International Space Station to help keep track of large ships at sea. VHF radio signals from a ship's transponder regularly transmit the vessel's identification and location, but this data can only be picked up line-of-sight by other ships or when near land. To improve the tracking of ships, these signals will also be received on the space station to see if it can provide greater real-time tabs on shipping movements. The Australian who put man on the moon An article in the December, 2009 issue of Lo-Key, the journal of the Australian QRP Club, noted the important work of an Australian radio amateur. An enthusiastic ham for all of his life, William Ross Adey was born in Adelaide in 1922 and got his callsign VK5AJ at the aged of 17. In the next decade he established the trademarks of his career in medical research and electronics. At the age of 35 he was appointed Professor of Anatomy and Physiology at the UCLA Medical School in America. Within three years, Professor Ross Adey, now K6UI, was appointed as Director of the new Space Biology Laboratory for human research, established to fulfill President John Kennedy's commitment to put a man on the moon in the 1960's. His laboratory developed the technology for biotelemetry from space to monitor the astronauts' health, including recordings to show the effects of weightlessness on brain function. A full story on about this remarkable Australian who helped put man on the moon, is being written for publication in the WIA journal Amateur Radio magazine. Do you remember Ross Adey? He used to visit ham radio friends in Melbourne. A photograph of him is required to accompany that article. If you can assist with a photo, please contact either Jim Linton VK3PC vk3pc@wia.org.au or Murray Lewis VK3EZM lokey.editor@yahoo.com (Murray Lewis VK3EZM) Silent Key Mark Dods VK3ZR had an established a career in the electronics industry when in the late 1970s became an enthusiastic radio amateur. After the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires he answered the call for radio amateurs to provide communications for the clean-up at Mount Macedon, thus began his involvement in WICEN. He oversaw its Incorporation in 1989/90, served on the Committee of Management as President and State Coordinator for three years, and as WIA Victoria Representative for another six. The contributions of Mark were recognised in 1994 when he was made an "Esteemed Member" of WICEN. His service included the North East Victorian floods of 1993, the Y2K or Millennium bug WICEN network for the Victoria Police 1999, and bushfires 2003, 2006 and 2009. Mark was WICEN Victoria's Public Officer from 1997 until his death. He was also an active member of RECOM, the communications arm of the Red Cross, and provided help in maintaining radio communications for the McCrae Yacht Club. Mark died of cancer on Sunday January 17th at his home in McCrae. His more than 25 years of volunteer work with WICEN was recognised in this year's Australia Day's Honours List, with the Emergency Services Medal. In the true style of this gentleman, the only reason Mark Dods VK3ZR agreed to be nominated for this high award, was so that it was recognised that service as a member of WICEN, was as valid a contribution as service with any other emergency agency. Now for a quick review of this month's WIA journal Amateur Radio magazine. The cover story is the trip by members of the Blue Mountains Amateur Radio Club to Poeppel Corner, in the heart of the Simpson Desert at the borders of the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia. More details on the WIA Centenary Celebration can be read, along with the first in the serialised history of radio. Centenary activities are to take place in Canberra over the weekend Friday 28th through Sunday 30th of May, in conjunction with the WIA's annual general meeting and member forum. Highlights include a series of presentations on the early days of radio, a Saturday evening Centenary Dinner, the special station VK100WIA in conjunction with the Centenary Award will run all three days, a BBQ lunch and public display of amateur radio. Turning to page 28, the topic in the Foundation Corner column is, refurbishing aluminium antennas, by Geoff Emery VK4ZPP - the do's and do not's of antenna restoration. On page 37, Spotlight on SWLing by Robin Harwood VK7RH notes the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race night communications on HF were very difficult due to interference from the combined effects of a clandestine broadcaster in South Korea, and an even louder jammer signal. Also making an interesting read in Amateur Radio magazine, sent to WIA members and available in many newsagents around Australia, are tales from the Lord Howe Island VK9LA DXpedition. Centre Victoria RadioFest - Club Corner Precinct Roll Call Amateur Radio Victoria Australian Vintage Radio Society Bendigo Astronomical Society CQ Magazine Awards CW Operators' QRP Club Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Amateur Radio Club Historical Radio Society of Australia. Macedon Ranges Amateur Radio Club RECOM the communications arm of the Australian Red Cross Scout Radio & Electronics Service Unit The Royal Australian Corp of Signals Museum and The Wireless institute of Australia See them at the WIA Supported Centenary Activity - The Centre Victoria RadioFest No. 3. Battery power your home Electronics manufacturer Panasonic will launch next year a massive lithium-ion storage battery capable of powering an average home for up to a week The Final Final Thank you to Graham Kemp VK4BB for the invitation for Amateur Radio Victoria to present the VK1WIA broadcast. Appreciation is extended to those who assisted with today's presentation including the interviewees - David Wardlaw VK3ADW, Fred Swainston VK3DAC and Peter Cossins VK3BFG. To our support announcers Steve Bushell VK3HK, Murray Lewis VK3EZM, Tim Lewis VK3HAM and the Voice of the Centre Victoria RadioFest Bruce Lees VK3FFF. Thank you John Williams VK2JJW for reading the trivia item, as only you can. The Amateur Radio Victoria team has enjoyed bringing you this broadcast and hopes you liked it too. Now from Jim Linton VK3PC Barry Robinson VK3PV - GOOD MORNING EVERYONE! --------------------------------