2025 JANUARY 12 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 and shown on all good ATV outlets around the globe. ------------------------------------------------------------* AUSTRALIANA In VK6, utility company Western Power is looking to expand its use of drone technology, with its arsenal of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) playing a critical role in monitoring network faults and maintaining reliability this summer. Western Powers network in WA is among the largest in Australia, with several rural distribution feeders that are more than 100 km in length and pass through areas of bushfire risk. Drone technology already plays a significant role for the network operator, with 24 UAVs used for asset inspections, patrols, powerline stringing, fault finding and reporting. Now, through these new trial, Western Power is exploring whether UAVs can be used to: remotely apply silicone to live insulators to reduce the risk of pole top fires; map powerlines to accelerate decision-making; and install attachments to powerlines to deter wildlife and increase visibility. UAVs are of particular importance over these summer months, the WA Government said, as drone monitoring is quicker than vehicle or foot patrols in reducing the duration of power outages. Having sweltered through record-breaking heat last summer, Im glad to see Western Power is on the front foot in investigating whether these drones could be used to reduce the risk of fires or faults and ensure power supply in the states south-west is as reliable as possible, said WA Energy Minister Reece Whitby. The drone technology complements Western Powers annual $1 billion network investment, which covers regular insulator replacement and treatment, as well as vegetation pruning near wires. Our network is large and complicated, and these investments will ensure we can make it as reliable as possible, Whitby said. (critical comms) SERVICE UPGRADES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. South Australia Ambulance Service is to implement its own cloud-based electronic records system, replacing handwritten documentation. The electronic patient care record (ePCR) system is to be built and managed by health IT specialist Dedalus as part of a 10-year, $16.2 million contract, the system, which will run on Microsoft Azure, is currently being developed and tested for clinical requirements and governance. However, the roll-out to the service's 500-vehicle fleet is not expected to commence until the middle of 2026. Upon deployment, ambulance crews will be able to electronically record patients' data on the road rather than hand-write clinical case cards that need to be later uploaded. The SA Government said that "in time" the ePCR will be integrated with hospitals' electronic medical records. (itnews.com.au) ------------------------------------------------------------* INTERNATIONAL NEWS is with thanks to ARRL, eHam, IARU, NEWSLINE, RSGB, SARL and the World Wide sources of the WIA. A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION April 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the International Amateur Radio Union. To commemorate this milestone, a ceremony will be held in Paris on 25 and 26 April, where delegates from IARU Member Societies will hold a formal reception. During 2025, there will be two on-the-air celebrations. The IARU 100th Anniversary Centennial QSO Party. The IARU CQP will be held for nine days, beginning Saturday 12 April and ending Sunday 20 April. This event will celebrate 100 years of the IARU promoting the interests of amateur radio worldwide, seeking to protect and enhance our spectrum privileges. Amateur radio operators worldwide are encouraged to be active on the air. A website will track participants' accumulated contact points and provide participation certificates for download. The CQP also encompasses World Amateur Radio Day Friday, 18 April. IARU HF World Championship. The 24-hour IARU HF World Championship Saturday 12 July and Sunday 13 July. This annual contest supports amateur self-training in radio communications, improving operating skills, conducting technical investigations and inter-communicating with other amateurs around the world using the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 metre bands. iaru.org for updates on IARU activities planned for 2025. SECURITY! Cybersecurity experts have seen a significant increase in sophisticated phishing scams using AI to generate hyper-personalized messages mimicking people's communication styles, with over 90% of successful cyberattacks now beginning with phishing emails. Tech news weekly say many cybersecurity training and email filtering is being used by companies to combat this. Also 'passkeys', that new login technology which is aiming to replace passwords, have seen increasing adoption but face usability challenges and inconsistent implementation across sites and devices. The recommendation for now is to just use password managers for now, as maybe passkeys aren't quite ready for mainstream adoption yet. https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. ARE YOU READY FOR A $20US WINDFALL? Depending how many users in the class action against Apple have filed the $20 may be all each gets from the US$95 million in cash to settle a proposed class action lawsuit claiming that APPLE's voice activated Siri assistant violated users' privacy. Mobile device owners had complained that Apple routinely recorded their private conversations after they activated Siri unintentionally, and disclosed these conversations to third parties such as advertisers. Two plaintiffs said their mentions of Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden restaurants triggered ads for those products. Another said he got ads for a brand name surgical treatment after discussing it, he thought privately, with his doctor. The class period ran from September 17, 2014 to December 31, 2024. It began when Siri incorporated the "Hey, Siri" feature that allegedly led to the unauthorised recordings. Class members, estimated in the tens of millions, may receive up to US$20 per Siri enabled device, such as iPhones and Apple Watches. Apple denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle. CQ DX MARATHON RETURNS FOR YEAR-LONG RUN Lace up your running shoes and sit down in your shack - and get ready for an on-the-air marathon that encourages operators to go the distance through December 2025. From Amateur Radio Newsline we 'share the we share the details. Just as the marathon for 2024 comes to an end, the new one has begun. Avid DXers are already on the hunt through until the end of the end of December 2025, hoping to work as many countries and CQ zones as possible. The idea, of course, is to see who can work the most countries, or DX entities, and CQ zones by the time 23:59 rolls around on December 31st. Keep in mind that contacts through repeaters and satellites do not count, nor do contacts with aeronautical mobile or maritime stations. Only the use of amateur radio frequencies is permitted. Organizers made some changes in mid-December to rules that affect the awards, operating class and youth participation. For a full description of the rules and who is affected, see the link in the text version of this week's wia national news service (wia.org.au) HAM CLUB AT DEUTSCHES MUSEUM CALLS QRZ FOR CENTENNIAL Amateur radio station DL DM recently finished celebrating two anniversaries in December: the club's 75th year as a radio licensee and its 35th year of operating from its home at the Deutsches Museum in Munich. Now the ham radio station is getting ready for another celebration: the centennial of the museum, one of the world's major showcases of science and technology by putting the callsign DL 100 DM on the air throughout 2025. The museum is marking its 100th anniversary, a time particularly for amateurs to remember its longstanding connection to radio. Even before the ham radio club had established a permanent presence there, the museum was proudly featuring a 100-watt shortwave transmitter, that had been built by a student in 1938, which CW operators would occasionally put on the air. The transmitter is still at the museum and it is on view in the electronics exhibition area. ------------------------------------------------------------------- OPERATIONAL NEWS - A FELIX VK4FUQ PRESENTATION DX WINDOW TO THE WORLD. ------------------- VI 2025 AJ is on air from the Australian Scout Jamboree in Queensland until January 15. (wia news) -------------------- The Czech DXpedition Group will be using the callsign C 8 K from Mozambique the 17th of January through to the 2nd of February. Find them on 160 through 6 metres and via the QO-100 satellite for our overseas viewers. C8K will be using CW, SSB, FT8 and RTTY. (newsline 2462) -------------- Rwanda 9 X 2 AW and be on the air from the 27th of January through to the 15th of February, holiday style on 10 through 160 metres. (newsline 2462) -------------- PC 80 TT is the special callsign for members of VERON Leiden to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands during World War II (5 May 1945). Look for activity now until June One QSL PC80TT via the bureau to PI4LDN. The special call sign honours the memory of Rudolf Tappenbeck (PCTT), a pioneer of Dutch amateur radio who died in Neuengamme concentration camp 1944. (425dxn) -------------- y Our I.A.R.U. celebrates its centenary this year (2025). Since its founding in Paris, France, IARU has worked tirelessly to promote innovation in amateur radio and to encourage the growth of the service in communities throughout the world. VI 100 IARU is a special event callsign transmitting from VK3 to help celebrate the IARU Centennial. qsl via MO 0 OXO (qrz.com) ---------- y During 2025 the SARL will be on the air with special event callsign ZS 100 SARL, as well as the permanent callsigns ZS6SRL and ZS9HQ and possibly other special event callsigns. (sarl) ---------- y Callsign 6W1RD Senegal on the 11th and 12th will be using callsign 6 W 1 RD. SSB and FT8/FT4 on 80-10 metres and all QSLs are via EA7FTR. (newsline 2461) ---------- y 8 R 1 TM from Georgetown, Guyana, now until the 8th of February. CW, SSB and digital modes on all bands. (newsline 2461) ------------------------------------------------------------* REPEATING> OXLEY REGION AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Between Tare and Port Macquarie in VK2 lies MIDDLE BROTHER VK2News are reporting that ALL of the Middle Brother VK2RPM repeaters are still off air following the damage to the site hosts power distribution system during the severe storms on the night of Wednesday the 13th of December last year. Mainly due to lightning damage to the hosts mains power distribution system. The repeaters will remain out of service until later this month when site works should be completed and power will again be available for the VK2RPM repeaters. This is the first major interruption in 52 years at the site NOW CONTEST WISE:- 2025 -------------- -------------- VHF UHF Field Day Upcoming Contest Date & Time Summer 2025 - 0100 UTC Saturday 18 January through 0059 UTC Sunday 19 January (0400 / 0359 in VK6). wia.org.au/members/contests/vhfuhf/ ----------- CQ 160 METER CONTEST CW January 24 - 2200Z January 26. SSB February 21 - 2200Z February 23. (cq) --------------------- AUSTRALIA DAY CONTEST JANUARY 26. Amateurs in VK will endeavour to contact other amateurs around the world. Some VK operators will be using the AX prefix to celebrate Australia day, as its wanted by many amateurs around the world. Scoring is distance based and calculated using 4-character grid squares. Contest Manager Alan Shannon VK4SN It is held on the Australia Day Public Holiday that being 26 of January. wia.org.au/members/contests/australiaday/ ----------- CQ 160 METER CONTEST SSB February 21 - 2200Z February 23. (cq) --------------------- The IARU 100th Anniversary Centennial QSO Party. The IARU CQP will be held for nine days, beginning Saturday 12 April and ending Sunday 20 April. This event will celebrate 100 years of the IARU (sarl) ------------------------ HARRY ANGEL MEMORIAL 80 Meter Sprint, Saturday May 3. (vk4uh) wia.org.au/members/contests/harryangel/ ------------------------- VK Shires Contest 7th - 8th June 2025 wia.org.au/members/contests/wavks/ ----------------------- NZ Straight Key Night Next New Zealand Straight Key Night will be held Sunday 8 June from 9pm to 10pm NZDT (0800 to 0900 UTC) on 80 metres. Polish and lubricate that old morse key and enjoy an evening of old-time radio fun. Straight Key Night is an informal event which honours the roots of amateur radio: Morse Code sent with a straight key (no bugs, sideswipers, keyers or keyboards). When. Winter SKN is the second Sunday in June, 8-9pm NZ time. Summer SKN is always the first Sunday in December, 9-10pm NZ time. SKN honours the original amateur radio mode in an easy-going style. Operators send signal report, name, location, type of key, type of transmitter and power output. Stations are limited to 100W output power. SKN is not a contest - but the operator who gets the most votes for the quality of their sending will win the Bruce Scahill Best Fist Award. This certificate honours Bruce ZL1BWG (SK), who was a dedicated supporter of SKN. Please email your nomination to ZL1NZ within one week following the event. (Neil ZL1NZ, SKN Manager) ------------------------------------------------------------* WORLD WIDE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS SUMMITS ON THE AIR, WORLD WIDE FLORA, FAUNA PROGRAM, PARKS ON THE AIR and other ADVENTURE GROUPS. hema.org.uk/index.jsp minesontheair.com/about-mota parksontheair.com/ sota.org.uk sotawatch.sota.org.uk/en/ facebook.com/SotaAustralia/ wwffaustralia.com/ ADVENTURE ISLAND - SAGAR. A Team of West Bengal Radio Club members are active from Sagar Island, West Bengal now until the 20th of January. Special Event Callsign is AU 2 WBRC The adventure schemes being participated in are:- Islands On the Air AS-153; Beaches On the Air, Gangasagar Island Beach 60572 World Lighthouse on the Air Sagar Island WLOTA 2262 .qrz.com/db/AU2WBRC Check details for AU2WBRC are ITU Zone 41, CQ Zone 22, Grid NL41ap All contacts will be verified through QRZ.com only (ard) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- ASTRONOMY (and Wireless Weather) The Parker Solar Probe, launched by NASA in 2018, ended 2024 by nearly touching the untouchable - the sun. It was Christmas Eve - NASA's solar probe set a record by flying 6.1 million kilometres, from the sun. That approach made the small probe the first - and fastest - object created by humans to come that close to the sun, according to a report in Forbes magazine. Its speed was clocked at 692,000 kilometres per hour. Nicola Fox, NASA's associate administrator for science missions, said that the probe had achieved the very mission it was intended for with its unprecedented flight so close to the sun. This solar pass came as the probe made its 22nd approach since its launch more than six years ago. The probe is well-shielded for this latest plunge into the sun. (newsline 2462) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- CW www.morsecodeclassnet.com CWops Announces 2024 Advancing the Art of CW Award Each year, CWops, the international organization that promotes and advances Morse code in amateur radio communications, accepts nominations for individuals, groups, and organizations for the CWops Award for Advancing the Art of CW. The Radio Officer's Association (ROA) is the recipient of the 2024 CWops Award. ROA honours and preserves the history and accomplishments of radio professionals from across the Merchant Navy, Coast Station Service, and Civil Aeronautical industry. Its membership includes nearly 400 former professional radio officers, half of whom hold amateur radio licenses. The 2024 award was recently accepted by ROAs Bill Cross, G0ELZ, at the organizations annual meeting in Liverpool, England, presented by CWops President Stew Rolfe, GW0ETF. (arrl) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - DIGITAL SCAMP Digital Mode Available in Fldigi Simple Conversational Amateur Message Protocol (SCAMP) is a weak signal digital mode developed by KW4TI. Originally integrated with the RFBitBanger transceiver, SCAMP is now available for broader use through the Fldigi software suite. Like other weak signal propagation modes such as the popular FT8, SCAMP is an orthogonal frequency shift keying mode with a low symbol rate, forward error correction, and synchronous signalling. Unlike FT8 which has been designed to exchange signal reports, SCAMP must be able to communicate arbitrary messages that may be required in an emergency situation. For additional information, view KW4TI's video presentation on the RFBitBanger and SCAMP. (ARD) WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS --- RADIO AMATEUR YOUNG TIMERS - YOTA (Youngsters On The Air) WIA committee:- Steve VK6SJ, Alec VK2MV and Pete VK2LP. ham-yota.com/category/yota-region-3/ facebook.com/groups/YOTAOC/ youtube.com/channel/UClAapljf0VQ751sOgu2IzaA Alan VK2COD:- As you may know, Alec VK2MV is in Maryborough attending the 26th Australian Jamboree in Queensland. AJ2025 is on until 15 January. Keep your radio on and listen for their callsign VI2025AJ. The amateur station will be running from 8:30 until late afternoons each day until the end of AJ2025 The frequencies they are on are listed in the QRZ page for VI2025AJ Even though AJ2025 is happening, this week has been quiet, especially with VK YOTA news. As Alec has asked, please send in your YOTA news to Alec or myself and the news team so we can spread the word about VK YOTA activity to the amateur radio community. Help make our hobby a lifelong journey for YOTAs rather than just getting a callsign or participating in Jota-Joti once a year. For VK1WIA National News, I am Alan VK2COD in Sydney. Now back to you Bruce. aj2025.com.au/ qrz.com/db/VI2025AJ WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - FINAL FRONTIER AMSAT-VK Secretary - secretary@amsat-vk.org WHAT'S "UP" IN 2025? From the on line podcast "This Week In Space" comes a list of upcoming 'things to look out for". That list includes things like:- 25 Starship launches and landings, if they can secure FAA approval, with flight 7 featuring Starlink satellite deployment tests coming within weeks. Several commercial and international robotic missions to the Moon are planned, some of which will help fill the void left by NASA's cancelled VIPER rover. NASA's expensive and long-delayed Mars sample return mission is in doubt as China aims to complete its own by 2027. The company "Vast Space" aims to be the first to launch a private space station module in 2025 without NASA funding, providing a potential ISS replacement. and Rocket Lab plans to launch a small, privately financed probe to Venus to look for signs of life and organic molecules in the atmosphere This Week in Space twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space WW SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - MEDICAL In the US, the Handiham Program ended 2024 by reporting on gains and successes in its services and initiatives to disabled amateur radio operators. The Handiham Program has served the disabled ham community since 1967. The year just passed included a number of new classes held virtually, including one in basic Morse Code and another for Technician Class candidates. Handiham said that its radio club also achieved gains, reaching a milestone membership level of 158. The Handiham program itself welcomed 65 new participants. For more details about the program, visit handiham.org. (newsline 2462) --------------------------------------------------------------------- IT'S A DATE Clubs are welcome to email text with audio for this section Details of all WIA affiliated clubs and societies can be found on the WIA website, including email addresses and website links. ---------------------------- 2025 VK7 - REAST CAR BOOT SALE January 19 @ 11 am (vk7news) VK3 - BARG HamFest the 2nd of February ate Ballarat Polo-Crosse Pavilion next door to the BARG clubrooms at Ballarat Airport. (wiacal) VK6 - PARGFEST PEEL AMATEUR RADIO GROUP held February 15 9AM at Mandurah Bowling Club 89 Allnutt Street ( parg.org.au/ ) VK4 - Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club REDFEST April 12 (wiacal) Greetings from the Redcliffe Radio Club VK4RC. Robert Thomson VK4TFN here. We hope you're a happy New Year. REDFEST 2025 will be held on the 12th April 2025 The Theme will be "Fun on HF" We have a new venue. REDFEST 2025 will be held at the Deception Bay North State School in Old Bay Road Deception Bay. We will Raffle a very nice ICOM radio TxRx. Go to redclifferadioclub.org.au for more information. 73's and bye for now from the Redcliffe & Districts Radio Club VK4RC. VK - WIA AGM May 3 - 4. Hosted by Bendigo Amateur Radio & Electronics Club and their Technology Expo (vk3gtv/wiacal) VK - Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association 50th anniversary Glen Waverly July 26 president@alara.org (vk2ayl) VK4 - GOLD COAST AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY 2025 HAMFEST NOV 9 (vk4dmh) Country Paradise Parklands 231 Beaudesert Nerang Road. VK3- Rosebud RadioFest, Eastbourne Primary School, Rosebud (wiacal) November Sixteen. final final 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 recorded 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). If you are mentioning your own name / call in the story, say something like "and myself, Pat, vk11abc" Promote your local rebroadcast; details on wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/ 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 will not give blatant 'plugs' to raffles, be it raffles at the event or "on-line". ------------------------------------------------------------* 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/ Promote your local rebroadcast; details on wia.org.au/members/broadcast/contribute/ 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." 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. ------------------------------------------------------------*