WIANEWS - JULY 28 - 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 JULY 28 2013. WIA President Phil Waite VK2ASD on the High Power Trial. WIA RD CONTEST competes with ILLW August 17-18 THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING JULY 21 2013. As many VK2 listeners would be aware there has been an ongoing and prolonged search in the Blue Mountains West of Sydney for a missing person from the Fairmont resort near Leura. The search has been reported as one of the largest searches undertaken by NSW Police rescue. WICEN has been providing communications support for the BWRS ( http://www.bwrs.org.au/ ) who are being tasked into the difficult to access areas within the search area. These include canyons and cliffs which are being searched by repetitive abseiling. WICEN has contributed well over 250 hours so far of operational time. Steven Heimann, VK2BOS is the WICEN commander. 5-6 WICEN operators are involved each day and set up radio points that can look into the areas the BWRS are operating in so that comms with BWRS and the command post at the Fairmont resort are maintained. WICEN has a radio point at Sublime Point which is logging the radio traffic between the search teams and the command post utilising relays as needed from the 3-4 WICEN radio points in use. There are many news items on this search in the media. The following is a typical one. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-22/still-hope-for-man-missing-in-blue-mountains/4834468?section=nsw (forwarded by WIA's Mal Brooks) 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 Hello, this is Phil Wait VK2ASD from the WIA. I have an important message for all Australian Radio Amateurs, and particularly for those amateurs taking part in the current High Power Trial. The ACMA has been auditing the applications of amateur licensees taking part in the High power trial, and checking their stations compliance with the ACMA’s Electromagnetic Exposure Regulations. The ACMA’s intention from the audit is to gauge Radio Amateurs’ level of understanding of, and compliance with, the EMR exposure requirements. The results of this Audit will influence the ACMA’s decision about adopting a permanent 1kW PEP limit on the HF bands. The requirements of EMR compliance are complex, and the audit found that a number of stations that believed they were operating under a Level 1 (low risk) Compliance should have, in fact, been classed as Level 2 (medium risk). Many of these licensees used the EMR Calculator on the WIA website, and upon investigation, it was found there was a discrepancy between the requirements of the Amateur Licence Conditions Determination (the LCD) and the output of the EMR Calculator with respect to antenna accessibility. This discrepancy appears to have arisen from differences in the exposure levels specified in the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) Standard, on which the EMR Calculator’s results are based, and the exposure compliance requirements in the Amateur LCD which are determined by a set of simplified station conditions, rather than actual exposure levels. Doug VK3UM has now updated the calculator and amateurs who hold a current High power Licence variation should now re-determine their station compliance. However, there is a larger issue here. Since 2003, the ACMA has required all transmitting stations to assess the status of their station in relation to human exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. All Amateur licensees, no matter what power they are running, are required to determine the EMR compliance level of their station and keep supporting information in their station file for inspection by an ACMA representative. Checking the compliance level of your station is very important but is quite easy to do. Information on how to perform the EMR compliance check, along with the EMR calculator, is in the "Technical Reference" section of the WIA Website accessible under the "For Members" drop down menu *. So, please check your EMR compliance, it’s easy and most stations should find that they comply with the regulations without having to make any station modifications. This is Phil Wait VK2ASD, for the WIA. *A link to the High Power Compliance Re-assessment and EMR information has now been placed on wia.org.au Remembrance Day Contest Also writing on WIA Front Page News (wia.org.au) Alan Shannon VK4SN pens an item on the August 17 18 RD contest. He asks we remember that the new start and finish times are 0300z or 1PM eastern states time also about nominating a team to participate as last year teams were very successful. He also says "The new times will give you 2 half days of contesting and 2 half days doing your own thing. Remember to team up with your mates and email me your team name and members prior to the start of the contest. Receiving your log is most important and it adds points to your state total. If you have problems sending your log, please don’t hesitate to call or email me so I can help you with it. Look at the logging examples for portable and interstate operators, as shown on the WIA RD website. Correct logging will make it easier for the Cabrillo checker and won't score zero points when logged incorrectly. For example, one may log VK4XX/M1 for mobile in vk1, but really it's vk4xx portable in England. England scores zero points. The International Light house weekend will be sharing the bands with us and in the true spirit of Amateur Radio, it is great to see that some of these stations are participating in the RD as well as the Lighthouse weekend. I have also been informed that some ILLW stations will not be giving out numbers for the RD as they wish to remain 100% ILLW. So remember your etiquette and have a great time in the RD." HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA. VK3 web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/ Change of name for Midland Amateur Radio Club Inc. The Midland Amateur Radio Club in Bendigo Victoria, is excited to announce a name change! The club will now be known as Bendigo Amateur Radio & Electronics Club Inc. Members felt that the new name would better reflect the location of the club, and in the ever changing landscape of technologies, keep electronics relevant to Amateur Radio. Meetings are held on the third Friday of each month, at the 1st Bendigo Scout Hall, Vine St, Bendigo, at 7.30 pm. Visitors are most welcome. For more information about the Bendigo Amateur Radio & Electronics Club, contact the secretary, Ray Tampion, VK3YAR, on 03 5439 3506. Bogong High Plains Adventure This year's Bogong High Plains Winter Trip will run NEXT weekend, the 5th to 9th of August. After worryingly warm weather in VK3, a strong cold front has come through with decent snow falls across the Alpine region. This is great news for the team gearing up for their annual back country ski trip to the Bogong High Plains. Heading out across the snowy wilderness, a team of amateurs and friends will ski through some of Australia's most stunning alpine landscapes. The group will be led by VK3GT, VK3FMAW and VK3SN up onto mountain plateaus which sit well over 1800m ASL. Details: Location - Bogong High Plains, Victorian Alps Activity - Back country skiing and snow camping. Skiing each day and settle into tent/hut/igloo each night When - August 5-9th 2013 Gear - Solar powered with Lithium batteries running a Elecraft KX3 into a dipole. Handhelds on 146.525 Simplex as well as local repeaters including Hotham, Wodonga, Bright, etc., APRS - Google map APRS for live location tracking at http://aprs.fi Band - 7.1 MHz. afternoons working on the hour 3.6 MHz. evenings working on the hour. Other HF bands are sometimes activated depending on activity and conditions. Share in the adventure by listening out for the group as they operate QRP from huts, tents and igloos on the roof of Victoria. www.vk3sn.net (Stephen VK3SN) VK3 ANR 50 for club anniversary The Geelong Radio and Electronics Society celebrates its 50-years with a special callsign VK3 ANR 50 and QSL card between August 25 to 31. Founded in 1963, its celebration will be at the well-equipped club rooms 237a High Street Belmont. The group of enthusiasts is active in amateur radio, computers and electronics. VK3ANR50 will on air 7-days using HF, VHF, UHF as well as IRLP nodes around the world. (Text edition - 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.org.au/ftp/vk4_qnews_64.mp3 get local news emailed qnews-vk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Radios to the sound of Migaloo this weekend As the WIA news goes to air some radio amateurs in the Townsville region have donned radio backpacks and put to sea to provide communications support for the 59th Magnetic Island to Townsville Swim. They attended yesterday’s Main Swim Briefing at the Castle Hill PCYC and met with some of the swimmers and skippers that they would be helping out. They faced a brisk and early start getting to their observation points and to their mighty vessels to be in position in time for the start of the swim from picturesque Picnic Bay at 9-15am. Competitors will then thrash their way 8 kilometres across Cleveland Bay back to the mainland under the watchful eye of the radio amateurs, a fleet of surf skis and safety boats plus the Townsville Coast Guard flotilla. (SOURCED TO VK4ZZ) Felix a little latter in the bulletin will have news of an event in SEQ today that is quite "MAD".. one we found on Facebook and also from facebook a shout going out to a listener in Carindale, David VK4BGB VK2 Sunday the 11th of August is going to be a great day in the northern rivers of VK2 with the annual Summerland amateur radio clubs SARCFEST starting at 9am. All the regular items will be there for sale along with educational and historic communciation displays from our members. Our local federal member of parliament Janelle Saffin will be opening the festival between 1 and 2pm so come along for a great day at SARCFEST 2013 August the 11th at the SARC Clubrooms 414 richmond hill road Richmond Hill. this is frank VK2FRNK VK6 The annual amateur radio get together in VK6 is weeks away. Phil VK6IP sends in this report: On the 4th of August the NCRG will present the annual Hamfest. This year the NCRG will showcase what's new in Icom's lineup. Be prepared to discuss your requirements in that new rig. Digital radio is now starting to appear. You may be unsure of what's on offer, you'll be able to discuss the exciting spread of opportunities being rolled out to the ham fraternity. Digital radio is definitely the next progression for crystal clear reception on the HF bands. See our demonstration of Software Defined Radio. SDR will enable most amateurs to economically experience a totally new form of HF spectrum. The NCRG will gauge your reaction to Mini technical presentations so please be sure to have your say. These demonstrations were successfully utilised at the WIA conference this year. They seem to have been enthusiastically acclaimed by attendees and the NCRG may present them to interested hams at the next Hamfest. Do you know how the weekly news broadcast is assembled? The VK6WIA news team will be on hand to demonstrate their expertise this year at Hamfest. Now is your chance to meet the guys and discuss how you can contribute. What better way to ensure that your viewpoint or idea is presented. We all know that amateurs are at the forefront of technological innovation. Here is your opportunity to make your mark. Do you have an idea for Hamfest? The NCRG welcomes your input. Is there something or somebody that you would like us to include? Please see the President or Secretary near the raffle stall at this years Hamfest. The Cyril Jackson Community Centre in Bassendean is the place to be, August 4. INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL, Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART, ARVictoria and the WW sources of the WIA. SARL TO EXHIBIT AT ESKOM EXPO FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS The South African Radio League will exhibit at the ESKOM Expo for Young Scientists to be held in Boksburg from 25 to 28 September 2013. The exhibit will include a HF and VHF station. The SARL is calling on young radio amateurs to man the exhibit and operate the radio station sharing with their peers the exciting world of amateur radio. The Eskom Expo for Young Scientists has been running for over 30 years and has established itself as the premier exposition for South African youth to demonstrate their innovation in the fields of science and technology. HOME BREW An unconfirmed posting from Palm Beach in the USA say's that City's analogue police radio system is in such a state of dis-repair that technicians have resorted to seeking replacement parts on eBay. Ed VK2JI / G8GLM has provided a number of Interviews that he did for ICQPODCAST - a fortnightly UK based Internet radio "show" that covers all things Amateur Radio. To hear all the interviews Ed did just Google for ICQPODCAST However right NOW on wia national news Ed is with Tim Ellam, VE6SH, President of the IARU about what the IARU is currently doing and how we as Radio Amateurs can support their work. (LISTEN TO AUDIO ) Later in this News Cast Ed will return with interviews with Bill Main, VK4ZD International President of Rotarians of Amateur Radio and his wife Diane VK4KYL also an interview with Andy MM0FMF about Summits on the Air. SGARN HF Multicast Network SGARN, the Second Generation Amateur Radio Network, is looking for amateurs who would like to participate in a global HF Multicast bulletin network. At this time, activity is on 30 meters but other bands will see SGARN activity as the system grows. For more information contact Charles, N5PVL on: n5pvl@uspacket.org Radio isn’t dead Radio is here to stay and the proof is here in the form of Instaradio. It’s a new app that allows users to create, distribute, and share audio with people around the world. Kevin Kilman, CEO and co-founder of the online application, is hoping Instaradio will eventually become what video is to YouTube. In other words, it’ll become the premier way to share audio online. Streaming music playlists, broadcasts and events can all be done with the push of a button. “It’s a PA system, not just a radio, with one button that streams live radio and other stuff that can be heard on any tablet, computer or phone, says Instaradio.” Since the company’s preliminary launch last month, the free (yep, you heard right, free) app has been downloaded more than 13,000 times. ============================================================================= ARNewsLine™ HERE COMES THE SUN – THERE GOES THE SUN While the sun is currently at the projected peak of its 11 year solar cycle, our home star has been relatively quiet in the area of sunspots and their effect on radio propagation here on planet Earth. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Norm Seeley, KI7UP, takes a look at what scientists believe is happening: -- Researchers say that this year's solar maximum is shaping up to be the weakest in some 100 years and the next one could be even quieter. This according to scientists who study the solar cycle as it affects our home planet. One of these is David Hathaway of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Centre in Huntsville, Alabama. In an early July teleconference Hathaway told reporters that we are witnessing the smallest solar maximum we have seen in the Space Age. Also that the next one, cycle 25 could be even quieter. For the Amateur Radio Newsline. I’m Norm Seeley, KI7UP, where the sun is keeping us rather warm in Scottsdale, Arizona. -- You can find out more about the Solar Cycle at tinyurl.com/weak-cycle-24 and tinyurl.com/not-many-sunspots to mention only two. ============================================================================= WEIRD AND WONDERFUL SET YOUR PEN TO VIBRATE. The New Indian Express have reported on the invention of a new pen, which will vibrate if it senses that the writer is making a spelling mistake or his/her handwriting is messy. The brainchild of two German entrepreneurs, Lernstift, which means “learning pen” in German, is a regular pen with real ink, but it has a special motion sensor inside and a small battery-operated Linux computer with a Wi-Fi chip, which allows the pen to recognise specific movements, letter shapes and a wide assortment of words. It vibrates if the user is not careful with letters or writes inelegantly. Arguably, it will be able to correct those whose dependence on spell checks and typing has played havoc with their spelling and handwriting. But, it is doubtful how many of we adults use a pen these days, even a fancy one that vibrates! http://newindianexpress.com/editorials/Quivering-pens-cant-replace-keyboards/2013/07/17/article1686808.ece OPERATIONAL NEWS - DATELINE 2013 IOTA Contest on this weekend The annual Islands on the Air contest is taking place now 27 and 28 July. The most sought-after multipliers are those assigned to offshore islands and a list can be found at www.rsgbiota.org/info/directory/EU.pdf. This year a special RSGB Centenary Commemorative Certificate is available. Everyone who enters and submits a log of contest QSOs will be eligible. To qualify, simply make 100 QSOs along with 20 multipliers and send your log in. It is recommended that you make more than 100 QSOs and 20 multipliers to allow for any errors Details can be found at www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2013/riota.shtml Remembrance Day Contest August 17th and 18th ALARA Contest August 24 and 25 2014 VK Harry Angel Memorial Sprint May 3 ILLW registrations running hot With just over 100 registrations to go the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend held on August 17 and 18, it may very well prove to break existing record numbers. There are several seafaring nations in most regions yet to join the growing list of online registrations, already close to 370 from 36 countries. Germany remains on top followed by Australia, the USA, England, Argentina, Netherlands, Malaysia, Sweden, Canada, Scotland, Ireland and South Africa. Organisers expect a flood of registrations in the coming three weeks for the annual fun event that publicises both the old sea-going navigation methods and portable amateur radio. Among them is an obsolete signalling device, the Time Ball at Williamstown VK3WI, to enjoy its 10th activation this year. It challenges other time balls throughout the world to join it. Some locations have more than one registration, while others choose to activate for a few hours only, both of these options are most welcome. It's simple to register a lighthouse, lightship and maritime beacon online by visiting the website www.illw.net (Jim Linton) SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, DX and BEACON AND NET ADVICE Get MAD - VK4 Microwave Activity Day Scott Watson - VK4CZ with a posting on his facebook page gave us the tip off that today, Sunday July 28 is the VK4 Microwave Activity Day (MAD), with an increasing number of stations operating portable from majestic hill tops all over the South East corner of VK4 (and hopefully one day including stations from further afield). Details of the main station proposed locations and bands activated can be found on the VKLogger Forum thread, but to read this you must have signed up to the logger web thread. Liaison will be on the Brisbane VHF Group 147.000Mhz repeater from around 23:00z (09:00am) as stations make their way to the various sites, and operations commence at 00:00z (10:00am) on 1.2GHz and then progress through to 24GHz. Good luck to all those participating. Looking forward to working as many as possible. SPECIAL EVENT STATION PA1813A CELEBRATES THE LIBERATION OF ARNHEM On the air PA0FA will be operating special event station PA1813A through August 13th celebrating the twice liberated city Arnhem, Holland. Arnhem is a city and municipality located in the eastern section of that nation. It is well known that Arnhem was freed back at the end of World War 2 in 1945 but it was liberated once before in 1813 from the French. Hence the PA1813A call for this operation which will be mostly using CW with some SSB and digital modes. The latter two modes will depend on the available time and other possibilities. QSL to PA0FAW either direct, bureau or electronically using or eQSL. (ARNewsLine) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ATV (Every pixel tells a story) - Video arvideonews.com hamradiotube.com youtube.com qdg.org.au K7AGE posts video of WLW's 500,000 1930s transmitter While In Dayton at Hamvention K7AGE attended a tour of the WLW AM broadcast transmitter facility. WLW has kept a major piece of broadcasting history alive by keeping much of the old high power transmitter intact. Back in 1932 WLW increased their power to 500,000 watts. They were the only AM broadcasting station in America ever to operate at 500,000 watts. Much of the old transmitter still exists. It is really a high power amplifier with a high level modulator (360,000 watts). The amplifier was driven from their existing 50,000 watt Western Electric transmitter. The system used 20 100,000 watts tubes ($1,600 each in 1932) that required water cooling that used a cooling pond located outside the station. Tons, and tons, of hardware was required to achieve the 10 dB gain. Enjoy the tour of the facility and the history of this high power station just YouTube Google K7AGE WLW WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER UKube-1 with Amateur Radio Transponder may launch in October BBC News is reporting that the UK Space Agency’s first CubeSat UKube-1, being built by Clyde Space in Glasgow, may launch in late October 2013. Clyde Space Senior Systems Engineer Steve Greenland gave a presentation on UKube-1 to the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium which took place last weekend. UKube-1 will carry a set of AMSAT-UK FUNcube-2 boards which will provide: 1200 bps BPSK telemetry beacon on 145.915 MHz Linear transponder downlink 145.930 - 145.950 MHz for SSB/CW communications Linear transponder uplink 435.080 - 435.060 MHz SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ROAR ROTARIANS OF AMATEUR RADIO website: www.ifroar.org email: webmaster@ifroar.org facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/RotariansROAR/ International President 2012 -2015: Bill Main VK4ZD secretary: Dr Elwood Anderson, AE5EA ANZO VP: Peter Lowe, VK3KCD 0645z - 0730z Anzo Net 7.118 (varies due to propagation) 0730z - 0830z International net 14.293 (varies due to propagation) Ed VK2JI continues with an ICQPODCAST interview with Bill Main, VK4ZD International President of Rotarians in Amateur Radio (ROAR) and his wife Diane VK4KYL covering the success they had in the preceding week at the International Rotary Conference in Lisbon, Portugal. (LISTEN TO AUDIO) Guglielmo Marconi Father of wireless, was an Honorary member of the club from 1933 to 1937 and it continues the tradition and honouring Marconi to this very day. Now a' days among its honorary members is Marconi's Daughter, Princess Elettra Marconi. 4EB -- VK4EB Ted Gold the founder of the first commercial radio station in Queensland was Vice President of Toowoomba Rotary Club. SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- SUMMITS ON THE AIR www.sotawatch.org www.sota.org.uk Ed VK2JI / G8GLM continues with an interview with Andy MM0FMF about the current status of SOTA (Summits on the Air). This is from the Interviews that he did for ICQPODCAST (LISTEN TO THE MP3 AUDIO VERSION OF NEWS) Again to hear all the interviews Ed did just Google ICQPODCAST REWIND a look back at history It was 30 years ago when aviator and entrepreneur Dick Smith VK2DIK made the first solo helicopter flight around the world. The journey which ended on July the 22nd, 1983, was the subject of an unforgettable WIA Centenary BBQ speech given by Dick at his Bowylie Flying Club, a privately owned aviation museum at Gundaroo, north of Canberra. He highlighted the dangers of the Japan to Alaska leg, that included the finding and landing on a container ship to refuel. The crew from four army helicopters who took refuge from the inclement weather were among the spell-bound audience. It was amateur radio that assisted him to circumnavigate the globe and on other aviation occasions including his famous balloon flight in February 2000, where he made contact with ground stations. The night before, at the WIA Centenary Dinner in Canberra, he explained how an early exposure to radio had a lasting impact, helping him achieve business and other successes. The life-time exploits and achievements of Dick VK2DIK are even more widely known - thanks to him being the WIA Patron for its Centenary. (Jim Linton VK3PC) SOCIAL SCENE JUL 28 VK2 Albury Wodonga Amateur Radio Club Hamfest 10AM AUG 4 VK6 Northern Corridor Radio Group Hamfest Cyril Jackson Rec Centre Fisher st Ashfield Bassendean 9am. AUG 11 VK2 SARCFEST 414 Richmond Hill Rd near Lismore AUG 17-18 WW ILLW SEP 14 VK4 Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio's SUNFEST 9am. Oct 3- 7 VK4 North Queensland Amateur Radio Convention Charters Towers Oct 5 vk4 REDFest by Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club St Michael's College, Caboolture, 9am 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 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. 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. -------------