WIANEWS - OCTOBER 13 - 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 OCT 13 2013. WIA CONGRATULATES RSGB ON 100 YEARS OF SERVICE. WIA AR MAGAZINE CONTEST WRITER A SPECIAL GUEST THIS WEEK THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK COMMENCING OCT 13 2013. UP UP AND AWAY In this day and age of we hams launching small balloons and using ATV on board easily purchased quad copters and the like comes this story with a message in its tail. A mystery drone crashed into the Sydney Harbour Bridge causing counter terrorism officers to be alerted and an investigation by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The incident occurred Wednesday week, just a day before the start of the International Navy Fleet Review. However police believe the two were not linked. A spokesman for CASA confirmed it was investigating the incident. He said those operating remotely piloted aircraft must keep them at least 30m away from any people, buildings or structures and to check with local council where they can be used. He said airspace around the Harbour Bridge was restricted, even for small aircraft such as drones. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/mystery-drone-collides-with-sydney-harbour-bridge-20131004-2uzks.html#ixzz2h6JHEYGl Fire destroys Marine Rescue Ulladulla base MARINE Rescue Ulladulla will continue to provide its vital safety services for the local boating community, despite the destruction of the Unit’s base by fire. Boaters in the area should still use their marine radios as usual to call Marine Rescue Ulladulla on VHF Channel 16 or 27 Meg Channel 88. MRNSW has also deployed one of their mobile communication units to supplement the radio service via the services of the Ulladulla Game Fishing Club The cause of the fire at this stage is unknown. 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 RSGB 1913-2013 congratulated The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), which is celebrating its century with a variety of events, has been thanked and wished well on the occasion and into the future. Fellow International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) member society, the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA), has described the array of events organised throughout this centenary year as marvelous. WIA President Phil Wait VK2ASD said the events engage the membership, clubs, and radio amateurs worldwide, while further raising the profiles of the organisation and the amateur service. The RSGB has been a true friend through its 100 years of international cooperation including strong leadership on issues at the IARU and other forums. It continues to display a leading role both locally and throughout the world. The WIA acknowledges that it relied heavily on the RSGB for its own Introduction of the Foundation Licence that has proven to be highly successful in Australia. RSGB publications continue to sell well through the WIA Book Shop. The WIA has sent a plaque to the RSGB extending the warmest of wishes on achieving the milestone and for its future. IARU choses anniversary day theme Each year on 18 April is World Amateur Radio Day, which celebrates the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) in 1925. The theme "Amateur Radio: Your Gateway to Wireless Communications" has been chosen for the day in 2014. In 100 years it has evolved from crude spark-gap technology to digital signal processing and software-defined radios. The IARU understands that the date is close to Easter. It encourages activity earlier or later to gain as much exposure and publicity as possible for modern and easily accessed amateur radio. For that reason, the Wireless Institute of Australia has chosen April the 13 to the 15th to celebrate World Amateur Radio Day - by holding its PR4AmateurRadio Expo. Remember the Expo is not a competition, but an opportunity for everyone whether at a public display or on the air, to show amateur radio to the public. Only six months to go. Will you be involved? Check out the WIA website under the 'What’s On' column for more details. (PR4AmateurRadio) HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA. VK3 web service:- http://www.amateurradio.com.au/news/ A few weeks ago I mentioned that Doug VK3UM will be demonstrating his EMR Calculation program and with the assistance of Peter VK3MV answer questions from the audience. Well, as expected the meeting was very well attended and there were quite a few comments and questions from those in attendance. Under our license conditions we as amateurs are required to do a self-assessment of our antenna setup. Doug took us through that process and also explained some of the reasons why we really need to take the EMR/EMI matter very seriously. Doug's presentation was recorded and the subsequent video is available to view on the internet. At this stage there is no plan to distribute DVD copies but there is some discussion of uploading the file to an FTP site for download To view the video presentation log onto the EMDRC website www.emdrc.com.au and to download the video follow the YouTube link from the EMDRC website. This has been Jack VK3WWW for the EMDRC Victorian National Parks on air soon Why not use your portable amateur radio station experience next month to activate a Victorian National Park? There are 45 with most within easy reach by car. Amateur Radio Victoria welcomes all to take part on Friday the 15th until Sunday 17th of November, a weekend that focuses on them under the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award. In Greater Melbourne they are Organ Pipes, Kinglake, Dandenong Ranges, Yarra Ranges and Churchill. There are also National Parks easily visited from all regional centres. Inquiries to the Award Manager Tony Hambling VK3VTH, who will soon release a master list of activations with dates, times and frequencies. (Jim Linton VK3PC) VK2 web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm ARNSW will be having a BBQ and lectures for members at the VK2WI site on Sunday the 10th November. Registrations are required by an email to fielday13@arnsw.org.au Amateur Radio NSW will be conducting their next license assessments on Sunday the 17th November 2013 at the VK2WI Dural site. Bookings are required by email at education@arnsw.org.au The first assessments by ARNSW in 2014 will be the 19th January. Details on the ARNSW web site www.arnsw.org.au under Training and Exams. Hi, Want to know how preparations are coming along for the biggest amateur radio event in Australia in 2014? Well, preparations are well under way for the Wyong Field Day and I can let you know a few confirmed points; The free shuttle bus from the railway station and car park that was such a success this year will be running again in 2014, We will have four lucky door prizes. The chance to win one of these in in your entrance ticket. There will be three prizes each of a Diamond mobile antenna and the forth prize is the ARRL handbook (I'd like to win that prize but as I am part of the team running the event, I'm not allowed to). The event takes place "rain or shine" on Sunday February 23 so make sure it's in your diary and plan your travel arrangements. Have you booked your accommodation yet? Motels and Hotels in the area are filling up. More later ... 73 this is Ed VK2JI, Publicity Officer of the Central Coast ARC. DISCUSSION POINT What use is an F-call? For a little while now I’ve been working towards obtaining my DXCC, contacting 100 countries. When I talk about it, often the first question is, how many contacts have you made? I’m always a little ashamed to admit that I’ve yet to make my first. Often I then get lots of helpful advice on what to do. Let me share with you what I’ve been doing since I made the commitment to obtain my Low Power, or QRP DXCC. As I said at the time, I don’t know if this is going to take a week, a month, a year or a decade, but I intend to get there, if not for others, but for myself as a personal challenge. My first quest along this road was to get on-air. I started thinking that I would do this from my car, set-up my mobile vertical at a suitable location and just start making QSOs. I spent a fair amount of time scouting for locations, found a few to test and after sitting for a couple of days in these spots a number of things became apparent to me. My antenna, as great as it is, is a pain to set-up for an hour. It’s fine for a day or a weekend, but not for an hour here or there. Secondly, I didn’t feel particularly inconspicuous sitting parked in my car with a big stick standing next to it and at night I felt particularly uncomfortable. So, after doing some research and evaluating how much space I have available at home, I came to the conclusion that I should get my shack set-up at home with a suitable antenna. I’ve been researching antennas and as you might know, have settled on a Magnetic Loop Antenna. This in turn lead me down the path of finding a suitable and eventually with the help of several amateurs, building a variable capacitor. All credit to them. Then I couldn’t measure the capacitance of this contraption, so I needed the ability to measure small capacitance, in the order of Pico Farad, something my Digital Multi-Meter is completely incapable of. So I built an LCR meter. Although I’ve been soldering for years and every time learning more about this art-form, this was the first time I actually built something. So, now I have a variable capacitor, an LCR meter, I’m working on how to feed my loop and control the actuator that adjusts the capacitor, I’m getting closer. Once I’m on-air, I’ll still need to sort out logging and QSL and no doubt I’ll learn more about what else is needed. One I know is needed is Morse and I’m struggling a little with that, but a day at a time. I aim to get to the point where Neil, VK6FSKB got to recently when he heard a station calling on 15m. He called back and made a QSO with GB0IDD, the special event station for the 2012 UN International Day of Disability. So, learning, doing and having fun. That’s what it’s all about. What have you been up to lately? 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. GLOBAL By the end of the year, approximately 40 per cent of the globe will be online, according to a report from the United Nations. The UN's International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has released its annual report, which charts Internet connectivity around the world. In 2012, 250 million more people started using the Web, and the ITU estimates that 2.7 billion people will have Internet access by the end of this year. Internet-connected mobile gadgets have helped boost Web access. By the end of the year, there will be 6.8 billion total mobile-cellular subscriptions – almost as many as there are people on the planet. GREAT BRITAIN In June 2011 the ECC published a Decision, harmonizing CB radio across the European Union. 28 months later Ofcom has announced a consultation on legalising 27 MHz SSB Ofcom has published proposals to amend current arrangements for Citizens’ Band Radio in the UK, to allow the use of a wider range of transmission standards. Ofcom is proposing to allow the use of AM, Double-sideband and SSB transmission standards on CB radio, which will bring the UK in line with other European countries. In the late 1970's radio amateurs such as James Bryant G4CLF the then President of the UK Citizens' Band Association, campaigned for the legalisation of AM/SSB CB. Now some 36 years later it looks as though it will finally be achieved. Tuning out: Analogue radio to disappear by 2018 Analogue radio sets are likely be consigned to history by the first half of 2018, the head of Britain’s commercial radio trade body has said, as she called on the Government to set out a clear timetable for the industry’s digital switchover. Linda Smith, chief executive of RadioCentre, which represents commercial stations across the country, predicted that the analogue radio signal would survive six years beyond last year’s switch off in the television sector. The switchover would be three years later than recommended in a major government report in 2009. USA Some good news for hams living in Poway, California. At a meeting with Poway City Council all five council members have agreed that the almost $200 application fee for antenna towers should be waived or at least significantly reduced. They then instructed the city staff to return in 30 days with a plan and timeline for the regulation review. The radio operators applauded at the end of the discussion. ============================================================================= Amateur Radio Newsline NEW WILLIAMSON COUNTY TEXAS EOC INCLUDES HAM RADIO A new $18 million Emergency Operations Centre in Williamson County, Texas, will provide a room for amateur radio operators. Jarred Thomas is the Emergency Management Coordinator. He says that local amateur radio operators will also have a room in which to gather. He notes that natural disasters such as a 1997 F 5 tornado with winds in excess of 200 miles per hour is in part the reason for the Emergency Operations Centre’s existence. The new nerve centre will be command central for major emergencies and also houses the county's 911 communications department, which had outgrown its home at the sheriff's office. A large conference centre and separate room for media are also included at the EOC. More is on the web at tinyurl.com/hams-at-new-eoc YAESU INTRODUCES SYSTEM FUSION DIGITAL AUDIO AT DCC Yaesu used the occasion of the recent ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference held in Seattle, Washington to introduce the latest links in its chain of new products aimed at the VHF and UHF digital voice market. Called System Fusion, the new product line uses the previously introduced C4FM / FDMA mode introduced in the company’s FT 1DR Handheld and FTM 400DR mobile digital and analogue dual band transceivers coupled with its soon to be released DR-1 dual mode repeater. It will also have an optional interconnect to the Internet using a stand alone HRI-200 Wires X interface unit. Yaesu’s System Fusion repeater differs in one important way from most previous entries into the ham radio digital marketplace as it retains traditional FM interoperability along with C4FM / FDMA digital voice operation. This according to Yaesu means that both analogue and digital users can share one repeater and communicate with each other. The presentation of the new System Fusion was made by Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, who is Yaesu’s Executive Vice President Amateur Radio Sales. It was video recorded by Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, of Ham Radio Now dot TV. You can see it on line at tinyurl.com/yaesu-digital-audio-dcc There’s also a new remailer set up to comment on this new digital voice system. It’s at groups.yahoo.com/group/YaesuSystemFusion IARU ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL LOOKS TO WORK WITH NON IARU MEMBER SOCIETIES The International Amateur Radio Union Administrative Council is looking into ways to work with non-IARU Amateur Radio organizations. This in nations where the IARU member-society may not be representing all of that country's radio amateurs. The issue came under discussion at the annual IARU Administrative Council meeting held September 21st to the 23rd in Cancun, Mexico. According to a news release from the gathering, in many of these countries, there are other non-IARU member-societies. The Administrative Council is studying ways to work with the non-IARU societies to ensure that the interests of all the amateurs are represented in those countries where the IARU member-society fails to do so. NIKOLA TESLA MONUMENT UNVEILED IN NEW YORK The president of Serbia has travelled to the United States where he recently unveiled the Nikola Tesla Monument at Tesla's former laboratory in Long Island. In a press statement prior to the actual ceremony, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said that it was the strength of Tesla's vision is what influences how the public speaks about Nikola Tesla with respect some 70 years after he died. Nikola Tesla who passed away on January 7, 1943 was a Serbian-born and later inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, physicist, and futurist. He is perhaps best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current electricity supply system. For decades The Tesla Science Centre has been trying to set up a commemorative museum at the site of Nikola Tesla's old laboratory, Now those behind the project and who managed to raise over a million dollars in an internet crowd funding campaign can celebrate the fact that their goal is finally starting to become a reality. NEW RCA EXHIBIT AND STUDY CENTRE TO OPEN AT NJ COLLEGE A new exhibit highlighting the Radio Corporation of America's rich history across the 20th century will open shortly at the College of New Jersey, in Ewing Township. The display will draw from the more than 6000 artefacts that the college inherited after the David Sarnoff Library, which at one time was RCA's main technical archive and museum, closed in 2009. The new exhibition covers the development of radio, television, and broadcasting, as well as RCA's work in liquid-crystal displays, electron microscopy, solid- state physics, and computers. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Foundation funded the new Sarnoff Study Centre which is connected to the exhibition. The Centre will serve as the central educational component of the Sarnoff Collection. More is on the web at tinyurl.com/rca-exhibit OPERATIONAL NEWS - with SPECIAL EVENTS, DX, BEACON, NET AND CONTEST ADVICE. Today I am joined by James Fleming VK4TJF Contest writer for our AR Magazine but first some contest reminders for November and early advice on 2014 'tests. The WIA Spring VHF-UHF Field Day happens weekend of November 23/24. WIA Summer VHF-UHF Field Day 11/12 January WIA John Moyle Field Day weekend March 15-16 WIA VK Harry Angel Memorial Sprint May 3 WIA REMEMBRANCE DAY (THE RD) CONTEST Aug 16 - 17 Manly-Warringah Radio Society's NEXT Flagpole contest is again September 2014. The Manly-Warringah Radio Society's inaugural Flagpole contest was a great success. The logs are still coming in, but participating stations were noted from VK2, 3, and 4. Their link with International "Talk like a Pirate" Day captured the imagination of many operators, so look out for this contest again next September! Photos and videos can be found on the club web site, www.mwrs.org.au Sewing Circle Net - Frequency Change Cedric VK7CL from the Sewing Circle net which runs each evening from 5:00pm Local Time Tasmania on 3.590MHz is looking to experiment with using 7.105MHz due to poor conditions occasioned by daylight savings. The idea is to move back to 3.590 when daylight savings end or as the occasion demands. 7.105MHz LSB +/- QRM UKRAINE, UR. Special event call EN 50 N until October 30 commemorates 50 years of the Vinnitsa TV tower, one of the tallest structures in Europe. Activity all bands and modes and QSL via operators' instructions. Now before further special stations to look out for, as promised, a look at the follow up to last weekends OCEANIA DX Contest. pause.... no text available, apologies but hear it in audio! MARION ISLAND Two radio amateurs are part of the over-wintering team and will be active on Marion Island now to April 2014. ZS 8 C - Carson, (ZR6CWI), and ZS 8 Z - David, (ZS1BCE). Modes will mainly be SSB and digital modes and their QSL Manager is ZS 1 HF. British Railways Amateur Radio Society GX 4 LMR over the rest of the year will be marking the 45th anniversary of the end of steam on the British railways network. This will be taking place thanks to BRARS member Mark Procter who will be transmitting from his home QTH near Preston, which was the very last bastion of steam in August 1968. Obviously a VERY Special QSL card has been produced for this event. VI 100 ACT - Centenary of Canberra, capital of Australia. Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club members are activating special event call until 31 Dec LF through to VHF using multiple modes. www.qrz.com/db/VI100ACT VI6WA100 a special event callsign is on air to celebrate the centenary of organised Amateur Radio in Western Australia. In October 1913, the Perth Radio Club (then changed to WIA VK6 Division a few years later) held their first meeting. The call VI 6 WA 100 will be on air till years end. 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 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 --- FINAL FRONTIER Spacecraft goes into lunar orbit Among a select few allowed to work during the US government shutdown, controllers for NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) (PRONOUNCED LADY) fired the spacecraft's engines Sunday morning, Oct. 6th, slowing it enough to be captured by lunar gravity. LADEE is now in orbit. Soon, the spacecraft will begin its mission to study the Moon's exotic and diaphanous atmosphere, which is mightily affected by space weather. For more information about this development, plus new colour images of incoming Comet ISON, visit spaceweather.com WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- INTERNET --- THE HAMS DOMAIN TWITTER http://twitter.com/VK1WIA www.HamRadioNation.com websdr.org Australians not malware wise. Nearly half of all adults or more than seven million living in Australia who regularly use the Internet for personal purposes don’t believe they will suffer from malicious software, or malware for short. ACMA has also found that ten per cent who use home-based computers or laptops on the Internet fail to have virus protection while another eight per cent don’t regularly update it. Malware allows others to steal personal identities including login details a worrying possibility in this increasing digital society. The Australian Internet Security Initiative program reports that 35,500 Australian IP addresses a day are infected by malware. (ARVictoria) 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 Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) is on the weekend of October the 19th and 20th when Scouts and Guides throughout the world make contacts and new friends via 6,000 amateur radio stations. The prospect of having a conversation, exchanging thoughts and ideas is very much part of the attraction to JOTA. With the hobby now more accessible some radio amateurs are also Scouts and Guides, but usually an outside person will provide their own station. A Working With Children check is required. Stations are set-up in halls, camping areas and sometimes a radio amateur will invite leaders and youngsters into his shack at home. The 56th JOTA is held with the 17th Jamboree On The Internet. Here in Australia JOTA-JOTI has a special broadcast by Governor General, Quentin Bryce AC, at 1pm local time on the Saturday. Over in the UK, special event station GB0TWY is to be activated by the 2nd Twyning Scout Group, as part of the 56th Jamboree on-the-Air event, on October 19th. Operations will be from the Twyning School. Twyning is a small village on the banks of the River Avon, 3 km north of Tewkesbury in the county of Gloucestershire, England. The village has around 70 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts – many of which will be visiting the station to take part in JOTA 2013. They will also be joined by other Scout groups from Tewkesbury District. Activity will be on HF bands 40/20/15 meters and locally 2m and 70cm. QSL via info on QRZ.com (ARVictoria and SouthGate) 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 The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic is scheduled for 26th and 27th of October. Due to the number of checkpoints, maritime mobile, and other stations, WICEN New South Wales needs to field a large number of volunteers. If you wish to assist, even if you are not a member, please contact WICEN via its website. Those who have not taken part before will be teamed with an experienced operator. The WICEN New South Wales website is at: www.nsw.wicen.org.au (vk2wi news) SOCIAL SCENE Oct 20 VK3 Ballarat Amateur Radio Group Hamvention NOV 2 VK4 Gold Coast ARS HamFest at Albert Waterways Hall. NOV 3 VK5 HamFest Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society Goodwood. NOV 10 VK2 ARNSW Radio Fest Dural NOV 10 VK3 Microwave Test and Tune day (EMDRC) NOV 10 VK3 Yarra Valley Hamfest Garry Cooper Pavilion, 16 Anzac Ave. NOV 15-17 VK3 Victorian National Parks Weekend Nov 24 VK3 Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Club Rosebud RadioFest 2014 Jan 24-27 VK4 TARC Australia Day Long Weekend Family Radio Camp at Girl Guides Campsite Bluewater. (vk4zz@wia.org.au) Feb 23 VK2 Wyong Field Day and it is on come rain hail or shine. Apr 13-15 VK PR4AmateurRadio Expo. Apr 18 WW Amateur Radio Day: Your Gateway to Wireless Communications. Apr 25 vk3 ANZAC Day event Ballarat Showgrounds johnkarr@bigpond.net.au May 2- 4 VK4 Clairview Gathering Clive VK4ACC 0429 632 815 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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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. -------------