April 7 2019 - 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 TWITTER http://twitter.com/VK1WIA Please... If you are only submitting text and not audio, NEVER send just links & url's but write your story as you would expect to hear it being read back and then when you upload audio also email us the txt version. ---------------------------------------------------------------------* NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING Apr 07 2019 IN OUR 24th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS WIA Director/Sectrary Peter VK8ZZ Board Comment. - WIA Monitoring Service. - WIA Returning Officer, Mr John Marshall re WIA Board election. - WIA Vice President Greg VK2GPK on annual WIA Conference and AGM. - WIA Spectrum Strategy Committee with Roger Harrison VK2ZRH. THIS & MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA 2019 AND FOR WEEK OF APRIL 7 2019 Buy Swap Sell and Wanted--is it actually a breach of Australian law? Last week mention in the news was made of how it is "against the law" for operators discussing buying and selling of equipment on Amateur Radio Frequencies. This may not be entirely correct as George vk3eip points out in several pieces of correspondence received this week. I'd suggest you read the text edition for his full explanation but in brief it reads..> We all know that Part 2(6) of the Amateur Radio LCD tells us we must not make a transmission on the amateur bands for 'financial gain'. But what does 'financial gain' mean? This term is not defined in the LCD and so we should not be surprised that there may be many different views about the meaning of Part 2(6). One way to make Part 2 clearer, could be to define financial gain in the LCD. The problem with this approach is that defining terms is always more complicated than it appears and we will probably end up with an LCD that is tangled up in legal knots. But why reinvent the wheel when we could use one of the definitions that are already out there? For example the Australian Taxation Office is very interested in the definition of financial gain, it is the basis upon which our taxation system rests. The Income Tax Assessment Act has an explicit definition of financial gain and the definition distinguishes between what constitutes financial gain and simply receiving money. For example, many of us may have sold a computer, a car and yes, a radio. As long as the item was for private use only, then the ATO does not consider the money you received in such a sale as a financial gain and you did not have to declare the money you received in your tax return. If you were lucky and sold the item for more than what you paid for it there are prescribed thresholds below which a capital gain does not need to be declared as a financial gain as well. If you use the ATO's definition of financial gain then all you need to ask yourself before using your radio to discuss a potential sale would be 'will the money you receive from the potential sale need to be declared for tax purposes?' If you do need to declare the money you receive then that money probably fits the definition of a financial gain and so don't talk about it on the air. Otherwise, if it does not fit the ATO's definition of financial gain then you can probably talk about it on the air. But if you decide to do this proceed carefully. George vk3eip goes on to say "If you have any doubts at all, then don't do it." Alternatively you might find it useful to talk to your accountant first to ensure you are clear as to whether such a sale would constitute a financial gain. Clearly it is not as simple as was implied last week and perhaps we need a dialogue between amateurs, the WIA and ACMA to sort out this part of the conditions on our licenses. Based on advice precedent received by the WIA from the ACMA in 2014, the issue is the combination of an advertisement and perception of financial gain – irrespective of the ATO view which depends on personal circumstances which are entirely unknown to any listener. Legal interpretations of the LCD aren't useful, as it is the perception of financial gain not the reality that matters to the community. So, with an abundance of caution, here are the advertising guidelines for the WIA broadcast: Personal advertisements in any context, included in submitted content to the WIA broadcast, will NOT go to air. Usually, due to editing logistics, this will mean the entire content that was submitted will be withheld from the broadcast. This applies whether or not a price is included. This policy does not apply to club or community events, raffles where tickets are sold only at the event or club premises (i.e. Not available online) or even Silent Key estate notices ( with no prices or equipment details) etc. - these will continue to be broadcast as a service to the current and aspirant amateur cohort. (WIA/VK3EIP) WIA Hello everyone I am Peter VK8ZZ, I recently attended Perth Tech 2019. The event was well attended and the 2019 callbooks were all snapped up very quickly. There were some great presentations. Of particular interest to me was a presentation by Phil VK6PH on High Efficiency HF Linear Amplifiers – or a kW in your pocket. Phil had a very attentive audience. Peter VK3YE also gave a great presentation on QRP and Portable operations. It's amazing who you can work operating pedestrian or bicycle portable, well done Pete. In Australia we are very grateful for the great work, time and dedication of Peter VK3MV. He is the Co-ordinator of the WIA Monitoring Service. Also, we are very grateful to the team of volunteers, both amateurs and SWL’s who submit reports on intruders into our bands. There continues to be significant incursions into our bands. Reports can be easily and quickly made using the Online Intruder Report Form which is located on wia.org.au So, when you next hear a possible intruder, report the matter and help protect our bands. These reports feed into the International Amateur Radio Union and to the ACMA and are taken very seriously. These reports do matter. There also is an urgent need for more volunteers to assist the service. Amateurs and short wave listeners are encouraged to make enquiries. More information can be found on the WIA website, wia.org.au In our March WIA Board meeting we advanced a proposal to digitise over 10 years of historical documents that had been created in providing the examination and licensing services under the ACMA deed. These digitised documents will be archived for ACMA for 75 years. The Board also considered a proposal to update the Bookshop. This was accepted and the updated WIA Amateur Radio Bookshop is now online for members to use. A big thanks to Marc VK3OHM and his team. In relation to the bookshop, the Board have decided to seek the services of volunteers to curate the bookshop. So if you or your club have an interest in this area then contact the secretary for more information. The Board also endorsed Ron VK3AFW as the WIA representative to Standards Australia replacing Phil VK2ASD. A big thanks to Phil The WIA Returning Officer, Mr John Marshall has advised detail of the election for the WIA Board. He has confirmed that four WIA Board positions are to be vacated at the conclusion of the 2019 AGM which is to be held in Sydney in May. The current directors who were elected in 2017 that will vacate their positions are :- President, Justin VK7TW, Vice President, Greg VK2GPK, WIA Director and Secretary, Peter VK8ZZ, and WIA Director, Marcus VK5WTF. All directors were eligible for re-election. Three nominations were received so the returning officer has determined that an election is not necessary and that the three nominees will be elected unopposed. Nominations were received from Greg Kelly VK2GPK returning director Peter Clee VK8ZZ returning director Mike Alsop VK8MA new director The Returning officer has prepared a notice to be published in AR magazine and on the WIA Web site. I for one am keen to be part of the field day on the Sunday which will be held at AR NSW’s DURAL site. The WIA Merit Awards are presented each year at the WIA AGM. The Board are keen to receive nominations for worthy recipients of these awards. Details on the awards and how to make nominations are on the WIA web site. Nominations are currently open and need to be submitted by the end of APRIL. With more on the AGM here is WIA Vice President Greg VK2GPK, over to you Greg… CONFERENCE: The annual WIA Conference and AGM is scheduled for the weekend May 24 through May 26, 2019. This year it is being held in Sydney to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the founding of the Waverley Radio Club in 1919 – the longest continuously licenced radio club in Australia, The club, based in Waverley, a suburb of Sydney, was renamed in the 1970s to the Waverley Amateur Radio Society. It became a WIA affiliated club in 1926 and has been ever since. The agenda for the technical presentations is currently being finalised. The technical paper proposals that have been submitted are now under review for inclusion – and based on the quality of submissions you can be assured of an exciting range of topics and interesting speakers. Holding the conference in a capital city does mean that accommodation is somewhat more expensive than regional areas. A range of accommodation options is on the WIA website, including budget friendly options. Consider staying at cheaper accommodation in the suburbs and use the efficient public transport system to get to the main venue in the CBD on Friday and Saturday, and then take advantage of the conference bus to the Sunday events being hosted by ARNSW at their Dural site. Alternatively, I would suggest billeting with a fellow Sydney based radio amateur. From my own personal experience, radio amateurs are most hospitable and very happy to assist interstate or intrastate travellers. As a Sydney sider, I am billeting 3 people attending this year’s WIA Conference. So if you know some Sydney based VK2s, give them a call – or if you don’t contact one of the WIA Affiliated clubs in Sydney – I am sure they will be happy to assist with some Sydney hospitality. Refer to the WIA website for club contact details. If you are a Sydney based amateur, and would like to billet an amateur or two, please send your details and the number you can billet via email to the Waverley club. This is Greg VK2GPK, on behalf of the WIA board. This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH from the Spectrum Strategy Committee. Earlier this week, the Australian Communications and Media Authority released a document setting out the work that it plans to do in spectrum management over the next four years, 2019 to 2023. Called the “Five-year spectrum outlook 2019-23”, the 71-page document is what the Authority calls a consultation draft. That is, they are calling for all interested stakeholders to comment on any and every aspect of interest to them. Naturally, that includes the WIA, on behalf of members and the radio amateur community in general, which includes both licensed amateurs and prospective licensees. Of particular interest – at the top of many amateurs’ wish lists – is work to progress access to the sixty metre band at 5.3 MHz, allocated world-wide to licensed amateurs at the 2015 World Radio Conference. The ACMA notes that the band is included in the Australian Radiofrequency Spectrum Plan, but there is opposition to the allocation from Defence due to potential interference. However, the ACMA intends to publish a discussion paper in the third quarter of 2019-2020 seeking view on implementation issues. Under the title of licensing and licensing systems, the ACMA says that, over 2019-2020, it will seek the inclusion of amateur qualifications in the Australian Qualifications Framework to enable more education and training bodies to provide amateur training and qualifications. Sure to be of wide interest in many quarters. There will be public consultation, says the ACMA. Of direct interest to ALL amateurs and prospective amateurs is the ACMA’s intention to commence consultation on potential changes to licence conditions on the fourth quarter of 2018-2019 – coming up real soon, now, and maybe further consultation in the first quarter of 2019-2020. A few other topics of some interest are also covered in the ACMA’s work plan, which I will get to in a later broadcast when I expand on the topics raised here. The website link to the ACMA’s consultation paper can be found in a separate announcement in WIA News on the WIA website. https://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2019/20190405-2/index.php This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH for VK1WIA News. ---------------------------------------------------------------------* INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL, RAC, NZART AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE & the World Wide sources of the WIA. NEW ZEALAND $2250 fine for using illegal radio transmitter on New Zealand police channels has been issued by their regulator. The man in question's offences were relating to the possession and use of unlicensed radiocommunication equipment. On 24 of August 2018 Mr Elvis Johnstone was stopped by Police in the Whangarei area. On search of Mr Johnstone’s car, police located a Baofeng UV-5R two way radio. When switched on the device was set to the same frequency as the Northland Police channel. Charges were laid by Radio Spectrum Management under sections 113 and 114 of the Radiocommunications Act 1989. NORWAY Radio ham receives Viking Sky communications Norwegian and Swedish broadcasters report a radio amateur managed to capture the communication between the distressed cruise ship Viking Sky and the coast guard Staff of the Norwegian cruise ship Viking Sky had hit the alarm. The engines had stopped working and the ship stopped operating in the harsh weather. A radio amateur managed to capture the communication between the distressed ship and KV Njord coast guard on 156.8 MHz. With up to 15 meters high waves, the cruise ship lost engine power and according to a preliminary investigation, there was a low oil pressure reading which led to the ship ending up in the drama on the high seas Viking Sky, with 1,373 people on board, was just 100 meters from going ashore when the sea anchors 'bit.' WIA news has gained access to parts of the communication between the ship's crew and the Norwegian coast guard during the subsequent rescue operation. The sound recording was made by a Norwegian radio amateur and aired on NRK. Norway's NRK report is at https://www.nrk.no/mr/hor-dramatikken-pa-hustadvika-1.14493607 UNITED KINGDOM BREXIT isn’t the only news from the UK. There have been some interesting changes announced to the UK Foundation Licence examination syllabus, which will come into effect September, 2019. The major change, from my initial review, is the introduction of digital signals in Section 2F. This includes audio sampling using CD “Red book” examples, how digital signals are processed, what are DACs and ADCs. Section 3M then covers SDRs. There are some other additions such as introducing polar plots for antennas. The safety section has also been expanded to cover earth leakage RCBOs. These UK changes will set clear precedents for similar changes to be made to the Australian Foundation Licence syllabus, and for the follow on LCD changes to allow digital mode operation for new F calls and existing F calls that have demonstrated knowledge of digital principles. Watch this space over the next year or so … This is Greg VK2GPK UNITED STATES The US Department of Defence plans to start making use of a provisional time slot on WWV and WWVH to announce upcoming HF military communication exercises and how the Amateur Radio community can become involved in them. The announcements will occur at 10 minutes past on WWV and at 50 minutes past on WWVH. WWV and WWVH transmit on 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz. The initial announcements are set for the period April 20 – May 3. At the outset, broadcast messages will likely be static. For future exercises, announcements could be updated throughout an exercise. The messages will direct listeners to a specified website to provide reception reports and feedback. Emergency neighbourhood communications courtesy of HELPER For many people, phone and Internet connectivity are omnipresent and always available. It’s possible to upload selfies from a Chinese subway, and search for restaurant reviews in most highway towns, all thanks to modern cellular connectivity. However, in emergencies, we’re not always so lucky. If towers fail or user demand grows too large, things can collapse all too quickly. It’s in these situations that HELPER aims to flourish. HELPER stands for Heterogeneous Efficient Low Power Radio. It’s a radio system designed to operate in the absence of any infrastructure, creating a pop-up network to serve community needs in disaster areas. Users can share information about available resources, like water, gasoline and food, while emergency workers can coordinate their response and direct aid to those who need it. Hackaday says it’s a system built around commonly available parts. Raspberry Pis run the backend software and communicate with individuals over Wi-Fi, with LoRa radios handling the longer-range communication from node to node. Combining this communication ability with GPS location and stored map data allows users to more easily find resources and assistance when things go wrong. The journal article is freely available for those wishing to learn more about the project, a project which aims to keep people safe when conventional networks go down. The key is to remember that once disaster strikes, it’s usually too late to start distributing radio hardware – emergency gear should be in place well before things start to go south. Of course, there’s also the government side of the equation – in the USA, the Emergency Broadcast System is a great example of emergency communications done right. https://hackaday.com/2019/03/29/emergency-neighbourhood-communications-courtesy-of-helper/ --------------------------------------------------------------------* 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 2019 20th Harry Angel Memorial Sprint May 4 IARU HF World Championship 13-14 July. Trans-Tasman Low-Band Contest July 20 VK Remembrance Day Contest is August 17-18 -------------- The Grid and Prefix Award Program (GAPA) This is the most detailed and comprehensive Digital Awards Program available today for both Radio Amateurs and SWL Operators. Awards offered by GAPA fall into two major categories based on call sign prefixes and grid square locations. Popular digital modes such as FT, JT, RTTY and PSK can be used to earn individual awards and as award endorsements. The program also encourages the use of other modes like T10, Throb, SSTV and Hell. Contacts can be confirmed through use of LOTW, eQSL, QRZ or direct QSLs. Awards are based on operator contacts, not an operator’s location. The Prefix Award is earned by working digital mode stations with different prefixes from around the world. A basic award begins with submission of 50 to 400 unique prefixes based on the mode used. Additional endorsements then can be added for different bands, modes and continents worked. Grid square awards begin with a basic award that requires 50 to 300 unique grid square locators depending on the mode used. Additional endorsement can be added for band, mode and continent worked. A separate portion of the GAPA Program is based on confirming a specified number of unique grid square locators within a specific political entity or subdivision that are used to earn a certificate bar. These bars can be for individual countries or specific US States or Provinces and Districts within Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and Japan. There are many 'one-grid-countries', such as Heard Island, Aruba, or Guam; however, many larger and more populated countries require multiple grids such as 20 grids for Brazil or 10 grids for Poland. The GAPA Program provides attractive collector sheets where the bars can be affixed. Amateurs that collect all the bars associated with a collector’s sheet qualify for GAPA’s top achievement, their series of Pinnacle Awards. Some of the awards include working 100 countries (DXCC), all US States, all Provinces of Canada and Districts of Japan. Amateurs that complete a Pinnacle Award are also recognized online with the GAPA OnLine Digital Award Record (OLAR). Take to a look at the GAPA Program’s Certificate Family Tree page gapawards.com/grid/awards_tree.html to examine the certificates offered and see some examples of certificates with their band and continent endorsement stickers. GAPA has a group on the GroupsIO site at https://groups.io/g/GAPA For further information contact Ernie Mills WM2U or Rich Kennedy K3VAT. Email addresses for both are found on the gapawards.com or qrz.com websites -------------- THRU THE DX WINDOW APRIL NORFOLK Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Norfolk Island Act, the VI9NI Team of VK3QB, VK3HJ, VK2PN and VK3BDX will be active from Norfolk Island, OC-005, from the 1st to the 14th of April. They will operate on 160 to 17m, FT8, CW and SSB. QSL via VK4FW. (rsgb) UKRAINE In the world of DX, be listening for special event station, EM 75 FA, between the 6th and 14th of April. This station is commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of city of Odesa from the Nazi invaders during World War II. That took place on the 10th of April in 1944. QSL via UT7FA. (EM75FA page on QRZ.com) Ali, EP 3 CQ, who went QRT on March 23rd, will once again be active as 6 O 1OO starting April 15th, for one month. Activity will be limited, he works for the UN Department of Safety and Security in Mogadishu. Operations will be all bands but mostly 40/20 meters using SSB and FT8. Last time he suggested that he will be on every day between 1800-2000 East Africa Time (EAT) and on the weekend (Friday and Saturday) between 1400-1800. See QRZ.com for more info QSL direct to: Ali Solhjoo, C/O Dr. de Vivanco, Schnackenburgstr. 3, Berlin 12159, Germany. SENEGAL, 6W. Elvira, IV3FSG is QRV as 6W/IV3FSG from near Dakar, until April 16 while working for the Informatici Senza Frontiere organization. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using SSB and possible digital modes. QSL via IK 3 GES. (arrl) International Marconi Day 2019 will take place on 27th of April when amateur radio stations will operate from various locations around the world with historical connections to Marconi. EI 0 MAR will be QRV as an award station once again this year from the Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio in Howth. This is a twenty-four hour event and EI 0 MAR will be QRV from about 0700 Zulu that day. Listen for Jacques, F 6 HMJ on the air as 6W7/F6HMJ from Senegal until the 28th of April on SSB and CW, 80-10 metres. (ARNEWSLINE) Join Cricket World Cup Marathon The RSGB is hosting an international amateur radio marathon event on the HF bands to celebrate this year's Cricket World Cup, which is being held in England and Wales. The marathon will run from the 30th of May to the 14th of July. Full details are at www.rsgb.org/cricket DF13, German special event Look for special event stations with Prefix's DF13 to be active until June 30th, 2019. This to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the maiden flight of the Junkers F-13, The first all-metal built airplane, was introduced to civil aviation and is the mother of all commercial aircraft. All QSOs will be automatically confirmed after July 15th, 2019, with a QSL card via Bureau. If you do not need a QSL card, let them know. Send direct QSLs via DM2TO -- shipping starting after August 1st, 2019. For more details and info on awards, see QRZ.com Panama special event Look for special event callsign H 31 A to be active until August 15 to commemorate 500th anniversary of the foundation of Panama City. Activity will be on most HF bands using SSB and the Digital modes (RTTY, PSK31 and FT8). QSL manager is HP 1 AVS (SouthGate) Anniversary of the Federal Republic of Germany Look for special event stations DM 70 GER and DL 70 BRD now active until December 31st, 2019 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Federal Republic of Germany which was established on May 23rd, 1949. Operations will be on CW and SSB. (SouthGate) Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Sweden's National Society for the Active Visually Impaired is active as SF 50 CG throughout 2019. QSL via SM 0 BYD. (RSGB) Special call EI 19 RE active for 2019 The special call sign EI 19 RE will be active for the duration of 2019 to commemorate the establishment of the first Irish parliament. It first met in January of 1919 following a landslide victory for Irish nationalists in December 1918. https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2019/01/special-call-ei19re-active-for-2019.html (SouthGate) Scouting’s Gilwell Park is being honoured through 2019 with GB 100 GP. (vk6pop) In the World of DX, amateurs in Turkey are using the special call sign TC 10 GITRAD to mark the 10th anniversary of the radio group G.I.T.R.A.D. They are on the air all year through the 31st of December. No cards are required. However, if you need a paper QSL card please mail yours directly to TA 7 AZC and include a stamped self-addressed envelope and money for postage. ---------------------------------------------------------------------* MEDIA WATCH The latest issue of MagPi magazine (number 80) contains a feature on Amateur Radio, and includes a number of radio-related projects. For those who don’t know, MagPi is a magazine dedicated to the low-cost RaspberryPi microcomputer. By “low cost”, we mean from around $10 for the basic model. Richard VK2SKY told us starting on page 68 of the magazine, the project list includes: an ADS-B flight tracker, a WSPR transmitter, a remote Software Defined Radio scanner, a Digital Voice hotspot, a satellite tracker, an APRS IGate, and more. As you might guess, the projects also involve using one of the popular low cost RTL-SDR dongles to provide the radio end of the project. The magazine will probably appear in newsagents soon, but you can also download an electronic copy (PDF) for free, from the Raspberry Pi Foundation web site. The Foundation’s web site also includes many great learning resources to help you get the biggest bite out of your “Pi”! So get yourself a Raspberry Pi and get hacking! MagPi issue #80: https://www.raspberrypi.org/magpi-issues/MagPi80.pdf MagPi back issues are also available on: https://www.raspberrypi.org/magpi/issues/# (vk2sky) ---------------------------------------------------------------------* WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS WITH VK3FFF - VK3GTV AND VK5GR WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DIGITAL Grant VK5GR here As I mentioned in last week's news, the Amateur Radio Experimenters Group is sponsoring a new event during April 27th and 28th designed for people to "come and try FreeDV", the new digital HF voice transmission mode developed by David VK5DGR. The FreeDV QSO party is all about getting on the air with this new mode and encouraging people to try making as many QSOs as possible with it. The latest 700D version of FreeDV has performance characteristics that rival SSB voice while delivering the signal in less than 1kHz. To get on the air, you can use open source free software. Just couple your computer to your radio (the same interface you use for FT8 would do), and your headset and microphone to your computer, configure the program and away you go! But hang on you say - how do I know what a FreeDV signal sounds like, so I can even identify it on the bands? Well, here is a sample: {audio edit} Waterfall images can also be seen on the AREG website. To help you find FreeDV signals in VK, centres of FreeDV activity have been listed on the AREG website www.areg.org.au as well as details of the QSO party rules and where to get started downloading and installing FreeDV. Head on over and have a read. During the QSO party, AREG member stations will also be on hand to help answer your configuration questions should you have problems! We will tell you more about this unique event during next week's broadcast! 73 from Grant VK5GR Survey: FT8 Growing as DX Mode in an Era of Waning Propagation In his 2018 update of his survey of modes used on the air, Club Log's Michael Wells, G7VJR, says the number of Club Log users uploading at least one FT8 contact to the site grew from 8,000 in 2017 to 14,200 in 2018. G7VJR worked with data from Club Log users who, he reports, uploaded 41.3 million contacts in 2018, up by 12% from last year. He thinks that fact is more significant given the ongoing decline of this particular solar cycle, and it's possible evidence of extra activity from FT8 and newly active amateurs who'd run out of steam on CW and SSB, but are back to try digital modes. (arrl letter) Also a date to claim, it's April 20. This is when hams from around the world using a variety of modes are being invited to celebrate the one thing they may all have in common: they all love a good rag chew. The 420 Ham Radio Network is hosting a 24-hour Net that is accessible via :- DMR Talk Group 302024 Yaesu Fusion 36037 D-STAR reflector 420A All-Star 49447 and EchoLink 66420. Martin Swinimer VE1KLR, who will serve as net control, said that the net has been scheduled to call attention to the need for more good ragchews. He told our US counterpart, Newsline, [quote] "that part of the hobby is in need of attention." [endquote] On April 20, rag chewing will be in the spotlight for 24 hours. Find access information by visiting 4-2-0 reflector dot net (420reflector.net) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS ATV (Every pixel tells a story) - arvideonews.com hamradiotube.com youtube.com qdg.org.au Fun Video showing use of the SSB and FM ham radio satellites John KG4AKV has released a new video showing amateur radio contacts through the XW-2C, XW-2D, CAS-4A SSB satellites and the SO-50 FM satellite On the AMSAT-BB John writes: A long-time friend who lives near Raleigh, which is on the way to my Myrtle Beach, usually stops to see. We worked four passes on four different satellites. The highlight was making contact through a satellite while we were standing mere feet away from each other. We actually did this twice on two different satellites. Watch Talking through a satellite from 15 feet apart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbNKiGO1Bfo (sourced to SouthGate) WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- DMR http://vkdmr.info/ https://brandmeister.network/?page=repeaters How to get into DMR … without a radio! Are you a licensed ham who is interested in DStar or DMR – but without the cost of expensive radios? There are three steps you can take to accomplish the task. This applies to the three most popular protocols. It begins by acquiring a special USB Dongle that contains an analogue to digital and digital to analogue IC chip referred to as an AMBE3000. They sell for about the 1/4 the cost of a radio Go to Southgate’s link in our text edition this week for all the various url’s required etc. southgatearc.org/news/2019/march/how-to-get-Into-dmr-without-a-radio.htm#.XJie8_ZuKUk WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- QRP and WEAK SIGNAL COMMUNICATION The interest in QRP activities is everlasting in the amateur radio community worldwide. QRP radio communications demonstrates a high skill and knowledge level of radio amateurs, and offers advantages concerning, among others, through the reduction of man-made interference or QRM on the amateur bands. At the 10th IARU Region 3 Conference held in September 1997 in Beijing a resolution was passed to recommend the following: Why not think about your club hosting a QRP Field day or a QRP contest? The VK QRP Club has a great annual contest that is held in October each year. This club also has some great resources available. A good example of a QRP activity is the QRP by Bay event held in VK3 and organised by Peter Parker VK3YE. VK3YE has some fantastic QRP resources, eBooks and videos available from his website http://home.alphalink.com.au/~parkerp/ (wia front page news) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER AO73/FUNcube-1 Mode Changes The transponder on AO73/FUNcube-1 appears to be being affected by its many months in continuous sunlight. It's anticipated that the situation may be resolved when the spacecraft starts to experience eclipses again at the end of April. The spacecraft will therefore remain in education mode until that time with the usual high-power telemetry downlink active. In addition to the telemetry, Fitter messages also remain available. (ANS) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- INTERNET MODES GLOBAL NET WILL MARK WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY When the International Amateur Radio Union was created in Paris in 1925, no one could have envisioned the changes that would shape the hobby so many decades later, including internet-linked modes such as EchoLink and IRLP. Using the special event call sign W 2 W, a 12-hour VOIP net will be among those "on the air" around the world marking the occasion, celebrating amateur radio and the friendships the hobby has built. This 12-hour net will begin taking check-ins on the 18th of April beginning at 1600 UTC. It is accessible via IRLP 9251, the World Conference Server. For the first time, check-ins will also be possible from Allstar Node 47620, the World Conference Hub. A special World Amateur Radio Day 2019 QSL Card will be available for all participants who contact one of the 10 different net controllers during the event. Technology may have changed since 1925-- but ham radio friendships endure. (Amateur Radio Newsline) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS A Youth Net meets Saturdays at 0100 UTC on IRLP Reflector #2. Young Hams Net 3.590 - 7:30pm Victorian time. http://www.ham-yota.eu/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/youngstersontheair http://www.arrl.org/youth-nets On Sunday nights at 11 p.m. UTC, some of the world's youngest radio enthusiasts are taking time out to get to know one another better. This is the Young Operators Digital Voice Net and it' hosted on the Quadnet Array which draws operators from DMR, D-STAR and Yaesu Fusion. At the helm is 10-year-old Danielle Edgington KE8JNU. Though Danielle is a relatively new ticket holder her enthusiasm for radio dates back to all those car rides listening to her father's scanners and radios. Now she's spreading that enthusiasm with other new licensees - or license candidates who check in as a third-party using the call sign of a nearby parent. The net has even had DX from young hams in Trinidad & Tobago, the Philippines and England. Danielle has said even if the kids check IN a little nervous - as they often do - they always check OUT knowing they are very welcome. Youngsters wishing to check in should visit the Quadnet Array Website openquad.net for details on how to gain access via Yaesu Fusion, D-STAR, EchoLink, DMR and even the Peanut app on Android smartyphones. (ARNEWSLINE) 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 IARU Region 1 3760 7110 14300 18160 21360 kHz IARU Region 2 3750 3985 7060 7240 7275 14300 18160 21360 kHz TOWNSVILLE OPS COMMS SUPPORT/TRAINING TCAC King Of The Hill Hill climb on the Mount Stuart Road. The next even after last week’s successful operation takes place May 27. This is a chance to get out in the field and mix your radio with high speed organized auto sports. It's also an opportunity to get your 'CAMS OFFICIALS' licence. Operators needed to man the Start and Flying Finish positions on the Mount Stuart Road. 7-30am start, free food at lunchtime, finish by 3-30pm. Make sure you bring a comfy chair ! Sunday 27th May. (TARC newsletter) Disaster Relief Department appoints amateur radio consultants Frank Brinkmann, DO1FRK, and Andreas Kleiner, DG4OAE, have been nominated by the Hannover Region as amateur radio consultants in the disaster relief department of the Hannover Region A Google translation of the DARC post says: In the future, both of them will be available to the region's crisis staff for questions on amateur radio and its use in the event of a disaster. Emergency radio, within amateur radio, in the Ministry of Interior of the state of Lower Saxony enjoys a high priority. The Ministry thanks all members of the DARC e.V. for the long-term commitment of the radio amateurs to support disaster situations. https://darc.de/ (Sourced to SouthGate) ---------------------------------------------------------------------* 2019 Social Scene VK4 - Redfest 2019 April 13 (vk4tfn) Redcliffe and Districts radio club. http://www.wia.org.au/clubs/vk4/RedcliffeAndDistrictRadioClub/ Greetings from the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club, here in South East Queensland. Robert Thomson VK4TFN here. REDFEST 2019, 13th April. It's one week away. Got your table booked yet? Be quick don't delay. $10 per table. Vendors admitted at 7:00AM For table bookings email: redfest@redclifferadioclub.org.au Breakfast at 8:00AM REDFEST Opens at 9:00AM $5.00 Entry. Don't forget the raffle, $2.00 per ticket, 3 tickets for $5.00 and 6 Tickets for $10.00. We'll draw the raffle at 10:30AM. It's a UHF Digital Mobile Radio transceiver value $130.00 Of course: To win it, you must be in it. And to be in it, you must be at REDFEST 2019 on Saturday the 13th April. After the raffle there's a fox hunt. We will also have a display of the ingenuity of the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club. For more details please go to: tripple "w" dot redcliffe radio club dot org dot au You can also find us on Facebook. Bye and 73 VK6 - HARGfest April 14 (vk6zms) VK3 - Moorabbin & District Radio Club HamFest 2019 Saturday 11th May. VK 2019 WIA Annual Conference Sydney weekend 24-26 of May. (wia) https://www.wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/2019agm/ VK2 Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Field Day June 8 and 9 (vk2zhe) VK5 - South East Radio Group 2019 Annual Convention and Australian Fox Hunting Championships 8-9 June (vk5hcf) VK3 - GippsTech 2019 13'14 July (vk3pf) VK4 - Townsville Amateur Radio Club's Cardwell Gathering 4 days commencing October 4 (vk4zz) VK3 - Yarra Valley Amateur Group HamFest, 13th October (vk3cnw) VK3 - Ballarat Amateur Radio Group, BARG Hamvention Oct 27 (vk3kqt) 2020 Social Scene ALARAMEET 2020 Bendigo (vk5yl) October 2020 in Bendigo Victoria. Heidi VK3FHID and Jenny VK3WQ are leading the team who are planning an eventful weekend. This team is meeting regularly and are looking forward to seeing you in Bendigo. Submitting news items If you would like to submit news items for possible inclusion in the VK1WIA broadcasts, please email your item in text to nationalnews@wia.org.au and don't JUST send url's links or posters, 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/ We would appreciate items no longer than 2 minutes in length as we only have a half hour. 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 it in the 3rd person. A reminder when supplying HamFest info we obviously can't plug DEALS from commercial traders "on air", but we at the WIA will put your supporters 'goods' in this text edition "no worries." We cannot give blatant 'plugs' to raffles. (new Jan 2019) ---------------------------------------------------------------------* ===================================================================== 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 WIA affiliated clubs and 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 IF broadcast, are done so in the spirit in which they were submitted." Material may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, a credit to WIANews wouldn't go astray... If you have call-backs to contribute to the National News call back tally then please send through your call-backs to callbacks@wia.org.au Who listens to radio? A weekly 'tally sheet' is sent to all rebroadcasters and interested listeners, to get your free copy send a blank email to:- callbacks@yahoogroups.com.au Put the word subscribe in the title or subject field How do I join this National News List? (subscribe for an automatic weekly feed.) Email to vk1wia-news-join@lists.wia.org.au from the email account that you wish the emails to go to. How do I leave this National News List? (unsubscribe your weekly feed) Open mail program which sends mail from the address you want to unsubscribe from. Send unsubscribe to the list unsubscribe address vk1wia-news-leave@lists.wia.org.au You will be sent a confirmation mail and must follow the instructions given in that mail to complete the unsubscription. 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------*