WIANEWS - OCT 30 - 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 WEEK COMMENCING OCTOBER 30 2011. WIA National Field Day 2012 with WIA Director Philip Adams, VK3JNI The Centenary Award and VK 100 ARV VK4RCA REPEATERS permanently removed from Mt Yarrabah. THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING OCTOBER 30 2011. The Australian Communications and Media Authority have issued new draft guidelines for retransmission of digital television services, including retransmission of services provided by the new Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) satellite service. In small or isolated population centres where terrestrial television reception is poor or non-existent, local organisations such as councils and mining companies frequently provide television services on a self-help basis. These 'self-help providers' retransmit the commercial and national television broadcasting services using their own infrastructure. VAST will offer all Australians who do not receive adequate terrestrial television coverage the same number and quality of digital television services as in the major cities, including all digital multichannels and HDTV. Self-help providers will be expected to provide all available terrestrial television services using MPEG-2 video coding along with service information such as electronic program guides, channel numbers and captioning. The ACMA encourages submissions from all interested parties by Friday December Two 2011. www.digitalready.gov.au or call the Digital Ready Information Line on 1800 20 10 13. Whilst on ACMA matters, I'm sure they'll find of interest an article in an Australian on line publication "Lifehacker" which suggests ways to create RFI to your neighbours who play their music too loud! "Evil genius and electrical guru junkyardmessiah over at Reddit came up with this DIY solution which includes a Cheap CB radio, A linear amp, and a bottom loaded CB antenna, get your antenna close as you can to it and fire up! Amplifier sections are not shielded in these plastic ready-made toys and the resulting AM signal will impact it. In my case I ran a continuous 6khz tone from a signal generator which was more than enough to blow it up good. ENJOY!" Regional radio censured over lack of local content the Australian Communications and Media Authority has found regional Queensland radio station 4MIC, which operates out of Mt Isa as Hot FM, failed to broadcast the designated minimum of local content required under its licence. The rebuke from the media watchdog was the result of an audit of regional radio stations across Australia. ACMA has agreed on measures to be undertaken by Hot FM Mt Isa. These include the implementation of enhanced monitoring processes and procedures to ensure the station provides the mandated 30 minutes of local content per business day. Banyule and Nillumbik Weekly reporter Meagan Weymes has an article well worth a read this week, entitled CFA aims to widen radio coverage. RADIO coverage that failed during the Black Saturday bushfires could be improved with new CFA radio towers. CFA has identified 52 locations where radio reception is poor or non-existent. Several of these so-called black spots are in Whittlesea and Nillumbik including areas around Warrandyte North, Eltham and St Andrews. The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission found one of the major problems on Black Saturday was the shortcomings of CFA radio communication. The CFA announced last week 12 to 15 new fixed radio repeaters would be built across the state to improve signals. Kinglake West CFA captain Karyn Norbury said about 25 per cent of the station's area was considered a radio black spot More than 3500 touch-screen computers will be installed at bedsides in South Australian public hospitals to improve patient care and safety. The bedside computers will enable clinicians to show the patient relevant health information, X-rays and test results on-screen at their bedside. Also the computers will offer patients access to all digital TV and radio stations, a range of pay television channels, movies, a phone line and the internet. XYL BECOMES YL WITH RADIO FREQUENCY TREATMENT. RF is the latest technique being incorporated into anti-ageing skin treatments. Dermal Matrix Therapy Radio Frequency is said to help tighten skin on the face and body through the use of heat which penetrates deep into dermis layer and stimulates the production of collagen. The radio frequency is generated through a machine with various metal attachments. For the face, there are two different sized pads which are massaged over the skin during the 40 minute treatment. The procedure feels warm on the skin but should be comfortable at all times. After RF the skin can look slightly red but makeup can be applied straight advocates of this procedure say. Unconfirmed suggestions are that the power of up to 8 watts and a frequency around 13.500 MHz is often used. Midland On Air. A COMMUNITY radio station for Midland could be up and running within 12 months. The station would unite the community and promote local artists, businesses and produce broadcasting to Midland, the Swan Valley and Hills. Other cities have got their own station, like Joondalup, Rockingham, Mandurah and Gosnells, so why not Midlands asked the committee. The committee is also looking for a suitable building in Midland from which to broadcast. No word in yet as to AMAS response and if frequencies exist. Cyclone Sunday today, Sunday 30. It is coming up to the time of year in the North when all should be thinking about preparations for the cyclone season. As the news goes to air the Townsville City Council is holding the annual Cyclone Sunday Emergency Expo and you are invited to head along, regardless if you are new to town, driving through or have lived in the north for many years, to get informed about what needs to be done to successfully 'weather' curly winds, horizontal rain, sudden flooding, panic buying, loss of electrons and extended shop closing hours. Cyclone Sunday happens in Strand Park from 9am until noon today Sunday October 30th and entry is free. (tarc) 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 WIA National Field Day 2012 Philip Adams - VK3JNI The date of the next WIA National Field Day is the weekend of the 14th and 15th of April 2012. Providing two days of possible operation will support club requests for some flexibility to suit their local community with operation on either the Saturday or Sunday. 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. Acknowledging valuable feedback from clubs, some changes to the rules and guidelines of the 2012 event will be advised to support the two days of operation of this event as it is certainly not a traditional AR contest. The rewarding or recognition of clubs who take pride in their preparation and presentation will still be encouraged. 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 an 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. Expressions of Interest - WIA NFD Committee The event will continue to be coordinated and managed by a small committee. In September, interested parties where invited to express their interest in joining this committee. Please forward your expression of interest via your state WIA Advisory Committee members TODAY! The chair of each Advisory Committee is asked to forward these nominations during the first week of November to the WIA office. Former committee members are welcome to nominate if they wish to continue in this role. HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA. VK2 web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news Email Address : r_demkiw@yahoo.com.au E-waste clean-up day. Amateurs in the inner-west of Sydney are informed that there will be an e-waste clean-up day on Saturday the 12th of November at the rear of the Canterbury Council chambers, Campsie. This is a good opportunity to dispose of your old CRT monitors and TVs as well as computers, mobile phones and other electronic equipment. VK3 WIA Annual Conference Mildura May 25th, 26th and 27th 2012 Details for the WIA 2012 Annual Conference being held in Mildura are on wia.org.au Host club is Sunraysia Radio Group, led by Garry Briant VK3KYF and Noel Ferguson VK3FI. WIA Members who register for the event will be able to participate in a range of fascinating and memorable activities. The Centenary Award and VK 100 ARV The special callsign VK100ARV begins this Tuesday. The Scout Radio & Electronics Unit fires up from Gilwell Park, on HF and Slow Scan TV. On Wednesday night it will be on the digital ATV repeater VK3RTV, and also the DX bands. Thursday and Friday will see action from Luke Steele VK3HJ, Terry Murphy VK3UP and Tony Hambling VK3VTH. Then for five days, the, Western & Northern Suburbs Amateur Radio Club takes its turn. Every valid contact with VK100ARV earns ten bonus points towards the Amateur Radio Victoria Centenary Award. See www.amateurradio.com.au for more details. 'though each day is allocated there remains some limited flexibility. If you’re keen to enjoy the once in a life opportunity it offer contact without the Award Manager Tony Hambling VK3VTH vk3vth@amateurradio.com.au November 1 - 0000-1300 VK3SGC Scout Radio & Electronics Unit. November 2 - Keith Proctor VK3FT, Peter Cossins VK3BFG through VK3RTV. November 3 - Luke Steele VK3HJ. November 4 - Terry Murphy VK3UP assisted by Tony Hambling VK3VTH. November 5 until 9 - Western & Northern Amateur Radio Club. November 10, 11 & 12 - Terry Murphy VK3UP assisted by Tony Hambling VK3VTH. November 13 - Luke Steele VK3HJ. November 14 - Keith Proctor VK3FT, Digital SSTV Group (VK3RML 1000z-1300z). November 15 & 16 – Keith Proctor VK3FT. November 17 - Luke Steele VK3HJ. November 18 - Peter Freeman VK3PF. November 19 & 20 - Terry Murphy VK3UP (Brisbane Ranges National Park). November 21 - Keith Proctor VK3FT, Digital SSTV Group (VK3RML 1000z-1300z). November 22 - Luke Steele VK3HJ. November 23 & 24 – Joe Walsh VK3XH November 25, 26 & 27 - Sunraysia Radio Group. November 28 – Keith Proctor VK3FT, Digital SSTV Group (VK3RML 1000z-1300z). November 29 & 30 - Terry Murphy VK3UP assisted by Tony Hambling VK3VTH. (Jim Linton VK3PC) VK4 - QNEWS Send your stories for news. SCRIPT to qnews@wia.org.au send audio to http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/upload/ get local audio news www.wiaq.com/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3 get local news emailed qnews-vk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com REPEATERS Both VK4RCA systems have been permanently removed from Mt Yarrabah and will be resited at VK4RIK – Mt Haren. IRLP NODE 6163 146.550 DTMF 123Hz I'm Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I've been thinking. From time to time there are issues which come up in our families, our workplaces and our clubs. These can start out as seemingly simple ideas but they can spark a gut reaction which raises the heat above normal. Part of the process of moving along our club activities is getting people to follow common goals. This can be running a club station in a contest, having a project to build or even arranging a get together for members and their families. There are so many opportunities for group activities in amateur radio. Part of the trick is to choose activities that will keep the bulk of members involved and excited. The other part of the trick is not to be limited by the will of one or a small group in the club. For club life to work, just as for our personal life to work, we must be prepared to compromise and accept compromise. When we make our choices is the time for clear heads and cool thoughts and like in fox hunting, it is when we can properly get redfaced and excited in completing the project. I'm Geoff Emery and that's what I think....how about you? VK5 Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society Inc Hamfest 20 November. Commercial vendors and second hand sellers in attendance. Displays and demonstrations. Goodwood Community Centre, Rosa St 0930. Tea, coffee, snacks and BBQ available. Visit www.ahars.com.au for contact details. DISCUSSION POINT What use is an f-call? Nothing, nothing at all. Well, that is, unless you practice. You're sure to have heard the expression, practice makes perfect. In any environment, learning about the task at hand is only a very small part of the process. The learning part for an f-call for me was spent listening to a very entertaining lecture over a weekend. There was a practical component to be sure - I keyed the microphone a couple of times, adjusted a radio, used a multi-meter and connected a PL259 to it's SO239. The vast majority of time was spent reading, listening and looking at diagrams. Another weekend and a few exams and I had a foundation license. My official practical "air-time" could be counted in minutes on the fingers of one hand. So, why do I sound so confident on air today, if all of my practical time was so short? Well, I've had experience and practice in another area. I've conducted some 1500 radio interviews, lasting from 5 to 30 minutes each, so my "air-time" is a little higher than five minutes. I also have an aviation radio license which forced me to learn my phonetic alphabet. This means that I will sound confident on air, but it doesn't mean that I have lots of practical experience in all of the Amateur Radio field. I know that this is an issue, so I set out to practice lots. In different situations and environments, different radios, different locations, different people around, different power, antenna, etc. I try to go out of my way learning about the impacts of settings, connectors, etc. I read the user manual of my radio. I read articles on-line, the IARU Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Radio Amateur, you name it, I'll have a go at reading it. I was loaned a copy of the Department of Civil Aviation Technical Training Section on Transmission Lines and Wave Guides and for light reading I plan to at least get the gist of what is being discussed. While I realise that I'm possibly a little eccentric in my thirst for information, you might want to start your own path towards this. I started with "Practice makes Perfect" and in a technical hobby such as Amateur Radio, that is the best advice I can give you. Key your mike, terminate a patch-lead, make an antenna, mount a mast, do it all. If you're not handy, that's you're not really sure of how to crimp a connector, or how to cut a cable, ask another amateur or join an amateur radio club and ask there during practical sessions. It's easy to sound confident, to look confident, to be confident if you practice. A teenage friend of mine commented recently that they were not sure if they made the right decision. I pointed out that learning is all about making decisions, both good ones and bad ones. One final comment. While this is Amateur Radio, that doesn't mean that you cannot be professional in your approach. What I mean is that, the Amateur component of Amateur Radio refers to Commercial Use, not the professionalism of the participants. Be prepared, practice and most of all, have fun - this is a hobby after all. I'm Onno, vk6flab INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL, Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA. Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Television has started airing its first free to air programmes this week. Programmes going to air are just test programmes for the greater Suva and Nausori area and not the final programme of FBC TV. Education, entertainment, information programmes and viewers in Fiji will be able to watch programmes for free from the same programmes that appear on pay service currently. The official launching of FBC TV is expected November. Ex-radio centre will be preserved A former naval radio communications facility in Nagasaki Prefecture and five other historic sites are expected to be designated soon by the government as important cultural assets. The facility in Sasebo is believed to have transmitted the fateful coded signal "Niitakayama nobore" ("Climb Mount Niitaka") ordering the Imperial Japanese Navy to attack Pearl Harbour in December 1941 and thus triggered the Pacific War. The naval structure was built in southern Sasebo in 1922 and is noted for its three 136-meter-tall concrete radio transmitter shafts and for being the only low-frequency radio telecommunications centre in Japan. It was taken out of service in 1997. The Japanese Navy was the first navy in the world to use wireless telegraphy in combat, at the 1905 Battle of Tsushima. Radio Frequency modules made in the United States ended up in the detonation systems of roadside bombs targeting coalition forces in Iraq, according to the US Justice Department. The department said it is seeking the extradition of four men who were arrested Monday in Singapore. The department said the men, all citizens of Singapore, falsely told the Minnesota-based firm, Digi International, that made the modules that the parts were for a telecommunications project in Singapore. The modules, ordinarily used in wireless local area networks, have an encryption capability and can transmit data wirelessly up to 40 miles when configured with certain antennae. The indictment also charges three of the Singaporean men with a separate fraud conspiracy involving an attempt to acquire two types of military antennae from the United States. California Adds Sales Tax to Amazon.com The Governor of California has signed a bill that will allow that state to collect sales tax on all merchandise sold from Amazon.com Amazon, have until September 15, 2012 to implement state tax on all purchases made within the jurisdiction. Supporters of the new legislation are claiming that this will help small businesses compete with e-commerce companies that need fewer people to fill orders. Amazon claims that a sales tax will take away their “competitive edge” from their online “bargain” prices. SoundHound music application for identifying songs. SoundHound, whose music app can identify songs playing on the radio or hummed by its users, reports that it is processing about 4 million name-that-tune requests a day. The statistic is interesting because it gives a glimpse of how popular music "searches" have become in the age of computers that can recognize both voice and sound. Apple iPhone 4S users may be enthralled with the device's Siri application, whose cheeky answers have become a viral staple on about 77,500 videos on YouTube. But the technology behind Siri is something that SoundHound has been developing for the last five years. What are SoundHound's users clicking on? All sorts of things: song lyrics, artist biographies, photos and greatest hits lists. Some even click over to iTunes or Amazon.com's MP3 store to buy the songs. In an age where there are tens of millions of songs online, finding the tune that your grandmother hummed to you as a child may be like searching for a needle in a digital haystack. SoundHound is aiming to find that 'needle' for you! SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2011 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 IARU Region 3 Operating Award The award is available to licensed amateurs and SWLs. Contacts made after April 5, 1982 are eligible. QSL cards NOT required. Send certified list of eligible contacts from Log Book. Cost is US $4.00. Eligible countries are those in ITU Region 3 whose amateur societies are members of IARU Region 3. These are: Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, China (PRC), Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Fiji, French Polynesia (FO8 only), Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcain Islands, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam. PLUS - ONE Country credit from US Territories in the Pacific from Guam, Northern Marianas, American Samoa, Wake Island, Baker Howland Group, as represented by ARRL. or ONE Country credit from Chago Archipelago (VQ9), represented by RSGB. Current total of available 'countries' is 34. Requirements for Award as from January 1, 1986: Basic, 7 areas; Silver Endorsement, 15 areas; Gold Endorsement, 20 areas. These to be reviewed as considered necessary by the custodian who would recommend appropriately to the Secretariat. Awards may be endorsed for any mode or band. Application to NZART Awards Manager. Alan Chapman ZL3GX PO Box 1733 Christchurch 8140 New Zealand awards @ nzart.org.nz SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, DX and BEACON AND NET ADVICE Five operators are active from Bhutan until 1 November. During the CQ WW SSB Contest this weekend (29-30 October) look for A52IR on 80m, A52PC on 40m, A52PP on 20m, A25AB on 15m and A51B on 10m. Outside the contest times they will work other bands and modes. Gerard de Jong is now active from Antarctica as ZS7KX. He is stationed at SANAE 4 Base, Vesleskarvet, Queen Maude Land, Antarctica. He can be heard on 14,175 MHz from 14:00 UTC, weather permitting. He will give a call every half hour until 15:30 UTC. Gerard will be at SANAE 4 until February 2012. IRLP Ghost Net The first, and possibly-annual, IRLP Ghost Net will be meeting next week. The net will meet at 0:00 UTC on Monday, October 31 (5 pm Sunday Pacific time). It will meet on IRLP reflector 9204. All are welcome to check in, and kids are encouraged to join in the spooky fun. Sutter, KI6ZON U.S. haunted lighthouse op Look for Dan, KD3CQ, to activate the special event station W3H (Whiskey 3 Haunted) on October 31st, from Maryland's Lighthouses -- Point Lookout (ARLHS USA-628), listed as one of the USA haunted lighthouses, along with Point Lookout Light (ARLHS USA-1409), and possibly Solomon's Lump (ARLHS USA-767), if visible. Point Lookout was a "Union Prisoner of War Camp" set up to hold Confederate prisoners after the "1863 Battle of Gettysburg"; the lighthouse was used as the Infirmary. Activation will start at 1300z and end at 1345z, on 7270 kHz +/-, then 14270 kHz +/- and possibly 18150 kHz +/-. THE QNEWS WORK BENCH - the nuts and volts report – Measure Twice cut Once. Development of HAMCALC to cease Long-standing software developer George Murphy, VE3ERP, has hung up his keyboard and is retiring from further development on HAMCALC. For those unfamiliar with the software, HAMCALC is a collection of useful calculators for amateur radio use, widely used throughout the amateur community. The latest version of HAMCALC can be downloaded at www.cq-amateur-radio.com (RSGB) MEDIA WATCH www.cq-amateur-radio.com/WorldRadio.html VK Club Bulletins http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aarnie/ A further look at Amateur Radio magazine On this broadcast last week we had the IARU Region 3 ARDF Championships, the New South Wales Department of Planning making radio mast laws more flexible, and what is happening on the bands. Now we look its technical articles - Porta-Loop MF reception by Peter Parker VK3YE, a Sensitive Field Strength Meter from Tony La Macchia VK2BTL, A Simple Microwave Beeper by Lou Blasco VK3ALB and an Audio Compressor from Dale Hughes VK1DSH. There’s also a switched mode power supply repair from Erich Heinzle VK5HSE and a simple balanced line protector by Justin Giles-Clark VK7TW. In history the Amateur Operators Certificate and the Morse code requirement is looked at by Lloyd Butler VK5BR and there’s a walk through the early days from Alan Elliott VK3AL. Amateur Radio magazine is part of WIA membership and also at selected newsagents. I’m Barry Robinson VK3PV and you’re listening to VK1WIA. WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ATV (Every pixel tells a story) - Video arvideonews.com hamradiotube.com youtube.com qdg.org.au Vintage Film - The World of Amateur Radio Dick Van Dyke, Barry Goldwater K7UGA, Arthur Godfrey K4LIB and many others extol the virtues of amateur radio in this vintage film from the 1970's. On YouTube Tim Verthein KC0JEZ writes: "I converted this old and somewhat damaged 16mm film to video tape many many years ago when the technology to do that was rather archaic. I have now converted those old video reels to digital movies. Not the best quality but still quite amusing. Watch Hams Wide World-Amateur Radio Vintage Film Google on youtubes Tim KC0JEZ's website http://www.edselmotors.com/ WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER One of the leading contributors to our understanding of the universe sits in our rural backyard, says ABC Rural in a great story on the CSIRO's Parkes radio telescope, also known as the Dish, which is located in central west VK2. The Dish turns 50 Monday October 31, but due to recent upgrades making it 10,000 times stonger than in 1961 it's still ranked among the top ten radio telescopes in the world. http://www.abc.net.au/rural/telegraph/content/2011/s3349555.htm 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 On November 9, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time, televisions and radios across the USA will broadcast a series of beeps followed by the message, “This is a test.” While local and state components of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) are tested on a weekly and monthly basis, respectively, this will mark the first time that the federal government conducts a nationwide, “top-to-bottom” test. EAS serves as the USA’s public warning system. The test will last for approximately three minutes on all over-the-air broadcasts, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) providers and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) providers. While state and local authorities typically utilize EAS for weather-related emergencies and public notices, such as Amber child abduction alerts, it also serves as the primary means for the President to relay critical information to citizens during an emergency. “Early warnings save lives,” explained FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Chief James A. Barnett, Jr. in a recent release. “This was demonstrated recently and dramatically during the major earthquake and tsunami that devastated eastern Japan. Except for Japan’s early warning systems, loss of life would have been much higher." HISTORIC CAR RALLY – EAST GIPPSLAND Amateur Radio Operators will be visiting East Gippsland during the weekend of the 26th and 27th of November to provide support for the Historic Rally Association of Victoria during their conduct of one of the biggest car rallies in Australia, with vehicles coming from all around Australia and New Zealand. This exercise will operate over two days and one night and will be in the forest area on “back roads” off the Princes Highway between Lakes Entrance and the township of Cann River An Amateur Radio communication system to provide vital safety reporting of car positions will operate through several 2m repeaters previously established by the East Gippsland Amateur Radio Club, providing communications along the Highway The reporting of vehicle positions will be to one central control point to ensure the safety of all competitors. If you would like to be an operator at one of these control positions, have a close up view of the event and spend a day in the Gippsland forest, please contact Col Pomroy Email at colinpomroy@bigpond.com or Mobile 0417 305 702 I'm Michael, Clubs publicity officer vk3hau. Turkey earthquake - avoid 7.092 MHz USB A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Van region of Eastern Turkey causing great loss of life and hundreds of casualties. Radio Amateurs from the Turkish national amateur radio society TRAC are responding to assist with communications in the area. There are some frequencies in use on HF, currently used to link with Government resources and this is meaning that some frequencies outside the amateur bandplan and normal usage are being used until more equipment gets to the region. When this happens, more traffic should move to the normal Emergency Communications Centre of Activity frequencies. Please avoid causing QRM to emergency traffic on 7.092 MHz USB. USB is being used to allow communications with a government station. REWIND Radio players to thrill and make audience laugh at Katoomba FANS of radio plays in Western Sydney will be treated to a thriller and a comedy at Katoomba by the Blue Mountains Radio Players this weekend. The first play to be performed at Mountain Heritage Hotel and Spa is ‘The Voice On The Wire’ and the second is ‘Fibber Has A Happy Face’ from 2.30pm. The Voice On The Wire is from the Inner Sanctum Mysteries Series first broadcast on November 29, 1944. The second play from the Fibber McGee & Molly Series was written by Don Quinn Phil Leslie and was first aired on June 8, 1943. It is based on the theory that the way you feel is reflected in the way you look hence, look happy and you will feel happy. The two radio plays are performed before a live audience at Mountain Heritage Hotel & Spa, corner of Apex and Lovel Streets. Phone 47822 155 for 'nformation times etc.. SOCIAL SCENE 2011 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 APR 14-15 VK WIA National Field Day. MAY 3-18 VK5 YL International 2012 Australia (vk5tmc@bigpond.com) JULY 14 VK4 Wide Bay Hamfest. West Maryborough Scout Hall Nov 12 VK3 SPARC HAMFEST (ROSEBUD BY THE BAY) WIA Annual Conference Mildura May 25th, 26th and 27th 2012 Details for the WIA 2012 Annual Conference being held in Mildura are on wia.org.au Host club is Sunraysia Radio Group, led by Garry Briant VK3KYF and Noel Ferguson VK3FI. WIA Members who register for the event will be able to participate in a range of fascinating and memorable activities. 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ============================================================================= 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 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