WIANEWS - May 1 - 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 May 1 2011. VK1WIA Is Off To Mars VK4XJJ JEFF commences second transcontinental walk VK3AUD Sarah Thompson, Secretary of the WIA on Darwin AGM VK2ASD WIA Vice President Phil Wait on RAVEN ALL THESE STORIES UP AND COMING IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING MAY 01 2011. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- VK1WIA Is Off To Mars, The Red Planet and you can come along for the ride! Yes now YOU can send your call sign to Mars NASA are collecting names to be put on a microchip that'll be onboard the Mars Science Laboratory rover heading to Mars Later this year. Some Radio Amateurs have been adding their call sign to last name field. As well as having your call sign travelling around the Martian surface you also get a electronic commemorative certificate to print out on your home computer. The rover has an unusual connection with radio, as we reported earlier in WIA National News it has special Morse Code indentations on its wheels that will spell out the initials JPL in Morse as it travels around Mars. JPL stands for Jet Propulsion Laboratory, builders of the rover. Put your name/call sign on Mars at http://marsparticipate.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/participate/sendyourname/ (sourced from Southgate news) Closer, here on the Blue Planet, last week, Sunday the 24th of April, Jeff Johnson VK4XJJ commenced his second transcontinental walk, this time from east to west. He commenced on the east coast at Byron Bay and after 167 days he plans to reach the west coast at Steel Point in Western Australia. He will be walking just below the VK2 / VK4 border, passing through Lismore, Tenterfield, Walgett, Bourke and going out of VK2 into VK5 at Camerons Corner. On his walk Jeff is seeking funds for NETS with the goal of raising $80,000 towards a NETS ambulance. The Walcha Radio Group has written to all Amateurs in the New England and North West area asking them to donate to Jeff's Walk as he passes through their region. Brian Kelly VK2WBK is taking the donations. Brian at P.O Box 223 TAMWORTH 2340. 3323wbk@tpg.com.au 0418 659 043 Jeff's web site lists sked times in the late afternoon when he will be on 40 metres - 7045 kHz at 1730 hours -then 1830 hours on 80 metres 3612 kHz. Beware bogus requests for help The RSGB is advising its members to be on the look-out for bogus emails purporting to be from other radio amateurs and asking for help. They say: We have been made aware of a scam that is currently being operated via email to obtain money from unsuspecting radio amateurs. An email, purporting to be from a well known amateur and signed with that amateur’s first name, explains that they have been mugged in some foreign city, losing passport and money. Needless to say, it requests financial support to get the amateur out of difficulties. Several different prominent callsigns have been used by the scammers. Obviously the rule here is to ignore such requests. (sourced from Southgate news) A great for amateur radio and public relations From the Salamanca Lawns, Hobart, through to the displays at the Rapid Creek Business Village Sunday markets Darwin, down to Stirk Park, Kalamunda Western Australia, the flag was flown for amateur radio. Sunday the 17th of April was indeed a very successful public relations day with 30-odd registered to participate in every state and the Northern Territory. About half of those registered gave a summary of what they did on the day and were quickly posted in the WIA website for all to see. From the reports received people exposed to amateur radio for the first time, shown what it has to offer them, and it was a worthwhile exercise in terms of encouraging more licensees. The displays ranged from the basic to the more elaborate. Always remaining as professional in their style and the nature of what people needed to know. Clubs and groups are now thinking about the benefits including media exposure and recruits into amateur radio and even more will register next year. Many agreed that lessons had been learnt and they have the opportunity to share them by making a formal entry that requires some photographic and log proof. The entries need to reach the WIA National Office by the 13th of May. (Jim Linton VK3PC) 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 FROM ANDERSSON HOUSE THE WEEKLY WIA DIRECTORS SPOT. WIA Emergency Communications Several weeks ago I discussed the WIA’s emergency communications training system, and how the $10,000 in seed funding allocated by the WIA Board last year has now resulted in over 100 people being awarded nationally recognised qualifications in emergency communications. I would now like to tell you about the next step. The emergency communications scheme was always intended to be a two-part process – training and accreditation. All voting-WIA members who have completed the training course and who have been assessed as competent will be able to apply for WIA accreditation as an emergency communications operator. Accreditation will not be automatic, and only those people who meet certain criteria for availability, health and mobility will be accredited. This is necessary to ensure we provide an effective and useful resource to emergency services, and we don’t want to put members at undue risk. The WIA intends to promote the emergency communications program to emergency services and non-government organisations and is currently considering how that can best be done. Also the new emergency communications system needs a name, and the name adopted so far is RAVEN – Radio Amateur Volunteer Emergency Network. It is considered important that the term Radio Amateur is included in the name, and we wanted to avoid any confusion with WICEN. In a few weeks I’ll tell you how things are progressing and maybe tell you about some more initiatives in emergency communications from the WIA. This is Phil Wait, VK2ASD, for the WIA. WIA AGM This is Sarah Thompson VK3AUD, Secretary of the WIA As you know, the WIA Annual Conference is being held over the weekend of 27 to 29th of May at the Mirambeena Resort in Darwin. Recently I outlined the full programme of events to be held over the weekend. If you missed it, you can catch up at the WIA website, wia.org.au by clicking on the front page photograph of the Darwin sunset. Today I want to focus on one of the Sunday activities – our trip to Litchfield National Park. The information I’m presenting is from the “The Essential Top End Holiday Guide’ – a publication each delegate will receive upon registration. Named after Frederick Henry Litchfield, a member of the first European expedition to visit the area, Litchfield was the centre for tin and copper mining for 75 years until 1955. It then fell under pastoral lease until it was designated a National Park in 1986. We will view the spectacular double waterfall set amid the monsoon forest at Florence Falls. Taking the 160 steps down to the plunge pool is optional! We will visit the magnetic termite mounds. Thousands of two-metre high mounds reveal the architectural feats of these intriguing insects that build their mounds aligned north and south to minimise exposure to the sun and maximise temperature control. Finally, we will have our BBQ lunch at the Wangi Falls – one of the Park’s best swimming and picnicking spots. Once again I urge you to please go to the WIA website now and register for this fantastic weekend. Accommodation can be booked at the special rates negotiated by the WIA by calling the Travelodge Mirambeena on 08 8946 0111 and speaking to Aleishia Good or Belinda Anthony, quoting the reference “WIA Conference” This has been Sarah VK3AUD, on behalf of the WIA. HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA. VK1 CRARC will be again conducting a bi-monthly Foundation Course this month, Saturday 14th May and Sunday 15th May. CRARC will also be conducting Assessments and Licence Upgrade Assessments on Sunday 15. CRARC would like to have all monies in, now! - unless otherwise arranged. See their web page for more details and application forms: www.crarc.ampr.org/index.php/Main/Education VK2 web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news Next Trash & Treasure. The next Trash & Treasure event at VK2WI will be Sunday May 29th. This is also the next opportunity to have an exam assessment at Dural VK3 web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/ VKC Roundup http://www.police The Moorabbin and District Amateur Radio club is pleased to announce, this year’s Hamfest will be held in the usual location, at the Brentwood Secondary College, Watsons Rd, Glen Waverley on Saturday 7th May – doors opening at 10am. The Moorabbin Radio Club’s annual Hamfest is proud to be Victoria's biggest and this year will be no exception with displays and sales of new or preloved equipment. A must come must see event for anyone interested in Radio Communications and electronics. Major door prizes, free tea and coffee, light refreshments and a sausage sizzle will also be on offer. Trader table bookings and general enquires can be made by emailing Graeme Lewis VK3GL vk3gl@bigpond.com or by phoning mobile 0418 171601. Must see, must come event!! 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/ Clairview Gathering Weekend over for another year As the news goes to air this morning Radio Amateurs in Central Queensland are winding up yet another successful Clairview Gathering. Some of the keener hams arrived at the Clairview Beach Holiday Village - about 30 minutes south of Sarina on the Bruce Highway - on Friday to quickly set up camp and get involved with one of the many synergistic activities (a favourite drink, a yarn or two and some serious loafing). More arrived on Saturday and numbers swelled for the famous Saturday Night Mega-Auction which again raised much needed funds for the Mackay and RADAR Clubs. Some hams are leaving this morning listening into the News by various means whilst some lucky bods are going to enjoy another relaxing day and night at Clairview by the Sea. Thanks to everyone who rolled up to make the Gathering an enjoyable one! (TARC) Welcome to QNews from VK4WIA. I'm Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I've been thinking. From time to time people raise their concerns over their perceptions of what the radio club or the WIA has or has not done. This is a fair point of discussion amongst amateurs and all organisations try to foster active involvement in growing. If we see that our metering is indicating a problem with our antenna, do we act to solve the problem or ignore it and just complain and complain and complain? Some of these well meaning amateurs seem to take the latter path and never join their local affiliated club or pay the subscription and become an Institute member. Without doing something positive to get the message across, they are just baying at the moon. From our clubs, input can go to the state Advisory Committee or direct to the Institute. As a member, we get Amateur Radio magazine delivered and anyone can listen to WIA News. If you believe what you say, please get it into the system to benefit all VK amateurs. 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 & Districts Radio club. SILENT KEY - Roberto Benetti VK2ZEB Last week the club was told of the passing of Rob Benetti, VK2ZEB. Rob died last Thursday night after a debilitating illness and two falls. These together caused him deteriorating health to which he finally succumbed. Rob was 72 years old and a long time member of Summerland Amateur Radio Club and a good friend of the Redcliffe club. For many years he had a radio and TV repair business in Lismore. Rob's funeral, was held last Thursday at the Parkview Funeral Home, Goonellabah, with a large number of amateurs from NSW and several members of the Redcliffe club including John, VK4WX and Scott, VK4FLAE. All the members of the Redcliffe club express our sorrow and condolences to Elizabeth and all Rob's family and friends. Last Wednesday, the usual club members had a good clean up of the surplus gear area and disposed of items which were of no use to anyone. However they still left some good “STUFF” behind and this can be collected from the club next Monday Night. Come along & help yourself to some of this preloved equipment that is now looking for a new home! Club Secretary, Peter, VK4TAA has called for volunteers for the Bunnings BBQ fundraiser to be held on Saturday 11 June 2011, at the Bunnings store at Rothwell. This fundraiser will require a lot of workers to man the Stall and as Bunning’s have asked that the Sausages sizzle is operational (selling products) from 8am – 4pm as a minimum, with setup recommended at 7.30am. The stall will require 4 people on manning the kiosk at any point in time so if you can spare some 2 hours or so please contact Peter as soon as possible. So now it’s 73 from Ray, VK4CF from the Redcliffe club. INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL, Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA. Radio Spectrum for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games As expected, the RSGB has been approached by Ofcom to help determine sections of the 70cm amateur band that could be released for a limited period around the London 2012 Games next year. As a secondary user of the band, we as radio amateurs have no specific rights to any of those frequencies. Rather than just imposing changes, Ofcom has approached the Society in the spirit of cooperation to work together to solve the problem. The RSGB intends to work constructively on this matter to reach agreement with Ofcom on the segments that can be released on a temporary basis. Ofcom has given clear and unambiguous assurance that the segments used will be returned once the London 2012 Games are over. The RSGB is looking closely at how the spectrum is used in the designated geographical areas in and around London, Weymouth and South Essex in order to minimise the impact. We will be responding to Ofcom shortly. The RSGB’s response is being coordinated within the RSGB Spectrum Forum by Murray Niman, G6JYB. Radio Amateur's 50th Wedding Anniversary The Derby Telegraph newspaper reports that Radio Amateur Michael Brundle G6EBL and his wife Sheila will celebrate their 50th Wedding anniversary on the day that Prince William and Kate Middleton are to be wed. Ah but did they apply to OFCOM for THEIR special callsign as in "GR" for Kate and William ! Read the Derby Telegraph story at www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/ Amateur Radio suffers setback in surveillance robot battle A robot used to covertly transmit live video during military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan was approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for use by local and state fire-fighters and police, ending a legal battle between amateur radio operators and law enforcement over the device. Called the Recon Scout Throwbot, the robot transmits over the 430-448 MHz portion of the 420-450 MHz frequency band, which is primarily used by the federal radiolocation service. The spectrum is also utilized by amateur radio enthusiasts. The latter group, spearheaded by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), opposed a waiver request filed with the FCC by Recon Scout maker ReconRobotics Inc. to use the band. The FCC approval does come with some limitations, however. The robot can only be used by state and local police and fire-fighters on the specific band. Operators must also first use the Recon Scout on 436-442 MHz bands. If those frequencies are inaccessible, then the 430-436 MHz and 442-448 MHz bands — where interference is more likely — can be accessed. Use of the device is also limited to emergencies involving threats to the safety of life and training purposes. In addition, the Recon Scout is restricted from use near various radar installations and Air Force bases, and the amount of units that can be sold is limited to 2,000 the first year and 8,000 the second year. After that period of time, future sales will be re-evaluated, according to the FCC. For those not aware, ReconRobotics bills itself as a world leader in tactical robotic systems. It claims that more than 1,200 of the company's robots have been deployed world- wide by the U.S. military and international friendly forces, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, bomb squads and fire rescue teams. More about the company is on- line at www.reconrobotics.com POST QUAKE HAM RADIO RELIEF EFFORTS CONTINUE IN JAPAN Amateur radio relief operations are continuing to help with disaster recovery area struck by the worst earthquake in Japan in 140 years. We have more in this report from Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP: Ken Yamamoto, JA1CJP, is the International Amateur Radio Union Region 3 Secretary. He reports that there are several stations on 7.030 and 7.043 MHz who are handling medium distance information exchanges, but the majority of ham radio operations appear to be on the VHF and UHF bands. As previously reported here on Newsline, JA1RL the headquarters station of the Japan Amateur Radio League in Tokyo, became a disaster communication centre in the days immediately following the giant killer quake. Yamamoto is quoted as saying that some 250 transceivers holding Japan Amateur Radio League licenses are being used for communications between various refugee camps and local government offices. He says that two sets of 430 MHz repeaters have been delivered to the disaster area. They are operational and being used to augment the existing repeater coverage and provide easier communications between those using the hand-held transceivers. JA1CJP says that some towns are so heavily disrupted that the local government offices are also serving as refugee centres and the residents are staying in multiple locations. In such cases, amateur radio can contribute quite a lot in maintaining the ties between the local government and displaced residents. The earthquake, now graded at nine on the Richter scale, and followed by a tsunami hit north-eastern Japan on March 11th. It has so far been blamed for over 13000 deaths and the destruction one of Japan's major nuclear power facilities. That plant near Fukushima is still the site of an intense campaign to bring several damaged reactors back under control and stop the leakage of radio active waste water into the ocean. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, watching the situation from Scottsdale, Arizona. -- It's expected that the ongoing emergency communications being provided by amateur radio will continue for a considerable time to come. A presentation on the Japanese earthquake triple disaster and the role played in relief efforts by radio amateurs will be made at the 2011 Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference. It's slated for in Sun City, South Africa, in August. ============================================================================= WEIRD AND WONDERFUL FIGHTING FIRE WITH.... ELECTRICITY! Harvard researchers are looking to replace the fireman's hose with a hand-held wand that shoots beams of electricity. The idea that electricity can control a fire first came about 200 years ago. It was observed that electricity could twist, bend and even kill a flame. Scientists believe electric currents make particles of soot within a flame move, which produces a flow of gas that weakens the flame and can cause it to die out. But in previous studies, chemists used direct current instead of alternating current to generate electric fields. Now Harvard researchers have created an electric wand that puts these ideas to the test, but utilizes AC voltage instead. The wand was connected to a 600-watt power source, and when shot at flames as high as 18 inches tall, the electric field produced a flow of charged particles that put the fire out completely, and almost instantly. While the research is still in its early stages, it's noted that this technology has already shown greater benefit over water because it causes less damage to people's property. In addition, the wand allows fire-fighters to work from safer distances, and can even manipulate the flame to bend so they can enter burning buildings. SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2011 Apr 30 WW Marconi Day 2011 Apr 30 ZL/VK 2011 VK/ZL RTTY SPRINT 40 metres SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, DX and BEACON AND NET ADVICE TWO OPERATIONS APPROVED FOR CREDIT ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, reports that two operations on Tristan Da Cunha and Gough have been approved for DXCC credit. The two are the 2010 ZD9AH operation and the 2010 through 2011 ZD9T operation. According to Moore, if you had these operations rejected in a recent application, please send an e-mail to the ARRL DXCC Desk. He also says that due to heavy e-mail volume, you may not receive a reply, however updates will be posted in Logbook of The World accounts as well as online on the daily listings. GB0BON June 19th to celebrate the 366th anniversary of the Battle of Naseby, the decisive battle of the English civil war June 1645 in the small hamlet of Naseby in Leicestershire. (Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society) AWARDS The year 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of the Islands On The Air (IOTA) Programme by British SWL Geoff Watts, BRS-3129. As a build-up to celebrations on this occasion, the RSGB IOTA Manager and Committee have announced an exciting activity period in which all licensed amateurs world-wide are invited to participate. For a two-year period, 2012 and 2013, IOTA chasers will be encouraged to contact as many different IOTA groups as possible, and IOTA activators to play their part by operating from as many groups as possible, with special emphasis on the less-frequently activated ones. The complete rules of the IOTA 50th Anniversary Marathon will appear in the forthcoming 'RSGB IOTA Directory' to be released at Dayton. They can also be seen on G3KMA's website www.g3kma.dsl.pipex.com www.rsgbiota.org (Roger Balister, G3KMA sourced from Southgate news) 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 BRAZILIAN FREEBANDERS HEARD ON 10 METERS The IARU Region 1 Intruder Watch newsletter reports that Brazilian CB-like or so called Freeband stations using full carrier AM is now often audible between 28.000 and 28.305 MHz. Most of these stations are being heard in the evening hours. The report says that the Brazilian telecommunications regulator Anatal seems to have no interest in this problem or in keeping these stations from operating in the 10 meter Amateur Service band. (ARNEWSLINE) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ATV (Every pixel tells a story) - Video arvideonews.com hamradiotube.com youtube.com qdg.org.au W5KUB TO NETCAST FROM DAYTON HAMVENTION Tom Medlin, W5KUB, says that he will one again be streaming live audio and video from the Dayton Hamvention. According to Tom, this will be the 9th year that he will be netcasting live on w5kub.com beginning with his 550 mile ride from his home in Memphis, Tennessee, right to the Hamvention site at the Hara Arena in Dayton. During this years netcast, Tom will also be giving away over $5000 in prizes to give lucky viewers. Some of the prize donors include Heil Sound, Kenwood, Yaesu, MFJ, Kantronics, LDG and the ARRL. That alone is something that you won't want to miss. So if you cannot make it to Hamvention 2011, you can attend vicariously from May 18th to the 22nd thanks to Tom Medlin, W5KUB, and his crew at W5KUB.com (W5KUB VIA ARNEWSLINE) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- OPTICS Australian Optical DX Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Optical_DX/ UK LIGHT COMMUNICATIONS DISTANCE RECORD CHALLENGED An optical distance record claimed in the U-K may not be a record after all. Amateur Radio Newsline's Frank Haas KB4T, says they have received numerous e-mails that say the accomplishment in the UK falls far short of other claimed distances set elsewhere around the globe. In fact, the number of such claims far outweighs the space we have available to report them all. But as pointed out by one of their listeners, the 90 kilometre distance claimed in the UK is only about 56 miles and there are a number of well-documented communications over longer distances. This includes one as early as 1962 in southern California. The bottom line: If hams are going to lay claim to optical distance records, then what is needed is an organization respected and accepted by all of the worlds ham radio community to corroborate any claims made, and to declare who has set a valid record and who has not. (ARNewsline from listener input) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO IARU REGION 3 Emergency Centre of Activity (CoA) frequencies 3.600, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz RESCUE RADIO THE MOVIE... well a 1959 movie called "Every Single Minute." This is an historic amateur radio movie about AR and emergency communications, and is available on YouTube. In 1955, The Phil-Mont Mobile Radio Club, an association of mobile amateur radio operators in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area in the US provided emergency communications during the devastating flooding along the Delaware River and in the Pocono Mountains following Hurricane Diane, the sixth costliest U.S. hurricane of the 20th century. In 1959, the club produced this short film to explain amateur radio, and especially mobile communications as practiced by the club. The main film begins after a three minute interview with Jim Spencer, W3BBB, produced by a local cable channel many years later (Jim was a very young man W3QQH in the original film, and is now SK. (Southgate) GAREC 2011 The International Amateur Radio Union - Region 1 website reports that the Global Amateur Radio Emergency Conference (GAREC) 2011 will be held in conjunction with the IARU Region 1 General Conference in Sun City, South Africa from 15th to 19th August. As GAREC has to slot in between the main IARU meetings it is possible for IARU delegates to attend GAREC. Registration for GAREC is now open for emergency communicators and more details are available at www.iaru2011.org.za/GAREC2011.htm The draft agenda for the conference should be posted to that website soon. Information from earlier conferences is available at www.iaru.org/emergency/ (Southgate) SOCIAL SCENE 2011 Apr30-May1 VK4 Clairview Gathering contact Clive VK4ACC of RADAR Club 04 2963 2815. May 7 VK3 Moorabbin and District Amateur Radio club Hamfest Brentwood Secondary College, Glen Waverley vk3gl@bigpond.com May 7 VK4 Brisbane Amateur Radio Club's BARCfest, Mt. Gravatt Show grounds, 1600 Logan Road, Upper Mt. Gravatt 9:30AM email vk4so@wia.org.au 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 16 VK4 Maryborough Electronics and Radio Group "Wide Bay Hamfest" West Scout Hall, Ariadne St, Maryborough 8:30am. secretary@merg.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) ============================================================================= WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide. TWITTER http://twitter.com/VK1WIA Societies and Club News Letter Editors can EXCHANGE a feed prior to the actual broadcast date, e-mail nationalnews@wia.org.au Call-backs follow the RF editions, but also for text readers you may lodge a quick reply to let us know you read it, who knows, you might even get a "cheerio call". Thanks to 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. ***************************************************************************** /ex