----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING Feb 15 2015. WIA Director Roger Harrison VK2ZRH news of missing licence renewal notices. AX for ANZAC DAY WEEKEND VI8ANZAC as Darwin Amateur Radio Club covers the Albert Chalmers Borella journey re-enactment. THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA 2015 AND FOR WEEK OF February 15th. Did you know that there are currently over 180 Australian amateur radio licences that have not been renewed this year? This includes not only some club licences but also repeater licences. In an email sent from WIA Clubs Liaison Officer Ted Thrift VK2ARA it would seem our Wireless Institute of Australia believes this may be as a result of ACMA not having renewals available. Please check to see if you licence is either due or possibly overdue for renewal and ask your local club secretary to check that licences are current and paid. This "public service announcement" has been brought to you by the good people at The St George Amateur Radio Society Inc., caring for amateur radio operators in our community. Oh and their next club meeting is Wednesday 4th March 7.30 PM at club rooms, Donnelly Park, Kyle Parade, Connells Point (just down the road from South Hurstville). For more information go to www.sgars.org for the club, or listen 'hear' to VK2ZRH Roger Harrison Temporary hitch with licence renewal notices This is WIA Director Roger Harrison VK2ZRH with news about licence renewal notices. A number of amateurs discovered recently that their licence renewal notice from the ACMA had not arrived, as it had in previous years. A number of clubs noticed the same thing with club station and repeater licences. It seems that licence renewals that fell due in December 2014, and perhaps early January 2015, may be affected. The WIA has learned from the ACMA that there was a “hiccup” in their system for a short period over the end of last year and licence renewals were not issued, but that the problem has been corrected and it’s back to business as usual, now. However, if, like many amateurs, you rely on getting your renewal notice in the mail, and you’re concerned you may have missed renewing your licence, take a look at your licence certificate on the wall of your shack. Or, is it in a drawer, somewhere? Towards the top right hand corner you will see the “date of expiry”. This tells you when you need to renew. If the expiry date has passed, you have 60 calendar days in which to renew, otherwise your callsign becomes available for re-issue! If you haven’t reached the expiry date, you can renew early – but no more than three months ahead of time. Can’t find your licence certificate? You can search the Register of Radiocommunications Licences on the ACMA website. You will find the internet address on http://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2015/20150212-1/index.php where we have posted this news item. You can search for your own callsign on the Register and look up the date of expiry. While you’re there, write down your Client Number. You will need it. In the absence of a renewal notice, you can pay by calling the ACMA on 1300 850 115. You will be asked for your Client Number, which you wrote down, didn’t you? While I’m at it, let me lay to rest a myth about renewal notices – the legislation does not require the ACMA to issue renewal notices; they do so as a courtesy to clients. Aren’t they nice people? Under the legislation, as a licensee, it is your responsibility to renew your licence within time. A bit rough, you think? Take it up with your local federal member of parliament. This is WIA Director Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News. PERSEVERANCE PAYS OFF.. JUST ASK Alex VK4TE and Andy VK4KCS Another note to clubs by Ted Thrift is an article providing information about an activity that is planned in VK4 to occur on the actual ANZAC Day Centenary of the original landing on Gallipoli. Working on this for over a year and attempting to get WIA backing in the way of help and guidance, not monetary, has been Alex and Andy, now it just needs you to come up on air from the local RSL club! Their proposal suggests that all Amateur Radio Clubs take the opportunity to establish and operate a portable HF/VHF station, ideally on the premises of their local RSL branch on the 25th of April 2015. This is an open invitation to VK and ZL Amateur Radio Clubs interested in being involved in establishing a portable activity in conjunction with your local RSL branch to help commemorate the centenary of the original landing on Gallipoli 100 years ago. The WIA's 2015 ANZAC Commemorative Plan states "event organisers should seek to put as many returned services persons on air as possible, and liaise with local RSLs." Where would you expect to find more returned services persons than at your local RSL branch on ANZAC Day? ANZAC Day is one of the three days in the year that ACMA allow the automatic substitution of AX in place of VK in all Australian amateur call signs. They have been informed by the WIA, that ACMA, for 2015 only, has approved the use of AX in place of VK for the full two days of the ANZAC weekend. VK4TE and VK4KCS appreciate that this planned activity is now fairly close, but hopefully your club has an active events committee that would quickly realize the opportunity of being seen to be actively promoting the ANZAC Centenary commemorations within your local community, with its associated chance of ongoing publicity for your club. Alex VK4TE Andy VK4KCS The email from Alex and Andy does not show their email address so I'd suggest you contact thru Ted vk2ara@wia.org.au Someone who won't be at their local RSL club this ANZAC day is June VK4SJ. With more here from the Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club is Gordon VK4VP Who is going to the Gallipoli service this year One of SCARC's club members, June VK4SJ, will be attending the dawn service at Gallipoli and Lone Pine this year. As the daughter of a First World War veteran she was able to apply in a ballot for a spot but got automatic selection being a 1st generation daughter. June will be accompanied by her son Anthony VK8NCS/2, his wife Bronwyn and their 2 sons.. They will also do a bit of travelling prior to the service around the UK and Greece. June's father, ALFRED MATHIESON, a WW1 veteran who fought at Gallipoli in 1915 and sadly passed away in September 1961 was in 2 different battalions. The 23rd 1st AIF and the surviving soldiers from various battalions were later formed into the 60th Battalion 1st AIF. Alfred tried to enlist at Richmond Victoria but he was only 16 so they turned him away, he later went to Seymour by train and enlisted there on 23-02-1915 and sailed from Albany not long after on the MV Beltana. He suffered injuries to his Right Shoulder and Left hip and thigh from Bayonet and Shrapnel Wounds from a bomb blast that killed several of his friends. He was also gassed as he lay for several day in No Man’s Land between the 2 opposing forces. He was in service for 1144 days of which 948 were served overseas and also spent some time in a Canadian Run Hospital in the UK Possibly in KENT UK recovering from his injuries . June would like to know if other Amateurs are going to this service so may be able to meet up or contact any TA amateurs. Junes contact details are in the Call Book or you can contact her via VK4 QSL Inwards Manager. Well until next time, this is Gordon VK4VP. To commemorate ANZAC 100 a series of articles appear in Amateur Radio magazine. Lloyd Butler VK5BR writes about a radio pioneer. Eric Jamieson, OAM, JP, and VK5LP, (Victor Kilo FIVE Lima Poppa) had a lifetime interest in radio and electronics. He built a crystal set at the age of 9 and a three-valve short-wave receiver when 12. An RAAF Radio Technician, he served in Bougainville during WWII, initially repairing aircraft and ground station radios, radio equipment used in aircraft and ground stations. By 1945 he was the Sergeant in charge of a large transmitting station in the dense jungle. He was also at the RAAF in Gawler aerodrome outside Adelaide maintaining its transmitter. After discharge from the RAAF in 1946 his love of radio technology saw him repair many of the radio receivers. During 1948-49 he became a radio amateur, and was quite busy making and selling 64 radios. After marriage to Merna he serviced receivers and in 1959 prepared for television, to sell and repair TV sets. Initially, for ten years in his spare time and then 15 years with Radio Rentals. Eric was a radio amateur from 1960, operating on 50 MHz under VK5ZEJ, and by 1967-69 was VK5LP. With the introduction of transistor radios Eric recognised that valve radios would be phased out so collected every valve radio he could find. By the early 1960s, he had more than 100 and when he moved to Meningie, South Australia, he had collected 335. Eventually he settled on 35 for his own collection which was displayed at a museum. In 1983, Channel 7 featured his vast collection on the Today Tonight program. One rare piece was a 1925 model eight-valve superheterodyne. In 1985 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to the community. Eric was well known on the VHF bands. For many years wrote the Amateur Radio column, "VHF/UHF - An Expanding World", that continues today. He received a number of awards from the Wireless Institute of Australia. In May 1995 he was presented the G. A. Taylor Medal the highest honour for a radio amateur by the WIA. (Jim Linton VK3PC) Across the 'detch' and Wartime Radar to iPad Radio amateur Horace Longson ZL3WE is interviewed by the New Zealand Herald about his lifelong involvement with technology When war broke out in 1939, the railway clerical cadet volunteered for the Air Force and became involved in the secret world of radar. After the war he soon became interested in ham radio and is a life member of the New Zealand Amateur Radio Transmitters' Association (NZART). Read the full story at nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=11397374 HAMS ACROSS AUSTRALIA. VK8 web service:- http://vkham.com/~k8da The Darwin Amateur Radio Club marking the Albert Borella epic journey to enlist in World War I, will have the WIA commemorative callsign VI8ANZAC on air until March Third (3). The commemorative WIA callsign VI8ANZAC is now on air thanks to Darwin Amateur Radio Club, which is covering the Albert Chalmers Borella journey re-enactment. The Victorian was in the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade, before the lure of a new life and grant of government land saw him move to the Northern Territory. After a time that proved unsuccessful, leading him to be a chef on a telegraph maintenance site near Tennant Creek. He wanted to enlist in World War I. Travelling by foot, horseback and train the 33 year old left Tennant Creek for Darwin, found it did not have a sign-up point, so continued to Townsville in Queensland by boat for enlistment. Albert Borella was posted to the 26th Battalion of the First Australian Imperial Force. At Gallipoli he served for two months. Then he was sent to the Western Front in France and Belgium. Albert Borella was wounded in battle, decorated with the Military Medal, mentioned by Winston Churchill in military dispatches, and finally received for valour in combat - the Victoria Cross. He is the only VC from the Northern Territory. During World War II he ran prisoner-of-war camps in Australia. As the nation re-traces that remarkable journey to enlist, the Darwin Amateur Radio Club has VI8ANZAC on air from February the 14th until March the 22nd. For more information, or to activate a commemorative ANZAC 100 callsign at an appropriate site or event, please see the WIA website www.wia.org.au (Jim Linton VK3PC) VK6 Martin VK6ZMS tells us that the annual HARG swap meet is on Sunday April 12, setup from 9am doors open at 10am. This year there is a new larger venue, The Lesmurdie Hall at 96 Gladys Road Lesmurdie. Email secretary@harg.org.au to reserve a table. VK2 web service:- http://www.arnsw.org.au/html/news_vk2wi.htm Urunga Radio Convention this Easter, Sat 4th and Sun the 5th April “Senior Citizens Hall” Urunga, the longest running Fox Hunt Field day in Australia. 2 days of “Fox Hunting” An adjoining lounge for those that want to get away from the activities. Quizzes, raffles, and pre loved gear, displays, Inquiries welcome. Free tea and Coffee available for those registering, (Numbers required for optional meal on Saturday night at Bowling Club, notify Committee) krgolden46@hotmail.com The old cups from the early days are on display at the convention, and other times at the “Ocean View Hotel” where some of the early conventions were held. Urunga is a quiet village ideally suited to “Fox hunting” It’s a very relaxing Environment on the Kalang River, and has old style charm, ideal for family’s. Close by is Coffs Harbour and Bellingen, or perhaps a drive on “Waterfall Way” to Dorrigo and the National Park Skywalk, picnic areas and lookouts, Visit the Golf or Bowling clubs, or walk to the Ocean on the meandering Footbridge for a spot of “surf fishing” Check “Urunga Radio Convention” web page. http://users.tpg.com.au/goldy2/ Ken Golden VK2DGT for Urunga Radio Convention Pn. 0266523177 Email: krgolden46@hotmail.com (Urunga Info on Web, Links page, “where the rivers meet the sea”) ACMA investigation leads to destruction of radios and fines A Sydney man has been fined $3,000 and ordered to forfeit valuable radio equipment that he had been using to make overpowered transmissions. The defendant pleaded guilty to two charges of unlawful possession of a radiocommunications device under the Radiocommunications Act 1992. He appeared at the Downing Centre Local Court, Sydney, on Tuesday, 27 January 2015. The Australian Communications and Media Authority last year investigated allegations that the defendant used overpowered equipment to transmit on the Citizen Band Radio Service in the Sydney area. The ACMA had previously warned the defendant about using overpowered radiocommunications equipment to transmit on the Citizen Band Radio Service. Citizen Band (CB) radios operate under a class licence system in Australia. The class licence includes the condition that transmissions must not exceed five watts. Exceeding five watts may interfere with transmissions of other legitimate users of the service. The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions charged the defendant with two counts of unlawful possession of a radiocommunications device. The ACMA can sell items that are forfeited under the Act. In this case, as the radios are nonstandard devices that do not comply with Australian requirements, the radios will be destroyed. ‘This conviction is a logical outcome and reinforces the point that continued non-compliance will not be tolerated,’ said Mark Loney, the ACMA’s Executive Manager for Spectrum Operations and Services. Citizen Band radios are permitted to be operated by any person in Australia for recreational or domestic purposes, or in connection with work or business, provided the person complies with the Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2002. The unlicensed use of a radiocommunications device is an offence under the Radiocommunications Act 1992. More news from ACMA in Intruder Watch later in this news. INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL, Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART and the WW sources of the WIA. Fajr downlink in 70 cm band The Iranian satellite Fajr (i.e. 'Dawn') was launched February Two from the Semnan launch centre aboard a Safir rocket. No cube sat this, weighing in at 50 kg, the satellite (40387, 2015-006A), Iran's fourth satellite, has a cold gas thruster, so it can change its orbit. It carries a camera for earth observations. It should have a telemetry downlink on 437.538 MHz and a command uplink in the 2 m band. Ham radio conference in Andaman and Nicobar Islands Experts and enthusiasts of amateur radio communications from at least five countries will participate in an international conference beginning March 6 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands HAMTECH-2015, organised by the National Institute of Amateur Radio Hyderabad, with support from India's department of electronics and information technology would be held March 6-7 in Port Blair. "So far we have received confirmation from experts from Germany, US, Switzerland, Nepal, and Bangladesh," said a spokesperson of the organisers. The conference aims to discuss, deliberate and brainstorm on various issues concerning policy, technology, best practices in emergency communications and sustainable development models for implementation and their returns in terms of socio-economic development, said a statement from the West Bengal Radio Club. Some of the key areas which would be covered include amateur radio for education, empowerment and skill development, amateur radio satellites and disaster management applications of ham radio. Read the full story at www.newkerala.com/news/2015/fullnews-15007.html BBC News reports on the discovery by Essex radio amateur Peter Onion G 0 DZB that the Raspberry Pi 2 reboots when photographed using a Xenon flash, it would appear that a SMPS chip on the board is not light resistant. The Government of Canada will provide over CA$25,000 to the Saint Lucia Amateur Radio Club to improve amateur radio coverage and communication in the event of a disaster. Amateur radio still plays an important role during an emergency. The Repeater System for the Saint Lucia Amateur Radio Club will provide enhanced two-way communications during normal and disaster conditions, allowing for amateur radio coverage in all communities, especially in the known high-risk areas. Over the next four months, this project will: install two (2) repeater systems including solar back-up power; train 90 radio operators and increase coverage for all 18 districts. The Saint Lucia Amateur Radio Club secured support for this project through the Canada / Caribbean Disaster Risk Management Fund, part of Canada’s Caribbean Regional Programme. 76 GHz under threat from car radar The ARRL reports the Amateur Radio and Amateur Satellite allocations in the 76 GHz band are under threat from vehicular radar systems The FCC is seeking comment on issues involving expanded use of various radar applications in the 76-81 GHz band, which Amateur Radio shares with other services. Read the full ARRL story at arrl.org/news/fcc-seeks-comment-on-radar-sharing-schemes-that-could-displace-amateur-radio-at-76-81-ghz Half of RadioShack's 4,000 stores across the USA will close under a reorganization plan as the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy RadioShack began in Boston in 1921 as a single store catering to ham radio operators and ships' radio officers who could visit the store or buy through mail order. For decades, it profited from the spread of electronic equipment, introducing one of the first personal computers, the TRS-80, in the 1980s and then becoming a major retailer of cellular phones. But the Internet helped bring the company down as its customers started buying equipment and parts online. Along with this news of Radio Shack, "Bloomberg" report the last vestige of the Motorola empire is on the block after struggling with stagnant earnings. So not all 5 by 9 in the radio business world! Read their stories at bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-06/motorola-solutions-said-to-explore-sale-of-87-year-old-company upi.com/Business_News/2015/02/05/RadioShack-files-for-bankruptcy-half-of-stores-to-close/3251423176091/#ixzz3RIomoSVr Who and Where are our broadcast stations? http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/ OPERATIONAL NEWS 2015 Jock White Field Day (NZ) Saturday February 28th and Sunday March 1st. John Moyle Memorial Field Day 21st-22nd March from UTC 0100 Sat to 0059 Sun. Tablelands Radio Group's AM and CW on ANZAC Day 25 April Harry Angel sprint 80 metres May 2. Trans-Tasman contest 18th July from 0800utc 10-10 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CONTEST Aug 1 - 2 Remembrance Day Contest August 15 and 16 Oceania DX contest Voice First full weekend in October Oceania DX contest Continuous Wave Second full weekend in October. John Moyle Memorial Field Day. Good Morning, This Denis VK4AE, WIA coordinator for the John Moyle Memorial Field Day 2015. This year as Felix said the contest will occur over the weekend of Saturday the 21st to Sunday 22nd March, the duration of the contest will be from UTC 0100 Saturday to 0059 on the Sunday. There is sufficient time allowed after the contest to actually complete and submit logs to the WIA, as electronic logs and paper logs will be accepted right up until midnight 21st April 2015. So there aren't many excuses today for not sending in your as it can be kept electronically while the contest is under way using one of the many logging programs such as VK Contest Log by Mike VK3AVV. Then you simply have to submit the print file from this program to me via one of the e-mail addresses shown on the contest page on the WIA website. Of course by submitting your log you automatically enter the contest and you never know you might even get a certificate? Logging Software Computerised Logging Programs Please check the website of your favourite logging programme for the most up to date version, as the programmers will have completed a revision to take into account recent rule changes. Do not use older versions of any programme as you may lose many points you are entitled to score by more recent rule changes if you do not use the latest version. VK Contest Log (VKCL) is by Mike Subocz VK3AVV Now is the time to carry on with your planning for the field day as there are only a few weeks to go before the event. There is still time to make sure that everything is in order and operating and all of the little bits and pieces that are needed to put your station onto the airwaves are all in the desired place. Nothing worse than to arrive at your chosen spot only to find you have forgotten to pack the piece of cable that is installed between the set and some other piece of gear. Make sure that the location you have chosen is still accessible after the summer onslaught from flood and bushfire and the roads into the place have not been closed – in the interests of public safety – and that the trees that were so useful for string aerials and tent ropes in the past are still in good condition and safe to be around. So it might be a good idea to make a short visit to your selected site and ensure the all will be well on the day. Best of luck to all in the field day and I look forward to working a few of you on the day and most of all receiving your log entry after the event. (vk4ae and wia contest site) The Trans-Tasman contest has undergone a metamorphosis into a faster more interesting low bands challenge. With three modes catered for in SSB CW and Digital (RTTY/PSK) the contest is now divided into three two hour segments for reworking and 160 80 40 is on the same evening. This is in the prime time for LF the month of July. VK6 was long felt left out of the action and the inclusion of 40M will help them be part of the contest as well as a new Open power category means that those have trouble making the trip over the ditch are now able to do it easier. QRP Medium and High power categories as well as single op and multi op round out the offering. Both VKCL and N1MM are being tested for use in the contest and will be available well before the July start time. Complete rules are posted on the WIA and VKCC websites Date is the 18th of July starting at 08:00 UTC (Trent Sampsom) SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS, DX, BEACON REPEATER AND NET ADVICE Ilha da Paz Lighthouse DXpedition This for the 7th annual 'SOUTH AMERICAN LIGHTHOUSES WEEKEND' The lighthouse is located on Paz Island, IOTA SA-027, which belongs to the municipality of Sćo Francisco do Sul, Santa Catarina state. Lighthouse coordinates are: 26ŗ11 'lat. S and 048ŗ29' long. W. Calls to look forward to are phone PR5P. CW PR5X and digital ZW5WIM. It is the intention to maintain two stations operating simultaneously in the bands 80-6 meters. The expedition will begin on Thursday, the 19th, lasted until Monday, 23rd February WIRELESS WEATHER Thanks to VK2WI news and in particular Noel VK2FUL we have this months Solar Flux Index figures. February, minimum 115 average 132 maximum 154 (peaked 1st to 5th.) Next month, March, minimum 115 average 123 maximum 130, peaking from the 1st to the 7th. And for some reference the first month of 2015, January, we saw a minimum of 120, average 141, maximum 165 where it peaked from the 27th to the 31st. INTRUDER WATCH - ENFORCEMENT ZONE SA Man pleads guilty to harassing and upsetting users of CB radio A KILBURN man has admitted alarming, affronting and harassing people over CB radio frequencies in breach of Federal communications law. He appeared in the District Court Monday last charged with multiple breaches of the Radiocommunications Act (1992), the charges dating back to 2013. Commonwealth prosecutors previously alleged he had abused and harassed¯ CB radio users by disrupting and disturbing their communications. They alleged his reckless¯ conduct resulted in substantial disruption and disturbance of radiocommunications¯. The court heard he committed his offences between April and June, 2013, with telecommunications equipment including a TH9000 Transceiver. He was remanded on continuing bail to face sentencing submissions in April. Outside court, it's alleged he filmed members of Adelaide's media with his camera phone and swore at them, as he walked away. (sourced to a submission by vk5fpau) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL New open source data mode FSQ Con Wassilieff ZL2AFP has developed a new fast simple chat data mode for use on HF and VHF FSQ is a Fast Simple QSO mode for MF/HF. It works well under NVIS and sunrise/sunset conditions on the lower bands, and also works well for short skip on higher bands. It can also be used on VHF FM, and clearly has a much wider useful range of operating conditions that other more conventional digital modes. Sending speed can be varied between 20 and 60 WPM. FSQ is designed for simple but effective 'Chat' operation, rather like phone text messaging or Skype™ chat; fast and easy to use. You don't use 'overs' as you would with a conventional digital or voice mode. It is highly suited to net operation. You just type a sentence and press Enter. Read more about FSQ at http://www.qsl.net/zl1bpu/MFSK/FSQweb.htm (sourced to SouthGate) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER AMSAT-BR Forms in Brazil A new AMSAT group, AMSAT-BR, has been formed in Brazil in order to better organize the Brazilian amateur satellite activities, to better represent the amateur radio community to organizations developing CubeSat projects, and to attract more amateurs in different regions of the country to join their cause. AMSAT-BR has formed as a special interest group under LABRE, the national organization with the mission to represent the amateur radio community in Brazil. LABRE is registered as a member society of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). 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 WICEN will have a stand at the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club's Wyong Field Day on the 22nd of February. This is an opportunity to pay your membership, or to join the organisation. If you are a member who is attending, and are willing to help out for an hour or so, please let the nsw committee know. www.nsw.wicen.org.au Volcano eruption in Guatemala Disaster relief services with some radio amateurs providing emergency communications have responded to the erupting Fuego Volcano in the Republic of Guatemala in Central America. The Club of Amateur Radio of Guatemala (CRAG) has TG 0 AA activated on HF and VHF. CRAG using frequency of 7.118 MHz and has a VHF repeater 147.015 MHz. According to a report to the Emergency Communications Coordinator IARU Region 2, Cesar Pio Santos HR 2 P, the TG0AA network has reporting stations from neighbouring Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Cuba and Venezuela. The volcano sent a cloud of ash, and forced the closure of the La Aurora International Airport. In the largest eruption in three years, tourists who were hiking on it and those living in nearby villages had to be evacuated. Local experts expect the emergency to ease to allow a clean-up of the area to begin. ( Jim Linton VK3PC Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee ) 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: Phil Byrne VK2MCD 0645z - 0730z Anzo Net 7.118 (varies due to propagation) 0730z - 0830z International net 14.293 (varies due to propagation) Rotary International uses birthday to highlight its Polio campaign Rotarians of Amateur Radio or ROAR members will call "CQ Polio", sometimes with a special event callsign, to promote its signature initiative - the eradication of the disease Polio. Rotary celebrates its founding 110 years ago. The first Rotary Club meeting was in Chicago Illinois in February 1905. ROAR will be at the Wyong Field Day Sunday next to launch the special event callsign VI 110 ROTARY - hopefully with a new Software Defined Radio. Vice President for ANZO (Australia, New Zealand and Oceania,) Phil Byrne VK2MCB says that VI 110 ROTARY will be on 7118, 14295.2 and 21295 kHz from various locations around Australia, until the end of May. " At the Wyong Field Day on 22 February, members of Rotarians of Amateur Radio, or ROAR, will launch the Special Event Call VI 110 ROTARY in celebration of the foundation of Rotary International, 110 years ago. Rotary International is a service organisation of 1.2 million people around the world. Rotary's biggest initiative is to eradicate Polio from the world which has largely been achieved, with the help of Governments, the World Health Organisation and prominent people such as Bill Gates. Over four hundred Rotarians are hams and members of ROAR. The local chapter of ROAR will operate at the Wyong Field Day using the VI110ROTARY call. Listen out for VI110ROTARY on 7118, 14295.2 and 21295 KHz from 22 February to 31 May, and visit ROAR at the Wyong Field Day. 73 Phil VK2MCB (VK3PC and VK2MCB) SOCIAL SCENE 2015 Feb 14 VK3 Melbourne QRP by the bay Chelsea Beach 3pm. Feb 22 VK2 Central Coast Amateur Radio Club Wyong Field Day. And that date means it's only ONE WEEK to go to the Wyong Field Day! Here's the final lists of traders, exhibitors and seminars, don't forget the big flea market of course. VK4ICE will be there as usual. The traders attending with the widest range of gear for you to buy are: Andrews Communications Radio Supply Limited Softmark RF Solutions Cro-tek Instruments NBS Antennas ICOM Australia. Bushcomm TET-Emtron RODA Antennas Oatley Electronics The exhibitors you'll find at Wyong are: The Summits on the Air association The historical radio society of Australia The Australian radio DX Club Westlake's amateur radio club The WIA QSL Bureau Hornsby & District amateur radio club ALARA WICEN New South Wales Norah Head marine rescue AMSAT VK ARNSW Homebrew & experimenters group Kurrajong Radio Museum Tube Radio Australia The Wireless Institute of Australia VKS-737 Amateur television exhibition. As we heard earlier Rotarians of Amateur Radio or ROAR will launch the special callsign "VI110 ROTARY" at the Wyong Field Day on the New South Wales Central Coast on Sunday the 22nd of February, and using hopefully a brand new software defined radio. Now on to the seminars:- The seminars are held on the 1st floor of the main building and start at 0900 with a lecture on Bare Island 2014 & the biggest Dx'pedition ever by an Australian and Australian club to the sub Antarctic ZL9HR, given by Tommy Horozakis VK2IR president of HARAOA At 1000 We have a lecture on SPARK TRANSMITTERS given by Ray Robinson VK2NO Next at 1100 the Annual Get-Together of the VHF-UHF Weak Signal Operators group with Roger Harrison VK2ZRH Then at 1200 all you need to know on Oscillators from Brian Clarke VK2GCE Also at 1300 Rhod Rowe VK2TTL completes the program with a lecture on the important subject of EMR Awareness. As always a little for everyone in the program! As announced the CCARC will be running a full day foundation class licence training course on Saturday the 21st of February - the day before the Field day. Having registered (contact details are on the field day web site for this) please arrive at the seminar room in the race club building at the Wyong Race Course for a 0900 start. There will be a facilities usage fee of $20 which is payable, in cash, on the day. The assessments will also take place from 1000 on the field day - these will be performed in the stewards room on the ground floor and again you need to be there by 0945. As always WIA and ACMA charges apply to the assessments. For full details about registering for either the course or an assessment, or both, as well as all information about the field day, please go to the field day website at FIELDDAY dot ORG dot AU. For those of you going to the Wyong Field Day on the train, please note there will be trackwork this weekend, so coaches will replace trains. There will however still be a free shuttle bus service from the station to the event. Why not get along and join the biggest gathering of radio amateurs in Australia at the CCARC Field Day at the Wyong racecourse next Sunday? (Dave VK2DLS, Publicity Officer of the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club.) SOCIAL SCENE 2015 CONTINUES March 15 VK7 Meet the Voice barbecue at Ross.( http://meetthevoice.org/ ) March 21 VK3 Dstar User Group 9am Woodend RSL Anslow St vk3tq@bigpond.com March 29 VK3 EMDRC Hamfest March 21 VK3 Dstar Users Group 9am Woodend RSL Anslow St. vk3tq@bigpond.com March 29 VK3 EMDRC Hamfest April 5 VK2 Urunga Radio Convention ( krgolden46@hotmail.com ) April 12 VK6 HARG swap meet 10am Lesmurdie Hall 96 Gladys Road. April 18 VK4 REDFest (Redcliffe Radio Club Event) 18 WW World Amateur Radio Day April 25 VK3 ANZAC Day Radio Afternoon Ballarat Showgrounds ( vk3fmpb ) May 1-3 VK4 Clairview Gathering contact Radar’s VK4ACC 04 2963 2815 May 9 VK4 BARCFEST Brisbane May 9-10 VK WIA AGM Canberra June 6-7 VK2 Queens Birthday 40th annual Oxley Region Field Day July 1 VK4 Caboolture Hamfest July 11-12 VK3 GippsTech 2015 July 18 VK3 Gippsland gate Radio & Electronics Club Hamfest @ Cranbourne Sept 12 VK4 SUNFEST Woombye Sept 25-27 VK4 CHARC AGM Weekend Camp Fairbairn near Emerald Oct 2-5 VK4 Cardwell Gathering, Beachcomber Motel and Tourist Park Oct 25 VK4 Gold Coast Hamfest Broadbeach 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 and don't JUST send url's links but take the time to pen YOUR contribution. 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National News compiled by VK4BB on behalf of the National WIA. . -------------