----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 MAY 02 2010. ACMA Increases Licence Fee WIA National Field Day EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO NEW WORLD WIDE RADIO OPERATORS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCED AM ANZAC ALL UP AND COMING IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING MAY 2 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACMA Increases Licence Fee Tucked away on last weeks VK7 news was a lil piece from Fred Swainston WIARTO. He let them know that that "they" have been advised of a licence fee increase. Seems that since April 5 licence fees are now $65.00 with licence variations remaining at $41.00. (VK7NEWS) WIA President Michael Owen VK3KI president@wia.org.au Vice President Ewan McLeod VK4ERM vk4erm@wia.org.au Secretary Geoff Atkinson VK3AFA secretary@wia.org.au Treasurer John Longayroux VK3PZ vk3pz@wia.org.au Friday 30th July is the closing date for applications for the WIA Club Grants Scheme for 2010. Full details of the 2010 rules for the scheme can be obtained from the WIA Web site, together with a template setting out the suggested application headings for an executive summary, identifying how the club seeks to meet the objectives of the scheme and guidance regarding supporting documentation. The object of the scheme is to promote and advance amateur radio, the WIA and its Affiliated Clubs by supporting useful and/or innovative projects undertaken or to be undertaken by Affiliated Clubs. President Michael said that the committee would recommend to the Board the projects that should be supported and the amount to be allocated to each supported project. "I urge affiliated clubs to participate in this opportunity" Michael said; "however, it is most important that clubs read the rules very carefully WIA AGM Weekend - Alto Restarant * Friday evenings dinner in the famous Alto revolving restaurant is just $54 per head. The menu will be served as alternates, a choice of/* Salmon and Herb*/ (Lightly cured and pan roasted served with a warm salsa Verde, capsicum and onion caponata) and /*Alto Mignon and Onion*/ (Fillet wrapped in prosciutto and butter roasted, confit of shallot and garlic, warm Serrano cured ham) and for desert /*Clafloutis de Prune*/ Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream and warm chilli maple or /*Mana Maori*/ Golden Caramel pudding, nutmeg cream and Port scented currants. Wine, beer and soft drink will be available for purchase on the night. Please ensure that your Alto booking is made by completing the online registration form below. Please *do not* contact the restaurant directly. WIA National Field Day As part of the WIA Centenary celebrations we are proud to announce the National Field Day. Pick up your pencils, and mark Saturday the 2nd of October on your calendars now. This is your clubs’ or group’s opportunity to take Amateur Radio to the public. Here is your chance to get in on the ground floor on what will surely be Australia’s biggest Amateur Radio publicity event each year. While the focus of the event is not a traditional contest, simple awards are planned for innovative, well presented Field Day Stations that catch the public eye and positively promote Amateur Radio. Read the introductory story in the coming edition of AR magazine and keep an eye on the WIA website for more information. (Paul VK5PH & Philip VK3JNI) HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA. VK2 web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news The famous Bill Shakespeare Auction is returning to Sydney on Wednesday 5th May. The St George Amateur Radio Society has available a huge range of electronic components including resistors, capacitors, transistors, diodes, integrated circuits, etc., plus lots of radio equipment on offer from other sellers. Time to clean out the shack this weekend and bring along you pre-loved radio equipment to sell at the auction, to be held at the club rooms, Donnelly Park, Kyle Parade, Kyle Bay, commencing at 7.00 PM Tea, coffee and refreshments will be available on the night. Pre-registration and further details are available on the club’s web site sgars.org Keep that date in mind Wednesday evening 5th May. Look forward to seeing you there. Across Australia from VK1WIA you're tuned to the WIA National News Service. In Bathurst, it can be heard on VK2RDX 146.650 MHz at 10.00 AM local time. I'm Paul VK2GX Peter VK2FPHR of Peak Hill wrote us, I quote, "Could you please, over the next broadcast advise listeners the BBQ set down for May 1 has been postponed to another time due to family dramas. It was already to go, BUT now it has to be called off". (pwandsj@ozonline.com.au) Port Stephens promotion on Anzac day was marred by heavy rain and huge interference from some source in the area but as they say there is always next time . There were quite a few people that came in the afternoon as the rain had stopped to look around and to see the gun being fired they have been extended an offer to return whenever they wish by the Fort Scratchley Historical Society. VK3 web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/ VKC Roundup http://www.police The Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club members announce that on the 17th July 2010 they will be conducting their annual Hamfest at the Cranbourne Community Hall on the corner of Clarendon and High Streets, Cranbourne. Forty tables of goods will be presented at this large venue, but stall holders should book early as demand is always high. Chris Chapman VK3QB on 0429 187593 or hamfest@ggrec.org.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 I'm Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP and I've been thinking about technology. The promise of the great fibre optic broadband network across the land will certainly help those of us in the regional areas and ADSL or Wireless dead spots. Cost limits many of us and the benefits of instant video or choice of program for download from a broadcaster can not be justified. Get it off air the first time or miss out....well nothing has changed in that regard. However, the dependency of business, government and administration on the IT infrastructure is demonstrated when switching nodes are flooded, satellite ground stations are effected by bad weather or the backup power system failure renders many of these totally inactive. You can't get money from the bank and you can't pay for purchases with the ubiquitous plastic card. Even the fuel pumps may not be working. Well it may not need to be a disaster or catastrophe, just a local event which causes major disruption where we happen to live and work. This is where our hobby of amateur radio offers a means of supplying a redundant communication channel. The Wireless Institute of Australia has over a dozen certified trainers for the emergency communications training which is expected to start after the AGM. There are 200 interested amateurs waiting for this program to start; are you interested, too? I'm Geoff Emery and that's what I think......what about you? Art VK4GO from Cairns has completed their D-Star hotspot 439.100MHz simplex. If you planning to make a holiday trip try out the local D-Star and APRS gateway. If needed you contact Art 0416 518 175 CLUBBING - Redcliffe and District Radio Club www.redclifferadioclub.org.au/ I'm Ray VK4CF back with news from the Redcliffe AR Club". Despite a real drop in temperature about 40 club members attend the club house last Monday night. It was good to see Ray VK4UG, at the club house and despite the short visit his presence was very enjoyable. Peter, VK4EA, John, VK4YJV and Doug, VK4MCD, used a cherry picker to make some further adjustments to the 70 cm antenna. The slight change in antenna direction should enhance the repeater’s signal to the northern Brisbane suburbs. If you hear Peter on the repeater give him a shout and tell him about the improved signal after all the work that has been carried out mainly by Peter and his merry gang of pole climbers. Peter also showed off his new sniffer built using the design of VK3YNG. Peter is also encouraging more members to build these sniffers and enjoy the fox hunt held on the 4th Monday of the month by the club. While speaking of building things, Roger, VK4ZLQ, showed his motor driven variable capacitor. It is a real work of art. Well Done Roger! On May 17th, there is to be a visit by club members to Air Services Australia at Brisbane Airport Control tower. Numbers for this event are limited to a maximum of 24 persons. So please ensure you advise Scottie, VK4FLAE, as soon as possible your intention to attend. It was very pleasing to hear many club members joining in on the Harry Angel Sprint, Charlie VK4YZ and Kevin, VK4UH, were neck and neck during the contest and it is believed that Charlie just pipped Kevin at the post by 1 more contact. The numbers were high and it is hoped that the club will feature well in the final results. John VK4WX has finally left on his trip to the warm north. He said that he should be in Mackay early next month to meet up with relatives. John said that he would terrorize local repeaters and will be on or about 7.070 MHz at nominally 1630 on Saturdays to keep in contact with absent friends. Five candidates successfully passed their Foundation Licence exams last weekend. It is hoped that they will be on the air soon with their new call signs. Many thanks to Ken, VK4FKEN and Allen, VK4KZ, undertaking the assessment and practical tests that finished about 5 pm Saturday during the long weekend. It should be noted that Ken has had a hand in almost everyone of the practical tests carried out at the club for the last 3 years. Thanks Ken. So until next week, for Redcliffe club, I'm Ray VK4CF. SUNSHINE COAST Maleny VK4RSC 146.850 and 438.075 VK4RSN 53.7 Noosa Heads VK4RSL 146.825 and 438.175 This is Gordon VK4VP Annual General Meeting The club held the Annual General Meeting in March and there no changes to the committee positions, they must be doing something right. Kirkleigh Camp Out The interclub campout at Kirkleigh, Somerset Dam was held over the weekend of 17th and 18th of April. Amateurs from all over South East Queensland attended and word has it a VK2 slipped through the border gates as well. Noel VK4NL reports the event just keeps getting bigger each year. SCARC would like to thank Bunya Mtns & District AmCom for organising this excellent event. Harry Angel Sprint Well the Harry Angel Sprint for 2010 has been and gone and it appears it was held TWICE. One of the SCARC members advises that the WIA website had the contest advertised for Friday 23rd of April, but other websites had it advertised as Saturday 24th of April which was believed to be the correct date. No wonder only 1 other Amateur was heard calling CQ on the Friday night. Radar Hill APRS Digipeater Thanks to the generosity of two proffessional RF riggers, the clubs APRS digipeater VK4RSR-3 at Radar Hill Nambour is now reaching far and wide. Wide 3-3 to be precise, that's a very sad in-joke for the APRS fraternity. The antenna was raised from 8m above ground to approximately 70m above ground level. The antenna is a brand new RFI 2m Folded Dipole and a 70 cm folded dipole was installed at the same time. Both antenna's are fed with a single run of LDF4-50 coax donated by Dave VK4UN. A diplexor mounted in a weatherproof enclosure was securely mounted with the antenna's. This digi is now reliably hearing other digis over 180kms away and with a bit of evening propogation Rockhampton digi VK4RAR-3 is heard at a distance of 450kms. Until next time, this is Gordon VK4VP. TOWNSVILLE vk4wit@wia.org.au 4773 1196 or 0408 001142 po box 333 Garbutt East, QLD 4814 www.tarc.org.au CHEERS 73! THIS IS DON VK4FNQA, WITH NEWS FROM NORTH QUEENSLAND ! AM AND CW FOR ANZAC DAY A SUCCESS ! REPORTS HAVE FLOODED IN FROM STATIONS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INAUGURAL AM AND CW FOR ANZAC DAY COMMEMORATION INDICATING THAT THE WORLDWIDE EVENT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS ! MANY OF THE OPERATORS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE COMMEMORATION HAVE SENT CONGRATULATION MESSAGES TO MIKE VK4MIK AND THE SILENT VETERAN WHO ORIGINALLY THOUGHT UP THE IDEA FOR THE ON-AIR EVENT. MIKE HAS ASKED ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE EVENT BECOMING A REGULAR ANNUAL EVENT OCCURRING AS NEAR AS POSSIBLE TO ANZAC DAY AND THE CONSENSUS SO FAR... IS A RESOUNDING YES ! SO, KEEP THOSE MORSE KEYS POLISHED, THOSE CARBON MICROPHONES ACTIVATED, THOSE VALVES CLEAN FROM CARBON TRACKING AND THOSE DYNAMOS EFFICIENT FOR THE 2011 COMMEMORATION ! A REMINDER NOW THAT THIS TUESDAY THE FOURTH OF MAY IS THE EVENING FOR THE TARC MANAGEMENT MEETING. THE MEETING IS HELD FROM 7-30PM AT THE CLUB ROOMS, ON TOP OF SES HEADQUARTERS, GREEN STREET WEST END. REMEMBER TO BRING SOMETHING FOR SHOW AND TELL TO MAKE THINGS INTERESTING. ALL WELCOME. THE TICK TOCK OF THE CLOCK REMINDS ME THAT IT IS TIME TO END FOR ANOTHER WEEK.... THAT'S ALL FOR QNEWS FOR THIS SUNDAY SECOND OF MAY.... THIS HAS BEEN DON VK4FNQA IN TROPICAL PARADISE FOR THE TOWNSVILLE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB INC, AND YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO, AND ENJOYING >>>QNEWS FROM VK4WIA.. VK7 local area news :- http://reast.asn.au/news.php vk7 local news, email vk7regionalnews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Some VK7 QSL Bureau Info. Inbound cards both national and international are posted to the vk7 QSL post office box in Hobart. The QSL manager, John VK7RT, collects and sorts WIA member's cards and sends them on to the respective WIA members. This is either by hand to the domain or S.A.S.E. Mail to others. The WIA policy is that it is the members responsibility for funding such mailouts. Amateur cards belonging to non WIA members are kept in a box at the manager's residence. Non members are to contact John to allow them the opportunity of making suitable arrangements for collecting their own cards. The WIA is adamant that QSL managers do not in any way put time into the sorting of non-member's cards. Full information about the QSL bureau can be found on the web site www.wia.org.au/members/QSL/about/ (73, John, VK7RT) EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO www.hamcollege.com.au THE FUTURE OF AMATEUR RADIO IS WITH THE YOUTH The future of amateur radio is with the youth and we need to adapt if we want to attract them. This was the message from IARU Region 1 President Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T as he d delivered the after-dinner address at the S.A.R.L. Awards Banquet in Port Elizabeth last week. He said that the expectations of the youth were very different from those that moved the current generation to become radio amateurs. What interested us at that time no longer enthuses the youth of today, said Timmerman. He continued to say: "My advice is let go on much of what we know and love and let them do what they love. Their focus is more visual. They are keen on new technologies but also want it to happen fast. "Clubs can do much to promote amateur radio. Start a junior section with a young leader in your club. Focus on visual, virtual and new technologies. Promote amateur radio as an art and a science, different from the Internet and cellphones. Senior members should provide the resources and support and let youngsters off the leash. We urgently need a new approach." TYCO OFFERS FREE ELECTRONICS COURSES Tyco Electronics has launched a free web-based training program aimed at designers of electronic and electrical equipment. From electrical basics to detailed descriptions of circuit protection strategies, Circuit Protection University provides a suite of practical, self-paced tutorials. The site launch has been nick-named CPU and includes an overview of circuit protection devices and tutorials on over current and over voltage protection techniques. Additional courses in coordinated circuit protection and I/O port protection are now also available. Most important the training program also includes real world examples of circuit protection solutions for consumer electronic devices. More can be found at http://go.bluevolt.com/CoBrandTemplate/home.aspx?brand=tyco INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL, Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA. NEW SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL ELECTED At the AGM held in Port Elizabeth Dennis Green, ZS4BS, was elected as President with Mark Zank, ZS6YES, as Vice Chairman. The Council will meet in the next two weeks to assign portfolios to the other councillors. Rassie Erasmus, ZS1YT, the immediate past President, will continue as Treasurer. Central Scotland Repeater problems Following the ongoing jamming and abuse problems on a number of Central Scotland FM Group repeaters, a meeting has taken place between Ofcom, the repeater group and the RSGB to discuss options to address the problem. Ofcom has indicated that the problem is under active investigation and as a result enforcement action has been taken against one individual resulting in the forfeiture of equipment and a number of others being warned of their conduct. The investigations are still ongoing and Ofcom has asked that any evidence of abuse is in the first instance forwarded to GM8HBY to co-ordinate information rather than create duplicate reports. This should be done by e-mail at info@csfmg.com or by post to GM8HBY who is QTHR. Ofcom have also reminded repeater users not to respond to any abuse or jamming heard on the repeaters. School Club EU Day - 5th May The annual School Club EU Day will take place on 5th May. It is designed to create contacts with and between school amateur radio clubs and training centres and give them the opportunity to contact other amateur stations around Europe. The activity is a great way to get young operators on the air from their school shacks. An English version of the rules for this event can be found on the German website www.aatis.de/content/sites/default/files/EU2010_EN_txt.pdf. NEW WORLD WIDE RADIO OPERATORS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCED There is a new player on the ham radio political and educational scene with the goal of improving the skills of amateur radio operators around the world,. This, by utilizing education, competition, advancement of technology and scientific research to promote international friendship and goodwill. It also wants to help prepare hams to better serve society in times of communication need. These are the lofty goals of the World Wide Radio Operator’s Foundation, Inc. and it has the backing of some of the heaviest of the true heavyweights in the hobby. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, has the whose' who in this new game in town: Although it was founded quietly back in 2009, the World Wide Radio Operator’s Foundation, Inc. or WWROF was officially launched on Friday, April 16th at the 61st International DX Convention held in Visalia, California. And the groups Board of Directors reads like a whose-who in the world of amateur radio. According to its leadership, the World Wide Radio Operator’s Foundation was created with the goal of advancing the skill and art of radio operating. The group’s mission statement states that it is dedicated to improving the skills of amateur radio operators around the world, utilizing education, competition, advancement of technology and scientific research, promoting international friendship and goodwill, and preparing them to better serve society in times of communication need. The World Wide Radio Operator’s Foundation further believes that on-the-air contests provide a good test of operating skills and are of immeasurable value to amateur radio overall. The groups is made up of a group of well-known and very highly respected DX'ers, contesters and public service operators. This includes Chairman Doug Grant, K1DG; Vice Chairman John Dorr, K1AR; Treasurer Ralph Bowen, N5RZ and Secretary Tom Lee, K8AZ. Other board members are Bob Cox, K3EST; Tim Duffy, K3LR and Mark Beckwith, N5OT. In addition, the organization has an Advisory Committee that includes Ken Wolff, K1EA; George Fremin, K5TR; Randy Thompson, K5ZD; Trey Garlough, N5KO; and Larry “Tree” Tyree, N6TR. Among other things, the group says that it intends to support high impact operating-oriented projects. These include training activities and content, contest administration improvements, recruitment programs for new contesters and deployment of state-of-the-art technologies for enhanced log checking or simply improved awards programs. They also plan on establishing an equipment donation program for young contesters and those radiosports oriented hams residing in third world nations. In looking at the overall structure the World Wide Radio Operator’s Foundation appears to have adopted some of the finer points of organizations like that of the Radio Club of America, the Quarter Century Wireless Association, major DX and contest groups and even the ARRL and put them all under one roof. Its then added an emphasis on High Frequency radiosports as an operational training ground. The only questions are will this approach succeed and if it does, what will its long term affect be on the overall hobby. The World Wide Radio Operator’s Foundation is incorporated as a non-profit organization in the state of Ohio, and is pursuing tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code so that donations made to it will be tax-deductible. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale More information about the World Wide Radio Operator’s Foundation can be found at www.wwrof.org. ON THE AIR: EURPOES EURODAY ON THE AIR FROM SPAIN MAY 1 - 20 On the air, listen out for the special callsigns AO1EU, AO2EU, AO3EU, AO4EU, AO5EU, AO6EU, AO7EU, AO8EU and AO9EU between May 1st to the 20th. This, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Robert Schuman's presentation of his proposal for the creation of what is now known as the European Union. The activity is organized this year by Spain’s EA Digital Federation under the auspices of the European Radio Amateurs' Organization. All bands and all modes will be used. A special QSL card will be available only via EuroBureauQSL at www.eurobureauqsl.org OPERATIONAL NEWS - SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2010 APR 30 - MAY 6 Westlakes CQ Repeater contest contestmanager@westlakesarc.org.au May 8 WIA VK Trans Tasman 80m Phone Bruce Renn vk3jwz@wia.org.au May 15-16 NZART Sangster Shield http://www.nzart.org.nz/contests/index.html Jun 12 WIA VK Trans Tasman 160m Phone Bruce Renn vk3jwz@wia.org.au Jun 12-13 WIA Worked All VK Shires contest@vkshires.info Jun 19-20 WIA WINTER VHF-UHF Field Day John Martin VK3KM tac@wia.org.au Jul 3- 4 NZART MEMORIAL CONTEST http://www.nzart.org.nz/contests/index.html Jul 10tbc WIA Jack Files Contest John Spooner vk4ajs@wia.org.au Aug 14-15 WIA Remembrance Day Contest Peter Harding vk4od@wia.org.au Aug 21-22 International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend. register on website illw.net Oct 2 WIA WIA National Field Day nfd@wia.org.au Oct 2- 3 WIA Oceania DX Contest Phone Tony Burt vk3tz@wia.org.au Oct 9-10 WIA Oceania DX Contest CW Tony Burt vk3tz@wia.org.au NOV 20-21 WIA Spring VHF-UHF Field Day John Martin VK3KM tac@wia.org.au SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, REPEATER BEACON DX AND NET ADVICE hf nets ON the net, www.timroberts-vk4yeh.id.au/ A special callsign will be activated for the famous car race of 24 hours in Le Mans (France). The call used will be TM24H on the air from 30 May to 13 of June 2010. The QSL manager will still be F6KFI. (Claude, F4EET) International Summits on the Air Another International Summits On The Air Weekend will be held on the first weekend in May, the 1st and 2nd. All prospective activators are encouraged to post their planned activations on SOTAwatch as soon as is practicable. The event encourages summit to summit contacts between the many International Associations that comprise SOTA. It should give Chasers the opportunity to work as many different associations as possible. This does mean that HF may be required but does not mean that this is solely an HF event. The choice of operating band and mode is left to the individual activator. Check out the SOTA website at www.sota.org.uk for details. GN4KPT/P will be on the air on 2nd and 3rd May from Shanes Castle for the Steam Rally. This is a joint venture between Antrim & District Amateur Radio Society & Ballymena Amateur Radio Club. The station will be on the air on 2nd May between 14.00 and 17.00 and 3rd May 10.00 to 16.00. To mark the 10th anniversary of the closure of the world's largest maritime radio station, Portishead Radio, GB10GKA is being activated from 30th April to 27th May. Hours of operation will be dependent on individual operators' free time and operation will be primarily on CW. Rick, G3YEC will operate 30th April until 6th May from this QTH near Colchester. Special Anniversary QSL cards will be produced to mark this historic event. eQSL will also be used. Certificates for contacting GB10GKA on more than four HF bands will be available. Contact Tony Roskilly, G3ZRJ by e-mail to g3zrj.morsekey@btinternet.com ZL7J will be on the air from Chatham Island between 28th April and 3rd May. All bands from 1.9MHz to 28MHz will be used with SSB and CW. QSL via JH1HRJ. AM ANZAC ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE A NUMBER OF THE RESTORATION STATIONS MADE CONTACT ACROSS THE POND BOTH NEAR AND FAR AND A STAND OUT EFFORT BY BILL VK4WL IN MAREEBA ENABLED AT LEAST ONE PSK CONTACT TO BE MADE WITH THE TANGO CHARLIE SWAT TEAM LOCATED NEAR ANZAC COVE. NICK VK4YT, ROSS VK4AQ AND MIKE VK4MIK WERE SUITABLY SUPERVISED BY WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN TOM VK4AOG WITH THE CW AND AM OPERATION ON RESTORED MILITARY GEAR SIGNING AS VK4GHL FROM MAREEBA AERODROME. DALE AX4WAT DID SOME NICE LONG AM CONTACTS OPERATING PORTABLE FROM THE ROCKY CREEK MEMORIAL SITE AND THEN FROM THE ATHERTON WAR CEMETERY. AMATEUR RADIO VICTORIA HAD VK3RAN RUNNING HOT FROM THE WARSHIP CASTLEMAINE MUSEUM WITH GEAR OPERATED BY TERRY VK3UP AND MICHELLE VK3FEAT WORKING A TOTAL OF ONE HUNDERED AND THIRTEEN STATIONS. WHYALLA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB DID SOME GREAT PUBLIC RELATIONS AND SOME GREAT CONTACTS FROM THE WARSHIP WHYALLA MUSEUM AND, NOT TO BE OUTDONE, VK4RAN FROM THE WARSHIP DIAMANTINA MUSEUM DID A HEAP OF AM CONTACTS USING THE SHIPS RESTORED COMMUNICATIONS GEAR. VK4WIT FROM THE EX WORLD WAR TWO RAAF COMMUNICATIONS HEADQUARTERS IN TOWNSVILLE WORKED A FEW STATIONS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND WAS CONTROL STATION FOR THE NORTH QUEENSLAND NET WHICH RAN DURING THE EVENING ON 80 METRES AM WITH 18 STATIONS PARTICIPATING. MANY OF THE OPERATORS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE COMMEMORATION HAVE SENT CONGRATULATION MESSAGES TO MIKE VK4MIK AND THE SILENT VETERAN WHO ORIGINALLY THOUGHT UP THE IDEA FOR THE ON-AIR EVENT. MIKE HAS ASKED ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE EVENT BECOMING A REGULAR ANNUAL EVENT OCCURRING AS NEAR AS POSSIBLE TO ANZAC DAY AND THE CONSENSUS SO FAR... IS A RESOUNDING YES ! SO, KEEP THOSE MORSE KEYS POLISHED, THOSE CARBON MICROPHONES ACTIVATED, THOSE VALVES CLEAN FROM CARBON TRACKING AND THOSE DYNAMOS EFFICIENT FOR THE 2011 COMMEMORATION ! (DON THE MATMAN) INTRUDER WATCH - ENFORCEMENT ZONE Region III IARUMS Coordinator Peter Young VK3MV VK IARUMS reflector email to subscribe intruders@wia.org.au INTRUDER NETS Friday 0730 UTC 7.065.5 with VK4CEU David. Amateur 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 Radio Kuwait cleared from amateur radio band From 12 to 19 April the broadcaster had been transmitting programs in Arabic with up to S9+30dB signals blocking almost 20 kHz of the 40m Band. Yes Radio Kuwait was broadcasting in the Amateur Radio 7 MHz allocation, however speedy action by the IARU Monitoring System Intruder Watch resolved the problem. A 'combined action’ led to the removal of Radio Kuwait on 7150 and 7190 kHz. MEDIA WATCH www.wiaq.com/admin/uploads/weeklytally.rtf www.cq-amateur-radio.com/WorldRadio.html Groups presenting this WIA National News Service MAY VK1 23 CRARC (promoting CRARC and WIA AGM) MAY VK100WIA 30 WIA DIRECTORS JOIN A LIVE OB FROM CANBERRA HOT OFF THE PRESS: NEW DX BOOK AVAILABLE BY W9KNI 'A Year of DX' is a new book by noted author Bob Locher, W9KNI that follows him as he makes an all out effort to win the 2008 running of CQ Magazine's DX Marathon. The Marathon is a year long operating event during which a contestant works as many countries and CQ zones as possible, any band or any mode. While the book chronicles Bob's efforts in the pileups and through the lonely watches of the night, it also contains other discussions of what DX'ing is all about. These include the possibilities of DX'ing in low sun spot periods contributed by Jim Henderson, KF7E, a chapter on optimizing your SSB transmit audio by Hall of Famer Chip Margelli, K7JA, a discussion of what is the ideal linear amplifier, and much more. Anyone who read and enjoyed Bob's 'Compete DX'er' is sure to find this book equally worthwhile. Its publication date is scheduled for May 1st. More information is on-line at www.idiompress.com/yearofdx.php WIA NATIONAL NEWS In Media Watch a couple of chestnuts to roast, or house cleaning to perform. If you are rebroadcasting this news service, or are a callback operator then you should be subscribed to the wiabroadcasters@yahoogroups.com server which will tell you the duration and where the backup file of the news is stored each week. It also gives details of special broadcasts to be aired such as the RD Weekend open and the JOTA address. A second email is sent in each week with the callbacks tallied up, it is this list that is used to update the wia.org.au site so your callbacks ARE important!! Now when you send us material to broadcast, and this is VERY important. If you are sending a text script for the newsroom to read, send it to us in the way YOU WOULD EXPECT TO HEAR IT BEING READ BACK! By this I mean don't write "I'm vk9cxs and our club here at Christmas Island is holding a welcome to new hams", YOU may be at Christmas Island but our reader may be in Tassie or Victoria or Ingham. Instead write "VK9CXS tells us that the club on Christmas Island is holding a welcome to new hams". Write in the 3rd person! Now we would MUCH prefer you to also send us a voice clip, in wav or mp3 and details on where to upload that to us are on the WIA broadcast page at wia.org.au Upload your audio (making sure your callsign is part of the file name, and email us the script. It should be obvious that if you send us audio and you are as an example VK9CXS, you WOULDN'T read it yourself in the 3rd person! All this makes our life a lot easier, and filing and writing correctly will help get your reports to air in a timely manner, particularly when other groups, like REAST last weekend, take over the task when I am absent! WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW FISTS Club - East Asia www.feacw.net FISTS Club - Australasia www.fistsdownunder.org FISTS Club - UK & Europe www.fists.co.uk FISTS Club - Americas www.fists.org Morse code practice via Echolink You can now get Morse code practice sessions by using Echolink. Just connect to the W1AW Conference Server 'W1AWBDCT' Node 37374. Audio from W1AW’s CW code practices and CW/digital bulletins is now available using EchoLink via the W1AW Conference Server “W1AWBDCT” Node Number 37374. The 9:45 PM ET phone bulletin is currently unavailable via W1AWBDCT. The audio is sent in real-time and runs concurrently with W1AW’s regular transmission schedule. Birthday of Samuel Morse Samuel Morse, who introduced telegraph communications in the United States, was born 219 years ago on April 27, 1791 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. On 24th of May 1844, he famously sent the message "What hath God wrought" (quoting Numbers 23:23) by telegraph from Washington D.C to Baltimore. His full name was Samuel Finley Breese Morse and he lived from April 27, 1791 till April 2, 1872. WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL Australian Coordinator for TCPIP domains is Indy vk2xb@wia.org.au Amateur radio group to end packet operations Steve Perkins, G4FPV and Stewart Wilkinson, G0LGS have decided that, with the continued decline in Packet Radio activity and also due to changes in personal circumstances, that they will close down the following systems for which they are responsible on (or soon after) 31st May 2010: G4FPV (MLVN) Node GB7GLO (GLOBBS) AX25 BBS GB7LGS (CHELT) Node and TCP/IP BBS This will bring to end the provision of Packet Radio Nodes and BBS facilities in and around the North Gloucestershire and South Worcestershire area after around 20 years of near continuous operation. WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER AMSAT-VK UNOFFICIAL HF Net. 2nd Sunday each month. April through October 1000 UTC 3.685 MHz November through March 0900 UTC 7.068 MHz The secondary payloads on the Indian PSLV-C15 launch, currently slated for May 5, will be two Amateur Radio CubeSats along with a Norwegian satellite. One of the CubeSats, STUDSAT, was built by Indian students and will operate on 437.505 MHz. Violet is an Amateur Radio satellite being built at Cornell University for launch early 2011. The name derives from its ultraviolet telescope, which includes flight-spare Deep Impact CCDs. The satellite is a 50cm cube satellite and will carry 4k8 UHF simplex packet links with 5 watts of RF downlink power. It will use a star tracker and fibre optic gyro for fine attitude estimation and propagation. Violet will allow guest investigators to utilize multiple CMG arrays to test and validate CMG steering laws, maintain a communication link, downlink data for use in steering law validation over multiple orbits, acquire the sun and charge batteries when necessary. A submission for frequencies has been made to the IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination panel. SOCIAL SCENE 2010 MAY 8 VK3 10am Moorabbin @ District Amateur Radio club Hamfest at Brentwood Secondary College. MAY 8 VK4 Brisbane Amateur Radio Club's "Barcfest", Mt Gravatt show grounds 9,30am. JUNE 12 VK2 Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club's 35th Annual Field Day. JULY 17 VK3 GGREC Hamfest Start Time : 10:00 AUGUST 1 VK6 Northern Corridor Group Hamfest Cyril Jackson Sports Centre Ashfield Oct 29 - 31 VK1OOWIA Westlakes ARC during our WIA centenary celebrations. 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 YEAR 2012 World Radio Conference WRC-11 Geneva 23rd January TO 17th February 2012 MAY 4-7 2012 VK5 YL International 2012 Australia (vk5tmc@bigpond.com) Please think of the environment before printing this email ============================================================================= WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide. 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 to our dedicated band of broadcast volunteers who utilize their time and equipment in bringing you this weekly broadcast. The purpose of "WIANews" is to rapidly provide news of interest to 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 are broadcast 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... Compiled by VK4BB on behalf of the National WIA. *****************************************************************************