WIANEWS - DEC 18 - 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 DECEMBER 18 2011. We urge you to read the WIA FRONT PAGE NEWS service regularly, http://www.wia.org.au NOW, THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING DECEMBER 18 2011. 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 The proposal to allocate a part of the medium frequency band to the amateur service at the World Radio Conference in 2012 received a boost this week with the release of the Asia-Pacific Common Proposals that were developed at the 5th Meeting of the APT Conference Preparatory Group for WRC-12. During this meeting the various nations of the Asia-Pacific region discussed many of issues that will be addressed at WRC12 and attempted to come to a regional consensus position. The proposal of interest to the amateur service is "to consider an allocation of about 15 kHz in parts of the band 415–526.5 kHz to the amateur service on a secondary basis, taking into account the need to protect existing services" and this proposal was supported by a comfortable margin of Asia-Pacific administrations responding to the voting request. The successful development of a regional position supporting an amateur MF allocation increases the chances that the proposal will be accepted at WRC-12. The amateur radio service is represented at the APT meetings by delegates from the International Amateur Radio Union Region 3 and by members of national amateur radio organisations who are part of delegations from each national administration Dale Hughes was a member of the Australian delegation to this meeting and the earlier meeting in Hong Kong in December 2010, nominated and paid for by the WIA. Dale will be representing the amateur service as a member of the Australian delegation to WRC-12, again nominated by the WIA. Read the full story on WIA Front Page News http://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2011/20111214-2/index.php You know it's history that makes us who we are today and helps guide us not to repeat mistakes! The WIA’s archive in Bayswater has been steadily sorting documents, some dating back prior to the foundation of organised amateur radio in Australia in 1910. During the "100th year" in 2010, many documents and articles were received as a result of the "Call for Articles" column in AR. Some submissions have been, or will be published in the WIA’s magazine. All will be kept and added to the archive shelves to assist those researching wireless/radio history at some later date. You are able to help preserve our history by forwarding relevant historical information in your possession. WIA is particularly seeking material relating to radio activities within Australia. You may have been involved in some activity of importance, or related to an earlier amateur whose paper work may still be held in the family. If you were an office bearer of the Institute, or one of the more active clubs, you may have copies of official correspondence with the old PMG’s Department relating to early special permits, e.g. for modes like RTTY, ATV, Moon Bounce or early repeaters. Even copies of OT’s licences and permits are very worthy of preserving, for they all help to build up an accurate image of days gone. The Institute’s Archive, is rapidly developing into a source of historical material not only relating to the development of amateur radio in Australia but also radio communication generally in this part of the world. Please forward suitable material to the Bayswater office, marked "Attention Archive" or you may contact the WIA Historian, Peter Wolfenden, VK3RV on email vk3rv@wia.org.au The WIA’s Freedom of Information request early this year, reported in the Comment column of the April issue of the WIA’s Amateur Radio magazine, revealed that the ACMA did not have any documents disclosing ACMA’s policy or procedures relating to inspections. The WIA has continued to discuss these matters with the ACMA and now we have been able to publish an agreed statement on inspections. The full statement can be found on the WIA website, currently as a news item on wia.org.au But let me outline some aspects of the statement. Let me put on one side cases where a radio inspector can enter premises pursuant to a warrant issued by a court on the basis of evidence of significant breaches of the Radiocommunications Act or in an emergency to stop actual interference to certain safety services. Those situations apart, Radio Inspectors acting under that Act do not generally have automatic rights to enter an individual property unless permission is granted by the occupier of the property. Amateur station inspections are normally a routine activity, often with an educational objective. Ordinarily, an Inspector should arrange a mutually convenient time by telephone with a licensee to inspect the licensee’s station. If the licensee is aged under 18, the appointment should be made through a parent or guardian, and the inspection should be carried out in the presence of the parent or guardian. The ACMA points out that in some cases, where an Inspector is working in a particular area, it may be convenient to visit amateurs in the area for station inspections when it may not be possible to make an prior appointment by telephone. It has been agreed that the following steps will be taken in such cases when an Inspector has been unable to make an appointment: 1 The ACMA staff will select the licensee(s) to be visited by the proximity of their station(s) to other work in an area; 2 The ACMA staff will ascertain the age of each licensee to be visited; 3 If the licensee is aged under 18, contact shall be made through a parent or guardian or other adult; 4 Upon arrival, the Inspector shall identify himself and display his or her identification card. The WIA advises that the licensee should note the name(s) of the Inspector(s); 5 The Inspector shall request permission to enter and to inspect the station. If it is not convenient to do so the inspector should advise the licensee that the inspection may take place at another time more convenient to both the ACMA and the licensee. 6 The ACMA staff shall always ensure that if the licensee is aged under 18 any inspection is carried out at all times in the presence of a parent or guardian or other adult. 7 The licensee shall assist the Inspector in the conduct of the inspection and possible testing of equipment. The agreed statement ends with the following: It is expected that ACMA staff and Amateur operators will work co-operatively in accordance with the above procedure and always bear in mind the individual rights of the licensee. Please read the full statement on the WIA website, http://www.wia.org.au 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 Hello everyone, Merry Christmas from the members of the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club. I’m Rod, VK2FVRJ. Well, It’s just 70 days until the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club (CCARC) Field Day at Wyong, Sunday 26th February 2012. The largest Amateur Radio gathering in the Southern hemisphere. Each year the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club plays host to Australia’s leading suppliers of amateur radio and electronic equipment, as well as over 1500 amateur radio enthusiasts looking for that elusive Field Day bargain. So, don’t forget to mark the date on your calendar, save those pennies and we’ll see you at Amateur Radio’s Big Day Out in 2012 For further information, please go to the Field Day website, http://www.fieldday.org.au or Central Coast Amateur Radio Club http://www.ccarc.org.au Once again, the Central Coast amateur Radio club wishes all amateur radio operators and their families, a very merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year. 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 Welcome to QNews from VK4WIA. 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 red-faced and excited in completing the project. I'm Geoff Emery and that's what I think....how about you? TARC Xmas Lights Tour Get out your Santa Hats, flashy pins and glad rags and get ready for a magical mystery tour of the light fantastic in Townsville! Particularly if you are travelling through the area make contact on the RAT repeater system now because the world famous TARC Xmas Lights Tour is on again, happening Friday evening December 23rd. It’s a Drive Yourself Dazzling Spectacular and all mobile shack chariots will need to monitor 146.5MHz during the tour to hear instructions from Santa's guide vehicle. Embarkation point will be at the Picnic Tables and Playground, northern end of The Domain before the 6pm departure time. Contact Gavin VK4ZZ on mobile 0427 182469 or on email vk4zz@wia.org.au or via VK4RAT. DISCUSSION POINT What use is an f-call? In 1905 George Santayana said: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." If you're new to Amateur Radio like me, you don't remember the past because you don't know it. While I could dig up the history going back to 1900 or so, I'll encourage you instead to let your fingers do that walking and read that on the Internet yourself. One particularly interesting document I stumbled on is called "History of Radio call-signs in Australia", a must read. Having just received my foundation license, I was unaware how recent the development of an f-call actually is. In May 2004 the ACMA published a report on the "Outcomes of the Review of Amateur Service Regulation" which among many outcomes recommended the introduction of an entry-level licensing option in Australia, similar to the foundation license in the UK. The submissions at the time, over two-thirds in favour of a foundation licensing option, cited the need to make the amateur service more accessible to potential amateurs. There were other outcomes which you can read online. On 21 October 2005 the ACMA issued the first Foundation Licence, VK4FRST to Amanda who still holds that license today. In 2005, the Foundation license looked slightly different to what it does today. At the time, you were permitted 3 Watts for FM, AM and CW broadcasts and 10 Watts for SSB. This changed on the 3rd of February 2006 when the ACMA notified the WIA that 10 Watts was allowed on all permitted emission modes for a Foundation License. Now I was never going to be giving you a history lesson, you knew that from the start. What I was trying to point out is that the privileges we enjoy today come from a background of development, driven by Amateurs, like yourself, asking questions and making recommendations. It comes from input from the Wireless Institute of Australia, it comes from developments overseas. Next time you key your microphone, think about what went before, and if you're not sure, spend an hour online and have a read. I'm sure you'll find things you didn't know. Perhaps you'll be inspired to write down and document some of your own achievements. One thing's for certain. If it's not written down, it didn't happen and if that's the case, no-one will know if they're repeating the same lesson you just learnt. I'm Onno, vk6flab INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to RSGB, Southgate AR Club, the ARRL, Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART AR Victoria and the WW sources of the WIA. NOMINATION DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR ARRL INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AWARD The deadline to nominate an amateur or group of amateurs for the 2011 ARRL International Humanitarian Award is coming up -- December 31, 2011. This award is conferred upon an amateur or amateurs who demonstrate devotion to human welfare, peace and international understanding through Amateur Radio. The League established the annual prize to recognize Amateur Radio operators who have used ham radio to provide extraordinary service to others in times of crisis or disaster. As one of the few telecommunication services that allows people throughout the world from all walks of life to meet and talk with each other, Amateur Radio spreads goodwill across political boundaries. The ARRL International Humanitarian Award recognizes the Amateur Radio Service's unique role in international communication and the assistance amateurs regularly provide to people in need. Read more here www.arrl.org/news/ IC chip inventors birthday We celebrate the birthday of the late Robert Norton Noyce, nicknamed "the Mayor of Silicon Valley", who co-founded Fairchild Semiconductors and along with Jack Kilby invented the integrated circuit. While in college his physics professor got hold of two of the very first transistors out of Bell Laboratories and Noyce was hooked. The field was so young that when Noyce went to MIT in 1948 he knew more about transistors than many of his professors. His first job was as a research engineer, he then joined the Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory and later co-founded Fairchild Semiconductors. Noyce and Gordon Moore founded Intel in 1968 when they left Fairchild and it became a market leader. The integrated circuit was one of the stepping stones toward what he take for granted today, the ubiquitous microprocessor. Noyce was born on December 12, 1927 and died in 1990 at the age of 62. He was looked up to as a father-figure to an entire generation of entrepreneurs and gave the Silicon Valley its name. ============================================================================= NEWS FROM ARNEWSLINE USA FCC GRANTS SECONDARY SERVICE ALLOCATION TO WIRELESS BROADBAND MEDICAL MICROPOWER NETWORKS Ham radio will soon be sharing the 70 centimetre band with micro-power medical devices in the USA. At its regular meeting on Wednesday, November 30, the four-member FCC Commission unanimously agreed to allocate spectrum and adopt service and technical rules for the utilization of new implanted medical devices that operate on 413 to 457 MHz spectrum. These devices will be used on a secondary basis as part of the Medical Data Radiocommunication Service in Part 95 of the FCC rules. According to the FCC, these devices would greatly expand the use of functional electric stimulation to restore sensation, mobility and function to those persons with paralysed limbs and organs; they would be implanted in a patient and function as wireless broadband medical micro power networks or MMN’s. These new rules are the result of a Notice of Proposed Rule Making that the FCC released in March 2009. A Report & Order that will define these new rules is expected soon. As hams already know, the Amateur Radio Service in the United States also has a secondary allocation on the 70 cm band from 430 to 450 MHz While it’s unlikely that these flea power devices will bother very many radio amateurs, its unknown what affect ham radio will have on the ability of these devices to share spectrum with hams or any other users of the entire 413 to 457 MHz 70 centimetre allocation. SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2012 January 1-31 VK Ross Hull Memorial VHF UHF Contest January 14-15 VK Summer VHF-UGF Field Day March 17-18 VK JOHN MOYLE MEMORIAL FIELD DAY May 5 VK/trans-Tasman Contest 80metres SSB June 9-10 VK Shires Contest. June 25 VK/trans-Tasman Contest 160metres SSB July First full weekend NZART Memorial Contest August 11-12 VK Remembrance Day Contest August 18-19 WW International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend. IRTS will be celebrating its 80th anniversary next year. Details of a worldwide contest – CQIR – to take place on Saint Patrick’s Day, Saturday 17th March 2012 have just been announced. Full rules and information are available at www.irts.ie/cqir or by email to cqir@irts.ie ROUND UP THOSE CW QSOS IN THE ARRL CW ROOKIE ROUNDUP The ARRL's Rookie Roundup comes around again on Sunday, December 18. This time, the focus is on CW operation. The Rookie Roundup is an on-the air event is designed to help newly licensed amateurs build their HF and 6 meter operating skills. Similar to the ARRL Novice Roundup that ran from 1952 until 1995, the Rookie Roundup combines a competitive event with some on-the-air training, bringing fun and Elmering into the 21st century. Three Rookie Roundups -- SSB, RTTY and CW -- are held each calendar year: The CW running of the Rookie Roundup will take place Sunday, December 18 from 1800-2359 UTC. Read more here http://www.arrl.org/news/round-up-those-cw-qsos-in-the-arrl-cw-rookie-roundup SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, DX and BEACON AND NET ADVICE KH0UY and KH0K will be operational from Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands between January 7th to the 10th. Their activity will be on 80 through 6 meters, plus the satellites. QSL via their home call signs of JO3FRH and JE4SMQ. HB9IQB, has been granted a license by the Ministry of Telecommunications & Technology in Ramallah, and plans to be active as E44PM. Operations will last for 7 days from December 6. He announced this past week, "Taking into consideration the many E-mails from SSB Ops, I will try to spend not less than 20% of the time in that mode. CW will be my main mode." For more details and updates, visit http://www.hb9iqb.ch/palestine.html 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 Russian Military OFDM in 40m The November issue of the IARU Monitoring System (IARUMS) newsletter reports that the Russian military have been transmitting on 7000.8 kHz using OFDM112 The International Amateur Radio Union Monitoring System (IARUMS) Region 1 November 2011 newsletter can be read at http://www.iarums-r1.org/iarums/news2011/news1111.pdf The Intruder-Logger, is open to all users worldwide. You can store your intruder observations in real time mode! Use this system and read the entries from all parts of the world! http://peditio.net/intruder/bluechat.cgi Monitor the short wave bands on-line with a web based SDR receiver at http://sdrspace.com/ http://www.websdr.org/ IARU Monitoring System http://www.iaru-r1.org MEDIA WATCH www.cq-amateur-radio.com/WorldRadio.html VK Club Bulletins http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aarnie/ Welcome to QNews from VK4WIA. I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking about the matter of our Sunday News broadcasts. I would like to offer my deep appreciation to all who make it possible. The correspondents, the rebroadcasters and clubs who keep the news coming. Especially I thank our inveterate News Editor, Graham, VK4BB who with his support crew spend many volunteer hours on making it happen. Home life and work manage to allow our broadcast team to follow the Amateurs code, somehow keeping life in balance. Many thanks to you all and to our listeners - may you enjoy the best festive season offerings and all the New Year can offer. I’m Geoff VK4ZPP and that’s what I think....how about you? WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW FISTS Club - East Asia www.feacw.net FISTS Club - Australasia www.fistsdownunder.org FISTS Club - UK & Europe www.fists.co.uk FISTS Club - Americas www.fists.org ANNUAL NEW YEAR BREAK FOR VK2BWI BROADCASTS The VK2BWI slow morse practice broadcasts, heard weekly on thursday evenings at 2000 hours local time, on 3.550 MHz, will be taking a break over the new year. The last broadcast for 2011 will be on Thursday the 22nd of December. Broadcasts will resume on Thursday the 2nd of February 2012. Ross VK2ER and Geoff VK2BGP would like to thank listeners for their support and interest throughout the year. Call-backs remained more or less constant in number and were always much appreciated. WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL Australian Coordinator for TCPIP domains is Indy vk2xb@wia.org.au NEW VERSION OF ROS RELEASED A new version of ROS data software has released by author José Alberto Nieto Ros, EA5HVK. The updates include improved performance for High Frequency N-V-I-S communications. Also, as of December 1st the code structure of ROS HF was changed in order to support mid to low band NVIS propagation. Versions prior to 6.8.4 will be incompatible with the latest version. There is no change to the Medium Frequency and E-M-E modes. You can download the new version of ROS from rosmodem.wordpress.com/2011/01/10/ros-2 WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER AMSAT-VK UNOFFICIAL HF Net. 2nd Sunday each month. April through October 1000 UTC 3.685 MHz November through March 0900 UTC 7.068 MHz HAM RADIO IN SPACE: ISS SHADOW BEACON EXPERIMENT POSTPONED The recently announced Plasma Thrust space “Shadow-beacon” experiment using amateur radio has been postponed until after the delivery of a new rig next April. This, because of a problem with the current gear on-board the orbiting outpost. Sergey Samburov RV3DR, of the Russian space corporation "Energia" is among those responsible for amateur radio operations from the ISS. He says that the onboard radio was self-switched onto the standard simplex frequency of145.825 MHz instead of the required duplex 144.360 / 145.825 MHz digipeater mode because of the old age of the gear. It has been in use more than 10 years. Samburov says that a new radio is planned to be delivered to the ISS by cargo vehicle in April. Because of this, Mission Control Centre plans to hold the “Shadow-beacon” sessions in May or June of 2012. (ARNewsLine) REWIND PYE - Calling V.H.F. A 1955 instructional film, produced by the Cambridge based Pye Telecommunications for sales engineers on V.H.F. communications equipment and how to sell it. Stephen Jack describes how V.H.F. communications can benefit the police, ambulances and taxis and factories. He explains three classes of prospect, those who know V.H.F. and want it, those who know but think they don't want it and those who don't yet know. The salesman must convince their customers of the economics of V.H.F. communications and how the scheme is worthwhile to them. Pye was an electronics company founded in Cambridge, and has been known as Pye Radio Works Ltd, Pye Ltd, Pye Telecommunications, Philips Radio Communications Systems (PRCS), Philips Telecom-PMR and Simoco International Ltd. It was founded in 1896 by William George Pye, an employee of the Cavendish Laboratory, and manufactured instruments that were used for teaching and research Pye Communications Ltd division was formed in February 1944, where it designed and produced radio communications equipment when the war ended. This company developed and grew into the leading UK producer of mobile radio equipment for commercial, business, industrial, police and government purposes. Watch Calling V.H.F. at http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/1801 Pye Telecom Wireless Heritage http://www.pyetelecomhistory.org/ SOCIAL SCENE 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, Geneva 23rd January TO 17th February 2012 FEB 12 VK3 CentreVictoria Hamfest, Kyneton Racecourse. All roads will lead to the RadioFest at Kyneton less than an hour from Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo. Major traders are there, a huge area for second-hand sellers and a club corner for displays and promotion. The Centre Victoria RadioFest, Kyneton Racecourse is on Sunday the 12th of February. Points are contact are: Commercial Traders Liaison, Barry Robinson VK3PV 0428 516 001 Second hand tables are space, Ross Pittard VK3CE 0408 533 107 Club Corner Precinct, Tony Hambling VK3VTH 0423 635 152 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) MAY 5- 6 VK4 RADAR and MARC Clairview Gathering MAY 25-27 VK3 WIA Annual Conference Mildura As we get ready for the Christmas break, may I remind you of the WIA Annual Conference, to be held in Mildura on May 25, 26 and 27 next year. I visited Mildura a couple of weeks ago, and met with Noel and Garry from the Sunraysia Club and I am convinced it will be a great event. I also know many people who are planning to come, who say they will register soon. May I ask that if you are planning to come, you register now and book your hotel now. That will really help us in our planning! Also, may I remind you that the Board will be meeting in February and we would like to plan the 2013 Annual Conference. If you club or a group of clubs is thinking of suggesting that the WIA 2013 Annual Conference be held with your support in your interesting area, please let us know soon and before February. 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