JANUARY 22 2017 - VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 JANUARY 22 2017. IN OUR 22nd YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS WIA Election Nominations Closing, and Ballot in March. - WIA Fact Sheets, online for all. - WIA news accessed in various ways. THESE STORIES AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA 2017 AND FOR WEEK OF JAN 22 Morse code by torch results in rescue A 54-year old army reservist and veteran of the Middle East slipped on seaweed last Saturday and broke his leg on a Dorset beach southern England. Sergeant Tim Robinson stagged for two hours and when it got dark enough flashed an S O S towards his hotel hoping his wife was there looking for him. The reservist kept repeating the message before his wife found him following the signals and then called the emergency services. He was loaded on to a lifeboat before being transferred by ambulance to hospital, where he recovered after having the broken bone fixed. AROUND VK Foundation Training & Assessment in Melbourne Do you know someone who could join the quality class and be a radio amateur in 2017? Amateur Radio Victoria resumes its Foundation Licence session on February 18 and 19. The quality course thoroughly covers the essential basics of electronics, radio communications, several safety aspects, and the regulations. Please contact Barry Robinson VK3PV foundation@amateurradio.com.au 0428 516 001. (Jim Linton VK3PC) VK4 5G The 5th Generation and Commonwealth Games The much faster 5G mobile network will be available on the Gold Coast of Queensland in 2018, to serve the Commonwealth Games held in April. Eventually 5G will be extended across Australia, forecast to be a boom in the Internet of Things – far beyond smart phones, to smart homes, cars and many other devices. In the past the Commonwealth Games also had an Amateur Radio special event callsign – will it do so again? Darling Downs Radio Club's SOcial and Technical Meeting on next Monday Jan 23rd is a "GPS display project" presented by Bruce Boardman VK4MQ The meeting starts at 7pm at the Drayton Bowls Club. Anyone who is interested in attending is welcome. (vk4di) WIA BOARD TALK WIA Election Nominations Closing, and Ballot in March Nominations close on January 31 for those seeking election to the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) Board of Directors. This year all 7 positions on the WIA Board are open. If you consider your skills and experience can add to the requirements of being a voluntary Director of a modern not-for-profit organisation, then please consider nominating. The nomination in writing must be received by the Returning Officer by January 31. The Wireless Institute of Australia Regulation Postal Ballot for the Election of Directors has all of the requirements and it can be found on the WIA website. A ballot paper will be sent in March. This will be as an insert in Amateur Radio magazine, look for it - and those getting the digital-only magazine, the material is sent by Australia Post. The WIA Fact Sheets – online for all The Wireless Institute of Australia has received a very positive response to the new FACT sheets that cover many of the issues that have been raised recently. Some individuals and a few clubs have urged the WIA Board to make detailed responses to accusations and criticisms they have seen or heard on social media and elsewhere. The WIA Board did answer some of the questions, but its replies and explanations were not always carried in the same media. In the Board's view, many of the issues raised are either exaggerated, misrepresented, or without foundation. Some statements are totally inaccurate. The Fact Sheets became necessary to ensure that all WIA members have the relevant facts and explanations. The WIA continues to be an effective advocate for Amateur Radio, and is in the process of developing strategies to address the current and future needs of the hobby. It is essential that radio amateurs continue to support the hobby by joining, or renewing their membership, to ensure a strong and effective WIA. That’s not to say that there isn't room for improvement. There always is. A primary function of the Board of any company is to periodically review its services and operations with a view to positive improvement. The digital edition of Amateur Radio magazine is one example. Restructuring of the National Office to improve customer service, which was driven be a need to improve customer service, was another. Other positive innovations are in progress, such as: the STEM initiative, the Volunteer Charter, which is now out for broader member feedback, and the adoption of a more consultative approach. Other initiatives will follow. Now to the Fact Sheets – those issued so far include: • The Foundation Licence Manual in Profit • Claims of WIA being in trouble with ASIC and ACMA are incorrect • Compliance of the WIA licence assessment system • WIA Director Training • The Club Insurance Scheme. The Fact Sheets have had a positive response and there are more to come. WIA affiliated clubs are encouraged to draw attention to the WIA Fact Sheets in their club newsletters. Further feedback on them is most welcome. The Fact Sheets are accessed via the right-hand side navigation panel of the WIA website, or the DIRECT LINK http://www.wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/factsheets/index.php This is Phil Wait, VK2ASD for the WIA. DISCUSSION POINT This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH and I’ve been experimenting. Have you ever thought about this ? . . . Whenever you turn on your rig and go on the air, you are performing a scientific experiment. Think about it, for a moment. You have an AIM – to make contacts with other amateurs. You have EQUIPMENT which you need to carry out the experiment – your transceiver, an antenna or antennas, and the feedlines connecting them. You have a METHOD – calling CQ, answering CQ calls from other amateurs, making an arranged contact or breaking into other contacts – politely, of course. And – you get RESULTS. You make contacts. Or, perhaps you don’t make contacts. Whatever happens with your experiments – you draw CONCLUSIONS, even if not consciously. Interesting, isn’t it ? If the aim is to make a contact and you are successful – consciously or unconsciously, you draw the conclusion that your erstwhile experiment succeeded under the circumstances. And if you didn’t make a contact or contacts, what conclusions do you draw from that ? Was there something wrong with the equipment ? Was it a result of the circumstances at the time – poor propagation, for example ? In a scientific experiment, even “no result” is actually a “result” from which conclusions can be drawn and that can tell us something. Many amateurs use the results of their experiments to work out what they need to improve their stations, or their operating technique – which is part of the experiment, after all – or what sort of experiment they explore next. The result of this continuous experimentation by thousands of radio amateurs over time has resulted in the continuous development of radio communications technologies and techniques over the decades since wireless emerged from the scientific laboratories at the turn of the 19th century. All this is true to the definition of Amateur Radio set down by the International Telecommunications Union – the ITU – many decades ago: A radiocommunication service for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by . . . duly authorized persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest. Think about it. This has been Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News. INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL, Amateur Radio Newsline, NZART, VK7WI News and the WW sources of the WIA. A live to air announcer (a rare breed these days) calls his Chief Engineer to say "I can't hear that I am on air." WHY? Dutch regulator removes broadcaster's antenna It is reported the Dutch Radiocommunications Agency dismantled the antenna of a legally operating broadcast station It appears they thought the station on 105.6 MHz was a pirate but the station, an associate of Vechtdal FM, was correctly licenced. The Agency says that something went wrong with the checking of licences. The antenna was on the watchtower of the State Forestry near Nieuwleusen. It is unclear if the Radiocommunications Agency will pay compensation for the damage. Radio.NL article http://radio.nl/…/legaal-radiostation-vechtdal-nl-door-at-u… Historic AT&T high seas radio station to be demolished The remains of shortwave radio station WOO — for decades the Atlantic coast hub of American Telephone & Telegraph’s high seas radio service — will likely disappear in the coming weeks. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with contractor Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure Inc., plan to remove more than 500 antennas and poles that stud 222 acres of salt marsh at New Jersey. The site at Good Luck Point was the transmitter station for WOO, which from the early 1930s onward was a shore-to-ship critical link to U.S. bluewater and coastwise shipping. Right up to the dawn of cellular telephones in the late 20th century, mariners could place telephone calls by contacting the AT&T marine operator on VHF channels. German regulator acts on radio interference In 2016 the German communications regulator Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA) took decisive action against 6,000 devices causing radio interference SIX THOUSAND ! The Agency's testing and measuring service identified more than 6000 radio disturbances and eliminated them. The number of radio disturbances remained constant compared with the previous year. Ever more diverse radio applications make the investigation and resolution of disturbances more complex they said. In addition to radio interference processing, the test and measurement service controls, for example, frequency usage, the implementation of supply obligations in mobile communications and the observance of limit values ​​for electromagnetic environmental compatibility. https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/funkstoerungen RAYNET activated during flood alert The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network or RAYNET was activated during a recent flood threat, by the Tendring District Council via the Essex Civil Protection and Emergency Management Team. RSGB Deputy Regional Manager for Essex, Roland Taylor M0BDB reports that Essex RAYNET was primarily assigned on January 12 the Tendring Education Centre for residents of Jaywick, and also at Frobisher school to support the evacuation. Jaywick in England’s southeast on the North Sea coast has the highest risk of flooding in the country, despite mitigation work by the local council. RAYNET with a total of 16 operators used a cross-band repeater for communications back to the control centre at the local council for the police, fire and rescue teams. Mobile phone coverage was not great, and the RAYNET team passed numerous important messages to keep council officials and volunteers aware of events without tying up the phones. Roland Taylor M 0 BDB reported that fortunately the midnight tide surge was not as forecast and flooding remained manageable. RAYNET was then stood down, gathered up its portable gear and faced the wintry blast as its operators headed home. Roland M0BDB praised several neighbouring RAYNET groups who offered resources including Mid Herts, South West Herts, Suffolk and Medway. Further evidence of preparedness by RAYNET ready with emergency communications to cover any potentially serious incident. Work continues towards WRC 2019 A major change in approach for the IARU is a Matrix system introduced with specific responsibilities being taken by individuals on the team at the World Radiocommunications Conference. This followed a review of the IARU efforts at the WRC in November 2015 that it could have been better coordinated and more effective. IARU Region 3 Chairman, Gopal Madovan VU2GMN says in the coming weeks the IARU will participating in CEPT’s Conference Preparatory Group and in its Project Team meetings, and other meetings in the lead up to WRC 2019. A few weeks ago, accompanied by fellow IARU Region 3 Director, Shizuo Endo JE1MUI, they were at the Administrative Council meeting then attended the Triennial conference of IARU Region 2 in Vina del Mar in Chile, South America. Just prior to the conference, the Administrative Council made a major decision on trying to work out the Branding of IARU across the three regions, with discussion ranging from a unified presentation on webpages and to developing a standard set of visiting cards. Also many important decisions were made and these are detailed on the Region 2 website. Gopal VU2GMN reported that as usual the IARU Region 3 had more than its share of natural disasters and radio amateurs were at the forefront of relief operations providing vital emergency communications support. Also writing in the latest newsletter he said Region 3 needed to improve on the work of its several committees and was working toward that aim. HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT All major Australian contests, rules and results, are on the Contest Section of the WIA website. wia.org.au/members/contests/about 2017 Jan 1 – Dec 31 The Victorian Local Government Award 2017 Challenge January it's the WIA's Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF Contest RSGB 80th Commonwealth Contest 11 and 12 March for 24 hours FROM 10.00 GMT. Ham Radio On The Ferries 12th of March WIA's John Moyle Memorial Field Day 18th-19th March 2017 WIA's Harry Angel Memorial 80 meter sprint Saturday May 6 10:00 -11:46 UTC May 13-15 Mills On The Air VK SHIRES June 10 and 11. Trans-Tasman Low-Band Contest 160/80/40 Saturday night July 15 and Start Time is 08:00 UTC and finish time is 14:00 UTC 10-10 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CONTEST Aug 5 - 6 WIA's Flagship contest the Remembrance Day Contest 12th & 13th August Aug 19-20 ILLW the 3rd full weekend in August since 1998 IARU High Speed Telegraphy world championships are 8th to 12th September. October CQ WW DX / SSB CONTEST (always Octobers Last full weekend) Running ALL year 'til Dec 31 Victorian Local Government Award 2017 Challenge Celebrating the national day This Thursday, January 26, is Australia Day. To mark the occasion any radio amateur may substitute their normal VK callsign prefix with the letters AX, a privilege negotiated for all by the Wireless Institute of Australia. The AX prefix is popular and the use of a special QSL card with the AX-prefixed callsign is encouraged RSGB Commonwealth Contest The RSGB's Commonwealth Contest is one of the longest-running contests in the HF contesting world, having started as the BERU contest in the 1920s. It promotes contacts between stations in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies, Commonwealth and Mandated Territories. The 80th Commonwealth Contest will take place on the 11th and 12th March, for the 24 hours starting at 10.00 GMT. The RSGB is delighted to have received a letter from their Patron, HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KT congratulating RSGB on this special contest anniversary and wishing everyone well who takes part. Further information about the contest rules are on the contest website www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2017/beru2017.shtml . Darren, VK4FEDX operated as H 40 DA from Nendo Island, IOTA OC100 until 17th January last. Activity was 80, 40, 15 and 10 metres. Obviously sticking to his Foundation Licence qualifications...QSL to VK4FEDX. Let’s see if Darren’s QSL cards for H 40 DA come as quick as his foundation call may insinuate FEDEX HiHi It may not be a contest chasing 'numbers' but it IS a heck of a lot of fun. It's the ILLW which has just reached a milestone entry. Germany has scored the prestigious 100th entry this year in the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend held in August. The smallest in Germany and the only one with a thatched roof is the Leuchtturm Oland on the North Frisian Island, serving the Dagebull Channels. Rather than a revolving light it is continuous with white, red and green sectors, serving as important maritime navigation in northern Germany. Gerhard Impekoven DJ9QE has entered his activation from the small brick lighthouse and is the 28th to do so from Germany for August 19-20. If you would like to read the simple guidelines for this annual fun event, see past and current entries or register one yourself, please visit the dedicated website www.illw.net (Jim Linton VK3PC) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FEMALES IN RADIO ALARA - AUSTRALIAN LADIES AR ASSOCIATION http://alara.org.au Net is held each Mondays on 3.570± MHz, commencing at 1030 UTC. (1000utc during daylight saving) With this report, thanks to Mama Squirrel and her team at Amateur Radio Newsline we bring you a look at a net with an interesting story to tell. The YL System of Nets, which has been on the air for 53 years. It began with a group of female ham radio operators but it's not just for YLs anymore, as we will learn from Jim Damron N8TMW. BOBBIE: "It's a good place to come, our controls are very friendly. It takes a lot of people to run this system because they are there 8 o'clock in the morning until the band goes out at night. And that happens Monday through Friday. On the weekends, we are there for at least three hours." JIM: That's Bobbie Livingston K4ZGH, president of the YL International Single Sideband System, an ambitious collection of nets that run from sunrise to sundown during the week and several hours each weekend. What began in 1963 as an emergency response network among women morphed over the years from a sisterhood into a system. Soon friends and friends-of-friends, both YLs and OMs, came on board to help run the various net sessions throughout each day and to talk, ham to ham. BOBBIE: "We have 17,292 members at this time. Of course, with that number we also have some Silent Keys because we have been operating for 53 years. Each year it is a loss when one of our members is called home. And you know, they're like your family." JIM: In between all those nets, there are newsletters, get-well cards, conventions and even eyeball QSOs. There is also always a big welcome for new participants. Details can be found at ylsystem.org. Meanwhile, be listening during the week on 14332 kHz and, at other times, you can find them on 15, 40 and 80 meters. This is one busy group! BOBBIE: It takes a lot of people to keep this all going -- and with the help of all of our members, we do it! WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- FINAL FRONTIER AMSAT has requested that BY70-1 be added as 'BY70-1' in the next configuration file for the ARRL Logbook of the World (LoTW). AMSAT has also requested that this update be made no later than January 31st due to NPOTA QSOs that were made via the satellite. AMSAT has also requested the addition of IO-86 as well as SAREX and MIREX for previous QSOs that occurred via the digipeater carried on various Space Shuttle missions and the Mir space station. (Paul Stoetzer, N8HM via Amsat-NA) HFsat with a 21 MHz to 29 MHz transponder United States Naval Academy is planning a CubeSat that carries an HF transponder as well as 2 metre Automatic Position Reporting System APRS. Students are working with Bill Ress N6GHZ on the HF transponder card which will provide a bandwidth of 30 kHz. The frequencies are currently 21.4 MHz uplink and 29.42 MHz downlink, with the Doppler shift reduced to less than 2 Hz per second by using an inverting transponder. The satellite will be gravity gradient stabilised by its long full size 10 metre band half wave HF dipole antenna. More details are released by AMSAT and the URL is in the text edition. AMSAT: http://aprs.org/hfsat.html IARU satellite frequency coordination page Coordination: http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/ (vk3pc) Telescope gets sky data The Square Kilometre Array telescope deep in the West Australian outback is getting in seconds, the amount of data gathered by the Hubble Telescope in space for whole a year. To make the environment even quieter, the SKA is surrounded by a mandated silence zone, which prohibits the use of any radio devices. US ARISS contact with eastern VK pass The next Amateur Radio on the International Space Station ARISS contact will involve the telebridge station of VK4KHZ. The contact is at 1950 UTC of January 27 (or in Queensland time 0550 Saturday morning January 28) as the ISS passes over Australia. The South Street School in Danbury Conneticut, USA is getting ready with rehearsals, and a little apprehension no doubt. NASA Astronaut Shane Kimbrough will be answering a number of questions from the students. Shane Lynd VK4KHZ who is telebridge station says the downlink audio for this contact will be on 145.800 and should be audible across much of the east coast of Australia. (Jim Linton VK3PC text only) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS - LOWDOWN Melbourne QRP by the Bay A gathering of amateur radio QRP operators and homebrewers at Victory Park, Chelsea near the lifesaving club. Bring along a project, antenna or idea. Chat with likeminded enthusiasts or get on the air from a great location. It’s on Saturday February 4, 2017, starting 3pm. Event Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/433501210374030/ The WIA news accessed in various ways The Wireless Institute of Australia is a one-stop resource for news and information related to Amateur Radio matters. WIA releases posted on the website are periodically summarised for all the members who have a free email address of ‘your-callsign@wia.org.au’ You can get one online! The website has a Frequently Asked Questions section for those wanting to renew membership, change their details, re-join Amateur Radio, seek a callsign recommendation, and other queries. The ‘Current WIA Hot Issues’ website section has the major issues facing the WIA. If you want to know what the WIA is doing for you, listen to the weekly VK1WIA broadcast, read the monthly journal - Amateur Radio magazine - and visit us at www.wia.org.au SOCIAL SCENE 2017 Feb 4 VK3 Melbourne QRP by the Bay 3pm Victory Park Chelsea Beach (vk3ye) Feb 19th VK3 HAMFEST Western and Northern District Amateur Radio Club 10am Werribee Masonic centre 223 Watton St, Werribee. Feb 26th Central Coast Field Day, WYONG enter at 8:30am (vk2dls) (SEE LIST BELOW) Radio clubs are the foundation of Amateur Radio in Australia and one of the longest running ones has served well with training, examinations, education as well as repeaters, contest participation and support of WICEN but the reason I highlight this club, which is SIXTY years old this year, is it's annual Field day, Hamfest, Radio rally or whatever you call it. Still the biggest in the southern hemisphere ..... Yes you've all probably guessed, I'm talking about the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club near Gosford, New South Wales with its annual Wyong Field Day. Everyone at the club and their families and friends are getting ready, as they do every year, to put their all in to make the event the best it can be. So when you go to the Wyong Field day on the 26 of February, (you ARE going aren't you?), why not go up to a club member and shake their hand and thank the CCARC for being part of the backbone that keeps Amateur Radio great in Australia. Club members will have their CCARC call sign badges on. Full details of the field day, the details of the many lectures this year, the traders and exhibitors who will be present and the full address of the event are available at the website fieldday.org.au or in the text edition of this broadcast on the WIA's own website. For the Central Coast ARC, this is Ed DD5LP / VK2JI. March 26 VK3 EMDRC HamFest, Great Ryrie Primary School, Heathmont (VK3BQ) Ap 28- May 1 VK4 Clairview Gathering between Rockhampton and Mackay (TARC) May 19 VK WIA AGM Hahndorf some 25km from Adelaide (vk5kc) Sep 9-10 ALARAMEET 2017 in Cairns (vk4swe) Nov 12 VK5 Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society Hamfest 8am (vk5kc) AHARS Hamfest Goodwood Community Centre, Rosa St, Goodwood Trading tables for second-hand goods. Sellers $10 a table. Entry for buyers $5. Commercial traders, door prizes, food and drinks. Contact Roy vk5nrg@wia.org.au or David vk5kc@wia.org.au FINAL FINAL The following to be included in the text edition, but will not be read "on-air". Wyong Field Day - Traders to date • Bushcomm • Douro Services • Softmark • Phaser FVP Drones & computers • Oatley Electronics • Radio Supply Pty Limited • Rowetel • RF Solutions • Vk4ICE Communications • Tet Emtron Wyong Field Day – Exhibitors to date • ALARA • Hornsby and Districts Amateur Radio Club • Historical Radio Society of Australia • Kurrajong Radio Museum • ROAR • VK2QSL & Westlake’s Amateur Radio Club Inc. • WICEN (NSW) • Radio 5-0-plus 93.3 FM will be doing a live broadcast from the field day. Check them out at http://www.fiveoplus.com.au/ Wyong Field Day Lectures to date Main Lecture Lecture Room 1 0915-1000 Brian Clarke VK2GCE Title: Home AV system design and installation. Description: Brian will be using waveguide techniques He has previously used these techniques to design and install professional recording studio’s. 1015-1100 Bernd Langer VK2IA Title: The upcoming World Radio Championships (WRTC) in Germany 2018. Description: WRTC is regarded amongst contesters as the Olympics of contesting and the next event will happen in less than 2 years. Bernd has participated as referee and competitor in past events. Boston 2014, Moscow 2011,Slovenia 2000 and San Fransisco1996. The presentation will include some history and then focus on WRTC 2018. Bernd is responsible for helping with Fund raising and he will set up a stall where you can talk further and maybe contribute. You might even like to join in the action. Come along and get the good oil first hand. 1115-1200 Roger Harrison VK2ZRH Title: The VHF-UHF-Microwave and Weak Signal Group Annual get-together. Description: Short presentation of topical subjects and discussions follow. 1215-1300 Peter Young VK3MV Title: The International Governance of Amateur Radio and the role of the IARU Description: Peter has delivered this lecture in Hong Kong ,Tokyo and a number of clubs in Melbourne. 1315-1400 Reece Title: Racing Drones using First Person View ( FPV) Description: Lecture will outline the operation of drones, construction , costs and rules also explanation of the control and FPV using goggles and laptop computers. Reece and his team will set up a drone race course and 4 or 5 members of the group conduct drone races throughout the day. They will also have a stall selling very small to larger drones and associated components. TOPICS-in-a-NUTSHELL Lecture Series. Lecture Room 2 1000-1100 Ray Robinson VK2NO Title: Command Set Blind Instrument Landing 1100—1130 Bob Mutton VK2ZRM Title: A brief introduction to single board computers- focusing on Raspberry Pi. Here is a hands on approach to getting started with single board computers. If you ever thought I would like to give it a try, don’t miss this one. 1130-1200 Geoff Van der Wagen VK2AVR Title: WebSDR how it works, sponsored by Manly Warringah Radio Society. Description: Geoff will touch on how SDR works and Briefly focus on what WebSDR lets you do. 1230-1300 Bob Hudson VK2AOR Title: AMSAT-VK Working the Satellites Description: About satellites and how to set up a hand held antenna system and radio’s. How to join AMSAT-VK and the monthly IRLP/EchoLink Conference server where the group talks are available worldwide. 1300-1400 Kevin Jardine VK2KVJ Title: Home brew Modular Spectrum Analyser/Vector Network Analyser (MSA/VNA) Description: Details the construction of a modular home brew Spectrum Analyser/Vector Network Analyser and Tracking generator together with its associated Test fixtures (reflectometer, splitter, series fixture) that allow it to perform amplitude and phase measurements between 50kHz and 3.2 GHz. It can measure return loss, insertion loss, RLC component parameters , cable characteristics, crystal parameters etc. It includes internal batteries to facilitate portable measurements and is controlled by a laptop computer. Demonstration of the equipment used and its operation. Submitting news items A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't plug commercial traders "on air", but we at the WIA will put your supporters in this text edition "no worries." 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. To submit audio read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/ 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. Who and where are they? http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/where/ 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." 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Once your unsubscription has been processed, you will probably receive another message confirming your unsubscription from the list, and at that point you should stop receiving messages. National News compiled by VK4BB on behalf of the National WIA. . -------------