WIANEWS - MAR 27 - VK NATIONAL NEWS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 TWITTER http://twitter.com/VK1WIA 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 MARCH 27 2011. Titanic Anniversary (VO1MGY) Operation INTERNATIONAL DYNAMIC RANGE DAY 600th ARISS ham radio school contact JEFF'S WALK 2 - EAST to WEST for NETS. VK4WIP Club Station in the CQ WPX ALL THESE STORIES UP AND COMING IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING MARCH 27 2011. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS FROM LAST WEEK MARCH 20 HAS BEEN REPOSTED IN TEXT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS WEEKS NEWS. This due to the "unformatting" of news script where every word ran straight into each other! INTERNATIONAL DYNAMIC RANGE DAY Last Friday was deemed "Dynamic Range Day". This has been set up to try to get recording producers to "drop their levels" and show some light and shade! In order to achieve super-high levels on CD's the music has it’s dynamic range reduced – roughly speaking, that’s the difference between the loudest and quietest moments in the music. The effect is now so extreme that we have reached a bizarre situation where Justin Bieber’s CD is louder than Motorhead, AC/DC or Sex Pistols! The fatal flaw of this “Loudness War” in a nutshell is "it doesn’t sound good." Research shows there is no connection between “loudness” and sales People don’t notice loudness when comparing songs Modern music players undo loudness by using ReplayGain Most listeners just turn loud music down ! So – “loud” music on CD has no benefit on the radio, online, on an mp3 player, or in your CD player and yet almost every new release is crushed to within an inch of it’s life. Enter "Dynamic Range Day". WIA President Michael Owen VK3KI president@wia.org.au Vice President Phil Wait VK2ASD vk2asd@wia.org.au Secretary Sarah Thompson VK3AUD secretary@wia.org.au Treasurer John Longayroux VK3PZ vk3pz@wia.org.au No it is not JUST a Field Day Being close to the John Moyle Memorial National Field Day now leaves most of the clubs thinking that another event, is just more of the same. Tune in to the World - Amateur Radio gets people talking, is our hobby’s big public relations event. It will be in celebration of World Amateur Radio Day, the 17th of April. That is just a few weeks away. Rules and the scoring method are available on the WIA website. All it needs a little advance planning, a publicly accessible venue, suitable station equipment, signage and most importantly people who are very presentable and knowledgeable. Posters and uniforms are available on the website. This is an opportunity to get right behind the Tune in to the World - Amateur Radio gets people talking – and take our hobby out to the public. Already more than a dozen clubs have indicated that they’re ready to show the general public what they, and the hobby of amateur radio, has to offer – what’s your club doing?. Everyone gets enjoyment from being involved and comes away feeling they have put something back into the hobby they enjoy so much. Remember Amateur Radio Day on the 17th of April, get involved, visit the WIA website and sign up – it only needs three or more to be involved with a public station. (Jim Linton VK3PC) OPEN HOUSE WIA members and friends are invited to attend the formal opening of the WIA premises at Unit 20, 11-13 Havelock Road, Bayswater, Victoria at 4:00pm Saturday, April 2nd. The premises will be named “Andersson House” in honour of Henry Andersson VK8HA. Henry was an Honorary Life Member of the WIA, who passed away October sIX 2004. He left his property at Humpty Doo, near Darwin, to the WIA. That generous bequest provided much of the funds needed to enable the purchase. Light refreshments will be served between 4:00pm and 6:00pm, and a memorial plaque will be unveiled at a ceremony commencing at 4:30pm. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to the Office on )03) 9729 0400 between 10:00am and 4:00pm Monday to Friday. (IN TEXT EDITION ONLY) WIA AGM The WIA and the Darwin Amateur Radio club want to invite you to Darwin, Australia’s Northern Tropical capital for the WIA Annual Conference being held over the weekend of 27, 28, 29th of May at Mirrambeena Resort . A welcome dinner by the sea at the Beautiful Darwin Trailer Boat Club on Friday night. Saturday morning for the Annual General Meeting and forums. Saturday afternoon will see presentations based around Technology for the bush and life in the top end. The conference dinner on Saturday night at the lovely Treetops restaurant finishes off the Saturday events. For Partners we have set up a tour of some special places in Darwin led by the team from The DARC side. On Sunday we are going to Litchfield National Park. Bring your togs and swim or just cool off in the pristine water falls and rockholes. Take a look at the magnetic anthill phenomenon, and join in a barbecue lunch at the very pretty Wangi falls. Sunday evening why not join DARC for tea at the famous Mindil Markets and watch a beautiful sunset over Fannie bay whilst eating your choice of specialty food from one of the many different food stalls. So why not register on the wia website now and come to Darwin for a great weekend of fun and fellowship with fellow Amateurs. Register now on www.wia.org.au book your tickets and we will see you here on the 27th of may 2011. This is Spud on behalf of the Wia and the Darwin amateur radio club. UP UP AND AWAY Optus will add a new satellite, Optus 10, to it’s A/NZ fleet making it the largest in the company’s and Australia’s history. Optus 10 will be delivered in 2013 and built in Palo Alto, California, by Space Systems/Loral. This follows the expansion of Australia’s satellite fleet with the state-of-the-art D-Series satellites launched in 2006,7 and9. Optus provides satellite services to Australia and NZ government departments, premium companies and broadcasters including Foxtel, ABC, SBS, Seven Network, Nine Network, Globecast Australia, UBI and Sky TV New Zealand. Optus managing director Optus wholesale and satellite, Vicki Brady, said Optus was the only full service telecommunications provider in Australia with the ability to harness the additional capability that satellite communication offers. It launched the first of Australia’s satellite fleet 25 years ago. (ARNNET) 99.7 FM This is the channel set aside on Melbourne for the majority of International Sporting Events. It's alive this weekend with the trackside commentary from the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in South Melbourne with the running of the 2011 Formula 1™ Qantas Australian Grand Prix, a stellar line-up of elite motor racing! DOWN THE BAND A BIT 98.7FM is Community radio station 3RPP and they are shooting for an Easter deadline to be on air at new studios at the former Mornington High School. The project is a combined effort of Mornington Peninsula Rotary clubs, The group is holding a raffle in which two cars, a cruising holiday and a television are up for grabs. Radio Port Phillip broadcasts around the clock on 98.7FM. 2EC's AM TX off air due to floods Heavy rain over the past 24 hours has caused flash flooding throughout the New South Wales south coast and Illawarra regions, putting one of 2EC's transmitters off air. The station's AM 765 transmitter site at Kalaru has been affected by the flooding. 2EC Program Director Kimmi Saker told radioinfo: "Our tech is waiting for water to recede to be able to get into the site and get it cranked again. In the meantime 765 AM listeners can get there 105.5 FM frequency." THE ANSWER IS BLOWIN' IN THE WIND Transmission services provider Broadcast Australia has refitted a remote transmission site to be powered primarily by renewable energy. The Mount Owen site, serving Queenstown and Zeehan, Tasmania, will use site-generated wind and solar power to meet fully the site’s 8 kW power needs 80 percent to 90 percent of the time. The site broadcasts national and commercial analogue and digital radio and television services and supports critical radio communications for local emergency services. According to Broadcast Australia Energy Systems Engineer Gary Cafe, the power demands for digital television and other new services were starting to exceed the capacity of the existing mains power feed. Given the remoteness of the facility, and the presence of strong prevailing south-westerly winds, Mount Owen was a good candidate for onsite renewable energy generation, especially compared to the cost of upgrading the mains power feeder lines. (SOURCED TO RADIOWORLD). HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA. JEFF'S WALK 2 - EAST to WEST for NETS. The walk starts on the morning of the 24th April and Jeff will be in Lismore on the evening of the 25th. Maybe you would like to join Jeff as there will probably be some sort of a gathering maybe sausage sizzle or BBQ. Jeff is currently calling/listening most evenings 7045 at 1730 3612 at 1830 (AEST: Qld time). www.jeffswalk2.com VK2 web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club annual Field Day June Long Weekend Saturday and Sunday 11 and 12 June. This year the venue will be the Tacking Point Surf Club hall in Matthew Flinders Drive, Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie. It is important to book accommodation as soon as possible as there will be a lot of visitors staying in the Port for the WinterSun Festival which also runs over that June Long Weekend. The ORARC Field Day theme is the club’s 40th birthday and there will be all the usual activities and attractions including the foxhunts both Saturday and Sunday and trade displays on Sunday. The Field Day dinner will be at the Tacking Point Golf Club 6pm on Saturday night. (vk2wi) VK3 web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/ VKC Roundup http://www.police Moorabbin & District Radio Club annual hamfest will be held Saturday May 7 at Brentwood Secondary College, Glen Waverley 10am. Enquiries Graeme vk3gl@bigpond.com Lee vk3gk@aanet.com.au VK4 - QNEWS web service local audio news:- www.wiaq.com/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3 local news email qnews-vk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com VKR Roundup http://www.police.qld.gov.au/News+and+Alerts/Media+Releases/ TARC Does the WIA National Field Day The WIA National Field Day will be happening on Sunday April 17th and theTARCinc will be setting up displays different aspects of Amateur Radio on the northern side of the Sturt Street headland on The Strand Townsville from 8am. Hams need to help with this activity to publicise the worthwhile hobby of Amateur Radio to the wider community so get along to wave the flag and have some fun as well ! NQ Amateur Radio Convention Date Set The date has been set for one of the most stellar events in the Radio Amateur calendar, the 20th Bi-ennial North Queensland Amateur Radio Convention in Townsville from Fri afternoon 16th to Sunday afternoon 18th September. VK4 SILENT KEYS @ 2010 - 2011 QAC YEAR VK4MWT Tom Bowden November 14 2010 Advised by Gavin VK4ZZ VK4SS Alan Shawsmith November 23 2010 Advised by Stepphen VK4JSS VK4CK Colin King December 30 2010 Advised by Gary VK4AR VK4AMO Mike O'Callaghan January 02 2011 advised by Dale VK4DMC VK4HER Dawn Sebbens January 09 2011 advised by Margaret VK4AOE VK4YNL Egon Frangenheim January 19 2011 advised by Gordon VK4VP VK4DI Len Effeney February 01 2011 advised by Clive VK4ACC VK4CAU Frank Sleep 2011 advised by Gavin VK4ZZ Welcome to QNews from VK4WIA. I'm Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I've been thinking. During the floods occurring to central and southern Queensland and the following devastation of Cyclone Yasi, in the north, there was much wondering what preparedness and participation was occurring, in the relief efforts by radio amateurs. As if to underline the strength of catastrophic weather we are experiencing, came the earthquake in Christchurch and Japan and the following tsunami. Whilst we grieve for the loss of life and the devastation that so many people have suffered, I feel we should be also be looking at what we as an interest group should be learning and adopting procedures which can offer practical help in times of disaster and catastrophe. This may seem to be a hobby horse of mine but unless we learn from experiences around the world we will never be an effective community resource. Remember the often quoted saying, "Unless we learn the lessons of history we are bound to repeat its mistakes". According to statements released by WIA News, the AREC teams and JARL teams were rapidly deployed to assist the first responders with communications around the earthquake zones. Implicit in this is the level of training which allows interoperability amongst the responding services as well as the availability of equipment to use. The question is now, have we and could we respond in an emergency the way our ZL and JA colleagues have? I'm Geoff Emery and that's what I think....how about you? CLUBBING - TO SUPPLY NEWS ITEMS:- email qnews@wia.org.au Redcliffe and District Radio Club www.redclifferadioclub.org.au/ I’m Ray, VK4CF with news from Redcliffe Amateur Radio club. The news begins on a sad note with the passing away of Club member Geary Fawke passed away peacefully yesterday after a long illness with cancer. His funeral will be held next Wednesday 30th March at 1pm - the Holy Cross Catholic Church, Anzac Ave, Kippa Ring. While Geary did not have a callsign, he had been an active member of the club over a long period and had donated his caravan to the club to become the communications centre for all club field activities. The club is deeply saddened and wishes to pass on to his son, Mathew and his family, our deepest sympathy. The third Monday night of the month is the clubs technical talk night. Due to the John Moyle weekend, there was no technical talk this month but in April, Kevin VK4UH, will detail his part of the Lord Howe Island DX expedition conducted in January 2011. In May, Roger, VK4ZLQ & Peter VK4EA, will discuss the success of the Stubb Filters that were used on the John Moyle field day weekend. A welcome visitor to the club house last Monday night was Marsha, N8FE, the mother of James, VK4TJF. Marsha calls herself the IRON MAIDEN. Her husband and both of her sons are all licensed amateurs. She said it was good to get away from the cold in the US and catch-up with family and friends in Australia. She said that she should be back down under in 2 more years. James, VK4TJF, is also putting together a listing of all hf, vhf and uhf nets around Australia and could interested club secretary’s could the details of your club nets to James via the Redcliffe club website, he will enter the details into a database and send it to the WIA for publication. Kippa Ring Shopping Centre will be National field day location for the club. This will provide a wide range of exposure for the club as well as the BBQ fund raiser at Bunnings at Rothwell in June this year. The John Moyle weekend started out warm and humid on the Friday as the antennas went up but turned to drizzle early Saturday morning and then to rain about lunchtime Saturday and continued for the rest of the weekend. Peter, VK4EA led the activity and was ably supported by brothers Andy, VK4KY and Glenn, VK4FZ and quite a few others including Geoff, VK4FNRS. About 30 club members braved the miserable conditions to make in excess of 800 contacts mostly on the lower bands. Despite the rain and a few mechanical problems the weekend was a good one and the first wet field day for the club in 7 years. The final scores are still being worked out, and the result appears promising. More details next week. So now it’s 73 from Ray, VK4CF. EDUCATION YOUTH AND ADVANCEMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO www.hamcollege.com.au Manly-Warringah Radio Society Eight candidates did the club's Foundation training course and assessments a few weeks back and all eight candidates passed with flying colours and one went straight on to pass his Standard theory test. Congratulations to all candidates, and welcome to Amateur Radio! Manly-Warringah Radio Society meets every Wednesday at the 1st Terrey Hills Guides Hall, Beltana Avenue, Terrey Hills at 7.30 p.m. The Hornsby and Districts Amateur Radio Club will be running an exam session on the morning of Saturday 16th April at Waitara in northern Sydney, for all grades of licence. Please notify the Club by 8th April as this allows time for the exam papers can be ordered. The best way is via the form at: hadarc.org.au The club generally meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, however as the 26th is a catch-up holiday for ANZAC Day calling on Easter Monday, there will be no formal meeting this month. hadarc.org.au/education.html (Julian Sortland, VK2YJS, Publicity Officer, HADARC) INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL, Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA read by Jason 2LAW. QUAKE SCIENCE: THE POWER OF THE JAPAN QUAKE And some stunning statistics about the awesome power of this earthquake. According to the BBC, experts they interviewed say that the massive shaker may have shifted Japan's main coastline by up to 13 feet to the east. This is based on the country's network of 1,200 GPS monitoring stations. The GeoNet GPS network is the world's largest. Also, the quake may have knocked the planet off its axis by about 6.5 inches. This says the BBC will cause the Earth to rotate a tiny bit faster and thereby shortening the day by about 1.8 millionths of a second. The Japan Meteorological Agency has raised the quake's magnitude to 9 while the U.S. Geological Survey still has it rated at magnitude 8.9. The Japan Meteorological Agency has also officially named the trembler "The 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake." 14 ALLEGED PIRATES INDICTED IN ATTACK THAT KILLED 3 HAMS A federal grand jury has indicted 13 suspected pirates from Somalia and one from Yemen in the February hijacking of a yacht that left three American radio amateurs and one non-amateur dead. The United States Department of Justice say that the men face piracy, kidnapping and firearms charges stemming from their efforts to hold the Americans for ransom, according to the indictment. As previously reported, Scott Adam, K9ESO, his wife Jean, KF6RVB, and Bob Riggle, KE7IIV, were murdered by the Somali pirates. Also killed with them was Phylis Macay. The four were onboard the Adam’s owned yacht the Quest off the coast of Oman, East Africa, when pirates boarded their vessel on Friday, February 18. Officials were in the process of negotiating for their release when gunfire was heard around 1 AM on Tuesday, February 22. At that point United States Naval forces responded to the gunfire. Navy Seals then boarded the yacht only to discover that all four hostages had been shot by the pirates. The Adams’, who were retired, had been sailing on their 58-foot yacht delivering Bibles around the world. The indictment says at least three of the indicted men shot and killed the four Americans without provocation. They died less than a week after a Somali pirate was sentenced to more than 33 years in prison by a New York court for the 2009 hijacking of the vessel the Maersk Alabama. That hijacking ended when Navy sharpshooters killed two pirates holding the ship's American captain. This group of pirates is the latest to be brought to Norfolk to face charges stemming from attacks on ships off the cost of Africa. Last April, a federal grand jury indicted 11 in separate attacks on two U.S. Navy ships, the USS Ashland and the USS Nicholas. The Virginia-based ships were part of an international flotilla protecting shipping in the pirate-infested waters off Africa. RUSSIAN FEDERATION ADOPTS CEPT LICENSING It should soon be easier to use amateur radio gear while visiting the Russian Federation. This, following its decision to join the CEPT Radio Amateur License agreement. At a recent meeting the Russian State Commission for Radio Frequencies, it was decided that the Russian Federation will accept CEPT Recommendation for the CEPT Radio Amateur License and the CEPT Novice permit. The commission plans to advise CEPT Working Group R A of its decision in the near future. Working Group R A will be meeting in May and September. IARU Region 1 says that it considers this a major step forward to eventually permit worldwide radio amateur roaming. CEPT licensing means that all nations accepting this recommendation also accept any other signatory’s ham license, subject to certain limitations as valid in those nations as well. WEIRD AND WONDERFUL Russia's secret weapon: inflatable tanks THEY may look like real tanks and missiles, but some of the weapons in Russia's arsenal may not all be what they seem for the army is making increasing use of inflatable replicas - decoys deployed in a cunning attempt to deceive potential enemies. This kind of technology has existed in the army for a long time, since World War II. Serbia used similar decoys during the country's bombardment by NATO forces in 1999 and the Alliance actually destroyed fewer genuine targets than it thought! When a real tank and a false one stand side by side, they make almost no difference, both emit the same heat and reflect radio waves in the same way as real ones. Another bonus is that they are easy to deploy - a tank inflates in minutes. Read more: news.com.au/technology/sci-tech/russias-secret-weapon-inflatable-tanks/story-fn5fsgyc-1226024550443#ixzz1H1xC1gtW SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2011 The CQ WPX is on this weekend. Apr 23 ZL/VK 2011 VK/ZL RTTY SPRINT 80 metres Apr 30 WW Marconi Day 2011 Apr 30 ZL/VK 2011 VK/ZL RTTY SPRINT 40 metres VK4WIP Club Station in the CQ WPX For the 1st time in the clubs 50 year history VK4WIP will hit the air during the CQ WPX this weekend. All of this has been made possible through all the blood, sweat and tears from the Club's President, dedicated members and local government members within the local Ippy community. Just this weekend past, according to our News Editor Graham VK4BB who attended, the Local Mayor, Councillor and Yaesu's National Sales Manager presented the club officially with cheque and radio. SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, REPEATER BEACON DX AND NET ADVICE World Amateur Radio Day "Amateur Radio: The first technology-based social network." Members of DXXE, Mexican Contest and DX group, will activate 4A 0 IARU between April 18-24 to celebrate World Amateur Radio Day on April 18th and the 86th anniversary of the founding of the IARU. QSL via N7RO. http://www.dxxe.org Titanic Anniversary (VO1MGY) Operation Friday, April 15th is the anniversary of the Titanic disaster. To recognize this anniversary, Admiralty House Naval Museum, St. John's, Newfoundland and the Society of Newfoundland Radio Amateurs, Amateur Radio will be operational with call sign VO1MGY, 2000 UTC and continue till Saturday 16th. CW and SSB modes on 20 and 40 meters. Amateur Radio at Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Moray Firth Amateur Radio Society is celebrating the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival by running three Special Event stations, one located at Strath Isla distillery in Keith (callsign GB3SWF) another located at the Craigel lachie Distillery (callsign GB2SWF) and a third at Glenfarclas Distillery (GB4SWF). The objective of this exercise is to contact as many amateur radio stations as possible, worldwide, to promote Scotland’s iconic dram – malt whisky. Each station will operate on the Shortwave (HF) bands, principally 80m, 40m and 20m SSB. The Festival invites visitors to celebrate Scotland’s national drink through an inventive and wide-ranging programme of whisky-inspired events – some educational, all of them fun. Further details can be found on their website www.spiritofspeyside.com AWARDS Plenty of action! Tony Hambling VK3VTH has scored well by activating nine new parks for the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award. His marathon 300-kilometre round tour of the Gippsland parks follows news that Peter Fraser VK3ZPF put Wilsons Prom National Park on air earlier Tony VK3VTH said contacts from National Parks included Kevin VK0KEV at Macquarie Island. He made the achievement despite fading conditions. The rules for the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award have been updated following the declaration of new parks taking the total to 45, an increase of 10 since the award was revived in 2008. Tony VK3VTH has activated 19 of the 45 parks. A full list of the National Parks and the rules are in the awards section of the Amateur Radio Victoria website. The aim of the award is to encourage portable use of up to the 45 designated areas across the state and has the support of Parks Victoria. BROADCAST MONITORING SWL AND SCANNER NEWS http://spench.net/drupal/software/rfmap )AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHICAL RF MAP) http://www.scanaustralia.bigpondhosting.com http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/ HTTP://www.ei7dar.com/hf.html www.tinyurl.com/BITS-026 (A receiver located in NY USA) http://wb4mak.com/ (Atlanta 80/40/20 Web SDR Receiver) BBC TO ACCEPT ADVERTISING The BBC World Service Global News Director Peter Horrocks has told Members of Parliament the BBC has decided to retain a daily hour-long Hindi-language news program on shortwave. Over the next year, the BBC will seek commercial sponsors for BBC Hindi programs; if sufficient funding sources do not materialize by March 2012, then the service will be closed, according to press reports. Hindi had been one of six services to be pulled completely from shortwave. A further seven services were to be pulled entirely from the airwaves. By 2014, the BBC World Service expected to remove almost all non-English-language programming from shortwave in favour of the Internet and local FM rebroadcast partners. (radioworld) MEDIA WATCH www.cq-amateur-radio.com/WorldRadio.html VK Club Bulletins http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aarnie/ The April edition of Amateur Radio magazine Scoring a front cover picture and inside story on a simple portable antenna mast is Rik Head VK3KAN. His article is among the technical offerings that include a fully detailed solid- state 137 kHz transceiver built by Dale Hughes VK1DSH. The editor Peter Freeman VK3PF discusses the reasons why the magazine is not produced electronically each month. However the Publications Committee will be issuing an annual compendium in electronic form. Highly recommended is a read of this month’s editorial column. The bad apple operator again raises its head in the WIA Comment section by our President Michael Owen VK3KI where he questions whether the ACMA needs some appropriate policies. He agrees that far too often the ACMA fails to enforce the law against improper behaviour within our ranks. Michael VK3KI discusses the results and findings of the WIA. To round off coverage in Amateur Radio magazine, a WIA membership service that is available from selected newsagents, is a piece on the 80-years in the hobby achieved by George Bollas VK3LA. I’m Barry Robinson VK3PV and you’re listening to VK1WIA. 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 600th ARISS ham radio school contact ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) reached a milestone on Thursday, March 17 when it held its 600th contact between on-orbit astronaut Cady Coleman, KC5ZTH and students from several schools in Plock and Liszyno, Poland. The contact supported lessons about space and space exploration, communication and technology. Scout Amateur Radio Club SP5ZBA handled the radio connection during which the astronaut fielded 19 space related questions. Nearly 120 people were in the audience. There was extensive media coverage that included newspapers, four scientific magazines, one radio magazine, a television station, national radio (two programs) and two internet portals. (southgate) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY Radio Security Service reunion at Bletchley Park Maybe you are lucky enough to be visiting G-Land in April? Well there is a reunion of ex-members of the Radio Security Service on Sunday 17th April in the Mansion at Bletchley Park. It will include an illustrated lecture on how radio amateurs helped to win the war. More than a thousand amateur volunteers listened on the short wave bands, in secret in their own homes, for illicit signals in the UK. What they uncovered were the transmitters of the German Secret Service operating all over Europe and beyond. Beside penetrating the most secret aspects of the service they also learnt about spies sent here, some of whom were 'turned' to work under the supervision of radio amateurs, notably Ronnie Reed, G2RX. More can be learned at http://secretlisteners.org. (rsgb) MILITARY MADNESS Just to show the more things change the more things stay the same... Radio and Radio on HF is playing a huge part in Operation Odysses Dawm. (Doesn't have the same ring about it does it as Operation Desert Storm!) 6877 kHz is used as a "gee up" channel, possibly from a Commando Solo Aircraft and is commanding Libyan naval officers not to board their ships. No doubt 6877 was the main Libyan Naval Channel, or shall we say "frequency". The Milcom Monitoring Post website has been reporting on the use of HF in the enforcement of the no fly zone, see http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/ REWIND "On behalf of the countless souls who would have died but for them, we salute all who have served our profession with skill and dedication through the years. 73" These words closed, at 2359 on the 31st December 1999, the final morse telegraphy service transmission from an Australian Maritime Coastal Station. The first station opened in Melbourne on 8th February 1912 with a second station in Hobart opened a few weeks later. The final transmission was sent simultaneously from Melbourne and Perth also keying transmitters in Sydney, Townsville and Darwin. The service which opened in the early years of the 20th century closed in the last minute of that century after 87 years. More information can be found at www.coastradio.info (Col VK4CC) SOCIAL SCENE 2011 Apr 2 - 3 vk4 Bunya Mts & District AmCom and SCARC Somerset Dam Camp Out. ( 0488 687 649 ) Apr 9 vk6 Hills Amateur Radio Group HARGFEST at club rooms Lesmurdie. (HARGFEST. ie, hamfest run by HARG) Apr 18 WW “Amateur Radio: The first technology-based social network” World Amateur Radio Day, April 18 and WIA Field Day. Apr 23-24 VK2 Urunga Radio Convention Senior Citz Hall Bowra sTREET Apr 30 - May 1 Clareview Gathering contact Clive VK4ACC of RADAR Club 04 2963 2815. May 27-29 WIA AGM Weekend in Darwin secretary@wia.org.au Jun 10 - 12 VK4 Far North and North Queensland Amateur Radio Gathering at King Reef Resort Kurrimine Beach. Jun 11 - 12 VK2 Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club annual Field Day Jul 16 VK3 Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club Hamfest Cranbourne Community Hall 10am ( secretary@ggrec.org.au ) Jul 31 VK2/3 Riverina Field Day 10am at Lavington Scout Group Hall. Aug 7 VK2 Lismore region - SARCFEST Sep 11 VK3 SADARC Comms Day at St Augustine's Hall Shepparton 10am. Sep 16-18 VK4 NQ Amateur Radio Convention Date Set Townsville Sep 23-28 R3 Region 3 ARDF Championship Bendigo VK3 http://r3.ardf.org.au/ Sep 30-Oct 2 VK4 Central Highlands Amateur Radio Club AGM at Camp Fairbairn CONTACT Secretary Gordon, (vk4kal@wia.org.au) Nov 20 vk5 Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society Hamfest Goodwood Community Centre, Rosa St Goodwood at 0930. Visit www.ahars.com.au for contact details 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 3-18 2012 VK5 YL International 2012 Australia (vk5tmc@bigpond.com)