2020 APRIL 12 - 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 wia.org.au click news in member area & submit your audio 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. Click the links below to download the most recent edition of National News, BUT this is ONLY the backup site! wiaq.org.au/ftp/wianews_128.mp3 (28 megs) wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/ (This is the link to the original text version and original audio on wia site) THIS LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos ---------------------------------------------------------------------* NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING APRIL 12 - 2020 IN OUR 25th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS WIA SECRETARY AND MORE ON DIRECTORS, Future and present. - WIA AWARDS THIS & MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA The Binar Space Program is a space hardware project for research and education within Curtin University’s Space Science and Technology Centre. The primary objective of Binar is the development of Australian space technology that enables planetary science research and sovereign Australian space industry activity. The team is primarily composed of graduate engineers working on higher degrees by research and undergraduates seeking to develop their skills. This group is supervised and advised by members of the SSTC with previous experience building and operating space hardware and others who are currently part of the science teams for several major international missions including OSIRIS-Rex, Mars InSight and Hayabusa-II. The Binar-1 cubesat is currently in engineering testing and development of all subsystem’s hardware is complete whilst software development is ongoing. The Binar laboratories at Curtin have been setup with equipment for performing vacuum and vibration testing and a rigorous testing campaign began with the proof of concept models of each subsystem and continues with the engineering models. The primary function of the communications link is to provide telemetry for the on-orbit testing of hardware developed at Curtin for educational and scientific purposes. Binar-1 provides a service that will be used to also engage schools in various interactive activities, promoting Amateur Radio, STEM and the space industry to Australians from an early age Frequencies are assigned by the IARU's Satellite Co-ordination team and requires the support and endorsement of the WIA. The Space Science and Technology centre thank the Wireless Institute of Australia, the national association for Amateur Radio in Australia, for their support. Furthermore, we want to extend a special thank you to the Northern Corridor Radio Group here in Perth, Western Australia. They have been our bridge into the Amateur Radio world and they supported us from the early stages of our project. This has been Daniel-Cristian Busan VK6BUS from Curtin University. WIA Peter VK8ZZ (Secretary), Last week I relayed a statement from John Marshall, the WIA RETURNING OFFICER with the results of the WIA Board Elections. I congratulate Phil VK2CPR, Lee VK3GK and Oscar VK3TX on successfully nominating for a position on the Board of the WIA. The Corporations Law specifies that companies, like the Wireless Institute of Australia, with a financial year end of 31 December must hold the AGM within 5 months thereof. The WIA AGM would normally have been held in conjunction with the Annual Conference that was to be held in Hobart Tasmania on 9th May 2020. Due to CoVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings, travel restrictions and health concerns, the Board of the WIA has decided to cancel the 2020 annual conference and to defer the AGM. The WIA has already made an application to ASIC to defer it to a date yet to be determined. ASIC has confirmed in writing that they recognise that COVID-19 is impacting the ability of companies to hold Annual General Meetings. On 20 March 2020, ASIC released a public no-action position to help companies. This ASIC position indicates that they will take no action if companies with a financial year end of 31 December 2019 postpone their meeting for up to two months, meaning on or before 31 July 2020 The constitution (s14) provides that the change of directors of the WIA will occur after the conclusion of the AGM. The delayed AGM means that the orderly rotation of directors as per the constitution has been disrupted. Assuming a late Annual General Meeting, I sought legal advice on this matter and was advised that one way to proceed would be for the retiring 2 directors to resign or retire, effective in May 2020 and, should they indicated a willingness to be appointed, for the board to appoint the 3 new directors, simultaneously. The Board of the WIA would then always have the required number of directors to function each month on an ongoing basis. This would normally have occurred on 9th May 2020 had we held our AGM as anticipated. The constitution is very specific on the maximum (7) and minimum (5) numbers of Directors that may hold office at any point in time. John VK4JJW has indicated to the Board that he intends to retire effective on 9th May, the original date of the AGM, and he has reaffirmed that this was the time frame arrangement under which he undertook to fill the position created by the resignation of Harry VK6YBZ. Harry resigned in late 2019 due to health issues. Aidan VK4APM has indicated he is prepared to remain on the Board until the delayed 2020 AGM. The appointment of the new directors namely Phil VK2CPR, Lee VK3GK and Oscar VK3TX, should they agree, may well be formalised shortly. As previously advised through our National News service, the 2021 Conference will be held in Hobart Tasmania. Members who had already booked flights or a Ferry ticket to Hobart will be pleased to note that the date for the 2021 Conference will be inside of the 365 days allowed by airlines to defer flights. However, selecting a date to be well clear of school holidays, public holidays and other major events in Tasmania has been a challenge. I have received may requests from members for an indication of the dates for the Hobart Conference and AGM in 2021. I am pleased to confirm that these will be announced very shortly. Stay safe in this time of crisis and remember #2MetresMatters Peter VK8ZZ (Secretary), EDUCATION RSGB introducing remote invigilation for Foundation exams Foundation Amateur Radio exams in the UK will be able to resume by using remote invigilation, the Practical Assessments will be waived Due to the Coronavirus outbreak amateur radio exams in the UK ceased in mid-March, the new online system enables them to restart. Candidates will take the Foundation exam in their own home on their PC or Laptop (Windows 7+) or Apple Mac running Mac OS 10.8+. The invigilation is done remotely, there is no need to complete the Practical Assessments. The RSGB says in due course they will consider extending it to the other licence levels. rsgb.org/main/blog/news/rsgb-notices/2020/04/02/rsgb-to-introduce-remote-invigilation-for-foundation-exams/ Now with more on Exams, and his discussion point here is Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and He's been thinking. Now if you are looking to sit an amateur radio assessment under the new pandemic restrictions, the Australian Maritime College has released the details for remote supervision. At the moment, you must be at least 18 years old and have photographic ID. To see the whole details go to the AMC website and look under amateur radio. In the past year, the meeting app, ZOOM, has gained popularity in allowing several people to take part in on-line meetings. It has been shown that ZOOM is an efficient tool with the usual caveat that the internet speed must be adequate. Lots of radio clubs have started replacing the now banned face to face meetings with the convenience of cyber technology. Last week numerous reports were published showing that ZOOM meeting videos could be video bombed or saved and posted to other sites. In other words, there are possible serious security issues for users who do not follow the security instructions that come with the app. The ZOOM publishers have issued updates and it is an easy matter to now establish password access to a meeting. As our need to remain isolated is going to remain for the next few months, at least, it makes a lot of sense to ensure we can enjoy the best means of contact for social events whilst keeping the content private. For once in our lives it is important to read the instructions. Whilst COVID-19 casts a wide shadow over the world, the reports are that more stations are appearing on the bands. This is good for the hobby and if we maintain the usual courtesy in our on air activities we can be assured we all enjoy a pastime like no other. I’m Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and that’s what I think....how about you? How are You going? ---------------------------------------------------------------------* INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, SARL, Southgate AR Club, ARRL, RAC, NZART AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE & the World Wide sources of MARKING WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY, EVEN WITHOUT HF Now more than ever it's important to celebrate amateur radio. Stephen Kinford N8WB shares two ways to do it even if you don't have access to HF. "Get ready for World Amateur Radio Day, which marks the 95th year since the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union. There will be plenty of action for hams who use EchoLink or IRLP as their main modes. This year is the fifth year an international group of hams will be operating in a 12-hour net taking place on the EchoLink/VOIP system starting at 1600 UTC on April 18th on the DoDropIn Conference Server, Node 355800. The special event coordinator John DeRycke W2JLD said there will be a special event QSL card along with a certificate marking the net's fifth year of operation. 9 control operators around the world will be helping make this happen. Elsewhere, be listening for the special event call W7W on the World conference server IRLP 9251. Tom Harrington AF7J told NewsLine in an email that hams will be calling QRZ starting at 1600 UTC. Check-ins will also be possible on IRLP Node 9109 or Allstar 43609 and through repeaters linked to those nodes. Commemorative certificates can be emailed upon request. Paper QSLs can be requested through AA7WB along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope." IARU COVID-19 special initiatives IARU Region 1 have started a page providing details of special Amateur Radio initiatives taking place in Europe, Africa and the Middle East during the Coronavirus outbreak Don Beattie G3BJ writes "Member societies are starting to create new initiatives to provide interest for radio amateurs who are required to stay at home as part of social distancing policies. IARU Region 1 will publicise those which may be of general interest to amateurs across Region 1 countries." COVID-19 Special Initiative page iaru-r1 JAPAN Yoshi, JG7AMD, reports that Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is about to expand access to 160 meters for radio amateurs and permit SSB on that band. The current 160-meter band in Japan consists of 1810 – 1825 kHz (CW) plus 1907.5 – 1912.5 for CW and data. Japan will allocate 1800 – 1810 kHz and 1825 – 1875 kHz for all amateur radio modes. The effective date has not yet been announced. SAUDI ARABIA The Saudi Amateur Radio Society has announced that the communications regulator CITC has agreed radio amateurs can use 50-54 MHz The first contacts on the band took place on Thursday, April 2. Amateurs in Saudi Arabia are limited to 50 watts on frequencies above 30 MHz SOUTH AFRICA THE APRIL 2020 RADIO ZS AVAILABLE TO ALL The SARL Council has decided that the April 2020 issue of Radio ZS is available for members and not yet members of the SARL. Click on the link on the front page of the League website to download a copy. The world is in lockdown and slowly going mad. A jailbreak seems like a good idea and as radio amateurs we have an advantage – a creative imagination and a willingness to tinker! Let us pretend a little…. We are under house arrest; our homes being monitored by a remote electronic surveillance system and the access control governed by electronic key codes! We can only escape by working together. Once you read this, you will be on the inside track to freedom, we once took for granted! SARAH is our inside agent and she will be giving out electronic key codes. A key code is simply a 4-letter combination and it will allow you to disable the surveillance remotely. Visit sarah.org.za Register and then find out more about the Lockdown Jailbreak! There is also a PDF document telling you about this activity at sarah.org.za DUE DATE FOR THE RENEWAL OF ZS SPECTRUM LICENCES EXTENDED Given the state of national disaster and the current 21-day lockdown to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, ICASA has decided to extend the validity period of existing radio frequency spectrum licences. In terms of the Regulations, the due date for the renewal of radio frequency spectrum licences is 31 March annually. The Regulations further provide that failure to pay the prescribed licence renewal fee by 31 March annually, will cause the expiry of the licence immediately on the next calendar day that marks the beginning of the new financial year. ICASA has resolved to grant all radio frequency spectrum licence holders an extension to renew their licences by no later than the 30th of June 2020. --------------------------------------------------------------------* HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT ------------------------------------------------------------- WIA Awards Committee releases updated, modern Certificates for our multi-mode and multi-band DXCC awards. These are professionally designed and have a crisp modern look, all in high definition. The new Certificates follow a consistent design. The endorsement stamps have also been updated. You are invited to reprint your existing certificates. Advice on how to achieve the best prints has also been provided on the website under the 'View Awards' page once you have logged into the awards system. wiaawards.com/login.php This is Andrew VK1DA with news about the QRP Hours contest. QRP Hours contest 18th April The VK QRP Club is again running its QRP HOURS contest on 80m, commencing at 10h UTC on 18th April. This contest is a short one. Just one hour on one mode, followed by one hour on another mode. This year, with the recent relaxation of digital mode rules for Foundation licensees, we have allowed contestants to use either CW or their digital mode of choice during the first hour of the contest. And in the second hour, the most popular mode is probably SSB but entries using digital voice modes are also invited. The full rules can be found at the vk qrp club’s website, on vkqrpclub.org Just find the contests link in the menu on the top of the home page. The rules fit on one page. There will be further reminders on the popular mailing list VKZLQRP at groups.io as well as on SOTA and Parks mailing lists. 73 Andrew VK1DA Thanks Andrew, now to the Harry Angel Sprint, it happens Saturday May 2nd 2020. 10:00 - 11:46 UTC. -------------- May 30-31 the CQ World Wide WPX Contest for amateurs worldwide to contact as many amateurs and prefixes as possible during the contest using CW. -------------- The VK SHIRES the June long weekend, which is the weekend prior to the second Monday of June each year.. making it June 6 - 7 in 2020 -------------- IARU HF World Championship July 13-14 -------------- TRANS TASMAN LOWBAND CONTEST Next contest - 17 JUL 2020 - and has the aim of encouraging Low Band activity between VK and ZL on 160 80 and 40M using SSB, CW and RTTY OR PSK -------------- RD or Remembrance Day Contest will be August 15 - 16 -------------- OCEANA CONTEST VOICE from 0800 UTC Saturday October 3 to 0800 UTC Sunday October 4 CW from 0800 UTC Saturday October 10 to 0800 UTC Sunday October 11 -------------- CQ WW DX SSB OCTOBER 24-25 -------------- CQ WW DX CW NOVEMBER 28-29 -------------- December 6 - 8 160 Meter WW -------------- DECEMBER 14 - 15 10 Mtr World Wide -------------- TED POWELL MEMORIAL DX CHALLENGE There are only 2 days remaining to get your entry in for the Ted Powell Memorial DX Challenge. Entries for Quarter 1 close on 14 April. Visit the website for details about the challenge and to submit your entry. Any VK who has worked any DX between January to March is eligible to enter. The website... contest.fgarc.org.au ( Peter VK2PR / Fisher's Ghost Amateur Radio Club ) -------------- All major AUSTRALIAN contests, rules and results, are on the Contest Section of the WIA website. wia.org.au/members/contests/about *********************** ARRL report some countries around the world are allowing radio amateur clubs and some hams to use special 'STAYHOME' call signs suffixes For example, listen for 8 A 1 STAYHOME from Indonesia and A 60 STAYHOME/(your own call) from United Arab Emirates. In Canada, Michael Shamash, VE2MXU, is using VC 2 STAYHOM (Canada limits call sign suffixes to seven characters) The RASA club, AX 2020 STAYHOME. At 14 characters, as reported by ARRL this may just set a record for world’s longest call sign. Just at the time a 'push' is on to shorten VK's 4 letter F call to 3 letters. 9 K 9 STAYHOME from the Kuwait Amateur Radio Society; TC 1 STAYHOME, the COVID-19 special event call sign from Turkey and H Z1 STAYHOME from the Saudi Amateur Radio Society. (sourced from a post on SouthGate) -------------- Special Event Call VI250COOK from the Cairns Amateur Radio Club. This update is from the Townsville Area Newsletter and it states that the Australian National Maritime Museum has put on hold the re-enactment of Cook's journey by the replica HMB Endeavour due to COVID-19 restrictions. Non the less Cairns club will still be sharing availability of this 250COOK distinctive callsign with various other amateur radio clubs along the route the re-enactment WOULD have taken. The club will publish the on-air schedule once participation is confirmed. For more information about this Special Event please access qrz.com and search on VI 250 COOK ---------------------------------------------------------------------* ---------------------------------------------------------------------* WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS ATV (Every pixel tells a story) - arvideonews.com hamradiotube.com youtube.com qdg.org.au tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos THAT LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN Three RSGB Convention 2019 talks now on YouTube The RSGB has released to its YouTube channel three more presentations from its 2019 Annual Convention. Board Director Kamal Singh, M0IOV explores The future and growth of Amateur Radio. Derek Kozel, MW0LNA talks about Digital Home brewing and Schematics of SDR; Roger Balister, G3KMA and Igor, UA9KDF report on the Arctic Legends expedition by RI0B to the Russian Polar Arctic. Each of these presentations are not only interesting to watch on your own but could also form the basis for lively on-air club night chats during this time of virtual club meetings. WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW FISTS Club - East Asia www.feacw.net FISTS Club - Australasia www.fdu.org.au FISTS Club - UK & Europe www.fists.co.uk FISTS Club - Americas www.fists.org Recommended FISTS calling frequencies (MHz): 1.808 3.528 7.028 10.118 14.058 18.085 21.058 24.908 28.058 YouTube 'Lockdown Morse' Course If anyone is interested in learning or improving their Morse, M 0 PTO is starting, tomorrow Monday, a new course on YouTube called:- Lockdown Morse. Just subscribe to the YouTube channel and/or join the Lockdown Morse FaceBook group youtu.be/RWDqg8bCSqM facebook.com/lockdownmorse/ WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org END OF ORBIT FOR VENEZUELAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE Venezuela's first and only telecommunications satellite has left its orbit. Three years before it was supposed to die, Venezuela’s sole telecommunications satellite has fallen out of orbit and out of service. Launched in 2008 from Beijing, the Simon Bolivar Satellite was the financially strapped nation's first satellite and was not supposed to expire until 2023. It was providing internet services in underserved rural areas and was also carrying state-run television programming. At the time of its launch, the government viewed the satellite as a major component in the nation's progress toward improved scientific and technological independence. Some experts theorized that the satellite's troubles developed as a result of a fuel shortage for the manoeuvring jets. (CNN-VIA ARNewsLine) AMSAT Awards During Stay-at-Home Orders So, you are sitting at home waiting to go back to work. You are working some of the passes of a satellite. Logging as you go. What are you going to do with all those contacts in your log? Easy… You apply for an AMSAT or ARRL award. The ARRL has Worked All States, DXCC and VUCC all with satellite endorsements. AMSAT has the Satellite Communicator Club for working your very first contact on a satellite. AMSAT has a few other awards. The AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement Award for working 20 different contacts in different US States, VE Call Areas and DXCC entities. Adding 40 more, you earn the AMSAT Sexagesimal Award and adding another 40 earns the AMSAT Century Award. Then there is also the South Africa AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement award. This award is for 25 contacts through a LEO satellite. (AMSAT-NA) SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - VHF AND ABOVE (The Plumbers Delight) 144 MHz band opens up across the Atlantic again between Cape Verde and the Caribbean. In the Summer of 2019, there was a remarkable opening on 144 MHz between Cape Verde Islands off the coast of Africa and the Caribbean which lasted for several days. This trans-Atlantic path opened again on 144 MHz on the evening of Sunday the 5th of April 2020 when the FT8 signal from D4VHF in Cape Verde was heard by FM4SA in Martinique, a distance of roughly 3,864kms. This was followed by two successful FT8 contacts on Monday the 6th of April from D41VHF to FM5CS in Martinique and 9Y4D in Trinidad. --------------------------------------------------------------------* 2020 Social Scene KEEP ONE WAVELENGTH AWAY AT 144 Megacycles #2MetersMatters VKS-737 Radio Network 2020 Codan Envoy Raffle (April 12 text only) The Australian National Four Wheel Drive Radio Network, otherwise known as the VKS-737 Radio Network is in the middle of yet another Codan Envoy Raffle, with tickets available until the draw on Friday 12th June. First prize is a Codan Envoy X1 HF 100 Watt Radio with your choice of auto tuner, valued at nearly Five Thousand Dollars. Second and third prizes are metal detectors from Minelab. The radio comes pre-programmed with all the VKS-737 Radio Network frequencies. For Licensed Amateur Radio Operators, the radio also comes programmed to VFO throughout the Amateur HF Bands. All controls are on the microphone. If you want to know more about the Codan Envoy, go to Network’s website ( VKS737.radio ), hover over the BULLETIN tab and click on NEWS. You’ll find our review of the Envoy in there. Tickets are just Five Dollars each and proceeds will assist the Network’s vital function to travellers throughout Australia. You don’t have to be a subscriber to the VKS-737 Radio Network to win but the raffle is not open to anyone overseas. Yes, I know that you are stuck at home until this World Wide emergency ends but that gives you heaps of time to work out where you’re going to mount your lovely new Envoy should you be the lucky winner. Go to our Website ( vks737.radio ) for details. If you need to use the Australia Post Snail Mail service to order your tickets, make sure to mail the form well before the end of May and please, remember to include the postage cost. We don’t want to have to give over a fifth of what we raise to Australia Post; we’d rather use that for our peoples’ benefit. Make sure you get cracking if you want a chance. Robert VK3ARM for non-radio text version only Due to the COVID-19 situation, please check these events' direct for up-to-date status information. 2020 VK7 - VK7 biennial HamFest November (vk7tw) VK4 - Rockhampton Amateur Radio Annual Dinner Sat Nov 21 (tarc) VK4 - TARC Xmas Party - Sun 13th December from 2pm (tarc) VK4 - TARC Xmas Lights Tour - Fri 18th December from 7pm (tarc) 2021 VK - ALARAMEET 2021 Bendigo October 1 - 4 (vk5yl) SOCIAL DISTANCING KEEP ONE WAVELENGTH AWAY AT 144 Megacycles #2MetersMatters 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 email nationalnews@wia.org.au and ask for the current password then read "how to submit items" in the weekly news page on wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/ We would appreciate items certainly no longer than 1.5 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. (First if YOU are reading your own item) 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------* ===================================================================== WIANews - we've reported...YOU decide. TWITTER 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? 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 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------*