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SEPTEMBER 18 2011. VK and WW STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE 
WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING SEPTEMBER 18 2011. 

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The 8th Region 3 ARDF Championships
http://www.ardf.org.au

The 8th Region 3 ARDF Championships are being held from the 23rd to the 28th September, 2011 at Maldon Victoria Australia.
These games are hosted by the Wireless Institute of Australia, and will be run by the Victorian ARDF Group Inc.
About the Event

The event is being held at Maldon which is in the Bendigo district of Victoria, Australia. This is a historic gold mining area, just over two hours drive from Melbourne airport. Click the following Link for more information on the Maldon/Bendigo area.

Accommodation will be at the Victorian Blue Light Youth Camps in Maldon Click the following Link for more information.
Program

The program for the 2011 Region 3 ARDF Championships is as follows:

  Friday 23rd September: Arrival Day
  Saturday 24th September: Equipment Check & Opening Ceremony
  Sunday 25th September: 2m ARDF Competition
  Monday 26th September: Tour Day
  Tuesday 27th September: 80m ARDF Competition & Closing Banquet/Prizes
  Wednesday 28th September: Departure Day
Further Information

For further information, please contact:

John (Jack) Bramham, VK3WWW
WIA-ARDF Coordinator/Chairman for the 8th Region 3 ARDF Championships
Mobile: +61 0 408037065
Fax: +61 3 94281589


WIA National Field Day

Introduction
The WIA National Field Day has been run twice within the last 12 Months
with an steady increase in the numbers taking part as indicated by the
logs, photos & other responses received.  Certificates of appreciation
have been distributed to the participating clubs and individuals for
both the 2010 and 2011 events. If you believe your certificate has not
been received, please contact the WIA office.

Objective
The objective of the WIA National Field Day is to positively place the
hobby of amateur radio in front of the general public, to provide
various clubs with a opportunity to promote their activities and
increase the awareness of amateur radio training opportunities, either
via the local clubs or the amateur radio fraternity as a whole.      

Looking Forward
The proposed date of the next WIA National Field Day is the weekend of
the 14th and 15th of April 2012.  General consensus is that this time of
the year is favourable in most areas of Australia. Setting the date(s)
will enable clubs to start preparations and to ensure that the
appropriate bookings at venues can be made.  

You will note that two days have been nominated, this is to support
clubs who have indicated that either the Saturday or Sunday may better
suit their local community.  This is not suggesting that the clubs would
need to operate their displays over the two days unless they wanted to.
Advertising material will require a little customising by local clubs to
match the times and date of the local activity.

Some feedback has been received, requesting the need to clarify the
recording of the contacts in the log, e.g. the exchange of numbers.
Comment suggesting that this was not required as the event is not
intended to be a traditional AR contest.  This will be clarified in the
2012 event rules and guidelines.  The rewarding or recognition of clubs
who take pride in their preparation and presentation will still be
encouraged. 

Expressions of Interest 
The event will continue to be co-ordinated and managed by a small
committee.  Nominations are now open for interested parties to express
their interest in joining this committee. Please forward your expression
of interest via your state WIA advisory committee members prior to the
28th of October 2011.  Former committee members are welcome to nominate
if they wished to continue in this role.

Philip - VK3JNI
Director

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Now for a look at October’s Amateur Radio magazine

It features the record setting International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend with detailed and pictorial reports from around Australia. Bob Bristow VK6POP reminds us that the Jamboree On The Air is fast approaching. 

The technical articles include How to make double sided PCBs the Murray Lang VK6LH way, An auto-coupler repair from Warren Stirling VK3XSW, and Part 2 on a Software Defined Radio by Peter Parker VK3YE.

The Spotlight on SWLing from Robin Harwood VK7RH notes the changes following Spring and the Gaddafi affair.

There’s news from VK2, VK3, VK5, VK6 and VK7 plus an update on the Amateur Radio Victoria Centenary.  All to be found with the regular columns of AMSAT, DX News, VHF/UHF interest, Contests and ALARA.

Amateur Radio magazine is a membership service and available at selected newsagents.

I’m Barry Robinson VK3PV and you’re listening to VK1WIA.

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HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA. 


VK1 

CRARC Foundation Course, another success

CRARC Education Officer writes that last weekend's foundation course saw
six successful Foundation Candidates, with one also passing his Standard
level Theory and Regulations papers on the same day.
Alan wishes to thank the team of Glenn VK1NUT, Gil VK1GH, Steve VK2ZSZ,
John VK1ET, Wayne VK1VNB and Stan VK1FSTJ, for their help in running the
course, and continues to say that due to demand they've run Foundation
weekends in July, August and September with another again in November.
Keep an eye on the VK1 Email NEWS and VK1 reflector for the revised date
and contact education/at/crarc.ampr.org.au for all first time and
upgrade enquiries and bookings.



VK2

VK2 - News from the Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Inc. 


The Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club is celebrating its 40th birthday
with an Anniversary Lunch at the Port Macquarie Golf Club at 12 noon on
Sunday the 2nd of October 2011. Visitors and their families are welcome.
All amateur radio operators who attend will receive an attractive
commemorative certificate. For more details please visit the club's
website http://www.orarc.org/  or contact the president, Henry Lundell
VK2ZHE on mobile phone number 0427 947 921.



VK3 

THE DIGITAL ATV EVENT OF THE YEAR

  While perhaps not garnering the national media's attention like 'Scott
& Charlene' on Neighbours decades ago, we congratulate Matt VK3EVL &
Emily VK3FEGL who shared their special day with ATV viewers via VK3RTV
and the BATC.tv website on Saturday September 17th. We wish them luck
with exploring new Operating Modes and dealing with QRMan and QRwoMan is
their ongoing QSO together with our hope they enjoy a few harmonics
after the occasional pileup.
  We're sure to catch up with the newlyweds in a coming WIA News
bulletin and hear about their day, the ATV linkup and the feedback
they've received by Amateurs worldwide.



THE BIG WEEKEND IN NOVEMBER

In support of the Amateur Radio Victoria Centenary so far five stations
are going portable as part of the special activity extended weekend
focused on the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award.

With a Victorian National Park or two nearby to most, it's expected more
will register for the weekend of November 18th through to the 20th.

To register your interest first check out the Award section of the
website www.amateurradio.com.au and then contact the Awards Manager, Tony
Hambling VK3VTH email vk3vth@amateurradio.com.au



SPECIAL CALLSIGN ROSTERING

The roster has begun for the special callsign VK 100 ARV during November
to mark the 100th birthday of Amateur Radio Victoria.

Work continues on its QSL card design and the Amateur Radio Victoria
Centenary Award.

Valid contacts with either VK3WI during next month's Oceania DX Phone
Contest on the 1st and 2nd of October, or VKI00ARV when on air, are
worth ten points towards the award.

Inquiries about the roster need to be made with Tony Hambling VK3VTH
email vk3vth@amateurradio.com.au



BALLARAT AMATEUR RADIO GROUP. (BARG). <<AUDIO>>
Club activities  are increasing at Ballarat now spring is in the air.
On the Education front we have 2 new Ham calls on the air, Darren
VK3FAOE is very excited about being on  the air and Phil a club life
member who has regained his callsign after a period away from amateur
radio. His call is VK3AQM.  We all should wish them Well.
Also nearly upon us at BARG is the annual Hamvention to be held on
Sunday October 23,  doors open at 10am.
This year we are situated at the same location being The Greyhound
Racing Track, Rubicon Street, Redan.
This is a wonderful spot with off street parking for hundreds of cars.
We have the usual Quality list of new and used sellers attending on the
day.
Tables can be booked for $15.00.
Door entry is $6.00.
Further details of this leading Victorian Hamvention can be found on the
BARG  Website.  www.barg.org.au 
Sure to be a great day, come along for a RagChew with your friends.
73's This has been Bob, VK3NBV for the Ballarat Amateur Radio Group.
 

VK4 - QNEWS 

VK5

VK6

VI6CHOGM SPECIAL EVENT STATION

The Commonwealth Heads Of Government meeting, usually referred to as
CHOGM, happens in Perth in that last week of October.   The Queen will
attend the meeting.  To mark this occasion, there are many community
events planned for the week.

Amateur Radio in Western Australia will also mark this occasion in two
ways.  Firstly, with the support of the Wireless Institute of Australia,
the ACMA has granted all Western Australian amateurs the right to use
the VI prefix in their callsigns on 28-29-30 October.  This should
create interest in DX circles over those three days.

The Scout Member Amateur Radio Team in Perth has obtained the callsign
VI6CHOGM,and will operate a station continuously for the three day
period of CHOGM.  There has already been considerable interest around
the country and indeed the world in this callsign.

VI6CHOGM will operate from the Peter Hughes Scout Communication Centre
in East Cannington, just 20 minutes from the Perth CBD.   A special QSL
card has been designed, Please note that all outbound QSL cards will be
sent via the Bureau unless you mail directly with a SAE and IRC (or SSAE
within Australia), and your card is received before November 14th..
We'll be encouraging Scouts to operate the station, however there is a
general invitation to all Amateurs to participate either directly as
operators, or as observers.

Our website is www.vi6chogm.com.   I'm Bob VK6POP


THE WA VHF GROUP SPRING SCRAMBLE

The WA VHF Group Spring Scramble is happening on Sunday 16 October
2011 between 10.30am & 12.30pm local time. [0230 - 0430 Z]

The object is to contact as many different stations as possible, on as
many bands, 50 MHz and above, as possible. All licensed modes may be
used and extra points can be earned for working portable & country
stations.

Rules will be published shortly, but in the meantime, put the date in
your diary and dust off your transceivers, transverters & antennas.
Even consider going portable in the field.

VK7 

VK8

VK9

VK0



HOME OF THE GOOD GUYS 


INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL, 
Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA. 


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SOUTH SUDAN: 'GO ON AIR OR LOSE YOUR LICENCE'

Idle radio and television licensees that are not on air risk their
licenses being withdrawn, Hon Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin, South Sudan
Minister for Information and Broadcasting has warned. 

"The licences are issued for you to operate and if you are only carrying
them in your briefcases to show that you have a broadcasting station,
there is no reason why we should not withdraw them", said Dr Marial.

He explained that there are so many media houses knocking at the
ministry's doors for licences and they can't get some of the frequencies
because they have been taken by companies which are nonfunctional.

The minister issued this warning yesterday during a meeting at the
ministry headquarters while addressing operational issues with the top
ministry officers.

Dr Marial asked the Director of Public Information in the ministry, Paul
Jacob Kumbo, to write to the managers of all these "stations" to explain
why they remain idle.

Source: Media Network, Government of South Sudan 




SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2011 

Oct 15th, 2011 (Sat) -- Oct 16th, 2011 (Sun)
Scouts and Guides Jamboree using Amateur Radio JOTA

Oct 22 WIA Jack Files Contest 

Nov 26-27 WIA Spring VHF-UHF Field Day 


2012 

January VK Ross Hull Memorial VHF UHF Contest 

March 17-18 VK JOHN MOYLE MEMORIAL FIELD DAY 

June Long Weekend (vk4 time) VK Shires Contest. 

July First full weekend NZART Memorial Contest 


SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, DX and BEACON AND NET ADVICE 

 ODXGINC DXPEDITION TO VANUATU

As many of you will already know, ODXG is off to Vanuatu again.
The dates for the operation are 30 Sept through 12 October.
Of special note will be the focus on the WARC bands and RTTY.
Also, the DX-Pedition has authorisation to operate on 60m.
The team will also be participating in the Oceania DX Contest.

For more info pls visit the DX-pedition web site
http://yj0vk.odxg.org
As always, any small donation towards offsetting freight charges
will be gratefully appreciated.


WB 6 OJB will be on the air as 7P8JK from Lesotho between September 
15th to the 22nd. While other information was given, during his 
last Lesotho operation he was on the High Frequency bands from 
40 to 10 meters using mostly SSB with some CW. 
QSL direct to his home callsign WB 6 OJB. 

4 W 6 A will be QRV from Atauro Island (IOTA OC-232), Timor-Leste (East
Timor), 
from 16 to 26 September 2011. 10 to 160 metres CW, SSB and RTTY. 
QSL manager is M 0 URX, direct via the bureau, or LoTW. 

PB 2 JJ will be active as 9H3JN from Malta between September 2nd and the
14th. 
Operations will be on 80 through 10 meters mostly CW but with the
possibility 
of some SSB. QSL this operation via his home callsign PB 2 JJ. 

For rugby enthusiasts, look out for ZL4RUGBY operated by ZL4PW until
31st 
October. This is to celebrate the 2011 Rugby World Cup being played in 
New Zealand. 


THE QNEWS WORK BENCH - the nuts and volts report - Measure Twice cut
Once. 


WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER 

Stanford University Researchers Announce Sunspot Breakthrough:

Imagine forecasting a hurricane in Miami weeks before the storm was even
a swirl of clouds off the coast of Africa -- or predicting a tornado in
Kansas from the flutter of a butterfly's wing in Texas. These are the
kind of forecasts meteorologists can only dream about. Could the dream
come true? A new study by Stanford University researchers suggests that
such forecasts may one day be possible -- not on Earth, but on the Sun.
In the August 19 issue of Science, Stathis Ilonidis, together with
co-workers Junwei Zhao and Alexander Kosovichev, announced that they can
see some sunspots while they are still submerged, before they are
visible to the naked eye. "This could lead to significant advances in
space weather forecasting," Ilondis said.

Most Amateur Radio operators are aware of sunspots, those dark blemishes
on the surface of the Sun. This is because sunspots influence
propagation. They can be a boon to hams interested in HF propagation, as
sunspots are the sites of ultraviolet or extreme ultraviolet radiation
that creates our ionosphere. But sunspots can also be destructive. They
are the source for disturbances, such as flares and the roots of coronal
mass ejections (CMEs) that can hinder propagation. When a CME hits the
Earth's atmosphere, the low bands will be depressed and signals will be
weaker the lower the frequency. The absorption rate will be most severe
on 160 meters, less on 80 and somewhat better on 40 meters. The maximum
usable frequency (MUF http://www.hfradio.org/muf_basics.html) -- the
highest frequency by which a radio wave can propagate between given
terminals by ionospheric propagation alone, independent of power -- will
be lower and auroral propagation on the VHF bands is quite possible.
Read more here

http://www.arrl.org/news/stanford-university-researchers-announce-sunspot-breakthrough.
Source: The ARRL Letter


AMATEUR BALLOONISTS HIT RECORD 40,575M

While participating in the UKube-1 satellite project with the University
of Bath, Australian PhD student Mark Jessop hit the 40,575 metre mark
with a helium-filled meteorological balloon. It's a UK record and pretty
close to the all-time international amateur altitude maximum.
Transmitting details back via his 'miniNut' telemetry system, the
142gram payload was sent up with the intention of testing the system's
pressure sensor at high altitudes and the record height was an
unexpected bonus.
Mark is intending to be back in Australia in time for a Project Horus
launch in conjunction with this year's Scouts' 'Jamboree of the Air',
raising a ham radio repeater to an altitude of 30km facilitating
contacts all around the country.
A video, map tracking the ballon's travel and additional photos of those
involved and the equipment are available online:

http://rfhead.net/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/08/23/balloon_record/


WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- INTERNET, THE HAMS DOMAIN

10 YEARS IS A LONG TIME ONLINE

 In thinking about the decade since September 11, 2001, Technology
Journalist Harry McCraken writes how he "was struck by how much the
world of personal technology has changed. It all happened little by
little, but a remarkable percentage of the things we care about today
didn't exist yet."

 In October 2001 we first met 3G wireless, the iPod and Windows XP with
the first Xbox released a month later. Skype and the iTunes Music Store
appeared in 2003, Firefox and Gmail in 2004, Google Maps 2005, with the
practically unattainable Nintendo Wii made it to market for Christmas
2006 and the first iPhone a year later. Does anybody remember a time
before Angry Birds? Well, apparently that time was pre-2009!

 You'll find the full article at
http://technologizer.com/2011/09/11/september-2001-was-a-long-time-ago-in-the-world-of-technology/
with a list of 'then-and-now' websites, web browser stats and consumer
electronics. But in the Ham Radio world, here are a few things to put
the last decade in perspective: 2001 saw the first trans-atlantic 136khz
transmission, WRC 2003 eliminated the Morse requirement, BPL seems to
have come and gone, Amateurs respond to Katrina, the Boxing Day Tsunami,
Echolink invented, the ever popular Icom 706mkIIG has come and gone.


WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- MICROWAVE AND ABOVE

 Here's a snippet of an audio submission for VK4's QNEWS broadcast this week:

 "Hello again from Doug Friend VK4OE from the Brisbane VHF Group, here are
some more details of the "test and tune" day that's coming quite soon:
Services available are:
Power measurement (nW to +++Watts) to 50 GHz
Return loss measurements to 26 GHz
Signal generators to 18 GHz
Spectrum analysis to 50 GHz
Minimum discernable received signal level assessment to 18 GHz
Automatic noise figure and gain measurement to 1.9 GHz, and possibly
higher(?)
And all this in the presence of interested and helpful amateurs willing
to try and solve 'challenges that may emerge'!"

  Our VK4 brethren can hear the full clip on QNEWS this week, but we bring
it to the attention of the national audience as an example of what's going
with the Brisbane VHF Group and excellent preparation and event promotion.
  The activity sounds like just the excuse to spend a weekend interstate
and get an early bit of sun after the winter hibernation.



WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING 
http://www.scouts.com.au 
http://www.scout.org/jota 
http://www.international.scouts.com.au 

Jamboree On the Air  - only one month to go.   No time for panic yet,
but it is time to make sure you have everything right.

The key to a good JOTA weekend is to remember that it's not about
Amateur Radio & it's about Scouts communicating, and Amateur Radio, as
the original medium for this activity, needs to be presented in a way
that the young people will find interesting, relevant and fun.

Preparation
 * It's time for the site inspection.  Have a look around for high
points for stringing up antennas, determining which type of antenna will
best suit the site.  
 * Do you need a mast or tower?  Suggest to the Scout or Guide
leaders that it would be really nice to have a mast 10 metres high for
an antenna.  They could get the youth members to practice their scouting
skills by erecting a mast using poles and ropes.
 * find out where the power points are & what are you sharing these
with, etc.  Is there an opening for coaxial cable entries?  
 * What will the ambient noise be like?  People need to be able to
hear what's happening on the radio
 * Propagation & check conditions early to give you an idea of what
time of day/night to look for DX.  One method is to set up a
computer/radio monitoring SSTV over a period of time to provide a record
of where the signals are coming from. Or just watch the DX clusters.
 * Station setup & feed audio through a speaker for all to hear, or
use some sort of breakout box for a few sets of headphones?
 * Remember that you need to take a break , so recruit helpers &
rope in some fellow Hams to give you a hand.

Equipment
 * Scouts and Guides often don't have their own Amateur equipment &
you will need to bring everything that you want to use

Programme

We're trying to present AR as an interesting hobby & think about which
aspects of the hobby you can demonstrate to provide variety and
stimulate interest.  We can do more than put kids on a microphone to say
"hello my name's Fred. Over."  Remember also that an array of
complicated looking boxes with flashing LEDs, dials and knobs doesn't
float most people's boat.  We need to be able to provide an activity
that engages young people and grabs their imagination.

 * Voice communications & OK every kid needs to have a go at the
mike, so try to make it more interesting & a great help is to get them
to prepare a "cheat sheet" to prompt them.  This task really belongs to
the Scout or Guide leader & perhaps we can encourage them to do that
preparation.
 * Slow Scan TV.  Great for when propagation is quiet- arrange with
a group within radio earshot to send and receive SSTV pictures & set up
a webcam on The SSTV computer to provide the photos.
 * PSK, RTTY & kids can relate to these as they are a bit like
online chat, and often work well when conditions aren't good for phone.

Information about Scout calling frequencies and other useful stuff can
be found on our website, WWW.international.scouts.com.au -  look for
JOTA-JOTI on the menu on the left hand side.

I'm Bob VK6POP


 JOTA / JOTI - 15th and 16th of October 2011 - Update
 Activity planning is well underway for the 54th JOTA/JOTI on the 15th
and 16th of October 2011. 
 
 Radio Operators and Activity Leaders are busy planning interesting
activities to introduce and provide ongoing safe, responsible
participation in Amateur Radio and Internet related activities.  An
excellent checklist has been created to assist operators and leaders
with the preparation, planning and to address a few or the common safety
and management issues.

  The full list is available in the text edition of this news bulletin,
but here are a couple that caught our eye:

 * Have we made any temporary repairs and not revisited the item?
 * Have we taken weather into our contingency planning?
 * Have we got Amateur Radio promotion material available?
 * Will we have our antennas up in the air before pedestrian and vehicle
traffic builds up during bump in and bump out times at the camp or location?
 * Have we pre-tested our internet connection and LAN under load?
 * Do we have current WWC checks or similar for those States that
 * require them.

 * Are all our AC electrical power leads and equipment safe, would it
pass Test and Tag?
 * Have we made any temporary repairs and not revisited the item?
 * Are all our DC distribution wiring and batteries safe and protected?
 * Have we checked our campsites and antennas for damage over the recent
months?
 * Will we be working at heights to put up our antennas (i.e. on the
roof)? Can we do this safer?
 * Are the locations proposed for antennas safe? If they blow down, what
will they hit?
 * Have we considered electrical storms, lightning and quick
disconnection of our equipment?
 * Have we minimised the likely hood of slips, trips and falls?
 * Will we have our antennas up in the air before pedestrian and vehicle
traffic builds up during bump in and bump out times at the camp or location?
 * Can we establish the station outdoor works the weekend before?
 * Have we taken weather into our contingency planning?
 * Will our wire antennas, guy ropes, and cables be clearly visible and
 * safe from passing people and vehicles?
 * Have we planned to rope or tape off any RF Hot equipment?
 * Have we planned to ensure that our tuners and gear is RF earthed 
where appropriate?
 * What are our plans for station pack up, do we have a safe plan if the
weather or other plans get in the way?
 * Have we pre-tested our internet connection and LAN under load?
 * Have all PC's in use ready been upgraded up to the latest security
and virus patches?
 * Have we done our risk management (Scoutsafe) assessment? 
 * Have we got enough JOTA/JOTI badges?
 * Do we have current. WWC checks or similar for those States that
require them.
 * Have we got the correct permits to camp?
 * Have we got Amateur Radio promotion material available?
 * Have we been to the SRESU web site to download the forms for this
year? Victoria only !

Operating JOTA/JOTI in Victoria (VK3) ? ... Please feel free to use the
Contact SRESU page to further enquire about JOTA/JOTI.

 It's certainly a useful checklist to keep on hand for those
participating in JOTA/JOTI activities, and an opportunity for all
Amateurs to review their portable ops kits and mark the weekend of the
15 & 16 October on the calendar as a "C-N-G" weekend -- that's
Compulsive Number Giving weekend, and make sure we fill the bands with
stations for the Scout and Guide groups to contact.



WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RESCUE RADIO 

SOCIAL SCENE 

2011 

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 

Oct 23 VK3 Hamvention Ballarat Sunday. 

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 

FEB 12 VK3 CentreVictoria Hamfest, Kyneton Racecourse 

FEB 26 VK2 CCARC WYONG FIELD DAY 

MAY 3-18 VK5 YL International 2012 Australia (vk5tmc@bigpond.com) 

Nov 12 VK3 SPARC HAMFEST (ROSEBUD BY THE BAY) 


THE FINAL FINAL

HamfestIndia 2011  Reminder to book your railway tickets in advance.

Jaycee VU3BWB writes on the YahooGroup, "Those who wish to travel to
Kochi by train for Hamfest 2011, please book you tickets in advance as
the event coincides with Sabarimala pilgrimage season. Advance
reservation now open upto 11 December 2011. There are only few trains to
Kochi on those dates but special trains may be scheduled later for the
pilgrimage."

Perhaps not unusual in a country with so many reliant on train travel,
but an eye opener for most of us in VK who can commute to as many as 4
hamfests in a year within comfortable driving distance, but it's
excellent to see that the Indian Train schedulers are adding extra
capacity for the VU hams, and if they're anything like us VK'ers,
I'd suggest a few freight trailers be attached on the return journey!


Submitting news items 

If you would like to submit news items for inclusion in the VK1WIA
broadcasts, 
please email your item in text to nationalnews@wia.org.au 

to submit audio read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on 
wia.org.au 

Remember the sooner you submit material the more the likelihood of it
being 
broadcast in the very next edition of WIA National News. 


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============================================================================= 

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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 
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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, 
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submitted. 

Material may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, a credit to 
WIANews wouldn't go astray... 

Compiled by VK3SXR on behalf of the National WIA. 



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