WIANEWS - May 6 - 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 MAY 06 2012. IT'S A BEAT UP IT'S A BALLOON UP Whistle-like signal in Amateur Radio 40m band FLOWER POWER WITH GB0BFM THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING MAY 6 2012. IT'S A BEAT UP Paul vk5fpau sent us an interesting item from adelaidenow.com.au titled "RECYCLED and decommissioned SA Police radios are being sold at public auction and illegally tuned into private frequencies by radio hams." In February, the Australian Communications and Media Authority seized nine radios and issued warning notices for the "unlawful possession of radio communications devices" to unlicensed radio hams in Adelaide after a complaint of substantial interference from a licensed operator. Now we won't go on here as so much of the story is full of inaccuracies, unfortunately the emphasis has been shifted onto we hams being "in the wrong". Terminology and just what the on line reporter has in his or her mind we hams get up to is just way out of left field! adelaidenow.com.au/police-radios-used-illegally/story-e6frea6u-1226342058370 WIA's Peter Young VK3MV said that theACMA confirmed that a major compliance action was undertaken in Adelaide in the past week. Reports suggesting that Ham Operators were involved have been denied by the ACMA. Monitoring of the radio spectrum from ACMA infrastructure in Adelaide confirmed that a number of users (Pirates) were active on frequencies licensed to other parties. Intelligence gathered through this monitoring indicated that these individuals possessed equipment programmed with numerous frequencies. Enquiries made by the ACMA found that these users did not hold ACMA licences for these frequencies. The radios operated by the individuals involved in this matter had been programmed with a number of frequencies which were licensed to various organisations. The ACMA received a report of substantial interference from a licensee although the extent of the disruption to their communications is not known. The ACMA did not receive any information indicating that there was a danger to public safety. Notices issued were in relation to the radio transceivers in the possession of the individuals and nine of these transceivers were subsequently surrendered to theACMA. The ACMA is still considering whether to take prosecution action. 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 The Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club’s 37th annual field day takes place at Port Macquarie on Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th of June 2012. The venue is the Tacking Point Surf Life Saving Club hall in Matthew Flinders Drive, Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie NSW. There will be all the usual attractions and events over the two days of the Field Day. The Field Day dinner will be held at the Port Macquarie Golf Club at 6pm on the Saturday night. Foxhunts will be conducted on both days. Sunday is the day for the traders and the trash and treasure tables. There is no charge to sellers so bring your treasure. The famous barbeque lunch will be available on both Saturday and Sunday. Mark your calendar now for Port Macquarie on the June Long Weekend. Visit the Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Inc. website at http://www.orarc.org for more information or write to the club at PO Box 712 Port Macquarie NSW 2444. (Henry Lundell VK2ZHE President, Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Inc.) The next one day Foundation course being conducted by ARNSW will be Sunday 20 May at the VK2WI Dural site. Assessments for both the course and all license grades will be conducted on Sunday the 27th May. This is also the next bi-monthly Trash & Treasure day. VK3 web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/ Police Roundup http://www.vicpolicenews.com.au/ MDRC Hamfest 2012 The Moorabbin and District Amateur Radio club are pleased to announce, this year’s Hamfest will be held in at a BRAND NEW LOCATION with improved access and parking. This year’s event will be at the Southern Community Centre, Rupert Drive, Mulgrave (Melways map ref 80 F4) on Saturday 26th May – doors opening at 10am. The Moorabbin Radio Club’s annual Hamfest is proud to be Victoria's biggest with displays and sales of new and 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. A Must see, must come event!! GippsTech 2012 Do you own one of the more recent amateur transceivers that include six metres, two metres and/or 70 centimetres in addition to the HF bands? Have you explored any of the bands above HF? Or do you simply use the two metre and 70 centimetre capability on FM for chatting with the locals or to access the local repeater? If this sounds familiar, you might be surprised at what you can actually work on these higher bands, especially if you tune to the SSB segments or explore some of the digital modes. But how do you discover more information about such operation? One way is to read one of the radio handbooks or explore some of the many websites. Perhaps it would be easier to attend the annual GippsTech conference. GippsTech has a reputation as a premier amateur radio technical conference. It focusses primarily on techniques applicable in the VHF, UHF and microwave bands, especially for weak-signal contacts. It is almost that time again: GippsTech 2012 will be happening on the weekend of the 7th and 8th of July, at Monash University Gippsland Campus in Churchill, Victoria, about 170 km east of Melbourne. A Partner’s Tour will be conducted, together with an informal social gathering for dinner on Friday and a Conference Dinner on Saturday. Those of you who have more experience and have information to share with others are invited to submit titles of presentations to the Conference Chair as soon as possible. We look forward to seeing you at GippsTech in early July. Further details are available from the Eastern Zone Amateur Radio Club website: http://www.vk3bez.org/ (Peter VK3PF Conference Chair) RADIO AMATEUR OLD-TIMERS http://www.raotc.org.au Hallo everyone, this is Clive VK6CSW with a reminder that tomorrow Monday May 7th the Radio Amateurs Old Timers Club of Australia's monthly News and Information Bulletin will be broadcast on a number of HF and VHF frequencies. The principal HF transmissions will be on 20 metres on 14.150 MHz USB at 0100 UTC beamed north from Melbourne for the eastern states, and at 0200 UTC beamed westward for Western Australia. Numerous local relays will take place on both VHF and lower HF frequencies, To find the times and frequencies for your area please visit the RAOTC website at www.raotc.org.au Once again, that's www.raotc.org.au Everyone, RAOTC Members and non-members alike, is invited to listen to this interesting half hour of Old Timer news, information and anecdotes and to participate in the call backs afterwards. Once again, the RAOTC monthly bulletin is scheduled for tomorrow, Monday May 7th. 73 from Clive VK6CSW 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 Are you coming to the WIA AGM in Mildura ? Last week on the WIA Annual Conference promo spot we interviewed Terry Baume VK5VZI from the Project Horus team. As we heard, the Horus team will not only be giving us the full technical lowdown on their Balloon launches during the Saturday afternoon technical Symposium sessions, but will also be launching a real Horus, yes Horus 25 on Sunday morning from the old aero ovals a publicly accessible council property in Mildura. Over the last week there has been a great deal of discussion and enthusiasm shown for this launch, with some groups now actively planning to arrive in Mildura for the Annual Conference weekend so they can take part in tracking and following the balloon and its payload and as we heard on last weeks news being in the running for the Yaesu FT-1900 transceiver. A number of questions have been received during the week from those who enjoyed Terry's interview, questions such as, How far will the balloon travel and do we know which direction it is likely to go ? Well I have followed these questions up with Terry and I have some answers, he informs me that Horus team believe the balloon will remain in the air for about two and half hours possibly longer, during that time and depending on atmosperic conditions it can typically travel between 50 and 200 kilometers before it bursts and the payload parachutes back to the ground. Now the questions which way will it travel, well the answer to that mystery will of course be revealed on the day ! The Horus 25 launch is planned to take place at 8:00 am from the old areo ovals, this council park has planty of parking for cars. In addition for people attending the Annual Conference without their own vehicle, a minibus operated by the Sunraysia radio club will be running to ferry people from the Hotel to the ovals for the launch and to the Paddleboat Mundoo for the lunchtime cruise. As was mentioned on last weeks news, actively following and tracking the ballon on its possible 1 or 200 kilometer journey is a separate activity to the Paddleboat Mundoo boat cruise and the scenic journey up and down the Murray river. We have been asked by the WIA office to make sure that everyone who is booking in for the weekend is fully aware that following the balloon and the Mundoo boat trip are separate activities, so here it is again to make completely sure there is no mistake, following and tracking the Horus Balloon on its possible 1 or 200 kilometer journey will be a separate Sunday activity to that of the Paddleboat Mundoo lunch and river cruise. See you in Mildura, register today to be part of this great weekend. Follow the link on wia.org.au to the Annual Conference in Mildura. DISCUSSION POINT I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and I’ve been thinking. Earlier this year, I raised the idea that it may be more efficient to dispense with charging for amateur radio licences on the basis that the figures for cost recovery have not been compared with the possible savings with the dispensation. To finish the month of April, the Communications Minister Conroy released a small book called the Convergence Review. www.dbcde.gov.au/digital economy/convergence review This report addresses the issues raised by multiple platforms for what is currently called the media. However, in a move that would undo the integration of the old Broadcasting Control Board into the ACMA, it is recommended that the ACMA be replaced by another regulator attuned to the world of “broadcasting”. Because of the difficulties involved in structuring licences for multiple platforms and to quote the Executive Summary, “The Review recommends that the licensing of broadcasting services should cease. As a consequence, the current costs for government and business associated with planning and issuing licences and administering categories of broadcasting services will disappear entirely”. If the government adopts these recommendations, Amateur Radio has a strong precedent for the abolition of licence fees. I’m Geoff Emery and that’s what I think.....how about you? (4ZPP/QNEWS) What use is an f-call? (Past editions of What use is an f-call can be found online at harg.org.au under F-troop.) Recently I celebrated my birthday, my Amateur Radio Birthday that is. I've now had my license for 12 months and each time I go on air I find myself surrounded by people who know more than I do. It's great to be in a position where you're not the "expert". In my day-job, I'm a 30 year veteran in the field. Fortunately in Amateur Radio, there are others around with that same level of black magic voo-doo that makes a conversation go along a little like this: "How do I do this?" - "well, plug that into there and then flick that switch and it'll work." - "Cool, how did you know?" - "Well, when I was camped on the side of the road near Karratha in the 50's I had the same problem and this is how I fixed it." I find it difficult to express what it means to be able to talk to people who are able and willing to share their knowledge and experience. There is a level of awe - I've been on the receiving end of it in my own field, I recognize it, but it doesn't seem real - and a level of gratitude that the expert spent the time to explain. In my day job, more and more I find that the level of expertise and comprehension is declining. I suspect that there are Amateurs who believe that the Foundation License is an extension of that same phenomenon. Of course having such a license myself, I'm a little biased, but I'd like to observe that I actually paid for and attended a training course, read training materials, did a practical and theoretical test, paid for a license and had to go out, source my equipment, build some of it and make it all work. Although I think it's true that in a technical sense the world appears to be getting dumber, I'd like to challenge the notion that this is also the case in Amateur Radio. I think the only point you could make is that a Foundation License makes it possible for more people to participate, but that participation in itself is evidence that there is a certain level of thirst for learning and improvement. I've seen Foundation Licensees around me build antennas, investigate new technologies and ideas, research and publish - all fuelled by their initial Foundation License. I'm Onno VK6FLAB INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL, Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART, ARVictoria and the WW sources of the WIA. Wellington Radio ZLW Wellington Radio ZLW closed in 1993 after operating from Tinakori Hill for about eighty years. A group of former ZLW operators is planning a commemoration for all those who contributed to maritime safety all those years and the radio operators who were executed in the Gilbert Islands (Kiribati) in 1942. The commemoration is planned to provide a memorial plaque. The unveiling ceremony is planned for 16 September 2013, the 20th anniversary of the station’s closure. Fists club downunder say former ZLW and ships’ operators who wish to be involved and kept informed of how the plans for the event are progressing are invited to communicate with Barry Allison bazbarbzingizzie@xtra.co.nz UK REGULATOR OFCOM ANNOUNCES HAM BAND RESTRICTIONS DURING 2012 OLYMPICS Details of amateur band frequency restrictions during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games have now been released by U-K Telecommunications regulator Ofcom. The greatest impact to ham radio appears to be satellite and other operations in the 436 to 437 MHz segment of 70 centimetres. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, explained why: Parts of the 70, 13 and 9 centimetre amateur bands in the United Kingdom will face restrictions between June 28th and September 23rd. This, due to need for spectrum during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The restrictions only apply in geographically limited areas, with 70cm being particularly affected around London and Weymouth. Also hard hit by the restrictions will be ham radio satellite operations. According to a notice on the AMSAT-UK web site the Amateur- satellite Service allocation in the 435 to 438 MHz range will be restricted to 436.25 to 437.25 MHz This is based on an understanding that the equipment being used for Olympics communications in the 430 MHz band will include handheld FM rigs at the hotels, the routes to the venues and at the venues themselves. The U-K communications regulator Ofcom say the use of radio by amateurs in the designated areas could cause interference to various communications at the games. Also, it is possible that higher power transmissions from outside these areas could cause interference as well. Consequently, to avoid the risk of interference, Ofcom has requested that United Kingdom amateurs do not operate within the frequency ranges it has outlined. This says AMSAT-UK means that the spectrum identified by Ofcom should be avoided for a considerable distance outside the designated Olympic communications zones. AMSAT-UK notes that a well-equipped station on a good site 75 km or more from the edge of an Olympics communications zone could still put a fairly decent signal into that area. Newsline did a bit of research and found that the closest heavily populated mainland European city to London appears to be Calais, France. This is mainly over water path only about 93 airline miles or 149 kilometres away from the closest Olympic venue. That said, Ofcom has so far not asked the French or any other European telecommunications administrations to restrict their nations Amateur Service allocations during the Olympic and Paralympic games. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Norm Seeley, KI7UP, far from the U-K in Scottsdale, Arizona. More on this is on-line at www.uk.amsat.org/6574 and RSGB.org/olympics. (GB2RS, AMSAT-UK, ARNewslineT) ============================================================================= NEWS FROM ARNEWSLINE USA DIGITAL MOBILE RADIO ON HAM RADIO NOW The future of digital audio in VHF and UHF amateur radio is the subject of a video conversation between video producer Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, and expert Jeff Parker, WA1WXL, who works for Motorola Solutions. The video presents a discussion of alternative digital audio systems available today and what may be coming to the ham radio market in the very near future. You can see it on line as Episode 7 of Pearce's Ham Radio New series. The URL is hamradionow.tv. ULTRA THIN FLEXIBLE BATTERIES EXPECTED IN 2013 In news from around the world, an ultra-thin flexible battery is on its way from Japan electronic giant NEC. According to reports, the company has worked for over a decade to design an organic battery is just one one- hundredth of an inch thick, can refresh a teeny screen 2,000 times and can be recharged in less than a minute. In 2013, the battery is expected to be included in such items as enhanced credit and debit cards that display balances, electronic hotel keys, subway and train passes and in much slimmer and lighter smart phones. The organic battery is also expected to pave the way for slender flat-screen displays and e-readers with a texture that feels like paper. ============================================================================= SPECIAL EVENTS AND ON AIR CONTEST COLUMN - D A T E L I N E 2012 VK/ZL Trans Tasman Contest 80metres Phone May 12 VK Shires Contest June 9-10 VK Winter VHF-UHF Field Day June 23-24 ZL NZART Memorial Contest July First full weekend VK/ZL Trans Tasman Contest 80+160metres July 21 VK Remembrance Day Contest August 11-12 WW International Lighthouse Lightship Wknd August 18-19 VK Spring VHF / UHF Field Day November 24-25 Denis Johnstone VK4AE Contest Manager for John Moyle Memorial Field Day 2012 has submitted results which include:- 24 Hour Portable Operation – Multiple Op VK3ER First place All mode all band 24 Hour Portable Operation – Single Op VK4OE FIRST all band / phone 24 Hour Home Station VK4VDX First place 6 Hour Portable Op – Multiple Operator VK4BAR First all band phone 6 Hour Portable Op – Single Operator VK3WAM First place all mode / vhf 6 Hour Home Station VK2DAG First All of the portable stations that went to the effort to send in a log will get a certificate. The WIA believes that those who made the effort to setup and operate a portable station should be acknowledged. In line with last year, the Foundation License logs who did not achieve a placing were instead awarded a Participation Certificate for encouragement. Full details are on line wia.org.au SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, DX and BEACON AND NET ADVICE First activation of Botley Flour Mills for Mills on the Air weekend withe callsign GB 0 BFM for Mills on the Air weekend on the 12/13th of May Itchen Valley Radio Club: http://www.ivarc.org.uk/ Southampton University Wireless society: http://www.suws.susu.org Botley Flour Mills: http://www.botleymills.co.uk/heritage.htm EA3OW is now active through May 12th as EA 3 0W/HH8 from Southern Haiti. Listen out for him on 40 through 10 meters using SSB, RTTY and digital modes. QSL via his home callsign, EA 3 OW DJ 9 RR will be on the air as S 79 RR from Mahe Island between May 15th and the 23rd. Activity on 40 through 10 meters using CW and RTTY. QSL via his home callsign, JJ 9 RR. Some special event call signs will be activated to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games: 2O12L from London, England and 2O12W from Barry, Wales. The London 2012 Inspire program has granted the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) -- Great Britain's IARU Member-Society -- use of the "Inspire mark" for these stations. Both stations will be on-the-air for the duration of the Games, July 27-August 12. More Special callsigns for UK radio amateurs during 2012 The Radio Society of Great Britain and Ofcom have reached agreement on the optional use of special callsigns for two significant events during 2012. For the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, all UK amateur stations will have the option of applying for a variation to their licence if they wish, to use a special prefix for a five week period. This will add or substitute the letter “Q” in the place of the Regional identifier in the callsign. Period: 00.00 BST 5th May 2012 to 23.59 BST 10th June 2012. For the period of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, a similar facility will exist for a seven week period, using the letter “O”. Period: 00.00 BST 21st July 2012 to 23.59 BST 9th September 2012 Read the full details at http://www.rsgb.org/news/articlelinks.php?id=0263 9H3PP From Malta 9H3PP May 26th and 27th during the CQ WW WPX CW Contest. Activity outside of the contest will be on 6 and 12 meters, possibly 17 meters. QSL via HA5PP. F4CYZ is operational from Morocco as CN2YZ through years end. His activity will be from the city of Tangier especially on the weekends. The Mediterraneo DX Club is supporting his activities and is also providing a Web site with a log-check. It’s in cyberspace at www.mdxc.org/cn2yz W6G, San Francisco Amateur Radio Club will be holding Special Event Station W6G to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge on May 26, 2012 at 2000z to May 27, 2012 at 2200z Details on www.sfarc.org 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 Whistle-like signal in Amateur Radio 40m band OZ9AEC has found a strange signal in the 7 MHz band using his AMSAT-UK FUNcube Dongle with an HF up-converter. A strange whistle-like signal received on the 40 meter band using Gqrx software defined radio receiver and a FUNcube Dongle equipped with a shortwave converter. The signal appears to be amplitude modulated with suppressed lower side band ( just like UVB-76 ;-) ) Is it an ionosonde or a numbers station? WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER Ecuadorian CubeSat will monitor near-earth objects Ecuador's first satellite NEE-01 Pegasus is slated to launch this October from Yasny on the same DNEPR rocket as the AMSAT-UK FUNcube-1. Pegasus is a 1U CubeSat with two large deployable solar panels and the Ecuadorian Civilian Space Agency (EXA) indicates 28.8 amps can be generated. There is an on-board camera to send live video from space from a 3 watt TV transmitter in the 902 MHz band along with a beacon that will send an ID and Ecuador’s national anthem. On April 25, EXA announced that it will be adding a mission to NEE-01 Pegasus: It will help monitoring near-earth objects from orbit using its on-board 720p HD video camera and will also help in the catalogue and control of orbital debris (space junk), this new mission will turn the NEE-01 in to the first online, real time orbital video sentry for the planet, as the satellite has the capability to stream its video signal directly to the Internet. The satellite will send two signals that will be received and decoded by the EXA’s HERMES-A ground station and then uploaded live to the Internet using Twitter and Facebook. The first signal will contain text book questions and the second will contain an image related to the question. If the students are able to answer the question correctly they will be granted access to the video camera on-board the spacecraft and will be able to see earth from space as the astronauts see it in their space missions. More advanced students will have access to the pure radio signal so they can try decoding it by themselves. The EXA will provide them with the appropriate support software free of charge. EXA Press release http://exa.ec/bp42/index-en.html NEE-01 Pegasus http://exa.ec/bp37/index-en.html WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO SCOUTING http://www.scouts.com.au http://www.scout.org/jota http://www.international.scouts.com.au CALLING FREQUENCIES Please QSY off the calling frequency after establishing communication. Australian voice calling frequencies: 3.650, 7.090, 14.190, 21.190, 28.590, 52.160 World CW calling frequencies: 3.570, 7.030, 14.060, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, 28.180, 50.160 World voice calling frequencies: 3.690 & 3.940 MHz, 7.090 & 7.190, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360, 24.960, 28.390, 50.160 Calling frequencies for Slow Scan TV (SSTV): 3.630, 7.033, 14.227 Calling Frequencies for PSK31 14.070 JOTA/JOTI It's admittedly still a fair way off and as yet VK1WIA has not been given dates but in VK7 JOTA co-ordinator Peter VK7KPC advises that the NTARC JOTA effort will take place at the Carnacoo camp site at Paper Beach, as part of a Northern Districts camp. Operation will be from marquees with mains power available. us Hams in the Jacksonville area had been helping Scouts in the North Florida Council earn their Radio merit badges over the years. But they were looking to do more for the Scouts and for ham radio. Scott Roberts, KK4ECR, says a group of those hams finally decided to make a move. "We approached one of the local Scout camps here in the area and talked to them about it and they said, 'Yes, we're all for it, let's do it,' Roberts says. "And, basically, at that point, amateur radio club KB4SA was born." The station is being set up at Camp Echockotee in Orange Park, Florida. It also has backing from Clay County Amateur Radio Emergency Service operators. Roberts says KB4SA will be staffed by Scouters and Scouts looking to share the fun of the amateur radio hobby. On Saturday, May 12, Roberts says the station will launch operations with a special event station from the camp. And he's looking to make contacts with. "Other Scout clubs, with other DX stations that are around that can be available that day to talk to the Scouts and kind of make it a big hit for some of these Scouts that have been on the radio before and then some of those that have never been on the radio before," Roberts says. You can find more about the KB4SA operation by going online to our website, arnewsline.org for a link (http://kb4sa.org) to information about the station and the frequencies. (Amateur Radio Newsline and Mark Abramowicz, NT3V) 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 A very major WICEN activity will take place at St Helens VK7 over the June long weekend – the Tom Quilty Equine Endurance Event. For those not in the know about matters equine, this is the National Championship endurance event for both riders and horses. Once again, NTARC will be contributing operators to the communications effort supporting this prestigious event. NTARC WICEN co-ordinator Norm VK7KTN would love to hear from any member who would like to join a small team, . However, the more the merrier, so why not give this event a go. It will be many years before the Tom Quilty returns to VK7! SOCIAL SCENE 2012 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 MAY 26 VK3 MDRC Hamfest Southern Community Centre, Mulgrave 10am MAY 26 VK4 BARCFEST (a hamfest) Mt Gravatt Showgrounds 9am. JUN 8-11 VK4 FNNQARG! QLD Cassowary Coast JUN 9-10 VK2 Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club field day Port Macquarie. JUN 9-10 VK5 South East Radio Group Convention, Mt Gambier. JULY 14 VK4 Wide Bay Hamfest. West Maryborough Scout Hall JULY 21 VK3 Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club Hamfest @ Cranbourne JULY 21 VK4 WIA VK4 CLUB PRESIDENTS LUNCH Hervey Bay AR Club NOV 4 VK5 Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society HAMFEST @ Goodwood NOV 11 VK3 Yarra Valley Amateur Radio Group Hamfest NOV 25 VK3 SPARC HAMFEST AT ROSEBUD WIA Annual Conference Mildura This is Mal VK3FDSL with the latest information on the WIA Annual Conference weekend in Mildura. Well we are just a couple of weeks away from the big event – if you haven’t registered yet, I urge you to do so immediately, please. We have in excess of one hundred and fifty people booked in so far, so come along and join in the fun. Our block booking of reserved accommodation at the Grand Hotel will expire next Wednesday, so if you intend staying at the Grand, you must book by then. Just quote the WIA Conference to get yourself our special rates, which includes a cooked breakfast each day you stay. I’m looking forward to meeting you all in 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. FINAL FINAL 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. Each item will only be broadcast once, if you want a couple of mentions, please submit different slants to keep your event 'fresh'. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ============================================================================= 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