2021 March 28 VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA ------------------------------------------------------------* THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL GET ALL WEEK THIS LINK IS A VIDEO VERSION OF NEWS COMPILED BY VK5BD BEVAN tinyurl.com/WIA-News-Videos ------------------------------------------------------------* NATIONAL NEWS FOR WEEK COMMENCING MARCH 28 2021 IN OUR 26th YEAR OF NON STOP NEWS AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PORTAL Coronavirus (COVID-19) latest news, key facts and figures, contacts and answers to your questions. www.health.gov.au/ In the news today we'll hear from WIA Vice President Lee Moyle, Lee, VK3GK will take time out of the WPX contest with some VERY important news on the forth coming Board Election. One of those candidates, to continue his short but impressive stint on the board is Scott Williams VK3KJ who we all saw do a stellar job on the YouTube presentation of "What the ACMA consultation means for us and the WIA." Further on the A B or C of that paper resident "thinker" Geoff Emory VK4ZPP thinks out loud in this edition. And with even more "good news-bad news" VK2ZRH Roger Harrison:- THIS & MORE IN THIS EDITION OF NEWS FROM THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA WIA This is Roger Harrison VK2ZRH Editor-in-Chief of Amateur Radio magazine. On Monday last, I resigned my role as Editor of the magazine, the one who picks all the articles for each issue, polishes them and directs our graphics artist Sergio, VK3 Sierra Oscar what goes where, among a hundred other various tasks. However, I did tell the Publications Committee and WIA Board members present that I would be willing to continue in my role as Editor-in-Chief. That is to provide advice, direction, planning, and some assistance in getting issues together, and a little corporate memory. I reminded the Publications Committee that I had told them when I was appointed that I believed part of my role was to work myself out of the job that I wasnt here for the long-haul. The fact is, my personal situation has changed dramatically. I have resigned from my full-time day job, and will very shortly move to the Gold Coast yes, yes, VK4 to live with family there, and that I am unable to continue doing what I have done since Issue No. 2 for 2020. No, I havent retired. No, I havent given up amateur radio even though I have sold or otherwise divested much of my equipment. Well. Now for the good news. Issue No. 2 for 2021 will have found its way from the printer to the mail house and newsagent distribution systems. As you may recall from my broadcast last week, the issue is themed around flavours of W-S-P-R otherwise known as Weak Signal Propagation Reporter. Look for the image of a shooshing cherub on the front cover. And a big, bold cover line about the A-C-M-As proposals for amateur licensing. This has been Roger Harrison VK2ZRH continuing Editor-in-Chief of AR magazine for VK1WIA News. Hi, this is current WIA Director Scott Williams VK3KJ and it is nice to be appearing on the Broadcast today on behalf of the WIA Board. As most Amateur Radio operators would be aware, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) recently released a document known as the ACMA Consultation 01:2021 Review of non-assigned amateur and outpost regulatory arrangements. The purpose of this Consultation was to put three options before the public for consideration and through this process to identify the best licensing mechanism that would reduce regulatory burden and minimise costs for licensees, while preserving the current operational utility for licensees. The review is examining whether the existing licensing framework best achieves the objective or whether it could be better met through alternative licensing arrangements. In considering the response of the WIA on behalf of the members, the Board engaged the Spectrum Strategy Committee, a committee of subject matter experts to prepare an exposure draft and make recommendations to the WIA Board. In addition to this, various WIA Board members including representatives from the Spectrum Strategy Committee appeared on a streamed live panel session on HamRadioDXs YouTube channel just a few weeks back to outline the WIA position and how it will be producing both a short and long form response. I am delighted to say that the WIA Board of Directors met last Thursday evening and have now officially approved these documents for release. What this means is in the following days all members will have both the short and long form documents forwarded to you via Memnet. These documents will also be publicly available via the WIA website and on all WIA social media platforms. We encourage all of the Amateur Radio Community to read these documents and importantly, use the short form document to forward your response to the ACMA. We have set out clear instructions where if you agree with the WIA position, simply insert your details, sign and date the documents and either upload it to the ACMA or send it in via post. All details are included but please remember, the deadline is the 2nd April with no exceptions at all. On behalf of the WIA Board, I would like to acknowledge the outstanding work of the Spectrum Strategy Committee. The amount of effort and time that has been put into the exposure draft is extensive and has been weeks and weeks of non-stop meetings going well into the night and even early hours of the morning. Remember, this ACMA Consultation paper has significant implications to the Amateur Radio Community, and it is important your voice is heard. Look out for the email and the release of these documents in the coming days. Best wishes and regards to all. Scott VK3KJ Good morning from WIA Vice President, Lee Moyle VK3GK. Recently I made an announcement of the proposed extension to the return date of the WIA Director Election ballots. The WIA board recently convened to make the amendments. John Marshall the WIA Returning officer released this statement earlier this week. The full document and links to the newly updated Ballot Regulation Paper can be found on the WIA website. John states: The WIA Director Election Ballot Papers, Candidates Biographies and return envelope are included in this months AR magazine now on its way to your mail box. Those members that do not receive AR magazine by post will have the Ballot information mailed to them directly. The concern of the short duration closing date has been alleviated and extended to April 30th as explained below in the announcement below from John Marshall, the WIA election returning officer. "The WIA board has discussed potential delivery and return mail delays due to several issues, the main concern being Covid-19 associated delays affecting the Australia post mail service. Most affected are WIA members in regional Australia and especially those residing in Western Australia who are currently experiencing extreme postal delays. The WIA board by directive has addressed this issue and the Ballot Regulation Document has been amended. The initial election closing date of March 27th is now extended to April 30th.""Section 6. (g) The ballot is to close on or before 30th April of the election year, and the ballot must be open for a minimum of 21 days and a maximum of 42 days from the date the ballot papers are posted." John Marshall 2021 Returning Officer WIA election of Directors Remember voting closes Friday April 30th. Even with the extension, time is short. Please make your vote count. Read the biographies and the voting instructions. Scratch out four candidates leaving your selection of the remaining four candidates who you believe are best suited to propel your WIA forward into 2022. Now back to the WPX contest. 73 from Lee VK3GK The order of names appearing on the Ballot Paper shall be as follows: 1. Peter Schrader VK4EA 2. Peter Dernikos VK3FN 3. Greg Kelly VK2GPK (Current WIA President) 4. Steven Green VK2TSG 5. Peter Clee VK8ZZ (Current WIA Secretary) 6. Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY 7. Scott Williams VK3KJ (Current WIA Board Member) 8. David Uzzell VK2DU Members are asked to vote for a maximum of 4 nominees by striking OUT the names of nominees not voted for, and returning their vote in the envelope provided before April 30. Last week on the news I explained how this weeks broadcast 28/4 would list the bios of the 8 candidates, the Bios they had previously written and voiced for the WIA National News Service. Top of the ballot paper is VK4EA "Gidday, this is Peter Schrader VK4EA, also KQ4PS, was VK4TGV and 9V1PS. I have got myself onto the WIA Board election ballot paper and you are probably wondering, why vote for me? I was first licensed in 2000 as VK4TGV, taking up 9V1PS shortly after a move to Singapore for work. My initial interest were in HF and APRS, now active on microwaves and ATV. Past president and now member of the Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club, treasurer of the Brisbane VHF Group, member of the SEQATV Group and vice-president of Austravel Safetynet (V M D 750). I have had many technical and managerial roles, based in VK and overseas. So, what are some of my goals? I want to know, what stops people joining or renewing their WIA membership? The Institute needs strength in numbers to make a real difference. A larger, more engaged, membership gives us Amateurs a voice. The WIA needs to get better with communications, to me, using Social Media effectively makes sense. Ensure that the Institute maintains dialogue with the A C M A, the A M C and, if I may be bold, other representative organisations. I have a number of other ideas, not enough time to here. It is important that you take some time to participate in the voting process, please do it as soon as you receive your ballot, so to ensure that it is received in time. Email = vk4ea@wia.org.au Facebook = peter.schrader.18 Twitter = @peterschrader2 Instagram = @peterschrader2 Im also on LinkedIn. Cheers for now, this has been Peter, VK4EA, for WIA National News. Second on the ballot paper is VK3FN " Hi. My name is Peter Dernikos VK3FN My professional background is a company director for the past 12 years. I have been highly active in many aspects of amateur radio ever since obtaining my foundation licence back in 2006, and in 2012 I upgraded to an advanced licence. I am an active DX chaser, contester and have been involved in a few DX-peditions over the years. I enjoy bringing new people into the hobby and a highly active Volunteer Examiner for the AMC & ARRL. I am the current President of the VEA Group, we organise and administer AMC and ARRL amateur licence examinations. I have been a member of the WIA since 2006. As a WIA director, I have nominated to work with the board cohesively and positively to encourage and focus as a strong team in protecting and improving our amateur service to our members and the amateur community. The changes I would like to achieve with the board are to have a better relationship with ACMA & AMC. Have greater transparency and more engagement with our members and affiliated clubs. Encourage more youth into our hobby, improve the current educational path and streamline the examination process that we currently have. 73 Peter Dernikos VK3FN Our 3rd Candidate is current WIA President Greg, VK2GPK who has not provided the WIA News with a profile/bio. 4th on the Ballot Paper VK2TSG " Hello, this is Steven Green VK2TSG. I have been a licenced Amateur Operator since 1992; I have previously worked in Radio Communications Sales and service in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, and for a short time I was welcomed as a member of the Moorabbin and District Amateur Radio Club whilst in VK3. I am currently the Vice-President of the Blue Mountains Amateur Radio Club in New South Wales. I have extensive experience in managing and working in IT and Communications for Emergency Services including work in Emergency Operations Centres, triple-zero call centres, and as a Responder in the field. I have also worked across several disciplines including Chaplaincy, peer-support, Nursing, Volunteer Management and services, as well as on boards and executive committees. Following in the footsteps of those who introduced me to the hobby, I have also recruited and mentored a number of people to Amateur Radio and founded a Facebook group to encourage foundation operators and those who support them to communicate and discuss common issues. It is my intention to investigate ways to increase usage of the bands and also recruit newcomers to our ranks including mentoring, and additional support for affiliate clubs and groups, particularly in remote and regional locations. I would also like to work with all stakeholders to examine improvements that could be made with the process of becoming a licenced amateur, as many have discussed such difficulties with me. If elected, I would be open to hearing from Amateurs across Australia and its Territories, whether members or not, to ensure that the WIA is able to understand the situations that we face. Thank you to all, for your time and consideration in regards to the 2021 election. 73 from Steven Green VK2TSG. 5th on the paper ballot is current WIA Secretary VK8ZZ " I was first elected as a WIA director in 2017 and since that time I am very proud of the way the board has become so much more open and transparent to our members. I wish to continue my contribution to the WIA as a member of the WIA board. In 2018 I was appointed the Secretary of the WIA. A position I currently still hold. I have been very active in the financial management of the WIA. The WIA currently maintains an overall strong financial position. I have been licensed for over 40 years and have lived in the Northern Territory for over 30 years. Since that time I have been very active in local government having held the position of Council President or Vice President for 18 of the 22 years in local government. In the long term we must maintain a strong and united position and be 200 % behind the Wireless Institute of Australia to lobby government and make representations to preserve our current privileges and to maintain and expand our bands. This is Peter Clee VK8ZZ." Next is 6 on the ballot paper is VK3FY Hi I am Chris Dimitrijevic VK3FY and I am seeking your support in the forthcoming WIA Board Election. I have been a licenced Amateur Radio operator since 1979. Married with three children, two are currently licenced amateur radio operators. I have been active in various Amateur Radio clubs including a long-time WIA member, also a WIA Accredited Assessor for 16 years and currently an AMC Assessor. President of South Pacific Contest Club from 1985 to present Founder and current trustee of the AUS REPEATER NET - What do I believe in? Bringing greater value and transparency to the members of the WIA Greater participation of the entire amateur base Having closer partnerships with WIA Members, Clubs, the ACMA and the AMC We need to increase the membership base of the WIA Introducing the hobby to the younger generation and to the community at large Involving the younger generation in competitions within the hobby ( this was how I introduced my sons to the hobby through the JMMFD ) Amateur Radio needs to be fun, not just to the current long-term hams, but also to those who will become the future of the hobby ( the as-yet to become hams ). Providing Education, Technology, Presentations, and Study Materials to members and prospective future new amateurs. I look forward to serving the Amateur Radio Community if given the opportunity. 73 Chris VK3FY 7th candidate is current WIA Board Member VK3KJ. Hi, this is Scott Williams VK3KJ and it has been a real honour to serve as a current Director on the WIA Board since being appointed in only June last year. In my short time as a Director, I have realised there is much to do and achieve within the WIA to re-invent and rejuvenate the organisation into a truly contemporary thinking member representative organisation that delivers real value to the members and is financially sustainable. It is so important we preserve the proud history of the WIA, but it also vitally important that the WIA pivots from its current standing to become a far more professional, collaborative, customer focused organisation that more broadly engages with all stakeholders within the Amateur community. Embracing change is something every Director being past, current or future should accept as we all work together to improve and advance this wonderful interest of Amateur Radio. A little about me, I am currently the CEO of a member-based Associations operating in the Building & Construction industry and I have held this role or similar roles in the not-for-profit sector for the past 12 years. I have also held Executive management positions within companies like NEC, Panasonic, Lucent Technology as well as operating my own businesses. I also currently sit on several Government and Industry Boards within the Building & Construction industry bringing vital balanced engagement, relationship management and advocacy skills to the WIA Board. With over 40 years as a licensed operator and with my current professional background, I look forward to your ongoing support to continue to shape and advance the WIA into the future. 73 and sincere thanks Scott VK3KJ Last name on the ballot, David. Hi, this is David Uzzell VK2DU running for WIA Director. Having been involved in running JOTA since I was a scout and first going for my Novice at 16, missing by one I was discouraged at the time and didnt sit for my license again until my early 30s having missed all those years of fun. Since then I have been involved in the WIA exam service, volunteered on the Education committee and the ACMA Syllabus review panel. I am an AMC Examiner and also a Volunteer examiner for ARRL. I work hard to encourage people to get involved and will assist people to get their license anyway I possibly can, having done exams in NSW and Qld both city and country, I try to get new amateurs where ever I go. I would like to represent members, get a more responsive WIA and advocate to regulators as well as government about WIA, Amateur Radio and what we have to offer as a collective group of communications practitioners and enthusiasts. Thank you for listening to me and this WIA weekly broadcast. 73, David Uzzell VK2DU Official Bios are in this edition of AR MAGAZINE, also you can "read all about 'em" in the FaceBook group www.facebook.com/groups/WirelessAustralia And on Peter Parkers website. wia2021.vk3ye.com EDUCATION Radio Surfer Award The RSGB has announced its new Radio Surfer Award aimed at young people but open to everyone regardless of age, there's no need to even be an RSGB member. The idea is to pick challenges from a list and gain sufficient points to match your age. Among the challenges are Get a message from space (satellite, EME, ISS) Make a stealth HF antenna that cant be seen 50 metres away Disprove Ohms law Design a simple transceiver Find out about the Radio Surfer Award at tinyurl.com/2xnre9w9 DISCUSSION POINT Hello, Im Geoff Emery, VK4ZPP, and Ive been thinking. We are racing to the closure of the ACMA consultation paper and I trust that amateurs around the country have or are taking time to submit their private opinions to the regulator. This is not to overwhelm the ACMA email and postal system but simply and importantly it is a demonstration of the importance that the amateur community places on the proper functioning of the Amateur Radio Service. It may seem inevitable that the preferred Option C will be the choice that the ACMA makes but the needs of our cohort to properly engage with our world-wide community must not be jeopardised simply for a process of expedient cost savings at the whim of the Government of the day. Im VK4ZPP Geoff Emery and thats what I think.how about you? WIA NATIONAL NEWS AND YOUR 3 W's. WASH YOUR HANDS WEAR YOUR MASK WATCH YOUR DISTANCE (1.5 metres) www.health.gov.au/ ------------------------------------------------------------* INTERNATIONAL NEWS With thanks to IARU, RSGB, RAC, Southgate AR Club, ARRL, NZART, AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE & the World Wide sources of the WIA. IARU REGION ONE BREXIT FALLOUT Modified French amateur radio callsign for Great Britain nationals. ANFR Agence Nationale des FRequences - the French telecom regulator, published the following news on their website After the United Kingdoms request to no longer be part of the European Union, nationals of Great Britain who come for the first time to France for a temporary stay are now assigned an F4W type (non-EU CEPT) code. Ofcom: New Draft UK Amateur Radio licence The draft of the new Amateur Radio licence expected to take effect on May 18 is available on the Ofcom site. The new licence contains the, (what many believe to be the unnecessary) EMF clause that Ofcom have added along with an extra three pages for Schedule 3 specifying conditions relating to Electromagnetic Fields or EMF compliance. Ofcom have also taken the opportunity to delete the reference to the old Full (Reciprocal) licence that was abolished in 2016. IARU REGION TWO Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) taking a WIA idea? The national association for Amateur Radio in Canada, is now conducting an online survey to find out how to better serve Canadian Amateurs. Note: you do not need to be a RAC member to take the survey. RAC is a volunteer-based organization and rely on the feedback from members and non-members to help stay informed and up to date on Amateur Radio matters of interest to them. From time to time conducting various surveys to help achieve these objectives. Police report that supremacists are attacking cell phone towers across the USA. According to "The Intercept", conspiracy theorists and far-right groups are increasingly targeting cellphone towers and other critical infrastructure 'to incite fear, disrupt essential services, and cause economic damage with the United States and abroad.' In more than one case, they've succeeded in interrupting resources for law enforcement and emergency services personnel, according to the report [by the New York Police Department], which lists several recent cases. While another [case] was tied to the 5G conspiracy theory, which claims without evidence that the electromagnetic waves put out by 5G towers are harming peoples' immune systems and are responsible for the coronavirus pandemic. The NYPD has not publicly commented on the report. Just remember, when the towers are 'down' Ham Radio steps up! ARRL, the FCC, and the US Department of Defence are cooperating in an effort to eliminate the possibility of amateur radio interference on 70 centimetres to critical systems at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico. The Defence Departments Regional Spectrum Coordinator contacted the FCC early this month, seeking information on whom to contact regarding detected amateur transmissions. The FCC, in turn, asked ARRL to be involved in the discussion and any necessary remedial efforts. It is to be noted that the Amateur Radio Service is a secondary service on the band. Investigation revealed that the potential problem was not with individual operators or repeaters, but with RF control links at 420 430 MHz used to establish a linked repeater system within New Mexico. Based on the investigation, and with the support of the FCC, the owners of the RF control links within a certain proximity to White Sands are being asked to re-coordinate the link frequency. REGION THREE CW Learner Lesson Transmissions over the New Zealand National System starts tomorrow, 29th March. Lessons will start at 1930 and run through till 2015 and last for approximately 18 weeks so participants will have a good knowledge of the code... hopefully. These transmissions in ZL are designed for amateurs new to the craft as well as those, like some of us, who have had experience but wish to brush up again. ------------------------------------------------------------* HAM RADIO OPERATIONAL NEWS - IT'S A CONTACT SPORT Take part in the J M M F D ? All posted logs must be date stamped or postmarked no later than 5th April and all electronic logs must be received no later than midnight 13th April 2021. Any logs received after this time will be rejected. www.wia.org.au/members/contests/johnmoyle/ -------------- the CQ World Wide SSB WPX Contest This weekend, March 27-28 the CQ World Wide CW WPX Contest May 29-30 -------------- April 25 AM / CW ANZAC Day, Mon 25th from 9am on 7125kHz AM. -------------- Harry Angel Sprint will be May First. 10:00 - 11:46 UTC. -------------- The VK SHIRES June 12-13 -------------- WINTER VHF-UHF Field Days - June 26 - 27 -------------- IARU HF World Championship July 10-11 -------------- TRANS TASMAN LOWBAND CONTEST Next contest - JUL 17 - 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 14-15. -------------- ALARA CONTEST A Combined phone and CW run over 24 hours starting on Saturday 28th August at 0600 hours UTC finishing Sunday 29th August at 0559 hours UTC -------------- OCEANA CONTEST VOICE from 0800 UTC Saturday 2 October to 0800 UTC Sunday October 3 CW from 0800 UTC Saturday 9 October to 0800 UTC Sunday October 10 -------------- SPRING VHF - UHF FIELD DAYS November 27-28 -------------- December 4-5 160 Meter WW -------------- DECEMBER 11 - 12 10 Mtr World Wide -------------- ------------ DX WINDOW ------------ -------------- 8J 17 CALL, the 7-CALL 30th Anniversary Special station is participating in this weekends CQ World-Wide WPX SSB Contest. 8J17CALL, 7-CALL 30th Anniversary Special station has a brand new prefix 8J17" according to the WPX regulation. They will promote 30th Anniversary of Japanese 7-CALL issuance to all over the world with joining the contest on 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28MHz bands. 7-CALL is Japanese callsign starting with 7" and it is a symbol of the golden age of Japanese amateur radio history. (SouthGate) -------------- CONTACT THE 'LAST MAN STANDING' SPECIAL EVENT Amateur Radio NewsLine have issued a reminder: "Don't forget to get on the air now until March 30 as the amateur radio community says "thanks" and "goodbye" to American TV's popular "Last Man Standing" show which put amateur radio back in prime time with main character Mike Baxter KA 0 XTT. The show is ending its 9-year run. Be listening for special event station KA 6 LMS" -------------- Russians in Botswana A small Russian team are active as A 25 RU from Botswana until March 28, today. Activity has been on HF bands 160-10m; NO 60m and QO-100 SAT with the priority to most distant regions (NA and ASIA), using CW, SSB and FT8 (F/H) modes. QSL via R7AL, OQRS, direct, by the Bureau. v6ali.wixsite.com/botswana2021 (Sourced to SouthGate) -------------- With Easter upon us next week, and with Easter Buns and Eggs being available in most chain stores since December last let's roll the DX window WIDE OPEN and check in on a Christmas Station. OF9X: Old-Father-Nine-Xmas. This Finnish station has excited the little radio operators and their families for many years from the land of Christmas. Once Santa Claus was pushed to the North Pole but these Santa transmissions from Finland have finally proved that Finland is the same as the North Pole. OF 9 X In December. -------------- THE RAAF celebrates it's 100 years Wednesday next, March 31. 2 calls to look out for are VI 100 AF and VK 100 AF Also see if you can hear and work GB 100 4FTS GB 100 4 FTS is from Anglesey Island, IOTA EU-005, from last Thursday 25th till April 8 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force's Number 4 Flying Training School that opened on 1 April 1921. Activity will be on the HF bands, SSB and various digital modes. QSL direct to home call MW 1 CFN ------------------------------------------------------------* WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS CW FISTS Club - East Asia feacw.net FISTS Club - Australasia fdu.org.au FISTS Club - UK & Europe fists.co.uk FISTS Club - Americas 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 Germany Special Event In 2021, the Radio Telegraphy High Speed Club (HSC) is celebrating its 70th anniversary. To mark this event, HSC was granted the special DOK number HSC70 to be used by its club stations DA0HSC and DK0HSC throughout the year. Furthermore, the special callsign DP 70 HSC was assigned to HSC to be activated exclusively on CW. It will also use the special DOK number HSC70. Its HSC number is 1951, which is the year when the HSC was founded. (SouthGate) UK AMATEURS QUICK TO CLICK 'SLOW CW' A group of hams in the UK believes that slow CW provides the fast track to improving skills in code. Jeremy Boot G4NJH explains. "JEREMY: Their numbers are not quite 500 strong but these CW enthusiasts are hoping to attract new members and change all that: They are radio amateurs living primarily in the UK and when they send CW, they send it slowly. The group is known on FaceBook as "SLOW CW UK" but despite its base of operations in the UK, anyone from anywhere in the world is welcome to join. Visit the Facebook page "SLOW CW UK" for more details. For Amateur Radio NewsLine I'm Jeremy Boot G4NJH." WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org Some hams in Europe were able to receive Falcon 9 launch telemetry at 2232.5 MHz and then demodulate it. Impressive work, and somewhat surprising that the data isnt encrypted. They were able to decode live video streams from the upper stages engineering cameras, including one of free-floating fuel in the LOX tank, which SpaceX livestream editors tend to switch away from. [NA] NASA mega Moon rocket passes key test, readies for launch The largest rocket element NASA has ever built, the core stage of NASAs Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, fired its four RS-25 engines for 8 minutes and 19 seconds Thursday last at NASAs Stennis Space Centre near St. Louis, Mississippi. The successful test, known as a "hot fire", is a critical milestone ahead of the agencys Artemis I mission, which will send an uncrewed Orion spacecraft on a test flight around the Moon and back to Earth, paving the way for future Artemis missions with astronauts. (SouthGate) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- IOTA iota-world.org OC-053; KH9 Wakey Wakey have we the news for you! Wake Island: Randy/WW6RG plans to operate as WW6RG/KH9 April 1. His time is very limited and he wants to focus on 20 or 17m (SSB) between 0430z and 07z. QSL via WW 6 RG (sourced to SouthGate) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- MEDICAL IHS = IHSOFMN.org PHARMACISTS = malpensa.it/iphg Medical Amateur Radio Council marco-ltd.org/ Here's a special event call with a medical theme worth working. Special event station EH 3 DWN is QRV until April 1 to commemorate World Down Syndrome Day which was March 21. Significance of March 21 is that Down syndrome or Down's syndrome, is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. So the one to work? EH 3 DWN from Spain (BB) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP --- MILITARY OI3AX: Amateur Radio activity in the Finnish Signal Corps (OI prefix) have a brilliant history of cooperation with SRAL. Many well-known OHs have caught the bug while doing their service to their country. OI3AX will represent the country-wide network of 35 OI-locations all year long as Finlands Society racks up 100 years of serving the Ham Community. (SouthGate) SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- SOFTWARE DEVELOPEMENT EchoLink for Windows version 2.1 now available After a 14-year hiatus, EchoLink for Windows version 2.1 is now available. Please see the Download page to download. secure.echolink.org/news.htm (SouthGate) SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - VHF AND ABOVE (The Plumbers Delight) IARU-R1 VHF-UHF-Microwave newsletter Downloadable now this is the first edition to be published by the new IARU Region 1 VHF Manager Dick Harms PA 2 DW, in it he notes: "From what I can see now, our hobby is likely (going to be) under a lot of pressure and various positive and negative influences not only from outside, but certainly also from within our own circles. Besides the fact that the average age of the group of radio amateurs is only getting higher and higher, we have to face pressure on our spectrum and new developments in the way we make radio contacts, such as WSJT" Download the newsletter from tinyurl.com/yc2ayz5w (SouthGate) Amateur Radio gets a partial reprieve on 3.5 GHz The ARRL report that pending future FCC action, USA amateur radio secondary use of the 3.3 3.45 GHz band segment may continue indefinitely. The FCC stated that While we adopt our proposal to bifurcate the band, we adjust our proposal and set 3450 MHz as the frequency at which the band will be split. It agreed with the ARRLs assessment that the guard band is not necessary from a technical standpoint. We also recognize that the nature of amateur equipment realities makes the 50 megahertz at 3400-3450 MHz particularly valuable to amateur operators because it means existing equipment can continue to operate in the band for the time being. Well done FCC and ARRL. (SouthGate) ------------------------------------------------------------* 2021 Social Scene KEEP ONE WAVELENGTH AWAY AT 144 Megacycles #2MetersMatters Due to the COVID-19 situation, please check these events' direct for up-to-date status information and even without Covid dates have an uncanny knack of being changed at last moment. AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PORTAL Coronavirus (COVID-19) latest news, key facts and figures, contacts and answers to your questions. www.health.gov.au/ VK4 - REDFEST 2021 April Ten (vk4tfn) VK2 - MayHam (Wyong Race Course) May 30 (vk2ji) VK5 - SERG convention Mt. Gambier June 12 / 13 (vk5bj) VK3 - ROSEBUD RadioFest by SPARC 9:30am Nov 14 (vk3pdg) Reception Reports WIA News rebroadcasters often give Short Wave Listeners a welcome to the broadcast as they commence call-backs straight after the Local News. Local news follows National news in all states. It would be great if those SWL's would email their reception reports and location to callbacks@wia.org.au 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 send BOTH the audio and the text We would appreciate items certainly no longer than 1.5 mts 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. ------------------------------------------------------------* Oh... and to contact us with your news because If It Matters To You It Matters To Us! Click the links below to download the most recent edition of National News, BUT this is ONLY the backup site! WIANEWS backup thanks to Brendan VK4BLP can be found on wiaq.org.au BACKUPS OF THE BACKUP!! thanks to Tony VK7AX www.vk7ax.id.au/wianews/ wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/ (This is the link to the original text version and original audio on wia site) ------------------------------------------------------------* 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 would like to see the call-backs reported each broadcast, OR 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 a message confirming your unsubscription from the list and at that point you should stop receiving messages. ------------------------------------------------------------*