WIANEWS - MARCH 17 - 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. When you upload audio email us the txt version. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ WIANEWS WEEK COMMENCING MARCH 17 2013. BOM DRM RADIO 5.960 IN VICTORIA WIA National Field Day ARISS IN OPERATIONS DOWNUNDER Ban on all shortwave broadcasts THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING MAR 17 2013. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has a DRM test underway from a site in Victoria. They’re running a useful DRM mode called Journaline which is a non-telephony mode for text & images meant to provide news e.g. a crawler on the screen while you are listening to a radio program. I think Radio NZ International use Journaline along with their audio. The technical details are: Freq: 5960 kHz Mode: C/10 kHz SDC/MSC: 4 QAM Data: 8.64 kb/sec The opening screen identifies the service as “BOM Data”. Going into Journaline mode opens up a series of pages with full identification and a “Geoscience Test” where real-time data on seismic activity around the Pacific and south-east Asia is presented. I’m seeing pages of text describing the position, magnitude and depth of seismic activity for the Vanuatu Islands, New Britain region, south coast of PNG, Java, Philippine Islands and the Fiji Islands. Now Newcastle (NSW) and Koorda (WA) get an entry. There is a strong possibility that the source of these signals is the Broadcast Australia site (previously Radio Australia) at Shepparton Victoria. Wi-Fi bid for all Aussie hotels Tourism Australia wants thousands of hotels and tourist resorts to have free guest Wi-Fi access, instead of them paying additionally for access. The move follows the trend towards free Wi-Fi access at food outlets, transport and even public areas in central business districts. Internet access that includes smartphones and social media, all bundled into the overall room charge, will be a major marketing point of difference. (Jim Linton VK3PC) PIRATES! Microsoft and Adobe are said to be suing the Bill Caralis owned Super Radio Network alleging copyright infringement over the unauthorised use of their software. An article by Ben Grubb of Fairfax Media has revealed that 4 stations are currently being sued, including 2DU, Zoo-FM, 2LF and Roccy FM, but there is a separate case against 25 other Super Radio Network stations including 2GF. More online when you read www.radiotoday.com.au Peter VK1PE poses this question, "What do the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City and Lithgow Correctional Centre at Lithgow, NSW, have in common? Mobile phone blockers! During the Conclave, and soon at Lithow as you heard here on VK1WIA news last week the blockers will stop calls being made and SMSs being sent. BOB THE BUILDERS A 'couple of bob's" have been hard at work in VK6.. We'll have the FULL story here next week when we hear of how the old AWA 6DL regional transmitter was trucked to Wubin in the WA wheatbelt and reassembled in the Wheat Bin Museum in the Dalwallinu Shire last week. WIA BOARD TALK President Phil Wait VK2ASD vk2asd@wia.org.au Vice President Chris Platt VK5CP vk5cp@wia.org.au Secretary David Williams VK3RU vk3ru@wia.org.au Treasurer John Longayroux VK3PZ vk3pz@wia.org.au WIA National Field Day On Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 14th of April 2013. Amateur Radio enthusiasts from all over Australia will be showcasing Amateur Radio in prominent locations throughout their local area. This activity, now in its third year, will be a good opportunity to break out your field day equipment, demonstrate emergency preparedness, but most importantly engage the public. Most people in the general public would give our hobby a second thought if they knew a little more about it. This is the opportunity to showcase our capabilities. Does your club have the capacity to run your station on solar or wind power for the day? Can you borrow some space in the local shopping centre car park? Does the local sports complex run hot on a Saturday or Sunday? Does the date align with a local community festival or school fete? The opportunities are endless. Are you up to the challenge? And I certainly thank Gavin VK4ZZ from the TARCinc for advising us of this WIA activity. ARISS IN OPERATIONS DOWNUNDER Christ the King Catholic School in Warradale, Adelaide is geared with a linkup Wednesday (March 20) at 5.45pm Central summer time. The contact will be done using the ARISS telebridge network, a worldwide network of amateur radio ground stations that enable students to contact the ISS. The ground station selected for this linkup will be I K 1 SLD operated by Claudio Ariotti in Italy. Christ The King School have some very excited students waiting to ask astronaut Hadfield 15 questions, just as the Children from Mt Ousley Public School did last Tuesday, March 15. (audio) Twelve students had been chosen to ask questions to Astronaut Kevin Ford KF5GPP who is the commander of the International Space Station. The conversations occurred while he was travelling at 27,000 kilometres per hour at an orbit height of 380 kilometres above the Earth. The event took place with the assistance of the Illawarra Amateur Radio Society, working with ARISS – Amateur Radio on the International Space Station. The connection to the Space Station was performed by Claudio located in Italy, with the audio then passing through NASA’s conferencing bridge to the school’s auditorium. The Australian ARISS Co-ordinator Tony VK5ZAI was the moderator, initially chatting to the students and their families, explaining how the connection to the Space Station was achieved before handing over to Claudio to call the Space Station. Even before Astronaut Kevin Ford came on-line, the gathered audience was impressed as these voices from all over the world were coming through loud and clear into their hall’s speakers. The Space Station was expected to clear Claudio’s western horizon at 07:34 UTC & almost to the second, a voice came out of the noise and within seconds was noise free. The students immediately started with some questions revolving around radiation exposure, the risk of fire, how long does it take to train for the Space Station, through to some lighter questions like can you roll a dice in space and can you eat spaghetti with runny sauce! (audio) The broadcast was linked to the VK2RMP repeater covering Wollongong and Sydney area while also being connected to IRLP and Echolink via John AG 9 D in the USA who was also connected to the NASA Conference Bridge. For confirmation of connection to the rest of the world, Wollongong’s second 2m repeater VK2RUW on 7300, was also relaying the Space Station conversation but from the Echolink relay via VK2BGL. Notably, it’s transmitted audio was a full four seconds behind that of the direct feed from the school into VK2RMP, but this was to be expected after the audio relay had effectively been around the world a few times! The event was a great success, with the students and families standing around for well over an hour afterwards taking pictures and discussing what they had just heard. Additionally, the local newspaper, radio station and also the WIN Television News covered the event, with Amateur Radio being mentioned many times during the event. All involved can be justly proud in assisting this small school in the suburbs to be taken “out of this world!”. www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1359743/what-mt-ousley-kids-asked-nasa-astronauts/ (Rob VK2MT President - Illawarra Amateur Radio Society) Engage - 17 March 2013, 0'38" Have you prepared for the last weekend in May; the 2013 WIA AGM and Conference? The AGM is the forum for you to participate in determining the future direction of Amateur Radio in Australia and the role that the Wireless Institute of Australia takes in that process. You'll help with an Open Forum where you can raise issues close to your heart and hear the views of other Amateurs. The 2013 WIA AGM and Conference, it's all about Engaging, Learning, Appreciating, Socializing and Discovering. You'll find all the information online at the VK6 conference site, conference.vk6.net HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA. VK2 web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm VKG Roundup http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news Next weekend ARNSW will be conducting its bimonthly Foundation Course and all grade assessments. Please note that both the course and assessments is fully subscribed and no further candidates can be processed in this session. The next weekend course with ARNSW will be in May 18 th / 19 th for which bookings are now open, check out the ARNSW web site.. Also in May the Waverley A R S have a Foundation weekend scheduled for the 11 th and 12 th. On Sunday the 31 st March ARNSW will be holding the bi monthly Trash and Treasure at the VK2WI site. Last Sunday ARNSW held its Anniversary BBQ to celebrate when it all started 113 years ago. It was a most successful day and a more detailed report will appear in today’s VK2WI News session ...... VK3 web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/ Amateur Radio Victoria training courses Do you know a VK3 with a Foundation Licence that wants to upgrade? Or perhaps a friend who wants to be a radio amateur? Enrolments close tomorrow, Monday, for an intensive Standard Licence bridging theory course at centrally located Ashburton. Also in April there will be another successful Foundation Licence weekend. For full details about the Standard Bridge Course closing tomorrow, or next months Foundation Licence classes, please contact without delay the Education Team Leader, Barry Robinson VK3PV vk3pv@amateurradio.com.au or 0428 516 001. (Jim Linton VK3PC) Another major event held A sincere thank you to everyone who travelled to the picturesque Kyneton Racecourse to attend last month's Centre Victoria RadioFest. Under mild weather conditions there were many highlights for the biggest event of its kind held in Victoria, including the Homebrew Competition. Drew Diamond VK3XU was delighted at being asked to do the judging and expressed amazement at the number and quantity of entries, which he described as all being good. Drew VK3XU said it was a daunting task to examine all the models carefully and read their helpful documentation. First prize went to Noel Ferguson, VK3FI, for his beautifully engineered and fully metered transmitter. The rack-mounted 160 E Class AM Transmitter consisted of 14 printed circuit boards, which were individually pre-tested. The Second prize went to Mike Borthwick VK3UBM, for his very well made UHF diplexer/amplifier. He makes good use of it particularly when on mountain tops during field days. The 'Encouragement' Award went to Ron Bicker VK3FTFM, for his scratch-built power supply, made almost entirely, and with much ingenuity, from junk-box parts. Drew VK3XU in giving further encouragement noted that the only new components in Ron's supply were some hardware-shop nut and bolts. However, the resulting job had a pleasing utilitarian appearance. Helping everyone on the day, Sunday the 10th of February, were the volunteers from Amateur Radio Victoria and the Central Goldfields Amateur Radio Club. Thank you. (Jim Linton VK3PC) EMDRC White Elephant Sale Only one more week till the BIG friendly hamfest the Eastern and Mountain District White Elephant Sale Great Ryrie Primary School Great Ryrie Street Heathmont Victoria. Doors open 10:00am entry just $6 Be there early for all the bargains and stay for a BBQ lunch. For full details visit the clubs website http://wwwemdrc.com.au INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL, Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART, ARVictoria and the WW sources of the WIA. Celebrate Wellington! Special Event Station W4W In early February, members of the Wellington Radio Club in Florida USA were elated. The mayor of Wellington, New Zealand, Celia Wade-Brown accepted their invitation to help commemorate the founding of Florida's 17 year-old Wellington Club. The Special Event is scheduled for March 16th. Radio clubs on both sides of the Pacific were all set to go. But, on March 8, the USA club members were left dumbfounded. New Zealand's Mayor, Wade-Brown, abruptly cancelled her exchange of greetings with Mayor Margolis (Wellington, Florida's mayor). An email explained that foul weather forced Mayor Wade-Brown to re-schedule a kayak voyage across the Cook Strait on that date. That left the Wellington Radio Club “high and dry”... until a Cornhusker came to the rescue from 8100 miles away! Dr. Wayne Guppy, Chairman of the Wellington Region Mayors Forum and Mayor of Upper Hutt stepped forward to pick up the ball and exchange greetings with Mayor Margolis. Florida's Wellington Radio Club President Larry Lazar noted that “Mayor Guppy has been re-elected for four terms and must be doing something right. I bet he has demonstrated the same initiative and drive to his constituents in Upper Hutt as he has in helping us!" Lazar added: To learn more about W4W Special Event Station go to the Wellington Radio Club website at qsl.net or the ARRL Special Event Station webpage. Ban on all shortwave broadcasts The Republic of Zimbabwe has banned shortwave radios as it heads towards government elections due in July. The foreign broadcasts from outside the landlocked country in Southern Africa are reportedly seen as propaganda to undermine the rule of President Robert Mugabe. Only local stations are to be heard. Police recently declared that it was a crime to own a shortwave radio, which is deemed to be an illegal communications device. Hundreds of them have been confiscated including the wind-up version donated by Non-Government Organisations. China silent on jamming Radio Australia is the latest to report that its shortwave service to China is being jammed. This follows similar complaints recently by the BBC and the Voice of America. Radio Australia's Connect Asia program has been told by the Association for International Broadcasting that research has indicated the jamming comes from within China. The BBC, the world's largest shortwave broadcaster, describes it as being indicative of a well-resourced country such as China. VOA has also complained, adding that whoever is responsible seems to be using new technology. China has used jamming in the past as a form of media censorship, by transmitting radio signals on the same frequency as the intended target using the Mandarin language. Now interference is being suffered by English language broadcasts. The Association for International Broadcasting has verified the recent start of deliberate interference to the English broadcasts from Radio Australia, the BBC World Service and the Voice of America. It has lodged complaints with the Chinese embassies in Canberra, London and Washington. No official comment was available from China, but the jamming also came amid broadcasts about cyber-crime and may have offended some sensitivities. VISITING EUROPE THIS WINTER? TAKE IN THE DARC HAMRADIO The 64th Lake Constance and the HAM RADIO 2013 Convention, both organised by Deutscher Amateur Radio Club will take place from Friday, 28 June to Sunday, 30 June in Friedrichshafen, Germany. This event has long been considered Europe's premiere amateur radio gathering with attendees from around the world. One of the highlights of this year's HAM RADIO gathering will be an informal international meeting for representatives of IARU member societies. It will be held at the Zeppelin Museum on Friday, 28 June. Event planners say that they will provide a shuttle bus that will take those attending from the exhibition halls to the museum. More information on HAM RADIO 2013 can be found at www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.de ============================================================================= NEWS FROM ARNEWSLINE USA WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY 2013 World Amateur Radio Day is April 18th and according to the International Amateur Radio Union that sponsors the event the theme this year is Amateur Radio: Entering Its Second Century of Disaster Communications. Amateur Radio Newsline's Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, has the details: -- According to the IARU announcement, the theme for 2013 of Amateur Radio: Entering Its Second Century of Disaster Communications is an excellent opportunity for amateur radio emergency communications groups to take advantage of the event to highlight the role amateur radio plays in disaster response. Among the suggestions are for IARU member societies to arrange ham radio demonstrations in public places such as parks or shopping areas. The IARU says that such demonstrations in public areas usually generate inquiries and questions from the public about amateur radio. It adds that this makes it a great opportunity to attract new people to become members of the ham radio community. The IARU notes that in 2013, April 18th is a weekday but that should not keep public activity from taking place either on the weekend before or after that date. Also, if you plan on holding a public demonstration, the IARU says not to forget to include some young people to show all ages are a part of this growing worldwide public service oriented hobby. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Cheryl Lasaek, K9BIK, Zion, Illinois. More information on World Amateur Radio Day is on the web at www.iaru.org ============================================================================= RSGB's G4NJH West Tyrone ARC will be taking part in the St. Patrick's Day celebrations on Monday 18th March in Omagh, Co Tyrone. The club will be running a special event station using the callsign GB1SPD. They will be operational from the Strule Arts Centre in the Heart of Omagh Town during the Omagh District Council St Patrick Day Parade and Festival. The club will be operating on HF, VHF and UHF, Echo Link and digital modes between 11.00 & 17.00. Special event QSL cards will be available to those who wish to have a conformation of the QSO. Details available on www.qrz.com and www.wtarc.org ============================================================================= OPERATIONAL NEWS - DATELINE 2013 MAR 15-17 VK JOHN MOYLE FIELD DAY WEEKEND WW International Museums Weekends June 15/16 and 22/23 HOLYLAND CONTEST 2013 - APRIL 19 - 20 On the air, word that the 2013 Holyland Contest 2013 will be held from 2100z UTC on April 19th, and ends at 2100 UTC on April 20th. This year's contest goal will be to have as many Israeli mobile stations activating many different and rare squares for the "Holyland Award". Complete contest details and last year's results are available at tinyurl.com/holyland-contest-2013 (ARNewsLine) SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, DX and BEACON AND NET ADVICE The CRARC Committee approached WIA and ACMA with the view of having their Special Events Callsign VI 100 ACT period of operation extended from March only, to the end of December 2013. ACMA have now formally agreed to extend the licence period to 31 December 2013. (Murray de Plater VK1MdP CRARC Secretary) TA 1 HZ will be in Somalia on a humanitarian mission from 23rd March to 4th April. His primary purpose is as a doctor and but he also plans some on the air time, most likely from the city of Mogadishu using the call T5TC. His operation will be on the HF bands using a Kenwood radio and a Windom antenna. If you work him, QSL to TA 1 HZ as per the details found on qrz.com (RSGB) MARION ISLAND Two radio amateurs will be part of the over-wintering team and will be active on Marion Island from May 2013 to April 2014. ZS 8 C - Carson, ZR6CWI, has been appointed as the Space Weather Engineer and is employed for the next year by the SA National Space Agency (SANSA). ZS 8 Z - David, ZS1BCE, has been appointed as the radio technician. Expected modes will mainly be SSB and digital modes, They may only use the existing commercial broadband HF antenna, and their QSL Manager is ZS 1 HF. (sarl) DL 100 OUI CELEBRATES 100 YEARS SINCE FIRST DL - US RADIO CONTACT Keep an ear open for the German special event callsign DL 100 OUI which will be on the air throughout 2013. This is in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first commercial radio contact between that nation and the United States from Hannover. O U I were the call letters of the German station at that time. The US station was located in New Jersey. WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL We received an email from Bernie KC9SGV who implored us to install some software for the listening pleasure of Hams worldwide. Cunningly disguised as a promotion for remotehams.com Bernie shared with us the notion that we might install some free HF Remote software for Windows. He eloquently put it like this: "Australia shines in its absence on the stations list..." So, if you have an Internet connection, a spare radio and computer and the desire to add Australia to the list of stations available for use, go to remotehams.com and start playing but NOT until you check your ACMA Licence and ldc WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER Raspberry Pi-powered Tardis blasts off from 'Blighty's Baikonur' The Register reports on the launch by radio amateur Anthony Stirk M0UOU and Dave Akerman, of a 434 MHz balloon that carried a Rapsberry Pi and Dr. Who's Tardis to near-space. The launch took place from Brightwalton in Berkshire on Wednesday, February 27, almost exactly one year since the launch of the Raspberry Pi computer board. The balloon carried a 70cm transmitter sending 600 bps radio telemetry and Slow Scan Digital Video images. WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ILLW Registrations keep coming. The 16th annual International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is five months away in August, but already more than 170 registrations have been received. In the lead is Germany with 38 registrations, just ahead of Australia on 36, followed by the USA and England. So far there are entries from 26 countries with the many more expected in the weeks ahead. The basic objective is to promote public awareness of lighthouses and lightships, their need for preservation, and to promote the goodwill of amateur radio. Join in by setting up an amateur station at a lighthouse, lightship or maritime beacon. To see the guidelines or register online for the next fun event on August the 17th and 18th, visit the website illw.net (Jim Linton VK3PC) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS A Youth Net meets Saturdays at 0100 UTC on IRLP Reflector #2. Young Hams Net 3.590 - 7:30pm Victorian time. During the summer of 2013, a youth radio camp "Youngsters On The Air" will be held near Tartu, Estonia from 5-12 August. There will be 10 teams participating from different European member associations of IARU R1. The camp is organised by the Estonian Radio Amateurs Union. During this week teams of young radio amateurs from 10 different European countries will be participating in different activities: presentations, Contests, visiting radio stations, observatory, etc. As two previous events in Romania and Belgium/Netherlands have shown, it will be a great experience for the young hams which they will never forget. (irts) 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 Saturday April 6th 2013 Pajero Challenge Woods point area Contact: Dirk Versluys VK3FPAJ phone: 03 9879 8384 Email: versluys@optusnet.com.au Sunday April 14th 2013 Wombat 100 Bike Ride Woodend - Wombat State Forest Contact: John Weir VK3XD phone: 03 9431 0667 Email: zzrvelec@bigpond.net.au Friday April 19th 2013 Oxfam Trailwalker Wheelers Hill to Wesburn Contact: Ian Morris VK3IFM phone: 03 9763 0565 Email: vk3ifm@gmail.com In Tasmania, that's the bit of Australia left off the new VK5 State Govt. logo... well, down there members of the CCARC provided comms support for the 2013 Pure Tasmania Cycle Challenge on the 2nd of March. The cycle ride covered Devonport to Strahan on a perfect Autumn day, with no wind and mid to high 20s temperatures. The event started at 6am and concluded around 6pm. The organisers were happy with how the radio coverage worked even though there are still some areas to improve. Communications gear included 80MHz repeaters provided by the octagon organisation. As a back channel 2 & 70cm amateur repeaters were used, and at times 40m FM and SSB. (David Cleland, VK7DC, Secretary) SOCIAL SCENE 2013 MAR 24 VK3 EMDRC White Elephant Sale: Great Ryrie Primary School MAR 24 VK7 "Meet the Voice" barbecue at Ross. APR 18 WW IARU World Amateur Radio day MAY 3- 5 VK4 Clairview AR Weekend details 04 296 32815 MAY 11 VK3 Moorabbin & District Radio Club Hamfest MAY 11 VK4 BARCFest Mt Gravatt Showgrounds 9:30am MAY 11 VK6 Hills Amateur Radio Group - HARGfest - 1pm. MAY 24-26 VK6 WIA AGM AND CONFERENCE IN PERTH JUL 20 VK3 Gippsland Gate Radio & Electronics Club Hamfest AUG 11 VK2 SARCFEST 414 Richmond Hill Rd near Lismore AUG 17-18 WW ILLW Oct 3- 7 VK4 North Queensland Amateur Radio Convention Charters Towers NOV 2 VK4 Gold Coast ARS HamFest at Albert Waterways Hall. NOV 3 VK5 HamFest Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society Goodwood. NOV 15-17 VK3 Victorian National Parks Weekend Nov 24 VK3 Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Club: Rosebud RadioFest FEEDBACK Peter : vk2 Thanks for the broadcast, I always enjoy it. Like one of your commenters, I think it's good to stay focused on ham radio topics. there's plenty of technology news around - I read tons of it already. Anyhow, keep up the great work! David : vk5 Every Sunday morning where ever I am be it at home, out and about, in the car or at work I always sit down and listen to the Sunday WIA News Broadcast which is transmitted on VK5RAD on Mount Lofty. Keep up the Excellent work team, much appreciated 73 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 ‘and always if the news room is to read your item write in the 3rd person. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ============================================================================= WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide. 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